《Rebirth Of The Villainess: Young Master Lu's Wicked Wife》


 Chapter 1 - If You Were Mine (1)

    <h4>Chapter 1 - If You Were Mine (1)</h4>


    "If it was me, this would never happen. If only I wasn''t toote, you wouldn''t have to die like this."


    The tears that spilled from his eyes shocked Su Xiaofei. She hadn''t expected that in herst moment, he would suddenly show up. Lu Qingfeng, the little boy who used to follow her around when they were younger, was now a handsome young man.


    Su Xiaofei lifted a hand and cupped the side of his face. She could feel her eyes stung with tears now. She thought that she would die a lonely death, without seeing anyone, but as she looked at Lu Qingfeng''s teary eyes, she felt a warmth that she hadn''t felt for such a long time.


    "If you were mine, I''d protect you from everyone." Lu Qingfeng continued.


    These were the words she had longed to hear from her wretched husband. And yet, here''s another man saying the exact words her heart yearned to hear.


    "Don''t cry, Lu Qingfeng." She told the young man. "It''s big sister''s own fault that she ended up like this."


    He was a man and yet he was shedding tears for someone like her. However, Su Xiaofei never thought that it was a weakness on his part. Lu Qingfeng might be a man, but he was still a human who knew how to feel hurt and sad.


    Su Xiaofei''s heart ached as she looked at him. Here she was, on her deathbed, abandoned by her own husband as he took everything from her while he cheated on her with her father''s real daughter.


    In the first year of their marriage, she thought that she and Mo Yuchen got along perfectly well. However, in the end, all of it was just his perfect scheming to get her mother''s wealth and her inheritance.


    Five years of marriage, and all of it was for nothing. She fell into the intricate trap and schemes of the man she thought loved her dearly and Ye Mingyu, her father''s real daughter.


    If only she could turn back time, she vowed not to make the same mistakes again. s, there was nothing else for her to do but to ept her end. If only she hadn''t been blinded by love, she wouldn''t end up like this.


    "Su Xiaofei, I beg you don''t die on me." Lu Qingfeng begged with tears flowing down his handsome face. "I wouldn''t have any reason to live if I lost you too." He said as he lowered his head, his grasp on her hand tightening as he continued to cry.


    "It''s so unfair." He continued, "if only I was born a little earlier than you. If only I wasn''t too young to stand next to you."


    "Lu Qingfeng, what does your age have to do with all of this?" She asked softly, not sure what her childhood friend meant by his words.


    "Everything." Lu Qingfeng lifted his head and stared at her pale face. "You wouldn''t have fallen into Mo Yuchen''s scheme and marry him, if only I was born a little earlier. The ce beside you should be mine, not his."


    "You¡­" Su Xiaofei stared at him in confusion. Why was he saying this?


    As if knowing what was going on in her mind, Lu Qingfeng smiled bitterly.


    "Because I love you."


    The moment Su Xiaofei heard those words, she felt like all her remaining defenses copsed at that very instant. Tears began to roll down her cheeks uncontrobly as she continued to stare at him.


    Next to her, Lu Qingfeng felt pain as he saw tears fall from her eyes. He ced his hand on top of her hand and shook his head. He spoke to her in a gentle voice, telling her that none of this was her fault.


    The same voice that reminded Su Xiaofei of the times when Lu Qingfeng would drop everything he was doing, no matter how important it was, toe and apany her, assuring her like what he was doing today.


    She had been a fool to believe that what she and Lu Qingfeng had was only an affection between siblings. She had been a damn fool not to notice that he cared deeply about her, making him feel helpless and miserable at the same time.


    "Why? Why didn''t you tell me?"


    Lu Qingfeng only smiled. He didn''t answer her. She should know the answer to her question anyway. Because of her obsession with Mo Yuchen, she had been blinded and had ignored the things that had nothing to do with Mo Yuchen.


    Su Xiaofei understood his silence and it only made her cry more.


    ''You''re such a Goddamn fool, Su Xiaofei.'' She scolded herself inwardly.


    "It doesn''t matter. What''s important now is for you to recover, okay?"


    She shook her head. The doctors told her that she wouldn''t be able to live much longer. Her days were already numbered. The poison that Ye Mingyu had fed her for years had caused irreversible damage to her body. Even if she survived, she would forever suffer chronic pain that would never go away.


    "It''s already toote now, Lu Qingfeng. There''s no hope for me, but you still have your whole life ahead of you."


    "No. No. No." Lu Qingfeng refused to let her go. "Xiaofei¡­"


    "I cannot be by your side anymore, so you must take good care of yourself. Don''t cause your grandfather any more troubles in the future, okay?"


    Lu Qingfeng nodded absentmindedly as he continued to cry next to her. She was lecturing him once again, but he''d already tuned out her words. She would never understand that he cannot be without her.


    "In the future, find a woman who will truly love you. Who''ll never hurt you like I did and would cherish your feelings. When you find her, be good to her and live a good life with her, understand?"


    If only she could return to the past, she would do everything in her power to not only to protect herself and her mother, but also Lu Qingfeng''s heart.

 Chapter 2 - If You Were Mine (2)

    <h4>Chapter 2 - If You Were Mine (2)</h4>


    Su Xiaofei thought that the moment she died, she wouldn''t be able to see the end of the cheating couple who harmed her and family. She hadn''t even expected that she would witness her own funeral. What kind of torture was this? She wondered.


    Hadn''t she suffered enough from her past life? Why are the deities forcing her to watch the events that took ce after her death?


    Just as she expected, not so long after Lu Qingfeng found her, she died peacefully in her sleep. Herst thought before she sumbed into darkness was how pathetic she had been, arguing andpeting with Ye Mingyu arrogantly, not knowing that she wasn''t the real daughter of the Su family.


    But she didn''t expect that in the end, she was the viiness whom everyone hated for her viciousness and arrogance. Because she had always been a pampered and spoiled child, Su Xiaofei had often forced people to do her bidding, never knowing how to repent and had been a proud woman all her life.


    The moment she regained her consciousness, Su Xiaofei found herself standing in front of her tombstone. As expected, even in her death, her father''s shadow couldn''t be seen anywhere. Perhaps it was for the better. She didn''t want that homewrecker and Ye Mingyu to shed crocodile tears at her funeral.


    She resented her father for marrying her mother for money. Yun Qingrong, her adoptive mother, had loved her father deeply. But in the end, what did her mother receive? Her mother died with a grieving, lonely heart, leaving Su Xiaofei on her own.


    Just a month after her mother''s funeral, her father had the audacity to marry the homewrecker and lived with hervishly using her mother''s wealth. Su Xiaofei had no doubt that her father, along with the homewrecker and Ye Mingyu were celebrating her death.


    Living with those three after her mother''s death, Su Xiaofei felt like an outsider while they pretended to be a happy family. In the end, she realized that the only family that cared for her was her adoptive mother.


    Everyone painted her as the arrogant sister who kept bullying Ye Mingyu and she was the wicked witch who dared to step in between her sister and her lover. Ha. How could they ignore the fact that she was Mo Yuchen''s fiance and it was Ye Mingyu who stole her man?


    In front of her tombstone, there was only one person who hadn''t left even after the funeral had ended. Lu Qingfeng stood with a pair of listless eyes as he stared at the inscription of her name. This once handsome young man who had always paid attention to cleanliness, remained standing under the rain.


    Su Xiaofei fisted her hands on her side. She was already dead. What could she possibly do to help this young man be happy again? Did she really have to witness how the others continue living their lives happily after her death?


    Lu Qingfeng was younger than her by three years. At the time of her death, Lu Qingfeng was already twenty-five and yet, here he was, putting the remains of the woman he loved to rest while other men his age just started to consider starting a family of their own.


    The next scenes were blurry for her. Su Xiaofei wasn''t sure how many months or years had passed, but as she witnessed Lu Qingfeng kicking her father''s family out of her mother''s home, she noticed that he had aged and was unrecognizable.


    "Mr. Lu! Why are you doing this? This is also ourte Xiaofei''s home! How could you evict us from our own house?! What do you think Feifei would think if she knew what you''ve done to her family?" Su Haoran asked Lu Qingfeng with a pale expression on his face.


    "That''s precisely why I have to eradicate the pests and termites like you. As to whether or not Xiaofei would be pleased with my actions, only she has the right to reprimand me." Lu Qingfeng said with a viciousness that Su Xiaofei had never seen on him when she was alive.


    If looks could kill, Su Haoran and his family would have dropped dead from the intensity of Lu Qingfeng''s hatred towards them.


    To think that the young boy who used to nag and follow her around when they were younger had be a tyrant after her death. Su Xiaofei felt guilty for turning into this person she''s looking at. Lu Qingfeng wasn''t a chatty person, in fact, he was cold to everyone around him, except for his grandfather and Su Xiaofei.


    Night time came and Su Xiaofei still found herself in the mansion where she used to live with her mother. She saw Lu Qingfeng returning past midnight with an urn in his hands and climbing up the stairs silently before stepping inside her bedroom.


    Why did hee to her bedroom? Did he kick out her father and snatch back the Bluemedia, her mother''spany to avenge her death? Not only that, he also went head to head and destroyed Golden Star Entertainment, which was owned by Mo Yuchen''s family.


    Su Xiaofei knew he had done all of it for her sake. If not, why would Lu Qingfeng target her enemies and destroy the man who hurt her the most?


    Lu Qingfeng didn''t have to do this, but Su Xiaofei would never understand that he had never cared about other people except for her. Since Su Haoran, Ye Xing, Ye Mingyu and Mo Yichen were the ones responsible for his beloved''s death, he was willing to send them to the afterlife if needed.


    "Xiaofei, your mother is home now. Are you happy?" He asked as he held the photo of her that was on the bedside table with the same helpless and miserable look he had thest time they were together.


    Why did her heart ache so much when she was already dead? Why couldn''t Lu Qingfeng let go of her despite the fact she''d asked him to move on and love another woman?

 Chapter 3 - If You Were Mine (3)

    <h4>Chapter 3 - If You Were Mine (3)</h4>


    Lu Qingfeng had decided to live in her mother''s mansion and every night, he would return home and enter her bedroom, holding the photo of her as he slept. At first, Su Xiaofei was confused. She had never thought her death would affect Lu Qingfeng like this. She didn''t understand why he chose not to move on after her death when she had already told him to do so.


    He kept everything in her bedroom in the same spot she left them before her death, only allowing the servants to change the sheets of the bed where he slept at night. This continued, and Su Xiaofei had no other choice but to watch him as a ghost.


    Another year had passed, and it was her birthday. Lu Qingfeng returned that night with her favorite blueberry cheesecake he had bought from her favorite pastry shop. He sang her a very happy birthday, but his eyes were misty as he stared at her photo.


    Su Xiaofei wanted to ask him why, wanted to console him, but all she could do was watch the events unfold in front of her eyes.


    Yearster, she heard the news that her father and Ye Xing had died in a car ident, with Ye Mingyu eventually getting a divorce after years of blissful marriage with Mo Yuchen. Perhaps, it was because Lu Qingfeng had destroyed and taken everything from Mo Yuchen to the point that thetter never got the chance to recover.


    Su Xiaofei didn''t know what happened to her sister after that. Not that she was interested anyway. To think that she wasn''t able to give them the fatal blow herself was something she regretted the most.


    Lu Qingfeng didn''t need to do all of these for her sake, but she would be a liar if she didn''t admit that she wasn''t moved by his efforts. No one but him had gone to that extent for her sake.


    Meanwhile, Lu Qingfeng remained unmarried as he lived in Yun Mansion, apanied by his trusted assistant and a few servants. Su Xiaofei couldn''t understand why he never got married.


    Why did he turn down all those young women who chased after him because of his otherworldly face that could topple the most popr actors in showbiz and his value as the wealthiest bachelor in the country?


    He could get any woman he liked, and yet he chose to remain unmarried. Su Xiaofei thought that he was wasting his time grieving over her death. It had been years since she had died, but the listless eyes remained on Lu Qingfeng.


    Su Xiaofei had never assumed that his feelings for her ran this deep, that even after her passing, Lu Qingfeng couldn''t let go and move on with his life without her. Guilt consumed her entirety, but she was helpless and was unable to do anything for Lu Qingfeng.


    Why couldn''t he meet another woman who could sweep him and make him fall in love again? No matter how many women Lu Qingfeng met, none of them seemed to be able to catch his eye.


    After years of seeding the Lu Corporation, taking over severalpanies under his management, Lu Qingfeng became renowned for his wealth and became a mogul of the business world, which frightened many people.


    But why did he choose to remain single even after her death? He had already sought vengeance for her. Wasn''t this enough for him to move on?


    "Idiot." Su Xiaofei said and sobbed as she looked at Lu Qingfeng who had chosen to keep himself busy with work than to join others at the celebration of Lu Corporation''s founding anniversary.


    The following year, Lu Qingfeng adopted a young boy, a distant rtive of his, whose parents had died in an ident. Since he had already made up his mind not to marry in this lifetime, he had chosen to be a good father to someone else''s child.


    Lu Junjie was only five years old when Lu Qingfeng took him in. He had made sure to give the boy the best things he would need and raised him as his sessor, much to Lu Qingfeng''s other rtives'' disappointment. None of them were willing to ept that Lu Qingfeng would rather take in a child than to choose one of them as his sessor.


    Su Xiaofei scoffed at that. It was because they were ipetent that Lu Qingfeng never considered them. However, everyone knew that Lu Qingfeng wasn''t to be provoked. Although he was indeed good-looking and coveted by many women, not many would dare go near him.


    Had he married and had a child of his own, none of this would matter. Su Xiaofei thought. She found it foolish for Lu Qingfeng to remain unmarried because of her. He still had a life to live after her death, why did he throw all those chances and choose to grieve her death to this day?


    "If it isn''t you, then I''d rather stay single for the rest of my life." He once said as he held her photote at night. Lu Qingfeng had just turned down several marriage proposals and arrangements for him that day, insisting that none of the women would be able to capture his heart.


    "My heart died along with you, Su Xiaofei."


    Su Xiaofei remained by Lu Qingfeng and the young boy''s side for the following years, watching the boy grow up until he was old enough to seed Lu Qingfeng. Even when Lu Qingfell fell sick, she remained on his side, watching as he refused to get treatments.


    Finally, the day came and Su Xiaofei found herself standing next to Lu Qingfeng''s deathbed. This man, who had devotedly loved her with all his might, remained faithful to her even after her passing, had made her heart ache terribly.


    Lu Jinjie had be an outstanding man and a filial child towards Lu Qingfeng. At his adoptive father''s funeral, his tears fell uncontrobly.. Next to him, Su Xiaofei stood, her eyes never leaving Lu Qingfeng''s name.

 Chapter 4 - Rebirth At Eighteen (1)

    <h4>Chapter 4 - Rebirth At Eighteen (1)</h4>


    In the midst of her crying, Su Xiaofei heard a sound next to her. As she opened her eyes, she found her best friend, Xi Qian groaning in pain as she was being pinned down on the ground. She was struggling to break free from the man''s grasp, despite her being too drunk.


    Su Xiaofei sat up and held her head. She felt a little dizzy with the sudden change of her surroundings.


    What was happening? Did the deities decide to rey her past to spite her more? Wasn''t it enough that they allowed her to witness Lu Qingfeng''s death and see his pitiful end?


    As she looked around, they noticed that they were at the pub where she and Xi Qian used to hang out.


    "Get off of me!" Xi Qian''s scream pulled Su Xiaofei back to reality.


    In the next moment, her eyes turned aze as she forced herself back on her feet. Due to the influence of alcohol, she staggered to keep her bnce. Su Xiaofei could clearly remember this scene.


    She immediately pounced behind the man that was trying to assault her friend, by pulling him harshly through his clothes, pulling him away from Xi Qian before kicking him hard between his legs.


    The man screamed, his eyes bulging out from the pain. What kind of man wouldn''t understand the pain that he went through?


    Su Xiaofei didn''t stop. She kicked him again and again, before sending his limp body against the wall she was leaning on earlier.


    The man curled up. His face was so pale, his whole body trembling in shock.


    Su Xiaofei stared at him with a sharpened gaze. If someone was able to see her right now, it was understandable why she earned the title ''The Viiness'' from her looks alone. Paired with a set of chilling and beautiful gaze, her whole persona was emitting the air of arrogance and confidence. She had a stunning appearance, but at the same time, she harbored an icy, distant impression that kept other people at arm''s length.


    Su Xioafei, now with a clearer mind, looked around as she stepped harder on the man''s torso. She and Xi Qian were dressed in shirts and jeans. She saw Xi Qian sat up and rubbed her aching wrist. This time Su Xiaofei''s eyes darkened upon seeing her best friend''s youthful face.


    If she was not mistaken, this was a memory of her past, where she and Xi Qian were both eighteen years old. However, the feeling of flesh so vivid beneath her foot, Xi Qian''s gentle tone as she called her name and the ce around her were too clear.


    Looking at the man groaning in pain beneath her foot, her eyes became colder.


    Had she somewhat returned to the past? Ten years before her death to be exact?


    In this particr memory, she and Xi Qian had decided to celebrate thetter''s birthday. Since Xi Qian''s parents had divorced when she was seven, neither of her parents lived with her, and she was only raised by her grandmother.


    Xi Qian had wanted to celebrate her birthday with Su Xiaofei so she had invited her to the pub where she was working as a part-timer. Who would have thought that on their way out, Xi Qian would be assaulted by a homeless man while Su Xiaofei lost consciousness as the man hit her head first.


    Because of this event, Xi Qian was severely traumatized. Although the police were able to arrive and catch the man on time, there were no charges pressed against himter, and he was able to leave unscathed while giving Xi Qian a mocking smile as he left the police station.


    If she was truly reborn, then Su Xiaofei didn''t mind exercising her right as the viiness this time. If the authority wasn''t able to give Xi Qian the justice she deserves, then she would do it herself.


    In fact, it was onlyter when Su Xiaofei discovered that this assault wasn''t as simple as it looked. Someone had hired this man to sully Xi Qian''s name and reputation.


    Su Xiaofei removed her foot from the man and red at him with such vicious eyes.


    "E-enough. Please don''t hurt me!" He trembled in fear as he curled away from Su Xiaofei''s intimidating face. "I-I¡­ someone asked me to do this! Spare me this once and I will tell you everything!"


    "Talk." Su Xiaofei''s face was dark and inscrutable. It was impossible for anyone to know what she was thinking at that very moment.


    "It''s a middle-aged woman! She gave me money and told me to wait for that girl." He pointed at Xi Qian, who was staring at them with wide eyes. "She told me to do this!"


    The homeless man thought that it was easy money. He only needed to threaten the girl and if any problem arose, that middle-aged woman would cover for him.


    But who would have thought that the young girl who looked gentle and weak was being apanied by this monster? If he had known that Xi Qian''spanion was a scary person, he would never ept the job only to be beaten into a pulp by this young woman.


    "How much did that woman give you?" Su Xiaofei asked in a threatening tone.


    "She gave me five thousand. She said if I was sessful, she''ll give me another three thousand as a reward." The man didn''t dare to lie in front of her. He was afraid that if he didn''tply with her demands, this monster would break every inch of his body!


    "Give me the money." Su Xiaofei demanded.


    "W-what?"


    "You heard me. If you don''t...." Her eyes narrowing on him, the man could have sworn the temperature around them dropped. "I will make sure that your meager five thousand wouldn''t be enough to pay for the hospital bills you would have to bearter."


    When he didn''t make a move to hand over the money, Su Xiaofei stomped a foot on his right hand.

 Chapter 5 - Rebirth At Eighteen (2)

    <h4>Chapter 5 - Rebirth At Eighteen (2)</h4>


    The force she exerted caused the man to scream in pain, but the woman stepping on his hand remained unperturbed. Su Xiaofei wasn''t that strong to crush his hand with a mere step. Because of this particr memory in the past, Xi Qian has had a trauma since then.


    Because she was the one apanying Xi Qian, that night on her special day, ditching the bodyguards in the process. If she hadn''t been so arrogant that night and put their safety in mind, none of this would have happened.


    She had been afraid that it would happen again, so she asked Xi Qian if she wanted to learn martial arts to protect themselves in the future. It was for that reason she was able to beat this old pervert who dared to harass her best friend in the past.


    His hand had been previously injured when he was scavenging the trash to find something he could sell when he was cut by a broken ss. Now, being stepped on by Su Xiaofei, his face nched as he realized that his wound had reopened.


    "Okay, okay." The man agreed and Su Xiaofei stepped back, allowing him some time to dig the money from his pocket and hand it to her.


    Su Xiaofei scoffed and ced the money inside the pocket of her jacket and nced at her terrified friend. She needed to take Xi Qian away as soon as possible to lessen the damage this encounter would leave on her.


    "Hey, old man. You better make sure I don''t see your face around me anymore or else¡­"


    The man crawled away from Su Xiaofei and ran away in fear. He wasn''t sure what had just happened and how that young woman managed to beat him so easily, but he would rather not meet her again in the future.


    Earning money only to be beaten into a pulp wasn''t expected when he epted that errand!


    Su Xiaofei then strode toward Xi Qian and helped her get up. She still wondered if this was a dream, but how was it possible that she could touch Xi Qian like this and could feel the warmth of her hand against hers?


    Was this just a figment of her mind, a memory she wanted to correct and regretted? Was this why she was seeing her dead best friend for the first time since her death?


    "Feifei, what did that man say? Someone asked him to assault me?" Xi Qian was sober now. She clung Su Xiaofei''s hand as thetter sent messages to her bodyguards toe and pick them up.


    "Hn. It seems like your stepmother really hates you, Qian." She replied then patted her friend''s head. "But don''t worry, with me by your side, I won''t let anyone bully you." Su Xiaofei promised.


    "But why would she do that?" Xi Qian frowned. Her parents had long divorced and never bothered looking after her. If it wasn''t for her grandmother, she wouldn''t be able to grow up decently. "I know she doesn''t like me because I''m not her child, but for her to pay someone to assault me¡­"


    Su Xiaofei remained silent for a moment. The reason why Xi Qian''s stepmother had done this was to destroy Xi Qian''s reputation, painting her as a wild and unfilial child. Since Xi Qian was already eighteen years old, they couldn''t im the custodian rights she and her husband had against her. Forcing Xi Qian to make mistakes and to encounter misfortunes would allow them to gain control over her again.


    In her past life, because Xi Qian had repeatedly fallen under her stepmother''s schemes, she had lost the inheritance and the house she received from her deceased grandmother. A year from now, the ce where the house stood would be purchased by a developmentpany and Xi Qian''s father, as well as her step mother, managed to snatch the fortune from her hands.


    Seeing Xi Qian''s eyes turned misty, Su Xiaofei couldn''t help but feel pity for her friend. Xi Qian had lost her life before Su Xiaofei sumbed to her illness. Before her twenty eighth birthday, Xi Qian was identally killed when the iron bars at the construction site near her new home copsed and fell over her.


    Su Xiaofei didn''t believe that it was merely an ident that took her best friend''s life. Perhaps, it was another ploy of Xi Qian''s stepmother to get rid of her. Just when Xi Qian''s rtionship was about to bloom, she had lost her life.


    "Qian, are you sure you don''t want to move into my ce? I won''t mind sharing it with a housemate." She offered Xi Qian''s once again.


    Su Xiaofei obviously had more money than Xi Qian, because she was raised as an heiress by the Su family. However, they may be best friends, but Xi Qian never took advantage of their friendship. For others it was surprising that the innocent and kind Xi Qian had a good friendship with Su Xiaofei, who was known for her arrogance and viciousness within the social circle.


    "But Feifei, I don''t want to be a burden to you." Xi Qian frowned. "I appreciate your offer, but I don''t want people to think that I''m only befriending you because you have money."


    "The hell to them and what they think." Su Xiaofei scoffed in annoyance.


    She had learned that what people think or say shouldn''t matter too much the hard way. If she wasn''t so superficial in the past, she wouldn''t foolishly unt her money around and bully Ye Mingyu.


    "I''m fine, Feifei. Don''t worry too much about me, but I guess we should stop sneaking out." Xi Qian''s lips curled up as she smiled at Su Xiaofei.


    A ck car had pulled into a stop near the alley they were in and Su Xiaofei nudged her friend to follow her.. However, even before they reached it, Su Xiaofei felt like everything around her was fading into darkness with Xi Qian''s voice calling out her name.

 Chapter 6 - Rebirth At Eighteen (3)

    <h4>Chapter 6 - Rebirth At Eighteen (3)</h4>


    The next time Su Xiaofei opened her eyes, she had no idea where she was and how long it had passed since she sumbed to the darkness. If this was another memory to remind her of what she''d lost, then surely someone wanted to see her suffer continuously.


    As she looked around, she noticed that an IV was attached on her right hand and her clothes were changed into a white flimsy hospital gown, much to her annoyance. The window on her right was opened, allowing her to see a willow tree from afar, with its branches that made the tree look bent on a smallke next to it.


    Su Xiaofei remembered now. This was three days after the assault of Xi Qian. Because she had lost consciousness during the assault, she and Xi Qian were only found by her bodyguards after the incident happened.


    The alcohol in her stomach had been pumped out as she was so intoxicated. It scared her adoptive mother and Xi Qian so much, they thought that she wouldn''t make it. s, she survived and woke up, unfortunately only to meet Mo Yuchen''s scrutinizing gaze.


    Su Xiaofei froze at the thought and nced at the clock inside her hospital room. She had woken up an hour earlier than expected, leaving her enough time to sort her thoughts before Mo Yuchen''s arrival.


    Was this another dream? She wondered.


    No. Her surroundings felt too real for it to be a dream. She could feel the pain as she tugged the IV on her hand and felt the slight breeze from the open window touch her face. She eyed her phone that was left on the bedside table and picked it up, checking the time and the date.


    So she really came back to life and to the past!


    Su Xiaofei went to the ensuite washroom and looked at her face. Looking at her younger self made her body tremble. Though she was wearing a flimsy hospital gown, it didn''t obscure her gorgeous beauty. The slight harshness of her old face was gone and only the youthful face she had in the past was reflected in the mirror.


    Her eyes were clear and unlike Ye Mingyu, whose beauty was known for her innocence and natural looking, Su Xiaofei was like a fox. Her eyes had a hint of sharpness on it. Paired with crimson lips, white teeth and loose wavy hair that tumbled on her small back, Su Xiaofei gave off azy charm as she looked at her reflection.


    Her eighteen-year-old self looked so arrogant, self-righteous and rebellious. Her brain couldn''t believe what she was seeing. She had never thought that the stories of rebirth and time travelling that she used to hear and see in movies and books would happen to her.


    For years, after her death, she was roaming around her mother''s mansion, watching Lu Qingfeng''s life turn to worse. Yet, when she was reborn into her eighteen year old self, the thought of being able to save her life and change Lu Qingfeng''s pitiful end brought immense joy in her heart.


    She went back to bed and checked the messages left on her phone. With five percent charge remaining, Su Xiaofei knew that she wouldn''t be able to check everything.


    What should she do then? If she was really reborn into the past, would this mean she would be able to change her end if she yed her cards well?


    Memories of her resentment against her father and husband flooded Su Xiaofei''s mind. She hated her heartless father for bringing home his other daughter, effectively ruining her life and pushing her adoptive mother to her death. Su Xiaofei had made sure to make Ye Xing and Ye Mingyu''s life miserable, but who would have thought that in the end, she would lose to that scheming mother and daughter?


    Memories of Lu Qingfeng''s life after her death also filled her mind. She hadn''t expected that he would live like a monk, denying himself happiness and the future of building a family of his own. She couldn''t forget that even on hisst day, Lu Qingfeng held her photo tightly and called out her name in his sleep.


    "What a foolish man. You have everything, but you deny yourself from the joy of it all." She thought. However, what Lu Qingfeng said in the past resounded in her mind.


    "What''s the point of having everything, if you aren''t here beside me?" He muttered while he was ying her favorite song in the background.


    Su Xiaofei never thought that he knew her so well, that Lu Qingfeng was aware of her preference when it came to food, clothes and music. How could she have remained so oblivious to his feelings?


    Was it because she had always viewed him like a little brother that she''d foolishly believed that they could only have siblings'' affection towards each other? Thinking about Lu Qingfeng''s pitiful expression when she died only made her feel an excruciating heartbreak.


    She fisted her hands. Even if she was reborn and had travelled back to the past, she couldn''t let go of her resentment towards the people who ruined not only her life, but also her mother and Lu Qingfeng''s. In this life, she would make sure that Lu Qingfeng wouldn''t end up as a tyrant who would leave devastation around him because of her.


    However, before that, she had to change the course of her life. In her past life, she used every means possible in order to marry Mo Yuchen, who only held nothing for her but disgust until herst day.


    She had been foolish in the past, thinking that she would be able to win his heart if she stayed by his side, but that never happened.. Unfortunately, no matter how she expressed her feelings, Mo Yuchen remained indifferent, as if he were made of stone.

 Chapter 7 - Ex-Husband, We Meet Again (1)

    <h4>Chapter 7 - Ex-Husband, We Meet Again (1)</h4>


    In her past life, she had fallen in love at first sight when she met Mo Yuchen at the tender age of thirteen. From that moment onwards, he had been the center of her universe. Everything she did, she did it for him. However, in the end, all she got was his disgust and coldness, to the extent that he forbade her to give birth to his child.


    Su Xiaofei was simply not favored by Mo Yuchen. Throughout their five years of being married, he never touched her, not even once, until she resorted to extreme measures and forced him to spend a night with her.


    As expected, that disgust turned into hatred and he ruthlessly forced her to get an abortion after finding out she was pregnant with his child.


    "A woman of your caliber isn''t worthy of bing a mother." Mo Yuchen ruthlessly told her before she was dragged by his people into the operating room.


    She might be an obnoxious woman, but for her child, Su Xiaofei naturally felt immense love for it. The emptiness of her womb once her child was forcibly aborted by her husband was iparable to the surge of storm of hatred that filled her heart after that.


    How could he kill his own flesh and blood just because he hated her? Su Xiaofei couldn''t understand him.


    The following week after the abortion, Su Xiaofei hadn''t seen, not even the shadow of her husband. To think that he loathed her to the extent that he was willing to kill their baby was too much for her.


    After that, Su Xiaofei''s actions and attitude turned to worse as she would turn up uninvited to some of the events where her husband was in attendance and caused amotion in front of the public eyes whenever she spotted Mo Yichen talking to another woman, especially when it''s Ye Mingyu. She decided to make them miserable, by leaking the news of their affair in the media.


    Because of this, their rtionship was beyond salvation as Mo Yuchen decided to divorce this crazy woman. Hearing his intention to divorce, Su Xiaofei wasn''t willing to sign it, for she knew that it would only benefit her husband''s affair with Ye Mingyu. They could easily make their rtionship official once she was out of the picture. So how could she allow that woman to steal her role as his wife?


    Forcing her to sign the divorce papers was like offering her the long three feet of white silk!


    The nurse on duty who came to check on her saw that she had woken up and immediately called for the doctor toe in. Su Xiaofei - still a little confused of her current situation - cooperated with everything the doctor did and answered his questions calmly.


    After determining that Su Xiaofei had recovered, the doctor allowed her to be discharged the next day.


    "Miss Su, you are very lucky that your friend rushed you to the ER. Has it been a littleter, we aren''t sure if we could save you in time. In the future, please avoid drinking excessively. You are still young and I''m afraid it might leave harmful effects on your body if you insist on keeping up this kind of lifestyle."


    "I understand, Doctor. I''ll limit my consumption of alcohol from now on." Su Xiaofei nodded in agreement. There was no point in harming herself if those people could live happily upon her death.


    As soon as the doctor and the nurse walked out, Aunty Liu, who had been working with their family as one of the housekeepers, arrived. When Su Xiaofei eventually married Mo Yuchen, Aunty Liu had decided to retire to live with her sessful son and his wife who had given birth to Aunty Liu''s first grandchild. At that time, Su Xiaofei was reluctant to let her go and wanted to bring the old woman with her to the Mo family''s household.


    The old woman put down the thing she carried with her and gave her young miss a good look. Seeing that Su Xiaofei''splexion was better than herst visit, she breathed a sigh of relief.


    "Feifei, I know you find my nagging irritating, but this old woman is only concerned about your welfare. Next time, don''t be impulsive by ditching your bodyguards. If something terrible happens to you, your mother would surely be devastated by it."


    Listening to Aunty Liu''s concern, Su Xiaofei scolded herself for being selfish in her past life. Because Su Xiaofei wasn''t close to her father and with her mother being a workaholic businesswoman, she rarely spent time with them and was always apanied by Aunty Liu and their other housekeepers.


    "I know, Aunty. I won''t make the same mistakes again."


    "It''s good that you know." The old woman was pleased by Su Xiaofei''s answer, not knowing that the promise Su Xiaofei made was not only about her drinking alcohol, but also avoiding the mistakes shemitted in her past life.


    Su Xiaofei remembered that her mother was against her idea of marrying Mo Yuchen. Perhaps, Yun Qingrong knew that the man wouldn''t cherish her daughter. Also, because of her own husband''s betrayal, she feared that Su Xiaofei would also suffer the same pain she went through.


    The more Su Xiaofei thought about it, the more she felt guilty for not listening to her mother''s words. She even regretted that she had argued with Yun Qingrong and forced her to ept her marriage with Mo Yuchen. Su Xiaofei wasn''t sure if her mother was aware that the only reason Mo Yuchen agreed to their union was because he was eyeing the wealth Yun Qingrong managed to raise by herself after she was disowned by the Yun family.


    Just as Su Xiaofei was about to eat the congee Aunty Liu bought for her, a familiar person appeared at the doorway, taking their attention.


    "Young Master Mo!" Aunty Liu gasped in surprise while Su Xiaofei remained calm because she was expecting her traitorous husband''s arrival today.


    ''Ex-husband, so, we meet again.''

 Chapter 8 - Ex-Husband, We Meet Again (2)

    <h4>Chapter 8 - Ex-Husband, We Meet Again (2)</h4>


    Su Xiaofei remained calm and drank the ss of water Aunty Liu poured for her earlier. She heard Mo Yuchen walk towards her direction with confident strides. The man possessed a tall stature with a cold, indifferent aura around him. He was dressed in a ck business suit that enhanced his domineering aura, but Su Xiaofei remained unperturbed by his presence.


    She lifted her gaze and noticed the imposing aura that was hovering over her. As she nced at his face, Su Xiaofei swore that she wouldn''t be as foolish as she was before. Heaven had given her a chance to rectify her mistakes anyway.


    Remembering the suffering she had endured in her past life because of this man standing before her, her eyes turned indifferent. She hadn''t forgotten how Mo Yuchen sneered at her face in disgust while he held Ye Mingyu affectionately in public. She was his wife, and yet she was treated no better than the mistress.


    "Aunty Liu, can I have another cup please?"


    "Here, Miss." Aunty Liu hurriedly went and poured her cup another drink before she stepped back nervously.


    Taking her newly refilled cup, Su Xiaofei drank it slowly and deliberately, aware that Mo Yuchen was staring at her at that moment.


    In the past, this man had never treated her well. Especially when he forced her to abort her child, then he forced her to sign the divorce papers several times. One time, she acted so brash and recklessly she had taken a kitchen knife to threaten him that she wouldmit suicide if he insisted on divorce, but what he said next was enough to kill the remaining love she had for him.


    "Sure, go ahead and stab yourself. You better make sure it is deep enough so you will die at once!!" He spat out in her face as he threw the divorce papers in her face.


    As tears streamed down her face, she looked at her husband in disbelief. He was willing to kill their child and divorce her so he could go out publicly with Ye Mingyu? How foolish she had been to believe that he would change!


    Everyone called her the heartless and ruthless viiness, but they had no idea that she was no match against him at all.


    Once the memory ended in her mind, Su Xiaofei inwardly sneered. In this life, she would make sure to have thestugh! There was no way in hell that she would love this bastard who tormented her in the past.


    To be able to gain a chance to live her life again, if she still pursued and was forced to be with Mo Yuchen, then wouldn''t this chance given by the heavens turn to waste?


    Mo Yuchen hadn''t met Ye Mingyu yet, and he was tolerating her because the Mo family had a great rtionship with the Su family. They were betrothed to each other from a young age, but that didn''t change the fact that Mo Yuchen had not treated her well.


    Her very calm and sure movements, starting from the way she picked up her cup until she finished drinking it, Mo Yuchen noticed that she had done it gracefully. She had this noble bearing he''d never seen on her before and wondered what caused her sudden change.


    "Young Master Mo, what are you doing here?" Su Xiaofei asked Mo Yuchen. Her voice was calm and gentle, in contrast to the rage of fury that filled her heart.


    Mo Yuchen''s brows furrowed. Just now, he could swear he''d seen her eyes turned frigid cold with a glint of disgust in them. Was he seeing things or did Su Xiaofei look different today?


    "I came here to visit my fianc¨¦e. Why else would I be here?"


    Su Xiaofei faced him directly, the corner of her lips curled devilishly.


    "Ah, is that so?" She said with a mocking smile.


    She knew fully well that the reason Mo Yuchen came here was because Elder Mo forced him to visit her. If it wasn''t for that old man''s persistence and support, Su Xiaofei wouldn''t be able to make Mo Yuchen marry her in her past life.


    Mo Yuchen watched Su Xiaofei intently, paying attention to her face. He had to admit that she was beautiful whenever she was smiling. It was mesmerizing to look at to be honest, but whenever she did it only meant trouble for everyone around her.


    Her looks were beautiful to begin with. She had a pair of expressive eyes that glinted whenever she was amused or happy. She had a smooth paleplexion, delicate feminine features and a great figure. As a known viiness, there was no doubt that she was one of the most beautiful women in the city.


    Too bad, her personality was rotten down the core. She was so overbearing and arrogant and most of the time acting spoiled in front of him, trying to get his attention. It only made her look repulsive in his eyes.


    Whenever he met Su Xiaofei in the past, she would always look at him with adoration in her eyes, but today, she was looking at him as if she couldn''t wait for him to leave. Her sudden cold indifference startled him.


    "You know, you don''t have to waste your timeing here. I''m pretty sure you have other more important business you need to attend to rather than seeing me." Su Xiaofei picked up her spoon and took a spoonful of her congee and ate it.


    She lowered her eyes, trying to hide the viciousness that couldn''t wait to be unleashed, but she reigned her anger. It''s not the right time to burn the bridge between them. She was truly a foolish woman, because if she wasn''t, she wouldn''t fall in love with a heartless person like Mo Yuchen.


    Just looking at his arrogant face and remembering the face of the twenty five year old Lu Qingfeng, Su Xiaofei suddenly felt that Mo Yuchen''s face was a joke.

 Chapter 9 - What Game Are You Playing Now? (1)

    <h4>Chapter 9 - What Game Are You ying Now? (1)</h4>


    The twenty five year old Lu Qingfeng who came in thest moments of her life, looked better than this trashy excuse for a man.


    In the past, even before Ye Mingyu arrived in their life, Mo Yuchen hadn''t been paying attention to Su Xiaofei. If it wasn''t for Elder Mo''s agreement with Su Xiaofei''s father, Su Haoran, he wouldn''t have wasted his time seeing this woman in front of him. He would always cut their meetings short using the same excuse Su Xiaofei had just said today.


    ''I have other important things to attend to. You don''t have to see me out.'' He would say before leaving, without giving Su Xiaofei a chance to argue with him.


    "You wouldn''t mind if I didn''t see you out, right?" Su Xiaofei told him with a mocking smile on her lips.


    Mo Yuchen scowled and gave Su Xiaofei a dirty look. How dare this woman look down on him?!


    Aunty Liu, who was listening to the conversation between the two, was stunned upon hearing her young miss''s scathing words. Did Su Xiaofei have a fight with Young Master Mo before? What''s more, her miss''s actions werepletely different from her brash attitude.


    Mo Yuchen''s expression darkened with his piercing gaze focused on the woman in front of him. He wasn''t sure why Su Xiaofei was acting like this. Was she changing tactics to get his attention?


    He couldn''t help but pull her chin, forcing her to look at him. His tall stature was bent forward as he leaned his face close to Su Xiaofei''s.


    As he came closer, he wasn''t sure why he thought that this woman had a good skinplexion and he noticed how thick her eyshes were. His thin lips pressed into a line when he noticed her equally cold indifference in her eyes.


    "Is this one of your ploys to get my attention? You are really getting worse!"


    Su Xiaofei red back at him with the same intensity before pushing his hand away from her face.


    "You are overthinking, Young Master Mo. I assure you, I just don''t want you to waste your time on me." She said with irritation. "Elder Mo isn''t here anyway, and everyone has seen youe here. You''ve already done your part."


    Now that she wasn''t muddleheaded anymore and wasn''t in love with this horrible person, her mind was clearer and she wasn''t blinded with her infatuation. If there was someone who deserved to be loved and cherished, it would be Lu Qingfeng.


    Thinking of what happened to Lu Qingfeng in her past life, Su Xiaofei didn''t know what she should do at the moment. Was she moved by his loyalty after her death? Did she love Lu Qingfeng now? She wasn''t sure at all. She had been fighting with Ye Mingyu over Mo Yuchen for years, causing her to neglect several people in her life. It was hard to tell what she truly felt for Lu Qingfeng now that she was reborn.


    Thinking of what she experienced in the past and how this horrible man treated her, in Su Xiaofei''s eyes he couldn''t bepared to Lu Qingfeng at all. Being reborn, she was given a chance to correct her mistakes and avoid the tragedies that were about to befall her loved ones.


    She wouldn''t waste her youth for Mo Yuchen, this scumbag, again. Also, she wouldn''t give Ye Mingyu any chance to take advantage of her weaknesses, and would do her best to preserve Xi Qian''s life and Lu Qingfeng''s happiness.


    Su Xiaofei then remembered the words Lu Qingfeng told her before her death. He said that he loved her. At that time, she wasn''t sure what to feel about it. However, now that she was reborn, for Lu Qingfeng to be able to lead a happier life, would it be better for him not to fall in love with her?


    Since when did his feelings for her start anyway? Su Xiaofei wondered.


    Lu Qingfeng treated her really well and though they argued sometimes, that young man knew when to retreat, allowing her to calm down. Therefore, Su Xiaofei had no idea when he had fallen in love with her.


    The difference in their age was three years, with Su Xiaofei being the older one. Because they lived in the same neighborhood in their younger years, Su Xiaofei had treated Lu Qingfeng like a younger brother. Although she was older, as they grew up, Lu Qingfeng was the one who always looked after her.


    By this time, Lu Qingfeng should be around fifteen years old, still a kid that was on the cusp of adulthood. He was too young for him to harbor such feelings for her.


    Even if he had, she had to make sure that he would be able to turn his affection to another person. After what happened to him in her past life, how could Su Xiaofei be greedy and ept his feelings for her? If it wasn''t because of her, Lu Qingfeng wouldn''t be the tyrant that people were terrified of. She must take responsibility for the pitiful life he led in the past.


    As for Mo Yuchen, who was still ring at her right now, Su Xiaofei remembered that her adoptive mother, Yun Qingrong persuaded her not to marry him, entirely because of the crisis of his family''spany.


    Five years from now, Golden Star Entertainment would face a crisis, and in the past, Mo Yuchen sought Yun Qingrong''s help, but she refused. However, once he became her son-inw and Su Xiaofei''s husband, she wouldn''t have a choice but to help Mo Yuchen avoid bankruptcy for her daughter''s sake.


    Yun Qingrong was truly against their union, however, her traitorous husband, Su Haoran, insisted that they should give their family some face and not back out from the engagement of the two.


    "Su Xiaofei, your attitude is getting worse each day!" Mo Yuchen red at her icily.


    "Just who do you think you are to scold our Xiaofei?"

 Chapter 10 - What Game Are You Playing Now? (2)

    <h4>Chapter 10 - What Game Are You ying Now? (2)</h4>


    Su Xiaofei froze upon hearing that familiar voice. She could recognize that person anywhere.


    She and Mo Yuchen turned their heads in the direction of the voice and they saw the young Lu Qingfeng, still dressed in his school uniform, with Xi Qian standing behind him. The two had a deep frown etched on each of their faces as they looked at Mo Yuchen.


    "Mo Yuchen, if you are a man, I would rather stay as a kid forever than be like you." Lu Qingfeng sneered to the older man who was standing next to Su Xiaofei''s bed.


    "That''s right. When you grow up and be a man, Little Feng, don''t be like Young Master Mo." Xi Qian patted Lu Qingfeng''s back since it would be awkward for her to pat his shoulder because he was way taller than her.


    Even though Lu Qingfeng was only fifteen at this time, he was already towering over her and Su Xiaofei at 170 centimeters and was still growing. Only Su Xiaofei was aware how outstanding and handsome man Lu Qingfeng would be once he shed his child-like features that were still a little apparent on his face.


    "Young Master Lu, Miss Xi." Aunty Lu greeted the two. She initially thought that having these two here would be able to stop the heated argument going on between her Miss and Mo Yuchen, but she hadn''t expected that they would react the same way Su Xiaofei did.


    She had never seen Su Xiaofei treat the young master of the Mo family like this. The old woman wondered what made Su Xiaofei have a change of heart when ites to Mo Yuchen.


    Hearing their opinions, Mo Yuchen wrinkled his brows and was slightly annoyed to see the younger Lu Qingfeng looking down on him.


    "Young Master Mo, if you have nothing to say, can you please leave? I have other ''more important'' things to tend to." He heard Su Xiaofei say nonchntly as she continued to eat her congee as if nothing happened earlier.


    Mo Yuchen smirked in return, but the disgust in his eyes was obvious to everyone looking at him.


    "Do you think I like to be in the same room as you? Not everyone is stupid like you, always doing shameless and reckless things to get my attention."


    Lu Qingfeng and Xi Qian red harshly in return. While it was true that Su Xiaofei did cross the line several times in the past, it was wrong for Mo Yuchen to treat his fiancee like this.


    While the two were seething in anger in her stead, Su Xiaofei remained calm. She picked up a clean napkin and wiped her mouth.


    "If I wasn''t stupid, did you think I would be interested in someone like you?" She retorted, much to Auntie Liu and Xi Qian''s shock. "Too bad Young Master Mo, you are out of luck now. I don''t like you anymore. So please - scram!"


    "What game are you ying now?" Mo Yuchen asked in disbelief.


    It was one thing to see her looking at him with disgust, but for Su Xiaofei to vocally admit that she didn''t like him anymore, was she trying to y hard to get - where she was just loosening the reins only to hold him tighterter?


    "You are thinking too much, Young Master Mo. Don''t you know that even the most passionate love would wane over time, especially if they aren''t treated with care? I''m being honest with you here, I don''t like you anymore. Rest assured, I''ll take the me for this and will exin to your grandfather why we''ll dissolve our betrothal."


    "You don''t want to marry me anymore?" Mo Yuchen frowned.


    Su Xiaofei tilted her head on one side and cupped her chin.


    "Why, Young Master Mo? Don''t tell me you are willing now?"


    Mo Yuchen scoffed at that. "Who would want to marry someone like you?"


    "I''m pretty sure that you aren''t the only man around. With how good our Su Xiaofei is, there''s certainly many other men who''re more than willing to ask for her hand. Someone who will treat her better than you did." Lu Qingfeng interrupted their conversation, reminding the two that they weren''t alone in the room.


    Su Xiaofei turned to look at Lu Qingfeng, her eyes never leaving his face as if she was scrutinizing him. She wondered if it was toote to change his impression of her now. He was only fifteen. He shouldn''t be saying something as serious as this.


    "Right. Mr. Mo, I think you are forgetting that you aren''t the only qualified bachelor for our Feifei to marry. If it wasn''t for your grandfather, do you think our Feifei would even consider someone like you?" Xi Qian mocked Mo Yuchen in return.


    She wasn''t sure what made Su Xiaofei change her mind about this man. If it was their heartfelt conversation during her birthday, when she told Su Xiaofei that she was too good for Mo Yuchen, then this was good.


    Xi Qian didn''t need to be polite to this arrogant man anymore. If Su Xiaofei had enough of him, so be it!


    "Aunty Liu, can you pass some wet wipes please?" Su Xiaofei said.


    Aunty Liu was confused for a moment, but quickly passed over the wet tissues she brought with her without any questions.


    Su Xiaofei took a sheet of wet wipes and gently dabbed her chin with it. It was the same chin Mo Yuchen had touched earlier.


    When he realized this, his expression turned to worse. Did she really find him that repulsive?


    "Su Xiaofei!" He yelled again, his patience was running thin.


    "What? Is there something else you need? Please see yourself out." She answered him with a mocking smile.


    Seeing her expression, he was extremely annoyed by her smile. She was trying to annoy him to death!


    As he left in a fit of fury, Su Xiaofei''s eyes darkened as she stared at his retreating figure.


    ''Mo Yuchen, this is just the start.''

 Chapter 11 - I Should Have Listened To You (1)

    <h4>Chapter 11 - I Should Have Listened To You (1)</h4>


    Once Mo Yuchen was out, Xi Qian hurriedly sat next to Su Xiaofei on the bed and held thetter''s arm.


    "Feifei, are you alright?" She asked with a weird expression on her face.


    Was Su Xiaofei''s sudden change in demeanor simr to what Mo Yuchen imed earlier? Was her best friend just trying to y a mind game with him, or had Su Xiaofei truly gotten over him?


    Xi Qian had been Su Xiaofei''s best friend since they were in fourth grade, and she was aware of Su Xiaofei''s obsession towards Mo Yuchen. No one knew Su Xiaofei better when it came to Mo Yuchen than Xi Qian, since Su Xiaofei only confided her feelings towards that man with her best friend.


    Su Xiaofei, of course, was aware of what was going on in Xi Qian''s mind, but she couldn''t me her friend for doubting her. In her past life, in order for her to marry Mo Yuchen, she had exerted immeasurable efforts to make it happen.


    "I''m okay now, Qian. The doctor said I can go home tomorrow." Su Xiaofei gave her friend a small smile.


    Xi Qian froze. She and Su Xiaofei used to argue a lot about Mo Yuchen, especially on how Xi Qian thought that he wasn''t good enough for her friend, but Su Xiaofei insisted on pursuing him. Xi Qian couldn''t believe that there would be a day that Su Xiaofei would find the man disgusting, enough for her to chase him away in their presence.


    As much as she loved Su Xiaofei, Xi Qian was against her friend being with a man who was clearly not interested in Su Xiaofei or her wellbeing. How could she bear to see her friend repeatedly being bullied by Mo Yuchen?


    Even Lu Qingfeng was staring at Su Xiaofei, deep in his own thoughts. The slight frown on his face was an indication that he was also suspicious of Su Xiaofei''s intention and her sudden change of treatment towards her fiance.


    Su Xiaofei gave Xi Qian a gentle smile before resting her head against her friend''s arm affectionately. Now that she had a clearer mind, she wondered what made her fall madly in love with Mo Yuchen in her past life. Thinking about how she acted and her muddle headedness in the past, Su Xiaofei wanted to facepalm herself.


    The tragedies that had befallen her family and Lu Qingfeng could have been avoided if she had let go of her obsession with Mo Yuchen. The more she thought about it, the more she resolved to make things right.


    While it was true that she schemed against him and Ye Mingyu in her past life, trying to make them feel miserable, Su Xiaofei never attempted to kill them. So why was it that she, the one who was conferred by everyone as a viiness, had to lose her child?


    She must have been really foolish back then. However, this time, Su Xiaofei didn''t mind being a viiness in everyone''s eyes, so long as she could have thestugh.


    "Really? You don''t like Mo Yuchen anymore?" Xi Qian tried to probe her for answers.


    "I realized that I was foolish for chasing after a man who''s obviously not into me. If he doesn''t like me, then so be it. Why do I need to make my life harder than it already is?"


    Su Xiaofei thought her previous self wasughable. She was raised by her adoptive mother as an heiress, yet she lowered herself to love that kind of man, and the worse thing was, he had repeatedly rejected her over and over again!


    Xi Qian bit her lower lip, but didn''t dare to question Su Xiaofei more. She could see in her friend''s eyes that she had decided not to pursue Mo Yuchen anymore, which was a good thing. She could only hope that Su Xiaofei wouldn''t change her mind this time.


    "Then it''s great that you are over that fool. I told you he doesn''t suit you, Feifei." Xi Qian hugged Su Xiaofei back and smiled.


    "Right. I should have listened to you a long time ago." Su Xiaofei hid her sinister smile behind Xi Qian''s hair.


    "It''s enough that you know." Lu Qingfeng reminded them of his presence.


    Su Xiaofei nced at him and she saw that he still had a slight frown on his handsome face.


    Looking at the young Lu Qingfeng, Su Xiaofei felt that it had been a long time since she had seen him this close. He still had some of his childlike features, but she was certain that he would grow to a fine specimen of a man in the future.


    Indeed, everything was fine for now. She still had a chance to cut off her ties with that bastard Mo Yuchen, save her mother from dying with a broken heart and forbid Lu Qingfeng from turning into a vicious tyrant in the future.


    If her assumptions were correct, she would be able to change Lu Qingfeng''s future as well. The memory of the man who had stood in front of her tombstone with a pair of listless eyes was still clear in her mind.


    Su Xiaofei never wanted to see him in such a state again. However, as she looked at the fifteen year old Lu Qingfeng, she realized that his heart''s intention, even at such a young age, was already too deep for her not to notice.


    "Now that that''s finally settled. I brought your favorite blueberry cheesecake, Sister Xiaofei." Lu Qingfeng said with a straight face, which irritated Xi Qian at once.


    Before they overheard the argument between Mo Yuchen and Su Xiaofei earlier, they had met at the local bakery and fought over who should buy thest cheesecake for Su Xiaofei.


    Xi Qian wasn''t born into a wealthy family, unlike Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng, and she only received a few hundreds as a monthly allowance from her parents. This was why she needed to get a part-time job to support herself.


    "Hey! Didn''t we agree to say that we bought it together?!" She eximed.

 Chapter 12 - I Should Have Listened To You (2)

    <h4>Chapter 12 - I Should Have Listened To You (2)</h4>


    Xi Qian was nning to buy a slice to bring to Su Xiaofei for her visit, however, she met Lu Qingfeng at the same bakery. The two were stuck in a conundrum as to who should buy Su Xiaofei''s favorite dessert.


    Lu Qingfeng ignored Xi Qian''s fierce re and passed the box of cake to Aunty Liu.


    "Aunty Liu, make sure to ask the doctor first if Sister Xiaofei could eat it. I''m afraid that it will upset her stomach if she ate all the cake in one sitting." He told the old woman.


    Aunty Liu smiled at that, her previous worries dispelled upon seeing that her young miss would be fine so long as Lu Qingfeng and Xi Qian were on her side.


    Su Xiaofei huffed, feigning her irritation towards Lu Qingfeng.


    "You are wasting your time. The doctor is allowing me to go home tomorrow." She then fell silent.


    In her past life, when she woke up in this hospital room, she immediately had a heated argument with Mo Yuchen and he stormed out, leaving her in a crying mess. When she was discharged from the hospital, she chose to stay at her apartment near the school she was attending, not knowing that Ye Mingyu and her mother would arrive in her mother''s home, causing a scene.


    If she only hade home and apanied her mother, Yun Qingrong wouldn''t easily yield to Ye Xing''s request for the Su family to take Ye Mingyu in. It was the start of her misfortune.


    Other people said that Ye Mingyu had only imed her rightful ce and deemed her as the modern Cindere, and she, Su Xiaofei was the vicious younger sister who wasn''t able to tolerate her sister''s presence, fought and snatched everything Ye Mingyu had, not knowing that it was the opposite of the truth.


    "Feifei, are you alright? You look pale." She heard Xi Qian asked, which made Lu Qingfeng and Aunty Liu give her an inquisitive look.


    Su Xiaofei forced a smile. They didn''t need to know.


    "I''m fine. I just didn''t expect Mo Yuchen woulde and see me today."


    "If you don''t want to see him, just say so." Lu Qingfeng said. "It''s not like he wanted to see you anyway, so the feeling is now mutual."


    "What do you mean the feeling is now mutual, Little Feng?"


    All of them turned their heads only to see Yun Qingrong standing at the door with a confused expression on her face.


    "Feifei, did something happen?"


    Seeing her alive and well, Su Xiaofei didn''t realize that her eyes had turned misty at once, her tears started to stream uncontrobly down her beautiful face, shocking everyone around her.


    "Xiao Fei!" Yun Qingrong rushed to her daughter''s side as Xi Qian gave way for the older woman to pass. She stood up and allowed Yun Qingrong to cate Su Xiaofei.


    Su Xiaofei buried herself in her mother''s embrace and continued to weep helplessly. When she thought about the past, the cold treatment she had given her mother and how Yun Qingrong died, Su Xiaofei felt deep regret and shame.


    This woman, who took her in, loved her deeply as if she was her own child. How can Su Xiaofei not feel guilty for the things she had done to Yun Qingrong?


    Unlike her brothers who eventually joined the army, as the only daughter of the Yun family, Yun Qingrong started her own business, Bluemedia, a small entertainmentpany in Guangshang. Since she and her mother resided in Qiying City, which was located at the upper part of the metropolitan, Yun Qingrong had to leave early for work as Guangshuang was at least two hours away from their home.


    Yun Qingrong was a workaholic. Although she was beautiful, she had no interest in dating and ignored some of the advances and proposals she received in the past from her suitors. It was only when she was around thirty-one year old did she epted Su Haoran''s proposal for marriage, after he incessantly chased after her for over three years.


    However, who would have suspected that Su Haoran was lying to her? At that time, Su Haoran had already been living with Ye Xing, his long time girlfriend.


    Between his gentle and docile long time girlfriend and rich female superior, Su Haoran obviously chose thetter in order for him to climb up the societydder. What''s more, being rted to the Yun family who had old money and influence, how can Ye Xing bepared to Yun Qingrong?


    The only hindsight was at the time Su Haoran married Yun Qingrong, he had no idea that Ye Xing was three months pregnant and had given birth to Ye Mingyu in a few months. Ye Xing never sought Su Haoran for child support, however, because she was diagnosed with the early stage of cancer, she went to see him only to be confronted by Yun Qingrong in the end.


    "Feifei? Why are you crying?" Yun Qingrong asked Su Xiaofei. "Tell Mama what upset you." She said in a familiar gentle voice, making Su Xiaofei cry even harder.


    "Mama, I''m sorry. I''m really sorry." She cried out between her sobs. "I''ll listen to you now, so please don''t leave me again, okay? I won''t oppose you from now on, so please don''t be mad at me anymore."


    Yun Qingrong nced at Aunty Liu in confusion. "What happened?"


    The old woman exined that the moment Su Xiaofei woke up, Mo Yuchen paid a visit and the two exchanged some words. She even told Yun Qingrong of her young miss intention to break her ties with Mo Yuchen.


    Yun Qingrong had been worried sick about her daughter for the past three days.. When she heard that Su Xiaofei passed out and was rushed to the hospital for a possible alcohol intoxication, fear gripped her heart. Su Xiaofei was like a pearl in her hand, so how could she bear to see her daughter suffer?

 Chapter 13 - You Can Never Be My Sister (1)

    <h4>Chapter 13 - You Can Never Be My Sister (1)</h4>


    Yun Qingrong looked at her young daughter, her heart aching to see her crying like this. Her daughter rarely showed any weakness in front of anyone, and to see Su Xiaofei crying like this made Yun Qingrong feel helpless.


    For Su Xiaofei, who had experienced losing her mother in a tragic way during her past life, seeing Yun Qingrong face to face had caused the deep regret and grievances to resurface in her heart.


    She had opposed her mother for Mo Yuchen, however, everything she had done for him was for naught. She had been blinded to the point that she had failed to cherish what truly mattered to her. Surely, Mo Yuchen wasn''t worth losing not only her mother, but everyone who actually mattered in her life.


    If she wasn''t such a colossal fool, Yun Qingrong wouldn''t lose her life tragically and Lu Qingfeng wouldn''t need to taint his own hands with blood because of her. So how could Su Xiaofei let that happen again?


    Mo Yuchen, who was dissatisfied with his marriage with Su Xiaofei, cheated. Just because he still needed Yun Qingrong''s wealth, he did not attempt to call off their engagement before and worse still, he neither rejected their wedding nor offered her a divorce after that. He was a person who only knew how to raise himself and boost his own ego.


    The more Su Xiaofei thought about it, the more intense her hatred towards Mo Yuchen became. If karma doesn''t give her the justice she deserves, then she would punish Mo Yuchen and everyone for their actions herself.


    When the right timees, Su Xiaofei swore that she would make them pay for every grievance they caused her. As for Mo Yuchen and Ye Mingyu, this time, she would make sure to snatch the thunder directly from their hands.


    How could she have been so blind to have loved that horrible person unconditionally? Mo Yuchen had proved to her again and again that to him, she wasn''t worthy of his love and attention. Now that she had seen him again, the overwhelming urge to strangle him was almost unbearable.


    Back then, she used to wonder how he could possibly treat her so unjustly when in fact, she had once rescued him from being drowned when she was thirteen. Had he no heart? He didn''t even care that she used to stay awake until dawn after they got married, waiting for him toe home from work.


    Even when he bedded Ye Mingyu while he was still legally married to her, Su Xiaofei could only lower her head and cry in silence. She had waited for him foolishly, hoping that he woulde to her, but he didn''t.


    She had lost her mother because of that scumbag and her traitorous father, so how could she remain calm when facing Yun Qingrong now? In the past, she and Yun Qingrong always argued about her insistence to be with Mo Yuchen.


    Yun Qingrong must have known what could happen to her the moment she married Mo Yuchen and entered the Mo family household. She wouldn''t be able to protect Su Xiaofei when that happens.


    Yun Qingrong was taken aback all of a sudden, sensing Su Xiaofei''s grievances, although she rarely spent time with her child, she felt that she had somewhat failed Su Xiaofei as her mother.


    "Silly child, how could I hate you? You are my daughter. I can never hate you." Yun Qingrong gently patted her back like she used to do when Su Xiaofei was younger.


    Even though she wasn''t the one who gave birth to this daughter of hers, she loved her wholeheartedly nevertheless. She was aware that Mo Yuchen wasn''t interested in her Xiaofei and she didn''t want the man to bully her daughter and look down on her.


    "As for your engagement with Mo Yuchen, are you certain you don''t want to be with him anymore?" She asked her daughter curiously.


    Su Xiaofei pulled away from the elder woman''s embrace and nodded in response. Since she had decided to change her future this time, it was important that she cut her ties with Mo Yuchen and notmit the same mistakes she made before.


    "I realize that mama and Qian were right. Mo Yuchen doesn''t like me one bit¡­" She lowered her head and made an appearance of being bullied and wronged by her fianc¨¦.


    "Then leave this to me, Feifei. I''ll convince your father to break off your engagement with Mo Yuchen." Yun Qingrong replied and pulled her daughter back in her arms.


    She understood that her young daughter had been infatuated with Mo Yuchen and the thought somewhat made her heart ache. Her daughter was said to be vicious and fierce by the other, yet in front of her and her husband, those naysayers didn''t have the guts to provoke their anger by speaking badly about their Xiaofei.


    However, what pained her the most was how her husband treated their daughter. Even now, Yun Qingrong was trying to think of a way to exin why Su Haoran didn''te with her today.


    Su Xiaofei tightened her hold on her mother. Yun Qingrong had no idea that she already knew the truth about her not being their real daughter. However, no matter what, Su Xiaofei swore to make sure that Yun Qingrong would lead a happy life this time.


    ''Mama, let me protect you this time. Let me take care of you. This time, those who were responsible for your death should bear all the hardship and suffering you faced in the past.''


    The big quarrel with her mother had yet to happen, and most importantly, she had yet to marry Mo Yuchen this time, so she still had the chance to change the course of their future.


    ''Mama, I''m really sorry. I''m really sorry. I''ll be better this time, so don''t leave me on my own again.''


    Yun Qingrong felt her eyes stung with tears. She patted Su Xiaofei''s head lightly and didn''t speak.. Whether her daughter was telling her the truth or not, it''s good enough that Su Xiaofei was sensible enough to listen to her.

 Chapter 14 - You Can Never Be My Sister (2)

    <h4>Chapter 14 - You Can Never Be My Sister (2)</h4>


    Su Xiaofei watched as her mother conversed happily with Aunty Liu and Xi Qian, while Lu Qingfeng sat next to her bed, passing her a te of sliced apples that had skin on it. Lu


    Qingfeng was aware of her preferences, so Su Xiaofei didn''t need to remind him of it.


    As she nibbled on a piece of apple, Lu Qingfeng stared at her face. Su Xiaofei could sense that he wanted to ask her something, but was hesitating to voice his concerns.


    Although there were times that she was aware that Lu Qingfeng wasn''t pleased with her choices, especially regarding Mo Yuchen, he rarely voiced his concerns and disappointment.


    "What do you want to know this time?" Su Xiaofei decided to acknowledge the elephant in the room. Since Lu Qingfeng was sitting next to her, he probably wanted to know what made her change her mind towards Mo Yuchen or if she was just bluffing to ease her mother''s worry.


    "I''m just wondering¡­" Lu Qingfeng''s words trailed off. It wasn''t easy to believe Su Xiaofei''s ims when they were all aware of how extreme she could be to get whatever she wanted.


    "You are wondering if I did it to seduce Mo Yuchen. Do you really think I''m that kind of person, Xiao Feng?" She chuckled at him amusedly.


    Lu Qingfeng''s frown deepened. It wasn''t like he was suspecting her, but he was also aware that when Su Xiaofei had set her mind on something, it would be impossible to change her mind.


    Su Xiaofei realized this, and she couldn''t me Lu Qingfeng for not believing her this time. It had only been days since she had this argument with Xi Qian about Mo Yuchen, and she knew it would be hard to convince Lu Qingfeng that she wouldn''t pursue Mo Yuchen anymore.


    "It''s fine if you don''t believe me now, Xiao Feng. However, you should wait and see for yourself if I am truly over him or not. Haven''t I wasted enough time chasing after him?"


    She tried to keep her voice low to make sure not to worry her mother again. All the people who truly loved her were in this room, how could she not think of a way to protect them in the future?


    She was only eighteen at this time, and she would need to start umting resources she could use in the future to stop the Mo family from taking over her mother''s business.


    "You won''t change your mind?" Lu Qingfeng asked her with all seriousness. He stared at her as if he was trying to detect deceit in her eyes, but there was none.


    Su Xiaofei smiled and ruffled his hair, much to his irritation.


    "Mo Yuchen doesn''t deserve me."


    "That''s true." Surprisingly, Lu Qingfeng easily agreed with her. He then pushed away her hand and huffed in annoyance.


    "Anyway, why are you being so mean to Xi Qian? Xiao Feng, you know she''s my best friend, right? You shouldn''t be mean to everyone and only be nice to me."


    "I can''t?" The young man raised a slender brow at her. "But why?"


    It was Su Xiaofei''s turn to frown this time. In the past, because Lu Qingfeng only cared about her, he purposely ignored Xi Qian''s welfare. Su Xiaofei was sure that if the two got along with each other, Lu Qingfeng would be able to protect Xi Qian from any danger after her passing.


    s, that never happened. Although she practically grew up with these two, they were always at each other''s throats whenever they were in the same ce. Whenever she confronted the two about it, Lu Qingfeng would im that he didn''t understand why she was always with Xi Qian, while thetter would tell Su Xiaofei that she was underestimating the devil beside her.


    Su Xiaofei never understood that the two were fighting for her attention. On one side, Lu Qingfeng wanted to monopolize her to himself, while on the other side, Xi Qian thought that no man deserved her best friend.


    The reason why she didn''t get along with Lu Qingfeng was because she knew that he was a wolf in sheep''s clothing. He pretended to be a good person in front of Su Xiaofei, hiding his horns in the process. She was aware of the indecent thoughts he bore for Su Xiaofei, which was why Xi Qian was wary of him.


    "Don''t you trust your Jiejie?"


    "You aren''t my Jiejie." Lu Qingfeng denied her at once. "You can never be my Jiejie."


    "Is that so?" Su Xiaofei rubbed her chin with her free hand. "Here I thought you treated me as a family member."


    Lu Qingfeng''s jaws hardened as he red at her.


    "Now,e on. Didn''t we grow up in the same neighborhood since we were younger? You would usuallye to me for a sleepover because you are afraid of the thunderstorm. Do you still need my help to tuck you in bed and stay with you until the storm passes?" She teased him, liking the way he gritted his teeth and forced himself to rein his anger towards her.


    "Su Xiaofei!" He hissed.


    "What? You don''t have to be shy. Your Jiejie will chase away the monsters as you sleep." Su Xiaofei then pushed thest piece of sliced apple into his mouth.


    Lu Qingfeng opened his mouth and allowed her to feed him. He bit the sliced apple in half before moving forward, his thin lips touching the soft skin of Su Xiaofei''s forefinger, his eyes never leaving her.


    Su Xiaofei shivered at the intensity of his gaze and wondered since when did he have such influence on her. She could only stare back at him as if she was in a trance. Howe she wasn''t aware that Lu Qingfeng had such a side in the past?


    Lu Qingfeng then pulled the rest of the apple into his mouth and bit her finger with half-lidded eyes.


    "Su Xiaofei, you can never be my Jiejie. Not in the past, not now and definitely not in the future."

 Chapter 15 - Taking The First Step (1)

    <h4>Chapter 15 - Taking The First Step (1)</h4>


    Su Xiaofei returned home with her mother and Aunty Liu the next day and she rushed upstairs, leaving both elder women on their own, watching her retreating back. New Year''s day was approaching and this was why Su Xiaofei was given a few days off from school to celebrate with her family, which she never did in her past life.


    The entire Su Residence began to bustle as they started the preparation on Yun Qingrong''s orders. None of them bothered to spare Su Xiaofei a nce since her atrocious attitude had made everyone cautious of getting on her bad side.


    However, Su Xiaofei knew that some of them had ill intent towards her and her mother and was colluding with Su Haoran to get her mother''s wealth.


    If not for their involvement, how could other people easily mudsling her name and find out private information and events that could only be known to people who were living at the Su Residence?


    Su Xiaofei was now well aware of this, so she needed to make their home safe before she could move on to deal withrger problems such as Mo Yuchen and Ye Mingyu who would surely show up along with her mother, Ye Xing to beg for the Su family''s assistance.


    Yun Qingrong passed the bags she was holding to Aunty Liu and followed her daughter with a curious gaze. Her daughter oddly looked different since yesterday and she wasn''t sure what caused this sudden change in her Feifei.


    Su Xiaofei looked the same, but looked different at the same time. Yun Qingrong could even point out the obvious changes. Her Feifei''splexion looked better than yesterday, that''s for sure. The golden lighting from outside earlier made Yun Qingrong stop in her tracks and watch her daughter''s hair and face glint with a smile on her face.


    Compared to other young women of Su Xiaofei''s age, she looked delicate and proper. She took pride for being the only heiress of the Su family and wasn''t ashamed to voice out her thoughts.


    However, Yun Qingrong also noticed that her daughter seemed quieter than usual, almost as if her Feifei had turned into someonepletely unfamiliar.


    Yun Qingrong lowered her eyes and recalled how her Feifei acted differently yesterday. At her daughter''s sudden outburst, Yun Qingrong was finally certain that something was wrong with her daughter, but she couldn''t voice her worries towards Su Xiaofei.


    "Why do I feel as if there''s something wrong with Feifei? Her sudden change of attitude towards Young Master Mo was surprising." She told Aunty Liu.


    "I feel the same, Madam." The older woman replied. "But I suppose, Miss Feifei has finally got over her infatuation with Mo Yuchen now, which is a good thing. I don''t want to sound impolite, Madam, but I don''t like how Young Master Mo treats our Miss Feifei. It''s only natural for Young Miss to get tired of being treated like that."


    "I hope you are right, Aunty Liu."


    Of course, Aunty Liu wasn''t the only one who noticed it. Yun Qingrong herself could see the way Mo Yuchen treated her daughter, with such coldness and indifference, it''s easy to say that his attitude towards Su Xiaofei was borderline hatred.


    Although she disagreed with the betrothal of her daughter to Mo Yuchen in order to strengthen the ties of the Su and the Mo family, it was hard for her to dissuade Su Haoran not to marry off their daughter.


    Yun Qingrong knew that she and her daughter weren''t that close, considering how busy she was at work. It also didn''t help that Su Haoran was keeping his distance from their daughter. He barely spared her a nce, let alone talked to her.


    Yesterday, as she observed her daughter''s mannerisms and attitude, she felt that Su Xiaofei seemed like a whole new person. Yun Qingrong had some suspicion on her heart, especially when Feifei asked her to help her dissolve her engagement with Mo Yuchen.


    She briefly wondered if it was possible for someone''s personality to change so drastically after being unconscious for three days. Did something else happen before she passed out on the night of Xi Qian''s birthday?


    Yun Qingrong''s heart ached. In her heart, she knew that she wascking as a mother to her daughter, which led to Su Xiaofei trying hard to get the attention she wanted from other people, such as Mo Yuchen.


    If that was the case, then she must really have been a bad mother who ignored her child''s needs. Although she had provided every material thing she could for Su Xiaofei, Yun Qingrong understood that a mother''spany and love were vital for a child. However, it was hard for her to bnce her time between work and family, as she knew she couldn''t entrust thepany she started with blood, sweat and tears to her husband.


    They may be husband and wife, but Yun Qingrong had never allowed her husband to manage their money. He would only receive his monthly allowances and sry from herpany. Unlike their daughter who wasn''tcking in terms of money.


    Yun Qingrong didn''t care what people thought of her daughter, provided that she wasn''t doing anything illegal. If she wanted to spendvishly on clothes, makeup and food, so be it, as long as her Feifei was happy and satisfied.


    As for her daughter''s request to dissolve her engagement with Mo Yuchen, how could she deny her? Since Feifei decided not to be with Mo Yunchen, Yun Qingrong could only yield her daughter''s request.


    "Should we inform the Master that you and Young Miss are at home?"


    Yun Qingrong shook her head. "There''s no need."


    She didn''t want to admit it, but she and her husband weren''t on speaking terms at the moment because of the recent problem Su Haoran had caused at theirpany, leaving her to clean up the mess.


    Also, she had informed Su Haoran the day before to at least visit their daughter, but until Su Xiaofei''sst day at the hospital, his shadow couldn''t be seen anywhere.

 Chapter 16 - Taking The First Step (2)

    <h4>Chapter 16 - Taking The First Step (2)</h4>


    Su Xiaofei was already discharged from the hospital that day and she wasn''t a bit surprised that Su Haoran didn''t bother to see her at all. Although Yun Qingrong wanted her to stay at the hospital for another day just to make sure she was okay, she couldn''t persuade Su Xiaofei and could only ept that she was going home with them.


    The first thing Su Xiaofei did as soon as she returned home was to go to her bedroom as if she was afraid that this was just a figment of her imagination, and that she was only dreaming of seeing and meeting her mother again.


    The moment she pushed the door of her bedroom open, she was greeted by the sight of light pink and pastel colors that almost made her eyes hurt. It was still the same as she remembered before changing all of these after Ye Mingyu''s arrival in their lives.


    Although she was pampered and spoiled since childhood by Yun Qingrong, when Ye Mingyu came into the scene, Su Xiaofei was repeatedlypared with her fake elder sister.


    Su Xiaofei wasn''t as tall as Ye Mingyu as she was only 165 centimeterspared to Ye Mingyu''s 172 centimeters height. Even if the difference in their height didn''t matter, their figures werepletely different.


    Su Xiaofei''s chest wasn''t like an airport runway, butpared to Ye Mingyu''s magnificent figure, it was nothing. Paired with her innocent face, it wasn''t surprising why so many men had been charmed by Ye Mingyu.


    In her past life, in order for her not to be outshone by Ye Mingyu, Su Xiaofei started wearing high heels, so she wouldn''t feel too intimidated by the other woman''s height. Because of this and her long-term use of high-heeled shoes, the shape of her feet changed.


    Su Xiaofei couldn''t help but feel d that she won''t need to endure the same thing again. She wouldn''t be envious of Ye Mingyu anymore. So what if Ye Mingyu was her father''s real daughter and Mo Yuchen''s love of his life? She, Su Xiaofei, was Yun Qingrong''s daughter, regardless if she came from her mother or not.


    As her mother''s daughter, she had all the rights to her mother''s properties, as for Su Haoran¡­ well, he could only me himself because Su Xiaofei didn''t have any intention to spare him a single cent.


    As for others'' opinions, why would it matter to her? In her past life, aside from being ridiculed unjustly by them, she was also painted as a loose woman who wanted to seduce and snatch her elder sister''s man. So why should she consider their opinions?


    While it''s true that she was overbearing, arrogant and haughty in the past, some people had sshed her dirty water for the things that she didn''t do in the first ce.


    Su Xiaofei sat on the edge of her girly bed and reminisced about the past. She had been so foolish to disregard her mother in favor of chasing Mo Yuchen. In the end, the one who truly loved her died, while her husband chased another woman once he got his hands on her mother''s properties.


    Her bedroom was far from the same bedroom she had when she died and when Lu Qingfeng had upied it. There were light blue curtains with pink colored trimmings decorating the French window. There was a soft rug beneath her feet, which Yun Qingrong had personally ced next to her bed after that one night when she had identally tripped and slipped from her bed half asleep.


    Such simple actions that Su Xiaofei used to ignore in the past, but she could see them clearly now. There were cute pillows and dolls still lying on herrge bed, which she also received from her mother. Su Xiaofei knew that Yun Qingrong spoiled her, treated her like a real princess not because she couldn''t bear a child of her own, but because she truly treated Su Xiaofei as her daughter.


    Su Xiaofei sighed as her heart ached. Yun Qingrong was way better than that woman who gave birth to her and abandoned her for the sake of a striving career.


    Before her death in her past life, it was Lu Qingfeng who revealed who her real mother was after he ran an investigation based on Ye Mingyu''s im that Su Xiaofei wasn''t the real daughter of the Su family, but her.


    However, this room that was decorated by Yun Qingrong herself, was entirely changed by Su Xiaofei after she threw a fit for being treated like she was still a child by her mother. When Ye Mingyu came, Su Xiaofei insisted that Aunty Liu renovate her room to make it look like it was a bedroom intended for a young woman like her.


    After changing her clothes, Su Xiaofei took the hairbrush from her vanity and slowlybed her long hair, pondering what she should do next. Since heavens had given her a chance to relive her life, the first step she would make was critical to ensure her win this time.


    She nced at the calendar on the nightstand and tried to remember what happened in the past around this time.


    In the past, after she was discharged from the hospital and stayed in her apartment, she heard that Ye Mingyu had arrived at Qiying City with her mother and had met Master Ouyang.


    The Ouyang family owned one of thergest entertainment agencies in the country, Top Tier Entertainment. However, Master Ouyang wasn''t part of thepany. Instead, he was working as a high-ranking government official.


    Su Xiaofei briefly heard that Ye Mingyu had somehow managed to save Master Ouyang''s life, hence, when Ye Mingyu was scouted by an agent, she had chosen to sign with Top Tier Entertainment and with Master Ouyang''s help, got the best debut opportunity she could get in the industry.


    "But what would you do, Ye Mingyu if I stole your spotlight this time?"

 Chapter 17 - Taking The First Step (3)

    <h4>Chapter 17 - Taking The First Step (3)</h4>


    Su Xiaofei knew how important it was for her to make a move before Ye Mingyu gained any advantage against her. If she were to sit back and let the course of events remain the same, Master Ouyang would be a problem she would need to deal withter. She didn''t want to get beaten even before the fight started.


    Three days left before New Year''s Day. ording to rumors, Ye Mingyu met the old man Ouyang Luo at Qiying City''s Public Market. One afternoon, Master Ouyang, together with a young lieutenant, were mingling amongst the crowd of people who were busy shopping at the district because of the uing holiday.


    The old man encountered a problem as his wallet had been stolen when he was separated from hispanion, and it was Ye Mingyu who helped him settle the problem with the thief. Ye Mingyu had no idea who he was and helped him regardless. Thus, Master Ouyang held Ye Mingyu in high regards, giving her support when she decided to enter the show business as an actress.


    If Su Xiaofei managed to earn Master Ouyang''s favor this time, not only would she be able to halt Ye Mingyu in the future, she would also be able to use Master Ouyang''s influence to get information about the elusive Yun family.


    The Ouyang family was closely rted to the Yuns. Coincidentally, the young lieutenant who was apanying Master Ouyang that day was Yun Qingrong''s nephew, Yun Xiang.


    At the time when Ye Mingyu stood up for Master Ouyang, protecting the old man from being assaulted, Yun Xiang was then enamored with her. Yun Xiang had chased Ye Mingyu and assisted her several times in her schemes against Su Xiaofei, but in the end, Ye Mingyu still chose Mo Yuchen over him.


    Su Xiaofei didn''t care about Yun Xiang. However, it was important to her to not only earn the favor of the Ouyang family, but also gain the influence of the Yuns. Now that she was reborn, she would also try to make her mother''s dreame true, and that was to be able to mend things with her family.


    Su Xiaofei remembered when her mother lost her life due to that car ident, members of the Yun family came and Old Master Yun wept beside his daughter''s remains.


    "I shouldn''t have chased you away when you came back to ask for forgiveness." Old Master Yun said in a broken voice as he knelt at Yun Qingrong''s funeral.


    If it wasn''t for that sole encounter she had with her mother''s family, Su Xiaofei wouldn''t know that the Yun family still deeply cared about Yun Qingrong despite years of separation.


    Even Yun Qingrong''s brothers were devastated with her sudden passing, and although they cared about their sister, it was almost impossible to see her and meet her with their busy schedules at work.


    Perhaps the old man and the rest of the Yun family knew that she wasn''t Yun Qingrong''s real daughter and had chosen to ignore her existence. Not that Su Xiaofei was bothered with it anyway. If anything, she also felt resentment towards them for not being there for her mother when Yun Qingrong needed help the most.


    The knock on her door pulled Su Xiaofei out of her trance.


    "Feifei, lunch is ready." She heard Aunty Liu outside her door.


    "En, Aunty! I will be there in a moment." She replied, aware that she needed to make a decision as soon as possible.


    Su Xiaofei tried to remember the details and decided to meet Master Ouyang at the eve of the New Year''s Day. It should be the day when Ye Mingyu met him, considering that the pharmacy closes their doors at three in the afternoon on the eve of New Year''s Day.


    This was the same pharmacy which sold traditional medicine that Master Ouyang and Yun Xiang had visited before they encountered Ye Mingyu. Considering the time when they met and when Ye Mingyu arrived in the city with her mother, the eve of the New Year''s Day was the only day she would be able to go and look around on her own.


    Three days after the New Year''s Day, Ye Mingyu and her mother woulde to the Su Residence to beg Yun Qingrong to ept Ye Mingyu into their family. Because she wasn''t home during their visit, Su Xiaofei could only imagine the shock Yun Qingrong had received that day, seeing her husband''s real daughter with another woman.


    Ye Xing had been diagnosed with an early stage of breast cancer and because she wouldn''t be able to continue supporting Ye Mingyu''s studies, along with her recent diagnosis, she thought that it was time for her to seek Su Haoran''s help.


    Su Xiaofei scoffed. As if she would allow them to bully her mother in front of her. It didn''t matter if Su Haoran didn''t see her as his own child, because she was, no doubt, Yun Qingrong''s daughter. Even if she didn''t have a single drop of the Su and Yun family''s blood running through her veins, she was legally adopted as their daughter.


    If it wasn''t for Yun Qingrong''s state of panic and confusion at the time, her mother wouldn''t have easily epted their pleading in their past lives. However, Su Xiaofei decided to change the course of the events in their lives, if it meant that she would be able to protect her mother.


    Now that she hadid out her ns, it was time for her to deal with the pressing matters in their household. The first step in the effort to change her path was to weed out some pests that were living under their roof without them realising.


    In her past life, she ignored them solely because they were rted to Su Haoran, but thinking about it, their excessive and atrocious behavior stemmed from the fact that they knew that she wasn''t Su Haoran''s real daughter, Ye Mingyu was.


    Su Xiaofei stepped out of her room, her eyes filled with viciousness, closing the door behind her.

 Chapter 18 - Shameless Mother And Daughter (1)

    <h4>Chapter 18 - Shameless Mother And Daughter (1)</h4>


    Back then, she was oblivious of the ring hints of her identity while people snickered behind her back. She wouldn''t be surprised if Mo Yuchen was also aware of it, hence, he couldn''t really ept her as his wife.


    Su Xiaofei was foolish to think that she would spend the rest of her life with him. She remembered the moment their marriage ended with divorce, Mo Yuchen had stared at her with hateful eyes. At the time of her death, it wasn''t even Mo Yuchen who was by her side professing his undying love for her, it was Lu Qingfeng.


    The resentment she had in her heart, would the day that she would be able to let it go evere?


    Ha. It was impossible for her to live happily without grievances this time around. It was almost like an impossible dream for Su Xiaofei to live such a peaceful life.


    "Miss Xiaofei, what are you doing standing here in the hallway?"


    Su Xiaofei turned her head and found Housekeeper Chen smiling at her. She lowered her gaze to hide the viciousness in her eyes. The first pest had shown herself.


    Housekeeper Chen was a distant rtive of Su Haoran and along with her son, Chen Hao and daughter, Chen Li, the three moved into the Su Residence when Madam Chen''s husband passed away from a serious illness five years ago.


    "Mom, we should get going. I''m starving."


    The young woman next to Housekeeper Chen was her daughter, Chen Li. This girl was haughty and arrogant, and although she was only the daughter of a housekeeper, her clothes and her hands were like those of those young heiresses of the other wealthy families.


    This was because Chen Li liked to take the clothes that Su Xiaofei didn''t like or wasn''t wearing anymore. Considering the amount of clothes Yun Qingrong had bought for her, it was no wonder that they had turned a whole room on the third floor of their home into a huge closet that contained all the clothes Su Xiaofei owned.


    Most of them were unused, some still even had the tags on it. The Chen family came from a countryside, remote vige, and for Chen Li, the sight of such extravagance only fed her greed and envy towards everything Su Xiaofei had.


    Su Xiaofei turned her attention to the fifteen-year-old Chen Li with a ck gaze. The clothes Chen Li wore were a gift Su Xiaofei received from her mother on her sixteenth birthday. She wasn''t able to use and wear these clothes because Yun Qingrong made a mistake with her measurements and ended up buying a size smaller than Su Xiaofei''s figure.


    Sensing that Su Xiaofei was looking at her, Chen Li felt nervous and avoided meeting her miss''s eyes. She felt like she was under the gaze of a wild beast, ready to pounce on her.


    "These clothes¡­. Aunty Chen, I didn''t know that you are now capable of purchasing such a limited edition dress from Chanel. It seems like we don''t have to keep you here anymore." Su Xiaofei cupped her chin and made a gesture to scan Chen Li''s look from head to toe.


    Chen Li not only stole clothes from her, but she also enjoyed using the shoes and makeup Su Xiaofei had left at the Su Residence when she married Mo Yuchen in her past life.


    The older woman''s face nched upon hearing Su Xiaofei''s words. Of course she was aware of her daughter''s actions, but she never bothered to correct Chen Li''s ways. This was because she knew Su Xiaofei wasn''t really Su Haoran''s daughter, and they could easily get away with anything in this household with his help.


    Also, Su Xiaofei had never bothered with it in the past. She must have known that Chen Li liked to take some of her clothes from the third floor closet, but she never madements about it until now.


    Yun Qingrong was also rarely home, so issues like this were not highlighted.


    Housekeeper Chen opened her mouth, but no words came out. Why did she suddenly feel that Su Xiaofei was threatening her?


    "Oh? Now that I look at it, isn''t this the same gift Mama gave me on my sixteenth birthday? Chen Li, this really suits you well." She heard Su Xiaofei say, which almost gave Housekeeper Chen a heart attack.


    Housekeeper Chen gave her daughter an incredulous look. Of all the things Chen Li could take from Su Xiaofei''s walk-in closet, why would she get an expensive one at that?!


    It was a pity that Chen Li was oblivious to the situation she and her mother was in. She gave Su Xiaofei an arrogant huff and crossed her arms over her chest, her long hair flowing over her shoulder.


    "Isn''t that right? Mom won''t believe me when I say that I have good taste in clothes." She bragged, which only caused her mother''splexion to be paler.


    "Is that so?" Su Xiaofei slightly nodded, returning her attention to Housekeeper Chen.


    "So when are you three moving out?" She asked.


    Chen Li furrowed her brows and looked between her mother, who had now broken into a cold sweat, and Su Xiaofei, who was smiling innocently.


    "Miss, what are you talking about? Why would the three of us move out?" She blinked in confusion.


    "Eh?" Su Xiaofei furrowed her brows and gave the young woman a confused look. "But if your mother can afford to buy you a limited edition designer clothes, the Su family won''t be doing her a favor by keeping her here to work as a housekeeper, don''t you think?"


    "Miss Xiaofei¡­ this¡­" Housekeeper Chen wasn''t sure how to exin this to Su Xiaofei.


    "What is it, then? Do you need my help to exin this to Mama and Papa?" Su Xiaofei continued. "Aunty Chen, if you are worried that they wouldn''t let you go, I''ll give you a hand and exin this to them."


    "Mom? Are we really leaving?" Chen Li stared at her mother with wide eyes. "But why?"


    She didn''t want to return to their old life anymore!


    "Miss, the thing is¡­ I didn''t buy Xiao Li''s clothes."

 Chapter 19 - Shameless Mother And Daughter (2)

    <h4>Chapter 19 - Shameless Mother And Daughter (2)</h4>


    "Huh? You didn''t buy it?" Su Xiaofei blinked, then turned her gaze to Chen Li. "Then I suppose it''s a gift?" Her lips bloomed into a beautiful smile, a smile that only meant trouble to those who were graced by it.


    Housekeeper Chen knew right then that she was utterly doomed. How can she not know the reason behind Su Xiaofei''s smile? This witch was threatening her and her family and she couldn''t believe it.


    In the past, Su Xiaofei wouldn''t even spare her or her family even a nce, giving them the leeway to do whatever they wanted, especially Chen Li. If not for them overlooking these small, trivial matters, it wouldn''t have gotten out of hand and would be part of the cause that ruined Su Xiaofei''s reputationter.


    But how did the Chen family end up in her past life? Su Xiaofei tried to remember.


    Ah, in a passing when Su Xiaofei was still a ghost, roaming around her mother''s mansion, she overheard that Lu Qingfeng, the known tyrant, had dragged Chen Hao back and crushed both of his hands, leaving the man crippled for the rest of his life, while Chen Li didn''t fair any better as Lu Qingfeng sued her for falsification of documents and corporate espionage after luring her to work at Lu Corporation.


    As for Housekeeper Chen, she could only weep in despair as she watched both of her children ruined for the rest of their lives by Lu Qingfeng.


    "Aunty Chen, Chen Li, can you tell me where I could find this rare item? Mama has been trying to find another one in my right size. You know, she still feels a little upset when she gives me the wrong size." She asked the two.


    "I¡­ I don''t know, Miss." Housekeeper Chen hesitated to answer. She was aware that whatever she said in response would be used against her by Su Xiaofei. She then red towards her unruly daughter for dragging her into this predicament.


    None of this would have happened if her foolish daughter didn''t show up in front of Su Xiaofei, bragging about the clothes she was wearing today. Would this happen if Su Xiaofei had not seen the dress which was given to her by Yun Qingrong being worn by Chen Li? Su Xiaofei wouldn''t have the chance toe after her like this if she wasn''t aware that it was her dress in the first ce.


    ''You two came to me willingly. Don''t me me for being impolite.'' Su Xiaofei snickered inwardly, aware of the turmoil the old woman had in her mind.


    Seeing that neither the mother nor the daughter were willing to answer, Su Xiaofei didn''t want to let them off yet. How can she let go of this chance to give them a taste of their own medicine? They pretended to be kind in front of her, but they couldn''t wait to stab her in the back when she wasn''t paying attention.


    "So it''s not even gifted then. Wait, you''re not saying that this is actually the same designer clothes my mother gifted me two years ago, are you?" She pretended to gasp and proceeded to blurt the usation in such a low and malicious tone that made Housekeeper Chen shiver in fear.


    The old woman knew that the fake heiress was an arrogant and haughty young woman, but she had never thought that she could be this frightening. She had been living with the Su family for years, but this was the first time she had spoken to Su Xiaofei for over a minute. Their past interactions were too short for her to leave any impression on the young woman.


    "I-I only tried it on to see if it fits me." Chen Li admitted, causing her mother to almost vomit blood at that instance.


    Su Xiaofei looked at the younger woman as if Chen Li had grown another head over her shoulder. Was this girl really this stupid? Su Xiaofei couldn''t believe that she was easily ndered and maligned by a foolish girl like Chen Li.


    In her past life, because Chen Li used to wear the clothes owned by Su Xiaofei, she entered a club, hanging out with several men. People mistakenly took her as Su Xiaofei because of their almost identical frames and long ck hair. This reached Mo Yuchen''s ears, which resulted in additional strains in their alreadyplicated affairs.


    Su Xiaofei had been used of several things she hadn''t done in the first ce. She had never thought that people around her had been colluding with each other to harm her, including her own husband. As for Chen Li, she could only me herself now for being stupid, because Su Xiaofei had decided not to spare anyone who had wronged her in the past, nipping potential threats in the bud along the way.


    "What?" Chen Li frowned, failing to understand the precarious situation she had jumped into because of her admission.


    The silence among them was killing both mother and daughter in anticipation. The smile that was on Su Xiaofei''s lips vanished and was reced with a cold countenance as she looked at them.


    "Do you mean to tell me, Madam Chen, that your daughter is dolling herself up using my expensive clothes?" She asked with a sneer. "And here I thought that I was the one who had a bad upbringing, ording to other people."


    "Miss! How could you say that?!" Chen Li''s eyes turned misty. "I''m merely borrowing your clothes. It harmed nothing!"


    Su Xiaofei shook her head and sighed.


    "Did you ask for permission? How many times have you borrowed my clothes without me knowing? If that''s the case, I have never heard of a servant given the leeway to use her master''s belongings. Are you perhaps the Young Miss of this household now, Chen Li?"


    Chen Li''s face nched. It was the first time someone had reprimanded her like this. She gripped the side of her skirt and lowered her head in shame. A seed of hatred towards Su Xiaofei took a spot in her heart.


    "Miss Xiaofei, can you please forgive Xiao Li this once?" Her mother asked.


    "Sorry, but we can''t let a thief stay in our house."

 Chapter 20 - Shameless Mother And Daughter (3)

    <h4>Chapter 20 - Shameless Mother And Daughter (3)</h4>


    A thief!


    It was such a heavy usation from Su Xiaofei that left both mother and daughter speechless in front of her.


    "W-what?" Chen Li gaped at Su Xiaofei while her mother looked at their miss incredulously.


    "Miss, are you going to kick us out?"


    By this time, Housekeeper Chen was panicking. She wasn''t sure what would happen if Su Xiaofei managed to convince her parents to kick them out. If the Su family decided to fire her, it wouldn''t be easy for her to find another job to sustain her children''s needs and future.


    The fear and terror written on the mother and daughter''s faces pleased Su Xiaofei immensely. She wasn''t sure if she should take a photo just tomemorate it.


    Was this what those people felt when they made a fool of her? Watching her break, messing up with every aspect of her life and pushing every me her way, persecuting her like she was a viiness?


    Though thest part was technically true, they were jeering at her, as if she deserved all the misfortune that befell on her. She was supposed to y the role of the viin to make others look good in everyone''s eyes.


    In her past life, Su Xiaofei had never realized that each of them were the viins in her story. While everyone thought that she was the unreasonable person who wanted to snatch everything from Ye Mingyu, in her perspective, the world was her enemy.


    "Y-you can''t do that!" Chen Li argued. There was no way in hell that she would return to the countryside and experience hardship again.


    "I can''t?" Su Xiaofei wasn''t surprised by this sudden outburst by Chen Li. Knowing the young woman''s personality, she knew that Chen Li was too prideful to admit her wrongdoings because she, along with the rest of her family, knew the truth about Su Xiaofei''s identity.


    Su Xiaofei wasn''t Su Haoran''s daughter, and they knew that he had a daughter with his previous lover, who could possibly inherit all the fortune of the Su family.


    "I can''t? What makes you think I can''t do it?"


    ''Come on, tell me the truth.'' Su Xiaofei inwardly mocked Chen Li. It was obvious that Chen Li was getting agitated by her and was feeling humiliated. It was only natural that Chen Li would throw her logical mind to the wind and make a slip that would forever change their lives.


    "You can''t because you are¡­"


    However, before Chen Li could blurt out the truth in front of Su Xiaofei, Housekeeper Chen pulled her daughter behind her and shot her a meaningful look to shut her mouth. She knew the consequences they would face if Su Xiaofei found out the truth through them.


    Other than incurring Su Haoran''s wrath for jeopardizing his position, it would also send Yun Qingrong after them.


    "Miss, please¡­ I beg you¡­ please let Xiao Li off this time." Housekeeper Chen said to Su Xiaofei, but her eyes had no hint of remorse in them. She was saying this only because Chen Li was caught red-handed and to protect their vested interest.


    "And why should I do that? Chen Li said that she borrowed my clothes, but who was to say that this is the first time she had done it? I''ll ask Aunty Liu to check the inventoryter. If we find something''s missing, Aunty Chen¡­ I''m sorry, but I will ask my mother to charge it on your sry."


    Since the shameless mother and daughter didn''t seem like they regretted their twisted ways, especially Chen Li, why should she give them any consideration after what they have done?


    Chen Li was satisfied with dressing herself up in thevish clothes and shoes Su Xiaofei owned. It may seem harmless now, but in the future, she would cause irreversible damage to Su Xiaofei''s reputation because of her excessive habit of bar hopping and usage of drugs.


    Housekeeper Chen clutched her chest as she suddenly felt that it was hard to breathe upon hearing Su Xiaofei''s words. Her monthly sry was more than the average amount that other housekeepers receive from other families, but that didn''t mean she had enough money to pay off the things her daughter took from Su Xiaofei''s wardrobe.


    "It is either this or I would have to call the police to take Chen Li from here." Su Xiaofei then gave Chen Li a meaningful gaze.


    Chen Li immediately burst into tears, clinging helplessly on her mother''s arm for her to save her. If Su Xiaofei was sessful in sending her to jail, her future would bepromised and people would look down on her. She couldn''t allow that to happen!


    "Mom! Please! Don''t let them take me away! I can''t¡­" She continued to cry, but it only pleased Su Xiaofei more.


    In the past, she had once lowered her head, begging these people who harmed her mother to let her see Yun Qingrong, but they never gave her a chance. She, who was known as a proud, selfish woman, fell on her knees and lowered herself for the chance to see her dying mother for thest time, but she was denied by this old woman.


    What these two were experiencing right now was iparable to the pain and suffering she experienced in her past life.


    The old woman looked at her, confused. She couldn''t understand why Su Xiaofei was treating them like this, but if they were to voice out the truth about Su Xiaofei''s heritage, she was certain that her distant cousin, Su Haoran would hold them ountable for it.


    "Miss¡­" She called out. However, Su Xiaofei had already turned her back and walked past them, leaving them in a trance.


    "Your daughter''s fate is in your hands, Aunty Chen. I trust that you will choose the best solution. You know where to find me." She said her parting words, knowing fully well that this was just the start of the Chen family''s demise.


    The ominous scent of revenge was already breathing down their necks, promising a long period of suffering and humiliation.

 Chapter 21 - One Man’s Trash Is Another Man’s Treasure (1)

    <h4>Chapter 21 - One Man¡¯s Trash Is Another Man¡¯s Treasure (1)</h4>


    Su Xiaofei knew that she needed to be careful with her actions, that she shouldn''t let others suspect that she knew things that they didn''t. They might think that she had lost her mind and she would be forced to be separated from her mother again. It was something that she didn''t want repeating in this life.


    When she came downstairs to join her mother for lunch, she found Yun Qingrong speaking frantically in a low voice over her phone, her back facing Su Xiaofei. She was pacing back and forth, her whole body was tense as she pondered how she should exin his absence yet again to their daughter.


    "Didn''t you promise?" She hissed to whoever she was talking to, but Su Xiaofei surmised that it was her useless adoptive father.


    Su Haoran wouldn''t be back until a week after New Year''s Day. He wasn''t aware that Ye Xing along with their daughter wereing here, to Qiying City, to meet him and his wife, only for them to meet Yun Qingrong alone. However, he must have been aware of Ye Xing''s health condition, considering how he ignored Yun Qingrong for the following months in favor of looking after his lover.


    "You promised you woulde back from your business trip as soon as possible, why would you need to stay there for another week?" Yun Qingrong asked in a frustrated tone.


    If there was something Su Haoran was good at, it was to make his wife frustrated. This was one of the reasons why Su Xiaofei wasn''t impressed with nor had any respect towards him. Every time the man saw her, Su Haoran would look away and wouldn''t bother to give her the attention he should have as her father.


    Whatever Su Haoran said on the other end of the line caused Yun Qingrong to sound disappointed. She chose to hang up the call, turned around and saw Su Xiaofei standing at the bottom of the stairs with a nk expression on her face.


    "Feifei, take a seat and have lunch with me." She coaxed her daughter, hoping that Su Xiaofei hadn''t overheard her conversation with her father.


    Su Xiaofei obediently took a seat across from her mother and remained silent. She was thinking of ways to protect her mother from Su Haoran. She needed to convince her mother to divorce this excuse of a man who only cared about himself.


    "Mama, is Papa not going to be home for New Year''s Day?" She asked solemnly, knowing that her distress would add anotheryer of disappointment to Yun Qingrong''s existing one towards her husband.


    Yun Qingrong felt guilty hearing her daughter''s question. She knew that her Feifei rarely saw and interacted with her husband, and it made her frustrated that Su Haoran was purposely ignoring their daughter.


    "Feifei, don''t be angry with your Papa, okay? He''s still on a business trip and only called to inform us that it would take him another week before he could return home." She said in a gentle voice.


    "It''s okay, Mama. I know you and Papa are working hard to give me a better future. I just hope that Papa will be okay on his own." Su Xiaofei decided to y the filial daughter card in order to drive a wedge between Yun Qingrong and Su Haoran.


    ''Yes. You better be okay on your own once I''m done with you.''


    The more Su Xiaofei yed a meek and filial daughter towards them, the more Yun Qingrong would feel pity for her. What better way to make her mother see how ipetent Su Haoran was aside from this?


    ''Mama, I''m sorry for deceiving you, but this is for the better.'' She thought as she took her mother''s hand into hers.


    Yun Qingrong''s heart ached and thought how unfair it was for their Feifei to be treated this way by her husband.


    "Okay. Mama will stay with you today, is that okay, Feifei?"


    "Don''t you have important work to do, Mama? I don''t want to disturb you." Su Xiaofei smiled at her mother.


    Because Su Haoran and Yun Qingrong were rarely at home to see her, she had be an ill-mannered and short-tempered child. When she turned eighteen, she tried to persuade her mother to allow her to move into an apartment located next to the school she was attending. It broke Yun Qingrong''s heart, but she granted Su Xiaofei''s request nevertheless.


    "It''s fine. I''m the boss, right?" Yun Qingrong assured her. "No one will fire the boss if she doesn''t show up to work."


    "But Mama¡­"


    "No buts, Feifei. Mama is only able to apany you today, so what do you say?"


    The expression Su Xiaofei had on was one that was filled with gratitude and happiness. Her eyes turned misty as she looked at her mother.


    "Okay." She conceded. It''s been a long time since her mother spent some time with her, and Su Xiaofei was obviously not going to deny her.


    Aunty Liu, who was waiting for them to notify her to start serving the dishes, dried the tears in her eyes as she looked between the mother and child. She knew how Yun Qingrong had struggled to make time just to be with Su Xiaofei, despite her busy schedule at work.


    The old woman was also d that Su Xiaofei wasn''t throwing a tantrum and was more agreeable than usual, which was a good thing. Perhaps, Su Xiaofei finally grew up and understood the struggles her mother was facing.


    Yun Qingrong hinted to Aunty Liu that their lunch could be served, then she nced at her young daughter. After hearing what Feifei said, she knew that things could be changed for the better.


    Su Xiaofei waited for their meal to be fully served before she decided to raise the issue about the Chen family. When Aunty served her favorite panna cotta, Yun Qingrong noticed that she hadn''t touched it.


    "Feifei, what''s wrong?" She asked, worried that Su Xiaofei was feeling ill again.


    "Mama, it''s like this¡­" Su Xiaofei hesitated, but it was just a ploy to get her mother''s undivided attention.


    "You know you can tell me everything, right?"

 Chapter 22 - One Man’s Trash Is Another Man’s Treasure (2)

    <h4>Chapter 22 - One Man¡¯s Trash Is Another Man¡¯s Treasure (2)</h4>


    Su Xiaofei inwardly rejoiced. So long as Yun Qingrong was on her side, Su Haoran and the rest wouldn''t be able to easily bully her under her protection. She didn''t want to think that she was manipting and taking advantage of Yun Qingrong like other viinesses would, but Su Xiaofei couldn''t think of any other way to protect both of them from others aside from doing this.


    "I wasn''t sure what I should do, Mama but..."


    Yun Qingrong, who was still worried about her daughter''s condition, kept wondering if Su Xiaofei was feeling ill again. She wasn''t able to focus at work ever since her daughter was rushed to the hospital, and it didn''t help that her husband wasn''t around to help her at thepany.


    Su Xiaofei then proceeded to narrate how she met Aunty Chen and Chen Li before she came down for lunch and how Chen Li was wearing the gift Yun Qingrong gifted her two years ago. Her tone was low and words careful, giving her a look of a young woman being wronged by others in front of her mother.


    Yun Qingrong''s face hardened, while Aunty Liu covered her mouth in shock upon hearing what Su Xiaofei had witnessed earlier. None of them had suspected that something like that was happening under their noses. If Su Xiaofei hadn''t seen Chen Li earlier, they would have no idea that the Chen family was disrespecting their masters this way.


    "Madam, please forgive this old woman. I have no idea Madam Chen and Chen Li would do such a thing¡­" The old woman apologized, knowing that she was also responsible for keeping the closet on the third floor organized and tidied.


    She had no idea that Chen Li was doing such a thing behind her back, and wondered why Madam Chen wasn''t reprimanding her daughter for acting this way.


    "It''s not your fault, Aunty Liu. You aren''t the only one who has the key to Feifei''s closet." Yun Qingrong mumbled, her hand tightening on her teacup.


    For Chen Li to act like this, wasn''t she simply disrespecting her masters by stealing clothes from Su Xiaofei? For Yun Qingrong, Su Xiaofei was her greatest treasure, and she would never allow anyone to bully her daughter, especially in her own turf.


    Where did Chen Li get the guts to act like this? Did she think that because she was rted to Su Haoran, Yun Qingrong would let her off?


    She had epted Su Haoran''s plea to let the Chen family work in their household after Madam Chen''s husband passed away five years ago. To think that they would treat her daughter like this, Yun Qingrong was fuming with anger.


    "I''m sorry, Mama. You always tell me to give things I don''t use to others if they want it, but I want that dress you gifted me... no matter if I can wear it or not." Su Xiaofei continued pouring fuel to the fire.


    "It''s okay, Feifei. What you did is right. Let Mama and Aunty Liu deal with them, okay? It''s not your fault that Chen Li sneaked in and used your belongings"


    Her Feifei shouldn''t feel wronged like this. How could they even have the audacity to think that they could do whatever they wanted just because they were rted to her husband?


    The more Yun Qingrong thought about it, the more upset she became, knowing that her Feifei was the one being wronged by her husband''s rtives. If it wasn''t for Su Haoran, why else would she allow those three to live with them in this household?


    "No, Mama. It''s clearly not okay. I shouldn''t have talked like that to Aunty Chen in a fit of anger." Su Xiaofei shook her head. She secretly wanted to see to what extent Yun Qingrong would go to protect her from her useless father.


    She needed to sever the bond between Yun Qingrong and Su Haoran in order to make sure that she and her mother wouldn''t get dragged into the scandals her adoptive father would have to deal with in the future, and there was a ton of it.


    As for the Chen family, why should she need to be merciful towards them? In her past life, those three had made her life harder, by ruining her reputation and forbidding her to meet her mother for thest time.


    Su Xiaofei couldn''t forget Madam Chen and Chen Li''s mocking expression as they asked the security to lead her away from her mother''s hospital room. With Bluemedia falling into the hands of Su Haoran and with Ye Mingyu''s career flourishing, there was no need for them to be polite towards her.


    As for Chen Hao, she wouldn''t have broken her right leg if it wasn''t for him. Back then, in an attempt to save herself from being sexually molested by him after her divorce with Mo Yuchen, she had desperately thrown herself down the stairs. This action resulted in her being crippled for the rest of her life. It made sense to Su Xiaofei why Lu Qingfeng crippled the man himself and made sure he wasn''t able to use his third leg in the future.


    However, this time, Su Xiaofei decided to seek revenge against them on her own terms.


    Yun Qingrong remained silent and shut her eyes, trying to rein her simmering anger. To think that she and her daughter were being looked down upon by her husband''s rtives. If she was to turn a blind eye on this, she had no doubt that they would go overboard in the future.


    "I''ll talk to your Papa about them. Regardless of who they are, you are right, Feifei¡­ we cannot allow a thief to stay in our household. Your Aunty Liu and I will check the wardrobe on the third floor. Leave this problem to your elders."


    Su Xiaofei chewed her lip, but decided not to say anything anymore.. Since she had already got what she wanted from her mother, she should know when to stop to maximize the impression she was hoping for.

 Chapter 23 - Fake Young Miss (1)

    <h4>Chapter 23 - Fake Young Miss (1)</h4>


    Su Xiaofei woke up early, intending to start her day sooner than usual, now that it was the eve of New Year''s Day. She needed to make sure that the chance to meet Master Ouyang would fall into her hands and not to Ye Mingyu again.


    "Early bird catches the worm, but damn it''s so tempting to go back under the warm nkets." She muttered to herself as she washed her face in her room''s en suite. As she lifted her head, she saw her own reflection in the mirror, showing her younger version but with a hint of coldness in her eyes.


    If anyone looked at her right now, they would wonder just what kind of hardship she had suffered for her to turn out this way. They would never believe her if she said that this was already her second life that she was living, not that Su Xiaofei cared anymore about thements being made behind her back now.


    ''It can''t be helped. If I remain as foolish as I was in the past, then we would all end with the same fate as before.'' Su Xiaofei sighed to herself.


    She can''t afford to fail today. No matter what, she needed to grab that opportunity in order to snatch the thunder from Ye Mingyu this time. She only had one chance, and she shouldn''t waste it.


    ''Master Ouyang might find it suspicious that I was helping someone like him, but considering that he had never met me nor my mother personally, he wouldn''t suspect that I am saving him to gain a favor.''


    Considering her age, the old man also wouldn''t find fault in her. Su Xiaofei was nning to use the Yun family to reveal her identity to Master Ouyang.


    ''Young Master Yun Xiang. You shouldn''t disappoint me. Let''s settle the bill once and for all.''


    Because Yun Xiang was head over heels for Ye Mingyu, he had exerted a lot of effort to protect her from Su Xiaofei''s schemes in the past. Su Xiaofei held a lot of grudges towards him and wasn''t nning to let him off easily. Since he decided to turn against her, Su Xiaofei would turn a blind eye on his rtionship with her mother.


    Since she had woken up early, she decided to head downstairs where her mother and Aunty Liu were both pleasantly surprised to see Su Xiaofei joining them for breakfast. Usually, she would sleep in until seven in the morning and would have breakfast alone when both of her parents had already left for work.


    "Feifei? Why are you up so early?" Yun Qingrong asked once Su Xiaofei had taken a seat across from her.


    "Hmm¡­ I have ns with Xi Qian today, Mama. I woke up early, and I couldn''t go back to sleep, so I decided toe and join you for breakfast today. Mama, I''m not disturbing you, am I?" Su Xiaofei nced at the pile of documents her mother was reading.


    "Oh, no. Of course not, dear. I''m just reviewing these contracts." Yun Qingrong denied.


    Aunty Liu left the mother and child pair to prepare Su Xiaofei''s breakfast, giving the two some privacy.


    "Mama, about Aunty Chen and Chen Li¡­" Su Xiaofei tried to probe the progress of her scheme. Her target was for the Chen family to get kicked out of their household.


    "Your father said we must wait for his return before we can make a decision." Her mother said with a slight frown. "If it is up to me, Feifei, I would have immediately asked them to leave this house." She said with a tone of irritation.


    Su Xiaofei inwardly sneered. Su Haoran again? She would make sure to teach that useless man a lesson once he returned from his business trip. It would be just in time after she was done with his mistress and Ye Mingyu.


    In this lifetime, Su Haoran wouldn''t be able to stop her, for she wasn''t nning to let anyone off after all the horrible things they had done to her.


    "It''s okay, Mama. I wouldn''t like it if you and Papa argued because of me¡­"


    Well, sooner orter, Yun Qingrong would have no affection left for her husband, so this was the perfect time for Su Xiaofei to ingrain her influence on her mother. Yun Qingrong would surely feel betrayed and humiliated once Ye Xing appeared with Ye Mingyu and she would have no one by her side except for Su Xiaofei.


    This was one of the regrets Su Xiaofei had in the past. If only she had paid more attention to her mother and had not strayed away, chasing Mo Yuchen, their lives wouldn''t have reached a tragic end.


    Yun Qingrong''s eyes softened at her daughter''s words. If she allowed the Chen family to stay with them, she feared that their treatment towards Su Xiaofei would worsen in the future. If they were to look down on her daughter like this, then the chances of them doing worse than stealing was high. She certainly cannot allow them to stay in her home after what they had done.


    "Leave this to me, Feifei. I will make sure that they will no longer be your problem in the future. Whatever your Papa would say, there''s no way they can stay here with us after what they have done to you."


    "Mama, you are saying it as if Chen Li isn''t the only one who made a mistake. Is there something else that happened?" Su Xiaofei asked. She already knew the answer to this question. Of course, by putting Chen Li in the spotlight, everything that Madam Chen did would also be brought to light.


    As expected from Yun Qingrong, once she suspected someone, she would dig up every other fault of that person. Bluemedia Entertainment wouldn''t reach where it was now, if she wasn''t tactful with the issues that were thrown on her hands.. Su Xiaofei had no doubt that Su Haoran wouldn''t be able to persuade her mother to let his rtives off this time.

 Chapter 24 - Fake Young Miss (2)

    <h4>Chapter 24 - Fake Young Miss (2)</h4>


    Once she was done having breakfast with her mother, Su Xiaofei returned to her room and paced around, imagining the endless possibilities that could happenter. She shook her head, forcing her nerves to calm down. It wouldn''t help her one bit if she doubted herself now.


    ''What''s so wrong with taking advantage of what I know? Wouldn''t it be better to snip the buds before they bloom?'' She thought.


    The odds were still in her favor because she knew the details of the meeting that was bound to happen today. She would try to ensure that she would be the one who would find Master Ouyang first, not Ye Mingyu.


    As she continued on with her day, she decided to take a long shower and picked out clothes that wouldn''t attract too much attention. Su Xiaofei needed to leave a favorable impression on the old man, after all. In the end, she decided to wear a pair of pants that wouldn''t constrict her movements, a white shirt with the word ''Princess'' printed on it and she finished it off with a pair of white sneakers.


    When she came out of the room, she was greeted by Aunty Liu who was holding a stack of folded clothes in her hands. She smiled at Su Xiaofei and asked where she was going.


    "The weather outside looks good, Aunty." Su Xiaofei replied. "Xi Qian and I also agreed to meet today."


    The old woman looked at her, surprised by what she said. Normally, Su Xiaofei would just leave without a word about who knows where she was going. Her Madam was right. Su Xiaofei seemed like a changed person, but for the better. Su Xiaofei hadn''t made a fuss since she woke up at the hospital, and the old woman could only hope that Su Xiaofei wouldn''t want to get back with Mo Yuchen again.


    "Feifei, don''t forget to bring your bodyguards with you, okay? We can''t let the same thing happen again." She reminded her young miss.


    "En, Aunty. I should get going then."


    After making sure that she was ready, Su Xiaofei stepped out of the residence, waiting for her driver to bring out the car she would be using. Just as she pulled out her phone to inform Xi Qian that she was on her way, she bumped into a familiar person she had been trying to avoid since her return.


    "Miss! You are really back! I thought Mom and Li''er were joking when they said that you''ve alreadye back from the hospital."


    Su Xiaofei creased her brow, but a shiver ran down her spine. She raised her head and the other person''s reflection could be seen in her clear eyes. It was Madam Chen''s only son and Chen Li''s brother, Chen Hao.


    The assault clearly happened in her past life and hadn''t taken ce yet in this life, but the mere thought of it was enough to make Su Xiaofei tremble as she looked at his face. Thankfully, in her past life, Lu Qingfeng sought revenge for her on this person, or else, she didn''t think she would be able to ovee the trauma Chen Hao had given her.


    Su Xiaofei decided to ignore him, as if his words had fallen on deaf ears. It wasn''t time for her to destroy this man with her own hands yet.


    Just now, Chen Hao had juste back from spending the night with his ''friends'' when his eyes caught the young woman emerging from the front doors of the Su Residence. He was aware that their young miss wasn''t the biological daughter of his Uncle Haoran, hence, he and Chen Li never paid attention to her nor did they ever take Su Xiaofei seriously.


    However,tely, Chen Hao had developed some curiosity about this fake young miss that they serve. Su Xiaofei had such a delicate and graceful appearance that he had never seen in other women he usually fooled around with.


    With her stunning figure exuding nobility andposure, Chen Hao''s mouth watered and wondered what it would feel like if his hands could touch the silky, smooth skin that this fake heiress had.


    He had heard from his mother that his real cousin, Ye Mingyu would arrive in a few days to take over Su Xiaofei''s position. Once it was done, Su Xiaofei would be kicked to the curb and would have no choice but to beg the Su family for financial support. She would turn into a stranger who had no say in this household anymore and she would be his no matter what happens.


    As he thought about this, Chen Hao kept a smile on his face, his hands itching to reach out to touch Su Xiaofei''s body in different ways a man could do to a woman. He couldn''t help but lick his dry lips as he thought of it.


    "It''s this servant''s fault. Just now, I was wondering who was the beautiful woman stepping out of the residence. It turned out it was just our young miss all along. I hope you will let me off this time." He said shamelessly, as he harbored indecent thoughts towards Su Xiaofei.


    Looking at the present situation, Su Xiaofei''s position in this household has yet to crumble with Ye Mingyu''s appearance. So what if Yun Qingrong favored her, the old woman wouldn''t have any other choice but to ept her husband''s real daughter.


    Finally, Su Xiaofei met his gaze. Her clear eyes were akin to the coldest winter a person could experience in his life. There was no hint of warmth and recognition in them, as if she was watching a clown making a fool out of himself.


    Chen Hao was slightly startled by Su Xiaofei''s cold indifference. Normally, she would shoot him an arrogant look and walk past him, but today, she was looking at him as if she was trying to stump him with her mere gaze.


    "There''s no harm done." She said with a wicked smirk on her lips.. "But I suggest you discuss with your mother and sister where you are going once my mother kicks you out of this household."

 Chapter 25 - The Stage Is On (1)

    <h4>Chapter 25 - The Stage Is On (1)</h4>


    Su Xiaofei left Chen Hao standing in front of the residence in shock. If he had thought that she would allow him to harbor such indecent thoughts towards her without facing repercussions, he was gravely mistaken.


    In the past, not only did he try to assault her, but he was also at Ye Mingyu''s beck and call, making sure thetter would have all the advantage she needed against her. Because of Chen Hao''s meddling, Su Xiaofei experienced failure one after another when facing Ye Mingyu.


    So how could she let Chen Hao off the hook easily? Want to torment her again? He would need a lot of luck to leave unscathed once she was done with him. Lu Qingfeng was the one who sought revenge on him in the past, but this time, Su Xiaofei decided to take everything in her own hands.


    If it meant that she would be able to stop Lu Qingfeng from ruining his own life for her sake.


    As the car she rode drove away from the Su Residence, Chen Hao felt a cold shiver run through his body. It was hard for him to believe that the young woman he had met earlier was the same disagreeable and haughty person he knew. Something about Su Xiaofei was off, her cold, piercing gaze was enough to instill fear in him.


    As expected, Qiying City''s public market was busier than usual. People came to buy the things they needed and rushed to return home to finish the preparation for New Year''s Day. Qiying city was one of the major cities of the country, so it was only natural that many people would gather here.


    For a young miss like Su Xiaofei, being here wasn''t proper for her status, yet she didn''t show a hint of disgust mingling among themoners like this. Children who were running stopped in their tracks, lifted their dirty faces to give the pretty sister a good look before turning their attention back to their y.


    With her two bodyguards silently tailing behind her, Su Xiaofei didn''t need to worry too much. She sent Xi Qian a quick message to inform her that she was on her way to see her. Since the incident at the pub, Xi Qian had resigned and was now working at a local bakery near the public market.


    The bustling street was filled with shoppers and peddlers selling their products to passersby. She bought three of Xi Qian''s favorite piping hot steamed buns because she knew that Xi Qian liked to eat them after work. She assumed that her best friend loved them because it was cheap and fast to get them. The pork barbecue filling inside was tasty anyway and was enough to satiate one''s hunger.


    Xi Qian had already clocked out of her part-time work when Su Xiaofei arrived outside the bakery. She beamed a smile to her best friend and rushed to Su Xiaofei''s side, only to be surprised to receive her favorite steamed buns.


    "Feifei, you shouldn''t have bothered." She told Su Xiaofei, but she had already fished out one of the steamed buns and took a bite from it.


    "You are the best, Feifei!" She grinned and hooked her arm with Su Xiaofei''s as they started roaming around until they reached the alley where the pharmacy was.


    ''It''s almost time.'' Su Xiaofei thought as she nced at the time on her wrist.


    She then looked around and spotted two parties that were also looking in the same direction as she was. Thankfully, none of them was Ye Mingyu. With the flock of peopleing their way, it would be hard for her to keep an eye on Ye Mingyu at this rate.


    She lowered her gaze while Xi Qian released her arm to buy some refreshments for the two of them. This was also orchestrated by Su Xiaofei. Knowing her best friend''s preference and habits, it was easy for her to persuade Xi Qian to notice something that she might like and what else would her friend want after having a delicious snack other than a cold and refreshing drink?


    Su Xiaofei nced at the two parties staring intently at the pharmacy. One was a young man in his early twenties, dressed in shabby clothes and a pair of pants that seemed to have seen better days. He looked like a regr pickpocket that knew the area well, seeing as several young men passed him, they greeted him.


    Meanwhile, the other party consisted of three men dressed casually with ck coats, almost reminding Su Xiaofei of the trench coats. It made them stand out in the crowd. People couldn''t help but look at them, wondering what they were doing in such a busy and bustling ce.


    Su Xiaofei had a bad feeling about this. No one had mentioned that there were two parties involved in the old man''s attack today. She then looked at Xi Qian, who was still preupied with choosing the vors she should buy for the two of them while Su Xiaofei had to keep an eye on the pharmacy. A few customers had already left, but Master Ouyang and Yun Xiang were nowhere in sight.


    ''What do I do?'' Su Xiaofei thought. She needed to make a decision as soon as the old man came out. She was aware of the thumping beats of her heart with every passing second. How was Ye Mingyu able to save the old man?


    If it was merely a case of pickpocketing, Master Ouyang wouldn''t hold Ye Mingyu with high regard in her past life. Su Xiaofei then realized that Ye Mingyu had saved the old man''s life from these suspicious men that were waiting at the nearby alley by the pharmacy.


    Heh, so Ye Mingyu received such an advantage to win the old man''s favor through pure luck? Were female leads like her destined to be advantageouspared to the rest of them for having an inevitable plot armor? If so, what about a viin like Su Xiaofei?

 Chapter 26 - The Stage Is On (2)

    <h4>Chapter 26 - The Stage Is On (2)</h4>


    Aside from the knowledge she had of her past life and the wealth she enjoyed through her mother''s favor, Su Xiaofei couldn''t rely merely on luck like Ye Mingyu. If she didn''t have the favor of the heavens above, then she could only do things by herself.


    Back to the problem at hand, she weighed different possible scenarios. The pickpocket was nearerpared to the three men, and if Su Xiaofei was right, Ye Mingyu made a scene to get everyone''s attention on them.


    This way, she unknowingly revealed the whereabouts of those three to Master Ouyang and Yun Xiang. But what if the pickpocket was an aplice of those three men? Wouldn''t this mean that Master Ouyang''s life was really in danger?


    Su Xiaofei fell silent. She couldn''t believe Ye Mingyu''s luck. She had no idea what was happening in the bigger picture, but she was able to turn the table in her favor.


    However, unlike Ye Mingyu, Su Xiaofei needed to be careful with how she would deal with this problem, making sure that she would leave an impression on the old man. She was also aware that she cannot use the same trick Ye Mingyu had pulled because it would rouse suspicion on her part.


    Xi Qian returned to her side, giving Su Xiaofei a huge cup of milkshake with a satisfied smile on her face. After hours of work, things like this was something she enjoyed with Su Xiaofei.


    "Did you wait for too long?" She asked Su Xiaofei.


    "No. I''m just thinking of buying Mama some tonics to make her feel better. I feel like she will be needing them soon." Su Xiaofei replied as she led Xi Qian to the pharmacy.


    "Why would you think that? Is Aunty Qing sick?" Xi Qian furrowed her brows.


    Just as they were about to step into the walkway where the pharmacy was, they spotted Master Ouyang and Yun Xiang stepping out of the pharmacy with Yun Xiang holding a huge paper bag filled with tonics and medicinal herbs in it.


    They wereughing at each other about something Su Xiaofei couldn''t hear. As expected Yun Xiang excused himself for a while, telling the old man that he would be back.


    Su Xiaofei''s heart skipped a beat as she noticed from the corner of her eyes that the pickpocket made a move towards the old man, while the three watched intently, wanting to see what would happen.


    Her eyes slightly widened when she saw the pickpocket pull out a swiss army knife from his side pocket, hiding it under his sleeve as he strode towards the old man. This was the ''right time'' that Su Xiaofei was waiting for.


    The stage was on, and the actors were in the right ces to y their roles. She released herself from Xi Qian''s grasp and mentally calcted the time and distance between her and Master Ouyang.


    Damn it. She thought. If she ended up having a whole in her body, Master Ouyang better make sure that it would be worth it.


    "Feifei, wait for me!" She heard Xi Qian call after her, but Su Xiaofei knew she could not slow down.


    "Hurry, Qian. The pharmacy would close down soon and wouldn''t wait for us!"


    As she said this, she purposely bumped into Master Ouyang, forcing the old man to stagger backwards in shock. A secondter, Su Xiaofei felt something sharp graze her side. She sucked in a deep breath as pain radiated from the impact of her body colliding with the man.


    "Feifei!" Xi Qian dropped her cup of milkshake as she saw Su Xiaofei fall on her side on the ground with a bloody stain on her side.


    As if the man realized his mistake, he rushed away from the scene as the mob of people started to crowd in front of the pharmacy.


    Master Ouyang looked down at the young woman who had bumped into him earlier, shocked to see that she was bleeding on the spot. He then realized the gravity of the situation he was in. He looked around and saw three men forcing their way out of the crowd and his eyes darkened.


    Xi Qian rushed to Su Xiaofei''s side, her face nched in fear upon witnessing such a scene. She and Su Xiaofei were supposed to have a good time today. What could possibly happen that she was now suddenly holding her friend''s bleeding and limp body now?


    "Qian¡­" Su Xiaofei gasped for breath, her eyes starting to lose their focus. "Qian, I''m sorry. I''m really sorry."


    She knew the possibility that this was an attempt on Master Ouyang''s life. She had decided in a split second that ying as the innocent bystander who was harmed because of him, Su Xiaofei knew that it would evoke a feeling of guilt and gratitude from the old man for the rest of his life.


    However, by doing this, she had also forced Xi Qian to y a role her friend would never ept had she known what Su Xiaofei was nning today. By having Xi Qian apany her today, it would reduce if not eliminate any suspicion that Master Ouyang would have and the assassination plot would be clear. Su Xiaofei apologized to her friend from the bottom of her wicked heart.


    "No, Feifei." Xi Qian shook her head, unaware of how her tears were streaming down her cheeks now.


    "Don''t say anymore, okay? I-I''ll call the ambnce." She reached for her phone, but her hands were trembling so much as her tears blurred her sight.


    It was at that moment that Yun Xiang arrived at the scene and found Su Xiaofei''s helpless state, while Master Ouyang stood next to her with a guilty expression.


    "Master Ouyang, what happened here?" He rushed to the old man''s side.


    "Hurry, Xiao Xiang. Take the young miss inside. Little Zijun might be able to save her!"


    Yun Xiang immediately knelt down and lifted Su Xiaofei''s body from the ground without any questions.

 Chapter 27 - Cold Poison (1)

    <h4>Chapter 27 - Cold Poison (1)</h4>


    Xi Qian was caught off guard when an unknown man picked up her best friend from the ground and rushed inside the pharmacy.


    "Wait! What are you going to do with Feifei?! Give her back! We need to rush her to the hospital!" She eximed, but Yun Xiang didn''t stop in his tracks and ignored her.


    "Han Zijun! You bettere out here and help us!" He called out while Master Ouyang asked one of the staff to close the doors of the pharmacy, forbidding other people to see what was happening inside the premises.


    Yun Xiang looked down at the young woman in his arms, seeing that she was struggling to keep her consciousness despite her condition. Her face was ashen pale, even her lips had lost their natural color. He heard her hissed in pain, but she couldn''t muster the strength to say a word at all.


    The man who was called Han Zijun stepped out of the roombelled ''For Authorized Personnel Only''. This man was only in histe twenties, but it seemed like he was the owner of this shop.


    "Master Ouyang? Young Master Yun? Did you forget something?"


    However, as soon as his eyesnded on Su Xiaofei, his eyes widened in understanding.


    "Hurry and take her inside. I need to see how bad her injury is!" He said, allowing Yun Xiang to enter the room he just exited. Master Ouyang and Xi Qian immediately followed after them. A partition was then ced, preventing anyone to see what was happening behind it.


    "Miss, please stay here and allow Master Han to treat your friend''s injury." A woman came and convinced Xi Qian to sit down first. She then assured her that Han Zijun was a doctor of traditional medicine and one of the best in the country.


    Xi Qian couldn''t utter a word and wept in silence. One moment, Su Xiaofei was smiling at her, telling her to hurry, then the next thing she knew, her best friend was bleeding on the ground. Why was it that whenever she was with Su Xiaofei, there''s always something bad happening to her friend?


    Xi Qian didn''t want to think that her stepmother''s words to her in the past were true. Her stepmother once told her that she was the jinx in their family, and she would bring trouble to those around her.


    When Su Xiaofei heard about this and her troubles, she only sneered in annoyance and said that Xi Qian''s wicked stepmother was just trying to iste her from everyone, so she would only be dependent on them.


    ''Feifei, please be okay.'' Xi Qian sped her hands together and prayed intently in her heart.


    The room was big enough to ept guests and VIP patients. Yun Xiangid Su Xiaofei on the bed, while Han Zijun went to her side, checked her pulse before slightly lifting her shirt to reveal a clean cut on her left side.


    Yun Xiang was startled to see the wound, while Master Ouyang''s face darkened upon seeing it. The wound obviously wasn''t normal, as there was a hint of darkening on Su Xiaofei''s flesh. Thankfully, the cut wasn''t deep, but if left untreated for too long, Su Xiaofei''s life would be in danger.


    Han Zijun already summoned his assistant and told her to list down the herbs he needed as soon as possible. He then started to clean the wound and use acupuncture to stop the poison from spreading throughout her body.


    When his assistant came back, he immediately forced most of the poison out of Su Xiaofei''s body through the same wound.


    "The girl indirectly saved Master Ouyang''s life." He murmured next to Yun Xiang once he was done with the treatment. "Thankfully, the wound isn''t deep, and we can detoxify the poison that was left on it. What were you doing, leaving Master Ouyang on his own?"


    Yun Xiang''s jaws hardened. He hadn''t anticipated that something like this would happen. When the Ouyang family asked for his help to look after their elder, he hadn''t thought that someone would be brave enough to attack Master Ouyang in broad daylight.


    If it wasn''t for this young woman, the person who would have been stabbed was Master Ouyang. Of course, Yun Xiang was aware of Master Ouyang''s condition. If he had been the one being stabbed today, even if it was just a shallow wound, his heart wouldn''t be able to resist the poison, and it would kill him.


    "How is she?" Master Ouyang finally spoke once Su Xiaofei''s condition had been stabilized.


    "Her life is out of danger now. I have stitched up her wound, but I expect her to run a fever tonight due to the amount of cold poison still left on her body, but don''t worry. With oral medication, it would be flushed out of her system in three days." Han Zijun exined to the old man.


    Master Ouyang remained silent, but it was clear that he was bothered by Su Xiaofei''s condition. He was able to leave unscathed because of this young woman in front of him. Based on her looks, she might still be a teenager on the cusp of adulthood.


    If she lost her life today, Ouyang Luo wouldn''t be able to bear the guilt, knowing a young woman had lost her future because of him.


    If the attacker came to him just as he was nning to look at the nearby stall, the old man wasn''t certain that he would be able to see the next sunrise again.


    "This child''s medicine¡­ Xiao Zijun, put it under my tab. Give her everything she needs."


    "As you wish, Master Ouyang." Han Zijun replied before excusing himself to cook the herbs that Su Xiaofei needed.


    After two hours of waiting, Xi Qian was allowed to see her best friend.. She took a seat next to the bed and sighed in relief when she saw that some color had returned to Su Xiaofei''s face.

 Chapter 28 - Cold Poison (2)

    <h4>Chapter 28 - Cold Poison (2)</h4>


    The moment Su Xiaofei fell on the ground, she felt like her whole body trembled in somewhat familiar pain. She felt like her head wasrger than usual and the weight of her body had been multiplied, as she couldn''t even lift a finger.


    All of these felt oddly familiar to her. How can she not know? Weren''t these all the symptoms she once had in her past life? The cold poison was slowly umting in her body, until it was toote for her to realize what hit her.


    Before she married Mo Yuchen in her past life, Su Xiaofei had already experienced these early symptoms she was having right now. At the time of their divorce, Su Xiaofei had suffered episodes of chronic pain, seizures and vomiting blood caused by the cold poison.


    As for how she ended up being poisoned, it was only in the end did she find out that Ye Mingyu was the one who was slowly feeding her poison throughout the years. It was for this reason that when Lu Qingfeng found out about it, it was toote for him to find a genius doctor that could detoxify the poison from her body.


    Su Xiaofei never thought she would experience the same thing all over again. A minute under the pain felt like an eternity for Su Xiaofei. Even when Yun Xiang lifted her up, her eyes were starting to blur and losing their focus as her body started to react to the poison in her bloodstream.


    As she struggled to keep her consciousness, Su Xiaofei wondered about the odds that Ye Mingyu wasn''t truly oblivious to what was happening. How was it possible that the poison that killed her in her past life was the same poison used in the attempt on Master Ouyang''s life?


    The more she thought about it, the more Su Xiaofei was leaning to believe that Ye Mingyu might be connected to those men. Heh, wouldn''t this mean that the innocent and well-mannered woman that everyone was praising was just a facade of Ye Mingyu after all?


    ''Am I dying?'' She wondered, hoping that this wasn''t just another wistful dream she had. Had she fallen into some kind of illusion that she was able to change the course of events of her life, only for her to meet a red g in the end?


    Su Xiaofei wasn''t sure how long it had been since the attack and why Yun Xiang was holding her. She struggled to remain conscious for Xi Qian''s sake, but she still sumbed to the darkness that was waiting for her. As her consciousness faded, herst thought was that of Lu Qingfeng.


    She had no idea what happened next, but she was certain that Master Ouyang would hold himself responsible for what happened to her. He can''t possibly ignore the fact that she was injured because of him.


    The next time she opened her eyes, the ceiling above her was unrecognizable. Su Xiaofei had no idea where she was and what happened to her after she lost consciousness. When she heard a gasp next to her, she turned her eyes to her right and saw Xi Qian''s eyes that were filled with tears.


    "Qian¡­" She suddenly thought her voice was somewhat hoarse.


    Xi Qian shook her head and smiled, despite the fact that pearls of tears escaped her eyes.


    "It''s okay, Feifei. You are fine now. Master Han here has treated your wound." She told Su Xiaofei.


    It was only then did Su Xiaofei realize that there was another person standing next to Xi Qian. The man had a gentle smile on his face and was dressed traditionally. He gave Su Xiaofei a polite smile as Xi Qian helped her to sit up.


    "W-what happened to me?" Su Xiaofei asked the doctor.


    "Miss, don''t you remember? You were stabbed right outside our door. You are lucky that you were so close to us, as we managed to force the poison out from your body even before it settled."


    "I-I was poisoned?" She stuttered, pretending to be oblivious of what happened earlier. "Am I going to die?"


    Since this man looked knowledgeable about the cold poison that had entered her body, Su Xiaofei decided to fish out some information about it.


    Han Zijun shook his head. "No. The poison isn''t sufficient to kill you. However, if more of it entered your bloodstream, the damage it would leave in your body would be irreversible. Your internal organs will copse one after another until your body shuts down on its own."


    Su Xiaofei already knew about this because this was the same poison that killed her in her past life. ording to thest doctor who checked on her, the poison that umted in her body was already bone-deep and impossible to be removed anymore. Had she been diagnosed earlier, she would have a better chance of survival.


    However, from what she had heard from the said doctor, the cold poison was hard to obtain by normal people. It was also hard for normal people to know that they were poisonous because it had no scent nor any lingering taste that could give away its presence.


    Since then, Su Xiaofei had been wondering how Ye Mingyu managed to obtain such poison, though she was able to find out Ye Mingyu''s methods of poisoning her. Now that she had experienced being poisoned for the second time, the circumstantial evidence was pointing to Ye Mingyu''s involvement with those who wanted to harm Master Ouyang.


    "So what would happen to me then?" She asked Han Zijun, wanting to know how good this doctor was.


    "Miss, don''t worry. I was able to extract most of the poison. Although the remaining poison in your body is small, it would cause you some difort and fever within the next three days. I will give you some oral medication to expel the remaining poison.. Just to be sure, pleasee here, so I could check on you."

 Chapter 29 - The Star Would Never Shine Without Darkness (1)

    <h4>Chapter 29 - The Star Would Never Shine Without Darkness (1)</h4>


    Su Xiaofei didn''t want to admit it, but she was impressed by how much Han Zijun knew about cold poison and how easily it was for him to detoxify her. Had she met Han Zijun in her past life, she would have had a better chance of recovering from her illness and to continue to live.


    She had heard about a certain Master Han, who was a genius doctor in her past life, but she had never anticipated that she would be acquainted with him as soon as she was reborn.


    s, she was aware that this was just another ''what if'' that would never be able to change what she had suffered in her past life. It was toote to regret her previous actions now, and she could only move forward.


    As much as she held others responsible for her demise and tragic end, Su Xiaofei was also aware that her foolishness and poor choices in life had led her to it. It had been her weakness that other people took advantage of, so she was partly to me for what happened to her.


    "Are you sure I won''t suffer anyplicationster?" She questioned Han Zijun.


    "En, as long as the cold poison hasn''t settled in your heart, one would be able to recover from it." The man assured her.


    "Qian, I want to go home now." She told Xi Qian. She had no idea how long she had been unconscious, and was certain that her mother was worriedly waiting for her return.


    As for her two bodyguards, Su Xiaofei was aware that they were practically useless. By now, she wouldn''t be surprised that those two were cowering in fear, racking their brains to think of an excuse to tell Yun Qingrong once their mistress found out what happened today.


    So why would she bring them with her today, knowing they were useless? It was simple. Su Xiaofei wanted to pull out the weeds from her turf, and that includes these two who wouldter work as Mo Yuchen''s spy on her.


    There was no way Yun Qingrong would allow them to stay by Su Xiaofei''s side after what happened under their watch.


    "We''ll bring you home." Master Ouyang chose to step forward and looked at Su Xiaofei''s slightly pale appearance. "Allow this old man to sincerely apologize to your family."


    Su Xiaofei inwardly smirked. Master Ouyang was ying his role very well and was acting ording to her n. This made it easier for her to reveal that she was Yun Qingrong''s adopted daughter, without relying on the Yun family.


    Meanwhile, Yun Xiang stood next to the old man with a conflicted expression on his face, which Su Xiaofei could surmise as his guilt of allowing an innocent civilian to get injured because of a mistake. Since he had allowed her to see such a weakness, Yun Xiang would have no idea what would hit him in the future.


    "O-okay¡­" She replied to Master Ouyang''s request. The sooner the old man knew who she was, the better.


    As for Yun Xiang, Su Xiaofei would allow him to feel guilty this time. In the future, he would try to settle his debt by helping her, and he would never stop until Su Xiaofei deemed that she had enough.


    She and Xi Qian were led out of the pharmacy and spotted a car that was waiting for them. Su Xiaofei had a thin nket ced on her shoulder as Xi Qian helped her get into the backseat of the car.


    Once they were settled, Su Xiaofei noticed that there weren''t many people gathered at the public market, as the sky had already darkened. As she nced on her watch, she realized that it was almost ten in the evening.


    "I''ve already called Aunty Qing. She and the others would be waiting for our return." Xi Qian informed her. She had tried to find the bodyguards that she knew Su Xiaofei had brought with her today, but Xi Qian couldn''t find them at all.


    If that was the case, then Master Ouyang and Yun Xiang would personally meet her mother. Su Xiaofei wasn''t sure if the old man knew Yun Qingrong, but Yun Xiang would surely recognize his aunt once he saw her.


    Su Xiaofei shut her eyes, aware that Yun Xiang was looking at her through the dashboard mirror as he sat next to the driver''s seat. From where she was seated, she could sense that Yun Xiang was thinking of several ways to gain her forgiveness this time.


    She briefly wondered if his vulnerability was the reason why Ye Mingyu was able to lead him on for a long time. Clearly, Ye Mingyu wasn''t as innocent and kind as everyone perceived her to be.


    ''Ye Mingyu, you are quite ruthless.'' Su Xiaofei sneered inwardly.


    For Ye Mingyu to be able to get everything she wanted, she had forced Su Xiaofei to y the viiness role to make herself stand out. For the star would never shine without darkness.


    Not denying him, but also wouldn''t fully ept his love. It was only now did Su Xiaofei realize that she had underestimated Ye Mingyu''s craftiness, for she was able to turn the tides in her favor no matter how hard Su Xiaofei worked to ruin her reputation in the past.


    ''That''s right, Third Young Master Yun, please feel guilty and pity towards me. In the future, when Ye Mingyu tries to offend me, you would be the one who would cast the first stone towards her.'' She thought, liking that not only she had gained Master Ouyang''s gratitude this time, but she also met the genius doctor Han Zijun, and had Yun Xiang in the palm of her hands.


    With the appearance of the female lead in a few days, Ye Mingyu had no idea that Su Xiaofei had already set the stage for her to y her role along with Mo Yuchen.. In this life, the one who would have thestugh would be her.

 Chapter 30 - The Star Would Never Shine Without Darkness (2)

    <h4>Chapter 30 - The Star Would Never Shine Without Darkness (2)</h4>


    When the car arrived at the Su Residence, Yun Qingrong, along with Aunty Liu and Lu Qingfeng were waiting for Su Xiaofei and Xi Qian''s return. When Xi Qian called her an hour ago, informing her something had happened yet again to her daughter, Yun Qingrong panicked.


    Su Xiaofei would usually inform her ahead if she was going to stay in her apartment and wouldn''t be home, but this time, when the clock struck eight, Yun Qingrong didn''t hear anything from her daughter and was wondering where she and Xi Qian had gone. It also didn''t help that the bodyguards she assigned to her daughter weren''t returning her calls.


    "We''re here, Feifei." Xi Qian shook Su Xiaofei''s shoulder to wake her up from her nap.


    Su Xiaofei stirred from her sleep and cracked an eye open. She hadn''t realized that she had fallen asleep while they were on the road. She felt dizzy and hot at the same time. Just like what Han Zijun told her earlier, it seemed like she was about to have a fever.


    Yun Xiang was the first to alight from the car and opened the door of the backseat for the two young women, while Master Ouyang was still inside the car that was following them.


    Seeing that two cars had pulled up in front of her residence, Yun Qingrong rushed out to see them, worry written all over her face as Lu Qingfeng followed behind her with an unreadable expression on his face.


    As soon as Lu Qingfeng saw Su Xiaofei''s ghastly paleplexion and unfocused sight, he forced Yun Xiang aside when thetter was about to take hold of Su Xiaofei to bring her inside the residence.


    Yun Xiang was taken aback by this young man''s actions, but didn''tment on it.


    Su Xiaofei wound her arms around Lu Qingfeng''s neck and took a deep breath before shutting her eyes. With Lu Qingfeng here, she didn''t need to worry about anything right now. She felt a hand touching her forehead and knew it was her mother worrying about her again.


    "Feifei¡­" She heard her mother''s voice, but Su Xiaofei didn''t have the strength to exin what happened to her.


    "Aunty Qing, I''ll take Feifei inside." Lu Qingfeng told her mother.


    Su Xiaofei could only bask in Lu Qingfeng''s warmth as she tried to keep her consciousness this time.


    "Okay." Yun Qingrong replied. She still needed to entertain the guests they unexpectedly had to receive tonight and had to talk to Xi Qian to find out what happened to them. She watched as Lu Qingfeng held her daughter carefully as he brought Su Xiaofei inside and headed straight to her bedroom.


    When she faced Yun Xiang, she was momentarily taken aback seeing his familiar face, but she couldn''t remember where she had seen him. This young man in front of her was oddly familiar.


    Meanwhile, Master Ouyang alighted from the car and was caught off guard when he saw that Yun Qingrong was the one standing next to young Lu Qingfeng earlier. He hadn''t seen this woman for a long time, ever since she was disowned by her own family after she chose to marry her husband twenty years ago.


    "Qing''er, is that you?" He called out, wondering if he was seeing things or was it really Yun Qingrong, the only daughter of the Yun family.


    Hearing her name being called out, Yun Qingrong turned her head to the direction of the voice and was surprised to see the familiar old man she hadn''t seen in ages.


    "Uncle Luo, what brings you to my humble abode? Did my Feifei cause you trouble?" She asked politely.


    It wouldn''t be the first time someone would reach out to her toin about her daughter anyway. But why did Feifei look sick in Lu Qingfeng''s arms earlier?


    "Oh, no, Qing''er. It''s quite the opposite, actually. It''s this old man''s fault that your daughter was injured earlier." Master Ouyang said with a deep sigh.


    Just thinking about how the young woman earlier suffered because of him had made his heart ache. However, never in a million years would he think that young woman was Yun Qingrong''s daughter.


    Yun Qingrong''s face lost its color upon hearing that. "My Feifei was injured?"


    "Madam, why don''t we move this discussion inside?" Thankfully, Auntie Liu was by her side, holding Yun Qingrong''s arm gently.


    "Y-yes¡­ we should do that." Yun Qingrong nodded in agreement, but her thoughts remained with her daughter. Su Xiaofei had just recently been discharged from the hospital, so what was wrong with her this time?


    "Qian, just stay here with us for the night, okay? I would worry about you too if you insist on going home thiste." Yun Qingrong told her daughter''s best friend. She then thought of how lucky her Feifei was for having Xi Qian and Lu Qingfeng as her friends.


    Aunty Liu led Master Ouyang and Yun Xiang inside, while Yun Qingrong was left with Xi Qian. While Yun Qingrong was busy talking with Xi Qian, Yun Xiang took this chance to ask the old man.


    "You know that woman, Master Ouyang?"


    At his question, Master Ouyang hit Yun Xiang''s legs with his cane and shot him a re.


    "Silly child! How can you not recognize your own aunt?! Don''t tell me your old man never mentioned anything about his sister." Master Ouyang looked at him with dissatisfaction on his face.


    Yun Xiang''s eyes widened and he took a second look at Yun Qingrong. He couldn''t believe it at all! Was she really his aunt? The person his grandfather missed the most, but wasn''t able to meet due to their disagreements?


    Wait. Would that mean that the person who identally saved this old man''s life was his cousin?!


    Somehow, this revtion left a dissatisfaction in Yun Xiang''s heart that he couldn''t exin.. He knew how painful it was for someone when they were poisoned with cold poison, but Su Xiaofei didn''t shed a tear at all.

 Chapter 31 - You Cant Die This Early (1)

    <h4>Chapter 31 - You Can''t Die This Early (1)</h4>


    In the dark hallway of the Su Residence, which was only lit by the moon outside, only Lu Qingfeng''s footsteps and Su Xiaofei''s harsh breathing could be heard. Despite Lu Qingfeng''s younger age, his height towered Su Xiaofei and his build wasn''t bad at all. This made it easy for him to lift Su Xiaofei''s smaller figure.


    For a fifteen-year-oldd, Lu Qingfeng''s looked so mature that he could be mistaken to be Su Xiaofei and Xi Qian''s age, with his tall stature and cold countenance. In a few more years, he would not only be an outstanding man within the business world, but also popr with both sexes.


    "Xiao Feng, I don''t feel good." Su Xiaofei said in a low voice, but she didn''t hear a response from the young man who was holding her.


    "Xiao Feng, are you mad? Jie didn''t mean to get hurt. It''s purely a coincidence. You can ask Xi Qian if you doubt my words." She continued to reason out.


    Still Lu Qingfeng didn''t utter a word, but the slight darkening on his face was a give away that he wasn''t pleased with what happened to her.


    Because they knew each other well, Su Xiaofei knew that Lu Qingfeng was upset with her, while thetter was aware that she was lying to him, but he didn''t call her out on it.


    "Why won''t you talk to me?" She grumbled.


    "Unless you are going to tell me the truth, save your energy and be good." Lu Qingfeng finally replied. He could just wait to hear the exnationter, what was important now was that Su Xiaofei was home, and she would recover soon.


    Su Xiaofei''s hold on him tightened when he pushed the door of her bedroom open andid her on the bed. By this time, her face was red and her breathingbored, indicating that she was getting feverish. She groaned but didn''tin, leaving Lu Qingfeng standing next to her bed, feeling helpless as to what he should do to ease her pain.


    "I''m thirsty." Su Xiaofei told him.


    Lu Qingfeng didn''t say a word, but left her room. He then came back with a trayid with a pitcher of water and a drinking ss. He poured her a ss of water and helped her hold it as she took a sip.


    When Aunty Liu and Xi Qian came to check on her, Lu Qingfeng then requested for them to help Su Xiaofei change into a new pair of clean clothes while he waited outside. Both women easily agreed with his request as they helped Su Xiaofei clean herself, careful not to touch her wound.


    Seeing that they might take some time to finish, Lu Qingfeng decided to join the rest downstairs to find out what had happened to Su Xiaofei and Xi Qian while they were out.


    "Xiao Feng,e here and sit with me." Yun Qingrong called him when she spotted him making his way downstairs.


    Lu Qingfeng obediently listened to her and sat silently while Master Ouyang narrated what happened this afternoon and what caused Su Xiaofei''s injury. He didn''t say anything throughout the conversation of the adults, but it was clear that he wasn''t happy about what happened to Su Xiaofei.


    "Qing''er, you don''t need to worry anymore." Master Ouyang said. "Master Han has assured us that your daughter would be able to flush out the remaining toxin in her body, as long as she takes her medications on time. As for the expenses, this old man is willing to cover it."


    "There''s no need for you to feel guilty, Uncle Luo. None of us wanted this to happen to Feifei."


    "Still, it''s this old man''s fault that your daughter was hurt. Allow me to at least help you with the medical expenses, Qing''er." Master Ouyang insisted.


    "Aunty Qing, I''ll go back to see if Aunty Liu and Xi Qian are done with her." Lu Qingfeng had enough of this conversation. He politely told Yun Qingrong he would check on Su Xiaofei, excusing himself in an attempt to stop himself from saying unnecessary things in front of his elders.


    Yun Qingrong patted his hand and nodded. "Thank you, Xiao Feng. Go. I''ll be there shortly."


    Lu Qingfeng gave Master Ouyang and Yun Xiang a curt nod and left without a word, but not without shooting Yun Xiang a cold re that startled the older man.


    ''What''s with him?'' Yun Xiang wondered in confusion.


    When he returned to Su Xiaofei''s side, she was already dressed in a pair of pyjamas. Aunty Liu had already left, leaving Xi Qian to look after Su Xiaofei while Lu Qingfeng was out. Su Xiaofei had also fallen asleep, but it was obvious that she was in difort.


    "It''s been a long day for you, Xi Qian. Why don''t you have dinner first and retire for the night? I''ll apany Xiaofei while Aunty Qing is busy downstairs." He told Xi Qian, wanting to be left alone with Su Xiaofei.


    "Okay." Xi Qian didn''t refute him this time. She had no energy left to argue with him, as she had been worried sick about Su Xiaofei''s condition. "Call me if you ever need help."


    Lu Qingfeng nodded. He watched her go and went to close the door behind her. He took a seat on the armchair next to Su Xiaofei''s bed and shut his eyes, trying to calm his nerves. He repeatedly told himself that Su Xiaofei was fine, and that she was already out of danger.


    Although he was aware that Su Xiaofei wasn''t telling him the truth, he couldn''t force her to confess what truly happened. For Lu Qingfeng, there was no such thing as a coincidence in this world. There would always be a logical reason for what transpired, no matter how trivial it was.


    Since Su Xiaofei wasn''t willing to disclose the truth to him, Lu Qingfeng had no other choice but to find the answers to his questions on his own.

 Chapter 32 - You Cant Die This Early (2)

    <h4>Chapter 32 - You Can''t Die This Early (2)</h4>


    Once Master Ouyang and Yun Xiang left the Su Residence, Yun Qingrong joined Lu Qingfeng and looked after her daughter. It was alreadyte at night, yet she knew that she wouldn''t be able to sleep, knowing that her daughter was sick. Thankfully, Lu Qingfeng was with them to help her ease her worries aside from looking after Su Xiaofei.


    However, when the clock struck one in the morning, Su Xiaofei''s breathing became erratic and her face had turned red. As Yun Qingrong touched her head, the older woman panicked at how high her daughter''s fever was and rushed to prepare the medicines that Master Ouyang had left for her earlier.


    These medicines were prescribed and made by Han Zijun himself, and Yun Qingrong was aware of how good the doctor was in traditional medicine. He was deemed as a young prodigy and was receiving high regards in the industry, so she wasn''t worried about the quality of the medicines he prescribed for Su Xiaofei.


    Her hands were trembling as panic was starting to get the best of her. Thankfully, Lu Qingfeng managed to hold the bowl that contained Su Xiaofei''s medicine. He ced it on the night stand and helped Su Xiaofei sit up on her bed.


    "Xiaofei, you need to take your medicine for you to feel better." His tone was surprisingly gentle as he held Su Xiaofei in one arm, while his other hand held the small bowl containing her medicine.


    Su Xiaofei looked at him with half-lidded eyes and nodded. She took a small sip, but she suddenly coughed wildly, spitting the bitter medicine out on Lu Qingfeng''s white shirt.


    "Sorry." She muttered in her dizzy state. "It''s so bitter."


    Yun Qingrong stood next to them with a ss of water in her hand. She knew her daughter didn''t like the strong scent and taste of medicines, but Su Xiaofei had no other choice but to take her medicine to feel better.


    "Don''t take small sips. Take it in one go, so the taste wouldn''t settle too long on your pte." Lu Qingfeng suggested.


    He offered the medicine again, and Su Xiaofei eyed it for a moment. If this was the payment for having Master Ouyang in her debt and pulling Yun Xiang under her influence, so be it!


    She took the bowl of medicine and downed it in one go, just like what Lu Qingfeng suggested. She grimaced at the intensity of the bitterness of the medicine, and her eyes stung with tears.


    Yun Qingrong then passed her the ss of water she was holding, which turned out to be honey lemon water, helping Su Xiaofei wash off the bitter taste in her mouth.


    Lu Qingfeng then tucked her back in bed and brushed her hair away from her face.


    "Go to sleep and rest. Your mother and I will be here when you wake up." He told her.


    "You promise?" Su Xiaofei asked with a small smile. Ever since she was reborn, every morning she would jolt out of her bed, wondering what day and year it was. She still feared that none of the past few days were true, and she was once again a wandering ghost that couldn''t move on from her mother and Lu Qingfeng''s pitiful end.


    Lu Qingfeng''s eyes softened at that. He nodded his head and held her hand, giving it a light squeeze.


    "En. I promise. You have to take my word seriously."


    It was only then Su Xiaofei sighed and shut her eyes, allowing herself to be dragged back into slumber.


    It took over an hour before her temperature lowered, allowing Yun Qingrong and Lu Qingfeng to sigh in relief.


    "Aunty Qing, why don''t you sleep with Xiaofei? You look tired." Lu Qingfeng told the woman in a low voice. "I promise to look after her."


    Yun Qingrong did feel tired and exhausted, but she wasn''t sure if she should allow the young Lu Qingfeng to take care of her daughter.


    "Are you sure?"


    "En, Aunty." Lu Qingfeng insisted. "Xiaofei would also be worried if you also fall ill."


    "Okay." The old woman conceded, "but you have to wake me up if you are feeling sleepy."


    Lu Qingfeng only gave her a small smile and watched as Yun Qingrong settled next to Su Xiaofei on the bed and dozed off after making sure to ce a pillow between them to make sure she wouldn''t identally touch her daughter''s wound.


    The lights had been dimmed, allowing the mother and daughter to sleep peacefully, while Lu Qingfeng stayed awake to make sure Su Xiaofei wouldn''t break into another fever.


    In her sleep, Su Xiaofei started murmuring incoherent words that her mother wasn''t able to hear but Lu Qingfeng. She was biting her lip, hands clenching tightly on her side, a habit that she had whenever she was upset with something or someone.


    "Mo Yuchen, Ye Mingyu¡­ I will never forgive you¡­ never¡­ I will have my revenge on you..."


    Hearing such words from her lips, Lu Qingfeng fell into deep thought for a long time. His eyes narrowing slightly, jaws hardening as several thoughts crossed his mind. He then stood up and walked to Su Xiaofei''s window and dialed a number on his phone.


    "Nine, I''m giving you your first mission¡­." He then proceeded to give the details of the afternoon event at the pharmacy in a hush tone, making sure not to wake up the sleeping mother and daughter.


    "I''m giving you three days to find out who did this to her." He said before hanging up the call.


    With his orders released, he proceeded to go back to his previous seat, his hand reaching out to touch a few strands of Su Xiaofei''s dark hair. Under the dim light, his lips curled up and kissed the ends of her locks.


    "Silly girl.. If you want to seek revenge, you have to know that you can''t die this early."

 Chapter 33 - Little Tyrant (1)

    <h4>Chapter 33 - Little Tyrant (1)</h4>


    These were the words Su Xiaofei unconsciously retained in her mind without knowing she had heard it from Lu Qingfeng. That was right, she can''t allow herself to die this early if she decided to seek revenge on those who wronged her in her past life.


    She shouldn''t put her own life at stake like this again, as the probability of ending up being dead was higher than getting the revenge that she wanted.


    Lu Qingfeng continued his vigil, watching over Su Xiaofei. When dawn arrived, he was still wide awake, his mind seemingly elsewhere as he looked over Su Xiaofei''s sleeping face.


    By the time Yun Qingrong stirred from her sleep and cracked an eye open, she found Lu Qingfeng standing next to the window, staring out absentmindedly.


    "Xiao Feng?" She called out, getting the young man''s attention. "Don''t you want to get some rest?"


    Yun Qingrong nced at the time at the night stand and saw that it was already six in the morning. She hadn''t realized that she was too tired and overslept.


    Lu Qingfeng faced her and gave her a slight smile.


    "It''s alright, Aunty Qing. I couldn''t sleep anyway." He replied. "Xiaofei didn''t break into another fever, which is good."


    Yun Qingrong sighed in relief. She then gently touched her daughter''s forehead to make sure that Su Xiaofei wasn''t really burning up.


    "It''s my turn to look after her, but before that, let me make you some breakfast." She said as she slipped out quietly from the bed, not wanting to wake her sick daughter.


    "Are you going to sleep in the guestroom or do you want to go home?" She asked.


    "I want to go back home to change my clothes, then I''lle back and stay here for a while, Aunty, that is, if you don''t mind." Lu Qingfeng replied truthfully.


    "You are really such a good kid, Xiao Feng. Your parents would be proud of you if they were still alive." The old womanughed, not noticing the darkness that appeared in Lu Qingfeng''s eyes upon mentioning his parents.


    Lu Qingfeng didn''t respond to that, instead he turned his gaze out the window. Whether it was in the past or in the future, Lu Qingfeng had never mentioned anything about his deceased parents, as if he intended to bring the secret to his grave.


    Yun Qingrong left her daughter''s bedroom, leaving her daughter in Lu Qingfeng''s care. She went to her own room to wash up and found Aunty Liu downstairs, already preparing breakfast for their guests.


    "Madam, how''s Miss Feifei?" She asked Yun Qingrong after serving her mistress a cup of freshly brewed coffee.


    "She''s better now." Yun Qingrong replied, rubbing her temples as she realized that the events over the past few days were starting to take a toll on her health.


    "Aunty Liu, I really don''t know why all these are happening to my Feifei. She just got out of the hospital, and now she is injured. I feel like heaven is reminding me to prioritize my daughter instead of work."


    Aunty Liu gave her a smile and gently coaxed her mistress to calm down.


    "It''s normal for you to get worried, Madam. She''s your child, after all. I also think that Miss Feifei is more understanding these days and hasn''t directly caused any trouble just to get your attention."


    "Right. Now that you''ve mentioned it, Aunty Liu. I also feel that my Feifei has suddenly grown up. A little more and I''m afraid she wouldn''t need her Mama in her life anymore."


    "Aunty Qing shouldn''t be talking like that. Feifei would be saddened if she knew what you are thinking now."


    The two older women were slightly startled when Xi Qian spoke. They didn''t even realize that she was there. Xi Qian, who had juste down, then joined Yun Qingrong at the table.


    "Sorry, Aunty Qing. I didn''t mean to overhear your conversation." The young woman apologized once she realized her mistake. It wasn''t proper for her to interrupt when her elders were talking.


    "It''s okay, Qian. I''m just worried about Feifei, that''s all." Yun Qingrong patted Xi Qian''s hand assuringly.


    "Feifei also feels the same way, Aunty. Do you know why we ended up at that pharmacy yesterday, Aunty? It''s because Feifei wanted to buy you some tonics. She must have felt that you''ve been stressed and exhaustedtely, which made her worried about your health. It was just we didn''t expect that someone was after that old man''s life¡­" Her words trailed off, remembering the scene clearly in her mind.


    Xi Qian wasn''t able to get enough sleepst night because of this. She suddenly realized that no matter how hard she tried to pretend that everything would be alright, she had no power to help her best friend at the time Su Xiaofei needed help the most.


    ''I cannot allow this to happen again.'' She thought. She must find a way to help Su Xiaofei in the future, after all the things thetter did for her sake so far.


    It didn''t take long for Lu Qingfeng to join them for early breakfast. He eyed Xi Qian for a moment, pondering if he should fish out some information himself since she was the only current essible witness of yesterday''s incident, but seeing her distraught expression, he was reminded of Su Xiaofei''s request for him to treat Xi Qian better.


    Lu Qingfeng wasn''t sure why Su Xiaofei made such a request. She must have known that he and Xi Qian didn''t really get along well for some reason, and that reason was only known to the two of them.


    However, none of them had voiced the reason for their annoyance towards each other and could only avoid meeting each other''s eyes. If it wasn''t for Su Xiaofei, Lu Qingfeng would have totally ignored Xi Qian altogether.


    "Are you going to work today?" He suddenly asked Xi Qian, catching the young woman off guard.


    "En¡­" Since they were in front of Yun Qingrong, Xi Qian wouldn''t dare to argue with him.

 Chapter 34 - Little Tyrant (2)

    <h4>Chapter 34 - Little Tyrant (2)</h4>


    "Then allow me to send you home. I''m going home to change my clothes anyway." Lu Qingfeng said, not giving Xi Qian any opportunity to deny him.


    It would be better if Su Xiaofei heard that he was trying his best to get along with Xi Qian, albeit, begrudgingly.


    Xi Qian bit her inner cheek, her hand tightening on her chopsticks. This young man was really arrogant and overbearing. As to why Su Xiaofei allowed such a two-faced person by her side, Xi Qian had no idea.


    The moment she met Lu Qingfeng when Su Xiaofei first introduced him to her, Xi Qian knew that he was bad news. Something in the way Lu Qingfeng looked at her best friend made Xi Qian wary of him, and the more she interacted with this young man, the more she was certain he was harboring thoughts about Su Xiaofei.


    "Please, Xiao Feng on your way home, drop Qian''er off at her home so I wouldn''t have to worry about her." Yun Qingrong smiled at the young man, which only sealed Xi Qian''s fate that morning. How could she refuse when Yun Qinrong had put it that way?


    "Thanks, Lu Qingfeng." She smiled awkwardly, but in her mind, she was wondering what this arrogant man was up to by offering her a ride this time.


    Did he need something from her? She wondered. He wasn''t nning to interrogate her for the person responsible for Su Xiaofei''s injuries, right?


    Even if she had witnessed the scene herself, she had no idea why Su Xiaofei ended up injured yesterday. She wanted to believe that it was merely an ident, or a misfortune on Su Xiaofei''s part for being in the same ce with the old man.


    She took a side nce on Lu Qingfeng''s face, who was now ignoring her.


    Of course, Xi Qian was also aware why Lu Qingfeng didn''t like her, but the feeling was mutual between them. She cannot stand him at all!


    This young man was ying nice when he was facing Su Xiaofei, but once she was out of sight, Lu Qingfeng''s attitude was really annoying and repulsive. Xi Qian didn''t doubt that in the future, he would definitely be a tyrant, getting whatever he wanted regardless of what damage it would cause to others.


    Oddly enough, Xi Qian became aware of Lu Qingfeng''s obsession towards her best friend fairly quickly, but it seemed like Su Xiaofei was oblivious to it. Su Xiaofei didn''t even notice that Lu Qingfeng was trying hard to get deep under her skin, causing her to rely on him more and more each day.


    Xi Qian feared that Lu Qingfeng''s obsession towards Su Xiaofei would harm her best friend in the future. s, with Su Xiaofei being infatuated with Mo Yuchen, this little tyrant wasn''t able to get Su Xiaofei''s attention to himself.


    However, now that Su Xiaofei had finally voiced out her intention to cut off her ties with Mo Yuchen, Xi Qian feared that Lu Qingfeng wouldn''t waste his time and would be more proactive in chasing her best friend.


    Lu Qingfeng was only fifteen now, but in a few years, the age gap between him and Su Xiaofei would be irrelevant, and he would force Su Xiaofei to see him as a man, and not just a childhood friend she treated like a brother.


    Once they were done with their breakfast, Xi Qian took her things from the guest room she upiedst night before joining Lu Qingfeng in the backseat of his car.


    "Just so you know, I only agreed to your offer because Aunty Qing is worried." Xi Qian sneered, wanting to make it clear that she didn''t need Lu Qingfeng''s help at all.


    "I''m sorry to disappoint you, Miss Xi, but I didn''t offer you a ride out of my goodwill either. If Xiaofei hadn''t forced me to make a promise, I wouldn''t even bother to waste my time with you." Lu Qingfeng said in an equally disgusted tone.


    Xi Qian was taken aback by Lu Qingfeng''s answer. Just what kind of request did Feifei make? Knowing Lu Qingfeng, this little tyrant, he wouldn''t be forced to do anything he didn''t like, except if it was Su Xiaofei who requested it.


    Xi Qian narrowed her eyes dangerously. Why did she feel like this wouldn''t be thest time Lu Qingfeng would meddle in her life?


    As if knowing what she was thinking about him, Lu Qingfeng scoffed. To think that he would be forced to look after this girl¡­ Did Su Xiaofei trust that he wouldn''t back out of his words? If he had a choice, he wouldn''t want to get involved with this girl at all.


    The two fell silent, each of them deep in their own thoughts. However, what they both knew was they needed to at least be civil to each other in front of Su Xiaofei. Thest thing they both wanted was for Su Xiaofei to be upset with them.


    Lu Qingfeng dropped Xi Qian at her home, which was located in the underdeveloped part of Qiying City, which was totally the opposite of where Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng resided.


    Xi Qian ndly gave her thanks again and turned her back on him at once, not wanting to be in hispany any longer than needed. Whatever Lu Qingfeng was nning to do now, she should make sure that Su Xiaofei wouldn''t blindly believe his words.


    Meanwhile, Lu Qingfeng shut his eyes andmanded his driver to take him home, wanting to get back to the Su Residence as soon as possible. With the thought of Su Xiaofei being injured, Lu Qingfeng couldn''t calm his nerves, wanting to be by her side once she woke up as he promised.


    As for those who were responsible for her current state¡­ Lu Qingfeng''s aura became menacing. They should pray that he wouldn''t find out who and where they were, because this little tyrant wouldn''t let them off the hook easily for harming Su Xiaofei.

 Chapter 35 - New Year, New Life (1)

    <h4>Chapter 35 - New Year, New Life (1)</h4>


    When Su Xiaofei woke up, it was already afternoon. She turned her head to her side and spotted Lu Qingfeng seated on the armchair next to her bed, reading a book on hisp. He had a pair of spectacles on his face, which made him look more mature than his actual age.


    Su Xiaofei smiled to herself, realizing that he had kept his promise of being there once she woke up. It was at this time that Yun Qingrong gently knocked on her door and noticed that she had already awakened.


    Her mother ced the tray she was holding on the nightstand and sat on the edge of her bed, touching Su Xiaofei''s forehead gently.


    "You are awake." Yun Qingrong stated the obvious. "How do you feel, Feifei?" She asked.


    Hearing her voice, Lu Qingfeng shut the book he was reading close and looked in Su Xiaofei''s direction.


    "I feel better now, Mama. I''m sorry for making you worry." Su Xiaofei replied in a low voice. She felt her throat dry and itchy and realized she hadn''t eaten anything since she left their home yesterday.


    Her stomach grumbled, announcing her hunger to everyone in the room. Lu Qingfeng chuckled and ced the book he was holding next to the tray on the night stand and stood up.


    "I''ll ask Aunty Liu to prepare something for you to eat." He said, before leaving the mother and daughter pair on their own.


    Half an hourter, the two came down together, with Yun Qingrong helping her daughter down the stairs. Seeing this, Lu Qingfeng went forward and offered an arm to Su Xiaofei, which she willingly epted.


    "Ah, Miss Feifei. You should have waited for us to bring your food upstairs. You don''t need to stress yourself like this, considering your injury." Aunty Liumented. For outsiders, it might look like she was reprimanding her miss, but Su Xiaofei knew that Aunty Liu was only genuinely concerned about her.


    "It''s alright, Aunty. If I stay for another hour in bed, I might lose my mind." She replied with a teasing tone.


    Seeing the light meal the old woman prepared just for her, Su Xiaofei smiled. She couldn''t believe that she had once ignored the warmpanionship she could have enjoyed with her loved ones had she not been so foolish to focus all her attention on Mo Yuchen.


    She ate her meal while Aunty Liu and her mother discussed the inventory Aunty Liu did in her walk-in closet on the third level.


    "It seems like it wasn''t the first time that Chen Li took some of Feifei''s things." Yun Qingrong said with a deep frown marring her face. "I didn''t maltreat them. I even epted them in my home, and this is how they repay me?"


    "Mama, you are getting angry again. It''s not worth getting mad and falling ill because of some ungrateful people. If Chen Li truly wanted those clothes, she could have them, but we should report her misconduct to the authorities. Who knew if she would do it again in the future to other people? We will be saving them from the trouble of getting involved with the Chens if they have a record like this." Su Xiaofeimented, surprising both her adoptive mother and Aunty Liu. Only Lu Qingfeng seemed to remain unperturbed by her words.


    It was at that moment, Su Xiaofei realized that she had made a slip of tongue in front of her mother. Yun Qingrong had no idea that she could be this vicious towards her enemies, and Su Xiaofei was ashamed for letting her mother see this side of her.


    Su Xiaofei bit her lower lip and lowered her gaze in shame. She mentally berated herself for making such a scene in front of her mother.


    Yun Qingrong had never believed other people''s im that Su Xiaofei had a wicked heart who only knew how to terrorize people around her, especially Ye Mingyu. As her mother, it was only natural for Yun Qingrong to be partially biased towards her daughter, something that Su Xiaofei had shamelessly exploited in the past, breaking her mother''s heart in the process.


    Surprisingly, Lu Qingfeng came to her defense, backing her suggestion regarding the Chen family.


    "Aunty Qing, I think what Xiaofei said is right. If you n to fire Aunty Chen from this household, surely she would try to apply as a housekeeper in another family. If that was the case, if I was the one who was looking for a new housekeeper, I would want to know why she left the Su Residence after years of working here. Surely, no one would open their doors to servants who would eventually steal from their masters while exploiting their kindness."


    Yun Qingrong fell silent at that. Did she really need to go to that extent to punish her husband''s rtives?


    Seeing her mother''s conflicted expression, Su Xiaofei sighed in relief, but she gave Lu Qingfeng a suspicious look, wondering why he was helping her get rid of the Chen family. Did he know something that he shouldn''t? She wondered.


    "You don''t have to rush your decision, Mama. Why don''t you take pity on them and see if they are willing to change their ways?" She proposed.


    Yes, take pity on the Chen family because in three days, Madam Chen would be the one who would allow Ye Xing and Ye Mingyu inside their home to distraught her mother. It would serve as thest nail on their coffin, forcing Yun Qingrong to expel them from this household for overstepping their boundaries.


    "Alright. Let''s do that. Since this is just their first offense, I''ll give them onest chance to redeem themselves.." Yun Qingrong agreed, not knowing that Madam Chen was bound to disappoint her yet again, and it would be the reason for her not to be merciful towards the Chen family.

 Chapter 36 - New Year, New Life (2)

    <h4>Chapter 36 - New Year, New Life (2)</h4>


    After her part-time job, Xi Qian rushed to the Su Residence to visit her best friend. While other people were celebrating New Year''s Day with their families, Xi Qian took advantage of the holidays to work, as most employers were required to double their pay for having their employees work on a holiday.


    Since Xi Qian couldn''t rely on her divorced parents, she could only work hard to provide for herself. At least being poor didn''t stop her from making friends with Su Xiaofei who was one of the richest students in their academy.


    Xi Qian''s face lit up when she saw Su Xiaofei finally up and was seated on the couch once she entered the household. However, seeing Lu Qingfeng seated beside her best friend, pretending to read a book, her smile faltered.


    Still, Lu Qingfeng''s presence didn''t stop her from striding towards Su Xiaofei to check on her.


    "Feifei, how are you feeling? Look, I brought your favorite blueberry cheesecake!" She announced and lifted the box of cake she was holding to show to her best friend.


    Su Xiaofei smiled at her and allowed Aunty Liu to take the box of cake Xi Qian brought for her. She gestured to Xi Qian to take a seat across from her.


    "You shouldn''t have bothered, Qian. I know you are saving money to get admitted to med school." She told her best friend.


    Xi Qian shook her head and dismissed Su Xiaofei''s worries about her. While it''s true that she was poor and was desperately saving up for college, she couldn''t resist buying something for her best friend.


    "You are worrying too much, Feifei. The aunty at the bakery heard what happened to you and gave me a huge discount when I said I was nning to give you a cake. So yeah, don''t worry. I didn''t spend a fortune on your cake." She assured Su Xiaofei.


    When Yun Qingrong went down that afternoon, finding the three in the living area, she called Lu Qingfeng''s attention.


    "Xiao Feng, do you think you can invite your grandfather to join us for dinner? Since the incident yesterday, we haven''t been able to celebrate properly." She then turned to face Xi Qian.


    "Qian''er, stay with us tonight, okay?" She asked her daughter''s best friend, knowing that Xi Qian didn''t have a family to celebrate New Year''s Day with her.


    Yun Qingrong''s heart ached for Xi Qian when she found out about the teenager''s living condition from her daughter some time ago, and had wondered how some parents could be so ruthless to their own flesh and blood. Look at her, even though Feifei wasn''t her biological child, she loved her nevertheless.


    She didn''t think she had the heart to abandon her daughter like what Xi Qian''s parents did to her. They were just being irresponsible and selfish, leaving with Xi Qian to live with her grandmother and not sparing her a decent living allowance over the years.


    This was why whenever Xi Qian paid them a visit, Yun Qingrong would make sure to feed Xi Qian well. Having Xi Qian fed meant that the young woman would have no need to spend on a meal and she could use her money on other expenses.


    She knew that Xi Qian didn''t want others to take pity on her, so she never offered her money nor asked her to live with them, although Yun Qingrong wouldn''t mind if Xi Qian did. Having Xi Qian in her home meant that she would have another daughter to spoil rotten. However, given her busy schedule, Yun Qingrong thought that she wouldn''t be able to truly look after Xi Qian too.


    Xi Qian bit her lip and nodded. "Okay, Aunty Qing."


    She couldn''t possibly decline Yun Qingrong''s invitation, although she felt that staying with them for a special dinner would be too much.


    And so, that night, Lu Qingfeng''s grandfather joined them for dinner. Everyone gathered around and had dinner together, including the servants of the Su household.


    They had already done a thorough cleaning the day before, which symbolized sweeping away the bad luck of the preceding year and preparing their homes to receive good luck, which was ironic in Su Xiaofei''s opinion. She didn''t know if her being reborn before New Year''s Day was a coincidence or not, but it does coincide with her goal to make her life better this time.


    New Year''s Day was meant for families to be together. It has been a long-held tradition for everyone to return home from work or study and to enjoy a reunion dinner with their families on New Year''s Eve, even if it requires traveling a long distance.


    The dinner was believed to be the most important part of the festival and the most important meal of the year. Big families of several generations sit around round tables and enjoy the food and time together. Dishes with lucky meanings must be included in the dinner, such as fish, which meant surplus and prosperity, and dumplings, which meant wealth.


    After the dinner, the elders would give the young ones red envelopes with money in them. Not surprising that Su Xiaofei, along with Lu Qingfeng and Xi Qian received their red envelopes from Yun Qingrong and Lu Qingfeng''s grandfather.


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaofei noticed that Chen Li and Chen Hao were both upset that they didn''t receive any red envelopes at all. She also noticed that Chen Li was wearing expensive clothes and was casually ncing at Li Qingfeng when he wasn''t looking.


    Her lips curled up in a sneer. No wonder Chen Li liked dressing herself up using her expensive clothes and things. It turned out that Chen Li had such a huge crush on Lu Qingfeng.


    Su Xiaofei briefly remembered a time when Lu Qingfeng made ament that she looked good in everything she wore in Chen Li''s presence.. If this was Chen Li''s reason, then she must truly be a pathetic being.

 Chapter 37 - New Year, New Life (3)

    <h4>Chapter 37 - New Year, New Life (3)</h4>


    There was a saying that the one who seeks vengeance should prepare two coffins. One for your enemy and one for yourself. Su Xiaofei knew that it was too early for her to die, and she should never put her neck in line again after what happened. Earning Master Ouyang''s favor and having Yun Xiang in the palm of her hands would be useless if she ended up being dead.


    "What are you scheming about now?" Lu Qingfeng''s voice brought Su Xiaofei back to reality. She was in the foyer of her home, watching the fireworks lighting up the dark sky. It seemed that they had neighbors who were still not satisfied with the fireworks disy that kept everyone busy while she was burning with fever on her own bed.


    "What made you think that I''m scheming something?"


    Lu Qingfeng joined in and stood right next to her, while everyone was busy trying to find a good spot where they could see the fireworks clearly.


    "That''s because you have that mischievous glint in your eyes whenever you are about to do something very bad."


    Su Xiaofei leaned her head against his right arm and sighed.


    "Xiao Feng knows me well." She said in a teasing tone.


    Lu Qingfeng looked down at her, but he couldn''t see her face this time. Her scent was wafting around him, though, reaching his nose.


    "That''s not true. Su Xiaofei is an enigma to someone like me." He said after a long silence between them.


    Su Xiaofei waited for him to exin his words, but no words came out after that.


    Was she really that hard for him to understand? She wondered. Thinking about it, because she was used to Lu Qingfeng''s presence around her, she had never bothered to wonder about how he sees her.


    Her eyes then caught a familiar figure a couple of meters away from him. Chen Li was trying to hide herself, but Su Xiaofei could sense that the young woman was ring daggers towards her right now.


    "My, my. My Xiao Feng is quite popr, I see. The poor youngdy has fallen to your charm." She suddenly said, her gaze straight on Chen Li, who was surprised at being caught by Su Xiaofei.


    Lu Qingfeng followed her gaze and spotted Chen Li, who was now cowering in fear. Her eyes avoided meeting his cold gaze.


    "It would save us a lot of trouble if she epted that I''m not even a bit interested." As Su Xiaofei expected, Lu Qingfeng immediately shot down Chen Li''s affection towards him.


    "You are quite ruthless, Young Master Lu. Won''t you at least give her a chance to prove herself?" She said in a mocking tone.


    "You know, Xiaofei. If there''s something I learned from grandpa, it''s that when you truly want something, you have to work hard and be worthy enough to have it. I don''t think Chen Li wearing your clothes and things made her worthy of my attention at all."


    Su Xiaofei couldn''t refute his words and nodded in agreement. She also thought that based on Lu Qingfeng''s personality, he wouldn''t ept a person like Chen Li to even be near him. Even in her past life, she had never seen Lu Qingfeng close to any woman aside from her.


    She fell silent at his words. She should have noticed it sooner. However, now that she knew how Lu Qingfeng thought of her, was it toote for her to change his mind?


    Su Xiaofei parted with him and looked at his face, but his expression remained unreadable even for her. Howe she hadn''t noticed it before?


    "You have another week before you and Xi Qian return to the academy, right?" Lu Qingfeng suddenly asked.


    "En. I cannot miss any more of my sses, considering that in a few months Qian and I will graduate." She affirmed.


    Now that he mentioned it, Su Xiaofei remembered that after Ye Mingyu made a scene at her home with her mother, Ye Mingyu would transfer to the same academy she and Xi Qian were attending. It was the start of Su Xiaofei''s plummeting reputation.


    She needed to do something to change the course of the events in her favor. If she still allowed Ye Mingyu to befriend other people to tarnish her name, she feared that her win this time would be short-lived.


    "It will be fine."


    Su Xiaofei whipped her head to look at Lu Qingfeng. He was staring up at the sky, his handsome face being lit up by the different colors of the fireworks.


    "What do you mean?" She asked.


    "I feel like you''ve been on the edge these days, Xiaofei. I''m not sure what you are thinking or what kind of problems you are dealing with, but you have to remember that I''m still here."


    Oddly enough, Su Xiaofei suddenly felt that her worries had somewhat eased.


    "What if I tell you I killed someone? What would you do?"


    This time, it was Lu Qingfeng''s turn to look at her as if she had grown another head over her shoulder.


    "That depends on who you have killed and what''s your motive in killing them. If they deserve their death, I know a good ce where you can discard their dead bodies."


    Su Xiaofei was stunned at that. Lu Qingfeng shouldn''t be saying these words at the young age of fifteen. As she looked at him, she wondered that this was a state of a tyrant in the making.


    "I''m just joking, Xiao Feng." She awkwardlyughed, and she had this feeling that Lu Qingfeng wasn''t joking at all.


    "However, I believe that a debt of blood must be settled with blood, too. I''m not nning to taint my hands with their blood anyway. I would merely borrow someone''s dagger to do that."


    ''In this lifetime, I would like to see how these shameless people try to execute the same scheme and tricks!''

 Chapter 38 - The Female Lead Arrives (1)

    <h4>Chapter 38 - The Female Lead Arrives (1)</h4>


    It was the day Su Xiaofei had been anticipating. The day when everyone''s lives would take a turning point that would forever change their lives. She wanted to convince herself that she was ready for this meeting and confrontation she would face with Ye Mingyu and her mother.


    In her past life, this was the start of her downturn, losing the most important people to her one after another. She could only hope that Yun Qingrong would be able to brace the shock and humiliation she would receive today, as Su Xiaofei needed to exploit her mother''s weakness for her to be able to step forward to protect the two of them.


    She certainly cannot allow Ye Xing to convince her mother to ept Ye Mingyu as part of the Su family. In her past life, not only did Yun Qingrong ept Ye Mingyu in their own home, but willingly turned a blind eye to her husband''s infidelity and betrayal when he embezzled thepany''s money in order to give Ye Xing proper treatment for her illness.


    Su Haoran, such a shameless scum. Not only did he cheat on Yun Qingrong, but he also used her money to give his lover and illegitimate child better living arrangements. After he begged for Yun Qingrong''s forgiveness, he had then taken advantage of her inability to conceive a child to force her to allow him to spoil his real daughter.


    Yun Qingrong, although felt that she was wronged, could only lower her head and ept the shame her husband brought not only to her, but to their household. If it wasn''t for Aunty Liu, Su Xiaofei would have no idea what had happened to their home during her absence.


    Had she not thrown a fit after her heated argument with Mo Yuchen in the hospital, Yun Qingrong wouldn''t have to face those two on her own. If she was there, Su Xiaofei knew, with her wicked and vicious personality in the past, she certainly wouldn''t allow Ye Mingyu to live with them.


    Because Su Xiaofei couldn''t stand that she was being forced to ept this new ''older sister'' who arrived out of the blue, she had refused to live in the same house with Ye Mingyu and chose to live in her own apartment. She was so mad that she had refused to ept her mother''s call and hear her exnation.


    In Su Xiaofei''s eyes, Su Haoran was such a disgusting person, while Yun Qingrong was a cowardly one.


    Her departure had only caused more strain on her alreadyplicated rtionship with Yun Qingrong. Su Xiaofei had med her mother in the past, telling Yun Qingrong that she had been a coward and a fool for allowing another woman''s child to live under her own roof.


    Such mean words that she had thrown right at her adoptive mother''s face, breaking Yun Qingrong''s heart in the process. Not only did her husband turn his back on her, the child that she took in and cared to love came to despise her as well.


    It only made Yun Qingrong more depressed than she already was. She had med herself for the shame her husbandmitted, admitted that her family''s views towards her marriage had been true all this time, and although she loved Su Xiaofei dearly, her child refused to see her since Ye Mingyu''s arrival in their lives.


    A few monthster, Ye Mingyu would meet Mo Yuchen through her and would be able to win his heart, making Su Xiaofei angry.


    ''Would I be able to change the tide in my favor?'' Su Xiaofei questioned herself. She nced at the time and wondered why waiting felt like an eternity for those who wait.


    Not only did she expect Ye Mingyu and Ye Xing to appear today, but she was also expecting to meet Master Ouyang and Yun Xiang this afternoon, right after her meeting with the mother and daughter pair.


    It was vital that these two men witness the grievances she and Yun Qingrong would receive today. Through them, Su Xiaofei expected that Master Ouyang, or better yet Yun Xiang, would report their situation to the head of the Yun family. She wanted to see how the Old Master Yun would react had he known that his only daughter was being bullied by Su Haoran and his mistress.


    Su Xiaofei''s expression darkened at the thought. She hoped that there wouldn''t be any hups along the way, as she didn''t want to make another mistake this time.


    She stood up and washed her face clean before checking the wound on her side. It was healing well and the medicines Han Zijun prescribed were quite effective, which also lessened the difort she felt from it. She then changed her clothes into a casual, but an expensive dress, making sure that people wouldn''t be able to easily ignore her presence.


    Su Xiaofei wanted to gauge Ye Mingyu''s reaction this time. She didn''t know why, but she felt that something was off about Ye Mingyu, and she was bing more suspicious of her. Meeting Master Ouyang and gaining his favor might be a coincidence, but Su Xiaofei couldn''t overlook the fact that the poison that was meant to kill the old man was the same one that killed her in her past life.


    In both scenarios, themon denominator was none other than Ye Mingyu. Su Xiaofei couldn''t help but wonder how Ye Mingyu pulled such a scheme. Was someone helping her, or did she know something that anyone else wasn''t aware of? It was as if Ye Mingyu knew who she should get acquainted with and how to utilize their connections in her favor, ruining Su Xiaofei''s reputation in the process.


    Su Xiaofei''s thoughts were forced into a halt when she heard the front gate of their residence being opened. She sighed to herself and decided to wait and see how the y would unfold in front of everyone.. Now that the female lead was here, it was only proper to give her a warm wee.

 Chapter 39 - The Female Lead Arrives (2)

    <h4>Chapter 39 - The Female Lead Arrives (2)</h4>


    Su Xiaofei was aware that it was Housekeeper Chen who let the mother and daughter pair enter their home. The old woman must have been expecting to gain their favors by helping Ye Mingyu im her spot as the true young miss of the Su family. However, they must be stupid for not knowing that such a title held no importance to Su Xiaofei and it didn''te with wealth and prestige other people thought it had.


    So what if Ye Mingyu was the real daughter of Su Haoran? The one who brought money in the family was Yun Qingrong and not Su Haoran. The one who called the shots here was her mother, and obviously Su Xiaofei, since technically, she was legally adopted by her parents and had a say in this household.


    Su Xiaofei hid herself next to the wall above the staircase, eavesdropping on the conversation between her mother and their unwanted guests. In the corner of her eye, she spotted Housekeeper Chen in the corner downstairs with an unusual smile on her ugly face.


    Su Xiaofei narrowed her eyes at that.


    ''Such a venomous snake. And to think that my mother epted her into our household with open arms.'' She sneered inwardly.


    Housekeeper Chen had no idea that she had offended Yun Qingrong this time and Su Xiaofei couldn''t wait to use it against this old woman. It was Yun Qingrong who helped Housekeeper Chen when she and her children had nowhere to go, so howe she was biting the hand of the person who helped her the most?


    Su Xiaofei then turned her attention to the young woman who was standing next to Ye Xing, who was now kowtowing in front of Yun Qingrong, asking for forgiveness and understanding.


    Ye Mingyu obviously looked younger. She was dressed in a pale pink blouse and white pleated skirt that reached her knees. It seemed to be handed down from others, as the colors had faded due to some washing.


    Despite this, herplexion was fair and her brows and eyes were elegant looking. She had the vibes of a filial daughter and looked dignified and educated, such a perfect contrast to Su Xiaofei''s haughty and arrogant personality. Between the two, it wasn''t surprising that people were inclined to favor Ye Mingyu over her.


    Su Xiaofei looked at the young woman in front of her mother. This was exactly the kindhearted and well-mannered Cindere that people kept praising about in her past life.


    Several memories between them came to mind. Memories that Su Xiaofei knew she would never be able to forget, even in this lifetime.


    "Feifei, I''m sorry. I''m really sorry. Yuchen and I didn''t deliberately choose to hide this from you. I know you love Mo Yuchen and you wouldn''t be able to bear this shock. We only hid this because we didn''t want you to be hurt." Ye Mingyu said when Su Xiaofei found out that she was pregnant with Mo Yuchen''s child after her husband forced her to abort theirs.


    Enraged was an understatement to describe what Su Xiaofei felt back at them. She was livid!


    So she can''t have Mo Yuchen''s child, but Ye Mingyu, the mistress, can?


    "Feifei, don''t me Yuchen, please. It was me who wronged you. I didn''t mean to fall in love with your husband, but if you need to know¡­ we''ve been together even before the two of you got married. Yuchen only married you to give you and your mother some face."


    Su Xiaofei knew by now that Ye Mingyu only said those words in the past to anger her to death, forcing her to get mad to attack her, which Su Xiaofei did.


    Aware that her days were already numbered, she had desperately called and requested to meet Mo Yuchen for thest time, but instead it was Ye Mingyu who came to see her.


    "Save your energy, dear sister. Do you really think my husband woulde here to see your pathetic state? He won''t being."


    Su Xiaofei could only stare at Ye Mingyu in shock, unaware of the tears streaming down her face. So as soon as Mo Yuchen divorced her, he immediately married this scheming woman?


    "Hahaha¡­ Su Xiaofei, you really thought that you were that impressive? You are the greatest fool in town! So what if I took your husband and everything from you, they were practically mine in the first ce!"


    "You are disgusting, just like your mother! Aside from seducing another woman''s man, Yun Qingrong did a good job of teaching you how to stay a fool! I should thank her for that¡­ oh, wait. She''s already dead, and soon it will be your turn."


    "A fake daughter like you only deserves to have the things that I don''t need and don''t like. An orphan abandoned by her own birth mother could only have the crumbs I would leave!" Ye Mingyu taunted her.


    "Do you really think that Mo Yuchen truly loved you when he married you? If it wasn''t for the money your stupid mother possessed, do you think he would bother to waste years of his life as your husband?" Ye Mingyu continued tough, enjoying Su Xiaofei''s horrified expression.


    "Feifei, I will be good to you for the rest of my life¡­ Do you know who taught him this? I taught him to act, I did a good job, right, sister?"


    "W-why¡­ Why are you doing this?" Su Xiaofei asked desperately.


    "Why? Because I couldn''t ept the fact that an outsider has my rightful ce!" Ye Mingyu sneered. "You''re so stupid. Did you actually believe that Mo Yuchen hase to love you? Your mother got into an ident and died, and you were married for five years with no children. Do you really think they were just coincidences?"


    Su Xiaofei couldn''t believe what she was hearing.


    "Sister, I only came here today to send you on your way.. Please rest assured that I will take care of your husband and won''t waste a cent earned by your mother."

 Chapter 40 - The Female Lead Arrives (3)

    <h4>Chapter 40 - The Female Lead Arrives (3)</h4>


    ''I was so stupid.'' Su Xiaofei''s nails dug painfully in her hands as these memories yed in her mind. Sure enough, seeing Ye Mingyu in this lifetime again was enough to evoke the deep-seated hatred she had against this woman.


    Ye Mingyu had really yed her well in her past life and she would be foolish if she fell under this woman''s scheme again.


    ''Ye Mingyu, you ruined my life and killed my mother. You will pay for this! I will surely force you to pay with your blood this time!''


    Now that she was reborn, it felt like the heavens hadn''t truly turned its back on her. She had returned to the days before Ye Mingyu and her mother came into their lives.


    With the knowledge of what happened in her past life, she had to change her own fate with her own hands.


    Su Xiaofei then decided that it was time for her grand entrance as she already had enough listening to Ye Xing''s pleas towards her mother. She appeared and slowly descended the staircase and spotted Yun Qingrong seated on the couch with an ashen face.


    "Mama, is there something wrong?" Su Xiaofei asked, announcing her arrival.


    Everyone couldn''t help but look at her direction, marvelling at the sight of an elegant youngdy walking down the stairs. They looked at her with awe, thinking how this youngdy could be so pretty and refreshing to look at.


    "Miss Feifei¡­"


    Housekeeper Chen felt that something amiss with their young miss though. Today, Su Xiaofei was somewhat different. As the old woman stared at her miss, Housekeeper Chen felt a sense of uneasiness in her heart.


    As Su Xiaofei took her elegant steps, she had this air of grace and indifference around her, something that she didn''t have before. Herplexion was fair, her face had a little sharpness on it and with expressive eyes, one couldn''t help but look at her. Compared to Ye Mingyu right now, Su Xiaofei seemed more attractive and superior.


    Once she reached the bottom of the stairs, she hurriedly sat next to her adoptive mother. She shot Ye Xing and Ye Mingyu a cold look before turning her eyes to Housekeeper Chen.


    Housekeeper Chen swallowed an invisible lump in her throat. When she saw Su Xiaofei was staring at her with a condescending look. Did her young miss know something?


    "Mama, you look pale. Are you alright? What happened? Why are you shaking?" Su Xiaofei touched her mother''s shoulder and gave her a worried look. She then turned her head towards Ye Xing, who was still kneeling on the ground, then to Ye Mingyu who remained silent.


    Yun Qingrong looked at her daughter and her heart ached. She had no idea how to exin this mess to her poor daughter.


    "This¡­ Feifei¡­"


    "Aunty Chen, I demand an exnation in this instance! You better give me a good reason why my mother is like this!"


    Housekeeper Chen hadn''t expected that Su Xiaofei would interrogate her like this. She was supposed to be a bystander, to witness this arrogant miss lose everything that she had ever known to Ye Mingyu. Thinking about it, the old woman scoffed inwardly. She would be the one who would deliver the fatal blow to this arrogant young woman for once and for all.


    "It''s like this, Miss Feifei¡­." She then narrated all the things Su Xiaofei had overheard earlier.


    Su Xiaofei listened intently, her face one void with emotion. She allowed Housekeeper Chen and Ye Mingyu to think they had the advantage against her, but in the end, Su Xiaofei would shatter those hopes herself.


    "So you''re telling me, that this young woman in front of me, is my father''s daughter with this woman?" She asked, once Housekeeper Chen was done with her narration. This old woman even dared to exaggerate the situation as if the one who was wronged was Ye Xing and Ye Mingyu and not her and her mother.


    "Y-yes, Miss Feifei."


    "Feifei¡­" Yun Qingrong held her daughter''s hand tightly, shaking her head. She didn''t want her daughter to face this humiliation.


    "Oh? So what does it have to do with me and my mother then?" Su Xiaofei asked, shocking everyone.


    "Miss¡­ didn''t you hear what I said earlier?" Housekeeper Chen was first to speak with an anxious expression on her face. This sentence was clearly painting Su Xiaofei as an ignorant and disagreeable person.


    "I heard you loud and clear, Aunty Chen. Actually, it made me wonder who''s the master here and why you let these two inside our house."


    "Miss Xiaofei, I know this newses as a shock to you, but this is the truth." Ye Xing said with a pitiful expression. Her eyes were now rimming with tears. "I wouldn''te here to cause your family trouble, had I not been diagnosed with an early stage of cancer."


    "So what do you want us to do then?" Su Xiaofei questioned her.


    Ye Xing bit her lip and nced pitifully at Yun Qingrong.


    "I wouldn''t ask for anything. I just wish that you take my daughter in. Just in case I pass on, I would be content to know that my daughter is in a safe ce. Madam, you understand me, right? You would have done the same had you been in my position."


    Su Xiaofei scoffed. Ye Xing was just as good at acting like her daughter.


    "Sorry, Miss Ye. That can''t be done." She said calmly.


    Ye Xing turned her head and looked at her. "But why?"


    "I think Miss Ye is misunderstanding something here. I suppose you don''t know, but my parents signed a prenup before getting married. In the event that Su Haoran cheated on my mother, they would immediately divorce, with him getting nothing from this marriage."


    Ye Xing, Ye Mingyu and Housekeeper Chen were obviously shocked by this news.


    "Since you came here and willingly revealed your very existence.. You''ve only dug a hole for father to lie in."

 Chapter 41 - What’s In A Name? (1)

    <h4>Chapter 41 - What¡¯s In A Name? (1)</h4>


    Those words from Su Xiaofei came as a shock to everyone in the room. It was understandable for them to react like this because Su Xiaofei did the same when she found out about the prenuptial agreement between her parents, courtesy of Aunty Liu.


    After Yun Qingrong died, the old woman had met Su Xiaofei for thest time during her mother''s funeral. The old woman was saddened by the sudden passing of her former mistress, and voiced out her indignation towards Su Haoran.


    She then made a slip, identally informing Su Xiaofei that had Yun Qingrong forced her husband to divorce her after failing to fulfill his part of the deal in their prenuptial agreement, the tragedies in her life could have been avoided.


    As for why there was a prenuptial agreement between the couple, Su Xiaofei surmised that it was her mother''sst attempt to gain her family''s blessing, for them to allow her to marry Su Haoran with conditions. s, the Old Master Yun persisted that if Yun Qingrong were to proceed with the wedding, she should forget about being the daughter of his family.


    "Feifei¡­ how did you¡­" Even Yun Qingrong was surprised that her daughter was aware of the existence of such a document between her and her husband.


    Su Xiaofei patted her mother''s hand gently and mouthed, ''let me deal with this, Mama'', before turning back her attention to their guest with a condescending look in her eyes.


    "Do you understand now, Miss Ye, why my mother couldn''t be of any help to you? I think you and your daughter misunderstood, Miss Ye. It isn''t my father who calls the shots in this household nor is he the one who brings the ie and pays our housekeepers their sries."


    At this, Su Xiaofei red in Housekeeper Chen''s direction.


    Housekeeper Chen stiffened where she stood. The young miss who was looking at her was unrecognizable. Su Xiaofei might be arrogant and hard to please to the people in the Su household, but she had never exuded this kind of imposing aura around her before.


    "So, do tell us, Miss Ye, why should my mother take responsibility for my father''s insolence? Was she the one who made you pregnant? How could you ask another woman to raise your own child so shamelessly? If you really needed help, the one you should be talking to right now should be my father and not my innocent Mama."


    Ye Xing was too stunned to utter anything after hearing Su Xiaofei''s words. She nced at Housekeeper Chen for help, but the housekeeper was rendered speechless from what they all heard today.


    What Su Xiaofei said just now effectively turned the situation against them. If Ye Xing insisted on Yun Qingrong to ept her daughter, Yun Qingrong would not waste time and divorce Su Haoran at once, leaving him without a single cent to his name.


    Knowing Su Haoran''s personality, Ye Xing knew that he would be enraged and would turn his anger on her if he happened to lose everything because of her. They would never be able to bear his wrath if that was the case.


    Su Xiaofei sneered in her heart. These people wanted to trample on her mother and exploit her weakness just because Yun Qingrong was on her own, so they better not me her for bringing out Su Haoran''s fate, for Su Xiaofei would eventually crush them all with her own hands.


    "But¡­ but I am also a Su¡­" Ye Mingyu''s gentle voice reached Su Xiaofei''s ears.


    Su Xiaofei inwardly smirked. This was the thing she had been waiting for. She knew that Ye Mingyu wouldn''t be able to stop herself from making ament. Ye Mingyu had a strongpetitive streak in her. She couldn''t take it if anyone were to trample or take advantage of her.


    It was safe to say that in Su Xiaofei''s past life, Ye Mingyu killed her enemies with too much kindness, kindness that Su Xiaofei would use against her in this lifetime.


    She turned her head and regarded Ye Mingyu who was slightly trembling next to her mother, her hands in front of her, with her head down. This allowed her to look pitiful, no doubt she would be able to win the favor of those who saw her in such a situation.


    ''Ye Mingyu, since you came here willingly, I should give you a warm wee, right?''


    Su Xiaofei slowly nodded her head and hummed.


    "That''s true." Her words somewhat lit up Ye Mingyu''s eyes, but Su Xiaofei immediately crushed that hope before it bloomed.


    "However, is your mother''s name Yun Qingrong?" Su Xiaofei challenged her. "Do you know, my dear Jiejie, regardless if my mama divorced our papa or not, everything that the Su family owns would naturally be inherited by me?"


    Ye Mingyu lifted her head and stared at Su Xiaofei in shock.


    "If Jiejie still wanted the title ''Young Miss Su'', I would willingly give it to you. However, that''s just it. If you need money and resources, please see and meet Papa. I''m pretty sure he would be dying to meet you if he knew he had a missing daughter, that is ¡­ if you are really his daughter."


    Thest words Su Xiaofei uttered, effectively throwing dirty water on this devious mother and daughter pair.


    "How¡­ How could you say something like that?!" Ye Xing eximed as she stood up and wrapped her arms protectively around her daughter.


    Su Xiaofei stifled augh behind her hand and crossed her legs, giving her a rxed impression.


    "Don''t take it too hard, Miss Ye. I am merely stating a possibility. You know, schemes like this aremon within the showbiz and families like us with money. Many women woulde forward and pretend that they had a love child for them to squeeze some money out. It''s not that I don''t trust you, Miss Ye, but you have to prove to everyone that the daughter you have here has the Su family blood in her before my father could give her financial support."


    ''You wanna y dirty with me? Too bad, only pigs like you can y in the mud.''

 Chapter 42 - What’s In A Name? (2)

    <h4>Chapter 42 - What¡¯s In A Name? (2)</h4>


    Society didn''t look at the strength of one''s family, but rather their capabilities. In this wretched world, Su Xiaofei had long epted that she was being looked down upon by everyone because she was a child that was thrown out by her own biological parents. Had she not been adopted by Yun Qingrong when she was about to turn two years old, she would never have led the prosperous life she had as the young miss of the Su family.


    One''s name was a vital part of one''s identity. People had ignored her atrocious actions in the past because she was known as Young Miss Su. However, the moment Ye Mingyu came into the scene, slowly taking everything from her, Su Xiaofei was left with nothing but a name she didn''t even know if it was real.


    In her past life, though Su Xiaofei went around frequentlymitting evil acts, there are still many who followed her because of the money and power she possessed as Yun Qingrong''s daughter. Moreover, her looks was one of her biggest assets. It was rare to find a person who wouldn''t be enthralled upon seeing her beautiful face. It was just too bad that this woman was extremely poisonous.


    Being criticized by Su Xiaofei, Ye Xing bit her lips as she looked down and didn''t say anything more, while Ye Mingyu was having a hard time to rein her anger that arose from what Su Xiaofei just said.


    "My mother is not a liar¡­"


    "Is that so? So then, why wait for so long before she reveals that she has Papa''s daughter?"


    "I-I don''t know¡­" Ye Mingyu avoided Su Xiaofei''s inquisitive gaze. "But my mother wouldn''t lie about this."


    "Hey, now. It''s not like we are using you of lying. Shouldn''t a simple paternity test between you and Papa suffice? If you are really his child and my Jiejie, then surely he won''t treat you unfairly and will try to provide for you."


    Su Xiaofei lifted her chin and looked at Ye Mingyu with a slight smile on her lips. She allowed Ye Mingyu to see the difference between them.


    ''You want to be the eldest miss of the Su family? Sure, but you will get nothing in return.''


    Su Xiaofei refused to be utilized as a plot device for Ye Mingyu to experience challenges and came victorious in the end. She was deeply aware that by now, Ye Mingyu was repeatedly cursing her in her heart, but because of her facade with a kind nature, she would always forgive any offense that was made against her in front of everyone.


    Yun Qingrong looked at her daughter and was also puzzled in her heart. Her Feifei had definitely changed, but she couldn''t tell if she liked this change in her or not. The world outside was too unforgiving.


    See¡­ even in their own household, people were trying to harm her Feifei, even her own husband''s rtives were looking down on her.


    Words were the sharpest weapons one could use on another person. Not only did it cut deep, but the damage could be irreversible and stay for a lifetime. Yun Qingrong could only hope that her daughter would be able to at least protect herself, not to retort viciously to others like this.


    Su Xiaofei sighed and waved her hand, as if dealing with her father''s mistress and other daughter was a trivial matter.


    "My mother and I are tired. Miss Ye, please leave. Considering that someone''s so bold to let you in without asking for her mistress''s approval, I suppose she could give you Papa''s contact number. If you dare to show up here unannounced again, don''t me us for being impolite." She said before standing up, extending a hand to assist her mother.


    She then gestured to Auntie Liu to help her bring her mother upstairs to rest before shooting Housekeeper Chen a re as she coaxed Ye Mingyu and her mother to leave the estate without gaining anything from this meeting.


    While Aunty Liu led Yun Qingrong back to her room, Su Xiaofei saw both mother and child out of their residence.


    "Miss Ye." She called out, stopping Ye Mingyu and her mother in her tracks.


    Su Xiaofei could see that Ye Mingyu''s eyes had turned misty.


    "I apologize if you think my words were too harsh, but it''s important not to sugarcoat important things and pretend that they are trivial. You are lucky my mother and I weren''t calling the cops for trespassing our property, regardless of who let you in. I''ll see you some other time, okay?"


    Ye Mingyu''s lips quivered, but she didn''t utter a single word in return.


    Su Xiaofei''s followed their retreating figure with a cold gaze as she refused to resign to her fate. How could she resign to her fate? If the heavens above gave her the chance to relive her life, if she would still need to resign to fate, wouldn''t that mean that her rebirth was practically useless?


    Even if she wished to lead a happy and peaceful life, how would it be possible when there were people like Su Haoran, Ye Mingyu and Mo Yuchen who wouldn''t want to see her happy at all?


    She would willingly embrace the viiness role, if that meant that she would be able to keep those people close to her heart safe. It didn''t matter if other people hated her, despised her, for in the end, the only thing that mattered was to protect them.


    As soon as they left, the other guests that Su Xiaofei was expecting today finally arrived.


    ''It seems like it''s my turn to act pitiful this time.'' She sighed, allowing herself to change her expression, to one who had been wronged by others.


    ''Master Ouyang, Yun Xiang, please don''t disappoint me and report what you find out today.''

 Chapter 43 - Gaining Sympathy (1)

    <h4>Chapter 43 - Gaining Sympathy (1)</h4>


    Since Su Xiaofei was unconscious the first time they met, Master Ouyang, together with Yun Xiang, came back to the Su Residence to meet her properly. However, the moment their car entered the estate, they spotted a housekeeper sending away two women with an annoyed expression on their faces.


    ''What happened here?'' Yun Xiang thought.


    However, the moment he and Master Ouyang alighted from the car, they both saw Su Xiaofei leaning against the open front door, trying to wipe her tears dry as soon as she realized that they had arrived.


    Yun Xiang frowned while the old man next to him remained unfazed.


    The young woman in front of them strode towards them and weed them with a smile, as if those tears that she had wiped earlier weren''t there in the first ce.


    "Master Ouyang, it''s finally good to meet you personally. I apologize for causing trouble the other day. I hope you forgive me for this once and let it slide." Su Xiaofei smiled warmly.


    "Ah, it''s this old man''s fault anyway. I should be paying attention to where I''m going and shouldn''t have lowered my guard." He paused and gave her a good look.


    Su Xiaofei looked better than thest time he hade to send her home. She obviously looked better now, but the hint of sadness in her eyes startled him for a moment.


    "My mother isn''t feeling well today, so I hope you wouldn''t find fault in her for not being able to wee the two of you." Su Xiaofei said, before leading them to her mother''s private garden, the one that Yun Qingrong personally tended whenever she had free time from work.


    Aunty Liu came and served the refreshments before standing at a safe distance to give Su Xiaofei and her guests some privacy.


    "Child, did something happen? I could sense that something bad happened to make your mother suddenly ill. You and your caretaker don''t look very good, to be honest." Master Ouyang asked.


    Su Xiaofei chewed her lower lip and fisted her hands under the table.


    "It''s nothing serious, Master Ouyang. Just a family issue that we have yet to endure as a family." Sheughed awkwardly.


    "How could you say it''s not serious if it''s about your family?" Yun Xiang couldn''t stop himself and confronted the distraught young woman in front of them.


    "Why are you trying to suppress your tears? Cry if you want to cry. Master Ouyang and I aren''t outsiders to your family anyway. As your maternal cousin, how can I pretend not to see that you and Aunt Qing are facing a problem." He blurted out, much to Su Xiaofei and Master Ouyang''s surprise.


    Su Xiaofei inwardly smirked, realizing that Yun Xiang was already too deeply invested in her and her mother. This would make it easier for Yun Xiang to ask the rest of the Yun family to reconsider epting Yun Qingrong back into their family.


    "Xiao Xiang, what''s with you?!" Master Ouyang reprimanded the young man next to him. "Can''t you see that your cousin is already in distress?"


    Su Xiaofei covered her mouth with both hands, her eyes widening as she feigned ignorance about her rtionship to Yun Xiang.


    "Huh? How did Lieutenant Yun and I be cousins, Master Ouyang? I thought my Mama and Papa were the only children, so I don''t have any cousins from either side." She asked, looking at the two men in front of her.


    The old man and Yun Xiang looked at each other in understanding. Master Ouyang took a sip from his drink before sighing deeply.


    "Is that what your mother told you?" He asked Su Xiaofei.


    "No." The young woman shook her head and blinked her clear eyes, now showing confusion.


    "So how did you end up with the conclusion that she doesn''t have any rtives or siblings?" The old man continued to ask her.


    Su Xiaofei avoided meeting his gaze and looked away, as if she was ashamed of what she was about to tell them.


    "To tell you the truth, I know my Papa is an only child because I once saw the family picture he had with his parents when they were still alive. However, with Mama¡­." Her words trailed off, as if she was hesitating to reveal what she knew or afraid to be proven wrong.


    "What about Aunty Qing?" Yun Xiang asked.


    "Mama always bes sad whenever I ask her questions rted to her family." Su Xiaofei lowered her head and spoke with a low voice.


    "I once asked her if she had siblings or if I have cousins near my age to y with, but she burst into tears and shook her head, saying ''not anymore'' all over again. I don''t know what happened, but as a child seeing her mother cry helplessly like that, I decided to stop asking her questions about her family because it only made her sad when I did."


    Her guests didn''t utter a word in response, both deep in their own thoughts. The more they looked bothered and concerned about her and her mother, the more Su Xiaofei was pleased as it affirmed that her n was working well. She could only hope the Yun family would cooperate with her this time.


    "So you really are my cousin, Lieutenant Yun?" She asked Yun Xiang with a slight smile.


    "Lieutenant Yun is too formal. You can call me Brother Xiang and if it''s alright with you, can I call you Xiao Fei?" The young man straightened his posture and mustered all the courage he had to ask her this question.


    The corner of Su Xiaofei''s lip curled, leaving a cute and adorable impression on Yun Xiang.


    "If that''s what Brother Xiang wants, Xiao Fei doesn''t mind."


    "So, Xiao Fei, about the family issues you were talking about¡­" Master Ouyang obviously was also curious, like Yun Xiang. Both of them were apprehensive to know if the two women leaving the estate earlier were the reason for Yun Qingrong and Su Xiaofei''s dilemma.


    "It''s like this¡­"

 Chapter 44 - Gaining Sympathy (2)

    <h4>Chapter 44 - Gaining Sympathy (2)</h4>


    Su Xiaofei then carefully and slowly narrated what had just happened before the two men arrived at their humble abode and how those two women they''d seen leaving the estate earlier were Su Haoran''s former lover and his daughter.


    The two men didn''t interrupt her nor asked her any questions. They only listened to what she was saying intently. Su Xiaofei wasn''t sure how Master Ouyang would react to it, but seeing Yun Xiang eagerness to help her and her mother, surely this news would reach Old Master Yun''s ears.


    Old Master Yun was already in histe seventies and his health wasn''t as good as it used to be. In the past, Su Xiaofei heard that he passed away just a month after her mother''s death and people assumed that he died from a broken heart after finding out that his only daughter had died in an ident without having a chance to mend their rtionship as father and daughter.


    "Their sudden visit wasn''t expected at all. Mama and I had no idea that they woulde today and beg my Mama to allow my new Jiejie to live with us. I couldn''t stop myself and said hurtful words towards them and chased them out once Mama''s hypertension started acting up. I know I shouldn''t have done it but¡­"


    "It''s normal to feel agitated during those circumstances, Xiao Fei, but it would be better if you can control your emotions. Words could easily be said, but it would be hard to take it back once you realize you didn''t mean it." Yun Xiangmented. He regretted that he and Master Ouyang hadn''t arrived sooner so his aunt and Su Xiaofei would be spared such an encounter.


    s, nothing could be done now. The only bright side he could see was that his Aunty Qing and Xiao Fei were now aware of the existence of a mistress and the other daughter of Su Haoran.


    Yun Xiang knew that his elders, especially his grandfather, wouldn''t be pleased if they heard that his Aunty Qing and Su Xiaofei were being treated unfairly like this. While it''s true that his grandfather and Aunty Qing were not on speaking terms, Yun Xiang was fully aware that his grandfather terribly missed her.


    "Child, Xiao Xiang is right. What you did back there wasn''t good, but I don''t me you for reacting that way. You felt like your mother was being bullied by those outsiders, and you felt this sense of urgency to protect her. In the future, you better keep your head cool and don''t argue unnecessarily with those kinds of people." Master Ouyang shared his thoughts.


    "I thank you for listening to me, Master Ouyang, Brother Xiang. I feel a little better now." Su Xiaofei gave them a polite bow. "I suppose I should also talk to Mama and apologize for my unsightly attitude earlier."


    "That''s not a bad idea. Aunty Qing needs you now more than ever, Xiao Fei. Both of you should stay strong for each other''s sake."


    "I''ll keep it in mind, Brother Xiang."


    After another hour of conversation with Su Xiaofei, the two left when the sun was about to set. Su Xiaofei sent them off outside, her expression way better than what they had seen when they arrived earlier.


    "I didn''t even notice that it''s gettingte now. Xiao Fei, please give our regards to your mother. I hope we''ll get to see her on our next visit."


    "I will, Master Ouyang and thank you for bringing the medicines I needed." Su Xiaofei replied.


    "That''s because I heard you haven''t dropped by to see Han Zijun yet."


    "I''m nning to see him thising weekend with Mama before my sses resume, but I guess she would want to stay at home for the meantime and focus on work." She said with a solemn voice, which effectively earned their sympathy.


    "Don''t worry too much. The problem will pass before you know it." Yun Xiang patted her shoulder before entering the car with Master Ouyang.


    Su Xiaofei stayed and watched the car leaving their estate, feeling satisfied with the result of her meeting Ye Mingyu and her mother today. She was also able to evoke sympathy from Master Ouyang and Yun Xiang.


    As for her mother, she should work harder to sow discord between her and Su Haoran for their own sake. Su Xiaofei was certain that Ye Mingyu and her mother wouldn''t easily ept defeat and woulde back to cause them more trouble.


    When Master Ouyang and Yun Xiang arrived at the Yun Estate, an hour away from Qiying City where Su Xiaofei and Yun Qingrong resided, they found Old Master Yun waiting for them in the living area.


    As a man who came from a long military lineage, Yun Guanyu, despite his old age, had an imposing aura that made people around him unable to question his authority. Once he caught sight of Yun Xiang, his expression hardened, knowing that the young man had just returned from visiting his estranged daughter whom he hadn''t seen nor talked to in years.


    "I suppose you met that girl personally this time?" He directly asked Master Ouyang, who had taken a seat across from him while Yun Xiang excused himself, knowing his grandfather wanted to be left alone with Master Ouyang.


    Master Ouyang hummed and poured himself a cup of freshly brewed tea.


    "We came just in time to witness a drama. It seems like your daughter will be returning home soon."


    Yun Guanyu scoffed and looked away. He knew that Su Haoran wasn''t a good match for his daughter and as to what his Qing''er saw in that excuse of a man, he didn''t want to think anymore.


    "You have a very intriguing granddaughter, though. Although she isn''t Qing''er''s real daughter, her personality is totally different from how the rumors perceived her to be." Master Ouyang gloated.


    "Oh? How so?"


    "Where can you find a young woman who can chase a mistress away?"

 Chapter 45 - The Yun Family (1)

    <h4>Chapter 45 - The Yun Family (1)</h4>


    Yun Guanyu''s eyebrows shot up the moment he heard what Master Ouyang said. Both the Yun and the Ouyang family had been interconnected with each other through marriage several generations ago. To this day, both heads of the families were still amicable towards each other as both families had deeply rooted ties for decades.


    "Whose mistress?" Another voice chimed in, and both old men turned their heads to see the three sons of the Yun family; Yun Yuanzhi, Yun Zhaonan and Yun Shao.


    Yun Yuanzhi was the eldest of the four Yun siblings. He had an upright and calm personality. The person standing on his right was the second son, Yun Zhaonan who seemed wise and shrewd at the same time, while the youngest son, Yun Shao, who was five years younger than Yun Qingrong, had a carefree and confident personality.


    At a quick nce, all three sons of the Yun family seemed to be men of extraordinary talent.


    The three sons joined their old father and greeted Master Ouyang politely, before Yun Yuanzhi asked Master Ouyang again.


    "Master Ouyang, could you please rify what you''ve said earlier? Who were you talking about?"


    "Ah, I was talking to your father about Qing''er''s daughter, Su Xiaofei. She''s only eighteen years old, but she has managed to chase away her father''s mistress and illegitimate child." The old man said in an amused tone.


    "Su Haoran! You dare to cheat on my sister!" Yun Shao exploded in anger. Amongst the three brothers of Yun Qingrong, she was closest with this younger brother of hers.


    Yun Yuanzhi was seven years older than Yun Qingrong and when they were younger, he had been very considerate towards her, patiently teaching her whenever Yun Qingrong couldn''t understand any part of her studies.


    As for her second brother, Yun Zhaonan, he doted on Yun Qingrong and taught her basic self-defense skills when she was bullied at school. However, Yun Qingrong was closest to Yun Shao as they always spent time together ying and tricking their elders when they were younger.


    All the three sons of the Yun family were working in the military, while the only daughter, Yun Qingrong ventured out on her own and worked at an entertainmentpany in Guangshang. Obviously, as the only daughter of the family, the entire Yun family doted on her to no end. Even General Yun was extremely careful and patient towards his only daughter.


    From the day Yun Qingrong was born, to bing a happy little girl who loved to chase after her father whenever he had to leave for work, to growing up into a young elegant woman, she had been treated like a pearl by her father.


    Yun Guanyu would be hard and strict towards his sons, but when ites to Yun Qingrong, he would never deny her of anything nor even dared to raise his voice at her. Because of this, when the Yun siblings were growing up together, her three brothers would always receive scoldings and punishments in her stead.


    Growing up under such privileged circumstances, Yun Qingrong obviously hadn''t tasted bitterness growing up. She had developed a naive and confident personality that could only see things in ck and white. It was a pity that she had met Su Haoran and fell for his charms.


    He was handsome and smart when Yun Qingrong first met him. At that time, Yun Qingrong was working as a director in another entertainment agency, while Su Haoran was her colleague from another department with a lower position.


    He also had this air of gentle and rxed temperament that she hadn''t seen in her brothers. At first, Yun Qingrong didn''t pay attention to him that much since he was still her subordinate at the entertainment agency, but Su Haoran had persistently chased after her until he managed to convince her to date him.


    Yun Qingrong fell deeply in love with him and didn''t have the heart to turn his marriage proposal down after half a year of dating. However, she hadn''t expected that her whole family was against her decision to marry Su Haoran.


    Yun Guanyu could see through Su Haoran''s scheme and warned his daughter that the man was only using her to uplift his status in society. Although she was working in the entertainment industry, it didn''t change the fact that Yun Qingrong came from a family of prestige and old money that many men would covet through marriage.


    It was fine to be ambitious, but the old General despised people who used others to uplift themselves, taking advantage of other''s weaknesses. For him, it was cowardliness. One should work hard to be worthy enough to achieve their goals.


    Even the now deceased matriarch of the family, Yun Qingrong''s mother, was against their union. She had deeply expressed her disappointment, knowing that her daughter was being blinded by the man''s pretense.


    Yun Qingrong didn''t believe that Su Haoran was only marrying her because of her family''s influence and her inheritance, hence, she asked him to sign a prenuptial agreement that heavily favored her. She insisted on marrying him and refused to listen to her family''s warning.


    s, with an extremely stubborn father, Yun Qingrong rebelled against him and proceeded to marry Su Haoran. Obviously, her old man threw a fit of rage and disowned his daughter, which broke Yun Qingrong''s heart. She only found out when their butler refused to allow her to step inside the Yun Estate, a month after she married Su Haoran.


    "Miss, Master said that you aren''t wee here unless you divorce that man."


    For the first time in her life, Yun Qingrong felt that she was alone and unhappy. Even with her husband by her side, after two years of marriage, they still couldn''t conceive a child.. She then plummeted into depression until she visited the orphanage her newly establishedpany was supporting andid eyes on a lovely two years old baby girl for the first time.

 Chapter 46 - The Yun Family (2)

    <h4>Chapter 46 - The Yun Family (2)</h4>


    Despite being abandoned by her own biological mother at the orphanage, the baby wasn''t a fussy child who craved attention. ording to the caretaker of the baby who was left by her unknown mother at the front door of the orphanage during a stormy night, the baby rarely cried for attention and would only do so when she was hungry or when her bottom was wet or soiled.


    Aside from the clothes the baby was wearing, there was no indication left of her name or identity other than a date that was written on a piece of paper, tucked in one of her mittens.


    The first time Yun Qingrong held the baby girl in her arms, she had this profound feeling that she had never felt before. She felt such a deep connection with the child even though she wasn''t hers and fell deeply in love with her. The baby was simply the most beautiful child she had ever seen in her whole life.


    As someone whose womb isbelled a barren, Yun Qingrong convinced her husband to adopt the child legally, intending to raise her as their daughter. It hadn''t been easy to convince Su Haoran, but she managed to get his permission and had legally named the baby as their own.


    Yun Qingrong bestowed the child with the name Su Xiaofei as the child was really cute and endearing, and she hoped that the child would grow up as a clever woman who would resist her impulses and make informed decisions.


    Master Ouyang chuckled at Yun Shao''s reaction. He had already expected this reaction from the youngest of the Yun siblings. After all, despite the years of separation, Yun Qingrong was still part of their family. He could only hope that this incident would mend the bridges they burned years ago.


    "Calm down." Yun Yuanzhi told his youngest brother, shooting him a warning look. "Let''s hear what Master Ouyang has to say."


    "You mentioned Qing''er''s adopted daughter, how is she?" It was Yun Zhaonan who asked Master Ouyang this question. There were rumors circting in Qiying City regarding Su Xiaofei, but none of the Yun family members could tell whether it was true or not.


    Master Ouyang hummed and rubbed his chin as he pondered how he should describe Su Xiaofei.


    "How should I say this¡­" He started. "Based on her looks, I have to say that she has a very pretty face. She could turn into a great beauty once she''s old enough. As for her temperament, she isn''t like Qing''er."


    "It''s understandable. She''s not Qing''er real child in the first ce." Yun Guanyumented.


    Master Ouyang shook his head.


    "It''s not like that. The girl is smart, but extremely cunning. She knew when to take advantage of the situation and knew when to back down. Perhaps this is the reason why the rumors paint her as arrogant and haughty. From what I''ve seen, it seems like she despises Su Haoran, despite being adopted by him, and adores her mother so much that she wouldn''t mind ying dirty in order to protect Qing''er. One can easily tell that she hates her father, especially now that his mistress and illegitimate daughter hade and tried to bully Qing''er in their own home"


    "Well, the old reports said that he wasn''t really a hands-on father to their adopted child. It only makes sense that she wasn''t on good terms with him." Yun Zhaonan quipped.


    "Su Haoran is getting bolder, huh. He better pray that our paths won''t cross, because I will definitely teach him a lesson he would never forget for bullying my sister!" Yun Shao eximed. Since he was the closest to their sister, he was obviously furious upon hearing the news about Su Haoran''s betrayal.


    "Did she know who you were when you first met at the pharmacy?" The Old Master Yun asked curiously.


    Was it really a coincidence that the young woman who saved Master Ouyang''s life was none other than Yun Qingrong''s adopted child?


    Master Ouyang sighed this time, thinking that it had been a pity that so many years had already passed and yet Yun Qingrong was still estranged from her own family. Had he not met Su Xiaofei that fateful afternoon, he would have never found out that Yun Qingrong had a child.


    "No. I don''t think she knows me or is aware of my connection with her maternal family. Just now, Xiao Fei revealed that Qing''er refused to talk about your family in front of her and would always cry whenever Xiao Fei asked her. The child probably realized that asking her mother only made Qing''er cry, so she never brought up the subject again."


    Yun Guanyu fell silent, his eyes lowering as he contemted what he would do with this sudden news about his daughter. Of course, he was livid to know that he was right, that Su Haoran would mistreat his daughter once he realized that he couldn''t get anything from their marriage, but why didn''t his daughter seek help from them?


    He was already old, and he knew that his time on earth was already outnumbered. Who knew how many years he still had to live? His only wish right now was to see his only daughtere home to them.


    s, he had been prideful and hard to her in the past. He regretted that he refused to see her when she came home to see him, despite him being home. She was his most treasured daughter, and it pained him to know that Su Haoran had disrespected his daughter by having a child with another woman.


    As for his Qing''er''s adopted child, as long as this Su Xiaofei valued and treasured the woman who raised her, the Yun family wouldn''t mistreat her.


    "I want to see this Su Xiaofei personally.. I want to see with my own eyes the kind of person Qing''er raised over the years and if she''s worthy to be part of my Yun family."

 Chapter 47 - Sowing Discord (1)

    <h4>Chapter 47 - Sowing Discord (1)</h4>


    Su Xiaofei knew that her mother getting hurt today couldn''t be avoided, no matter how much she tried to defend her from Ye Xing and Ye Mingyu earlier. It was destined for Yun Qingrong to discover her husband''s betrayal.


    When she was about to knock on her mother''s door, she heard sobbing soundsing from the inside, which broke her ckened heart. She knocked once on the door to get her mother''s attention.


    "Mama, it''s me. Can we talk?" She asked in a solemn voice.


    She heard a sniff and shuffling sound from the other side of the door before it was slightly opened, revealing Yun Qingrong with a pair of bloodshot eyes.


    "Mama!" Su Xiaofei threw her arms around her mother and started crying along with her.


    Yun Qingrong was forced to stagger back, allowing her daughter to step inside her room. It broke her heart to see her daughter crying like this, but she was also lost for words on how to cate her Feifei.


    The pair chose to slump on the carpeted floor as Yun Qingrong resumed crying along with her daughter. It pained her to know that her husband had lied to her for years. Ye Mingyu was only older than her Feifei by a few months, which meant that she was conceived when she was still dating Su Haoran before.


    How could she remain oblivious over the years of their marriage? Her Feifei was right, why did Ye Xing keep to herself and only waited until she got sick to reveal that she had her husband''s child?


    After crying for a long time, Su Xiaofei finally calmed down and looked at her mother.


    "Mama, I''m sorry for what I did earlier. I know my attitude earlier didn''t please you, but I couldn''t stop myself." She started and with misty eyes, she looked pitifully at her mother. "Mama, I''m so afraid."


    Yun Qingrong gave her daughter a weak smile. She suddenly felt exhausted after meeting that pair of mother and child.


    "What are you so afraid of?" She asked her daughter gently.


    "Mama, I don''t want to overthink, but what if¡­ what if that''s the reason Papa is giving me a cold shoulder? If he knew about his daughter, perhaps he felt guilty whenever he looked at me."


    Yun Qingrong gasped upon hearing Feifei''s words. Since when did her daughter realize that her husband was treating her coldly? However, she should have known that Feifei would realize it. After all, her Feifei wasn''t that dumb not to notice her father''s constant absence.


    What should she do? She didn''t even have the slightest idea how to face her husband once he returned from his business trip.


    "Mama, can I ask you something?" This time, Yun Qingrong noticed that something was wrong with her daughter''s tone.


    Yun Qingrong took both of Su Xiaofei''s hands in hers and ced a gentle kiss on both of her knuckles.


    "What is it?" She asked. "If Mama knows the answer, she will definitely tell you."


    "Then¡­" Su Xiaofei chewed her lower lip and nced at her mother with hesitation in her eyes. "Then Mama, is it true that I am not yours and Papa''s real daughter?" She asked in such a low voice, that if Yun Qingrong wasn''t next to her daughter, she wouldn''t be able to hear it clearly.


    The older woman''s eyes widened as she stared at her daughter''s face in shock.


    "Feifei¡­ this¡­ where did you hear it?" She held her daughter''s shoulders with both hands, wondering who the hell told her Feifei the truth about her birth.


    Su Xiaofei lowered her gaze, hiding the sudden viciousness that appeared in her darkened eyes. She didn''t want to lie to her mother, but she could only push the me to Housekeeper Chen for daring to offend her today.


    "Mama, actually the other day¡­ After you talked to Aunty Chen about your decision to give them a chance to stay here, I overheard her conversation with Chen Li when I passed by their quarters. I didn''t mean to eavesdrop, but when I heard Chen Li mention my name, I stopped and wondered why she brought up my name. So it turns out¡­"


    This time, she sobbed and tried to dry the tears that escaped her eyes with the back of her hand.


    "Aunty Chen and Chen Li were talking about me being arrogant despite not being a real Su. Chen Li said I was just an orphan that has no family in the world, an unwanted child that my own mother discarded and abandoned. Mama, am I really not a Su? I''m not really your daughter? Is that why Papa hates me?" She asked between her sobs.


    "No, no, no!" Yun Qingrong shook her head. How could Housekeeper Chen and her daughter be so mean to her Feifei? "That''s not true! You are my Feifei regardless if you came from me or not!" She cried out.


    "So it''s true¡­" Su Xiaofeiughed pitifully at herself, which broke her mother''s heart.


    "And now that Papa''s real daughter is here, I have no ce in this house anymore. No wonder, Chen Li has the audacity to take my things¡­ this¡­ I''m not a Su."


    "Who said that I would allow that girl to live with us?! I won''t allow anyone to look down on you! You are my daughter! If your papa really wants to support that girl and live with her, our doors are open for him to leave!"


    As a person, Yun Qingrong would ept any nasty words being thrown at her, but she would never forgive anyone who demeaned her daughter in front of her. Whether it was her own husband or his rtives, they could all go to hell for all she cared, just leave her Feifei alone!


    Yun Qingrong cupped both sides of her poor daughter and cried with her. No wonder her Feifei acted like that earlier.. She must have been really scared.

 Chapter 48 - Sowing Discord (2)

    <h4>Chapter 48 - Sowing Discord (2)</h4>


    Now that Feifei knew the truth, she must have thought that everyone would abandon her now that her husband''s real daughter showed up. Her Feifei must have been scared that they would discard her too, considering she was left by her birth mother in an orphanage. She couldn''t even imagine the hurt Feifei felt when she overheard the truth about her identity from the Chens.


    ''How dare they hurt my daughter like this? This isn''t the way I wanted to reveal the truth to Feifei.''


    "Feifei, whatever people say about you, don''t forget that you are my daughter, alright? Mama will do her best to protect you, so please don''t cry anymore."


    "But Mama, if you don''t agree to allow Papa''s child to live with us¡­ this¡­ how could I bear to see the two of you fight because of me?" Su Xiaofei''s eyes teared up.


    Yun Qingrong was moved by her daughter''s words. Even now, her child was able to think of others and refused to be the cause of the problem, not aware that Su Xiaofei was merely pushing all the me towards her useless father.


    It was easy for her to act like this. Because she was a B-list actress in her past life, in order for her not to be overshadowed by Ye Mingyu, she took several sses to improve her skills. Whether it was singing, dancing, acting¡­ She paid attention and practiced nonstop to perfect her skills, so summoning her tears in a split second was now as easy as eating for Su Xiaofei.


    Yun Qingrong shook her head and smiled bitterly at her daughter. If it was only about her, she could endure all the words thrown at her, but she would never allow anyone to hurt her daughter.


    "Let Mama deal with the problem. I will relieve Housekeeper Chen from her position in this household and as for your Papa''s other daughter, I will never allow that girl to live here with us." She promised Su Xiaofei.


    After the heartfelt conversation with her mother, Su Xiaofei was now certain that from this day onwards, the rtionship between her parents had been badly severed by the sudden appearance of Ye Mingyu and her mother.


    Yun Qingrong and Su Haoran weren''t on good terms to begin with, and the revtion of him having a child with another woman would put a lot of strain on their already deteriorating marriage. Even if her mother didn''t admit it, Su Xiaofei knew that she was hurting too much from Su Haoran''s betrayal.


    "I just want my Yu''er to experience having a father despite it being toote," was what Ye Xing told Yun Qingrong when she was begging her to ept her daughter into the Su family.


    However, Ye Xing failed to realize that these same words would be the thorn deeply embedded in Yun Qingrong''s heart. If she decided to ept Ye Mingyu into their family and her husband somewhat changed and be a better father to Ye Mingyu, Yun Qingrong had no doubt that her resentment and anger towards Su Haoran would only multiply.


    Su Xiaofei went back to her room, syed on her bed, and stared nkly at the ceiling. She was aware that she was manipting her mother, but she couldn''t think of any other way to save both of them from the impending doom she went through during her previous life.


    Had she allowed Yun Qingrong to deal with those two on her own earlier, Ye Xing would be able to threaten her mother using her own life. Surprisingly, Ye Xing was just as shameless as her daughter, Ye Mingyu. She talked as if Yun Qingrong was forcing her tomit suicide to show her sincerity.


    In the past, because Yun Qingrong was afraid that her family would be implicated by Ye Xing''s sudden death, she allowed Ye Mingyu to live with them, not knowing that her Feifei would learn to despise her for her poor choices.


    The mother and daughter came in vain and didn''t get the benefits they were hoping for with their visit, but once Su Haoran was home, Su Xiaofei had no doubt that he would try to trick her mother into allowing Ye Mingyu to live with them.


    What a scum. What a bastard. Just thinking of how Su Haoran and Ye Xing lived happily after her mother''s death in the past was enough for Su Xiaofei''s blood to boil with anger. Ye Xing acted like she was truly sorry for being the third party to her parents'' marriage and dared to pretend like she was a mother to her.


    ''So disgusting.'' Su Xiaofei sneered in her heart. After her mother''s death, Su Haoran didn''t wait long to marry Ye Xing, so she had chosen to move back to her mother''s home to make their lives a living hell. However, what she witnessed every day was the three ying a happy family as if they never ruined someone else''s life.


    ''The affairs today must have really troubled Mama, but it''s okay. I will let her see the kind of scum she had married and spent wasted years with. I just hope that it won''t be toote and the Yun family will ept her back.''


    Su Xiaofei shut her eyes and sumbed to the sleep overtaking her consciousness. Since she managed to stop Ye Xing and Ye Mingyu today, she expected that Housekeeper Chen had already called her traitorous father to inform him of what transpired in his absence.


    There was no way in hell she would believe that Su Haoran had no knowledge about the appearance of his former lover and his child. Would Ye Xing and Ye Mingyu be brave enough to show up if they didn''t receive any assurance that they would seed today?


    Perhaps, they never expected that the unruly, arrogant fake young miss was at home and woulde to help Yun Qingrong.


    ''Heh. Cheating bastard.. You bettere home as soon as you can, so I can kick your ass and make you pay for making my mother cry.''''

 Chapter 49 - Nightmare (1)

    <h4>Chapter 49 - Nightmare (1)</h4>


    It''s been three days since Lu Qingfeng gave his order to his personal assistant called Nine, he had been waiting for the man to show up to deliver his report. Unaware of what had just happened at the Su Residence, Lu Qingfeng spent his whole day reading.


    Currently, he was seated on the chair in his balcony, his hair slightly ruffled by the gentle breeze while the sun above him hid behind the thick clouds that promised rain in an hour or two.


    A knock took his attention away from the book he was reading and wasn''t surprised when Nine came in soundlessly. The man was dressed in a butler suit, but it was obvious that he wasn''t used to wearing such clothes.


    He looked like he was in histe twenties, and the only prominent feature one could easily notice on his face, aside from his long hair that was tied loosely on his nape, was a deep scar that ran from his right eyebrow down to his eye and upper cheekbones.


    Nine strode towards Lu Qingfeng, his steps too quiet for someone''s hearing. He stopped next to the young man and politely lowered his head.


    "Young Master," Nine called out, forcing Lu Qingfeng to turn his attention to him.


    "Hn." Lu Qingfeng didn''t say a word, but epted the tablet Nine passed to him to watch what transpired at the pharmacy that caused Su Xiaofei''s injury.


    First, he yed the recordings of the CCTVs near the vicinity of the pharmacy, allowing him to see how Su Xiaofei and Xi Qian were about to reach the pharmacy when suddenly, Su Xiaofei released Xi Qian''s arm and gestured her friend to hurry only to collide with an old man and an unknown man who eventually stabbed Su Xiaofei on her side.


    It must be noted that the man had applied enough pressure on his grip, intending to stab Master Ouyang deeply, only for him to fail because of Su Xiaofei''s sudden appearance.


    Lu Qingfeng watched the recordings several times, his eyes never leaving Su Xiaofei while he caught sight of three men fleeing the area once Su Xiaofei fell on the ground instead of the old man.


    "Have you identified those three?" He finally asked Nine.


    "En, Young Master. It seems that the trader who was arrested by Master Ouyang years ago for illegal activities was able to send his men to kill him despite still being in custody."


    While Master Ouyang''s family ran Top Tier Entertainment, he used to be a government official working under the Ministry of Justice. During his long service, he obviously made a lot of enemies and offended so many people in the process. Even though Master Ouyang was retired now, he was still receiving death threats at his door.


    ''Feifei, what are you doing in such a ce?'' Lu Qingfeng thought, knowing that Su Xiaofei wasn''t one to go to an unfamiliar and crowded ce like the public market.


    It wasn''t like she despised mingling with strangers, but she had a slight ustrophobia that made her ufortable when being surrounded with many people. For her to willingly go to a ce like this, was there a reason for it?


    "Send the copies of these recordings to the Ouyang family discreetly. You better make sure that they wouldn''t be able to get away unscathed after what they have done to Feifei."


    "Yes, Young Master." Nine responded politely, with his eyes lowered.


    Lu Qingfeng was only fifteen right now, and when this youngd sought him a few weeks ago, making a deal with him, Nine couldn''t find a reason to deny this young man''s offer. He had never seen a young man such as Lu Qingfeng act and speak this way.


    Lu Qingfeng knew his deepest secrets and weaknesses, which startled Nine during their first encounter. Only after Nine found out that he was the young master of the Lu family did he understand why Lu Qingfeng was confident like this. With the powerful backing of his grandfather, many socialite families would humble themselves when meeting Lu Qingfeng for the first time.


    Whenever he looked at his young master, why did it feel like he was looking at a person who had experienced hardships and gained knowledge? As if he had lived longer than his current age now.


    Nine pushed these thoughts away from his mind. It wasn''t his ce to question his young master like this, as long as Lu Qingfeng would fulfill his part of their deal.


    Nine was a retired mercenary who was forced to leave his previous career, in favor of living as amoner. He was working as a hawker, selling street foods, when Lu Qingfeng found him and proposed a deal that was hard for Nine to refuse.


    Lu Qingfeng didn''t seem to mind watching the recording over and over again. However, watching one of those recordings, his finger suddenly pressed the pause button before rewinding it to five seconds ago. He then zoomed it to have a better look at what had caught his attention.


    There, he saw a young woman that blended into the crowd easily. She was watching themotion outside the pharmacy with her eyes cold and unwavering, as if she was upset with something.


    Lu Qingfeng leaned back on his seat and stared at the slightly blurred image on the screen of the tablet.


    Nine caught what his young master did and looked over Lu Qingfeng''s shoulder and saw that it was paused on a young woman''s figure.


    "Young Master, is there something wrong with this young woman?" He asked, wondering if Lu Qingfeng recognized this person.


    "She was there before and after the stabbing incident happened. I found it weird that she''s been paying attention to the pharmacy."


    "Should I investigate her, then?"


    "En.. Find out everything you can about this woman."

 Chapter 50 - Nightmare (2)

    <h4>Chapter 50 - Nightmare (2)</h4>


    Su Xiaofei remembered falling asleep in her room once her mother calmed down after the incident with Ye Xing and Ye Mingyu. She was nning to take a short nap, expecting Aunty Liu to wake her up once dinner was ready. However, the moment she opened her eyes, she found herself watching over forty-five-year-old Lu Qingfeng, who was now lying on his deathbed.


    Why? Why did she be a ghost again? What was the meaning of this?


    She screamed and screamed, trying to step out of her bedroom, but she felt like there was a barrier stopping her from leaving the ce. She called after her mother and Aunty Liu, begging them to open the door and let her out, but there was no response.


    "Feifei¡­" She heard Lu Qingfeng called her name and saw that he was burning in fever and in pain. "Wait for me, Feifei¡­"


    ''Stupid.'' Su Xiaofei said as she stood next to the bed, her tears streaming down her face. ''You are really stupid.''


    Why did she have to witness this all over again? Was the heavens trying to remind her of what could happen again if she failed in her quest to change her fate?


    Su Xiaofei fell on her knees and wept uncontrobly, covering her face with both hands as she begged someone to pull her out from this nightmare. She knew that she was dreaming and this wasn''t her real world and time, but she couldn''t force herself to wake up, no matter how hard she tried.


    "Feifei¡­" She heard Lu Qingfeng''s familiar voice again.


    "Feifei, wake up." Her mother''s voice resounded in her mind and Su Xiaofei immediately removed her hands from her face and looked around.


    "Su Xiaofei! You better wake up or else!" This time, Lu Qingfeng''s voice reached her once again. It was filled with concern and worry, which she hadn''t heard from him in a long time.


    Su Xiaofei''s eyes shot open, and she jolted up from her bed. Her eyes were round and wide as she looked at the face of her mother and the fifteen-year-old Lu Qingfeng, who were both looking at her with worried expressions on their faces.


    "W-wha¡­ what happened?" She asked as Yun Qingrong pulled her into a tight embrace.


    "Aunty Liu came here to check on you because you haven''t gone down for dinner. She called us and said that you are having a nightmare, but she couldn''t seem to wake you up no matter how hard she tried."


    "Ohh¡­" Su Xiaofei had no idea how to exin it herself. She didn''t even realize that she was also crying in her sleep as she touched her face only to find it wet.


    Yun Qingrong felt her heart ache seeing her daughter like this. It must have been their encounter with Ye Xing and her daughter earlier that''s causing her Feifei such a nightmare. Her Feifei must have been really bothered that she would be abandoned again, had she agreed to Ye Xing''s outrageous request earlier.


    She was supposed to be the one to protect her daughter, but it was Feifei who mustered all her courage to deal with Ye Xing and Ye Mingyu. As a daughter from a military lineage, she should never allow anyone to bully her daughter!


    After a long silence and assuring her mother that she was fine, Su Xiaofei went down and had dinner with her mother and Lu Qingfeng, although she didn''t have any appetite to eat. Once she was done, she excused herself to get some air outside to clear her mind.


    "Xiaofei."


    Su Xiaofei turned around to find Lu Qingfeng joining her in the garden. She gave him a weak smile and turned her attention to the buds of roses that had yet to bloom. She expected them to bloom beautifully though they are surrounded by thorns.


    "What happened back there?" She heard Lu Qingfeng asked, knowing that he should have heard about themotion this afternoon.


    "Su Haoran''s mistress came to trouble Mama by requesting her to allow her daughter to live with us. She said that she was diagnosed with an early stage of breast cancer and was already facing a financial crisis and wouldn''t be able to take care of her daughter on her own."


    In front of Lu Qingfeng, Su Xiaofei didn''t need to pretend that she liked her adoptive father, nor did she need to hide anything from him. She could be herself with Lu Qingfeng.


    "And you disagreed on your mother''s behalf?"


    "Of course! If I have a husband and a woman came and imed that he had fathered her child, I would kick him and his mistress out to the curb! I''m not that stupid to ept a man who couldn''t keep his zipper close." Sheughed, but her smile never reached her eyes.


    Perhaps it was because she had already experienced marriage, she knew the pain that came with being treated like a fool by her own husband. Mo Yuchen had done a great job ruining her beliefs when ites to marriage, and Su Xiaofei didn''t think she would ever get married and have a family of her own in this lifetime.


    As if Lu Qingfeng could hear her thoughts, he asked her.


    "You don''t want to get married?" His tone was gentle, as if he was afraid that he would offend her by asking such a question.


    "No." Su Xiaofei replied without batting an eyelid.


    "Why?" Lu Qingfeng continued to probe.


    "Because I''m a very greedy person, Xiao Feng." She gave him another weakugh. "If I were to marry, I want everything from him. I want to be part of every aspect of his life. His heart, his thoughts, his body¡­ his everything. I want all of it."


    However, in her past life, her husband only looked at her with contempt and hatred.


    "Then it should be yours.." Lu Qingfeng said after a long silence between them.

 Chapter 51 - If One Day No One Wants To Marry Me (1)

    <h4>Chapter 51 - If One Day No One Wants To Marry Me (1)</h4>


    Su Xiaofei was momentarily stunned by what she heard from Lu Qingfeng''s lips.


    "What?" She blinked, her wide, clear eyes on him.


    Lu Qingfeng stepped forward and tucked in her stray locks behind her ear, with such gentleness he would never show to anyone, but her.


    "I said that it should be yours. In the future, marry a man who could give you anything you want and wouldn''t treat you less than the queen that you are." He said, his lips curled into a slight smile.


    "Our Xiaofei should never settle for less. It doesn''t matter if he can''t help you through everything, as long as he can love you through everything and won''t leave you, but I guess it would be hard for you to find a more capable man than me." He said with such a wicked smile on his face and tone that made Su Xiaofei aware of the blush that was threatening to bloom on her face.


    "Idiot! So conceited! Do you really have to brag that you are better than the rest?" Su Xiaofei avoided meeting his gaze.


    She stepped back from his touch and harshly turned her back on him, knowing fully well that her face was now beat red from his teasing. Her hands ced on her chest, allowing her to feel the erratic beat of her heart from hearing such words from Lu Qingfeng.


    ''Lu Qingfeng is still young. Don''t tell me he''s already had such feelings for me at such a young age?''


    Su Xiaofei might be physically eighteen, but her mind was that of a woman of twenty-eight years who had already experienced hardship in life. Meanwhile, Lu Qingfeng was only fifteen, but why did she feel that this man had be more overbearing and arrogant since her rebirth?


    The fifteen-year-old Lu Qingfeng that she knew wouldn''t act like this. Even the way he spoke was so different from what he used to be. He sounded¡­ older and wiser.


    Did her rebirth and attempt in changing the course of the events somehow made a change in his personality? Su Xiaofei wondered.


    Lu Qingfeng shrugged and chose to bury his hands in his side pockets in an attempt to stop himself from reaching out to hold Su Xiaofei. It was hard to control himself whenever Su Xiaofei was near him.


    "What can I say? You have to admit that I look better than that stupid fianc¨¦ of yours." He said half-jokingly, hoping that it would somehow lighten the mood between them.


    "He''s not my fianc¨¦ anymore. Regardless of what others think, Mo Yuchen isn''t my fianc¨¦."


    This time, Su Xiaofei faced him, the blush on her face was reced with annoyance upon the mention of Mo Yuchen.


    "You hate him that much, huh? Just what did he do for you to hold such ire against him?" Lu Qingfeng asked curiously, his eyes trying to find answers on Su Xiaofei''s face.


    "He disrespected me and humiliated me. It would have been better if he said that he disliked me rather than treating me like a fool." Su Xiaofei replied. "He and I would never reconcile in this lifetime."


    "Would this mean that you would have no choice in the future but to marry me?" Lu Qingfeng said out of the blue, which caught Su Xiaofei off guard.


    Damn it. Su Xiaofei thought. Just as she thought that she had recovered from her shock earlier, Lu Qingfeng had decided to drop another bomb on her.


    "What the hell are you talking about? Aren''t we too young to talk about marriage and getting married?" She said in response, wondering why Lu Qingfeng was asking her such things anyway.


    "What? Don''t look at me like that. I wasn''t the one who forced myself on you. Don''t you remember? You forced me to make a promise that if no man wants to marry you in the future, I would have to marry you." The young man said in defense and this only left Su Xiaofei bbergasted.


    She stared at him with wide eyes, mouth a jar, as she thought of a word to deny his im, but nothing came out. Her mind was nk as it failed to process what she just heard from young Lu Qingfeng.


    "I said that?" She asked in disbelief, after a long silence between them.


    "April 24, 20xx, two weeks before your thirteenth birthday. You said that if you''ve reached the age of twenty-three and are still unmarried, I''ll have to marry you." Lu Qingfeng exined in a matter-of-fact tone.


    Su Xiaofei was rendered totally speechless by his words. Two weeks before her thirteenth birthday he said.


    Wait. Wasn''t that before she met and saved Mo Yuchen''s life? She now remembered a particr memory she had of Lu Qingfeng when they were younger.


    Su Xiaofei had just gotten into a fight with a group of older kids near their neighborhood and one of them said that Su Xiaofei was too udylike and no one would like to marry her when she grew up. She ended up beating those kids herself and chased them away, but in the end, their words bothered her immensely.


    "Xiao Feng, you don''t hate me, right? If one day no one wants to marry me, and you''ve already grown up, you have to marry me instead." She tried to convince the ten-year-old Lu Qingfeng.


    Su Xiaofei pped her forehead, berating herself for saying such words to her childhood friend.


    "What the hell?" She eximed. She wasn''t even sure if it was a childhood joke or not.


    "Indeed, Su Xiaofei, what the hell? How dare you try to scam and trick the ten-year-old me into marriage? You''re such a meanie to me, Xiaofei." Lu Qingfeng feigned being offended by her. "You specifically mentioned that I have to marry you when you are twenty-three. Ah, so that gives us five years then.. If you can''t find anyone to marry by then, you are stuck with me for a lifetime."

 Chapter 52 - If One Day No One Wants To Marry Me (2)

    <h4>Chapter 52 - If One Day No One Wants To Marry Me (2)</h4>


    The next day, Su Xiaofei was reviewing her lessons in the garden alone, but her mind was still preupied with the conversation she had with Lu Qingfengst night. It made sense to her why Lu Qingfeng persisted to be with her in her past life and why he held such intense feelings towards her.


    Su Xiaofei felt a little guilty for making Lu Qingfeng wait for her, only for him to return and find her already married to Mo Yuchen in their past lives. Lu Qingfeng had visited her at the Mo Estate, and he had thisplex expression that Su Xiaofei couldn''t exin at all when she saw him.


    So it turned out that Lu Qingfeng had loved her all those years they were growing up together, and it didn''t help that she had forced him to make a promise of marriage with her.


    ''He must have been upset, but couldn''t do anything about it.'' Su Xiaofei thought.


    Since she married Mo Yuchen in her past life, Lu Qingfeng had stayed away from her at a safe distance, never talking to her unless he needed to, nor wanting her to talk about her life as a married woman in front of him. It must have been hard for Lu Qingfeng to ept that she was another man''s wife and not his.


    ''How insensitive I was back then.'' Su Xiaofei sighed to herself. She couldn''t me Lu Qingfeng for acting like that in the past as she was the one who caused him pain beyond words.


    She cupped her chin and looked down at her handwritten notes, but none of it made sense to her. She wondered how she should deal with Lu Qingfeng now.


    Lu Qingfeng sounded like he was jokingst night, but Su Xiaofei knew that he wasn''t. Only fifteen, but he had already set his eyes on her. Unless he met another woman that could overshadow her in his heart, Lu Qingfeng wouldn''t willingly part from her.


    If she took back and imed that the promise they made was just a joke, Su Xiaofei feared that it would only hurt him.


    She rubbed her temple and sighed for the umpteenth time today. Lu Qingfeng surely knew how to mess with her stupid brain. She wasn''t sure who was more foolish between the two of them. She, who had fallen into Mo Yuchen''s scheme and forgot the promise she made with Lu Qingfeng, or him, who remained single throughout his life, loving her until hisst breath.


    Su Xiaofei would be lying if she said that she wasn''t moved by his dedication and loyalty. However, she wasn''t sure how she should deal with his growing feelings towards her just yet.


    ''We still have five years.'' Lu Qingfeng reminded her.


    Yes. She still had five years to make the decision on whether she should fulfill the promise she made with him or not. Three years from now, Lu Qingfeng will leave the country to pursue his studies overseas. In her past life, he didn''te back until he was twenty-one, and she was twenty-four and was married to Mo Yuchen for a year then.


    Su Xiaofei closed her notebook, realizing that it was pointless for her to study if her mind wasn''t on it. She leaned on her back as she pondered if she should leave the issue unresolved for now. She and Lu Qingfeng were still young and if in the future, Lu Qingfeng raised the issue again, Su Xiaofei should have made a decision by then.


    "Feifei, there''s mail that arrived for you." Aunty Liu came into the garden, holding a box in her arms, and ced it on top of the table in front of Su Xiaofei.


    "Thanks, Aunty. Sorry for troubling you today." She said in response. Finally, the dress she ordered the other day came just in time. Su Xiaofei had been worried that she wouldn''t be able to use it if it arrived toote.


    The old woman gave her a worried look, wondering why she ordered a counterfeit dress of a popr designer brand online. They both knew that thew in their country was harsh to those who sell and possess counterfeit products such as this. If they were found, not only would they be sued in court, but they would also spend a good time behind bars, effectively ruining their name and their reputation in public.


    "Feifei¡­ why did you buy something like this?" Aunty Liu asked her worriedly. Thankfully, she was the one who received it from the courier earlier, because if it was another servant from their household, Aunty Liu was worried that they would immediately report their young miss to the authorities.


    "Don''t worry, Aunty. It''s not mine. I bought it for a specific reason that I can''t disclose to you yet." Su Xiaofei said, feeling a bit guilty that Aunty Liu caught her in the middle of her scheme.


    "Just be careful, Feifei. Don''t let anyone find out you have this in your possession." Aunty Liu said.


    "En, Aunty. Thank you for your concern." She replied, before watching the old woman go, leaving her in peace again.


    Now that her mother had decided to get rid of the Chen family from their household, Su Xiaofei needed to rush things and give Chen Li a parting gift. Su Xiaofei still hadn''t forgotten how that shameless woman ruined her name and reputation in public by using her personal things.


    ''Chen Li, since you like that little ck dress that much, you can have it.''


    That little ck dress was bought for her by Yun Qingrong from a popr designer brand in Shenjing, but Su Xiaofei never wore it. Chen Li took a liking to that dress in the past and liked to brag about it to her friends.


    Before Chen Li would leave this household with her mother, Su Xiaofei was sure that the young woman would attempt to steal that dress.

 Chapter 53 - Partners In Crime (1)

    <h4>Chapter 53 - Partners In Crime (1)</h4>


    "What''s that?" Su Xiaofei was momentarily startled when Lu Qingfeng came and took a seat across from her. He then nced at the box on top of the table separating them and frowned upon seeing what it was when he took a peek at it.


    "Feifei¡­ this¡­"


    "It is only a precautionary measure to ensure that I won''t be implicated by someone badly in public." Su Xiaofei said in defense. "Say, Xiao Feng, wanna see something interesting tonight?"


    Lu Qingfeng was staying with the Su family temporarily for a few days before his grandfather returned from his business trip overseas. This was a normal urrence in the Su household since they were younger. Su Xiaofei would also do the same and stay with the Lu family whenever her parents were away and she was left alone with their housekeepers.


    Lu Qingfeng gave her a suspicious look before sighing. It wasn''t the first time he became Su Xiaofei''s unwilling aplice, anyway. The glint in Su Xiaofei''s eyes was an indication that someone would surely suffer pain or humiliationter, and he wondered who was the pitiful human being who annoyed her this time.


    "Fine, but don''t me me if Aunty Qing catches uster." He replied.


    "She wouldn''t." Su Xiaofei smirked in return.


    The silence that followed reminded Su Xiaofei of what they talked aboutst night.


    "Are you upset that I reminded you of the silly promise we madest night?"


    Lu Qingfeng''s sudden question made her lift her gaze to look at his face.


    Was she upset? No. More like, their conversationst night was like the missing puzzle that gave her a clearer view of what had happened in her past life.


    Lu Qingfeng might be saying that it was a silly promise, but Su Xiaofei knew better. She knew how seriously he''d taken her words. Because if he didn''t, he wouldn''t have done the things he''d done in his past life, only to die with a grieving heart.


    "No. Why would I be upset? I actually almost forgot about it." She admitted.


    "You dare to forget about it?!" He gasped, as he looked at her in disbelief.


    "Hey, that was unintentional, okay, and why did you bring it up anyway?" Su Xiaofei said in defense.


    "It''s precisely because I knew that you would forget about it. You are already robbing my chance to fool around with other women, how could you have the audacity to forget about it?"


    Su Xiaofei chuckled at that. "We were just kids, Xiao Feng."


    "So you mean to say you want to back out now? Don''t forget, you are the one who initiated it."


    The tone of Lu Qingfeng''s voice almost made Su Xiaofei feel guilty. It was as if she had just offended him with her words.


    When she made that promise with him years ago, she was indeed bothered by the fact that no one would love and marry her once she grew up. Only her Mama, Xiao Feng and Xi Qian were good to her, and the rest were mean in her opinion.


    "No, it''s not like that. I''m just thinking, instead of the age of twenty-three, why don''t we change it until I''m old enough to marry?"


    "If you are nning to get married at the same age your mother did, forget it. Who knows, maybe by that time, someone had already stolen your position as my bride." Lu Qingfeng said with a teasing voice.


    "I don''t mind." She replied with all honesty. She picked up her teacup and took a sip from it. "As long as you are happy with her, who am I to stop you from marrying another woman?"


    Su Xiaofei wasn''t paying attention to Lu Qingfeng''s reaction, so she failed to notice that his eyes darkened and his jaws hardened at her answer.


    "Then why did you say I should marry you once you turn twenty-three, back then?" He asked.


    Su Xiaofei hummed and tried to remember what made her decide to marry at twenty-three, which obviously now was a little too young for her in her opinion.


    "Because back then I was told that if I turned twenty-five and was still unmarried, I would be a spinster and be alone for the rest of my life. Of course, as a kid I took it seriously. Now, it didn''t matter to me anymore. I would rather be a spinster throughout my whole life than marry and be with the wrong person."


    "I see¡­" She heard Lu Qingfeng replied, but he didn''tment further on it. "So, about your new Jiejie¡­"


    "She''s not my Jiejie." Su Xiaofei gave him a pointed look. "She can''t be part of this family."


    "Do you hate her that much?" Lu Qingfeng asked curiously, seeing how annoyed she was upon the mention of Ye Mingyu.


    "Hate her? Saying that I hate her is an understatement." She chuckled and looked away, not wanting Lu Qingfeng to see how much she really despised the woman who ruined her in her past life.


    It was impossible for her and Ye Mingyu to reconcile now, and she didn''t think that the crow would change its color to white overnight. The mere fact that Ye Mingyu had forced her to take on the role of the viiness, painted her ck in front of everyone, while cunningly stealing everything from her, how could Su Xiaofei let Ye Mingyu off the hook so easily?


    No matter how hard Ye Mingyu tried in this lifetime to pull the same tricks and schemes, Su Xiaofei would do her best not to walk into her trap ever again.


    "Do you think they woulde back?" Lu Qingfeng asked.


    "They will. I don''t think they would back down easily." Su Xiaofeiughed slowly. Knowing Ye Mingyu, she might already be concocting a new n to convince Su Haoran to do something for her and her mother at the expense of Yun Qingrong.


    However, how could Su Haoran do that when the Yun family was now aware of Yun Qingrong''s situation?

 Chapter 54 - Partners In Crime (2)

    <h4>Chapter 54 - Partners In Crime (2)</h4>


    That night, Lu Qingfeng was expecting Su Xiaofei to knock on his door. He was still awake despite it being past midnight. Su Xiaofei knew that he had a problem falling asleep at night, and this had persisted until adulthood. His doctor had said that his chronic insomnia might have started after his parents'' death, and it only worsened after Su Xiaofei''s death.


    In her past life, Lu Qingfeng spent sleepless nights in her bedroom after her death, lying on her bed, doing nothing. He would stay like this until sleep caught up with him at four in the morning, only to be forced to wake up at six for work.


    As expected, Lu Qingfeng heard three steady knocks on his door, pulling him out from his deep thoughts. He closed the book he was reading and slipped out of the bed to open the door.


    Outside, Su Xiaofei was dressed in her pink bunny pyjamas, with her face bare and clean from any makeup she used to wear during daytime. She was holding that ursed counterfeit designer clothes box in one arm, with a wicked smile on her lips.


    Su Xiaofei gave him a head to toe look and wasn''t surprised to see him dressed in a loose white shirt and gray pyjamas. His hair was a little disheveled, but it only gave him azy charming look.


    "Ready?" She asked him.


    Lu Qingfeng sighed and allowed her to take his hand. She then pulled him out of his room before closing the door behind him.


    "Hold this for me, will you?" Su Xiaofei pushed the box to his chest, giving him no choice but to ept it.


    "So, where are you going to take me this time?" He groaned as she started to drag him away, refusing to let go of his hand.


    "We are going to set a trap tonight. We need to hurry, or she will beat us to it" Su Xiaofei whispered, not wanting to gain unwanted attention from others. It was important that she set the trap as soon as possible, or she wouldn''t have the chance to destroy Chen Li once and for all.


    Lu Qingfeng''s eyes caught their twined hands, putting him in a trance. With her hand tightly holding hisrger ones. Her hand felt warm and smooth against his slightly callused hand.


    As he was so engrossed in their twined hands, it was toote for him to realize that Su Xiaofei had dragged him to the third level of the Su family''s home and unlocked a familiar room he hadn''t seen in ages. He gave Su Xiaofei a questioning look, but she only grinned at him in return.


    Once they entered the room, Su Xiaofei used the shlight of her phone to navigate their way in the room.


    "Hurry, Xiao Feng." She said slowly, gesturing to him to follow him deeper into her walk-in closet that housed multiple designer clothes, shoes, make up and things that her mother bought for her.


    Su Xiaofei led him to the party gowns and dresses section and pulled out the almost identical box that Lu Qingfeng was holding. Only then he realized what she was truly up to this time. She was intending to rece her authentic designer dress with a fake one, but why?


    "ce it in the same spot for me, please." She whispered to him.


    Lu Qingfeng sighed for the umpteenth time that night, but he still did what he was told.


    "What now?" He just asked, when they heard someone just outside the door, trying to unlock it.


    Su Xiaofei''s eyes widened in realization. She turned off the shlight on her phone and dragged Lu Qingfeng with her to a two-door cupboard and pushed him inside. It was a little cramped inside with Lu Qingfeng hovering too close to her, the only thing separating them was the box.


    Lu Qingfeng lowered his eyes and could see Su Xiaofei''s face lit up by the moonlight through the slits of the door in front of them. Her familiar scent reached his nose, and he couldn''t think of anything that smelled better than her.


    Suddenly, whoever was fiddling with the doorknob outside managed to get in. Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng held their breaths, not moving an inch from where they were, their eyes following the sound of the footsteps until it stopped in the same spot they were standing at earlier.


    Lu Qingfeng looked over Su Xiaofei''s shoulder to see who it was, alerting Su Xiaofei of their close proximity, as she could almost feel the warmth of Lu Qingfeng''s breath against her nape.


    Under normal circumstances, she would definitely not go inside a closet to hide like this as she usually would feel constrained and trapped at the same time, but with Lu Qingfeng apanying her, she couldn''t feel any fear at all, only his presence next to her.


    Lu Qingfeng couldn''t believe what he was seeing. The person who arrived was no other Chen Li. Did Su Xiaofei know that she woulde here to steal something again? If so, how did she know?


    Chen Li pulled out the box Lu Qingfeng had ced earlier and opened it, marvelling at the sight of a beautiful ck dress inside it. Some people wouldn''t be able to tell that what she was holding was fake, but Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng could.


    "Look at you, being stored here and forgotten. Why don''t I take you with me?" Chen Li spoke with such admiration to the dress she was holding. "Right, I should take you with me. That Su Xiaofei surely wouldn''t notice that you are missing."


    Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng waited until Chen Li stepped outside the room, taking the box of counterfeit dress with her.. Once they were certain that she had left, they stepped out of the closet and Su Xiaofei sported a wide grin.

 Chapter 55 - Scheming Daughter (1)

    <h4>Chapter 55 - Scheming Daughter (1)</h4>


    Weekend came and just as Su Xiaofei expected, her mother was too busy at work, so Yun Qingrong wasn''t able to apany her to visit the pharmacy and meet Han Zijun. Lu Qingfeng had offered to apany her in Yun Qingrong''s stead, which the old woman appreciated.


    "Sorry, Feifei. I can''t go with you today. I need to drop by the office and see how everything is going at thepany." Yun Qingrong apologized to her daughter.


    "It''s okay, Mama. Xiao Feng will apany me today anyway. I bet he''s getting bored waiting for his grandfather toe back." Su Xiaofei kissed her mother goodbye before joining Lu Qingfeng in the backseat of his car and saw Nine sitting in the driver''s seat.


    Nine. Of course, Su Xiaofei was who he was. Nine was one of the two exclusive assistants Lu Qingfeng had with him. In the past, Nine was the one who executed the dirty works for Lu Qingfeng, while Katarina was the person in charge of Lu Qingfeng''s business affairs.


    As the car drove away from the Su Residence, Lu Qingfeng took this chance to ask Su Xiaofei.


    "Feifei¡­st night¡­ how did you know that Chen Li would steal your dress?" He asked carefully. He had to admit that he found it suspicious that Su Xiaofei knew beforehand that Chen Li was going to steal that dress and made preparations to deceive the girl.


    "Ah, about that. I know for some time now that she has been stealing some of my things and clothes that I don''t wear or use. However, the other day, just after her mother was heavily reprimanded by Mama, I saw Chen Li sneaked into the third level closet again and saw her holding the dress in her arms. I had my suspicions, but I didn''t think she would actuallyest night to steal it."


    Su Xiaofei knew she had no choice but to lie to him, and although he was giving her a suspicious look right now, she knew that Lu Qingfeng wouldn''t push his luck and force her to make a confession.


    So how did she know? It was merely an assumption on her part based on Chen Li''s attitude and personality. In her past life, that same little ck dress was Chen Li''s prized possession. She used to brag a lot about it, as there could only be ten of the same dresses that had been sold to the public by the designer herself.


    So how could Chen Li be willing to part with that dress in this lifetime? Given her selfish and arrogant personality, Su Xiaofei had suspected that she would steal it from her before her family got kicked out. Since she had stolen a lot from Su Xiaofei in the past, it wouldn''t hurt to add another one, right?


    "Is that so? Then she''s really bold to add another offense this time." Lu Qingfengmented. He had heard about the incident where Su Xiaofei had caught Chen Li wearing one of the clothes her mother gifted to her from Aunty Liu and found that the young woman was really bold and stupid not to realize that she was only courting death by offending Su Xiaofei like this.


    Since their younger days, Su Xiaofei had been notorious for seeking revenge and getting even with those who offend her or hurt Xi Qian, regardless if they were older than her or not. She would always make sure that they woulde home with a bloodied, swollen face, which earned her the title of Young Witch of Southern Qiying.


    "What can I say? It''s because her mother didn''t make any effort to correct her ways at all."


    "I am actually feeling bad for Aunty Qing for not knowing how scheming her daughter can be behind her back." Lu Qingfeng sighed, shaking his head in feigned disappointment.


    Su Xiaofei''s lips curled up, taking no offense from his words.


    "My mother doesn''t need to know what could hurt her."


    Yun Qingrong didn''t need to be aware of how vicious her daughter could be, but it couldn''t be said to the woman who had given birth to her. In her past life, even that woman had be an obstacle in Su Xiaofei''s life, assisting Ye Mingyu to make her life a living hell.


    ''That woman can never be my mother. My mother is no one but Yun Qingrong.'' Su Xiaofei thought, as she remembered the woman who gave birth to her. In this lifetime, she would make sure to get even with everyone who harmed her in the past.


    When they arrived at the pharmacy, Han Zijun weed them with a smile before allowing them to follow him inside his office, the same room where he treated Su Xiaofei a week ago. He checked on Su Xiaofei''s stitched wound andmented on how fast and well it was healing.


    It was only the second time Lu Qingfeng had seen Su Xiaofei''s injuries, but his face couldn''t contain his anger and disappointment over the incident. Still, in the end, he chose to keep his opinion to himself, as he was in no ce to voice out his anger.


    "Brother Han, do you have medicine to stop the wound from leaving a scar? I don''t want to be marked with a scar for the rest of my life." Su Xiaofei asked once Han Zijun started prescribing her another set of medicines for her wound. She cannot afford to ruin her face nor her body if she wanted to enter the showbiz again.


    Han Zijun smiled at the young woman in front of him. He had been made aware of her rtionship with Yun Qingrong and the Yun family. ording to Master Ouyang, it seemed like the Yun family was interested to meet this young woman.


    "Ah, yes, we do. Don''t worry, I will make sure that it won''t leave a scar. Just make sure to diligently apply the topical solution once the stitches have been removed.." He replied, earning a satisfied smile from Su Xiaofei.

 Chapter 56 - Scheming Daughter (2)

    <h4>Chapter 56 - Scheming Daughter (2)</h4>


    "Brother Han, I''m curious¡­" Su Xiaofei started.


    "Curious about what?" Han Zijun asked, without breaking his gaze from the paper he was holding, checking if his assistant had brought the right prescription medicines for Su Xiaofei.


    "This cold poison, do you know where it came from?" She asked, wanting to know if she could get more information about the poison that managed to kill her in her past life discreetly.


    "It''s concocted from a rare flower that could only grow in the mountains. The said species of the flower is very hard to cultivate as it''s very delicate, especially when ites to heat." Han Zijun exined. "As I said before, the poison is hard to trace as it has no scent or taste to give away its presence, such a reason makes it an ideal way for some people to kill someone else discreetly without leaving tracks."


    The conversation between the two somewhat piqued Lu Qingfeng''s interest. He looked between the two and realized that Su Xiaofei was trying to get information from the doctor.


    "Then doctor, is there a way for us to avoid being poisoned by it?" He asked, which surprised Su Xiaofei and Han Zijun at the same time.


    Thinking about it, wouldn''t it be better for her to know how to counteract Ye Mingyu in the future if the woman tried to poison her again?


    "There are two simple ways actually, but not many are aware of it. First is the silver needle method. If you think that your drink was spiked with poison, dipping a silver needle to see if it would react can tell you if it was poisoned or not. Upon contact, if the silver needle turns ck, the probability of you being poisoned by the cold poison or any other kind is high."


    Han Zijun wasn''t sure why these two youngsters were interested to know about the characteristics of the cold poison, but if they could protect themselves from being poisoned in the future, then he didn''t mind giving them a lecture on it.


    "And the second method?"


    "A little unusual, but ce a freshly cut flower on the solution you suspect is being poisoned. The petals of the flowers would immediately turn to white, no matter what the original color was. It makes sense because the flower that the poison was derived from has pristine white petals."


    "But I can''t bring a silver needle with me at all times, right?" Su Xiaofei murmured.


    "Since the poison reacts to silver, I suppose you can wear silver jewelry and use it discreetly." Lu Qingfeng said, which made Su Xiaofei praise him to no end for being too smart.


    "Right, I could do that, Xiao Feng. Who knows, in the future I might be able to save someone''s life with this useful trick!" Sheughed and patted his back, a little too strong for Lu Qingfeng''s liking. Su Xiaofei surely had no idea how strong and heavy her hand could be.


    Before she and Lu Qingfeng left the pharmacy, Han Zijun pulled out a folded paper from his wooden drawer below his table and passed it to Su Xiaofei.


    "Take this, Miss Su. Master Ouyang dropped by earlier and left this for you, since he has no way of contacting you. He said he forgot to ask for you and your mother''s number. You can tell me your answer or write it down in a paper too, and I will forward it to him." Han Zijun exined.


    Su Xiaofei eyed it for a moment. It seemed like the old man was a frequent visitor here for him to trust Han Zijun to pass this message to her.


    Su Xiaofei unfolded the paper and read its content. Her face remained neutral, but Lu Qingfeng noticed the amused glint that appeared in her eyes. It seemed like she had just received good news.


    As expected, Master Ouyang did well and reported what transpired in their household to the Yun family. She wasn''t sure how the Old Master Yun reacted to the news, but given that she was being invited to meet the old man at the Yun Estate, Su Xiaofei had no reason to decline it.


    She had just been reborn and at eighteen years,Su Xiaofei was aware that she had limited resources and money. If she truly wanted to get ahead of her enemies, she needed to raise her personal funds and expand herwork to stop Mo Yuchen and Ye Mingyu from plotting against her.


    The Yun family might not be able to give her the money she needed, but she had no doubt that they would be able to protect her mother if any problem arises. Also, by getting along well with her mother''s family, she would be able to help her mother''s wishe true by mediating the rtionship between both parties.


    "Thank you, Brother Han, and I trust that you will pass my response to Master Ouyang. Please tell him that I need to consult my mother about this invitation and will give you my answer on my next visit, if that''s alright with him." She told the genius doctor with a slight smile, revealing the malicious intent in her eyes.


    "I see. I will inform him then."


    Su Xiaofei was aware of the old man''s intention in inviting her, without extending his invitation to her mother. Yun Guanyu was nning to test her, to see if she was worthy enough to be epted by their family, without knowing that Su Xiaofei didn''t give a damn about it.


    The only reason Su Xiaofei was seeking them like this was because of her mother. There''s no need for her to get involved with the rest of their family, unless they could open new doors for her to utilize.


    Su Haoran was scheduled toe home tonight and now that she had already sown discord between him and her mother, it was time for her to see their marriage crumble.

 Chapter 57 - Eradicating Pests At Home (1)

    <h4>Chapter 57 - Eradicating Pests At Home (1)</h4>


    It was inevitable that Su Haoran woulde home and confront her mother about Ye Xing and Ye Mingyu''s existence. However, it still made Su Xiaofei suspicious of him. Why did that bastard still take a week before he could finally return home after New Year''s Day?


    No, it was impossible that Su Haoran had another mistress he was keeping behind Yun Qingrong''s back, but instead, this might coincide with the fact that in Su Xiaofei''s past life, Su Haoran had an addiction to gambling. It was only revealed after her death that his multiple creditors had been looking everywhere for him.


    Such a sick bastard. Not only did he betray her adoptive mother, but he also spent her moneyvishly in her past life. Perhaps, this was also around the same time that Su Haoran embezzled some money from Bluemedia that would surely cause Yun Qingrong a lot of troubleter on.


    Su Xiaofei knew she needed to separate her mother from Su Haoran as soon as possible or else, she might be able to save Yun Qingrong this time, but her mother might need to pay a heavy price for her husband''s wrongdoingster.


    "What else do you have to say?" Yun Qingrong''s voice boomed as soon as Su Haoran came closer like an innocent littlemb in front of her. "Don''t you think I''ve seen enough already? Not only did those two upset my Feifei, even Housekeeper Chen looked down on my daughter!"


    "Dear, please calm down and let me exin." Su Haoran was on his knees, ready to beg his wife for forgiveness. "As for my cousin, you might have misunderstood her. She probably didn''t mean to offend and upset Xiaofei."


    Su Xiaofei and her unwilling aplice, Lu Qingfeng, were just outside the room, eavesdropping on their elders'' conversation. Su Xiaofei chuckled the moment she heard what Su Haoran just said, while Lu Qingfeng frowned next to her.


    "Xiaofei, do we really have to be here and eavesdrop on them?" Lu Qingfeng asked with a hint of annoyance. If it was just him, he would tell his Aunty Qing to divorce that excuse of a man immediately. There''s no need for her to waste her time listening to more of his lies.


    Instead of cating Yun Qingrong''s anger, Su Haoran''s words only infuriate her. She could see now that her father had been right all this time, and she had married the wrong person since the very beginning.


    She looked at his face, seeing no remorse or guilt in his eyes, and shook her head. Why did she waste years of life keeping her marriage with this kind of man? Even if Feifei wasn''t their real daughter, he didn''t have to cast her aside like an unwanted puppy she had picked up on the road.


    It was clear to her now that her husband would never change. Perhaps her Feifei was right. Su Haoran wouldn''t be able to treat her right because he knew somewhere that he had a daughter that he should be spoiling and not another child whose origin was unknown.


    "Enough. I don''t wanna hear your exnations anymore. I will contact mywyer immediately, you go and find that daughter of yours. I don''t want to keep you here with us any longer."


    Since it had alreadye to this, how can she stay married to him anymore? Now that his real daughter from another woman hade forward, it wouldn''t be right if she still forbade him to be a father to a child that he''d been yearning to have for years.


    "Qingqing! How can you say that? We''ve been together for so long and yet you want to divorce now? Do our years of being together mean nothing to you?" Su Haoran obviously cannot leave and divorce Yun Qingrong yet. Not like this. If she decided to divorce him, then he would be forced to leave with nothing.


    "You should have known this would happen, right, Papa?"


    Unfortunately, Su Haoran would never understand that Yun Qingrong''s love for her daughter was greater than the love she had for her husband.


    "Xiao Fei." Su Haoran''s face darkened upon seeing the child his wife took in, standing at the doorway of the study.


    "Feifei, what are you doing here?" Yun Qingrong rushed to her daughter worriedly. Her Feifei was already dressed in her night clothes, and she hadn''t expected that she was still awake thiste at night. "Did Mama''s loud voice wake you up?"


    "No, Mama. It''s okay. I couldn''t sleep because I was worried about you." Su Xiaofei gave her mother a weak smile. She had left Lu Qingfeng outside, and she had no doubt that he had already left to return to the guest room he upied.


    "Dear, can you please not make reckless decisions like this? I know it''s my fault, but I''m not willing to part with you like this¡­"


    "Papa must be missing Jiejie, right? He must also be worried because Miss Ye has cancer." Su Xiaofei said, giving her adoptive father a mocking look.


    From the moment she started to be conscious of her surroundings and knew her Papa and Mama, she had never felt familial love from Su Haoran at all. At first she wasn''t sure of the reason, but now that she knew, she had no sympathy whatsoever for this pathetic old man.


    "This, Xiaofei. You should leave this issue to your elders. Go back to your room." He said sternly to Su Xiaofei.


    "There''s nothing else to talk about." Yun Qingrong shot him a re, protecting her daughter from Su Haoran''s words. She must have been too blind and stupid not to notice that her husband would nevere to love her Feifei.


    "Aunty Liu has already packed your belongings. Mywyer will contact you soon. You are free to do whatever you want outside this household." Yun Qingrong refused to be swayed by his words.


    Su Haoran was stunned, but he didn''t have any chance to refute because Yun Qingrong had already left with Su Xiaofei.

 Chapter 58 - Eradicating Pests At Home (2)

    <h4>Chapter 58 - Eradicating Pests At Home (2)</h4>


    The next day, Su Xiaofei watched from the balcony of her room as the Chen family, as well as Su Haoran, dragged their suitcases away to leave the estate. Finally, after years of staying with those pests under the same roof, she would be able to breathe and do anything freely in her own home.


    As if sensing her stare, Su Haoran turned his head and met her prating cold gaze, which startled him. He could only clench his teeth and swore at this ursed child for ruining his ns. He had thought that he already had his wife in the palm of his hand.


    Neen years of marriage, but it was all for naught because Yun Qingrong had chosen her adopted daughter, Su Xiaofei, over her own husband.


    Su Haoran had never expected that Su Xiaofei would be able to see through his scheme and was able to chase away Ye Xing and their daughter when they came here to make a scene. Yun Qingrong should have agreed with it, knowing that she was still feeling guilty of not being able to bear him a child after almost twenty years of marriage.


    This was Yun Qingrong''s weakness that he had tried to exploit over the years of marriage. At first, he had been ecstatic to be able to marry a woman with such standing and thought that he would be able to enjoy the perks of being rted to the Yun family.


    However, he hadn''t expected that the old man would decide to cut off his ties with his only daughter. Since then, his rtionship with Yun Qingrong had turned cold, and it only worsened when the doctors deemed her unable to bear a child.


    Five yearster, Ye Xing, his long time girlfriend before meeting and marrying Yun Qingrong contacted him and confessed that she had a child with him. Su Haoran, who couldn''t get what he wanted from his wife, was obviously over the moon upon hearing it.


    Behind his wife''s back, Su Haoran had taken care of his mistress and daughter and allowed them to live in one of the properties Yun Qingrong hadn''t visited for years and provided for their needs. He had kept this a secret from his wife, aware that this could be used as a reason to divorce him.


    For years, Su Haoran used his business trip excuses to spend time with Ye Xing and their daughter, leaving Yun Qingrong in the dark for over fourteen years. However, when Ye Xing was indeed diagnosed with an early stage of breast cancer, Su Haoran knew that he wouldn''t be able to save his lover''s life on his own and needed to seek help from others.


    Help¡­ no. Why would he need someone else''s help when he could just exploit his wife''s weakness and force Yun Qingrong to ditch that adopted daughter of hers and allow Ye Mingyu to live with them?


    His Yu''er was the real Su, she should be the one enjoying the perks of being the daughter of their family and not some unwanted child his wife picked up in an orphanage. He had expected Yun Qingrong to agree, but he never expected that Su Xiaofei would get in between them, ruining the n he orchestrated.


    ''Su Xiaofei! You don''t deserve to use my family name at all! You are no daughter of mine!'' He cursed the young woman in his heart, not knowing that the enmity between them was mutual.


    Su Xiaofei wasn''t nning to spare him for her revenge at all and this was only the beginning, since there''s more toe his way. Forcing her mother to divorce him was just a precautionary measure to make sure that the three wouldn''t be able to fuck up their lives all at once.


    "Aiya, such a fierce reing from Papa. Just what did Fei''er do to him to earn such a scathing look?" She chuckled, waving the old man and the Chen family goodbye for now.


    Housekeeper Chen''s face darkened, while her children had opposite reactions. Chen Hao gave her a smile, mistaking her wave as an affection towards him, while Chen Li sneered with annoyance for a moment, before smirking as she looked back at Su Xiaofei with mockery.


    "For someone whose parents were divorcing, you''re sure weird to be this rxed." Lu Qingfengmented as he moved his queen to block Su Xiaofei''s horse on the chessboard.


    Su Xiaofei smiled and moved one of her pawns forward while Xi Qian, who was seated next to her, scoffed.


    "Good riddance. Feifei and Aunty Qing surely don''t need to keep those snakes here." She said, picking another potato chip from its package and ate next to her best friend.


    Lu Qingfeng looked at Xi Qian''s expression, noticing that she too, like Su Xiaofei, was too calm under such serious circumstances. His attention then turned to Su Xiaofei who was sitting across from him. It still surprised him how Su Xiaofei could be so cruel to Chen Li, but he couldn''t find fault in her for that.


    It wasn''t like Su Haoran and the Chen family were innocent in the first ce. If Su Xiaofei allowed them to stay in this household, who knows what kind of damage they would inflict in the future.


    "ss is resuming in three days, Feifei. Have you finished your homework?" Xi Qian asked her best friend, seeing that Su Xiaofei wasn''t cramming, doing her homework but instead was leisurely ying chess like this.


    "Hmm¡­ Xiao Feng made sure that I finished them on time so I wouldn''t be cramming at thest minute." Su Xiaofei then rubbed her temple. Compared to these two, she wasn''t as smart as them when ites to academic studies.. This was why in her past life, even though she managed to be a B-rated actress, she was ridiculed when people knew she wasn''t able to finish her studies, despite hering from a well off family.

 Chapter 59 - Life Is Like A Game Of Chess (1)

    <h4>Chapter 59 - Life Is Like A Game Of Chess (1)</h4>


    Su Xiaofei could only endure those insults, as she was the one who made that mistake anyway. She shouldn''t have focused more on her training to be an actress and neglect her studies in her past life. She had always beenpared to Ye Mingyu, who not only diligently finished her studies but was able toplete her degree with flying colors.


    So how could Su Xiaofei make the same mistakes again? In this lifetime, she would ensure that those naysayers would not be able to say anything by proving to them that she wouldn''t allow herself to be Ye Mingyu''s backdrop again.


    Xi Qian looked at Lu Qingfeng and shrugged. At least this little tyrant knew how to be useful and helpful for Feifei. He must have a goddamn level of patience to tutor Su Xiaofei.


    "Well, I thought that you hadn''t done it yet and needed my help again." She responded.


    "Don''t worry, Qian. I will rely on your help next time. I can''t possibly run to see Xiao Feng every time I''m having trouble understanding our lessons." Su Xiaofei smiled at her friend.


    How could she bepared to these two? Lu Qingfeng was hailed as a genius, a prodigy at his young age. In the future, he would be a mogul who dominated the business world. Meanwhile, Xi Qian would pursue her studies and would be a nurse in the future.


    Xi Qian initially wanted to be a doctor, but her current financial circumstances wouldn''t allow her to do so, so she could only take a pre-med course and decided to work again to save up to study medicine.


    Su Xiaofei knew all of these, this was why she wasn''t worried too much about Lu Qingfeng. As for Xi Qian, she supposed she needed to help her friend to find a better job that pays really well. She was aware that Xi Qian would vehemently refuse her, had she offered to pay for her tuition fee in her stead.


    If there was something Su Xiaofei had learned from her best friend, that would be there was nothing more insulting to someone than offering unwanted charity. Perhaps this was why she and Xi Qian got along really well.


    However, just thinking of the possibility that doing so would stop her best friend from meeting the love of her life, Li Xiran, Su Xiaofei wouldn''t take any risks.


    Li Xiran was the young master of the Li family, who owned one of thergest and renownedpanies in Shenjing. In Su Xiaofei''s past life, this man was able to surpass his old man and proved to everyone that he didn''t need to rely on his mother''s family to save his father''s dwindlingpany.


    Xi Qian met Li Xiran through his ailing father when she chose to work as a private nurse. She and the old man built a friendship andpanionship over the years until his inevitable passing. Li Xiran, despite not being on good terms with his father, grieved over his death, and it was Xi Qian who stayed with him until he was able to get back on his feet and resume his life.


    The two had fallen madly in love with each other and were looking forward to spending their lives together. However, that never happened because Xi Qian had lost her life even before Li Xiran could propose marriage to her.


    The man who shed tears uncontrobly at Xi Qian''s funeral, how can Su Xiaofei forget about him? Just like Lu Qingfeng, Li Xiran spent the rest of his life as a monk and refused to be tied down with another woman after Xi Qian''s passing.


    After he was certain that his father''spany was stable, Li Xiran then passed the management to his younger half-brother, Li Xingtian and chose to spend the rest of his days living in the countryside.


    Su Xiaofei had always either questioned or doubted Xi Qian''s taste when ites to men when they were younger, but upon witnessing such a heartbreaking scene by Li Xiran, Su Xiaofei knew that her best friend had finally met a man who would love her regardless of who she was and what she was.


    This time, she hoped that Xi Qian and Li Xiran would be able to find their happy ending.


    "Feifei, are you alright? You haven''t made a move for a minute now. Just tell me if you concede." Lu Qingfeng''s voice pulled her out of trance.


    Su Xiaofei smiled at him, then turned her eyes to the chessboard in front of them. Despite the fact that she had never won a single match against him, she had persistently asked Lu Qingfeng to y chess with her.


    She picked up her ck queen and took two pawns and one rook of Lu Qingfeng''s. In the past, she was easily annoyed at how easy it was for him to defeat her, butter on, she realized that Lu Qingfeng was the one who had been paying attention to her every move, waiting for her to make a mistake that he could take advantage of.


    The more she paid attention to his moves, the more Su Xiaofei could see and predict how their game would proceed. It didn''t matter if Lu Qingfeng defeated her every time because she always learned something from her loss.


    "Checkmate." She gave Lu Qingfeng a wide grin, but he only chuckled in return.


    "Not yet." He shook his head, and his king was able to outrun her queen by taking advantage of his knight and rook, stopping her queen from pursuing it.


    "Ahh¡­" Su Xiaofei then hummed and cupped her cheek. "You lead me to it, huh."


    "You are finally noticing it now?" He raised a slender brow at her.


    "Heh, I will let you off for now. There wouldn''t be another next time, Xiao Feng." She chuckled, epting the cold can of c that Xi Qian passed to her.


    She realized then that the world was a huge chess board in Lu Qingfeng''s eyes, and she should start doing the same.

 Chapter 60 - Life Is Like A Game Of Chess (2)

    <h4>Chapter 60 - Life Is Like A Game Of Chess (2)</h4>


    Qiying City Academy was one of the most popr schools in Qiying City. Many young masters and young misses from wealthy families, as well as children of officials, attended the said school as QCA''s teachers and teaching methods were reputable in public.


    Being Yun Qingrong''s daughter, Su Xiaofei obviously studied here. On the other side, Xi Qian was able to attend the academy with a full schrship that waived her tuition fee as long as she could keep her grades high.


    The academy offered three levels of education, the basic education, middle school and high school. While Su Xiaofei and Xi Qian were in their final year in high school, Lu Qingfeng was in his third year of middle school. However, his name was already popr among the students of the academy. It was a normal scene to spot him walking towards the high school department to see Su Xiaofei to have lunch with her and Xi Qian.


    Su Xiaofei and Xi Qian were on their way to school when a strong breeze passed, ruining the hairstyles of some female students who were also on their way to sses. Su Xiaofei and Xi Qian were both spared from it as Su Xiaofei''s thick and wavy hair was securely tied in a low ponytail, while Xi Qian had recently cut her hair above shoulders as she believed having long hair would require high maintenance, something she couldn''t afford right now.


    "Feifei, you don''t think the teacher would give us a quiz on our first day, right?"


    Su Xiaofei scoffed and shook her head.


    "Don''t jinx our first day, Qian. She might really do it if you keep thinking about it." She replied.


    Ah, for some people, Su Xiaofei was dumb, but actually, she just disliked studying as she''d rather spent her time ying or sleeping. When she and Lu Qingfeng were younger, she always found him reading books that were difficult to understand and wondered why he was reading them in the first ce.


    Because both of her parents were rarely at home, Lu Qingfeng used to drag her with him to his tutoring lessons, forcing her to study with him, much to her annoyance. She couldn''t understand why she needed to take the same lessons she had already taken years ago and study with him.


    However, what Su Xiaofei failed to realize was that Lu Qingfeng had tricked her to apany him to those lessons, for her to be able to quickly catch up with her recent lessons.


    Still in her past life, Su Xiaofei was criticized by others because of her stupidity. Compared to the gentle mannered and smart Ye Mingyu who had recently transferred to Qiying Academy back then, everyone insulted her for being stupid and foolish at the same time. Ye Mingyu had made a ''slip'' and revealed to everyone that she and Su Xiaofei were sisters during her first day at the academy.


    Naturally, beingpared to Su Xiaofei, Ye Mingyu would look better than her half-sister.


    "Aren''t they sisters from the same father? Howe the older one is smart while the younger one is stupid?" Feng Xue''er said, not knowing that the two women were not blood rted at all.


    "Xue''er, it isn''t like that¡­" Ye Mingyu shook her head, pretending to defend Su Xiaofei from everyone.


    Feng Xue''er had the same status as Su Xiaofei, hence, she was arrogant enough to be head to head in an argument with her. In Su Xiaofei''s past life, Feng Xue''er was Ye Mingyu''s best friend, her wing woman who helped her set coincident encounters with Mo Yuchen to gain his favor.


    The two instantly clicked during their first encounter and people who saw them would often think that Ye Mingyu and Feng Xue''er had been friends for a long time, given how close they were with each other.


    Feng Xue''er would be a popr fashion designer five years from now and with Ye Mingyu as her exclusive muse, the two were able to gain mutual advantages by using each other. The more Ye Mingyu became popr in showbiz, the more she made money for Feng Xue''er by promoting thetter''s brand.


    Every dress that Feng Xue''er made for Ye MIngyu would be a hit and would set trends not only within the upper circle, but also in the masses. This way, Ye Mingyu was able to expand her influence and set a distance between her and Su Xiaofei.


    Su Xiaofei had once sought Feng Xue''er if she could buy one of her dresses to wear for an award ceremony she was to attend with Ye Mingyu, but Feng Xue''er chased her away after insulting her.


    "Someone who doesn''t know shame isn''t weed in my store." Feng Xue''er gave her a head to toe look and sneered in disgust. "Not only do you dare to scheme against Mingyu, but you also try to seduce her man? I really can''t allow someone like you to wear my creations."


    Back in the current reality, Su Xiaofei''s eyes darkened when she remembered Feng Xue''er. The incidents and the hurtful words Feng Xue''er said to her in the past, she was eager to return the pain a hundredfold. No¡ªa thousandfold!


    Wait¡­ if she wasn''t mistaken, Feng Xue''er was engaged to the second master of the Cai family, Cai Lin. Since Feng Xue''er had used her of stealing Ye Mingyu''s man, Su Xiaofei supposed that it wouldn''t hurt if Feng Xue''er experienced having her man being stolen by her own best friend.


    ''Heh, this is going to be very interesting.'' Su Xiaofei thought as she allowed Xi Qian to drag her towards their ssroom. ''Feng Xue''er, I''d like to see how you''ll be able to befriend Ye Mingyu this time once she seduces the man you im to love.''


    Friends forever, they said, but when ites to the issues of the heart, it would be nothing.

 Chapter 61 - Not So Innocent (1)

    <h4>Chapter 61 - Not So Innocent (1)</h4>


    Naturally, because of Su Xiaofei''s arrogant and overbearing personality, she didn''t have many friends in school except for Xi Qian and Lu Qingfeng. Although there were some students that were amicable with her due to her status as the daughter of a wealthy family, those students who came from old money look down on Su Xiaofei.


    Who was Su Xiaofei in their eyes anyway? What was she like?


    If one were to ask her ssmates, they would say that despite Su Xiaofei being the daughter of a wealthy family, shecked elegance and proper etiquette. She was also stupid and foolish as she always failed their exams and woulde out as the lowest in the ranks.


    Her appearance might be exceptionally beautiful, way better than the campus belles from the other grades and sections, but Su Xiaofei didn''t have an outstanding and lovable personality at all. She was nothing but a flower vase in their opinion.


    ''What''s the point of being beautiful when you''re brainless.'' They all said behind Su Xiaofei''s back.


    In her past life, these kinds of opinions and impressions towards Su Xiaofei only worsened when Ye Mingyu arrived. They were both daughters of the Su family, but their personalities and attitudes wereplete opposites.


    "Aiya, it''s the first day of ss. Do you think Su Xiaofei woulde today, or would she skip sses again? I really don''t know what kind of misfortune we have to end up in the same ss as her." Feng Xue''er muttered beside her friend.


    She and Su Xiaofei never really got along since day one. Feng Xue''er didn''t like how carefree Su Xiaofei was, spending her moneyvishly, bragging about her status in front of everyone.


    The moment Su Xiaofei and Xi Qian entered their ssroom, their ssmates fell silent and stared at them. There was something different about Su Xiaofei today. It was as if the person who came in was Su Xiaofei, but not her at the same time.


    There was an air of elegance and confidence around Su Xiaofei, something they had never seen before in her. Even Feng Xue''er was stunned in ce upon seeing Su Xiaofei entering with Xi Qian.


    Her face was still the same, yet there was a hint of coldness and sharpness in her eyes, making her look charming and dangerous at the same time. With her chin slightly raised, it was easy for everyone to see her face and eyes that were like the bottom of ake that housed a dangerous beast, waiting to be unleashed.


    Song Yiran, who was seated next to Feng Xue''er, couldn''t help but exim.


    "ssmate Su is exceptionally beautiful today."


    Earning such apliment from one of the heartthrobs of their campus, the girls threw Su Xiaofei a scathing look which she ignoredpletely, while Xi Qian raised her brows daring them to utter a word, but there was none.


    Su Xiaofei ced her bag on top of her desk and took a seat, ignoring the stares she was receiving at the moment. With Xi Qian seated in front of her, she didn''t feel lonely in this room full of idiots.


    Xi Qian sighed inwardly. She supposed she should be used to all of this by now. Of course, like everyone else inside this room, she was also puzzled in her heart. It was like, since their Feifei had woken up in the hospital after Xi Qian''s birthday, she had be a totally different person.


    Su Xiaofei''s temperament and attitude had changed a lot. She had said that she had changed because she recently had a change of heart towards Mo Yuchen, and wanted to live by her rules this time.


    "Su Xiaofei, I heard you got hospitalized for drinking too much alcohol. Looks like it damaged your brain, huh?" Feng Xue''er couldn''t stand seeing Su Xiaofei like this.


    Such words were obviously thrown to make Su Xiaofei feel embarrassed, hoping that she wouldsh out in a fit of anger. It was just too bad that the young viiness didn''t fall for such a simple trick.


    "Thanking ssmate Feng for her concern, but this one didn''t get hospitalized because of that. I hope, as a daughter of a prestigious family, you don''t go around ndering someone''s name."


    Su Xiaofei only gave her a look and returned to fiddling with the screen of her phone. Dare to humiliate her again to make themselves feel good? Then they should be ready to face the retaliation of this viiness!


    "That''s right. Who told you that Feifei got hospitalized because of alcohol? She was hospitalized after saving me from a molester! Get your facts straight before you use people of something, Feng Xue''er!"


    Xi Qian didn''t want to lie, but she also believed that she was partly responsible for why Su Xiaofei was rushed to the hospital that evening. If Su Xiaofei hadn''t forced herself to the limit to protect her, she wouldn''t end up unconscious at the hospital for three whole days.


    Feng Xue''er was stunned and everyone inside the room, except Xi Qian, was also surprised by Su Xiaofei''s answer. Perhaps they didn''t expect that Su Xiaofei would ignore Feng Xue''er''s provocation like this. Who hadn''t heard about how these two young misses from two different families don''t get along?


    Feng Xue''er found Su Xiaofei''s presence as an eyesore and obviously, she couldn''t ept being told to back off by her and learn manners.


    "Since you have recovered, then you wouldn''t have any excuses for not finishing your homework in time, right? You can''t possibly force poor Xi Qian to do all your homework again." She taunted Su Xiaofei.


    By now, Xi Qian was seething in anger. She couldn''t understand why they were ganging up on Su Xiaofei like this. While it''s true that Feifei had gone overboard in unting her wealth before, so what? It was the Su family''s money she was spending and not theirs!


    She looked around at them, and realized that no one wanted to speak up for Su Xiaofei except her. Years ago, when she first met Su Xiaofei, it was the same. Su Xiaofei didn''t have any friends and her peers always criticized her for being an attention seeker, just because she had a prettier face than every one of them.


    "Hey, now, don''t be rude to ssmate Su. Who knows, she might have really forgotten to do it this time." The one who spoke was named Yang Jing.. In Su Xiaofei''s past life, he was one of Ye Mingyu''s admirers.

 Chapter 62 - Not So Innocent (2)

    <h4>Chapter 62 - Not So Innocent (2)</h4>


    The rest of the ssroomughed along with him. Yang Jing gave Su Xiaofei a good look before shaking his head. This made everyone look at Su Xiaofei with a mocking stare, as if they wanted to persecute her for sullying their day with her presence.


    This idiot. Su Xiaofei rose a slender brow at Yang Jing. He had fallen in love with Ye Mingyu and chased after her in the past. When he found out that Su Xiaofei was Ye Mingyu''s younger half-sister, Yang Jing felt dissatisfied with it. He thought that Ye Mingyu being rted to Su Xiaofei was bad luck.


    In her past life, Yang Jing, along with Feng Xue''er, took turns to insult her, forcing her to make a fool out of herself. They instigated Su Xiaofei to snap out of anger and painted her as a foolish woman who refused to get along with her ssmates, always starting discord and disharmony in their ss.


    She had gotten used to being forced into the same scenario as this before. She was despised, insulted andughed at, if not for Xi Qian being with her, she would be totally outcast by everyone by now.


    However, being able to live two lifetimes and having endured humiliations worse than this in her past life, this was nothing to Su Xiaofei now. Knowing how these people ended up in her past life made her satisfied and happy at the same time, even though she wasn''t the one who delivered the fatal blow to these people.


    After her death, Lu Qingfeng had obviouslye after those people who tormented her when she was still alive. He instigated a scene where he exposed Feng Xue''er for stealing designs from younger designers and copied a design from a world renowned fashion designer.


    Even if it wasn''t true, Feng Xue''er''s name crumbled along with Ye Mingyu, forcing her out of the fashion industry. Lu Qingfeng, the tyrant, had made sure that none of them would be able to recover from it.


    As for Yang Jing, well¡­ his fate was no better. He was the oldest son of the esteemed Yang family, however, in a few years, his family would face a corruption case, sued by the government.


    Because of this, their wealth and their properties were all confiscated and Yang Jing was forced to live as amoner with no survival skills to utilize. He was born with a golden spoon in his mouth and had never tasted bitterness his whole life, so he couldn''t bear to ept that he didn''t have anything to unt anymore and refused to ept his fate, which led him tomit suicide.


    Su Xiaofei only gave Yang Jing a pointed look that made him feel a shiver run down his spine from the coldness of it. They all forced her to take the viiness role to make themselves feel good and look better, but they were not so innocent in the first ce.


    They were the one who instigated disharmony to others, forcing them to pounce on her as if she deserved all the insults and persecuted her as the distasteful viiness. Ye Mingyu had cunningly used the people around them toe forward and attack her, while keeping her reputation unmarred by letting other people ruin Su Xiaofei''s reputation for herself.


    "ssmate Feng, ssmate Yang, I don''t see why you like poking your noses in someone else''s business? Don''t tell me that you are now the teacher''s pet that needed to make sure everyone had done their homework before their arrival?"


    To say such a thing in front of everyone, it was normal that Yang Jing and Feng Xue''er would feel humiliated. Would that mean that the reason that they were getting good grades recently was because they were trying to please their teachers like this?


    "Su Xiaofei! Don''t go overboard!" Feng Xue''er could contain her anger anymore and pointed her forefinger towards Su Xiaofei while Yang Jing had a conflicted expression on his face.


    "Eh? You can talk bullshit, but I can''t do the same? Feng Xue''er, do you think so lowly of us that you expect us to bow down in your presence? Since when do you and Yang Jing call the shots in this ssroom?"


    This time, Su Xiaofei dragged everyone into the issue. If Feng Xue''er thought that she wasn''t capable of making everyone turn against her, she was gravely mistaken. Their ssmates weren''tmoners. All of them came from wealthy and prestigious families themselves, they were prideful and pompous young masters and misses, and what they hated the most was being used or manipted by someone.


    They all turned their attention to Feng Xue''er and Yang Jing and gave them a suspicious look. Now that they thought about it, Feng Xue''er and Yang Jing had been acting arrogantly towards them these days, forcing them to agree with them.


    "Did they really think they are above us?" One of them whispered, but loud enough for Feng Xue''er to hear.


    "Indeed, Feng Xue''er and Yang Jing have been using us all these time. Remember the time Feng Xue''er held a party? She''s the one who orchestrated it, but she''s the one who contributed the least."


    Someone tsked and shook their heads. Now that Su Xiaofei mentioned it, indeed, Feng Xue''er and Yang Jing were going overboard for sometime now.


    "Feng Xue''er kept targeting Su Xiaofei, but thinking about it, Su Xiaofei hadn''t really done anything to offend her."


    "What? You didn''t know? Su Xiaofei''s family owns an entertainment agency, while Feng Xue''er was just a daughter of an official."


    "T-that''s not what I mean¡­" Feng Xue''er hadn''t expected that she would be the one who ended up being scrutinized by everyone today. She broke into a cold sweat realizing that Su Xiaofei had managed to turn the table against her. However, she had no idea that this was just the start of Su Xiaofei''s revenge towards her.


    ''Yes, Feng Xue''er, how does it feel being scrutinized and looked down on by everyone?''

 Chapter 63 - Campus Belle (1)

    <h4>Chapter 63 - Campus Belle (1)</h4>


    "You...." Feng Xue''er red daggers at Su Xiaofei and was about to reprimand her for even daring to talk back, but she was startled by the look Su Xiaofei had. Su Xiaofei was staring at her with cold, indifferent eyes.


    She stared at this young woman in disbelief and shuddered involuntarily. Since when did Su Xiaofei manage to instill fear in others like this? Feng Xue''er felt like she was looking to a different person today.


    However, from Su Xiaofei''s perspective, this wasn''t even enough to repay the things they had done to her in her past life. There would be no such thing as being merciful this time.


    Since they had forced her to take on the viiness role, she would willingly y it, albeit, not the kind of viiness that would make the female lead shine, but one who would make them realize what despair and helplessness felt like.


    Seeing that they had enough drama for today, the students ignored Su Xiaofei and asionally threw using nces in Feng Xue''er''s way, while others looked at Su Xiaofei with mixed reactions. Some were surprised to see her looking different in a good way today, while most of them were reminded of how beautiful this Su Xiaofei was.


    With a pair of clear dark eyes, straight nose, rosy pink lips and a fair skin, it''s no wonder Su Xiaofei was hailed as one of the most beautiful campus belles in their academy. Moreover, with the usual air of arrogance gone, reced with indifference and elegance, it was hard not to notice Su Xiaofei at all.


    Song Yiran came and took a seat in the vacant spot on Su Xiaofei''s right, which surprised everyone. They all knew that Song Yiran was friendly to everyone, but it was rare for him to seek other''s forpany or strike a conversation willingly.


    "You look different." He voiced out everyone''s thoughts to Su Xiaofei. "What did you do?"


    This time, Su Xiaofei gave him a genuine smile, putting everyone in a trance, mesmerizing them with her smile. Indeed, there was something different about this arrogant girl today, they all thought.


    "Nothing much. I just figured out some things and set my priorities straight. One can''t remain foolish forever, right?"


    "That''s right. As long as you figured it out and acknowledged your mistakes, one can surely change for the better." Song Yiran said after he recovered from the shock of receiving one of Su Xiaofei''s rare smiles.


    This scene caused several girls to grit their teeth as they looked at Su Xiaofei with envy and hatred. Who cares if she truly changed? Su Xiaofei was still a flower vase without a brain, and her arrogance was still sky-high!


    Putting all that aside, everyone knew that hardly anyone could rival Su Xiaofei when ites to her beauty, but all of that would change once Ye Mingyu came into the scene, which Su Xiaofei was looking forward to.


    The bell rang, indicating that the ss was about to start. As soon as the teacher walked in, the crowd dispersed and the students went back to their assigned seats while Feng Xue''er still had a very awful look on her face.


    She couldn''t understand what just happened and why Su Xiaofei had suddenly grown a backbone to talk back to her. Previously, Su Xiaofei would be the one to lose her cool first and wouldsh out on her, but today Su Xiaofei was different.


    Not only did Su Xiaofei turn the tables in her favor, but she also made everyone aware of Feng Xu''er''s ws.


    Although the ss had started, many of their ssmates were still thinking about themotion earlier. Although they didn''t like Su Xiaofei, it also could be said that they weren''t fond of Feng Xue''er either, as she always flirted with boys.


    It wasn''t the first time that Feng Xue''er had tried to humiliate Su Xiaofei anyway, but it was indeed the first time they witnessed Su Xiaofei being able to keep her cool and not allow the other woman to provoke her and to make a fool out of her.


    While their teacher was writing on the board, the students behind her were busy fiddling with their phones beneath their tables as they continued their gossip in their chat rooms.


    Seeing themotion around him, Song Yiran hummed and shot a nce at Su Xiaofei, who was oddly taking notes this time, her attention focused on their lesson. He had to admit that this sudden change in Su Xiaofei had caught him off guard, but this change wasn''t unweed at all.


    Back then, Su Xiaofei was easily provoked by their ssmates, forcing her to say vulgar words not appropriate to a young woman in her standing. However, now, she has be a changed person who knew how to shut her enemies down without breaking a sweat.


    While everyone was busy with their gossip online, Su Xiaofei glued her attention to her notes and read her book at the same time. She had asked Lu Qingfeng for some tips on how she could improve her grades, so she could enter a prestigious university in the future.


    Lu Qingfeng stared at her for a moment before answering her. He must have been shocked to receive such a question from her.


    "Take notes and organize it by lessons. If there''s something you cannot understand, mark that part so Xi Qian and I will be able to help youter." He said, eyeing her suspiciously.


    So now, Su Xiaofei has decided to do better this time. She wasn''t doing this only for herself, but also for Yun Qingrong.


    In her previous life, since she was scouted by an agent to join the showbiz industry at the same time with Ye Mingyu, her grades were far from excellent because she was always caught up with her training.


    Now that she looked at her notes, the things that she found hard andplex in the past looked simpler now with Lu Qingfeng''s help.

 Chapter 64 - Campus Belle (2)

    <h4>Chapter 64 - Campus Belle (2)</h4>


    It was finally recess and the second the teacher stepped out of the ssroom, Su Xiaofei felt her hand a little numb from all the writings she''d done earlier. s, she knew that if she really wanted toplete her education this time, something like this should be endured by her.


    "Qian, my hand hurts." Still, sheined to her best friend.


    "Ah, you shouldn''t put a lot of pressure on your pen when writing, Feifei." Xi Qian then took Su Xiaofei''s pen and demonstrated the proper way of holding it when writing.


    "Hold it like this, Feifei. One of the causes of hand pain is that you''re writing only with your fingers. Therefore, your wrist is moving a lot, which causes it to hurt. Try to keep your wrist and hand still and write using your elbow and your shoulder. Your whole arm should be moving.


    You should also pay attention to your hand position. Your wrist shouldn''t bend like this."


    Su Xiaofei watched in awe as her best friend wrote a few words neatly on a piece of paper. No wonder Xi Qian had a good handwritingpared to hers.


    "Now, try it." Xi Qian passed her pen and gestured to Su Xiaofei to copy the words she had written.


    Su Xiaofei imitated the way Xi Qian held her pen earlier and noticed that the strokes were easier to writepared to how she used to do it. When she started to write with her arm moving, she realized that the pressure on her wrist had lessened.


    "See? Your penmanship looks better now. You only need to practice more. Later, when we aren''t busy, I''ll teach you hand massages. It would relieve the pain somehow." Xi Qian smiled at her.


    At that moment, Song Yiran appeared next to Su Xiaofei again with his usual friends tagging along with him.


    "Hey, ssmate Su, ssmate Xi, wanna join us for lunch today? My treat." He smiled brightly at Su Xiaofei, but she was already immune to this kind of charm.


    As a woman who was living her second lifetime, how can she easily fall for such tricks? She was unlike these young teenagers who hadn''t had enough experience yet in this life. It wasn''t like she disliked Song Yiran, but she somehow pitied him, knowing how he ended up in her previous life.


    Song Yiran was the second young master of the Song family. When he was merely ten years old and his older brother eighteen, their father was killed in an ident at a high-rise building theirpany was building, thus forcing his elder brother to get along with their uncle to run their family business together.


    A few years from now, Song Yiran would try to assist his older brother to regain the absolute control of theirpany by inviting new foreign investors, only to be schemed by his uncle again and killed in an assassination plot during his stay abroad.


    This caused his older brother to plummet into depression, which their uncle took advantage of, effectively kicking him out of thepany.


    "Thank you for the offer, but I will pass. I already have lunch prepared for me today." Su Xiaofei politely declined Song Yiran''s invitation, tidied up her desk before inviting Xi Qian to step out and wait for Lu Qingfeng.


    When they stepped out, they were just in time to see Lu Qingfeng waiting for them in the hallway, ignoring the way other high school students ogled at him.


    "Ah, Xiao Feng. You are just in time. I''m starving. Did you bring our lunch?"


    Lu Qingfeng raised a hand, showing her a bag that contained their lunchboxes.


    Su Xiaofei beamed at him, smiled and stood next to him, while Xi Qian kept a safe distance from the little tyrant.


    "ssmate Su, are you sure?" Song Yiran''s question stopped the three from leaving.


    Lu Qingfeng shot him a cold look while Xi Qian sighed inwardly at the scene. It had always been like this. Despite Feifei being one of the most beautiful students in the academy, no one tried to chase or court her. It wasn''t just because she was already engaged with Mo Yuchen, but also because this little tyrant was just too intimidating, forbidding any men to get close to Feifei.


    Su Xiaofei gave Song Yiran a curious look before smiling.


    "No, thank you, ssmate Song. I would rather eat home cooked meals than eat something from the cafeteria." She said, before hooking her arm with Lu Qingfeng and dragged him away with Xi Qian in tow.


    Since she and Lu Qingfeng found out about the cold poison, they agreed that it would be safe if they brought lunch boxes with them rather than buying food at the cafeteria. Thankfully, Aunty Liu was more than happy to make their lunch, when Su Xiaofei requested it from the old woman.


    Su Xiaofei wasn''t certain about when Ye Mingyu had started feeding her the cold poison, so she could only avoid being poisoned by her in this lifetime by taking precautionary measures.


    The three took a seat under arge tree that had benches and small tables that students like them could use. Su Xiaofei fished out the three lunchboxes from the bag Lu Qingfeng bought with him and passed them their shares.


    Today, Lu Qingfeng was to bring them their lunchboxes because Su Xiaofei had already left the Su Residence, now the Yun Mansion, even before Aunty Liu finished preparing them. Su Xiaofei was the one to give Xi Qian a ride to school, so she needed to leave home early for her to be able to pick up Xi Qian and arrive at school on time.


    Su Xiaofei opened her lunchbox and immediately, her mouth watered at the sight of what''s in it.. At the top tier of her lunchbox, there were fruit slices neatly ced inside, the middle one had savory pork ribs with vegetables and the bottom had her rice and omelette she requested from Aunty Liu earlier that morning.

 Chapter 65 - Ye Mingyus Arrival (1)

    <h4>Chapter 65 - Ye Mingyu''s Arrival (1)</h4>


    Su Xiaofei didn''t wait for her friends and dug in on her lunch, while Lu Qingfeng could only shake his head and follow her lead.


    Meanwhile, Xi Qian felt conflicted if she should eat the lunch Aunty Liu made for her. While it''s true that she always spent her lunchtime with these two, this was the first time that they were eating a home cooked meal, instead of buying something at the cafeteria.


    As she nced at Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng''s lunchboxes, she noticed that the old woman really exerted some effort to give them good food. Not only were they visually appetizing, but it was more bnced and nutritiouspared to what they would get from the cafeteria.


    "Qian, what''s wrong?" Su Xiaofei asked when she noticed that her best friend wasn''t eating along with them. "Is the food not to your liking? Try the pork ribs, it''s really delicious."


    "But¡­" Xi Qian still hesitated. She didn''t want to cause trouble to anyone, especially to Su Xiaofei, but she also understood why Feifei was kind to her. If their position had been reversed, Xi Qian knew that she would have done the same and would try to lessen the burden her best friend had.


    s¡­ it was truly hard to swallow one''s pride and ept help, especially for someone like Xi Qian.


    "Aunty Liu specifically made this meal with you in her mind. She said that she was worried about you not having enough nourishment. Just the other day, she mentioned that she''d seen you putting a band-aid on your knuckles. If you are feeling guilty, you don''t need to, but you shouldn''t waste Aunty Liu''s efforts."


    Su Xiaofei stopped eating midway to stare at Lu Qingfeng nkly.


    "What?" Lu Qingfeng asked when he noticed her staring at him. "Fell in love with my handsome face? It''s never toote to confess now."


    "Wow, Xiao Feng. This is the first time I heard you speak more than ten words at the same time." She said with augh, earning a re from the young man. Her attention then shifted to her best friend, who was still staring at her unopened lunchbox.


    "It''s okay, Qian. Look at Xiao Feng. He''s been staying at our home and eating our food even though he has a home to return to and can afford to make his own food." Su Xiaofei shook her head. "So don''t worry and eat the lunch that Auntie Liu made for us. She''ll be happy if she knows that you''ve finished your food."


    "You could have just told me if you don''t like me staying in your house. Do you really have topare me to Xi Qian?" Lu Qingfengined to her.


    "What? It''s been days, but you have yet to return home. Might as well move into our house if you aren''t nning to leave." Su Xiaofei eyed him, before cing a piece of savory meat on her mouth.


    Xi Qian sighed and rubbed her temples. These two really forget that there''s people around them when they start to argue.


    "Fine. If you put it that way, how can I leave this meal to waste?" Xi Qian conceded and decided to eat her share. At least she didn''t have to worry about her expenses for lunch and could spend it on her dinnerter instead. With the meager sry she was receiving every month, she needed to control her spendings, which meant cost cutting wherever she could - mostly her meals.


    Su Xiaofei smiled to herself and continued eating. She would enjoy these peaceful days along with Lu Qingfeng and Xi Qian because in three days, Ye Mingyu would appear again and would try her best to ruin her life.


    Thinking about it, she would let fate take its course and lead Ye Mingyu to befriend Feng Xue''er. Once the two had a deeper understanding, she would set up an encounter between Ye Mingyu and Cai Lin.


    Cai Lin was a popr basketball varsity yer in their academy and in Su Xiaofei''s past life, Cai Lin was one of Ye Mingyu''s white knights, always ready toe to her aid whenever Cindere was being terrorized by her evil stepsister. He was one of the reasons why Su Xiaofei was rejected on several auditions and brand endorsement considerations, because he was the one pulling the strings in favor of Ye Mingyu.


    Unbeknownst to Feng Xue''er, her fianc¨¦''s admiration towards Ye Mingyu was borderline obsession, that if Su Xiaofei hadn''t witnessed herself how this man confessed his undying love towards Ye Mingyu a week before his wedding with Feng Xue''er, Su Xiaofei wouldn''t be aware of it.


    Ye Mingyu rejected him, though, saying that they shouldn''t let Feng Xue''er know of what they talked about that day, as it would only upset her. Seeing how loyal and considerate Ye Mingyu was towards her best friend, Cai Lin fell even harder, despite already being head over heels for her.


    ''Right. I should do that. I should let Ye Mingyu and Feng Xue''er deepen their friendship before destroying it. The pain of betrayaling from the person closest to you hurts the most after all.'' Su Xiaofei thought.


    Su Xiaofei would never forget what those pair of friends had done to her in her past life, constantly making a fool out of her, ruining her reputation every chance that they got.


    With Feng Xue''er''s flourishing career as a designer, it was very easy for her to tarnish Su Xiaofei''s name in front of her highly-valued customers while praising Ye Mingyu''s beauty and benevolence to the heavens.


    ''I wonder if their cheap friendship can endure the strong gust of betrayal once it happens.'' Su Xiaofei smiled to herself, pleased that she would have a chance to force the two women to go against each other.


    Compared to those two women, Su Xiaofei was thankful that Xi Qian was good to her despite her unpleasant personality.. Xi Qian might not be fully aware of how scheming she could be, unlike Lu Qingfeng, but it didn''t matter.

 Chapter 66 - Ye Mingyus Arrival (2)

    <h4>Chapter 66 - Ye Mingyu''s Arrival (2)</h4>


    And just like that, three days had passed and the peaceful days Su Xiaofei was enjoying had finallye to an end. The news about a new beautiful transfer student had filled the hallways, spreading like wildfire among the students in the academy.


    While everyone was curious as to who it was and how she looked, only Su Xiaofei and Xi Qian weren''t bothered about it and were currently reviewing the lesson they had yesterday. Xi Qian was helping Su Xiaofei organize her notes forter use.


    "Ah, that makes a lot of sense, Qian. I didn''t know it was this easy." Su Xiaofei said once she got the gist on how to use the equation in their math problems clearly with her best friend''s help.


    Xi Qian smiled, d that she was able to help Su Xiaofei.


    "See. If you set aside yourints first and listen to our exnation, you wouldn''t fail your exams before." She said with a teasing smile to her best friend.


    Su Xiaofei huffed and rolled her eyes. Xi Qian and Lu Qingfeng really knew which buttons to press to annoy her.


    Someone opened the windows inside the ssroom, allowing the breeze to cool everyone inside. It was already afternoon, but the air was extremely refreshing for students who enjoyed the spring while others up north of the country were now trembling with freezing cold due to winter.


    Theughter of the other students outside reached Su Xiaofei and Xi Qian''s ears, taking their attention away from the lessons they were discussing. It seemed like there was a crowd outside as it was unusually noisy for them not to notice.


    "Is that the new transfer student? She looks charming." One of their ssmatesmented, upon seeing what caused themotion outside.


    While Xi Qian was curious about the new transfer student, Su Xiaofei remained unperturbed in her seat. She didn''t need to see to confirm who it was, as she already knew that no other person can attract such a crowd with her mere face, except for Ye Mingyu.


    "Wondering what my new Jiejie looks like, Qian? You should go and see the girl who dared to scam my motherst week for yourself." Su Xiaofei gave her best friend a meaningful smile.


    Xi Qian was stunned in ce before recognition dawned on her. Did Su Xiaofei mean that the new transfer student was her father''s love child with another woman, the very same one who came to see them before?


    Without a word, Xi Qian went to the windows a few meters away from their ssmates to see the young woman who imed to be their Feifei''s older sister. Her eyes caught a young woman, supposedly around the same age as her and Feifei.


    The young woman was like a flower on a spring day, fresh and gentle to look at. She had a smile that could easily warm one''s heart upon looking at it. Compared to Su Xiaofei''s foxy clear eyes, the woman called Ye Mingyu had a pair of round eyes, high nose and rosy lips.


    Herplexion was a little darker than Su Xiaofei, but Xi Qian had to admit that Ye Mingyu''s beauty was worthy of her sudden poprity among the students. To be honest, she looked angelic and kind. Something that evokes overprotectiveness in young men who might get acquainted with her.


    However, there was something about Ye Mingyu that she couldn''t exin. Ye Mingyu was smiling brightly, but why did Xi Qian feel like all of this was just a facade? That Ye Mingyu was befriending everyone for a reason.


    It''s not like she was being biased because Su Xiaofei was her best friend, but when she heard about the news of her Aunty Qing divorcing her husband, she asked Su Xiaofei about it and found out about Ye Mingyu''s existence.


    It made sense to her now why Su Xiaofei chased the mother and daughter away. Xi Qian might not be a daughter from a wealthy family like Feifei, but she was aware of themon schemes that could happen in such families.


    Xi Qian returned to her seat and remained silent. She eyed her best friend and noticed that Su Xiaofei wasn''t bothered with Ye Mingyu''s sudden appearance at their academy. Xi Qian feared that with Ye Mingyu''s appearance, Feifei would be forcibly isted and hated by everyone again.


    "So, what do you think, Qian?" Su Xiaofei asked her, cupping her chin with one hand as shezily thought about what she should eat after school.


    "I don''t know, Feifei, but I feel ufortable looking at her. Something about her made me feel like I should stay away from her or else, I might be public enemy number 2 after you." Xi Qian didn''t dare to lie to her best friend.


    Su Xiaofei chuckled at that. If Xi Qian, the person who she knew was the kindest even to the extent to feed the stray cats her own food, could sense Ye Mingyu was trouble, how did Su Xiaofei fail to realize it in her previous life?


    "Feifei, you better be wary of that woman!" Xi Qian leaned forward to whisper to her. "Who knows what she is up to this time. If she revealed her rtionship with you, I fear that our schoolmates would criticize you for not looking after your sister."


    "She''s not my sister. At least for me." Su Xiaofei said nonchntly. "But thank you, Qian. I will make sure not to take advantage of her. Since she was the one who willingly came here, I suppose that she would try to get along with me."


    Su Xiaofei then scoffed inwardly as she thought of how Su Haoran had already left their home and her mother had already sent to him the divorce papers, but he still refused to sign them.


    ''Perhaps I need to threaten the old man to give up on my mother.'' She thought.. She needed to find something that she could use to ckmail her useless father.

 Chapter 67 - The Waiting Game (1)

    <h4>Chapter 67 - The Waiting Game (1)</h4>


    Things were progressing ording to Su Xiaofei''s expectations. With Ye Mingyu''s growing poprity and closeness towards Feng Xue''er, the rumors that she and Ye Mingyu started to circte around.


    She was aware of the worried look Xi Qian was throwing her way, but Su Xiaofei remained calm and collected, never indicating that she was bothered by the rumors about her. Even Lu Qingfeng was eyeing her suspiciously, waiting to see what she would do, but she remained impassive and uncaring about the rumors about her.


    They say that even though she and Ye Mingyu were sisters, Su Xiaofei was giving her older sister a hard time instigating a fight between her parents, pushing the me on Ye Mingyu and her sick mother.


    "Feifei, are you sure you aren''t going to clear the rumors? It''s going to get out of hand if this persisted." Xi Qian asked her once.


    "You worry too much, Qian. Isn''t that what Ye Mingyu expected me to do? She wants to y a game with me, but I am not willing."


    No one had dared to question or ask her opinion about it anyway, although Feng Xue''er was asionally giving her a mocking look, as if she couldn''t wait for her to snap and confront Ye Mingyu herself.


    In the past, Su Xiaofei has confronted those people who spread those rumors and had verbally abused Ye Mingyu without giving her a chance to exin. This only gave Ye Mingyu an advantage over her.


    With Ye Mingyu''s subtle coquettish attitude and charming face, she easily became a campus belle of Qiying City Academy as soon as she entered school. Unlike Su Xiaofei, Ye Mingyu didn''t have an outstanding family background, so she usually wore ordinary clothes in contrast to Su Xiaofeivish and expensive outfits.


    QCA was a ce filled with rich people, yet Ye Mingyu depended on her pretty face and sweet-talking skills to be worshiped by numerous guys as a goddess, which only gained the ire of some girls in the academy.


    Unlike Su Xiaofei''s reserved and cold attitude towards the opposite sex, Ye Mingyu could be said to be extremely close to guys. In fact, she could easily earn their favor, manipting them to spend money on her while still maintaining an ambiguous rtionship with them. This was why she was able to stay at the academy and use it as a stepping stone to pursue a degree inmunication arts.


    Too bad for them, Su Xiaofei was aware of their intention this time, so she tantly ignored their attempts to annoy her. Hey, it was already hard for her looking at their ugly faces each day, alright. It was only a matter of time before Ye Mingyu ran out of patience and sought her herself.


    ''Let''s see how long you''d be able to wait this time.'' Su Xiaofei chuckled darkly. Ye Mingyu would be seeking death this time if she chose to confront Su Xiaofei about it herself.


    The waiting game was on, and Su Xiaofei knew that the first one to make a move would have the higher disadvantage. If she didn''t make a move now, Ye Mingyu wouldn''t be able to take it and would be forced toe meet her the first chance she could.


    While Ye Mingyu and Feng Xue''er were both wondering why Su Xiaofei hadn''t thrown a fit yet, Su Xiaofei had chosen to focus on her studies with Xi Qian. The more Su Xiaofei ignored her presence, the more Ye Mingyu would be agitated and restless.


    Just thinking about how easily Ye Mingyu had manipted her in the past, Su Xiaofei couldn''t wait to allow the other woman to experience the bitter taste of her own medicine.


    "Su Xiaofei." A familiar voice called her name.


    Su Xiaofei was busy scribbling her notes with her airpods in her ears. She lifted her face and saw Feng Xue''er standing in front of her. She sighed before removing the earpieces to hear what this young woman had to say.


    "Is there something you need from me, ssmate Feng?" She looked at Feng Xu''er with annoyance in her face.


    This reaction was a bit strange for Feng Xue''er who was already used to engaging in verbal wars with this stupid viiness. Su Xiaofei was looking at her with a sense of boredom and scrutinizing her in a weird way.


    "Aren''t you going to exin to us?" Feng Xue''er demanded, wanting to start another fight with Su Xiaofei again.


    At her question, Feng Xue''er naturally attracted everyone''s attention and wondered if Su Xiaofei would take the bait this time.


    Su Xiaofei looked at Feng Xue''er with the shadow of a smile, taunting the girl in her mind for being so foolish and impatient. Ye Mingyu probably instigated Feng Xue''er to test the waters in her stead.


    ''Foolish girl. You don''t even realize that Ye Mingyu is taking advantage of you.'' She thought.


    "Exin what? Who would be so foolish to air their dirtyundry in public?" She said in response to Feng Xue''er''s question.


    Feng Xue''er was stunned at that. Neither her nor their ssmates were expecting to hear such wordsing from Su Xiaofei herself. However, didn''t this mean that Su Xiaofei was saying Ye Mingyu was being stupid for even bringing up their family matters in public?


    "Unless you want to tell me yours, you don''t have the right to poke into someone else''s business, ssmate Feng," Su Xiaofei sighed dejectedly.


    However, how could Feng Xue''er back down without a fight? her pride wouldn''t allow herself to get beaten by this arrogant and pompous heiress in front of her. From the moment she met Su Xiaofei, she disliked this young woman.


    "Ye Mingyu is now my friend, of course, I am willing to help her lessen her burdens!" She eximed.


    "Oh, did she tell you then that she and her mother have been living in one of my mother''s properties for years without my mother''s knowledge?" Su Xiaofei questioned her with a hint of sarcasm in her voice.

 Chapter 68 - The Waiting Game (2)

    <h4>Chapter 68 - The Waiting Game (2)</h4>


    "W-what?" Feng Xue''er stared at her with wide eyes.


    "She and her mother have been living in my mother''s property at Yangsu City for over a decade now. Even now, after my mother has kicked out my father from our home, he is staying in that very same house with Ye Mingyu and her mother. It''s understandable that she might not know that the house she''d been living in since childhood is my mother''s, but the fact that she knew that our father is still married to my mom but is still exploiting her resources, what should I call her and her mother?" Su Xiaofei questioned her.


    Feng Xue''er had no words to refute Su Xiaofei''s ims, as she had no idea of Ye Mingyu''s living arrangements nor did her friend exin these things to her.


    "Since you are forcing me to disclose the truth, I already made it clear to her and her mother that all the properties belonging to our family are under my mother''s name, Yun Qingrong. Who is she to cry for fairness when she and her mother didn''t have a single right to my mother''s wealth? Did she and her mother forget that it wasn''t my mother who made her, but our father? If she wanted to cry for fairness and financial support, then clearly she''s barking up the wrong tree."


    Obviously, Ye Mingyu didn''t disclose this information to her new friend. Feng Xue''er was rendered speechless, while the others gasped after finding out that Ye Mingyu''s mother was a mistress.


    As their ssmates pondered on it, they were all taken aback right away.


    There was a great deal of information in Su Xiaofei''s words!


    As children from rich families, how could they not understand what she was implying? An appearance of a love child, out of the blue, would mean anotherpetition in inheritance. Amongst them, who would want to wee another child of unknown origin?


    At one side, Ye Mingyu was iming that Su Xiaofei and her mother were being unfair towards her for being her father''s daughter, that she was conceived even before her father married Su Xiaofei''s mother. She imed that when Su Xiaofei found out about her existence, thetter had thrown a fit and told their servants to drag her and her mother out of their estate.


    But then Su Xiaofei said that it was Ye Mingyu and her mother who had taken advantage of her family''s resources for years! Ye Mingyu might have been conceived before the marriage, but the fact that she and her mother lived with their father secretly on one of Su Xiaofei''s properties was such a great disrespect for the legal wife!


    Such shamelessness! If they were in Su Xiaofei''s shoes, they might have done the same thing she did or worse, ruined those shameless pair of mother and daughter foxes in public!


    These pompous young masters and young misses, who have yet to understand and experience the real world, wore a disgusted look on their faces.


    "Ye Mingyu looks like an angel, but I would have never thought she has such aplicated background."


    "Whatplicated background? She knew that her mother was a mistress all along, but she''s the one who ims unfairness by Su Xiaofei and her mother. I would say, like mother, like daughter. I wouldn''t be surprised if she hooks up with a taken man in the future, just like her mother."


    Su Xiaofei looked at Feng Xue''er''s agitated and confused expression. If she was still her past self, she would definitely be victimized by Feng Xue''er and Ye Mingyu''s malicious words and usations.


    ''Ye Mingyu, your impatience will cause your second loss today.''


    Ye Mingyu had used Feng Xue''er to attack her this time, not knowing that this would be the cause of a strain in their so-called ''tight'' friendship. Not only did she jeopardize her friendship with Feng Xue''er, but she also gave Su Xiaofei an opening to turn the tides against her by revealing Ye Xing''s identity as the third party in her parents'' marriage.


    "Su Xiaofei, don''t simply say such nonsense!" Feng Xue''er eximed.


    "Oh? But I wasn''t the one who started this, was I? You were the one who came here, demanding for an exnation from me even though I owe you nothing. I answered your question, what else do you want to hear from me? Indeed, Ye Mingyu''s mother has cancer, but what does it have to do with me and my mother? Why do we need to be persecuted for denying a request of a mistress who made a fool out of my mother for years?"


    When she saw that Feng Xue''er couldn''t answer her and had an awful look on her face, Su Xiaofei continued.


    "Aren''t you too full of yourself, ssmate Feng? Whatever problems and issues my family is facing right now, it has nothing to do with you. Sure, you can criticize me all you want, but let''s see if you''ll willingly ept a fox in your own home with open arms if a love child of your father from a mistress appeared out of nowhere."


    Most of them weren''tmoners and were born with a silver spoon in their mouths. Su Xiaofei was even sure that none of them had done any of the menial jobs that Xi Qian had done just to provide for herself.


    What could the appearance of another child mean to their status as young masters and misses? They all know the answer to this question, and Su Xiaofei had no doubt that it could be a bloody fight for some. A child, whether it was an illegitimate child or not, would still be a threat to their position in the family.


    Su Xiaofei looked toward Feng Xue''er again, whose face was now pale as she finally understood the problem with Ye Mingyu''s story.


    "ssmate Feng, it''s not your fault that you don''t know.. I understand that as Ye Mingyu''s friend, you were only concerned about her, but you have to be careful in the future."

 Chapter 69 - The Road To Revenge (1)

    <h4>Chapter 69 - The Road To Revenge (1)</h4>


    After dealing with Feng Xue''er, Su Xiaofei was left deep in her own thoughts for the rest of the day, which left Xi Qian and Lu Qingfeng wondering what turned her gears this time.


    "Hey, now, what are you thinking?" Lu Qingfeng asked as he couldn''t take the silenceing from Su Xiaofei anymore.


    "Ah, I was thinking¡­ I need money. A lot of it." Su Xiaofei then rested her head on top of the table with a worried look on her face.


    "Money? Is Aunty Qing not giving you enough?" Lu Qingfeng was willing to give her his extra money, of course. He wasn''t one to spendvishly on useless things anyway.


    Meanwhile, Xi Qian bit her lower lips. It was natural for her to be upset because money was something she couldn''t give to Su Xiaofei.


    Su Xiaofei harrumphed. If she solely relied on her mother''s resources, she had no doubt she would lose against Mo Yuchen in the future. She still had five years to change her path and avoid bing Mo Yuchen''s bride.


    "No. It''s not enough. I need more." She waved her hand, indicating that it was truly impossible for her to have enough money.


    "How much do you need, Feifei?" Xi Qian asked curiously. "And why would you need a lot more money than you already have now?"


    "I need at least 100 million." Su Xiaofei replied, without batting an eyelid.


    If Xi Qian was drinking at the moment, she would have already spat her drink or would have been choked by it.


    Even Lu Qingfeng, who was born from a wealthy family, was taken aback by the amount of money Su Xiaofei wanted. One hundred million was way more than what he had expected from Su Xiaofei. It was more than enough for someone to start his ownpany.


    Just what did she have in her mind to be needing such a huge amount of money? Lu Qingfeng wondered. It wasn''t like he couldn''t provide her the money she needed, but regardless of who heard Su Xiaofei'' words, they would also be surprised by her revtion.


    "100 million?" Xi Qian didn''t know whether she shouldugh or cry at that. No matter how hard she worked to earn money, she wouldn''t be able to earn that much!


    "I''m thinking of a way to raise my personal worth without relying on my mother." Su Xiaofei exined. "If I start now, I should be able to save enough money for future use."


    "Where are you nning to use that money?" Lu Qingfeng asked, voicing out Xi Qian''s thoughts too.


    "Apany takeover in five years." The coldness that appeared on Su Xiaofei as she said these words was enough to give others not only a shock, but also send a cold shiver down their spines.


    For an eighteen-year-old girl to talk about taking over apany, just what did Su Xiaofei expect to happen in five years?


    The look on Lu Qingfeng''s face suddenly changed. The confusion written all over his face was reced with understanding. To think that Su Xiaofei had already thought about it that far....


    "Whichpany are you nning to take over?" He asked, his eyes as cold as the coldest winter in the world.


    Something like this, Lu Qingfeng wasn''t sure what Su Xiaofei was thinking or nning to do. People wrongly assumed that because he was close to her, he could tell what was going on in her mind, but it wasn''t always the case.


    "Ah, aren''t you nning to be an actress? Didn''t you say you don''t want to seed Aunty Qing at Bluemedia?" He continued to probe.


    "I changed my mind." Su Xiaofei gave him a mischievous smile. "But I surely don''t want my Mama''spany to fall into someone else''s hands. Just as I said, I intend to do apany takeover."


    Lu Qingfeng chuckled, satisfied with her answer. His expression was now one of relief from the unknown tension he was feeling earlier.


    Su Xiaofei briefly wondered if Lu Qingfeng knew something about her future ns, but regardless if he was aware of it or not, Su Xiaofei knew that Lu Qingfeng wouldn''t be the one to stop her, but instead, he would offer her unconditional assistance.


    Su Xiaofei had no doubt about this, but she wouldn''t be needing his help this time, because if there''s someone who should crush Mo Yuchen, it should be her and no one else.


    From the moment she was reborn and given the chance to change the course of her life, Su Xiaofei swore in her heart that she would destroy Mo Yuchen and Ye Mingyu herself, no matter how hard or how long it would take for her to get her revenge.


    One hundred million would be her safeguard to ensure that Bluemedia wouldn''t fall into Mo Yuchen''s hands, instead Su Xiaofei was nning to devour Golden Star Entertainment herself.


    Just see this viiness turn the tide in her favor! They wouldn''t even see what hit them until it was toote!


    It didn''t matter if she needed to wait for years, but she would make sure that Mo Yuchen would be the one who would leave with nothing in the end. She would not be boxing herself in her own limitations this time and wouldn''t sumb to abject misery.


    "Feifei...." Xi Qian looked at her with worry.


    Seeing her best friend''s expression startled Xi Qian. She had never seen Su Xiaofei make such an expression ever since she met her. Aplex emotion that she couldn''t exin swirled in Su Xiaofei''s eyes, as if she couldn''t wait to unleash the dangerous beast that was struggling to break free inside her.


    Just what had happened for Su Xiaofei to make a face like this? Was there something Su Xiaofei wasn''t telling her?


    However, Xi Qian wasn''t prepared to hear the next wordsing from Lu Qingfeng.


    "Thepany you want to take over is Mo Yuchen''spany, right?"

 Chapter 70 - The Road To Revenge (2)

    <h4>Chapter 70 - The Road To Revenge (2)</h4>


    Su Xiaofei stared at him for a moment nkly before she burst into a fit ofughter. As expected, she can''t really hide anything from Lu Qingfeng''s eyes at all. Since she was reborn, she had epted that the road to revenge wouldn''t be an easy one. Surely she might have to give up on something so precious to her in order to be able to move forward.


    But as she looked into Lu Qingfeng''s eyes, she could tell that he was willing to dive with her, even if it meant they would be plummeting downwards after this.


    ''Xiao Feng, is it toote for me to convince you to change?''


    "This¡­ Feifei¡­ are you sure? But why would you do that?" Xi Qian couldn''t believe what she was hearing. So it turned out that not only Su Xiaofei wanted to break her engagement with Mo Yichen, but she also wanted to destroy him?


    "Qian, do you know why Mo Yuchen and his family are still denying my mother''s request to break our engagement?"


    The moment Su Xiaofei uttered those words, Lu Qingfeng''s eyes darkened.


    Xi Qian shook her head. Things like this between wealthy families, how could she know?


    Su Xiaofei propped both of her arms on the table and twined her hands together.


    "It''s precisely because Golden Star Entertainment isn''t stable right now. A few years ago, they suffered a massive loss and have only recently recovered." She started. Her expression hardened, knowing that it was Su Haoran who was forbidding the annulment to happen.


    "Although Bluemedia isn''t as huge as Golden Star, Mama''spany had been steady and had a lot ofworks in the industry. Our engagement is like an advantageous leverage for him. If Mo Yuchen faces another hup under his management anytime soon, he would only need to marry me to secure theirpany."


    "That''s horrible." Xi Qian couldn''t contain the disgust and hatred she was feeling towards Mo Yuchen and his family. So in their eyes, their Feifei was nothing but a bargaining chip they could use to secure their future?


    Then what about Feifei? What about her future? Was their Feifei destined to be Mo Yuchen''s wife and live the rest of her life being unwanted by her own husband?


    The thought pained Xi Qian immensely. No wonder Feifei insisted on getting her engagement with Mo Yuchen revoked. She knew what awaited her and her mother''spany had she agreed to marry that excuse of a man.


    Darn it. One hundred million for Su Xiaofei''s guaranteed freedom? Xi Qian couldn''t ept that they were treating her best friend like this.


    Just as she thought that she was already unfortunate for having a pair of irresponsible parents and an unfavorable financial situation, she realized that someone like Su Xiaofei, who seemingly had everything in her hands, was actually trapped in a golden cage and had no say in her future.


    "Is there another way?" She asked Su Xiaofei.


    One hundred million seemed impossible to raise in a few years in Xi Qian''s opinion, but for someone like Lu Qingfeng and a reborn person like Su Xiaofei, the options were vast and waiting to be utilized.


    "Well, I could cheat on Mo Yuchen and marry another man, but that would only disgrace my mother in public. It''s bad enough that she had to suffer humiliation because of my father. She doesn''t need to be persecuted by the public for having an unruly and disgraceful daughter." She exined.


    "You are nning to do all of these on your own? Aren''t you going to ask me for help?" Lu Qingfeng''s voice had a hint of displeasure in it.


    "It''s not that I don''t trust you, Xiao Feng. It''s just that I don''t want to trouble you," exined Su Xiaofei.


    "His Mo family is nothing against my Lus. You are no stranger to our family, Feifei. You only need to say the word." He replied.


    "That''s precisely why I couldn''t tell you before. I know you would want to get involved, regardless of my reason." She sighed dejectedly.


    "I insist. Didn''t you say that you would take any chance to use another''s de? Then use me. Use me to your heart''s content." Lu Qingfeng patted his chest and gave her a determined look. There''s no way he would leave Su Xiaofei to deal with Mo Yuchen, that bastard, on her own.


    Su Xiaofei gaped at him, a little surprised that he purposely omitted the part of her revenge so Xi Qian wouldn''t worry about her. She then pressed her lips into a thin line. She didn''t want Lu Qingfeng to get hurt because of her again, but she was also aware that it wouldn''t be easy for her to do everything on her own.


    "Mo Yuchen has a debt to settle with me, Feifei. Allow me to assist you." Lu Qingfeng''s fierce, strong words startled her. There was something menacing in his words that she hadn''t noticed in her lifetime, but was able to see in her previous life as a ghost.


    Su Xiaofei witnessed the reason Lu Qingfeng had earned the title ''Tyrant'' from everyone around him during the destruction of the Mo family and Golden Star Entertainment.


    He was ruthless towards his enemies, not giving them any chance to retaliate and recover from his attacks. Not only did Lu Qingfeng destroy the Mo family, but he also ruined the lives of the younger generation of the family.


    ''You took Feifei''s chance to have a family and a future, why should I spare you or anyone else?'' Lu Qingfeng had looked down on Mo Yuchen''s pitiful form as he burned down the Mo Estate two years after Su Xiaofei''s death.


    For Lu Qingfeng to turn into such a terrible person who disregarded other people''s lives and future because of her, Su Xiaofei obviously felt guilty about it.. She didn''t think she could bear to see this young man in front of her turn into such a cruel person.

 Chapter 71 - Against The World (1)

    <h4>Chapter 71 - Against The World (1)</h4>


    "It''s alright, Feifei. It''s normal to be afraid." This time, Lu Qingfeng''s voice sounded gentler. "You don''t have to worry about anything. You can rely on me and Xi Qian for help. Just say the word."


    She wanted to destroy Mo Yuchen? Fine. He had an enmity towards that man anyway. Even if Su Xiaofei decided to turn the world into her enemy, he wouldn''t even try to stop her from ruining it.


    "He''s right, Feifei. Even if I can''t help you with anything, you can tell me everything that''s bothering you." Xi Qian nodded her head frantically. It didn''t matter if she and Lu Qingfeng didn''t get along well, but if it was for Su Xiaofei, she would willingly set aside her differences with him.


    Su Xiaofei stared at the two people in front of her, feeling speechless from their heartfelt words. She didn''t even realize that she had started crying, startling both Lu Qingfeng and Xi Qian.


    In her previous life, after she entered the show business along with Ye Mingyu, her thoughts were filled with how she could beat that woman and how to make Mo Yuchen love her. Because she was blinded by her obsession and jealousy, she''d rarely met or talked with Xi Qian and Lu Qingfeng, and the distance between them naturally grew wider.


    She had abandoned these two precious people in order to chase after people who only wanted to see her suffer. In the end, she lost everything that was dear to her, only to receive a deadly blow from her own husband and his mistress.


    She had lost her Mama, who loved her the most, her best friend lost her life caused by her own family and the man she grew up with ended up as a person people despised the most. In the end, what did she get by choosing Mo Yuchen andpeting with Ye Mingyu?


    The more she thought about how awful she treated these two in the past, the more Su Xiaofei felt remorseful for what she had done to them. Now that she was hearing their concern for her, she wondered if she was worthy.


    ''Xi Qian, Lu Qingfeng. I''m sorry. I''m really sorry for being selfish and cruel to both of you.'' She cried in her heart. She was the foolish and idiotic viiness who was yed by everyone in the past, but not this time...


    Su Xiaofei covered her face with both hands and wept uncontrobly. Her sudden outburst made Lu Qingfeng and Xi Qian wonder what made her cry like this. Was she releasing her pent-up frustrations, now that her father and Housekeeper Chen were gone from their home?


    Xi Qian pulled her friend into a hug and patted Su Xiaofei''s back. Did Feifei cry like this because Mo Yuchen was bullying her again? Recalling their recent encounter with that man, Xi Qian was sure that Mo Yuchen didn''t have any redeeming qualities for him to deserve their Feifei.


    Su Xiaofei should never marry a person who couldn''t even respect her. If he couldn''t respect her, it was impossible for Mo Yuchen to ever see her in a different light. What''s so good about that man anyway? If anything, he should be revered Su Xiaofei for saving his life when they were younger.


    Well, not that it mattered right now, because there was no way she would allow Mo Yuchen toe close to Feifei from now on. Even if the day came for Mo Yuchen to realize his mistakes towards Su Xiaofei, it would be toote for him to regret his actions.


    "It''s okay, Feifei. We''re here. You don''t have to face everything on your own." Xi Qian allowed Su Xiaofei to continue crying in her arms. She knew that her friend, who was conferred by everyone as a viiness, only seeing her as an arrogant and haughty woman, needed to release whatever frustration that was pent up inside her.


    Without her bastard father and scheming rtives, Su Xiaofei now could lower her guard and cry to her heart''s content, something she wasn''t able to do for a long time. Come to think of it, there were very few instances where she had seen Su Xiaofei shed tears in the past as she had always masked her pain with her arrogant and cold facade.


    While Xi Qian was thinking about how rare it was for Su Xiaofei to cry, seeing her shed tears was something Lu Qingfeng couldn''t tolerate since he was younger. The first time she shed tears in front of him, he couldn''t understand why this loud and obnoxious girl wasn''t her usual self. It disturbed him to know that there was something that could make Su Xiaofei cry.


    This time, Lu Qingfeng lowered his eyes, not wanting to show the cold and menacing darkness in them to the two young women in front of him. The urge to crush the one responsible for Su Xiaofei''s tears was so intense that he was having a hard time to rein his anger at that moment.


    They waited patiently for Su Xiaofei to calm down and dry her tears before they continued their conversation. Once Su Xiaofei realized what she had done, she couldn''t meet her friends'' gazes from the guilt and remorse she was feeling.


    "Sorry, Qian, Xiao Feng¡­ I promise I won''t y nice with them this time."


    Perhaps the reason why the heavens gave her onest chance to rectify her mistakes in the past was for her to make up to her loved ones. In this lifetime, she wouldn''t allow her mother and Xi Qian to sumb to unjust death, no matter what happens.


    As for Lu Qingfeng¡­ Well, Su Xiaofei wasn''t ready to face the issue between them yet. In three years, he would leave the country to finish his studies abroad.. The years of separation between them should be enough for her to clear her mind and make the right decision for the two of them, if he still wanted her upon his return.

 Chapter 72 - Against The World (2)

    <h4>Chapter 72 - Against The World (2)</h4>


    It waste at night, Lu Qingfeng was already on his bed, seated while reading something on his tablet when the door of his room creaked and Su Xiaofei entered, dressed in her light blue pyjamas. She wordlesslyid on the bed next to him and stared nkly at the ceiling above them.


    "What are you doing here?" He asked, but wasn''t surprised at all.


    When they were younger, they used to sleep on the same bed together, with Su Xiaofei helping him to fall asleep by humming a luby for him. So whenever they had a sleepover, it benefitted Lu Qingfeng the most because it only meant a good night''s sleep for him, which would likely make him less cranky the following day.


    However, what their families didn''t know was that Su Xiaofei was also able to calm her temperament whenever she was with Lu Qingfeng. If not for the Su family moving to a new residence, they would still be neighbors to this day.


    Because of his chronic insomnia since his parents'' death, Lu Qingfeng''s grandfather tried to find several ways to help him get treated, but no one had expected that young Su Xiaofei would be able to lure him to sleep on the first night they slept together as children.


    "Just trying to clear my mind." Su Xiaofei replied, not breaking her gaze on the ceiling.


    Su Xiaofei was a little ashamed of her sudden outburst earlier, but she couldn''t do anything about it. Since her rebirth, her regret and resentment filled her entirety, as if what drove her to stay alive was only her revenge. However now, she realized that she should own her life this time and also take this as a chance to live her life to the fullest with her loved ones.


    Lu Qingfeng didn''t mention anything about her outburst earlier, and neither did he question her about it.


    "You know, Xiaofei, you should stop doing this. We aren''t young kids anymore." He said after a long silence between them.


    "Why?" Su Xiaofei asked, finally turning her head to look at him. She didn''t think that he would be bothered by this, considering this wasn''t the first time they shared the same bed to sleep.


    Perhaps it was because she was a twenty eight-year-old woman, trapped in an eighteen-year-old body, that she perceived Lu Qingfeng as a kid and not a teenager who could be influenced by his changing hormones.


    Lu Qingfeng pressed his lips into a thin line and frowned. Did he really need to exin to her why? Shouldn''t it be obvious by now? As an 18 year old, Su Xiaofei was already old enough to be aware of things like this.


    "Because it''s inappropriate. What would people say if they know that you are sneaking in here to sleep with me?" He countered, hoping that she would understand what he was trying to imply.


    "We''re just going to sleep, not sleep with each other." Su Xiaofeiughed at that, her eyes returning to the ceiling. "And it''s not like you are going to take advantage of me."


    She wasn''t looking at Lu Qingfeng, so Su Xiaofei didn''t see the sudden change in his expression. His usual cold countenance was reced with darkening eyes, the desire that appeared in them could only be extinguished by the woman next to him.


    Lu Qingfeng shut his eyes and reeled his emotions in check. He didn''t think Su Xiaofei knew the gravity of her actions or her words towards him. How can he not fall for her if her actions were giving him ideas about it?


    "Come on, how can you sleep when you don''t turn off your devices on time? You should be thanking me for sleeping next to you tonight." Su Xiaofei gave him a pointed look, gesturing to him to lie down next to her and sleep.


    Lu Qingfeng sighed and did as he was told. He ced his tablet on the nightstand, dimmed the lights andid down on the bed, making sure that there was a safe distance between them. He made a mental note to make sure his door was locked at night, so she wouldn''t be able to annoy him like this next time.


    "Xiao Feng, do you think I was too ruthless to Ye Xing and her daughter?"


    Her sudden question caught him off guard. Lu Qingfeng wasn''t expecting to hear something like this from her. He cracked his eyes open and turned his head to look at her face.


    "Do you?" He asked her in return. "Do you regret what you''ve done?"


    "No." Su Xiaofei''s response was quick and sure. "I didn''t regret it one bit. After all that they''ve done to my mother, chasing them away isn''t enough."


    "If you aren''t regretting it, then why are you asking me this question? Since when did Su Xiaofei care about what people think of her? The Su Xiaofei I know wouldn''t care one bit about others'' opinion, as long as she was satisfied with her actions."


    Su Xiaofei allowed herself to smile at that. Indeed, Lu Qingfeng knew her well. Even in the past, no matter how much others perceive her as the viiness, she relentlessly went head on and fought with Ye Mingyu.


    "You are right. As long as I don''t regret it, it doesn''t matter what others say." She allowed herself to smile this time.


    So what if she became more ruthless towards Ye Mingyu and her mother? Just thinking of all the things she had suffered in the past was enough to fuel her anger towards them. If she wavered now, then she had no doubt that Ye Mingyu would take advantage of the situation again, and she would be forced to face the same fate she had in her previous life.


    Still, there were questions about Ye Mingyu that didn''t sit well with her.. Ye Mingyu had forced an encounter between her and Feng Xue''er, which was a little earlier from what Su Xiaofei remembered.

 Chapter 73 - A Role To Play (1)

    <h4>Chapter 73 - A Role To y (1)</h4>


    It didn''t take long before the news about Ye Mingyu being an illegitimate child was spread around the campus, turning the tables against her. Everyone was now branding Ye Mingyu as the shameless mistress''s daughter who took advantage of Su Xiaofei''s mother''s kindness.


    "Xue''er, it''s not what you think¡­" Ye Mingyu tried to cate Feng Xue''er''s anger, but thetter would have none of it, as she pped Ye Mingyu''s hand away when she dared to touch her shoulder.


    It''s been a week since her encounter with Su Xiaofei and she was still seething in rage whenever she remembered how she had lost face because of that woman. She had to admit that something changed about Su Xiaofei, however, it still didn''t change the fact that her unpleasant personality still disgusted people around her.


    As for Lu Qingfeng and Xi Qian, Feng Xue''er would never understand why they were still friends with that haughty woman.


    "Don''t touch me! This is all your fault! You lied to me!" She sneered at Ye Mingyu and looked at the other woman as if her mere presence annoyed Feng Xue''er. "If it wasn''t for you, I wouldn''t be humiliated by Su Xiaofei in front of our whole ss!"


    Ye Mingyu retracted her hand and her lips quivered, as if she was about to cry. She had this look as if she was the one who was wronged by everyone.


    "I understand why you are upset with me, Xue''er. Perhaps Su Xiaofei also held resentment towards me and my mother for ruining her family, but it''s not really like that, Xue''er. My Mom and Dad have been together for years before Dad met Su Xiaofei''s mother. It was just that.... My Dad was forced to marry her because she got pregnant. Just look at the difference between my age and Su Xiaofei, it isn''t that much, right?"


    Ye Mingyu was aware that she was lying, but who cares? It didn''t have to be true anyway, she only needed to make sure it sounded true, so she would regain Feng Xue''er''s and everyone''s favor.


    ording to her investigations, Su Xiaofei''s mortal enemy in the academy was Feng Xue''er, so she decided to approach this woman to exploit the rift between her and Su Xiaofei. Feng Xue''er was the only daughter of one of the richest officials here, in Qiying City. She had been spoiled since she was young and had developed an arrogant and willful temperament, so how could Ye Mingyu not take advantage of her and use her against Su Xiaofei?


    "You mean to say that it was a shotgun marriage?" Feng Xue''er somewhat calmed down from Ye Mingyu''s exnation. One didn''t need half a brain to understand what Ye Mingyu was trying to say.


    Ye Mingyu nodded and lowered her head pitifully. If anyone saw her like this, it would evoke a sense of justice for this poor young woman. This was the same trick that was able to ruin Su Xiaofei''s reputation in her past life.


    "Su Xiaofei''s mother is a daughter of a high-ranking general. Do you think my father, who''s amoner, can deny that old man''s threat to marry his pregnant daughter? I don''t think so."


    "So that''s the case¡­" Feng Xue''er mumbled. If only she was aware of what truly happened, Su Xiaofei wouldn''t be able to humiliate her. Now that she had a better understanding of what kind of family Su Xiaofei had, it''s understandable why Ye Mingyu''s father abandoned her mother to marry the filthy rich heiress, who happens to be Su Xiaofei''s mother.


    "Ye Mingyu, things like this, you shouldn''t hide it from me. It''s clear who became the third-party and ruined someone''s rtionship. Ha! That Su Xiaofei, how dare she bully you? She''s really outrageous if she thought that she and her mother were the ones wronged by you."


    "I wouldn''t dare lie to you, Xue''er. It''s just I don''t want you and Su Xiaofei to fight because of me. Su Xiaofei, regardless of who her mother is, is still my meimei. How can I bear it if someone mistreats my little sister because of me? I can''t¡­. I just can''t¡­. I just want her to acknowledge me, that''s all I want, Xue''er." Ye Mingyu said with teary eyes.


    Feng Xue''er looked at Ye Mingyu with aplicated expression. Why would Ye Mingyu want to be acquainted with that horrible Su Xiaofei? Didn''t she know that Su Xiaofei was like a selfish person who only wanted what she wanted and wouldn''t care about other people besides herself?


    Ye Mingyu would be seeking death if she insisted on Su Xiaofei epting her as her sister. Feng Xue''er was sure that Su Xiaofei would never warm up to Ye Mingyu at all. Based on her words alone, wasn''t Su Xiaofei telling everyone that Ye Mingyu isn''t worth her time and attention?


    "Yu''er, I know you feel wronged, but I really think you should stay away from Su Xiaofei for your own sake. As your friend, of course, I would try to protect you so that you wouldn''t be bullied by anyone, especially Su Xiaofei, but you really have to avoid trouble yourself, Yu''er. I''m telling you, Su Xiaofei could go overboard when she''s bullying someone." Feng Xue''er reminded her.


    Ye Mingyu only smiled, a slight amused glint in her eyes shed momentarily. Su Xiaofei going to bully her? Wasn''t that what she wanted to happen? Once she had established Su Xiaofei as an unreasonable woman, obviously, people would take pity on her and would turn against Su Xiaofei.


    She only needed to y the victim, and everyone would persecute Su Xiaofei in her stead. Su Xiaofei was destined to be her backdrop, her stepping stone for a brighter future. Feng Xue''er might not be able to understand her for now, but that''s okay, as long as she would y her role really well as her faithful best friend who would pave the way for her.


    "Thank you for your concern, Xue''er, I''ll keep it in mind."

 Chapter 74 - A Role To Play (2)

    <h4>Chapter 74 - A Role To y (2)</h4>


    As for Su Xiaofei, she was waiting for Ye Mingyu''s next move. That woman wouldn''t easily ept defeat and would surely try to cate Feng Xue''er''s anger by now. Feng Xue''er was an important ally for Ye Mingyu anyway, if she lost Feng Xue''er''s favor this early, her chance to be crowned as the flower of Qiying City Academy would be as good as gone.


    A month from now, the academy will hold a ball for its students as a part of the celebration of their founding anniversary. Ye Mingyu would use this chance to boost her poprity by being crowned as the ''Fairy Queen'' of the academy.


    In Su Xiaofei''s past life, with Feng Xue''er''s help as the designer of Ye Mingyu''s dress, Ye Mingyu''s name was acknowledged as one of the most beautiful students in the campus. The ball also established Feng Xue''er''s potential as a popr fashion designer in the future.


    Su Xiaofei was lost in her thoughts as she sipped her tea, while Lu Qingfeng was seated across from her in the garden, busy working on his assignments on hisptop.


    Aunty Liu came and brought them a couple slices of cakes for the two to eat. She smiled inwardly as she watched the youngsters in front of her. She had watched the two grow up together and had been very fond of them.


    Her young miss, who seemed arrogant to everyone else, was very gentle and patient with young Lu Qingfeng, while the young master of the Lu Family, who kept everyone at an arm''s length, was very close and caring towards their Feifei.


    However, despite the two growing up together, they didn''t have any siblings'' affections towards each other, which somewhat confused the old woman. Even she, at her old age, couldn''t describe what kind of rtionship the two had. However, she could tell that they had such an unbreakable bond that wouldn''t be easily shaken by anyone. Or so she thought.


    It wasn''t until their Feifei met Mo Yuchen when she was thirteen did Aunty Liu feel that something had changed between these two youngsters. While Su Xiaofei sought Mo Yuchen for his attention, Lu Qingfeng''s attitude became colder, which became unbearable for some servants working under the Lu family.


    For the first time, Lu Qingfeng contradicted Su Xiaofei and told her she was being a fool for chasing after Mo Yuchen. Su Xiaofei only pinched both of his cheeks before cing a kiss on his head, telling him he was too young to understand the kind of feelings she had for the Young Master Mo.


    "Xiao Feng, you''ve been studying hard these days. Take a break and have a snack with Feifei." Aunty Liu told the young man in front of her. An hour ago, when she passed by and spotted the two in the garden, Lu Qingfeng''s head was bent over his assignments while her young miss was just leisurely sitting there, rxing.


    Lu Qingfeng smiled a little and thanked her politely. He had never shown any disrespect towards his elders, despite his cold and aloof personality.


    He was only fifteen, but Aunty Liu hadn''t met any young men his age, who were as dedicated and patient as him when it came to school work. Although he was too smart for his age, Lu Qingfeng didn''t take any eleration exams for him to skip a few levels.


    Aunty Liu was also aware that the young master Lu was now starting his training under his grandfather''s guidance as the next sessor of their family. This only meant that Lu Qingfeng would be busier soon and he wouldn''t have much time to visit their Feifei.


    "Why is Auntie Liu only praising Xiao Feng?" Su Xiaofei pouted. "I''m also trying hard to study these days."


    The old womanughed behind her hand at her young miss''s usation. Of course, she was also aware of that. Every night, she would go into Su Xiaofei''s room to clean it, only to find her notes and books opened and left on her study table while she took a shower to prepare for bed.


    "Right. It''s this old woman''s fault. Our Feifei is also a hardworking student."


    Su Xiaofei beamed at the old woman and praised her for her delicious cooking.


    "Aunty Liu shouldn''t praise Feifei too much or it might get to her head." Lu Qingfengmented, which earned a re from the young woman across from him.


    Once Aunty Liu was gone, Lu Qingfeng took this chance to ask Su Xiaofei.


    "So¡­ have you found a way to earn that 100 million that you needed?"


    Su Xiaofei shook her head and took a bite from her cake.


    "Not yet, I''m still in the nning process. Why? Are you willing to give me 100 million now?" She said with a teasing tone.


    Lu Qingfeng scoffed at that.


    "Even if I have 100 million, what made you think that I would willingly give it to you? Unless you be my wife, I won''t give you anything excessive like that."


    "So I have to be your wife first before I get my hands on that 100 million of yours?"


    "En." Lu Qingfeng nodded. "Didn''t you say that you want your husband''s everything? If you were to marry me in the future, it''s only natural that you would get ess to all of my assets and properties as my wife."


    "Ah, music to my ears, Xiao Feng! So, being Madam Lu would mean being loaded with so much money, huh?"


    With Lu Corporation involvement in the banking and insurance industry, it was only normal that they were making a lot of money,pared to the Mo family who can barely reach twenty percent of the Lu Corporation''s revenue.


    "Well, too bad, that''s still not an option for me, Xiao Feng. Su Haoran is still refusing to annul my engagement with Mo Yuchen to this day."


    Just as Lu Qingfeng was about to answer her, Aunty Liu came back, announcing Mo Yuchen''s visit.

 Chapter 75 - No Escape (1)

    <h4>Chapter 75 - No Escape (1)</h4>


    Su Xiaofei groaned when she heard that. What did Mo Yuchen want from her this time? She hadn''t expected him toe here and see her at all, given how she had already made it clear to him that she didn''t want him anymore. She also went as far as asking her mother to call off their engagement.


    "If I didn''t utter the name of the devil, he wouldn''t havee here to see me." She muttered to herself, but it was enough for herpanion to hear.


    Su Xiaofei didn''t notice the sudden change in Lu Qingfeng''s reaction, as she already dragged herself to stand up to see that wretched man who made a fool out of her and shattered her wicked heart into a million pieces.


    Mo Yuchen was the person who broke her, ruined her beyond recognition. If it wasn''t for him, would she try her best to prove that she was better than Ye Mingyu? If it wasn''t for him, would she endure all those criticisms thrown her way when he married her?


    The husband who should be the first one to love her, care for her, was also the first person who stabbed her in the back by plotting against her and her mother, having an affair with Ye Mingyu and the one responsible for the death of her unborn child.


    Remembering how she suffered in his hands, Su Xiaofei wasn''t sure if she would be able to keep her nonchnt mask in ce withoutshing out on Mo Yuchen the moment their eyes met.


    "Young Master Mo, what brings you here?" Su Xiaofei joined the man in the living area and took a seat on the armchair next to the couch where Mo Yuchen was seated.


    Mo Yuchen narrowed his eyes on her. Today, Su Xiaofei was wearing a dark red dress that could make any young woman look old and unfashionable. However, it didn''t look bad on Su Xiaofei at all, as it onlyplimented the sharpness and arrogance of her facial features. It made her look more beautiful in one''s eyes.


    He really thought that this unreasonable young woman''s personality had changed overnight, from an arrogant and demanding person to a confident and devilishly charming woman. It had been a month since hest saw her at the hospital, but she looked more beautiful and charming this time.


    Now that he''d seen her again, the feeling of being unwanted by her was too obvious for him not to notice. Her eyes lost the admiration glint they used to hold whenever she was talking to him.


    Su Xiaofei despised him? This idea startled Mo Yuchen down to his core. It didn''t sit well with him that she hade to hate him.


    From the moment they met, Su Xiaofei was the one who kept professing her adoration towards him, even going as far as to convince her parents to arrange their betrothal. Mo Yuchen obviously couldn''t stand this young woman''s arrogance, but he couldn''t openly oppose his grandfather when the engagement between them was already established.


    "I heard that you got involved in an ident. They said you were poisoned." He said, as if it exined his very presence at the Yun Mansion.


    "Ah, so the news reached your ears, huh?" Su Xiaofei crossed her legs and cupped her chin with one hand, giving her a carefree look, as if the incident where she was poisoned had never happened.


    Mo Yuchen''s brows furrowed at that. Had she really been stabbed and poisoned? He wondered. But the reports that came to him were true and untampered. He was just waiting to see the CCTV recordings with his own eyes.


    "It''s only normal for us to hear such serious news." Mo Yuchen replied nonchntly.


    "So why did youe here? Did you perhapse to see if I was dying or not? Too bad, Young Master Mo, it seems that you would need to endure seeing more of me in the future." Su Xiaofei chuckled, enjoying how soured Mo Yuchen''s reaction was.


    "It took you almost two weeks for you to decide to visit me? My, my, Young Master Mo, if I died that very same day, you would be toote for your fianc¨¦e''s funeral, don''t you think?" She smiled at him with such a contemptuous look on her face.


    Mo Yuchen grimaced, knowing that Su Xiaofei was right. The news of her ident came toote for him to do anything. If he wasn''t worried about what his grandfather would do and sayter, he wouldn''te here to see Su Xiaofei himself.


    "It seems my visit wasn''t needed at all, given how you could speak such poisonous words, Su Xiaofei." He said, not hiding his disgust towards her.


    "Feifei, I''m done. Didn''t you say you want to go out with me today?"


    Lu Qingfeng''s sudden appearance had surprised Mo Yuchen. He hadn''t expected that he would also meet this young man here today. He had always found their rtionship odd, considering how unusually close Su Xiaofei was to this young man. They were too close, no¡ª more like they were too in sync with each other, as if they were meant to be together.


    Su Xiaofei''s eyes lit up. She knew Lu Qingfeng was saying these to save her from Mo Yuchen''s presence. Since he was already casually dressed in a white shirt and a pair of dark gray cks, he was ready to leave with her at any time.


    "Ah, Xiao Feng!" She pped her hands together in excitement and stood up. "Give me a minute, I need to take my phone and purse upstairs."


    Aunty Liu came back with a tray of refreshments for Mo Yuchen, but she was confused when she saw that Su Xiaofei was already leaving.


    "Feifei, you are leaving with Xiao Feng?" The old woman asked confusedly. "Then what about your guest?"


    "Aunty, please see Young Master Mo out, Xiao Feng and I were going to shop.." Su Xiaofei said, dismissing her unwanted fianc¨¦ without any hesitation.

 Chapter 76 - No Escape (2)

    <h4>Chapter 76 - No Escape (2)</h4>


    Su Xiaofei was humming a tune as she hooked her arm with Lu Qingfeng as they walked casually inside the shopping mall.


    "Since you are the one who dragged me here, you are the one who''s paying, right?" She said, while her eyes were busy scanning the disy at the boutique they just passed.


    "Didn''t you bring your purse with you? If you can afford it, then you should pay for it. Why should I pay for you?" Lu Qingfeng said in defense. "You should be thanking me for saving you from that man."


    "Say, Xiao Feng, you really disliked Mo Yuchen, huh? What did he do to you?" Su Xiaofei asked curiously. Ever since she met Mo Yuchen, Lu Qingfeng had always avoided talking about him and refused to be in the same room as him.


    "I dislike him. He''s the worst scum I''ve ever encountered in my whole life." He said without batting an eyelid.


    "Is that so?" Su Xiaofei waited for his exnation, but as usual, nothing followed. It seemed like Lu Qingfeng would never give her a satisfactory answer this time.


    "You truly don''t want him anymore?" This time, he was the one asking her.


    "En. I don''t like him anymore. I will never get back together with him in the future."


    In her past life, her thoughts and dreams were filled with him.


    ''What do I have to do to win his heart?''


    ''What should I do to be loved by him?''


    Thoughts like these were the norm for the old Su Xiaofei, but in this lifetime, she only wanted to crush him with her own hands.


    Lu Qingfeng nodded, pleased with her answer.


    "What about other men? Do you like someone else?"


    She shook her head, wondering why he was even asking her such weird questions.


    "No. Boys are dumb. I don''t think anyone would like someone like me anyway." She waved a hand,ughing at herself.


    "Su Xiaofei, I really didn''t know that you are this dumb and insensitive." Lu Qingfeng sighed before releasing his arm from Su Xiaofei''s hold, walking ahead of her. "Poor me."


    "What?" The young woman was obviously confused with his answer. "How would I understand, if you aren''t telling me anything?" Sheined.


    Was Lu Qingfeng too smart for someone like her that she couldn''t understand what he was even talking about? Just as she thought that she knew him well, reality pped her back, reminding her of how oblivious she was to his feelings for her in her past life.


    His feelings for her.... Then it finally dawned on Su Xiaofei what Lu Qingfeng meant.


    She stopped in her tracks and fell silent. So it started way too early¡­ and she was too blind for not noticing it ahead of time. Was it because at this time, she should still be head over heels for Mo Yuchen?


    Lu Qingfeng, who noticed her sudden silence, turned around to see what she was up to, only to find her with a slight blush on her cheeks. But she also had a conflicted expression on her face, as if she was contemting something important.


    However, it couldn''t be helped now. It was better for her to be aware of it, or else things would end up in the same cycle all over again.


    ''Su Xiaofei, do you know? I cannot allow myself to lose you for the third time.''


    Being trapped inside his fifteen-year-old body was enough to frustrate Lu Qingfeng since his rebirth.


    ''How annoying.'' He thought. ''It would have been better if I was allowed to possess my twenty-year-old self.''


    In his first life, he was utterly defeated by Mo Yuchen and was killed by him. Su Xiaofei had be Mo Yuchen''s wife, and she had learned to hate him. He was the viin in her eyes, a person not worthy of her time and attention.


    In his second life, he had failed again because he was too focused on strengthening himself, building rtions and resources that could help him destroy Mo Yuchen in the future, only for Su Xiaofei to marry the man earlier than the original timeline.


    In the end, Su Xiaofei died in Mo Yuchen and Ye Mingyu''s hands.


    Su Xiaofei actually died, and everything he worked so hard for was for nothing!


    He had wanted to kill himself to follow her in the afterlife, but once hearing that a person who forfeited his own life would be denied reincarnation, Lu Qingfeng was forced to wait for his own death toe.


    For more than twenty years, he tried to find ways that could grant his wish, wanting to be with Su Xiaofei once again. He had been extremely foolish in the past and regretted leaving Su Xiaofei behind. s, he was also a coward because he feared that he would once again experience being rejected by her.


    Lu Qingfeng sighed to himself and pulled her wrist, forcing her to step forward, reducing the distance between them. He heard her gasping as her eyes stared widely at him. Did she finally realize what he meant earlier?


    "Hey, what are you doing there spacing out in the middle of the way? Did your brain just short circuit from trying to understand what I''ve said?" He said before flicking Su Xiaofei''s forehead like he used to when they were younger.


    "Ouch! What do you think you are doing, dummy?" That was enough to bring his Su Xiaofei back to reality. "That hurts, you idiot!" She said, rubbing the red spot on her forehead. She knew that he was only doing this, so she wouldn''t be pressured to answer him.


    "Come on, let''s get going. We weren''t able to have lunch at home because of Mo Yuchen. I''m starving." He dragged her to walk alongside him.


    At least it was enough to pull her out of her trance.. It didn''t matter if he was reborn in his fifteen-year-old body, because this time, he intended to win her heart until she couldn''t deny him anymore.

 Chapter 77 - Living Life To The Fullest (1)

    <h4>Chapter 77 - Living Life To The Fullest (1)</h4>


    Su Xiaofei yawned and rubbed her eyes sleepily. Because she had to do somete night reading, she had slept toote. She ended up feeling restless and sleepy when she woke up. It also didn''t help that she kept thinking about Lu Qingfeng these days.


    "Feifei, didn''t you say today is Lu Qingfeng''s game? Aren''t you going to watch him y?" Xi Qian asked, wondering why her best friend hadn''t moved from her seat yet, given that their ss had ended fifteen minutes ago.


    Su Xiaofei''s eyes shot open upon hearing it. She jolted from her seat and started tidying up her desk at once.


    "Yikes! I totally forgot! Xiao Feng will kill me if I don''t show up at his game. Hurry, Qian, I will never hear the end of it if he knew I waste."


    Xi Qian giggled at her reaction and shook her head. There were times that Su Xiaofei forgot important things such as this.


    Lu Qingfeng was the captain of the basketball team at the middle school division. While he was proficient in ying chess, he once told Su Xiaofei that it wasn''t enough for him. ording to him, ying basketball with his peers would not only train his brain to formte ways to beat his opponents, he would also be able to keep his body in shape, hitting two birds with one stone.


    Su Xiaofei dragged Xi Qian with her, as they rushed to the court where Lu Qingfeng was scheduled to y with his team against the visiting team today.


    When the two reached their destination, both women were panting for breath. Su Xiaofei couldn''t believe that her stamina was this low at the age of eighteen. This was far from her early twenties body that was ustomed to workouts and diets to keep her body in shape while auditioning for several roles at the same time.


    Unlike other women who can eat anything they liked and remain slim, Su Xiaofei had trouble keeping her ideal weight. For her to be able to keep up in thepetition with Ye Mingyu, she strived to perfect her figure and skipped meals, which only harmed her own bodyter on.


    "You arete." Lu Qingfeng appeared in front of them, giving Su Xiaofei a displeased look.


    "But we arrived before your game started, right?" Su Xiaofei grinned at him. "Come on, Xiao Feng. You don''t have to be this grumpy, or your fan girls might think I am bullying you before your game. I wouldn''t want to be used as the reason you lose today."


    Lu Qingfeng only scowled at her, but didn''t say more.


    "Go now," Su Xiaofei waved him away. "Qian and I will be watching, so you better do your best and not lose."


    "As if I would lose against those people." Lu Qingfeng harrumphed, but went on his way anyway.


    "He''s really extra grumpy today. What''s with him?" Xi Qian asked once she and Su Xiaofei found a good spot where they could watch the game.


    Su Xiaofei shrugged. She had to admit that it was hard, even for her, to understand Lu Qingfeng these days. He was unpredictable, always catching her off guard at times she least expected.


    "Who knows. It might be because he woke up on the wrong side of the bed today." She said before opening a pack of potato chips she and Xi Qian would share while watching.


    There were so many students who came to see the game, and unsurprisingly many of them were young women who would cheer for their school''s varsity team in this friendly match with another school.


    As for Su Xiaofei, others weren''t surprised to see her there with Xi Qian, as everyone was already ustomed to her being acquainted with Lu Qingfeng from the middle school division. Her presence only made other students turn their heads to look at her, because despite the unfriendly aura around her, Su Xiaofei''s face was still good to look at.


    The game between the middle school teams was the first one tomence before the high school game. Still, the students'' anticipation was quite high, especially for the girls who were rooting for the guys they admire to win.


    From the other side of the court, Su Xiaofei spotted Feng Xue''er alone, cheering for her fianc¨¦, Cai Lin. Su Xiaofei smirked inwardly as she thought how Feng Xue''er, even as she imed that Ye Mingyu was her friend, wasn''t willing to let her friend meet her fianc¨¦.


    In her previous life, Su Xiaofei had wondered why Ye Mingyu only met Cai Lin after the founding ball, but now she knew. It was obviously because Feng Xue''er was a jealous person in nature and wasn''t willing to introduce a woman that could steal her man from her, especially one as beautiful and seductive as Ye Mingyu.


    It was for this reason that Su Xiaofei wanted to push Ye Mingyu towards Cai Lin behind Feng Xue''er''s back. The more Feng Xue''er tried to keep Ye Mingyu out of Cai Lin''s sight, the worse the betrayal she would feelter.


    The two individuals who protected and paved the way for Ye Mingyu''s future. She would destroy them altogether, by making them go against each other.


    "Fans could really go crazy like this, huh." Xi Qian scoffed, twisting the cap of her lemon juice, taking a sip from it. If not for Su Xiaofei, she would rather take a nap happily somewhere than be here watching the little tyrant''s game.


    "You can''t me them. It''s not everyday they could watch the varsity teams of our school y like this." Su Xiaofei chuckled at the fangirls'' enthusiasm.


    As soon as she said this, the team that was being led by Lu Qingfeng as their captain arrived on the court, followed by a loud cheering from the audience.


    "Someone is so popr.." Su Xiaofei chuckled when many young women cheered Lu Qingfeng''s name when he appeared with his team, but he only nced on her way, as if to make sure that she was there.

 Chapter 78 - Living Life To The Fullest (2)

    <h4>Chapter 78 - Living Life To The Fullest (2)</h4>


    Su Xiaofei wasn''t really interested in watching basketball games like this, but she understood the rules and how it was yed. The only reason she came here was because she once made a deal with Lu Qingfeng that she would be there at every important school activity that he took part in, in ce of his deceased parents.


    Thinking about it, Su Xiaofei realized that she had failed to fulfill this promise towards him in her past life. She had only heard of how exceptional Lu Qingfeng''s grades were during his stay abroad, but she wasn''t there to congratte him upon his graduation.


    It was only now that she realized she had missed a lot of important things and events in her past life because of her obsession towards Mo Yuchen. Since she was given a chance to relive her life, then she should make the best out of it and not miss these chances again.


    She cheered for Lu Qingfeng from the sidelines, despite knowing he wouldn''t be able to hear her among the loud cheering around them.


    Suddenly, Lu Qingfeng turned his head towards her direction, catching her off guard. Su Xiaofei was stunned momentarily but was able to recover from her shock as she waved a hand at him. This earned one of his rare dashing smiles that was enough to make his fangirls go crazy upon seeing it.


    "Did Captain Lu just smile our way? Oh my gosh!" One of the younger women seated a few seats in front of Su Xiaofei and Xi Qian started hyperventting from too much fangirling.


    "Indeed, I saw him smile too! He must be in a really good mood to y today." Herpanion replied excitedly.


    "Feifei, do you really have to do it? My poor ears!" Xi Qianined to Su Xiaofei as she tried to tune out the girls'' screaming by covering her ears.


    Su Xiaofei onlyughed in response and resumed cheering for Lu Qingfeng and his team. Lu Qingfeng was only fifteen right now, but he had already gained immense poprity among young women. It''s a pity that this young man wasn''t interested in dating or looking at any woman at the moment.


    She smiled to herself and watched as the game finally started. She didn''t want to waste her time only plotting revenge in this life. Furthermore, she had promised to enjoy her younger years along with Xi Qian and Lu Qingfeng before the time woulde when she needed to face Mo Yichen and Ye Mingyu on the ''battlefield''.


    It was rare for Xi Qian to see her best friend like this, unbothered by her problems and issues revolving around her. She smiled to herself, hoping to see Su Xiaofei happy like this all the time, but Xi Qian knew that her friend would eventually need to face her problems with her family, just like her.


    Xi Qian realized that if it wasn''t for Su Xiaofei''s interference that night, she would have suffered humiliation, if that homeless man had seeded in tarnishing her reputation. It was just that Xi Qian never expected that it was her father''s new wife who was responsible for the scheme.


    She hadn''t made any indication that she was aware of this, and only said a few words when her useless father called to check on her three days after the assault.


    ''Such a useless person.'' Xi Qian thought. ''He wasn''t even aware that his own wife was trying to harm his daughter.''


    But what if he was also aware of it? Su Xiaofei''s previous question resounded in Xi Qian''s mind.


    Right. Would her stepmother be this rash if her father wasn''t aware of her n in the first ce? He must be in cohorts with his wife to tarnish her reputation.


    She grimaced at the thought. So it seemed like Su Xiaofei wasn''t the only one who had a shameless and useless father, she did too.


    "Qian, what''s wrong with you? Are you feeling unwell?" Su Xiaofei asked when she noticed that Xi Qian was too silent in her seat and wasn''t participating in the cheering.


    Xi Qian forced herself to smile, not wanting her friend to worry about her.


    "No. I''m just thinking about what I should have for dinner tonight. I''m a little short right now because myst sry from the previous part-time job hasn''t been deposited into my ount yet," which was true. If it wasn''t for the lunchboxes Aunty Liu made for them, Xi Qian had no doubt that she would be forced to sleep through her hunger again.


    "Don''t worry, Qian. If Xiao Feng''s team wins today, he''ll treat uster." Su Xiaofei winked at her.


    "How do you know?" Xi Qian raised a slender brow at her friend.


    "How can I not know?" Su Xiaofei rubbed her chin as she pondered about it. "I just know. Since he''s in a good mood today, he would obviously win this game with his team."


    It wasn''t Lu Qingfeng''s way to lose his game when he was in a good mood anyway. Unless their opponent was really promising and good at their game, there was no way Lu Qingfeng would lose today.


    The game ended in favor of Lu Qingfeng''s team as they came victorious from the exciting game that surprised everyone because they had faced a formidable team from the other school.


    While the students waited for the next set of games that would involve the high school division teams from both schools, Su Xiaofei and Xi Qian decided to slip out of the courts and waited for Lu Qingfeng to meet him outside.


    However, as the two waited for him outside the yers'' locker room, Su Xiaofei was cornered by Ye Mingyu who had a worried but gentle expression on her face.


    "Xiaofei, can we talk? I''ve been looking for you everywhere today."


    Su Xiaofei arched a brow at her, while Xi Qian scoffed behind her back.. So it seemed like Ye Mingyu decided to confront her herself this time.

 Chapter 79 - Trouble Like Her Mother (1)

    <h4>Chapter 79 - Trouble Like Her Mother (1)</h4>


    Su Xiaofei only stared nkly at Ye Mingyu, not responding a word to the other woman, which made the atmosphere between them awkward.


    Ye Mingyu fidgeted, a little confused as to why Su Xiaofei wasn''t saying anything. It would have been better if Su Xiaofei came to her seething in rage rather than enduring this awkward silence between them.


    "Is there something you need from Feifei, Schoolmate Ye?" Xi Qian was the one to ask Ye Mingyu instead of Su Xiaofei.


    Ye Mingyu bit her lower lip and took a quick nce at Su Xiaofei, who still has yet to say anything towards her.


    "I just want to exin things to you, Xiaofei. I think you misunderstood me and my mother thest time we came to see you." She said in a low voice, as if she was afraid that other people could hear what she was saying.


    Su Xiaofei looked around, wondering why this two-faced, shameless woman was acting pitifully in front of her, that was until she caught a movement in a nearby bush, her eyes narrowing slightly as Ye Mingyu obstructed her sight to prevent her from seeing what it was.


    Su Xiaofei didn''t need to crack her head to know that this was another one of Ye Mingyu''s tricks. In her past life, she fell for this exact trick that Ye Mingyu orchestrated to ruin her reputationpletely by allowing everyone in the school to witness for themselves how she physically assaulted Ye Mingyu on live streaming.


    Seconds passed and Su Xiaofei still didn''t utter a single word, which made Ye Mingyu feel like she was punching on the cotton instead, or worse, she was talking to a wall.


    Xi Qian sighed and was about to drag Su Xiaofei away, knowing that Ye Mingyu must be trying to provoke her best friend.


    "Let''s go, Feifei. I''m sure Lu Qingfeng will call if he doesn''t find us here." She told Su Xiaofei.


    "W-wait!" Of course, Ye Mingyu couldn''t allow Su Xiaofei to leave just like that. This stupid heiress was acting abnormal indeed.


    "Schoolmate Ye, in case you don''t get it, Feifei doesn''t want to talk to you. After what you and your mother have done to her family, I don''t think there''s more to talk about." Xi Qian shot her a fierce re, aware that she might have earned the ire of Ye Mingyu''s white knights if they found out, but she didn''t care anymore.


    Ye Mingyu tantly ignored her and tried to touch Su Xiaofei''s wrist, forbidding thetter to leave without causing amotion between them.


    "Little Sister, please don''t leave and hear what I have to say first! My Mom and I didn''t mean to cause trouble to your parents. It''s just that we are desperate for help." She insisted with a pair of misty eyes directed towards Su Xiaofei.


    She was expecting Su Xiaofei to rudely p her hand away, showing how disgusted she was by her. However, none of it happened as Su Xiaofei didn''t push her hand away, nor did she re daggers at her.


    Instead, Su Xiaofei stepped forward, invading Ye Mingyu''s private space. She lifted her hand and Ye Mingyu unconsciously lifted her arms as if trying to protect herself from being hit by Su Xiaofei. The p never came as Su Xiaofei had only tucked a few loose strands of hair behind her ear and smiled.


    "Schoolmate Ye must be worried about Papa and her mother, just like me. However, what transpired between our elders is not something we should meddle with and cause them more trouble, don''t you think? Although Miss Ye has to prove that ssmate Ye is truly Papa''s daughter, I hope you won''t spread false information to our schoolmates. It''s really tasteless and humiliating to be asked if you are truly my sister or not, to be honest." Su Xiaofei smiled and stepped back.


    "Anyway, I suppose it doesn''t matter anymore as Papa has already moved in with you and your mother, right? If that''s the case, can Schoolmate Ye do me a favor? Please tell Papa to sign the divorce papers already? It''s been a week since my Mama''swyer sent the papers. He''s already living with you, so there''s no need for my parents to stay married to each other anymore."


    This information suddenly caused the chat section on the livestream to be flooded with manyments from the students of the academy who were tuning in.


    ''Shameless! How could a daughter of a mistress still have the audacity to face Su Xiaofei like this? She couldn''t even prove if she was really their father''s daughter!''


    ''I say, Su Xiaofei is still being kind, don''t you think? If it was in the past, I wouldn''t be surprised if Su Xiaofei pped this shameless girl for daring to say such words to her.''


    ''Right, Ye Mingyu''s mother is the mistress, right? Where did her mother get the guts to ask the legal wife to ept her daughter from an unknown man?''


    However, there were still students who hated Su Xiaofei''s guts and would rather side with Ye Mingyu instead.


    ''I feel like everyone is misunderstanding Schoolmate Ye. Why does Su Xiaofei have to treat her like this when Ye Mingyu just wants to talk to her?''


    ''Poster above, are you f*cking serious right now? Can you even hear what you are saying? If a fox came knocking on your door, please let us know if you''ve taken it in willingly!''


    ''Ye Mingyu is trouble like her mother. If she was aware of the situation she and her mother are in, she should know that they were at a disadvantage since her mother is the Xiao San1 in Su Xiaofei''s parent''s marriage.''


    ''Do you really expect a mistress''s daughter to have any shame? I bet her mother told her to cause trouble for Su Xiaofei.''


    ''But why is their father still refusing to sign the divorce papers if he''s already living with his other family?''


    ''What other reason could there be? Of course, he wants to squeeze more money from Su Xiaofei''s mother!''

 Chapter 80 - Trouble Like Her Mother (2)

    <h4>Chapter 80 - Trouble Like Her Mother (2)</h4>


    ''Pfft. Haven''t you heard? It''s actually Su Xiaofei''s mother who owns all the properties they have. I heard from a reliable source that her mother is a daughter of a high-ranking general.''


    ''If that''s the case, no wonder he''s still refusing to sign those papers. After cheating on his wife, he still has the audacity to ask forpensation?''


    ''Let''s talk about how he got the balls to cheat on a daughter of a general. He''s fearless, don''t you think?''


    ''No wonder Schoolmate Ye could be this shameless. She got a pair of shameless parents to begin with!''


    ''You know, even though I don''t like Su Xiaofei''s attitude, I despise foxes like Ye Mingyu. If I were in Su Xiaofei''s shoes, I would have already pped this shameless little girl.''


    ''Hey, now, poster above. You might need to be careful with your words. If you are a girl, Ye Mingyu would make the guy you like hate you.''


    "+1 for the poster above! Ye Mingyu just did it the day before to my friend!''


    Thements continued to flood with gossip against Ye Mingyu without her knowing. Meanwhile, the pair of friends whom Ye Mingyu had asked to broadcast the livestream have conflicted expressions on their faces.


    "Do you think Ye Mingyu asked us for help to set up Su Xiaofei?" The girl who was holding the phone while streaming the video asked herpanion.


    "Now that you mentioned it, yeah, I feel like she did."


    The first girl pursed her lips in annoyance. Wouldn''t that mean that Ye Mingyu was using the two of them? Who would like to be used and taken advantage of like this? Ye Mingyu was obviously a white lotus bitch who pretended to be weak and innocent just to earn everyone''s pity while evoking the sense of protectiveness in young men around her.


    Men would be oblivious to it, but for other women, it was easy for them to see past Ye Mingyu''s facade. While she was gaining young male admirers, many girls at the academy were starting to hate Ye Mingyu.


    She had only been attending the academy for over a week, but she had already offended so many students by her seemingly ''harmless'' flirting with different young men.


    If QCA was a normal academy who catered tomoners, this wouldn''t be a problem, but for a school filled with pompous and arrogant young masters and misses, it was a big issue that shouldn''t be allowed to go on.


    Ye Mingyu was nothing but amoner, and many would feel that she shouldn''t be attending this academy with them. For some, her presence sullied their mood by having to ept one of her kind in the academy. These prideful and arrogant students were obviously not pleased to find her mingling among their crowd.


    It would have been understandable for Xi Qian to be here, since everyone knew that she earned her spot in the academy through her excellent grades, maintaining her schrship while working several part-time jobs to sustain her daily expenses.


    Compared to Ye Mingyu who just appeared out of nowhere, causing trouble left and right only to be exposed as a mistress''s daughter, her reputation was starting to plummet as the live stream continued to y over the inte, broadcasting how she tried to provoke Su Xiaofei.


    "B-but¡­" Ye Mingyu refused to back down without a fight. She needed to provoke Su Xiaofei no matter what.


    "It''s pointless for us to speak like this, Schoolmate Ye. Let''s leave this issue to our parents, okay? In the meantime, can we just stay out of each other''s hair? I promised Mama that I wouldn''t turn my anger to you, no matter how upset I was with Papa''s recent actions. She said that it''s not your fault that Papa and your mother acted that way." Su Xiaofei didn''t give Ye Mingyu any opportunity to undermine her.


    If she was still the same person she was in the past, she would have gone after Ye Mingyu and pulled her hair, pping her until Ye Mingyu was a crying mess, but not this time. The eighteen-year-old Ye Mingyu was no match against her, who had suffered harsher schemes than this in her past life.


    In a few years, though, Ye Mingyu''s scheming would get better and Su Xiaofei would need to prepare ahead in order to protect herself from falling for the same schemes that ruined her past life.


    ''Urgh, Ye Mingyu wouldn''t just stop. A little more and I''m going to throw up from her bad acting.''


    Thements against Ye Mingyu had turned from bad to worse as she continued to bother Su Xiaofei.


    ''Only a blind person wouldn''t be able to see that she''s trying so hard to infuriate Su Xiaofei. Damn, she''s really a poisonous vixen.''


    ''Su Xiaofei, I used to hate you. No¡ª I still hate you, but if you could please be a dear and give Ye Mingyu just one p, I would hate you less.''


    This particrment earned so many kudos and thumbs up from the other viewers, because whether Su Xiaofei liked it or not, she now represents these pompous students who disliked Ye Mingyu now.


    "Schoolmate Ye, didn''t you hear what Feifei just said? Please leave. If she wanted to be friends with you, Feifei woulde and see you, but we both know that''s impossible at the moment. Please also stop airing your dirtyundry in public, you are only putting you and your mother''s reputation at risk!" Xi Qian grimaced as she tried to chase away this two-faced woman.


    Su Xiaofei wasn''t paying attention to Ye Mingyu''s expression earlier, but Xi Qian was certain that she wasn''t seeing things when she saw Ye Mingyu''s lips curled into a mocking smile when Su Xiaofei wasn''t paying attention to her. The nerve of this woman! Xi Qian gritted her teeth.


    "What are you doing being so noisy here, Feifei, Xi Qian? You are in our way."

 Chapter 81 - Raising A Husband Is Hard (1)

    <h4>Chapter 81 - Raising A Husband Is Hard (1)</h4>


    The person who spoke, attracting everyone''s attention, was none other than Lu Qingfeng himself. He was now dressed in his school uniform minus his ck coat with the academy''s insignia embroidered on his right cor, indicating his current year.


    It seemed like he had recently showered, given how damp his dark hair looked, giving him a charming and innocent look that is usually hidden under his cold mask.


    He had just stepped out of the locker room and found Su Xiaofei and Xi Qian talking to the same young woman he''d seen in the CCTV recording Nine had delivered to him before.


    "What''s going on?" He asked Su Xiaofei suspiciously. He had a feeling that this Ye Mingyu hade to cause trouble for Su Xiaofei again. As if he would allow another person to bully his Feifei in his presence.


    Su Xiaofei pulled her wrist from Ye Mingyu''s hold and hurriedly went to Lu Qingfeng. She smiled at him and hid her hands behind her back.


    "Your team won today, does that mean we''re going to celebrate?" She asked with a wide smile, this time a genuine one from her, allowing not only Lu Qingfeng to see it, but also the viewers who were still watching the livestream Ye Mingyu had set up for her earlier.


    "Are you going to pay this time?" Lu Qingfeng looked at her suspiciously. "Feifei, I have this weird feeling that you are trying to scam me for money again."


    This made Su Xiaofeiugh, her eyes glinting with mischief as Lu Qingfeng finally caught up with her ''brilliant'' n.


    "Of course not, why would I try to scam you, Xiao Feng? Okay, okay. If you don''t believe me, I''ll be the one to settle the bill today. So what do you say?" She replied, unaware that she had just totally ignored Ye Mingyu''s presence in favor of Lu Qingfeng.


    Lu Qingfeng''s eyes turned into slits as he stared at Su Xiaofei.


    "Show me your wrist." He demanded out of the blue.


    "What?" Su Xiaofei blinked at him.


    "You clearly heard me the first time. Now show it to me." He insisted.


    Su Xiaofei sighed and showed him the same wrist that Ye Mingyu had held earlier.


    Xi Qian who had been with Su Xiaofei from the very start of the encounter with Ye Mingyu gasped. She hadn''t realized that Ye Mingyu''s hold on Su Xiaofei''s wrist was so hard that it had left the crescent marks of her nails on her best friend''s smooth skin.


    The video that continued to capture what was happening zoomed in on Su Xiaofei''s reddened wrist, giving everyone a clear view of what had appeared on her skin.


    ''For a young woman with a lithe figure, I''m surprised to know that Ye Mingyu has such a vice-grip-like hold on Su Xiaofei''s wrist.'' Someonemented.


    ''What do you know? She''s clearly alright. She could hurt Su Xiaofei like this while still shedding alligator''s tears in front of everyone.''


    ''This is clearly what the others meant when they said, ''Don''t judge the book by its cover.'' Ye Mingyu seemed like she was harmless, but she''s definitely a snake waiting for the right time to strike.''


    Lu Qingfeng gently touched Su Xiaofei''s wrist and scrutinized it, as if he was offended that Su Xiaofei was hurt like this.


    "What are you doing, allowing another person to manhandle you like this? Look at your hand. Is that person trying to cut your blood cirction? Look! You can even see traces on her sharp nails on ur skin. You''re evidently hurt." He said coldly.


    Lu Qingfeng wasn''t acknowledging Ye Mingyu''s presence, nor looking her way, but Ye Mingyu staggered back and held a hand on her chest, feeling threatened by him. She was aware that Lu Qingfeng was Su Xiaofei''s greatest support, and she had yet to find a way to separate the two from each other.


    Ye Mingyu considered getting into Lu Qingfeng''s good graces, but now that she was in front of him, she felt like this man could clearly see past her facade and was aware of her motive towards Su Xiaofei.


    Su Xiaofei shot her a nce and shook her head.


    "Xiao Feng, I think you are overreacting. Schoolmate Ye might have just got carried away with her emotions and didn''t mean to hurt me like this." She told her childhood friend, but she knew that Lu Qingfeng wouldn''t believe such nonsense.


    "Is that so? Then make her apologize to you if she truly didn''t mean it."


    This time, he turned his cold, piercing gaze towards Ye Mingyu.


    Why did it feel like she was being suffocated by Lu Qingfeng''s mere gaze? Ye Mingyu thought. It was as if a never-ending void was waiting to devour her whole.


    "I-I¡­" she tried to find the right words to reason out, but nothing came to mind.


    ''Heh. I doubt she would apologize to Su Xiaofei. Ye Mingyu probably didn''t expect that Lu Qingfeng would notice what she had done to Su Xiaofei.''


    ''Come on, Ye Mingyu. Apologize if you have the guts. You clearly meant to hurt Su Xiaofei when you grabbed her earlier.''


    Thements continued to taunt Ye Mingyu, which would make her breakdownter upon reading it.


    "Now, now, Xiao Feng. Don''t bully your seniors like that. If I allow you to force Schoolmate Ye to apologize for such a trivial matter, people might say that I''m teaching you how to bully a weaker person." As Su Xiaofei said this, she gave Ye Mingyu a mocking look, which thetter didn''t miss at all.


    Ye Mingyu''s eyes were now rimming with tears. She ran away, knowing that she had lost face this time and cursed Su Xiaofei in her heart.


    Su Xiaofei''s gaze followed her retreating figure, her lips curling as she realized Ye Mingyu was heading to the direction where she spotted Cai Lin earlier. They better meet or else¡­


    ''Ye Mingyu, Cai Lin....Don''t disappoint me¡­''

 Chapter 82 - Raising A Husband Is Hard (2)

    <h4>Chapter 82 - Raising A Husband Is Hard (2)</h4>


    Lu Qingfeng released Su Xiaofei''s wrist, and asked her if she wanted to go to the school clinic so a nurse could check to see if her wrist needs to be treated, but Su Xiaofei declined, hooking her arm with his instead and dragged him away, Xi Qian following after them.


    ''Geez, why did Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng start shoving dog food down our throats?! My single heart is unwilling!''


    ''Hey, don''t you think Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng looked good together? Are they dating?''


    The female lead had already left the scene, but thements on the livestream continued to flood endlessly.


    ''Dating? Aren''t they childhood friends? But now that you''ve mentioned it, I always see them together.''


    ''I wouldn''t be surprised if they ended up dating, given how close they are to each other.''


    ''That''s odd. It''s moremon to see the boy being a senior rather than the girl, but I guess it''s the opposite for Lu Qingfeng.''


    ''Hahaha. Wouldn''t that mean that Su Xiaofei might be raising her own husband without her realizing it?''


    ''That is if they are going to end up with each other, but I heard Su Xiaofei is already engaged to the young master of the Mo family. Lu Qingfeng would have a hard time to win her over if he really wanted to be with Su Xiaofei.''


    The discussion continued without the knowledge of the parties involved. Lu Qingfeng and Su Xiaofei had no idea that being spotted together would make others ship the two of them together, although the followers were quite small in number for the meantime.


    Once Nine, who drove the three, had dropped them at the restaurant where Su Xiaofei made the reservation, she busied herself scanning the menu, wondering what they should eat while Lu Qingfeng and Xi Qian looked at her worriedly.


    "Feifei, are you sure your wrist is alright? Don''t you feel any pain?" Xi Qian voiced her concern towards her best friend. She should have prevented Ye Mingyu from touching Su Xiaofei earlier.


    "I''m fine, Qian." Su Xiaofei seemed to be in a good mood and didn''t care about her wrist, but Lu Qingfeng would hear none of it.


    He snatched her wrist and sprayed an antiseptic solution on it, causing Su Xiaofei to wince from the sting, before he gently covered her wrist with a spare bandage he always carried in his sports bag.


    "Next time, don''t let Ye Mingyu hold you like that. Be careful not to associate yourself with her. She would only bring you trouble." He warned her.


    "Oh? How do you know, Xiao Feng? Have you met Ye Mingyu before?" Su Xiaofeiughed, but the moment she saw the seriousness on Lu Qingfeng''s face, her smile faltered.


    "What is it?" She asked cautiously.


    Lu Qingfeng didn''t respond immediately, as if he was hesitating to share what he knew about Ye Mingyu.


    "That woman¡­ she was at the public market when you were stabbed in front of the pharmacy. I asked Nine to find the footage of that day and we saw Ye Mingyu standing there before and after the stabbing took ce."


    Su Xiaofei froze after hearing that. So Ye Mingyu was really there. Lu Qingfeng wouldn''t like to hear about something as serious as this, but she hadn''t expected that he would try to investigate the event himself, and she could only pray that Lu Qingfeng wouldn''t suspect her, given that she too had a purpose for being there.


    However, now that she had confirmed Ye Mingyu''s presence on the day she was stabbed instead of Master Ouyang, it only strengthened her suspicion - that woman knew something that others aren''t aware of.


    "Ye Mingyu was also there?" Xi Qian asked in disbelief. Perhaps she was panicking so much that she didn''t notice the people around them at that time.


    "En. She was definitely there." Lu Qingfeng confirmed, eyeing Su Xiaofei.


    Su Xiaofei wasn''t sure if Ye Mingyu was merely taking advantage of the event or if she was in cahoots with those people who wanted Master Ouyang dead. She also had yet to find out how Ye Mingyu was able to obtain the cold poison which she used to kill Su Xiaofei in her previous life.


    "Do you think it''s a coincidence, Xiao Feng?" She asked the young man, who was seated across from her and Xi Qian.


    "Xiaofei, since when did you start believing in coincidences?" He asked in return.


    Su Xiaofei fell silent on that. Of course she knew it couldn''t just be a mere coincidence when there was evidence pointing to the fact that it wasn''t.


    "Unless Ye Mingyu is a irvoyant, she can''t possibly know that you and Master Ouyang would be there, right?" Xi Qian''s seemingly innocent question, suggested another possibility for Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng to consider.


    It was either Ye Mingyu had investigated Su Xiaofei beforeing to Qiying City, or she was also reborn like Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng.


    If so, how many lifetimes did Ye Mingyu already live? Was she originally from this world or not? Was this her second rebirth like Su Xiaofei or was it a total reset on her part? Lu Qingfeng wondered.


    For a person who was now living his third life, Ye Mingyu''s existence was the biggest enigma he was facing right now.


    In his first and original life, there was no such person as Ye Mingyu in his and Su Xiaofei''s life. Su Xiaofei didn''t have topete with any woman for Mo Yuchen.


    In his second life, this Ye Mingyu appeared out of nowhere and plotted against Su Xiaofei, which eventually ruined not only his ns, but also pushed Su Xiaofei to her own death.


    In this third and current life of his, Lu Qingfeng felt that Ye Mingyu didn''t retain any of her past memories, as she could have easily outwit Su Xiaofei if she did.


    Then¡­ What was he supposed to do now to protect Su Xiaofei from the death g awaiting her?

 Chapter 83 - A World Without You (1)

    <h4>Chapter 83 - A World Without You (1)</h4>


    Obviously, Su Xiaofei had no idea about what''s going on in Lu Qingfeng''s mind, as she wasn''t aware that she wasn''t the only one who was reborn after their pitiful end in their previous lives. As much as Lu Qingfeng wanted to tell her about it, he feared that it might only drive her away from him.


    There''s no need for Su Xiaofei to find out about the dirty things he did to avenge her and his ruthless tyranny in their previous life.


    It seemed as if Su Xiaofei had this notion that he wasn''t the same tyrant he was in their previous life. Although he wasn''t sure how much Su Xiaofei could remember from their past lives, Lu Qingfeng wouldn''t dare to jeopardize his chance to be with her in this lifetime.


    In his first life, because she was so madly in love with Mo Yuchen, Su Xiaofei hade to hate him, refusing to see him or hear whatever he wanted to say when he abducted her on the eve of her wedding with Mo Yuchen.


    Su Xiaofei cursed him, med him for ruining the happy life she was supposed to spend with Mo Yuchen. No matter how much he tried to convince her that Mo Yuchen was only after her mother''s wealth, she disregarded him.


    "You love me? Ha! Don''t speak such nonsense to me, Lu Qingfeng! I would rather die than to be loved by someone like you!" She spat venomously in his face.


    Lu Qingfeng was livid. Just what kind of lies did Mo Yuchen tell Su Xiaofei for her to hate him like this?


    "Feifei, you are wrong. You shouldn''t have trusted the wrong person." He told her, but she insisted on going back to Mo Yuchen and bing his wife.


    Mo Yuchen only cared about himself and loved no one but himself. Lu Qingfeng was sure of this. Loving another person was something Mo Yuchen wasn''t capable of.


    In the end, after Mo Yuchen was certain that his wife hated Lu Qingfeng, he arranged someone to assassinate him, causing him to lose his life before Su Xiaofei lost hers to an unknown illness.


    Before entering his second life, Lu Qingfeng had to witness Mo Yuchen mistreat the woman he loved the most by disregarding her, before Su Xiaofei fell ill and died due a mysterious illness after five years of marriage.


    In his second life, he possessed the body of the twenty-one-year-old Lu Qingfeng, who passed away when he was assassinated on his way back to Qiying City. The appearance of Ye Mingyu was something Lu Qingfeng hadn''t anticipated because Su Haoran didn''t have an illegitimate daughter in his previous life.


    Noticing the differences between his original life and this new life, Lu Qingfeng considered it as a parallel universe. A world where Su Xiaofei was still alive.


    Still, even in his second life, Mo Yuchen had once again beaten him, and Su Xiaofei once again lost her life in the process. She died, and once again, Lu Qingfeng fell into a deep depression, but he didn''t want to give up and had tried to find another way to cross another world or timeline where he could be with her again.


    Lu Qingfeng didn''t get to observe the events past his second death and thought that it would be the end of his pathetic life, only to be woken up once again inside this fifteen-year-old body.


    He was very confused at first. Why was he sent back in time instead of bringing him to another world where he could be with Su Xiaofei again?


    It was just that he had never thought she would also be reborned, retaining the memories of her previous life. If he hadn''t heard what Su Xiaofei said in her sleep, he would have never guessed that she had also returned in time with him.


    There were a few differences between his original life and his second and third life, but some things remained the same.


    For example, in his original life, Su Xiaofei wasn''t born and raised as an heiress, but a country bumpkin he met during his stay in the countryside as his health was deteriorating when he was young.


    When Su Xiaofei reached fifteen years of age, they discovered that she was the missing daughter of the young miss of the Yun family, Yun Qingrong, while Su Haoran was the person who took her in and raised her until she was taken back by the Yun family.


    However, regardless of Su Xiaofei''s family background in his different lifetimes, her attitude and personality remained the same. She was hated by everyone because of her arrogance and selfishness in both lives, but her warmth, soft heart and kindness were only reserved to those who were dear to her, especially her mother, Yun Qingrong and her best friend, Xi Qian.


    Lu Qingfeng hoped that this would be thest time he would be reborned like this. He wanted to live his life and spend the rest of it with Su Xiaofei by his side. With the knowledge of the past, he was able to find his trusted assistants and set traps along the way, which would serve as hiss to beat Mo Yuchen in the process.


    ''Xiao Feng, I want to crush Mo Yuchen with my own hands. There''s no way in hell I would be able to forgive him. Not ever.'' Su Xiaofei told him the other day, which made him wonder what she would do, now that she was able to see what kind of person Mo Yuchen was.


    As he lived his third life, Lu Qingfeng was starting to doubt which world he truly belonged to. Because if he was to organize his memories from both lives, there would be a huge discrepancy in his first life.


    Was it possible that it was just a dream he had sumbed into when he fell under aa in his second life?


    This¡­ Lu Qingfeng had no answer, but he would still love Su Xiaofei wholeheartedly, regardless of his origin.

 Chapter 84 - A World Without You (2)

    <h4>Chapter 84 - A World Without You (2)</h4>


    "Xiao Feng, are you okay? Is there something else you found out?" Su Xiaofei waved her hand in front of his face, trying to bring him back to reality.


    Lu Qingfeng blinked and pushed her hand away and sighed, snatching the menu from her hands.


    "I''m starving. Since you are the one paying today, you don''t mind if I order whatever I want, right?" He replied.


    "Of course, anything for our most valuable yer who secured our win today." She winked at him, before turning her attention to Xi Qian, who was watching the interaction between the two.


    Xi Qian wasn''t sure what it was, but she could feel that something between these two changed, and she wasn''t certain if she was going to like it or not.


    "Qian, order whatever you want, okay? Don''t be shy. If there''s something you can''t finish, I can ask them to pack those for you to take home." She heard Su Xiaofei say.


    When she didn''t reply, Su Xiaofei furrowed her brows. "Qian?"


    Xi Qian snapped out of her trance and picked up her own menu.


    "O-okay, I''m going to choose now." She stuttered, hiding her face behind the menu while trying to peek at Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng.


    Did this little tyrant do something to their Feifei? Why did she feel like there''s something going on between these two?


    Xi Qian shook her head in an attempt to clear her thoughts. Lu Qingfeng, although annoying at times, wouldn''t dare to seduce Su Xiaofei at such a young age. Still, it seemed like not only she needed to watch out for Mo Yuchen, she should also keep an eye on this little tyrant.


    Su Xiaofei seemed to be in a good mood today, but Xi Qian didn''t know what made her best friend happy.


    "Did something good happen recently, Feifei? You seem to be in a good mood."


    "I am?" Su Xiaofei eyed her and cocked her head in one side. "I suppose you are right. Everything''s going well for me these days."


    She recalled that as soon as their car drove away from the academy, she spotted the crying Ye Mingyu being consoled by Cai Lin of all people. Su Xiaofei knew that Cai Lin would keep his rtionship with Feng Xue''er a secret from Ye Mingyu and it didn''t matter if Ye Mingyu knew who he was or not, because Su Xiaofei was certain that the young woman would take this chance to pull Cai Lin in anyway.


    ''Feng Xue''er, you''ve tried your best to keep Ye Mingyu away from Cai Lin, but it''s toote now. Watch and see for yourself how fickle and useless your friendship is with Ye Mingyu.'' She thought as she took a sip from her tall ss of orange juice while they waited for their orders to arrive and to be served.


    "Feifei, are you going to attend the founding ball? I think I would have to decline the invitation." Xi Qian asked her.


    "Why aren''t you going? Don''t have a dress to wear, is that it?"


    Xi Qian nodded her head. She also didn''t attendst year''s founding ball because she didn''t have anything to wear, and Su Xiaofei wasn''t there either.


    Su Xiaofei smiled and patted her friend''s hand. How can she not know Xi Qian''s predicament?


    "Silly, Qian. I have a massive wardrobe that houses numerous evening gowns and dresses that I have yet to use. What kind of friend would I be if I didn''t lend you some? I''m pretty sure there''s something inside that wardrobe that can fit you."


    Xi Qian blushed and lowered her head. For things like this, she sometimes hoped that she had at least loving parents who could spoil her once in a while, but she knew her parents wouldn''t even spend a dime for her to get a decent ball dress she could wear for the event.


    "Just agree and don''t argue anymore." Lu Qingfengmented, but his gaze was somewhere else. "Feifei is kind enough to lend you some of her things. It''s not like you are borrowing money."


    "O-okay, if you say so. Thanks, Feifei."


    With all the favors she was receiving from Su Xiaofei, Xi Qian felt that the need to return at least some of them in any way possible.


    "Don''t overthink, Qian. I''m not doing this for anything. You are my friend, so why can''t I treat you well? However, in the future, if I somewhat mess up, you have to help me, okay?" Su Xiaofei winked at her. She was just teasing Xi Qian, but thetter took her words seriously.


    "Deal, but you better not make a fuss about it in the future, Feifei. I don''t mind hitting your head if you dare to make silly decisions like going back to Mo Yuchen again."


    Su Xiaofeiughed at that, while Lu Qingfeng didn''t make any indication that he heard what Xi Qian had said.


    "What made you think that I still like that man?"


    Xi Qian shrugged, before following Lu Qingfeng''s gaze, noticing that he was actually looking at Mo Yuchen in the opposite restaurant. She groaned upon seeing the man.


    "Speaking of the devil." Xi Qian muttered. "Perhaps we should use a code for him, to avoid seeing him out of the blue like this."


    "Aiya, there''s no need to look at him. Just pretend he doesn''t exist. Why do we need to ruin our good appetite with his presence?" Su Xiaofei pped her hands together when the waiter came with their food.


    "You are eating more these days." Lu Qingfengmented. "Aren''t you afraid of gaining weight?"


    In his previous lives, Su Xiaofei had starved herself to keep her figure perfect for Mo Yuchen.


    She shook her head.


    "It would be a waste not to eat such good food. If a man doesn''t like me because I''m a little fat, then damn him. Who needs him?"


    Lu Qingfeng chuckled bemusedly.. Right, he preferred her a little chubby anyway.

 Chapter 85 - The Closest Person In Her Heart (1)

    <h4>Chapter 85 - The Closest Person In Her Heart (1)</h4>


    The three finished their enjoyable meal, ignoring Mo Yuchen''s existence in the opposite restaurant. As long as Mo Yuchen didn''te over and cause trouble for them, Su Xiaofei wouldn''t waste her time on him anymore.


    Xi Qian paid attention to her best friend, still wondering if Su Xiaofei was really over with her infatuation with Mo Yuchen. Although she didn''t like to admit it openly, she would rather Su Xiaofei not get involved with another man too soon.


    Mo Yuchen surely didn''t deserve her best friend. As for Lu Qingfeng, although he was protective of Feifei, Xi Qian was still not confident enough to leave Feifei with him alone. She feared that the obsession Lu Qingfeng had with Su Xiaofei would hurt her friend in the future.


    It didn''t matter if they were childhood friends, because Xi Qian was certain that Lu Qingfeng doesn''t see Feifei as a friend at all ever since she met the little tyrant a few years ago.


    Su Xiaofei pulled out her phone after finishing her meal, intending to see how badly Ye Mingyu had messed up her own scheme to humiliate her in front of everyone today.


    As expected, Ye Mingyu''s audacity to seek her out had cost the young woman her own public reputation. Students kept saying that she was also a fox like her mother and was sent to the academy to harass Su Xiaofei. Some even usingly said that Ye Xing might be faking her illness to drive a wedge between Su Xiaofei''s parents.


    Compared to Su Xiaofei, who was a perfect representation of a Bai''fu''mei1, Ye Mingyu was severelycking not only in elegance, but also in proper etiquette. If Lu Qingfeng didn''t notice the ring red marks on Su Xiaofei''s wrist, they would have never guessed that this Ye Mingyu was hiding viciousness behind her angelic face.


    "Feifei, what are you looking at?" Xi Qian asked as she picked up thest dumpling on her te. She noticed that Su Xiaofei was smirking as she scrolled on her phone.


    "Someone broadcasted a livestream earlier, guess who the leads are in thistest drama?" Su Xiaofei gave her a knowing look.


    Xi Qian gasped at her in disbelief and hurriedly pulled out her phone. While Su Xiaofei was using thetest model released by that poprpany named after a fruit, Xi Qian was using a phone that was released five years ago and could barely keep up with thetest phones released these days.


    Still, she was able to find the same live stream video that Su Xiaofei had just mentioned. Although it was only a ten-minute clip, it was able to capture the conversation between Su Xiaofei and Ye Mingyu earlier and ended with Su Xiaofei walking away with Lu Qingfeng.


    Thements were rude towards Ye Mingyu, but it didn''t mean that the other students had already changed their minds about Su Xiaofei. There were still some who thought that she was bullying Ye Mingyu and was purposely putting her in an awkward situation.


    "What nonsense are these people talking about? Didn''t they see it was Ye Mingyu who came to talk to you first?" Xi Qian was annoyed when she saw the harshments about her best friend. She was there as a witness, so she knew it wasn''t possible that Su Xiaofei was the one who started themotion between them.


    "Calm down, Qian. No matter what others say about me, you don''t need to get riled up. You can''t just convince people with words alone." Su Xiaofei closed the livestreaming app, only to find her photos with Lu Qingfeng on the forum of the academy, seeing other students making assumptions about their rtionship with each other in thement section.


    "Hey, what''s up with these people shipping me with Xiao Feng?" She frowned. "Don''t they have anything better to do than gossiping around?"


    "Shipping what?" Lu Qingfeng moved to the seat next to Su Xiaofei and looked over her shoulder to see what''s on her phone. He wanted to see what caught her attention this time.


    "You don''t know what a ship is?" Su Xiaofei gave him a questioning look. It''s impossible for someone like Lu Qingfeng not to be aware of popr colloquial terms such as ''ship'' that people use these days.


    "Ah, I know now." Lu Qingfeng pulled away and took his phone to see the photos Su Xiaofei was looking at earlier himself. He didn''t think that people would start noticing a possible rtionship between the two of them.


    Lu Qingfengughed when he read ament about Su Xiaofei raising a possible husband for herself in the future, not knowing that despite his young age, his mental age was that of a man who already lived two lifetimes before.


    Scrolling to the various photos of the two of them, a particr photo piqued his interest.


    It was a picture of him and Su Xiaofei that was screen grabbed from the livestream video. On it, Su Xiaofei had just seen him and went to greet him with her hands behind her back, smiling sweetly at him. It was as if the world around them had vanished, and they could only see each other.


    Lu Qingfeng decided to save this particr photo. This would be his favorite photo of them in the future, next to their wedding photo. Yearster, he would look at the same photo and reminisce about the past.


    Su Xiaofei ced her phone back in her pocket. She was satisfied with today''s oue and couldn''t wait to see how Feng Xue''er would react once she found out that Ye Mingyu had met her fianc¨¦ behind her back.


    For someone whose arrogance could beparable to Su Xiaofei, Feng Xue''er would surely not let Ye Mingyu off the hook so easily. The so-called friendship that the two once imed and bragged about in front of everyone in Su Xiaofei''s past life, was nothing but a pretense between the two.


    Just as the saying goes, one mustn''t interrupt the enemy when she is making a mistake.

 Chapter 86 - The Closest Person In Her Heart (2)

    <h4>Chapter 86 - The Closest Person In Her Heart (2)</h4>


    When they stepped out of the restaurant, it also coincided with Mo Yuchen leaving the other restaurant with a partner he had met for a meeting. His eyes narrowed when he spotted the three, waiting for their ride to arrive.


    Su Xiaofei ignored him, while Lu Qingfeng and Xi Qian red at him in return.


    Lu Qingfeng was visibly annoyed seeing Mo Yuchen today and didn''t bother to hide his disgust towards the other man. If he wasn''t trapped in this adolescent body of his and was the same age or a little older than her, Lu Qingfeng would have swept her away from Mo Yuchen''s reach.


    No matter if it was in the past or this lifetime, just seeing his face was enough to make Lu Qingfeng boil with anger. He suddenly thought that all the things he''d done in his second life, after Su Xiaofei''s death, wasn''t enough to quell the rage in his heart.


    Su Xiaofei was his beloved, and yet in the hands of this man, she was trampled and discarded once her purpose had been served.


    Mo Yuchen looked like he felt insulted for being ignored by her. He eyed Su Xiaofei, but she remained uninterested to acknowledge his presence, even though she was aware that he was there.


    If it was in the past, Su Xiaofei would have thrown herself at him and bombarded him with questions as to what he was doing here or if he was being apanied by another woman.


    Now that Su Xiaofei doesn''t want him anymore, why did Mo Yuchen act like he was the one being wronged by her? Xi Qian thought.


    He couldn''t even take the initiative to annul his engagement with Su Xiaofei, now that she had voiced her intention to back out from it. If Mo Yuchen truly despised her and didn''t want to be with her, he should have given back her freedom to marry whoever she wanted to in the future, but he didn''t.


    With these thoughts, Xi Qian was itching to go to the other side of the road to confront the man, but Su Xiaofei stopped her by holding on to her wrist.


    "Qian, didn''t you say that your shift is about to start in half an hour? We don''t have time to waste then." Su Xiaofei said with a smile.


    Xi Qian had no choice but to agree and entered the car with Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng. They watched as Mo Yuchen followed them with his gaze until they were out of sight.


    Xi Qian snorted and crossed her arms in annoyance.


    "So annoying. If he doesn''t like Feifei, why won''t he say anything and break their engagement himself? Is he really that weak that he and his family needed to rely on Aunty Qing''s help to save theirpany? This only shows that they are ipetent businessmen, then."


    Lu Qingfeng chuckled at that.


    "What Xi Qian said made sense, don''t you think, Feifei?"


    "Right. It must have hurt his fragile masculinity to know that he has to rely on my mother''s help to save theirpany, but that would never happen. They wouldn''t be able to use my mother unless they manage to force me to join the Mo family."


    "As if we would allow that to happen." Lu Qingfengmented.


    "As if!" Xi Qian chimed in. "Feifei, whatever happens, even if Mo Yuchen kneels down to ask for your hand for marriage, don''t you dare ept him back."


    Su Xiaofei felt warmth in her heart, seeing how concerned they were about her well-being. She was truly blind and foolish for disregarding them in her past life.


    "Qian, how would I be able to get married in the future if you are scaring people off like this?" Sheughed behind her hand.


    The smile on Lu Qingfeng''s face vanished. She wasn''t thinking of marrying another man now, was she?


    "Feifei, I won''t allow anyone to marry you unless they get my approval. Don''t you dare forget that you made this promise to me a long time ago."


    "Yes, I did." Su Xiaofei nodded. "How could I forget? I wouldn''t dare, Qian."


    It was just too bad that she literally broke this promise in her previous life when she married Mo Yuchen without seeking Xi Qian''s approval.


    It was precisely because of this that she had given her approval to Li Xiran when he sought her permission first to court, Xi Qian. At first, she was curious as to why he was asking her permission when he could have just seen her best friend behind her back.


    ''You are the closest person to Qian. She holds you in high regard in her heart, so please, Miss Su, allow me to be with her.'' Li Xiran told her.


    She wondered if her rebirth would affect Xi Qian and Li Xiran''s meeting that should happen in seven years. Seven years was a long time for Xi Qian to wait for her beloved, but that''s alright. Su Xiaofei would make sure Xi Qian would be happy and safe until Li Xiran arrived in her best friend''s life.


    "You made such a pact?" Lu Qingfeng furrowed his brows. He wasn''t aware that such a promise between these two existed, but he shouldn''t be surprised at all, given how close Feifei was to Xi Qian.


    "Of course, Xi Qian is my best friend." Su Xiaofei affirmed. "Since she has a pair of useless parents, there''s no one who would give her away when she gets married in the future. I promised her that I would be the one to walk her down the aisle to pass her hand to her future husband."


    Xi Qian blushed at that. Indeed, the reason why she and Su Xiaofei made this pact was because she was worried that no one would represent her family on her wedding day, just in case she decided to marry in the future.


    "I see¡­" Lu Qingfeng nodded before turning his attention on the road.. If that was the case, then he really should learn how to get along with Xi Qian for Su Xiaofei''s sake.

 Chapter 87 - Picking Up A Young Husband (1)

    <h4>Chapter 87 - Picking Up A Young Husband (1)</h4>


    When Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng arrived at the Yun Mansion, they were just in time to see Aunty Liu with a man in histe forties, whom Su Xiaofei was familiar with. This man was called Fang Yi, and he was the VP of Public Rtions and Procurement at Bluemedia, thepany that her mother owned.


    While her mother was a businesswoman, Yun Qingrong was aware that she didn''t have the right skills to manage and deal with issues rted to their artists. This is where Fang Yi came in, he was the one who oversaw and dealt with such problems, sharing and lessening the burden on Yun Qingrong''s part.


    In her past life, Uncle Fang was really good towards her mother. As to what kind of rtionship they had, Su Xiaofei wasn''t sure, but she was certain that Uncle Fang respected her mother.


    Uncle Fang was a widower as his wife had died from an incurable illness twenty years ago and didn''t have any children with her. He never remarried and had dedicated his whole life to work, treating their talents as his own children instead. This was why many of their talents would rather prefer hispany than dealing with Su Xiaofei''s adopted father.


    When Yun Qingrong died, this same man was one of those people who shed tears at her funeral, so naturally, Su Xiaofei perceived him as a good person, unlike Su Haoran.


    "Hi, Uncle Fang. I haven''t seen you in a while. I hope everything''s well. What brings you here?" Su Xiaofei asked politely, while Lu Qingfeng only gave the older man a curt nod.


    "Ah, Feifei, Xiao Feng." Uncle Fang''s face lit up when he spotted the two of them.


    "I dropped by to bring the documents your mother needed. I just heard what happened to you. Are you feeling better now? Sorry if Uncle couldn''t visit you sooner, but know that you were in my mind and my prayers."


    He had this calmness and wisdom that Su Xiaofei had never seen in her own adoptive father.


    "I also bought your favorite cake. You better share it with Xiao Feng and the others, okay?"


    "Uncle is too kind. Thank you for your concern, but I''m feeling better now." Su Xiaofei smiled. "I didn''t know Mama came home."


    She then gestured for the old man to head inside, with Lu Qingfeng tagging along behind them.


    The man sighed and patted Su Xiaofei''s arm gently.


    "I noticed that she was troubled these days, but she wasn''t telling me what''s going on, so I couldn''t help her. If I didn''t hear from others that she forced Director Su to resign, and that she was divorcing him, I wouldn''t be aware of what''s happening.."


    Su Xiaofei knew what her Uncle Fang meant. Because they were in the entertainment industry, it was normal for other people to ask him for rification and statements about the divorce of her parents.


    "They had a nasty fight, Uncle. I heard that Papa already resigned, but he refused to sign the divorce papers Mama''swyer sent to him. He''s already living with his other family, I just wish he would stop hurting my Mama and give her back her freedom."


    "Sorry, Feifei. If only I could do something to help you." Uncle Fang was clearly distressed to hear the kind of predicament Yun Qingrong and Su Xiaofei were in at the moment.


    "No, Uncle." Su Xiaofei shook her head and patted the older man''s hand. "I should be the one to thank you. By being here, assisting Mama at work, she wouldn''t have to worry too much about thepany."


    Uncle Fangughed at that and nced at the handsome young man who was seated next to Su Xiaofei. It seemed that Yun Qingrong wasn''t the only one who had someone to lean on. Su Xiaofei also had someone who would willingly stay with her through thick and thin.


    "I told your mother to take a break from work, but she refused. She said that she would rather work from home than leave everything to me at thepany."


    "She''s still sad and hurt from Papa''s betrayal. It''s understandable that she wanted her mind to be preupied with work rather than grieve over the end of her marriage with Papa." Su Xiaofei replied with a weak smile, but her eyes were cold as she thought about how shameless Su Haoran was for trying to trap her mother in marriage.


    Maybe she should ask the Yun family''s assistance to force that shameless man to sign the divorce papers. Su Xiaofei thought.


    "Just stay with your mother, Feifei. I think your presence alone would be enough to lessen the hurt she''s feeling right now. If anything happens, don''t forget to give me a call, okay? I would surelye and help you to the best of my abilities." Uncle Fang promised her.


    "Thank you, Uncle. I won''t keep you any longer. I know how busy you are at thepany. Although Mama is going to work from home for now, please don''t overwork. Mama and I wouldn''t be happy if you had to suffer because of our family issues."


    "What are you saying, Feifei? You and your mother aren''t strangers to me. Of course, I would be worried about the two of you. Anyway, you are right." Uncle Fang stood up and checked the time on his watch. "I have a meeting scheduled in an hour, so I need to leave now. Call me if there''s anything, okay?"


    "Yes, Uncle. Be careful on your way to Guangshang." Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng saw him out and waved as his car drove away from the estate.


    "Mama is so lucky to have such a dependable friend like Uncle Fang, don''t you think, Xiao Feng?"


    When he didn''t respond, she turned to face him and smiled.


    "Of course, I''m also lucky to have Xiao Feng in my life.." She said as she dragged him back inside their home.

 Chapter 88 - Picking Up A Young Husband (2)

    <h4>Chapter 88 - Picking Up A Young Husband (2)</h4>


    Su Xiaofei knocked on the door to get her mother''s attention. It looked like her mother was currently reviewing the documents her Uncle Fang had delivered today. She was surprised that her mother was home this early, as Yun Qingrong usually arrivedte at night when Su Xiaofei had already eaten her dinner and was preparing to go to bed.


    "Feifei. You''re home. Do you want something to eat? I can ask Aunty Liu to prepare you some snacks." Yun Qingrong lifted her head and smiled. "Xiao Feng."


    Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng entered the study together. However, even before Su Xiaofei could say something to her mother, Lu Qingfeng had already beaten her to it.


    "Aunty Qing, Grandpa is arriving tonight, so I need to go back home now. Thank you for allowing me to stay with you here." The young man asked, ignoring how Su Xiaofei was looking at him in disbelief.


    "You are leaving already? Why didn''t you tell me earlier?" Su Xiaofei pouted at him. Had she gotten used to his presence that she was now feeling upset that she wouldn''t be able to nag him anytime she wished to?


    "I''m just going home, Feifei." Lu Qingfeng lightly flicked her forehead, earning a scathing re from her. "It''s not like I''m going somewhere far away where you wouldn''t be able to see me."


    "Still! We were together almost the whole afternoon, and you are only telling me this now?" She red at him, pping his hand away when he attempted to touch her shoulder. How could he not inform her sooner? He knew he was leaving, yet he didn''t say anything to her at all!


    Yun Qingrongughed at their interaction. No one could really deny that her daughter was close to this young man she grew up with. She felt like it was only yesterday when her nine-year-old daughter came home one rainy afternoon with the young Lu Qingfeng, who just turned six, asking her if the boy could live with them. She could still recall it clearly to this day.


    "Mama, can Xiao Feng stay here and live with us? He said he only has a grandfather, who is always away for work. He also doesn''t have a mommy or a daddy." Her Feifei''s round dark eyes blinked at her, expecting she would agree to her request.


    Yun Qingrong nced at the young boy who was holding her daughter''s hand. She was slightly surprised that he looked better than other young boys his age. His clothes indicated that he was also from a well-off family, but why would her Feifei think they should take in this little master?


    "But darling, even if Xiao Feng doesn''t have parents, I''m sure his grandfather would miss him if he went missing." She told her young daughter.


    Young Feifei pouted, refusing to let go of the boy''s hand. She liked Xiao Feng because he''s just like her. Xiao Feng didn''t go and make himself look dirty by ying with the other kids. He was also very smart that he was able to correct her when she misread the book she was reading earlier.


    Also, just look at his cute face! He had a chubby, cute face that reminded her of mantous1. His skin was pale and smooth and adding to the fact that he really smelled nice, young Feifei decided to take him home on the spot.


    Su Xiaofei, who was fond of collecting cute things, was naturally attracted when she firstid her eyes on Lu Qingfeng. He was so pleasing to look at, so why not bring him home, so she could enjoy looking at his cute face anytime she wanted!


    Who would have thought that in a blink of an eye, those young kids were now reaching their adulthood soon. Her Feifei was now a grown updy, soon enough, she would leave the nest and would start her own family in the future.


    The baby she had fallen in love with the first time sheid eyes on, was now a beautiful woman she could be proud of. Even though she wasn''t able to conceive and give birth to her own child, Yun Qingrong was thankful that she was able to have Feifei as her daughter.


    "Feifei, it''s alright. You know you can''t keep Xiao Feng here forever." She told her daughter.


    Lu Qingfeng opened his mouth and was about to say something, but Su Xiaofei kicked his shin.


    She wasn''t sure what kind of nonsense he would spout in front of her mother, and Su Xiaofei didn''t want her mother to misunderstand.


    "I''m just going to say, Aunty Qing is right. Do you really have to kick me?" He frowned, feeling being wronged by Su Xiaofei at the moment.


    "Come here, Xiao Feng." Yun Qingrong stood up from her seat and gestured to him to move closer.


    Lu Qingfeng gave Su Xiaofei an inquisitive look, but she only shrugged, not knowing what her mother was up to. He did what he was told anyway and moved closer to the older woman. He was startled when Yun Qingrong gave him a hug and patted his back gently.


    "Our home is always open for you, Xiao Feng." She said before releasing him, knowing he was feeling awkward by the sudden skin contact. Lu Qingfeng would only tolerate Su Xiaofei touching him and no one else.


    "There wouldn''t be an Aunty Liu to remind you to eat your meals on time, so you have to look after yourself. Ask your butler if you think you need help to keep track of your meals. In case you suffer from another bad episode of insomnia, just drive here anytime, and I''ll ask Feifei to apany you."


    "Mom, I''m going to be jealous now. In case you''re forgetting, I''m your child, not Xiao Feng." Su Xiaofei harrumphed, crossing her arms at her midsection. Of course, she was only joking. She only wanted her mother to forget her adoptive father, the cheating bastard.

 Chapter 89 - I Want To Become A Cat Lady! (1)

    <h4>Chapter 89 - I Want To Be A Cat Lady! (1)</h4>


    "Really, Xiao Feng. You should have told me you were leaving today. I could have prepared myself for the shock." Sheined as she flopped on his bed in the guest room he''d been upying for over a week now.


    "You know, I''m only staying here temporarily until my grandfather returns from his trip. I didn''t know you desperately wanted to live in the same house with me." He gave her a feral grin as he ced his neatly folded clothes back into his luggage.


    Nine, his trusted assistant, was already waiting for him downstairs, with the car ready for their departure.


    Su Xiaofei scoffed and threw a pillow at him, but Lu Qingfeng easily caught it midair before cing it back next to the headboard of the bed.


    "Watch what you''re saying. People might really misunderstand what you are saying, you rascal!" She red at him.


    "What else should I say then? First, you want my money, now, you want me to live with you. Sorry, Xiaofei. I would do no such things until there''s a marriage certificate between the two of us. You can''t possibly enjoy the perks of being my wife, without taking responsibility for me."


    Su Xiaofei felt she was about to choke from his shamelessness this time. Who told him she wanted his money?! She was only joking when she asked if he was willing to give her 100 million! As for him living with her under the same roof, she had said no such thing at all!


    "Lu Qingfeng! Can you even hear what you are saying?! If others can hear you now, they might think that you''re insinuating that you want to marry me at such a young age." She grumbled. She knew that he loved her in her past life, but did he really have to make it awkward between them, now that she had proposed to break her engagement with Mo Yuchen?


    "What if I said I really want to?" This time, Lu Qingfeng''s voice didn''t have any hint of teasing, but he wasn''t looking at her.


    "W-what?" Su Xiaofei sat up and stared at him in shock.


    "I said, what if I really want to marry Da Jie whom I met when I was younger? I want to marry Da Jie and live with her when I grow up." Lu Qingfeng repeated what he had just said, but now, he was staring at Su Xiaofei right in her eyes.


    If another man had said these words to her, she would''ve choke mmed him on the spot, but this was Lu Qingfeng.


    Su Xiaofei, who had just received a proposal from the fifteen-year-old Lu Qingfeng shouldn''t be taking his words seriously, but why did she feel like her face was burning from shyness?


    ''Hey, now. Don''t tell me I have a thing for Xiao Feng too.'' She berated herself inwardly. She shouldn''t have added fuel to the fire if she didn''t know how to extinguish it in the first ce. However, this only proved that Lu Qingfeng was already harboring such thoughts and feelings for her.


    Wait. If she was also attracted to Lu Qingfeng romantically, wouldn''t that mean if Mo Yuchen was out of the scene, she would naturally be drawn to Lu Qingfeng?


    ''No. That can''t be right. When we were at this age in my past life, aside from looking after me at the academy and being friendly with my Mama, Xiao Feng never made any indication that he was attracted to me or made remarks like this.'' Su Xiaofei shook her head, making Lu Qingfeng raise a slender brow at her.


    The intensity of his gaze towards her made Su Xiaofei conscious of what she looked like at the moment. What had made him like someone like her? Didn''t everyone say that she had a horrible personality?


    Su Xiaofei really doesn''t have a clue as to what made Lu Qingfeng feel drawn to her, even going as far as destroying Mo Yichen and Su Haoran''s family in her past life. It would have been better if he learned to move on after her marriage to Mo Yuchen and marry another woman, but he didn''t. Until hisst breath, her name was on his lips, calling after her.


    "You''re still young. You are only fifteen now. In the future, you''ll meet a lot of women more beautiful than this Da Jie." She muttered, trying to avoid meeting his gaze.


    "That''s true. They might be more beautiful and smarter than Da Jie, but if they aren''t Da Jie, I would rather not marry anyone at all."


    Su Xiaofei stared at him in disbelief. Why did she feel like she was digging her own grave this time? She couldn''t remember Lu Qingfeng acting like this in her previous life at all!


    "What if this Da Jie didn''t have any intention to marry anyone at all?" She retorted.


    "I''ll make her change her mind, until she is willing to be the one and only Madam Lu." Lu Qingfeng replied in an instant.


    "What if I want to be a catdy?"


    "Not possible. I know you like cats, but didn''t you say that they hissed at you whenever you tried to pet them in the past."


    "I''m my Mama''s only child. I''m not willing to leave her alone."


    "That''s fine. I know you will constantly worry about her. I don''t mind if Aunty Qing wants to live in the same house with us, as long as she''s banned from entering the master bedroom."


    Su Xiaofei stared at him as if he''d already lost his mind. Did he really think about it that far?


    Aiya, this young man was too smart for her small brain! Lu Qingfeng always had an answer to her retort which was frustrating. So annoying!


    Was she really talking to a fifteen-year-oldd? This fellow was really dangerous to her sanity.


    "Don''t try to dissuade me, Xiaofei. You will only fail. I assure you.." Lu Qingfeng chuckled, seeing her annoyed face.

 Chapter 90 - I Want To Become A Cat Lady! (2)

    <h4>Chapter 90 - I Want To Be A Cat Lady! (2)</h4>


    Lu Qingfeng knew that this third life might be his final chance to court Su Xiaofei. Since he was utterly defeated in his previous lives, he supposed he needed to change his tactics to win her heart. He needed to be proactive and ingrain himself in Su Xiaofei''s life until she epted that she could never live without him and that she needed him in her life.


    He could see the confusion and fear reflected in her eyes, but he needed to make a stance now, or she would once again ignore him in the future in favor of Mo Yuchen. There was no way he would allow it to happen again.


    Lu Qingfeng knew that Mo Yuchen wouldn''t easily ept the nullification of his engagement with Su Xiaofei, but it didn''t mean he would stay still and do nothing, now that Feifei hated that wretched man.


    In this lifetime, he would be sure to win Su Xiaofei''s heart no matter what.


    "Come on, don''t dilly-dally for too long, Feifei. I''m not asking you to ept me right away. I''m just making my intentions clear to you now." He stepped forward and cupped the side of her face, forcing her to look at him, only at him.


    "If you feel sad, distressed, or feel like there''s no one in this world who can understand you, feel free to call my name and I wille to you immediately. It doesn''t matter how far we are from each other, I will surely find a way to be with you. As long as we trust each other, there''s no need for you to fear anything, Feifei. This is why it''s fine for things to remain as they are for now. The only thing I wish is for you not to deny me so soon."


    Su Xiaofei didn''t notice that her eyes had turned misty. Such sweet words that she had never heard from anyone, even from her own husband in her previous life. How can she not be moved by the sincerity of Lu Qingfeng''s words?


    The twenty five-year-old Lu Qingfeng who professed his undying love to her by her deathbed in her past life, and this young Lu Qingfeng in front of her was almost the same.


    "You still have enough years to consider and see what your heart truly desires at your own pace, and it''s fine, as long as you don''t dilly-dally with indecision. You have to know one cannot wait for too long, though, Xiaofei. It''s tiring. But if it''s you, I''m willing to wait for a few more years until you are ready to face and ept what''s in your heart."


    He understood that the remorse she still bore from herst life was deeply ingrained in her heart, that no matter how much he wanted to love her, her resentment towards Mo Yuchen and Ye Mingyu would forbid her to seek the happiness she also deserved in this lifetime.


    How can he allow that to happen? For him, denying Su Xiaofei''s happiness was tantamount to stabbing his own heart. In this world, no matter how badly others perceive this woman, Su Xiaofei should be the one to inflict damage unto others and not the other way around!


    Lu Qingfeng also knew how prideful she was, not willing to ask for his help on her quest for revenge. Even if he offered his everything right now, he knew that it would be pointless because Su Xiaofei would rather do everything by herself.


    He closed and zipped his luggage and took his school bag that was on the armchair. He hooked its strap over his shoulder and eyed Su Xiaofei, who was still seated on top of his bed, still in a trance.


    "I''m leaving. Aren''t you going to see me off, Feifei?" He called out.


    That brought Su Xiaofei back to reality. She hurriedly slipped out of the bed and wore her home slippers, and followed him outside. They walked next to each other, but the silence was killing Lu Qingfeng. He wanted to tell her to calm down and not to overthink, but he already told her what she needed to know. It''s up to her if she would give him a chance or deny him once more, just like she did in the past.


    Nine was waiting for them downstairs, and he immediately took Lu Qingfeng''s luggage and left at once to give the two some privacy. He wasn''t that dumb to notice that something had change between his young master and the Young Miss Su.


    Su Xiaofei walked with Lu Qingfeng until they reached the front door. She found herself unable to say anything after hearing such a confession from the young man next to her.


    "Xiao Feng¡­," she started, but he shook his head, informing her that she didn''t need to give her answer immediately.


    Instead, Lu Qingfeng took her hand into his, giving it a light squeeze to assure her.


    "You trust me, right?" He asked, his eyes never leaving hers.


    "En."


    "Then that''s enough for me for now. Do whatever you need to do, but don''t forget I''m here for you." He repeated his words earlier.


    "O-okay." If he put it that way, what else could Su Xiaofei say?


    "Until then, take care of yourself." He said, flicking her forehead lightly with his other hand.


    "Oww." Su Xiaofei red at him as she touched her forehead.


    Lu Qingfeng was hesitant to release her hand, but he knew he needed to go before his grandfather returned home.


    "I''ll see you at school then. Don''t forget to bring Aunty Liu''s lunchboxes from now on. I''ll be expecting my share." He reminded her as he was about to enter the car.


    Su Xiaofei could only huff and watch as Lu Qingfeng''s car drove away. She had only been reborned for a month, but many things had already happened.


    "Feifei, your face is red. Are you feeling unwell? Get inside before you catch a cold.." Aunty Liu''s words only reminded her of Lu Qingfeng''s words earlier.

 Chapter 91 - Repaying Kindness (1)

    <h4>Chapter 91 - Repaying Kindness (1)</h4>


    Su Xiaofei went back inside to find her mother. She needed to have a word with Yun Qingrong and inform her about the invitation she had received to visit the Yun family. Yun Qingrong deserved to know what was happening, and Su Xiaofei needed to see how her mother reacted to this news.


    She stopped in the hallway and took a few calming breaths first to steady her heartbeat. She didn''t know that Lu Qingfeng was able to make her heart race like this. Even after being reborned, experiencing hardships, her heart had never been swayed this badly.


    ''Calm down, Feifei. It''s not like he''s asking you to give him an answer soon.'' She shut her eyes and tried to forget the passionate gaze that Lu Qingfeng gave her earlier. It was almost the same one he had when he held her hand in her past life, telling her he loved her.


    Not even Mo Yuchen''s confession in her past life could bepared to Lu Qingfeng''s. Her heart didn''t beat this wildly when she was with Mo Yuchen. Her heart didn''t experience this kind of warmth.


    Once she decided that she was calm enough to see her mother, Su Xiaofei once again knocked on the door of the study to announce her return.


    "Feifei, is there something you need?" Yun Qingrong asked. No matter how busy she was these days, she would always put down the work she was doing to entertain her daughter.


    "Mama, actually, I need to discuss something with you." Su Xiaofei took a seat in front of her mother.


    Yun Qingrong frowned, wondering what made her daughter look so serious right now. Was Feifei bothered by the divorce that has yet to finalize between her and her husband?


    "What is it, dear? Did something happen while I was gone? Is it about Xiao Feng?"


    Su Xiaofei shook her head. She didn''t want to think about Xiao Feng in front of her mother.


    "It''s like this, Mama. When Xiao Feng and I went to see Doctor Han for my follow-up, Master Ouyang left a letter for me to read. Mama, Grandpa has extended an invitation to meet me, should I ept it or not?"


    Yun Qingrong pulled back and leaned against her seat. This was far from her earliest assumptions. She hadn''t expected that her father would reach out to her Feifei like this. Had her old man perhaps heard of Feifei''s ident through Master Ouyang?


    "Mama?" She heard her daughter ask again and Yun Qingrong was forced to give her a weak smile.


    "Didn''t you always wonder if Mama has a family or rtives? Feifei, if you want to meet your Grandpa, Mama has no qualms about it, but you must be careful with your words when talking to him and your uncles." She told her daughter.


    "Then I''ll inform Doctor Han tomorrow, as Qian and I will be going to see him again." Su Xiaofei was satisfied with her mother''s answer. As long as her mother wanted to mend the bridge between her and the Yun family, Su Xiaofei was willing to help her.


    This was the only thing Su Xiaofei could think of to repay her mother''s unconditional love and effort for her sake. Also, this would make it easier for her to drive Su Haoran away from her mother.


    Since that shameless man refused to sign the divorce papers, let''s see if he wouldn''t sumb to pressure when the Yun family got involved. Want to bully her mother? Then they better make sure they have the capability first.


    The one who had the money was her mother. The one who had the power and influence was the Yun family. Compared to them, who was Su Haoran and Ye Xing? Why should Su Xiaofei allow those scums to bully them when they had all the resources they needed?


    Su Xiaofei would make sure that they wouldn''t be able to trick her mother this time. As long as she was around, she would never allow them to bully her mother like they did in her past life.


    "Mama, can you tell me what Grandpa and uncles like? I want to bring them something during my visit." She smiled innocently at her mother.


    Anyway, even if she didn''t truly care about the Yun family, it would be better for her to get on their good side than to provoke the tigers in their ownir. If it wasn''t for her mother, she wouldn''t have bothered to do anything rted to them.


    Yun Qingrong smiled at her daughter''s initiative to make her maternal family happy. Thinking about it, it''s been too long since she had seen them and she couldn''t help but worry about her father''s health.


    "Don''t worry about what you need to bring on your visit. Leave it to your Mama, okay?"


    "Ah, Mama is truly the best! I can''t wait to meet them." Su Xiaofei stood up and gave her mother a tight hug, bbering about how Yun Qingrong should apany her on her visit, but the older woman knew better than to agree.


    Meeting them after almost two decades of separation wouldn''t be easy, at least for her. How could she face her father, now that the recent events in her life had only proved that her old man had been right about her husband all this time?


    Even now, her scum husband was still trying to give her headaches by not signing their divorce papers. That bastard. Not only did he lie to her when they were still dating, he even went as far as keeping his other family in an estate that she hadn''t visited for ages.


    How could she not be worried about facing her family now? She could only hope that they would try to ept her Feifei into their family. It would be a joyous event if that happens.


    "I''m sure they would love to meet you, my dear.." Yun Qingrong smiled at her, a little sad that she wouldn''t be able to introduce her own daughter to her family herself.

 Chapter 92 - Repaying Kindness (2)

    <h4>Chapter 92 - Repaying Kindness (2)</h4>


    The next day, after picking up Xi Qian from her part-time job, the two went straight to the pharmacy to meet Han Zijun. The ce was a little busy that afternoon with patrons purchasing the medicines they needed.


    "Seems like Brother Han is a little busy today." Xi Qian whispered next to Su Xiaofei, while they waited at the reception area to be called by Han Zijun''s assistant.


    Su Xiaofei''s wound had healed now and today her stitches were ready to be removed. It had caused her some difort over the past few days, but at least it wasn''t as painful as it was when it was fresh.


    "Brother Han is a busy man. It''s only normal that people sought him for his medical expertise, despite the booming modern medical industry these days." She replied. "Qian, didn''t you say you want to be a doctor, have you decided what you''d like to specialize in?"


    "I initially wanted to be a pediatrician since I love interacting with children, but I decided, I want to learn internal medicine or be a surgeon someday." Her best friend said with a sheepish smile, as if Xi Qian was embarrassed to share her dreams with Su Xiaofei.


    "What made you change your mind?" Su Xiaofei asked.


    Xi Qian only smiled. The reason she changed her mind was because she didn''t want to feel as helpless as she was when she couldn''t help Su Xiaofei, both after she beat up the homeless man who attempted to sexually assault her and when Su Xiaofei was stabbed recently.


    When she saw her best friend in such a state, injured and poisoned, Xi Qian was desperately wishing she knew what to do to ease Su Xiaofei''s pain and difort.


    "You don''t have to tell me. If you are truly determined to do it, you have my support, Qian." Su Xiaofei replied, when Xi Qian didn''t say anything in response.


    Right then, they were called to enter Han Zijun''s office. The thirty year old man was furrowing his brows, muttering something incoherent to himself when the two young women entered his office.


    "Brother Han." Su Xiaofei called out, pulling his attention.


    "Ah, Miss Su. Forgive me for the mess. Please take a seat. Let me just deal with this paperwork first." The man hurriedly tidied up his desk and mumbled to himself how he needed someone to help him organize his stuff.


    Su Xiaofei only smiled while Xi Qian blinked, wondering how busy a man could get for him to get such a huge pile of paperwork that needed his attention.


    "So, Miss Su, have you had any fever or pain since yourst visit here?" Han Zijun asked once he settled on his seat, ncing at the two young women in front of him. "Oh, you didn''te with your boyfriend today."


    That immediately changed Su Xiaofei and Xi Qian''s expression. Su Xiaofei tried to fight the blush that was threatening to bloom on her face by forcing a smile on her face while Xi Qian looked suspiciously at her best friend.


    "Brother Han knows how to joke. Xiao Feng isn''t with me today because he already has a prior appointment." Su Xiaofei said.


    "I see." Han Zijun nodded. "Then please lie down on the bed and let me remove the stitches and clean your wound."


    Su Xiaofei removed her coat and left it with Xi Qian along with their belongings. She took a deep breath andid down on the bed, lifting her shirt a little to allow Han Zijun to cut the stitches, pulling out the thread from it. She thought that it would be painful, but was surprised when she only felt a tug on her skin.


    "Your wound is healing well, Miss Su. And this is the special topical ointment you requested on yourst visit. Just as I said previously, you must diligently apply it on top of your wound to stop it from scarring. It might take some time to see results, so don''t panic if you can''t see any difference soon." Han Zijun said, before pushing a small container towards Su Xiaofei once she was seated next to Xi Qian again.


    "Thank you, Brother Han." Su Xiaofei politely thanked him. "By the way, I''m ready to give my reply to Master Ouyang''s invitation. My mother has just agreed to it." She then scribbled her number on a piece of paper and gave it to Han Zijun.


    "This is my number. They can contact and inform me anytime once they decide when we should meet."


    "Alright. Master Ouyang should be here tonight. I''ll pass your answer to him." The doctor then pinned the paper on a corkboard next to him.


    "Brother Han, what''s General Yun like? Although he''s my grandfather, I''ve never had the chance to meet him before." Su Xiaofei asked him. If Master Ouyang frequently visited here, there''s also a possibility that Old Master Yun was also familiar with this ce.


    "Oh, he''s a man of principle and is known to have an iron fist not only towards his subordinates, but also towards his children. I had a brief encounter with him when I was still an apprentice of my uncle. You see, Miss Su, this ce is originally owned by my uncle who took me in when I was younger. He has a lot of VIP patients and that includes your grandfather."


    "I see.." Su Xiaofei sighed inwardly. It seemed like she couldn''t dig up any information about the old man.


    When they stepped out of the pharmacy, they were greeted by Su Xiaofei''s new bodyguards. One was a man, the other was a woman. Xi Qian had seen them earlier, but she wasn''t sure if they were recements for Feifei''s previous bodyguards.


    "Aunty Qing finally reced your bodyguards?" Xi Qian asked. Ever since Su Xiaofei was stabbed, her two previous useless bodyguards had been terminated by Yun Qingrong.


    "No. Xiao Feng offered these two as my temporary bodyguards.." Su Xiaofei answered her.

 Chapter 93 - Fairy From Another World (1)

    <h4>Chapter 93 - Fairy From Another World (1)</h4>


    After meeting Han Zijun, Su Xiaofei and Xi Qian decided to hang out with each other at the nearby shopping mall from the Qiying City public market. It had been a while since they had gone to one and spent time with each other, without Xi Qian feeling like a third wheel whenever Lu Qingfeng was with them.


    Although Xi Qian was only window shopping and apanying Su Xiaofei, thetter took this chance to buy some of the trendiest clothes for theing season and to prepare for her uing meeting with the Yuns.


    If she wasn''t attending a school full of such arrogant and pompous students, Su Xiaofei didn''t need to keep up with her reputation as a rich, young miss of a wealthy family. She would have worn whatever clothes she wanted to wear without worrying about what others would say to her or to her mother.


    Others can freely criticize her, but Su Xiaofei didn''t want her mother to receive such criticisms because of her. Her poor taste in clothing, her attitude and everything would reflect her upbringing. In her previous life, Yun Qingrong had to endure insults behind her back because of Su Xiaofei.


    "Feifei, you already own a ton of clothes collecting dust in your wardrobe. Do you really have to add more?" Xi Qianughed as she watched Su Xiaofei leave one boutique after another as she couldn''t find anything to her liking.


    Most of them were extremely shy and too childish for a woman who had already lived past her mid-twenties. Su Xiaofei didn''t want to spend her mother''s money on something so frivolous. She wanted to look sophisticated and elegant at the same time. It would be good if she could give that impression to the Yun family upon their meeting.


    As shezily scanned yet another shop for a new set of clothes, something caught her attention. And she wasn''t the only one. It was almost impossible for anyone not to notice it, considering how loud the sounds were ying as the countdown shed on the screen.


    "Feifei, look. I think Bellisima isunching their new skin care line. I heard Bai Qingyue is theirtest endorser." Xi Qian said, as she dragged Su Xiaofei to watch the advertisement that was about to be released.


    Su Xiaofei said nothing and stood quietly next to her best friend, but her eyes held such an impregnable coldness in it as she waited for the advertisement to y.


    On the wide screen at the ground level, a new advertisement video for a luxury skin care line yed, revealing a beautiful woman with a bare, clean face. She was wearing a white spaghetti top, revealing her smooth neck and beautiful shoulders in public.


    As the video continued to y, many people stopped in their tracks, mesmerized by her beauty. The woman, despite already being in herte thirties, looked so young and beautiful, as if time had frozen for her, making her look like she was ten years younger than her actual age.


    This woman''s name was Bai Qingyue, and she was one of the most sought after and highly paid actresses these days for portraying several admirable roles not only on television, but also on the big screen. Her career in showbiz started through a female protagonist role from a tear-jerking TV drama that was popr twenty years ago.


    This paved her way into stardom, receiving huge projects and endorsements one after another. Bai Qingyue had been in the entertainment industry for twenty years now and had already made herself relevant and her name was added to the nation''s walk of fame.


    It was only natural that many people found her beauty so alluring and irresistible. She wore no makeup in the advertisement video, but it didn''t matter, for the heavens seemed to have done everything in their power to sculpt her countenance to perfection. Many revered her beauty as one beyond the mortal world.


    Bai Qingyue had a pair of indescribably magnificent eyes. Her two tranquil pupils, clear as crystals, paired with a fine pair of ck brows. Her lips were like delicate flower petals and her nose was high and proud with a sense of innate nobility. In the video, her soft and shiny ck hair fell gently behind her shoulders.


    Her skin was exceptionally fair, but it wasn''t the pale white that people would mistake her for being ill. It was like pure, untainted snow. wless and glowing. At her current age, one cannot find a single w marring her beautiful countenance.


    The video was done in under one and half minutes, but it was enough to leave a good impression of Bai Qingyue on those who''d seen hertest endorsement. In an instant, her name became the most searched on the inte, withments praising her beauty and magnificence.


    "Wow, Bai Qingyue is really something." Xi Qian pulled out her phone and scrolled through the feed on her social media ount, finding a ton of posts rted to Bai Qingyue''s recent advertisement.


    "You know, Feifei. I''ve been thinking about this for some time now, and I haven''t really thought I would say this without feeling embarrassed."


    Xi Qian looked around before leaning close to her best friend. She didn''t want other people to overhear what she was to say to Su Xiaofei.


    "Feifei, whenever I see Bai Qingyue on TV, I always think about how simr you look to her. The resemnce between the two of you is uncanny, and if I didn''t know that you are Aunty Qing''s daughter, I would assume that you are Bai Qingyue''s younger sister." Xi Qian said in a low voice, hoping no one was able to overhear what she had just said to Su Xiaofei.


    Su Xiaofei only hummed, her eyes glued on Bai Qingyue''s beautiful face that was still shing on the big screen.. It''s only natural that she and Bai Qingyue resembled each other, because the woman who gave birth to her was none other than Bai Qingyue herself.

 Chapter 94 - Fairy From Another World (2)

    <h4>Chapter 94 - Fairy From Another World (2)</h4>


    If one was to look closely at Su Xiaofei, then what Xi Qian said just now would make a lot of sense.


    The resemnce between her and Bai Qingyue was about eighty percent when ites to facial features. The only difference one would be able to notice was, while Bai Qingyue was like a fairy from another world, Su Xiaofei was like a domineering ice queen with her sharp and cold gaze, veiling her thoughts and emotions from others.


    If she hadn''t been reborned, Su Xiaofei would still be oblivious to her real rtionship with this woman to this day. Before her death, Lu Qingfeng was able to find the truth about her biological parents, which rendered her speechless when it was revealed that Bai Qingyue was her real mother.


    Bai Qingyue. In her past life, Su Xiaofei couldn''t understand why this woman had constantly obstructed her, forcing her out of showbiz when she and Ye Mingyu had been scouted to join Top Tier Entertainment, where Bai Qingyue was signed.


    For years, Bai Qingyue had be Ye Mingyu''s support, giving her sworn enemy an advantage during her trainee days. Su Xiaofei couldn''t understand why Bai Qingyue was looking at her with such animosity in her eyes, as she was certain that she hadn''t done anything to offend the actress.


    Only at the end of her life did she find out that she was, indeed, Bai Qingyue''s daughter. But Su Xiaofei couldn''t understand why Bai Qingyue did whatever she could to destroy her own daughter''s reputation, in favor of Ye Mingyu.


    Su Xiaofei had to step back to see therger picture, and only then was she able to understand Bai Qingyue as she looked at the situation with her viinous eyes.


    Bai Qingyue saw her as a threat. A threat that could easily put her perfect public reputation in jeopardy if people knew she had abandoned her baby at such a young age to pursue her dream of bing a superstar.


    Bai Qingyue ¡ª Lan Xi in real life, had just got the biggest break a young actress could receive in her life. Her portrayal in the TV drama gained her tremendous poprity and her name became a household name of the viewers who awaited her uing shows.


    However, around the time she finished shooting the TV drama, the twenty-year-old Bai Qingyue had fallen pregnant amidst her surging career. She was dating her high school sweetheart at the time, Qiao Fengying, whom she eventually broke up with after giving up her baby girl at an orphanage.


    At that time, Bai Qingyue had gotten pregnant and Qiao Fengying was in his final year in college. He was thrilled and excited when he found out that their seed of love had produced a gift from heaven, a child of their own.


    However, Bai Qingyue, whose career was very promising at the time, decided that she couldn''t keep the child and wasn''t willing to give up her dream to raise her daughter at such a young age.


    Obviously, Qiao Fengying wasn''t willing. It was impossible for him not to love his own flesh and blood, although he hadn''t seen his child yet. Their argumentssted for months, with Qiao Fengying refusing her proposal to abort his child, forcing Bai Qingyue to hide her growing bump by wearing loose clothes until it was hard for her to hide it anymore and was force to retreat from the public eye, giving birth to a beautiful baby girl in secret.


    Qiao Fengying knew that his child was born, but Bai Qingyue refused to tell him where their child was. He had insisted that he would take responsibility for their baby and raise their child himself if she wasn''t willing to marry him, but Bai Qingyue was too cruel to him, saying that she had given birth to a stillbirth baby girl and her remains had been dealt with by the hospital.


    ''Such a cruel, evil woman.'' Su Xiaofei thought and grimaced, knowing that this woman was her real mother. Well, it was understandable where she got her viinous traits from.


    While it was true that the woman owned her body, Bai Qingyue didn''t need to break Qiao Fengying like that. She could have convinced and apologized to him for her decision, instead of leaving him on the brink of insanity, trying to find his missing daughter, leaving him in depression for many years.


    Although Qiao Fengying didn''te from a wealthy family, he managed to make a name for himself in theputer and tech world, making him one of the wealthiest men in the country these days. Even Bai Qingyue''s husband, a popr A-list actor in showbiz whom she had recently married, couldn''t bepared to him at all.


    "Qian, in the future, when I decide to enter showbiz, you shouldn''t say what you''ve said to me today. I fear that Bai Qingyue''s fans woulde after me, calling me names for evenparing myself to their goddess." She chuckled.


    Xi Qian made a gesture as if she was zipping her own lips to silence herself.


    "Of course, our Feifei is the most beautiful." Sheughed heartily as she dragged Su Xiaofei away from the crowd.


    Just when they were about to enter another boutique, a white fluffy Persian cat ran towards Su Xiaofei and rubbed himself affectionately against her legs, trying to get her attention.


    Su Xiaofei and Xi Qian stopped in their tracks, shocked. Su Xiaofei, who secretly loved cats but wasn''t able to keep one, was ecstatic and surprised at the same time. The tag on the cat''s neck only proved her assumption right. How could she not recognize this white, fluffy cat?


    In her past life, this cat was owned by none other than her biological half-brother, the one who looked after her when her body was slowly deteriorating from poison, Qiao Yuhan.. So how can Su Xiaofei not recognize this fat cat? If Snowbell was here, then obviously Qiao Yuhan would also be around.

 Chapter 95 - The Qiao Family (1)

    <h4>Chapter 95 - The Qiao Family (1)</h4>


    Xi Qian picked up the white fluffy cat and checked its name on its tag. This beautiful white Persian cat can''t be a stray cat because its fur looked shiny and healthy. The cat was also well groomed, indicating that it was being well taken care of by its owner.


    "Oh my gosh, Feifei! Look how adorable he is! I''ve never seen a cat as cute and beautiful as he is!" She said in glee, before looking around. "Do you think he escaped from his owner? I bet his owner is frantically looking for him now."


    Su Xiaofei looked at the cat with a conflicted expression on her face. Soon, she and Xi Qian heard a young boy shouting the cat''s name, running towards them in a hurry.


    Qiao Yuhan was only eight years old now, but Su Xiaofei had no doubt that this was the same young man that saved her in her previous life, albeit, way younger than she remembered.


    The boy had a pair of round eyes, portraying innocence and curiosity. He had a pale, smooth skin and his chubby cheeks reminded Su Xiaofei of a huge steamed bun, wless and smooth, making one itch to pinch his face from its cuteness.


    Unlike Su Xiaofei whose looks took after Bai Qingyue, Qiao Yuhan got a fair share of good qualities from both his parents.


    The first time she met him was in the hospital where she was being treated for the symptoms of her illness. Qiao Yuhan had just arrived at the parking lot of the hospital in a hurry, but he didn''t have enough change to pay for his slot, and it was Su Xiaofei who offered to pay for it.


    After her divorce from Mo Yuchen, losing not only her career and her mother''s properties in the process, she met the eighteen-year-old Qiao Yuhan. Qiao Yuhan had been looking for her for almost a year, intending to repay her kindness towards him.


    Su Xiaofei didn''t understand why Qiao Yuhan was looking for her at first, when the only thing she did was pay for his parking fee at the hospital. It turned out that when they met for the first time, Qiao Yuhan was in a hurry to see their father, Qiao Fengying, who was already on his deathbed.


    "I cannot thank you enough for doing such a big favor for me, Miss Su. If you hadn''t helped that day, I wouldn''t be able to see and talk to my father for thest time. He died that same afternoon." Qiao Yuhan exined to her.


    He was aware of her recent predicaments and offered her to stay in one of their family''s private vis where she could spend herst days in peace, knowing that her days were already numbered.


    Qiao Yuhan visited her, talked to her, and the two eventually became friends. He told her his worries, his aspirations and his attempt to find his missing elder sister, whom his father had failed to find until hisst breath.


    It was just a pity that Su Xiaofei met him toote. When she found out that she was the missing daughter of Qiao Fengying, her father had been dead for over a year already and the time she had to spend with her cute and adorable little brother was limited.


    "Snowbell! How could you run away from me like that?!" The eight-year-old Qiao Yuhan pouted as he glowered at the white cat in Xi Qian''s arms. When he realized that he was facing the two young women, a blush crept on his face and he quickly apologized for his rudeness.


    "I''m really sorry. Sorry if my cat caused some disturbance to you." He said, biting his lower lip nervously.


    "Oh, no. No harm was done." Xi Qian waved his apology and gently returned the cat she was holding to the young boy. "We were just surprised when he showed up and tried to get Feifei''s attention." She giggled.


    Qiao Yuhan turned his round brown eyes and stared at Su Xiaofei''s face.


    "Woah! Da Jie is so pretty!" He blurted out, as his eyes sparkled with admiration. "No wonder Snowbell came here to see you."


    "Little guy, who taught you this pickup line? Going as far as using your own pet to pick up girls." Xi Qian giggled behind her hand, while Qiao Yuhan''s blush deepened.


    "No. It''s true. Da Jie is gorgeous." Qiao Yuhan mumbled to himself.


    "You aren''t afraid of her?" Xi Qian pointed to her best friend as she continued to ask the young boy.


    When they were younger, Xi Qian was aware that Su Xiaofei loved cats, but for some reason, cats hissed at her and young children burst into tears whenever they looked at her, so it was surprising that this young boy in front of them wasn''t running away in tears after seeing Su Xiaofei''s face.


    "No." Young Qiao Yuhan shook his head in confusion. "Why would I be scared of the beautiful Da Jie?" He questioned. This Da Jie was really pretty, so Qiao Yuhan wondered why the other girl was asking if he wasn''t afraid of her.


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaofei remained silent throughout Xi Qian''s conversation with Qiao Yuhan. She had just seen her biological mother''s face in an ad earlier, which was understandable considering she was a public figure, but why did she have to encounter the Qiao family so soon after her rebirth?


    Did her rebirth somehow mess up the flow of the events from her original timeline? She wondered.


    No, that''s impossible. She wasn''t even aware that she would be in the same ce as her half-brother. She wouldn''te here with Xi Qian and meet him, had she known he would be here. Add to the fact that the Qiao family didn''t live in Qiying City, the chances of meeting him were too low.


    It didn''t take long before Su Xiaofei spotted a familiar woman, looking frantically around for her son with their bodyguards. The woman sighed in relief upon seeing her son safe.

 Chapter 96 - The Qiao Family (2)

    <h4>Chapter 96 - The Qiao Family (2)</h4>


    How can Su Xiaofei not know who this woman was? Although she wasn''t able to meet her personally in her previous life, she knew who Liu Shn was.


    Liu Shn was her father''s wife and Qiao Yuhan''s mother. At this time, she was still a VP at Qiao Tech Solutions, assisting her husband in managing the operations while Qiao Fengying focused on research and development for theirpany.


    However, with Qiao Fengying''s deteriorating health in Su Xiaofei''s past life, Liu Shn had no other choice but step forward and manage thepany by herself while her husband spent most of his time at the hospital with their young son.


    "Xiao Han, how could you run away from your bodyguards like that? Do you know how worried your Dad and I were when we heard that you went missing?" Liu Shn knelt beside the boy and touched his head affectionately.


    Seeing Liu Shn''s love for Qiao Yuhan, Su Xiaofei wondered if Bai Qingyue held any affection towards her when the woman gave birth to her.


    Did Bai Qingyue hate her existence so much that she would rather throw away her own daughter in an orphanage than give her baby to the father of her child to raise?


    No. Su Xiaofei thought. If Bai Qingyue hadn''t abandoned her at that orphanage, Yun Qingrong and Su Haoran wouldn''t be able to adopt her, giving her a slightly better life than staying at such a wretched ce.


    If Yun Qingrong hadn''t taken her as her daughter, Su Xiaofei wouldn''t have the chance to meet young Lu Qingfeng and wouldn''t befriend Xi Qian.


    ''Bai Qingyue, I suppose I should thank you for not aborting me when I was still in your womb and for abandoning me in that orphanage.''


    "Sorry, Mom. It''s just that Snowbell ran away from me. I only tried to run after him. I was worried I would lose him." Qiao Yuhan apologized to his mother.


    Liu Shn smiled and nodded, before standing up, shifting her gaze towards the two young women his son was talking to earlier. The moment she saw Su Xiaofei''s face, her smile froze, eyes widening as if she had seen a ghost.


    "Mama, Snowbell ran and tried to get Da Jie''s attention. I was telling them that this Da Jie is really pretty, but they wouldn''t believe me." Qiao Yuhan said as he stood next to his mother.


    Xi Qian giggled at his words.


    "Our Feifei is a real looker, right? We were just surprised when youplimented her upon seeing her the first time." Shemented.


    Su Xiaofei remained silent, though, but there''s a hint of warmth on her usually impassive and cold face as she looked at Qiao Yuhan. She wasn''t nning to see and meet her father''s family like this, as the thought never urred to her since her rebirth. She wasn''t sure how to proceed with this sudden change of events in her life.


    Should she pretend that this didn''t concern her and leave at once with Xi Qian, or should she meet her real father this time? Thoughts like these confused Su Xiaofei as she didn''t know what to feel if she ever met her real father in this lifetime. Would it change anything?


    "Vice President Liu, did you find him?" A familiar voice reached Su Xiaofei''s ears.


    She lifted her head and saw Lu Qingfeng dressed in a business suit and walking towards them. He looked so different and charming in a good way, dressed like this, Su Xiaofei thought.


    "Feifei? What are you doing here?" He asked as he stopped in front of her and gave her a good look. "You look unusually pale. Are you feeling unwell?"


    "Feifei, are you alright?" Xi Qian blinked and worriedly checked on her best friend. Indeed, Su Xiaofei was paler than usual, and she had been unusually silent when Xi Qian was talking to the young boy.


    Su Xiaofei shook her head and forced herself to smile, not wanting to worry them.


    "No, I''m fine. Don''t worry too much." She replied. "What about you Xiao Feng? What are you doing here?" She asked, wanting to know how Lu Qingfeng knew Liu Shn.


    "Grandpa and I were at a lunch meeting with Qiao Tech. We are coborating on a new project with them. Vice President Liu left the meeting in order to find her son. I came to see if I could help, but it turned out that you and Xi Qian have found the boy instead." Lu Qingfeng exined.


    "Young Master Lu, you know them?" Liu Shn asked, wondering if she was overthinking things.


    "En," Lu Qingfeng nodded. "This is my childhood friend, Su Xiaofei, and this is Xi Qian."


    Being reminded of the long meeting his parents had, Qiao Yuhan''s face fell. He tugged his mother''s arm to get her attention.


    "Mom, is your meeting still not over yet? When are we going to the amusement park? You and Dad promised that we will go to Questpark while we''re in Qiying City, but it''s already been a week." Heined.


    Liu Shn looked at her young son with guilt. Indeed, she and her husband had promised Qiao Yuhan to take him to the amusement park, but this project they had going on with Lu Corporation was too serious for them to neglect.


    Lu Qingfeng, who could sense the uneasiness from Su Xiaofei as she looked at young Qiao Yuhan, sighed inwardly. She was pretending not to care, but it was obvious that she cared about her younger half brother.


    "How about this? I''ll take you to Questpark instead of your parents, that is, if you can convince this pretty Da Jie toe with us." He offered the young boy, pointing to Su Xiaofei with a smile.


    Qiao Yuhan''s face lit up and then turned his head to Su Xiaofei. He couldn''t resist epting Lu Qingfeng''s suggestion to him.


    "Ah, pretty Da Jie, please say yes! I really want to spend time with you!"

 Chapter 97 - Adorable Little Brother (1)

    <h4>Chapter 97 - Adorable Little Brother (1)</h4>


    Su Xiaofei wasn''t expecting Lu Qingfeng to offer to ''babysit'' Qiao Yuhan. She didn''t know how to react as the young boy looked at her expectantly, hoping that she would agree and join them to go and y at the local amusement park.


    "Why don''t you agree, Feifei?" Xi Qian told her. "It''s not like you''re in the mood to shop for new clothes now. I can join you, if you want. It''s my day off from work tomorrow anyway."


    "Vice President Liu, is this okay with you?" Lu Qingfeng asked Liu Shn. "We can bring his bodyguards and his nanny with us if you are ufortable leaving Xiao Han with us." He suggested.


    "Oh, I don''t mind." The older woman smiled at him. "But is this alright with you, Young Master Lu? I hope Xiao Han isn''t inconveniencing you."


    She felt a little guilty towards her son. Indeed, she and her husband made that promise, but with all the things going on with work, Liu Shn didn''t think she nor her husband could spare any time to apany their son to the amusement park, just as they promised to.


    To leave her son with young Lu Qingfeng, Liu Shn was worried that this would only make Qiao Yuhan feel neglected by her and her husband.


    "It''s no bother, Madam. It would be a real pity though if he missed the chance to see Questpark, since he''s already in Qiying City." Lu Qingfeng assured her, while he waited for Su Xiaofei''s answer.


    Liu Shn was also conflicted about this. As she looked at Su Xiaofei''s face, she wondered if this young woman was somehow rted to Bai Qingyue.


    At the time that her husband was dating Bai Qingyue, she was his ssmate and a good friend at the university they were attending in Shenjing and Liu Shn had met Bai Qingyue a couple of times.


    Seeing Su Xiaofei now, she couldn''t help but think that she was looking at Bai Qingyue when they were younger. Aside from this young woman''s dark eyes and fox-like features, everything was almost the same as Bai Qingyue.


    What were the odds that this young woman was her husband''s missing daughter? Liu Shn thought.


    "I-I¡­ I don''t know¡­ Mama is waiting for me at home though¡­" Su Xiaofei stuttered, not sure if she should decline her half brother''s invitation.


    "I can give Aunty Qing a call if you want. I''m sure she won''t mind if we go to the amusement park together." Lu Qingfeng pulled out his phone, ready to give her mother a call.


    Su Xiaofei frowned. They weren''t giving her a chance to decline, were they?


    "I''ll do it myself." She grumbled while Qiao Yuhan and Xi Qian cheered together. "But what about your meeting?" She nced at Liu Shn who seemed distracted at the moment. Su Xiaofei wondered if the older woman was able to connect the dots merely by seeing her face.


    Damn, Su Xiaofei thought. Perhaps she needed to change her looks a little, so people wouldn''t easily connect her to Bai Qingyue. She had never thought that she would need to purposely change her looks just to avoid her birth mother.


    Her looks was her pride, but now that she was aware that she shared an almost identical look with Bai Qingyue, Su Xiaofei had started to ignore her appearance in front of her vanity mirror.


    "It''s fine." Lu Qingfeng shrugged. "The crucial part of the meeting is already concluded, but we might need to inform Grandpa that we''re leaving with Young Master Qiao first."


    "Fine." Su Xiaofei conceded. She excused herself for a minute to give her mother a call to inform Yun Qingrong of her sudden ns with Lu Qingfeng and Xi Qian today.


    "What did Aunty Qing say?" Xi Qian asked her, once she hung up the call with her mother. She was now holding the white fat cat as Qiao Yuhan listened to his mother''s reminders.


    "She said it''s fine, as long as we don''t stay out toote." Su Xiaofei replied, before eyeing Qiao Yuhan.


    Meeting him and his mother like this was beyond her expectations. She hadn''t even thought of finding the Qiao family in this lifetime. She had expected to meet Bai Qingyue in the future, but not them.


    Should she prepare herself for the possibility of meeting her real father this time? Su Xiaofei didn''t know what to think anymore. Her head was already hurting.


    "Calm down, Feifei. What''s riling you up like this?" Lu Qingfeng''s worried voice startled her.


    Su Xiaofei didn''t even notice when Lu Qingfeng hade to her side, passing her a bottle of water, twisting the cap in the process. She epted the bottle and took a sip from it.


    Right. She needed to calm down. Since things had already turned out this way, she could only make the best out of this encounter. In the future, if Bai Qingyue attempted to harm her again, she would be able to seek the Qiao family for protection.


    "So?" Lu Qingfeng asked her again. He hadn''t expected that she would also be here today, and wondered if her feelings towards the Qiao family had changed.


    In their previous life, Feifei had a great rtionship with Qiao Yuhan without knowing that he was her half brother and now that she was able to meet the boy this early, Lu Qingfeng was sure that she wouldn''t be able to ignore Qiao Yuhan''s existence from today onwards.


    "I''m fine, Xiao Feng. So are we going or not?" She responded, not wanting to make him worry anymore. She should be happy that it was Qiao Yuhan that she had met today and not her birth mother, because Su Xiaofei wasn''t certain that she would be able to keep her emotions in check when facing the woman who gave birth to her.


    "I already asked Nine to prepare the cars.. My new assistant has also notified Grandpa and President Qiao about our departure."

 Chapter 98 - Adorable Little Brother (2)

    <h4>Chapter 98 - Adorable Little Brother (2)</h4>


    "Xiao Han¡­ wait, is it okay if I call you, Xiao Han?" Su Xiaofei asked the young boy who was seated between her and Xi Qian in the backseat, while Lu Qingfeng took the front passenger seat next to Nine. Xi Qian seemed to have taken a liking to the white persian cat and yed with it.


    "En, it''s fine if I can call you Fei Jie." Qiao Yuhan replied with a wide smile. The boy seemed to like her very much, and Su Xiaofei wondered if it was because of their blood rtion.


    "Then, it''s a deal, little guy!"


    Fei Jie. Even in their previous life, Qiao Yuhan called her this. Whenever he came home from school, he would immediately go straight to the private vi where she was staying. They would talk about all the things he''d done while he was away and what was happening outside while Su Xiaofei was bedridden, not able to walk on her own after Chen Hao crippled her leg.


    Such memories were still clear in Su Xiaofei''s mind. At the sunset of her life, Qiao Yuhan''spany was a weing warmth that helped her ease the pain.


    "So, is this your first time in Qiying City?" She asked. The Qiao family was originally from Shenjing, so she wasn''t expecting them to be here.


    "En. Dad and Mom said that we could go to Questpark together, but since they''re too busy with work, I already expected that our visit would be cancelled. Thank you for apanying me today." The young boy replied, a little sad that his parents weren''t able toe with him to the amusement park today.


    "But that''s okay. I know that they are both working hard for my sake." He forced himself to smile, but Su Xiaofei knew better.


    When they arrived at Questpark, it was just in time because the carnival had just been set up by the management. There was a huge Ferris wheel, roller coasters and several tents for circus performances had been set up and came to life.


    Lu Qingfeng went to the admission booth and bought their tickets, while Qiao Yuhan''s eyes were looking everywhere. He had never been to any amusement park or carnival like this before. He was standing next to Su Xiaofei, holding her hand, as the two young women checked the pamphlet given to them and discussed which one they should check out first.


    Su Xiaofei took a whiff of the carnival food, smelling all sorts of sweets and barbecued meat. The strong familiar scent of popcorn also reached her nose.


    The smell brought her back to her earlier days with Lu Qingfeng, when the two of them sneaked away from their bodyguards and decided to go to Questpark on their own. It was such an enjoyable and endearing memory for her.


    "Here are the tickets. Let''s go before people start to crowd." Lu Qingfeng passed them their tickets, and they stood in line at the entrance, waiting patiently to receive a bracelet that would allow them to try any rides they wanted without limit.


    Their little group walked through the game booths, where people could win certain toys and gifts if they win a game.


    "Look, Xiao Han. Do you know how to y the ring-a-bottle game?" Su Xiaofei asked. "If you win, you can get a goldfish as a prize."


    Qiao Yuhan''s eyes immediately lit up.


    "Fei Jie! I want to try! Wanna try!"


    Xi Qian chuckled and whispered to Su Xiaofei, telling her that she would go buy something to eat. Thankfully, Snowbell didn''te with them inside, or he would have pounced on the small container of the stall that housed a school of goldfish.


    Lu Qingfeng came behind Su Xiaofei and Qiao Yuhan, passing the boy a few bucks he could use to pay the stall owner.


    "I''ll y!" The boy grinned at the old man who owned the stall.


    "Okay, little guy. You need to get three rings around the bottles in order to get a fish, but if you manage to score all five rings, you get an extra prize."


    "Then give it to me!" He eximed.


    He tossed the first ring, but it only bounced off the bottle before falling to the ground. He slumped his shoulders a little, upset that he lost the chance to get the special prize.


    Well, he still had four rings. He still had a chance to win a fish at least.


    However, his hopes went down the drain when all of his five rings missed the bottle.


    Su Xiaofei couldn''t help but pity him. She pulled out a few bucks from her pocket and ced it in front of the store owner.


    "Can I try? My little brother really wants one." She exined.


    "Ah, what a lucky brother you''ve got here." The old man chuckled, giving Su Xiaofei her own set of rings to y. "Same rules, missy. You get three rings, the fish is yours. Get five, then I''ll add a special prize."


    When Xi Qian returned after buying some kettle corn she could snack on, she found Qiao Yuhan holding a small fishbowl with a pair of goldfish in it. His smile was wider than usual as his eyes glimmered with joy.


    "Wow, Xiao Han. So lucky! Did you win on your first try? I shouldn''t have left! I missed seeing you win." She asked the boy, but Qiao Yuhan shook his head.


    "Look, Qian Jie! Fei Jie won me these goldfish." Qiao Yuhan beamed at her. He wasn''t upset anymore since Su Xiaofei had won him the goldfish.


    "Really?" Xi Qian blinked and gave her best friend a look.


    Su Xiaofei only gave her a flirty wink as she stood next to Lu Qingfeng.


    "Then, that''s great. You have to really take care of them though, or else they would be Snowbell''s lunch or dinner."


    Qiao Yuhan''s eyes widened.. He had almost forgotten that he had a mischievous cat waiting for him at home.

 Chapter 99 - A Real Man Eats His Vegetables (1)

    <h4>Chapter 99 - A Real Man Eats His Vegetables (1)</h4>


    After winning the goldfish for Qiao Yuhan, Su Xiaofei suggested that they should check the Mirror House next. The little boy, who was too ecstatic with his new pets, agreed easily to her suggestion and held her hand, much to Lu Qingfeng''s irritation.


    The young man was trying to find a chance to hold Su Xiaofei''s hand, but the little boy was trying to dominate her attention. This kid was starting to get on his nerves. He briefly wondered if he had made a mistake in allowing this boy to tag along with them today.


    Before they entered the Mirror House, Qiao Yuhan passed his goldfish to his bodyguard, giving him an explicit warning that nothing bad should happen to his pets while they were gone.


    Xi Qianughed at the little boy''s eagerness as Qiao Yuhan hurriedly ran back to them before entering the Mirror House together.


    ''Someone''s really impatient.'' Xi Qian thought, before her eyes spotted Lu Qingfeng standing too close to Su Xiaofei. ''And someone''s extra grumpy today.'' She chuckled.


    Anyway, Lu Qingfeng could only me himself for his predicament. He should have known this would happen when he invited the young boy who now fancied their Feifei like an older sister.


    Qiao Yuhan yed with the mirrors in awe. He watched as his figure distorted and elongated in the mirror.


    "So this is what I would like when I grow up?" He asked whileughing at his tall reflection.


    "Most likely." Su Xiaofei nodded. "But you won''t be this thin, I think. You''ll need to gain some more weight when you grow up."


    "But Brother Lu is already tall, but he isn''t technically an adult yet, right?" The boy asked.


    Lu Qingfeng huffed at that. Whether it was in the past or in this lifetime, he was really annoyed when someonemented how young he waspared to Su Xiaofei and Mo Yuchen. Now, he would have to endure a few more years before he could proactively chase and court Su Xiaofei in public.


    "Ah, that''s because he grew up really tall when he reached puberty. It''s in their genes." Su Xiaofei tried to exin.


    "Genes? What''s that?" Qiao Yuhan cocked his head to one side, wondering what Su Xiaofei meant.


    "Genes are what you get from your parents. For example, the color of your hair, your eyes and skin could be inherited from your Daddy or Mommy. The main factor that influences a person''s height is their gic makeup. However, many other factors can influence height during development, including nutrition, hormones, activity levels, and medical conditions." Lu Qingfeng took up the task of exining it to the young boy.


    Qiao Yuhan blinked at him, not saying anything in return.


    "What Xiao Feng means is your height can be predicted based on how tall your parents are. If they are tall or short, then your own height is said to end up somewhere simr based on the average height between your two parents. Genes aren''t the sole predictor of a person''s height, though. If you don''t eat nutritious meals and refuse to eat your vegetables and y all day in front of yourputer, then there''s a chance that it will affect your height when you grow up."


    Su Xiaofei patted her chin, remembering how Qiao Yuhan used toin to her about the tonics he also had to consume with his ailing father in her past life. Qiao Yuhan had a sweet tooth and disliked eating vegetables.


    He used to ask her how she could eat a lot of vegetables and rarely ate any meat, but she couldn''t tell him that she had to eat like a cow in an attempt to keep her figure in the past. Something she now regretted.


    The young boy''s face paled at that. He really disliked eating his vegetables, refusing to eat it by pushing them aside if they ever ended up on his te.


    "I-I need to eat my vegetables? But it''s not tasty at all."


    "That''s not true, Xiao Han." Xi Qian interjected and joined their conversation. "There are many yummy recipes for vegetables, our Aunty Liu could make vegetable dishes that Feifei and I love to eat. Just look at how beautiful and smooth Feifei''s skin is. If you eat enough nutritious foods, you can also grow as tall as Lu Qingfeng here."


    "A real man eats his vegetables, no matter how bitter it is." Lu Qingfeng muttered as he looked down at the young boy.


    Qiao Yuhan looked at him and pouted his chubby cheeks.


    "Then I can''t lose to you, Brother Lu. I''ll definitely eat all my vegetables and grow taller than you!"


    "Heh, then keep trying, shorty." Lu Qingfeng huffed, before a spark ofpetition between them ignited.


    "Stop arguing, we still have to try other rides after this." Xi Qian hooked her arm with Su Xiaofei''s. "If you don''t want to, then I''ll take Feifei away now." She then stuck out her tongue at them childishly.


    "No, wait! I''ming with the two of you!" Qiao Yuhan refused to be separated from his beautiful Da Jie so soon.


    Meanwhile, Lu Qingfeng only deepened his frown as he knew that Xi Qian was purposely trying to annoy him using Su Xiaofei.


    Their small group continued checking out the game stalls before moving on to the rides. Su Xiaofei always found herself being sandwiched between Lu Qingfeng and Qiao Yuhan as the two seemed topete over who should take the seat next to her.


    Sheughed awkwardly at the situation she was in. She had never thought that she would be a decent sister to Qiao Yuhan at all.


    When the sky had turned dark, Qiao Yuhan was too tired to continue anymore and was piggybacking on Lu Qingfeng. The young man was itching to drop the sleeping boy on the ground as he felt a wet patch on his shoulder.. He should have never removed his coat had he known this would happen.

 Chapter 100 - A Real Man Eats His Vegetables (2)

    <h4>Chapter 100 - A Real Man Eats His Vegetables (2)</h4>


    Nine and Qiao Yuhan''s bodyguard drove them to the five-star hotel where the small family of three were temporarily residing in Qiying City. Lu Qingfeng was d that he didn''t have to carry the sleeping Qiao Yuhan as they made their way to the floor where the Qiaos were waiting for their return.


    Liu Shn was the one to open the door for the three of them, and she gasped in shock, seeing how tired her son was. He must have really enjoyed spending time with Young Master Lu and these young misses if that was the case.


    After tucking her son in the bed inside his room, she returned to the living area. Liu Shn was a little nervous facing Su Xiaofei without her husband around.


    "I''m really sorry, Young Master Lu. It must have been hard on the three of you, looking after Xiao Han today." She apologized politely to their guests, repeatedly bowing her head to show her sincerity.


    "Oh, no, Madam. We had a great day today because of your son. We enjoyed the rides and ying games with him." Su Xiaofei said politely, earning Liu Shn''s attention.


    The older woman bit her lips and led them to the couch. She had told her husband about meeting Su Xiaofei today and mentioned how striking her resemnce was to Bai Qingyue.


    "Well, since the three of you are here, why don''t you join me and my husband for dinner?" She offered, hoping that Su Xiaofei would ept so her husband could meet this beautiful girl in person.


    "What do you think, Feifei?" Lu Qingfeng was giving Su Xiaofei a choice when it came to this. Would she be willing to face her biological father, whom she had never gotten the chance to meet in their past life?


    Su Xiaofei remained silent for a moment, pondering her choices. Even if she declined the invitation now, it was clear that Liu Shn was already suspecting that she was Bai Qingyue and her husband''s missing daughter.


    "Sure." She smiled at the older woman. "My mother is expecting me to be home by nine though, so Qian and I can''t stay for too long, Madam."


    "Great. I''ll ask for dinner to be served then." Liu Shn''s face lit up, and Su Xiaofei thought that Qiao Yuhan must have taken after his mother''s personality, given how simr the two were.


    Compared to her, who ended up with an insufferable bitch like her birth mother.


    Her father, Qiao Fengying, was lucky to have married a kind and understanding woman like Liu Shn. Su Xiaofei couldn''t sense any malice from her at all. It made her wonder what Liu Shn''s stance was regarding the rtionship her husband and Bai Qingyue used to have before.


    The table wasid at once and the hotel staff came one after another, serving several dishes that looked so appetizing for Xi Qian, but not for Su Xiaofei. Her stomach felt heavy as time continued to tick on, waiting for her real father to show up.


    She sat between Xi Qian and Lu Qingfeng, with Lu Qingfeng on her right side and Xi Qian on her left, enjoying the view of the cityscape from the high altitude.


    As she pondered how she should react upon seeing Qiao Fengying for the first time, Su Xiaofei felt Lu Qingfeng''s hand slip on hers, giving her hand a light squeeze, reminding her that she should calm down.


    Su Xiaofei smiled to herself and shut her eyes. Lu Qingfeng really knew how to calm her nerves with such a simple gesture.


    When the door of the suite opened again, Su Xiaofei saw Liu Shn hurrying to the front door to greet whoever had just arrived. But Su Xiaofei knew that it was her father, based on the low voice of a maning from the front door.


    Liu Shn came back with a tall man next to her and the three of them stood up from their seats at once.


    Su Xiaofei''s eyesnded on Qiao Fengying. She didn''t have any expectations for this sudden meeting with her father.


    Qiao Fengying looked like any reputable businessmen she had seen in the past. He was dressed in a deep gray three-piece business suit paired with a pair of shiny and impable ck leather shoes.


    His ck hair wasced with a few strands of white, indicating that time was slowly catching up with him, but it hadn''t lessened the man''s charm. He was also a good-looking man. No wonder Bai Qingyue had fallen for him back then.


    Su Xiaofei was now certain that her almost fox-like features hade from her father, as the shape of his eyes and his straight nose were almost the same as hers. It was just a pity she didn''t inherit his tall stature.


    When Qiao Fengying''s eyes fell on Su Xiaofei the first time, it was like he was struck by lightning from where he stood. He stared at her with wide eyes, jaws ckening as he tried to find the right words to say at the moment.


    ''Too much. The resemnce between them is too much.'' He thought, still in shock.


    When his wife told him about a young woman she and Xiao Han met earlier, he had wondered why she was acting different and when she told him about the resemnce between the girl and Bai Qingyue, Qiao Fengying thought that she must be overthinking things as there couldn''t be anyone that can be as beautiful as Bai Qingyue.


    He realized how wrong he was. Just look at this young woman in front of him! The resemnce was too much!


    Now that Su Xiaofei was standing a couple of meters from him, Qiao Fengying felt something inside his heart had stirred, allowing it to beat steadily and calmer than it had over the years since his daughter''s disappearance.


    "President Qiao." Lu Qingfeng broke the awkwardness within the room.. "Allow me to introduce my childhood friend, Su Xiaofei and her best friend, Xi Qian."

 Chapter 101 - You Look Like You’ve Seen A Ghost (1)

    <h4>Chapter 101 - You Look Like You¡¯ve Seen A Ghost (1)</h4>


    That effectively pulled Qiao Fengying out of his trance. He was thankful that Lu Qingfeng was there to mediate the conversation between them, as he didn''t know what to say to this young woman, who looked strikingly like his past lover.


    "Ah, please have a seat. I''m sorry to keep you waiting." He gestured his hand towards the three and joined them at the table with his wife.


    Qiao Fengying tried to avoid meeting her gaze as he chose to speak with Lu Qingfeng first. Fortunately, Lu Qingfeng was polite enough to answer his questions, but he was aware that he couldn''t ignore Su Xiaofei and her friend for too long. They were also his family''s guests, after all.


    "So, Miss Su, have you been living in Qiying City since you were born?" He asked, as he gently probed about her background. He would rather find out the answers by himself than risk investigating her. It didn''t seem like she was amoner, based on her mannerisms and how she was dressed today.


    Su Xiaofei was wearing a in white shirt with a red jacket and a pair of light denim pants. Her feet were enclosed in a pair of white sneakers. Her clothes looked typical, but Qiao Fengying could tell that the brands of her clothes were expensive.


    "Actually, yes. Qiying City is my hometown, Mr. Qiao. This is where I grew up with Xiao Feng and Qian." Su Xiaofei smiled politely at him.


    If she wasn''t a B-list actress in her past life, Su Xiaofei wouldn''t have been able to pretend that she was unperturbed by this sudden meeting with her father.


    "I see." Qiao Fengying nodded, while Liu Shn looked between him and Su Xiaofei.


    Su Xiaofei tilted her head to one side. It wasn''t hard to know what Liu Shn was thinking of at the moment.


    "Madam, is there something wrong with my face? I noticed that ever since we met this afternoon, you look like you''ve seen a ghost." She asked, startling the older woman.


    "No¡­ I¡­ It''s just¡­" Liu Shn stuttered and looked at her husband. She then took a deep breath and shook her head.


    "Yeah, actually, it just hit me that you look like Miss Bai." Sheughed awkwardly.


    "Miss Bai? Madam, do you mean Bai Qingyue?" Su Xiaofei asked, feigning innocence.


    "Oh? You don''t look surprised." Qiao Fengying nced at her after taking a sip from his drink.


    "No, actually, my friend here just told me earlier that whenever she sees Miss Bai on TV, she can''t help but think that we look alike. It was my first time hearing such apliment and beingpared to Miss Bai on top of that."


    "Feifei, I thought you said not to mention it again?" Xi Qian flushed in embarrassment. She thought that it was supposed to be a secret between the two of them when Su Xiaofei asked her not to mention it ever again.


    "There''s nothing to be ashamed of, Qian. It''s okay." Su Xiaofei bumped her shoulder with her friend''s. "It was merely an observation. So now it seems like you aren''t the only one who thought about it."


    "Well, you really do resemble Miss Bai, Miss Su. You look like a younger version of her." Her fathermented.


    Su Xiaofei didn''t know if she should feel ttered by it, or should she feel insulted of beingpared to Bai Qingyue by her own father.


    "I think Feifei looks better, though." Lu Qingfeng turned his head and stared at the woman seated next to him with unconcealed adoration in his eyes. "In my opinion, she''s more beautiful and charming than Miss Bai."


    Xi Qian almost choked upon hearing it. She coughed wildly behind her hand and reached for a ss of water. Since when did Lu Qingfeng be so shameless that he was now openly trying to hit on their Feifei?


    "Here, Qian." Su Xiaofei passed her a ss of water and patted her back gently. "You don''t need to rush your dinner, Qian. I don''t want you to suffer indigestionter."


    "Thanks, Feifei. It''s just¡­ the food is really delicious. You should try to eat more, Feifei." Xi Qian lied, knowing that she cannot criticize Lu Qingfeng in front of his important partners.


    Their conversation then diverted to business matters between the twopanies, and Qiao Fengying was impressed by how much Lu Qingfeng knew about the project they were coborating on.


    "Your grandfather must be really proud of you. You are still young, but you are already well versed in the ropes of the business." He told Lu Qingfeng.


    Lu Qingfeng only smiled. One reason he agreed to meet Qiao Fengying was to know what kind of inws he would have in the future once he and Su Xiaofei got married.


    "It''s only natural that I try to lessen my grandfather''s burden. We can only rely on each other now." He said in response.


    Qiao Fengying nodded. He heard the terrible news about the fierce battle for inheritance between Chairman Lu''s sons. In the end, both of his sons had lost their lives, leaving only a young Lu Qingfeng as the sole sessor to their family business.


    Lu Qingfeng was still young, but in the future, some of his rtives would turn their attention towards him, questioning his capability to lead the family and theirpany. It was important for Lu Qingfeng to learn these important skills and capabilities if he intended to seed in the family.


    "Then the Lu Corporation''s future looks very promising, with you as your grandfather''s sessor." Qiao Fengying said.


    "Thanks for your kind words, President Qiao, but I think I have a long way to go. In the future, I hope you''ll be able to impart some wisdom to me."


    "What about you, Miss Su? Which industry is your family in?" Liu Shn asked curiously.


    "Ah, my mom runs a business in Guangshang. An entertainment agency.." Su Xiaofei replied, smiling as she spoke about her mother.

 Chapter 102 - You Look Like You’ve Seen A Ghost (2)

    <h4>Chapter 102 - You Look Like You¡¯ve Seen A Ghost (2)</h4>


    An entertainment agency? Liu Shn was surprised to hear that.


    So it turned out that this young woman truly came from a well-off family. It should be obvious by how she presents herself anyway.


    "Really? That''s surprising to hear." She looked at her husband and smiled awkwardly at Su Xiaofei.


    "I know, right?" Su Xiaofei sighed dejectedly. "But unlike Xiao Feng, I''m not smart enough to seed my mother in herpany, so I would need to exert more effort in the future to prove myself worthy of bing her sessor."


    "I''m sure your mother would be happy knowing that you''ve tried your best." Qiao Fengyingmented. "For parents like us, we are naturally biased towards our children. Even if the world thinks our children aren''t that great, in our eyes, they are the best the moment they were born."


    "Ah, no wonder Xiao Han thinks so highly of you, President Qiao. You really know how to spoil your son."


    Qiao Fengying was the one to sigh this time. He couldn''t help but think of his daughter whom he had never gotten a chance to see or to hold.


    "I would have done the same thing if she''s alive and with me." He muttered next to his wife, who was looking at him with a sad expression on her face.


    "Pardon?" Su Xiaofei blinked, pretending not to hear what he had just said. She was practically seated across Qiao Fengying and she was sure that even Lu Qingfeng was able to hear what the man had just uttered in a low voice.


    Her heart thumping in her chest as she heard the words Qiao Fengying had said just now. So it turned out that this man truly spent the past eighteen years looking for her, but he''d failed in her past life.


    Growing up, Su Xiaofei never had a father-figure she could look up to. Su Haoran might have legally adopted her as his and Yun Qingrong''s daughter, but he''d been mostly absent all through her life, not present at any of the important milestones of her childhood.


    Her chest felt a sharp pain. What was happening to her? Why did she feel like she was about to burst into tears knowing that she was actually wanted by her own father?


    It was just too bad that Qiao Fengying had totally lost his chance to be a good father to her. The years of separation wouldn''t change anything.


    Her birth mother despised her very existence, while her birth father had died with a lonely heart in her past life. Would her life be happier if she had grown up with Qiao Fengying by her side? Would she turn out the way she was today if he was with her throughout her life?


    No¡­ Su Xiaofei pushed these thoughts aside. She knew that thinking of ''what-ifs'' was useless now, and she could only move forward. She shouldn''t have agreed to meet Qiao Fengying tonight, but nothing could be done now.


    "Oh, nothing, Miss Su. I was just telling my wife something." Qiao Fengying reasoned out, chiding himself inwardly for his unintentional slip of the tongue in front of her.


    However, as he looked at Su Xiaofei''s face, he wondered if his daughter would be around the same age as her if she was alive somewhere. Bai Qingyue insisted that she had given birth to a stillbirth child, but ording to the attending physician who tended her during herbour, the baby girl was alive and well.


    Bai Qingyue refused to tell him where she brought their baby, so Qiao Fengying had to look around, checking all the orphanages near the hospital where her old lover had given birth to their child, hoping that he would be able to find her.


    s, almost eighteen years had passed and not a single clue of her whereabouts could be found. His mind was telling him to give up and ept that his daughter might already be dead, but his heart refused to ept such a possibility.


    His daughter must be alive somewhere. He had visited every orphanage and foster home he could find, hoping that he would be able to find her, but his efforts were futile. If she was already adopted, it would be hard for him to locate her, since thew dictated that the privacy of the parties involved in the adoption was guaranteed. He didn''t even have a picture that he could use to identify her.


    Qiao Fengying believed that she was still alive and refused to believe that she was already dead. It didn''t matter if he couldn''t be part of her life anymore, as long as he knew that she was safe and happy with her new life. He would be satisfied to see her from a distance.


    Su Xiaofei had no idea that her birth father was harboring such thoughts. She excused herself to use the washroom, ignoring the way Lu Qingfeng was looking at her worriedly. He must have sensed her distress, but Su Xiaofei didn''t know how to exin the situation to him.


    She hadn''t told anyone except for Yun Qingrong that she was aware of her being adopted by her parents. And now that she was facing her biological father, her emotions were all over the ce, threatening to burst at any moment.


    Su Xiaofei entered the washroom and locked the door behind her. She allowed her tears to spill and covered her face with both hands, thinking of how awful her fate was in her past life. If she hadn''t met Qiao Yuhan this early in her current life, then she wouldn''t have had the chance to meet her father at all.


    So it turned out that not only was she reborned to rectify her mistakes, it was also meant for her to meet people she wasn''t able to in the past.


    She allowed herself to weep in silence before deciding to wash her face at the sink once she was certain that she was calm enough to face her father.

 Chapter 103 - You Look Like You’ve Seen A Ghost (3)

    <h4>Chapter 103 - You Look Like You¡¯ve Seen A Ghost (3)</h4>


    Su Xiaofei looked at her reflection in the mirror and gave herself a good look. She didn''t know whether to cry orugh, seeing her uncanny resemnce to Bai Qingyue.


    Who would have thought that having a pretty face like this would get her in a lot of trouble? But to think she would be able to meet her father because of this very face¡­ should she consider it being lucky or were they really destined to meet in this lifetime?


    It must have been hard for Qiao Fengying to look at her face without thinking about his missing daughter and the pain Bai Qingyue left years ago. She didn''t want to be a reminder of what he''d lost and suffered. Su Xiaofei thought that she shouldn''t havee here and met him.


    When she returned to the table, Lu Qingfeng gave her a questioning look, but she only smiled at him. Su Xiaofei didn''t think he would be able to understand her this time, considering that she was the only one who was aware of the real rtionship between her and Qiao Fengying.


    Their dinner ended with very few words spoken. The Qiao couple thanked the three of them again as they sent them off to the main lobby of the hotel they were staying.


    "We''ll be here for another week. I hope we can meet again some time, Miss Su, Miss Xi. Thank you for everything you''ve done for Xiao Han today." Liu Shn said.


    "It''s no trouble, Madam. We also enjoyed spending time with Xiao Han today." Xi Qian answered for Su Xiaofei, who was unusually silent tonight. She wondered if her best friend was feeling unwell from the long day that they had today.


    The three entered the car that was waiting for them and buckled their seatbelts. Nine waited for them to settle in and waited for his young master''s instructions.


    "Are you staying at Feifei''s tonight, Xi Qian?" Lu Qingfeng asked once Nine ignited the engine, ready to leave.


    "No, please send me home. I''ll need to wake up early tomorrow to do some cleaning." Xi Qian replied, noticing the slight difference in Lu Qingfeng today. He was rather agreeable now, without a hint of annoyance in his tone. She couldn''t help but be suspicious of him.


    She wondered what was up with him, but decided not to probe anymore, as she was more bothered by Su Xiaofei''s silence tonight.


    "Feifei, is your head hurting again? Do you want to take a nap?" She asked her best friend.


    Su Xiaofei shook her head and smiled, but it was obvious that she wasn''t in a good mood tonight.


    "I''m just a little tired, Qian. That''s all." Su Xiaofei replied. She didn''t mean to lie, but it was truly hard to exin to Xi Qian and Lu Qingfeng what was going on. It wasn''t like she could tell them that she was reborned, and that she knew what would transpire in the future. It would only make them worry about her, or worse, they might think that she was losing her mind.


    Nine didn''t need to be told and started driving towards Xi Qian''s house. That part of the city was still underdeveloped and had yet to be purchased by a hugepany. Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng weren''t bothered by it, as they used to visit Xi Qian when they were younger and when her grandmother was still alive.


    However, in the middle of their trip to Xi Qian''s home, Su Xiaofei asked Nine to stop the car out of the blue.


    "Stop the car. Now!" She eximed, her eyes were looking outside as if she had seen someone.


    Nine immediately pulled the car to the side of the road and stopped. It seemed like Miss Su had also seen the same person he spotted before they reached this part of the road.


    "Feifei, what''s wrong?" Xi Qian asked. She then followed Su Xiaofei''s gaze only to find a familiar young woman entering the nightclub with a man in his twenties.


    "Hey, isn''t that Chen Li?" She gasped as she recognized the young woman dressed in a short ck dress and high heels. She hadn''t seen nor heard anything about Chen Li ever since the Chen family was kicked out of Su Xiaofei''s home.


    To think that they would see Chen Li in this kind of ce¡­ what the hell was she thinking? Xi Qian thought.


    Su Xiaofei had known that Chen Li had started bar hopping at a young age, but wasn''t Chen Li only sixteen now? Wasn''t that too young for her to do such activities with older people? Chen Li wasn''t even at the right age to drink alcohol yet.


    By the way she dressed and looked tonight, Su Xiaofei didn''t need to doubt that Chen Li had faked her identification card and age for her to enter bars and clubs like this. The young woman was also using the same counterfeit ck dress that she had switched with the original one before Chen Li left their household with her family.


    The purse, the high heels, as well as the makeup products Chen Li used, Su Xiaofei was sure that they were hers. Now that Chen Li wasn''t living at the Yun Mansion anymore, it looked like she had gotten bolder and was harder to control these days.


    Su Xiaofei sighed and rubbed her temple.


    "Sorry for startling you, Nine. We can go now."


    Nine didn''t reply, but only nced at the dashboard mirror to look at Su Xiaofei. He wondered if he was seeing things, but he could swear Su Xiaofei''s lips curled into an evil smile for a moment.


    Their drive towards Xi Qian''s ce continued. There was no need for them to stop Chen Li from making a mistake that could ruin her life.. Actually, it would be favorable for Su Xiaofei if Chen Li continued partying like this, for she would be the one to lure that person out.

 Chapter 104 - In Another Life (1)

    <h4>Chapter 104 - In Another Life (1)</h4>


    After they dropped Xi Qian at her home, Lu Qingfeng apanied Su Xiaofei for a short walk in the garden of Yun Mansion. Yun Qingrong had already been notified of their arrival, so it didn''t matter if Su Xiaofei stayed a littlete with Lu Qingfeng to talk.


    "Aren''t you going to tell me something?" Lu Qingfeng questioned, testing the waters to see if Su Xiaofei would reveal some of her thoughts to him.


    Since he was also reborned like her, he knew of her real rtionship with Qiao Fengying and Qiao Yuhan, and why she was acting like this tonight.


    "Nothing. Just some thoughts that have yet to settle in my mind." She shrugged as she took a seat on the wooden swing she and Lu Qingfeng used to y with when they were younger.


    The wooden swing was tied to a high branch of a tree in their garden and this was where Su Xiaofei used to sit when she was trying to clear her thoughts when she was still living here with her mother in her past life.


    "Actually, I was thinking of the story of the abandoned teddy bear we used to hear when we were younger." Sheughed, but it didn''t reach her eyes at all.


    How can Lu Qingfeng not know what she was talking about? Su Xiaofei was referring to the story of a teddy bear that was left by its kid owner at the park one afternoon.


    The teddy bear tried to find her way back home, only to find the little girl ying with another beautiful doll. The teddy bear thought the girl had betrayed him, but he didn''t know that his owner had never stopped thinking about him and had tried to find him for a long time.


    Was this what Su Xiaofei was feeling right now? Did she think that Qiao Fengying had also forgotten about her when he married Li Shn and had another child with her?


    Obviously, he heard what Qiao Fengying had said earlier about his daughter and he knew that Su Xiaofei was aware that the old man was talking about her. For someone who had been deprived of a paternal love from her adopted father, it might havee as a shock to Su Xiaofei to discover that her real father hadn''t forgotten her, that he still thought of her despite the years that have passed between them.


    "But didn''t that story still get a happy ending because the girl was able to find him after years of separation? It''s not as bad as the story I have in mind." He said as he leaned against the trunk of the huge tree while Su Xiaofei slowly moved the swing.


    "What story?" She inquired. Lu Qingfeng used to tell her some interesting stories when they were younger, and she wondered where he read all those stories when he was always holding books intended for higher grades.


    "I haven''t told you this story. There was a young, weak boy who was hated by his mother. He''s the eldest son of his father, but because of his body''s weak constitution, his half-brother from another woman became the heir of their family. He was sent to the countryside, forgotten by his parents and there, he befriended an interesting girl."


    Su Xiaofei shifted on her seat and looked at him with interest.


    "The girl had a straightforward personality, she didn''t sugarcoat her words, so people would either love her or hate her, but most of them hate her. Not everyone was happy whenever their weaknesses or their ws were pointed out. The young boy befriended the girl despite their age differences and social standing. The boy came from a wealthy family, while the girl was amoner raised by a drunkard father."


    "Then what happened?" Su Xiaofei asked. This story was way different from the other stories he had told her previously. It sounded like some kind of cheesy romance story, but it didn''t stop her from being curious.


    "The girl developed a kind of eye disease that slowly took away her sight until she couldn''t see anything anymore. At the same time, it was discovered that she was the missing daughter of a rich young miss at the capital. That rich young miss got pregnant out of wedlock, but her lover had hidden the child away because he was already betrothed to another woman. The child that was missing turned out to be the young girl."


    "Then the young girl must be lucky. She would have a better chance to get her eyes treated now that she found out that her mother was rich, right?" Su Xiaofeimented.


    Lu Qingfeng looked at her face, trying to gauge her reaction before continuing with his story.


    "En, that was the case. The girl bid goodbye to the young boy, promising that she would return as soon as her eyes were treated. She was supposed to get an organ transnt to rece her bad eyes, but years had passed, the young boy became an adult, but the girl never returned to their vige. He had waited for her for a long time, but all the calls and messages he''d sent to her were left unanswered."


    Su Xiaofei frowned at that. She had a bad feeling that something bad happened to the young girl, hence, she wasn''t able to fulfill her promise to the young boy.


    "Did the young girl die?" She asked, curious to know what happened next.


    "No, she didn''t. In fact, the operation was sessful. The cornea that was transnted was able to restore her sight in a few months, but the operation had caused someplications."


    Su Xiaofei hummed. What could have possibly happened during the surgery?


    "What kind ofplications?" She questioned Lu Qingfeng.


    "Her doctors were also baffled about it, and they couldn''t exin why, but the girl had somewhat forgotten what the boy looked like.." Lu Qingfeng with a hint of sorrow on his usually cold tone.

 Chapter 105 - In Another Life (2)

    <h4>Chapter 105 - In Another Life (2)</h4>


    "She has forgotten about his looks, but if she could remember her childhood and the time they spent together, she should be able toe back and see him, right?" Su Xiaofeimented.


    "It''s not as simple as that, Feifei. The girl was diagnosed with retrograde amnesia. She was slowly forgetting the memories from her childhood for some unknown reason. She knew there was a boy she grew up with from the hint of memories of her childhood that came to her. From her memories, she could tell that this boy was really close to her heart." Lu Qingfeng exined, although he wasn''t sure how she would react to the next turn of events.


    "So what happened next? Did the boy do something to see her?" She questioned. Her thoughts about her biological father were forgotten as she was now engrossed in Lu Qingfeng''s story.


    "It took some time for the boy''s health to get better, once he was a little better, he followed the girl to the capital to see her himself, only for the girl to im she doesn''t know him and can''t recognize him. Her mother had died, and all the properties and assets her mother had left obviously fell into her hands."


    "But why couldn''t she believe him?"


    "Because it turned out that there was another boy who imed his spot and brainwashed the girl to believe that he was the one whom she grew up with, and they''d always been together."


    Su Xiaofei groaned at that. Couldn''t that girl be any more stupid? How could she believe the words of another boy she barely knew? Shouldn''t she realise at some point that he was not the boy whom she spent her whole childhood with?


    "The girl was obviously smitten by the other boy and became infatuated with him. She believed every word he said, and the more the real boy tried to reach her, the more the other boy fooled her to believe that she was being deceived. The young boy was obviously heartbroken from what happened. He believed that the other boy fed her lies that put the wedge between them. The other boy produced photoshopped photos of them, deceiving the girl to believe his words over the young boy."


    "Oh, dear. I feel like if the girl found out that she was being lied to, all hell''s break would lose given her personality. She would also feel a lot of guilt for suspecting and not believing her friend." Shemented.


    "Anyway, why is it that when a woman falls in love, her brain bes mushy? I bet that even if the guy look like a seahorse, he would be the most handsome in her stupid brain." She mumbled, making Lu Qingfeng cough into his hand in an attempt to stop himself fromughing.


    "So does this mean that Mo Yuchen looks like a seahorse in your eyes now?" He gave her a teasing smile.


    Su Xiaofei huffed and looked away. "He''s the best clown in town, Xiao Feng."


    "Hmm¡­ Is that so?"


    "Hey, continue the story now. You can''t leave me on a cliffhanger!" She red at him.


    "Okay. Okay. Where was I then?" He was surprised that she was willing to listen to his story.


    "The part where the other boy deceived the girl and pretended to be the one whom she grew up with." Su Xiaofei reminded him.


    "Right. The other boy did all of those just to marry the young girl and get his hands on her inheritance." Lu Qingfeng continued, however, Su Xiaofei''s words forced him to a stop.


    "I knew it! Bastard! He wouldn''t waste his time and deceive the girl if he didn''t need anything from her. So from the moment he found out about her degrading memories, he''d taken advantage of her!" She was now fuming in anger. Su Xiaofei knew that it was just a story, but she couldn''t help but feel affected by it.


    Wait. Wasn''t it simr to what Mo Yuchen did to her in her previous life? He had taken advantage of her, fooled her to believe that he''de to love her, just so she would marry him. It had been a grave mistake on her part when she refused to agree with her mother to ask Mo Yuchen to sign a prenup agreement between them.


    Lu Qingfeng waited for Su Xiaofei to calm down before he continued his story. He didn''t mean to make her upset by telling her the story of his first life. It wasn''t like he wanted her to feel guilty or sad for him. It didn''t matter if Su Xiaofei in his first life was different, because her heart and soul remained the same.


    There were still things he couldn''t understand from his first and second lives, but he could only do his best to protect her in this third life. What was the point of telling her this? Lu Qingfeng also had no idea.


    "Sorry. You can continue your story telling. I want to know how the story ends." Su Xiaofei said once she calmed down.


    "The young boy did all he could to prove himself, but the girl was already blinded by love and lies. She married the man and, without her knowing, her husband plotted against the boy''s life and killed him. Eventually, the girl also lost her life five years after the boy''s disappearance, but before that, her husband had started to neglect her and barely saw her at home, which broke her heart, leaving her in deep depression. She died alone on their marital bed, holding a stalk of can flower in one hand."


    Lu Qingfeng finished his story. The memories weren''t as clear as the one he had from his second life.


    Su Xiaofei fell silent after that. Lu Qingfeng could see that she was upset by how the story ended.. He had no doubt that she was already berating the girl in her mind, thinking of how foolish the girl was for not believing the boy she grew up with.

 Chapter 106 - In Another Life (3)

    <h4>Chapter 106 - In Another Life (3)</h4>


    "She died? Just like that?" She asked after a long silence between them.


    "Not really. She gave birth to a boy, but the boy had died before he reached his second summer." Lu Qingfeng answered. "She loved her son deeply, and her husband was never by her side, so when he died, it only plunged her further into depression."


    "I see, but why would she be holding a stalk of can flower in her hand though? Was it her favorite?" She asked. Su Xiaofei felt like there was more to the story about the girl''s death.


    "ording to the story, the can flower is a local flower that could be found in the countryside where they grew up. I supposed the author wanted to remind the readers of the bond between the two poor souls." Lu Qingfeng tried to reason out.


    Due to the slightly warm climate in the countryside where he grew up with Su Xiaofei, can flowers were in bloom earlier than other areas in the country. When the spring breeze blows, fields of can flowers look like golden waves of a flower ocean, stretching as far as the eye can see.


    The flowering season of can flowers was around July. During that time, one could see a wide range of golden can flowers blooming against the backdrop of the azure blue sky and white clouds, disying a more fascinating picture with snow mountains behind them.


    As the fields were more inclined to the river, one could see from the river banks the ocean of can flowers, which was endless and boundless. Other than therge nting scale, the golden color of can flowers was extremely gorgeous on the teau.


    He and Su Xiaofei spent a lot of time at the field of can flowers, and they shared so many memories. Watching her die alone without anyone beside her made his heart ache, although he was already a ghost that was trapped in the mortal realm because he couldn''t move on without her.


    Lu Qingfeng thought that with her death, they would be able to reunite in the afterlife, but that never happened because he''d woken up in his twenty one-year-old body in his next life.


    He heard Su Xiaofei humming, before pushing herself on the swing as she stared at the crescent moon above the darkened sky.


    "I don''t think it''s just a coincidence, Xiao Feng." She told him. "I think she realized her mistake at the end of her life and regretted her actions and choices."


    Lu Qingfeng raised a slender brow at that. "How so?"


    "Just a hunch." She replied. "I''m just thinking that if it was me, I would look back at what happened in my life and would realize a lot of things before my death. Didn''t some myths say that people would witness their own life shing before their eyes before they die? Perhaps, at the end of her life, she realized that she had been fooled, and it was toote for her to change and to correct what had already happened." She tried to exin.


    "The can flower not only symbolized their origins, but also the bond they shared with each other. If I was her, I would hope to meet him again in my next life. Perhaps in our next life, I could be good to him, and he wouldn''t lose his life because of me."


    Lu Qingfeng only stared at her, feeling like cold water had been poured over him. He hadn''t thought about it that far, but she was able to exin it from another point of view. He opened his mouth to say something, but no words came out.


    Was this why he was reborned in his second life? Because Su Xiaofei bore such intense regret in their first life, she had prayed to be with him in another life, and yet he''d failed to protect her again?


    "I think thest thing the boy would want is for the girl to me herself. She didn''t mean to forget him in the first ce, and she''d been lied to by another person who took advantage of her state. If I were the boy, the most important thing for me was for the girl to return to him safe and happy."


    Su Xiaofei sighed, stopped her swing and stood up. She then stretched her arms above her head and yawned.


    "That''s enough. Why are we talking about sad stories, anyway?"


    "Weren''t you the one who started it?"


    "Still, it''s just too sad." She pped his arm in annoyance. "Anyway, if I end up forgetting you just like that little girl, you have to make sure you keep reminding me no matter what happens! If in the end, I still couldn''t remember you, then you have no choice but to make new memories with me, okay?"


    Lu Qingfeng was stunned for a moment, before a smile spread on his lips. Why hadn''t he thought of that before?


    "Okay. I will do my best, but if you truly dare to forget about me in the future, please expect to see your embarrassing photos as a child on all social media outlets. Let''s see if you''ll still dare to forget about me." His eyes curved with a mischievous glint on it. Want to forget about him for the third time? Not a f*cking chance!


    "Ahh! Lu Qingfeng! Lu Qingfeng! Don''t you dare do that! I will kill you!" Su Xiaofei dared to hit his arm again, but he avoided her hand just in time as he stepped back from her.


    "Your highness, my queen. How do you n to kill this servant? If this servant could be bold, may this servant ask you to please kill him by drowning him with your love instead?"


    "Lu Qingfeng!" Su Xiaofei called his name again, aware that her face was red, from his shamelessness.


    "Calm down, mdy. This servant of yours will retreat for now." Lu Qingfeng said as he stepped back, ready to leave.

 Chapter 107 - You Are No Stranger To Me (1)

    <h4>Chapter 107 - You Are No Stranger To Me (1)</h4>


    It wasn''t the first time that Lu Qingfeng had told her a story, but as Su Xiaofeiid on her bed, staring at her nk ceiling, she couldn''t help but remember the story he had just told her. Was it because she could somehow rte to the young girl in his story?


    ''Such a foolish girl, but I shouldn''t be the one to talk, as I''ve also made the same mistake.'' Su Xiaofei scoffed inwardly. They might be cut from the same cloth if the young girl''s story was true.


    The girl must have regretted not believing the young boy''s ims when he came to see her. Su Xiaofei couldn''t imagine how heartbroken the boy was when she forgot about him, but more than that, she was annoyed that the girl had been deceived, just like she was.


    ''Mo Yuchen deceived me, just like how the girl was made to believe that he was the person she loved.''


    Mo Yuchen pretended that he hade to love her, a year before they got married, to earn her trust. She should have suspected his sudden change, given that it also coincided with the fact that hispany was facing yet another financial crisis.


    If only she took a break to see the bigger picture. But given how infatuated she was with Mo Yuchen, Su Xiaofei wasn''t sure if she would notice the problem.


    Didn''t the girl find the other boy''s im suspicious? Su Xiaofei thought. When all her mother''s fortune ended up in his hands, did the girl finally realize the error of her choices and actions? However, it was toote for her to regret because the boy had already died in her own husband''s hands.


    Perhaps, just like her, the girl regretted everything before her death. Su Xiaofei thought. It was just a pity that the girl didn''t have a chance like her to be reborned to rectify the mistakes she previously made, while she was lucky to be reborned to change the course of events in her life.


    If she and Lu Qingfeng were in their shoes, Su Xiaofei wouldn''t want him to suffer because of her, but thinking of how he had suffered alone after her death in her previous life, Su Xiaofei thought that she had already failed him.


    Then her thoughts went back to the events that happened that day. Not only was she reunited with Qiao Yuhan, much earlier than she remembered, but she was also able to personally meet her father. Since they''ve met like this, she could only think of a way to make the best out of it.


    ''Bai Qingyue, I wonder how you would react if you saw me with my father.''


    She wouldn''t be surprised that if she attempted to enter showbiz in the future, Bai Qingyue would do her best to force her out of the industry to protect her image in public again. Su Xiaofei''s very existence was a stain that would ruin everything Bai Qingyue had worked so hard for thus far, but it didn''t matter to Su Xiaofei at all.


    Su Xiaofei would have just let her birth mother be had Bai Qingyue not schemed and harmed her in her past life. She would have turned a blind eye and pretended not to know the woman if Bai Qingyue didn''t collude with Ye Mingyu to ruin not only her life, but also Yun Qingrong''s reputation.


    Bai Qingyue had been Ye Mingyu''s biggest supporter in show business and the woman was one of those responsible for Bluemedia going into a crisis, which forced Yun Qingrong to work harder than she already was to save herpany.


    s, in the end, when Yun Qingrong passed away, thepany eventually fell into Mo Yuchen''s hands along with her fortune. It made sense why the Yun family didn''t see her in their eyes back then.


    She had failed to protect the mother who had taken her in, and she didn''t deserve to be acknowledged as Yun Qingrong''s daughter.


    Not that she could me them, because she didn''t acknowledge the Yun family as well since they had also failed to protect her mother. No matter what kind of mistakes her mother made in the past, she shouldn''t have been ignored and given a cold shoulder by her own family like that.


    This made Su Xiaofei dread her meeting with the Yun family. She had to remind herself that she was only doing this for her mother''s sake, and for the Yun family not to breathe down her neck in the future.


    Su Xiaofei took a deep breath and shut her eyes. There was no point in overthinking the past if she couldn''t protect Lu Qingfeng this time. As her thoughts slowly drifted off to slumber, she wondered where Lu Qingfeng read such an intriguing story.


    While Su Xiaofei was heading to dreand, Lu Qingfeng remained awake on his own bed, thinking about the words she had said earlier after he''d told her the story of his first life. There were missing pieces from that memory, and he wasn''t sure if he would be able to remember any of it.


    As for Su Xiaofei, he hadn''t thought that she would think that way. It was painful to think of her deaths in his previous lives, enough to disturb his sleep at night with countless nightmares. Perhaps this was why he could only have a dreamless sleep when Su Xiaofei was next to him.


    ''I thought I already knew her well. I guess she still managed to surprise me once in a while.'' He thought.


    Lu Qingfeng turned on his side, barely seeing anything outside his window in his dimly lit room. He was surprisingly calmer tonight, something he hadn''t felt when he was alone in a long time. Usually, his thoughts would have gued him by now, not allowing him to sleep.. He shut his eyes, and for the first time since his second rebirth, he was able to sleep well through the night.

 Chapter 108 - You Are No Stranger To Me (2)

    <h4>Chapter 108 - You Are No Stranger To Me (2)</h4>


    The next school day, Su Xiaofei disregarded the curious look she was receiving from her ssmates, while Xi Qian was having a hard time ignoring their gossiping. The talk about Ye Mingyu''s failed attempt to provoke Su Xiaofei had been the talk of the town in the academy.


    "Feifei, just ignore them. In the future, if Ye Mingyu tries to harass you again, don''t let her provoke you with her crocodile tears." Xi Qian whispered as they ate their lunch at their usual spot. Lu Qingfeng wasn''t around as he notified Su Xiaofei that he would beingte for lunch.


    "Let them talk, Qian. It''s not like they are really concerned about me. It doesn''t matter who wins between me and Ye Mingyu to them because both of us are just a sore in their eyes." Su Xiaofeimented as she picked up the fried tofu from her lunchbox and munched on it with glee.


    She didn''t need to starve herself to death now to keep her figure. In fact, in Su Xiaofei''s opinion, her eighteen-year-old body was too skinny. She hadn''t decided whether she would join the showbiz industry as an actress, or she would focus on her studies to seed her mother at Bluemedia.


    Lu Qingfeng then arrived, cing a paper bag with a popr jewelry brand printed on it.


    "Sorry, I''mte." He said as he took a seat next to Su Xiaofei. "Katarina said this arrived today, so she had to collect them at the store and bring them here."


    "We could have collected them togetherter instead of asking Miss Katarina to bring it here for us."


    Su Xiaofei took the paper bag and fished out one of the ck boxes inside. She opened it and let out a low whistle. The pair of silver bracelets inside looked better in personpared to its pictures in the catalogue she saw with Lu Qingfeng.


    "What''s that, Feifei? Is it for any specific asion?" Xi Qian asked. While Su Xiaofei usually bought a new set of clothes every season, Xi Qian rarely sees her best friend buying any jewelry except if there''s an asion that she would attend with her mother.


    "No. This is for us, Qian." Su Xiaofei picked up one of the silver bracelets and ced it on Xi Qian''s left wrist, much to thetter''s shock.


    "Feifei, this¡­" Xi Qian wasn''t sure why her best friend was giving her such an expensive piece. Although the design wasn''t shy, knowing Su Xiaofei, she had most probably spent arge amount of money on it.


    "Qian, do you remember the poison that almost killed me when I was stabbed?" Su Xiaofei asked.


    "En?" Xi Qian was confused. She couldn''t understand what it had to do with this bracelet. "What about it, Feifei?"


    "Brother Han said that we could prevent being poisoned if we could test the drinks we''re about to consume with anything silver. You just need to discreetly let it make contact with this silver bracelet."


    Xi Qian blinked at that. She had almost forgotten about that poison had Su Xiaofei not mentioned it today.


    "Well, I think it would be useful for you and Lu Qingfeng, but why bother including me?" She raised her left hand and marvelled at how good the bracelet looked in contrast with her slightly tanned skin.


    "Qian! How could you say something like that?! You aren''t a stranger to me."


    "It''s not like that, Feifei! I just don''t like it when people say that I only befriended you because of this." Xi Qian lowered her hand and leaned her head against Su Xiaofei''s shoulder.


    "Nonsense. Qian is my best friend, no matter what people say. Plus, because you are my best friend, people could target you too. I''m not taking any risks"


    "Okay, I understand." Xi Qian conceded. "So we can only test this on drinks? What about food?" She continued asking as she watched Su Xiaofei gestured to Lu Qingfeng to help her with her bracelet before giving him his lunchbox.


    "It would be hard to detect the cold poison if it was incorporated in food. Brother Han said that the cold poison is sensitive to warm temperature, so it''s most likely to be mixed with cold beverages or alcoholic drinks with ice in them." Su Xiaofei exined.


    Once the three finished their lunch, Lu Qingfeng helped Su Xiaofei to hold the books she and Xi Qian borrowed from the library. They made their way to the library, intending to return the books. Xi Qian, whose hands were free, volunteered to hold the bag with their empty lunch boxes.


    "The midterms exams won''t be until next month. Why do you need to borrow so many books?" Lu Qingfeng asked as he checked the title of the books in the bag he was holding.


    "Qian is helping me to catch up with the lessons I couldn''t understand, that''s why." Su Xiaofei replied as they walked next to each other.


    Behind them, Xi Qian stopped in her tracks when she noticed something outside the window of the hallway.


    "Hey, Feifei. Isn''t that Ye Mingyu? Why is she meeting Cai Lin in a ce like this?" She said, grabbing both Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng''s attention.


    The two stopped walking and followed her gaze outside. The library could be found on the third floor of the faculty building, which was just a couple of meters away from the basketball court. Indeed, just as Xi Qian said, they found Ye Mingyu talking to Cai Lin in low voices.


    The ce they were meeting was hidden from public view. Cai Lin received something from Ye Mingyu and had shyly epted it while scratching his nape, a blush creeping on his face. Seeing them meeting like this, were they hiding from Feng Xue''er?


    Su Xiaofeiughed behind her hand, while Lu Qingfeng''s cold gaze remained on Ye Mingyu.


    "Oh, no. ssmate Feng surely wouldn''t like it if she knew that her new best friend is meeting her fianc¨¦ behind her back."


    Xi Qian scoffed and shrugged, resuming her walk.


    "It''s her karma."

 Chapter 109 - No One Is Completely Innocent (1)

    <h4>Chapter 109 - No One Is Completely Innocent (1)</h4>


    Three days had passed and the students of Qiying City Academy had somewhat moved on from the gossip about Ye Mingyu and Su Xiaofei. Ye Mingyu hadn''t sought Su Xiaofei since that day outside the court, nor did she make any effort to talk to her.


    Instead, Su Xiaofei thought that the young woman was trying to avoid her at all costs, hoping that the talk about them would lessen and be forgotten by everyone. However, unbeknownst to Ye Mingyu, during their lunch break, Su Xiaofei, along with Xi Qian and Lu Qingfeng, had always spotted her running towards her meeting ce with Cai Lin, bringing a lunchbox with her.


    "Ye Mingyu knows no shame." Xi Qian said as she casually ate her food while her gaze followed Ye Mingyu''s retreating form.


    "Qian, in this world, no one is perfectly clean. Everyone will more or less have some stains on them. No one ispletely innocent, but it is amusing to see Ye Mingyu betraying Feng Xue''er like this." Su Xiaofei chuckled as she drank from her water bottle.


    "And to think that Feng Xue''er was bragging that she would make Ye Mingyu this year''s Fairy Queen¡­ Aiya, I can''t imagine how angry she would be once she found out about Ye Mingyu and Cai Lin. Do you think they are already dating behind Feng Xu''er''s back?" Xi Qian asked curiously.


    Su Xiaofei shrugged. She didn''t care whether the two were dating or not, but knowing Ye Mingyu, she must be stringing Cai Lin to do her bidding. Just like what she had done with Yun Xiang in the past, Ye Mingyu would continue leading Cai Lin on, without putting her friendship with Feng Xue''er in jeopardy.


    "You''re going to attend the founding ball?" Su Xiaofei heard Lu Qingfeng ask.


    "En." She nodded. "I can''t possibly miss seeing the dress that Feng Xue''er has been bragging about." She grinned mischievously at him.


    Now that she was assured that Ye Mingyu had met Cai Lin, Su Xiaofei didn''t need to do anything because Ye Mingyu and Feng Xue''er would ruin their so-called friendship with their own hands.


    "Aren''t you going to attend?" Su Xiaofei asked in return. In her past life, Lu Qingfeng hated attending parties and events like this.


    "I think I should. Grandpa said I should try to socialize more to understand other people." Lu Qingfeng replied.


    "Well, Gramps is right." Su Xiaofei nodded as she leaned and rested her head on Lu Qingfeng''s arm. She really liked that he was taller than her, because she wouldn''t be able to do this if he wasn''t.


    When Su Xiaofei? returned to their ssroom with Xi Qian, Feng Xue''er stood right in front of her desk as soon as she took a seat.


    "Su Xiaofei, I heard that you''re going to attend the founding ball this year. It''s just too bad that you would never be the Fairy Queen that night." The girl mocked Su Xiaofei, but thetter remained calm as if Feng Xue''er didn''t bother her at all.


    In Su Xiaofei''s eyes, the eighteen-year-old girl was nothing but a small fish who hadn''t experienced enough grievances in the real world. Feng Xue''er thought that as long as her father could keep his high-ranking position in the government and as long as she was engaged to Cai Lin, she wouldn''t have to taste bitterness in the future.


    Su Xiaofei lifted her eyes and met Feng Xue''er gaze. Upon taking a close look at Feng Xue''er eyes, Su Xiaofei could swear that she saw a hint of jealousy flicker in the young woman''s eyes. So it turned out that Feng Xue''er was being rude to her from the very beginning because she was envious of her.


    The young woman in front of her was about 158 cm and if she was standing next to Ye Mingyu, people wouldn''t be able to see or notice her presence. Feng Xue''er dislike other girls that were more beautiful and richer than her and being grouped in the same ss with Su Xiaofei, who was arrogant and naughty at the same time, obviously made Feng Xue''er hate her even more.


    Years after they graduated from high school, she and Ye Mingyu had debuted in show business at the same time, but thetter had been ahead of Su Xiaofei when it came toworking and status as a fashion icon.


    After Cai Lin''s confession to Ye Mingyu, he still married Feng Xue''er despite his obsession with his wife''s best friend.


    Su Xiaofei snickered at the thought of how shameless and foolish the couple was, not knowing that they were being used and taken advantage of by Ye Mingyu from the very beginning.


    However, this time, Su Xiaofei would make sure that they wouldn''t be able to continue behaving as they pleased towards her.


    "Fairy Queen? Who says I''m interested in being the Fairy Queen?" Su Xiaofei rested her chin on the back of her hand, her long hair cascading smoothly over her shoulder as she met Feng Xue''er''s mocking gaze.


    Feng Xue''er was stunned by Su Xiaofei''s answer. This wasn''t what she''d been expecting from this arrogant heiress.


    "W-what?" She stuttered, her mind trying to figure out why Su Xiaofei was acting so differently these days.


    Su Xiaofei remained calm and didn''t bother to hide the amusement in her eyes.


    "You heard me clear the first time, ssmate Feng. Actually, I''m really curious how you would make Ye Mingyu the Fairy Queen. And since she also has a beau who could take her to the ball, I''m really looking forward to the foundation ball, ssmate Feng."


    Feng Xue''er frowned. Since when did Ye Mingyu get a boyfriend? They''d been together most of the time out of school, and yet Ye Mingyu never mentioned that she was seeing someely.


    "Heh, at least someone would take Ye Mingyu at the ball, unlike you who have to rely on Lu Qingfeng''s help to save face.." Feng Xue''er taunted Su Xiaofei.

 Chapter 110 - No One Is Completely Innocent (2)

    <h4>Chapter 110 - No One Is Completely Innocent (2)</h4>


    "Eh? What''s wrong with me hanging out with Lu Qingfeng? We''ve been together for years and understood each other better than anyone else. Why should I feel ashamed attending the founding ball with him? ssmate Feng, instead of criticizing who I''ll be attending with, you should really pay attention to that new best friend of yours."


    Su Xiaofei smiled. If Ye Mingyu was aware who Cai Lin was and still sought after him, wouldn''t that mean she didn''t care about Feng Xue''er''s feelings at all? She would certainly hide the fact that she was seeing Cai Lin from her best friend to avoid losing Feng Xue''er''s support.


    The reason why Feng Xue''er was head over heels with her fianc¨¦ was because Cai Lin knew how to say the right words to keep her interested in him. The Cai family indeed had a lot of money, but theycked the influence that Feng Xue''er''s family had and with their union, the Cai family was hoping it would uplift their status in society.


    However, Feng Xue''er and the Feng family took their dignity seriously and had kept their reputation unmarred by any controversy. So Su Xiaofei was certain that if the news of Cai Lin cheating on Feng Xue''er reached the Feng family, the Feng family would immediately dissolve the engagement between the two, and Feng Xue''er would me no one but Ye Mingyu for ruining her future.


    This information caught the attention of their other ssmates, who were listening to their arguments yet again.


    ''Huh, did Ye Mingyu do something again?''


    ''Who knows what she''s up to. Actually, I haven''t seen her that much these days.''


    ''There''s still three weeks until the founding ball. If she truly got a new boyfriend, he must havee from a well-off family.''


    ''Oh? Then we should wait and see. I suddenly feel like this year''s founding ball will be exciting!''


    Their ssmates were so caught up with their conversation that they had now ignored Feng Xue''er and Su Xiaofei''s argument.


    "If you aren''t going to say anything, please leave, ssmate Feng. I would like to take a nap while the teacher isn''t here yet." Su Xiaofei said and yawned, before wiping the top of her desk with antimicrobial wipes to make sure no dirt would touch her beautiful face.


    Feng Xue''er frowned, her face looked awful. She felt lost that she wasn''t able to get the reaction she was hoping for from Su Xiaofei.


    Looking at Su Xiaofei''s face, it seemed like she really didn''t want to have anything to do with Ye Mingyu nor did she care who would be crowned as the ''Fairy Queen of the Night'' at the founding ball.


    Xi Qian, who remained silent throughout the conversation her best friend had with Feng Xue''er scoffed inwardly. Did Feng Xue''er think that Su Xiaofei was the same old girl who can easily be provoked by anyone?


    Since the incident during her birthday, Xi Qian obviously noticed the striking difference in behavior and outlook that her best friend disyed. Unlike before, Su Xiaofei seemed calmer and rxed these days. She never responded to any provocation anymore. She would instead insult them verbally without losing her cool.


    However, she also noticed that Feifei looked detached and too frigid when no one was looking at her. Her eyes were like a bottomless pit of darkness without any hint of warmth in them. Xi Qian knew that something wasn''t right, but she feared that Feifei would only distance herself from her if she dared to question her about it.


    When the ss ended for the day, Su Xiaofei found Lu Qingfeng waiting for her outside in the hallway. By this time, Lu Qingfeng should be going to the court to practice with his team.


    "Xiao Feng? What are you doing here? I thought you said that you have practice today?" She asked. She was nning to drop Xi Qian at her part-time job and take a much-needed nap back at home for the rest of the afternoon.


    "Qiao Yuhan just called me earlier, asking me if we could take him to an arcade. His parents won''t be back until tonight." Lu Qingfeng replied, noticing that Su Xiaofei was a little lethargic these days.


    Xi Qian pouted upon hearing that. She can''t skip work and join them today.


    "Ohh, I would love to join you, but I can''t go with you guys today." She sighed, a little upset that she wouldn''t be able to y with young Qiao Yuhan and his cute fluffy cat.


    "And you agreed without asking me first?" Su Xiaofei asked. This was unusual for Lu Qingfeng, knowing how he hated dealing with kids even when they were younger. He would rather stay at home than y with those pesky children who couldn''t even wipe their own snot.


    "Why? Do you have ns today? I thought you would love to see Qiao Yuhan." Lu Qingfeng replied. "They''re nning to return to Shenjing soon, so he wanted to see the beautiful Da Jie before they leave. Qiao Yuhan said he would be picking us up in half an hour."


    Su Xiaofei sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. If Lu Qingfeng put it that way, how was she supposed to decline Qiao Yuhan''s request? It wasn''t like she was doing this just because the boy was her half brother. She actually still felt indebted to Qiao Yuhan for looking after her throughout her remaining days in her previous life.


    Su Xiaofei felt that she hadn''t thanked him enough and hadn''t spent enough time with her cute and adorable little brother.


    "Fine." She conceded, "but can we buy something for me to change into? I don''t want to be seen at an arcade wearing my uniform."


    "I can ask Katarina to prepare spare clothes before we leave." Lu Qingfeng agreed with her. He checked the time, before sending a quick message to his private secretary.


    "Okay, then I''ll leave that to you."


    Su Xiaofei decided her nap could wait.

 Chapter 111 - Why Is It Hard To Make Money? (1)

    <h4>Chapter 111 - Why Is It Hard To Make Money? (1)</h4>


    Half an hourter, Lu Qingfeng''s secretary arrived bringing the change of clothes they needed. Lu Qingfeng and Su Xiaofei changed out of their uniforms into casual clothes just in time before Qiao Yuhan arrived to pick them up.


    "Feifei, you don''t need to send me to work. I can justmute from here." Xi Qian said as they walked towards the front gates of the school ground, expecting to see Qiao Yuhan''s car.


    "Commute from here? Xi Qian, I might not be familiar with the rates of the cabs in Qiying City, but I''m pretty sure it would cost you a lot if you take one from here." Su Xiaofei eyed her friend. "Say, you aren''t nning to walk from here, are you?"


    Xi Qian avoided her gaze and looked away, feeling guilty that Su Xiaofei was able to read her clearly.


    "B-but it''s not that far¡­" She tried to reason out.


    "It''s not that far? I doubt that. If you walk from here, I assume you would reach your destination in 45 minutes. Unless you run, you would still be ten minuteste for your shift." Lu Qingfeng said nonchntly, surprising Xi Qian.


    Hey, now. What''s wrong with this little tyrant? Why did Xi Qian feel that Lu Qingfeng was being more and more agreeable and civil with her these days? She couldn''t help but narrow her eyes on him suspiciously. Something was wrong with this little tyrant, that was for sure. Xi Qian thought.


    She wasn''t sure what Lu Qingfeng was up to, but there was no doubt that Su Xiaofei was one of the reasons for this sudden change of his treatment towards her.


    When they reached the school gates, Qiao Yuhan was already there waiting for them, while Su Xiaofei''s bodyguards were patiently waiting for their miss''s orders.


    "Qian, just take the ride. My bodyguards will drop you off at the usual spot. You don''t need to tire yourself by walking to your workce. You will be tired even before you start your shift and might make mistakes at work." Su Xiaofei tried to convince her best friend.


    Qiao Yuhan lowered the tinted window of the backseat of his car.


    "Hello, Fei Jie! Qian Jie!" He stuck his head out of the window and beamed a wide smile at them. It was obvious that he was excited to y with them again.


    "Hello, Little guy. Did you wait for long?" Su Xiaofei bent forward and gently pinched his chubby cheek.


    "Nope. Just arrived." He replied, before eyeing Xi Qian who was still in her school uniform. "Qian Jie, you aren''ting with us?" He blinked as he asked.


    Xi Qian smiled and gave him a helpless smile. If she could, she would love to join them today. s, she wasn''t born as privileged as them, as she needed to work in order to put food on her table and save some money for her education.


    "Sorry, Xiao Han. Qian Jie wouldn''t be able toe with you today, but I hope you enjoy your time with your Fei Jie and Brother Lu." Xi Qian said before ruffling his thick hair.


    Qiao Yuhan felt a little sad when he heard that, because he wouldn''t be able to see Xi Qian after they return to Shenjing this weekend.


    "Okay. Be careful on your way then, Qian Jie. Xiao Han will also give you a call once we return to Shenjing!" He promised her.


    Xi Qian giggled at that and offered her pinky finger at him. "You promise?"


    It made her happy that the boy was willing to be her friend despite their difference in status.


    "En!" The young boy eximed, hooking his tiny little pinky finger with hers and shook it as a promise.


    When Xi Qian left, Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng joined Qiao Yuhan in the backseat of his car. The little boy sat between them but his attention was focused on Su Xiaofei. Lu Qingfeng noticed that the boy''s fat cat was nowhere in sight.


    "Fei Jie, why does Qian Jie need to work? Isn''t she too young to work?" Qiao Yuhan asked his new favorite person in the world. Well, he also likes his Qian Jie and Brother Lu, but he liked this Feifei Jie the most!


    She was really pretty in his eyes, more beautiful than those actresses he''d seen on television. So how can he not like her when she also treated him with kindness and had been very patient with him?


    "It''s because your Qian Jie doesn''t have parents to support and take care of her like us." Su Xiaofei tried to choose her words carefully. She didn''t want Qiao Yuhan to look down on Xi Qian at all.


    "But brother Lu also doesn''t have parents, right?" The young boy retorted.


    "I''m different. I have a generous grandfather who looks after me, but not Xi Qian." Lu Qingfeng corrected the young boy.


    "Oh¡­" Qiao Yuhan didn''t know whether to pity his Qian Jie or not. He hadn''t thought that she was leading such a lonely life, living without her parents.


    As a young boy at the age of eight, Qiao Yuhan couldn''t understand why Xi Qian''s parents weren''t taking care of her, like his parents were of him. He had this notion that parents loved their child unconditionally and was oblivious that there were people out there who were willing to burn bridges with their kin, especially when money and greed was a motivation.


    "Then, will Qian Jie be fine on her own?" He asked Su Xiaofei.


    Su Xiaofei smiled at him and patted his head gently. She didn''t want to admit, but she''s going to miss this little guy once they leave.


    "Your Qian Jie isn''t alone, Xiao Han. Qian Jie has me and your Brother Lu." She answered him.


    Qiao Yuhan''s eyes glimmered in understanding.


    "She also has me now!" He eximed, not wanting to be left out by them.


    "Oh? Your Qian Jie would be happy to hear that.. You are such a nice kid, Xiao Han."

 Chapter 112 - Why Is It Hard To Make Money? (2)

    <h4>Chapter 112 - Why Is It Hard To Make Money? (2)</h4>


    Unlike the amusement park, it was the first time Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng had been to an arcade. They were aware that this ce was being frequented by other students like them, but neither of them had expected that the ce would be as crowded and as lively as this.


    The two shared a knowing look, but Su Xiaofei could only shrug as they watched Qiao Yuhan''s eyes sparkle with delight. He was obviously happy to be brought to this ce.


    "Have you been to one before, Xiao Han?" She asked the young boy.


    "En!" The little boy nodded his head and grinned widely at Su Xiaofei. "Dad brought me once to an arcade in Shenjing. Actually, it was a huge building with five floors on it. A day wasn''t enough for us to y all the games there."


    "Wow, that sounds amazing." Su Xiaofeimented. She supposed Qiao Yuhan was very lucky that their father was able to spoil him to such an extent, despite Qiao Fengying''s busy schedule at work.


    "Fei Jie, if you evere with Brother Lu and Qian Jie to Shenjing, I will give you a tour." Qiao Yuhan promised her.


    "Then, I''ll hold on to your promise, Little guy." Su Xiaofei smiled at him, before taking his hand as they entered the arcade and bought tokens at the counter.


    She and Qiao Yuhan tried several games, while Lu Qingfeng followed the two, making sure no other guys would dare to hit on Su Xiaofei. She was currently preupied with Qiao Yuhan, so she didn''t realize that there were a few young men who stopped whatever they were doing to check out the beautiful elder sister who was ying with her little brother.


    Lu Qingfeng shot them an icy look, effectively chasing them away. With such a handsome young man apanying the pretty girl and her little brother, most of them naturally assumed that he was Su Xiaofei''s possessive boyfriend.


    "Xiao Feng, aren''t you going to y with us?" Su Xiaofei asked, when she noticed that Lu Qingfeng''s attention wasn''t on the game she and Qiao Yuhan were ying and was looking around them instead.


    "No need. I''m just here to apany the two of you." He coolly replied.


    "Oh? Does that mean Brother Lu isn''t ying because he''s chickening out? You aren''t afraid to lose, right, Brother Lu?" Qiao Yuhan grinned at Lu Qingfeng, igniting another round ofpetition between them.


    "Little guy, are you really asking me to kick your butt this time?" Lu Qingfeng replied.


    Qiao Yuhan huffed and puffed his cheeks as he crossed his arms over his chest.


    "I might be young, Brother Lu, but that doesn''t mean you can easily beat me, right, Fei Jie?" The little boy replied with such confidence about his ying skills.


    Lu Qingfeng narrowed his eyes on the young boy. He wasn''t nning to entertain his future brother-inw''s teasing, but he didn''t like how Qiao Yuhan clung onto Su Xiaofei''s arm as if he was afraid to lose her.


    "Feifei, let''s switch. I''ll y with Xiao Han." He said, earning a giggle from Su Xiaofei.


    "Aiya, how can you easily be provoked by a little boy, Xiao Feng?" Su Xiaofeiughed as she vacated her seat, allowing Lu Qingfeng to take over the game she was ying with Qiao Yuhan.


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaofei took this chance to look around and observe other people ying games in the arcade. It seemed like students weren''t the only ones here, there were also adults who were ying games using real money to win.


    As she observed the adults y and win money, the gears in her mind started to roll as she thought of how she could earn the 100 million she needed to save Bluemedia from Mo Yuchen.


    Her attention then drifted to the casino that was right in front of the arcade. Su Xiaofei shook her head as she thought that it''s not worth gambling the money she currently had.


    ''It might lead to addiction.'' She thought. ''I don''t want to end up like that scum.'' She was thinking about her adoptive father.


    The more she thought of it, the more options popped in her mind, but there''s one thing that piqued her interest.


    Lottery.


    How could she not have thought of that earlier? She could win the prizes, using the winning numbers she remembered in the past.


    In her previous life, there was this episode on TV that she''d seen during her stay at Qiao Yuhan''s vi. The theme of the episode was about lottery winners who easily lost their fortune and how they regretted it.


    The reason why Su Xiaofei was able to remember it was because at that time, she wondered if she had won a lot of money like them, she would rather use it on several investments to earn more money rather than spending it like a one-day millionaire.


    However, there was a problem, though. The tickets for the lottery would cost her at least 180 each and the top prize she could win was only 5 million, which was a lot of money formon citizens of the country, but not that much for Su Xiaofei, especially so for Lu Qingfeng.


    Su Xiaofei sighed. Having five million was better than nothing. She thought. Perhaps she should consider other options to raise money and how she could grow that five million somehow.


    As she nced at Lu Qingfeng''s way, she wondered if she should ask for his help.


    "Brother Lu, are you sure you know how to y this game and not just guessing which button you should push to attack?" She heard Qiao Yuhan''sugh, pulling her back to reality.


    Su Xiaofei saw that the frown on Lu Qingfeng''s face had deepened, indicating that he wasn''t pleased with the little boy''s teasing. She rested her folded arms over his shoulder and grinned.


    "Young Master Lu, you''re going to lose at this rate." She teased him.


    "I''m just not used to the controls yet.." He reasoned.

 Chapter 113 - Why Is It Hard To Make Money? (3)

    <h4>Chapter 113 - Why Is It Hard To Make Money? (3)</h4>


    Lu Qingfeng was obviously not in the mood to eat anything sweet at the moment, as he sat across from the siblings, who were enjoying their strawberry parfaits. He looked at the young boy seated next to Su Xiaofei, and he was reminded why he couldn''t be angry with Qiao Yuhan.


    It wasn''t the boy''s fault that he couldn''t win a single round in their game earlier. Lu Qingfeng had never thought that he would lose against Qiao Yuhan at all.


    "Xiao Feng, don''t sulk just because Xiao Han kicked your ass. You have to man up and admit defeat once in a while." Su Xiaofei grinned at him, knowing that he was a little ashamed to be beaten by a boy half his age.


    "I didn''t lose. I allowed him to win." He scoffed and looked away.


    It would be embarrassing for him if Su Xiaofei knew that he was an adult man that lost to a young boy, and Lu Qingfeng would rather not let her know about it. Thankfully, the Qiao family was about to return to Shenjing, so he wouldn''t need to spend more time with Qiao Yuhan.


    "Xiao Han, be good to your parents once you return to Shenjing, okay?" Su Xiaofei patted Qiao Yuhan''s head affectionately. In her previous life, one of the grievances her little brother held in his heart was that his parents were rarely at home to apany him.


    "But I''m always alone." Qiao Yuhan lowered his head as he thought how he would be left alone again once they returned home. It would have been better if he could stay and live here in Qiying City, so he could always see Fei Jie and Qian Jie whenever they had free time.


    Su Xiaofei was at a loss for words, but she understood where the boy wasing from. This was exactly how she felt when her mother and Su Haoran were always away for work, leaving her in thepany of her nannies and housekeepers.


    It was very lonely until she met Lu Qingfeng one day and eventually befriended Xi Qian. Since then, theirpany had made her forget about her loneliness of being left behind.


    "Say, Xiao Han, do you have any friends at school?" She asked the little boy.


    Qiao Yuhan shook his head. He was too shy to make friends with his peers and ssmates.


    "Why don''t you try making friends with them? You don''t need to befriend all your ssmates, but it would be nice if you have one or two friends you can spend time with. You know, maybe they are just like you, they need someone to y with while their parents are busy with work."


    "Just like you and Qian Jie?" Qiao Yuhan asked.


    "En. Xiao Feng is also my friend. You can befriend girls too if you want." She suggested.


    Qioa Yuhan remained silent as he gave it a good thought. So it didn''t really matter how many friends he should have.


    As he nced at Su Xiaofei smiling brightly at Lu Qingfeng, who was still upset about his loss earlier, the boy wanted the kind of friendship they had. It seemed like Fei Jie trusted his Brother Lu so much that she was able to smile like this in his presence.


    "Okay. I think¡­ I think I will give it a try, Fei Jie." He answered.


    "Then that''s good." Su Xiaofei nodded, pleased that Qiao Yuhan was willing to give it a try. "If there''s anything, you can just give me and your Qian Jie a call, but don''t forget to message us first, okay?" She winked at him.


    Since it had already turned out this way, then she would keep in touch with the Qiao family without revealing her true rtionship with them. If Bai Qingyue found out that she was close to the Qiao family, Su Xiaofei knew that the woman would rack her brain, wondering if her secret had been found out.


    Su Xiaofei supposed that if her father and Liu Shn were able to see her on television in her past life, they wouldn''t be able to suspect her identity because she was legally named as Yun Qingrong''s daughter.


    As to why the truth about her being adopted wasn''t broadcast to the public, she surmised that it was because revealing the adoption in public by a married couple meant that they were infertile.


    Knowing Su Haoran''s personality, he definitely wouldn''t want his virility as a man to be questioned by anyone, and he wouldn''t dare to make the Yun family his enemy by revealing Yun Qingrong''s inability to conceive a child.


    ''Heh, as always, it''s always about himself.'' Su Xiaofei thought as she watched Qiao Yuhan finish his parfait.


    Once they were done, she and Lu Qingfeng dropped the boy back at the hotel where his family is currently staying. The two left almost immediately as Su Xiaofei had no intention of meeting her father again so soon.


    As Nine drove the car to take Su Xiaofei home, she shut her eyes and sighed next to Lu Qingfeng.


    "What is it now?" He asked, sensing her distress.


    Su Xiaofei opened her eyes and groaned.


    "Xiao Feng, why is it hard to make money? I wouldn''t be able to save up 100 million at this rate." Sheined. "No wonder some women tried to marry filthy rich men to save their asses." She pouted.


    Lu Qingfeng raised a slender brow at her. He had never heard herin about money before, as she would always be the one to spend it without giving it a second thought.


    "Since when did our Feifei realize that it''s hard to earn money?" He asked.


    "Since I decided not to marry Mo Yuchen and to save Mama''spany in the future."


    As she said this, her phone beeped, indicating a new message. As she read the message she received, the corner of her lips curled up.


    It was time to meet the Yun family.

 Chapter 114 - I Am Su Xiaofei (1)

    <h4>Chapter 114 - I Am Su Xiaofei (1)</h4>


    The next day, Su Xiaofei and her mother woke up early. This was the day she would be meeting the Yun family for the first time since her rebirth. Su Xiaofei wasn''t expecting anything from them, aside from them scrutinizing her worth as her mother''s daughter.


    As much as Yun Qingrong wanted to apany her daughter, she knew that her father wasn''t ready to see her yet, and she could only wait and see if Feifei would be able to move his heart to consider having a word with her.


    "Calm down, Mama. I''m just meeting Grandpa and uncles. They won''t eat me alive, right?"


    Yun Qingrong shook her head and forced a smile before cupping the sides of Su Xiaofei''s face.


    "Mama is just worried that her old man would give you a cold shoulder because of my mistake." She stated.


    Su Xiaofei ced a kiss on her mother''s palm and smiled.


    "If the General is really that amazing, he wouldn''t be holding any sort of prejudice against me."


    It was already ten in the morning when the car she rode arrived at the Yun Estate where her mother''s family resided. She stepped out and marveled at how beautiful the ce was.


    Su Xiaofei smiled faintly as she took in the surroundings. The ce was huge, and it surprisingly looked homeypared to other estates she had seen owned by the wealthy families in Qiying City.


    "Xiao Fei, you came early."


    Su Xiaofei tilted her head and felt a slight coolness of the morning breeze brush her face. She then saw Yun Xianging her way, and she tried to suppress the cold indifference in her eyes upon seeing him. She truly hated his faux upright personality, which she knew could easily be blinded by his infatuation with a woman.


    Yun Xiang acted like he was a kindhearted and upright person. He had this sense of justice whenever he saw someone being bullied or wronged in front of him. s, in Su Xiaofei''s eyes, he was nothing but a fool, because he wasn''t able to see past Ye Mingyu''s act in her past life.


    While she didn''t have any qualms towards the Yun family, Yun Xiang had a long list of debts he needed to settle with her. She briefly wondered if Yun Xiang was treating her with such kindness because he still couldn''t get rid of the guilt of causing her harm due to his own negligence.


    Yun Xiang stopped in his tracks when his eyes met her gaze, and for a moment, he felt like something was wrong with Su Xiaofei. He blinked and whatever he''d seen earlier disappeared, making him wonder if it had been there in the first ce.


    "Did Brother Xiange here to make sure I won''t slip up in front of your grandfather?" She asked with a small smile.


    Yun Xiangughed awkwardly and tried to suppress the blush that crept on his face. It was a little out of character for a military man like him. Unlike his predecessors, Yun Xiang wore his heart on his sleeve and wasn''t ashamed to express what he thought and what he felt towards another person.


    Su Xiaofei thought that if she were topare him to Lu Qingfeng, they would be the perfect contrast of each other, as Lu Qingfeng was sometimes hard to read, even for Su Xiaofei.


    "Is Xiao Fei worried that Grandpa wouldn''t like you? Don''t worry, as long as you can be yourself and be honest, grandpa will surely like you." He tried to reassure her, but Su Xiaofei knew better than to believe him.


    Just be herself? Heh, that would be impossible. She cannot allow anyone to see how vicious and wicked her heart was. Even her mother and Xi Qian weren''t aware of what''s going on in her mind. Only Lu Qingfeng was able to take a peek of what she truly was inside.


    "Then we should go before grandpa bes impatient awaiting your arrival." Yun Xiang said.


    Su Xiaofei smiled lightly and nodded.


    "I will be troubling Brother Xiang to lead the way, then."


    At her smile, Yun Xiang was slightly taken aback and blushed in embarrassment. He berated himself for acting like an idiot in front of his cousin, although Su Xiaofei wasn''t really his aunt''s biological child.


    "O-okay. Let''s go then." He gestured her to follow him.


    Yun Xiang had a few personal questions for Su Xiaofei, but as he nced at the side profile of her face, he decided to hold it down for a moment. He swallowed the invisible lump in his throat and wiped his sweaty palms on the side of his pants, wondering why he was acting like this in Su Xiaofei''s presence.


    Yun Xiang led Su Xiaofei inside the main house, and they were greeted by the servants who lined themselves to wee Su Xiaofei. As Su Xiaofei walked past them, some couldn''t resist stealing a nce of her face, feeling awed upon seeing it.


    As Su Xiaofei looked around inside the huge house, she realized that her mother''s taste in decorations was almost the same as what she could see in the Yun Estate. Yun Xiang led her upstairs and she wordlessly followed him as her eyes continued to scan her surroundings with her impassive face.


    Once they reached the study where General Yun and his three sons were waiting, Yun Xiang gave her onest nce and was slightly baffled at how indifferent she seemed for this meeting.


    Shouldn''t she be nervous by now? Was she even aware that she was adopted by her aunt and Su Haoran and that she wasn''t really part of the Su and the Yun families? These were some of the things that Yun Xiang wanted to ask Su Xiaofei, but he didn''t want to offend her with his questions.


    He knocked on the door twice before turning the doorknob to open the door. He then announced Su Xiaofei''s arrival.


    "Grandpa, Su Xiaofei is here to see you."

 Chapter 115 - I Am Su Xiaofei (2)

    <h4>Chapter 115 - I Am Su Xiaofei (2)</h4>


    Upon announcing her arrival, Yun Xiang gestured for Su Xiaofei to enter the study.


    Not wasting her time, Su Xiaofei entered the room without a word.


    The four men present inside the study turned their heads to face the doorway. Then they saw a young beautiful woman dressed in a stylish cream colored dress with a belt that was highlighting her small waist. On her left wrist, she was wearing a silver bracelet, simr to the one Xi Qian had.


    Her long ck hair was kept away from her face in a low ponytail, with only a few strands left loose to frame her beautiful face, and finally matched with a pair of high heels that made her look taller than usual.


    Draped on her right shoulder was the strap of her small purse and in one hand, she was holding a paper bag her mother had asked her to bring with her. Su Xiaofei looked like a sophisticated and elegant young woman, expected to be seen from a prominent family.


    She was far from the shy and pompous young woman that the Yun family had heard about. The rumors painted Su Xiaofei as a young woman who loved to waste her mother''s fortune on trendy clothes and useless things just to brag her status as an heiress.


    With a polite smile gracing her lips, Su Xiaofei straightened her back and looked back at the old man with confidence.


    "General Yun." She spoke with a clear voice, no hint of nervousness in it.


    Seated behind the sturdy mahogany desk was an old man whom Su Xiaofei recognized as General Yun. Even as he was just sitting there, he emanated an oppressive and domineering aura, which Su Xiaofei had no doubt had culminated over his long years of serving the nation''s army and experiencing innumerable battles .


    It was enough to intimidate other people, but not Su Xiaofei. She didn''t avoid his gaze and simply met it head on, not only surprising the old man, but also Yun Qingrong''s brothers.


    Yun Xiang looked at Su Xiaofei with astonishment as he stood behind his father, who was seated along with his brothers on the couch.


    Su Xiaofei''s gaze swept through the room, taking in the expressions of everyone present. In her previous life, she didn''t have the chance to talk to them like this. They came to her mother''s funeral, shed tears, but none of them bothered to spare her a nce and ask her how she was.


    It wasn''t like she could me them. Su Xiaofei was aware of how horrible she had been as a daughter to Yun Qingrong in her past life. Yun Qingrong had taken her in, raised her like her own child, but in the end, what had she got?


    Su Xiaofei hated her, med her for the things that happened in her life. She also caused the loss of thepany that her mother built with her own blood, sweat and tears after marrying Mo Yuchen. She had failed Yun Qingrong terribly to the point that Yun Qingrong lost her life without her daughter by her side.


    Up untilst week, Su Xiaofei didn''t know much about the Yun family. Only after Yun Qingrong divulged the stories of her childhood and talked about how stubborn and strict General Yun was, and how she got along very well with her brothers, did Su Xiaofei realize that her mother still had her family in her heart despite the years of separation.


    Su Xiaofei could see the regret in her mother''s eyes as Yun Qingrong finally realized her mistake of marrying the wrong man.


    "It''s your Mama''s fault." Yun Qingrong smiled bitterly at Su Xiaofei. "Mama made a big mistake of not listening to her father. She doesn''t deserve his forgiveness after all the shame and disappointment she brought on him."


    It was a pity that Yun Qingrong wasn''t able to mend their rtionship in Su Xiaofei''s previous life, but not this time, as Su Xiaofei swore that her mother would lead a happier life this time.


    Yun Guanyu looked at the adopted child his daughter had taken in, and he could already see the difference in temperament between Yun Qingrong and Su Xiaofei.


    While his daughter had a fiery and jolly attitude, which could easily make anyone love her and care for her, this young woman in front of him had a pair of impregnable coldness in her eyes, with such profound depth, as if Su Xiaofei had experienced many hardships in life, forcing her to build a high wall around her to protect herself. It was like he was looking at an endless void when he looked at her.


    Although Su Xiaofei was smiling, Yun Guanyu could sense a deeper meaning in her eyes. General Yun had lived for so many years, and his experience taught him that a person who had a pair of eyes like Su Xiaofei''s shouldn''t be underestimated.


    ''What kind of hardship did this young woman experience for her to develop this ice-cold personality?'' The old man wondered.


    "You are Su Xiaofei?" Yun Guanyu asked.


    "Yes." Su Xiaofei gave him a court nod. "I am Su Xiaofei."


    With a smile on her face, she spoke politely to the men in front of her.


    "Since this is my first time meeting my adoptive mother''s family, I hope you''ll forgive this one if she made a mistake today."


    Yun Guanyu''s brows shot up in surprise, while his sons looked at Su Xiaofei with narrowed eyes. What was this young woman trying to say?


    "Are you aware that you aren''t Xiao Qing''s daughter?" Yun Yuanzhi, the eldest of the Yun siblings, asked Su Xiaofei.


    "Yes. Although it''s a pity that I didn''te from Mama''s womb, it wouldn''t change the fact that she is still my mother. However, the same couldn''t be said about Su Haoran."


    The father and sons sat silently as they looked at Su Xiaofei with astonishment, not expecting to hear this from her.

 Chapter 116 - I Am Su Xiaofei (3)

    <h4>Chapter 116 - I Am Su Xiaofei (3)</h4>


    General Yun''s face darkened upon hearing Su Haoran''s name. From the moment he''d seen the man, he knew that Su Haoran didn''t really care for his precious daughter. Yun Guanyu hated the man at first sight. After his long years of service in the military, it wasn''t hard for him to see the real reason Su Haoran was chasing after his daughter.


    "Su Xiaofei, tell us¡­ Did Su Haoran truly betray my sister?" This time, it was Yun Shao who asked Su Xiaofei.


    Su Xiaofei sighed but remained calm despite being under the spotlight in front of these elder men from her mother''s family.


    "General Yun, respectable Uncles, this is the reason I agreed to meet you today." She replied with a straight face. "Please help my mother to regain her freedom from Su Haoran."


    "Tell us what happened first. Start from the very beginning and don''t you dare lie to us." Yun Zhaonan, the second son, looked at Su Xiaofei as if she was his subject. He was seated with his legs crossed, his spectacles gave him a more dignified look, like a schr with vast knowledge.


    "Zhaonan, Xiao Shao, don''t intimidate Miss Su. Miss Su, why don''t you take a seat first and have some refreshment?" The oldest of the Yun siblings smiled and gestured for Su Xiaofei to take a seat in front of them.


    Su Xiaofei nodded and ced the paper bag she was holding on top of the ss coffee table that separated her from the three men.


    "My Mama woke up early today to make these for you, Uncles." She said before taking a sip of the orange juice that was prepared for her.


    Yun Shao couldn''t contain his excitement and immediately snatched the paper bag to see what was inside. He fished out the first stic box that had his name scribbled on a piece sticker. The moment he opened it, the scent of freshly baked cookies filled the room.


    "My Qing Jie hasn''t forgotten my favorite." Yun Shao chuckled as he took a bite of the cookie he was holding.


    Yun Zhaonan coughed behind his hand and cleared his throat, forcing everyone to return to the issue at hand. He looked at Su Xiaofei who remained calm even in the presence of four adult men who came from a military family.


    "Miss Su can answer us now." He told her.


    "It''s true. Su Haoran fathered a daughter with his previous lover before marrying my Mama." She started. "The mother and daughter pair came after the recent New Year''s celebration and begged my Mama to allow his other daughter to live with us. Miss Ye Xing imed that she has cancer and was worried that there''s no one who would look after her daughter once she died."


    BANG!


    A loud sound resounded within the room, causing Su Xiaofei to wince. Yun Guanyu just smacked the mahogany desk in front of him with his huge hand.


    "Su Haoran! You dare to bully my daughter?!" The old general was seething in rage as he thought how the other woman dared to humiliate his Qing''er in her own home. It didn''t matter to him how old his daughter was, because Yun Qingrong was still as precious as she was since her birth.


    "This Ye Xing¡­ you mean she wanted my sister to take care of her already adult daughter?" Yun Zhaonan asked.


    Su Xiaofei nodded. Thankfully, her mother had informed her of the Yun brothers'' personalities, or she wouldn''t be able to anticipate their reaction. It was important for her to know how to utilize and take advantage of their weaknesses, in order to earn their favor.


    She nced at Yun Zhaonan. ording to her mother, this second uncle was the smartest among her mother''s brothers. She needed to make sure not to slip up in front of him.


    "I was there when it happened, but I didn''t allow them to stay in our house for too long. They already ruined my Mama''s day by showing up unannounced."


    Yun Zhaonan frowned and hardened his jaws at that. The atmosphere within the room became heavy and frosty.


    Judging by their reactions, it was obvious that these men weren''t pleased with what they heard from her.


    "And what did Su Haoran say?"


    "What else but to beg my mother not to divorce him. He said that he only has Ye Mingyu as his daughter and he owed the girl a lot and wanted to take her into the family, but Mama refused. She chased him and his rtives away from our home and asked herwyers to send him the divorce papers." Su Xiaofei answered.


    Yun Guanyu looked at Su Xiaofei with aplicated expression.


    "You said you are here to ask us to help your mother. What else can we do if she''s already divorcing Su Haoran?" He questioned the young woman.


    "Exactly." Su Xiaofei nodded. "It''s still the reason I came here to seek the Yun family''s help"


    When the four men remained silent, waiting for her exnation, she continued.


    "Indeed, my Mama has chased him away from our home, but recently, I found out that he and Miss Ye, along with their daughter had been settling illegally in one of the vis my mother owned for over a decade now. Mama''swyers have already delivered the divorce papers, but Su Haoran refused to sign them."


    Her exnation only angered the old man further.


    "Things are like this, General Yun. I think you would understand my mother better than me, and you would know that she would hate to y dirty just to get what she needed." Su Xiaofei said.


    Yun Zhaonan narrowed his eyes at that.


    "And you are willing to do the dirty job for her?" He questioned her, thinking how odd this young woman in front of them was.


    "Although my Mama isn''t the one who gave birth to me, she''s the one who raised me.. I can''t just watch as Su Haoran continues to disrespect my mother."

 Chapter 117 - Yun Qingrong’s Daughter (1)

    <h4>Chapter 117 - Yun Qingrong¡¯s Daughter (1)</h4>


    "So that''s how it is." Yun Shao furrowed his brows in understanding.


    He hadn''t heard from his sister for a long time as Yun Qingrong had not responded to his messages before and wondered why she was keeping her distance even from him. Yun Shao also hated Su Haoran the moment he met the man, but he hadn''t thought that his family would face such a hurdle because of that scheming man.


    "Mama is trying to end things between them amicably, but I don''t think Su Haoran would easily agree to the divorce since all our properties are under Mama''s name. He''s now contesting that he had also put in a fair share of effort in acquiring those properties." Su Xiaofei continued to exin her mother''s predicament.


    The Yun brothers could see that she was only concerned about their sister and wasn''t even recognizing Su Haoran as her father. One could clearly see the hatred in her eyes towards the man she was speaking of.


    "Su Xiaofei, you have to be clear with what kind of help you want from our family." Yun Yuanzhi told the young woman.


    "I suspect that aside from cheating behind my mother, Su Haoran must be doing other things behind her back. He frequently went on business trips for the past three years and was always away for at least a week or two. Although he was iming it was rted to work, Mama always argued with him about these prolonged trips."


    "Do you think he''s seeing another woman aside from the mistress that came to see Qing''er recently?" Yun Zhaonan asked.


    Su Xiaofei shrugged and indifferently nced at the other men in the room, gauging their reactions. She wouldn''t be surprised if Su Haoran was seeing another woman aside from Ye Xing, however, that didn''t concern her one bit. It wouldn''t be her mother''s problem anymore.


    "Just the other day, a man came to our house while my mother was away, iming that Su Haoran owed him a lot of money and came to Qiying City to collect his debt. I fear that the man doesn''te from a clean background and woulde after my mother."


    Su Xiaofei wasn''t lying anyway. Aunty Liu had panicked when the man appeared, threatening to make a scene if Su Haoran didn''t show up to meet him. Su Xiaofei had to face him and she gave the man the address where her adoptive father was living with Ye Xing and Ye Mingyu. She could only hope that the family of three would love the surprise she prepared for them.


    It now made sense to the Yun family why Su Xiaofei didn''t resist meeting them this time. Even Yun Xiang furrowed his brow and was in deep thoughts, wondering how they could help his paternal aunt.


    If it was merely regarding Su Haoran''s cheating affair, the Yun family wouldn''t bother to waste their time to help their kin, however, now that Su Xiaofei had raised the possibility of a threat on Yun Qingrong''s life, they obviously wouldn''t be able to ignore it.


    "Obviously, Su Haoran loves that pair of mother and daughter. He doesn''t even hold me nor my mother in his eyes. If something happens to my mother while their divorce isn''t settled yet, he would get his hands on my Mama''s properties and wealth." She continued.


    Su Xiaofei didn''t need to borate what she meant by those words, as they immediately understood what she was trying to imply.


    "This man that went to see Su Haoran¡­ were you able to get his name?" General Yun asked in all seriousness.


    "En, but I doubt if it is even his actual name. I can ask our housekeeper to give you a copy of the CCTV recording if you want, but I don''t know if it could help at all." Su Xiaofei smiled faintly.


    "It would be more than enough for us, Su Xiaofei. Even better if the CCTV recording is able to show his face clearly for recognition." Yun Zhaonan replied, pushing up the bridge of his spectacles on his face.


    "Preposterous!" General Yun gritted his teeth, his fists clenching on top of his desk. He could feel his chest tightening as he thought of how his precious daughter was being wronged by her own husband, to the extent of cing her life in a precarious position.


    Had Su Xiaofei note today, they would still be oblivious to what was truly happening to Yun Qingrong now. He truly regretted cutting his ties with his daughter, but why didn''t Qing''ere home and seek their help herself if this was the case?


    "So you didn''t ept our invitation, hoping that you''ll be acknowledged as part of our Yun family?" Yun Yuanzhi asked her coldly. He had to admit that their sister''s adopted daughter had some guts to face them like this.


    Su Xiaofei shed him a smile that was neither warm nor cold.


    "This one understood her ce as an outsider to the Yun family and wouldn''t dare to ask such recognition from your family. Whether I am worthy of being called a member of the Yun family or not, only General Yun and esteemed Uncles could decide on it."


    She paused and her eyes met the old man''s fierce re without being intimidated by it. These men, who were known to have an authoritative personality, had lowered their defenses, allowing Su Xiaofei to exploit theirmon weakness, which was her mother.


    "General Yun, I hold an enmity towards Su Haoran and his other family because of what they have done to my mother over the years. It was enough that he''d lied to her, but I cannot allow him to endanger my mother''s life. I am nothing but an unwanted child of another woman she''d raised and have no resources to help her on my own.. This one wouldn''t ask for anything, and could only hope that you wouldn''t deny my request to save my mother''s life from a potential danger."

 Chapter 118 - Yun Qingrong’s Daughter (2)

    <h4>Chapter 118 - Yun Qingrong¡¯s Daughter (2)</h4>


    Su Xiaofei looked at General Yun''s face and her mother''s brothers. She could only exploit their attachment and lingering concern about Yun Qingrong, for her to get what she needed.


    She was talking about Yun Qingrong, the most treasured daughter of the Yun family. Would they be able to turn a blind eye on her, knowing the current predicament she was in? Su Xiaofei didn''t think so.


    She wasn''t certain how deep their feelings were for her adoptive mother, but seeing how they were visibly bothered over the possibility of Yun Qingrong''s life being threatened without her knowledge, Su Xiaofei knew that she had them in her hands now.


    Furthermore, she didn''t need to win their hearts, she only needed them to protect Yun Qingrong''s life.


    If General Yun felt any resentment towards the treatment his daughter was receiving, he would easily agree to Su Xiaofei''s request. His sons also seemed to be holding back their anger, as they also felt disturbed by what they had heard today. Their anger towards Su Haoran was just the cherry on top in Su Xiaofei''s opinion.


    As Su Xiaofeo expected, General Yun was extremely infuriated with Su Haoran. Even if they were having some reservations now, they would eventually agree to ept her request.


    "So, General Yun, can you please ept this one''s request and help my mother? I don''t know anyone who could help us at this time." She calmly asked.


    "What if we don''t agree?" He gave Su Xiaofei a cold look rivaling hers. For someone who was asking the Yun family for help, Yun Guanyu couldn''t help but think that Su Xiaofei was too cold and calm.


    "Then my mother''s blood wouldn''t be on my hands if Su Haoran managed to harm her." She said nonchntly.


    The whole Yun family stared at her in shock.


    This wasn''t what a desperate person would do in such a situation. She imed she came here for the sake of Yun Qingrong, but her eyes showed that if they didn''t ept her request, she would ce the me on their family if something bad happened to her mother, despite giving them a fair warning.


    To think that their kindhearted Yun Qingrong had raised such a cruel and cold-hearted child, just where did Su Xiaofeie from? Their Qing''er was soft-spoken and gentle, while this child was frigid and unpredictable.


    General Yun looked at Su Xiaofei for a while and nodded. She had left them no choice.


    Initially, he thought that this adoptive daughter of his beloved daughter was too sly and suspicious at her young age, but now, the old man understood that this was her own way of self-defence.


    As long as she was able to protect Yun Qingrong, Su Xiaofei wouldn''t need to worry too much in the future. He could also see her determination to save her mother''s life from Su Haoran.


    Although her words were too blunt in his opinion, he would rather see her true face like this than to face a treacherous two-faced young woman, who would only see her adoptive mother as a resource of wealth and influence.


    This somewhat earned his respect for this young woman. He had never seen a young woman like Su Xiaofei before. Although she had ulterior motives in asking for their help, the old man could see the sincerity of her words in her eyes.


    "Fine. You have my word. I will investigate what you''ve said today and see if your assumptions about the threat on Qing''er''s life are valid or not. However, if I find out that you are making these things up, I want you to cut your ties with Qing''er and never consider yourself her child in the future."


    Su Xiaofei only raised a slender brow at that. She found this old man''s words foolish. For someone who had cut his ties with her mother, was this old man trying to drive her mother to depression and insanity?


    Yun Qingrong had already suffered a massive blow learning about her husband''s betrayal, it would surely break her heart if Su Xiaofei were to abandon her again in this lifetime. That wasn''t something Su Xiaofei was willing to do at all.


    "I ept General Yun''s condition." She replied, knowing well that she couldn''t be mistaken about Su Haoran''s gambling problems that persisted for another six years until Yun Qingrong lost her life a year after she married Mo Yuchen.


    Su Xiaofei was sure that it was Ye Mingyu who might''ve suggested to Su Haoran to plot against her mother to get a portion of Yun Qingrong''s wealth. While Mo Yuchen was able to devour Bluemedia, Su Haoran took all the properties under Yun Qingrong''s name after her passing.


    She couldn''t allow that to happen again, no matter how much hardship she had to endure in this lifetime.


    The old man seemed pleased with her answer. General Yun could see that she wasn''t willing to take back the words she had uttered today and was willing to take responsibility for it.


    Meanwhile, his sons had conflicted expressions on their faces. If what Su Xiaofei said today was true, then they would need to investigate what was going on with Su Haoran and his debtors.


    After her conversation with the men of the Yun family, Su Xiaofei bid goodbye, refusing the old man''s invitation for her to join them for lunch out of courtesy. Since she had already announced the purpose of her visit, there''s no need for her to stay here any longer.


    "Xiao Fei, what you said today¡­ Are they true?" Yun Xiang asked her, as he sent her off. They were waiting for Su Xiaofei''s ride toe and pick her up at the Yun Estate.


    He didn''t know whether he should believe her words or not regarding the possible threat on his aunt''s life.


    "Brother Xiang will know whether I''m telling the truth or not once the result of your family''s investigationes out." Su Xiaofei gave him a small smile.

 Chapter 119 - Intramural Games(1)

    <h4>Chapter 119 - Intramural Games(1)</h4>


    Su Xiaofei pushed her thoughts about the Yun family, expecting that they were the ones who would seek her for their next meeting. She had spent the following days watching her other ssmates chattering about the uing founding ball.


    The founding day was fast approaching, but before that, the students of the academy had to participate in the intrams, with the members of the varsity sports team barred from ying in the sports events.


    Each year and sectionsing from all levels were required to participate, leaving Su Xiaofei and Xi Qian no choice but to join their other ssmates to form a team with them. Students were asked to y a single activity.


    Su Xiaofei was wearing her P.E. uniform, which was just a white shirt with the school logo printed on the right side of her chest paired with a pair of ck jogger pants with two red stripes that ran from her waist down to her legs.


    She was tying her long hair into a tight bun on top of her head to keep it away from her face when Xi Qian came back from changing out of her school uniform.


    "I can''t believe I have to miss work just to y for the intrams." Xi Qian muttered with irritation. This meant one less day of sry on her next pay day.


    Su Xiaofei felt bad for Xi Qian, but couldn''t do anything about it as their participation in the intrams would give them extra merits for their sses that were suspended to give way for the celebration of the founding anniversary.


    Since Xi Qian was attending the academy on a schrship, these extra merits would allow her to keep her grades high. So she had no choice but to join the rest of their ss at the open court where they waited for the teacher who would supervise the game.


    "Feifei, what activity did you sign up to y today?" Xi Qian asked while they sat on the bench, watching the other students arrive one after another.


    She knew that Su Xiaofei wasn''t interested in any sports and for the past intrams games, Su Xiaofei didn''t even bother to participate, pulling her grades down to almost a passing grade. It was surprising that she was able to ascend one grade level with her poor results.


    Xi Qian thought that Su Xiaofei would enlist herself to y chess this time, since she had seen her best friend ying chess more these days with Lu Qingfeng in their spare time.


    "Dodgeball." Su Xiaofei grinned mischievously. She liked to see and hear her female ssmates scream in fear as they tried to dodge the ball that was about to hit them.


    "Dodgeball?" Xi Qian blinked as she looked at Su Xiaofei in surprise. Why would Feifei choose that game?


    Anyway, since Su Xiaofei had chosen it, Xi Qian hurriedly went and enlist her name to join their ss''s team for dodgeball. There must be a reason why Su Xiaofei chose to y dodgeball this time, or perhaps, she had already taken Lu Qingfeng''s suggestion to work out rather than starving herself to keep her figure.


    However, as soon as she saw the rival team, Xi Qian realized that Ye Mingyu was on the other team. Was this why Feifei chose to join the dodgeball team? Xi Qian wondered. She didn''t think Feifei was athletic enough to y an active game like this.


    Just like her, it seemed like Ye Mingyu was caught off guard when she spotted Su Xiaofei on the other side of the court. She felt a shiver run down her spine as she found Su Xiaofei smiling sweetly towards them, as if she was promising to inflict pain on her.


    Even Feng Xue''er who was seated in the audience area was startled when she saw Su Xiaofei and Xi Qian ying for their ss''s dodgeball team.


    "This is the first time I see Su Xiaofei actively participating in the intrams games." One of their ssmates, a young man, stated. "Why do I feel like Su Xiaofei has changed overnight? She doesn''t seem like the same arrogant miss she''s been."


    "Now that you''ve mentioned it, indeed, Su Xiaofei looks different these days. She looked reserved and not as annoying anymore. Do you think she realized how bad her reputation is, so that''s why she''s trying to change?" Another one replied.


    "Hmm¡­ It''s hard to tell, but if she did, then it would only infuriate Feng Xue''er, don''t you think?" The first young man snickered as he shot Feng Xue''er a look, seeing her ugly expression as she looked at Su Xiaofei on the court.


    In their ss, whoever that''s not aware of Feng Xue''er''s hostility towards Su Xiaofei was definitely a spy, as those two were at each other''s throats since the very beginning.


    "Pfft, who cares about those two young misses? We only came here to see if they would be able to beat those from ss 3-1A and kick their asses." Another onemented, which turned out to be Song Yiran, arriving with his group of friends to watch their ssmates'' dodgeball game against Ye Mingyu and her ssmates.


    "Right. We better win this game as this is the only chance we have to beat them."


    In a few months, they were all going to graduate soon, so they only have one shot now to defeat the ss 3-1A that they all mutually disliked.


    Ye Mingyu was from ss 3-1A while Su Xiaofei, Xi Qian and Feng Xue''er were all from ss 3-1E, which was lower ranking than Ye Mingyu''s ss.


    ss 3-1A was considered to be the cream of the crop. Many students from the lower ranked sses saw them as arrogant geeks who looked down on students that weren''t part of their small elite group. For this reason, the students from the lower ranked sses had only one chance throughout the school year to defeat ss 3-1A and that was during the intram games.


    The game started as soon as the teacher signalled its start.

 Chapter 120 - Intramural Games(2)

    <h4>Chapter 120 - Intramural Games(2)</h4>


    Ever since her rebirth, Su Xiaofei was trying to change her eating patterns and to stop restricting herself to only eating sds and vegetables to control her weight. She had considered doing exercise, but she was at a loss in the beginning as she didn''t know where to start.


    When she asked Lu Qingfeng''s opinion about it, he told her that the key to weight loss was to consume less calories than she had burned. For most people, it was easier to lower calorie intake to a greater degree than it is to burn more calories through increased exercise.


    Lu Qingfeng imed that cutting calories through dietary changes was generally more effective for weight loss. But doing both ¡ª cutting calories through diet and burning calories through exercise ¡ª can help give her the weight-loss edge.


    "If you lose weight by crash dieting or by drastically restricting yourself to a low calorie diet, you''re more likely to regain weight quickly, often within six months after you stop dieting." He told her, this was why Su Xiaofei was forced to wake up earlier than usual to do some physical activity before starting her day.


    Paired with the healthy meals Aunty Liu prepared for her regrly, Su Xiaofei noticed that her body felt lighter, and she felt better these days. She also didn''t have trouble falling asleeppared to those times when she starved herself and ate less, fearing that she would gain a lot of weight.


    "It may be difficult at first, but don''t focus on the scale," Lu Qingfeng told her. "Rather, pay attention to how you''re feeling and what your energy level is."


    Ah, she should have asked Lu Qingfeng this a long time ago, rather than starving herself in her past life just to please Mo Yuchen and her manager who always nitpicked on her, asionallyparing her figure to Ye Mingyu because they entered show business almost at the same time.


    As the dodgeball game continued, Su Xiaofei could easily predict and avoid getting hit by the balling her way. Half an hour through the game, while her ssmates and Ye Mingyu''s team were starting to catch their breaths, she and Xi Qian looked like they were enjoying the game themselves.


    Unlike Su Xiaofei, Xi Qian didn''t have spare time to do workouts, instead she spent her spare time working to provide for herself.


    Despite her thin and small frame, Xi Qian had a better stamina and stronger bodypared to her ssmates who had only spent their time wondering what kind of new phone they should buy, or what kind of dress they should purchase to attend yet anothervish party.


    This was why, although these two young women were sweating, they still looked appealing in everyone''s eyes.


    "Okay, I''ll take it back. Su Xiaofei really changed. And Xi Qian too." Song Yiranmented as his eyes never left Su Xiaofei''s face, his lips curling in amusement.


    "Hell, yeah. If this continues, even if only Su Xiaofei and Xi Qian remained on our team, those two could still take on the other team on their own."


    As her team members continued to dwindle every time Su Xiaofei and Xi Qian hit her ssmates one after another, Ye Mingyu started to panic inwardly. Her team was now reduced to half, leaving her with two other ssmates, while Su Xiaofei''s team still had four yers, including her.


    Didn''t her Aunty Chen say that Su Xiaofei wasn''t an athletic person and doesn''t know anything but toze around?


    Then, why the hell was Su Xiaofei able to avoid the ball and catch it easily? They have already yed many sets since the game started, but Su Xiaofei wasn''t even heaving for deep breaths like them. What the hell was wrong with her? Ye Mingyu thought.


    When her teammates realized that Su Xiaofei and Xi Qian were the threats they needed to eliminate from the other team to secure their win, they started to exert more efforts to try and hit Su Xiaofei to force her out of the game but failed every time.


    It was like this woman had an extra eye behind her head and could see what wasing towards her and was able to react in the nick of time, catching the ball that wasing her way.


    Because Ye Mingyu''s team were focusing too much on Su Xiaofei, Ye Mingyu hadn''t expected that Xi Qian would target her as soon as thetter caught the ball in her hands. The ball came too fast and it was toote for Ye Mingyu to react and catch it.


    The ball hit the side of her face, making everyone wince upon seeing the contact. Ye Mingyu staggered back and held the side of her face, feeling the pain radiating from it.


    "Out!" She heard someone say, and she wasn''t sure if it was the teacher''s voice or one of Su Xiaofei''s ssmates.


    Her ssmates rushed to see if she was hurt before they red at Xi Qian, who was looking at them as if she had done nothing wrong.


    "Xi Qian! You purposely threw the ball at Ye Mingyu''s face to hurt her, right? You''re horrible!"


    "Right!" Another one of Ye Mingyu''s teammates agreed. "Even if you had to throw the ball, why did you have to hit her face? You are really starting to be like Su Xiaofei now."


    Xi Qian rested one of her hands on her hips and scoffed at them with no hint of remorse on her face.


    "Hey, which eye of yours saw that I wanted to hit her face?" She asked, before ncing at the teacher that was refereeing their game. "Teacher, I really didn''t mean to hurt her face. It was a miscalction on my part." She imed.


    "Liar! It can''t be a coincidence!" Ye Mingyu''s teammates insisted while she remained silent, allowing her ssmates to defend her.


    "You ss 3-1A are too much! We also see that Xi Qian didn''t mean it.." Someone from the audience eximed.

 Chapter 121 - The Infamous Ye Mingyu (1)

    <h4>Chapter 121 - The Infamous Ye Mingyu (1)</h4>


    Su Xiaofei started to wonder if the students from ss 3-1A were really the smartest ones in their grade. It was hard to believe that the other young women on the other side of the court were part of that group, in her opinion.


    Thinking about it, in her past life, Ye Mingyu''s circle of friends used to boast about how smart she was when they were still attending QCA. However, ever since Ye Mingyu transferred here, Su Xiaofei never saw her studying. Instead, she was busy socializing with other students in the academy as if she was making friends.


    Su Xiaofei was making enemies left and right, while Ye Mingyu was befriending everyone using her charm and kindness. Yearster, the two harvested the fruit of their actions and Ye Mingyu obviously gained valuable connections in several industries aspared to Su Xiaofei who was facing struggles left and right.


    As for why Su Xiaofei chose to y dodgeball this time, it was obviously because she knew that Ye Mingyu would choose this game in the intrams. There was a particr event during the intrams where Ye Mingyu was being praised for her contribution in helping the ss 3-1A win most of the games in the intrams.


    A student was allowed to participate in multiple activities and Ye Mingyu took part in most of them. While Su Xiaofei chose to iste herself and refused to participate in any of them in her previous life, Ye Mingyu used this event to make herself relevant and popr within the academy.


    This was the event that escted the number of admirers who invited her to attend the founding ball together. In the end, she declined all their invitations and chose to go with Feng Xue''er instead, wearing the stunning gown that propelled her to be crowned as the Fairy Queen of the Night.


    So how could Su Xiaofei stay still and do nothing, now that she was aware of what Ye Mingyu was up to? In the past, because she had been foolish and had refused to be seen in the same ce as Ye Mingyu after thetter transferred to QCA, Ye Mingyu managed to grab every opportunity she needed to be well known in the academy.


    ''Sure, you can be popr again, Ye Mingyu, but not for a good reason.'' Su Xiaofei''s cold eyes stared at the young woman on the other side of the court, while Xi Qian was refusing to back down from their argument.


    "Stop this nonsense!" Xi Qian eximed. "This is a physical game, it''s normal to get hurt once in a while. Yeah, I threw the ball at her, but what made you think that I would target her face? Admit defeat now instead of wasting our time!"


    "Right! You''ve been messing up the game for several sets now! If you don''t want to y anymore, just forfeit already!" One of their ssmates yelled from the crowd.


    Ye Mingyu looked at her teammates with teary eyes as she cupped her slightly swollen cheek that was hit by the ball earlier. Thankfully, the ball wasn''t strong enough to knock out some of her tooth and make her mouth bleed.


    Su Xiaofei was forced to bite her inner cheek to stop herself from bursting intoughter. Xi Qian might have looked petite and thin, but she was way stronger than any of these pampered young misses in this academy.


    She also didn''t anticipate that Xi Qian was going to target Ye Mingyu''s face when she signalled her to throw the ball she had passed to Xi Qian as soon as she caught it from Ye Mingyu''s teammate.


    Heh, Xi Qian had truly given her something tough aboutter, especially whenever she would recall Ye Mingyu''s pitiful look. With the founding ball approaching fast, Ye Mingyu couldn''t afford to get hurt now, especially her face.


    Ye Mingyu was just like Su Xiaofei in this aspect, she was also very vain when it came to her appearance. So how can she not be upset that it was her face that took the hit from Xi Qian''s attack?


    She could only cry like this, trying to gain everyone''s sympathy, but she didn''t get the reaction she wanted, because in everyone''s eyes, it was her own fault for not paying attention to the game and got hit by Xi Qian instead.


    The game continued, with Ye Mingyu insisting that she was okay despite the obvious redness on her face. In the end, Su Xiaofei''s team emerged victorious, allowing ss 3-1A to experience their first loss in the high school level ranking.


    Su Xiaofei hooked her arm around Xi Qian''s shoulder.


    "Qian, have I told you how much I love you?" She asked, deeply pleased seeing Ye Mingyu''s ashamed reaction when she heard her other ssmates criticizing her for not paying attention to Xi Qian''s y.


    Because they were all too focused on forcing Su Xiaofei out of the game, they ignored Xi Qian''s presence, who ended up giving them the fatal blow, snatching away their chance for aeback.


    "Feifei, you have to be careful with your words. What if your admirers misunderstood you?" Xi Qian beamed her a smile, obviously pleased that she was able to give Ye Mingyu a good hit.


    "Let them misunderstand! Who cares what they think of me?" Su Xiaofei dragged her friend away from the court. "Say, Qian. It wasn''t an ident, right? You really didn''t have to do it for my sake. You are lucky you weren''t removed from the game, as it wasn''t a head injury."


    Xi Qian huffed and looked away, a little embarrassed that Su Xiaofei had caught her.


    "Would you hate me if I say I enjoyed seeing her pitiful and pathetic face? I should have thrown the ball harder."


    Su Xiaofeiughed at that. She could never hate Xi Qian, although she wasn''t sure what to feel now that her friend was acting protective on her stead.


    "Then you would make her dumber than she already is"

 Chapter 122 - The Infamous Ye Mingyu (2)

    <h4>Chapter 122 - The Infamous Ye Mingyu (2)</h4>


    Since Su Xiaofei and Xi Qian had already done their part and yed at one game for the intrams, they didn''t need to follow the other activities and couldze around as the games continued on the court.


    The talk about Ye Mingyu''s team being beaten by Xi Qian and Su Xiaofei''s team had once again roused the curiosity of the other students about the transfer student who had be the main topic around the academy for weeks now.


    Some say that Ye Mingyu was just trying to hype herself, to gather more attention towards her, while others think that she was just dumb, trying to provoke Su Xiaofei who was clearly not interested in getting involved with her father''s other daughter.


    Things like these had been circting around the campus, and there were also rumors that Su Xiaofei had been waiting for some time to emerge.


    "Have you heard the news? Ye Mingyu was spotted on a date with Cai Lin. Isn''t he her best friend''s boyfriend? Someone spotted them the other day shopping at the mall, hand in hand."


    "Ha. Wouldn''t that just prove that Ye Mingyu is exactly like her mother? Cai Lin is engaged to her best friend, Feng Xue''er, but she was seducing him in secret."


    Xi Qian listened to the gossip around them while Su Xiaofei was groaning, trying to solve a math problem she couldn''t quite figure out. She had been trying to solve it for the third time now, and Xi Qian had just shown her another way to get the correct answer.


    "Feng Xue''er must be regretting helping Ye Mingyu now. She befriended her and helped Ye Mingyu as soon as she found out that she was your half sister. Now, Ye Mingyu imed that her meeting with Cai Lin was purely coincidental. Although, I don''t think Feng Xue''er would believe her when there are photos of her and Cai Lin holding each other, walking together circting all over the school forum." Xi Qian murmured next to her best friend, while they were inside the library.


    Su Xiaofei tapped the end of her pencil over her paper and sighed.


    "Feng Xue''er won''t believe her. Cai Lin is her bottom line." She told her best friend.


    Xi Qian turned her head to Su Xiaofei in surprise.


    "How do you know, Feifei? Cai Lin and Feng Xue''er are rarely seen together on campus." She didn''t know that Su Xiaofei paid that much attention towards Feng Xue''er for her to understand that arrogant woman.


    Su Xiaofei only smiled at her best friend and resumed working on her paper. How can she not know? In her past life, Feng Xue''er made sure that everyone would know that she was Cai Lin''s fianc¨¦e, and they were to wed in the future. However, the foolish woman wasn''t even aware that the heart of the man she imed to love was already given to her own best friend, Ye Mingyu.


    When Feng Xue''er used her of trying to seduce Mo Yuchen, getting between him and Ye Mingyu, Su Xiaofei wanted tough at Feng Xue''er''s foolishness. However, this time, Su Xiaofei intended to force Feng Xue''er to see her so-called best friend''s face.


    "Let them be, Qian. Their friendship is none of our concern. But just so you know, in the future, when you get a boyfriend, the only reason you would spot him with me is because we''re nning to prank you." Su Xiaofei grinned, her eyes holding an unconcealed amusement on her eyes.


    Xi Qian huffed and bumped her shoulder with Su Xiaofei''s.


    "Feifei really knows how to bully me. No wonder people keep saying you''re a viiness." She teased back.


    "Do you think I''m like a real viiness?" Su Xiaofei asked her. Now that Xi Qian had brought it up, she realized that she had never asked Xi Qian why she befriended her when most of their peers hated her ever since they were younger.


    "Viiness, my ass." Xi Qian''s words were really crass and straightforward, but Su Xiaofei never cared about it.


    "Those people who hate you must becking something you have in themselves. Girls hate you because you are too beautiful, and you get most of the boys'' attention when you are around. As for those pompous young masters, I know they hate your guts and don''t like it when you ignore their presence when they try to hit on you¡­"


    "What did you say? When they try to hit on me? Me?" Su Xiaofei blinked. While it''s true that she was aware of how beautiful her appearance was, it made her wonder if it was her attitude that prevented other men from courting her.


    Xi Qian stared at her, speechless. Was her best friend really clueless of how attractive she was?


    "Uhm, Feifei, you never wondered why no one tried to court you or confess to you?" She tested the waters, wanting to see how much Su Xiaofei was aware of.


    Su Xiaofei shook her head. "No. I thought it was because they don''t like my attitude? And if they are seeking me, it''s because they need something from me and not because they like me."


    Xi Qian ran both of her hands over her face. Okay, Feifei knew she was pretty, but she thought her bad reputation was casting a dark shadow on herself, but that wasn''t really the case.


    No matter how arrogant and haughty Su Xiaofei was, there would still be some men who would find her attractive. Also, add to the fact that she used to have an unhealthy obsession with Mo Yuchen in the past, she saw no other man in her eyes but him.


    Now that Feifei had obviously changed her ways and attitude, Xi Qian had begun getting cornered by some of their male schoolmates, asking if Feifei was free to date now or if they could get her number through her.. It was obvious that they were seeking her, because death was what awaited to them if they choose to seek the little tyrant instead.

 Chapter 123 - To Be Beautiful (1)

    <h4>Chapter 123 - To Be Beautiful (1)</h4>


    "Qian?" Su Xiaofei called when her best friend didn''t say anything. She heard Xi Qian take a deep breath and sigh, shaking her head in the process. What was that supposed to mean? She wondered.


    "Feifei, you really don''t know?" Xi Qian eyed her.


    "What is there to know?" Su Xiaofei asked in return.


    "Feifei, most people would notice physical appearance before anything else. You are beautiful and that''s a hard fact that everyone who knows you can''t deny. So it''s indeed your character and attitude that made them wary of you. But recently, you changed for the better and that made you look more attractive in everyone''s eyes."


    Su Xiaofei hummed and slowly nodded her head.


    "If that''s the case, then howe Ye Mingyu is still more popr than me and no men are chasing after me?" She asked with curiosity.


    "Feifei, have you ever heard the proverb that says, ''every woman is beautiful until she opens her mouth''?"


    When her best friend shook her head, Xi Qian continued. It was rare for her to have this kind of conversation with Su Xiaofei.


    "They say beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. And that is true to a great extent. Whoever you consider as beautiful may not be beautiful to me. However, when ites to how one speaks, we can all agree on what is beautiful and what is ugly. Ye Mingyu might seem popr now, but her reputation is starting to deteriorate on its own." Xi Qian started. Now that Su Xiaofei had mentioned Ye Mingyu, she was now starting to see the difference between the two sisters from the same father.


    "Gossiping, lying, cursing, ndering, nagging and backbiting are some, to name a few acts we do not consider as attractive, and whether Ye Mingyu liked it or not, her actions speak louder than her words. It''s hard for her to keep her kind and innocent facade now that her identity as the mistress''s daughter is revealed."


    "And sad to say, there are many women who look beautiful but are ugly in speech. They are simply not refined or restrained. I think you are getting better at this now, Feifei. You used to speak your mind no matter how ugly your thoughts are, but now, you don''t let others, even me or Lu Qingfeng, know what''s going on in your mind." Xi Qianmented on her recent thoughts about her best friend''s obvious change.


    As she listened to her best friend''s words, Su Xiaofei couldn''t help but feel a little guilty that she had to keep some secrets to herself now. She used to share everything with Xi Qian, but currently, she needed to keep her silence about certain things to protect not only herself, but everyone she cared about as well. She could only wish that they would understand why she was doing this and trust her judgement.


    If Xi Qian was able to notice it this early, Su Xiaofei had no doubt that Lu Qingfeng had also realized the same thing. The only difference was, Lu Qingfeng didn''t openly question her about it.


    It wasn''t like she wanted to lie, but saying that she was reborned and was aware of what could happen in the future might put her in danger, especially now that she had some inkling that Ye Mingyu might also have been reborned like her and knew something about her already.


    As for instigating her enemies to fight each other, she could only do this to avoid the red g that was waiting for her in the future if she allowed the same event to ur again, just like in her past life.


    "These women are only beautiful until one hears the ugliness from their mouth. In the end, their ugly character overshadows their beautiful looks, making them unattractive. Of course, women are not alone in this. The same could be said about men. Men are probably more guilty, if not equally guilty. Women are only used to create the imagery or contrast between ugliness and beauty. Thus, this also applies to men, not just women like us."


    "Wow, Qian. I know you are smart, but I never knew you could be this deep." Su Xiaofei chuckled. "Anyway, wouldn''t that mean that the less I say, the fewer mistakes I''d make?"


    Xi Qian nodded, confirming it. It was definitely better than personally providing others with the ''bullets'' to shoot oneself down.


    "Something like that. I really like that you are calmer these days. You don''t allow anyone to provoke and annoy you easily. I like seeing Feng Xue''er''s face whenever she tries to rile you up only to find herself angered to death instead."


    "Heh, Xi Qian. You''ll be disappointed. You probably don''t know I''ve been cursing them and stabbing them to death in my mind." Su Xiaofei smiled, before forcing her attention back to the paper in front of her. She wouldn''t have enough time to study her lessons once the Yun family got back to her.


    "Well, at least you aren''tmitting a crime. No one would police you on what and how you should think." Xi Qian agreed with her best friend.


    "Is this why you dislike Ye Mingyu?"


    In her past life, while Xi Qian wasn''t impressed withYe Mingyu, she had never openly provoked the woman as she did during their dodgeball game.


    "I don''t know why some people pity her. It''s clear to me that she''s a white lotus, pretending to be sweet and kind to get other''s approval."


    "So you''d rather befriend a viiness like me?" Su Xiaofei twirled the pen in her hands as she listened to Xi Qian.


    "What''s wrong with that?" Xi Qian shrugged. "At least you aren''t lying to me. Not that you''ll get anything from doing me favors. I''mfortable because I don''t have to pretend that I am a good person when I''m with you."


    "I get yourpany, I get your trust. Isn''t that more important than any material things?"

 Chapter 124 - To Be Beautiful (2)

    <h4>Chapter 124 - To Be Beautiful (2)</h4>


    Xi Qian couldn''t refute, but she hated it when people thought that they could take advantage of her because she was always smiling, not knowing her smile hid the nasty thoughts she kept inside.


    When they were younger, she initially didn''t like Su Xiaofei like the rest of their peers. She was a haughty person even as a child. She used to say and do things that many people don''t like. Her straightforward and strong personality naturally made other kids iste Su Xiaofei from the rest of their group.


    It was only when Xi Qian spotted Su Xiaofei crying on her own behind the yground of their school did she realize that while she hid her worries and troubles underneath a smile, Su Xiaofei built walls around her to keep everyone at an arm''s length.


    "Feifei, you can tell me everything, okay? I won''t force you to tell me what worries you, but if you feel like you need a person to lean on, I''m here."


    Su Xiaofei smiled at her. A genuine smile she gave only to those who were close to her heart.


    "Xi Qian is the best. Now, if only she could help me solve this damn problem so we can go home soon."


    Xi Qian tried to stifle aughter but failed, earning a fierce warning from the librarian. Other students who were studying made a shushing sound towards them. She mouthed a quick apology and lowered her head as she smiled at Su Xiaofei.


    When they finished and left the library, they found Lu Qingfeng waiting outside, dressed in a white shirt and ck jogger pants. His hair was still slightly wet, indicating that he had taken a quick shower before deciding to see Su Xiaofei and Xi Qian today.


    "Do you have anything nned forter?" He asked Su Xiaofei, ignoring Xi Qian''s suspicious look on him.


    "Nothing. Aside from studying and napping, I haven''t been doing much these days." Su Xiaofei admitted, but she wasn''tining about it, which was unusual since she liked spending her spare time spending her mother''s money, shopping away in her previous life.


    "I''m nning to get my measurement for my founding ball suit. Have you decided on what you''re going to wear for the event?"


    "Ah, I''m nning to check my wardrobe for a party dress I haven''t used yet. Qian will help me with it as she''s going to attend with me." Su Xiaofei replied.


    "Actually, Feifei¡­ I need to tell you something." Xi Qian gently tugged Su Xiaofei''s arm to get her attention.


    "Feifei, I decided not to attend the founding ball this year." She said when Su Xiaofei gave her an inquisitive look.


    "But why? I thought you agreed that you''d be going with me? If this is because you don''t have anything to wear or what others would say about you, you shouldn''t allow them to get to you." Su Xiaofei was a bit disappointed that Xi Qian was backing out of their n, but she would respect her friend''s decision if Xi Qian was really not going to attend the ball.


    "Feifei, it''s because I didn''t notice that the founding ball is the same day as grandma''s death anniversary. I haven''t visited her grave for months because I''ve been too busy with work and school. I''m hoping to spend the day cleaning her resting ce and take a short break." Xi Qian exined to her best friend before ncing at Lu Qingfeng.


    "Besides, Lu Qingfeng would be attending the ball, right? Just go together and enjoy the night. Who knows, maybe you''ll be crowned as the Fairy Queen instead of Ye Mingyu." She added, trying to lighten the mood between them.


    Lu Qingfeng gave her a look, but this time, Xi Qian ignored him. She wasn''t trying to set them up together, alright? Although this little tyrant was treating her a little better these days, it won''t change the fact that he was only doing it because of Su Xiaofei and not because he was truly concerned about her.


    Su Xiaofei fell silent but nodded. If Xi Qian put it that way, then she had no other choice but to agree with her. She knew how close Xi Qian was to her deceased grandmother when the old woman was still alive.


    As the three decided to leave the school grounds, they heard the speakers around the school calling for Su Xiaofei to be present at the headmistress''s office as soon as possible.


    "What is it now?" Xi Qian scowled. She had a bad feeling about this as this wasn''t the first time her best friend was called out by the headmistress because of someone''sint about Su Xiaofei.


    "What have you done this time?" Lu Qingfeng raised a slender brow, questioning her.


    "What did I do? Nothing." Su Xiaofei pressed her lips into a thin smile. Was it a scheme set up by Ye Mingyu again? She wondered.


    "I really didn''t do anything! Let''s just go and see what''s up this time." She assured them as she turned right, walking towards the headmistress''s office.


    However, as soon as she stepped inside the office, her brows shot up when she saw two police officers waiting for her.


    "Miss Yan, you called for me? I swear I didn''t do anything bad this time." She told the headmistress, allowing everyone within the room to see that she felt wronged with this sudden summoning.


    The old woman sped her hands together and nced at the two police officers to exin their presence to Su Xiaofei.


    "Miss Su, do you happen to know a young woman named Chen Li?" One of them cautiously asked.


    "Yes, officer. Chen Li is the daughter of the housekeeper who used to work for my family, but they aren''t living with us as my mother fired them for stealing some of my possessions." Su Xiaofei answered. She inwardly snickered as she realized what could have happened.


    Chen Li was finally apprehended by the authorities as she expected.

 Chapter 125 - What Does It Have To Do With Me? (1)

    <h4>Chapter 125 - What Does It Have To Do With Me? (1)</h4>


    The police officers were clearly surprised by what she said.


    "Miss Chen has stolen from you? Miss Chen imed that she still lives with you, to this day." One of them asked straightforwardly.


    "Yes, she has. You see, when Chen Li''s father died, my family decided to take them in and allow them to live with us. In return, Housekeeper Chen was to help my mother manage our household. It''s just that my Mama and I weren''t aware that Chen Li was stealing my things from my private wardrobe. Mama and I decided not to sue Chen Li because she''s still too young, but we couldn''t allow her family to stay with us any longer." Su Xiaofei exined, before pausing for a moment, observing their reactions.


    "Why, officer? What did Chen Li do this time? and how does it involve me?" She cocked her head, cupping her chin with one hand. "I haven''t seen nor talked to Chen Li ever since her family left our house, but I do know where they are living right now."


    That immediately caught the officers'' attention. Chen Li had been detained in their station sincest night, but she was iming that she''s still living with the Sus.


    "You know where her mother is? Miss Chen was caughtst night and is facing several charges. The reason we came here to see you is because Miss Chen imed that the counterfeit Butterfly Chrysalis dress she was wearing came from you."


    Chen Li was technically a minor, but her offenses were so great that thew wouldn''t be able to turn a blind eye to it. She might be able to get away with partying, pretending to be of legal age, but she couldn''t easily avoid being charged for possessing a counterfeit item.


    In this country, the Intellectual Property Bureau was working hard to crack down the counterfeit market for luxury items. Selling, as well as possessing such counterfeit goods, was punishable byw.


    Brand owners also appear to be ying an active role as they regrly make site inspections or send a representative to help the authorities confirm if the goods were authentic or not. With recent amendments to thew, buyers would also be punished in an attempt to suppress the spread of counterfeit goods in the market.


    This meant that at most, Chen Li would be looking forward to spending five years in prison, if she''s unable to contest or prove that she wasn''t the one who bought the counterfeit goods.


    "Yes. She''s currently living with my half sister Ye Mingyu, who also attends this academy. You can ask her for further details."


    How can Su Xiaofei let this chance to drag Ye Mingyu through the mud slip from her hands? Since Ye Mingyu and Chen Li had teamed up to ruin her reputation and her name in public in her previous life, there was no way in hell that she would let Ye Mingyu off the hook.


    Su Xiaofei hadn''t expected that Chen Li would be caught this soon. Was Chen Li always sneaking out and partying outsidete at night without her mother knowing? s, since these police officers hade here to question her, it only proved that Chen Li had done a good job in destroying herself.


    "Officer, if it''s alright, I would rather give my statement at the station with mywyer. I would also like to call my mother to inform her of what''s happening. I wish to clear my name. Plus, I''m confident that I have nothing to do with Chen Li''s offense. In fact, I think my Mama and I were too kind to let her off by not suing her for stealing. This might be her way of trying to get even with me, as I was the one who suggested asking her family to leave our house."


    The two police officers looked at each other and nodded in understanding. What the young woman told them made sense, but they couldn''t be partial to her.


    "Of course, Miss Su, you can do that. Thank you for cooperating with us. The brand owner of Butterfly Chrysalis has also decided to sue Miss Chen and isn''t willing to let her off the hook. I rmend you to ask for your elder''s help and advice this time."


    Su Xiaofei only smiled calmly, which made the headmistress wonder if this Su Xiaofei was still the same problematic student she knew. The old woman had never seen her act as calmly and as logical as this, as Su Xiaofei was always the one who would cause trouble for others and not the other way around.


    To think that there would be a day that the head mistress would see Su Xiaofei finally acting like a proper student, the old woman was obviously pleased. Whatever made Su Xiaofei change must have taught her not to act based on her impulse and anger alone.


    "Excuse me for a moment, then." Su Xiaofei said before stepping out of the headmistress''s office, finding Xi Qian and Lu Qingfeng outside waiting for her.


    "What is it, Feifei? Did someone report you to the headmistress again?" Xi Qian asked, worried written all over her face. These past few days were peaceful for Su Xiaofei, so what could have happened?


    Su Xiaofei shook her head and pulled out her phone, intending to give her mother a call.


    "Chen Li just got caught by the policest night. I''m not sure what other offense she is facing, but she''s iming that I was the one who gave her the counterfeit dress she was wearingst night."


    "What nonsense is Chen Li talking about?! She better not show herself in front of me, or I will rip off that nasty mouth of hers!" Xi Qian exploded in rage upon hearing what her best friend just said.


    Chen Li and her family had already left Su Xiaofei''s home, but why were they eager to give her such troubles when Feifei didn''t have anything to do with them anymore?

 Chapter 126 - What Does It Have To Do With Me? (2)

    <h4>Chapter 126 - What Does It Have To Do With Me? (2)</h4>


    Meanwhile, Lu Qingfeng remained silent and only stared at Su Xiaofei''s face nkly. He now understood why Su Xiaofei had set up that counterfeit dress ahead of time before Chen Li left with her family. She must have known that this would happen, and she patiently waited for it.


    He had known that she had schemed a lot in their past life, but Su Xiaofei hadn''t made them as intricate as this. She had ced such a trap, knowing that Chen Li would willingly fall into it, until it was toote for her to realize what had happened.


    "Feifei, do you need help?" He offered, wanting to make sure that she wouldn''t suffer any loss from this scheme of hers.


    However, Su Xiaofei only gave him a smile and shook her head. She was determined to do it on her own.


    "I''ll call Mama and ask her to follow me to the police station. If required, Aunty Liu should be a witness of how much Chen Li had taken from my possessions and how we decided not to sue her for it."


    Xi Qian bit her lower lip and couldn''t help but worry about her friend. She really hated it when she couldn''t do anything to lessen Su Xiaofei''s burden.


    "Feifei, I wouldn''t be able to apany you to the station, but you''ll keep me informed on what''s happening, right?"


    She wanted to go with Su Xiaofei, but she can''t afford to miss her work, or she might get fired.


    "Don''t worry, Qian. Xiao Feng and Mama will be there for me." Su Xiaofei assured her. There''s nothing to worry about anyway.


    Since she was the one who instigated this problem, she was definitely aware that Chen Li would try to drag her down with her. She should take responsibility for such actions and shouldn''t let Lu Qingfeng deal with the issue she created herself.


    As they were leaving the school premises, the trio was blocked by Feng Xue''er who was waiting for Su Xiaofei.


    "It was you, right? You directed Yu''er to Cai Lin!" She used Su Xiaofei. Her eyes were obviously red from too much crying.


    Xi Qian wanted to argue with her, but Su Xiaofei stopped her.


    "ssmate Feng, what made you think I did that? It wasn''t me who introduced your friend to your fianc¨¦. What does it have to do with me?" She asked Feng Xue''er in return.


    Feng Xue''er could only re at her with misty eyes, but Su Xiaofei didn''t back down and returned the re with a cold, intimidating gaze.


    "I have warned you before that keeping Ye Mingyu by your side was a bad decision. Now that Cai Lin is head over heels for her, do you really think you would be able topete with Ye Mingyu and win his heart? Are you just going to wait for Cai Lin to get rid of you, so he could be with Ye Minyu in public?"


    These questions shook Feng Xue''er down to the core, as she was aware of the gravity of what Su Xiaofei was trying to imply. Between her and Ye Mingyu, it was obvious who Cai Lin would choose.


    Feng Xue''er didn''t believe the rumors at first, as she was preupied with trying to perfect the dress her muse was about to wear for the uing ball. However, when she scrolled through their school''s forum, where every student can post anything they like, the pictures of Cai Lin and Ye Mingyu strolling at the mall while holding hands, made her slump on her cold floor in disbelief.


    Now that Su Xiaofei was throwing such questions at her, was she ready to hear the answers and ept it willingly? She knew very well how charming Ye Mingyu was and how easy it was for her to befriend anyone and get on their good side. It was just that Feng Xue''er never thought that the so-called best friend was meeting her fianc¨¦ behind her back.


    When in the world did they start meeting each other? Who sought whom first?


    When she said nothing, Su Xiaofei continued to look at her with a pair of chilling, dark eyes, forcing Feng Xue''er to only look at her.


    "ssmate Feng, you really disappoint me this time. Tsk."


    Feng Xue''er lifted her head and looked at her with widened eyes.


    "W-what?" She stuttered, not knowing what Su Xiaofei was trying to say this time.


    "Is this really the Young Miss Feng I''m acquainted with? The Feng Xue''er that I knew yields to no one, especially to a vixen who dared to offend her. Don''t say that I didn''t warn you. Say, didn''t you befriend Ye Mingyu in hopes to get even with me? You believed that Ye Mingyu is my real sister and I hate her. Too bad Feng Xue''er, hate wouldn''t be the right word to exin what I feel towards Ye Mingyu. Cai Lin is about to get rid of you and yet, you are here trying to push all the me on me again."


    "Feng Xue''er, we are in a hurry. If you don''t have anything else to say, please leave our Feifei alone. She has nothing to do with your problem with Ye Mingyu and Cai Lin." Xi Qian said, before pulling Su Xiaofei''s arm to leave with her.


    Feng Xue''er could only look at their retreating figures as Su Xiaofei''s words slowly settled in her mind. Would a proud daughter of an official like her allow Ye Mingyu to trample over her and steal her man?


    ''No. This can''t be!'' She inwardly screamed. This couldn''t be happening to her!


    Su Xiaofei was right. Even if she loses Cai Lin''s heart, she would never admit defeat to Ye Mingyu! After all the things she had done and the humiliation she faced because of Ye Mingyu, this was how she repaid her? Ye Mingyu must be looking down on her!


    A lowly daughter of a mistress dared to use her? Then see who''ll have thestugh!

 Chapter 127 - Little Black Dress (1)

    <h4>Chapter 127 - Little ck Dress (1)</h4>


    Just like Su Xiaofei said, she went to the police station to clear her name, bringing Lu Qingfeng with her. Even though she told him that she would be fine on her own, Lu Qingfeng insisted that he would apany her nevertheless.


    It wasn''t like he was worried about her, because he trusted that she knew what she was doing this time. He came with her because he wanted to see for himself the oue of this well thought out scheme.


    However, once they arrived at the police station, they found another man waiting for them. In their past life, this man was a popr fashion designer and stylist to the celebrities. He wasmonly known to everyone as ''Andrew'', but his real name was Si Yixian. As to what he was doing here, Lu Qingfeng could only look at Su Xiaofei''s amused reaction.


    Ah, so she knew that Si Yixian would be here. Was this part of her n, or was this just one of the lucky coincidences for the scheme she pulled against Chen Li? He wondered.


    When Su Xiaofei entered, she greeted the inspector who was handling Chen Li''s case politely, before turning her eyes to Si Yixian, who had an annoyed and troubled look on his face.


    Si Yixian looked at her with apathetic eyes, as if he couldn''t be bothered to talk with yet another young miss who only knew how to spend her parent''s hard-earned moneyvishly. He clearly had a prejudice against people like Su Xiaofei.


    "Inspector, can we wait for a moment? My mother and ourwyer are on their way here. Of course, we are willing to cooperate with your investigation, but I''m not well versed with the procedure." She said calmly, surprising both the inspector and Si Yixian, who was conversing lowly with his assistant.


    The inspector, who was only in histe forties, cleared his throat and looked at Su Xiaofei.


    "Of course, Miss. You and yourpanion may sit here for a moment, while we wait for both parties''wyers."


    Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng sat across Si Yixian and looked at them curiously.


    "Inspector, if you don''t mind me asking, who are these people?" Su Xiaofei asked, feigning ignorance about Si Yixuan''s identity.


    This was the very person she was hoping Chen Li would lure out, by using that fake Butterfly Chrysalis limited edition dress.


    Su Xiaofei, of course, knew who Si Yixian was. In her past life, despite having a sessful career and celebrated fame, this celebrity stylist and renowned fashion designer, Su Yixian, would lose his life due to a drug overdose.


    Su Xiaofei had once coborated with Si Yixian''s Butterfly Chrysalis as she walked on a runway using one of his creations. However, a yearter, he would be found dead in his apartment.


    Many people believed that it was his addiction that killed him, but only those who were deeply involved in the industry and people close to him, knew that it wasn''t the case.


    When Si Yixian was seven, he and his sister, who was younger by three years, were sent to an orphanage when their single mother died from an illness. Si Yixian never knew who their father was nor was he interested in finding him.


    However, during their stay at the orphanage, Si Yixian was adopted by a of foreign couple, forcibly separating him from his younger sister, who was his only living rtive. He was then taken abroad and was raised as their own child.


    Yearster, he returned with the intention to find the little sister he hadn''t seen in decades. He''d be a designer for clothes, his dream since he was a child. He loved to dress his adorable sister with cute clothes when their mother was still alive.


    But it proved to be hard for Si Yixian, as the orphanage where he and his sister lived in had been closed ten years prior to his return, and Si Yixian had no lead as to where he would be able to find her. This led him to depression, forcing him to rely on alcohol and drugs to keep his thoughts away from it.


    As to why he came here, Su Xiaofei was aware of his strict obsession to protect his works. In her past life, not many would dare to copy his creations because he always made sure that they would spend a good amount of time behind bars.


    Su Xiaofei calcted the possibility of him showing up once Chen Li was caught, but she wasn''t one hundred percent sure that he would be here, as his assistant usually dealt with these issues for him.


    "Miss Su, if you have heard of the brand "Butterfly Chrysalis", this is the owner." The inspector exined, looking at her, then to Si Yixian.


    "Oh, hello Mr. Si. I''m sorry that I have to meet you this way. For your information, the counterfeit dress really didn''te from me. I have never handed anything to Chen Li and only allowed her to keep the things she has taken from me." Su Xiaofei greeted him politely and started acting like she wasn''t involved in Chen Li''s case at all. It was important for her to push all the me to Chen Li this time.


    Si Yixian only frowned and looked away. He didn''t know how to deal with young women like Su Xiaofei.


    "Let''s wait for the result of this investigation before anything else." He said, dismissing her im.


    It didn''t take long for Yun Qingrong to arrive in a frantic state with Fang Yi and their familywyer to represent her daughter. This was the first time she had seen her Feifei at the police station.


    "Feifei, did something happen? Are you hurt anywhere?" Yun Qingrong went to her daughter, wondering if she was hurt.. She was in the middle of an important meeting with Fang Yi, when Su Xiaofei called her, informing her that she was on her way to the police station and needed theirwyer''s help.

 Chapter 128 - Little Black Dress (2)

    <h4>Chapter 128 - Little ck Dress (2)</h4>


    "Mama, please take a seat and calm down." Su Xiaofei stood up and held her mother''s hand, while Lu Qingfeng stood up from his seat, allowing Yun Qingrong to sit down first.


    "Then why are you here with Xiao Feng then?" Yun Qingrong asked. "Why do you require ourwyer''s assistance?" She then looked at Si Yixian, instantly recognizing him.


    "Ah, I didn''t know Mr. Si is here as well." She then looked back at her daughter. "What''s going on, Feifei?" She asked in confusion.


    "It''s like this, Mama¡­" Su Xiaofei looked at Si Yixian and made sure his attention was on her and her mother. "Chen Li was caught by these officersst night and she imed that the counterfeit dress she was wearing was given to her by me."


    Yun Qingrong furrowed her brows .


    "How can that be? Since we caught her stealing your clothes, I made sure that she wouldn''t be able to take anything more aside from the things that she already took from you."


    "President Yun, she''s your daughter?" Si Yixian''s expression changed. He didn''t know that the young woman used of giving the counterfeit dress was the daughter of the owner of Bluemedia, whom he coborated with recently.


    "Yes, she''s my daughter. It''s impossible for Feifei to do what Chen Li used her of!" Yun Qingrong realized her mistake. "I''m sorry, Mr. Si, I shouldn''t have raised my voice at you."


    "It''s alright, President Yun. I understand."


    Now that they knew that Su Xiaofei was President Yun''s daughter, Si Yixian and the inspector were naturally more inclined to believe Su Xiaofei rather than Chen Li.


    How could the rich daughter of Bluemedia possess a counterfeit good that ended up in Chen Li''s possession? There was no need for Su Xiaofei to buy any counterfeit products when she and her mother could buy the authentic ones without batting an eyelid.


    The same couldn''t be said for a young woman like Chen Li, who wanted to boast about what she had to be famous within her circle of friends. She coveted Su Xiaofei''s things and now that her stealing hade into the limelight, she held grudges towards Su Xiaofei and wanted to cause trouble by using her.


    "Inspector, is it possible for us to see the counterfeit dress that Chen Li was wearingst night?" Lu Qingfeng asked the inspector.


    "Yes, please. We want to confirm whether it is counterfeit or not." Si Yixian agreed with Lu Qingfeng''s request. It was the only reason they came here anyway.


    Chen Li, who was now dressed in a different set of clothes, came in with another officer who was holding a box containing the little ck dress that Chen Li was wearing the night before.


    Si Yixian and his assistant were the first ones to inspect the dress and confirmed that it wasn''t an authentic one.


    "The material used is different from what we used and although the style is almost the exact copy of what we have in the collection, the stitches and the details aren''t the same." Si Yixian''s assistant confirmed, while the man himself remained silent and could only sigh.


    "No! It really came from Su Xiaofei! I didn''t buy it! It came from her! It definitely came from her!" Chen Li started to cry hysterically, once they confirmed that the dress she was wearingst night while partying wasn''t an authentic one.


    "Where''s my mother? Where''s my mom?! She knows it came from her. There''s no way I won''t have it if I didn''t get it from her?" She continued to cry.


    "You got it from me?" Su Xiaofei looked at the ck dress on top of the inspector''s table. "How is it possible? I have a dress like this, but I''m pretty sure it''s still at home."


    This made everyone look at her in surprise.


    "Is that so?" The inspector leaned on his seat. "Then, would you be able to bring it here to confirm?"


    "Yes. I can call our housekeeper and have her bring the very dress I''m speaking of. I remember that Mama has only given me one little ck dress from Butterfly Chrysalis. I haven''t even worn it yet, so it should still be in its original packaging."


    "What do you think, sir? Should we allow them to bring it here?" One of the younger police officers asked the inspector.


    The older man furrowed his brows together and looked at Su Xiaofei, who looked calm and collected, then to Chen Li, who looked disheveled and was in panic.


    "What do you think, Mr. Si? Since Miss Su is iming that she has the authentic one, should wepare the one she has with the one in here?"


    "I don''t mind." Si Yixian said, but he already concluded that it wasn''t logical for Su Xiaofei to buy a counterfeit one if she already had the authentic dress.


    "Fine. Miss Su, please ask your housekeeper to bring the dress here so we can quickly clear this up." The inspector gave Su Xiaofei a go signal to call Aunty Liu.


    "Thanks, Inspector. I''ll call Aunty Liu right away then."


    Chen Li continued to cry and wondered what they were talking about. The dress she had wornst night was the exact one that she took from Su Xiaofei''s wardrobe the night before she and her family left the Yun mansion, so how was it possible that she was wearing the fake one while Su Xiaofei still possessed the very same dress?


    "Su Xiaofei! You set me up! You set me up! You knew that I''ve been stealing your clothes for a long time and wanted to teach me a lesson!" She used Su Xiaofei in front of everyone.


    "Enough! Do you think this a market where you can simply raise your voice and disrespect us? Is this the kind of upbringing people have nowadays?" The inspector red at her. "You ungrateful child! Miss Su was kind enough to let you go at the first offense, but you''re still creating trouble for them?"

 Chapter 129 - A Poisonous Woman (1)

    <h4>Chapter 129 - A Poisonous Woman (1)</h4>


    Su Xiaofei looked coldly at the young woman who was in tears because of her. No¡­ this wasn''t enough. Chen Li hadn''t suffered enough despair and humiliation. After all the things Su Xiaofei had gone through because of her, there was no way she would easily let Chen Li off!


    Housekeeper Chen arrived at that moment and saw Chen Li in a pitiful state. The old woman rushed to her daughter''s side and red furiously at Su Xiaofei and Yun Qingrong, as if using them of bullying Chen Li.


    "Madam, how could you treat my daughter this way? Xiao Li has done nothing wrong! It is clear that Su Xiaofei is the one who set up my Xiao Li!" She eximed, but the inspector, as well as the police officers apanying him, scowled at how shameless this old woman was.


    "Madam, I''m afraid you''ve been misinformed. Miss Su is the one being used by your daughter here. While your daughter was busy skipping her sses, Miss Su was escorted to the station from her school. You might not be aware that Chen Li was using Su Xiaofei''s name and identity to gain ess to nightclubs and parties."


    This immediately darkened Yun Qingrong''s face as she trembled next to her daughter.


    "Xiao Li! How dare you?!"


    The inspector then thought that it made sense for Chen Li to act unruly and disrespectful to her elders, unlike Su Xiaofei who was polite and calm when she was talking to them. The difference between these two women''s upbringing was as clear as day and night. This inevitably tilted the scale in Su Xiaofei''s favor.


    It was understandable that Housekeeper Chen would try to protect her daughter, but why was she insisting that Chen Li was innocent when it was clear that she was the one who sneaked into several clubsst night, drinking and partying as if there was no tomorrow?


    In her drunken state, she even offended some party goers and caused a scene. If she hadn''t done those things, no one would be able to point out how she was wearing an imitation in a club filled with socialites who had keen eyes on expensive luxury goods.


    "Chen Li, so you are the one who''s been doing it?! Why?" Su Xiaofei''s lips quivered as she held onto her mother''s hand. She was creating the impression that she was the one being falsely used by Chen Li.


    Because of her ability to act well, aside from Lu Qingfeng, no one suspected that she was merely acting to gain their sympathy.


    "When your father died and your family had nowhere to go, wasn''t it my mother who took you in and helped your mother send you and your brother to school with her own money, aside from the monthly sry that your mother received? My Mama and I didn''t wrong you over the years you stayed in our household, so why? Why are you doing this?" She questioned Chen Li.


    The young woman gasped at her in shock, not expecting that Su Xiaofei would pull something like this in front of everyone. Chen Li wasn''t sure why, but there was something different about Su Xiaofei as she looked at her now.


    It was like she was looking at a different person who shared the same face as Su Xiaofei. This woman''s eyes were frigid cold, as if it could devour her entirety at any time. No, this can''t be the same Su Xiaofei she grew up with over the past five years. There was no way in hell that this stupid woman would be able to y her like this.


    "Miss Chen, you do realize that aside from being sued by Mr. Si, Miss Su here could also sue you for defamation?" The inspector informed her, delivering another shocking fact, not only to her, but to Housekeeper Chen as well.


    "This¡­" The old woman looked at Su Xiaofei with a conflicted expression on her face.


    Su Xiaofei was certain that Housekeeper Chen was hesitating to beg for Chen Li''s sake. s, that would be impossible, as the enmity between herself and the Chen family could never be dismissed nor forgotten in this life.


    Chen Li was the one who created her own storm, so why was it that when the rain came and fell hard on her, she pushed the me to Su Xiaofei? Wasn''t she the one who started stealing things and caused this problem on her own?


    As to why Su Xiaofei had set her up, it was precisely because she was aware that Chen Li would give her more trouble in the future. See, even now, Chen Li had started impersonating her.


    If she allowed Chen Li to continue with this, her name would be tarnished for good before she knew it.


    "Let''s just wait and see whether Chen Li really has Feifei''s Butterfly Chrysalis dress." Lu Qingfeng suggested, which only added to Chen Li''s humiliation. He was looking at her with disgust, as if he couldn''t wait for the police to put her behind bars for daring to impersonate Su Xiaofei.


    She could only look at Lu Qingfeng with teary eyes as she dug her fingernails painfully into her palm. Who would want to be humiliated in front of a person one liked? Obviously, not Chen Li.


    She had been holding deep feelings and admiration towards Lu Qingfeng for some time now, and whenever he came to the Yun Mansion, Chen Li would always make sure she looked presentable in his presence.


    It was one of the reasons why she started taking interest in Su Xiaofei''s belongings, especially the ones that thetter had been ignoring for some time. However, Chen Li had never thought that a day like this woulde, a day when she would be seen by Lu Qingfeng at her worst.


    Why? Chen Li thought. It was obvious that Su Xiaofei was not a good person, so why was Lu Qingfeng standing up for her?

 Chapter 130 - A Poisonous Woman (2)

    <h4>Chapter 130 - A Poisonous Woman (2)</h4>


    If Chen Li voiced such a question to Lu Qingfeng, he would tell her straight up that Su Xiaofei was the only woman he could be with and there would be no other. Perhaps for someone, it might sound like an obsession, but he didn''t care, as long as he was able to protect her from everyone, including himself.


    If one day he realizes that he poses a threat to Su Xiaofei, Lu Qingfeng would force himself to retreat, no matter how painful it would be for him.


    After living three lifetimes, he wouldn''t be surprised if he had truly lost his mind at some point in time. In his previous life, he was willing to let go of Su Xiaofei if Mo Yuchen was going to treasure her and love her more than he could ever have.


    s, just like in his first life, Mo Yuchen was a selfish bastard whose eyes were only coveting Yun Qingrong''s possessions again.


    Back to the problem at hand, Si Yixian nodded, but he was obviously disturbed to know that a person like Chen Li had no qualms about betraying Su Xiaofei like this. As he gave Su Xiaofei a good look, he was now seeing her in a new light.


    She was very different from the other young misses his business had catered to in the past. Si Yixian was currently twenty-seven, and he had been working in the industry for eight years now.


    From his experience, he had met a lot of young women who acted arrogantly, as if they expected the world to bow their heads to them just because they had a lot of money.


    As for Su Xiaofei, Si Yixian had never met a calm and elegant young woman like her. The way she stood and walked, reminded him of those professional models whom he''d seen on international runways.


    The way she spoke was calm, yet it was clear that she hadced it with her own poison to strike her enemy down. She had a tongue that could turn the tables in her favor. Such a poisonous woman. Su Xiaofei was clearly not a good person, but Si Yixian couldn''t help but like her.


    A few minutester, Aunty Liu came to the police station, bringing the box containing the dress that Su Xiaofei kept in her wardrobe. She ced the box on top of the table and gave Su Xiaofei a confused look.


    "Feifei, I brought the dress you asked me to, but what are you doing here?"


    However, as soon as her eyes caught Chen Li, who was crying in her mother''s embrace, her smile fell in understanding. This mother and daughter were trying to frame their Feifei again.


    So this was why¡­ This was why Feifei had ordered the fake dress before Chen Li and her family left the mansion. What made the old woman curious was, how did Su Xiaofei know that this would happen?


    Si Yixian''s assistant stepped forward and inspected the dress Aunty Liu brought this time and he nodded his head in approval.


    "I can vouch the authenticity of this dress, Andrew." He told Si Yixian. "This is one of the one hundred limited edition pieces that was part of the collectionst year. They even have the receipt still intact inside the box.


    Si Yixian nodded. He trusted his assistant''s judgement and knew that he couldn''t possibly be wrong this time.


    The inspector looked at Su Xiaofei''s group, then to Chen Li and her mother. While Su Xiaofei had an alibi - the dress was still in her possession, Chen Li had no evidence to prove her im that the counterfeit dress was taken from Su Xiaofei.


    It also didn''t help that she had a history of stealing from Su Xiaofei, which led to her family being kicked out from the Su household.


    "Andrew, what do you think?" Si Yixian''s assistant asked him. This was the first time they had encountered a young offender.


    "The same thing. Her young age isn''t an excuse for breaking thew." He said as if he couldn''t be bothered by the fact that Chen Li had to spend the next five years of her life behind bars.


    "No. No. No. Please!" Chen Li slumped on the floor and sped her hands together. "I''m going to confess my wrongdoings, but I really didn''t purchase that fake dress! I took it from Su Xiaofei''s private wardrobe."


    Si Yixian and his assistant looked at her with a deep frown on their faces. Things were already like this, but she wasn''t willing to let go of Su Xiaofei and was still insisting that she was set up by her.


    "Can you prove it?" The inspector asked her. "Can you prove that Miss Su set you up? Do you know by insisting this, you are only proving that you''ve been stealing Miss Su''s belongings?"


    Chen Li stared at him, rendered speechless by his question. She then nced at Su Xiaofei, seeing her cold, piercing look as she looked down at her. A cold shiver ran down Chen Li''s spine as she couldn''t take her eyes away from Su Xiaofei.


    Su Xiaofei certainly knew. She had set her up knowing this would happen. But how? Why did she do this to her?


    She pulled her mother''s arm and started crying hysterically. She could sense that Su Xiaofei wasn''t nning to go easy on her this time.


    "Mom, please help me! I don''t wanna go to jail! Please!" Chen Li begged her mother. She was too young to serve time in the correctional facility for juveniles. This would surely leave a mark on her reputation even if she was freedter on.


    Seeing her only daughter like this broke Housekeeper Chen''s heart. She had never seen her Xiao Li in this state.


    What should she do? How could this happen to them? How did they end up in this situation? She obviously knew the answers to these questions, but she wasn''t willing to ept the truth!

 Chapter 131 - Words Were Like Water (1)

    <h4>Chapter 131 - Words Were Like Water (1)</h4>


    In the end, Si Yixian decided to sue Chen Li, despite her young age, to teach her a lesson not to scheme against other people and not to covet others'' possessions. He would have changed his mind and let her off the hook, but he didn''t see any regrets or remorse on her face at all.


    s, she only wanted to drag Su Xiaofei to her demise, pushing all the me to her former young miss as if it was Su Xiaofei''s fault that she had been stealing her things and impersonating her identity. It was clear that Chen Li wasn''t nning to admit her mistakes and take responsibility for them.


    Words were like water, once poured out, it could never be retrieved by the person who had uttered them. It was impossible for others not to see Chen Li''s ckened heart.


    No wonder Su Xiaofei was the way she was. It''s because she had this kind of people around her. It was her way of defending herself and her oblivious mother from this kind of scheme towards them. If he was in her shoes, Si Yixian knew that one had to be a frightening monster too if he was facing a ton of them.


    "Mr. Si, we''re sorry you had to witness this. I hope you wouldn''t think badly of my mother and would continue working with Bluemedia in the future." Su Xiaofei said as she followed Si Yixian and his assistant outside the interrogation room where Chen Li was being held with her mother.


    "There''s no need to be polite, Miss Su. You can just call me Andrew like the rest." Si Yixian said as he pulled out a business card from his coat and handed it to her. "Please visit us anytime at the boutique. Our boutique is open to serve valuable customers like you."


    Su Xiaofei lowered her eyes to hide the amused glint that appeared in them. Not only had she sent Chen Li and her mother into deep despair, but she was also able to meet Si Yixian this early. There was a reason why she needed to get acquainted with him.


    Before Feng Xue''er career shot up, Si Yixian dominated the fashion industry with his otherworldly creations that not only made a name in the local industry but also extended abroad. If it wasn''t for his depression due to his sister''s disappearance, Si Yixian''s name wouldn''t be forgotten by everyone and be reced by Feng Xue''er.


    In this lifetime, she would make sure that none of her enemies would get what they wanted at the expense of others'' dreams and life. She wouldn''t allow Si Yixian''s light to fade off so easily. She wasn''t doing this to help him, but herself.


    "Thanks, Andrew. I will be sure to visit with my mother soon." She replied before bidding them goodbye, aware that they left theirpanywyer to deal with the filing of awsuit against Chen Li.


    She smiled to herself as she watched Si Yixian leave with his assistant. They met too early in this lifetime, but that''s fine. In the future, she would be able to gain his support by leading him to meet the sister he longed to meet again.


    Su Xiaofei had thought of the possible oues before she set Chen Li up. She knew that the young woman would covet the very same little ck dress made by Si Yixian, and naturally, the man himself would get involved when a counterfeit version of his dress emerged somewhere.


    Knowing that breaking the friendship between Ye Mingyu and Feng Xue''er wouldn''t be enough to stop thetter''s career from rising and the end of Si Yixian''s life, Su Xiaofei decided to ease this situation. Saving Si Yixian''s life would not only prevent Feng Xue''er from rising, but Su Xiaofei would also gain a valuable bargaining chip in the future.


    Perhaps she would be able to use Yun Xiang''s growing fondness for her once she was certain that the man wouldn''t easily fall for Ye Mingyu''s charms. Naturally, the man was still a thorn in her eyes, but he still had some use for her, so she couldn''t offend her mother''s family by ruining Yun Xiang this early.


    ''We will meet again, Si Yixian. It''s enough to know that you are still alive and well for now.'' She thought. There were still many chances for them to meet in the future and to deepen their connections.


    As for Chen Li¡­ well, there''s no more hope for her now. Since Si Yixian wasn''t moved by her begging earlier and decided to sue her, Chen Li was facing at least five years in the correctional facility for minors. If Su Xiaofei decided to sue her for defamation and identity theft, another five years was guaranteed to be added to her punishment.


    By the time Chen Li leaves the facility, she would be at least twenty-six, already at the peak of her life as a woman. However, it would be hard for her to live amongst her peers and regain her reputation in public. She would need to pull a miracle to be able to do that.


    ''At least she could return to the countryside and live the rest of her life there in peace, that is, if she is willing to abandon hervish lifestyle and live amongst the farmers.'' Su Xiaofei thought.


    It wasn''t like Su Xiaofei was looking down on people working menial jobs. In fact, if she was given a chance, perhaps being reborned and living as amoner wouldn''t be so bad after all. She wouldn''t need to worry about a stepsister coveting after her inheritance, or about men who would only like her for the money and influence her family could provide.


    As Si Yixian left with his assistant, no one noticed the deep pool of ckened stagnant water reflected in Su Xiaofei''s eyes, like a predator waiting for its prey to make a mistake, patiently with chilling eyes.

 Chapter 132 - Words Were Like Water (2)

    <h4>Chapter 132 - Words Were Like Water (2)</h4>


    When Su Xiaofei returned to the interrogation room, she overheard Housekeeper Chen begging her mother to help Chen Li, saying that all of this was just a misunderstanding. This shameless old woman still thought that her young daughter hadn''t done anything wrong at the expense of Su Xiaofei''s reputation.


    "What is there to misunderstand, Aunty Chen?" Su Xiaofei gave the older woman a quick nce.


    Compared to the almost skinny middle-aged widow who arrived with her two children years ago, Housekeeper Chen had gained a lot of weight during their years of stay in the Su Residence, now the Yun Mansion. Housekeeper Chen was around the same age as Yun Qingrong, but with a slightly plump stature and wrinkly skin, it made her look older than her actual age.


    She was wearing a green blouse and a pair of ck cks and even though it looked ordinary for some, those people with a keen eye would see that they were actually branded items. Housekeeper Chen was able to enjoy such things because Yun Qingrong was generous and kind to those who were working in their household.


    Such kindness that Housekeeper Chen and her daughter continuously abused and took advantage of.


    "En, this is all but a misunderstanding, Miss Xiaofei." Housekeeper Chen faced Su Xiaofei, who took a seat on the vacant couch in the room, crossing her legs with her hands resting on top of her knees.


    Su Xiaofei looked at the older woman with indifference. A disloyal servant shouldn''t be allowed to stay near her mother, that was why she instigated a scene where she could force the Chen family out of their home. However, that wouldn''t be enough to quell the hatred that she had been trying tosh out.


    Aside from Aunty Liu, who was the one who raised her and looked after her whenever Yun Qingrong wasn''t around, Su Xiaofei didn''t have any attachments to other servants working in the Yun Mansion. As long as they didn''t dare to obstruct her way and cause trouble for her mother, she would pay them no heed.


    As for this old woman, if a rabid dog could bite its own owner in front of her, how can Su Xiaofei stay still and do nothing?


    Housekeeper Chen waited for a long time, but only a pair of chilling eyes greeted her when she took a second look at Su Xiaofei. Her heart started thumping painfully against her chest as breathing became hard for her, feeling as if she was being suffocated by Su Xiaofei''s mere cold gaze.


    "Aunty Chen must be joking." The young woman chuckled darkly. "Do you mean to say that Chen Li, falsifying an identification card and impersonating me in public, was nothing but a misunderstanding that we should easily let off?"


    "Miss Su, you should think this over. Identity theft is a grave offense. Add to the fact that Chen Li is using you over the possession of the counterfeit goods, I fear that if she wasn''t apprehended this early, your reputation would be ruined without knowing about it."


    One of the police officers that were listening to their conversation couldn''t help butment. He found it disturbing that despite being let off the first time without facing repercussions, the Chens were shamelessly ruining their former masters in public.


    "En. If Miss Chen got involved in drugs using your name. It would be hard to clean your name in public. The damage has already been done and there''s nothing you can do about it." His partner agreed with him.


    Su Xiaofei slightly nodded her head. That was precisely what happened in her previous life.


    When Chen Li continued with her bar hopping habits and got involved with party goers who used drugs while she was impersonating her, it had caused a huge blow on Su Xiaofei''s rising career. It was to the point where even when they tried to clear her name based on the photos and videos gathered to prove that she wasn''t at the scene where the people involved got arrested, it was already toote as her name was already tainted by the drug issue.


    If it was not for the unknown person who suppressed the news over the inte and mainstream news, Su Xiaofei had no doubt that the media would continue to pounce on her and would dig more about her dirt from the past.


    "Sorry, Aunty Chen. If the esteemed officers put it that way, I think everyone could understand that Chen Li had not only put my reputation at stake, she''s also risking my future. Do you think a simple apology would be enough topensate for the possible loss I would suffer if Chen Li wasn''t caught this early?" Su Xiaofei said coldly.


    "Saying that it was merely a misunderstanding, Aunty Chen, what do you take me for?"


    Housekeeper Chen realized that she wouldn''t be able to persuade Su Xiaofei and decided to turn her attention back to Yun Qingrong.


    "Madam! Please! This one has served you and the young miss for years. How could my Xiao Li deliberately harm Miss Xiaofei''s reputation? For old times'' sake, please help my Xiao Li."


    Su Xiaofei sneered in her heart. Her mother didn''t wrong Housekeeper Chen in both lifetimes, but what did thetter do? She colluded with Su Haoran and Ye Xing to persuade Yun Qingrong to ept Ye Mingyu into their family, causing turbulence not only on the straining rtionship between the couple, but also became the catalyst in ruining Su Xiaofei''s life.


    No wonder Chen Li could act as recklessly and as shamelessly as she did, because she was cut from the same cloth as her mother!


    Yun Qingrong looked at her daughter''s face and noticed that she was upset and agitated. What Housekeeper Chen just said was simply wrong. It wasn''t merely a misunderstanding. Chen Li was trying to harm her daughter''s reputation and future by defaming her name in public. Although her daughter could be unreasonable and arrogant at times, she had never harmed others like Chen Li did now.


    "I''ll respect and trust my Feifei''s decision on this."

 Chapter 133 - The Crows Everywhere Were Pitch Black (1)

    <h4>Chapter 133 - The Crows Everywhere Were Pitch ck (1)</h4>


    As Yun Qingrong said these words, Su Xiaofei lowered her eyes to hide the ruthlessness that appeared in them. However, it was toote, because Lu Qingfeng was able to see it before she was able to hide it.


    Meanwhile, Housekeeper Chen was surprised and upset that Yun Qingrong had denied helping her daughter. Yun Qingrong used to be agreeable and easy to deal with, but recently, Housekeeper Chen noticed that the woman was wrapped too tightly around Su Xiaofei''s fingers that she would listen to whatever this wretched young woman would say.


    Thinking about it, all the problems she and her family were currently facing had stemmed from Su Xiaofei''s interference in their ns. If she hadn''t showed up the day Ye Xing and Ye Mingyu arrived to confront Yun Qingrong, her family wouldn''t have been kicked out of the household.


    Even though they were now living with her cousin and Ye Xing, Housekeeper Chen was aware that she was now short of money. Unlike Yun Qingrong who was generous with her pay for the staff in her household, the same couldn''t be said about Su Haoran.


    She and her family wouldn''t suffer like this if Su Xiaofei didn''t get involved that day. None of this would happen if only Su Xiaofei yed her role diligently. Su Xiaofei should be ignorant and foolish for Ye Mingyu to stand out.


    But the young woman in front of her was unrecognizable. Su Xiaofei was like a viiness, seated on her golden throne, watching the world burn on its own, forcing everyone to y by her rules.


    Now that she had a closer look at Su Xiaofei, Housekeeper Chen thought that she should have believed her Xiao Li when she said that something had changed in Su Xiaofei, and that she found their young miss suspicious and frightening at the same time.


    "Rest assured, Xiao Li. When Yu''er moves in with us, Su Xiaofei won''t be able to look down on you. Su Xiaofei is a stupid person and there''s nothing to fear about her, dear. She''s only acting like this because Yun Qingrong is spoiling her rotten."


    "But Mom¡­" Chen Li wanted to argue, but her mother hushed her.


    "Su Xiaofei doesn''t know anything. Compared to your Mingyu Jie, she is stupid and ignorant. She''s not as articte and as smart as Ye Mingyu. In the future, Ye Mingyu will rece her as the rightful miss of the Su family. When that happens, you have to make sure that you''re on her good side so her family will continue to look after us."


    However, looking at Su Xiaofei now, Housekeeper Chen thought that this young woman might know something. Could it be that the hospitalization and the huge argument with Young Master Mo had forced Su Xiaofei to change?


    Su Xiaofei could clearly see how the gears in this old woman''s head were turning. She jeered in her heart, knowing that if things remained the same as her past life, the one who would be in trouble was her and not Chen Li.


    In her past life, when she found out that it was Chen Li who was pretending to be her, she foolishly asked Housekeeper Chen to convince Chen Li toe out and clear her name, but what did this shameless old woman tell her?


    "Things are like this, Miss Xiaofei. Xiao Li''s name and future would be ruined if shees out and clears your name. Unlike you, who has money at your disposal, my Xiao Li wouldn''t be able to suppress the news about her." Housekeeper Chen was saying this in a calm voice, but Su Xiaofei could clearly see that the old woman was mocking her.


    Was she mocking her because of her stupidity, or was the old woman looking down on her because of her obliviousness towards her real identity?


    However, it didn''t matter now. She wasn''t the same stupid and ignorant Su Xiaofei that they knew. She had changed a lot, which forced them to feel lost and helpless when ites to dealing with her. They had beencent that the foolish Su Xiaofei would remain the same and won''t change.


    So what if she stole the beam and reced it with a pole1? Chen Li was the one who dared to scheme against her, but she ended up shooting her own foot with it.


    No matter if it was her past life or this life, the crows everywhere were pitch ck1. If Chen Li was truly innocent like her mother imed her to be, she wouldn''t have stolen Su Xiaofei''s belongings and impersonated her in public, knowing the possible consequences of those actions on Su Xiaofei.


    Su Xiaofei''s expression remained cold, as her eyes were faintly gleaming with hatred. Seeing her face like this, Housekeeper Chen instinctively shrunk back a little.


    "So, Miss Su, have you made a decision?" The inspector asked, while Su Xiaofei''s eyes remained on Housekeeper Chen.


    "Yes." She hummed before ncing at the man and giving him a polite smile.


    "It''s a pity that our rtionship with the Chen family hase to this. However, I agree with what the esteemed officers said earlier. These are serious offenses that could harm my reputation and future."


    "No. No. Please¡­" Housekeeper Chen fell on her knees and sped her hands together.


    "Miss Xiaofei, can you please help Xiao Li? Seeing that we''ve spent years living together, can''t you let her off this time? Xiao Li knows what she did was wrong!"


    Su Xiaofei cocked her head to one side and rubbed her chin.


    "Why should I? In case you are forgetting, I''m the victim here." She replied with a cold tone.


    As she said these, she could feel Chen Li ring daggers in her direction.


    "But we''re still a family, right? We should look after each other in times of need. All you need to do is just give Xiao Li your hand-me-down clothes, then you can certainly help her avoid getting jailed."

 Chapter 134 - The Crows Everywhere Were Pitch Black (2)

    <h4>Chapter 134 - The Crows Everywhere Were Pitch ck (2)</h4>


    Listening to what Housekeeper Chen said almost caused Yun Qingrong to burst into rage. If it wasn''t for Fang Yi who held her arm, shaking his head in an attempt to stop her, she would have charged towards Housekeeper Chen and berated her for even daring to utter such shameless things at her daughter.


    Yun Qingrong couldn''t believe that she allowed this kind of people, who had intentions of harming her Feifei, to live with them for so long. She truly did make the right decision to kick them out of her house if this was their true nature.


    Who knew what else they could have done if they remained in the Yun Mansion, instigating problems that could hurt Feifei? No wonder her daughter wasn''tfortable in their presence, as she could feel their ulterior motive towards her!


    "Auntie Qing, please calm down and don''t let them get under your skin. I trust that Feifei would know how to deal with it." Lu Qingfeng persuaded Yun Qingrong to sit down and to take in calming breaths.


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaofei''s eyes sharpened upon hearing the old woman''s words. Family? What kind of nonsense was Housekeeper Chen talking about? When Chen Li was stealing her things and using her name and identity, did she consider that she was harming Su Xiaofei?


    When Housekeeper Chen allowed the foxes to enter their home and pounced on her mother a few weeks ago, weren''t they nning to ruin the very same family that they came to value now?


    In her previous life, when her mother was already on her deathbed, attached to the apparatuses that kept her alive¡­


    When she swallowed her own pride and knelt on the cold floor, begging this old woman to allow her to see and talk to her mother for thest time, they denied her and insulted her.


    "Family? What kind of family would steal from them and backstab them when they weren''t paying attention? My mother treated you well, but instead, you allowed my father''s mistress to cause trouble in our family by letting her in. Say, Aunty Chen, should I be grateful that Chen Li tried to implicate me with her counterfeit dress? Should I be the magnanimous one and allow the other person to p my other cheek willingly after they hit me?"


    "Xiao Fei, it''s my fault? for not teaching my daughter properly. It is true that Xiao Li is at fault, but I couldn''t just let them take her. I can still discipline her! Please don''t let them take her away!" The old woman begged Su Xiaofei with teary eyes.


    However, Su Xiaofei''s cold eyes could see past her facade. This old woman was cursing her repeatedly in her heart, as if she couldn''t wait for a chance to get her hands on her and rip her apart.


    "I have heard everything you said, Aunty, but I didn''t hear anything from your innocent, good daughter. I guess she wasn''t truly sorry for what she''d done. Chen Li must be thinking that she doesn''t need my help at all since she thinks she can rely on Ye Mingyu."


    Upon hearing Ye Mingyu''s name, the mother and daughter froze in their ces, looking like a couple of deers caught in headlights.


    Su Xiaofei chuckled and rested her chin on her palm.


    "But what could Little Mingyu do to help Chen Li out of jail when her te is also filled with problems." Shemented.


    Housekeeper Chen could only grit her teeth and gestured for her daughter toe to her.


    "Xiao Li! Come here and beg your Fei Jie to help you!"


    Chen Li forced herself to move and knelt beside her mother. She had never thought she would have to face such humiliation because of Su Xiaofei. However, she also knew that she was too young to get jailed. If Su Xiaofei and Yun Qingrong refused to extend a hand to help her, then even Su Haoran or Ye Xing wouldn''t be able to help her this time.


    "Sister Feifei, it''s¡­ it''s my fault. Please forgive me." She said between her teeth, when all she wanted to do was to w her nails through this arrogant, fake heiress. "I didn''t mean to use your name or pretend I was you."


    ''Strange.'' Chen Li thought. ''Su Xiaofei used to be foolish and Aunty Qing was easy to deal with. Fine. She''s acting so high and mighty, then a little pitiful act should be enough."


    What Chen Li didn''t know was that Su Xiaofei was aware of what she was thinking at that very moment. Only sixteen, and yet Chen Li already had such a vicious heart.


    "Oh? Is that so?" Su Xiaofei looked at her with a bored expression. "Was it truly just a misunderstanding? Here I thought Ye Mingyu promised you that you could have my things once I am kicked out as the family''s daughter."


    The mother and child pair trembled after those words, especially Chen Li. How did Su Xiaofei know about it? Indeed, it was Ye Mingyu who promised her that she can have everything Su Xiaofei had once she was named as the rightful young miss of the Su family.


    This was why, even before Ye Mingyu''s arrival, Chen Li had the audacity to take Su Xiaofei''s things, because she knew she would have Ye Mingyu''s support in the future.


    "This¡­" As if finally realizing where she had gone wrong, Chen Li reached out, trying to touch Su Xiaofei''s hand.


    "Sister Feifei, you have to help me! It was really Ye Mingyu who told me to steal your things. Waahhh¡­" She cried out. Chen Li didn''t expect that this would happen to her.


    Su Xiaofei cringed and pped Chen Li''s hand away, disgusted by the fact that now that she was cornered, Chen Li was willing to drag everyone down, including Ye Mingyu, with her.


    "My mother always told me that every action we make has consequences.. Chen Li, you have to face yours."

 Chapter 135 - Losing Myself (1)

    <h4>Chapter 135 - Losing Myself (1)</h4>


    Others might think that what Su Xiaofei just did to Chen Li was quite heartless, but Lu Qingfeng was satisfied and was proud of her scheming. Not only was she able to get even with Chen Li for marring her reputation in their past lives and implying that Ye Mingyu instigated Chen Li''s stealing habits, but she also managed to gain a connection with Si Yixian earlier than expected.


    However, although she seeded in sending Chen Li to jail while implicating Ye Mingyu, Lu Qingfeng noticed that her eyes held a sorrowful glint as they left the police station with her mother and Uncle Fang.


    Lu Qingfeng apanied them home. However, as soon as they arrived at the Yun Mansion, Su Xiaofei hurriedly went upstairs and confined herself inside her room, leaving her mother and Fang Yi to worry about her.


    "Feifei must be upset with what happened." Yun Qingrong dropped her purse on the table and flopped down on the couch with a deep sigh.


    "I can''t believe Xiao Li would try to frame Feifei for whatever she has done. What do they take us for? I allowed them to stay here with us because my husband insisted that they needed our help, but look at what they did to my Feifei." She grumbled as she rubbed her temple.


    "I initially suspected that Feifei and Chen Li didn''t get along, but I didn''t expect Chen Li would do something as horrible as this." Uncle Fang agreed with her. Although there weren''t many simrities between Su Xiaofei and Chen Li, he found it weird that the two girls weren''t close to each other, considering they were rted and were of simr age.


    "Aunty Qing, can I go and check on Feifei?" Lu Qingfeng asked, knowing that he cannot just barge into Su Xiaofei''s room like he used to do when they were younger.


    "Please." Yun Qingrong easily gave him her permission. "Feifei might need someone to talk to right now."


    She understood that at a time like this, Feifei would only listen to Lu Qingfeng''s logical reasoning. Their deep bond with each other allowed the young man to understand Su Xiaofei more than anyone else they knew.


    Lu Qingfeng excused himself and headed upstairs to see Su Xiaofei. He wasn''t sure what he was expecting to see as he knocked on her door.


    "Feifei?" He called out, but it took some time for the young woman to respond.


    "You can enter." He heard her voice faintly from the other side of the door. She sounded calm, so Lu Qingfeng released a sigh he didn''t know he was holding.


    Lu Qingfeng turned the doorknob and entered at once, finding her leaning against the rail on the balcony of her room, the afternoon the sun giving her a sun kissed look. There was a forlorn look on her face which he had not seen on her for a long time.


    He sauntered towards her and joined her on the balcony. Su Xiaofei turned her head away, but it was impossible for Lu Qingfeng not to know that she was still bothered by what happened earlier.


    "Are you upset? Or are you not satisfied with today''s results?" He asked bluntly once he took a seat on one of the chairs set up on the balcony, crossing his legs, his eyes never leaving her.


    He saw Su Xiaofei gave him a side nce and hummed, which meant she wasn''t sure how to answer Lu Qingfeng''s question. He continued watching as she kept her back on him, her shoulders shaking as she held her midsection.


    Lu Qingfeng raised a brow as she burst into a round ofughter. He didn''t find anything funny at the moment. However, as Su Xiaofei turned to face him, his eyes slightly widened as he saw that she was crying at the same time.


    "Feifei¡­" He really hated to see her crying. It was like the remaining part of his wicked heart was being squeezed painfully, seeing her like this.


    "Xiao Feng, do you think you still like this Da Jie after witnessing what she has done? Do you think that she''s a bad person like the rest?" She asked with teary eyes.


    Lu Qingfeng''s jaws hardened. It wasn''t like she had chosen to be a viiness in the first ce. If other people hadn''t forced her to y this role to make Ye Mingyu look better in everyone''s eyes in her past life, she would still be the innocent and mischievous, though a little arrogant, Feifei he once knew.


    They took advantage of her weaknesses and cornered her until she had no other choice but to fight back. Didn''t they know that even a rabbit will bite when cornered?


    "No. Why? Are you regretting it now?" Lu Qingfeng questioned her. He gave her a good look, gauging her reaction.


    If Su Xiaofei didn''t do what she did, she would be the one who would be implicated by Chen Li''s wrongdoings. Knowing what could happen to her if she forgave Chen Li, it would be foolish on Su Xiaofei''s part to not do anything to protect herself.


    Su Xiaofei tried to calm down and wipe her tears dry. She couldn''t exin what she was truly feeling at the moment. It was hard to exin theplex emotions that washed through her upon seeing Housekeeper Chen beg on her knees for them to let her daughter off.


    "No. I didn''t regret it." She answered Lu Qingfeng''s question. There''s no way she would regret whatever she did today.


    It would never be enough for her. What Chen Li and her mother just suffered today wasn''tparable to the shame and helplessness she and Yun Qingrong felt in her past life.


    If Chen Li and her mother thought that this was the worst thing that was waiting for them, they were gravely mistaken.. There was more toe, and she would make sure to give Ye Mingyu a little dose of her own medicine, as she was about to experience a feud within her own family.

 Chapter 136 - Losing Myself (2)

    <h4>Chapter 136 - Losing Myself (2)</h4>


    "If you aren''t regretting what you''ve done, what''s the problem then?" Lu Qingfeng continued to ask her. Even though they''ve known each other for a long time, there were times like this, when he couldn''t understand what she was thinking.


    "I''m just thinking¡­ that maybe my hatred towards them is changing me. I don''t want to live my life like this. Is it too much to ask if I want to lead a happy, fulfilling life with my Mama, you and Xi Qian? I''m still young, and yet I have to keep an eye on others in case they are scheming behind my back." She replied.


    If she was reborned without Ye Mingyu and Mo Yuchen in her life, she would absolutely try to live her life to the fullest, without bothering with the schemes and the red gs that awaits her in the future.


    Even now, as Chen Li was facing severalwsuits, Su Xiaofei could barely feel relieved that it wasn''t her in Chen Li''s ce. She wouldn''t have been able to avoid it if she was still the same person she was. She was lucky that she could anticipate possible scenarios and set up precautions along the way. Regardless of the turmoil her enemies suffered, Su Xiaofei was also aware that it woulde with a price on her part. In the future, she would also have to face Ye Mingyu and Mo Yuchen in show business.


    Beneath the glitz and mor of showbiz, as it featured the brightest stars of the generation, there are countless nasty gossips and backstabbing schemes against those fighting to remain standing and relevant in the industry. This only meant that Su Xiaofei only had a few years to enjoy, before she would be subjected to the public eye again.


    "Can''t you do both? Keeping them away from your hair while enjoying your youth? It''s not toote for you to do the things that you want." Lu Qingfeng told her.


    "I know. I just hope I won''t lose myself in deep hatred." She smiled before joining him, taking a seat across him.


    "You were able to avoid cmity in Chen Li''s case. Are you ready for what Ye Mingyu might do to you in the future?"


    Su Xiaofei expected that Ye Mingyu wouldn''t stay idle, doing nothing while her ns failed one after another because of her. Even now, Ye Mingyu might not even be aware that Housekeeper Chen would also me her for what happened to Chen Li.


    "Well, what else can I do? It depends on how she''ll react." She sighed, lifting her head as she stretched her aching legs beneath the table that separated them. She finally felt her exhaustion catching up on her.


    "Stay and join us for dinner." She told Lu Qingfeng as she noticed that the sky was now darkening.


    "Okay." Lu Qingfeng would never decline her invitation. It was only when he was here that he was able to enjoy his meals, as he was always apanied by Su Xiaofei.


    It seemed that Lu Qingfeng wasn''t the only one who would be joining them for dinner, as Uncle Fang was also around. The older man was helping Yun Qingrong and Aunty Liu in the kitchen as they prepared their meal tonight.


    "Mom, Aunty, Xiao Feng will be joining us for dinner. What are you making?" Su Xiaofei asked as she found the three busy in the kitchen.


    "Aunty Qing, do you need help?" Lu Qingfeng politely asked.


    "Oh, no. There''s no need for you to inconvenience yourself, Xiao Feng. You can go and wait with Feifei at the dining table." Yun Qingrong replied before taking a quick taste of the soup she''d been simmering for some time now.


    Su Xiaofei had no choice but to drag Lu Qingfeng with her back to the dining table and waited impatiently as her stomach started growling from hunger.


    "Why are you so eager to help them in the kitchen? It''s not like you can cook at all." She asked Lu Qingfeng, who immediately scoffed at her words.


    "Aren''t you the one to talk, Xiaofei? In the future, when you get married, your husband would have to rely on others for a decent meal because you can''t cook. You can''t possibly serve him instant noodles whenever hees home from a long day at work. Plus, you can''t possibly convince Aunty Liu to live with you."


    Su Xiaofei shot him a scathing re. Lu Qingfeng was reminding her of the disaster she made in the kitchen when they were younger yet again. It was Yun Qingrong''s birthday at that time and Su Xiaofei was twelve when she tried to bake a birthday cake for her mother, only to end up with a charred cake in the oven, leaving a lot of mess for their housekeepers to clean afterwards.


    So what if she was a bad cook? It wasn''t like she intended to burn down their house when it happened back then. As for her future as a wife, she didn''t n to stay at home, waiting for her husband''s return! She would be a busy businesswoman like her mama! As for her husband, he would have no choice but to ept that he married a terrible cook.


    "Arguing again?" Aunty Liu came in with the first dish.


    "It''s Xiao Feng''s fault, Aunty." Su Xiaofei grumbled, kicking the young man''s shin, but Lu Qingfeng avoided it just in time.


    "Why is it my fault now? Weren''t you the one who criticized my cooking skills first?" He countered, looking at the old woman as if Su Xiaofei was the one who wronged him this time.


    Aunty Liuughed and ced the dish on top of the table, before meeting Yun Qingrong midway, taking the tters that contained the fried chicken fillets, which were Su Xiaofei''s favorite.


    "Ohh, Mama, why are we having a feast? Are we celebrating something?" Su Xiaofei asked her mother, fully aware of the contents of the meeting Yun Qingrong and Fang Yi were having when she called earlier.. Bluemedia had just signed a major contract that could make or break thepany.

 Chapter 137 - Taking The Other Path (1)

    <h4>Chapter 137 - Taking The Other Path (1)</h4>


    "En." Yun Qingrong couldn''t help but smile and give Fang Yi a knowing look. "We sealed the deal to produce our very own TV drama." She added.


    Bluemedia used to focus on handling the roles and the careers of their artist and hadn''t ventured into producing any TV drama or films as it was risky. However, they couldn''t deny that it would be profitable if it was done right. Only when Yun Qingrong deemed that thepany had enough resources did she decide to venture into producing TV dramas and films.


    It was a crucial milestone for her mother''spany, as the project for the TV drama was the first one her mother would actually be investing in ever since she founded Bluemedia.


    In Su Xiaofei''s past life, Yun Qingrong spent almost all her time at thepany, barelying home because of this project, indicating how important the project was to her and the wholepany.


    Bluemedia was nning to produce the film adaptation of a popr novel entitled "The Poisonous Concubine". However, it had been hard to find the ideal actors to portray the characters. The lead female protagonist was a viin.


    The preparation of the TV drama had taken a while since the author and their screenwriter took some time to work on the script. In addition, the actors needed to attend workshops and the extras selected to act as the pce maids would need to undergo training for at least six months before they could start the actual filming of the movie.


    However, a few monthster, the actress that was supposed to y the lead role had backed out from the project as she decided to join another historical TV drama with the same concept that Golden Star Entertainment was about to produce.


    And of course, the said actress was no other than Bai Qingyue, Su Xiaofei''s birth mother. Although she was willing to pay the damages, her departure had caused a chaotic situation for the casting crew.


    It was Mo Yuchen''s first project as a director of hispany, and he managed to utilize the sess of their TV drama at the expense of Yun Qingrong and Bluemedia''s loss. The same TV drama they released before "The Poisonous Concubine", was his starting point. It helped to establish him as the sessor of the Mo family with Bai Qingyue winning several acting awards in the process.


    It had been hard for Bluemedia to find the recement for the lead role, as the drama had a lot of dangerous scenes, including jumping into deep cold water during winter and being dressed and portrayed in dirty and shabby clothes in the first few episodes.


    Su Xiaofei knew that there weren''t many actresses who wanted to take the risk of being seen as precarious and as an ugly woman on screen. This was the very reason Ye Mingyu was able to make a name for herself as she willingly epted the same risky roles not only for television, but also for films in their past lives.


    "Congrattions, Aunty Qing! I hope that your TV drama will be sessful." Lu Qingfeng greeted Yun Qingrong, while giving Su Xiaofei a side nce. He knew that her mind was already formting countermeasures to prevent the tragedy that was about to befall her mother''spany.


    Su Xiaofei said that she was worried about losing herself in revenge, but Lu Qingfeng believed that she always knew her limitations and when to take a step back. Now that she wasn''t blinded by her infatuation with Mo Yuchen anymore, it was clear that she was able to see the situation with clearer eyes.


    The elders talked about the TV drama while Su Xiaofei fell silent as she considered her options. She couldn''t make a move yet as Bai Qingyue still hadn''t signed for the lead role yet and there were still a few more months before she backed away from the project. As to how she would help her mother, she needed to establish her desire to follow her footsteps in the entertainment industry.


    "Mama, Xiao Feng has already started his training to seed the Lu Corporation, when would it be my turn?" She asked, attracting everyone''s attention.


    Her mother looked at her with widened eyes, as Yun Qingrong had never thought Su Xiaofei would want to seed her in theirpany.


    "Feifei, didn''t you say you wanted to be an actress? Mama has no issues with that, but why are you suddenly interested in learning the ways of thepany now?" She asked her young daughter.


    "Becausetely I''ve been thinking about what I really want to do in the future. I thought about how Bluemedia is Mama and Uncle Fang''s blood, sweat and tears and how hard you''ve worked to get Bluemedia to where it is today. If I only focused on myself and didn''t seed Mama in thepany, then what kind of future awaits Bluemedia and its employees? I don''t think I want thepany to fall into the hands of other people, knowing that they wouldn''t take care of it as Mama and Uncle did. I might be young now, but in the future, I want to be able to protect thepany both of you started." Su Xiaofei exined with conviction.


    Yun Qingrong looked at her daughter and was moved by her words. Her Feifei had really changed, and now she was starting to consider her future seriously, rather than spending their family''s moneyvishly.


    "Feifei has a point, Qingqing. We both know that we can''t be working at Bluemedia forever, and it''s important to train new blood to continue our legacy. Why don''t you consider her request?" Uncle Fang seemed impressed with Su Xiaofei''s words.


    When Yun Qingrong told him that her daughter had somewhat changed after being hospitalized, he wasn''t sure what to think of it.. However, as he witnessed how calm Su Xiaofei was at the police station, making decisions with logical reasoning and considerations, he believed that the young woman had indeed changed and seemed to have matured overnight, which was a good thing in his opinion.

 Chapter 138 - Taking The Other Path (2)

    <h4>Chapter 138 - Taking The Other Path (2)</h4>


    Yun Qingrong felt that her daughter was still too young to be involved with their business. However, she also understood that the earlier Feifei got used to the ropes of their business, the easier it would be for her when she finally takes over thepany''s management in the future.


    She hadn''t really expected her young daughter to take any interest in running the business, given how Feifei used to fawn over the beautiful celebrities she had met before. Looking at her daughter now, Yun Qingrong suddenly felt that her child had really grown up.


    "Are you sure about this, Feifei?" She asked her daughter.


    "Yes, Mama. I want to be prepared. Xi Qian and I will graduate from high school in a few months'' time, and she already knows what she wants to do, so I guess it''s also time for me to think about my own future."


    Su Xiaofei had already spent a lifetime as an actress, and she didn''t want to do it all over again. It wasn''t like she was a bad actress in her past life. In fact, she managed to be a B-rated actress and a singer at the same time.


    However, since she was reborned, she had realized that it was more exciting to work behind the scenes, knowing every nook and cranny of the showbiz industry. She couldn''t wait to defeat Mo Yuchen and her birth mother at their own game.


    "Okay. If you are really determined, then you maye to thepany with me on weekends so you can start familiarizing yourself. But don''t expect that I will give you a position just yet. It''s enough that you familiarize yourself with how the management works first." Yun Qingrong conceded, knowing that she couldn''t really deny her daughter if her Feifei had already decided to follow in her footsteps.


    Su Xiaofei''s face lit up, and she stood from her seat to give her mother a big hug.


    "Really? Mama is the best! I promise to behave and study hard, so you''ll be proud of me in the future!" She said with glee.


    "Aiya, Feifei knows how to use words to convince her mother. In the future, you can definitely use this ability to win favors and establish connections with others." Uncle Fangughed, seeing the interaction between the mother and daughter pair.


    If Yun Qingrong hadn''t adopted her, Su Xiaofei wasn''t sure what kind of life she would lead growing up in that orphanage. Since she was the one responsible for dragging her mother down with her in their past lives, it was only natural for Su Xiaofei to take responsibility and make sure that it won''t happen again.


    Once they were done with dinner, Su Xiaofei saw Lu Qingfeng out and waited for his ride to arrive.


    "You look busy these days." The young manmented next to her, after making sure that they were out of everyone''s earshot.


    "That can''t be helped. I need to be prepared for what could happen in the future." Su Xiaofei tucked her long hair behind her ear, feeling the night breeze.


    Lu Qingfeng chuckled at that.


    "You know, if I don''t know any better, I would assume you are a irvoyant who could foresee the future." He said, wondering if she would tell him the truth, but pushed the thoughts aside, knowing her personality.


    Su Xiaofei could only smile at that. Although she trusted Lu Qingfeng, she wasn''t ready to disclose the fact that she was reborned, and that she was merely reliving her life for the better.


    "Who knows." She shrugged. "Perhaps the heavens wanted me to live a happy life and are helping me."


    "Just don''t be reckless, Feifei. In fact, if people took a moment to calm down and not get carried away by their emotions, they would realize that they could avoid regrets andmitting mistakes along the way."


    "Oh? When did our Xiao Feng be so mature? You are sounding like an old man more and more each day."


    "An old man? I assure you, I haven''t reached my prime yet, Su Xiaofei." Lu Qingfeng stepped forward, his eyes burning through her.


    Su Xiaofei swallowed an invisible lump in her throat and looked away, aware of the damned blush that was threatening to spread on her face. She couldn''t understand why her heart was constantly beating erratically against her chest whenever Lu Qingfeng looked at her like thistely.


    Was it because she was now aware of his intentions and feelings towards her, or the fact that she had never been confessed to nor chased by another man like this, even in her previous life? She wondered.


    Lu Qingfeng smirked. He didn''t respond, simply moving with ethereal grace to stand next to her and touched the tips of her long hair that now reached her waist.


    The air felt too thick around them and although it was already nighttime, Su Xiaofei felt that the temperature had risen around her. She could almost feel his presence behind her, trapping her. He was so close and if she turned around, Su Xiaofei was sure that she would find him too close to herself.


    And she did.


    The moment she turned her head, her eyes slightly widened, seeing that his face was so close to hers. His hand plucked something from her head and showed her the small bobby pin that she failed to remove earlier.


    "It''s amazing how you could remain oblivious for so long." He chuckled as he ced the bobby pin on her right palm.


    Su Xiaofei wasn''t sure if he was talking about the pin or about his feelings towards him. She could only look at him like a deer in headlights.


    Lu Qingfeng was tempted to lean forward and catch her parted lips in a deep, searing kiss, but decided not to. She still wasn''t ready and he knew it.


    "You''re spacing out." He flicked her forehead again, immediately dispelling the awkwardness between them.


    "Lu Qingfeng!" She hissed in pain and red daggers at him.. This young man really knew what button to push to annoy her.

 Chapter 139 - A Dog Bites Another Dog (1)

    <h4>Chapter 139 - A Dog Bites Another Dog (1)</h4>


    Two days before the founding ball, Su Xiaofei ignored the curious stares she was receiving from other students at the academy. By now, the news about her and Ye Mingyu being invited to the police station had spread around. The news about Ye Mingyu''s cousin stealing Su Xiaofei''s belongings and the case of Chen Li''s counterfeit dress had been known, while the impersonation was left unannounced.


    "Is it true? Ye Mingyu taught her cousin to steal things from Su Xiaofei? She must have been really confident that she would be the young miss of the Su family and rece Su Xiaofei."


    "Heh. No sane and self-respecting wife would allow her husband''s other daughter from another woman to bully her own child in her own home."


    "She must be thinking that once she was introduced to the public as the eldest daughter of the Su family, she would be able to enjoy the perks and benefits of being one. Who would have thought that Su Xiaofei''s mother would pull the divorce card the moment she came out?"


    This was followed by a round ofughter, and it only died down when the group spotted Ye Mingyu walking alone without Feng Xue''er next to her. Unlike Su Xiaofei, it was obvious that Ye Mingyu was bothered about the rumors circting around about her and Chen Li.


    It was known to everyone at the academy that the friendship between Ye Mingyu and Feng Xue''er had been strained ever since the rumors about Ye Mingyu seeing Cai Ling behind her best friend''s back surfaced.


    "Such a pretentious bitch. How long does she n to pretend that she''s innocent?"


    Ye Mingyu had yet to deal with her problem about Feng Xue''er, but Chen Li had already dragged her into another round of mudslinging from her schoolmates. She could only grit her teeth and look away, pretending that she wasn''t bothered by the murmurs about her and her mother.


    This wasn''t supposed to happen. Why was Su Xiaofei far too different from her previous life?


    She had relied on the knowledge of her past life in order to lead a prosperous life this time. So why? Why was Su Xiaofei acting differently from the results of the investigation she ran on her before she came to Qiying City?


    In her previous life, Ye Mingyu wasn''t aware that she had a wealthy father growing up. She had led a poor life with her mother, living on paycheck to paycheck, barely able to keep a roof above their heads. Only after her mother had passed away from cancer, when she was twenty-three, did she find out that her birth father was still alive and was leading a good life with his wife and a daughter they secretly adopted.


    Ye Mingyu harbored so much hatred towards her father for abandoning her and her mother and choosing the wealthy young miss of the Yun family to raise his status in society, turning his back on them in the process. She abhorred being his daughter, and hated that he was willing to take in other people''s child to raise with the luxury that she and her mother should be enjoying.


    She was the real daughter of the Su family, but why was she and Su Xiaofei living very different lives?


    Not only did they adopt a dumb and superficial youngdy, but her father also refused to acknowledge her as his daughter. No matter if it was her past life or now, Ye Mingyu couldn''t fully trust nor rely on her father.


    If he didn''t abandon her and her mother, her mother wouldn''t lose her life to cancer, and she wouldn''t be left to her own devices, deep in debts that she wouldn''t be able to repay no matter how hard she worked.


    Ye Mingyu had been reborned as her five-year-old self after dying from a nasty car ident that killed her in her past life. In an attempt to run away from the loan sharks that were chasing after her, she had crossed the road without noticing an iing car.


    Who would have thought that she would be able to return to her younger years? Did this mean the heavens had given her a chance to change her life for the better?


    At that time, Ye Mingyu, who was trapped in her toddler body, had changed overnight. She became more verbose and smarter than her peers. People around them, including her mother, thought that she was a prodigy. They had no idea that she was able to ace her exams and get ahead of her peers because of her matured mind.


    However, given the chance to live her life again, Ye Mingyu had forced her mother to get in touch with her useless birth father. Because of this, her parents'' had reconciled, allowing Ye Mingyu to lead a better life than her previous one.


    She managed to save herself and her mother from being thrown out on the streets, scavenging trash to find something that they could sell to feed themselves. The more Su Haoran doted on her and her mother, the more Ye Mingyu wanted to have everything Su Xiaofei had.


    She had done what she thought she could do to get rid of Su Xiaofei, but howe none of her ns worked the moment they arrived in Qiying City?


    Ye Mingyu wanted to refute the rumors about her, but was unable to do so. Chen Li had dragged her further down by ming and using her of making false promises.


    Howe it was her fault now? It was Chen Li who couldn''t wait to get what she wanted. If only she had waited until she had securely reced Su Xiaofei''s position, none of these would happen.


    As she took a turn in the hallway leading to their ssroom, she found Feng Xue''er waiting for her outside with a box in her hands.


    "Xue''er!" Ye Mingyu hurriedly went over to her, excited to see the finished dress she was going to wear for the founding ball.

 Chapter 140 - A Dog Bites Another Dog (2)

    <h4>Chapter 140 - A Dog Bites Another Dog (2)</h4>


    Ye Mingyu wasn''t the only one who spotted Feng Xue''er. Since Su Xiaofei''s ssroom was practically next to ss 3-1A, she and Xi Qian were able to see them in the hallway. Lunch break was already over, so most students were on their way back to their ssrooms.


    "Do you think Ye Mingyu was able to convince Feng Xue''er?" Xi Qian asked Su Xiaofei.


    "Just let them be, Qian. We have nothing to do with their feud. Wouldn''t it be better to simply watch how a dog bites another dog?" Su Xiaofei''s lips slightly hooked up.


    "Heh. Feifei is really cruel. How could you treat them like this?"


    Xi Qian snorted. Even though she was previously worried about Su Xiaofei suffering humiliation with the sudden appearance of Ye Mingyu in their lives, she also didn''t like how Ye Mingyu was treating Feng Xue''er.


    "Oh? I didn''t know that Qian is concerned about those two now." Su Xiaofei hummed and rubbed her chin. "Anyway, I can''t wait to see what kind of dress Feng Xue''er made for Ye Mingyu for the founding ball."


    "They''d been bragging about how spectacr the dress would be before their rtionship was put to a test. It''s a pity I wouldn''t be able to see the dress at the founding ball." Xi Qian reasoned out.


    Although Su Xiaofei was willing to lend her party clothes and some jewelry to use, Xi Qian would rather spend the day cleaning and tending to her grandmother''s grave and spend the rest of the day napping.


    "I''ll take some photos for you. Don''t worry." Su Xiaofei assured her as the two entered their ssroom, giving Ye Mingyu and Feng Xue''er onest look with amused smiles on their faces.


    There was no need for Su Xiaofei to watch any longer, as Ye Mingyu would only make a fool of herself by constantly chasing Feng Xue''er like this. No matter what she said to Feng Xue''er, she had already suffered a loss this time.


    Ye Mingyu turned her gaze and spotted Su Xiaofei with a smile on her face, with eyes full of ridicule. This immediately reminded Ye Mingyu of her current predicament due to the misfortune that befell her, one after another.


    For the first time since meeting Su Xiaofei, Ye Mingyu lost control of herself. She really wanted to p Su Xiaofei that very instant. She could only reluctantly suppress her emotions and allow her anger to simmer internally.


    ''Su Xiaofei, there wille a day when you will be lower than me.'' She thought.


    Unlike the harmonious friendship between Su Xiaofei and Xi Qian, Ye Mingyu and Feng Xue''er weren''t on the same page any longer. One was eager to keep her ''best friend'' as her close ally, the other was cursing the so-called friend repeatedly in her heart.


    "Xue''er, why weren''t you answering my calls?" Ye Mingyu asked. She specifically befriended Feng Xue''er because of this woman''s social standing and how Feng Xue''er couldn''t stand Su Xiaofei.


    "I was busy making your dress. Do you think everyone has enough free time like you?" Feng Xue''er sneered.


    Ye Mingyu chewed her lower lip and lowered her head, hiding the hatred that shed in her eyes. She kept reminding herself inwardly that she still needed Feng Xue''er''s assistance.


    However, what Ye Mingyu wasn''t aware of, but Su Xiaofei was, was that Feng Xue''er had a cautious and suspicious temperament, and thus, once her trust had been broken, it was already impossible to mend their connection.


    It was for this very reason that Su Xiaofei had indirectly sent Ye Mingyu to Cai Lin that day, after their confrontation outside the basketball stadium. She had seen the look Cai Lin had the moment his eyes firstnded on Ye Mingyu, so how can she not take advantage of it? Ye Mingyu didn''t even notice that she had willingly stepped into the trap Su Xiaofei had set for her.


    "It''s not like that, Xue''er. I''m just worried because I haven''t heard from you for a week now." She said in a low, calm voice, as opposed to the raging hatred in her heart.


    What was so great about Feng Xue''er? If she wasn''t lucky to be born into a wealthy family, would she be able to act arrogantly in front of her like this? Ye Mingyu thought. She really disliked young misses like Feng Xue''er and Su Xiaofei, who looked down onmoners like her.


    "Then take your dress now. I''ve had enough of it. I spent sleepless nights just to finish it." Feng Xue''er said before passing the box she was holding to Ye Mingyu. "You better give my dress some justice!"


    Ye Mingyu gave her an awkward smile. What was Feng Xue''er so worried about? She was confident with her appearance and body. She was taller and curvier than Su Xiaofei, although one cannot ignore how beautiful thetter was.


    "You don''t need to worry about it, Xue''er. It''s unnecessary." Ye Mingyu replied calmly.


    "Then in that case, I will leave the rest to you."


    After finishing her words, she brushed her arm away and turn around to leave angrily. Just looking at Ye Mingyu''s innocent facade made her want to w her face with her own hands!


    When the bell rang, indicating that the sses were over for that day, Ye Mingyu waited until everyone in their ssroom left before she took a peek inside the box that Feng Xue''er handed to her.


    Her eyes glimmered in delight upon seeing how detailed the bodice of the gown and how silky the material was. The corner of her lips curled up. She couldn''t wait to see Su Xiaofei''s reaction once she realized that she wouldn''t be the most beautiful Fairy Queen of the Night during the founding ball.


    For someone as arrogant and vain as Su Xiaofei, Ye Mingyu expected that the other woman would be coughing blood once everyone saw how different the fake and the real miss were.

 Chapter 141 - First Impression (1)

    <h4>Chapter 141 - First Impression (1)</h4>


    Su Xiaofei had just finished doing her homework with Xi Qian when she received a message from Yun Xiang, requesting to see her after school. She stared at the message for a moment and took a deep breath.


    ''Good grief. Did he really need to show up? I guess it wouldn''t hurt to see him this time.'' She sighed inwardly. She wasn''t one to enjoy her enemies''pany and would prefer to keep their encounter short.


    "What''s wrong, Feifei? Do you still have something left to do?" Xi Qian asked when she noticed that Su Xiaofei wasn''t moving from her seat to leave the ssroom with her.


    "Ah, Brother Xiang just messaged me to meet him. I suppose he wanted to talk to me about the request I made during myst visit." Su Xiaofei replied.


    "Then, will you be fine on your own?" Xi Qian asked, knowing that Su Xiaofei had no one to apany her since she and Lu Qingfreng were busy these days.


    Su Xiaofei smiled and picked up her school bag. She would just need to make sure that her meeting with Yun Xiang would be short, as she intended to return home soon.


    "What''s to worry about, Qian? Brother Xiang is my mother''s nephew. Why do I need to be wary of him?"


    "Well, you''ve only met him recently." Her best friend gave it a good thought. Xi Qian knew that Yun Xiang was her Aunty Qing''s nephew, but there was something about the man that was off in her opinion.


    It was like she could feel that Yun Xiang had something towards Su Xiaofei, but she just couldn''t exin it. Xi Qian only hoped that she was just overthinking and the man wouldn''t pose a threat towards her best in the future.


    "But, I''m notfortable leaving you alone with him." She stated. It wouldn''t hurt to remind Feifei to be careful of people she was acquainted with, whether it was a rtive or family.


    Look, even Su Haoran, Feifei''s father, was indifferent towards her. Xi Qian was a person who had lost her faith in familial ties a long time ago, considering the kind of parents she had. In fact, she trusted Su Xiaofei and Yun Qingrong more than her own family.


    It wasn''t like Su Xiaofei wanted to be left in hispany. She would rather spend her free time trying to annoy Lu Qingfeng than spend her day with Yun Xiang. She still couldn''t forget the enmity she felt towards the man.


    "I''ll be fine." She would need to establish a connection and build her ownwork that could be useful for her in the future, and it didn''t matter where the help woulde from. "Let''s go then, else you would bete."


    As for Yun Xiang''s debt, well, there''s nothing she could do about him in the meantime, other than being amicable with him since he was part of the Yun family.


    Su Xiaofei agreed to meet him in front of the school gates. With Lu Qingfeng busy preparing for middle school inter school basketballpetition and Xi Qian preupied with her part-time work, she was always left to her devices after school.


    Unlike them, she had nothing serious to do, so she used her spare time catching up with the lessons she wasn''t able toprehend before.


    When Su Xiaofei reached the school gates, she wasn''t surprised to see a ck car waiting for her. She saw Yun Xiang leaning against the driver''s door, patiently waiting for her arrival. His face lit up the moment he spotted Su Xiaofei leaving the school premises with Xi Qian, who immediately bid goodbye after giving him a nod in greeting.


    "Xiao Fei!" He raised a hand to get her attention, but she had already spotted him even before he saw her.


    "Brother Xiang." She gave him a curt nod, which made Yun Xiang ufortable, as if Su Xiaofei was keeping him at arm''s length.


    He couldn''t understand. Even if she was only adopted by his Aunty Qing, she was still family. However, it seemed like Su Xiaofei was still not considering him as a rtive. Was it because the Yun family was intimidating?


    Not that he could me her. The Yun family wascking female members, so it was no wonder that when his Aunty Qing was born, the family had doted on her like a treasure. However, with Su Xiaofei, it was only natural for the Yun family to have some reservations about her.


    "Brother Xiang, what brings you here?" Su Xiaofei asked, although she had already suspected that he came here to pass her another invitation to visit the Yun Estate.


    "Ah, you see, my grandfather wants to invite you again this weekend. Would you be able toe and visit us?" He asked straightforwardly.


    Su Xiaofei hummed and rubbed her chin.


    "We have a founding ball on Saturday and I will need to discuss it with Mama before I can agree." She replied.


    "Actually, we''re extending our invitation to Aunty Qing this time. Grandpa and my uncles want to meet her."


    "Oh?" Su Xiaofei eximed as she raised a slender brow. So the old man was now willing to swallow his pride and wee her mother home?


    "I know. I''m also excited to see this reunion." Yun Xiang scratched his head and looked at Su Xiaofei with a slight blush on his face.


    "Alright, I will tell my mother. I''m sure she would be thrilled once she heard the news." She slightly nodded her head in agreement, which made Yun Xiang smile.


    At least seeing her being agreeable and gentle like this felt like he was getting closer to her now. Yun Xiang hoped that their rtionship would grow, as he felt at ease knowing that she was about to be part of their family.


    As they were conversing right outside the academy, it was only natural for them to gain attention, including from Ye Mingyu, who wondered who the man was.

 Chapter 142 - First Impression (2)

    <h4>Chapter 142 - First Impression (2)</h4>


    Seeing their closeness with each other, Ye Mingyu tried to rack her brain, trying to remember who this man was. Based on his appearance, she could tell that he also came from a well-off family. He had this gentleness in his eyes as he looked at Su Xiaofei.


    Who could this person be?


    The man looked exceptional and capable, and she wondered which family he belonged to. It didn''t matter to her if he was already taken, but if she deemed him to be useful, then she should lure him to her side.


    Aside from Lu Qingfeng, she couldn''t remember any other man who was close to Su Xiaofei in her past life. Although she was aware that this crazy woman was head over heels for Mo Yuchen.


    Regardless of who this person was, Ye Mingyu''s eyes glinted with mischief. How could she waste this chance of winning over this man''s favor and snatch him from Su Xiaofei''s hands? No matter if it was her status, her wealth or her men, Ye Mingyu intended to get everything from Su Xiaofei and leave her with nothing.


    The corner of her lips lifted as she walked towards Su Xiaofei, intending to ruin thetter''s image in front of this man. Her face immediately changed into one who seemed to be wronged by others as she called out Su Xiaofei''s name.


    "Su Xiaofei, do you have a moment?" Her face had a hint of uneasiness on it as her lips quivered while looking at Su Xiaofei''s face through her thickshes.


    Su Xiaofei and Yun Xiang turned their heads and looked at her with different expressions on their faces. Yun Xiang furrowed his brows, wondering who this young woman was and what she needed from Su Xiaofei, while thetter only gave Ye Mingyu a cold look, knowing what this woman was up to.


    ''Ye Mingyu, you are still the same. You couldn''t wait to ruin my reputation in front of everyone. s, let''s see if you would be able to ensnare Yun Xiang this time.''


    "Is there something you require from me, Miss Ye?" She asked Ye Mingyu, not giving the woman any face as she uttered those words with a very annoyed tone.


    Ye Mingyu slightly shivered, not understanding how and when this dumb woman started to grow some backbone to speak like this. She expected Su Xiaofei to be arrogant, but there was something noble andposed about the way Su Xiaofei spoke these days, that she was starting to wonder if this woman was also reborned like her.


    No ¡ª her mind immediately turned down the possibility. In her past life, Su Xiaofei led a prosperous life until her sudden death, five years after her marriage with Mo Yuchen. Su Xiaofei wouldn''t have known that she existed in their previous lives.


    However, as Ye Mingyu stared at Su Xiaofei''s dark eyes, she felt like she was being devoured by darkness and coldness.


    "I-I want to talk about Xiao Li''s offence. Can you help her just this once and let her off? I think she''s too young to spend her years at the correctional facility."


    A smile ghosted on Su Xiaofei''s lips. Ye Mingyu might be talking about Chen Li, but she was subtly implying that it was her fault that Chen Li was about to serve her years at the correctional facility, because she wasn''t willing to help her.


    But why would Su Xiaofei feel guilty about Chen Li''s demise? She had known the damage Chen Li would bring to her in the future. She was merely cutting the bud from its stem before it bloomed.


    "Hmm? Why would I help Chen Li? Miss Ye must be forgetting that Chen Li and her family have been kicked out of our household because she stole things from me. Also, why should I be kind to her? She used my name and impersonated me in public. Had she offended many people, wouldn''t the me fall on me instead?" She reasoned out, her voice was calm and imposing at the same time.


    Ye Mingyu opened her mouth to argue, but Su Xiaofei stopped her.


    "Just recently, you imed that I am your little sister, Miss Ye. So why did you not ask what I felt about Chen Li''s betrayal? She used a counterfeit dress, used my name and pushed the me on me when she was caught. Is it because you are closer to our cousin and would rather side with her no matter how badly she wronged me?"


    By these words, Su Xiaofei had indirectly indicated Ye Mingyu''s identity to Yun Xiang. He should know by now who''s the pitiful, two-faced young woman in front of them. Su Xiaofei would like to see how Yun Xiang would perceive Ye Mingyu on their first encounter, considering that she had managed to dy their meeting when she saved Master Ouyang''s life instead of Ye Mingyu.


    Hearing what Su Xiaofei just said, Yun Xiang''s expression turned ugly. His eyes narrowed on Ye Mingyu suspiciously. So this was the other daughter of Su Haoran, that bastard. Now that he had met his biao mei1 and Aunty Qing, it was obvious that he would take their side rather than believe the daughter of the mistress.


    ''Ye Mingyu, in this lifetime, do you think I would allow you to get anything that you want just because you want it? Do you know how important first impressions are when making a connection with other people?'' Su Xiaofei thought when she saw the disgust and irritation in Yun Xiang''s eyes.


    "Since it was your cousin''s fault, why do our Xiaofei need to carry the burden of her wrongdoings? Stealing things from Xiao Fei could be forgiven, but Miss, do you have any idea how grave the offenses of being caught with a counterfeit item and identity theft are? Those aren''t offences that could easily be shrugged off by saying sorry." Yun Xiang said as he thought how shameless this young woman was like her father.

 Chapter 143 - Face The Consequence (1)

    <h4>Chapter 143 - Face The Consequence (1)</h4>


    When one decides to bet, one must ept the possibility of losing. This was what Su Xiaofei was thinking as she observed the encounter between Yun Xiang and Ye Mingyu. In the past, Yun Xiang had humiliated her the same way he was currently humiliating Ye Mingyu.


    In her previous life, Yun Xiang was one of Ye Mingyu''s biggest supporters. Because he was head over heels for this woman, he was willing to take a bullet to protect her life. However, Su Xiaofei would never allow that to happen again. She intended to use Yun Xiang against Ye Mingyu in this lifetime.


    "That isn''t my intention." Ye Mingyu said with teary eyes. "I just want Xiao Li and my meimei to keep misunderstanding each other like this." She reasoned out.


    "Miss Ye, there''s nothing to misunderstand here." Su Xiaofei gave her a pointed look. "Chen Li willingly did what she wanted at my expense. She should be thankful that we let her off the hook the first time. If she had done the same thing using your name, I hope you can pretend that it didn''t concern you."


    "Then¡­ won''t you help her?"


    Su Xiaofei stared at Ye Mingyu as if this young woman had truly lost her mind, or was she really this shameless? She wanted tough at Ye Mingyu''s audacity, but she managed to control herself.


    "And why would I do that?" She countered. "Miss Ye must be thinking that just because my mother has an influential family, we can bend the rules and thew in our favor."


    Yun Xiang''s face darkened when he heard that. As if the Yun family would ever do something as despicable as that. The Yun family prided themselves asw-abiding citizens of this country and refused to participate in any injustice. Even if Su Xiaofei was the one in Chen Li''s ce, the Yun family would rather not have anything to do with her.


    "That''s impossible." He muttered beside Su Xiaofei.


    "We aren''t that powerful, Miss Ye. Even if Chen Li is my Mama''s niece, she wouldn''t interfere with thew. Please seek apetentwyer instead. Who knows, maybe he will be able to reduce Chen Li''s sentence." Su Xiaofei lightly said. However, there was an inexplicable coldness in her tone.


    Su Xiaofei''s words were meant to deliberately pull Ye Mingyu''s face down, but thetter wouldn''t dare to show it to anyone. If someone would lose her cool, it would be Su Xiaofei, not her. Because every time Su Xiaofei made a fool out of herself, Ye Mingyu would shine brighter.


    Since her rebirth, many people considered her as a schrly and well-mannered child. It was for this reason that she was able to avoid the same poor life that she and her mother had lived in her past life. By bing a prominent and outstanding figure in her ss, many young men pursued her, willing to give her the moon and the stars, as long as she would be pleased with them.


    For a long time, she tried to cultivate and preserve her gentle image and talented reputation in public. She wasn''t as stupid as these youngsters, who only knew how to chase after their puppy love. Who cared about the feelings of those young men pursuing her? The only thing that mattered to Ye Mingyu was what they could provide for her.


    As for Su Xiaofei, she had naturally saved up enough money to hire someone to investigate this lowly woman. How dare Su Xiaofei covet what was truly hers?


    Su Xiaofei''s grades in school were pathetic and if it wasn''t for Xi Qian and Lu Qingfeng, she would have failed and been expelled from school. She was also stupid and wasn''t articte when speaking with others.


    But the Su Xiaofei standing in front of her now seemed to be far different from the Su Xiaofei she investigated. Ye Mingyu tried to seek answers for this sudden change in Su Xiaofei and she had heard about Su Xiaofei''s life-threatening situation with Xi Qian, which might have triggered her change.


    Still, for Ye Mingyu, the calmer Su Xiaofei was the more unsettled she became, as she somehow wanted Su Xiaofei to lose her temper and attack her. She was also baffled that Su Xiaofei managed to escape from being implicated by Chen Li''s scheme.


    Chen Li had insisted that the counterfeit dress she had was the one she took from Su Xiaofei''s wardrobe, but no one was willing to believe her ims due to Su Xiaofei''s status. There was no reason for Su Xiaofei to possess a counterfeit dress, unless of course, if she had deliberately set Chen Li up, knowing that this would happen.


    Ye Mingyu didn''t believe that Su Xiaofei was capable of it. A stupid woman like her coudn''t n a scheme as intricate as this.


    If Su Xiaofei knew what was going on in Ye Mingyu''s head, she might have agreed with her. However, that was all in the past, and she wasn''t willing to be Ye Mingyu''s backdrop for a second time.


    "Su Xiaofei, how could you say that? Chen Li is still our cousin¡­" Ye Mingyu couldn''t help but try to paint Su Xiaofei as an unreasonable and vicious person in front of this young master. In any case, now that Su Xiaofei has be smarter, she mustn''t take her lightly at all.


    Su Xiaofei stared at Ye Mingyu for a moment, heaved a deep sign and gave Yun Xiang a helpless look. She really didn''t want to deal with Ye Mingyu anymore.


    Yun Xiang looked at the other young woman opposite him, with eyes full of disbelief. It didn''t make sense to him why Su Xiaofei should feel guilty for whatever that had happened to Chen Li.


    "Miss Ye, if you have nothing important to say, just leave. Don''t bother Xiao Fei with trivial things such as others'' wrongdoings.. Since Chen Li had the guts tomit a crime, she should be ready to face the consequences."

 Chapter 144 - Face The Consequence (2)

    <h4>Chapter 144 - Face The Consequence (2)</h4>


    It was Saturday afternoon and Lu Qingfeng had dropped by to see Su Xiaofei before they left together to attend the founding ball. He found Su Xiaofei in the garden, having afternoon tea alone while reading a book.


    Su Xiaofei lifted her gaze from the book she was reading and smiled upon seeing him.


    "You are early today. What brings you here? I thought you would just pick me upter." She asked, her voice serene with an unexpected hint of happiness in it.


    "Did something good happen? You and Aunty Qing seem to be in a good mood today." Lu Qingfeng replied as he took a seat across from her.


    Ever since her rebirth, he could sense that she was bing calmer and gentler, although her words still retained its incisive and merciless tone when dealing with her enemies.


    At least now, Su Xiaofei seemed to be happier than their previous lives, when she would always argue with Yun Qingrong and would constantly chase after that bastard Mo Yuchen at every chance.


    Lu Qingfeng thought that this was better. He would never want to see her suffer again because of others. While it was true that there were scars a person had to bear for the rest of his life, one shouldn''t forget how strong the person was for oveing the hurt it brought.


    He wanted her to slowly release the hatred she was caging in her heart, but he also knew that it wouldn''t be that easy. After everything she had suffered and lost in her past life, it wouldn''t be easy for Su Xiaofei to let go of her resentments and anger.


    "Ah, that''s because Mama will be visiting her family with me tomorrow. She''s busy preparing what we would bring. No doubt she''s excited about it." Su Xiaofei hummed as she turned to the next page in the book. She had never seen her mother this happy.


    "Is that why you were spotted with Yun Xiang the other day?" He asked. He regretted that he wasn''t able to apany Su Xiaofei that day and chase away that man who had repeatedly humiliated her in the past.


    "Oh? I didn''t know that such news would circte this fast." She replied. Su Xiaofei rarely checked the school forums, but she supposed she should start paying attention to how others viewed her and Ye Mingyu now.


    Lu Qingfeng frowned and didn''t bother to exin how he knew. The news of course had recently filled the school''s forum. Everyone was wondering whom Su Xiaofei had met the other day. Many had spected that her betrothal to Mo Yuchen was true and that she was being pursued by another rich young master.


    It was only when he named Yun Xiang as Su Xiaofei''s maternal cousin did the rumors die about her affair with another man. Of course Lu Qingfeng would use a pseudonym to deal with the rumors that could potentially ruin Su Xiaofei''s reputation.


    Even in their past lives, no matter how shameful or reckless the issue was, Lu Qingfeng would work in the shadows to make sure that those libelous articles and news were buried where the sun didn''t shine, even when she was married to Mo Yuchen. He would never allow anyone to call her names nor use her of something she didn''t do.


    "I suppose you''re ready for tonight''s ball?" He said, hoping to drop their topic about Yun Xiang. He wasn''t sure what Su Xiaofei was nning to do with Yun Xiang, so he couldn''t make any move towards the man yet.


    "Hmm¡­ the dress is ready, and it''s not like I need to put on a lot of makeup. Aunty Liu said that she would do my hair, so I don''t need to call for a hairstylist." Su Xiaofei said, not breaking her attention from the book she was reading.


    "It''s surprising to hear that you aren''t spending your moneyvishly this time." She heard Lu Qingfeng say.


    Su Xiaofei frowned as she was reminded of the one hundred million she had yet started to earn. At the rate she was going, she wouldn''t be able to raise enough funds to save Bluemedia from Mo Yuchen.


    "I''m saving money to invest. I can''t just waste my Mama''s hard-earned money." She muttered.


    "You want to invest?" Lu Qingfeng raised a slender brow. "I just invested the one million Grandpa gave me from myst birthday. Would you like some help?"


    Su Xiaofei almost dropped her book upon hearing that. Lu Qingfeng was only fifteen at the moment, but he was already given that much money?


    ''It must be nice to be born with a golden spoon. Even this olddy would take some time to earn that much money from acting alone."


    The only reason she was attending the founding ball was to witness the result of Feng Xue''er''s displeasure towards Ye Mingyu. After the rumors of Ye Mingyu''s backstabbing incident broke out, it seemed like Cai Lin had started to publicly pursue her after he requested his family to annul his engagement with Feng Xue''er.


    Knowing that her best friend had stolen her man, someone as petty as Feng Xue''er would definitely not allow Ye Mingyu to have a smooth sailing stay here in the academy. This was precisely how Su Xiaofei exploited Feng Xue''er''s weaknesses.


    In the future, even if Feng Xue''er managed to make a name for herself without relying on Ye Mingyu''s beautiful face, her hatred towards thetter wouldn''t dissipate. The enmity between the ex-best friends wouldn''t be easy to mend, given how stubborn Feng Xue''er could be.


    Even at this time, Su Xiaofei had no doubt that no matter what excuses Ye Mingyu spouted, Feng Xue''er would believe that she was the one who seduced Cai Lin, and it would never be his fault.


    The corner of Su Xiaofei''s lips curled up.. She wasn''t sure what to expect tonight, but the ball would surely allow everyone to see the difference between her and Ye Mingyu.

 Chapter 145 - Odette And Odile (1)

    <h4>Chapter 145 - Odette And Odile (1)</h4>


    Su Xiaofei stood in front of a full-length mirror. This was already the eighth party dress she had tried on. Because she had gotten used to dressing herself up in her past life as an actress, she thought that it wouldn''t be a problem for her to choose the right dress. How wrong she was.


    She hadn''t expected that she would gain a lot of weight over this short span of time. This white and pink dress was something she had bought for herself a week before Xi Qian''s birthday, and before she was reborned, but now, it was unexpectedly tight.


    She lowered her gaze and looked at her midsection. Ever since she was reborned, she had started eating more than usual and had never starved herself. Aunty Liu and Lu Qingfeng would make sure that she ate various delicious foods every day, not realizing that she had eaten until she had gained two pounds in just one month.


    Now, her original sharp chin was a little rounded, but at least it didn''t make her face rounder, otherwise, she''d look like a steamed bun. However, Su Xiaofei honestly thought that she looked healthierpared to the thin and sharp face she used to have in her previous life.


    It seemed like it was okay for her to retain this weight, but not to add more. Forget it. Since she had decided to eat more, she should have expected this to happen. She also wasn''t willing to give up her new love for food anyway.


    Su Xiaofei pulled out another formal dress from her wardrobe, and it was a purple dress that reached her upper knee with a ck halter-neck. She groaned as she changed into yet another piece. She kinda envied Lu Qingfeng right now. Being a male seemed more convenient. He just needed to wear a suit and didn''t need to worry about what to wear.


    An hourter, she went down the stairs and found Lu Qingfeng already dressed, waiting for her with her mother in the living area. Lu Qingfeng casted his eyes upwards to the descending, his eyes widening in surprise, jaws cking, seeing her looking more beautiful than usual. It wasn''t like he hadn''t seen her like this in their previous life, but those were only through magazines and television.


    She was breathtaking and thankfully, he would be the one who would apany her for the night. If it was another man, Lu Qingfeng was sure he would be drowning in vinegar, wanting to be on Su Xiaofei''s side.


    "Feifei, that looks so good on you." Yun Qingrongmented upon seeing her daughter''s appearance. She rarely saw her daughter dressing up for a formal event and now that she was starting to act more mature, the old woman felt that it wouldn''t take long before her baby would leave the nest.


    "Thanks, Mama. But I''ll give the credit to you. You bought such a wonderful dress, appropriate for tonight''s event."


    Well, most of her clothes were bought by Yun Qingrong anyway. This was why Su Xiaofei never bothered to go shopping for a new dress. She was still irked about the one hundred million she had yet to start earning.


    Su Xiaofei''s ck and purple dress hugged her body perfectly, the skirt billowing slightly. The color of her dress paired with her light makeupplimented her pale skin as her dark hair cascaded down her back, framing her face inrge loose waves that were curled at the tips.


    Her delicate feet touched the floor, the high heels of her shoes making a clicking sound as she walked towards her escort, with a slight blush on her face.


    "How do I look?" Su Xiaofei asked nervously, her eyes meeting his enthralled gaze.


    If she could be perfectly honest, she was a little shy in front of Lu Qingfeng. Ever since she became aware of his feelings towards her, she couldn''t help but notice him more and more each day.


    Lu Qingfeng blinked a few times before he managed to pull himself together. His jaws hardened as he shook his head to bring himself back to his senses.


    "You are breathtakingly beautiful tonight." He didn''t dare to lie as he took one of her hands in his, raising it to his lips to ce a gentle kiss on her knuckles. An act that made Su Xiaofei blush even more than she already had.


    "T-thank you." Su Xiaofei mumbled, feeling like a teenager who wasplemented by her crush.


    ''Damn it, Su Xiaofei. You''re already a grown woman. Stop acting like a silly school girl.'' She berated herself inwardly.


    "Shall we go then?" Lu Qingfeng asked, as he walked around to stand beside her, offering his right arm in the process.


    "Wait!" Yun Qingrong eximed, stopping the two from leaving. She pulled out her phone and opened the camera app, intending to snap some pictures of them.


    "Let me take some of your pictures. It''s been a while since you two dressed up like this."


    Which was true. With her busy schedule at work, Yun Qingrong couldn''t remember thest time she saw her daughter and Xiao Feng dressed like this.


    Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng posed and allowed the older woman to take several shots before Yun Qingrong let them leave.


    Lu Qingfeng gave Su Xiaofei a questioning look, but Su Xiaofei only shrugged. As long as her mother was satisfied and happy, then it didn''t matter what she requested from her. Yun Qingrong was more emotional these days, but she used to be hard to read for Su Xiaofei in her past life.


    After getting ready and bidding goodbye to Yun Qingrong and Aunty Liu, the two set out. Tonight, the founding ball of Qiying City Academy will be held at one of the five-star hotels in the city.. Most of the students would obviously attend, as this was one of the rare times they could show off their family''s wealth and influence to the other attendees of the ball.

 Chapter 146 - Odette And Odile (2)

    <h4>Chapter 146 - Odette And Odile (2)</h4>


    When they arrived, they saw that many people had already arrived at the venue. People in decadent outfits were chatting in groups, talking in low voices appropriate for their social status. Those who weren''t as wealthy and significant tried to make acquaintances and connections as they conversed lively regarding mundane current affairs in Qiying City.


    The students attending the ball were required to wear a brooch that signified their year level, which meant that Su Xiaofei and Ye Mingyu should have a rose brooch on their dresses. This would help the staff and waiters to identify those who are of age and would be allowed to have alcoholic drinks, which means only those with rose brooches on their clothes would be entertained if they ask for a drink.


    When the other guests saw Su Xiaofei arriving with Lu Qingfeng, some came to greet her. Some girls tried to get close to Su Xiaofei, hoping that they would be able to ask her a favor once they all graduated from the academy. Still, there were still some that would only sneer upon seeing her, not willing to even get close to her.


    "Schoolmate Su is getting more and more beautiful each day. I dare say that she might be crowned as the Queen Fairy of the Night this year."


    "Oh my goodness, you look stunning tonight!"


    "The same goes to you." Su Xiaofei''s right eye winked.


    "Right. This formal dress is particrly stunning. Which brand is it from?"


    "Ah, I didn''t check the tag, but my mother bought this a long time ago."


    Despite the tedious talks she was entertaining, she kept a slight smile on her face without showing any hint of boredom. It was only when Lu Qingfeng dragged her away, did Su Xiaofei sigh in relief.


    Her eyes swept around the crowd, and she could neither see Ye Mingyu and Feng Xue''er anywhere. There was no way those two would miss being here tonight.


    Suddenly, there were murmurs in the crowd as someone arrived and entered the banquet hall. Su Xiaofei released Lu Qingfeng''s arm and took a champagne flute from a passing waiter, her eyes never leaving the entrance.


    "Who is it?" She heard Lu Qingfeng ask, but she didn''t need to answer because he was able to see it himself.


    Ye Mingyu arrived, dressed in a pristine white princess dress, with Cai Lin as her partner. This was enough to erupt another round of gossiping amongst the students of the academy. Still, Feng Xue''er was nowhere to be found.


    In Su Xiaofei''s opinion, the dress Ye Mingyu was wearing tonight looked remarkable, but itcked elegance and originality. In fact,pared to the original dress Ye Mingyu wore in her previous life, Su Xiaofei deemed that Ye Mingyu''s dress tonight was inferior.


    The color scheme and details looked in, as if it was intentionally half done by Feng Xue''er. The dress was able to emphasize Ye Mingyu''s slender waist, while her long skirt was designed to be billowing as much as possible.


    It didn''t look heavy, butpared to Feng Xue''er''s original masterpiece, this one couldn''t hold a candle. There was no way Ye Mingyu would be able to win the title ''Queen Fairy of the Night'' in that half-made dress.


    So it wasn''t really surprising when some vicious young misses started to criticize her.


    "Oh my, look at her dress. Is she really serious about wearing such a dress here? Did she think she''s now a disney princess just because she managed to snatch Cai Lin from her own friend?"


    "Heh. She really wore a white dress. Is this really Su Xiaofei''s Da Jie? Is Ye Mingyu trying to portray herself as a princess or a fairy in such an outfit?"


    "Well, now that you''ve mentioned it, Su Xiaofei''s dress isn''t as shy as Ye Mingyu, but it''s dark color scheme reallypliments herplexion."


    "Hmm¡­ these two look like Odette and Odile. One is trying to be innocent, sweet and guileless, while the other one is shamelessly bewitching and proud. If I were to choose who looked better tonight, I''ll say I prefer Su Xiaofei. Her outfit simple, straightforward and elegant at the same time. Ye Mingyu is trying to portray an innocent and delicate look while Su Xiaofei looked stunning being dark and sensual. Who would have thought that a haughty missy like Su Xiaofei would be able to change like this?"


    Perhaps it was Ye Mingyu''s first time wearing such a dress, she beamed a wide smile, as if she had no doubt she would be crowned as the most beautiful one tonight. The gold and white number, with a slight corset and a massive skirt, swished around as she walked around happily with Cai Lin as if Feng Xue''er didn''t exist for her.


    However, the smile on her face didn''tst long. It seemed like she was finally aware that people were whispering about her, as her expression darkened into one filled with displeasure as she gripped her skirt.


    ''Is this how you n to seek revenge, Feng Xue''er? Now that Cai Lin is willing to get rid of you, you couldn''t wait to cause Ye Mingyu''s fall?'' Su Xiaofei smirked and hid her evil smile behind her ss, not knowing Lu Qingfeng was watching her.


    "Xiao Feng, don''t you need to go and greet your ssmates?" She asked when she noticed that Lu Qingfeng remained next to her.


    "Hn. they''ll be fine without me. I''m not sure about you, though. What have you done this time?"? Lu Qingfeng narrowed his eyes suspiciously on her.


    "Hey! What made you think I did something? Can''t you have some faith in me?" Su Xiaofei countered, feigning offence.


    "Su Xiaofei not scheming against others is indeed a suspicious one. Since Feng Xue''er had been breathing down your neck and Ye Mingyu kept on obstructing your way, would our Xiaofei really let them off the hook easily?" He pointed out.


    Su Xiaofei scoffed at that and finished her drink.. Since Lu Qingfeng had practically saw through her.

 Chapter 147 - Feng Yumeng (1)

    <h4>Chapter 147 - Feng Yumeng (1)</h4>


    Su Xiaofei wasn''t the only one who had been paying attention to Ye Mingyu. In fact, Feng Xue''er''s cousin, Feng Yumeng was also at the ball, ring daggers at Ye Mingyu. Feng Xue''er and Feng Yumeng grew up together and although people asionally see them argue with each other, their bond was as good as real siblings.


    When Ye Mingyu first came to QCA and befriended Feng Xue''er, the cousins rarely saw nor talked to each other. It was okay for Feng Yumeng because she knew how hard it was for Feng Xue''er to connect with anyone, thus, she supported her cousin in befriending the neer.


    However, who would have thought that Ye Mingyu would betray her cousin in just over a month after they met each other? Feng Xue''er had been preupied with making the dress that was inspired by her new muse, not knowing that Ye Mingyu was meeting Cai Lin behind her back.


    When the rumors about the two started circting around the academy, Feng Yumeng confronted her cousin.


    "That''s absurd, Xiao Meng. Yu''er doesn''t even know Cai Lin." Feng Xue''erughed, but it was obvious to Feng Yumeng that she was putting up a strong front.


    "But Xue''er, I have also seen them meeting behind the basketball stadium during lunchbreak. At first, I thought you asked Ye Mingyu for a favor to deliver something to Cai Lin, but the second and third time, I knew then that Ye Mingyu is meeting him at will."


    Feng Xue''er''s face changed after that, but she refused toment on it. There was no reason for Feng Yumeng to lie to her. She had known her cousin since they were young and indeed, Ye Mingyu looked suspicioustely. But Feng Xue''er thought that she was just worried about Su Xiaofei again.


    When Cai Lin left Ye Mingyu to greet his other acquaintances, Su Xiaofei was talking to one of Xi Qian''s friends from another ss who was looking for her.


    "Oh, don''t apologize, Schoolmate Su. I was kinda expecting that Xi Qian wouldn''t be here tonight. She really doesn''t like attending events like this. Even when I invited her to my birthday party, she had politely declined." The other young woman smiled.


    It was at this moment that Ye Mingyu turned around, and her eyes lit up upon seeing Su Xiaofei. She sauntered towards Su Xiaofei and called her name.


    "Miss Ye, you keep on seeking me these days. I hope you''re not nning to waste my time again and actually have something important to tell me this time." Su Xiaofei gave her a head to toe look.


    "Wow, your dress looks good. It must have cost you a fortune." She added with mockery in her tone.


    "Also, Schoolmate Ye. It''s rude to intrude. Miss Su and I are in the middle of a conversation."


    The other young misses eavesdropping on their conversation snickered. Who amongst them hadn''t heard that this dress came from Feng Xue''er herself.


    Ye Mingyu was taken aback. She hadn''t said anything and yet Su Xiaofei had already turned her down.


    "She''s really something. Isn''t it obvious that Su Xiaofei doesn''t want to have anything to do with her? Why does she keep on bugging her?"


    "Perhaps it wasn''t enough for Ye Mingyu to ruin the marriage of Su Xiaofei''s parents."


    "Shameless, and now she has also targeted Feng Xue''er."


    "She seduced Cai Lin and deliberately used Feng Xue''er. That''s really disturbing."


    "We shouldn''t be surprised, considering the kind of mother has."


    Their ill-intentionedughter reached Ye Mingyu''s ears, and her face burned with shame. It only made her envy and despise Su Xiaofei more. She could see the ridicule in those young women''s eyes, and she couldn''t understand why they were standing up for Su Xiaofei when it''s clear that she was a horrible and arrogant person.


    But what she didn''t know was that these young women didn''t care one bit about Su Xiaofei, but naturally hated illegitimate children like Ye Mingyu. For these young women, their existence was a threat to their position in their family and their chance of inheritance.


    Ye Mingyu decided to ignore them.


    "Miss Su, can we talk? I have something to say to you." She then nced at Su Xiaofei''spanion, "in private, if it''s possible."


    "If you have something to say, you can say it here. As you can see, I''m quite busy right now." Su Xiaofei refused to ept her request.


    What? Ye Mingyu can''t tolerate being criticized in public now? Su Xiaofei inwardly scoffed. Perhaps it might be because of Ye Mingyu''s inexperience, or Su Xiaofei was just too dumb to have easily fallen for Ye Mingyu''s tricks in her past life.


    "You''re too cruel. How could you say such things to your own sister?" Ye Mingyu''s eyes brimmed with tears as she looked at Su Xiaofei. She sped her hands and slightly trembled, behaving as if she was being harassed by Su Xiaofei.


    For some attendees, it might look like Su Xiaofei was the one who wronged Ye Mingyu, but for the young women around them, it only made them annoyed with Ye Mingyu''s acting. Seeing her like this, they all hated her even more and gritted their teeth.


    "Such a two-faced witch! In front of young men, she''s gentle and delicate, but when ites to us... Ye Mingyu really knows how to y her cards well." Someone pointed out.


    Su Xiaofei didn''t dare to give Ye Mingyu a face and allowed their other schoolmates to criticize her. She lowered her head and concealed the loath in her eyes.


    ''Ye Mingyu, how does it feel being the one hated by everyone? In the past, I was the one who kept trying to create trouble for you, but I was only shooting my own foot back then. This time, the one who''ll be making a fool out of herself would be you and not me.. So you better be ready for more in the future."

 Chapter 148 - Feng Yumeng (2)

    <h4>Chapter 148 - Feng Yumeng (2)</h4>


    When Feng Yumeng overheard Ye Mingyu''s argument with Su Xiaofei and the other women, she immediately went to confront that shameless woman herself. Su Xiaofei had spotted hering their way and her lips curled into a slight smile.


    "So you are really my Da Jie? What do you expect me to do then? Do you want me to wee you with open arms and hold a wee party for you? s, even if I did hold one, you can''t possibly wear this expensive dress you are wearing, right? Young Misses shouldn''t repeat their clothes." Su Xiaofei said, indicating that even if Ye Mingyu proved that she was the eldest miss of the Su family, she still had nothingpared to her.


    "Oh, or perhaps you would befriend yet another innocent woman and steal her fianc¨¦ in the process." She snickered, while Ye Mingyu''s face nched upon hearing it and the other women''s ears perked up when Su Xiaofei raised this issue.


    They all wanted to know what kind of lies Ye Mingyu would spout this time, considering there had been a lot of pictures online showing her intimate she was with Cai Lin.


    "I-I didn''t do such a thing! Why would I steal a friend''s fianc¨¦? That''s ridiculous!" Ye Mingyu blurted out.


    Su Xiaofei hummed and looked at her with a pair of chilling eyes. When Ye Mingyu seduced her husband, Mo Yuchen, this good sister of hers had no qualms about it in her past life. Instead, Ye Mingyu deemed it as an achievement as she bragged about how foolish Su Xiaofei was.


    "So it''s not my Da Jie''s fault?" Su Xiaofei was referring to her as her sister with a mocking tone. "Right. How could it be your fault that Cai Lin fell in love with you. When you look so pretty like this, perhaps it is just natural for men to fall for your charm."


    It might sound like Su Xiaofei was praising Ye Mingyu''s beauty, but in actual fact, she was telling Ye Mingyu that because of her recklessness in getting along well with so many young men, she would also naturally attract the scorn of those young women who had been ignored by their crushes because of Ye Mingyu.


    "I-It''s nothing like that!" Ye Mingyu murmured, hoping someone would stand up for her and protect her. "Cai Lin is just a friend."


    "May I ask what kind of friend he is, then? You always bring him something to eat for lunch,ugh at his corny jokes and even go on dates in public during weekends. While you wereughing and enjoying Cai Lin''spany, do you have any idea how difficult it was for Xue''er to stay calm?"


    Su Xiaofei nced at Feng Yumeng who joined their little group, giving Ye Mingyu a piece of her mind. She really didn''t need to do much against Ye Mingyu, aside from setting up circumstances that would show how ckhearted this beautiful fairy was.


    "W-what do you mean by that, Yumeng?" Ye Mingyu was startled to find Feng Yumeng here. Of course she knew who Feng Yumeng was and how close she was with her cousin. She had also met her a couple of times before.


    "Yumeng? Since when have we be so close that you dare to call me by my given name, Miss Ye?" Feng Xue''er''s cousin sneered at her.


    Feng Yumeng was normally calm and soft-spoken, contrasting Feng Xue''er, but she also had her limits and would not sit back if and when she was being wronged by others. She red at Ye Mingyu with a chilly pair of eyes, as if she was reining her anger, but also itching to give Ye Mingyu a good beating. She really felt like Ye Mingyu had used her cousin and had betrayed Feng Xue''er in the end.


    "You showed up tonight clinging on Cai Lin''s arm. What else could this mean? Three days ago, he sent a proposal to annul his engagement with Xue''er. How could you be innocent when it turned out like this? Xue''er may have said it was fine, but it''s not really fine for the rest of the Feng family! Because of you, the Cai family offended us! If you have any remaining sense of shame, Miss Ye, please stay away from Xue''er!"


    "N-no¡­ this is all just a misunderstanding, Miss Feng. Please believe me!"


    "Misunderstanding? What is there to misunderstand? Even if you say that you aren''t in a rtionship with Cai Lin, it doesn''t mean he feels the same. The fact that he wants to annul his engagement with Xue''er only means that he wants to pursue you! Do you even know what people were saying about Xue''er because of you? She couldn''t even be here because she has been crying non stop ever since we were notified of the annulment of their engagement!"


    "En, I think Miss Feng''s words are right and make a lot of sense. If Cai Lin doesn''t have feelings for Ye Mingyu, he won''t try to get rid of Feng Xue''er."


    "When Chen Li stole from me and impersonated me in public, you also imed that it was just a misunderstanding between us. Miss Ye, don''t you know any other reasoning aside from this? I''m getting bored of hearing this excuse from you."


    Su Xiaofei yawned behind her hand and excused herself. She didn''t need to be here. Her job was already done when she staged this confrontation between Ye Mingyu and Feng Yumeng. It didn''t matter if Feng Xue''er wasn''t here to y her role, because Feng Yumeng had been a good substitute tonight.


    Ye Mingyu really needed to up her game if she really want to beat this viiness.


    "Da Jie, let''s talk some other time, okay? But I do hope you remind Papa to sign those divorce papers already. Mama and the Yun family are starting to get restless these days.." She said as her parting words, expecting that Ye Mingyu would ry her warning to Su Haoran.

 Chapter 149 - Grow Up A Little More (1)

    <h4>Chapter 149 - Grow Up A Little More (1)</h4>


    As Su Xiaofei left, Ye Mingyu could only endure the humiliation that Su Xiaofei brought unto her. As much as she wanted to flee, she couldn''t leave without offending Feng Yumeng more. After much diposure, Ye Mingyu who had always maintained a calm mask finally cracked. She repeatedly cursed Su Xiaofei in her heart and wanted nothing but ripped the young woman apart.


    While Ye Mingyu was suffering under the pressure of the other young misses, Su Xiaofei was humming amusedly as she walked around the banquet hall, trying to find where Lu Qingfeng was.


    When Xi Qian''s friend came to talk to her, Lu Qingfeng had excused himself to receive an important phone call. It had been at least twenty minutes since he left, but he didn''t return.


    Su Xiaofei found him in one of the vacant rooms near the banquet hall, which were prepared by the hotel staff for attendees who wanted to take a rest from socializing. It seemed like Lu Qingfeng was still on a phone call.


    Standing in the dimly lit room, half of his handsome face was hidden. There was a hint of coldness in his eyes, which slightly took Su Xiaofei by surprise.


    However, as soon as he heard footsteps and saw Su Xioafeiing his way, he immediately bid goodbye to the person on the other end of the line. It reminded her of the twenty-five-year-old Lu Qingfeng, who had managed to find her on her deathbed.


    His handsome face that looked as if it was meticulously perfected by the deities above looked distressed. His eyebrows furrowed together, as he exuded a cold and distant aura that would effectively repel other people from approaching him.


    Su Xiaofei wondered if something was bothering him. He had this distant look in his eyes, which could make one think that he was yearning for someone.


    In her previous life, unless there was something important at the Lu Corporation that needed his immediate attention, during his training and session years, this young man would make time to spend with her.


    Furthermore, a month before her wedding with Mo Yuchen, Lu Qingfeng would get involved in an assassination attempt on his life and would fall into aa which wouldst for three years. It was for this reason that after her first year of marriage with Mo Yuchen, her life turned worse as she had no one to help and protect her, leaving Su Xiaofei desperate and helpless.


    Lu Qingfeng would turn sixteen soon, and in five years he might be facing the same situation again.


    ''Is there anything I can do to stop it from happening?'' Su Xiaofei asked herself. She certainly didn''t want him to suffer any misfortune.


    A normal person would make a move and wait to see what would happen, but for smart people. They would make a move and predict several possibilities ahead of its oue. She had to slowly scheme and set traps for her to utilize in the future.


    "Sorry, that was an overseas phone call. Grandpa assigned me to an international project and I have to oversee it remotely."


    His voice was cool and low, but it sounded as refreshing as spring water for Su Xiaofei. As Lu Qingfeng got older, it seemed that he was truly bing a man that could charm many women in the future. Soon, she might even need topete to get his attention, but she was worrying about nothing, for she was the only woman Lu Qingfeng had set eyes on the moment they met for the first time.


    Su Xiaofei smiled and took a seat on one of the ck leather couches next to the floor-to-ceiling ss window that allowed the guest to see a magnificent view of Qiying City at night.


    "No need to exin. I understand how busy you can be." She chuckled.


    Because Lu Corporation was such an outstanding and hugepany with many subsidiaries, it was important for Chairman Lu to train Lu Qingfeng from a very young age. This only meant that Su Xiaofei should get used to seeing the young man less these days.


    "What brings you here?" She heard Lu Qingfeng asked, taking a seat at the opposite end of the couch she was seated on.


    "Just trying to find some peace. The frogs are unusually noisy tonight." She replied.


    Seeing Ye Mingyu doing things exactly like she did in her previous life, she was determined to ensure that the one who would be stabbed deeply by Ye Mingyu were the people closest to the young woman. From what she had experienced before her death, Su Xiaofei learned that she needed to get stronger, because weak people could easily be trampled and stepped on like a bug.


    Lu Qingfeng said no more as they enjoyed thepanionable silence between them, allowing their minds to wander off, each with their own thoughts.


    Su Xiaofei looked at the casual attitude that the young, handsome youth next to her was wearing. Lu Qingfeng, this young man, was actually a little strange and different from the Lu Qingfeng she remembered from her past life.


    She thought that this young man was a little shrewd and mysterious. He was still cold and indifferent with others, but towards her, he was a little attentive.


    Also, Lu Qingfeng used to share his deepest thoughts with her, but ever since her rebirth, the young man had also somewhat changed. She sometimes thought that she was looking at a different person. Unlike other young men his age, Lu Qingfeng was confident and fearless.


    It was different from Mo Yuchen''s arrogance and Yun Xiang''s cautiousness towards other people. As such, Su Xiaofei couldn''t help but differentiate superiority and inferiority.


    "Looking at me like this, Su Xiaofei, are you going to confess to me now?" Lu Qingfeng teased her, when he found her staring at him as if she was checking him out.


    "Little boy, grow up a little more. I might actually consider you.." Su Xiaofeiughed before looking away, but because of this, she failed to see the sudden change in his eyes.

 Chapter 150 - Grow Up A Little More (2)

    <h4>Chapter 150 - Grow Up A Little More (2)</h4>


    When the two returned to the banquet hall, the other students had already taken the dance floor. Apuse echoed through the banquet hall as the speaker stepped down from the podium, indicating that the party had officially started.


    Instead of joining the others, they found a seat in a corner. Lu Qingfeng had just given Su Xiaofei a te of sweets when he was found and dragged away by his teammates from the basketball team.


    Su Xiaofei smiled at them and didn''t bother Lu Qingfeng when he silently asked her for help.


    "Come on, there''s someone who wants to meet you." One of his teammates said. "You should really socialize more and meet a lot of girls."


    "It''s bothersome. I''m not interested."


    Su Xiaofei didn''tment, but oddly, the thought of Lu Qingfeng having an unknown woman that wasn''t her by his side, bothered her. She had this uneasiness in her heart. She shook her head in an attempt to clear her thoughts away. There''s no reason for her to monopolize Lu Qingfeng''s attention.


    Wasn''t it because of her that he had led a lonely life in her previous life? How could she let that happen today?


    Su Xiaofei knew that he should probably meet and consider another woman, but it just didn''t sit well with her.


    ''You''re bing more selfish and unreasonable, Su Xioafei." She berated herself inwardly.


    There''s nothing else that could be done by now. She was certainly too young to consider dating and marriage at this point, as she still had a lot of things to figure out. Lu Qingfeng was also too young to worry about such things.


    Lu Qingfeng sighed, but he politely declined his teammates'' request. There was no way in hell he would choose another woman in front of Su Xiaofei. Not in their past lives, and certainly not today nor in the future.


    His teammates left in disappointment as they failed to convince Lu Qingfeng to join the group of girls that were excited to see him. s, without the star of their team, how would they be able to face them?


    Just as soon as they left, Song Yiran came and smiled brightly towards Su Xiaofei.


    "Could I have the honor of dancing to this song with this beautiful youngdy?"


    Perhaps the bright lights within the banquet hall made Song Yiran look exceptionally dashing tonight.


    Su Xiaofei raised a slender brow, but didn''t budge from her seat. Compared to Lu Qingfeng''s cold countenance, Song Yiran''s aura was very warm and weing.


    Obviously, Lu Qingfeng wasn''t pleased with Song Yiran''s appearance. He was Su Xiaofei''s escort, and yet he hadn''t had the chance to dance with her yet. There was no way he would allow another man to snatch her away from him yet again. Also, how can he not know the interest Song Yiran had towards her?


    "Feifei, considering I came with you, won''t you give me your first dance?" He asked, taking Su Xiaofei''s attention away from the other man.


    Su Xiaofei blinked and turned to face him. She could see that he was somewhat upset because of Song Yiran. She briefly thought that she had no idea what Lu Qingfeng looked like when he was jealous. Seeing him like this, she thought that perhaps that this was just the tip of the iceberg.


    "Huh? You two haven''t danced yet? What were you doing earlier?" Song Yiranughed.


    "Okay, I think I should let Lu Qingfeng have your first dance then. I''ll see you around, ssmate Su." He said before winking at Su Xiaofei.


    The young woman scoffed and allowed Lu Qingfeng to take her hand, leading her to the dance floor. Surprisingly, even after not being able to dance for a long time since she became crippled in her previous life, her body was able to move naturally with Lu Qingfeng''s lead. She was a little worried that she might step on Lu Qingfeng''s foot, but it never happened.


    Other attendees stopped to stare at the pair. Unlike some other young students''ck of skills, Lu Qingfeng and Su Xiaofei danced as if they had done this for a long time as they were focused on each other''s movements, eyes fixated on each other.


    They moved in sync, in time with the music, and Su Xiaofei had no trouble keeping up with Lu Qingfeng''s pace as the beat of the rhythm progressed faster. The couple continued to dance, ignoring the other pairs, and maneuvered around the increasing number of upants on the dance floor.


    By this time, they naturally attracted the judges for tonight''s Queen Fairy of the Night as well as Ye Mingyu, who had managed to shrug Feng Yumeng out of her hair. She had this confused expression on her face and wondered if this was yet another difference between her and Su Xiaofei.


    Because Su Xiaofei was raised as an heiress, it was only natural that Yun Qingrong would try to provide her with the best education she could get, including the etiquette of a proper young miss in the upper circle.


    Ye Mingyu gritted her teeth and grasped her billowing skirt tighter. She couldn''t see Cai Lin anywhere and no one wanted to apany her after her confrontation with Su Xiaofei and Feng Yumeng earlier.


    Initially, Ye Mingyu wanted to kick Su Xiaofei off the pedestal and make others ignore her with her brilliance. Su Xiaofei was supposed to be a foolish viiness who was harboring hatred towards her.


    It should be easy to provoke Su Xiaofei, as she was known for her bad temper, together with Ye Mingyu''s? alluring face, it should be easy to annoy Su Xiaofei, but why was she the one getting the shorter end of the stick then?


    She was the one who kept losing face, making a fool out of herself. The more she thought about it, the more she hated Su Xiaofei.


    Now, Su Xiaofei even wanted to take away the title ''Queen Fairy of the Night'' from her?!

 Chapter 151 - The White Lily (1)

    <h4>Chapter 151 - The White Lily (1)</h4>


    Once the song ended, Lu Qingfeng begrudgingly released Su Xiaofei''s hand from his grasp. He had loved Su Xiaofei for so many years, it literally transcended lifetimes. Holding and being with her like this felt like a dream he never dared to wish.


    The truth was, the person he was talking to when Su Xiaofei found him wasn''t from thepany. It was another phone call he had received that night. He had left the investigations on Ye Mingyu to Nine a few weeks ago, and it was only now that the man was able to gather important details about her.


    Other people might not be able to understand Ye Mingyu''s previous actions, but Lu Qingfeng was able toe to a conclusion and predict possible course of actions that the young woman would take.


    Oddly, after suffering from a high fever at the young age of five, Ye Mingyu started to show intelligence beyond her age. She was considered as a young prodigy and was able to manipte her own mother to seek Su Haoran.


    After rekindling their rtionship, Ye Mingyu''s life went smoothly and she hadn''t experienced any bitterness since then. Nine also found out that Ye Mingyu had hired a private detective to check on Su Xiaofei and those rted to her. As to how much the young woman was able to discover, it wasn''t certain.


    For some, people might think that she got lucky, but for a person like Lu Qingfeng, this only proved that Ye Mingyu had been reborned like him and Feifei, albeit, not having the memories of her previous life.


    If that was the case, then Su Xiaofei had a huge advantage against Ye Mingyu.


    Meanwhile, Ye Mingyu''s mind was in turmoil as she tried to think of several ways to overshadow Su Xiaofei tonight. She frowned and almost failed to maintain that perfect smile on her face.


    If one was to look at her, aside from the white princess dress that looked half-done, Ye Mingyu was still a sight to behold. Her face alone had already cemented her as a stunning beauty in others'' eyes. Her beautiful eyes were clear and deep as if one could lose himself staring at her.


    Once the song was over, the other attendees conversed lowly about Lu Qingfeng and Su Xiaofei and how thetter could easily snatch the title ''Fairy of the Night'' that night. Ye Mingyu had a hard time keeping her gentle smile on her face the more she listened to them.


    What was so good about Su Xiaofei? She was just lucky that her father and Yun Qingrong had adopted her! The things Su Xiaofei was enjoying right now should be hers! How could this lowly orphan think that she was better than her?


    She had no doubt that Su Xiaofei had put her in the bad light earlier to steal her chance of being crowned as the ''Fairy of the Night''. Too bad Ye Mingyu had no idea that Su Xiaofei didn''t care about that title and had onlye here to annoy her for entertainment.


    Ye Mingyu was slightly startled when Su Xioafei looked her way. When she caught a glimpse of Su Xiaofei''s face, she couldn''t help feeling shocked. Su Xiaofei''s eyes were coldly indifferent, as if she knew what Ye Mingyu was thinking about at that very moment.


    Although there was no visible emotion on Su Xiaofei''s face, she gave off an aura of utter chilliness that made Ye Mingyu shudder with fear.


    How could it be possible? Ye Mingyu thought. There was no way this was the same arrogant and haughty Young Miss Su that was described in the report!


    This Su Xiaofei was far from the rumors. Ye Mingyu wasn''t sure if the detective had duped her years ago, or if Su Xiaofei really changed in these three years.


    Generally speaking, when thinking about young misses from wealthy families, Ye Mingyu would assume they were all gaudy and vulgar and not as refined and elegant as her. However, as she looked at Su Xiaofei now, she had to admit that her beauty paled inparison with the rumors about her.


    Su Xiaofei was extremely beautiful even as she was wearing her usual uniform, but Ye Mingyu never expected that she could be this beautiful when attending official and important asions such as this. She looked stunning and reserved, as if no one around her deserved her recognition, even Ye Mingyu.


    Su Xiaofei exuded an indescribable sense of calmness and steadiness, as though she had weathered through many struggles in life and tasted a lot of bitterness that now, she couldn''t be bothered with Ye Mingyu''s simple schemes.


    As Su Xiaofei walked steadily towards Ye Mingyu, thetter shivered hard, not knowing what Su Xiaofei would want from her this time. Although Su Xiaofei was only eighteen right now, there was a hint of magnificence and maturity in her conduct. It was hard to believe that she was still the same Su Xiaofei everyone knew.


    Her actions also attracted others'' attention, wondering if she would bully Ye Mingyu this time.? Lu Qingfeng raised a brow, questioning Su Xiaofei, but she only smiled.


    Smiling, Su Xiaofei directed her gaze towards Ye Mingyu. Comparing the Ye Mingyu she knew with this young version, Su Xiaofei thought there were still things that remained the same.


    Ye Mingyu was elegant and exquisite in her own way, and she appeared innocent and sincere, as if she was an otherworldly fairy that was unfamiliar with the ways of this wicked world. It was as if Ye Mingyu expected everyone to bow down to her and hand her the things that she wanted.


    But how could Su Xiaofei allow that to happen? Since the heavens took pity on her and gave her a chance to rectify her mistakes, she would not waste her time and would trample on Ye Mingyu and Mo Yuchen whenever she had the chance. Hence, she would seek revenge this time!

 Chapter 152 - The White Lily (2)

    <h4>Chapter 152 - The White Lily (2)</h4>


    Ye Mingyu thought that Su Xiaofei wasing to her to bully her. She had mentally prepared herself and sped her hands together, her eyes ready to shed tears at any moment. However, who would have thought that Su Xiaofei would walk past her and ignore her presence altogether?


    Su Xiaofei had stopped in front of the banquet table, picked up a te, wondering which desserts she would have, leaving Ye Mingyu speechless behind her. Those young misses who were looking their way, giggled upon seeing Ye Mingyu''s reaction.


    Ye Mingyu''s cheeks turned red, as if being ignored by Su Xiaofei was worse than being pped in her face. She had never been humiliated like this before.


    Inside the banquet hall, Su Xiaofei couldn''t be bothered by Ye Mingyu and the other attendees. The guests were all pretentious, wearing their perfect masks. She didn''t even bother to politely greet the people around her, as she only had a few sips of alcohol. This was just like any other social event she attended in her past life, it was really boring.


    The memory of Mo Yuchen and Ye Mingyu''s betrayal were etched so deeply in her mind, but that didn''t mean she shouldn''t try to lead a happier life this time. At this point, Ye Mingyu was still a weakling, but she would certainly catch up with her schemes in five years time.


    Lu Qingfeng arrived next to her and helped her choose the desserts that wouldn''t be too sweet to her liking.


    Ye Mingyu couldn''t stop herself and picked up a cocktail and turned around to leave. She had considered seeking Lu Qingfeng earlier, but the young man was too scary in her opinion. It was as if his cold, indifferent eyes could see past her mask, making her ufortable under his gaze.


    Her appearance as a young woman who looked pitiful, vulnerable and sweet, something all men would love to protect, didn''t have any effect on him. It was hard for Ye Mingyu to figure out what Lu Qingfeng was thinking.


    This man always appeared so nonchnt about everything, and Ye Mingyu had no idea what he was thinking or feeling deep down. Unlike Young Master Mo who was very vocal with his disgust towards Su Xiaofei, Lu Qingfeng had been Su Xiaofei''s greatest support without realising it.


    In her past life, Lu Qingfeng was Su Xiaofei''s childhood friend. He died in an assassination attempt, which led Su Xiaofei into depression. One could easily tell that Su Xiaofei regarded him highly in her heart, but it was iparable to her adoration of Young Master Mo.


    Because Ye Mingyu was also expecting that Lu Qingfeng would lose his life in five years, she decided not to get involved with him. As long as the events in this life remained the same as her previous life, then once Lu Qingfeng was out of the scene, it would be easier for her to ruin Su Xiaofei in public.


    Finally, when Lu Qingfeng left Su Xiaofei again, Ye Mingyu seized her chance.


    Just as Su Xiaofei was about to return to her seat after conversing with other guests, she bumped into someone when she turned around.


    The cocktail ss fell on the floor and made a clear, loud sound as it broke. This only signified that another person was about to make a fool out of oneself.


    Su Xiaofei raised her eyebrows and looked at the desperate Ye Mingyu in front of her. How could she not know what this woman was thinking at the moment? The cocktail in Ye Mingyu''s hand spilled all over her chest, soaking her white gown in the process.


    Su Xiaofei looked at her so calmly, without a hint of disgust on her face.


    Naturally, it attracted everyone''s attention towards them. The crowd had always enjoyed watching dramatic scenes and knew the underlying scheme hidden behind Ye Mingyu''s actions. It wasn''t like they weren''t oblivious to Ye Mingyu''s intention to shame Su Xiaofei.


    At this moment, the white princess dress Ye Mingyu was wearing was sshed with a red stain. Those pairs of pitiful eyes looked at Su Xiaofei with worry.


    "Meimei1¡­ no, Xiaofei. It''s my fault. I promise I didn''t mean to! I was careless and bumped into you because I wasn''t looking where I was going. Please don''t take it to heart." Ye Mingyu hurriedly said, appearing so gentle and pitiful at the same time.


    This seemingly delicate and weak young woman could easily soften one''s heart, especially young men, but not Su Xiaofei.


    However, Su Xiaofei remained silent and didn''t utter a word. Her gaze coldly swept the circle around them. The young masters and youngdies were observant, wanting to see how she would deal with Ye Mingyu.


    If it was in the past, she would swear at Ye Mingyu like a shrew or p her in anger. Despite knowing the consequences, Su Xiaofei would have just done it, knowing it was just a trick to provoke her anger. Ye Mingyu was aware of this, and thus she did this.


    But no matter what she did, it would make her seem unruly and unreasonable. As always, others waited for her to lose face, waited for her to make a fool of herself and to give them yet another reason to despise her.


    In all honesty, Su Xiaofei knew that they would use any random, illogical reason to hate her just like they did in her previous life.


    As to why Ye Mingyu would bump into Su Xiaofei, these people were no fools. However, they couldn''t care less about what the reason was.


    Contrary to everyone''s expectations, Su Xiaofei''s lips curled into a devilish smile. Since she already had a bad reputation in public, there''s no need for her to pretend at all.


    Of course, Ye Mingyu seemed a little shocked with her reaction. She had thought that by continuing to provoke Su Xiaofei, thetter''s mask of indifference would eventually crack.


    "Xiaofei, it''s all on me¡­"

 Chapter 153 - Wine Bath (1)

    <h4>Chapter 153 - Wine Bath (1)</h4>


    Su Xiaofei smiled. For other people, they might think that she was already angry with Ye Mingyu''s constant interference with her life and her patience had finally snapped tonight. However, Lu Qingfeng knew that it wasn''t an angry smile.


    This was a smile Su Xiaofei sported whenever she was genuinely happy about something. Yes. She was happy, and her expression told Lu Qingfeng that she couldn''t be bothered to get angry at Ye Mingyu right now.


    Su Xiaofei spotted him as he emerged from the crowd. He gave her a questioning look, but she only smiled, reassuring him that it wasn''t something she couldn''t deal with. And so, Lu? Qingfeng nodded in understanding. He quietly stood at the side, waiting for her to deal with this matter with Ye Mingyu.


    Whatever she did tonight, it wouldn''t make her less lovable in his eyes. His woman wasn''t a weakling who would easily bend to someone else''s will. It was enough that they trusted and understood each other.


    However, if she needed his help, obviously he would offer his hand to her. He would be her pir of strength, the one who would support her through her difficult times regardless of which lifetime they were living in.


    Su Xiaofei gave the young woman in front of her a good look. She finally understood why Mo Yuchen fell for this woman. This pitiful act could easily awaken a strong sense of protectiveness in men.


    Perhaps this was one of the biggest differences between her and Ye Mingyu. Su Xiaofei didn''t need to rely on a man to protect herself.


    In her heart, she even wondered what this young man had seen in her. She couldn''t understand how he was able to like someone like her and remain by her side even after witnessing her bad side.


    Lu Qingfeng was obviously a smart man. There were so many girls who were better than her, but why did he stick with her? Everyone found her despicable, so howe he was willing to love her and stay with her after all the things she had done?


    Seeing Su Xiaofei smile, Ye Mingyu was frightened. She was scared by her stare. She realized that she had no idea what Su Xiaofei was doing or nning at this moment.


    "Xiaofei..." She called once again, but only Su Xiaofei remained silent, making the atmosphere awkward between them.


    However, for Su Xiaofei, she understood her ''beloved'' Da Jie''s personality after living two lifetimes. Because Su Xiaofei was clear on what to like and what to dislike, the gray part was very thin for consideration.


    When she liked someone, she was very vocal about it, but when she disliked a person, she would trample them without thinking twice. This easily earned her the title ''The Viiness'' in her previous life.


    Because everytime Ye Mingyu provoked her, which was literally every chance she could get, Su Xiaofei wasn''t willing to let her off the hook and would immediately snap at her. With this, Ye Mingyu was able to further destroy Su Xiaofei''s image every time they met.


    Su Xiaofei raised a hand and called a passing waiter, stopping him. She then took a ss and swirled the wine gently before raising the rim of the ss near her nose and curled a satisfied smile.


    After that, she took a small sip from her wine ss, her movements were perfectly elegant. She made sure that Ye Mingyu was watching her every move, allowing her to see that she couldn''t be bothered to y the role of the foolish viiness.


    Ye Mingyu could only stare at her, then her eyes swept over Su Xiaofei''s pair of elegant, smooth and slender hands. They were too beautiful, as if Su Xiaofei had never done any hard work in her life.


    In Ye Mingyu''s previous life, Su Xiaofei was a B-rated actress. Every time she saw this young woman on television, she couldn''t help but think she was stunningly beautiful. Aside from Su Xiaofei''s face, she also had a pair of slender hands.


    Whenever she nced at Su Xiaofei''s hands, whether on television or any of her product advertisements, Ye Mingyu would then look at her rough and slightly calloused hands. She would then think how hard and unfair her life waspared to Su Xiaofei who was livingvishly.


    When she found out that she was the eldest miss of the Su family, Ye Mingyu was deeply disappointed. She felt that her life was extremely unfair. Just look at the difference between her and Su Xiaofei. Their status and appearance were worlds apart.


    Unlike Su Xiaofei''s slender and soft hands, Ye Mingyu''s were short and thick, with brittle fingernails. Hence she would always trim them short. There was also a thinyer of calluses on her hands as she spent years doing household chores and part-time jobs to support herself and her mother.


    Even now, after she was reborned, Ye Mingyu hated that she couldn''tpletely shed the poor young miss persona she had from her previous life. No matter how much money she spent on hand creams, thatyer of callus remained on her fingertips, as if taunting her, telling her that she could never be as beautiful as Su Xiaofei.


    There were even times at night when she thought that if there wasn''t a Su Xiaofei, to whom she would bepared with, she would have everything. Ye Mingyu wasn''t willing to live as Su Xiaofei''s shadow.


    Su Xiaofei''s existence was the biggest obstacle in her life. She clearly had so much, but she wasn''t willing to share any of it with her. Clearly, she was the eldest miss of the Su family, yet she was the one being neglected.


    Su Xiaofei was obviously arrogant and vicious woman. So what if she wanted to rip her to pieces? Let everyone see how vicious this little sister of hers was and sooner orter, Su Xiaofei would find herself utterly defeated by her and she would be isted by everyone!

 Chapter 154 - Wine Bath (2)

    <h4>Chapter 154 - Wine Bath (2)</h4>


    "Miss Ye, should I feel bad because of your carelessness? You were the one who walked and stumbled into me, spilling your drink on yourself. Do I need to feel bad, or do you expect me to berate you for your foolishness?"


    Su Xiaofei kept a smile on her face and her voice was calm, not a hint of disgust or anger in it. The words that came out from her lips stunned Ye Mingyu.


    Ye Mingyu bit her lip and said in a trembling voice.


    "Xiaofei, how could you say that I spilled it on myself¡­"


    "If it wasn''t an ident, do you mean to say you deliberately bumped into me? Miss Ye, I''m not sure if you know what a wine bath is, but this is certainly not it." Su Xiaofei snickered behind her ss as she gave Ye Mingyu''s tainted white dress a quick scan.


    Ye Mingyu''s face turned beet red the moment she heard that. She obviously wasn''t thinking of it!


    The onlookers around them couldn''t help butugh at Su Xiaofei''s words. She was clearly hinting that Ye Mingyu was far below everyone''s standards and was foolish to think that she could easily fit in their circle just because her father was Su Haoran.


    Who was Su Haoran anyway? Since Su Xiaofei''s mother was the owner of Bluemedia, the one who actually brought in a lot of money to their family, their womanizing father had no name nor status to stand on his own.


    "However, since you like this kind of wine bath, then¡­"


    After saying this, Su Xiaofei poured the remaining wine in her ss on Ye Mingyu''s face. She then took the remaining sses on the tray being held by the stunned waiter and continued to pour their entire contents on the young woman''s face.


    "Ah, it''s a pity I couldn''t reach Da Jie''s head. I really wanted to give you a good bath." She said as she held an empty ss in one hand, while raising her chin, her eyes looking at Ye Mingyu was filled with mockery.


    She was like a viinous queen. Arrogant and unrepentant of her actions.


    Everyone was shocked by this scene. Most of them thought that Su Xiaofei would snap and get angry. If it was in the past, she would''ve already pped Ye Mingyu. They had never thought that she would use this kind of method to get even with her elder sister.


    Su Xiaofei then swept her gaze over the people watching them. Some turned their heads, avoiding her cold gaze, while others gave her a smile and raised their sses and gave her a toast. She then returned her gaze to the stunned Ye Mingyu in front of her.


    Drops of wine slipped down Ye Mingyu''s cheeks to her chin. She looked as though she had truly been given a wine bath by her little sister. She was a terrible sight to behold.


    "My dear Da Jie, please raise your head and look around. Can''t you see the ckened hearts of these people?" Ye Mingyu heard Su Xiaofei say.


    She instinctively raised her head and looked around them. These people didn''t seem affected at all by the scene they had just witnessed. Clearly, Su Xiaofei had just done a vicious thing towards her, but none of them said a word and came to her rescue.


    Even Cai Lin was nowhere to be found, and the young men who previously asked her for a dance had their backs to them and were entertaining other women. Even the school officials turned their heads away, as if they couldn''t be bothered by what Su Xiaofei had done. No. It was more like they wouldn''t dare to make enemies with the Yun family, no matter how unreasonable Su Xiaofei acted tonight.


    It seemed that no one cared about what just happened tonight. Why was this?


    Seeing her stunned and confused expression, Su Xiaofei stepped forward, invading Ye Mingyu''s private space, and whispered next to her ear.


    "Da Jie, do you really think that little tricks like this are enough to ruin me? Do you really think that these people around us are just ridiculing me, taking pity on you? No, you''re wrong. Right now, they areughing at the two of us, making a fool of ourselves. Do you think that they wouldn''t be able to see through your petty actions to anger me? Do you know why I still did it, knowing what they would think of me?"


    Su Xiaofei paused andughed evilly.


    "It''s precisely because I know what they think of me and couldn''t be bothered by it. Their opinions of me are irrelevant, but it couldn''t be said to you, right? You care about what they think of you. Ye Mingyu, I have given you enough chances to get out of my hair and not bother me, but clearly your brain is missing."


    Su Xiaofei then stepped back and parted from Ye Mingyu. Actually, ever since Ye Mingyu transferred to QCA, she had unintentionally made a lot of enemies. Many young misses couldn''t tolerate her white lily persona and weren''t willing to be acquainted with her.


    Also, because her identity as the daughter of a Xiao San was revealed, those young masters only wanted to fool around with her, but they would never consider her as a wife material.


    "Miss Ye, I suggest you use your head and not act rashly like this next time. You can''t garner sympathy using petty tricks such as this. Everyone here isn''t a fool to believe what you are trying to portray."


    "I- I didn''t¡­. I¡­" Ye Mingyu wanted to deny it, but she couldn''t think of an excuse at the moment. She was utterly embarrassed by Su Xiaofei.


    "Oh, right. Before I forget. Please refrain from calling me your meimei. It''s truly disgusting. Unless your mother''s name is Yun Qingrong, you can never be my sister." Su Xiaofei added straightforwardly.


    Not heeding Ye Mingyu any longer, Su Xiaofei walked towards Lu Qingfeng and took? his hand.

 Chapter 155 - I Will Become Your Man (1)

    <h4>Chapter 155 - I Will Be Your Man (1)</h4>


    Lu Qingfeng didn''t say anything, but handed her purse to her and led her away from the crowd with a satisfied smile on his face. The two decided to take a walk in the garden to get away from the buzzing crowd.


    Su Xiaofei held his hands tightly and smiled at him. Many men would find her repulsive and would rather fall in love with a weaker and more delicate woman like Ye Mingyu, but not Lu Qingfeng.


    She would neverpare herself to Ye Mingyu or to other people again. After what she had experienced in her past life, she now knew that measuring her happiness, wealth and appearance against other people''s would only drain her mental strength. The only person she shouldpare herself to is the person she was yesterday.


    Knowing that she could be herself, in front of Lu Qingfeng, was something Su Xiaofei could be proud of. All the pain and suffering in her past life? She would make sure to avoid them in this lifetime. She also felt that she was fortunate to have this young man, who was willing to lend an ear to listen to her and a hand to help her whenever she was in a dire situation.


    Su Xiaofei couldn''t help but feel that she was getting more and more attached to Lu Qingfeng ever since her rebirth, and she feared that she wouldn''t be able to live up to his expectations, if she dared to ept his feelings.


    She couldn''t help but remember that when they were young, whenever she did something wrong, Xiao Feng wouldn''t expose her and would sometimes take the me himself just to save her. He would do everything in his capacity to save her, even going as far as bing a tyrant to seek revenge on those who had harmed her during his absence.


    Although he had never exposed her for any of her mischief, Su Xiaofei used to pay the price by letting this little boy annoy her to death. The boy only gave her a break when she met Xi Qian and started hanging out with her.


    "When we were younger, didn''t you say you disliked me?" She asked him out of the blue, once she deemed that they were safe from everyone else''s earshot. There was no doubt that Ye Mingyu would be struggling to deal with the consequences of their encounter earlier.


    Lu Qingfeng was stunned by her question, not expecting her to question him like this.


    "I did?" He asked in return.


    "En. You used to say that I was annoying and talkative."


    The young man hummed, then nodded once he recovered from his shock.


    "You were a troublemaker, but I can''t possibly hate you."


    Even if he wanted to me her, he didn''t have the heart to do so. He was really helplessly in love with her and didn''t think he would be able to give up on her. Lu Qingfeng was unwilling to let go of her.


    It was Su Xiaofei''s turn to choke from his answer. She could sense that he wasn''t lying to her. Other men would hate her guts and her attitude, but how did Lu Qingfeng end up falling for her instead? It puzzled Su Xiaofei.


    "Then why do you like someone like me?" She couldn''t help but ask.


    She knew that she might be pleasing to look at, but she didn''t have any outstanding talent she could be proud of. Most importantly, her personality was also rotten, okay?


    Thinking about it, shouldn''t Lu Qingfeng avoid her as they grew up? It was normal for them to drift away from each other since they would obviously be caught up with their own interests and lives, but he had even fallen in love with her.


    Maybe for some people, they would think that he had already lost his rational mind when ites to her. However, for Lu Qingfeng, the regret he still bore from his previous lives remained in his heart. Perhaps if he hadid his heart and proactively professed his feelings for her in his past lives, he wouldn''t have lost her to Mo Yuchen, leading her to her own death.


    Moreover, now that Su Xiaofei was willing to let go of Mo Yuchen, he would treat her even better, so that she wouldn''t leave him again. Thest thing he wanted was for her to hate and despise him again.


    Seeing her confused expression, Lu Qingfeng had an urge to flick her forehead again, but knew they weren''t in a good ce to do that.


    "What? Would you rather be loved by Mo Yuchen than me?" He raised a brow at her.


    "Su Xiaofei, what does Mo Yuchen have that I don''t? Even after trying so many ways to win his heart, he still disliked you. Honestly Xiaofei, I think that in this world, I''m the only man who would allow you to continue doing such atrocious actions. Only I would spoil you to that extent."


    He was afraid that she would still have Mo Yuchen in her heart. After living three lifetimes, was he really destined to lose to that man? No ¡ª there was no way he would allow Mo Yuchen to harm Feifei again.


    "Then what about you? Aside from our age difference, what''s stopping you from going out with me?" Lu Qingfeng didn''t give her a chance to argue with his answer and threw another hot question in her court.


    How would Su Xiaofei answer such a question?


    "W-what?"


    "You heard me loud and clear." He might sound calm, but Lu Qingfeng was hiding a turmoil within himself. He wasn''t sure if he would be able to take it if Su Xiaofei refused him this time.


    Su Xiaofei was dumbstruck for a long time, then finally replied. "Do I really have to answer this? I thought you''d give me more time to think about it."


    "That''s right, but I just want to be sure of what you feel right now." Lu Qingfeng nodded.. "Feifei, actually, Grandpa wants me to follow him to Shenjing after my graduation."

 Chapter 156 - I Will Become Your Man (2)

    <h4>Chapter 156 - I Will Be Your Man (2)</h4>


    This wasn''t what Su Xiaofei was expecting to hear from him.


    "Once I graduate from middle school and turn sixteen, he wants me to go to Shenjing and focus on the session of thepany."


    "I-I see. So that''s how it is." Su Xiaofei replied.


    Just as she thought that she could spend good days with him and Xi Qian in the future, he would have to leave her side again. However, wasn''t this too early? Su Xiaofei thought.


    In her previous life, Lu Qingfeng only left Qiying City to study abroad after he graduated from high school. He did live for sometime in Shenjing after he finished his degree, but he didn''t stay there for too long.


    By the age of twenty-one, when he was about to return to Qiying City, he was ambushed on his way, sending him into aatose state. So what could have triggered this sudden change this time? Su Xiaofei wondered. She wasn''t sure about the internal struggle the Lu family was facing at this moment, but for Lu Qingfeng to be actively involved this early meant that Chairman Lu was in a tight spot.


    Lu Qingfeng gauged her reaction. Actually, he was the one who requested it from his grandfather. The earlier he was able to establish himself in the Lu Corporation, the harder it would be for his rtives to question his authority.


    Since he has retained the skills and knowledge he gained in his past life, there was no need for him to be sent abroad to study again. He only needed to pull out the weeds before they cause trouble for him in the future. With his knowledge about his assassination in five years, he would like to turn the tables on the enemy this time.


    However, he also knew that Su Xiaofei wouldn''t be pleased with his sudden decision. With her capable bodyguards around, Lu Qingfeng was assured to receive daily reports about her wellbeing.


    Su Xiaofei awkwardlyughed and released his hand. She didn''t want him to see the hesitation in her eyes. She knew she couldn''t stop him from leaving Qiying City.


    Shenjing was over a thousand kilometers away from Qiying City. It would take at least five to six hours by high-speed train and two hours by ne just to reach it. For those traveling in a hurry, flying was the better choice, while for budget travelers, high-speed trains were rmended.


    Su Xiaofei, of course, had been to Shenjing in her past life. She had remained in Qiying City but would asionally travel to Shenjing for work.


    "Is this why you are persistently trying to pursue me?" She asked him, trying to dispel the awkwardness between them.


    "When Da Jie said that there might be no man who would be willing to marry her in the future, I have already decided to be her man."


    Su Xiaofei''s face turned red. It was just a silly expression of grievance by a young girl, did he really have to take it seriously? Still, the thought that in just six months, she wouldn''t be able to see Lu Qingfeng for some time, disturbed her.


    Perhaps because she was now aware of his feelings that she was somewhat sensitive when ites to himtely. However, with his young age, Su Xiaofei thought that there was no need for them to rush things when ites to the matter of the heart. She just didn''t expect that he would be leaving so soon.


    "Don''t you think it''s unfair, then?" She asked as she faced him. "What would happen to me after you leave? You would just leave your girl somewhere, expecting her to wait for your return? I didn''t think you would be like this, Xiao Feng."


    "I would have taken you with me wherever I went if you were willing, but I know it''s not possible, right? Because I''m still young, even if I ask Aunty Qing for your hand in marriage, I''m stillcking in so many ways, Feifei." Lu Qingfeng said, as if it also pained him to know that he needed to be parted from her for the meantime to grow up.


    "Are you really determined to pursue me?"


    "Is it wrong if I wanted to date you?" Lu Qingfeng countered. "It''s not like you are legally bound to that Mo Yuchen. Other young men my age are already seeing someone, why can''t I do the same? I want to be together with you. In the future, when I''m old enough, I will be your man and no one will be able to bully you."


    "But what if I miss you?" She asked curiously.


    "Call me whenever you want, I will answer it regardless of what I''m doing." Lu Qingfeng said without batting an eyelid.


    Su Xiaofei frowned at that. For other women, it might sound like sweet, honey words, but not for her.


    "You can''t be irresponsible, Xiao Feng. A good man knows how to bnce his time and knows his priority. You can''t just offend anyone else because of me."


    "Alright, then you can message me first, and I will call back once I''m done with whatever I was handling." Lu Qingfeng felt more rxed. He knew that she would be fine without him for the next few years.


    Su Xiaofei chuckled at that and thought that she must be really losing her mind, allowing herself to consider Lu Qingfeng. But how can she not be moved by him? After witnessing his tyrannical actions in the past, she could only take the responsibility for it.


    Ah, how could she allow this? Was she always a person who would dig her own grave to lie in until she couldn''t find the way out?


    Even though Lu Qingfeng said he liked her, she couldn''t understand which part of her he actually liked, because in all honesty, Su Xiaofei didn''t think that she was a likeable person.. All she knew was to run away, trying to protect herself from getting hurt again because of love.

 Chapter 157 - Borrowing Someone Else’s Blade (1)

    <h4>Chapter 157 - Borrowing Someone Else¡¯s de (1)</h4>


    Because Su Xiaofei had no idea that Lu Qingfeng was also reborned like her, she still felt that it was inappropriate for her to be with him. Regardless if she was living in an eighteen-year-old body, her soul was that of a woman in herte twenties.


    What would people say if they knew that she was way older than Lu Qingfeng? She also didn''t want to think that she was taking advantage of his innocence and his young age.


    In her previous life, even when she told him to move on and find another woman to love, didn''t he spend his remaining days thinking about her? Her name lingered on his lips even at thest moments of his life.


    She would be heartless if she said that she wasn''t moved by his dedication to her, but Su Xiaofei wanted to give him a better choice this time. She shouldn''t monopolize his attention and should allow him the chance to meet other women aside from herself.


    Su Xiaofei knew this and yet, she could sense a slight bitterness in her heart.


    "Xiao Feng, I''m not ready tomit to anyone right now." She said truthfully. "But I do appreciate that you hold me in your heart."


    It hadn''t been too long since she was reborned, and the pain and grievances she carried from her previous life were still fresh on her mind and deeply embedded in her heart.


    Lu Qingfeng might be young, but she had no right to easily dismiss his feelings towards her. Regardless of his age, Su Xiaofei knew Lu Qingfeng''s personality better than anyone else. She couldn''t just turn him down. He was a very determined person. Once he had decided on something, it would be hard for others to change his mind.


    "I understand." She heard Lu Qingfeng say. His voice was very pleasing and clear, like flowing water. It was different from his icy persona in front of others.


    Even now, Lu Qingfeng had remained calm and didn''t force her. This was precisely why Su Xiaofei knew that as long as she was honest with him, he wouldn''t dare to do anything reckless.


    "In the future, when you return and realize that you still feel the same about me, let''s talk about how we should proceed then."


    If after five years he still held her in his heart, perhaps Su Xiaofei would be able to make peace with her own heart by then.


    "Promise?" Lu Qingfeng''s eyes glinted under the dimly lit garden of the hotel. Half of his face was in the shadows, so Su Xiaofei couldn''t clearly see his expression from where she was standing.


    Su Xiaofei went closer to reduce the distance between them, giving him a good look, she couldn''t help but think that he was very handsome and would certainly surpass Mo Yuchen in a few years. With a profound gaze, Lu Qingfeng had always looked courteous yet unapproachable at the same time.


    "En. I''ll give you my word." Su Xiaofei reaffirmed. By saying this, not only was she giving Lu Qingfeng enough time to grow up, but she was also allowing the two of them a chance to sort their feelings towards each other.


    Lu Qingfeng seemed satisfied with her answer and didn''t question her anymore. Since she had already decided, he could only wait until that day came. Suddenly, even for someone who had already lived three lifetimes, he felt like five years was a long time for him to wait.


    Su Xiaofei, on the other hand, felt like there were so many things for her to settle and build before she could work on changing the course of their future. Love could wait, but her revenge couldn''t.


    Every scene from her past life kept reying in her mind, going as far as haunting herte at night. The experience from it felt like a dream. However, Su Xiaofei remembered them clearly.


    There were even days that she would wake up, fearing that she was once again back in her previous life. If it was heaven''s way of reminding her not to get sidetracked from her mission, then clearly they were doing a great job.


    Lu Qingfeng remained silent next to her. Even when the other guests came out to watch the fireworks disy that was about to start in celebration of the founding anniversary of QCA, the two kept their silence as they were preupied with their own thoughts.


    He held her hand as they watched the dark sky lit up by colorful fireworks. He was confident that Su Xiaofei would be fine without him, as she had changed immensely. With Xi Qian by her side, he would also be at ease knowing that she wouldn''t go back to Mo Yuchen during his absence.


    Just as Su Xiaofei had expected, Ye Mingyu was nowhere to be found. The young woman probably couldn''t take the heat as she faced everyone''s repulsivements about her. Did Ye Mingyu think that only she could use everyone''s ire as an advantage?


    One must know the rules of the game before initiating it. There were unwritten rules that everyone had to follow in the upper circle, and with Ye Mingyu trying to raise herself by stepping on Su Xiaofei, it was normal that the onlookers would pay attention to it.


    Whether Su Xiaofei was one of them or not, if she were easily trampled by a neer, it would only mean that she wasn''t fit to be at their level. Yet, Ye Mingyu thought of herself as clever. By borrowing someone else''s de, she thought that she would be able to harm Su Xiaofei''s reputation without having to dirty her hands.


    In truth, she was actually very stupid. She had no idea that the de she borrowed was a double-edged de that could also harm her if it was not used properly.


    To put it simply, even with Ye Mingyu''s pretty face and excellent academic achievement, she shouldn''t have used her inferior status as a weapon against Su Xiaofei in order to enter the upper circle.. She was only making her life difficult by targeting Su Xiaofei as her solepetitor.

 Chapter 158 - Borrowing Someone Else’s Blade (2)

    <h4>Chapter 158 - Borrowing Someone Else¡¯s de (2)</h4>


    With Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng''s departure, it was only natural that the onlookers would turn their attention towards Ye Mingyu. They decided to mock the youngdy in Su Xiaofei''s ce. Countless criticisms about her flooded in and they shot her looks of contempt and ridicule, just as Su Xiaofei had pointed out earlier.


    Some arrogant young miss came to her and used her shoulder to knock the stunned Ye Mingyu to the floor. Women understood each other better than men. How could they not see that Ye Mingyu was a two-faced woman?


    "What are you doing standing there looking so stupid?" The young woman sneered. She was looking at Ye Mingyu as though she was looking at an insignificant bug on the ground.


    Just earlier, she was talking to this same young woman. She had said some bad things about Su Xiaofei with a sympathetic expression for Ye Mingyu. However, now, she was staring at Ye Mingyu with unconcealed disgust in her eyes.


    Some onlookers seemed to be talking about her, but Ye Mingyu couldn''t hear anything after Su Xiaofei had left her in the spotlight. Only the sounds of their ridiculingughter reached her ears. Everyone was looking at her with indifference, mockery and ridicule.


    The resentment in Ye Mingyu''s heart grew. All of this was because of Su Xiaofei. She wouldn''t have experienced this if it was not for that shameless woman!


    The surrounding faces ovepped and some became unclear. She suddenly felt dizzy and was suffocating as she stayed frozen where Su Xiaofei had left her. Ye Mingyu was utterly embarrassed now. She bit her lip and hurried off.


    She had not expected that Su Xiaofei would be so ruthless to mock her like this. Ye Mingyu only then realized that she wasn''t qualified to go head-to-head with Su Xiaofei just yet, and that she had underestimated her all this time.


    Suddenly, she recalled all the grievances she experienced in her previous life. It was all because of Su Xiaofei. If it wasn''t for Su Xiaofei and Yun Qingrong, her father would''ve never abandoned her and her mother. While Su Xiaofei was living in a big house, dressed in the most trendy andfortable clothes, eating anything she liked, Ye Mingyu could only afford to wear hand-me-down clothes from others and eat nd food or instant noodles.


    What right did Su Xiaofei have to enjoy thevish life she should have, but she, Ye Mingyu, had to scramble for the crumbs? Why was she destined to live in Su Xiaofei''s shadow?


    Ye Mingyu heard some gossip while she was leaving. She lowered her head to avoid their scornful gazes, but their sharp words were enough to stab her heart.


    "This white lily deserves to be exposed like this. Did she really think her tears could fool just anyone? Where did she get the guts to face us?"


    "I used to think that Su Xiaofei was an eyesore and a foolish woman. Who would have thought that she had a temperament like this."


    "I hated Ye Mingyu''s pitiful, white lily character from the very start. Did you notice that although she didn''te from a wealthy family, her things are expensive? She used her charm on every man she met to make them pity her. Doesn''t she have any idea how disgusting her actions are?"


    Ye Mingyu hugged herself tightly, feeling as if someone had poured icy water on her head. Otherwise, why else would she feel so cold and end up trembling from it?


    Her eyes were stung with tears as she rushed to leave the banquet hall to retreat. She realized that she had underestimated Su Xiaofei, and she was ruthlessly defeated by her with every move she made.


    With her blurred vision, she left the banquet hall and walked alone into a deste corridor. The tears she had previously been suppressing now flowed without restraint. Her hair was now disheveled and her appearance sloppy.


    Cai Lin finally found her like this. He wasn''t able to witness what transpired in the banquet hall earlier because Feng Yumeng had pulled him away and confronted him for offending the Feng family.


    Ye Mingyu looked at him with bloodshot eyes. Cai Lin didn''t need to be told that she was bullied yet again by Su Xiaofei.


    "Cai Lin¡­" Her voice was full of grievances, worrying him.


    ''Where were you when I needed you?'' She sneered in her heart. However, she was unwilling to drop her act. Cai Lin still had some use for her.


    He walked towards her and hugged her, feeling a bit guilty for leaving her on her own earlier. He shouldn''t have left her side.


    "Don''t worry. I''m here now. Let me take you home." There was no need for them to stay here any longer. Otherwise, Ye Mingyu would lose face the more people look at her.


    "Cai Lin, I''m sorry. I truly didn''t know that you and Xue''er were together. Because of me, you are being criticized for breaking your engagement with her. Had I known that you were together, I shouldn''t have gotten involved with you."


    Cai Lin felt ufortable because he disliked talking about his family matters with her. He also resented Su Xiaofei for making Ye Mingyu cry like this. She and Ye Mingyu were both born of the same father. Why couldn''t Su Xiaofei treat her elder sister a bit better?


    "Yu''er, how could you say such things? Feng Xue''er and I were only together because of an agreement our parents had set when we were younger. I only see her as a younger sister. How could you take the me like this?"


    The more Ye Mingyu acted pitiful like this, the more Cai Lin would want to protect her from anyone, especially Su Xiaofei.. However, what he didn''t know was that Ye Mingyu would bring him so much trouble that when he finally realized his mistake, it would be toote, as not only his own future would bepromised but the family he was proud of wouldn''t be spared either.

 Chapter 159 - Casting The Bait (1)

    <h4>Chapter 159 - Casting The Bait (1)</h4>


    Because Su Xiaofei had left the ball with Lu Qingfeng long before the ''Fairy of the Night'' was announced, she had no idea that she had won the title and wasn''t able to receive her award in person. Not that she cared about it anyway. She would rather go home early and rest to prepare for her meeting with the Yun family the next day.


    It would also annoy the hell out of Ye Mingyu if she knew that Su Xiaofei didn''t care one bit about the title she was dying to win that night. The things that she wanted, Su Xiaofei would naturally notpete with her for that, but it didn''t mean she would waste the chance to mess with Ye Mingyu.


    The next day, Su Xiaofei woke up early, despite wanting to sleep more. She forced herself to get up, brush her teeth and get dressed before going downstairs to find her mother busy preparing the things they would bring today.


    Yun Qingrong''s smile was blinding. Su Xiaofei had never seen her mother this excited and happy. It made her think that her efforts to connect with the Yun family paid off after all.


    "Morning, Feifei. Have your breakfast first, and then we will leave after." Her mother told her.


    Su Xiaofei wordlessly sat down and ate her breakfast, her eyes watching her mother checking the two huge bags she had prepared before going to the kitchen to talk to Aunty Liu. She sighed to herself, wondering when she would have some free time to sleep and rx.


    Aiya. Why couldn''t she be as carefree and happy as her mother? Just thinking of what she was expecting to encounter today was enough to give Su Xiaofei a headache.


    Even when they were on the road, driving towards the Yun Estate, Yun Qingrong''s smile didn''t falter. Unlike her, Su Xiaofei yawned for the umpteenth time today as she looked at the scenery outside the window. It was obvious that she wasn''t in a good mood.


    When they arrived at the Yun Estate, Su Xiaofei wasn''t surprised when two housekeepers of the family came to greet them at the front door. They took the bags Su Xiaofei and her mother were holding, before they were led to the living area, where the rest of the Yun family were waiting for them.


    Yun Qingrong had rushed to her father who was seated on an armchair, dropped to her knees and started to weep.


    "Dad, I''m sorry. It is I who have wronged you all this time." The middle-aged woman cried.


    It was painful for Su Xiaofei to see her mother beg for forgiveness like this. She turned her head away, not daring to look anymore. Even a selfish and arrogant viiness like her wasn''t immune to the heartfelt scene in front of her.


    The three Yun brothers also had bloodshot eyes as they looked at their sister, begging for their father''s forgiveness. After so many years of separation, finally, they were whole again.


    Su Xiaofei didn''t dare to interfere with this tender moment her mother was having with the Yun family. Added to the fact that she was merely a stranger and had nothing to do with them. She couldn''t care less whether or not they considered her as part of the family, as long as they would be able to protect her mother in the future.


    She slipped out of the mansion and took a stroll in the vast garden of the estate, aware that Yun Xiang was quietly following her. The man kept his distance from her, allowing her some privacy as she looked around. He must have sensed that she wasn''t in a good mood.


    Yun Xiang thought that it was hard for him to discern what Su Xiaofei was thinking. Whenever he was with this young woman, he felt like she was guarding her heart fiercely from others.


    Indeed. Perhaps the talk Su Xiaofei had with Lu Qingfengst night had somewhat messed with her thoughts. He had been by her side the moment she had died and was reborned, and the mere thought of not being able to see him next to her when she turned her head somewhat made her ufortable.


    Su Xiaofei sighed. It must be because she had spent years as a ghost by his side before she was reborned. In six months, they would be parted from each other, and she needed to get used to his absence until his return.


    "Is biaomei worried about something?" Yun Xiang couldn''t help but let his presence known to her. "Tell your Brother Xiang what is wrong, and I''ll try to help you."


    Su Xiaofei turned to face him with a slight smile on her lips. She was wearing a white andvender colored sundress that her mother had prepared for her today. She stared at him quietly, making Yun Xiang a bit nervous.


    Her eyes were clear, akin to a coldke in the winter without a hint of warmth in them. When his father once told him that Su Xiaofei wasn''t a simple person and was a cold-hearted one, Yun Xiang thought that his father and uncles were just overthinking.


    Although her gaze was cold, her lips slightly curved as if she was watching a clown prancing it in front of her. There was no indignance, but merely an imprably cold indifference in her countenance.


    "Brother Xiang is kind. Xiao Fei is merely thinking how hopeless I am when I can''t do anything to help someone." She said in return.


    "That''s not true." Yun Xiang disagreed with her. "I think Xiao Fei is brave enough because despite the fact that you had nothing, you were willing to lower your pride and ask someone for a favor. Not anyone could easily swallow their own pride for another person."


    Yun Xiang didn''t think any other young woman of her age and status would have done the same thing she had when she sought the Yun family''s help for her mother.

 Chapter 160 - Casting The Bait (2)

    <h4>Chapter 160 - Casting The Bait (2)</h4>


    After all the things she had done to her mother in her previous life, how can Su Xiaofei not feel guilty about it? Yun Qingrong''s demise was one of her biggest regrets in life.


    The moment she woke up and found that her mother was still alive, the resentment and guilt she was trying to suppress, gushed out uncontrobly. Since she was given a chance, she swore in her heart that she would rectify her mistakes and make her mother happy and proud of her in this lifetime.


    As for Yun Xiang and the Yun family, she hadn''t really given them much thought regarding how she should deal with them after this meeting. In order to protect herself and her mother, she needed the Yun family to take them under their wing. This way, neither Su Haoran nor Mo Yuchen could easily bully them in the future.


    Su Xiaofei chuckled and turned her gaze heavenward, thinking that the weather looked a bit gloomy as the cluster of clouds started to cover the bright sky. Thinking about it, when she was crippled and was left bedridden for the remaining days of her previous life, she used to watch the sky from her room''s window.


    "This person you are talking about¡­ the one you want to help, who is it?" Yun Xiang asked, willingly taking the bait that Su Xiaofei had casually tossed earlier.


    Su Xiaofei''s lips curled up and she faced him again. This man was really predictable and easy to manipte.


    "Brother Xiang truly wants to help me? But I''m afraid it won''t be easy."


    To think that she would be able to have Yun Xiang at her disposal as easily as this¡­ heh. No wonder Ye Mingyu wasn''t willing to let him go even when she already had Mo Yuchen by her side.


    She could already guess why she was invited along with her mother today. It can be said that the Yun family discovered something during the investigation they ran on Su Haoran, deeming it important enough to reestablish the rtionship between two parties without dy.


    Su Xiaofei had deliberately uttered that wanting to help someone, knowing that Yun Xiang would be able to catch it.


    "En. As long as it''s within my capability, I don''t mind helping my biaomei." He said, as if he wanted to dote on her.


    Su Xiaofei merely sneered in her heart. In her past life, wasn''t Yun Xiang the one who couldn''t wait for his chance to humiliate her in public just to protect Ye Mingyu? Was he really such a foolish man?


    "Well, it''s like this, Brother Xiang¡­." She then proceeded to talk about Si Yixian and how he came back from abroad to find his little sister.


    "You mean this Si Yixian is that famous ''Andrew'' that everyone was talking about?"


    It was normal for Yun Xiang to be familiar with some people within the upper circle, and although Si Yixian wasn''t born into a wealthy and prestigious family, his name was famed within the upper circle as one of the best stylists and designers of his generation.


    "En. I became acquainted with him recently. He has no idea I''m trying to help him find his younger sister, so if you could please¡­" Her words trailed off, but Su Xiaofei didn''t need to worry because Yun Xiang already understood what she was implying.


    "You have my word, Xiao Fei. I will keep this a secret between us. However, it would be better if you could at least give me his sister''s name and the orphanage where they previously stayed. Even if the orphanage had closed down years ago, there must be something we could do to trace her whereabouts."


    Of course Su Xiaofei had the details she needed. Now, she only needed to wait for Yun Xiang to get the job done for her, giving her one less thing to worry about.


    She smiled faintly to herself. She would use her own way to deal with things in the future and to im debts that were long overdue.


    When the two returned inside the manor, the elders were chatting lively in the dining area. Yun Qingrong had such a wide smile on her face as sheughed along with her brothers, talking about random things Su Xiaofei couldn''t be bothered to know.


    "Feifei,e here and greet your Grandpa and Uncles." Yun Qingrong called her once the older woman spotted her with her nephew.


    Su Xiaofei obediently walked in, stood next to her mother and bowed her head politely to her elders.


    "Thanking General Yun and Esteemed Uncles for inviting Xiao Fei again. I apologize for leaving earlier without a word." Her words were clearly indicating that she was distancing herself from the Yun family and allowing them to see that she respected her mother enough to give her some privacy.


    Yun Qingrong looked at her daughter with aplicated expression. Of course she understood why her Feifei was talking to her family like this, but she also hoped that in the near future, her family would be able to warm up to her and consider her daughter as part of their family.


    Old General Yun nced between his daughter and Su Xiaofei. He didn''t miss how this young woman''s cold eyes changed briefly with a hint of warmth when she was looking at Yun Qingrong.


    Although it was obvious that Su Xiaofei had ulterior motives in seeking them, the old man could also couldn''t deny that the young woman held her mother dearly in her heart and this was enough for General Yun.


    Su Xiaofei was obviously young and scheming, but since she had single handedly managed to mend the rtionship between him and his estranged daughter, naturally, General Yun would feel indebted to this young woman.


    He rose from his seat and stared at Su Xiaofei.


    "Xiao Fei, I have something else to say." He said, gesturing the youngdy to follow him.


    Su Xiaofei bowed her head slightly, hiding the viciousness in her eyes.

 Chapter 161 - Young Miss Of The Yun Family (1)

    <h4>Chapter 161 - Young Miss Of The Yun Family (1)</h4>


    Yun Qingrong was left in the dining area with her younger brother, Yun Shao, while General Yun, along with her older brothers, stood up, intending to go to the study to have a word with her daughter in private.


    She wasn''t sure what they had talked about during her daughter''s first visit, and she couldn''t fish out the answers from Feifei as she would only smile, assuring her that everything would be fine.


    "Don''t worry about Xiao Fei, Qing Jie. Although she''s only adopted, it''s obvious that you''ve raised a person appropriate to be part of the Yun family." Yun Shao reassured her, seeing her worried expression.


    Su Xiaofei followed her elders, with Yun Xiang walking next to her. As she entered the study and took the same seat she had sat on during their first meeting, she remained calm.


    Yun Yuanzhi looked at his sister''s adoptive daughter and thought that this young woman had a rare, exquisite beauty. She looked refined and serene, masking her ruthlessness and cold demeanor. It was just a pity that she wasn''t into the Yun family, because a characteristic like this, although it can be considered harsh and unwanted, was useful for men in uniforms like him.


    "We have investigated the ims you made previously." Yun Guanyu started, his cold eyes not leaving the calm young woman seated in front of him. "Your suspicions were valid." He said with a grim face.


    Yun Yuanzhi and Yun Zhaonan also tightened their jaws upon hearing it. At first, they doubted this young woman''s ims about the threat looming in their sister''s life. They thought it was a baseless im.


    The man that they were able to identify on the CCTV recording that Su Xiaofei provided really came from a suspicious background. Not only was the man a known loan shark, but he was also connected to the underground world.


    Su Haoran had a debt of over fifty million with this man, who was now chasing him to im the debt. It''s no wonder that Su Xiaofei was eager toe here and seek their assistance, because as long as Yun Qingrong remained married to her husband, she might get caught in the crossfire and might end up paying the price for it.


    Of course, after uncovering the truth, how could the Yun family remain silent and pretend that they did not care about their kin? Regardless of their disagreements in the past, Yun Qingrong was still part of their Yun family.


    Su Xiaofei remained silent, her eyes resembling a dark abyss, bearing a great sense of mocking indifference. She wasn''t sure who conspired for her mother''s ident, but it was so obvious who had gained the most from Yun Qingrong''s death.


    This was why, first and foremost, she had spent most of her time focusing on chasing away Su Haoran and that pair of mother and daughter as well as the Chen family. Because Su Xiaofei knew that snipping the bud before it bloomed would save her a lot of trouble and headache in the future.


    Su Xiaofei was aware that even if she was reborned and had the upper hand because she knew what would transpire in the future, everyone had their own weakness and limitations, including her. So it didn''t matter if the Yun family perceived her as a scheming young woman.


    If she wasn''t able to save her mother''s life in this lifetime, then why else was she reborned and given a chance to relive her life?


    Her past life had taught her what forbearance meant and if there were conspiracies and schemes that not only would harm her, but also her mother, she had to use all the methods and resources she could get her hands on to avoid such cmity.


    "Why did you suspect that Su Haoran is doing something illegal?" Yun Yuanzhi questioned her curiously.


    Su Xiaofei nced at his face, then to Yun Zhaonan, who was waiting for her answer.


    "Because Uncle Fang said that he''s been making unnecessary business trips and rarely showed up at his office in Bluemedia. Also, the fact that he''s able to afford to send his daughter to the same exclusive school I''m currently attending was suspicious. I figured that he might have ess to a lot of money that Mama isn''t aware of." Su Xiaofei said, lightly.


    General Yun frowned upon hearing that.


    "He sent his own daughter to the same school you are attending? What is he up to?"


    "Grandpa, I can vouch for Xiao Fei''s im. I met this daughter of Su Haoran''s a few days ago. It seems that they deliberately transferred her to QCA to trouble Xiao Fei and Aunty Qing." Yun Xiang chimed in, ncing at Su Xiaofei, but she didn''t even bother to acknowledge him.


    The old general''s face darkened as he gave it a good thought. Since he had witnessed how much their Qing''er doted on her adoptive daughter, it was certain that she would also take a hit if something bad happened to Su Xiaofei.


    He fell silent and considered their options. It was important to announce that Yun Qingrong and Su Xiaofei had both returned to and are acknowledged by their Yun family.


    "Uncles, may I see the result of the investigation? I would like to know what kind of problem Mama might need to deal with, just in case." Su Xiaofei made a request to her mother''s brothers.


    It was her second uncle who handed her the investigation reports they received.


    Su Xiaofei read each page carefully. It was so detailed that even the date and time of Su Haoran''s check ins and checkouts during his business trips from several hotels and apartelles were included. It also confirmed that he was indebted to so many people and had been acquainted with people from suspicious backgrounds.


    No wonder the Yun family didn''t waste their time and invited her mother back home.. If things were this serious, Su Haoran might do something reckless against her mother and would refuse to divorce her.

 Chapter 162 - Young Miss Of The Yun Family (2)

    <h4>Chapter 162 - Young Miss Of The Yun Family (2)</h4>


    "It should be easy to contest the divorce if Mama brings it to court." Su Xiaofei hummed as she rubbed her chin. "I assume that the prenup agreement she had with Su Haoran is legally binding, right?"


    "It should be." Yun Zhaonan agreed with her. "Signing a prenup before marriage could avoid possible arguments in case of a divorce. Or they may want to avoid potential arguments if they ever divorce, by specifying in advance how their property will be divided, and whether either spouse would receive alimony or not."


    Su Xiaofei nodded her head slightly. She was able to get a copy of the said prenuptial agreement from her mother''swyer.


    The prenup specifically stated that Su Haoran would get nothing except the presents Yun Qingrong had given him during the course of their marriage. As for Yun Qingrong''s properties, it was specified that anything she gained during her marriage would remain hers and could only pass to their future children, which in this case means Su Xiaofei herself. It was also specified that Yun Qingrong would have nothing to do with Su Haoran''s debt and liabilities during their marriage.


    Knowing this, Su Haoran still signed the prenup, hoping that he only needed to bend for some time, because he would eventually rip off the fruits of his perseverance by being rted to the Yun family, which never happened.


    However, now that he realized that he would be left with nothing if Yun Qingrong divorced him, of course, he wasn''t willing to part ways.


    ''Such a shameless bastard.'' Su Xiaofei grimaced inwardly, before turning the page, her brow arching in surprise. It was really a pity her mother fell for such a person.


    "Ohh? He has a hefty amount of money, and yet he isn''t willing to pay off his debts on his own?" Shemented.


    "Xiao Fei, we think that this isn''t clean money." Yun Zhaonan said. "Since he associated himself with those kinds of people, we noticed the pattern of the cash flow in his secret ounts. This might be the reason why he''s able to afford to send his daughter to your school."


    Su Xiaofei inwardly scoffed at that. Su Haoran had money, but wasn''t willing to pay his debts and instead push them towards her mother? She had never met a? person as thick-skinned as him. He didn''t even care what could happen to hiswfully wedded wife by acquiring illegal money.


    The more she discovered about Su Haoran''s dirty secrets, the more determined Su Xiaofei was to get rid of him from her mother''s life. Since there was neither love nor bridge to burn between her and Su Haoran, Su Xiaofei didn''t hold any respect nor sympathy for the man at all.


    "Xiao Fei, next month, we will host a birthday banquet. I want you and your mother to attend together." General Yun announced, pulling everyone''s attention.


    Su Xiaofei sighed in her heart. Another banquet? Can''t someone give her a break? She had attended enough parties and banquets in her previous life, and none of them were exciting.


    "Of course, General Yun. I''m sure Mama would be pleased to attend it." She smiled despite the annoyance in her heart.


    Yun Zhaonan thought that this was a good chance for them to establish the fact that Yun Qingrong had returned to their family. However, he still had reservations towards this adopted daughter of his sister''s.


    Su Xiaofei lifted her gaze and saw him staring at her. Other youngdies would cower in fear if they were scrutinized like this, but she only smiled and turned her attention back to the papers she was reading.


    She was really such an odd young woman. Yun Zhaonan thought. She was even more cool-headed and calmer than the other men and enemies he had met in the past. At such a young age, she was already unfathomable, and her heart was definitely malicious and wicked.


    Every word she uttered in front of them seemed to have undergone some careful deliberation first, making sure she would gain something ever since their very first meeting. Su Xiaofei had also spoken in a way that they wouldn''t be able to deny her request for help.


    "There''s no need to call me General from now on. From today onwards, call me Grandfather. I will announce you as the young miss of the Yun family during the same banquet, so you better prepare yourself." Yun Guanyu continued, shocking not only Su Xiaofei, but also his sons.


    Su Xiaofei blinked, then raised an eyebrow at the old man. She hadn''t expected that General Yun would consider her as his granddaughter. Yun Guanyu didn''t gain any granddaughters from his sons, so naturally, only Su Xiaofei could be considered as the granddaughter of the Yun family. Thinking about it, at least she didn''t have topete with another young miss for that title. She would have to decline General Yun''s offer if that was the case.


    "Grandfather." She slightly nodded her head, testing the foreign word on her lips.


    Since the old man had willingly acknowledged her, obviously, Su Xiaofei won''t say no to it. She smiled faintly but didn''t say anything in return.


    Yun Yuanzhi seemed satisfied with his father''s decision, while Yun Zhaonan and Yun Xiang had bothplicated expressions on their faces. Yun Zhaonan wasn''t fully ready to ept Su Xiaofei as his niece, while Yun Xiang wasn''t sure why he wasn''t satisfied knowing that Su Xiaofei was now his cousin.


    "As for Qing''er''s divorce, I will say my piece, but Su Xiaofei, you should try your best to convince your mother." Yun Guanyu said.


    "Xiaofei understands, Grandfather." Su Xiaofei showed gratitude to the old man, although she really didn''t care much about being the young miss of the Yun family.


    "Since we have decided what to do next, we should go down and join everyone for lunch. Your mother should have prepared the meal by now.." Perhaps because his daughter was back, the old man looked much better than before.

 Chapter 163 - Little Husband Went Mad (1)

    <h4>Chapter 163 - Little Husband Went Mad (1)</h4>


    Monday came and Su Xiaofei felt even more lethargic than usual. After having her lunch, she leaned her head on Lu Qingfeng''s arm and shut her eyes. After her busy weekend, she longed to spend more time on her bed and take some much-needed nap.


    This was the scene Xi Qian found when she came after making a phone call, arrivingte for lunch. She was slightly startled seeing the two like this and wondered if Lu Qingfeng had finally expressed his intentions to Feifei.


    Xi Qian took a seat and started eating her lunch in silence, not daring to make a sound in case it disturbed Su Xiaofei''s nap. She knew that her best friend had been busy these days and had just recently be acquainted with her maternal rtives.


    This peaceful scene was broken when Cai Lin arrived with a deep scowl on his face. He had been looking around for Su Xiaofei to confront her. He had never thought that while Ye Mingyu was feeling distraught, he would find Su Xiaofei unbothered.


    Lu Qingfeng lifted his head and gave him a nk look, while Xi Qian frowned, knowing this young man hade here to cause trouble for their Feifei. Considering what happened at the founding ball, it was normal that Su Xiaofei and Ye Mingyu became the center of everyone''s attention.


    Xi Qian heard about what happened that night from others, and she thought that Ye Mingyu must be foolish for repeatedly trying to stir trouble for their Feifei. Su Xiaofei didn''t like to be bothered persistently, and it was normal that she would snap at others in due time, teaching them a lesson to never cross her line again. Surprisingly, it took time for Su Xiaofei to deal with Ye Mingyu.


    Sensing a shadow on her, Su Xiaofei furrowed her brows slightly and cracked her eyes open.


    "Uhm¡­ What is it?" She asked Lu Qingfeng, blinking her sleepiness away.


    When she lifted her head, she found Cai Lin staring at her with annoyance. This young man was probably around seventeen or eighteen years old, but Su Xiaofei wasn''t certain of his exact age. He had a fair share of admirers, but not as many as Lu Qingfeng, who not only dominated the middle school department, but also caught the attention of some of his seniors.


    Cai Lin''s eyes revealed shrewdness that annoyed not only Xi Qian, but also Lu Qingfeng.


    "Young Master Cai, is there something you need from us?" She asked the young man with a hint of mockery in her tone.


    Although there was no visible emotion on her face, she gave off the impression of utter chilliness, as if she was a demoness who had just returned from her trip to the underworld. Looking at her, Cai Lin unconsciously shuddered.


    Ah, it wasn''t surprising that Cai Lin sought her today. Ye Mingyu was best at attacking others using the de of another. Since she had humiliated Ye Mingyu during the founding ball, Su Xiaofei had expected that her ''beloved'' Da Jie wouldn''t let her off easily.


    "Apologize to Yu''er. You shouldn''t have done that to her. Even if the two of you were born from different mothers, she is still your elder sister. You shouldn''t have treated her like that." Cai Lin demanded of her.


    "I didn''t know that Young Master Cai had a say in our family matters. Whether I ept Ye Mingyu or not as my sister has nothing to do with you." Su Xiaofei replied with a mocking smile.


    Cai Lin hardened his jaws and red furiously at her. Ye Mingyu had been feeling down ever since the founding ball. No matter how hard he tried to console her, she would im that she was alright, although it was obvious that she wasn''t. When he found out what transpired at the banquet hall during his absence, he was furious at how Su Xiaofei treated her own sister.


    "Do you know what shame is? Yu''er has been feeling down because of what you''ve done to her, and yet here you are, acting as if you''ve done nothing wrong to her." He said with an usatory tone.


    "Damn bastard! Keep spouting nonsense, and see if I won''t tear your mouth to pieces!" Xi Qian gritted her teeth, hand tightening on her chopsticks. Cai Lin''s sudden appearance had effectively ruined her appetite.


    "It''s clear that Ye Mingyu was the one who kept on bothering Su Xiaofei. What right do you have to criticize her like this? You want her to ept Ye Mingyu as her sister, but did you even see how that woman and her mother wronged Feifei and Aunty Qing! You''re such a sanctimonious bastard, Cai Lin!" She continued.


    Su Xiaofei only stared at Cai Lin, looking at him as if he was a clown. In her past life, Cai Lin was one of Ye Mingyu''s admirers who had repeatedly humiliated her. It could be said that the debt he owed her is far from paid.


    She hadn''t done anything to him, but Cai Lin had taken the initiative to step forward to remind her of her revenge. Since he had willinglye forward, how can Su Xiaofei ignore him any further? Did he really think he would be able to intimidate her and force her to apologize on Ye Mingyu?


    There were many things that had changed since her rebirth, but there were also many things that did not. The only thing she could be certain was that she wouldn''t y the foolish viiness everyone perceived her to be.


    However, just as Su Xiaofei was about to answer Cai Lin, Lu Qingfeng''s voice stopped her. His voice was stoic and cold, but there was a hint of ridicule in it.


    "Senior Cai, I heard that you are a gentleman and have a great sense of justice.. Who would have thought that today, I would see your pathetic face, trying to bully a woman that is obviously weaker than you. How about this junior challenge you?"

 Chapter 164 - Little Husband Went Mad (2)

    <h4>Chapter 164 - Little Husband Went Mad (2)</h4>


    Lu Qingfeng obviously wouldn''t stand aside watching his woman getting bullied in front of him. Regardless if she had yet to give him a definite answer, he would never allow anyone to talk down to her. He gave Su Xiaofei a nce as if telling her that he would be the one dealing with Cai Lin.


    Meanwhile, Cai Lin did not expect that Lu Qingfeng would stand up for Su Xiaofei. Everyone in the academy knew how close these two were, almost as if they were lovers. The only reason he rushed out to confront Su Xiaofei was to force her to apologize to Ye Mingyu.


    However, this was the first time that Lu Qingfeng had vocally made a move to defend Su Xiaofei from someone. Some thought that he couldn''t be bothered about trifling things that Su Xiaofei could deal with on her own. And it was because he never made any stand to protect Su Xiaofei before that some even assumed that he was merely there as herpanion.


    But this time, Lu Qingfeng was making a stand and challenging Cai Lin. What changed then? Cai Lin hadn''t expected that it would end like this.


    "Let''s have a one on one basketball challenge. If Senior Cai wins, our Feifei will apologize to Ye Mingyu, but if I win¡­" His words trailed off, as his gaze sharpened.


    "Senior Cai and Senior Ye should promise not to show themselves in front of us ever again."


    Cai Lin was taken aback, but thinking about it, Lu Qingfeng''s suggestion wasn''t bad at all. He only needed to win, and this shameless Su Xiaofei would have no other choice but to swallow her pride and beg for Ye Mingyu''s forgiveness.


    "Since Junior Lu has spoken, there''s no reason for this Senior not toply."


    Lu Qingfeng''s lips curled up in a slight smile. He knew that Cai Lin wouldn''t be able to decline his challenge when Ye Mingyu was involved in it.


    "Then I look forward to the senior imparting some of his knowledgeter."


    It didn''t take too long for the whole academy to be aware of the one on one basketball game between the two captains of their basketball teams. Both were known as outstanding yers in their own divisions, but now that they werepeting against each other, no one could tell who would win.


    That afternoon, the court was filled with spectators who were curious to see who would win between the two. Many youngdies were blushing upon seeing Cai Lin in his ck and red basketball uniform.


    In the midst of the murmuring gossip among the crowd, Su Xiaofei smiled slightly. Knowing her childhood friend, Lu Qingfeng, wasn''t a person to be trifled with and since he had challenged Cai Lin like this to protect her honor, it was certain that he would win this game against Cai Lin.


    "Heh. Cai Lin just made a mistake provoking Su Xiaofei in front of Lu Qingfeng. It''s obvious that he angered Su Xiaofei''s little husband because of it."


    "You have to give Ye Mingyu some credit, ah! Who would have thought that Cai Lin would confront Su Xiaofei to defend her?"


    However, there were also some young women who sneered upon hearing that Lu Qingfeng had taken a stand to protect Su Xiaofei. They thought that Su Xiaofei was using Lu Qingfeng to defend herself from public scrutiny after what she had done to Ye Mingyu during the founding ball.


    "It must be because Su Xiaofei has forced him. She is truly shameless."


    "Right. If it was not because of her, would Lu Qingfeng lower his pride and challenge Cai Lin like this?"


    Su Xiaofei didn''t know of their discussion, but even if she were to know about it, she would onlyugh it off, thinking of how foolish their reasoning were. Lu Qingfeng was a prideful and clever person. He wouldn''t challenge Cai Lin if he knew he wouldn''t win against him.


    Why did Lu Qingfeng challenge Cai Lin? It was only for him to humiliate the older man and teach Cai Lin a lesson. She really didn''t think that Lu Qingfeng was doing this for her sake, but rather, he was seeking amusement through Cai Lin''s humiliation.


    The entire audience seemed to know about the discord between Su Xiaofei and Ye Mingyu. It would be weird if one were still ignorant about the rtionship between the two sisters with all that had happened so far. However, none of them thought that it would lead to Lu Qingfeng challenging Cai Lin to defend Su Xiaofei''s honor.


    When Lu Qingfeng arrived, dressed in his white and red uniform, many young women fawned over him.


    Whether it was because Lu Qingfeng was defending Su Xiaofei or beingpared to the younger man, Cai Lin furrowed his brow in annoyance. Because they both had striking appearances and were known as the ace yers of their basketball teams, it was only natural that Cai Lin would bepared to Lu Qingfeng.


    "Since it was Junior Lu who challenged me, Junior Lu must not say that I was bullying himter."


    For Cai Lin to say something like this to Lu Qingfeng in front of everyone, it was like announcing that if Lu Qingfeng ended up losing face today, he could only me himself for taking Su Xiaofei''s side.


    The corner of Lu Qingfeng''s lips curled into a devilish smile, which somewhat reminded Su Xiaofei of the tyrant Lu Qingfeng she had seen in her previous life. It made her wonder if the sinister side of Lu Qingfeng had always been there and if she was the only one who had been oblivious to it.


    "Senior Cai is worrying too much. Whether I lose or not today depends on whether you have the capability to defeat me." Lu Qingfeng''s words were really sinister, it made Su Xiaofei snicker inwardly.


    His words immediately made the smile on Cai Lin''s face falter, but he didn''t say more as the buzz sounded, indicating that their game was about to start.

 Chapter 165 - Utterly Humiliated (1)

    <h4>Chapter 165 - Utterly Humiliated (1)</h4>


    Since the two were going to y one-on-one using half the basketball court, it was easier for the audience to see what was happening. The winning score was set to 21 points and they had the coach of the middle school''s basketball team monitoring as their referee. The man was already in histe forties, and he had a strict and unfriendly image.


    "Have you decided who goes first?" He asked the two young men in front of him as he held the ball with one arm, resting it against his hips.


    "I will let Junior Lu take it first." Cai Lin said smugly, while Lu Qingfeng remained unperturbed by his opponent''s mocking tone.


    Cai Lin slightly frowned as he hadn''t expected that Lu Qingfeng wouldn''t be affected. It felt like even if he used all his might, it would end up like punching a fluffy cotton. His heart was filled with an indescribable anger. No wonder Lu Qingfeng could get along with that witch, Su Xiaofei. They really were cut from the same cloth!


    Initially, he intended to use Lu Qingfeng to vent his frustration for not being able to protect Ye Mingyu during the founding ball, but he never thought that Lu Qingfeng would simply act like the total iceberg prince everyone deemed him to be.


    What had clearly been intended as a move to demean Lu Qingfeng had somehow, with one look from his cold and indifferent eyes, reversed the situation between them as Lu Qingfeng appeared to be a person of high status and intelligence, looking down on Cai Lin.


    Cai Lin couldn''t bear the thought and swore in his heart to teach this arrogant young man a lesson. He couldn''t afford to lose, knowing that he was also defending Ye Mingyu''s honor.


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaofei yawned behind her hand and watched the situation on the court. She saw that Lu Qingfeng was listening intently to his coach as the man ryed the rules of their game, while Cai Lin was ring daggers at him.


    "I wonder what kind of trick Ye Mingyu used on Cai Lin. He''s definitely head over heels for that woman." Su Xiaofei heard Xi Qianment next to her. "I should have hit her face hard during our game and knocked out some of her teeth."


    Su Xiaofei smiled at that and shook her head amusedly.


    "I didn''t know that you could be this fierce, Qian." She bumped her shoulder against her best friend''s.


    Xi Qian scoffed and swept her gaze over the other side of the court. She spotted Ye Mingyu seated with her ssmates with a downcast expression, while Feng Xue''er and Feng Yumeng were standing near the doors of the court with haughty expressions on their faces, as if they couldn''t wait to watch Cai Lin make a fool of himself.


    "I guess everyone is here. The more, the merrier." She told Su Xiaofei. "I don''t understand why Feng Xue''er and Ye Mingyu are fighting for Cai Lin. He''s not really that good, to be honest."


    While it''s true that Cai Lin was popr as the captain of their high school basketball team, there were still students who would only frown whenever his name was mentioned. He had adopted a high and mighty air, and always had a hostile tone when speaking with others, as if he was better than everyone else.


    He was theplete opposite of the young Lu Qingfeng, in a sense that although he looked cold and preferred to be left alone, when he was talking to others, he would always speak to them with courtesy, especially to his elders.


    "Love can really make one blind and foolish." Su Xiaofei smirked. Recalling how she had been so foolish in the past for Mo Yuchen was enough to make her feel ashamed of herself.


    "Then I would rather not fall in love and lose my logical mind." Xi Qian harrumphed in return.


    Su Xiaofei inwardly sighed. She couldn''t tell Xi Qian that she was worrying about nothing. If she and Li Xiran meet each other again in this lifetime, then Su Xiaofei wouldn''t be worried about her best friend in the future.


    As for Ye Mingyu and Feng Xue''er''s short-lived friendship¡­. Well, what else could she say? Human rtions were always fragile. She only needed to nt a seed of doubt in Feng Xue''er''s heart and lead Ye Mingyu towards Cai Lin. Ye Mingyu''s betrayal would naturally cause Feng Xue''er to deem thetter as a thorn she would need to extract in the future.


    While Su Xiaofei was talking to Xi Qian, Ye Mingyu''s hold on her water bottle tightened. She simply sat in silence next to her ssmates, waiting for the game to start. However, she asionally nced at Su Xiaofei''s direction with a hint of viciousness in her eyes.


    However, what Ye Mingyu hadn''t anticipated was that at the very moment she looked at Su Xiaofei, Su Xiaofei would turn her head slightly as she sensed someone looking at her with a murderous intent.


    As their eyes met, Ye Mingyu saw that Su Xiaofei''s lips curved slightly at her. Even though Su Xiaofei was smiling, she couldn''t understand why she felt a cold shiver running down her spine.


    When she looked again, Su Xiaofei had already turned her head away and was conversing lowly with Xi Qian, giggling about something thetter had said to her, as if she couldn''t be bothered with Ye Mingyu or the fact that Lu Qingfeng and Cai Lin were going topete to defend their honors.


    "Such a white lily. Ye Mingyu is excellent at pretending." Xi Qian snorted coldly. People must be blind if they can''t see that Ye Mingyu was nothing but a sham.


    "And how did you surmise this, mdy?"


    "Well, it''s clear that she is hiding a heinous heart behind that pretty face of hers!"


    "Would that mean she and I are the same?" Su Xiaofei questioned her.


    Xi Qian was momentarily stunned upon hearing it. She looked at her best friend with wide eyes

 Chapter 166 - Utterly Humiliated (2)

    <h4>Chapter 166 - Utterly Humiliated (2)</h4>


    "Feifei, how could you say that?!" Xi Qian eximed. "Don''t you know what others called you and Ye Mingyu ever since she came here? Everyone deemed her as some immortal fairy and you, as an evil witch. How could you say that you and Ye Mingyu are the same?"


    Su Xiaofei could only smile in response. She didn''t have the heart toe clean to her own best friend. Unlike Lu Qingfeng, who was able to see through her facade, Su Xiaofei wasn''t certain if Xi Qian would be able to understand her ways.


    Xi Qian had an upright and frank personality, so if she was made aware of what was truly in Su Xiaofei''s wicked heart, Su Xiaofei wasn''t sure if Xi Qian wouldn''t find her repulsive.


    Su Xiaofei and Ye Mingyu were obviously pretentious people. They both had to put on a facade as they set up intricate schemes in order to achieve their end, albeitpletely different, goals.


    "Is that so?" Su Xiaofei smiled as she looked at Xi Qian''s face. "Xi Qian, although you knew how other people perceived me, you remained as my friend."


    "Because I know that you wouldn''t do something so reckless unless you are provoked or are trying to protect yourself." Xi Qian replied. "With that short temper of yours, it''s easy for you to make an enemy out of someone. However, these days, you are calmer and much more agreeable. You don''t seek trouble, but people like Ye Mingyu and Feng Xue''er are continuously testing your patience. How can you not be annoyed with their repeated actions? If anything, it was their fault for provoking you."


    Su Xiaofei didn''t say more and glued her eyes on Lu Qingfeng on the court. Lu Qingfeng was the one holding the ball while Cai Lin was in the defense position. Lu Qingfeng was dribbling the ball with his right hand, paying attention to Cai Lin''s body movements.


    In the blink of an eye, Lu Qingfeng surged forward as he jab stepped to the right and faked a dribble. However, when Cai Lin took the bait, he suddenly turned to the opposite side, shooting the ball with a fade away shot, not entering the three-point line.


    Cai Lin was stunned and watched the ball leave Lu Qingfeng''s hands and make an arch above him until it dropped straight through the basket, effectively giving Lu Qingfeng a two-point lead. The cheering of the girls from the audience area snapped him out of his shock and he narrowed his eyes on his opponent.


    Since the point system they agreed on allowed them to get a point when a shot was made inside the three-point line and two points if it was made outside the line, Lu Qingfeng was automatically in the lead.


    Lu Qingfeng was able to use the jab step to trick him. The jab step was a fundamental skill that needed a lot of practice and experience. The skill provides a yer with the ability to read their opponent''s defense and react based on their body position and tendencies.


    Cai Lin had heard things about Lu Qingfeng, but he didn''t expect the young man''s reputation to precede him. Since Lu Qingfeng had managed to score two points, Cai Lin was eager to get even with his opponent.


    Now, Lu Qingfeng was on the defensive side. When ying one-on-one, a yer would need to guard his opponent by himself, with no one to slide over and help. It would expose one''s weakness on defense, if one had any.


    However, Cai Lin didn''t know why, but he felt like he was facing a formidable enemy. Lu Qingfeng looked like an Asura, waiting to make a kill. One could easily mistake him for a devil''s incarnate. To think that this young junior would be able to intimidate him like this, Cai Lin naturally couldn''t ept it.


    But in the face of a talented person, someone like Cai Lin was proven to be mediocre as their one-on-one game went on. It was as if Lu Qingfeng could predict all his movements and every strategy he had in mind.


    As Lu Qingfeng stole the ball from his hand for the third time, Cai lin was visibly angered. It wasn''t just about defending Ye Mingyu''s honor anymore, but to protect his reputation as the basketball team captain. However, he would never know that the young man in front of him had a mental age past his prime.


    "Goodness! It''s obvious that Lu Qingfeng is ying with Cai Lin. It hurts to watch Cai Lin y like this."


    "That''s right. It''s like we are here to witness a game between a pro yer and an amateur." Someone eximed. "This makes us think that Cai Lin''s previous games were only for show."


    Both were captains of their basketball teams, but one can easily tell the difference between their skills. Cai Lin wasn''t able to defend and stop Lu Qingfeng from scoring. It was like a lion had hunted a rabbit, and instead of devouring it, it chose to torment it to amuse itself.


    "Cai Lin took pride in his ability to y and lead their basketball team, but based on today''s game, I feel like the difference between Lu Qingfeng is like heaven and earth."


    The current score of 16-7 in favor of Lu Qingfeng, brewed bitterness and anger in Cai Lin''s heart. After much diposure, Cai Lin couldn''t keep the smile on his face and it was now reced with a deep scowl. He was utterly humiliated


    He charged viciously towards Lu Qingfeng, forcing the young man to give way for him. However, his reckless move had caused him to receive an offensive foul, losing his chance to gain a score and instead allowing Lu Qingfeng to gain one through a free throw.


    On the sidelines, Su Xiaofei cupped her chin and wondered when Lu Qingfeng would finish the game.. Cai Lin''s performance in this game was not worth her time at all.

 Chapter 167 - Saving A Beauty (1)

    <h4>Chapter 167 - Saving A Beauty (1)</h4>


    Cai Lin had never paid attention to the middle school basketball team before and even when the two departments had friendly matches, Lu Qingfeng wouldn''t participate in them, leaving the game to his teammates as he discussed certain things with their coach.


    Cai Lin thought that Lu Qingfeng was just worried that he would lose face if his team lost in front of his admirers. As he pondered this, Cai Lin nced at the bench where he spotted Ye Mingyu earlier and their eyes met.


    When Ye Mingyu saw that he was looking at her, she got embarrassed and lowered her eyes, which immediately calmed Cai Lin''s nerves. He was more eager to turn the tables in his favor now.


    Just imagining Su Xiaofei''s foul mood as he beat Lu Qingfengter was already enough to delight Cai Lin. It would be even better if he could make that witch admit that she was wrong and apologise to Ye Mingyu.


    Regardless if Lu Qingfeng was an innocent bystander or not in this issue, since he had willinglye to defend Su Xiaofei, he could only me himself. Cai Lin would definitely make Su Xiaofei lose face and humiliate her in front of everyone, just as she had done to his lovely Ye Mingyu.


    This was to teach Su Xiaofei a lesson so that she wouldn''t bully Ye Mingyu as long as he was around. However, Cai Lin would never have thought that Lu Qingfeng had decided to destroy him himself.


    Ye Mingyu had expected that Cai Lin would defend her against Su Xiaofei, but she hadn''t anticipated that he would end up epting Lu Qingfeng''s challenge instead. In her previous life, there was very little information about this young childhood friend of Su Xiaofei as he died early, but it was said that he was a promising young man who had lost his shine too early.


    Now that she had seen and heard many young women fawning over Lu Qingfeng, and seeing how dashing he was despite his young age, Ye Mingyu understood that he would be more outstanding in the future.


    ''Darn it. If only I could find a way to lure him to my side instead.'' She thought as she regretted not finding information about Lu Qingfeng in her past life.


    As the game between the two continued, it was painful to watch Cai Lin y against Lu Qingfeng, now that everyone was aware of the difference in their skill level. As Cai Lin continued to lose his cool, Lu Qingfeng had taken advantage of this and forced Cai Lin to make even more mistakes.


    Even though he was obviously younger than his opponent, Lu Qingfeng proved that his age wasn''t a disadvantage to his y. In fact, it only proved that his young age could be deceiving, and he had so much more potentialpared to Cai Lin.


    It was just too bad that Lu Qingfeng didn''t have any ns on going pro and would rather choose to seed his grandfather at the Lu Corporation. Many basketball coaches could only sigh as they thought that his talents would be put to waste.


    People usually say that arrogance requires ability, and Lu Qingfeng obviously had it. Unlike Cai Lin, he could afford to be arrogant because he could back it up with hispetence. There were some who were jealous of him, but most of the students were amazed that he could easily topple Cai Lin, who was obviously more experienced than him.


    The game ended soon after with a 21-10 score in Lu Qingfeng''s favor. The winner of this challenge was as clear as day. The difference between the two captains of the academy''s basketball teams became the hottest topic today.


    "Lu Qingfeng is really someone who shouldn''t be trifled with. Cai Lin must be regretting epting his junior''s challenge."


    "Hey, now. Wasn''t Cai Lin the one who was saying that no one should think he was bullying Lu Qingfeng if Lu Qingfeng ended up defeated today? He just shot his own foot."


    "Heh. He wants to y the role of a hero, saving a beauty from the evil witch, but he ends up losing face in front of the woman he adored."


    Su Xiaofei smiled as they talked about her childhood friend. What Lu Qingfeng had disyed today was just the tip of the iceberg. In fact, she had never doubted or worried that Lu Qingfeng would lose today.


    Today, Cai Lin willingly agreed to Lu Qingfeng''s challenge, underestimating the young man''s capability. If he wasn''t so full of himself, he should know by now that most of the wins achieved by the middle school basketball team were because of Lu Qingfeng''s participation.


    Lu Qingfeng eyed Cai Lin who was now heaving for deep breath. He was looking at him quietly, as if he was looking at a foolish boy, acting pitiful and ridiculous at the same time. Cai Lin was too impulsive and foolish in Lu Qingfeng''s opinion.


    Unlike him, he would never ept a challenge that could directly humiliate the woman he cherished the most. If anything, he would make sure to pave her way, to ensure that everything she had nned would be smooth sailing.


    It was clear to everyone that the young man had toyed with him, making him today''sughingstock, like Ye Mingyu.


    Cai Lin looked at Lu Qingfeng with eyes full of disbelief. Even the other ace yers he had faced on the national level were subpar against this young man. It could be said that Lu Qingfeng''s ability was far from a regr middle schooler. How was this even possible?


    "Senior Cai, since it''s clear who had won and lost, please don''t forget our deal and never bother Feifei again. When one agrees to make a bet, he should expect the possibility of losing.." Lu Qingfeng said to Cai Linzily, before turning his attention to his coach and thanked the older man for supervising the game ignoring Cai Lin altogether.

 Chapter 168 - Saving A Beauty (2)

    <h4>Chapter 168 - Saving A Beauty (2)</h4>


    The result of the game left everyone astonished and baffled. While some knew that Lu Qingfeng was an ace yer in his team, no one actually thought that he could beat Cai Lin in a one-on-onepetition like this.


    Ye Mingyu''s face darkened once she saw that Cai Lin was utterly defeated by the younger Lu Qingfeng. At first, she only agreed to this because she only wished to see Su Xiaofei lower her head and beg for her mercy while kneeling on the ground. However, in the end, it was still her whom everyone deemed asughable for relying on Cai Lin.


    Lu Qingfeng was a ck-hearted person, so how could he bear to see Su Xiaofei shamed because of him? He had known from the start how strong Cai Lin was, and he wanted to remind the young man that he wasn''t the best and was out of touch with reality.


    Because if Cai Lin truly paid attention to his surroundings, he would have known that he was being lured into a honey trap by Ye Mingyu. Now, he didn''t even realize that he had lost so much face and crushed his own foot while defending that conniving young woman.


    Cai Lin wanted to vomit blood right then and there. This was far from his expectations. How could he even face Ye Mingyu now that he had lost?


    Meanwhile, the corner of Feng Xue''er''s lips curled up into a mocking smile as she looked at her former fianc¨¦''s pitiful and pathetic appearance. However, this was far from enoughpared to the humiliation and heartache she had suffered when he tantly announced his undying love for Ye Mingyu to everyone, while discarding her as if she had no other use for him anymore.


    "Karma has just bitten his ass hard. I didn''t expect that Su Xiaofei''s little husband could be this overbearing." Feng Yumeng said in a manner unbefitting of her status.


    "It''s his own fault. If he wanted to bully Su Xiaofei, he shouldn''t have done it in front of Lu Qingfeng. Not many would offend Su Xiaofei in his presence." Feng Xue''er said as she nced at Cai Lin, then to Ye Mingyu, who was still seated on the sidelines.


    ''Ye Mingyu, in the future, I will collect the debt you owe me at full price.'' She thought, before leaving the court with her cousin.


    As the spectators left the court, they were still engrossed in today''s event. It was such an eye-opening event that proved just how outstanding Lu Qingfeng could be, while at the same time showing how mediocre and foolish Cai Lin was for even daring to challenge the younger man in order to humiliate Su Xiaofei.


    The means that Lu Qingfeng used to deal with Cai Lin surprised everyone. He had dealt with him in a manner that not only stomped on Cai Lin''s pride, but also established that no other men could harass Su Xiaofei in his presence.


    Ye Mingyu lifted her gaze and found Su Xiaofei looking at her with a mocking smile on her face, which made her grit her teeth in frustration. However, she reigned her emotions as she couldn''t allow anyone to see her ugly side.


    Su Xiaofei was looking at her as if telling her, "See now? You think you''re the only one with a man to protect you? Your Cai Lin couldn''t bepared with my Lu Qingfeng. How''s that?"


    "Ah! Finally! Now that Lu Qingfeng has defeated Ye Mingyu''s boy toy, the following days will be peaceful for us, Feifei." Xi Qian said as she stood up and stretched her arms above her head, allowing her muscles to stretch a bit after sitting for some time.


    Su Xiaofei couldn''t agree more with her best friend. Everyone had been made aware of the conditions of the challenge between Lu Qingfeng and Cai Lin today. If Cai Lin and Ye Mingyu still knew what shame was, they wouldn''t dare to break their word and seek Su Xiaofei in the future.


    "I really hope you are right, Qian, but I don''t think Ye Mingyu will give up that easily."


    Xi Qian scoffed and rested her hand on her hips and said, "Since Lu Qingfeng has already dealt with her boy toy, next time, I will be the one to kick her ass if she dares to annoy you."


    Su Xiaofei''s eyes glinted with amusement.


    "If Qian is really this determined to protect me, howe you still haven''t agreed to take the basic self-defense lessons with me? Mama has already found a good one where we could enroll after graduation." She told Xi Qian.


    "Do I really have to?" Xi Qian asked, but when she remembered the eve of her birthday when Su Xiaofei beat the homeless man to a pulp when he dared to touch her inappropriately, she supposed she should learn some that she could use in the future.


    "Okay. I agree, but only if you are there with me." She informed Su Xiaofei.


    Su Xiaofei pped her hands together and smiled. Enrolling herself in a self-defense ss would not only give her a refresher on martial arts, but would also help her keep her body healthy by burning the excessive calories she had consumedtely. But until then, she would enjoy her sweets for now.


    When they met Lu Qingfeng half an hourter outside the court, he was dressed in his usual school uniform again, with his hair slightly damp from taking a quick shower.


    "I know you could win. Now, it''s time to celebrate!"


    Lu Qingfeng raised a slender brow at her and hummed.


    "You mean that you are hungry, and you want me to treat you again? Su Xiaofei, you are getting bolder and too stingy these days. Why is it that when you are hungry, I have to be the one who needs to feed you?"


    "Huh? Aren''t you the one who told me not to starve myself? Now, you should take responsibility for it."

 Chapter 169 - Asking For A Favor (1)

    <h4>Chapter 169 - Asking For A Favor (1)</h4>


    If it was before, Xi Qian wouldn''t feel like she was third wheeling whenever she was with Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng, now, it was ring obvious to her. Xi Qian couldn''t help but notice that something had changed between the two recently, but she couldn''t pinpoint what it was.


    Was she seeing things or the smiles of these two were really blinding as if they could only see each other and nothing else around them? Wasn''t this what people looked like when they were in love?


    ''Wait. Don''t tell me they are together now?'' Xi Qian thought, but she already dismissed it. Su Xiaofei should have informed her already if there was a change in status between her and Lu Qingfeng.


    Su Xiaofei wouldn''t keep her in the dark when ites to her rtionship. She was the first one to know when Feifei had fallen for Mo Yuchen before, and she had expected that Feifei would tell her if she was seeing someone already, whether it was this little tyrant in front of her or not.


    Still, it wasn''t lost to Xi Qian how close these two were recently. She had also noticed the slight blush on her best friend''s face when Lu Qingfeng was whispering something to her, and how this little tyrant was extra attentive towards Feifei.


    When did it start, anyway? She wondered. Was it because she was a little busy from her part-time job that she had failed to notice the changes between the two?


    ''There''s definitely something going on.'' Xi Qian narrowed her eyes in suspicion. Perhaps she needed to have a heart-to-heart talk with Su Xiaofeiter to find out what was going on between her and Lu Qingfeng.


    "I have the responsibility to feed you now?" Lu Qingfeng repeated what Su Xiaofei had just said. "Why couldn''t you just tell me that you don''t want to spend money? Since when did our Su Xiaofei know how to be frugal?" He questioned her. How can he not know what was going on in her devious mind?


    Su Xiaofei bit her tongue andughed awkwardly. She didn''t know that she was that obvious. Actually, because her mind was constantly thinking of raising the 100 million she needed, she had been racking her brain for ways to earn it.


    How would she have the heart to spend money when she knew that she required more? Thankfully, most of her necessities such as food and clothing were provided by her mother, but her savings were almost non-existent the moment she was reborned, leaving her feeling helpless.


    Now that she was aware of her financial situation, the allowances she received from her mother automatically went to her savings ount.


    She had also considered taking up a part-time job like Qian, but she knew that her mother wouldn''t allow her to do so. She was a young miss of a wealthy family, what would others say if she did menial work like the rest?


    Although there was nothing wrong with doing such jobs, people would naturally judge her mother for allowing her to lower herself to earn a few bucks that won''t be as much as her daily allowance.


    "Aiya, so you know. You are no fun, Xiao Feng." She sighed. "Guess I have to find someone who wouldn''t find it taxing to feed me."


    "Who said I won''t treat you? It''s just treating and feeding you snacks. Let''s go. Nine and I found a new ce that you and Xi Qian may like recently." Lu Qingfeng said as he took Su Xiaofei''s hand.


    Xi Qian rolled her eyes at the absurdity of the scene in front of her. Lu Qingfeng knew that he couldn''t win against Feifei, but he still dared to question her like this. Xi Qian then thought that a love bug could really make a person crazy.


    Su Xiaofei giggled as she allowed Lu Qingfeng to lead the way. She called Xi Qian over her shoulder. It was rare for Xi Qian to see her best friend happy. Was she happy because Lu Qingfeng won against Cai Lin today, or was there some other reason behind it?


    "Qian, you don''t have to work today, right? Can you join us?"


    Xi Qian thought for a moment. If she didn''t apany these two, wouldn''t it be like they were on a date? Her eyes then shifted to Lu Qingfeng''s form.


    She had to admit that this little tyrant had changed somehow. Lu Qingfeng hadn''t provoked her in weeks and had been agreeable at times. Although Xi Qian couldn''t say that she could consider him as a friend, she could at least say that his presence wasn''t as annoying as before.


    Just like Feifei, Lu Qingfeng''s attitude seemed calmer recently. He never made any attempt to annoy her, nor did he trick Su Xiaofei to abandon her like he used to do, which was already suspicious for Xi Qian. It was like Lu Qingfeng was tolerating her.


    She supposed that if that was the case, this meant that this little tyrant was changing his strategy to win Feifei''s heart.


    ''Well, that isn''t a bad idea.'' Xi Qian thought. Simply standing beside Su Xiaofei and doing nothing won''t take him anywhere.


    Now that Mo Yuchen was out of the picture, Xi Qian was aware that Lu Qingfeng wouldn''t waste his time and would force Su Xiaofei to notice him.


    Between him and Mo Yuchen, Xi Qian would rather not choose either of the two for her best friend, but seeing how attentive Lu Qingfeng was now, and how he was willing topromise, then perhaps she should wait and see how the rtionship between him and Su Xiaofei would develop.


    "En. I don''t mind trying something new today." She replied to Su Xiaofei, not willing to leave her best friend just yet with this little tyrant. Who knew what this young man was plotting behind her back.. It would be best to keep an eye on Lu Qingfeng.

 Chapter 170 - Asking For A Favor (2)

    <h4>Chapter 170 - Asking For A Favor (2)</h4>


    Su Xiaofei''s eyes glinted with delight as she pierced her fork into the cake slice on her te, taking a bite of it, savoring its delicious taste with glee. Who would have thought that a ce like this existed in Qiying City? The caf¨¦ was smaller and looked simpler than the ones she had visited previously with Lu Qingfeng, but their menu was far better than the previous ones.


    "I take it, you like the ce." Lu Qingfeng said as he took a sip from his ck coffee. It didn''t matter if he was young or an adult man, his pte was more ustomed to the taste of the coffee than traditional teas. This was the reason he used to have a collection of different coffees in his previous life.


    "I don''t like it," Su Xiaofei shook her head, "because I love it!" She corrected him.


    The food here was really tasty, and they also offered low-calorie sweets for those who were health conscious but still wanted some sweets for their meals. The interior of the ce was very beautiful. It was divided into different sections, meaning they provided tables ording to age.


    For example, older people were allocated spaces on the first floor. On the other hand, because most of the patrons were young people, the caf¨¦ provided a wide space and a variety of things for them.


    "I would have never thought that something like this was near the Qiying city public market. I should have known about this earlier." Xi Qian couldn''t help but agree with Su Xiaofei''s opinion.


    This caf¨¦ was called ''Hazel Brew Caf¨¦''. It was located right in the city center, but it didn''t have shy signage like others. It seemed to be known for its authentic taste and quality ambience. This ce has veryfortable furniture where they can sit for hours without getting tired and where one can enjoy a wide range of beverages and snacks.


    "How did you end up finding this ce anyway?" Su Xiaofei asked Lu Qingfeng.


    Not only did the food taste amazing, even the way it was presented was appetizing. The best part was that one could enjoy music, which makes the experience of visiting this ce enjoyable. In addition, this caf¨¦ was quite peaceful and undisturbed. They can sit here and enjoy gossiping without worrying about other patrons eavesdropping in their conversation.


    The staff at this ce was also very cordial. They spoke very politely and gave the best service experience. However, this ce was a little expensive formon folks, so no wonder not many came to this ce, aside from those who frequented here.


    Lu Qingfeng lowered his cup and nced out the window of the caf¨¦.


    "Actually, it was Nine who rmended this ce to me. I was getting tired of the same taste and wanted to try something new. I also think it''s nice to try something else before my departure."


    "You are leaving?" Xi Qian was shocked upon hearing that, while Su Xiaofei frowned when he reminded her of it.


    "En. I''ll be moving to Shenjing after my graduation. Grandpa needs me there." Lu Qingfeng answered her.


    Xi Qian looked at him and then to her best friend, whose smile immediately vanished from her pretty face. Su Xiaofei was obviously upset that Lu Qingfeng was leaving soon, but she couldn''t do anything to stop him from leaving.


    ''Oh-uh, I can see why Lu Qingfeng is doubling his efforts to get Feifei''s attention.'' She thought. ''He wants to make sure that his ce wouldn''t be snatched by other men during his absence.''


    It seemed like the topic had immediately dampened Su Xiaofei''s mood, as she remained silent throughout their stay at the caf¨¦, leaving Xi Qian feeling a bit guilty. When Su Xiaofei excused herself to use the powder room, leaving Xi Qian and Lu Qingfeng on their own, Xi Qian immediately questioned Lu Qingfeng.


    "You are nning to return, right? If you leave, no one would be able to fend off Feifei''s other suitors. You should know that she''s starting to gain some poprity in school."


    "Oh?" Lu Qingfeng seemed amused with her sudden curiosity. "I didn''t know Miss Xi is partial towards me now, but I don''t really feel threatened by them. Unless they are able to move Feifei''s heart, or somewhat bewitch her like Mo Yuchen did, I have nothing to worry about."


    Xi Qian scoffed and rolled her eyes.


    "Still as arrogant as usual. I should have known better." She muttered, which only earned an amused smile from the little tyrant in front of her.


    "But I would like to ask Miss Xi for a favor. Something that, I believe, only you could do for Feifei." He said.


    Xi Qian raised a brow at him, wondering what he was up to this time.


    "If you are asking me to chase away other men to ensure that no one would be able to sweep Feifei off her feet, then you are asking the wrong person." She scoffed and nibbled on her cookies.


    "No. That''s not it." Lu Qingfeng shook his head. "I only want you to stop Feifei from getting back together with Mo Yuchen. Whatever happens, even if that man grovel at Feifei''s feet, don''t allow Feifei to be deceived by that man."


    Xi Qian opened her mouth to say something, but she suddenly realized that she didn''t know what to say, as she hadn''t anticipated that Lu Qingfeng would even ask her for such a favor. He was worried that Feifei would be tricked by Mo Yuchen and get back together with that man.


    "It would be Feifei''s decision whether she wants to be with him or not. It has nothing to do with me."


    "Xi Qian. You know how Mo Yuchen has treated Feifei, right? You still haven''t forgotten why she was engaged to him in the first ce, right? In order for Mo Yuchen to get what he wants, he needs to deceive Feifei first."

 Chapter 171 - Asking For A Favor (3)

    <h4>Chapter 171 - Asking For A Favor (3)</h4>


    Of course, Xi Qian was aware of Su Xiaofei''s current predicament. It only made her feel repulsive towards Mo Yuchen, now that she knew that he had only agreed to their engagement because he needed a safety in case he encountered another mishap at the Golden Star Entertainment.


    She also didn''t like how he previously treated Feifei, as if she was a nuisance in his life. Su Xiaofei might be overbearing at times, but Xi Qian didn''t think her best friend deserved to be looked down on by Mo Yuchen. She wasn''t a random bug on the ground!


    Thankfully, Su Xiaofei had finally regained her logical mind and wasn''t as foolish as before. She had stopped talking about Mo Yuchen as if she had also forgotten his existence in his life, which was a good thing for Xi Qian.


    So if Feifei decided to pursue him again, obviously, Xi Qian would vehemently go against it. There was no way she would allow Mo Yuchen to humiliate and hurt her best friend ever again.


    Just the thought of it was enough to make her blood boil with anger. Perhaps Su Xiaofei was right. She needed to learn a few moves if she wanted to beat Mo Yuchen in the future. Right, she should print Mo Yuchen''s picture and ce it on the punching bag, so she wouldn''t lose her motivation to train!


    "Why are you saying this?" She asked Lu Qingfeng with narrowed eyes. "You think Feifei is stupid enough to return to Mo Yuchen?"


    "No. That''s not what I meant, Xi Qian. Feifei has already made her intention to break her ties with him clear, but Mo Yuchen has yet to answer it. I think that he isn''t willing to let go of her yet. He might use underhanded tricks to force Feifei''s hand."


    "That''s ridiculous." Xi Qian snorted. "Isn''t Mo Yuchen a prideful man? What would people say if they know he''s clinging to Feifei who is obviously not into him anymore? He should be the one who must feel shame and not Feifei!"


    "Xi Qian, you are overestimating him. Indeed, Mo Yuchen is a prideful person, but he''s also an ambitious one. People who are desperate for something could resort to using unorthodox methods." Lu Qingfeng countered her.


    Xi Qian fell silent at that, as she knew she couldn''t refute what he had just said. The world of the upper circle was filled with schemes and traps. She knew this. Su Xiaofei was lucky that Aunty Qing was able to protect her somehow.


    Look, even Ye Mingyu was contesting her rights to be the eldest Miss Su, but what would happen to Su Xiaofei if she gets involved with the Mo family? The Mo family was obviouslyrger than the Su family and Xi Qian had no doubt that they also had a fair share of family feud like the rest of the wealthy families.


    "Then what do you want me to do?" She nced at Lu Qingfeng''s face. Although she had known this young man for years now, it was still hard for Xi Qian to predict what he was even thinking.


    "Just keep an eye on Feifei and make sure that Mo Yuchen couldn''t trick her. I trust Feifei, but not Mo Yuchen." Lu Qingfeng said. His view on Mo Yuchen hadn''t changed and only worsened after his second rebirth.


    When? he met Mo Yuchen at the hospital where Su Xiaofei was confined a few weeks ago, it had been hard for Lu Qingfeng not to rush forward and nt his fists on the bastard''s face.


    "I feel the same." Xi Qian nodded in agreement. The first time she met Mo Yuchen, she knew that he was bad news for Feifei. She really couldn''t see why her best friend had be enamored with that horrible man.


    "I''m not doing this for your sake, just so you know." She harrumphed and turned her head away from him. Lu Qingfeng might be agreeable and wasn''t as much of a pain in the ass as he was in the past, but she had yet to see his resolve to make Feifei happy and safe.


    If Lu Qingfeng was able to give Su Xiaofei the happiness she deserved, who was Xi Qian to get in between the two? Now that the wind was changing, perhaps she could only wait and see how these changes would affect Su Xiaofei in the future.


    "Time waits for no one. You may never know what could happen in the future. If you really like Feifei, you have to exert more effort to prove yourself, but I''m not helping you!" She added.


    Lu Qingfeng smirked and shook his head. He knew Xi Qian would agree with him. He trusted Su Xiaofei when she said that Mo Yuchen wasn''t in her heart anymore, but he couldn''t just lower his guard when it came to Mo Yuchen.


    After all, that man was the one responsible for Su Xiaofei''s death in his previous lives. So how could he let the same thing befall Su Xiaofei this time? Lu Qingfeng didn''t think he would be lucky to get another chance at rebirth for the third time just to change Su Xiaofei''s fate.


    As they finished their conversation, Su Xiaofei returned from the powder room. She blinked at her twopanions and wondered if something had happened while she was gone. Xi Qian''s head was turned towards the window, while Lu Qingfeng was silently enjoying his coffee.


    Did they fight while she was gone? No. Su Xiaofei didn''t think so. The atmosphere between the two wasn''t the same as before, the air was as thick as butter and the tension so sharp one could cut through it.


    "Did I miss something?" She asked Lu Qingfeng once she took a seat next to Xi Qian.


    "Not that I know of." The young man replied nonchntly before eyeing Xi Qian across him.


    "What?" Xi Qian blinked at her best friend. "Who cares about him?"

 Chapter 172 - The Fault Is Mine (1)

    <h4>Chapter 172 - The Fault Is Mine (1)</h4>


    "You should have seen Cai Lin''s face when he realized that you toyed with him throughout the game. His face was so dark, I thought he was going to vomit blood at that instant!" Su Xiaofei burst into a round ofughter as she pushed herself on the swing in the garden while she and Lu Qingfeng were waiting for dinner.


    "He merely overestimated himself. If my teammates were the ones who yed with him, Cai Lin would also have a hard time defeating them." Lu Qingfeng sat patiently, flipping a page of the file Nine delivered to him earlier, which Su Xiaofei assumed to be part of his training in familiarizing himself with their family business.


    "He should have seen iting. He can only me himself for being arrogant." Su Xiaofei scoffed and cocked her head on one side. "But I really hadn''t expected that you would stand up for me earlier."


    "You think I would allow anyone to bully you when I''m around?" Lu Qingfeng raised a slender brow at her, noticing the dusty rose-tinted cheeks as she smiled at him.


    "No. You used to ignore them when we were younger, allowing me to do whatever I want to them instead." She grinned at him.


    Those boys who would dare to bully her would end up with a bloody nose, running for their lives. However, Lu Qingfeng would always take the me for not stopping Su Xiaofei from getting into trouble.


    Now that Su Xiaofei thought about it, it wasn''t Xiao Feng who should have matured back then, but her. She could only shake her head as she thought that nothing couldn''t be done to change it.


    "Well, they were children. Cai Lin is different, though. Add to the fact that he was a shrewd person. He wanted to humiliate you to please Ye Mingyu. How could I allow that to happen? Only I should be allowed to bully you." He said with a teasing tone. His lips parted in a dazzling disy of straight, white teeth.


    Su Xiaofei scoffed and red at him. There were still things that remained the same between them, even after his confession. He sat there, devilishly handsome. His firm mouth curled, as if always on the edge of a mockingughter.


    For others, they would feel immediate intimidation at the sight of Lu Qingfeng, but there would always be a group who would find his coldness charming.


    As for Su Xiaofei, now that she was paying more attention to Lu Qingfeng, it was clear that he had an air of authority and the appearance of one who demanded instant obedience, but she knew that she was always an exception to it.


    "Next time, you don''t need to rush forward to protect me. I can deal with men too." Sheined. She wasn''t even his girlfriend yet, but he was bing overprotective of her.


    What would happen if she became his? Ah, Su Xiaofei didn''t dare to think of it anymore. She could already sense a headacheing.


    His jaw tensed visibly at her words as he gave her a pointed look. Lu Qingfeng didn''t want her to get involved in a fight with a man at all. There were many men that were shrewd and conniving like Cai Lin. Some would surely covet after her because of her burgeoning beauty.


    Su Xiaofei was like a rose, beautiful but filled with thorns.


    "Not gonna happen. Feifei, you have to understand that some men need to be dealt with by another. A man who bullies a woman, isn''t a true man after all." He retorted.


    There were things that he regretted not doing in the past, and that included not protecting her enough from the people who tarnished her reputation. Now that she was here with him, yet again, Lu Qingfeng promised to do better this time.


    Su Xiaofei inclined her head inpliance. Since Lu Qingfeng put it that way, there was no need for her to argue about it anymore. A smile tipped the corners of her mouth.


    She found it odd that she was relying on the man''s help this time, when in her previous life, she had denied every attempt Lu Qingfeng made to protect her. How foolish she was back then.


    If there was a chance that Su Xiaofei could meet her past self, she would definitely give herself a good beating for being stupid. She couldn''t use her young age as an excuse for acting like a colossal fool.


    The glow of her smile somewhat thawed the coldness in Lu Qingfeng''s heart when he saw it. People always assumed that Su Xiaofei was up to no good whenever she smiled, however, that wasn''t always the case.


    Only a couple of people close to her could see her beautiful smile without malice, and this was what Lu Qingfeng wanted to preserve the most. He didn''t want to see her in a desperate state ever again.


    "As for Mo Yuchen, you have to be careful in the future. Don''t allow him to get close to you." He reminded her.


    "You are worrying too much, Xiao Feng. Just hearing his name is already repulsive to me, what more if he''s nearby? I''m not in love with him anymore. The only thing I have for him is loath." Su Xiaofei answered, aware that Lu Qingfeng was eyeing her with a calcting expression. There was something smoldering in the depths of his eyes that she couldn''t quite understand.


    "I know better now. I won''t make the same mistake again." She said vaguely, not knowing if Lu Qingfeng understood what she meant.


    ''I feel the same, Xiaofei, so please allow me to at least protect you.'' He thought, but didn''t dare to voice it out. He didn''t want toplicate things by saying that he was reborn like her.


    "Just promise me, that you won''t do something reckless because of me, Xiao Feng.. Don''t do anything that could hurt others for my sake."

 Chapter 173 - The Fault Is Mine (2)

    <h4>Chapter 173 - The Fault Is Mine (2)</h4>


    Was Su Xiaofei talking about the things he had done in his previous life? Lu Qingfeng wondered. Was she aware of the horrible things hemitted under her name after her death?


    Su Xiaofei was also reborn like him, so it was normal for her to remember some of her memories from her previous life, but how much could she remember, Lu Qingfeng wasn''t certain. However, if she was aware of the things he hadmitted after her death, wouldn''t that mean there was a possibility that she would me herself?


    Lu Qingfeng studied her intently for a moment. Knowing Su Xiaofei''s personality, she might actually me herself for his actions.


    He frowned the moment he realized this. Su Xiaofei should know by now that his actions were his and his alone. She shouldn''t bear the responsibility of it and me herself.


    "Feifei, you have to understand, whether it was in the past or in the future, the one responsible for my actions is me and not you. It''s my choice. My decision to do it. You don''t have to punish yourself because of it. The fault is always mine and not yours."


    Su Xiaofei stilled in her seat and stared wide-eyed at him. How¡­ How did he know? How did Lu Qingfeng know that she was feeling guilty that he had be a tyrant in her past life because of her? Was she really that obvious?


    "Why are you telling me this?" She asked with an awkward smile.


    "It''s precisely because I know you would me yourself for it. So I''m telling you now, the things I would do in the future in regard to you is my own choice. So don''t stress yourself on things I might do in the future."


    Su Xiaofei didn''t know why, but she felt like the burden on her shoulders had been lifted when she heard his words. Since her rebirth, the thought of Lu Qingfeng leading a lonely life was something that bothered her greatly.


    This young man who loved her until his veryst breath, Su Xiaofei, wasn''t willing to see him suffer the same fate he did in her previous life. She didn''t think Lu Qingfeng deserved to lead a lonely life at all.


    Well, if she epted his feelings, would he be happy with her? Su Xiaofei wasn''t sure about that. The only one who could tell if he was satisfied with his life would be Lu Qingfeng himself.


    "What are you thinking? Your cheeks are blushing?" She heard Lu Qingfeng''s teasing voice.


    Su Xiaofei immediately tried to suppress the blush on her face.


    "Whose blushing?! Open your eyes and see clearly! Stop spouting nonsense, Xiao Feng!" She scoffed.


    Lu Qingfeng cackled in amusement. Her reaction seemed to amuse him. For some reason, he found her displeasure amusing. He had never thought that Su Xiaofei would be this cute when she was shy.


    "So how''s the progress of your 100 million mission?" He asked as he finally took pity on her.


    "Bad. I only have 2 million with me and that''s my personal money." Su Xiaofei pouted. "Aside from trying my luck on the lottery, I don''t know how to earn money."


    "Didn''t Aunty Qing say that she will allow you to work at Bluemedia soon?"


    Su Xiaofei stood up and joined him. She took a seat across him and cupped her chin with both hands, while her arms were propped up on the table.


    "Yeah, but I''m only going to observe! That''s different from a part-timer. Mama isn''t willing for me to take up a part-time job at thepany yet, since she wants me to focus on my studies instead. Xiao Feng, do I really need to wait for a miracle for me to raise my 100 million?"


    Lu Qingfeng quirked his eyebrow questioningly.


    "You know the easiest way to get your 100 million." He said with a devilish smile.


    She shot him a re, but she bit her lower lip to stifle a grin.


    "Aiya, Xiao Feng. Why are you so eager to be my Money Boss? You really want me to hug your golden thigh?"


    "Who says that you can only hug my thigh? Feel free to touch me anywhere. I won''t mind at all." He gave her a flirtatious wink, something that made Su Xiaofei lose herposure, her chin fell from her hands and she almost hit her face on the table, if not for Lu Qingfeng leaning forward, pushing her shoulder to steady her.


    "Lu Qingfeng! How could you say that?! If people heard what you are saying to me, they might misunderstand that I''m harassing a minor!"


    Now, Su Xiaofei was really itching to hit Lu Qingfeng''s head for even trying to tease her like this. Thank goodness no one was around or she would really have to find a ce to hide herself from embarrassment.


    "What? Who said you''ll do it now, ah? Of course you''ll need to wait until I''m old enough. Silly Feifei." Lu Qingfeng said in defense and flicked her forehead as usual.


    "Oww!" Su Xiaofei hissed in pain and touched her forehead.


    Her skin was tender and sensitive. Normally, even if someone used a little strength to pinch her, her skin would be red for some time. This was why she was always annoyed when Lu Qingfeng flicked her forehead, because she would need to apply a cool ointment to lessen the redness on her skin.


    "If you aren''t going to help me raise my 100 million, stop annoying me, Xiao Feng." She grumbled, feeling wronged by him.


    "Well, raising 100 million is indeed hard. Not many businessmen could earn that money in a short span of time, unless they are doing something illegal," Lu Qingfengmented. "Have you ever considered other ways to defeat Mo Yuchen though? Like stopping him from seeding thepany?"


    Su Xiaofei frowned. How was she supposed to do that?


    Until something crossed her mind.. She totally forgot about the Mo family.

 Chapter 174 - The Fault Is Mine (3)

    <h4>Chapter 174 - The Fault Is Mine (3)</h4>


    Indeed, what Lu Qingfeng said was right. There were other ways to cause trouble for Mo Yuchen. He still hadn''t ascended as the CEO of Golden Star Entertainment yet, so there was still a chance to prevent his ascension.


    Mo Yuchen had recently joined Golden Star Entertainment, and it would take some time before he became thepany''s CEO.


    A smile found its way through the mask of Su Xiaofei''s uncertainty. She was unaware of the captivating picture she made in front of Lu Qingfeng when she smiled.


    "Xiao Feng, you are really a genius! Howe I didn''t consider that?" Su Xiaofei eximed.


    Mo Yuchen wasn''t the only one who was being considered to seed the Mo family business. In fact, he had been stuck in a fierce battle with his younger half-brother, Mo Yuan to seed thepany.


    They shared the same father, but were born from different mothers. After Mo Yuchen''s mother died when he was merely six years old, his father remarried and a yearter, Mo Yuan was born to his second wife.


    However, for some reason, even before Su Xiaofei met Mo Yuan, the man had died in a mysterious car ident. It happened five years before she married Mo Yuchen. With his death, thepany naturally ended up in Mo Yuchen''s hands.


    Even when she had be Madam Mo, no one from the Mo family mentioned what truly happened to Mo Yuan. It was as if his name and identity was already forgotten by the family. Su Xiaofei had also never met Mo Yuan''s mother and only knew her father-inw.


    Su Xiaofei''s thoughts halted at that, as it finally dawned to her that Mo Yuan might be still alive around this time. Five years¡­ If Mo Yuan was still alive, preventing his death would not give Mo Yuchen a headache in the future, she could even ask Mo Yuan forpensation for saving his life.


    Ah, wouldn''t it be like hitting two birds with one stone? Now, she only needed to make sure that Mo Yuan was alive, and then she would need to figure out the details of his ''death''ter based on what she could remember.


    She lifted her head and gripped Lu Qingfeng''s arm, her eyes glinting with mischief. Lu Qingfeng briefly thought that she was prettiest when she was like this.


    "Xiao Feng, do you think you can find out if Mo Yuan is back in the country?" She asked her childhood friend.


    Lu Qingfeng inwardly smiled. He knew that Su Xiaofei would be able to follow his way of thinking. He only needed to drop a clue and she was able to understand it easily. The death of Mo Yuan in their past life was rted to Mo Yuchen, of course. But surprisingly, the mastermind was the matriarch of the Mo family and not Mo Yuchen himself.


    The old matriarch doted on Mo Yuchen as she was the one who raised him after his mother died and his father remarried, building another family. For some unknown reason, the old woman didn''t approve of her new daughter-inw. Since she had deemed Mo Yuan as an obstacle to Mo Yuchen''s future, she wanted to eliminate him.


    ''Even a ferocious tiger won''t eat its own cubs, but the old woman killed her own kin, her other grandson to secure Mo Yuchen''s future.'' Lu Qingfeng thought. He didn''t want Su Xiaofei to get involved with that kind of family ever again.


    The rtionship between the Old Matriarch Mo and Su Xiaofei was also not good. The old woman asionally troubled Su Xiaofei and treated her with a cold shoulder. For the Mo family, Su Xiaofei was nothing but a pawn for their family to prosper. When Mo Yuchen started ignoring her, Su Xiaofei felt more alone than ever as she had no one to rely on.


    So how could Lu Qingfeng let the Mo family off the hook? It wasn''t enough for him to destroy Mo Yuchen alone. Since the Mo family was so proud of themselves, Lu Qingfeng wouldn''t spare any of them.


    After Su Xiaofei''s death, he exerted all efforts to destroy the Mo family, not giving them any chance to recover at all. Even now, Lu Qingfeng didn''t regret what he had done one bit, and would have done the same thing all over again if the Mo family dared to hurt Su Xiaofei again.


    "I can ask Nine to check it for us, but you would need to give him a day or two to investigate. We wouldn''t want the Mo family to know that we are snooping into their private affairs." Lu Qingfeng suggested.


    "Yes, yes, of course. I don''t mind waiting at all. Also, if you don''t mind, tell Nine to snoop on what Mo Yuchen is up to these days and find anything rted to his younger brother." She told Xiao Feng.


    ''Heh, Mo Yuchen, since you fucked up my life before, see if you would like me ruining yours!''


    "Okay, but you have to promise me not to meet Mo Yuan in public. I would have to be your aplice in this scheme of yours."


    Su Xiaofei pulled away from him and considered her options. She knew that meeting Mo Yuan would be dangerous. What if she and Lu Qingfeng were caught by the Mo family? If Mo Yuan''s death wasn''t really a simple ident, then she and Lu Qingfeng shouldn''t act recklessly this time.


    Lu Qingfeng patiently waited for her to make a decision. He had to make Su Xiaofei aware of the kind of danger she would face if she dared to use Mo Yuan against Mo Yuchen. As far as he could remember, Mo Yuan was also not a simple person that anyone could simply trifle with. He might be just as cunning and vicious as his older brother.


    "Fine. As long as you keep whatever we''re up to from Mama. I don''t want her to worry about these things.." Su Xiaofei conceded.

 Chapter 175 - A Thorn In Her Eyes (1)

    <h4>Chapter 175 - A Thorn In Her Eyes (1)</h4>


    Su Xiaofei was in a good mood the following day, knowing that Ye Mingyu would leave her alone and won''t cause any trouble for her in the meantime. A little break from that woman''s annoying face would be good for her sanity, as she wanted to return to the same caf¨¦ Lu Qingfeng had brought them yesterday to try the other desserts on their menu.


    The game between Lu Qingfeng and Cai Lin was still the talk of the academy, and many students were now gossiping behind Cai Lin and how he was involved with several women before meeting Ye Mingyu and breaking his engagement with Feng Xue''er.


    From the corner of her eyes, Su Xiaofei could see Feng Xue''er seated with her head down, trying hard to ignore the talks about her former fianc¨¦ and Ye Mingyu. It was obvious that she was still affected by Cai Lin''s betrayal, but she should have known that her one-sided love could only hurt her, Su Xiaofei thought.


    When Su Xiaofei and Xi Qian met Cai Lin in the hallway that afternoon, the young man just stared at Su Xiaofei and looked away. He then left without a word, as if he didn''t want to be spotted near Su Xiaofei.


    Xi Qian looked at Cai Lin''s retreating figure andughed.


    "My, my, Cai Lin is now running away with his tail between his legs from you. Lu Qingfeng must have affected Cai Lin really badly for him to act this way."


    Su Xiaofei only nced at Cai Lin and shook her head.


    "It''s a waste of time to talk to him. If he really had a good head over his shoulder, he would have realized the consequence of offending Feng Xue''er''s family." She said with a charming but vile smile.


    "What do you mean, Feifei?" Xi Qian hooked her arm with Su Xiaofei''s as they resumed their walk back to their ssroom.


    "The supposed union between Cai Lin and Feng Xue''er are advantageous for their families. The Feng family has been in the government for generations, while the Cai family is one of the richest families in Qiying City. By forming a marriage alliance, the Feng family is set to gain a lot of resources in exchange for strong backing and influence for the Cai family. The backing will help strengthen the Cai family''s standing against theirpetitors in the business sector." Su Xiaofei tried to exin.


    Xi Qian blinked and gave it a good thought. She hadn''t expected that it would be thatplicated.


    "So you mean if the marriage pushed through, both families would stand to gain more and expand their reach in their respective sectors. It would really be a great loss if Cai Lin and Feng Xue''er didn''t marry each other."


    "That''s right. It''s good that you understand their predicament." Su Xiaofei smiled at her.


    Both the Cai and Feng families were expecting for the marriage between the two to push through as Feng Xue''er seemed to be in love with Cai Lin, while thetter didn''t mind marrying the young miss of the Feng family.


    However, who would have thought that a Ye Mingyu woulde into the scene, ruining the n that both families had established for years?


    Of course, Su Xiaofei had considered what could happen when she decided to use Feng Xue''er against her beloved Da Jie.


    In her previous life, Cai Lin and Feng Xue''er had gotten married, but Cai Lin wasn''t faithful to his wife and had met Ye Mingyu behind Feng Xue''er''s back. Su Xiaofei might have hated Feng Xue''er, but knowing how oblivious thetter was about her husband''s betrayal, Su Xiaofei was torn between pitying her or letting Feng Xue''er be.


    In the end, Su Xiaofei felt that the sooner Feng Xue''er saw the kind of man Cai Lin was, the better. Obviously, there would be a lot of fights between dogs because of Su Xiaofei''s scheme, but she couldn''t be bothered by it. Whether Feng Xue''er remained stupid or not out of love depends on her.


    Su Xiaofei tried to suppress the sinister smile on her lips as she thought about it. By now, both families had been notified of what caused the breakup between Cai Lin and Feng Xue''er, and naturally, they would me none other than Ye Mingyu.


    Ye Mingyu would be too busy sooner orter. Her hands would be too full, and she wouldn''t have any spare time to scheme against Su Xiaofei.


    "But I don''t like it, Feifei. I feel like Feng Xue''er deserved better than to be used by her family as a bargaining chip to raise their family''s standing." Xi Qian said with a slight frown.


    When Su Xiaofei remained silent, Xi Qian continued.


    "Wouldn''t it be better if people marry because of love and not because of other reasons? The elder generation thought that a husband represented a woman''s happiness and future, but that isn''t the case in today''s society, right? A woman''s happiness doesn''t need to revolve around a man. A woman''s future could be determined by her own efforts."


    Su Xiaofei understood why Xi Qian was like this. Her best friend didn''t want to rely on a man. Perhaps it was because Xi Qian''s father had repeatedly disappointed Xi Qian to the point that she would rather do all the things she needed to do herself, including feeding and providing for herself.


    "Also, I heard that Feng Xue''er is talented in designing clothes and wants to pursue a career in fashion. Would she rather be a in housewife than chase after her dream?"


    "Who knows." Su Xiaofei shrugged. "The choice is hers. We can only wait and see how the future events unfold."


    She really didn''t care what Feng Xue''er wanted to do with her life. Su Xiaofei only needed her as a pawn against Ye Mingyu in the future.. Since the seed of enmity in Feng Xu''er had bloomed, Ye Mingyu would only be a thorn in her eyes.

 Chapter 176 - A Thorn In Her Eyes (2)

    <h4>Chapter 176 - A Thorn In Her Eyes (2)</h4>


    Su Xiaofei had waited patiently for the report about Mo Yuan ever since she discussed it with Lu Qingfeng. She knew how capable Nine was because she had witnessed how efficient his work was and how Lu Qingfeng trusted the man with his life.


    Nine wouldn''t make a mistake with his report. Just like Lu Qingfeng, this man''s pride was his skills. He rarely made a mistake, and if he did, he made sure that it wouldn''t repeat. He also treated Lu Qingfeng like he was his younger brother.


    This was why Su Xiaofei had high regards for Lu Qingfeng''s right-hand man. Even when Lu Qingfeng had handed thepany to his adopted son, Nine remained by his side and worked as his personal butler.


    As Su Xiaofei thought about the past, she didn''t realize that Lu Qingfeng had arrived and taken a seat next to her in the library.


    "You''re alone? Does Xi Qian have an early shift today?" Lu Qingfeng asked, pulling Su Xiaofei out of her thoughts.


    The young woman blinked twice and nodded. She had agreed to meet him here today after her ss ended.


    "En. She just left. You didn''t see her?" Su Xiaofei replied.


    Lu Qingfeng shook his head.


    "No. She probably took the east exit." There were two routes to reach the library anyway.


    "So¡­" Su Xiaofei lowered her voice and gently tapped her pen on her notebook. "Did Nine find something?"


    "Of course. We are talking about Nine here." Lu Qingfeng replied with a smirk. "He just sent the report to me."


    Su Xiaofei leaned closer, making sure that they were out of everyone''s earshot, not knowing that by moving closer, she was allowing Lu Qingfeng to get a closer look at her face.


    "So what is it?" She whispered to him.


    Lu Qingfeng blinked and forced himself to calm down and focus.


    "Mo Yuan will arrive in a week. Since Mo Yuchen has recently joined Golden Star, it is only natural that Mo Yuan''s mother is worried about the future of her young son."


    Su Xiaofei nodded in understanding.


    "She feels threatened. Mo Yuchen had started making his move and yet, her son was still wasting his time overseas."


    However, what Mo Yuan''s mother didn''t know was that she was only pushing her own son to his death by asking Mo Yuan toe home at this time.


    "What about Mo Yuchen? What is he up to?" She asked her childhood friend. Su Xiaofei then thought that she owed Lu Qingfeng big time for this.


    "No movement from his end, but someone did instead of him."


    Su Xiaofei snapped her head and faced him.


    "Then who is it?"


    "Old Matriarch Mo. She sent someone to keep an eye on Mo Yuan." Lu Qingfeng replied.


    Su Xiaofei furrowed her brows and fell silent. So it was actually that old woman? She would have never assumed that the old woman was capable of harming her own grandson.? Was Mo Yuchen the only one in her eyes?


    In her previous life, she didn''t have a good rtionship with Mo Yuchen''s grandmother. The old woman looked very dissatisfied when she looked at Su Xiaofei. Su Xiaofei used to admire the old matriarch and her home.


    The first time she visited the small manor where Elder Mo and the old matriarch lived, Su Xiaofei was envious of the elegance of their abode. But now, as she thought about it, thosevishnesses were superficial as the whole Mo family was corrupted on the inside.


    That old woman was very particr about appearances and although Su Xiaofei was confident with her appearance, the old woman always nitpicked on her. Old Matriarch Mo would always criticize her for wearing expensive designer clothes and would chastise her for not being frugal.


    The old Su Xiaofei, who never tasted bitterness in her whole life because she was pampered by her mother, didn''t understand why the old woman was being hard on her. If she dressed down, the old woman would say that she looked too dull and her clothes weren''t appropriate for her status.


    Old Matriarch Mo asionally berated her for still not conceiving a child after years of being married to Mo Yuchen. This old woman usually had an air of arrogance and when she opened her mouth, it only reminded them of her poor upbringing.


    Actually it was known that Matriarch Mo didn''t get along with her son''s new wife, Lan Xiaoju, Mo Yuan''s mother, as for the reason why, not many were aware of it.


    If Su Xiaofei hadn''t overheard the Mo family''s gossiping household maids, she would have never guessed that Old Matriarch Mo wasn''t the original wife of Elder Mo, but was a mistress he kept for a long time, only marrying her when thewfully wedded wife had died.


    The original wife was known toe from a prominent family, unlike Old Matriarch Mo whom the Elder Mo only met at one of his business meetings while she was working as a server. With her beauty, she was able to get his attention, thus the beginning of their long-term affair behind Elder Mo''s wife.


    Su Xiaofei could only shake her head as she thought about it now. Perhaps the old woman didn''t like being reminded of what she was before bing the madam of a wealthy family, and so Mo Yuan''s mother''s existence was a sore in her eyes.


    To be fair, Lan Xiaoju wasn''t Mo Yuchen''s father''s mistress, but a good friend who helped him when Mo Yuchen''s mother fell ill and got bedridden. He had met her at the hospital, where he frequently brought his wife for examinations. She was working as a doctor there.


    "I didn''t think that her feud with Madam Mo was this serious, hmm¡­"


    "She''s Mo Yuchen''s biggest supporter, and since she favored him, it is only natural that she would block the younger brother from stealing the spotlight." Lu Qingfeng shrugged.. "It''s normal for families such as the Mo family to have these secrets."

 Chapter 177 - Don’t Beat The Grass To Startle The Snake (1)

    <h4>Chapter 177 - Don¡¯t Beat The Grass To Startle The Snake (1)</h4>


    "Then we can only wait and see what will happen next." Su Xiaofei hummed as she racked her brain to remember when exactly Mo Yuan lost his life. She regretted not paying much attention to the people around her and their history.


    Actually, if Lu Qingfeng hadn''t mentioned it, she would have forgotten about Mo Yuan altogether.


    "Don''t stress yourself too much about it." Lu Qingfeng said, as if he knew her troubles. "I''ll send someone to keep an eye on him once he arrives. It should be easy to lure him to our side."


    Of course he knew the details of Mo Yuan''s death from their previous life, but it didn''t hold any importance in his quest to destroy the whole Mo family. Mo Yuan''s death had nothing to do with his beloved''s passing anyway.


    Su Xiaofei nodded. She had no other choice but to wait. Since she had already done her assignments, she asked Lu Qingfeng to y a game of chess with her.


    As she looked at the chessboard and its pieces, she felt like Lu Qingfeng was trying to lure her into a trap. For the onlookers, it may look like Su Xiaofei was actually winning, but Su Xiaofei knew better. That wasn''t the case.


    What was he trying to do? Su Xiaofei wondered. She couldn''t follow his way of thinking.


    Lu Qingfeng lowered his head slightly. Because of their positions, he could smell the young woman''s familiar scent. He was trying to teach Su Xiaofei not to becent with her actions. Although everything was going well in her quest for revenge, he needed to remind her of the dangers that were still lurking in the shadows.


    As their game continued, one by one, the chess pieces that Su Xiaofei had intricately set up to obstruct Lu Qingfeng were eliminated from the board. She frowned as she thought that she had already gained the upper hand when she was setting the traps.


    "Feifei, when setting up a scheme, one must execute it cleanly." Lu Qingfeng said, as his queen dominated Su Xiaofei''s bishop and rook at the same time. "Don''t beat the grass to startle the snake in the process."


    It was only then when Su Xiaofei realized what he was trying to say through their game. He was telling her that she still couldn''t lower her guard while seeking revenge, as another coffin would be waiting for her if she failed yet again.


    Just look, even though she had confidence in her traps and obstructed Lu Qingfeng''s pieces, he still found a way to break free from them. What if Lu Qingfeng wasn''t the only one who can see through her schemes? What would possibly happen to her then?


    In this world, there were no such things as coincidences. Every turn of events had a reason for it. Now that she was treading in deeper waters, which was the internal struggle of the Mo family, this held higher risk for her.


    "I see¡­" Su Xiaofei pondered over her choices now.


    If this was the case, then she needed to expand her views and see who else was part of her chessboard. She might have easily outwitted Ye Mingyu for now due to thetter''s inexperience, but in due time, Ye Mingyu might return sooner orter.


    As for Mo Yuchen, he was definitely a harder opponent for Su Xiaofei. By now, he was already starting to strengthen his power andworks, and with the Old Matriarch''s backing, it would be hard for Su Xiaofei to touch him, but that didn''t mean she cannot make his life harder.


    "Feifei, don''t interact with Mo Yuan in public, whatever happens. If you are meeting him, we will do it together in secret and won''t allow anyone to know that you''ve met him." Lu Qingfeng reminded her.


    Indeed, it would be like taunting the tiger if she dared to get involved with the Mo family''s problem, but it couldn''t be helped. There was no way she would allow Mo Yuchen to have a smooth sailing career at Golden Star, and keeping Mo Yuan alive would help her tremendously.


    The things that Mo Yuchen did in the past, she wouldn''t be able to forget them at all. While she was the one responsible for failing her mother, it was Mo Yuchen who had tricked her into marriage. In order for Mo Yuchen to get his hands on her mother''spany, he had acted as if he was finally moved by her efforts to be with him, and started to treat her a little better.


    "The final hearing of Chen Li''s case will be held on Friday. Do you have any ns?" Lu Qingfeng asked her as they fixed the chess pieces back to their starting ces.


    "Oh? I didn''t know it would be that fast, but I would like to see how this would end up for her. Are youing with me?" She nced at him with a wicked smile.


    "If you want to. We don''t have practice on Fridays anyway."


    "I''ll probably not tell Mama toe with us. I also want to use the opportunity to ask Su Haoran to sign the divorce papers already." Su Xiaofei ced her pawn forward.


    "I would rather for her not to see Su Haoran anytime soon." She added. "She and ourwyer are still studying the report before they can decide whether to bring the issue to court."


    Su Xiaofei had given to her mother the investigation report done by the Yun family on Su Haoran, and Yun Qingrong had aplicated reaction to it.


    "Speaking of the issues, I heard that the development n in the area where Xi Qian lives would be starting soon. You might want to talk to Xi Qian to settle on the sale of her house, before troubles knock on her door."


    Su Xiaofei froze on that. She almost forgot her best friend''s issue with her own family. Xi Qian would need to secure the selling of her house, even before her parents snoop over the issue.


    "Thanks, Xiao Feng."

 Chapter 178 - Don’t Beat The Grass To Startle The Snake (2)

    <h4>Chapter 178 - Don¡¯t Beat The Grass To Startle The Snake (2)</h4>


    The next day, Su Xiaofei indeed found her best friend furrowing as Xi Qian read the notice that she had received that morning. It was a letter of intention to buy her property at a slightly higher market price by a private developmentpany.


    Su Xiaofei paid attention to Xi Qian''s face, knowing fully well that her best friend was confused and felt lost at the same time. It wouldn''t be easy for Xi Qian to let go of her house, knowing how important it was to her.


    "What is it, Qian?" She asked, feigning ignorance over the matter.


    "Look, Feifei. Someone dropped this in my mailbox this morning, but I don''t know what it means." Xi Qian replied, passing the letter towards Su Xiaofei.


    Although Xi Qian could be considered smartpared to her peers, she had little to no knowledge when it came to legal matters such as this.


    "I think it is what it is, Qian. They are willing to purchase the lot as well as the house you live in right now at a fair price. Have you mentioned this to anyone, especially to your parents?"


    Xi Qian shook her head. What talk? Her parents seemed to have already forgotten that they had a daughter, now that they have their own families to tend to. Her meager monthly allowance arrivedte sometimes, and she couldn''t be bothered to give them a call and ask for more.


    Xi Qian was thankful that Aunty Liu was regrly preparing their lunchboxes, so her meal expenses were considerably reduced in the past weeks, allowing her to save a little more than her usual budget.


    "No. I feel like they wouldn''t help me at all."


    Su Xiaofei was pleased with her best friend''s answer. They would be able to settle this easily, as long as her parents didn''t find out about the sale of the property, but first¡­


    "Qian, do you want to sell it? Considering that they are willing to purchase it at a slightly higher market price, I guess that it is important for them to acquire that property. With the amount you''ll be getting from it, it should be enough to secure your tuition fee for med school."


    Xi Qian heaved a deep breath and leaned on her seat. Of course, she knew that. It was just that the house and the lot was something she inherited from her deceased grandmother, and she had so many good memories in that house. It was normal for her to hold sentimental value in that ce.


    Still, what Su Xiaofei just said was right. She wouldn''t have to worry about her tuition and lodging with that amount while attending med school. How can she not know how expensive the degree she was aiming for?


    There was no way that her parents would help her to pay her tuition fees as they had already dered before that she only needed to finish high school, then she would be on her own. If she sold the house, she could avoid working while attending med school, but it was also clear that it was hard for her to let it go.


    "I''m not sure what to do, Feifei. I also want to keep the house, but I''m also aware that I''m on an extremely tight budget." She confessed to her best friend.


    Thankfully, most of their ssmates had already left to go home, while Lu Qingfeng had a scheduled practice with the basketball team, so only the two of them remained.


    "I''m not versed in this kind of talks and business too, Qian." Su Xiaofei chuckled. "Why don''t we wait for Xiao Feng and ask him for his opinion."


    Xi Qian didn''t want to seek Lu Qingfeng''s help, but among the three of them, he was the smartest one and had experience in dealing with business transactions. So she begrudgingly agreed and waited with Su Xiaofei for Lu Qingfeng to finish his practice.


    "Feifei, what is it? You want to show me something?" Lu Qingfeng asked, when he arrived at the ssroom, where Su Xiaofei and Xi Qian were waiting.


    "Come here and help us, Xiao Feng. This came in Qian''s mailbox this morning." Su Xiaofei said, allowing the young man to read the contents of the letter.


    "It doesn''t sound so bad. The location of your house must be a critical part of their nning, so they are willing to spend morepared to others." Lu Qingfengmented, then nced at Xi Qian. "You don''t want to sell it?"


    "I''m actually considering keeping it." Xi Qian admitted.


    After all, that was where she grew up and made happy memories with her grandmother, the one who raised her when she was abandoned by her own parents.


    "Xi Qian, I don''t mean to be mean or anything¡­ but keeping your house would cost you more in the state it is in." Lu Qingfeng said nonchntly. He saw Xi Qian flinch from his words, but she needed to understand her situation and her options.


    "As for the developmentpany, they might give you trouble in the future just to force you to sell it at a lower price. You have to understand your bottom line and cut off the losses before it drags you down." He continued.


    "What do I do then?" Xi Qian frowned, but she couldn''t refute Lu Qingfeng''s ims. Keeping the house and restoring it would cost her a lot of money, something that she wascking at this very moment.


    "Secure the copies of the original title of the property first, then seek a professional''s help to appraise the actual price of your house. Only then we can think of how muchpensation you could ask the developmentpany to pay you.. Since you are already at legal age, naturally, you don''t need the consent of your parents to sell it if it''s already under your name, but if it isn''t, then you have a problem if they contest it in court."

 Chapter 179 - The Fate Of The Wicked (1)

    <h4>Chapter 179 - The Fate Of The Wicked (1)</h4>


    "The property is already transferred under my name, that, I''m sure of." Xi Qian replied to Lu Qingfeng''sment. She couldn''t believe that this little tyrant was willingly helping her right now, but she had to admit that Lu Qingfeng was making it easier for her to deal with her problem.


    "You already have the documents and the title?" Lu Qingfeng questioned.


    "En. It''s in my possession. Grandma already prepared it before she died, so I didn''t need to do much."


    "Then, would you agree if I call a realtor now to appraise your home?" Lu Qingfeng continued to probe.


    Xi Qian fell silent at that. Was she really going to sell her house in order for her to continue her studies? Then where would she live after that? She knew how expensive it was to rent a house in a bustling city like Qiying City.


    As if sensing her predicament, Su Xiaofei hooked her arm with Xi Qian''s. The slight scowl on Xi Qian''s face was already a giveaway of her dilemma.


    "Qian, if you are worried about where to stay, you can live with me and Mama. Our house is huge, and we still have spare bedrooms you could use. If you don''t like that, then I don''t mind lending you my apartment, I haven''t gone there in weeks. The only payment I ask is for you to keep it clean while I''m not around."


    "Feifei¡­ this¡­" Xi Qian looked at her with teary eyes. She wasn''t blessed with a pair of responsible and dependable parents, but she felt like heaven had graced her a good friend in the form of Su Xiaofei.


    "Isn''t this too much?"


    "What is too much? You are my best friend. If I was the one in your shoes, I know you would also do your best to help me. How can I allow you to sleep on the streets? With the money you would gain from selling your house, you can attend the med school you''ve been eyeing for. You don''t need to waste money renting a small ce and use that money to continue your studies. Just ept my offer, Qian. I''m already considering selling that ce since I''m not using it." Su Xiaofei countered.


    Xi Qian smiled and wiped her tears dry. "I haven''t even taken the entrance exams yet, how could you be certain that I would get admitted to med school?"


    "With the kind of brain you have, it''s not impossible, Qian. You only need to give it your best shot, and you''ll make it." She gave Xi Qian a confident wink.


    If Su Xiaofei put it that way, how can Xi Qian not do her best? In this world, the person who first believed Xi Qian''s capabilities weren''t her parents, but her grandmother and Su Xiaofei.


    "Did you already apply for the entrance examination?" Su Xiaofei inquired. With Xi Qian''s busy schedule, juggling school and her part-time job, Su Xiaofei wouldn''t be surprised if her best friend forgot about it.


    "En. I just filed itst week. How about you, Feifei? What are your ns after graduation?" Xi Qian was the one who questioned Su Xiaofei this time. It seemed that even Lu Qingfeng was curious to hear the young woman''s answer.


    "Well¡­" Su Xiaofei knew that she cannot neglect her studies this time. She nced at Lu Qingfeng, who was looking at her, as if he wanted her toe with him to Shenjing, but that''s not possible.


    Unlike these two, Su Xiaofei knew her limits. She didn''t have the ability to excel academically like them. It would be hard for her to enter the med school Xi Qian wanted to attend, and she didn''t have the heart to leave her mother on her own just to follow Lu Qingfeng in Shenjing.


    "I''ll stay here with Mama and attend a university in Guangshang." She finally replied. It wasn''t like she would be separated from these two friends of hers once they graduated from QCA.


    "Why in Guangshang? Why couldn''t it be here in Qiying City too?" Xi Qian furrowed her brows in confusion, while Lu Qingfeng immediately understood the reason behind Su Xiaofei''s decision.


    "So it will be easier for me to reach Bluemedia after sses." Su Xiaofei had decided to seed her mother in thepany. In her previous life, she had zero chance of protecting her mother and Bluemedia because she didn''t have what it took to lead thepany, unlike Mo Yuchen.


    "Ohh¡­ so you and Lu Qingeng would be bigshot CEOs in the future while I''ll be a poor doctor who barely has time to sleep, doing rounds." Xi Qian giggled. Just thinking about their future already improved her dampened mood.


    "Okay. Lu Qingfeng, can you please call the realtor to appraise my house then? I would like to settle this issue as soon as possible." She told Lu Qingfeng. "It would be better if I could sell it at the highest possible price."


    The young man nodded and pulled out his phone. "That can be arranged."


    He had sent his personal assistant, Miss Katarina, to contact the person who could help Xi Qian solve her current predicament. At least now, Su Xiaofei wouldn''t think that he was heartless towards Xi Qian.


    The next day, Xi Qian found herself seated across the developmentpany''s representative, with the realtor andwyer Lu Qingfeng had arranged for her. She didn''t think that the little tyrant would be able to arrange things for her this fast, but she reminded herself to thank him properly for his assistanceter.


    "Miss Xi, thank you for cooperating with us." The man across from her said with a polite smile before pushing a cheque worth 1.2 million to her.


    Xi Qian was rendered speechless upon seeing it.. She hadn''t expected that Lu Qingfeng''s people were able to close the deal at such a high price. She had never thought that her little, old house would cost over a million!

 Chapter 180 - The Fate Of The Wicked (2)

    <h4>Chapter 180 - The Fate Of The Wicked (2)</h4>


    Friday came, which meant that today, Chen Li would receive the verdict for her recent actions. Since Su Xiaofei refused to forgive her and sued her with identity theft and defamation, it only meant that she wouldn''t be able to leave the correctional center for a long time.


    Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng silently entered the courtroom and sat at the farthest seat where they could still observe the hearing of the case. From the corner of her eyes, she found Housekeeper Chen, gripping a handkerchief tightly in her hands, her face and appearance seemed to have aged by ten years within the short span of time since Chen Li was arrested by the police.


    Next to her, Chen Hao stood with a deep frown etched on his face. It was like he couldn''tprehend what was going on, and why his little sister was on trial. He was thinking that his sister was too young to be persecuted like this.


    Su Xiaofei had her sunsses on, waiting patiently for the hearing to start. She would like to witness how desperate this pair of shameless mother and daughter could be once the verdict was delivered.


    It was a little surprising that Su Haoran and Ye Mingyu weren''t around. Su Xiaofei knew that they wouldn''t easily burn their bridges with the Chen family, not when Housekeeper Chen knew a lot of their secrets. As Su Xiaofei thought about this, she wondered if the older woman was somehow still useful for her or not.


    Speaking of the devil, Su Haoran, along with Ye Xing and Ye Mingyu finally arrived. The three were startled upon seeing Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng seated behind the courtroom. Su Haoran strode towards them, with clenched fists.


    All the problems that they were facing now stemmed from this wicked young woman. Su Haoran thought that it was unfathomable that a mere young girl was able to cause them such troubles, however, as he looked at her wicked smile, his doubts were all cleared.


    "You evil girl! How could you set up your cousin like this? You even humiliated your elder sister in public!" He scolded her in such a loud voice that would obviously attract others'' attention.


    "Papa, Chen Li broke thew, while dear Da Jie made a fool of herself. Howe it''s my fault when they willingly did those things themselves?" Su Xiaofei sighed, feigning being wronged by her father. "Isn''t it enough that you leave me and Mama for these people and now you want to scold me in front of everyone?"


    This naturally painted Su Haoran as a shameless person. People around them weren''t dumb. If this youngdy was saying that her father abandoned her and her mother for these people apanying him, it was clear how horrible a person he was.


    Hearing what Su Xiaofei had just said, Ye Xing scolded her in her heart. Ever since people found out about her and her Xiao Yu, people branded her as the Xiao San, who ruined someone else''s family to build her own.


    Meanwhile, Ye Mingyu''s pretty face contorted into an ugly one. Really, this Su Xiaofei knew how to stab them painfully with the right words.


    "Then Xiaofei, what are you doing here?" She probed, wanting to know what this vicious viiness wanted this time.


    "Of course it''s to see the fate of the wicked. I can''t possibly miss the ending of such an entertaining show." Su Xiaofei''s words were full of ridicule, Housekeeper Chen seemed to overheard what she just said and was angered by it.


    "Now, now, please don''t look at me like that, dear Da Jie. Weren''t you the one who told Chen Li that she could get anything she wanted from my possession? So howe it''s my fault now? Chen Li''s demise is in your hands, Ye Mingyu."


    "X-Xiaofei, what are you talking about? I didn''t¡­." Ye Mingyu stuttered.


    A touch of red spread on Ye Mingyu''s face. She couldn''t help but feel embarrassed to be outed by Su Xiaofei''s words. When she looked at her Aunty Chen and Chen Hao''s direction, she was shocked to find them ring furiously at her.


    With only a few words, Su Xiaofei managed to implicate her, sowing discord between her and the Chen family. This kind of instigation was quite ruthless and urate. Su Xiaofei was really far from the rumors pointing to her foolish and nasty temperament. No one probably expected that she could be this hostile towards them.


    If it was before, they all thought that she was just acting strong to protect herself, but now, they knew that there wasn''t a shed of pretense in Su Xiaofei anymore as she was really this unpredictable and hateful woman.


    "You hateful girl! See if I don''t teach you a lesson now! Qingqing has spoiled you too much, now you even dare to scheme against others!" Su Haoran''s face was contorted with so much anger, the veins on his temple were throbbing.


    "Ah? Papa wants to hit me? Then what should I do? If Mama and Grandpa Yun know that you hit me, don''t me me if theye after you to settle this matter." Su Xiaofei said in a threatening tone, while Lu Qingfeng''s face morphed into an Asura, as if daring the older man to hit the youngdy next to him.


    Su Haoran also never thought that the young girl his wife adopted would be able to threaten him like this. Since when did Yun Qingrong mend her rtionship with her family? Also, ording to Su Xiaofei''s words, she was also implying that the Yun family had just acknowledged her as part of their family.


    What the hell was going on?! He thought. How did Su Xiaofei manage to make to Yun family ept her?


    "So, Papa, are you still going to hit me to discipline me for something I didn''t do?" Su Xiaofei''s words sounded like a mocking tone of a devil, whispering in Su Haoran''s ears.

 Chapter 181 - The Fate Of The Wicked (3)

    <h4>Chapter 181 - The Fate Of The Wicked (3)</h4>


    ''Do you dare?'' Su Xiaofei looked smugly at her useless adopted father. ''Do you dare toy a hand on me, knowing you would make the Yun familye after you?''


    It was General Yun''s fault for acknowledging her as his granddaughter. Didn''t he consider that she didn''t care about their family''s reputation and would shamelessly use her position to bully others before epting her, or was it just a facade for being Yun Qingrong''s daughter?


    "Enough! You''ve truly be unruly every time I see you." Su Haoran, of course, wouldn''t dare to hurt her if the Yun family was now backing her up. Today, he only said those words out of anger, but who would have thought that Su Xiaofei would be more venomous ever since theirst meeting?


    It had only been a few weeks, how did this unruly daughter of his turned into a new leaf overnight? The more he looked at her, the more he couldn''t predict what she was even thinking. She had drastically changed and became a thorn in his eyes.


    He could only look at her with a trace of anger in his eyes. Su Haoran was so tempted to beat her until she wouldn''t be able to smile at him like this.


    "Oh? Since your divorce with my Mama is already certain, Papa shouldn''t bother to discipline me anymore. However, if you really thought I wronged ''Da Jie'', then I will surely atone for my sins."


    As Ye Mingyu heard it, she couldn''t help but feel goose bumps all over her. Those words didn''t sound like a simple statement. It was like there was a hint of warning on Su Xiaofei''s words. She hadn''t known Su Xiaofei for a long time, but Ye Mingyu was surprised with the intensity of her hatred towards her.


    Su Haoran and the others left Su Xiaofei and went to see the Chen family. However, it was obvious that there was tension from both families as Housekeeper Chen shot Ye Mingyu a fierce re, while thetter lowered her head in shame.


    When Chen Li was brought into the courtroom, she didn''t look like her usual self. It seemed that being held in custody had put a lot of stress on her, as the once proud and arrogant youngdy was now looking helpless and pitiful.


    If there''s a word that Su Xiaofei could use to describe Chen Li, it would be desperate, but did she care if this youngdy''s future had been ruined by her? Certainly not. It was because she had now realized the errors of her ways in her past life that she was willing to take extra measures to seek vengeance on them.


    So what if she was cruel and ruthless? To Su Xiaofei, it didn''t matter how others perceive her anymore, as long as the one to suffer pain and humiliation wouldn''t be her, but her enemies. Even if her methods were cold and cruel, she would bear the consequences of her sins.


    Lu Qingfeng didn''t miss the vicious glint that shed in her eyes. People were ready to point fingers at her, calling her names that could hurt not only one''s ear, but could stab a heart painfully like a knife, but Su Xiaofei endured all of it.


    It was because she knew, and he knew that if she remained the same ignorant young woman everyone yed with and deceived in her past life, these same people would trample her, hurt her and worse would scheme to hurt her mother.


    Being reborned with her memories kept intact, Su Xiaofei would definitely not just sit idly and remain ignorant of the schemes being directed at her. Su Haoran and Ye Mingyu had failed to coerce Yun Qingrong, but it would certainly not be easy to make a move against Mo Yuchen.


    Oddly enough, Lu Qingfeng felt that he was falling deeply in love, the more he saw her like this. Her confident, arrogant smiles, her taunting, ridiculing words, the cold stare she had whenever she was angry, inciting disharmony among others¡­ it didn''t make her less lovable in his eyes.


    Su Xiaofei was beautiful, even if others thought her smiles were frightening. To be the tyrant''s woman, one shouldn''t let others defeat her in a typical scheme.


    When the final verdict was announced, Chen Li raised her head and cried hysterically. She yelled for her mother''s help and kept on saying that it wasn''t her fault. She continued to cry hoarsely along with her mother.


    Su Xiaofei sat still, motionless, as Chen Li was sentenced to imprisonment for twelve years. She would spend the first three years in a correctional facility for juveniles, and would then be transferred to a regr one.


    Thewyer, whom Su Haoran hired to defend Chen Li, lowered his head and apologized to their family. Madam Chen continued to cry helplessly, while Chen Hao bit his lips, but didn''t say anything. He was still clueless as to why this was happening to his family.


    The crying only became louder when the officers dragged Chen Li away from her mother as they cried hysterically, refusing to be separated from each other. The scene somewhat reminded Su Xiaofei of her, begging these two women in the hallway of the hospital to see her mother, only for her to be chased away.


    The pain of being forcibly separated from her mother, did they understand the pain now that it was happening to them?


    Su Xiaofei lowered her gaze for a moment, as if she was trying to rein the raging hatred in her eyes. No, this wasn''t enough to quell the hatred she was still nursing in her heart. She wouldn''t be satisfied until every one of them reached a dead end, only to cut the remaining string of their hope.


    "Xiao Feng, let''s go. We''re already done here." She said, as she held her purse and adjusted her sunsses.


    She and Lu Qingfeng left the courtroom, the cries of the two women lingering in their ears as they turned their back to everyone.

 Chapter 182 - The Birthday Banquet (1)

    <h4>Chapter 182 - The Birthday Banquet (1)</h4>


    Along with the passage of time, Su Xiaofei''s following days seemed to have been filled with peace. With the news of Chen Li''s imprisonment and Su Haoran being sued in court by her mother and Bluemedia for embezzlement, it only improved her good mood.


    Heh, let those fools enjoy the storm of clouds gathered over their heads. Since they had the guts to scheme against her and her mother, they better be aware of the consequences of such actions when they were revealed to the public.


    When the news about Su Haoran being sued by his wife and Bluemedia went out, Ye Mingyu stoppeding to school, as if she was avoiding being looked down on by others. While she loved being the center of everyone''s attention, she certainly didn''t want to be seen in a bad light!


    Su Xiaofei knew this, but would she bother to hide herself because of the storm that just hit her father? No way. She continued to attend the academy, ignoring the looks being thrown at her, as if it didn''t bother her one bit. No one had the guts to confront her anyway. Even Yang Jing, the known troublemaker in their ss, didn''t dare to tease her.


    Just as she was enjoying her day, she received a message from Lu Qingfeng, informing her that Mo Yuan was scheduled to arrive today and asked her if she wanted to meet the young man.


    Su Xiaofei stared nkly at her phone for a long time, so it attracted Xi Qian''s attention.


    "What''s wrong, Feifei? Did something happen again?" Xi Qian asked. Of course she had heard about Chen Li''s imprisonment and the news about Su Haoran embezzling the funds of Bluemedia. She feared that Su Xiaofei would be med for it.


    "No. It''s Xiao Feng asking me out." Su Xiaofei gave her best friend a reassuring look.


    Xi Qian blinked at that before a deep frown appeared on her face.


    "I''ve been meaning to ask this, Feifei. What''s going on between you and Lu Qingfeng? Are you seeing each other? Is this why he''s awfully kind to metely?"


    This made Su Xiaofeiugh behind her hand. Just looking at Xi Qian''s serious face was enough to remind her of the deal she had made with her when they were younger.


    "Calm down, Qian. Xiao Feng and I don''t have that kind of rtionship." She said truthfully, while Xi Qian narrowed her eyes in suspicion.


    "Not in a rtionship, or is it not ''yet?''" She emphasized thest word. Xi Qian didn''t believe one bit that there was no attraction between the two.


    Su Xiaofei only gave her a meaningful smile and shook her head. Things between her and Lu Qingfeng, there''s no need to rush it. They would allow it to bloom on its own if they were destined to be together.


    "It''s nothing like that, Qian. I asked Xiao Feng for a favor recently, and he was just informing me that the one I''ve been waiting for has just arrived. He''s asking me if I want to see it today." She exined, without revealing that she was supposed to meet Mo Yuchen''s younger brother.


    "So you aren''t going on a date?" Xi Qian raised a slender brow at her.


    "What date? Qian, you will be the first to know if I''m seeing someone."


    "It''s good that you remember, Feifei. Whether it is Lu Qingfeng or another man, you have to tell me, alright?" Xi Qian insisted.


    "Alright. Alright. I promise. Now, let me drop you off at your workce, before I see Xiao Feng."


    Once Su Xiaofei parted with Xi Qian, she met Lu Qingfeng near the airport. She hadn''t failed to notice that many young women were stealing nces at Lu Qingfeng, but he only looked at his book as if he couldn''t be bothered by their stares.


    "Am Ite?" Su Xiaofei asked as she rushed to take a seat across from Lu Qingfeng, who was currently enjoying his drink.


    "No. Still early. We need to wait for another hour for his arrival." The young man replied, waving a hand to call for the waiter, knowing Su Xiaofei would want something to eat while waiting.


    They were seated at a strategically good position to see the exit of the airport. They would be able to see every person leaving the ce. An hour passed by with the two busy reading books and magazines, and when it was almost time, Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng nced at the exit of the airport.


    Finally, they found the person they''d been waiting for. The young man, almost the same age as Su Xiaofei exited the airport with a middle-aged woman clinging on his arm with a wide smile on her face. Su Xiaofei had no doubt that they were Mo Yuan and his mother, Lan Xiaoju.


    It was definitely Mo Yuan, because she felt that he was somewhat familiar, as if she had seen or met him somewhere. In her memory, she always thought about Mo Yuchenthat she rarely paid attention to others. Perhaps she had met Mo Yuan before without knowing that he was Mo Yuchen''s little brother before they got married.


    This young man looked high-spirited, glowing with youth and vigor. He was sporting a huge smile that could make people feel warm on his face, so far from the frigid, cold countenance of his elder brother.


    "Feifei, are you aware of the banquet the Yun family is going to host in two weeks?" She suddenly heard Lu Qingfeng ask.


    "En. What about it?" She questioned in return.


    "Our family received a formal invitation to attend. I suppose the Mo family should have received one too by now. Are you nning to go with Mo Yuchen, or do I still have a chance to steal his ce?"


    Su Xiaofei nced at his face, her lips curling up.


    "I''ll choose Xiao Feng a hundred times ¡ª No, an infinite number of times over Mo Yuchen."

 Chapter 183 - The Birthday Banquet (2)

    <h4>Chapter 183 - The Birthday Banquet (2)</h4>


    It was rare for the Yun family to host a party ever since Yun Qingrong was disowned by General Yun. However, this year''s banquet was still one of the most anticipated events in the upper social circle. Even if the Yun family rarely made any connection with other families, they were still considered to be part of the upper ss with the prestige and wealth the family had maintained over several generations.


    Now that the news of Yun Qingrong''s return to the family had spread, many of those families whose businesses were in media and entertainment wanted to be acquainted with her.


    It will be a rare chance for everyone to establish some sort of connection with the Yun family. Some were also curious to see if her only daughter was as unruly and haughty as the rumors had made her out to be.


    On the day before General Yun''s birthday, Su Xiaofei found herself seated next to her mother as she met the whole Yun family for the first time. Yun Xiang was seated with his two siblings. His mother had passed away a few years ago and Yun Yuanzhi never remarried.


    Meanwhile, her Uncle Zhaonan was busy talking with his only son, a twelve-year-old boy, and wife and finally, Yun Shao, who had a seven-year-old son was seated next to his beautiful wife. This was the first time that the Yun family was seated around the dining table having dinner.


    Contrary to Yun Xiang''s expectation, Su Xiaofei wasn''t as nervous as he expected her to be when meeting the rest of the Yun family. In fact, it was as if she was used to making conversation with others easily, as if this was some sort of a norm for her. She was polite, but it also felt distant at the same time.


    "Xiao Fei, I heard that you are trying to break your engagement with the Mo family. Is this true?" Old General Yun asked as he shot Su Xiaofei a curious look. Although he just epted Su Xiaofei as part of their family, he wasn''t willing to make enemies out of other families because of her, just yet.


    "En. I have learned a lot from Mama''s failed marriage. While I know now that love is still an important factor in marriage, trust between husband and wife should be the foundation of it. What I felt for Young Master Mo before was nothing but foolish infatuation." Su Xiaofei said nonchntly, which earned an approving nod from her third uncle, Yun Shao.


    Yun Qingrong''s eyes shed with a hint of guilt as she ced her hand over Su Xiaofei''s delicate ones. She hadn''t thought that her marriage would somehow affect her Feifei''s view when ites into marriage.


    "Then? Are you seeing someone now?" The old man continued to probe.


    Su Xiaofeiughed inwardly. Why were they suddenly curious about her affairs? However, she didn''t know why she thought of Lu Qingfeng when General Yun asked her this question.


    "I do have someone in mind, but I would rather focus on my studies and help Mama at thepany first rather than wasting my time dating."


    The old man seemed to be pleased with her answer. He sat with his back as straight as a ramrod while giving Su Xiaofei a good look.


    "I wouldn''t be able to persuade Old Man Mo to allow your engagement to be broken."


    "It''s fine, Grandpa. You don''t need to worry about that. I will make sure that it would be the Mo family who would break the engagement and take the me for it." Su Xiaofei said with a smile that promises the Mo family''s humiliation in the future.


    Yun Qingrong slightly frowned over her daughter''s words. She couldn''t understand why her Feifei was like this towards Mo Yuchen and his family. She had heard from Aunty Liu that Mo Yuchen had visited them a few weeks ago, but Feifei drove him away and left with Xiao Feng.


    As she thought about this, she also felt that her daughter seemed to be closer with Lu Qingfeng these days as they were always together. Not that she didn''t approve of the young man. In fact, she felt assured whenever her daughter was in Xiao Feng''spany because she knew that he was able to rein her daughter''s temper, as Feifei would always listen to him.


    Meanwhile, Old General Yun couldn''t help but think that this new granddaughter of his was quite vicious. His Qing''er might not even know what kind of monster she had picked up and raised over the years.


    Su Xiaofei would never allow herself to get the shorter end of the stick and allow others to take advantage of her. While it''s good to be smart, it''s dangerous for someone to be this devious. However, given Su Xiaofei''s personality, she would obviously not put her mother''s name to shame.


    "Alright. Don''t worry though, if the Mo family dares to bully you, it''ll be troublesome, but since you are a member of the Yun family now, we''ll help you no matter how troublesome it would be." He told the young woman.


    "Thank you Grandfather. Xiao Fei would surely rely on the Yun family when that timees." The corners of Su Xiaofei''s lips hooked up, but she didn''t take the words of the old man to heart, because she knew that in this world, she could only rely on Lu Qingfeng when things turned to worse.


    Afterwards, the family talked about how they should host the banquet the next day and who would be in charge of which task. When the discussions were over, they all retired to their respective rooms. Su Xiaofei and her mother would spend the night at the Yun Mansion for the first time, in her mother''s room during her maiden years.


    Before Su Xiaofei drifted off to slumber, she heard her mother whisper to her.


    "Feifei, tomorrow, try not to provoke the Mo family, okay? This is my only request to you."


    Su Xiaofei wanted to argue, but decided to keep her mouth shut.

 Chapter 184 - The Birthday Banquet (3)

    <h4>Chapter 184 - The Birthday Banquet (3)</h4>


    The Yun family was one of Liaoshu city''s four prominent families. They were rtively lowkey and independent, and they rarely made an appearance in public and social gatherings. However, now that one of the Yun siblings was known to own an entertainmentpany, it only proved that they could easily dabble in different fields and not limited to military affairs alone.


    However, it was also known that the Yun family possessed intelligenceworks around the world and were definitely many times stronger than what they showed on the surface. This was exactly why Su Xiaofei had used the family to gather intelligence about Su Haoran''s misconducts and asked Yun Xiang to investigate Si Xiqian''s missing younger sister.


    As the oldest elder and head of the Yun family, Old General Yun''s birthday was held with great importance. The Yun family actually didn''t like to hold big gatherings, but they knew socializing would help to maintain their connection with the others, as that would guarantee much needed resources for the family to continue to flourish in the future.


    It was no wonder that when the doors of the Yun estate were opened, arge group of guests arrived even before the banquet was scheduled to start. The majority of them were seniors who were acquainted with General Yun.


    Su Xiaofei felt that she was a little out of ce as most of the guests were middle-aged and seniors that were trying to curry favor with the old man and her mother. Other guests, who hade to greet her, were just curious to see her, since they heard that the Yun family had just gained a new granddaughter.


    "I hope I didn''te toote. Grandpa and I had a meeting with a partner beforeing here." Lu Qingfeng announced his arrival to this beautiful young miss who was seated alone on a couch, clearly rubbing her temple in annoyance. He would have arrived earlier if he and his grandfather didn''t have any priormitments. Plus, the trip to Liaoshu city took two hours from Qiying City.


    The moment Su Xiaofei heard Lu Qingfeng''s voice, she almost shouted for joy at having apanion today. She didn''t know how long she could endure dealing with other men, who were shamelessly eyeing her as if she wasn''t the granddaughter of the birthday celebrant.


    Lu Qingfeng blinked and gave her a good look. Today, she was wearing a purple and ck evening dress by Butterfly Chrysalis. He was certain that she had changed her favorite color from the usual bloody red and ck color she used to sport in her previous life.


    "How is it? How do I look?" Su Xiaofei asked when she noticed that he was checking her out.


    "Hmm, you look stunning as always. Purple suits you well, but I thought that you''d get a look with red color."


    Purple was a solemn and noble color, and not many young women could wear such a color because it could easily make one look more mature than her actual age. But on Su Xiaofei, the dark purple only made her pale skin attractive, and her eyes more prominent and dazzling than usual. Even when she was seatedzily like this on the couch, it gave her an air of nobility and importance.


    "I still like red, but not that much anymore." Su Xiaofei admitted, not mentioning that it was also because purple and red were the direct opposites of each other.


    Purple snatched the magnificence of the grandiose facade of the red, while unabashedly opposing the authority. It was Su Xiaofei''s way of reminding herself not to make the same mistakes she had done in her previous life.


    "You don''t look bad yourself." She grinned at Lu Qingfeng and patted the space next to her, so he could take a seat.


    "Oh? When have you ever seen me in a not-so-dashing state?" He smirked in return.


    Su Xiaofei wanted to say that she had previously seen him in his undressed state before, but bit her inner cheek to stop herself, as those memories were from when she had turned into a ghost after her death. Although the one she had seen was the adult Lu Qingfeng, it''s still inappropriate for her to think about his body.


    "I don''t know." She shrugged instead. "Maybe in the future, I''ll be able to see it."


    Lu Qingfeng''s eyesughed at her as he shook his head.


    "You will have plenty of chances if you be Madam Lu. Your 100 million is also within reach."


    "Ah, Xiao Feng, tempting me like this. How can you be so cruel? I will definitely not marry you for money. I won''t! This one doesn''t dare. I don''t want to be called a cradle robber."


    Although she knew that Lu Qingfeng was certainly not joking and truly wanted to marry her, she didn''t want to be a slut who only knew how to sell herself for money. However, wasn''t it weird for a young man like him to try to hit on someone like her?


    Their elders were busy receiving other guests and respective partners that came today, leaving Su Xiaofei in Lu Qingfeng''spany. As hours passed, Su Xiaofei saw guests ranging from different industries and marvelled at how many people hade to greet the old man. While some of them had left immediately after offering their respect and gifts, and a brief chat, only a few intended to stay for the banquet.


    Before the evening banquet began, Su Xiaofei briefly left Lu Qingfeng''s side to help her mother with the reception. As a beautiful young woman standing next to Yun Qingrong, it was only natural that Su Xiaofei became the center of everyone''s attention.


    Su Xiaofei was used to being ogled or stared at, given her upation as an actress in her previous life. However, the moment she spotted a familiar figure in the crowd, the smile on her face slightly faltered.. Her eyes briefly met Mo Yuchen''s.

 Chapter 185 - No Regrets (1)

    <h4>Chapter 185 - No Regrets (1)</h4>


    Yun Qingrong didn''t miss how her Feifei stiffened next to her. She thought that her daughter was just a little nervous facing the crowd. However, when she followed her daughter''s sight, she immediately understood what caused her uneasiness.


    The Mo family had just arrived, and they had yet to greet them. She was the one who told Su Xiaofei not to seek trouble with the Mo family, but it was clear that her Feifei was having a hard time right now.


    Yun Qingrong wondered what had happened between her and Mo Yuchen that made her act like this. Her Feifei didn''t tell her anything about her and Mo Yuchen, and she could only surmise that the two had a bad fight, which led to her daughter walking away from their engagement.


    Still, as the hosts of the banquet, they needed to give the Mo family some face. Yun Qingrong greeted Elder Mo, Madam Mo and the two younger men standing behind them. One was awfully familiar to Su Xiaofei, since he was the man she had married in the past, while the younger man was his younger brother, the one who Su Xiaofei didn''t have a chance to get acquainted with, Mo Yuan.


    Mo Yuan looked more approachable than his older brother and when he saw Su Xiaofei, his interest piqued as he had naturally heard of his brother''s beautiful fianc¨¦e. He had heard news about her before, but meeting her personally had put those rumors to shame. She was more beautiful in person and didn''t look as horrible as the rumors perceived her to be.


    The longer Mo Yuan looked at Su Xiaofei, the more he couldn''t understand why his elder brother despised this young woman. Or was Mo Yuchen just pretending not to like her at all? He nced at his older brother, and he saw Mo Yuchen staring at Su Xiaofei with a pair of indifferent eyes. It was really hard to understand this brother of his sometimes.


    Initially, he wasn''t nning to return to the country and had decided to finish his studies abroad without bothering about his family inheritance. However, his mother was quite persistent, and after careful deliberation, he decided to return home. It was just that he didn''t expect to attend a social gathering anytime soon.


    Meanwhile, Lu Qingfeng had long spotted Mo Yuchen and the rest of his family before Su Xiaofei did. Obviously, he instantly became alert. Since he was apanying his grandfather, Lu Qingfeng couldn''t just leave his side and go to rescue Su Xiaofei.


    At that moment, Yun Qingrong and Su Xiaofei finally reached the Mo family and greeted them politely, their voices neither warm nor cold.


    Su Xiaofei remained silent and lowered her gaze, not bothering to acknowledge Mo Yuchen''s presence. If it was in the past, she would have gone and chattered nonstop next to him, trying to gain his attention.


    Elder Mo nced at Su Xiaofei and smiled slightly. He hadn''t seen the youngdy for a long time, but it was clear that she had changed dramatically since thest time he''d seen her.


    "Xiao Fei, it''s been a while." He told the youngdy.


    It was only then that Su Xiaofei lifted her head and regarded him with an awkward smile.


    "Yes, it has. I hope Elder Mo is feeling better now." She replied politely. Of all the members of the Mo family, this old man was the only one who had been treating her with kindness. It was just that after a year of her marriage with Mo Yuchen, he passed away from a chronic illness, which he''d been enduring for a few years prior to his death.


    The old man nodded. He really wanted Su Xiaofei to be his granddaughter, but he was also aware that Mo Yuchen was treating her coldly for some unknown reason. Hence, he wasn''t surprised that Su Xiaofei had given up with his grandson''s attitude.


    If only Mo Yuchen had treated her well, there would still be a chance for him to have Su Xiaofei as his granddaughter. s, since Su Xiaofei had already given up, this old man wouldn''t dare to force her to stay with his stupid grandson.


    He thought that they really suited each other when they were younger and so, he didn''t think that it was a bad idea when Su Haoran came to propose marriage between the two. With Su Xiaofei''s temper, the old man thought she would be able to move Mo Yuchen''s heart.


    Mo Yuchen excused himself from his family, as he saw his other acquaintances in the crowd, refusing to acknowledge or greet Su Xiaofei, not that she was interested in him anyway.


    ''Good riddance.'' She thought, her eyes trying to find Lu Qingfeng in the crowd. Her eyes immediately lit up when she saw him.


    Lu Qingfeng raised a slender brow at her when she waved a hand excitedly at him.


    "Mama, is it alright if I go and see Xiao Feng?" She asked her mother, not wanting to talk to any member of the Mo family.


    Yun Qingrong saw the smile on her daughter''s face, so how could she deny her?


    "It''s fine. Go ahead." She waved her hand, which made the smile on Su Xiaofei''s face wider.


    Su Xiaofei didn''t waste her time and immediately turned to seek Lu Qingfeng.


    Seeing that she was heading his way, Lu Qingfeng excused himself from his grandfather and their partner and met her midway.


    "How was it? I thought you''re going to talk to Mo Yuchen as soon as you see him." Lu Qingfengmented, giving her a drink to calm her nerves.


    Su Xiaofei scoffed and mouthed a quick thanks to him before answering his question.


    "And why would I do such a thing? He and I have nothing to do with each other anymore." She replied. At least Matriarch Mo wasn''t here to cause her trouble.. That insane old woman really took pleasure in her misfortune before.

 Chapter 186 - No Regrets (2)

    <h4>Chapter 186 - No Regrets (2)</h4>


    So what if she didn''t give the Mo family any face? It was better to be a demoness than a fool. Being a demoness meant she would be taking the less-traveled path, opposing the foolish viiness of what ''fate'' and these people expected from her.


    "Oh, Yuchen, howe your little girlfriend isn''t joining us?" Di Zemin, Mo Yuchen''s long time friend, asked, as they noticed that Su Xiaofei had chosen to stick by the young Lu Qingeng''s side rather than being on Mo Yuchen''s side.


    Wei Qiu, their other friend,ughed as he downed another ss of whiskey before ncing at the little demoness.


    "I heard that Su Xiaofei was stabbed a few weeks ago. Who knew that after such an event she changed dramatically." Hemented.


    Di Zemin''s eyes widened, then following Wei Qiu''s sight, seeing Su Xiaofeiughing beside Lu Qingfeng. As always, this younger man seemed to always prefer to be on his own, but Lu Qingfeng would always wee Su Xiaofei''spany anytime.


    "Wow. I would have never thought that there would be a day that Su Xiaofei would stop liking Yuchen. She used to fawn over him and wouldn''t see any other man in her eyes." De Zemin scoffed and patted Mo Yuchen''s back. "Third brother must be upset right now. Are you regretting it?"


    Mo Yuchen was the youngest of the three of them, and had known these two since their university days. He was close with these two as they weren''t excessive and knew his temper really well.


    "Regret? There will never be such a thing." Mo Yuchen looked at his whiskey, then nced at Su Xiaofei''s way. Ever since his encounter with her at the hospital, he felt that the two of them were drifting away from each other.


    He had to admit that aside from her rude attitude towards him, she became more beautiful than ever. It seemed that she had turned over a new leaf overnight and was more daring than ever.


    Still, it baffled him as to what had caused this sudden change in her. It wasn''t like they had a huge fight before this, as they had only talked a couple of times. For her to stare at him like a tigress waiting to make a kill, what crime did hemit to deserve her ire?


    Mo Yuchen looked away. If Su Xiaofei didn''t want him, then so be it. However, this would be a problem for him in the future. There was no way his family would allow their engagement to be broken as easily as this.


    At first, he didn''t mind being engaged to her because the advantage would overturn the effort he would need to exert. Su Xiaofei liked him anyway, and in terms of appearance, she wasn''tcking at all. She would be the perfect trophy wife beside him. Now that she wasn''t willing to be with him, this would surely affect his position at thepany in the future.


    While Mo Yuchen pondered these thoughts, Su Xiaofei couldn''t be bothered by it. However, when Old General Yun was greeted by the rest of the Mo family, she spotted Mo Yuchen leaving his friends for a moment to pay respect to the old man.


    Su Xiaofei sighed and could already feel that she was the topic of their conversation. Because if not, the Old General Yun wouldn''t nce her way, smiling stiffly at Elder Mo. She had already expected that the Mo? family wouldn''t easily agree to break off her betrothal with Mo Yuchen, and they must be trying to seek the Yun family''s help to maintain their ties.


    When General Yuan gestured for her toe over, Lu Qingfeng followed behind her wordlessly. She stood next to his seat and looked at the unmade chessboard in front of him.


    "Grandpa." She gave the old general a polite nod, before ncing at Mo Yuchen and Elder Mo who were standing in front of them. Meanwhile, Mo Yuchen''s father and Mo Yuan were busy conversing with the other guests.


    "Xiao Fei, we were discussing your engagement with A''Chen. Do you really mean to break the engagement between the two of you?" Elder Mo asked, giving her a curious look, then ncing at the young, handsome man standing behind her.


    Who hadn''t heard about Su Xiaofei''s childhood friend? Elder Mo didn''t know why, but he felt like this young Lu Qingfeng was one of the reasons why Su Xiaofei was now breaking away from her engagement.


    "Elder Mo, I feel like this would be the best for me and Brother Yuchen. In the future, he would meet a woman who can move heaven and earth just for him, it''s just that woman wouldn''t be me." Su Xiaofei said nonchntly.


    Elder Mo frowned but didn''t say anything, while General Yun remained silent.


    "After witnessing my mother''s marriage crumble, I realised that marriage should not be taken lightly." Su Xiaofei added. Due to her parents'' failed marriage, it was only natural for others to believe that she became wary about her future, worrying that she would suffer the same end her mother did.


    "What do you think about this, General Yun?" Elder Mo wasn''t willing to let the engagement be called off like this. Not when Mo Yuchen hadn''t been able to stabilise himself in thepany. Having the Su family and Bluemedia as his backing would surely help Golden Star flourish in the future.


    "Since Xiao Fei has decided, we, the Yun family, can only respect her decision."


    General Yun might sound like he didn''t care about Su Xiaofei''s affair, but he was actually putting the Mo family at the disadvantage.


    Seeing Mo Yuchen right now, the old man somewhat understood why Su Xiaofei wanted her freedom back. Although Mo Yuchen and the Young Master Lu both had cold countenances, Mo Yuchen''s pride and ambition was oozing around him.


    It was so different from the cold, but peaceful aura Lu Qingfeng sported.. General Yun wasn''t blind, he could see the adoration and patience of the young man towards his granddaughter.

 Chapter 187 - A Game With General Yun (1)

    <h4>Chapter 187 - A Game With General Yun (1)</h4>


    Su Xiaofei looked at General Yun suspiciously. Why was this old man siding with her now? Didn''t he tell her earlier that she would be on her own for this issue? So why was he extending her an olive branch now?


    "Ah, if you put it that way, how can I not agree with Xiao Fei''s decision?" Elder Mo sighed and shook his head. It was really a pity that Su Xiaofei wasn''t willing to pursue her marriage with his grandson. However, this also meant that they would lose the support of Bluemedia in the future.


    General Yun harrumphed, before fixing the chess pieces on the board. He had learned a lesson during Yun Qingrong''s marriage too and while he and his daughter had some regrets from it, he could see that this Su Xiaofei was too smart for her not to realize that she was only being taken advantage of by the Mo family.


    "Xiao Mo, y a game with me." He nced at Mo Yuchen and gestured for him to take a seat.


    Mo Yuchen pressed his lips together but didn''t dare to deny the old man. He took a seat and looked at the white chess pieces in front of him, wondering if this old general wanted to test him. The head of the Yun family''s fondness of ying chess with youngsters was well known, so Mo Yuchen wasn''t surprised that the Old General was asking him for a game.


    "Ah, then allow this old man to rest for a while. I should have a word with youter, old friend." Elder Mo said before leaving with Lan Xiaoju, who hade to see what was happening.


    Su Xiaofei leaned closely towards Lu Qingfeng and grumbled that her feet were already aching.


    "Let''s go and take a seat then." Lu Qingfeng suggested, pointing at the vacated seats nearby, where they could still watch the game between Mo Yuchen and General Yun.


    "You want to see who would win?" Su Xiaofei chuckled, when she saw how focused Lu Qingfeng was on the game.


    "No. I just want to see how Mo Yuchen''s mind works. It will give you some clues about him." The young manmented.


    "Is that so?" That immediately piqued Su Xiaofei''s attention. Was it really possible to understand someone''s line of thoughts by merely watching how that someone yed chess?


    Ever since she took up chess as a hobby and asionally yed a few rounds with Lu Qingfeng, it taught her how to think in a very strategic, step-by-step, systematic manner. However, she had yet to understand rtionships between people and things, and that everything was ultimately connected in one way or another.


    "Just watch and see for yourself." She heard Lu Qingfeng say next to her.


    And watch, she did. When she first started ying chess with Lu Qingfeng, her very first lesson, other than learning how each piece moved, was identifying what checkmate looked like and how to corner her opponent into a checkmate in various situations.


    At first, she didn''t understand why Lu Qingfeng insisted that she needed to learn it first and foremost, but as she continued to y, she realized that from the very beginning she was not only learning what sess looks like, but also how to win. It also taught her that one single mistake could lead to her failure.


    "Xiaofei, in order for you to seed, you must have an end goal on your mind before starting." Lu Qingfeng once told her.


    As she watched every chess piece move from General Yun''s side to Mo Yuchen''s, the gears in her head were actively turning. She noticed that the old man''s moves were very precise and straightforward, while Mo Yuchen''s counter attacks were more like he was testing the waters, as if he wanted to see if the old man would fall into the traps he deliberately left along the way.


    "Interesting." She muttered beside Lu Qingfeng as she was able to catch the different scenarios Mo Yuchen had set up for the old general, but Su Xiaofei didn''t think that General Yun would easily fall for them.


    Lu Qingfeng nodded his head in agreement. He had to admit that Su Xiaofei was a fast learner. When they were younger, she wasn''t interested in her lessons at school and alwaysined about how bored she was during ss. However, what other people didn''t know was that when she decided to do something, she would be sure to pay attention to every detail as long as it could attract her and keep her interested.


    When she was reborned, he made a promise to himself that he would pave the way for her, making sure that her road to revenge wouldn''t be filled with unnecessary pitfalls.


    Not only in chess, but also in life, Lu Qingfeng believed that it would be a great deal of good to y a few moves ahead. The more moves, the better. And by moves, he wasn''t just talking about just his moves, but those of his opponents'' as well.


    "He''s going to lose." Su Xiaofeimented.


    And just by watching Mo Yuchen''s moves, they were able to deduce that he hated being cornered. Mo Yuchen liked being in charge no matter what the situation was. Now that General Yun wasn''t taking the bait, Mo Yuchen''s options were decreasing as the game progressed.


    Mo Yuchen couldn''t find a way to break the old man''s defense, and he was starting to lose his cool. General Yun seemed to notice it and took advantage of Mo Yuchen''s hesitation to attack. The moment he ced the ck rook at one particr spot, the defense Mo Yuchen had put up from the very beginning started to crumble one by one.


    He couldn''t stop the old man''s persistent attacks and couldn''t deflect the damage he sustained from it.. It seemed like General Yun had already foreseen what Mo Yuchen had in his mind and had given him an opportunity at the beginning, only to be disappointed in him in the end.

 Chapter 188 - A Game With General Yun (2)

    <h4>Chapter 188 - A Game With General Yun (2)</h4>


    Mo Yuchen''s inevitable loss against the old man left a bitter taste in his mouth. However, he could only suck it up and me himself for losing to General Yun.


    "I lost." He admitted, flicking his king on the board.


    "Not bad, but you need a lot of patience, boy. You are too hard-headed and refuse to admit your mistakes." General Yun said as he leaned on his seat and regarded the young man in front of him.


    Mo Yuchen stood up from his seat and thanked the old man, before leaving to find his friends.


    Su Xiaofei scoffed and crossed her legs. The slight frown on Mo Yuchen''s face was an obvious indication that he was dissatisfied with his loss. Su Xiaofei was aware of his domineering and arrogant nature. He was not the type to ept defeat easily.


    "So, what do you think?" Lu Qingfeng asked her. "Did you learn something from their game?"


    "It only proved how arrogant he is." She replied, before finding General Yun looking their way. What did he want now? She thought.


    She sighed inwardly and stood up, wanting to know what this old man wanted from her this time.


    "Grandpa, is there something I can help you with?" She asked with a sickly sweet voice, that even she could cringe from hearing it.


    General Yun huffed and looked at the untidied chess board in front of him.


    "Go and call your little friend here. I want to y with him next." He said as he waved a hand to call a servant for a drink.


    Su Xiaofei gave Lu Qingfeng a pointed look before wordlessly telling him to take the seat Mo Yuchen had previously vacated.


    The young man understood what the old general wanted at once and greeted him.


    "General Yun, I''m Lu Qingfeng from the Lu family. Thanks for inviting us today. Happy birthday."


    "Good child. Come and sit with this old man and have a game with me." General Yun said and had the waiter add a seat beside him for Su Xiaofei to take.


    "So you''re Lu Tian''s little boy?" General Yun asked, while he and Lu Qingfeng arranged the chess pieces to their starting positions.


    Lu Qingfeng''s hand stopped midway, eyes darkening before giving the old man a slight nod.


    "Yes, Lu Tian is my father." He said with a slightly cold tone that Su Xiaofei didn''t fail to notice.


    There was an unspoken rule between her and Lu Qingfeng, and that was not discussing or mentioning his parents in front of him. Su Xiaofei, of course, was curious about his parents, but it was obvious that he didn''t get along with them even when they were still alive.


    It was said that Lu Qingfeng''s parents lost their lives over the session fight within their family. He was considered lucky toe out alive from that car ident that killed both of his parents.


    General Yun gave Lu Qingfeng a good look and hummed.


    "You''re so different from your father." Hemented. "You are calmer and more level-headed than him."


    Lu Qingfeng seemed surprised at that remark, and it took him some time to recover from his shock.


    "Thanking the General for hispliment."


    And then another round of chess started between the two. Unlike Mo Yuchen''s aggressive approach, Lu Qingfeng''s movements seemed random as he ced his chess pieces across the board. Even the old general couldn''t read what the young man was nning to do.


    ying chess had so manymonalities with warfare and dealing with business. One could sometimes see the endless number of tactics in the game, and with only a few moves, General Yun could see why this young man was considered as a rare prodigy of the Lu family.


    The white and ck pieces fell onto the chessboard and Lu Qingfeng yed slowly, but this didn''t indicate that his movements were slow, but careful, which was different from General Yun''s imposing moves.


    The old man didn''t dare to underestimate the young man in front of him. Looking at the chess pieces on the board, he couldn''t even believe that a youngd like Lu Qingfeng was able to use such an intricate tactic that only pros can pull.


    Lu Qingfeng was cing his white pieces at a slow, but confident pace. Even though it looked like he was losing to the old man, not a single white piece had left the board yet. asionally, General Yun attempted to devour the white pieces, but somehow, Lu Qingfeng managed to escape it smoothly.


    General Yun chuckled amusely and took a sip from his drink as he watched Lu Qingfeng move his queen to the right. He had already ced his pieces on the key positions, but Lu Qingfeng had yet to make a move to counterattack and free himself from being cornered.


    ''Unlike Mo Yuchen, he''s more fierce and dangerous.'' General Yun thought. Lu Qingfeng''s moves seemed random, but they weren''t. The old man was looking forward to see how this youngd would counter his attacks.


    "Xiao Lu is good at escaping, but how long do you n to escape? This old man has had enough and will attack now." He said.


    "What a coincidence, General Yun. I also have the same intention." Lu Qingfeng gently smiled. He had just said that when the white queen on his handnded on a blind spot.


    General Yun''s eyes lit up. He hadn''t thought that this young man was bold enough to use this tactic to push him into a defense position. He was startled a bit, but it immediately turned into amusement.


    At first, Lu Qingfeng didn''t make any attempt to attack his ck pieces and sporadically he would escape from being devoured by his pursuing moves. Now, by cing that queen, General Yun found himself stuck and the overall game between them was reversed, and he found himself unable to do anything.


    Afterward, Lu Qingfeng changed his style and continued to attack and didn''t bother to put up any further defense.

 Chapter 189 - Queen Of My Heart (1)

    <h4>Chapter 189 - Queen Of My Heart (1)</h4>


    His actions were like a tornado, devastating and devouring everything that was on its way, swallowing the ck pieces one after another. In less than three minutes, the chess board that was once filled with ck pieces, was only left with a single dark piece.


    General Yun thought that this young man''s ability of reversing ck to white was extremely high. Unlike Mo Yuchen, who was easily swayed by the storm surge at sea, Lu Qingfeng was calm and wouldn''t waste time pursuing the retreating enemy, destroying their ship all at once.


    "I have lost." The old man said, but there was no hint of disappointment in his tone or on his face.


    Using the chessboard as a battlefield, it had been a long time since General Yun met someone as good as Lu Qingfeng. A military general like him was annihted on a battlefield by a youngd like him until there was no way left for him to retreat.


    For some, this would sound like a joke if they heard it, but for Yun Guanyu, this only proved how meticulous Lu Qingfeng was, not only in the game of chess, but also in his way of life.


    Yun Zhaonan, who came to see what was going on, was surprised to see his father losing to the young master of the Lu family. He had heard rumors about the sole sessor of the Lu Corporation, but he had never thought that this young man could be this outstanding.


    Even Yun Zhaonan would have a hard time trying to win against his father. It had taken him several years before he was able to get his first win, but Lu Qingfeng had managed to beat his old man in just one try? When did his chess skills improve to this level? Yun Zhaonan thought.


    As he looked at Lu Qingfeng and Su Xiaofei, he briefly thought of the saying ''birds of a feather flock together'', because he somewhat understood the simrities between these two youngsters. In the future, they would be a force to be reckoned with and those who opposed them would surely regret getting on their bad side.


    One was a shrewd young man, while the other was a scheming woman. He didn''t think that anything good woulde out whenever these two were together.


    Lu Qingfeng and Su Xiaofei excused themselves to find Yun Qingrong, leaving the old man with Yun Zhaonan.


    "Father¡­" Yun Zhaonan wanted to ask his father''s opinion about Lu Qingfeng, as he found himself looking at the young man''s retreating figure.


    "If there''s a chance, I would like to y with him in the future." The old manmented.


    "So, Xiao Fei managed to get away from the Mo family unscathed. I thought she would only cause trouble." Yun Zhaonan admitted to his father.


    "You are worrying too much. The Mo family wouldn''t force Xiao Fei right now because they would lose face if they dared. However, until Qing''er received a confirmation notice from their family, Xiao Fei would be at a disadvantage as she would be still considered Mo Yuchen''s fianc¨¦e by the public."


    Breaking the engagement between two families had never been easy. Unless the Mo family did something atrocious towards Su Xiaofei, she would bear the me of putting a wedge between their families.


    General Yun sighed and shook his head. Things like this would only give him a headache from thinking. It wasn''t like Su Xiaofei wanted to rely on their Yun family, as she had her own way to deal with the problem.


    Now that Su Haoran was being sued in court by their Qing''er, courtesy of Su Xiaofei''s intervention, she had a higher chance. Still, the old man wanted to see how she could truly free herself from the Mo family''s influence.


    "Grandpa, do you know? There are many ways to achieve one''s purpose. If the road is blocked, one should try to find another road. If it''s still impassable, then you can just make new ones. Weeds must be pulled out from its roots to make sure it wouldn''t be able toe back."


    This was what Su Xiaofei told him when he asked him how she could be sure that the divorce between her parents would be finalized.


    He wanted to ask her what she wanted to do, but he didn''t know why the moment he saw her clear eyes, he couldn''t question her any further.


    "Grandpa shouldn''t worry about the matter of Mama''s divorce. I will surely look into it." Su Xiaofei reassured him.


    General Yun was aware that this youngdy, that his daughter adopted, wasn''t a person who could easily be bullied by anyone. If anything, people must be wary of crossing and obstructing her path. Just like the way Lu Qingfeng yed today, Su Xiaofei would rather y slow but sure.


    A part of him regretted that she didn''te from his Yun family. A family member who was as smart and as devious as Su Xiaofei would put the family as her utmost priority, no matter how wicked her heart was.


    The closest instance was how she was willing to y dirty in order to protect Yun Qingrong. If Su Xiaofei didn''t get involved in her adopted parents'' affairs, the old man was sure that his daughter wouldn''t be able toe back to their family safely.


    "Then what about Lu Qingfeng? Do we need to be wary of him?" Yun Zhaonan asked. For a youngd to be this outstanding and capable, he wasn''t sure how Lu Qingfeng could affect the Yun family, considering how close he was with Su Xiaofei.


    "He won''t do anything against our family." The old man replied with confidence. He understood Lu Qingfeng''s bottomline.


    It was because the young man didn''t perceive them as a threat.. However, if they somehow mistreated Su Xiaofei in any way, Old General Yun knew that this little tyrant wouldn''t stay still when his prospective bride was in danger.

 Chapter 190 - Queen Of My Heart (2)

    <h4>Chapter 190 - Queen Of My Heart (2)</h4>


    General Yun had lived for a few decades now, so how can he not notice the way Lu Qingfeng looked at his granddaughter?


    Lu Qingfeng looked at Su Xiaofei as if she was the only one that mattered in his world and everything zeroed on her person. He was this young and yet, he held such passion and adoration towards Su Xiaofei. If he wasn''t in love with her, then General Yun had no idea what the young master of the Lu family wanted from his granddaughter.


    Once the two were out of everyone''s earshot, taking a rest and getting some privacy in the vast garden of the Yun Estate, Su Xiaofei flopped on the bench and released her feet from her ck high heels.


    "This banquet is taking too long to end." Sheined to Lu Qingfeng.


    "Aren''t you afraid that they would criticize you for ignoring the guests of the Yun family?" Lu Qingfeng asked in return, but he also felt that this gathering was useless for someone like him.


    Although he had already met the relevant people whom he had no doubt would encounter in the future, most of them, he had already met in the past. Albeit, Lu Qingfeng wouldn''t mind having a refresher to remember some of them once in a while.


    Su Xiaofei scoffed at his questions and yed with the tips of her hair.


    "Who cares about what they think of me? If I waste my time wondering how others would perceive me, I would have lost my mind."


    They could hear the gales ofughter emanating from the main hall as the guests busied themselves with whatever conversation they had on their minds. Su Xiaofei couldn''t care less about what they were.


    She was quite enjoying the night until the Mo family arrived, effectively ruining her mood.


    Lu Qingfeng felt his lips curl at the corners for a moment, her words, regardless if it was in the past or today, remained the same. He plucked a flower near him and presented it to her.


    Su Xiaofei arched her brow and stared at him for a moment before epting it. Her fingers reached to touch the white and yellow petals of the Plumeria.


    "Do you know what Plumeria means?" She heard Lu Qingfeng asked.


    Su Xiaofei shook her head in response.


    "It means new beginnings." He exined.


    "New beginnings, huh? How befitting." Su Xiaofei smiled to herself. She hadn''t really paid attention to the different flowers in the garden of the Yun Estate, although she had been here several times already.


    She raised her head and nced at the bush filled with pink roses across them. Now that she had time to finally appreciate the garden that was obviously being tended seriously by the Yun household, Su Xiaofei understood where her mother''s habits came from.


    "What about those pink roses?" She couldn''t help but be curious about thenguage of the flowers.


    "They mean trust, happiness and confidence, if I remember it correctly." Lu Qingfeng answered. "It could also mean desire and passion."


    In his previous life, the young Su Xiaofei loved flowers but had an aversion when it came to red roses. She imed that roses were overrated and there were other lovely flowers people could adore.


    "Okay." Su Xiaofei nodded, then pointed at the next flower. "And the hibiscus?"


    "A white one? Hmm¡­" Lu Qingfeng cupped his chin as he sat next to her. "A rare and delicate beauty, a gentle one."


    The young woman beside himughed and yed with the plumeria on her right hand.


    "I didn''t know you were interested in flowers and theirnguage." She teased him.


    Lu Qingfeng only shrugged. In his previous life, whenever Su Xiaofei had a movieunch or a product endorsement, he used to send her flowers without a note. She would have never known that all those bouquets of flowers were from him.


    "So if you are going to give me a flower, what would it be?" She asked curiously.


    Lu Qingfeng had already known what to give her a long time ago.


    "I would give you all the lcs I could find in the city." He said with a confident smile.


    "Oh? And what could it possibly mean?"


    "Because just like you, lc is a queen." He smirked upon seeing the slight blush that spread on her face.


    "Lcs are known as the ''Queen of Shrubs''. It is the hardiest and one of the most fragrant flowers. Lcs havee to symbolize spring and renewal too, but when ites to love, it represents the first emotions of love. It also reminded me of? the first time we met and how much I wanted to know you more." Lu Qingfeng continued.


    Su Xiaofei avoided his teasing gaze and looked away. Wasn''t this his way of telling her that she was his first love?


    Wait. Didn''t Lu Qingfeng send her a bouquet of lcs on her eighteenth birthday? Howe she never noticed the subtle confession from it? Back then, she thought that Lu Qingfeng had sent those flowers because she once told her how beautiful the violet lcs were and how fragrant they were.


    She found herself speechless. She had no idea how to respond. She had always been the one seeking Mo Yuchen in the past and now that she was the one being on the receiving side, it made her oddly nervous and happy at the same time.


    She was nervous because it was the first time she was pursued by someone, and happy because it was Lu Qingfeng. Lu Qingfeng was someone she could trust. He won''t say anything that he didn''t mean.


    "Then I look forward to receiving more lcs from you." She said after a moment of silence between them, catching Lu Qingfeng off guard.


    It took a moment for him to recover before he lifted one hand to brush the stray locks away from her face.


    Su Xiaofei went still, aware of the closeness between them, only to stiffen further when his lips gently covered hers.

 Chapter 191 - Whenever You Are Ready (1)

    <h4>Chapter 191 - Whenever You Are Ready (1)</h4>


    Su Xiaofei would never have thought that Lu Qingfeng would be bold enough to kiss her in a ce like this. If anyone found them in this awkward posture, she wouldn''t know how to exin it to her mother.


    The kiss was short but firm, leaving her cheeks flushing deep red and her heart hammering wildly against her chest. Bewildered, she then looked at Lu Qingfeng, who was also looking at her with darkened eyes.


    Su Xiaofei opened her mouth to say something, but she found herself unable to utter any coherent words at all.


    What was she supposed to say anyway? ''Thank you for the kiss''? ''That was wonderful''?


    Her mind was telling her to remind Lu Qingfeng of their deal, but she couldn''t seem to say anything at all. She could only stare at him nkly, waiting for Lu Qingfeng to exin himself, but he held his tongue.


    Not that Lu Qingfeng wanted to say anything after what he had done, but he surely didn''t regret any of it.


    The tension between the two was only dispelled when Yun Xiang appeared out of the blue, looking for Su Xiaofei. After greeting their guests, he tried to find Su Xiaofei inside, only to find out that she had left the hall with Lu Qingfeng.


    "Ah, Xiao Fei, I''ve been looking for you." Yun Xiang said, before ncing at the young man next to his cousin. "What''s going on?"


    He felt like he just came at the wrong time. Were they having an argument?


    "Nothing, Brother Xiang." Su Xiaofei dodged his question, since she also had no idea how to exin what had just happened between her and Lu Qingfeng.


    "What''s up? Is there anything I can help you with?" She smiled, but inside, she hoped that he wasn''t nning to introduce her to his acquaintances. Su Xiaofei wasn''t in the mood to y her role as the esteemed granddaughter of the Yun family.


    In her previous life, whenever Yun Xiang got a chance, he would always introduce Ye Mingyu to someone, hence, thetter was able to expand herwork through him. It wasn''t like Su Xiaofei didn''t want to reap the benefits, but she didn''t think she had enough energy to meet other people at this time.


    "No, it''s about the favor you asked me before." Yun Xiang nced at Lu Qingfeng, wondering if it was alright to say it in front of the younger man.


    Su Xiaofei''s eyes lit up and pped her hands in excitement, effectively dispelling the tension around her.


    "Really?" She looked at Yun Xiang expectantly. "Then did you manage to find the whereabouts of Mr. Si''s little sister?"


    Yun Xiang sighed, and that was enough for Su Xiaofei to know that he hadn''t yet.


    "Not yet, but we''ve got a lead to where she could possibly be." He admitted.


    "Then? What lead is it?" Su Xiaofei hummed as she thought of how this will affect her connection with Si Yixian. She had only managed to meet him through Chen Li''s case, but they were still practically strangers to each other.


    "The orphanage has long been closed down and their proper documentation is also lost. We managed to find the director of the orphanage and some people who used to work there. It wasn''t easy for them to remember his younger sister, but one of them seemed to know what happened to her after Si Yixian left the country."


    "I wouldn''t be surprised if she also got adopted." Su Xiaofeimented.


    "ording to the report, after Si Yixian was adopted, a yearter, another couple had taken in his sister. The records showed that the adoption wasn''t sessful, as they returned the girl after six months." Yun Xiang exined, while Su Xiaofei frowned at that.


    She could surmise several reasons why the couple returned Si Yixian''s sister, Si Yuxuan. Perhaps the couple had another child and the girl couldn''t get along with them. Also, since Si Yuxuan was a girl, there was a possibility that the couple returned her because they decided to adopt a son, instead of a daughter.


    Even if society had changed so much over the years, there were still families who prioritized a son over a daughter. In her past life, Su Xiaofei had met some unfortunate women, such as Xi Qian, who were expected to marry well and bring in fortune once they grew up.


    "Does anyone know the reason why she was returned?" She asked.


    Yun Xiang had a conflicted expression on his face, as if he was hesitating about something.


    "Xiao Fei, I''m not sure how Mr. Si would take this news, but the reason his sister was returned to the orphanage is because the couple had noticed signs of mental retardation in her. It wasn''t easy to take in and raise a child that isn''t yours, but having a disability would make it harder for Si Yuxuan to find a new family."


    Su Xiaofei fell silent on that. She hadn''t expected that such a thing would happen to Si Yixian''s little sister. Would thisplicate her ns? She wondered, but she easily shrugged off her worries.


    No ¡ª the one who would bear the impact of this news wasn''t her, but Si Yixian. The only reason why she bothered to find his little sister was to take advantage of his name and his skills. If she had his little sister in her hands, she would be able to force him to take her side.


    "I see¡­ then, we still don''t know where she is yet?"


    "En. When the orphanage ran out of funds and support, the other orphans were sent to other orphanages. We''re still trying to locate her as we speak, but this might take some time." Yun Xiang answered her.


    Su Xiaofei sighed. Just as she thought that she finally had a way to bind Si Yixian to her, this happened.


    "I guess we could only wait and see." She murmured next to Lu Qingfeng, who remained silent next to her since Yun Xiang''s arrival.


    "Don''t worry, Xiao Fei, we will find her. It might take some time, but we will definitely find her whereabouts, so don''t worry too much." Yun Xiang tried to reassure her, but she only leaned on Lu Qingfeng''s shoulder forfort.


    Yun Xiang didn''t know why, but he felt like there was something going on between these two, and they weren''t merely childhood friends after all. Su Xiaofei looked more rxed in Lu Qingfeng''spanypared to him and the others. It was like there were unspoken words that only these two couldprehend.


    "That''s all for now. You and Lu Qingfeng shouldn''t stay outside for too long. Although the weather these days seems favorable, the cold night could still affect you." He said before leaving his biaomei with Lu Qingfeng.


    "Many thanks Brother Xiang." Su Xiaofei replied, watching Yun Xiang go.


    Only when he was out of sight did she release a breath she didn''t know she was holding.


    "Yun Xiang is right. We should probably return inside." Lu Qingfeng told her.


    Su Xiaofei was then reminded of what transpired between them.. She gave him a nervous look and gulped.

 Chapter 192 - Whenever You Are Ready (2)

    <h4>Chapter 192 - Whenever You Are Ready (2)</h4>


    "About what happened earlier¡­" She scratched her nape and nced at his face. She knew that they needed to talk about this, else, she might lose a lot of sleep thinking about it.


    "If it made you ufortable, I apologize." Lu Qingfeng replied, his gaze never leaving her beautiful face. "But if you''re going to ask me why I did it, I''m afraid I wouldn''t be able to give you an answer."


    Su Xiaofei blinked and looked at him curiously. "And why not?"


    "Because I don''t know myself." The young man admitted. "I know that I shouldn''t have as I have yet to receive a proper answer from you, but I couldn''t stop myself."


    This earned an awkward chuckle from Su Xiaofei and she avoided his preening gaze.


    "I hope you wouldn''t kiss any random woman just because you feel like it." Shemented.


    "The only woman I would be willing to kiss is you. No one else," was Lu Qingfeng''s defense.


    "Y-you¡­"


    "Is there something wrong with that?" Lu Qingfeng was the one to question her this time. "I would only want you, there''s no need to worry about another girl, except if it is our daughter." He added in a teasing tone.


    Su Xiaofei almost choked at those words. Where did Lu Qingfeng learn to say such shameless words? She had no doubt that her face was already beet red from all of this.


    Her dark eyes looked up at him in surprise, her orbs searching for him while she struggled between her mind and her heart. She had known Lu Qingfeng for a long time, and yet now that she became aware of his feelings towards her, why did she feel like she was falling for him, bit by bit?


    She thought that after the pain she experienced because of Mo Yuchen, she would never be able to allow someone to sway her heart, and yet, here he was, trying to conquer her in every way possible.


    Her mind was screaming that she shouldn''t fall in love just yet. That her revenge and keeping her mother safe were her utmost priority right now, and she cannot afford to get side tracked and lose herself because of love yet again. And if she really wanted to be with Lu Qingfeng, she should give their rtionship some time to develop.


    "Xiaofei, there''s no need to overthink things. I''ll be right here whenever you are ready." Lu Qingfeng''s voice broke through her thoughts and called her back to reality. He knew the mental struggles he had put her in and was somewhat guilty of it.


    However, it cannot be undone and he regretted nothing. If he didn''t make it clear this early, Su Xiaofei would forever consider him as a childhood friend she grew up with, and not a man that could love her with all his entirety.


    Su Xiaofei didn''t want to admit it out loud, but she was afraid. She was afraid that she would fall for the wrong person again. Because of Mo Yuchen, she wasn''t willing to experience the same pain all over again with another man.


    Mo Yuchen used her love and he hurt her in more ways than one. She had thought that he stood out from everyone else. She thought he was different and special.


    Actually, Mo Yuchen tried very hard to convince her of that before their marriage. He told her everything she wanted to hear and he made sure to get under her skin.


    Soon, this man had be the center of her universe. Everything she did, she did them to please him, to make him happy. Everything was for him.


    He had be the sole purpose of her existence. She gave him her entire self ¡ª her body, her heart, her soul, but he never returned any of it. The only thing he gave her was his half love. Mo Yuchen never trulymitted to her but he expected her tomit to him, only to him.


    He was jealous and she had falsely assumed that this was the only way he knew how to express his love. But little did she know that he was actually just a selfish, controlling egomaniac.


    Despite everything, Su Xiaofei kept giving him all of her love. She kept justifying him, no matter how badly he treated her in the past. Even going as far as ignoring Xi Qian''s warnings and her mother''s pleas.


    She was constantly looking for excuses, because she wanted to believe in him. Furthermore, she wanted proof that everything she invested in their rtionship was not in vain ¡ª that Mo Yuchen loved her.


    But, most of all, she wanted to believe that he was the one for her only to be proven wrong in the end. She wanted to think that he was her person, her soulmate, despite all the signs pointing otherwise.


    And after years of pain, when he''d gotten what he wanted from her, they had split up. Mo Yuchen walked away from her, like she never existed, and he never looked back even once.


    He wasn''t there for her to help her to pick up the pieces of herself again, he left her alone in her misery and in her suffering, going as far as starting a family with Ye Mingyu.


    Su Xiaofei went through a lot in their rtionship but she went through even more after he left her. It took her a long time before she realized that this man never loved her for real, that in the end, she was just a toy to him. One that he could easily discard once her purpose had been fulfilled.


    Of course, that was quite painful for her, but what was even harder to ept was the fact that this guy was not only never right for her, but he yed her heart and ruined her life, leading to her mother''s untimely death.


    It would have been fine if she was the only one who suffered, but she cannot forgive herself for hurting her mother.


    And now that she was reborned, Su Xiaofei thought that she was pretty much okay now. She thought that she''d gotten over him almostpletely. She had even epted the fact that he wasn''t for her.


    Furthermore, she was positive she could never love anyone with the same intensity she loved him. And yet here Lu Qingfeng was, trying to tell her that she couldn''t be more wrong. This young man who remained by her side until herst breath, the one whose love for her never wavered one bit.


    Su Xiaofei thought that she already knew what love was but here he was, a man who wanted to show her how it feels to be truly loved.


    If she could support the person who never supported her back, imagine how much more she could love someone who would also have her back in everything.


    If she could give herselfpletely to someone who never appreciated her, imagine how much more she could give to someone who would see her true worth.


    If she could love a man who never truly loved her back this much, imagine how much more she could love someone who loved her back.


    But would she dare? Would she dare to love again?


    Su Xiaofei didn''t even realize when tears started streaming down her face, startling Lu Qingfeng.


    "Feifei, why are you crying?"


    "Xiao Feng, can I be selfish again?" She asked him.


    ''Can I be selfish and ept your love?''

 Chapter 193 - Pale In Comparison (1)

    <h4>Chapter 193 - Pale In Comparison (1)</h4>


    Su Xiaofei found it foolish that she was asking him this question. Hadn''t she always been selfish and wanted everything to go her way, refusing to back down whenever she was opposed by someone?


    And yet, here she was, asking for something incredulous from Lu Qingfeng. She had been extremely selfish in the past, and look where it led her. If she were to be selfish again and love recklessly, who could say that she wouldn''t hurt Lu Qingfeng in the future?


    She had already witnessed how he led a lonely life because of her, and she wasn''t willing to allow Lu Qingfeng to suffer the same thing all over again.


    "Xiaofei, how could you ask this question? You should know by now that each of us has our own self-interest to protect. You ask if you can be selfish, but does it matter? As long as it makes you happy, I''m willing to do everything to keep that smile on your face."


    Su Xiaofei bit her lip, feeling ashamed for bing such a mess in front of him. She heard Lu Qingfeng sighed and saw him pull a clean handkerchief from his pocket, before gently drying her tears from her face.


    "Hush now. There''s no need for this, right? What would people say if they saw you crying like this? They might even think that I''m bullying you." He murmured in a gentle tone, which he only used on her.


    Su Xiaofei chuckled and snatched the handkerchief from his hands, wiping her tears on her own.


    Lu Qingfeng waited for her to calm down. She must have been thinking of what she experienced in her past life.


    "Xiaofei, if you think you are the only one who is selfish, you are mistaken. Human beings are essentially selfish creatures. We''re apparently ruthless, with strong impulses topete against each other for resources and to umte power and possessions. If we are kind to one another, it''s usually because we have ulterior motives. If we are good, it''s only because we managed to control and transcend our innate selfishness and brutality. There''s always a reason behind someone''s kindness."


    "Then why are you so kind to me?" Su Xiaofei questioned him.


    From the moment they met when they were younger, he was always by her side, ready to help her when she was in need of it. Lu Qingfeng would always help her, regardless if she was in the wrong or not, without asking for anything in return.


    The young man gave her a weak smile and shook his head. After experiencing more than one rebirth, Lu Qingfeng wondered if his obsession towards her was the reason why he couldn''t let go.


    Su Xiaofei felt her heart skip a beat at the sound of the deep timbre of his voice, her body unconsciously turning to face him to look at him, looking at his eyes that were watching her calmly. She bit her lower lip, unsure of where to take their conversation. His long fingers reached out to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear, surprising her.


    "My apologies. I didn''t mean to make you cry." Lu Qingfeng told her.


    She shook her head, dismissing his words. It was her own fault and stupidity that had brought her to tears, not him.


    "That''s not it, Xiao Feng¡­"


    "Then what is it?" He asked in return. "You know, Xiaofei, ever since you were hospitalized, I feel like you have changed so much. I bet Aunty Qing and Xi Qian also noticed it, but please don''t make us worry too much."


    Su Xiaofei nodded, knowing fully well that they had certainly noticed the sudden change not only in her demeanor, but also her attitude towards other people.


    "Is this about Mo Yuchen then?"


    "Partly, yes." She admitted. There was no point in lying to him, when a part of her wanted to allow herself to indulge in his love.


    "I''m scared, Xiao Feng. I don''t want to lose myself ever again." She said weakly, feeling a little pathetic that a proud, arrogant woman had been reduced to a crippled, forgotten woman who had lost everything in her past life.


    "And I''m also scared of getting really close to someone¡­" Su Xiaofei rubbed her arms and looked away, a habit that Lu Qingfeng knew she had whenever something upset her.


    Su Xiaofei didn''t want to be together with him out of guilt, but she had to admit that she was now somewhat attracted towards him.


    "Are you afraid to say yes because you are worried about me, or because you are worried that I would also turn my back on you?"


    Su Xiaofei turned to look up at the young man beside her, his eyes sincere.


    "Thetter¡­"


    She saw his head leaning closer towards her, but this time, Su Xiaofei wasn''t surprised by his kiss. His lips pressed firmly onto hers, and she rxed into the kiss, her own lips tentatively pressing back. Her fingers slowly reached to touch the hand that was cupping her cheek.


    Su Xiaofei felt a slight quiver in her heart at the touch of their lips, something that she had never experienced when she was with Mo Yuchen before. Despite Lu Qingfeng being younger and inexperienced, she could feel the sincerity of his words and actions.


    When they parted, there was a slight smile on his lips as he wiped the remaining wetness on her cheeks.


    "I just don''t want to be broken again." Su Xiaofei whispered quietly, "that''s all¡­"


    "Thest thing I want to do is to break your heart, Feifei. Although I''m still young and there''s still so much for me to learn and experience, I still want to be the one by your side. I''m only leaving to study and to train in Shenjing. I''m not going to forget you, and I won''t allow you to do the same."


    Lu Qingfeng had lost her twice already.. He wouldn''t allow her to forget him this time.

 Chapter 194 - Pale In Comparison (2)

    <h4>Chapter 194 - Pale In Comparison (2)</h4>


    Unbeknownst to them, there was a pair of eyes who witnessed the second kiss the two shared in the garden. Mo Yuchen parted from his friends and went outside, intending to clear his mind. However, he wasn''t prepared to see such intimacy between his unwanted fianc¨¦e and her best friend.


    Since when did Su Xiaofei start seeing Lu Qingfeng? Was this the reason why she was insisting on breaking her engagement with him?


    Because he was quite far and Su Xiaofei wasn''t facing him, Mo Yuchen couldn''t hear what they were talking about, and had no idea that Su Xiaofei was crying earlier.


    Not wanting to see more, Mo Yuchen took the other side of the pathway. His feet moved through the garden pathway with a light crunch, his eyes flickering over the subtle, but impressive garden that the Yun family kept.


    His long fingers reach out and stroke the soft petals of the purple pansies. It''s color reminded him of the young woman who had been ignoring him, baring her fangs at him whenever their paths crossed.


    The Su Xiaofei now was really different from the young woman who used to chase after him for years. Although he didn''t like her attitude, she was the best candidate to be his wife, allowing him to stabilize his position in theirpany. If they were to really go their separate ways, then he needed to think of another way to reach his goal.


    Mo Yuchen was so deep in his thoughts that he failed to notice another presence that arrived near him. It was only when he heard a deep chuckle did he turn his head, only to find the young Lu Qingfeng admiring the same purple pansies he was looking at earlier.


    "Is there something you need from me?" He asked the younger man coldly. It hadn''t been long since he saw Lu Qingfeng kissing Su Xiaofei, but what was this young man doing here?


    "Young Master Mo shouldn''t poke his nose in someone else''s affairs." The younger man said with a mocking tone.


    Mo Yuchen''s brows drew together, forming a frown on his handsome face.


    "Is this what you''re supposed to say to the man who''s betrothed to the woman you are kissing earlier?" He asked in return.


    Did Lu Qingfeng kiss Su Xiaofei knowing that he was watching? Mo Yuchen wondered.


    He had never gotten along with this young man, even when Su Xiaofei was chasing him before. Now, he understood why Lu Qingfeng always looked at him with hostility. He should have realized that this young man was in love with his little, arrogant fianc¨¦e.


    "I believe the engagement has been dissolved already. If you were really serious about taking her as your bride, howe you''ve never hosted a party to acknowledge her?" Lu Qingfeng continued to taunt him.


    "This has nothing to do with you, Young Master Lu. Whether I marry Su Xiaofei or not, is none of your business. I''ll pretend I didn''t see anything earlier."


    "Oh? You speak like you are certain that Feifei would still marry you, and wants to be with you. Is Mr. Mo really this weak that he needs to rely on a woman to stabilize his position at Golden Star? You''re quite disappointing then."


    Mo Yuchen gritted his teeth, hands clenching on his sides as Lu Qingfeng poked on his sore spot. Ah, no wonder this young man got along really well with that young witch, for he is also a ck bellied person like Su Xiaofei.


    "Young Master Lu, you are still young, but this isn''t an excuse to be rude to your elders, right?" He spat out venomously.


    "Then I apologize for offending you, Mr. Mo. I was merely expressing my opinion over the betrothal between you and Feifei. Feifei doesn''t need you anymore because she already has me, but you still need her, don''t you?"


    Mo Yuchen was rendered speechless at that. It seemed that Lu Qingfeng could clearly see his intentions as to why his family hadn''t agreed to Yun Qingrong''s request to dissolve the betrothal between him and Su Xiaofei.


    "Why aren''t you saying anything?" Lu Qingfeng arrogantly cocked his head to one side, then gave Mo Yuchen a head to toe look. "Are you regretting your actions now?"


    A sh of surprise shed in Mo Yuchen''s eyes. If he had treated Su Xiaofei a little better¡­ if only he led her nose to believe that he was in love with her, Mo Yuchen wouldn''t have this problem.


    Lu Qingfeng watched him quietly and there were no fluctuations in his expressions. His hands, however, unconsciously clenched behind him as he thought about how many times Su Xiaofei shed tears for this selfish man.


    Su Xiaofei thought that she was selfish, but she clearly couldn''t bepared to the man who was currently standing in front of Lu Qingfeng.


    "Young Master Lu must be joking. I have no obligation to answer you." Mo Yuchen''s brows slightly wrinkled, but he didn''t allow his anger to appear on his face.


    As Su Xiaofei appeared in his mind, he was reminded of those pair of deep cold eyes that he''d seen when she was hospitalized. That kind of cold, dark eyes made him very confused.


    In Mo Yuchen''s heart, something stirred, and his instinct was telling him that this wasn''t supposed to happen, that regardless if he felt anything for her or not, Su Xiaofei should belong to him, and not another man, especially not Lu Qingfeng.


    That uneasiness in his heart only grew more intense as he found her in another man''s embrace. Most probably, due to him ignoring her for too long, the love Su Xiaofei used to have had turned to animosity and dissatisfaction towards him.


    Lu Qingfeng shrugged and turned to leave without saying any parting words to Mo Yuchen.


    Since Mo Yuchen lost his chance to adapt to Su Xiaofei''s sudden change, Lu Qingfeng intended to conquer every piece of her heart.

 Chapter 195 - Ideal Husband (1)

    <h4>Chapter 195 - Ideal Husband (1)</h4>


    If it wasn''t for the fact that she was needed here and it was General Yun''s birthday, Su Xiaofei would''ve already left, ditching everyone in the process. She was disgusted knowing that she was in the same ce as Mo Yuchen, and even though Mo Yuan was around, she refused to allow anyone to find out that they were acquainted with each other.


    She had returned alone without Lu Qingfeng as it was almost time for the banquet to start. Since there were no more guests to be received, she decided to find her mother.


    "Ah, Feifei, you are just in time." Yun Qingrong beamed a wide smile at her daughter as she took Su Xiaofei''s hand. "I know you don''t like meeting the Mo family, I have inconvenienced you."


    "Mama, what are you saying? It''s precisely because I know you are here that I''m confident that Mr. Mo wouldn''t bully me." Su Xiaofei replied, and led her mother away from the crowd.


    As they took a seat at the empty balcony, Yun Qingrong fell silent. Su Xiaofei didn''t know what her mother was thinking about, only when the hold on her hand slightly tightened did Yun Qingrong speak.


    "Feifei, what kind of man do you like?" She asked, breaking the silence between them.


    From where they were seated, they could still hear the sound of theughter and voices of their guests, but there was no one within earshot to overhear their conversation.


    Her question caught Su Xiaofei off guard, as she never thought that she would have a talk like this with her mother here. It was most likely because Yun Qingrong was worried about her sudden rejection of Mo Yuchen, leading the older woman to bring up the topic.


    Yun Qingrong knew her daughter used to fawn over Mo Yuchen and although he was truly an outstanding man in his league, she was also aware of how ambitious he could be. She was worried that if her Feifei married such a man, she wouldn''t truly be happy for the rest of her life.


    Su Xiaofei recovered from her shock and rested her head lovingly against her mother''s shoulder. A genuine smile blooming on her pretty face.


    Her previous self was so foolish for ignoring her mother''s advice. She should have known that in this world, the person who loved her the most and unconditionally was her mother. It was just a pity that she wasn''t born from Yun Qingrong''s womb, but from a despicable woman instead.


    "What kind of person does Mama wish for me to marry, then? I will listen to you."


    Su Xiaofei hadn''t even thought about the kind of man she''d be interested in anyway. She also wasn''t ready to admit her blossoming attraction towards Lu Qingfeng at the moment. Remembering the kisses they shared earlier made her cheeks flushed from embarrassment.


    Yun Qingrong didn''t expect that her daughter would avoid her question and answer her with another one instead. She supposed that her Feifei was a little embarrassed to admit that she didn''t have a good eye when ites to men.


    The older woman stared at her young daughter for a moment and sighed. Yun Qingrong could only wish that, unlike her, her daughter would be able to find a man who truly loved her.


    "Your Mama wishes that you will marry a person who would love and cherish you the most. It would be better if he isn''t too ambitious or greedy. Wealth is not a problem, as long as he would be able to take good care of you. In short, your Mama wishes that the husband you would have in the future would sincerely love and respect you. It''s not enough that he loves you, he must respect you too."


    Su Xiaofei blinked her eyes, keeping her tears at bay. She didn''t want to cry for the second time tonight, and she didn''t want to make her mother worried again. Yun Qingrong''s wish was still the same as the one she mentioned in her previous life.


    "Even if you marry an ordinary man with no social status, as long as he could make you happy, I will wee him into our family."


    These were the words Yun Qingrong had told her in her previous life. Perhaps at that time, Yun Qingrong had finally realized that her husband had fooled her and was having an affair with Ye Xing.


    Unfortunately, Su Xiaofei was so blinded by her infatuation with Mo Yuchen that she didn''t listen to her mother''s advice.


    "Then, I will listen to Mama. In the future, I will only marry a man once I''m certain that he respects me, and I am the only one he has in his heart." She said softly.


    Yun Qingrong was stunned upon hearing her daughter''s response. Surprised that her Feifei would easily agree with her. However, a part of her was satisfied that her daughter was willing to ept advice from her now.


    "That''s reassuring to hear, Feifei." She smiled at her daughter. "I''ve already talked to Elder Mo, and he finally agreed to break the engagement between you and Mo Yuchen. However, he asked forpensation instead."


    Su Xiaofei frowned at that. She knew that the Mo family wouldn''t agree easily, unless there''s a catch.


    "What kind ofpensation, Mama?" She had a bad feeling about this. She could only hope that the Mo family wasn''t asking her mother too much forpensation.


    "No worries, Feifei. It''s only for me to sell the small share I own at Golden Star. You might not know this, but I bought some shares of theirpany three years ago to help them. Now, they are eager to have those shares back." Yun Qingrong exined.


    Of course, Su Xiaofei knew about this. This meager amount of shares is worth nothing to Yun Qingrong, but invaluable for the Mo family.. If Yun Qingrong didn''t buy this small portion of shares of Golden Star, Mo Yuchen''s father, Mo Yahui, would lose his position at Golden Star.

 Chapter 196 - Ideal Husband (2)

    <h4>Chapter 196 - Ideal Husband (2)</h4>


    "Did you agree, Mama?" Su Xiaofei asked her mother.


    "Why, of course." Yun Qingrong let out a satisfiedugh. "My Feifei''s worth can''t bepared to those shares. They can have it, as long as they would leave you alone."


    Su Xiaofei couldn''t help but feel moved by her mother''s words. Yun Qingrong was willing to give up everything for her sake, unlike Bai Qingyue who abandoned her the moment she was born to seek a better life without her.


    "Feifei, you don''t have to worry about them now. However, in the future, try to avoid any conflict with them. You are still young and there''s no need for you to rush to settle down."


    Yun Qingrong gently touched her daughter''s head. The baby she used to take care of years ago has now grown up into a fine young woman. Now that her Feifei was more sensible and starting to act mature, how can she not be happy and surprised? When she looked at her daughter, there was pride and happiness in her eyes.


    "Ah, my baby has grown so much. She''ll turn into a great beauty soon, so just let that Young Master Mo go and don''t regret itter." Sheughed before deciding to return to the banquet with Su Xiaofei.


    If these words were heard by others, there was no doubt that many would raise a brow due to Yun Qingrong''sment. While it''s true that Su Xiaofei''s physical appearance was a little better than her peers, her attitude was something that she needed to work on.


    "Mama really knows how to improve my mood." Su Xiaofei giggled and hooked her arm with her mother''s.


    She knew that Yun Qingrong was saying these in an attempt to make her feel better. Also, parents would naturally see their child as the best and somewhat biased towards them, so Su Xiaofei didn''t take her mother''s words seriously, but she rejoiced knowing how far Yun Qingrong was willing to go to protect her.


    Su Xiaofei smiled lightly. She was now in a better mood because of her mother and Lu Qingfeng''s reassurance.


    "Feifei, previously you mentioned that you want to learn the ropes in thepany? Your Uncle Fang and I thought that it was a good idea. I''ve already arranged your visitation on weekends. You will be following me around at thepany and observing how things are handled."


    Hearing that, Su Xiaofei''s eyes lit up. She believed that her mother would have some hesitation to agree with her request, but she did not expect that her mother would arrange it immediately. Now this was something that she''d been looking forward to learning. If she were to destroy Mo Yuchen in the future and protect Bluemedia, she needed to improve herself.


    "Thank you, Mama. I''ll do my best to learn from you and Uncle Fang."


    After General Yun''s speech, the whole Yun family gathered, including Su Xiaofei, to take a family photo. Yun Qingrong pulled her daughter to stand next to her. Such a warm scene only implied that Su Xiaofei was now truly part of an affluent family and can no longer be easily bullied by anyone.


    Once the photoshoot was done, Su Xiaofei immediately fled from the scene and found Lu Qingfeng being cornered by a familiar young woman. From what Su Xiaofei could remember, Qin Ying was Lu Qingfeng''s lovesick ssmate and the epitome of typical rich young misses of an affluent family.


    In her previous life, Qin Ying incessantly sought Lu Qingfeng every chance she could get, like Su Xiaofei did to Mo Yuchen. Looking at Qin Ying now, Su Xiaofei could only sigh inwardly, thinking how pathetic she was before. At least Lu Qingfeng wasn''t rude towards Qin Ying and had politely turned her down.


    When Lu Qingfeng spotted her looking in their direction, he immediately excused himself from Qin Ying and went to Su Xiaofei.


    "Miss Qin is quite persistent, I see. It hasn''t been an hour, and now you''re seeing another woman?" Su Xiaofei was obviously teasing him, and Lu Qingfeng huffed in response.


    "She''s the one who came to me. I did not seek her." He said in defense.


    There was a hint of distaste appearing in his eyes. Was she feeling insecure about seeing him with another woman? Was this still an aftermath of Mo Yuchen''s betrayal on her?


    "Do you mind it? If you don''t like seeing me talking to her, I won''t talk to Qin Ying anymore."


    He didn''t continue, but the meaning of his words were obvious.


    The corner of Su Xiaofei''s lips arched into a small smile.


    "If you want to go to her, there''s nothing I can do to stop you, right?" She retorted. Knowing Lu Qingfeng''s personality, he wasn''t the kind of person that can easily be swayed by others.


    Lu Qingfeng gave her a deep look and nodded in approval.


    "Is there a point to asking this? You are right, but I already made it clear that I already have someone in my life."


    He stared at her and thought that after experiencing two rebirths, it was impossible for him to rece Su Xiaofei in his life easily, no matter how beautiful or charming a woman was.


    Su Xiaofei lowered her gaze, trying to suppress the blush on her face. Heck, she was already a woman in herte twenties, but why did she feel like a teenager who just experienced love for the first time?


    "There''s no need for you to stop talking to her. If I get jealous every time you speak with another woman, then wouldn''t I have drowned in vinegar already? I trust you, Xiao Feng and whether you prove me wrong is up to you."


    Actually, she didn''t feel jealous at all, which was quite weird, considering how furious and jealous she was when other women sought Mo Yuchen in her past life. However, now, she didn''t feel any annoyance at all.


    Was this one of the differences between him and Lu Qingfeng? She wondered.

 Chapter 197 - What Part Of Him Is Good? (1)

    <h4>Chapter 197 - What Part Of Him Is Good? (1)</h4>


    The banquet continued far into the night before it ended. Su Xiaofei and her mother were going to stay overnight at the Yun Estate again, so the young woman was the one to send Lu Qingfeng off along with his grandfather.


    "Grandpa, thank you foring tonight." Su Xiaofei told Chairman Lu. The old man onlyughed and patted her hand gently.


    "Aiya, how can I decline Xiao Fei''s invitation? I also know how important this banquet is for your mother." Chairman Lu? said in response, his calm and collected attitude contrasted the temper he had in the past as a demanding and ruthless devil of the business society years ago.


    Looking at him, Su Xiaofei thought that perhaps Lu Qingfeng had somewhat taken his personality after his grandfather, who raised him from the moment his parents died.


    Compared to the older men whom Su Xiaofei met in the past, Chairman Lu had the most gentle personality and was a very charismatic person. He was a chubby old man who always had a smile on his face and when heughed. Su Xiaofei was reminded of Santa us whenever heughed.


    Chairman Lu also treated her like she was his own granddaughter. He had once mentioned that because of the family feud that led to his sons'' deaths, he regretted not having a granddaughter he could spoil.


    In her past life, before she married Mo Yuchen and the Lu family had already moved to Shenjing, she received a phone call from Chairman Lu, informing herthat Lu Qingfeng was in a deepa. Su Xiaofei had visited them weekly, forcing to schedule her visitation despite her busy schedule at work.


    However, when she married Mo Yuchen and moved back to Qiying City to start a family with him, Su Xiaofei lost all her connections to the Lu family. Perhaps it was because Chairman Lu was upset with her decision to marry Mo Yuchen and was aware of the feelings his grandson had for her.


    "Still, let me thank you, grandpa. Next time, I''ll make sure to be the one to visit you." Su Xiaofei beamed a wide smile to the old man. She was really d that she was given a chance to live again and appreciate the love and concern that the people around her were giving her. The same ones she had taken advantage of and dismissed in the past.


    "Alright. I''ll be expecting you then." The old man said before entering the backseat of his car, leaving Lu Qingfeng behind with Su Xiaofei.


    It''s already past midnight and the night has be colder. Now, dressed with her home clothes with a thick coat keeping her from the coldness of the night, Su Xiaofei''s breath fogged in front of her as she wrapped her arms around her midsection.


    "You should return now, Xiaofei. You had a long day." Lu Qingfeng said, noticing the slight shiver on her.


    "Hmm¡­ I''ll send you off first. You are thest one to leave." Su Xiaofei said in a teasing tone.


    Although she still felt a little awkward and shy about the kiss they shared earlier, the feeling of warmth in her heart overshadowed it. Su Xiaofei didn''t know why she was acting silly in front of Lu Qingfeng now.


    Seeing that she wasn''t willing to leave yet, Lu Qingfeng sighed inwardly.


    "Fine. I''m leaving." He said, and at once, Nine opened the door of the backseat of the car for him. "Don''t stay too long out here and get inside. I don''t want to be responsible if you fall sick again."


    After what happened earlier, Lu Qingfeng didn''t want to part from her yet. Even now, he could still feel the softness of her lips on his. It had been a mistake on his part for kissing her, because now, he was addicted to her taste and wanted more from her.


    Su Xiaofei nodded and watched him leave with Nine. Once the car he rode left the Yun Estate, she hurriedly ran inside as she clutched the coat tighter around her. The moment she closed the doors behind her, she found Yun Xiang at the bottom of the staircase, still in his tux.


    "Brother Xiang." She said in a greeting, although she wanted nothing but to jump into thefort of the bed and forget her worries.


    Yun Xiang had this same conflicted look on his face, as if Su Xiaofei was an enigma he had yet to understand.


    "Xiao Fei, are you and Lu Qingfeng dating?" Yun Xiang asked, which immediately made Su Xiaofei frown.


    Whether or not she and Lu Qinfeng were dating was her own matter and not any of Yun Xiang''s business. If anything, the only people who can ask her this question were her mother and Xi Qian as she had promised them.


    "Brother Xiang, do I really need to answer this?" She furrowed her brow, her eyes shing with dissatisfaction towards Yun Xiang. She briefly wondered if he also acted like this in front of Ye Mingyu in private in her past life.


    Su Xiaofei didn''t like Yun Xiang''s approach in trying to get closer to her, and while it''s true that she was taking advantage of his ''kindness'', the things he had done towards her in her past life were still not forgotten.


    "Xiao Feng is a good man." She continued when Yun Xiang didn''t say anything. ''Way too goodpared to you and Mo Yuchen.''


    "What part of him is good? Is he treating you well?" He inquired.


    Su Xiaofei looked at his confused eyes, and it dawned on her why he was asking her these questions.


    ''Hey now. Don''t be stupid and catch feelings for me, dear cousin.'' Su Xiaofei left these words unspoken, but it was clear that she was dissatisfied with Yun Xiang''s probing questions.


    "He treats me way better than anyone else." She said with confidence.


    In this world, there was no other man who could topple Lu Qingfeng''s love for her.

 Chapter 198 - What Part Of Him Is Good? (2)

    <h4>Chapter 198 - What Part Of Him Is Good? (2)</h4>


    If she hadn''t witnessed herself how Lu Qingfeng lived his life after her death, Su Xiaofei would never know just how deep and sincere his love was for her. The things she had hoped to receive from her estranged husband, Lu Qingfeng, was willing to give it all to her without any questions asked.


    Come to think of it, if he hadn''t fallen into aa and returned as promised in her past life, Su Xiaofei wondered if Lu Qingfeng would chase after her like he was doing right now. She might have avoided all those misfortunes if she hadn''t been so foolish to cling on to Mo Yuchen.


    If she wasn''t muddle headed in her previous life, she should have noticed right away that her childhood friend loved her. Any sane woman would choose Lu Qingfeng over Mo Yuchen. s, because she was stupid, the one responsible for all of her sufferings was herself after all. She had brought them all upon herself.


    "Is that so?" Yun Xiang''s question sounded more like a statement to Su Xiaofei''s ears.


    "Of course." Su Xiaofei said, before turning to leave. "If there''s nothing else, I will retire for the night now, Brother Xiang. You should also do the same."


    She left without waiting for his answer. Yun Xiang had no right to question her like this nor to ask whom she was with.


    Su Xiaofei made a mental note to be careful with her words when she was talking to him, although she couldn''t understand how she managed to pique his interest.


    If she were to choose between Lu Qingfeng and Yun Xiang, of course she would pick her childhood friend. She trusted Lu Qingfeng, and she knew that he would never do anything that could hurt her.


    Being with Lu Qingfeng made her feel at peace as she didn''t need to keep up her guard and pretend that she was a good person, unlike when she was with her mother and Xi Qian. Even without saying anything, Su Xiaofei knew that Lu Qingfeng understood her the most.


    In front of Lu Qingfeng, she didn''t feel any insecurity at all. She could be herself without worrying about his opinion about her.


    As Yun Xiang watched her leave, he couldn''t help but feel both disappointed and depressed. He just wanted to know why Su Xiaofei was able to lower her guard and rely on Lu Qingfeng, but she couldn''t with him.


    The next morning, the Yun family started their breakfast a littleter than usual. The rest of the family were having their meal in silence, as if all of them had no energy to speak to each other at all.


    Because Su Xiaofei wasn''t used to sleeping on someone else''s bed, she barely had any sleep for three nights now. Thankfully, she and her mother would return home today, and she would be able toze around and sleep on herfy bed without worrying about anything.


    As expected, the news aboutst night''s banquet had filled the news, with thetest scoop about the breakup between Su Xiaofei and Mo Yuchen. As Su Xiaofei stared at the news on the screen of the phone, Yun Qingrongughed at her reaction.


    "Since the Mo family had already agreed, I made sure to ask my friends in the media to announce your breakup with Mo Yuchen. This way, they wouldn''t be able to twist the truth. It was them who asked me to sell back my shares anyway."


    Su Xiaofei apuded her mother in her heart. She hadn''t thought that her mother had this side to her. Most people knew Yun Qingrong as a soft-spoken and gentle woman who treated everyone with due respect and warmness. It wasn''t her way to do something underhanded, as it was Su Xiaofei''s way.


    "Thanks, Mama. You are the best!" Su Xiaofei grinned at her mother, before giving her a hug.


    This scene was witnessed by the rest of the Yun family. Such a loving moment between the mother and daughter made General Yun pleased that at least Su Xiaofei''s concern towards her adoptive mother was genuine.


    "Xiao Fei, is it true that you want to join your mother''spany?" The old man asked. He heard the news from Yun Qingrong herself, and he wasn''t sure what he should feel about it.


    Bluemedia and its worth weren''t something that could easily be handed over to a person like Su Xiaofei. Not only was she not Yun Qingrong''s real daughter, but she also had a shrewd way of dealing with people.


    As General Yun thought about it, he was also aware that no one in the Yun family would contest for Su Xiaofei''s position as Yun Qingrong''s sessor. For his daughter, she might be viewing the entertainmentpany as merely a business she was running, but General Yun and the rest of the family knew how dirty the entertainment industry could be.


    "En. If I don''t follow in my Mama''s footsteps, then her years of hard work at Bluemedia would end in vain." Su Xiaofei affirmed.


    Yan Mei, Yun Zhaonan''s wife, gentlyughed.


    "In the future, when our Xiao Fei seeds Sister Qing, she will be more beautiful than her talents. I feel like she would overshadow them with her beauty alone." Shemented, which earned certain approvals from the rest of the family.


    "Then Xiao Fei should be an actress. With her face alone, don''t you think many would want to hire her as their brand ambassador?" Yun Qiangughed. He was Yun Xiang''s younger brother.


    Su Xiaofei shook her head and continued her meal. She had already spent her previous life as an actress. Although she was popr, it wasn''t for a positive reason as she kept being hunted by rumors, one after another.


    "Aunty Mei and Brother Qiang really know how to joke. I''m only interested in seeding my Mama."


    She had no interest of bing an actress anymore, however, there was no denying that she cannot avoid the limelight in the future.

 Chapter 199 - Xi Qians Troubles (1)

    <h4>Chapter 199 - Xi Qian''s Troubles (1)</h4>


    Su Xiaofei had almost forgotten about Ye Mingyu as thetter hadn''t shown up for days. However, that morning, she and Xi Qian met Ye Mingyu in the hallway outside their ss. She looked more distressed than usual, not that Su Xiaofei was worried about her, but something must have happened for Ye Mingyu to act like this.


    "Feifei, what''s the status for Aunty Qing''s divorce case?" Xi Qian asked as Ye Mingyu ignored them and went inside her own ssroom.


    "Not sure. It has only been a week since Mama sued him. Whether he likes it or not, he would have no other choice but to sign those papers." Su Xiaofei replied nonchntly.


    Su Haoran''s world was starting to get smaller. Su Xiaofei would like to see how her beloved Da Jie would be able to turn the tables in their favor. She refused to believe that the Ye Mingyu she knew in her past life would easily ept defeat like this.


    Once they returned to their ssroom and took a seat, Su Xiaofei then noticed that her best friend looked uneasy as there was a slight frown on her face, which indicated that something was bothering her.


    "Qian, did something happen? You know you can tell me anything, right?" She asked with a low voice, making sure that no one would overhear their conversation.


    "Actually, Feifei. My parents recently found out that my house is being purchased by the developer. They came to my house this weekend and were insisting on representing me for the sale, not knowing that I''ve already sold it with Lu Qingfeng''s help." Xi Qian admitted.


    "Then are you worried that they will hit you again if they found out that you already sold it?" Su Xiaofei narrowed her eyes.


    Thankfully, with Lu Qingfeng''s help, Xi Qian had already sold her house. In Su Xiaofei''s past life, her best friend refused to sell her home, which led to several issuesing from her own parents who wanted to get their hands on the money and from the developingpany that was pressuring her into submission.


    No matter how hard she tried to convince Xi Qian to sell the property, her best friend refused to listen to her. Thinking about it, Su Xiaofei wondered what made Xi Qian easily agree this time when she had vehemently refused to listen to anyone in the past.


    In her previous life, because her parents refused to help her pay her tuition fee and give her financial support, Xi Qian wasn''t able to enroll in med school to be a doctor. Instead, she worked numerous part-time jobs and attended a local public university and became a nurse.


    Su Xiaofei wondered if this was alright. One reason why Xi Qian was able to meet Li Xiran in the past was because she became a private nurse for his father. If things turned out different this time, wouldn''t this mean that the chance for Xi Qian to meet the love of her life would also reduce significantly?


    Obviously, Su Xiaofei also wanted her best friend to lead a happier life this time, but if changing the course of events would cause a butterfly effect, then she could only hope that Xi Qian would meet Li Xiran regardless of the changes in this lifetime.


    Xi Qian nodded her head in shame. Not only did she have a pair of irresponsible parents, they were also abusive whenever she was with them.


    Su Xiaofei sighed. If she wasn''t preupied with the Yun family banquet, she would have gone to Xi Qian''s ce and confronted her shameless parents.


    "Qian, why don''t you just move to my apartment? My ce has tight security and the guards wouldn''t allow them in. Since I''m still the house owner, I can cklist them from the guest list. This way, they wouldn''t be able to harass you." She suggested.


    Xi Qian remained silent for a moment. What Su Xiaofei had just said made sense to her, and it wasn''t like her parents knew where she was working. Eventually they would find out that she had already sold her house and would surely ask her for their share. Knowing her parents, they would surely make a scene and would paint her as an unfilial daughter.


    She bit her lower lip and sighed. Su Xiaofei knew her so well.


    "Thanks, Feifei. I''ll make sure to settle my debts in the future." She promised her best friend.


    "Qian, what are you saying? There''s no need to worry about this. Just tell me when you are free, and I''ll help you move into my apartment." Su Xiaofei dismissed Xi Qian''s worries. She knew that if she was the one in need, Xi Qian would also do her best to help her.


    "How about thising weekend? You aren''t busy, are you?" Xi Qian asked. She knew about the banquet Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng attendedst Saturday and while her best friend extended an invitation for her to attend, Xi Qian once again declined it.


    Xi Qian was fully aware that her world was vastly different from her best friend and Lu Qingfeng and if it wasn''t for her schrship, she had no doubt that she wouldn''t be able to attend QCA with them.


    "Can''t we do it by Friday afternoon or Sunday instead? I''m going to Bluemedia with Mama on Saturday. You don''t need to bring much, Qian, since most of the things you might need are already avable in my apartment." Su Xiaofei responded, she then made a mental note to check her wardrobeter for the appropriate attire she should wear during her visit to Bluemedia.


    "I have free time on Friday. I''ll start packing my things then, so we won''t have to move so many boxes.." Xi Qian agreed with her as she started to list down the things she would need to buy to pack up her things before her parents caught whiff of her ns on moving out.

 Chapter 200 - Xi Qians Troubles (2)

    <h4>Chapter 200 - Xi Qian''s Troubles (2)</h4>


    Friday came and for the past few days, Su Xiaofei wondered if Lu Qingfeng was ignoring her. They hadn''t had a decent talk ever since the banquet at the Yun Estate and while he was still apanying her and Xi Qian during lunch, he didn''t stay for too long.


    Even Xi Qian noticed the sudden change in his demeanor and asked Su Xiaofei if the two had a fight during the banquet. Su Xiaofei only lowered her head and refused toment. She wasn''t aware of the slight blush that appeared on her face as she rested her chin on one hand and looked away.


    "He must have been busy practicing for the semi-finals." She tried to reason out, which Xi Qian didn''t buy at all but refused toment about the blush on her best friend''s face.


    Still, when Lu Qingfeng heard that Xi Qian was moving out from her home to stay at Su Xiaofei''s apartment, he offered help by contacting movers that could help Xi Qian with her n. However, he wouldn''t be able to be there to help them as he had afternoon practice with his team.


    Having packed her belongings for the past few days, Xi Qian unlocked the door of her house and let the movers get inside and take the boxes she packed one by one. She really didn''t have that much stuff and even then half of it was packed away after her grandmother''s death and was collecting dust in the vacant room at the back.


    Xi Qian was thankful that Su Xiaofei hade with her and apanied her to the new ce she would be staying temporarily, until she could move out on her own ce, today.


    She almost forgot to close her mouth as she climbed down from Su Xiaofei''s car only to be rendered speechless. It wasn''t the first time she hade to Su Xiaofei''s apartment, but she wasn''t aware that the management had renovated the front of the apartmentplex.


    She wouldn''t have to worry about chipping paint on her walls, leaking plumbing, and about having unwanted guestsing to see her uninvited.


    "Wow¡­" Xi Qian giggled, d to be living in such a nice ce, even if it''s only temporary. "How did you find such a good ce, Feifei?"


    "Xiao Feng helped me find one. I gave him my requirements and he easily arranged the purchase of my unit. Come on, let''s get going." Su Xiaofei led her to the lobby''s security desk and informed the management that Xi Qian was her ''tenant'' and she would move in today, before explicitly mentioning that Xi Qian''s parents were cklisted from going up and entering her ce. Despite wearing her high school uniform, Su Xiaofei spoke eloquently, as expected from someone of her status.


    Xi Qian noticed that the man at the security desk seemed familiar with her best friend as he also gave her some suggestions on how they could prevent Xi Qian''s parents from assaulting her inside the apartmentplex.


    The person in charge noted Su Xiaofei''s request and made a spare key for Xi Qian. He also reminded her of the usual rules of the apartmentplex before calling someone to bring carts that could help the movers bring Xi Qian''s boxes to Su Xiaofei''s unit.


    At the twenty-second floor, Xi Qian followed Su Xiaofei as they walked in the hallway. Turning right, her best friend stopped in front of the unitbelled 2209 on its door te at the end of the hall.


    "We''re here." Su Xiaofei unlocked the door of her apartment, stepped inside and drew the blinds to lighten up the ce.


    Xi Qian stepped inside and marvelled at the ce. It was a two-bedroom apartment unit with a huge kitchen and tons of counter space. The ce was spacious enough for a small family, and Xi Qian wondered why Lu Qingfeng chose such a ce for her best friend. Su Xiaofei didn''t even know how to cook, but it was obvious that the kitchen hadplete appliances one would need to prepare meals.


    "You can use my bedroom, Qian." She heard Su Xiaofei say and saw her open one of the bedrooms. "Aunty Liu already cleaned the ce and moved my belongings."


    "Then what about the other bedroom? I could have used it instead of moving your things away." Xi Qian said.


    Su Xiaofei chuckled and shook her head. Xi Qian must also be thinking right now how to return this favor she had done for her.


    "That''s where Xiao Feng sleeps. I don''t have the key with me anyway. Don''t worry about it. Since you are here, I doubt that he woulde here to sleep."


    Indeed. Xi Qian thought, then scoffed inwardly. She finally understood why Lu Qingfeng picked this ce. The little tyrant was attempting to make this his love nest with Su Xiaofei and she doubted that her best friend even realized it.


    As expected, when Xi Qian opened the dresser, it was empty. The bathroom had a standing shower stall in it, and it was stillrger than her previous bathroom, but what she liked the most was the balcony. She always wanted to experience standing outside a balconyte at night, watching the few stars that managed to peek through the thick clouds.


    Xi Qian felt that she was starting a new life and hoped that she wouldn''t encounter any huge problems soon. She was aware that her parents wouldn''t let her off the hook easily, but who cares?


    Just as Su Xiaofei said, if they insisted on harassing her, she could file a restraining order against her parents and threaten to report to their respectivepanies for abandoning her when she was a minor.


    These were Su Xiaofei''s ideas.. Initially, she thought that it was too much, but when she had met her parents the previous weekend and received verbal abuse again, Xi Qian then understood why her best friend told her to draw the line when it came to her parents.

 Chapter 201 - She’s Not Even Your Daughter (1)

    <h4>Chapter 201 - She¡¯s Not Even Your Daughter (1)</h4>


    It had only been three days since Xi Qian moved out from her old home to Su Xiaofei''s apartment when her father and stepmother came to QCA to seek her. When her name was summoned to the headmistress''s office, Xi Qian gave Su Xiaofei a worried look, knowing what was waiting for her.


    "I''m going with you, Qian. I''ll make sure that they won''t hurt you ever again." Su Xiaofei said, her eyes darkening.


    She had yet to settle the score with Wang Pen, Xi Qian''s stepmother. If it wasn''t for that woman, Xi Qian wouldn''t suffer such humiliation in the past, and since it was Wang Pen who paid the homeless man to harass Xi Qian, how could Su Xiaofei let go of this chance to see the woman now?


    ''Qian, I haven''t been a good friend to you, but I promise this time, no one can easily hurt you as long as I''m around.'' Su Xiaofei promised in her heart.


    When Xi Qian''s parents were divorced, she was left behind with her grandmother, as if she was nothing but a burden for them. Somehow, Su Xiaofei could understand why Xi Qian didn''t want to owe anyone a favor. It was because she always had to either work hard or pay a heavy price for all the things she received in the past.


    Therefore, Xi Qian could only rely on herself.


    From the moment Su Xiaofei met Xi Qian, her clothes were always faded and had seen better days. Because of this, when they were younger, Xi Qian was usually targeted by the bullies, and it only stopped when Su Xiaofei beat up some of them. They left Xi Qian alone after that.


    When Su Xiaofei and Yun Qingrong found out about Xi Qian''s circumstances, they were upset. For one, Xi Qian was only a minor, how could her parents leave her to an elderly who couldn''t even take care of herself?


    Anyway, it was good that Xi Qian no longer had feelings for her parents, so Su Xiaofei didn''t need to be polite to them. Wasn''t it obvious that the only reason they were seeking Xi Qian right now was because they were already aware that Xi Qian had already sold her ce and wanted to im their ''share'' from the payout?


    Xi Qian walked ahead of Su Xiaofei, pondering what she should do this time. She hadn''t seen her father in over a year now and her stepmother, Wang Pen, obviously despised her. However, remembering that it was Wang Pen who wanted to harm her during the eve of her birthday, it only soured Xi Qian''s mood.


    If it wasn''t for Wang Pen''s scheme, Su Xiaofei wouldn''t need to force herself to beat up that shameless homeless man to save her. Just thinking of what could have happened to her if her best friend hadn''t intervened that night, Xi Qian couldn''t help but feel a shiver running down her spine.


    Soon, they arrived at the headmistress''s office. As soon as Xi Qian opened the door, she saw her father standing behind Wang Pen, who was seated across from their headmistress.


    "Hello, Headmistress. You wanted to see me?" Xi Qian greeted her, while Su Xiaofei went and stood by a wall and crossed her arms around her midsection, eyeing the shameless couple.


    After Wang Pen saw Xi Qian, a hint of disgust appeared on her face.


    "Unfilial child! How dare you lie to us?!" She? pointed a finger usingly at Xi Qian, which made the headmistress frown.


    "Madam, please calm down. There''s no need to raise your voice like this." Headmistress Yan said in a low voice, but she had this awful look on her face.


    How could she not know of Xi Qian''s circumstances? Headmistress Yan had been giving the young woman various pieces of advice regarding bncing her studies and part-time job. Although Xi Qian managed to get a schrship from the academy, the grade she needed to keep up would be hard to maintain.


    When she found out that Xi Qian was taking up part-time jobs to support herself, Headmistress Yan asked her why she didn''t ask for her parents'' help. It was only now did the older woman finally realize how bad the rtionship was between Xi Qian and her parents, that even an outsider like Wang Pen could berate and humiliate her like this in front of her father.


    Headmistress Yan couldn''t help but feel pity for Xi Qian. She was one of the most outstanding students in their academy and no matter how busy Xi Qian was, she was always ready to extend a hand when someone needed help.


    As for Wang Pen, did she think that everyone was stupid?


    "She''s not even your daughter. Who are you to scold our Qian?" Su Xiaofei''s cold tone reached everyone''s ears.


    As Wang Pen turned her head to see who dared to provoke her, she was momentarily? stunned as she didn''t expect that Xi Qian''spanion could be this beautiful.


    "You¡­ who are you? You don''t have a say in our family matters." Wang Pen sneered at Su Xiaofei.


    "You ask who I am?" Su Xiaofei chuckled darkly before ncing at Xi Qian''s father, who remained silent behind his wife. Seeing him reminded Su Xiaofei of how disgusting and cowardly this man was.


    He was at his wife''s every beck and call. Even when Wang Pen repeatedly caused trouble for his own daughter, he did nothing to rein his wife and save Xi Qian some face. So why should Su Xiaofei take pity on them?


    "I''m Xi Qian''s best friend. The person who helped her when she had nothing to eat and paid for her hospital bills when no responsible adults were there to take care of her.. Such things are her parents'' responsibility, but they were never around. Now that her home is already sold and she has money, who would have thought that her so-called parents would suddenly show up iming that they''re family? It''s really disappointing, don''t you think?"

 Chapter 202 - She’s Not Even Your Daughter (2)

    <h4>Chapter 202 - She¡¯s Not Even Your Daughter (2)</h4>


    Wang Pen was taken aback, while Xi Qian''s father''s expression was darkened by Su Xiaofei''s words. They had never thought that someone would criticize them and would point out their ns in broad daylight.


    Listening to Su Xiaofei''s words, Headmistress Yan could conclude that Xi Qian''s parents were a pair of shameless couple who only remembered Xi Qian''s existence because of money and that they had essentially abandoned her, especially when she needed help.


    Headmistress Yan scowled as she thought about it. Indeed, she knew that Xi Qian was close to Su Xiaofei, and it had been a surprise to her when she found out that these two really get along despite the contrast in their attitudes.


    One was a gentle mannered child, while the other was an ill-tempered young miss who sought trouble left, right and centre. However, as Su Xiaofei called out Xi Qian''s parents for their irresponsible behavior, the old woman was willing to let Su Xiaofei off the hook this time, as long as she didn''t go overboard.


    "Xi Qian has indeed sold her ce, so what? What does it have anything to do with you? The property was under her name and her grandmother left it to her because neither of her parents even bothered to check on her to see if she was still alive, let alone her welfare."


    Su Xiaofei was really annoyed with Xi Qian''s parents. Even when she had met them in the past, they looked at Xi Qian as if she was a stain and a mistake they had made in their lives. Xi Qian never asked them to give birth to her.


    Why was it that a child had to suffer just because their parents had them without even seriously considering if they were ready to raise a child and to be responsible for them? As for Xi Qian, why did she have to endure the sufferings while her parents were living leisurely somewhere else?


    "As for you, Mr. Xi, you should be thankful that Xi Qian isn''t suing you for neglecting her. What would the Dragon Emissary do if we file aint against you?" Su Xiaofei''s whole body was trembling from rage.


    "Feifei¡­" Xi Qian looked at her best friend with worry. Her eyes stung with tears as she remembered the hardships she had to endure in the past and how she felt betrayed by her own parents.


    "Do you know that abandoning a minor is punishable byw? Then to even put her in harm''s way by paying a stranger to harass her¡­? Madam, you really have the guts to dare to harm our Qian."


    Wang Pen panicked when she heard those words.


    Impossible! How did this young woman find out it was her?!


    "Su Xiaofei, what are you trying to say?" Headmistress Yan narrowed her eyes dangerously. "Are you aware that this is a serious usation?"


    "E-en! You have to be lying! I have no idea what the hell are you talking about! It''s understandable that you are still young, but you can''t nder anyone like this!" Wang Pen stuttered, although her heartbeat had already picked up and sweat started to form at the side of her face, despite the room being air-conditioned.


    Su Xiaofei chuckled darkly and sighed. Did Wang Pen think she could easily threaten her with empty words? She, who had experienced a harsher verbal war against other people in her past life?


    "If Madam feels like she''s being wronged, please, do sue me for libel." She patted her chest lightly, giving the other woman a mocking smile. "In return, we will also file cases against you and your husband. Do you think Su Xiaofei, the granddaughter of the esteemed General Yun, would turn a blind eye while Xi Qian is being bullied by her stepmother?"


    Wang Pen''s face turned ashen. Did this young woman say that she was the granddaughter of a military general? Since when did this pathetic stepdaughter of hers gain such a strong backing like this? She had seen Su xiaofei in the past, and although she knew that this young woman was an heiress, she never thought that she had such an outstanding background.


    Su Xiaofei wasn''t really nning to drag the Yun family in this, however, as the viiness everyone deemed her to be, how can she not take advantage of the resources she had at her disposal?


    Even when Xi Qian was working as a private nurse in Su Xiaofei''s previous life, this pair of shameless couples continued to bother her, asking her for money.


    "You are such a shameless girl! Why are you ndering us like this? We only came to see Xi Qian and to find out where she currently lives. She moved out from her ce without informing anyone." Wang Pen countered. She refused to back down in front of Su Xiaofei.


    It didn''t matter what this young woman said, so long as they would be able to persuade Xi Qian to give them the money they wanted. Xi Qian obviously hated arguing with anyone, especially with her parents, so in order to avoid trouble, she would always give in to her elders.


    It was just that Wang Pen hadn''t expected that Xi Qian would refuse them today.


    "I troubled Headmistress Yan today. I''m deeply sorry." Xi Qian gave Headmistress Yan a polite bow before turning to her father and stepmother.


    "Sorry, Dad. It''s true, I already sold the ce, and I''ve moved out to give way for thepany to start their preparation. As for the money, it''s mine alone. You can contest it in court, however, don''t expect that I will back down. I will sue you and Mom for neglecting my needs over the years." She said in a cold voice.


    If she didn''t make a stand today, she knew this would happen again.


    "I will also sue Aunt Pen for instigating to harm me. We have collected the evidence to prove this usation.. I hope Aunt Pen is also ready to serve jail time, away from my little brother and sister in the future."

 Chapter 203 - She’s Not Even Your Daughter (3)

    <h4>Chapter 203 - She¡¯s Not Even Your Daughter (3)</h4>


    Xi Yang, Xi Qian''s father, had a dark overcast look on his face as he heard his daughter''s words. He had never thought that one day, this little girl would grow some backbone and defy him in front of other people. He wanted a son, but his ex-wife gave birth to a useless daughter instead, this was why he never cared about this estranged daughter of his.


    He was furiously berating this useless daughter of his inwardly as he held back the urge to p her for her impertinence. However, with the headmistress around, he couldn''t afford to act recklessly.


    Besides that, it seemed that his wife''s scheme had been discovered. What would his employer think if this issue came to light? He had a perfect reputation he''d been trying to preserve in thepany, hoping that it would help him receive a promotion anytime soon. However, if Xi Qian and her friend decided to sue him and his wife, all of his efforts would be for nothing and if it were made public, he would be utterly shamed.


    This only meant that he had no way out!


    "Fine. Do whatever you want, but don''t expect anything from me from now on." He said, intending to leave.


    Xi Qian scoffed and looked away. Father? Did she ever have one growing up? Parental love was something unknown for someone like her, who had been abandoned by her own parents.


    "Rest assured, Mr. Xi. All love and familial ties between us will be lost after this meeting. Please don''t bother to show yourself in front of me in the future."


    She couldn''t believe that she could finally muster the courage to chase them away after years of abuse. As for her mother, Xi Qian knew that she wouldn''t try to scam her like these two, but would act pitifully for her to give her money.


    "But dear!" Wang Pen eximed. How could they just leave without gaining anything in return?


    Xi Yang shot his wife a fierce re, stopping her from saying anything that could be used against them. How can he ignore the tant threat from his daughter? He could only hope that this daughter of his wouldn''t bother them in the future.


    Wang Pen couldn''t do anything but scowl and shot Xi Qian and Su Xiaofei a disgusted look as she stood up from her seat. She really couldn''t stand Xi Qian''s existence. Although she was happy that Xi Qian wouldn''t have anything to do with them, she still felt that the money she earned from selling her mothers-inw''s property should be theirs.


    They left at once, not bothering to keep up pretenses of their ''care'' for Xi Qian anymore. Su Xiaofei red behind their backs. Xi Qian might be letting them off like this, but she wouldn''t. Xi Qian tried to hold out as hard as she could and tried to survive without relying on her useless parents. If Wang Pen thought that she would be safe after this, then she was gravely mistaken.


    "I''m sorry again, Headmistress Yan. I didn''t expect that they woulde here to confront me." Xi Qian apologized once again.


    Headmistress Yan sighed and rubbed her temple.


    "Say, was what Su Xiaofei said just now true? Your stepmother hired someone to attack you?"


    Xi Qian bit her lip and nodded. A week after the incident, Lu Qingfeng hade to her and Su Xiaofei, showing them a recording of the homeless man meeting Wang Pen a couple of blocks away from her workce.


    "Then, do you want to report this to the authorities? I know that you don''t have any legal guardian that could help you." Headmistress Yan asked worriedly.


    "Thank you, Miss Yan, but I would rather not report her. As you''ve seen today, my Aunt Pen would only shrug off the usation and might say that her meeting with that man was nothing but a coincidence. She''s someone who can twist the truth in her favor." She responded.


    Xi Qian couldn''t help but remember the memories of her past. At that time, she felt like she had no one. She was always hungry for attention, which was why she strived to be a better student to attain reputation and recognition from others.


    It was only when she met Su Xiaofei that she started to feel that she wasn''t alone anymore. Even Lu Qingfeng''s existence had somewhat grown on her.


    The older woman could only nod in understanding, but she would be sure to keep in touch with Xi Qian, just in case something happened to her. She turned her attention to the resident troublemaker of their academy.


    Su Xiaofei straightened her back, feeling the intense re the headmistress was throwing her way. Ah, she shouldn''t have forgotten that Headmistress Yan was here with them. The old woman was probably not pleased with what she witnessed today.


    "Miss Su, what you''ve done earlier was quite disappointing. I wouldn''t condone such an attitude here. Do you realize what you''ve done this time?" Headmistress Yan questioned her.


    "Yes, Headmistress Yan. This won''t happen again." Su Xiaofei lowered her head, but her eyes weren''t showing any hint of regret.


    "It''s good that you know. In the future, you should try to avoid confronting your elders like this. Although I understand that you''ve only acted that way to protect Xi Qian, it''s not good to create discord with other families." The older woman reminded her.


    Seeing that she wouldn''t be able to get away without agreeing, Su Xiaofei conceded. She still had other ways to deal with that couple anyway and Headmistress Yan didn''t need to find out what they were.


    "I understand, Headmistress. Thank you for your concern." She said, before excusing herself and Xi Qian from the office.


    Once they stepped out and closed the door behind them, Xi Qian unexpectedly engulfed Su Xiaofei in a tight embrace and cried silently.. Su Xiaofei could only awkwardly pat her friend''s shoulder in an attempt to reassure her that everything would be alright.

 Chapter 204 - To Become A Queen Maker (1)

    <h4>Chapter 204 - To Be A Queen Maker (1)</h4>


    It was Saturday and after a dy on Fang Yi''s part, Su Xiaofei was finally ready to step into Bluemedia on her own. Just the other week, her uncle needed to postpone her visit as something urgent popped up and he had to attend to it.


    Aunty Liu had prepared Su Xiaofei''s lunchbox and waited for her toe down for breakfast, but after an hour of waiting, Su Xiaofei still hadn''te down to start her day. The old woman called her to wake up earlier, but Su Xiaofei kept mumbling about needing another five minutes. When Aunty Liu heard her asking for five minutes for the third time, she started to doubt that her young miss had truly grown up.


    It was okay for Su Xiaofei to dilly dally for the past few days as her exams were over, but this was a different matter.


    "Feifei, if you don''t get up this instance, I''ll give your mother a call and cancel your trip." Aunty Liu frowned.


    Su Xiaofei shot her eyes wide open right then and sat up. She then slid out of her bed and ran towards her bathroom in a hurry. Actually, she went to bed earlyst night, however, how was she supposed to know that Qiao Yuhan would give her a video call before she managed to sleep? She wouldn''t admit it to anyone, but she was starting to miss her adorable little brother.


    In her past life, because she had met Qiao Yuhan a littlete and only found out about their rtionship at the end of her life, she didn''t have the opportunity to experience being an elder sister who spoils her brother. Now that they were given this chance, Su Xiaofei wanted to try to be a better sister for Qiao Yuhan, regardless if he knew they were siblings or not.


    Seeing that her young miss was finally on the move, Aunty Liu shook her head and sighed. Apparently, some things would remain the same. While Su Xiaofei was still in the bathroom, she took the clothes she wanted to wear from her closet and grabbed a pair offy t shoes. Since Su Xiaofei would visit her mother''spany, there was no doubt that she would be on her feet most of the time.


    Once Su Xiaofei was done and had dressed properly, she took another look in the mirror to ensure that she looked presentable. She was wearing a casual white sleeveless blouse with a bluece ribbon on it. The skirt she was wearing reached her upper knees and had a small slit on the side to give her room to move. Her long hair wasbed neatly and was tied in a ponytail, with a few strands left loose to frame her face.


    She devoured her breakfast in under five minutes and hurriedly called her two bodyguards for them to leave. Zhang Lan and Zhang Ling were a pair of siblings who used to work under Lu Qingfeng. However, since the stabbing incident, Lu Qingfeng took the responsibility of providing her with capable bodyguards that could cater her needs and demands at the same time.


    "Good morning, Miss. The car is ready." Zhang Lan said. She was the older of the two sisters and had a more serious demeanorpared to her younger sister.


    "Am I going to bete?" Su Xiaofei asked as she hurriedly slid inside the car while the Zhang siblings took the front seats.


    "Don''t worry, Miss. I already found a route where we could avoid the traffic jam. We should be able to arrive on time." Zhang Ling said with a wide smile. If Zhang Lan was the cold moon, Zhang Ling was the bright sun.


    "Great! You two are the best!"


    Su Xiaofei was impressed by how capable and efficient these two were. Unlike her previous bodyguards who didn''t even bother to look after her and helped an outsider to harm her, the Zhang siblings knew how to do their job well without neglecting her opinions.


    Zhang Lan didn''t waste time and started driving, following the route her sister had set earlier. This saved them a lot of time as they were able to avoid the congested roads leading to Guangshang.


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaofei sat at the back seat, reading the reference materials her Uncle Fang gave to her to study. By understanding the basics, it would be easier for her to understand how every department worked together.


    When they arrived at themercial district in Guangshang, where Bluemedia was, Su Xiaofei noticed that it hadn''t changed much from what she remembered. Well, at least she wouldn''t need to stumble and meet Mo Yuchen here, as Golden Star was located in Shenjing. Now that he had be a director there, he could rarely be seen at Qiying City, which lessened his chance to meet Ye Mingyu.


    Yun Qingrong, being the president of Bluemedia, naturally wouldn''te down to receive her daughter in person. Instead, she passed the responsibility to orient Su Xiaofei to Fang Yi, who had a better understanding and rtionship with their employees.


    A middle-aged woman came and introduced herself as Wan An, Fang Yi''s secretary. She spoke in a professional tone to Su Xiaofei, but there was a hint of gentleness in it. Su Xiaofei supposed that this woman knew who she was and apanied her to Fang Yi''s office.


    "Miss Su, although President Yun informed us of your visit, I regret to tell you that not many have been informed of it." Wan An politely said.


    "Oh, no worries, Miss Wan. I don''t want to disturb anyone''s work and only came here to observe. There''s no need to give me any special treatment." Su Xiaofei smiled in return, making Wan An hold her breath as she stared at her.


    Wan An had seen many beautiful young women and celebrities in the past, but something about Su Xiaofei''s look reminded her of the Goddess Qingyue of the Golden Star Entertainment.. With her unique beauty, it was a pity that this young woman wasn''t nning to enter showbiz.

 Chapter 205 - To Become A Queen Maker (2)

    <h4>Chapter 205 - To Be A Queen Maker (2)</h4>


    Su Xiaofei turned her head and nced at Wan An as she found the woman staring at her face. She had opted not to put on makeup today because she was in a rush and was hoping that her dark circles weren''t noticeable at the moment. She had no idea that Wan An was thinking about how she resembled Bai Qingyue so much.


    Su Xiaofei looked around and noticed that there weren''t many people at the lobby. Peoplee and go and unlike the previouspany she was signed with, Su Xiaofei could see that the employees of Bluemedia were all professionals, seeing that they didn''t bother to stop to chit-chat with one another.


    The ce was decorated with a modern and minimalist theme, and while Bluemedia had been in the entertainment industry for over a decade, they had only produced one queen in their long history. Even now, they didn''t have a top star they could brag about to everyone.


    Most of the talents of Bluemedia were second and third tier stars in the industry and while some had their own strengths and talents, they have yet to receive a break that could allow them to transcend to a first tier status. At most, there were only three first tier bankable stars in Bluemedia.


    In her previous life, Su Xiaofei managed to be a B-rated actress with a few music albums under her name. If there was something Ye Mingyu and Bai Qingyue didn''t have, it was the ability to sing well on stage, like Su Xiaofei. However, during her fifth year in the industry, her vocal cords had been injured in an incident that Ye Mingyu instigated. Since then, Su Xiaofei hadn''t been able to reach the notes she used to hit.


    In order for Bluemedia to develop, the management needed to take some risk to expand thepany. Not only did they need to raise the worth of their talents, but they also needed to keep up with the pace of theirpetitors.


    As Su Xiaofei walked into thepany with the Zhang siblings, they spotted a group of new recruits and talents waiting for the elevator. Since Su Xiaofei didn''t want any special treatment for her observation period, she decided to mingle with the rest for a better perspective.


    When Wan An appeared with a beautiful young woman next to her, these five new recruits turned their heads and scrutinized Su Xiaofei. Other young women would lower their heads in shame, but Su Xiaofeo only arched a single brow at them, daring them to say something.


    They were young and inexperienced, so it''s natural that they would feel threatened when another person with outstanding looks and talent appeared from nowhere.


    "Ms. Wan, is this your new recruit? Or is she one of those talents VP Fang poached from somewhere?" Li Jing, one of the agents of Bluemedia, asked Wan An. He had a curious look on his face as he looked at Su Xiaofei.


    "Something like that." Wan An frowned. She really didn''t like and didn''t get along with Li Jing as he could be atrocious at times. "She will eventually join ourpany, so I''m giving her a tour."


    A gleam of light shed in Li Jing''s eyes and his smile slightly faltered, while the young women behind him had different reactions upon hearing what Wan An just said. Some frowned and thought that Su Xiaofei only managed to enter thepany through the backdoor.


    Su Xiaofei smiled and regarded Li Jing. She slightly regretted that she didn''t get involved with Bluemedia in her previous life, so her knowledge of her mother''spany was limited.


    Among these new recruits, someone piqued her attention, though. This young woman was younger than what Su Xiaofei remembered, but she certainly looked familiar. It could be said that the moment Su Xiaofei saw her, she felt a feeling of the fox grieving when the rabbit died.


    Xiao Rufeng. In Su Xiaofei''s past life, she was a struggling actress with many controversies attached to her name. Despite being a beauty and having an impable talent for acting, Xiao Rufeng was repeatedly ndered on social media for various reasons.


    A video of her pping her own younger sister in a private event circted, and she was painted as a vicious woman. However, how can Su Xiaofei not see that it was merely a ploy by Xiao Rufeng''s younger half-sister to ruin her?


    The Xiao family was a big shot in Shenjing and Xiao Rufeng was known as the ck sheep of the family. Like Su Xiaofei, Xiao Rufeng didn''t mince her words and didn''t care for what people said about her. She was always transparent whether she liked a person or not.


    s, being the public''s number one enemy wasn''t a good thing for an actress like Xiao Rufeng. Not only was she cklisted in the entertainment industry due to false usations of drugs and tax evasion, but she was disowned by the Xiao family. This eventually allowed her younger sister, Xiao Yunyao to be the sole heir to the Xiao family fortune.


    "Hi! Are you a trainee too?" Su Xiaofei greeted Xiao Rufeng with a gentle smile on her face. The glint in her eyes indicated that she just stumbled on a valuable pawn she could utilize in the future.


    Xiao Rufeng was taken aback, as she didn''t expect anyone would talk to her. Then, she saw Su Xiaofei smiling at her.


    "Y-yes." She muttered. Although Xiao Rufeng had an unrivaled potential when ites to acting, her socializing skills werecking due to the constant pressure she received from her family and from constantly beingpared to Xiao Yunyao.


    The group then entered the elevator. Li Jing was asking Wan An some questions, but she decided to ignore him. Meanwhile, Xiao Rufeng felt ufortable standing next to Su Xiaofei.


    "Miss Wan, is it possible for me to see how the training is conducted?" Su Xiaoffei suddenly asked, wanting to see more of the new recruits of Bluemedia.

 Chapter 206 - To Become A Queen Maker (3)

    <h4>Chapter 206 - To Be A Queen Maker (3)</h4>


    Wan An looked at Su Xiaofei''s smiling face and didn''t have the heart to deny her boss''s daughter. Anyway, Fang Yi was still not in his office as he was stuck in a meeting for another hour. She didn''t think it would hurt if Su Xiaofei checked out how thepany trained the recruits before meeting himter.


    "Sure. I''ll notify Boss Fang that we will bete for the meeting." She agreed with Su Xiaofei''s request, while the Zhang Sibling''s checked the elevator and its upants for any signs of danger with their gazes.


    "Miss Wan, you still have to introduce this littledy to me." Li Jing said, unimpressed that he was being ignored by Wan An.


    Wan An shot him a re and huffed, clearly showing her dissatisfaction with him.


    "Hello, Mister. You can call me Xiao Fei. I''ll be troubling you today." Su Xiaofei chose to introduce herself instead, much to Wan An''s relief.


    Wan An had no idea how to introduce Su Xiaofei, as the younger woman had requested to keep her identity unknown as much as possible.


    While most knew that Yun Qingrong had a daughter, this daughter of hers rarely showed herself in public events and asions, which was why even Li Jing, who had been a talent agent in thepany for a few years, had never seen Su Xiaofei before.


    "Hello. I''m Li Jing. I''m a talent agent here at Bluemedia. Do you want to be a star too, Xiao Fei?" Li Jing asked Su Xiaofei. He had assumed that like Xiao Rufeng, Su Xiaofei''s family name was Xiao too.


    Su Xiaofei hummed and cupped her chin while she kept her small purse hooked on her arm.


    "It does sound profitable, Mr. Li. But not as much as being a business owner instead." Shemented.


    Li Jingughed at that.


    "That depends on what kind of business you are running, Xiao Fei. But if you want to be a star, it also requires talent. A beautiful face is as good as a flower vase if you can''t offer anything to the audience."


    "Is that so?" Su Xiaofei raised a brow at him, startling Li Jing.


    Li Jing thought that this youngdy was naive, but it seemed that VP Fang had found an interesting recruit this time. Not only did Xiao Fei have a pretty face, but she was also perceptive of other people and could remain calm under pressure.


    "En. You need to at least know how to sing, dance, and act. You might also be required to learn how to y a few musical instruments." He continued. No matter how beautiful Xiao Fei''s face was, it would never be enough to make it in showbiz.


    Of course, Su Xiaofei knew about this. She and Ye Mingyu started in the industry when both of them were eighteen. They were both scouted by Top Tier Entertainment and had undergone various training sessions to polish their skills. Being a star wasn''t as easy as counting one, two, or three. Li Jing didn''t need to give her a lecture about it.


    However, in this lifetime, Su Xiaofei wasn''t interested in bing an actress anymore. She only wanted to earn a lot of money and lead a happy life with her mother. Also, she was sure that being an actress wasn''t the only career she could pursue.


    As the future CEO of Bluemedia in a few years, Su Xiaofei intended to be a Queen maker. She had decided to take Xiao Rufeng under her wing and raise her to be a Queen who could topple the other Queens produced by theirpetitors. She wanted to make Ye Mingyue and Bai Qingyue bow down in defeat by using Xiao Rufeng.


    When they arrived at the training room, they found the other recruits of two other talent agents waiting for them before they could start. There were about twenty-five recruits ranging from the age of seventeen to twenty years old waiting for them. Su Xiaofei couldn''t recognize them and assumed that she was lucky to be able to meet Xiao Rufeng this time.


    Naturally, Su Xiaofei gained a lot of attention because of her looks, and the two bodyguards who were trailing behind her. Seeing her, they obviously had mixed feelings.


    She looked like a young miss from a wealthy family, but why did she want to be a star like them? They wondered. With this kind of look, it wouldn''t be hard for her to be noticed by the big boss.


    They were all good-looking people, butpared to this beautiful youngdy, they all felt like they would be a backdrop when standing next to her. Her appearance can be considered top notch. She was currently not wearing any makeup, her clothes were simple too, but she still looked stunning in everyone''s eyes.


    "Miss, are you sure you''ll be alright here? I need to go upstairs and check the Boss''s itinerary. I''ll be back soon, I promise." Wan An asked Su Xiaofei, once thetter had taken a seat, and pulled out her phone to inform her mother and Lu Qingfeng that she was at Bluemedia now.


    Next to her, Xiao Rufeng also took a seat. The young woman was wondering why Su Xiaofei was receiving such special treatment from an employee of Bluemedia.


    "Miss Wan is worrying too much. I''m sure the teacher wouldn''t mind me being here. I''ll be here whenever you are ready to pick me up." Su Xiaofei politely replied.


    Wan An nodded and went to the supervising teacher of the ss. She informed Fan Jian, the voice instructor, that Xiao Fei would be joining her ss upon VP Fang''s request, without revealing Su Xiaofei''s real identity.


    Fan Jian nodded and nced at the newbie joining her ss today. This wasn''t new at all. Everyone knew that their VP Fang had a habit of poaching anyone with potential to be a star if he met them outside.. However, he had never poached someone as striking as this young woman.

 Chapter 207 - Birth Of A Star (1)

    <h4>Chapter 207 - Birth Of A Star (1)</h4>


    There was something familiar about Su Xiaofei''s face, but Fan Jian couldn''t point it out. She felt like she had seen Su Xiaofei''s face somewhere, but she couldn''t remember where. As Su Xiaofei turned her head and smiled at Xiao Rufeng, Fan Jian finally realized why she felt such familiarity.


    Fan Jian had been working in the industry for several years now and when Bai Qingyue was around twenty-five years old, she had worked as her private vocal coach to improve her singing skill. This Su Xiaofei reminded her of Bai Qingyue''s younger years in the industry, although the two gave off different impressions.


    While Bai Qingyue was known for her gentleness and ethereal beauty, making it easy for her to get along with anyone whom she met, Su Xiaofei had this impression of a young queen who hade to see her subjects, smiling as if she didn''t care about what others thought of her presence.


    It was clear that she was getting a lot of scrutinizing looks from others, but she acted like she couldn''t be bothered by any of it. Because Su Xiaofei had arrived with Wan An, everyone thought she had connections inside.


    When Wan An left, the recruits went to their seats and waited for the ss to start. Fan Jian stood in front next to the piano and regarded everyone with a serious expression on her face.


    "I see that we have a new face joining us today." She said, eyeing Su Xiaofei.


    Su Xiaofei immediately stood up and introduced herself. She had heard a lot of things about Fan Jian in her past life, but unfortunately, she never had the chance to be acquainted with this renowned voice coach.


    "Hello, Teacher Fan. I''m Xiao Fei. I''ll be joining your ss for today."


    Fan Jian''s brows shot up upon hearing Su Xiaofei''s words. Did this mean that this youngdy hadn''t signed the contract yet? However, the senior executives were quite strict when it came to their new recruits.


    Because of the persisting problem of trainees leaving theirpany once they gained enough poprity, the management made sure that they would all be legally liable and bound for a limited time to thepany.


    Those under eighteen were also required to have their parent''s approval and to sign a waiver to make sure that they wouldn''t easily break from their contracts. So Su Xiaofei''s presence today confused Fan Jian. However, since VP Fang had given his approval, President Yun must also be aware of it.


    "Okay. Take a seat and pay attention to our ss. I will not repeat myself, so you all better make sure to take notes and practice on your ownter." Fan Jian said, ncing at Su Xiaofei with unconcealed curiosity in her eyes.


    Being beautiful in showbiz was one thing, but one couldn''t stay long if she''s merely relying on her face alone. One needed to bepetent and have the skills to be able to flourish in the industry. While it''s true that Su Xiaofei had a unique face that could easily distinguish her from the crowd, it could only give her a good first impression.


    As Fan Jian thought of this, the youngdy wasn''t bothered by what she and the others thought of her at the moment. If these young recruits could easily be intimidated by a stranger like her and couldn''t break past their limits, then they better pack up their things and go home.


    Su Xiaofei wasn''t interested in nurturing talents that would only focus on others and not on improving themselves. This would only mean that they were wasting Bluemedia''s resources!


    It was hard to find a valuable diamond in a pile of dirt anyway.


    The ss started with a recap of their previous lesson. While others thought that Su Xiaofei would have a hard time understanding their lesson, she had already understood what Fan Jian was teaching the moment she heard the recap. She had once prided herself to sing very well, however, when one incident ruined her vocal cords, Su Xiaofei had unwillingly given up on singing.


    Whether she still had this ability, Su Xiaofei wasn''t sure herself. Since her rebirth, she had never sung a song in fear that it would only disappoint her.


    As the others started to sing following the tune of the piano, Su Xiaofei was lost in her own thoughts. Xiao Rufeng nced at her worriedly, pondering if Su Xiaofei was indeed having trouble with their lesson.


    It didn''t take long before Fan Jian noticed that Su Xiaofei wasn''t paying attention in her ss. Although Su Xiaofei was brought in by Wan An and hadn''t signed a contract yet, Fan Jian didn''t like her ss to be taken lightly by others.


    Fan Jian scowled as she nced at Su Xiaofei and her fingers suddenly stopped hitting the keys of the piano. Her sudden halt surprised everyone, knowing that she would only act like this only when she was displeased by something.


    Everyone then followed Fan Jian''s gaze and saw that their coach was staring at the newbie. It was only then that Su Xiaofei realized everyone''s eyes were on her.


    "Xiao Fei seems like she couldn''t follow our lesson. Since you are new here, won''t you show us what you know so far? Can you sing for us?" Fan Jian suggested, clearly wanting to test this new recruit who was receiving special treatment from VP Fang. She wanted to know what else Su Xiofei could offer aside from her beautiful countenance.


    "I''m not that good at singing, as I still have so much to learn. So I hope Teacher Fan can forgive me if I make a mistake today." Su Xiaofei replied and rose from her seat. She then went and stood in front of the ss, a calm and rxed expression on her face. No hint of nervousness could be seen on her.


    "Can you y any musical instrument?" Fan Jian asked.


    "I can y the piano decently.." Su Xiaofei smiled in response.

 Chapter 208 - Birth Of A Star (2)

    <h4>Chapter 208 - Birth Of A Star (2)</h4>


    "Then take my ce and y something for us. I would also like to hear your voice at the same time." The teacher requested, not giving Su Xiaofei any chance to deny her.


    Su Xiaofei slightly tilted her head on one side, wondering if Fan Jian was displeased with her. Indeed, she had somehow spaced out earlier. ying an instrument and singing while ying an instrument wasn''t an easy feat for a newbie, but not for her.


    Most people that y piano and sing simultaneously do not sing extraordinarily difficult pieces and most of the time, they would choose to y a piece that they were very familiar with.


    Su Xiaofei didn''t say anything but did as she was told. She sat in front of the piano, her fingers hovering over the ck and white keys as she racked her mind for a piece that wasn''t tooplicated and wouldn''t leave anything suspicious behind.


    The sound of the piano began to flow. The music came out as a haunting melody, and Su Xiaofei began to sing softly.


    I feel just like a reverie - reverie


    And when you''re gone, I feel lonesome


    I miss your epiphanies


    You must think I''m lonely


    Save me from the darkling night


    Will you hold me tight and not go entrancing


    Save me from the darkling interlude


    I know you think I''m screwed


    As she let thest note of the piano die with thest word from the verse of the song, the tune picked up the tempo as Su Xiaofei continued to sing.


    And I wonder now if I ever really were in love before


    Well, how wrong I was


    This man loves me, this man loves me


    And all of his love is forever mine.


    Fan Jian stared wide-eyed at Su Xiaofei in shock. Throughout her long years in the industry, she had only met a couple of people who had impable range when ites to singing, and Su Xiaofei was the youngest of them all. She had never expected that this youngdy in front of her had such a great voice that could rarely be found in showbiz.


    Not only was she rendered speechless by Su Xiaofei''s short performance, even the other new recruits and the three talent agents of Bluemedia, who were seated at the back were awed. Their jaws dropped as she continued to sing, feeling as if they were witnessing a performance by a professional.


    Once the song concluded and Su Xiaofei turned her attention to Fan Jian, she was curious what the older woman thought of her performance. This was one of the hit songs she had in her past life, although this song was supposed to be sung with another person.


    "Teacher Fan?"


    Li Jing hurriedly went and whispered something to Fan Jian as they nced at Su Xiaofei''s direction.


    "Xiao Fei, have you considered joining Bluemedia?" Li Jing asked as if he just stumbled upon a precious stone that only needed to be polished. "Did VP Fang invite you here to observe? I see now that you have great potential!"


    Meanwhile, Fan Jian remained silent. She opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out. Su Xiaofei''s performance had really caught her off guard, and she couldn''t help but agree with Li Jing''s opinion. If Su Xiaofei truly joins Bluemedia, there''s a huge chance that she would be able to shine brightly in the industry.


    Su Xiaofei had amazing control over her notes, whether they were high or low. Moreover, her singing could move people. Her voice that was clear and mellow at the same time was simr to that of a Songbird diva.


    Su Xiaofei regarded Li Jing and politely declined his offer.


    "Thanking Mr. Li for hispliment, but I''m not interested in pursuing a career in acting or singing."


    "You are still young, Xiao Fei. Why don''t you look around and join the other sses? I see now why VP Fang has poached you to join Bluemedia. Not only do you have the looks, but you also have the potential to be a star."


    How could Li Jing ignore Su Xiaofei anymore after hearing such a marvelous performance from her? If Bluemedia could produce her as a singing diva, they would surely be able to reduce the gap between themselves and theirpetitors.


    "What do you think, Teacher Fan?" Li Jing tried to bring Fan Jian to their conversation.


    "Her voice is great, but she needs a lot of polishing before she bes a diva." Fan Jian didn''t have any bad blood with Su Xiaofei, and she also thought Bluemedia would gain a lot if they were able to sign this young woman to theirpany.


    Su Xiaofei had a slender figure, a pretty face and a great voice, so how could the other recruits not feel threatened by her? With this kind of face and innate talent, she had already stood out from the other recruits.


    Except for Xiao Rufeng, who still had yet to recover from her surprise over hearing Su Xiaofei''s voice, the other recruits had decided to keep an eye on Su Xiaofei''s future performance. Singing wasn''t the only thing they had to learn before they could debut in the industry, anyway.


    "You are Xiao Fei, right? I just want to say that I really admire your voice. I''ve been attending Miss Fan''s ss for some time now and this is the first time I''ve seen her openlypliment someone." Xiao Rufeng told Su Xiaofei when thetter came back to her seat.


    "Is that so?" Su Xiaofei was amused that she only needed to sing to be able for Xiao Rufeng to talk to her.


    "Then would you like me to teach you?" She suggested. "I can teach you a few tricks and techniques to improve your singing, no matter if you cannot hit the high notes right now. Anyone can learn to hit the high notes without straining their voice.. It just takes some practice and the right singing techniques. And I promise that if you learn to hit those high notes without straining, you''ll be amazed at how far you can expand your vocal range"

 Chapter 209 - Obstructing Bai Qingyue (1)

    <h4>Chapter 209 - Obstructing Bai Qingyue (1)</h4>


    Xiao Rufeng was taken aback by Su Xiaofei''s willingness to help her. Most of the new recruits here werepetitive and not many were willing to help each other in fear that they would lose their chance to debut, but here Su Xiaofei was, eagerly offering help to her.


    Xiao Rufeng didn''t know how to feel about it. She was also aware that schemes disguised behind the veil of help were also prevalent in the industry. It was for this reason that she had kept her distance with her fellow recruits.


    "A-are you sure?" She asked Su Xiaofei curiously. This newbie was clearly something, as she had easily taken the spotlight on her first day.


    "Of course. Since I''m not interested in bing a star, wouldn''t it be better if someone fills my shoes just in case?" Su Xiaofei replied confidently. So long as Xiao Rufeng would be able to defeat Ye Mingyu and Bai Qingyue in the future, then she wouldn''t mind investing some time and money on Xiao Rufeng.


    However, even before Xiao Rufeng could reply, the ss had resumed.


    Su Xiaofei remained at the training area and paid attention to how Fan Jian taught. She supposed Bluemedia was lucky to have recruited a great vocal coach like Fan Jian. Although Fan Jian was strict, her way of teaching wasn''tplicated and it was easy to understand.


    When Wan An came back, it was almost time to end the ss. She saw Su Xiaofei bid goodbye to one of the recruits and went towards her.


    "I hope I didn''t make you wait for too long, Miss Wan." Su Xiaofei said.


    "Oh, no." Wan An smiled awkwardly. She should be the one saying that to their boss''s daughter instead.


    Since Fang Yi was in a meeting earlier, she also had to receive his phone calls for him. She hadn''t expected that answering the calls would take so much of her time that she had almost forgotten about Su Xiaofei waiting in the training room.


    Li Jing didn''t have the chance to catch Su Xiaofei and convince her to sign a contract with them, as she already left the training room with Wan An and her two bodyguards, leaving everyone baffled by her.


    Su Xiaofei then met Fang Yi at his office.


    "Ah, Xiaofei. You are here. I''m sorry that you had to wait earlier." He sighed, clearly bothered by something.


    "It''s okay, Uncle. Did something happen?" She asked.


    Based on the timeline in her previous life, Su Xiaofei supposed that Bai Qingyue had already received the invitation to audition for the lead role of the "The Poisonous Concubine". However, since she was aware that Bai Qingyue would leave Bluemedia in favor of Golden Star''s historical TV drama, Su Xiaofei wondered if she could avoid the loss her mother and the Bluemedia would receive by obstructing Bai Qingyue''s way.


    The corner of her lips curled up into a devilish smile, stunning not only Fang Yi, but also his secretary.


    ''Dear Mother, since you specifically made it hard for me in the past. I would dly return the favor now.''


    "It''s nothing serious, Feifei." Fang Yi sighed and leaned on his seat.


    "Is this about The Poisonous Concubine you and Mama have been working on?" Su Xiaofei asked, eager to know how the project was going.


    "Did your mother tell you about it?" Fang Yi seemed surprised that Su Xiaofei was interested in their big project.


    Su Xiaofei only shrugged, not willing to say anything that may be used against her. Yun Qingrong hadn''t told her anything, so this was why she needed to fish out information from Fang Yi instead.


    "We invited Miss Bai Qingyue to take up the lead role for The Poisonous Concubine, but her team was asking for a higher talent fee."


    Su Xiaofei raised a slender brow at that. She wasn''t really surprised by such demands because Bai Qingyue was already considered a queen, and it was normal for her team to demand more, especially from a lesser knownpany like Bluemedia.


    "Uncle Fang, were they asking too much? Do you really need to have Bai Qingyue for the series to be sessful?" She asked.


    Fang Yi considered her question, and knew that what she said made sense. However, he wasn''t the only person who could decide for the lead role.


    "Uncle, why don''t you hold a usual audition? I''m pretty sure you would be able to find a capable actress who could portray the role without breaking the bank." Su Xiaofei suggested.


    "That''s also what I think, Xiaofei."


    Hearing her suggestion strengthened Fang Yi''s resolve to raise this suggestion in their next meeting. He really thought that Bai Qingyue''s team was asking too much. While it''s true that this was a major TV series project for Bluemedia, they were making unreasonable demands.


    "Don''t worry, Uncle. Everything would be fine. I''m sure that you would be able to find a decent actress who fits the role." Su Xiaofei reassured him.


    Bai Qingyue should lose the lead role to another person in order for Bluemedia to avoid losses because of her. As for the actress that could rece Bai Qingyue, Su Xiaofei already had a person in mind. She just needed to find that person''s whereabouts.


    "Now that the male lead role is taken, we just need to fill the title role and the second male lead before the preparation for the shoot could start." Fang Yimented as he looked at the list on top of his desk.


    "The second male lead role is still open?" Su Xiaofei asked in surprise. Qin Muyao should have taken the role. Did something change again? Why was Qin Muyao facing the scandal a year earlier from the original timeline?


    "Qin Muyao has auditioned for the role and actually chosen it, but the recent scandal against him has thrown everything and his career in peril. His management has recently forfeited his contract. It''s a pity that the industry would lose a talented person like him."

 Chapter 210 - Obstructing Bai Qingyue (2)

    <h4>Chapter 210 - Obstructing Bai Qingyue (2)</h4>


    Su Xiaofei narrowed her eyes on that. Indeed, something had changed again. The scandal about Qin Muyao should happen a year from now, but why did it happen earlier than the original timeline?


    She lowered her head and considered the things she had done so far. There was nothing that could directly connect her to Qin Muyao and the things she had changed since her rebirth shouldn''t be enough to change the course of the events in Qin Muyao''s life.


    Qin Muyao was twenty-one years old right now, and he was popr for the young adult TV drama he starred in. However, when his girlfriend fell pregnant and gave birth to a baby girl a year from now, Qin Muyao had refused to take responsibility and wasn''t willing to admit that he had fathered his girlfriend''s child.


    Because of this, he was subjected to public scrutiny and hatred. His endorsements and projects were all pulled out and given to other people. Despite this, Qin Muyao still vehemently refused to admit that he was responsible for his ex-girlfriend and her child.


    With his ex-girlfriend''s family''s influence, he was pressured and was forced to leave the entertainment industry. The fame and bright future that was waiting for him was gone in just the blink of an eye.


    Five yearster, the said ex-girlfriend would confess that she had wronged Qin Muyao, and he wasn''t the father of her child. However, such admission was already toote as he had lost not only his life, but also all the chances to clear his name.


    This scandal had forever tainted his name and wouldn''t be easily forgotten by the public. Qin Muyao, whose reputation had been tarnished severely by the scandal and had lost face to see his own family, was found dead in his apartment. He had apparently hanged himself.


    Su Xiaofei didn''t take pity on Qin Muyao, but she hated people like his ex-girlfriend. That shameless woman had used the wrong person, ruined his name in public, and yet acted like she never did anything bad after her admission. She only admitted it because the real father of the child hade out and was eager to fight with her in court for their daughter''s custody.


    "So Qin Muyao is technically free from any agency now?" She asked Fang Yi.


    "In a sense, yes. There isn''t any agency who''s willing to take him in because of the recent scandal."


    "Uncle Fang, since I want to follow in my Mama''s footsteps, would you please allow me to recruit Qin Muyao for Bluemedia? I''ll be the one responsible for him." Su Xiaofei requested.


    The man looked at her in disbelief, wondering if he had heard her right.


    "But Feifei, the issue about him is very serious. Even his previous management wasn''t able to protect him from it."


    "That''s because they were afraid of offending his ex-girlfriend'' family. I believe that there''s still a chance to save his name and career, only if we are willing to make an effort to do it."


    Fang Yi stared at her and considered their options. Su Xiaofei was only supposed to make an observation at Bluemedia to familiarize herself first, but now, she was asking to be a manager. He wasn''t sure if Yun Qingrong would agree to her daughter''s request, given how serious the matter about Qin Muyao was.


    "Feifei, I cannot give you an answer right now. You should discuss this with your mother instead." He answered her truthfully.


    Fang Yi could sense that Su Xiaofei was serious, but her inexperience was enough to make one decline her request. Even if they managed to clear Qin Muyao''s name, it would also mean that they would offend his ex-girlfriend''s family.


    "Alright. I will inform Mama, but I hope that Uncle Fang will support me in the future." Su Xiaofei smiled before their inspection started.


    Fang Yi visited each department with Su Xiaofei following behind him. While he received reports from each department head, the other employees couldn''t help but nce at the pretty young woman who was tailing him.


    "Chief, who''s that woman with VP Fang? Is she a new assistant here?" Someone asked the design department''s head.


    "Who knows? She doesn''t look like she''s his daughter." The department head answered.


    "Eh? I heard VP Fang didn''t have any children with his deceased wife, so who is that?"


    Su Xiaofei didn''t mind the stares she was receiving and observed with a polite smile on her face. However, her mind was already thinking of several ways to strike a deal with her mother.


    In order for her to save Qin Muyao, she needed toy out a foolproof n as soon as possible. Each passing minute would only let him sink deeper into the quicksand waiting to devour his entirety. Perhaps she should meet this person first before doing anything.


    Su Xiaofei needed to see if Qin Muyao was worth the trouble. She needed to make sure that he would be a star that could bring her lots of money in the future.


    Once she and Fang Yi were done, she received a message from Lu Qingfeng that said that he was treating her for dinner and that it was almost time for them to meet Mo Yuan in person, hinting that it was almost time to proceed with their n.


    "Uncle Fang, if there''s nothing else, can I leave now? Xiao Feng is waiting for me."


    The man gave her a knowing look and smiled.


    "You and Xiao Feng are spending a lot of time togethertely, aren''t you?" He replied in a teasing tone.


    How can he not notice that the younger man was in love with Su Xiaofei? The way Lu Qingfeng looked at Su Xiaofei was the look he used to have when he was looking at his wife when she was still alive.


    "Why, of course, we''ve known each since we were kids.. Isn''t it natural for us to hang out with each other?" Su Xiaofei responded, before bidding him and Wan An goodbye, hurriedly running to meet Lu Qingfeng.

 Chapter 211 - We Can’t Have It All (1)

    <h4>Chapter 211 - We Can¡¯t Have It All (1)</h4>


    It was also around the same time the recruits Su Xiaofei met earlier were allowed to go home after they finished their dance ss. They all saw her rushing from the elevator, then to the front doors with a wide smile on her face, with her two bodyguards following closely behind her.


    "She''s still here? What''s up with her?" One of them asked curiously, while Xiao Rufeng only stared at Su Xiaofei''s retreating form.


    Then they saw a young dashing man,ing out from the car, greeting Su Xiaofei.


    One of the young male recruits whistled upon seeing Lu Qingfeng.


    "Ah, one should know a pretty girl like her is already taken. Even her boyfriend looks outstanding." Hemented while the others nodded in agreement.


    With the beauty Su Xiaofei possessed, it would be surprising if she wasn''t seeing anyone. As they looked at the young, handsome man standing next to her looked like he was also from a well-off family.


    "I thought people can''t have it all, but it seems like she has everything. Am I deep asleep when God decided to bless everyone with beauty and talent?" The young woman next to Xiao Rufeng frowned.


    Without knowing what the others were thinking about her, Su Xiaofei met Lu Qingfeng.


    "You don''t look like you were tired." Lu Qingfeng said upon meeting her. He hade straight to Bluemedia from the Qiying City branch of Lu Corporation because sheined that she was tired and hungry from all the walking she did with Uncle Fang.


    "Of course, I took a break and rested before meeting you. Where are we going to eat?" She asked with such excitement on her face as she hooked her arm with Lu Qingfeng''s.


    "Do you have anything in mind?" He asked in return. "I know a ce, but I''m not sure if you would like the menu."


    "I trust your judgment, Xiao Feng." Su Xiaofei replied before they decided to take a stroll around the business district of Guangshang, the Zhang siblings keeping a short distance from them.


    Lu Qingfeng was more familiar with the ce and knew where they were going. After fifteen minutes of walking, they reached their destination.


    Su Xiaofei''s eyes gleamed when she saw the menu. Lu Qingfeng was worrying for nothing!


    While they waited for their order, Su Xiaofei looked around and found her bodyguards also ordering their meals.


    "Don''t worry about them. I don''t starve my subordinates. You should know this." She heard Lu Qingfeng say.


    Su Xiaofei hummed. This was one of the things she liked about Lu Qingfeng. He was very generous to his subordinates.


    The first time she had seen something like that was when they were younger. Whenever Lu Qingfeng treated her for a meal, he wouldn''t forget to remind his subordinates to have their share as everything would be under his tab.


    "Feifei, whatever happens tonight, you should listen to me, okay?" Lu Qingfeng raised the topic Su Xiaofei had been waiting to hear.


    "En, but do you have a n?"


    Tonight must be the night Mo Yuan was supposed to lose his life over a car ident, but if Old Madam Mo was really behind it, it would be troublesome to save the young man from her scheme.


    "Yes, but there''s no assurance that Mo Yuan would be able to survive unscathed. I just received a report from Nine that the Old Madam has sent her people to trail her second grandson." Lu Qingfeng replied.


    Su Xiaofei stared at her drink, wondering how could that old hag be this vicious towards her own flesh and blood. Even if Old Madam Mo didn''t like Lan Xiaoju, Mo Yuan was still her kin.


    Anyway, who was she to criticize the old woman, when her own mother had abandoned her for her own selfish needs?


    "So we''re just going to follow him?" She questioned the young man across from her. Looking at Lu Qingfeng, Su Xiaofei''s suspicion regarding him knowing something was starting to stir in her heart again. She didn''t know why she was feeling this, but something about Lu Qingfeng was really different from what she could remember.


    Lu Qingfeng''s demeanor and attitude weren''t like this when they were at this age. They weren''t this close as far as she could remember. Was it because Lu Qingfeng had confessed to her this early that things between them had changed?


    "We don''t have many options, Xiaofei." Lu Qingfeng reminded her. "What would you think that old woman would do if she knew that we intercepted her ns? You''ve already offended the Mo family by breaking your engagement with Mo Yuchen. If the madam knew that we were involved tonight, she wouldn''t be able to instigate something towards me, but she could certainly stir trouble for your mother."


    Su Xiaofei pursed her lips hearing that. Why was it that whenever she did something, it was always her mother that needed to bear the consequences? That was unfair in her opinion, but anyway, Lu Qingfeng had a point, so she couldn''t do anything reckless right now.


    "I know." She conceded. Su Xiaofei felt that she couldn''t win against this young man at all. Lu Qingfeng always have some to say in return to her excuses.


    "It''s good that you know. I don''t think you realized how afraid and worried we were when we heard from Xi Qian that you''ve been stabbed." Lu Qingfeng''s face darkened upon remembering what happened.


    It hadn''t been too long since he was reborned into his fifteen-year-old body and yet, the moment he heard the news that Su Xiaofei had been stabbed, he felt like his heart had been stabbed by a hundred needles at the same time.


    Su Xiaofei could only pout and hold back her words as the waitress came back with their food.. How can she not feel guilty when Lu Qingfeng put it that way? She knew now that she couldn''t be reckless and put her life in danger again just to reach her goals.

 Chapter 212 - We Can’t Have It All (2)

    <h4>Chapter 212 - We Can¡¯t Have It All (2)</h4>


    Three hourster, Su Xiaofei found herself seated next to Lu Qingfeng at a stadium where young racers and youngsters were driving on the track. At her insistence, she had managed to convince Lu Qingfeng to dress up and pretend to be a couple who was on ate night date.


    From where they were seated, they could see Mo Yuanughing with his friends while drinking with them. Unless Mo Yuan turned his head and stared at them, it would be hard for him or anyone to recognize the two.


    Zhang Lan was also there, participating in their game under Lu Qingfeng''s instruction. She would be keeping a close eye on Mo Yuan, while informing Lu Qingfeng what was happening or if Old Madam Mo''s people were nearby.


    Su Xiaofei fought the urge to yawn and pinched her arm to stay awake. After her long day at Bluemedia and with her hunger satisfied, it was normal that she would feel sleepy and tired even though it was still early.


    "Feifei, you can take a nap if you can''t keep up. I''ll keep an eye on him." Lu Qingfeng suggested, but Su Xiaofei shook her head. She needed to make sure that she would be able to ensure Mo Yuan''s safety.


    "No, I just need some coffee." She said, and waited to see what would happen next.


    Lu Qingfeng then ced at one of his bodyguards, and one of them immediately left to fetch their futuredy boss a cold coffee she could drink. They''d been working for a long time as Lu Qingfeng''s bodyguards, so how can they not know that this woman was in their young boss''s heart?


    By treating Su Xiaofei well, their young boss would surely treat them better. They had all witnessed how angry Lu Qingfeng could be when one of their former colleagues made a mistake and said something bad about the young Su Xiaofei back then.


    "No one is allowed to bully, Xiaofei! If anything, I''ll let her bully every one of you!" The young Lu Qingfeng was seething with anger when he overheard what the bodyguard said about Su Xiaofei.


    Since then, everyone has been cautious with their words when ites to Su Xiaofei. None of them dared to say anything against her, especially in their young boss''s presence, in fear that they would lose their jobs because of their loose mouths.


    "I didn''t know that Mo Yuan could be this impulsive. Doesn''t he value his life?" She chuckled as they saw Mo Yuan took the driver''s seat of one of the cars that were about to race.


    "Must be eager to lose his life this early." Lu Qingfeng scoffed. Even if the old woman didn''t instigate to kill Mo Yuan, he could easily lose his life if he continued to be this reckless.


    After an hour of waiting, Su Xiaofei had dozed off next to Lu Qingfeng, with her head resting against his shoulder. Even the cold coffee had no power to keep her awake. As she was peacefully napping next to Lu Qingfeng, Zhang Lan raced with Mo Yuan, beating him in the process.


    When Mo Yuan reached the finish line, he burst inughter and shook hands with Zhang Lan, congratting her. He had never expected that a woman like Zhang Lan would be able to beat him so easily.


    Lu Qingfeng noticed that Mo Yuan was the exact opposite of his elder brother. While Mo Yuchen was cold and arrogant, Mo Yuan was a social butterfly who could easily get along with other people.


    It didn''t take long before Mo Yuan bid goodbye, which alerted not only Old Madam Mo''s people, but also Lu Qingfeng. Lu Qingfeng immediately nudged Su Xiaofei to wake her up.


    "Feifei, wake up. It''s time to leave." He said in a gentle voice that others would find surprising, given how he could be impassive but polite when talking to others.


    Su Xiaofei shot her eyes open and rubbed her eyes. She then thought that it was a good thing that Lu Qingfeng was with her, but regretted that she had fallen asleep while waiting for Mo Yuan to leave.


    "Did he leave already?" She asked as she blinked her eyes, allowing her eyesight to adjust to her surroundings.


    "En. Zhang Lan and Zhang Ling are following after him. Madam Mo''s people have left with him." Lu Qingfeng replied, before leading her to the other exit of the stadium, making sure that she was safe before leaving.


    As they followed the GPS of the car that Zhang Lan was using, Lu Qingfeng kept on tapping his fingers over his knees as he couldn''t stay calm. He had never met Mo Yuan in his previous life, and he was wary on how this sudden change would affect Su Xiaofei''s life in the future.


    By saving Mo Yuan''s life, she was indirectly announcing war against the old woman, and while he wouldn''t allow anyone to touch even a strand of her hair, Lu Qingfeng would rather prevent her from putting herself in danger.


    "Boss, Zhang Lan''s car just stopped." His driver told him and Su Xiaofei.


    "How long has she been inactive?" Lu Qingfeng asked.


    "It''s about one and a half minutes, boss."


    Lu Qingfeng checked the time on his wristwatch and waited until it was time to intercept Old Madam Mo''s people.


    "Wait here, Feifei. I''ll bring Mo Yuan to you alive." He told Su Xiaofei, but she shook her head, refusing to be left behind by him.


    There was no way she would allow Lu Qingfeng to do it on his own.


    "I''ll go with you. Don''t think that you can just leave me, Lu Qingfeng!" She gripped his arm, refusing to allow him to alight the car without her.


    Lu Qingfeng stared at her and considered his options. If he left Su Xiaofei now, he was certain that she would do something reckless behind his back.. He can''t really leave her under his driver''s watch.

 Chapter 213 - Saving Mo Yuan (1)

    <h4>Chapter 213 - Saving Mo Yuan (1)</h4>


    "Please, Xiao Feng. Don''t leave me here." Su Xiaofei begged Lu Qingfeng, her eyes never leaving his. She couldn''t just leave everything to him. Until she was certain that her revenge was sessful, she couldn''t just stay still and do nothing, waiting for Lu Qingfeng to do the dirty work for her.


    "Just take me with you, please. I promise I will listen to you." She added with a pleading voice.


    Lu Qingfeng scolded himself inwardly because he knew perfectly well that he couldn''t deny her wishes if she begged him like this.


    "Fine, but promise me you will never leave my side no matter what happens." He conceded.


    Su Xiaofei nodded her head, and they hurriedly alighted from the car, with some of Lu Qingfeng''s bodyguards following after them.


    There was a light shower of rain, but Su Xiaofei knew that the rain was about to fall hard at any moment. She hoped that they would be able to save Mo Yuan in time before the rain drenched them like a rat in some unknown alley in Qiying City.


    Lu Qingfeng was following the path to where Zhang Lan was being located, his right hand holding Su Xiaofei''s hand. They turned to several alleys and streets in hope that they could catch up with Zhang Lan and Mo Yuan soon.


    ''I hope Zhang Lan is safe.'' Su Xiaofei thought. Something must have happened because she wasn''t moving from herst known position for over five minutes now.


    As she ran behind Lu Qingfeng, Su Xiaofei was also d that she''d been working out in her free timetely and that she was able to keep up with Lu Qingfeng''s pace without catching her breath.


    Suddenly, Lu Qingfeng stopped, forcing Su Xiaofei to a halt as well.


    When Su Xiaofei was about to open her mouth to ask why he suddenly stopped, she heard a few footstepsing their way.


    "Get him! He''s here! Don''t let him escape!" Someone shouted from afar.


    Lu Qingfeng pulled Su Xiaofei to his side as Mo Yuan came rushing towards them with a bloody shirt as he held onto his sides.


    Su Xiaofei''s widened at the severity of his injury and if Mo Yuan didn''t receive a first aid treatment anytime soon, he would lose his life from blood loss.


    As they heard the other men''s voices bing louder, Lu Qingfeng suddenly pulled Mo Yuan''s cor and dragged him behind a raft of bamboo and woods that were kept next to an ongoing construction site near them.


    "W-what¡ª" Mo Yuan eximed as fear gripped his heart. He didn''t expect that someone would be waiting for him in this area. He hissed in pain and clutched as his gunshot wound, his sight starting to be blurry as his energy dissipated from his body.


    "Save your breath, Second Master Mo, if you still want to live. But you should know I''m not doing this for you." Lu Qingfeng said, as he forced Mo Yuan underneath the raft. "Don''t let your blood seep out, or we will be dead."


    Mo Yuan grunted, but didn''t say more. He didn''t have time to ponder who these people were as his injury was getting worse. His body shook as the pattering rain shower made the night colder than usual.


    "They are getting closer." Su Xiaofei said in panic. If they ran now, they would surely be found out by Old Madam''s people. Mo Yuan was already injured and his condition would only worsen if they moved him hastily.


    "What do we do now, Xiao Feng?" She asked in a low voice, making sure Mo Yuan wouldn''t be able to hear them.


    "Feifei, you trust me, right?" Lu Qingfeng''s face remained unchanged as he looked at her face.


    Of course, he wanted to leave with Su Xiaofei right now and abandon the youngd under the raft, but Lu Qingfeng was aware of how important it was for Su Xiaofei to preserve Mo Yuan''s life this time. Still, he didn''t like that she couldn''t avoid the danger and consequences of her choices, as there was always a risk waiting for her in every scheme.


    "Of course. Why would I ask for your help and be here with me if I didn''t?" Su Xiaofei scowled in return. Why was Lu Qingfeng asking her this question anyway?


    "Then please cooperate with me." Lu Qingfeng responded.


    Before Su Xiaofei could understand what Lu Qingfeng was up to, she found herself pressed against the wall, next to the raft where Mo Yuan was hiding and was kissed hard by Lu Qingfeng. Her eyes widened in shock as his strong body firmly trapped her between him and the wall.


    Soon, the group of men came to the dark alley where the three were, shining their shlights. It was only then Su Xiaofei realized that Lu Qingfeng wanted to stick to their role y as lovers.


    With a brte wig and false beauty mark on her cheek, Su Xiaofei looked nothing like her usual self. Even her choice of clothes tonight was more mature while Lu Qingfeng didn''t change much of his appearance other than a pair of light brown contact lenses and was dressed up as a matured man in his thirties.


    Su Xiaofei was kissed hard by him. She could feel his tongue swept inside her mouth and she couldn''t stop herself from moaning. Her heart thundered in her chest. She wanted to remind herself that Lu Qingfeng was technically still a minor, and she would be in big trouble if someone found out.


    ''This is reckless.'' She thought. ''I''m doomed.''


    s, she found that she too wasn''t willing to part from his lips as her hands unconsciously reached to his hair and pulled him closer. Their kiss was different from the ones they shared a few weeks ago, as this was hot, passionate and dangerous at the same time.


    When they heard the men arrive, Lu Qingfeng reluctantly parted from her and red hard at them.

 Chapter 214 - Saving Mo Yuan (2)

    <h4>Chapter 214 - Saving Mo Yuan (2)</h4>


    The atmosphere became awkward as the man immediately looked away when they spotted a couple making out in a deserted alley. The man was ring at them as if they had just ruined a good time with his girlfriend, while the brte woman buried her face on his chest as if she was ashamed of being caught by them.


    They never suspected that Mo Yuan was with these two and turned their shlights away from the couple and resumed their running, leaving the couple behind.


    Su Xiaofei gasped for breath as she hadn''t anticipated that she would be kissed like this by Lu Qingfeng. Even when Mo Yuchen pursued her, he had never been as passionate towards her as Lu Qingfeng was.


    "Damn it! He escaped!" Someone shouted furiously.


    "Brother! There''s a hint of blood on the ground! He must have been here earlier!" Another one said in response.


    "Go and chase after him! We''re doomed if we fail tonight!" The leader eximed.


    A minuteter, Lu Qingfeng''s other bodyguard found them.


    "Go and take him to the pharmacy at Qiying City public market. Don''t let anyone see that he is with you." Lu Qingfeng said as he pointed at the raft of bamboo and wood.


    "Yes, Boss!" The four bodyguards replied at the same time as they dragged the unconscious Mo Yuan under the raft and covered him with another coat.


    "We should probably go too, Feifei. The rain is getting heavier." Lu Qingfeng said with a gentle tone towards the woman in his embrace.


    Su Xiaofei pulled away and nodded. Thankfully, the lighting in this area was a little bad, so Lu Qingfeng would probably fail to see her beet red face after the passionate kiss that they shared.


    As they sat in the backseat of the car, Su Xiaofei removed the wig from her head and gently removed the thick makeup on her face. She had no idea how to talk with Lu Qingfeng after what had just happened between them earlier.


    Lu Qingfeng kept his silence and chose to turn his attention outside the window, watching as people hurriedly ran for shelter and protection from the rain that poured harder this time. He could still taste their kiss as he sat next to her.


    He was now convinced that kissing her during the banquet at the Yun Estate had been a mistake. She was like a drug to him now, and the more he got to taste her, the more he became addicted.


    It had been hard for him to avoid seeing her these past days, as the desire to engulf her into his embrace and kiss her senseless was quite tempting for Lu Qingfeng. Lu Qingfeng was certainly enjoying their time together, but he didn''t want to make her ufortable because of him.


    It had been eleven o''clock when they reached the pharmacy. When they entered, Su Xiaofei was surprised to see that Zhang Lan was being treated by a nurse.


    "What happened to her?" Su Xiaofei asked the younger Zhang, whose outfit was as bad as Mo Yuan''s now.


    Wait. Wouldn''t this mean that it was Zhang Ling who lured those men away to prevent them from finding Mo Yuan earlier?


    "She was shot when she tried to protect Mo Yuan from being shot and got injured instead." Zhang Ling frowned, the corner of her lips turned down as she narrowed her eyes on her older sister.


    "I didn''t mean to get shot, Ling." Zhang Lan said with a nonchnt look as her chest and her shoulder was bandaged by one of Han Zijun''s nurses.


    "Aiya, what happened?" Han Zijun came back with a tray of medicinal herbs and ointments.


    "I received a call from one of your people that said that there is an emergency. I didn''t expect that it was the second young master of the Mo family that is in need of help." He told Lu Qingfeng.


    "Sorry for the trouble, Brother Han. It''s short notice, but I couldn''t think of anyone else that could help us and save his life except you. I heard you are one of the best in your field." Lu Qingfeng replied.


    As Han Zijun heard the younger man''s praise, Su Xiaofei raised a slender brow, seeing his reaction. It seemed like this miracle doctor was also a conceited man as he liked to receive such praises from others.


    "Right. Right. I''m one of the best and, perhaps, the best in our generation!" Han Zijun turned his nose up and smiled confidently.


    Su Xiaofei bit her inner cheek, stopping herself fromughing. She didn''t know why, but seeing Han Zijun like this reminded her of thoseedians one would often see on television.


    "Brother Han, how''s Mo Yuan? Would he survive?" She asked instead, trying to remind herself why they were here in the first ce.


    Han Zijun sighed at that and passed the tray he was holding to another nurse that came to him.


    "You brought him just in time. He was losing so much blood that if we didn''t manage to treat him in time, he would have gone into a hypovolemic shock. I don''t know who did this to him, but it was obvious that they weren''t nning on keeping him alive." He said with all seriousness this time.


    Su Xiaofei released a breath she didn''t know she was holding. That was one problem solved. However, she also knew that Old Madam Mo wouldn''t stop. They needed to keep Mo Yuan alive first before she could make a deal with Lan Xiaoju.


    "What actually happened to him? Who wants him dead?" Han Zijun asked. He then nced at the other injured person Lu Qingfeng''s team brought a little earlier than Mo Yuan. He noticed earlier that this woman didn''t even flinched when his assistant disinfected her gunshot wound.


    "In public, the Mo family seems to get along with each other. Brother Han should know that familial ties are nothing when you have greedy rtives waiting for your demise.." Lu Qingfeng exined.

 Chapter 215 - Striking A Deal With A Demon (1)

    <h4>Chapter 215 - Striking A Deal With A Demon (1)</h4>


    Han Zijun hummed in understanding. Peace could rarely be found in wealthy and prestigious families. Even his Han family wasn''t safe from internal conflicts. He wasn''t really surprised to hear that someone from the Mo family wanted Mo Yuan dead.


    "Then, when can we bring Mo Yuan out?" Lu Qingfeng asked curiously. Keeping Mo Yuan here at Han Zijun''s pharmacy would be too dangerous for them.


    "Let''s keep him here for at least three days." Han Zijun replied. "We need to keep him under observation for the meantime."


    "Okay. That''s enough time for us to prepare then." Lu Qingfeng''s mind was already thinking of the precautionary methods they could useter. Surely, Old Madam Mo was trying hard to locate Mo Yuan now.


    Since today''s target was achieved, Lu Qingfeng and Su Xiaofei bid goodbye and thanked Han Zijun for his help again.


    As Lu Qingfeng took Su Xiaofei back home, she was already dozing off next to him. He wasn''t surprised that she was already knocked out, but he wasn''t sure why she wasn''t saying anything about what transpired earlier.


    "Xiaofei, wake up. We''re here." Lu Qingfeng gently nudged her shoulder to wake her up.


    Su Xiaofei woke up and looked outside the window and saw that they were at her home.


    She grabbed her purse and let Zhang Ling open the door for her. Since the elder Zhang was injured, Lu Qingfeng had given her a week off for the meantime, leaving Zhang Ling to tend to Su Xiaofei''s needs.


    Lu Qingfeng walked her to the front door and passed her a bag of snacks they bought earlier.


    "Don''t worry too much about Mo Yuan. Once he is stable, I''ll move him to a safe ce where the old woman wouldn''t be able to locate him." He said, but an awkward silence followed.


    Su Xiaofei stopped at the closed doors and regarded him, sensing that he wanted to say something.


    "What is it?" She asked. It was rare for her to see Lu Qingfeng like this.


    "Xiaofei, I''m sorry." Lu Qingfeng murmured, but was loud enough for Su Xiaofei to hear.


    "Why are you apologizing to me?"


    "Because of what I did earlier. I didn''t want to make you ufortable and force myself on you."


    For the first time since Su Xiaofei met him, there was a hint of embarrassment on Lu Qingfeng''s face. It amused Su Xiaofei a little to see him like this.


    "I should be the one to apologize, Xiao Feng. I dragged you into this problem."


    Su Xiaofei understood that he only did it because they were out of choices at that time, and she didn''t hold it against him. What she didn''t expect was the burning passion that was ignited the moment their lips touched, making them unwilling to part from each other.


    Lu Qingfeng remained silent for a moment. While it''s true that he didn''t want to waste his opportunity this time, he didn''t want to make Su Xiaofei wary of him. Thest thing she wanted to happen was for her toe to hate him again.


    He didn''t want to see her look at him with disgust and hate ever again. The farthest distance in the world wasn''t the end of the earth, but it was when two people were together but didn''t know what''s in each other''s mind.


    "You aren''t mad at me?" Lu Qingfeng asked, worried that she wouldn''t want him anymore.


    "No, but I would rather not have this happen again in the future." She bit her lip as she tried to suppress the blush on her face.


    "Okay. I''ll be more careful in the future." Lu Qingfeng promised, although it would be a challenge for him not to kiss her now that he''d known the taste and feel of her lips against his.


    The door opened and Aunty Liu found them standing outside the door.


    "Feifei, you''re home. Why are you two still standing here and not getting inside? It''s quite cold tonight." She said as she looked at them.


    "I''m about to leave, Aunty Liu. I just dropped Xiaofei here. Is Aunty Qing home?" Lu Qingfeng asked in return. He wanted to pay his respect to Su Xiaofei''s mother before leaving.


    "She isn''t here yet. Madam called earlier that she would be home a littlete tonight, but it seems like she lost track of time again." Aunty Liu chuckled. This wasn''t the first time that happened anyway.


    Yun Qingrong would probablye when the sun was up, only for her to freshen up and start a new day at work. Since Su Haoran had been fired from herpany, she had been busier than usual and barely had time to stay at home these days.


    "I see. Thanks, Aunty. I''ll go home now."


    "Ay, won''t you stay for the night? It''s already toote for you to travel at this hour."


    "Thanks, Aunty. But Grandpa would be worried if I don''t return tonight." He turned down the old woman''s invitation. Since he was now pursuing Su Xiaofei, regardless if they knew it or not, it wasn''t appropriate for him to stay at their ce.


    "Be careful on your way, Xiao Feng. I''ll see you tomorrow." Su Xiaofei smiled and bid him good night, before following Aunty Liu inside to retire for the night.


    "What took you so long to return, Feifei? You''re lucky that Madam isn''t home yet." Aunty Liu started interrogating her young miss. She wasn''t blind to see that something had changed between Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng.


    "Are you and Xiao Feng¡­"


    "No." Su Xiaofei was quick to deny the older woman''s assumptions. Realizing her mistake, she looked away, feeling bashful.


    "I just lost track of time, Aunty. But Mama knows I''m with Xiao Feng tonight anyway."


    Aunty Liu only chuckled as she watched Su Xiaofei take the stairs, avoiding any more questions from her.


    After she finished washing her face and changing her clothes, she fell asleep the moment her head touched her pillows.

 Chapter 216 - Striking A Deal With A Demon (2)

    <h4>Chapter 216 - Striking A Deal With A Demon (2)</h4>


    Three dayster, while Lu Qingfeng was busy moving Mo Yuan from Han Zijun''s pharmacy, Su Xiaofei took her chance to visit Qin Muyao''s ce together with Zhang Ling and Zhang Lan''s substitute for the meantime.


    Su Xiaofei could feel that Zhang Ling didn''t like working with Liu Tan, but she had no other choice but to work with him until her elder sister recovered from her injury.


    As the three walked into the lobby of the condominium building where Qin Muyao lived with his mother, Su Xiaofei was receiving curious stares from other guests and homeowners. She specifically dressed up today, looking like a true rich socialite.


    When she reached the reception desk, she removed her trendy sunsses and smiled at the person attending.


    "Hi. I''m a friend of the unit owner 362. He''s expecting me today." She said with confidence.


    "May I have your name, please? The owner of unit 362 didn''t notify us of your visit, Miss."


    "It''s Manager Su of Bluemedia Entertainment. You can rify this with him if you want."


    The receptionist did what she was told and notified Qin Muyao, leaving Su Xiaofei and her two bodyguards to wait.


    Su Xiaofei had to thank Zhang Ling for this, as she was able to gather the information where Qin Muyao was living. She had to admit that her bodyguards now were way more capable and useful than the previous ones she had.


    Anyway, she was confident that Qin Muyao and his mother wouldn''t be able to deny meeting her today. Since Qin Muyao was practically being canceled not only by the public, but also by his agency and his endorsements, his options were already limited.


    As expected, Su Xiaofei was given a go signal to go up with her bodyguards by the receptionist. After thanking the woman, Su Xiaofei didn''t waste her time and took the elevator to meet them.


    Zhang Ling took the chance to knock on Qin Muyao''s door, while Liu Tan looked around to make sure no one was keeping an eye on them.


    The door opened, revealing a woman in her early forties. There was a slight darkening under her eyes and her skin a little too pale. It was obvious that she had been under a lot of stresstely.


    "You are Manager Su?" Qin Muyao''s mother asked Zhang Ling as she gave thetter a good look.


    "No." Zhang Ling stepped aside and revealed the young woman behind her. "My miss here is Manager Su."


    "Good afternoon, Miss Huo. May I have a word with you?" Su Xiaofei asked with a smile.


    Miss Huo was slightly taken aback as she didn''t expect that this Manager Su who wanted to meet them was quite young.


    "E-en. Pleasee in." She said, opening the door wider for Su Xiaofei.


    Once the three entered the unit, Miss Huo looked out the hallway, making sure that there were no paparazzi following them.


    "Manager Su, is there a reason you want to meet us?" Qin Muyao, who had now lost his glory and fame in public, was seated on the couch looking as if the whole world was against him.


    "I apologize for his manners, Manager Su. It''s just¡­ it''s just that it''s been so hard for us." Miss Huo rubbed her arm, looking at her son. Her expression filled with worry. "Please take a seat."


    "I won''t waste your time then." Su Xiaofei took a seat on a vacant armchair and regarded the young actor. "I came here to make a deal with you."


    "What could I possibly offer you, Manager Su? Don''t you know that I''ve already lost everything?" Qin Muyao said with sarcasm.


    "Really? Did you mean to say that your mother here doesn''t mean anything to you?" Su Xiaofei retorted.


    Qin Muyao opened his mouth in shock, not expecting that Su Xiaofei would say something like that. He then turned his head to look at his mother, realizing that he wasn''t the only one who was suffering because of the recent scandal.


    A sh of guilt passed through his eyes and he lowered his head.


    "Then what do you want?"


    Su Xiaofei extended her hand and Liu Tan immediately handed him the documents they prepared earlier.


    "I''ll clear your name in public, but in return, you''ll be repaying me with your service for twenty years." Su Xiaofei then presented a contract to Qin Muyao.


    "Twenty years!" Miss Huo eximed.


    His mother took it from her, then read the contents together with her son. Their eyes widened upon seeing the terms and conditions before giving Su Xiaofei a confused look.


    "You say you can clear Xiao Yao''s name?" Miss Huo asked, wanting to know if Su Xiaofei could really help her son this time.


    So many people had already turned their backs on them, refusing to help them with the scandal Qin Muyao was facing. His ex-girlfriend came from an affluent family and had a lot of connectionspared to them.


    Qin Muyao''s career had just started flourishing, but this scandal had effectively ruined his chances to continue any further. His career suffered greatly from it.


    "En. I can do that, but you have to know that you will be indebted to me for a long time." Su Xiaofei said, not bothering to hide the wicked glint in her eyes.


    Qin Muyao gave her a good look and could sense that she didn''te here out of goodwill. She was like a demoness who came to trick him to seal a deal with her. The contract was heavily favoring Su Xiaofei, and it was indicated that he would be bound to work specifically under her supervision and not under Bluemedia.


    His hold on the contract tightened as he repeatedly read the terms written on it. However, he knew that if he didn''t take this chance, it would never appear in front of him for a second time.


    But would he dare? Would he sell himself to a demoness to save his future?

 Chapter 217 - Hitting The Rock Bottom (1)

    <h4>Chapter 217 - Hitting The Rock Bottom (1)</h4>


    Qin Muyao knew that he had just hit rock bottom, and everyone couldn''t wait for their turn to hit him with their nasty words andments, as if they knew the truth.


    A week after the scandal erupted, he had lost not only his friends but also his career overnight. Those people who had fawned over him in the past were the first ones to condemn him for abandoning his ex-girlfriend.


    When he was still basking in glory, so many of them sucked up to him, asking for favors one after another. He''d been a fool to believe that by showing kindness to others, they would also treat him a little better in the future.


    What''s worse was, there wasn''t a single person in the industry, except for his mother, who believed his words.


    Even the media and reporters were fanning the mes to make sure he would be cklisted from the industry for good. They were only interested in spreading Jiang Li''s ims against Qin Muyao and painted him as a shameless person who refused to take responsibility when the raw rice was cooked overnight.


    As for his loyal fans, they had been mum, not knowing what to say to defend him since they would also receive a harsh bacsh whenever they tried to defend him. They were immediately branded as brainless, and anyone who tried to stand up for Qin Muyao was attacked viciously on the inte by these so-called righteous people who wanted him out of the entertainment industry.


    "Xiao Yao." His mother called him out, reminding him not to be impulsive this time. They couldn''t afford to make another enemy this time.


    Her eyes were rimmed red from crying. Miss Huo had been in a lot of stresstely, not knowing what to do to console her son.


    Qin Muyao dropped the contract on the coffee table in front of him and held his head with both his hands. He was fuming with rage, but what else could he do to save himself from this controversy? He was already cornered!


    "You really can do that?" He asked again. "You do know what kind of family you''ll be facing because of me, right?"


    They had tried to reason things out, but no one was willing to hear their exnation, as everyone was eager to persecute him, calling him names beyond imagination.


    Su Xiaofei crossed her legs and rested her chin on one hand as she regarded the young actor. A small smile crossed on her lips. Qin Muyao really didn''t have any options left this time.


    "Mr. Qin. I suppose I need to introduce myself again. I''m Su Xiaofei, a talent manager from Bluemedia, daughter of the owner and the granddaughter of the respected Yun family. Would the Jiang family be bold enough to harm and bully someone like me without facing repercussions?"


    The mother and son looked at her in surprise. No wonder this young woman was brave enough to step forward. It''s because the esteemed Yun family wasn''t one that anyone was willing to offend.


    "Our Yun family upholds moral standards. We cannot just turn a blind eye when someone is suffering from injustice." She added.


    "You believe that I''m not the one who fathered Jiang Li''s child?" Qin Muyao asked her. He and Jiang Li had been in an on and off rtionship for the past two years. He had never thought that their rtionship would take this horrible turn.


    "I do." Su Xiaofei nodded. "It''s idiotic to think that only men are capable of cheating, right?"


    Jiang Li wasn''t truly the victim in this case anyway. Women like her were the kind of people Su Xiaofei despised the most. They were crying foul over the media when she was the one who had put a green hat on Qin Muyao''s head.


    Qin Muyao fell silent on that. Indeed, it was his fault for still epting and forgiving Jiang Li the first time he caught her lying and cheating on him. Because of his busy schedule for the past three months, they barely saw each other and only met each other a month ago.


    Jiang Li imed that she was twelve weeks pregnant with his child, but how could she possibly get pregnant by him when they hadn''t seen each othertely? She even went as far as using him of terminating her pregnancy.


    She had been seeing other men behind his back whenever he wasn''t around and their close acquaintances made him aware of it. At first, Qin Muyao didn''t want to believe it, but as photos and videos of her started appearing with some random men, the feelings he had for her started to cool down.


    Jiang Li had repeatedly begged him to give her another chance, that she would treat him better in the future. However, Qin Muyao should have known that a leopard never changes its spots and Jiang Li would need to take responsibility for her own actions.


    Things had beplicated and spiraled to the cancetion of his projects and his endorsements, one after another. The biggest blow was that his agency decided to cancel his contract without giving him a chance to exin himself.


    Jiang Li was clever and sly. She misled people into believing that she was the victim and Qin Muyao was the cold-hearted person who abandoned her after learning that she was pregnant. However, these were merely verbal usations, and she hadn''t shown any evidence to back up her ims.


    Still, Qin Muyao''s reputation had taken a hit by this controversy. Regardless if Jiang Li presented evidence or not, her mere acting in front of the camera was able to move people to take her side.


    "This wouldn''t be easy to fix, Manager Su." He said after a long silence between them.


    "At the moment, everyone is taking Jiang Li''s side, mudslinging your name. Your previous agency couldn''t handle the heat and the pressure they were getting from the public.. However, if you ept my condition, I promise that you will get so much more in the future."

 Chapter 218 - Hitting The Rock Bottom (2)

    <h4>Chapter 218 - Hitting The Rock Bottom (2)</h4>


    Those were very strong ims that came from this young woman in front of them, and Qin Muyao could see the confidence Su Xiaofei had. If Bluemedia was truly willing to take the risk to protect him, then they would surely receive a lot of ire from the public.


    However, Qin Muyao wasn''t stupid not to know that if this scandal continued to drag on for a long time, it would be the same as sentencing his career to a slow, painful death. He had just reached the peak of his stardom, but this false usation towards him had essentially sent him to doom.


    What kind of agency and brand would be willing to work with him after his reputation was tarnished by Jiang Li?


    He had been naive not to acknowledge the red gs that had been so clear during the time they were together. Like any other couple, they frequently argued with each other, but it was also clear that they both had different goals in their lives. However, Qin Muyao was willing topromise because he loved her.


    Unlike her, who was born from a family with money, Qin Muyao was strict with his expenditures, but that didn''t mean he was stingy when it came to her. Whenever he had free time from work, he would always take her out for a date and buy her expensive things that could make him wince whenever he used his card to pay for them.


    However, Jiang Li thought that he was too tight with money despite the fact that he was earning more from his projects and endorsements over the past months, while Qin Muyao thought that she was being unrealistic and unreasonable about the things he could afford.


    "Is there something else we could do?" His mother asked. "Why don''t we wait for the issue to die on its own? Perhaps people would eventually forget about it if we keep silent about it." She added.


    Su Xiaofei shook her head. What Miss Huo just said was just wishful thinking on her part. It would never be that simple when ites to the entertainment industry.


    "I''m sorry, Miss Huo, but an issue like this might take two to three years to be forgotten. When that timees, I have no doubt that your son would be as good as nothing and this issue would forever mar his reputation." She disagreed with the older woman.? There were just things that the public wasn''t aware about how the entertainment industry works.


    Qin Muyao nodded in agreement. Even if he waited for the people to forget about this controversy, with a lot of talented neers, it would be hard for him to make aeback andpete with them. Even a senior would be ashamed topete with his juniors under the same stage and criteria.


    "Do we have other options, Manager Su?" Miss Huo asked again. Her anxiety had shot over the roof since the controversy started.


    "Well, your son has several options, but I''m not sure which one he is willing to take." Su Xiaofei started. "First, he could suggest settling the matter privately with Jiang Li and financially support her child, but it would be the same as admitting that he was the one who impregnated her. Second, Qin Muyao could release their intimate conversations, throwing dirty water on Jiang Li, but this might also backfire on him. You would want to protect his name as much as possible. The third one is my way."


    She then paused and nced at Qin Muyao, knowing that he was racking his brain to think and consider her offer.


    Su Xiaofei wasn''t nning to y a heroine or someone''s savior, but in her past life, the Jiang family had offended her mother greatly, and she was merely trying to get even with them. Also, she intended to make Qin Muyao her money tree, so she couldn''t bear to waste this chance.


    "I promise you that at the end of this controversy, Jiang Li and her family would be the ones losing their face and not you. But Qin Muyao¡­ are you willing to pay the price for it? You once loved Jiang Li. If it wasn''t for that, you wouldn''t have given her multiple chances and forgiven her. But look where that got you."


    Qin Muyao couldn''t refute her words at all and knew what she just said was right. Choosing the first option would be the same as admitting responsibility for a child that wasn''t his in the first ce, while the second would still pose some disadvantages towards his character and his career.


    Right now, everyone was pushing him to his own death, and he didn''t know how long his mother would be able to endure hearing such demeaning words about him. If the child was his, of course he was willing to take responsibility for it and marry Jiang Li despite her lies and deception, but Qin Muyao wasn''t willing to be trapped in her hideous web.


    "I will make Jiang Li eat her words and beg for your forgiveness."


    These words from Su Xiaofei''s mouth made Qin Muyao lift his head and look at her with wide eyes. He wasn''t hurt by what people say to him, but he was greatly offended by Jiang Li''s false usations and actions.


    "Can you really do it?" He looked at her sternly.


    Qin Muyao felt severely wronged by Jiang Li and everyone. He wanted some vindication from it.


    "I can." Su Xiaofei said calmly, her lips curling into a smile, making her appearance more stunning.


    Qin Muyao was ustomed to seeing beauties, but looking at Su Xiaofei, he was still stunned by her face. Her smile was apathetic, which he never would''ve thought possible from a young woman like her.


    She had been clear from the very beginning that she wasn''t helping him out of pity, but because she wanted to make him her money tree.


    "Manager Su, I don''t care about your intentions.. I only care about the results."

 Chapter 219 - No Rest For The Wicked (1)

    <h4>Chapter 219 - No Rest For The Wicked (1)</h4>


    Although it''s true that Su Xiaofei hade here with vested interest, Qin Muyao didn''t care about it anymore. As long as she was capable of helping him clear up his name and reputation in public, he was willing to serve twenty years of servitude to repay this debt.


    He didn''t care if she hade here to take advantage of his weaknesses anymore, because truth to be told, Qin Muyao was willing to grab any chance he could get to save his dying career and clear his name.


    "Xiao Yao!" His mother eximed, confusion apparent on her expression.


    Miss Huo had been a witness to how her son had suffered from the controversy. Qin Muyao didn''t want to face his father and his younger siblings because of this, but he was left with no choice but to ept this young woman''s proposition.


    Everyone had already abandoned him, but now this unknown talent manager had suddenly shown up, willing to prove his innocence. It was understandable that Qin Muyao was willing to take the risk in order to survive.


    "No matter what your intentions are, I wish we could coborate well in the future. Thank you for believing me." Qin Muyao told Su Xiaofei.


    "Then please study and discuss the contract with your mother, Mr. Qin. I''ll give you three days to make a decision and to sign it. Any more would only dy our preparations this following weekend, so I suggest for Mr. Qin not to waste any more time and energy. You aren''t allowed to make a statement unless I tell you to do so." Su Xiaofei made a motion to stand up from her seat to leave.


    "That''s all? We just leave everything to you after Xiao Yao signs this contract?" Miss Huo hurriedly asked Su Xiaofei.


    "Miss Huo, do you know why your son lost so many of his brand endorsements?" The young woman asked in return.


    Miss Huo shook her head. She surmised that it was because of the scandal. Would there be another reason aside from that?


    "It''s because your son and his agency remained silent at that critical time when the scandal erupted over the news. These brands weren''t unreasonablepanies, but they expected professionalism from Qin Muyao and his agency. However, since they weren''t able to get in touch with them, leaving them at a loss, they had no other choice but to pull out the advertisements featuring Qin Muyao in order to avoid getting the bacsh from the public."


    The damage on Qin Muyao''s career could have been lessened if his agency had done their part to protect their talent. However, since Jiang Li''s family was not only rich, but also influential, it was understandable that the top management didn''t want to offend her family by defending Qin Muyao.


    "Timing is a vital factor of damage control. There''s still a chance for us to regain those endorsements, but you have to cooperate with us and listen to me."


    "Mom, it''s alright." Qin Muyao held his mother''s hand and smiled bitterly. "Let''s leave it to Manager Su."


    "I hope that you''ve learned your lessons now, Mr. Qin. In the future, you have to be careful not to get blinded by love. There''s a reason why our brain is higher than our heart. My assistant will give you a contact number. Call us when you decide to sign the contract," was Su Xiaofei''s parting words before leaving Qin Muyao''s unit with her bodyguards.


    Nighttime came and Su Xiaofei arrived just in time to see her mother waiting for her return.


    Yun Qingrong immediately stood up and looked at her daughter. When Su Xiaofei came to her, informing her of her intention to help Qin Muyao by recruiting for Bluemedia, Yun Qingrong wasn''t sure what her young daughter was thinking.


    She didn''t think that her Feifei personally knew Qin Muyao and wondered why she was eager to help the young actor. Who hadn''t heard about the explosive scandal about him and Jiang Li? He was like a time bomb waiting to detonate at any moment.


    No one was willing to take a risk to save his career now and Su Xiaofei was taking a gamble by saving him.


    "Mama." Su Xiaofei greeted her mother.


    "How did it go?" Yun Qingrong replied, allowing her daughter to take a seat next to her. "Did Qin Muyao agree?"


    "Yes he did. But as we agreed, I gave him three days to think about it, Mama. We will continue our n while we wait." Su Xiaofei replied, giving her mother a reassuring smile.


    "Feifei, are you sure about this? You don''t need to rush and take in talents for now. It''s enough that you study how thepany works."


    Yun Qingrong didn''t want anyone to demean her daughter by helping Qin Muyao, but what Su Xiaofei told her earlier had made sense to her. It would be a pity if a talented young actor like Qin Muyai would be canceled for good.


    Still, the controversy like this wasn''t easy to resolve, even for more experienced PR managers than her daughter. The fall of a once bright star like Qin Muyao was really a pitiful one.


    "Mama, if I don''t start this early and only rely on you and Uncle Fang''s help, how would I grow? And I believe that Mr. Qin is the victim this time." Su Xiaofei said with confidence.


    Zhang Lan was making some phone calls and investigations for her while recovering. It had been hard for Su Xiaofei to ask her bodyguard to stay at home and rest, because the Zhang siblings were too dedicated with their work and had nothing else to do aside from it.


    Zhang Lan had been happy to be assigned to a menial job that won''t put too much stress on her injury.


    "Leave this to me, Mama. I will fix this without revealing my identity in public." Su Xiaofei was aware why her mother was worried about her.. Yun Qingrong feared that her name would be sullied even before she could join Bluemedia by helping Qin Muyao.

 Chapter 220 - No Rest For The Wicked (2)

    <h4>Chapter 220 - No Rest For The Wicked (2)</h4>


    Meanwhile, it was the first time Qin Muyao had turned on the television in his home since the scandal, making sure to keep the volume low, so he wouldn''t disturb his mother''s sleep. At this moment, all the lights in the house were turned off and only the light from the television illuminated the living room.


    The words Su Xiaofei said earlier were repeatedly ying in his mind while the contractid open on the table, waiting to be signed in front of him.


    The entertainment news was on and the presenter was once again mentioning the bacsh Qin Muyao had been receiving from theizens and how his previous agency had decided to let him go.


    "He''s so disgusting! Did he think that because he was popr and rich now, he could y with a woman''s heart?"


    "Is he even a human? How could he deny the paternity of his very own child?"


    "I used to admire Qin Muyao for his talent. Now, I feel like I''ve been deceived by him!"


    "I already knew that the entertainment industry has a lot of secrets and disgusting scandals, but I never thought Qin Muyao would be part of it!"


    "I think Jiang Li should sue him in court for negligence and financial support. Qin Muyao, be a man and take responsibility for your actions!"


    "There''s no issue with him being young, but it''s not an excuse to turn back on your girlfriend when she gets pregnant."


    These maliciousments went on and Qin Muyao tuned out all of it as they were all the same things. Most of them scolded him in public, giving Jiang Li their sympathy, then they called him despicable things and cursed him for abandoning Jiang Li without knowing the truth.


    "Xiao Yao, what did I tell you? You shouldn''t watch this nonsense. Don''t listen to them."


    Qin Muyao didn''t notice that his mother had woken up and hade out of her room to get a ss of water.


    "Sorry. Did I wake you up, Mom?" He snapped from his daze and answered his mother.


    Miss Huo took a seat and switched off the television. Her son didn''t need to hear more of those nasty words.


    "Can''t sleep. I''m just wondering if you should ept Manager Su''s offer, even though you would be bound by her contract for twenty years." She replied. "Xiao Yao, twenty years is a long time. I don''t know why she''s confident that you would be able to recover from this, but I think twenty years is too long."


    Qin Muyao smiled and patted his mother''s hand. From the moment he was scouted by a talent manager, to his trainee days up to his debut, his mother worked hard alongside him. She had apanied him to go to the city and worked as his personal assistant.


    It broke his heart to know that she was also being attacked and criticized by standing up for him. It would have been fine if he was the only one being targeted with nder, but his mother couldn''t also avoid the hate and had been attacked thest time she went out.


    As for Su Xiaofei''s offer, indeed, twenty years was a long time. There was no assurance that a star like him could persevere and stay under the spotlight for a long time. Not many were able to stay in the industry for the rest of their lives.


    So why did Su Xiaofei want to bind him for twenty years as her talent?


    "Mom, do you think twenty years is too much if she''s able to fix the problem and restore my reputation in public? These are priceless. If she truly could manage such a feat, I don''t mind working with her for twenty years to repay this favor."


    Qin Muyao couldn''t afford to lose a job right now, as his other siblings were still studying, and he still needed to provide for them. His father''s earnings from his tire shop wasn''t enough to support the family, hence, he had worked several part-time jobs until he was discovered by a talent scout.


    As for Jiang Li, he met her through a mutual friend. He had no idea that she was a girl born with a silver spoon, and only found out about it when his friend mentioned it to him after months of dating.


    He had truly loved Jiang Li when they were together, yet because of her lies and infidelity, that love had now turned into deep-seated hatred in his heart. Just as Su Xiaofei had said earlier, he shouldn''t have allowed himself to be blinded by his feelings towards Jiang Li. Had he broken up with her the first time he discovered her deceit, he could have avoided all this mess now.


    Ever since the scandal spread over the news, not only was his career affected, even Qin Muyao''s mental health had also been deteriorating, and his mother couldn''t stop worrying about his health. If this continued, she wasn''t sure how this would end for her eldest son.


    Finally, Qin Muyao picked up the pen next to the contract and signed it. There''s no need to waste another three days of his life wondering about what-ifs if Su Xiaofei could aplish her part of their deal.


    Because of this scandal, he realized and learned a lot of things from it and swore to nevermit the same mistakes again. So what if he needed to spend twenty years repaying Su Xiaofei? In the future, he would just need to work harder and focus on his projects to repay her. Besides, didn''t that mean she would ensure that he had work for the next twenty years?


    As for Jiang Li, earlier, he wasn''t willing to release the screenshots and recordings of theirst conversation that could prove her deceit, but now that he realized how she wanted to ruin him badly because he left her, his only option was to fight back!


    Qin Muyao couldn''t forget the one sentence Su Xiaofei had said earlier to him before leaving.


    "There''s no rest for the wicked."

 Chapter 221 - In The Same Boat (1)

    <h4>Chapter 221 - In The Same Boat (1)</h4>


    The next morning, Su Xiaofei woke up and went down to have her breakfast with her mother when Zhang Ling came to her, informing her that Qin Muyao had calledst night, and she had picked up the signed contract this morning.


    Su Xiaofei thanked her and asked Zhang Ling about her sister''s condition.


    "Don''t worry, Miss. She will be back before you know it." Zhang Ling smiled before excusing herself, leaving the mother and daughter alone to enjoy their meal.


    Yun Qingrong nced at her daughter, surprised that her Feifei had managed to convince the young actor in just one day. Was Qin Muyao really that desperate for help that he grabbed the first olive branch that was extended to him?


    "He agreed too early." Yun Qingrongmented. How did her daughter manage to convince Qin Muyao this easily?


    "That''s because he''s desperate for help. This problem couldn''t be dragged on any longer." Su Xiaofei resumed eating and asked Aunty Liu for another serving, much to her mother''s amusement.


    Yun Qingrong was happy that her daughter had a much better appetitepared to before. Su Xiaofei used to skip meals and rarely joined her for any meals. She was also d that her daughter was not starving herself and not being too conscious with her figure now.


    Thinking about it, Yun Qingrong realized that she had managed to avoid further disasters in her life because of her daughter. At the time when Ye Xing and her daughter came and begged for her help, her mind hadn''t been stable. If her daughter hadn''t intervened that day, Yun Qingrong would have no doubt that their lives would be ruined. It was fortunate that Su Xiaofei had dealt with the problem on her own.


    "Once the public opinion about him is changed, we would officially wee Qin Muyao to thepany." Yun Qingrong told Su Xiaofei, who was too focused on her meal, ignoring the contract Zhang Ling left next to her.


    "I''ll leave it to you then, Mama." Su Xiaofei replied. The contract she had signed with Qin Muyao was different from the one he would sign with Bluemedia.


    When Su Xiaofei discussed the ns she had in mind in order to help Qin Muyao with Yun Qingrong and Fang Yi, they were rendered speechless. It surprised them that Su Xiaofei was able toe up with a method that could not only save Qin Muyao''s career, but also effectively turn the tables against Jiang Li.


    Su Xiaofei didn''t care if she was going to offend the Jiang family, and Yun Qingrong wouldn''t allow anyone to harm her daughter anyway. Compared to her Yun family, the Jiang family was nothing.


    Xi Qian then arrived at that moment and joined the mother and daughter at the table. She was already dressed in her school uniform, but she also brought another set of uniforms she would use for the afternoon.


    "Am I too early?" She asked Su Xiaofei and thanked Aunty Liu, who brought out a new set of bowls and chopsticks for her to use.


    Yun Qingrong chuckled at that. No wonder her daughter was rushing her meal. It''s because she was expecting Xi Qian that morning.


    "Don''t worry, Qian. Feifei has just woken up. I see you are ready for your self-defense training." She exined while Su Xiaofei gave her best friend a smile as a greeting before shoving another dumpling into her mouth.


    "Sorry, Aunty. I know I agreed to take it with Feifei, but I''ve been busy these past weeks." Xi Qian apologized to the older woman. Yun Qingrong had already found a ss for her and Su Xiaofei to take, but they weren''t able to attend it earlier because of her.


    "It''s alright. Feifei told me about what happened. I hope that you have settled in at your new ce."


    "Yes, Aunty Qing. Thanks for your concern." Xi Qian said sheepishly, knowing that she owed Su Xiaofei and her mother a lot.


    "You don''t need to thank me, Qian. You are already like a second daughter to me."


    Yun Qingrong had practically seen Xi Qian and Lu Qingfeng grow up along with her daughter. And although she wasn''t able to give birth to her own child, her heart was filled with satisfaction seeing the three of them in good health.


    "Xiao Feng isn''t going to join you today?" She asked her daughter.


    Su Xiaofei shook her head in response. Lu Qingfeng had a lot on his te right now and she didn''t want to further inconvenience him.


    "No, Mama. Their basketball team is busy preparing for the finals. Xiao Feng said he wanted to focus on it."


    Su Xiaofei couldn''t believe how fast time flew. Wasn''t it only recently that she was reborn into her eighteen year old body? In the blink of an eye, four months had already passed and there were only three months left before the school year ended.


    When that timees, she would need to temporarily say goodbye to Lu Qingfeng. Su Xiaofei didn''t want to think too much about it, but she had to admit that she wasn''t looking forward to the end of the school year.


    As she thought about it, Su Xiaofei''s movements slowed down. The subtle change didn''t escape her mother and Xi Qian.


    "Something wrong, Feifei?" It was Xi Qian who asked her.


    Su Xiaofei pushed the unwanted thoughts away from her mind and smiled at her best friend. She suddenly lost the appetite to finish her breakfast.


    "Nothing, Qian. Just realized that it felt like it was only yesterday that we got admitted at QCA and now we''re graduating soon."


    "Right. It really didn''t feel that long since our first day. Have you decided on which university you would attend?"


    Xi Qian and Lu Qingfeng already had ns prior to their graduation, but she hadn''t mentioned anything about her future ns aside from joining Bluemedia.


    "I''ve already applied for the entrance exam at Guangshang National University.. I only need to wait for the day of the exam."

 Chapter 222 - In The Same Boat (2)

    <h4>Chapter 222 - In The Same Boat (2)</h4>


    Su Xiaofei hadn''t seen Lu Qingfeng the whole day, but they agreed to meet after her self defense ss with Xi Qian that afternoon, so they could meet Lan Xiaoju.


    Lu Qingfeng was waiting outside the self-defense school building when the two young women came out, feeling tired and sore. He invited them for dinner, but Xi Qian declined his invitation and asked him to drop her at home instead.


    "Feifei, since when did you build such stamina?" Xi Qian asked while Nine drove the car to the apartmentplex where Xi Qian currently resided. "I''ve already startedining about sore muscles, but you managed to finish the first lesson without breaking a sweat."


    "That''s because I''ve been working out these days while waiting for you to get some free time. I guess it actually paid off." Su Xiaofei replied. "Don''t worry, Qian. You''ll get used to it soon, but maybe I should teach you how to warm up, so you won''t feel as sore next time."


    "Thanks, Feifei. Perhaps I should practice more." Xi Qian easily agreed to Su Xiaofei''s offer.


    It didn''t take too long before they reached the apartmentplex and Xi Qian bid goodbye to Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng.


    Once she was out of sight, Su Xiaofei questioned Lu Qingfeng who had been silently working on hisptop while she and Xi Qian were conversing earlier.


    "Where to now?"


    "We''re going to meet Lan Xiaoju. Don''t worry. Nine already made some preparations ahead." Lu Qingfeng shut hisptop close and took a deep breath.


    Su Xiaofei watched him from the corner of her eye and saw how tired he was. She suddenly felt guilty that she had caused him some problems.


    "Did the Old Madam find out about it?" She asked.


    "No. I had to discreetly notify Lan Xiaoju to meet us. The old woman is still trying to find him to this day." Lu Qingfeng replied.


    It''s been a week since the incident happened and Mo Yuan was now in better condition and his life was out of danger. Because neither her son nor Mo Yuchen had any idea what the old woman had done to Mo Yuan, she was also taking some precautionary measures not to be caught by them.


    After an hour of driving, Nine pulled into a stop when they reached a hotel where the two were going to meet up with Lan Xiaoju. The Zhang Siblings joined Nine and their small party took the elevator with Lu Qingfeng and Su Xiaofei.


    In one of the presidential suites, Lan Xiaoju was waiting nervously for their arrival. She was momentarily stunned when she saw Su Xiaofei.


    "Miss Su?" She asked in disbelief. "You are the one who kidnapped my son?"


    Lan Xiaoju was doing her rounds in the hospital the night she received the news that her son was involved in a car ident. She immediately rushed to check on Mo Yuan''s condition, only to find out that he was missing.


    His private bodyguards informed her that someone was after his young master''s life, and he sneaked out and ran away, leaving them badly injured in the process.


    "If you want to seek revenge on Mo Yuchen, leave my son out of it. He is innocent!" She eximed.


    Su Xiaofei took a seat on the couch while Lu Qingfeng ordered the Zhang siblings to prepare drinks for Feifei and their elder guest before joining them.


    "Rx, Madam. I won''t hurt your son. In fact, we were the one who saved his life that night." Su Xiaofei replied, gauging the older woman''s reaction.


    "What¡­ what do you mean?"


    "Madam, you made a huge mistake. You should have known that Mo Yuan''s life would be in danger if he came back home."


    Lan Xiaoju froze at that, her eyes widening in understanding. Su Xiaofei only needed to say a few words, but she was able to point out who was the mastermind behind the attempt on her son''s life. Maybe this young woman was right, Mo Yuan was safer away from home, but Lan Xiaoju couldn''t simply let Mo Yuchen inherit everything.


    "H-how is he?" Before anything else, she needed to know her son''s condition.


    "Good. We managed to save him just in time. He was in a critical condition for the first three days because of blood loss, but he''s recovering well now." Su Xiaofei answered.


    "Then, what does Miss Su want from me this time?" Lan Xiaoju wasn''t that dumb. If Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng saved her son''s life, they must have something they wanted from her.


    "Fifty million and we will return your son to you." The younger woman smiled wickedly, not bothering to hide the amusement in her eyes.


    "And if I don''t?"


    "Well, I suppose the Old Madam is still looking for him at this very moment, right? She wasn''t able to finish him the first time, but that didn''t mean she won''t dare to harm him again."


    Lan Xiaoju clenched her fists on her sides. So Su Xiaofei was willing to drop her son anywhere where the Old Madam could find him?


    Fifty million was a hefty amount of money even for a person like her, but her son''s life was more important than her life savings.


    It had been the carelessness on her part that put Mo Yuan''s life in danger. She had truly underestimated her mother-inw, as she never thought that Old Madam Mo was willing to get rid of her other grandson in order to pave the way for Mo Yuchen''s future.


    Lan Xiaoju finally understood why Su Xiaofei had forcibly annulled her engagement with Mo Yuchen. She might have known the kind of life she would have if she joined the Mo family. She had never thought that a young woman as Su Xiaofei could already be this scheming at her young age.


    Lan Xiaoju then felt that this young woman was more dangerous than the old woman waiting for her at home.

 Chapter 223 - In The Same Boat (3)

    <h4>Chapter 223 - In The Same Boat (3)</h4>


    Lan Xiaoju looked at Su Xiaofei, then to Lu Qingfeng who remained silent next to the young woman. She was a little confused on how Su Xiaofei knew what would happen to her son that night and how they managed to sneak him out.


    "Miss Su, you knew well that by helping my son, you are offending my mother-inw." She reminded Su Xiaofei cautiously.


    "Well, wouldn''t that also mean that we are in the same boat, Madam? Old Madam Mo still sees your son as an obstacle for her favorite grandson, and since you brought Mo Yuan back, she sees him as a threat, now that Mo Yuchen had just joined thepany."


    Lan Xiaoju remained silent at that. Perhaps it wasn''t toote to send her son away, knowing that her mother-inw was really heartless towards Mo Yuan. She had long epted that she and the old madam won''t get along, but had never thought that the old woman was capable of harming her own grandson.


    "Mo Yuan is still alive and well, although he would need a few months to fully recover, as the gunshot wound he sustained during that night was fatal. If Madam Mo agrees with Miss Su''s condition, we shall arrange to send him overseas tonight. Discreetly, of course." Lu Qingfeng joined their conversation, wanting to end it as soon as possible.


    "You can do it?" Lan Xiaoju was left bbergasted. She now thought that these two weren''t merely teenagers at all.


    The corner of Su Xiaofei''s lips curled up and she patted Lu Qingfeng''s arm.


    "Madam Mo should be aware of the Lu family''s capability. Sending Mo Yuan out of the country without a trace is nothing to them." She bragged to the older woman. If anything else, the Lu family''s connections could topple any family in Qiying City. It''s no wonder there was a fiercepetition to gain the spot as the head of the family.


    Lan Xiaoju couldn''t refute Su Xiaofei''s words, as she was also aware of how strong and powerful the Lu family waspared to her Mo family. Several years ago, her husband tried to get acquainted with the Lu family to gain their support, but it had been hard.


    She didn''t doubt that Lu Qingfeng could really sneak her son out of the country, but she needed some assurances.


    "Miss Su, can I talk to my son? I just want to make sure that he''s alive."


    She had been worrying nonstop ever since his disappearance a week ago, and while her husband was also busy asking his connections to find Mo Yuan, no one was able to give them a single clue whether he was alive or not, except for these two youngsters.


    Lu Qingfeng raised a hand to Nine, and the man immediately made a phone call. After making sure that Mo Yuan was on the line, he passed the mobile phone to his young master.


    "Three minutes. You can talk to him for three minutes only, and you have to make a decision right here, right now, Madam. Else, we would drop him anywhere and we won''t be liable for whatever that could happen to him if he was found by your mother-inw." Lu Qingfeng gave Madam Mo an ultimatum. The faster he could get rid of Mo Yuan from his watch, the better for Su Xiaofei''s safety.


    Lan Xiaoju didn''t waste her time and took the phone from Lu Qingfeng. After confirming that it was indeed Mo Yuan was on the other end of the line, she burst into tears as relief washed through her entirety.


    After a week of not knowing his whereabouts and how he was faring, she was now relieved to know that he was alive and well, just as Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng said. As for the fifty million¡­ Fine. Su Xiaofei could have it all, as long as they would be able to keep her son alive. She would be able to earn that money back in the future anyway, but her son''s life was far more important than anything else.


    As she spoke gently to her son, reminding him not to do anything reckless, she nced at the two youngsters in front of her. Regardless what Su Xiaofei''s motive was, it didn''t matter, as she was undeniably indebted to her and Lu Qingfeng for saving Mo Yuan''s life. Once the three minutes were up, she returned the phone to Nine and regarded Su Xiaofei.


    "I ept your condition, Miss Su, but I have a request."


    Su Xiaofei nced at Lu Qingfeng for help as she couldn''t give Lan Xiaoju any assurances.


    Lu Qingfeng sighed as he understood what she needed without saying a word.


    "Does Madam Mo want to leave the country with Mo Yuan?" He asked Lan Xiaoju.


    "En. If it''s possible. I want to leave with him. Can I ask you to arrange it?" The older woman gave Lu Qingfeng a pleading look. She now realized that Mo Yuan''s inheritance meant nothing to her if she was going to lose him in the process. She also cannot rely on her husband at all.


    "I can arrange that, but you would have to listen to every word I say. You would be blindfolded along with Mo Yuan and none of you are allowed to make a scene. Rest assured that the ce of your destination will be safe for the two of you." The young man replied after finishing his cup of coffee.


    "Fine. I''ll listen to what you say, but promise me that you and Miss Su would have nothing to do with us after this. Whatever grudge you have towards the Mo family, promise me that my son won''t be dragged into it." Lan Xiaoju requested. How could she not see that Su Xiaofei was only doing this to spite the Mo family? It seemed that this young woman had trulye to hate Mo Yuchen after all.


    "You have my word, Madam. After this, we don''t owe anything to each other.." Su Xiaofei assured her.

 Chapter 224 - Qiao Yuhan’s Beloved Sister (1)

    <h4>Chapter 224 - Qiao Yuhan¡¯s Beloved Sister (1)</h4>


    After Lan Xiaoju settled the fifty million, she was led away by Zhang Lan at Lu Qingfeng''s order. The older woman was eager to see her son after a week of uncertainty, leaving Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng on their own.


    The smile on Su Xiaofei''s face was brighter than the sun on a summer''s day, effectively improving Lu Qingfeng''s mood that night.


    "Do you have any ns for your fifty million? You are still halfway through your target." Lu Qingfeng eyed the young woman next to him, as Su Xiaofei grinned at the fifty million Lan Xiaoju had secretly transferred to her ount. It seemed like Madam Mo was keeping some of her money from her husband and the Mo family and was able to save this much over the past years.


    "Still thinking about it." Su Xiaofei admitted. Currently, she had fifty-three million in her ount and she needed more before she could reach her 100 million target. As for where she got the three million, well, she cheated and used the lottery to her advantage.


    Just a week ago, she sent Liu Tan to buy a lottery ticket, and he was able to win five million, much to his shock. Liu Tan had used the numbers Su Xiaofei had given to him, and he thought that she was merely curious on how the lottery works, and she had previously questioned him about it.


    "Please do me a favor and bet on these numbers, Liu Tan. If you win, I should have the three million, and you can have the remaining two."


    Who would have known that the numbers she provided that day were the winning numbers? Even Nine and the Zhang siblings were surprised when he came to announce the next day that he won the top prize.


    Su Xiaofei honored her words and gave him the two million, as promised, as a reward for his help. Liu Tan now revered Su Xiaofei as his benefactor, and her name had once again be the topic of the Lu family''s elite guards.


    Liu Tan had only been with Su Xiaofei for a week, and yet he was given such a reward for assisting her. Now, some of them wonder if Su Xiaofei was a irvoyant for knowing the winning numbers or if she was nning to utilize Lu Qingfeng''s subordinates in the future.


    "I have an idea of where you could invest your money, but don''t expect that you would be able to get your ROI so soon." Lu Qingfeng told her.


    "You do?" Su Xiaofei nced at him, thinking that if she really needed to grow her money, she needed to make the money work, rather than for her to work endlessly to earn more money.


    "En. Qiao Tech is devising an app to beunched next year. I''m also thinking of investing my own money to help them."


    Su Xiaofei fell silent as she thought about it. In her previous life, Qiao Tech released an app that allowed its users to make and share short videos and live streams with their followers. It was the same app that started the trend and had given the Qiao family fame and wealth.


    However, it was also known that her birth father, Qiao Fengying and Liu Shn had a rocky start. It had been hard for them to get investors at the time. Investing her money now would surely help them give them a good start and avoid the unnecessary problems they encountered in the past, but Su Xiaofei wasn''t sure if she should get further involved with her birth father.


    "Feifei?" Lu Qingfeng called her out when he noticed that she was spacing out again.


    Su Xiaofei snapped out of her daze and hummed.


    "That''s a good idea, Xiao Feng, but do you have the confidence that it will do well in the future?"


    Lu Qingfeng gave her a confused look, thinking that she should know by now how profitable it would be in the future.


    "It''s important that we can invest in it this early. Since you won''t be needing the fifty million anytime soon, let''s invest it and let it grow. Who knows, maybe in the future, you''ll be racking in a lot of money from it."


    Qiao Tech had a hard time in the past because some of their investors had opposed Qiao Fengying''s ideas repeatedly and wanted to get involved in the whole process. These unnecessary issues had only dyed theunch of the app. By investing now, Lu Qingfeng and Su Xiaofei would give Qiao Fengying the authority to preside over and focus on the development.


    Lu Qingfeng was also aware that Su Xiaofei was hesitant to get involved with the Qiao family, but he didn''t want her to regret anything this time. She had the chance to get to know her birth father and spend time with her little brother this time. He wanted her to experience good things she wasn''t able to enjoy in their previous life.


    He didn''t want to overstep his boundaries and reveal her identity to Qiao Fengying, but if the two were able to spend more time with each other, Lu Qingfeng hoped that the older man could at least offer her familial ties. Whether Su Xiaofei acknowledged him as her father or not, Lu Qingfeng would leave it to her.


    "So? What do you think?" He asked.


    "How much will you invest?"


    "Fifty million too. It should be more than enough for President Qiao to push the project." Lu Qingfeng replied.


    Su Xiaofei stared at him for a moment, then huffed.


    "I know fifty million is nothing to you. Just how much do you have in your savings?"


    "You really want to know?" Lu Qingfeng raised a slender brow at her. "I''m sorry, Feifei, but you aren''t allowed to see my ounts, not unless you be Madam Lu."


    He earned a scowl from her.


    "I was only asking! You don''t have to tell me if you don''t want to!"

 Chapter 225 - Qiao Yuhans Beloved Sister (2)

    <h4>Chapter 225 - Qiao Yuhan''s Beloved Sister (2)</h4>


    The next weekend, social media sites? blew up again when the article about Jiang Li seeing three other men behind Qin Muyao''s back started to circte around. The article came from a reliable media outlet that has been running for years and had a good reputation in public.


    With it, photos of Jiang Li being intimate with other men who weren''t her boyfriend could be seen with a timestamp on them. Qin Muyao''s work schedule for thest three months had been posted, allowing the readers topare the two''s whereabouts.


    It was clear that Qin Muyao wasn''t even in the country for the first and second month, as he was busy with a photoshoot and his filming schedule for a movie overseas. This immediately made theizens question Jiang Li''s ims.


    Maliciousments against Jiang Li erupted as theizens scolded her for being both shameless and heartless. The once suppressed loyal fans of Qin Muyao also mustered their courage and called her out for it.


    "Oh my gosh! Jiang Li is such a sl*t! No wonder Qin Muyao doesn''t want to admit that her baby is his!"


    "Seeing other men while he wasn''t around? Wow, this Jiang Li was something. How was she able to find time to date all of them at the same time?"


    "How could she do that to Qin Muyao? He was working hard, but she was cheating behind his back! I''ll say Qin Muyao doesn''t deserve someone like her at all!"


    As more pictures of Jiang Li were shown with other men, theizens were starting to doubt her ims about her child''s paternity. Some even counted the weeks and the timeline of her child''s conception andpared it to Qin Muyao''s schedule that was published to the public months ago.


    The sudden turn of events had effectively caught Jiang Li off guard. Even Qin Muyao, who had been waiting for Su Xiaofei''s next move after he signed the contract with her, waspletely surprised.


    Jiang Li had been panicking, wondering who could have dug up such information about her. She had been careful not to get caught by Qin Muyao, but she was forgetting that she was a model with a bit of fame to her name, there were still people out there who could recognize her.


    The issue intensified when someone shared a post of the hotel owner who weed her and her other lover over social media, which was stamped two weeks after Qin Muyao''s departure overseas. The timing was off when theypared it.


    "Disgusting! Qin Muyao should sue Jiang Li for paternity fraud and defamation! She certainly knows that the child isn''t his, but she was pushing all the me on him!"


    "Ha! I doubt it! Jiang Li probably doesn''t know who really fathered her child at this point!"


    "Qin Muyao should ask for a paternity test to clear his name. Because Jiang Li might have intended the deception, he should seek legal counsel and demand her to pay for the damages she had caused him!"


    "Paternity fraud isn''t considered as a punishable crime, but Qin Muyao may also bring a civil action for paternity fraud against Jiang Li to recover damages and any emotional distress."


    "Could it be that Qin Muyao found out that she was cheating and dropped her a*s off? Maybe Jiang Li was doing this to get even with him."


    "Damn! Our idol lost not only three major projects because of her, but also some endorsements. Jiang Li, how do you n topensate our Muyao!"


    "I knew Qin Muyao wouldn''t do something as despicable as abandoning his own child, that is, if Jiang Li''s child is really his! But I suppose it''s clear now that it isn''t!"


    Qin Muyao''s loyal fans came forward and demanded Jiang Li to exin herself. However, Jiang Li had suddenly made her social media profiles private, not giving the public a chance to attack her on her own page.


    As Miss Huo read the flood ofments in support of her son, her eyes were rimmed with tears. As a woman, she couldn''t take what everyone was saying about Jiang Li, but thinking how thetter had ruined her son''s life, Miss Huo couldn''t sympathize with Jiang Li at all.


    "Muyao, look at these people. They are taking your side now and cursing Jiang Li for her deception."


    Initially, she had doubted Su Xiaofei and wondered how she would be able to turn the tide in their favor. It hadn''t been long since her son signed the contract, and Su Xiaofei had just dropped a massive bomb on Jiang Li''s camp. Now, the young woman was being used of being a sl*t and a wh*re.


    "I shouldn''t have doubted Manager Su. Everyone from your previous agency said that it''s over for you because you offended Jiang Li, but Manager Su was able to dig Jiang Li''s dirt and used it against her."


    "Mom, you know why they won''t make a stand for me. As for Manager Su, she said that we should keep our silence for the meantime and wait for her next instructions." Qin Muyao replied as he watched the entertainment news about him and Jiang Li. The presenters were asking each other how the paternity fraud had easily smeared his name in public, and wondered what he would do next.


    Qin Muyao thought that Su Xiaofei was younger than him. He had no doubt about it. However, it was clear that the gap between them was wide. Su Xiaofei was still this young, but she was able to find a way to easily turn ck into white. The public anger that was once directed at him was now redirected to questioning Jiang Li''s ims over the paternity of her child.


    By making Jiang Li''s reputation questionable, Su Xiaofei managed to lure the public into making assumptions about Jiang Li. She was giving Jiang Li a taste of her own medicine. What a terrifying person.. Qin Muyao thought.

 Chapter 226 - Qiao Yuhans Beloved Sister (3)

    <h4>Chapter 226 - Qiao Yuhan''s Beloved Sister (3)</h4>


    Three dayster, Bluemedia Entertainment released an announcement, weing Qin Muyao as their newest talent. It was still unknown how Bluemedia was able to recruit the young actor, but most had no doubt that they were involved in the recent issue that surfaced in various social media sites.


    Bluemedia hadn''t released their opinion over the issues regarding their newest artist, but Qin Muyao''s name became the talk of the town, as most were surprised to see him able to ovee the scandal Jiang Li had started against him.


    Ever since the article about Jiang Li''s cheating surfaced, the young woman hadn''t been seen nor heard by anyone. By now, manyizens hade forward and shared their encounters with Jiang Li and her other lovers from the previous months, only fuelling the fire.


    The next day, it was Qin Muyao who released a statement through his new agency. He thanked everyone who had stood up for and believed in him during the crisis he was facing earlier and promised to do better. He also apologized to the people he''d inconvenienced because of the issue, but he didn''t make anyments regarding Jiang Li and her affairs with other men.


    Most of all, Qin Muyao didn''t forget to thank his new manager and Bluemedia for giving him another chance to prove himself.


    As Xi Qian scrolled through her social media feed, she sighed next to Su Xiaofei.


    "I kinda pity Qin Muyao. It wasn''t surprising to hear a woman being neglected by her lover once she falls pregnant, but it''s rare to hear of a man being involved in paternity fraud. Feifei, did Aunty Qing help him?"


    Su Xiaofei chuckled and pierced her sliced cake with a fork. Xi Qian still had no idea that it was her who was behind Jiang Li''s recent scandal.


    At the moment, they were waiting for Qiao Yuhan''s arrival at Hazel Brew Cafe, as the Qiao family had juste back to Qiying City to meet Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng at the same time. Su Xiaofei hadn''t expected that Lu Qingfeng was able to inform Qiao Fengying so fast that she was caught off guard when she heard her little brother''s news that they wereing to see her and Lu Qingfeng.


    "You can say that. It''s a pity that Qin Muyao didn''t want to sue her for her deception, though. He''s being too kind." Su Xiaofei answered Xi Qian''s question. She made a mental note to ask Qin Muyao to make a birthday greeting video for Xi Qian''s birthday when it''s time.


    "Eh? But why? What Jiang Li did to him is unforgivable! He almost lost everything because of her false usation!" Xi Qian was a fan of Qin Muyao, and she had been following his TV series andtest movies.


    She had asked Qin Muyao if he wanted help in suing Jiang Li and demand apensation from her, but he declined, which was a little stupid in Su Xiaofei''s opinion. If she was in Qin Muyao''s shoes, she would sue Jiang Li for fraud and im as much money as she could from that shameless woman.


    s, Qin Muyao said that it was enough for him to know that Jiang Li had lost all her credibility and her name was forever ckened by her cheating affairs. No matter what she does, people wouldn''t easily forget how she tried to ruin someone''s life by her false usation.


    "Feifei, do you think he still has some feelings for her?" Xi Qian asked as she gave it a thought.


    "I doubt that it''s love he harbors for her." Su Xiaofei shrugged. "But Qian, this issue would forever be ingrained in him. Mama told me that we always hold a kind of pain in our hearts that won''t go away no matter what. We just learn to live with it."


    "That''s true." Xi Qian hummed in agreement and took a sip from her milkshake. "Qin Muyao should probably focus on work for now and avoid dating until he''s ready. You know, Feifei, I read somewhere that the part of our brain that is in charge of decision-making would reach its peak at twenty-five. Maybe we should wait until we turn twenty-five before considering settling down."


    "Is that so?" It was Su Xiaofei''s first time hearing about it. Anyway, in her previous life, she remained stupid after reaching the age of twenty-five. She doubted if what Xi Qian said made sense at all.


    "En. In fact, a recent research found that adult and teen brains work differently. Adults think with the prefrontal cortex, the brain''s rational part. This is the part of the brain that responds to situations with good judgment and an awareness of long-term consequences. Teens process information with the amygd. This is the emotional part." Xi Qian excitedly exined.


    "In teens'' brains, the connections between the emotional part of the brain and the decision-making center are still developing¡ªand not always at the same rate. That''s why when teens have overwhelming emotional input, they can''t exin what they were thinkingter. They weren''t thinking as much as they were feeling."


    "Urgh, Qian. You should spare me the scientific terms." Su Xiaofeiined to her best friend.


    "What terms, Fei Jie?"


    A familiar voice reached their ears and Su Xiaofei lit up the moment she saw Qiao Yuhan. He was scowling a little as he held Snowbell in his arms before taking a seat next to her beloved Fei Jie.


    "What''s wrong, Xiao Han? Did your parents leave you on your own again?" Xi Qian was the one who questioned the young boy.


    "No. I''m upset because of Snowbell." The boy murmured as he red at the white, fat cat on hisp.


    Su Xiaofeiughed behind her hand and patted Qiao Yuhan''s head gently.


    "What did he do this time?" She asked.


    "Wuuu¡­ Fei Jie, Qian Jie, Snowbell ate the goldfish.. What do I do now?" Qiao Yuhan cried pitifully, but he couldn''t really me Snowbell for his loss.

 Chapter 227 - Xiao Han’s Plus One (1)

    <h4>Chapter 227 - Xiao Han¡¯s Plus One (1)</h4>


    Qiao Yuhan had been diligently taking care of the goldfish Su Xiaofei had won for him on their first meeting. He had made sure that his fat cat wouldn''t be able to bully the fish and requested his mother to buy him arger fishbowl he could use to house them.


    However, a single mistake on his part and he ended uping home from school only to find his fish floating in the water of their fishbowl.


    Qiao Yuhan had already told Su Xiaofei over their video call about it, and thetter had assured him that she would rece the goldfish on his next visit. Still, Qiao Yuhan felt guilty of not being able to pay more attention to his smaller pets.


    "Auntie said that they gave them an honorable funeral." The young boy sighed dejectedly. He didn''t even get a chance to bury those fish himself. It was the first gift he received from Su Xiaofei, but he failed to protect them from his naughty cat.


    Xi Qian bit her inner cheek to stop herself fromughing. She doubted that Qiao Yuhan''s nannies had truly given the fish a ''proper'' funeral. They probably flushed the poor fish down the toilet without Qiao Yuhan''s knowledge.


    Su Xiaofei caught the slight glint in Xi Qian''s eyes and she could tell what was on her best friend''s mind. She gave Xi Qian a pointed stare, gesturing for her not to say anything that could make the young boy cry.


    "Eh? Didn''t I tell you that Snowbell would turn them into his lunch? I knew that it would happen!" Xi Qian eximed, but she tried to suppress the smile on her face, given that Qiao Yuhan was almost in tears upon remembering what happened to his goldfish.


    "Snowbell bit them to death." Qiao Yuhanined, but he couldn''t learn to hate Snowbell since the white cat had been his pet ever since he was an infant. It was a gift from his father when he was born. "I should have taken good care of them."


    Su Xiaofei didn''t say anything and consoled her little brother. Qiao Yuhan was still young, and she wanted to spoil him a little, now that she had the chance. Maybe Lu Qingfeng''s suggestion wasn''t so bad after all, and she could still be part of Qiao Yuhan and her father''s lives, not knowing that they were blood-rted to her.


    This was enough for Su Xiaofei and she didn''t want to divulge the truth; that she was Qiao Fengying and Bai Qingyue''s daughter. It was enough that she was able to meet her father now. As for her mother, well, regardless of the lifetime she was in, Yun Qingrong would be the only person she would acknowledge as her mother.


    "Maybe it''s not a good idea to have goldfish as another pet, Xiao Han." Xi Qianmented, while Su Xiaofei agreed with her. "What brings you to Qiying City again? Another business trip?"


    Qiao Yuhan furrowed his brows, then nced at Su Xiaofei.


    "Fei Jie hasn''t told you yet?"


    "Is there something I need to know?" Xi Qian asked in return, looking at her best friend with confusion.


    "It''s nothing serious, Qian. Xiao Feng and I are going to invest in Qiao Tech''stest project. I just didn''t expect that he would be able to set a meeting this early." Su Xiaofei gave Xi Qian an apologetic look.


    "Sorry, Qian. I should have told you earlier." There were things that she wasn''t ready to share with Xi Qian yet, and Su Xiaofei hoped that her best friend wouldn''t hold it against her.


    "There''s no need to apologize for something like this, Feifei. Regardless of the reason why Xiao Han is here, I''m happy that I could spend time with him like this." Xi Qian brushed off her best friend''s apology. She wasn''t that sensitive anyway. She understood that there were things that Su Xiaofei wasn''t ready to share with her, and she respected her best friend''s decision as long as it wasn''t too serious.


    "Why don''t you join us for dinner, Qian Jie?" Qiao Yuhan suggested. "I''m sure that they all will be talking about work again."


    "I don''t mind, Xiao Han, but would your parents agree to it?" Xi Qian replied. "I don''t want to go uninvited. That''s disrespectful. I don''t want to impose."


    "But you would be my guest, Qian Jie." The young boy pouted. "I''m sure Mom and Dad won''t mind it. We can also have a sleepover if you want."


    "Qian, you should go with us. It''s rare for you and Xiao Han to see each other and I bet with our preparation for the entrance exams, it would be hard to meet him again anytime soon." Su Xiaofei agreed with her little brother.


    Xi Qian groaned upon being reminded of her uing entrance exam at the med school next week. The money she got from selling her house had helped her pay for the cram school, but she still needed to study on her ownte at night. Thankfully, her sole part-time job had given her a week off to prepare for her exams, and this was the only day she gave herself a break from it.


    "If you put it that way, Feifei¡­ then I suppose that''s okay. Xiao Han and I can y some games while you and Lu Qingfeng are discussing business over dinner." Xi Qian conceded. She really wanted to rx and take a break from studying, even for a while.


    "Great!" Qiao Yuhan beamed them a wide smile and pulled out his phone. "Qian Jie, you can''t back out now. I''ll inform Mom about your visit tonight."


    While Qiao Yuhan was making a call to his mother, away from Su Xiaofei''s table, Lu Qingfeng entered the caf¨¦ with Nine. He nced at the young boy and understood what was happening.


    "I''m Xiao Han''s plus one tonight, just in case you are wondering.." Xi Qian grinned at him.

 Chapter 228 - Xiao Han’s Plus One (2)

    <h4>Chapter 228 - Xiao Han¡¯s Plus One (2)</h4>


    That night, a private vi that was recently purchased by the Qiao family in Qiying City was buzzing with talks andughter. It had been months since Qiao Yuhan had seen Su Xiaofei and neither of his parents were surprised to see him clinging on the young woman''s arm and never left her side since her arrival with Lu Qingfeng and Xi Qian.


    As Su Xiaofei looked at the dishes waiting for them at the diner table, her eyes lit up when she saw her favorite brand of blueberry cheesecake.


    "Woah. You shouldn''t have bothered to buy me a cheesecake tonight, Xiao Han." Su Xiaofei told the young boy. No wonder Qiao Yuhan had been asking her what her favorites were thest time they FaceTimed with each other.


    "Brother Lu helped me to buy one." Qiao Yuhan''s smile was exceptionally bright tonight. "I also want to try it."


    Su Xiaofei smiled at her younger brother. Oddly enough, she had never thought that she could be a good sister to Qiao Yuhan before this. She had been a selfish and spoiled child in her past life, but knowing now that she had a younger half-brother had changed Su Xiaofei''s views about family. Now, all she wanted to see was for her younger brother to be happy.


    As their dinner continued, Qiao Fengying took this chance to catch up with the recent events at Qiying City.


    "I heard that your mother''spany had decided to take on Qin Muyao''s case." He told Su Xiaofei. "It must have been hard for them to clear his name after that false allegation."


    Su Xiaofei took a sip from her drink and nced at Lu Qingfeng. Aside from her mother and Uncle Fang, he was the only one who was aware that Qin Muyao was under her management now.


    Qin Muyao had been on the entertainment news recently and it was only natural that Qiao Fengying got curious after hearing that Bluemedia was involved.


    "It certainly wasn''t easy, President Qiao. Mama expected that Bluemedia would also receive criticism for helping Qin Muyao, but thankfully, the public seems to care more about Jiang Li''s false usation."


    "Did he manage to retrieve his lost endorsements, Feifei? It would be a pity if Qin Muyao didn''t receive anypensation from what had happened." Xi Qian muttered as she thought of how cowardly Jiang Li was being now that she was exposed for her cheating affairs.


    "Bluemedia managed to convince some of them to reconsider Qin Muyao, but of course the projects that he lost during the controversy had already found his recements. Anyway, you shouldn''t worry too much, Qian. Mama already assigned someone to manage him."


    Once dinner was over, Qiao Yuhan dragged Xi Qian to his room to brag about the newest game console he received from his parents while Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng were left in the dining area with the Qiao couple.


    "Miss Su, I heard from Young Master Lu that the two of you are interested in investing in ourpany." Qiao Fengying started. "Are you sure about this?" He didn''t want anyone to think that he was taking advantage of their young age.


    Su Xiaofei nodded. While she was at ease being with Qiao Yuhan, she still felt weird and nervous being in her birth father''spany. It was vastly different from the hatred she felt whenever she was in Su Haoran''s presence.


    "You heard him, right, President Qiao. Xiao Feng told me that you were looking for investors for your newest project. We both think that it would be worth it to try investing in it." She affirmed.


    Father. It was such a foreign word for someone like Su Xiaofei. When she was younger, she had always wondered what it felt like to have a loving father that could spoil her. She had seen how her ssmates interacted with their parents, and Su Xiaofei briefly wondered why Su Haoran was treating her with indifference.


    When Ye Mingyu appeared in her previous life, taking the role of a filial daughter, Su Haoran had doted on her, much to Su Xiaofei''s disappointment. However, finding out at the end of her life the truth about her being adopted, it made sense to her why she never received any fatherly love from Su Haoran.


    Su Xiaofei lowered her gaze, wondering if Qiao Fengying would be a good father to her like he was to Qiao Yuhan. She was his eldest child, and yet they weren''t given a chance to be together in her previous life.


    "Have you discussed this with your parents? Investing fifty million isn''t that simple, Miss Su." President Qiao reminded her, his tone gentle with a hint of concern in it, which only cemented Su Xiaofei''s opinion that he was far differentpared to Su Haoran.


    "I have confidence that President Qiao wouldn''t misuse our investment. Please consider it, President Qiao. Xiao Feng and I are both willing to invest in your project. You don''t need to worry about the funding for now and focus on the R&D."


    "If President Qiao is worried about it, I already discussed this with my grandfather, and he gave me the go-signal. He said taking some risks is unavoidable, but if Xiaofei and I have confidence in your project, then we''ll just have to wait and watch how the events will unfold in the future." Lu Qingfeng backed up Su Xiaofei''s words.


    It may take some time, but if Qiao Fengying was able to develop his project without encountering any problems, he and Su Xiaofei would surely reap a lot of money in the future. Su Xiaofei would be able to reach her 100 million target just in time when Mo Yuchen ascended as the newest CEO of Golden Star.


    Qiao Fengying looked at Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng, as if he wanted to see if there was even a hint of hesitation in their eyes, but there was none.. These two seemed to have made up their minds.

 Chapter 229 - Call Me Xiaofei From Now On (1)

    <h4>Chapter 229 - Call Me Xiaofei From Now On (1)</h4>


    Since Lu Qingfeng wasn''t nning to stay the night at the Qiao family''s vi, he left with his bodyguard after having dinner with the Qiao family, leaving Qiao Yuhan in his room. He wanted Su Xiaofei to spend more time with her birth father and brother and wanted to give them some privacy.


    "Miss Su, I''m sorry if Xiao Han troubles you. I''m aware that he''s been trying to get your attention these past few weeks." Qiao Fengying said to Su Xiaofei after sending Lu Qingfeng off. They were walking back inside the vi while Liu Shn checked on their son and Xi Qian, whom they hadn''t seen ever since the two left the dining table.


    "It''s nothing, President Qiao." Su Xiaofei said politely. "Xiao Han is like a brother to me. He''s adorable."


    "Miss Su probably didn''t know that you have done us a great favor." Qiao Fengying said. When Su Xiaofei didn''t say anything and only gave him a confused look, he chucked amusedly.


    "Ever since Xiao Han met you, he''s been talking a lot about you. He also stopped throwing tantrums asionally and listened to his mother. He even tried to convince us to move here to Qiying City from Shenjing. I would love to fulfill his request, but s, it''s impossible to also move Qiao Tech''s headquarters here." He exined.


    Su Xiaofei felt a warmth spread in her chest when she heard it. She didn''t know that she had such an influence on her half brother.


    "Then I''m d that I''m able to assist President Qiao." She sped her hand behind her and followed her father to his study, as Qiao Fengying wanted to discuss more on the project with her.


    "President Qiao is too formal, Miss Su. You can just call me Uncle Qiao. You are somewhat part of our small family, given how Xiao Han is fond of you."


    "Then, Uncle Qiao it is. Uncle may also call me Xiaofei from now on." Su Xiaofei smiled at him.


    Qiao Fengying then opened one of the top drawers of his desk and handed a folder to Su Xiaofei who had taken a seat across from him.


    Su Xiaofei opened the file, and immediately, she noticed Lu Qingfeng''s neat handwriting at the sides of the document as he left his suggestions. Seeing his handwriting, Su Xiaofei felt a pang of jealousy because her handwriting was a messpared to him.


    Xi Qian had once told her that one''s handwriting says a lot about a person. The size of the letters or characters, spacing, as well as how they were written could reveal some traits about a person. Xi Qian told her that since her handwriting was nted to the right and the characters were written pointed, it could be said that she was a curious person in nature but also could be aggressive and intense at times.


    "So, what do you think?" Qiao Fengying''s question brought her back from her daze. "I have to say that young man is really something. It''s good to have a reliable friend like him."


    Su Xiaofei only smiled at that. It hadn''t been the first time for her to hear such praises towards Lu Qingfeng. He''d been outstanding and popr ever since they were younger. Some even attempted to befriend her to earn a favor from Lu Qingfeng.


    "I''m d that he''s able to help you, Uncle. I don''t see the need to add more here, given how he''d already pointed out the issues I wanted to raise." Su Xiaofei didn''t think she needed to add more. Most of the things she could remember from her past life had been noted by Lu Qingfeng already.


    As she thought about this, the lingering doubt of Lu Qingfeng being reborned like her resurfaced in her mind. Su Xiaofei didn''t want to doubt Lu Qingfeng, but she felt that he had grown and changed so much like her over the past months since her rebirth.


    Qiao Fengying stared at Su Xiaofei and wondered what made her fall silent.


    Su Xiaofei snapped out from her trance and apologized at once.


    "Sorry about that. Is there something else I can help you with, then?"


    "Mr. Lu said that you were initially nning to be an actress, but you changed your mind." Qiao Fengying said. "But would you be willing to be a brand ambassador of our app once it is released?"


    "If that could help you, then I don''t mind. I can even be one of your first content creators if you''re interested."


    "Ah, Xiaofei. I didn''t want to trouble you further." Qiao Fengying wasn''t expecting that Su Xiaofei was willing to help to such an extent. Her investment, along with Lu Qingfeng''s portion, was more than enough to fund the initial development with his project. To ask her to be part of the content creators team would be too much.


    "Uncle Qiao is worrying too much. It''s not like I''ll be doing it anytime soon, right? As one of your investors, I want to proactively participate in every milestone of your project if it''s possible. I might not be as smart as Xiao Feng, but if I am able to help you in any way, please don''t hesitate to ask me."


    Qiao Fengying''s gaze on her softened after hearing her words. After their initial meeting months ago, he made some inquiries about Yun Qingrong''s daughter and found out that Su Xiaofei was the only child she had with Su Haoran. Because her adoption had been kept a secret, Qiao Fengying wasn''t able to dig deeper and find out about Su Xiaofei''s true identity.


    "If my daughter is still alive, I wish she could be like you." Hemented out of the blue, which stunned Su Xiaofei in her seat.


    "U-Uncle has a daughter?" Su Xiaofei said, aware of how hard her heart was beating in her chest.


    "En." Qiao Fengying''s expression turned solemn.. "But I lost her even before I got a chance to hold her."

 Chapter 230 - Call Me Xiaofei From Now On (2)

    <h4>Chapter 230 - Call Me Xiaofei From Now On (2)</h4>


    Su Xiaofei thought that it was enough for her to be able to meet her father in this lifetime. She didn''t dare to ask for more, because she was sure of how Qiao Fengying would react if he knew that the daughter he''d been looking for all his life was seated in front of him at the moment.


    She also didn''t want Yun Qingrong to feel worried about her, and think that she would choose her birth parents over her. Still, Su Xiaofei''s reaction upon hearing Qiao Fengying''s words almost made her nonexistent heart break into pieces.


    A part of her wanted to wail like a child and tell her grievance to her father, who had been absent throughout her life. Su Xiaofei didn''t want to admit it, but she somewhat envied Qiao Yuhan for being able to grow up with their father by his side.


    She wanted a father figure in her life and since she didn''t know she was adopted in her previous life, the closest person who could give this to her was her Uncle Fang. Still, regardless of her age, Su Xiaofei was curious of what it felt like to have a father doting on her.


    "If Uncle doesn''t mind me asking, how did you lose her?"


    Su Xiaofei was curious about Qiao Fengying''s thoughts regarding his missing daughter. She didn''t know what to expect from Qiao Fengying as her father, but she truly despised knowing that Bai Qingyue was her mother.


    "You see, Xiaofei. Uncle has a daughter even before I married your Auntie Shn. I had her with my ex-girlfriend. We got into this nasty argument that I regret now. After that she gave birth to our daughter, and she hid her from me."


    "So you''ve never even seen a glimpse of her?" Su Xiaofei tried to reign in theplex emotion that was simmering in her heart. She paid attention to Qiao Fengying''s expression and noticed that his eyes were somewhat regretful.


    "No, I didn''t. It''s been more than eighteen years since her birthday. You might think that I''m being silly, but I have this feeling that she''s still alive somewhere." Qiao Fengying rarely talked about his missing daughter, even to his wife and son, because thinking about her only made him worry about her. However, none of these feelings resurfaced as he talked about her with Su Xiaofei.


    "How could Uncle say it''s silly? If that''s what you feel, then maybe you are right. Others have no right to discredit what you feel at all."


    The one who should feel silly was her. She shouldn''t have doubted her real father''s love for her. If Bai Qingyue wanted to get rid of her, seeing her as a threat to her thriving career, Qiao Fengying wanted nothing more than to see and hold his daughter.


    However, would he be able to ept the kind of person his daughter had be? Su Xiaofei wondered. She even had to pretend in front of Yun Qingrong and hide her vicious heart. Thest thing Su Xiaofei wanted was for Qiao Fengying to think that she was no better than Bai Qingyue once he found out the real face of his daughter.


    "Does Xiao Han know about his sister?"


    In her past life, the eighteen-year-old Qiao Yuhan was aware of her sister''s existence.


    "Yes. He knows about her and is eager to meet her too. Maybe it''s one of the reasons why he got along with you and Miss Xi. Xiao Han wants to have siblings."


    "I could see that, Uncle, but just like what I said earlier, he''s like a brother I never had. Qian and I know how it feels being an only child with no siblings to rely on." Su Xiaofei was even surprised that she could be this patient towards Qiao Yuhan. She used to hate mingling with younger children as they tend to be loud and annoying at times. Qiao Yuhan was an exception.


    Su Xiaofei didn''t dare to say more, nor did she want the man to suspect that she was his missing daughter. If Bai Qingyue found out that Qiao Fengying was able to find her, she wasn''t sure what that crazy woman would do. Su Xiaofei certainly didn''t want her little brother''s life to be put in a precarious situation just because of her.


    Qiao Fengying gave her a nod and a silent thanks before returning the document he passed earlier to her.


    When he first met this young woman, he had to give her a double take as he couldn''t believe how striking her resemnce was to Bai Qingyue. His gut feeling kept telling him that she could be his daughter, but he didn''t want to cause trouble in Su Xiaofei''s life if she was indeed his daughter with Bai Qingyue.


    "Xiaofei, do you think my daughter woulde to hate me if she knew that I am her father?"


    Su Xiaofei opened her mouth, only to realize that she had no words to say at all.


    Did she hate Qiao Fengying? Not really.


    Was she disappointed in him? Su Xiaofei had to pause at that.


    When she found out from Lu Qingfeng in her previous life who her real parents were, sheughed at the absurdity of it. Bai Qingyue hated her down to the core, while Qiao Fengying was already dead at the time she learned the truth. If anything, she felt that life was too unfair for her and Qiao Fengying.


    "Uncle, there are things that are far beyond our control, but if she knew how much you miss her and how desperately you''re looking for her, I''m sure she would be moved by it. Didn''t some people used to say that with a sincere heart, even a big mountain can be lifted."


    Qiao Fengying raised a disbelieving brow.


    "You¡­ you think so?" He''s been wondering for sometime now how his daughter would react if they meet in person.


    "I believe so, Uncle.. I''m sure she would be thrilled to know that she has an adorable brother too."

 Chapter 231 - Being With You (1)

    <h4>Chapter 231 - Being With You (1)</h4>


    Su Xiaofei felt that days were passing too quickly for her liking. With Qin Muyao officially signing under Bluemedia as her artist, she found herself upied throughout the week. The Qiao family also stayed for another week and Su Xiaofei had to meet Qiao Yuhan in the afternoons while Xi Qian and Lu Qingfeng weren''t around to apany her after sses.


    On top of that, she also needed to continue her visits at Bluemedia, under the guise of a prospective recruit that was about to join thepany. Until now, Xiao Rufeng had no idea that the person who had been giving her private lessons on Saturdays was the daughter of the CEO at all.


    However, now, as she looked at the sybus of the things she needed to review before her entrance exam, Su Xiaofei thought she would have a mental breakdown soon. Neither Lu Qingfeng nor Xi Qian were free, and she could only rely on herself.


    As Su Xiaofei grumbled about how hard it was to study on her own at the library after ss, Song Yiran suddenly appeared in front of her, dropping his books on the table.


    "Can I join you? It''s hard to find a study partner these days." He smiled at her.


    Su Xiaofei arched her brow at him. She didn''t have anything to do with Song Yiran nor was she interested in getting acquainted with him.


    "Is there something you need from me, ssmate Song?"


    "I heeded your advice and decided not to go abroad to pursue my studies. I''ve given it a good thought, and you are right. My brother needs me here more than anything. Let me thank you for your advice."


    "It''s nothing. I''m merely stating my opinion on the matter. Your problems had nothing to do with me." Su Xiaofei ignored him and went back to focus on the paper in her hands. She needed to finish answering this questionnaire before she could go home. She would have to ask Lu Qingfeng to double-check her answerster.


    Su Xiaofei heard Song Yiran huffing, but didn''t pay him any more attention. She was inwardly weeping, hoping that Lu Qingfeng was here to help her. In her past life, she was only able to graduate from high school with Lu Qingfeng''s help. She had grabbed him and demanded him to tutor her for her finals, despite him being three years below her.


    Both Lu Qingfeng and her lost a lot of weight because of the remedial ss and lessons she had to take. Regardless of the lifetime she was living, Su Xiaofei still didn''t like studying. After a long day of studying, she felt like her small brain had already dried up and couldn''t function anymore.


    However, now that she was given a chance to correct her mistakes, she decided to work at Bluemedia and take over thepany in the future. This only meant that she needed to study more. The university entrance exam was hard, ording to their seniors, but Su Xiaofei still wanted to try her luck.


    Other students looked in their direction, wondering since when did Song Yiran be close with Su Xiaofei. With her recent change in personality, it attracted more attention from other young men studying at QCA.


    Su Xiaofei was aware of this, but she didn''t give a damn about other men aside from Lu Qingfeng at the moment. In the past, because she cared too much about what irrelevant people would say and think about her, she had wasted a lot of time that could have been used on more important people.


    "Hey, can''t the two of you stop being lovey-dovey?" Feng Xue''er''s sudden appearance made Su Xiaofei more annoyed than ever.


    What were these two thinking, trying to disturb her studying time? She could understand Feng Xue''er trying to annoy her, but what about Song Yiran?


    "What kind of nonsense are you talking about, ssmate Feng? Please watch your words or other people will misunderstand you." Su Xiaofei was tempted to leave early to avoid these two.


    "Right." Song Yiran agreed with her. "ssmate Feng, I know you''ve been busy with your newly opened boutique, but you aren''t that busy not to know that ssmate Su already has a little hubby, right?!" He waved his hand, gesturing for Feng Xue''er to leave them alone.


    "Hey!" Su Xiaofei eximed, dropping the paper in her hand carelessly upon hearing what Song Yiran had just said.


    "What?" The young man gave her a confused look. "Everyone thinks that you and Lu Qingfeng are together now."


    Su Xiaofei was taken aback at that. Since when did such rumors start to spread around the campus? She pinched the bridge of her nose and took a deep breath to calm down. Such rumors about her and Lu Qingfeng were ridiculous in her opinion. Whether they were seeing each other or not wasn''t others'' business to poke into.


    "Is there something you two need from me? Because you are getting in my way." She didn''t need to be polite with them at this point. Her patience was already running thin by their disturbance.


    "Nothing." Feng Xue''er flipped her long hair over her shoulder and was about to turn to leave. "Just want to say that Ye Mingyu has just gotten a schrship to study overseas. I don''t know how she did it."


    Su Xiaofei cupped her chin and furrowed her brows. Ye Mingyu was leaving to study overseas? Just where did she snatch such an opportunity? She wondered. She couldn''t remember anything from her past life for Ye Mingyu to gain such luck out of the blue.


    ''Something must have happened.''


    "Xiaofei, are you ready to leave?"


    Lu Qingfeng found her talking to her two ssmates, whom he could recognize as Song Yiran and Feng Xue''er.


    "En, but give me a minute. I need to tidy up my things before we can leave.." Su Xiaofei replied, but her mind was still preupied with the news she just heard from Feng Xue''er.

 Chapter 232 - Being With You (2)

    <h4>Chapter 232 - Being With You (2)</h4>


    Su Xiaofei wasn''t sure if Lu Qingfeng had overheard her conversation with Song Yiran and Feng Xue''er as she wasn''t aware that he''d arrived to pick her up from the library. He didn''t even make any indication that he heard it.


    She looked out the car''s window, but her mind was somewhere else. Su Xiaofei felt that things were starting to get out of hand and unpredictable. She had long expected that her rebirth and choice to change her fate would eventually affect those around her.


    Not only did Lu Qingfeng change, her mother and Ye Mingyu did as well. Su Xiaofei didn''t know what to expect anymore.


    "Did something happen?" She heard Lu Qingfeng asked.


    Su Xiaofei pondered for a moment, wondering if she should ask for his help again, but decided not to. Lu Qingfeng had done enough to help her already, and she didn''t want to abuse his kindness towards her by asking for more.


    "Just heard that Ye Mingyu got a schrship, and she''ll be studying abroad." Still, she didn''t dare to hide what she found out from Feng Xue''er that afternoon.


    "Su Haoran is probably sending her away as a precaution. Since he was arrested and is currently being held by the authorities, Ye Mingyu''s future could bepromised if she remains here." Lu Qingfeng exined.


    "I see. That makes sense, then."


    Su Xiaofei hadn''t seen Su Haoran since thest time she met him at Chen Li''s trial. However, she was aware that the cheating bastard had finally received retribution for the things he had done towards her mother.


    Yun Qingrong had denied him any further financial assistance and had already cut ties with him, much to Su Xiaofei''s relief. In her previous life, her mother''s hesitation to leave Su Haoran was one of the reasons Su Xiaofei had argued with her. She couldn''t understand why her mother had forgiven her father after he betrayed their family.


    "So even a heartless person like him can still be a father to his precious daughter, huh." She chuckled amusedly.


    Su Xiaofei used to envy Ye Mingyu for being doted on by Su Haoran in the past, but now that she had met Qiao Fengying, she could see that the differences between the two men were like heaven and earth.


    Her real father was man enough to work hard for his family''s future, while Su Haoran would rather take advantage of his wife''s hard work for his own vested interest. So how can Su Xiaofei not feel proud of her birth father?


    If only she had Qiao Fengying by her side when she was growing up, perhaps her standard when ites to choosing a husband would be better, and she wouldn''t have to beg for Mo Yuchen''s attention.


    She had begged for his love and lost her self respect because of it. Aside from that, she only felt emptiness and loneliness.


    "What are you thinking?" Lu Qingfeng asked when he saw the slight smile on her face.


    "Just thinking that I now know what kind of men I should avoid in the future. Men like Su Haoran and Mo Yuchen are the kind of men a woman should avoid getting involved with. But I do admit that I''m also responsible for being foolish, chasing after Mo Yuchen before. I shouldn''t have done that."


    Lu Qingfeng remained silent, as he pondered over her words. It was good that she didn''t want to be with Mo Yuchen anymore, but he didn''t want her to get traumatized and deny love because of what happened before.


    "Feifei, do you know that to love someone, one would need a lot of determination and courage? It takes guts to ept someone because most people aren''t ready for pain. They are afraid of heartbreak and istion." He said after a moment of silence.


    Su Xiaofei tilted her head to give him a good look. She then thought of how courageous and persistent Lu Qingfeng was for loving her despite the pain she had inflicted on him without her knowledge. She had poured her heart and effort for someone who couldn''t love her and missed out on someone who was far better. It baffled her why Lu Qingfeng didn''t learn to hate her because of it.


    Still, she needed time to sort her feelings and she wanted to be a better version of herself. The one that Lu Qingfeng deserved. Su Xiaofei hated that she was hesitating to ept Lu Qingfeng as a result of the trauma she experienced with Mo Yuchen, even though she knew that Lu Qingfeng truly loved her.


    She kept thinking that he was too good to be true, and she was expecting him to get tired of her someday. But every day, he just proved to her that he''s the same person he''s been from the start. Lu Qingfeng had given her no reason to question him, but it wasn''t him she didn''t trust,? it''s everyone in the past.


    Su Xiaofei lowered her gaze and rested her head on his shoulder. After experiencing such hardship in her previous life, her faith in love was shaken a bit. She didn''t have the same outlook on love, and she thought she wouldn''t fall in love anymore.


    "Xiao Feng, don''t get tired of me, okay?" She said all of a sudden, making Lu Qingfeng wonder if something else had happened while he wasn''t around.


    "How could that be? Regardless if I''m with you or not, I always think of you." He said in a low voice. "You won''t be able to get rid of me so easily, Xiaofei."


    "I''m maybe going away after graduation, but don''t think that even for a moment I would forget about you. You can take the time I''m away to do whatever you need to get done. You don''t need to rush yourself. If love is a learning process, I want to learn it with you."


    "Sounds like a n to me.." Her lips curled up in a satisfied smile.

 Chapter 233 - I’ll Help You Become A Queen (1)

    <h4>Chapter 233 - I¡¯ll Help You Be A Queen (1)</h4>


    Friday came just a day before Xi Qian''s entrance exam. Su Xiaofei invited her best friend to hang out in a nearby mall. She also wanted to see what the current trend was and if she would be able to meet Zhao Yi, her previous talent manager.


    Xi Qian easily agreed as she wanted to rx before the big day. She was confident that she was ready to face tomorrow''s papers.


    As they were checking out the newly released trendy clothes at several boutiques, Xi Qian noticed that Su Xiaofei stopped on her tracks and looked at the other side of the mall. She followed her best friend''s gaze and saw Ye Mingyu being apanied by her two ssmates and was talking to a woman in herte twenties with a proud smile on her face.


    "Huh? I haven''t seen Ye Mingyu for some time. If I didn''t see her today, I would have thought that she left school already." Shemented next to Su Xiaofei.


    "What is it, Feifei? Do you know who that woman is?" She asked when she saw that Su Xiaofei was more interested in the woman talking to Ye Mingyu, ignoring thetter. They watched as the woman handed Ye Mingyu a card before leaving.


    "Hmm, just a guess. It seems like she''s a talent scout." Su Xiaofei answered Xi Qian''s question.


    "Oh? So does this mean she''s trying to scout Ye Mingyu to be a celebrity?"


    Xi Qian thought that with Ye Mingyu''s personality and looks, she could easily fool anyone into thinking that she had a potential to be a celebrity, but since Xi Qian was biased towards her best friend, she would say that Su Xiaofei was way more eye-catching than Ye Mingyu.


    Ye Mingyu was known as a campus belle at QCA along with Su Xiaofei. She was part of the cream of the crop and had a lot of suitors around her, but Xi Qian knew that Ye Mingyu''s gentle personality was just a facade and that she was hiding a rotten heart behind that ''angelic'' mask.


    "Who knows." Su Xiaofei shrugged and leaned against the handrail while taking a sip from her cold drink. "But how could Ye Mingyu ept an offer to be a trainee when she''s going overseas to pursue her studies?"


    "So the rumors about her leaving the country are true?" Xi Qian gasped. "Schrship, my ass. Her father could have stolen Aunty Qing''s money and used it to fund her studies abroad." She scowled as she thought of how Su Haoran and Ye Mingyu''s family had tried to scam her Aunty Qing by sending Ye Mingyu to live with them.


    "What about her mother? Is she still alive?" She asked Su Xiaofei.


    "No idea. Last thing I heard was that Housekeeper Chen made a scene in their house and had a fight with her. The old woman was using Ye Mingyu for ruining Chen Li''s life with her lies."


    The same woman who was talking to Ye Mingyu earlier was named Zhao Yi and in Su Xiaofei''s past life, she was the one who discovered and scouted Su Xiaofei to be a celebrity. However, before she became Su Xiaofei''s manager, she had worked with Ye Mingyu first.


    Just like Su Xiaofei, Ye Mingyu was scouted by Zhao Yi. Under her guidance, Ye Mingyu easily became one of the most sought after young actresses after her debut.


    However, once Zhao Yi got involved in a drug scandal and was falsely used of selling her talents to prostitution, Ye Mingyu got rid of her, earning sympathy and pity from the public at the same time.


    Su Xiaofei had taken Zhao Yi under her wing, not because she pitied the woman, but because she knew how capable Zhao Yi was and the allegations about her weren''t able to stand in court due to theck of evidence.


    As Zhao Yi turned to leave, pleased that she was able to meet Ye Mingyu today, she suddenly halted when someone took her attention from a distance. A young, beautiful woman caught her eye. Compared to the one she met earlier, this one was truly a breathtaking beauty.


    The young woman was smiling with a beautiful set of white teeth and pink lips to herpanion, while holding a lemonade cup with one hand. She was leaningzily against the handrail, but it made her look appealing in one''s eyes.


    Just like Ye Mingyu, this young beauty seemed toe from the same school. Same school uniform, yet this young woman made it look expensive and elegant. Zhao Yi had seen a lot of beauties ever since she started working in the entertainment industry, but she hadn''t seen a woman who could be this enchanting, aside from Bai Qingyue.


    If she was able to scout this young beauty, Zhao Yi only needed to find out if she had other talents to offer. Anyway, being beautiful is one thing, but it wasn''t enough to seed in the industry.


    Zhao Yi decided to seek this young woman and introduce herself.


    "Hello! I''m Zhao Yi, a talent manager from Top Tier Entertainment. May I know if you are interested in bing a celebrity? With your excellent looks, I''m sure the camera would love you." She introduced herself to Su Xiaofei nervously as she gave the young woman a good look up close.


    Zhao Yi noticed that Su Xiaofei wasn''t wearing any makeup and her skin was smooth and dewy. Her height was a little shorter than Ye Mingyu, but her cool countenance was enough to make one appreciate her beauty.


    "Top Tier Entertainment is known to produce A-list celebrities and some queens. As long as you are willing to join ourpany, I''ll help you be a queen one day!"


    Zhao Yi was quite eager to have Su Xiaofei sign under theirpany. She had already started thinking of various ways to polish this rare diamond she just found.


    "A queen, you say, huh?" Su Xiaofei''s lips curled into a slight smile.

 Chapter 234 - I’ll Help You Become A Queen (2)

    <h4>Chapter 234 - I¡¯ll Help You Be A Queen (2)</h4>


    "En! I believe with your looks. It would be very easy for you to debut. Of course, you''ll need to first go through dome training to learn how to perform well on stage and in front of the camera. I will certainly help you be a queen!"


    Su Xiaofei stared at Zhao Yi and inwardly sighed. It was a pity that she wasn''t interested in bing a queen anymore. She wanted to have the freedom to do whatever she wanted and enjoy life on her own terms.


    If she became a celebrity, she would be bound to endless criticism by other people and she already had enough of it from her past life.


    Zhao Yi handed her card to Su Xiaofei and beamed her a wide smile.


    "If you have any doubts, you could visit ourpany and see for yourself whether I could vouch for my ims today. You may visit us anytime you want."


    Su Xiaofei nced at the card, then returned her gaze to Zhao Yi. By this time, Zhao Yi was probably already facing turbulence at Top Tier Entertainment.


    While it''s true that Zhao Yi had a good eye to discern a potential candidate to be a celebrity, others viewed her methods as too harsh and always pushing her talents to their limits. For this reason, many of the talents she handled before canceled their contracts with her and demanded the upper management to hand them another manager.


    Zhao Yi viewed acting as an art and those so-called celebrities werecent and were satisfied with what they had now and refused to grow as an artist. Their conflicting views was the reason why Zhao Yi decided toe out to scout for a talent that could rely on her and fit her criteria.


    "Miss Zhao, I have to apologize. I have to decline your offer." Su Xiaofei replied. If it was her former self, she would surely not be able to decline Zhao Yi''s invitation.


    Zhao Yi was visibly stunned by her answer, and it took her a moment before she recovered from her shock. Obviously, she didn''t expect that this young woman would decline her invitation without batting an eyelid.


    "Miss, won''t you consider? I''m not trying to scam you." She told Su Xiaofei. Other young women would be thrilled upon hearing such an invitation, but this young woman seemed unfazed by what theirpany could offer.


    Meanwhile, Xi Qian looked at the two with astonishment. It was obvious that Zhao Yi truly wanted to scout Su Xiaofei, as her eagerness could be seen in her face. It was far different from the professional smile the woman had earlier when she was talking to Ye Mingyu.


    Xi Qian already knew that her best friend wasn''t interested in bing an actress, and supported her decision. Having a peaceful mind and freedom were way better than having fame and living with limited free will at all. After witnessing Qin Muyao''s recent controversy, Xi Qian now believed that being a celebrity wasn''t a walk in the park like everyone assumed it to be.


    "Sorry, but I''ve already made up my mind. However, I do have a proposition for you, Miss Zhao, if you are interested." Su Xiaofei said, before asking Xi Qian a favor to hold her drink for a moment so she could pull out something from her school bag.


    Su Xiaofei then handed a business card to Zhao Yi with Yun Qingrong''s name and details on it. Of course, she was aware that this was where Zhao Yi met Ye Mingyu and the reason why she hade to see her.


    "I''m Su Xiaofei, and the president of Bluemedia is my mother. If Miss Zhao is thinking of moving to another agency to work, may I invite you to join ourpany instead?" She said, much to Zhao Yi''s surprise.


    She was the one who sought Su Xioafei to recruit her, but why was she the one being poached instead? As Zhao Yi stared at Yun Qingrong''s name on the business card, something stirred in her heart, telling her to give it a good thought.


    Actually, Zhao Yi was already having thoughts of resigning from Top tier Entertainment. Not only did her talents leave her, but her seniors weren''t giving her any support at all. At this rate, Zhao Yi wouldn''t be surprised that celebrities with subpar talents would be rampant in the industry if the trend continued.


    What was wrong with challenging her talents and testing their limits? If they didn''t know their limitations and didn''t ept any room for improvement, what kind of performance would they be able to offer to their audience?


    "Bluemedia would branch out to producing quality TV series and films. With Miss Zhao''s expertise, I hope you will be able to help us with this goal in the future."


    She said this in a polite and professional tone, but Zhao Yi felt some kind of familiarity with it. Zhao Yi didn''t know why, but she felt like she had known this young woman from somewhere, but it''s impossible, right? This was the first time she met Su Xiaofei.


    "Have you really decided not to be a star?" She asked Su Xiaofei. "May I know the reason why?"


    "It''s simple. I just want to lessen my mother''s burden at thepany. I know that by being a celebrity, I won''t be able to help her at Bluemedia as much as I wish I could. Also, I believe that there are other careers I could try aside from it."


    "I see." Zhao Yi nodded in understanding. If Su Xiaofei put it that way, it would be hard for Zhao Yi to convince her to change her mind.


    Anyway, Su Xiaofei''s proposition didn''t sound too bad for Zhao Yi.


    "Give my mother a call. I''m sure she will be thrilled to hear from you." Su Xiaofei said, before bidding goodbye.. Since she had already achieved her purpose here, there''s no need for them to linger any longer.

 Chapter 235 - Exam Day (1)

    <h4>Chapter 235 - Exam Day (1)</h4>


    It was the day of Xi Qian''s entrance exam, and Su Xiaofei informed her mother that she wouldn''t be going to Bluemedia that day to show her support for her best friend. Because Xi Qian was almost a sister to her, Su Xiaofei would surely not miss this important day.


    Oddly enough, Lu Qingfeng volunteered toe with her today, so Su Xiaofei was waiting in a nearby caf¨¦ with him, checking the time on her phone asionally, worrying about Xi Qian.


    "Xiaofei, you have to calm down. It won''t help Xi Qian if you are worrying like this." Lu Qingfeng said as he lifted a hand to call the attention of the waiter to settle their bill. They had been waiting for two hours, seated here, doing nothing but watch the passersbye and go.


    "I know that, Xiao Feng, but I can''t help but worry. Qian has been spending sleepless nights preparing for this day." She muttered while trying to check her phone for Xi Qian''s message.


    "Xi Qian won''t fail. You have to trust her on this." Lu Qingfeng tried to assure her. Even in their previous lives, Xi Qian excelled in academics and aced most of their exams. Whether she would pass the exam today, it would depend on her abilities and luck.


    "You also need to rx, Feifei. You are pushing yourself too hard these days." He reminded her.


    Su Xiaofei nodded at that. She had been preupied with her studies and fixing Qin Muyao''s projects and endorsements. Now that they were able to clean his name in public, his fans, as well as his role as the second male lead in ''The Poisonous Concubine'' had returned to him.


    However, she had yet to meet Tang Liyan, whom she was nning to use to snatch the lead role from Bai Qingyue.


    With her previous suggestion to Fang Yi, the management had now opened auditions for the title role and declined Bai Qingyue''s demand for a higher talent fee.


    As her problems were being solved one after another, Su Xiaofei wondered if she would be able to catch a break anytime soon. She hadn''t felt this kind of pressure to keep up with everything for some time.


    Who said being a student wasn''t stressful? Su Xiaofei would skin them alive if someone dared to say this in front of her. Coursework deadlines, exams, and bncing study with othermitments were stressful enough.


    After their graduation, they would have at least two months vacation time before the semestermences at the university. However, Su Xiaofei knew that she would be spending most of that time at Bluemedia rather than staying at home doing nothing.


    "Are you going to leave as soon as the graduation ceremony is over?" She asked Lu Qingfeng. Su Xiaofei couldn''t remember being this disappointed in her previous life when Lu Qingfeng told her he was leaving to pursue his studies abroad after graduating from high school.


    At that time, she was busy with her training at Top Tier Entertainment and barely had any time to speak with him. She had almost missed his flight when she overslept on the day of his departure, but not this time.


    "I''m going to stay for another week after graduation. Why? Do you have any ns in mind?" Lu Qingfeng raised a slender brow at her.


    "Hmm, not me, but Mama. Since you are turning sixteen soon, she wants to host a birthday dinner for you before you leave." Su Xiaofei noticed a gentle smile that crossed Lu Qingfeng''s lips upon hearing that.


    "Aunty Qing shouldn''t have bothered. I''m just moving to Shenjing. It''s not that far."


    Su Xiaofei shrugged. She understood that this was her mother''s way of sending off Lu Qingfeng.


    "Well, what can I do? That''s what Mama told me yesterday. Don''t decline, Xiao Feng. Who knows when we will be able to see you again."


    What Su Xiaofei didn''t know was that she wasn''t the only one who had regrets from their previous life.


    Lu Qingfeng regretted that he wasn''t able to return and wake up from his deepa earlier. If he had, then Su Xiaofei wouldn''t have married Mo Yuchen and his Aunty Qing wouldn''t have lost her life andpany in the process.


    When he heard that Yun Qingrong passed away, he had been stricken with great grief and guilt. Yun Qingrong had treated him very well and had been very kind to him ever since he was younger.


    "Fine, but please tell Aunty Qing not to host a party. A simple dinner would do." He conceded easily, knowing that he can''t really deny Yun Qingrong''s wish if she had already made up her mind to host something for his birthday.


    "Great. I will tell her at once." Su Xiaofei picked up her phone and sent her mother a quick message, informing her of Lu Qingfeng''s answer. She knew that Lu Qingfeng wouldn''t be able to decline her mother''s request at all.


    As they continued to wait for Xi Qian, Lu Qingfeng turned his attention back to the passersby.


    "What are you thinking?" Su Xiaofei asked when she noticed that he had fallen silent again and was looking at people.


    "Nothing. Just trying to calm my mind by watching people." Lu Qingfeng replied, and when he noticed that she was waiting for him to continue, he sighed inwardly.


    "Feifei, when you look at other people, have you ever wondered what kind of life they have? When I look at them, I could see a glimpse of the kind of life they''re living and what they are enduring." He continued exining.


    Su Xiaofei followed his gaze and looked at the passersby. Among them, an old man was walking slowly with a little boy on his side. It seemed like they had juste out from a nearby bakery, as the boy was holding a paper bag with some bread rolls in it.


    Just by looking at them, Su Xiaofei then understood why it piqued Lu Qingfeng''s curiosity.. Indeed, one can learn a lot by paying attention to other people.

 Chapter 236 - Exam Day (2)

    <h4>Chapter 236 - Exam Day (2)</h4>


    When Xi Qian finally arrived at their meeting ce, she looked like her energy had been sucked out from her body as she had unceremoniously dropped on the seat next to Su Xiaofei. She then rested her head on Su Xiaofei''s shoulder, murmuring incoherent words to herself.


    "So how was the exam, Qian?" Su Xiaofei pitied her best friend, but at least Xi Qian didn''t have to spend sleepless nights for some time, now that the entrance exam was over.


    "Harder than I thought." Xi Qian answered. "What kind of hell did I get myself into?"


    "Xi Qian, you should know by now that it will be harder in the future. This is just a start, that is, if you passed the examinations." Lu Qingfengmented.


    "Of course I know that, Lu Qingfeng. You really don''t have to remind me." Xi Qian huffed and thanked Su Xiaofei for the sliced cake. Now that the exam was over, she was bing increasingly aware of how hungry she was.


    "Then do you intend to quit your part-time job once you''re admitted to med school? I doubt that you would have time for that anymore." Lu Qingfeng continued to question her.


    Xi Qian lifted her gaze and scrutinized the young man across from her. She wasn''t sure why Lu Qingfeng was asking her these questions. Was he truly concerned about her, or was this another one of his ploys to make himself look good in front of Su Xiaofei?


    "I decided to resign from work onces the sses start. I intend to focus on my studies instead."


    Lu Qingfeng hummed, pleased with her answer. It''s important for him to know that Xi Qian would be fine on her own, so Su Xiaofei won''t have to constantly worry about her welfare.


    "What were you two doing while waiting for me?" Xi Qian asked, as she took another bite from her cake and ordered a cold, refreshing drink.


    "Nothing important, Qian. We were just watching the passersby." Su Xiaofei replied, noticing that her best friend and Lu Qingfeng''s treatment of each other were getting better these days.


    "Watching people? Is that interesting?"


    "I don''t know, but Xiao Feng said you can learn a lot by paying attention to other people."


    "Is that so?" Xi Qian then followed the people outside the caf¨¦ with her eyes.


    Indeed, she could tell that each person was unique in their own ways. There couldn''t be a person who shared simrities in every aspect of their lives. Even twins had a few minor, if not major, differences from each other.


    "You''ve got some weird pastime, Lu Qingfeng." Xi Qianmented, but Lu Qingfeng didn''t take it seriously.


    Xi Qian had said meaner words than this before anyway, and Lu Qingfeng had learned to tolerate her at times for Su Xiaofei''s sake.


    "But you have a point." Xi Qian continued, "I could tell that that woman is having issues with her knees by the way she walked."


    Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng followed her gaze and saw a young woman dressed in sportswear, dragging her feet as she walked.


    "She probably pushed herself too hard and hurt her knees in the process." Lu Qingfeng said. "Everything needs to be done in moderation, including exercise."


    Xi Qian scoffed and couldn''t agree more with him.


    "What do we know? Some people are just impatient to get results and don''t even consider what could harm them in the process. I''m surprised, though, by Feifei. You''ve been eating more recently. Do you still have time to work out?" Xi Qian turned her attention towards her best friend.


    "En. I made sure to work out to burn the excess calories I''ve consumed, but not that much."


    "I could tell you gained weight." Xi Qian said. "In a good way, though. You look better and healthier nowpared to before."


    Su Xiaofei used to starve herself and refuse to eat anything in order to keep her ''ideal'' weight. Xi Qian and Yun Qingrong had been worried sick about it and no matter how hard they tried to persuade Feifei to eat more, she was adamant to eat much less.


    "Just like Lu Qingfeng said, in moderation. I get to enjoy delicious food, but not splurge on it." Su Xiaofei said.


    Her attention was then drifted to her phone as she received a response from her mother.


    "I guess we need to finish our snacks now." She hummed and checked the schedule sent to her email by her mother. It was Qin Muyao''s itinerary for the following week.


    "Xiao Feng, do you mind sending us to Bluemedia? I need to be there for a meeting." She asked Lu Qingfeng. Since she had sent the Zhangs siblings for some errands, they won''t being back anytime soon.


    "Okay. No problem. I also want to meet Aunty Qing anyway."


    Xi Qian looked at the two in confusion.


    "Huh? Why am I tagging along with you?"


    "Oh? I thought you wanted to meet your idol, Qin Muyao? I specifically moved our meeting this afternoon, so you could meet him in person. Guess who his new manager is." Su Xiaofei gave her a mischievous grin.


    It took a moment for Xi Qian to understand what her best friend was trying to say, but when she did, she pounced on Su Xiaofei and gave her a bear hug. She hadn''t expected that Su Xiaofei would arrange a special meeting with her idol.


    "Ah! Feifei! You really are the best! I thought you''re only observing at Bluemedia now, but you''re going to work with Qin Muyao? You should have told me earlier!"


    Su Xiaofei burst into a round ofughter, seeing the excitement and happiness on Xi Qian''s face.


    "How could I do what? I know how important it is for you to focus on your studies. If I told you about meeting Qin Muyao earlier, I bet you wouldn''t be able to focus on your exam."


    "Then what are we waiting for? We should hurry!" Xi Qian immediately released Su Xiaofei and finished her cake.

 Chapter 237 - Better Roles (1)

    <h4>Chapter 237 - Better Roles (1)</h4>


    The drive towards Bluemedia in Guangshang took an hour and the moment Xi Qian alighted from Lu Qingfeng''s car, her eyes scanned the ce and held onto Su Xiaofei''s hand. She was reminded once again of the difference of the status between her and her best friend.


    The world Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng were living in was vastly different from where she came from. Still, this wasn''t enough for Xi Qian to disregard befriending Su Xiaofei after years of knowing each other.


    "Feifei, are you sure that it''s okay for me to be here?" She questioned Su Xiaofei for the umpteenth time of the day. Xi Qian still couldn''t believe that she was going to meet her idol right now.


    "Calm down, Qian. I have met Qin Muyao before, and he''s a decent person. I''m sure he would appreciate meeting a loyal fan after enduring the recent controversy." Su Xiaofei replied as they sauntered inside the building and walked straight to the private elevator leading to her mother''s office.


    Xi Qian didn''t fail to notice that some people stopped in their tracks to give the three of them a good look, probably discerning Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng, given how good-looking these two were. It wasn''t the first time it happened anyway, and Xi Qian was already used to it.


    It wasn''t like her face wascking. In fact, she was also beautiful in her own way. However, standing next to these two, it would make one think that Xi Qian''s appearance was ordinary.


    "Who are they? Are they Boss Fang''s new recruits?" Someone asked.


    "Who knows, but I have to say that their appearances are more appealing than other young celebrities we''ve encountered in the past. Both of them would look good in print ads, don''t you think?"


    Bluemedia wasn''t only catering and managing artists anyway, they also manage some popr models in the industry. This was why, even if a recruit didn''t excel well in his or her training, they could opt to join the modeling departmentter.


    When the doors of the elevator opened at the top floor where Yun Qinrong''s office could be found, they were greeted by Wan An, who had a bright smile on her face upon seeing Su Xiaofei again.


    "Hello, Miss Wan. I''m here to see President Yun." Su Xiaofei greeted her, Lu Qingfeng and Xi Qian behind her politely nodded at Wan An in greeting.


    "Yes, President Yun and Boss Fang are both waiting for you. You may go inside." The woman led her into the President''s office and opened the door for the three of them.


    The three found Yun Qingrong seated with Fang Yi and talking to a familiar young man across from them.


    Qin Muyao stood up the moment he saw Su Xiaofei and greeted her.


    "Manager Su, good afternoon."


    "Good afternoon, Mr. Qin. I''m happy to see that you look better than thest time I saw you." Su Xiaofei replied.


    The young actor avoided her gaze, feeling a little ashamed that Su Xiaofei remembered the shameful condition he was in during their first meeting.


    "E-en. Thank you for your help, Manager Su. I''m indebted to you."


    Su Xiaofei shook her head. She felt like Qin Muyao was forgetting that he had agreed to be her cash cow. Until she was satisfied with the fortune he brought in for her, he''d be bound to this contract.


    "Feifei,e here and join us." Yun Qingrong''s gentle tone called after her daughter, reminding Su Xiaofei of the purpose of her visit.


    "Mama." Su Xiaofei came to her mother and gave Yun Qingrong an affectionate hug before taking a seat next to her. "I brought Xi Qian and Xiao Feng with me. Xiao Feng said he needs to discuss something with you."


    "Qian, I heard that today is your entrance exam''s day. How was it?" Yun Qingrong asked Xi Qian.


    "Aunty Qing, please don''t remind me. My head is aching." Xi Qian replied once she was seated next to Lu Qingfeng. She rubbed her temple, thinking that her soul almost departed from her body when she saw the questionnaire.


    Yun Qingrong and Fang Yiughed at Xi Qian''s expression. They both could tell that it hadn''t been easy for this young woman.


    "Anyway, Feifei, these are the brand endorsement and project offers that arrived for Qin Muyao. I invited him here to ask for his opinion, but he said that he would trust your judgment on them." Yun Qingrong then passed a folder to her daughter for Su Xiaofei to check.


    Su Xiaofei quickly gave it a good scan and sorted the brand proposals first, while Qin Muyao looked at her nervously. It didn''t take long for her to decide which ones they should ept and which ones to decline.


    "Here, Uncle Fang. Please ept these endorsements for Qin Muyao. As for the other projects, I would need to study the roles and the scripts first, if that''s alright." She handed the folder back to Fang Yi.


    "It''s fine, Feifei, but are you sure you don''t want to look at these projects?" Fang Yi eyed the stack of scripts Su Xiaofei discarded earlier.


    Su Xiaofei shook her head.


    "The roles are repetitive in my opinion. If Qin Muyao portrays the same roles repeatedly, I fear that he wouldn''t be able to get more challenging roles in the future." She paused and nced at Qin Muyao''s direction.


    "What do you think? Is this okay with you?" She asked him.


    "I trust your judgment, Manager Su." Qin Muyao repeated his im earlier, but it only made Su Xiaofei frown.


    "This won''t do, Mr. Qin. Since your future roles are at stake here, you have to take this more seriously. I don''t expect you to be a more "Yes, boss" guy. If a script takes your interest, you have to say it vocally. If you are displeased with something, you need to tell us so we can understand you better.." She insisted.

 Chapter 238 - Better Roles (2)

    <h4>Chapter 238 - Better Roles (2)</h4>


    Su Xiaofei was looking at him with scrutiny, which made Qin Muyao sit straight and nod his head in understanding. She was beautiful to look at, alright, but Su Xiaofei''s serious face was intimidating even for Qin Muyao.


    "I apologize. I''ll listen to your advice from now on, Manager Su." He responded. It was a mistake on his part to think that Su Xiaofei wouldn''t be strict as his manager.


    In his previous agency, his manager and the upper management were the ones who decided which project to take on and what not. Qin Muyao had never questioned them, as he feared that if he dared to oppose their decision, he would be suppressed in the future.


    That was why most of the previous roles were male leads with a humble and gentle personality, who loved the female lead unconditionally. Actually, he was starting to get tired of ying the same thing and wanted to try something new.


    Qin Muyao was d that he was able to find a manager who truly understood his wants and needs. Someone who also took his opinions seriously.


    "Then, what do you think of those rejected scripts?" Su Xiaofei asked once again.


    "I''ve seen it earlier, and I believe that they aren''t challenging enough as I''ve already yed the same roles in the past, so I agree with your decision, Manager Su."


    "Good." Su Xiaofei was pleased with his answer this time. "It''s good to be vocal with your opinions once in a while. I expect that you would not only work hard, but work smart."


    Yun Qingrong was paying attention to how her daughter handled her first talent, and she couldn''t be more proud seeing how attentive Su Xiaofei was. She loved her daughter, and no matter how unruly she could be at times, Yun Qingrong still treated her well.


    However, seeing her daughter being so mature and professional almost made her tear up. The beautiful baby she once held in her arms now had so much potential in running thepany she had built over the past two decades.


    Of course, her Feifei still had so much to learn, but Yun Qingrong would make sure to impart most of her knowledge and teach her daughter to be resilient even through the stormiest days toe.


    "Alright. It''s settled then." Su Xiaofei continued. "Please study your script for "The Poisonous Concubine" and be sure to be on time for yourmitments. I expect that your new assistant has reported to you?"


    "En. Thanks again, Manager Su."


    Before the young actor left, Su Xiaofei didn''t forget to introduce Xi Qian to him. He was kind enough to take a selfie with her and signed his autograph for her.


    Xi Qian temporarily forgot her worries as she fawned over how she was able to meet her idol that day. She didn''t waste time and posted a selfie on her social media profile.


    Meanwhile, Lu Qingfeng requested a private meeting with Yun Qingrong, which baffled Su Xiaofei. What was so important that he wanted to speak to her mother privately, but couldn''t bother to tell her what it was?


    "This won''t take long, Feifei. I''lle to find you and Xi Qian once I''m done speaking with Aunty Qing." Lu Qingfeng told her.


    Su Xiaofei narrowed her eyes on him with suspicion.


    "Fine. You don''t have to tell me if you don''t want to." She harrumphed and dragged Xi Qian with her to the training room, where the other new recruits and Xiao Rufeng were. Since she had missed the morning sses, she wanted to know Xiao Rufeng''s now.


    "Feifei, are you sure it''s alright for us toe here?" Xi Qian asked when she read thebel, indicating that they had just arrived at the training room for recruits.


    "It''s okay, Qian. The afternoon ss should be over by now. So we aren''t disturbing anyone." Su Xiaofei answered her, her eyes sweeping around the room to find Xiao Rufeng.


    She found the young woman at a corner, busy wrapping her ankle with a bandage. Xiao Rufeng flinched when she identally touched her swollen ankle and hissed in pain.


    "What happened to you?" Su Xiaofei had a bad feeling about this. Although she wasn''t consistently joining the sses for the new recruits, she was aware that someone had started bullying Xiao Rufeng during her absence.


    "Oh, Xiao Fei. You''ve missed the ss again." Xiao Rufeng replied, but seeing Su Xiaofei''s hardened expression, she suddenly felt ufortable.


    "It''s nothing, Xiao Fei. I just twisted my ankle too hard when I was practicing." She lied, but Su Xiaofei already knew the truth. She just needed to confirm it by checking the recordings on the cameraster.


    "That doesn''t look good, Miss. Do you mind if I check on it?" Xi Qian frowned upon seeing Xi Qian''s injury. No wonder Su Xiaofei wanted toe here to see her friend. She must have known something like this could happen.


    Xiao Rufeng stared at Xi Qian, then turned to Su Xiaofei as if she was asking for her permission.


    "Please, Qian. Can you give her first aid before we bring her to the clinic?" Su Xiaofei answered for Xiao Rufeng, given that thetter was hesitating to ept help from Xi Qian.


    "Okay."


    Xi Qian immediately knelt beside Xiao Rufeng and pulled out a cold spray from her backpack.


    "Don''t worry. This is just a cold spray I always bring with me when I''m out. Just like you, I sometimes sprain my ankle. This should help lessen the swelling, but I suggest you use an ice pack every two to three hours until the swelling subsides. It won''t hurt to also get a check at the clinic, just in case the doctor wants to prescribe you some pain relievers."


    "Thank you, Miss¡­" Xiao Rufeng''s words trailed off when she realized she didn''t know who Su Xiaofei''spanion was.


    "I''m Xi Qian. I''m also Feifei''s friend.. It''s good to know that she is able to make friends here."

 Chapter 239 - Intention To Marry (1)

    <h4>Chapter 239 - Intention To Marry (1)</h4>


    Xi Qian was aware that Su Xiaofei had a hard time making friends with other people because of her straightforward and arrogant personality. While many praised her appearance, some despised her and would rather not get involved with her. So it was surprising for Xi Qian to learn that her best friend managed to meet and get close with someone aside from her and Lu Qingfeng.


    "I''m Xiao Rufeng." The young woman introduced herself to Xi Qian. "I''m also a new recruit here with Xiao Fei." She added.


    Xi Qian blinked twice then gave her best friend a questioning look, but Su Xiaofei only shrugged it off. Xi Qian surmised that there could be a misunderstanding between the two, but it wasn''t her ce to clear it up. Perhaps Su Xiaofei hadn''t intended it at all.


    Xi Qian smiled at Xiao Rufeng and continued to give her ankle first aid before she and Su Xiaofei helped her to get back on her feet.


    "Thanks! I''m sorry I had to trouble you." Xiao Rufeng said as the two decided to bring her to the clinic to get her ankles checked themselves and didn''t wait for her to deny their help.


    "Xiao Rufeng, you have to tell me what really happened." She heard Su Xiaofei say with an annoyed look on her face.


    She bit her lower lip and looked away, knowing that Su Xiaofei didn''t believe her earlier im - that she identally injured herself. Xiao Rufeng didn''t want Su Xiaofei to know that she got injured because she stood up for her when the other trainees started spouting nonsense against Su Xiaofei when she wasn''t around.


    Su Xiaofei waited outside the clinic with Xi Qian, leaving Xiao Rufeng in the care of the doctor and nurse that were attending her injury.


    "Feifei, what do you think happened to her? Do you think someone purposely hurt her because ofpetition?" Xi Qian broke the silence between them, as she noticed the slight frown on Su Xiaofei earlier.


    "Must be something like that."


    Since Su Xiaofei knew Xiao Rufeng''s personality in her previous life, she knew that thetter could be impulsive at times and was a little temperamental. Xiao Rufeng would surely snap at others if she was repeatedly offended by someone, but Su Xiaofei knew that it was Xiao Rufeng''s sense of justice for others that caused it, which could easily be used against her.


    Su Xiaofei had been helping Xiao Rufeng, and she wouldn''t be surprised if others had issues with it. Either way, this was a perfect chance for Su Xiaofei to teach Xiao Rufeng to control her temper, in order to avoid conflict and misfortune in the future.


    "Qian, don''t worry too much. Something like this ismonly found among new recruits. Bullying isn''t just rampant in schools. You have to understand that because of the fiercepetition, it''s easy for others to perceive Xiao Rufeng as a threat. However, if Xiao Rufeng wants tost long in this industry, she needs to be resilient and persevere."


    "Still, I don''t think Xiao Rufeng should keep mum about it and report the person responsible." Xi Qian frowned and nced at the closed door of the treatment room in the clinic. She hated schemes and scandals like this, and couldn''t understand the need to hurt another person for someone else''s vested interest.


    "It couldn''t be helped, Qian. Competition in the entertainment industry is good, because it somehow pushes the actors to do better than the others. However, some would use underhanded methods to get what they wanted, and they are willing to even sell their souls to the devil if their deep-seated wish could be granted."


    "I know, Feifei. I''m just disappointed. Look, Xiao Rufeng is still a trainee. She hasn''t even debuted yet, but she''s already facing schemes like this. Imagine how bad it could get once she has debuted and made a name for herself." Xi Qian argued.


    Su Xiaofei inwardly sighed as she was aware of what Xi Qian was thinking at the moment. This was one of the reasons why she couldn''t be fully honest with her best friend. If Xi Qian knew how vicious and wicked Su Xiaofei''s heart was, Su Xiaofei wasn''t certain how her best friend would perceive her from then on.


    Once Su Xiaofei was assured that Xiao Rufeng was properly taken care of, she and Xi Qian helped the young woman hail a cab and told Xiao Rufeng to rest her foot and get better.


    Meanwhile, Lu Qingfeng had just left Yun Qingrong''s office, leaving the woman speechless and confused.


    Fang Yi had just met Lu Qingfeng in the hallway and greeted him, before entering Yun Qingrong''s office, only to find her in a daze.


    "Did something happen?" He called her attention, effectively snapping Yun Qingrong out of her daze.


    "Nothing. I''m just¡­" Yun Qingrong''s voice trailed off as she couldn''t even exin herself properly at that moment.


    "What could possibly happen while you and Lu Qingfeng were talking that left you like this?" Fang Yi chuckled, before handing Yun Qingrong the list of people who auditioned for the title role of "The Poisonous Concubine".


    Yun Qingrong furrowed her brows and fell silent, which told Fang Yi that the two had a serious talk earlier.


    "Xiao Feng is leaving for Shenjing after his graduation from middle school." Yun Qingrong started.


    Fang Yi hummed and took a seat across from her.


    "That''s what I heard too. I''m sure that Feifei would be sad knowing that one of her best friends is going to leave her side very soon. Are you worried about her? Is that it?" He questioned Yun Qingrong.


    Fang Yi was aware that Su Xiaofei''s recent change in demeanor and personality had greatly improved the rtionship between her and her mother, so he wouldn''t be surprised if Yun Qingrong was worrying about her daughter once Lu Qingfeng left.


    "No, that''s not it, Fang Yi.. Xiao Feng expressed his intention to marry my Feifei."

 Chapter 240 - Intention To Marry (2)

    <h4>Chapter 240 - Intention To Marry (2)</h4>


    The moment Yun Qingrong blurted out those words, Fang Yi looked at her nkly, wondering if he heard her right. Did that young man truly make his intention to marry Su Xiaofei known to Yun Qingrong? Wasn''t this too early for Lu Qingfeng?


    "You mean Lu Qingfeng requested a private meeting with you to ask for Feifei''s hand in marriage?" He asked once he recovered from his shock. Fang Yi had to admit that the young man was truly head over heels for Su Xiaofei if he had boldly sought Yun Qingrong like this.


    "En. Xiao Feng asked for my permission to court Feifei and marry her in the future." Yun Qingrong sighed and leaned on her seat.


    "He even asked if he could buy some shares of Bluemedia and invest in some of our future projects. Don''t you think Xiao Feng is too young to consider such serious things as marriage at his age? He still needs to finish his studies and even after that, I''m sure Xiao Feng''s hands will be full with things he needs to do at Lu Corporation."


    Fang Yi shrugged, but he wasn''t truly surprised that Lu Qingfeng would do something like this. The young man must have truly made up his mind, and his impending departure had made him decide to seek Yun Qingrong this early.


    "Qing, you should know that some people are lucky to find their fated loved ones at an early age. If Lu Qingfeng sought you for Feifei''s hand, he must have truly been holding her in his heart and wasn''t willing to part with her without making his intention known." He replied.


    "Who knows what could happen while he isn''t around? Lu Qingfeng probably didn''t want to lose Feifei to anyone else and is willing to fight for her regardless of their age difference and distance." He added. "Although marriage is a huge decision to make, it doesn''t require the perfect time. Couples could get into the sanctity of marriage the moment they feel they are ready to do it."


    "You don''t seem to be surprised when I tell you this¡­" Yun Qingrong eyed him suspiciously.


    Fang Yiughed at that.


    "It''s not really hard to notice, Qing. You should have seen how Lu Qingfeng looked at your daughter. It''s as if she was his whole world and everything revolves around her. It''s not really surprising that he still wanted to be part of her life, even if he isn''t around."


    Yun Qingrong considered his words and couldn''t agree more with Fang Yi''s opinion. She should have noticed it earlier. Initially, she thought that her daughter and Lu Qingfeng were just really close and dependent on each other at times.


    "Qing, you know that Feifei and Lu Qingfeng won''t stay young forever. It''s normal for them to grow fond of each other. As for Lu Qingfeng, don''t you trust him?" Fang Yi questioned her.


    "Of course, I do. I didn''t need to worry too much about Feifei when she was with him, but this¡­ I don''t know what to think of it. Feifei is eighteen at the moment, while he''s about to turn sixteen soon. Who knows, maybe his feelings for her would wane in his absence. I don''t want to see Feifei and Xiao Feng grow distant from each other."


    "That''s true." Fang Yi cupped his chin as he gave it a good thought. "However, whether they would develop a romantic rtionship or not is not our decision to make. Plus, I don''t think Lu Qingfeng would intentionally hurt Feifei at all."


    Yun Qingrong knew this. From the moment her daughter introduced the young Lu Qingfeng to her, she knew that the young boy was raised properly - with manners and conduct - by his grandfather. Lu Qingfeng was also more mature in thought than his actual age and didn''t have any of the bad habits other young men had.


    "So what did you tell him then?" Fang Yi''s question brought her back to reality. He was curious about how Yun Qingrong responded on Lu Qingfeng''s intention towards her daughter.


    "What else could I say? I said that if he and Feifei liked each other, I wouldn''t be against their rtionship, but I would rather have them focus on their studies first and prioritize their future before thinking about settling down. Xiao Feng would also face a lot of pressure from his family in the future. There''s no need to rush making a decision for now." Yun Qingrong rubbed her temple, feeling that another headache was about to hit her some time soon.


    "I want to respect Feifei''s decision. When she''s ready to fall in love again, I won''t oppose it if it''s Xiao Feng, but he''s too young to consider marriage at this point. I''m sure Chairman Lu would agree with me on this." She added.


    Lu Qingfeng was no doubt better than Mo Yuchen. Unlike thetter, Yun Qingrong knew that Lu Qingfeng would never disrespect her daughter. She had seen how patient he was from their childhood years up to this day and had never seen him snap at Feifei even when they had an argument.


    Yun Qingrong had been upset with how Mo Yuchen treated her daughter in the past, but she couldn''t vocally express her opinion about him because she didn''t like to get into a heated argument time and again with Su Xiaofei.


    "Feifei is probably aware of it now. I''m not sure if they are dating or not, but I think they are closer than usual. Lu Qingfeng must have confessed to her already. Have you considered asking Feifei about this?"


    "Do you think Feifei is okay with this?" She asked Fang Yi in return. It hadn''t been too long since her daughter had permanently cut ties with Mo Yuchen. Yun Qingrong wasn''t sure how her daughter would react to this sudden change in Lu Qingfeng.


    "You''ll have to ask her for that, Qing. She''s your daughter. Maybe she would open up to you now that you are closer to each other.." Fang Yi replied.

 Chapter 241 - Empty Apology (1)

    <h4>Chapter 241 - Empty Apology (1)</h4>


    While Xi Qian''s entrance exam was already over, Su Xiaofei had been spending most of her time reviewing as hers was fast approaching. She barely had time to keep up with what was happening around her, and refused to be distracted by the unwanted rumors circting around Ye Mingyu.


    As she buried her head in one of the books Lu Qingfeng lent for her to use, Su Xiaofei sighed and nced at the stack of books that she had yet to touch. No wonder Lu Qingfeng could be so smart at his young age. He read books more than anyone else Su Xiaofei knew in her lifetime.


    As she was pondering how to finish her studies on time, Aunty Liu announced her arrival and brought in a tray of snacks for Su Xiaofei.


    "Don''t stress yourself too much, Feifei. Even if you couldn''t remember everything, it''s enough that you understand most of the concepts of your lessons." The old woman told her as Su Xiaofei straightened up in her seat.


    "If Mama can do it, then so can I!" She dered with confidence to Aunty Liu.


    Since she had decided to take up the business and finance course like Yun Qingrong, Su Xiaofei wanted to prove that she wasn''t just someone who had a pretty face. In her past life, she hadmitted a lot of mistakes and one of those was not taking her education seriously. She wasn''t doing this to get even with Ye Mingyu, but to be a better version of herself.


    "I know you can do it, Feifei. Just believe in yourself and work hard. I have no doubt that you will be able to pass your exam." The older woman said before leaving Su Xiaofei to allow her to continue her revision.


    An hourter, Su Xiaofei finally finished her task for the day and decided to log in to her social media ount to see thetest happenings in showbiz. Her slender brow rose when she saw an article about Jiang Li publicly extending her apology towards Qin Muyao, hoping that the young actor would be able to forgive her.


    Su Xiaofei scoffed and used her new ount under the pseudonym ''queenofthestars'' as Qin Muyao''s manager to respond to Jiang Li''s public apology.


    "Apologies reestablish dignity for those you hurt. Letting the injured party know that you know it was your fault, not theirs, helps them feel better, and it helps them save face. As for Miss Jiang''s apology, it would have been better if she apologizes personally to Qin Muyao as her offenses are serious in the first ce. This public apology means nothing if Miss Jiang is only doing this to save face, rather than owning up to her own mistakes towards Qin Muyao."


    This statement from Qin Muyao''s new manager easily earned a lot of attention from theizens. Some were agreeing with Su Xiaofei while the others felt that it was too much to force Jiang Li to apologize to Qin Muyao.


    "If something you''ve done has caused pain for another person, it''s a good idea to apologize, even if whatever you did was unintentional."


    "Ms. Manager is right! Jiang Li''s apology sounds more like an excuse to me rather than remorse towards Qin Muyao!"


    "We just want you to say what you mean. Otherwise, don''t say it."


    "Jiang Li almost ruined our Qin Muyao''s life with her lies. If someone hadn''t managed to prove his innocence, just imagine what could happen to him because of her lies."


    Jiang Li''s camp didn''t respond to any of this and chose to remain silent, which only triggered the othermenters to believe that she only released a public apology to save her face and she wasn''t truly sincere with her apology.


    Su Xiaofei didn''t doubt that Jiang Li only issued an apology because she had been receiving bacsh left and right, and her Jiang family was now pressuring her to confess who truly fathered her child. The Jiang family was known to be conservative and had strictly been following traditions, and Jiang Li''s recent actions had been against their moral etiquette.


    Su Xiaofei''s attention was shifted when her phone beeped, indicating a new message. As she checked on the screen, she saw that it came from Qin Muyao.


    "Manager Su, should I also release a statement and answer her apology?" He asked.


    "No. There''s no need. I''ve already dealt with it." Came Su Xiaofei''s fast reply.


    After turning off herptop, she stretched her arms above her head and spotted the calendar on top of her desk.


    "Time sure flies." She muttered to herself as she realized that there was only a month left before her and Lu Qingfeng''s graduation, as well as his impending departure.


    The more she thought about it, the more Su Xiaofei felt sad knowing that she won''t be able to see Lu Qingfeng for a long time. She ran her hands through her hair and stared at her nk ceiling, thinking that regardless of the lifetime she was living, she was still as selfish as she could remember.


    A part of her wanted to convince Lu Qingfeng to stay and be with her, but s, she also knew how important it was for him to seed in the Lu family and theirpany. Su Xiaofei had to ept that Lu Qingfeng also had his own responsibilities to deal with, aside from looking out for her.


    Five years was a long time, and many things could happen in that span of time. Su Xiaofei wasn''t worried that Lu Qingfeng''s heart could be swayed by another woman, as she had witnessed herself how he remained loyal to her to hisst breath. She was just worried that he wouldn''t be able to avoid the assassination attempt on his life that would lead to hisa in five years time.


    "I should stop Xiao Feng from returning in five years.." Su Xiaofei made up her mind to save his life this time.

 Chapter 242 - Empty Apology (2)

    <h4>Chapter 242 - Empty Apology (2)</h4>


    While Su Xiaofei was worrying about his safety in the future, Lu Qingfeng had been preparing to avoid the same disaster that could befall him in five years. He would make sure that no one would be able to stop him from returning to his beloved''s side in the future.


    It didn''t matter if they were his rtives, because Lu Qingfeng would pull out the weeds from their roots before they were able to harm him. With the knowledge he retained from his previous life, it was easy for Lu Qingfeng to figure out who had attempted to kill him.


    "Master, we''ve arranged everything ording to your n." Nine told Lu Qingfeng while the young man was leaning against the railing of the balcony of his room, his eyes watching the darkened sky.


    As Nine looked at his young master, he felt that Lu Qingfeng''s recent orders were inconceivable even for someone who worked as a mercenary for a long time before meeting his young master. Katarina also voiced her confusion about Lu Qingfeng''s odd requests, but they were both left confused, trying to understand Lu Qingfeng''s intention.


    Lu Qingfeng had been buying shares from differentpanies, left and right. Aside from investing in Qiao Tech''stest project, Lu Qingfeng also bought some shares from Bluemedia and Golden Star Entertainment using a shellpany.


    "Thank you." Lu Qingfeng''s cool voice reached Nine''s ears.


    Despite his young master''s cold countenance, Nine was still not used to hearing Lu Qingfeng''s polite remarks towards him and the others. He was far from the other arrogant and cool young masters from other wealthy families that Nine was acquainted with in the past.


    "We will be in Shenjing for at least five years. You should make some preparations for yourself, Nine." He heard Lu Qingfeng say, which reminded Nine that he also still had some personal matters to settle before he could leave with his young master in a month''s time.


    "Yes. Thank you, Master, for his consideration."


    If Lu Qingfeng hadn''t sought him that day, Nine wouldn''t be able to save his younger sister''s life. He didn''t know how and why Lu Qingfeng showed up that day, offering to pay for his sister''s immediate surgery in return for Nine''s service, but regardless of Lu Qingfeng''s intention, Nine knew that he was forever indebted to his young master.


    Once his assistant left, Lu Qingfeng was left to think about his ns in the future. There were so many things that had changed since he and Su Xiaofei were reborn, and there were still things that would remain the same despite their efforts to change for the better.


    He had recently asked for her hand in marriage from Yun Qingrong, but thetter had told him that she would leave that decision to Su Xiaofei and would respect her daughter''s decision in the future. This only meant that Lu Qingfeng would need to cement his presence in Su Xiaofei''s life and to not give Mo Yuchen a chance to get close with her.


    As for Ye Mingyu, he was aware that the schrship that was granted to her had been snatched from another person. Lu Qingfeng wasn''t sure how Ye Mingyu''s departure overseas would affect Su Xiaofei in the future, but he could only trust that Su Xiaofei wouldn''t allow that woman to outwit her this time. Knowing her personality, Su Xiaofei would surely find ways to smash Ye Mingyu''s hopes to pieces.


    The wheel of fortune would continue to spin around. If in their past lives, they were both unfortunate to lose each other, it was now Mo Yuchen and Ye Mingyu''s turn to be unlucky.


    As he was pondering about his future with Su Xiaofei, his phone rang. He immediately picked up the call, seeing that it was Su Xiaofei who was calling her.


    "What''s up?" He asked immediately.


    Lu Qingfeng felt silly. Even now that he was reliving his life for the third time, he still couldn''t ignore Su Xiaofei no matter what timeline he was in.


    "Xiao Feng, let''s go on a trip tomorrow." Came Su Xiaofei''s reply.


    "Oh? Now you''ve be bold enough to ask me for a date?" His tone had a hint of teasing in it.


    As expected, he heard a low gasp from the other end of the line.


    "Lu Qingfeng! You are getting more arrogant these days! If you don''t want to apany me, just say so! I can just ask Yun Xiang toe with me." Su Xiaofei said in annoyance, but her words immediately dampened Lu Qingfeng''s mood.


    "I didn''t say I didn''t want to. Tell me the time and where we are going, so I can arrange it with Nine." Lu Qingfeng immediately replied.


    There was no way in hell he would allow Yun Xiang to get close with her. He wasn''t that blind not to notice the odd look Yun Xiang was giving Su Xiaofei, regardless if the man was even aware of what it meant or not.


    "Heh, I know Xiao Feng wouldn''t disappoint me." Su Xiaofei said with augh.


    Lu Qingfeng could only sigh inwardly, knowing that he was totally wrapped around her finger. With his impending departure, he also didn''t want to waste this chance to spend more time with her.


    "So where are we going this time?"


    "Up north. Yun Xiang was able to find Si Yixian''s younger sister." Su Xiaofei replied.


    Lu Qingfeng was aware that she had been preparing early for her own future by collecting valuable chess pieces she could utilize when the time was right. It was just he hadn''t expected that she would take advantage of their weaknesses.


    "Ah, so it''s not a date." He feigned disappointment. Lu Qingfeng knew that she still have reservations why she couldn''t fully ept him yet.


    A moment of silence followed as Su Xiaofei didn''t respond.


    "Hey, are you still there?" Lu Qingfeng called out.


    "Then we could have one after meeting Si Yixian''s sister.." She said, rendering Lu Qingfeng speechless.

 Chapter 243 - Unwanted One (1)

    <h4>Chapter 243 - Unwanted One (1)</h4>


    Lu Qingfeng was just teasing her and wasn''t expecting that she would willingly agree to go on a date with him. He fell silent for a while, which made Su Xiaofei wonder if he had hung up on her.


    "Hey! Xiao Feng, are you still there?" Su Xiaofei''s tone was a little annoyed and unhappy.


    "I''m here. Okay, we''ll go on a date then. You can''t take it back, Xiaofei. I''ll pick you up tomorrow, so you won''t stand me up."


    "See you tomorrow then."


    Once Su Xiaofei hung up the call, Lu Qingfeng stared at his phone as if their recent conversation was just a figment of his imagination. However, there was no way he would let this chance slip and allow Yun Xiang to take his ce next to Su Xiaofei. When ites to Su Xiaofei, Lu Qingfeng had already forgotten the concept of giving up.


    Whether Su Xiaofei had alsoe to love him or not, it didn''t matter. It was enough that she wanted hispany more than anyone else''s. They both need to adapt if they truly want to be together in the future.


    The next day, Lu Qingfeng appeared early at the Yun estate to pick up Su Xiaofei. He found her still having breakfast with Yun Qingrong, and he was invited by thetter to join them.


    Su Xiaofei nced at him and noticed that he had dressed up for today. Lu Qingfeng was exceptionally dashing today, making her want to keep him for herself instead. He was wearing a light blue shirt, with his sleeves rolled up his arms.


    In her memory, the young man who left overseas had suddenly turned into another person when she met him again on her deathbed. Suddenly, he grew up, and he had already turned into a fine specimen of a man that many women would admire.


    Perhaps it was because in her mind, Lu Qingfeng was the little boy she had made friends with, preventing her from seeing him as a young man who was like a slowly ripening fruit next to her.


    Thinking about it, since they were children, Su Xiaofei had been confident and had no fear of others because of Lu Qingfeng. Even when her mother wasn''t around to protect her, Xiao Feng wouldn''t let anyone bully her.


    However, when Lu Qingfeng fell into a deepa in her previous life, and she stupidly cut off ties with her mother, Su Xiaofei didn''t have anyone to rely on except for herself. She had refused to listen to Xi Qian''s advice and insisted on marrying Mo Yuchen, which eventually led to her demise.


    But this time, Su Xiaofei intended to change the course of her life. If she couldn''t help but fall in love with Lu Qingfeng in this lifetime, then so be it. It didn''t matter if people loathed her, but she would remain by his side if it meant that she would be able to prevent him from bing a tyrant in the future.


    If it was another man, she wouldn''t have considered them. However, with Lu Qingfeng, she had an inexplicable confidence in her heart that he wouldn''t let her down.


    "Xiao Feng, why are you here so early?" She asked him.


    "Feifei, how could you speak to Xiao Feng like that?" Yun Qingrong frowned and gave Lu Qingfeng an apologetic look, but the young man''s expression remained unchanged, indicating that he wasn''t the least offended by Su Xiaofei''s words.


    "Didn''t you juste back from your trip with your grandfather yesterday? You should have slept more, and we could meet by noon." Su Xiaofei said in defense, feeling a bit wronged by her mother.


    "Feifei, you have to finish your meal before we can leave. Don''t worry about me. I can just take a quick napter." Lu Qingfeng reminded her of their agenda today.


    Seeing that Lu Qingfeng didn''t seem exhausted, Su Xiaofei ceased her questioning and resumed her meal.


    Yun Qingrong nced at her daughter and then to the small baggage Su Xiaofei had brought down earlier. Although Lu Qingfeng already made his intention towards her daughter known, Yun Qingrong''s treatment of him didn''t change at all.


    "Why are you bringing so many things, Feifei? Just where are you and Xiao Feng going this time?" She asked her daughter.


    "We''re just visiting someone, Mama. We will be back as soon as possible." Su Xiaofei replied. She had already exined that she would be going on a short trip with Lu Qingfeng, but she hadn''t divulged the reason for this sudden trip.


    Even Si Yixian wasn''t aware that she was already on her way to see and secure his little sister''s living arrangements before their impending meeting.


    Yun Qingrong conversed with Lu Qingfeng and asked him about his participation in their family business and what his future ns were. She didn''t say much and only nodded in response, before excusing herself and went off to work.


    "Take care, Aunty Qing." Lu Qingfeng bid goodbye.


    Previously, when Yun Qingrong and Su Haoran were still married, her husband gave Lu Qingfeng a cold shoulder and never attempted to have a decent talk with the young man.


    Actually, aside from Ye Mingyu, he treated everyone with coldness and superiority, as if he expected everyone to bow down in his presence, which was pitiful in Su Xiaofei''s opinion. Compared to Qiao Fengying and Chairman Lu, Su Haoran wascking in so many ways, but he still dared to act arrogant and ridiculous in front of Lu Qingfeng.


    After finishing their breakfast, Lu Qingfeng helped Su Xiaofei with her luggage, dragging it along with him, while Su Xiaofei sat in the backseat and waited for his return. She didn''t dare to show it, but she didn''t know what kind of date she would have with himter once they were done dealing with Si Yixian''s sister.


    Their travel duration was quite long, so Su Xiaofei had expected that they would arrive before the sun set.. This would also give her and Lu Qingfeng some privacy to spend some quality time before his departure.

 Chapter 244 - Unwanted One (2)

    <h4>Chapter 244 - Unwanted One (2)</h4>


    The time they spent on the road almost made Su Xiaofei whine next to Lu Qingfeng. Although he had provided the best travel arrangement he could, the road wasn''t fully developed and made the ride a little bumpy in Su Xiaofei''s opinion.


    Si Yixian''s sister''s location was surprisingly remote. No wonder Si Yixian and the investigators he hired had a hard time finding her. Not many would want to visit such a remote countryside where phone signals weren''t even avable.


    Fortunately, the report Yun Xiang handed to her was detailed enough that it would be impossible for her and Lu Qingfeng to lose their way. Lu Qingfeng even assured her that Nine was familiar with the ce as Nine had previously been here, so locating the orphanage where Si Yuxuan was staying wouldn''t be so hard for them.


    Once they alighted from the car, Su Xiaofei looked around and frowned at the condition of the orphanage where Si Yuxuan was residing. Was this kind of ce able to sustain and take care of the needs of young children, given that they were also in a dire situation?


    The building looked shabby and old, as if it had seen better days. She could pick up the faintughter of children from afar, as if they couldn''t be bothered with the appearance of their temporary home.


    "Let''s go and see if she''s really here." Lu Qingfeng suggested. Since they were already here, it''s only proper to deal with the problem first, so he and Su Xiaofei could n for their date after this.


    The two entered the premises, and they immediately earned several reactions and gazes from the orphanage''s residents. Wide, round eyes of children stared at them with amazement, while the older people wondered what their intention was foring to such a remote ce.


    Behind them, Nine followed shortly and led them to the director''s office. They were greeted by a woman in herte fifties. Her stature was lithe and small, forcing Su Xiaofei to look down even if she didn''t want to.


    "Director, we''re here to talk about Si Yuxuan. I''m Su Xiaofei. I was the one who called youst night." Su Xiaofei introduced herself.


    "Ah! I didn''t expect you toe here this soon. Pleasee in!" The old woman replied, giving way for the three to enter her small office.


    As Su Xiaofei looked around, she noticed several stacks of papers on top of the tables, while the white tiles on the floor were already cracking from old age. The other people inside the office looked amiable as they gave them a polite nod and returned to their tasks.


    "I''m here on Si Yuxuan''s brother''s behalf. We have been looking for his younger sister since his return, and we received a report that we might be able to find her here." Su Xiaofei said, as soon as she sat down, with Lu Qingfeng next to her.


    The director of the orphanage had a conflicted expression on her face as she looked at Su Xiaofei.


    "It would have been better if Mr. Si came here to see her for himself." Shemented.


    "I understand where you areing from, Director. Rest assured that my friend wille here on our next visit." Su Xiaofei reassured her. She only came here without Si Yixian to confirm that his sister was here before anything else. How can she have a hold over Si Yixian if he came here before her?


    The director fell silent, contemting whether she should entertain Su Xiaofei''s inquiries or not. However, as she gave the younger woman a good look, she couldn''t help but be in trance looking at her face.


    "Director shouldn''t worry too much. We''re here to help the Si siblings reunite with each other. We won''t hurt Si Yuxuan."


    The older woman nodded in understanding.


    "Actually, Si Yuxuan came here when she was seven years old. Since then, she has lived with us and has never been adopted by another family." She exined.


    "Then, is it true that she''s having some difficulties?"


    Of course, Su Xiaofei won''t vocally mention Si Yuxuan''s possible mental retardation as it was a sensitive issue not only for her older brother, but also for her caretakers.


    The director took a deep breath and leaned on her seat. She then nced at the old files on her left side, as if it could give her some constion.


    "It''s true. After Si Yixian was adopted long ago by a foreign couple, his sister was also taken in by another one. However, after a year, the family that adopted her noticed that she was far from normalpared to the young children her age. Si Yuxuan had been a mute ever since she arrived at the orphanage with her brother. Initially, everyone assumed that it was from a trauma when they lost their mother. However, when her new family found out that she has a mental retardation, they immediately returned her to the orphanage and requested to cancel the adoption process that was ongoing at that time."


    These words only proved that Yun Xiang''s intel was urate. From here, it was easy to understand the event that followed. The girl was truly not wanted by anyone except for Si Yixian.


    Since the original orphanage that took in the Si siblings was closed a decade ago, it was only natural that the children they were taking care of would be moved elsewhere. If anything, the investigators Si Yixian hired in the past were just too ipetent. If only they had done their job well, Si Yixian wouldn''t fall deeper into his depression.


    "Then, Director. Would it be possible for us to meet her today? If it''s alright, I want to take a picture of her to show Si Yixian once we return from our trip. This would also confirm if she was really the girl we are looking for."


    "Alright, but only if you promise not to force her to do anything.." The director requested, not wanting for Si Yuxuan to get nervous with their sudden visit to see her.

 Chapter 245 - Beautiful Women Are Dangerous (1)

    <h4>Chapter 245 - Beautiful Women Are Dangerous (1)</h4>


    Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng had to wait outside the Director''s office, while the old woman had a private talk with Si Yuxuan. They both had a glimpse of the woman, and it couldn''t be denied that Si Yuxuan had special needs by the way she spoke and how her body moves involuntarily.


    As they waited for the two, they were also bing the center of attention among the young children residing at the orphanage.


    "Pretty Sister, are you a celebrity?" One of the children mustered the courage to ask Su Xiaofei a question after they all pushed one another as they wanted to know why she and Lu Qingfeng were here.


    "Oh?" Su Xiaofei raised a slender brow. "What made you think that I''m a celebrity? Don''t you think I''m a demon that came here to eat naughty children?"


    This remark from her effectively made the young children cower in fear and hid behind their olderpanions.


    Lu Qingfeng huffed beside Su Xiaofei and thought that no wonder other children were afraid of her. Not only did she have an intimidating look, but she also knew how to scare children with her mere words.


    "Huh? Beautiful women could also be a demon?" A young boy asked in confusion as he looked at Su Xiaofei.


    Another boy harrumphed and crossed his arms over his chest and said arrogantly, "Don''t you know that most beautiful women in movies were bad people? I should know because my bro said that we should be wary of beautiful women!"


    Su Xiaofei couldn''t help butugh behind her hand after hearing that, while a small smile crossed Lu Qingfeng''s lips as he stood next to her.


    Lu Qingfeng thought that this young boy wasn''t wrong at all. Beauty wasn''t the danger, it was the veil of distraction that lures one into danger.


    Beautiful women by far have the most tragedies linked to their name. From heartbreakers to being misunderstood, that''s one long list. It takes a hell lot of courage and heavens of tolerance to deal with a beautiful woman.


    Much like a spider''s web, the only way to stay unharmed was to stay away from spiders, but with Su Xiaofei, Lu Qingfeng knew that he was doomed for eternity. Even if he wanted to, he knew that her influence on him was deep in his bones and he couldn''t live his life without her.


    "That''s right. When you see a beautiful woman, you shouldn''t easily believe her words or else she will eat you." Su Xiaofei agreed with the second boy.


    "But would you really eat us, Jiejie?" A young girl murmured as she hid behind a taller kid, her eyes looking at Su Xiaofei with awe.


    "Naughty kids are my favorite! They taste great. As long as you listen to your elders and don''t cause trouble for others, I and the other demons won''t eat you while you sleep at night." Su Xiaofei grinned in return.


    After saying this, the children argued with each other as to who was the naughtiest of them and what they did bad the past few days.


    Lu Qingfeng shook his head and rested his arms against the railing as they watched the children argue.


    "A demon, huh? You must be the demon the heavens sent my way to test my resolve." Hemented.


    Su Xiaofei snickered at that.


    "What? So what if I''m a demon? Don''t worry, Xiao Feng. Unless you are Tang Sanzang1, I won''t eat you." She assured him with a wicked grin.


    "Who said that I don''t like to be eaten by you?" Lu Qingfeng retorted. "However, once you eat me clean, Feifei, I''ll make sure you won''t get away so easily."


    "Stop saying such nonsense. People might misunderstand you."


    Su Xiaofei''s face turned beet red upon hearing that, and was itching to smack Lu Qingfeng''s head for even daring to say such a thing to her in the presence of young children. She also didn''t want others to misunderstand that she was exploiting him.


    Where did he learn such indecent things anyway? Was he spending so much time with his teammates that Lu Qingfeng was starting to pick up some influence from them?


    At sixteen, Lu Qingfeng was still growing and the end of puberty was in sight. It was the age where young men like him were in their mid-teens -- somewhere in the space between adolescent and young man.


    Su Xiaofei hadn''t paid much attention to Lu Qingfeng when he was at this age in her past life, but she did notice that he was starting to spend less time with her and was trying to get along with his peers.


    "I''m not even joking. If you dare to eat me clean without signing the papers, I''ll make sure to run to your mother for help. Let''s see which side she would take once she heard what happened."


    "Nothing happened! Don''t feed my mother with the wrong ideas, Xiao Feng." Su Xiaofei scowled, then wondered what was taking the director so long.


    "Right. You are a demon." Lu Qingfeng hummed. "No one can y with me for too long aside from you."


    Su Xiaofei didn''t know why, but she felt ufortable hearing that. She couldn''t surmise what Lu Qingfeng was even thinking as she nced his way. His expression remained the same, forbidding her to even get a hint of what was going on in his mind.


    Why was she feeling like this? The more she thought about him, the more Su Xiaofei was hesitant to let him go. This was far from what she felt when she was infatuated with Mo Yuchen.


    Su Xiaofei didn''t like this feeling of uncertainty, as if she was facing the unknown. However, she couldn''t let go. The fear of losing him was greater than her fear of falling in love again. Just thinking that she would never see him again was enough for her heart to feel like a hundred needles were piercing her at once.

 Chapter 246 - Beautiful Women Are Dangerous (2)

    <h4>Chapter 246 - Beautiful Women Are Dangerous (2)</h4>


    When Su Xiaofei met Si Yuxuan face to face, she wasn''t surprised that the woman cowered in fear and immediately sought the Director for help. Si Yuxuan was looking at her and Lu Qingfeng with fear in her eyes, as if she was afraid that they would hurt her.


    "It''s okay, darling. They came to see you." Director Qu hushed Si Yuxuan and rubbed her back in an attempt to calm her down.


    Su Xiaofei didn''t fail to notice some scratches on Si Yuxuan''s neck and arms, and wondered if she was bullied in this ce. She couldn''t help but feel perplexed. Although she only came here to use Si Yuxuan against her older brother, she couldn''t turn a blind eye when the goods were spoiled by someone else.


    Si Yuxuan was a few years older than Su Xiaofei, but her mental age was like that of a seven-year-old kid who was forgotten by her parents and loved ones. She was skinny, which was emphasized by the baggy clothes that clearly didn''t belong to her.


    "Director Qu, did Si Yuxuan do this to herself?" She gestured to the scratches Si Yuxuan had.


    The older woman was caught off guard by her question, and she hesitated to give her an answer for a moment.


    "E-en, Yuxuan needs some special care and attention. Since she returned from the previous family that was supposed to adopt her, she often sits alone and could be found mumbling incoherent things to herself. There are also times when she would hurt herself without a reason, but rest assured that we don''t leave her on her own and always have someone to apany her. Her personality is good though, and everyone here likes her." Director Qu exined.


    "I see." Su Xiaofei had no words to say at all. She could only hope that Si Yixian won''t turn his back on his little sister now that she was found.


    "If she was truly the sister your friend is looking for, I hope that he would take good care of her."


    "Of course, Director Qu. We''ll cooperate with you until Si Yuxuan is ready to go home with her brother."


    After that, Su Xiaofei requested to take a photo of Si Yuxuan before leaving with Lu Qingfeng. As the car drove away from the orphanage, Su Xiaofei thought that she was luckypared to Si Yuxuan. Had Yun Qingrong not found her and adopted her, she was sure that she would also lead a simr life to Si Yuxuan''s current one.


    Unwanted and forgotten. Was this what was waiting for children who were abandoned by their parents?


    "Xiaofei, you aren''t alone. You have me, Aunty Qing and Xi Qian. You are worrying too much." Lu Qingfeng patted her hand before giving it a light squeeze to remind her that she wasn''t anything like Si Yuxuan at all.


    Su Xiaofei gave him a weak smile and turned her gaze away from her. She didn''t know how Lu Qingfeng knew what she was thinking, but she was thankful that he was here with her.


    Right. She wasn''t alone anymore. Her mother and Xi Qian were still alive, and Lu Qingfeng hadn''t fallen into aa and lost himself. Wasn''t this enough proof that she wasn''t left on her own again?


    "Xiao Feng, I have a secret to tell you." She said in a low voice, which made Lu Qingfeng stiffen on his seat.


    He wasn''t sure which ones she was going to confess, but he had to brace himself for it.


    "Are you sure you want to tell me this?" He questioned her.


    "Didn''t you say that you can be my tree hole? That you are willing to keep my secrets till the end?" She retorted.


    Lu Qingfeng eyed her for a moment before nodding in agreement. He did tell her that before and he was surprised that she was able to remember it now.


    Su Xiaofei used to have a short span of attention when it came to trivial things and could forget a lot of it. Didn''t she also forget the promise to marry? The very one they made when they were younger.


    "Alright. Then what do you want to share with me?"


    "Xiao Feng, I''m not really my Mama''s daughter. She adopted me when she visited an orphanage Bluemedia was supporting before. I wonder if she hadn''t found me, would I live in the same ce and be in the same shoes as Si Yuxuan."


    Lu Qingfeng remained silent for a moment. He was already aware of Su Xiaofei''s real identity, and he wasn''t bothered by it one bit. Even if she was a daughter of a poor farmer or amoner, as long as her soul and heart remained the same, then he knew that he would fall in love with her all over again.


    "I doubt it." He finally answered her. "Knowing your personality, I know that you won''t allow yourself to be kept in such a ce for too long. You would surely find a way to attract couples who wanted to adopt a kid."


    "If I was in an orphanage, I would surely lose to the cutest and most adorable child around. Wouldn''t it be safer to stay at the orphanage than to leave with a new set of parents, making a fool out of yourself and pretending to be something you are not?"


    "You are pretty and smart. I don''t believe that anyone would be able to ignore you." Lu Qingfeng countered her. "Anyway, does it bother you to know that you are adopted by Aunty Qing? Do you feel less loved just because you aren''t her real child?"


    "No." Su Xiaofei answered him. "More than anything, I am grateful that I became Yun Qingrong''s daughter. I couldn''t ask for a better mother than her."


    Compared to Bai Qingyue, Yun Qingrong, who had never been able to conceive a child, had the qualities of a good mother.. For this, Su Xiaofei would be forever grateful to Yun Qingrong.

 Chapter 247 - You Won’t Be Alone Anymore (1)

    <h4>Chapter 247 - You Won¡¯t Be Alone Anymore (1)</h4>


    The weather up north was considerably cooler than what Su Xiaofei was used to back in Qiying City. She thought that with thete notice she had given to Lu Qingfeng, both of them would have a hard time finding a ce to stay for the night, but she was mistaken.


    With Nine''s help, Lu Qingfeng was able to book two private rooms for them to use that night. The inn was located in the western part of the province, with mountains on one side and a hugeke on another, it was a magnificent view for guests and travelers like them to enjoy the scenery.


    In particr, Su Xiaofei hadn''t expected to see a bunch of chrysanthemum flowers blooming in this season or maybe her geographical knowledge about this ce was really limited. It was a good thing that Lu Qingfeng and Nine came with her or else, she would need to trouble the Zhang siblings to care for her needs on this trip.


    She and Lu Qingfeng were having dinner at the dining area of the inn, which was facing the calmke under a starry night. The calmness of the scenery was far from the busy streets and fast paced life they both have back in Qiying City.


    A moment like this allowed Su Xiaofei to reflect on her way of living and how exceptionally different her life waspared to the one she had in her previous life. She couldn''t remember being this calm and content when she was with Mo Yuchen.


    After the first year of their marriage, the two had often been at each other''s neck with no one willing to back down on their argument. Su Xiaofei''s mind had been upied with things regarding work and how she could defeat Ye Mingyu, to prove that she was better than thetter.


    ''How foolish.'' Su Xiaofei thought as she held a steaming cup of tea with a small smile gracing her lips.


    "I don''t know what kind of date you have in your mind. Does this suit your taste?"


    The sudden question Lu Qingfeng threw her way caused Su Xiaofei to snap her head towards him and stared at him with confusion. It took her a moment to realize what he was thinking about. She blinked slowly upon realization.


    Lu Qingfeng''s smile faltered when she remained silent. He was fine if this was their date, so long as they were together and could enjoy each other''spany.


    "I see, then I''ll do better next time. You must be tired from our long travels." He said as he pushed his hurt aside, in order to make sure that Su Xiaofei wasfortable.


    This ce was unlike the urban cities they used to visit and there weren''t many attractions to visit and see as a couple.


    If they were back at Qiying City, it would be easy for him to reserve a fancy restaurant Su Xiaofei might like, take her out to the mall for the day, buy her whatever she wanted and end the day by sending her up to her doorsteps. s, with limited time and options, Lu Qingfeng could only prepare a special dinner for her like this.


    "Well, I think we''re on a date." Su Xiaofei smiled at him. "It''s the thought that counts, Xiao Feng. You don''t need to preparevish gifts and take me to a fancy restaurant to consider it as a date. It''s enough that you have me in your mind when you make these preparations."


    Her words made his gut squirm a little and Lu Qingfeng looked away. He was looking flustered and was desperate to bring his attention to something else other than her slightly pale lips. It had truly been a challenge for him to stop himself from pinning her in the corner and kissing her senselessly as he wanted to.


    Thankfully, the need to ensure that she was happy and well was able to ovee his desire to possess her.


    "We can take a stroll tomorrow and look around if you don''t mind. The inn owner told me that the sunrise looks good this season." He suggested, feeling that this mere dinner couldn''t count as a date with her.


    They had dined together a couple of times, and Lu Qingfeng wanted to make this special between them.


    "Xiao Feng, are you sure you want to be with me?" Su Xiaofei suddenly asked, much to his surprise.


    Lu Qingfeng scowled at her.


    "What kind of question is this, Feifei? You should know the answer to this question already."


    Su Xiaofei raised a slender brow as she noticed that Lu Qingfeng was looking bashful, something she rarely saw on him. Lu Qingfeng was always calm and collected, and it''s rare to find him in an ufortable state.


    "Even if the whole world hates me?" She asked, because there''s no doubt that Ye Mingyu and Mo Yuchen would not be her only enemies in the future.


    After her divorce with Mo Yuchen in her previous life, Su Xiaofei thought that ambitious women like her would only have two options in life. It was either to gain a supportive partner or to lead a lonely life. She then decided to keep herself out of love and would rather stay alone and rely on no one. It wasn''t until Lu Qingfeng came to her that her views started to change, slowly but surely.


    "I can''t promise to solve all your problems, but I can promise that you won''t have to face them alone from now on. Is this enough, Xiaofei?" Lu Qingfeng asked in return.


    Su Xiaofei felt moved by his words. Before her death and before Lu Qingfeng found her, she had always felt alone. She had always wondered what it would feel like to have someone who could truly understand her and won''t get tired of her.


    Initially, she didn''t want to fall in love or need someone.. She really didn''t want anything but to exact revenge, but then Lu Qingfeng appeared and now she wanted to experience what love truly was.

 Chapter 248 - You Won’t Be Alone Anymore (2)

    <h4>Chapter 248 - You Won¡¯t Be Alone Anymore (2)</h4>


    With their trip back to Qiying City scheduled after lunch, Su Xiaofei woke up feeling refreshed after a good night''s sleep, not worrying about her studies or anything. Like what the inn owner imed, the sunrise she watched with Lu Qingfeng that morning looked better than any other sunrises she had witnessed before.


    The sun rose as if it had missed the sky and wanted nothing more than to warm up the dark nket of the night to a radiant gold. After a long cold night, the daybreak brought glimmers of warmth. The golden light softly caressed thend and triggered the birds to break out into a chorus of melodies.


    "It must be nice to be greeted by the sun like this every morning. Thank you for bringing me here, Xiao Feng. I couldn''t think of a better way to spend time with you in a ce like this." She told Lu Qingfeng as they walked by the side of the blueke.


    From where they were standing, they could see a couple of guests showing up at the dining area of the inn to enjoy their breakfast and the scenery offered to them.


    "As long as you are satisfied, then I''m d." Lu Qingfeng replied. He was holding a closed parasol in his left hand, while the other held Su Xiaofei''s hand.


    Su Xiaofei held onto his hand and walked slowly next to him, enjoying the light breeze that passed. Breathing in the countryside''s fresh air, listening to the sounds of birds and insects made her mind very peaceful.


    At the beginning of the month, they were both so busy with their responsibilities at school and work that they barely had time to enjoy each other''spany like this. The weight Su Xiaofei had gained since her rebirth, that Lu Qingfeng had slowly nurtured, was slowly disappearing due to her hectic schedule.


    "Ah, this feels sofortable, I almost feel like I don''t want to return home so soon."


    Lu Qingfeng smiled and nced at the treeline ahead of them.


    "Then should wee back here once we have time off from work?" He suggested, knowing that such a possibility would be far from now, given how busy they would be once they return to Qiying City.


    "Okay, when that timees, you would already be CEO Lu. This poor manager will just apany you then."


    "You are only saying that so I could pay the tab for you. Since when did you be so stingy when ites to money, Xiaofei?"


    Su Xiaofei scoffed at that, then a thought crossed her mind.


    "Hey, Xiao Feng. If you are going to choose only one, would it be love or money?"


    In her past life, she had been blinded by her love for Mo Yuchen that she had willingly thrown away and ignored other important aspects of her life.


    The young man furrowed her brows, wondering what Su Xiaofei was up to again.


    When he didn''t say anything in response, Su Xiaofei continued.


    "Assuming I can''t have both, love and money, and I chose money, would that make me a gold digger? Money minded? Shallow?" She questioned him.


    "Of course not." Lu Qingfeng was quick to answer. "Have you met poor people? If love was all you needed to be happy in life, then the poor would be the happiest, most content people on the."


    "Oh! It''s good to know that I''m not the only one who thought like this." Su Xiaofei seemed pleased with his answer. Love was not all sweet and rosy and filled with happiness ever after. If she could speak to her former self, she would say ''Wake up and smell the coffee. One has to differentiate between fantasy and reality!''


    "Money makes the world go round." Lu Qingfeng continued. "It''s year 20xx, you are madly in love with your partner but you have no food to eat. What are you going to do? Beg for food or walk into a grocery shop and buy food with love?"


    "Have you ever heard of The World''s Most Loving Couple? No. How about the World''s Richest? Bet you have. Would you rather cry in a Porsche or on a bicycle? I do believe love is important. Don''t ever think that it''s not. But don''t think for a second that you can survive in this century, in this world, only in love with zero money."


    "That makes sense." Su Xiaofei nodded. "Is that why you are so eager to earn so much money at a young age?"


    Lu Qingfeng was around twelve when he started showing interest in investing and learning the ways of their family business. Despiteing from an affluent family, he couldn''t be seen spendingvishly and dressed in expensive luxurious clothes like other young masters were.


    In his first life, he was utterly defeated by Mo Yuchen because the older man had a lot of money and influencepared to him. In his second life, while he had billions under his name, all of it was for nothing because he lost Su Xiaofei yet again.


    "I''m merely preparing for the future. I can''t allow others to look down on my wife because of me. I can''t have her worrying about money, when I should be the one providing for her, right?"


    "But women these days can provide for themselves too. Would that mean we can do the same for our husbands?" Su Xiaofei challenged him.


    "That''s fine too. Bing financially independent is not just a task for men. Basically, everyone, despite their genders, must be able to be financially independent. For married women, being financially independent means having a spare lifeboat in the form of their own ie, which can be used to help their families during an economic crisis or ease their husbands'' financial burden."


    As they reached the end of the treeline, they saw a group of people at the restricted part of the inn. Su Xiaofei''s eyes narrowed when she saw a familiar face in the crowd.


    ''Dear Mother, we meet again.''

 Chapter 249 - Bai Qingyue (1)

    <h4>Chapter 249 - Bai Qingyue (1)</h4>


    Of all ces, Su Xiaofei didn''t expect that she would be able to meet her birth mother here. She had long known that their meeting couldn''t be avoided, but not this early. It seemed like they were filming a scene and Bai Qingyue was dressed in a traditional outfit.


    Her long ck hair was pinned up on top of her head with a simple hair pin, and she was d in a white and red robe with flowers embroidered on her sleeves. It made her appearance look younger than her actual age and could put anyone in a trance, as if she was an immortal fairy who had lost her way and ended up in the mortal realm.


    But not for Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng. They were both expressionless as they stood among the small crowd who were fawning over Bai Qingyue.


    "Do you know that they would be here?" Su Xiaofei asked Lu Qingfeng.


    "No. I didn''t." Lu Qingfeng gauged her reaction. "Sorry. I should have paid more attention. The inn owner only informed us that the other side of the premises is off limits. I didn''t know that there''s a production going on here."


    He knew that Bai Qingyue was her birth mother, but he needed to feign ignorance over this fact for the meantime. Unless Su Xiaofei was willing to share her secrets with him, he needed to be careful with his words and actions.


    Lu Qingfeng didn''t want to deceive her by keeping the truth from her. He knew for a fact that if she knew that he was reborn like her, the guilt she was slowly letting go mighte back with a vengeance. He also didn''t want her to take all the me for all the things hemitted in his past life.


    "It''s okay, Xiao Feng. I suppose it can''t be helped." Su Xiaofei sighed and gave her birth mother a good look.


    While she felt happy that she was able to meet Qiao Fengying in this lifetime, the same couldn''t be said about her meeting Bai Qingyue again. Su Xiaofei felt nothing for her birth mother other than animosity. She would never ept such a person as her mother, even if they were cut from the same cloth.


    Su Xiaofei didn''t need to think hard about what kind of project Bai Qingyue''s team was currently filming. Since Bluemedia had finally let go of her and chose to hold auditions for the title role, Bai Qingyue immediately epted Golden Star''s offer to y the female lead role for their historical TV drama, courtesy of Mo Yuchen.


    Su Xiaofei was aware that she was still not strong enough to go against Mo Yuchen in her current state, but it didn''t mean that she couldn''t do anything to mess with him.


    "If you are feeling ufortable, we can leave now." Lu Qingfeng suggested, but she shook her head in response.


    "It''s fine. I want to watch them a little." She smiled at him and gave his hand a light squeeze. She didn''t want Lu Qingfeng to think that their date could easily be ruined just because Bai Qingyue was here.


    As they stayed watching the scenes being yed by Bai Qingyue, Su Xiaofei had to admit that her birth mother wasn''t a bad actress after all. It made sense that this woman was able to reach the peak of her career.


    The moment the director signaled them to start, the tears immediately rolled down Bai Qingyue''s cheek. She suddenly turned into a different person and yed her role very well. There was no Bai Qingyue visible, only the pitiful and tragic heroine of their TV drama.


    The actress who would portray the title role in "The Poisonous Concubine" shouldn''t underestimate Bai Qingyue''s talent at all. She would need to prove that she canpete with Bai Qingyue.


    "How''s Aunty Qing''s big project going?" Lu Qingfeng whispered.


    He was aware that Yun Qingrong had been putting a lot of effort into "The Poisonous Concubine", just like she did in the past. He had tried to invest in the said project during his meeting with Su Xiaofei''s mother, but Yun Qingrong politely turned his offer down.


    There was no issue over the funding, but the casting of the series. It was hard to find a suitable actress that would be able to portray the female lead role aside from Bai Qingyue, whom they initially considered for the role.


    "The audition is still ongoing, but I expect that they will be able to find a suitable actress to portray the lead role. Mama is still on the edge, worrying about it." She replied.


    Su Xiaofei was hoping that Tang Liyan would consider epting her offer. It was the Zhang siblings whom she had sent to deliver her proposal, but she was certain that the actress who had lost her shine after getting married wouldn''t be able to ignore it for too long.


    Since Tang Liyan had irreconcble grievances towards Bai Qingyue, Su Xiaofei expected that Tang Liyan would willinglye to her soon and ept the female lead role for Yun Qingrong''s project.


    As for Bai Qingyue, as long as she didn''t provoke her and her mother, Su Xiaofei had no interest in dragging her birth mother to the mud anytime soon. She could still seek revenge over the grievances she had experienced under her mother''s schemes at ater time.


    When the director sent another signal, Bai Qingyue''s expression immediately returned to normal and rose to her feet from kneeling on the ground. Her assistants immediately came to her and gave her a drink and a pack of tissue to dry her tears.


    As the production crew rushed to prepare for the next scene, the director reviewed the recorded scene with Bai Qingyue and was pleased with her performance. However, as soon as he lifted his head to call his assistant, someone from the crowd took his attention.


    Su Xiaofei''s smiling face as she looked at Lu Qingfeng effectively put the director in a trance.

 Chapter 250 - Bai Qingyue (2)

    <h4>Chapter 250 - Bai Qingyue (2)</h4>


    "Director Yan, everything is ready on the next set. Should we get going?" His assistant came to him, but then realized that their director was looking elsewhere. Following his line of sight, the young assistant saw a good-looking couple in the crowd. He then realized that it made sense why the two were able to pique their director''s curiosity.


    In terms of appearance, the young couple would surely not fall behindpared to the young rising stars of this generation. They were both appealing and eye-catching, making one want to look at them more.


    The young woman was stunning and elegant. Her appearance was one of gentle intelligence, as if even her wisdom had a feminine quality. Like the young man next to her, she was brimming with confidence and style, as if she was born to be a star.


    Meanwhile, the young man had the kind of face that could stop anyone in their tracks. The young assistant guessed that Lu Qingfeng must be used to that, the sudden pause in a person''s natural expression when they looked his way, followed by ovepensating with a nonchnt gaze and a weak smile. However, as he nced at the beautiful young woman next to him, one could see the gentleness in his eyes, as if he only reserved it for her and only for her.


    Despite the exceptional appearance the young man possessed, it was obvious that he was a one-woman-man who prized genuineness and thoughtful conversation above lipstick and high-heels.


    Suddenly, the middle-aged director stood up from his seat and sauntered towards the small crowd. The security team was keeping them under watch, making sure they wouldn''t dy the filming for the production team. However, they all shared a confused look, wondering why their director came to them.


    "Director Yan, is there something we could do for you?" One of them politely asked.


    "May you invite those two in? I want to have a word with them, especially with that young woman." Director Yan said.


    Director Yan was a critically acimed director of several prominent films and TV series for the past decade, which cemented his reputation in the entertainment industry. He had seen a lot of beautiful women and handsome men, but there was something about this young couple that couldn''t make him look away upon seeing them together.


    It was like these two were made for each other and were meant to be together. Director Yan had no doubt that many agents would want to sign these two with them, either as a model or an artist. The two already had a head start with their looks alone, and they would surely be more popr if they had talents to offer to their audience.


    The security team then invited Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng in and led them to where the director and his assistant were waiting for them. Coincidentally, Bai Qingyue went to see Director Yan to ask for his advice for the next scenes.


    When Bai Qingyue saw Su Xiaofei, her eyes narrowed and her expression became unreadable. She was looking at Su Xiaofei with curiosity and scrutiny at the same time, and fell silent.


    Su Xiaofei was wearing a green dress with a light beige coat protecting her from the cold. Her long hair was then tied into a loose braid.


    "Miss Bai, the set for the next scene is ready. Director Yan has something to do, but we will be there soon." Director Yan''s assistant told Bai Qingyue, reminding the actress of her purpose for going there.


    Bai Qingyue gave him an awkward smile and nced at Su Xiaofei, who was still talking to the director, wondering who she was and why she hade here. Her face then became gloomy the more she stared at Su Xiaofei''s beautiful face.


    How can she not be suspicious like this?


    Eighteen years ago, she abandoned a beautiful baby girl in an orphanage. For so many months, she had tried to push the thought of her daughter away from her mind, convincing herself that she had made the right decision to give up on her child and choose her blossoming career.


    Still, that smiling face of the young baby in her arms when she first held her daughter was deeply ingrained in her mind, giving Bai Qingyue many restless and sleepless nights because of it. When she finally mustered the courage to check on the daughter she had abandoned, the child was nowhere to be found.


    She was almost driven mad because of it, wondering where her daughter was and who had taken her. The smiling face of that baby had be a thorn in her side that she couldn''t remove no matter how hard she tried to forget.


    Bai Qingyue tried to convince herself that the child had died and if she was still alive, she shouldn''t be able to find out about their rtionship in the future.


    Seeing Su Xiaofei now had reminded her of those dark days of her life, and couldn''t help but question if this young woman was the child she had abandoned years ago. How can she not notice the resemnce between her and this young woman?


    If she wasn''t her daughter, this young woman was surely rted to her!


    "Mr. Han, who''s that young woman? Is she part of the casting?" She asked the director''s assistant.


    The young man turned his head and looked at their director and the young couple they invited earlier.


    "Oh, Director Yan wants to invite the young miss to join the casting. He thought that Miss Su would be suitable to y the younger version of the female lead." He said with excitement.


    Hearing his exnation, Bai Qingyue''s face nched. If the director and this assistant were able to see the resemnce between her and this young woman, the public would surely have the same impression of it if they were able to see her on the big screen.. That was something Bai Qingyue didn''t want to happen.

 Chapter 251 - Bai Qingyue (3)

    Su Xiaofei didn''t expect that the director would notice her and invite her to join the cast, ying the younger version of Bai Qingyue''s character. She wanted tough, amused at the situation she was currently in. Knowing Bai Qingyue''s personality, she would surely not allow Su Xiaofei to join their production.


    This made Su Xiaofei wonder if Bai Qingyue had recognized her as her daughter as soon as she had seen her.


    "Director Yan is too kind, but I regret that I would have to turn down your invitation. I''m afraid to put everyone down as I''m not an actress nor do I have prior experience in acting." She told the director, aware that people hade to stop what they were doing and currently giving them an odd look.


    "You need not to worry about that, Miss Su. The lines for the younger female lead are few, and you only need to actfortably throughout the scenes. As for the producer, I''m sure he''ll agree with me once he sees you." Director Yan tried to convince her.


    They had already selected an actress that could y the role, but upon seeing Su Xiaofei, how can he not try to convince her to join the cast instead? Su Xiaofei would surely attract a lot of attention and this could be her stepping stone to enter show business.


    Su Xiaofei''s looks were almost simr to Bai Qingyue and those who had been an avid follower of the multi awarded actress would easily think that they were looking at the younger Bai Qingyue when she was still new in the industry.


    This wasn''t the first time that Director Yan had worked with Bai Qingyue, so he was also familiar with her. He could tell that some of Su Xiaofei''s facial features were almost identical to Bai Qingyue, which made the young woman suitable to y the younger version of the female lead.


    However, he had no way to know that this young woman would be the main reason why his current project would flop in rating. Su Xiaofei might not be actively involved with the production of "The Poisonous Concubine", but she surely had a hand when Bluemedia declined Bai Qingyue''s demand and chose to hold an audition instead.


    "I''m really sorry, Director Yan, but I can''t. It''s an honor to be acknowledged by someone like you, but I really can''t ept it." She politely declined.


    The director''s face fell and he could only sigh dejectedly. Since Su Xiaofei had already decided, there was nothing more he could say to change her mind.


    She didn''t seem like someone who was worried about money, so he couldn''t offer her any financial gains that could entice her.


    "Director Yan, Miss Bai is here to see you." His assistant came, informing him of Bai Qingyue''s presence.


    Director Yan lifted his head and smiled when he spotted Bai Qingyue. He and Bai Qingyue had a good working rtionship and wasn''t surprised that she sought him for some advice.


    "Hello, Director Yan. Do you have some time to spare me? I have a question about the next scene we''re about to take." Bai Qingyue''s voice was gentle as she spoke with him.


    She then nced at Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng''s direction, giving an impression that she was curious about them to Director Yan. She was expecting him to introduce them to her.


    "Oh? And this is¡­" She regarded Su Xiaofei. It was obvious that she was more interested in the young woman as she had tantly ignored Lu Qingfeng''s presence.


    "This is Miss Su. She and herpanion are also guests in this inn. They stumbled upon us when they were taking a stroll."


    Su Xiaofei gave Bai Qingyue a slight bow and introduced herself. She didn''t show any impression of being starstruck meeting Bai Qingyue for the first time.


    "Hello, Miss Bai. I''m a fan of yours. I look forward to seeing you in your next series."


    "I invited her to join our cast as the younger version of your character, but unfortunately she''s not avable." Director Yan exined.


    Bai Qingyue was surprised at that. She thought that this woman was sensible enough to know what it meant to be part of their production. Considering she was able to attract Director Yan''s attention, it only meant that the man was able to see some potential in this young woman.


    "It''s a pity then. I''m sure you''ll be able to gain a lot of valuable experience filming with us." She told Su Xiaofei. "How old are you anyway? The younger version of the female lead is around fifteen."


    "I''m already eighteen, Miss Bai. However, regardless of the age requirement, I won''t be able to ept Director Yan''s request. We need to be on our way back home this afternoon."


    Su Xiaofei gave her a smile that caused Bai Qingyue to turn stiff. Even if this young woman wasn''t her daughter, there''s definitely something different with her.


    The way Su Xiaofei looked at her felt like she could see way past Bai Qingyue''s facade, which made thetter ufortable.


    Bai Qingyue could only keep the smile on her face, not wanting to show her hesitation and suspicion towards this Young Miss Su. There was certainly another reason why this young woman came here.


    Su Xiaofei inwardly scoffed. She was aware why Bai Qingyue mentioned and probed about her age. This woman was no doubt having suspicion about her identity.


    She had already changed her hair and fashion styletely, but it didn''t seem like it had an effect since many could still see some resemnce between her and Bai Qingyue.


    "Then I won''t keep you here any longer. I''m sorry that I had disturb you and yourpanion." Director Yan told Su Xiaofei and gave Lu Qingfeng a curt nod.


    "It''s nothing, Director Yan. I should be the one apologizing for declining your invitation, but I do hope we''ll be able to get a chance to work with each other in the future."


    The two left the filming site, leaving Bai Qingyue both a little flustered and confused at the same time. In contrast to her, Su Xiaofei hooked her arm with Lu Qingfeng and resumed their stroll that was interrupted earlier.


    Su Xiaofei''s mood was obviously good after that, and Lu Qingfeng wondered what made her smile like this.


    "What are you smiling for?" He couldn''t help but ask curiously.


    Su Xiaofei was enjoying a snack while watching the scenery out the window.


    They were seated in the backseat of Lu Qingfeng''s car, with Nine driving, as they made their way back to Qiying City.


    As usual, Nine''s focus was on the road with ear pieces on to tune out the conversation between his young master and future madam.


    Another car transporting the Zhang siblings was following behind them.


    Lu Qingfeng had been paying more attention to Su Xiaofei''s expressionstely and he could tell that meeting Bai Qingyue today had some effect on her.


    Was she happy meeting Bai Qingyue this early or was it something else? He wondered.


    Su Xiaofei wasn''t the only one thinking about their imminent separation, but Lu Qingfeng knew that this temporary separation was needed for them to understand themselves better.


    "Well, I was able to have you to myself, even if it''s just for two days. How can I not be happy?" She grinned at him. "Thanks, Xiao Feng. I know it''s not easy for you, but I appreciate that you are here with me."


    Oddly, she wasn''t worried too much about his impending departure, unlike the past weeks when she had been constantly thinking about it. The time she had spent with him over the two days made her feel more at ease about their rtionship.


    Although Su Xiaofei admits that she wasn''t ready tomit to a rtionship, she does acknowledge her growing feelings for Lu Qingfeng.


    Maybe it''s fine for them to be intimate friends for now, until they are both ready to be lovers in the future. Su Xiaofei hoped that by talking it slowly, she and Lu Qingfeng would be able to cultivate an environment where they could be more honest with each other and what they were looking for.


    "Then I''m d. In the future, when we have spare time, we should travel and take a short vacation together."


    "Fine with me, but let''s not visit the same ce again. We should make more happy memories in different ces." Su Xiaofei easily agreed with him.


    "We should also invite Qian, Mama and your Grandpa so they may also enjoy and take a break once in a while" She added with eagerness. She certainly wouldn''t allow her best friend and her mother to miss such a chance to rx.


    Lu Qingfeng could only smile at her, watching her devour the snacks he bought from the inn before leaving.. Seeing her smile like this reminded him of the days he had spent with her in his first life, when they were both living in the countryside, content with being with each other without worrying about anything else.

 Chapter 252 - A Truce With Xi Qian (1)

    As soon as Su Xiaofei came back to Qiying City with Lu Qingfeng, she didn''t immediately go to see Si Yixian. She needed to take her own college admission exam before anything else. This was why most of her ns had to be paused for the meantime, and everything was left to the Zhang siblings to make sure that Qin Muyao and Tang Liyan wouldn''t encounter problems while she was gone.


    With Xi Qian and Lu Qingfeng''s assistance, Su Xiaofei wasn''t worried that she would fail her admission exam. If in her past life she disregarded her studies, this time she didn''t want others to use her educational attainment against her. She wanted to prove that she wasn''t just someone with a beautiful face!


    After her return, she went straight into an intensive studying mode with Xi Qian and Lu Qingfeng''s help. Combined with the stressful remaining weeks before the school year ended, Su Xiaofei''s days in QCA had been peaceful without worrying about Ye Mingyu nor Feng Xue''ering after her.


    The day of the exam finally came and Su Xiaofei woke up unusually early and was ready to face the day. How can she not be up so early when she''d been tossing in her bedst night, unable to fall asleep, feeling so anxious for the exam?


    As for the changes that took ce since her rebirth, Su Xiaofei had already expected a butterfly effect that would be enough to cause so many unforeseen events in the future. No matter what, she was different from the foolish Su Xiaofei who not only ruined herself, but also dragged her loved ones down with her.


    "Xiao Feng, what are you doing here?" She asked when she reached the foot of the stairs, finding Lu Qingfeng speaking in a low voice with her mother.


    "I came to apany you to the university." Lu Qingfeng said in a matter-of-fact tone.


    "Feifei, I won''t be able to apany you today. I''m sorry." Yun Qingrong apologized to her daughter. As much as she wanted to cancel her appointment for today, it couldn''t be dyed anymore as Bluemedia finally found an actress that could y the lead role for "The Poisonous Concubine" after declining Bai Qingyue''s demands.


    "Oh, no. Mama. Don''t worry about me. I understand. Xiao Feng will be going with me today anyway, and we''ll bring Qian with us, but you can''t certainly miss our celebration partyter when the result is out!"


    Yun Qingrong''s lips twitched slightly as she looked at her daughter. She then thought that having a sensible daughter was way better than keeping her treacherous ex-husband. Unlike before, when her daughter was always finding a reason to argue with her, Su Xiaofei was bing a daughter she could truly be proud of.


    "Of course. I''ll be sure not to miss it. I''m sure my Feifei will ace her exams." She said with confidence.


    Just as Su Xiaofei said, Lu Qingfeng and Xi Qian apanied her to the university where she would take the admission exam. Upon arrival, they immediately saw a horde of parents apanying their children. They were all nagging to their children to do their best and not to dilly dally when they answered their exams.


    As Su Xiaofei looked at the small crowd, she wondered how it felt having such supportive parents on such an important event in a person''s life. However, as she thought about it, Qiao Fengying might be the one who would try to encourage her to do her best, and she couldn''t expect anything from Bai Qingyue''s part.


    "I''m heading in! Don''t fight while waiting for me, okay?" She told the two before adjusting the small purse she brought with her and was about to turn to leave when Xi Qian and Lu Qingfeng stopped her at the same time.


    "Wait!" They both eximed as both of their hands extended in a gesture to stop Su Xiaofei from leaving before they could say their piece.


    Xi Qian and Lu Qingfeng nced at each other and realized that they both wanted to cheer Su Xiaofei on.


    "Feifei, don''t hand in your papers early and check it thoroughly, okay? Don''t worry too much and just focus on your paper." Xi Qian reminded her best friend once she noticed that Lu Qingfeng had once again given way for her to speak with Su Xiaofei first.


    Meanwhile, Lu Qingfeng handed her his lucky pen, much to Su Xiaofei''s amusement. She was aware that this same pen was the one she gifted him when they were younger and the one he''d been using whenever he had to take exams.


    "I''ll lend this to you for the meantime." He told her. "You can skip the hard questions and answer the easy ones. By doing this, you won''t spend too much time stuck on a hard question, and you''ll be able to answer as many questions as possible."


    Su Xiaofei let out augh and took the pen from his hand. As soon as she took it, her eyes slightly widened when Lu Qingfeng ced a gentle kiss on her forehead. It was brief and before she knew it, Lu Qingfeng had already pulled away from her.


    Xi Qian was just as surprised as Su Xiaofei. She was stunned upon witnessing such an intimate scene between her best friend and Lu Qingfeng, which only proved her assumptions that these two were starting to see each other in a different light.


    Now that Su Xiaofei was aware of the little tyrant''s intention, Xi Qian knew that she also needed to step back and allow her best friend to decide for herself whether Lu Qingfeng was a better man for her than Mo Yuchen. She could only hope that this little tyrant won''t make their Feifei cry like Mo Yuchen did in the past.


    After Lu Qingfeng kissed Su Xiaofei, he stepped back and looked at her as if he hadn''t done anything earlier.


    "Now, you are ready. Make us and Aunty Qing proud of you, Feifei." He said calmly.


    Su Xiaofei gaped at him, but decided not to question him for the meantime, as her exam was about to start.


    "Thanks! With you two here to cheer for me, I''m not so nervous anymore." She said before bidding goodbye to them again and hurried to the assigned room where she would take her exam, leaving Xi Qian and Lu Qingfeng together.


    "What now?" Xi Qian asked him. She wanted to interrogate him about the real score between him and Su Xiaofei, but she supposed she would wait for her best friend toe clean herself, rather than questioning this little tyrant.


    "You want to know if Feifei and I are together?" Lu Qingfeng voiced her curiosity once they walked out of the premises of the university, much to Xi Qian''s shock.


    However, since he had willingly raised the issue, Xi Qian supposed that it wouldn''t hurt to probe him for some answers. She stopped in her tracks and stared at him with hawk eyes.


    "En. I want to know if you and Feifei are together now." She replied, deciding not to hide her curiosity.


    "Not yet, but we''ll get there eventually." Lu Qingfeng replied nonchntly, as if he was certain that no other man could pass through him and sweep Su Xiaofei away from under his nose.


    Xi Qian scoffed at that, thinking about how this young man was so arrogant, in her opinion. At least now, his presence was now more tolerablepared to before, where they would start a silent war against each other whenever Su Xiaofei wasn''t paying attention.


    "Aren''t you leaving soon? How sure are you that Feifei won''t meet another man that can make her fall in love?" She retorted with a huff. Just because Mo Yuchen was out of the scene, it didn''t mean that Su Xiaofei would like him.


    Lu Qingfeng gave her a confident smile, his eyes showing that he wasn''t bothered with Xi Qian''s words. In his previous life, he always worried about Su Xiaofei because of her infatuation with Mo Yuchen. However, in this lifetime, he was lucky that she was able to see the kind of man Mo Yuchen really was and wouldn''t fall for his charms a second time.


    Moreover, Su Xiaofei was someone who once she made a decision, it would be hard to sway her to change her mind. Since she had decided to cut ties with Mo Yuchen, Lu Qingfeng now only needed to work hard so that he would be a better man and husband for her in the future.


    "Feifei and I trust each other. Before anything else, we must establish trust and respect for each other to be together, don''t you think? I trust Feifei''s judgment now. I''m sure she won''t be easily swayed by another man while I''m not around."


    Xi Qian remained silent and looked at him with a straight face. She knew that her arguments and differences with Lu Qingfeng needed to be settled sooner orter for Su Xiaofei''s sake, but she hadn''t expected that this little tyrant would change his tactics too soon on pursing her best friend.

 Chapter 253 - A Truce With Xi Qian (2)

    Although she and Su Xiaofei treated each other like real sisters, Xi Qian knew that she really had no say if her best friend wanted to date someone, whether it was Mo Yuchen or Lu Qingfeng. However, Xi Qian could only hope that whoever Su Xiaofei decided to be with, he would treat her with the respect and love that she deserved.


    "Whatever." Xi Qian huffed, "but if you hurt Feifei, you better know that I won''t let you off, no matter what happens." She threatened him, knowing fully well that she really wouldn''t be able to touch or offend Lu Qingfeng, given the difference between their statuses.


    "I understand your worries, Miss Xi, but you should know by now that I would rather hurt myself than harm her." Lu Qingfeng replied. As he looked at Xi Qian''s eyes, he could see that the young woman was truly concerned about Su Xiaofei.


    "I just don''t want Feifei to make a mistake that she would regret in the future. Furthermore, you and she have known each other before I met her, and I''m sure that you are important to her, even if she doesn''t say it." Xi Qian continued walking with a safe distance from Lu Qingfeng. She also feared that Su Xiaofei would get swept up in the love, and would no longer be in her life in the blink of an eye.


    When your friend starts dating someone you don''t like, things can get very real, very fast. No doubt, this would put their friendship to the test, but it definitely didn''t have to spell the end of her rtionship with Su Xiaofei, just because thetter was with Lu Qingfeng.


    If Xi Qian was going to tackle this potentially major issue, she was going to need to be able to keep level-headed. She had to remind herself that she couldn''t control Su Xiaofei and could only ept that she had made a choice and that Su Xiaofei had to live with the oue of her choices.


    "I know that. This is why it''s alright to take things slowly for the meantime." Lu Qingfeng agreed with her. As long as Su Xiaofei didn''t shut him down and disregard him, he was willing to give her all the time she needed to sort things out on her end.


    Xi Qian fell silent as she remembered the day she befriended Su Xiaofei. Su Xiaofei was perceived as arrogant by others, but Xi Qian knew that it was her way of protecting herself from others, because in truth, she was lonely.


    "I don''t want her to fall in love just because she''s lonely, but instead fall in love when she''s ready. Fall in love when you''re confident in yourself, when you''re feelingplete on your own, when you know what you want." She told Lu Qingfeng, making thetter wonder what she was even thinking at that moment.


    If Xi Qian knew what had happened to Su Xiaofei in her previous life, he was sure that Xi Qian would be heartbroken, and she would hate Mo Yuchen even more than she already had now. Xi Qian and Yun Qingrong had lost their lives even before Su Xiaofei died, and Lu Qingfeng could only imagine what they would feel if they witnessed what he had seen in their past life as Su Xiaofei spent the rest of her remaining days alone.


    As for Xi Qian, she didn''t want to see her best friend questioning her worth again. She had witnessed Su Xiaofei trying to force herself into rtionships with a person she had no business pursuing before, but she did it because she was convinced it was better to be with someone, anyone, than it was to be alone.


    All it did was leave her feeling trapped and empty. The feelings Su Xiaofei was trying so hard to force weren''t really there. She had begun questioning herself and trying to find an escape for the life she actually wanted to be living.


    Xi Qian used to object to Su Xiaofei''s decision to pursue Mo Yuchen before, and had tried to persuade her to see how the man was treating her like she was a nuisance in her life. The man was the personification of smug and pretentious and Xi Qian could tell that Mo Yuchen was bad news.


    She wanted Su Xiaofei to have some self awareness and self-respect to see that the man she thought she was in love with didn''t care about her at all.


    "That''s true." Lu Qingfeng nodded. "A love that is born in loneliness is not a love that is destined for growth ¨C the roots are weak and longevity is hopeless. When you don''t have a strong, sturdy foundation, you don''t have anything."


    Xi Qian took a quick nce at him, thinking that Lu Qingfeng was really maturepared to his peers. Perhaps, she was worrying too much. Still, she didn''t want Lu Qingfeng and Su Xiaofei to end up hating each other just because their rtionship didn''t work out.


    "Thanks, Miss Xi. I know that you are concerned about Feifei. I cannot promise that Feifei and I won''t encounter problems in the future, but I''ll do my best to protect her heart." Lu Qingfeng wouldn''t be able to move heaven and earth for her and promise to her the stars in the sky, but he would make sure that she won''t becking anything.


    Xi Qian was sure that he would be able to fulfill his promise. Su Xiaofei didn''t need to worry about material things as it could easily be provided by her Aunty Qing and with Lu Qingfeng. Her future would be secured and she wouldn''t need to suffer any bitterness, unlike Xi Qian who could only rely on herself.


    Not that Xi Qian was envious of her best friend, but she would rather see Su Xiaofei happy and content than to see her experience hardships in life.


    Xi Qian hadn''t experienced falling in love, but observing people around her taught her a lot of things on how to pick an ideal partner. From her parents'' failed marriage to Su Xiaofei''s parent''s divorce, she could tell that these couples weren''tpatible to begin with.


    One should date someone who was happy to share a forever with them, because really, what''s the point of dating someone if they didn''t see marriage in the future? Or at least think they would one day.


    "It''s enough that you take care of her. I won''t cause trouble between the two of you as long as you treat Feifei right." Xi Qian decided that they should grow up and consider calling a truce now. They shouldn''t argue and fight whenever they see each other, and would need to tolerate each other for Su Xiaofei''s sake.


    She couldn''t deny that this little tyrant was really into her best friend, but she feared that his feelings would eventually turn into an obsession that could hurt Su Xiaofei in the future.


    As long as her best friend wasn''t in a toxic or abusive rtionship, Xi Qian was willing to try and give Lu Qingfeng the benefit of the doubt. Once she had identified some good qualities in him, perhaps she would be able to see if she could truly ept him. If she could find at least one thing she genuinely appreciated about them, there''s no doubt that the whole situation would get a bit easier.


    "We might not get along since we''ve met, but now, I appreciate what you have done for Feifei all this while. I hope Miss Xi can give me a chance to prove myself this time."


    Lu Qingfeng used to be annoyed whenever Xi Qian was with Su Xiaofei in the past. However, after living three lifetimes, he realized how selfish and shallow he had been, wanting to keep Su Xiaofei to himself.


    "Then I don''t mind being your friend too. At least we can have a decent friendship that won''t need to rely on Feifei. Don''t you think it would be better if we truly get along than pretend to like each other?" Xi Qian answered him, much to Lu Qingfeng''s shock.


    The young man hadn''t expected that Xi Qian would say such a thing now, considering how they treated each other in the past.


    "You want us to be friends?" He furrowed his brows in disbelief. Was he hearing things, or did Xi Qian just say she wanted to be friends with him?


    "Why not?" Xi Qian shrugged. "Since you and Feifei are considering a possible rtionship in the future, wouldn''t it be better if we could settle our differences and be friends?"


    Lu Qingfeng didn''t have anything in response to that. The only one he considered as a friend was Su Xiaofei, and even though he was friendly with his basketball teammates, he never attempted to build a deeper friendship with anyone else.


    "I suppose you are right.." He said after a long silence between them and realized that they had arrived at the front gates of the university.

 Chapter 254 - Too Late For Regrets (1)

    In the afternoon, once her exam was over, Su Xiaofei walked out of the university grounds and found Xi Qian and Lu Qingfeng waiting for her. Along with her, the other examinees ran towards their parents, who had been patiently waiting for them.


    Su Xiaofei looked at the crowd and her sight stopped at a spot for a moment, where she thought that she had seen Bai Qingyue, but the next second, the figure disappeared in the blink of an eye.


    She shook her head and sighed to herself. She must''ve been confused with a figment of her imagination. There was no way that woman would be here to see her. She supposed it was also because of their sudden meeting earlier that her mind was tricking her now.


    "Feifei!"


    Su Xiaofei saw Xi Qian waving her hand, trying to get her attention, but it really wasn''t needed as many people had been eyeing Lu Qingfeng, wondering if he was a celebrity or sorts because of his appearance.


    "How was it? Do you think you can pass the exam?" Xi Qian asked her as soon as she hooked her arm with Su Xiaofei.


    Su Xiaofei smiled, with Xi Qian''s help, she was able to remember the principles of their lessons while Lu Qingfeng''s hard as hell''s questionnaires before had made it easy for her to answer the math questions on her paper.


    "It''s not that difficult, but I would rather wait and see the resultster." She admitted.


    "The hardest part is over. We just need to wait and see if Feifei will be admitted here." Lu Qingfeng nodded. "Hungry?" He asked Su Xiaofei.


    The moment he asked that question, Su Xiaofei''s eyes immediately lit up. It had only been a few hours since the moment she sat in that room, taking that exam, but she felt like time was passing by too slowly for her liking.


    "Yes, please! I know a ce where we can eat!" She pped her hands together, unconsciously dragging Xi Qian closer to her.


    Su Xiaofei spent the rest of her afternoon with them, before her attention was taken when she received a report from Zhang Lan that Tang Liyan was requesting to meet her before she would sign a contract with Bluemedia.


    "What''s wrong Feifei?" Xi Qian asked when she noticed that Su Xiaofei looked preupied and hadn''t finished her dessert.


    "Nothing serious. It''s work rted." Su Xiaofei replied when she snapped out from her daze.


    "How could you say that? Feifei, you shouldn''t cultivate this irresponsible trait, else you would have a hard time adjusting once you start working full time at Bluemedia." Xi Qian retorted.


    "Xi Qian is right, Feifei. While you don''t need to micromanage everything, you still need to recognize your priorities." Lu Qing backed Xi Qian''s words, which made Su Xiaofei look at them curiously.


    Lu Qingfeng agreeing with Xi Qian? Was she hearing things, or did the two finally manage to settle their differences and grow up?


    "Qian, aren''t you supposed to take my side than help Xiao Feng turn me into a working zombie?" Sheughed, clearly teasing her best friend.


    Xi Qian looked away and huffed. It would still take some time before she gets used to being Lu Qingfeng''s friend, but it was enough that this little tyrant was willing topromise with her now, unlike before.


    "I''ll drop you off at Bluemedia then." Lu Qingfeng decided.


    "Okay. You better make sure to send Xi Qian home. I know she''s been trying to find a new part-time jobtely, although I specifically told her that she didn''t need to worry about her rent at all." Su Xiaofei easily agreed with him, while giving Xi Qian a knowing look.


    "You don''t understand, Feifei. I just don''t want to be a freeloader to you and Aunty Qing." Her best friend frowned. Xi Qian didn''t think that Su Xiaofei would be able to discover her ''discreet'' job hunting.


    "You are wasting your time worrying about how others perceive you, Qian. Mama and I understand your predicament and are willingly extending our help. Whether we choose to make the wrong decision or not, it totally depends on you."


    "I suppose you are right." Xi Qian replied after considering what Su Xiaofei just said. Although she received a huge sum of money from the sale of her home, she still needed to be wary of her expenses.


    Su Xiaofei then replied to Zhang Lan''s message, asking her to set a meeting with her and Tang Liyan, and that she expected to meet the ''has been actress'' in an hour.


    Since the university was near Bluemedia in Guangshang, Su Xiaofei arrived a little earlier than expected. Once she bid goodbye to her friends, she took the VIP elevator that led to her mother''s office.


    While waiting for Tang Liyan''s arrival, the Zhang siblings prepared the private conference room near Yun Qingrong''s office. While doing so, Su Xiaofei took the time to review the contract she was about to present to her second talent after securing Qin Muyao.


    The actress came in a hurry and looked a little dazed when she found a young woman waiting for her instead of the president of Bluemedia. However, it seemed that Tang Liyan was different from the rest because she didn''t use Su Xiaofei''s age to question her motives.


    "Miss Tang, it''s nice to meet you. I''m Su Xiaofei." Su Xiaofei stood up and extended a hand towards the older woman for a handshake.


    Tang Liyan extended her right hand and gave her a firm shake.


    "So you are to be my manager now?" She asked as soon as she had taken a seat across from Su Xiaofei. "But why are you helping me?"


    Su Xiaofei smiled at Tang Liyan. In her memory, Bai Qingyue and Tang Liyan had started their careers at the same time.. Like her birth mother, Tang Liyan''s name had be popr until she gave up her career when she got married, saying that she wanted to focus on raising her children from then on.

 Chapter 255 - Too Late For Regrets (2)

    However, things immediately spiraled downhill as Tang Liyan''s husband cheated on her, and she couldn''t ask for divorce as she had nothing left to her name now.


    Before her marriage, Tang Liyan was one of the most bankable actresses of her generation. Ever since her debut, everything went smoothly for her, and she became a big hit in a few short years. She was even repeatedlypared to Bai Qingyue, as their prominent looks and their age were close to each other.


    Not long ago, before the biggest project she received in her long career, promising to push her to the pinnacle of sess, surpassing Bai Qingyue in terms of poprity, Tang Liyan fell in love with a businessman and tied the knot with him in less than three months after meeting him.


    Tang Liyan had made the same mistakes many actresses did in this industry. They all had a promising future, but because of a moment, blinded by love, they were willing to throw everything away for that happiness they had in their minds.


    There were many actresses that plummeted down, the moment their heart overcame their logical mind, only to lose their good fortune. If they were happy living away from the limelight, it would have been fine. However, most of them couldn''t stay happy for too long and could only regret their decision in the end.


    "Don''t you think you have wasted enough time trying to patch up your failing marriage, Miss Tang? Don''t you think that you and your daughter deserve better than how your abusive husband and inws are treating you now?"


    In her past life, Tang Liyan''s end was a tragic one. In a fit of rage, she confronted her husband, which led to a nasty fight. Months from now, Tang Liyan''s patience towards her husband would snap, and it would lead to her sudden death after falling from the balcony of their home, leaving her young daughter with a deep trauma as the child had witnessed her terrifying death.


    Did Su Xiaofei take pity on Tang Liyan? Certainly not. But because Su Xiaofei couldn''t forget the look of the child as she was abandoned in a mental facility by her father, it made her blood boil in anger. Su Xiaofei hated how adults didn''t care aboutmitting sins, ignoring how their children would suffer from it in the future.


    Tang Liyan was obviously taken aback by this young woman''s words. It seemed like Su Xiaofei had done her homework and knew her secrets. She wasn''t surprised at all, as she had already encountered conniving people who knew how to use other people''s weaknesses to get a hold on them. However, she just didn''t expect that a young woman like Su Xiaofei was aware of the dark ways of the industry.


    "What if I don''t agree with you?" She asked Su Xiaofei.


    Su Xiaofei shrugged and leanedfortably on her seat, the Zhang siblings standing a couple of feet away from her, waiting for her next order.


    "I don''t know, but maybe be happy and content with the life you and your daughter have right now? Miss Tang should understand that the moment a woman bes a mother, her life isn''t hers alone. Bluemedia and I are willing to give you a chance for aeback, but it''s up to you to ovee the pressure and prove that you are still that superstar Tang Liyan everyone was praising for her acting."


    Tang Liyan couldn''t find any words to refute what Su Xiaofei had just said, not when this young woman was using her precious daughter, who was only five at the moment. Indeed, she regretted being blinded out of love and married a man whom she thought had loved her unconditionally on impulse. Had she given it a good thought and considered the red gs she tantly ignored in the past, none of these would happen to her.


    She had been aware of her husband''s several extramarital affairs, but she could only suck it up and feign innocence about it, as she thought if they were to divorce, the custody of her daughter would immediately fall into her scumbag husband''s hand. Tang Liyan certainly wouldn''t allow another woman of his to raise her daughter and teach her bad things.


    "How confident are you that I will be able to y the role of the female lead well?" Tang Liyan asked Su Xiaofei.


    When the Zhang siblings came to her, extending a card with the information regarding the audition, Tang Liyan had been confused. She had left the industry for seven years and epted that there was no chance she could step back into the limelight.


    As for the millions of money she earned from her long years as an actress, Tang Liyan never had a chance to enjoy the fruit of her hard work since her mother had taken it upon herself to manage her finances. It was also her mother who had forced her to marry the wealthy businessman that was now her husband, convincing her that she won''t have to work hard acting in front of the camera anymore, considering her age.


    "Miss Tang is being humble now. I''ve seen your audition video and I could say that the board and the producer are pleased with your performance. Acting is deeply ingrained in your bones. It is a craft you have cultivated for so many years before, and I bet it''s hard for you not to notice the rising stars in the industry while you do your household chores, waiting for your cheating husband to return homete at night."


    That hit the spot for Tang Liyan.


    How did she know? Tang Liyan thought. Was she really this clear and predictable in front of this young woman? So many nights, she wondered what kind of life she would have if she didn''t listen to her greedy mother and chose her flourishing career over a man.. Furthermore, she was aware that she was the one responsible to what happen to her and it was tooter to regret now.

 Chapter 256 - Too Late For Regrets (3)

    Even if Tang Liyan wanted to reason out, she already knew that Su Xiaofei could see past her facade. She couldn''t really deny what this young woman had just said, and there was no doubt that Su Xiaofei was taking advantage of her by using her young daughter.


    It would have been easy for her to ignore this young woman''s words had Su Xiaofei not dragged her daughter''s welfare into this issue. Surely, Su Xiaofei knew that a mother''s greatest weakness was their own child.


    The more she thought about it, the more Tang Liyan felt conflicted. Su Xiaofei''s words were like a demon''s sweet whispering right in her ears, so tempting that she couldn''t help getting swayed.


    "Miss Tang, you can''t force someone to respect you, but you certainly can refuse to be respected as a person. You now have a daughter that relies on you. Is this what you want to teach her? That it''s alright to be neglected and treated with disrespect by others?" Su Xiaofei continued.


    "Then what do you want me to do? I have no resources I could use to divorce my husband. If he were to contest the custody of my daughter, I''m sure I would lose."


    "I have ways to make sure your husband wouldn''t be able to touch you, but you would have to cooperate with me and not listen to his nonsense. From now on, every time you hesitate, you must remember that you have chosen to retrieve what you''ve lost and to protect your daughter''s future."


    Obviously, when Tang Liyan got married, most of her projects fell into Bai Qingyue''s hands, which only made thetter more popr than any other actresses of their generation. Su Xiaofei had no chance of winning against her birth mother in her past life as an actress, but it was different now that she had people to utilize to achieve her goals.


    "Miss Su, you do know that by helping me, you are making my husband''s family your enemy, don''t you?" Tang Liyan reminded her. Su Xiaofei should know the kind of enemy she would make if she dared to help her, but this young woman didn''t seem to be bothered by it at all.


    "Just as I said earlier, I have my ways. He won''t know what hit him until it''s already toote for him to do anything. However, I assure you, Miss Tang, the start would be a messy one, and you need to muster all the courage you have to stay strong." Su Xiaofei said before handing the contract they prepared earlier.


    "Before anything else, you should read this. Of course, the sess of "The Poisonous Concubine" and your freedom from your husband depends on your performance. However, I also expect that you would fulfill your part of the deal."


    Tang Liyan picked up the document and slowly took her time to read the contents. Her eyes went wide as saucers when she saw that she needed to pay back Su Xiaofei exactly one hundred million before she could free herself from their contract.


    However, just the thought that she would be able to reim her freedom from everyone and start a new life with her daughter, Tang Liyan thought that this one hundred million was nothing. If she was able to work hard and regain the poprity she used to have, she supposed that she would be able to repay her debt to Su Xiaofei in seven to ten years.


    Unlike Qin Muyao who had some reservations before signing his contract, Tang Liyan didn''t hesitate and signed her contract on the spot, surprising not only Su Xiaofei, but also the Zhang siblings who were silently listening to their conversation.


    "It''s a pleasure to work with you, Miss Tang." Su Xiaofei rose from her seat and shook Tang Liyan''s hand for the second time with a wicked smile on her face.


    "I just hope that Miss Su won''t disappoint me and make me regret signing with you." Tang Liyan''s words sounded nd and weren''t very hopeful. It was as if she was gambling by giving her trust to Su Xiaofei.


    "Everything depends on you, Miss Tang. Don''t forget what I said before." Su Xiaofei reminded her.


    As Tang Liyan left, Su Xiaofei handed the signed contract to Zhang Ling to keep it safe. She had expected that Tang Liyan would yield to her, but not this fast.


    "Miss, I''ve been wondering. Do you have bad blood with Bai Qingyue? It doesn''t seem like you are fond of her at all." Zhang Ling asked her, while Su Xiaofei scrolled on her phone, checking the unread messages she received.


    Su Xiaofei hummed but didn''t break her gaze from her screen. She was aware why Zhang Ling was asking her this question.


    "You can say that." She replied nonchntly, clearly not bothered by Zhang Ling''s question.


    The Zhang siblings had been apanying her for weeks now, and Su Xiaofei wouldn''t be surprised if the two had done a background check on her. Obviously, their loyalty was still to Lu Qingfeng as he was their real master, not her. They were strictly professional and never acted excessively in front of her.


    Zhang Ling furrowed her brows but didn''t say more. She and her elder sister had been aware that Miss Su had only recently met the popr actress with their young master. However, Su Xiaofei''s actions prior to her meeting with Bai Qingyue indicated that she didn''t want the woman to be part of Yun Qingrong''stest project.


    Meanwhile, Zhang Lan remained silent. Although she was also curious about Su Xiaofei''s motives, as long as her orders didn''t implicate Lu Qingfeng in a bad way, then she had no problem with it.


    Three dayster, Tang Liyan officially signed her contract to y the role of the female lead for "The Poisonous Concubine". She had also left her husband''s home and stayed with her daughter in a temporary lodging Su Xiaofei had prepared for them as soon as she signed their 100 million contract.


    With Su Xiaofei''s help, her husband wasn''t able to locate her whereabouts. She also managed to cut off all the connections they had. Tang Liyan had also forwarded the evidence of his extramarital affairs to Su Xiaofei, in case the young woman needed it in the future.


    On Su Xiaofei''s part, things became better once her admission exam was over. She was able to enjoy a carefree life as she waited for the results of her exam.


    As she and Xi Qian went to the library to return the books they borrowed, her brow rose when they met Ye Mingyu in the hallway leading to the library, while Xi Qian furrowed her brows together as soon as she saw Ye Mingyu in front of them.


    It was obvious that Ye Mingyu hadn''t expected to run into Su Xiaofei today, as she looked like a cornered rat, trying to find a way to escape from Su Xiaofei. Still, seeing her presence didn''t make Su Xiaofei''s steps falter as she continued to walk past Ye Mingyu, ignoring her presence.


    Ye Mingyu froze in her spot, not expecting that Su Xiaofei would tantly ignore her this time. When they brushed past each other, she couldn''t help but feel like she wasn''t part of Su Xiaofei''s world, and that she was nothing but a stranger.


    Once Su Xiaofei and Xi Qian were at a good distance away, Ye Mingyu turned her head to look at them merrily talking to each other like very good friends. Seeing Su Xiaofei happy like this blossomed an ufortable feeling in her heart.


    Ye Mingyu realized that from the moment she was reborn, she had no person to rely on but herself. Her mother was from a poor family, while her father was nothing but a greedy bastard who wouldn''t hesitate to turn his back on his own family.


    Ye Mingyu clenched her fists on her sides, thinking about how Su Xiaofei remained happy and content despite her parents'' divorce. She had thought that Su Xiaofei would have at least some attachments towards her father that Ye Mingyu could take advantage of, but who would have thought that it was Su Xiaofei herself who would convince Yun Qingrong to get rid of him instead?


    Everything that Ye Mingyu had done so far had no effect on Su Xiaofei at all. Everytime she thought that she had cornered Su Xiaofei, Su Xiaofei would strike back, leaving her with a great loss instead.


    Because of Su Xiaofei, she now had the reputation of being the mistress''s daughter in QCA, which their schoolmates had used to ridicule her behind her back. She hated Su Xiaofei more because of it.


    It wasn''t her fault that she was born from her mother and that she was a mistress''s daughter.. It wasn''t supposed to turn out like this. If anything, everything was that mother and daughter''s fault, forcing her to live a pitiful life!

 Chapter 257 - The President’s Daughter (1)

    While Ye Mingyu still couldn''t get over her hatred towards Su Xiaofei, Su Xiaofei hadn''t paid much attention towards her and pushed her out of her mind. With the school year approaching its end fast, she was now spending most of her time helping her mother with the preparation for the filming of the "The Poisonous Concubine", and resuming her attendance in the new recruits sses.


    However, it was clear to these recruits that she wasn''t just merely someone the VP tried to poach to join Bluemedia. Even Li Jing and Fan Jian were starting to doubt Su Xiaofei''s identity, as the young woman was frequently seen leaving the executives'' officestely.


    "There''s no doubt that she has a strong backing. If not, she wouldn''t be so confident to miss so many of our sses and only attend whenever she wants to." One of the new recruits named Yan Fanxingmented, before shooting Xiao Rufeng a nce.


    "And Xiao Rufeng looks close to her. She must be thinking that she could also receive simr perks because she''s friends with Xiao Fei."


    Herpanion scoffed next to her and gave Xiao Rufeng a nasty look. Xiao Rufeng was talking with Su Xiaofei and was ignoring the others who were obviously looking their way. While it''s true that Su Xiaofei''s face was enough to make them her backdrop, Xiao Rufeng''s looks weren''t falling far behind her.


    Seeing them getting along with each other had made the others despise Xiao Rufeng because of it. The more they saw them together, the more they were reminded that they couldn''t outshine them.


    As Yan Fanxing and her friend talked about them, Su Xiaofei suddenly snapped her head and looked straight towards their direction with a meaningful look. Both girls stiffened and were forced to lower their heads, not understanding why they suddenly felt shivers run down their spine.


    They couldn''t believe that Xiao Fei was able to intimidate them with a mere look. Her age was almost the same as theirs, but she already had this maturity, as if she had experienced more in life than they ever had.


    "Xiao Fei, what''s wrong?" Xiao Rufeng asked when she noticed that Su Xiaofei was distracted and was looking somewhere else.


    Su Xiaofei snapped out of her daze and turned her head to face Xiao Rufeng. She was aware that she couldn''t hide her identity for too long, now that Qin Muyao and Tang Liyan were already signed with her.


    "Nothing that you should worry about. How''s your injury?" She asked in return, not wanting Xiao Rufeng to know that she was already aware of the conflict among the new recruits.


    "I feel better now. Please extend my thanks to Miss Xi." Xiao Rufeng replied. She still felt indebted to Su Xiaofei and Xi Qian that day. However, she also didn''t want to involve Xiao Fei in her problem with the other recruits, not knowing her real identity.


    As the ss reached its end, Fan Jian left the room, leaving the rest of the artists behind. The other recruits took this time to corner Su Xiaofei to question her about her absence for the past weeks.


    Su Xiaofei remained calm, while Xiao Rufeng gritted her teeth behind her. She knew that these people had been speaking nonsense about Xiao Fei whenever she wasn''t around, and she hated them for it. She had once gotten into an argument because of it, but didn''t inform Su Xiaofei.


    "I''ve been busy preparing for my entrance exam." Su Xiaofei replied with a smile, pretending that she wasn''t aware of their intention with this probing.


    "Aren''t you nning to be a celebrity?" Another one asked.


    "That''s something I have no interest in. Is there a reason why you are asking me this?" She raised a slender brow, catching them off guard. They didn''t expect that Su Xiaofei would dare to question them back.


    "Ah! We are just wondering what has been keeping you busy these past weeks. We haven''t seen you in a while."


    "Then wouldn''t it be a waste of your time to attend sses if you aren''t nning to be a celebrity?" Yan Fanxing mustered courage and voiced her curiosity.


    Su Xiaofei smirked and looked at her and herpanion, which made Yan Fanxing ufortable under her gaze.


    "Miss Yan, must be curious why I''m still here. Like I said, I''m not interested in bing a star, instead, I''m nning to cultivate one. The reason I participated in these sses is to make an observation."


    Her words shocked everyone, especially Xiao Rufeng, who had been spending time with her for weeks since they met.


    "Allow me to re-introduce myself. My name is Su Xiaofei, the newest talent manager of Bluemedia." Su Xiaofei continued.


    "Regardless if I''m here or not, I have eyes everywhere and have been aware of the recent events while I''m gone." She said with a smirk. Obviously, she was trying to warn them that their deeds weren''t left unnoticed.


    "Xiaofei¡­" Xiao Rufeng stared at her in disbelief.


    No wonder Xiao Fei had been so confident since the first day of their meeting. Did she also intend for others to misunderstand her, to filter who was worthy of her time and effort in the future?


    Su Xiaofei? Not many were aware of the president''s daughter''s name, but if Xiaofei was a Su and had a freedom to meet the VP and had been frequently seen at the president''s office, one didn''t need half a brain to realize that she was the president''s daughter.


    "Y-you¡­ Are you the President''s daughter?" Yan Fanxing asked in shock.


    "So what if I am? It''s normal for children like us to seed our parents in a family business, right? Obviously since I''m now at the right age, it''s also time for me to lessen my mother''s burdens." Su Xiaofei said nonchntly, as if she couldn''t be bothered by what these youngsters think of her now.


    Su Xiaofei left the small crowd and excused herself as she received a message from her mother. She left the new recruits gaping at her in shock, with their minds all over the ce, thinking if they had somewhat offended her during the days she was in their ss.


    Some heaved a sigh of relief, while the others nched in fear. However, amongst them, the one who couldn''t recover from her shock was none other than Xiao Rufeng instead.


    When she noticed that Su Xiaofei had already left, Xiao Rufeng decided to chase after her in the hallway. She rushed and ran outside, looking around, trying to find Su Xiaofei. She then spotted the person she was looking for waiting in front of the elevator. It wasn''t hard for her to spot Su Xiaofei even in a crowded ce such as the main lobby because Su Xiaofei had striking features that made her prominent even as she was among the crowd.


    "Xiao Fei!" She called out, and Su Xiaofei turned her head to look at her.


    Xiao Rufeng hurriedly ran towards her and tried to catch her breath. She rested her palms on her knees once she reached Su Xiaofei.


    "Miss Xiao, is there something I could do for you?" Su Xiaofei asked calmly.


    "Is it true? You are the president''s daughter and a talent manager now?" Xiao Rufeng asked once she was able to stabilize her breath.


    "I am, but why are you asking me this?"


    "I want to know¡­ why are you helping me?"


    "Why am I helping you?" Su Xiaofei chuckled as she crossed her arms over her chest after brushing her long locks over her shoulder.


    "It seems that Miss Xiao has misunderstood my intentions and still hasn''t realized the reason for my actions. As I said earlier, I''m a talent manager, and I''m looking for valuable talents with potential, and I found you. I''m pretty sure the other talent managers would have done the same thing I did if they were made aware of your potential."


    Su Xiaofei said this without batting an eyelid, but Xiao Rufeng couldn''t force herself to believe her ims.


    Su Xiaofei had helped her improve her posture and taught her how to improve her singing, even for just a bit. She had also constantly reminded her to be aware of her temper and not get involved in any arguments with anyone.


    These were beyond the things a normal talent manager would do for a prospective talent. For Xiao Rufeng, it seemed like Su Xiaofei was interested in taking her under her wing, but was waiting for her to prove her worth.


    Xiao Rufeng met Su Xiaofei''s eyes and there were no words needed to convey each other''s thoughts.


    Xiao Rufeng didn''t push her luck and question Su Xiaofei anymore, but instead, stepped back and gave her a polite bow. She cannot ignore the fact that Su Xiaofei had done things to help her.


    "Then I thank Miss Su for looking after me for these past weeks.. Your input has been a great help to me."

 Chapter 258 - The Presidents Daughter (2)

    The two garnered some attention from the passersby, curious about what was happening between the two young women, but they didn''t dare to stay for too long and walked away.


    Su Xiaofei stepped forward, invading Xiao Rufeng''s private space, forcing thetter to stand straight. Xiao Rufeng had never met a person so confident, despite being as young as Su Xiaofei was. Even her temper towards the other recruits that had been talking behind her back was admirable.


    "If Miss Xiao really wanted to thank me, why don''t you repay me instead?" She said with an amused smile gracing her lips as she looked at Xiao Rufeng. Although she was smiling, one could easily see the arrogance in it.


    Xiao Rufeng''s face fell and lowered her head. She might be from the prestigious Xiao family, but she didn''t even have a single cent to her name. How was she supposed to repay Su Xiaofei?


    Since they were blocking the elevator, Su Xiaofei motioned for Xiao Rufeng to follow her, and they went to upy the vacant seats at the main lobby. From where they were seated, Su Xiaofei was able to clearly see who came and went through the front doors.


    "You don''t have to pay me now, but why don''t we continue what we have started instead? Treat it like a student debt. Once you made your debut, a portion of your sry would be mine. What do you think, Miss Xiao?"


    Xiao Rufeng gripped the hem of her skirt, then nced at Su Xiaofei''s face. She couldn''t understand why Su Xiaofei was certain she would be able to debut. She imed that she had seen potential in her, but wasn''t she also the same age as her?


    "You don''t need to overthink, Miss Xiao. As long as you are here in Bluemedia and cooperate with me, I''ll make sure that no one would be able to look down on you ever again. Regardless of what your own family or other people think of you, your future is in your own hands. There''s a saying; "A good bird chooses the tree upon which to perch, the talented subject chooses the lord that he shall serve." So I hope that Miss Xiao will consider my offer."


    Su Xiaofei then checked the time on her watch and sighed. She had already said her piece to Xiao Rufeng, and it''s up to her whether she wanted to ruin her life by still sticking with the Xiao family, or be on her own and pursue the path to stardom.


    "Sorry, Miss Xiao. I have to go now. My mother is expecting my arrival. I''ll see you around." She said before leaving the young woman on her own.


    Xiao Rufeng could only look at Su Xiaofei''s retreating figure, her thoughts in a mess. It seemed that Su Xiaofei knew things about her that she hadn''t told anyone. However, what Su Xiaofei had a point. Since she couldn''t rely on her family, she could only rely on herself.


    She rubbed her temple and sighed. Su Xiaofei''s offer was not a small matter to her. She couldn''t make a rash decision.


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaofei arrived at her mother''s office and found Tang Liyan, who was dressed up todaypared to the first time she had seen her. The actress was conversing with the director, the scriptwriter and the original author of the TV drama they were about to film.


    Seeing her daughter arrive with one of her assistants, Yun Qingrong rose to her feet and weed Su Xiaofei. Her arrival immediately took everyone''s attention, with Tang Liyan suddenly rising to her feet, surprising the others.


    "Sorry I''mte, Mama. I have a friend who needs a word with me." Su Xiaofei murmured, before ncing at Tang Liyan''s direction.


    "Miss Tang, it''s a pleasure to see you again." She told Tang Liyan.


    "Manager Su, thanks again for your assistance. I''m forever indebted to you."


    The people around them, except for Yun Qingrong, were baffled by Tang Liyan''s words. A recent scandal about her and her husband had been exposed online. It was said that the couple were nning to divorce and Tang Liyan and her daughter had already moved out from her husband''s home.


    Yun Qingrong was yet again caught by surprise by her daughter when Tang Liyan verbally requested, upon epting the role, that she also wanted to sign as a talent with Bluemedia, under Su Xiaofei''s management.


    It was already hard for a newbie talent manager to handle a popr actor like Qin Muyao, but to add a former queen under her daughter''s talents, Yun Qingrong feared that it might overwhelm her Feifei, who was also going to pursue a degree in university. However, Su Xiaofei assured her that she had the Zhang siblings on her side, which made it easier for her to keep up with her schedule.


    Yun Qingrong then proceeded to introduce her young daughter to the director and the core people who would be working on "The Poisonous Concubine".


    Now that they had found the perfect actor to portray the lead, it was time for them to proceed with their next stage of their ns. The other actors, including Qin Muyao, were now scheduled to participate in training, while the script was being prepared.


    The meetingsted for hours. Su Xiaofei listened intently to the discussion and pitched in herments based on her previous experience as an actress in her past life. Fortunately, the others didn''t treat her as a kid and took her suggestions and words seriously, much to her relief.


    "Feifei, are you tired? Do you want me to ask someone to take you home?" Yun Qingrong asked when she saw her daughter reading the initial scripts the screenwriter and author had presented to them during the meeting. It was already past eight and Yun Qingrong wouldn''t be going home anytime soon, considering that she had yet to finish the work on her table.


    Everyone from the meeting earlier had already left with smiles on their faces. Although this was just the beginning, they were eager to see the result of their hard work.


    Su Xiaofei shook her head and cupped her chin, before giving her mother an assuring smile.


    "It''s okay, Mama. I will wait for you to be done. It''s just that Miss Lin''s writing is really impable. I haven''t read such an interesting story for some time now." She replied, returning her attention to the page she was reading.


    The protagonist of "The Poisonous Concubine" was the Di daughter1 of the prime minister of the kingdom. Her mother died during childbirth and when she was four, her father remarried. Her stepmother treated her well initially, however, when she got pregnant, the young protagonist had been abandoned, leaving her to fend for herself.


    As she and her half-sister grew up, her younger sister repeatedly threatened her to be scolded and disowned by her parents. The protagonist''s patience was repeatedly tested by her younger sister until she finally snapped at her.


    At such a young age, her younger sister already had the mind of a monster, wanting to take her life. The young protagonist set up a scene where her sister would be lost in a big crowd, forcing her stepmother to insanity.


    No one was able to find her missing sister, and the stepmother mistook the young protagonist as her biological daughter. In order for him to not lose his beloved wife as well, the father of the sisters forced the protagonist to pretend as her younger sister.


    Since then, the protagonist lived using her younger sister''s name until she reached her teenage years. When she had taken the attention of the young general, the missing sister appeared as the fourth prince''s consort. One was filled with fury, knowing that her identity and life had been snatched by her older sister, while the other wanted nothing but to experience being loved and having a family that she longed to have.


    As Su Xiaofei continued to read the internal monolog of the protagonist, she couldn''t help feeling sympathy for her. She was the unwanted one. One of her parents loved her to the core, while the other easily dismissed her.


    Perhaps it was because it reminded her of her birth parents, but really, if the stepmother didn''t mistreat the young protagonist, her biological daughter wouldn''t turn into a monster.


    Su Xiaofei was also reminded that ''Every child deserves a parent, but not every parent deserves a child''.


    "Mama, have you ever regretted adopting me rather than finding another way to get pregnant? Wouldn''t it be better if you had a real daughter?" Her sudden question made Yun Qingrong blink twice, not sure if she heard her right, but seeing Feifei waiting for her answer, she knew that she need to say something.


    "No. I knew from the moment I held you, that you are my daughter, Feifei. You might note from my womb, but you came from my heart and that''s more than enough for me."


    All the kids that the legitimate wife gives birth to are considered as Di children (Di sons or Di daughter).. They would be higher social status of that to other kids in the household.

 Chapter 259 - Don’t Want To Say Goodbye (1)

    Su Xiaofei only asked her mother about it out of curiosity, but she still couldn''t help but feel moved hearing that Yun Qingrong hadn''t treated her lesser, despite her not being her mother''s biological child.


    She briefly wondered if Yun Qinrong wasn''t the one who adopted her, and if she was taken in by another family, there was a chance that she would also experience the same despair the female protagonist had.


    Maybe she would be hated by the biological children of her adoptive parents too and they might even abuse her behind their parents'' backs. It was amon thing that could happen with adoptive children that were treated well by their foster parents anyway.


    "Why did you ask, Feifei? Are you perhaps interested in meeting your real parents?" Yun Qingrong treaded carefully, wanting to know what made her daughter ask her such a question out of the blue.


    If ever her Feifei''s parents decide toe forward and reveal themselves, Yun Qingrong would take the chance to thank them for giving birth to her daughter. No matter what the circumstances that led them to abandon Feifei in that orphanage were all those years ago, the mere fact that they didn''t abort her was enough to give Yun Qingrong a chance to be a mother.


    Su Xiaofei smiled and shook her head. She knew what her mother was thinking right now, but there was no need for her mother to find her real parents as she had already met both of them, albeit, without them knowing of her identity.


    Bai Qingyue might have some suspicion by now, but Qiao Fengying was still oblivious about her being his real daughter. Su Xiaofei had been pondering if she should reveal the truth to him and end his long search and wait. A part of her wanted Qiao Fengying to acknowledge her, to know that she''s still alive, just as he had believed for a long time.


    If Yun Qingrong could love her like this, what''s more if it was her own father? Now that they are acquainted with each other, Qiao Fengying might also suspect her identity, so why can''t she juste clean and reveal herself to him?


    "Mama, do you think I should meet them?" She asked her mother''s opinion. "What if they don''t like me?"


    She already knew the answers to this question. Bai Qingyue despised her very existence, while her father had died with a broken heart, trying to locate her for years. The only difference now was that she was aware of her identity.


    Yun Qingrong dropped the papers she was reading earlier, in favor of joining her daughter on the couch. She took Su Xiaofei''s hand, then rested her head on her daughter''s shoulder.


    "How can that be? If they know how outstanding and kind their daughter is, I''m sure that they would regret leaving you behind." She replied.


    "But if you really want to meet them, I will help you. Knowing who your parents are couldplete you." Yun Qingrong pulled away and gently brushed Su Xiaofei''s stray locks.


    "It''s okay, Mama. It''s enough that I have you." Su Xiaofei leaned on her mother''s touch, reveling in it.


    In her past life, she had constantly argued with Yun Qingrong and defied her wishes. When she married Mo Yuchen, it only worsened as she allowed her husband to be involved in Bluemedia.


    "Alright. I''ll respect your wish then, but if you change your mind, I''ll be able to ask your uncles'' help to find them. Who knows, maybe they are also looking for you."


    "But wouldn''t that mean that they love me? If they love me, they shouldn''t have abandoned me in the first ce." Su Xiaofei frowned with displeasure. If Bai Qingyue had even a hint of maternal love towards her, she wouldn''t have abandoned her, and made her father''s life miserable.


    "Feifei, there are so many instances that are out of our hands. Ones that we cannot control. I want to believe that there''s a reason why you ended up there. A beautiful baby like you wouldn''t have simply been left to die by her parents. Even a tiger won''t dare to eat her cubs." Her mother reminded her.


    Su Xiaofei could only sigh inwardly. This only meant that she needed to think of a way to reintroduce herself to Qiao Fengying. She didn''t want topete for Qiao Yuhan''s inheritance, but she wanted to experience having a father figure in her life, at least once.


    "Thanks, Mama. You are the best." She said, wrapping her arms around her mother. "I''m sorry for making you worry."


    She heard Yun Qingrong chuckle at that.


    "It''s a parent''s job to constantly worry about their child, regardless of their age or where they are. As for you, Mama will be here to help as long as you need me."


    "Then Mama is bound to stay with me for a long time." Su Xiaofeiughed.


    As Yun Qingrong continued to listen to her daughter, she was reminded of how fast time had passed since the first time she held Feifei in her arms. She then thought about Lu Qingfeng''s marriage proposal, and an indescribable feeling overcame her.


    The young man had decided to take Feifei as his wife in the future, but Yun Qingrong was subtly worried that her daughter would be dragged into an internal family feud among the Lu n. In such a powerful and giant n as the Lu family, it would be hard for Yun Qingrong not to worry about her daughter''s future, not when Lu Qingfeng had yet to get absolute control over their massive family.


    However, who was she to stop her daughter from seeing Xiao Feng? Truth to be told, Yun Qingrong favored the young man more than she ever did Mo Yuchen. If her Feifei chose to be with Xiao Feng in the future, then she could only give them her blessings and hope that they could be truly happy together.


    ''Don''t grow up too fast, Feifei.'' Yun QIngrong thought.. ''Allow me to enjoy more time with you before he takes you away.''

 Chapter 260 - Don’t Want To Say Goodbye (2)

    The day Su Xiaofei dreaded finally arrived.


    It was thest day for her and Xi Qian at QCA. It was also Lu Qingfeng''s graduation from middle school that afternoon and she and her mother would be there to show their support for him.


    She and Xi Qian''s graduation had taken ce three days ago, and unlike her previous life, Ye Mingyu somehow lost her honors to someone from their ss and wasn''t named as the ss valedictorian. Su Xiaofei paid no heed to it, because her thoughts had been filled with Lu Qingfeng recently.


    Lu Qingfeng was also scheduled to leave with his grandfather to Shenjing the next day, which meant that Su Xiaofei needed to bid goodbye to him soon, but her heart suddenly felt that it wasn''t willing to part with him.


    Su Xiaofei remained next to her mother and waited for the graduation ceremony to start. Grandpa Lu was busy conversing with her mother, while Xi Qian was seated on her left, busy scanning the crowd with her eyes.


    "I see that we aren''t the only ones here to attend Lu Qingfeng''s graduation." She chuckled, watching so many young girls vying for the little tyrant''s attention.


    What they didn''t know was, no matter how beautiful they were, Lu Qingfeng wouldn''t give them a second look. Moreover, it was obvious that in his eyes, there would be no other woman prettier than Su Xiaofei. Xi Qian thought.


    It wasn''t surprising that Lu Qingfeng had be his ss''s valedictorian. He was the one assigned to give a farewell speech that was not only proper, but also moving for the young men and women graduating with him.


    Su Xiaofei watched without a word, her eyes zeroing on Lu Qingfeng. Up on the stage, Lu Qingfeng was still delivering his speech and his eyes swept over the crowd, meeting hers.


    Su Xiaofei immediately lowered her eyes and pretended to ask something to Xi Qian, but she was aware that Lu Qingfeng''s eyes were still on her.


    Once the graduation ceremony was over, they took several photos with Lu Qingfeng. His grandfather decided to host a special dinner to celebrate and invited them toe.


    Yun Qingrong could sense that her daughter was distracted about Xiao Feng''s imminent departure, but she couldn''t say anything tofort her. This would be the first time her Feifei and Xiao Feng would be parted for a long time ever since they met each other when they were younger.


    "Feifei¡­" She called her daughter''s name with a worried tone as Su Xiaofei rose from her seat at the dining table after finishing their meal.


    "I just need a little walk, Mama. I think I ate a lot tonight." She smiled and excused herself from the dining area.


    Lu Qingfeng stared at her for a moment and excused himself as well.


    "I''ll apany Feifei outside, Grandpa." He said, but the old man already waved his hand away, aware that his grandson had a thing for the Young Miss Su whom he grew up with.


    "Go andfort, Feifei. She must be upset about us leaving tomorrow." The old man said.


    Lu Qingfeng thanked his grandfather and chased Su Xiaofei outside their home, his steps hurried as he followed her trail, leading to the backyard of their home. He then found her standing near the huge tree they used to y at when they were younger.


    The garden was modestly lit up, and it was safe for Su Xiaofei to roam around, given that there were guards at every turn. Upon Lu Qingfeng''s arrival, these guards created a safe distance from them to give them some privacy.


    "Feifei. Are you still upset with my decision?" He asked, announcing his presence to her.


    Su Xiaofei looked at him over her shoulder, before returning her gaze to the tree.


    "So many years have passed, and it remains the same. The only difference is that it looks taller and stronger now, as if it had endured so many storms and cold winters like any other." She replied.


    Lu Qingfeng remained silent and stood next to her. He waited for her to continue.


    "Just like your love, strong and unwavering. Maybe that''s the reason I could confidently rely on you for so many years." She chuckled.


    "You can continue doing so in the future. You only need to call my name, and I''lle rushing to your side." Lu Qingfeng answered her.


    "No. I can''t do that." She shook her head. "If I want to be with you in the future, I need to eliminate every reason why I couldn''t."


    Su Xiaofei knew the extent of Lu Qingfeng''s love for her, to the point that he even allowed himself to be a tyrant for her sake. She didn''t want it to happen again because of her. If she hadn''t been such a colossal idiot in her past life, Lu Qingfeng wouldn''t have to suffer after her death.


    "This is just temporary, Feifei. Once I''m back, I will never leave you alone." Lu Qingfeng promised her.


    He needed to eliminate all threats within the Lu family first before he took her as his wife. He was also aware that this was the reason why Yun Qingrong was a little hesitant to give her approval to him for now.


    "Heh, how sure are you that you wouldn''t fall in love with another woman? Lu Qingfeng, don''t underestimate a woman who is blinded by love."


    "That''s fine. I only have you in my eyes. You don''t need to worry about such trivial matters." Lu Qingfeng shrugged, as if Su Xiaofei''s words were nothing but silly gibberish.


    As they looked at the huge tree, the two couldn''t help but rey the memories they had in this ce.


    "Feifei, don''t forget about me, okay? I will work hard, and once Ie back, I will surely make you my bride." Lu Qingfeng dered.. He had lost her twice before, but he wouldn''t let it happen in this lifetime. She would definitely be his wife!

 Chapter 261 - There Would Be No Others (1)

    Su Xiaofei couldn''t help but be reminded of how foolish she had been in her past life. If she had known that Xiao Feng could love her more than anyone else could, she probably wouldn''t feel the need to chase after Mo Yuchen andpete with Ye Mingyu to get his attention.


    Before, she always doubted her worth whenever she was with Mo Yuchen, but with Lu Qingfeng, she could be her true self without worrying about what he would think of her. If she was in Lu Qingfeng''s shoes, Su Xiaofei thought that she wouldn''t like herself, given how arrogant and overbearing she could be.


    She leaned her head on Lu Qingfeng''s arm and sighed. Lu Qingfeng didn''t need to uphold the promise they made when they were younger, but upon witnessing herself how he remained alone for the rest of his life after she died, Su Xiaofei knew that there would be no other man like him.


    "In this world, there couldn''t be any other man that could love me like you do." She told him.


    Lu Qingfeng stiffened and looked down on her, watching her with curiosity. He blinked before a feeling of overwhelming warmth spreading through his entirety. If this was how Su Xiaofei viewed him now, it gave him all the more reason to do his best to meet her expectations.


    "Of course. Do you think you could find another me in this world? That won''t be possible." He bragged.


    It wasn''t just Su Xiaofei who dreaded this day. Even though he wasn''t willing to part with her, there were just things that needed to be done in preparation for their future. If he was worried about leaving her on her own before, right now, Lu Qingfeng was certain that she would be able to take care of herself and wouldn''t fall for Mo Yuchen''s scheme again.


    "You won''t forget to call me?" She silently asked as they continued to stare at the tree in front of them.


    "I''ll call you every morning and night if you wish."


    "If there''s a chance that you met another girl that you like, don''t forget to tell me, okay?"


    Lu Qingfeng''s expression soured at that. Why did she keep on thinking that he would forget about her? Was this a lingering effect of what Mo Yuchen did to her in their past lives?


    "There won''t be another woman, Feifei. It''s enough that I have you by my side." He said, and buried his nose in her thick locks, as if trying to ingrain her scent in his mind. After living three lifetimes, forgetting about her was impossible.


    There were so many times that he almost lost his mind after she died in their previous lives. The regret he felt upon learning that she died was immeasurable, that no amount of sess was enough to free him from his misery.


    If this was the reason he was given a chance to relive his life again, Lu Qingfeng wanted to make it right this time. Even if Su Xiaofei wasn''t reborn like him, he would surely find a way to change her mind and allow her to see the real Mo Yuchen.


    "I wouldn''t be here to help you with your schemes, so you better look after yourself." He reminded her. His words were so gentle, as if he was rying reminders to a child.


    "Okay."


    "If you need someone to talk to, and if you feel lonely, don''t hesitate to call me. I might not be able to return to your side so soon, but you can always talk to me whenever you need to."


    "Hmm. Then I will be sure to give you a call whenever I have difficulties at school." Su Xiaofei could only hum, thinking that Lu Qingfeng''s way of saying goodbye was predictable. He was constantly worrying about her, even if he didn''t admit it.


    Lu Qingfeng scoffed at her answer.


    "Ah, just as I thought! I''m only needed as your free private tutor." He grumbled, feigning disappointment with her answer.


    "Hey! It''s your fault for being smarter than me. If I have a brain like yours, do you think I would waste time burning my brows at night studying nonstop? My stupid brain can''t keep up."


    "You aren''t stupid, Feifei. You just don''t feel any interest in the topic, hence, you feel conflicted whether you should study the lesson or not." Lu Qingfeng exined. Even in their past lives, Su Xiaofei wasn''t a studious type and she always preferred to be outside, mingling with other people.


    "Right. Right. It''s good that you know that I''m not really that stupid. I would be really disappointed with you, though, if you allow me to be one."


    "I won''t let you regret choosing me, Feifei." Lu Qingfeng parted from her and took her hand in his. "So would you consider being with me?"


    Su Xiaofei was aware of the blush spreading all over her face, but she couldn''t suppress it. It only made her more aware of how her heart thumped wildly against her chest as Lu Qingfeng held her.


    "When youe back, I will surely give you a definite answer. What I know now is I also want to be with you, but only when I know I''m ready." Su Xiaofei didn''t want to lie to him. If Lu Qingfeng could express such deep profound emotion at such a young age, she could also teach herself to let go of her grievances from her past life, which was preventing her from being truly happy in this lifetime.


    Lu Qingfeng stared at her for a long time, as if he was trying to see if she was telling him the truth. However, the truth was, he wanted to kiss her right here and now, but he was stopping himself from doing so.


    "If¡­ if you are worried that I would entertain another man while you are away, then you don''t need to worry.. If they can''t be as good as you, then they won''t be able to catch my eye."

 Chapter 262 - There Would Be No Others (2)

    Back at the Lu family''s main house, Yun Qingrong was left with Xi Qian. Chairman Lu had already excused himself as he was ready to retire for the night, allowing their guests to stay for the night in their guestrooms.


    She wasn''t worried about her daughter, now that Lu Qingfeng was courting her. She knew that the young man would be able to talk it out with her daughter, and she didn''t want to ruin theirst night for the meantime.


    "Qian''er, what do you think about Xiao Feng?" She suddenly asked Xi Qian, much to the younger woman''s surprise.


    Xi Qian was thankful that she wasn''t drinking anything at that moment, or else she would have spat out her drink from shock.


    "Why is Aunty Qing asking me this? Did Lu Qingfeng do something?" She asked in return. There was something about the way Yun Qingrong looked at Lu Qingfeng that Xi Qian noticed earlier.


    Yun Qingrong remained silent for a moment, and stared at the ss of champagne in her hand. She had been used to seeing her daughter with Xiao Feng for a long time, but now that the young man had voiced his intention, it was normal for her to get worried about them.


    Her Feifei and Xiao Feng were still too young to think about marriage, but Xiao Feng''s eyes as he asked for her daughter''s hand was clear in Yun Qingrong''s mind.


    "I haven''t told Feifei this, but Xiao Feng asked me for her hand in marriage. I actually don''t know what to feel about it." She told Xi Qian.


    She had already discussed this with Chairman Lu earlier to get his opinion, but the old man had voiced his support and respect for Lu Qingfeng''s decision. He didn''t mind having Su Xiaofei as his granddaughter-inw, as long as Xiao Feng would be able to keep up with his responsibilities within their family.


    Xi Qian opened her mouth to say something, but she realized that she had no words to say at all. Since Lu Qingfeng had already done such a thing, even if he wasn''t here, there was no way he would hand Su Xiaofei to another man, especially to Mo Yuchen.


    ''Ah, so sneaky, that little tyrant.'' Xi Qian thought after she recovered from her shock. She shouldn''t be surprised that Lu Qingfeng had done such a thing.


    "Then, is Aunty Qing worried that he and Feifei won''t get along in the future?" She asked.


    "They are still young, and I know Feifei still wants to do a lot of things before settling down. I think Xiao Feng is rushing into it, though. I don''t doubt his sincerity, I''m only worried that once they have taken the next step and are together, it would be hard for them to return to what they used to be if things didn''t work out between them." Yun Qingrong exined.


    "I think they will be fine, Aunty Qing. If Feifei isn''t willing, I don''t think Lu Qingfeng would be able to force her to do something she didn''t want. He thinks very highly of her."


    Yun Qingrong nodded in understanding. How can she not notice how Lu Qingfeng treats her daughter? From the moment Feifei took him home and introduced him to her, the young man had been taking care of her daughter in his own way since then.


    "Perhaps I''m thinking too much. I should trust Feifei and Xiao Feng on this." She sighed and rubbed her temple. She also needed to ept that her daughter won''t stay young forever.


    "If Aunty Qing doesn''t trust Lu Qingfeng, then you should trust Feifei." Xi Qian smiled. "I''m proud to say that Feifei has changed a lot and has be more sensible when making decisions."


    Yun Qingrong couldn''t help but agree with Xi Qian. So many things have happened ever since the new year. Although she was now divorced with her ex-husband, she realized that her life was more peaceful and happierpared to the past. She was also happy that her rtionship with Feifei had gradually improved, and her daughter had stopped arguing with her over trivial things and Mo Yuchen.


    Whatever made her Feifei change, it must have taught her something valuable. Yun Qingrong had once asked Su Xiaofei about it, but her daughter only gave her a meaningful smile, not saying a word to exin what could have triggered this sudden change in her.


    It must be painful. Yun Qingrong thought. There was nothing that could cause a person to change overnight, except if that person had undergone a very painful and tragic event in their life. She could only surmise that her daughter''s sudden change had something to do with Mo Yuchen, as her Feifei was disgusted by his mere presence alone, unlike in the past.


    "I trust Feifei." She told Xi Qian, "but I wish she could tell me things, so I won''t worry too much." She added.


    Although Su Xiaofei had be more sensible, Yun Qingrong noticed that she had also be more secretive with her actions. Not only was she able to lure Qin Muyao to join Bluemedia and saved his dying career, she was also betted on the previous queen, Tang Liyan, to take over the role from Bai Qingyue.


    Yun Qingrong had many questions in her mind, but she allowed her daughter to do these things under her watch, in hopes to see a better perspective on how Su Xiaofei thinks. However, it proved to be hard, as it only made her more confused as to how her daughter was able to do things smoothly.


    "It''s not just her that changed, Aunty Qing. You also changed for the better and I think that''s the reason why you could move forward and not dwell on the past."


    As Xi Qian told her this, Yun Qingrong realized that Xi Qian was right. Change was inevitable, even for a person like her.. If she could change for the better, so was her daughter.

 Chapter 263 - Unstoppable (1)

    The next day, Lu Qingfeng and his grandfather left Qiying City early in the morning. With his absence, Su Xiaofei knew that she would have one less distraction to exact the revenge she had yet to deliver to Mo Yuchen.


    Once she had sent off Lu Qingfeng, Zhang Ling noticed that her miss had a peculiar smile stered on her face. It reminded Zhang Ling of the phrase, ''when the cat''s away, the mice will y.'' She hadn''t thought that her young miss was considering Lu Qingfeng''s opinion all this time.


    "Why do I feel like Miss Su is happy to get rid of our Young Master?" Zhang Ling frowned as sheined to her elder sister. Lu Qingfeng had just left for Shenjing, but Su Xiaofei was acting like she was happy to be rid of him.


    Zhang Lan raised a slender brow at her and shook her head. She didn''t share the same opinion as her sister. The rtionship between their young master and Su Xiaofei was crystal clear in their eyes.


    "You are thinking too much, Ling. It''s not what you think." She replied, gesturing for her sister to watch her words.


    "Then what is it then? Why did she seem so happy when Young Master Lu left?"


    "You still don''t get it? After serving Miss Su for some time now, you still don''t see how she sees Master Lu?" Zhang Lan questioned her younger sister in return.


    Zhang Ling shook her head. It was hard for her to understand Su Xiaofei''s intention, even if her orders were delivered without a question from her side.


    "Ling, the reason why Miss Su is happy and looked relieved is that she didn''t want to implicate our master in her future ns. With Master Lu around, she has to be careful with her actions." Zhang Lan exined. It might not be obvious to others, but Su Xiaofei truly cared about their young master.


    The way Zhang Lan looked at it, Su Xiaofei''s recent actions were merely preparations for what was about to happen in the future. Zhang Lan noticed that Su Xiaofei had some simrities with their young master.


    Both were looking ahead of their future and making preparations this early, which not many would consider at their young age. While their peers were busy trying to get into their dream school or pursuing the career they wanted, the two were learning how to make the money work for them.


    Zhang Ling bit her lip, knowing that her elder sister''s words made sense. She was probably being too suspicious of Su Xiaofei. Of course, they were concerned about her welfare, but their loyalty stilly with Lu Qingfeng.


    Meanwhile, the said young woman was silently watching the scenery outside the window as Zhang Lan drove her back home after sending Lu Qingfeng. She remembered that when Lu Qingfeng left to study overseas in her past life, she had a fierce fight with him.


    Su Xiaofei didn''t want him to leave, but she wasn''t able to stop him. Lu Qingfeng also didn''t want to leave back then, but he couldn''t go against his grandfather''s wishes. Thinking about her past actions, she couldn''t help but be annoyed with her previous self. No wonder many people couldn''t stand being with her, because she was such a selfish person.


    She smiled faintly to herself and thought how Lu Qingfeng wasn''t willing to let go of her hand earlier. She knew that if he could, Lu Qingfeng wouldn''t leave her side no matter what.


    Although she was already set on vengeance the moment she was reborn, she couldn''t help but feel moved by his actions.


    Five years without him by her side.


    So be it.


    Once he returned, she promised herself that she would never let go of his hand anymore. She would be strong enough, selfish enough, to im Lu Qingfeng''s love for herself. Until then, she would cultivate herself and be a better version of herself.


    As for Mo Yuchen and Ye Mingyu, she would allow them to continue climbing up, before their inevitable hard fall from grace. The most pitiful situation in this world was not to lose something before one could have it, but to ruthlessly snatch away one''s desire from their own hands.


    Su Xiaofei had no doubt that Ye Mingyu would force her debut in the entertainment industry after five years, just? like she did in her previous life. However, this time, Su Xiaofei would make sure that Ye Mingyu wouldn''t be able to use her as her stepping stone to further her career in the industry.


    Since they had all deemed her as the cruel viiness in her past life, they shouldn''t me her for ying such a role then. The hatred she was nurturing in her heart was like a poisonous snake in the dark, waiting for the right opportunity to strike without any reservations and mercy.


    However, just as she thought about her future ns, Lu Qingfeng''s reminder echoed in her mind. It was something he tried to insist on before he left.


    "Feifei and I are different. From the very start, I knew that you would take it upon yourself to do anything that is necessary to achieve your goal. But Feifei, you have to promise me not to put your own life at risk like you did for Master Ouyang. If not for me, then you need to be cautious for Aunty Qing''s sake."


    Su Xiaofei could only agree with his condition. If it was in the past, she wouldn''t care what she could lose in order to get what she wanted, which was foolish, now that she was able to think clearly.


    Since she had already given Lu Qingfeng her word, she had to keep it and avoid getting hurt in the process of her revenge. However, this didn''t mean that her resentment in her heart could easily let Mo Yuchen and everyone who harmed her and her mother off the hook just yet.

 Chapter 264 - Unstoppable (2)

    Once Lu Qingfeng left, Su Xiaofei didn''t waste her time and proceeded with her ns. Tang Liyan and Qin Muyao had started working under the same project ¨C "The Poisonous Concubine", while Xiao Rufeng continued her training with the other new recruits.


    Ever since Su Xiaofei revealed her identity as a talent manager, no one had bothered Xiao Rufeng again. In fact, most of the recruits chose to ignore her presence and work to improve themselves rather than causing trouble for her. Ever since they found out that Su Xiaofei was aware of the things they had done, they didn''t want to aggravate the situation and make an enemy out of her.


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaofei arrived at the head office of the "Butterfly Chrysalis" for a meeting with Andrew Si. The staff at the boutique were curious about her sudden visit, but when she pulled out the card that Si Yixian had given to her during their first meeting, Su Xiaofei was granted a meeting with him.


    She looked like any other pampered young miss, but there was something different in how she presented herself in public. She was led to the designer''s office, followed by her two bodyguards and was told to wait for Andrew Si''s return.


    "Miss, are you sure Mr. Si Would you agree with your offer? What if he views you as an enemy instead?" Zhang Ling asked. Of course, she and her sister were both aware of why Su Xiaofei came here. Their young miss wanted to lure the designer to her side and work exclusively for Bluemedia for a few years.


    Just like what she did with Qin Muyao and Tang Liyan, Su Xiaofei was exploiting Andrew Si''s weakness to agree with her terms.


    Si Yixian was known in public as Andrew Si, so Su Xiaofei wouldn''t dare to acknowledge him by his real name to avoid suspicion.


    "Miss Su, what brings you here?" Andrew Si shook her hand and gestured for her to take a seat across from him.


    He then took a seat behind his desk and crossed his legs, waiting for the young woman to announce the purpose of her visit. The card he had given to her could only be used once, and he was surprised that the young woman was aware of its purpose.


    "I''m here to offer Mr. Si a proposition." Su Xiaofei smiled before handing a document to the man. "I can grant you your deepest wish, but obviously, ites with a price."


    Andrew Si gave her a confused look before opening the folder she just handed to him. As soon as his eyes caught a familiar woman in the photograph next to Su Xiaofei, he was immediately rendered speechless on the spot.


    It didn''t matter if so many years had passed, because Andrew could recognize his sister anywhere. It was definitely Si Yuxuan who was standing next to Su Xiaofei in the photograph. He had hired several investigators to find her, and yet Su Xiaofei could easilye here, iming that she was able to reunite him and his sister.


    "Miss Su, what kind of payment do you want for you to return my sister to me?" He asked, his expression hard and serious.


    He had known from the very start that this young woman wasn''t a good-hearted one. Because if Su Xiaofei was, she wouldn''t be so heartless as to destroy Chen Li''s life. He wouldn''t be surprised if this young woman instigated everything, effectively ruining the other person''s future by sending Chen Li to jail.


    "I assure you that person is your sister. You can run a DNA test between the two of you if you are uncertain."


    "No. I believe that this is Xuan''er. There''s no mistake about it, but why are you doing this?" Andrew Si couldn''t think of anything he had done to offend this young woman, so why was Su Xiaofeiing after him?


    "Rx, Mr. Si, like I said, I came here with a proposition. Why don''t you take a look at the documents you have in your hands and tell me what you think of it?" Su Xiaofei suggested.


    Andrew Si didn''t have a choice but to do as he was told. His eyes scanned the contents of the documents and frowned upon seeing thepensation Su Xiaofei wanted from him. This young woman wanted him to work for Bluemedia as an exclusive stylist for ten years.


    Seeing his reaction, the corner of Su Xiaofei''s lips turned up.


    "Are the conditions not to your liking, Mr. Si? You should know by now that your sister''s living arrangement isn''t really good. She also needs immediate medical intervention."


    "What do you mean?" Andrew Si narrowed his eyes suspiciously on Su Xiaofei. The more he looked at this woman, the more he thought about how sly Su Xiaofei could be in the near future. She would certainly be a force to be reckoned with, given how meticulous she was in her ways.


    "Your younger sister is diagnosed with mental retardation and is malnourished. She was adopted a year after you left the country with your foster parents, and while your life turned for the better, hers only proved to be the opposite. Is ten years of service really that hardpared to having a chance to be reunited with your sister?"


    Su Xiaofei''s words sounded like a devil''s sweet nothings in his ear, but Andrew Si couldn''t ignore it. After receiving failed reports one after another, how could he possibly ignore the fact that this young woman was able to locate his sister?


    Andrew Si held the documents tightly in his hands, as several thoughts about his sister crossed his mind. He knew that Su Xiaofei''s words made sense as through his sister''s photograph, he could already imagine that she wasn''t receiving the best care she could get from the ce she was staying.


    "Miss Su, allow me to give it a good thought before deciding."


    Su Xiaofei nodded and rose to her feet.


    "Then Mr. Si better not waste too much time thinking."

 Chapter 265 - A Vengeful Woman (1)

    Su Xiaofei leisurely spent her following days at home as she waited for Andrew Si''s decision. She knew that the man wouldn''t be able to resist for too long, knowing that she had his sister under her care. She knew that it wouldn''t be easy for her to lure him to her side, unlike Tang Liyan and Qin Muyao who were ready to cooperate with her out of desperation.


    Andrew Si was known to be hard-headed and had a domineering personality in Su Xiaofei''s past life, so she wasn''t really surprised if the man was thinking of ways to outwit her and find out where she was keeping Si Yuxuan.


    ''Heh. As if it would be possible.'' Su Xiaofei thought. If the private investigators Andrew Si hired were really capable, they would have found his sister a long time ago. Anyway, the longer he waited to make a decision, the more pressured he would be to answer her. Now that he was aware of his younger sister''s condition, how could he ignore Su Xiaofei''s proposition?


    "Miss, it''s been three days since you visited Mr. Si. Are you sure that he would cooperate with you?" Zhang Ling asked once when she served some tea and a slice of strawberry shortcake for Su Xiaofei that afternoon.


    Su Xiaofei was on the balcony of her room, flipping through the pages of the novel she had borrowed from Xi Qian the other day. Now that they have graduated from high school, Su Xiaofei had expected that she and her best friend would meet each other less, given that they would be attending two different schools for college.


    If in the past, Su Xiaofei wasn''t willing to part with Xi Qian and Lu Qingfeng, she was now adjusting quite well to these changes in her life. She didn''t feel the same confusion and fear she felt before. Su Xiaofei used to feel that everyone was moving forward with their lives, and she couldn''t catch up with them.


    Su Xiaofei didn''t want to admit it, but she was extremely insecure in her previous life and younger years. She depended on the people around her a lot, despite her arrogance and haughtiness. One thing she disliked the most was being left on her own, hence, she grabbed every opportunity she had to not let Mo Yuchen leave her during their marriage.


    "It''s fine, Zhang Ling. We should give him enough time to consider." She smiled at the younger sibling before thanking her for the snacks. "Where''s your sister?" She asked when she noticed that she hadn''t seen Zhang Lan since morning.


    "Master Lu sent her on an errand. I hope you won''t mind me apanying you today, Miss Su." Zhang Ling wasn''t sure since when Su Xiaofei started noticing that she and her sister would disappear from her side once in a while as they executed Lu Qingfeng''s orders.


    "Be at ease, Zhang Ling. I don''t mean anything by asking. I''m just curious about what made you leave without informing me."


    Zhang Ling''s face flushed upon hearing that. It felt like she and her sister had been caught doing a shameful act by Su Xiaofei. She knew she shouldn''t be ashamed of it, but Zhang Ling had never thought Su Xiaofei would even acknowledge the issue.


    "I''m sorry, Miss Su. I should have known that you would notice. My sister received an order from Master Lust night. I will make sure to inform her to notify you before leaving from now on."


    "Zhang Ling, I am aware that you are still serving Xiao Feng, as you and your sister are only temporary guards that he assigned to look after me. I can''t thank you enough for taking care of me for the past months, but I would be relieved if I knew when you were to leave. If something bad happens to you and your sister, I wouldn''t be able to exin it to Xiao Feng."


    Zhang Ling stared at their young miss in shock. She hadn''t expected that Su Xiaofei hade to care for her and her sister over the past months they had been on her side. When she and her elder sister received a high-priority mission from Lu Qingfeng, they were both surprised when they found out that they were to guard Su Xiaofei.


    Within the private guards of the Lu family, who hadn''t heard about Su Xiaofei? Her name was notorious in their line and she was known to take advantage of their young master''s kindness. Since their young master had practically grown up with Su Xiaofei, those who had been serving the Lu family longer didn''t have a good impression on her.


    Many viewed her as unsuitable to be Lu Qingfeng''s bride and because of the rumors surrounding her, the Zhang siblings were initially hesitant to ept their mission.


    However, the more they spent time with Su Xiaofei, the more they realized that she was nothing like the rumors painted her to be. Although her ways of dealing with her enemies were odd, Su Xiaofei wasn''t disrespectful towards Lu Qingfeng, and especially not to her mother.


    If Su Xiaofei had shown even a little disrespect towards Lu Qingfeng, Zhang Ling and her sister would have asked Lu Qingfeng to remove them from her service, as they both weren''t willing to serve a person who belittled and couldn''t respect their master.


    However, now as Zhang Ling stared at Su Xiaofei, she realized that her elder sister was right about Su Xiaofei. This young woman would only lower her guard when their master was with her. Ever since Lu Qingfeng left, Zhang Ling would find Su Xiaofei spacing out at times, her mind seemingly elsewhere, which was far different from her demeanor when Lu Qingfeng hadn''t left yet.


    "I won''t ask you about the things Xiao Feng asked you to do, but I would appreciate it if you could give me a heads-up before leaving. I won''t stop you from doing what he orders, but I don''t like worrying too much if you''re gone for too long."


    "I understand, Miss Su."


    Zhang Lan returned from her errands an hourter, rushing to meet Su Xiaofei. She had received a call from Andrew Si, asking for an immediate meeting with her.


    Su Xiaofei only smirked and sighed to herself as she told Zhang Lan to calm down and rx. Andrew Si''s actions were still within her expectations.


    "There''s no need to rush, Zhang Lan. Get back to Mr. Si and inform him that I am not avable until tomorrow. Since he had forced me to wait for him to make a decision, I need to remind him of how precious our time is." She replied with an arrogant tone, which the Zhang siblings were already ustomed to.


    This was the only trait that the rumors got right about Su Xiaofei. She was a vengeful woman and hated getting the shorter end of the stick. If someone dared to p her, she would return the favor a hundredfold.


    "Yes, Miss Su. I will inform his assistant of your answer then." Zhang Lan said before excusing herself to execute Su Xiaofei''s order.


    "Aiya, Mr. Si should have epted as soon as he received the proposition." Zhang Lingmented with augh. She knew why Su Xiaofei was doing it. Her young miss was purposely making it hard for the designer to meet her as some kind of revenge.


    As for Andrew Si, he could only me himself for annoying and troubling Su Xiaofei like this. It was now his turn to wait for Su Xiaofei to meet him.


    "It''s normal for him to be wary of me, Zhang Ling. I know you would do the same if you were in his shoes. If you are separated from your sister for a long time and found out that she''s sick, you wouldn''t be able to stay still and do nothing, right? This is one of the greatest weaknesses of a human. Their emotional attachment to someone could be us against them."


    "Then Miss Su, aren''t you afraid that someone would use your weakness against you too?" Zhang Ling curiously asked. If Su Xiaofei put it that way, wouldn''t that mean that a scheming person could also use that trick to force Su Xiaofei to a corner?


    "Ah, Zhang Ling, this is why you have to nip it in the bud, before it has any chance to bloom. I''m sure Xiao Feng would do the same. However, if anyone dares to touch my bottom line, I will make sure that they would regret crossing paths with me."


    Su Xiaofei''s eyes shed with a viciousness that Zhang Ling had never seen in anyone else. It was obvious that Su Xiaofei was younger than her by a few years, but the way she spoke and acted made Zhang Ling think that Su Xiaofei had encountered a lot of people in her life. Even the way she dealt with Qin Muyao and Tang Liyan obviously showed that she was merely using them as her pawns.. Willing ones at that.

 Chapter 266 - A Vengeful Woman (2)

    Andrew Si had been walking back and forth, waiting for Su Xiaofei''s arrival. Because he wasn''t able to find a loophole he could take advantage of against Su Xiaofei, he knew then that he didn''t have any choice but to agree with her conditions. If it meant that he would be able to reunite with his younger sister and see for himself if what Su Xiaofei imed was true.


    The more seconds passed without Su Xiaofei showing up, the more anxious Andrew Si became. Still, he couldn''t really me her for acting this way since he was the one who was at a disadvantage.


    He lifted his head the moment the door opened, revealing Su Xiaofei dressed in a beige colored dress that revealed her smooth corbone and delicate neckline.


    "Mr. Si, please take a seat. I apologize for beingte." Su Xiaofei gestured for him to take a seat. She had a smile on her face, but her eyes showed that she wasn''t truly bothered whether she made Andrew Si wait for her or not.


    The designer could only take a seat to stop himself from pacing around. Now that Su Xiaofei was here, he only needed to confirm whether his sister was alive and safe. She was the only one who was able to find a lead about his sister''s whereabouts, but he couldn''t quite believe her ims about Si Yuxuan''s mental condition.


    Once Su Xiaofei was seated, Zhang Ling stepped forward and handed Andrew Si the documents he hadn''t seen during their first meeting.


    The man gave Su Xiaofei a conflicted look, but thetter remained calm and asked Zhang Lan to bring them some refreshment instead.


    "What is it now? Are the conditions you set earlier isn''t to your liking anymore, Miss Su?" Andrew Si asked.


    "No. It remains the same. The documents in your hands are the reports about your sister and her medical records. I suppose you need to know her condition first before meeting her. I have to warn you though, that Si Yuxuan is distrustful of other people because she was abandoned by her foster parents before." Su Xiaofei exined.


    It pained Andrew Si to know that his sister had to suffer like that. While he was able to enjoy the perks of being adopted by a wealthy couple, his sister not only faced random criticisms but also dealt with being unwanted by someone.


    He didn''t waste time and flipped through the document, his eyes lingering on the photo of his sister attached in the upper left corner of the first page. Andrew Si then mustered all the courage he had and turned the page, revealing his sister''s medical records.


    The records were concise and easy to understand, although it didn''t offer answers to him as to why his sister ended up like this. In his memories, Si Yuxuan was his adorable little sister, whom he and their mother adored the most. It was hard to believe that after his adoption, his sister would end up like this.


    Andrew Si couldn''t remember anyone in their family who had mental retardation. He was able to meet their father at a young age, but because they were merely children of an ex-wife, he knew that it would be impossible for him and Si Yuxuan to ask for their father''s support.


    "I can arrange your meeting as soon as you sign the contract." Su Xiaofei''s words brought Andrew Si back from his trance. "Unfortunately, there would be no room for negotiation. I only expect your cooperation, nothing else."


    Andrew Si had met a lot of young misses from wealthy families in the past, but none of them was as overbearing as Su Xiaofei. It was hard for him to believe that someone as young as her was able to corner him like this.


    "I''ll agree with the terms as long as you take responsibility for it." He told Su Xiaofei.


    Su Xiaofei''s eyes lit up upon hearing his answer. She knew that the man wouldn''t be able to resist for too long.


    "Don''t worry, Mr. Si. I''ll make sure you won''t regret epting my proposition." She replied, before allowing Zhang Ling to take over the contract signing between them.


    Once everything was settled, Su Xiaofei extended a hand towards Andrew Si.


    "For the sess of our cooperation." She said, waiting for the man to ept her gesture.


    "En." Andrew Si replied, giving her a firm handshake, officially sealing their deal.


    "Then please prepare for a long trip tomorrow, Mr. Si. One of my assistants will be going over to your ce to pick you up."


    "You mean you''re bringing me to where my sister is?" He raised a slender brow at her in question.


    "Why, of course. I intend to fulfill my part of our deal, Mr. Si, and I expect you not to back down on your words. If we were able to locate your sister without a problem, we could also do the opposite if you failed to do your part."


    Su Xiaofei''s words were enough to warn Andrew Si not to mess with her future ns, because it would be a real pity to make him her enemy.


    Andrew Si frowned upon hearing her words, but didn''t make anyments about it. It was easy for him to tell that this woman was not only a vicious woman, but also a vengeful one. One reason why he also conceded with her proposition was to see for himself the kind of future that awaited a person like Su Xiaofei.


    This was their third meeting, and yet he felt some familiarity towards her, but Andrew Si was sure that they had never met in the past, prior to their meeting during Chen Li''s case. It would be hard for anyone to forget a person as striking as Su Xiaofei.


    "Fine. I''ll be waiting then." He said, before turning to leave, wondering if he made the right choice in getting involved with this young woman.


    As promised, Zhang Lan showed up right outside Andrew Si''s front door the next morning. The man opened the door of his apartment, looking aghast and exhausted. It was obvious to Zhang Lan that the man hadn''t slept a wink as he waited for his impending meeting with his sister that day.


    Right outside his apartmentplex, there were three luxurious ck cars waiting for them. One of the windows of the first car was lowered, revealing Su Xiaofei''s clean face to Andrew Si''s view.


    For a moment, Andrew Si thought that he was looking at Bai Qingyue when he saw the young woman waiting for him. However, the moment their eyes met, he was reminded that this young woman was a wolf in sheep''s clothing. The way she smiled sent shivers down one''s spine, and he couldn''t help but sense an ominous feeling.


    "Good morning, Mr. Si. I hope that you are ready for today''s event." Su Xiaofei greeted him without bothering to alight from the car she was in. Her smile was wide, but she wasn''t able to assure Andrew Si that everything would be okayter. He was still dreading the anticipation and fear about this supposed meeting with his long-lost sister.


    Andrew Si didn''t have enough energy to question her and only nodded. He didn''t want to put his expectations up, as he had been repeatedly disappointed in the past by the other private investigators he hired.


    Once he got into the other car, their small group started their long trip to the orphanage Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng visited a few weeks ago. As Su Xiaofei cupped the side of her face, watching the familiar sceneries pass, she wondered yet again how Lu Qingfeng was faring in Shenjing.


    It hadn''t been a week since he left, but she was starting to miss him so badly. As promised, Lu Qingfeng hadn''t forgotten to give her a call in the mornings and at night. Thinking about it, the moment she died in her previous life and became a wandering ghost, up to the day she was reborn, she had never been parted for too long from Lu Qingfeng.


    Was this what people called love sickness? Su Xiaofei wondered.


    Was this what Lu Qingfeng felt when she had gone and chose to marry Mo Yuchen in her previous life?


    She had never felt this way when she was still infatuated with Mo Yuchen. Yet, spending a few months with Lu Qingfeng since her rebirth was able to make her yearn for his presence during his absence. She had to admit that he was able to instill emotions that she wasn''t aware of in her.


    Su Xiaofei sighed for the umpteenth time of the day. She would need to wait until nighttime for her to be able to hear his voice again. Only by making herself busy was she able to force her mind not to think of him, but she couldn''t help counting the days that had passed since he left.

 Chapter 267 - A Vengeful Woman (3)

    The trip this time was faster than the first time Su Xiaofei had visited the orphanage. However, this time, Andrew Si hade with her. He looked around, taking in the poor condition of the orphanage. He had a conflicted expression on his face, wondering how his sister was able to survive and live in a ce like this.


    "Ready?" He heard Su Xiaofei ask, bringing him back to reality.


    Andrew Si nodded and followed her lead to the director''s office, where his sister was waiting. He was startled a little when Su Xiaofei stopped in her tracks and nced his way.


    "I will leave the exnation to you. I''m sure the director wants to know what happened in the past. Whether your sisteres home with you today would depend on you." She told him.


    "I understand." Andrew Si replied, before entering the office on his own.


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaofei took this chance to walk around, watching the children happily ying hide-and-seek. Watching them reminded her once again of her childhood memories before meeting Lu Qingfeng and Xi Qian. She used to spend a lot of time on her own, as the other children her age refused to y with her.


    It had been a lonely time for her as her parents were never around due to work. Although Yun Qingrong made sure that she wasn''tcking in any material things, it wasn''t enough to make Su Xiaofei happy.


    She was a child dressed like a doll, but she had no one to apany her other than her nannies growing up. It wasn''t surprising that she had developed a bad personality because of it.


    It was only when she met the young Lu Qingfeng did she feel that she wasn''t alone anymore. He might not be a talkativepanion, but he never made her feel insecure, not even once.


    Su Xiaofei smiled at the memory of their very first meeting. She didn''t expect that her rtionship with Lu Qingfeng would turn into something wonderful as it did right now.


    A little girl ran in front of her and waved her little hand to get Su Xiaofei''s attention.


    "Jiejie! Come and join us!" She invited Su Xiaofei.


    Su Xiaofei shook her head and politely declined the girl''s invitation. Even if she wanted to join them, her outfit today wouldn''t give her the freedom to move around freely.


    Behind her, the Zhang siblings were surprised to see how calm Su Xiaofei was today. It was rare for the sisters to see her like this. Usually, Su Xiaofei would be preupied with the thoughts on how to secure talents for Bluemedia.


    Ever since their young master left for Shenjing, Su Xiaofei became busier with her work for Bluemedia, always keeping herself upied with work and woulde homete at night with her mother.


    Zhang Ling didn''t want to believe her sister at first when Zhang Lan said that it was Su Xiaofei''s way to cope with their young master''s absence, but seeing Su Xiaofei now only proved that her elder sister had been right about her observation of their young miss.


    "Miss, is it really alright to leave it to Mr. Si?" Zhang Ling questioned Su Xiaofei.


    "It''s fine. I''m not interested in witnessing his reunion with his sister. Let''s give them some privacy to deal with their own problems." Su Xiaofei replied once she had taken a seat on a bench in the small garden of the orphanage.


    It seemed that the director was using the funds she and Lu Qingfeng donated to give the children a new set of wardrobe and provided better meals, as there was little to none improvement in the condition of the buildings.


    "Then, what does Miss Su n to do now? We''ve already signed Qin Muyao, Tang Liyan and poached Mr. Si to join Bluemedia. Is there anything else you want to do?" Zhang Lan was the one who asked Su Xiaofei this time.


    "Nothing. Since we''ve already done our part, we could only wait and see if Tang Liyan would be able to make a sessfuleback."


    The Zhang siblings nced at each other. How can they not know that Su Xiaofei was pushing Tang Liyan to "The Poisonous Concubine" to antagonize Mo Yuchen''s uing historical TV drama?


    It wasn''t a secret to them that their young miss had bad blood with the young master of the Mo family, but neither of the Zhang siblings knew the reason why Su Xiaofei hated Mo Yuchen with such intensity.


    Was it because the man couldn''t return her affection? The two sisters didn''t think so. After working for Su Xiaofei for several months now, they were both aware of how prideful their young miss could be. Something must have happened between the two that made Su Xiaofei hate Mo Yuchen immensely.


    "Do you think what I''ve dely is wrong?" Su Xiaofei''s sudden question caught the sisters off guard.


    "What does Miss Su mean with this question? As your private bodyguards and assistants, our task is to fulfill your orders without question." Zhang Lan replied.


    Su Xiaofei chuckled and brushed the stray locks away from her face. It was starting to get cold as the night approached. She was thankful that Zhang Ling had reminded her to dress up appropriately for the weather as Qiying City was considerably warmer than this ce.


    "Wouldn''t that make you a puppet? I don''t expect loyalty from you, but I would assume that you won''t just blindly ept my orders."


    The Zhang siblings fell silent at that. Indeed, they have delivered Su Xiaofei''s orders ording to her wishes, and they have been curious of the reasons behind them but never questioned her because it wasn''t their ce.


    "I have ns for the future, hence, I need to ce the right chess pieces in their right ces before the battle starts. No matter how strong a warrior is, if he doesn''t have the appropriate weapon topliment him during a war, he would lose his life easily." Su Xiaofei continued to exin.


    "I see. I understand now." Zhang Lan hummed as she stood next to Su Xiaofei and followed her gaze heavenward, watching as the sky slowly darkened from the distance.


    "Miss Su didn''t need to worry about what we or the others think of your actions. It''s not because Ling and I are in no ce to question you, but because you didn''t have any responsibility to exin yourself to everyone. It''s enough for us that you treated Master Feng really well. We could only hope that you won''t do anything reckless that could implicate or harm him in any way." She continued.


    Su Xiaofei inwardly chuckled at that as she thought of how foolish she was in her previous life. Because of her insecurities, she constantly sought everyone''s acknowledgement, not knowing that they cared nothing about her.


    In the end, there were only a couple of people who truly loved her, but she had given them nothing but heartache and suffering. Her mother and her best friend lost their lives, while Lu Qingfeng led a lonely life because of her.


    It only got worse when Ye Mingyu came into the scene, taking away everything she wanted one after another. She couldn''t understand why a person like Ye Mingyu was being loved by everyone despite her being a two-faced woman, while everyone despised her and painted her as the viiness in Ye Mingyu and Mo Yuchen''s love story.


    Su Xiaofei could onlyugh at the absurdity of her situation in her past life. Her tragic life was caused by her own selfishness and foolishness, leading her straight into Ye Mingyu and Mo Yuchen''s trap.


    "I would rather hurt myself than hurt him, Zhang Lan. But if there''s a day that you think I''m being a threat to your young master, please tell me. Thest thing I want to happen is for Xiao Feng to be lonely because of me."


    She had witnessed herself how he dedicated the rest of his life, loving her even beyond her death. The overwhelming feeling of guilt and helplessness she had was so intense, she could only cry for his sake as a wandering host.


    However, now that she was reborn, there was no need for her to worry that Lu Qingfeng would suffer the same fate again. If she could be selfish once again, she would want to have all of him to herself in this lifetime, making sure that he would be loved and won''t be alone.


    Since he had decided to love her and be with her for the rest of his life, Su Xiaofei would make sure to hold him ountable for his words. She would love him with all of her heart, but first, she needed to forgive and free herself from the deep-seated resentment she kept from her previous life, else, the shadow of it would forbid her to truly be happy with Lu Qingfeng in the future.


    *Author''s Note: We would do a five-year time skip on the next chapter.

 Chapter 268 - Return Of The Queen (1)

    A woman, dressed in a champagne color dress that entuated her feminine curves, alighted from her car as soon as she parked it on a vacant slot at the basement parking of the building. She rushed to the elevators while her phone was pressed on her right ear as she listened to her daughter''s rumbling at the other end of the line.


    "Yes, dear. Mommy will be there on time." The woman replied, ncing at the indicator of the floor where the elevator was currently on. She then checked the time and sighed inwardly as she realized that she was still early for her meeting.


    "Alright, dear. Mommy will call youter, okay? I need to see Manager Su now."


    The doors of the private elevator opened in front of her, and she immediately stepped inside, pressing the floor where Su Xiaofei''s office was located. As the elevator slowly ascended to her destination, she couldn''t help but give her reflection a good look. Tang Liyan thought that the woman she was seeing now was far from the pitiful and pathetic woman that she was years ago.


    Compared to her naive and weak self when Su Xiaofei found her, she had grown to be resilient and self-reliant. She no longer needed the influence of her mother, nor her ex-husband''s support, to live the life she wanted for herself and her daughter.


    It had been five years since Su Xiaofei appeared in her life, pulling her out from the hellhole she and her young daughter were trapped in. Her divorce with her ex-husband had been a nasty one, as his family continued to hound her even after their separation. If it wasn''t for Su Xiaofei''s intervention, Tang Liyan didn''t think she would be able to endure the legal battle she had with her husband for their daughter''s custody.


    The doors of the elevator opened again and Tang Liyan wasn''t surprised to see Zhang Lan waiting for her.


    "Miss Zhang, I told you, you don''t have to wait for me here." Tang Liyan greeted her.


    "Miss Tang, our Miss is expecting you today. Please follow me." Zhang Lan ignored the actress''sment and gestured for thetter to follow her. She was dressed in her customary ck uniform with white undershirt, her long hair pinned in a high ponytail which gave her a more matured look.


    They went to the office located at the west side of the building. Once they reached, Zhang Lan opened the door for Tang Liyan. As soon as Tang Liyan stepped into the room, her brows rose when she saw Su Xiaofei groaning at the stack of papers ced on her desk, while she hovered over a book in front of her.


    Su Xiaofei lifted her head up when she heard the door open and saw Tang Liyan standing at the doorway. She immediately stood up and buttoned her coat, gesturing for the actress to take a seat on the couch while she fished out a folder from one of her top drawers before joining Tang Liyan. But the actress chose to remain standing.


    "We received an offer for a film. This is the script. Tell me if it interests you, if not, I will decline it on your behalf."


    Tang Liyan epted the folder and stared at Su Xiaofei for a moment. Because Su Xiaofei hadn''t taken a seat yet, Tang Liyan was able to note the changes in her manager''s features over the years.


    The slim, young woman whom she met years ago had turned into a stunning beauty in the blink of an eye. As she looked at Su Xiaofei''s face, Tang Liyan couldn''t help but marvel at it. Her face was so beautiful, it was almost otherworldly in Tang Liyan''s opinion.


    Tang Liyan knew that Su Xiaofei''s features were more striking than any young actress of this generation, and if she were to join the entertainment industry, her face alone could leave a dark cast over herpetitors.


    Her dark gray business ensemble didn''t hide her slender figure, showing the fullness of womanhood. She had a delicate waist, long slender legs and her bosom protruded a little. She walked without shame or false modesty, knowing she was beautiful to the eye, sleek with a slight athletic frame.


    The slight plumpness on her face had been shed over time, making her facial features sharper. Her eyes were clear, but looking at it could make one feel that they were looking at a bottomless pit of darkness instead. Her lips were slightly pale, her teeth white and perfect, and with her wavy hair tumbling loosely over her shoulder gave off azy charm.


    After knowing Su Xiaofei for a long time, seeing her up close was enough to put Tang Liyan in a trance. Her young manager had been born with good looks, and after growing up, she had be so beautiful that many people had mistaken her as a celebrity instead.


    When Su Xiaofei raised a slender brow at her, Tang Liyan then turned her gaze to the folder in her hand and started reading the contents, aware that her manager was looking at her, waiting for her answer.


    After working with her manager for five years now, Tang Liyan was familiar with Su Xiaofei''s ways and preferences. This woman was strict when ites to work and won''t ept any talent that didn''t meet her standards.


    Su Xiaofei also didn''t like her talents acting like a mindless puppet. She won''t ept any roles and projects that would make her talents ufortable or ce them in precarious situations. Although Tang Liyan had yet to settle the debt she owed to Su Xiaofei, she was confident that her career was on the right path because of her manager.


    Even now, Tang Liyan couldn''t believe that she was able to defeat Bai Qingyue five years ago when both of their TV dramas were released at the same time.. She knew then that whatever she had now, it was because Su Xiaofei believed in her.

 Chapter 269 - Return Of The Queen (2)

    When Tang Liyan left her office, Su Xiaofei released a breath she didn''t know she was holding and leaned on her seat. She then checked the monitor of herputer, seeing the date on the top right of it, only to be reminded of how long it had been since Lu Qingfeng left.


    "It''s already been five years, hasn''t it?" She asked Zhang Lan, who was busy helping her sister organize the documents Su Xiaofei had already finished reviewing.


    "Yes, Miss Su." Zhang Lan replied, knowing what their young miss was implying. Su Xiaofei had this gentle look on her face whenever she was thinking of that special someone.


    "Then, do you think he will be back soon?" Su Xiaofei asked again. She couldn''t believe that five years had already passed. For the past years, she focused on her studies and work, so that she would barely have any time to rx and miss him too much.


    Zhang Ling smiled at her sister, giving her a knowing look, while Zhang Lan tried not to roll her eyes. How can Zhang Lan not know what her sister was thinking?


    "I''m sorry, Miss. Master hasn''t informed us anything about his ns yet." Zhang Lan replied.


    As for Lu Qingfeng, although theirmunication over the years was constant, Su Xiaofei still couldn''t help but miss him. She could only feel at ease whenever she was with him, yet she didn''t want to indulge herself and rely on him too much.


    Over the past five years, she had only seen him three times in person since his departure.


    The first was when he visited her out-of-the-blue while she was in second year at the university she was attending. His sudden appearance had attracted a lot of attention from her schoolmates, which led to rumors about her.


    The second was during her graduation. Su Xiaofei wasn''t expecting him toe, since he was also on a strict schedule at the time. But Lu Qingfeng managed to fly from Shenjing to Guangshang just to see her graduate.


    Thest one was over a year ago when she was promoted to be the managing director of Bluemedia. The Zhang sisters drove her to a five-star hotel, and she was greeted by Lu Qingfeng, who was holding a bouquet of her favorite flowers to congratte her.


    Su Xiaofei knew that it was hard for Lu Qingfeng to spare his time to spend with her, but nevertheless, she was thankful for his efforts to show that he still cared about her despite their situation.


    However, no matter how many years had passed, her hatred towards those people who ruined her in her previous life remained the same. How can she forget when she was being tormented by her memorieste at night?


    At night, since Lu Qingfeng left, Su Xiaofei was constantly gued by her nightmares as her previous life shed before her eyes. The more she tried to make peace with her resentment to lead a happier life with everyone, the more her nightmares became persistent.


    Su Xiaofei was left distraught because of it for a long time, which even made her bodyguards, as well as Yun Qingrong and Xi Qian, worry about her. She didn''t have any appetite to eat for days and fell silent, not saying anything regarding what was bothering her. It was only when Lu Qingfeng said he would be returning did she snap out of it and return to her normal self.


    Still, Su Xiaofei knew that her nightmares were a constant reminder of her past. It was as if someone was telling her not to forget her grudge towards those people who harmed her. And so, Su Xiaofei continued with her ns and obstructed Mo Yuchen and Bai Qingyue in every possible way she could.


    With Ye Mingyu still not back from abroad, she could only wait until she could deliver hell to Ye Mingyu''s front door. There was no need for her to rush, because Ye Mingyu would surely return one of these days.


    She was able to snatch the best actress award for television right from her birth mother''s hand and give it to Tang Liyan a year after the release of "The Poisonous Concubine". With the initial promotion of the series being limited, the mystery about the actress portraying the female lead had piqued the interest of the public.


    It was only when the official trailer of the TV drama was released a week before its premiere day did they find out about the return of the former queen, Tang Liyan, to the limelight. Golden Star had started promoting Bai Qingyue''s TV drama a long time ago, so people were already aware of what to expect from Bai Qingyue.


    However, for Tang Liyan who hadn''t been seen in any TV series or films for the past seven years, many were waiting in anticipation to see whether she was still able to act or if she had already lost touch with her craft.


    Bluemedia released limited information about the TV drama and although it was made known that Tang Liyan had officially signed under the samepany, there weren''t any interviews conducted to confirm hereback.


    While Bai Qingyue''s historical drama was star-studded and was based on a popr novel, Tang Liyan''s performance in ''The Poisonous Concubine'' managed to steal the limelight, giving Bluemedia an edge against Golden Star Entertainment.


    Both TV dramas were released at the same time, garnering high ratings from their audience. However, the second episode proved to be the critical point for both series and "The Poisonous Concubine"''s rating soared inparison to Bai Qingyue''s TV drama, much to Golden Star''s shock.


    Mo Yuchen''s team didn''t anticipate that Bluemedia would be able to beat them at their own game, as this wasn''t the first time for Golden Star to produce such a series with the same quality.


    For the next few days, the first TV drama released by Bluemedia had been a great sess, which also runched Tang Liyan''s name to poprity.

 Chapter 270 - Return Of The Queen (3)

    The fact is, Bluemedia was not as powerful as Golden Star Entertainment, so it came as a surprise that a smallerpany like Bluemedia was able to produce such a high quality TV drama that was able to capture the audience in a good way.


    After Golden Star''s loss to Bluemedia, they started to battle with them for resources. Whenever there was news about Bluemedia taking interest in a project, Mo Yuchen would snatch the opportunity from them without him knowing that it was Su Xiaofei''s way to lure him away from their true objective.


    Now that Su Xiaofei had be Bluemedia''s managing director, she was in a position that could influence not only her mother''s decision, but also the board. However, it hadn''t been an easy start for her.


    An old man was having lunch with his acquaintance somewhere. While waiting for their orders to arrive, they chose to talk about what transpired in the meeting they attended earlier that morning.


    "President Yun''s daughter is quite arrogant, isn''t she? She''s still young, but she''s able to say such big words on her first day." He told hispanion. "iming that she would push Bluemedia to the top, surpassing Golden Star and Top Tier Entertainment? I have to say, young people nowadays aren''t in touch with reality." He shook his head and turned his nose up arrogantly.


    "It couldn''t be helped. I heard that President Yun pampered and spoiled her daughter rotten. It''s only natural for the girl to think that she could reach the top without facing obstacles. I fear that Bluemedia''s future isn''t bright with her seeding Yun Qingrong. A naive girl like her with no knowledge would send thepany to its doom." Hispanion replied.


    They were part of the board of directors of Bluemedia and were displeased to know that a young girl like Su Xiaofei would eventually take over the management in the future. It was obvious that Su Xiaofei didn''t take after her mother and didn''t have any astonishing achievements in school.


    "Heh. And here I thought my mother really had supportive acquaintances. Whether Bluemedia will be sessful under my leadership or not, it''s not up to you to decide." A familiar voice reached their ears. Her tone was gentle, but it didn''t hide the underlying mockery.


    The two old men turned their heads to the direction of the voice. They were both speechless when they found the subject of their conversation, dressed in a light violet dress with a ck coat hanging over her shoulders, standing there. Her lips curled into a mocking smile, while her eyes showed her disdain towards them.


    Su Xiaofei was twenty-one years old during this encounter, and she had just officially been introduced to the board as Yun Qingrong''s sessor.


    The two were astonished, but tried to suppress the fear that was blossoming in their hearts. Su Xiaofei was still Yun Qingrong''s daughter, and while they disapproved of this young woman, they couldn''t afford to make the president their enemy.


    "W-we are just telling the truth, Miss Su! If Miss Su didn''t have the ability, you shouldn''t make those outrageous ims!" One of them recovered from his shock and showed his displeasure towards Su Xiaofei. He was about to say more, but something caught his attention as he saw the Lu family''s crest on the two female bodyguards behind Su Xiaofei.


    Zhang Lan caught his staring, and the woman scoffed inwardly upon seeing how his face nched upon recognizing the crest embroidered on her cor. She could already surmise what this old man was thinking. Even though Lu Qingfeng wasn''t officially together with Su Xiaofei yet, many of the elite guards of the Lu family were already expecting that Su Xiaofei would be theirdy boss in the future.


    The old man returned his attention back to Su Xiaofei, wondering why this young woman was being protected by the prestigious Lu family. Did her arrogancee from knowing that she had a strong backing?


    "To gain sess, a person should know when to take risks. Didn''t my mother gamble on Bluemedia''s first TV drama and be sessful? If my mother didn''t take the risk, do you think you old farts could enjoy the profits you are receiving now?"


    At first, some older members of the board had some doubts about her capability due to her young age, but when they witnessed how dedicated she was to learn the ways of the industry, most of them started to tolerate her presence during important meetings. Her ability showed through and no matter how big the issue was thrown to her talents, she could easily solve it without breaking a sweat.


    However, Su Xiaofei was also known to have a temper when provoked. There was an incident where one inte celebrity dared to antagonize her, making nasty remarks about Tang Liyan. Su Xiaofei was not a soft-hearted person like Tang Liyan, and she took thements seriously. If some dared to pull her hair, she wouldn''t hesitate to tear all of their hair from their scalp in return.


    It could be said that the same inte celebrity didn''t have any face to show to the public anymore after Su Xiaofei discreetly made it known that she was a kept-woman of someone with a powerful background in the past.


    Obviously, the man''s identity was omitted by the media sources, in fear that he woulde after them, so they only dragged the inte celebrity to the mud, ruining her reputation overnight. Since she had offended a demoness, those who had ill thoughts about Manager Su and her talents kept their opinions to themselves, in fear that they would invite trouble to their doorsteps.


    When Tang Liyan asked Su Xiaofei why she did it with an aggrieved expression, thetter only said, "I won''t let others bully my person. If they have the guts to criticize you, they better make sure that they don''t have mud on their faces.. It should be a clear warning for them not to provoke people carelessly."

 Chapter 271 - Startling Change (1)

    At the age of twenty-three, Su Xiaofei''s temper had improved over time. Unlike before, she was resilient and couldn''t easily be provoked by anyone''s words. Even when she met Mo Yuchen on several asions, she had treated him like a stranger, as if she had never been his fianc¨¦e in the past.


    When she heard that Mo Yuchen gained a new fianc¨¦e, Su Xiaofei snorted inwardly and tried not to roll her eyes. Of course she knew who the unlucky woman was. Huang Jingjing was a daughter of a family friend of the Mo family and was close in age with Mo Yuchen. It was only expected that the Mo family would rece Su Xiaofei with a better candidate to be their daughter-inw.


    Although Su Xiaofei only met Huang Jingjing in numerous asions, she knew that the woman wasn''t stupid and not a push over. She doubted that Huang Jingjing would allow herself to be a trophy wife. Su Xiaofei also looked forward to how Huang Jingjing would deal with Ye Mingyu, once thetter came back from abroad and pursued Mo Yuchen.


    When Xi Qian asked her about it, Su Xiaofei onlyughed.


    "Qian, I don''t care who he is with." She assured her best friend. "Although we aren''t betrothed anymore, the enmity between us cannot be extinguished easily." She added with a smile.


    Xi Qian seemed pleased with her answer and didn''t question her about Mo Yuchen anymore. It was enough for her to see that Su Xiaofei finally got rid of her infatuation towards that horrible man.


    "Miss, we received a report that Ye Mingyu''s flightnded an hour ago." Zhang Lan reported to Su Xiaofei. "As expected, she has already signed a contract with Top Tier Entertainment and will be debuting very soon."


    Su Xiaofei hummed and tapped her fingers lightly on top of her desk, but her eyes shone with amusement. She was ying an online chess game with Lu Qingfeng that night, and the white pieces on the board had no way to retreat.


    Over the years of ying chess with Lu Qingfeng, it was only natural for her to improve with time. This wasn''t the first time that she had managed to corner him in a game. However, Su Xiaofei didn''t dare to lower her guard, because if there''s one thing she learned from Lu Qingfeng, the victor wouldn''t be announced until one of the parties fell.


    With Ye Mingyu''s return, it only meant that the board was set, as the vital chess pieces were already in their rightful ces, waiting for the other queen to take her ce on the other side. Su Xiaofei wondered if Ye Mingyu had grown some brain cells during her absence. It would be a pity if thetter would still pull the same tricks and schemes she did in their previous life.


    Three dayster, as Su Xiaofei had expected, Top Tier Entertainment chose to introduce Ye Mingyu through social media first. She was painted as the next otherworldly fairy that was to seed and follow Bai Qingyue''s steps.


    Of course these ims garnered mixed reactions from theizens. Those who were loyal fans of Bai Qingyue criticized Ye Mingyu for being shameless topare herself to their goddess, while others couldn''t help but agree that Ye Mingyu was pleasing to their eyes.


    When Yun Qingrong became aware of Ye Mingyu''s debut, she sought her daughter. She found her daughter still working inside her office, despite the fact that it was already past six in the evening and most of their employees had left for home.


    "Feifei, what do you think? With Ye Mingyu joining the showbiz, I fear that she would use this opportunity to drag our family to the limelight." Yun Qingrong asked her daughter.


    Su Xiaofei yawned in boredom and cupped her chin, seemingly not worried at all about Ye Mingyu''s arrival.


    "Mama, if she''s a sane person, she wouldn''t drag us in the mud, knowing that she would be painted as the other woman''s daughter." Su Xiaofei replied, giving her mother an assuring look.


    Knowing Ye Mingyu, Su Xiaofei was aware of how prideful she was and how much she hated beingbeled as the mistress''s daughter. Ye Mingyu would surely hide the truth and wouldn''t admit her rtionship with Su Haoran and how she was rted to Su Xiaofei.


    If Ye Mingu revealed her rtionship with her and Yun Qingrong, wouldn''t that mean she had voluntarily opened a can of worms that she couldn''t deal with? That would be like shooting her own foot in the process. Not only would everyone discover that she was a mistress''s daughter, but her rtionship with Su Haoran, who was serving his sentence behind the bars, would be revealed.


    "I''m only worried that she would use you to further her career." Yun Qingrong sighed. She didn''t trust Ye Mingyu, but she was relieved to hear her daughter''s words.


    "That''s possible, Mama. But I doubt that she has the capability to do so. Unless she has a strong backing or a golden thigh to hug, Ye Mingyu won''t dare to do anything reckless that could ruin her name this early."


    Ye Mingyu had just had her debut and her reputation in public was still fragile. However, even if she had somewhat gained a backing, that would never be the Ouyang family. If Ye Mingyu dared to go head-to-head against Su Xiaofei, there was no doubt that the Ouyang family, who owned Top Tier Entertainment, wouldn''t have her back.


    Since Su Xiaofei had stolen her thunder five years ago by saving Master Ouyang''s life, the Ouyang family wouldn''t dare do anything to oppose the person who saved their elder''s life. In her past life, Ye Mingyu had relied on the support of the Ouyang family and they had been her strong backing to further her career, but not this time.


    Ye Mingyu might not have realized it yet, but Su Xiaofei was already a couple of steps ahead of her.

 Chapter 272 - Startling Change (2)

    Ye Mingyu''s name and poprity soared too fast in the following weekspared to other talents that debuted around the same time as her. It didn''t surprise Su Xiaofei, but she didn''t do anything to stop Ye Mingyu from bing popr. The more Ye Mingyu rose to the top, the better for Su Xiaofei, because the higher she could reach, the harder she would fallter.


    Su Xiaofei had to admit that Ye Mingyu''s skills and talent in acting were better than her peers, it was also better than Su Xiaofei herself. If it was in the past, seeing Ye Mingyu garnering such praises for her beauty and talent was enough to make Su Xiaofei green with envy, now, she couldn''t be bothered with Ye Mingyu''s facade.


    Because she knew that behind that beautiful face and those gentle smiles hid a rotten and cruel heart deep inside Ye Mingyu. Truth be told, the two of them were almost the same when it came to being vicious. It was just that Ye Mingyu knew how to y her cards well and knew how to evoke the feeling of protectiveness from other people and use it to her advantage, unlike Su Xiaofei.


    After Su Xiaofei finished her work for the week, she clocked off from work on time. At the moment, she was managing three actors and a girl group called "Full Moon". It consisted of four youngdies that could sing and dance, and their group had recently debuted, releasing their first album.


    "Full Moon" was the very first girl group that Bluemedia had produced. In the past, theirpany catered to actors and models, and although some of them could sing and dance, it was only a requirement to add on to their skills as talents.


    Because Su Xiaofei had witnessed how idols and girl groups became a hit in her previous life, she started paying attention to the new recruits of Bluemedia.


    Although girl groups weren''t actually new in showbiz, Su Xiaofei knew that it would all depend on what the group could offer to the audience. She specifically picked the ones she saw potential in and she had actually encountered one of them in her past life as an actress.


    As Su Xiaofei left Bluemedia with the Zhang siblings, someone called her attention as soon as she reached the main lobby of thepany building. The weariness on her face suddenly dissipated when she saw Xi Qian waiting for her.


    "Qian, what are you doing here? You should have told me you areing to see me. I would have clocked out earlier." Su Xiaofei said once she gave her best friend a tight hug.


    Xi Qianughed and tucked some of her locks behind her ear and grinned.


    "I want to surprise you. It wouldn''t be a surprise anymore if you know I''ll be here, right?"


    Like Su Xiaofei, she had shed the childish features she used to have and looked prettier. She was a bit taller than Su Xiaofei now, which made thetter grieve over how short she waspared to Xi Qian and Lu Qingfeng.


    Xi Qian had already finished her four-year undergraduate program, which was the precursor to medical school, and was now busy reviewing for her medical college admission test. Currently, she has a major in Nursing, which also gave her an advantage to practice it while pursuing her studies to be a doctor.


    She needed to take her admission exam one full calendar year before she began medical school, so Su Xiaofei rarely saw her these days.


    "En, but I''m d you came here to see me, Qian. I thought I would need to drag you out of the apartment again to remind you that there is life outside your textbooks." Su Xiaofei hooked her arm with her best friend and led her to her car.


    Zhang Ling opened the door of the backseat to allow Su Xiaofei and Xi Qian to settle inside, while her elder sister took her ce behind the steering wheel as usual. After making sure that her miss and her best friend werefortably seated, Zhang Ling''s eyes swept around the parking area to make sure that no one was spying on them, before joining her sister at the front seat.


    Once the car left Bluemedia''s premises, Zhang Ling turned on the radio, and was surprised to hear one of the songs from thetest album released by "Full Moon".


    "Ah, Feifei! I love this song! I know that this is too much to ask, but do you mind asking Full Moon to sign an autograph for me?" Xi Qian asked excitedly. This wasn''t the first time she asked for such a favor from Su Xiaofei anyway, as she had also requested an autograph by Tang Liyan, after the sess of "The Poisonous Concubine".


    Su Xiaofei didn''t have many talents to handle, but those talents were big time and popr to begin with. Full Moon was the first girl group and talent that Su Xiaofei conceptualized from scratch, so it could be said that of all her talents, she paid more attention to her girl group.


    Su Xiaofei smiled at her best friend''s eagerness. Despite knowing that she could meet the girls if she asked Su Xiaofei to, Xi Qian wasn''t shameful enough to request a meeting with them, even when she asked for Tang Liyan''s autograph.


    "I''m afraid I won''t be able to meet them anytime soon, Qian. Their current schedule is jam-packed. I kinda pity them for not having any break aside from sleep." Su Xiaofei answered with amusement.


    She had suggested cutting down their public appearance and interviews, but those girls wouldn''t let her decline those invitations. The four of them were so driven with their excitement and glee that they didn''t mind being busy for days at a time because they imed that it only meant that their hard work for the past two years was paying off.


    It took Su Xiaofei and the girls a long time before the group was able to have their much anticipated debut, as the training had been hard, and the board didn''t think the girls were ready.


    "Ah, then I could only hope I would be lucky to get a ticket to their very first concert." Xi Qian smiled at Su Xiaofei. "By the way, did Lu Qingfeng say anything to you?"


    Su Xiaofei frowned at that as the smile on her lips dissipated once she heard Lu Qingfeng''s name. Actually, it had been two weeks since she received a call from him before he left for a long business trip. She wasn''t sure why Xi Qian was suddenly asking her this, and wondered if she was still in touch with Lu Qingfeng.


    "Nothing. He was on his way to the airport when he called me. Is there something I need to know?" Su Xiaofei asked in return, her eyes narrowing slightly in suspicion.


    Xi Qianughed at her best friend''s expression and shook her head. If Lu Qingfeng hadn''t said anything, then she had no right to spoil his surprise. Lu Qingfeng had recently turned twenty-one, and in a few weeks, it would be Su Xiaofei''s turn to celebrate her twenty-fourth birthday.


    As Xi Qian thought about it, she realized that so many things had changed over the years. Some of it she already expected, but there were changes that she never anticipated at all.


    Although her father''s new family was still a pain in her butt, and her mother was annoying her for financial support, her rtionship with Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng turned for the better.


    Anyway, she had also met a lot of people and made friends during her time at college, and Xi Qian couldn''t be happier with her decision to pursue her dream.


    "By the way, have you heard about Xiao Rufengtely? I heard the Xiao family is in trouble these days. Do you think they asked her to return?" She asked Su Xiaofei.


    She and Xiao Rufeng had be good friends courtesy of Su Xiaofei. Whenever Xiao Rufeng was agitated by her younger sister, she woulde to Xi Qian for a spar at the gym they frequently visited with Su Xiaofei.


    "I don''t know, Qian." Su Xiaofei could only sigh and pinch the bridge of her nose when she thought about Xiao Rufeng. Xiao Rufeng debuted in showbiz three years ago and became one of Su Xiaofei''s talents. However, it was hard for Xiao Rufeng to catch a break as every project that was being offered to her was snatched away by her younger sister, Xiao Yunyao.


    Because of this, Xiao Rufeng''s temper and mood hadn''t been good these days, and Su Xiaofei feared that the woman wouldmit the same mistake she did in her past life.. She had been reminding Xiao Rufeng not to confront her younger sister, but if things within the Xiao family were getting worse, Su Xiaofei wouldn''t be able to stop her from going back to her family.

 Chapter 273 - Reunion (1)

    Su Xiaofei paid special attention to Xiao Rufeng and had made arrangements to limit her talent''s encounter with the Xiao family. However, she was aware that she wouldn''t be able to stop Xiao Yunyao frompletely provoking Xiao Rufeng. It hadn''t been a surprise to her to know that Xiao Rufeng was in such a dilemma. Such things in wealthy families were quitemon.


    Su Xiaofei and Xi Qian arrived at Hazel Brew Caf¨¦, where Lu Qingfeng had brought them a long time ago. There were very few changes at the ce, but thefortable feeling Su Xiaofei felt the first time she came here remained the same.


    "The usual, Miss Su, Miss Xi?" The daughter of the owner of the caf¨¦, named Shen Jiao, smiled at Su Xiaofei and Xi Qian.


    "Ah, Jiaojiao, there''s no need for you to be polite. You can just call us by our given names." Xi Qian cupped her chin and winked in Shen Jiao''s way. They frequently came here whenever she and Su Xiaofei had time for a break and had eventually made friends with the owner''s daughter.


    Shen Jiao was a twenty-seven-year-old woman with shoulder-length hair and a mole on her upper lip. She had been helping her father manage the caf¨¦ for a year now. She had resigned from her hectic work in the corporate world and chose to help in their family business instead.


    Shen Jiaoughed behind her hand and nced at the other customers enjoying their drinks and snacks. No one seemed to notice or even care that she was talking to her friends, as the other customers were preupied with their snacks.


    "Our new customers might think that I''m being impolite if I don''t greet our patrons properly, but you two came at the right time today since peak hours just ended."


    Ever since she worked at Hazel Brew Caf¨¦, their sales shoot up and many students havee to try their menu. Amongst their patrons, Su Xiaofei and Xi Qian became her good friends, and she kept in touch with them despite their busy schedules.


    "You are being too serious, Jiaojiao. Who cares if you call us by our names? You can just say that we are your friends dropping by to see you." Xi Qian scoffed before checking the familiar menu that Shen Jiao handed to her.


    "I think I''ll have the usual Jiaojiao. I''m too tired to think of what to have now." She told Shen Jiao.


    "I''ll have yourtest, Jiaojiao. I haven''t visited you for some time. I''m also looking forward to having Xiao Feng try them." Su Xiaofeimented, eyeing the Zhang siblings, who had taken a seat a safe distance away from her and Xi Qian.


    "Ah, is your little boyfriending back anytime soon? I''m looking forward to finally meeting him." Shen Jiao covered her lips with the small note on her hand, enjoying the sight of the slight blush on Su Xiaofei''s face.


    "Can you all stop asking me when he will return? It''s not like he would tell me everything." The young woman in question avoided their inquisitive gaze and ignored their teasing smiles. Su Xiaofei didn''t want to admit it, but she was also curious when she would be able to see Lu Qingfeng again.


    There were also rumors circting about Lu Qingfeng dating Qin Ying, but she didn''t dare to believe any of it. How can she not know that Qin Yin followed Lu Qingfeng to Shenjing? He hadn''t been gone from Qiying City for a week, and the news about her going to Shenjing to follow him had blown up on their school forum.


    Su Xiaofei slightly envied Qin Ying because she was able to leave and go wherever Lu Qingfeng was, but she didn''t want to leave her mother alone during such a critical time at Bluemedia. And it wasn''t like she didn''t trust Lu Qingfeng.


    Since he was able to spend the rest of his life alone after her death in her past life, Su Xiaofei wouldn''t doubt his sincerity towards her. It would be impossible for Lu Qingfeng to turn his back on his own words.


    "Alright, let''s stop teasing Feifei. I''m pretty sure Lu Qingfeng would be here once he settled all the things he needed to settle." Xi Qian took pity on her best friend and allowed Shen Jiao to take their orders. She also didn''t think that Lu Qingfeng would dare to cheat behind Feifei, considering that Feifei had him head over heels for her.


    Once Shen Jiao left, the smile on Xi Qian''s face vanished. She then leaned closer to Su Xiaofei, making sure no one was eavesdropping on their conversation, which Su Xiaofei found funny, considering that the Zhang sibling won''t let anyone do so.


    "Feifei, I''m sure you''ve already heard about Ye Mingyu''s return, but you don''t seem to care about her."


    "Oh, have I?" Su Xiaofei cocked her head on one side and gave Xi Qian a curious look. Of course she knew, but she didn''t think it was the right time for her to deal with Ye Mingyu.


    "Well, I don''t believe that you aren''t aware of her return. She''s also the topic of conversation in our chatroom, and some of our ssmates want to invite her for a reunion." Xi Qian exined.


    She kept in touch with several of their schoolmates from QCA and while she wasn''t actively posting in their chatroom, Xi Qian tried to go back and read the conversation when she had time to make sure she hadn''t missed any important details.


    Some were criticizing Ye Mingyu, while the others were curious to know how she was faring, now that she was back from abroad and just debuted in showbiz. They were also aware that Su Xiaofei had joined Bluemedia Entertainment, but they didn''t know that she was the talent manager of some of the top stars of thepany, nor the fact that she was a managing director now.


    Unlike Su Xiaofei, who couldn''t be bothered to waste her time following their chatroom, but she did keep in touch with other fellow students whom she thought would be valuable partners in the future. Obviously those innocent and haughty young masters and misses would eventually seed their parents in their family business.


    "I thought our reunion was canceled? Didn''t they say they were too busy to attend a meet up?" Su Xiaofei questioned, but she already knew that it would happen a month from now.


    In her previous life, Ye Mingyu used their school reunion to humiliate her, and allow everyone to see their differences. By that time, Ye Mingyu''s career and poprity were soaring, while Su Xiaofei was struggling to secure projects and endorsements.


    The more Ye Mingyu shone, the more Su Xiaofei looked bad to others. It also didn''t help that she wasn''t able to finish her studies and wascking connections, unlike Ye Mingyu who had the Ouyang family to support her.


    "Well, it seems like they changed their minds this time. Do you think they''ll let go of this opportunity to brag about their achievements and see how the others are doing after graduating? Don''t tell me you are interested in attending?"


    Xi Qian knew that her best friend would rather avoid attending parties and events like this as she didn''t like to socialize with anyone. She knew Su Xiaofei would rather have a good night''s sleep than waste her time, unting herself in public.


    "It''s actually a good time to build some connections for me, Qian. Would youe and attend with me?" Su Xiaofei answered her, gauging Xi Qian''s reaction.


    Since she also attended the same reunion in her previous life, she also got a hunch whom she would be seeing that night. It wasn''t just Lu Qingfeng who moved to Shenjing after their graduation anyway.


    "I''m not sure, Feifei. I cannot give you an answer now. We need to wait and see when it will be held and if my schedule permits me to attend it. It''s also hard for us to ask for a day off these days since the flu season has just started."


    Xi Qian had justnded a job in a private hospital in Guangshang and her shifts frequently changed. Adding to the fact that she''s also reviewing, Xi Qian needed to strictly follow her schedule.


    Su Xiaofei nodded in understanding and fell into a deep thought. Xi Qian still ended up as a nurse in this lifetime, however, it was too early. Su Xiaofei feared that because she had changed the course of events since her rebirth, she might have stolen Xi Qian''s chance to meet the love of her life.


    However, what Su Xiaofei didn''t know was that Li Xiran was closer now to Xi Qian without their knowing. Li Xiran''s father was recently admitted for a major operation at the same hospital where Xi Qian was working.


    Moreover, even if Su Xiaofei managed to change the course of events, she couldn''t stop two people who were destined to cross paths and meet each other.

 Chapter 274 - Reunion (2)

    After meeting Su Xiaofei and hanging out with her and Shen Jiao, Xi Qian returned to Su Xiaofei''s apartment, where she was residing, and quickly changed into her work clothes. She checked the time on the wall clock in the living area before wrapping her scarf around her neck and pulling out a pair of shoes toplete her attire.


    Once she was satisfied with her appearance in the mirror near the front door, she picked up her purse and made sure to lock the door before leaving. Xi Qian felt that it had been a good decision for her to see Su Xiaofei and Shen Jiao today, as she felt betterpared to thest few days when she was quite busy with work and reviewing.


    She rushed to the train station, hoping she would be able to board on time because if she missed the seven o''clock ride, it only meant that she wouldn''t be able to arrive early at the hospital for work.


    Xi Qian panted as she ran towards the tform, clutching her bag on her chest as people alighting the coaches crowded the ce. As her eyes swept around, she thought that she was still alone and empty inside.


    Although she had friends to rely on, Xi Qian still felt a gaping hole in her chest that she had tried to ignore over the years. She knew that Su Xiaofei was aware of it, but thetter never mentioned it to her nor made anyment about it, which Xi Qian deeply appreciated, for she knew that she wouldn''t be able to answer her best friend if she did.


    When she was young and started to be conscious of her surroundings, Xi Qian had gotten used to her parents arguingte at night to the point that they would hurt each other physically. Xi Qian could only curl on her bed, shut her eyes and pretend to be sleeping, feigning ignorance about her parents'' marital problems.


    She knew at a young age that her father had a mistress and Wang Pen had given birth to her half-brother, whom their father doted on the most. At such a young age, Xi Qian felt that she was unwanted by anyone.


    Perhaps it was the same reason why she was able to understand Su Xiaofei and befriend thetter because she also knew what it felt like being alone despite having people around them.


    Xi Qian struggled to understand her purpose of living. Her parents didn''t love nor care for her, and her grandmother, who loved her the most, had already passed away.


    During her second year at the university, she wondered what was the point of her studying pre-med, wanting to be a doctor. She had once imed that she wanted to be a doctor to treat ill patients when she was younger, but as she looked at her acquaintances, she realized that she really didn''t know what to do with her life.


    Xi Qian arrived at the hospital an hour before her shift started. She left her belongings in her locker and chose to go up to the roof deck of the hospital to clear her mind before she started working. It wouldn''t be good to be distracted with such thoughts while taking care of the patients.


    She rested her arms on the railings of the roof deck and nced down at the city lights in Guangshang. Unlike Qiying City, Guangshang was more developed with so many high rise buildings, which catered to numerousrge corporations and businesses. It was too bad that she wouldn''t be able to gaze at the stars as the thick clouds and the ck fog hovering over the city blocked her view from them.


    A soft crunch and light footsteps could be heard after the metal door closed behind her with a low thud. She jerked her head and turned her eyes to see who it could be, as not many were allowed ess to the roof deck, and most were used by the hospital staff instead.


    Xi Qian sucked in a breath when her eyes saw a tall man, joining her at the roof deck. The man was breathtakingly beautiful. She thought that it was impossible for her to be starstruck, given how she was used to seeing Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng, whom she considered the most beautiful people she knew in her life. However, seeing this man, Xi Qian felt that she was proven wrong.


    Something inside her stirred as her brows frowned in confusion. It wasn''t because of this man''s appearance, Xi Qian was sure of it. The man had a pair of piercing dark eyes, a tall nose and a pair of thin lips. The coat and his clothes underneath were tailored to fit his form, which was strong and lean.


    Xi Qian felt that standing near him at the roof deck of the hospital made her look like a rag dollpared to him. She didn''t dare to chase the man away and inform him that he was in an off limits area, because she noticed the expression on his face. He seemed to be struggling too, like her.


    The man seemed to take no notice of her, and Xi Qian didn''t dare to bother him in return. She thought that perhaps he was a rtive or a kin of one of their patients and just wanted some time for himself to clear his mind.


    They stood there for what felt like hours, though Xi Qian learned that it only had been half an hour. Slowly, the man started walking towards the exit, leaving Xi Qian in silence. As Xi Qian watched him go, she said a small prayer in her heart, hoping that whatever that was bothering him would be resolved soon.


    Xi Qian then returned to the nurse station and clocked in to start her shift. Her colleagues thought that she was kind enough to give them their nights off, but to be honest, Xi Qian had volunteered to take the night shifts as she had trouble sleeping at night.


    While her partner at the station left for her break, Xi Qian was left to file out reports and check on their patientster. Once she started walking in the hallway, Xi Qian fought the urge to yawn, telling herself that she cannot afford to doze off and take a break at this point.


    Most of their patients were elderly, each visited by either their spouse or adult children. Because of this, Xi Qian easily got along with them, as both were yearning to have somepany during their stay.


    When she checked the next private room on her list, she was surprised to see the man she saw on the roof deck seated on a chair next to the patient''s bed. The patient was a sixty-year-old man who had just undergone an open-heart surgery, and had a cardiac arrest while he was on the operating table.


    It made sense to Xi Qian now why the man had such an expression on his face earlier. He must be worried sick about the patient. It was obvious that the stress of seeing the patient like this was driving him insane.


    Xi Qian quietly moved in the room and did her task without a word. When she took the patient''s chart at the corner, it was only then the man lifted his head and looked at her with scrutiny.


    "You? What are you doing here?" His tone was using, but deep and cold at the same time. However, when he caught sight of her uniform and a stethoscope around her neck, he sighed in relief. He had seen her earlier, despite her false assumption that he didn''t.


    Xi Qian was still wearing her coat and scarf when she went to the roof deck earlier, and he assumed that she was also a visitor of a patient just like him.


    "Apologies. My mind must have been clouded with worry." The man murmured. "Stupid old man. Just wake up and stop making us worry." He hung his head with his hands holding the sides of his head.


    Although he said such mean words, Xi Qian could hear the worry in his tone. He clearly loved his father despite his cold countenance.


    Xi Qian gently ced a hand over his right shoulder, catching not only herself but also the man off guard with her actions.


    His eyes met her kind ones, seeing a small smile gracing her lips.


    "It will be okay." Xi Qian murmured, hoping that she wasn''t giving him false hope.


    It was hard to tell whether his father would recover soon or not. Xi Qian knew that doctors and nurses like her were no Gods. They can''t give their patients assurance that they would be okay, however, Xi Qian couldn''t help but console the man from his worries.


    She patted his shoulder once more before walking away, leaving the man to sit with his father.

 Chapter 275 - Li Xiran (1)

    Xi Qian didn''t think much about her meeting with the man, as there was nothing unusual seeing a family member hoping for the patient to recover soon. In fact, she understood what he felt as she had once found herself in the same situation as him when her grandmother was hospitalized and losing her life three days after her admission.


    Xi Qian regrly stopped by to visit the man and eventually, she became aware of his family''s circumstances. It was said that his father was the Chairman of a huge corporation in Guangshang and had suffered a heart attack at work.


    The nurses who were on duty during daytime had been talking about it, so it was impossible for Xi Qian not to catch wind of what was going on. As for the man she met on the roof deck, she found out that his name was Li Xiran, and he was the eldest son of his father. His parents were divorced just like hers. His father was remarried to another woman, leading to the birth of his younger half-brother.


    However, unlike Xi Qian, Li Xiran''s father seemed to still care about him as there were rumors about the older man trying to convince his eldest son to live with him, but Li Xiran would turn down his invitation every time.


    "We always see him arguing with his younger brother and stepmother outside his father''s room in the hallway, in low voices. I think that he''s one of those children who couldn''t ept that their parents were divorced and felt abandoned by them." Xi Qian heard one of her co-workers say one afternoon.


    Xi Qian couldn''t me Li Xiran for doing so because she would have done the same thing if Xi Yang invited her to live with him along with Wang Pen and her half-siblings. It was hard to see your own father happy with his new family, making her feel that she was a stranger who didn''t belong to their family.


    Perhaps it was a good thing that her grandmother decided to take her in instead, Xi Qian thought. Knowing Wang Pen''s personality and attitude, the woman would surely give her a hard time while living with them.


    "Nurse Xi?"


    Xi Qian turned her head and looked at Li Xiran in surprise. She wondered how he knew her surname, only to realize that he had been looking at her name te that was pinned on her uniform.


    "How is he? Would he be able to wake up anytime soon?" Li Xiran asked her, the worry still evident on his face. Hisplexion was a bit pale and his eye bags darkened due tock of sleep these days.


    Xi Qian gave him a sympathetic look, but couldn''t assure him that things would be better. She couldn''t make the same mistake she made during their second encounter. It had been five days since their first meeting on the roof deck of the hospital.


    "I cannot tell," she said truthfully. "Although his condition is stable now, it''s hard to tell when he will be able to wake up at this point."


    The older man had just had an open-heart surgery and his life was still in danger. Even the doctors weren''t certain if his father would be able to recover, given how serious his condition was.


    Li Xiran didn''t say anything in response and fell silent, his eyes never leaving his father''s face. A sh of guilt and remorse could be seen in his eyes, and Xi Qian wondered if he regretted that he never had a good rtionship with his father.


    It seemed that he was the only one who would be looking after his father tonight, as his stepmother and younger brother weren''t here to apany him.


    "Do you know, Nurse Xi, my father used to be my hero and my idol when I was younger. He was everything to me, and I wanted to be like him when I grew up." Li Xiran suddenly said out of the blue, which startled Xi Qian.


    Xi Qian, who wasn''t sure why he was telling her these, chose to remain silent and decided to be his tree hole for the meantime. Li Xiran must have been holding such thoughts inside ever since his father was admitted to the hospital.


    "However, all of it changed when he and my mother divorced and when he married that woman. I don''t understand why he left me and my mother, nor do I see what he saw in her to love such a woman who only cared about his status and wealth." Li Xiran paused for a moment, as if he was trying to find the right words to convey his thoughts.


    Actually, his stepmother wasn''t amoner nor did shee from a poor family. She was born into a wealthy family who had lost their grandiose status several years before his father met her. She had been trying to earn his favor and blessing for as long as Li Xiran could remember, but he vehemently refused to acknowledge her.


    For Li Xiran, his parents'' divorce was his stepmother''s fault in the first ce, and he couldn''t forgive her for that. Even now, he couldn''t tolerate her presence and would rather be in a different ce than to see her face.


    However, given his father''s grave condition, Li Xiran knew that he could only suck it up and ignore his stepmother''s presence.


    "It must be my father''s way of tormenting me." He chuckled to himself.


    "That''s not it." Xi Qian frowned and looked at Li Xiran, then to his father. "Please don''t say that. Despite the arguments and misunderstandings you have, I''m sure that your father cares about you. He would never harbor such ill thoughts towards you."


    Li Xiranughed at that, but his smile never reached his eyes.


    "You sounded so sure about that, Nurse Xi." He replied.


    Xi Qian shrugged and returned the patient''s chart in its ce.


    "The fact that you''re here tells me that he will never forget about you."

 Chapter 276 - Li Xiran (2)

    Li Xiran watched Xi Qian leave the room, leaving him speechless due to her words. As he looked back at his father''s face, he wondered if it had been obvious even for a stranger like Nurse Xi.


    Indeed, after his father remarried, he kept in touch with him and always tried to be in every important milestone of his life. No matter if he already had a new family, it still remained that Li Xiran was Chairman Li''s firstborn son.


    Chairman Li made sure that everything Li Xiran needed would be provided. Li Xiran wasn''tcking in anything and didn''t suffer nor taste bitterness in his life. Despite his efforts, Chairman Li knew that his firstborn son still resented him.


    Even now as heid on the hospital bed, it was obvious that Li Xiran wouldn''te here and see him had none of these happened to Chairman Li. Li Xiran had been working in a foreign firm in Shenjing when he heard the news about his father, forcing him to leave his work indefinitely and flew to Guangshuang.


    The door opened for the second time, revealing Li Xiran''s stepmother and his younger half-brother, Li Xingtian. Li Xiran''s mood darkened upon seeing them.


    Li Xingtian had a deep scowl on his face upon seeing his brother, while his mother could only tug his sleeve, reminding him to behave and not fight with Li Xiran.


    "Xiran, why don''t you go home and take a rest tonight? Xingtian and I would be here to look after him." His mother said in such a gentle voice that didn''t fail to irritate Li Xiran.


    Li Xiran gave her a scathing look, which made his stepmother step back and cower in fear behind her son. No matter how she tried to earn Li Xiran''s trust, he always reminded her of her ce and how she would never be able to be his mother.


    "Li Xiran, you jerk. Don''t bully my mother! She''s only concerned about you!" Li Xingtian hissed at his elder brother, annoyed that Li Xiran was showing such disrespect towards his mother despite their father''s condition.


    Li Xiran scoffed and stood up from his seat before facing the mother and son. He really hated seeing this woman pretend that she cared about him. Aside from having a beautiful face, she didn''t have the intelligence nor the elegance Li Xiran''s mother had, making Li Xiran wonder if his father was only blinded by this woman''s looks.


    "Aren''t you tired of pretending that you care about me? Don''t even think that you would be able toy your hands on the Li family''s fortune if something bad happens to my father." He said to Madam Li.


    "That''s enough! Dad is already in such a condition and yet you keep on using me and my mother about the finances! Do you think we want all of this to happen to Dad? Don''t be so ridiculous, Li Xiran!" Li Xingtian said in return. Even when they were younger, he never got along with his elder brother because of his arrogant nature.


    "You keep saying you truly love my father, and you married him out of love and not because of the money he has in his name, but how could you let this happen to him? You already know that my father has health issues, and yet you allowed him to work hard as if nothing ails him? This only makes me think that you couldn''t wait for my father to die." Li Xiran said to his stepmother, leaving her stunned by his words.


    "You bastard!" Li Xingtian pounced on his elder brother, wanting to nt a solid punch on his arrogant face, but Li Xiran easily avoided him. "Take back what you said! My mother is nothing like that!"


    "Stop! Please stop!" Li Xingtian''s mother begged the two to stop fighting. Tears were rimming her eyes as she sped her hands together, wondering what else she must do for Li Xiran to see that she wasn''t pretending at all.


    It was at that moment that the door opened again, revealing Xi Qian with a deep frown etched on her face. The three turned their heads to look at her. She looked at the two brothers and then to the crying woman near her.


    "Young Masters, in case you are forgetting where the two of you are, this is a hospital. If you want to get into a brawl and kill each other, I suggest the remote alley at the back of the hospital." She said with a straight face, leaving Madam Li and the two brothers speechless by her words.


    Oddly enough, Li Xiran lost his will to fight with his half brother and scoffed. He then picked up his coat from the seat he just vacated.


    "I''m going home. You better make sure that my father is still alive once I return." He said, ncing at the mother and son pair.


    Perhaps Xi Qian''s presence had reminded Li Xiran that his father wouldn''t want him to argue with his stepmother and brother anymore. If anything, his father would want him to get along with them, which was impossible in Li Xiran''s opinion. That would never happen.


    "Just leave, will ya?" Li Xingtian harrumphed and crossed his arms over his chest. "You are worrying too much for nothing. Dad will make it. He''s not a weakling that would easily sumb and ept defeat. You should know that better than anyone else."


    Li Xiran only raised a slender brow and said nothing in return. He didn''t have any retort to deny what his brother had just said. He then left, but not without giving Xi Qian a look and nodded, acknowledging her, much to Li Xingtian''s surprise.


    Li Xingtian looked suspiciously at his elder brother and Xi Qian and wondered what kind of rtionship they had, for he knew from childhood that Li Xiran had such a bad personality and wouldn''t even bother to give a woman a single nce.

 Chapter 277 - Li Xiran (3)

    "Nurse Xi, I apologize for letting you witness such a scene from our family." Li Xiran immediately said once he stepped out of the room and found Xi Qian outside.


    A part of him felt ashamed that she had seen him under such circumstances. He thought that she had already left when his stepmother and half-brother arrived earlier. She had been kind enough to listen to his worries, but he didn''t want to offend her at all.


    Xi Qian kept her poker face on and shrugged. She wondered if Li Xiran didn''t care that she had seen such a horrible attitude from him. She had just stepped out of the room when Madam Li and Li Xingtian arrived and not one minute had passed, and she could already hear them arguing inside the hospital room.


    Did Li Xiran really think that his father''s new family didn''t deserve his acknowledgement and respect? What she had seen earlier only proved that his rtionship with his father was being dampened by his arrogance and pride.


    It didn''t matter if he was displeased with his father being remarried, but she didn''t think he should act like that towards his father''s family when all that she could see was that they also cared about his old man. However, Xi Qian kept such thoughts to herself, as she was in no ce to criticize him.


    "There''s no need for you to apologize, Mr. Li." Xi Qian said, as she thought that the people who needed his apology were the ones who were apanying his father inside the room. She then excused herself, not wanting to get involved with Li Xiran''s family issues.


    It wasn''t the first time she had witnessed rtives of their patients fight in front of them. She had yet to forget an old woman''s children who refused to look after her after finding out that she was in thete stages of cancer.


    It only made Xi Qian think that blood wasn''t that much thicker than water because the person whom you think wouldn''t hurt you and would understand you, could be the person who would turn their backs on you. If anything, the people she now considered family were only Su Xiaofei and Yun Qingrong. Even her emergency contact on her records were the two of them.


    As she left, Li Xiran could only watch her retreating figure, wondering why she had such a longing expression on her face. The nurse had never asked him anything, nor tried to befriend him after knowing his identity.


    "Such an odd woman." Li Xiran told himself as he walked to the opposite direction with his mind still on the poker-faced nurse whom he met recently.


    A week had easily passed and Xi Qian found herself at the Yun Mansion, as today was Auntie Liu''sst day at the household. After spending years serving Su Xiaofei''s family, the old woman was about to retire now to help his new daughter-inw take care of her grandchild.


    "It''s a pity I wouldn''t be able to see Xiao Feng once he returned." Aunty Liu sighed dejectedly, thinking that she wouldn''t be able to wee the young man once he came back from Shenjing.


    It was almost time for his return, and the old woman knew that her young miss had been anticipating it ever since Lu Qingfeng celebrated his twenty-first birthday. Aunty Liu could see that Su Xiaofei had been waiting for his return, as she always had such a wistful longing look in her eyes when Su Xiaofei thought no one was looking at her.


    "I heard from Chairman Lu that Xiao Feng is still in the middle of an important overseas deal. It might take sometime before he could return here. " Yun Qingrong nodded. "I''m sure he will pay a visit to you once he''s back. Xiao Feng loves your treats and cooking for as long as I can remember." Sheughed at this.


    Xi Qian nced at Su Xiaofei who was seated across from her at the dining table as they had dinner with Aunty Liu and Yun Qingrong tonight. She noticed that her best friend hadn''t been in the best of moods, but she understood that it was because of Lu Qingfeng''s absence. The man had also given Su Xiaofei less calls recently.


    However, she couldn''t tell Su Xiaofei that Lu Qingfeng was nning a surprise for her twenty-fourth birthday in three weeks. Xi Qian wouldn''t dare to ruin such a surprise, but she wouldn''t be surprised if the little tyrant would fall on one knee and ask for her best friend''s hand in marriage. She knew that Lu Qingfeng was only bidding time until he was old enough to propose to Su Xiaofei.


    Aunty Liu giggled at Yun Qingrong''s words as she couldn''t help but agree with her. They all knew that Lu Qingfeng wasn''t a picky eater like Su Xiaofei when the two were younger, and Aunty Liu had a good time feeding the boy with her creations, enjoying seeing him wolf down the food she served for him.


    "I do hope so." She agreed with Yun Qingrong before ncing towards Su Xiaofei, who hadn''t uttered a single word since Lu Qingfeng''s name was mentioned.


    "Feifei,e with Xiao Feng to visit me, okay? I will be waiting." The old woman said with a gentle expression on her face.


    She had seen Lu Qingfeng and Su Xiaofei grow up together, and she wasn''t blind not to notice the young man''s growing affection towards her young miss. Su Xiaofei had been oblivious about it at first, but before Lu Qingfeng''s departure to Shenjing, it had been obvious that she was starting to feel the same towards her childhood friend and with Lu Qingfeng''s long absence, it only made her heart yearn for him.


    Su Xiaofei only gave her Aunty Liu a smile and didn''t say anything.. Whether it was because she had a long day from work, or because she was upset over Lu Qingfeng''s absence, no one was certain.

 Chapter 278 - Missing You (1)

    Su Xiaofei sent off Aunty Liu with her mother and Xi Qian by her side, wishing the old woman a happy life with her family. Aunty Liu had spent years looking after her, and it was time for the older woman to prioritize her own family, but it didn''t mean that Su Xiaofei was willing to let her go. She could only watch as the car that transported Aunty Liu and her son drove away from the Yun Mansion.


    This only reminded her of how things could remain the same despite her being reborn in this lifetime. In her previous life, she was already married to Mo Yuchen by this time and Aunty Liu had begrudgingly left the Yun Mansion, leaving Yun Qingrong on her own with nothing to rely on. However, this time, Su Xiaofei still had them by their side, and it was enough for her to see her mother and best friend safe and away from harm.


    "Feifei, your birthday ising soon. Do you have any ns?" Xi Qian tried to probe. She didn''t want to admit it, but she was Lu Qingfeng''s aplice. She had to make sure that Lu Qingfeng''s n would proceed as nned.


    Su Xiaofei sighed and shook her head, before turning around to follow her mother''s lead to get inside.


    "No. I don''t think I will be free on my own birthday." She told Xi Qian.


    "Feifei, you can call it off if you want. Don''t worry too much about work. I worry about your health." Yun Qingrongmented as she nced at her daughter.


    It was odd for Feifei to be this exhausted, but not odd for Yun Qingrong to be worried like this. If Yun Qingrong thought that she was a workaholic, she would easily pale inparison when ites to her own daughter.


    Ever since Su Xiaofei joined Bluemedia at the age of eighteen, she had actively participated, albeit in secrecy, in thepany''s projects. She would listen to their long meetings, read and study several documents, and would chip in her valuable opinion once in a while.


    "It''s fine, Mom. The meetings were already confirmed, and it would be a shame to ask them to reschedule." Su Xiaofei replied, but she was aware of what Xi Qian and her mother were thinking at the moment.


    Indeed, she was overworking herself these days, and it didn''t help that she hadn''t heard from Lu Qingfengtely. Not even one message, which was starting to frustrate her.


    Su Xiaofei bid her mother and best friend good night, announcing that she would call it a day. She slipped into her bedroom, took a long shower, slipping into afortable nightdress before taking a seat in front of her vanity, trying to dry her long hair.


    It had already reached past her waist and she hadn''t cut it ever since Lu Qingfeng left for Shenjing. As her thoughts came back to him, she couldn''t help but frown, wondering what made him act like this.


    Lu Qingfeng had never ignored her nor forgotten to message her for a long time. He would always make sure to inform her of his tight schedules, but never as long as this damn business trip.


    Su Xiaofei shut her eyes and took calming breaths. She could only hope that he woulde back or at least give her a call.


    The sudden ringing that came from her phone broke the silence and peacefulness of the night. Su Xiaofei begrudgingly stood up from her seat, d that her hair was dry enough for her to sleep with. She almost didn''t want to pick up the call, knowing it might be one of those business calls that reminded her of work yet again.


    "Hello." She answered the phone, without looking at the caller ID.


    She flopped on herfy bed, looking at her nk ceiling, wondering if she should turn off her phe at night in order to catch up with sleep. Since Lu Qingfeng hadn''t bothered to call or message her, it was pointless to wait for his callste at night.


    "As expected, you are still awake at this ungodly hour." The familiar voice reached her ears, and Su Xiaofei suddenly jolted from her bed and sat up.


    She couldn''t be mistaken this time. There was no person in this world who was able to make her heart race like this.


    "Lu Qingfeng?"


    "Hm? Were you expecting another person to call you?" She heard the chuckle from the other end of the line, clearly showing his amusement.


    Su Xiaofei huffed and tried to control her breathing. Traitorous heart! Why does it always react like this whenever she hears Lu Qingfeng''s voice?


    "How was work?" She asked, trying to change their conversation. If it was another person who called her, she would have made an excuse and hung up, but not Lu Qingfeng.


    "Ah? You''re more interested in my work, than me? Su Xiaofei, I didn''t know you could be this heartless." Lu Qingfeng answered, but Su Xiaofei knew he was only teasing her.


    "If I didn''t know any better, I''d think that you are already married to your work at such an age. You wouldn''t be able to keep a mistress at all." She retorted.


    At her words, Lu Qingfeng''s lips curled into a slight smile. He wished he could see her face, right now, and see the pout he was sure she had on her face at the moment.


    "Why do you think I bothered to spend five years away from you? Feifei, I don''t like being apart from you for as long as I have." He admitted. "So I''m looking to cut my workload, even for a little, just to be with you. Bear with me for a while, Feifei. Once I''m back, I won''t leave your side for too long ever again."


    Su Xiaofei bit her lower lip and nodded.. It wasn''t like she had any other choice but to wait for his return.

 Chapter 279 - Missing You (2)

    "Then just finish whatever you need to do. I won''t be going anywhere." She murmured quietly, not wanting to make Lu Qingfeng worry about her.


    Her worries about him started to ease now that she was able to hear his voice again. Now, she could only hope that she wouldn''t have to wait for his calls and messages anymore and would be able to see him in person soon.


    "Alright. I will listen to you." Lu Qingfeng didn''t dare to argue with her, as he had been missing her tootely. It would be a waste of time, and he would rather hear her voice and listen to her endless chattering like she used to do when they were younger.


    The past five years without her had been hard for him. It reminded him of the long years he''d been in despair and loneliness after she died in his previous life. However, Lu Qingfeng was aware that she needed enough time to grow and do things on her own without his influence.


    With their busy schedule, Lu Qingfeng didn''t want to cause her any more inconvenience than he already had. He was also aware that she had been waiting for his return, and he had been stalling their reunion.


    "Is there something else that''s bothering you?" Lu Qingfeng asked in a gentle voice. As he nced at the time on the clock on his desk, the only reason he could think of why she was still awake thiste was that something was in her mind.


    Su Xiaofei sighed and covered her eyes with her arm, thinking that Lu Qingfeng knew her well and she couldn''t hide anything from him for too long. She wouldn''t even be surprised if the young man was suspecting something about her rebirth and the reason behind her sudden change five years ago.


    "Just stress about work. Nothing too serious." She replied, hoping that he wouldn''t probe any further. She also didn''t want to admit that she was missing him terribly. It was one thing that she wasn''t able to see him, but not being able to hear anything from him distressed her even more.


    It also didn''t help that she kept worrying about him getting assassinated in this lifetime. In her previous life, he had fallen into a deepa for a few years before he recovered fully, only to find her on her own deathbed.


    Although she was able to avoid marrying Mo Yuchen, Su Xiaofei feared that Lu Qingfeng wouldn''t be able to avoid the cmity that was about to hit him. Even if Su Xiaofei wanted to warn him about it, she was also at loss as she was unaware of the details of the assassination attempt towards him.


    "How about you? Are you back at Shenjing now?" She asked in return. It had been exactly twelve days since shest heard from him and she''d been worrying since then.


    Su Xiaofei talked to him for another hour until she dozed off on her bed peacefully. For the first time since Lu Qingfeng left for his recent business trip, she was able to fall asleep without worrying about him.


    When Lu Qingfeng didn''t hear anything from her, he surmised that she had already fallen asleep. He hung up the call and wasn''t upset with Su Xiaofei as this wasn''t the first time it happened anyway.


    "Master, everything has been prepared ording to your orders."


    Lu Qingfeng turned his head to his right.


    Nine appeared next to him and delivered his report. He was a little disturbed when Lu Qingfeng sent him back to Qiying City alone two months ago to investigate the other members of the Lu family, only to find out that there was danger awaiting his master upon his return.


    Nine didn''t know how Lu Qingfeng knew about it, as there hadn''t been any asions or events that would make the young man suspect that someone was plotting against him.


    As expected, Lu Qingfeng didn''t waste time and made preparations for his return to Qiying City. Now that he had finished his training as his grandfather''s sessor, it only made sense why some of his rtives were getting edgy as they refused to acknowledge him as the next head of the family.


    One of Lu Qingfeng''s rtives had hired a team to ambush him on his return to Qiying City, and they were only waiting for the informant to let them know when the young man would arrive.


    "Alright." Lu Qingfeng replied and stood from his seat. His eyes nced outside the floor-to-ceiling ss window of his office, watching the bright lights in Shenjing.


    It had been too long for him since he hadst been in Qiying City, seeing Su Xiaofei in person. It didn''t matter if someone was plotting against his life right now, because no one would be able to stop him from returning to her side no matter what happened. His rtives were able to harm him in his past life, obstructing him from pursuing the woman he loved, but not this time.


    The murderous glint on Lu Qingfeng''s eyes startled Nine. There weren''t many people who can annoy and trigger his master like this and everytime Nine sees it in Lu Qingfeng, it only meant he wouldn''t hesitate to crush his enemy beyond recognition.


    Since his rtives had plotted against him, Nine wouldn''t be surprised if Lu Qingfeng would cut their familial ties without batting an eye and crush them without mercy.


    His master might be youngpared to other sessors of other prominent and wealthy families, but Nine never saw Lu Qingfeng hesitate or show weaknesses even once during his training days. In fact, Lu Qingfeng acted ordingly, showing great potential to seed his grandfather with hispetence, despite his young age.


    Lu Qingfeng had already leaked the information that he would be returning to Qiying City in two weeks'' time. However, what his rtives didn''t know was, it was actually a trap that would implicate them, exposing their wicked schemes to the world.


    A weekter, Yun Qingrong woke up too early and couldn''t fall back asleep, so she tidied up her bed and went to check on her daughter. Whenever she had time, she made sure to pay Su Xiaofei a visit, whether she was sleeping or not. Seeing her was enough for Yun Qingrong to forget her worries and her exhaustion from work.


    However, upon checking her daughter''s room, Su Xiaofei was nowhere to be found. Looking at the time, it was only four in the morning, and Yun Qingrong was surprised that her daughter was up this early.


    She went downstairs to look for her, but Su Xiaofei wasn''t in the living room or in the kitchen. She then remembered that Feifei mentioned that she needed to lose some of her excess weight, so Yun Qingrong decided to check their vast yard.


    As she expected, she saw her daughter shadowboxing. She was dressed in a dark blue tracksuit, which she usually sported whenever she sparred with Xi Qian and Xiao Rufeng.


    Although Yun Qingrong wasn''t certain of the type of self-defense Feifei and Xi Qian had learned over the past five years, she was at ease knowing that the two women would be able to defend themselves.


    Su Xiaofei''s movements were fast and strong, and it was obvious that she had been taking her training seriously. As to why her daughter was up this early, Yun Qingrong didn''t need to ponder too long to know that Feifei must be worrying about her childhood friend again.


    Yun Qingrong''s eyes softened upon seeing her daughter. She felt immense pride when she looked at Su Xiaofei. As her daughter, she hadn''t expected Su Xiaofei to follow her steps and learn the ways of thepany. Initially, Feifei voiced her displeasure regarding it and would rather be a celebrity instead.


    By the time Su Xiaofei noticed her, she was already done with her third round.


    "Mama? Is there something wrong? You are up early." Su Xiaofei said as she walked towards her mother, worry shing in her eyes.


    With Yun Qingrong''s health condition starting to affect her work recently, it was normal for Su Xiaofei to be worried.


    "It''s nothing, dear." Yun Qingrong tried to assure her daughter. "If you are done with your training, why don''t we go inside and let me prepare a quick breakfast for us." She added.


    Su Xiaofei stared at her mother for a moment, knowing that Yun Qingrong had been suffering from chronic chest pains and dizziness. Those were the same symptoms her mother had in her previous life before Yun Qingrong lost her life in an ident.


    Her rebirth hadn''t done anything to change it, although Su Xiaofei had been convincing her mother to cut off her workload to take a rest.. Su Xiaofei could only pay more attention to Yun Qingrong and make sure she didn''t overwork herself now that she had an illness that could threaten her life.

 Chapter 280 - The Class Reunion (1)

    Xi Qian adjusted her skirt and nced at her reflection in the mirror. Today was their high school ss reunion, and although Su Xiaofei rarely attended such events to socialize, Xi Qian was surprised that her best friend was willing to attend with her.


    Su Xiaofei had no interests in reunions, so she rarely attended tem. At most, she would agree to meet up with a few acquaintances once in a while. It wasn''t a secret that she didn''t have many friends, nor did she like to socialize in the first ce.


    Right now, Su Xiaofei and Ye Mingyu were the most famous ones out of all their batch mates and most of them were expecting to see the two tonight. Xi Qian didn''t doubt that they were only curious and wanted topare their aplishments.


    However, it was obvious that this reunion would be different and Xi Qian wasn''t sure if her best friend would be able to leave unscathed knowing that she was about to meet Ye Mingyu in person again.


    Because it was their batch''s high school reunion with over a hundred people attending, the venue would be held in a banquet hall of a five-star hotel in Qiying City. The hotel was owned by one of their batch mate''s family, and some pitched in to help cover the cost of the event.


    "You look stunning."


    Xi Qian turned around and found Su Xiaofei joining her in the guest room she upied. Su Xiaofei had insisted on providing the dress Xi Qian would wear and with the help of a stylist and makeup artist, Xi Qian couldn''t believe that she could look as beautiful as Su Xiaofei tonight.


    "Thanks!" She replied with a smile. "You look dashing though. It would be hard for anyone not to notice you tonight."


    Although their clothes had been specifically prepared for tonight''s event, they were too extravagant in Xi Qian''s opinion. Her evening dress had a ssic sweetheart neckline, its bodice filled with hints of crystals on it. It also had a high slit on her right side, showing her shapely leg.


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaofei was wearing a navy blue high-neck halter evening gown, which could go with just about anything and work in almost every setting. With elegant appeal, this one left asting impression with a clean style.


    The embellishments, embroidery and pearls really pop on her elegant long evening dress, making it a stunning choice for tonight''s event. She had a long overcoat over it to protect her from the coldness of the night.


    Since Su Xiaofei was naturally attractive to begin with, the makeup artist didn''t put too much makeup on her face. Instead, the makeup artist focused on enhancing Su Xiaofei''s best features and styled her hair ordingly for the asion.


    She sat off on one side and gazed at Su Xiaofei. With such a beautiful face, it wasn''t surprising that many men wanted to date her and seek Su Xiaofei''s hand in marriage. No wonder Lu Qingfeng had been worried that someone would sweep Su Xiaofei off her feet during his absence.


    "I now regret agreeing to attend this damn reunion." Su Xiaofei said as she slightly adjusted the strap on her back, which held her dress in ce around her waist.


    "I would rather sleep early than see her face again." She muttered, but it couldn''t be helped as Xi Qian already confirmed their attendance for their ss reunion.


    "We could leave early if you want." Xi Qian suggested. Indeed, she would rather spend her time reviewing her notes than to party tonight.


    Su Xiaofei had changed a lot over the years, but Xi Qian thought that she was seeing a side of her best friend that she didn''t know existed in the first ce. Unlike their teenage years, Su Xiaofei had be a glutton despite her slim figure.


    Su Xiaofei liked to try new dishes and ate with such eagerness that Xi Qian hadn''t seen before. She ate fast and protected her food like a tigress, afraid that someone would steal her food.


    The more Xi Qian paid attention to her best friend, the more she realized that Su Xiaofei had taken control of her life and refused to follow others'' rules, which was a good thing in her opinion.


    While Su Xiaofei was preupied, Xi Qian took a quick snap of her photo and forwarded it to Lu Qingfeng. If Lu Qingfeng was here, he would have taken the role of Su Xiaofei''s escort tonight.


    If this couple went out together, Xi Qian would have no doubt that she would be the third wheel again tonight. From their appearance to temperament, Xi Qian couldn''t deny that the twoplemented each other. Standing together, Lu Qingfeng and Su Xiaofei would surely get a lot of attention, overshadowing others.


    Ah, it''s a pity Su Xiaofei didn''t pursue her previous dream of bing a celebrity, Xi Qian thought. Because if she did, Xi Qian would have no doubt that her best friend would outshine not only Ye Mingyu, but the other celebrities as well.


    ''Going with Feifei for tonight''s reunion. Don''t forget our deal.'' She told the little tyrant after sending Su Xiaofei''s photo.


    ''It''s already arranged ording to your request.''


    Lu Qingfeng replied in an instant, which earned a scoff from Xi Qian. This little tyrant was really a simp for her best friend. She had never seen any man chasing Su Xiaofei as persistently as Lu Qingfeng had.


    It wasn''t like she wanted to help Lu Qingfeng, but she had been the one feeding him with updates regarding Su Xiaofei. In return, Lu Qingfeng would send her study materials she could use for her review, which had been a great help to her recently.


    "I''m ready whenever you are." Su Xiaofei said as she picked up her purse, ncing in Xi Qian''s way. "Let''s see if Ye Mingyu grew some brain cells while she was away."


    Su Xiaofei and Xi Qian arrived right on time and saw a lot of guests rushing to the banquet hall. Considering that Su Xiaofei was an heiress and the granddaughter of the affluent Yun family, she arrived with Xi Qian and the Zhang siblings as herpanions for the night.


    There were a lot of guards stationed around the hotel premises from different families, showing how important some of the guests were.


    However, Su Xiaofei also thought that it was one way for the others to brag about what they have to the other guests, not that it bothered her one bit.


    When they entered the banquet hall, she and Xi Qian found several guests already crowding around Ye Mingyu, who was obviously enjoying the attention.


    "Schoolmate Ye, it''s been a long time since I''ve seen you. You''ve gotten more beautiful with time." Someone praised her beauty.


    Ye Mingyu lowered her gaze, looking bashful from the praise she received.


    "Ah, you''re getting more popr these days. When you be a film empress, don''t you dare forget about us, okay?" Ye Mingyu''s ssmate teased her.


    "ssmate Xiang is joking. There''s no way I would be able to forget someone like you." Ye Mingyu said in return, a blush dusting her cheeks.


    Seeing the scene in front of them, Xi Qian frowned and leaned closer to her best friend. Even now, she couldn''t stand Ye Mingyu at all.


    "I see Ye Mingyu remains the same. She still has three brain cells in her head, trying topete for third ce."


    Su Xiaofei smirked and shook her head, leading Xi Qian away from Ye Mingyu''s group.


    "Since you know the truth, why are you still paying attention to her? Wouldn''t that only make her happy, knowing that she could annoy you like this?"


    She had always known that Ye Mingyu was a two-faced woman and a white lotus. Ye Mingyu was living for everyone''s praises, wanting nothing more but to be the best in everyone''s eyes.


    It was because of this that Ye Mingyu had forced Su Xiaofei to be the viiness in her story. Because the more vicious Su Xiaofei became, the more Ye Mingyu would shine. However, Su Xiaofei refused to give Ye Mingyu a leverage in this lifetime. Even if Ye Mingyu forced her to y the viiness role, Su Xiaofei would make sure that Ye Mingyu would regret it.


    However, even before Su Xiaofei and Xi Qian could walk away, Ye Mingyu and her group spotted them. Soon, Su Xiaofei became the center of everyone''s attention.


    "Hey, isn''t that Su Xiaofei?"


    "I thought it was just a rumor that she seeded her mother''spany. I can see that Su Xiaofei looks better now."


    "Ah! What are you saying? While Ye Mingyu is now a celebrity, don''t you know that Su Xiaofei is known as a star maker? I heard that Su Xiaofei manages top stars at Bluemedia and works closely with them!"


    As the other guests turned their attention to Su Xiaofei, praising not only her beauty, but also her expertise in show business, the smile on Ye Mingyu''s face faltered, her eyes boring on Su Xiaofei.

 Chapter 281 - The Class Reunion (2)

    Ye MIngyu''s eyes shed with hatred as she looked at Su Xiaofei''s calm demeanor. She still couldn''tprehend why Su Xiaofei had changed and didn''t pursue a career as a celebrity this time.


    In her past life, Su Xiaofei was a critically acimed actress who won not only local awards but also gained international recognition. She had also produced several albums and songs that topped the charts for weeks. So it came as a surprise to Ye Mingyu that Su Xiaofei chose to seed her mother at Bluemedia instead.


    Ye Mingyu wondered if it was because she was reborn that events hadn''t taken ce as she expected it to be. Was she really helpless against Su Xiaofei and destined to be a nobody, despite her hard work?


    She could only bite her lower lip while the others fawned over Su Xiaofei and asked her questions about the talents of Bluemedia who were popr these days, especially the group "Full Moon".


    Who hadn''t heard of that new girl group? Even Ye Mingyu''s name could easily be forgotten whenever someone mentioned "Full Moon". Ye Mingyu''s poprity would pale inparison to them.


    With their songs being yed anywhere throughout the country, it was impossible for Su Xiaofei and Xi Qian''s batch mates not to hear about thetest girl group that Bluemedia produced.


    Su Xiaofei gave them a small smile and didn''t divulge any information about the girl group she''s currently managing. It wasn''t like they knew that she was the one managing the group in the first ce.


    With a cool expression on her face, straight back and stunning evening gown, it only made Ye Mingyu more aware of the difference between them. Su Xiaofei stood and smiled as if she was high above them, like a queen sparing her subjects a nce.


    Who allowed Su Xiaofei to act so arrogantly in front of them? The one who should be fawned on and praised by everyone was her and not Su Xiaofei!


    What was so amazing about Su Xiaofei seeding her mother''spany? Ye Mingyu thought that it was just handed down to Su Xiaofei without her working hard for it.


    "How about you, Schoolmate Xi? How have you been?"


    Ye Mingyu chose to ignore Su Xiaofei''s presence and questioned Xi Qian instead. She greeted Xi Qian warmly, not even sparing Su Xiaofei a nce to acknowledge her. She wanted Su Xiaofei to be infuriated by it, but she hadn''t expected the mocking smile that spread on Su Xiaofei''s lips instead.


    Xi Qian rose a slender brow and gave the woman a head to toe look. Did this woman really think she could use her to spite Feifei? Ye Mingyu must be dreaming!


    Xi Qian thought that Su Xiaofei had been kind enough to Ye Mingyu to let thetter off every time she offended her. If it was her, Xi Qian wouldn''t waste any time and would have just smacked Ye Mingyu''s face for even daring to look down on her.


    "Feifei, I''m a little hungry. Let''s go and find something to eat."


    How could Xi Qian allow her best friend to lose face because of her? Since Ye Mingyu was daring enough to humiliate Su Xiaofei, she could only me herself for the consequences of her action.


    Su Xiaofei smiled with amusement and nodded in response. She took off her coat and led Xi Qian away, leaving Ye Mingyu, whose face color had changed from red to ck from receiving a cold shoulder from Xi Qian. Seeing Ye Mingyu act stupidly in front of her, she could only think that the woman was beyond salvation. Her brain was utterly damaged and dysfunctional.


    It was then she felt slight annoyance thinking about it. How stupid had she been in her past life to be manipted by this deranged person and fall for her schemes?


    ''How disgraceful.'' Su Xiaofei thought. Only after her rebirth did she realize that Ye Mingyu was weaker than she gave her credit for. To think that this kind of person was able to ruin her life without batting an eyelid annoyed her.


    She initially thought that Ye Mingyu woulde to her senses and stop acting stupidly, but Ye Mingyu only proved her wrong.


    As Su Xiaofei looked at Ye Mingyu''s ugly expression, she wondered if this woman forgot to take her medicine. Ye Mingyu must be losing the screws in her head if she thought that Xi Qian would be willing to y a role in humiliating her.


    The way Ye Mingyu ignored Su Xiaofei was discreet, but Xi Qian''s tant response was clear to everyone that Xi Qian didn''t see Ye Mingyu in her eyes at all. Some guests couldn''t help gossiping behind her back.


    It was at that moment, Ye Mingyu noticed the tense silence around her, and ncing around, she saw the eyes of many guests set upon her with ridicule.


    Some girls didn''t like Ye Mingyu in the first ce because of her reputation as a mistress''s daughter, and how she tried to get between Feng Xue''er and Cai Lin in the past. In their eyes, Ye Mingyu was taking advantage of her beauty to gain favors from her admirers, not giving a damn of what other girls would think about it.


    It was safe to say that they didn''t care much about Ye Mingyu. Although she was a popr neer actress these days, Ye Mingyu hadn''t proven anything yet nor did she have any awards she could brag about.


    As for Su Xiaofei, they could see her on a professional level. Since Su Xiaofei was now part of Bluemedia, if any of them would take interest in investing in Bluemedia''s project, they would be able to easily connect with her. In terms of gaining advantage, they would rather choose Su Xiaofei over Ye Mingyu, who had yet to have anything to offer.


    This only fueled Ye Mingyu''s anger that it started to muddle her head.. One must understand that a jealous woman was capable of doing irrational things and doing things just so she could get her hands on whatever she wanted.

 Chapter 282 - The Class Reunion (3)

    When Ye Mingyu came back from her studies abroad, she had been curious as to what Su Xiaofei had been up to over the past years. She couldn''t believe it when one of her previous ssmates told her that Su Xiaofei decided to finish her studies while proactively helping Yun Qingrong at theirpany.


    This wasn''t what Ye Mingyu had been expecting to hear at all upon her return. No wonder she didn''t hear anything about Su Xiaofei''s debut around the time she expected it to happen. As for what made Su Xiaofei change her mind, Ye Mingyu was still uncertain about it.


    "Sister, how long do you n to ignore me?" Ye Mingyu said with tears rimming in her eyes. How can she allow Su Xiaofei to get away unscathed at her expense?


    She lifted her head arrogantly, purposely raising her voice to get everyone''s attention. She then looked at Su Xiaofei as if she was certain that she had already won this round between them.


    It made Su Xiaofei and Xi Qian stop in their tracks, while the others frowned at Ye Mingyu''s failed attempt to humiliate Su Xiaofei. Who hadn''t heard about how these two women were rted?


    Su Xiaofei smiled inwardly. She knew that Ye Mingyu was prideful enough that she wouldn''t let another person have thestugh. She turned around and gave Ye Mingyu a good look, noticing that she was starting to bloom beautifully like a flower, just like she did in her previous life. It was just a pity that Ye Mingyu would rather step on another person to make her look better in the eyes of others.


    "Miss Ye must have been extremely busy these days. I hope you haven''t forgotten to visit Papa." Su Xiaofei said with a mocking tone in her voice.


    Ye Mingyu''s face nched upon hearing Su Xiaofei''s words. She had been back for over a month now, and yet she hadn''t paid her father a visit at the detention center at all. How could she do such a thing when she was about to debut in showbiz?


    With Su Xiaofei mentioning her father in front of everyone, it was like sshing dirty water right on her face!


    "I-I¡­" She found herself lost for words!


    This was the first time she was meeting Su Xiaofei after five years. She hadn''t expected that their encounter would turn out like this. How could this happen right in front of everyone? Su Xiaofei was really ruthless towards her!


    Ye Mingyu almost broke down at that moment, but she tried to suppress the tears that were threatening to burst at any moment.


    Su Xiaofei found it funny that Ye Mingyu now looked like she was the one being bullied by her. Wasn''t Ye Mingyu the one who tried to provoke her? So why was she pretending to be the victim now?


    "Su Xiaofei, h-how could you? You are ruthless!"


    "Is that apliment, Miss Ye? If there''s someone who is ruthless here, I think it is you. Papa must have been missing you all these years, but you didn''t even bother to pay him a visit. Is there something else Miss Ye needs from me? If there''s nothing else, please excuse us. We still have yet to greet the other guests tonight." She continued, leaving Ye Mingyu and taking Xi Qian along with her.


    However, Xi Qian didn''t forget to add fuel to the fire by mocking Ye Mingyu.


    "She must be sick in her mind if she thinks that she could be your sister. What kind of sister would she be if you epted her? She might not only steal from you, but also seduce your manter like her mother did."


    Everyone fell silent during their conversation before someone burst into a round ofughter, which was followed by an uproar. They all heard the subtle mockery in Su Xiaofei''s tone, and they didn''t need to think too hard to know that Ye Mingyu was the one who brought it upon herself.


    How dare Ye Mingyu think that she could be arrogant in front of them after earning a little poprity? Compared to them, she was still amoner with no money or status to her name.


    Sure, Su Xiaofei''s words were blunt and arrogant, but she was merely turning the tables against Ye Mingyu after thetter tried to drag her into the mud to humiliate her.


    "Seriously? She''s just a mistress''s daughter, and yet she has such a princess syndrome, thinking that she''s above all of us? Ye Mingyu might have not realized that it''s easy for Su Xiaofei to obstruct her career, given that she hasworks in the industry." Someonemented.


    "She used to be stupid, trying to provoke Su Xiaofei every time. I thought she changed, but I didn''t expect her to remain stupid after all these years."


    A discussion erupted after they heard the encounter between Su Xiaofei and Ye Mingyu.


    "What''s more ridiculous is for her to keep trying to put Su Xiaofei in an awkward situation. Su Xiaofei already made it clear that she didn''t consider Ye Mingyu as her sister, but she kept insisting that they are rted to each other."


    "Su Xiaofei doesn''t have anything to do with Ye Mingyu now that her parents are already divorced. Why couldn''t Ye Mingyu just respect that Su Xiaofei didn''t want a sister like her?"


    Someone chuckled in the crowd upon hearing those words.


    They weren''t fools. They could see why Ye Mingyu was trying to establish a sisterhood between her and Su Xiaofei, regardless if they didn''t share the same mother.


    "It''s obvious that Ye Mingyu wants to be acquainted with Su Xiaofei to gain advantage in her career. With Su Xiaofei''swork and resources, wouldn''t that mean that she also had a way to make Ye Mingyu a Queen?"


    "Ha! As if Su Xiaofei would do such a thing for Ye Mingyu.. She must be insane if she paved the way for her father''s bastard."

 Chapter 283 - Impending Danger (1)

    Once Su Xiaofei and Xi Qian were away from everyone''s earshot, Xi Qian gave her best friend a nce, wondering what Feifei was thinking now that they had met Ye Mingyu again.


    "Feifei, are you alright?" She asked. Xi Qian was still annoyed that Ye Mingyu was forcing her best friend to acknowledge her as Feifei''s sister after all that happened between them in the past.


    "Why would I not be okay, Qian? If anything, Ye Mingyu is the one who should be worried now. She still has nothing between her ears." Su Xiaofei replied, before greeting other guests they met at the banquet hall.


    Xi Qian nodded in understanding and chose to push the matter about Ye Mingyu aside to enjoy this rare event with her best friend. She wasn''t sure when would be the next time that she and Feifei could hang out together, given how busy their schedules were.


    Su Xiaofei was obviously in a good mood and didn''t avoid other guests that came to greet her. In fact, she received and exchanged business cards with them, establishing connections with her prospective investors in the future.


    Meanwhile, Xi Qian met with her other friends and caught up with them, leaving Su Xiaofei to talk with Song Yiran, who cornered her upon seeing her.


    Su Xiaofei tried to ignore Song Yiran, but the man insisted on making friends with her.


    "Don''t you have anything else to do but to annoy me?" She raised a brow at him, wondering why he was so persistent on investing in Bluemedia now.


    Thinking about it, by this time, Song Yiran''s death should have taken ce already in a foreignnd. It had been big news in Su Xiaofei''s previous life, as everyone at QCA had mourned his sudden passing.


    Su Xiaofei wasn''t paying attention to the Song family''s affairs as she was busy with her work at Bluemedia. However, seeing that Song Yiran didn''t seem like he was desperate, she couldn''t fathom what his motive was.


    "I''m just saying that I''m interested in investing in your future projects. Why can''t I? It''s not like you are the one being at a disadvantage if the project fails." Song Yiran reasoned out.


    "Say, are you trying to raise your shares in your family business?" Su Xiaofei asked him bluntly. She couldn''t think of any reason behind his actions except for this.


    "Ah, did Lu Qingfeng tell you that?" Song Yiran chuckled in return. "Man, I didn''t think he would casually share such information with his girlfriend."


    Su Xiaofei frowned, but didn''t correct him. She was merely curious why Song Yiran suddenly mentioned Lu Qingfeng.


    When the man saw the confusion on her face, it dawned to him that he was the one who misunderstood her.


    "You don''t know? Lu Qingfeng really hasn''t told you anything?" He probed.


    "Is there something I need to know? Anyway, if Lu Qingfeng deemed that it''s not my business or concern to begin with, why would he disclose it to me?" She asked in return.


    Song Yiran took a deep breath and picked up a ss of champagne from a passing waiter.


    "Didn''t you hear that I also went to Shenjing to study? Lu Qingfeng and I became friends. At least that''s what I think." He shrugged. "Actually, he was the one who suggested that I should invest in your future projects, but considering Bluemedia hadn''t released another series or film over the past two years, I''m quite hesitant at the moment."


    Su Xiaofei fell silent on this. Was this Lu Qingfeng''s way of helping her and Song Yiran? Since she couldn''t simply actively demand Lu Qingfeng''s help every time she faced an obstacle, she tried to do everything in her capacity first before considering other options.


    "I see." Since Song Yiran had put it that way and Lu Qingfeng trusted him, she supposed that it wouldn''t hurt to ept Song Yiran''s proposition.


    "Actually, we are nning on releasing another film soon, but it''s still in the nning stages and the script is still a work in progress." She informed him.


    Song Yiran''s face immediately lit up. Had he known that mentioning Lu Qingfeng''s name would make her agree, he would have said it earlier.


    "Great!" He raised his ss and clunked it with Su Xiaofei''s. "Give me a call anytime and give me a go signal when it''s ready."


    She nodded at him before her eyes swept around the banquet hall looking for Xi Qian. Su Xiaofei found her giggling with the other guests, and she couldn''t help but smile.


    "I''m surprised that you and Miss Xi are still friends." She suddenly heard Song Yiran say next to her.


    "Qian and I have known each other for a long time. There''s no reason why I wouldn''t befriend her."


    "But you are also close with Lu Qingfeng, no?"


    "What about it?" Su Xiaofei couldn''t understand his point for saying this. "There''s no rule that I should only befriend one of them."


    "I suppose you are right. You and Lu Qingfeng are the same in so many ways." Song Yiran shrugged.


    He was one of those people who could be considered as a social butterfly, but in truth, he never had a real friend he could rely on. The only person he could be honest with was his elder brother. Seeing how close Su Xiaofei was with both Xi Qian and Lu Qingfeng made Song Yiran feel lonelier than ever. He also wanted to experience this type of connection with someone.


    At first, when he and Lu Qingfeng met in Shenjing, Song Yiran had been curious about the younger man. Despite his young age, no one dared to question Lu Qingfeng''s capability. In fact, the young man proved that he waspetent in his chosen path.


    Song Yiran wanted to learn from him, so despite Lu Qingfeng''s annoyance at first, he persistently visited him and invited him to hang out.. It took several months before Lu Qingfeng got used to Song Yiran''spany.

 Chapter 284 - Impending Danger (2)

    Meanwhile, Ye Mingyu tried to blend into the crowd, avoiding the gazes of the other guests at their ss reunion. She couldn''t leave the event early after her encounter with Su Xiaofei as it would only prove that she was below that woman.


    Ye Mingyu repeatedly cursed Su Xiaofei in her heart. She couldn''t understand why others were epting such an arrogant and haughty woman, not understanding that she wasn''t a good person herself in the first ce.


    In her mind, the person who took everything from her and caused her suffering was none other than Su Xiaofei. If Su Xiaofei didn''t exist, she wouldn''t have a hard time living alone with her mother in her previous life. Just looking at the difference between their appearance and status was enough for Ye Mingyu''s blood to boil in rage.


    Therefore, she didn''t think that there was anything wrong if she painted Su Xiaofei ck to make herself look better. For Ye Mingyu, she would never be able to forgive Su Xiaofei and her mother for ruining her family by taking her father away from them.


    Su Xiaofei had no idea that Ye Mingyu was having such thoughts against her, but it didn''t matter, because no matter what, the enmity between them could never be resolved. She would even think that Ye Mingyu''s train of thoughts were ridiculous and hrious at the same time.


    Ye Mingyu noticed that the other guests had also started to avoid her like a gue, but their eyes were mocking her as she walked past them. She could only clench her fist on her side and pretended she wasn''t aware of it.


    Just as she thought the cmity was already over, Ye Mingyu had Feng Xue''er and her cousin, Feng Yumeng.


    Feng Xue''er was looking at Ye Mingyu with a nk expression, while her cousin looked at Ye Mingyu from head to toe before shaking her head.


    "Wow, she just debuted recently, and yet she could afford to wear designer clothes now? The pay she''s receiving for her cheap gimmicks to push herself to fame must be paying well." Feng Yumeng said with disgust in her eyes.


    She hadn''t forgotten how Ye Mingyu made Feng Xue''er a fool by seducing her fianc¨¦. It took a long time for Feng Xue''er to recover from the betrayal and started to move on from the annulment of her marriage with Cai Lin.


    "Cai Lin must be happy to know that his lover is back." Feng Xue''er smiled behind her champagne ss before taking a sip from it. "Too bad that his family has nothing now. Even if he wants to be your golden thigh, the Cai family wouldn''t be able to afford it."


    Ye Mingyu clenched her jaw and kept her cool. She had already lost face earlier when facing Su Xiaofei, and she wouldn''t allow Feng Xue''er to bully her now. There''s no reason for her to make Feng Xue''er her enemy, since it was clear that thetter had already moved on from Cai Lin.


    "I heard the news. Doesn''t it mean that Xue''er also dodged a bullet by not marrying him?" She said in response.


    Feng Xue''er frowned at that, while Feng Yumeng red furiously at Ye Mingyu. Neither of the two could refute what Ye Mingyu had just said.


    Indeed, the Feng family, as well as Feng Xue''er, were lucky that the marriage arrangement didn''t push through. Because if they ended up getting married, Feng Xue''er''s future would bepromised by her husband''s misfortune.


    Ye Mingyu scoffed inwardly. Of course, she knew about this. It also happened in her previous life, so she discarded Cai Lin even before it happened. However, she made sure to take advantage of him and strung him along.


    Cai Lin was stupid anyway. Did he really think that she would settle with a man like him? It was just too bad that he wasn''t as rich and powerful as Lu Qingfeng or else she wouldn''t have discarded him in the first ce.


    As for Lu Qingfeng, Ye Mingyu could only feel bitterness that she couldn''t lure the young man to her side. What could be the best way to seek revenge against Su Xiaofei other than stealing her man? Unfortunately, it proved that the young man wasn''t a fool, unlike the other men who fawned over her.


    If Lu Qingfeng were on her side, it would be easy for her to crush Su Xiaofei without breaking a sweat. She could drive a wedge between Lu Qingfeng and Su Xiaofei and could make him hate her. Ye Mingyu thought that it would be a great sight to see Su Xiaofei in despair as she lost everything that she had.


    "Heh, how could you still worry about me when you are the one who betrayed Cai Lin?" Feng Xue''er''s insidious smile brought Ye Mingyu out of her trance. "Schoolmate Ye should worry about herself. You think Cai Lin would easily let you off after taking advantage of him? I can say that you don''t know him well."


    After saying this, Feng Xue''er turned around and left with Feng Yumeng, and thetter gave Ye Mingyu a mocking smile.


    Ye Mingyu''s eyes widened in shock as she stayed rooted in ce. She had a bad feeling about this. Did Feng Xue''er mean to say that Cai Lin would harm her?


    Since her debut in showbiz, she started receiving weird letters and messages. Initially, she thought that they came from anti-fans who didn''t like her, but as days passed, the letters with several cutouts from magazines started to bother her.


    "No¡­ that can''t be¡­" She muttered to herself in disbelief.


    Ye Mingyu didn''t even realize what she had done had forced Cai Lin to insanity.


    When she broke up with Cai Lin over the phone, the man refused to ept it and insisted on seeing her.. However, even before Cai Lin was able to follow her overseas, his family had faced a big issue that involved not only the police, but the government as well.

 Chapter 285 - Impending Danger (3)

    But how could Ye Mingyu possibly know that Cai Lin had developed such an obsession with her? In her previous life, she wasn''t able to meet Cai Lin personally, however, Su Xiaofei did. For this reason, Su Xiaofei was aware of the impending danger, threatening to strike Ye Mingyu at any moment.


    Su Xiaofei shut her eyes as Zhang Lan drove them home. Her mind was filled with thoughts of how things and events had dramatically changed since her rebirth. Song Yiran was able to live and avoid his death by staying in the country, while Cai Lin''s family suffered demise way too earlypared to the original timeline.


    The more she thought about it, the more she started to feel nervous about Lu Qingfeng. It was almost time. She didn''t want to overthink, but Su Xiaofei got a feeling based on theirst conversation that Lu Qingfeng would being back to Qiying City very soon.


    Zhang Ling nced at the dashboard mirror and saw the grim expression on Su Xiaofei''s face. She then looked at her elder sister, giving her an inquisitive look.


    Zhang Lan only shook her head in response. She didn''t have any idea what Su Xiaofei was currently thinking, or what problem she was dealing with right now either. If it was about her workload at Bluemedia, there was no pressing matter that required their attention at the moment.


    "Zhang Ling, has Xiao Feng said anything about his return?" They heard Su Xiaofei suddenly ask.


    Both siblings shot their brows up and realization dawned upon them. The reason behind Su Xiaofei''s recent behavior was none other than their master.


    "Sorry, Miss Su. We''ve not heard from him or from Mr. Nine so far." Zhang Ling replied with a small smile, while Zhang Lan remained silent behind the steering wheel.


    Su Xiaofei nodded and fell silent again, returning her attention out the window of the car as if the scenery outside was more interesting than talking about Lu Qingfeng with the Zhang siblings.


    As Zhang Ling continued to watch their young miss from the mirror, she wondered what made Su Xiaofei act like this. This was far from the longing expression she used to have. It was almost as if Su Xiaofei was afraid of something that involved their master.


    "Miss?" Zhang Ling called. If Su Xiaofei could only tell them what was happening, then perhaps they would be able to do something to help her.


    "It''s nothing." Su Xiaofei lied. "I''m just wondering when he will be back."


    She didn''t have the courage to tell them about what had transpired in her previous life, as she knew that they wouldn''t believe her. Who would believe that she was living her second life?


    Even if she told them, how were they supposed to help Lu Qingfeng at this critical time? There was little to nothing that she knew about the assassination attempt on his life, as the Lu family had made it strictly confidential and hid Lu Qingfeng''s condition from the public."


    Right now, the only thing Su Xiaofei could do was to keep in touch with Lu Qingfeng and to keep track of his whereabouts.


    Once she returned home, she immediately discarded her evening dress and stepped into the shower. She let the water fall over her entirety as her mind raced to think of a way to save Lu Qingfeng''s life. She couldn''t allow Lu Qingfeng toe back if danger was lurking, awaiting his return.


    If Lu Qingfeng wouldn''t be able to return, should she go and move to Shenjing instead to be with him? She pondered.


    "No." Su Xiaofei told herself before pulling her white robe and wrapping her long hair in a towel.


    Leaving her mother on her own wasn''t an option she could choose right now. Not when Yun Qingrong''s health waspromised by her illness.


    As she pondered about her choices, she received Lu Qingfeng''s call around the same time he always called. Su Xiaofei didn''t dare to probe or ask him about his return this time, as Lu Qingfeng might suspect her of something. It wasn''t like she was privy of sharing her thoughts like this to him.


    "Howe you never told me you are friends with Song Yiran now?" She questioned instead. "He made it sound like you two are really close."


    "Is that what he told you? Quite persistent, isn''t he?" Lu Qingfeng said in return, which made Su Xiaofei smile in amusement.


    She knew Lu Qingfeng for a long time and was aware that he was keeping everyone at an arm''s length, except for her. So for her to hear that he was starting to ept other people''spany and friendship, such as Xi Qian and Song Yiran, made her happy.


    Su Xiaofei didn''t want to see him being lonely, refusing anyone''spany like he did in her past life after she died. There might be things she wouldn''t be able to change in this lifetime, but one thing was for sure. She would never allow Lu Qingfeng to suffer because of her again.


    "Well, considering that he mentioned you just to convince me to ept his investment in Bluemedia''s future projects, I think he''s in a desperate situation." She answered.


    She heard Lu Qingfeng heave a deep breath on the other end of the line, making her aware that her assumptions about Song Yiran was a valid one. Something must have happened that made Song Yiran proactively make a move to earn money.


    As far as she knew, Song Yiran''s position within their family business wasn''t as high as his brother. She wouldn''t be surprised if his uncle, the one responsible for Song Yiran''s death, was obstructing his way to influence the board with his presence.


    "Feifei, give him a chance. Song Yiran isn''t a fool after all. Just think of it as a win-win situation between the two of you." Lu Qingfeng said.


    "Heh. Did he really need my help, or are you the one who wants to help me?" She chuckled while checking her well manicured nails. "Don''t think that I don''t know that you were talking to Mama about buying some shares in Bluemedia."


    "What''s wrong with that? Wouldn''t that help you secure your position at thepany in the future?" He retorted. "I know that you are working hard to prove to everyone that you are worthy to seed your mother, but I won''t allow anyone there to bully you and obstruct your way."


    Su Xiaofei knew that he was only trying to help her, but she couldn''t help but feel like he was doting on her way too much by doing this. Regardless of what their current score is right now, she didn''t want to be too reliant on him as people would surely doubt her more if they knew about it.


    "You won''t let me help you directly, so at least consider helping Song Yiran." He added.


    She didn''t say anything, as she didn''t want to waste time by arguing with him. They only have a few minutes to talk to each other.


    "Fine." She huffed. "But don''t think I would let you off the hook so easily."


    She heard a lowugh from the other end of the line.


    "Well, you can surely do anything to me once I return." He said with amusement.


    Being reminded of his situation, Su Xiaofei fell silent and fell into a deep thought.


    ''Should I stop him froming back?'' She asked herself.


    Since he was the one who brought it up, she couldn''t help but question him.


    "Would you tell me when you would be able to return?"


    "No." Lu Qingfeng''s immediate reply startled her. "I''m still not certain when I will be able toplete my obligations here."


    "I see¡­"


    Su Xiaofei didn''t know how to warn him about the danger that awaits his return. She didn''t think she would be able to ept it if something bad happened to him. What was the point of being reborn if she wouldn''t be able to protect him in this lifetime?


    "Feifei?"


    "Still here." She replied, not wanting him to worry about her. "I just want to remind you that I don''t like surprises, so you better not n one or else¡­"


    Lu Qingfeng''sugh this time was louder than earlier.


    "I''m not even allowed to surprise you?"


    "There are so many things that could go wrong when you''re pulling a surprise." She muttered under her breath, but was loud enough for Lu Qingfeng to hear.


    "I don''t need any surprises. I only want to be with you."


    "Alright." Lu Qingfeng conceded.


    He felt a little silly to think that he would be able to pull out a romantic surprise for her, while he was aware that she must be worried sick about him.. Since Nine had already leaked out the wrong day for his arrival, he only needed to make sure that Su Xiaofei would be safe upon his return.

 Chapter 286 - If Only I Could Rush To Your Side (1)

    Since Lu Qingfeng had given her his word that there would be no surprises regarding his return, Su Xiaofei sighed in relief. This only meant that he would notify her as soon as he was on his way back to Qiying City. She might not be able to find out all the details, but she wouldn''t let Lu Qingfeng face such a problem on his own, unlike what she had done in the past.


    There were so many things that Su Xiaofei regretted, and that included not paying attention to and ignoring the concern of the people who truly cared for her, especially Lu Qingfeng. The things that he had done for her, from the moment they met when they were younger, up to the day he found her on her deathbed. No one had shown her such loyalty and dedication except for him.


    She wanted him to be free of any sufferings in the future, but what about her? Su Xiaofei thought.


    Whether it was in her previous life or in this lifetime, she felt like she couldn''t move around as she pleased. She could remember things from her past life clearly, but she felt that there was a piece of her that was missing.


    No matter how hard she tried to think about it, she couldn''t recall what it was and could only feel that it was something important. It made her feel like there was a huge secret that she had forgotten.


    She thought that by reliving her life, she would be the one in charge of it, but what if she was still being manipted like a puppet by someone? That every decision she made was influenced by someone?


    She wanted to focus her anger and me everything on Ye Mingyu, but she knew that the one responsible for her end was none other than herself.


    "Feifei, you know I''m here to listen to whatever that''s bothering you, right? Don''t worry too much. I''ll be by your side soon, and no one will be able to stop it."


    Lu Qingfeng''s gentle and cool voice had somewhat calmed her nerves. He had unknowingly be her tree hole, the one who listened to her endlessints.


    Su Xiaofei rose from her bed and opened the doors leading to the balcony of her room, the damp towel she had on her head earlier left on the armchair near her bed.


    She looked heavenward, her eyesnding on the bright crescent moon up above the darkened sky. She and Lu Qingfeng were beneath the same sky, yet why did she feel lonelier whenever the sun had set? It reminded her of Lu Qingfeng''s appearance when she was still a ghost, haunting her mother''s home.


    He looked dark and lonely, just like the night. Was he lonely right now? Su Xiaofei wondered.


    "I know, and for that, I''m really grateful to have you in my life." She whispered to her phone, wrapping her robe tighter around her body although the night breeze was warmer than usual. It was warm out, now that spring hade.


    Saying thank you would never be enough to show the gratitude she felt for all the things he had done for her. Lu Qingfeng didn''t need to seek revenge on Mo Yuchen and Ye Mingyu, but he still did it for her sake.


    "Every day without seeing you is pure agony, Feifei. If only I could rush to your side and leave everything behind¡­" Lu Qingfeng started, but she cut him off.


    "But you wouldn''t. Don''t make a mistake because of me, Lu Qingfeng. It''s unbing of you to be irresponsible if you disregard your responsibilities to your family. This is why it''s enough that we could talk like this for now. No matter how busy you are, I want to hear your voice, even for just a moment. I won''t ask for more."


    There was a pause on Lu Qingfeng''s side, making Su Xiaofei wonder if he was still there.


    "Hey¡­"


    Finally, she heard a silent groan and the sound of clicking ss. Was Lu Qingfeng drinking now? Su Xiaofei thought. Well, given that he was now of legal age, there''s no reason why he shouldn''t drink, but she didn''t think he was someone who would indulge himself with alcohol no matter how stressed he was.


    "You are making me miss you more than I already am." Lu Qingfeng said with augh, but Su Xiaofei knew better. He wasn''t joking. Not that she would deny that she wasn''t missing him too, because she did. Terribly.


    She could remember watching him overwork himself until dawn, only sleeping for an hour or two before waking up in the morning. Lu Qingfeng''s interest in coffee remained, but he barely had a cup or two.


    Su Xiaofei couldn''t understand why he stopped enjoying his coffees, considering how much he liked it in the past. It was only when she heard that Lu Qingfeng was suffering from serious insomnia, to the point that he needed to be drugged just to force himself to sleep, did she realize why.


    However, what she didn''t know was that aside from his insomnia, Lu Qingfeng''s only sce after her death was to sleep. Because sleep was the closest thing he could get to death after she was gone. In his dreams, he would have the chance to catch a glimpse of her, even for a moment.


    "Grandfather allowed me to leave, as long as I manage to close the deal we''ve been trying to secure for months now." Lu Qingfeng sighed. "If anything, I''m more worried about you. Zhang Ling mentioned that you''ve been working overtime more often these days."


    "It can''t be helped. Miss Zhao Yi has recruited some potential talents to join Bluemedia. I have to make sure to limit the problems that may arise once they sign a contract with us."


    Just thinking about the pile of work that was waiting for her back in her office was enough to make her head ache.

 Chapter 287 - If Only I Could Rush To Your Side (2)

    A weekter, the news that Lu Qingfeng''s car was involved in a massive car ident reached Su Xiaofei. Su Xiaofei had just finished her meeting inside her office with Zhao Yi, who she recruited as a talent agent years ago.


    It was Zhang Ling who had reported the news to her, leaving Su Xiaofei rooted in her ce. Su Xiaofei felt like a hundred ¡ª no, thousands of sharp needles pierced her heart. Her mind raced, thinking that Lu Qingfeng might have gotten hurt, while fear gripped her heart tightly, making it hard for her to breathe.


    How¡­ How was this even possible? Didn''t Lu Qingfeng promise her that he would notify her of the day of his return?


    ''No¡­ No¡­ No! This can''t be!'' Su Xiaofei would''ve fallen on her knees if Zhang Lan hadn''t stepped forward and taken hold of her.


    "Miss! Please calm down." The stoic elder Zhang sister told Su Xiaofei. "We have yet to hear of the Master''s condition."


    Although she was also concerned about her master''s welfare, Zhang Lan knew that they could only wait for his news. She refused to believe that her ever cautious master would easily fall for such a cheap trick set by his greedy rtives.


    The Zhang siblings weren''t aware that this was merely a ploy Lu Qingfeng and his grandfather set up to trick their rtives, who wanted their master dead at any cost.


    Su Xiaofei allowed herself to be seated on the couch inside her office. She leaned forward, clutching her chest tightly, her eyes now stung with tears.


    ''I should have insisted on knowing the date of his return.'' She told herself, allowing a single tear to roll down her cheeks.


    Lu Qingfeng had fallen into a deepa in her previous life, but who could guarantee that he wouldn''t end up dead this time?


    Rumors said that someone from the Lu family wanted Lu Qingfeng dead. However, since Su Xiaofei''s knowledge about the Lu family''s affairs were limited, it was hard for her to identify who the perpetrator was.


    However, if such a scheme had harmed Lu Qingfeng, how could she turn a blind eye on it in this lifetime? All would be for naught if she wouldn''t be able to protect him this time.


    The shocked expression on her beautiful face slowly morphed into a murderous one. Her eyes shing with killing intent as the thought of losing Lu Qingfeng was testing her sanity already.


    Was this what Lu Qingfeng felt when she died in her previous life? If so, then she understood why Lu Qingfeng became the vicious tyrant he was. Just the mere thought of Lu Qingfeng losing his life or falling into aa was enough to nt a deep-seated seed of hatred in Su Xiaofei''s heart.


    If something bad happened to Lu Qingfeng, Su Xiaofei swore in her heart that she wouldn''t stop until all the people responsible for hurting him were crushed beyond salvation. She didn''t care if people viewed her as a wicked viiness and didn''t care if she couldn''t be a heroine in the eyes of others, if that meant she would be able to protect those who were dear to her heart.


    At that moment, Yun Qingrong chose to enter Su Xiaofei''s office in a hurry. No doubt she was already informed of the ident that took ce on highway 23.


    "Mama, were you able to contact Grandfather Lu?" Su Xiaofei immediately asked, taking her mother''s hands with her shaking hands.


    Yun Qingrong looked at her daughter with pity. Her Feifei must have been worried sick about Xiao Feng now. She drew her daughter into a tight embrace, in an attempt to calm Su Xiaofei down.


    Su Xiaofei hadn''t noticed that her whole body was trembling ever since she received the news of the ident.


    "I''m sorry, dear. It seems like everyone has been caught off guard with this news. No one is picking up my calls. They must be busy trying to control the situation." Yun Qingrong said in a hushed tone, patting Su Xiaofei''s back.


    "He will be okay, right, Mama? Lu Qingfeng woulde home safely, right?" Su Xiaofei asked in despair.


    She had long epted that her rebirth wouldn''t mean she would be able to be in full control of everything as she pleased, and the things she had done had a limit on how much it could affect others'' fate.


    Yun Qingrong was at a loss at how she should answer her daughter''s question. Beforeing here to see Feifei, she gave her brothers a call and asked for their help. The Yun family would be able to receive news faster than any media outlets could anyway.


    "I don''t know, Feifei, but I want to believe that Xiao Feng is safe. Until we receive reports about his condition, let''s hope that he''s safe and sound somewhere." She patted her daughter''s head.


    Even though Su Xiaofei was now a grown up, Yun Qingrong wasn''t ready to see her leave her side and face a plight on her own. No matter how old her Feifei was, she was still her daughter that she needed to take care of.


    "En, Miss Su. Please wait for a while longer as Ling''er and I try to contact Mr. Nine. Whatever happens, we will stay by your side." Zhang Lan tried to console her, which was surprising even for her younger sister.


    Beside Zhang Lan, Zhang Ling nodded her head eagerly. It was their first time witnessing Su Xiaofei act like this, which only cemented Zhang Ling''s assumption that Su Xiaofei was truly the one destined and worthy to be theirdy boss in the future.


    Zhang Ling also didn''t like seeing Su Xiaofei like this, as she preferred seeing their miss brimming with confidence and arrogance, as if she didn''t give a damn about what people thought of her.. No matter what anyone said, she would do whatever she wanted and whatever that made her happy.

 Chapter 288 - Why Are You Making Me Worry For Nothing? (1)

    Waiting for the news of Lu Qingfeng''s condition was one of the hardest things Su Xiaofei had to endure ever since her rebirth. When Xi Qian and Song Yiran heard the news on television, the two hurried to see Su Xiaofei to find out more about the ident and how Lu Qingfeng was doing.


    The three were silently waiting inside Su Xiaofei''s office, while Yun Qingrong excused herself to make a follow-up call to her brothers, leaving her daughter in her friends''pany.


    "Feifei¡­" Xi Qian held her best friend in a vice-like grip. She had never seen Su Xiaofei distraught and scared like this for as long as they knew each other. Even when Ye Mingyu appeared in her life, Xi Qian never saw her best friend loseposure like this.


    However, it was obvious that Su Xiaofei was trying her best not to burst into tears, which only made Xi Qian worried about her.


    ''How unsettling.'' Xi Qian thought. Lu Qingfeng hadn''t mentioned anything from theirst conversation about him returning to Qiying City today.


    ''Damnit, you little tyrant! You can''t just die and leave Feifei like this!'' Xi Qian cursed Lu Qingfeng in her heart, but it was obvious that she was also concerned about his safety.


    It had been three hours since the news spread like wildfire over the mainstream and social media. Zhang Ling had been persistently trying to contact either Nine or Miss Katarina, but neither of them were answering the calls and messages. The other members of the elite guard of the Lu family were also mum about the current condition of their master.


    Should they drive back to Qiying City? Zhang Ling wondered. But it would take over two hours to reach their destination, and it was uncertain if their Master was really hurt from the ident or not.


    When Yun Qingrong came back, Su Xiaofei rose to her feet, expecting news from her mother.


    "Your uncle said that Xiao Feng was rushed to the hospital, but Chairman Lu requested privacy for now as the investigation is still ongoing." Yun Qingrong said.


    Su Xiaofei forced herself not to break down and cry at that very moment. Instead, she nodded in understanding and told the Zhang sisters to drive her home with Xi Qian.


    "We should respect Grandfather Lu''s request for now. Let''s go home and wait for the news there instead." She said in a low voice, before leaving her office without looking back at herpanions.


    Yun Qingrong and Xi Qian could only watch her worriedly while the Zhang siblings hurriedly picked up the things Su Xiaofei left along with her purse and ran after her.


    "She must be worried sick about Lu Qingfeng." Song Yiranmented once Su Xiaofei and her bodyguards were out of their sight.


    "It can''t be helped. Xiao Feng has been with her for a long time. It must have killed her to know that she isn''t able to see him when he needs her and at such a critical time." Xi Qian replied, as they stepped out of Su Xiaofei''s office, with Yun Qingrong locking the door behind them.


    "Since Chairman Lu has given us an answer, there''s nothing else we could do but wait." She told Xi Qian and Song Yiran. "I guess it''s time for us to go home for now. I''m sure they would give us a call if something came up."


    Su Xiaofei had returned home with her bodyguards, aware that her mother and Xi Qian were following behind her. As she returned home, she suddenly became more aware of the emptiness she was feeling inside.


    She didn''t wait for anyone and went straight to her darkened room, not bothering to turn on the lights to see her surroundings. Su Xiaofei leaned against her door and allowed herself to slump on the cold floor, her heart feeling more numb than ever.


    There''s no way that she would believe that Lu Qingfeng would die in vain in this lifetime. She clutched the side of her head and rested it on top of her knees. Su Xiaofei refused to believe that Lu Qingfeng woulde back to Qiying City without informing her ahead of time.


    It took time for Su Xiaofei to finally recover from her shock. Once she did, she leaned her head against the door and looked at the close doors of her balcony that were directly across her. Lu Qingfeng''s words reyed in her mind, trying to soothe her, calm her from her anxiety.


    She believed Lu Qingfeng''s words, and since he made a promise to her, it wasn''t possible for him to be involved in that massive road ident. Now that she was able to calm down and give everything a good thought, Su Xiaofei realized that although the news indeed showed a wrecked car that was owned by the Lu family, there was something odd about the ident.


    It was said that Lu Qingfeng had an entourage with him. But as far as Su Xiaofei knew, he was one who liked to be discreet with almost everything. He wasn''t one to brag about his wealth and status, and certainly didn''t like having a long entourage of cars and people following him around.


    ''Lu Qingfeng, what are you trying to do?'' Su Xiaofei thought as she got up from her seated position before releasing her long hair from her ponytail, allowing it to tumble behind her. From the looks of it, it seemed to her that Lu Qingfeng was luring someone into a trap.


    Su Xiaofei narrowed her eyes in suspicion. Considering what she had witnessed what Lu Qingfeng had done during the time she hovered around as a ghost, it was possible that this was merely an attempt to startle the snakes in the bushes.


    A wicked smile spread on her lips as she thought about it. She could only hope that her assumptions about Lu Qingfeng were correct.


    ''Ah, Lu Qingfeng. Why are you making me worry for nothing?''

 Chapter 289 - Why Are You Making Me Worry For Nothing? (2)

    After Xi Qian''s shift was over, she immediately rushed and took the train to Guangshang to check on Su Xiaofei. She couldn''t believe it when she heard from her Aunty Qing that Feifei had decided to go to work as usual as they waited for the news about Lu Qingfeng''s condition.


    ''I hope she isn''t trying to use her work to distract herself again. At least she isn''t trying to hole herself inside her room.'' Xi Qian thought as she held onto the pole next to the sliding doors of the coach she rode, trying to keep her distance from the other passengers that came from the other side.


    It was already eight in the morning, and while most employees were about to start their day at work, Xi Qian had just clocked out from hers. Working the graveyard shift wasn''t so bad after all. It gave Xi Qian a temporary peace from the mundane issues of the world, allowing herself to focus on her work and help her patients.


    As she thought about her day, her mind went to a certain man who had been looking after his sick father for over a week now. Li Xiran has been surprisingly well behaved for the past few days, and she hadn''t seen him arguing with his stepmother and half-brother.


    Xi Qian supposed that even if he did, he would make sure that she wouldn''t be able to witness such a scene. She scoffed inwardly. What was the point of Li Xiran pretending to be civil in front of her when he couldn''t even respect his elder and younger brother?


    Once the train stopped at the station in Guanshang, Xi Qian alighted from it and started walking towards Bluemedia. Since it wasn''t the first time she hade to visit Su Xiaofei and Yun Qingrong, the guards and security personnel stationed within thepany premises were already familiar with her.


    Xi Qian took the private elevator. She didn''t waste time and went straight to Su Xiaofei''s office and found her best friend working as usual, as if nothing had happened yesterday. It seemed to her that she wasn''t the only one who was confused by Su Xiaofei''s demeanor, the Zhang siblings were confused as well.


    Zhang Ling gave Xi Qian a worried look before shaking her head, not knowing how to exin this to her. Meanwhile, Zhang Lan continued working along with Su Xiaofei in silence, but it was obvious by the way her brows furrowed, that she was also bothered by their miss''s actions.


    "Feifei, have you had your breakfast? I brought some for us to share." Xi Qian raised the paper bag she was holding to show it to her best friend. Su Xiaofei rarely refused an invitation when ites to food.


    Su Xiaofei lifted her gaze and saw her friend looking at her worriedly. Seeing Xi Qian''s expression made her feel helpless. She wasn''t that ignorant not to notice the odd look her mother and her bodyguards gave her when she said that she intended to go to work today.


    "No, I haven''t. Did you buy my favorites?" She asked, as she gestured for Zhang Ling to help her tidy up the coffee table so they could have a quick breakfast.


    Su Xiaofei only had a cup of coffee before leaving for work with Zhang Ling and Zhang Lan. Having Xi Qian brought breakfast reminded Su Xiaofei that she wasn''t the only one who was worried about Lu Qingfeng.


    Once the food had been served, Su Xiaofei dug into her meal and ate quietly, aware that Xi Qian was watching her intently.


    "What is it?" She asked a momentter, when she couldn''t stand the awkward atmosphere within her office anymore.


    Xi Qian looked at the Zhang siblings, then to Su Xiaofei.


    "Is there any news about Lu Qingfeng?" She asked cautiously, just in case Su Xiaofei was pretending that she was alright.


    "No. We haven''t heard anything from the Lu family yet." Su Xiaofei replied.


    Xi Qian looked ufortable in her seat, hesitating to ask Su Xiaofei.


    "Then¡­ is there something we need to know? Feifei, are you sure you don''t need to take a day off? I know that you are worried about Lu Qingfeng, but you don''t have to pretend and act normal just because you don''t want us to get worried."


    "That''s not it, Qian." Su Xiaofei shed her with a reassuring smile. "I assure you. I''m fine, but not perfectly fine. Of course I''m worried about him."


    At this, Su Xiaofei lowered her gaze at the second cup of coffee she was drinking that morning. A part of her wished that she was sharing this warm and lovely morning with Lu Qingfeng that day, but she knew better than to get her hopes up, considering that the Lu family was obviously facing turmoil.


    If her assumptions were true and this was a ploy that Lu Qingfeng had nned to lure his enemies out, then she should act ordingly to her role as his childhood friend. If people see her acting weird, those eyes who''d been watching her to use against Lu Qingfeng would assume that he, indeed, was in a critical condition.


    She had already asked the Zhang siblings to take note of people who might be tailing them to fish out some information, and as expected, she was right. Zhang Lan, along with the added bodyguards her mother assigned to her, found some suspicious men following them as they made their way to Guanshang from Qiying City.


    Zhang Ling recognized one of those men as one of Lu Qingfeng''s uncle''s right-hand man, and she couldn''t help but frown. Were they trying to make sure that their master didn''t survive the ident?


    "I don''t know what''s going on, too, Qian." She continued, "but I want to believe in Lu Qingfeng." She added with confidence on her face.


    If Lu Qingfeng was the same person she knew for a long time, then he would certainly not break his promise to her.

 Chapter 290 - Why Are You Making Me Worry For Nothing? (3)

    There was nothing new hearing a family member wanting to harm another when ites to money. However, Su Xiaofei guessed that most people forgot how to be human first and be ambitious second. As for Lu Qingfeng, she didn''t want to think that he would break his promise to her, as it was out of his character.


    "I believe in him, Qian." She repeated herself, but it sounded like she was trying to remind herself. "I could feel that he is still alive somewhere."


    Lu Qingfeng might have suspected something and had made a drastic decision to do this. Plus, if his life was really in danger, Su Xiaofei didn''t doubt that Chairman Lu would summon her at once, just like what he had done in her previous life.


    "Are you afraid, Miss Su?" Zhang Lan''s sudden question caught Su Xiaofei off guard.


    Su Xiaofei froze in her seat and blinked twice. Was she afraid? Of course she was! The mere thought of Lu Qingfeng being hurt was enough for her to lose her cool.


    "Yes." She replied honestly, seeing her hands trembling as she held her cup. "I must be. We''re talking about Lu Qingfeng here."


    She hadn''t felt this kind of fear since her rebirth, and she hated this feeling of being so helpless. If only she could hear Lu Qingfeng''s voice right now to ease her worries. She wouldn''t be able to calm down until they were certain that he was alright.


    Zhang Lan seemed pleased with their miss''s answer. This only meant that Su Xiaofei greatly valued their master''s life, and not only showing this concern because of the things she would lose if Lu Qingfeng died.


    It wasn''t a secret among Lu Qingfeng''s elite guards that their master adored this woman and if things went as nned, it wouldn''t be too long until Su Xiaofei was married to their young master and would be named as their madam.


    Zhang Lan wondered how this would affect their master''s rtionship with Su Xiaofei. She also wanted to believe that Lu Qingfeng was still alive, as the unusual silence that they received from the Lu family was suspicious.


    She felt like they were being left out because they weren''t informed of what was happening as she and her sister couldn''t get a decent answer or exnation when they made an inquiry on Su Xiaofei''s behalf.


    "I see, then let''s just hope that you are right, Feifei." Xi Qian answered after giving her best friend''s words a good thought.


    "Thanks, Qian." Su Xiaofei said, "I know he wouldn''t like for us to worry like this. Until we receive a solid answer or news about his condition, I can only wait patiently without causing him unnecessary trouble."


    Whoever was stalking her today was probably trying to fish out some information from her. It was public knowledge that she was close to Lu Qingfeng to begin with and with the Lu family being secretive of this incident, it only meant that someone was on the edge, hoping that Lu Qingfeng would die.


    "Alright. I''m d that you are at least okay." Xi Qian nodded before turning her attention to Zhang Ling. "Please let me know if somethinges up. I''ll try to be here as soon as I possibly can."


    How can she not worry about Lu Qingfeng too? It didn''t matter if they used to argue in the past. Since Lu Qingfeng had voiced his intention to be with her best friend, he better make sure not to make Feifei cry, especially now that it was obvious that his current position in Feifei''s heart was irreceable.


    Zhang Lan nodded in response. To be honest, she and her sister seemed to be searching for a needle in a haystack for answers, but that didn''t mean they would give up easily. If the Lu family guards were keeping their lips shut, then this only meant that their master was involved in it.


    No matter how grave the situation was, their master wouldn''t forget Su Xiaofei. He would surely try to seek her in any way and perhaps, he was just biding time to do it. He must have known that Miss Su was being followed by others by now.


    As this realization dawned on her, Zhang Lan excused herself and gestured for her younger sister to follow her using her eyes.


    Zhang Ling easily understood what her sister wanted and decided to leave Su Xiaofei in Xi Qian''spany.


    "What is it? Do you know how we could contact Mr. Nine and Miss Katarina?" She asked the elder Zhang, once she shut the door of the pantry, intending to get another cup of coffee for herself.


    "Ling''er, since the Master has assigned us to protect Miss Su, we cannot lower our guards now." Zhang Lan said with all seriousness that startled her younger sister.


    Zhang Ling knew how cool and calm her sister''s personality was, however, right now, there was a glint of fire in Zhang Lan''s eyes that showed how serious she was. Did her sister realize something?


    Zhang Ling''s back straightened like a rod as she waited for her sister to exin herself.


    "The victory isn''t clear until the veryst moment." Zhang Lan replied. "Even if it''s just a tiny, uncertain hope, we can''t give up."


    These were the words Lu Qingfeng used to say whenever he and their team were encountering an obstacle. No matter if it was family affairs or business problems, Lu Qingfeng would always remain calm regardless if the situation wasn''t favorable to him.


    "Our master is facing great difficulty right now, and he couldn''t be here to reassure Miss Su. Our job here is to make sure that she will be safe and healthy until they meet again." Zhang Lan continued, her eyes softening as she thought of how Su Xiaofei had been missing Lu Qingfeng over the past five years.. If Su Xiaofei wasn''t in love with their master, then she must be a good actor to be able to deceive everyone''s eyes for a long time.

 Chapter 291 - CEO Mo, You Disgust Me (1)

    And so, Su Xiaofei continued to live and act normally, trying to suppress the growing uncertainty in her heart. She also couldn''t care less about her twenty-fourth birthday that wasing up in a few days, and she needed to attend an event to represent her mother and Bluemedia.


    She knew that it would be the first encounter she would have with Mo Yuchen after so many years of not seeing each other personally, but she would rather see Lu Qingfeng now and be with him rather than seeing Mo Yuchen''s annoying face.


    A stupid bastard like Mo Yuchen deserved to stay inside the trash bin where he belongs. However, because Su Xiaofei''s mind was still on Lu Qingfeng, she didn''t have the energy to scheme against her ex-husband in their next meeting.


    For the following days, Su Xiaofei focused on her work until she didn''t realize that it was almost the weekend, and she needed to discuss the said event with her mother.


    "Feifei, if you are tired, I can attend the event instead." Yun Qingrong gave her daughter a worried look. She could see that Feifei was pretending that everything was alright, despite the news ckout that was going on about Lu Qingfeng''s ident.


    It had been a week, but they still had yet to hear anything from the Lu family. However, Yun Qingrong couldn''t me Chairman Lu as she knew that this could be his own way to protect Lu Qingfeng. As for her daughter, Yun Qingrong was pained to see her like this.


    "It''s okay, Mama. I can manage. It would be a shame if I miss the event after confirming my attendance." Su Xiaofei answered with a small smile, but it didn''t quite reach her eyes as it usually would.


    Yun Qingrong wanted to probe her daughter a little more, but it was quite obvious that no matter what she said, Feifei would continue to pretend that she was fine, even if she wasn''t.


    "I can''t just leave everything to you." She insisted. "You''ve been working overtime for a week now. Why don''t you call it a day for now, Feifei?"


    Su Xiaofei shook her head and hooked her arm with her mother''s, aware that her bodyguards were following closely behind them.


    "You are the one who needs a break, Mama. You''ve just returned from your business trip and yet you are already here and calling for a board meeting. I wouldn''t be able to focus and finish my work if you continue working hard like this, despite what your doctor told you." She retorted.


    Yun Qingrong didn''t have the heart to argue with her daughter anymore after hearing Feifei''s concern towards her. Indeed, with her age, it was normal for her to catch various illnesses as an aftermath of her busy schedule.


    Bluemedia had greatly improved not only in status in the industry, but had also grown immensely as apany. After her failed marriage with Su Haoran, she had focused her attention on thepany and tried to spend more quality time with her young daughter.


    Now that Su Xiaofei had be the managing director of Bluemedia, Yun Qingrong''s responsibilities had lessened dramatically. It gave her some leeway to hand some tasks to her daughter and delegate the rest to the others.


    "If you are sure¡­" Still, as a mother, how can Yun Qingrong not worry about her daughter''s welfare?


    "I''m definitely sure, Mama. Leave the rest to me for now. Aren''t you the one who also told me it''s important to make connections in this industry? You have apanied and introduced me to so many of your acquaintances. They were merely treating me well out of respect for you, so now, it''s time for me to earn their respects myself." Su Xiaofei patted her mother''s arm affectionately, aware that they were now getting a lot of attention as they walked through the main lobby of thepany building, but she only shed a smile towards them and resumed her walk with her mother.


    By now, most of the employees of Bluemedia were aware of Su Xiaofei''s identity, although it was normal for the guests to mistake her as another talent of thepany. Su Xiaofei and the front desk receptionists were already used to this, and they would only smile whenever these guests inquired about Su Xiaofei''s debut as a celebrity.


    "Alright. If you insist." Yun Qingrong conceded. She knew what Su Xiaofei had just said was right, and her daughter needed to hone her skills and buildworks on her own if she wanted to secure her position as the future CEO of Bluemedia.


    "But you don''t have to stay until the end. It''s alright if you decide to call it a night early, I''m sure they wouldn''t me you for it, as long as you''ve done your round of pleasantries."


    "Thanks, Mama. I will keep that in mind. Please don''t bother to wait for me tonight. I''ll be home as soon as I can. I promise." Su Xiaofei replied, but she could already feel her exhaustion from the long days of work.


    However, she also knew that this meeting with Mo Yuchen couldn''t be avoided as long as they were both working in the showbiz industry. Mo Yuchen had just been named the head of Golden Star Entertainment now, but it didn''t change the fact that he was still in a vtile situation, where everyone was waiting for him tomit a mistake to criticize him.


    Su Xiaofei didn''t dare mention to her mother the possibility of her meeting Mo Yuchen at the said event, but she didn''t want to make her mother more worried than she already was.


    She also didn''t want her mother to see the nasty side of her, as she had nurtured and kept her filial and kind daughter image in Yun Qingrong''s eyes and the Yun family.. She nned to deal with her ex-husband on her own terms, without anyone obstructing her way in the process.

 Chapter 292 - CEO Mo, You Disgust Me (2)

    Although Su Xiaofei wasn''t looking forward to meeting Mo Yuchen now, she couldn''t avoid facing him anymore. Su Xiaofei was filled with innumerable feelings, and Lu Qingfeng''s absence was making it hard for her to calm her nerves.


    In a few years, Mo Yuchen would be a famous tycoon in the entertainment circle. However, with Su Xiaofei''s rebirth, there was no way she would let her ex-husband''s career flourish. She still hadn''t forgotten her grievances and the hatred she culminated from her past life for Mo Yuchen.


    Breaking off their engagement was just a start, because from now on, she would be a thorn in his side that he would never be able to get rid of, no matter how much he wanted her gone.


    Fortunately for her, she managed to change her fate and didn''t be his wife this time. If things remained the same, she should be Madam Mo by now and her mother trying to keep Bluemedia in one piece at the expense of her own health.


    Memories from her previous life flooded her mind, once again reminding her why she hated Mo Yuchen. It was her fault for falling for his scheme, but she would never forgive him for forcing her to get their child aborted just so he could be with Ye Mingyuter without any ''baggage''.


    ''CEO Mo, do you know? You disgust me. The cruel things you have done to me in the past, I will make sure to return it to you a hundredfold!''


    That night, Su Xiaofei attended the gathering with only the Zhang siblings to apany her. While the other women who were invited came with their respective partners and escorts, seeing a young, beautiful woman walking on the red carpet alone, piqued the curiosity of those who''d seen her.


    She was wearing a long silvery dress with her long hair pinned up. Her diamond earrings glittered as she walked, her confident strides making her look like a queen who had just arrived alone.


    Yun Qingrong suggested that she ask Yun Xiang to apany her tonight, but Su Xiaofei immediately declined her mother''s suggestion and insisted on going on her own instead.


    Normally, Su Xiaofei wouldn''t attend this kind of social events, but she already came to terms that there were some things she needed to endure if she wanted to seed her mother at Bluemedia.


    After all, Bluemedia''s future, as well as her talents, rely on her skills and capabilities. She also had no reason to refuse, as it was she who was deliberately requested by the organizer to represent Bluemedia.


    Of course, it didn''t surprise her because this social event was being hosted by none other than the Ouyang family. She had paid a visit and gave her respect to the rest of their family, a year after she graduated from high school.


    So that night, around seven in the evening, she made her way to the private vi owned by the Ouyang family, where the gathering was being held. Inside thevish venue, beautiful ssical music resounded, while the dazzling chandeliers above them glittered brightly.


    Su Xiaofei looked around the vicinity and saw the faces of the other guests around her. She realized that most of them were talents of Top Tier Entertainment, given that this party was to celebrate the birthday of the CEO and president of theirpany.


    There were some whom she recognized as those who would be Top Tier''s top stars in the future as they were either famous on TV or films. She wouldn''t even be surprised if she stumbled into Ye Mingyu again here.


    To be honest, she and Ye Mingyu had signed with and debuted at Top Tier Entertainment in her previous life, but once her contract expired, she sought to sign under a different agency to find a suitable manager that could help her advance her career.


    Many would want to give their greetings to Ouyang Jia, the eldest son of Master Ouyang, and it didn''t surprise Su Xiaofei to see familiar faces from other entertainmentpanies and agencies who wanted to get acquainted with the Ouyang family.


    "Feifei, you''vee." A familiar voice called out Su Xiaofei, and she turned around to see Master Ouyanging her way.


    She smiled politely and gave the old man a curt nod.


    "Good evening, Master Ouyang. Thank you for inviting me here." She replied.


    In the past, only Yun Qingrong would attend social events like this. It was only when Su Xiaofei became Bluemedia''s managing director did she start apanying her mother to such gatherings.


    "Didn''t you have anyone to apany you?" Master Ouyang asked curiously when he realized that she was alone. "Ah, I heard about what happened to your dear friend. It''s a pity we''re not able to see him today although we extended the invitation to him a month ago. I hope that everything is fine on his end."


    Su Xiaofei blinked at his words and nodded. She was surprised to hear that the old man had invited Lu Qingfeng too. Howe Lu Qingfeng never mentioned it to her before? She wondered.


    "I apologize on his behalf, Master Ouyang. Something must have taken Xiao Feng''s time so that he couldn''te here with me tonight." She said in a polite tone, keeping her voice neutral, just in case people would assume that she was trying to gain the old man''s favor.


    The old man waved his hand, clearly dismissing Su Xiaofei''s apology.


    "You don''t have to apologize, Xiao Fei. Our family understands your predicament."


    As he said this, there was a sudden exmation heard from a distance, taking both Master Ouyang and Su Xiaofei''s attention. Some guests were looking at the direction of the doorway.


    She raised a slender brow, but didn''t dare to leave Master Ouyang''s side. Someone must have arrived to garner such an explosive reaction from the other guests.. However, what Su Xiaofei hadn''t anticipated was seeing Mo Yuchen arriving with Ye Mingyu by his side.

 Chapter 293 - If You Can’t Stand The Heat, Get Out Of The Kitchen (1)

    Su Xiaofei narrowed her eyes in suspicion. When did Ye Mingyu manage to get a hold over Mo Yuchen? Hadn''t it only been weeks since they saw each other during their ss reunion? And now, Ye Mingyu was parading her money boss in public.


    Unlike thest time, Ye Mingyu had a slightly arrogant smile on her face as she held onto Mo Yuchen''s arm, while Mo Yuchen kept his face cold and nonchnt at the same time. It made sense why everyone turned their heads and looked in their direction.


    Of course, most of the guests would wonder how a newbie actress like Ye Mingyu managed to be close and involved with the young king of Golden Star Entertainment. She had recently debuted and yet, she was making herself the topic of the headlines for showing up with Mo Yuchen in this event.


    As if it wasn''t enough for her, she dragged Mo Yuchen with her as soon as she spotted Su Xiaofei amongst the crowd. Ye Mingyu had a proud look on her face as she regarded Su Xiaofei. However, the moment she saw the elegant silver evening dress Su Xiaofei was wearing tonight, her smile slightly faltered.


    Bitterness filled her entirety as she noticed how extravagant and beautiful Su Xiaofei was in her silver dress. Su Xiaofei looked like a million bucks in this crowd filled with celebrities.


    "Schoolmate Su, I didn''t expect to see you here." Ye Mingyu said in greeting.


    Indeed, of all ces, she didn''t anticipate that Su Xiaofei would be here tonight as this was a gathering held by Top Tier Entertainment.


    "The Ouyang family is a friend of ours." Su Xiaofei replied, before the corner of her lips curled up into a slight smile. "Howe Miss Ye doesn''t want to acknowledge me as her sister now that she has a prominent person standing next to her?"


    That immediately garnered Master Ouyang and Mo Yuchen''s attention. Mo Yuchen nced at the woman holding his arm, then to Su Xiaofei, who he hadn''t seen for ages. He had heard about Ye Mingyu being Su Haoran''s illegitimate daughter, but hearing it from his ex-fianc¨¦e only proved the reports he received about Ye Mingyu.


    He then turned his gaze to Su Xiaofei. He didn''t want to admit it, but this annoying woman had be a great beauty like everyone had expected. However, words weren''t enough for Mo Yuchen to exin what he felt now towards his rebellious ex-fianc¨¦e.


    Ye Mingyu then acted like she was terrified of Su Xiaofei, cowered in fear and tried to hide behind Mo Yuchen for protection.


    Su Xiaofei almost burst intoughter, seeing the other woman''s reaction. She couldn''t help but think that Ye Mingyu was such a drama queen. However, this only reminded her of how foolish she was in the past.


    "Miss Ye, why are you shaking? Did I say something wrong? If you are sick, you shouldn''t have attended this gathering, unless you want to lose face in front of everyone."


    "It''s not like I don''t want to acknowledge you, but you keep telling me that I''m not your sister." Ye Mingyu said in an aggrieved tone, but she almost couldn''t suppress her fervent desire to beat Su Xiaofei as violently as possible.


    "Sister, if you are upset to see me tonight with your ex-fiance, then I apologize. I truly didn''t expect that you would be here."


    She then lowered her head and acted like a newbie being bullied by anotherpany''s executive in their own turf.


    Master Ouyang''s face darkened as he listened to the conversation between Su Xiaofei and Ye Mingyu. Of course, he knew who Ye Mingyu was, and how this woman was rted to Su Xiaofei. It was just that he never thought that Ye Mingyu would actively seek Mo Yuchen after his engagement with Su Xiaofei was nullified years ago.


    This only implied that despite Ye Mingyu''s kind and gentle facade, she was nursing a vicious heart inside. He had questioned his eldest son after learning that Ye Mingyu had signed under theirpany, but his son only pointed out that Ye Mingyu had a promising talent and potential that they couldn''t ignore.


    Of course, Master Ouyang understood his son''s reasoning, that they should not be partial with Ye Mingyu and treat her professionally. It was just that the old man didn''t want his family and thepany to be used as a leverage against Su Xiaofei by Ye Mingyu in the future.


    "Miss Su," Mo Yuchen''s voice made Su Xiaofei look at him.


    For those who were nearby and could hear his voice, they shuddered and nced at Su Xiaofei worriedly. However, what they didn''t know was that Su Xiaofei didn''t give a damn about what Mo Yuchen thought of her right now.


    "Ah, Mr. Mo, you came here with another woman. Are you sure your Miss Huang wouldn''t mind this?" Su Xiaofei said in response, which made Mo Yuchen frown and Ye Mingyu shiver in fear upon catching the implication of Su Xiaofei''s words.


    Su Xiaofei''s eyes gleamed with mischievousness and she couldn''t help butugh behind her hand, only fueling Ye Mingyu''s annoyance towards her. Dare to provoke her by using Mo Yuchen? Ye Mingyu must be really stupid through and through.


    Didn''t she know what would await her if Mo Yuchen''s fianc¨¦e decided to go after her? Wasn''t she afraid of being ostracized because she was using Mo Yuchen shamelessly in public? If she dared to seduce Mo Yuchen and be the next Madam Mo like what Ye Mingyu did in Su Xiaofei''s past life, then she would have to beat his new fianc¨¦e first and foremost.


    "Miss Su is worrying too much. Huang Jingjing isn''t a petty person like you." Mo Yuchen huffed in annoyance, thinking that Su Xiaofei really knew which buttons to push to annoy him. Just hadn''t changed much since theirst meeting.. She still had a sharp and vicious tongue that could anger him to death.

 Chapter 294 - If You Can’t Stand The Heat, Get Out Of The Kitchen (2)

    "I''m merely concerned about Miss Ye''s welfare. What would our father say if he finds out that I''m not looking after his daughter?" Su Xiaofei said with a mocking smile on her face, while giving Ye Mingyu a knowing look.


    How could she not know how Ye Mingyu''s gears work now, after falling for her schemes in her previous life? Ye Mingyu would always find a way to push the me on her, no matter how petty the reason was. Su Haoran would then berate Su Xiaofei for neglecting her sister, making her resentment grow exponentially.


    Su Xiaofei felt grievances over it and hated Ye Mingyu more because of it. It was only after her rebirth did she clearly see that it was Ye Mingyu''s way to make her look petty and vicious by repeatedly provoking her using underhanded tricks.


    Su Xiaofei had a sweet smile on her face, her gaze calm and collected as she looked at them. If the purpose of being a viiness was to make the protagonist shine, then it would be pointless. Since she chose to obstruct Mo Yuchen and Ye Mingyu''s future paths, she would make sure to crush their hopes to pieces.


    Defeating Mo Yuchen and Bai Qingyue through Tang Liyan was just a start. In the future, no matter how Mo Yuchen resisted, she would find a way to push him further down.


    Mo Yuchen had thought that she would throw a fit when she mentioned Huang Jingjing being his fianc¨¦e, but it was clear that Su Xiaofei didn''t give a damn about who he was with at the moment.


    He squinted his eyes and wondered what Su Xiaofei was thinking. He sneered as he realized that even now, it was hard for him to truly understand Su Xiaofei. He then walked away from them, dragging Ye Mingyu with him.


    Under the watchful eyes of many others, Ye Mingyu could only lower her head and allow Mo Yuchen to take her away. At least, it didn''t make her lose face and she could still brag that she had Mo Yuchen''s support and no one would dare to provoke her at Top Tier Entertainment.


    However, before she left, she caught Su Xiaofei''s mocking gaze as she said, "You think you can just waltz in here and think that you''re a big shot now? Think again!"


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaofei pondered how Ye Mingyu managed to force Mo Yuchen to cooperate with her. Unlike in the past, she couldn''t see the doting look Mo Yuchen always had whenever he looked at Ye Mingyu. Now, it seemed like he couldn''t wait to get rid of the woman next to him.


    Master Ouyang was impressed to see that Su Xiaofei managed to remain calm and didn''t allow Ye Mingyu to provoke her. General Yun had once told him that he couldn''t grasp how Su Xiaofei''s mind worked, but Master Ouyang thought that this woman wasn''t asplicated as others would put it.


    Su Xiaofei was clear about what she liked and disliked. Although her words would say that she didn''t care about Mo Yuchen and Ye Mingyu, the old man saw the sh of deep hatred that appeared in her eyes when Su Xiaofei thought that she had managed to hide it behind her mask.


    "Xiao Fei, are you alright?" He asked.


    Su Xiaofei smiled and nodded.


    "Why wouldn''t I be alright, Master Ouyang? I''m sorry that you have to witness such a nasty scene between me and Miss Ye." She said with a sincere tone.


    "Although she has a kind and gentle persona, isn''t she just like her mother? To be another man''s mistress, what''s the point of being beautiful if she cannot use her head correctly?"


    Master Ouyang harrumphed and gestured for her to follow him, which Su Xiaofei did. She didn''t doubt that the old man would make it clear that she was a friend of the Ouyang family and no one should disrespect her in their presence, regardless if the said person was from Top Tier Entertainment or not. The Ouyang family would side with Su Xiaofei in a heartbeat.


    Master Ouyang then led Su Xiaofei towards his family, allowing her to give her proper greetings. The Ouyang family was delighted to see her tonight.


    "I heard what happened to Mr. Lu." President Ouyang told her. "If there''s anything else we could help, please extend our offer to the Lu family."


    Su Xiaofei thanked him, and thought that the Ouyang family only wanted to make a connection with the Lu family, but she didn''t bother to question them for it.


    "Thank you, President Ouyang. I''ll be sure to extend it to Lu Qingfeng."


    Talking about him only made Su Xiaofei miss him more. She found the gathering dull and boring as the night deepens. She also didn''t forget to socialize with other prominent guests in the event, purposely avoiding Mo Yuchen and Ye Mingyu in the process.


    The night felt longer than usual, and she pondered if it was time for her to leave, since she had already done her part. As she was about to leave the vi, someone called after her.


    "Su Xiaofei!" Someone called her name.


    This voice was enough to make Su Xiaofei grumble in annoyance. She turned around and found Mo Yuchen glowering at her. He was radiating a great sense of oppression, but Su Xiaofei only crossed her arms and waited for what he was about to say. He must be trying hard to scare her. If she knew that he would seek her for trouble tonight, she would have left earlier on.


    "Is there something you need from me, CEO Mo?" She asked with a frown on her face.


    "Don''t think that I don''t know that you are the one responsible for ''The Poisonous Concubine'' five years ago." Mo Yuchen stopped before her, his eyes aze as he regarded her.


    Su Xiaofei didn''t cower in fear, instead she felt annoyed by how close he was to her.

 Chapter 295 - If You Can’t Stand The Heat, Get Out Of The Kitchen (3)

    "Then does CEO Mo expect me to feel guilty about it? At the time, we had already cut off our ties to each other. As my mother''s only daughter, how can I just watch her struggle if I knew I could help her? Please don''t take it personally, CEO Mo. Your series''s poor performance has nothing to do with Bluemedia." She retorted with a smile, as if telling him that she wasn''t afraid of him at all.


    Mo Yuchen became extremely angry with her. His gaze was so sharp, it was almost as if he couldn''t wait to tear her up himself. One reason why the board wasn''t fully in support of him seeding Golden Star was because he was the one responsible for Bai Qingyue''s failed TV drama.


    He didn''t think that he would fail as he spent most of his time perfecting the cast, making sure that he only casted popr stars such as Bai Qingyue so they could effectively entice their audience to watch the TV drama. However, he didn''t anticipate that Bluemedia would easily choose to rece Bai Qingyue as "The Poisonous Concubine" with the former queen, Tang Liyan.


    The Poisonous Concubine became a huge hit and had effectively propelled Tang Liyan back to her previous spot as a queen, on the same level as Bai Qingyue. It was such a sess that it became a huge p for Mo Yuchen, leaving a stain on the perfect record he''d been maintaining for years.


    Because of his failure, he was heavily criticized not only by his father, but also the board of directors at Golden Star. So how could he simply let Su Xiaofei off after knowing that she was directly involved with the production of The Poisonous Concubine?


    Mo Yuchen had to admit that he didn''t expect that Su Xiaofei would do such a thing to get even with him. What kind of sin did hemit for her to view him as her enemy? Was it because he couldn''t return her affection, so it made her feel hateful towards him?


    "It has been years, Su Xiaofei. You said that we owe each other nothing, but it seems like you can''t let go of me yet." He used her. He would have confronted her earlier, but his pride wouldn''t allow him to make a scene and give his critics a reason to go after him.


    It wasn''t the first time Su Xiaofei had caused him trouble, anyway. She always tried getting his attention by angering him.


    Su Xiaofei stared at him for a moment, before bursting into a fit ofughter, making Mo Yuchen feel like she had taken his words as a joke. This woman really knew how to get on his nerves!


    "Does CEO Mo mean to say that because you are releasing a TV series, we shouldn''t have done the same? Do you mean to imply that it was our fault that your project failed, and not because of your ipetency? Our families are running businesses, not charities. While coboration is possible,petition is unavoidable." She reminded him.


    If that was the case, what was the point ofpetition between theirpanies? Should Bluemedia give way just because Mo Yuchen was her former fianc¨¦? They were separated and had broken their engagement amicably. Although in reality, that didn''t mean that Su Xiaofei would not exact revenge on him.


    "Golden Star also has so much resourcespared to Bluemedia and since it wasn''t the first time yourpany has released a TV series, wouldn''t that mean that you had a head start way before us? It seems to me that CEO Mo still hasn''t realized where you went wrong. If you are really that confident and capable, you wouldn''t have to push the me on me just because you failed."


    Mo Yuchen was astonished and wondered how to retort. Every word Su Xiaofei said felt like a knife that was stabbing on his ego. The more he looked at Su Xiaofei, the more he could feel his anger rising. She even mocked him with a smile on her face.


    Su Xiaofei pushed a strand of her hair behind her ear and looked at Mo Yuchen mockingly. Obstructing his way was just a small punishment, because if she could, she would have killed him the same way he and Ye Mingyu did to her in her previous life!


    "Both series have nothing to do with us. If you cannot stand the heat, get out of the kitchen, CEO Mo." Shemented, further angering Mo Yuchen in the process.


    "Do you really think by angering me like this would make me want you back, Su Xiaofei? I thought you were done with your silly thoughts about me, but you proved me wrong again." He sneered at her.


    "You are young and ignorant. You should be careful with your words now that I am the CEO of Golden Star. Aren''t you afraid of making me your enemy? Showbiz isn''t as simple as you think!" He added with a dark expression. His resentment for Su Xiaofei was like a thorny vine, twining around his heart, gripping it as tightly as possible.


    Because of Su Xiaofei, his clean record was now being doubted by his father and the board of directors.


    "CEO Mo, what do you want my Feifei to be careful of?"


    Mo Yuchen was slightly startled, hearing a deep, baritone voice behind Su Xiaofei.


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaofei''s heartbeat spiked up the moment she heard that familiar voice she''d been longing to hear now. The urge to burst into tears was so strong, she couldn''t stop the tears stinging her eyes.


    In the end, she decided to shut her eyes and took a deep breath to calm down. She didn''t dare raise her hopes up in fear that this was yet again another figment of her imagination, tricking her with her deepest desire to see Lu Qingfeng finallying home.


    "I dare you to repeat those words again, CEO Mo.." The voice continued.

 Chapter 296 - Is She Worth The Trouble? (1)

    She had told him that she didn''t like surprises, and yet here he was, making her heart race with his mere presence. Su Xiaofei knew that she should be happy if Lu Qingfeng was really here. It would only prove that her assumptions about him were correct, and she was right to ce her trust in him.


    Meanwhile, Mo Yuchen wasn''t pleased to see Lu Qingfeng at all. He hadn''t seen this young man in a long time, but he thought that Lu Qingfeng remained as irritating as he was, just like when he was younger.


    Taking a closer look at Lu Qingfeng, Mo Yuchen noticed that the younger man had already shed all his childish features and had be more impressive in one''s eyes. Lu Qingfeng had grown up into a fine, decent man with a strong demeanor, blossoming with confidence and fortitude. He was already stepping into the shoes of the great man he would be.


    Still, the twenty-one-year-old Lu Qingfeng was still as arrogant as he could remember. However, as smart as Lu Qingfeng was, his one weakness was being head over heels for this hateful witch.


    "What''s the matter? Cat got your tongue?" Lu Qingfeng continued, his eyes daring Mo Yuchen to repeat himself.


    At this moment, Su Xiaofei mustered all the courage she had and turned to see the man she''d been longing to see for some time now. She was aware of how her heart was thumping painfully against her chest, but it didn''t matter, for she only wanted to see for herself if it was really Lu Qingfeng.


    Her lips slightly quivered when her eyes confirmed what her heart had been yearning for. Lu Qingfeng was indeed here, dressed in his customary ck business suit, looking as dashing as she could remember.


    She saw him strode confidently and graceful towards her before gently pulling her to stand next to him. His hand came onto her shoulder, keeping her close, as he looked at Mo Yuchen with displeasure.


    "Mr. Mo, why is it that whenever I see you, you are always trying to bully our Feifei?" Lu Qingfeng asked with unconcealed annoyance.


    Mo Yuchen scoffed at the younger man''s usation. To him, Lu Qingfeng had always thrown aside his logical mind whenever Su Xiaofei was involved.


    "It has nothing to do with you, Mr. Lu. It''s your fault for trying to get involved in our conversation." He said in defense. There was something about Lu Qingfeng that annoyed him, but Mo Yuchen couldn''t point it out.


    Whether it was because this young man had been tailing and obsessing over Su Xiaofei or not, Mo Yuchen wasn''t sure. It was obvious to him that Lu Qingfeng had Su Xiaofei in his heart, given how far the young man would willingly go just to defend her honor.


    "As a man, do you really expect me to just watch and tolerate another person bullying a woman like Feifei? Even if it isn''t Feifei who is in this situation, I would also stand up for her." Lu Qingfeng said without batting an eyelid.


    Next to him, Su Xiaofei seemed to be in a daze. Her eyes stayed on Lu Qingfeng''s face, her hand itching to touch it. It felt impossibly long since thest time she had seen him and after leaving her distraught hearing the news of his ident, her heart had never been at peace.


    She had almost forgotten that she was also with Mo Yuchen if she didn''t hear Lu Qingfeng talking to him, reminding her of where she was and what she was doing before Lu Qingfeng arrived.


    "Mr. Lu, do you really think Su Xiaofei is worth the trouble?" She heard Mo Yuchen questioning Lu Qingfeng.


    Su Xiaofei nced at Lu Qingfeng''s face, wondering if his answer would remain the same. Was she worth the trouble? She repeated Mo Yuchen''s question in her mind. The Lu Qingfeng that she knew from her past life might be different from the Lu Qingfeng who was holding her now.


    In her previous life, she heard someone asking Lu Qingfeng this very question, albeit she was already a ghost and had departed from the world of the living. Lu Qingfeng didn''t think twice and imed that he was willing to go to theherworld if it meant that she would be safe and happy.


    Those words were enough to make Su Xiaofei''s heart ache, although she doubted that a wandering ghost like her was capable of crying. His answer only made her feel guilty of what she had done and regretted the decisions she had made when she was living. She hated that she had been so blinded with infatuation that she didn''t notice the love Lu Qingfeng had for her.


    "Mr. Mo might not understand, but I will say it anyway. Even if I have to go to theherworld to save her, I will. If it means that I can ensure her safety and happiness." Lu Qingfeng answered the question.


    Mo Yuchen''s frown deepened upon hearing the young man''s answer, and thought that Lu Qingfeng''s mind was really beyond salvation if he was protecting Su Xiaofei like this. Couldn''t he see how vicious and scheming this woman was? If anything, Lu Qingfeng should be worried that Su Xiaofei would only use him to her advantage.


    "Also, what Feifei said earlier was right. Mr. Mo shouldn''t me anyone for his failure but himself. You can''t just expect apetitor to go easy on you just because you used to be acquainted with each other. Aunty Qing and the rest of the Bluemedia worked hard to reach where they are now through hard work." Lu Qingfeng continued.


    Mo Yuchen didn''t have any words to refute what Lu Qingfeng had just said, but he hated to admit that he and Su Xiaofei were right.. If he had been capable enough, no matter how strong his opponent was, the TV drama that he had worked so hard on wouldn''t flop and would still be able topete through its quality.

 Chapter 297 - Is She Worth The Trouble? (2)

    Seeing that it was pointless to talk to Su Xiaofei, now that Lu Qingfeng was here to defend her, Mo Yuchen decided to leave and return to the party. He didn''t want to pursue his thinking when it came to Su Xiaofei any longer.


    Once he left, Su Xiaofei finally lifted her left hand and cupped one side of Lu Qingfeng''s face, taking his attention away from Mo Yuchen. The warmth she felt from it, only proving that the man standing next to her was, indeed, Lu Qingfeng and her mind wasn''t deceiving her right now.


    There had been times when she dozed off thinking of hearing Lu Qingfeng''s voice, only to wake up alone on her bed, feeling more restless than ever. It also didn''t help that his grandfather went radio silent on news about his condition.


    "You are back!" She murmured, her eyes shining with tears as she tried to stop it from falling.


    Her eyes were passionately burning to the point where she didn''t want to look away, in fear of the possibility that Lu Qingfeng would disappear again.


    Lu Qingfeng took her hand from his face and ced a chaste kiss on her palm, his gaze softening as he looked at her. He held back the strong urge to kiss her and trapped her in a tight hug after their long separation.


    "I''m sorry, I waste. Something has been keeping me upied these days." He apologized sincerely. "But how could I miss my chance to greet the birthday girl on her own birthday?"


    Su Xiaofei''s eyes widened. By now, it should be past midnight already, indicating that it was her twenty-fourth birthday. To think that Lu Qingfeng had chosen to return to her side on her birthday brought immense happiness in her heart. This was the best birthday gift she could receive today.


    "So you remembered?" She smiled, hooking her arms with his before resting her head against him. "But it''s good that you are back."


    At the age of twenty-one, Lu Qingfeng was far from the youngd that left to Shenjing years ago. Now, he was towering over her at 183 cm, which would make it hard for others to believe that he was younger than her. A little more and he would be as striking and as handsome a man as the twenty-five-year-old Lu Qingfeng that Su Xiaofei met on her deathbed.


    Lu Qingfeng gave her one of his rare smiles and led her back inside, eager to meet the Ouyang family who invited him today.


    "Did youe here because of the invitation you received, or did youe here to see me?" Su Xiaofei asked curiously.


    "Both." Lu Qingfeng didn''t dare to lie. "Since I have also been invited here, it''s only natural for me to show up and greet them, right?"


    In the end, Su Xiaofei didn''t have a choice but to go back to the party with Lu Qingfeng by her side. She was now aware of how the other guests stopped whatever they were doing to look at her and Lu Qingfeng. Some even fell in a daze, thinking that she and Lu Qingfeng looked more dazzling than any of the stars present tonight.


    A few words had been said, but Su Xiaofei didn''t quite hear them clearly, nor was she bothered to know what they were. She could also feel sharp gazes thrown her way, but as soon as she turned her head, it would immediately disappear, making her wonder if it was there in the first ce.


    Lu Qingfeng didn''t waste his time and went to greet the Ouyang family, apologizing for his tardiness. Master Ouyang and his sons easily dismissed his apology, but avoided questioning him for answers about the issue that involved himtely.


    "Still not used to being here?"


    Lu Qingfeng''s sudden question surprised Su Xiaofei. He took a seat next to her and eyed the ss of champagne she was drinking with narrowed eyes. If he was right, Su Xiaofei still doesn''t have a high tolerance for alcohol, just like in their previous life. Su Xiaofei would act crazy whenever she was under the influence of alcohol. It was for this reason that she was almost intoxicated by it during Xi Qian''s 18th birthday.


    "Don''t drink too much. I don''t want Aunty Qing to scold me when I bring you home." He told her, giving her a look, gesturing for her not to drink too much tonight.


    "Not nning to get drunk." Su Xiaofei swirled her drink and contemted if she should question him about the ident a week ago.


    "I heard from Zhang Ling that you are flying with Tang Liyan next week for a makeup endorsement she received. Be careful, Feifei. I heard that the Golden Star''s Queen, Bai Qingyue, would be there too." Lu Qingfeng added.


    Su Xiaofei nodded as she looked seriously at him, pondering how much he knew about her over the past five years they weren''t together.


    "It''s unfair, Lu Qingfeng. You have Zhang Lan and Zhang Ling to feed you information from time to time." She grumbled as she drank the champagne in her ss in one go. Lu Qingfeng didn''t need to inform her of it, because she knew that her birth mother would also be there to face her and Tang Liyan.


    Wouldn''t this also mean that Lu Qingfeng wasn''t ashamed to admit that he was looking after her all of these years through the Zhang siblings?


    "It''s impossible to avoid confrontation like this. I could only endure and be more ruthless than ever if I want to protect my mother and the employees that rely on Bluemedia." She sighed, thinking that the further she and the Bluemedia advanced, the more enemies and opponents they would face in the future.


    Being popr was also a terrifying thing.. It was a double-edged sword not many people would think of. How could she forget how the media yed a great role in ruining her reputation and life by publishing fake news during the time Lu Qingfeng was in a deepa?

 Chapter 298 - Is She Worth The Trouble? (3)

    Su Xiaofei was still itching to interrogate Lu Qingfeng for answers, but given how persistent the Ouyang family members were to have a word with him, she was starting to feel annoyed that she couldn''t have him for herself on her own birthday. Master Ouyang had called for Lu Qingfeng earlier.


    Because of this, she had lost count of how many sses of champagne she had already downed that night. She kept ncing in Lu Qingfeng''s way, waiting to see if he would be done with the pleasantries soon.


    She was the birthday celebrant, and yet herpanion''s attention was being pulled away by others. Lu Qingfeng came back for her, and she didn''t like that she needed topete to get his attention.


    Lu Qingfeng, who was still talking to Master Ouyang and his son, looked at Su Xiaofei''s direction, his gaze softening at the sight of her. She wasn''t the only one who had been longing, as he had badly missed her as well.


    Seeing that he was distracted, Master Ouyang finally took pity on Lu Qingfeng. It wasn''t lost to him that the young man''s attention kept going back to Su Xiaofei during their conversation.


    "Xiao Fei must be waiting for you. Go now. Don''t let these old men keep you from apanying your girl." He said, and President Ouyang nodded in agreement.


    "Then I''ll be excusing myself. Feifei and I will pay you a visit soon." Lu Qingfeng gave them a curt nod before standing from his seat to return to Su Xiaofei''s side.


    "You''re done? Should we get going then?" Su Xiaofei brought down her ss and regarded Lu Qingfeng next to her. She knew how important it was for Lu Qingfeng to uphold his responsibilities by creating and maintaining hisworks for the sake of theirpany.


    "You''re still not used to it, are you?" He smiled in amusement, noticing the slight blush on her cheeks, which was no doubt because of the alcohol she drank earlier.


    "No, that''s not it." She shook her head, but doing so only made her feel dizzy, which she immediately regretted. "Ye Mingyu and Mo Yuchen came here together. I don''t want their presence to ruin my special day." She muttered.


    Lu Qingfeng raised a slender brow, but he didn''t make anyments about it. The Su Xiaofei in his previous life wouldn''t be as calm and collected as this when it came to Mo Yuchen being with another woman.


    He was d that after her rebirth, she was finally able to get some semnce and could see things differently now. He was d that he didn''te back toote this time, and would be able to protect her from now on.


    It wasn''t hard to see that Ye Mingyu was trying to provoke her, forcing Su Xiaofei to act like she was a viiness. The best way for Ye Mingyu to reach the top was by dragging someone she could step on down, and that person was Su Xiaofei.


    "I''ll take you home then. Aunty Qing would be worried if you don''t return home on time." He said, helping her get back on her feet, leading her away from the party.


    When they stepped outside, they were greeted by Nine, who was waiting for the two of them. Su Xiaofei noticed that the car she had brought along with the Zhang sisters were missing. She didn''t need to ask where they were, as she already knew that Lu Qingfeng allowed the two sisters to leave early whenever he was with her.


    Su Xiaofei sighed to herself. She knew that the Zhang sisters had also been on the edge like her these past few days as they didn''t hear anything from their master either. It was reassuring to know that Lu Qingfeng seemed fine without any hint of injury on him.


    From the moment he returned to her side, up to the time they reached Su Xiaofei''s home, Lu Qingfeng refused to let go of her hand, as if he was afraid that she wouldn''t be there when he turned his head to look at her.


    He had draped his outer coat over her shoulders to protect her from the coldness of the night, as she led him to her mother''s garden. The flowers that were tended and raised by Yun Qingrong had yet to bloom, and Su Xiaofei couldn''t wait to see them in full blossom.


    Instead of releasing Lu Qingfeng''s hand, Su Xiaofei tightened her hold on it. If this was a dream, she didn''t want to wake up too soon, but s, this was far better than any dream she had over the past five years.


    "Is everything alright? The ident has left everyone worried about you." She asked, leaning close to him as they took a stroll in her mother''s vast garden.


    "I''m sorry about that. It is just that there are things needed to be done to pull out the weeds from their roots before they cause irreversible damage." Lu Qingfeng answered, giving her an apologetic look.


    "As much as I wanted to call you or inform your bodyguards about the situation, Grandpa and I agreed not to get you involved for your safety." He added. "But I should have given you a hint of what could happen¡­"


    "I admit that I was upset, but my concern and trust in you remained. I know you wouldn''t leave me in the dark for too long, without knowing what is happening to you."


    No matter how worried she was, Su Xiaofei tried to keep her emotions in check, even though she wanted nothing but to rush to his side. The memories of Lu Qingfeng lying on his hospital bed, deep ina, kept reying in her mind, keeping her awakete at night despite her exhaustion from the long day at work.


    "But I''m here now, right? There''s no need for you to be worried.. No one would be able to take me away from you."

 Chapter 299 - You Can’t Get Rid Of Me Easily (1)

    Su Xiaofei nodded in agreement, knowing that for the first time since the news broke out about his ident, she was at peace. Having Lu Qingfeng right here next to her was enough to dispel her worries from her heart.


    "Feifei, do you remember what I asked you before I went to Shenjing?"


    Lu Qingfeng''s question after a long silence between them reminded Su Xiaofei of the time she made a promise that she would give him a proper answer once he came back. It was clear that Lu Qingfeng wasn''t wasting his time and wanted to hear her answer now.


    "We''ve known each other since we were kids, and I have never made a friend before meeting you." He started, the moonlight above them allowing them to see where they were going as they continued their leisure stroll.


    "Years passed by, and you entered my heart at some point without me even realizing it. For the longest time, I''ve been wondering if you would be willing to give me a chance, or would you find it despicable that I came to love you."


    Su Xiaofei furrowed her brows together. She might be stupid when she was younger, but who was she to criticize a person when ites to love? If anything, she didn''t want to ruin her friendship with Lu Qingfeng and hurt him in the process.


    Lu Qingfeng stopped and turned to face her, wanting her to see the sincerity in his face as he confessed andid his feelings bare for her again. He could only hope she wouldn''t deny him this time.


    "Feifei, I''m no longer that young boy who used to follow you around, trying to win your attention. Now, I would like to ask if I can entrust my heart to you, love you deeply with all that I have and protect you for a lifetime? In the future, would you allow me to apany you on every step and milestone of your life, through thick and thin?"


    Su Xiaofei had the urge to cry for the second time that night. The overwhelming emotions that washed through her were indescribable. Here was a man who wanted nothing but to love and take care of her and yet, in her previous life, she went after a man who couldn''t see her worth and kept trampling over her feelings.


    While it was true that she was the one who brought it upon herself, Su Xiaofei couldn''t help but think that Mo Yuchen, or anyone, should have tried to shake some semnce into her before. How could she turn her back from her mother and ignore her best friend''s pleas for Mo Yuchen''s sake?


    As she looked at Lu Qingfeng''s face, who was now looking at her with anticipation and worry in his eyes, Su Xiaofei thought that she really shouldn''t have made such a reckless decision before and married Mo Yuchen despite her loved ones'' objection.


    If she had waited for Lu Qingfeng to wake up and recover from his trauma, perhaps her life would have been better in her previous life.


    Her silence made Lu Qingfeng ufortable, and he unconsciously released her hand from his hold, effectively bringing Su Xiaofei back to reality. It hadn''t been easy for him to say these words again, but Lu Qingfeng knew that he needed to be cautious with Su Xiaofei and treat her with enough patience after all the sufferings she experienced in the past.


    "So¡­ this is your answer?" He asked, but Su Xiaofei couldn''t find the words to tell him that it wasn''t.


    "I understand, Feifei. You don''t need to force yourself into something that you didn''t like." He sighed. Perhaps he had been toocent and confident that her feelings for him would grow after years of pursuing her. He should have paid more attention to her despite his busy schedule at work and school.


    Were her feelings for Mo Yuchen still strong that she couldn''t ept another man in her heart? Were the grievances she was nursing from her previous life forbidding her to be truly happy in this lifetime?


    Lu Qingfeng thought that it was unfair for Su Xiaofei to be denied a chance at happiness. While it was true that she was given a chance for rebirth, it wasn''t solely for the reason of seeking revenge, but to allow her to live her life to the fullest.


    "You don''t have to think too much about it, Feifei. It''s enough for me that you are honest with me. It might take some time for me to truly move on, but I hope you won''t deny me as a friend after this." He continued, with a solemn expression. "I''m just being honest with myself and being foolish to say what is truly in my heart."


    Su Xiaofei clenched her fists, wanting nothing more than to throw her arms around him and assure him that he was wrong. She would be damn stupid if she let this good thing slip from her hands. This kind of love was too rare to find and if she allowed it to pass, she might never encounter it for the second time.


    Even if the world viewed her as a viiness, she didn''t care anymore, because this tyrant viewed her as his world. It was rare to find someone who could love her with all of his heart, and she didn''t dare let him go, because in the end, she was a selfish person who would take everything and anything that she wanted.


    "This is why I dared to confess andy my heart to you again, although I''m also aware that you might refuse me and turn me down for good. In your eyes, I might just be a friend you can rely on, but Feifei, I still wanted to say this. If in any way, I caused you any inconveniences, I hope you will forgive me." Lu Qingfeng said.. As a man, he cannot allow himself to force Su Xiaofei to ept him unwillingly.

 Chapter 300 - You Can’t Get Rid Of Me Easily (2)

    "Dummy!" Su Xiaofei lowered her head and smiled foolishly to herself.


    When it came to Lu Qingfeng, she wanted to be selfish. Not wanting to share him with anyone. Wanting him only to herself.


    "Feifei?" Lu Qingfeng looked at her with confusion. At this moment, he wasn''t sure what she was even thinking.


    "Lu Qingfeng, you better think twice, no ¡ª think of it several times before choosing a woman like me. You better reconsider your decision carefully, because I''m a selfish and jealous woman. I have a fiery temper that cannot easily be extinguished by a mere apology. If you want to be with me for eternity, you better make sure that I would be the only woman at your side and no one else. If you dare to betray me, I will run to Grandpa Lu for help. You can''t get rid of me easily!"


    This time, she lifted her head and said these bold derations with an arrogant smile on her face while Lu Qingfeng stared at her with wide eyes, as if he was afraid that he was just hallucinating.


    "Lu Qingfeng, I''m not joking! Since it''s like this, would you ept this answer?" Su Xiaofei eximed, when his reply was only silence. She narrowed her eyes and slightly pouted at him in annoyance.


    He should have known that she wouldn''t turn him down. He had managed to ingrain himself in her, so deep that it was impossible for Su Xiaofei to live her life without him. If anyone should be med for it, it was Lu Qingfeng.


    Finally, Lu Qingfeng snapped out of his daze and recovered from his shock. He looked at Su Xiaofei for a moment, before a smile spread on his lips, enthralling Su Xiaofei.


    She wanted to turn her head away and cover her face, but she didn''t. A smile like that should be illegal, she thought. Lu Qingfeng should only smile like that at her and only for her from now on! She decided. Only she would have the right to see this blinding smile of Lu Qingfeng''s, and she would have him all to herself.


    "I see. I guess I should be careful not to make Feifei angry with me in the future, so Grandpa wouldn''t scold me and denounce me as his heir and choose Feifei instead." Lu Qingfeng finally said as he took her hands in his, cing gentle kisses on her knuckles.


    "There would be no other Madam Lu in the future except for you." He promised.


    "No other woman behind my back?" Su Xiaofei raised a brow at him in question.


    "Feifei is already a handful for me. Why would I take another woman who would only make my life harder than it already is?" He answered her with a question.


    Lu Qingfeng couldn''t understand why other men would choose to take another woman aside from their wives. Was the thrill of being caught or having a rendezvous meeting with another woman worth getting one''s life into an utter mess? Perhaps he would never understand because he was a one-woman man, and he didn''t find another woman as enticing and interesting as Su Xiaofei.


    Finally, after making it clear about their feelings for each other, Su Xiaofei allowed Lu Qingfeng to draw her into a tight embrace, her heart still racing as usual.


    "I haven''t been this happy in a long time." She murmured against his chest. "Thank you for having me."


    Lu Qingfeng hummed and kissed her crown, his eyes showing gratitude and happiness as he could finally love her without any reservations.


    "I should be the one who should be thankful, Feifei. Thank you for choosing me." He said in return.


    Su Xiaofei allowed a single tear to roll down her cheek. Did she have to experience all hardships in her previous life so she could receive the best things in life in this lifetime? She wanted to ask him why he was so good to her, but she didn''t dare to question him, for she wasn''t sure if she was ready to hear his answer.


    It was enough that she had him back by her side, and she was his from now on.


    This time, she allowed herself to cry in his arms. If Lu Qingfeng was bothered by it, she didn''t know because he only held her tighter and patted her back lovingly.


    After a moment of holding each other, Lu Qingfeng released her and dried the tears on her cheeks and said in a low voice.


    "It''s already gettingte. Why don''t you go ahead and retire for the night? I''ll make sure to pay you and Aunty Qing a visitter to celebrate your birthday."


    Su Xiaofei shook her head and rested her head back on his chest.


    "No. Let me hug you for a little longer. You don''t know how worried I was since the news of your ident."


    Lu Qingfeng remained silent and allowed Su Xiaofei to hug him if it was something that could make her happy. He knew that there were things she wanted to say, but wouldn''t, but it was okay with him.


    He knew that Su Xiaofei appeared to be strong and unbothered by others'' criticism, but in reality, her sense of security wasn''t strong, and she needed her mother and him to rely on.


    "There''s no need to worry, Feifei. In this world, I''m the one foolish man who loves you the most. You can use me as you like, but I hope that you won''t forget about me in the future."


    "That''s impossible!" Su Xiaofei snapped her head up and looked at him. "I will never forget you! How could I forget someone like you?"


    Lu Qingfeng only smiled, but didn''t dare to believe it. She had once promised him the same thing in his first life.. Who could say that she wouldn''t forget about him for the second time? So long as she was with him, it was all that mattered.

 Chapter 301 - Twenty Fourth Birthday (1)

    If it was possible, Su Xiaofei didn''t want to be parted from Lu Qingfeng just yet. However, given howte the night was, she begrudgingly allowed Lu Qingfeng to leave for the meantime, with the promise to see each other in the evening to celebrate her birthdayter.


    She waved her hand as she watched him slip into the backseat of the car and drove away from her mother''s mansion. She briefly wondered if she was dreaming and pinched her arm hard only to hiss in pain, allowing her to believe that she had truly been reunited with Lu Qingfeng this time.


    Su Xiaofei slept peacefully and couldn''t wait for the sun to rise so she could meet Lu Qingfeng and the others again to celebrate her birthday. With Lu Qingfeng back, she didn''t need to worry about him being alone in a faraway ce, out of her reach.


    Unfortunately, she woke upter than usual and woke up when the sun was already high up in the sky. If it wasn''t for her mother, Su Xiaofei wouldn''t bother to wake up and leave her bed.


    When she came downstairs, finally dressed in her home clothes, Su Xiaofei stopped in her tracks on top of the stairs, her eyes widening in shock when she saw that they had guests to entertain. No wonder her mother insisted that she should get up from her bed and join them downstairs.


    Her eyes met with Lu Qingfeng''s, when he managed to look up and found her standing in a daze. He slightly raised his hand and waved at her, before mouthed ''change your clothes'' to her, then turning his attention back to Song Yiran, who was trying to strike a conversation with him.


    Su Xiaofei hurriedly went back to her room and decided to check the time on her nightstand. She cursed lowly when she saw that it was already past noon, and she had no idea that her mother and Lu Qingfeng would suddenly throw a party to celebrate her birthday.


    For the past five years, Su Xiaofei spent her previous birthdays by either having a girl''s night out with her mother and Xi Qian or just a simple, but intimate dinner with them. However, now, it was clear that her birthday this year would be different. Not only had Lu Qingfenge today, even his grandfather and the celebrities she managed at Bluemedia came to greet her for her birthday.


    Su Xiaofei heard a knock on her door. Opening it, she found Xi Qian standing right outside her room with a wide smile on her face.


    "Lu Qingfeng said that you might need some help. I guess he''s right after all." Xi Qian giggled, seeing that her best friend was still in her home clothes.


    Su Xiaofei coughed and cleared her throat, a slight blush on her face appeared as she felt like she was caught by Xi Qian.


    "Do tell who''s the mastermind behind this, Qian. I don''t remember agreeing to celebrate my birthday today. Don''t you think I''m too old for this already?" She grumbled, but allowed her best friend to step inside her room, closing her door once Xi Qian was already inside.


    Xi Qianughed at her words and shook her head before cing the purse she was holding on top of Su Xiaofei''s bed.


    "You can''t me us, Feifei. You have no idea how worried we were about you."


    Xi Qian then opened her best friend''s wardrobe and checked for an appropriate dress Su Xiaofei could wear for today''s event. To be honest, it wasn''t hard to pick the right clothes for her best friend, because Xi Qian couldn''t remember seeing Su Xiaofei poorly dressed.


    ''Ah, the perks of having a beautiful face and skin.'' She thought. Even if Su Xiaofei was wearing shabby clothes, Xi Qian doubted that it would reduce her best friend''s charm.


    "Come on, birthday girl. You don''t want to keep your guests waiting. The birthday celebrant shouldn''t be missing on her own birthday bash." Xi Qian said before handing a little ck dress for Su Xiaofei to put on.


    Su Xiaofei raised her brows and eyed the offending dress on her hands. She had bought this with Xi Qian a year ago, but Xi Qian said not to wear it on any asion until she deemed that it was time to use it.


    Su Xiaofei thought that the day would nevere. She would have never believed or even imagined that Xi Qian would want her to wear this little ck dress on her twenty-fourth birthday.


    "Didn''t you say this is too flirty?" She asked Xi Qian in suspicion. What is so different today that Xi Qian would allow her to use this garment?


    Xi Qian burst intoughter upon seeing her best friend''s reaction.


    "Ah, Feifei. What better time to use this dress than today?" She giggled behind her hand. "Also, don''t worry. No stranger would dare to hit on you since we''re practically celebrating your birthday in your own home, and I doubt that anyone would dare to do so when the Yun family would be arriving anytime soon."


    Su Xiaofei groaned and stared at her best friend.


    "Y''all shouldn''t have bothered."


    "Oh, not all, Feifei. At least not to me." Xi Qian smirked and flopped down on Su Xiaofei''sfy bed to take a seat while she waited for her best friend to get changed.


    Seeing that Xi Qian wouldn''t budge until she changed her clothes, Su Xiaofei tried not to roll her eyes and went to her bathroom to get changed. She didn''t miss the mischievous glint in her best friend''s eyes, telling her that Xi Qian was up to something, and she wasn''t telling her what it was.


    When she came out, Xi Qian immediately dragged her in front of her vanity mirror and started applying light makeup on her face.. Su Xiaofei told herself to endure this day, for it wasn''t everyday she would celebrate her birthday with her loved ones.

 Chapter 302 - Twenty Fourth Birthday (2)

    She was doing it on purpose. Lu Qingfeng thought as he tried to distract himself from looking at his girlfriend by paying attention to what Song Yiran was saying to him. He clenched his jaw, trying hard to ignore Su Xiaofei, who was busy entertaining her other guests.


    He then shot Xi Qian a fierce re when the woman walked past him and Song Yiran, giving him a mischievous grin. Lu Qingfeng then knew that it was Xi Qian''s way to get even with him. Xi Qian was surely enjoying seeing him being ufortable and distracted because of her best friend.


    Before meeting Su Xiaofei at the party at Top Tier Entertainment, he made a call to Xi Qian to apologize and exined the whole situation and details about his so-called ''ident'' to her. Xi Qian had been furious at him, even going as far as berating him for making Su Xiaofei worry about him for nothing.


    Her annoyance only worsened when he told her that he intended to confess to Feifei for the second time, hoping that he would get a clear response from her this time. Xi Qian fell silent for a long time, which made Lu Qingfeng wonder if the woman still couldn''t see his sincerity towards their best friend.


    While it was true that they didn''t get along well when they were younger, Lu Qingfeng wanted to seek Xi Qian''s permission to date Su Xiaofei, and perhaps, marry her in the near future.


    "I don''t have the right to stop you nor Feifei if you two really like each other, but know this, Lu Qingfeng. You better not make her cry, or I will help Feifei discard and bury your dead body in the future." She said with annoyance.


    "Also, what is this giving me a short notice on your return? You could have given me a fair warning before going there. I don''t want Feifei to misunderstand that I''m covering for you!"


    Lu Qingfeng smiled, thinking that Xi Qian''s temper hadn''t changed too over the years. As he thought about how Xi Qian ended up in their previous life, he now regretted not helping her at all. She was Su Xiaofei''s best friend, and yet he had failed to protect her.


    Xi Qian had lost her life before Su Xiaofei and even if he was in deepa, if he had a strong bond with Xi Qian prior to his ''ident'' Lu Qingfeng was certain that Nine and the rest of his people wouldn''t let any harm fell on Su Xiaofei and Xi Qian, or so he thought.


    His people couldn''t do anything when Su Xiaofei was being mistreated inside the Mo household. No one even suspected that she was being poisoned by Ye Mingyu discreetly. The thought that he might lose Su Xiaofei again through the same scheme left a bad taste in his mouth.


    Lu Qingfeng was sure to remind her and Xi Qian to watch out for food and drinks being offered to them, as they might never know who harbored ill intentions towards them. He could only hope that Su Xiaofei hadn''t lowered her guard this time, and had been paying attention to his reminders.


    Coming back to the present, although Lu Qingfeng liked how pretty his girlfriend was today, it also made him feel ufortable. She was wearing a little ck strapless dress that gave him indecent thoughts about her.


    That dress hugged her body in the right ces, reminding him that she had be a beautiful woman that many men would covet, and he was lucky to win her heart this time. He had heard from Xi Qian that after Su Xiaofei annulled her engagement with Mo Yuchen, she received multiple marriage offers which she declined through Yun Qingrong''s help.


    Maybe Xi Qian chose this dress for Feifei to wear because she knew how it would rile him up once he saw Su Xiaofei in that dress.


    Now that he and Su Xiaofei were in a rtionship, he must also pay attention to his actions more than ever, so he wouldn''t upset Yun Qingrong in the process. He didn''t want Yun Qingrong to think that he had forgotten proper decorum, just because he was with her daughter now.


    However, Lu Qingfeng hadn''t expected that Xi Qian was such a troublemaker, a devil on top of that, putting his patience to a test as soon as she had the chance. He should have expected that this could happen when he asked Xi Qian a favor earlier ¨C to help Su Xiaofei get ready for today''s event.


    "So¡­ you and Su Xiaofei¡­" Song Yiran''s teasing voice brought Lu Qingfeng back to reality.


    "What about it?" He raised a brow in question, before downing his drink in one go. Were the air conditioners not running well, or was it exceptionally hot today? He wondered.


    "Come on. How could you hide it from your friend when it''s ringly obvious that you and Su Xiaofei have decided to cross the line of being just friends." Song Yiranughed, patting Lu Qingfeng''s shoulder.


    Everyone who knew the two could tell that something changed between the two as they casually nced towards each other with a slight smile on their faces. Lu Qingfeng could barely let Su Xiaofei out of her sight and made sure to stay close to her while she talked with her friends.


    "Don''t worry, you have my full support. Ask me anything, if you cannot understand her or if you need some help." He then gave Lu Qingfeng a knowing grin. Song Yiran didn''t doubt that Lu Qingfeng was inexperienced when ites to women.


    "Thanks for the offer, but I''m sure I wouldn''t need your help for that." Lu Qingfeng gave the older man a pointed re, but Song Yiran onlyughed at him in amusement.


    He didn''t like that Xi Qian and Song Yiran were now using Su Xiaofei as an excuse to annoy him and get on his nerves, but he supposed he should get used to it.

 Chapter 303 - Does Mama Approve Of Him? (1)

    Su Xiaofei had to admit that her birthday this time was more enjoyablepared to her previous ones. Not because Lu Qingfeng was here again, but because she finally realized that the people she cared about were all here.


    Her eyes swept through their living area and dining room, seeing the people that mattered to her. Although her rtionship with her talents were purely professional, Su Xiaofei cared about them in her own way. It wasn''t until her eyes met Lu Qingfeng''s did she slightly blush and lower her gaze.


    Despite the fact that she was once married and became someone''s wife, her rtionship with Lu Qingfeng now felt surreal for Su Xiaofei. She supposed it was because of the dynamics of their rtionship, from being childhood friends to bing lovers. She hadn''t been this happy when she was with Mo Yuchen in the past.


    This time, she felt loved and cared for. To her, the way Lu Qingfeng looked at her seemed like he wouldn''t want anyone but her.


    When Su Xiaofei was left with her mother, she decided to inform Yun Qingrong of her newly established rtionship with her childhood friend. They were just outside, standing at the patio leading to their garden. Their guests were having a good time inside, so it gave the mother and daughter pair some privacy to talk.


    "Mama¡­ Lu Qingfeng and I¡­" Su Xiaofei started bashfully, her hand rubbing one arm as a sign of her being nervous.


    Yun Qingrong smiled and kissed her daughter''s cheek lovingly. She already knew what her daughter would say, and she wouldn''t make it hard for Feifei to know that she understood and respected her daughter''s decision.


    "I know. You don''t have to say. I already expected that this might happen once he returns." She replied with a knowing smile.


    Su Xiaofei looked flustered, but she was happy that she didn''t need to exin things to her mother. She didn''t want to admit it, but it was like walking on eggshells by the edge of a cliff. She wouldn''t know what to do if her mother disapproved of her rtionship with Lu Qingfeng this time, just like Yun Qingrong did when she chose to be with Mo Yuchen in the past.


    "Then, does Mama approve of him? Didn''t Mama tell me to find someone who would love and respect me?" She asked, reminding the older woman of the time when the two had a heart-to-heart talk on what kind of husband should Su Xiaofei look for in the future.


    Yun Qingrong could sense her daughter''s nervousness, and she knew that Feifei wanted nothing more but for her to give her blessings to her and Xiao Feng. Still, even now that her Feifei was a grown up woman, it didn''t stop Yun Qingrong from worrying about her daughter. However, if it would make Feifei happy, then she could only ept her daughter''s rtionship with Lu Qingfeng.


    "If you are happy, Mama would be happy." Yun Qingrong touched her daughter''s head lovingly. How could she deny her daughter''s wishes if she could see how much her Feifei wanted to be with Lu Qingfeng? She wasn''t sure though if her daughter was aware that her new beau had already asked her permission to marry her years ago.


    However, when she spotted the ne her Feifei was wearing, realization dawned on Yun Qingrong. Maybe her daughter wasn''t so clueless after all, and Lu Qingfeng didn''t want to waste time and wanted to give her Feifei a proper title. Now, she wondered if the young man exined to her daughter what this pendant meant to them now.


    "I''m happy." Su Xiaofei admitted to her mother with a wide smile on her lips. "I think I''ve never been this happy, Mama. I''m a little scared, though."


    "Why would my Feifei be afraid?" Her mother asked curiously. Yun Qingrong hoped that the rest of the Lu family wouldn''t dare to bully her daughter this early. She still had yet to think on how her daughter would be able to protect herself from others without hurting herself in the process.


    Yun Qingrong knew that the real world was an unforgiving ce. She wished to protect her child from any danger and make the world a safe and sound ce, like any parents would wish for their children, but that was impossible. Reality didn''t work that way, and humans learned things the hard way.


    Since Lu Qingfeng had chosen her Feifei, it was only a matter of time before her daughter needed to learn how to deal with family feuds to protect not only herself, but her future with Lu Qingfeng as well.


    Su Xiaofei fell silent at that. Why was she afraid? To be honest, the reason she was afraid was that she worried that she shouldn''t be this happy, and somehow, she feared that this happiness was only temporary, that she would find herself feeling miserable once again.


    "Just wondering if we will be alright." She lied to her mother, because she didn''t have the courage to let Yun Qingrong know of her heartaches from her previous life. It was enough that her mother approved of her being with Lu Qingfeng.


    "I don''t know the right words to advise you, Feifei. Even your Mama has made a grave mistake because of love." Yun Qingrong said. "But I''m happy that you came to me and asked for my opinion. You are now a grown woman, Feifei. Mama''s only wish is for you to be happy and safe."


    As for Lu Qingfeng, Yun Qingrong didn''t doubt that he could provide any material things her daughter might require. She could only wish that he would treat her Feifei well, now that they were in a romantic rtionship.


    "Thank you, Mama. It''s important to me that you ept him." Su Xiaofei said as she wrapped her arms around her mother.. She was truly happy that she didn''t have to feel conflicted about choosing between her mother and the person she chose to love this time.

 Chapter 304 - Does Mama Approve Of Him? (2)

    It had been a great relief for Su Xiaofei that her mother wasn''t against her rtionship with Lu Qingfeng this time. In her previous life, it had been the greatest regret in her life ¨C that she didn''t listen to her mother''s advice about picking Mo Yuchen. Perhaps her mother had sensed that she was being deceived by him and that he wouldn''t cherish her once she was married to the Mo family.


    When they returned inside their home, Su Xiaofei was then bombarded with greetings from Xiao Rufeng and Shen Jiao, while Xi Qian just grinned at her. She should have known that these girls wouldn''t let her leave unscathed today.


    "Feifei, howe you never told us that today is your birthday? If Xi Qian hadn''t invited us, we would be oblivious that today''s your special day." Shen Jiaoined, but there was a smile on her face as she dragged Su Xiaofei away from the other guests.


    Su Xiaofei groaned as she was being reminded of it.


    "I attended a gatheringst night. I didn''t even know that my mother and Lu Qingfeng would choose to hold a celebration today."


    "Didn''t you go to Top Tier''s partyst night? Don''t tell me Ye Mingyu tried to cause you trouble again?" Xi Qian chose to interrogate her best friend for what happenedst night.


    "Ye Mingyu? Isn''t that your father''s other daughter?" Shen Jiao asked in curiosity, leaving Xiao Rufeng in shock.


    "Wait! You mean to say that Ye Mingyu is your half-sister?" She blurted out in surprise, but immediately covered her mouth and blushed upon realizing that she was out of line for asking Su Xiaofei that question.


    "It''s okay, Miss Xiao. It wasn''t a secret that my father cheated on my mother anyway. I already expected that she might use this information in the future to her advantage." Su Xiaofei told the young actress, before answering her best friend''s question.


    "Actually, Qian. I met Ye Mingyust night, but she wasn''t the only one I met there."


    Xi Qian shot her brows up, staring at Su Xiaofei''s eyes, trying to see if she could get a hint, but there was none.


    "Who?" She conceded. She must have known who the person was because Su Xiaofei wouldn''t have this amused glint in her eyes otherwise.


    "Mo Yuchen. Ye Mingyu arrived at the venue with him as her plus one." Su Xiaofei said without batting an eyelid.


    Xi Qian was thankful that she wasn''t drinking anything at the moment, or else she would have spat her drink hearing about Ye Mingyu''s shamelessness. Who would have thought that Ye Mingyu managed to get a hold over that annoying and arrogant Mo Yuchen?


    "Hmm¡­ Ye Mingyu isn''t nning to provoke you by seducing your ex-fiance, right?" Shen Jiao cupped her chin as she gave it a good thought. Of course, she knew who Ye Mingyu and Mo Yuchen were, but she only found out how Su Xiaofei was rted to the two a year after she befriended her and Xi Qian.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Rufeng''s jaws dropped upon hearing all these details. She hadn''t expected that her manager had such aplicated history with Mo Yuchen and Ye Mingyu.


    "What''s so surprising about it? Ye Mingyu used to covet whatever Feifei have in the past. While it''s true that it isn''t Ye Mingyu''s fault to be born from a mistress, she should have considered not following her mother''s path by being another man''s mistress." Xi Qian said in annoyance. She had thought that Ye Mingyu would grow some braincells and would leave Su Xiaofei alone, but she proved Xi Qian wrong.


    Xiao Rufeng frowned and looked at her manager with a worried expression on her face. She didn''t like that Ye Mingyu would throw mud at Su Xiaofei and may drag her into a scandal to gain poprity. The fact that Ye Mingyu sought Su Xiaofei''s ex-fiance only sullied her reputation in Xiao Rufeng''s eyes. However, looking at Su Xiaofei, Xiao Rufeng realized that her manager didn''t seem bothered by Ye Mingyu''s attempt to provoke her.


    "Calm down, Qian. I''m the least person Ye Mingyu should be worried about. She should have known that Mo Yuchen is like a hot potato. Whoever dared to seduce him, the person they would offend now isn''t me, but Huang Jingjing." Su Xiaofei smiled, confident that Ye Mingyu was only inviting trouble to her door when she dared to use Cai Lin and sought after Mo Yuchen to provoke her.


    In her previous life, after Ye Mingyu ditched Cai Lin once he had served his purpose, the man lost a few screws in his head and had stalked Ye Mingyu. She was only able to get rid of Cai Lin for good because of Mo Yuchen, forcing the man to take his own life in the process.


    However, now, who would protect Ye Mingyu from Cai Lin''s obsession towards her? It was clear to Su Xiaofei that Mo Yuchen and Ye Mingyu weren''t in a romantic rtionship, given how Mo Yuchen treated the woman next to him. It was as if he would rather be somewhere else than to apany Ye Mingyu to the partyst night.


    He was the CEO of another entertainment agency anyway and while Su Xiaofei was the managing director of Bluemedia, she was still a newbiepared to him. However, because of the life debt the Ouyang family owed her, and given that she was now acknowledged as the granddaughter of the esteemed Yun family, Su Xiaofei being seen to the partyst night was normal, but not for Mo Yuchen.


    Ye Mingyu might have not realized it yet, but by bringing Mo Yuchen with herst night, she gave the management of Top Tier Entertainment an indirect p to their faces, disrespecting them.


    By now, Su Xiaofei expected that they were displeased with Ye Mingyu''s actions.. If they were going to reprimand Ye Mingyu or cut off her resources, she would have to face the consequences of her actionsst night.

 Chapter 305 - You Are Like A Daughter To Me (1)

    As her birthday party continued, Su Xiaofei spotted Qin Muyao, along with Lu Qingfeng and Song Yiran working at the barbeque area, happily discussing things between them. Lu Qingfeng caught her looking, but he only gave her a slight smile before turning his attention back to the two men apanying him.


    "Heh, why would our Feifei be bothered if Ye Mingyu was with her ex-fiance? I would say she wouldn''t have time to worry about it because someone has been keeping her preupied." Shen Jiao said with a teasing smile on her face, making Su Xiaofei look away from Lu Qingfeng''s small group.


    Xiao Rufeng looked at Su Xiaofei, then to the young man Song Yiran and Qin Muyao were talking to. She''d been hearing things about Lu Qingfeng being her manager''s boyfriend, but this was the first time she had seen him after a long time.


    She remembered seeing them once when she thought that Su Xiaofei was a talent recruit at Bluemedia, and couldn''t help but think that the two looked better together. It made sense now why her manager wouldn''t even bat an eyelid when a handsome actor would try to hit on her. It was simply because Su Xiaofei was immune to their charms, given how dashing and eye-catching her boyfriend waspared to those men.


    "Is he also working in showbiz?" She couldn''t help but ask Su Xiaofei out of curiosity. Su Xiaofei and Xi Qian barely mentioned anything about Lu Qingfeng when they were talking about him, aside from the fact that he grew up with them.


    "No. His family business is into finance and investment banking." Su Xiaofei smiled. "Pity he isn''t a celebrity, right?"


    How can she not know what Xiao Rufeng was thinking? It wasn''t the first time that someoneplimented Lu Qingfeng on his looks and mistaken him as a celebrity.


    Shen Jiao and Xi Qianughed, with thetter shaking her head. Xi Qian couldn''t imagine Lu Qingfeng being a celebrity. The closest thing that little tyrant could do was modeling, since he had superb looks that could attract both genders. She could say the same thing when ites to Su Xiaofei too.


    "I doubt that Lu Qingfeng would agree to pose for a magazine cover. He doesn''t seem fond when someone is trying to take his pictures, even when we were younger." Xi Qianmented.


    "He''s a private person, Qian. You should know this by now." Su Xiaofei defended her boyfriend. "At least, only I would be able to enjoy looking at him." She smirked behind her wine ss.


    "Fei Jiejie! Fei Jiejie! Happy birthday!"


    A familiar voice of a child called Su Xiaofei''s attention. She turned to the direction where the voice came from and saw Tang Liyaning their way with her young daughter in tow. Her daughter''s name was Lin Chunxiao.


    When Su Xiaofei helped Tang Liyan and her daughter move out from her husband''s home, the girl had been fawning over her, dering that she would be Su Xiaofei''s little sister. Lin Chunxiao loved spending time with Su Xiaofei every time she got the chance, and she constantly asked her mother to bring her along to Bluemedia to see Su Xiaofei.


    Lin Chunxiao released her mother''s hold on her hand in favor of running towards Su Xiaofei in excitement. She then wrapped her small arms around Su Xiaofei''s waist and looked up, giving Su Xiaofei a wide smile.


    "Xiaoxiao, thank you foring." Su Xiaofei gently patted the girl''s head and smiled. She made sure to ce the wine ss she was holding down to avoid any ident while being with Lin Chunxiao.


    "Wow, I haven''t seen you for three months and you already look taller now. A little more and you will be taller than me." She then teased the young girl.


    Hadn''t it only been yesterday when she held the trembling toddler in her arms, while Tang Liyan was having a hard time dealing with her failing marriage and work at Bluemedia? It was a miracle that the actress managed to muster enough courage to stay strong for her daughter and did her work superbly during the production of ''The Poisonous Concubine''.


    "Ah, what do I do, Fei Jiejie? If I grow up, does it mean I won''t be your little sister anymore?" Lin Chunxiao pouted. It was obvious that she was getting taller as she grew up, while her Fei Jiejie had be more beautiful as time passed.


    "How can that be? Even if Xiaoxiao grew up into a beautiful woman, she''s still my meimei that I adore." Su Xiaofei then gently gave the girl a slight pinch on her cheek, before regarding the girl''s mother.


    "Miss Tang. I''m sorry for thete invitation. I didn''t n any of these." She told the actress.


    "It''s no bother, Miss Su. I''m d that President Yun has invited me and Xiaoxiao toe and celebrate your birthday." Tang Liyan replied with a smile. "Also, Xiaoxiao has been bugging metely to pay you a visit since she insisted on wanting to see you."


    "How can we miss Fei Jiejie''s birthday today?" Lin Chunxiao beamed a smile to Su Xiaofei. "You never invited us before on your birthdays."


    Su Xiaofeiughed, but she didn''t want to admit that the reason why she wasn''t interested in celebrating her birthday was because she didn''t find it important to celebrate it anymore. While she was grateful for being given a chance to relive her life, until she was able to make peace with the monsters in her head, she knew that she was bound to seek revenge in this lifetime.


    "Xiao Fei, happy birthday." Someone greeted her. Su Xiaofei would recognized that voice anyway.


    Su Xiaofei thought that she had enough surprises for her special day. However, when the Qiao family arrived, she couldn''t stop the smile blooming on her face.. Her father and younger brother hade to celebrate her birthday for the first time.

 Chapter 306 - You Are Like A Daughter To Me (2)

    Su Xiaofei hadn''t expected that Qiao Fengying and the rest of the family would be able toe to Qiying City under short notice. She didn''t need to ask how busy her father''s schedule was, as she had barely heard from him or seen him over the past years.


    The project her father had been working on became a hit and the investment she and Lu Qingfeng put in had returned in three years and had continued to profit to this day. Su Xiaofei was happy that she was able to make the process of procuring the project easier for her father in this lifetime. However, she had to admit that the revenue she was getting from it these days had helped her tremendously in reaching her target amount to protect Bluemedia from Mo Yuchen.


    "Uncle Qiao." Su Xiaofei released herself from Lin Chunxiao to greet her father properly. "I didn''t expect to see you here today."


    Qiao Fengying took the initiative to step forward and drew Su Xiaofei into a hug. He then ced a gentle kiss on her forehead before releasing her.


    "How can I miss your birthday celebration, Xiao Fei? If Lu Qingfeng hadn''t given me a call this morning, we would surely miss your celebration today." Qiao Fengying replied with a smile. "You are like a daughter to me. I can''t possibly miss your special day."


    "Dad, let me greet Fei Jie too!" Another familiar voice eximed behind Su Xiaofei''s father.


    ncing behind Qiao Fengying, Su Xiaofei saw the thirteen-year-old Qiao Yuhan.


    "Oh, my. Even my favorite Xiao Han is here." She giggled and gestured for the boy toe closer to her.


    Her adorable, cute little brother was growing too fast for her liking. Su Xiaofei wanted to spend as much time with him as she possibly could. However, with her busy schedule, even if Qiao Yuhan was in Qiying City, it was hard for her to apany him during his stay.


    "Of course, I would be here! I can''t possibly miss your birthday, right, Fei Jie?!" Qiao Yuhan rushed to greet Su Xiaofei. When he overheard his father''s conversation over the phone with Lu Qingfeng that morning, he insisted oning with his parents today. Thankfully, when Lu Qingfeng made a call, his parents didn''t have any ns for today and intended to spend time with Qiao Yuhan at home.


    Su Xiaofei''s gaze softened and she smiled at her younger brother. She didn''t think she had any more wishes that have yet to be fulfilled on her birthday. Did she somehow win a lottery somewhere? However, she didn''t dare toin about it. It wasn''t every day that she could celebrate her birthday with the people that mattered to her.


    She decided to enjoy this rare time with them, conversing happily with her friends and her talents. Her previous thoughts about Ye Mingyu and Mo Yuchen were temporarily forgotten to enjoy this rare moment with them.


    As she stepped out onto the porch for some fresh air, she didn''t expect that Lu Qingfeng''s grandfather was already there before him.


    "Ah, Grandpa. I didn''t expect you to be here." Su Xiaofeiughed awkwardly. Now that she was in a rtionship with Lu Qingfeng, she wasn''t sure if it would change others'' perception of her.


    "Calm down, Xiao Fei. Why don''t you apany this old man here for the meantime?" The old man smiled at him, gesturing for Su Xiaofei to take the seat across from him.


    Su Xiaofei didn''t think she would be able to deny Lu Qingfeng''s grandfather''s request. She took a seat and waited for the old man to say something to her.


    ''Why isn''t he saying anything?'' She wondered when only silence ensued between them. Wasn''t he curious what would change now that she was with Lu Qingfeng?


    "I see that my grandson didn''t waste any time to give that ne to you." Chairman Lu finally said, breaking the awkward atmosphere between them.


    Su Xiaofei unconsciously lifted a hand and touched the pendant resting on her chest. Lu Qingfeng had given this to herst night before leaving. For others, they might think that it was merely a token of love from Lu Qingfeng, but Su Xiaofei knew that it wasn''t as simple as that.


    If she hadn''t seen this ne during her time as a ghost, she wouldn''t have any idea how important it was to Lu Qingfeng and the rest of the Lu family. This very ne that she was wearing now was an heirloom of the Lu family that was passed only to women that were acknowledged as the madam of the family.


    Lu Qingfeng had held onto it after her death and refused to bestow it upon other women in her previous life. He insisted that no woman was worthy to have it except for her. It was at that point that Su Xiaofei realized how deep his love was.


    In the end, Lu Qingfeng had passed this ne to his adoptive son who seeded him in thepany and Su Xiaofei had no idea who it ended up with. To think that she would be able to have it this time, Su Xiaofei wasn''t sure if she made the right choice by epting it. However, it was toote to regret now, and Lu Qingfeng would surely get upset if she dared to return it.


    "Grandpa, I can''t promise you anything aside from looking after Xiao Feng and being faithful to him. I want nothing other than his happiness."


    Su Xiaofei knew that there were things she needed to learn before bing the wife of the head of the Lu family and so, she didn''t dare to make a bold deration in front of Lu Qingfeng''s grandfather.


    The old man smiled genuinely to her before bringing his teacup down, looking pleased with Su Xiaofei''s answer.


    "That''s all that matters to me, Xiao Fei.. Xiao Feng is younger than you, so I hope you can be patient with him too."

 Chapter 307 - Unrequited Love (1)

    Sometimeter, Grandpa Lu left the party earlier than the rest of their guests. Su Xiaofei, along with her mother and Lu Qingfeng sent him off and thanked him for making time to join the celebration today.


    "Did Grandpa make you ufortable?" Lu Qingfeng asked Su Xiaofei when her mother hurriedly left to answer the phone call she just received from work.


    Su Xiaofei shook her head and hooked her arm with his as they slowly made their way back inside.


    "No, but I''m d that you invited him here, as well as Uncle Qiao and Xiao Han." She smiled at him. She couldn''t be happier that Lu Qingfeng managed to invite everyone to celebrate her birthday.


    If there was something Su Xiaofei wasn''tfortable with during her birthday dinner, it would be Yun Xiang''s presence. She didn''t like how the man had been paying extra attention to her but wouldn''te to say a word. It was like he was upset about something, but didn''t have the courage to let his opinion known to everyone.


    One could also tell that despite the happy atmosphere at Su Xiaofei and Yun Qingrong''s home, Yun Xiang was sulking about something, as he currently had a foul mood. Su Xiaofei chose to ignore him instead, not wanting her birthday to be ruined by him.


    ''If he doesn''t like being here, he shouldn''t havee in the first ce.'' Su Xiaofei thought as she sat next to her mother, who was currently having a conversation with her three uncles. She couldn''t understand why Yun Xiang had to be such a killjoy, trying to ruin her mood today.


    She then spotted Xi Qian, trying to get her attention to follow her outside. Su Xiaofei smiled inwardly as she thought of how her best friend could easily read her mood and save her from boredom.


    "Mama, can I go and join Qian and the others outside?" Su Xiaofei asked her mother, trying to contain the smile that was about to spread on her lips. She didn''t want her elders to think that she was disrespecting them by spending more time with her friends than her family.


    Yun Qingrongughed behind her hand, before nudging her daughter to go.


    "It''s your birthday anyway. Go and socialize with your friends. You must be bored listening to old people talk."


    Su Xiaofei looked flustered and shook her head in denial. Even if Yun Qingrong was saying the truth, there was no way she would admit it.


    "It''s okay, Feifei. By the way, your Auntie Mei baked you a cake earlier. Take some and share it with your friends." Yun Zhaonan said, surprising Su Xiaofei.


    She felt like this uncle of hers was somewhat weird today. Of all of her Yun uncles, it was Yun Zhaonan who was suspicious of her from the very start. Su Xiaofei hadn''t expected that the man would tolerate her like this now.


    "Thanks, Uncle! Thanks, Auntie Mei!" She told Yun Zhaonan and Yan Mei before rushing to the kitchen to see the cake her uncle was talking about.


    Su Xiaofei was aware that like her mother, her Auntie Mei was also fond of making sweets. She guessed that behind the intimidating aura of the Yun men, they all had a sweet tooth.


    As soon as she entered the kitchen, Su Xiaofei stood in shock at the doorway when she saw another familiar face. Just how many surprises had Lu Qingfeng prepared for her today? She would have never assumed that she would be able to see Aunty Liu again after the old woman retired and left their household.


    "Child, what are you doing? You bettere here and help this old woman!" Aunty Liu scolded her, but the smile on the old woman''s face was so warm, it almost made Su Xiaofei cry.


    When she was younger, whenever her mother and Su Haoran weren''t around, Aunty Liu would be the one apanying her and taking care of her. She had never raised her voice at Su Xiaofei, except for that one time when Lu Qingfeng had his arm broken because she insisted that they should climb up the tall tree in their backyard when they were younger.


    Su Xiaofei''s eyes stung with tears as she marched towards Aunty Liu and hugged the old woman. This woman had be her second mother during Yun Qingrong''s absence. It was just a pity that she didn''t take Aunty Liu''s advice in her past life and remained rebellious to her mother.


    "I''m so happy that you are here." She told Aunty Liu.


    Aunty Liu patted Su Xiaofei''s back and allowed her to cry silently in her embrace. Holding Feifei like this reminded the old woman of a time when the young Feifei woulde to her forfort, as no one was willing to y with her.


    It broke her heart to see her beautiful princess being ignored and hated by others. It was only after Su Xiaofei met the young Lu Qingfeng and Xi Qian did she stop worrying about her young miss.


    "How could I miss your birthday, my princess? Since Xiao Feng is also back, there''s no way I would turn down his invitation toe today." Aunty Liu replied.


    "I also heard that you are officially together now, and I want to say that I''m happy for the two of you." She paused for a moment, pondering if she should tell Feifei what was on her mind. In the end, Aunty Liu conceded and said what was in her heart instead.


    "Be happy with Xiao Feng from now on. If you have some disagreements, you better cool your head first before making any drastic decisions."


    Aunty Liu had been aware of Lu Qingfeng''s growing feelings for her young miss anyway and it was about time for them to be together.


    "En, Aunty. I will listen to you.." Su Xiaofei stepped back and wiped the tears on her face, not wanting anyone to worry about her.

 Chapter 308 - Unrequited Love (2)

    Su Xiaofei thought that by ignoring Yun Xiang, she would be spared of his gloomy mood today. She realized how wrong she was when she found herself being cornered by the man a few hourster.


    "Brother Xiang, is there something I could help you with?" She asked, but her eyes were already looking around, trying to find the best escape route for her to use. There was no reason for her to get involved any further with Yun Xiang as she still couldn''t forget her grudges towards him from her previous life.


    Yun Xiang frowned when he noticed that Su Xiaofei would rather look somewhere else than look at him. After years of trying to earn her favor and attention, Su Xiaofei was still giving him a cold shoulder and wasn''t willing to be alone with him. It wasn''t like he would harm her in some way, but he couldn''t understand the reason behind her aversion to him.


    He couldn''t think of anything he had done to make Su Xiaofei ufortable in his presence. Yun Xiang thought that after she treated him to a fancy dinner as a thanks for helping her find Andrew Si''s missing sister, their rtionship with each other would turn for the better.


    How wrong he was when Su Xiaofei declined each of his invitations to hang out, and she always had a reason to turn him down. It frustrated Yun Xiang to no end, trying to figure Su Xiaofei out.


    Yun Xiang stared down at the woman in front of him, his brows furrowed in confusion. Su Xiaofei was doing it again. She could smile brightly to others, but she would only give him a cold treatment as if she didn''t want to be in the same ce as him.


    "Xiao Fei, I heard the news. Is it true that you and Lu Qingfeng are together now?" He asked.


    It immediately soured Su Xiaofei''s mood as she shot him a sharp look. Was the reason for his foul mood today? Because she decided to date Lu Qingfeng? What about it? Whether she wanted to date Lu Qingfeng or not, she believed that it was no one''s business but hers.


    However, seeing that Yun Xiang wasn''t willing to let her off the hook without hearing her answer, Su Xiaofei took a deep breath to calm her nerves.


    "Yes, we are together now and I hope everyone will give us their support and be happy for us."


    She didn''t miss how Yun Xiang hardened his jaws upon hearing her answer and she couldn''t believe that he was bothered by it.


    As she stared at his face, realization dawned upon her. Her eyes slightly widened before she pressed her lips into a thin line as she realized why Yun Xiang was acting like this towards her.


    It couldn''t be that he had somehow developed romantic feelings towards her, right? Was he even aware of it? She wondered.


    Yun Xiang was head over heels for Ye Mingyu in Su Xiaofei''s previous life and even when Ye Mingyu chose to be with Mo Yuchen, he remained faithful to her until the end. In his eyes, Ye Mingyu was a goddess, while she, Su Xiaofei, was the evil and cruel viiness who wanted nothing more but to harm Ye Mingyu.


    Su Xiaofei thought that the idea was ridiculous as she never gave Yun Xiang any indication that she liked him or that she was interested in him. In fact, she made it clear with her actions that she didn''t want to be his friend and would only be civil with him as his biaomei.


    She found it funny that the man who continued to persecute and humiliate her in her previous life was now helplessly in love with her. With their rtionship as cousins, it would be impossible for Yun Xiang to chase after her.


    She wasn''t sure if it was karma biting Yun Xiang hard in the ass, but she wasn''tfortable being the apple of his eye. Su Xiaofei didn''t want another man other than Lu Qingfeng. Even the thought of being touched by another man was repulsive to her.


    It wasn''t like she had be a germaphobe after her rebirth, but Su Xiaofei found it disgusting when an opposite sex touched her hand or any exposed part of her skin, except for Lu Qingfeng.


    Even when Mo Yuchen touched her during her stay at the hospital almost made her want to scrub the part of her face that he touched.


    As for Yun Xiang, she wasn''t sure how to deal with him now. Should she allow him to live in misery, knowing that he would suffer an unrequited love towards her until he freed himself from it or would it be better to break his heart in a cruel way?


    "Are you sure about him? I know that you and Lu Qingfeng have been friends for a long time, but are you sure you want to be with him?"


    At his question, Su Xiaofei narrowed her eyes dangerously, not bothering to hide her displeasure towards him.


    "Brother Xiang, I trust Lu Qingfeng. In this world, I''m certain that no man could love me more than him. Please don''t make it sound like he forced me into this."


    "Xiao Fei, that''s not what I mean. I¡­" He stuttered, trying to find the right words to exin himself. He didn''t mean to offend her by questioning her like this.


    Yun Xiang started to panic, seeing that Su Xiaofei was upset with him now. He only wanted to make sure that she would be fine with Lu Qingfeng, but he didn''t expect that she would misunderstand his concern.


    "Lt. Yun''s worries are misced. Since Feifei has said that no man in this world could love her more than me, I now have to make sure to live up to her expectations."


    Su Xiaofei turned around and found Lu Qingfeng leaning against the wall, his strong arms folded on his chest, eyes staring at Yun Xiang.

 Chapter 309 - Drop On One Knee (1)

    Lu Qingfeng didn''t mean to eavesdrop on Su Xiaofei''s conversation with Yun Xiang. He was just looking for her, wondering where she had gone, as she hadn''te back to join him with the others. He wasn''t expecting that she was being questioned by Yun Xiang like this just outside the porch where he and Su Xiaofei usually shared snacks onzy afternoons when they were younger.


    When he heard what Su Xiaofei said in his defense, Lu Qingfeng was ted to confirm that she held him with high regards. He wanted nothing more than to make sure she was happy and safe, and hearing from her lips that it was exactly what she expected of him, Lu Qingfeng swore to live up to her expectations from now on.


    Lu Qingfeng knew that Su Xiaofei didn''t want to discuss her personal life and affairs with anyone, and it didn''t help that she held some grudges against Yun Xiang. If someone dared to confront her, she would typically shrug, irritation surging inside her, especially if the other party wasn''t willing to drop the subject.


    However, he was also aware of Yun Xiang''s interest towards her. As a man, how could he not tell that Yun Xiang had romantic feelings for Feifei, even before he left five years ago? It seemed like Yun Xiang had yet to realize this and had blindly believed that his concerns were instinctive due to his familial ties with Su Xiaofei.


    Su Xiaofei rushed to his side and beamed him a wide smile, while Yun Xiang could only look at her in wonder. It was ringly obvious how different she treated him and Lu Qingfeng, but Yun Xiang supposed that it was merely because she knew Lu Qingfeng longer than him that she could be at ease.


    "Is that so?" Yun Xiang''s face darkened upon seeing Lu Qingfeng.


    "I know so." Su Xiaofei said with confidence. If there''s one thing she was certain about, it was that Lu Qingfeng''s loyalty and love was way beyond any man could offer to her.


    Yun Xiang stared at her. There wasn''t even a trace of doubt on her face.


    "Alright. If that would make you happy." He said, before leaving the couple alone.


    "Is everything alright?" Lu Qingfeng asked, making sure that Yun Xiang hadn''t touched her inappropriately.


    "No worries. I''m not hurt anywhere." Su Xiaofei smiled at him, before dragging him to her mother''s garden to spend some time alone with him.


    Lu Qingfeng looked at her and smiled faintly at her eagerness to be with him.


    With the sun finally setting, the pathway was now illuminated by the light posts around the garden. They stopped at the familiar tree where the old swing was tied to.


    "Are you cold?" He asked when he noticed the slight shiver on her.


    Because of their proximity, the words he uttered were almost like a whisper next to her ear. Su Xiaofei snapped her head and looked at him, only to feel his body heat. His breath tickled her sensitive skin, which made her shiver for the second time as his eyes gleamed in anticipation.


    "No." She denied, her words a soft whisper.


    Lu Qingfeng''s head dipped, his mouth capturing hers. He was like an aggressive warlord bent on subduing his subject to submission. He tasted like the fine wine he had drank earlier, which made Su Xiaofei wonder if he was under its influence. Somehow, it made her think that he was more potent than any other alcohol she had tasted in her lifetime.


    Her head spun, and she clutched his shoulders, wanting nothing more than to feel more of him. She was aware that his hands were now roaming over her body, leaving a trail of delicious warmth in their path.


    There was a moan, and Su Xiaofei wasn''t certain who between them made the noise, and didn''t care. Lu Qingfeng pushed her against the trunk of the big tree and brought their bodies closer. She felt the thick length of his erection pressed against her belly through theyers of their clothes, and she became aware of how hot her body was.


    Somehow, it only intensified her desire, which she couldn''t exin. It wasn''t like she was new to intimacy, but she had never felt this kind of desire, threatening to consume her from the inside. She had never felt this desirable to any man, as Mo Yuchen would usually give her a disapproving look every time she tried to dress up for him.


    She whimpered, but his mouth on hers muffled the sound. Her greedy hands surveyed his body, and she bit back a moan of frustration at the white dress shirt forbidding her to do whatever she wanted.


    Finally, Lu Qingfeng pulled away from their kiss, but refused to loosen his hold over her body. His hot breath fanned the side of her neck where her pulse beat rapidly. Su Xiaofei reveled in the sensation he just evoked in her. Whatever it was, it made her addicted to him.


    Lu Qingfeng lifted his head briefly to look down at her. The desire in his eyes now reced with uncertainty. Time seemed to slow down around them as they held each other''s gaze.


    "I''m sorry, Feifei. I shouldn''t have¡­ I shouldn''t have done this." He said, his voice a little guttural.


    Even now, he was trying to rein his desire to have her, ravish her like he wanted to. However, her decision and choice still mattered to him, first and foremost.


    "I think I drank too much." He said, finally releasing Su Xiaofei and noticing how disheveled her hair and little ck dress were.


    Yes. That damn dress was giving him a headache. While it''s true that it looks good on her, it also made him imagine inappropriate things to do with her. Now, it was toote for him to think of the ramifications of his actions earlier.


    Su Xiaofei finally smiled and cupped the side of his face.


    "It''s not like I don''t want it."

 Chapter 310 - Drop On One Knee (2)

    Lu Qingfeng stared at her in disbelief. He thought that she would be upset with him, but she wasn''t.


    "You aren''t mad at me?" He asked cautiously, wanting to see if she was telling the truth. Their rtionship was still new and fragile, and he didn''t want to upset her just because he failed to rein in his raging hormones.


    "No." Su Xiaofei said breathlessly. She was still aware of how fast her heart was racing in her chest.


    "Isn''t this normal between lovers? We aren''t just boyfriend and girlfriend anyway." She gave her a knowing look which made Lu Qingfeng froze, his eyes eyeing her ne. He hadn''t expected that Su Xiaofei would know the reason behind him giving her this family heirloom.


    When he didn''t say anything in defense, she continued.


    "I know what it means to have it, and I''m willing to share your burden in the future." She said with a smile, not breaking their eye contact. Lu Qingfeng should know by now that he was the only man she allowed to be close to her.


    Lu Qingfeng sighed in relief and touched her hand that was on his face.


    "It''s my fault. I should have exined it to you, rather than shoving the responsibility on you without a word of it." He paused, his eyes never leaving hers. "So you know and you''re still okay with it?"


    Su Xiaofei hummed and looked up, the pale crescent moon was up in the darkened sky. She had lost track of time, nor did she know how long had passed since they left the party.


    "That I''m now your fianc¨¦e, and we are to marry in the future? Of course."


    She wouldn''t have epted the ne had she been against the idea of them being together for good. In the past, she thought that she had lost faith when ites to love, but Lu Qingfeng had proved her wrong over and over again.


    When Ye Mingyu came to her for thest time with a splendid diamond on her hand, her stomach slightly bulging, Su Xiaofei thought that jealousy should be eating her, but it didn''t. She was already in deep-seated hatred anyway.


    After her rebirth, her mind wasn''t muddled anymore. She couldn''t even understand what she had seen in Mo Yuchen and what had been so dazzling about him.


    Didn''t her mother say that she should find a husband who would love and respect her at the same time? If it wasn''t Lu Qingfeng, then she would rather not marry at all.


    When Lu Qingfeng fell silent, she turned her gaze back on his face and saw the conflicting emotions on it. She could tell that he was feeling somewhat guilty of not having it exined to her, but also there was a slight relief on his face that she wasn''t against the idea of having him as her husband.


    "It''s really fine." She said, "It''s not like I''m expecting you to drop on one knee and offer a diamond ring."


    "Do you want me to?" Lu Qingfeng answered with a question. epting him as her boyfriend was one thing, but marriage was a serious matter he should have discussed with her, before handing the ne to her.


    Su Xiaofei gave it a good thought before, finally, she shook her head in response. Her previous self would want something like that. Hadn''t Mo Yuchen done the very same thing for her in her previous life, saying the words she wanted to hear for her to ept his marriage proposal?


    "That sounds romantic, but it''s alreadymon, don''t you think?" She released his face and took his hand in hers, noticing howrge it waspared to hers, reminding her that he wasn''t a boy anymore, but a man who desired her.


    "I thought most women would want that kind of marriage proposal." Lu Qingfeng said.


    "Well, don''t group me with those women. It''s enough that I see your sincerity." She grinned at him.


    "And you don''t mind me touching you like this?" He questioned, his hand reaching up to touch her hair.


    A dreamy expression entered his eyes as he gazed at her. He had longed to touch her like this, wanting nothing more than to have her by his side for eternity.


    "I don''t mind." She answered truthfully. "Only if it''s you."


    His lips hovered dangerously close on hers, but he didn''t close the gap between them. He waited for her to make a move instead.


    The coolness of the night, Lu Qingfeng''s eyes intent on her, the whisper of her heart and the soft sound of her breathing. Her entirety zeroed on the man holding her close, and Su Xiaofei would rather be here, than anywhere else.


    She leaned forward and covered his mouth with hers. Lu Qingfeng remained still, giving her permission to explore his mouth as much as she wished. Her tongue traced his lips and he parted it slightly, allowing her to probe his mouth.


    Su Xiaofeiid a gentle hand on his cheek and kissed him deeply. The world seemed to stop, as if time no longer mattered. Her hand left his face and skimmed the muscles of his body. Indeed, not a boy anymore. She thought. Perhaps she had made the right decision to allow him to grow and to live away from her to understand himself better.


    She was thrilled to know that she had this kind of effect on him, as she felt him struggle with control. To be loved and to be desired by him, it stroked her feminine ego to know that he was all hers.


    When she parted from him, she shed him a mischievous grin.


    "Do you believe me now? Just so you know, you aren''t the only one who wanted this."


    Lu Qingfeng smiled, his hand skimmed her bare arm. It was an innocent gesture, but the tenderness of it was as intimate as the kiss they shared earlier.


    "Then I''m d."

 Chapter 311 - Dearest Daughter (1)

    Her weekend had been the best thing that happened to Su Xiaofei in a long time. However, just like any other dream, she was expected to wake up to reality as it was already Monday morning. She woke up receiving a good morning text from Lu Qingfeng and also informing her of his ns for the day.


    It made her smile because aside from making their rtionship official, Lu Qingfeng had made sure to make her birthday this year special. The memories from her twenty-fourth birthday, she would never be able to forget it.


    After having breakfast with her mother, Su Xiaofei dressed up in a three-piece business suit, but today she was wearing a pair of ck pants with her feet enclosed in a pair of ck high-heeled shoes. Her long hair was then styled in a chignon that gave her a professional aura.


    Pleased with her reflection in her vanity mirror, she picked up her bag and went downstairs to join her mother in her car. It had been a routine for the mother and daughter pair to travel to work together.


    However, that morning, Su Xiaofei noticed that her mother looked more exhausted than usual. A tinge of worry crossed her face and she wondered if she had been toocent with worktely to the point that her mother couldn''t even take a break from work as usual.


    "Mom, are you alright? You look paler than usual." She asked worriedly as she sat next to Yun Qingrong. Her mind reeling, trying to remember if her mother was also showing symptoms like this in her previous life, before a car ident took Yun Qingrong''s life.


    Yun Qingrong gave her a tight smile and shook her head.


    "It''s fine, Feifei. My schedule today isn''t as tight as before. I''ll be able to leave work earlier,ter." She assured her daughter. She didn''t want to ruin Feifei''s mood now that her daughter seemed happier since Lu Qingfeng''s return.


    "Alright, Mama, but please let me know if there''s anything I can help you with."


    Even if Yun Qingrong said that she was fine, Su Xiaofei couldn''t help but worry about her mother. After all, it was a year after her marriage with Mo Yuchen when her mother encountered hardship not only at thepany, but also to her health.


    Su Xiaofei feared that even if she had managed to separate her mother from Su Haoran and Ye Mingyu, it wouldn''t be enough to make sure Yun Qingrong wouldn''t encounter a death g through other means. It gripped her heart to know that she was helpless to protect her mother.


    "I''m really fine, Feifei." Yun Qingrong patted her daughter''s hand, as if she could sense Feifei''s uneasiness.


    "Aren''t you going on a business trip with Miss Tang soon? Don''t forget to bring some souvenirs from your trip, okay?" She added, in an attempt to make Su Xiaofei forget her worries.


    Su Xiaofei finally smiled and nodded. It had be their tradition to bring something home from their trips, and she had never failed her mother even once.


    "I''ll make sure to get you something, Mama."


    The rest of their trip was filled with silence, as both mother and daughter were deep in their own thoughts. Su Xiaofei regretted that she had ignored her mother''s welfare in her previous life and didn''t know much about what transpired with Yun Qingrong, leading to her death.


    Even when the day of her departure finally came, Su Xiaofei wasn''t willing to leave her mother. She was waiting for her flight at the airport with her mother.


    "Why are you having such a long face, Feifei? You haven''t traveled abroad for some time now. I thought you would be excited." Yun Qingrong asked when she noticed that her daughter wasn''t her usual self.


    "Xiao Feng has already agreed to apany me during your travels. I''m not really on my own, Feifei." She reminded her daughter.


    Su Xiaofei frowned. While she was thankful that Lu Qingfeng volunteered to apany her mother during her one-week absence, she was still torn if she should stay with her mother or not, but this trip had been long nned, and it would be hard for Tang Liyan to face the brand executives knowing that Bai Qingyue''s party would be there topete for the spotlight. As Tang Liyan''s manager, she cannot allow anyone to bully her talent.


    The said actress was busy talking to her young daughter, reminding Lin Chenxiao to listen to her caretaker while she wasn''t around. It was obvious that Tang Liyan was worried to leave her daughter behind, in fear that her ex-husband would dare to take Xiaoxiao away while she was gone.


    Suddenly, there was a hugemotion at the VIP lounge as Bai Qingyue and her team arrived. Many passengers turned their heads to catch a glimpse of her and were praising her for her beauty. With Golden Star backing her, it was only natural that Mo Yuchen would provide Bai Qingyue with a huge team to assist her, as if it was his way to provoke Su Xiaofei, whom he knew would be there to apany Tang Liyan.


    Su Xiaofei scoffed inwardly, thinking how petty her ex-husband was. How can she not know what Mo Yuchen was trying to do? Since she had humiliated him during the party at Top Tier Entertainment, he would surely view her as a thorn on his side that he needed to get rid of.


    Bai Qingyue''s team saw Su Xiaofei and Tang Liyan. Initially, they wanted to bully them by crowding around the two women. However, they never got a chance since the Zhang sisters appeared behind their miss, which was followed by a flock of elite bodyguards that protected not only Su Xiaofei, but also Tang Liyan and her young daughter.


    Bluemedia might not have provided Tang Liyan a great team to apany her, but Su Xiaofei''s new status as the future Madam of the Lu family would not allow anyone toy a hand on her.

 Chapter 312 - Dearest Daughter (2)

    In the end, Bai Qingyue''s team decided to step back and could only clench their teeth in dismay. They all thought that they would be able to bully Tang Liyan since Bai Qingyue''s status was still above her. The thought of having another chance only pacified their annoyance, and they decided to move to the other side of the VIP lounge to avoid Su Xiaofei''s impressive bodyguards.


    Meanwhile, Bai Qingyue hadn''t uttered a single word since their arrival. Her eyes were covered by a fancy pair of sunsses, but she could clearly see Tang Liyan, Su Xiaofei and Yun Qingrong.


    The moment she saw Su Xiaofei, something shed in her eyes as she stared at the younger woman. She had met Su Xiaofei five years ago and since then she had never forgotten about her.


    Since they were both working in the same industry, it didn''t take too long for Bai Qingyue to find out Su Xiaofei''s identity as the only daughter of the owner of Bluemedia. She had heard impressive things about her, but this was the second time Bai Qingyue had managed to see Su Xiaofei this close.


    The young woman whom she met years ago was now a full-grown, beautiful woman. Her facial features were sharper now, which only added charm to her beautiful face. Bai Qingyue briefly thought that she was looking at her reflection in the mirror as she continued to stare at Su Xiaofei''s face. She wondered if people could see the resemnce between them.


    Unlike Su Xiaofei''s previous hairstyle that was waist length and wavy, she now had ayered cut with curtain bangs to frame her small face. Bai Qingyue noticed that the young woman didn''t grow that much taller, but her body had grown in a way where many women would envy her for her impressive figure.


    "Miss Bai, please take a seat and rx. We still have half an hour before our flight." Her assistant said, bringing Bai Qingyue back to reality.


    She nodded and followed the rest of her team and took a seat before turning her gaze back to Su Xiaofei who was smiling now to her mother. The scene in front of her made Bai Qingyue ufortable.


    If the daughter she abandoned after giving birth was still alive, perhaps she would be the same age as Su Xiaofei now. Whether the girl managed to survive or not, Bai Qingyue had no idea. The orphanage where she left the child refused to provide details of what happened to the child.


    Bai Qingyue lowered her gaze and fell into a deep thought. Ever since she met Su Xiaofei, the secret she''d been trying to bury deep in her heart resurfaced, constantly reminding her of the child that she bore for nine months during her younger years.


    ''Why?'' She asked herself repeatedly, but the answer never came to her.


    Even when it waste at night, while the rest of the world and her husband were asleep, her thoughts would always end up with the small babe she once held in her arms.


    Mo Yuchen wanted her to eradicate Tang Liyan from the industry for good by snatching the projects and endorsements she had. He also wanted to implicate Su Xiaofei hard with Tang Liyan''s failureter.


    "You also need to watch out for Su Xiaofei. She''s like a venomous snake, waiting for a chance to strike." Mo Yuchen told her during theirst meeting, prior to hering to the airport.


    Bai Qingyue didn''t know what kind of grudge CEO Mo had against Su Xiaofei, but she heard the rumors that the two used to be engaged to each other until Su Xiaofei nullified the arrangements between them.


    When their flight finally arrived, Bai QIngyue''s team were the first ones to board. They were all seated at the business ss, giving Su Xiaofei''s party a mocking smile as they scattered around, taking most of the seats to themselves.


    However, what they didn''t expect was for Su Xiaofei and Tang Liyan to continue walking until they reached the first ss lounge, leaving those who were waiting to humiliate them speechless in their wake.


    While it was true that Su Xiaofei''s party was considerably smaller than Bai Qingyue, Bluemedia gave them the best amenities they could have on their trip. Although the differences between first ss and business ss were not as significant as those between economy and first or business, there were still some variables to consider when making their travel choice.


    In general, first-ss costs about twice as much as business ss and if Golden Star put each person in Bai Qingyue''s team in first ss, it would surely be too expensive for this trip.


    "Heh, they must have thought that they would be able to provoke Miss Su by using this cheap trick. We wouldn''t be here, sharing the ride with them, had Miss Su epted the Master''s offer." Zhang Ling whispered to her elder sister, who only sighed in boredom.


    Lu Qingfeng had suggested for them to use his family''s private ne to avoid confrontations with the other team, but Su Xiaofei declined his offer. She had already anticipated that this would happen anyway.


    If there was something she knew about Mo Yuchen from her previous life, it was that he wouldn''t dare to spendvishly in his earliest years as the CEO of Golden Star Entertainment. His position at thepany wasn''t stable yet, and the situation at Golden Star was bing more vtile.


    For this reason, Su Xiaofei decided to splurge on this trip, to let everyone know how cheap Mo Yuchen was for giving Bai Qingyue''s team less amenities and having poor arrangements. What would people say if they heard that a smaller entertainment agency like Bluemedia treated Tang Liyan like a proper queen, while Bai Qingyue was getting the shorter end of the stick from Golden Star?


    ''Mo Yuchen, you only have yourself to me..'' Su Xiaofei thought, aware of the ugly expression Bai Qingyue''s team had at the moment.

 Chapter 313 - Collaboration With Bai Qingyue (1)

    After a few hours of their flight, Su Xiaofei and the rest reached their destination on time. The Zhang sisters took upon themselves to drag her luggage, while Tang Liyan''s assistant came following behind them in a hurry.


    Bai Qingyue''s team had alighted before them and had been waiting for their ride. When they spotted Su Xiaofei and Tang Liyan, they raised their eyebrows at Su Xiaofei''s dominating presence. It was impossible for anyone not to get attracted to this beautiful woman.


    "Is she a celebrity? She looks like a million bucks."


    They overheard a stranger making ament as she saw Su Xiaofei and couldn''t agree more with the woman''sment. Next to the celebrity queen Tang Liyan, Su Xiaofei cannot be considered her backdrop.


    Her eyes were covered with oversized sunsses and she walked gracefully in her high-waisted white pencil skirt that emphasized her small waist and curvaceous body. It was paired with a long sleeved pale pink blouse draped by an oversized coat over her shoulder. She was all dressed up for mour that could rival the queen that she was apanying today.


    Next to her, Tang Liyan was walking at the same pace. Half of her face was also covered with retro sunsses. Compared to Su Xiaofei, she was dressed casually in her ck cks and white ruffled blouse, with a purse in her hand.


    If Su Xiaofei was like a domineering queen, Tang Liyan looked like the kind and approachable person anyone could easily get along with. Seeing them together was a pleasure to one''s eyes, and it seemed to others that they got along, despite their differences.


    Bai Qingyue''s team followed the two women with their eyes until they stepped out of the airport, where luxurious cars were already waiting for their arrival. There was a small entourage that left the airport after that.


    Those who were apanying Bai Qingyue frowned when they saw what was waiting for them. Bai Qingyue and her assistant boarded the ck sedan that stopped in front of them, while the rest of their group was picked up by a van to take them to the hotel where they were staying.


    As soon as they arrived at the hotel, Su Xiaofei and Tang Liyan''s group had already checked into the best rooms provided by theirpany. Their luggages were dealt by bellhops that also apanied them to their respective rooms.


    Bai Qingyue didn''t mind that she was receiving such an arrangement from Golden Star, as it was known to not spend on unnecessaryvishness. She could provide for herself and could request to upgrade her room, but the same couldn''t be said for herpanions.


    The rest of her team could only glower andin in their hearts as they couldn''t mock Bluemedia''s people, because obviously, despite them being smaller than Golden Star, they weren''t stingy when ites to their people.


    Tang Liyan was sharing the presidential suite with Su Xiaofei since it had two bedrooms with their own en-suite facilities they could enjoy. Plus, the view outside their suite was spectacr as it oversaw the city they were in. The living area had a massive leather couch with two small armchairs next to it. The entertainment area seemedplete as they offered a massive 75-inch TV, which was also connected with a fast inte connection, allowing them to watch and stream movies and TV shows as they like.


    There was a small kitchen and a bar that they could use, but Tang Liyan doubted that her manager knew her way in the kitchen or if she would have enough time to prepare something for them to eatter. Next to the kitchen, there was a small washroom the two women could use, just in case they didn''t have enough time to get to their own washrooms.


    "Miss Su, is it really alright to have amodations like this?" She asked Su Xiaofei, as she walked around the living area, then to the small kitchen, to check if she could brew some tea for them.


    It wasn''t like she was new or ignorant to this kind ofvish lifestyle, but she didn''t want people to misunderstand that Su Xiaofei and President Yun were showing favoritism when ites to their talents. Also, she had been frugal and didn''t live beyond her means ever since her divorce was finalized three years ago. Tang Liyan hadn''t forgotten that she was indebted to Su Xiaofei.


    Su Xiaofei sat on the couch and released her feet from her high heels, sighing in relief as her feet touched the soft carpet on the floor.


    "You don''t need to worry about it since the tab is already settled." She replied, before pulling out the pins that held her hair in ce. "As for Miss Bai''spany, don''t allow them to get to you. The first to react would be the loser, and you don''t want to be that person."


    Tang Liyan remained silent as she knew what her manager meant. It wasn''t the first time that someone tried to provoke her, wanting to create an issue they could use to defame her name in public.


    It was also normal for fans topare her with the other queen, Bai Qingyue. While the two of them started at the same time in the industry, Tang Liyan''s long absence during her marriage had given Bai Qingyue an advantage over her. Even if Tang Liyan didn''t want to, she couldn''t stop people from putting her up against Bai Qingyue.


    "Okay." She gave a simple one-worded reply. This was what she always hears from Su Xiaofei anyway. For her to keep herposure and try not to feed the hounds that were barking at her.


    However, their amodations today were far from the ones they usually had from their previous trips. It was the first time Bluemedia and Su Xiaofei had arranged as such.


    Su Xiaofei remained calm, despite the attempt by Bai Qingyue''s camp to humiliate them earlier.. Tang Liyan wasn''t sure how she could remain calm at this time.

 Chapter 314 - Collaboration With Bai Qingyue (2)

    Tang Liyan may not be able to understand her, but because of her experience from her previous life, Su Xiaofei had learned so many things from it and that included not joining the pigs in the mud when they wanted to y. She had heard so many demeaning words and insults to her person that a simple provocation now wouldn''t be enough.


    The next day, at nine in the morning, Su Xiaofei apanied Tang Liyan to the headquarters of ''Bellissima'', the international skincare and makeup brand Bai Qingyue had been promoting for years now. Due to the poprity and continuousparison between her and Tang Liyan, the management had an idea to invite Tang Liyan to join them as a brand ambassador and model along with Bai Qingyue.


    Of course, Golden Star, especially Mo Yuchen, didn''t like Bellissima''s decision to invite Tang Liyan for the next campaign. It would only make people aware of Tang Liyan, courtesy of Bai Qingyue''s name, which Su Xiaofei foundughable.


    She believed that Tang Liyan didn''t need to ride on Bai Qingyue''s coattails to be popr. The fact that she was once a queen before her marriage was already proof that Tang Liyan possessed the characteristics and skills to be a top star.


    As for Bai Qingyue, Su Xiaofei had to admit that her birth mother wasn''t a simpleton and was a capable actress. The management of Golden Star highly regarded her opinions and would give her a strong backing if needed.


    When they arrived, they ended up running into Bai Qingyue with her personal assistant and manager from Golden Star in the lift. Bai Qingyue was wearing an elegant white fitted halter dress that ended right above her knees, emphasizing her feminine curves.


    There was no doubt that Bai Qingyue was a beautiful woman, however, standing close next to Su Xiaofei, theirpanions couldn''t help but stare at the two of them. Tang Liyan had to blink not only once, but twice as she nced between her manager and Bai Qingyue. It was only then that she was reminded of the resemnce between the two.


    Bai Qingyue''s manager cleared her throat and nced at Tang Liyan and Su Xiaofei.


    "Don''t think that because Bellissima invited you to join the next campaign, you would be able to use Xiao Yue as a stepping stone." She was full of hostility towards the two.


    "Hmm?" Su Xiaofei cocked her head to one side to face Zhang Ling, who was standing between her and Tang Liyan. "Lingling, do you hear something? It seems like there''s a fly buzzing near me. I hope you know how to get rid of it before it stings any of us."


    Zhang Lingughed behind her hand, making Bai Qingyue''s manager fume in anger.


    "Don''t worry, Miss. We won''t allow any insect to touch even a strand of your hair and Miss Tang''s."


    "Y-you!" Luo Cheng, Bai Qingyue''s manager, hadn''t expected that Su Xiaofei would say such words.


    "Calm down, Luo Cheng. Don''t start a fight. We wouldn''t want rumors to circte that we are bullying Miss Tang when we are not." Bai Qingyue''s voice immediately shut her manager''s mouth as she gave the woman a pointed look.


    She then turned her gaze to the blinking number on top of the elevator doors, ignoring Su Xiaofei''s party. Bai Qingyue then remembered Mo Yuchen''s warning about Su Xiaofei having a poisonous tongue, and it made sense to her why their CEO would be annoyed with Su Xiaofei if thetter also spoke the same way to him.


    Tang Liyan narrowed her eyes on Bai Qingyue. If Bai Qingyue knew what her manager did was wrong, howe she never offered an apology towards them? If Su Xiaofei wasn''t with her at the moment, she didn''t think she would be able to remain calm after hearing such a ridiculous usation from Bai Qingyue''s camp.


    She then nced at Su Xiaofei, who only shook her head in return, reminding her of what she had said earlier. Tang Liyan could only bite her inner cheek, fists clenching on her side as she thought of how Su Xiaofei was trying to protect her even now.


    Su Xiaofei was no doubt younger than her, but it seemed to Tang Liyan that the young woman had gained enough knowledge and patience many old people attained after living for quite some time.


    When the elevator stopped at their destination, Su Xiaofei allowed Bai Qingyue''s team to leave before grasping Tang Liyan''s wrist to stop her from confronting Bai Qingyue.


    "It''s a waste of time arguing with them, don''t you think?"


    "But Miss Su, do we really have to endure all the nasty things they were saying? I''m also afraid that they will implicate you and cause a rumor." Tang Liyanined.


    The corner of Su Xiaofei''s lips curled into a devilish smile, allowing her bodyguards to be aware that their miss was up to no good again. It was not surprising that she became their master''s woman.


    "You really want to get even with them?" She questioned Tang Liyan.


    "En. I didn''te here to use Bai Qingyue''s poprity anyway. Since Miss Su deemed that this campaign would help to further my career, I trust you, but I can''t just stand it when they are disrespectful of you."


    Su Xiaofei hummed and adjusted the light blue dress that Tang Liyan was wearing today. Her queen wasn''t wearing any makeup today, as per her instructions. The reason behind this was because she wanted the management of Bellissima to see how beautiful Tang Liyan was, even without makeup.


    "I have high hopes for you, Miss Tang. In fact, if you haven''t encountered a hup before, I have no doubt that you would have surpassed Miss Bai''s poprity by now. Don''t sell yourself too short. When ites to acting and modeling, you are far superior to Miss Bai. You better show them what made you a queen."


    With Su Xiaofei''s reassuring words, Tang Liyan finally found the confidence she needed for today.

 Chapter 315 - Collaboration With Bai Qingyue (3)

    Bai Qingyue''s manager was still fuming mad due to Su Xiaofei''s remarks earlier. She believed that Tang Liyan was just using Bai Qingyue to increase her poprity and hated the idea of her talent sharing the stage and spotlight with Tang Liyan.


    "I still don''t understand why CEO Mo agreed to this arrangement." She muttered next to Bai Qingyue. "Isn''t it obvious that they are just trying to use you to boost Tang Liyan''s poprity?."


    "Don''t say that, Luo Cheng. Since CEO Mo has agreed, wouldn''t that mean he has confidence that they wouldn''t be able to get what they wanted from us? On the bright side, by having me and Tang Liyan in a shoot together, it would prove that our rtionship isn''t as bad asizens thought it is. If there''s anything, this would keep their mouths talking about us for some time, making myself relevant." Bai Qingyue replied with a gentle smile on her lips. It seemed that she wasn''t bothered beingpared to Tang Liyan at all.


    Her manager frowned, still refusing to ept Bai Qingyue''s exnation.


    "Whatever you say, I can see that Tang Liyan would reap more advantage than you."


    Bai Qingyue shook her head and could only sigh.


    "You have to remember that a crisis is also a turning point that we could take advantage of. How many times have other actresses dared to use my name but failed? You shouldn''t forget about it, Luo Cheng." She said before they were greeted by one of the assistants of Bellissima.


    When her manager didn''t say anything, Bai Qingyue gave her a curious look.


    "Why? Are you afraid that I will lose to Tang Liyan?" She asked.


    "That''s impossible!" Luo Cheng eximed. In her eyes, no one could be as good and as beautiful as Bai Qingyue, although she was startled when Su Xiaofei suddenly crossed her mind, but she immediately pushed the thought aside.


    They reached the conference room before Su Xiaofei and Tang Liyan arrived. Su Xiaofei entered in her usual imposing manner, while Tang Liyan had a calm expression, far from the agitated mood she had prior to their arrival.


    She ignored Bai Qingyue and Luo Cheng and turned her head to face Su Xiaofei instead. Tang Liyan was aware of the current fiercepetition in showbiz. With new and refreshing faces emerging, left and right, doing her best wouldn''t be enough.


    She understood now why Su Xiaofei epted this endorsement, despite her modeling skills which wereckingpared to the more experienced Bai Qingyue. There was no way she would admit defeat easily this time!


    Mr. Netto, a senior executive at Bellissima, weed Bai Qingyue and Tang Liyan. However, facing Su Xiaofei, he was caught off guard once he found out that she was the one whom he had been discussing with regarding Tang Liyan''s contract for the past few weeks.


    He didn''t think that Tang Liyan''s manager could be this young and beautiful. Initially, he thought that this young beautiful woman was a junior Tang Liyan brought with her to apany her, but who would have thought that she was Tang Liyan''s manager for over five years now and Bluemedia''s current managing director.


    "Miss Su, thank you for making this coboration possible." He said, giving Su Xiaofei a firm handshake. It had been a challenge for Bellissima to make Bluemedia agree to this coboration, knowing how fierce theparison between the two queens was.


    The management thought that Bluemedia was giving them a hard time and even went as far as offering Tang Liyan the same treatment andpensation Bai Qingyue would receive, which was far from what Bellissima had decided.


    "The pleasure is mine, Mr. Netto." Su Xiaofei smiled, but she was sure it didn''t reach her eyes. "I hope we aren''t toote for the contract signing."


    "Oh, no, Miss Su. You and Miss Tang just made it on time. We haven''t even started yet." Mr. Netto replied, gesturing for the two women to take a seat across from Bai Qingyue and Luo Cheng.


    After the contract signing with both parties and Bellissima, Mr. Netto''s assistant didn''t waste time and handed the itinerary of the photo shoot as well as the schedule for the video advertisement to Su Xiaofei and Luo Cheng.


    Both parties were expected to have the photo shoot with a renowned photographer the next day. However, seeing his name on the document Mr. Netto''s assistant had given to her, Su Xiaofei''s eyes narrowed dangerously and started to emit a dangerous aura that was threatening to unleash anytime.


    Zhang Ling instinctively stepped back from their miss, not sure what was going on, while her elder sister remained calm, wondering what Su Xiaofei had seen on the paper she was holding for her to act like this.


    Even Mr. Netto had sensed the sudden change in Su Xiaofei''s expression. He wondered if Su Xiaofei wasn''t satisfied with the details of the schedule they prepared for the rest of the week.


    "Miss Su, is there a problem?" He asked out of curiosity.


    Su Xiaofei blinked and the threatening aura she emitted earlier disappeared immediately, making those people wonder if it was there in the first ce.


    "No." She smiled, but her face remained cold. "Just thinking that we would be busy these days."


    Mr. Netto nodded. "We are indeed on a tight schedule. I wish we could give you a quick tour, but let''s consider it once everything is settled."


    Su Xiaofei agreed and decided to leave at once, once the pleasantries had been exchanged between them. She remained silent as they made their way out of Bellissima, leaving herpanions confused and worried by the sudden change of her mood today.


    None of them tried to question her anymore, not because they were afraid, but because they weren''t sure how they would be able to help Su Xiaofei if something had upset her.. Su Xiaofei wasn''t a person who wore her heart on her sleeve anyway and she rarely expressed what she thought.

 Chapter 316 - Returning The Favor (1)

    Once they returned to their hotel suite, Tang Liyan decided to leave Su Xiaofei alone, as thetter obviously wanted to be left on her own for now. Even the Zhang sisters decided to make themselves scarce for a moment, to allow her to clear her thoughts and calm down from whatever that had upset her earlier.


    Su Xiaofei cupped her chin as she sat with her legs crossed on the leather couch in the living area of their suite, flipping the folder that was lying on herp open. Her gaze stopped at the familiar name of the photographer printed on the paper.


    She shut her eyes and took a calming breath. She knew this photographer from her previous life. Su Xiaofei first met him when she and Ye Mingyu were forced to work together in a coboration for a print ad. However, at that time, news about her bullying her colleagues and rumors about her being a mistress of some politician, despite her being married to Mo Yuchen already, were rampant.


    Such malicious gossip and rumors could easily be put down with a husband like Mo Yuchen, but it took time before the scandal disappeared and be forgotten by the people. By the time it cleared, she had already taken a heavy blow not only on her career but also on her reputation.


    At that time, Su Xiaofei had endured the criticisms and rudements being thrown at her, but she remained professional and went on time to her scheduled obligations, except for that time she arrivedte for their photoshoot due to the conflict of her schedule.


    Ye Mingyu''s photos had already been taken prior to her arrival and she had left before Su Xiaofei did, leaving her in the photographer''s care. While her assistant was away, Liao Yang had mockingly told her that with her figure, she was more fit to be a nude model than being an actress.


    "Ridiculous. I''m a married woman. Do you think you can offend me like this without offending my husband?" She said, full of disgust for the man. She wasn''t about to show any weaknesses in front of him, and stopped her tears.


    Liao Yang burst intoughter, further angering Su Xiaofei. She was flustered to know that people could disrespect her like this. While it was true that she didn''t get along well with the other talents she previously worked with, the one she bullied was Ye Mingyu.


    "If your husband is really into you, he would have stepped forward and defended you, don''t you think?" He said in a mocking tone, before his eyes swept through her body shamelessly. "It must be because you have really climbed into someone''s bed and forced him to wear a green hat."


    Su Xiaofei could only grit her teeth and walk away, failing to do her part in the photoshoot. She didn''t care what consequences she would have to faceter. She would rather lose this contract and pay penalties than to work with that nefarious person.


    It also hurt her to admit that what Liao Yang said about her husband was true. If Mo Yuchen really cared for her or was concerned about her, he wouldn''t let any person defame her like this.


    Deep in her own thoughts, Su Xiaofei was startled when her phone suddenly rang. She sighed and ced down the folder on top of the coffee table to answer the phone, which turned out to be a call from Lu Qingfeng.


    Su Xiaofei cursed her luck. They were just reunited and yet now Su Xiaofei needed to endure another week of not seeing him in person again.


    "Did something happen? Zhang Ling mentioned you aren''t in a good mood today." Lu Qingfeng asked.


    Su Xiaofei stopped questioning him about the Zhang sisters and epted that she wouldn''t be able to hide much from him.


    "Just a little annoyed that I have to meet a horrible person soon." She muttered, realizing toote that Lu Qingfeng might not even know who she was talking about.


    Su Xiaofei then thought that if it was Lu Qingfeng who was in Mo Yuchen''s ce in her previous life, she was certain that those people who wanted to defame her would meet their ends in a bad way.


    "Why? Has that person said something bad about you before?" Lu Qingfeng asked. "Feifei, if people say something bad about you, judge you as if they know you, you don''t need to feel bad. Just remember that dogs bark excessively at strangers. Don''t let them get on your nerves."


    Su Xiaofei could feel her anger diminishing as she heard Lu Qingfeng''s words. She was d that there was a person whom she knew she could rely on and be herself with, without worrying about what he would think of her.


    "Don''t stress yourself too much. I know you are hesitating to get through this trip of yours. If you think that you are more needed here, I can ask Zhang Lan and Zhang Ling to take you home."


    "It''s fine. Just like you said, I shouldn''t mind their opinions that much. I just want this trip to be over soon, so I can return to you and Mama." She said with a slight blush on her cheeks.


    "You aren''t the only one who''s worried, Feifei. Without me by your side, I''m worried that someone would dare to bully you. It seems I am right." Lu Qingfeng said with a hint of regret in his voice.


    If Su Xiaofei hadn''t been so worried about her mother, he would have rather apanied her on her trip. However, seeing her distress and uneasiness at the idea of leaving her mother alone, he decided to stay and apany Yun Qingrong instead.


    "It''s only been two days since I left. Since when did our Lu Qingfeng learn to say such sweet words? Didn''t you say you hate sweet things?"


    "Hmm? Apparently, the only sweet thing I can tolerate is you."

 Chapter 317 - Returning The Favor (2)

    Su Xiaofei scoffed loudly, but the genuine smile on her face was a giveaway that her mood had somewhat improved after talking with Lu Qingfeng. Perhaps it was because she had never experienced something like this before, and perhaps because she could only lower her guard and be herself around Lu Qingfeng.


    The only thing she couldn''t be honest with him about was the fact that she was reborn, and she managed to retain most of her memories from her previous life. Even if she shared it with him, Su Xiaofei wasn''t sure if Lu Qingfeng would believe her, despite them being in a rtionship.


    "I hope your trip won''t be extended. I''m already missing you." She heard Lu Qingfeng admit.


    Su Xiaofei smiled and took a deep breath, allowing herself to finally rx.


    "I will be back before you know it." She replied, though she also wanted to be home right now, more than anything else.


    "By the way, I just received a call from President Qiao. Qiao Tech has already remitted our profit for this quarter, which means that you''ve already reached your one hundred million target."


    Su Xiaofei''s brows shot up. She hadn''t expected that she would really be able to reach her target in five years with Lu Qingfeng''s help. Although she knew that her biological father''spany would flourish around this time, Qiao Fengying managed to avoid losses along the way due to her and Lu Qingfeng''s funding.


    "That''s thanks to you, Lu Qingfeng. I wouldn''t be able to reach my goal this early if you haven''t helped me with it."


    "Now that you''ve reached your goal, what do you have in mind, Feifei?" He asked.


    Since Su Xiaofei was aware that she wasn''t as smart as Lu Qingfeng when it came to handling money, she had allowed him to manage the fund she was keeping hidden from her mother. After all, Yun Qingrong might wonder where she obtained such a hefty amount of money, but no one would question Lu Qingfeng, as his family was obviously better off than hers.


    "Dear, do you think we would be able to buy some of the Golden Star shares without the Mo family noticing?" She asked.


    This was something she had in her mind since she sorted out her thoughts after her rebirth. However, she was also aware that it wouldn''t be easy, as the Mo family wouldn''t let the others get their hands on their family business. It would be foolish for her to face them head on recklessly.


    When Su Xiaofei didn''t hear any response from Lu Qingfeng''s side, she wondered if Lu Qingfeng was mad at her for even thinking about Mo Yuchen again. Mo Yuchen used to criticize her whenever she was being close to another man, and he even went as far as forbidding her to visit Lu Qingfeng when thetter was in a deepa after their marriage.


    Su Xiaofei didn''t think that she wanted to experience such toxicity in her life ever again, and she didn''t want her rtionship with Lu Qingfeng to be ruined because of another man.


    "It''s not that I still want to notice me, but I couldn''t let go of this grudge I have in my heart¡­" She tried to exin, feeling that she needed to make it clear to Lu Qingfeng.


    "Feifei, there''s no need for you to exin. When you told me years ago that you were over him, I believed you. If it makes you happy to see the Golden Star in shambles and Mo family''s downfall, that I shall make it happen for you."


    Su Xiaofei released a breath she didn''t know she was holding and started tough awkwardly. Based on what Lu Qingfeng said, wouldn''t that mean that he was still walking on his path of bing a tyrant in the future?


    "You would really dirty your hands just to make me happy?" She questioned him.


    "You always say that you are a selfish person, Feifei, but don''t you know you aren''t the only one? I''m a selfish person too. Since Mo Yuchen had bullied you for years, making you cry, why should I pity him? Your happiness is my utmost priority now."


    Su Xiaofei didn''t know if she should feel guilty because Lu Qingfeng was willing to harm other people because of her or not.


    "It''s my choice, Feifei. You don''t need to think too much about it." Lu Qingfeng said as if he knew what she was thinking at that moment. "It doesn''t matter if people don''t understand, so long as we trust each other."


    "Okay." Su Xiaofei epted his answer. Since he had put it that way, she could only hope that Lu Qingfeng wouldn''t regret helping her this time.


    "So, about my question¡­"


    "It''s possible, Feifei, but as you know it won''t be easy. We might need to ask for others'' help for this, and I know just the right person who could help us." Lu Qingfeng assured her.


    "Do you trust this person? How sure are you that he wouldn''t betray us?"


    "I don''t think Song Yiran would do such a thing." He said in defense, surprising Su Xiaofei.


    She hadn''t expected that the person whom he was talking about would be Song Yiran.


    "Why him?" She asked curiously. So it turned out Song Yiran wasn''t just a friend. No wonder he came all the way to ask for news when the car ident happened. She trusted Lu Qingfeng, but the same couldn''t be said about Song Yiran.


    "You might not know it, Feifei, but Song Yiran is my partner in the smallpany we started three years ago."


    Su Xiaofei could remember him mentioning thispany in the past, but he imed that he wasn''t active in managing thepany and left the responsibility to his partner.. With his busy schedule at Lu Corporation and bncing his time with his master''s degree, it would be hard for Lu Qingfeng to be present everywhere.

 Chapter 318 - Returning The Favor (3)

    Once her phone call with Lu Qingfeng ended and her mood finally brightened up once again, Su Xiaofei noticed that the Zhang sisters had returned. It seemed like they had sensed her foul mood earlier and decided to leave to give her some privacy to calm down, which Su Xiaofei greatly appreciated.


    These two sisters had been with her for over five years now, and they had learned to understand her needs without her mentioning them.


    Zhang Ling would be the one to make sure that she wasn''tte for her appointments and had been a great help to her when she started working at Bluemedia. Meanwhile, the elder Zhang sister, Zhang Lan, had been patient with her, helping her to train her body by sparring with her from time to time.


    It was a pity that she couldn''t give these two a break, considering how jam packed her schedule was recently. Su Xiaofei wouldn''t mind allowing them to take a vacation anytime soon if she could give them one.


    "Miss Su, I''ve already coordinated with the staff. Miss Tang is expected to be there at seven in the morning for her photoshoot, while Miss Bai is scheduled to have hers in the afternoon." Zhang Ling reported, but there was a slight frown etched on her face that told Su Xiaofei that the younger Zhang wasn''t pleased with the details she received earlier.


    "What''s wrong, Zhang Ling? You seem upset about something?" Su Xiaofei asked as she cupped her chin, allowing some strands of her long hair to flow down her shoulders.


    "I just think that this is unfair for Miss Tang." Zhang Ling replied, her voice had a hint of annoyance in it. "They should have known how freezing cold it is these days, especially in the mornings. I''ve seen the clothes Miss Tang would have to use and I can tell you, Miss Su, even your nightdresses are thicker."


    Su Xiaofei wasn''t surprised to hear this. Since Bai Qingyue had been the face of Bellissima for so many years, it was only natural that Luo Cheng could use it to their advantage. They probably requested that Bai Qingyue should shoot her photos in the afternoon and force the staff to work with Tang Liyan instead.


    Given that it would be the first time they would be working with Tang Liyan, any mistake she made would only be used against her and she would bepared to the more professional Bai Qingyueter.


    "Miss Su, do they think they could bully Tang Liyan like this? I really think it''s unfair that she''s being used to make Bai Qingyue standout." Zhang Ling continued.


    "Ah, Zhang Ling. Don''t you find it funny? You think that Bai Qingyue''s team is purposely doing this to make her standout and yet, her manager is iming that we are here to use Bai Qingyue as Miss Tang''s stepping stone instead."


    Zhang Ling scoffed and saw her sister from the corner of her eye, going to the kitchen to check for tea or coffee she could brew. Unlike her, Zhang Lan didn''t have an interest in gossip and schemes people had around them.


    Zhang Lan would rather focus on her work and make sure that her body was in the best condition to be able to protect Su Xiaofei from any harm.


    "They must have thought that Bai Qingyue is a goddess and everyone should kiss the path she walked on. Ridiculous. She and Miss Tang already have the same status as a queen. Shouldn''t this be enough reason to deny their allegations?" She muttered under her breath.


    Since she was the one helping Su Xiaofei with the contracts and job offers her talents were receiving, Zhang Ling obviously saw the initial offer Bellissima presented to Bluemedia for this coboration.


    Su Xiaofei understood why Zhang Ling was irritated, and she had no doubt that Tang Liyan might be upset with it as well, albeit, she was keeping these thoughts to herself, knowing that she was in no position toin.


    Also, while it''s true that Tang Liyan had a status of a queen due to her magnificent performance in acting, she didn''t have as many endorsements as Bai Qingyue, who obviously had more experience than her.


    "I doubt that I would be able to sway Bellissima and the rest of the staff to dy Miss Tang''s photoshoot. It would only look like we are giving them a hard time this early, and she''s being a prima donna." She told Zhang Ling.


    When she saw the itinerary, she had already suspected that something was up. Since Zhang Ling took the initiative to check the venue of the photoshoot, it was normal that she had picked up something along the way. Perhaps, Zhang Ling had read the atmosphere and connected the dots herself. With the unfavorable weather, the crew should have considered Tang Liyan and Bai Qingyue''s welfare before the shoot.


    "Does this mean that we couldn''t do anything to help Miss Tang?" Zhang Ling asked, but as she looked at Su Xiaofei''s face, she understood that they could only proceed with the scheduled shoot without causing trouble.


    If only they could request for Tang Liyan''s photoshoot to be moved to the next afternoon, it would have been better. However, what Su Xiaofei said was right. Everyone''s eyes would be on Tang Liyan, waiting for her to make a small mistake before they pounced on her.


    If Tang Liyanined now, Su Xiaofei would have to get involved and mediate between Tang Liyan and the photoshoot crewter. There was also no assurance that this issue wouldn''t get out of hand and reach the media.


    "It''s no point to argue with them now, but Zhang Ling, you should know that whenever someone dared to offend us, we always made sure to return the favor a hundredfold. Also, we should trust Miss Tang. I''m pretty sure this won''t be the first time she encountered something like this.. She would know how to deal with it."

 Chapter 319 - Destroy Who Would Dare To Get In Her Way (1)

    Passersby curiously looked at the photo equipment set around early that morning. Tang Liyan could hear them speaking, but none of the words that they had spoken made sense to her. She only knew how to speak the basic phrases and words that she learned from her trantor.


    However, it was different for her manager who was apanying her today. Su Xiaofei had an excellent ent, and she spoke fluently. She didn''t have any difficulty conversing and expressing what she needed from the rest of the crew.


    Tang Liyan was grateful that Su Xiaofei had decided toe with her for this trip, as she wouldn''t have known what to do if she only had her assistant and trantor to rely on.


    However, today, she noticed that Su Xiaofei was on guard and had been paying extra attention to the details of the shoot. She had arrived with her bodyguards earlier than anyone at the venue, ensuring that Tang Liyan''s needs would be provided.


    "If my talent falls sick because of your ipetence, would you be willing topensate for the jobs she would loseter on?" She said when someone from the crew sneered at how demanding Tang Liyan''s party was.


    That person could only swallow her own words as she felt like she was being devoured alive by Su Xiaofei''s intimidating face. There was no doubt that she was beautiful, but Su Xiaofei was also frightening at the same time.


    "Okay, people," Liao Yang pped, getting everyone''s attention, before turning his attention to Tang Liyan, who had just gotten her hair done, with her face clean from any makeup. "We''re going to start now. Miss Tang, if you could pleasee here¡­"


    Tang Liyan wordlessly stood up from her seat and went to the staged tform at once. She shivered as the cold wind passed through her thin clothes, but she had already expected that this would happen.


    Su Xiaofei had earlier asked for her opinion regarding her itinerary or if she had anyints about it, but she insisted on doing the photoshoot regardless of what was waiting for her. She knew that some people weren''t pleased that she was going to share the spotlight with Bai Qingyue, and chose to ignore them anyway.


    "It''s okay, Miss Su. I can take it. I''m not that delicate." She told Su Xiaofei. She was moved that her manager had shown concern towards her. Tang Liyan didn''t doubt that Su Xiaofei would intervene and would try to negotiate with the photographer if sheined about her arrangements.


    Even those professional models couldn''t be picky when ites to situations like this and could only suck it up. What right did she have toin? It wasn''t like she would need to work throughout the day in this harsh weather. She only needed to endure until noon.


    A little flustered, she smoothed her skirt and then adjusted the thin sleeves on her costume. Even though she had practiced a lot before this day, she was still nervous about this campaign.


    On the sidelines, Zhang Lan prepared a seat for Su Xiaofei at a spot where they could easily watch the photoshoot without disturbing the rest of the crew. The weather today was colder than usual, but it didn''t deter Su Xiaofei from showing her support towards Tang Liyan.


    Next to her, Zhang Ling tried not to shiver from the coldness. She nced at her miss, wondering how she seemed to be unaffected by the cold weather.


    Su Xiaofei eyed the set of the photoshoot as she sat in the corner, legs crossed. The tform was set over a huge pool that reflected Tang Liyan''s form on its clear surface. The archways were high and seemed stable, and thetticed work wasyered and tall enough that Tang Liyan could walk throughfortably.


    ''It shouldn''t cause an ident.'' She thought as she pondered the chances of it falling over Tang Liyan. Her eyes then shifted to Liao Yang, noticing the mocking look on his face as he looked at Tang Liyan.


    "Miss Tang, I heard that you can dance. Is that true?" He asked.


    Tang Liyan blinked at the sudden question and nodded. She used to dance a lot during her younger years, but ever since she got married and had a kid, that was long forgotten.


    "I used to." She said in response. "Do you want me to dance?"


    "Yes! I want to see you in motion and with the clear water reflecting your image, I want to get some good shots." The photographer confirmed.


    Su Xiaofei narrowed her eyes on that. Did he really want Tang Liyan to dance in such freezing weather? Not only was she wearing a thin costume dress and heavy jewelry, the tform was also narrow, but if the actress fell into the clear water, she had no doubt that Tang Liyan would easily fall sick from it.


    She wondered if this was a ploy from Bai Qingyue''s team, but she easily dismissed the idea, seeing the arrogant smirk on Liao Yang''s face.


    Su Xiaofei wasn''t certain what to do with this man, since the circumstances she had in her previous life were far from what she had today. Not only did she change her career paths, but she was also not popr this time. There was no reason for Liao Yang to offend her, but it irked her to know that he would have done it all over again if things remained the same.


    "I understand now why Miss asked me to do a background check on Mr. Liao. He''s really not a good person." Zhang Lingmented next to her. "But why didn''t Miss use this to demand Bellissima to rece him? It''s obvious that he''s up to no good."


    Zhang Lan shook her head and sighed.


    "If it''s that easy, Ling''er, Miss Su has already done it.. Can''t you see that we are at a disadvantage now? We are under scrutiny and anything we do may be used against us."

 Chapter 320 - Destroy Who Would Dare To Get In Her Way (2)

    Su Xiaofei smiled, impressed that Zhang Lan could see the bigger picturepared to her younger sister. Although the evidence of Liao Yang''s misdeeds were in her hands, it wasn''t the right time to strike yet. If she were to destroy Liao Yang, she would have no future waiting for him after this encounter.


    Meanwhile, back to Tang Liyan. She eyed the tform and took a deep breath before removing her flip-flops and stepped barefoot on the tform, instantly making her shiver at how cold it was. Her eyes sought the crowd and looked for Su Xiaofei and once she met the younger woman''s gaze, she was reassured that she had someone to watch her back this time.


    She hardened her expression and walked across the tform until she reached the center. The wind howled and shivered hard this time, the coldness now piercing through her bones, but she willed herself to calm down.


    "We can start shooting whenever you are ready." Liao Yang said, reminding her of the task she had on hand.


    Tang Liyan hadn''t danced for a long time, and she knew that a single mistake would plummet her down the clear waters in front of her. The clear water and the mirror-like surface gave her an idea as she stepped on the edge of the tform, arched her barefoot and stuck her leg out to the side.


    The space of the tform was narrow, and dancing here would surely mean she would fall into the water if she was an inexperienced dancer. Slowly she drew the foot back to the other as she was confident that her clothes and jewelry she was wearing wouldn''t obstruct her movements.


    She became confident and twirled around, leaving a mesmerizing reflection in the water as the photographer continued taking shots while the rest of the crew were rendered speechless watching her dance confidently on the narrow tform.


    As Tang Liyan continued to dance and spin around, Su Xiaofei smiled with ridicule, watching everyone''s expression. Did they really think that Tang Liyan became a queen with no skills under her belt?


    If they continued to bully and ridicule her talent, Su Xiaofei didn''t mind ying dirty tricks on them, forcing them to be jobless for the rest of their lives. If they think they could have their way and bully Tang Liyan with her around, they must have underestimated her as the queen''s manager.


    From the corner of her eye, she spotted two women conversing lowly to each other while giving Tang Liyan a disapproving look. A momentter, one of them left and went to the tent specifically set for Tang Liyan. Whatever those two women talked about, they were surely intending to cause trouble for Tang Liyanter.


    "Zhang Lan, go. You know what you should do with her." Su Xiaofei said in a low voice, but it was enough for the elder Zhang sister to hear her order.


    "As you wish, Miss." Zhang Lan bowed slightly and left in a hurry.


    The rest of the crew were unaware of it, but the Zhang sisters had installed several cameras within the venue to keep everyone in check. Su Xiaofei didn''t believe one bit that Bai Qingyue''s team would leave Tang Liyan alone. It was obvious that they couldn''t stand knowing that Bai Qingyue needed to work with her for this campaign.


    It made Su Xiaofei wonder if Mo Yuchen had a hand in all of this, but it wouldn''t matter if he was involved or not because she would destroy anyone who would dare to get in her way. A thorn would still pierce, so there''s no need for her to hesitate and get rid of it.


    The photoshoot continued and no matter how hard Liao Yang tried to stir Tang Liyan to make a mistake by instructing her to make more difficult poses, Tang Liyan was able to pull them off, leaving him frustrated and irritated at the same time.


    When the photoshoot was finally done, Tang Liyan wasn''t the only one who was able to sigh in relief, Zhang Ling was relieved as well. They both thought that something might happen during the photoshoot that would inconvenience them.


    However, just as Tang Liyan stepped down from the tform, she heard her assistant scream from the tent that was allocated for her. She hurriedly went to see what had happened and found everything inside thrashed, the clothes she was wearing torn beyond recognition.


    She found her assistant, Zhou Jingmei crying in the center of her tent. Tang Liyan was aware that the others were also curious as to what might have happened inside, but wouldn''t dare to step inside the tent, invading her privacy.


    "What''s wrong, Xiao Mei? Are you hurt anywhere?" Tang Liyan asked in panic. She didn''t care if she had nothing to wear now after her photoshoot. Her assistant''s welfare was more important than anything else right now.


    Zhao Jingmei had been Tang Liyan''s assistant for over a year now, and she was only twenty-one. Despite her young age, she worked harder than any assistant Tang Liyan had worked with in the past, going as far as to make sure she would be able to have spare time in between her jobs to make a call to her daughter back at home.


    This was the first time Tang Liyan had seen her assistant in tears.


    Zhao Jingmei shook her head and looked around.


    "I went to prepare your change of clothes, but when I stepped inside, everything was ruined. I''m not even sure if anything is missing." She continued to cry. "Miss Tang, I''m sorry. I should have paid more attention."


    Tang Liyan frowned. She went to her crying assistant and patted her head in an attempt to calm Zhao Jingmei down. She had known that the photography crew didn''t like her, but weren''t they going too far by doing this?


    No wonder Su Xiaofei''s guards had been up since the start of this trip.

 Chapter 321 - I Hold You Accountable (1)

    Tang Liyan was visibly angry, and she was having a hard time keeping her emotions in check, seeing how upset Zhao Jingmei was. She didn''t need to ask that the younger woman was worried about how this would impact her work as her assistant and the trouble it would cause for Tang Liyan. However, Tang Liyan was more concerned about their safety.


    The rest of the crew were murmuring just outside her tent, gossiping with each other, and not even one had stepped forward to ask if they were okay. Tang Liyan hated that she had to expose Zhao Jingmei to this nasty side of the showbiz industry, where schemes and malice were rampant. She didn''t think that a kind-hearted girl like Zhao Jingmei deserved to get entangled with these problems.


    Su Xiaofei entered the tent with Zhang Ling following behind her, but Zhang Lan nowhere in sight. Her eyes swept around, taking in the mess within the tent as if a storm had passed, destroying everything in its wake. Her face remained expressionless as she looked at Tang Liyan and her young assistant.


    "Miss Su, please don''t me Xiao Mei. If anything, please allow me to settle the tab on her behalf." Tang Liyan pleaded to Su Xiaofei. She knew that it would cost an arm and a leg for Zhao Jingmei if the production team and Su Xiaofei held the young woman ountable for the damage.


    Even before Su Xiaofei could respond, Liao Yang and the rest of the crew decided to enter and witnessed the mess inside the tent themselves. Some of them gasped upon seeing the damage, while the others couldn''t contain the snicker on their faces.


    "What happened here?" Liao Yang frowned upon seeing the mess on Tang Liyan''s tent. "What''s going on?"


    Since he was practically the head of the production team, something like this would give him a headache. Bellissima might also hold him ountable, as this happened under his watch.


    "Miss Tang, your clothes are in tatters. It''s impossible to use it now." Zhao Jingmei held the clothes Tang Liyan was wearing earlier before she changed into her costume and the skirt was torn as if someone had ruined it out of anger.


    "There''s no need for that, Miss Tang. We only needed to catch the culprit and let him or her settle the bill. I refuse to believe that one of our people would dare to inflict such a thing on one of us, especially Miss Zhao."


    Su Xiaofei tantly ignored Liao Yang''s question, her eyes narrowing as she thought how annoying these petty schemes could be. However, since it was a usual thing that happened within the industry, one can only learn how to adapt.


    Liao Yang shot Su Xiaofei a re, sensing that this young woman was ignoring him. He was the one who called the shots here, so how dare she ignore his question and refuse to answer him?


    Meanwhile, Zhao Jingmei''s eyes stung with tears upon hearing Su Xiaofei''s words. Initially, she was wary and afraid of Director Su as their boss was a little intimidating in her opinion. However, she hadn''t thought that she would stand up for her today, refusing to push the me on her.


    "Go. See if you are missing anything. I will make sure to get to the bottom of this." Su Xiaofei told the two women before pulling a chair for herself to take a seat. The more damage the culprit left, the better. She would make sure that whoever it was, they would regret crossing the line.


    Liao Yang was startled hearing her words, but the more he looked at her, the more Su Xiaofei looked enticing in his eyes. He shamelessly stared at her beautiful face, down to her ample chest, his tongue wetting his lips as he noticed her small waist and wide hips.


    How could he not notice this beauty earlier? He thought. Liao Yang thought that Su Xiaofei was a kind of domineering woman that could pose a challenge to men if they dream of conquering her.


    Zhao Jingmei ceased her tears and did as she was told, wanting nothing more but to help Tang Liyan. If what Su Xiaofei said was true, then someone must be holding a grudge against Tang Liyan and was giving them a hard time on purpose.


    Tang Liyan took pity on her and decided to assist her by checking her own belongings and found out that her keys and her wallet were missing. Thankfully, her phone was being kept by Zhao Jingmei during their photoshoot, so she didn''t need to worry if someone would snoop through her phone records and messages.


    Once she was certain that those were the only things missing, she reported to Su Xiaofei at once. Since Su Xiaofei had decided to get involved, Tang Liyan''s uneasiness was somewhat dispelled with the young woman''s presence. After working with Su Xiaofei for years now, she knew that she had a fiery temper when provoked.


    Su Xiaofei raised a slender brow and scoffed.


    "My, my. Miss Tang, just what kind of people did you offend for you to be bullied like this? Today, they dared to ruin your clothes and stole your things. Tomorrow, they might go an extra mile and harm you physically. I dare to say that I''m really disappointed at howx the security is on this production." She sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose.


    Some crew members lowered their heads, wanting to leave at once, but as they turned to step out of Tang Liyan''s tent, they were left bbergasted as they saw men in ck uniforms stationed outside, forbidding anyone of them to leave.


    "Miss Su, what do you think you are doing?!" Liao Yang roared, snapping out of his lustful fantasies about Su Xiaofei, his anger returning at once.


    "Zhang Ling, can you please do me a favor? Please summon the hotel security and call the local police.. Today, I will make sure that justice prevails."

 Chapter 322 - I Hold You Accountable (2)

    "Miss Su, you have no right to keep us here." Liao Yang gritted his teeth as he realized that this woman wouldn''t let this go so easily. He hadn''t even noticed that a group of bodyguards was camping outside the tent, keeping everyone inside Tang Liyan''s tent.


    Since Tang Liyan was a celebrity and Bellissima''s newly appointed endorser, thepany would naturally give her the perks that Bai Qingyue enjoyed. Wasn''t this the reason why some of them were upset? They thought that Tang Liyan was only trying to ride Bai Qingyue''s coattails to increase her poprity.


    "Is that so?" Su Xiaofei rested her chin on the back of her right hand as she looked at the photographer with scrutiny.


    "Since you are the one in charge of this production, I''ll hold you ountable for what happened here. Rest assured that what happened today will be reported to Bellissima and I will make sure that none of you¡­" She paused, as her cold eyes swept around the rest of the crew. "...would get another job in the future. I will make sure that whoever dared to hire you would be aware of what you have done today."


    The rest of the crew were rooted to the spot, not expecting that this scheme would be turned against them by this woman. Did Su Xiaofei have the ability to do what she had said? They wondered.


    However, as they looked at Su Xiaofei''s murderous look, shivers ran down their spine as they regretted covering up each other. Some were starting to considering clean to Su Xiaofei, just to avoid being implicated.


    "So, what do you think we should do, Mr. Liao?" Su Xiaofei continued, daring the photographer to antagonize her authority. If she couldn''t have thestugh in her past life, this time, she would make sure to let him know what regret and helplessness feel like.


    "Zhang Ling, what are you waiting for?" She continued, not breaking her gaze with Liao Yang. "Don''t dilly dally anymore, go, so we can end this once and for all."


    "Yes, Miss." Zhang Ling hurriedly went outside without a problem, leaving Su Xiaofei on her own.


    She wasn''t worried that Su Xiaofei would be left unattended for the meantime. Aside from the flock of bodyguards stationed outside, Zhang Ling didn''t think that any member of the crew knew how devious Su Xiaofei was once she was attacked.


    "How certain are you that the culprit is one of us?" Liao Yang finally asked once Zhang Ling left.


    "Hmm?" Su Xiaofei turned her head and looked at Zhao Jingmei. She didn''t think that the young woman had it in her to betray Tang Liyan. It was impossible for the other camp to bribe Zhao Jingmei to do all of this.


    "Didn''t the hotel management assure us that no other guests are allowed to enter this vicinity? That they''ve already blocked all possible entry points so that no strangers would be able to sneak in? So who else do you think could do this? I don''t think the hotel security wascking or anything, as I''ve seen them roaming around before we entered. It would be bad for them if someone did sneak in while the photoshoot was going on." She said in a matter of fact tone, giving the photographer no chance to refute her im.


    "Fine, but if the authorities prove you wrong, you better apologize to all of us." Liao Yang demanded with irritation. He couldn''t believe he was losing in an argument with a woman. He used to have the final words whenever he was in charge, not like this.


    "And what if I''m right?" Su Xiaofei challenged, certain that she wouldn''t lose this time. "Do you even know that the dress the culprit ruined is mine and not Tang Liyan''s? That dress was a limited Chanel dress fromst season. Once I find the culprit, I will drain her life savings and make her pay for the damages." Su Xiaofei held her chin high and wouldn''t admit defeat.


    "If this issue was leaked out to the public, do you think your photography team would still maintain their credibility after this?" She added, clearly threatening them.


    "We didn''t do anything wrong." Liao Yang insisted furiously. Su Xiaofei was really going all out if she dared to ruin their reputation in public. He also feared that this would cause a strain on his working rtionship with Bellissima and otherpanies he''s affiliated to.


    "You are the ones who keep implying that someone sabotaged your talent''s dress and stole her things. Why should we be held ountable for someone else''s negligence." He then shot a re in Zhao Jingmei''s way, further angering Su Xiaofei in the process.


    Zhao Jingmei''s face nched in terror, fearing that she would be the scapegoat of the real culprit if she couldn''t prove her innocence today. She nced at Su Xiaofei, begging for her help to clear her name. If she had known that this would happen, she shouldn''t have left their tent earlier.


    "Tang Liyan had sent Zhao Jingmei for an errand during the photoshoot. Do you mean to say that Miss Zhao has a double or a twin sister we don''t know that did this horrendous thing? Don''t worry, Mr. Liao, once the police and the hotel security are here, we will find out what really happened."


    "Don''t be ridiculous. I know each and every one of my crew and I know they are nothing like what you implied they are." Liao Yang was really tempted to smack Su Xiaofei''s face to shut her up. He didn''t know where Su Xiaofei''s confidence wasing from, but he decided to put her in ce!


    Su Xiaofei shook her head and sighed.. Since no one was willing to step forward and admit their sins, she would drag them to the pits of hell and make sure they regret provoking her today. What kind of viiness would she be if she couldn''t fuck up their lives?

 Chapter 323 - Inside Job (1)

    Since no one was able to leave Tang Liyan''s tent, everyone was feeling on edge, wondering what could happen to them after this. They nced at each other with fear and worry apparent in their eyes. None of them were truly innocent anyway.


    Most of them knew who was scheming against Tang Liyan and no one dared to intervene and stop it, making them the culprit''s aplice whether they liked it or not. Did Su Xiaofei know of this, so she insisted on finding the culprit using whatever means she could use?


    They eyed Su Xiaofei and shared the same thoughts. There was no doubt that she was beautiful, but she was a witch! They couldn''t think of any other word to describe Su Xiaofei but this. She was the kind of beauty that any man would covet, but was extremely conniving and scheming towards others.


    It didn''t take too long before the head of security of the hotel arrived with Zhang Ling. As the man looked at the scene of the crime, he frowned at the condition of the ce. When Zhang Ling reported to him what had happened, he couldn''t believe that someone managed to get past their security and caused amotion in here.


    "Miss Su, your assistant has exined to us about what transpired here. Rest assured that the hotel management would cooperate on your request with the authorities. We will provide the security recordings around the vicinity to find the culprit." He assured Su Xiaofei while the rest of the production crew remained silent.


    "Thank you, Sir. It''s reassuring to know that the management took our safety seriously." Su Xiaofei replied, as if she was mocking the rest of the crew. She wanted tough at how they looked right now. They weren''t like this earlier, as they gave Tang Liyan a mocking smile behind her back.


    Still, it was obvious that they would stick to each other and would cover up for the culprit, given how they were unwilling to step up and confess. If that was what they decided, then Su Xiaofei naturally wouldn''t be forgiving this time. Not only did they want to humiliate Tang Liyan, they also wanted to implicate Zhao Jingmei and make her their scapegoat. How could Su Xiaofei allow them to do that under her watch?


    Meanwhile, Zhang Ling handed a paper bag to Tang Liyan with a new set of clothes she could use to change. Even she and her elder sister were surprised by the sudden turn of events. Zhang Ling wondered if their miss was a irvoyant or something, else how did she know that someone would scheme against Tang Liyan today?


    "Thanks, Miss Zhang." Tang Liyan told her as she held the paper bag against her chest.


    "Let''s all step out and give Miss Tang some privacy to change, shall we?" Su Xiaofei''s authoritative tone resounded within the tent. With all the crew members in here, the usually spacious tent provided for the actress felt very cramped at the moment.


    The crew thought that they would be free once they stepped outside, but they didn''t expect to be greeted by local police officers who had just arrived in time, looking for the person in charge of the photoshoot, which was Liao Yang.


    Su Xiaofei was amused to see his face turning as white as paper seeing the arrival of the police officers, but then it ckened as he realized how serious this problem could be for him. She didn''t care whether Liao Yang was aware of the others'' scheme towards Tang Liyan or not, but since he owed her a great debt from her previous life, how could she leave him unscathed this time?


    Was he living under a rock all these years, where he thought he was the center of the universe and where everyone must please him? How dare a person like him think that he was above those people he bullied in the past, including her?


    Liao Yang didn''t have a choice but to cooperate with the security personnel of the hotel and with the local authorities. The security footage around the vicinity were reviewed to see if there were any uninvited guests entering the venue of the photoshoot, which were none. This only raised the possibility that the person behind this mess was part of the crew.


    "Is it really impossible for anyone to sneak in? Miss Tang is a popr celebrity anyway, and it wouldn''t be surprising if there are paparazzis or stalkers wanting to get close to her." Liao Yang was visibly enraged. He didn''t want to admit that Su Xiaofei''s assumptions might turn out to be true in the first ce. It would be a p in his face if Su Xiaofei was right.


    The head of security of the hotel shook his head.


    "It''s possible, but Mr. Liao, I''m confident in my people and I believe that our security footage doesn''t lie. It is really impossible not to notice someone sneaking in." The man reasoned out.


    Su Xiaofei nodded in agreement.


    "Then would you think that it was an inside job then?" The corner of her lips curled into a devilish smile, sending cold shivers down the spine of those who plotted against Tang Liyan. Her words implied that she wouldn''t let them off the hook so easily, keeping them on the edge.


    The head of security looked ufortable, but the police officers remained calm.


    "It''s possible, Miss Su. We certainly cannot overlook that possibility." One of them replied.


    "If that''s the case, would it be alright if we review the security footage Bluemedia has set in Miss Tang''s tent now?" Su Xiaofei suggested with a wicked smile, paying attention to everyone''s reaction.


    The two stylists who schemed against Tang Liyan felt themselves die inside upon hearing Su Xiaofei''s suggestion. None of them thought that Bluemedia had prepared their own security measures for Tang Liyan that day.. They all thought that those men in ck uniforms were Su Xiaofei''s private bodyguards.

 Chapter 324 - Inside Job (2)

    "What do you mean, Miss Su?" One of the police officers asked Su Xiaofei.


    "I mean what I said, Sir. Bluemedia takes the safety of our talents seriously, especially for Miss Tang. It isn''t new that some would dare to harm her or set her up for something she didn''t do, so as a precautionary measure, we at Bluemedia have a protocol to install security cameras in the dressing room of our talents. Of course, the only blind spot in this is where they change their clothes." She exined as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.


    "Are your talents aware that they are being recorded then?" She was questioned again.


    "Of course, Officer. Upon signing with ourpany, our talents are aware that they are being recorded. This not only helps avoidmotions and fights among our talents, it also ensures that they aren''t being harassed while doing their jobs. The sounds they make or conversations they have with others or phone calls aren''t being recorded for privacy reasons, but yes, they are informed beforehand."


    The police officers nced at Tang Liyan, who nodded in affirmation to what Su Xiaofei had just said. This had started when a B-rated actress of Bluemedia was sexually harassed by a talent from another entertainmentpany.


    Tang Liyan could remember seeing Su Xiaofei fuming with rage for the first time as she argued with the management on taking their talents'' safety seriously. Since then, Bluemedia had offered some of their talents basic self-defense sses they could take and was reminded to not be left alone on their own unless they needed to.


    It was obvious that Bluemedia couldn''t provide each of their talents with security personnels to protect them, as only the top tier stars and celebrities like Tang Liyan were given such perks.


    Thinking about it, Tang Liyan realized that she had made a grave mistake by declining to have someone to apany her and Zhao Jingmei. If only she agreed to have her own bodyguard, perhaps they would be able to avoid troubles like this.


    "If you have such security footage, why didn''t you say so earlier? Did you really have to invite everyone here and trouble these honorable officers?" Liao Yang sneered at Su Xiaofei, but he was also aware that he had only dug his own grave.


    "Eh? Is Mr. Liao expecting me to take things into my own hands? Do you expect me to give justice to Miss Tang and punish those who had sinned against her? In case you are forgetting, I''m also a private citizen. I requested their presence because of the seriousness and severity of this problem. Also, stealing is a crime, and it''s only natural that police would get involved. I also said this earlier, what if this is just a start? I would rather nip the issue in the bud before it causes more trouble in the future."


    Su Xiaofei''s words implied that the whole production crew weren''t on their side and wanted to bully her talent, which further angered Liao Yang. It doesn''t take much for the head of security of the hotel and the police officers to realize that there was tension between her and Liao Yang, the photographer.


    It made sense to them why Su Xiaofei insisted on their presence today. Not that they would approve of her taking things into her own hands, but given how serious the offense was, it would be proper if they could apprehend the culprit as soon as possible.


    "What Miss Su did is right. Things could escte quickly if they aren''t dealt with properly." The police officer said, before turning his attention to Su Xiaofei. "Then Miss Su, would you be able to give us a copy of the footage for us to review?"


    "Certainly, Officer. One of my assistants has secured the recordings. She should be here anytime soon."


    As soon as she said these words, Zhang Lan appeared and handed the officers a sh drive containing the copy of the security footage inside Tang Liyan''s tent.


    The officers immediately reviewed the footage using theptop they brought with them, with the head of security of the hotel looking over their shoulders to see for himself what happened. They fast-forwarded the recording to the time when Tang Liyan left her tent to start the photoshoot with Liao Yang.


    In the video, it can be seen that after Tang Liyan left, Zhao Jingmei tidied up the table and hung Tang Liyan''s clothes properly. Once she was done, she locked the drawer where Tang Liyan was keeping her bag and personal belongings before leaving the tent.


    "Hmm, so it''s impossible that Miss Zhao is the one who did it."


    They fast forwarded the recording again until a figure, who wasn''t part of Bluemedia''s group, stepped inside the tent. The officer paused the recording and zoomed in the frame to get a clearer view of the person.


    A collective gasp was heard once the face was erged on the screen. They turned their attention to one of the stylists of the crew, seeing how she had visibly paled upon being caught. She was one of the two women who Su Xiaofei spotted murmuring to each other earlier.


    The y button was hit, and it was revealed how she wrecked the ce and broke several things in the process. After that, she pulled out a small cutter from her pocket and started shing the set of clothes Zhao Jingmei hung earlier. She then proceeded to forcibly open the drawer and took Tang Liyan''s wallet and keys before leaving the tent stealthily as if she hadn''t done something horrible.


    "I can exin¡­" The stylist stuttered, not knowing how to defend herself. She hadn''t anticipated that she would be caught.


    "What is there to exin? From what I can see, you surely didn''t regret what you''ve done." Su Xiaofei red at her.. They must be really stupid if they thought that she would allow them to bully Tang Liyan with her around.

 Chapter 325 - Send Everyone To Hell (1)

    The stylist wished that the earth could devour her in whole at that very instance. She didn''t think of the consequences she would face if she was found out. Initially, she thought that there was no way Tang Liyan''s group would be able to pinpoint her as the culprit, as she was confident that her coworkers would have her back, that they wouldn''t sell her out.


    Unfortunately, she didn''t anticipate that Bluemedia hade prepared themselves and Su Xiaofei would be the one who would deal with the problem on hand and not Tang Liyan. How was she supposed to know that Su Xiaofei had such a trick up her sleeve? She didn''t think it was possible for the group to turn the table against them.


    "I didn''t do it on purpose¡­ I¡­" She desperately tried to think of a way to save herself, but nothing came up. Her eyes looked at her coworkers, begging for their help, but it seemed like they didn''t want to get involved with her any longer since she was caught red-handed.


    "Didn''t do it on purpose?" Su Xiaofeiughed, her expression darkened. "You mean to tell us that you created such a mess and stole Miss Tang''s belongings just because you happened to do it? Just what did Tang Liyan do to you to warrant such actions?" She added in a deep, threatening voice.


    The woman looked down in fear, aware that Su Xiaofei was staring at her like a predator ready to pounce for the kill. Her eyes turned red, but she was too afraid to cry in front of everyone.


    "Since we found who the culprit is, Miss Su, Miss Tang, what do you n to do now?" One of the police officers asked the two women. The development of this case had surely been surprising to everyone.


    Su Xiaofei crossed her arms over her chest and stared at the stylist, then to the second woman who she had no doubt was involved in this scheme.


    "Of course we would sue her for damages and possible criminal mischief, officer. Who knows, maybe she has a history of doing this to other celebrities." Su Xiaofei replied, without batting an eyelid.


    The stylist panicked and suddenly grabbed her friend, shaking her arm. Her aplice''s face turned ashen as she realized what was happening.


    "Senior! You said that no one would catch me. You assured me that nothing would happen to me." She cried hysterically as she revealed another person''s involvement with her.


    "W-what are you talking about?! Don''t say such nonsense!" The second woman eximed, much to Su Xiaofei''s amusement.


    "Hmm? Thinking about it, I think I saw the two of you talking to each other during the photoshoot." Su Xiaofei tapped her chin with her forefinger.


    "You are right, Miss." Zhang Ling interjected before pointing to the culprit''s aplice. "She also walked in front of us and went out of the vicinity."


    As she said this, the police officers reviewed the security footage of the hotel and saw that the aplice had left the venue of the photoshoot around the time that fits Su Xiaofei and Zhang Ling''s narrative.


    "Miss, can you exin how your friend is involved with this?" The police officer questioned the stylist.


    "I owed her something." The stylist huped in between her tears. "She said that if I do what she said, we are even and I won''t have to pay my debt to her. She assured me that everything is clear and no one would be able to catch me doing it."


    This was certainly a clear confession, admitting to the crime shemitted against Tang Liyan.


    The head of security of the hotel shook his head in disappointment, thinking that showbiz truly wasn''t all rainbows as everyone thought it would be. Tang Liyan had already achieved the status of a queen, and yet even she wasn''t spared from someone''s schemes. One must know how to survive to be able to stay longer in this industry.


    "What a sudden turn of events." Zhang Lingmented, but she was impressed by how their miss managed to trick everyone to think that Tang Liyan was defenseless all this time.


    "It''s alright. I believe with these officers'' help, we will be able to get to the bottom of this, so we can file the necessary charges against those who were involved. Let''s leave the investigation to them." Su Xiaofei spoke with confidence, leaving the two stylists in a state of panic.


    She could see fear washing through them, but Su Xiaofei didn''t pity them at all. If anything, they deserved all of this. Above all, they were only sorry right now because they were caught and not because they regretted what they did.


    The two women realized that they were fucked up this time, and Su Xiaofei was serious about sending them behind bars, effectively ruining their lives and careers.


    They tried to turn to the rest of the crew for help but it was ringly obvious that they were distancing themselves and throwing the two of them under the bus to save themselves.


    The culprit cried and fell on her knees. She sped her hands together, begging Su Xiaofei not to file charges against her.


    Su Xiaofei hardened her resolve and shook her head. Unlike those popr female leads, she didn''t have a magnanimous heart that could forgive another person in a heartbeat. It wasn''t like these two deserved to be forgiven after what they''d done today anyway.


    "Oh, please! We both know why you did it." She gave the woman a pointed look, as if she could see what the other woman had in her mind.


    The woman shivered under Su Xiaofei''s cold, piercing gaze. She realized that no matter how hard she begged for forgiveness, Su Xiaofei wouldn''t let her off the hook. Because of this, she turned her attention to Tang Liyan, who had been silent throughout the ordeal.


    "Miss Tang! Please forgive me for this once! I know my mistakes now.. Please spare me and give me another chance. I-I cannot lose my job!"

 Chapter 326 - Send Everyone To Hell (2)

    Indeed, Tang Liyan had been silent all this time, allowing Su Xiaofei to deal with the problem. She was impressed by how the younger woman was able to turn the situation to their advantage.


    As she looked at the stylist, kneeling on the ground, asking for her forgiveness, a feeling she couldn''t exin washed through Tang Liyan. It reminded her of several painful memories and how she had been a coward when she faced them.


    If Su Xiaofei hadn''t stepped up for her today, what would happen to her and her young assistant? She couldn''t even protect Zhao Jingmei from being falsely used by these people!


    The more she thought about it, the more Tang Liyan felt angry. Angry not only to these horrible people, but also to herself. Did they think she was a pushover that could be easily bullied at their will?


    Her mother took advantage of her for several years, her ex-husband repeatedly made her feel bad about herself to the point that she doubted her self-worth. If Su Xiaofei hadn''te and pulled her out of that hellhole, she couldn''t even imagine what kind of life her Xiaoxiao would have had.


    "Please, Miss Tang!" The stylist''s hoarse voice brought her back from her deep thoughts.


    She looked at the stylist''s eyes, then turned her gaze to Su Xiaofei, who was also waiting for her answer. It wasn''t that hard for her to understand that her manager wanted her to make a stand today.


    Su Xiaofei was right. If they don''t teach these people a lesson, they mightmit more horrible offenses in the future that could harm not only her, but also those people around her.


    "I''m not sorry for saying this, but you''re old enough to know what you are doing. You should have considered the consequences of your actions when you decided to harass me and my assistant." She said with conviction, putting everyone in shock as they never thought that the meek and kind hearted Tang Liyan had chosen to send the two stylists to jail rather than to give them a chance.


    Tang Liyan saw her beautiful manager smiling upon hearing her answer. It was clear that Su Xiaofei was satisfied with her choice this time.


    She had Su Xiaofei by her side for the past five years and although her manager was considerably younger than her and other talent managers, Tang Liyan knew that her manager wasn''t falling behind the others when ites to skills. She used to think that she didn''t deserve the title of a queen because Su Xiaofei deserved it more than her.


    "Then it''s decided." Su Xiaofei nodded. "We will leave these two under your care, honorable officers. Bluemedia would of course cooperate with you if there''s anything else you need. I will give our legal counsel a call so he could represent ourpany and Miss Tang from today onwards."


    The culprit passed out and lost her consciousness upon hearing Su Xiaofei''s words. Meanwhile, her aplice started to cry, insisting that she wasn''t involved in it at all, but the police officers won''t hear any of it and suggested that the woman call awyer to represent her instead because any words she said right now might be used against her.


    The two were taken by the police with the help of hotel security personnel, leaving everyone on the edge except for Su Xiaofei''spany.


    She then looked at Liao Yang arrogantly once the police officers were gone. His face had turned pale since the culprit was revealed.


    "Do you see now? You are so confident that none of your crew members would ever do such a horrendous thing." She scoffed before her eyes swept through the remaining crew members who couldn''t even meet her gaze and would rather look at the ground than her.


    "This isn''t the end of this. I cannot believe that the whole photography crew was onto this, ganging up against my talent. Just who do you think you are?" She sneered at them. "I''ll make sure that Bellissima will hear about this. Let''s see if you would be able to scheme and hurt others once I''m done with you."


    "Miss Su! Don''t go overboard!" Liao Yang roared in anger. It was really a challenge for him not to stride towards this woman and beat the hell out of her. Every word that came out from her mouth made his blood rise in anger.


    "Oh? I''m the one who''s going overboard now? I don''t remember ruining someone''s property just because I''m bored. Mr. Liao, this only proves that you are a weak minded leader."


    "What did you say?" Liao Yang couldn''t stop himself this time and charged forward in blind rage at Su Xiaofei.


    However, even before he could touch a single strand of her hair, he felt himself losing his ground and his back touching the hard ground before he screamed in agony. Liao Yang had never felt this kind of pain before and she couldn''t believe that a woman like Zhang Lan had managed to easily throw him without breaking a sweat.


    "My,my, so bold of you to think that you could attack me in broad daylight without facing any consequences." Su Xiaofei looked at Liao Yang, who was still writhing in pain on the ground. "More reasons for me to send everyone to hell."


    Seeing that even their photographer couldn''t have thest word with Su Xiaofei, the rest of the crew panicked.


    "Miss Su, please spare us! We really didn''t want to harm Tang Liyan."


    "It was Miss Bai''s manager who asked us to trouble Miss Tang during her photoshoot."


    "Please, Miss Su. We admit our mistakes now. Can you please reconsider your decision?"


    As they continued toe clean, one after another, a sh of disgust crossed Su Xiaofei''s face. It reminded her of her foolishness from her previous life again.. Thinking of how everyone couldn''t wait to get their chance to spite her really annoyed her even more.

 Chapter 327 - Regrets Always Comes Last (1)

    What''s the use of saying sorry now? Su Xiaofei thought. What''s the use of havingws and the police if everything could be fixed with a simple apology? Had the oue of today''s event been different, Tang Liyan and Zhao Jingmei would surely be at a disadvantage. Surely, none of the members of the crew would extend a hand and help the two resolve the problem.


    "Do you think you have a right to demand such a thing from me? This wasn''t the kind of attitude you had earlier when we all went to witness the mess inside Tang Liyan''s tent." She responded with annoyance.


    If they weren''t caught this time, Su Xiaofei had no doubt that they would be singing a different tune today. They don''t deserve her pity at all. Even if they didn''t like Tang Liyan, they should have set aside their differences and treated her professionally. Since they colluded to harm Tang Liyan today, they should all receive retribution for their actions.


    "This photoshoot ends here. I refuse to allow Miss Tang to work with people like you." Su Xiaofei said, before gesturing for Tang Liyan and the rest of her group to leave with her.


    The Zhang sisters helped Zhao Jingmei take all their belongings and rushed to return to Su Xiaofei''s side to leave with her.


    The rest of the crew panicked, their faces nched in fear as Su Xiaofei ignored their pleas. Had they known this would happen, they wouldn''t have epted Luo Cheng''s favor.


    Once they returned to their hotel suite, Su Xiaofei immediately made a call to Mr. Netto of Bellissima to inform him of what had transpired and demanded an eptable exnation why Bluemedia shouldn''t pull out from this campaign.


    The man panicked, and Su Xiaofei could sense from his tone that he didn''t expect to hear the news about the photography crew trying to gang up on Tang Liyan to harass her.


    "Miss Su, please calm down. Don''t worry, we will send another team to work with Miss Tang as soon as possible. I''m really sorry that you and Miss Tang had to experience something like this. Rest assured this won''t happen again." He tried to persuade Su Xiaofei to give them a chance to rectify their mistakes and to not back out from their campaign.


    If Bluemedia decided to pull Tang Liyan from the campaign and sue Bellissima for negligence, thepany''s reputation would be in jeopardy if the news about her being harassed by Liao Yang''s team during their photoshoot leaked out. Seeing that Tang Liyan had Director Su''s backing, this was a serious matter that thepany couldn''t afford to turn a blind eye to.


    "Don''t get me wrong, Mr. Netto. I have heard things about Mr. Liao''s reputation, but decided to give him a chance, thinking that those rumors were baseless. I see now that I have been proven wrong not only by him, who tried to physically assault me, but the rest of his team who tried to harm my talent." She replied, her tone showing displeasure regarding what happened earlier.


    Su Xiaofei was facing the floor to ceiling window that allowed her to view the cityscapes from where they were staying.


    "I get what you mean, Miss Su, and we truly regret what happened to you and Miss Tang. If you could, please consider giving us another chance to fix things. I will personally ensure that the next photography team will behave professionally and treat Miss Tang with care." Mr. Netto said on the other end of the line, hoping that Su Xiaofei would calm down and not make any reckless decisions that would cause tension between Bluemedia and Bellissima.


    Obviously, Su Xiaofei knew what Mr. Netto was thinking right now, and she was merely trying to make the man feel bad about their situation. This should effectively eradicate Liao Yang as an obstacle, giving her and Tang Liyan an advantage in this campaign.


    "Alright, Mr. Netto. I trust that you would be able to settle this problem. However, I expect that this would affect our itinerary for this week as everything would have to be pushed back." She replied.


    This only fueled her annoyance over the matter, as it would only mean a dy in her return home. She couldn''t wait to see her mother and be reunited with Lu Qingfeng.


    "Yes, that''s expected, we would move Miss Tang and Miss Bai''s photoshoot to tomorrow while we, at Bellissima, will deliberate what we should do with Mr. Liao and the rest of his team and would file legal charges if applicable."


    Su Xiaofei finished her conversation with Mr. Netto and hung up the call. She then joined Tang Liyan and Zhao Jingmei in the living area of the presidential suite where she and the actress were staying at the moment.


    "Mr. Netto agreed to rece the team that''s going to handle your photoshoot. In the future, no matter where you are, don''t easily lower your guard and let anyone bully you." She told Tang Liyan.


    Tang Liyan nodded and allowed Zhao Jingmei to return to her own hotel room to take a rest. Once her young assistant left, she lowered her head and sped her hands together in contemtion.


    "I regret now that I didn''t agree to have security personnel apany us. I should have been more careful." She said dejectedly to Su Xiaofei. "Miss Su, I want to change it. If you could, please help me arrange for someone to apany us from now on." Tang Liyan added as she made up her mind to do better in the future, not only for herself, but also for Zhao Jingmei''s sake.


    "There''s no use of self-pity, Miss Tang. It won''t lead you anywhere, but it''s good that you know what you''ve done wrong, so in the future you won''t make the same mistakes all over again." Su Xiaofei replied, pleased that at least the actress had been growing some backbone and standing for herself.

 Chapter 328 - Regrets Always Comes Last (2)

    That night, Su Xiaofei received a video call from Lu Qingfeng after her shower, just as she was getting ready to retire for the night.


    As soon as she clicked the ept button, she saw Lu Qingfeng also ready for bed with a familiar scene behind him. So he really did stay in their home while she wasn''t around to apany her mother.


    "Did something happen?" He asked as soon as he saw her. "You don''t seem in a good mood today. Did that person you mentioned before do something to you?"


    Su Xiaofei blinked, before realizing that Lu Qingfeng could understand her better than anyone else even if she didn''t say anything.


    "Well¡­ he did try to assault me, but Zhang Lan was there to teach him a lesson." She replied, knowing that it would be pointless to hide that information from him as the possibility of the Zhang sisters already rying the details to him was quite high.


    She could see his expression hardened, indicating that he wasn''t pleased with what happened.


    "Are you sure you are alright?" Lu Qingfeng hated that he wasn''t with her personally to keep her safe. It was a good thing that he could rely on the Zhang siblings to look after her.


    "Yep. Not a single strand of my hair has been touched by him." She assured him.


    "Good." Lu Qingfeng nodded, "I don''t want to hear that you''ve been harmed while you''re away from us. So what happened?"


    Su Xiaofei then proceeded to share to him the details of themotion during Tang Liyan''s photoshoot that morning and how they managed to fire the rest of the crewter on.


    "Does that mean you won''t be able toe home as scheduled?" Lu Qingfeng asked her. "I just returned and yet, you aren''t here with me."


    "I expect that it would be dyed for a day or two, but that depends on how soon Bellissima could rece the rest of the crew." She replied, a slight smile appearing on her lips as she thought that it was a good feeling to know that someone''s waiting for her back home.


    In her previous life, after Lu Qingfeng had fallen into aa and her mother''s death, Su Xiaofei felt more alone than ever. She couldn''t even get in touch with Xi Qian as she had moved away and lived quite a distance from Qiying City after marrying Mo Yuchen.


    "It''s only a few days of dy, I''m sure I''ll be home before you know it. I''m just worried about Mama." She sighed. "I have this nagging feeling that she isn''t telling me something."


    "Perhaps Aunty Qing isn''t ready to tell you herself and didn''t mean to make you worry. Do you want me to ask her instead?"


    "No." Su Xiaofei declined his offer. "If what you said is right, then I should wait till Mama tells me herself. It must be something serious and she didn''t want me to worry."


    "I see." Lu Qingfeng nodded. "I''ll keep an eye on her just in case. If it''s serious, then Aunty Qing would have no choice but to tell you what''s going on sooner orter."


    "Thank you." Su Xiaofei felt really happy to have someone like Lu Qingfeng in her life. She was thankful that she hadn''t lost her chance to be with him in this lifetime.


    "There''s no need to thank me, Feifei. Aunty Qing isn''t a stranger to me anyway, and I care about the people you love." Lu Qingfeng assured her, wanting nothing more but for her to be happy and content this time around.


    "By the way, I already talked to Song Yiran about us wanting to buy shares from Golden Star, but he said it would be better if the Mo family can''t trace it back to us."


    "Then what do we do?" Su Xiaofei had already expected that devouring Golden Star Entertainment from the inside wouldn''t be easy. Even if she had achieved her one hundred million target, there was no assurance that she would seed.


    "We are thinking of starting a newpany from scratch and getting a proxy to represent us." He replied, "but Feifei, it would be expensive as we have to make it look like it''s a realpany and not just a shellpany."


    Su Xiaofei flopped on her bed and turned to look at the monitor of herptop.


    "There goes my money." She grunted. What''s the point of going through the pain of saving all that money if she could lose it even before getting what she wanted? Su Xiaofei supposed that it was a reasonable exchange for what she wished to realise her goal.


    "I know a better way to grow your money." Her boyfriend suddenly said with a teasing tone that Su Xiaofei didn''t miss.


    "Oh? Then Mr. Lu, do you mind sharing with me what it is?" She raised a slender brow.


    "You know what it is." Lu Qingfeng gave her a grin. "You only need to ept your fate a little earlier, Miss Su."


    Su Xiaofei scoffed at that and rolled her eyes. She knew that this was his attempt to calm her down and make her forget her worries.


    "Mr. Lu, don''t you know? Patience is a virtue. You have waited years for me and now I''m already your fianc¨¦e. Why are you rushing me to be Mrs. Lu this early?"


    "Why not? It''s my dream to marry you. Of course, I can''t wait for that day toe." Lu Qingfeng said in defense. He had missed his chance to be with her twice, so it''s only natural that he was on guard this time.


    There''s no way he would allow another man to take her away again. Like Mo Yuchen said before, his logical mind was almost non existing when it came to Su Xiaofei.. Even if the whole world hated her, he would be her world and love her with all he had.

 Chapter 329 - Mother (1)

    The next morning, Lu Qingfeng had just returned to the Yun Mansion after his morning run. The sky was still dark as it was almost the break of dawn. The song ying in his earpiece kept himpany as he looked at the familiar home that Su Xiaofei had taken him into when he was merely a six-year-old child.


    Thinking about it, it wasn''t him who imed her first, but her. On that day, he met the snobby little girl and the most beautiful person he''d seen in his short years, reading a book on her own while sitting on the bench as everyone was busy ying touch ball several meters away from her.


    Young Lu Qingfeng had snuck away from his bodyguards, as he couldn''t stand being watched by others. His parents had just passed away from an ident a few months before and he was left under his grandfather''s care.


    The first time heid eyes on Su Xiaofei, he couldn''t turn his gaze away from her. He didn''t think he had seen another kid as cute and as beautiful as her, but young Lu Qingfeng wondered why she was alone. It was until she opened her mouth and chased away another kid did he realize the problem.


    "Hey, princess! Are you alone again?" The kid grinned at her mockingly.


    The girl narrowed her eyes and harrumphed, clutching the book she was reading on her chest.


    "Who would want to y with people like you?" She countered, with a hint of arrogance in her tone. To Lu Qingfeng, it looked like this wasn''t new for the girl as she seemed used to it.


    Her eyes contradicted her mouth. Although she said that she didn''t want to y with them, Lu Qingfeng could see the sadness in her eyes as the kid left her alone. Lu Qingfeng looked around, and he only found a middle-aged woman talking with another parent at the yground. He surmised that it was this girl''s nanny.


    The girl wasn''t alone, nor did he think she wanted to be. It seemed that none of the other kids around the vicinity had wanted to y with her. Given the quality of the clothes she was wearing, Lu Qingfeng could tell that she wasn''t anything like those children who liked to y in the mud and get themselves dirty.


    "What are you doing?"


    The young Lu Qingfeng snapped out his thoughts as the girl found him staring nkly at her. He was a little flustered at being caught staring and thought of the reason to exin himself. His eyes then caught the book in her hands.


    "Just wondering what kind of book you are reading." He lied, hoping that she wouldn''t question him again about his staring.


    The girl stayed silent for a moment before nodding her head, her slight curls bouncing in the process. She then patted the space beside her at the bench and gestured for him to take a seat next to her.


    "You''re new here, right? This is the first time I''ve seen you." She said with a genuine smile this time. "I''m Su Xiaofei, but you can call me Feifei if you want."


    As a child, Lu Qingfeng didn''t have many interactions with other children, so he wasn''t sure how to respond to this girl named Feifei.


    "Yes." He begrudgingly replied, but still took a seat next to her. "I live with my grandfather, but he''s always away for work."


    "Ah! Just like my Mama and my Papa." She hummed, then turned her head to look at him. "Your name?"


    "What?" Young Lu Qingfeng blinked.


    "It''s impolite not to tell me your name after I told you mine." Su Xiaofei frowned.


    Lu Qingfeng wanted to say that she was also impolite with the other kid earlier, but he didn''t dare to make her upset with his words.


    "Lu Qingfeng." He muttered, not knowing why he was even bothered by what she thought of him.


    "Since you are obviously younger than me, Xiao Feng, it is." She beamed a smile at him, which made Lu Qingfeng think that it was the most beautiful thing he saw that day. Her smile suited her.


    The two proceeded to talk about her book, and Lu Qingfeng was forced to listen to her reading the content of the book out loud. His brows furrowed as he realized that Su Xiaofei had trouble reading some words, so he helped her with it.


    "Wow, Xiao Feng. You are still young, but you are really smart." Sheplimented him with a smile.


    It wasn''t the first time Lu Qingfeng heard someonepliment him like this, but Su Xiaofei''s eyes that were glinting with admiration caught him off guard. Others only said those words in hopes of getting acquainted with him and the Lu family, so he had never taken their words seriously.


    "You think so?" He asked cautiously.


    "Of course! And I think it''s good. Look at me. I''m already nine, but I still have difficulties with it." Su Xiaofei''s tone was exceptionally sad this time, making the young Lu Qingfeng wonder what worried her.


    "Well, you are beautiful. Didn''t anyone tell you that?" He said in an attempt to see her smile again.


    "What''s the use of being beautiful if I''m not smart? Look at them." She then pointed at the children who were still caught up with their y. "They all think I''m beautiful, but just as good as a flower vase."


    Despite his young age, Lu Qingfeng understood what she meant. He didn''t dare to show her pity, as he knew that she might not like it.


    "But you, you''re cute and smart." Su Xiaofei grinned at him. "Do you want to be friends with me? My Auntie Liu always makes delicious treats for me."


    He blinked, not sure what he should tell her this time. If he declined her, it would surely make her sad. Just like him, it seemed like she also didn''t have any friends or closepanions.


    "Okay."

 Chapter 330 - Mother (2)

    Lu Qingfeng shook his head and smiled at the memories that shed through his mind. It had been ringly obvious that even when they were younger, he really didn''t have the ability to deny her of anything. He hit the pause button and the music in his ears ceased ying before he entered the Yun Mansion.


    As he entered the kitchen to take a drink, he found Yun Qingrong in a daze as she waited for her coffee to finish brewing. She was still dressed in her nightdress with a robe wrapped around her.


    Su Xiaofei was right. Lu Qingfeng thought. Her mother had been preupiedtely, and he always found her like this whenever Yun Qingrong thought she was alone.


    "Good morning, Aunty Qing." He said, announcing his presence. Lu Qingfeng was also curious what caused Yun Qingrong to act like this.


    Yun Qingrong snapped out of her daze. She turned her head and found him standing at the door.


    "Xiao Feng, you are back. I already asked the cook to prepare your breakfast before you leave for work. Is there something you need?" She replied.


    Lu Qingfeng shook his head and strode towards the refrigerator to get a drink to hydrate himself again.


    "Aunty shouldn''t have bothered, but thank you." He paused for a moment, considering his words.


    "Aunty, Feifei said that their return would be dyed. Something came up during the photoshoot yesterday, so they need to push back the schedule."


    Yun Qingrong smiled, as if she was pleased with something Lu Qingfeng didn''t quite understand.


    "Xiao Feng is too kind to me and Feifei. Might as well call me ''Mother'' instead." She giggled, which turned into a full-blownughter when she saw Lu Qingfeng''s flustered face. It wasn''t every day that someone could see Lu Qingfeng with this expression.


    "It''s because Aunty Qing and Feifei are important to me." He replied bashfully.


    Yun Qingrong smiled, took her mug of coffee and leaned against the countertop behind her. Her eyes bored into her hot drink as she contemted her next words.


    "I''m happy for you and Feifei. I knew from the moment she brought you home that you are special to her." She said after a long silence.


    Lu Qingfeng wasn''t sure why Yun Qingrong was saying these, but if it would give him some of the answers he and Feifei needed, then he was willing to give it a try and listen to her. There was no one around to eavesdrop to their conversation anyway.


    "I should also thank Aunty Qing for giving us your blessing." He knew how important it was for Feifei to know that her mother approved of their rtionship. After all she had done in her previous life, Lu Qingfeng wouldn''t doubt that Su Xiaofei wanted to rectify her mistakes, especially towards her mother this time.


    Yun Qingrong smiled and nodded. This only proved that her daughter got along really well with Lu Qingfeng.


    "It''s because I''m confident that you would treat Feifei right and won''t forsake her." She said. "I hope you will forgive me for not giving you my answer before you left for Shenjing. At that time, when you announced your intention to marry Feifei, I thought that you were making a reckless decision as you and Feifei were still too young to consider marriage. However, I can see that your resolve to take her as your wife remained the same. How could I deny the two of you if I know that being together makes you both happy?"


    "I understand, Aunty Qing. There''s no need to apologize for it." Lu Qingfeng answered. He didn''t hold it against her, and understood her unspoken answer at the time.


    "I''m not sure if Feifei has already told you this, but I''m not the person who gave birth to her."


    When Lu Qingfeng remained silent, Yun Qingrong lifted her gaze and saw the answer on his face. So he knew¡­ Perhaps Su Xiaofei had already told him the truth and this showed how deeply they both trusted each other.


    "Still, I did my best to be a good mother to her¡­"


    "Aunty Qing, please don''t doubt yourself. Seeing how much Feifei loves you, I don''t think you failed her as a mother." Lu Qingfeng couldn''t help but say when he sensed Yun Qingrong''s uneasiness of her not being Feifei''s real mother.


    "Thank you, Xiao Feng. Of course, I know that, and I''m deeply honored to be given a chance to be her mother. I used to wonder what it would feel like having your own child and bing a mother before having her. When I adopted Feifei and held her for the first time as her mother, it was the happiest day of my life."


    As she said these, Yun Qingrong''s eyes brimmed with tears. Lu Qingfeng didn''t dare to cut her this time and waited patiently for her to continue. If it would make her feel better, then he was willing to be her tree hole and keep her secrets this time.


    "I want to be there at every milestone in her life. Be there on her first day of school, witness as she walks up to the stage on her graduation day, watch as she falls in love for the first time. Of course, I wouldn''t want to see her heartbroken. I don''t think I would be able to take it if someone hurt her."


    At this, Yun Qingrongughed, but her tears were now streaming down her face uncontrobly.


    "I want to see her walk down the aisle as she gets married, to be on her side as she gave birth to her first child, assure her that everything is alright, and she would also be a great mother. She isn''t anything like her mother, who abandoned her at infancy."


    Lu Qingfeng didn''t know what to say this time. Surely, something happened to warrant this kind of reaction from her.


    "But I can''t now, even if I want to."

 Chapter 331 - Future Son In Law (1)

    Lu Qingfeng opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out. He looked at Yun Qingrong in bewilderment, before uneasiness spread in his chest as he realized the implications of Yun Qingrong''s words.


    Yun Qingrong was forced to put down her mug to pull out napkins to dry her tears. It made Lu Qingfeng feel ufortable seeing her like this as he didn''t know what he could do to help her.


    "Aunty Qing¡­ what do you mean by this?" Lu Qingfeng asked. He was a little nervous to hear her answer. He hoped that whatever it wasn''t the one he was thinking.


    Still, he mustered all the courage he had to confront Yun Qingrong. Since she had given him an opening, how can Lu Qingfeng stop here and ignore the gnawing worry on his chest?


    Yun Qingrong fell silent as if she realized the slip of the tongue she just made. Looks like she couldn''t hide the truth from everyone any longer.


    She looked at Lu Qingfeng and saw the worry in his eyes. This was what she feared she would see, especially in her daughter once Feifei finds out the truth. However, she was also aware that it would be pointless to hide this for too long, as she would only make everyone worry about her more.


    She heaved a deep breath and willed herself to calm down and trust that everything would be alright, especially for her dearest daughter. She also knew that Lu Qingfeng would be there for her daughter, just in case she needed someone to lean on.


    "Xiao Feng, actually¡­" She started, paying attention to Lu Qingfeng''s face. "Actually, I''m sick. Extremely sick, and I don''t know how to tell Feifei about it."


    There. She said it. She smiled helplessly as she thought that her time left to spend with her daughter was now limited. Yun Qingrong wasn''t willing to leave her daughter yet. Not like this.


    She found out about her illness a month before Lu Qingfeng''s return and during the time she was contemting to inform her daughter about it, the news of Lu Qingfeng''s ident reached them.


    Seeing her daughter''s devastated state over the news, Yun Qingrong decided to dy their talk, as she didn''t want to make Feifei more worried than she already was at the time. Her Feifei had been worried sick about her childhood friend''s condition, now lover, that Yun Qingrong could only hold her tongue and silently stay next to her daughter.


    When Feifei''s birthday arrived, she saw her daughter being truly happy for the first time in ages as she announced her rtionship with Lu Qingfeng. Yun Qingrong hadn''t seen her daughter this happy and she couldn''t be more happier seeing her like that.


    As a mother, how could she ruin her daughter''s special day with such horrible news about her illness? She could also see how happy her daughter was as Feifei looked at Lu Qingfeng.


    Despite her marriage with Su Haoran ending in shatters, Yun Qingrong could see the love in their eyes and the respect the two shared with each other.


    It was the kind of connection she really didn''t share with her ex-husband. She was happy that her daughter found a man who could cherish her and love her more than anyone else through Lu Qingfeng.


    "I couldn''t tell her, because I didn''t want to ruin her happiness, but I see now that my daughter can sense my distress even if she doesn''t say anything."


    She could remember the look Su Xiaofei had before she left for her business trip. It was as if she wanted to ask her, confront her about what was going on, but Feifei didn''t.


    Her daughter respected her and was willing to wait for her to muster her courage to say whatever she needed to tell her. Times like this made Yun Qingrong happy to know that she had raised such a sensible child.


    Lu Qingfeng understood the situation clearly now, and it made him worry about both Feifei and her mother. He couldn''t stop himself and strode towards Yun Qingrong, gently giving the woman a firm hug.


    When he was young, Lu Qingfeng knew that he wasn''t loved by his own parents and the person who became a father figure in his life was his grandfather. Meanwhile, Yun Qinrong provided him with the maternal love he''d been yearning for from his own birth mother but wasn''t able to receive.


    This was why he understood why Feifei held Yun Qingrong with high regards in her life. Yun Qingrong had filled the empty spaces they didn''t know existed in their hearts.


    "Aunty Qing, allow me to help you find a decent doctor and hospital facility to help you with the treatments." He said, not willing to ept that Yun Qingrong''s life would perish again.


    In his previous lives, he was aware of the impact of Yun Qingrong''s death over Su Xiaofei and he didn''t want to see her in such a helpless state all over again. He also wasn''t willing to give up easily. He wanted to help Yun Qingrong, now that he had gotten a chance to.


    Lu Qingfeng knew that despite him and Feifei being reborn, there were still things that they cannot change no matter how they tried, and that includes death.


    Yun Qingrong let a small smile cross her lips as she allowed for the young man to hold her, thinking that her daughter was really lucky to have someone like Lu Qingfeng on her side.


    As she thought of this, her worries were somewhat eased by the thought of her daughter not being alone once she had left this world. With Lu Qingfeng by her daughter''s side, she didn''t need to worry about Feifei being taken advantage of or being abused by a man like what Su Haoran did to her.


    "Thank you, Xiao Feng." She murmured, as she continued crying helplessly in his embrace.. "Thank you for being part of our small family."

 Chapter 332 - Future Son In Law (2)

    Lu Qingfeng decided to stay with Yun Qingrong that day and work from home instead. With this, he was able to get as much detail as he could regarding Yun Qingrong''s illness from her and the actual prognosis by her doctors. He pondered if he should share this information with Su Xiaofei, but decided to allow Yun Qingrong to tell her daughter herself.


    "Aunty Qing, I know it would be hard for you, but Feifei needs to be informed of this. She would me herself for not looking after you if she found outter than this." He told Yun Qingrong as they sat inside her study, keeping their conversation out of everyone''s earshot within the household.


    "I know, Xiao Feng. I know." Yun Qingrong sighed as she leaned on the backrest of the couch, shutting her eyes in the process. Thest thing she wanted to happen was to send her daughter in a fit of panic if something unforeseeable happened to her.


    "Then Aunty Qing, have you informed the Yun family about this?" Lu Qingfeng continued to question her.


    Yun Qingrong cracked her eyes open and smiled helplessly at him. That was another thing she hadn''t done yet. She was also aware that this would be a massive blow to her whole family, especially to her elderly father.


    "Unfortunately, no. I still couldn''t find the right words to tell them." She paused as she pondered about it. "Actually, I''m going to pay them a visit this afternoon. I suppose I should talk with my brothers privately and not inform my father about it for the time being. I don''t think he would be able to take it if he knew."


    Lu Qingfeng nodded in agreement. He also thought that it was reasonable for Yun Qingrong to do so. With Old General Yun''s old age, one had to be wary of what they should say to the old man. He understood that Yun Qingrong didn''t want her old father to suffer great distress because of her.


    "If Aunty Qing wants, I could apany you to meet the Yun family." He suggested not wanting Yun Qingrong to face the problem on her own. If he could somehow ease her worries, he was willing to apany her today.


    "You would do it for me?" Yun Qingrong hadn''t expected that the young man would say such a thing. She knew that he didn''t simply say it to please her daughter, but because he was truly concerned about her welfare.


    Lu Qingfeng nodded in affirmation. He couldn''t think of a reason why he shouldn''t help her.


    "I just need to finish some work, then I will be free to apany you, Aunty Qing." He said, as he nced at the time.


    Thankfully, his workload for today wasn''t as heavy as the ones he used to have back in Shenjing, when he was under the apprenticeship of his grandfather. Now, he was able to focus more on his master''s degree while keeping up with his work at thepany with ease.


    Yun Qingrong shed him a genuine smile this time. In her heart, she wished that he and her daughter would be happy in the future, even if she was gone from this world. Her illness had a low probability of survival, and the only regret she would have was not being able to spend time with these two and watch their family grow in the future.


    "Thank you, Xiao Feng. I know that you and Feifei aren''t married yet, but you are already carrying such a burden on your shoulders."


    "Aunty Qing, you shouldn''t utter such nonsense. Even if Feifei and I aren''t together, I care about you." Lu Qingfengmented. He would never see Yun Qingrong and his Feifei as a burden, no matter how difficult the problem was.


    He was willing to use all the resources he had to make sure that they were well and happy. What was the point of having all the material things in this world if he couldn''t save his loved ones?


    And so that afternoon, Yun Qingrong, together with her future son-inw, drove towards her family mansion to meet the rest of her family.


    Lu Qingfeng could sense her nervousness as they made their way to their destination. He asked if she wanted to go home instead and dy the meeting. However, Yun Qingrong shook her head and forced herself to smile.


    Once there, Yun Qingrong re-introduce Lu Qingfeng to her family as her daughter''s fianc¨¦, much to Yun Xiang''s surprise. It didn''t seem like Old General Yun and Yun Qingrong''s brothers were surprised over the good news, as they had sensed the special bond between the two years ago.


    Yun Xiang wanted to say something, but decided to hold his tongue upon seeing how the rest of the Yun family weed Lu Qingfeng as the newest member of their family. In the future, Lu Qingfeng would be his cousin-inw and he wouldn''t have any other choice but to ept it.


    "It''s a good match." Old General Yun said as he looked at Lu Qingfeng, who was seated next to Yun Qingrong. "Please take care of our Feifei well."


    Aside from the fact that Lu Qingfeng was the heir to the Lu family, they didn''t need to worry about him and Feifei getting along well since they knew each other from childhood.


    Lu Qingfeng gave the old man a curt nod. He hadn''t thought that he would be this nervous facing the rest of Su Xiaofei''s rtives, now that they were betrothed to each other.


    "I''ll try and do my best to live up to General Yun''s expectations." He replied politely, relief washing through him as Feifei''s maternal family epted their rtionship and future union.


    Yun Qingrong was beaming with pride as she looked at the young man next to her.. It would have been such a festive asion if her Feifei was here as well to celebrate her engagement with Lu Qingfeng with the rest of her family, and if she wasn''t gued by this illness.

 Chapter 333 - Facing The Problem As A Family (1)

    Yun Qingrong and Lu Qingfeng stayed with the rest of the Yun family and even had dinner with them. From the corner of his eye, Lu Qingfeng could see that his Aunty Qing was quite apprehensive about her talk with her brotherster. If the old general could sense her worries, the old man didn''t show any indication that he knew of it.


    When the time came for Yun Qingrong to leave and have a word with her brothers, Lu Qingfeng rose to his feet, intending to apany her, but the woman held his wrist to stop him. She shook his head and smiled at him.


    "It''s okay, Xiao Feng. You have done enough for this old woman. Let me take it from here." She told him.


    "If you are sure, Aunty¡­"


    Worry shed on Lu Qingfeng''s face as he looked at her. Would she really be fine on her own? He wondered.


    "I''m sure. The worst thing has already happened anyway, but thank you, XIao Feng. Knowing that you are here is enough to help me." She assured him.


    What could have been the worst aside from having cancer? Yun Qingrong thought. It was inevitable that life would end one day, because all humans live in this mortal ne anyway.


    What she resented was that her death might be longer and more painful than it needed to be. Yun Qingrong knew her body would self-destruct, day by day. The tumor will grow, spread, consume, squash the very organs that worked to sustain it. She had led a pretty good life, better than most.


    If she could make a choice, she would rather end her life sooner, taking an ''exit pill'' rather than see her daughter suffer because of her, but she wouldn''t. Because she knew that just like her, Feifei wasn''t ready to lose her yet. Heck, even she wasn''t ready to leave her daughter yet, especially like this.


    Lu Qingfeng could only watch her go on her own and hoped that things would turn out for the better. If they could face the problem as a family, Yun Qingrong wouldn''t have to suffer on her own. Su Xiaofei was still upied with work and wouldn''t be returning until the photoshoot for the Bellissima campaign was done. Until then, he could only stay with Yun Qingrong to apany her.


    As he waited for Yun Qingrong, Lu Qingfeng found himself at the patio outside the Yun Estate, looking at the darkened sky. Even at this time, not a single star could be seen from where they were, as if reminding him that they were about to face a storm they couldn''t avoid.


    "It seems as if everyone is on edge now. I wonder what''s the problem."


    Lu Qingfeng didn''t even notice that Yun Xiang had joined him at the patio, as his mind was still on the problem Feifei and Yun Qingrong were facing at the moment.


    "It''s a family matter that I can''t divulge yet." Lu Qingfeng replied with an impassive face.


    Yun Xiang frowned, not knowing whether Lu Qingfeng was saying that he didn''t know what their elders were talking about or if the younger man was implying that he, Yun Xiang, had no rights to poke into their family business, now that Lu Qingfeng was about to be Su Xiaofei''s husband.


    "We can only wait and see what will happen next." Lu Qingfeng continued, not bothering to exin what he''d said earlier.


    The two men fell into silence, deep in their own thoughts. Lu Qingfeng was thinking about Su Xiaofei, wondering what he could do to ease the pain that was about to hit her once Yun Qingrong revealed her health condition. Meanwhile, next to him, Yun Xiang had a startling realization as to why he was bothered by his tangmei''s rtionship with Lu Qingfeng.


    He lowered his eyes and cursed himself for not even realizing it earlier. So it turned out that in his eyes, Su Xiaofei wasn''t his real cousin. Yun Xiang was confused as to how he should proceed with this information.


    He nced at Lu Qingfeng, and as a man, Yun Xiang understood why Su Xiaofei would fall in love with this young man. Aside from Lu Qingfeng''s exceptional looks and family background, they have known each other since childhood. Their bond was deep and strong even before they decided to be lovers.


    "Is there something else you want to ask?"


    Lu Qingfeng''s sudden question caught Yun Xiang off guard. Did he sense his hesitation to question him? Yun Xiang pondered as he looked at the younger man.


    "I know that you aren''t happy with me being with Feifei." Lu Qingfeng said in a matter of fact tone. "But I don''t care." He added, giving Yun Xiang a pointed look.


    Yun Xiang narrowed his eyes, a little annoyed that Lu Qingfeng wasn''t even trying to give him some face.


    "Is this how you''re supposed to talk with your fianc¨¦e''s cousin?" He retorted.


    "Oh? So you know that you are Feifei''s cousin?" Lu Qingfeng chuckled, but his eyes were mocking Yun Xiang. "If you know, then I hope Lt. Yun won''t cross the line."


    Lu Qingfeng hadn''t forgotten that Yun Xiang was one of those people who persecuted Feifei in their previous life. When Su Xiaofei died, he took a lot of effort to send Yun Xiang into dangerous military missions without thetter knowing that he had used his influence.


    After years of being sent to a remote area of the country to keep the peace there, Yun Xiang came back with post-traumatic stress disorder, which he continued to suffer from throughout the rest of his life. He almost lost his sanity when Ye Mingyu had once again rejected him after her divorce with Mo Yuchen.


    Yun Xiang stiffened and stared at the young man in front of him with widened eyes. Was he that obvious to everyone? He questioned himself.. Lu Qingfeng could see the indecent feelings he harbored for his tangmei.

 Chapter 334 - Facing The Problem As A Family (2)

    "What? Cat got your tongue?" Lu Qingfeng asked when Yun Xiang hadn''t uttered a single word in response to his earlier statement.


    Did Yun Xiang think that, like him, everyone was blind to see how he perceived and treated Su Xiaofei? The way he looked at Su Xiaofei wasn''t familial at all. It was his fault that he didn''t realize it sooner and even if he was aware of it now, there was nothing else he could do because Su Xiaofei held a grudge against him from her previous life.


    "Su Xiaofei isn''t Aunty Qing''s real daughter." Yun Xiang said after a long silence. He wasn''t even sure why he was telling this to Lu Qingfeng.


    "And you think that it would change anything?" Lu Qingfeng chuckled darkly. "It seems like you and Ye Mingyu are trying to conveniently forget that Feifei is also legally adopted by Aunty Qing, hence, making her your legal tangmei."


    Yun Xiang''s jaws hardened as he couldn''t find any words to refute what Lu Qingfeng had just said. Indeed, even if Su Xiaofei wasn''t biologicslly his aunt''s, legally speaking, she was Yun Qingrong''s daughter.


    "I suppose I don''t need to remind you then, Lt. Yun. Don''t do anything reckless that could hurt Feifei or I wouldn''t let you off the hook." Lu Qingfeng said, with an underlying threat in his tone, that Yun Xiang didn''t miss. He didn''t think that this young man, who was usually calm and collected, wouldn''t mince his words at all.


    Yun Xiang didn''t know what to say, and he was lucky that his younger brother and other cousins hade to join him and Lu Qingfeng at the patio to convey their greetings over his engagement with Su Xiaofei.


    Unlike the cold treatment Lu Qingfeng had given him earlier, Yun Xiang noticed that the young man responded to the rest of their family with respect and politeness. It made him wonder if Lu Qingfeng was singling him out, because he knew what he was feeling towards Su Xiaofei.


    Yun Xiang fell silent and didn''t dare to say anything, allowing his brother and cousins to talk with Lu Qingfeng. He didn''t want to admit it, but Lu Qingfeng was right. Thest thing he wanted to happen was for Su Xiaofei to despise him.


    However, something about Lu Qingfeng was making Yun Xiang ufortable. He couldn''t point out what that something was, but there was something about Lu Qingfeng that irked him.


    Wasn''t Lu Qingfeng only twenty-one right now? Was he always so mature in mental age despite this young physical age? For Yun Xiang, the way Lu Qingfeng spoke and presented himself was like a man who had experienced a lot more than his actual age.


    Before Yun Xiang could dwell longer on such thoughts their elders arrived with disheartened expressions on their faces. His father, as well as his uncles had reddened eyes, as if the three of them had cried before meeting them.


    It was only then that Yun Xiang realized what the cryptic words Lu Qingfeng said earlier meant. He had no doubt now that Lu Qingfeng was deeply involved in their family affairs.


    Their family was facing a serious problem. Yun Xiang thought. He could also see on his father''s face that he wasn''t pleased with whatever his aunt discussed with them earlier.


    "Dad, what''s wrong?" He asked, when Yun Yuanzhi summoned the rest of the family for a private meeting, minus the head of their family.


    Even Yan Mei and Yun Shao''s wife had no idea what was going on and why they were all summoned for a meetingte at night.


    "Has your grandfather retired for the night?" Yun Yuanzhi questioned him in return, purposely avoiding answering Yun Xiang''s question.


    "He already left for bed as usual. He isn''t going to join us tonight?" He dared to ask his father back, but Yun Yuanzhi only shook his head.


    "Not today." It was his Uncle Zhaonan who answered him instead. "And we expect the rest of you to keep this news to yourselves and allow us to talk about it with Fatherter."


    Yun Zhaonan looked around at all of them with a serious expression on his face, but there was a hint of uncertainty in his eyes.


    Once everyone had taken their spots inside therge study, Yun Yuanzhi took the opportunity to head their meeting, his eyes ncing towards his precious younger sister seated next to Lu Qingfeng.


    "Allow me to exin Qing''er''s situation, but first and foremost, we want you to keep this from your grandfather for the time being, at least until we decide how to proceed from here."


    He then informed the rest of the Yun family about the diagnosis Yun Qingrong received for her illness and her intention to step down from her post at Bluemedia to seek treatment.


    Yan Mei covered her mouth in shock and looked worriedly at her sister-inw. Aside from Old General Yun, Su Xiaofei was also missing this meeting.


    "Qing Jie, you haven''t told Xiao Fei, right?" She asked Yun Qingrong.


    As a mother like Yun Qingrong, how could she not understand her? Yan Mei had no doubt, given Yun Qingrong''s personality, that she hadn''t informed her daughter yet. She must have been worried about how Feifei would take the news.


    Yun Qingrong shook her head in response, her hold on Lu Qingfeng''s hand tightening as she realized that she couldn''t prolong hiding it from her daughter much longer.


    "Not yet, but I intend to tell her myself once she returns from her business trip." She answered. Yun Qingrong hadn''t thought that sharing this with her family would somehow lessen the burden in her heart.


    Yun Xiang looked at his aunt, then at Lu Qingfeng. Thetter''s earlier words were now starting to make sense to him.. Lu Qingfeng had warned him earlier because he knew that Su Xiaofei wouldn''t be able to handle another problem once she found out about her mother''s illness.

 Chapter 335 - Finally Home (1)

    A weekter, Su Xiaofei finally managed to return to Qiying City, much to her relief. She hadn''t expected that their schedule would be pushed too far back to her liking. What she had thought would be a day or three dy had turned into a week of enduring the wait to go home.


    Thankfully, the photoshoot had been sessful this time, as Bellissima made a drastic decision to fire Liao Yang''s whole photography crew and file necessary legal charges against them.


    Su Xiaofei had no doubt that Liao Yang''s reputation would suffer from it, as it would makepanies like Bellissima wary of hiring him because of the attempted assault hemitted against her and the fact that his crew was trying to mess with thepany''s model.


    Luo Cheng didn''t dare to mess up for the second time as she was harshly reprimanded by Bai Qingyue for starting such a mess which could drag her name to the mud. It was one of those rare times that Luo Cheng witnessed the gentle mannered Bai Qingyue speak harshly out of anger.


    "But I did it for you¡­" Luo Cheng would never admit that she was in the wrong here. It was Tang Liyan''s fault for even thinking that she was in the same league with Bai Qingyue.


    "I don''t care!" Bai Qingyue snapped at her. "Do you see it now? Bellissima isn''t pleased with us at the moment, and I would have no doubt if they reported this event to thepany."


    "Didn''t the CEO say that you should beat Tang Liyan and harm Su Xiaofei''s reputation in the process?" Luo Cheng insisted.


    This somewhat angered Bai Qingyue further as she looked at her manager, her eyes aze.


    "Luo Cheng, do you think I am someone who would allow another person to use me as a de? Do you think that just because Golden Star has been the one I''m working with at the moment, I am bound to listen to whatever they say?"


    "N-no¡­ I didn''t mean it that way¡­" Luo Cheng didn''t expect that Bai Qingyue would react like this. She used to ignore things like this before.


    "If you know, then please stop giving me problems. It would be my reputation that would be at stake, not yours. You should know better." Bai Qingyue frowned, before turning her back to her manager.


    Luo Cheng lowered her head in shame, because she knew what Bai Qingyue just said was right. By scheming against Tang Liyan, others might think that it was Bai Qingyue who initiated it and her talent would have to take the me.


    Because of this, Luo Cheng didn''t try to stir any more trouble and allowed the new schedule of photoshoot to proceed with another photography crew that Bellissima sent. However, Luo Cheng couldn''t understand the sudden interest Bai Qingyue had in Su Xiaofei, as if she knew the young woman, but she didn''t dare to question Bai Qingyue about it.


    Now that the photoshoot for the campaign was done, both parties returned to Qiying City and proceeded with their own schedules. From the corner of her eye, Luo Cheng noticed that Bai Qingyue had been staring at Su Xiaofei longer than usual. It really makes her wonder what was going on with her talent.


    Su Xiaofei''s team was walking ahead of them, but was quite slowed down by the sudden flock of fans that heard the news of Tang Liyan and Bai Qingyue arrival that day.


    Su Xiaofei lifted her right arm to cover her face from the blinding light of the camera shes aimed at them. For Tang Liyan and Bai Qingyue, this was a good thing since it could hype up the interest on the campaign they were coborating with Bellissima, but for Su Xiaofei, this was nothing but an annoying part of being a popr celebrity.


    No matter how exhausted or sick celebrities were, they could only smile and pretend to be okay whenever cameras were pointed towards them.


    "Miss Su, let''s separate here." Su Xiaofei heard Tang Liyan say as they walked to the arrival area of the airport. "I know you''ve been waiting toe home. Zhao Jingmei and I would be fine from here. We''ll just be waiting for our ride toe pick us up." She said, as they tried to push through the crowd.


    Behind them, Bai Qingyue''s team were following closely. Bai Qingyue overheard what Tang Liyan just said to Su Xiaofei. Her eyes then turned to the young woman, curiosity shing across her face.


    Su Xiaofei didn''t respond for a moment, considering Tang Liyan''s offer. She didn''t trust that Bai Qingyue''s team won''t try anything during her absence and bully Tang Liyan once again.


    "Miss, I can stay with them until their ride arrives. You and Lan Jie can go without me. I will follow once I''m done here." Zhang Ling suggested, knowing that Su Xiaofei had been on edge about something they didn''t know.


    "Alright." Su Xiaofei nodded in understanding. "We will part from here then." She said, before allowing Zhang Lan to take the lead, leaving the younger Zhang sister with Tang Liyan and the rest of their group.


    Su Xiaofei could only sigh in relief once she was seated at the backseat of the car waiting for them. She was d that she didn''t have to be on guard for the meantime and could rx before meeting her mother. She didn''t even realize that she had dozed off from exhaustion during their drive back to home.


    "Miss, we are here."


    Su Xiaofei felt someone gently shaking her shoulder to wake her up and recognized the voice as Zhang Lan''s. She opened her eyes and saw that they had indeed arrived home safely. It was already dark outside, indicating that they had been on the road longer than expected.


    "Thank you, Zhang Lan. The rest of you may also take a break after taking the luggage inside.." She told her personal bodyguard, before alighting from the car.

 Chapter 336 - Finally Home (2)

    Su Xiaofei was d that she was able to take a short nap before arriving home, so she didn''t feel as exhausted as she was earlier. If anything, she felt refreshed and energized at the same time. As she stepped inside their home, she decided to find her mother to greet her. She was greeted at the front doors by one of their household helpers and informed her that Yun Qingrong was working in the kitchen with Lu Qingfeng.


    Her brows shot up upon hearing that and thanked their helper before going to the kitchen to see what was going on with her mother and fianc¨¦. She then found her mother teaching Lu Qingfeng how to sear a steak properly and telling how long he should cook it ording to his preference.


    Su Xiaofei leaned on the door frame, crossed her arms over her chest and watched the two interact, not even noticing her presence. She could tell that something about her mother and fianc¨¦ had changed during her absence, as they looked closer than usual.


    It was Lu Qingfeng who noticed her first, his face lit up upon seeing her.


    "Feifei, you are finally home." He said, taking Yun Qingrong''s attention from the meat they were cooking.


    She turned her head and found her daughter silently watching them as they cooked. Yun Qingrong beamed her daughter a smile, and gestured for Su Xiaofei toe to her.


    "How''s your trip? I suppose it isn''t as enjoyable because it''s rted to work."


    "En, I''m finally home." Su Xiaofei couldn''t agree more with Lu Qingfeng as she strode towards her mother to give her a hug in greeting. "There were hups along the way, but we managed to fix things up and continued with the campaign."


    "Then that''s good to hear." Her mother replied.


    Once Su Xiaofei released her mother, she eyed the meat on the pan that was still sizzling. Since when did Lu Qingfeng know how to cook?


    "What''s going on? Are we supposed to have steak for dinner? How fancy." Shemented, while watching Lu Qingfeng turn the meat over to cook it evenly.


    "You know how to cook now?" She questioned him curiously.


    Lu Qingfeng lifted his gaze and smirked at her.


    "My future wife can''t cook. As much as I love her, I cannot live on instant noodles alone, so I need to learn how to cook to feed ourselves." He said in return, earning a heartyugh from Yun Qingrong when she saw her daughter flushed from his remarks.


    "Or we can just hire a cook." Su Xiaofei pointed out. She had never met a young master who would dare to kick out his own cook from his kitchen and cook his own food himself.


    "No. No. No. That can''t be done. Didn''t Aunty Qing say that the meal prepared by your loved one is the tastiest of them all? Also, it won''t hurt to learn a new skill once in a while. Who knows, maybe it will be useful in the future." Lu Qingfeng said in defense.


    Su Xiaofei rolled her eyes and didn''t dare to argue more. It was obvious that Lu Qingfeng had already made up his mind.


    "So long that you would be the one in charge of cooking. You are the one who insisted on learning it anyway."


    It was one of many things she couldn''t do, no matter how hard she tried to learn from her mother or from Aunty Liu before. Even in her previous life, her cooking skills were beyond salvation, as she couldn''t even fry an egg without burning it.


    "Fine, but you wouldn''t have the chance not to eat whatever I cook." Lu Qingfeng teased her. "You would be my guinea pig and you have no right to decline."


    Su Xiaofei then doubted if she should be worried about it or not. She couldn''t remember a time when Lu Qingfeng cooked something that she had tried in her previous life. Although she knew that her fianc¨¦ was a quick learner, she still doubted if he could cook a decent meal for her to eat.


    However, once the scent of the enticing seared meat started wafting in the kitchen, it made her mouth water and made her aware of her hunger.


    She used to starve herself to keep her figure and ideal weight in the past, so she used to avoid eating meat like this and tried to ignore her hunger as much as possible. However, since her rebirth, she had started to eat more and was open to trying new meals.


    "Why don''t we prepare the table, Feifei? I see that I have nothing else to teach Xiao Feng when ites to cooking steak." Yun Qingrong suggested as she took her daughter''s arm and led her away.


    Su Xiaofei eyed Lu Qingfeng, but he only gave her a nod to follow her mother. Once the dishes were served, the three of them started their dinner as Su Xiaofei updated her mother of what had transpired during the photoshoot Tang Liyan had a week ago.


    "That sounds horrible, Feifei." Yun Qingrong frowned. "You must be more careful in the future."


    "I know, Mama. This is what I told Miss Tang too. It''s alright to be kind to others, but don''t let anyone trample her like a doormat." Su Xiaofei agreed with her mother. Somehow, the way Yun Qingrong spoke reminded Su Xiaofei of the gnawing feeling she had in her heart.


    Why did it feel like Yun Qingrong was trying to tell her something? Su Xiaofei had a bad feeling about this, and she didn''t she would like it, whatever that makes her mother act like this.


    She nced at Lu Qingfeng, but his eyes told her that he was in no position to exin things to her at the moment, and she wouldn''t force him to say it.. It was enough for her that Lu Qingfeng was here with her, reminding her that she wouldn''t be alone again.

 Chapter 337 - Shocking News (1)

    After dinner, Su Xiaofei was asked by her mother to follow her upstairs for a talk. She nced at Lu Qingfeng, who was left at the dining table, and saw him giving her a weak smile, which was not a reassuring one which he usually did whenever she was worried.


    This made Su Xiaofei think that she needed to prepare for whatever her mother was going to say tonight. If Lu Qingfeng thought that it was bad, then it would be bad. He wouldn''t give her such a reaction if it was something he could easily resolve on his own. If Lu Qingfeng couldn''t resolve it, then it could be very serious.


    Su Xiaofei dragged her feet and followed her mother to her study, feeling her heart racing in her chest. Somehow, this kind of feeling reminded her of the time when she received the news of her mother''s death in her previous life.


    ''Why did I even think of that?'' She thought as her footsteps resounded in the empty hallway leading to her mother''s study.


    As Su Xiaofei knocked on her mother''s door, she heard her soft voice from the inside, allowing her to enter.


    "Mama, is there something you need from me?" She asked, once she had taken a seat across from Yun Qingrong.


    Yun Qingrong had a serious expression on her face, but there was also a clear hint of hesitation.


    "Feifei, I don''t want you to hear this from others, so let me tell you this myself. Please hear me out." Her mother started.


    Su Xiaofei stiffened in her seat. She really had a bad feeling about this. She watched as Yun Qingrong pulled out a folder from the top drawer of her desk.


    "Mama, this isn''t about Papa, right? He''s not trying to demand anything from you again?" She asked her mother.


    "No. I made sure to cut off all ourmunications." Yun Qingrong shook her head. If only the problem was that simple, then she wouldn''t be this worried. She would be able to resolve it easily without having her daughter worry about her.


    She then ced the folder in front of her Feifei, bracing herself to see her daughter''s reaction. Yun Qingrong didn''t want to subject her child to pain or distress, but she also didn''t want to lie to her about her condition.


    Su Xiaofei eyed the folder for a moment, before picking it up, reading its contents. She felt her heart sink as several thoughts crossed her mind at the same time. She knew that the news was bad, but not this bad.


    Her medical record was dated a month ago, and Yun Qingrong was advised to take necessary treatments to dy the effect of the cancer cells on her aging body. Ovarian cancer. Su Xiaofei read.


    So if her mother didn''t die from that serious car ident in her previous life, Yun Qingrong would eventually perish because of cancer. Su Xiaofei thought. Then, one way or another, she was fated to lose her mother within a short span of time.


    "Mama, you¡­" She looked at her mother in shock, willing her heart to calm down so that her mother wouldn''t worry.


    "I cannot say it would be alright, Feifei." Yun Qingrong couldn''t help but shed tears. "The doctor said that ovarian cancer spreads quickly and can progress from the early stages to advanced stages within a year. The cancer cells can grow out of control quickly and spread in weeks or months, so it''s obvious that my time with you is now limited. I''ll be lucky if I can celebrate your next birthday."


    Su Xiaofei wanted to break down in tears at that very moment, but for some reason, her tears were dry. She could only feel her chest tightening upon hearing her mother''s words.


    One year. How was she supposed to live without her mother after that? Su Xiaofei didn''t think she would be able to. The one reason she was willing to change and do better in this lifetime was because of her mother. If Yun Qingrong died, Su Xiaofei wouldn''t know how to live on.


    Yun Qingrong had been her anchor in life, her strength from the time she was reborn until now. She was even willing to forgo her biological parents and choose to be with Yun Qingrong instead.


    When her daughter remained silent and said nothing, Yun Qingrong continued and told her her ns. She understood that Su Xiaofei was still in shock over the news. Even she, Yun Qingrong, took time to understand and ept what was going on.


    "I know that you''ve only been the managing director for a short few years, but Feifei, I intend to step down and pass my position in thepany to you. You don''t need to be worried. Your Uncle Fang and Xiao Feng will guide you."


    Su Xiaofei wasn''t worried about that. Heck, right now, what was important to her was her mother''s condition. However, she was also aware that she cannot ignore the needs of thepany.


    Wasn''t this what she had always wanted? She thought. To seed her mother at Bluemedia, to be on par with Mo Yuchen in terms of status in order to fight him head on. But not this way. Su Xiaofei had thought that once she seeded her mother in thepany as its president, Yun Qingrong would enjoy her retirement and livefortably with her.


    "Then we will proceed with your n, Mama. I will uphold your expectations for thepany." She answered her mother, realizing that Yun Qingrong had been waiting for her.


    "I don''t doubt your abilities, Feifei." Yun Qingrong took her daughter''s hand and gently patted it. "You have never disappointed me. There are so many things I regret in my life, but not you, Feifei. Not you. It''s truly an honor for me to be your mother."


    This was something Yun Qingrong would never regret in her life.. Regardless of what would happen in the future, nothing would change for her love to her daughter.

 Chapter 338 - Shocking News (2)

    The next day, Su Xiaofei didn''te down from her room to join her mother and Lu Qingfeng for breakfast and lunch, making Yun Qingrong worried about her. She had expected that her daughter wouldn''t be able to take the news well, and feared that Feifei would harm herself in the process because of it.


    She and Lu Qingfeng wordlessly had their meals, both worried about Su Xiaofei whom they hadn''t seen since morning. Zhang Ling said that her miss hadn''t stepped out of her room and didn''t call for her nor her sister to discuss her agenda for the day. Not that Su Xiaofei was needed at thepany at the moment since it was the weekend.


    "Xiao Feng, I don''t know what to do now. Feifei must be worried sick about me, which I understand, but I can''t watch her deteriorate because of me." Yun Qingrong said to Lu Qingfeng.


    Although she was d that Lu Qingfeng had chosen to stay with them even when her daughter was back, she also didn''t want to inconvenience him more than she already had. She felt guilty for having Lu Qingfeng deal with this family problem just as he became betrothed to her daughter.


    Lu Qingfeng noticed that his Aunty Qing didn''t have the appetite to eat today, which was understandable, given their current situation.


    "Let me talk to her, Aunty Qing. She might not be ready to face you and needs some time to sort her thoughts." He replied as he looked down at his unfinished meal. Just like Yun Qingrong, he was worried about Su Xiaofei.


    Yun Qingrong nodded. "I''ll give you the spare key to her room, just in case she locked herself in."


    This was what her daughter used to do whenever she felt upset about something since she was younger. Su Xiaofei would refuse toe out and eat her meals, which would leave her mother and Aunty Liu worried about her.


    She could only be coaxed toe out by either Lu Qingfeng or Xi Qian. So it wasn''t new for Lu Qingfeng to be given ess to Su Xiaofei''s room by her mother.


    Lu Qingfeng wanted to ask Yun Qingrong if she was sure about it, but held his tongue, as he didn''t want to make his future mother-inw ufortable. It was no time to ask such questions.


    Once they were done with lunch, Lu Qingfeng didn''t waste his time and went upstairs to check on Su Xiaofei. He knocked on her door, but he didn''t hear any response on her side. He didn''t wait for too long and decided to use the key Yun Qingrong handed him earlier.


    "Feifei?" He called out, once he pushed her door open. He was greeted by an eerie silence in her room as the only source of light wasing from the balcony of her room.


    Lu Qingfeng found her seated on the floor next to her bed, her arms wrapped around her legs, spacing out, but her eyes were reddened from tears. It didn''t seem like Su Xiaofei heard him earlier.


    She was still dressed in her violet blouse and ck pencil skirt, which she was wearing when she came homest night, her pair of high heels thrown at the other side of her room. Her long hair was free from its ties but looked unkempt.


    Lu Qingfeng sat next to her but didn''t say anything. Su Xiaofei didn''t move an inch from where she was, but a momentter, she rested her head against his arm.


    With hisrger frame against her smaller one, Su Xiaofei felt safe next to him. She was d that he was here, as she didn''t feel alone any longer.


    "Why is it that every time I think I am happy, sadness would always follow? I must be a terrible person to receive punishment like this. I admit that I was a foolish person in the past, perhaps, I am to this day. Am I not allowed to be happy?" She whispered next to him.


    "Don''t say that, Feifei. It''s not your fault that Aunty Qing fell sick. No one wanted this to happen." Lu Qingfeng replied, shutting his eyes as he pondered her words.


    "I wish I knew the answers to your questions, unfortunately I don''t. But Feifei, Aunty Qing needs us to be stronger than ever. You won''t be alone on this. You have me, you have Qian and the rest of the Yun family."


    If there was someone who deserved to be punished, it should be him, not her. Becausepared to what Su Xiaofei had done in their previous lives, it wasn''tparable to the horrible things hemitted, especially after her death.


    Maybe that was the reason why he had to lose Su Xiaofei twice, so that he could change himself for the better, not just to be worthy of her. Now that he was reborn again, Lu Qingfeng still felt like he couldn''t be of any use to her.


    "Then what do I do now? I''m scared, but I also know that Mama is more scared than me. Only a year left, but I don''t think I would be ready to let her go. I don''t want my Mama to die."


    At this, her tears rolled down uncontrobly. The thought of losing her mother was enough to make her cry helplessly.


    Lu Qingfeng didn''t stop her from crying, because just like her, he wasn''t ready to ept that Yun Qingrong''s life was about to end soon. Yun Qingrong had been a second mother to him growing up.


    ording to her medical records, the cancer cells she had were malignant and were starting to spread to her other organs. The only thing they could do now was to ease the pain she would sufferter.


    As words were left unspoken, the only sound that could be heard in the room was the sound of Su Xiaofei''s sobs.. She wanted to cry nonstop for now, because starting tomorrow, she needed to be strong for her mother.

 Chapter 339 - President Su (1)

    Just as Yun Qingrong said, the announcement of her sudden retirement had surprised everyone. She didn''t give any details about the reason she decided to leave her post and pass it to her daughter, but she hoped that everyone in Bluemedia would extend their support to Su Xiaofei. Hence, it didn''t take long for Su Xiaofei to be named as the new CEO and president of Bluemedia Entertainment.


    For the next few days, Yun Qingrong still appeared with her daughter at Bluemedia as they had toplete the transition of responsibilities. Throughout the process, Fang Yi stayed with the mother and daughter pair, helping Yun Qingrong exin the things she couldn''t to Su Xiaofei.


    "Feifei, I know you hate paperworks and long meetings, but you will have to get used to it from now on." Fang Yi stated. "However, if you really think that you need help, we can add more people on your side to reduce your burden. You don''t need to micromanage at all, you just need to delegate certain tasks to others, but make sure to set your expectations upfront."


    "Thank you, Uncle Fang. I will keep it in mind." Su Xiaofei smiled at him, but it didn''t quite reach her eyes.


    As Fang Yi looked at his goddaughter, he began to understand why Yun Qingrong had been worried about Feifei. Su Xiaofei was trying to endure everything at the moment, and hardening her heart in the process. It must have been really hard for Su Xiaofei to ept the news.


    Just as they expected, some members of the board weren''t pleased with Yun Qingrong''s resignation. Some thought that Su Xiaofei wasn''t ready to step up and lead thepany, while others think that she required a reliable partner who can help her manage Bluemedia.


    "It''s a pity that she annulled her engagement with Golden Star''s Mo Yuchen five years ago. Have they not parted ways, it''s possible for the two entertainmentpanies to merge as one."


    "You are right. Although Mo Yuchen''s managerial style isn''t on par with his father''s, he''s still more experienced than Little Fei. It''s true that Yun Qingrong was the one who established Bluemedia, but during its earliest years, Su Haoran was there to share her burden."


    Su Xiaofei was walking past them, effectively shutting their mouths and causing them to look away from embarrassment. They both wondered how much she heard from their conversation.


    Meanwhile, Zhang Ling, who was walking next to her miss, had also overheard what the two were discussing earlier. She couldn''t help but be annoyed on her miss''s behalf.


    Initially, she and her elder sister were assigned by Lu Qingfeng to keep Su Xiaofei safe. However, from the moment they met Su Xiaofei years ago, up to this day, they had witnessed how Su Xiaofei worked harder than anyone else to reach this point.


    Su Xiaofei was aware and had epted that there were some things that she didn''t know, but she was willing to learn no matter what. So for Zhang Ling, those old men''s opinions were bullshit.


    Look, even now that Su Xiaofei was officially the next madam of the Lu family, she had never used this fact to her advantage. She had epted this role because she truly wanted to be with their master, Lu Qingfeng.


    As for Su Xiaofei''s skills to lead thepany, hadn''t she proved herself already? Not only did she raise stars who brought a lot of money to thepany, but she was also proactively involved with the new projects Bluemedia took up over the past years.


    So why was it that her worth as a leader of apany was based on the identity of the man standing next to her? How dare theypare Su Haoran to their young master? At these thoughts, Zhang Ling was visibly angry.


    She looked at Su Xiaofei''s face, but thetter didn''t make any indication that she was bothered by what they heard earlier. Of course, Zhang Ling and her sister were both aware of the situation with the Yun family and kept their opinions to themselves, knowing that whatever they said wouldn''t affect this sudden change in Su Xiaofei''s behavior.


    Since they were always with Su Xiaofei, Zhang Ling and her sister had noticed the sudden change in their miss since she received the news of her mother''s illness. Su Xiaofei had been silent most of the time and only spoke when she needed to.


    "Zhang Ling, do you know if Lu Qingfeng ising home early tonight?"


    Su Xiaofei''s question brought Zhang Ling out of her deep thoughts.


    "Miss Katarina said that he would be home at the usual time today." She answered immediately.


    Lu Qingfeng hadn''t moved out to return to his own home and had chosen to stay with Su Xiaofei''s family. However, his schedule at work and school remained the same.


    "I see." Su Xiaofei replied, with a thoughtful expression on her face, which Zhang Ling immediately noticed.


    She could only watch as Su Xiaofei returned to her desk and continued working wordlessly, not epting any calls for the time being. When Zhang Ling joined her sister, she had this awful look on her face.


    "What is it now?" Zhang Lan raised a slender brow in question. Between the two of them, Zhang Ling was more in tuned and expressive towards other people.


    "I''m worried about her. She is starting to be a human robot." Zhang Ling muttered.


    Zhang Lan nced at Su Xiaofei, who was hovering over the pile of workload on her new desk, in her new office as the President of Bluemedia. She couldn''t agree more with her younger sister''s observation.


    "You are right, but I suppose the Master has also expected that this would happen, hence, he couldn''t leave her be. We just need to give Miss Su some time to let the news truly sink in. She''s probably still in the state of denial.." She replied, as she was also concerned about this change in Su Xiaofei''s behavior.

 Chapter 340 - President Su (2)

    A weekter at Golden Star Entertainment.


    There had been a massive change to thepany as Mo Yuchen suddenly decided to fire several employees. It had been shocking news not only to the other employees who remained in their posts, but also to the board who still didn''t have any confidence in Mo Yuchen''s performance.


    As Mo Yuchen strode towards his office, other employees fled in fear and tried their best to not gain his attention. There was something different about him that they couldn''t exin.


    If before, Mo Yuchen had a domineering aura around him, making him look arrogant in one''s eyes, right now, he had this intimidating and threatening aura that was waiting to be unleashed. It was as if he had turned into a different person overnight.


    Mo Yuchen had just summoned the finance director of Golden Star, wanting the man to bring all the annual reports of the past six years for him to review. He also asked his assistant to make a detailed report of what transpired from the moment he joined Golden Star, which left everyone confused.


    Not only was Mo Yuchen acting differently than usual, but his request could warrant suspicion from people who were close to him. The biggest surprise was when he suddenly called off his engagement with Huang Jingjing, earning a furious reaction from the Huang family for being disrespectful.


    "CEO Mo, these are the financial reports you requested."


    The finance director and apany analyst arrived at his office and ced the documents Mo Yuchen requested on top of his desk.


    "You two, take a seat and exin to me our current financial situation and the ns we have for the future."


    The director and the analyst looked at each other in confusion. Was Mo Yuchen trying to test them by asking such questions? They wondered. They couldn''t think of any reason why Mo Yuchen was asking them such questions, aside from him doing a massive cleaning in theirpany.


    Seeing that they had no other choice, they broke into a cold sweat and answered Mo Yuchen''s question in detail, not missing anything in their report. They both feared that Mo Yuchen was waiting for them tomit a mistake and use it to kick them out of thepany.


    After two hours of deliberation, they stepped out of Mo Yuchen''s office, feeling like they had lost half of their lifespan from that meeting. Thankfully, Mo Yuchen didn''t make any indication that he was displeased with their report, and they could finally sigh in relief.


    Once they left, it was Mo Yuchen''s assistant''s turn to present his report. Even he was curious as to what Mo Yuchen had in his mind, as he couldn''t predict him at all. He used to be able to tell what Mo Yuchen wanted or thought by merely looking at his face, but now, it felt like he was looking at a different person who shared the same face with his boss.


    "So you mean to say that Mo Yuan is still alive somewhere?" Mo Yuchen''s deep baritone voice sent shivers on his assistant''s spine.


    "Yes. We received reports a couple of months ago that he was spotted overseas by one of our partners." His assistant confirmed.


    At this, Mo Yuchen sped his hands together over his desk and fell silent.


    "And Su Xiaofei?" He asked after a long silence.


    His assistant furrowed his brows together in confusion. What about Su Xiaofei? He thought. His boss and that woman had broken off their engagement a long time ago and had recently gotten into a verbal fight, but there was no progress after it.


    Didn''t they mutually hate each other? So why was his boss suddenly interested to know about Su Xiaofei''s affairs now?


    When his assistant remained silent, Mo Yuchen stared at him with a cold, piercing gaze.


    "I won''t repeat my question." He warned him.


    His assistant cleared his throat and coughed behind his hand in an attempt to buy some time to gather his thoughts.


    "After your heated argument with Miss Su, I heard that she celebrated her birthday with her friends and family. Her rtionship with Lu Qingfeng was also officially announced."


    Another ufortable silence followed? as Mo Yuchen''s expression hardened, but he didn''t make ament over his assistant''s report.


    The inte beeped, saving his poor assistant from being subjected to Mo Yuchen''s interrogation.


    "CEO Mo, Miss Ye is here to meet you. Should I send her in?" It was the voice of one of Mo Yuchen''s secretaries that was stationed outside his office.


    Mo Yuchen''s assistant didn''t miss how his expression turned worse upon hearing the question.


    "Did you just say, Miss Ye?" Mo Yuchen asked, his eyes shing with unconcealed anger in them.


    "Yes, it''s Miss Ye. Ye Mingyu from Top Tier Entertainment." His assistant answered instead. "She has been paying frequent visits for some time now."


    There was really something strange about their CEO Mo. The assistant was sure about it.


    "How long?" Mo Yuchen continued to question him.


    "About a month or so."


    Ye Mingyu had suddenly be acquainted with Mo Yuchen and no one knew how the two even met in the first ce. Most of them assumed that Ye Mingyu wanted to make him her money boss.


    "At the time when Feifei and I broke our engagement, had she already met Miss Ye?"


    The assistant wasn''t sure where this series of questions was going and why Mo Yuchen was asking these questions.


    "I suppose so. Didn''t they graduate in the same year from Qiying City Academy years ago?"


    Shouldn''t Mo Yuchen be aware of this already?


    At his words, Mo Yuchen sneered, clearly annoyed and angry about something his assistant couldn''t understand.


    The inte was still on, the secretary was waiting patiently on the other end of the line for his answer. Noticing this, Mo Yuchen leaned on his seat and hardened his jaws.


    "Let her in.. I want to know what kind of nonsense she would spout this time."

 Chapter 341 - Mo Yuchen’s Awakening (1)

    It wasn''t the first time that Ye Mingyu had shamelesslye to Golden Star Entertainment to visit Mo Yuchen, which earned her the disgust of other talents of the agency and the displeasure of Mo Yuchen''s secretaries.


    Some of them think that Ye Mingyu was quite thick-skinned foring over unannounced, as if Mo Yuchen would always treat her with utmost priority. Even Su Xiaofei, Mo Yuchen''s ex-fianc¨¦e, wasn''t as shameless as her.


    It wasn''t new to hear a starlet trying to pave her way to stardom by finding a money boss that backs her up, and most of the employees at Golden Star could only scoff as they see Ye Mingyu seated at the lounge area that was exclusive for the guests of their big boss.


    Ye Mingyu looked like she wasn''t even bothered by how other people viewed her at the moment because she was certain that they wouldn''t be able to do anything against her as long as she had Mo Yuchen''s support. She had been waiting for the secretary to call her name and lead her inside Mo Yuchen''s office. However, it had been over five minutes since her arrival, but no one had called her attention yet.


    She looked around, but it only made her aware that she was being treated like she wasn''t even there in the first ce. It was as if Golden Star''s employees didn''t want to acknowledge her presence.


    Just as she thought that her visit wouldn''t be entertained, a familiar secretary came to her and politely told her to follow her to the CEO''s office. She forced herself to smile, waiting for the other woman to apologize to her for making her wait for so long, but it never came, much to Ye Mingyu''s annoyance.


    Ye Mingyu picked up her purse and followed the woman without a word. The clicking of their heels on the well polished floors was the only thing she could hear as the secretary didn''t say anything more to her.


    The door to the office was left open, and she spotted Mo Yuchen''s name que next to the door. Inside the office, Ye Mingyu noticed that there wasn''t any hint of clutter on itpared to thest time she had paid Mo Yuchen a visit.


    The secretary left once she was done with her task of bringing Ye Mingyu in, silently closing the door, leaving the two on their own. Ye Mingyu waited for Mo Yuchen to acknowledge her presence, but it seemed that, just like the rest of his employees, he didn''t want to waste his time on her.


    Ye Mingyu could see him with his back facing her. He sat in an executive leather chair, facing the windows. Torrents of rain blurred the view of gray roads and red brake lights. Hisrge, tanned hand was holding a cell phone to an ear. It was obvious that he was talking with someone before her arrival.


    Ye Mingyu waited patiently, but as seconds passed without Mo Yuchen budging from his seat to acknowledge her, her annoyance was starting to get the best of her. Were rich people like him and Su Xiaofei even qualified to treatmoners like her as if they were nothing? Just because they had money, they could treat her poorly like this?


    However, the thought of getting back at Su Xiaofei by utilizing Mo Yuchen was enough to calm Ye Mingyu down. ording to her sources, Su Xiaofei used to hold deep feelings for Mo Yuchen and despite the annulment of the two''s engagement, she had spotted them arguing during the birthday party a few weeks ago.


    Didn''t this mean that Su Xiaofei hadn''t gotten over Mo Yuchen yet? Ye Mingyu couldn''t wait to see Su Xiaofei''s infuriated look once she saw that the man she loved the most chose her, Ye Mingyu, over her.


    Finally, Mo Yuchen hung up the phone and swiveled around to face her. Even when seated, his entire body emanated authority. The dark tailored suit he was wearing only emphasized his charm as a man, making him more pleasing to a woman''s eyes.


    Ye Mingyu shivered as his gaze brushed over her. She could feel an aura of deep hatreding from him at this very moment. Did something happen? She wondered. She had been very careful with her words whenever she talked to him, just in case he might do something out of her expectations.


    "So, what brings you here again, Miss Ye?" His voice was a steely baritone, which could pressure anyone to give him an immediate answer.


    Ye Mingyu cleared her throat and shivered hard under his cold gaze. Something about the way he looked at her made her wary of him. Her instincts were telling her to run for her dear life, but her legs and feet were frozen in ce.


    "I came to ask if you could help me get the role I wanted." She asked shamelessly, knowing that Mo Yuchen wouldn''t easily deny her wishes. He had a powerful background in showbiz and had been generous to her so far.


    She was confident that with the information she had about Mo Yuchen, she had a firm hold on him. It would have been better if he could also fall under her charm and marry her. Not only would her status be elevated, but she would also gain an edge against Su Xiaofei.


    "Then, does Miss Ye think she''s worthy of it?" Mo Yuchen asked with a hint of contemtion in his eyes.


    Ye Mingyu inwardly frowned. Mo Yuchen had never questioned her like this before. If she asked something, he would summon his assistant to immediately prepare it. She didn''t even care if his rtionship with Huang Jingjing were broken, because she knew very well that there wasn''t any emotional attachment between the two as their supposed union was merely based on business.


    "I''ll do my best to be worthy of it. Your assistance wouldn''t be put to waste.." She replied confidently.

 Chapter 342 - Mo Yuchen’s Awakening (2)

    Mo Yuchen looked at the woman in front of him and there was nothing else he felt for his second wife other than deep loathing. She remained as selfish and as foolish as he could remember, albeit, he noticed that she was more gullible this time.


    The sly smile she usually had in his previous life was missing. As expected, she came to him, pretending that she was merely there to help him find the person responsible for his mother''s death, while taking advantage of his weaknesses.


    When he woke up a week ago, he was shocked to find himself alive once again. Thest thing he could remember was dying in Lu Qingfeng''s hands as thetter sought revenge against him and the rest of the Mo family.


    The first thing he thought upon realizing that he came back in time was to find his wife that he hadn''t seen for a very long time. If things remained the same, he and Su Xiaofei should be married by now, but the absence of his wedding band startled Mo Yuchen.


    Even when he married Ye Mingyu after their divorce, he wasn''t able to fully forget his first wife. His deep regrets didn''t allow him to live his life after her and their child''s death.


    Had it not been because of Ye Mingyu''s scheming, he wouldn''t have had to resort to bing a harsh and neglectful husband to his wife.


    ''What''s the meaning of this?'' He thought as he sat up on his massive bed, looking at his hand without his wedding band on it. This didn''t sit well with him as he had never removed it since he married Su Xiaofei.


    Didn''t this mean that things were different this time and he wasn''t married to Su Xiaofei yet? How was this even possible? He wondered.


    He wanted to see her so badly. Since her death, it had been hell for him. He didn''t even struggle when Lu Qingfeng went all out to dere war against him after Su Xiaofei''s death.


    Mo Yuchen didn''t know what to do next as his memories before his awakening were missing, leaving him with not a single clue about what was going on in this lifetime.


    He realized that he needed to familiarize himself and gather as much information as he could to adjust to this current lifetime.


    For the first few days, he kept his silence and observed people around him. There weren''t many differences within his family, aside from the fact that Mo Yuan was still alive somewhere.


    He knew of the implications this fact had on his life, but he couldn''t be bothered to find his younger half-brother this time.


    Meanwhile, at Golden Star, those old farts on the board were still as much pain in his ass as they ever were. As if they expected that he would continue to bend to their wishes.


    Now that he had seen Ye Mingyu once again, he was having a hard time controlling his anger towards her. If it wasn''t because of her, he wouldn''t have lost the chance to live a happy life with his wife.


    "I see. Certainly, I can arrange that." He slowly nodded his head before resting his chin on the back of his hand. He watched as Ye Mingyu''s face lit up in delight upon hearing his answer. How can he not see what this woman was up to?


    "However, I regret to say that this will be thest time I will assist you."


    He needed to draw the line now before Ye Mingyu could start fucking up his life with her lies. There was no use of her to him anyway as he already knew the truth behind his mother''s death. Ye Mingyu was merely using the details she garnered from his father to manipte him.


    At those words, Ye Mingyu''s smile stiffened and her expression morphed into shock, not expecting that he would choose to discard her this early.


    "T-then does this mean that Mr. Mo doesn''t need my help anymore?" She asked curiously.


    Mo Yuchen''s lips turned into a sneer at her words, not even trying to hide his displeasure at her.


    "It seems to me that Miss Ye is overestimating herself. Do you really think that you are worth anything? What can Miss Ye possibly do to help me when all you have been doing is try to rece Su Xiaofei while condemning the ways of the rich?"


    Ye Mingyu opened her mouth, intending to deny Mo Yuchen''s allegations towards her, but no words came out as she realized that Mo Yuchen had seen beyond her facade.


    No, this can''t be. Ye Mingyu''s face nched. She cannot lose Mo Yuchen''s support just yet! Why was he insisting that he was done with her anyway? Had he already found out something without her knowing?


    "Miss Ye should know not to y with fire unless she wanted to be scalded by it." Came Mo Yuchen''s threatening voice, leading Ye Mingyu to break into cold sweat.


    "I-If that''s what Mr. Mo wants¡­"


    Although she wasn''t willing to let him off, Ye Mingyu was also aware that she shouldn''t provoke him when she hadn''t gotten absolute control of him yet. She regretted that she hadn''t gotten all the information she needed from her father during herst visit at the detention center.


    "Then I hope that Miss Ye won''te here unannounced and demand to see me at her will anymore. In case you didn''t notice, I''m a busy person. Now if you''ll excuse me..."


    Mo Yuchen then pressed the inte and called for his personal assistant.


    "Please see Miss Ye out now. In the future, don''t ever let her step inside Golden Star unless she wishes to be cklisted by ourpany." He said, his gaze not leaving Ye Mingyu.


    His eyes promised that she would regret trying to use him and they would be enemies from this day onwards.


    *<strong>Author''s note:</strong>


    <strong></strong><i>Recap:?</i>There are four major characters who were reborn in this novel. All lived three lifetimes. Read the following details to understand the plot better. Characters are ranked chronologically ording to who was reborn first.


    1. Ye Mingyu: 2nd rebirth (at 5 years old;current); retained memories from her original time (1st lifetime). Second life''s memories forfeited.


    2. Lu Qingfeng: 2nd rebirth (at 15 years old;current); retained memories from original (partially) and second life.


    3. Su Xiaofei: reborn (at 18 years old; current); retained memories from 2nd life only.


    4. Mo Yuchen: reborn (at 31 years old;current); retained memories from 2nd life only.


    There would be no characters being reborn after this.

 Chapter 343 - Nurse Xi’s Advice (1)

    It didn''t take long for Xi Qian to hear about Yun Qingrong''s health condition from her best friend. She regretted not noticing it sooner, because if she had known that Yun Qingrong was sick, she would have declined the offer from the Li family to be the private nurse for Li Xiran''s father.


    "Don''t feel so guilty, Qian. You don''t have to take back your word to the Li family just to look after Mama. We decided to get another nurse to look after her, also Lu Qingfeng found a doctor on call so we can summon them anytime in case of an emergency." Su Xiaofei hooked her arm with Xi Qian''s as they walked through the hallway of the outpatient department of Guangshang Medical Center, where Xi Qian was working.


    Su Xiaofei and her mother hade to see another oncologist to get a second opinion about her condition. Lu Qingfeng wasn''t able to join them today, as he needed to attend his sses for his master''s degree earlier that morning, but he promised to follow them as soon as he was done with it.


    "But Feifei¡­" Xi Qian wanted to argue, but Su Xiaofei shook her head.


    "You have no obligations to repay us for anything. Didn''t we talk about this before?"


    "I know that, Feifei, but how can I not be worried about Aunty Qing? She''s always been there for me when I needed help. How can I not do the same for her when I could do it?"


    Xi Qian''s eyes reddened from the news, and she couldn''t stop her tears from flowing the other night. Even now, she couldn''t fathom what would happen to them, especially to Su Xiaofei, once Yun Qingrong passed away.


    She could still remember the time when both of her parents refused to pay for her misceneous fees to enable her enrollment at QCA. At that time, it was Yun Qingrong who volunteered to sign her papers as her guardian without asking for anything in return.


    "It would be a pity if someone as smart as you couldn''t finish her studies, Qian. From now on, if your parents insist on obstructing your education, youe to me, and we can arrange for your enrollment." Yun Qingrong said.


    Su Xiaofei gave her best friend a weak smile. She could understand what Xi Qian was feeling, as she was also still in disbelief of the possibility of losing her mother to her illness. She regretted not paying more attention to her mother as she was busy focusing her attention on work and on her revenge towards Mo Yuchen and Ye Mingyu.


    Also, she couldn''t let Xi Qian lose her chance to be with Li Xiran in this lifetime. If things remained the same between the two, Su Xiaofei had no doubt that they would catch feelings for each other.


    She wouldn''t want to deny her best friend a chance to be happy this time. Now that Xi Qian had a chance to reunite with her beloved, there was no reason for Su Xiaofei to stop her.


    "So you and Lu Qingfeng¡­" Xi Qian started getting Su Xiaofei''s attention.


    "What about us ?" Su Xiaofei tilted her head towards her best friend in confusion.


    "Are you doing just fine? I heard that bastard ¡ª No, that Mo Yuchen annulled his engagement with Miss Huang." Xi Qian exined. She had already expected that the little tyrant was already made aware of this, given how hard he tried to keep Su Xiaofei from other men, especially Mo Yuchen.


    "It has nothing to do with us, Qian. There''s no need for me and Lu Qingfeng to be wary of it." Su Xiaofei replied in a matter of fact tone. Of course, she and Lu Qingfeng had heard about the news, but they couldn''t be bothered about Mo Yuchen''s affairs as they were both preupied with helping her mother get the proper treatments.


    "Ah, and here I thought Lu Qingfeng was nning to whisk you away and put a ring on that finger of yours." Xi Qian hummed. "But then again, even though he''s been attracted to you for a long time, he hasn''t tried anything so far."


    When Su Xiaofei remained silent, Xi Qian turned to look at her and noticed the slight blush on her face. Ah, how could she forget that Feifei and that little tyrant were virgins, but not clueless of the ways of intimacy.


    "How far have you two gone?"


    Su Xiaofei''s eyes widened in shock and her steps faltered for a moment.


    "Xi Qian! How could you ask such a thing, here of all ces?!" She hissed under a low voice next to her best friend. She looked around and sighed in relief when she noticed that no one was within their earshot.


    Xi Qianughed heartily and nudged Su Xiaofei''s side, who was still blushing from her question. She found it endearing to see such a rare expression on her best friend, as Su Xiaofei would always have a nonchnt expression on her face as if she couldn''t be bothered with anything trivial.


    "Nurse Xi is currently off duty, and don''t worry, Feifei. You would be surprised how nonchnt medical personnels are when ites to the topic of sex." She replied with a wicked grin on her face.


    Su Xiaofei shook her head. She would be lying if the thought of being with Lu Qingfeng on a bed, hot and naked hadn''t crossed her mind. Perhaps it was because their rtionship was still new, and they had been missing each other for the past years, making them yearn more for each other.


    She noticed that Lu Qingfeng liked to kiss her and touch her whenever they got a chance to have some privacy at home, but he would always stop in the middle of their make out session, forcing himself to part from her before things could go out of hand.


    "Just do him, Feifei. It''s not like you are seducing a minor.. Pretty sure Lu Qingfeng would be more than willing" Xi Qian teased her, knowing Su Xiaofei''s hesitation.

 Chapter 344 - Nurse Xi’s Advice (2)

    Do him?


    Su Xiaofei didn''t think she would be able to do it at all. Even though she was previously married, her experience with physical intimacy wascking, and it had only resurfaced when she was with Lu Qingfeng.


    She also didn''t want to think of the time she conceived her child through devious means in her previous life. When she drugged Mo Yuchen, forcing him to consummate their marriage, he had been rough with her, and Su Xiaofei regretted doing it with him for the following days as she had been in pain.


    Although she trusted Lu Qingfeng and knew that he wouldn''t force himself on her, a part of her was still afraid of the pain she would feel once the deed was done. If that happened again, she knew that Lu Qingfeng would me himself for hurting her.


    "Is it really painful?" She suddenly asked Xi Qian after a long silence between them.


    Su Xiaofei was aware that Xi Qian was more experienced than her when ites to dating and intimacy. Before meeting Li Xiran, Xi Qian had been in a three-year-long rtionship until her boyfriend dumped her six months ago.


    It was Xi Qian''s turn to blink and look at her with surprise. Did she hear Su Xiaofei, right? Her best friend who hated being touched by men was now considering furthering her intimacy with that little tyrant? Just what did Lu Qingfeng do to make Feifei change her mind? She wondered.


    Xi Qian looked around and pulled her best friend into a vacated fire exit. If she was going to give Feifei a talk about her first time, then she would rather say it without anyone in earshot. Thankfully, Yun Qingrong was being apanied by Aunty Liu at the waiting area as they waited to be called in.


    "Feifei, it shouldn''t be painful. Yes, it might hurt just a little, but it shouldn''t be painful that you would be left in tears. You may feel some difort during the pration, but it shouldn''t hurt at all. Maybe it would hurt for some women, especially if they aren''t wet enough, if you know what I mean." She started in a hush tone while keeping an eye on the door.


    "Everyone''s first time is unique and different. You don''t really need to force yourself if you don''t like to do it. I''m pretty sure Lu Qingfeng would understand. You should be willing to have sex with your partner, and you must explicitly give your consent to the same."


    Heck. Knowing that little tyrant, he would rather hurt himself than make Su Xiaofei cry. Xi Qian thought. If she was right, Lu Qingfeng would think of a way to lessen Feifei''s difort.


    "I see." Su Xiaofei''s blush deepened and she didn''t dare to ask Xi Qian more. She didn''t know what came to her to suddenly ask her best friend such a question. It wasn''t like she and Lu Qingfeng would get married anytime soon and consummate their marriage, not when her mother was currently sick.


    "Well, thanks for your tips, Qian. I''m pretty sure Lu Qingfeng and I aren''t ready for it." She replied, intending to leave the fire exit to return to her mother''s side.


    "Just don''t force yourself, Feifei. That''s what I want to say. Anyway, it won''t hurt to be prepared, just in case you two can''t keep your hands off yourselves." Xi Qianughed. "I know someone who can help you discreetly." She then winked at Su Xiaofei.


    Su Xiaofei could only groan as her best friend dragged her into a different department in the hospital, wondering if she would one day regret telling Xi Qian her worries. An hourter, they returned to the oncology department where her mother was waiting for their return, with her face flushed red.


    "Did something happen, Feifei? Your face looks red?" Her mother asked curiously, while Aunty Liu was looking at the two young women with amusement in her eyes.


    Su Xiaofei refused to meet her mother''s eyes and shook her head.


    "Nothing you should worry about. It must be the heat from outside." She lied through her teeth. Su Xiaofei didn''t think she was ready to discuss such a private subject with her mother.


    As she said this, they suddenly heard rushed footstepsing their way and found Lu Qingfeng heaving for breath, dressed in his light gray dress shirt and ck cks, with his bag hanging on his right shoulder. Following behind him were Nine and Miss Katarina, who were walking soundly and both dressed professionally.


    "I hope I''m notte." Lu Qingfeng said as he looked at Yun Qingrong as he tried to catch his breath.


    Yun Qingrong smiled at him and shook her head. Lu Qingfeng didn''t need toe and show his support today, but he still did. It made her feel warm inside, knowing that her Feifei had managed to find a decent man like him.


    "No, Xiao Feng. There''s been a little dy on the doctor''s part since he received an emergency call, but she assured us that she would be back soon."


    Lu Qingfeng sighed in relief before joining Su Xiaofei and Xi Qian at the other side of the hallway. As he conversed with the two women, Yun Qingrong and Aunty Liu followed him with their eyes.


    "Sister, do you know, I always wondered why I wasn''t blessed with my own child, but now, as I look at those three, I feel like it didn''t matter anymore. Those three children had given me enough love and the chance to be a mother even if it''s just for a moment."


    Aunty Liu sighed next to Yun Qingrong. She had been apanying her for several years, so how can she not know Yun Qingrong''s internal struggles?


    "Don''t worry. They''ll be fine as long as they have each other.." Aunty Liu answered her, knowing that Yun Qingrong was worrying about these children she came to love as her own.

 Chapter 345 - [Bonus ] Lu Qingfeng, Let’s Get Married (1)

    Su Xiaofei returned home with her mother and Lu Qingfeng thatte afternoon filled with silence. The doctor''s prognosis was the same as the previous one, leaving them with no other choice but to convince her mother to undergo chemotherapy as soon as possible.


    She knew that in life, not everything was sunshine and rainbows, but it still pained her to know that she couldn''t do anything to help her mother recover. If possible, she wanted to make her mother happy throughout the remaining days of her life.


    That night, she sat up on her bed, clutching her head with both hands, nails gently digging on her scalp as she took a deep breath, wondering what she should do. There were many things she wanted to do for herself, but now that her mother was sick, all of those didn''t matter to her anymore. She had thought that she was reborn to exact revenge on those people who wronged her, but now, she wanted nothing more than to spend more time with her mother.


    She should have taken notice when her mother was rapidly losing her weight and was feeling more lethargic than usual. Perhaps, if the doctors were able to diagnose Yun Qingrong early, then the chances of her survival would also be high.


    It was toote now, as she was only diagnosed when the symptoms persisted, and it was already at the third stage. The cancer cells had already spread to the surface of the tissues that lined around the abdominal wall and covered most of the organs in the abdomen. There were also traces found on her small intestines.


    A groan escaped Su Xiaofei''s lips, her forehead touching her knees as her thoughts were too mixed up to even think of sleeping. Slowly, her feet descended to the floor, legs swung over the mattress as she pulled herself up. She needed someone to talk to, and she had someone in her mind that she could run to.


    Her dark eyes flickered from one darkened hallway to the other, noticing that their house would start to feel empty and lonely once her mother passed away. Su Xiaofei didn''t think she would be able to live in this ce on her own once that happened.


    A light at the end of the hall caught her eyes, her body turning towards it. There was only one person who would be awake at this ungodly hour, and it didn''t surprise Su Xiaofei one bit.


    She peeked her head in before entering the guest room where Lu Qingfeng was staying. She found her fianc¨¦ already dressed for the night, reading a book as he sat in an armchair next to the doors leading to the balcony, with enough warm lighting from the small light fixtures on the ceiling, while most parts of the guest room were covered in darkness.


    Lu Qingfeng lowered the book he was holding and sighed as he looked at her. This was not new to him, but now that the nature of their rtionship had changed, he had been careful with his actions.


    "You will never change, will you? What would your mother think if she knew you were still sneaking into this room?" He said, watching Su Xiaofei striding towards him.


    "You keep saying that, but I know you would miss me whenever I''m not around, so stopining."


    Su Xiaofei took the book he was reading from his hands, ced his bookmark on the page he was reading, and ced it on a nearby table. She then proceeded to sit on hisp, wrapping her arms against his torso and resting her head against his shoulder.


    Lu Qingfeng groaned and adjusted himself on the armchair, allowing his fianc¨¦e to settlefortably on hisp. He could endure her extra weight for a while if itforted her.


    "You''re quite heavy, Feifei. Are you sure you are still keeping up with your workouts with Zhang Lan?" Hemented, earning a light pinch on his back from Su Xiaofei.


    "That isn''t something you should say, especially to someone who''s going to marry you." She huffed in annoyance. What heavy? She might be eating more these days, but she certainly wasn''t overweight yet!


    Lu Qingfeng''s lips curled into a smile, as he rested his chin on top of her head, his left hand gently brushing away her long hair from her face. He really liked hearing her saying that she would marry him.


    If in his previous two lives, he''d totally lost her, in this life, he will rewrite the stars, so everyone would know that she was born and fated to be with him. He could only wish that Su Xiaofei wouldn''t change her mind this time and won''t run back to Mo Yuchen.


    "I can''t wait for that day toe." He murmured against her hair. If he could, he wanted to marry her right away, but knowing the predicament her family was in, Lu Qingfeng knew that he would have to wait for a long time before he could marry her.


    "You would be the most beautiful bride by then." He added, and Su Xiaofei only hummed as she rested her head against him.


    Lu Qingfeng allowed the silence to apany them, knowing that Su Xiaofei wasn''t able to get a peaceful sleep these days. Not only was she preupied with the thoughts of her mother, but she was also under pressure as the newly appointed president of Bluemedia. He also knew that she sought him tonight because she wanted to talk to him about something.


    "Is there something you want to discuss?" He asked, when he noticed that Su Xiaofei hadn''t said anything after a long silence between them.


    Su Xiaofei pulled away and released her hold on him to look at his face.


    "Just wondering what I could do to make Mama happy." She said, remembering the heart-to-heart talk she had with her mother the other day.


    "Lu Qingfeng, let''s get married.." She suddenly blurted out.

 Chapter 346 - Lu Qingfeng, Let’s Get Married (2)

    Lu Qingfeng stared at her with a nk face. As he looked at her face, he realized that he had no idea what turned her gears at that moment.


    "Pardon?"


    "I said let''s get married." Su Xiaofei repeated herself.


    "You mean right now?" He asked in confusion.


    Although he very much liked to marry her, Lu Qingfeng knew that this wasn''t a good time for them to get married. Not when her mother was sick and would have to get her treatments.


    Su Xiaofei nodded. She hesitated for a moment and looked at his face with worry.


    "You mentioned that Mama said she wants to walk me down the aisle as we get married. Once her treatments start, I know that Mama would feel weaker than she already is. I want to get married while she''s still with us." She said lowly, lowering her head as she knew that she was being selfish once again and this would be unfair on Lu Qingfeng''s part.


    "Are you certain?" Lu Qingfeng asked, his hand reaching up to touch her face to get her attention.


    "What?" Su Xiaofei asked in return.


    "I said, are you certain that you want to marry me now? Once we are married, no matter what happens, only I can be your husband." He said with all seriousness.


    It was Su Xiaofei''s turn to chuckle at his words. There was no way there would be another man, as he had shown again and again why she had fallen in love with him.


    "Hmm? I should be the one who should say that. You better promise me that there will be no other woman or a second Mrs. Lu in the future."


    "I''m serious, Feifei. Marriage is a serious matter." Lu Qingfeng frowned. He didn''t want Su Xiaofei to regret her choice by marrying him. She might be saying it was fine right now, but who was to say she wouldn''t change her mind in the future?


    Seeing the seriousness on his face, Su Xiaofei held both sides of his face, forcing him to look her in the eyes.


    "I''m very sure. I trust you, Lu Qingfeng, but it would depend on you to prove whether I made the right choice by marrying you or not. I also don''t want to miss having Mama on the most special day of our lives. So what do you say, Mr. Lu? Wanna back out from your proposal now? I know it''s unfair to ask you to marry me under such circumstances, but if you''re sure of having me as your wife then¡­"


    Lu Qingfeng ced his hand on top of her right hand that was still on his face, halting her words.


    "I''ll strive to make you happy each day, Mrs. Lu. Just don''t leave and forget about me." He said. Su Xiaofei noticed the slight hint of fear and apprehension in his tone. What was he so worried about? He kept reminding her not to forget about him. As if that was even possible.


    Lu Qingfeng looked into her eyes, and he could have sworn he could see his whole universe in her. She was a wonder to him, but something that only he could touch and feel. Something so tangible and real that made her even more precious to him.


    His Feifei. His little, naughty nymph. The only woman who made him wish to relive his life again.


    He wanted to kiss her so badly and so, he did. His lips descended upon her mouth like only she could quench the thirst he had in his heart. He heard her mewl and felt her pressed against him, as her hands slipped through the slight opening of his shirt. Now, she was straddling him, kissing him deeply like there was no tomorrow, and returned his passion with the same intensity.


    She kissed him back, but allowed him to lead. He slowly explored her mouth with his tongue, thinking that she was the sweetest thing he had tasted. Lu Qingfeng felt like she had turned him into a moth drawn to a me.


    He burned under her touch, loving it and craving for more at the same time. Su Xiaofei had the ability of making him lose himself, lose his thoughts and mind with her mere touch. If only she knew that he couldn''t live without her. That he was willing to forfeit his life, if it meant that he could be by her side. She was the only one capable of filling the void in his ckened heart.


    If Su Xiaofei knew what he had done in his previous life, would she be able to say that she loved him and was willing to be with him? Lu Qingfeng wondered. But he pushed these thoughts aside, because he was a selfish person. He would never let her go easily without a fight. Rational thoughts had long abandoned him when it came to her.


    Su Xiaofei had no idea that her moans were testing Lu Qingfeng''s self-control. He longed to touch her skin and just could not help himself. He slipped his hands on her smooth legs and dear lord, those limbs could make him forget his own name.


    "Feifei," he half groaned as he pulled away from their kiss. It was maddening, and he wasn''t sure how long he would be able to rein his desire towards her.


    She pulled back and looked at him questioningly.


    "So, do you agree?" Su Xiaofei asked again with a blush on her face, aware of her own body''s reaction over his touch. She became moist for him, her excitement evident in her panties, and she hoped that he hadn''t noticed it.


    However, it was toote as Lu Qingfeng could feel her heat through thece and silky shorts she wore pressing against his now hardened member. It took every ounce of his willpower not to push her to the bed and ravish her.


    "Let me make some phone calls then¡­"


    She was really making him lose his mind.

 Chapter 347 - Wedding Preparations (1)

    "You broke her." Xi Qian said, as she stood next to Lu Qingfeng, watching Su Xiaofei smiling awkwardly at her mother while Yun Qingrong browsed several pamphlets for wedding dresses.


    The wedding nner hade together with Chairman Lu to discuss the wedding preparation with both families.


    "Whatever do you mean by that, Miss Xi?" Lu Qingfeng said in response, his eyes never leaving the woman who was about to be his wife.


    "I mean, you two have only been engaged recently, and now you''re ready to jump into marriage. Don''t you think you are rushing things?" Xi Qian replied. She crossed her arms, but her eyes softened at the scene in front of her. It seemed like Yun Qingrong was really excited about the preparations for Feifei and Lu Qingfeng''s wedding.


    "You know that I would wait for Feifei however long I have to. It was her who asked to rush things up and hold the wedding as soon as possible."


    "I guess she''s really worried about Aunty Qing and wants to make her as happy as possible."


    Xi Qian knew what to expect from Yun Qingrong''s treatments, and it wasn''t reallyfortable for the patients undergoing them. However, before that, Yun Qingrong was already scheduled for removal of both of her ovaries and fallopian tubes, so the doctors could remove as much of a tumor as possible. Debulking may increase the chance for chemotherapy or radiation therapy to kill all the tumor cells. It may also be done to relieve her symptoms or help her to live longer.


    "Isn''t that what we all wanted?" Lu Qingfeng said in response. If he could, he would take away Yun Qingrong''s sickness, if it meant that she and Su Xiaofei would be happy once again.


    Xi Qian fell silent at that, as she knew what Lu Qingfeng just said was true. If she was in Su Xiaofei''s shoes, she had no doubt that she would have her 35th mental breakdown by this time. Su Xiaofei was stronger than she thought she could be, and Xi Qian hoped that her best friend knew that.


    If there was something good that came out of the news of Yun Qingrong''s illness, it was the fact that her whole family, as well as Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng, had be closer to her than ever. By now, her elderly father had been made aware of her condition by her brothers, leaving the old general in tears.


    "This will be a busy week for all of us." Lu Qingfengmented.


    Since their schedule for the following days was jammed packed, ording to Zhang Ling and Miss Katarina, he and Su Xiaofei decided to hold their intimate wedding in one week time, allowing them to celebrate their union for three days with both of their families and closest friends.


    Surprisingly, Su Xiaofei had requested her father''s presence at their wedding, which Lu Qingfeng easily obliged. He knew how important it was for Su Xiaofei to see Qiao Fengying and Qiao Yuhan on their special day.


    He had already notified the Qiao family, and President Qiao was thrilled to hear the news and had agreed toe to their wedding. They would be expecting the Qiao family a few days before the wedding.


    Lu Qingfeng could see that she was trying her best to stay strong for Yun Qingrong and although this wasn''t the circumstances he had in mind when he said he would marry her, he was willing to fulfill her wish as long as she became his wife.


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaofei watched as her mother discussed the details of the wedding preparation with Lu Qingfeng''s grandfather. The old man had immediately returned to Qiying City when he was informed that his only grandson was about to get married.


    Su Xiaofei was thankful that Lu Qingfeng''s grandfather wasn''t against the idea of their marriage and was more than happy to wee her as the newest member of the Lu family.


    Chairman Lu was one of the very few people Su Xiaofei admired. In her previous life, someone told her that men were like wine. Some turn into vinegar like Su Haoran, while the best, like Chairman Lu, improved with age.


    "What do you think, Feifei? Do you have any color preference in mind?"


    Her mother''s question brought her back to reality. She smiled at her mother and shook her head.


    "We haven''t discussed it yet, Mama, but white should be fine." She replied, her eyes seeking Lu Qingfeng for his opinion.


    Lu Qingfeng nodded. He wasn''t really particr about the details of their wedding as long as they would be married at the end of the day.


    Yun Qingrong pouted at their answer.


    "You two are no help. It would be easier if you could chip in and tell us what you want to see on your wedding day."


    "I trust your judgment, Mama " Su Xiaofei then took the pamphlet Yun Qingrong was holding, seeing that her mother had already circled some of the dresses she liked from the catalog.


    "These are all nice, Mama, but do you see any sets that we could use instead?"


    "We can alter some of the suits for Mr. Lu ording to your dress. I''m sure, Mr. Si wouldn''t mind some alterations." The wedding nnermented.


    The catalog Yun Qingrong was checking earlier came from Andrew Si''stest collection for his wedding line.


    "See, Mama? You don''t need to worry too much. Now, Lu Qingfeng and I will just need to pick one from the ones you''ve chosen for us. As for everyone else''s outfit, I''m sure they would be able to pull out some ssy white ensembles."


    "But what about the venue and the reception? With how busy you and Xiao Feng are, I suppose you wouldn''t even get a honeymoon after your wedding." Yun Qingrong questioned.


    "That can wait, Aunty Qing. Feifei and I n to have one in the future, but not for now.." Lu Qingfeng was the one to answer for both of them.

 Chapter 348 - Wedding Preparations (2)

    That night, instead of sneaking into Lu Qingfeng''s room, Su Xiaofei chose to see her mother for a talk. She gently knocked on her mother''s door and peeked her head upon opening the door to see what her mother was doing.


    "Feifei? What''s wrong? Are you having trouble falling asleep again?" Yun Qingrong, who was seated on the bed, asked her daughter. She then patted the space beside her on the bed, gesturing for Su Xiaofei to join her.


    Su Xiaofei grinned and hurriedly climbed on the bed and settled next to her mother. It felt like a very long time since she slept on the same bed with her.


    Yun Qingrong felt the same as she looked at her daughter. She couldn''t help but remember the first time Feifei hade to their room one stormy night, asking if she could sleep with her. Su Haoran wasn''t home that day as he was once again on one of his ''business trips'', leaving her and their young daughter at home.


    "Can I sleep with you tonight?" She asked her mother. "I''m not sure when I would be able to do this again once Lu Qingfeng and I are married."


    Thinking about it, she hadn''t even discussed with him where they were going to live and what he expected from their marriage. Su Xiaofei made a mental note to ask him tomorrow, so they would have less problems in the future.


    Yun Qingrong remained seated and gently yed with her daughter''s hair.


    "You are very much wee toe here and sleep with me, but I thought you would prefer Xiao Feng''spany by now." She teased her daughter,ughing as Su Xiaofei''s face reddened instantly.


    "It''s not like that, Mama¡­" Su Xiaofei refused to meet her mother''s teasing look as she wasn''t sure whether Yun Qingrong was talking about her impending marriage, or if she was aware of her nightly visits to Lu Qingfengtely.


    "You don''t need to exin yourself, Feifei. Your Mama understands." Yun Qingrong said, before joining her daughter on the bed after dimming the lights on her bedroom.


    "Are you excited for your wedding? Because I am. I cannot wait to see you in your wedding dress as you walk down the aisle to get married. You would be the most beautiful bride on that day." She said, almost a whisper next to Su Xiaofei.


    "You are really okay with me marrying this early, Mama?" Su Xiaofei asked in return.


    "Why not? I wouldn''t have agreed if I didn''t trust you and Xiao Feng. I''m not sure if Xiao Feng has already told you, but he already asked for your hand in marriage before leaving for Shenjing years ago."


    At her mother''s words, Su Xiaofei was rendered speechless. She had no idea that Lu Qingfeng had gone that far before leaving.


    "I wasn''t able to give him the blessing because I thought that you two were still too young to consider marriage and he was rushing into it." Yun Qingrong continued.


    Su Xiaofei understood her mother, because she also felt the same at that time. She was also still undecided and wasn''t ready to ept Lu Qingfeng''s feelings for her back then.


    However, this time, she was more than ready. Su Xiaofei knew that she was able to love him, and only him without any reservations. She was willing to give her heart to him, hoping that he would take care of it and prove to her that she didn''t make a mistake loving him.


    "I love him, Mama and I don''t think there''s another man who could love me more than he does."


    Su Xiaofei was certain of this and would never question his love for her. She wouldn''t have agreed to marrying him if she wasn''t sure about him.


    "Then, that is all that matters to me, Feifei. I just want you to be happy." Yun Qingrong patted her daughter''s head and sighed in relief. With Lu Qingfeng beside her Feifei, she wouldn''t need to worry too much about her daughter after she died.


    "You and Xiao Feng are both good looking. I have no doubt that my future grandchildren would also steal the hearts of many people." Shemented.


    "Mama!" Su Xiaofei groaned and pulled the nket to cover her blushing face. Her mother must really enjoy seeing her flustered like this. She had no doubt now that her mother knew what was going on between her and Lu Qingfengte at nights.


    "Xiao Feng is still young, so I wouldn''t be surprised if the two of you won''t start a family as soon as you get married and I think that''s okay, Feifei. I know I am the reason why you two decided to hold your wedding this early, when you have just started seeing each other." Yun Qingrong said with regret in her tone. If she hadn''t mentioned her dream to Lu Qingfeng during her outburst, she knew that they wouldn''t be rushing their marriage like this.


    She sped her hand with her daughter''s, trying not to cry as she imagined the future without her by Feifei''s side. She could only hope that Feifei would be able to ovee her grief after her death, and lead a happy life with Lu Qingfeng.


    "You and Xiao Feng should be enjoying so many dates in each other''spany, learning new things about each other now that you are together. So, Feifei, it''s alright if you and Xiao Feng enjoy the first years of your marriage with each other. Don''t let others, especially his rtives, pressure you to bear him a child. The important thing is that you trust each other and are willing topromise things to make your rtionship work." Yun Qingrong continued, aware of the ways of the conversative and affluent families like the Lu family.


    Su Xiaofei smiled in understanding, but her heart clenched painfully in her chest, knowing that her mother was trying to prepare her for the life that was waiting for her once Yun Qingrong was gone.

 Chapter 349 - Stealing Ye Mingyu’s Thunder (1)

    While counting the days to her wedding, Su Xiaofei didn''t have a choice but to proceed with her schedule as usual. Her mother had taken it upon herself to n everything for the wedding, and she didn''t have the heart to deny Yun Qingrong of her wish.


    She didn''t want to take away the little joys from her mother, especially now that their time together was already limited. Also, since Yun Qingrong didn''t give her the blessing to marry Mo Yuchen in her past life, Su Xiaofei missed the chance to see her mother''s excitement for her uing marriage.


    Su Xiaofei decided to just focus on her work. As the new president of Bluemedia, it was inevitable that her workload would increase with the additional responsibilities she held. Her morning was upied with meetings, and the afternoons were filled with reading documents and contracts.


    Because of her new position, Su Xiaofei also found out that Ye Mingyu was aiming to audition for the film that helped boost her poprity in Su Xiaofei''s previous life. If Zhang Lan hadn''t mentioned it, she wouldn''t have remembered it.


    The timeline for the audition for the film ''Demonville'' was right on time. This was one of the highlights of Ye Mingyu''s career in Su Xiaofei''s past life.


    At this, she lowered the document she was reading and momentarily fell silent from Zhang Ling''s report. Obviously, she was familiar with the role Zhang Ling had just mentioned.


    "Zhang Ling, please call Xiao Rufeng. I think she would be the ideal female lead role for this film." She told her personal assistant after a long silence.


    How could she allow Ye Mingyu to seed this time? No matter what her resolve was when ites to her mother, the deep-seated hatred and grievances from her previous life cannot be easily forgotten.


    "Does this mean you also want her to audition, President Su?" Zhang Ling asked. She wasn''t sure about the details regarding the personal grudges her miss had with Ye Mingyu, but it was obvious that the two mutually hated each other for some reason.


    "En," Su Xiaofei affirmed. "Not only do I want to annoy my dearest sister to death, but this may pave the way for Xiao Rufeng''s career if she manages to get the lead role. I''ll personally apany her on the audition day."


    However, what Su Xiaofei didn''t know was that Ye Mingyu had a reason for choosing this very same role to audition too. In Ye Mingyu''s original timeline, this role was the one that led Su Xiaofei to stardom, making her name known not only in the local entertainment scene, but in the international scene as well.


    By auditioning for this role, Ye Mingyu hoped that she would be able to achieve the same poprity and status Su Xiaofei enjoyed in her original life. It was one of the things she coveted since her rebirth.


    "I understand, President Su. I will give her a call then." Zhang Ling said, before leaving Su Xiaofei in her sister''spany. She couldn''t wait to hear Xiao Rufeng''s reaction over this news.


    She knew that Su Xiaofei was looking for the perfect opportunity for Xiao Rufeng to elevate her status as an actress. This might be the opportunity she was waiting for.


    Zhang Lan didn''t make anyment on it and kept her silence. Things like this, she would rather leave it to her younger sister.


    "Have you received reports about Ye Mingyu''s recent movements?" Su Xiaofei suddenly asked the elder Zhang sister.


    Zhang Lan was the one who dealt with Su Xiaofei''s personal matters and ran errands at times. It was something she couldn''t leave to Zhang Ling as she knew how her sister''s emotions could easily be provoked and swayed.


    "Miss Ye has been visiting her father at the detention center more frequently. I still don''t know the reason for her sudden visits, so please allow me some time to dig into it." Zhang Lan replied, feeling a little ufortable that she wasn''t able toplete her task on time.


    If she was directly working for Lu Qingfeng, she would surely receive a word from her superiors. Thankfully, Su Xiaofei wasn''t very strict towards her and Zhang Ling. It was then Zhang Lan thought that it might be the reason why she was beingcent with her work recently.


    ''This won''t do.'' Zhang Lan thought. She had always been a perfectionist and had never fallen behind. If this bad habit persisted, Zhang Lan feared that she would not only fail Su Xiaofei in the future, but her master as well.


    Su Xiaofei tapped her fingertips on the papers she was reading earlier. There was something odd about how Ye Mingyu acted recently. Now that she thought about it, she wasn''t even sure what brought Mo Yuchen and Ye Mingyu together in her previous life.


    During the birthday banquet at Top Tier Entertainment, even if Mo Yuchen was apanying Ye Mingyu that night, he was giving her a cold shoulder. It made Su Xiaofei think that Mo Yuchen was being forced to cooperate with Ye Mingyu for some reason.


    Was it somehow connected with Ye Mingyu''s recent visits with Su Haoran? Su Xiaofei wondered. Why did she feel like she was missing something?


    Ye Xing passed away three years ago, and Su Xiaofei thought that this would''ve caused a great strain between Ye Mingyu and her father. Ye Mingyu wouldn''t have ignored Su Haoran and refused to visit him if their rtionship was good in the first ce.


    So what changed? What could have triggered Ye Mingyu''s sudden willingness and eagerness to visit Su Haoran?


    Su Xiaofei sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose as she tried to push these thoughts away for the meantime.. This wasn''t the right time for her to waste time and ponder about Ye Mingyu''s motives when she had a ton of workload that needed her attention before she could take a break and marry Lu Qingfeng.

 Chapter 350 - Stealing Ye Mingyu’s Thunder (2)

    Lu Qingfeng returned to the Yun Mansionter than usual that night, leaving him with no chance to join Yun Qingrong and Su Xiaofei for dinner. He hadn''t anticipated that the conference meeting he had earlier would take longer than expected.


    When he entered the guest room he had been upying for the past weeks, he found Su Xiaofei syed on the bed, dressed in her silk nighties, with her long hair syed over the sheets beneath her. She was browsing on her phone and only gave him a quick nce before returning her attention to it.


    "Hm? We haven''t gotten married yet, but you are alreadying homete at night. Should I be worried, Mr. Lu?" Su Xiaofeimented, her eyes still glued on her screen.


    When Lu Qingfeng raised a slender brow at her, Su Xiaofei scoffed.


    "I''ve been waiting for you for an hour now." Sheined with a pout.


    Lu Qingfeng snorted before shedding his overcoat, hanging it on the rack.


    "Feifei, even a five-year-old kid knows it''s not good to lie. Zhang Ling told me you''ve just decided to retire for the night fifteen minutes ago." He said in defense.


    "Traitor." Su Xiaofei mumbled, dropping her arms on her sides together with her phone. "I even went as far as giving her my extra desserts."


    "Can''t me her. She knows who signs her paychecks." Lu Qingfeng replied. He then walked to the built-in closet and pulled out his casual clothes to get changed. "How''s your day?"


    Su Xiaofei rolled on her stomach and rested her chin on her hands, watching Lu Qingfeng walk around the room as he tidied up his things.


    "Same as always. Boring. No wonder many businessmen seek other women''spany aside from their wives. Working at the corporate setting could be taxing and boring at the same time."


    "I do hope Mrs. Lu isn''t trying to group me with those businessmen." Lu Qingfengmented, his eyes then turning towards her direction, observing her reaction. "Well, if I had known I would find you in my bed like this, I would have rushed Nine to bring me home."


    Su Xiaofeiughed at that.


    "You still have time to back out, Lu Qingfeng. Once we are married, you wouldn''t have the right to look at another woman."


    There was a glint of amusement shing through Lu Qingfeng''s eyes before turning to their usual state. It urred so fast that Su Xiaofei would have totally missed it had she not been paying close attention to her fianc¨¦.


    "It would be so foolish of me to do such a thing when I already have the one I wanted in my life."


    Su Xiaofei only hummed in response, feeling a slight blush creeping on her face.


    "Anyway, I thought you would stoping herete at night until our wedding. Is there something you want to talk about this time?" He asked.


    "That can wait." Su Xiaofei rested the side of her face on her one arm. "Have you eaten your dinner yet, or do you want me to ask someone to reheat the food?"


    "No need for that. Nine and I had our meals beforeing home." He paused as he gave her a quick nce before stepping inside the ensuite in the guest room. "Are you going back to your room or will you wait for me?"


    "If it''s okay with you, I want to sleep here with you tonight." Su Xiaofei replied, her blush deepening.


    Lu Qingfeng stared at her in disbelief. Did she even know what she was saying right now? Hadn''t she noticed how hard it was for him not to ravish her in bed and have his way with her whenever she paid himte night visits?


    If things between them turned too heated, he might not be able to control his urges, which Lu Qingfeng had no doubt that he would surely regretter on. He used to be proud of his self-control, but with Su Xiaofei, he knew it was getting harder and harder every time he saw her, touched her, kissed her until her lips were swollen and marked by him.


    "Feifei, do you know what you are saying?" He confronted her.


    "I know, and it''s not like we are teenagers sneaking around. Since we are getting married in a few days, shouldn''t we start getting used to being together more?


    "Go now, and don''t make me wait for too long. If I fall asleep, then we can talk tomorrow." Su Xiaofei shooed him away.


    Lu Qingfeng remained silent for a moment, then resumed his nightly routines, leaving his fianc¨¦e behind. When he returned, Su Xiaofei was sitting on the edge of the bed, humming a song ying from her phone with her head swaying slowly left and right as she vibed with the rhythm.


    He sat next to her, wondering what he should say to her, but none came out. He felt her lean her head against his shoulder.


    "Hmm¡­ didn''t you take a shower? But why do you feel so warm?" She asked.


    "Because I''m alive?" Lu Qingfeng replied with a straight face, not wanting Su Xiaofei to misunderstand him.


    She softly giggled from his answer.


    "Then I''m d. I like that you are warm."


    "That''s so strange to hear from you, Feifei." Lu Qingfengmented.


    He couldn''t help but bring her closer to his side. Two lifetimes were wasted and he''d never imagined that there would be a day that Su Xiaofei would willingly ept his feelings for her and be with him like this.


    It felt surreal for Lu Qingfeng, and if this was yet another dream his mind conjured, he didn''t want to wake up and find her despising him yet again. He lifted a hand and touched her cheek, feeling her warmth, informing him that none of these were a dream.. And that she wasn''t dead, and he wasn''t holding her lifeless body yet again, begging her not to leave him again.

 Chapter 351 - [Bonus ] I Will Only Love You (1)

    "I still don''t think it''s a good idea for you to spend the night with me, Feifei. What would Aunty Qing think if she knew you were seducing me tonight?" Lu Qingfeng asked her, not daring to move an inch from where he was seated.


    He heard Su Xiaofei scoff next to him before hitting the pause button on her phone, cing it on his nightstand.


    "Toote. Mama knows I''ve beening here these few nights." She informed him. She supposed that her mother might have expected that this would happen.


    Lu Qingfeng almost groaned when he heard that. He didn''t want Yun Qingrong to think that he was taking advantage of her daughter in her own home. He might need to apologize to herter, just in case Su Xiaofei managed to seduce him tonight.


    "Would you have said no?" He suddenly asked, leaving Su Xiaofei confused this time.


    She turned her head to look up at his face. "Say no to what?"


    What was he even talking about? She couldn''t understand.


    His eyes then shifted to the small branch of peach blossom resting on her chest, its pink floral design made from the finest pink diamonds. This heirloom was meant to be owned only by the wife of the head of the Lu family. Lu Qingfeng knew the implications of giving this to her.


    "To be engaged to me and to be my wife." He started. "When I gave this to you, did you say yes because you truly want to be or¡­"


    "Or what?" Su Xiaofei cut him, as she looked at him with a deep frown on her face.


    "Did you think that you couldn''t turn me down at that moment?"


    Lu Qingfeng had been holding this thought for some time now, ever since Su Xiaofei epted his indirect proposal for marriage.


    Su Xiaofei stared at him for a long time, and he felt a little unnerved by it. Did she regret it now?


    "Don''t be silly, Lu Qingfeng. I epted it because I love you. There''s no reason for me to turn you down when I know that I cannot be without you now."


    Lu Qingfeng was stunned hearing her answer. It was the first time she had vocally admitted that she loved him, and he was floored. He kissed her once, kissed her twice, then quickly grabbed her around the waist to move her onto hisp to get them into a morefortable position as he continued to kiss her.


    Su Xiaofei''sshes fluttered as he continued to kiss her. His hands moved to her jawline before sliding into her hair. She noticed that Lu Qingfeng liked touching her, especially her hair. She would love to tease him about his obsession with her long hair, but she didn''t want to risk the chance of him stopping as her punishment.


    Truth be told, she quite enjoyed his touch and wasn''t repulsed by it.


    He nted her mouth over hers, quietly letting out a long breath through his nose as she softly mewled against his. She then shivered when his hands started wandering over her legs, then moved further down her back as he held her closely.


    Su Xiaofei forced herself to pull away, aware of their precarious position on his bed.


    His hands stopped abruptly and with slightly zed eyes, Lu Qingfeng looked at her. The look of her flushed face as she heaved for breath made him smile. Pressing his forehead against hers, he smiled genuinely and whispered.


    "Feifei, I love you. No matter how many lifetimes we live, I will only love you."


    He heard Su Xiaofei softly chuckled, smiling at him in return.


    "That''s quite reassuring, Mr. Lu." She grinned at him, patting his shoulder lightly. "Anyway, I came here to discuss something Mama mentioned to me earlier."


    The haze in his eyes slowly dispersed and without a word, he fixed the strap of her nightdress that slid down over her shoulder, before loosening his hold on her waist.


    Su Xiaofei took the cue and slipped off from hisp and stood up in front of him. This should help them to calm down and talk about important matters before their wedding over the weekend.


    "What is it about?" He asked, a little disappointed that she parted from him, but understood why.


    "Mama asked me if we''re going to meet a marital counselor before our wedding. You know what happened to her marriage, and she didn''t want a repeat of it in ours."


    Lu Qingfeng nodded in understanding. He wasn''t against the idea, as long as Su Xiaofei was okay with it.


    "I haven''t thought about that." He admitted. He could see why Yun Qingrong would ask Feifei such a question. "I have no qualms about it if that''s what she wants, but what about you?"


    "Fine by me. Mama said that it would help us understand each other better, and it could avoid misunderstandings between us. Since we are practically merging our lives together, it''s only normal to ask what we expect from this marriage." She paused as a thought crossed her mind. "Would your family require me to sign a prenuptial agreement with you?"


    Lu Qingfeng shook his head. There was no way he would allow anyone from the Lu family to think that they would have a chance to bully his wife.


    "No. Whatever is mine is yours, just don''t break my credit score. It would be humiliating for someone like me, don''t you think?"


    Anyway, he was willing to give her ess to his ounts if she wasn''t up to opening a joint ount with him.


    "Of course, my meager one hundred million is nothingpared to yours." Su Xiaofei rolled her eyes and took a seat next to him. However, she was also aware that Lu Qingfeng''s rtionship with the rest of the Lu family wasn''t that good.. Some of his rtives covet to snatch his position and control over the vast assets of the family.

 Chapter 352 - I Will Only Love You (2)

    "Is that all? Is there something else you want to ask me then?" Lu Qingfeng asked. Since Su Xiaofei had raised the issue, wouldn''t it be better if they start discussing it now?


    Su Xiaofei then proceeded to ry the conversation she had with her mother about dying having a kid for the meantime, until she and Lu Qingfeng were ready to start their own family.


    "So I want to know what you think of it." She added, her eyes trained on him for his reaction.


    When she married Mo Yuchen in her previous life, she had never gotten the chance to have this talk with him. She had married him, thinking that things would get better between them from then on. How stupid she was to think that it was happily ever after.


    However, after their marriage, she felt more trapped and lonelier than ever. Whenever Mo Yuchen was home from work, they would always argue about trivial things and how little he spent time with her as his wife. She had ignored the red gs before their marriage, and it was only natural for her to face the consequences of her actions.


    "What Aunty Qing said makes sense." Lu Qingfeng nodded, "but what about you, Feifei? Do you want to have a child in the future?"


    In both of his previous lives, Su Xiaofei had lost her child and Lu Qingfeng wasn''t sure if it had asting effect on her, regardless of the lifetime she was living. When he saw her stiffened from the corner of his eye, Lu Qingfeng then knew the answer to his question.


    Su Xiaofei remained silent for a long time, as she was pondering over this question. She didn''t think she would be able to bear the pain of losing another child, especially the one she would have with Lu Qingfeng in the future. It would kill her.


    "You don''t have to force yourself to give me an answer, Feifei." She heard Lu Qingfeng say. "I won''t force you to do anything you don''t want."


    She gave her a weak smile at this. What had she done to deserve him?


    "What about you? Do you want a kid? What if I''m not able to conceive one, just like Mama? Would you run to another woman to give you one instead?" She already knew the answers to these questions, but a part of her wanted some confirmation from him.


    "I would be happy with whatever you give me. If we can''t have a child, then so be it. Let''s just enjoy the rest of our lives in each other''spany. If we are blessed with at least one, I''ll be more than happy to take care of the two of you. If you cannot conceive a child, then I would allow you to decide whether you want to adopt or not. I can pass thepany to my rtives if we can''t have one."


    Just like what he had done in the past. Su Xiaofei thought. She couldn''t remember all the details and memories she had as a ghost, but she did remember that Lu Qingfeng adopted a little boy, years after her death.


    Because he wasn''t willing to move on after her death, to love another woman and lead a happy life, Lu Qingfeng had chosen to adopt a child from a distant rtive and raised him as his own. Still, Su Xiaofei thought that it would be better if she could give birth and give him at least one child that he could dote on.


    She had no doubt that Lu Qingfeng would be a fantastic father to their child, but she couldn''t say the same thing about herself. After all, the child she bore from her previous life was conceived out of her own selfishness.


    It was something that she wasn''t proud of and regretted doing. With Lu Qingfeng, she doubted if she even deserved to have a child of her own after all the things she had done in her past life.


    "I see, then our home¡­"


    "We can stay here as long as you want. I don''t think I would be at ease knowing that Aunty Qing would be alone if we move out after our wedding." Lu Qingfeng didn''t need to think twice about it because he had already decided to stay with them through thick and thin.


    Her eyes stung with tears upon hearing his answer. She couldn''t really leave her mother behind, especially with Yun Qingrong''s current condition Yun Qingrong.


    "Thank you. You don''t know how much this means to me¡­" She wrapped her arms around him and let herself cry in his embrace. She had been trying so hard to be strong for her mother''s sake, but there were times she felt like she wanted to burst into tears when she thought of the possibility of losing her mother.


    The more she thought about it, the more she realized how much Lu Qingfeng hadpromised and was willing to do to cater to her needs. He was sacrificing yet again for her sake, and Su Xiaofei hated that she couldn''t do anything to repay any of it.


    "You don''t need to thank me for this, Feifei. Since I will be your husband very soon, it''s normal for me to look after my wife''s needs. I''m not just doing this for you, I''m also doing it for me. Let''s live together with Aunty Qing and make happy memories with her." He assured her.


    Lu Qingfeng was d that she had raised this topic with him, so that he could understand her better. If he noticed a hint of hesitation on her part in marrying him, he would choose to dy their wedding to allow her some time to decide on it.


    Also, he didn''t want Su Xiaofei to live with regrets for the rest of her life again, once Yun Qingrong''s time ended.. As for their life as a married couple, he would strive to be a good husband for her.

 Chapter 353 - There’s Nothing Between Us (1)

    Xiao Rufeng arrived earlier at Bluemedia to meet Su Xiaofei that day. Although Su Xiaofei had now assumed her new position as the head of thepany, she remained the manager of her talents, and that included Xiao Rufeng.


    Xiao Rufeng had already debuted in the industry for some time now, yet, her growth as an actress wascking over the past years since her debut. Although she asionally received projects from time to time, none of it was enough to boost her poprity in the industry.


    She sat in silence as she pondered about Su Xiaofei''s sudden decision to have her audition for a major role. This hadn''t happened before, and she wasn''t sure if she would be able to live up to her manager''s expectations.


    ''Demonville'' was a film that would be directed by a famous filmmaker. The film was based on a popr horror weic series that had been serialized for several years in the past, and it was one of Xiao Rufeng''s favorites to read in her free time when she was still a new recruit in Bluemedia. While she was nervous to audition for the female lead role, she knew that if she managed to get the role, it could help her boost her career and poprity.


    "Miss Xiao, let''s go."


    Su Xiaofei''s voice startled Xiao Rufeng and she immediately rose from her seat and followed her manager to the elevator. She nervously stood still and willed herself to calm down.


    "You have to calm down and give everything you have for this audition." She heard Su Xiaofei say. "It''s not every day that we can encounter such a great opportunity."


    Xiao Rufeng knew that her manager was right. She decided to do her best this time, so she wouldn''t have any regretster.


    When they arrived at the audition venue, Su Xiaofei raised a slender brow when she saw Ye Mingyu stepping out with Mo Yuchen next to her. The two stopped in their tracks upon seeing her. Both had different reactions on their faces.


    Ye Mingyu was surprised to see hering today, while Mo Yuchen looked at her withplex emotions Su Xiaofei couldn''t exin, not that she was bothered by what he thought of her anyway.


    "Ah, CEO Mo, it''s been a while." Su Xiaofei smiled at Mo Yuchen before giving Ye Mingyu a mocking look. "How nice of you to apany Miss Ye on her audition. For someone who runs a massive entertainment agency, you surely know how to dote on anotherpany''s newbie."


    Her words provoked Ye Mingyu, but thattter could only endure it no matter how much she wanted to give Su Xiaofei a good beating.


    Mo Yuchen stiffened at her words and frowned. He chose to ignore her remarks and acknowledged Ye Mingyu instead.


    "As per our agreement, this would be thest time. You better stay true to your words." He told Ye Mingyu, giving Su Xiaofei onest look before leaving on his own.


    Su Xiaofei hummed and cupped her chin in one hand, wondering what Mo Yuchen meant by his words. It made her think that her assumption about Ye Mingyu striking some kind of deal with him was on point.


    Ye Mingyu felt ufortable being left on her own by Mo Yuchen. She hated that he didn''t even give her some face in front of Su Xiaofei.


    Even Su Xiaofei''s reaction when she saw them together was far from what Ye Mingyu expected to see from her. Didn''t Su Xiaofei used to be head over heels for Mo Yuchen? So howe she was acting indifferent towards him now?


    What was Su Xiaofei doing here, anyway? It wasn''t like she could audition for the same role that led her to stardom. It was only then did Ye Mingyu notice that Su Xiaofei had brought Xiao Rufeng with her.


    Annoyance filled Ye Mingyu''s heart as she thought of how Su Xiaofei kept ruining her ns. She considered the possibility of Su Xiaofei being reborn, but that would be impossible, as Su Xiaofei wasn''t even aware of her existence in her previous life.


    The Su Xiaofei in her previous life was a sheltered person. Someone who never tasted bitterness in life. Everything she wanted was handed to her without working for it. Ye Mingyu hated the fact that while she and her mother were being constantly harassed by loan sharks, Su Xiaofei was living the life she always wanted.


    "President Su shouldn''t be mad with CEO Mo, there''s nothing between us." She said in an innocent tone, implying that Su Xiaofei''s crude remarks were because she was jealous seeing her ex-fianc¨¦ with Ye Mingyu.


    When Ye Mingyu heard that Su Xiaofei seeded her mother at Bluemedia, she was filled with bitterness. Why was Su Xiaofei leading a better life than her? Her father had also contributed a lot for Bluemedia, and yet she couldn''t even take advantage of it.


    She had thought that with her father''s help and Bluemedia''s backing, her career would sail smoothly without encountering too many obstacles, but it didn''t happen because of Su Xiaofei''s involvement.


    What was the point of being reborn if she wasn''t able to improve the quality of her life and if she remained inferiorpared to Su Xiaofei?


    Xiao Rufeng and Zhang Ling were both appalled by Ye Mingyu''s audacity. If anything, Ye Mingyu should be the one who needed to worry about herself, given how other people were throwing odd looks her way.


    Su Xiaofei''s lips curled up as if Ye Mingyu just told her a funny joke, making thetter ufortable. She knew that she had be a joke in everyone''s eyes.


    "Miss Ye must be joking. CEO Mo and I have parted ways a long time ago and there''s no attachment left between us.. Why do you insist on implying that you two are together? Why do you care so much? Don''t tell me you''re the reason why he broke his engagement with Huang Jingjing?" Su Xiaofei sighed dejectedly as she looked at Ye Mingyu.

 Chapter 354 - There’s Nothing Between Us (2)

    The more Su Xiaofei had an encounter like this with Ye Mingyu, the more disappointed she became. Why was it that the scheming little bitch that caused her death before was this dumb? Was it because she was more foolish than Ye Mingyu before?


    Ye Mingyu''s face nched as she started hearing whispers around them. As she nced around her, she noticed the ridicule in everyone''s eyes. Su Xiaofei''s words reminded everyone of the recent news about Mo Yuchen''s personal life.


    Wasn''t it obvious that Su Xiaofei was the one who started it? So why were they ganging up against her now? Because of Su Xiaofei, she had be aughingstock in public. The hatred she had for Su Xiaofei twined painfully in her heart.


    "President Su, I have nothing against you. Didn''t you say that you can''t ept me as your sister? I respected your decision, but you don''t have to bully me like this." As if on cue, Ye Mingyu''s tears roll down her face, giving her a pitiful look in front of everyone.


    Those who overheard what she had just said couldn''t help but blurt out in surprise. This was a sudden plot twist they hadn''t anticipated between the new president of Bluemedia and the newbie actress, Ye Mingyu. It was massive news that would suddenly spread in the news in just a span of one hour.


    Su Xiaofei arched a slender brow at Ye Mingyu''s answer, thinking that it took Ye Mingyu a long time to use this card against her. Was she keeping it as a triumph card she could use in the future instead?


    She found it ridiculous that Ye Mingyu was still trying to provoke her using this information. In her previous life, she used to hate it whenever Ye Mingyu acknowledged her as her sister in front of everyone, leading to them beingpared to each other.


    "Then, does Miss Ye think that I''m being unreasonable for doing so? I''ve been trying to keep my distance from you for your own sake. Miss Ye, do you really want everyone to know who you are in my family''s life? You and your mother came out of the blue, asking my Mama to take you in the family because your mother is dying? I heard she''s already dead. It must have been hard not being able toe home to bury her remains."


    As she said these, many spection started to arise from it, questioning Ye Mingyu''s morals and why Su Xiaofei refused to acknowledge her as her sibling. However, considering the rumors circting around about Ye Mingyu being Mo Yuchen''s new lover, it shouldn''t be surprising that President Su didn''t want anything to do with her.


    What kind of daughter was Ye Mingyu if she couldn''t even bother toe home to see her own mother during the remaining days of her life?


    At Su Xiaofei''s words, Ye Mingyu''s eyes shed with hatred. She clenched her fists on her sides, nails digging painfully into her palm.


    How dare Su Xiaofei throw such insensitive words in her face?! The resentment in her grew and all of this was because of Su Xiaofei. If there was no Su Xiaofei in her life, perhaps she would be happier.


    She wouldn''t lose her mother three years ago, had her previous ns worked out. While it was true that her mother was able to get treatments early, the financial burden it left on their family was enough to send her mother into depression.


    Of course, Su Xiaofei was aware of this. However, she also knew that the real reason Ye Xing passed away, despite her recovery, was because Ye Mingyu had abandoned her. With Su Haoran being convicted and sent behind bars, Ye Xing was left to fend on her own while her only daughter left the country to pursue her studies.


    Su Xiaofei could never understand how Ye Mingyu was able to do it to her own mother, when the thought of her being parted with Yun Qingrong in the future was enough to twist her guts painfully.


    She lowered her gaze, realizing that her viciousness and arrogance were no match against Ye Mingyu at all. Thankfully, she was able to wake from her mistakes and was given a chance to rectify it.


    "Anyway, I didn''te here to argue with you. We came here for the audition. Now, if you''ll excuse us." Su Xiaofei said as she walked past Ye Mingyu, leaving thetter in a trance.


    Since things had turned out this way between them, Su Xiaofei decided to see how it would end this time. She would make sure that the one who would be left with nothing wasn''t her, but Ye Mingyu instead.


    It was pointless to reason out with someone who turned a deaf ear to her exnation. Actually, it would have been better for Ye Mingyu to stay away from her rather than continuously trying to provoke her like this.


    Su Xiaofei would have considered letting go of her resentment had Ye Mingyu not constantly tried to undermine her every time they met. If she had a good head over her shoulder, Ye Mingyu should have realized it by now.


    Were all of these really necessary for Ye Mingyu? Couldn''t she rely on her own talent and skills to attain her goals, without stepping on someone else to make herself look better?


    Xiao Rufeng nced at Ye Mingyu, thinking how foolish thetter was for even trying to provoke Su Xiaofei in public. She now understood why Su Xiaofei kept reminding her that not all battles were worth fighting. One needed to know when to stop, lest one would end up ruining oneself.


    Seeing Ye Mingyu reminded Xiao Rufeng of her own younger sister, who had also been trying to get on her nerves for the past years. Maybe she should follow Su Xiaofei''s ways and ignore Xiao Yunyao''s provocation.


    If she could be at least as confident and as fierce as her manager, perhaps her own father wouldn''t look down on her chosen profession.

 Chapter 355 - A Forty Five Year Old Virgin (1)

    The news about Ye Mingyu''s connection to the young president of Bluemedia had not only spread over the news, but also on the social media tforms. People had different opinions on the matter as they argued over the news.


    Ye Mingyu was being scolded by anti-fans for being so shameless. Not only was she using Mo Yuchen as her money boss, but she was also trying to cause trouble for her younger sister. On the other hand, Su Xiaofei was being criticized for not supporting her own sister, especially now that Ye Mingyu didn''t have anyone to rely on.


    Some thought that since she was now the president of Bluemedia, Su Xiaofei was taking advantage of her position to bully Ye Mingyu. Oddly enough, Su Xiaofei wasn''t even aware that she had started gaining a considerable number of followers ever since she was spotted along with the celebrities she was handling.


    For the past five years, she was known within the industry as a "star maker", given how popr her talents were and how good Su Xiaofei was at handling issues regarding their reputations.


    Most people still remembered how she was able to save Qin Muyao''s reputation and career that was already on the brink of death, as well as managing to give Tang Liyan a sessfuleback after years of hiatus.


    "It''s surprising to see a beautiful talent manager just like her. It''s a pity she didn''t choose to be a celebrity instead."


    "Heh, with the kind of looks she has, her acquaintances would surely have a hard timepeting for attention when people are already drawn to her."


    "Miss President isn''t only beautiful, but she''s also sessful in her chosen career. It''s really a shame that her elder sister wants to drag her through the mud."


    "Ye Mingyu had just started her career. Of course, she wants to boost her poprity by using relevant people, regardless if it is her sister or not."


    No one truly knew the truth regarding the rtionship between the two, so they could only specte about what transpired behind the cameras. Still, these cheap talks didn''t affect Su Xiaofei one bit, as she was upied with her work and with the preparation of her wedding thating weekend.


    That night, Su Xiaofei came to spend the night with Lu Qingfeng for the second time, oblivious of how her fianc¨¦ was looking at her. She was reading the checklist her mother handed to her earlier to make sure that they wouldn''t forget anything for the wedding.


    "Mama said that Mr. Si has already started altering the measurements of our wedding dress and suit. She also wants to know if we could spare a few hours to take our wedding photos." She told Lu Qingfeng as she sat on the bed, dressed in a ck nightdress that he hadn''t seen before.


    Lu Qingfeng blinked, breaking from his trance as he cleared his throat. He hoped that she hadn''t caught him staring at her nkly like a fool.


    "I''ll ask Nine to free my schedule in the afternoon for the day after tomorrow. We still have exams tomorrow, so I won''t be free until it''s over." He berated himself inwardly for even daring to ogle at her like a teenage boy.


    "Okay, I''ll be sure to make time then." Su Xiaofei nodded, then ced the list on the nightstand as she was ready to retire for the night. "Aren''t you going to sleep?" She asked when she noticed that Lu Qingfeng hadn''t budged from his seat as he finished his schoolwork.


    "No. You can go ahead and sleep. I need to finish this on time." He said, willing himself to look away from her and to focus on the task he had in front of him.


    Last night, he wasn''t able to sleep in peace at all because of her. Sure, he and Su Xiaofei used to have sleepovers when they were younger, but that was a long time ago and his mind was still innocent. He could have a good night sleep when sleeping next to her when he was younger, but it was certainly different this time.


    It didn''t help that when he managed to get some sleep, he would have filthy, naughty dreams about her. That ebony mass of thick hair bouncing on her shoulders as he slid her into hisp as he made love to her.


    Her ample, soft breast pressed against his chest with her mouth hot on his skin. She had panted and moaned like a woman in heat, and his mind was filled with her voice, crying out for more as he pounded into her.


    He had woken up in a cold sweat, his manhood aching from the weird dream. Talk about embarrassment when he remembered that the very woman in his dream was sleeping soundly next to him.


    Would Su Xiaofei think that he was a pervert for having such thoughts about her?


    Lu Qingfeng had forced himself to leave the bed before she woke up. A cold shower had rid him of his erection, but not the persisting and unsettling memories of her mouth on him in his dream despite the early hours of the morning.


    Would it feel as amazing as it was in his dream if Su Xiaofei did it to him? He thought as he dressed himselfter, which only made him more annoyed with himself.


    He cursed himself as he pushed those indecent thoughts away from his mind. It was ridiculous, even if they were to get married. In his previous lives, Lu Qingfeng didn''t remember having such thoughts about Su Xiaofei.


    Lu Qingfeng counted backwards from a hundred down to one, trying to get his mind distracted, but his eyes caught Su Xiaofei''s sleeping form on the bed from the mirror in front of him. He grunted and looked away.. He would rather think of her smiling, beautiful face than the one that had deep blush on her face from his dream.

 Chapter 356 - A Forty Five Year Old Virgin (2)

    Unbeknownst to him, Su Xiaofei had been paying attention to his reaction. She didn''t mean to seduce him, but she wanted to befortable being with him, considering that they were marrying in a short span of time.


    She knew that he was regaining his self-control, not daring to touch her inappropriately, and would force himself to stop whenever things became too heated between them. Last night, she woke up for some reason and found him asleep next to her.


    She stared at his face for a moment and smiled to herself. The thought of them being together and married made her happy. When Xi Qian asked her before if she had truly decided to marry Lu Qingfeng, she was confident to say that she wouldn''t regret choosing him.


    Others might think that she and Lu Qingfeng were rushing into marriage, and that they should spend more time together to understand each other better, but for Su Xiaofei, the things she had witnessed after her death in her previous life were more than enough to prove how deep his feelings were towards her.


    Although they were getting married this early to fulfill her mother''s wishes, Su Xiaofei was happy that Lu Qingfeng didn''t deny her. At that moment, she promised to do her best to be a good wife to him. She went back to sleep after that.


    The next time she woke up, she noticed that the space next to her was already vacated. The sheets were still warm, so Su Xiaofei knew that it hadn''t been too long since Lu Qingfeng left the bed.


    It didn''t take too long before she heard the door of the bathroom open, revealing Lu Qingfeng fresh from the shower, wearing only his pajama pants. Su Xiaofei''s drowsiness left her that instant, as she was reminded of how sexy her fianc¨¦ was when he was in the state of undress.


    ''Not that he isn''t normally this sexy before.'' She thought, remembering her time as a ghost, following Lu Qingfeng for so many years before her rebirth. It was a pity that no other woman could appreciate him like this, as he died as a forty five-year-old virgin.


    In his tailored custom suits, Lu Qingfeng looked dashing. Now that he was freshly showered, his hair wet and matted down on his head and wearing no shirt, she had the chance to gawk at all those muscles he didn''t have prior to his departure to Shenjing a few years ago.


    Su Xiaofei thought that he had a nice chest. A really impressive chest that she was itching to explore with her hands, to appreciate the changes on his body. It was broad, with strong triangr shoulders that tapered down to a narrow waist. His chest looked smooth, and it reminded her of how warm it felt to be hugged by him.


    She shut her eyes and pretended to sleep. If in the past she was too oblivious to notice Lu Qingfeng, now it was obvious that she was into him. Even now, as Lu Qingfeng was focusing on his revision, he looked very enthralling in her eyes. She couldn''t believe that this man was about to be her husband.


    As she thought about it, it felt so different being with him than when she was with Mo Yuchen in her previous life. She couldn''t even believe that Lu Qingfeng had managed to bring out the sexual side of her that she didn''t know existed in the first ce.


    ''Has my body always been this sensitive to touch?'' Su Xiaofei thought to herself as memories of her make out sessions with Lu Qingfeng recently crossed her mind. She hadn''t even imagined that her body would react to his touches, making her yearn more from him.


    The only experience she had in the past was with Mo Yuchen, and she couldn''t remember the time when he would have taken his time and touched her willingly, without the influence of the drug. He didn''t run his hands on her body the way Lu Qingfeng did.


    Lu Qingfeng''s hands were constantly moving, touching her lightly with his fingers, sending electrical zings through her body all the way to her feminine part, making it throb with need. It seemed to her that he was taking his time learning what she liked and which part of her body was sensitive to his touches. But he would always stop even before his hands traveled further up between her legs.


    Su Xiaofei suddenly sat up from the bed, startling Lu Qingfeng from his work. These thoughts in her head were putting her in a sexual haze, in need of him. She could feel her juices flowing out of her.


    "Feifei? What''s wrong?" She heard Lu Qingfeng ask.


    "You." She said without breaking their gaze, wanting nothing more than to feel him again next to her.


    "What about me?" Lu Qingfeng furrowed his brows in confusion. What had he done to her this time? He couldn''t think of anything.


    By all the gods and demons in the world, why were women so unpredictable? He thought.


    He waspletely aware that he was gaping at her like an idiot, abandoning all hopes of remaining stoic from her sudden usation. What had warranted such an unreasonable usation from her?


    Su Xiaofei didn''t answer, but instead she shifted on the bed ufortably. The look she had on her face reminded him of the indecent dream he hadst night.


    Lu Qingfeng fell silent. He wished to take his time with her. Her needs and pleasures must and will alwayse first. It was how it always had been and how it always will be, regardless of the lifetime he was living. Su Xiaofei alone would have the power to affect him like this.


    "I need you." He heard her say, and it was then he noticed that her eyes were unfocused. He understood then that she wanted him.


    She wanted him, and it was him she shall have tonight.

 Chapter 357 - Forever Mine (1)

    She might want him now, but for Lu Qingfeng, he would always want her and would always choose her above anything else. Once again, he admitted to himself. Her power and influence over him was absolute.


    Lu Qingfeng would be lying if he said that he didn''t desire her. However, his own inexperience when ites to intimacy made him wonder if he would be able to please her and give the sexual satisfaction that she needed.


    He briefly wondered if he made the wrong decision to abstain from doing it in the past with another woman, but his mind immediately rejected the idea. He couldn''t do what other men did with other women. Lu Qingfeng refused to sumb to his primal instinct, not unless he could do it with Su Xiaofei.


    When Su Xiaofei suggested that they should start sharing the same room and sleep on the same bed yesterday, he already knew her intention. She had already made a decision to dy having a child, but it didn''t mean that she was opposed to the idea of doing the process of baby making itself.


    "Feifei, are you sure?" He asked, hoping that she wouldn''t regret what would happen between them tonight. He also made a mental note to be careful with her, as no woman wanted to be ravaged and treated roughly on their first time.


    "Yes." Su Xiaofei whimpered, looking down as she realized how forward she was tonight.


    Lu Qingfeng had always been patient with her, and she didn''t think she would be lucky enough to meet someone like him if she missed this chance to be with him for the second time.


    He nced at the halfpleted report he was working on and decided to continue it in the morning, because even if he didn''t want to admit it, Su Xiaofei''s presence was distracting him at this very moment. After turning off hisptop, he went and stood next to the bed, looking at his fianc¨¦e withplex emotions surging within him.


    Did she even know that she was his dream that came true?


    Lu Qingfeng couldn''t encapste the feeling he had for her from all the lifetimes he had lived without her by his side. He wished that she would stay and would never forget him again.


    He gently slid in and joined her on the bed with a hand reaching out to touch her face, willing to convince himself that she won''t be leaving again. That she had epted him fully and was about to be his wife.


    Her cheeks dusted with pink as she allowed him to touch her. She leaned into his touch, nuzzling against him as he lightly caressed her cheeks with the pad of his thumb. Su Xiaofei was the only one who showed him this kind of intimacy, as he was never one to be fond of another person''s touch.


    Come to think of it, even his own parents didn''t spare him a nce as far as he could remember. Lu Qingfeng knew that he wasn''t born out of love, but for the need of an heir for his father to use as an advantage against his brothers to seed their family business. He was awed by this woman who loved him when no one else had.


    The safety of herpany, and the fact that she loved him, allowed Lu Qingfeng to truly rx and show hints of the man behind his emotionless mask. She, alone, was the only one worthy to see every side of him.


    At that moment, he had a sense of rity that soothed him. He was now looking forward to a life with her, to passions and things he never thought he would have.


    "I wish to be with you forever." He suddenly blurted out, surprising not only Su Xiaofei, but also himself.


    Su Xiaofei''s eyes widened, as she realized what he''d meant with those words. A wide smile bloomed on her face as she nodded her head with an unguarded expression of love in her eyes. She wasn''t repulsed by the idea of being with him for a very long time.


    "Alright then. You better not regret saying this in the future. You''re forever mine."


    It was a good thing that she was a selfish person, because she would simply not allow herself to give him up, despite the fact that she might not be able to give as much love as he had given to her.


    However, there was just a part of herself that forbids her to be happy, and Lu Qingfeng was aware of this.


    It reminded him of the conversation he had with Yun Qingrong when he was discussing the wedding ns he and Su Xiaofei had in their mind.


    "Aunty Qing, I hope you know that this isn''t what I had in mind when I asked for her hand weeks ago." He started. "But please allow me to marry Feifei this time."


    "As long as you can promise me something in return." Yun Qingrong smiled at him.


    "And that is?" Lu Qingfeng questioned.


    "That you will not betray her, forsake her, dishonor her or hurt her in any way¡­ the way her father, my husband, had done to me. Xiao Feng, I will be leaving her in this world sooner orter, so please cherish my daughter. This is the only thing I ask of you."


    Lu Qingfeng had never expected Yun Qingrong to make such a request. Never before had he seen her wallow in self-pity, even when she divorced that cheating bastard years ago, but he understood why Yun Qingrong was telling him this.


    He nodded his assent. Yun Qingrong didn''t have to ask him for this, as he would do everything in his capacity to make Su Xiaofei happy and content in this lifetime.


    "I give you my word, Aunty Qing. I will take care of Feifei and love her for as long as I can.." He promised to his future mother-inw.

 Chapter 358 - *R18 Forever Mine (2)

    Lu Qingfeng wouldn''t admit to anyone, but he was nervous. Not about the wedding ceremony itself, not about entering a new milestone in his life with Su Xiaofei as his wife. No, that was something he''d been looking forward to ever since she had suggested for them to marry with no hesitations nor reservations.


    It was the probability that he wouldn''t be able to please his wife during their wedding night. However, considering that she had been trying to get his attention for a couple of nights now, allowing him to touch her in ces he''d never done before, Lu Qingfeng felt like Su Xiaofei was testing his self-control.


    It had made him ufortable and uncertain, because he had never been intimate with anyone else before her. Because of this, Lu Qingfeng was concerned.


    For the first time in his life, he wanted to please another person, but he was unsure of how to go about it. He was unconcerned about his own pleasure because he rarely thought of such things. Lu Qingfeng prided himself to be above his basal needs and that he ruled, not his primal instinct.


    Lu Qingfeng smiled and gently ced a kiss on the corner of her mouth. They were alone, but she didn''t seem nervous, unlike him. In fact, there was this sense of peacefulness on her face as she waited for him to make a move.


    Sure, they had spent so much time alone together before, but tonight was different. The intentions and her expectations of him were clear, but she was neither afraid nor nervous. Su Xiaofei was exactly what he needed right now, chasing his worries away.


    One kiss, then another one followed as if he was testing her willingness. When she looked at him with hooded eyes and nodded, he merged their lips together, pulling her close to him. He could feel her arms wounding around his shoulder as she responded to his kiss.


    His lips were soft, but demanding entry into her small, yielding mouth. Su Xiaofei happilyplied and was met with his passionate tongue. The force of his kiss pushed her to lie on her back, with Lu Qingfeng hovering above her, his thigh forcing her legs to part from each other to allow him a space where he could settle.


    Su Xiaofei moaned in absolute delight at his slight domination. She had never been wanted like this before, and it was now clouding her mind. It was then she realized that Lu Qingfeng was making her feel things she''d never felt before.


    She pulled him down roughly, wanting more from him as her hands raked behind his back. They then traveled to his chest then up to his shoulders before moving to his forearms, clenching the obstructing shirt that he had yet to shed.


    Meanwhile, Lu Qingfeng thought that he wouldn''t be able to stop himself this time. Her scent, her moans, her warmth surrounded him, engulfed him. He grinded at the apex of her legs unconsciously, and she moaned into their kiss as the sweet friction slowly made them both yearn for more.


    His mouth moved down to her throat, leaving kisses in its wake while Su Xiaofei opened her eyes, still in haze, to the ck ceiling above her. Everywhere Lu Qingfeng touched was on fire, and she knew right then that it would be hard for them to stop now.


    The two were so close to each other as Lu Qingfeng continued to nibble and kiss her neck while his hips were grinding against her once again. She tilted her pelvis upward to meet him. Lu Qingfeng gripped the sheets tightly next to her head as he reveled in the sensations shooting through his body.


    The sensations prickling along his shaft were too much for Lu Qingfeng. He was so incredibly hard, and he can feel the pre-cum leaking from his fully engorged member. He forced himself to stop for a moment, in fear that he would release even before he got anywhere near being inside her tight heat.


    When he pulled away and looked at her under him, he saw that she was also trying to catch her breath and her face was beet red. She was more beautiful in person, seeing her like this,pared to the one he''d seen in his dream.


    The straps of her ck nightdress fell from her shoulders as it pooled down on her elbows, revealing her breasts to his gaze. His eyes swept over her, and now he was hot and hungry, His mind racing to describe her, but only one word came to him: perfection.


    Su Xiaofei wasn''t fat, but she was more curvypared to herself in his previous lives. She had thick hips, meaty soft thighs andrge breasts, and it pleased him so greatly that she wasn''t trying to starve herself this time to keep her ideal weight. Her body was perfect in his eyes.


    She sat up and pushed his shirt, indicating that she wanted it off of him. Lu Qingfeng was slightly amused that she wasn''t ashamed of being exposed in front of him, but he surmised that she was too distracted to notice that she was half naked beneath him.


    Lu Qingfeng helped her. Removing the obstructing piece of clothing to allow her to touch him more. He then leaned forward, touching the hem of her ck nightdress.


    "Feifei, may I?" He asked.


    It was only then that Su Xiaofei finally noticed the state she was in, her blush deepening at the thought of being fully exposed to him. She tensed for a moment, before deciding that it was toote to regret now. Lu Qingfeng would constantly see her in her state of undress in the future anyway, so she would need to get used to it.


    She pulled her ck nightdress from her body, leaving her in a ckcy thong.. She was bing more and more nervous under the weight of his prolonged staring. Did he find her body repulsive? Did he not like what he''d seen?

 Chapter 359 - *R18 Forever Mine (3)

    While Su Xiaofei was confident with her face, she wasn''t as confident with her body. In her previous life, she was constantly criticized by anti-fans,paring her figure to Ye Mingyu. Because of this, she had never been confident with her body before.


    Although she was trying to embrace a healthier lifestyle this time, she wasn''t certain that others would ept her as she was. She was bing nervous with every second that Lu Qingfeng didn''t do or say anything, but he was so lost in her that he didn''t notice her growing uneasiness.


    Lu Qingfeng has never been in this position before with a woman, who will not only be familiar with his touch, but who will also connect with him intimately, and he found it overwhelming. Being allowed to touch Su Xiaofei like this was making his head spin.


    What should he do first? He wondered.


    It was then that he noticed that Su Xiaofei had flinched under his gaze. He finally looked at her face, feeling embarrassed being caught staring. In answer to her unspoken question, he reached out and gently leaned in to kiss her, assuring that she had nothing to be ashamed of.


    "You are beautiful." He whispered.


    Su Xiaofei was perfect in his eyes. She was everything he considered beautiful in a woman. He liked her not so delicate body, long dark hair and her dainty feet. Her breasts were trying to get his attention. Her nipples were light in color and pebbling up from the cool air of the night surrounding them.


    "May I¡­?" He knew it was toote to ask for her consent now, given the state he and Su Xiaofei were currently in.


    Su Xiaofeiid on her side and ced a hand on his chest.


    "You may." She answered.


    Lu Qingfengid down on the bed next to her, propping himself on his elbow, and allowed his eyes to travel through the length of her body. His hand followed shortly. He trailed his fingers from her neck down to the top of her breasts, his hand stopping. He gently cupped her breast, lightly squeezing the soft flesh, feeling her nipple hardening under his touch.


    He then shifted his body and gently pushed her to widen her stance, so he had room toy between her smooth thighs. Lowering his head, he took the hardened peak into his mouth and gently sucked on the tight bud.


    "Ah!" Su Xiaofei softly cried out, one handing up to cover her mouth as the other fisted the sheets beneath her.


    Her back arched, pushing her body towards him and Lu Qingfeng took the silent invitation to heart, his hands reaching up topass her soft round mounds, pushing them together. He wondered if the things Song Yiran had forced him to watch before returning to Qiying City made sense in real life.


    He went back and forth, giving intimate attention to each nipple, as Su Xiaofei squirmed and moaned beneath him under his still somewhat awkward ministrations. While she was making the most delightful sounds Lu Qingfeng has ever heard from her lips, she hadn''t articted anyment on him. It made him wonder, self-consciously, if he was pleasing her correctly.


    What if Feifei thought he was too rough or too forward? Would she think less of him because of his inexperience in the ways of intimacy?


    Lu Qingfeng knew that Su Xiaofei should have been aware of his virginity, and wondered why she never asked him about it.


    If he was able to at least please and satisfy Su Xiaofei tonight, perhaps he should give Song Yiran some credit for forcing him to learn of the ways in the bedroom with a woman. For adies'' man like Song Yiran, Lu Qingfeng wasn''t surprised that the man was knowledgeable in this matter.


    In Lu Qingfeng''s book, sex was overrated. He didn''t think there was anything special about it and didn''t see what all the fuss was about.


    Wasn''t it just two people getting naked for a little bit, with their body parts mingling untilpletion, and that was it? He didn''t really understand why people were so crazy about something blissful that was fleeting.


    He also didn''t see any point in a random one-night stand, as it could only lead to disaster if he somehow ended up impregnating his partner. Also, regardless if Su Xiaofei didn''t like him at all or was already long dead in his previous lives, Lu Qingfeng would rather choose celibacy than to betray her.


    However, now that he was here on a bed, being hot and naked with the woman he''d been yearning for a very long time, Lu Qingfeng thought that he was starting to understand it a little.


    Sliding his body down, he moved his hips away from her weeping core, not wanting to cum even before he could satisfy his woman. He wanted to believe that he was pleasing her just fine, with how she moaned his name breathlessly and how she tried to hold onto his body.


    After finally deciding to resume his task, Lu Qingfeng slid further down her body, stopping to kiss the underside of her breast, feeling her shiver beneath him in response. His tongue came out to drag down the expanse of her midsection, taking his time to familiarize himself with her body.


    Lu Qingfeng panted, wishing he could prate her tight body tonight, but he wouldn''t. Didn''t she say that she only wanted them to get familiar with each other''s touch before their wedding? Wouldn''t it mean that he needed until their wedding night before he could im her as hispletely?


    Suddenly, he sat up, leaving Su Xiaofei heaving for breath with confusion in her eyes. She looked at him with wonder, but he only shook his head in response before lifting her to sit on hisp, like she had done in his dreamst night.. She was far better than the figment of imagination created by his mind.

 Chapter 360 - *R18 Forever Mine (4)

    Gods above, she was way more beautiful and mesmerizing than the nymph in his dream. Lu Qingfeng was now addicted to her, wanting to kiss her senseless, which he did. Cupping her cheek, he pulled her mouth back to his lips and coaxed her to open hers with his tongue.


    Su Xiaofei gasped at the intrusion, and he quickly deepened their kiss. He could feel her body rxing again. Her body warmed up from his advances, as he slowly moved one of his hands to her thigh and massaged it.


    As he moved his lips back to her neck, peppering it with kisses, Su Xiaofei breathed out while her arms wound around his shoulders to keep him in ce. She could feel hisrge hand moving close to her heat and she shut her eyes and leaned against his body in anticipation.


    Lu Qingfeng''s hand finally reached its destination between her thighs. He gently rubbed his fingertips against her drenched panties. He groaned inwardly as he realized how wet she already was for him.


    "Ah!" Su Xiaofei clutched his back as she felt his fingers moving the obstructing piece of clothing to one side to touch her wet folds.


    Once feeling her juices coat his finger, Lu Qingfeng groaned, with his stiff erection responding to her needs. She was so hot, and he wondered how wonderful she would feel once he was buried deep inside her. He wanted nothing more but to feel her around him, and bury his manhood into her waiting hot warmth.


    "So wet." He panted, his eyes seeking hers, but she was too upied with the sensations he was giving her.


    "Feifei, tell me to stop if you feel any difort, okay? Tonight, I want to please you." He whispered next to her ear, unaware that Su Xiaofei''s mind was too clouded with lust to even care about the difort he might inflict on her.


    Su Xiaofei couldn''t even think straight now, and she barely heard his question. All she could feel was his ever-growing stiff manhood pressed against her bottom. She felt herself clenching, looking for something to fill her to the brim.


    Her hands were sweating as she held onto his shoulders to keep herself upright. Her head lolled back when she felt him slide a finger inside her, while circling her swollen clit.


    Lu Qingfeng would always put her needs as his utmost priorities, way above his own, no matter how eager he was now to consummate their marriage. He pulled back his fingers, bringing it to his lips, sucking her juices from it. He groaned at her taste. Never did he think that he would find a woman''s natural secretion this good.


    Perhaps it was because it was Su Xiaofei, he thought. He doubted that any other woman would be pleasing to him. Not that he would do it. Su Xiaofei was all he needed in this life. She felt like heaven. So warm and soft that he didn''t mind basking in it. And the fact that she was incredibly tight around his fingers pleased him even more than he ever thought he could be.


    Su Xiaofei watched him in a daze, feeling his straining manhood in his pajama pants. It was hot against her, and he felt huge. She was itching to touch the stiff rod, curious if he would also like to be touched by her. With their bodies pressed closely together, she could feel his erection pulsing against her.


    However, before she could make up her mind if she should return the favor and touch him, Lu Qingfeng''s hand returned between her legs and started rubbing her throbbing clit. Her eyes widened in surprise, not expecting that Lu Qingfeng would know what he needed to touch to further turn her on.


    ''I suppose I''m not the only one who was given a quick lesson.'' She thought while panting over his touch as Lu Qingfeng continued to rub her clit, her eyes hazy from pleasure. As he increased the pressure, she felt her hips starting to move on their own ord to follow his movement.


    She closed her eyes and panted, lost in the sensations evoked by his ministrations. He had started a slow thrust with his finger, while kissing the stretch of her neck, before picking up his pace. It was pure torture for her when his fingers slowed down, denying her of the chance to reach herpletion. She shuddered and whimpered, hoping that he would pick up his speed again.


    All Su Xiaofei could hear was the pounding of her blood in her ears, aware that her whole body was now on fire. She held unto him, looking at his face with teary eyes as passion washed through her.


    "Lu Qingfeng, please¡­" Su Xiaofei pleaded, knowing that only he could give her what she wanted. She could feel more liquid seeping out of her body, her shyness forgotten as she asked him for more.


    She felt Lu Qingfeng pushing another finger deep into her, causing her toes to curl and to instantly burst her release and feel herself spasm against his fingers as he continued to thrust it in and out of her tight passage.


    Su Xiaofei saw nothing but shes of light in her vision as she rode her first orgasm of the night. She continued to ride out her orgasm as his fingers came to a stop, her body limp in his arms, feeling Lu Qingfeng kissing her crown after it.


    When she opened her eyes and took shuddering breaths to calm herself, she found Lu Qingfeng looking at her, his eyes dark with lust, as if he was a predator staring at his prey. She felt him pull his fingers out of her, and watched as he brought it to his nose before sucking it clean.


    She blushed at his actions, but she never questioned him about it.. She didn''t have any expectations of him when ites to intimacy, but Lu Qingfeng surely satisfied her tonight.

 Chapter 361 - *R18 Anything You Say Goes (1)

    Strong passion ignited within her. How could she not know something like this was possible? This was far beyond what she had expected to happen. Xi Qian was right then. Doing this with the person she trusted and loved felt better than the one she had experienced in the past, albeit, she and Lu Qingfeng hadn''t gone all the way just yet.


    Meanwhile, Lu Qingfeng held her close to him, satisfied with himself for being able to pleasure his woman for the first time. He surveyed her body with hungry eyes, reveling in the fact that she was now his.


    His to love, his to protect and to care. His to touch whenever he desired, provided she was willing. However, he hoped she would do more than simply permit him to do so. He wanted her not merely willing, but also eager to be touched by him.


    Lu Qingfeng wanted her to want him as much as he wanted her. He was certain that with the knowledge Song Yiran imparted to him and as he proceeded with caution, his performance tonight was satisfactory. He wanted Su Xiaofei to desire him and to have this kind of intimacy with him, not because she was obliged to provide him with an heir in the future.


    Above all, he was d that Su Xiaofei had chosen him, and epted to be with him in this life. Now, she believed in him, trusted him, epted him despite his failures in the past ¡ª not that she was aware of them. He didn''t think she would be able to embrace him fully had she known what he had done after her death in their previous lives.


    Song Yiran had once dared toment that he, Lu Qingfeng, wouldn''t be such an emotionally constipated person and wouldn''t be hard on his subordinates, if only he gets some ''female attention'' once in a while.


    Lu Qingfeng thought that perhaps Song Yiran, his self-proimed best buddy, was right. Song Yiran pointed out that he could be sexually frustrated and was channeling these frustrations to his subordinates, for them to work harder like him as an outlet. He was a young man in his prime after all, who wasn''t getting any sort of sex, spending so many nights in solitary as he pinned over Su Xiaofei.


    As he waited for Su Xiaofei to make a decision whether he was worthy or not of her love, Lu Qingfeng was forced to focus his attention on work and his studies. This was something he would only admit to himself.


    Song Yiran was right. Although his friend didn''t know that he had lived for years and was no longer a ''young man'' as everyone thought he was. He was craving for a woman''spany, but it was only Su Xiaofei''s. Whether it was physically or emotionally, he wished for no other by his side but her. He wanted to be with no one else, only her, only Feifei.


    And now, she was about to be his wife, and Lu Qingfeng couldn''t be happier.


    He wished for no other woman''s scent to be on him, no other woman to touch his skin, and to know him on an intimate level other than her. Lu Qingfeng was d that he was able to change Su Xiaofei''s mind this time and conquered each obstacle thrown his way just to be with her.


    Now, as he held her naked body like this, inhaling her familiar scent, feeling her soft body against his, hearing her mewls and his name on her thoroughly kissed lips, Lu Qingfeng could hardly contain himself as the thought of her bing his soon, in name, in body and in heart.


    He knew he had made the right decision of giving Su Xiaofei time to sort her thoughts, while making sure she wouldn''t be able to forget him. Waiting for her had definitely been worthwhile. She was worth waiting for. After years of ardent devotion and waiting, Su Xiaofei was here in his arms now.


    Heid her back on the bed and continued his journey southward, where he knew her scent would be strongest. She was still at the height of her pleasure and barely noticed what he was doing.


    As he looked at her glistening sex, Lu Qingfeng decided to take his time, despite his eagerness. He had never seen a woman''s intimate parts up close until tonight and was d that it was Su Xiaofei who was with him.


    He sought her tiny pink bud and explored her using his tongue. He then ced his entire mouth over her honey coated folds and sucked. As he tasted her, Lu Qingfeng thought that she was the sweetest thing he had tasted in his three lifetimes.


    Su Xiaofei snapped out of her daze and tried to sit up, but with his hands holding her inner thighs in ce, she could only moan and muffle her scream with the back of her hand as he used his tongue to taste her cum on her drenched sex.


    He wanted everything of hers. Digging his tongue inside her tight channel, Lu Qingfeng slurped the sweet juices. Above him, he could hear Su Xiaofei moaning, her little ''ohs'' escaping from her lips as she tried to lower down her voice but failed.


    Holding her legs in ce, Lu Qingfeng used the t of his tongue on her throbbing clit, rubbing it back and forth. He felt her legs twitch beside his head before switching back to flicking her clit with his tongue. He had already made her cum with his fingers, and now he would like to use his tongue to pleasure her.


    Su Xiaofei''s legs curled in, her toes spreading out in bliss. She was so responsive to each of his touches, much to Lu Qingfeng''s relief. He tried to catalog each sound, moan and whimper that came out of her lips for future reference.


    He could feel that Su Xiaofei was close to her second climax, but he wasn''t quite ready to give it to her just yet.

 Chapter 362 - *R18 Anything You Say Goes (2)

    His hands released her thighs, a hand reaching up to squeeze her breast and pinch her nipple, which only added on to the stimtion to her tight body, seeking for another release.


    Using his tongue, he edged her multiple times but would asionally slow down, denying her release. Lu Qingfeng felt her thighs tighten around his head as he denied her again for the umpteenth time.


    He pulled away from her drenched sex, their eyes meeting, filled with need for each other.


    "What do you want, Mrs. Lu?" Lu Qingfeng asked, knowing that his soon-to-be wife was still a little shy say what she needed out loud.


    "Please¡­" came from Su Xiaofei''s hoarse voice with a hint of desperation.


    ''"I don''t understand, Mrs. Lu. Can you be more specific?" He found her cute as he watched her struggle to be assertive this time.


    "Tell me, Mrs. Lu. You don''t have to be shy around your husband. You know I can''t deny you anything that''s within my means."


    Su Xiaofei tried to catch her breath, her eyes hooded and dark as she looked down on him, with his head still parked between her parted legs. She had never thought that the little boy she picked up in a park would end up being her lover and, soon, her husband. She had to admit though that she liked being called Mrs. Lu by him.


    She looked at him shyly, feeling embarrassed to voice her need for him.


    "Please¡­ I need to cum again." She said with a whine, wanting nothing more but to feel his amazing tongue back on her throbbing bud again. If Lu Qingfeng decided to deny her release, Su Xiaofei think that there would be a bloody murder tonight and Lu Qingfeng could only me himself for it.


    "That wasn''t so hard now, was it, Mrs. Lu?" Lu Qingfeng replied, before starting to flick on her swollen bud immediately.


    Su Xiaofei''s body tensed under him again as another strangled cry escaped from her lips, her hips starting to thrust lightly. Her back then arched off the bed, her thighs going tight around her fianc¨¦''s head as she tried to contain her moans. She didn''t think she was ready to let everyone in their household know what she and Lu Qingfeng were doing at this time of the night.


    Lu Qingfeng''s hold on her thighs tightened as he brought her quivering wet core into his mouth, pushing his tongue between herher lips, enjoying her taste.


    "I''m¡­ I''m¡­" He heard Su Xiaofei pant, letting him know that she was about to cum again. He swiped his tongue from her hot channel then to her clit and harshly sucked on it.


    Su Xiaofei came with a wail, her voice harshly crying out her release as her body was tight and rigid from his ministrations. She briefly thought that this was better than the first release she experienced earlier from his fingers. It made her wonder if having him fully sheathed inside her would feel as amazing as this.


    When she finally recovered from her second orgasm of the night, she realized that she hadn''t done anything to return the favor to Lu Qingfeng. She sat up, feeling something gush out from her sex as Lu Qingfeng step down from the bed, intending to go to the washroom.


    "Wait!" She called out, stopping him in his tracks. Lu Qingfeng looked over his shoulder with his erection still stiff inside his pants. Su Xiaofei blushed upon seeing it and felt the need to do something.


    As if he knew what she was thinking at that moment, Lu Qingfeng shook his head.


    "Tonight is yours, Feifei. We''ll get plenty of chances to practice before our wedding night." He said, brushing her apologetic look.


    Su Xiaofei nodded. With the things that happened between them tonight, she didn''t think she was quite ready to be fully consumed by him just yet. Her whole body ached for good reasons, though. Having him treat her body so well, she was more content than she had ever beentely. Looking exhausted but happy, she gave him a content smile.


    "Then the next time, I should be the one in charge."


    "As you wish, Mrs. Lu." Lu Qingfeng nodded his assent and paused for a moment as he gathered his thoughts.


    "Feifei, like I said before, you don''t need to push yourself to do something you don''t like or aren''t ready to do. I just want you to know that I have no expectations that you need to meet. Whatever you want is fine with me. If you want somepany until our wedding, that''s fine too. I just don''t want you to do anything you don''t want to. Anything you say goes. Understand?"


    Su Xiaofei smiled at that. She knew that Lu Qingfeng could overpower her tonight and have his way with her if he wanted to, but he wouldn''t. This was one of the reasons why she loved this man. He never made her feel foolish nor inadequate in any way, nor did he ever made her do something she didn''t like.


    "Really?" She gave him a mischievous smile. "Anything I say goes?"


    "Anything."


    "What if I told you to meow like a cat right now?" She grinned at him when she saw him stilled.


    "Almost anything." Lu Qingfeng replied after a few seconds of silence, making his fianc¨¦e burst into a round ofughter while being stark naked on his bed.


    "You better not forget that I will be the one in charge this time." She reminded him.


    Su Xiaofei could see his outline and the smile on his face under the dim light.


    "I see that you couldn''t wait to have your hands on me." He chuckled, clearly teasing her. "Don''t worry. I don''t mind if you run your hands all over me."


    "Hmm." She hummed in agreement and winked at him.. "I would do anything and everything as long as I could put my hands on you."

 Chapter 363 - Young Master Lu’s Bride (1)

    Something had changed between Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng''s rtionship since then, and it was quite obvious to those who were close to them, especially to Yun Qingrong. Her daughter hade downter than usual that morning, while Lu Qingfeng had been unusually silent during their breakfast and couldn''t meet her gaze.


    Even when her daughter came to join them for breakfast, her words were really scarce, as if she would rather be somewhere else than here, sharing a table and a meal with Lu Qingfeng. Yun Qingrong looked at the two, wondering what had happened for them to act this way.


    Lu Qingfeng was the first one to finish his breakfast and bid goodbye to her. He then stood up and hesitated for a moment, kissing Su Xiaofei''s forehead before leaving to start his long day.


    Su Xiaofei only lowered her head and didn''t say anything to him, making her mother more curious about them. There was no doubt that something happened between the two that caused this awkward atmosphere this morning. Yun Qingrong couldn''t be wrong, as she knew that her daughter and Lu Qingfeng weren''t like thisst night.


    "Feifei, did you and Xiao Feng have a fight? You are about to get married. Are you sure you want to go through with it?" Yun Qingrong couldn''t help but question her daughter.


    Su Xiaofei was obviously taken aback by her mother''s question as she dropped the dumpling she was eating back on her bowl. She almost choked from surprise and quickly reached for the cup of water near her.


    With what happened between her and Lu Qingfengst night, all her shyness had returned in full force that morning. She didn''t know where she got the courage to seduce Lu Qingfengst night, and didn''t think she would be able to forget how amazing he made her feel.


    He was certainly grown up and wasn''t the same little boy who used to follow her around. And now that they were about to get married and start a new life as husband and wife, Su Xiaofei was starting to feel a kind of nervousness and anticipation she hadn''t felt in a very long time.


    "We''re fine, Mama. Just trying to get used to the sudden changes, but we''ll be fine." She said, hoping that her mother wasn''t able to see the blush that was creeping on her face.


    Su Xiaofei didn''t know how she would face her mother if Yun Qingrong knew just how far she and Lu Qingfeng had gone, considering how very new their rtionship was.


    She had woken up before Lu Qingfeng and had sneaked out of his room, returning to her own to freshen up, only to see her torsoced with dark hickeys. For this reason, she had chosen to wear a high cor blouse today to hide the remnants of their passion fromst night.


    Yun Qingrong nodded and didn''t try to probe her daughter with additional questions. If things were still good between them, then there''s no need to worry about calling off the wedding at all.


    "Mama, I already talked to Lu Qingfeng about your suggestion. We agreed to free our time tomorrow afternoon. Would this suffice for the ns you have in mind?" Su Xiaofei asked, hoping that her mother would drop her inquiries about her and Lu Qingfeng.


    Yun Qingrong''s face immediately lit up at Su Xiaofei''s words. Since this was a once in a lifetime event in her daughter''s life, she wanted to make it as beautiful and as memorable as possible.


    "It''s more than enough, Feifei. Just¡­ just give me a minute, okay? I need to inform them that you and Xiao Feng will being together tomorrow." She excitedly stood up from her seat as she quickly made a phone call outside.


    Su Xiaofei watched her mother go outside, noticing that her body was losing considerable weightpared tost month. She didn''t need to know that this was the after effect of her mother''s illness, just like what her doctor told them on what to expect as time passed.


    With only a few days left before her wedding, her mother had been spending her time and attention on it. It made Su Xiaofei feel a bit guilty since she couldn''t help her mother at all. Her work at Bluemedia was keeping her busy, while Lu Qingfeng could barely bnce his time.


    Seeing her mother''s excitement, Su Xiaofei asked Zhang Ling if she could clear her schedule for tomorrow instead. There were only three days left before her wedding anyway, and should help her mother with the preparations as the bride.


    "We can reschedule some meetings." Her personal assistant replied. "But you still have a dinner meeting with other executives for the film festival."


    "Alright. Let''s proceed with that." Su Xiaofei sighed at that, not looking forward to this particr meeting. This was the first time she would meet the leaders of other entertainment agencies as the newly appointed president of Bluemedia.


    She guessed that she was already lucky to get some free time during the day and should endure the meeting she would have with the executives of the other entertainment agencies, who she had no doubt would try to find faults in her, considering she would be the youngest of their group.


    She was aware that some people still doubt her ability to run Bluemedia despite her years of apprenticeship under her mother''s tutge and Fang Yi''s guidance. Su Xiaofei could only frown at how absurd people could be. Did they think that just because she wasn''t as versed in business as her mother, she wouldn''t be able to lead Bluemedia?


    ''Ah, they must also think that I''m a thousand-year-old fox.'' She thought. Compared to executives, talent managers were more vicious when ites to show business.


    Also, she wasn''t looking forward to seeing Mo Yuchen just a few days before her wedding. Seeing his face was enough to ruin her mood. If the meeting wasn''t important, Su Xiaofei would rather not attend it and miss it altogether.

 Chapter 364 - Young Master Lu’s Bride (2)

    The next day, since Lu Qingfeng wouldn''t be free until lunchtime, Su Xiaofei apanied her mother to the venue of the wedding that morning and finalized the flowers and the decorations to be used. Around ten in the morning, the mother and daughter pair went to Hazel Brew Cafe for a meeting with Shen Jiao.


    "I trust Sister Jiao''s judgment. I''m not really particr about which wedding cake we should have." Su Xiaofeimented as she flipped through the catalog of cakes her friend handed to her earlier.


    "I''ve already asked Xiao Feng about it, and he said that it''s fine as long as it isn''t chocte." Yun Qingrongmented next to her.


    Su Xiaofeiughed at that, oblivious to the way Shen Jiao was looking at her. When she lifted her head and found her friend staring at her, she blinked curiously.


    "What is it?" She asked Shen Jiao.


    Although her friend didn''t want to admit it, she was a good baker. She and Xi Qian had tried several treats and cakes Shen Jiao made, and it could beparable to those being sold at expensive bakeries.


    "Just thinking that your eyes glint with happiness whenever you think of him." Shen Jiao shrugged, before eyeing the cake the mother and daughter decided to pick for the wedding ceremony.


    Su Xiaofei''s cheeks were dusted with pink on her friend''sment. Was she really that obvious?


    "I guess, I''m really excited about this wedding." She admitted with a smile. It wasn''t the first time she would be walking down the aisle, but this time, her heart was filled with happiness knowing that her mother would be the one who would give her hand to the man she had chosen to marry in this lifetime.


    Yun Qingrong''s expression softened upon seeing her daughter''s expression. She couldn''t agree more with Shen Jiao''s observation. She had personally witnessed how her daughter grew up with the young master of the Lu family and had seen how their rtionship blossomed from friendship to romance. It made her heart full to know that her daughter would be in safe hands once her time ran out.


    Once the wedding cake had been decided, Su Xiaofei and her mother decided to visit Butterfly Chrysalis to meet with Andrew Si. Since the designer-sh-stylist of Bluemedia had been working closely with Su Xiaofei, he was already aware of her measurements and could alter any dresses she needed for any asion.


    Still, it surprised him when Su Xiaofei had sought his help through a phone call, asking if he could provide an appropriate dress for her wedding that weekend. It left Andrew Si speechless and he only snapped out of it when his younger sister snatched the phone from his hand to talk to Su Xiaofei.


    "Miss Witch is getting married? How is this possible?" Si Yuxuan eximed when she heard that Su Xiaofei was getting married soon.


    She had been wary of Su Xiaofei and would always flinch whenever she was in her presence. She hated that Su Xiaofei would always try to annoy her in many ways. Ever since she reunited with her brother, her mental state had gradually improved, and she started losing her childlike mannerisms.


    "Hahaha, Little Si. Isn''t this what you wanted? Didn''t you think I nned to steal your brother away when I asked him to work for me?" Su Xiaofei replied with a teasing tone. She wasn''t a bit bothered at all, hearing the younger woman''s words against her. She knew that Si Yuxuan had a strong attachment to her brother, that she would constantly chase away any woman who would dare to get close to him.


    "Your husband is either masochistic or he''s blinded by your face." Su Yuxuan muttered, but in truth, she couldn''t wait to see Su Xiaofei in her wedding dress because she had never seen a woman as stunning as her.


    Meanwhile, Lu Qingfeng constantly checked the time and grimaced at the thought that he was an hourte from his appointment with his fianc¨¦e and her mother. There was an emergency call that he needed to attend to earlier, and he hadn''t expected that the call would take some time to finish.


    When he arrived at Butterfly Chrysalis, he rushed to the VIP area only to be halted and left speechless in the doorway upon seeing Su Xiaofei facing a huge mirror, dressed in a pure white wedding dress.


    This wasn''t the first time he had seen her wearing a wedding dress, for she had yed a bride in several roles in her past life, and he had seen her wedding photos with Mo Yuchen before. Still, seeing her like this in person rendered him speechless.


    "Ah, the groom is finally here."


    Only when Lu Qingfeng heard Andrew Si''s voice did hee back to his senses.


    Su Xiaofei turned around and faced him with a wide smile on her face. Lu Qingfeng didn''t know if it was just because of the lighting, but he thought that she looked radiant today. Certainly, in his eyes, she was the most beautiful bride he''d ever seen.


    "Mr. Lu, what took you so long? Don''t you know that your bride has been standing here for so long? Go and get changed. We have yet to shoot our wedding photos." His bride teased him. Su Xiaofei was d to see that he seemed to like the wedding dress she was wearing today.


    "I apologize for my tardiness. It won''t happen again." He replied. Lu Qingfeng regretted not being able to see her like this on time, so he could appreciate how beautiful she was in her wedding dress.


    Not long after, Lu Qingfeng had also changed into his white suit and walked with Su Xiaofei to the next room where their wedding photos would be taken.. A small photography studio had been set up, and he couldn''t help but admire his mother-inw for being able to pull something like this in a short span of time.

 Chapter 365 - Two Different Worlds (1)

    After spending the whole afternoon with Lu Qingfeng and her mother, Su Xiaofei almost wanted to ditch her meeting with the other executives for the film festival that night. She had a great time with their wedding photoshoot and loved how the photos turned out.


    However, now, she felt like she had woken up from a very good dream and was being forced to face reality again. Not only would she need to meet the leaders of the other entertainment agencies tonight, but she was also expecting to meet prominent people there.


    Renowned filmmakers and screenwriters would also be present tonight. Worse of all, she might even see Mo Yuchen, which she wasn''t looking forward to at all.


    "I''ll be returning homete tonight, Mama. You don''t need to wait for me." Su Xiaofei said as she led her mother to a car that was waiting for Yun Qingrong and Lu Qingfeng. The two were to return home together, so Su Xiaofei wasn''t worried about her mother being alone.


    "Feifei, I know how important this meeting is for you. Your Uncle Fang would be attending with you, right? If you aren''t sure how to proceed, let him take the lead and learn from him." Yun Qingrong patted her daughter''s hand reassuringly.


    If she could, she would apany Su Xiaofei today. She felt like there were still so many things she wanted to impart to her daughter to make sure she would be fine on her own in the future, once she was gone. While everyone doubted her precious daughter''s abilities, for Yun Qingrong, her Feifei was the greatest achievement she could be proud of in her life.


    Su Xiaofei returned the smile, knowing what her mother was thinking. She also wished that she could have more time with her mother, and didn''t think there would be a time she would be ready to lose her.


    "Call me if somethinges up. Don''t give others a chance to bully you." She heard Lu Qingfeng say when Yun Qingrong entered the car.


    Su Xiaofei gave him an amused look. "Do I look like someone who is easy to bully?"


    Lu Qingfeng shrugged. He trusted her, but he didn''t trust other people, especially Mo Yuchen. He knew that the man would be there too. It was a pity that he couldn''t be Su Xiaofei''s plus one tonight.


    "Just reminding you that soon, you aren''t just a Su and a Yun family member. I will not allow anyone to bully my wife."


    She scoffed and folded her arms over her chest. As if she would allow anyone to bully her. If anything, they should be the ones wary of her, not the other way around. Others might have made a fool out of her in her past life, but not this time.


    Lu Qingfeng also bid goodbye to her and left with her mother. Su Xiaofei could only watch them go before her attention was called back by Zhang Ling.


    "President Su, it''s time for us to leave."


    Su Xiaofei left promptly with the Zhang siblings and wordlessly reviewed the documents forwarded to her email about the details of the film festival. Truth to be told, she already knew the entries that the filmmakers and agencies would chip in during this event. Many would try to enter this event as it was one of the most anticipated events in show business every year.


    In her previous life, the award ceremony for this film festival had managed to further Ye Mingyu''s career after she won the best supporting actress award for the film she starred in. Meanwhile, she suffered an injury during the filming of her TV series and was forced to forgo all her future projects, which mostlynded in Ye Mingyu''s hands.


    It was also around this time that her rtionship with Mo Yuchen turned worse, leaving her under stress. If she wasn''t distracted by her thoughts and could focus on her scenes, she wouldn''t have suffered an injury during the set. Mo Yuchen didn''t even bother to pay her a visit during her stay at the hospital.


    Su Xiaofei didn''t know why she was thinking about him again. She supposed that with her uing wedding, the painful things she suffered in her previous life were haunting her again. The fear of being abandoned by her husband again was like a worm trying to bury itself in her heart.


    ''This time, it will be different. Lu Qingfeng and I will do our best to make our marriage work.'' She decided. She will do her best to be a better wife this time.


    Jealousy, distrust, confusion, arguments¡­ These were the things that pestered her previous marriage with Mo Yuchen, but she was certain that it would not be an issue between her and Lu Qingfeng as their trust towards each other was absolute.


    Lu Qingfeng was different from Mo Yuchen. She refused to believe that he would turn into a different person and give her a cold shoulder once they were married. With Lu Qingfeng''s personality, Su Xiaofei didn''t think he would be capable of betraying her. Not after what he became and what he had done after her death.


    When she arrived at the venue, many of the participants had already arrived, especially Mo Yuchen. Su Xiaofei decided to ignore him, but she could feel his eyes following her. It made her ufortable, but she refused to give Mo Yuchen the satisfaction that he still had an influence over her.


    ''What''s with him now?'' She thought. Something about the way he looked at her made Su Xiaofei want to gouge his eyes out. She was annoyed that he was in the same ce as her tonigh and couldn''t wait for this meeting to be over.


    Once she had gotten to her designated seat, she lifted her head and their eyes met. Su Xiaofei was caught off guard, meeting the intensity of Mo Yuchen''s gaze. It was as if he wanted to possess her.. Compared to his usual indifference, it felt odd.

 Chapter 366 - Two Different Worlds (2)

    Su Xiaofei straightened her back and refused to back down. She merely raised a brow at him, before nonchntly turning her head to meet the other person who was seated next to her. Still, Mo Yuchen''s eyes remained on her, observing her with curious eyes.


    Mo Yuchen could see that this woman was far different from his wife in his past life. While she still had the air of arrogance on her, her eyes had a gleam of intelligence in them. It was far from the arrogant and misced confidence she used to sport before.


    His wife used to be a carefree woman, doing whatever she wanted to her heart''s content. Others thought she was ruthless and selfish, but for him, she was a woman who had never experienced bitterness, which in turn nted that arrogance from her young age.


    There were things he wanted to do in the past but couldn''t. He wondered if he would be able to change anything this time, considering that this world ¡ª no, this lifetime seemed drastically different from where he came from, though most prominent people in his life existed just like Su Xiaofei.


    Su Xiaofei hadn''t be an exceptional actress, but seeded her adoptive mother in thepany. Lu Qingfeng was alive and well, and Ye Mingyu had lost the support of the Ouyang family.


    There were so many possibilities, but Mo Yuchen wasn''t certain which was the truth or not. He was reborn, but this world was still a mystery to him. He couldn''t understand what caused this sudden change in Su Xiaofei''s personality.


    Was there a possibility that she was reborn like him too? He pondered.


    Su Xiaofei continued to pretend that he didn''t exist, even though she was aware of his presence after their gazes met earlier. The meeting started, and she kept her eyes on the screen and asionally preferred reading the papers in her hands as it progressed.


    Mo Yuchen cupped his chin and chose to focus on the matter at hand instead, but his eyes couldn''t help but seek Su Xiaofei who was seated across from him. He felt like it had been a long time since thest time he had seen her.


    When he found out about her death in his previous life, he was devastated. Ye Mingyu had not only ruined his life, but also his marriage. He didn''t even get a chance to see her remains. He couldn''t even hold her as Lu Qingfeng made sure he wasn''t able to get close.


    To think he would be able to see Su Xiaofei again, Mo Yuchen didn''t know how to exin the emotions he was experiencing at the moment. Was he reborn for a reason? If he were able to change the events in this lifetime, would he be able to live happily with her?


    His eyes caught the red plum blossom on her ne, and his eyes narrowed dangerously. How could he not know what it implied? Lu Qingfeng had taken a im on her, and he didn''t know what to feel about it.


    He had never beenfortable knowing how close Su Xiaofei was with Lu Qingfeng. Lu Qingfeng had been so obvious that he was into her, vying for her attention. If he hadn''t married Su Xiaofei at the time, when Lu Qingfeng was ina, Mo Yuchen had no doubt that the young man wouldn''t waste his time to snatch her from him.


    ''My previous self is an idiot for agreeing to annul our engagement.'' Mo Yuchen thought as he remembered the report given by his assistant.


    If his previous self wasn''t such a dolt, he would never let such a thing happen. Now, it would be hard for him to get Su Xiaofei back on his side.


    His wife. He needed his wife badly. There were times at night where his thoughts were filled with her.


    However, seeing that Lu Qingfeng had already made a move and was eager to marry Su Xiaofei as soon as he came back, Mo Yuchen was at a loss at how to stop the younger man. Su Xiaofei had suddenly taken over her mother''s seat too early, considering that Yun Qingrong hadn''t shown any intention of retiring these past few months.


    ''There must be a reason for this.''


    Once the meeting ended, Su Xiaofei fled from the conference room after exchanging a few words with other attendees. She walked past him and didn''t acknowledge him, which made the atmosphere awkward for those who witnessed it. It wasn''t a secret that she and Mo Yuchen were once betrothed to each other a few years ago.


    "President Su." Mo Yuchen called after her, stopping Su Xiaofei in her tracks in the hallway.


    Su Xiaofei didn''t think that he would seek after her. Considering the heated argument during theirst meeting, she really wasn''t looking forward to having another word with him.


    Sighing to herself, she turned around to look at him, seeing the obvious change not only in his demeanor but also in his eyes. She was startled for a moment, not knowing what it meant, but she decided to brush it aside since she refused to give Mo Yuchen any chance to mess with her mind.


    Lu Qingfeng, her soon-to-be husband, was waiting for her back at home. She would rather be in his presence than be with this man who repeatedly trampled her heart as if it was worth nothing.


    "CEO Mo, I''m not in the mood to argue right now."


    Her day had started out good, and she couldn''t wait to go home and see the copies of the photographs from their afternoon photoshoot. She didn''t want the end of her day ruined by an argument with Mo Yuchen now.


    "I came to say congrattions on bing the president of Bluemedia. You''vee a long way." Mo Yuchen said in response.


    Su Xiaofei furrowed her brows together and stared at him, wondering if this man was somehow hit in the head.

 Chapter 367 - I Think I’ve Spoiled You Rotten (1)

    The more she looked at Mo Yuchen, the more Su Xiaofei felt that something was wrong with him. Usually, he would always give her a displeased look, as if her presence would sully the air he was breathing. However, now, as she looked at him, it seemed like he had matured since thest time they had seen each other.


    Su Xiaofei only gave him a curt nod and remained silent while the Zhang sisters waited patiently for her, giving Mo Yuchen a suspicious look. They also found it weird that Mo Yuchen would seek their miss without the usual hostility in his eyes.


    ''Something must have happened.'' Both sisters thought.


    They didn''t like how Mo Yuchen was looking at their miss and hoped that he wouldn''t cause trouble now that their master was about to wed Su Xiaofei. It surely wouldn''t be a good thing if Mo Yuchen dared to interfere with the ns.


    "Is there something you need? I''m pretty sure you didn''te to me for a mere greeting." Su Xiaofei questioned him. There was no way this man would seek her willingly just to apologize.


    Mo Yuchen stared at her for a moment and knew right then that he wasn''t willing to give her up to Lu Qingfeng. She was his wife, and he wouldn''t hand her to another man without a fight. This time, he would make sure that neither Ye Mingyu nor Lu Qingfeng could tear them apart from each other.


    "I heard what happened during the photoshoot for the Bellissima campaign. I want to apologize for the troubles Miss Luo caused you."


    Su Xiaofei''s jaws hardened, the corner of her lips turned down as she looked at him. Mo Yuchen apologizing to her? Now, that was new. He had never apologized nor exined anything to her when they were together. Was this really Mo Yuchen, or was she speaking to a doppelganger pretending to be him?


    "If you are really sorry for what happened, have you done anything to sanction Miss Luo for trying to harm Tang Liyan? CEO Mo, I never thought you would stoop so low." She said with annoyance.


    "It is pointless to apologize for something when we both knew that Bai Qingyue''s manager had meant to harm Tang Liyan from the very beginning. Do you expect me to turn a blind eye and pretend that my talent''s, as well as my life, weren''t threatened by her? If Tang Liyan hadn''t insisted on letting it go for now, your manager would find herself behind bars now."


    Mo Yuchen understood what she meant, and he understood where she wasing from. Su Xiaofei had a protective nature when it came to people who were close to her, especially for Xi Qian and Lu Qingfeng.


    "Golden Star has already served her a three-month suspension. If President Su still feels that this isn''t enough, feel free to ask us for thepensation you think is fair for Miss Tang."


    "Three-month suspension?" Su Xiaofei scoffed. "If she was a talent manager at Bluemedia, I would have terminated her contract on the spot and sued her for harassment. Miss Luo is really lucky that she''s part of Golden Star instead."


    "It''s not that easy toy off someone as capable as Miss Luo. President Su should know this by now." Mo Yuchen said in defense. "We are thankful that you decided to overlook her sins this time. Rest assured that it won''t happen again in the future."


    In the future? Su Xiaofei''s frown deepened.


    What was he trying to imply? The coboration with Bai Qingyue for the Bellissima campaign was already released and because of what happened during the photoshoot, it was decided for the two queens to promote the brand on their own to avoid a repeat of such problems.


    "It doesn''t matter. The campaign is almost over. While it has been a pleasurable experience for us to work with Miss Bai, we cannot forget what her manager tried to do to Tang Liyan."


    "You are so sure about this, but haven''t you seen the explosive feedback on the campaign? The audience, as well as their loyal fans, have epted their coboration really well. It would be a waste if we don''t take advantage of this trend they started."


    Her eyes narrowed suspiciously on him. See? This shameless man really needed something from her. If not, Mo Yuchen would continue to ignore her presence and wouldn''t spare her a nce at all.


    "What I am saying is that Bluemedia and Golden Star should take advantage of it. Many of their fans want to see them on the big screen, so why not give them what they want?" Mo Yuchen continued, hoping that she would consider his suggestion. He needed a way to get close to her at any cost.


    However, Su Xiaofei remained silent as she continued to look at him as if he had grown another head over his shoulder. She couldn''t remember seeing this side of Mo Yuchen in her previous life.


    "Do you mean to say that ourpanies should have a coboration for this film festival?" She asked, although it was obvious that Mo Yuchen was trying to lure her to cooperate with him.


    "Why not? Not only would it be beneficial for their careers and poprity, but it could be profitable for bothpanies."


    Zhang Ling and Zhang Lan nced at each other and knew right then and there what Mo Yuchen was trying to do. This man was certainly trying to find a way to get between their master and Su Xiaofei. They mutually decided to pay more attention to his words and motives from now on. They shouldn''t leave their young miss alone with this man at all.


    "I would be a fool if I agreed to your suggestion, CEO Mo. I won''t put Miss Tang''s life and safety at risk again. No amount of money is worth her life.." Su Xiaofei replied, before turning away, leaving Mo Yuchen watching her retreating figure from afar.

 Chapter 368 - I Think I’ve Spoiled You Rotten (2)

    When Su Xiaofei returned home, instead of going to her own room, she chose to go to the guestroom to see Lu Qingfeng. She thought that her fianc¨¦ would still be awake by this time, but Lu Qingfeng was already asleep on the bed. She eyed the documents that were still in his hands as he slept.


    Su Xiaofei gently took them from him and set them aside. It was rare for Lu Qingfeng to fall asleep on his own, and it made her wonder if he was trying to tire himself out in order to be able to sleep again. She also knew that he had tried his best to quickly finish his work in order to free his time that afternoon to apany her and her mother.


    Her heart ached as she gently brushed her fingertips on his face, realizing that they truly needed one another. She knew that in this world, she would never be able to find and meet a man like him. She also knew that there would be no other person who''d treat her with as much gentleness and patience as Lu Qingfeng.


    How could she not love him more? Every time she doubted love, Lu Qingfeng was always there to prove that a person like her deserved to be loved too.


    Perhaps it was because Lu Qingfeng was a light sleeper and felt her touch, he opened his eyes and looked at her with exhaustion. He forced himself to sit properly and held her arm.


    "I thought you wouldn''te here tonight." He murmured, but his gaze softened, and his heartbeat became steady, now that she was back on his side.


    "I thought you wouldn''t be able to sleep well without your human pillow." Su Xiaofei smirked at him, allowing Lu Qingfeng to pull her into his embrace.


    "I know you are eager to sleep, but I haven''t eaten or bathed yet." Sheined to him. Having Mo Yuchen staring at her the whole time during the meeting had made her conscious about her surroundings. She also didn''t like being watched as she ate her meal.


    "You must be tired then. Let me prepare a quick dinner for you. Go and take a bath first."


    Lu Qingfeng didn''t dare to question why she didn''t have an appetite to eat anything earlier, for he knew the possibility of her meeting Mo Yuchen tonight. He was curious if that stupid man dared to bully his wife again. However, that could wait as he needed to feed Su Xiaofei, and he could wait until morning to hear the Zhang siblings'' report.


    He intended to leave the bed to allow Su Xiaofei to take a bath first while he prepared her dinner downstairs, but Su Xiaofei didn''t budge from her position.


    "Let me hold you like this for a minute. It has only been hours since we parted, but I already missed you so badly." Su Xiaofei said. "Lu Qingfeng, what have you done to me?"


    A small smile crossed Lu Qingfeng''s lips as he held her close to his heart. For Su Xiaofei, it might only be mere hours or years, but for him, he had waited lifetimes just to be with her today.


    "I think I''ve spoiled you rotten. Now you cannot be without me, Feifei." He chuckled.


    The woman in his embrace now wasn''t President Su nor a social media celebrity that filled his feedstely, but she was the woman he was about to marry. How can he not dote on her if she was acting like this?


    Su Xiaofei hummed and shut her eyes as she listened to his steady heartbeat. Oddly, hearing his heartbeat and smelling his familiar scent somewhat soothed her nerve, calming her in the process. Her previous meeting with Mo Yuchen was forgotten as she held onto Lu Qingfeng.


    "It''s your fault, so you better take responsibility for it."


    "My bad."


    Once Su Xiaofei was satisfied, she released Lu Qingfeng and went to her own room to take a bath. Her mood was now better after seeing and talking to Lu Qingfeng. However, as she stepped into the shower stall, she couldn''t help but think about Mo Yuchen''s sudden change and his proposal.


    It wasn''t like Mo Yuchen was lying to her. It was true that after the coboration of the two queens, Bai Qingyue and Tang Liyan''s poprity soared to another level. Su Xiaofei had been paying attention to the opinions of the fans, especially to Tang Liyan''s loyal fans. Many of them were pleased to see her in such an advertisement, but most were curious on how they would perform side by side when ites to acting.


    Modeling was one thing, but acting was on another level. It was rare to find a pretty face that could truly act and could perform under pressure and challenges. So for Tang Liyan to act in the same film with Bai Qingyue, it was only natural that her performance would be under scrutiny, not only by the movie goers and fans, but also by the critics.


    "I must be losing my mind if I agree to his suggestion."


    It wasn''t unheard of for two entertainment agencies to produce films and series together, but Su Xiaofei would rather work with Ouyang family''s Top Tier Entertainment than with Mo Yuchen''s Golden Star.


    When she went downstairs to see what Lu Qingfeng was making, she wasn''t surprised when she found him cooking noodles for her in the kitchen. Lu Qingfeng told her to go to take a seat as he finished cooking. He was fast, as if he had done it for a long time.


    Lu Qingfeng chopped the meat and the vegetables as the noodles were being cooked in the pot of boiling water. Soon, two fragrant bowls of noodles were ready.


    They moved to the dining room and Lu Qingfeng brought some steamed meat dumplings for her to eat.. Seeing him like this, Su Xiaofei thought that she was really at home with him.

 Chapter 369 - Forever With You (1)

    It wasn''t her first time walking down the aisle to get married, but it didn''t mean that Su Xiaofei wouldn''t be nervous today. Her wedding day could not be any better. A beautiful blue sky dotted with white puffy clouds and birds flying high. The trees were full of flowers and greenery, their leaves openly greeting the sun above the sky.


    Inside the chapel was just as marvelous. Even for a small ceremony, the wood was polished until it shone while the marbled floor was cleaned until one can see their reflection on it. She and Lu Qingfeng had very few guests to witness their wedding, but Su Xiaofei couldn''t be happier knowing that her mother and her birth father were the ones to give her hand to her groom this time.


    Compared to the luxurious and jam packed guest list she had during her previous wedding with Mo Yuchen, Su Xiaofei was content to have an intimate wedding this time, with only her close friends and family members present. She was certain that her groom would be dressed as immactely as she was.


    The white dress was simple, with silk wrapping around her bodice and flowing out from her waist. Upon her request, Andrew Si had left out any padding and petticoats beneath it, giving her more leeway to move freely. The only detail that remained was the intricate floral beading with crystals ced on her right side.


    Su Xiaofei''s jaw tightened as she fiddled the flower petals of her bouquet. She could feel her heart in her throat as she kept chanting her new title from today onwards in her mind.


    ''Mrs. Lu¡­ Madam Lu¡­''


    She almost couldn''t believe that she would be walking down the aisle again and marry her childhood friend, despite what she experienced in the past.


    Her new husband could not have been more perfect in her eyes. His family ruled over the investment banking industry, making them unimaginably wealthy and powerful at the same time. The Lu family lineage was old and conventional, and as if that didn''t make her husband a catch already, Lu Qingfeng was also incredibly attractive.


    He had already shed all his childlike features, leaving a mature young man in its wake. He was fitpared to the other young men his age and he stood tall and proud. His midnight hair was styled in a way that highlighted his pronounced sharp cheeks and strong jaw. Best of all, his dark eyes could make her feel like she was the only woman he would ever be with in this life.


    Her right hand reached out to hold on her mother''s hand as she waited for the ceremony to begin. Yun Qingrong could see through her veil that she was anxious for the wedding ceremony. Even her everposed and calm daughter wasn''t immune to pre-wedding jitters like any other bride.


    "Calm down, Feifei. I know you are nervous, but don''t let it ruin your special day." Yun Qingrong said to her daughter.


    Qiao Fengying couldn''t help but agree with her. In his opinion, Su Xiaofei was the most beautiful bride in his eyes, and because of her striking resemnce with Bai Qingyue, he briefly wondered if things didn''t go out of hand and they didn''t part ways, Bai Qingyue would have also looked stunning in a white dress like this.


    He shook his head, willing to push these unnecessary thoughts away. There was no use in thinking of the ''what-ifs'' at this time, and he could only hope that Su Xiaofei would lead a happy marriage with Lu Qingfeng.


    From what he knew, the two were childhood friends, which Qiao Fengying thought was a good thing. If the two had started as lovers just like anyone else, their trust and respect for each other wouldn''t be as steady as they were right now.


    "I''m pretty sure you aren''t the only one nervous about this, Xiaofei. I can tell that Mr. Lu cannot wait to have you as his wife." He said with a wide smile.


    Su Xiaofei looked up at her birth father, her heart filled with happiness, seeing the content look and gentleness in his eyes. When she asked him if he could walk her down the aisle with Yun Qingrong, Qiao Fengying didn''t think twice and agreed to her request.


    "Thank you, Uncle Qiao. You don''t know how much it means to me that you are here with us." She said as she slid into her father''s embrace. Their embrace was tight and warm, and Su Xiaofei felt like she couldn''t be happier than he was here with her on her special day.


    Qiao Fengying smiled and patted her small back. Su Xiaofei had filled the void in his heart somehow. Although he still thought about his missing daughter every single day, he noticed that he wasn''t as lonely as he was since meeting Su Xiaofei.


    "I wouldn''t miss it for the world. Please be happy, Xiaofei."


    He wasn''t even aware that he was giving his own daughter''s hand for marriage to Lu Qingfeng. She wondered what Qiao Fengying thought of Lu Qingfeng. If he knew that she was his missing daughter, would he approve of Lu Qingfeng?


    A short knock on the door disrupted her thoughts as someone stepped inside the waiting room, informing the three of them that the wedding ceremony was about to start.


    "It seems like it''s time for us to meet your husband." Yun Qingrong said with a teasing tone.


    "Right. We can''t prolong this anymore, Miss Yun." Qiao Fengying agreed, seeing the slight blush on Su Xiaofei''s cheeks. "Time to wed you off, to the luckiest man alive, my dear."


    Su Xiaofeiughed and held onto her father''s arm as they stepped out of the room. Happiness was starting to bud in her chest as she thought that this could be the happiest day of her life.. She couldn''t wait to see Lu Qingfeng at the end of the aisle and marry him.

 Chapter 370 - Forever With You (2)

    Meanwhile, in the groom''s waiting room, Lu Qingfeng was trying to calm his nerves as he waited for someone to call him once it was time for the ceremony. The wait suddenly felt too long for him, as he wondered why everything was taking forever to happen. He just wanted to marry his bride right here and now.


    He tugged on his long sleeves and pulled them in an attempt to straighten out any imaginary creases on his outfit, as he had always dressed immactely in public. One would never see Lu Qingfeng dressed, especially on his own wedding day.


    Weddings these days were usually presided over by a judge or a government official, but Lu Qingfeng didn''t want his bride to miss a wedding ceremony that would involve the closest people in their lives.


    He didn''t pay attention to the door as he already knew that it was Song Yiran, his best man, who came to see him. His grandfather was still outside, conversing with the Old General Yun and Lu Qingfeng knew that it might take some time.


    "Ah, who would have thought that I would finally see the day the great Lu Qingfeng? became this nervous. Are you sure you are ready to leave your single life and be a married man?" Song Yiran asked as he sat by the windowsill, watching the birds pecking on the crumbs of bread that he had no doubt Lu Qingfeng had left out for them to eat. Despite Lu Qingfeng''s aloofness, he was gentle towards small animals.


    Lu Qingfeng gave him a side nce and scoffed. Song Yiran might be physically older than him, but he, Lu Qingfeng, was already living his third life. He had been single and lived alone for so many years, and now that he was about to marry the woman of his dreams, there was no way he would regret it.


    "There''s no reason for me to back out from this wedding. I''m sure I won''t miss my single life at all as I would have Feifei with me." He replied with confidence. "I am a Lu, and just as my grandfather taught me, I should uphold our family name as best as I can while still being happy with Feifei. I want to share the rest of my life with her and start a family with her."


    This wasn''t merely a wedding ceremony anyway. Lu Qingfeng wouldn''t give others any chance to question the validity of his marriage with Su Xiaofei, so the two of them decided to have their marriage certificate signed once the ceremony was over.


    Song Yiran shrugged. There''s no point in questioning Lu Qingfeng now. He knew ever since he and Su Xiaofei were in high school that this man was head over heels for her. Lu Qingfeng would never admit it, but he tried his best to intimidate other men who tried to pursue Su Xiaofei when they were younger by constantly being by her side.


    When someone came to inform them that the ceremony was about to start, Lu Qingfeng didn''t waste any time and hurried out, eager to see his beautiful bride. As he waited at the altar with his grandfather and Song Yiran, he thanked the heavens for giving him a chance to be reborn and to have Su Xiaofei back in his life.


    All thoughts ceased at once when the doors opened and the bride stepped through, with Yun Qingrong and Qiao Fengying on both her sides. Lu Qingfeng locked his eyes on his beautiful bride walking down the aisle, her eyes turned downwards to her bouquet of flowers. The veil was over her face, her dress simplistic yet beautiful and her long hair pinned on top of her head with a few locks framing her face.


    Their arrival at the altar was slow and when they reached the end, Yun Qingrong and Qiao Fengying gave Su Xiaofei a kiss on both cheeks before giving her hand to Lu Qingfeng.


    "I trust that you will always take care of her, Xiao Feng. I''m d to gain a son like you." Yun Qingrong said to him.


    Lu Qingfeng stiffened for a moment, which Su Xiaofei didn''t miss at all. She knew that he had some issues with his parents, and it was something he rarely talked about, even with her. Then he smiled and nodded in response to his mother-inw.


    "Always, Mother. You have my word." Lu Qingfeng promised.


    Su Xiaofei blushed once she properly saw her groom. Because of her nervousness, she had tried not to look around when she walked with her mother and father on the aisle earlier and hadn''t paid attention to her groom.


    ''He really can pull off anything.'' She thought. Lu Qingfeng looked handsome in his tux. She had felt his eyes on her earlier, and she wondered what he thought of her today.


    When their eyes met briefly, she''d seen the slight amusement in his eyes. She was about to purse her lips, but the humor was quickly ovee by a pair of incredibly warm, heated dark eyes to smothering heat.


    Su Xiaofei bit her lower lip and lowered her gaze, as if her bouquet of flowers was more interesting than the man she was about to wed. Her heart pounded in her chest as the priest began his sermon. She nodded with the groom a few times until Qiao Yuhan appeared behind them and presented their wedding rings to them. Her little brother, grinning at the two of them as he handed the first ring to Lu Qingfeng and stood next to him.


    "...and now the couple may share their written vows to each other."


    To make their wedding day more special, she and Lu Qingfeng agreed to prepare personal marriage vows to each other, rather than following and saying the typical wedding vow exchanged between couples.


    Su Xiaofei looked up again to look at her husband-to-be''s face, seeing the gentleness in his eyes as he held the ring that he was about to slide on her finger.. Her heart pounded wildly as they marked the beginning of their lives as a married couple.

 Chapter 371 - Forever With You (3)

    Su Xiaofei swallowed the invisible lump in her throat as she looked at her husband-to-be, trying her best not to smack him when a half grin formed on his lips, clearly teasing her. It wasn''t a secret between them that Lu Qingfeng liked to see her flustered like this. In his book, only he can tease her like this, but he won''t allow anyone to bully her, especially when he''s around.


    "Lu Qingfeng." She started, her voice trembling from nervousness. "My husband-to-be, my best friend, my other half, my partner in crime and soon in so many other wonderful ways as well."


    She nervously bit her lower lip, wondering why her heart won''t calm down on her own wedding day. She couldn''t remember being this nervous and happy at the same time in her previous life.


    "When I first met you, I envied you in so many ways, and so I decided to stick by you, hoping that I would be as good as you even for a bit. I have never thought we would find ourselves here. You have patiently waited for a very long time for me, and I know that I won''t regret having you as my husband." She paused as she met Lu Qingfeng''s face, as if the words she wanted to say couldn''t fully express the feelings she had for him.


    "You are stable when I''m not. You are always there whenever I thought I was alone, proving me wrong every time I doubted love. In this life, there couldn''t be anyone but you. So allow me to apany you for the rest of our lives and face whatever life throws our way from now on. I know we still have a lot of things to learn about each other, things that we might know as friends, but honestly, I can''t wait to wake up in the mornings with you by my side and learn the other annoying habits you may have, because I believe I haven''t discovered all of them just yet."


    Her heart was filled withplex emotions ¡ª the good ones, of course, that she couldn''t contain in front of her husband-to-be. She might not be the best candidate to be Lu Qingfeng''s bride, considering his status, but she wouldn''t give him up nevertheless.


    Lu Qingfeng looked at her with longing. She would never know that he had waited for her for a very long time, more than she ever knew, but that was fine. It was enough for him that she was back in his life and living. He didn''t think he would be able to relive his life again, knowing that she was gone.


    "Feifei, do you know I didn''t like you when we first met?" He suddenly blurted out, surprising not only his bride, but also those who were there to witness their wedding. Lu Qingfeng used this time to take a calming breath in. The vow he had practiced for the past three days had been thrown in the wind, seeing his bride in front of him.


    Never did they think that a man who was obviously head over heels for Su Xiaofei used to dislike her when they were younger. Those who''d seen the two grow up would know that Lu Qingfeng had always put Su Xiaofei''s needs and happiness above his own.


    "But I assure you that isn''t the case anymore. I cannot be without you, whether in this life or the next ones. Feifei, only you can be my wife." He continued. Lu Qingfeng didn''t think that he would be able to look for another woman when his thoughts from the very beginning were filled with her.


    "You made me feel alive like I''ve never felt before. You made me feel that I matter and you treated me with honesty when nobody else did, and I love you for that. Feifei, you have given my heart a new reason to beat when I thought that no one else would love me as I am. Thank you for having me as your husband. I won''t promise you anything, for I would do my best to live up to your expectations and prove not only to you, but to everyone else as well, that you chose the right man to be with. I cannot wait to start a new life with you."


    Unlike his two previous lifetimes, Lu Qingfeng had totally lost his chance to win her heart, but not this time. If there was a chance for him to be reborn again, he would only love her until hisst breath.


    Su Xiaofei smiled as she never heard Lu Qingfeng say as much before.


    Yun Qingrong wiped the tears at the corner of her eyes as she heard the exchange between the two. She had always known that these two had a deeper and stronger bond since they were younger. However, that changed for a while when Mo Yuchen came into the scene and her ex-husband pushed for the engagement between the young man and her daughter.


    ''At least in the end, Feifei still ended up with Xiao Feng. That''s all that matters now.'' Yun Qingrong thought. Her heart was now at ease, knowing that her daughter wouldn''t be alone once she was gone. The only thing that worried her was that Su Xiaofei might not be able to take her departure well, despite the days they spent with each other.


    Yun Qingrong tried to imprint this memory in her mind, wanting to preserve this wonderful and important event in her daughter''s life. She prayed in her heart that her Feifei would be able to find a reason to continue living with a smile on her face with the family she would start with Lu Qingfeng.


    She might not be able to meet her future grandchildren, but Yun Qingrong was certain that whatever child would be born to the two would be as beautiful as their mother and smart as their father.. It was really a pity that her days were already numbered.

 Chapter 372 - Husband And Wife (1)

    Yun Xiang shifted ufortably on his seat as he watched the wedding progress. He doubted that Su Xiaofei would like it if he dared to speak out and stop this wedding.


    Why would he anyway? Lu Qingfeng had already warned him that he shouldn''t cause any more trouble for Su Xiaofei as she would never reciprocate his feelings for her.


    He had seen on various TV shows, when the presiding officer asked if there was someone who was against the union of the couple to speak now or forever hold their peace, then someone would run and yell ''I object''.


    In those scenarios, the one who objected to the union would end up confessing his feelings to the bride, only to find out that she reciprocates his feelings. It would usually end up with the bride leaving her groom behind to elope with her beloved.


    Not that Yun Xiang thought it would happen. Not only would he bring shame to the Yun family, but Su Xiaofei would surely not be happy with him ruining her wedding day.


    He would rather not shame his family and offend Su Xiaofei and the Lu family. Plus, he doubted that it would turn out the same way it would in the movies.


    Just as Lu Qingfeng said before, he didn''t see Su Xiaofei as his cousin. He loved her as a man and wanted her to be with him. He didn''t even know when he started catching feelings for her as she had always treated him with indifference.


    However, as he saw Su Xiaofei walk down the aisle with his Aunt Qingrong, Yun Xiang held his breath. He couldn''t take his eyes away from her as he had never seen her as beautiful as she was today.


    A pang of jealousy hit him, thinking how lucky Lu Qingfeng was to have Su Xiaofei as his bride. Why couldn''t it be him in Lu Qingfeng''s shoes? Why did Su Xiaofei have to be his cousin?


    He then saw Yun Qingrong epting a hanky from Fang Yi and wiped her tears dry after Lu Qingfeng and Su Xiaofei exchanged their personal vows. Seeing how happy his sick aunt was, Yun Xiang didn''t think he had the heart to ruin this moment.


    Everyone that was here to witness the wedding wanted nothing more than for the couple to lead a happy married life, but Yun Xiang couldn''t say the same thing.


    He had been trying to find out who Su Xiaofei''s birth parents were and wondered if things would be different if she wasn''t part of the Yun family. Would Su Xiaofei treat him differently then, if they weren''t rted to each other?


    Once the rings were exchanged, the couple were to share their first kiss as husband and wife.


    "I pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."


    Yun Xiang snapped out of his deep thoughts and watched as Su Xiaofei leaned forward to share a kiss with herwfully wedded husband. Her eyes shone with happy tears as he bent down to meet her lips midway.


    A round of apuse followed as the very few guests of the couple stood up and congratted the two. Yun Xiang even saw Xi Qian running to the altar, pulling Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng together in a big hug.


    Su Xiaofei allowed a few tears to roll down her cheeks as she gave her other best friend a tight hug and kissed Xi Qian''s cheek, murmuring words that Yun Xiang couldn''t understand. Meanwhile, Lu Qingfeng pulled out the silk hanky from his white tux and passed it to Xi Qian who willingly epted it,ughing as she ruined her makeup from her crying.


    Whether he liked it or not, he had to admit that he was also a witness of how romance blossomed between the two. He''d seen them as close friends, which eventually turned into lovers. He''d seen how Lu Qingfeng patiently waited for Su Xiaofei to consider him, which he, Yun Xiang, never dared to do, not knowing what he truly felt towards her.


    Despite his frustration, he watched as Su Xiaofei shoot Lu Qingfeng with a smile which she only reserved for him, seeing Lu Qingfeng murmuring sweet words in her ears when he thought no one was watching and the moment of silence between the two as they held each other''s hand, content with having each other''spany.


    Yun Xiang inwardly sighed as he remained seated on his seat while everyone else stood up to apud the newlywed couple. He couldn''t really feel happy, seeing the woman he loved marrying another man.


    Yun Xiang may not like Lu Qingfeng, but the younger man was right. He didn''t have a chance to be with Su Xiaofei from the very beginning. If only he was made aware of his feelings clearly earlier, he might have started avoiding her.


    Not only the Yun family wouldn''t like the idea of him having such thoughts towards his cousin, regardless if Su Xiaofei was adopted or not, but he didn''t think he had the heart to hurt his aunt''s feelings.


    ''Forever hold your peace.'' He told himself and shut his eyes for a moment, trying to tune out the happiness of those around him as the couple greeted their families with a big smile on their faces.


    When he opened his eyes again, he saw Lu Qingfeng and Su Xiaofei signing their marriage certificates before taking their wedding photos with Yun Qingrong and Chairman Lu, followed by the Qiao family before his Yun family.


    Yun Xiang stood stiffly next to his father as they took the family photo with the newlywed couple. He could see from the corner of his eye that even the usually nonchnt Lu Qingfeng had a small smile on his face as Su Xiaofei held onto his arm.


    He had to ept the reality that Su Xiaofei would be just his cousin and now, he also needed to ept Lu Qingfeng as his new cousin-inw.

 Chapter 373 - Husband And Wife (2)

    The newlywed couple entered the limo to head to the reception banquet hosted by the Yun family. It wasn''t a long trip, but it gave Lu Qingfeng and Su Xiaofei the privacy they needed afterying their hearts bare in front of their loved ones and promised each other their forever.


    Before leaving, Su Xiaofei had changed into her reception dress, her eyes catching her wedding ring in the process. Lu Qingfeng has specifically customized this ring just for her. Unlike the diamond ring she wore in her previous life, her ring was now adorned with the highest quality of the purple amethyst one could find.


    Obviously, it was cheaperpared to a diamond, but Su Xiaofei was satisfied with Lu Qingfeng''s selection. Not only did she love the purple color, but the purple amethyst signified spiritual healing, calmness, and wisdom, something that she didn''t possess in her previous life. It was also associated with serenity, understanding, trust and grace, so she was really grateful that Lu Qingfeng had paid attention to her wedding ring.


    So what if her ring wasn''t as valuable as a diamond? She would rather wear this amethyst ring as a reminder of how deeply she was loved by her husband.


    In her previous life, he was known as a tyrant that would look down on the entire world, but would look up to her. It made her happy, knowing that she didn''t need topete with another woman to gain his heart, for Lu Qingfeng had already given it to her even before she asked for it.


    Su Xiaofei adjusted her long skirt and felt Lu Qingfeng''s arm wounding around her waist, kissing the top of her head.


    "You are so beautiful today." He murmured.


    When he saw the ne as well as the pair of earrings he had given her on her fifteenth? birthday, he couldn''t help but smile. Lu Qingfeng had never thought that she had kept them with her all this time, as he''d never seen her wear them. His lips then traveled to her slender neck, kissing a sensitive spot he''d found there before.


    Su Xiaofei''s breath hitched as she felt him suck on her nape. She slightly panicked, knowing that he might leave a mark on her neck, and she wouldn''t have a face to see their families if he did.


    "Lu Qingfeng, you know I love you, but don''t you dare to leave a mark for everyone to see." She half moaned as his hands traveled up her arm, making her shiver under his touch.


    "We''re already married." Lu Qingfeng murmured against her soft skin. "I don''t think they would mind."


    She lightly pinched his arm in reprimand and tried to pull away from him before sighing.


    "What am I supposed to do with you?" She feigned annoyance, seeing the half grin on his face.


    "I can think of several things, Xiaofei." He said with a teasing smile.


    Su Xiaofei''s cheeks heated up.


    "Not in the back of the car!" She eximed, which only widened the amused smile on her husband''s face.


    Lu Qingfeng chuckled and released her, but not without kissing her cheek first.


    "Whatever are you thinking of, Mrs. Lu?" Heughed. "Impatient for tonight''s event, are we?"


    That instantly earned him a smack on his shoulder from his lovely wife. He grinned and leaned forward to kiss her again. He couldn''t be happier knowing that Su Xiaofei was finally his wife.


    The reception was also a private one. There weren''t any special guests as the wedding was strictly for the family and the closest friends of the couple. When the newlyweds arrived, Xi Qian raised a slender brow when she saw that Su Xiaofei''s hair was now down. It didn''t take long for her to figure out what could have happened. She chuckled and joined Shen Jiao and Xiao Rufeng at the table.


    "Seems like they couldn''t wait for their wedding night." She told Shen Jiao, whoughed at her words while Xiao Rufeng blushed beside her.


    Xiao Rufeng was the only one amongst Su Xiaofei''s talents that was invited to the wedding. At first, she was confused as to why Su Xiaofei gave her a card with a date and time printed on it, telling her to dress simply in white ande to the ce on time. She had never thought that she would be able to witness her manager marrying her childhood friend today.


    She felt like it hadn''t been too long since she first saw Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng together. At that time, she thought that the two looked good together. It had been like the two were born toplement each other.


    "Can''t me them, especially Lu Qingfeng. Hasn''t he waited years for Feifei?" Shen Jiao replied,before taking a sip from her wine ss.


    "En." Xi Qian affirmed. "I used to dislike him before. When we were younger, Lu Qingfeng hated it whenever I took Feifei''s attention from him."


    "What about now?" The older woman tilted her head to look at Xi Qian curiously.


    "Not anymore. I think it''s good that he has already epted that he couldn''t dominate and have Feifei all to himself. He learned how topromise." Xi Qian shrugged.


    Thinking about it, five years ago, her best friend wasn''t the only one who had a drastic change in her personality, Lu Qingfeng did too.


    "Then that''s good to hear." Shen Jiao hummed. "A lot ofpromises are needed to make one''s marriage work."


    Xi Qian stared at her friend and fell silent. She and Su Xiaofei were both aware of why Shen Jiao left the corporate world and ran her father''s cafe. The reason they were able to befriend Shen Jiao was because of her young daughter, Shen Xilin who was only three years old at that time.


    As if sensing her uneasiness, Shen Jiao chuckled, knowing what made Xi Qian ufortable.


    "Don''t look at me like that, Qian.. You and I know that I wasn''t the problem."

 Chapter 374 - Husband And Wife (3)

    Xi Qian nodded and chose not to probe Shen Jiao with questions, leaving a very confused Xiao Rufeng in theirpany. Thankfully, the young actress was respectful enough not to pry into someone else''s business and didn''t question Shen Jiao about what she meant by her words.


    Their attention moved to the newly wedded couple who had taken a seat on the center table, allowing Yan Mei, Su Xiaofei''s aunt, to start the reception as the emcee. The traditional toast was carried out around dinnertime.


    It didn''t take too long before their wedding cake, which was personally made by Shen Jiao, was wheeled into the reception hall. The intricate design of the pink and red flowers andce icing had everyone looking at it in awe.


    Su Xiaofei stood up with Lu Qingfeng as they made their way to cut the cake, mouthing a ''thanks'' at Shen Jiao''s direction in the process. She allowed her husband to pick up the cake knife, and together, they cut the first slice, revealing a perfect marble cake that she and Lu Qingfeng decided to have at thest minute.


    shes from the cameras followed as Lu Qingfengid the cake slice on a te, intending to feed Feifei with a piece of it. What he hadn''t anticipated was that Su Xiaofei would also pick up a fork, taking a piece of the cake to feed him as well.


    He narrowed his eyes, thinking that she would smear it on his face, but was proven wrong when she didn''t. The sweetness that spread in his mouth caught him off guard and he knew then that Su Xiaofei had convinced Shen Jiao to make their wedding cake to her sweetness preference and hadn''t followed their agreement.


    Lu Qingfeng decided that he would try to convince her to cut her insane amount of sugar intake from now on.


    Half an hourter, Master Ouyang and his eldest son came and joined them at the celebration.


    "We''re sorry we couldn''t be there for your wedding. Please take this as our family''s gift to the two of you." The old man told the couple before handing Lu Qingfeng a golden card and an envelope with the Ouyang family''s seal on it. "It''s yours now."


    Su Xiaofei nced at the card Lu Qingfeng was holding and saw that it was an entrance pass to a yacht club, and she didn''t need to ask to know that she and Lu Qingfeng had just gained one for themselves.


    As the reception proceeded, it was time for the bride to toss her bouquet of flowers to the small crowd of singledies. Surprisingly, the one who caught it was the unwilling single mother, Shen Jiao. She looked at the bouquet of flowers in her hands in confusion, wondering how it ended up with her when she didn''t even bother to raise her hand to catch it.


    "It''s yours. Don''t take it seriously if you don''t want it." Xi Qian said as she patted Shen Jiao''s shoulder.


    As Lu Qingfeng predicted, Su Xiaofei was still not versed in dancing. He tried not to count how many times she had stepped on his poor feet as they danced. However, he was slightly amused seeing that she was actually trying not to step on his feet.


    At first, he thought that she was trying to get even with him for the hickey he left on her shoulder earlier, but when she lowered her head in shame after the third step, he knew that she hadn''t meant to.


    Luckily for him, Su Xiaofei''s feet were light and didn''t bear heavy weight on it, sparing him of the pain of being stepped harshly by his wife.


    "Calm down, Feifei, and follow my lead." He murmured into her ear.


    Su Xiaofei nodded and allowed him to lead their movements, trying her best not to step on him for the umpteenth time. She may be able to act and to sing, but dancing has never been her forte. No matter how hard she tried to be as graceful as Ye Mingyu, she could never match the flow of the music.


    As soon as their first dance ended, Qiao Fengying suddenly appeared, offering a hand to Su Xiaofei.


    "Mr. Lu, if you don''t mind, can I have a dance with your beautiful bride?"


    Lu Qingfeng looked at the older man, then to Su Xiaofei, sensing her nervousness as she faced her birth father. No matter how many times she had met and talked with Qiao Fengying, Su Xiaofei still couldn''t contain her need to have him in her life.


    "Of course, President Qiao. Xiao Han may also have his dance with Feifei if he wants to." He replied to his father-inw.


    Qiao Fengying chuckled at that.


    "I''m sure he would be happy to have one with her." He replied, before leading the bride back to the dance floor.


    "I know that everyone has already told you, but you are really beautiful today, Xiaofei." He told Su Xiaofei, noticing the stiffness of her actions.


    Su Xiaofei merely gave him a smile and paid attention to where her foot was going. She didn''t think she would be able to face her father in the future if she kept on stepping on his feet today.


    "You can''t dance?" She heard Qiao Fengying ask.


    She nodded in embarrassment. This was why she rarely attend events that involved dancing.


    "Don''t worry. It won''t make you less likable just because you can''t do something." He chuckled. "But the easiest way to learn how to dance is to listen to the music and find your rhythm. Amon error made by beginner dancers is staring at your own feet. It is quite natural to want to do this, but it should be avoided. Dancing is not about seeing, instead it''s about feeling."


    Su Xiaofei smiled and allowed her father to give her a spin.


    "I didn''t know Uncle Qiao is knowledgeable in dancing." She teased.


    The man smiled in return.


    "A beautiful woman taught me once."

 Chapter 375 - Forever Starts Today (1)

    Lu Qingfeng watched as Su Xiaofei danced with her father. A small smile curling his lips as he saw the content glint in her eyes. He was d that he was able to convince Qiao Fengying toe to Qiying City in such short notice, considering how busy the older man was recently.


    Su Xiaofei then blushed in embarrassment when she stepped on her father''s pristine ck shoes and lowered her head, while Qiao Fengying took it with humor.


    "I''m d that Feifei is enjoying this day. I was a little worried that she would feel some resentment towards her father for not being here."


    Yun Qingrong''s voice startled Lu Qingfeng for a moment, not expecting his mother-inw to be standing next to him. Was he really that preupied that he could only see Su Xiaofei in this room filled with people?


    "I''m sure Feifei doesn''t mind. It seems to me that she has long epted that Mr. Su has never epted her or treated her as his daughter." He responded in a low voice.


    Lu Qingfeng had never perceived that man as Su Xiaofei''s father as well anyway. It was true that Su Haoran had never shown that he cared about Su Xiaofei or even treated her as his daughter. Thankfully, Su Xiaofei didn''t care about that ''father'' of hers one bit, and couldn''t care less if he was rotting behind the bars as they speak.


    "It''s my fault. I should have never forced him to ept Feifei." Yun Qingrong sighed dejectedly. "He was against me taking in Feifei as our daughter, but I didn''t have the heart to abandon her like her parents did after I found her."


    "Feifei is so lucky to have you, Mother. I shouldn''t be saying this, not when we just got married, but I know you are her everything."


    Yun Qingrongughed at that, but her eyes shone with tears.


    "Dance with me, Xiao Feng." She said, to which Lu Qingfeng easily epted.


    He led his mother on the dance floor and followed the slow rhythm of the music. Lu Qingfeng could sense that Yun Qingrong was still worried about his wife. The reason why he and Su Xiaofei didn''t n to go on a honeymoon after their wedding was because Yun Qingrong was about to undergo treatments very soon and neither of them could leave and enjoy their vacation knowing her situation.


    "Xiao Feng, I know that you are more sensible than Feifei when ites to family issues, so I hope that you will be her strength when that timees¡­"


    She had to admit that her daughter had chosen a good man to be her husband, unlike her. If it was Mo Yuchen whom her Feifei had wed today, Yun Qingrong knew that her heart wouldn''t be at ease. She knew very well that the engagement between the two was only a coteral for families'' businesses.


    However, with Lu Qingfeng, Yun Qingrong wouldn''t have to worry about him taking advantage of her daughter for the mere reason the Lu family had way beyond what Bluemedia could offer. Her Feifei could also stand on her own feet anyway and from what she had seen, her daughter was able to adapt to the ways of the industry.


    Yun Qingrong had to admit that Feifei had proven herself not only to her, but to those who kept on questioning her ability to lead Bluemedia as well. Not many people knew, but the sudden growth of Bluemedia was courtesy of her daughter''s input in their recent projects.


    She had considered informing her ex-husband about the uing nuptial, but decided not to for Su Xiaofei''s sake. Even after their divorce was finalized, Su Haoran hadn''t bothered to reach out to their daughter. However, Yun Qingrong supposed that Lu Qingfeng was right. Su Haoran had never considered Feifei as his daughter and could only see Ye Mingyu as his.


    Not that Yun Qingrong could me him. She understood that as a parent, Su Haoran would obviously favor his biological child over an adopted one. However, she also knew that if she hadn''t insisted on adopting Feifei, she would regret it in the end.


    "You shouldn''t be saying such words, Mother. More than anything else, Feifei and I wish you well." Lu Qingfeng frowned, but he understood where Yun Qingrong wasing from. They weren''t the only ones who weren''t willing to let go just yet.


    To be honest, Lu Qingfeng didn''t mind marrying into the Yun family instead of forcing Feifei to assume her responsibilities as the wife of the next head of the Lu family. He would rather live with her in peace than to face several family issues every time they met his rtives.


    "I''m sorry." Yun Qingrong chuckled and tried to blink her tears away. "You are right. I shouldn''t be crying on your special day with Feifei. I''m really lucky to have a son-inw like you."


    Meanwhile, back to the father and daughter pair, Su Xiaofei tried her best not to step on her father''s shoes for the second time. She tried to slow down her movements and followed Qiao Fengying''s lead as they danced around, giving everyone an impression of the bride being treated like a princess by her father.


    Qiao Fengying had been patient, teaching her which foot should step forward and where she should put her hands.


    After the song ended, apuse echoed throughout the hall. Qiao Fengying returned Su Xiaofei to Lu Qingfeng and patted his shoulder.


    "I''ve always thought that you care for Xiaofei more than a friend could. Being married doesn''t mean it''s a happy ending. You need a lot of patience and understanding to make it work. I know that this is too much to ask, but please take care of her." He told the young man, feeling sentimental for some reason.


    "Her happiness is my utmost priority, President Qiao." Lu Qingfeng nodded. He would continue doing it, regardless if Qiao Fengying asked him or not.. He would rather hurt himself than to betray Feifei, more so now that she was his wife.

 Chapter 376 - Forever Starts Today (2)

    It was nearly midnight when the newlyweds decided to leave. Their families and friends saw them into the limo that was waiting for them outside the Yun Mansion, wishing them good night. Lu Qingfeng heard Song Yiran make a wolf whistle while Su Xiaofei''s friends grinned at her, making her blush.


    The groom only shook his head, but the smile on his face was genuine. He helped Su Xiaofei to get inside the limo and closed the door behind them. He and Su Xiaofei would be spending the next two days in a five-star hotel, but he supposed that it would only give them the break they both needed from work and school.


    "Oh my feet!" He heard his wife groan as she slipped her feet out of her white high-heeled shoes and wiggled her toe fingers in an attempt to alleviate the pain from wearing the shoes throughout the day.


    Lu Qingfeng chuckled and brushed the stray locks away from her face. He could see that she was already exhausted and ready to drop on the bed and drift off to dreand at any moment.


    "President Qiao and I should be the onesining about our feet, Feifei."


    Su Xiaofei shot him a re and pouted. It wasn''t her fault that she couldn''t dance well. Thankfully, her uncles, as well as Old General Yun didn''t force her to go for another round of dancing. Otherwise, she had no doubt that she would be spending the rest of the night apologizing to everyone.


    She leaned against her husband, hooking her arm around his.


    "Wake me up once we arrive." She told him.


    "I saw you dancing with Xiao Han earlier." Lu Qingfeng suddenly said.


    Su Xiaofei hummed, keeping her eyes closed. "Unlike me, he''s a good dancer."


    When she didn''t hear any more from her husband, she decided to take a short nap before they arrived at the hotel they would be staying at.


    It felt like things were too silent for her liking, then suddenly, she heard the sound of the door closing. She thought that maybe they had finally arrived at the hotel and forced herself to release Lu Qingfeng''s arm only to realize that the one she was holding was too soft and plushy.


    ''What the¡­?''


    Su Xiaofei cracked an eye open, only to see the bright lighting from the window of the room she was in. She blinked twice and rolled to her side, feeling the warmth that Lu Qingfeng left in the empty space beside her.


    She groaned and buried her face into the pillow as she realized what happened.


    What kind of idiot was she to sleep throughout their wedding night?!


    Well, a tired little wife, of course! Still, Su Xiaofei felt bad for sleeping on their first night.


    She had no doubt that Lu Qingfeng probably carried her and tucked her into bed like a child. Sure, they were really tired for the past week as they have been trying to finish as much work as they could before their wedding, but she couldn''t believe she fell asleepst night.


    After rounds of rolling on the bed and smacking the poor pillow, Su Xiaofei decided it was time to face her husband. As she pulled the cover off her, it was then she realized that she was already out of the white dress she was wearing during the receptionst night.


    She smacked her forehead and continued berating herself. Her poor husband! It must really have been a tease for him to see her in an undressed state, but couldn''t do anything. Anyway, since they were already married, he was bound to see her naked.


    ''Pity I couldn''t see his reaction when he saw the undergarments Qian and Shen Jiao gave me.'' She thought, wondering if Lu Qingfeng liked what he''d seenst night or not.


    Su Xiaofei found her husband in the small kitchen of their hotel suite, reheating the breakfast that she had no doubt was delivered when she was still asleep. He stood in the kitchen in his navy blue pajama pants and white shirt.


    "Morning." She muttered, before taking a seat in the dining area, still a little sleepy. As she nced at the digital clock, she saw that it was already ten in the morning. Su Xiaofei couldn''t remember when was thest time she woke up beyond seven in the morning.


    "Good morning." Lu Qingfeng said in response, giving his wife a quick nce before resuming what he was doing. It wasn''t the first time they had breakfast together, but it felt a little strange for him to know that she would be with him more from now on. Perhaps knowing that she was his wife now had somewhat changed his perception.


    He found itforting to know that when he opened his eyes in the morning, he wouldn''t have to wait for a few hours to see her or to hear her voice. Waking up in the morning with her next to him in bed, reminded him that he wasn''t dreaming and that they had really gotten married yesterday.


    He contemted if he should allow his wife to sleep with her dress on, but decided that it wouldn''t befortable for her to sleep in. However, what he had seen underneath that dressst night had given him a good surprise. It was a pity that they had been too tiredst night, but he wasn''t keen on waking her up when she was sound asleep next to him.


    It wasn''t like he didn''t desire her, but he loved her too much to put her in an ufortable situation. He wanted herpletely and without any doubt. He didn''t have any expectations of herst night and when he saw how exhausted she was after the reception, he decided to dy their wedding night until both of them were truly ready.


    ''Patience.'' Lu Qingfeng told himself inwardly.. ''It''s enough that we''re together from now on.''

 Chapter 377 New Beginning (1)

    377 New Beginning (1)


    While her best friend was starting a new life as a married woman, Xi Qian had just moved out of the apartment Su Xiaofei owned in favor of moving in with the Li family to take care of their patriarch as his private nurse.


    She didn''t know what made her decide to ept the old man''s offer, but she had to admit that the pay would be more than sufficient for her to pay her med school tuition fee for the following school yearpared to if she remained working as a nurse in the hospital.


    Xi Qian also didn''t want to prolong her stay in her best friend''s apartment, now that Su Xiaofei was married to that little tyrant, although her best friend insisted for her to stay as long as she wanted.


    She stepped out from the cab that brought her to the private vi where Chairman Li was currently residing with his wife and Li Xingtian. Looking up at the new ce where she would temporarily stay, Xi Qian wasn''t surprised at its grandeur.


    Well, the vi was simply stunning with its all brick and ivory colored walls and huge windows that seemingly allowed the sun to light up the whole ce while hidden behindrge trees and from prying eyes.


    Picking up her suitcase, Xi Qian heard her own feet softly making a crushing sound on the gravel road that led to the private vi. She then pressed the button next to the doorbell, announcing her arrival.


    A man in his mid-forties came rushing, opening the gates for her before taking her luggage. The top of his head was already bald, but Xi Qian could see wisps of white hair from his ears down to his nape. He was also missing a few front teeth and his back was slouching a bit, making him look shorter than his actual height.


    "Miss Xi, Chairman Li has informed us about your arrival. Everything has already been prepared for you. If you would, please follow me." He said politely, gesturing Xi Qian with his hand to follow him.


    As they reached the imposing double front doors, Xi Qian didn''t make any reaction when she spotted Li Xiran standing at the doorway, looking at her with an expression she couldn''tprehend at all. He looked ufortable standing there, but as she took a quick look behind him, Xi Qian spotted two luggage behind him.


    It seemed that she wasn''t the only one who would be moving in today. However, Xi Qian wasn''t looking forward to getting involved with his issues with the rest of the Li family. She was starting to think that wealthy families such as the Li family and Su Xiaofei''s family were no different frommoners like her, when ites to having family issues.


    However, what differed Li Xiran''s situation was that he wasn''tpeting for the inheritance, but for his father''s recognition. She could see it in his eyes that he cared about his father deeply, but won''t admit it vocally.


    "Nurse Xi." Li Xiran gave her a curt nod before turning his eyes on the luggage their caretaker was holding. "I''m d that you agreed with my father''s proposition. I could be at ease knowing he would be able to recover well with you here."


    Xi Qian remained silent and looked at him nkly. She wanted to set the record straight with him; that she was a nurse and not a doctor. She cannot administer any medicines or perform any surgery without a doctor''s supervision, hence she had no way to guarantee Li Xiran''s father''s recovery. What she could do was to ensure that Chairman Li''s surgical wounds would heal clean and nicely, and assess the changes in the medical status of the patient.


    Li Xiran then helped their caretaker to bring Xi Qian''s luggage to the top of the stairs, with her following closely behind them.


    "Uncle Yan will take your suitcase to your designated room and give you a tour. I suppose you would have to talk with that ''woman'' to find out their expectations of you." He said, before turning to leave her with their caretaker, taking the opposite direction from where Xi Qian was.


    "He''s always on edge." Uncle Yanmented as he dragged Xi Qian''s luggage with him. "At least he''s willing to cooperate with his father now."


    Xi Qian remained silent as she didn''t think she should poke her nose into someone else''s business, much less her employers'' life. Looking at the man in front of her, she saw that Uncle Yan was struggling with her luggage, but held her tongue, knowing that the man might take it as an offense if she dared to question him for doing his job.


    Figuring that the talk was off the table, the two walked inpanionable silence as Xi Qian took in the surroundings. The hallway was filled with vases and ornaments with seemingly selected and expensive looking tastes, yet it remained ssical.


    It didn''t take long before they reached a room where she was going to stay. Uncle Yan then opened the door for her to enter.


    "I''m sure you are tired, so have a rest today. The madam will summon youter for dinner." He said, before leaving Xi Qian on her own.


    Xi Qian stood there for a moment, frozen in ce. Slowly, she flopped down on the soft bed and stared at the ceiling. She was starting to wonder if she had made the right decision by epting Chairman Li''s offer for her service.


    With her unstable financial situation, she didn''t think she could decline when he offered a generouspensation. She didn''t know what had gotten in her when she agreed to the old man''s request.


    "I hope you would consider Nurse Xi. Dr. Jiang said that you''re a trustworthy person, and he didn''t mind if you personally worked for our family. Actually, they wouldn''t let me go back to work, especially Xiran. He insisted that I stay at home while he manages thepany in my ce."

 Chapter 378 New Beginning (2)

    378 New Beginning (2)


    Li Xiran lifted his head from hisptop, noticing the time was shown as 6:25 in the evening on his watch. He lifted his frame out of his chair and rounded his desk, intending to go down to join his father and his family for dinner with their special guests.


    Walking down the curved staircase, his mind couldn''t help but wonder if Xi Qian didn''t care about his family, as she didn''t seem eager to get associated with them, unlike other people he met in the past.


    ording to the background check his father ran on Xi Qian, she had graduated from Qiying City Academy, a school for elite families with a full schrship. She had also graduated top of her ss during her university years, receiving several rmendations from her mentors.


    ''Perhaps she is just used to being surrounded by wealthy people that she couldn''t be bothered by their issues anymore.'' He thought as his tracks came to a halt when the very subject of his thoughts came into view.


    Xi Qian had already arrived before him and had joined his father at the dining table. He merely gave her a curt nod before settling on the seat next to her.


    Xi Qian sat awkwardly as she joined the rest of the Li family for dinner. Beside her, Li Xiran was ignoring his half-brother and stepmother''s presence across them and continued to eat in silence. She had heard that he had decided to move in today so he could conveniently consult his father while he handled the matters back at Li Corporation.


    The man beside her cut a small slice of the steak and ignored the looks he was receiving from his brother, as if he couldn''t be bothered by Li Xingtian in front of his father.


    Li Xingtian was also working at the samepany, and Xi Qian had no doubt that the rtionship between the two brothers wasn''t any better than theirst meeting, as she could see the sneer on Li Xingtian''s face as he looked at his elder brother.


    Chairman Li sighed in exasperation, seeing his sons'' cold treatment toward each other. He knew that it wouldn''t be easy for these two to get along. He could only hope that they would at least be civil with each other and stop going for each others'' necks for the kill, especially his eldest.


    "I heard that you managed to secure the project. When will we be able to start the construction of the amusement park?" He asked Li Xiran.


    "Dear, I thought we agreed that business matters shouldn''t be mentioned during dinners like this."


    His wife sighed and shook her head. Even in his delicate condition, he couldn''t help but worry about hispany matters and his two hard-headed sons. She gave Xi Qian an apologetic look, but the younger woman only smiled at her.


    "Right. I shouldn''t have mentioned it while Nurse Xi is here." Chairman Li also looked at Xi Qian''s direction. One thing he liked about this young woman was that she couldn''t be easily intimidated by his two sons. In fact, she could stand her ground and wasn''t afraid to say her piece, especially against his eldest son.


    He paid attention to how the two conversed and acted around each other, and he was pleasantly surprised to notice that Li Xiran was willing topromise and listen to the young nurse as she reminded him of the things he needed to avoid for him to fully recover. He hoped that with Xi Qian around, Li Xiran would be able to rein his temper and understand people around him better.


    Chairman Li had never thought that his illness would be able to bring his family together like this, albeit, with Li Xiran being forced into it. He knew very well that if his eldest son could, he would rather forget his family name and pave his own way to sess rather than seeding him in their family business.


    He listened as his wife gave Xi Qian the rundown on his routine these days andined to the young nurse on how hard it was for them to convince him to stay put on his bed.


    Xi Qian politely nodded in understanding at his wife and nced at his way, giving him a knowing look.


    "I think there''s nothing to worry about as long as Chairman Li doesn''t force himself to walk on his own. A little sunshine every morning, enjoying a cup of warm drink won''t hurt."


    The old manughed at her answer, pleased that the young nurse wasn''t trying to contain him inside the room, unlike the rest of his family. Li Xingtian frowned, but a hint of worry was apparent on his face, while Li Xiran only huffed and resumed his meal.


    Before retiring for the night, Xi Qian checked the prescribed medication Madam Li showed her and reviewed the notes Chairman Li left for them to follow. She then checked Chairman Li''s blood pressure and assured his wife that the surgical wounds on his chest were healing nicely.


    "I know it was sudden to request your employment with us, but thank you, Miss Xi. My husband seems to take an interest in you. He said that you and Xiran get along really well. I heard that you are self-supporting yourself to enter med school. That''s admirable! Not anyone could be that self-sufficient and hardworking." Madam Li said as she walked Xi Qian back to the guest room where she was staying. She didn''t mention anything about Xi Qian not receiving support from her own parents.


    Xi Qian wanted to correct the older woman and tell her that she wasn''t friends with Li Xiran. That their short encounters in the hospital were nothing personal at all. As for why Chairman Li took an interest in her and hired her for her services, she thought that the old man might just want somepany while his two sons weren''t around.

 Chapter 379 New Beginning (3)

    A loud buzzing sound pierced the silence of the room, startling Xi Qian from her restless slumber. Rubbing her eyes and groaning, she rolled to her right and turned her rm off. She reminded herself that this was a new beginning in her life and she should get used to not waking up on herfy bed at home for the time being.


    Staring at the glowing numbers on the clock on the nightstand, she realized that she had only slept four hours. She had a hard time sleepingst night, and she knew it was because she wasn''t used to sleeping in such a huge bed that could fit four persons.


    ''Such a waste of space to sleep on my own.'' She muttered, but realized that she had not shared a bed with anyone for almost half a year now. Not that she was missing it or anything, but it would be nice to have someone to see when she woke up in the mornings, especially with a bed as huge as she had right now.


    Stifling a yawn, Xi Qian pulled her slender arms above her head in order to relieve the stiffness she felt. As soon as she stood up, she walked over to her closet and pulled her light blue scrubs and went straight to the washroom to freshen up before officially starting her first day at work.


    She was starting to question herself for epting this job in the first ce. While it would save her a lot of money from transportation and food expenses staying at the Li family''s home, Xi Qian felt that there was more to it than looking after her patient.


    Xi Qian wasn''t looking forward to witnessing another fight between the two brothers, nor to hearingints from Madam Li. Thankfully, her patient was understanding enough and had only asked her to see him when it''s needed.


    Having a private nurse to look after him wasn''t his idea anyway. It was Li Xiran who insisted on hiring one, and surprisingly, his younger brother and stepmother agreed with him.


    Satisfied with her appearance reflected on the mirror, Xi Qian made her way downstairs to see if she could help the housemaids somehow. No Li family members were in sight, as it was still a little too early.


    In the mornings, she only needed to make sure that her patient had taken his medicine on time and monitor the meal n for Chairman Li for the day. Xi Qian would be free the whole afternoon and could use this time to review her notes.


    She made sure not to join the rest of the family for meals and had her own alone to avoid being involved and dragged into the family''s problems.


    "Good morning."


    Xi Qian was caught off guard when Li Xiran appeared behind her as she checked the fridge to find something to eat. She turned around and found him dressed in a white shirt and gray sweatpants, while wiping the sweat on the side of his face with a towel.


    "Morning." She said in return, thinking that her encounters with Li Xiran would increase now that she was living under the same roof as him.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Dad is already up, but he won''te down with his wife for about an hour or so." He paused as he gave her a good look before ncing at the time on his watch. "Do you have to be so early, Nurse Xi?"


    Xi Qian gave him a nd smile and pulled out a bottle of water, passing it to him before taking another one for herself. Li Xiran thanked her and twisted the cap of his water bottle, drinking half of its contents in one go.


    "Mr. Li should know that nurses like me rarely get a good night''s sleep." She replied, but didn''t dare to dwell on the fact that she had always been a light sleeper and had trouble sleeping at night.


    Li Xiran hummed in understanding. He was in no position to question her sleeping habits, as he wasn''t any better than her. However, before anything else¡­


    "I would have to apologize if my presence or my brother''s is making you ufortable. I know that you came here to take care of our father and not to witness childlike arguments between me and Li Xingtian. If possible, please turn a blind eye to it and pretend you didn''t hear any of it."


    "That''s easier said than done, Mr. Li." Xi Qian said with a straight face. "I don''t need to remind you what almost caused your father''s lifest time, right?"


    Li Xiran hardened his jaws, knowing what she had said was right. His father almost got another heart attack back at the hospital a month ago after witnessing yet another heated argument between him and Li Xingtian.


    If it wasn''t for Xi Qian, Li Xiran knew that he wouldn''t be able to talk or to see his father at this very moment. She had immediately sprung into action and pressed the emergency button in his father''s hospital room. Xi Qian then chased everyone out of the room as the doctors tended to his ailing father.


    "I''m in no position to ask you about your issues with your younger brother, but you are both adults now and should know better. The least you could do is to be civil with one another." Shemented, thinking that this should be thest time she would say her piece.


    Li Xiran stared at her and nodded, surprising her for the second time. Xi Qian didn''t expect that this man would easily yield to what she said, not when it was obvious that he still had some grievances with the fact that his father remarried and started another family without him.


    "I cannot promise that there will be no more arguments and physical fights, though." He answered.


    "As long as it''s not in front of your father. That''s all I ask from you."

 Chapter 380 Forever Your Little Girl (1)

    Lu Qingfeng and Su Xiaofei were to spend their weekend alone with each other. However, on the second day of their rest day, Su Xiaofei received a phone call from home informing her that her mother had been rushed to the hospital due to severe abdominal pain she experienced that afternoon. Lu Qingfeng didn''t waste any time and drove them back to Qiying City and went straight to the hospital where Yun Qingrong was brought to.


    Su Xiaofei didn''t waste time and alighted from the car as soon as her husband pulled the car over, rushing towards the emergency room, panic-stricken. This was one of the things she kept worrying about whenever she wasn''t at home and working in Guangshang. She didn''t think that this would happen as soon as she and Lu Qingfeng left after their wedding.


    She looked around and found her mother with Aunty Liu. Yun Qingrong didn''t seem to be in pain anymore and was sleeping on the hospital bed. Su Xiaofei was thankful that Aunty Liu had volunteered to apany her mother while she and Lu Qingfeng were on a short break.


    "Aunty, how''s my mother?" Su Xiaofei asked, wondering if the attending doctor in the ER would be back soon to exin her mother''s current situation.


    "She''s fine for now, but the doctor has been looking for you. They want to remove the tumors and do a hysterectomy on your mother." Aunty Liu paused and looked at Su Xiaofei and to Lu Qingfeng, who just arrived with a worried expression on her face. "They want to remove it as soon as possible."


    Su Xiaofei shivered at that. Her mother''s doctors had already said the same thing a week ago and while Yun Qingrong had agreed easily to their request, Su Xiaofei was having some reservations about it. Not only did the doctors want to remove her mother''s uterus, but they also wanted to get rid of her two ovaries and fallopian tubes.


    After surgery, her mother may either receivebination chemotherapy, possibly followed by additional surgery to find and remove any remaining cancerous tissues. Su Xiaofei had no doubt that her mother''s health would continue deteriorating after that, and there was no assurance that she would recover one hundred percent after the surgeries and chemotherapy.


    "It''s alright, Feifei. Do what the doctors ask. I''m ready."


    Su Xiaofei was startled, hearing her mother''s voice, as she didn''t even notice that her mother had woken up during her conversation with Aunty Liu. She stared at her mother, understanding what Yun Qingrong truly meant by her words. She was ready to depart the world of the living if all avenues to treat her were to fail.


    Su Xiaofei''s eyes shone with tears and nodded to her mother. She also knew that she needed toe to terms with her mother''s condition and expect the worst that could happen.


    She was able to reunite and be with Lu Qingfeng in this lifetime. Xi Qian was also still alive and well, now starting a new beginning in her life as she met Li Xiran. However, why couldn''t Su Xiaofei change her mother''s end?


    Perhaps being reborn wasn''t only to rectify the mistakes she had done in her past life, but also to mend her rtionship she had with her mother. It seemed that Yun Qingrong was destined to die in both her lives, and she didn''t have any ability to prevent it. She could only make the best out of the situation they were in.


    "I''ll inform the doctors of our decision then." Lu Qingfeng said before whispering next to his wife''s ear, giving her hand a squeeze. "Stay here with Mother, Feifei. Let me handle all of it."<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Su Xiaofei remained silent and took a seat next to her mother''s bed, while her husband and Aunty Liu left to talk with the doctors. Thankfully, she and her mother won''t be facing this on their own as they have people around them they can rely on.


    "I''m sorry, Feifei. You and Xiao Feng have toe back earlier than expected." Yun Qingrong said as she held her daughter''s hand.


    "That''s no problem, Mama." Su Xiaofei replied. "We can''t really enjoy our rest days knowing that you aren''t in your best condition."


    Yun Qingrong gave her daughter a weak smile and stared at the nk ceiling above her. Oddly, she didn''t feel any fear or nervousness from the surgery she was about to undergo. Now that her precious daughter had someone next to her, she was assured that whatever happens, even if all the treatments failed, her Feifei won''t grieve over her death for too long.


    "Can you promise me something then? I won''t ask you for anything in the future again." She heard Su Xiaofei ask.


    Yun Qingrong turned to look at her daughter, seeing despair and fear in Su Xiaofei''s eyes. This was the first time she had seen her daughter like this, and she didn''t like that she was the reason behind it. If possible, she only wanted to see her daughter happy.


    "If it''s something I can do, then why not." She replied.


    Ever since Su Xiaofei was younger, she had made sure to provide everything that she needed. Yun Qingrong was also aware that because of this, her daughter developed a selfish trait while growing up, but today, she knew that her Feifei wasn''t asking her for any material thing to possess.


    "Then, Mama. Can you promise not to give up?" Su Xiaofei asked. "Can you promise that you would return to us?"


    Yun Qingrong was washed with the extreme urge to cry right then and there. If she could, she would like to live a few more years and see her daughter start a family with Lu Qingfeng. She still wanted to be there in every important milestone of her daughter''s life.


    "Mama will do her best." She said with teary eyes. She couldn''t promise that she woulde back alive, as her life wasn''t in her own hands now.

 Chapter 381 Forever Your Little Girl (2)

    Waiting was something Su Xiaofei wasn''t good at, no matter what lifetime she was living. This was one of the rare times that she wished she could control time at her will, s, being reborn didn''t mean she would also gain godly powers.


    As she waited outside the operating room with Lu Qingfeng, she felt that time was passing too slowly for her liking. It had only been an hour, but why did it feel like she had been waiting for an eternity?


    At this time, Bluemedia and the rest of the world were oblivious to what was happening to her mother, and Su Xiaofei was thankful that Lu Qingfeng was there to help her sort things out.


    Not only him, but also her Uncle Fang and Auntie Liu. Her three uncles were also on their way to the hospital, and she expected to see them very soon. Su Xiaofei had no doubt that the old General would also want toe today, but it would be impossible for him toe due to his current health condition.


    Her mother was supposed to stay at the Yun mansion while she and Lu Qingfeng weren''t around, but Yun Qingrong was adamant that she would stay home to tend to her nts that she had neglected for the past week due to the wedding preparations. Su Xiaofei wouldn''t have to worry too much had her mother agreed to stay with her family, but she knew very well that she couldn''t force her mother, not when she was trying to cater to her every need and request.


    "Feifei, don''t you want to go home and get changed? I will be here, waiting for Mother." Lu Qingfeng asked. He was worried because his wife hadn''t eaten anything since that morning and only took a few sips from the water bottle he handed to her earlier.


    Su Xiaofei shook her head, her eyes never leaving the red light on top of the operating room, informing them that the surgery was still ongoing.


    "No. I want to be here once they wheel her out. I can''t leave her alone this time."


    Lu Qingfeng chose to say no more and sat next to her. However, he hadn''t expected to hear the next words he heard from her.


    "I''m sorry. I know this isn''t the kind of wedding and married life you were expecting from me. We couldn''t even have a decent honeymoon after our wedding. I shouldn''t have forced you to marry me this early and let you be dragged into this problem."


    "You shouldn''t say this, Feifei. It''s enough that we have each other now. As for our honeymoon, isn''t Mother''s life more important than that? We still have many chances to go anywhere we want in the future. Once everything is fine, we can n a vacation anytime you want."


    Lu Qingfeng understood that everything that happened over these past few days was because of Yun Qingrong. He was also aware that Su Xiaofei wouldn''t marry him so early, had she not heard about her mother''s wish to walk her on her wedding day.


    Still, regardless of this fact, Lu Qingfeng didn''t take offense because what mattered to him was for them to be legally bound to each other.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "We''ll get through this, Feifei." He said and kissed her temple.


    If, in the past, he had failed to be there at her lowest point, Lu Qingfeng swore that he wouldn''tmit the same mistake this time. He wouldn''t allow Su Xiaofei to experience the same thing all over again.


    Su Xiaofei nodded and leaned her head against his shoulder as she twined their hands together. No words can convey how much gratitude she felt towards him. She didn''t think she would be able to remain this calm and collected if Lu Qingfeng weren''t here with her.


    It didn''t take long for her uncles to finally arrive, rushing towards her and Lu Qingfeng with worried expressions on their faces. Su Xiaofei couldn''t me them. They hadn''t been in touch with her mother when Yun Qingrong was still married to Su Haoran. It was really unfair for them that their sister would be taken away from them for the second time.


    "Xiaofei, how is she?" Yun Yuanzhi, the eldest of the Yun siblings asked her. Yun Zhaonan and Yun Shao were with him, leaving their wives at home to apany their old father.


    "We still don''t know, Uncle. The doctors said that they would remove as much of the tumor as they can and would try to kill the rest of the cancer cells with chemotherapy." Su Xiaofei responded, her hand tightening on her husband''s as they waited for the surgery to be over.


    A little over an hour had already passed since her mother was taken inside. Lu Qingfeng had told her that it might take three to four hours, but Su Xiaofei was willing to wait for her mother no matter how long it would take.


    As if sensing her distraught, her uncles chose not to question her anymore and took a seat across from her and Lu Qingfeng and waited with them.


    Yun Yuanzhi looked at his sister''s adoptive daughter and could see the concern and worry on Su Xiaofei''s face. He and his brothers weren''t stupid. They knew well that Su Xiaofei yed a huge role in Bluemedia''s sudden growth. She might not be as smart as the other businessmen in the field, but she knew how to make the most of the situation she was in.


    Unlike his second brother, Yun Yuanzhi didn''t think he should be cautious of this young woman and believed that whatever Su Xiaofei had done to Su Haoran and the Ye family was her own way of protecting her mother.


    He also believed that Su Xiaofei wasn''t after his sister''s fortune. If anything, Su Xiaofei had proven that her mother was her utmost priority by protecting Yun Qingrong from Su Haoran''s schemes. As for his sister''s illness, they could only do their best to provide the best health care she could have.

 Chapter 382 Forever Your Little Girl (3)

    Three dayster, Su Xiaofei was seated next to her mother''s hospital bed inside a private room, taking a nap with her head resting on her folded arms on top of the sheets. Yun Qingrong could only sigh and reach out a hand to push away the hair from her daughter''s face as she slept.


    Yun Qingrong thought that even when her Feifei had already grown up, there were still things that remained the same. Her Feifei would forever be her little girl in her heart. The memory of the past ying once again in her mind.


    Her Feifei was only eight at the time and she, Yun Qingrong, had fallen sick from the long hours of work, forcing her to take a few days off to recover. During those times, in her sleep, she could feel her daughter''s small hands trying to wipe the sweat from her face with a damp cloth.


    Hourster, she woke up to see her young daughter curled on the bed next to her with a washcloth in her hand. Her heart was filled with love as she touched her daughter''s cheek, allowing Feifei to sleep more.


    Yun Qingrong shifted from her bed and slowly sat up, minding the wound on her abdomen. She didn''t regret having her uterus and ovaries removed because it wouldn''t define her as a woman and a mother.


    She could hear clicking sounds somewhere and didn''t need to think hard of who it could be. Wherever Feifei was, Lu Qingfeng was sure to follow.


    She spotted Lu Qingfeng seated on the couch with a pair of reading sses on his face, his fingers moving quickly over the keyboard of hisptop. What she admired about this son-inw she just gained, was that he was very efficient with his time and would always make sure to bnce his personal time with work and school.


    "Good morning, Xiao Feng. Did you get any sleep before working?" Yun Qingrong called out his attention.


    Lu Qingfeng raised his head and looked at her.


    "Yes, Mother. I just woke up an hour ago. Grandpa forwarded me some reports to work on, so I''m trying to finish some of it before attending my morning sses." He answered. "Should I call for someone to bring us breakfast?"


    Yun Qingrong was now on a strict diet and she couldn''t leave her bed just yet, but that didn''t mean she couldn''t join her daughter and son-inw for meals.


    "No, let''s just wait for Feifei to wake up. She must be really tired trying to catch up with her workst night." She murmured, but enough for Lu Qingfeng to hear.


    Yun Qingrong had woken up in the middle of the night, overhearing her daughter''s conversation with Zhao Yi. It seemed like there was an offer regarding Tang Liyan''s coboration with Bai Qingyue again, but Feifei was hesitant to ept and to allow her talent to work with Golden Star''s queen this time.


    "Don''t worry about me, Mama. It''s something I can handle."


    Su Xiaofei had woken up and ran her fingers through her thick mane. If she was the most beautiful bride a week ago, she now had darkening circles around her eyes and a paleplexion.


    "Did I wake you up?" Yun Qingrong asked her.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "No. Just need to use the washroom." Su Xiaofei said and rose from her seat, going straight to her husband. Since she hadn''t washed her face or brushed her teeth yet, she only gave him a quick hug.


    "Please be a dear and ask for some breakfast. I''m starving." She said before disappearing into the washroom.


    Lu Qingfeng hit the save button on the document he was working on and removed his reading sses. He didn''t waste time and made a phone call.


    Once Su Xiaofei was done, dressed in a new set of clean clothes, she joined her mother and husband for a quick breakfast. If she had a choice, she would rather do her work here and apany her mother, but she had a meeting she couldn''t miss that morning.


    "I would have to agree with Zhao Yi, Feifei. We wouldn''t be at a disadvantage if we allow Miss Tang to work with Bai Qingyue again. I know you''re worried about her safety, but it would be a pity not to take advantage of her poprity these days."


    Su Xiaofei fell silent, knowing that she really didn''t have a strong reason to object to the coboration between the two queens. She wasn''t stupid, because she knew it was Mo Yuchen who boosted their poprity in order to lure her to enter an agreement with Golden Star.


    "Fine. As long as they don''t cross the line this time. I wouldn''t be so merciful if they tried to do underhanded tricks again." Su Xiaofei yielded.


    Once she left for work, Yun Qingrong was left in her son-inw''spany. Seeing the wistful look on her, Lu Qingfeng wondered if Yun Qingrong knew something.


    "I wonder what Feifei feels towards Miss Bai."


    At these words, Lu Qingfeng straightened his back and gave her a confused look.


    Yun Qingrong gave him a weak smile before choosing to look at her hands. She didn''t know how long she could keep her secret from her daughter, especially now that her days were numbered.


    "I''m not blind, Xiao Feng. I''ve been in this industry for so long, it''s impossible for me not to see Feifei''s resemnce to Miss Bai."


    Lu Qingfeng chose his words carefully. He didn''t want Yun Qingrong to suspect that he and Feifei were already aware of Bai Qingyue''s identity.


    "Does mother suspect that Miss Bai is Feifei''s real mother?" He asked. It made sense to him why Yun Qingrong was against Feifei''s decision to enter showbiz in their previous life.


    "Xiao Feng, when one is eager to find something, he or she is destined to unravel things. Each of us has dark secrets in our hearts. It''s just that I''m too selfish and not willing to give Feifei back to the woman who abandoned her."

 Chapter 383 The Search Is Over (1)

    "You must be thinking that I am so selfish for not even trying to give Feifei a chance to know her birth mother. Do you think Feifei would hate me if she knew that I hid the truth from her?" She chuckled, feeling foolish for wanting to keep Feifei to herself.


    When Su Xiaofei was growing up, she slowly became a beautiful rose that had yet to bloom. Many of those who''d seen her daughtermented on how beautiful she looked and how her Feifei resembled Bai Qingyue, who had already reached the peak of her career at that time.


    As Yun Qingrong stared at her young daughter, she could see why those people said those words. Indeed, looking closely, one might easily mistake her daughter as Bai Qingyue''s child or a rtive of hers.


    The seed of doubt had ingrained itself in Yun Qingrong''s heart and because of the constantments she received from others, she decided to hire someone to investigate Bai Qingyue. There must be a logical reason why her daughter had an uncanny resemnce with the actress.


    As a famous celebrity, Yun Qingrong wasn''t surprised that Bai Qingyue was hiding a secret from the public regarding her personal life. However, she didn''t expect to find out that her assumptions about the actress were spot on. Even more, the possibility of Qiao Fengying being Feifei''s real father. She was afraid that if the two found out about her daughter''s existence, she would lose Feifei for eternity.


    Bai Qingyue had gotten pregnant at the time when her career had just taken a spike. Yun Qingrong wasn''t surprised that Bai Qingyue had chosen her career over starting a family with her lover. After all, not many would have a chance to get popr overnight.


    Still, she felt annoyed knowing the fact that Bai Qingyue had the heart to abandon Feifei in an orphanage that cannot even sustain the needs of the children that were left there. Even though it wasn''t new to hear this in showbiz, the fact that Bai Qingyue abandoned Feifei at her very young age left a bitter taste in Yun Qingrong''s mouth.


    If she hadn''t seen Feifei that fateful day, she couldn''t imagine the kind of hardship her daughter would suffer growing up. She didn''t think she would be able to live if she knew what could possibly happen to Feifei if she listened to her ex-husband.


    Yun Qingrong still couldn''t understand how a mother like Bai Qingyue could do such a thing to her own child. Perhaps she would never know, because she had neither carried nor given birth to a child. Because of this, she misced her resentment towards Bai Qingyue and decided to keep her young daughter to herself.


    As for Qiao Fengying, she could feel regret and guilt towards him. She hadn''t even surmised that the father and daughter''s paths would collide, eventually meeting each other through Lu Qingfeng. Seeing them interact with each other, Yun Qingrong''s heart breaks a little, knowing that she denied Feifei a chance to know her real father.


    This was why when she found out that her daughter met and got acquainted with the Qiao family, she didn''t dare to stop Feifei from meeting them. Yun Qingrong knew that she had purposely deceived her daughter due to her own selfishness.


    "I''m not the perfect mother she assumed me to be."


    She was ashamed of what she had done, but Yun Qingrong didn''t think she regretted doing it. Even if she sought Bai Qingyue at that time, she was certain that the actress wouldn''t treat her Feifei kindly and admit that she was her birth mother.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Mother, I''m sure Feifei would try to understand if youe clean to her rather than finding out from another person." Lu Qingfeng said.


    He was in no position to reveal Su Xiaofei''s knowledge about her birth parents, but that didn''t mean he would allow Yun Qingrong to be depressed over the matter. He understood why Yun Qingrong had kept in from Su Xiaofei, and he couldn''t me her for it.


    "Just as you said, Mother. Each of us has a dark secret that we keep from everyone."


    "I know what I''ve done is unforgivable, Xiao Feng. You don''t have to try to convince that I''m not guilty of it." Yun Qingrong sighed dejectedly. "Even if I give Feifei everything that I have, it still wouldn''t change the fact that I have robbed her of the opportunity to get to know and live with her real parents. It''s no excuse for betraying Feifei''s trust in me."


    Lu Qingfeng fell silent, knowing that his mother-inw had a valid point. Only Su Xiaofei could decide whether she would ept her mother''s apology or not. He also didn''t want to assume that it would be alright once his wife found out the truth.


    Seeing his conflicted reaction, Yun Qingrong couldn''t help but feel guilty. If Lu Qingfeng couldn''t be certain of his wife''s reaction, then it would also be impossible for Yun Qingrong to know how Feifei would take the truth.


    "You don''t have to overthink it. It is my sin and I should be the one responsible for it. No matter what, I hope that you won''t forsake Feifei in the future."


    "Mother speaks as if you wouldn''t be here anymore." Lu Qingfeng frowned. He just gained a mother, and he wasn''t willing to give her up just yet.


    He somewhat understood why Feifei had been on edge recently. Both of them were given a chance to relive their lives, but they were both hopeless in changing Yun Qingrong''s end. In his three lifetimes, it seemed that Su Xiaofei was bound to lose her mother one way or another.


    "We both know the truth, Xiao Feng. There is no need to ignore the elephant in the room."


    "Then what does Mother want to do now?"


    "If you could please arrange a meeting with me and President Qiao. Keep it from Feifei for now."

 Chapter 384 The Search Is Over (2)

    Yun Qingrong decided to rectify her mistakes and wanted her daughter to be reunited with her real family. She might not know how Bai Qingyue felt towards the daughter she abandoned years ago, but Yun Qingrong knew that Qiao Fengying was still hoping to find the daughter he had never been able to see nor touch since Feifei was born.


    With Lu Qingfeng''s help, she managed to have a private chat with Qiao Fengying in her hospital room through a video chat.


    The man had been confused at first when Lu Qingfeng had asked him for just an hour to talk to Yun Qingrong. Qiao Fengying surmised that she might need some help, but he didn''t have a clue as to what it might be.


    "Miss Yun, Mr. Lu has asked me to talk to you today. He said it''s important. May I know what this is about?"


    Qiao Fengying tried to think of the possible requests she would make. Bluemedia and Qiao Tech were from two different industries, but if Yun Qingrong was going to ask her to guide Xiaofei in running thepany, Qiao Fengying was more than willing to extend a hand and teach the young woman what he knew.


    He didn''t know why, but he had a good feeling when talking to Xiaofei. Perhaps it was because he was missing his own daughter immensely that he couldn''t help but give the attention to Su Xiaofei.


    Yun Qingrong looked ufortable for a moment, her eyes then sought her son-inw, who was seated next to her.


    Lu Qingfeng merely gave her a curt nod, assuring her that he was with her in this. He also thought that the reunion between father and daughter had been long overdue.


    "President Qiao, I heard that you are looking for someone. A very important person at that." Yun Qingrong started. She could feel cold sweat forming on her palms as she waited for Qiao Fengying''s answer.


    The man was taken aback by her statement, clearly surprised that she was asking him this personal question. He remained silent for a moment, his eyes catching Lu Qingfeng on the screen.


    The Lu family¡­


    As Qiao Fengying thought of this, it didn''t surprise him that Lu Qingfeng managed to find out such private details about him. The Lu family would thoroughly dig dirt they could use regardless if it was a business partner or not.


    Since it had alreadye into this, there was no point in lying to Yun Qingrong.


    "Yes. The person I''m looking for is my daughter. She is my eldest child, born from a previous girlfriend during my college years." He admitted.


    "And that previous girlfriend is none other than Bai Qingyue, I assume."


    Qiao Fengying sucked in a deep breath. It really felt like Yun Qingrong knew a lot about him, but he couldn''t surmise her motive for even asking him these questions.


    "Yes."<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Seeing Bai Qingyue''s face in television, in print ads and movies, Qiao Fengying couldn''t let go of his resentment towards her. He partly med himself for not being good enough at the time she fell pregnant.


    Maybe, just maybe¡­ if he could give the world to Bai Qingyue at that time, she wouldn''t abandon him and forsake their daughter.


    "Miss Yun, no offense, but why do you ask me these questions?" He asked out of curiosity. Was this what Lu Qingfeng meant when he said that Yun Qingrong wanted to discuss something important with him?


    "Because President Qiao¡­ the truth is¡­" Yun Qingrong mustered all the courage she had in that moment, taking a deep breath. It was now or never.


    She might not be able to give back all the time and opportunities between Qiao Fengying and Feifei, but if she were to die in the near future, she wanted to leave knowing that her daughter was surrounded by people who loved her.


    With Lu Qingfeng by her daughter''s side, she knew that she wouldn''t have to worry about her daughter being alone, but Yun Qingrong also knew that her death could ruin her daughter in some way, and she didn''t want Feifei to grieve for too long after her passing.


    "... that my Feifei isn''t my biological daughter. She''s a child I adopted and took in from an orphanage more than two decades ago."


    There, she said it. With her daughter''s resemnce towards Bai Qingyue and circumstantial evidence, Yun Qingrong wanted to believe that her Feifei was the daughter Qiao Fengying was looking for.


    It was Qiao Fengying''s turn to fall silent from deep shock, clearly not expecting to hear these words from Yun Qingrong''s mouth. He wasn''t dumb not to understand and to connect the dots for her revtion today.


    Although Su Xiaofei had changed her hairstyle and how she dressed over the past five years, Qiao Fengying would never forget the day he met her for the first time. Her resemnce with Bai Qingyue was uncanny, as if he was looking at the younger version of his ex-girlfriend.


    He tried to say something in return, but no words came out of his mouth. What was he supposed to say? That the daughter he''d been looking for had been under his nose this whole time?


    He ran both of his hands over his face and sped them together, his elbows propped on the table. He blinked as he tried to force his tears away, but he couldn''t stop his tears from rolling.


    The society deemed men to be weak when they cry, but Qiao Fengying didn''t give a damn what people thought of him at that moment. If Su Xiaofei was truly his daughter with Bai Qingyue, then his search for more than twenty years was finally over.


    It made sense why he felt that odd sense of familiarity with Su Xiaofei. She was his child, the one he''d been searching for.


    He wanted to immediately fly to Qiying City to confirm what Yun Qingrong had just said, but he also didn''t know how Xiaofei would feel about it.

 Chapter 385 No Different From Her (1)

    While her father was still in shock after finding out about her identity, Su Xiaofei was seated inside a conference room, discussing the possible coboration project yet again with Bai Qingyue and Golden Star. It annoyed her that Mo Yuchen, after being so cold and indifferent towards her for so many years, would be interested to work with her now.


    ''What game is he trying to y this time?'' She pondered. Mo Yuchen surely had a motive for forcing her to cooperate with hispany, but what could it possibly be?


    If he''s still after Bluemedia, then Mo Yuchen must be dreaming if he thought that she would easily yield and hand over her mother''spany to him, like she had foolishly done in her previous life. She wasn''t the same love fool who would believe every word he uttered.


    Now that she was also married to Lu Qingfeng, even if Mo Yuchen wanted to get back with her, it would be impossible as she couldn''t even stand being in the same ce as him. It wasn''t like she wasn''t aware of the advantages this coboration could offer for Tang Liyan and Bluemedia, but she didn''t trust Mo Yuchen or Bai Qingyue at all.


    "Didn''t you say you want to pursue acting? Then you don''t need to quit your passion and let me handle thepany. This way, you wouldn''t have to give up on something you love." Mo Yuchen told her previously.


    She had been so stupid to interpret his words differently. She thought that he really cared about her and her career, and was willing to share her burden by taking over the management of Bluemedia after her mother''s passing. To think that she felt moved by his words¡­ Su Xiaofei wanted to berate herself even more.


    "President Su, the proposal Golden Star sent to you doesn''t look so bad after all. You have to consider epting it for Miss Tang''s sake. You can''t be trapped in the past and refuse to be civil with CEO Mo." One of the elders of Bluemedia told Su Xiaofei bluntly, while the others agreed with him.


    Su Xiaofei remained silent while Tang Liyan, who was seated on her right, gave her a worried look. The actress was aware that the only reason her manager was hesitating to ept the offer was because of her. It had nothing to do with Su Xiaofei''s prior engagement with Mo Yuchen.


    Unfortunately, what happened during the photoshoot was kept a secret, not only from the public, but also from the higher ups of Bluemedia. Tang Liyan thought that they wouldn''t have opinions like this towards President Su if they were aware of what happened.


    "What about you, Miss Tang? Would you like to work with Miss Bai again?"


    It was Fang Yi who questioned her this time. Fang Yi knew that Su Xiaofei didn''t want to have anything to do with Mo Yuchen after the annulment of their engagement. The two hadn''t parted ways amicably, and he had no doubt that Su Xiaofei wouldn''t want to get involved with Mo Yuchen, especially now that she was a married woman.


    Tang Liyan nced at him, then to her manager, deciding that she needed to grow some backbone and not to bring any more trouble to Su Xiaofei.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "I have no qualms about working with her, as long as their camp is professional enough and would not cause us any trouble." She said with a straight face.


    "If that''s the case, then I see no problem why we shouldn''t ept Golden Star''s offer to produce a film with them." Fang Yi gave Su Xiaofei a knowing look, reminding her that she cannot avoid Mo Yuchen this time.


    "Fine. Let''s ept their proposition, but I will draft some terms that would demand Miss Tang''s safety during the course of the production."


    The rest of the team was confused as to why Su Xiaofei was insisting on it, but they simply assumed that she was only trying to protect the queen Bluemedia currently had. Bluemedia had yet to produce their own queen, and it might take some time to groom one of their talents to be one.


    The meeting was adjourned, leaving Su Xiaofei in a foul mood, along with Tang Liyan and her bodyguards. Neither of the Zhang sisters dared to question what was going on and allowed Su Xiaofei to have a moment to herself while they resumed their respective tasks.


    "President Su, it''s really fine. I don''t think they will try to pull the same scheme to sully my reputation." Tang Liyan said after a long silence between them.


    "Miss Tang is being too kind. It still surprises me how you are able to stay this long in the industry, knowing how wretched it could be." Su Xiaofei said in return.


    Tang Liyan fell silent, not having any idea how to exin it to her manager. So many times she had asked herself if it was still worth it to stay in the industry when it was filled with schemes and backstabbing greedy individuals.


    "However, since you have decided, then I won''t stop you." Su Xiaofei continued. "If anything happens during the production and filming, you have to give me a call at once. I won''t let any of the people from Golden Star think that they can bully my people so easily without facing the consequences."


    "I understand. I won''t disappoint you this time, President Su." The actress yielded easily, knowing that she cannot ask Su Xiaofei for more. She didn''t want her to be the reason why her manager would be heavily criticized by others.


    "Don''t worry, Miss Tang. I will make sure that the incident during thest photoshoot won''t happen again. If anything, CEO Mo should know by now that I won''t sit idly doing nothing if the same thing happens again. But it doesn''t mean that you can be lenient and lower your guard. You have to understand that your reputation isn''t the only one at stake, there''s also the life of yourpanions."

 Chapter 386 No Different From Her (2)

    At least with Xiao Rufeng, her ns had been going well. Su Xiaofei thought. Xiao Rufeng had managed to get the female lead role for the series ''Demonville'', while Ye Mingyu ended up getting the second female lead role and to y as Xiao Rufeng''s best friend.


    Ye Mingyu must be seething in anger right now, knowing that Xiao Rufeng had stolen her thunder right under her nose. Since she had decided to obstruct Su Xiaofei''s way, she shouldn''t be surprised if thetter retaliated.


    Su Xiaofei didn''t doubt Xiao Rufeng''s ability, but the young woman really had to work on her patience. If Tang Liyan was as meek as amb, Xiao Rufeng had a tendency to bare her fangs whenever she was provoked by someone, especially her own younger sister.


    Xiao Rufeng was obviously ecstatic, hearing the news from Su Xiaofei.


    "I''ll do my best, President Su! I will make sure to bring glory to Bluemedia with my performance!"


    Su Xiaofei chuckled at her eagerness and shook her head. She handed the script to Xiao Rufeng and smiled. She really thought that Xiao Rufeng had the potential to be a queen in showbiz like her senior, Tang Liyan, but Xiao Rufeng obviously needed to learn more about her craft.


    "Miss Xiao should know not to promise something you don''t have at the moment. It''s enough that you do your best for your own sake and not to give thepany any troubles in the future."


    Xiao Rufeng''s face flushed at that and bit her lower lip in shame. She almost got Su Xiaofei in trouble from herst project, although she wasn''t the one who started the fight with her fellow actors. If Su Xiaofei hadn''te that day, Xiao Rufeng knew that she would be in serious troubleter.


    "I know, President Su. I will be more careful this time." She replied.


    Xiao Rufeng was still working on her temper and had been trying various ways to improve it. Most of the time, she would remind herself of what her manager told her before.


    ''Think before you speak. In the heat of the moment, it''s easy to say something you''llter regret. As soon as you''re thinking clearly, express your frustration in an assertive but non confrontational way. State your concerns and needs clearly and directly, without hurting others or trying to control them.'' Su Xiaofei once told her.


    With Ye Mingyu being part of the production, Xiao Rufeng knew that it was possible that thetter would try to stir up trouble and try to drag Su Xiaofei in it. Xiao Rufeng decided then that she won''t give Ye Mingyu any chance to scheme against them.


    "Right. If possible, please remind everyone why you are chosen for this role and not the other actresses that auditioned for it. This could be your break, so don''t waste your chance and grab it."<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Many people havemitted this mistake in their lives, not taking advantage of the opportunity presented to them and regret itter. Su Xiaofei had also done this and regretted it till the very end.


    Xiao Rufeng didn''t miss the subtle meaning of her manager''s words and nodded. Su Xiaofei had been patient with her for the past five years and allowed her to y several roles, not allowing her to y the same role twice. This was why, when someone checked on her portfolio, they would be surprised to find that she could also y a viin and roles not many actors would dare to portray.


    Compared to Ye Mingyu who was still new in the industry, Xiao Rufeng had slowly, but surely built up her portfolio over the years. She understood why Su Xiaofei had been giving her odd roles and asking her to audition for numerous notable films and TV series she eventually starred on. Most of those projects were hits and the films, blockbuster.


    It was only natural that the director and the producers would pick her over Ye Mingyu, who hadn''t proven anything yet for the female lead role. Su Xiaofei must have known and was confident that she would get the lead role this time with her prior experience and roles she previously portrayed.


    Still, Xiao Rufeng had to give some credit to Ye Mingyu. Surely, Ye Mingyu securing the second female lead role meant that she wasn''t just a pretty face that Mo Yuchen supported during the audition.


    "Then what about Ye Mingyu? Should I be wary of her?"


    Su Xiaofei crossed her legs and rested her chin on the back of her right hand, contemting how to answer Xiao Rufeng''s question. Knowing Ye Mingyu''s personality, she was sure that since Xiao Rufeng had been chosen for the lead role, Ye Mingyu might do something during the production to injure Xiao Rufeng.


    Who would benefit the most if the female lead was injured? Wouldn''t it be the second female lead instead? If Xiao Rufeng ended up injured, the production crew would obviously rece her with Ye Mingyu to avoid dying the filming schedule.


    As for how Su Xiaofei knew about this¡­ well¡­ didn''t Ye Mingyu pull the same trick on her? In everyone''s eyes, Ye Mingyu might be a goddess that couldn''t harm others, but under that facade, she was no different from Su Xiaofei who had a ckened heart.


    When it came to scheming with others, Ye Mingyu was way better than Su Xiaofei in their previous life. However, now that Su Xiaofei had somewhat gotten her senses back, it would be difficult for Ye Mingyu to defeat her with her level of scheming.


    "You don''t have to befriend her or anything. I only ask that you don''t ept any food or drinks from her and to make sure to double-no, triple check the props you are about to use during the filming. If you''re injured, the one who would reap the benefits would be her."


    Xiao Rufeng''s eyes widened upon the implication of her manager''s words, but understood well that Ye Mingyu still had the chance to snatch the role from her at any given moment.

 Chapter 387 Miss Qiao (1)

    Su Xiaofei returned from her work to her mother''s hospital room, only to find an odd and suffocating atmosphere inside. She looked at her mother who was deep in her own thoughts and failed to notice her arrival, then to her husband who was looking at her as if he had done something that surely won''t please her.


    She sighed to herself and plopped next to Lu Qingfeng, who wound an arm around her waist and kissed her crown. Su Xiaofei could sense that something might have happened during her absence, and she didn''t think she would like whatever it was. Lu Qingfeng wouldn''t act like this, if he wasn''t worried about her reaction.


    "Hey, beautiful. How was your day?" She heard Lu Qingfeng ask, pulling Yun Qingrong out of her trance.


    "Hmm. Just the usual stuff. It seems we can''t avoid the second coboration with Miss Bai." She answered, leaning her head against his shoulder as she looked at her mother, who was seated on her hospital bed.


    "Did something happen while I''m not around?" She asked, sensing that whatever it was, it was probably rted to her.


    Yun Qingrong wasn''t able to answer immediately, trying to find the right words to exin herself. She eyed her daughter and could see that she was waiting patiently for her to say something. It was now or never. It wasn''t like she could hide the truth from her daughter, now that Qiao Fengying was aware of it.


    "Feifei¡­ actually¡­" She swallowed the invisible lump in her throat and prayed in her heart that Feifei would at least listen to her.


    "Feifei, please listen to me, okay? I know this is sudden¡­ but I want you to know that I found your real parents." She started, seeing the sudden change in her daughter''s expression once she mentioned Feifei''s birth parents.


    Su Xiaofei hardened her jaws and forced herself to remain calm. She didn''t want her mother to know that she was already aware of their identities, and that she had no ns on seeking them for recognition.


    It was already clear to her that Bai Qingyue had given up on her and didn''t want her in her life, based on what her birth mother did in her previous life. As for Qiao Fengying, she could see that he was happily married, and it was enough for her to know that her father truly cared about her.


    "Mom, why are you telling me this? Is this really needed?"


    Su Xiaofei wanted to understand her mother. She didn''t think that it was appropriate to find her birth parents, especially with Yun Qingrong''s condition. What was her mother trying to achieve by finding them? Su Xiaofei couldn''t understand.


    Sensing that his wife and mother-inw needed some privacy, Lu Qingfeng decided to leave, but the tight hold Su Xiaofei had on his hand forbade him from leaving her side.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Su Xiaofei shifted her gaze to him, and silently begged him to stay. She didn''t trust herself at this moment and didn''t want to say anything that could hurt her mother or regretter. Having Lu Qingfeng by her side gave her a sense of security, allowing her to believe that everything would be alright.


    "I have done something unforgivable, Feifei. I have known for a long time who your parents are, but I didn''t say anything, nor did I ever try to return you to them." Yun Qingrong confessed. She realized now how selfish she had been for keeping Feifei to herself all this time.


    Previously, she didn''t want to admit that there was something wrong during her marriage with Su Haoran, but Yun Qingrong knew that she was also responsible for its failure. She had noticed the sudden change in her husband and suspected that he was possibly having an affair or two behind her back, but she wasn''t willing to face the truth.


    Su Haoran wasn''t always at home, and when she adopted Feifei, Yun Qingrong realized that she and her husband were drifting apart. She admitted that she was a failure as a wife, but having Feifei, Yun Qingrong refused to fail as a mother too. Since she had chosen to take Feifei in, she would be the one responsible for her upbringing.


    "You know and yet you didn''t tell me? Mama, I don''t understand¡­"


    Obviously, Su Xiaofei felt hurt knowing that her mother kept it a secret from her. If she hadn''t experienced what she had in her previous life, she would have never known that she was adopted by her. She would also not have found out that her birth mother was the famous actress, Bai Qingyue, and her father was the business tycoon, Qiao Fengying.


    Unlike now, Yun Qingrong didn''t even have a chance toe clean with her in her previous life, leaving her oblivious and vulnerable to Ye Mingyu''s schemes. If she wasn''t a colossal fool back then and knew the situation she was in, perhaps she wouldn''t lose so easily.


    "It''s my fault. I shouldn''t have lied to you. You must be thinking that it was toote for you to know them now, given that you have reached this age and had gotten married. I would understand if you are mad at me, and I won''t hold it against you."


    Yun Qingrong knew that her daughter held her in high regards, and being told of this secret might ruin the rtionship that they had as mother and daughter. She didn''t mean to betray her, but she admitted being selfish in not wanting to give her daughter back to her parents after knowing that Bai Qingyue abandoned Feifei as a young infant.


    "Do they know me? Did they try to find me? If they did, why did they never show up and introduce themselves to me?" Su Xiaofei asked her mother after a moment of silence.


    She knew that Qiao Fengying had tried to locate her until hisst breath in her previous life, but what about Bai Qingyue? Did her birth mother really feel nothing towards her?

 Chapter 388 Miss Qiao (2)

    "Your father¡­" Yun Qingrong pursed her lips and took a deep breath. Looking at her daughter''s eyes, she could see the hurt in them. It pained her to know that she was the reason behind it.


    "He''s been looking for you everywhere. Actually, you''ve met him already. It''s President Qiao, Feifei. He just found out about you today because I told him." She admitted, a little worried that her daughter had yet to say anything about her keeping Su Xiaofei from her birth parents.


    Su Xiaofei remained silent. She was already aware of this and would never question her father''s affection towards her. However, she hadn''t expected that Yun Qingrong had already sought him and revealed the truth about her identity.


    For the past five years, she was merely an investor of Qiao Tech and a friend of Qiao Yuhan''s. Now that Qiao Fengying had found her, Su Xiaofei didn''t want to cause any problems and conflict between him and his wife. Who hadn''t heard about wives despising the existence of their husband''s other children from another woman?


    Liu Shn was a decent person, but Su Xiaofei didn''t know her very well. She also didn''t have any idea how Liu Shn ended up with her father after he parted ways with Bai Qingyue in the past.


    What if Liu Shn perceived her as a threat to Qiao Yuhan and forbid her younger brother to see her ever again? Su Xiaofei didn''t think she was ready to be parted with Qiao Yuhan, now that their rtionship as siblings was deeper than the one they had in her previous life.


    She had assumed that their current setup was enough for her and didn''t dare to ask for more from her birth father. It was enough that she knew he cared for her and hadn''t given up on finding her till the very end.


    "He will being here soon to confirm it, and he has asked if he could run a paternity test with you just to make sure that I am not mistaken, that I''m not lifting his hopes up. Would you do it with him, Feifei?"


    Yun Qingrong knew that she was asking her daughter too much, but she needed to be certain that she would leave Feifei with the right people once she passed on. She wanted everything prepared, just in case she didn''t survive theplications of her illness.


    Su Xiaofei already knew the truth, but she didn''t think it would hurt to have solid evidence between her and her father. No one would doubt that she was his daughter once the result was out.


    "If that''s what Mama and Uncle Qiao want, then I have no problem with it." She answered, making her nervous mother sigh in relief.


    "I''m really sorry for what I''ve done, Feifei, but as for your previous question, I regret I cannot give you the answer you needed. You may ask President Qiao for details about your mother."


    Yun Qingrong didn''t think that she should be the one who informed her daughter about her rtionship with Bai Qingyue. The more she looked at her daughter, the more she thought that it was hard to understand Feifei these days.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    No¡ªher daughter had be a totally different person ever since she was hospitalized more than five years ago. Her mannerisms, the way she spoke and temperament were a far cry from the one she had prior to that event.


    "I don''t care anymore, Mama. Since she obviously doesn''t want me in the first ce, I cannot ept her as my mother. Please, don''t say anymore, Mama. You are my only mother, regardless if I came from you or not."


    This was the irrefutable truth that would never change no matter what Bai Qingyue''s excuse was for abandoning her. From the moment Su Xiaofei found out she was adopted, the overwhelming feeling of regret and helplessness washed through, and she wished that she had spent more time with Yun Qingrong.


    Bai Qingyue could never be a mother like Yun Qingrong. While it''s true that the woman had given birth to her, passing her looks and genes, making her existence possible, Su Xiaofei didn''t feel any gratitude towards her one bit.


    This was why she was able to face her birth mother with a straight face. There was no longing in her face, as she didn''t have any lingering feelings towards Bai Qingyue. If anything, her birth mother was an obstacle in her path to ruin Mo Yuchen.


    When she and Lu Qingfeng stepped out of the hospital room, Su Xiaofei immediately rested her head on Lu Qingfeng''s chest, allowing her tears to roll down her cheeks. Her husband looked around and allowed her to weep on his shirt, knowing that she had been trying to keep her tears at bay during her conversation with her mother.


    "She lied to me." She choked in tears as she clung to him. The feelings she was trying to rein in earlier cannot be contained anymore. Su Xiaofei didn''t want her mother to see her at such state.


    "Do you me her then? Knowing this, did your love for her diminish with her confession?" Lu Qingfeng was asking her this, not only for Yun Qingrong, but also for himself.


    He knew very well that he would need toe clean eventually, that he was also reborn like her, and that he also didn''t intend to betray her by keeping it from her.


    Su Xiaofei shook her head and smiled bitterly. No, she can never hate her mother. That was something she wasn''t capable of. She could hate herself. Heck, she could hate the whole world, but never Yun Qingrong.


    "No, but I just wish she told me this earlier. It would save us both the heartaches if we were truthful to each other. I don''t me her. She must have been worried sick about the possibility of losing her daughter. It must be around the same time when Su Haoran started cheating behind her back."

 Chapter 389 Paternity Test (1)

    Meeting Qiao Fengying this time felt odd for Su Xiaofei, now that her real father knew about her existence. How was she supposed to face him now? She hadn''t known what it felt like to be loved and doted by a father, and wondered if Qiao Fengying would treat her the same as before.


    As she waited for her father to arrive, she and Lu Qingfeng sat in the hallway where her blood and Qiao Fengying''s blood were to be tested to confirm his paternity. Su Xiaofei already knew the inevitable result, but her heart was thumping loudly in her chest, making her doubt what she was even feeling at the moment.


    They didn''t wait for too long as Qiao Fengying, along with his wife and Qiao Yuhan came to see her. The three had rushed to Qiying City after Qiao Fengying talked to Yun Qingrong a day before.


    "Fei Jie!" Qiao Yuhan beamed her a smile and ran towards her with open arms. He gave Su Xiaofei a big hug and looked up at her with a glint in his dark eyes. It was then Su Xiaofei thought that she truly didn''t mind being his elder sister this time.


    "Is it true? Dad said you''re my sister. You''re really my big sister?" He bombarded her with questions. It was obvious that Qiao Fengying had informed the boy and his wife about the possibility of her being the daughter he''d been looking for.


    Qiao Yuhan was ecstatic to hear that the beautiful sister he met in the past was the sister they''d been looking for. He definitely wouldn''tin about having Su Xiaofei as his sister.


    Su Xiaofei nced at their father, who finally reached them with Liu Shn by his side. Qiao Fengying had a happy but nervous expression on his face, as if he was itching to pull her into a hug, but decided not to.


    Returning her gaze towards her younger brother, Su Xiaofei ruffled his hair andughed. There was no doubt that she and Qiao Yuhan were siblings.


    "Isn''t that why we are here? To know if I am or not?" She said in a yful tone and tapped the tip of his nose.


    "Then I hope that the result will be positive! I can''t wait to call you my sister this time! I''ll even get a new big brother as a package." Qiao Yuhan grinned as he nced at Lu Qingfeng.


    Lu Qingfeng looked ufortable hearing Qiao Yuhan''s words, but didn''t dare to make anyment about the boy''s statement. Qiao Yuhan was right anyway. He was technically his brother-inw now.


    However, he was never used to having such close rtions, except for Su Xiaofei. He hadn''t told his wife yet, but Lu Qingfeng''s view on family and familial ties weren''t really good due to his parents'' maltreatment towards him when he was younger, but he was willing to try to change for Su Xiaofei''s sake, if it would make her happy.


    "Xiaofei, thank you for agreeing to take the paternity test with me. I know this isn''t easy for all of us, especially for you." Qiao Fengying said as he stood behind his young son. He was hopeful that his search would finally be over once the results were out.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    A part of him was happy, seeing that his children were getting along with each other even before the secret was out. He then wondered how long had Su Xiaofei known that she was adopted by Yun Qingrong and if the thought of her being his missing daughter had ever crossed the young woman''s mind.


    "It''s no problem, Uncle Qiao. I didn''t expect you to easily ept me as your daughter with mere verbal ims either. It''s only natural that you would ask for a valid proof to support my mother''s im." Su Xiaofei replied with a weak smile. She would be lying to herself if she didn''t admit that she was also nervous today.


    Qiao Fengying nodded in understanding, and they didn''t waste time entering the room where their samples would be taken, leaving Lu Qingfeng, Qiao Yuhan and Liu Shn outside to wait for their return.


    Qiao Fengying allowed theb staff to take Su Xiaofei''s sample first, paying attention to how she was taking this news. In his heart, he already epted her as his daughter. Perhaps they were destined to cross paths years ago, to lead them to this very moment.


    He and Liu Shn believed, without a doubt, that she was the child Bai Qingyue abandoned many years ago. This paternity test would only prove their assumptions and evidence he could use to add Su Xiaofei as one of his heirs in the future.


    He wanted to make up for the loss of time they''d been apart and be a good father to Su Xiaofei. He hadpletely missed out on so many important milestones in her life, except for her wedding day. As he looked at his daughter, Qiao Fengying wondered how she fared when she was growing up.


    Su Xiaofei was lucky that she was adopted by Yun Qingrong, and seeing how the two interacted with each other, Qiao Fengying could see that they were rather close.


    ''I wonder if there would be a chance for us to develop that kind of connection.'' He thought.


    He understood that Su Xiaofei would need some time to get used to having him in her life as her father, and he didn''t mind giving her all the time she needed to adjust. Thankfully, his wife understood him and was supportive of his decision to add Su Xiaofei to his will and testament.


    ''If she''s your daughter, then you would need to make it up to her. She deserves to get her share too. Xiao Han and I don''t mind having her as part of our family.'' Liu Shn told him.


    "President Qiao, it''s your turn now."


    Qiao Fengying took a seat on the one Su Xiaofei vacated, hoping that the results would be favorable to them.

 Chapter 390 Paternity Test (2)

    The result wouldn''t be out until two dayster, leaving the Qiao family and Su Xiaofei no choice but to wait for it. Yun Qingrong would need to stay at the hospital for another week, but she insisted on returning home as soon as possible. She would rather spend her recovery at home than being stuck in the same ce, worrying about her daughter.


    Thankfully, her daughter didn''t seem to hold it up against her for leaving her Feifei in the dark for too long, but Feifei''s unusual silence also meant that she was still trying to digest the truth while trying to keep her mind clear as there were still issues she needed to resolve at Bluemedia.


    Bluemedia had epted Golden Star''s offer to produce a film starring both queens of their respectivepanies. Several scripts had been sent to Su Xiaofei''s office for her to review and choose. She had to admit that Mo Yuchen knew what he was doing. The script showcased two roles that perfectly contrast each other and could give both Tang Liyan and Bai Qingyue enough screen time to showcase their acting ability.


    "Wow, how did CEO Mo manage to get a script like this so soon?" Zhang Lingmented, as she helped Su Xiaofei go through the scripts Golden Star presented to them. "Most of them look promising in their own way." She added.


    Su Xiaofei lifted her head and looked at her assistant. She had to admit that Zhang Ling''s observation was urate. In fact, some scripts Mo Yuchen sent to her were familiar to her. One of them was a film that she and Ye Mingyu were part of in her previous life.


    To think that Mo Yuchen was able to get the script this early, this only meant that he''d been trying his best to prove his ability to the board of directors at Golden Star. Oddly enough, Su Xiaofei heard that Mo Yuchen''s position in the Golden Star wasn''t questioned anymore. Mo Yuchen had found a way to please his critics somehow.


    "So, what do you think, President Su? Is there something that caught your interest?" Zhang Ling asked, pulling Su Xiaofei from her deep thoughts.


    Su Xiaofei obviously wouldn''t pick the film she and Ye Mingyu starred in, as the characters'' personalities and plot wouldn''t be ideal to Tang Liyan and Bai Qingyue, who were obviously older than her and Ye Mingyu.


    "These two." She replied, handing Zhang Ling the two scripts that she deemed would work for Tang Liyan. The roles were a bit challenging, but she expected that this would leave the audience on the edge of their seats.


    Zhang Ling took a peek at the scripts and understood why their miss had chosen them. Whatever Bluemedia and Golden Star picked between the two scripts, she couldn''t wait to see it on the huge screen.


    "Send it back to Golden Star as soon as possible." Su Xiaofei then paused for a moment. "If CEO Mo asks for a meeting to discuss the script, turn it down. Unless we''re going to sign the contracts, I don''t want to meet him so soon."


    She already had a lot of things on her te right now, and she would rather deal with them first before dealing with him. Mo Yuchen should be thankful that she wasn''t dering an all out war on him at the moment.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Su Xiaofei felt that she couldn''t have a decent break. She just got married and thought that she and Lu Qingfeng could have at least some time to spend with each other. However, her mother''s sudden hospitalization had forced her and her husband to return home. It also didn''t help that Qiao Fengying found out that she was his missing daughter, and now she had to endure the change for the next few days.


    "Will do, President Su! I will ensure that your meeting with him is dyed as much as possible." Zhang Ling grinned mischievously. Since Su Xiaofei wasn''t willing to see Mo Yuchen, then so be it.


    Yun Qingrong had insisted that Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng didn''t need to spend the night at the hospital, so the couple yielded, as both of them had been missing thefort of their bed.


    Lu Qingfeng had returned from work earlier than his wife did and decided to make dinner for them while he waited. As he worked in front of the stove, he realized that there weren''t many changes since he and Su Xiaofei had gotten married. Of course, he liked it now that every morning, she was the first person he would see, but their arrangement prior to their marriage were almost the same.


    It wasn''t like he wanted toin or anything, but he hoped that things would get better soon. With Yun Qingrong''s condition and Qiao Fengying finally taking the role as Feifei''s father, Lu Qingfeng knew that it would take some time for his wife to adjust.


    "Aren''t you tired from work? You should leave the cooking to our helpers."


    Lu Qingfeng blinked and turned his head, finding his wife leaning against the door frame, still dressed in her work clothes.


    "I don''t mind." He replied. "It gives me some time to clear my thoughts."


    "While doing household chores? My, I''ve got such an interesting husband, I see." Su Xiaofei chuckled. She didn''t think that Lu Qingfeng was serious about learning how to cook before their marriage.


    "I agree, Feifei. You''ve got a good eye. How did you know that the boy you picked up in the park would end up as a good husband? You got the total package any woman would dream of in a husband." He retorted with a teasing smile.


    "Conceited peacock." Su Xiaofei scoffed and sauntered towards the sink to wash her hands, seeing that her husband was about to finish his cooking. "Girls tend to like looking at and collecting beautiful and cute things. I can''t help taking you home the moment I see you."

 Chapter 391 Shared Responsibility

    It was the first time that the couple would spend the night at home without Yun Qingrong at home. Lu Qingfeng was a bit nervous about what could happen. It wasn''t like he was nning to consummate their marriage by taking advantage of his mother-inw''s absence, because he was sure that his wife might not be ready for it.


    He had already showered and was ready for bed while Su Xiaofei was still in the bathroom, taking her long shower. Having known her since his childhood, Lu Qingfeng was already aware of her daily routine and habits, but there were still things he found amusing ever since they got married.


    When they were younger, Lu Qingfeng wasn''t alone to enter her bedroom at any given point, except for him staying the night in her room when she was stabbed instead of Master Ouyang. He rarely knocked on her door whenever he was sleeping in the guestroom of their home, as he knew that could annoy Su Xiaofei. He felt that once she stepped inside her room, it reminded him of the distance between them.


    When the door of the bathroom opened, Lu Qingfeng immediately hit the save button of the document he was working on on hisptop and shut it down. Su Xiaofei hated it when her sleep was interrupted by any devices, hence, her phone was on silent at night.


    He couldn''t me her, though. He knew how hard it was to separate work from her personal life, not when she was the boss of thepany. However, there were nights that he had to do an all-nighter, but she would keep silent about it and turn her back on him as she slept.


    "Are you going to do an all-nighter again?" Su Xiaofei asked as she tried to dry her hair with a towel. "Help me please." She said before handing the towel to him.


    Lu Qingfeng set hisptop aside and took the towel from her hand. He then made a space between his legs, allowing his wife to settle herself in between. With her back facing him, he slowly worked on her hair and gently dried it with the towel.


    "We''ve already finished preparing what our group needed to present to our professor. I''m only making sure that there is no error on it." He replied.


    This kind of warmth he was receiving from her was something he had been hoping to have for a very long time. There were no words needed to profess their love and trust for each other, only knowing that they had each other''s back was enough for Lu Qingfeng to know that she cared about him.


    However, touching her like this, sleeping on the same bed as this, and smelling her familiar scent every morning, Lu Qingfeng felt intoxicated by her. Please forgive this man who had lived two lifetimes, only to be denied by her. Not only did Su Xiaofei reject him, she even married another man behind his back! Obviously, this little tyrant was still feeling in disbelief that he hadn''t lost her this time.


    "Hmm, the house is ours tonight. Do you have anything in mind?"


    Lu Qingfeng''s hands stilled and he blinked twice after hearing her question. It then reminded him of the indecent thoughts he had earlier. He thought he shouldn''t be ashamed of it since they were already married, but he wanted to go with the flow and wait until his wife would befortable doing the deed.


    "I want you¡­" He admitted, trying not to get aroused by her scent and how tempting her slender neck looked at the moment. "But I know it''s not the right time yet."<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "When would be the right time, then?" Su Xiaofei asked. "I don''t mind, as long as both of us are willing." She added with a hint of blush on her face.


    Su Xiaofei knew that her husband was right, but she also didn''t want to neglect Lu Qingfeng''s needs. She wanted to do her duty as his wife. She also knew that he wouldn''t force her to do anything she wasn''tfortable with, but she would be lying if she said that she didn''t desire him and his touch.


    "You said that you don''t want to have children yet."


    "I did say that."


    "We haven''t actually talked about how to proceed with that. Obviously, we would use some protection, but I''d rather use it than allow you to get on pills or take those shots."


    It was Su Xiaofei''s turn to be surprised by his words. What did he even mean with that? She turned around and faced him, wanting to see his expression.


    "What do you mean?" She asked in confusion.


    "Because I read that women currently bear most of the financial and health-rted burdens of contraceptionpared to men. I also read that contraceptive pills have side effects on women. I don''t want you to suffer any of its consequences."


    Lu Qingfeng believed that birth control wasn''t solely a woman''s responsibility. A child required a mother and a father to be conceived, so why were women deemed the only ones who needed to be responsible for making sure she won''t get pregnant? He couldn''t even understand why women were the only ones forced to face the risks.


    Su Xiaofei opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out. She hadn''t expected that her husband had thought that far and was somewhat amused that he was willing topromise with her to find amon page where both of them would befortable.


    "So you mean to say, you don''t want me to take contraceptive pills or get shots?" She asked curiously.


    Lu Qingfeng shook his head. The side effects of women''s hormonal birth control can include e, breast pain, nausea or vomiting, headaches, diarrhea, weight gain, fatigue and even more serious conditions like blood clots and an increased risk of some cancers. How could he subject his own wife to that?

 Chapter 392 Playing The Same Trick (1)

    Xiao Rufeng arrived at the production site where the scenes of the ''Demonville'' would be filmed. It was their first day, and she felt a little nervous being the center of everyone''s attention. She knew that she would be under scrutiny by others for being selected for the female lead role rather than the other more popr actress that came to audition for the very same role.


    As expected, the rest of the crew were busy setting up the props to be used, ignoring the cast of the series and focusing on their own tasks, which Xiao Rufeng admired. She thought that perhaps they were already used to seeing celebrities and that they weren''t bothered by their presence anymore.


    As she entered her dressing room with her assistant, she stopped and looked around, her eyes swept around trying to see if there was anything suspicious within. She hadn''t forgotten Su Xiaofei''s warning and wanted to make sure that Ye Mingyu wouldn''t try to pull something against her.


    "Miss Xiao, is there something wrong?" Her assistant asked, seeing that Xiao Rufeng remained still in her ce and hadn''t moved at all for a minute.


    "No." She replied, "but you better make sure not to ept gifts for the meantime. President Su wanted to make sure nothing wrong would happen until the series is over."


    Her young assistant understood, knowing that anything could happen within the production''s six-month period, especially now that Xiao Rufeng just got her break by securing the lead role.


    It wasn''t Xiao Rufeng''s turn to act in the scenes, so she had enough time to memorize her lines while waiting. With her clothes and makeup ready, she only needed to wait for the production staff to call her to the set.


    As she waited for her turn, someone knocked on her door, disturbing her. Xiao Rufeng ced down the script she was reading and gestured for her assistant to open the door for her, thanking her in the process.


    When her assistant opened the door and let her guest in, Xiao Rufeng wore a nk expression on her face upon seeing that it was Ye Mingyu. Indeed, her manager had been spot on when Su Xiaofei warned her that Ye Mingyu would try to befriend and get close to her. Perhaps her manager knew Ye Mingyu''s personality so well that she could understand her half-sister''s motives.


    "Miss Ye, is there something I can help you with?" She asked, tilting her head on one side as she stared at Ye Mingyu''s meek and gentle persona. If she hadn''t witnessed herself how this woman could be vicious using her words towards Su Xiaofei, Xiao Rufeng would easily fall for this woman''s scheming.


    Now, she wanted nothing but to kick Ye Mingyu out of her dressing room and stay away from her. It wasn''t like she was believing every word Su Xiaofei had told her, but seeing Ye Mingyu reminded her so much of her conniving younger sister, Xiao Yunyao.


    The only reason why she was able to get a big role this time was because Xiao Yunyao cannot influence the director and the producer. They weren''t someone she could easily bribe to drop Xiao Rufeng off the casting.


    "I came today to wish you good luck on our first day. Let''s do our best, so everyone can enjoy the series once it''s released." Ye Mingyu replied with a wide smile on her face.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Here, please take this!" She lifted a bag containing two bottles of lemonade, showing it to Xiao Rufeng.


    "I made this earlier as a friendly gift. Please ept and enjoy it." Ye Mingyu added, patiently waiting for Xiao Rufeng to take the bag from her hands.


    It was obvious that she wouldn''t leave Xiao Rufeng''s dressing room, not until thetter epted her offer.


    Xiao Rufeng looked at her and then to the lemonade bottles. Wasn''t this what Su Xiaofei had warned her about as well? Ye Mingyu wouldn''t waste time and would try to find ways to kick her off the cast and rece her as the lead role. However, declining Ye Mingyu on the spot may also lead to rumors that she and the second female lead didn''t get along.


    Xiao Rufeng could see the anticipation in Ye Mingyu''s eyes no matter how hard thetter tried to suppress it. She sighed inwardly and epted Ye Mingyu''s gift. She can ept the lemonades, but that didn''t mean she was obligated to drink it in front of everyone.


    "Thanks, Miss Ye. You shouldn''t have bothered to prepare one. It must be hard for you to wake up early just to make it." She said with a knowing look in her eyes, making Ye Mingyu shiver under her cold gaze.


    "Oh, no. It was nothing. I enjoyed making it anyway. I just don''t want you to misunderstand. You are my sister''s talent, and we''re really not on good terms. Whatever Su Xiaofei told you about me, I hope you would give me a chance to prove myself." Ye Mingyu hesitated for a moment and waited for Xiao Rufeng to try the lemonade, but thetter didn''t make any indication that she would take a sip from it.


    ''Don''t you mean to prove that President Su is right all along about you? Xiao Rufeng sneered inwardly, correcting Ye Mingyu in her mind.


    "Miss Ye is overthinking things. My rtionship with President Su is strictly professional, and she has never forced me to do things I don''t want to. I have my own mind, Miss Ye. Please don''t dare to insult my sense of judgment." She gave Ye Mingyu a pointed look.


    Ye Mingyu gasped and shook her head in response.


    "Miss Xiao! That''s certainly not what I mean¡­ I mean¡­ I''m just worried that she might have said something bad about me towards you." She fidgetted and looked at Xiao Rufeng. "It''s alright if you don''t want to be friends with me, but please give me a chance."

 Chapter 393 Playing The Same Trick (2)

    Ye Mingyu was aware that everything she had done so far towards Su Xiaofei wasparable to punching a cotton. Nothing so far had worked ording to her ns, making her wonder if Su Xiaofei could truly see past her facade and wasn''t willing to be a backdrop for her to shine.


    As for Xiao Rufeng, if she hadn''t gone to Su Xiaofei''s side, snatching the female lead role from her, she wouldn''t go to this extent to plot against her. Xiao Rufeng could only me herself for being such a nuisance in Ye Mingyu''s eyes. Ye Mingyu wanted to get rid of her and get the female lead role once Xiao Rufeng was out of the picture.


    However, Ye Mingyu realized that it wouldn''t be easy, as Xiao Rufeng wasn''t as dumb as she thought the woman would be. She felt like she couldn''t pretend too long in front of this woman, her dark eyes seemed like a bottomless pit, waiting for her tomit a mistake.


    "I understand if you aren''t willing, Miss Xiao. I''m not going to force you to ept me."


    When Xiao Rufeng remained silent, Ye Mingyu excused herself and immediately fled from Xiao Rufeng''s dressing room. Once she was gone, Xiao Rufeng stood up and locked the door before picking up one of the lemonades Ye Mingyu had given her earlier and poured the contents on the nter box just outside the window of her dressing room.


    "Yanyan, do you think you could observe the nts for me? I''m not sure what Miss Ye is up to, but I don''t want to regretter for not listening to President Su''s advice."


    Because she and Tang Liyan had the same manager, Xiao Rufeng was informed of Bai Qingyue''s manager''s scheme against Bluemedia''s reigning queen. If a popr celebrity like Bai Qingyue was able to do such a thing to her fellow artist, what could possibly happen to a no name star like her?


    Xiao Rufeng didn''t want to imagine. It was already hard for her to endure the things she received from others since her trainee days. If it wasn''t for Su Xiaofei''s advice, she didn''t think she would be able to survive to this day.


    Thankfully, her young assistant was able to catch what she meant by her words and nodded her head in agreement. Xiao Rufeng didn''t need to exin more regarding why she was wary of being in the same ce as Ye Mingyu.


    "Leave it to me, Miss Xiao. I''ll make sure to check every meal and drinks you receive from others from now on." Her assistant promised Xiao Rufeng, but thetter made sure to remind herself to be more careful in the future and to not leave the responsibility to her assistant alone.


    It was really a pity that Ye Mingyu had to resort to scheming rather than proving to everyone that she was talented enough to secure the role herself. Xiao Rufeng didn''t think that Ye Mingyu wascking when ites to beauty or talent, but her scheming attitude was her greatest w. If only she was confident enough, she wouldn''t feel insecure towards Su Xiaofei or Xiao Rufeng.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    s, nothing could be done to make Ye Mingyu realize this. Ye Mingyu might also misunderstand her for it and take it against her if she dared to point this out. Some people would refuse to ept the truth no matter how ringly obvious it was anyway. There was no cure for idiocy, especially if one wasn''t willing to change.


    After two hours of waiting, Xiao Rufeng was summoned by the director to act in her first scene. Everyone was on edge, waiting for her tomit a mistake. Even Ye Mingyu stayed and decided to watch Xiao Rufeng''s performance, wanting to see for herself why Xiao Rufeng was chosen for the lead role instead of her.


    However, everyone was left speechless once Xiao Rufeng started acting her role. She seemed to have been turned into a different person, far from the Xiao Rufeng they knew her to be. It was as if they were looking at the female lead herself, with a presence that was difficult to ignore by anyone.


    The series ''Demonville'' was a horror-thriller with a lot of action scenes in it. The male lead was being yed by a seasonal actor named Lin Sheng, and he was quite popr and had a decent following base. The director has also won international awards over the past years. The reason why many actresses, experienced and new, were fighting to get the lead role was because of the high possibility of winning an award.


    What actor wouldn''t want to win an award? Having one would not only prove their skills, but it can also heighten their poprity. The easiest way to achieve this was to be part of a good project and great script.


    This was why, having an almost no name actress getting the female lead role for the series made everyone wary of Xiao Rufeng. Lin Sheng''s loyal fans wanted to see if her performance would drag him down with her.


    Ye Mingyu didn''t notice that her nails were digging into her palm painfully as she watched Xiao Rufeng''s performance. She couldn''t find any w in Xiao Rufeng''s acting skills. It seemed to her that the difference in their abilities was considerably apparent, and she wascking in so many ways. Xiao Rufeng was able to change her persona ording to her role.


    Ye Mingyu blinked and turned her back, choosing to return to her dressing room to sort her thoughts. In this industry, no matter how good an actor is, he or she should be wary of being reced or dismissed. So she still had the chance to be the female lead.


    Xiao Rufeng might be able to get the female lead role, but there was no assurance that she would be the one ying the role throughout the series. At this thought, Ye Mingyu''s lips curled into an evil smile.

 Chapter 394 Playing the Same Trick (3)

    Chapter 394 ying the Same Trick (3)


    Actually, Ye Mingyu''s performance during the audition for the female lead role wasn''t so bad, if Xiao Rufeng hadn''t shown up that day, the director and the producer were both willing to give her the lead role. Unfortunately for Ye Mingyu, Xiao Rufeng not only delivered a ster performance in her audition, but she also showed some of her martial arts skills, which Ye Mingyu didn''t possess.


    Because Su Xiaofei knew the scope of the series and what it was about, she had already prepared Xiao Rufeng for any possibilities before the audition took ce. This gave enough time for Xiao Rufeng to work out and improve the condition of her body. Her punch was filled with power and her actions looked natural. This gave her an advantage over Ye Mingyu during their audition for the lead role.


    The director of the series apuded Xiao Rufeng for her performance on their first day of filming. She also received a few greetings from the rest of the crew, minus Ye Mingyu who was out of sight. No one bothered to question her whereabouts as their attention was focused on Xiao Rufeng.


    "I didn''t realize I''d been holding my breath from the start. I have never imagined Xiao Rufeng could easily get into her character and bring it to life so vividly." One of the crew membersmented.


    "It makes sense. The director was really specific with the actors that would y the roles, no matter how small or big it was." The woman''s voice lowered as she looked around, making sure she was out of others'' earshot.


    "I heard a rumor that Ye Mingyu was supposed to get the female lead role through CEO Mo''s intervention, but Xiao Rufeng''s performance that day at the audition made Ye Mingyu lose the role. Someone imed that they overheard that he couldn''t forget the look on Xiao Rufeng''s eyes when she auditioned." She whispered.


    "Witnessing the performance of the two actresses today, I really couldn''t me the director for choosing Xiao Rufeng over Ye Mingyu. Ye Mingyu might have thought that she could get the role through her money boss''s help, but Xiao Rufeng was able to defeat her with her talent. Just look at her performance today. While other actors can act as someone else, Xiao Rufeng managed to be the character herself. She might have done a lot of preparation before the audition."


    Ye Mingyu had just returned from checking Xiao Rufeng''s dressing room when she overheard the conversation among the crew. She remained frozen in ce as her heart filled with hatred towards Xiao Rufeng for humiliating her yet again.


    If she didn''t remind herself that she''d seen the empty bottles of the lemonades she gave Xiao Rufeng earlier, Ye Mingyu wouldn''t know how to rein her raging emotions at that moment.


    Who said that it was only Xiao Rufeng who made preparations before the audition? Hadn''t she practiced a lot and memorized the script just in case the director wanted her to act in a specific scene? As for bringing Mo Yuchen with her that day, he was only ying his role as her support just in case things won''t go her way. She hadn''t anticipated that even his support, she would still fail to get the role.


    All of these wouldn''t happen if Su Xiaofei hadn''t intervened again. No matter where Ye Mingyu looked, Su Xiaofei was always involved in her failures. If it wasn''t the case, then she must really have been born under a cursed star.


    Ye Mingyu took a deep breath and calmed her nerves. She only needed to wait for Xiao Rufeng to fall sick, and the role will be hers. If that failed, there were still many action scenes in their script, and she had many chances to stage an unintentional ident for Xiao Rufeng.


    ''Xiao Rufeng, you should me yourself. You are the one who snatched my role to begin with.'' She thought and walked away, pleased with the ns she had in her mind.


    As for Su Xiaofei, well¡­ she needed to think of better ways to get even with her.


    Ever since Su Xiaofei reced her mother as the head of Bluemedia, her appearance in public had significantly been reduced. Apart from attending important events, she could barely be seen outside working hours as she spent most of her time apanying her ailing mother, but that didn''t mean she was neglecting her responsibility to her talents.


    In order for Xiao Rufeng to get the role, she had put the actress under a strict training prior to the day of the audition. This gave Xiao Rufeng some time to understand the role better and be one with it. As a result, Xiao Rufeng was able to y the female lead role better than Ye Mingyu.


    As for the defeated Ye Mingyu, Su Xiaofei knew that that woman wouldn''t stand idly, watching Xiao Rufeng y the female lead. She had auditioned for the female lead, but ended up being chosen as the second lead. Knowing Ye Mingyu''s prideful nature, she had already anticipated that her dear sister would pull something in the dark again.


    When Xiao Rufeng and her assistant returned to her dressing room, Xiao Rufeng stood still for a moment for the second time that day. Her assistant didn''t dare to question her this time and looked around, trying to see if there was something suspicious inside the room. Unfortunately, they weren''t allowed to lock the door from the outside since the keys hadn''t been given to them yet, although Xiao Rufeng''s important belongings were being kept safe by her assistant.


    Xiao Rufeng checked the nter box to see if there were any changes. Her eyes darkened seeing that the green, leafy nts had wilted and turned ck after a few hours.


    Her assistant came and looked over her shoulder to see what she was looking at. A gasp left her lips and she covered her mouth in shock. It hadn''t been too long since they left, but the nts were dead!

 Chapter 395 Fair Treatment (1)

    There was a thin line between love and hate, and this, Su Xiaofei was aware of. Zhang Ling had tried her best to dy her impending meeting with Mo Yuchen as long as she could, but Su Xiaofei knew that she couldn''t avoid him forever. Finally, that day came.


    Lu Qingfeng looked at his wife as she buttoned up her dress shirt and adjusted her sleeves as she stood in front of the mirror. It was obvious that she was on edge today, as she''d been extra cautious that morning.


    "You haven''t started your day, but you are already this stressed. Is there something I could help you with?" He asked, taking her attention away from her outfit.


    Su Xiaofei released a breath she didn''t know she was holding and turned to face her husband. She knew that there was no reason for her to be nervous for her meeting with Mo Yuchen today, because seeing him only reminded her of how foolish she had been in her previous life. She also didn''t want to make her husband worry about it.


    She sauntered and stopped in front of her husband, allowing Lu Qingfeng to pull her to sit on hisp, resting a hand on his shoulder.


    "Just a long day ahead for me. I''m a little tired, to be honest." She admitted with a dejected sigh.


    With her mother still recovering from her recent surgeries, Su Xiaofei couldn''t help but be distracted at work, worrying about Yun Qingrong. This was why she had also tried to dy her meeting with Mo Yuchen, as she didn''t want another emotional baggage added to her already heavy situation.


    However, since she had chosen this path, different from what she was in her previous life, Su Xiaofei knew that she should take responsibility for her choices. It wasn''t like she regretted following her mother''s footsteps, but she understood why her mother had always been absent during her childhood years.


    When Lu Qingfeng noticed her unusual silence and the slight frown on her face, he ran a hand over her hair to get her attention.


    "What''s wrong?" He asked, knowing that Su Xiaofei would keep it to herself unless he pointed it out.


    Su Xiaofei shook her head and remained silent. She was reminded of her duty to bear Lu Qingfeng a child in the future, but she couldn''t voice out her fear of conceiving a child again. The trauma that she suffered after losing her child from her previous life became an obstacle for her to move forward and start a family with her husband.


    How was she supposed to exin to Lu Qingfeng that she didn''t want to have a child in the future? That she didn''t think she would be ready to have one. They were dying starting a family now due to her mother''s condition, plus his schedule at work and school, but Su Xiaofei knew that they were bound to prepare to have a child once Lu Qingfeng was ready.


    "I could ask Zhang Ling to reschedule some of your appointments if you aren''t feeling well today." Lu Qingfeng suggested, but Su Xiaofei couldn''t afford to slow down her work at this moment.


    "There''s no need for that. A day should suffice for me to get enough rest." Su Xiaofei replied. "And a power hug from you is needed too." She smiled at him.


    Lu Qingfeng stared at her for a moment and took her hand into his. Of course, he knew the reason why his wife was on edge today. She would only act like this if Mo Yuchen or Ye Mingyu were involved.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Zhang Ling told me you have a meeting with Mo Yuchen today. I''m not asking you not to meet him, but if you think you aren''t ready to meet him yet, you don''t have to force yourself today."


    Su Xiaofei hadn''t expected to hear something like this from him and didn''t know how to exin herself. As she looked at Lu Qingfeng''s calm expression, she realized that she had been worrying too much and overthinking things between her and Mo Yuchen.


    She already had Lu Qingfeng by her side, so there was no reason for her to back away from Mo Yuchen. If she chose to prolong the dy of their inevitable meeting, wouldn''t that mean that Mo Yuchen still had some influence over her?


    "You aren''t mad that I am meeting with him today?" She questioned her young husband.


    To be honest, Su Xiaofei thought that she had married Lu Qingfeng too soon. Other young men his age were still enjoying their bachelor days, spending time with their peers and dating women, but Lu Qingfeng was already married at the age of twenty-one.


    "Is there a reason why I should be mad? Aren''t you meeting him today because of work?" Lu Qingfeng retorted, his eyes never showing any indication that he was bothered with her meeting Mo Yuchen today.


    Su Xiaofei looked at him and sighed inwardly. The difference between Mo Yuchen and Lu Qingfeng as her husband was outstanding. While Mo Yuchen tried to dominate each part of her life, Lu Qingfeng was giving her leeway to decide for herself.


    "I trust you, Feifei, but that doesn''t mean I trust others." Lu Qingfeng continued. "Just don''t forget that I''m here whenever you need me."


    She pressed her forehead against him and smiled.


    "What do I do then? Lu Qingfeng, I don''t think I can be without you anymore."


    "Hm? Since when did my wife be sozy that she would leave everything to be done by me?"


    "Hey, you are the one who spoiled me rotten from the very beginning, so why is it my fault now?" Su Xiaofei huffed, but her mood was considerably better now.


    With Lu Qingfeng on her side, she didn''t need to doubt herself as his wife. It was enough for her to know that he trusted her, that he wasn''t hounding her to avoid other men and to behave ording to her status.

 Chapter 396 Fair Treament (2)

    Su Xiaofei had arrived way too early with the Zhang siblings at the meeting ce and realized that she still had twenty minutes left to review the contract between Bluemedia and Golden Star. The two queens of the respectedpanies would arrive soon, but she had already forwarded Tang Liyan a copy yesterday, for the actress to review her contract.


    As she took advantage of this peaceful time, Su Xiaofei heard the door open and found Bai Qingyue standing right outside the doorway alone. She supposed that Bai Qingyue didn''t bring her manager today after the incident during thest photoshoot. It seemed that what Mo Yuchen said about Luo Cheng being suspended was real.


    She''d seen that Bai Qingyue''s eyes slightly widened upon seeing her. Obviously, the actress wasn''t expecting to find Su Xiaofei alone inside the private room of the restaurant where twopanies were supposed to meet.


    Bai Qingyue looked around and only saw Su Xiaofei''s bodyguards apanying her. She strode towards the table and took a seat across from where Su Xiaofei was seated, cing her bag next to her and remained silent.


    Su Xiaofei returned her attention to the documents she was reading prior to her birth mother''s arrival. She could feel Bai Qingyue''s sight boring onto her, and wondered what the other was thinking at that very moment.


    Su Xiaofei wondered if Bai Qingyue was thinking of the baby girl she abandoned many years ago as thetter continued to stare at her. Now that it was scientifically proven that she was Qiao Fengying''s missing daughter, Su Xiaofei hoped that it wouldn''t affect her father''s marriage.


    As for Bai Qingyue, she was starting to believe that the actress was starting to get suspicious of her identity, given how Bai Qingyue''s treatment towards Su Xiaofei was different from what she experienced in her previous life.


    She lifted her head and found Bai Qingyue still looking at her, as if thetter wasn''t even ashamed that she was caught staring.


    "Miss Bai is early today. Would you mind joining me for a cup of tea then?" Su Xiaofei said out of courtesy.


    Bai Qingyue nodded and didn''t say anything in return, allowing Zhang Ling to ce two teacups on the table and pour them freshly brewed tea ording to Su Xiaofei''s taste. The actress took her cup and had a small sip from her drink. The scent was light, but its taste had a strong astringency. She didn''t think that a young woman like Su Xiaofei would like such a strong taste, as most would love a sweet and mild one at her age.


    "It took Bluemedia some time to ept Golden Star''s proposition for another coboration. I hope it isn''t because of the incident during the previous photoshoot. President Su, allow me to personally apologize for my manager''s actions. She didn''t know what she was doing at the time."


    Bai Qingyue''s apology was something Su Xiaofei hadn''t expected to hear from her. In her previous life, no matter what her manager did towards her, Bai Qingyue would never apologize to her. The actress never made any indication that she was bothered by her manager''s action when Luo Cheng schemed against Su Xiaofei before.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "I thank Miss Bai for considering Miss Tang''s feelings." She said with a wry smile, while Bai Qingyue inwardly winced at her words. Su Xiaofei was brushing off her apology and was directing it towards Tang Liyan''s concern.


    "However, I do hope that Golden Star and Miss Bai will uphold their words today. I don''t think I would be able to turn a blind eye and not sue Miss Luo for harassment if the same thing happened again." Su Xiaofei met her birth mother''s gaze, sensing that this woman in front of her was truly different from the Bai Qingyue she met in her previous life.


    What could have possibly happened for Bai Qingyue to change like this? She wondered. Su Xiaofei couldn''t think of anything that would cause Bai Qingyue to be this demure and calm in her presence. The Bai Qingyue in her previous life would have already walked away, as she didn''t like being in the same ce as her. The actress even went as far as using her of trying to ride on her coattails to raise her poprity.


    "Rest assured, President Su. It won''t happen again. I''ll give you my word." Bai Qingyue replied calmly, but there was a glint in her eyes that Su Xiaofei couldn''t exin at all.


    "Then it''s good that we''re on the same page."


    It didn''t take too long before Fang Yi came in with Zhao Yi to help her finalize the agreement with Golden Star. When Mo Yuchen arrived with the rest of his team, Su Xiaofei kept a straight face and only spoke to him when it was needed. However, she couldn''t brush off the strong sense that pointed to the fact that Bai Qingyue and Mo Yuchen were acting differently towards her, and it was starting to annoy her. It was like she was facing the unknown.


    Five minutes before the contract signing, Tang Liyan and her assistant came rushing in and apologized for their tardiness once the actress realized that she was the only one missing before the meeting started.


    She took a seat next to Su Xiaofei and pointed out the uses she had issues with. Su Xiaofei looked at the actress with awe, realizing that Tang Liyan had finally grown some backbone and was now cautious of the intricatelyid trap hidden within her contract.


    "I feel like since Miss Bai and I are going to coborate for this film, it''s only natural that we both receive the same treatments and payment. There is also a missing use that would protect me just in case an unforeseen ident took ce while doing the film." Tang Liyan pointed out.


    "I agree with Miss Tang. We shouldn''t take the safety of our talents lightly." Su Xiaofei chimed in, aware that Mo Yuchen''s team wasn''t pleased with it.

 Chapter 397 Fair Treatment (3)

    The meeting felt much longer than Su Xiaofei wasfortable with as she didn''t want to stay in the same ce with Mo Yuchen. It irked her that he and Bai Qingyue were both acting suspicious today. She couldn''t even fathom what they were thinking, assuming that she wasn''t aware of their lingering stares. Still, she decided to act like she wasn''t bothered by it and chose to focus on Tang Liyan''s sudden change.


    The actress was starting to change her ways for the better. While there was nothing wrong with a kind and gentle heart, having a pure one would only lure trouble her way within the showbiz industry. If before, she would cower under Bai Qingyue''s intimidating presence, now she was able to smile and look at the other queen head on.


    Once the contracts between two parties were finalized, Su Xiaofei watched as Tang Liyan extended a hand towards Bai Qingyue.


    "Sister Bai, let''s do our best and give everyone an enjoyable performance." She said to her rival.


    Bai Qingyue stared at Tang Liyan''s hand for a moment before giving it a firm shake.


    "I''m looking forward to working with you again." Bai Qingyue replied ndly, her eyes briefly meeting Su Xiaofei''s cold gaze.


    Bai Qingyue didn''t stay too long, iming that she had other things to do, leaving Mo Yuchen and the rest of his team to deal with Bluemedia. After giving Su Xiaofei onest look, she left at once.


    The director was pleased that both queens would participate in the film and bothpanies agreed to provide an equal amount of investment for it. However, they also agreed to allow a third party to inject funds to the project, allowing Song Yiran to join them in their next meeting with the rest of the investors.


    Su Xiaofei wasn''t nning to stay for too long and headed for the exit as soon as she could. However, she hadn''t anticipated that Mo Yuchen would follow her yet again, stopping her by holding onto her wrist.


    Instinctively, her right fist flew towards his direction and Mo Yuchen immediately avoided her punch and stepped away from her. She shed him a displeased look, disgusted that she was touched by him. She made a mental note to wash her wrist as soon as possible as she didn''t want any lingering mark on her skin left by Mo Yuchen.


    "Would it really kill you to be with me?" He said with a scowl, but he had to admit that Su Xiaofei had such a fast reaction.


    His words sounded cold in Su Xiaofei''s ears, but Mo Yuchen''s eyes reflected something that she couldn''tprehend, or maybe she knew but refused to acknowledge the possibility.


    "Yes." She answered without batting an eyelid. She didn''t stop Zhang Lan when thetter stepped forward and shielded her from Mo Yuchen.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Su Xiaofei couldn''t understand why he was trying to get close to her now. Was it already about time for Golden Star to suffer a massive loss? It was supposed to happen a year ago, but that never happened. She supposed that things had changed since her rebirth, but there were still events that were bound to happen.


    Disappointment shed on Mo Yuchen''s face, which startled Su Xiaofei. However, this only reminded her of the time when Mo Yuchen started to show interest in her in her previous life, to get Bluemedia from her mother''s hands.


    Did he really think she would fall for the same trick again? Her foolish self would happily ept him back with open arms, but she wasn''t the same woman who was head over heels for him. The more she thought of how Lu Qingfeng suffered because of him, the more she wanted to shower him with love this time around. It was impossible for Mo Yuchen to have a ce in her heart now.


    "I see. I guess you have really moved on with your life."


    "I never thought the day woulde for me to see you like this. CEO Mo, it''s toote to regret now." She scoffed and crossed her arms over her chest.


    Mo Yuchen remained silent for a moment and nodded.


    "You are right. It''s toote to regret now, but it doesn''t mean I cannot change the future. You aren''t the only person who changed, Su Xiaofei." He said meaningfully before leaving.


    Su Xiaofei frowned and made her way to the nearest washroom, eager to wash her wrist before leaving. She didn''t care what Mo Yuchen was up to. If he was acting like this, hoping to lure her back on his side, then he was mistaken. There was no way she would abandon her husband for someone like Mo Yuchen. Not now that she had just learn how to love again.


    "Miss Su, I apologize. I didn''t expect that CEO Mo would try to touch you." Zhang Lan said as she watched Su Xiaofei''s reflection in the huge mirror at the sink, while her miss was washing her hands and wrists for the third time already.


    "It''s nothing serious, Zhang Lan. If Mo Yuchen hadn''t avoided my fist on time, I''m pretty sure I would have ruined his pretty face." Su Xiaofei chuckled, but Zhang Lan was still upset that she hadn''t reacted on time. Thankfully, Su Xiaofei knew some basic self-defense that she could use and Mo Yuchen wasn''t intending to physically harm her earlier.


    "But I have to say that CEO Mo is acting suspicious this time, isn''t he? He used to scowl whenever he saw you in the past, but ever since that night, it seems like he was trying to approach you again." Zhang Lingmented.


    Su Xiaofei didn''t say anything in response, thinking that if Zhang Ling could notice it, then it only proved that she wasn''t wrong about her assumptions towards Mo Yuchen. Even if she wasn''t married to Lu Qingfeng now, there was no way she would allow him to use her like he did in her previous life.

 Chapter 398 Provoking Ye Mingyu (1)

    The next day, Su Xiaofei paid Xiao Rufeng a visit on the filming set of "Demonville". She wanted to see the young actress''s progress and how she was dealing with the pressure of ying the female lead role next to Ye Mingyu. In addition, she received a call from Xiao Rufengst night, but thetter didn''t exin the reason why she requested for Su Xiaofei''s visit.


    Su Xiaofei decided not to ask. If Xiao Rufeng wanted to tell her, she would have done so already. Being her manager for years now, she understood Xiao Rufeng better now.


    That day, she found out that the scene Xiao Rufeng would be ying would be with Ye Mingyu. It was an intense scene between their characters that would lead to Xiao Rufeng''s character being pushed down the stairs with a mob of mindless zombies awaiting her. Ye Mingyu was required to hit Xiao Rufeng and pull her hair. Who knows what could happen if she didn''t control her strength.


    Because Xiao Rufeng had more scenes than Ye Mingyu, she was to film some scenes alone, forcing Ye Mingyu to wait for her turn. As she watched Xiao Rufeng frantically looking around for herpanion, Ye Mingyu''s mind was already imagining how the scer would end Xiao Rufeng''s career. Because of this, Ye Mingyu failed to notice a pair of dark eyes, watching her from afar.


    "If I didn''t know Xiao Rufeng is still a newbie, I wouldn''t believe it if someone told me. Just look at her impable acting. The moment the director gave her the cue, she immediately became the character herself."


    "I know right! She''s not really as bad as some people thought her to be. Although she''s still a newbie, she patiently listened to her elders for corrections and advice."


    The crew''s discussion about Xiao Rufeng only fueled the hatred in Ye Mingyu''s heart.


    Then the time finally came and the director called Ye Mingyu and Xiao Rufeng to y the next scene. Xiao Rufeng had her long hair down and it looked like she hadn''t showered for days. Her clothes looked like it had seen better days, her skirt had small tears on its seam and fake blood was smeared on her top.


    Meanwhile, Ye Mingyu looked better than her. Aside from the fake bandage on her forehead and arm, her costume was cleanerpared to Xiao Rufeng.


    "Ye Mingyu, in terms of strength, I believe you are stronger than Xiao Rufeng. I want you to control your strength. Hit her, but not to the point that she would get injured. Once the camera starts rolling, you have to pounce at Xiao Rufeng as if you have lost your mind." The director told Ye Mingyu.


    "I understand, Director." Ye Mingyu nodded her head with a smile before turning to face Xiao Rufeng. "Sister Xiao, I have to apologize in advance if I hurt you. Please know that it isn''t my intention."


    "Miss Ye is worrying too much." Xiao Rufeng said with a wry smile. She was looking at Ye Mingyu as if the woman was prancing like a clown. "You wouldn''t be chosen as the second lead if you aren''t capable."


    The smile on Ye Mingyu''s face immediately faltered upon hearing Xiao Rufeng''s words. It then dawned on her that Xiao Rufeng was mocking her. However, she could only smile and curse Xiao Rufeng in her heart, wanting nothing more to see her sorry stateter once she was done with her.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Ah! President Su! Howe you are here?" The director spotted Su Xiaofei standing at the corner with a pair of sunsses hiding her eyes from others.


    Su Xiaofei raised a hand and waved a greeting to the man who she assumed was already in histe sixties. Many directors would have retired by this age, but this man, regardless of his age, was still able to make award winning films here and abroad.


    "Director, please don''t mind me. I''m merely here to watch Miss Xiao''s performance as her manager. I''m just making sure that she''s not causing you any headaches." She replied.


    The man waved his hand and gestured for her to join him next to the cameraman and gave her his seat. He then told the two actresses to rehearse the scene while he was conversing with their surprise guest.


    Ye Mingyu nced at Su Xiaofei and suddenly broke out into a cold sweat seeing her piercing re. She felt vulnerable in Su Xiaofei''s eyes, as if thetter knew what she was up to.


    "You''re just like your mother, President Su. Both of you tend to worry too much." The directormented towards Su Xiaofei.


    Su Xiaofei raised a slender brow. She hadn''t thought that her mother was acquainted with him.


    "Didn''t your mother tell you that I was the one who convinced her to start Bluemedia?"


    Su Xiaofei shook her head in response. To be honest, Yun Qingrong rarely told her anything about her work when she was younger, although one thing was sure. Her mother never wanted her to pursue acting and be an actress.


    "Miss Yun has a great eye when ites to recruiting newbies. Just as everyone knows, Miss Yun used to be a talent manager before starting Bluemedia. One particr talent changed her mind. That girl took her own life after being maligned by her fellow actors. Miss Yun said that she would build a small haven where talents would be protected." He looked at Su Xiaofei with curiosity, thinking that she could have be the second Bai Qingyue if she decided to enter showbiz as an actress with the face that she possessed.


    Su Xiaofei knew what he was talking about but refused to make anyment on it. It was one of the things she disliked about showbiz. Words are powerful. They can build up or tear people down. The anti-fans pounced on that young actress and bullied her to no end until she took her own life.

 Chapter 399 Provoking Ye Mingyu (2)

    With Su Xiaofei watching her rehearsal with Xiao Rufeng, Ye Mingyu couldn''t help but make a few mistakes. She hadn''t anticipated that Su Xiaofei would be here, so how was she supposed to injure Xiao Rufeng without arousing suspicion from others? Just as she thought that she would be able to get rid of Xiao Rufeng, Su Xiaofei appeared to ruin her ns again.


    She looked at Su Xiaofei, confused and wondering what brought her here. It wasn''t rare to see managers of the casting to pay a visit, but the filming had just started, so Su Xiaofei shouldn''t be making an appearance anytime soon.


    As for injuring Xiao Rufeng, it should be easy for her to im that she underestimated her strength and hit Xiao Rufeng harder than she expected. How could others me her for it? s, it would be a different matter if Su Xiaofei was involved.


    Ye Mingyu had learned, the hard way, that her father''s adoptive daughter knew how to twist the truth ording to her preference. Su Xiaofei''s ways were too reckless in her opinion. Su Xiaofei had a tendency to self-destruct and didn''t care too much about how people viewed her.


    This was something Ye Mingyu couldn''t tolerate, as her reputation held utmost importance to her above all, even in her previous life as amoner.


    "Miss Ye must be bothered that I came here to observe." Su Xiaofeimented with a wicked smile on her lips that Ye Mingyu didn''t miss.


    "N-no¡­ it''s not like that¡­" Ye Mingyu denied, avoiding everyone''s gaze.


    "Sorry. I need to pay extra attention to Xiao Rufeng, considering she was almost kicked out from the cast in her previous project. If my presence makes you ufortable, then I''m really sorry, Miss Ye."


    Ye Mingyu snapped her head and looked at Su Xiaofei in shock. As their eyes met, a shiver ran down her spine. She realized that Su Xiaofei was giving her a clear warning not to scheme against Xiao Rufeng today. As for how Su Xiaofei suspected her scheme, Ye Mingyu could only look at Xiao Rufeng in suspicion. So it turned out that Xiao Rufeng wasn''t as dumb as she thought her to be.


    "Let''s try again." Ye Mingyu heard the director say and she could only nod her head in response.


    This time, she forced herself to calm down and ignore Su Xiaofei''s presence, but it proved to be challenging as Ye Mingyu could feel Su Xiaofei''s eyes set on her. Ye Mingyu used to dislike Su Xiaofei for having everything that she wanted from her previous life. However, now, she couldn''t exin the fear that blossomed in her heart.


    What was it about Su Xiaofei that she needed to be afraid of? She wondered. What could Su Xiaofei have done to her if she hurt Xiao Rufeng today?


    At least on the actual take, Ye Mingyu managed to perform decently with Xiao Rufeng, but she already fled from the scene as soon as the director deemed that they were done for the day.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "So what do you think, President Su? Are you satisfied with their performance today?" The director asked for Su Xiaofei''s opinion.


    Su Xiaofei smiled and nced at Xiao Rufeng, watching as the actress took the script from her assistant to review her next scenes. It was good that Xiao Rufeng was paying more attention to her work and not allowing others to provoke her, unlike before. If anything, the one who was provoked and caught off guard today was Ye Mingyu.


    "I want to believe that Xiao Rufeng is now a queen in the making." She answered, following the director and his assistant to where the rest of the crew were waiting for them to have their lunch break.


    "I know this is out of the question, but why didn''t you consider joining the showbiz industry as an artist instead? With your looks alone, you could easily topple the hottest celebrities these days. You said that Miss Xiao could be a queen in the making, but haven''t you considered yourself being one?"


    In her previous life, Su Xiaofei almost became a queen after Ye Mingyu. However, she rejected all her projects at the peak of her career when she found out she was pregnant. She didn''t care about being a queen anymore and had chosen to leave the limelight, eager to start her new life as a mother.


    However, all of her dreams had turned into a nightmare when Mo Yuchen forced her to get an abortion, forbidding her to give birth to their child. She admitted that the way their child was conceived was against Mo Yuchen''s will, but she didn''t expect him to be so heartless as to kill his own flesh and blood.


    Truth to be told, it was one of the reasons why she didn''t want to be an actress or a mother in this lifetime. She was aware that if she told Lu Qingfeng that she didn''t want to have a child, he would eventually agree with her, even if it meant that he would be in trouble with the rest of the Lu family.


    "People always covet something that they don''t have. Unfortunately, fame and stardom are the least of my priorities."


    "So what do you aim for then?"


    Su Xiaofei gave him a weak smile and shrugged. When she was reborn, she admitted that she was filled with resentment and grievances from her previous life, but she wasn''t as bitter as she was before.


    "It might sound generic, but I would like to lead a peaceful and happy life with my loved ones. That wouldn''t be possible if I became a celebrity."


    The director nodded his head in understanding. Not many people would have her disposition in life. Many young professionals her age would want a sessful career, fame and wealth, but she only wanted to lead a peaceful life with her family. It made him wonder what led Su Xiaofei to think this way.

 Chapter 400 I Want You (1)

    As usual, Lu Qingfeng was the one to return home before his wife. He was unbuttoning his shirt and was about to pull his home clothes from his dresser when he spotted their marriage certificate on top of the working table Su Xiaofei was usingst night.


    He went and picked them up and opened his own copy. A small smile graced his lips as he saw the picture of him and Su Xiaofei on his marriage certificate.


    "I thought I would be early today, but it seems like you''ve beaten me again." He heard Su Xiaofei''s voice, taking his attention from their marriage certificate.


    When she saw what he was holding, she groaned before cing down her bag on the couch.


    "Sorry, I forgot to put it back in ce this morning. I was taking out my birth certificate and forgot about it." She said and flopped on their bed, looking at the ceiling above her.


    "Did your father request your birth certificate?" Lu Qingfeng asked, deciding to keep his own copy of their marriage certificate from now on.


    "En. It''s about the legal procedures he needs to deal with. He''s quite eager to add me to his will even when I told him that he doesn''t need to."


    "I''m sure it''s one of his ways to spoil you since he wasn''t able to for a very long time. I would have done the same thing if I was in his ce."


    Lu Qingfeng joined her on the bed, removed her shoes and gently massaged her calf, earning a satisfied sigh from his wife. He knew that she had been out of her office the whole day and could rte to how tired she could be.


    "Have you had your dinner yet or should I ask the cook to prepare one? I already had mine with my grandfather earlier and I didn''t expect that you would be home early today." He asked, continuing massaging her stiff leg.


    "I left early, but I decided to drop by and pay Mama a visit. She said that you came this noon and apanied her for lunch." His wife replied, before ncing at his face. "You should have told me. I could have joined you."


    He gave her a smile and shook his head. Even if Zhang Ling informed him of his wife''s schedules, he wouldn''t simply demand her to free some time out of the blue. His heart ached seeing her struggle to keep up with work and bncing her time with her mother, so he didn''t dare to ask for more.


    "We can always visit her whenever you are free. I know that you are quite busy."


    "And so are you, but still, you make sure you make time for Mama and me." Su Xiaofei said with a hint of guilt in her tone. She wished that they got married in more ideal circumstances, not like this.


    "Don''t be like that, Feifei. You know very well that I would marry you in a heartbeat when given the chance."


    How could Lu Qingfeng not know what his wife was thinking at that moment? He didn''t want Su Xiaofei to regret getting married to him and wanted to do his best to make their marriage work. It was already hard enough for him to convince Su Xiaofei to open her heart to him and he knew that there were still issues from their previous lives that she had yet to deal with.


    For now, it was enough for him to know that she was his and he was hers, that everytime he woke up, he would find her asleep next to him holding onto his hand as if she was afraid that he would leave in the middle of the night.


    "You haven''t told me about your meeting with Mo Yuchen. Did he say anything to hurt you again?"


    Su Xiaofei sat up and Lu Qingfeng released her leg. She looked at him straight in his eyes, not wanting to hide the truth from him.


    "His actions implied that he wants to get back together with me." She said cautiously, while Lu Qingfeng stiffened in his seat.


    "But I told him that it was toote for him to regret his choices now. He should know by now that we''re together." She said as she wrapped her arms around his torso, trying to get his attention. Su Xiaofei knew that even if Lu Qingfeng didn''t say it, he disliked Mo Yuchen getting close to her, but he wouldn''t stop her from meeting her ex-husband.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "I should have told him we''re already married. Heck, the whole world should know it by now." She added, earning a curious look from her husband.


    "What? You don''t agree with me?" She raised a brow at him.


    "Feifei, do you know how many women will cry if you dare to announce our marriage?" He chuckled with a teasing grin, making him more handsome in Su Xiaofei''s eyes.


    "Oh well, it''s not my fault that they arete. You are mine now." She teased him by gently kissing the corner of his lips, avoiding his lips when he turned to seek her for another one.


    Lu Qingfeng, who was denied his wife''s precious lips, decided to pounce on her, trapping her beneath him. Sheughed as his fingers tickled her sides, which immediately turned into a moan when his lips sucked the sensitive spot on her neck.


    He let go of her sides and cupped the sides of her face, finally kissing her on the lips this time. Lu Qingfeng admitted to himself that he desired her and that he was willing to wait until she was ready, but everytime he kissed her like this was a test on his self-control.


    However, what he didn''t know was; Su Xiaofei waspletely aware of his inner struggles, but didn''t want to give in as she didn''t want their wedding night to be hurried and rushed because they had time restraints.


    He kissed her harder, pressing her growing erection against the junction of her legs, before briefly feeling those slender legs lifting up trying to keep him in ce. Her hands came to his neck as her nails ran over his scalp, earning a groan from him.


    Su Xiaofei felt his hand pulling her blouse from her cks, going under it through the front, running up and over her chest to squeeze one of her breasts, releasing it along with her lips when Lu Qingfeng felt her shivering hard from his touch.


    Her eyes looked up to him, silently telling him that it was alright, that he didn''t need to say sorry for what he''d done because she didn''t mind it one bit.


    "I''ve already given a thought to your suggestion the other night." She told him instead. What Lu Qingfeng said the other night made sense to her. "Whatever makes youfortable, I''ll be with you."


    Lu Qingfeng was rendered speechless, not knowing how to react. He knew he should be happy that Su Xiaofei wasn''t repulsed by his touches, but he wasn''t sure how to proceed.


    "We''ve been married for sometime now." She said with a breathy voice, her cheeks tinted with a blush. "I want our wedding night now. Didn''t you say you want to do it on a safe day? I can''t truly be Mrs. Lu unless you have me."


    Lu Qingfeng looked straight into her dark eyes, seeing the desire in them - her desire for him - shining through. He resumed their passionate kiss, allowing her wandering hands to finish the unbuttoning of his shirt while his hands roamed her body. He then pulled away and panted above her, knowing that he was at the end of his limit.


    "Feifei, if you''re serious about this¡­"


    He wasn''t able to finish his words as Su Xiaofei pulled off her top and threw it on the floor, leaving her husband speechless.


    "I don''t want to wait anymore." She panted as she brought her chest close to his. She wanted his lips to worship her skin again, like he had been doing these few nights. She pulled out from his hold and flung herself at him, adjusting so she could straddle hispfortably.


    Since his wife gave the green light, Lu Qingfeng didn''t think he had to hold back anymore. He pulled her face to his, pressing their foreheads together.


    "Then kiss me, Feifei." He breathed, allowing his wife to take the lead at her own pace. It was at least reassuring that he was able to please her despite his inexperience.


    Su Xiaofei''s cheeks were apple red when she pressed her lips to his warm ones, reveling in the addictiveness of kissing him. She hadn''t thought that she would desire another person like this. It was as if the mere touch of his hand was enough to spread the fire over her skin and leave her to beg for more.

 Chapter 401 *R18 I Want You (2)

    What makes a man fall in love with a woman? Su Xiaofei had always wondered the answer to this question. Even to this day, she still didn''t know why Lu Qingfeng had fallen madly in love with her since her previous life to this day, when everyone deemed her so unlikeable that even Mo Yuchen detested to be seen with her in public.


    To be desired by someone was still something new for Su Xiaofei. She knew that her face wasn''t below average and that she had a decent body frame. She surmised that it could be because of her unappealing attitude and hasty personality, however, she also believed that if people couldn''t see past through it, then they weren''t worthy of being part of her life.


    Their kiss was slow this time, as if they intended to taste and savor each other. She boldly imed him, and attacked his mouth with her tongue. Her hands ran over his biceps, squeezed his shoulders before sliding down his pectoral muscles, until her blunt nails lightly dragged over his chest.


    She then brought up a hand to brush his bangs away from his eyes and kissed his forehead, then to his brow, to his nose before reaching his lips again.


    Lu Qingfeng allowed her to do whatever she wanted to him and chose to settle his hands on her hips, before bringing it down to her full soft bottom, squeezing it lightly as she continued to attack his mouth.


    However, it was too much teasing for Lu Qingfeng that he had to gently push her off him, and coax her toy on her back, intending to continue where they left off.


    Her husband moved to her slender neck, leaving love bites in his wake. Her face was scarlet red as she allowed him to continue, knowing that tonight would end with her surrendering her innocence to him, but she didn''t mind at all. Su Xiaofei was d that it was him that she ended up with in this lifetime, because truth to be told, she didn''t think she would gamble on love again after what she had experienced in her previous life.


    Lu Qingfeng''s shirt followed her discarded blouse, crumpled on the floor. She whimpered as his hands moved over her body, awakening her senses. Her hand went into his thick hair as he kissed down her bare stomach and slowly got rid of her cks and the rest of her undergarments.


    He went back to her shoulder, kissing her exposed skin while her fingers ran over his flesh tone, admiring his form. How was he able to make time to do his workouts with his busy schedule? She wondered, thinking that she should join him one of these days.


    Her long ck hair slipped over her shoulders as she tilted her head back for Lu Qingfeng''s mouth to worship her skin, making her mind hazy, forgetting her earlier thoughts.


    "Ah!" She eximed, her back arching from the sudden sensation that shot through her.


    Her whole body lurched forward as she felt two fingers sliding into her. Her chest was suddenly pressed against him, one arm was at his back, while the other gripped his arm.


    All thoughts flew from her mind the moment she felt his fingers move inside of her, curling it to hit the perfect spot within her body that she didn''t know existed until she learned his touch. The only response she could make was a deep moan of satisfaction as he rocked his fingers within her body, scissoring and stretching her walls around him.


    Lu Qingfeng looked up to her face, noticing the slight difort. Her nails dug painfully into his arm but he decided to endure. His difort was iparable to what he was giving her at the moment. He didn''t want to make her feel ufortable, but if he didn''t prepare her enough for pration, he was afraid that she would be crying from pain and that wasn''t something he wanted to happen.


    And then he noticed that the difort had slowly turned into deep, long moans.


    "Just breathe." He whispered to her. The tip of his nose gently brushed against her cheek. "I''ll only enter once you''re ready. This one will treat you with care."


    His fingers moved in swift motion, which was followed by a gasp from her lips. She mewled beneath him, her toes curling from the sensation Lu Qingfeng was giving her. She could feel her wetness soaking his fingers as jolts of pleasure shot through her, making her shiver from his touch.


    "You''re so beautiful, wife."


    Su Xiaofei was used to hearing thispliment from many others, but it was rare for her to hear it from Lu Qingfeng. She knew that he wasn''t saying this because of intimacy, but because he really meant it.


    "Say that again, hubby." She panted, her dark eyes shining with desire for him.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "You''re beautiful," Lu Qingfeng easily obliged, his lips gently brushing on hers. "So beautiful that it just makes me love you more."


    In response, Su Xiaofei brought his lips to hers, kissing him with all her might, trying to show him how much she loved him, needed him. She poured in everything she had into that kiss. Her passion, her gratitude for his patience, her heart, her loneliness, her hope¡­ The awareness of his love for her was overwhelming for her.


    She was really a fool for choosing Mo Yuchen over Lu Qingfeng in her previous life. She felt his fingers leave her body in favor of pulling her body closer. Her very soul went into the slow, deep kiss thatsted forever, leaving the two of them panting for air.


    When their lips parted, Lu Qingfeng stared fondly at his wife, satisfied to see her reaction. Su Xiaofei''s face was tinted with red, lips a bit plump from their kissing and her dark eyes were hazy. She was breathing heavily, trying to catch her breath. Her chest moving ordingly, with its peak hardening due to arousal.


    Seeing them made him painfully harder than he already was, which led him to discard his pants to release his bulging hardness.


    Su Xiaoffei''s curiosity got the best of her as she looked down, blushing even more when she noticed how hard her husband was. It wasn''t the first time she had seen it anyway, but everytime she sees it, it makes her wonder if she would be able to take him in fully. She looked away, with the back of her hand covering her mouth as sheid naked beneath him.


    "Feifei." She heard him call out to her.


    "It''s alright." He assured her. "Just be honest with me."


    Su Xiaofei turned her attention back to her husband, sensing his hesitation to continue. He was saying this, yet his eyes looked so vivid even in their slightly dim room.


    "I-I''m okay." She swallowed the invisible lump in her throat. "I want this¡­ I want you."


    "I want you too."


    Then his lips returned to hers, pressing them even more passionately than earlier. She whimpered when she felt his tip brush against her entrance, turning her head away from his lips to suck in a deep breath, knowing what could happen next.


    She felt that familiar emptiness again, desperately wanting some sort of fulfillment, desperately wanting her husband inside of her... She was so wet that her fluids were dripping between her thighs, onto the sheets beneath her. She braced herself and held onto his arms as Lu Qingfeng moved between her legs and hovered above her.


    "Feifei," Lu Qingfeng whispered, almost to himself, but she heard him clearly.


    It made her rx a little, before she felt him push slowly into her body. She gasped as his member spread her open. He was too big, but she knew that once she recovered from their first time, the next ones would be much better for her. Though he was big, it wasn''t painful yet.


    Now that the tip of his arousal was inside, Lu Qingfeng put a hand next to her head, gripping the sheets tightly as he fought the urge to m inside her in one go. He wanted to shove into her body, but he was also hoping that their first time would be enjoyable for her. ording to what he''d learned, the first time for most women tends to be ufortable and painful.


    He pushed a bit deeper, and she gripped his forearms. He looked into her eyes, holding their gaze as he continued to push in another inch. He needed to say something, but Su Xiaofei already beat him as she nodded her consent for him to continue and spread her legs wider to better amodate him.


    A desperate look came over his face and he pushed fairly deep, reaching her maidenhead. He stilled and looked at her blushing face, hearing another moan escape her lips.

 Chapter 402 *R18 I Want You (3)

    Su Xiaofei felt stretched, but she knew that another push would surely bring her either difort or pain. Nevertheless, it was impossible for them to stop now. She prepared herself, knowing that it was about time for her and her husband to be one.


    Su Xiaofei trusted him with her life, and knew that he would never intentionally hurt her. This was why she mentally prepared herself to love him with all she had, to give him everything he had missed in her previous life because of her.


    Lu Qingfeng bucked his hips, and thrusted in one go until he was deep seated within his wife. He groaned gutturally, unable to think clearly, not when her soft, warm walls were squeezing him deliciously. He understood now why many people indulge into sexual activities.


    With his wife''s hands gripping his arms, and his pelvis between her open silky thighs, he saw her wince a little and took a steady, deep breath, trying to calm herself at the feeling of the head of his arousal, pressing against the entrance of her womb. Although he had expected her to be tight, nothing prepared him for the vice like the grip her walls had around him.


    She felt so full, but she didn''t feel any pain, only a slight difort from being stretched. There was no pain and her body didn''t resist as hepletely filled her. She could feel his pelvis pressing hers. This was far from what she experienced during her sexual encounter with Mo Yuchen in her previous life. Not that she wanted topare her husband to that excuse of a man, but Su Xiaofei was d that she made the right decision to be with Lu Qingfeng this time.


    She wasn''t sure how it was for her husband as his face contorted between pleasure and pain. Looking up at him, Su Xiaofei saw the apology in his gaze, and she smiled at him reassuringly. She was d that her ever calm and serious husband was not quite controlling in the matters of the bedroom.


    Lu Qingfeng had a desperate loook on his face. He grimaced as he realized that he might have underestimated his self-control. He restrained himself to avoid moving rashly since his instincts were practically shouting for him to begin pumping into her body.


    He shut his eyes and slowly moved above her, hearing her sighs, knowing that he was making her feel ufortable. While he was feeling good inside of her, Lu Qingfeng knew that he needed to be careful with her. It wasn''t like his wife was a delicate person, but he was aware of her internal struggles that she wasn''t ready to tell him yet.


    Su Xiaofei sighed again, but this time, it was a little longer than what she was making earlier. Lu Qingfeng opened his eyes and was surpisedd to see her looking at him with her face flushed, eyes in a daze as she moaned at him with her hands running over his taut back as he thrusted into her.


    She was a more willing participant nowpared to a shy one earlier. Su Xiaofei was no longer conscious of her surroundings, but the mind numbing pleasure that hit her when her husband hit that sensitive spot made her eyes roll to the back of her head, her toes curling in pure bliss. She threw her head back as she fluttered around him, her walls clenching on its own as Lu Qingfeng withdrew from her.


    She was so full she could hardly breathe and couldn''t think of anything else but the sweet, blissful sensation of her husband filling her over and over again. He pumped into her with a slow and maddening pace, wanting her to cry out for more as she mped down on him, her body striving to ept everything that he was giving her.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    The angle of his pration and stroke grinding deliciously over her swollen bud heightening everything she was feeling. Her hands fell to her side and fisted the sheet, as she panted, silently begging him to give her more.


    Lu Qingfeng had to force himself to slow down. He cursed inwardly. If he let this sweet torture continue, he woulde sooner thanter. He couldn''t believe how wet, hot and tight she was and he hadn''t thought that she was able to make him lose his mind more than he already had.


    And that look on her face¡­ It was maddening. He hadn''t thought that Su Xiaofei was capable of making such an expression, and he was d that only he was allowed to see this side of her.


    His thrusts were calcted and slow, wanting to prolong their intimacy as his wife''s moans and cries reached his ears like a siren. He watched as herher lips pulled along his thick length.


    If only she knew how much he was holding himself back, how much of her reactions and her lewd expressions made him want to m into her hard and fast until they reached oblivion together.


    Lu Qingfeng clenched his teeth as he continued to move in and out of her, then deeply because of the way she clung onto his arm, begging him to do her deeper. He didn''t think he would be able to keep at this pace for long and abruptly withdrew from her body.


    It was one of the worst things Su Xiaofei believed she experienced. Reaching close to nirvana, only to be pulled back to reality. However, she had to remind herself that it was her who asked Lu Qingfeng to dy having a child together.


    She could only watch as he scooted away, stark naked, and reached to the top drawer of their nightstand to pull out a small packet. His hair was a bit messy, his cheeks slightly flushed from the intensity of what they were doing.


    Even in this state, Su Xiaofei thought that her husband was quite a catch, and as a greedy woman, she reveled in the fact that she had him all to herself.

 Chapter 403 *R18 I Want You (4)

    She waited impatiently for him on the bed, aching and full of need. Su Xiaofei wasn''t nervous about anything at the moment and if Lu Qingfeng didn''t give her the satisfaction she needed tonight, there would be bloody murder.


    Of course Lu Qingfeng was oblivious to what his wife was thinking at the moment, his mind racing, forcing him to move faster and return to the sweet heat of his wife. With slightly trembling hands, he tore off the packet and rolled the condom over his length, pleased that he was able to put it on easily this time.


    He went back to the bed and gently spread her thighs. He was still hard and aching, wanting her to the point of pain. At this point, his inexperience was making his doubt his ability to please his wife.


    Lu Qingfeng leaned his body gently over her smaller frame, pressing himself between her open thighs. The bed creaked as he positioned his tip at her entrance, his hard tip touching the wet and slippery folds of herher lips.


    Su Xiaofei shuddered beneath him, moaning deeply and helplessly as he pushed inside until she could feel the base of his erection. Her hands came up to hold onto his shoulders as he entered her once again.


    With his length fully buried inside his wife, Lu Qingfeng panted. She felt so good¡­ too good. Her tight heat enveloping him, sheathing him in pure warmth he never thought he would experience. This feeling¡­ there weren''t enough words he could think to describe what he was feeling at that moment. He struggled not to cum on the spot.


    Panting, he looked down to see her face flushed and her mouth opened a little. He leaned down and nuzzled her face, asking, "Feifei, are you okay?"


    "Yes." His wife answered with unfocused eyes, her hand clenching on his shoulders. "Please move. I can''t take so much teasing." She groaned.


    Lu Qingfeng lowered himself to his forearms and gave her time to adjust again.


    "Go slow please." He heard her say, knowing he needed to build up the moment again.


    He nodded. "Of course. Tell me if you feel any pain, I''ll stop."


    Su Xiaofei shook her head, her hair now sticking on her sweaty skin.


    "I don''t want to stop. Don''t leave me hanging for too long!" She pouted.


    Lu Qingfeng chuckled seeing her expression. A memory from their childhood shed in his mind, recalling the same expression young Su Xiaofei had on her face. It was the face she made when she had already decided on something.


    Spreading his own thighs to give him some leverage, Lu Qingfeng pulled out and slowly thrusted back. He kept it slow and shallow.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Is this okay?" He asked between his pants, his mind clouding over the sensation he was feeling once again. Her alluring face was making him lose his mind.


    "Mmm¡­" Su Xiaofei panted.


    He lowered his head to pepper kisses along her neck and corbone as he kept the pace. After a few moments, he felt her rocking her hips to meet one of his thrusts.


    It was Lu Qingfeng''s turn to shudder, feeling her body respond to his.


    "More." She panted, her nipples rubbing against his chest as Lu Qingfeng moved back and forth above her. "Please. I need more."


    With his wife''s encouragement, Lu Qingfeng threw his self control to the wind and switched from slow, shallow strokes to deep ones, causing Su Xiaofei to gasp out. He hugged her tightly with all his might as he began the rough conquest on her body with each thrust going deeply into her. He could feel her tightening up once again, and his hardness being squeezed by her damp warm walls.


    Su Xiaofei couldn''t think, it was as if her brain was thrusted out of her head. Her sweet juices leaked uncontrobly, making it easier for her husband to move in and out of her.


    The room blurred and she was only conscious of her rough breathing and how pleasurable it felt feeling her husband sliding in and out of her body. He was pushing, then pulling almost out and back again. He was moving harder and faster to the point that she didn''t know where she started and where he ended.


    Suddenly, she didn''t care who could hear her voice tonight. Su Xiaofei swore she could feel him in her stomach as Lu Qingfeng continued to make love to her. She never felt anything like this in her previous life. The pleasure was so intense, she could hardly stand it and almost made her curl up and scream her impending release.


    Lu Qingfeng held her down on the bed, pinning her tense and spasming body on the mattress. Instinctively, her body twisted, hips rising, wanting to meet the thick member invading her tight hole, only to be forced down by it so many times until she could do nothing buty there and bear it as the new waves of ecstasy threatened to consume her. It was different from the previous ones Lu Qingfeng had given her during their nightly activities.


    Lu Qingfeng stiffened as a particr intense throb of pleasure slid up his spine. He could feel iting with only a few more thrusts, but he was eager to make his wife cum first before anything else.


    Her moans turned longer and higher as she began to quickly crescendo into loud cries, telling Lu Qingfeng that she was also nearing her release, his name leaving her lips as she started to beg him. Even if she wanted the stars or the moon, he wouldn''t hesitate to give it to her.


    Pumping faster, his muscles tensed from the continued build-up of their love making, and she could onlyy beneath him as he pushed into her tight sheath over and over. She suddenly mped her arms around his shoulder, crying out her release next to his ear as her warm juices exploded uncontrobly.

 Chapter 404 The Morning After (1)

    Lu Qingfeng had never really known what it felt like to have a home to return to. Indeed, he was grateful for his old grandfather for taking him in and raising him after his parents died, but even before that, he didn''t know what it felt to rely on someone aside from himself.


    His subordinates were loyal to him because of the gains they could get and also the protection of the Lu family. However, from the moment he started to be conscious of his surroundings, even if people were around him, Lu Qingfeng felt alone and forgotten.


    It wasn''t until he met that demanding beautiful girl at the park did he realize that someone liked hispany and liked being with him not because of the family name he bore. Su Xiaofei hade into his life, disrupting the peacefulness of his boring life. Their personalities contradicted each other and yet, she filled the void that he didn''t know existed before she came to his life.


    Lu Qingfeng looked at his wife''s sleeping face, bringing the end of her locks to his lips. Their wedding night exceeded his expectations and he wondered if the passion they held for each other would remain the same in the future.


    Su Xiaofei stirred in her sleep, but didn''t wake up. After spending the whole night, familiarizing each other''s bodies, she was too tired to continue and fell asleep at dawn. It was a long, pleasurable night and Lu Qingfeng couldn''t me her for sumbing to sleep, ignoring the sun that was already high up in the sky. She lookedzy and satiated and Lu Qingfeng didn''t mind watching her like this at all.


    Since it was the weekend, Su Xiaofei didn''t need to leave early for work as they had both agreed to block their weekends for themselves and use the time to catch up and spend more time with each other and their families. It was why Su Xiaofei had willingly given herselfst night, knowing that they didn''t have time restraints.


    Meanwhile, Lu Qingfengid awake, unable to sleep. It wasn''t like it was new to him because he rarely had a good night''s sleep after all. He would be lucky if he could get at least six hours of sleep, which was happening more frequently now that he and Su Xiaofei are married.


    However,st night, he couldn''t sleep at all. For hours, he listened to his wife''s even breathing, staring at her face as she slept. Inevitably, he propped himself up on one arm to gaze over her shoulders and watch as her chest moved in rhythm and he couldn''t look away.


    His gaze traced the outline of her frame, starting from the dip on her neck to the sharp incline of her shoulders which tapered down to her ribs down to the delicate curve of her waist till the pronounced ir of her hip.


    The sunlight was already peeking between the curtains of their windows and he wondered if he should wake her up. His eyes found the trail of red marks he''d left on her skin from their passionate night. Had he been too rough with her? He wondered. However, he couldn''t forget how tight and intoxicating it felt being inside herst night.


    The world had faded in his mind until nothing was left aside from his wife. He could only see the view of her wildly bouncing breasts, tousled hair, hands gripping the sheets and face contorted with pleasure as she screamed his name. She was a wondrous sight that he would never forget.


    She was amazing and Lu Qingfeng knew that afterst night, he wouldn''t ever want her to leave him again. He didn''t think she knew it yet, but he was willing to do everything and anything for her. How this woman managed to get a hold over him was beyond hisprehension, but he would never question it.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Lu Qingfeng shut his eyes and took in a calming breath. He couldn''t help but nuzzle her neck and ce a kiss on her shoulder. He had never found himself fascinated with a woman''s body before, until now. She was incrediblest night, way better than any of his fantasies or his best dreams.


    In his previous life, when he woke up from a deepa and found out that she married Mo Yuchen, he''d been regretful. He went on a rage when he found out what Mo Yuchen had done to her.


    Suddenly, Su Xiaofei''s phone rang. An unregistered number shed on her screen, but Lu Qingfeng knew who it was anyway. His eyes narrowed dangerously, before ncing at his sleeping wife. He decided to take her phone and answer it before it could disturb his wife''s peaceful slumber.


    How did Mo Yuchen get Su Xiaofei''s number? He thought. Su Xiaofei had changed her personal number after she nullified her engagement with Mo Yuchen over five years ago.


    "Su Xiaofei, are you free tonight? I''ve already notified your assistant yesterday about something we need to discuss, but she never ryed any response yet." He heard Mo Yuchen say on the other end of the line. Lu Qingfeng could sense the eagerness from the other man''s voice and scoffed inwardly.


    He knew that the possibility of Mo Yuchen seeking Feifei was high, but he never thought that the man would be shameless enough to speak casually to her like this.


    "Still the same as always, Mr. Mo? Not even a customary greeting? You are really something."


    "Lu Qingfeng?" Mo Yuchen was obviously not expecting that the one who would answer Su Xiaofei''s phone was this young man.


    "It is me."The younger man affirmed.


    Mo Yuchen unconsciously gripped his phone tighter, his eyes narrowing with annoyance. He didn''t need half a brain to know that Su Xiaofei was with Lu Qingfeng right now to understand why thetter was the one who picked up his call.


    "Quite persistent, I see." Lu Qingfeng taunted him.

 Chapter 405 The Morning After (2)

    "Says the man who is constantly following my fianc¨¦e like a dog everywhere." Mo Yuchen bit back.


    "Former fiance." Lu Qingfeng corrected him icily. "You''ve lost your chance."


    Mo Yuchen became enraged. One of the reasons why he and Su Xiaofei could never get along was because of this young man. It was obvious that Lu Qingfeng had feelings for her and yet, somehow, Su Xiaofei was oblivious about it.


    In his previous life, he and Su Xiaofei always argued about Lu Qingfeng as she would always yield and listen to the young man''s words over his. It was fortunate that when he actively pursued her and married her, Lu Qingfeng was in a deepa and he wasn''t able to stop him from being with her.


    However, in this lifetime, it was proven yet again that Lu Qingfeng was a thorn deeply embedded on his side. It was hard enough for him to meet up with Su Xiaofei, but this young man was consistently getting between them, forbidding him to get close to her. He also hated that Lu Qingfeng would always have thest word whenever they argued.


    "Do not call her phone ever again." Lu Qingfeng''s voice had a serious warning in it.


    "Who are you to stop me from pursuing her?" Mo Yuchen sneered back.


    How could he remain calm knowing his wife was with Lu Qingfeng? If anything, he surmised that it was Lu Qingfeng who was influencing her to distance herself from him.


    Lu Qingfengughed this time, startling the other man.


    "Do you really want to know, Mr. Mo? Are you prepared to hear and ept the truth? Don''t worry, even if Feifei isn''t together with me, I am sure she will never go back to you. I repeat, do not call her ever again or I will be the one to put you in your ce."


    It was a promise, Mo Yuchen knew it. He was sure that Su Xiaofei was still oblivious to the real nature of the little tyrant next to her. Lu Qingfeng might look calm and collected in front of Su Xiaofei, but under that facade was a ruthless and selfish man that could destroy anything in his wake if he wanted to.


    Lu Qingfeng hit the end button and added Mo Yuchen''s number on his wife''s cklisted numbers, before sliding back on the bed with Su Xiaofei and pulling her close. They would be having a serious talk regarding Mo Yuchenter.


    There must be a reason why Mo Yuchen was proactively seeking her like this, but no matter what his intention was, Lu Qingfeng had every reason to fend off any man, including Mo Yuchen, from his wife.


    An hourter, Su Xiaofei cracked her eyes open, seeing the lighting through their windows. Being eaten for the first time by her husband, she didn''t feel the effects when they were doing itst night. Now that she was wide awake, she could feel the slight soreness between her legs, but not too painfulpared to the morning after she experienced in her previous life.


    She had felt her husband''s lips on her skin and turned around to face him. She smiled at his affectionate gesture. She had never known Lu Qingfeng could be overly physically affectionate until she became his woman.


    Su Xiaofei learned that Lu Qingfeng liked to touch her at any given chance, but was never forceful towards her. He would kiss her, hold her, touch her arm when no one was looking and now that they shared the same bed, she always woke up with an arm hoisted over her waist, with her back against his chest. She had to admit that it felt good being in his arms.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "You''re finally awake." She heard him sigh before feeling him lean towards her and kissed her crown.


    "Good morning." She said with a small smile, noticing that unlike her, Lu Qingfeng was already fully dressed and ready for the day.


    "So how do you feel?" He asked her, wanting to know if she was in some kind of difort.


    "Amazing." Su Xiaofei admitted, lifting her head up to kiss his cheek.


    Lu Qingfeng smirked and pulled her up with him as he sat up. He was pleased to know that he was the reason she felt ''amazing'' this morning.


    Su Xiaofei pulled the sheets and covered her chest. She allowed him to kiss her, allowing her to recall what transpiredst night. She had never been more sure of anything in her life.


    Once they parted, she gave him a teasing smile. Ah, she was really lucky not to miss her chance to be with him in this lifetime. Perhaps she needed to experience all those sufferings in her previous life to learn how to cherish the people who truly love her.


    "It''s already past ten and yet you are still here? This is quite surprising." Shemented.


    Usually, by this time, she and Lu Qingfeng were already out of their bed, doing their own things before joining each other for lunch and heading over to the hospital to visit Yun Qingrong. It was indeed unusual for them to still be on their bed, holding each other like this.


    "Afterst night, I don''t think I can be without you."


    "Oh? Do you still want me? My, my, I didn''t know my husband is insatiable." She grinned. "Don''t worry, dear. As long as you want me, I will be with you."


    "Feifei," Lu Qingfeng cupped the sides of cheek and gently brushed his lips on hers. "I don''t think there will be a day that I don''t want to be with you."


    Su Xiaofei''s eyes shone with tears but she was forced to blink it away. Of course she didn''t doubt his im.


    Lu Qingfengughed and helped his wife to get up, taking her silk robe and handing it to her. He made sure to stand close to her just in case she was too ufortable to walk on her own.

 Chapter 406 Hero Dad-Princess Daughter (1)

    Something shifted and changed between the couple, Yun Qingrong was certain. She could see the sweetness between her daughter and Lu Qingfeng, and was d that the two were getting along and there weren''t many changes since they got married. If anything, she noticed that her Feifei was calmer these days and wasn''t as workaholic as she was before getting married.


    Today, Qiao Fengying and the rest of his family wille for a visit. Yun Qingrong had yet to be discharged and she couldn''t wait to go home as being confined in her hospital room was starting to drive her crazy.


    "Feifei, have you already talked to your father?" She asked her daughter.


    Su Xiaofei was busy cleaning the table they used during lunch earlier, while Lu Qingfeng was in the middle of a phone call, murmuring words neither she and Yun Qingrong could hear.


    "Uncle Qiao gave me a call when he received the result of the paternity test. He apologized to me for not being able to find me sooner." She replied to her mother''s question.


    "Give him a chance, Feifei. I''m sure President Qiao would want to make up for the years of your separation." Yun Qingrongmented while observing her reaction.


    While she had done the best of her ability to be a mother to Feifei, she knew that her daughter wascking a father figure in her life, given how stale her rtionship was with Su Haoran when she was younger.


    Su Xiaofei only smiled, not making anyment over her mother''s suggestion. If Yun Qingrong had already known the identity of her birth father a long time ago, then she wouldn''t be surprised if her mother was already aware of Bai Qingyue''s identity.


    As for why her mother hadn''t mentioned the actress yet, Su Xiaofei was giving her the benefit of the doubt and wouldn''t force her to disclose it.


    When the Qiao family arrived, it was just on time as Lu Qingfeng finished his phone call. Qiao Yuhan rushed to Su Xiaofei and threw his hands around her.


    "Fei Jie! You really are my big sister!" He gave Su Xiaofei a boyish grin.


    Even at the age of thirteen, Qiao Yuhan had yet to shed his childlike demeanor. Su Xiaofei hoped that her younger brother wouldn''t change too much and wouldn''t learn bad habits from others.


    "Xiao Han, be careful not to touch my hand. I haven''t washed it yet." She reminded him.


    "Xiao Han, you shouldn''t tackle your sister like that," came Liu Shn''s words. "I''m sorry, Feifei. He''s been excited toe here and see you."


    "It''s alright, Aunty. I don''t mind it." Su Xiaofei politely responded to her father''s wife before giving her father a curt nod in a greeting.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Qiao Yuhan released his sister, but remained standing next to her. He then grinned when he saw that Lu Qingfeng was also with her.


    "Little Brother, won''t you join me to fetch some cold drinks while your sister washes her hands? I also need to pick up some desserts for her." Lu Qingfeng suggested, knowing that Yun Qingrong wanted a word with Qiao Fengying and Liu Shn in private.


    "But¡­" Qiao Yuhan hesitated and nced at his sister. He just arrived to see her and he wasn''t willing to part from her so soon.


    Sensing his hesitation, Su Xiaofei nudged his side and nodded.


    "Go. I won''t be going anywhere. Just make sure that your big brother gets me a chocte mousse cake and not the carrot cake he bought mest time."


    "Okay! I''ll make sure he''ll get the right one!"


    A smile bloomed on Qiao Yuhan''s face and he nodded in agreement. He had already spent a lot of time with Su Xiaofei and Xi Qian in the past and both women doted on him like his own big sisters. As for Lu Qingfeng, his new brother-inw, he rarely spent time with him in the past and he would always be in his sister''spany.


    "Then what are we waiting for? Let''s go, Xiao Han." Lu Qingfeng gestured for the boy to follow him.


    Su Xiaofei also excused herself to give her mother and their guests some privacy and left with Zhang Lan. Once they were gone, Qiao Fengying took a seat on the chair next to Yun Qingrong''s bed, while his wife ced a hand over his shoulder and chose to stand next to him.


    "President Qiao, I know what I have done is unforgivable, but please don''t let Feifei suffer because of it." Yun Qingrong lowered her gaze in shame. She had denied her daughter and Qiao Fengying the chance of recognizing each other sooner.


    "I understand, Miss Yun. You don''t need to beat yourself too much because of it. I am thankful that the person who found my missing daughter was you. I couldn''t imagine what kind of life she would have if it wasn''t you." Qiao Fengying replied, choosing to understand where Yun Qingrong wasing from. He wanted to believe that she had done it only because she loved Feifei too much and feared that he would take his daughter away from her.


    "I assure you, I won''t be taking Feifei away from you. You are her mother regardless of what happened. I want to believe that both of us would only want the best for her, so let''s move on for the better, Miss Yun. Feifei still needs you." He told her.


    Just because he found Su Xiaofei, it didn''t mean that Yun Qingrong could stop being a mother to her. If anything, she had been an amazing mother to Feifei,pared to Bai Qingyue who had abandoned their daughter at such a young age.


    Yun Qingrong wept silently and nodded. She was lucky that Qiao Fengying had chosen to forgive her and allowed her to remain as Feifei''s mother. If it was another person, she knew that they would be upset with her decision and would me her for the lost time.

 Chapter 407 Hero Dad-Princess Daughter (2)

    When Su Xiaofei returned to her mother''s hospital room, she found the three of them waiting for her. Without preamble, she went to the other side of Yun Qingrong''s bed, pulled a chair and took a seat.


    "Feifei, now that you know who your father is, I hope that you and my husband can start anew." Liu Shn told her.


    "Aunty isn''t upset that I''m Uncle''s missing daughter?" Su Xiaofei couldn''t help but ask Liu Shn.


    Technically, Liu Shn was her stepmother and many stepmothers, including Wang Pen, Xi Qian''s stepmother, hated their husband''s child from a previous rtionship. It was only natural for Su Xiaofei to distance herself and be wary of Liu Shn''s motives. She wouldn''t doubt her father''s love for her, but it was a different matter when ites to Liu Shn.


    Liu Shn shook her head and smiled at her.


    "You were conceived even before your father and I got married. I''ve also witnessed how your father struggled to find you and know very well how important you are to him. Since I love him, I also need to ept that I''m not the only one upying his heart. I need to learn to get along with his loved ones as well." The older woman exined.


    Su Xiaofei was rendered speechless by Liu Shn''s answer and fell silent. She hadn''t expected that Liu Shn would say those words, but that wasn''t enough for Su Xiaofei to lower her guards. Only time could tell whether Liu Shn would live up to her words or not, and Su Xiaofei refused to set any expectation towards her.


    "Uncle Qiao¡­" She then turned to her father and looked bashfully at him. "I''m sorry, I don''t think I''m ready to call you Father just yet." She admitted.


    Qiao Fengying''s gaze softened at her and shook his head.


    "I understand. There''s no need for you to force yourself to do something you aren''tfortable with, Xiaofei." He said. "If you''re morefortable calling me Uncle, then you may continue to do so." He added.


    "I heard from Feifei that you want to add her on your will, President Qiao. Are you sure this is alright?" Yun Qingrong asked, ncing at Qiao Fengying, then to his wife.


    "Miss Yun shouldn''t worry too much." It was Liu Shn who answered her question instead. "My husband and I have long decided to keep his daughter''s inheritance separate from Xiao Han''s, whether we find her or not. If in the end we failed after all avenues were exhausted, her part would be donated to a charity instead."


    "Then you can keep it that way, Uncle." Su Xiaofei interjected. She had no interest over the inheritance she could get from her father.


    "But Xiaofei¡­" Qiao Fengying pressed his lips together, wanting his daughter to take her share.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "I already have Bluemedia and the other properties Mama had recently transferred to my name. Uncle should also not forget that I''m already married to the Lu family." Su Xiaofei reminded him.


    Qiao Fengying then understood what his daughter was trying to say. She was right. Compared to the wealth he could give her, it was nothingpared to the riches Lu Qingfeng could offer her. After all, the Lu family was one of the wealthiest families in the country, albeit, they were very private and rarely made public appearances since the death of Chairman Lu''s sons.


    "Won''t you consider it?" He asked.


    He knew that Lu Qingfeng could easily provide for her, but Qiao Fengying believed that married women should have money of their own and shouldn''t depend too much on their husbands.


    This was one of the things he learned from Liu Shn and what he liked about his wife the most. Qiao Fengying liked how self-sufficient his wife could be, but still willing to be his equal partner throughout their marriage.


    Su Xiaofei shook her head. She had already discussed this with Lu Qingfeng yesterday over the phone and he agreed to support her decision not to ept her inheritance.


    "Uncle, it''s alright. I''m still your daughter. I only wish that I could meet your expectations as your daughter."


    Qiao Fengying sucked in a deep breath, feeling as if someone threw a punch right on his gut. He could see the sadness in his daughter''s eyes even though she tried to hide it. He was aware that she didn''t have a good rtionship with Su Haoran and wondered how the man had treated his daughter over the years.


    For his daughter to doubt herself like this, just what did Su Haoran teach her when she was growing up? Fathers were supposed to be role models. They were expected toy a foundation of security, trust, and love. Daughters tend to judge all other men whoe into their livester based on the example their fathers set for them.


    Also, fathers who provide praise, support, and unconditional love give their daughters the gift of confidence and high self-esteem. Daughters who have these traits grow into happy, and sessful adults. Simply being present, encouraging, and a good listener is often all daughters need to flourish.


    So for Su Xiaofei to doubt herself like this¡­ Qiao Fengying regretted that he was absent during her childhood years. When she was a child, he was supposed to be her superhero, while she was his darling little princess. He should have been with her.


    Knowing how busy Su Haoran and Yun Qingrong were, Qiao Fengying thought that Xiaofei must be really lonely being on her own and knowing that Su Haoran somehow didn''t like her.


    "Xiaofei shouldn''t say these words. Even before knowing that you are my daughter, I''m already proud of you. Do you know how hard it is for a woman to work in an industry dominated by men? You stood your ground, lifted your head and overcame challenges one after another. So how can I be disappointed in you? You are better than you think, Xiaofei. Never doubt yourself."

 Chapter 408 Hero Dad-Princess Daughter (3)

    At least he was lucky that he met Su Xiaofei during her teenage years. Still, even at the age of eighteen, he''d already seen the hint of maturity and understanding in her. Perhaps she had already outgrown most issues youngdies her age usually faced by the time he met her, but Qiao Fengying couldn''t remember an instance where she disappointed him.


    From the moment he met her through Lu Qingfeng, Su Xiaofei had been sensible with her words and was wise and understanding. Even her mannerisms and gestures were like a properdy who could present herself with confidence.


    At first, Qiao Fengying thought that the friend Lu Qingfeng was nning to introduce to him and his wife was a man, but he was surprised to meet a young woman who had a striking resemnce to his past lover. He should have suspected a long time ago that she could be the daughter he had been looking for.


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaofei couldn''t exin the unfamiliar feeling that washed through her, hearing her father''s words. She had thought that she didn''t need a father figure in her life, but she hadn''t expected how moving it was for a person to hear such acknowledgement from their own father.


    Qiao Fengying never once pointed out her ws. He even encouraged her when she had just started working at Bluemedia. While many doubted her ability to follow her mother''s path, he gave her pointers when she sought his opinion. Apart from Lu Qingfeng and Chairman Lu, he was one of those who never got tired of answering her incessant questions.


    "You don''t need to meet my expectations, Xiaofei. It''s enough for me that you do your best in everything that you do. However, if you made a mistake, I hope you''ll learn from it and never do it again in the future. I don''t expect you to be a perfect daughter." Qiao Fengying added.


    Su Xiaofei lowered her head and nodded while Yun Qingrong held her hand and patted it assuringly. The older woman sensing her uneasiness in front of Qiao Fengying and his wife.


    "What your father said is right, Feifei. You just need to be the better version of yourself. If you need help and guidance, we''ll be here to extend a hand."


    The urge to burst into tears was too strong for Su Xiaofei, and in the end, she couldn''t stop her tears from streaming down her face. If her father and her mother knew how much of a colossal idiot she was in her previous life, she knew that both of them would be heartbroken, no doubt ming themselves for not being there in the lowest point of her life.


    "I understand." She replied, as she tried to stop her tears and dry it with the back of her hand, but failed.


    Perhaps she wouldn''t have turned into a horrible person in her previous life if she grew up with a father, who could teach her things from a young age. Maybe she wouldn''t have sought Mo Yuchen blindly, if Qiao Fengying had set the bar high for her to follow.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Still, Su Xiaofei admitted that she couldn''t make any excuse for the horrible things she had done previously. If there was one thing she learned from her rebirth, it would be to own up to her own mistakes and change for the better.


    The rest of their conversation ended with Qiao Fengying insisting for her to keep her inheritance, intending to leave it to his future grandchild or grandchildren instead if Su Xiaofei truly made up her mind to give up her share. He refused to leave his daughter with nothing in her disposal.


    When Lu Qingfeng returned with Qiao Yuhan, holding bags in their hands, bringing some refreshments and Su Xiaofei''s cake, he''d seen that her eyes were reddened, no doubt that she had cried during his absence.


    As Qiao Yuhan happily talked to his parents, Su Xiaofei chose to settle in her husband''s embrace as his hands gently ran on her back. Lu Qingfeng didn''t question her, because she would tell him once she was ready to share her thoughts with him.


    "Uncle, you can stay with us at home instead of staying at the hotel. Feifei and I won''t mind somepany. The house is too huge for the two of us, without Mother in it." Lu Qingfeng told Qiao Fengying.


    The older man smiled and observed how his son-inw held his daughter. From the moment he''d seen the two, he already knew that they had such a strong bond. He was also aware how Lu Qingfeng viewed Su Xiaofei and didn''t doubt his love for her.


    "I don''t mind if that means we can spend more time with Xiaofei." Qiao Fengying inwardly sighed in relief. He had heard that his daughter was once engaged with Mo Yuchen from the Mo family. He had met the young man once during an event, and judging by the way Mo Yuchen brought himself, Qiao Fengying didn''t think he would cherish his daughter the way Lu Qingfeng did.


    It didn''t matter to Qiao Fengying if his daughter chose to marry amoner or a man without a strong backing, as he was once a man without fame and money under his name. Wasn''t this why Bai Qingyue''s family was against their rtionship from the very beginning?


    As long as the man would be loyal to her, cherish her like a pearl in his hand, Qiao Fengying wouldn''t be against their marriage. The one thing he never wanted to see was his daughter doubting herself because of a man.


    If a man dared to disrespect and made his little princess cry, Qiao Fengying was sure that all hell would break loose. It was a pity that he would never know how Su Xiaofei''s life ended in her previous life, nor would he ever know the suffering she had to endure on her own as the consequence of choosing the wrong person to love, going against all odds even when there were red gs along the way.

 Chapter 409 Shooting His Own Foot (1)

    Since the Qiao family had already checked-in at a hotel before visiting Yun Qinrong, they decided to check-out the next day to stay with Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng for a few days during their short visit to Qiying City, which meant that Lu Qingfeng could have his wife to himself for another night. The two didn''t waste their time and stumbled on the bed that night, taking the chance to get more familiar with each other''s touches.


    Their second time making love had been smoother and without the difort of the first time. Su Xiaofei had been more responsive to her husband''s touch. Her hips rocked in rhythm with his thrust, hands clinging to his shoulders as her nails dug into his biceps.


    He was incredibly hard and thick inside of her and she made a low whimper whenever Lu Qingfeng dared to pull away from her. She had lost herself in the sensations, closing her eyes and throwing her head as their night became more and more heated. She could only cling to him as he continued a hard, steady thrusting, pushing deeper and harder inside her.


    And then a particrly hard thrust almost made her lose her mind. It had been different, causing her eyes to fly open as she looked at her husband in surprise. Her inner walls clenched around him in response and he groaned even as he sucked in a breath.


    What was that? She thought, before Xi Qian''s words yed in her mind about how pleasurable it could be for a woman if her partner found that special spot that could make her toes curl and scream his name in pleasure.


    Su Xiaofei didn''t think that her younger husband would be able to find it on their second time, but she really liked it. She voiced her need and Lu Qingfeng obliged her request and pushed in again.


    He began to drive into her, not caring about being gentle this time. With his short, quick pumps, Su Xiaofei cried out as her orgasm rushed though her with a force, thinking that she shouldn''t have doubted her best friend''s words. Following her, she heard Lu Qingfeng uttered a muffled curse and released himself in her.


    The next morning, Lu Qingfeng woke up before Su Xiaofei did. His body''s internal clock would always wake him up at the same time, no matter where he was or which lifetime he was living. However, there was something new this time that he was starting to find ufortable.


    Even before he and Su Xiaofei got married¡­ ever since that night that he had taken a taste of her, he would always wake up with a morning wood. Lu Qingfeng doubted that it would persist now that he had eaten his wife clean.


    The memories of their recent coupling yed on his mind, reminding him of the sight of his sweet wife with her tousled hair, who''d been so responsive in his arms and unable to hide anything, telling him where and what exactly pleased her. Her responses and moans were incredibly turning him on.


    With this, even with his inexperience, Lu Qingfeng knew that it would only take a few practices and lessons with his wife for him to be confident of his husbandly duties in bed.


    Su Xiaofei remained asleep peacefully next to him. He noticed that she wasn''t as restless as she used to be these past few weeks, prior to meeting her father.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    She was soft and warm, giving a little sigh as she shifted on their bed. Unlike him, she was a heavy sleeper and she loved to take a nap these days whenever she got the chance.


    Lu Qingfeng then looked at her bare shoulder. Thankfully, this time, he hadn''t left any dark marks on her, even with his roughnessst night. With his inwsing over for a visit to spend some quality time with his wife, he knew he had to rein himself from excessively touching her.


    "Feifei, you can''t oversleep today. Are you forgetting that your father and brother will arrive today?" He gently nudged her to wake up. If she woke upte in the morning again, she would bete for her meeting via video conference at eight.


    Su Xiaofei rolled on her back and groaned. She was starting to be annoyed at the fact that her work was disturbing her private time with her husband.


    "They won''t be here till lunchtime. Give me five minutes."


    And so he did. Lu Qingfeng edged out of the bed and went to shower. He doubted that his wife would leave the bed on time, but he was proven wrong when Su Xiaofei joined him in the shower stall five minutester, stark naked.


    Lu Qingfeng could only stare at her incredelously. He had known that Su Xiaofei could be forward at times, but this would be the first time she''s acted like this ever since they got married.


    "I have an early meeting this morning. Help me wash my hair?" She asked him, acting as if his ogling didn''t bother her one bit.


    Lu Qingfeng did as he was told and did the honor of washing her hair, shampooing it and gently massaging her scalp, earning a satisfied moan from her. She was clearly teasing him, he was sure of it, judging by the way she wickedly smiled at him.


    In the next second, Su Xiaofei found herself paying the price for her teasing with her pants and moans filling the shower stall for the next 30 minutes. Her husband hadn''t entered her, but Lu Qingfeng had managed to make here twice that morning.


    When the two of them emerged from their room, she could only huff at her husband while having her breakfast. She was also annoyed because she had to wake up for a video conference. With their girl group having their first tour abroad, she had to make sure that the four girls were in their best condition before their show.

 Chapter 410 Shooting His Own Foot (2)

    "Don''t forget to miss me." She winked at him, leaving him speechless with her words.


    Lu Qingfeng could only watch as his wife rushed to prepare for her meeting, kissing his cheek before hurriedly went to her study to do her work, leaving him alone at the dining table. He had never expected that she would have this cute, flirty side of her. His wife seemed to love riling him up sexually, and wasn''t ashamed of being exposed to him now.


    She felt amazing and Lu Qingfeng admitted that he was having trouble keeping his hands off of her now. He had never thought he''d feel anything as good as that. Never. Even the sound of his name leaving her lips sounded amazing.


    He loved the sound Su Xiaofei was making whenever he drove himself in her. Every ounce of his being was determined to pound into her, make it as good for her as it was for him, with her tight heat enveloping him like a glove. He briefly wondered how she would look if her belly was swelling with their child.


    Lu Qingfeng groaned at the thought. With his wife''s thoughts about starting a family still undecided, he was sure that he was up for another long wait.


    There were still times that he wondered if all of this was just a dream and that it was just a figment of his imagination, trying to show him his greatest desire, only to wake up to the harshness of reality.


    If all of these were a dream, then he would rather not wake up. Having Su Xiaofei by his side, loving her without any reservations, touching her and making her writhe with desire¡­ he wanted all of it.


    Every morning, he would wake up finding her sleeping next to him, a hand reaching out to brush a lock off her face. Watching her sleeping soundly on their bed filled his chest with gratitude and tion at the same time, still in disbelief that she was with him and alive.


    At least his nightmare of holding her limp and lifeless body had somewhat stopped haunting him at night. Lu Qingfeng never wanted to see that horrifying scene again. If he lost her again, he didn''t know what he would do.


    He sighed, willing himself to calm down. He nced out the window that oversaw one part of his mother-inw''s garden. It wasn''t time to be self-deprecating as there were other things he could do to upy himself while his wife was attending the meeting and waiting for his inws to arrive in a few hours.


    Yun Qingrong had been away for two weeks now and he had taken the responsibility of tending to her garden, pruning dead leaves from her nts. After he was done with breakfast, he went to the greenhouse and started tending to the nts.


    Half an hourter, Su Xiaofei came out and joined him, bringing some refreshments for them. She smiled when she saw how focused her husband was, trying to tend to her mother''s precious flowers. She had heard how he asked her mother for advice on how to handle them, and if there''s anything he could do to make the others bloom in time.


    "How is it going? Will it live until Mama returns?" He heard her ask as he tended to one of the rose variants Yun Qingrong was raising to crossbreed. He had caged it inside a ss with controlled temperature inside, trying to see if it would live after losing a considerable amount of its flowers and stems.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Lu Qingfeng shrugged, removing his gloves and epting a ss of water his wife handed him. He hadn''t noticed that he had been standing there in front of the working table for so long that Su Xiaofei had finished her meeting.


    "I''m not quite sure, Feifei. I asked for an expert''s opinion, but he said that I could only wait and see. It would be a real pity if it dies before Mother returns from the hospital."


    "I''m sure it will be fine. Mama won''t me you if it wilted and died. You did your best, dear." Su Xiaofei assured him, thinking that her husband had been beating himself too much, trying to cate everyone around her.


    She smiled to herself and hooked her arm with his, resting the side of her face on his strong arm. The little boy she met in the park when she was younger, who used to scowl and curl his nose in disgust at others, was starting to mellow down.


    Lu Qingfeng''s gaze smoldered as he nced at her, but he didn''tment about her being ''touchy'' these days. Not that he didn''t like it anyway. If possible, he wanted to be alone with her and ravish her nonstop until both of them were satiated. Before this, he didn''t understand why newlywed couples needed a week or a month for their honeymoon, but he now understood.


    They were already married for over almost a month now, but he felt like it was only yesterday when he put her wedding ring on her finger. Then his phone rang and he was forced to pull away from his wife''s warmth for a moment.


    Lu Qingfeng frowned when he saw the familiar name on the caller ID and answered it anyway. He had a feeling that something was up again if Song Yiran was calling him out of the blue.


    "Hey. The rest of the brotherhood found out. They are nning to fly to Qiying City and meet your wife as we speak." He heard his friend say with an amusedugh.


    Lu Qingfeng pinched the bridge of his nose and took a deep breath. He didn''t need to ask Song Yiran how their ''brothers'' found out about his marriage.


    "You and your big mouth!" He muttered.


    "Hey! Why is it my fault now? It was you who decided to keep your wedding a secret from them. It was you who shot your own foot for getting married before all of us did." Song Yiran''sughter could be heard from the other end of the line.

 Chapter 411 Shooting His Own Foot (3)

    Lu Qingfeng sighed inwardly, admitting that what Song Yiran said had made sense. He was the leader and the youngest of their brotherhood and yet, he was the one who tied the knot first amongst them.


    "My inws will be staying with us for a few days. I won''t be able to meet any of you until next weekend." He replied. He knew that he couldn''t dy the meeting with the rest of their brotherhood and introduce Su Xiaofei, now that they were aware of his marriage. At least Song Yiran had given him a heads up so he could prepare ahead of time.


    "That''s fine. Just set the schedule and they will make time for it." Song Yiran assured him.


    Once he hung up the call, Lu Qingfeng found his wife looking at him with curiosity.


    "What''s wrong? Song Yiran trying to invite you out again?" It wasn''t the first time anyway.


    Lu Qingfeng grunted. "Yes and they want me to bring you with me."


    Su Xiaofei blinked at that. They? What did Lu Qingfeng mean by that? Was Song Yiran bringing some friends with him? Although she was sure that Lu Qingfeng was quite close with Song Yiran, she wasn''t certain how deep their connections were.


    "Take a seat, Feifei. You don''t need to stand there." Lu Qingfeng suggested.


    She took a seat next to him and waited for his exnation. She noticed that he was a bit ufortable on his seat while he tried to find the right words to exin what was going on.


    "A couple of our friends are nning toe to Qiying City to meet you, since I have failed to invite them to our wedding. I hope you''ll be able to make time next weekend, Feifei. Preferably in the afternoon." He told her.


    Su Xiaofei gave her husband a long stare, wondering if she had heard him right. Actually, Lu Qingfeng looked a little bashful, as if asking her to free some time to meet his friends was a big deal for him.


    Friends, he said. Obviously, that was something important they couldn''t miss. Just who were these ''friends'' Song Yiran was bringing with him? Su Xiaofei was curious now. Aside from Song Yiran and Xi Qian, she had never seen him interact with others in a friendly way.


    She remained silent and was reminded that she and her husband had been separated for years. It was only natural for him to make acquaintances during his stay in Shenjing. It was impossible for him not to meet new people while he was there, right?


    Lu Qingfeng had only mentioned that he went out at night with a few acquaintances and Song Yiran. Were they the same people she was about to meet then?


    Thinking about it, during her time as a ghost, she had seen a few men visit Lu Qingfeng at the Yun Mansion after her death, aside from Song Yiran. She supposed that he had only recently gotten acquainted with them.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Su Xiaofei was happy to know that Lu Qingfeng was starting to open himself up to other people aside from her. He might not have invited his friends to their wedding for her sake. Still, it was a pity that she wasn''t able to meet them sooner. If Lu Qingfeng made friends with them, then surely, they were at least decent people.


    "I see. I will make sure to remind Zhang Ling to clear my schedule for that day. Do we need to host the meeting or will we be meeting them somewhere else?" She asked.


    Lu Qingfeng stared at her face, surprised that she was taking the news lightly. Su Xiaofei wasn''t a person who liked to socialize and make friends like him anyway. Even when they were younger, she would rather stay in a corner and pretend to ignore the lingering and curious looks others were giving them. Su Xiaofei liked to keep her circle small and intimate and that was fine with him.


    "We''re meeting at Song Yiran''s ce. You don''t need to prepare anything, Feifei."


    "That''s not possible, dear. Wouldn''t that mean Mrs. Lu is chickening out on her first task?" Su Xiaofei shook her head in defiance. "I''m meeting your friends for the first time, at least let me make an effort to leave a good impression on them. They must be upset that they weren''t invited to our wedding."


    Lu Qingfeng thought that his wife didn''t need to make an effort, but seeing the determination in her eyes, could he really deny her?


    "Fine, but if you are ufortable meeting them, you tell me right away, okay?"


    "You are more nervous than I am, dear." Su Xiaofei chuckled at him, pointing out the obvious.


    Lu Qingfeng didn''t deny her im and only looked away. His rtionship with the brotherhood started out of his interest to make business connections with young, promising men he''d known and met in his previous life.


    Each of them had different personalities, but he had to admit that they all got along well, albeit, their frequency of their meetings ever since he left Shenjing was significantly reduced.


    The five of them were in different industries, but that didn''t mean they couldn''t help each other, expand their connections, and help each other excel in their chosen field. This was why even if Song Yiran had already parted with the Song family, he was still able to provide for himself without relying on his older brother''s help.


    "I''m just making sure not to put pressure on you, Feifei. I know that you have a lot on your te these days."


    That, Su Xiaofei couldn''t refute. But it didn''t mean she would willingly miss this chance to meet his acquaintances from Shenjing. She could see the apprehension in his eyes, which meant that he held these people with high regard and importance.


    "It''s fine. Nothing I can''t deal with. If they are your friends from Shenjing, then that''s more reason for me to meet them, right?"

 Chapter 412 The Brotherhood (1)

    However, before meeting his friends, Su Xiaofei and her husband needed to wee her father''s family first. The Qiao family had just arrived in time for lunch and the five of them moved to the dining area.


    Su Xiaofei was sandwiched between her husband and younger brother, both eager to feed her more while Qiao Fengying and Liu Shn were watching, looking amused.


    "Xiaofei, are you sure that it''s alright for us to stay with you here? Does your mother agree with your decision to have us here?" Qiao Fengying asked. He didn''t want to make Yun Qingrong ufortable, being in her home to bond with his daughter.


    "It''s fine, Uncle. She was actually the one who suggested we invite you here after discussing it with us." Su Xiaofei smiled and nced at her husband. "You are free to stay as long as you like." She added, ruffling her younger brother''s thick hair in the process.


    Qiao Yuhan pulled away from her hand and pouted. While he loved his big sister the most, he disliked being treated like a child.


    "Fei Jie, not my hair please." He grunted.


    Su Xiaofei''s hand stopped midair and looked at her brother with confusion, before smiling awkwardly. His reactions reminded her of the time when Lu Qingfeng had reached puberty. Perhaps Qiao Yuhan had already reached the age where he was starting to be conscious of his looks.


    For the next three days, Su Xiaofei tried to make time for the Qiao family and had lunch with them while her husband was away for work. At nighttime, they spent time ying Qiao Yuhan''s games and would end the day with smiles on their faces.


    Su Xiaofei could see that her father was trying his best to catch up with lost time. She could also sense that he was still walking on thin ice, hoping not to upset her in any way, which she found unnecessary. She wasn''t expecting anything from him, now that he knew that she was his daughter.


    While she was busy tending to her work and getting to know her father more, Lu Qingfeng had been on edge, nervous about the impending meeting of the brotherhood with his wife. Song Yiran dropped by his office and informed him that the rest of their brothers agreed with his request to meet the following weekend.


    "You know this would happen, right? You can''t really hide it from them for long." Song Yiranmented as he slouched on the couch across from Lu Qingfeng''s hard mahogany desk.


    The younger man scoffed at his words.


    "They wouldn''t have found out this early if you hadn''t told them." He retorted.


    "Hey! They were curious about what''s stopping you froming back to Shenjing. You haven''t really told us that you would settle down in Qiying City with Su Xiaofei." Song Yiran momentarily paused. "I''m still surprised that you two tied the knot this early. I see that you didn''t want to waste time at all."


    Lu Qingfeng shook his head. His mother-inw''s condition was still not made public. Although this was the reason why Su Xiaofei married him, he wanted to convince himself that his wife married him out of love and not because of her obligation towards her mother.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "You didn''t tell her anything about them?" Song Yiran asked him.


    "No," came Lu Qingfeng''s reply. "I didn''t see the need to inform her about our business deals. It''s not that I don''t trust her, but I want to keep her safe, just in case."


    Song Yiran nodded in agreement. The less people knew about their deals, the better. It wasn''t like they were making money illegally, but the five of them prioritized their brotherhood whenever they encountered any opportunities and lucrative deals.


    To be honest, the brotherhood Lu Qingfeng founded in Shenjing years ago was the one that saved him from his personal financial crisis and managed to help him to stand on his own. Though he wasn''t as wealthy as their other brothers, Song Yiran was satisfied with the assistance and advice he was receiving from them.


    "It wasn''t like being married would change everything in our brotherhood. If that''s what you are worried about, I can vouch for my wife." Lu Qingfeng added.


    "I know you would say that, Lu Qingfeng, but I suggest against uttering such words in front of the rest. We trust you as our leader, there''s no doubt about that. But you have to know that women would onlyplicate our deals." His friendmented.


    The young man fell silent and nced at the cityscape scenery that could be seen from his office. Lu Qingfeng knew that what Song Yiran said was true to some point, but he wanted to believe that Su Xiaofei had already matured and had be more sensible since her rebirth. And while it was true that he was physically younger than the rest of their brotherhood, he had already lived three lifetimes.


    "How about Su Xiaofei? Did she agree to meet the rest of us?"


    "En. She seems eager to meet them." Lu Qingfeng answered.


    "What about Li Xiran though? Are you sure you want to recruit him for our brotherhood? His family business is currently on the rocks. If he and his brother don''t do anything to save it, their father''s legacy would be no more."


    Ah, Li Xiran. Lu Qingfeng thought. He almost forgot one of the reasons why he insisted on returning to Qiying City. By now, Li Xiran should already be acquainted with Xi Qian. It was around this time that the Li Corporation faced a huge problem after the head of the Li family copsed.


    "Leave it to me. I expect to meet him very soon." He replied. He expected that Li Xiran would be attending the same event he would be attending next week.


    Song Yiran shrugged and shut his eyes, intending to take a short nap on Lu Qingfeng''s couch.


    Lu Qingfeng only shook his head and returned to his work, knowing what kept Song Yiran up the whole night.

 Chapter 413 The Brotherhood (2)

    Yun Qingrong had finally returned that morning, much to Su Xiaofei''s relief, while the Qiao family had already left and returned to Shenjing. Qiao Fengying promised to give her a call in his free time before he left.


    After making sure that her mother had settled in her room and had fallen asleep, Su Xiaofei closed the door behind her gently, making sure not to make a loud sound. She then returned to the room she now shared with her husband.


    She found Lu Qingfeng buttoning up his white dress shirt, but there was something about the way he sighed, telling her that he wasn''tfortable with the meeting they had to attend that afternoon.


    "What''s up?" She asked, crossing her arms over her chest and leaned against the door frame.


    She was already dressed, just waiting for him to be ready so they could leave and go to Song Yiran''s ce, where the meeting would be held. It would also be the first time she would be seeing where her former schoolmate lived, and meet the people her husband managed to be acquainted with in Shenjing. Although she was quite nervous, Su Xiaofei was more excited to meet them.


    "Nothing. Just thinking." Lu Qingfeng replied, saying no more. He had a feeling that something was about to change again in his life.


    Was he really worried that the brotherhood would harm his Feifei?


    "You know you can just tell me if you don''t want me to meet them. If it makes you ufortable, you don''t have to force yourself, hubby. You don''t need toplicate things."


    Lu Qingfeng turned around and faced his wife, seeing the curiosity in her eyes. He silently admitted that he liked it whenever she called him her ''hubby'' or every time his name left her lips at the height of their passion.


    "Perhaps you are right." He answered. "But I would rather not cancel this meeting and be through with it."


    Half an hourter, the ck sedan Nine was driving stopped at an empty parking slot of a huge manor. Su Xiaofei stepped out and adjusted her maroon skirt that reached her knees, while her ck high heels dug into the gravel beneath her feet. She adjusted her coat on her right arm, revealing the light beige turtleneck blouse she was wearing.


    Lu Qingfeng offered his hand to her, which she willingly epted and started to make their way inside the manor.


    As they walked, Su Xiaofei noticed two expensive cars parked before them. She cocked her head to one side and hummed, wondering just how many of her husband''s friends she was about to meet today.


    Lu Qingfeng led the way and she didn''t miss how her husband seemed to be familiar with the ce as they didn''t need a house servant to lead the way for them. He led her into a room which housed a huge bar with various alcoholic selections. She then saw a pool table where two men were ying, Song Yiran seated on the floor with a console in his hand and another man sitting near him, drinking.


    Su Xiaofei''s swept her eyes around the room and noticed the three men. They stopped whatever they were doing when they heard her and Lu Qingfeng''s foosteps and turned to look at them. Her curiosity was now piqued as she briefly recognized the three men.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    It was obvious that her husband was way youngerpared to these men, and like Lu Qingfeng, they were clean-cut, fit and wore clothes that spoke money. A lot of money. They all carried themselves with confidence and masculinity that would put any famous actors nowadays to shame.


    "You''re early." The man who was seated near Song Yiranmented.


    Su Xiaofei turned her face and gave him a good look, a little surprised that his right face was scarred. This was the first time she was meeting Yan Xiuchen, but it didn''t mean she was oblivious of his identity.


    Yan Xiuchen was a real-estate tycoon who had a not so good childhood history that led to his face and body being scarred for life. Obviously, he had undergone an extensive reconstructive surgery, but the deep scars from that event remained.


    Looking at him, Su Xiaofei thought that if she had met him in her previous life, she might have found him hideous. However, now, she didn''t feel any pity or disgust towards him, only amazement.


    As if sensing that she was staring at his face, Yan Xiuchen turned his head, allowing her to see the good side of his face. If one wasn''t able to see his scars and only see this side of his face, anyone would think that Yan Xiuchen was quite a handsome man.


    "Lu Qingfeng and beingte don''t go well, Xiuchen." Song Yiranughed at him before giving Su Xiaofei a wink, which was returned with a smile.


    One of the men at the pool table gave Su Xiaofei a good look and turned to Lu Qingfeng.


    "I thought you were going back to Qiying City to meet your girlfriend, not to marry her." Hemented with a scowl. "You didn''t even send us the invitation to your wedding. Quite a friend you are, Lu Qingfeng."


    The man Su Xiaofei recognized was named Ning Xuan. He was the owner of Ning Technologies that released several sessful mobile games that were popr not only in the country, but the rest of the world. It was said that he was one of the youngest billionaires these days.


    Lu Qingfeng shrugged and gestured for Su Xiaofei to take a seat next to the bar.


    "Things happened." He reasoned out.


    "Excuses! Excuses! If Song Yiran''s mouth didn''t run that night, we would still be oblivious to the fact that you got married. How could you hide such an important thing from our brotherhood?" Thest man replied. He then extended a hand towards Su Xiaofei as a greeting.


    "Pleasure to meet you, Big Sister. I''m Zhu Baichuan." He introduced himself to her.

 Chapter 414 The Brotherhood (3)

    It was obvious that the three men were older than her and Lu Qingfeng, yet Zhu Baichuan had chosen to call her big sister as an acknowledgment that she was indeed the wife of their brother. As to how Lu Qingfeng managed to meet these outstanding men, Su Xiaofei had no idea.


    "You have to forgive me for not inviting the three of you to our wedding. A-Feng hadn''t told me anything about you. I would have insisted for you toe and join us if I had known." She told Zhu Baichuan.


    Perhaps Lu Qingfeng didn''t want her to make her feel ufortable by inviting people she wasn''t acquainted with since they both agreed to keep it as intimate and as private as possible. For this, Su Xiaofei couldn''t help but feel guilty.


    Seeing how her husband interacted and lookedfortable in their presence, she realized that Lu Qingfeng had sessfully broken down the walls around him and had willingly epted others in his life.


    "Big Sister, don''t worry about it. It''s not your fault that your husband holds such low regards for his brothers." Zhu Baichuan shook his head towards Lu Qingfeng in feigned disappointment.


    Lu Qingfeng ignored his remark and chose to rece Zhu Beichuan to y at the pool table with Ning Xuan, leaving his wife in Zhu Baichuan''spany.


    "Care for another game?" He asked Ning Xuan, who gave him a wide grin before giving Su Xiaofei a quick nce. He then nodded.


    Lu Qingfeng set the balls in ce at the center of the pool table, ignoring the curious look his opponent was giving him. He didn''t even need to ask to know what Ning Xuan was thinking at that moment.


    "Song Yiran said that she''s quite a catch. I understand now why you''ve never spared a nce for other women when you were in Shenjing. Her pictures online don''t do her any justice. She looks way better in person." He teased Lu Qingfeng.


    During their time together in university, Song Yiran and Lu Qingfeng were both popr among the opposite sex and while Song Yiran basked in the attention he was receiving from others, Lu Qingfeng would always keep his interaction with women as short as possible.


    At first, Zhu Baichuan and the rest didn''t believe Song Yiran''s im that their youngest brother had a girlfriend waiting for him in Qiying City, but the more they observed Lu Qingfeng''s demeanor, the more they started to believe Song Yiran''s im.


    "It''s really a wonder how Song Yiran is still able to keep the brotherhood a secret with his big mouth." Lu Qingfeng replied. A smooth, effortless change of subject to turn Ning Xuan''s attention away from him.


    If Ning Xuan noticed it, he wouldn''tment about it. Despite how reserved Lu Qingfeng could be most of the time, it was still surprising for the rest of their brotherhood to find out that the young man didn''t waste his time to get married. They all thought that Song Yiran was joking when he imed that Lu Qingfeng was reserving himself for someone.


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaofei calmly answered Zhu Baichuan''s questions while watching her husband''s game with one of his friends.


    "You really love him, don''t you?" Zhu Baichuan suddenly asked, catching Su Xiaofei off guard.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    She stared at him for a moment before returning her gaze back to her husband. Was she really that obvious? For some time now, she doubted if she was doing enough to convey her feelings towards Lu Qingfeng.


    "I think he''s one of the best things that came to my life. I would be a fool if I let someone like him slip from my fingers..." She said with a grin, hiding it behind the rim of the ss she was holding.


    Song Yiran abandoned his game and decided to join the two, dragging Yan Xiuchen with him.


    "Ha. You don''t believe me? Sooner orter, you will see how cute and sweet they are together that you might need to hold yourself back from puking." He scoffed and opened the bottle of cold beer Zhu Baichuan passed to him.


    "Ah, don''t say such words, Yiran. If I didn''t know any better, I would think that you deem Big Sister as a rival for Lu Qingfeng''s attention." Ning Xian''s voice interjected, informing the rest that they were now all at the bar, intending to join their talk.


    "You aren''t a good host, Song Yiran. Howe there''s only five chairs in this bar? You could have prepared one for Big Sister." Zhu Baichuan decided to pour fuel to the fire, wanting to see Song Yiran''s annoyed expression, while Yan Xiuchen remained silent on his seat.


    Su Xiaofei stood up and gave her seat to her husband, deciding to stand next to him instead. However, his hand reached for her waist and gestured to her to take a seat on hisp instead.


    Seeing the two being so lovey dovey, the four single men groaned at the same time for different reasons. Song Yiran was displeased at being forced to eat dog food again, while the rest were ufortable seeing their youngest brother being affectionate with a woman. They had never thought that Lu Qingfeng was capable of such a thing.


    "Let''s just hope that Lu Qingfeng doesn''t hit the lottery." Song Yiranmented, which earned a smack on his head by Yan Xiuchen, surprising Su Xiaofei.


    "Regardless of the reason for their marriage, you don''t need to put Mrs. Lu in such an awkward situation." He told Song Yiran.


    Su Xiaofei inwardly smiled at that and wrapped her arms around Lu Qingfeng. She was really d for her husband.


    "You''ve got some interesting friends here, dear." She whispered in his ear. "You should have told me. I wouldn''t mind having them on our wedding day."


    A smile appeared on his face as he ran a hand on her back, silently agreeing with her. He kissed her, long and hard, ignoring the whistle Zhu Baichuan was making.

 Chapter 415 Li Xiran And Xi Qian (1)

    When Su Xiaofei woke up the next morning, her head was pounding and her throat felt dry and itchy. She groaned and rolled onto her side, facing her husband''s chest.


    Lu Qingfeng''s arms went around her and pulled her close, cing a kiss on her forehead.


    "Good morning." He murmured, brushing some of her hair away from her face to look at her.


    Even with such a low tone, Su Xiaofei felt her head throb. She groaned and closed her eyes, taking in shallow breaths in an attempt to lessen her difort. She couldn''t remember feeling this drunk ever since Xi Qian''s eighteenth birthday.


    "You drank too muchst night." Lu Qingfeng exined. "You should have known this would happen after I warned you not to ept Zhu Beichuan''s concoctions." He added, kissing her cheek affectionately this time.


    "Can''t help it. I''ll try not to allow any alcoholic drinks to touch my lips next time." She promised. "I just hope I didn''t make a scenest night."


    "You are good. As long as I''m here with you." Lu Qingfeng answered, keeping the truth ofst night''s spectacle from her. She had actually made a fortunest night when she beat Ning Xuan and Zhu Beichuan at poker in her drunken state.


    The bed shifted as he climbed out of it, leaving Su Xiaofei for a moment. He returned with a small basin in his hands, which she immediately snatched from him and threw up all the contents of her stomach in it.


    "Sorry. I feel sick." Indeed, she should have listened to her husband when Lu Qingfeng asked her to stop drinking, but Su Xiaofei had already lost count of how many drinks Zhu Beichuan had handed herst night.


    Lu Qingfeng winced and took away the basin to discard its content and returned with a damp towel to wipe her face. He had a feeling that this wouldn''t be thest time he would do it and he needed to brace himself to endure in the future.


    "I feel gross. Can I take a quick shower instead?" Su Xiaofei''s half-lidded eyes found him seated on the edge of the bed.


    He sighed and helped her get up. Thankfully, she didn''t throw up all over himst night when they returned home and Yun Qingrong was already asleep and didn''t know that Feifei hade home drunk.


    "Why do I feel like I gained a daughter instead of a wife?" He said, clearly teasing her, as he brought her to their ensuite bathroom.


    Su Xiaofei shut her eyes and hummed. Lu Qingfeng as a father? Now that was something she was eager to see again.


    "You will be an amazing father someday. I just know I married the perfect one." She replied.


    Even when he was raising a child that wasn''t his, Lu Qingfeng had been a good father to Lu Jinjie. Su Xiaofei didn''t doubt that he would be a good father to their children, if only she could get over her trauma from her previous life.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Lu Qingfeng settled her on a bench in their bathroom and helped her discard her clothes, while trying his best not to get turned on by her nudeness. He hadn''t been able to have her for a whole week since her father arrived, and he didn''t have the guts to seduce her anyway.


    He decided to focus on his task, giving his wife a quick shower and drying her hair once she was dressed in a new set of clean clothes. Once done, Su Xiaofei curled on the bed again to sleep.


    "Rest, love." Lu Qingfeng told her, brushing a hand over her cheek as he scooted closer to her. "You have a few hours before we leave for tonight''s event." He reminded her.


    "Okay." She groaned sleepily. She almost forgot that Lu Qingfeng had asked her to be his partner for the party he was attending tonight.


    "Remind me not to drink anything other than water tonight." She said before drifting to slumbend, leaving her husband amused over her concerns.


    Hourster, after she had gotten over her hangover, Su Xiaofei stood in her closet trying to decide which evening dress she should wear for the asion. Lu Qingfeng told her that they would be attending a birthday party hosted by one of the family friends of the Lu family and they were obligated to show up tonight.


    Even if Lu Qingfeng didn''t say it, Su Xiaofei knew that this was one of her responsibilities as his wife. The Lu family expected that she would show up on such asions to represent the family.


    Sighing to herself, she pulled a ck dress that exposed her shoulders and back. She then styled her hair to match her outfit and applied makeup on her face.


    Once done, she decided to see her mother first and bid her goodnight, knowing that she and Lu Qingfeng would be returningte again.


    "You don''t need to be sorry, Feifei. You and Xiao Feng should go and enjoy the night."


    Su Xiaofei fell silent and gave her mother a good look. The doctors said that the surgery was sessful, but Yun Qingrong continued to lose her weight and hair as the chemotherapy progressed. Seeing her mother like this made her heart ache, but she continued to force a smile, not wanting Yun Qingrong to worry about her.


    She remained silent, even when she and Lu Qingfeng arrived at their destination. A thousand worries flew through her mind, but she kept it to herself. Yun Qingrong was already home and yet she couldn''t even cancel her schedule to take care of her mother.


    "Are you alright?" Lu Qingfeng asked as they entered the elevator and waited for it to arrive at the designated floor where the party was being held. He was dressed in a gorgeous ck suit that had been tailored to his form.


    She sighed. "Just nervous."


    The elevator opened and they joined the rest of the crowd only to run into a familiar person.

 Chapter 416 Li Xiran And Xi Qian (2)

    Su Xiaofei knew that her best friend was currently residing with the Li family, just like Xi Qian did in her previous life. However, she didn''t know much about how her best friend''s rtionship with Li Xiran progressed and how the two ended up being together.


    It had only been a month since Xi Qian worked for the Li family, so howe Su Xiaofei was seeing her best friend right now, wearing a party dress, looking around nervously? Has her rtionship with Li Xiran progressed faster than she expected?


    Between her and Xi Qian, Su Xiaofei had no doubt that her best friend was more outstanding than her. Su Xiaofei didn''t think she had met another person who was as strong and as self-reliant as Xi Qian, though she was aware that her best friend had internal battles and issues she wasn''t ready to share with her.


    "Qian? What is she doing here?" She frowned and looked around, not impressed to see her best friend alone in such a ce.


    "I suppose she arrived with Li Xiran tonight." Her husband replied. Lu Qingfeng couldn''t think of any reason why Xi Qian would be here except for Li Xiran.


    However, before Su Xiaofei could go and see Xi qian, she was stopped in her tracks when Master Ouyang''s son greeted him and Lu Qingfeng.


    "Miss Su! How are you? It''s been far too long."


    "President Ouyang, yes it has been too long. I''m quite well thank you." Su Xiaofei replied, stering a smile on her face, though thinking that it had only been a few weeks since she met the man since Lu Qingfeng''s return.


    President Ouyang then gave her and Lu Qingfeng a knowing look.


    "I heard the good news from my father. Congrattions to the two of you." He then offered a handshake to Lu Qingfeng, which thetter easily obliged.


    "Thank you, President Ouyang. Feifei and I are nning to hold a party to announce the marriage. Please expect an invitation from us." Lu Qingfeng replied.


    The older manughed at that and gave Lu Qingfeng a firm pat on his shoulder.


    "Good good! I will wait for it then." President Ouyang said. He turned his attention back to Su Xiaofei. "There have been talks about Bluemedia coborating with Golden Star to produce a film. I''m a little disappointed that you didn''t even give this old man a signal."


    "It was Golden Star who sent us an invitation, President Ouyang, but we both agreed to ept investors from other parties."


    President Ouyang wanted to discuss the new project involving Tang Liyan and Bai Qingyue, which was due to kick off in a few weeks and was interested to invest in the film.


    "Dear, can you please see Qian for me?" She whispered to her husband, realizing that she cannot easily shrug off President Ouyang.


    Lu Qingfeng agreed easily when he noticed that someone before him managed to approach Xi Qian. It seemed like he wasn''t needed anymore as Li Xiran had alreadye to her rescue.


    Meanwhile, before the married couple arrived, Xi Qian had already arrived with Li Xiran about an hour ago. Xi Qian stayed at a corner, trying her best to make herself irrelevant. She knew she wasn''t supposed to be here and she would rather be spending the night in her room reviewing her notes.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    ''This is going to be a long night.'' She thought as her eyes scanned the banquet hall.


    s, she couldn''t possibly decline her employer''s sudden request to apany his eldest son to this event. It wasn''t like she was new to events like this, but she disliked being in a crowded ce filled with socialites and people who wore clothes that cost more than she could make in a year.


    The mere fact that the moment she stepped inside this ce with Li Xiran was already causing her to receive judging looks by other women, as if appearing in public with Li Xiran was an unforgivable offense to them.


    Xi Qian scoffed at that thought. As if she wanted to be here willingly. If her patient was not worried about Li Xiran messing up his meeting with their prospective investors, she wouldn''t even bothering here with him tonight.


    "I hope I didn''t make you wait for too long."


    Xi Qian released a sigh she didn''t know she was holding when Li Xiran came back to her.


    "It''s alright. It must be really important that they were trying their best to keep you." She gave him a reassuring smile.


    "Mr. Li, how have you been? I didn''t expect to see you tonight. Taking over the family business I assume?"


    Both turned their heads and saw a man walking towards them with a busty woman draped in his arm, the red rubies on her ears sparkling as the light hit them. The manughed and Xi Qian couldn''t help but notice how his belly jiggled as he looked at them.


    "Mr. Fang." Li Xiran gave him a curt nod. "Yes, I came back to help my father with ourpany."


    "I see." The man turned his eyes to Xi Qian. "Why don''t you introduce me to this beautiful woman?"


    Xi Qian felt her face flush at his words. It was rare for her to receive suchpliments, especially when she was with Su Xiaofei.


    "Ah! She blushes! Now that''s something you won''t see everyday on such asions like this. Not many women could be bashful like her."


    Li Xiran frowned, but chose to be patient out of courtesy. He extended his arm to support Xi Qian''s back as he brought her closer to him.


    "This is Xi Qian and she''s my date for the evening." He informed the two, gesturing to Xi Qian with his wine ss in his other hand.


    Xi Qian looked at him with confusion, while the other two looked at the pair with interest. Li Xiran was known to be a lone wolf and had never been spotted with a woman before.

 Chapter 417 Li Xiran And Xi Qian (3)

    "A date, huh?" The woman who was apanying Mr. Fang gave Xi Qian a head to toe look. "Well, this is indeed new. When did this happen?"


    Xi Qian wanted to sneer and tell the other woman that it wasn''t any of her business, but she was forced to bite her inner cheek in an attempt to stop her remark. She didn''t fail to see the sh of arrogance and mockery in the other woman''s eyes.


    "Just recently." Li Xiran answered, sensing Xi Qian''s uneasiness with the other woman''s question.


    He was also irritated by the other woman''s high pitched voice with a hint of ridicule, plus the way she was looking down on Xi Qian. It made sense to him why Xi Qian disliked attending asions like this and he couldn''t me her for it.


    "Now, now. You don''t have to pressure the poor girl, Mari." Mr. Fang gently chastised his partner, his head turning to his right when he recognized someone.


    "Anyway, we must be off. We should talkter, Mr. Li. I would like to get more acquainted with you and your beautiful partner."


    Li Xiran released Xi Qian and gave Mr. Fang a quick hand shake, hoping inwardly that they would leave him and Xi Qian alone. It was obvious that Xi Qian wasn''tfortable with their presence, and he would rather not make it harder for her than it already was.


    "You handled it well. I''m surprised you didn''t snap at her earlier." He told Xi Qian, once the two were out of their earshot.


    "Hmm¡­ I was close to snapping back. Thank goodness you are here with me."


    "But he was right, you know. Not many women could handle themselves in public like you. You have the attitude and an elegance of ady. You have a grace that not many women have."


    "Not until I open my mouth." Xi Qian finished for him, which was followed with Li Xiran''s lips curling up. They both knew that she didn''t mince her words at all.


    "You''ll most likely be bombarded with questions regarding why you are with me tonight."


    "That''s fine. I already expected that it would happen the moment I agreed to apany you when your father asked."


    Li Xiran sighed at that. "He shouldn''t have asked you though. I hope he will stop treating me like a boy already."


    "Then you better stop acting like one." Xi Qian shrugged. "The only reason why your father hasn''t handed you thepany yet is because you aren''t ready and you keep acting like a spoiled brat, throwing tantrums, especially when your brother is involved."


    Li Xiran couldn''t retort at all. He always found that Xi Qian would always have thest word between them. Usually, he would fight until the end to prove his point, but with Xi Qian, he found himself considering her words rather than retorting to defend himself.


    Li Xiran had to admit that he was impressed with Xi Qian from the very moment he''d met her. Initially, he thought that Xi Qian would feel lost in a party like this, but she was only nervous at first, but grew confident quickly. From the looks of it, although Xi Qian was amoner and had no money to her family name, she knew how to behave like ady on such asions.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "So the rumors are true it seems."


    Li Xiran turned to the sound of an elderly voice and found an old man with thick white hair, dressed in a suit approaching them.


    "Uncle Mao, happy birthday." He immediately greeted the elderly and bowed his head politely, surprising his partner. His manner changed immediately to a polite one, facing this man in front of them.


    "Thank you, Xiran. It''s good to have you back after so many years." Uncle Mao nodded, his eyes turning from Li Xiran to Xi Qian. "I don''t normally believe in rumors, but the more I look around, the more I hear about you bringing ady tonight. I couldn''t believe it at first, you see. The Li Xiran that everyone knows has never been spotted with a woman, and yet here you are, with a beautiful one next to you."


    Xi Qian''s face turned red, but she willed herself to calm down. She couldn''t believe that Li Xiran had never bought a woman with him before. So why did he agree to attend with her tonight? What changed?


    "Ah, forgive my rudeness, my dear." Uncle Mao told Xi Qian. "You see, this boy here is a son of a dear friend of mine. I have known Xiran since he was much younger and I assure you that he wasn''t involved with another woman before."


    "Uncle Mao shouldn''t say such words. Miss Xi and I are very good friends." Li Xiran interjected, but the older man only gave him and Xi Qian an amused look and shook his head as if he knew something that they didn''t.


    Xi Qian chose to hold her tongue, not knowing if she should say something in return to address the old man''sment.


    "Happy birthday, Sir. Thank you for having us here."


    Suddenly, a woman in herte fifties approached Uncle Mao. Despite her age, she looked expensive and refined. She cast Li Xiran and Xi Qian a smile before touching Uncle Mao''s arm to get his attention.


    "Dear, the meeting is about to start. You can''t leave others waiting for too long." She told the man.


    "Ah, Xiran. You should join us!" Uncle Mao lifted a hand and gestured for Li Xiran to join them. "I knew that you didn''te here just to celebrate with me. Allow this old man to extend an olive branch to you."


    Li Xiran nced at Xi Qian worriedly. If he leaves now, he wasn''t sure how long it would take for him to return to her side.


    As if sensing his hesitation, Xi Qian nodded her head and smiled at him.


    "Go. I''ll be here when you''re done."

 Chapter 418 Black Belly Couple (1)

    Half an hourter, Xi Qian was starting to regret allowing Li Xiran to leave with the host. She obviously knew the purpose of Li Xiran''s attendance tonight, but that didn''t mean she enjoyed socializing with other women who were above her status. She was able to dodge answering others'' questions about her personal life and who she was to Li Xiran, aside from being his ''friend''.


    She was aware that being here tonight with Li Xiran could be a recipe for disaster, not only for him, but for her as well. The only parties she attended before were hosted by Su Xiaofei or Lu Qingfeng and no one had bothered to cast her a nce among the crowd until now.


    Xi Qian didn''t think that it was anyone else''s business if Li Xiran brought her or any other woman tonight. Neither did he need to exin why she was with him. s, some people wouldn''t leave her alone.


    Li Xiran had been a gentleman to her, always asking her for her opinion during their conversations even though it was obvious that she didn''t have any knowledge about running businesses. He had also been patient with her, introducing her to the other attendees until the host whisked him away. Li Xiran needed to connect with other business associates who could be potential investors in their family business, and this was why she wasn''t upset that he''d left her yet again.


    "Well, if it isn''t Miss Nurse!"


    Xi Qian groaned for the umpteenth time that night and nced at the infuriating maning to greet her. Of all the ces, why did she have to meet this man again? Hadn''t Li Xiran and his younger brother made it clear that they were no longer associated with him?


    "Mr. Long." She gave him a curt nod, even though she was dying to run away from this man. "Is there something you need from me?"


    Xi Qian hadn''t forgotten that this man tried to assault her during hisst visit to meet Li Xiran. Had Li Xiran and Li Xingtian note to her rescue that day, she would have already beaten up this lecherous man. Chairman Li and his wife had gone out for a date and she was left with the Li brothers at their estate.


    Mr. Long hade to discuss business with the two, but somehow along the way, he caught sight of her. He stalked her and cornered her in the private library, where she was studying her notes, and Li Xiran had found her in a precarious situation.


    Li Xiran had been fuming with rage at Mr. Long for what he''d done and decided right then and there to cut off their business connections with the man. Surprisingly, Li Xingtian agreed with him as he escorted Mr. Long out of their manor.


    Xi Qian appreciated the Li brothers'' concern towards her, but she could perfectly defend herself if the man insisted toy a hand on her that day.


    "Simple." Mr. Long grinned at her. "You."


    He then looked around and noticed that neither of the Li brothers were with her.


    "My, my, how could those scoundrels leave you on your own? A beautiful woman like you shouldn''t be left on her own in a crowd of people. So what do you think, Miss Nurse?" He offered a hand for her to take. "Would you apany me instead?"


    Xi Qian shot him a nd smile and ignored the hand he was offering. She would be a fool if she epted his offer after what he had done during their first meeting.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "I have to apologize, but I cannot go with you."


    The smile on Mr. Long''s face faltered, before his lips pressed into a thin line, clearly not pleased that Xi Qian was rejecting him for the second time. Li Xingtian had told her to keep a distance from this man, as Mr. Long was known to be a notorious womanizer.


    Xi Qian then thought that obviously, he was one of those people who couldn''t ept no as an answer. Did his mother drop him when he was a baby? There''s clearly something wrong with his head.


    "Now, now, don''t be like that, Miss Nurse. What could Li Xiran possibly give to you that I couldn''t? Li Xiran shouldn''t be stingy when ites to you and shouldn''t monopolize all your time to himself, no?"


    At those words, Xi Qian narrowed her eyes dangerously, her hand itching to throw the drink she was holding in one hand as she looked at his perverted grin. However, she was also aware that since she was under the employment of the Li family, her actions tonight might implicate them.


    "Mr. Long is thinking too much. Mr. Li and I are nothing but good friends."


    "But we could be friends too, right?" He winked at her. "I wouldn''t mind if you reap benefits from it."


    This man was clearly testing her patience. Xi Qian was really itching to p away the smugness on his face. She couldn''t understand what this man had seen in her and why he was targeting her.


    "Don''t be shy. Let''s not make a scene in front of everyone here." He smirked and stepped forward before grabbing Xi Qian''s wrist, forbidding her to escape.


    "Let go of me." Xi Qian sneered, trying to pull her wrist out of his vice grip hold. She wasn''t stupid not to know that he was threatening her using Li Xiran. If she dared to make a scene tonight, the one who would lose face was not her, but Li Xiran.


    "It''s just for one dance. Is there a reason why you are denying my offer?"


    "Because Qian has promised me a dance. I''m pretty sure that she was speaking in humannguage when she said that she cannot apany you tonight."


    Xi Qian and Mr. Long turned to the direction of the voice to find Lu Qingfeng walking towards them, his arm extending to offer a hand for Xi Qian to take.

 Chapter 419 Black Belly Couple (2)

    "Mr. Long, I would appreciate it if you could remove your hand from Qian."


    The hold on her wrist loosened and Xi Qian immediately epted Lu Qingfeng''s hand, moving nearer to stand next to him. She couldn''t believe her luck! She wasn''t expecting that Lu Qingfeng would be here tonight and would step forward to save her.


    Mr. Long''s face nched once he recognized Lu Qingfeng. His smile faltered and was reced with a scowl.


    Even though Lu Qingfeng was a billionaire, it wasn''t as if his name was sshed all over news and magazines. The Lu family kept their affairs private anyway. However, that didn''t mean no one wouldn''t be able to recognize his identity. Obviously, Mr. Long wasn''t that stupid to antagonize Lu Qingfeng in an asion like this.


    "Mr. Lu¡­" Heughed awkwardly this time, his eyes looking at the young man then to Xi Qian, who was visibly relieved by Lu Qingfeng''s presence.


    "Howe you know Miss Xi?" He asked curiously, probing to know the rtionship between the two. He was curious as to how Xi Qian, who was amoner, managed to get acquainted with the Li family, and now with Lu Qingfeng.


    Lu Qingfeng raised a brow, thinking why should he exin his rtionship with Xi Qian?


    "Miss Xi is a dear friend of our family. Of course it''s only natural for me to look after her."


    "Ahh¡­ Y-yes¡­" He grumbled, his face contorted with annoyance. "Excuse me then. I need to greet the other guests." He said and straightened his coat, giving Xi Qian onest look and left with indignation. Not that Lu Qingfeng and Xi Qian cared about what he thought at that moment.


    Xi Qian sighed and allowed Lu Qingfeng to lead her away.


    "Thank you. I''m pretty sure he would end up with a pair of ck eyes and a broken nose if he insisted on having his way with me." She told Lu Qingfeng once they were out of everyone''s earshot.


    "You should have." Lu Qingfeng nodded. "No one would dare to me you for doing it, not when Feifei and I are here to cover for you."


    Xi Qianughed genuinely for the first time since she stepped into this party. She didn''t doubt Lu Qingfeng''s words and knew that he and Su Xiaofei were a ck belly couple.


    "So, Feifei is here with you too? Where is she?" She asked, curious of her best friend''s whereabouts.


    "Currently upied. President Ouyang wants to discuss business with her, so she told me toe and see you instead." He paused and gave her a good look. "I''m sorry, I should havee sooner and stopped Mr. Long for harassing you. I thought that Li Xiran was still with you."


    "He was." Xi Qian hummed, taking another flute of champagne and took a sip from it. "He''s also preupied at this moment with other business associates."<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "So how did you get acquainted with Mr. Long anyway? He does not have a good reputation when ites to women¡­"


    "I know." Xi Qian groaned, and leaned on her seat. "He''s horrible. Just because he has money, doesn''t mean he could bribe women to sleep with him. And since you have given me permission, I wouldn''t hold back next time. I''ll beat the shit out of him."


    She then proceeded to inform Lu Qingfeng about what happened at the Li Manor a week ago during Mr. Long''s visit. Just remembering what happened was enough for Xi Qian to be annoyed once again. Hopefully, this time, Mr. Long wouldn''t dare to bother her again, knowing that she was friends with Lu Qingfeng.


    Lu Qingfeng''s eyes darkened, but remained silent as he listened to Xi Qian''s narrative. Perhaps he should teach the man a hard lesson. Since Mr. Long thought that he was powerful because he had money, then Lu Qingfeng wouldn''t mind helping him experience what it''s like to have nothing.


    It should also keep him upied, ensuring that he would have no time to spare to nce at women with the problems he had to face to keep his business afloat. His Feifei should have no qualms about his ns. If anything, she would be eager to see the oue of this scheme.


    He didn''t tell these to Xi Qian though, knowing that she wouldn''t like to be the reason for someone else''s demise, despite what the man did to her. Xi Qian was a strong woman, but it cannot be denied that she also had a soft heart. Unlike him and Su Xiaofei, Xi Qian disliked underhanded tricks and schemes.


    "Sorry, that took longer than I expected."


    Su Xiaofei joined their table with a grimace on her face. She sighed and epted a ss of water from her husband, knowing that he was keeping an eye on whatever she would put in her mouth tonight.


    "How are you, Qian? I spotted you earlier, but couldn''t get to you sooner."


    Su Xiaofei was thankful that after her long talk with President Ouyang, the man finally took pity on her and allowed her to excuse herself. She had been distracted throughout their conversation as she kept looking around for her best friend in the crowd.


    "It''s fine, Feifei. Lu Qingfeng already exined to me what happened. The two of you came for business and not for me, so don''t be sorry." Xi Qian replied. Having these two with her tonight made it so much better for her.


    "So did youe with Mr. Li? Where is he anyway?" She asked Xi Qian. She also wanted to know how deep their feelings were towards each other. Was a month of living in the same ce enough for their romance to bloom?


    "The host invited him to join them for a meeting. I don''t expect him to remember that I''m waiting here. He needs to convince those businessmen to invest in theirpany." Xi Qian chuckled.


    "He wouldn''t forget." Su Xiaofei gave her best friend a knowing smile, but kept her opinion to herself.

 Chapter 420 Two Peas In A Pod (1)

    Lu Qingfeng decided to leave his wife with Xi Qian, giving the two women some time to catch up with each other. He didn''t want to eavesdrop on their conversation nor was he interested to know the real score between Xi Qian and Li Xiran. It was enough for him to know that Li Xiran was with her.


    As he socialized with the other attendees, Lu Qingfeng unexpectedly ran to a person neither he nor Su Xiaofei were looking forward to seeing again. He hade to the balcony that oversaw the gardens to free himself from the unnecessary talks with the other guests. Imagine his surprise when he found Mo Yuchen smoking on the balcony.


    Mo Yuchen''s sudden change had bothered him, though he wouldn''t admit it to his wife. What were the odds that Mo Yuchen was also reborn like him and Su Xiaofei? Wouldn''t this make their livesplicated?


    Mo Yuchen also stopped in his tracks and returned Lu Qingfeng''s cold gaze with the same intensity. The two men regarded each other with scrutiny.


    Lu Qingfeng decided to ignore Mo Yuchen and walked past him. However, Mo Yuchen didn''t like the way the younger man looked down on him. No matter which lifetime he was in, Lu Qingfeng had this haughty and arrogant expression on his face, as if he was superior to him.


    "I wonder how long you will be able to remain calm. Once Feifei returns to me, do you think she will still keep someone like you in her life?"


    Lu Qingfeng paused and looked at Mo Yuchen darkly over his shoulder.


    "Between the two of us, you are the one who''s aplete stranger in Feifei''s life. I hate to be the bearer of bad news for you, CEO Mo, but Feifei and I are already married. Whatever you are trying to pull now means nothing to me or to Feifei."


    Mo Yuchen red at him fiercely, not believing a single word Lu Qingfeng had just said. He wanted to believe that the young man was only trying to get on his nerves by iming such absurdity. It had always been a one-sided romance between Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng, and he didn''t believe that Su Xiaofei would be reckless and marry so suddenly.


    "You''re lying." He sneered at Lu Qingfeng.


    "Am I now?" The younger man scoffed arrogantly, daring Mo Yuchen to prove his usation. "Do I need to show you our marriage certificate before you leave Feifei alone?"


    "You''re quite suspicious to be honest, CEO Mo." Lu Qingfeng continued. "Weren''t you the one who always treated Feifei as if she wasn''t worthy of your attention? Now you are the one who is chasing after her, despite her telling you to back off. So CEO Mo, between the two of us, I think that you are the one who''s lying to Feifei."


    Mo Yuchen stiffened at Lu Qingfeng''s usation. As expected, a person like Lu Qingfeng wouldn''t fail to notice the sudden change in his demeanor, but it couldn''t be helped at all. He cannot remain the same person as he was before his rebirth.


    The Mo Yuchen from before was the one who disliked Su Xiaofei, not him. He realized toote that he''d been a fool, pushing all the me on her when she did nothing but to prove that she was worthy of his love.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    One reason he had pushed her away was because his pride wouldn''t allow him to admit that he was envious of her. He didn''t like her domineering ways and that Su Xiaofei could hold her head up proudly regardless of what people thought of her. Unlike him, he needed to work hard to please his family and meet their expectations.


    He stared at Lu Qingfeng, noticing that his expression, down to how he presented himself, was the same as Lu Qingfeng, the tyrant who killed him in his previous life. Mo Yuchen couldn''t be mistaken.


    He chuckled bemusedly, making Lu Qingfeng arched a slender brow towards him.


    "Then don''t you think that we''re the same, Mr. Lu?" Mo Yuchen said with mockery. "You aren''t the Lu Qingfeng that Feifei knew."


    Lu Qingfeng''s eyes narrowed suspiciously. Was his assumption about Mo Yuchen being reborn like them was right?


    "What the hell are you talking about?" He answered coldly. Lu Qingfeng didn''t like where their talk was going. How could Mo Yuchen be so stupid to give himself away and admit that he was reborn?


    "You know what I mean, Mr. Lu." Mo Yuchen gave him a pointed look. "The Lu Qingfeng in this life isn''t supposed to be you. You are no better than me, Lu Qingfeng. You are lying straight to her face. Would you like to know what her reaction would be if she knew that you are a murderer?"


    He waited and kept his eyes trained on Lu Qingfeng''s face, eager to see if the man would react to his usation, but Lu Qingfeng remained silent.


    "Silence means yes, don''t you know this?" He continued when Lu Qingfeng didn''t say a word in his defense.


    "Pathetic." Lu Qingfeng would have rolled his eyes if he could, but wouldn''t. It wasn''t in his nature to do so.


    "Who are you calling pathetic?" Mo Yuchen snapped at him with rage in his eyes. How dare Lu Qingfeng insult him like this?


    "You. Who else am I talking to? You must have been taking some kind of drug for you to spout such nonsense, CEO Mo. You have stooped too low to use me of a crime I didn''tmit." Lu Qingfeng replied with a scoff, burying his hands in the side pockets of his pants, before turning to leave.


    "What? Chickening from the truth now? Lu Qingfeng, you cannot keep your pretense for too long in front of Feifei. Sooner orter, she will find out how horrible of a person you are." Mo Yuchen continued, knowing that the younger man was still able to hear him clearly.

 Chapter 421 Two Peas In A Pod (2)

    Despite the calmness on his face, Lu Qingfeng''s hands were trembling. Thankfully, he managed to hide it even before Mo Yuchen took notice of his reaction to his usation. He''d decided to leave before he could make a mistake and give Mo Yuchen an advantage against him.


    Indeed, what would Su Xiaofei do if she knew the terrible things he had done in their previous lives after her death? Would she me herself for it, or would she find him deplorable and cruel?


    Lu Qingfeng had been trying to ignore these thoughts for some time now, and it annoyed him that Mo Yuchen was able to rile him up like this. He didn''t need to hear such words from Mo Yuchen, especially when thetter was the one responsible for Su Xiaofei''s fate.


    When he returned to the table where he left his wife and Xi Qian, he saw that Li Xiran had already joined them. Li Xiran stood from his seat the moment he saw him and offered his hand for a handshake.


    "Mr. Lu, it''s been awhile." Li Xiran said and Lu Qingfeng epted his hand shake.


    "Indeed, I heard that you are back in town. d that I''m able to meet you this time."


    "You know each other?" Su Xiaofei''s eyes looked at Lu Qingfeng and Li Xiran in surprise. Her husband never mentioned that he''d met Li Xiran before.


    "En. We met during my senior year at the university. Unfortunately, he was in Shenjing only for a short trip."


    Lu Qingfeng took a seat next to her and took a sniff from the ss she was drinking, d that it wasn''t wine or any alcoholic drink.


    "I see¡­" Su Xiaofei stared at her husband, sensing that something was off. He''d only been gone for a few minutes, but why did he look like he was mad about something?


    Her ever patient and calm husband¡­ who would have dared to make Lu Qingfeng this upset?


    She wanted to ask him, but the way he looked away from her, as if he was avoiding her, startled Su Xiaofei. Was he upset with her? She wondered. But she couldn''t think of anything she had done recently that would make Lu Qingfeng act like this.


    Instead of questioning him, Su Xiaofei reached out to his hand that rested on his left thigh and twined their hands together. Lu Qingfeng immediately snapped his head and looked at her with surprise, and she gave him an assuring look, wordlessly telling him that everything would be fine so long as they were together.


    Lu Qingfeng looked down at their twined hands, feeling the warmth of her hand in his. Could it really be considered lying if he refuses to tell her that he was reborn like her too?


    But he didn''t want Su Xiaofei to misunderstand him again, or use him of making a fool out of her. He just didn''t want her to hate him again, like she used to in his previous life.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    If Su Xiaofei knew that he''d be a ruthless tyrant, would she regret marrying him? Would she use him of lying and deceiving her into marriage?


    Lu Qingfeng tried to push these thoughts away from his mind, but it was hard not to think of it, especially now that Mo Yuchen had raised the issue. Heughed at himself, thinking that he could only me himself for being too obsessed with Su Xiaofei. It wasn''t like he didn''t try to move on without her, but he could only see the world as empty and gray without her in it.


    "So you were looking for me? Is there something I can help you with?"


    Li Xiran''s questions brought Lu Qingfeng back to reality. He nodded in response and pulled out a calling card from his coat and handed it over to Li Xiran. Their brotherhood was considering Li Xiran to join them and he was the one in charge to invite him over for a talk.


    "I heard that you are looking for investors. Feel free to join us on the time and date indicated on that card. We will be waiting for you."


    Li Xiran looked at the card that he was holding, reading that it was a business card for a high ss bar in Guangshang. He had visited that ce a couple of times when he was younger, but he was surprised that Lu Qingfeng wanted to meet him at such a ce.


    "Thanks for the invitation. I will consider it."


    No. He would surely be there, Li Xiran was sure of it. But he didn''t want to sound presumptuous, as he was sure that Lu Qingfeng wouldn''t extend an olive branch to help him without expecting anything in exchange.


    Lu Qingfeng only hummed and chose to remain silent next to his wife, allowing Su Xiaofei and Xi Qian to take the lead in their conversation. He answered monotonously whenever they asked him something, but it was obvious that his mind was elsewhere.


    "Did something happen? I''m worried about you. You know you can tell me anything, right?" Su Xiaofei whispered to him when Xi Qian''s attention was on Li Xiran.


    Lu Qingfeng considered his options. He was aware that it would be foolish of him if he imed that nothing was bothering him at the moment. Su Xiaofei would surely not believe him. She had known him for too long to know whether he was lying to her or not.


    No ¡ª she didn''t. Lu Qingfeng thought. Otherwise, she would have noticed by now that he was reborn like her a long time ago.


    "Give me some time to think about it, Feifei." He gently ran his fingers on her cheek. "I''ll tell you what''s on my mind once I''m ready."


    Su Xiaofei was eager to know what was bothering him, but since Lu Qingfeng had put it that way, she could only wait for him until he was ready. Whatever it was, it must be serious for her husband to act like this.

 Chapter 422 A Tyrant For His Villainess (1)

    Lu Qingfeng refused to believe that he and Mo Yuchen were the same, that whatever he says now, they were two peas in a pod. He wasn''t as innocent as Su Xiaofei deemed him to be, not when he ruined so many lives in his previous life after her death. He knew that regardless of his reasons, he shouldn''t have done those horrible things, iming that it was for Su Xiaofei''s sake.


    The rest of the night was blurry to him, but it didn''t matter, as he''d already done what he needed to do, and that was to extend an invitation to Li Xiran to join their brotherhood. He didn''t bother to socialize with other party attendees, as he already made sure to greet the necessary persons to pay attention to earlier.


    He remained silent as his wife chose to spend her time talking to Li Xiran and Xi Qian. Lu Qingfeng could see the curiosity in her eyes, and he knew that she wanted to y matchmaker.


    He sighed inwardly, thinking that Su Xiaofei should just leave them be. Whether the two rekindle their love with each other or not, it wasn''t his or Su Xiaofei''s business to meddle. Not that he was worried that Xi Qian won''t have her own happy ending in this lifetime. Lu Qingfeng knew that she wasn''t a person who could easily be swayed by mere words, and he respected her for that.


    Lu Qingfengughed at that thought. He and Xi Qian used to be against each other when they were younger, but now they had mutual respect for each other. Hadn''t it only been yesterday when Xi Qian had been trying to take Su Xiaofei''s attention away from him?


    Sensing that he wasn''t in the mood to stay any longer than they already had, Su Xiaofei bid goodbye to her best friend and Li Xiran.


    "I''m sorry, Qian. I''ve been busy these days, but I will make sure to pay you a visit very soon." She said before turning to Li Xiran. "I hope that it''s alright with Mr. Li. I promise I won''t take too much of Qian''s time."


    "Miss Su is wee to visit us anytime. Of course, we won''t mind."


    "Then, shall we go, dear?"


    Lu Qingfeng looked at her for a moment, thoughts quickly running through his mind as Mo Yuchen''s words kept reying itself like a broken record. Surely, Mo Yuchen didn''t deserve Su Xiaofei''s love, but did he?


    He downyed Mo Yuchen''s usation that he was reborn like him, because he didn''t want topare himself to that excuse of a man. Yet, part of Lu Qingfeng knew that it could send everything he worked so hard for into a hellhole if Su Xiaofei found out about it and rejected him again.


    "Alright." He started slowly, his eyes looking at her withplicated emotions in them.


    Their ride home was quieter than usual, with Lu Qingfeng''s mind preupied with thoughts of the fact that he had kept the truth about him being reborn like Su Xiaofei from her. Meanwhile, Su Xiaofei chose to stick with him, regardless of what was bothering him. She would wait for him for as long as possible, because she knew Lu Qingfeng would have done the same thing if she was in his ce.


    "You seem like you had fun."


    Su Xiaofei turned to look at her husband, lying on their bed, with his coat discarded and left on the carpeted floor. She padded bare-footed towards him and sat on the edge of the bed and looked at him, her long hair undone with her earrings and jewelries removed.


    "I had a st with Qian." She smiled at him. "Did you know she would be there, so you insisted on bringing me with you?"


    "No. I''m equally surprised, like you. I would have never thought that her new employer would bring her with him as his date."


    "You seem tired." Su Xiaofei ran her fingers on his arm, giving Lu Qingfeng the shivers.


    "A little." He admitted. "But nothing to worry about."


    "Alright then." He heard her murmuring as she left their bed. "If you''d rather sleep than join me¡­"


    "What are you¡ª" Lu Qingfeng wasn''t able to finish his words as he lifted himself slightly from the bed, only to find the evening dress his wife was wearing had slipped from her form. Her body d with nothing but a pair of ckcy underwear and matching bra. Her long hair hung loosely cascading down her back as she looked at him with a teasing smile.


    "Since you said that you are tired, I guess you aren''t in the mood tonight. I''ll go and enjoy a long shower while you snore¡ª"


    Su Xiaofei squealed loudly when his arms caught her and dragged her back to the bed with him. Herughing dark eyes looking into his now hungry ones. She was d that whatever that bothered him earlier wasn''t able to stop her from seducing her husband tonight.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "You aren''t going anywhere tonight, wife, not when you''re teasing me like this." Lu Qingfeng didn''t waste time and peppered her neck with kisses, turning herughter into moans. He was surprised at how confident she was in seducing him into their bed when she had been too shy to bare herself in front of him before.


    Su Xiaofei gasped as she felt his lips on her bare flesh, leaving dark marks in the process, while his hands roamed her sides.


    "Thought you said you were tired, hmm?" She whispered, her chest heaving as she was pushed further up her husband''srger figure. She shivered with anticipation when she felt hisrge erection pressed against her belly.


    "How could I think of going to sleep when you are tempting me like this, Feifei? So naughty." Lu Qingfeng murmured against her skin, while her delicate fingers started fiddling his shirt to slip it off from his muscled form. Once his top was discarded, their lips finally met.


    Su Xiaofei hummed as long fingers sought the sp on her back and in no time, her undergarment followed her evening dress and Lu Qingfeng''s shirt on the floor, leaving her fully exposed to her husband''s hungry eyes. At least their lovemaking was able to bring her husband back to her and allow him to forget his worries for the meantime.


    As Lu Qingfeng continued to kiss her exposed body, she arched into his mouth, wanting more from him. Her nails digging into his flesh as her legs began to curl around his body, her toes gripping the sheets beneath her in sheer ecstasy.


    "You''re so beautiful." She heard him say as he discarded the rest of his clothes and settled between her legs.


    "You always say that." She pointed out, before her next words were forgotten as a pair of lips cut her off, his strong arms pulling her closer.


    Lu Qingfeng did say that he was a little tired, but in the end, Su Xiaofei was the one who was asking him for no more.


    Lu Qingfeng was sure that he was dreaming, because he knew that he had just had a mind-blowing sex with his wife earlier and had fallen asleep. His whole body stiffened when he noticed the ce he was in and what could be waiting for him behind that closed door.


    Against his will, his body sauntered towards the familiar room of the summer house owned by the Qiao family, where Su Xiaofei was residing. Outside the door, he found an eighteen-year-old Qiao Yuhan weeping. Lu Qingfeng didn''t need to ask what was waiting for him on the other side of the door because these dreams had been persistently haunting him for as long as he could remember.


    "She''s gone." Qiao Yuhan said between his sobs.


    Lu Qingfeng''s heart clenched painfully in his chest, but he couldn''t stop his own body from moving. He opened the door and found the woman he loved, lying on the bed, pale and white as a sheet. Her lips and fingernails were dark, indicating that the poison in her body had managed to ruin her inside and out.


    He felt himself trembling from the sight as usual. He reached out and cupped her cheek, only to find that her warmth had long been gone.


    Lu Qingfeng couldn''t believe that he was having this dream again and hoped that he would wake up soon in thepany of his wife. He didn''t want to relive this nightmare again as he held her lifeless body and clung into it, begging her toe back.


    "Lu Qingfeng! You bettere back to me!"


    He heard his wife''s voice and wondered if he was finally saved this time.


    "Lu Qingfeng!"


    His eyes shot open, and he saw his wife hovering over him with worried eyes. She was still in the state of undress but she didn''t seem bothered by it.


    "Thank goodness you''re back."


    Lu Qingfeng heaved a deep breath and pulled her into an embrace.

 Chapter 423 A Tyrant For His Villainess (2)

    Su Xiaofei was frantic when she woke up and realized that her husband was having a nightmare next to her. Lu Qingfeng had a deep frown on his face and was breathing erratically. She had tried to wake him up, but her husband wasn''t responding to her, sending her straight into panic mode.


    She had known that Lu Qingfeng had a hard time falling asleep as she had witnessed the same thing happen during her time as a ghost. At that time, she thought that she would be able to help him with these episodes, but she was proven wrong now. No matter what she did, Lu Qingfeng remained asleep and unresponsive towards her.


    "You are definitely not alright. You scared me to death." She said as Lu Qingfeng held her close, hearing his heartbeat racing against his chest. Was he scared? She wondered.


    He must be. From the way he was clinging to her and how unusually pale his face was, that nightmare must have scared him. But Su Xiaofei couldn''t help but be curious. What kind of nightmare was it for her husband to act like this?


    Lu Qingfeng said nothing and only rested his chin on top of her head. Su Xiaofei remained still and let him hold her as long as he wanted, if this would help him to calm down from his nightmare. Still, she hoped that he would at least tell her what was going on.


    "I know I said that I would wait until you are ready, but if this happens again, I wouldn''t know what to do." She looked up at him and felt his fingertips wiping the tears she hadn''t noticed streaking earlier.


    "I apologize. I didn''t think something like this would happen. It is just hard to collect my thoughts and decide which ones are the truth and which ones are not." Lu Qingfeng finally said.


    Su Xiaofei blinked through her tears and looked at him confusedly.


    "What do you mean?" She asked, trying to see if he would answer her this time.


    Lu Qingfeng didn''t respond for a moment, trying to find the right words to exin to his wife about his knowledge of their previous life without implying that he was reborn just like her. He didn''t mean to lie about his rebirth, but he wouldn''t want her to misunderstand his intentions for keeping the truth from her this long.


    "Feifei, I had dreams before, way before I came back to Qiying City." He started and Su Xiaofei listened to him, giving him her full attention. "They were so vivid and felt so real that I couldn''t distinguish if I was dreaming or experiencing it myself. Were those merely nightmares or fragments of my memories? I couldn''t tell at all. In those dreams, you had died. Aunty Qing died. Xi Qian died and I¡­"


    His words trailed off, not sure if he should tell her how he became a tyrant after her death. Lu Qingfeng knew that he could not use her as an excuse for the horrible things he had done in the past because Su Xiaofei had never asked him to do any of it. It was his sin to bear, not for Su Xiaofei to carry the guilt.


    "I became a monster, Feifei. I could feel their blood on my hands. I could feel the coldness from your lifeless body as I held you like this. Feifei, I wouldn''t know what I would do if I lost you."<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Su Xiaofei shivered at his words, eyes widening as it never urred to her that something like this could happen. It made sense to her why Lu Qingfeng would act like this. However, she couldn''t just im that those were merely dreams, because he had truly be a person she couldn''t recognize after her death.


    If it wasn''t because of her, Lu Qingfeng wouldn''t have turned that way. He wouldn''t do such things if she hadn''t died, leaving him with no reason to continue living. He was alone, more than ever, and it broke her heart to see him withering away during her time as a ghost. Perhaps that was one reason why she wasn''t reborn immediately. Fate must have wanted her to witness the effects of her poor choices and how deep Lu Qingfeng''s love for her was.


    And now, he was being haunted by the memories of his previous life. How can she not be worried about him? She knew that if he managed to remember all of those memories from the past, it would only torment him more.


    The one who should apologize was her, not him. She had been unfair to him from the very beginning, dismissing his feelings towards her just because he was younger in age. Heck, she even became a foolish teenager when she followed Mo Yuchen around like a headless chicken?


    As for him bing a tyrant¡­ well, she wasn''t as innocent as Lu Qingfeng thought her to be. She had been a foolish viiness in her previous life. Wouldn''t that make him a tyrant for his viiness?


    "If you are given a chance to change it, would you do it?"


    Lu Qingfeng considered her question for a moment. Did he regret what he''d done after her death? Truthfully, no. He would do it all over again if they dare to plot on her life again. However, seeing his wife''s worried expression, Lu Qingfeng decided not to share these thoughts with her.


    "That Lu Qingfeng only became a monster because he lost his Feifei. I wouldn''t be so foolish as to suffer the same fate as him." He responded.


    ''I cannot lose you again.'' He added in his mind.


    Su Xiaofei ran her hand over his muscled arm and smiled at him.


    "Still, even if you be a monster, as long as your heart is mine, I would still be with you nevertheless. I must sound foolish for saying these, but I would still love you even if the world burns to the ground."

 Chapter 424 You Scratch My Back And I’ll Scratch Yours (1)

    A weekter, Li Xiran found himself inside the bar that was indicated on the card Lu Qingfeng had given him during theirst encounter. He wasn''t sure what to expect tonight and wasn''t sure why Lu Qingfeng was interested in a business deal with him, considering that his family''spany wasn''t doing well at the moment.


    When the news broke out that his father copsed and got a heart attack, thepany shares plummeted and several of their prospective investors backed out. If only Li Xingtian was able to convince them that he could manage thepany on his own, but s, he didn''t have the business acumen their father ingrained into Li Xiran during his childhood years.


    If Li Xiran was raised to be his sessor, Chairman Li raised Li Xingtian without the pressure on his shoulder, allowing thetter to do his own bidding. It was something Li Xiran hated about his father. He couldn''t understand why his father was hard on him, but was willing to dote on his younger brother.


    If he hadn''t returned in time, Li Xiran was sure that he would find the business his forefathers started in shambles if it was left to his ipetent little brother for too long. Now, the board was looking at him as if he could pull out some miracle to save theirpany.


    Li Xiran groaned at that thought. He couldn''t believe he should sacrifice the career he started from scratch, without relying on his father''s influence, over the years only to save his younger brother''s ass. He supposed his birthright as the firstborn wouldn''t allow him to lose thepany because of Li Xingtian.


    Having no choice but to do what was needed, Li Xiran could only suck it up and face the challenge as a man. He entered the bar and wasn''t surprised when a loud crowd and music greeted him. He grimaced and continued to make his way to the VIP lounge.


    Even though the ce was thumping with loud and catchy music and filled with people, no one dared to approach him. He walked alone, and the crowd parted like the Red Sea giving way to Moses. Men got out of his way, while women could only ogle at him with interest.


    None of them mattered to Li Xiran as he walked past them. He was here for business and not to socialize anyway.


    He moved to the narrow hall, which was surprisingly empty, given how jam packed the dance floor was. There were several VIP booths on the second level, which he walked past until he reached the designated room on his card. Outside room 209, there were two guards wearing ck suits and an earpiece on their right ears. They gave him a nk look as he approached.


    "I''m here on an invitation." Li Xiran pulled out the card and showed it to the two guards.


    They nodded, stepped aside, one of them opening the door for him.


    Li Xiran said nothing else and strode inside, his eyes sweeping around the room, noticing how the ce wasparablyrger than the other VIP rooms he''d entered within the bar. He was then greeted with a sight of four men ying poker at therge center table with a bottle of alcohol an arm''s length away from each of them.


    The four men lifted their heads almost at the same time when Li Xiran opened the door. Each had different expressions on their faces.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "About damn time. We''ve been waiting for you." Song Yiranughed as he saw Li Xiran. He then gestured for the neer to take a seat.


    "Thanks. I''m Li Xiran by the way." He extended a hand and shook hands with the four men before taking a seat next to Song Yiran.


    "Now we only wait for Lu Qingfeng to arrive." Ning Xuanmented as he continued to y with Zhu Baichuan and Yan Xiuchen.


    "I already knew this would happen. He was head over heels for Su Xiaofei before. Now that they are married, I wouldn''t be surprised if Lu Qingfeng is already wrapped around her finger." Song Yiran hummed.


    "Lu Qingfeng is already married?" Li Xiran blinked at that. When did Lu Qingfeng marry Su Xiaofei? When he met the twost week, although it was obvious that they werefortable with each other, he didn''t think that they would''ve already tied the knot. But judging by theirfort level, it wouldn''t be surprising if they told him they had been married for a long time.


    "Yep. Surprise, right? He''s the youngest amongst us, but he couldn''t wait and jumped into marriage as soon as he got the chance." Zhu Beichuan answered him, while Yan Xiuchen remained silent on his seat as he took a sip from his brandy.


    "I could see why he wants to marry her right off the bat. With a face like Su Xiaofei''s, it wouldn''t be surprising if men coveted her." Ning Xuan shrugged. Su Xiaofei was a pleasure to meet anyway, and he could see why Lu Qingfeng was attracted to her.


    The door opened for the second time and the five men turned, their conversation forgotten. Lu Qingfeng came in sight, walking towards them in a hurry as he slipped his jacket off and tossed it to the empty couch in the process.


    "Why is it that since you got married, you''ve beeningter than usual?" Ning Xuan asked him with a grin. "Su Xiaofei won''t let you go?"


    Lu Qingfeng groaned and shook his head. He took a seat next to Yan Xiuchen and gave Li Xiran a quick nce. He gave him a curt nod before facing Ning Xuan.


    "No." He denied whatever Ning Xuan was implying. "I lost track of time."


    Which was true. Ning Xuan got it wrong, though, because the one who wasn''t willing to part from each other was him. If his wife hadn''t reminded him of his meeting with the rest of the brotherhood, he would have totally forgotten about it and would have continued to bask in his wife''s attention.

 Chapter 425 You Scratch My Back And I’ll Scratch Yours (2)

    Lu Qingfeng kept the truth to himself and wouldn''t vocally admit that to anyone. Not because he was afraid that people would change their opinion towards him, but because he didn''t want anyone to assume that they could use Su Xiaofei against him.


    If the rest of the brotherhood was bothered by his sudden change since his marriage, none of them had voiced their displeasure towards his wife. It wasn''t Su Xiaofei''s fault that he''d been on edge these days due to Mo Yuchen''s tant usation. Anyway, the purpose of their brotherhood wasn''t to poke into each other''s private affairs. It mostly started out of business needs.


    The six of them yed poker and talked about the current issues and updates rted to their business, leaving Li Xiran speechless. He''d considered himself a lone wolf, always doing everything on his own rather than relying on someone else''s help.


    But as he listened to how the five men talked casually about how theirpanies were faring, he somewhat understood why Lu Qingfeng invited him tonight. They were lowering their guard to ept each other''s criticisms and opinions over the projects they were handling.


    Li Xiran had to admit that it was a genius move, but a dangerous one. One needed absolute trust in one another before he couldy his cards and reveal his own weaknesses, but what he couldn''t understand was why these prominent men needed to consult each other.


    It wasn''t like he couldn''t recognize the five men in front of him. Lu Qingfeng hade from old money. The Lu family had been in the finance and banking industry before any of them were even born. Lu Qingfeng was one of the youngest billionaires under 30 and Li Xiran didn''t doubt that the Lu family''s wealth could sustain several family generations.


    As for the scarred real estate tycoon that was seated across from him, well¡­ Li Xiran had only heard of Yan Xiuchen''s name and not many knew anything about the man. It made sense to him why Yan Xiuchen chose to keep himself away from the limelight. It wasn''t like Yan Xiuchen could hirepetent people to do his bidding anyway.


    Zhu Baichuan hade from a family of government officials and he was the first one to break the tradition and go to the business side rather than following in his forefathers'' footsteps. He had to fight for every penny that came his way and his hard work paid off eventually.


    Among the five of them, only Ning Xuan and Song Yiran came from nothing. Although Song Yiran''s family was well off, considering that their whole family fortune was coveted by his uncle, he only had the grandiose of his family name without any money attached to it. As for Ning Xuan, he was a trader and had made a hefty amount of money from his risky investments.


    "So what about you, Mr. Li? Care to share what''s happening in your yard?" Ning Xuan asked Li Xiran, before taking another swig of his beer.


    "Rx. You don''t need to overthink. It''s normal that you don''t trust us. You don''t need to say anything if you don''t want to." Song Yiran said when he noticed Li Xiran stiffened in his seat next to him.


    Li Xiran hesitated for a moment and sighed.


    "Not good. Some of the projects have been put on hold since my father''s health deteriorated. Some of our investors have already pulled out and it''s been challenging to find new ones that wouldn''t question my ability to lead thepany." He admitted.


    "You haven''t proven anything to them yet, so that''s a given. But you can''t make excuses every time you fail. I suppose you''ve already swallowed your pride when you decided toe here on your own."<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Surprisingly, it was Yan Xiuchen who told Li Xiran this. The rest of his brothers nced at Yan Xiuchen with a knowing look on their faces.


    "You need a good start and I''m willing to give you a chance. I heard that there''s an ind resort being reconstructed under yourpany." Lu Qingfeng chimed in.


    Li Xiran''s jaw hardened. If Lu Qingfeng knew such details about their business deals, then the rest of them probably know how it was already hanging by a thread now. It seemed that Lu Qingfeng wasn''tpletely relying on the Lu Corporation and had already ventured out to start apany on his own instead.


    "Ah, what''s this? Another acquisition for Lu Conglomerates?" Song Yiranughed. "I''m starting to think that Su Xiaofei should only be wary of your love for money than worry about you seeing another woman."


    "I would rather choose money over women. We just love making money." Zhu Baichuanughed and passed another bottle of beer to Yan Xiuchen. "How about you, bro?"


    "Who has time for them? It''s already surprising that Lu Qingfeng could still marry the woman of his dreams, given how busy his schedule is." Yan Xiuchen shrugged.


    "It''s all about time management and I didn''t have any reason to micromanage my staff. They were hired for a reason." Lu Qingfeng said in defense. If it was about his wife, he would make sure to make time for her.


    "So what do you want me to do then?" Li Xiran asked, hoping that Lu Qingfeng would exin himself.


    "Convince the owner to sell the resort to me. In return, I will invest in yourpany. I''m sure that you''re well aware of the condition of that resort and how the owner mismanages it." Lu Qingfeng answered him.


    His privatepany was all about buying businesses that were on the verge of bankruptcy, turning them into profitable ones and reaping the benefits from it.


    Li Xiran fell silent at that. Truth to be told, it was easy for him to follow Lu Qingfeng''s way of thinking.


    "Fine. I''ll do it, but give me some time."


    "A week then. That''s all we need." Lu Qingfeng gave him an unltimatum.

 Chapter 426 A Guarded Heart (1)

    Su Xiaofei alighted from the car and nced at the grand manor that was isted from the other estates. It was her first timeing to the Li family manor with the intention of visiting her best friend. Their small talk during the party wasn''t enough for her and knew that she needed her best friend at a time like this.


    The old housekeeper of the family led her to the gardens to wait for Xi Qian. Su Xiaofei walked slowly to the shaded patio as she took a good look at the ce. It seemed that thedy of the house had been paying attention to the garden as she had seen familiar varieties of flowers along the way.


    "Feifei!"


    Su Xiaofei turned her head and found Xi Qian rushing towards her with a hint of blush on her face. She was dressed in a light blue blouse and white skirt that reached above her knees with her shoulder length hair tied in a ponytail. She looked happier and healthier now that she wasn''t working the graveyard shift in the hospital.


    "You look good, Qian. How''s work?" She smiled at her best friend, allowing Xi Qian to drag her to the deepest part of the garden where they could have a private talk.


    "It''s fine. They are treating me well and I now have the time to focus on my notes." Xi Qian replied. "But sometimes I feel like time is passing too slow here."


    Without the adrenaline rush she usually experienced in her previous workce, Xi Qian was starting to find the silence deafening at the Li manor.


    "So do you want to quit then?" Su Xiaofei raised a slender brow at her in question.


    "God, no." Xi Qian eximed. "I like my job. It''s not everyday I would be given a chance to work and study at the same time. I just need to get used to it."


    They took a seat next to the fountain. Su Xiaofei gracefully tucked a stray hair behind her ear as they sat.


    "So what about you and Lu Qingfeng? Is everything alright? He''s not pressuring you into something you don''t like, is he?" Xi Qian asked in return.


    Su Xiaofei gave her a weak smile. She couldn''t tell if it was a problem, since Lu Qingfeng hadn''t raised the issue of his memories again. She wasn''t sure of how much he could remember of the past, but she knew she owed him an apology for everything he''d gone through because of her.


    "We''re fine. He''s treating me well. He''s been patient with me."


    "Even in bed?" Xi Qian asked with a grin, earning a blush from Su Xiaofei.


    "We''re good. We''re learning together."


    Su Xiaofei couldn''t possibly tell her best friend that she and Lu Qingfeng couldn''t keep their hands off of each other and were doing it more frequently now, like bunnies in heat. If Lu Qingfeng hadn''t been using protection, she would think that he was trying to put a baby in her, given how affectionate he was recently.


    Lu Qingfeng had been extra clingy on her these days and she didn''t have to deny him of her touch, not when she knew that it could lessen the worry in his heart. She wanted to assure him in any way that she wouldn''te to hate him. Never. Not when she had witnessed all those sins with her own eyes.


    "That''s good then. But have you already talked about having a kid in the future?" Xi Qian asked.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Silence was the answer she got from Su Xiaofei.


    Lu Qingfeng had told her that she was not under any obligation to give him one, but Su Xiaofei knew that the Lu family would pressure them into it.


    "We''re not ready for that yet, Qian. So many things have happened these days."


    "Like?"


    Xi Qian waited for Su Xiaofei to exin and the other could only sigh and rest her head against her best friend''s shoulder. Su Xiaofei briefly wondered why she wasn''t as tall as her husband or Xi Qian.


    "Qian, I''m adopted. I''m not my Mama and Su Haoran''s real daughter."


    Su Xiaofei had avoided talking about her adoption or her real parents, except with her mother and Lu Qingfeng. However, now that Qiao Fengying was aware of her identity, the possibility of Bai Qingyue finding out had risen.


    Xi Qian opened her mouth to say something but she found herself speechless from her best friend''s admission.


    Su Xiaofei filled her in with the recent happenings in her life and how she found out that her Uncle Qiao was her birth father, making Qiao Yuhan her little brother.


    Xi Qian remained silent and listened to her, her hands gripping Su Xiaofei as she saw thetter''s eyes glistening with tears.


    "That''s probably why you get along with Xiao Han. Uncle Qiao has also been extra patient with you."


    "I don''t know, Qian. I don''t me Mama for keeping the secret from me, but I wish she didn''t keep me in the dark for so long."Su Xiaofei sighed.


    "But you did." Xi Qian couldn''t say that she understood what Su Xiaofei was feeling, but it was hard for her to think of Yun Qingrong in a bad light. She hadn''t met a person as selfless as Yun Qingrong.


    "Perhaps Aunty Qing was worried that they wouldn''t treat you right, or even turn you away if you went to see them. She''s probably worried about you. So what will you do now?"


    "We decided to visit each other once in a while. Uncle Qiao hasn''t forced me to move in with them, which I appreciated." Su Xiaofei chuckled. "I''m already a married woman anyway and I doubt Lu Qingfeng would allow it if I say I want to live with them. What about you? Are you seeing someone? Don''t forget our promise, Qian."


    Xi Qian rolled her eyes. She hadn''t been on a date after herst disastrous rtionship and she wasn''t looking for one.

 Chapter 427 A Guarded Heart (2)

    Su Xiaofei understood why Xi Qian wouldn''t consider dating another man for now, considering how badly Xi Qian''s previous rtionship ended. She couldn''t stop Xi Qian from seeing her ex-boyfriend, Wei Zhijuan, for she knew that the man had left an impact on Xi Qian as a person.


    If Su Xiaofei was right, Li Xiran hade to love Xi Qian regardless of her past and difference in their status. She didn''t want to change the course of the events too much, in fear that it would onlyplicate things around her. She initially thought that by knowing the events that would unfold, she would be able to take advantage of it, but fate always reminded her that she wasn''t the one in charge.


    "Qian, I understand that you are working hard to prove to everyone that you are self-reliant and that you could reach your dream through hard work, but sometimes, I can''t help but think that you are being too hard on yourself. I haven''t even seen you invite us for a drink or a night out. I''ve been missing you, Qian. Just because I got married, doesn''t mean I can''t hang out with you anymore."


    Xi Qian heaved a deep breath and gave Su Xiaofei a weak smile. Of course she was aware of that. It was just hard for her to think of slowing down and resting in her free time, the memories of the past would gue her mind. At least she was able to keep herself busy with studying and preparing for the entrance exam, giving her no time to ponder about the past.


    "Do you think he has ruined me for another man?" She suddenly asked, catching Su Xiaofei off guard.


    "W-what?"


    "I mean, do you think Wei Zhijuan has destroyed my faith in men? I don''t understand why¡­ why can''t I truly free myself from the past when I know he''s already moved on with another woman?" Xi Qian looked down at her slightly calloused hands, a reminder that she had been working hard and hadn''t bothered much with her appearance in public.


    Su Xiaofei scoffed at that.


    "If he really loved you, he would move heaven and earth just to be with you. It''s not your fault that both of you are career oriented people. He decided to pursue his passion and you let him be. I think you''ve been selfless and brave, Qian."


    When her best friend didn''t say anything in return, Su Xiaofei turned to look at her only to find Xi Qian crying. Heck, Xi Qian was the most courageous person she knew in her life and it annoyed Su Xiaofei to know that her best friend was shedding tears for a person who had chosen to part ways with her.


    "Qian¡­" She had no idea how to console her best friend.


    "I''m tired, Feifei. I truly am. But what can I do? I cannot be the woman he wanted me to be. His parents didn''t approve of me, which I understand, but he keeps on trying to change me into a person I am not. Now, only half a year after our breakup, he''s marrying another woman." Xi Qian said between her sobs.


    "Do you regret it then? Breaking up with him and choosing to remain alone?" Su Xiaofei questioned her. This was the talk she and Xi Qian never had in her previous life. She refused to talk about her worries or mention anything about her inner struggles.


    After Xi Qian''s breakup with Wei Zhijuan, she worked hard and barely had time to herself. She guarded her heart so hard that she started to build walls around herself. So it had been a surprise to Su Xiaofei when she saw Li Xiran weeping incessantly at her funeral.


    "You have toe to terms with yourself, Qian. There''s no point dwelling in the past when you know that nothing else is left for you to hang on. I know it''s easier said than done, but¡­"<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "No, you are right, Feifei. I already know what I need to do, but hearing you say it made me aware of how foolish I''ve be."


    "Not foolish. Just confused. You might have not loved him anymore, but there''s a lingering regret that remains in your heart." Su Xiaofei corrected her. "I know you would have said the same thing to me if I was still pining over Mo Yuchen."


    Xi Qian chuckled at that and dried her tears.


    "Then it''s a good thing that you were able to realize that you didn''t need him in your life and chose to be with Lu Qingfeng. I''ve been wondering how you were able to overlook the fact that Lu Qingfeng had been simping for you since forever."


    "Qian! How could you say that?!" Su Xiaofei eximed, her eyes wide as she looked at Xi Qian.


    "What? I''m pretty sure that he wasn''t trying to be discreet about it. He''s so obvious that he couldn''t even take his eyes off you. I wonder if that has changed now that the two of you are married." Xi Qian paused as she gave it a good thought.


    "Nah. He''d probably remain the same. I don''t peg him as a love bomber who only want to lure you deep in a rtionship."


    It was Su Xiaofei''s turn tough this time.


    "It looks like you know him better than me. He actually introduced me to his friends from Shenjing a week ago and I was surprised that he didn''t invite them to our wedding."


    "He did?" Xi Qian hummed. "And here I thought Song Yiran was just extremely clingy on him when they were in Shenjing. I guess your little husband truly was changing for the better."


    "Little husband? He''s not that younger or little anymore."


    "Of course he isn''t." Xi Qian gave her a sly smile, earning a light smack on her arm from Su Xiaofei.


    Su Xiaofei was blushing hard at her best friend''s implication but didn''t try to correct her at all.

 Chapter 428 Indebted To You (1)

    Li Xiran looked at the condition of the resort theirpany was currently working on. It made sense to him why Lu Qingfeng would be interested in acquiring it. The ce was located in a prime location, yet the owner seemed to think that he didn''t need to invest much into it and only thought that it needed some repairs and reconstruction to keep the resort open.


    He considered his options at the moment and while his Uncle Mao had introduced him to several of his business associates, it wasn''t certain if they would consider investing in theirpany. However, if he were able to convince Lu Qingfeng to invest in theirpany, it would save him from a lot of trouble in the future.


    "Mr. Cang, have you given a thought regarding the offer I told you about?" He asked the man standing next to him as they overlooked the reconstruction of the pool that Li Xiran didn''t doubt had seen better days. The resort was failing terribly to keep up with thepetition among its neighboring resorts that could offer better amenities for their guests.


    "Are you sure that they are willing to buy the resort from me at the selling price?" Mr. Cang asked him in return. He was already in histe fifties, but it seemed like he still had no idea how to run a business properly.


    "Yes, Mr. Cang. They said that they are willing to add on a few more if the title of thend is clear." Li Xiran replied.


    Lu Qingfeng told him that he didn''t care one bit about the condition of the facilities as he intended to demolish it to build a new one. It would surely be expensive to start from scratch, but Li Xiran knew that the business would be lucrative once everything was done ording to Lu Qingfeng''s ns.


    He had discussed this with his old man and his father told him that it wasn''t a bad deal if he knew how to reduce the disadvantage on their part. The old man told him that he trusted his judgment and was giving him the right to decide for thepany. Li Xiran could swear that he saw the apology in his father''s eyes as he looked at him.


    Was his father apologetic for cing him in such a tough situation? Li Xiran didn''t me him anyway. If anything, he med himself for being too prideful, refusing to return home earlier. His father wouldn''t suffer a serious heart attack and thepany wouldn''t have fallen into such a dire state if he returned sooner.


    "I''ll decide to sell the resort then." Mr. Cang said, much to Li Xiran''s relief. "I''m not getting any younger anyway. I want to retire and spend the rest of my life traveling."


    Li Xiran was pleased with the older man''s answer.


    "With the money you would receive, I''m pretty sure it would be more than enough to sustain your travels, Sir."


    The older manughed, his big belly jiggled as he did. He was sweating profusely from the heat and Li Xiran tried not to curl his nose from the ufortable smell.


    "I''ve given it a good thought. I don''t have enough resources to continue running the resort. I would have to apologize in advance to you because this only means that the construction would be halted. I would rather sell the resort at this point rather than watch it go bankrupt."


    "Mr. Cang doesn''t need to apologize. It''s not all about money. One has to consider a better future and cut off losses."


    "Then I suppose in our next meeting, I will no longer be the owner of this resort."<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Mr. Cang left when his young girlfriend waved to get his attention. Li Xiran could only watch the two leave as he was left to his own devices. Thinking that it wasn''t his ce to judge Mr. Cang for his choices over business and women, he turned around and picked up his phone, dialing Lu Qingfeng''s private number.


    Lu Qingfeng picked up the call on the third ring.


    "Hello." He sounded preupied, not that Li Xiran thought that Lu Qingfeng had a lot of time to spare.


    "It''s me. I suppose your offer still stands?"


    There were still times when Li Xiran wondered if his meeting with the brotherhood was a figment of his imagination. It felt surreal for him to think that he''d spent a night talking with those five businessmen.


    "Mr. Li, it has only been four days. Has the owner agreed then?" Lu Qingfeng asked in return.


    "En. Mr. Cang has agreed with your terms. He''s really tempted to ept it the first time, but imed he needed some time to give it a thought."


    Li Xiran initially thought that it would be hard for him to convince Mr. Cang to sell the resorts to the Lu Conglomerate, but he was surprised by how generous the offer was to the resort owner. Did Lu Qingfeng know that Mr. Cang wouldn''t be able to decline the offer?


    "I see. My assistant wille and take over the meeting then. Once the resort is officially acquired, expect the investment I promised you. Thank you for your cooperation.


    Li Xiran shrugged. "I didn''t do much. I should be the one to thank you for the opportunity."


    He wasn''t sure if Lu Qingfeng made him do this to test him or to use this as an excuse to invest in theirpany. Regardless of the younger man''s intention, the investment that the Lu Conglomerate would ce on theirpany would be a big help.


    He heard Lu Qingfeng chuckling on the other end of the line and wondered what the younger man found amusing.


    "You''ve done well, Mr. Li. You should give yourself a pat on the back for doing a good job. As to whether I would regret investing in yourpany or not, only you could give me the answer."

 Chapter 429 Indebted To You (2)

    Two weekster, Li Xiran was about to leave the Li manor with his younger brother when his phone rang. It was his personal assistant calling him, which wasn''t unusual to him. He and Li Xingtian stopped at the front door of their manor for him to take the call.


    "Must be important that he''s calling you this early." Li Xingtianmented. He didn''t want to admit it, but ever since Li Xiran returned, thepany was starting to get back on the right track.


    However, he also could see that his older brother had been working hard to please the board and their investors. He was also aware that Li Xiran would be the first one to wake up along with Xi Qian in their household and was also thest one to retire for the night.


    It wasn''t surprising to see Li Xiran having dark circles under his eyes now and Li Xingtian couldn''t help but feel guilty for not being able to reduce the burden his brother was shouldering. He knew that somehow he was indebted to his older brother for not only saving his face and reputation, but also for keeping thepany from going under.


    Indeed, he and Li Xiran didn''t get along really well. Heck, every time they were together, his older brother wouldn''t forget to remind him that he disliked being in the same ce as him, but when ites to their father and family business, Li Xingtian was willing to set aside their differences and work along with Li Xiran.


    "Then I hope it''s good news this time." Li Xiran muttered under his breath. He''d been waiting to hear the good news about Lu Qingfeng''s promised investment.


    Li Xingtian shrugged and chose to check his own phone, giving Li Xiran a private space to answer the phone call. He hadn''t met Lu Qingfeng in person, but he knew how influential the young man could be. It had been a surprise for him to know that his older brother managed to get acquainted with Lu Qingfeng. The young man was the heir to a massive empire and had so much money, it was mind-boggling.


    "I see. Clear my schedule today then. We will go and meet Mr. Lu instead. Send me the location of our meeting."


    Hearing what his brother had just said, Li Xingtian snapped his head towards Li Xiran. Wait! Weren''t they supposed to make site inspections today? Li Xiran had been eager to check on each of the ongoing construction work theirpany was handling.


    "What did you just say?" He blurted out. Li Xingtian was upset that his brother didn''t bother to ask him for his opinion. This was one of the things he didn''t like about Li Xiran. He always dismissed his and his mother''s opinion and would rather do everything his own way.


    "You heard me. I don''t need to repeat myself." Li Xiran sighed, before resuming his walk to his car. "You don''t have to apany me if you don''t want to. I will meet the investors myself."


    That immediately caught Li Xingtian''s attention. Investors? Did that mean that Lu Qingfeng would not be the only one to inject funds to theirpany to keep it afloat? Since Li Xiran was willing to allow him to tag along to meet them, he obviously wouldn''t object to going with him. It was just¡­ he hoped that Li Xiran would stop being an ass and be considerate towards him and his mother. It wasn''t their fault that their father and Li Xiran''s mother divorced.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "I''m going with you." He answered, hurriedly following his brother.


    Each of them drove their own cars, Li Xingtian following closely behind Li Xiran''s. He was surprised when they ended up at the airport with their private ne waiting for their arrival. Li Xingtian alighted from his car and handed his keys to his assistant, who was waiting for him.


    "Where are we going?" He then asked Li Xiran once he managed to catch up with his brother. He couldn''t help but notice that Li Xiran was in a hurry, as if any secondte would mean the investors would back out on their deal.


    The cold weather hade earlier than usual, its chill stinging his face. Li Xingtian thought that he should dress up better if he''d known they were meeting their prospective investors and not meeting them in his casual attire.


    "To the resort. Didn''t you say you want to do site inspections with me? You should see for yourself the condition of the resort that you''ve been trying to finish for six months." Li Xiran replied as he removed his jacket and sat in his seat, rubbing his face.


    He was looking forward to this meeting with Lu Qingfeng, but he felt like he was waiting for a tooth extraction instead. The two weeks of waiting was starting to drive him insane as he still hadn''t heard any updates from the other party.


    There was so much money at stake and his fragile reputation as the new head of theirpany wasn''t helping him at all. He had to show the board he was the man to lead thepany or get the hell out of it. Family-owned didn''t mean he could do as he pleased.


    Li Xiran inwardly grunted. The assholes on the board didn''t truly care. They only wanted to see if he could perform a miracle. Their impatience was appalling, especially after how they''d put up with his brother''s mistakes when Li Xingtian was still in charge.


    Still, their impertinence didn''t bother him much at all. It only fueled his desire to prove himself and show everyone that thepany would flourish once again under his management and it was his by legacy, and by right.


    He buckled his seat belt, closed his eyes and leaned back, thankful that his younger brother stopped questioning him. He kept his eyes closed as the ne ascended, hoping that today wouldn''t turn out to be disastrous.

 Chapter 430 Friends To Lovers (1)

    Lu Qingfeng stared at the view, letting the warm sea air ruffle his thick ck hair. He had requested this rare trip with his wife under short notice and he was d that Su Xiaofei managed to rearrange her schedule to make time. In their previous life, thest thing Su Xiaofei told him was that she wished to see the sunset on the beach once again, but he''d never got the chance to fulfill that wish.


    He was supposed to be here with Yan Xiuchen to see the resorts themselves, so he took the opportunity to allow his wife and Xi Qian to take a break from their busy schedules. With Yun Qingrong''s doctors'' approval, his mother-inw had also decided toe with them today.


    It had been a long time since Lu Qingfengst spent a vacation with them, as he was only ten years old during thest one they had. He also didn''t doubt that Su Xiaofei would like the idea of having one as she''d been too focused on her work and making sure to beat Mo Yuchen''s Golden Star in every possible way.


    Right now, Su Xiaofei and Xi Qian must be checking out the beach while he awaited Yan Xiuchen and the Li siblings'' arrival. They should arrive any minute now. Meanwhile, Yun Qingrong chose to remain in her suite, iming that the beautiful scenery from her terrace was enough for her to enjoy.


    Lu Qingfeng checked his phone to make sure there weren''t any missed calls from his wife, and there were really none. Well, it wasn''t like Su Xiaofei would have time to worry about anything for the meantime as he had practically taken their family away from the busy city.


    A lithe, busty woman had slipped him a napkin earlier, with her phone number scribbled on it, which he''d tossed in the trashbin as soon as he passed one. He didn''t want Su Xiaofei to think that he was seeing another woman as soon as she turned her back on him.


    The ind resort was surprisingly bigger than what he expected. It had pristine beaches. The water sparkled under the sunlight as it ovepped the sand. With the amount he spent purchasing the ce, Lu Qingfeng was confident that he was able to make it a lucrative business in no time.


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaofei rested a hand on her hips. The afternoon air here was a bit warmer. It was still rtively cool and refreshing in her opinion,pared to Qiying City that had been gued with sharp, cold winds. The weather was starting to get colder in the north and she was worried that it would affect her mother''s recovery from her recent surgeries.


    When her husband asked her to join him on this short trip, she hesitated, but once she found out where they were going to the east, she couldn''t help but ask him to allow her mother and Xi Qian to join.


    "My gosh, Feifei. How long has it been since we visited the beach together?" Xi Qian asked her, while collecting beautiful seashells along their way. "Thankfully, my employer is kind enough to give me the whole weekend to myself!"


    Su Xiaofei chuckled and looked at the far horizon. It was far from the high-rise buildings she always saw whenever she went to work.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "We are too busy making money and to make ends meet that we didn''t have time to enjoy what life could give us." Shemented, pleased that somehow she was able to see a glint of happiness in Xi Qian''s eyes that she hadn''t seen for the past two years.


    If only she could go to that Wei Zhijuan and give him a good beating for making her Qian cry, but she wouldn''t. It wasn''t her ce to poke her nose in Xi Qian''s private affairs and didn''t want to ruin her best friend''s chance, in case Xi Qian was able to meet Li Xiran again, which she eventually did.


    Technically, it seemed like nothing had yet to happen between the two as there was no hint of romance when Xi Qian spoke of him, but Su Xiaofei wanted to believe that it would only take some time before things shifted between the two.


    "Well, I guess you are right. I''ve given a good thought on what you told me before and you were right, Feifei. I''ve been pushing myself to my limit and haven''t done anything to invigorate myself." Xi Qian admitted with a weakugh.


    Su Xiaofei hummed. "It''s good that you''re aware of it now. It only means I wouldn''t have to worry about you too much."


    Xi Qian blinked at that and stared at her best friend. Su Xiaofei''s words stunned her into silence. She knew that there were a lot of things on Su Xiaofei''s te that needed her immediate attention, but to actually hear that she was worried and had been thinking of her these days, Xi Qian felt moved.


    Her eyes shone with tears, but she fought the urge to cry. Had she been walking around like an empty shell since her breakup? She hadn''t really noticed, but thankfully, Su Xiaofei was there to remind her of her value as a person.


    "Thanks, Feifei. You are the best!" Xi Qian beamed at her.


    Su Xiaofeiughed at that, but her smile never quite reached her eyes. If only Xi Qian knew how amazing a person she was, she wouldn''t have questioned herself like this. She had an otherworldly radiance that Su Xiaofei had never seen in any woman, even from the famous celebrities she had met. It drew people close to Xi Qian as if they were helpless to resist her.


    "I''m not and you know it. Just don''t forget that I''m here if you need someone to lean on, but in case you still want to beat the hell out of him, I know the perfect person for the job." She winked at her best friend.

 Chapter 431 Friends To Lovers (2)

    When the two decided to return to the resort, both of them halted when they spotted a private ne descending onto the ind''s small runway. Su Xiaofei was aware that her husband was meeting people due to work, but she had no idea who it would be. Lu Qingfeng had just recently acquired the ce, was he meeting the old owner then? However, she was proven wrong when two familiar men came towards them with equally surprised reactions on their faces.


    "Miss Xi, what are you doing here?" It was Li Xingtian who asked Xi Qian.


    Didn''t their father''s private nurse ask for a break this whole weekend? So howe Xi Qian was here? Li Xingtian didn''t expect that Xi Qian was friends with the current CEO of Bluemedia Entertainment.


    "Uhm¡­ spending my weekend with my friends?" Xi Qian awkwardly replied. Just as she thought she would be able to forget about her work, the Li brothers had appeared out of nowhere.


    "Xingtian, it''s impolite to ask Miss Xi such questions. Whatever reasons she came here, it''s not our ce to question her about what she does outside her job." Li Xiran cast his younger brother a pointed look when he realized how Li Xingtian had made Xi Qian ufortable with his questioning.


    Li Xingtian was caught off guard by his brother''s words, but realized that Li Xiran was right. He swallowed whatever annoyance he''d felt towards his brother. None of this was Xi Qian''s fault anyway.


    "I apologize, Miss Xi. It''s not my intention to offend you. I''m merely curious why you are here."


    Xi Qian blinked twice at him, before turning her attention to Li Xiran. After over a month of working for their family, she could only count with her fingers the times she encountered and talked to Li Xingtian. Plus, he always had this annoyed expression on his face whenever he was around. This was the first time she had seen the younger Li brother subdued and respectful towards her.


    "Mrs. Lu, it''s been awhile." Li Xiran then greeted Su Xiaofei and offered his hand for a handshake.


    "Indeed. I hope everything''s working well between you and my husband''spany." She replied and gave him a firm handshake before leading them inside the resort where Lu Qingfeng was waiting.


    Li Xingtian''s jaw dropped as he was left bbergasted again by the revtion. Su Xiaofei was married to the Young Master Lu? Wasn''t Lu Qingfeng younger than any of them for a few years? Why were they keeping their marriage a secret?


    "I hope we aren''t toote for the meeting." He heard his brother say as he walked behind the two and next to Xi Qian, who was busy checking the seashells she collected earlier during their walk.


    Su Xiaofeiughed and waved a hand.


    "I wasn''t even aware that you are the person A-Feng is going to meet, but I''m sure he won''t mind it too much."<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    The two chatted as Su Xiaofei led them into arge foyer with a giant crystal chandelier. Their shoes cked on the marbled floor, the sound more pronounced due to theck of guests at the resort. There were a few he''d spotted earlier on, but most of them were waiting to check out at the reception area.


    Li Xingtian took the chance to look around and noticed that there was nothing unusual. Was his brother making things up about the problem with the reconstruction then?


    "Have you had lunch yet? We''re just getting started." Su Xiaofei asked, ncing at Li Xiran then, looking at Li Xingtian behind her.


    "That sounds great, Mrs. Lu. I''m quite famished actually." Li Xingtian smiled at her.


    Su Xiaofei kept talking as she took them to the dining room she and Lu Qingfeng had used earlier for breakfast. The ce was facing the beach, so she hoped that their guests would enjoy the view as they had their lunch.


    When they arrived, Lu Qingfeng and Yan Xiuchen were already there, talking to each other in low voices. The two lifted their heads, stopped whatever they were discussing and stood up to greet their guests.


    "Mr. Lu, I hope my brother and I didn''t make you and Mr. Yan wait for too long." Li Xiran shook hands with Lu Qingfeng, then with the scarred man next to him.


    Li Xingtian gave Lu Qingfeng a good look. He looked good in his casual short-sleeve white shirt and pale shorts. He was really too youngpared to him and his older brother. Lu Qingfeng was probably still in his early twenties and yet he had already settled down and married his childhood friend this early. He supposed that it was normal for people who were friends for a long time to turn into lovers.


    Meanwhile, he couldn''t help but suck in a breath when he saw the scarred man apanying Lu Qingfeng today. The scars on Yan Xiuchen''s right face gave him a menacing look. He was a bit shorter in heightpared to Lu Qingfeng, but his confidence wasn''t falling short of the little tyrant''s.


    "Don''t worry about it. I should be the one who should apologize to you for asking you toe here on short notice." Lu Qingfeng replied, then gestured for them to join them at the dining table.


    Lu Qingfeng sat at the head of the table. Su Xiaofei took a seat on his right, while Yan Xiuchen settled on his left. Xi Qian wordlessly sat beside her best friend once she set aside the small basket containing her seashells. The Li brothers sat next to each other across from her. Li Xiran had an unmoving mask on his face.


    "Mother should be here any moment now." Lu Qingfeng told his wife, knowing that she was looking for his mother-inw.


    As if on cue, Yun Qingrong stepped inside the room with a shawl wrapped around her shoulders. She beamed a wide smile when she saw the rest of them at the dining table.

 Chapter 432 Friends To Lovers (3)

    Li Xingtian ate in silence, but paid attention to theirpanions at the table. The three women looked like they were enjoying their time at the resort, while Lu Qingfeng was listening to them with a slight smile on his face. There were rumors about the aloof young master of the Lu family, but none of them mentioned that he waspletely wrapped around Su Xiaofei''s finger.


    The way the young man looked at his wife was filled with adoration, as if nothing else mattered to Lu Qingfeng but to see his wife happy. Their interaction somewhat reminded him of his parents and he supposed that if these two remained the same, then divorce was surely not an option for the couple.


    Yan Xiuchen, the scarred man, didn''t speak much. He didn''t speak unless one of the women addressed and questioned him directly, and he didn''t bother to keep the conversation going between them. Somehow, Li Xingtian was surprised that Yan Xiuchen managed to appear kind of mysterious rather than rude or obnoxious towards them, unlike his older brother. It had to be some kind of skill that Yan Xiuchen had managed to master over the years.


    Meanwhile, the previous CEO of Bluemedia Entertainment took it upon herself to inquire about this and that, filling the awkward silence as they ate. She seemed like an experienced hostess, as she knew how to keep the conversation going without making them feel annoyed with her questioning.


    How odd. Li Xingtian thought. If this lunch had taken ce in their home, he had no doubt that it would be filled with silence. This was why he was rarely at home and would rather choose to work in his office at thepany, unlike his brother who chose to hole himself in his study and work from home.


    Li Xingtian took a few bites of his meal. The local dish, which was freshly made, melted in his mouth. The sauce was surprisingly sweet and velvety in texture as it hit his tongue.


    "I think I''m full." Yun Qingrong announced, cing her fork on the table. Her te was empty. "I''m going back to my suite and doing some knitting. Don''t let this old woman dy your meeting anymore."


    "Let me apany you, Mama. I need to discuss some things with you, if you don''t mind." Su Xiaofei stood up and followed her mother''s lead. "What about you, Qian?"


    Xi Qian also stood up and picked up her small basket. Seeing the Li brothers kept reminding her of work, so she would rather enjoy this trip and do some sightseeing on her own.


    "I think I''m going back to the beach. I need to sort my thoughts." She gave her best friend a smile before excusing herself from the rest, leaving everyone in the dining room.


    Su Xiaofei ran a hand on her husband''s shoulder and gave him a peck on his cheek.


    "Call me once you''re done here." She whispered, her eyes shone with mischief that Lu Qingfeng didn''t miss.


    Lu Qingfeng swallowed the invisible lump in his throat and nodded, watching as his wife and mother-inw left the four of them to discuss work.


    "You must be wondering why Yan Xiuchen is here with us." He started once the women had given them the privacy they needed. "As promised, I will be investing in Li Development Corp., but Yan Xiuchen here said that he also wants to invest in your future endeavors."<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Li Xiran nodded while Li Xingtian looked at the two men curiously. Li Xingtian thought that the name Yan Xiuchen sounded familiar, but he couldn''t remember where he''d heard the scarred man''s name.


    Well, obviously, since Yan Xiuchen wanted to invest in theirpany, he must also be a bigshot like Lu Qingfeng. Heck, being at the same table as Lu Qingfeng was already enough for Li Xingtian to feel smallpared to the younger man, but what about Yan Xiuchen?


    "Thank you, Mr. Yan. I will make sure you won''t regret your decision to invest in us." Li Xiran replied with his usual curt tone.


    "It would be a win-win situation for both of us, as long as you make sure that none of your projects are falling behind their schedules." Yan Xiuchen said before taking a sip from his drink.


    The scarred man then nced at Li Xingtian, making thetter stiff up on his seat. Li Xingtian wasn''t sure why the man was looking his way.


    "Your brother has done a great job cutting losses, but what about you?" Yan Xiuchen asked him with an inquisitive gaze, as if he was trying to see past his facade.


    Li Xingtian opened his mouth to say something, but realized that he didn''t know how to defend himself. Heck, he was aware that his business acumen wasn''t as good as his older brother''s, and he wasn''t as good as their father when ites to numbers either, but that didn''t mean he wanted Li Development Corp. to fail.


    "Since you and your brother are already here, why don''t you two do a site inspection? Give us a report and proposal within a week." Yan Xiuchen continued. "Lu Qingfeng and I want to start the reconstruction of the amenities as soon as possible."


    Li Xingtian''s jaw clenched, realizing why he was invited here along with his older brother. So they were confident with Li Xiran''s skills, but since he was the second inmand, Lu Qingfeng and Yan Xiuchen were wary that he would cause them trouble if he remained in thepany.


    "Alright. Let me check the construction here then."


    His brother looked at him with confusion, but he ignored him. He stood up and left his brother with the two men. He was annoyed that even here, his capabilities were being questioned. Was he really that ipetent? Li Xingtian thought.


    He pulled out his phone and decided to check the abandoned construction within the resort''s premises, eager to take photos and videos for their team to analyze its condition.

 Chapter 433 Truly Alone (1)

    Li Xingtian couldn''t believe what he was seeing at that moment. He gasped with shock as soon as he arrived at the construction site. He had assumed that the team would be close to finishing by now, but he was proven wrong yet again. It looked like the foundation itself was barelypleted. He could somewhat imagine his older brother giving him an ''I told you so'' lookter.


    It finally dawned to him how foolish he''d been for designating this important task of reconstructing the resort to someone that was ipetent in his field. His stomach churned, recognizing the signs of mismanagement around the area.


    He should have realized this sooner. The reports he''d been receiving for the past weeks sounded generic and weren''t very specific on what had been done and what was needed to finish next. He should have believed his brother when Li Xiran visited here for the first time and told him that the project was disastrous.


    Li Xingtian didn''t need to be an expert to know that the project on this site was far frompletion and it was one of the reasons why Li Xiran was upset with him, and why Lu Qingfeng and Yan Xiuchen were looking at him with curiosity.


    Shit. He cursed inwardly. He''d be damned if the three decided to kick him out of Li Development Corp. Even his father would surely be disappointed with him if he knew what happened here and he wouldn''t be able to face his parents if his brother made them aware of his failure this time.


    Although thepany suffered a massive loss in shares and stock price, Li Development Corp was still highly regarded in the industry. Li Xingtian refused to be the reason why his father would lose his legacy.


    It only dawned on him that Lu Qingfeng and Yan Xiuchen were actually giving him a chance to prove himself, as his older brother sat there with a colder and stonier expression, remaining silent as the two regarded him. Seeing the site himself, he had no doubt that he fucked up this project big time.


    He regarded the ce again and was reminded that he had only been given a week to deliver a satisfying report and proposal to their two new investors. They weren''t asking or scrutinizing his older brother this time. Li Xingtian surmised that Li Xiran had already passed the trial the two set upon him and now it was his turn.


    Finally, he realized that if he really wanted to help his brother, he needed to figure out a way to fix all of these. He didn''t care about being the future CEO of theirpany, Li Xingtian only wanted to redeem himself and prove to his father and brother that he was a reliable person.


    While Li Xingtian spent the rest of the afternoon inspecting the construction sites around the resort, Li Xiran spent the whole afternoon with Lu Qingfeng and Yan Xiuchen. They spoke about different approaches Li Xiran could consider to move further in saving their family business, and Li Xiran was impressed at how far Lu Qingfeng could see. If Li Xiran thought that he was steps ahead of his peers and brother, Lu Qingfeng was a lot more ahead than him by miles.


    "Allow me to discuss this with my father. Although I''m the one in charge now, there are still things I need to consult with him." He told the two, although he already knew that his father wouldn''t have any qualms about their suggestion.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Yan Xiuchen nodded while Lu Qingfeng only hummed. It was enough for the younger man that Li Xiran was willing to cooperate with them and he didn''t doubt that Li Xingtian would be able to gain some sense once he''d finished his site inspection.


    The only reason why Lu Qingfeng was extending an olive branch towards Li Xiran was for the simple reason that he didn''t want Xi Qian to worry about being with him in the future. While he wouldn''t intervene and push the two together, Lu Qingfeng was willing to obliterate any reasons that could stop the two from pursuing their own happiness.


    Xi Qian wasn''t just his wife''s best friend to Lu Qingfeng now. She was a valuable friend who could talk to him frankly without being intimidated by his name and status. As for Mr. Long who dared to assault her, well¡­ Lu Qingfeng hoped that Xi Qian wouldn''t find him ruthless for teaching that perverted man a lesson.


    "I suppose that''s fine." Yan Xiuchen replied, "but it would be better to try a new approach now. You have to know that many startuppanies can offer better deals to your clients and you have to be consistent or much better in improving the delivery of the projects. You don''t have to lower your bid just to win against them."


    It was at that moment that Lu Qingfeng''s phone beeped, indicating a new message. He read it at once and sighed, giving the two men an apologetic look. He hadn''t even realized that he''d been conversing with them for hours and had finished some snacks without sharing it with his wife.


    "Apologies. If we''re done here, allow me to excuse myself. My wife is now asking for attention." He said as he stood up, cing his phone in his pocket.


    Yan Xiuchen grunted. If he was annoyed that their talk had been cut by Su Xiaofei, he didn''t make any indication of it.


    "I suppose you and your brother would spend the night here?" Lu Qingfeng asked Li Xiran. "I''ve already asked the caretaker to arrange your rooms."


    "Yes." Li Xiran answered. "Thank you for inviting us over."


    Even if he and Li Xingtian wanted to return home now, the weather wasn''t favorable to fly back. Thankfully, he had already considered that this might happen. He always made sure to bring extra clothes with him. It was just too bad that his business suits weren''t ideal to wear in a ce like this.

 Chapter 434 Truly Alone (2)

    Li Xiran had finished checking himself into the room assigned to him and decided to take a walk to clear his mind. He supposed that his brother hadn''t returned yet and he wasn''t inclined to find him in such a big ce anyway. If Li Xingtian truly needed his help, he could just give him a ring.


    After meeting Lu Qingfeng and Yan Xiuchen today and signing the papers they needed, Li Xiran felt like a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulder. He knew that he cannot lower his guard yet and needed to work harder, now that he already received enough resources to keep their ongoing projects going and pay off the failed ones.


    He walked along the beach, his head hung low as the sea waterpped at his bare feet. He took a sigh of relief and stopped to turn his attention to the sea, his arms stretched out to the sides. Li Xiran thought that he hadn''t felt at peace like this in a long time. If the problem at thepany continued, he had no doubt that his midnight hair would turn into silvery ones in no time.


    Unexpectedly, his eyes caught sight of a familiar woman seated on the sand, looking far into the horizon. Xi Qian looked so alone and unapproachable this time, which caught Li Xiran off guard. It made him somewhat inexplicably sad seeing her like this.


    Was something troubling her? He wondered.


    For the past two weeks, he noticed that something changed about her that even his father once mentioned how worried he was for Xi Qian''s sudden silence.


    He always knew that Xi Qian guarded her heart and had always kept everyone at an arm''s length, except for Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng. He had witnessed how the three seemed to share a close rtionship when they were together and he was a little envious that Xi Qian lookedfortable being in their presence and could lower her guards with them.


    Li Xiran stared wordlessly at Xi Qian. He couldn''t help but appreciate her features. A few tendrils managed to escape from her casual bun, swaying with the breeze. The afternoon sun lit the side of her face, but it only made her expression dimmer and lonelier. He could swear a tear rolled down her cheeks, but Xi Qian turned her head the opposite way to wipe it dry.


    Xi Qian was definitely far from the women he usually dated, but that didn''t mean he wasn''t attracted to her. Truth to be told, he had realized that he had a secret crush on her recently and it was bing harder being in her presence, trying not to show his interest in her.


    He knew that it was inappropriate, given that she was the one who was tending to his father''s medical needs, making sure that he wouldn''t suffer another heart attack, given how delicate his condition was.


    They hadn''t grown close because of that and because he hadn''t been around much. Not for theck of attraction on his part. Also, Li Xiran was sure that Xi Qian wasn''t interested in him at all and only considered him as her patient''s immediate family. They had shared a few conversations, but he didn''t think it was enough for Xi Qian to consider him as her friend at least.


    Sadly, that hadn''t stopped him from noticing how amazing this woman was. ording to the background check report his father had run on Xi Qian, she had been working even before she turned eighteen and she managed to attend Qiying City Academy, a school known for being the center of socialites and wealthy families, through a full schrship.


    He also admired how hard-working she was and not even once did he hear Xi Qianin out of exhaustion. Whenever she had free time, Li Xiran would asionally find her reading a book andparing it to her notes. So far from the whiny women who would cling unto him to get his attention. He also couldn''t look away from her unwavering eyes, making it impossible to retort her ims.


    Suddenly, Xi Qian spun around and found him looking at her.


    Li Xiran didn''t know how long he''d been standing there like an idiot, staring at Xi Qian. He hoped that she didn''t find him weird or some kind of a freak.


    "Hey." She said with a smile that didn''t reach her eyes at all.


    Li Xiran nodded in response. He decided to take this opportunity to talk to her. He didn''t think he would be able to get a chance to know her better if he decided not to initiate anything.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Mind if I join you?" He asked.


    Xi Qian shook her head and he sat next to her, joining her watching the sunset.


    "Is there a problem? You look sad today. Well, actually, you haven''t been looking like yourself for the past few weeks. Dad and I are worried that something is bothering you." Li Xiran couldn''t help but ask, breaking the silence between them.


    Xi Qian''s back stiffened at his question.


    "Am I really that obvious?" Sheughed awkwardly.


    Li Xiran shrugged.


    "If Dad and I noticed, then your friends surely would have noticed it already." He answered.


    Xi Qian looked back at the sea, hesitating to say anything to him. She could feel his gaze remaining on her and she was starting to feel ufortable.


    "Is there something wrong with my face? Why are you looking at me like that?" She asked.


    "Just thinking."


    "About?"


    "You." Li Xiran didn''t bat an eyelid as he answered her. "I thought you looked really¡­" He stopped, considering what he should say, fearing that it might upset her further.


    "Like what?" Xi Qian probed with curiosity.


    "Alone." He blurted out, earning augh from her.


    "But I was really by myself, Mr. Li."


    "No. It''s not like that. It''s like you''re always alone, no matter who you''re with or where you are."

 Chapter 435 Truly Alone (3)

    Xi Qian was stunned into silence upon hearing Li Xiran''s observation. She couldn''t believe that he''d gotten that impression just from seeing her from time to time. She didn''t know whether she should be upset or impressed with him to be able to hit the mark so perfectly. Their encounters over the past weeks weren''t that much and their conversations were nothing but short, so how did hee up with such a conclusion?


    "Is that your impression of me, Mr. Li?" She said dryly, trying to recover.


    Li Xiran shook his head and pulled his pants up to his knees, making sure that it wouldn''t get wet. The ck shoes he was holding earlier were now left on the drier part of the sand. He then nced at Xi Qian, observing her reaction up close.


    She scrunched her face, and somehow Li Xiran couldn''t help but think that she looked cute like that. He felt an urge to pinch her cheek and tell him that whatever was bothering her, it would be alright soon, but he didn''t. He made sure that there was sufficient distance between them.


    Xi Qian watched him for a moment with a nk expression on her face before staring back at the vast sea in front of them. She couldn''t me Li Xiran for noticing her grievances, even though she had perfectly made sure to focus at work and not allow herself to be distracted by her personal issues.


    "Sorry. I shouldn''t have said that. I didn''t intend to make you feel bad." Li Xiran muttered next to her when he noticed that she had fallen silent again.


    Everyone had their own struggles and inner demons. People needed to deal with them every single day and Xi Qian was no exception. Obviously, for someone like Xi Qian, she would need to face every day with her head held up high, pretending that she was fine.


    Li Xiran tried not to feel offended by her silence. He supposed that if he wanted to understand Xi Qian better, he would need a lot of patience. He should be more ustomed to her fluctuating moods.


    He initially thought that Xi Qian was always serious and unfeeling, but as he observed her during their lunch with Lu Qingfeng''s family and Yan Xiuchen earlier, Li Xiran had seen a side of her he never knew existed.


    Xi Qian could be warm and engaging,ughing along with Su Xiaofei as they conversed with each other, her smile could light the room brighter than the sun behind her. However, once she was alone and out of her loved ones''pany, Xi Qian would immediately go back to looking distant, as if she was lost in a world where only she could be.


    Xi Qian shook her head, but didn''t bother to look at him this time.


    "You don''t have to apologize to me, Mr. Li. You are merely stating your observations. No harm done here."


    "Still¡­"


    "Really. It''s fine." Xi Qian snapped with a seemingly annoyed tone as she turned her head to look at him.


    When she realized who she was talking to, Xi Qian was taken aback and quickly lowered her gaze. She was ashamed that she had slipped in front of Li Xiran. This wasn''t what she had in mind when she agreed toe with Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng to this ce. She was supposed to unwind, not to be upset with her employer.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Sorry. It''s just that there are so many things on my mind now, and the least I expect is for my employer to notice my distress. But don''t worry, Mr. Li, I assure you it won''t affect my performance at work."


    Li Xiran frowned, disliking how Xi Qian was treating him like a stranger. Nothing more than her patient''s family. He supposed that he had no right to be upset about it, and he was no different from his younger brother after all for offending Xi Qian with his careless words.


    "Would it be better if you aren''t our employee?" He blurted out, surprising not only Xi Qian, but also himself.


    "W-what?" Xi Qian, stuttered. She couldn''t understand why Li Xiran was here with her.


    Catching the slight mistake he made, Li Xiran gulped and clenched his jaws. Since he couldn''t take back what he had just said, might as well use it as an opportunity to exin what he meant.


    "I said if I wasn''t your patient''s family, would you consider being friends with me?"


    Xi Qian blinked at that. Was he serious?


    Seeing his unwavering gaze, she realized then that Li Xiran wasn''t trying to make fun of her. She considered her options. While it''s true that she cared deeply for her patients, wanting nothing more than to see them return to full health, she had promised herself not to get attached with any of them.


    Furthermore, she didn''t want anyone to think that she was using it as an opportunity to climb higher in society. However, as she looked at Li Xiran, she couldn''t help but be reminded that she didn''t have many friends to begin with.


    Others may assume that she had a lot of friends, given that she was surrounded with people, but actually, it was hard for her to feel connected to another person the way she did with Su Xiaofei.


    "Don''t you think it''s inappropriate?" She couldn''t help but question Li Xiran. She had always put a safe distance between her and others.


    "What''s being inappropriate, being friends with your boss? It''s not like you are taking advantage of me." Li Xiran said in defense, his thick brows snapped into a dark scowl. It finally dawned on him why Xi Qian was acting like this towards him.


    Xi Qian hummed and Li Xiran didn''t probe any further. He had already said what he wanted to say anyway, and it was on Xi Qian now whether she would ept his friendship or not. He didn''t want to pressure her into anything anyway.

 Chapter 436 Never Let Go (1)

    Su Xiaofei was already done with her talk with her mother an hour ago and had returned to the suite she shared with her husband. She was aware that Xi Qian was still outside, but she decided to leave her best friend be, for now, to allow Xi Qian to unwind.


    However, as she finished reading the reports she received from Zhang Ling, who was left to supervise her office, Su Xiaofei was starting to get bored waiting for Lu Qingfeng''s return. Shouldn''t they be enjoying this long weekend together?


    Her phone beeped, and she immediately read what Lu Qingfeng had sent her.


    ''I''ll be there in a minute.'' He said.


    She smiled beforeying on her stomach on the bed and waited. She briefly wondered if Lu Qingfeng was able to remember the things that happened in their previous life and what he felt about it?


    Actually, his admission of being able to remember snippets of what happened in their previous life startled her. Su Xiaofei didn''t know whether she should tell him what she knew because she didn''t want him to me himself for what happened to her.


    Really, it was no one''s fault but hers. Lu Qingfeng couldn''t possibly save her from her own foolishness when she had fought fiercely with her mother to marry Mo Yuchen before. Hadn''t she also broken his heart in the process?


    Her thoughts were pulled to a halt when she heard the door of their suite open and saw Lu Qingfeng stepping inside. She immediately sat up and beamed him a smile.


    "Hey." She called after him.


    Lu Qingfeng''s gaze immediately softened upon seeing her and joined her on the bed.


    "Sorry. The meeting took longer than I expected." He leaned forward and pressed his lips against the corner of her mouth.


    Su Xiaofei trembled at the touch, desire unfurling inside her like a blooming orchid in spring. She tilted her head, so their lips could fit better. Her hands rose to wrap around his shoulders and drew him closer. Her right hand traveled up and stopped over his heart, feeling it thud against her palm.


    With no further permission needed, Lu Qingfeng deepened their kiss, and he grew hungry with the way she responded to him, wanting to consume her and enjoy this moment with her. When they parted, he enjoyed seeing her panting for breath, her cheeks reddening with a deep blush.


    "What were you doing earlier?" He asked, noticing that some papers were left on the nightstand.


    Su Xiaofei shrugged and allowed him to draw her on hisp, arms wrapping around her.


    "Nothing. Just reviewing some paperwork." She paused as she remembered what she was thinking before he arrived earlier.


    "Also, I''ve been thinking if you were having those odd dreams again." She admitted, trying to see if her husband would reveal more to her. She wanted to know just how much Lu Qingfeng knew about their past life.


    Lu Qingfeng stiffened and fell silent for a moment. He knew well that there were things he couldn''t hide from her, not when Mo Yuchen was threatening to break their peace and happiness with his presence. He considered his words, wanting nothing but to make sure that his wife wouldn''t misunderstand him.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Have you ever heard of alternate realities?"


    Su Xiaofei cocked her head to one side, wondering what her husband was trying to point out now.


    "En."


    Of course having worked as an actress in her previous life, she had encountered projects with such themes, but it made her more curious of what Lu Qingfeng was trying to prove to her.


    He nodded.


    "After gaining those memories that I''m pretty sure are not from this timeline, it makes me feel like I''m not from this reality. The memories that are somehow infused in me have already passed and have ring differences from the events that happened to us."


    Su Xiaofei''s mind went nk.


    "You lost me. I don''t understand¡­ What are the differences? And how sure are you that the time has already passed?"


    "In my odd memories, you died three years into your marriage with Mo Yuchen." Lu Qingfeng said, without breaking their gazes. "And not for the first time, I have two memories of seeing you dead."


    Su Xiaofei sucked in a deep breath. She thought she would understand him better since she was able to remember the memories from her previous life. What if that wasn''t the case instead? What if she was forgetting something valuable from the past?


    "What do you mean twice?" She questioned him confusedly. Didn''t she only die once before?


    "I''m saying that in two different events, you died, and I was a hopeless soul without you." Lu Qingfeng said, trying to gauge her reaction. He wasn''t sure if it was alright to imply that he had lived two lifetimes already. However, he also wanted to know the reason he and Su Xiaofei were reborn at the same time with intact memories from their previous lives.


    "It''s odd, but after taking a peek into the memories of the other ''Lu Qingfeng'', I feel like I''m way older now." He said with a weakugh, as if he was trying to reduce the awkwardness between them.


    Well, technically, he was older in terms of mental agepared to Su Xiaofei. She had died in his previous lives, not passing the age of thirty and while he remembered being killed by Mo Yuchen in his first life, he managed to outlive them in his second one.


    Su Xiaofei didn''t respond, in part because she had no idea what to say. She had known she had the memories of her previous life, but how sure was she that she wasn''t in an alternate reality, like Lu Qingfeng was saying?


    In all honesty, she had never considered that such a thing was possible. What if she was living in a parallel reality then? She had even seen her downfall and Lu Qingfeng''s end before.

 Chapter 437 Never Let Go (2)

    Su Xiaofei realized that there were so many possibilities in this life. What if she wasn''t the only one who had woken up with the memories of her previous life? Being reborn was unusual, but living for a third time with Lu Qingfeng was rare. It was hard to tell which one of their memories were true and which ones were not.


    The memories from her previous life also felt like a glimpse of what could happen in the future. However, regardless of her confusion, Su Xiaofei was certain that what she suffered in her previous life wasn''t a figment of her imagination. The pain and betrayal felt too real for her to doubt them.


    As for what Lu Qingfeng was trying to exin, she didn''t know what to think of it. It was already a miracle that she was given a chance to right her wrongdoings. It was pointless for her to worry about something she knew nothing about and could only make the best out of the situation she was in.


    "Should we worry then? Does this affect you somehow?" She eyed her husband, wondering if those memories were enough to change his views of her.


    What if the previous Lu Qingfeng held some resentment towards her? If it wasn''t for her, Lu Qingfeng wouldn''t have done those horrendous things in the past.


    Lu Qingfeng stared at her eyes, trying to see if it bothered her. He took her hand in his and gave it a light squeeze.


    "I cannot deny that I''m disturbed by these memories, especially the ones where you died, and I couldn''t do anything to protect you." He said with such strong bitterness in his tone. It was his deepest regret in his previous lives. He had been too weak to stop fate from taking Su Xiaofei''s life, and the nagging feeling in his chest that it may happen again still lingers to this day.


    For the first time since her rebirth, Su Xiaofei looked at her husband, seeing the same Lu Qingfeng she followed for so many years as a ghost. She couldn''t forget his listless eyes and how he had lost the will to live after everything was ruined in his wake. There were even times when she watched as Lu Qingfeng stood nkly, staring at the gun in front of him as if he also wanted to end his life, but he didn''t.


    That broken man was what she was seeing right now. Not the Lu Qingfeng who was confident with himself, not the young man who beamed at her with a smile the moment she walked down the aisle to marry him.


    Su Xiaofei raised her other hand and touched Lu Qingfeng''s face. It pained her to see him like this, but there was no way she would allow Lu Qingfeng to be the tyrant that he was in their previous life. Hadn''t she promised that she would make sure that he would lead a happier life this time?


    "But I''m here and alive with you. Isn''t that what''s important right now?" She told him. Since he was with her now, shouldn''t they face problems together as husband and wife? "I won''t leave you. Never. Even if one day you start to regret marrying me, you should remember that I won''t let you go." She teased him, hoping to lighten the pressure on him.


    If she was right, her death was one of the reasons he kept having nightmares. She didn''t know how much Lu Qingfeng could remember, but it wouldn''t surprise him if one day all of his memories from the past would merge with what he had now.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Lu Qingfeng gave her a small smile and pressed a gentle kiss on her palm before sighing.


    "I''m merely worried about the possibility of what could happen in the future. The Lu Qingfeng from those memories have failed you."


    "But you wouldn''t." Su Xiaofei cut him off. "My dear husband, I trust you with my life. Don''t you think it''s pointless to worry about a concern that isn''t here in the first ce? If anything, we should learn from the mistakes you''ve garnered from those memories and make sure we won''t repeat them in the future."


    Lu Qingfeng frowned, though not unhappily. He looked thoughtful as he considered her words.


    "You are right." He agreed dryly. "But I won''t lower my guard when ites to your safety."


    "How did I die in those memories anyway?" Su Xiaofei asked, wanting to know how much he could remember and if there was anything that she had forgotten.


    Her husband stiffened under her touch, and she berated herself inwardly. Su Xiaofei immediately regretted what she had said. It was foolish of her to ask such a question, knowing how ufortable Lu Qingfeng was with those memories.


    "When I was younger, I kept dreaming about you dying alone at home, with no husband or mother to look after you. It was a bizarre dream because I think I was already dead before you, but I could see you on your deathbed, struggling to fight for a breath. I''m not really sure about the cause of your death." Lu Qingfeng admitted, purposely not mentioning how she was also pregnant at the time, losing not only her life, but also the life of her unborn child.


    "And the second?"


    "You were poisoned by someone. Whoever it was, they made sure that your death would be slow and painful. I found you toote, and you were ghastly pale on your deathbed, with your eyes void of any signs of life. I think that''s the thing I''m worried about the most. I never want to see you in such a state, Feifei."


    Something twinged in Su Xiaofei''s heart. She knew what Lu Qingfeng said was true. Although they were both aware of what happened in the past, it didn''t mean that she won''t suffer the same end this time. Ye Mingyu had managed to kill her in the past and if cornered, Su Xiaofei was certain that the woman would retaliate harshly.

 Chapter 438 *R18 Never Let Go (3)

    If there was something Su Xiaofei would never doubt, it would be Lu Qingfeng''s love for her. No matter what problems they had, she was certain that he would never abandon her the way Mo Yuchen did. Lu Qingfeng was obviously as invested in this marriage as she was.


    Added to the fact that Lu Qingfeng had managed to make her aware of the passionate side she didn''t know she had until he came along. His touch had the power to convince her that she was the only woman he adored and worshiped in the world, the way he was treating her at this very moment.


    She wound her arms around his shoulder and kissed him deeply, with gratitude, love, and affection. He responded to her, his tongue entwining with hers in searing desire. Su Xiaofei knew that one of the reasons he had brought her to this ind resort was for a honeymoon, no matter how short it would be and who was apanying them on this trip.


    His big, hot palms skimmed over her sides, further spreading the heat over her body, before it lowered and cupped her butt, giving it a squeeze. She moaned, loving his tant desire for her.


    Suddenly, Lu Qingfeng pulled away when he felt his phone vibrate in his side pocket, followed by a ring. He pulled it out, and they saw Song Yiran''s name shed on his screen.


    Su Xiaofei immediately snatched his phone from his hand and carelessly dropped it along with the paperwork she was reading earlier at the night stand.


    "Wait. That must be important." She heard Lu Qingfeng say, but she shook her head.


    "Not as important as what we''re doing here." She replied, pushing him further on the bed until his back hit the headboard.


    She kissed him again, settling herself on hisp by straddling him. Su Xiaofei liked how everything about him fitted her perfectly, as if he was made just for her and her alone.


    ''This man is mine.''


    She felt his lips travel along her jawline, his hands resuming its ministrations as Lu Qingfeng continued to touch her body. She syed her hand over his chest and through the silken material of his dress shirt. Su Xiaofei could feel his heart thumping against her palm, evidently showing how she affected him in so many ways.


    Slowly, she felt Lu Qingfeng pushing down the shoulder straps of her summer dress, his fingers gently running over her smooth skin while his lips traveled down until they reached her corbone. He undid the sp of hercy bra in front, pushing it to the side to cup her breasts.


    "So lovely. I think I would never get tired looking at them." Lu Qingfeng said breathlessly, feeling the weight of her breasts on both hands with appreciation. They were heavy with their own fullness, looking plump and utterly delightful in his eyes. Pinching her pale pink, tiny nipples, he heard his wife gasping above him.


    He then let his fingers slide and traced down her stomach. In the past, she was almost skin and bones, with visible ribs under her skin, but now she looked plump and radiant. Lu Qingfeng was d that she had stopped torturing herself in order to keep an unhealthy figure by starving herself.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Su Xiaofei fiddled on his shirt, trying to remove it from him, but with her impatience, she chose to break the buttons, wanting to feel the warmth of his skin on her palms.


    Lu Qingfeng let out a low chuckle at how eager his wife was. He liked that she had gained this confidence during their intimacy.


    "Wife, I didn''t pack much for this trip. Don''t rip all my clothes, okay?" His hand reached her ponytail and released her thick mane.


    "Hush, Dear," Su Xiaofei told him, peeling his shirt from his torso. "No talking."


    He groaned when her hands slid over the t nes of his chest down to his stomach, admiring the way his muscles felt under her touch. Wet heat intensified inside her delicate sex as she continued to touch him, but she was caught off guard when Lu Qingfeng squirmed and suddenly one of her nipples were trapped by his hot mouth, sucking it hard.


    She threw her head back and moaned at the fiery sensation that was threatening to unfurl with her. Su Xiaofei wished he were already inside her, pounding into her as roughly as he could. With her shaky hands, she shimmied out of her dress and discarded her panties, careful not to dislodge her nipple from his heavenly mouth.


    Her hands then blindly reached over his pants and unbuckled it, feeling and running her hands over his hot and hard erection once she freed it. Good Lord! She merelye undone by just feeling his desire, and her sex pulsed with anticipation.


    She pulled away at the same time Lu Qingfeng released her nipple. He looked at her with darkened eyes.


    "I need more. I need you so badly." She panted, and released him, letting him discard the rest of his clothes.


    Lu Qingfeng groaned, her words making him frantic with need. He wouldn''t be able to go slow with the way she was acting tonight. He didn''t waste time and took a condom from the nightstand, not wanting to make his wife wait for too long.


    Su Xiaofei pulled herself upward and seated herself slowly on his erection. It was almost effortless as she was already primed for him, but nheless delicious. She felt herself being filled and stretched, and she shuddered above him. He feltrge and iron-hard inside her, and she tried not toe too early.


    Lu Qingfeng shut his eyes, his hold on her hips tightening as he felt her warmth that was gripping him tightly. He fought the urge to m into her and take her harshly, willing to allow his wife to lead tonight.


    "Use me." He said breathlessly, eyes never leaving her flushed face. "Make yourselfe."

 Chapter 439 *R18 Never Let Go (4)

    Su Xiaofei knew that she was already dripping wet, and it was ridiculous how turned on she was, hearing her husband''s words. The resulting sensation that hit her nearly drove her crazy, and she didn''t doubt that she wasn''t the only one. Her husband felt so big, so full inside her, that it hit all of her nerve endings, making her more aware of him.


    She didn''t answer him, but simply rolled her hips against his and enjoyed Lu Qingfeng''s muffled sound of pleasure. His hands went to her bare thighs, holding her against him as she began to rock, adjusting a little here and there, trying to find a pleasurable rhythm for them.


    During their previous couplings, Su Xiaofei had never been on top, as she had always allowed her husband to take the lead. She was also too self-conscious about her breasts and how they jiggled as they moved, unaware that it only aroused her husband further whenever he saw it.


    Su Xiaofei didn''t know what got into her to gain this kind of confidence to be on top. She realized that she didn''t care anymore as she continued to bounce on top of him, her hips rising and mming back down on his full length. He responded to her by flicking his hips up to match her movements.


    She set the pace, wanting to draw out the moment as much as possible. The friction of his length sliding against her made her tighten her inner muscles, wanting to trap him inside her. Soon enough, they were driving against each other, each thrust going harder and rougher until a low ache began to burn inside her, pushing her to the edge.


    She wanted Lu Qingfeng to forget his worries for the meantime and focus on what they had at the moment. So what if she was a known viiness in the past, and he was a tyrant? None of that happened yet, and she wanted to live her life to the fullest on her own terms and not be someone else''s backdrop.


    Hadn''t she denied themselves enough in their previous life? If she hadn''t been so blinded with her infatuation with Mo Yuchen and had realized Lu Qingfeng''s feelings towards her much earlier, they wouldn''t have lost the chance to experience the kind of love and life they shared now.


    Su Xiaofei braced her hands on his shoulder and concentrated her movements, with each rock bringing her closer to her orgasm, that was still elusive.


    "Come on, my darling wife. Come for me." Lu Qingfeng whispered in her ear, as he thumbed her clit, rubbing it to match the rhythm she set.


    And there it was, blossoming through her body and making her clench. She cried out in surprise at how good it felt, her inner muscles spasming with sheer pleasure. She had lost her rhythm and had started anew.


    At his encouragement, a tidal wave of orgasm engulfed her. She arched her pelvis, grinding against him as she threw her head back and screamed her pleasure.


    Lu Qingfeng leaned forward, his arms tightening around her, and buried his face in the crook of her neck as a loud groan tore from his chest. As much as he enjoyed her being on top, he needed more from her.


    Then, heid her back on the bed and rolled over swiftly, surprising Su Xiaofei who suddenly found herself trapped beneath him. Before she could question him, he pulled back and thrusted deep and rough into her.


    She gasped, stunned at how good that felt. When Lu Qingfeng did it again ¡ª faster and rougher, it shoved her across the bed a little, as his skin pped at her own. But she clung to him, loving every thrust he was giving her. She had never thought that making love with her husband could be this pleasurable and addictive.


    And then he came, her name dragging from his lips with a groan, his own body losing control. He stroked into her again, letting the aftershocks of pleasure ride through him.


    It took him a moment to recover and release her. He rolled to the side, flipping to his back while trying to catch his breath. They were both panting in silence, neither saying a thing for a long time.


    "Oh my," Su Xiaofei breathed out once she recovered. "That was amazing."<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Lu Qingfeng turned to her and kissed her crown.


    "You are amazing." He corrected her.


    He supposed that they may be moving faster than most, but Lu Qingfeng wanted to believe that it''s normal, considering how their marriage was still new. Their staff learned quickly to give them privacy they needed whenever they were together.


    It wasn''t like he and Su Xiaofei were neglecting their responsibilities at work, but Lu Qingfeng realized that his free time wasn''t spent with boredom or books, but with his wife. He had taken his time with her, learning everything about her and in turn, Su Xiaofei figured out more of what she required and wanted in their marriage. She was bing more and more demanding of what she wanted from him, and Lu Qingfeng was more than happy to oblige.


    Su Xiaofei giggled at his words and shook her head.


    "I would have never thought that there are two things you could be." She said as she rolled on her side, head propped on one hand.


    Lu Qingfeng stared at her face, then at her exposed chest that had reddened marks on it.


    "And that is?"


    "You are romantic in your own way."


    "Hmm? And the other?" He ran a hand on her bare back, liking how soft and warm she felt next to him.


    "Sex obsessed." Su Xiaofei said with a grin.


    His dark eyes immediately turned to her. "I''m not obsessed."


    "What would you call it then?" She wiggled her brows, her smile never leaving.


    Lu Qingfeng scoffed. He''d totally missed this in his previous lives. Was it wrong to indulge once in a while?


    "Enjoy making love with my wife, what else?"

 Chapter 440 Moving Forward (1)

    Su Xiaofei woke up to the sound of pounding waves. Next to her, Lu Qingfeng slept with one arm propped over her belly, his nakedness barely covered by the tangled sheet. Through the thin curtains, she could see the sunlight piercing through it, illuminating their suite.


    She sighed as she realized that they only had a day to enjoy themselves here and needed to return home. She had no doubt that the amount of work waiting for her would be astronomical. Thankfully, her assistant was capable of rescheduling the meetings she had, and she wouldn''t need to bring those paperwork home.


    Sheid on her side, staring at her husband''s handsome face. Lu Qingfeng was obviously younger than her, but he was more mature in thinking that sometimes, she couldn''t help but rely on him. When she was reborn, she was filled with bitterness and anger, but now, she only wanted to be a better daughter to her mother and be the good wife she could be to Lu Qingfeng.


    Her fingers lightly traced the side of his handsome face, marveling at how beautiful he was. He looked utterly masculine and young at the same time. His cold countenance only added to his charm. Su Xiaofei would have never thought that they would have such an amazing connection. She had obviously ignored this before.


    She moved her husband''s hand carefully and rose. Her muscles ached pleasantly, reminding her of how attentive her husband was the night before. She stood up to take a long shower and hummed a song she had sung in her previous life. No one knew the title of the song nor its lyrics because it had been her who had written it out of her despair during the time when Lu Qingfeng had fallen into aa.


    She had been washing out the shampoo from her hair when the door of the shower stall opened, revealing her husband. He stepped in and joined her in the shower, starting his day a littleter than usual.


    "You could have slept a little more. Did my absence wake you up?" She asked as she helped him scrub his back with a washcloth. Standing behind him, it was easy to tell that he was towering over her.


    "No. I don''t sleep much, Feifei." Lu Qingfeng ran a hand on his hair, pushing it away from his face.


    That was true, Su Xiaofei thought. She couldn''t remember thest time she had seen Lu Qingfeng going to bed before midnight or sleeping in.


    Twenty minutester, they were dressed casually and went down to see if Yun Qingrong or Xi Qian were up and having breakfast. They only found Yun Qingrong enjoying her meal as she looked peacefully at the waves in the sea.


    "Morning, Mom." Su Xiaofei kissed her mother''s cheek and took a seat next to her. "Have you seen Qian today?" She asked, while her husband took a seat across from them and gestured for the helper to serve their meals.


    They came back with trays filled with scrambled eggs, fresh fruit slices, a cup of ck coffee for Lu Qingfeng and mocha for his wife and some croissants with warm butter. Su Xiaofei''s eyes lit up and she quickly dug in, not waiting for her husband.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "I asked around," Yun Qingrong''s lips curled up seeing how her daughter eagerly devoured her meal. "It seems like she isn''t up yet."


    "That''s good." Su Xiaofei nodded, moaning at how delicious her croissant was. Perhaps herte night activities with her husband had made her a glutton for a big breakfast. "It''s alright for her to sleep in once in a while. I would rather she not drink a cup of coffee while she''s here."


    Aside from her husband, Su Xiaofei knew that Xi Qian enjoyed her coffee to keep her up and awake during work and her studies. It was certainly one of the reasons why Xi Qian had trouble sleeping ever since she tried bncing her work and reviewing for her exams.


    "Feifei, how could you say such things?"


    The trio turned their heads and saw Xi Qian joined them in the dining area. Xi Qian unceremoniously sat next to Lu Qingfeng and snatched a croissant from his tray.


    "I''m merely saying that you should take advantage of this short trip, Qian. When was thest time you took a real day off? I wouldn''t doubt if you are keeping your notes under your pillows at night." Su Xiaofei said in defense.


    "Don''t worry. I haven''t touched them since we got here." Xi Qian assured her, which was true. She was too preupied to think about it.


    Just as she thought that she was able to unwind here, her recent conversation with Li Xiran kept her awakete at night. She had been wondering if she was being too hard on herself, and denying herself of things that should be enjoyable.


    What was wrong with being friends with your employer''s son anyway? It wasn''t like she and Li Xiran were close in the first ce. She had to admit though, that she was amazed by his dedication to his work and how he struggled to keep theirpany afloat while mending his rtionship with his father.


    Xi Qian thought that it was admirable, because not many would swallow their own pride and admit their mistakes to their own parents. On her part, it wasn''t like she was the one who needed to apologize to her parents. They were the ones who abandoned her, and they had been absent throughout her life since their divorce was finalized.


    Little Qian had no ce in their new families anyway, and she had promised not to be like her mother, who only trapped her father in marriage just because she had fallen pregnant. Her father had never once failed to remind her that she was the unwanted child anyway, while her mother deemed her as the biggest mistake of her life.

 Chapter 441 Moving Forward (2)

    This was why the concept of having a great family didn''t seem realistic for Xi Qian. She believed that no matter how good the reputation a family had in public, they were merely hiding the nasty rift between their family members. No matter what kind of social status a family had, Xi Qian was certain that internal struggles would always be present.


    As the four of them continued their breakfast, Nine arrived and whispered something to Lu Qingfeng. The younger man rose a slender brow, but nodded to whatever his personal bodyguard was telling him. Once Nine delivered the news to his master, he was already gone even before Su Xiaofei could invite him to join them for breakfast.


    "What is it?" Su Xiaofei asked her husband when she saw him wiping his lips clean and rising from his seat.


    "Li Xiran and Li Xingtian are about to leave. I''m sending them off." Lu Qingfeng replied, failing to notice how Xi Qian froze next to him. "Yan Xiuchen had already leftst night despite the unfavorable weather."


    However, Su Xiaofei didn''t miss the sudden reaction from her best friend and gave Xi Qian a curious look. Did something happen between Xi Qian and Li Xiran that she wasn''t aware of?


    "Let me join you. It would be improper if thedy of the house isn''t treating them well." Su Xiaofei said, and excused herself from her mother to join Lu Qingfeng.


    When they arrived at the small runway on the ind resort, the couple found the Li brothers discussing something in low voices, they immediately stopped and turned around when they saw her and Lu Qingfenging towards them.


    It was a little windy today that Su Xiaofei regretted wearing a sundress. Her skirt was whipping around her legs and her hair swishing in all directions at once. She ced both her hands on her sides to keep her dress from flying up, saving herself from being disgraced in front of the Li brothers.


    Lu Qingfeng was in front of her, walking towards Li Xiran who raised a hand in a friendly greeting. Su Xiaofei wasn''t sure what was said between the two, but she didn''t dare to disturb their conversation.


    Once their talk was over, Li Xiran turned to her and gave her a curt nod before he and his younger brother got on their private ne. Lu Qingfeng returned to her side and together, they watched the ne leave the ind once they reached the ideal altitude.


    "Feifei, do you know, from my odd memories, Li Xiran didn''t get to receive his happy ending." Lu Qingfeng murmured next to her when everything fell silent and the wind had calmed down.


    Su Xiaofei blinked and cocked her head to look at him.


    "What happened to him?" She asked curiously. After Xi Qian''s funeral, she had never seen Li Xiran again, even as a ghost.


    Lu Qingfeng fell silent, his hand slipped to hold hers. The two slowly made their way back to the main building, where they left Yun Qingrong and Xi Qian.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "In my memories, Li Xiran and Xi Qian were lovers, but Xi Qian was involved in a tragic ident that took her life. Li Xiran was able to save his family''s business, but he wasn''t able to save Xi Qian and be with her."


    Su Xiaofei shivered, her heart started to beat frantically in her chest. Being reminded of Xi Qian''s death was enough to make her worry about her best friend. How could she forget that Xi Qian had died in the midst of her blooming romance with Li Xiran?


    "Don''t worry. Nothing''s gonna happen to her." Lu Qingfeng said as if he could sense her worries.


    Lu Qingfeng had made sure that none of Xi Qian''s parents would be able to harass her again in this lifetime. He made sure to make them upied withwsuits that would cost them a lifetime of suffering.


    In their previous life, Xi Qian''s sudden death was one of the reasons why Su Xiaofei''s health continued to deteriorate at a faster rate. She was supposed to live for another year, but the tragic deaths of her loved ones and Lu Qingfeng''sa had been detrimental to her health.


    "How could you be so sure?" Su Xiaofei frowned. She was dreaded with fear that she wouldn''t be able to save Xi Qian''s life this time.


    "Because the one who was responsible for her death was her own stepmother. I suppose with the current situation her father''s family is in, they wouldn''t have the time to seek Xi Qian to force her to provide for them this time. They had thought that they would be able to manipte Xi Qian and ask the Li family for assistance, but she refused to give them a single cent."


    Su Xiaofei inwardly sneered. So it turned out that she had been right. Wang Pen was really the one who targeted Xi Qian from the very start. She should have made that old woman''s life miserable when she had the chance to confront her before.


    "Also, I asked Nine to keep an eye on them just in case. We wouldn''t want any of them to get close with Xi Qian, now that she is acquainted with Li Xiran." Lu Qingfeng added. The only thing Xi Qian needed to do now was to make peace with her past and continue to move forward.


    "Then I hope that it will also work for the two of them this time." Su Xiaofei hooked her arm with his and leaned her head against his arm. "It would be a pity if they didn''t end up together, now that they''ve got a chance like us."


    "Hmm¡­ do you think that''s the reason I''m having these odd memories?" It was Lu Qingfeng''s turn to question her. Actually, he''d been wondering why he was given not only a second chance in life, but also a third.


    "No, but it certainly teaches you to be a better person." Su Xiaofei grinned at him.

 Chapter 442 Regret Can Be A Greater Force Than Gratitude (1)

    At Golden Star Entertainment¡­


    Mo Yuchen was still bothered by Lu Qingfeng''s im that he and Su Xiaofei were already married. He knew that it might be one of Lu Qingfeng''s attempts to annoy him to death. He knew that such a thing was possible. And so, he hired a private investigator to check on Lu Qingfeng''s ims, and he was left bbergasted and in deep shock.


    The report that the private investigator had delivered to him today showed that Su Xiaofei had really married her childhood friend over a month ago, just weeks after he met the two at President Ouyang''s birthday g.


    His eyes shed red and the urge to trash everything around him was too much, but he didn''t. He forced himself to rein his anger and took calming breaths. Mo Yuchen couldn''t believe that Su Xiaofei had really moved on from him and chose to be someone else''s wife in this lifetime.


    He hated that he wasn''t able to regain consciousness much earlier, so he could mend and rectify the things the previous Mo Yuchen had done to her. Bitterness filled his entirety as he stared at the official marriage photo of his wife with Lu Qingfeng.


    Damn that Lu Qingfeng. He had totally taken advantage of Su Xiaofei''s animosity towards him and lured her into marriage. He''d always known that Lu Qingfeng had been madly in love with Su Xiaofei and hated that the young man refused to move on and leave her alone. Mo Yuchen supposed Lu Qingfeng didn''t want to lose his chance and had decided to marry her when he got the chance.


    His assistant came and Mo Yuchen immediately set aside the report he was reading, not wanting anyone to probe on it.


    "Miss Bai arrived earlier than the scheduled meeting, should we let her in?" His assistant asked, sensing that Mo Yuchen wasn''t in a good mood again. He''d been brooding these days and none of them knew what had upset their boss this time.


    Mo Yuchen waved a hand, suppressing a grunt.


    "Fine, let her in." He then nced at the time indicated on the top right of hisptop screen.


    Bai Qingyue had arrived an hour earlier than their scheduled appointment, and it annoyed Mo Yuchen to know that this insufferable woman would just do whatever she wanted and didn''t respect him as her superior.


    If he hadn''t known that this woman was Su Xiaofei''s birth mother, Mo Yuchen wouldn''t be able to stand being in the same ce as her. Perhaps Su Xiaofei had inherited her domineering attitude and cold beauty from this very woman.


    The famous actress sauntered inside his vast office, looked around the gray and minimalistic space before taking a seat on the leather couch. Seeing her like this reminded Mo Yuchen of his wife from his previous life. Bai Qingyue and Su Xiaofei held themselves above others and reveled in the fact that their appearances were above the rest.


    However, one significant trait that contrasted between mother and daughter was that while Bai Qingyue held a reputation for being a goddess, Su Xiaofei had purposely embraced her persona as a wicked viiness in everyone''s eyes.


    "I heard that the script has already been finalized. I want to see it as soon as possible." Bai Qingyue said in her usual demanding tone.


    In public, she was all smiles and gentle, but in real life, her fans would get the shock of their lives if they found out that their goddess was nothing but a cold-hearted selfish bitch. Mo Yuchen narrowed his eyes on her and regarded her for a moment.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    He might be stupid, but he wasn''t blind. In his previous life, even before he married Su Xiaofei, he managed to find out the truth about her birth and identity. From the moment he met Bai Qingyue the first time, her startling resemnce to his fianc¨¦e bothered Mo Yuchen.


    Mo Yuchen sighed and opened the top drawer of his desk and took a folder containing the proposed script for the film Bai Qingyue and Tang Liyan would be ying as the lead roles. It somewhat surprised him that Bai Qingyue had agreed to cooperate for the second time, as she had been enraged during the time she was forced to coborate with Tang Liyan for ''Bellissima''.


    "Here. Let me know what you think of it. I suppose your screen time is almost the same as Miss Tang''s." He handed the folder to Bai Qingyue and took a seat on the couch across from her.


    Bai Qingyue hummed, flipped the folder open and started reading in silence. She hadn''t uttered a single word ofint, which startled Mo Yuchen. Shouldn''t she be pointing at mistakes over the script andin that she wasn''t being given an appropriate amount of time to showcase her talent?


    "This would do." She suddenly said, surprising him.


    Bai Qingyue ced the folder on top of the ss coffee table and regarded him.


    "Are you sure?" He asked suspiciously. Why did he feel like Bai Qingyue was up to something?


    She raised a slender brow at him and chuckled.


    "What? Isn''t this what you wanted? I''m not sure why you''re doing this, but you are only pushing Miss Su away with your poor attempts."


    Mo Yuchen sucked in a deep breath and stared at her with annoyance.


    "Why do you even care?" He spat out venomously. Thest person who should criticize him was Bai Qingyue.


    She shrugged and checked her well manicured nails, a mocking smile on her lips.


    "I don''t. I''m merely amused that you are trying to reconcile with her, given how much you hated herpany before. What changed?" Bai Qingyue asked in return.


    Mo Yuchen fell silent. Indeed, it was only normal for people around him to question his motive, but he only wanted to reconcile with his wife in this lifetime.


    "Because regret can be a greater force than gratitude." He said meaningfully, making Bai Qingyue wonder if she had heard him right.

 Chapter 443 Regret Can Be A Greater Force Than Gratitude (2)

    Bai Qingyue stared at him as if he had just lost his mind. She briefly thought that indeed, the rumors about Mo Yuchen''s sudden change had been true after all. Something about him was differentpared to thest time she had met with him, during the coboration project she had done with Tang Liyan for Bellisima.


    If before, Mo Yuchen wanted to destroy Su Xiaofei, now, he wanted to possess her again, which Bai Qingyue found appalling, considering that he had never truly cared about anyone else aside from himself.


    How did she know? Of course it was for the reason that she was able to see herself in him. Ambitious people like them would sacrifice and would give up on anything just to get what they wanted.


    Hadn''t she done the same thing when she abandoned her own child years ago? It hadn''t been easy, but she wouldn''t have reached where she was now if she hadn''t given up the child. Still, Bai Qingyue would be lying to herself if she imed that she had already forgotten about the baby, because it still haunts her at night and she hated that she couldn''t get rid of the nightmares.


    "The schedule for the filming will be emailed to you soon. We just need to confirm Tang Liyan''s avability before we can proceed." She heard Mo Yuchen say and saw his face with a grim expression on it.


    Bai Qingyue scoffed and shook her head. She would never understand what caused this man''s sudden change and she wouldn''t have cooperated with him if she wasn''t interested in Su Xiaofei. The young woman''s existence bothered her. From the moment she met Su Xiaofei, she hadn''t been able to pull her thoughts away from her.


    "Do you still want me to cause trouble for Tang Liyan and Miss Su?" She asked Mo Yuchen, wanting to know if his resolve to destroy Su Xiaofei remained or if he had really changed for the better, or perhaps he was trying to lure Su Xiaofei back to him so he would be able to take over Bluemedia easily.


    It was obvious though that Su Xiaofei had nothing to do with him anymore and had already moved on with her life after their engagement was canceled.


    "No." The man replied without batting an eyelid. "You won''t need to do such a thing. Su Xiaofei would surely not let you off the hook the next time."


    Mo Yuchen hadn''t forgotten the rage he had seen in Su Xiaofei''s eyes when she confronted him about Bai Qingyue''s manager. He also knew that she was a person who held grudges.


    Suddenly, Mo Yuchen''s assistant came rushing inside the room, looking pale as he looked at Mo Yuchen. The two turned their heads in his direction, wondering what had made him act like this.


    "What is it?" Mo Yuchen asked with annoyance. It was unusual for his assistant to barge in the middle of his meeting like this.


    "CEO Mo, there was an ident at the project in Shenjing. Your father wants you to go there as soon as possible." His assistant replied, clutching a phone in his hands.


    Mo Yuchen couldn''t stop a curse from leaving his mouth. He stood up, opening his palm towards his assistant to get the phone. He nced at Bai Qingyue and sighed.


    "Our meeting ends here." He said. "You can inform your concerns over the script to the director once they hand it to you. I wouldn''t be able to demand for more exposure."


    He didn''t wait for Bai Qingyue to reply and left at once with his assistant. Mo Yuchen knew how demanding his father could be and he disliked that the old man was still imposing his dominance towards him even in this lifetime.


    Bai Qingyue rose from her seat, knowing that Mo Yuchen didn''t have time to entertain her any longer. However, just as she picked up her handbag from the coffee table, something on Mo Yuchen''s desk took her attention. There was a stack of paper left on his table, but there were also papers that were carelessly set aside.


    She scoffed when she saw a picture of Su Xiaofei peeking through the pile. She sauntered towards the desk and pulled out the paper, revealing Su Xiaofei dressed in an immacte white wedding dress, holding a bouquet of flowers as she stood beside a young and handsome man.


    She got married?! No wonder Mo Yuchen looked pissed off earlier. Nothing had gone ording to his ns so far.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Bai Qingyue''s hands shook, her eyes widened in surprise. She recognized the man next to Su Xiaofei as she had seen them together years ago. It was just that she was surprised that they decided to get married so soon, when people their age would prioritize their careers and making money rather than starting a family. She supposed that money was the least of Su Xiaofei''s priorities and it seemed like her young husband was capable of providing for her needs anyway.


    Bai Qingyue scowled at the thought, thinking that the young woman was too lucky to worry about such problems in marriage. Not anyone could easily snag a wealthy husband who could sustain the lifestyle she was used to.


    When she got pregnant with Qiao Fengying''s child, he hadn''t made a name for himself yet and couldn''t even pay his rent on time. Who would have thought that a decadeter, he would be one of the most popr self-made millionaires in the country?


    Bai Qingyue thought that if she hadn''t gotten pregnant too early, she and Qiao Fengying wouldn''t break up and they would still be together to this day. For the longest time, she med the child for ruining her future with him rather than owning up to her mistakes. s, there was no point in wondering about ''what-if'' because they were both out of each other''s life and married to another person.


    Su Xiaofei looked genuinely happy on her wedding day, which Bai Qingyue found unusual. Whenever she met Su Xiaofei, the young woman would always have a stoic mask and polite smile on her face.


    Just as she thought she had seen enough, another photo grabbed her attention. She picked it up and saw that the newlywed couple weren''t the only ones in it.


    Her eyes widened in recognition, seeing Qiao Fengying standing on Su Xiaofei''s right side. Bai Qingyue hadn''t seen in ages, but it was impossible for her not to recognize him and his wife after seeing them in several published magazines before.


    ''How is this even possible?!'' She thought.


    Did Qiao Fengying manage to find their daughter after all these years and it was Su Xiaofei? If before, her mind was refusing to ept the possibility of Su Xiaofei being her daughter, seeing the young woman with Qiao Fengying managed to change her mind.


    Bai Qingyue had always felt that something about the young woman was familiar, and if Su Xiaofei was really the child she abandoned so many years ago, it made sense why she was harboring such feelings towards her.


    She returned the photos to its previous position and left Mo Yuchen''s office at once, her mind spiraling with several thoughts about the possibility of Su Xiaofei being her daughter. What could this mean for her? Bai Qingyue wondered.


    If the public found out that she had abandoned her own child to pursue her career, Bai Qingyue had no doubt that she would receive a harsh bacsh from everyone. It might not only cost her marriage and reputation, and it could also ruin her for good.


    She wondered if Su Xiaofei already knew the truth about her. Did Qiao Fengying tell her that she was her mother? Would Su Xiaofei take it against her and hate her after knowing what she''d done?


    ''Damn it.'' She cursed, having a hard time to calm down.


    Bai Qingyue walked past the reception area and went straight to the elevator, ignoring the curious looks she was receiving from Mo Yuchen''s secretaries. She couldn''t be bothered by what they thought of her at the moment.


    If Su Xiaofei held a grudge towards her, she might use her position as the CEO of Bluemedia Entertainment to make her life miserable. It would have been better if Su Xiaofei wasn''t working in showbiz like her, because Bai Qingyue would have no doubt that many would be able to see the resemnce between them.


    No, Su Xiaofei and Qiao Fengying hadn''t made any announcement in public yet. There might be a possibility that they knew each other through a mutual friend. However, considering that the Qiao family was at Su Xiaofei''s wedding only meant that Qiao Fengying was close with her and her family.


    Bai Qingyue grimaced at the thought. She would need to be careful in the future. Heck, maybe she should avoid meeting Su Xiaofei at all, just in case, but this didn''t mean she wouldn''t do anything to protect herself.

 Chapter 444 That’s My Big Sis! (1)

    After their long weekend at the ind resort, Su Xiaofei received a call saying that she was needed at Bluemedia''s Shenjing Branch as soon as possible. She and Lu Qingfeng decided to send her mother home and together, they would go to Shenjing for their appointments.


    Lu Qingfeng was more than willing to apany her on her sudden trip as he also needed to have a word with his grandfather regarding his ascension in theirpany. A month after his wedding to Su Xiaofei, they were also expected to pay respect to their elders.


    Su Xiaofei was unwilling to leave her mother alone at home, but she also knew that she couldn''t leave her Uncle Fang to deal with all the important issues at thepany alone.


    "It''s fine, Feifei. Do what you need to do. I won''t be going anywhere." Yun Qingrong patted her daughter''s hand as Su Xiaofei hesitated to immediately leave with her husband.


    "If you are sure¡­"


    "I''m sure." Yun Qingrong insisted. "I had a wonderful weekend because of you and Xiao Feng, but I also know I cannot take both of your time from work much longer."


    Su Xiaofei remained silent as she looked at her mother''s face. Even though Yun Qingrong had already had her surgeries to remove most of the cancer cells, the chemotherapy was making her more sick than ever. Tears were welling up in her eyes as she looked at her mother''s fragile body.


    Wasn''t Yun Qingrong supposed to get better with her medical treatments? Then why did Su Xiaofei feel like she was losing her mother every single day? What the hell was the chemo doing for her mother if she felt and looked like this now? Yun Qingrong was so skinny and really didn''t look healthy at all.


    There were even times when she found her mother puking after her chemo sessions and it broke her heart to see Yun Qingrong like that. Through her mother''s clothes, it was obvious how much weight Yun Qingrong had lost and Su Xiaofei wished there was an easier way for her mother to get through this. The doctors had to know of another way that wouldn''t be so hard on her mother''s body.


    Su Xiaofei knew her leave was almost up. More and more paperwork was piling up and it was almost time for her to get back to work. When she and Lu Qingfeng weren''t at work, they made sure to apany Yun Qingrong, wanting nothing more than to ease the difort of her chemotherapy.


    "Okay. Please give me a call if you need anything." She told her mother, not wanting to leave Yun Qingrong at all.


    Yun Qingrong smiled. "I''ll be here once you and Xiao Feng return. Now, go."


    Dear Lord! Su Xiaofei couldn''t even understand why her mother had to suffer like this. There were so many bad people in the world, but she was sure as hell that Yun Qingrong was a fucking saintpared to them. Heck, her mother wouldn''t even believe that she was a horrendous person in her previous life.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Cancer was such a traumatic and life changing illness and Su Xiaofei knew she couldn''t expect things to be the same or ever get back to normal. It was hard to pretend that nothing was wrong when she could see her own mother withering in front of her.


    Su Xiaofei didn''t have a choice but to get in the car with her husband as Nine drove them back to the airport for their next flight. She was aware that her husband was looking at her worriedly, but she didn''t think she was ready to admit her worries right now.


    "Is everything alright?" Lu Qingfeng finally asked the question that must have burned his skull since they returned from their trip.


    "Fine." Su Xiaofei answered and turned to look outside the window. She wanted to cry, but she needed to put on a brave facade for her loved ones'' sake. She was aware that her mother was fighting her illness for her too.


    They didn''t speak the remainder of their trip to Shenjing and Su Xiaofei was thankful that her husband didn''t probe her any further. It must be obvious that she didn''t want to spend too much time away from her mother and she feared that it might strain her rtionship with Lu Qingfeng if it persisted.


    When they arrived at Shenjing, Lu Qingfeng apanied her to Bluemedia''s Shenjing Branch and they received so much attention from the employees. Zhang Ling was already there, waiting for their arrival and she immediately ran towards Su Xiaofei.


    "What''s wrong?" Su Xiaofei frowned as soon as the elevator closed, bringing the three of them to the top floor of the building.


    "President Su, remember when the new investors asked if they could meet Full Moon? The rest of the girls agreed, but they aren''t reallyfortable with the arrangements."


    Su Xiaofei fell silent on that. She wouldn''t have agreed on it too, but since Fang Yi was in charge during her short trip, he was the one who gave the go signal. It would be disrespectful on her part to overrule his decision at this point, but she couldn''t possibly turn a blind eye to the four young women that were under her wing.


    "Could you run a quick background check on those investors? If possible, give me the venue of the meeting. I would like to apany the girls." She told Zhang Ling.


    Zhang Ling nced at her young master, asking the unspoken question. If she had to rely on Bluemedia''s resources, it would surely take a lot of time before she could deliver the report to their mistress.


    Lu Qingfeng nodded and Zhang Ling released a sigh she didn''t know she was holding. Of course, being the madam of the Lu family, it was Su Xiaofei''s right to use the family resources at will, but Zhang Ling thought that her mistress hadn''t realized this yet.

 Chapter 445 That’s My Big Sis! (2)

    When the clock hit seven o''clock, the Zhang siblings found themselves inside a posh club in Shenjing. The loud music hurt both of their ears, but they did nothing but wince as they walked behind their mistress. The crowd was shoulder to shoulder, but despite that, Su Xiaofei was able to get through them without a problem.


    It might have been the ''fuck off'' expression she had on her face, or the crisp cut of her expensive business suit paired with a pair of high stilettos. It clearly told people that she didn''t belong in this neighborhood, and she didn''t care if people were staring at her.


    Since Su Xiaofei decided to apany her girl group, "Full Moon", she had dressed up casually for the night and came here to see the four young women. However, they came to a stop when Su Xiaofei spotted Ye Mingyu from afar and noticed that Xiao Rufeng was seated ufortably as she held her wine ss.


    Su Xiaofei noticed that the cast of the ''Demonville'' were with them and she raised a slender brow in curiosity. By this time, the filming crew had just finished shooting the first season of the series and it wasn''t really surprising that they would n a celebration party at thest minute.


    "Is there a scheduled party for "Demonville"?" She asked Zhang Ling.


    Her assistant shook her head. "Not that I''m aware of, but I did tell Miss Xiao to take a week break to rest."


    There was something in the way Ye Mingyu smiled that sent the rms in Su Xiaofei''s head off. She had seen this familiar smile several times in her previous life to know that Ye Mingyu was up to no good again.


    She picked up her phone and sent Xiao Rufeng a short message.


    The young actress read her text message at once, her eyes widening in surprise. Xiao Rufeng looked around until she spotted Su Xiaofei, who gave her a wink before disappearing into the hallway that led to the VIP booths. That somehow calmed Xiao Rufeng as she didn''t look as fidgety as she was. Knowing that Su Xiaofei was within the vicinity, she knew that someone had her back.


    When Su Xiaofei and her bodyguards arrived at the designated VIP booth, the four members of ''Full Moon'' stood up with a wide smile on their faces. It was their first time meeting a prospective investor of Bluemedia and they didn''t know how to entertain them.


    "Miss Su, you are here." Yueying, the leader of the group, beamed Su Xiaofei a smile.


    Su Xiaofei entered the room, leaving the Zhang siblings outside the room as they were stationed there to protect the booth they were in. She sat on the couch, her eyes sweeping around the area. The investors hadn''t arrived yet, but from the looks of it, Su Xiaofei needed to do some warm up to beat up some bastards tonight.


    If she hadn''t asked Zhang Ling to run a background check on those men, Su Xiaofei wouldn''t be aware that her talents would be in danger. There was nothing dangerous about CEO Zhou, but he had this reputation of molesting young talents in showbiz. If she had known that he was one of the investors Full Moon would meet tonight, she would have made a phone call to her Uncle Fang to cancel any business transactions with them.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    In her previous life, there were many young talents in the industry whose future had been ruined because of the scandal that involved CEO Zhou. Many used the young women of sleeping with their superiors to get better roles and projects and these only earned them a lot of ire from the public.


    Thankfully, Su Xiaofei had never encountered that old hag in her previous life and she was spared from the malicious scandal, but that didn''t mean she would turn a blind eye, now that he was eyeing her precious girls.


    The door opened and Su Xiaofei nced towards it, seeing three men entering the room. She raised a slender brow when she saw a familiar face next to CEO Zhou. Song Yiran? What the hell was he doing here? She thought.


    When Song Yiran saw her, he also froze in shock for a moment before a wide smile bloomed on his face. It seemed to Su Xiaofei that the man had seen her as some sort of entertainment tonight. Regardless, if they touched her talents inappropriately, she would make sure to break all their legs at the same time.


    Song Yiran was the youngest of the three men, which made CEO Zhou''s bald and protruding belly an eyesore in Su Xiaofei''s sight. The other man looked to be in his mid forties and unlike Song Yiran and CEO Zhou, he was a bit nervous about tonight''s meeting.


    Still, Su Xiaofei refused to lower her guard. She leaned to Yueying''s ear and whispered for her not to drink too much tonight. Although Song Yiran was friends with her husband, Su Xiaofei didn''t ce any expectation on Song Yiran to protect her and the girls.


    "I see you''re very punctual." CEO Zhouughed, and Su Xiaofei tried her best not to frown at his irritating voice and the way he regarded her and the rest of the girls as if he was looking for a bedpanion tonight.


    Was it normal for her to feel her fist itching to beat the shit out of the man? Su Xiaofei thought.


    "I didn''t know we had a plus one here. Could it be that Bluemedia is nning to add another member to your group?" The fatty old man continued as he eyed Su Xiaofei. He licked his dry lips and regarded her from head to toe.


    Song Yiran''s smile immediately vanished from his face and frowned while the girls smiled awkwardly and nced at their manager''s direction.


    Su Xiaofei chuckled. Did CEO Zhou not recognize her as Bluemedia''s President and had mistaken her for someone else?

 Chapter 446 That’s My Big Sis! (3)

    "I''m their chaperone for the night, Sir. Please don''t mind me." Su Xiaofei said with a wicked smile on her face, ignoring how Song Yiran was curiously looking at her.


    Had she been hiding from the public for too long? Not really. People should have taken notice of her when she attended the birthday banquet with her husband not too long ago. Perhaps this old perverted man wasn''t able to recognize her due to the poor lighting within the room and the way she was dressed tonight.


    The drinks continued to pour in, but none of it touched Su Xiaofei''s lips as she knew that she needed to be in charge of tonight. With Ye Mingyu within the vicinity, she also needed to keep an eye on Xiao Rufeng, just in case Ye Mingyu was nning to pull a dirty trick on her.


    "Miss, are you sure you won''t join the fun?" Song Yiran asked her with a wicked grin on his face.


    "Sorry. I need to drive tonight." Su Xiaofei declined the ss he was offering her and gave him a pointed re. If anything, she could see that Song Yiran was trying to make fun of her tonight, as if he was amused by the situation she was in.


    Song Yiran shrugged and didn''t bother her anymore. "If you say so."


    "Pity." CEO Zhouughed. "You look like a smart girl, but it would be too good for someone like you."


    Su Xiaofei rose a slender brow at that. It wasn''t the first time she was looked down on by a man like him. In her previous life, she was constantly reminded that she could only be a trophy wife or a wallflower. People just expected her to be beautiful and not smart, and she hated the way they looked at her.


    "Oh? How so?"


    CEO Zhou shrugged and draped an arm on the couch, drinking his brandy in one go.


    "Just thinking that it would be a pity not seeing your beautiful face in public. Why hasn''t VP Fang offered you a contract? With a face like yours, wouldn''t it be easy for you to reach stardom?"


    Even Song Yiran didn''t seem like he was pleased with what he''d heard from hispanion. He gave Su Xiaofei a concerned look, but she didn''t seem like she was offended by the old man''s words.


    Because she knew that what he said wasn''t true at all. She was more than just a pretty face, and she certainly could do better without people hounding her for her looks. As for what the old man imed, that was definitely not true.


    It takes so much more than relying on a pretty face alone to be a queen and reach the peak of stardom. Many actors honed their crafts for several years, and it would be unfair to degrade them like this. Acting was an art not everyone was good at, and even with her beautiful face, Su Xiaofei had never surpassed the level of a B-rated actress.


    See? Even Bai Qingyue, whose looks weren''t so different from hers, took more than a decade to get to where she was now. Tang Liyan just got lucky to have gotten a second chance to be able to redeem the status she almost had in the past.


    It was really annoying for Su Xiaofei whenever people made such remarks towards her, as if her value was nothing more than an eye candy. Look, her mother even started Bluemedia from scratch and spent so many years cultivating it, so why couldn''t she do the same?


    "The world is changing. It seems to me that CEO Zhou still doesn''t acknowledge that women could be more."


    CEO Zhou scoffed at that, dismissing Su Xiaofei''s words.


    Yueying red at him, wanting to say her piece, but Su Xiaofei held her hand and shook her head.


    "Eyeing such an impossible dream, huh?" The man continued his insults. "It''s already surprising that your new president is able to keep Bluemedia afloat at this rate. Although Ms. Yun surely gave her daughter the proper education and mentorship she needed, once she gets married, wouldn''t that mean she would need to sumb to her husband''s wishes? He would surely take over Bluemedia and run it himself."


    His eyes then turned to the four women, who had been ufortable the moment they arrived here, but they were slightly relieved knowing that their manager was here with them.


    "As for them, weren''t they here to give a performance and entertain us in exchange for money?"


    A sound of ss hitting the hardened floor startled everyone in the room, their eyes turning to Song Yiran, who had obviously lost his cool midway hearing CEO Zhou''s insult.


    "I won''t hear another nonsense from you, CEO Zhou. Our business ends here tonight."


    "W-what?" CEO Zhou''s face paled upon hearing Song Yiran''s words. "What the hell are you talking about?"


    For the first time since Su Xiaofei met him, Song Yiran sneered, a vein almost popping on his temple.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Pretty sure you''ve heard what I said clearly. I''m a damn fool for bringing someone like you to invest in Bluemedia. I was clearly mistaken."


    Su Xiaofei''s brows hit her bangs upon hearing what Song Yiran had just said. Indeed, Bluemedia would have nothing to do with CEO Zhou even if her mother was still the head of thepany. Her Uncle Fang must have made an error in judgment when he allowed her girls to meet this horrible man.


    "But I don''t understand¡­" The older man said in panic. Whatever Song Yiran had over CEO Zhou, it would probably cost the older man a fortune.


    The other man adjusted his sses as he shivered in his seat, as if he wanted to be anywhere but here.


    Song Yiran grimaced then nced at Su Xiaofei, but she remained calm in her seat.


    "Well, well, Mr. Zhou. If you still haven''t recognized the person in front of you, then you might really have a bad eyesight."


    "What?" The older man snapped his head and looked at Su Xiaofei.


    "CEO Zhou, nice to meet you. I''m Su Xiaofei, the manager of Full Moon and head of Bluemedia Entertainment." Su Xiaofei said with a tone of mockery.


    The colors on CEO Zhou''s face changed from white to ck, then white again as he looked at her in disbelief. To think that he''d been insulting the very person right in front him¡­ he didn''t know what to expect now.


    "Ah, CEO Zhou, I didn''t mean to make you feel ufortable." Su Xiaofei said as she crossed her shapely legs and rested her chin on her propped hand over the side of the couch. "But I''m pretty sure that thest thing my husband would do is to take Bluemedia from me, considering a business empire is enough to keep him busy."


    Song Yiran rose to his feet and faced Su Xiaofei, while the four women stared at Su Xiaofei confusedly. When did their manager get married?


    "I''m sorry, Big Sis. I should have known better."


    Gone was his yful and flirty persona, but a man who was deeply concerned over his brother''s wife.


    "Big Sis?! You know each other?" CEO Zhou''s exmation brought everyone''s attention back to him.


    "Why, of course." Song Yiran harrumphed as he crossed his arms over his chest. "The woman you''ve been insulting all this time is the wife of a very dear friend of mine. President Su and I were also schoolmates, so we are familiar with each other. So I apologize Mr. Zhou, I don''t think mypany and Lu Conglomerates would want to do business with you. You are on your own now." He then turned and slightly bowed his head at the four women.


    "Ladies, let''s meet some other time, shall we? Please forget this embarrassing night and pretend I never introduced this man to you."


    He was calm as he spoke, but Su Xiaofei knew that he was anything but calm on the inside. She had never expected one of her husband''s brothers to stand up and protect her.


    CEO Zhou and the man who turned out to be his secretary panicked when Song Yiran made a move to leave.


    "Wait! What does this mean?!" He demanded. He''d been trying to approach Song Yiran for the sole reason of getting in touch with Lu Conglomerates.


    Su Xiaofei barked intoughter as she looked at the pathetic man.


    "Shall we get you a dictionary, then?" She offered, earning a furious re from the man. It was obvious that he was still oblivious of his offense after Song Yiran exined the situation to him.


    Song Yiran scowled and buried his hands in his jacket.


    "You want to meet Mr. Lu, right?" Of course he was well aware of CEO Zhou''s intentions towards him, but the old man didn''t dare to deny it as he nodded.


    "Then convince his wife to meet you, right after you just insulted both of them in her face."

 Chapter 447 Madam Lu (1)

    CEO Zhou''s face nched as he stared at Su Xiaofei in shock. He sobered up immediately, realizing the situation he was currently in. Words were already forgotten as his mind went nk, realizing the mistake he justmitted not only toward her, but also toward Lu Qingfeng. This was far from what he had in mind when he sought Song Yiran in an effort to get acquainted with him. To think he would offend Lu Qingfeng''s wife in the process, he had really shot his own foot this time.


    "Madam Lu, I¡­" But he didn''t know how to take back the words he already uttered in his drunken state.


    "Hmm? So it''s Madam Lu now?" Su Xiaofei chuckled amusedly.


    She wasn''t surprised at all. This man would only give her respect because of the person she was married to and not because she was worth the respect as a person. It displeased Su Xiaofei to know that many people would be like CEO Zhou and would only see her as Lu Qingfeng''s wife, nothing else.


    "I''m sorry. I shouldn''t have run my mouth like that." CEO Zhou broke into a cold sweat under Su Xiaofei''s scrutiny. He hadn''t been able to meet Lu Qingfeng yet, but there were rumors that he was a businessman that was hard to please.


    Su Xiaofei didn''t want any of that. She would rather people think that she was the head of Bluemedia before acknowledging her as Lu Qingfeng''s wife. She knew that until she seeded in flourishing her mother''spany, she would forever be trapped in her husband''s magnificent shadow.


    "Oh no, please don''t apologize. You are merely stating your opinion about us, women." She watched as the color started to return on his face, before she wickedly smiled in return. "However, that doesn''t mean there wouldn''t be any consequences."


    That immediately rendered the old man speechless as he looked at Su Xiaofei in disbelief.


    "I would have made my presence scarce if I were you. It''s not only my husband who is known to have a short temper when ites to people like you. There''s no need for you to apologize as the Lu family will have nothing to do with you."


    Su Xiaofei then rose before gesturing to the four women to follow her outside. The members of the girl group didn''t waste time and left at once, with Su Xiaofei and Song Yiran following behind them.


    "No! Wait, please!"


    They heard CEO Zhou''s voice behind them, but Su Xiaofei didn''t want to waste more time than she already had. At least though, the old man was spared from her fists, because if he had been foolish to dare to touch her or any of her talents, she wouldn''t be able to stop the urge to beat him into a pulp.


    Zhang Lan stepped forward, stopping the man from chasing her mistress. Her ever resting bitch face was enough to make anyone think twice before arguing with her. The Lu emblem pinned on her cor made CEO Zhou swallow the words he was about to say.


    "Mr. Zhou, you do realize that my mistress has made up her mind, don''t you? And tonight''s event has already been reported to Master Lu. My mistress is already kind enough to leave you unscathed despite your impertinence."


    Zhang Lan''s voice and expression were so cold that the old man and his assistant couldn''t stop their knees from shaking.


    "He must be really tired of living." Song Yiran muttered next to Su Xiaofei once they were out of earshot and while Zhang Ling was making a phone call to get the members of Full Moon out of the club.


    "You should know better than to associate with people like him." Su Xiaofei frowned as they walked out of the VIP area. They then moved to the second balcony where they could see the dance floor and the balcony below them that caters most guests of the club.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Her eyes swept around the area, trying to find her other talent but she couldn''t spot Xiao Rufeng anywhere.


    "Looking for someone?" Song Yiran asked when he noticed that the woman next to him was distracted. "Did Lu Qingfenge with you tonight?"


    "No. He''s busy at the moment." Su Xiaofei answered, but it was obvious that her patience was running thin. It had only been an hour and half since she left Xiao Rufeng earlier. Where could she possibly be? Xiao Rufeng wouldn''t leave the ce without informing her.


    She then found Ye Mingyu giggling with other women on the dance floor and Su Xiaofei immediately felt worried for her missing talent.


    "Zhang Ling, could you please find Xiao Rufeng for me? I can''t see her anywhere."


    "Sister Xiao is here?" Yueying asked curiously, while the rest of the Full Moon scanned the whole club for Xiao Rufeng, but just as their manager had just said, she wasn''t there.


    "Or we could ask someone to check the CCTV." Song Yiran suggested. "This ce is owned by Yan Xiuchen and I''m a regr here. I''m pretty sure they wouldn''t mind us snooping around."


    Su Xiaofei looked at him as if he had grown another head over his shoulder. He used to be annoying at times, but now, she could see why Lu Qingfeng easily gets along with Song Yiran.


    "What?" Song Yiran asked, noticing her stare.


    She shook her head.


    "Thank you. Please lead the way and I''m sorry for the inconvenience."


    Zhang Lan appeared at that moment and escorted the members of the Full Moon out of the club. The four hesitated to leave, but Su Xiaofei shook her head.


    "Go. You don''t need to stay here much longer. You''ve already done your part. We will make sure that this won''t happen again." Su Xiaofei told them.


    The four looked at each other and nodded. Them being here wouldn''t be of any help to Su Xiaofei anyway.


    "Please take care, President Su." Yueying said before turning to Song Yiran. "Thank you for helping us tonight, Mr.Song."


    Song Yiran blushed and looked away.

 Chapter 448 Madam Lu (2)

    An hour ago.


    Xiao Rufeng didn''t want to party tonight, but since the rest of the crew of "Demonvile" was here to celebrate, she supposed she wouldn''t be able to decline the invitation. She stared at her drink and tuned out the conversations around her.


    Knowing that her manager was also here, she wasn''t as nervous as she was when she arrived earlier. She was the female lead of the series, yet Ye Mingyu was taking the limelight and being friendly with the rest of the staff.


    ''Such a two-faced woman.'' Xiao Rufeng thought.


    Seeing Ye Mingyu reminded her of her younger half-sister who could easily win the hearts of those people around her. Xiao Rufeng was the first miss of the Xiao family, but her status meant nothing as everything was already in Xiao Yunyao''s hands.


    Her father''s love, everyone''s recognition, her first love''s affection¡­ Xiao Rufeng found it funny that she had to fight with Xiao Yunyao for the things she wanted.


    Beforeing here, she paid her family a visit. Everyone deemed her as the unwanted daughter, the ck sheep of the family. Her father vehemently disagreed with her decision to be an actress, but Xiao Rufeng knew she wouldn''t be able to live the life her father wanted her to.


    She couldn''t be the gentle and submissive daughter like Xiao Yunyao and she didn''t want to be bound by family rules and not live the life she always wanted.


    Other parents would be proud knowing their child hadnded the lead role in a TV series, but not for Xiao Rufeng. Her father only sneered in disgust when Xiao Yunyao mentioned it in the middle of their dinner.


    "Sister is so lucky! I''m pretty sure that your spectacr performance is the reason why the director chose you for the role." Xiao Yunyao said with a bright smile, but Xiao Rufeng knew that her kind and gentle little sister was indirectly mocking her. It wasn''t a secret that their father looked down on actors like her and didn''t like the whole showbiz industry altogether.


    "What luck? So disgraceful!" Their father mmed his fist on the dining table, startling Xiao Rufeng. "Haven''t you wasted enough time being an actor? If you joined our family business, you would have reached the executive position by now!"


    The smile on Xiao Yunyao''s face immediately faltered while her mother narrowed her eyes on Xiao Rufeng in annoyance. Xiao Rufeng''s existence was a constant reminder to the mother and daughter pair that the whole fortune of the Xiao family wouldn''t fall in their hands.


    "I''m not as good as Yunyao''s dad. I''m pretty sure I would also mess up the R&D if I was the one who''s handling it." Xiao Rufeng then gave her younger sister a quick look.


    Xiao Yunyao''s face turned pale and lowered her head, fists clenching hard beneath the table. It wasn''t a secret that Xiao Yunyao failed with the recent formtion of the cosmetic brand thepany had released in the market. Many customers came forward and sued thepany for ruining their faces after using the face cream Xiao Yunyao formted and it filled the news for weeks.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Don''t make this about your sister! This is about your poor choices!" Her father was visibly trembling with rage. "Xiao Yao wouldn''t encounter such a problem if you were working with her in thepany. You should know better than waste your time on acting."


    Xiao Rufeng wiped her mouth with a napkin and excused herself. She had always known that the rtionship she used to have with her father was long gone and it was already toote to mend it.


    Xiao Yunyao and her mother were constantly putting her and her father against each other like this, triggering them to say hurtful words towards each other. While Xiao Rufeng understood why her father insisted for her to work for theirpany, she knew that the stage and acting in front of the camera were her passion.


    Once she was out of their family mansion, it was only then she received an invitation from the rest of the crew to celebrate. Xiao Rufeng wanted to retire early for the night, but seeing how excited the rest of the crew was, she found herself agreeing to meet them tonight.


    However, upon arrival, she was surprised to hear that it was Ye Mingyu who suggested the idea. Xiao Rufeng stared at Ye Mingyu for a moment, feeling that something was wrong with the other woman.


    Ye Mingyu was extra friendly towards hertely, as if she wanted to establish that she and Xiao Rufeng got along really well. Xiao Rufeng didn''t know what Ye Mingyu was up to, but she refused to be yed by her.


    Her phone beeped indicating a new message. Xiao Rufeng read it at once and froze.


    "Don''t drink and eat anything that Ye Mingyu gives you. Drink less if possible."


    Her eyes widened in shock. She didn''t know her manager was also here in Shenjing with her. While Bluemedia''s headquarters was in Guangshang, Xiao Rufeng heard that theirpany just opened a regional branch here in Shenjing.


    She then sighed in relief. It seemed that she wasn''t the only one thinking that something was off with Ye Mingyu tonight. Since Ye Mingyu wasn''t able to kick her out of the cast, Xiao Rufeng had been extra careful during her scenes with her.


    "Sister Xiao, why aren''t you partying with us? Are you unwell? Here, drink this. It''s a concoction I made at the bar just for you."


    Xiao Rufeng lifted her gaze and saw Ye Mingyu looking down at her worriedly, but her eyes couldn''t hide the glint of mischief in them.


    "I''m fine.Thank you, but I would rather not drink that." She eyed the cocktail drink Ye Mingyu was trying to give to her. "I''m allergic to certain drinks, so why don''t Sister Ye drink for me instead? It must be amazing."

 Chapter 449 Losing To A Novice (1)

    The way Ye Mingyu''s smile turned stiff was all Xiao Rufeng needed to confirm her suspicion. She eyed the cocktail drink suspiciously, noticing the slight tremble on Ye Mingyu''s hands. Ye Mingyu wouldn''t have reacted like this if she wasn''t scheming against her.


    "But¡­ but I specifically prepared it for you. Won''t you try it?" Ye Mingyu insisted, but Xiao Rufeng shook her head, acting like she truly regretted not being able to have the drink.


    "No. I''m sorry, Sister Ye. Perhaps some other time? I really need to stick with what my doctor told me." She gave Ye Mingyu an apologetic look.


    "I-I see¡­" Ye Mingyu frowned and gave her a lopsided smile. She knew that if she insisted, others might use it against her.


    "Thanks." Xiao Rufeng replied before turning her attention to another actress who came to talk to her, leaving Ye Mingyu standing awkwardly next to her.


    "Is there something else you need, Sister Ye?" Xiao Rufeng called her out, making everyone aware that Ye Mingyu had been standing there for some time now.


    "No¡­" Ye Mingyu forced a smile, though she was cursing Xiao Rufeng in her heart. "Sorry, I just remembered something. Please excuse me."


    The moment she turned around and was out of everyone''s sight, her gentle persona immediately vanished. Xiao Rufeng was really giving her a hard time. If she wasn''t able to send Xiao Rufeng to someone''s bed tonight ording to Xiao Yunyao''s instructions, she knew that she would lose the support of that woman.


    It had been hard for her to find a person with a golden thigh to hug after Mo Yuchen dumped her without a warning. To this day, she''s still confused as to why she lost his favor. Mo Yuchen refused to meet her after theirst meeting with Su Xiaofei during the audition.


    Her phone rang and Ye Mingyu fought the urge not to groan upon seeing Xiao Yunyao''s name on her screen. She bit her lower lip and looked for a ce where she could answer the call in private. Once she found an isted corner, she took a deep breath and answered the call.


    "Hello?"


    "Have you done it already? My people are already waiting outside. Just give us your cue." The voice of a woman on the other end of the line sounded arrogant and annoyed at the same time.


    One of Ye Mingyu''s eyes twitched. No hello or greeting? Xiao Yunyao was basically the personification of the young spoiled women she hated the most. She halted those thoughts. No ¡ª her hatred towards Su Xiaofei was way greater than what she felt against Xiao Yunyao.


    "I-I haven''t. Xiao Rufeng refused to ept the drink and made excuses. I cannot force her to drink it in front of everyone." She replied, her eyes wary of people who mighte near her.


    "What?! Then you''re useless to me! Everything is already set and we''re only waiting for your next move!" Xiao Yunyao''s voice boomed, forcing Ye Mingyu to push her phone away from her ear.


    "I''m sorry, I really can''t, Miss Xiao." She replied through her gritted teeth. Both the Xiao sisters were infuriating in her opinion and if she wasn''t desperate to get some leverage in showbiz, she wouldn''t have agreed to collude with Xiao Yunyao to harm Xiao Rufeng''s reputation.


    "Useless!'' She heard Xiao Yunyao spit a long line of curses and insults through the receiver. If people knew that the kind and gentle young Miss Xiao had a crass attitude, they wouldn''t be able to believe that she was capable of saying such words.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Ye Mingyu fell silent, but her eyes were shing with rage under the dim lights of the club. She hated being reminded of how poor she was and the more Xiao Yunyao insulted her, the more she became enraged with her. Still, she knew Xiao Yunyao still had some use for her, so she chose to tune out whatever Xiao Yunyao was saying.


    "Force her toe outside with you then." She heard Xiao Yunyao say. "Make sure no one else spots you with her."


    Ye Mingyu frowned and thought of the ways she could use to lure Xiao Rufeng outside. That woman would surely note with her willingly, given that Xiao Rufeng didn''t trust her at all. However, remembering the look Xiao Rufeng had whenever Su Xiaofei was around, Ye Mingyu then thought of the perfect excuse she could use.


    "Okay. Leave that to me."


    When she returned to their small group, she noticed that some of the crew members had already left to go home. Xiao Rufeng was still there, talking to one of the extras andughing at what the other woman had just said.


    Ye Mingyu sauntered towards her and patted Xiao Rufeng''s shoulder to get her attention. She shed her best smile and leaned forward to whisper in her ear.


    "I met my sister outside. It seems she came here and was displeased that you came here with us."


    Xiao Rufeng turned her head and furrowed her brows together. How did Ye Mingyu know that Su Xiaofei was here? Did they really meet?


    Instead of asking Ye Mingyu, she dialed Su Xiaofei''s number to give her manager a call, surprising Ye Mingyu in the process.


    Ye Mingyu hadn''t anticipated that Xiao Rufeng would make a call to check her im.


    ''Damn it. I couldn''t outwit her!''


    When Xiao Rufeng''s call couldn''t reach Su Xiaofei''s phone and Zhang Lan, a deep frown appeared on her face. It didn''t seem like her manager and her assistant had their phones turned off.


    ''The reception is probably bad here.'' She thought, noticing that there was only one bar indicated on her phone''s signal.


    "Where did you say you met my manager?" She asked Ye Mingyu suspiciously. She found it odd that Ye Mingyu was telling her this, but if Su Xiaofei was really looking for her, shouldn''t her managere and see her herself?


    "At the back door. I''ll go with her if I were you. She doesn''t like waiting for too long." Ye Mingyu smiled.

 Chapter 450 Losing To A Novice (2)

    With Song Yiran''s help, Su Xiaofei and her two bodyguards reviewed the recorded videos for the past two hours in a fast yback speed to save time. They saw Xiao Rufeng arrivingter than the rest of the crew and only ordered one drink. They also witnessed how Ye Mingyu tried to offer Xiao Rufeng a drink only to be turned down by her.


    "Smart girl. She''s able to tell that Ye Mingyu is scheming against her." Song Yiran chuckled. "Then where could she probably be? Do you think she already went home on her own?"


    Su Xiaofei doubted that. Xiao Rufeng would havee to see her first before leaving. Unlike before, Xiao Rufeng would heed her advice and would only ask her questions only if it was needed.


    "Have you called her number?" She asked Zhang Ling instead.


    "I''ve been trying to call her, President Su, but it seems her phone was turned off." Her assistant replied.


    "Tsk." Su Xiaofei was annoyed that she couldn''t get the answer she needed, but she knew that it was unfair to me anyone.


    "Where''s your sister?" She asked when she noticed that Zhang Lan was missing.


    "Scouting the area just in case someone saw Miss Xiao going outside." Zhang Ling replied.


    "Well, surely, Ye Mingyu knows where she went." Su Xiaofei narrowed her eyes dangerously when she saw Ye Mingyu on the screen leaning close to Xiao Rufeng and whispered something.


    "She definitely knows where Miss Xiao went." Song Yiran hummed in agreement.


    "Is Ye Mingyu still here?" Su Xiaofei tapped her fingers impatiently and could only watch Xiao Rufeng excusing herself, taking her hand bag to leave.


    "Yes, President."


    At once, Su Xiaofei stalked outside, leaving Song Yiran to review the recording again just in case they missed something important. Zhang Ling hurriedly followed after her until they found Ye Mingyu dancing at the dance floor in tune of the music that was currently ying.


    People were crowding around her, taking videos of her as Ye Mingyu continued to dance. There was no doubt that she was good at dancing. She had a soft figure everyone admired and her dance moves were beautiful. Apart from her good looks, her temperament stood out as well that could easily get people''s attention at first nce.


    Her body was well-built too, because of years of training she received at Top Tier Entertainment. She had long arms and slender legs, but instead of making her look disproportionate in any way, they only added charm as Ye Mingyu continued her dance.


    To be a sessful celebrity, one not only needs good looks, but he or she should have certain features that could distinguish them from the rest. It was for this reason that Ye Mingyu and Su Xiaofei were able to keep up with thepetition in the past. Their looks were so striking that people couldn''t easily forget them.


    Ye Mingyu somehow spotted Su Xiaofei watching in the midst of the crowd, her eyes widening in surprise. Was she seeing things or was Su Xiaofei really here? She should be careful of what she tells others in the future or Su Xiaofei mighte after her every time.


    A thought then crossed her mind, she wanted to see how Su Xiaofei would react in front of many people who had already fallen under her charm.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Sister! What are you doing here? Come and dance with us!" She let out a girlish giggle and the crowd chanted for Su Xiaofei to dance.


    "Miss¡­" Zhang Lan held onto her mistress''s arm and looked at Su Xiaofei worriedly.


    Su Xiaofei shook her head and removed her assistant''s hand from her arm before going to the dance floor to face Ye Mingyu.


    "Up for a little bet between us, dear little sister?" She said with a wicked smile on her lips.


    Ye Mingyu stopped dancing and raised a slender brow.


    "Sure, but you better not go back to your word if you lose. What do I get when I win?" She grinned, knowing that Su Xiaofei didn''t have any skills when it came to dancing.


    Ye Mingyu would be wary of Su Xiaofei if thetter had pursued her original career as an actor, because Ye Mingyu knew that when ites to singing and acting, she wouldn''t be able topete with her.


    Su Xiaofei chuckled. Ye Mingyu surely thought that she could easily win this dancingpetition between them.


    "Whoever loses would be at the mercy of the winner for the whole day."


    Ye Mingyu couldn''t possibly back out, hearing what Su Xiaofei had just said. Even if it''s just for a day, bullying Su Xiaofei would be worth it!


    "Sure. Then let everyone here be our witness. The one who received the most praises once the music stopped would be the winner." She said, confident that with what she had shown to everyone so far, not even Xiao Rufeng or Su Xiaofei could turn the tables against her.


    Su Xiaofei said nothing, but her eyes darkened as the thought of Ye Mingyu pushing Xiao Rufeng into harm''s way shed in her mind. She would make sure that Ye Mingyu would regret showing up tonight.


    She went to the DJ and whispered the song to be used for their littlepetition. Once the music started, the crowd danced to the beat and rhythm of it.


    Ye Mingyu was the first one to perform. She shot Su Xiaofei a nce, puffed up her chest and lifted her chin before taking the center stage on the dance floor.


    Su Xiaofei stood at the side, crossing her arms over her chest as she watched her opponent with a nk expression on her face.


    Sure enough, Ye Mingyu was capable of dancing, but her moves were too superficial in Su Xiaofei''s opinion. Whatever happened to the Ye Mingyu from her past life, who repeatedly outwit her in all aspects? Su Xiaofei couldn''t remember seeing Ye Mingyu perform like this before.

 Chapter 451 Stark Contrasts (1)

    Did her rebirth somehow affect Ye Mingyu''s skills and abilities? Su Xiaofei wondered. Even if she didn''t pursue a career in acting in this lifetime, that didn''t change the fact that Ye Mingyu got her chance to sign as a Top Tier Entertainment artist. Her rebirth shouldn''t have affected Ye Mingyu too much.


    Was it her, or was it because Ye Mingyu becamecent and didn''t hone her skills because there was no Su Xiaofei topete with her?


    Su Xiaofei considered this possibility as she continued to watch Ye Mingyu''s performance in silence. It''s possible, but this only made her feel disappointed in Ye Mingyu for not being able to reach her expectations as her rival.


    Perhaps it had always been this way. Ye Mingyu needed her to shine brighter, to be better than her. However, now that Su Xiaofei had chosen to step out of the limelight, Ye Mingyu didn''t feel like she had a reason to work harder.


    ''You dumb fool. What have you been doing for the past five years since Ist saw you?'' Su Xiaofei thought.


    Still, Su Xiaofei had to admit that Ye Mingyu''s dance movements were way better than a novice. The song she requested from the DJ was the one that topped the charts with its iconic beat and dancing.


    Ye Mingyu had great potential as a dancer. She managed to move with the rhythm, earning appreciation from the crowd with her soft and graceful movements. It was just a pity that she didn''t hone her talent to be a better artist.


    When the second half of the song started, Ye Mingyu gave way and gave the dance floor to Su Xiaofei. She gave Su Xiaofei a gentle smile, but her eyes were mocking her, waiting for Su Xiaofei to make a fool out of herself.


    But what Ye Mingyu didn''t know was that the Su Xiaofei she was facing was the one who had lived a lifetime of resentment and suffering. She wasn''t a clueless woman who would blindly allow herself to be Ye Mingyu''s stepping stone to stardom.


    Su Xiaofei obviously noticed this, however, she refused to give up now nor did she shrink back in fear, instead she moved confidently to the dance floor.


    Apart from Ye Mingyu, many were having the same thoughts as her. There weren''t many things known about Su Xiaofei, the new president of Bluemedia Entertainment, aside from her stunning looks and elegant fashion. She had a small following on social media with mostly young and professional women who liked to copy her sense of fashion. But to see her dance in a public event? It was unheard of till now.


    Considering the recent issue she had with Ye Mingyu about being her half-sister, everyone wanted to see and hear more from her. What was clear was that Su Xiaofei was rted to Ye Mingyu somehow or she wouldn''t have challenged the young actress like this.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Then she started dancing to the beat of the music. Thankfully, she was dressed decently in casual clothing tonight, which allowed her to move freely. Leaving her jacket in Zhang Ling''s care, Su Xiaofei tied up her hair in a high ponytail earlier to keep it away from her face as she danced.


    As everyone watched her dance, they were held in a trance, especially Ye Mingyu and Zhang Ling, who were both not expecting that Su Xiaofei was capable of dancing like this. Her arms and legs swung confidently as if her body remembered each and every move of the dance. The tempo started to increase and Su Xiaofei had no problem keeping up with its pace as she moved, hitting every beat with uracy.


    Her red lips, eyes filled with passion, skin glittering under the bright lights, and hair fluttering in the air as she moved, it was really impossible for anyone not to look at her. They all couldn''t take their eyes off her as if she owned the dance floor and the song itself. As Su Xiaofei continued to dance, her moves started to change a little as she added her unique style to it.


    Her body swayed with the beat, her arms and legs moved in harmony. She left an impression on everyone watching, an achievement that Ye Mingyu wasn''t capable of. The dance itself required strength and resilience to be performed correctly.


    When the song reached the part where Ye Mingyu was needed to join Su Xiaofei on the dance floor, she hesitated to move from her ce, seeing the reaction of the people around them. The look in their eyes showed that they were getting more and more impressed by how confidently Su Xiaofei was dancing. However, she had no time to back out now as people had been waiting for her.


    She stepped forward and danced along with Su Xiaofei, trying her best not to be her backdrop. Ye Mingyu tried to convince herself that Su Xiaofei was familiar with this piece, hence it was the one she requested to perform to humiliate her tonight.


    It didn''t take long before Ye Mingyu noticed the change in the atmosphere as she paid attention to the crowd around her and Su Xiaofei. Under their gazes, she couldn''t stop herself from making mistakes, one after another. She then stole a quick nce at Su Xiaofei, only to see that her timing was still precise and her moves were well executed.


    Ye Mingyu suddenly felt like she waspeting against a pro. Now, more than ever, she wanted to dig a hole and hide herself from everyone. Did Su Xiaofei challenge her tonight because she was confident that she wouldn''t lose to her?


    There was no way she would be able to execute those moves as urately as Su Xiaofei did. The moves and steps she thought were enough to please the crowd were no match with Su Xiaofei''s powerful moves.


    As the song reached its end, Ye Mingyu felt her heart sink, knowing that Su Xiaofei had beaten her once again.

 Chapter 452 Stark Contrasts (2)

    The crowd remained silent once the two women stopped dancing. It was only when they heard someone pping amongst the crowd did they notice that the littlepetition between two sisters was now over. They were wearing inexplicable expressions on their faces as they looked at the two beautiful women on stage.


    One was known for her gentle beauty, while the other woman was still a mystery. Aside from shock and surprise, some of them felt starstruck and developed a new level of respect towards Su Xiaofei, Ye Mingyu being forgotten along the way.


    "Wow. What a performance, President Su, Miss Ye." Song Yiran stepped forward. "Since this is a little game of yours, allow me to preside over the tally of the votes from everyone, okay?" He then lifted a hand to get the waiters'' attention. "Everyone''s drinks are on me tonight. Just make sure everyone here casts a vote to see who won between these beautifuldies."


    It was followed with a loud cheering from the crowd. Not only did they witness such a rare performance by the rising star, Ye Mingyu, but they were also able to see the elusive president of Bluemedia tonight.


    The wait staff in the club moved at once, preparing the stage and a special box where the guests could drop their votes and receive a special golden pass that would allow them to waive their bills on their drinks just as Song Yiran said.


    Su Xiaofei shot her husband''s friend a curious look, noticing that his amused smiles were back. Was he trying to help her again? She wondered.


    Zhang Ling came to her with a bottle of water and some clean towels to wipe her sweat. Su Xiaofei thanked her before twisting the cap of the water bottle and drinking half of its content.


    "Miss, you were amazing! I didn''t know you could dance like that!" Her assistant looked at her with admiration.


    Su Xiaofei only hummed and didn''t answer Zhang Ling. How was she supposed to exin that she knew the steps and the moves by heart because she had practiced the same piece nonstop for a whole two months because she didn''t have the same artistic talents as Ye Mingyu?


    How many times did she fall, get bruised and get a sprain because of her eagerness to practice so she wouldn''t fall behind Ye Mingyu on stage?


    The only reason why she was able to win against Ye Mingyu today was because of her efforts in her previous life. Even if her body wascking the practice it needed, her mind was eager to perform the task and execute it the way she remembered it.


    She was also lucky that Ye Mingyu had neglected her skills and failed to meet everyone''s expectations. Looking at Ye Mingyu''s expression now, Su Xiaofei thought that she was used to being in Ye Mingyu''s shoes, criticized by everyone.


    Ye Mingyu looked awful with her face flushed from embarrassment as if someone had just pped her right in the face. She didn''t dare to say a word and allowed everyone to cast their votes on the stage, one by one.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    People weren''t blind to see the difference between her and Su Xiaofei, and if Su Xiaofei who wasn''t even an actor like her could beat her so easily, this meant that she would also be pale inparison to other actors like Xiao Rufeng. The more she thought about it, the more Ye Mingyu regretted falling into Su Xiaofei''s scheme.


    "I would have never thought I would be lucky enough to witness such a performance tonight. Look, she probably doesn''t even realize that she and Ye Mingyu made news again." Someonemented near Ye Mingyu.


    "To think that the head of an entertainmentpany would be as beautiful and talented as her, their talents must feel awkward being in her presence. She obviously showed Ye Mingyu what it means to be a pro." Herpanion replied.


    "Yep. At first, I thought that Ye Mingyu was really good, but when she started dancing along with Miss Su, the differences between them are outstanding. Goodness! I think I wouldn''t have the face to show in public if I were her!"


    As she continued to listen to the praises others had for Su Xiaofei, Ye Mingyu felt like someone had poured a bucket of ice cold water on her entirety as bitterness filled her heart. Their words were like sharp needles being pierced through her heart.


    Not being able to tolerate it anymore, she ran and pushed through the crowd, making a beeline towards the washroom, ignoring how people were throwing looks of ridicule towards her. Thankfully, no one was using the washroom at the moment. She closed the door behind her and faced the wide mirror at the counter, allowing her mask to slip from her face.


    If anyone could see her at the moment, they would be taken aback at how different this Ye Mingyu was from the one usually seen in public. How could she be the same gentle mannered beautiful woman everyone knew her to be? Her eyes were red from rage, fists clenched so hard that her nails left small marks on her palm as she kept cursing Su Xiaofei in her heart.


    Damn Su Xiaofei for ruining her night! Damn everyone for looking at her with ridicule. The same ones she used to receive from people from her previous life, who mocked her and her mother for being as poor as a rat.


    Suddenly the door opened, much to her shock. She turned to see who it was, only to see Su Xiaofei leaning against the doorframe, a wicked smile on her lips. She shivered, knowing that Su Xiaofei hade here to collect her prize.


    "H-how did you get inside?!" She asked with wide eyes. Ye Mingyu was sure to lock the door to stop anyone from seeing her in the poor state she was currently in.


    Su Xiaofei chuckled.


    "That''s easy. Nothing a simple hair pin can''t do."

 Chapter 453 Stark Contrasts (3)

    It was Zhang Ling who actually opened the door, not her, but Su Xiaofei surmised that Ye Mingyu would disregard it nevertheless. She was visibly trembling, but whether it was out of rage or fear, Su Xiaofei wasn''t certain.


    Fear? Su Xiaofei paused at that thought as her eyes remained on Ye Mingyu''s face.


    It had urred to her that Ye Mingyu had never looked at her this way before. Sure, this white lily would always show her feigned concern or sympathy to gain the favors of those people around them, while giving her mocking smiles and gazes, which only infuriated Su Xiaofei in silence, but never fear.


    "W-what do you want?" Her instinct was telling her she was in danger.


    It was only when she heard Ye Mingyu''s voice did Su Xiaofei realize that she was spacing out. She chuckled lowly and straightened herself before closing the door behind her. With a quick snap on the door lock, she sauntered towards Ye Mingyu like a predator that had cornered her prey. Zhang Ling would make sure she and Ye Mingyu would be left undisturbed for now.


    Ye Mingyu staggered back until her back bumped on the wall behind her. Something about Su Xiaofei wasn''t right, as if she wasn''t the same Su Xiaofei she knew. Thinking about it, Ye Mingyu realized that she never knew Su Xiaofei at all.


    The Su Xiaofei in front of her was too far from the Su Xiaofei she knew in her original life. Aside from being domineering, the Su Xiaofei in this lifetime wasn''t as dumb and foolish as Ye Mingyu thought her to be. She was blindsided and thought that with her knowledge from her previous life, she would be able to change her life for the better by pushing Su Xiaofei off track.


    "Calm down, Miss Ye. How could you leave the stage without knowing whether you won our little bet or not?" Su Xiaofei said with a hint of sarcasm in her tone. It was clear to everyone who won anyway and this only made Ye Mingyu hate her even more.


    "I don''t care." Ye Mingyu spat out. "Why did youe here anyway?"


    She didn''t care to hide her displeasure towards Su Xiaofei this time, which only amused thetter further with her antics. It wasn''t everyday Ye Mingyu would lower her mask and allow anyone to see her true self.


    "Rx. I''m not here to im the prize from winning our bet." Su Xiaofei didn''t stop, the smile on her face slowly disappeared as she reached the other woman. "I came here to ask where you have taken Xiao Rufeng."


    Ye Mingyu shivered and looked away. This wasn''t what she had in mind at all. How did Su Xiaofei know she was involved with Xiao Rufeng''s disappearance then?


    "I-I don''t know what you''re talking about. I''m not her babysitter. How am I supposed to know where she went?" She whispered, but enough for Su Xiaofei to hear her loud and clear.


    Her words only pushed Su Xiaofei to the edge and now Ye Mingyu found herself being choked by her. Panic and fear shook her body as she tried to loosen the hand Su Xiaofei had around her neck, but Su Xiaofei pushed her against the wall harder, trapping her with her own body.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Miss Ye, lying is unbing of you, or have you mastered it from the beginning?" She whispered dangerously close next to Ye Mingyu''s ear. Her other arm pressing Ye Mingyu''s wrist next to her head.


    Ye Mingyu''s eyes widened, her body shaking as she struggled to free herself. Damn. Since when did Su Xiaofei be this strong? Su Xiaofei was shorter than her, but even so, her strength had caught Ye Mingyu off guard.


    "I don''t like repeating myself, Miss Ye, so I''ll only ask onest time, where''s Xiao Rufeng?"


    Her tone was enough to make Ye Mingyu cry in fear. No matter how she struggled, it only made Su Xiaofei tighten her hold on her.


    "S-she left¡­" She stuttered, hoping she could get away from Su Xiaofei as soon as possible. This wasn''t what she signed up for when she agreed to Xiao Yunyao''s support. She would have never thought that Su Xiaofei had this dangerous side to her.


    "Who did she leave with? Where did she go?"


    When Ye Mingyu refused to answer, Su Xiaofei''s nails dug the soft skin on Ye Mingyu''s neck painfully.


    "She went outside! I don''t know where she went! Her sister only said to lure her outside!" Ye Mingyu answered as her eyes shone with tears. She didn''t think Su Xiaofei would leave her unscathed if she continued to pretend innocence over Xiao Rufeng''s disappearance.


    Su Xiaofei released Ye Mingyu and stepped back, allowing Ye Mingyu''s body to fall on the ground as she continued to sob. She hadn''t expected for Ye Mingyu to collude with Xiao Yunyao, Xiao Rufeng''s younger sister.


    However, this didn''t give her any lead to where Xiao Rufeng had been taken. She would need her husband''s assistance to find Xiao Rufeng as soon as possible. Her eyes went back to the disgraceful state Ye Mingyu was in.


    "Ye Mingyu, I swear if Xiao Rufeng is hurt because of what you''ve done tonight, I will make sure to return the favor twice ¡ª no, as many times as possible to you. You are turning worse each time I see you."


    She turned around and left, stepping out of the washroom, her anger simmering inside of her. Zhang Ling shot her a worried look, but she remained silent and marched back to the control room to see if Song Yiran and Zhang Lan managed to find a clue to where Xiao Rufeng could be.


    Apart from Ye Mingyu, Su Xiaofei wouldn''t be able to forgive herself if something bad happened to Xiao Rufeng under her watch. To think that Xiao Yuyao was able to sneak up on them like this, harming Xiao Rufeng through Ye Mingyu.

 Chapter 454 Beauty And The Beast (1)

    Thest thing Xiao Rufeng could remember was leaving the club through the back door without Ye Mingyu. She refused Ye Mingyu''spany, but told one of the crew members that she was going out for a minute. If it was really her manager looking for her, she doubted that Su Xiaofei would be pleased seeing her with Ye Mingyu.


    When Xiao Rufeng walked out of the club, it was alreadyte in the night. There were no stars that could be seen here in Shenjing and even the moonlight didn''t shine as it used to in Qiying City. She spotted a few cars and people out in the streets but there was no sign of her manager.


    She narrowed her eyes as she thought that Ye Mingyu must be lying to her then. She scanned the ce a few times but there was no Su Xiaofei in sight. Her phone still wasn''t able to get through and connect with her manager, so she wasn''t sure what was happening.


    Xiao Rufeng looked around for thest time, deciding that she would return inside to question Ye Mingyu on why thetter lied to her.


    Just the thought reminded Xiao Rufeng what happened earlier back at her father''s home and frowned. It wasn''t the first time that she was starting to doubt if she was the one in the wrong, not her father, not Xiao Yunyao.


    Was she really too selfish to ept and understand what her father was saying? Did she still me Xiao Yunyao and her mother for taking her father''s affection away from her? Would she be alone like this had she remained a filial child to her family?


    Xiao Rufeng was so lost in her thoughts and just when she was about to return inside the club, a ck sedan car suddenly appeared behind her. Two people quickly got down from it and one of them covered her nose and mouth with a wet cloth, while dragging her backward.


    She knew something was off right then and tried to struggle free. The cloth pressed on her nose and mouth had a weird scent on it. However, even before she coulde up with a n, her body already sumbed to the drugs, feeling it became heavier until she lost consciousness.


    As her thoughts slowly drifted away, Xiao Rufeng uttered a small prayer in her heart for someone to save her. It didn''t matter who it was, as long as that someone was able to save her from this situation.


    The car drove away and the kidnapping didn''t even take a minute as they took Xiao Rufeng away.


    When she started to regain consciousness, she felt her body limp and she had no energy to even lift a finger, let alone to n her escape from her abductors. Her wrists were tied behind her back and there was a blindfold tied around her eyes, preventing her from seeing who took her and where she was. Something was also tied around her mouth, stopping her from making a sound or utter a word.


    "Hello, Mr. Wan? We''re on the way. This is the repayment from Miss Xiao for your favor¡­ Yes, yes. This one''s a good one. The girl is quite pretty and I''m sure President Yan would like the gift you would send to him."<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Xiao Rufeng''s heart immediately filled with fear and panic. She didn''t expect that it was her own younger sister who was behind this scheme and not Ye Mingyu. To think that Xiao Yunyao was willing to send her own sister to please a man¡­ She really had a vicious heart behind that smiling face!


    It seemed like Xiao Yunyao and her mother had enough of her already and wanted to destroy her once and for all! Not only would her father disown her, but she might also lose her future and career in showbiz after this. She wouldn''t be able to face Su Xiaofei if her sister''s n seeded, but what else could she do now?


    The more Xiao Rufeng thought about it, the more evident the possibility was. She cursed Xiao Yunyao in her heart, but also scolded herself for being too stupid. She wouldn''t have fallen into her sister''s trap had she ignored Ye Mingyu.


    It didn''t take long before she felt the car stopping somewhere, the doors opening before someone grabbed her again. Xiao Rufeng wanted to cry and beg for them to stop, but her pride wouldn''t allow her to do so.


    Why did they need to tie her like this when it''s obvious that she was too weak to make an escape? Were they making sure that she would be delivered as they nned?


    She felt herself dropping on a soft cushion. A bed perhaps. Sounds of footsteps leaving the room with the door shutting were the only things Xiao Rufeng heard. A momentter, the door opened again and she shivered as she felt delicate hands untying her wrists and stripping her clothes in the process.


    Then those hands wiped her own body clean, as if they were preparing her for something.


    ''No. For someone.'' She corrected herself, her heart drop thinking that the worse had yet toe.


    And then those same hands, applied something fragrant on her skin and if Xiao Rufeng didn''t know she was abducted, she would have thought that they were giving her a good massage. The stiffness on her back and leg muscles were gone, and she felt good and clean at the same time. Then they clothed her in something she had no idea of.


    Xiao Rufeng''s lips quivered as her tears started to escape from her closed eyes. She didn''t think she would be able to leave unscathed tonight and Xiao Yunyao had finally seeded in ruining her for good. After tonight, she was sure that she would never be the same again and being tainted by a man was enough for her to want to take her own life, leaving the shame behind her.

 Chapter 455 Beauty And The Beast (2)

    Yan Xiuchen has had enough of this boring dinner with Mr. Wan. The old man had been trying to convince him for a business deal, something that Yan Xiuchen had no interest in. However, this didn''t stop the other man from trying.


    Yan Xiuchen nced at his watch, noticing that he''d stayed far too long for his liking. He excused himself and left without waiting for others'' answer. His expression was one filled with impatience as he left the ce.


    He''d never been one for social gatherings and he would rather send his men than to meet most of his business associates himself. Yan Xiuchen believed that his face alone was enough to render someone speechless and feel ufortable in his presence.


    Even after years of being scarred and traumatized, Yan Xiuchen was still bothered by the expressions people made when they looked at his face. It would have been easier if he had died along with his mother that fateful night. Perhaps he wouldn''t have to endure so many years of solitude and being feared by not only his business colleagues, but also women he''d encountered.


    It was no wonder that in his thirty two years of living, he was still unmarried and was also a virgin at the same time. Women found his face hideous and those who tried to seek him were only after the money and wealth he had on his name.


    He knew from experience that women were easily attracted to handsome men, especially those who had money. He found it funny whenever he heard a woman say that looks didn''t matter when ites to love and dating, because he knew, the moment they met an unappealing and poor man, they were the first ones who would run to the nearest exit.


    Would there be a woman who could look past his horrendous face and love him as he is?


    ''Impossible.'' He thought. The usual initial reaction by women upon seeing his face was repulse and fear.


    "Wait, President Yan!"


    Someone called after him, forcing Yan Xiuchen to stop. He looked over his shoulder and frowned, making the scars on his face more prominent under the bright lights of the chandelier above them. It was Mr. Wan again with his awkward and nervous smile on his face.


    "President Yan, please take this." The man then tantly took Yan Xiuchen''s hand and ced a keycard to a room in his hand. They were dining at the restaurant inside a hotel he owned and he was curious what Mr. Wan wanted to give him this time.


    "This is?"


    "This is a little gift from me." Mr. Wan rubbed his hands together, cold sweat forming on the side of his face. "Please ept it..."


    Yan Xiuchen narrowed his eyes and sneered inwardly. He wasn''t a fool not to know that Mr. Wan had prepared a woman for him to spend the night with. This wasn''t the first time this happened anyway and it only made him choose not to do business with them.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Still, he epted the keycard and continued walking as he didn''t want to deal with Mr. Wan anymore. He decided to see the woman and send her away, but not without giving her the words he wanted to be delivered to Mr. Wan.


    When Mr. Wan saw that Yan Xiuchen was walking away after epting the ''gift'' he prepared for him, he sighed in relief. He then made a call and wiped his sweat in the process, thinking that not only Yan Xiuchen was to be feared in the business circle because of his acumen, but he was more frightening in person!


    "Hello, Miss Xiao? Thank you for your assistance. We''re even now. Rest assured that those customers would pull out the cases they filed against yourpany."


    Back to Yan Xiuchen, he wordlessly took the private elevator and pressed the floor where the presidential suite was. Since this hotel was one of the properties he owned, no one dared to bother him and he was given the leeway to be on his own.


    Like the rest of their brotherhood, Yan Xiuchen hated having people following him around. He only kept a small team of security staff and even at his own home, there weren''t many staff that could be seen around.


    When the elevator stopped and he reached his destination, he swiped the keycard and opened the door silently. He found it unusual that there was no music or a woman running towards him only to stop midway upon seeing his face.


    The first thing he noticed was that the scent inside the room smelled heavenly. There were no people in sight and he guessed that the woman Mr. Wan prepared for him must be waiting in the bedroom.


    His footsteps were light as if he was afraid to make a loud noise to announce his arrival. Yan Xiuchen would rather not be tackled by another person in surprise, but what he didn''t expect was that he was the one for it.


    The moment he opened the door, he found a woman lying on a king size bed with rose petals scattered on it and on the floor. It reminded Yan Xiuchen of those things being prepared for a newlywed couple for their honeymoon.


    However, he wasn''t here for a honeymoon nor did he desire to spend a wild night with an unknown woman.


    The said woman was curled in the bed, dressed in a thin nightgown that could make any man''s imagination run wild. Yan Xiuchen stiffened at the sight, knowing that even a man like him cannot possibly be unaffected by it.


    He forced his eyes to move from her body up to her face. She was lying on her left side, but he could see the smoothness of her skin, the straightness of her high nose and her lips looking pinkish and plump at the same time. But something about her felt off in Yan Xiuchen''s opinion.


    It wasn''t until he heard her sob, and saw tears dampened her blindfold did he realize what it was.

 Chapter 456 Beauty And The Beast (3)

    "Please¡­"


    Her soft feminine voice reached his ears. Yan Xiuchen felt something stirred inside of him as he looked at the helpless woman in front of him. The sound of his footstepsing towards her frightened her.


    "Please help me. Someone drugged me and I was forced to be here."


    Yan Xiuchen then scoffed inwardly. Of course she was forced toe here against her will. No sane woman woulde here willingly to spend a night with him just to give Mr. Wan the favor he''d been seeking from him.


    Still, he had to agree that the woman Mr. Wan sent to his bed tonight was very beautiful. Yan Xiuchen reached out and removed her blindfold, allowing him to see such a pair of magnificent, expressive brown eyes that were shining with tears. He could clearly see the hopelessness reflected in her eyes.


    The more he looked at her, the more Yan Xiuchen felt that he''d seen this face somewhere else. It then dawned to him where he''d seen her. In a billboard along the main highway of Shenjing promoting a TV Series where she starred in.


    What was her name again? He pondered, but he couldn''t seem to remember her name as he''d never been interested in the world of beautiful stars. Yan Xiuchen would rather not look their way as it only reminded him how lonely and how hideous his face was.


    Before the woman could get a better look of him, Yan Xiuchen stepped back and turned his head sideways to hide the scars on his face. He could hide his chest and left arm that were injured during the car crash, but he cannot easily hide his face from everyone.


    Most people avoided making eye contact with him, flinching whenever they were in his presence. This only reminded Yan Xiuchen that he was unwanted, and unlike the rest of his brothers, there wouldn''t be a woman in his life.


    When he heard Lu Qingfeng married his childhood friend, Su Xiaofei and met the woman for the first time, Yan Xiuchen paid attention to the newlywed couple. He could see how happy Lu Qingfeng was and how Su Xiaofei adored her husband. It somewhat made Yan Xiuchen remember how lonely his life was and couldn''t help but wonder if he would be able to experience the happiness Lu Qingfeng had.


    But what woman would want to date or marry a man with a grotesque face like him? Yan Xiuchen mocked himself for even thinking of such impossibility. Even now, being in the same room with such beauty, he had no doubt that this woman would react the same way as the rest once she had a good look on his face.


    "Where are we?" The woman blinked her eyes, trying to adjust her eyes from her new environment.


    "In a private hotel room. Don''t worry, I won''t make any advances towards you." Yan Xiuchen replied, thankful that the only source of light wasing from thempshade next to the bed. This woman wouldn''t be able to see his face fully unless he turned to face her.


    The woman didn''t reply. Her eyes were red and it was obvious that she couldn''t move at all from the bed. Suddenly, she burst into tears which sent Yan Xiuchen into full panic.


    He had no idea how to console a crying woman or how to deal with one. However, as he listened to her cries, Yan Xiuchen felt that someone was stabbing his heart. She might be really scared thinking that she would lose her innocence to someone tonight.


    "Are you in any pain? Do I need to bring you to the hospital?" He asked, as her cries were starting to make him more ufortable.


    It took some time before the woman calmed down, her voice sounded a little hoarse from her crying.


    "No, please don''t." She begged him. "My life would be ruined if the media found out what happened to me."


    "Your name?" Yan Xiuchen asked.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "What?"


    "You are an actor, aren''t you? But I can''t seem to remember your name."


    The woman blinked her tears aways, and Yan Xiuchen could almost swear that he''d heard her chuckle.


    "Xiao Rufeng," she said. "And please don''t apologize for not knowing my name. I don''t expect people to know who I am, considering I haven''t really made a name for myself just yet."


    There was a moment of silence between them as they regarded each other.


    "Mister, do you mind if you cover me up with something? I''m not reallyfortable dressed like this."


    "Ah." Yan Xiuchen scolded himself for not noticing it earlier. She was lying on top of the quilt on the bed. He removed his jacket and threw it over her figure, but it only covered her chest up to her mid thigh.


    "Let me see if I can find a spare nket somewhere."


    He left the room she was in and checked the other bedrooms in the presidential suite, pleased that he found what he was looking for. He roughly pulled the sheet and went back to the room where Xiao Rufeng was in and draped the nket to cover her entirety, save for her face.


    Once done, he settled on the armchair next to the floor to ceiling window.


    "So how did you end up here? Do you know a certain Mr. Wan?" He asked.


    Just how did this actress get involved with that man anyway?


    "No¡­ I don''t know him, but I''m sure my little sister does." Xiao Rufeng replied with a chuckle.


    "Your little sister? What do you mean?" Yan Xiuchen still couldn''t get it.


    "What I mean is that my sister owed that man a favor and by sending me here as Mr. Wan''s gift, they are now even."


    Yan Xiuchen frowned, displeased with what he''d heard.


    "Some kind little sister that you have there, Miss Xiao."


    Xiao Rufengughed. She had to agree with him. Xiao Yunyao almost ruined her for good.

 Chapter 457 Two Unfortunate Souls (1)

    Xiao Rufeng knew that she was somewhat lucky that the man who came to see her tonight was a decent man. She also knew that if he was like any other man who viewed women as a ything, she was utterly doomed for the rest of her life. Still, she knew that she cannot lower her guard just yet and that she needed to keep an eye on this mysterious man.


    "Please say something." She said, forcing herself to stay awake and not fall asleep. It didn''t help that her whole body felt good after the massage she received earlier and the scent of the room was lulling her to sleep.


    "What do you want me to say?" The man asked her instead.


    "I don''t know. I don''t want to fall asleep now, and I''m not sure when the effects of the drug will subside so I can move."


    Yan Xiuchen cocked his head to one side, hiding his scarred face from her as he pondered what he should say now. Unlike Song Yiran, who was thedies'' man in their brotherhood, or Zhu Beichuan, who was known for his charming looks, he had no idea how to strike or lead a conversation, especially with a woman.


    "I¡­ I have no idea." He grumbled.


    This was actually the first time he had a decent conversation with a woman and Yan Xiuchen hated that he couldn''t even initiate a simple conversation as she requested.


    "Hmm... it''s unfair, you know." He heard Xiao Rufeng say.


    He gave her a side nce, noticing that she was looking at him, making him ufortable in his seat.


    "What''s unfair?" Yan Xiuchen curiously asked.


    "You know my name and I don''t even know yours." She answered.


    Yan Xiuchen considered her words. She wasn''t lying to him about being drugged and falling into her sister''s trap, but he wasn''t sure if he should allow her to know more about him. He might be undesirable, but he was not a liar.


    "I''m Yan Xiuchen. I''m the owner of this ce. Mr. Wan, who kidnapped you and took you here, wanted to gain my favor for a business deal, but I disliked him from the moment I met him and it only made me decide not to get more involved with him because of you."


    He wasn''t sure why he said those words, but that was truly what he was thinking at that moment.


    "Ah, so you''re a big shot, huh? I should have known. They spoke of you like you were a really big deal. No wonder that Mr. Wan wanted to get acquainted with you."


    He scoffed at that. "I don''t associate myself with people like him. If I want to expand my business, surely there''s another person who can help me that doesn''t involve kidnapping and scheming."


    Yan Xiuchen paused as something crossed his mind.


    "What about your little sister? Is this the first time she has done something like this towards you? Couldn''t you just tell your parents what she has done tonight? Surely they wouldn''t let her off the hook considering what she''d done is a crime."


    Xiao Rufeng smiled bitterly. She had long epted that she and her father would never reconcile and that she shouldn''t raise her expectations when ites to him.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Half-sister." She exined. "My mom died when I was very young and my father remarried. As for informing him what transpired tonight, I''m pretty sure he would take my sister''s side rather than believing my im. You see, Xiao Yunyao was the dotted daughter, a jewel in my father''s eyes."


    "But you are also his daughter." Yan Xiuchen retorted. It wasn''t like he''d never heard of this kind of situation before. Half siblings, especially from wealthy families rarely get along.


    "I''m not sure about that." Xiao Rufeng shut her eyes in an attempt to stop herself from crying again. "We used to be very close when my mother was still alive, but when he got remarried and had Xiao Yunyao, it seemed that he had already forgotten his eldest daughter."


    Yan Xiuchen had no words to say on that. What was he supposed to say anyway? He was thankful that he didn''t have any siblings or that his father didn''t remarry after his mother died. Still, Yan Xiuchen knew that his father hated him and would rather see him die than to lose his beloved wife.


    Perhaps life was really unfair for the two of them. There wasn''t anything they could do to change it and they could only suffer in silence.


    Was there any vindication at all? Yan Xiuchen doubted. They could only go with the flow and try to make the best out of their situation.


    "My manager must be worried about me." Xiao Rufengmented, pulling Yan Xiuchen out of his daze.


    "Hmm? Aren''t you under Bluemedia Entertainment?"


    "Yes! Actually, our president is also my manager. She''d warned me earlier about Miss Ye, but I didn''t expect that my sister would be involved with her."


    Xiao Rufeng wasn''t sure if Su Xiaofei had already noticed her disappearance and if they were looking for her.


    "Then I think I can help you with that. You''re lucky I''m friends with someone close to her."


    Xiao Rufeng''s eyes widened in surprise. She truly hadn''t expected that she would be lucky tonight.


    "Thank you and I''m sorry. I would have called her myself, but I don''t know where my bag and phone are."


    Yan Xiuchen said nothing in return but dialed Lu Qingfeng''s number instead. He waited until his call was picked up after the third ring.


    "Is something the matter?" He heard Lu Qingfeng''s voice on the other line.


    "Can I talk to your wife? Xiao Rufeng is here with me and she requested to have a word with her."


    Xiao Rufeng opened her mouth, but no words came out. She had never thought that the person he was acquainted with was her manager''s husband.


    "Did you just say Xiao Rufeng?" Lu Qingfeng was equally surprised with Yan Xiuchen''s words.

 Chapter 458 Two Unfortunate Souls (2)

    Zhang Lan was able to find Xiao Rufeng''s bag on the pavement outside the back door of the club. It only strengthened Su Xiaofei''s assumption that Xiao Rufeng was really in grave danger.


    As the time continued to tick, the possibility of Xiao Rufeng being harmed would continue to rise. Su Xiaofei had no choice but to call her husband and ask for his assistance. She hated feeling helpless at the moment and she didn''t want to take advantage of her husband''s resources.


    "I''ve already deployed Nine to find her, Feifei. There''s nothing else we can do now but to wait for her news."


    And so, Su Xiaofei could only swallow her own pride and prayed like she never had before. It didn''t take long before Lu Qingfeng arrived to pick her up and take her home.


    Su Xiaofei thanked Song Yiran again for his assistance and left with her husband.


    Lu Qingfeng drove his car until he parked it at the underground garage of a high end condominium in Shenjing. He helped her out and they rode an elevator with mirrored walls to his penthouse.


    "Where are we going?" Su Xiaofei asked her husband. She was unfamiliar with the ce and had no idea why they were here.


    "This is where I lived for the past five years. Grandpa isn''t home at the moment and I suppose you wouldn''t befortable being surrounded by his staff." Lu Qingfeng answered.


    The instant the door of his penthouse opened, the scent of home cooked meals wafted in the air.


    "I cooked before I picked you up. Do you have any appetite for food now?" Her husband asked.


    Su Xiaofei''s stomach grumbled in response. She had forgotten that she hadn''t eaten anything for dinner. If she hadn''t smelled the food her husband prepared tonight, she would have totally forgotten about it.


    Also her worries about Xiao Rufeng''s situation had made her forget things. She suddenly felt a hint of guilt, thinking that she shouldn''t be thinking about food and nourishment at this moment.


    Lu Qingfeng then went straight to the kitchen and started serving the dishes on the dining table. Su Xiaofei followed him and looked around.


    An impressively long, floor-to-ceiling ss wall started from the kitchen, stretched into the dining room and wrapped around the living room. From where the ce was located, the penthouse gave Lu Qingfeng the best cityscape scenery.


    Elegant rugs were ced on the hardwood floor with built-in shelves filled with several books Lu Qingfeng had read in his spare time. Unlike other homes, there were only two picture frames that could be seen in his living room.


    One was a huge portrait of her and Lu Qingfeng during their wedding photoshoot, with genuine smiles on both their faces. The other one, Su Xiaofei found on the corner table, was a picture of her and Lu Qingfeng wearing their QCA uniform.


    Su Xiaofei was familiar with this photo. Wasn''t this one of the photos that was circted in their school forum when Ye Mingyu attempted to frame her?


    Overall, the ce was warm, inviting and not at all like a bachelor pad clich¨¦.


    However, as she checked out the ce, Su Xiaofei thought that Lu Qingfeng must have been really lonely living in such a huge ce on his own. Did he live the same way that Lu Qingfeng had after her death in her previous life?


    She stared at her husband, seeing the slight smile on his face, far from the Lu Qingfeng she used to observe as a ghost.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Su Xiaofei washed her hands at the sink, drying it before taking a seat at the dining table. She looked at the dishes and noticed that Lu Qingfeng had prepared her favorites. She would have loved to indulge herself and eat heartily, however, thinking of Xiao Rufeng had somewhat ruined their mood to eat.


    Her husband prepared all of this for her and yet, she couldn''t enjoy it at the moment.


    "Calm down, darling. I know you are worried about Miss Xiao, but please don''t neglect your own health." Lu Qingfeng joined her at the table and gave her hand a light squeeze.


    "Sorry. I''m just worried about her. Had I known this would happen, I wouldn''t have left her on her own."


    She shouldn''t have left Xiao Rufeng with Ye Mingyu, but it was toote to regret now.


    Suddenly, her husband''s phone rang, breaking the silence between them.


    Lu Qingfeng took his phone and checked to see if it was his private bodyguard, only to see that it was Yan Xiuchen calling him.


    "Is something the matter?" He asked. Because regardless of what he was doing, he would do his best to help the rest of his brothers.


    "Can I talk to your wife? Xiao Rufeng is here with me and she requested to have a word with her."


    That wasn''t something Lu Qingfeng was expecting to hear at all. How was it even possible? Lu Qingfeng thought.


    "Did you just say Xiao Rufeng?" He replied, taking his wife''s full attention.


    "Is it Xiao Rufeng?" Her hands came forward, holding onto his arm with worry. "Have they found her? Is she alright?"


    Lu Qingfeng raised a hand, gesturing to her to allow him a few moments to talk to whoever was calling him.


    "En, she''s with me right now. I know you are curious about the details, but allow Miss Xiao to talk to your wife first before I exin the situation." Yan Xiuchen answered him.


    "Alright. I owe you one, Chen-ge." Lu Qingfeng said in relief.


    "It''s nothing. Don''t even think about it." He heard Yan Xiuchen chuckle in amusement.


    Lu Qingfeng lowered his phone to talk to his wife.


    "It''s Yan Xiuchen. I don''t know the full details yet, but it seems like Miss Xiao is under his care at the moment. She wanted to speak with you."


    Su Xiaofei nodded, epting his phone and speaking to Xiao Rufeng in a hurry.

 Chapter 459 You Are Bound To Me (1)

    Su Xiaofei left the dining table and moved to the living area to talk to Xiao Rufeng. She eagerly waited in anticipation to hear her talent''s voice, wanting to know if she managed to escape from her abductors and how she was faring. As soon as she heard Xiao Rufeng''s voice from the other end of the line, she couldn''t stop herself from asking her questions at once.


    "Is everything alright? Did you manage to escape? How did you end up with Yan Xiuchen? Good Lord, Xiao Rufeng. You gave me a good scare tonight!" She rubbed her temple, but she was relieved to know that Xiao Rufeng was safe. Su Xiaofei had no idea what she would do if something bad happened to her talent tonight.


    "I''m alright, Miss Su. I''m sorry for making you worry. I''ll make sure this won''t happen again." Xiao Rufeng said with guilt in her tone.


    She had already expected to hear this from her manager. She then proceeded to exin what Ye Mingyu had told her and what happened to her after leaving the club. Xiao Rufeng also informed her that she was still under the influence of a drug and was just waiting for its effects to wane off.


    "Did you provoke your sister again?" Su Xiaofei asked, knowing that Xiao Yunyao wouldn''t be so stupid to do such a reckless thing unless Xiao Rufeng provoked her somehow.


    Xiao Rufeng''s face flushed under the dim light of the hotel room. She was thankful that Yan Xiuchen wasn''t looking at her at the moment, because she was really ashamed of what she had done.


    "En. Before going to the club, I had dinner with my family. As usual, Dad and I had some disagreements and I made a snarky remark about her infront of our father." She admitted, knowing that it was pointless to lie to Su Xiaofei.


    Su Xiaofei sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose, willing herself to calm down. She knew that this could happen. Xiao Yunyao had done the same thing in her previous life, but Xiao Rufeng wasn''t as lucky as she was today, because she killed herself after her reputation was ruined in public.


    "Do you know why I asked you to ignore your sister?" She reminded Xiao Rufeng. "Because we both know what she is capable of. In front of your father, she could lie with a smile and twist the truth in her favor. If you continue to make things hard like this, I wouldn''t be able to help you the next time she schemes against you."


    "I know and I''m really sorry, Miss Su. I know better now." Xiao Rufeng murmured. This wasn''t the first time Su Xiaofei reminded her to be wary of her younger sister, but then again, she was too stupid to allow Xiao Yunyao to get on her nerves and she couldn''t stop herself from retaliating.


    Perhaps what she had said during their dinner earlier left a bad taste in Xiao Yunyao''s mouth, causing her to deal with her like this.


    "Okay, okay. Stop apologizing already. What''s important to me is that you''ve learned from your mistakes and never do that again. The next time you hear Xiao Yunyao mock or insult you again, try to ignore her."


    Xiao Rufeng had no retort to that.. Of course she knew it, but her pride would always get the best of her and she wasn''t willing to be mocked by Xiao Yunyao. Still, she thought that despite their differences, Xiao Yunyao wouldn''t dare to cross the line and attempt to kill her.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    After exchanging a few words, Su Xiaofei promised to send someone to pick Xiao Rufeng from the hotel stealthily and thanked Yan Xiuchen for his help over the phone. She then ate dinner with her husband, finally able to enjoy the night with him as the problem had already been solved.


    Lu Qingfeng didn''t forget to give Nine a call and exin the situation to him. He had given him another task instead and asked Nine to gather evidence of Xiao Yunyao''s involvement with Xiao Rufeng''s kidnapping. Surely, his wife wouldn''t let this matter pass without seeking some justice for Xiao Rufeng.


    "Would she be okay with Yan Xiuchen? Do we really need to wait until morning to collect her?" Su Xiaofei asked as she joined her husband on the bed.


    Lu Qingfeng turned to his side to face her.


    "She''ll be fine. Chen-ge is a gentleman. I have to say she''s extremely lucky that it was him she was delivered to." He said. Yan Xiuchen was the oldest in their brotherhood. Unlike the others, he was the only one he recruited outside the university premises.


    "You call him Chen-ge. Are you and Mr. Yan really that close?" She asked curiously. She only knew Yan Xiuchen on a surface level and was curious how her husband managed to get acquainted with the business tycoon.


    "He''s like an older brother to me." Lu Qingfeng responded. "He might look intimidating in person, but he always looks out for the rest of our brothers. Chen-ge would give us valuable advice whenever one of us was making a gamble on investments that could potentially hurt our finances."


    Su Xiaofei pondered for a moment. She really thought that they would be toote to help Xiao Rufeng tonight. She thought that she had already helped Xiao Rufeng to avoid her death g, but who would have known that Xiao Yunyao would still pull the same trick in this lifetime? It seemed like Su Xiaofei could only dy some events and not totally avoid them. Maybe fate moved differently this time and chose Xiao Rufeng''s path to cross with Yan Xiuchen.


    "Dear, do you believe in destiny?" She suddenly asked.


    "Oh? I thought we were destined together?"


    Su Xiaofei''s face flushed at that, covering half of her face with the quilt which earned an amused look from her husband.


    "Silly. No matter what lifetime we are in, you are bound to me."

 Chapter 460 You Are Bound To Me (2)

    Xiao Rufeng wasn''t sure when she fell asleep, but the second she regained her consciousness, she felt that her whole body was covered with sweat, making her wish she could take a long shower as soon as possible. Thankfully, this time, she regained her ability to move, but it was obvious that she was still weak and feeling exhausted.


    She turned her attention to the person who was dozing on the armchair near the ss window and felt guilty for having Yan Xiuchen to look after her, trying to keep her awake by conversing with her.


    The digital clock on the nightstand said it was already four in the morning, and Xiao Rufeng didn''t have the heart to wake Yan Xiuchen from his slumber.


    ''He might have fallen asleep before I did.'' Xiao Rufeng thought.


    She silently slipped out of the bed and walked to the ensuite bathroom to relieve herself and wash the sweat and dirt off her body. She then opened the wardrobe and was d to find a pair of white robes inside.


    When she returned to the bedroom, Yan Xiuchen remained asleep. The air conditioner was a little cold tonight, so she adjusted the temperature and decided to cover him with the nket he provided earlier.


    However, as soon as she was about to ce it on hisp, Xiao Rufeng was given a full view of his face. The moonlight revealed the rest of his face to her sight.


    Scarred, but beautiful. Xiao Rufeng wasn''t sure how the two words could be described by this man, but nheless, his scars somewhat gave him a character, a trait she had never seen on any man before. His body was well proportioned and perfect in her opinion, despite the fact that she had never seen what was beneath those clothes.


    Yan Xiuchen was the kind of man that was perfect in her eyes. His calm demeanor, his personality. The only thing that wasn''t perfect was his face. Still, this didn''t make him a lesser man in her eyes. Being an actor for some years now, how many times had she met a handsome man that was too narcissistic and arrogant for their own good?


    She had thought that Yan Xiuchen was the mysterious and shy type during their conversations as he wouldn''t even look her straight in the eyes, but now, she understood why.


    Yan Xiuchen was conscious of his face and didn''t want her to see or look at him. No wonder he would always keep his responses short and direct to the point, making it hard for her to continue their conversation. However, now that she had seen his scarred face, it only made her curious.


    What was the story behind those scars? Xiao Rufeng wondered.


    When her mother was still alive, she used to tell her not to judge people with scars or disabilities. Her mother used to tell her that scars were a badge of courage and healing of a person. She also used to remind her that there''s always a story behind it.


    Scars weren''t limited to the physical ones because there were also emotional and mental ones, her mother imed. She also said that they don''t necessarily define a person, but often they help them grow. Xiao Rufeng was too young to understand her mother''s words, but now she knew.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Almost no one gets through life without a few scars and there are few that would have to live with it for the rest of their lives. However, Xiao Rufeng had never met nor seen a person as scarred as Yan Xiuchen.


    She gently ced the nket on hisp and sat on the edge of the bed, wondering how traumatic it could be for Yan Xiuchen to have such scars on his face.


    Half an hourter, Yan Xiuchen squirmed in his seat as staying in the same position for a long time finally made him ufortable. He cracked his eyes open, his own body clock reminding him it was time to wake up. Once he sat up, he finally noticed the nket that fell from hisp down to his feet.


    Yan Xiuchen turned his head slightly and saw that the woman on bed was already up and was looking at him with curiosity. Realization dawned upon him and he snapped his head to the other side and shielded his scarred face with his right hand.


    "You''ve seen my face." He said in an usatory tone, as if Xiao Rufeng hadmitted a grave mistake for sneaking up on him to look at his face. He felt fully exposed, now that Xiao Rufeng had seen his scars. He was hoping that they would part ways after today, with her having a good impression on him and not to be repulsed by his grotesque appearance.


    Xiao Rufeng cocked her head one one side and blinked.


    "Am I not supposed to see you clearly?" She retorted.


    She didn''t sound repulsed nor bothered by what she had seen, which startled Yan Xiuchen. If she was any other woman, she would have made sure to keep a safe distance from him and won''t even dare to cast a look in his way.


    So then why? Why was Xiao Rufeng looking at him like this and why did his treacherous heart feel so hopeful at the moment?


    "You¡­ you aren''t bothered at what you''ve seen? You aren''t afraid of me?" He continued to question her.


    "Should I be afraid of you?" Xiao Rufeng frowned. "You don''t scare me at all. Those men who kidnapped mest night are more frightening than you. You could have taken advantage of the situationst night, but you didn''t. You could have your way with me at my weakest point, but you didn''t. Unless you are nning to assault me, I don''t think I should be fearful of you."


    Yan Xiuchen opened his mouth, but realized he didn''t have any words to say. His fingers lightly touched the scars on his face and wondered if his wish was somehow granted by the heavenly bastard above.

 Chapter 461 His Burning Sun (1)

    Yan Xiuchen didn''t want to raise his expectations of Xiao Rufeng, to spare himself from being disappointed once she turned away from him. She was someone that he couldn''t be with, as she belonged to the world of the brightest stars.


    Still, he had to admit, only to himself, that he was d that she wasn''t appalled by his appearance. He wasn''t sure why their paths had crossed or perhaps this was a reminder that he had been wrong in assuming the worst out of most people.


    No ¡ª he corrected himself. Xiao Rufeng wasn''t like the rest of the people. From the look of her eyes, he could see that she wasn''t lying when she said that she wasn''t afraid of him. For the first time since forever, he had met someone who wasn''t repulsed by his looks and wasn''t lying to get their hands on his wealth.


    "I guess I should say thank you then." He muttered, his eyes trying to imprint this memory in his mind.


    "What for?" Xiao Rufeng raised a brow, confused as to what he was trying to point out.


    "For not being repulsed by my appearance." He looked away and there was a slight hint of blush on his face from embarrassment. Yan Xiuchen suddenly felt like a teenage boy beingplimented by his crush for the first time.


    Xiao Rufeng smiled, but she dared notugh in fear that she would offend him. She was telling him the truth anyway. There were far handsome men around who nursed a malicious heart and she didn''t deem him as one.


    Yan Xiuchen saw her smile and he briefly thought how that smile felt like a burning sun in his wintery misery. She was like the first flower that bloomed, announcing that the seemingly long winter had reached its end.


    He didn''t want to drown himself in his misery and self-pity for now. He would do so when he was alone, because he knew that after this, there wouldn''t be any chance for them to meet again.


    Was it odd for him to say that he was enjoying herpany? That he wasn''t ready to part with her just yet and return to his usual, boring life after this?


    "Humans tend to be selfish and arrogant, you know. It makes you wonder how shallow their thoughts could be that it made them blind to see what matters the most." He heard Xiao Rufeng say.


    "And that is?"


    She shrugged in response, wrapping her arms over the white robe that covered her nudity.


    "I dunno. It probably depends on the person."


    Yan Xiuchen thought that she might be thinking of her own worries, seeing a slight frown appearing on her face. He realized that she looked so much better smiling than like this.


    "Everyone has their own troubles already. It might not be obvious for some that they are actually suffering in silence, but wouldn''t it be better to be kind to one another than to inflict injuries upon others?" She continued, "a little kindness could go a long way. Even a slight ripple could change the whole picture. As for us, wouldn''t it be better if we try to stretch the boundaries and learn how to adapt with the situation?"<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    What she said struck Yan Xiuchen. He had never met a person like her in his thirty two years of living. He had always made an excuse of being too scarred, too frightening to broaden his views, but he''d learned the hard way that life wasn''t always sunshine and smiles. He had met so many people in his life that only gave him disappointments, one after another.


    These past years for him were filled with shadows and uncertainty to the point that there were times that whenever he woke up in the morning, he hoped to never open his eyes again.


    While it was true that he had a grand wealth that could sustain several generations of his family, there were still things that money cannot buy and Yan Xiuchen knew this.


    Of course, Yan Xiuchen kept these thoughts to himself and didn''t bother to share them with Xiao Rufeng.


    "You seem hopeful despite what you''ve experiencedst night." Hemented. "But I have to agree with what your manager told you. You can''t afford to get involved with your sister if she has a tendency to retaliate dangerously towards you."


    Xiao Rufeng gave him a weak smile and nodded. She could only be this lucky once, she knew this. If Xiao Yunyao plotted against her, who knows if she would be able to avoid the cmity for the second time.


    ''When emotions overrule us, surely disaster would follow. Your impatience and rash attitude could be your downfall.''


    This was what Su Xiaofei used to tell her with a faraway look on her face, her eyes shrouded with memory that only made her sad. She spoke as if it was based on her experience.


    It was the only time Xiao Rufeng would see such a reaction from her beautiful and alwaysposed manager. She had always wondered what kind of memories her manager was reminiscing to react like that.


    However, now, she could grasp and understand better what her manager meant by those words.


    "Perhaps I need to start to pretend like she isn''t part of my life. That she''s nothing but a shadow trying to lure me into the dark."


    "Yes, you are right." She nodded in agreement. "I owe you a great deal, Mr. Yan. I thought that I would end up miserablest night and I was so ready to cease my life, but I wake up to another day, knowing that I still have a chance in life. This is all thanks to you."


    So aside from Su Xiaofei, Yan Xiuchen was the second person she owed great favor and respect to at the same time.


    Yan Xiuchen cleared his throat and looked away, the tip of both his ears reddening, much to Xiao Rufeng''s amusement. His heart was suddenly filled with indescribable warmth, which was surprisingly not unweed.

 Chapter 462 His Burning Sun (2)

    Last night, Xiao Rufeng was certain that after the events that happened, she would never be the same and she was right. It was a wake up call for her not to underestimate her younger sister and to be more careful in the future. She couldn''t take her manager''s words lightly, considering how close she was from losing everythingst night.


    As discussed, before the sun rose in the sky, the Zhang sisters came to collect her, bringing her a new set of clothes, much to Xiao Rufeng''s relief. They also gave back her purse and phone, with a visible crack on its screen, but still fully functional. She excused herself, leaving her manager''s bodyguards with Yan Xiuchen.


    "President Yan, there are paparazzis pretending to be guests at the main lobby of the hotel. We also spotted a few, some keeping an eye on the back door. It seems like Miss Xiao''s sister is making sure that her reputation would be questioned once she''s spotted leaving the vicinity." Zhang Lan exined the situation to Yan Xiuchen.


    Yan Xiuchen frowned, making his face more frightening than usual. Zhang Ling lowered her eyes as she was ufortable looking at him, but Zhang Lan managed to keep a straight face as if seeing him was a norm for her already.


    "I already asked my people to make a history of her checking in a day before just in case, but I didn''t expect that her younger sister would be quite persistent to see her in despair." He grumbled.


    Did Xiao Yunyao think that she could easily harm Xiao Rufeng under his watch? No fucking way! The younger sister might be oblivious of his identity for now, but Yan Xiuchen would make sure that she would regret throwing Xiao Rufeng on his bed sooner orter.


    Wasn''t Xiao Yunyao trying to cover up her mistakes and force their customers to pull out theirwsuits? Then Yan Xiuchen would unearthe them and reveal everything to the public. This would never be enough topensate for what could happen to Xiao Rufeng, but this would be a start.


    "Would you be able to bring her home safely or do you require my assistance?" He asked Zhang Lan.


    "Don''t worry, President Yan. Everything''s under control. Our mistress wants to confirm Miss Xiao''s safety before she returns the favor to those who were involved in her abductionst night." Zhang Lan assured him.


    Yan Xiuched nodded his assent. Since these two were practically Lu Qingfeng and Su Xiaofei''s subordinates, he wouldn''t question their ability to adapt to the situation. However, he wished he could do something for Xiao Rufeng.


    To be honest, he wasn''t quite ready to part from her yet, which was silly because he never enjoyed thepany of the opposite sex until meeting her. It was as if he wanted to know her, learn how to make her smile and be part of her world, but Yan Xiuchen didn''t dare to ask for more.


    Once she stepped out of this room, Xiao Rufeng would be out of his life. He would be nothing but someone she once crossed paths with. He wouldn''t dare to appear in front of her, and he had no doubt that she would forget about him in the near future, given how hectic her work schedule was.


    When Xiao Rufeng stepped out of the washroom, he invited her to join him for breakfast, something she was d to ept. The Zhang sisters excused themselves to give them some privacy to talk and for Yan Xiuchen to have a chance to say goodbye.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Yan Xiuchen sat ufortably in his seat. He wasn''t seated across from her, but instead, he sat on her left, allowing her to see the good side of his face and not the scarred one. He had given her a good look as she took a seat at the dining table.


    Xiao Rufeng was dressed in a pale pink sleeveless dress that reached her knees, hugging her body perfectly as if it was made solely for her. She had brushed her long hair back and tied it into a ponytail with a few strands framing her clean face, free from any makeup.


    "This is quite an experience to me, Mr. Yan. You don''t know how much gratitude I have for you for helping mest night when you didn''t have to." Xiao Rufeng''s cheeks were tainted with a slight blush. She then took her pen from her purse, scribbled something on a napkin and pushed it towards him on the table.


    "Here. I know I can never repay you for the great favor you did for me, but if you feel like you need some help or someone to talk to, give me a call, okay?"


    Yan Xiuchen eyed the paper napkin then looked at her smiling face. Was this yet another figment of his imagination, or did Xiao Rufeng give him a chance to connect with her?


    ''She''s just grateful for what you''ve done. There''s no other reason.''


    He scowled at the thought, the scars on his face twisting his face into a hideous grimace.


    "Then I trust that you will keep your promise and stay out of danger." He abruptly said when he noticed Xiao Rufeng had been waiting for his response.


    Xiao Rufeng winced at that, her smile slightly faltering. Yan Xiuchen mentally kicked himself for being stupid. He didn''t mean to say those words in such a cold tone and didn''t want her to misunderstand him. They were about to part ways and he was a fool for fucking his chance to get to know her better.


    "Sorry." He muttered, ashamed of himself. He averted his gaze, not wanting to meet her eyes. His exterior looked calm despite the raging thoughts on his mind.


    "What for? You''re merely stating the truth. I''ve been reckless these days and didn''t take my manager''s warnings to heart. But thank you, really." Xiao Rufeng didn''t seem like she was offended with what he''d just said much to his relief.

 Chapter 463 Aftermath (1)

    Xiao Rufeng understood that he only said those words to remind her to be more careful in the future. It had been a miracle that she was able to avoid the impending disaster waiting for her because she was sent to Yan Xiuchen''s bed as opposed to other men, who could doscivious things to her body against her will.


    "I wish we''d met under better circumstancespared tost night." Xiao Rufeng bit her lower lip before giving him an awkward smile.


    "We didn''t." Yan Xiuchen said in a crisp voice, "but it doesn''t matter now."


    "I suppose you''re right. There''s no point in dwelling on something we cannot change." Shemented.


    Yan Xiuchen remained silent, but the slight incline of his head told Xiao Rufeng that he was listening. Xiao Rufeng didn''t seem to mind his silence and started eating her breakfast without a word, casually checking him out.


    From where she was seated, she could only see the good side of his face, no doubt he was trying to make her feelfortable by hiding his scarred face again. Looking at him like this, Xiao Rufeng was given a sight of his clean side-profile.


    She thought that he was quite good looking, as expected from a man of his status. His slight angr jaw and strong facial features looked ttering on him. He had thismanding aura that could be oppressive and charming at the same time. His dark eyes were narrow and his lips thin, as if he never knew how to smile at all.


    Of course, Xiao Rufeng was aware of the reason for this and she didn''t me him for it. The scars on his face looked jagged and deep, indicating that whatever caused it was too serious to leave Yan Xiuchen like this. She was curious to know the story behind it, but she knew it was improper for her to ask him such a personal question.


    Yan Xiuchen''s movements looked refined, as if he''d been used to such ethics and custom his whole life. His long fingers held his cup of coffee, while he asionally nced her way as she ate. He found her toying with her food.


    "Is everything alright?" He asked her and Xiao Rufeng couldn''t help but sigh inwardly. She couldn''t possibly inconvenience him more than she already had.


    "Great, thank you. Just wondering how I should proceed after this."


    Despite her hunger, Xiao Rufeng didn''t have the appetite to eat more. She knew that she wasn''t truly safe yet, until she was able to meet Su Xiaofei and find out the current situation outside.


    "I''ve only met Su Xiaofei once." Yan Xiuchen replied. "But I think she''s a capable woman. You don''t need to worry too much if she''s your manager."


    Xiao Rufeng smiled at that.


    "Actually, I quite envy her." She admitted, piquing Yan Xiuchen''s curiosity.


    "How so?"


    Xiao Rufeng paused as she reminisced how she met Su Xiaofei the first time and how thetter tried to help her improve and promised to make her a queen someday, something Xiao Rufeng wasn''t aiming for.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "She''s everything I''m not." She answered her benefactor. "When I met President Su for the first time, I thought that she''s the most beautiful girl I''ve seen in my whole life."


    "You aren''t bad yourself, Miss Xiao. I assure you, your looks are pleasing to look at."


    Yan Xiuchen didn''t know where he got the courage to utter those words, but he didn''t want Xiao Rufeng to worry about her physical appearance. She and Su Xiaofei were both beautiful in their own ways.


    Xiao Rufeng stared at his wide eyes and blushed a little. She averted her eyes and cleared her throat, trying to remind herself of what she was saying earlier.


    "That''s not all. I admire her confidence and how she faced other''s scrutiny when they doubted her ability. You see, because she is a beautiful woman, that''s the first thing people notice about her. I heard that she got into some trouble with the board when some of them refused to acknowledge her abilities when she became a director at ourpany."


    She eyed Yan Xiuchen, seeing that he was still listening to her. Xiao Rufeng wasn''t sure why she was telling him this when they knew nothing of each other beforest night.


    "But President Su managed to earn their respect, by not arguing with them, but instead showed them what she''s capable of through hard work. I want to be like her, even just a bit."


    Yan Xiuchen remained silent and stared at his drink. It seemed to him that Xiao Rufeng had high regards for Su Xiaofei but was oblivious to her manager''s way.


    From what he heard from Song Yiran, that woman was vindictive and would never allow another person to demean her in any way.The mischievous glint he had seen during their first meeting was an indication that his brother might be right, but it surprised him to know that Xiao Rufeng wasn''t truly aware of what Su Xiaofei was capable of.


    "Then be like her. Work hard and dedicate your best to your craft. The most sessful people have failed at least once."


    "Does that mean that even you, a bigshot, have failed at least once in your life?"


    "More than once. In fact several times, but I learned a lot from it. The mistakes that we make are what teach us to do better next time." He shrugged.


    Xiao Rufeng was enjoying her morning talk with Yan Xiuchen, but it was time for her to leave and see the outside world instead. She wiped her mouth clean and rose from her seat. There was a knock on the door, and then the Zhang sisters stepped in.


    Yan Xiuchen followed her lead, his hand itching to make her stay a little longer, but he kept his silence.


    "Thanks again, Mr. Yan. Please don''t hesitate to give me a call whenever you feel like it."

 Chapter 464 Aftermath (2)

    A few minutester, Xiao Rufeng found herself boarding the private elevator with her manager''s bodyguards.


    "Miss Xiao, don''t worry. Just act normal. Please don''t give your sister the satisfaction she''s dying to have at this moment." Zhang Lan broke the silence between them, her eyes boring to the numbers above the floor buttons.


    "I agree with my sister." Zhang Ling nudged Xiao Rufeng''s shoulder. "President Su and the rest of us were worried sick when we couldn''t find you. Thank goodness you are safe."


    Between the two sisters, Xiao Rufeng was closer to the younger one, as she asionally had a chat with Zhang Ling whenever she paid Su Xiaofei a visit.


    "I''m really sorry. I should have known that Ye Mingyu was up to no good when she spoke to mest night."


    Zhang Ling shook her head.


    "It''s nothing. As long as we know that you were safe, nothing else matters. But we aren''t quite done yet here yet. Your sister sent paparazzis and reporters to pry on you this morning. They are probably waiting to see you leave this ce distraught by what could have happenedst night. I swear your sister is trying to test our mistress''s patience."


    "We are almost there. Prepare yourselves just in case." Zhang Lan''s cold stoic voice reminded her.


    Zhang Ling straightened her back at once and passed her sunsses for Xiao Rufeng to use. The actress dly epted it and covered her eyes with it.


    Xiao Rufeng kept her expression neutral. She couldn''t help but y Zhang Lan''s earlier words to her mind. ''Don''t give your sister the satisfaction she''s waiting for.''


    Thank goodness she wasn''t leaving this ce on her own, Xiao Rufeng thought. If she was defiledst night and had tried to leave the vicinity in secret, those hyenas would surely crowd around her the first chance they get. With the Zhang sisters here with her, they would think twice before they dared to question her.


    The elevator doors opened and they walked through the main lobby with Xiao Rufeng walking behind the two sisters. They went to the reception area and gave Xiao Rufeng''s name to check out, ording to Yan Xiuchen''s instructions to them earlier.


    Those people Xiao Yunyao hired were startled and confused at the same time seeing Xiao Rufeng appearing in public, looking good and safe. Xiao Yunyao told them that her younger sister was going to sneak out of the hotel after spending a long night with her lover.


    Some of them were wondering if Xiao Yunyao was lying to them or if Xiao Rufeng was having an affair with a prominent person. One of them couldn''t stay still in his seat and approached Xiao Rufeng to question her.


    "Miss Xiao, is that you? What are you doing here?" He asked with an obvious wide smile on his face.


    Xiao Rufeng turned her head to look at his face, then from head to toe as if she was looking down on him. She didn''t even bother to remove the sunsses on her face and instead her lips were drawn into a thin line, as if she was annoyed that she was being disturbed by the man.


    "Uhm¡­ do I know you?" She asked in return, disregarding his question towards her.


    "Ah, you can''t remember me? I was one of the reporters who covered the presscon of ''Demonville''st month. I thought Miss Xiao would recognize me at least."


    "I see." She nodded and said no more.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Xiao Rufeng had seen him, yes, but she didn''t think they were close enough or even slightly acquainted with each other for him to question her like this.


    The man felt his whole face flush upon Xiao Rufeng''s tant disregard to anything he said, but since he was already there, he couldn''t possibly miss his chance to get the information he needed.


    "So¡­ are you here to meet someone?" He asked again.


    This time, it was Zhang Lan who snapped her head and looked at him.


    "Why is a mere reporter like you poking your nose into someone else''s business?"


    "I-I''m merely curious as to why she''s here! She''s a celebrity. Of course we are curious!" He blurted out, gaining a few looks from those around them. If he hadn''t said it out loud, others wouldn''t have recognized Xiao Rufeng in the middle of these arguments.


    Zhang Lanughed dryly, while Xiao Rufeng sighed and adjusted her sunsses.


    "Miss Xiao checked into this hotel under her name. She came here to unwind and rest. As to whether she''s seeing someone or not, what is it to you? She''s a celebrity, yes, but her private affairs are none of your business. I don''t see you scampering over other popr celebrities asking such nonsense questions. What are you trying to imply by asking Miss Xiao such an ambiguous question?"


    The man felt embarrassed being scolded by Zhang Lan in public. Everyone''s attention should be on Xiao Rufeng, but why was this woman trying to get between him and Xiao Rufeng?


    The murmurs among the crowd continued, agreeing with Zhang Lan''s words.


    "These shameless reporters are the lowest of the lows. Even a normal person would want to rx after a long day of work. What makes celebrities any different? Aren''t they human beings too?"


    "He''s probably making an issue out of it. Just look at the logo of thepany he works for. Isn''t that gossip magazine known for invading other stars'' privacy? They were even sued multiple times."


    Someone scoffed. "No wonder he''s interrogating Miss Xiao like this. He probably wants to write something about her."


    "Please leave. Miss Xiao has no words for someone like you." Zhang Lan dismissed him.


    The reporter gritted his teeth and pointed his forefinger at Zhang Lan.


    "A not so big entertainmentpany like yours has no right to bully reporters like me!"


    Zhang Lan scowled, snatched his id from his jacket and waved it at his face.


    "Then let''s see how this not so bigpany makes you miserable for the rest of your life!"

 Chapter 465 Aftermath (3)

    Due to yesterday''s events, Su Xiaofei had overslept, oblivious to the fact that her name and the video of her little dancingpetition with Ye Mingyu had been circted around social media and entertainment news.


    Lu Qingfeng watched the video as he ate his breakfast alone, watching the rare glint of excitement in his wife''s eyes as she danced to the beat of the music. He had never thought that he would be able to see it in this lifetime, after she abandoned the path of being an actress to follow her mother''s footsteps in the business world.


    He then thought that regardless of what lifetime they were living, Su Xiaofei still couldn''t avoid the limelight altogether. Not only was she born from the popr actress, Bai Qingyue, but she had this passion that couldn''t be easily extinguished when ites to performing.


    However, that morning, Su Xiaofei and Ye Mingyu were not the only ones who made the news, Xiao Rufeng''s younger sister, Xiao Yunyao, was also forcefully pulled under the spotlight. The younger Xiao sister had been exposed to bribing the affected customers of their cosmeticpany to withdraw thewsuits they filed against them.


    Lu Qingfeng furrowed his brows. He was certain that his wife wasn''t involved in this sudden development against Xiao Yunyao, since his wife was still asleep in their now shared bedroom in his penthouse.


    So who could it possibly be? He wondered.


    It was obvious that this was an act to defame Xiao Yunyao, but aside from Su Xiaofei, Lu Qingfeng wasn''t sure who else the younger Xiao sister had offended. The public was harshly criticizing her at the moment and theirpany was being called out by consumer groups for Xiao Yunyao''s recent acts.


    His thoughts were pulled into a sudden halt when the door of the bedroom opened and his wife stepped out to join him for breakfast, but it was obvious that he was already done with his.


    "Good morning, sleepyhead." Lu Qingfeng slightly inclined his head on his right as Su Xiaofei came to give him his usual good morning kiss on his cheek.


    "Morning." She grumbled, and ran her fingers through her thick and messy mane, trying to tame it down.


    Su Xiaofei was wearing one of his shirts she foundst night in his wardrobe. Since she was too tired to open herrger luggage for her nightclothes, she chose to borrow his for the meantime. The sleeves hung loosely from her shoulders and the seams reached her mid thighs, barely covering the boyshorts she was wearing.


    Lu Qingfeng forced his eyes away from her chest, remembering what his hands had identally ''touched'' that morning when he woke up earlier. He cleared his throat and pushed another te serving with her meal towards her.


    "Want some coffee?" He asked, trying to think of something other than throwing his wife over his shoulder and ravishing her in the bedroom.


    "No, thank you." Su Xiaofei replied and started eating her breakfast. "Have they picked up Xiao Rufeng already?" She asked.


    Lu Qingfeng already anticipated that she would ask him this question and nodded.


    "Zhang Ling just called and informed me that they were driving Miss Xiao to her residence. There was a slightmotion at the hotel, but everything is under control." He answered.


    His wife nodded and released a sigh.


    "I think I should thank Yan Xiuchen properly one of these days. Do you think we''ll be able to invite him for dinner?"<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "He''s a busy man, but I might be able to ask him at our next meeting thising weekend. Would you like toe with me and invite him yourself?" He offered.


    Su Xiaofei paused and gave it a good thought. She had seen how close her husband was with his friends, something she had never seen before even in her previous life. Somehow, she was relieved to know that Lu Qingfeng now had friends to rely on and that was slowly epting other people in his life. She would never want to see him in the same state he was after she died previously.


    She shook her head. "Can''t."


    "Why?" Lu Qingfeng wondered. Was his wife feeling ufortable meeting Yan Xiuchen? But she didn''t seem to mind looking at his scarred face from their previous meetings.


    "It''s your special day to spend time with your brothers. I don''t think I shoulde with you during your meetings with them."


    Lu Qingfeng felt ted by her words and smiled. He also agreed with her. He could see how ufortable his brothers were when he brought her with him the first time. They were guarded, their words carefully chosen in front of Su Xiaofei, but their eyes nced around in silent understanding.


    "Alright. I''ll extend the invitation to Song Yiran too, if you are okay with it."


    "Yeah, sure. He''d been a great helpst night." His wife agreed as she continued her meal.


    Suddenly, the peacefulness of their morning was broken when his phone rang again.


    Lu Qingfeng picked up his phone to see who was calling him, surprised to see Qiao Fengying''s number.


    "Uncle Qiao, good morning." He said as soon as he answered the phone, catching his wife''s attention in the process.


    "Ah, still the same as Xiaofei? When will the two of you call me ''Dad'' or ''Father''?" Qiao Fengyingughed with amusement.


    Lu Qingfeng fell silent at that and suddenly felt ufortable. For so many years, he was used to not having a family he could rely on, except for his grandfather. However, now that he was married to Su Xiaofei, he understood that his family was also growing.


    "Is something the matter, Uncle Qiao?" He asked, not wanting to answer his father-inw''s previous question.


    "Ah, I heard Xiaofei is here in Shenjing. Shn asked me if you coulde and pay us a visit whenever you and Xiaofei are free."


    Lu Qingfeng lowered his phone and covered the mouthpiece to ask Su Xiaofei, who easily agreed and epted her father''s invitation.

 Chapter 466 Xiao YunYao (1)

    Obviously, Lu Qingfeng wasn''t the only one who was confused with the sudden turn of events. Inside her own office, Xiao Yunyao threw everything that was within reach in her rage.


    "Yao''er, calm down. This isn''t the right time for you to act like this. We must control the situation as soon as possible before your father loses his trust in you." Her mother said in a gentle voice, but her eyes hid the menacing rage that couldn''t wait to be unleashed.


    The one who should be criticized right now should be Xiao Rufeng and not her daughter, but how did the situation turn out this way?


    "Mom! How could I calm down when it''s like this? More people areing out, iming that I''ve ruined their faces! Mr. Wan wouldn''t even dare to pick up my calls and exin himself!" Xiao Yunyao eximed, her eyes red from crying.


    "Damn it. It should be Xiao Rufeng filling the headlines now, not me. How did she manage to escape? Did Mr. Wan lie to usst night when he said that all was well on his side?"


    The man was supposed to convince those customers to backout from thewsuits, not to bring the issue into the spotlight! Now, none of them were able to reach Mr. Wan after collecting the favor for her request, which infuriated Xiao Yunyao further.


    "I''ve already called the news outlets and bribed them to shut the articles down, but they refused." Her mother replied in confusion. "I don''t understand. We are offering them a hefty amount of money, but none of them would agree. Is there someone targeting ourpany?"


    Xiao Yunyao bit her thumb and continued to pace around her office. She also considered that, but the news was specifically focused towards her and not theirpany. She couldn''t remember anyone she offended recently except for Xiao Rufeng.


    Was her elder sister the one responsible for all of these then?


    Xiao Yunyao shook her head. She knew very well what Xiao Rufeng was capable of and thetter wascking not only with resources, but also influence. Xiao Rufeng couldn''t possibly bribe those news outlets to attack her reputation fiercely like this.


    Much to her irritation, someone had pushed and revealed that she was Xiao Rufeng''s younger sister and manyizens hade forward topare her with her elder sister. They were surprised to know that Xiao Rufeng came from a decent and wealthy family and hadn''t used it to her advantage in the showbiz industry.


    ''I used to work on the same project with Xiao Rufeng before this and she was extremely professional. She''s a very down to earth person and was willing to listen to others, unlike this younger sister of hers who''s trying to bribe her detractors for speaking the truth.''


    ''I heard they were born from different mothers. It''s obvious who got the better upbringing between the two.''


    These not only infuriated Xiao Yunyao, but also her mother. Even in the Xiao household, they had house servants who were loyal to the former madam and favoring Xiao Rufeng over Xiao Yunyao. Many still thought that Xiao Rufeng should be the one to seed the family business and not the younger sister.


    A knock on the door took the mother and daughter''s attention. Xiao Yunyao''s assistant came in nervously and said, "Miss Xiao, you are being summoned by your father in his office."<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Xiao Yunyao''s face was twisted in an ugly grimace, but she willed herself to calm down just as her mother told her to. She cannot act recklessly in front of her father, or else she would lose everything to Xiao Rufeng.


    What Xiao Yunyao didn''t understand was that her older sister had no interest in running their business and would rather focus on acting than joining theirpany. However, Xiao Yunyao still perceived her sister as a threat for her inheritance.


    "See? I told you to calm down. We wouldn''t be able to fix the problem if you are acting silly like this." Her mother scolded her. "Now go and exin to your father."


    Xiao Yunyao grimaced, but said no more. She hated that her mother kept harping about what to do and what not. She was already old enough to decide for herself, but her mother still treated her like a child, not taking her words seriously.


    She went to see her father at once and lowered her head upon seeing him.


    "Dad, what they are saying isn''t true. You should know that I''m not capable of it." She said in a pitiful tone, as if she was about to burst into tears at any given moment.


    However, her father''s reaction was far from her expectation. If it was in the past, her father would only give her a disappointed look and shake his head, telling her not to worry about it anymore as he would deal with the problem himself, but not this time.


    "Dad?" Xiao Yunyao called out, but it only made her father give her a displeased look.


    "Mr. Yan''s personal assistant has just called me to inform us that they are pulling out our products from their malls and department stores. Do you know how many problems you''ve given us this time?"


    Xiao Yunyao''s eyes widened. Yan Prime Holdings was the owner of a massive chain of shopping malls and hotels around the country. For them to pull out their brand and products from their outlets meant a massive sales loss for theirpany.


    "I¡­ I¡­" Xiao Yunyao didn''t know what to say now.


    If the Yan Prime Holdings cklisted their products, other retail stores would surely follow. This was far from what Xiao Yunyao expected to happen when she made the deal with that unreliable Mr. Wan.


    "I''m trying to give President Yan a call, but he won''t ept any of it. You say that what the news were saying isn''t true, but they came with proof, Yao''er. How do you exin that?"

 Chapter 467 Xiao YunYao (2)

    Xiao Yunyao''s eyes were stung with tears, but she didn''t have any idea what to do now. It was one thing that she was being criticized heavily by the public,paring her to her older sister, but how was she supposed to fix this problem regarding Yan Prime Holdings?


    Although it was considered one of thergestpanies in the country, there wasn''t much known about the owner of the massive empire as he was almost never seen or talked about. It was as if he didn''t want people to know of his existence.


    Her father lowered his head and waved a hand, dismissing her from his office. Xiao Yunyao didn''t dare to utter another word and left the room in silence. She found her mother waiting outside, pacing in the hallway waiting for her.


    "What did he say? Is everything alright?" Her mother asked her hurriedly.


    Xiao Yunyao remained silent and ignored her mother''s inquiry. She wanted to get out of here. The stress was starting to overwhelm her and she couldn''t think of anything at that moment.


    "Xiao Yunyao, youe here and exin yourself to me!" She heard her mother calling after her.


    Xiao Yunyao turned around and red at her mother, catching thetter off guard with the look on her face. She had never spoken like this with her mother.


    "It''s not alright! Isn''t it obvious, Mom? I listened to you. I did everything you asked me to. You told me that everything would be fine and Dad would disown Xiao Rufeng, but why is it me being hounded by everyone?" She snapped at her mother, her tears now streaming down her face again.


    It was her first time having a breakdown as she had been keeping her gentle facade for too long. It had been hard for Xiao Yunyao to act like a nice girl, keeping it up for as long as she could remember.


    "Why don''t you deal with it yourself, Mom? Since you were the one who suggested all of these." She sneered.


    Her mother stared at her in shock, rendered speechless by her sudden outburst, but Xiao Yunyao didn''t care anymore. She turned around and left in a hurry, not giving her mother a chance to interrogate for answers anymore.


    She shut herself in her own office and turned off her phone as media personnel were giving her nonstop call to get her side of the story, but she wasn''t dumb not to know that it would only fuel the scandal against her. She even went as far as informing her assistant to deflect any calls for her.


    Xiao Yunyao had never been dragged into a scandal as massive as this before. It was always her older sister being criticized, most of the time orchestrated by herself to defame Xiao Rufeng.


    After crying for some time, she finally calmed down, but she couldn''t think of any solutions to deal with her problem. She wanted to try and convince President Yan not to pull out their products from their shopping malls, but she had no idea how to reach the elusive man.


    As for her older sister, Xiao Yunyao didn''t have time to think of her right now and wondered how she managed to leave the hotel unscathed. She must save herself first and foremost!


    Xiao Yunyao remained silent and didn''t bother to make a statement, leaving everything to her mother to deal with. She also refused to dine with her mother as she didn''t have the guts to face her father too.


    With such a huge scandal, a young miss like her who was just starting to make a name for herself, Xiao Yunyao had yet to learn how to tolerate criticisms like this, unlike her older sister who was used to being scrutinized by the media once in a while.


    It was alreadyte when she decided to turn on her phone and not one minuteter, it had already started ringing, forcing her to answer the call upon seeing the caller ID.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Hello."


    "Yaoyao, I saw the news. Are you alright? Should Ie to help you exin to your father?"


    The moment she heard the voice through the receiver, Xiao Yunyao burst into tears.


    "Brother Jin¡­"


    Xiao Yunyao felt so wronged and aggrieved that she couldn''t even speak.


    "Don''t cry now! I don''t believe whatever nonsense they are saying! I''ming over, Yaoyao. Just wait for me, okay?"


    "No, don''t!" Xiao Yunyao eximed in a hurry. "You don''t have toe. I''m alright."


    She also didn''t want Jin Qiu, her fianc¨¦, to get into an argument with her father. She knew that Jin Qiu would take her side, but it was a different case with her father right now. Xiao Yunyao had never expected that her problem with thewsuits would suddenly get out of hand the moment she tried to drag her older sister into the issue.


    However, hearing her sobbing helplessly made Jin Qiu worry about her even more.


    "How can you say you''re alright? Tell me exactly what happened. I''ll try to ask our associates in the media to take down those articles against you."


    Obviously, Xiao Yunyao would never tell him that she schemed against her older sister. Jin Qiu and Xiao Rufeng had a history as childhood friends. She had stepped in between them, seduced Jin Qiu to be her lover, knowing that it would infuriate her sister.


    Still, Jin Qiu was still concerned over Xiao Rufeng even if thetter turned cold towards him and never returned any of his calls.


    "It''s not even your fault that the form for the face cream was defective. Shouldn''t they call out the head of your R&D? My Yaoyao is innocent of all their usations!"


    Xiao Yunyao''s face flushed, her nerves finally calming down after hearing his words.


    "But Brother Jin, people don''t agree with your opinion. Not only are they ming me for this, they also startedparing me and Feng-jie."


    "How could they do such a thing?! You and Xiao Rufeng are two different people. Don''t overthink, Yaoyao. The public will eventually forget about it."

 Chapter 468 The Lu Family (1)

    Su Xiaofei used the whole afternoon to catch up with the current events and the trends on social media. As she expected, her little stunt with Ye Mingyu had made the news and thetter was seriously criticized by the public for not being enough.


    Su Xiaofei scoffed and shook her head. For someone who needed to make a living based on the public''s perception of her like Ye Mingyu, she would take this criticism personally. However, what Ye Mingyu would never understand was that whatever she did, people would always have something to say about her.


    ''Damn if you do, damn if you don''t.''


    This was why she kept her online presence to the bare minimum. Even if people talk about her, she wouldn''t make any statements and didn''t entertain any issues thrown against her. It was why even now, people were still hesitating Ye Mingyu''s ims that they were siblings from the same father, because she had never denied nor confirmed Ye Mingyu''s ims officially.


    Surprisingly, Top Tier Entertainment weren''t doing anything to reduce the damage on Ye Mingyu''s reputation. President Ouyang had assured her that they would only tolerate Ye Mingyu to the extent allowed by thew, but can only warn her not to use Su Xiaofei to get people to talk about her.


    What surprised her was that instead of Xiao Rufeng being ridiculed over the news, it was the younger Xiao sister being scrutinized by the public. Su Xiaofei was certain that she wasn''t the one behind the demolition job against Xiao Yunyao, but she had to admit that whoever did it, he was giving Xiao Yunyao a taste of her own medicine.


    Wasn''t this what she had been doing over the past five years? Xiao Yunyao was sabotaging her older sister at any given chance, not wanting Xiao Rufeng to seed.


    Lu Qingfeng found herying on her stomach on their bed as she browsed on her phone. He had just finished his work and was wondering if she had ns that night. A small smile gracing his lip as he leaned on the doorframe and watched her silently.


    Even now, tion filled him, knowing that she had chosen him and had loved him in this lifetime. Su Xiaofei didn''t seem to notice, but many men admired her even when they were younger. When she hit her adolescent years, he had seen the way boys checked her out and he didn''t like it one bit.


    He knew right then that he wanted her all to himself. It was then he became impatient to grow up and be old enough to pursue her himself.


    "Hey. Are you done for today?" Su Xiaofei called him out as she spotted him at the door.


    Something flickered in his eyes and vanished as quickly as it appeared. He came over to her, joined her on the bed and dipped his head to cover her rosy lips with his.


    The scent of her shampoo tickling his nose in the morning, letting him know that she was still with him, the softness of her skin as he touched her and the expression she had on her face when he made love with her. Lu Qingfeng wondered if she loved him because she had no other choice or because he had somehow grown on her.


    Regardless of her reason for marrying him, Lu Qingfeng loved every single minute spent with her. He wrapped her long hair around his hand and deepened their kiss, aware of how her nails were now digging unto his forearm, leaving half moon marks on him.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Before he lost his mind and took her right there and there, Lu Qingfeng pulled away, his breathing rough and fast.


    "I came to ask if you still have matters to deal with here in Shenjing. I need to adjust my schedule to amodate your father''s invitation and my meeting with my brothers."


    "No. Everything is settled now." Su Xiaofei replied, her gaze on his mouth.


    Lu Qingfeng swore at the surge of desire that came through him in response to her tant wanton look. If there weren''t any pressing matters he was dealing with at this moment, he wouldn''t mind spending the rest of the night with her on their bed.


    "Don''t worry about me. Zhang Ling would just bring me the work I needed and the meetings could still be held through video conference. But I would appreciate it if we could go back to Qiying City as soon as possible."


    He nodded in agreement. Certainly, neither of them werefortable leaving Yun Qingrong on her own, despite the private nurses they hired to take care of her.


    "Then, do you think you cane with me to pay respects to the Lu family? Aside from Grandpa, the rest of our n still have no idea that we already got married." He exined.


    Lu Qingfeng exhaled and ran a hand over his face as he thought about it. He knew what his rtives'' intentions were and they were merely acting curtly towards him recently because he managed to inflict a massive dent on their resources after their failed attempt to kill him months ago.


    Su Xiaofeiced her fingers with his and noticed howrger his hand waspared to hers. She was aware of the implications of her attendance at this family dinner and was sure that none of his rtives would easily ept and approve of her as Madam Lu.


    "Should I dress up then? Let them know that they have no other choice but to grant us their blessings." She asked. "They won''t force me to divorce you, would they?"


    In her previous life, the Lu family had forced Lu Qingfeng to marry Qin Ying, but he never sumbed to their wishes. Lu Qingfeng decided to be a bachelor for the rest of his life because of her.


    Lu Qingfeng''s eyes darkened at that, his jaws tightening.


    "They wouldn''t do such a stupid thing, unless they are ready to suffer more loses than they already have."

 Chapter 469 The Lu Family (2)

    Su Xiaofei noticed that her husband was nervous tonight, judging by the way he impatiently adjusted the cor of his shirt, up to the way he kept checking the time on his watch. She rarely saw him act like this, which only meant that their meeting with the rest of the Lu family tonight was a big deal for Lu Qingfeng.


    She wanted to tell him to calm down and assure him that everything would be alright, but she didn''t. The fact that his rtives were the ones responsible behind the scheme to take his life, which prevented Lu Qingfeng from reuniting with her in her previous life, filled Su Xiaofei with bitterness.


    She knew that it was one of the things Lu Qingfeng regretted after her death. If only he was able toe back to her safely, he might be able to change her mind from pursuing her marriage with Mo Yuchen. s, nothing could be done now, but at least her husband managed to avoid the ident.


    In the Lu family, the only person Lu Qingfeng was close to was his grandfather. Almost everything he knew, whether in academics or running businesses, he learned from his grandfather.


    The old man held the highest position in thepany, and now that he was the only direct descendant of Chairman Lu, it was obvious that he was more stern and strict towards Lu Qingfeng. Despite this, Lu Qingfeng strived to meet his grandfather''s expectations.


    Due to the premature death of his parents, the old man doted on and loved Lu Qingfeng the most. This was why in their previous life, when Lu Qingfeng made his intention clear, that he wanted to pursue and take Su Xiaofei as his wife, his grandfather gave him his unconditional support. It was a pity that the young man wasn''t able to do this, as he had already fallen into aa even before reuniting with her.


    These thoughts made Su Xiaofei feel horrible. Thankfully, she managed to change the events in this lifetime and married him.


    As for the rest of the Lu family¡­ Well, they had no choice but to acknowledge her as the future household mistress of the family, because there was no way she would leave her post and hand it over to another woman of their liking.


    This time, Nine came and drove them to the Lu family ancestral estate located in the outskirts of Shenjing. Su Xiaofei''s eyes fell upon the huge estate that she had never gotten a chance to see nor to step into in her previous life.


    The estate was traditional and magnificent. After their car entered the gate, it still took them ten minutes of driving before they reached the main house. This only reminded Su Xiaofei that despite her current status as head of Bluemedia and Yun family''s only granddaughter, it was iparable to her husband''s family''s reputation.


    At the front doors, Su Xiaofei spotted a familiar old man dressed in an impable dark suit waiting for them. She knew that he was Chairman Lu''s personal assistant, and thought that perhaps her grandfather-inw had sent him to greet them.


    Once she and Lu Qingfeng alighted from the car, the old man stepped forward and greeted them respectfully.


    "Young Master." He gave Lu Qingfeng a curt nod, then turned to acknowledge Su Xiaofei "Madam. Master Lu has been waiting for your arrival. He said he wants to have a word with the two of you before facing the rest of the family. Pleasee inside."<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Lu Qingfeng said nothing, but only nodded in response. He offered an arm to Su Xiaofei, which she willingly epted and then followed the old man into the main house.


    As it was Su Xiaofei''s first time in this ce, she decided to remain silent and stick to her husband. She felt her husband''s hand covering hers that was resting on his arm and turned to see, then he slightly leaned towards her to say something.


    "Just be yourself. It doesn''t matter what they think of you, as long as Grandpa approves of you."


    "Is that so? You make it sound like I was about to step into the lions'' den, dear." She chuckled. Feeling his warm hand wrapped around hers, she strangely felt better knowing that she was the only one he wanted.


    Chairman Lu probably informed everyone that Lu Qingfeng wasing, so the servants were pacing around in a hurry, wanting to make sure everything was in ce before the family dinner.


    The couple climbed up the stairs until they reached the room where Chairman Lu was waiting for them. As soon as they entered the room, his assistant stepped back and closed the door to give them the privacy they needed.


    "Take a seat." The old man was enjoying his cup of tea and gestured to the couple to join him. His eyes caught the couple''s hand and smiled, thinking that his grandson had finally gotten what he wanted for a long time.


    When Lu Qingfeng told him a few months ago that he wanted to pursue Su Xiaofei, the old man wasn''t surprised at all. He had been paying attention to his grandson ever since he took him in and knew how Lu Qingfeng adored the little girl from the Su family.


    Of course he was aware of Su Xiaofei being adopted, but this didn''t matter for Chairman Lu, because what mattered the most was that she would be faithful and considerate towards Lu Qingfeng.


    "Xiaofei, thank you for agreeing toe here tonight. I know this might be ufortable for you, but you''ll have to meet them, regardless if you want to or not." He said as soon as Su Xiaofei settled in her seat.


    She gave him a warm smile in return.


    "As his wife, how can I turn down the invitation? I married him, knowing what entails bing his wife." She answered while Lu Qingfeng sat next to her, rigid as an ice sculpture.

 Chapter 470 The Lu Family (3)

    "But I suppose my grandson hasn''t given you a fair warning then?" The old man continued. "I called you here for a reason."


    His eyes then turned seriously towards Lu Qingfeng.


    "Don''t announce your marriage yet to the rest of the family. I''m still keeping an eye on them, just in case they''re plotting something against you again." He warned his grandson.


    Lu Qingfeng''s back stiffened, eyes narrowing dangerously. He quickly understood why his grandfather was telling him this, but he didn''t know how to exin all of it to his wife yet.


    Thankfully, Chairman Lu decided to do the honor of exining things to Su Xiaofei.


    "Xiaofei, I know that you are a smart girl, so I will be honest with you. Like any other families out there, the Lu family isn''t spared from internal conflicts and feuds. As my sole sessor, not only to thepany but over the family''s fortune, your husband is in a precarious situation. I heard from A-Feng that you wanted to dy starting a family together. Is that true?"


    Su Xiaofei''s face flushed and bit her lower lip. She hadn''t expected that Lu Qingfeng would also inform his grandfather about this. However, it was pointless for her to deny it.


    "Yes. I feel like with all the things happening around us, our te is too full to start a family. A-Feng has yet to finish his studies and both of us are also upied with our work." She exined.


    Su Xiaofei couldn''t decide if she was ready to have a child, since the trauma of losing one from her previous life still haunted her to this day. It felt like it was only yesterday when Mo Yuchen''s people dragged her and took out her baby from her womb to spite her. This was something she wasn''t ready to share with her husband.


    Chairman Lu hummed and nced to see his grandson''s reaction, but Lu Qingfeng''s face remained the same.


    "I suppose that''s for the best for now." The old man nodded in approval as he gave it a good thought. "Until A-Feng finally takes my post in the near future, you should keep your marriage a secret and dy having a child. I wouldn''t want them to target you and your child if they knew about it."


    Su Xiaofei shivered at his implications. A silent rage slowly bloomed in her heart. They had attempted to kill her husband already, and there was no doubt that they would view her and their child as his weakness and would try to use it against him.


    ''Bastards.'' She cursed inwardly. No wonder Lu Qingfeng was keeping them at arm''s length.


    "I understand, Grandpa. We will be more careful in the future."


    At least her inw wasn''t forcing her to give birth to an heir right now.


    "Good, good. I''m d that you understand the situation. This is only for the meantime until he seeds me." He eyed his grandson. "I suppose I don''t need to remind you to take care of your wife?" He asked Lu Qingfeng.


    Lu Qingfeng grunted, as if he was offended that his priorities were being questioned by his grandfather.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "I''m doing my best."


    "Master, dinner is ready and the rest of the guests have arrived."


    At that moment, Chairman Lu''s assistant came back to see them.


    "Ah, then if everything is clear and settled, let''s go. We can''t let them wait for too long, or they might suspect something." Chairman Lu said as he rose from his seat. "Xiaofei, would you mind apanying this old man, then?"


    Su Xiaofei nced at her husband and Lu Qingfeng nodded his assent. She immediately went to her grandfather-inw''s side and escorted him outside, with Lu Qingfeng following closely behind them.


    The two were chatting warmly while Lu Qingfeng looked around, paying attention to where they were going. Even though they were in the Lu family ancestral home, he felt vulnerable and not safe with Su Xiaofei being here with him.


    When they reached the dining hall, the trio found that the other guests had already taken their seats and fell silent upon noticing their arrival. Su Xiaofei scanned the crowd until her eyes caught someone familiar amongst them. She raised a slender brow and nced at her husband.


    What was Qin Ying doing here? Did Lu Qingfeng know she would be present tonight?


    The rest of them rose from their seats and gave Chairman Lu a greeting, but not without ncing at Su Xiaofei, who was standing closely next to him. Chairman Lu raised a hand in response and gestured for them to take a seat.


    The old man released Su Xiaofei''s hand and Lu Qingfeng immediately offered a hand towards her. They took a seat and everyone looked at them awkwardly, their eyes kept ncing at Su Xiaofei.


    "I thought this was a family dinner. I wasn''t informed that we can invite a stranger here." Someone said with a mirthugh, making everyone fall silent again.


    It was Lu Weisheng. He was a second cousin to Lu Qingfeng''s father and one of those who refused to acknowledge him as the next head of the family.


    Lu Qingfeng''s eyes darkened and turned to look at him dangerously.


    "Uncle must be describing himself, considering you brought an unknown woman with you." He said filled with contempt, his lips curling to a slight sneer. "I didn''t know that your taste in women has changed. It seems like you''re now interested in a woman half your age."


    Qin Ying''s face turned red then white, being deemed as a stranger by Lu Qingfeng. What''s more, he assumed that she was his uncle''stest lover. She lowered her head and didn''t dare to look at his eyes.


    "Now, now. We haven''t started the dinner and yet you are already spoiling our appetite." Chairman Lu said with a disapproving tone. "As for Xiaofei being here, there''s no problem with that. A-Feng and her are together now, so she''s not a stranger, but part of the family."

 Chapter 471 Blatant Warning (1)

    Su Xiaofei lightly squeezed her husband''s hand to get his attention, not wanting for him to start a fight because of her. Wasn''t it obvious that Lu Weisheng was trying to provoke her and Lu Qingfeng?


    As to why he brought Qin Ying today, she could only surmise that they were trying to lure Lu Qingfeng into taking Qin Ying as his wife. It wasn''t a secret anymore that Qin Ying liked her husband.


    Su Xiaofei scoffed at that thought, as if she would willingly hand over her husband to another woman. She and Lu Qingfeng had already wasted a lifetime separated. Why would she allow another woman toe between them now?


    The rest of the dinner went by with hushed tones and short conversations. Su Xiaofei ignored their asional stares at her as she ate her meal in silence next to her husband. It wasn''t like she was looking down on them, but at this point, she cannot allow anyone to think that she could easily be bullied.


    Once everyone was done, Lu Qingfeng pulled her away from his rtives and brought her to the courtyard, aware of how everyone''s eyes were on them as they left.


    "Are you really sure that it''s okay for me to be here? Seems like your uncle wants to rip you into a million pieces already." She grinned mischievously as she hooked her arm with his, seeking for warmth in this cold night.


    "I doubt he has the ability to do that." He grimaced at the thought that he couldn''t brag about her being his wife.


    "Feifei, you agreed easily to Grandpa''s request, but I really don''t mind if everyone knows that we are married. Grandpa thinks that you could be a distraction for me, but no. It''s the opposite, actually."


    "I thought you''ve already talked about this with him, that''s why I agreed to his request." Su Xiaofei frowned. She wouldn''t have answered hastily if she knew that her husband was having different thoughts about it.


    He cupped the side of her face and kissed her crown.


    "I have every reason to assert my dominance over my session in the family. Now that you are my wife, do you think I would allow anyone to bully you or to look down on you? A person who has someone to protect is more dangerous than a person who has nothing to lose."


    "Then what do you suggest we do? I already gave Grandpa an answer, and I wouldn''t like to offend him by taking back my word."


    She looked up at him, her fingers lightly tracing his wedding ring on his hand. She noticed that she had never seen him remove it since their wedding day.


    "Give me three months, Feifei. That''s all I need. I''m about to seed my grandfather soon. I''ll make sure that everyone knows that you are my wife and no one could rece you."


    Su Xiaofei blinked, her eyes shining with tears. She could feel her heartbeat racing from his words.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    When she used to be married to Mo Yuchen in her previous life, she longed to hear these words from him. Throughout their marriage, she had been insecure, wanting nothing more than to have his attention only for her. However now, with Lu Qingfeng, she didn''t need to ask or doubt his love for her because he would give it to her in a heartbeat.


    Who would have thought that the person who would utter these words to her was the one who was always by her side for as long as she could remember?


    For the longest time, Lu Qingfeng had been there for her, taking the role of the wind under her wings that gently pushed her to keep on going. Even now, when her mother was terribly sick, Su Xiaofei didn''t know if she would be able to do just fine on her own without her husband''s support.


    Lu Qingfeng was startled, seeing her teary eyes. Did he say something that upset her?


    "What''s wrong? Is it too long for you?" He asked, thinking that she might misunderstand him yet again. "Sorry, Feifei. This is the earliest time frame I can promise you. Grandpa is nning to hand over the rest of thepany to me in six months, but I don''t think I can wait that long."


    Instead of answering his question, Su Xiaofei wrapped her arms around his torso and buried her face in his chest. With her whole body pressed against his, it was obvious that he had changed so much over the five years they were away from each other.


    Lu Qingfeng ced a hand on her small back and allowed her to seekfort in his arms, even for just a moment. Between the two of them, he was more likely to seek her forfort and physical touchpared to her.


    "Would it be silly for me to say that I love you more each day?" She grumbled against his chest.


    Lu Qingfeng tried to take a look at her face, but Su Xiaofei insisted on hiding her blushing face from him.


    "Ah, could you repeat that, Mrs. Lu? I couldn''t seem to hear what you have just said." He replied with a teasing tone.


    Su Xiaofei lightly hit his chest, lifted her head and glowered at him, which only reminded Lu Qingfeng of a cat whose tail was being stepped on.


    "So, no three months limit?" He asked. If she didn''t agree with his request, he would need to negotiate the agreement with his grandfatherter.


    "No, it''s fine with me. I never really cared what others think of our union. As long as you are mine." She replied. Waiting for three months didn''t bother her a bitpared to the whole lifetime Lu Qingfeng had spent for her.


    Lu Qingfeng sighed in relief. Three months suddenly felt too long for him to announce their marriage. He couldn''t wait to be seen with her in public, allowing everyone to know that she was his wife.

 Chapter 472 Blatant Warning (2)

    When they returned to the main house, Lu Qingfeng was suddenly called to talk in private with the rest of his elders. He wanted to bring Su Xiaofei with him and wasn''t willing to leave her on her own with his other rtives, but his grandfather''s assistant insisted that he was the only one being summoned.


    "Go. I''ll be here when you return." Su Xiaofei assured him, sensing that he wouldn''t give up the idea of leaving her with the rest of his family members.


    What could the others do to her other than engage in a verbal war.?They wouldn''t dare to harm her physically, unless they wanted to offend both Lu Qingfeng and his grandfather. Also, if they dared to do something, she wouldn''t be polite and would give them the beating they deserved.


    Lu Qingfeng frowned and nodded. He gave Su Xiaofei onest look before leaving with his grandfather''s assistant.


    Su Xiaofei took a seat on a vacant couch and decided to check her phone for any messages. She had put it on silent earlier, not wanting to make a scene, just in case someone called her in the middle of her meeting with the rest of the Lu family.


    She received a few chat messages from Xi Qian. Her best friend asked her when she and Lu Qingfeng would return to Qiying City. Xi Qian also let her know that she was staying with Yun Qingrong for the meantime, much to her relief.


    ''Thanks, Qian. You are the best~!'' She replied to her best friend and promised that she and Lu Qingfeng would be back by Sunday afternoon.


    Aside from her, she received an odd message from her mother''s older brother, Yun Yuanzhi, asking if she heard any news about Yun Xiang. Apparently after her wedding with Lu Qingfeng, he suddenly disappeared without a word and weeks had passed and there still wasn''t any news about his whereabouts.


    ''Not that I''m aware of what he''s up to.'' Su Xiaofei thought. She hadn''t heard a single word from him ever since their little confrontation with Lu Qingfeng.


    Based on what she knew from her previous life, Yun Xiang had connections with suspicious people and had been quite insistent about protecting Ye Mingyu using his own methods. Su Xiaofei had also noticed that Yun Xiang''s attitude towards her had changed.


    To her surprise, the one who sought her out as soon as her husband left wasn''t his rtives, but Qin Ying herself.


    "Miss Su, do you mind if I sit here with you?" The younger woman asked, looking nervous.


    Su Xiaofei nced up to see Qin Ying standing near her with an awkward smile on her face. It was obvious that the younger woman didn''te here just to sit next to her. Qin Ying wanted to confirm something.


    "Sure. It''s not like I could have all the space to myself." She answered casually.


    She didn''t think it was fair for her to be rude towards Qin Ying if thetter hadn''t done anything against her and her husband. It would be a different matter though if she decided toe between them and cause them trouble.


    Qin Ying hesitated for a moment, ncing at Su Xiaofei once in a while until her curiosity got the best of her.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Miss Su, is it true? You and Lu Qingfeng¡­"


    "Yes." Su Xiaofei didn''t let her finish her question. "I still don''t know why others are still surprised about it when they all know that A-Feng and I have known each other since we were kids."


    "I see." Qin Ying had no words to retort. Just as Su Xiaofei said, she and Lu Qingfeng had a long history, and it shouldn''te as a surprise that they became lovers.


    "What about you? What brings you here?" Su Xiaofei asked.


    "I was invited for dinner by Uncle Lu." She was rted to Lu Weisheng. "But I didn''t expect that he would bring me here instead."


    Su Xiaofei didn''t know whether she should believe Qin Ying''s answer or not. She didn''t miss the younger woman''s reaction when she confirmed her rtionship with Lu Qingfeng earlier. She didn''t know why, but she could see her previous self in Qin Ying.


    Was this what she looked like when she was blindly chasing after Mo Yuchen in her previous life?


    "Qin Ying, I''m sorry that I am not sorry."


    "W-what?" Qin Ying looked at her with confusion written on her face.


    "I know how you feel towards A-Feng, but I have no interest in letting him be with another woman." Su Xiaofei said, dead straight in Qin Ying''s face.


    Qin Ying swallowed the invisible lump in her throat and averted her gaze. She didn''t even deny Su Xiaofei''s im about her feelings towards Lu Qingfeng.


    "Miss Su¡­ this¡­" Qin Ying looked like she wanted to get away from Su Xiaofei as soon as possible.


    "There''s no need to deny something we both know is the truth. I might be foolish and stupid at times, Qin Ying, but I''m not blind." Su Xiaofei didn''t mince her words and confronted the other woman. She had to make it clear to Qin Ying now, tantly warning her to back off from her husband because she wouldn''t be this polite with her in the future if Qin Ying dared to cross the line.


    Su Xiaofei would have given way if it was in the past. Actually, when she was a wandering ghost, trapped by Lu Qingfeng''s side, she briefly thought that Qin Ying was a good candidate to be his wife. However, that selfish little tyrant defied everyone''s suggestion to consider Qin Ying and shot her down on the spot.


    "I will have no wife. There won''t be any other woman who deserves to stay by my side." He insisted, subtly telling everyone that no one could rece Su Xiaofei, not in his heart, not in his life. It seemed that he had decided a long time ago that only she could be his wife.

 Chapter 473 Golden Cage (1)

    The ball was in Qin Ying''s court now. Su Xiaofei omitted the part that she and Lu Qingfeng were already married because she didn''t want to be used of bullying her by making her cry.


    Still, she was already kind enough to make it clear to the other woman that Lu Qingfeng was already off limits. She could only hope that Qin Ying was smart enough not to oppose her this time.


    Qin Ying pondered silently for a long time. She was aware of Su Xiaofei''s reputation and knew that between them, Lu Qingfeng was inclined to believe whatever Su Xiaofei would tell him. She excused herself, leaving Su Xiaofei on her own.


    No one dared to bother her after Qin Ying left, and Su Xiaofei decided to scroll through some entertainment news and thetest gossip on her phone while waiting for her husband''s return. The trend in the entertainment industry changed rapidly and those who cannot keep up with it would eventually lose their shine and be reced with the new ones.


    Currently, Top Tier Entertainment had thergest film production in the country, and this was why Su Xiaofei couldn''t easily shrug off President Ouyang''s request for a possible coboration with Bluemedia.


    After them, the Mo family''s Golden Star Entertainment had produced the most popr stars in the next three years. Su Xiaofei wanted to change that and snatch Mo Yuchen''s thunder before he could get a hand on those celebrities.


    It could be said that right now, thosepanies controlled thergest market share of the entertainment circle and Bluemedia was still falling behind. Su Xiaofei knew this and while Tang Liyan was steadily keeping up with her "Queen" status, Xiao Rufeng would need a few more years before she could reach that level.


    From the memory of her previous life, after Top Tier Entertainment helped Ye Mingyu be popr, she didn''t sign for a renewal of her contract with them and moved to Golden Star instead.


    In just two years, Golden Star would grow rapidly and would eventually catch up with Top Tier Entertainment. This was made possible by her, of course. Because she had foolishly handed over her mother''spany to Mo Yuchen for him to manage, only to be swallowed whole by Golden Star.


    The memory left bitterness in Su Xiaofei''s mouth. In this life, she would make sure that neither Mo Yuchen nor Ye Mingyu would be able to get what they wanted. She would protect Bluemedia and her mother''s legacy with all of her might, regardless of how hard it would be.


    However, before she could act on it, she needed to take care of her mother first. She cannot just focus her attention at work, as it would be useless if she would lose her mother for the second time.


    She sighed and locked the screen of her phone, only to find out that she was earning a lot of stares from Lu Qingfeng''s other female rtives. Most of them were already past their forties, and she couldn''t help but notice that there weren''t many from the younger generations in the Lu family.


    "You are Su Xiaofei, right? You are quite famous, aren''t you?"


    A woman around herte twenties came and greeted Su Xiaofei. Unlike the other madams here, she looked friendly, and her eyes didn''t have any disdain and scrutiny others were throwing her way.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Oh, my bad. I haven''t introduced myself, have I?" She smiled at Su Xiaofei and extended a hand. "I''m Lu Jinglin. I''m a fan of yours."


    Su Xiaofei''s brows shot up in surprise. This was unexpected to hear from a rtive of her husband. Out of courtesy, she epted Lu Jinglin''s hand and gave it a firm shake.


    "It''s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Lu." She replied.


    "Do you mind if I join you here? It seems to me that I''m not the only one unwanted here." Lu Jinglin replied and sat next to Su Xiaofei even before thetter could respond to her question.


    "How so?" Su Xiaofei asked, unbothered by the fact that Lu Jinglin had decided to apany her tonight. It was better than being looked upon by others as if she was a piece of ornament to be admired or scrutinized. She could also see that the other members of the Lu family were shooting Lu Jinglin with a disapproving look.


    "Let''s just say that I''m being considered as the ck sheep of the family. I ruined my father''s n to marry me off to some unknown bastard." Lu Jinglinughed as if she couldn''t be bothered by what others thought of her.


    "And I can see that Qingfeng has done the same." At this, Lu Jinglin''s voice lowered considerably, as if she was whispering a secret to Su Xiaofei. "Married you the first chance he got, didn''t he?"


    Su Xiaofei''s eyes widened, but recovered from her shock immediately after.


    "Don''t worry. I won''t spoil the fun. I like seeing my father annoyed. He would surely throw a massive fit if she knew that Qingfeng and you are already married. You see, he brought that woman to convince the Chairman to set an engagement between her and Qingfeng." Lu Jinglin chuckled, before taking a sip from her flute of champagne.


    Su Xiaofei stared at this woman. Like the rest of the Lu family, her sharp features and high nose were distinct. Lu Jinglin also had a pair of dark eyes that if one had to stare at it for too long, it would make them ufortable, because all they would see was a void of nothingness in them.


    "Are you doing this to spite your father?" She asked in response.


    "You could say that." Lu Jinglin nodded. "Dad couldn''t think of anything other than taking over the family business when it''s already proven that he isn''t capable of managing it. Qingfeng would do a better job than him. Do you know how ashamed I am as his daughter? I couldn''t stand him at all." Lu Jinglin confessed.

 Chapter 474 Golden Cage (2)

    Su Xiaofei had no words to respond to that. So it turned out that Lu Weisheng was Lu Jinglin''s father. Perhaps she could feel a bit of sympathy for Lu Jinglin because this was also what she felt before towards Su Haoran before she knew that she was adopted.


    "Sorry, I didn''t mean to make you feel ufortable with my rumblings. I just want to warn you that my father won''t give up easily." She heard Lu Jinglin say.


    "Well, it wouldn''t be fun if he gives up so easily." Su Xiaofei smirked, catching Lu Jinglin off guard.


    When she recovered from her shock, she burst intoughter with tears, earning res from her rtives. This was very udylike for someone of her status.


    "I see now why Qingfeng is head over heels on you. You have the same humor code as him."


    Su Xiaofei rested her chin on the back of her hand and regarded Lu Jinglin with amusement.


    "Howe he never told me he has an interesting cousin like you?" Shemented.


    "Because I was caged like a bird by my father when I was younger. It was only after he helped me escape and helped me live on my own did I finally learn the reality of life." Lu Jinglin said with a smile, but Su Xiaofei could see a forlorn look on her face.


    But what surprised Su Xiaofei was her husband''s involvement in Lu Jinglin''s escape.


    "For my father, I am nothing but a tool. He believed that because I''m a woman, there aren''t many choices for me." Lu Jinglin sighed dejectedly. Even if she pretended that she didn''t care one bit about her father, Su Xiaofei could see that the old man had inflictedsting traumatic wounds on his daughter.


    "Some people say that a person''s abilities and fate are already set in stone from the moment he''s born, but I don''t believe that." She continued. "I don''t give a shit about what kind of god is out there. My future is for me to make, and I won''t sit idly and allow another person to decide for me."


    "Then take whatever path you think is right for you. If A-Feng willingly helped you to leave your so-called cage, he must have seen some potential in you." Su Xiaofei replied. It was weird for her to have this kind of conversation with someone she just met, but she admired Lu Jinglin''s courage nevertheless.


    A woman in her station would face hardships living as amoner, but it seemed that Lu Jinglin was faring well on her own. She was dressed casually in a white long sleeved shirt and beige colored cks, with her long wavy hair tied in a messy bun.


    "So, what do you do for a living?" Su Xiaofei was beaten by her own curiosity.


    "Why don''t you make a guess, Madam Lu?" Lu Jinglin challenged her.


    Su Xiaofei took a minute and gave her a good look. Although Lu Jinglin retained her ss and elegance, she didn''t bear the same attitude of a businesswoman. Her hands looked soft, as she had never done any menial job in her life.


    "Sorry. I couldn''t tell. It''s hard for me to tell."


    "It''s fine. Not anyone would think of it anyway." Lu Jinglin easily brushed off her apology. She then turned to look outside the balcony that was just on their right.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "When I was younger, books were my onlypanion. I couldn''t make friends with anyone because I was homeschooled. After Lu Qingfeng sent me up north, I realized that I was good for nothing. I couldn''t do anything but read and write. It was depressing to know that I couldn''t even do anything."


    "That''s not true. My mother once told me that each person has a strength only they would be able to utilize. They only need to nurture it and take advantage of their situation."


    Theugh that came out from Lu Jinglin sounded like tickling bells to Su Xiaofei''s ears.


    "I see that you have your way with words too. I''m a screenwriter, but not a popr one." She said with a hint of blush on her cheeks as if she was ashamed of it.


    "You are?" Su Xiaofei titled her head on one side in surprise. "Are you signed with any agency?"


    Lu Jinglin was taken aback by her question and lowered her gaze.


    "No. I''m doing frence." She admitted.


    Most of the agencies she tried to reach out to found her style too mature andplicated for the public audience. Lu Jinglin had already gotten used to receiving one rejection for another, although that only made her feel insecure that she might not be the prolific writer that she thought she was.


    She was forced to write stories that followed the trend, but she found it somehow degrading. Lu Jinglin felt that she couldn''t find any fulfillment in it because she knew that she could do much better than she did now.


    s, would the audience willingly ept the story she would weave from her heart?


    No. Lu Jinglin thought. It would be too impossible to think that she could go further than where she was now. She could only endure, so she won''t trouble Lu Qingfeng anymore. She cannot admit defeat now ande back to her father with her tails between her legs.


    Su Xiaofei pulled something from the inside pocket of her coat and handed a business card to Lu Jinglin.


    "Here''s my card. Why don''t you set an appointment with Bluemedia and let us see what you have to offer."


    Lu Jinglin took the card with trembling hands. She tried to control her expression, but she knew she was on the verge of tears now.


    "It must have been hard on you, Miss Lu. You have chosen a hard path and stepped outside yourfort zone. Not many are as brave as you."


    She heard Su Xiaofei say, leaving her in a trance.

 Chapter 475 Golden Cage (3)

    There was something about Su Xiaofei that Lu Jinglin couldn''t put into words. She had this feeling that she was being lured like a bee attracted to the sweet nectar, only to find herself being trapped for eternity.


    It was probably a kind of hell she would enjoypared to the hellhole that was waiting for her back at home if she submitted to her father''s wishes. At least, she would be able to negotiate with Lu Qingfeng and Su Xiaofei for better terms.


    The only reason why she wasn''t being dragged by her father right now was because she was still under Lu Qingfeng''s wing as his ''subordinate''. They all thought that she was working for him, when in truth, she was doing all that work in front of herputer to earn her living.


    For her father, a woman was nothing but a possession that he could utilize to his own advantage. When she found out that she was to be married off, she desperately sought for Lu Qingfeng''s help. A favor that he had yet to collect since then.


    Lu Jinglin wondered if Su Xiaofei knew what kind of man she married. Did she know how ruthless Lu Qingfeng could be against his enemies and to those who opposed him? Just the thought that he single-handedly murdered her brothers a few weeks ago was enough for her to shiver in fear.


    Burned to death. To think that they were killed slowly, allowing them to experience anguish before meeting their ends. Lu Qingfeng had left them under the rubble to suffer, fighting their way to wiggle out like a bug that was about to be consumed by the fire.


    Lu Jinglin couldn''t me him, and not that she had any sympathy left towards his brothers when they were the first ones who turned their backs on her. She understood that he only did it because her foolish brothers had plotted to dispose of him. Lu Qingfeng must have been angered that he was being obstructed on his way to Su Xiaofei.


    It was a known fact within the Lu family that Su Xiaofei was Lu Qingfeng''s bottom line, because even before Su Xiaofei showed up today, Lu Qingfeng had long-established her status as the future madam of the family.


    "My, my, Madam Lu. You surely know how to lure people to your side, huh? Is that the reason my second cousin has chosen you?" She smiled at Su Xiaofei.


    Lu Jinglin had to admit that Su Xiaofei''s personality was a perfect match for the little tyrant of the Lu family. A woman with a high caliber like Su Xiaofei should have known¡­ She cannot possibly im innocence when her eyes were gleaming, filled with malice and mischief at the same time. Su Xiaofei obviously wanted to take advantage of her situation, but Lu Jinglin didn''t care anymore.


    She had long epted that not everything would go the way she wanted them to, but that didn''t mean she couldn''t make the best out of it.


    "You think it''s a bad deal?" Su Xiaofei raised a slender brow at her. "Don''t think I''m pitying you, because I am not. I just think that it would be a waste not to see your talent."


    "I surely don''t." Lu Jinglin chuckled in return. It seemed to her that pity doesn''te easily to this ck bellied couple. They knew how to take advantage of the situation and turn the tables in their favor.


    It was then Lu Qingfeng returned with a displeased look on his face. Su Xiaofei didn''t need to know that her husband wasn''t impressed by the talk he just had with his elders. He stood next to her on the couch before giving Lu Jinglin a nce.


    "Jinglin, you are here?"<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Hey, even if I am supposed to be working for you, it doesn''t mean I''m not part of the Lu family anymore." Lu Jingli pouted at him, but her voice didn''t hold any hint of annoyance.


    Su Xiaofei looked at her husband, then to his cousin, sensing that Lu Qingfeng was at ease being in Lu Jinglin''s presence. Surely, these two had some mutual respect for each other.


    "I see that you''ve met my wife." Lu Qingfeng replied as he rested a hand on Su Xiaofei''s shoulder.


    "Heh, she''s too good for you, Lu Qingfeng. Where did you find such a gem?" Lu Jinglin snickered at him and nced at their other rtives, who were looking their way. "You are always going an extra mile to annoy our rtives. Are you trying to give them a heart attack?"


    "As if that would be enough to get rid of the weeds." Lu Qingfeng scoffed. "I think you should leave before your father gets a chance to corner you. It''s already enough for me that you send your regards for my uing session." He added.


    "Impatient, aren''t you? I thought you still have at least a year or two?" His cousin gave him a knowing smile. Lu Jinglin already knew the reason anyway. She just liked to annoy him.


    "Grandpa needs to retire soon. I don''t want him to overwork himself and spend the rest of his days at thepany." Lu Qingfeng imed.


    "If you say so." His cousin shrugged, clearly not buying his excuse.


    It was obvious to her that Lu Qingfeng wanted to gain absolute control over the family and to suppress her father''s influence. However, they both know that her father wouldn''t give up plotting against him, and Lu Jinglin didn''t doubt that her cousin would do just fine.


    "Are you ready to go?" Lu Qingfeng asked his wife.


    "Is it okay for us to leave now?" Su Xiaofei replied, not wanting to leave Lu Jinglin yet.


    "En. We''ll drop Jinglin home to make sure she won''t mess up this time." Her husband said impassively.


    "Hey! It''s not my fault that he found out where I was working previously." His cousin eximed, ring daggers at Lu Qingfeng. She was supposed to annoy him, not the other way around.

 Chapter 476 You Are My Sunshine (1)

    Weekend finally arrived and for the first time, Yan Xiuchen didn''t find himself looking forward to their brotherhood night. The past days since his meeting with Xiao Rufeng had left him feeling more alone than ever. Her ray of sunlight that greeted him that day was something he now craved for.


    Still, even with her business card securely tucked in the safe pocket of his jacket next to his heart, even if he had already memorized her number from the very first day, Yan Xiuchen didn''t dare to give her a call to hear her lovely voice.


    He groaned and rubbed his face in frustration, nearly knocking the sses off his face. He felt like a coward for not mustering enough courage to talk to her. But what would he say anyway? That he liked to hear her voice and that he was somewhat missing her?


    If not for the fact that he bothered watching all the series and movies she starred in, Yan Xiuchen thought that he might actually try to find out where she lived, but his pride wouldn''t allow him to do so. He didn''t want Xiao Rufeng to think that he was a creep or a stalker after their first meeting.


    Despite his frustration, Yan Xiuchen left the entertainment room in his house and headed to where he would meet the rest of his brothers. The rest of his brothers were already there, including Li Xiran, who recently joined their group. He obviously just arrived before him, as his overcoat was still on him.


    "Just in time. I thought you wouldn''t being tonight. Busy at work?" Zhu Baichuan asked Yan Xiuchen once he had taken a seat next to Lu Qingfeng.


    "No." He replied. He couldn''t lie in front of his brothers, but there was no way he would tell them what kept him busy and upied these days.


    They started ying poker while discussing the recent events in their respective businesses. Ning Xuan''spany had yet to release a mobile multiyer online battle arena game, which the rest of his brothers, except for Li Xiran, had discreetly invested in.


    Lu Qingfeng had thergest share in it, as he was certain that it would be a big hit, based on what he knew from his previous life. Originally, Ning Technologies would need five years to develop the game before its release time, but because of their brotherhood''s cooperation, Ning Xuan''s team managed to finish the game earlier than he expected.


    "Should we have a game and see how it''s faring?" Song Yiran asked with a grin.


    "Isn''t it a 5v5 game?" Zhu Baichuan replied, looking impassively over his cards.


    "Silly. Of course, Ning Xuan won''t y with us. He might steal all the kills, as he knows the maps better than us." Song Yiran retorted.


    Ning Xuanughed at that.


    "You are thinking too much, Yiran. Anyway, let''s set the game for some other time. I don''t think Chen-ge and Li Xiran are in the mood to y with us." He noted, gathering the rest of his brother''s attention.


    Yan Xiuchen groaned, Lu Qingfeng scoffed, while Li Xiran kept his expression neutral. Thetter was a little surprised that the rest of them could be so hands-on that they would test the product themselves. He supposed that given the amount of money they invested in Ning Xuan''s team, they needed to see if it''s worth the gamble.


    "Oh, shit," Song Yiran said. "I thought that I was overthinking when I noticed that Chen-ge isn''t his usual self."


    He nudged Lu Qingfeng to get his attention. "Do you know what''s up with him? He''s brooding more than usual."


    Yan Xiuchen scowled in his direction. Song Yiran was a little close to the mark, which displeased him. Was he really that obvious?


    "So Chen-ge, care to share what the problem is?" Ning Xuan grinned at him.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Nothing you should worry about." He muttered in response.


    Song Yiran stared at him for a moment and gasped. He then turned to Lu Qingfeng and whispered something. The young man furrowing his brows in response.


    "What? You don''t think I''m right?" Song Yiranughed at him. "You have that same expression whenever things don''t go as you n when Su Xiaofei is involved."


    "You are speaking such nonsense again." Lu Qingfeng answered.


    "Am I?" Song Yiran rubbed his chin, but this was too familiar for him not to recognize Yan Xiuchen''s demeanor tonight.


    "Anyway, Chen-ge. My wife wants to invite you for lunch tomorrow." Lu Qingfeng said. "You too, Song Yiran. It''s supposed to be dinner, but we need to fly back to Qiying City in the afternoon. Can you make time for it?"


    "Hey. That''s unfair, Lu Qingfeng. Why is Big Sis inviting Chen-ge and Song Yiran for lunch and not the rest of us?" Zhu Baichuan asked as he folded his cards over the table.


    "Feifei owed Chen-ge and Song Yiran a favor for helping her resolve a problem a few nights ago. She wants to properly thank them and apologize for the trouble." The youngest in their brotherhood replied.


    Yan Xiuchen waved a hand.


    "I already said that you and Su Xiaofei owed me nothing. I did it on my own volition."


    "Well, I certainly wouldn''t miss a chance to have a good home cooked meal." Song Yiran grinned.


    "Su Xiaofei can cook?" Li Xiran asked curiously.


    "No. Lu Qingfeng is an excellent cook, in case you don''t know." Song Yiran replied. "What about you, Chen-ge? Are youing?"


    Yan Xiuchen was busy thinking of an excuse not to ept the invitation. He wanted to spend the rest of his Sunday catching up with the series where Xiao Rufeng was ying a viin.


    "You don''t need to bring anything." He heard Lu Qingfeng say. "Nothing fancy, but Feifei also invited Miss Xiao."


    Yan Xiuchen stiffened at the mention of Xiao Rufeng''s name. Choosing between seeing her on a small screen or in real life, of course he would choose thetter.


    "I''m going."

 Chapter 477 You Are My Sunshine (2)

    Su Xiaofei opened her eyes. The familiar bedroom she''d been upying with her husband for the past few days was still pitch dark, but her nose picked up the wafting delicious scent of whatever her husband was cooking in the kitchen.


    The clock on the nightstand stated that it was fifteen minutes before six in the morning. She groaned as she rolled over to Lu Qingfeng''s spot on the bed, eager to find his warmth or his familiar scent, but it seemed like he was already up for some time now.


    She sat up and stretched her arms over her head, aware of her nakedness. Her body ached in a good way and was reminded of her lovemaking session with her husbandst night. She briefly wondered how he could want her so often, and since when did it start?


    Well, not that she was one to talk. Lu Qingfeng''s eagerness and desire also infected her. What hecked in experience, he was making up for with enthusiasm. He would always make sure that she came before him, and Su Xiaofei was more than satisfied with his efforts to please her.


    She slipped out of the bed and went to the bathroom to freshen up. Once done, she stepped out of the main bedroom and found Lu Qingfeng already starting serving their breakfast.


    "Why do you insist on doing this? People might think that I''m using the great Lu Qingfeng as my personal servant." She grumbled, feeling useless that she couldn''t help him in the kitchen at all.


    Although, she had to admit that she had never thought that a man who can cook could be sexy and alluring at the same time.


    "If I get the right to wash you, scrub the dirt and sweat from your body every single time, then I don''t mind being your personal servant." Lu Qingfeng grinned at her, earning a blush from her.


    Su Xiaofei coughed behind her back, thankful that she wasn''t drinking anything at that moment, or she might have spat it out. Since when did her husband turn so flirty?


    "Don''t you think it''s too early to act like this, dear?" Sheughed, before epting the cup of freshly brewed coffee her husband handed to her. Ever since they got married, she had been trying a lot of coffee variants that her husband brewed.


    Today, he made her a cup of Americano. She took a small sip from it and enjoyed its nutty and earthy vors.


    "Do you really need to do all the cooking? Can''t we just hire a cook?" She asked, watching as Lu Qingfeng took a seat across from her and ced a napkin on hisp.


    She would have offered a hand to help him, but Su Xiaofei knew nothing when it came to the kitchen, unlike her husband. Her mother and Aunty Liu had forbidden her to step into the kitchen when she sessfully blew up their oven along with her very young husband back then, and she promised never to cook unsupervised again.


    "I don''t mind doing all the cooking, and it''s not everyday we get to entertain guests like this."


    Su Xiaofei hummed in agreement. Considering that their guests were his friends and Xiao Rufeng, perhaps it would be a good idea not to involve anyone who might instigate further rumors about them.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    The two spent their breakfast inpanionable silence, each upied with their tasks for the day. There were still a couple of hours before their guests arrived, Su Xiaofei decided to finish some work, so she wouldn''t have to cram just to clear themter.


    Once they were done, she helped her husband tidy up the dining table and ced the dirty utensils in the dishwasher, while Lu Qingfeng checked the fridge for the ingredients he would useter.


    She had given her mother a call to make sure that Yun Qingrong was fine, but she was still eager to return home soon and wouldn''t be at ease until she could see with her own eyes that her mother was alright.


    However, her mind went back to Xiao Rufeng as she realized that she hadn''t done anything topensate her talent for her shorings. ording to Xiao Rufeng''s assistant, the actress hadn''t left her home since the incident and was wary about what could happen to her outside.


    ''I should have gone to pick her up myself.'' Su Xiaofei sighed and rubbed her temple. She should have known that the incident Xiao Yunyao had plotted would traumatize her talent.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Yunyao''s issue was still all over the headlines and she didn''t think it would be forgotten anytime soon. As for Ye Mingyu, the woman kept her silence and didn''t respond when asked when she would pay her due for losing their littlepetition.


    Once Lu Qingfeng put the meat in the oven to roast, he cleaned his hands and went to the living area and saw her hunched over herptop, doing some work as she sat crossed legs. Again, she was wearing one of his oversized white dress shirts that molded her torso, entuating the lines of her body.


    He groaned inwardly, wondering if she knew that she was giving him a visual tease. Lu Qingfeng was starting to think that his wife was punishing him for workingte at night by doing this. With his three-month self-imposed deadline, he needed to work longer hours to meet his deadline.


    "Hey. Are you done already?" Su Xiaofei lifted her head up and looked at him.


    "Not yet. Just waiting for the meat to cook in the oven. Shouldn''t we get ready as well? They will be arriving soon."


    "Oh, do we have enough time for some fun then?" She grinned mischievously at him, as she stood up, barely reaching his shoulder.


    "Are you sure you know what''s more fun than working?" His darkened gaze flickered to her eyes, then to her lips.


    "I sure do, darling. Let me show you what it is."

 Chapter 478 You Are My Sunshine (3)

    Xiao Rufeng felt nervous stepping into the elevator that led to the penthouse where her manager was staying. It wasn''t like she was new to this luxurious lifestyle, but ever since she was kidnapped that night, things had never been the same for her.


    For instance, whenever her phone rang, she would feel this kind of fear that someone might be stalking her. She also started waking up in the middle of the night, having nightmares, as the event kept ying in her mind.


    Thankfully, the director had given them two weeks off to review the scenes they filmed over the past few weeks, and she didn''t need to leave the apartment that Bluemedia owned in Shenjing. However, since Su Xiaofei had invited her for lunch today, she mustered all her courage to step out of herfort zone to meet her manager today. She was also told that Yan Xiuchen and a friend of her husband would being today too.


    The elevator opened, and she stepped out into the hallway outside the penthouse. Xiao Rufeng adjusted the pink and light yellow dress she was wearing and tucked in some of the stray strands of hair that managed to escape her messy bun.


    As soon as she pressed the doorbell, she didn''t need to wait for too long before Su Xiaofei came to answer the door.


    "Hey,e on in. You''re the first one to arrive."


    Xiao Rufeng nodded her head and followed her manager inside. She looked around and was impressed by the interior decor of the ce. The penthouse had an openyout and looked a lot more spacious than she expected it to be. She didn''t expect any less from a living space owned by Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng.


    The moment she stepped into the penthouse, the homey fragrance of a home cooked meal greeted her. Whatever it was, Xiao Rufeng had no doubt that it would taste as amazing as it smelled.


    Su Xiaofei padded to the kitchen barefooted, which was new for Xiao Rufeng. She had never seen her manager this carefree and homey. Her long hair was slightly damp, and Xiao Rufeng didn''t fail to notice that Lu Qingfeng looked the same.


    Her face heated up and she averted her gaze from the couple when Lu Qingfeng wrapped an arm around Su Xiaofei''s waist and gave her a kiss. They looked so great together, so in love and happy, that it almost made Xiao Rufeng envy them.


    Would theree a day for her to also experience something like this?


    "Wee, Miss Xiao. I hope you don''t mind having some Italian today." Lu Qingfeng greeted her, pulling her out from her trance.


    "Oh, no. I don''t mind at all." She answered with a polite smile. "It''s actually been awhile since I had one."


    "You will surely love it. I have to brag that I got a great deal when I married him." Su Xiaofeiughed behind her husband. "Where''s Song Yiran and Yan Xiuchen? Are they runningte?"<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Song Yiran will be here soon." Her husband answered. "Chen-ge just called and said that he might bete. Apparently, his assistant got sick and asked him for a two-week off, so everything''s a mess in his office right now."


    "Can''t he just hire another one?" Su Xiaofei raised a brow and Xiao Rufeng agreed with her. Considering how rich Yan Xiuchen was, it wouldn''t be hard for him to find people to do his bidding.


    "If only it''s as simple as that. You''ve seen him, right? He''s not really a sociable person. His assistant had been working for him for a decade now, and it''s hard for Chen-ge to get another one that he could trust." Lu Qingfeng exined, which made sense to both women.


    "Ah, then it would be hard for him to get the work done for theing weeks." Su Xiaofeimented. She could imagine the struggle Yan Xiuchen would be facing. It would be the same for her if she lost the Zhang sisters'' assistance at work. That would be a nightmare for her.


    Xiao Rufeng remained silent, deep in her own thoughts, and didn''t make anyment over Yan Xiuchen''s circumstances.


    It didn''t take long and Song Yiran joined them and Yan Xiuchen arrived fifteen minutester. He looked gorgeous in his crisp casual attire, Xiao Rufeng thought. He must have shaved that morning, since his face was free of any stubbles, which she saw during their first meeting.


    "Sorry, I''mte. I brought wine as a peace offering." He told Lu Qingfeng before passing the paperbag to Su Xiaofei. He then turned to face Xiao Rufeng, and Song Yiran didn''t miss his stiff expression.


    "Hello, Miss Xiao. It''s good to meet you in a better circumstance." He greeted, not offering his scarred right hand, and opted to keep them inside the pocket of his jacket.


    The corner of Xiao Rufeng''s lips curled into a smile, amused that Yan Xiuchen hadn''t forgotten their previous conversation before the Zhang sisters took her home.


    Everyone moved to the dining area, with Lu Qingfeng seated at the head of the table and Su Xiaofei on his right. Xiao Rufeng took a seat on her left, which forced Yan Xiuchen to be seated across Xiao Rufeng and next to Song Yiran.


    Pasta A Gricia was served along with grilled chicken for the women and steaks for the guys. Su Xiaofei took one of the wine bottles that Yan Xiuchen brought and poured it. Xiao Rufeng noticed that she didn''t take any herself, so she declined to have one when her manager offered her a ss.


    Xiao Rufeng continued to watch her manager and Lu Qingfeng, noticing how happy they were. It had only been a few weeks since they got married, so they were probably still in the honeymoon phase. She then wondered if things would change once the phase had passed.


    She shook her head. Of course it would, but she hoped it would be for the better.

 Chapter 479 You Are My Sunshine (4)

    The food was as amazing as Xiao Rufeng expected. Conversation flowed freely, despite Yan Xiuchen only answering the questions thrown at him. Song Yiran led their conversation, and he and Xiao Rufengughed and chatted animatedly. For the first time since her kidnapping, Xiao Rufeng felt at ease with herpanions today.


    Once the main course was done, tiramisu was then served and Su Xiaofei dug into hers before others could have theirs. She took a small forkful of the delectable dessert and closed her eyes, savoring the delicious treat her husband made that morning in pure bliss.


    Lu Qingfeng chuckled at her, but Xiao Rufeng could see how his eyes softened as he looked at his wife with adoration.


    ''Oh, I would love to have a man who looks at me like that.'' Xiao Rufeng thought.


    The idea was so sudden that she immediately stumped on it, ashamed that she was having such thoughts. She was so mortified by it that she failed to notice a pair of eyes that were watching her intently.


    Once lunch was finished, the three men moved to the living room to y the mobile game Ning Xuan''spany had developed and to talk privately, leaving Xiao Rufeng in her manager''spany. They moved to the balcony, far from everyone''s earshot.


    "I heard the news from your assistant. I know you are experiencing the after effects of what happened. Do you want to talk about it?" Su Xiaofei asked her.


    Xiao Rufeng shook her head. What was she supposed to say? That she was afraid of meeting others'' gazes now, especially those of strangers? Heck, she was an actor, and it was normal for people to look at her, but it was starting to freak her out.


    "I can''t say I''m fine, because obviously I''m not." She sighed as she sped her hands together over the table and lowered her head in shame. "I should have known better."


    "No, you don''t. You wouldn''t have known that your sister was harboring such nefarious thoughts towards you. Do you want me to file a restraining order against her or report the incident?" Su Xiaofei questioned her.


    Xiao Rufeng shook her head vehemently. She couldn''t possibly do that to her own sister.


    "Can''t. My father would surely be devastated if he knew what Xiao Yunyao did." She grumbled.


    "And you didn''t think he would be equally devastated that his eldest daughter was almost raped, courtesy of the other child?" Su Xiaofei scoffed. "Since when did you be a softie, Xiao Rufeng? You used to face challenges with your head up, now you are cowering in fear? I''m not asking you to put everything behind you, but you need to make a stand for yourself once and for all."


    "I-I thought Xiao Yunyao is better than that¡­"<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Su Xiaofei shook her head and sighed dejectedly. She also med herself for not protecting Xiao Rufeng enough. However, since Xiao Rufeng had dered war, how could she possibly stay still and do nothing?


    Xiao Yunyao dared to ruin her own sister''s life. It was only natural for Su Xiaofei to return the favor, regardless if Xiao Rufeng approved of it or not. What Su Xiaofei wanted to know though was who had pulled Xiao Yunyao and dragged her name to the mudtely? Like Lu Qingfeng told her, the motive was to defame Xiao Yunyao and make sure people wouldn''t easily forget her sin.


    She stared at her talent, sensing Xiao Rufeng''s hesitation to make a move against her younger sister.


    "No, Miss Xiao. She''s like that, whether you believe it or not. It''s your false optimism, trying to see good in people, that is blinding you to see what they truly are. It''s not your fault that Xiao Yunyao acted rashly towards you, but your words might have fueled her desire to get rid of you. She did it despite the consequences she might faceter on."


    Xiao Rufeng fell silent at that and tried to absorb and understand what her manager had just said. Su Xiaofei might be able to get rid of any attachment or familiarity towards Ye Mingyu because thetter wasn''t her real sister, but she was different. Xiao Yunyao was still her sister, no matter what.


    ''And yet, she dared to scheme against you.''


    She had foolishly thought that because she and Xiao Yunyao were half-siblings, thetter would at least keep a certain level of boundary, but clearly it wasn''t the case. In the end, she was nothing but an obstruction in Xiao Yunyao''s eyes.


    "Give it a good thought and tell me what you want to do once you''ve made a decision. This isn''t just about in sibling rivalry anymore. You can''t just simply overlook and shrug this away."


    Su Xiaofei left her with those words and decided to check on her husband and her friends. Song Yiran''sughter could be heard from where she and Xiao Rufeng were and she wondered what the guys were up to.


    Xiao Rufeng was left alone to her own thoughts as she stared at the cityscapes from the balcony. She knew that Su Xiaofei was right, and she had to abandon this thought that she and Xiao Yunyao could remain the same after thetter attempted to ruin her life.


    The cool breeze ruffled her hair and also made the empty void in her heart more prominent than ever. She wanted to burst into tears at that very moment, but a familiar tune reached her ears. Someone was ying a piano inside the penthouse, and she wondered who it was.


    Walking back inside, she saw her manager seated next to Lu Qingfeng as thetter''s focus was on his phone, clearly ying a game with Song Yiran. That only meant that the one who was ying the piano was none other than Yan Xiuchen.


    She made her way to where the sound wasing from and found the scarred face man, seated in front of a grand piano with an inexplicable expression on his face.

 Chapter 480 You Are My Sunshine (5)

    Yan Xiuchen was ying the popr ssic piece, "You Are My Sunshine". It can be sung as a love song, a heartbreak song, or a luby, but Xiao Rufeng had no idea which one Yan Xiuchen was ying. She stood there in silence and listened intently to Yan Xiuchen''s ying. The man didn''t even realize that he hadpany at that moment.


    Yan Xiuchen felt that his day didn''t start in a good way. Not only did he oversleep and because he was binge watching Xiao Rufeng''s TV seriesst night, but he also received a short notice from his assistant that he needed to file an indefinite leave or a two-week leave due to his illness.


    Of course as his loyalpanion for many years, Yan Xiuchen couldn''t decline his assistant''s request and promised to cover his medical expenses and gave him a paid leave. However, this only meant that his daily routine would spiral into chaos. How was he supposed to meet his business associates and continue his routine without his reliable assistant?


    Once he hit thest note of the piece, Yan Xiuchen was startled when he heard someone pping after his performance. He then found the woman of his dreams, watching him from the doorway. His heart almost leapt from his chest upon seeing her, but he forced himself to calm down and not to make a fool out of himself in front of her.


    "Miss Xiao." He greeted her, turning his scarred face to the other side so she won''t see how hideous it looked under the light. "What are you doing here?"


    "Everyone seemed upied with their game and I heard someone ying the piano. I was curious and here I am." She smiled at him.


    Yan Xiuchen stared at her for a moment, noticing the slight tear track on her cheek.


    "Have you been crying?" He couldn''t help but ask.


    Xiao Rufeng sucked in a deep breath, not expecting that he would notice her distress.


    "Oh. No. It''s just, uhh¡­ my makeup is running off." She lied, but Yan Xiuchen obviously could see through it.


    Even if he knew, he didn''tment on it, much to her relief. She had no idea how to exin the pent-up frustration she was feeling these days, and she certainly didn''t want to dump it on him just to find some relief.


    "Crying doesn''t suit you. You''re more beautiful when you smile." Yan Xiuchen said as he stared nkly at the piano keys in front of him. It bothered him to know that something or someone might have upset her again.


    Has Xiao Yunyao not learned her lesson yet?


    He felt an indescribable urge to reach for Xiao Rufeng, asking her what made her cry, but he wouldn''t. It wasn''t his ce to question her when he was nothing but a person who apparently saved her life.


    Xiao Rufeng smiled at his words. She wasn''t sure why. This was the second time they met, but he didn''t repulse her the same way others did.


    "Is that what you say to every woman you just met?"<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    When she saw him flinch at her words, she immediately regretted saying it. From the way Lu Qingfeng talked about Yan Xiuchen earlier, it seemed that thetter really had some issues in socializing with other people. Xiao Rufeng chastised herself for being stupid.


    "No. I''ve only said those words to you." Yan Xiuchen replied, which was true because other women flinched at the sight of him, but not Xiao Rufeng.


    He would be foolish if he denied that he liked her. He simply wanted to be near her, to hear her voice and enjoy her presence. But for a man who was like him, Yan Xiuchen knew not to raise his hopes up and wish for more. It was already enough that Xiao Rufeng wasn''t running the opposite way upon seeing him.


    He knew that he wasn''t appealing to the opposite sex, especially to a beautiful woman like Xiao Rufeng, an actress on top of that. She deserved to be with someone she could be proud of. Perhaps until that day that she found that man that would give everything she deserved to have, he could just stay and bask in her warm presence a little longer.


    And he cannot be that man. Yan Xiuchen knew this, but he couldn''t help but be a little selfish. She was so beautiful and lively, unlike him. He didn''t have a single idea how he should approach her, how he should talk to her. Hell, even with his brothers, he had to think twice or thrice what to say, and he''d known them for years.


    He must have been losing his mind, because he now badly wanted to be acquainted with Xiao Rufeng. Wasn''t this asking for more trouble in the future once she decided she didn''t want to be associated with him anymore, and found a better man that suits her?


    "You yed well. Would you mind telling me who taught you?" He heard Xiao Rufeng say.


    He shook his head.


    "It''s the only piece I know to y. My mother used to sing it to me when she was alive." He answered.


    Xiao Rufeng didn''t miss the sadness in his tone. She was upset with herself for being so insensitive towards him. He looked so sad when he was ying earlier. She should have taken it as a hint.


    "I''m sorry. I shouldn''t have asked¡­"


    "It was a long time ago." Yan Xiuchen replied, not looking at her. "It''s not your fault. I specifically learned this piece so I wouldn''t forget her." He exined, purposely dismissing the fact that the song now had a new meaning because of her.


    "Still¡­" Xiao Rufeng scowled. "I''m kinda sorry that I asked."


    Yan Xiuchen tilted his head slightly to look at her. His dark eyes looked so beautiful, Xiao Rufeng thought she might sink into it.


    "Don''t be sorry, Miss Xiao. I didn''t mean to make you feel bad or take pity on me."

 Chapter 481 Kiss The Rain (1)

    Even so, Xiao Rufeng felt like an ass for making Yan Xiuchen sad. From the way he spoke about his mother, it was obvious that he looked up to her. How can she not understand Yan Xiuchen when she also misses her mother badly, no matter how long it had been since her mother passed away?


    "Mind if I join you ying here? I''m not really into games, so I wouldn''t be able to understand what they are ying."


    Even before Yan Xiuchen could answer, she sauntered towards him and gestured for him to make space for her to sit. The seat was able to cater two people, but considering Yan Xiuchen''s build, he wouldn''t be able to give Xiao Rufeng the safe zone she needed.


    Once she was seated, their arms brushed against each other, making Yan Xiuchen shiver from the contact, which Xiao Rufeng failed to notice. He wasn''t used to being this close with a woman, but he didn''t dare toment over Xiao Rufeng''s sudden invasion of his private space.


    "My mom used to y too." Shemented, with a smile that put Yan Xiuchen in a trance.


    "Does that mean that you know how to y too?" He asked, not wanting her to get bored in hispany.


    "I knew a few pieces, but nothing tooplicated. This is the first piece I learned by myself." She grinned, her arms moving to touch the ck and white keys of the piano in front of them.


    She then began ying a few notes, allowing herself to get the feel and familiarize herself again. Xiao Rufeng made sure it was tuned properly before she started ying. The music came out as a haunting melody of a piece that Yan Xiuchen surely had heard before.


    ''Kiss The Rain''. How could Yan Xiuchen not know about it?


    The piece was known for its melodious, lilting notes. Every single tone perfectly shapes it. No lyrics or voice apanying it, but it rhymes elegantly, swelling the flow of every key''s tone yed dramatically by its virtuosoposer.


    Yan Xiuchen could hardly verbalize what he was feeling while listening to it. It melodiously hit his ears, and brain, and eventually he could feel it, literally feel it. Was it even possible? He wondered.


    Xiao Rufeng''s ying was so rxing, and it hardly left his ears. He found himself enjoying it as it gave him a sort of peace until he was reminded of what this music was about.


    This piece was about an unrequited love. He gave Xiao Rufeng a side nce, wondering who she was thinking as she yed it. He was aware of the meaning behind this piece.


    The first verse exined how she had feelings for this guy, and she loved him so much that she would give everything she could to him, even how much it takes to let him love her.


    And the chorus followed, expressing that she had confessed her feelings toward that person, but she was left wondering if he loved her, leaving her confused and hurt at the same time.


    The second verse expressed her loneliness as she had never felt being loved and no one was there to be with her.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    ''So she has been wanting for someone to always be there for her?'' Yan Xiuchen thought.


    Overall, it gives him the impression that Xiao Rufeng was saying that she will be okay, not being loved by someone that she loves. It was as if she was assuring herself by saying she would just need to cope and get on with her life.


    Just who had a broken heart? Yan Xiuchen couldn''t believe someone wasn''t able to appreciate Xiao Rufeng''s beauty and personality, because in his eyes, she was already perfect.


    ''His loss, not mine.'' He thought.


    If no one was able to ensnare her in all these years, it was their loss. They were missing such a fine specimen of a woman, one that was currently seated next to him. If only he could keep her to himself, he would, but he also knew that the moment he showed his intent towards her, Xiao Rufeng would bolt out of his life for good and that was something he wouldn''t want happening.


    The final note finally died and Xiao Rufeng cast him a curious look, but didn''t expect to find him staring at her intently, as if he could see through her. She had never received such an intense look from anyone.


    "I-Is there''s something wrong?" She asked, aware of how fast her heart was beating in her chest. Why was he even looking at her like this?


    Yan Xiuchen wanted to tell her that she wasn''t alone, and that she needed not dwell about the past anymore.


    "Nothing. You yed better than me." He said. "But why this song?"


    Xiao Rufeng flushed and chewed her lower lip. How was she supposed to exin that the reason she learned this piece was because Jin Qiu had turned his back on her after she confessed her feelings for him years ago?


    Even though he was with Xiao Yunyao now, she didn''t dare to see him in person. It hurt to know that the person who made her the happiest in the past had changed into a person she couldn''t recognize anymore.


    Was it because of Xiao Yunyao?


    No. Xiao Rufeng didn''t want to admit it, but it wasn''t Xiao Yunyao''s fault that Jin Qiu hadn''t chosen her. She should have known that his silence after her confession was loud. It was clear enough to know where she was in his life.


    He couldn''t love her the way she loved him, and she didn''t know which hurt more. The fact that he got together with her younger sister, or the fact that she had foolishly believed that he might have loved her.


    "I just thought that it''s really beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time." She answered, purposely omitting the fact that this piece perfectly expressed what was in her heart.

 Chapter 482 Kiss The Rain (2)

    Yan Xiuchen asked no more and fell silent. He had no right to interfere with or toment on her personal life anyway. It just surprised him that someone had hurt her in a heartless way. However, he also understood that it was already part of life. Of course, Xiao Rufeng had someone in her heart, which only added to the long list of why he couldn''t be with her.


    "By the way, I heard from Mr. Lu that your assistant fell sick, and now you need someone to help you. I''ve been thinking, why don''t I work as your temporary assistant to repay the favor? What do you think, Mr. Yan?"


    Yan Xiuchen blinked at that, not expecting that Xiao Rufeng was aware of his current predicament. While it was true that his assistant was off duty, he didn''t think it was right for Xiao Rufeng to step forward and fulfill the spot.


    "Aren''t you busy with filming your new series?" He frowned. "If you are saying this because you want to repay the favor, you don''t have to. I''m not asking anything in return."


    Why was she and Su Xiaofei making a big deal of what he had done? Yan Xiuchen thought that he didn''t do much for them, aside from keeping Xiao Rufeng safe on his own turf.


    Xiao Rufeng sighed. She already anticipated that Yan Xiuchen would turn her down, but she didn''t want to feel indebted to him.


    "It''s just I don''t want to feel that I owe you whenever I see you. Won''t you consider it? Just until your assistant returns for work."


    Yan Xiuchen stared at her, seeing that she wouldn''t easily back down on this and that she had already decided to do it. He didn''t think that she could be this persistent if she wanted to, which only added to her charm.


    "What made you think I would agree? Have you talked about this with your manager? I don''t want Su Xiaofei to me meter if I agree to this." He muttered. He also didn''t trust himself being alone for too long with her.


    It would be dangerous for his sanity to be in her presence for longer than necessary. It would only make him crave for more of her attention, and he didn''t want that. Still, the thought that he would be able to see her and learn more about her sounded enticing for him.


    "It''s only for two weeks, right? If you are worried that I would mess up your work, don''t worry too much. It might not be obvious, but I have a degree in business administration."


    Yan Xiuchen''s brows rose at that. "You do?"


    He was aware that some artists needed to spend years before they could debut, and many had chosen to drop out of school to focus on their careers. So it came as a surprise to him to hear that Xiao Rufeng managed to squeeze time to finish her studies.


    "En. It''s part of my deal with my father when I was still a trainee at Bluemedia. He said that I can continue my training as long as Iplete my studies." She shrugged, "I guess he was hoping that if things don''t go well for me in showbiz, I would be fine, as I can always join our family business. President Su also agreed with him, so we ended up attending the same university, but she graduated before me."<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Seems like your father cared about you in his own way." Hemented. How could he forget that Xiao Rufeng wasn''t simply an actress, striving her way to stardom?


    She shot him an incredulous look. "Seriously?"


    "Well, technically you are still the eldest miss of the Xiao family, and you are an heiress. Of course, he would want to give and provide what he thinks is best for you."


    Xiao Rufeng made a face, but she had to admit that what Yan Xiuchen said was right. She and her father might not be on good terms, but in terms of financial support and her academics, her father did provide the best for her.


    "I wish he would stop treating me like a little girl who couldn''t make her own decision. I''m perfectly fine where I am. He just needs to make sure his other daughter keeps her distance from me. I don''t want to get involved with thepany. I''m a responsible adult who knows what she wants and what she needs."


    "Of course, you are. You are doing well already, but your father must be thinking that being an actor isn''t a stable job. You might be popr now, but who can assure it will remain the same tomorrow?"


    She flushed at hispliment and averted her gaze, wanting to look anywhere else but at him. Why were they arguing about her father anyway? She only wanted to settle the tab with him.


    "Why are we even talking about my father? Can''t you just allow me to repay the favor I owe you?"


    "If you can make Su Xiaofei agree, then fine, but I don''t want to hear anyints if you found the job too taxing and hard for you." Yan Xiuchen said as if he was giving her an easy way out away from him, although deep inside he was craving more of her attention.


    "Is that a challenge, Mr. Yan? Because that would only make me eager to prove that I can do it." She grinned at him.


    Yan Xiuchen stood up, releasing a breath he didn''t know he was holding. Her scent and her body heat were making him ufortable, and he needed to get away from her. He knew he could easily lose her if he wasn''t careful.


    He took a business card from his jacket and handed it to her, seeing the excitement glint shing in her eyes. Two weeks, she said. A memorable two weeks of his life that he would surely cherish for the rest of his life, once she was out of it.

 Chapter 483 A Taste Of Happiness (1)

    When the two came back together and joined Lu Qingfeng and the rest in the living area, Song Yiran shot Yan Xiuchen a pointed look before a wide grin spread on his face, much to thetter''s annoyance. Even Lu Qingfeng was giving Yan Xiuchen a curious look.


    "President Su, I have something to tell you." Xiao Rufeng said sheepishly as she stood next to Yan Xiuchen.


    Su Xiaofei was also curious about what was going on between her talent and Yan Xiuchen, but she didn''t dare to question them directly. Instead, she stood up wordlessly and gestured for Xiao Rufeng to follow her to the study, where she could speak with her talent in private.


    "You already made up your mind this early? Xiao Rufeng, I''m not rushing you for anything." She said once the door behind her closed. She then leaned against the wall for support and regarded Xiao Rufeng with a nk expression.


    Xiao Rufeng shook her head. She didn''t think it would be easy toe up with the decision on whether she should send her younger sister to jail or not.


    "No, it''s not that. I just¡­" Her words trailed off as she started to fiddle with the hem of her sleeve. "I want to repay Mr. Yan''s kindness to me by being his temporary assistant for two weeks. He said that I should ask for your permission first before he agrees."


    Su Xiaofei looked at Xiao Rufeng as if she was speaking a foreignnguage that she couldn''t understand.


    Xiao Rufeng suddenly felt awkward being stared at by her manager. It wasn''t like she was telling her that she was quitting from acting, so why did Su Xiaofei make a face like this?


    "Did I say something wrong?"


    "No." Su Xiaofei shook her head. "What made you decide to volunteer to help? Did Yan Xiuchen ask you?"


    "I just feel indebted to him." Xiao Rufeng rubbed her arm. "I know it''s not enough to repay the kindness he showed me that night, but I want to help him somehow."


    "You know you don''t need to do this, right? It''s not like someone like Yan Xiuchen can''t find another person to help him." Su Xiaofei reasoned out. She wasn''t sure whether she should allow Xiao Rufeng or not, but given her talent''s rather free schedule for the next two weeks, she can''t really stop her from doing what she wanted in her spare time.


    "I understand what you mean, President Su, but I promise to be careful and not to cause any more trouble."


    Su Xiaofei rubbed her temple and sighed. She had a feeling that this would change a lot of things in the future, but how, she wasn''t sure yet.


    "Fine. Do what you want, but you better make sure that this wouldn''t affect your workter. It''s not that I''m being too strict on you, but I don''t want you to be ced in a precarious situation ever again. If someone asks you why you are with Yan Xiuchen, say that you are trying to gain experience for a role you''re considering auditioning for."


    Xiao Rufeng''s face lit up and nodded.


    "I understand, President Su. I''ll be more careful this time."


    "Two weeks only, alright? No more, no less. If something happens again, you must notify me at once." Su Xiaofei insisted.


    It wasn''t like she didn''t trust Yan Xiuchen, but she wasn''t blind to how the man looked at Xiao Rufeng earlier. Something in the way Yan Xiuchen looked at her told Su Xiaofei that he was interested in her talent. It was the reason she asked Xiao Rufeng if it was him who proposed such an idea to her.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Yes, Ma''am!" Xiao Rufeng smiled at her.


    Su Xiaofei remained silent for a moment, making Xiao Rufeng feel ufortable. Whenever her manager acted like this, she had a feeling that she was trying to weigh the pros and cons of the conundrum she was facing.


    "You know what? I''ll have Zhang Ling draft a contract between you and Yan Xiuchen. Don''t get me wrong, Xiao Rufeng. I''m still your manager and I need to protect your reputation after this."


    Xiao Rufeng was startled by her manager''s words. "Do we really have to?"


    She feared that by asking Yan Xiuchen to get into a binding agreement with Su Xiaofei, he would be offended by it.


    "It''s nothing personal, Xiao Rufeng, but you have to remember that you aren''t amoner and your reputation as a celebrity is important. This would only be a precautionary measure we could use in case someone tries to defame you by using you of being a rich man''s mistress." Su Xiaofei exined.


    Xiao Rufeng''s face flushed at that. It was amon issue being thrown with unreasonable usations by some anti-fan in the showbiz industry. To think that Su Xiaofei had thought that far, she had to admit that she was impressed. Given Yan Xiuchen''s reputation, it would be a big deal for some to see her with him.


    "So, what do you think? Do you still object?" Su Xiaofei pulled her phone and was about to give her assistant a call.


    Xiao Rufeng furrowed her brows. "Do you think Mr. Yan will agree?"


    "I see no reason for him to decline my proposition. It''s my job to make sure that this little arrangement between you both won''t affect your work in the future." Su Xiaofei shrugged.


    "I have no qualms about it, but do you mind if I ask Mr. Yan for his opinion?"


    "Go ahead and tell him. I''ll be here." Su Xiaofei nodded at her.


    Xiao Rufeng left at once and sought Yan Xiuchen outside.


    The moment Yan Xiuchen saw her, he immediately excused himself from Lu Qingfeng and Song Yiran, who were now both looking at him with curiosity.


    "She didn''t agree?" He asked.


    Yan Xiuchen knew that Su Xiaofei wouldn''t easily agree to Xiao Rufeng''s idea.


    "She agreed, but under some conditions. Would you like to discuss it with her then?"

 Chapter 484 A Taste Of Happiness (2)

    "What do you think Chen-ge and your wife are talking about?" Song Yiran nudged Lu Qingfeng as he leaned against the railing of the living room balcony, while holding an ice-cold beer in one hand.


    "I don''t know." Lu Qingfeng answered. "I try not to get involved with Feifei''s work at Bluemedia. She knows what she''s doing, so I don''t worry too much."


    "That''s not what I mean!" Song Yiran eximed. "I told you, I was right. Chen-ge was distracted because of a woman, but I surely didn''t expect that it was him whom Miss Xiao spent a night with."


    "Leave Chen-ge be. It''s not right for us to poke our noses into his personal affairs." Lu Qingfeng grumbled, as if he was annoyed to know that Song Yiran got it right from the very start.


    Song Yiran gasped, feigning offended by his younger brother''s words.


    "So hurtful, Lu Qingfeng. I wasn''t trying to imply anything. I just want to show my support for Chen-ge. It''s really a wonder why Su Xiaofei loved someone like you."


    The sudden darkness that shed through Lu Qingfeng''s eyes caught Song Yiran off guard. He had never seen Lu Qingfeng react like this. He realized then that he had made a bad joke, and clearly Lu Qingfeng wasn''t even a bit amused by what he just said.


    "Hey, I was just joking." He could feel cold sweat forming on him already. "I''m not trying to mean that you and Su Xiaofei shouldn''t be together."


    Goodness. So Su Xiaofei was really Lu Qingfeng''s bottom line. For a moment, Song Yiran thought that he was looking at a devil in front of him. He really needed to be careful with what he should and shouldn''t say in front of this little tyrant.


    When Yan Xiuchen came out of the study with Xiao Rufeng, both men looked at their eldest brother.


    "I''ll be going now." Yan Xiuchen told them before casting Xiao Rufeng a quick nce. "I need to make some preparations for Miss Xiao''s lodging."


    Song Yiran raised a brow at him.


    "Oh? Is Miss Xiao already moving in with you?" He chuckled, earning a scathing re from Yan Xiuchen, but Song Yiran didn''t seem to mind it.


    "As per my agreement with Su Xiaofei, Miss Xiao will be working as my temporary assistant for two weeks. She would also need to be provided with temporary shelter and security."


    Song Yiran opened his mouth again, but no words came out. He couldn''t understand why Yang Xiuchen needed to do it.


    Following Yan Xiuchen and Xiao Rufeng came Su Xiaofei with her assistant who arrived an hour ago in a hurry. What could possibly be so important that Su Xiaofei had to summon Zhang Ling here under short notice?


    Su Xiaofei went to her husband and allowed him to draw her into an embrace.


    "Thank you for your cooperation, Mr. Yan. I hope that you won''t forget our agreement." She told Yan Xiuchen, ignoring the fact that Xiao Rufeng seemed to blush over her words.


    Yan Xiuchen only nodded, then faced Xiao Rufeng.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "I''ll send someone to pick you up tomorrow morning." He said before giving his brothers a curt nod and left.


    "Miss Xiao, shall we get going?" Zhang Ling called out Xiao Rufeng''s attention.


    "Yes." The actress replied hastily and regarded her manager and Lu Qingfeng, giving them a slight bow.


    "Thank you for inviting me today, President Su, Mr. Lu." She then turned her attention to Song Yiran.


    "Thanks again, Mr. Song. I heard from Miss Zhang what you did that night to help them find me. I know it has nothing to do with you, but you still went out and did what you could to help."


    Song Yiran smiled at that, raised the beer bottle he was holding and winked at her.


    "How can I stay still when I know there''s a great beauty in need of my help? Not to mention that Su Xiaofei is practically my sister-inw. I think Lu Qingfeng would skin me alive if I did nothing while seeing her in distress."


    Su Xiaofeiughed at that, while Lu Qingfeng scoffed and shook his head.


    "You really know how to be dramatic."


    "Anyway, you really want to be Chen-ge''s assistant?" Song Yiran questioned Xiao Rufeng. He wondered if Yan Xiuchen would use this perfect chance to get to know her better, which was pointless, in Song Yiran''s opinion, if Yan Xiuchen wasn''t nning on pursuing after her.


    "It''s just for two weeks and since we were given some time off from filming, might as well do something productive and help Mr. Yan in return." Xiao Rufeng said with a shy smile. "We should go now. I also need to pack the things I need to bring with me."


    Xiao Rufeng didn''t stay long and left with Zhang Lin to drive her home, courtesy of Su Xiaofei''s instructions. Until Su Xiaofei had managed to deal with Xiao Yunyao, Xiao Rufeng wasn''t allowed to leave on her own and would need a chaperone when going out.


    "Aren''t you going with us back to Qiying City?"


    The three went back inside as the temperature outside was starting to get low. Su Xiaofei kissed her husband''s cheek and returned to the study to finish her work, leaving Lu Qingfeng with Song Yiran.


    "No." Song Yiran sighed. "I''m staying for another week here in Shenjing. I need to close the deal with DX Corporation."


    "You are still pursuing them?" Lu Qingfeng eyed his friend. He really thought that there''s no need for Song Yiran to make a connection with DX Corporation to make his ownpany grow.


    Song Yiran shrugged and downed his drink in one go.


    He''d been trying to close the deal for about two months now, but he had yet to convince them. Unlike the rest of his brothers, he was the only one whose business wasn''t stable yet. Despite his outgoing personality, his pride wouldn''t allow him to seek his brothers'' help.

 Chapter 485 A Sliver Of Chance (1)

    Xiao Rufeng stared at the grand mansion in front of her, speechless at its magnificence. This ce was humongous, and her family estate looked dwarfpared to Yan Xiuchen''s mansion.


    She couldn''t believe that she would be staying at this ce. No wonder Yan Xiuchen easily agreed to her manager''s condition, because even if they were living in the same estate, it was almost impossible for them to run to each other, given how huge the ce was.


    "Are you sure you will be okay on your own, Miss Xiao?" Zhang Ling asked as she unloaded Xiao Rufeng''s luggage from the trunk of the car.


    "I''ll be fine. Thanks for driving me here, Ling." She smiled at her manager''s assistant. After years of knowing Su Xiaofei and the Zhang sisters, they had be the most important people in her life. Friends she knew she could rely on and would always have her back.


    "Well, I''m not really sure why you volunteered to help Mr. Yan, but I hope you''ll be able toe back better after this. If you need some help and don''t know how to do the tasks delegated to you, give me a call, okay? I don''t want you to get stressed when you should be enjoying your short break." Zhang Lingmented. She knew that Xiao Rufeng was having troubletely due to the trauma she suffered from the recent events.


    Su Xiaofei was also hoping that with Xiao Rufeng''s two-week off, she would be able to sort her thoughts and make up her mind on how they should deal with her younger sister. As for Yan Xiuchen''s interest in Xiao Rufeng, Su Xiaofei thought that her talent was old enough to decide how to deal with an admirer.


    "Thanks, Ling. I''ll keep that in mind." Xiao Rufeng grinned, as she saw the vastwn in front of the mansion. She then wondered how many people lived in this huge ce.


    They left the car in the driveway and Xiao Rufeng dragged her luggage with Zhang Ling walking next to her. Just by looking at the mansion was already making Xiao Rufeng feel insecure with her outfit. She was just wearing a pair of denim pants and white sleeveless blouse and a pair offy sneakers.


    The massive front door opened, and they were greeted by a tall man, who had a posture so straight and expression so stiff, it reminded Xiao Rufeng of the headmaster of the school she used to attend. He had thick silvery hair and a slightly crooked high nose with a pair of spectacles resting over its bridge.


    "Good morning." The man spoke and gave Xiao Rufeng a good look, clearly recognizing her. "Master Yan is expecting your arrival. I suppose you''ve already received his itinerary for the next two weeks?"


    "Yes. I gave it a good lookst night." Xiao Rufeng nodded, her hand tightening on the strap of her shoulder bag. She didn''t understand why she was feeling nervous in front of the man. Even when she had paid Su Xiaofei a visit yesterday, she kept her distance from Lu Qingfeng and Song Yiran as their presence was making her nervous.


    "I am the butler of this household, and you can call me, Elder Meng." His eyes then shifted to Zhang Ling, not expecting Xiao Rufeng to bring somepany today. "And this is?"


    "Good morning, Elder Meng. I''m Zhang Ling. I''m under the Lu family''s employment."


    The old man''s brows shot up upon hearing her answer, but he didn''tment on it. After a long moment, he stepped aside and let both women in.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Pleasee in and let me show you your room." He extended his arm, gesturing for both women to enter the mansion.


    Two household helpers came and took Xiao Rufeng''s luggage from her as the trio walked up the stairs. Xiao Rufeng admired the dual staircase that greeted her and the expensive looking crystal chandelier that was hanging in between the staircases. She briefly wondered why it was built that way.


    As she looked around, she noticed how spacious the foyer was. It was asrge as any banquet halls she had seen before.


    ''Perhaps, Mr. Yan hosts parties here once in a while.''


    Her father used to host parties for his business associates at home anyway. Given how wealthy the Yan family was, she wouldn''t be surprised if Yan Xiuchen hosted one. That was what she thought until his scarred face shed through her mind.


    ''...or not.''


    Yan Xiuchen didn''t seem like the type of person who likes to socialize with other people, given how short his responses were and how he kept their conversations short. She also noticed that he was ufortable being looked at, not that she could me him for it.


    The mansion itself looked old, but everything inside spoke of money. A lot of it. Xiao Rufeng was amazed that the Yan family was able to keep them in their most pristine condition.


    Zhang Ling insisted on making sure that Xiao Rufeng would settle well before she leaves, much to thetter''s relief. Xiao Rufeng didn''t want to be left alone with the butler and didn''t know when her anxiety would get the better of her if Zhang Ling had left immediately.


    They followed Elder Meng until they reached the third floor and walked along a lengthy hallway until they reached the end of it. He opened the door, revealing a gorgeous room that was almostparable to the best suite five stars hotels could offer to their VIP guests.


    "Master Yan gives you the permission and ess to the whole third level. We tried our best to add things you might need during your stay here. You also have an inte here that you can use if you need any help with anything."


    "Oh my, you shouldn''t have bothered." Xiao Rufeng looked in awe at her designated room. This would surely make her feel at ease while working for Yan Xiuchen.

 Chapter 486 A Sliver Of Chance (2)

    After sending Zhang Ling off, Xiao Rufeng was given a tour by the butler to get herself familiarized with the ce. Once done, she asked Elder Meng where Yan Xiuchen was. She was eager to start her work and to get a briefing on what he would be expecting from her, but the old man told her that she could only meet Yan Xiuchen over dinnerter because he was still in the middle of an important meeting.


    He then left Xiao Rufeng to her own devices for the rest of the day. She dropped unceremoniously on the massive bed that could amodate three more adults. It wasn''t like she didn''t like this kind of luxurious setup, as she had grown up with one, but Xiao Rufeng preferred to stay in a simple, small bedroom that wouldn''t remind her of how alone she was.


    Seeing that she had a lot of time to waste, Xiao Rufeng decided to unpack her things and arrange the things inside the room ording to her preference. Elder Meng had specifically informed her that she was free to do so at her own will and Yan Xiuchen wouldn''t mind any of it.


    ''He seems like a decent guy, but a shy one.'' She thought as she hummed a tune while she waited for the bathtub to fill in. She was eager to get a good soak and enjoy watching a movie while she was in the bath.


    Meanwhile, Yan Xiuchen had finished his online video conference that stretched for two hours, leaving him exhausted. He was there, listening to the reports of the executives managing hispany''s subsidiaries, but his mind was on Xiao Rufeng.


    A knock on the door of his office took his attention and he saw Elder Menging in with a tray that held some refreshments for him. Elder Meng knew that he wasn''t fond of sweets, but he understood why his butler brought some today.


    "Was Miss Xiao pleased with the arrangements?" He asked nervously.


    When he returned from Lu Qingfeng''s penthouse yesterday, he immediately instructed his people to make the necessary preparations for Xiao Rufeng''s arrival. Since Su Xiaofei specifically requested that Xiao Rufeng''s agreement with him should be kept a secret from the public, she suggested that Xiao Rufeng should stay nearby to amodate his demands at work. She also listed several terms, which included a list of things that Xiao Rufeng wouldn''t do as his temporary assistant.


    Yan Xiuchen didn''t have any qualms on it, but he thought that Su Xiaofei was very thorough with her conditions. For one, Xiao Rufeng wasn''t allowed to drink, not even a taste of any alcoholic drink. She would also be ying her role as his assistant only within office hours. He wasn''t even allowed to take her out in public and bring her to any of his businessmitments.


    ''As expected of Lu Qingfeng''s wife.''


    His butler gave him an amused look, and Yan Xiuchen averted his gaze.


    "She liked it very much. She also seems too eager to start her work, but I told her it can wait for tomorrow." Elder Meng replied with a knowing smile. Perhaps his master wouldn''t be alone for much longer if things between him and Xiao Rufeng moved in a positive direction. He could see why Yan Xiuchen, who witnessed her growth as a person, was attracted to someone like her.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "So, what are your impressions of her?" Yan Xiuchen asked on the leather couch across his desk and poured himself a cup of tea.


    Yan Xiuchen didn''t have a good rtionship with his father, and growing up, only Elder Meng had stayed next to him and helped him be the person he was today. If the old man hadn''t been by his side all these years, Yan Xiuchen would have already killed himself from depression and anxiety.


    Elder Meng was already in his sixties now and should have retired by this time, but he insisted on staying as he didn''t want Yan Xiuchen to be on his own. His master''s rtives didn''t care one bit about Yan Xiuchen and were only focusing their greedy eyes on his money. They thought that given Yan Xiuchen''s situation, he wouldn''t be able to continue their family line and the rest of the Yan fortune would eventually fall in their hands.


    However, things were different now, or so Elder Meng thought. He was hopeful that his master would be able to find a woman who could see past Yan Xiuchen''s horrendous scars and loved him as a person.


    Yan Xiuchen had never shown any interest in women before, and Elder Meng was worried that his master would be alone for the rest of his life. Yan Xiuchen also didn''t invite people to his home, other than Xiao Rufeng. Even his brothers had never stepped foot in here. This meant that she was a great deal and had some sort of influence on Yan Xiuchen.


    "She looks troubled about something, but I can''t pinpoint what it is." Elder Meng said. "But she seems like a decent person who''s passionate to help those who are in need." He added.


    Even before he greeted Xiao Rufeng and Zhang Ling earlier, he had spotted the two outside and saw how bright and genuine Xiao Rufeng''s smile was with herpanion.


    "She also doesn''t act spoiled and doesn''t demand anything. It''s good that her poprity doesn''t get to her head." He continued to pay attention to his master''s expression, but Yan Xiuchen kept a poker face.


    "She''s expecting you to join her for dinner, though. Please do not bete." Elder Meng said before stepping out of the office, leaving his master in shock. He already took the matter into his own hands and was willing to give his master a good push to pursue the beautiful woman staying in the opposite side of the mansion.


    Since when did he agree to apany Xiao Rufeng for dinner? Yan Xiuchen thought that he would only be seeing her tomorrow, not today.

 Chapter 487 Heartless (1)

    Su Xiaofei regretted noting home sooner. If she could turn back time, she would have flown straight home from Shenjing from the moment the issue over Xiao Rufeng''s safety was resolved.


    The moment their private nended at the airport, they were greeted by Nine and Zhang Lan, who had been waiting for her and Lu Qingfeng''s arrival. Instead of driving back home, Nine brought them to the hospital, where Yun Qingrong was rushed to that very afternoon.


    Xi Qian had called Lu Qingfeng to inform them of the situation, which forced the couple to cut their meeting with Song Yiran short and had them leaving Shenjing in a hurry. By this time, the public was now aware of Yun Qingrong''s condition, but Su Xiaofei wasn''t bothered by their opinion at this moment.


    Now, Su Xiaofei was seated next to her mother''s hospital bed, holding her hand. She couldn''t exin the fear that washed through her when Lu Qingfeng pulled her yesterday in the kitchen and exined what happened to her mother.


    That afternoon, Xi Qian had found Yun Qingrong unconscious and syed on the floor of her bathroom. Xi Qian rushed in and checked her Aunty Qing for any injuries, but still decided to rush her to the nearest hospital to be sure.


    It turned out that Yun Qingrong''s remaining kidney and liver were failing. The doctors were convinced that they would be able to treat her cancer, but the damage it had left on her body was already irreversible. Unless they were able to find an organ donor to rece her dysfunctional organs, Yun Qingrong wouldn''t be able to live much longer.


    They ran a few tests, making sure that the cancer cells that weren''t removed during the surgery were almost gone. They got the results they wanted, but it came with a great price.


    "Miss Su, we really need to find organs for your mother as soon as possible. Her kidney has already stopped working and she needs a liver transnt soon. If this persists, I''m afraid that she won''t live past three months." The doctor told her and Lu Qingfengst night.


    Hearing those words was like a death sentence for Su Xiaofei. If her husband wasn''t standing behind her at that moment, she would have dropped to the floor as her strength left her body.


    She tried not to break down in front of her mother''s doctor, but her eyes were already shimmering with tears. She couldn''t imagine another life without her mother.


    The doctors were positive that they would be able to control her mother''s cancer cells. Just a week after Yun Qingrong''s first chemotherapy, she was already vomiting nonstop for over a week, which not only distressed Su Xiaofei but also worried Lu Qingfeng.


    "Family members can be tested to see if they are a perfect match. If we''re lucky, then your mother wouldn''t need to be on the waiting list list for a transnt.


    Su Xiaofei doubted that she would be a match for her mother, but she had taken the test as she was willing to give away her organs if it meant keeping her mother alive. Lu Qingfeng also took the same test, but turns out neither of them were a match for Yun Qingrong.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    The Yun family was also notified at once and Yun Qingrong''s brothers, as well as Su Xiaofei''s cousins, except Yun Xiang came to get checked, but none of them were a match.


    Meanwhile, Xi Qian wanted to stay and apany Su Xiaofei. She was equally devastated by the news, but didn''t know how to help her best friend''s family, except for being there.


    "I''m sorry, Feifei, I''m not going to be a match." She told Su Xiaofei. "You know I''m willing to give it to Aunty Qing if I could."


    Xi Qian knew her blood type, and she wasn''t an O negative like Yun Qingrong. Yun Qingrong could donate her blood to others, but it would be hard to find someone who could give her the blood and organs she needed.


    "You have a responsibility at work, Qian. I don''t want the Li family to me me if you end up neglecting their patient." Su Xiaofei said with a weak smile, her eyes a little red from her crying earlier.


    Xi Qian fell silent at that, but didn''t argue with Su Xiaofei. She left once Yun Qingrong fell asleep and made sure that Su Xiaofei was fine on her own before leaving. She didn''t want to leave, but it was also obvious that her friend needed some time on her own.


    ''Please, God. If you exist, please don''t take my mother away. If I have sinned, please don''t use her to punish me.'' Su Xiaofei cried in silence once she was left alone with her mother.


    She wished that this was nothing but another nightmare that haunts her, but it was not. She wished she knew when this would end. Seeing her mother in this state was already killing her. She hated not being able to do anything, feeling hopeless.


    She had always struggled with the unknown, and she didn''t know how much more her mother could handle. Yun Qingrong had already lost most of her hair now, and she was so skinny, Su Xiaofei could feel her mother''s bones when she held her. The chemotherapy was supposed to heal her mother, but it somehow destroyed her.


    Lu Qingfeng had taken matters into his own hands and scouted to find apatible donor for her mother. He insisted that he would be the one to leave and let Su Xiaofei stay with Yun Qingrong. They both knew it wouldn''t be easy, but it would be a struggle to findpatible organs with Yun Qingrong''s rare blood type.


    ording to her mother''s doctors, it would be easier for them to find liver than kidney and while waiting, Yun Qingrong would need to undergo dialysis. Her mother needed to be admitted to the hospital and stay there for a few weeks as the doctors needed to keep an eye on her condition.

 Chapter 488 Heartless (2)

    The news of Yun Qingrong''s illness was all over the news. It''s been three days since the news broke out, but neither Bluemedia nor the Yun family had made an official statement about it. It was still business as usual at Bluemedia, although there were some reporters who''d been camping outside, wanting to see if they could get an exclusive interview from Su Xiaofei.


    Rumors about her being Qiao Fengying''s mistress had started to circte around as photos of her dining with her father were posted online, earning criticisms from many people. Her rtionship with Mo Yuchen and her seemingly ''budding'' romance with her childhood friend, Lu Qingfeng, was also thrown into the spotlight.


    Bluemedia was able to suppress it at once, but that wasn''t enough to stop theizens from ndering Su Xiaofei''s name and saying that she was no better than her half-sister, Ye Mingyu.


    Lu Qingfeng only scoffed at the unfounded rumors and called them foolish. He wasn''t affected one bit by the rumors, but he hated it when people badmouth his wife, no matter which lifetime he was living.


    "Find out who is foolish enough to start these rumors." He told Miss Katarina, who only nodded and left without a word after delivering her report.


    However, it seemed like the reporters weren''t the only ones looking for Su Xiaofei at that moment. At the hospital where Yun Qingrong was admitted, Bai Qingyue sneaked inte at night and tried to snoop around for some information about what was going on in Su Xiaofei''s family.


    She ended up at the oncology department where Yun Zhaonan and his wife, Yan Mei were. They were seated on a bench in the hallway as they waited outside for the doctor''s arrival.


    "They still couldn''t find apatible donor, did they?" Bai Qingyue heard Yan Mei ask.


    She kept a safe distance and kept her disguise in ce, not wanting to get unnecessary from other people. She leaned her back against the wall and pretended to be busy with her phone.


    "No. Even Lu Qingfeng is having a hard time finding one." Yun Zhaonan said dejectedly.


    Bai Qingyue cast him a side nce, taking in his appearance. His shoulder slumped, looking haggard next to his wife. "This is so messed up. Dad is also bedridden because of this."


    It was obvious that shit had just hit the fan for the Yun family, but Bai Qingyue still hadn''t heard of any news about Su Xiaofei. As if answering her unspoken question, Yun Zhaonan continued.


    "It''s been hard for the family, but Feifei is the one suffering the most out of all of us. She hasn''t left Qing''er''s side from the moment she and Lu Qingfeng returned from Shenjing. I''m worried that she will fall sick after this."


    Yan Mei agreed with him. Their family was also looking everywhere for an O-negative blood type that would be willing to donate a part of their organs to Yun Qingrong.


    "She doesn''t deserve this. None of us are a match, and it frustrates her to no end. She''s clearly devastated by the news. Whenever she thought no one was looking, she would cry on her own."


    Bai Qingyue inwardly flinched at that. Silence lingered as the married couple only held each other''s hand tofort one another. She decided to leave to give them the privacy they needed. However, just as she was about to leave the hospital, she found the person she was looking for taking the stairs up, going somewhere.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    She considered for a moment and decided toe after Su Xiaofei. She wasn''t sure why she wanted to see her, but it bothered her to know that Su Xiaofei was crying alone. As soon as she locked the door behind her at the rooftop, Bai Qingyue didn''t expect that she woulde face to face with Su Xiaofei.


    "What are you doing here?" Su Xiaofei said coldly. Her eyes were red and slightly swollen from her crying. "Why are you following me?"


    Bai Qingyue cocked her head to one side. How did Su Xiaofei know? Had her cover been blown without her noticing?


    The night breeze was freezing cold, but it was iparable to the coldness in Su Xiaofei''s eyes. She was looking at her mother with an unconcealed annoyance and animosity at the same time.


    "I saw you eavesdropping on my uncle and aunt''s conversation. Did Mo Yuchen send you here to cause trouble?" The younger woman asked with a hint of usation in her tone.


    "Of course not!" Bai Qingyue denied at once. "I''m not that heartless¡ª"


    Su Xiaofei''s sneered at that. She couldn''t ept this woman as her mother.


    "You want me to believe such nonsense, Miss Bai? It hasn''t been too long since your manager schemed against me and Miss Tang. You aren''t heartless, you say? Not heartless to what? Wasn''t it heartless to abandon your own daughter?" She said, her eyes filled with disgust.


    Bai Qingyue''s eyes widened in shock. There weren''t many people who knew her darkest secret. Not anyone was aware that she had given birth to a child more than twenty years ago.


    "How did you know about that?!"


    "How could I not recognize my own mother?" Su Xiaofei scoffed, but her face showed that she was tired and not in a good mood.


    The actress fell silent and stared at Su Xiaofei with her lips pressed together in a thin line.


    "What? No words to defend yourself now, Miss Bai?"


    Bai Qingyue then understood, right then and there, why she had sought Su Xiaofei and been having these weird feelings towards her from the moment she met this young woman years ago. She removed her wig, allowing her long ck hair to tumble down her back. Facing Su Xiaofei like this, if one looked at them closely, they could see the striking resemnce of the two women.


    "So I ask you again, what are you doing here, mother?" Su Xiaofei said thest word with a heavy emphasis.

 Chapter 489 Heartless (3)

    Su Xiaofei could recognize her own birth mother even if Bai Qingyue was under disguise. It was understandable that people wanted to know Yun Qingrong''s condition, but seeing Bai Qingyue tonight out of all people was out of her expectations. She couldn''t understand why this woman woulde here.


    Did Bai Qingyue want to see how desperate and pitiful she was right now?


    Bai Qingyue hardened her jaws and stared at Su Xiaofei, the child she abandoned for so many years.


    "So it is you." She said after a long moment of silence between them. "Did Qiao Fengying tell you this?"


    If the rumors were true that Su Xiaofei was frequently spotted with Qiao Fengying, Bai Qingyue surmised that everyone misunderstood the situation, because there was no way Qiao Fengying wouldn''t be able to see their striking resemnce to each other.


    "Does it matter who told me? You aren''t supposed to be here, Miss Bai." Su Xiaofei gave her a pointed look.


    She didn''t give a damn about what Bai Qingyue was thinking right now. She came out of her mother''s hospital room to get some air and clear her thoughts, but who would have thought that she would find this woman when she decided to drop by the oncology department to have a word with Yun Qingrong''s doctor?


    If Mo Yuchen hadn''t sent Bai Qingyue, then what the hell was this woman doing here?


    ''It was probably because of the rumors that I was meeting Qiao Fengyingtely.'' Su Xiaofei thought that it was usible. Bai Qingyue must have felt threatened, worrying that their rtionship as mother and daughter would be exposed to the public.


    Seeing Bai Qingyue right now wasn''t helping Su Xiaofei at all. She could see that her uncles were starting to lose hope, and Lu Qingfeng''s stiff expression said that he was still had no lead in his search to find the organs her mother needed. Even the doctors kept telling her that since Yun Qingrong was already on the transnt list, and they could only wait.


    Wait for what? Su Xiaofei thought. If cancer didn''t kill her mother, her multiple organ failure would. All the Yun family members except for Yun Xiang, who still hadn''t shown up, tested negative for a match.


    She tried to keep her spirits high, but it was hard to keep up when everything around her was crushing her. Her mother had been in this hospital for a week with no signs of recovery. Did this mean she needed to prepare for the worst?


    There wasn''t a single ray of hope she could cling on and with everyday that passed without any signs of a donor, her mother''s condition continued to worsen. She was losing hope. What was the point of being reborn if she couldn''t do anything for her mother?


    She had tried everything in her power to save Yun Qingrong in this life, wanting to spend more time with her mother and keep her mother alive and well with her. Was all her effort in vain?


    She wanted to cry, but she needed to put on a brave front so Yun Qingrong wouldn''t worry about her. Her mother kept telling her that everything would be alright, that she would be okay.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Just leave and pretend that you''ve never known me. Turn around and leave me alone. You''ve done it pretty well before, I''m pretty sure you won''t miss that much." Su Xiaofei mocked Bai Qingyue.


    Bai Qingyue''s whole body trembled. Her hand itched to reach for her daughter, but the hatred in Su Xiaofei''s eyes prevented her from doing so.


    Ha. So the child she had left behind years ago managed to survive and find her. She had beat herself up every single day ever since she left her baby at that orphanage. She had taken the easy way out and ran away like a coward.


    "You knew that I was your mother during our first encounter, didn''t you?"


    Su Xiaofei looked at her as if she would rather be elsewhere than here with Bai Qingyue at that moment. How could this heartless woman be her birth mother? She didn''t understand.


    Yun Qingrong was more of a mother to her. She had loved and taken care of her as if she was her real daughter. But this woman¡­ Bai Qingyue only cared about herself. Wasn''t that why she had done all her might in her previous life to drive Su Xiaofei out of showbiz?


    "Why did it have to be you?" She murmured as her tears started running down her face. "You couldn''t be my mother. My mother is down there, lying in her hospital room, fighting for her life. But you¡­ how could you face me like this? You shouldn''t havee here. I will never be your daughter, and you cannot be my mother! I refuse to ept that someone like you is my mother!"


    It was probably all the pent-up frustrations and anger she''d been trying to hold down for days, but Su Xiaofei couldn''t hold on to it anymore. Why was Yun Qingrong being punished instead of her? She was the one who had sinned and did those atrocious things in her previous life.


    Why, why, why?!


    "I just want my mom to live, and yet the woman who gave birth to me is here to torment me further."


    "¡­"


    "Yun Qingrong is my mom! You have no right to be here. Haven''t you already gotten your wish? You have thrown me away like an unwanted kitten, you should have pretended I was dead! You''ve made it perfectly clear that I was nothing to you, so please continue to do so." She continued, letting out the things she had been keeping in for a long time.


    Su Xiaofei staggered back and struggled to breathe. This was worse than being killed by Ye Mingyu in her past life. Her chest ached so much, as if someone was tearing her heart out.


    She could see Bai Qingyue''s shocked face as her sight blurred. She could also hear the other woman saying something, but Su Xiaofei was slowly losing her grip on reality and dropped on the cold ground.

 Chapter 490 Heartless (4)

    Lu Qingfeng pressed the end call button on his phone. Yun Zhaonan had just called him to inform him that Su Xiaofei had a panic attack and that Yun Qingrong had slipped into aa. This wasn''t a good sign at all.


    ''Come back as soon as you can. Feifei needs you to be here.'' Yun Zhaonan told him, but how could Lu Qingfeng face her this time? He failed again today.


    This also reminded him that he couldn''t control and change anything. Not even his vast wealth was enough to find the organs his mother-inw needed. A part of him wanted all of these to be over, but knew very well that he wouldn''t be able to watch as his wife turned into a person he couldn''t recognize if Yun Qingrong dies.


    If Yun Qingrong dies, then there is noing back for Su Xiaofei and him. This would surely ruin his wife beyond repair. He knew how devastated she was in their previous life when Yun Qingrong died, and he wasn''t by her side through the ordeal.


    Lu Qingfeng swerved the steering wheel to the left and forced his car to a stop. He knew his wife needed him right now, more than ever, but he was so upset with himself that he started beating the steering wheel hard.


    Was this a kind of test for him and Feifei or a divine punishment for the sins theymitted in their past lives? Was he being punished for loving Su Xiaofei then?


    Yun Qingrong might have beaten cancer, but that wasn''t enough to save her life. She was a person with high importance in both of his and Feifei''s lives, and it pained Lu Qingfeng to know that he couldn''t do anything to save her.


    They tried so hard to find a suitable donor that could match and when they thought they had finally found one, the organs would end up in other younger patients that needed it more. It was frustrating for Lu Qingfeng to go through it over and over again.


    However, right now, he didn''t feel like he could go back to the hospital where his wife was waiting, only to tell her that he had failed once again. He couldn''t bear to see the disappointment in her eyes as she held her mother''s hand.


    He sat there at the driver seat, watching people walk andugh on the siewalk. Sometimes, he wished that he and Su Xiaofei could lead a normal and happy life like any other couple.


    Lu Qingfeng shut his eyes and took calming breaths. He knew he needed to return to Su Xiaofei''s side, regardless if he had found a donor or not.


    When he arrived at the hospital, he immediately went to see his wife, only to be surprised when he found Bai Qingyue seated on a chair next to the bed where Su Xiaofei was lying.


    Bai Qingyue stood up once she saw him and gave him a curt nod.


    "Mr. Lu." She had recognized him as Su Xiaofei''s friend, courtesy of the pictures in the articles being spread about hertely.


    "Miss Bai. What are you doing here?" He asked with a straight face. She was thest person he expected to see near his wife.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    He briefly remembered that after Su Xiaofei''s divorce with Mo Yuchen in his previous life, Bai Qingyue spiraled into depression and eventually left stardom a few yearster. It didn''t take long before news broke out that she had died from a drug overdose when her manager found her lifeless body in her apartment.


    His wife had never mentioned anything about her birth mother, but Lu Qingfeng knew that Su Xiaofei didn''t want to have anything to do with Bai Qingyue.


    "Xiao Feng, she''s the one who found Feifei unconscious." Yan Mei, who apanied him inside the room, exined.


    Lu Qingfeng furrowed his brows together, thinking that there was more to it and Bai Qingyue being the one who found his wife was not a coincidence at all.


    "I see. Then thank you for helping my wife, Miss Bai."


    "I see. So Mo Yuchen wasn''t lying when he said that Su Xiaofei has gotten married."


    "Yes. I''m Su Xiaofei''s husband." Lu Qingfeng confirmed, as he walked over to his wife''s side and brushed her hair away from her face. A pained expression shed on his face, seeing Su Xiaofei like this.


    "She hasn''t woken up yet, and we haven''t told her that Sister Qing has fallen into aa." Yan Mei told Lu Qingfeng. "Would it be alright if you''re the one to tell her the news?"


    Lu Qingfeng nodded his assent. If Su Xiaofei broke down again, he knew she would rather be in his presence. His wife was a strong woman, he had no doubt about it, but it didn''t mean she would be fine on her own, especially given how serious the situation was.


    Meanwhile, Bai Qingyue remained standing and silent, her eyes never leaving her daughter''s face. Su Xiaofei''splexion was pale and there were obvious darkening circles below her eyes, clearly indicating that she hadn''t been getting any sleep these days.


    Su Xiaofei had a breakdown earlier, and she wasn''t a bit surprised that her daughter took it out on her. She could understand where Su Xiaofei wasing from, and Bai Qingyue didn''t me her for acting like that.


    She lowered her gaze as her daughter''s words reyed in her mind. It hadn''t surprised her that Su Xiaofei held such hatred towards her after what she''d done.


    "Haven''t you already gotten your wish? You have thrown me away like an unwanted kitten, you should have pretended I was dead! You''ve made it perfectly clear that I was nothing to you, so please continue to do so."


    She would if she could, but for the past twenty-four years, she had never been able to forget about that small baby she held in her arms for the very first time. It was like a curse that had haunted her since then.

 Chapter 491 Here With You (1)

    ''It''s going to be okay.''


    This was what Lu Qingfeng wanted to tell his wife once he saw her shocked expression after being informed that Yun Qingrong had slipped into aa. However, even he wasn''t certain that everything would return to normal soon and whether his mother-inw would survive this ordeal or not.


    It also didn''t help that Bai Qingyue hadn''t left yet, and Su Xiaofei threw a fit upon waking up, seeing her birth mother seated next to her bed. It took some time for Lu Qingfeng to calm her down.


    She found Bai Qingyue''s presence deplorable and a mockery of the situation she was currently in. What was this woman trying to prove anyway? If anything, Bai Qingyue shouldn''t have wasted her time staying here and hounding her for answers she already knew.


    "Make her leave." She begged her husband. "I don''t want her to be here."


    All Su Xiaofei wanted to do right now was fall on her knees and scream until her throat was hoarse, though she knew she wouldn''t. She just couldn''t bear the thought of losing her mother.


    And so, Lu Qingfeng had no choice but to send Bai Qingyue off, informing her that Su Xiaofei would be fine and that there was no need for the actress to stay any further.


    Bai Qingyue remained silent and left eventually, but not without casting her daughter onest look before leaving. Something with the way she looked at Su Xiaofei made Lu Qingfeng pay extra attention to her.


    Seeing her expression, Lu Qingfeng wondered if Bai Qingyue held some attachment to Su Xiaofei. He surmised that the reason for Bai Qingyue''s previous death could be rted to his wife''s demise before.


    ''If she held Su Xiaofei in her heart, then why did she fail to protect her when she had the chance?''


    Lu Qingfeng shook his head and didn''t dwell too long on these thoughts, as his wife needed him.


    Yun Zhaonan phoned everyone in their family and exined the situation. Every passing minute of him not being able to do anything to change the situation made Lu Qingfeng hate himself more and more. He felt helpless seeing his wife sitting on the bed, clearly devastated from the news she received from him.


    Why couldn''t he find a match? What was the point of having all that money if he couldn''t save his mother-inw''s life and make his wife happy again?


    Seeing Su Xiaofei in such a state was tearing his ckened heart into pieces.


    "I shouldn''t have argued with Mama yesterday when she attempted to bid goodbye to me. I''m such a horrible daughter. I failed her." He heard Su Xiaofei say as she wept in his arms.


    Yun Qingrong probably knew that she wouldn''t be able to make it, Lu Qingfeng thought. But he also understood that his wife wouldn''t be able to bear it if she loses her mother now.


    "That''s not true. Don''t me yourself, Feifei. I''m sure thest thing Mother would do is to hate you for being you." He replied, patting her head with such gentleness, as if she was a small child in need offort.


    Su Xiaofei shook her head. Her mother wasn''t able to say goodbye because she hadn''t allowed her to. She wouldn''t be able to forgive herself for her own stubbornness for it.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "I can''t be here. Mama needs me there." Su Xiaofei said, telling him to bring her back to her mother''s side, which Lu Qingfeng easilyplied.


    When they returned to Yun Qingrong''s room, the rest of her brothers were there, looking after her. When they saw Su Xiaofei, they wordlessly engulfed her in a hug and patted her back.


    "She''s going to wake up, Feifei. We will find the organs she needs." Yun Yuanzhi told her reassuringly.


    "Right. She''s a Yun, after all. There''s no way she would sumb without a fight." Yun Shaomented, but there was a hint of uncertainty in his voice that he failed to hide.


    Su Xiaofei could only nod in response, her eyes shining once again with tears as she looked at her mother''s state. It must have been hard for her mother in her previous life. Yun Qingrong must have been sad to die alone without thefort of her family and her daughter, who''d turned her back on her just to end up marrying the wrong man.


    The rest of the day felt too long for Su Xiaofei, but this time, she decided not to leave her mother''s side again, in fear that something would happen in her absence. She didn''t even realize she had dozed off as she sat next to her mother''s bed, holding Yun Qingrong''s hand.


    Around three in the morning, someone shook her shoulder and she found her husband looking at her with saddened eyes. Fear gripped her heart and she immediately sat up straight before looking at her mother.


    "Darling, it''s time to wake up."


    "Did something happen?" She asked, afraid that the doctors had given them an ultimatum, that this was theirst chance to bid their farewell to her mother.


    "Yes. The doctors just told us they found a donor. They need to prepare Mother for the surgery, hence I woke you up."


    "Really?!" Her eyes widened in surprise. She wondered if she was dreaming, or if a miracle just happened, and her mother would live.


    "En. I already called your uncles, and they said they would be on their way here." Lu Qingfeng replied.


    "Do you know who it is? The donor, I mean."


    "No. Donor information is confidential, so the doctors aren''t going to disclose it to us, but they confirmed that the donor is a match with Mother. She will live, Feifei. Let''s just hope she will recover well, and her body won''t reject the organs."


    The nurses came in a hurry and Su Xiaofei, along with her husband, had to stand aside and watch them take away Yun Qingrong and bring her to the OR.


    Su Xiaofei held onto her husband''s hand and prayed like she never did before.

 Chapter 492 Here With You (2)

    It was already a week since Xiao Rufeng moved to the Yan Mansion and started working as Yan Xiuchen''s assistant. Yan Xiuchen had to admit that she was capable and surely knew what she was doing. It was just too bad that time was running out, and she would eventually leave a weekter.


    In the mornings, Xiao Rufeng would brief him on his schedule for the day and prepare the materials he would need for his long meetings. These tedious meetings tend to be boring for him, but with Xiao Rufeng near him, Yan Xiuchen found himself preupied and less attentive.


    "Sir?" His subordinate asked, curious if Yan Xiuchen heard what he just reported.


    "Still here. Continue." Yan Xiuchen said and mentally berated himself for not paying attention to their report. He supposed he should re-read the reportter, just in case he actually missed something today.


    asionally, he would nce at Xiao Rufeng and see her working on herptop while taking notes. Sometimes, he would also find her having a short talk with some members of the staff of his household during their breaks.


    Initially, Xiao Rufeng struggled to keep up with his hectic schedule and Yan Xiuchen had felt guilty for allowing her to fill his assistant''s shoes. At one point, he found her panicked over the double booked schedule his assistant made, so she had to immediately rectify the mistake and reschedule some of his appointments to make time.


    Thankfully, there weren''t any serious matters he needed to attend to outside, and he wasn''t keen on breaking his agreement with Su Xiaofei. Regardless if she was the wife of Lu Qingfeng or not, Yan Xiuchen would rather not get on her bad side. It was obvious that Xiao Rufeng held high regards for her and would believe any words she said.


    "Are you sure you don''t want to attend this meeting, Mr. Yan?" He heard Xiao Rufeng say, pulling him out of his deep thoughts.


    "And break the agreement I have with your manager? I''d rather not." He responded.


    He rarely met his business acquaintances anyway and despite being scarred for years, Yan Xiuchen disliked being stared at by other people because of his appearance. It was really a wonder how Xiao Rufeng could look at him with a smile on her face and not be repulsed by his look.


    "But the condition didn''t imply that you need to bring me anywhere you go, right? You can leave and attend yourmitments without me. I wouldn''t want you to ruin your rtionship with your business partners because of me." Xiao Rufeng reasoned out.


    Which was true, Yan Xiuchen thought. Su Xiaofei only insisted not to bring Xiao Rufeng anywhere, but that didn''t mean he couldn''t leave his own estate on his own will. It was just that he would rather stay at home and spend more time with Xiao Rufeng rather than attend a boring dinner with his colleagues.


    Between his appointments, she also needed to juggle various requests for his attendance and official meetings with Yan Xiuchen. Because she was unfamiliar with his rtionship with these people, Xiao Rufeng had to confirm it with Yan Xiuchen first and ask for his go-signal.


    ''They probably insisted I should meet them.'' Yan Xiuchen removed his spectacles and ran a hand over his face. He was already tired after their long day and thought that he didn''t have enough energy left to meet strangers outside of his working hours.


    The grueling day was over and he just wanted to disappear into his room for the rest of the evening.


    "Do I really have to?"


    Xiao Rufeng shrugged.


    "Shouldn''t you know the answer already?"<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "But I rather be here to apany you than go outside." He said with a nk face.


    Xiao Rufeng''s face flushed a little, making Yan Xiuchen wonder if he was seeing things. He stilled, hardly daring to breathe, as he waited for her answer.


    "You don''t have to. It seems like an important meeting you shouldn''t miss."


    "I''m sure they wouldn''t mind if I don''t attend the party. I wouldn''t want to spoil their fun." Yan Xiuchen replied.


    He rarely went outside and did most of his work at home. There was a reason why he hired people to do his bidding anyway. If he was meeting his brothers, then he wouldn''t mind leaving his house, but knowing Xiao Rufeng was under the same roof as him, how could he leave her on her own?


    Usually after their working hours, he would give Xiao Rufeng an hour or two to herself and would invite her to join him for dinner. He thought that she would decline his invitation, but also assumed that she agreed because she was his guest and didn''t have a reason to decline him.


    Their dinners were filled with her chatterings, which Yan Xiuchen didn''t mind. He loved hearing her stories about her work colleagues and how much drama she encountered during her time as a trainee.


    "So why did you decide to be an actor then?" He couldn''t help but ask one evening.


    Xiao Rufeng lowered her gaze and stared at her drink.


    "Because when the camera is rolling, I am able to let go of myself and embrace the persona of another. No Xiao Rufeng, just the character I''m portraying." She said in a low voice that Yan Xiuchen almost missed.


    He titled his head to one side, frowning as he sensed her distress.


    "How so?" He continued to probe.


    Xiao Rufeng lifted her head and stared at him for a moment, as if she was pondering whether she should answer him or not. In the end, she chose to be honest with him.


    "I''m not sure." She shrugged. "I suppose that getting into character allows me to forget my worries, my problems as Xiao Rufeng."


    "My apologies. I shouldn''t have asked such a personal question." He said.


    "No worries, Mr. Yan. I''m not offended at all." She smiled reassuringly.

 Chapter 493 Here With You (3)

    That night, Xiao Rufeng arrived on time for dinner with Yan Xiuchen. Because she was preupied with thoughts about her manager''s current situation, she hadn''t given any thought on what she should wear tonight. So, she brushed her long hair into a clean, high ponytail, leaving a few strands to frame her bare face and dressed herself in a pair of denim pants and white sleeveless blouse.


    As soon as she knocked on the door, the scarred man opened it at once, allowing her to enter the dining area. He was still dressed in his business suit, and she wondered if there was a time Yan Xiuchen would wear something other than this.


    "Good evening, Mr. Yan. What are we having tonight?" She asked as she took her usual spot at the table and waited for Yan Xiuchen to join her.


    As usual, the ce was lit by thick candles, which only made his scars more frightening in the shadows. Xiao Rufeng surmised that he was trying his best not to make her ufortable by hiding them, but in all honesty, it only made the atmosphere more awkward between them.


    She wanted to have a good look at him, to see the scarred side of his face and figure out how it ended up like that. Xiao Rufeng had no doubt that there was a story behind it, and it was one of the reasons why Yan Xiuchen turned into the person he was right now. However, because she knew it made him ufortable, Xiao Rufeng forced herself to look somewhere else.


    She looked at the flower vase at the center of the dining table, filled with red roses. If she didn''t know any better, Xiao Rufeng would think that she was on a romantic date with Yan Xiuchen, given how he was dressed and how their dinner was set up every night.


    "Venison steak." She heard Yan Xiuchen say as he sat on her left, hiding his scarred face from her again. He was careful to keep his face angled away from her.


    If he wasn''t a business tycoon, Xiao Rufeng would also think he was a person holding a high rank in the military, given how stiff he was and how short his responses were. He also had this kind ofmanding air around him, not giving anyone a chance to doubt his authority, not only in this household but also in his vast business empire.


    Yan Xiuchen reached over to the bottle of wine and opened it.


    "Would you like some?" He asked and waited for her answer.


    "Are you trying to make me drunk?" Xiao Rufeng teased and he stiffened at once.


    She let out an awkwardugh and berated herself mentally. How could she make such a joke in front of him? Yan Xiuchen might misunderstand her words and be offended by it.


    "Sorry. That was a joke." She then lowered her gaze and pondered for a moment. She should really watch what she was saying in front of him.


    Su Xiaofei warned her not to get drunk, and she understood what her manager meant by that. Still, a part of her wanted to drink her problems away, even for just a moment.


    She then extended her empty ss and allowed Yan Xiuchen to pour her a drink. She watched with fascination as he poured the wine with impable grace and tilted the bottle expertly without spilling anything.


    His manners were on point, even his words were carefully chosen, but there was a part of her that wanted to see another side of him.


    Xiao Rufeng thought that it must be odd that she was somewhat attracted to him. Whenever he was close, she couldn''t help but be aware of him. There were even times when his mere words were enough to make her blush, but she tried not to overthink any of it.


    She was familiar with these feelings, but she didn''t want to admit it. They have only been acquainted for a short time, and she didn''t understand what was pulling her towards him.


    ''You know how this will end, right?'' She reminded herself, and that was enough for Xiao Rufeng to get herself back on the right track.


    "You look sad. Is something wrong?" Yan Xiuchen asked as he waited for her to answer.


    She forced a smile, knowing that she can''t possibly tell him what was on her mind at that moment.


    "Just thinking about President Su. I haven''t heard anything from her yet." She lied. The pain she endured when Jin Qiu turned his back on her still lingers.


    Yan Xiuchen stared at her for a long moment, and she wondered if he could sense her lie. She averted her gaze and started eating.


    "I''ve heard the news from Lu Qingfeng too. They are trying to find a donor that could match her mother''s blood type." He replied, much to her relief.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Miss Yun was one of my greatest supporters when I was just starting in the industry. She and President Su made sure that I didn''tck anything since I joined Bluemedia."


    "You want to return the favor?"


    She nodded. Aside from keeping herself away from trouble, she wanted to be of any help to Su Xiaofei.


    "But I''m pretty sure I wouldn''t be a match for her. I''m willing to give her a part of my organs if that could help, but s¡­"


    "Don''t stress over it. I''m sure your good will is enough for Su Xiaofei and her mother." Yan Xiuchen assured her. "Lu Qingfeng will be able to find a donor, but time isn''t in their favor."


    "Sorry. I didn''t mean to put a damper on our night." Xiao Rufeng sighed.


    "Not at all. I''m d that you are willing to share such sentiments with me. I was just worried that you are feeling down because I''m keeping youpany."


    Xiao Rufeng gave him a curious look, but didn''t smile. It wasn''t his fault that she was being like this.


    As if sensing her distress, Yan Xiuchen didn''t ask her anything else and they ate in silence, which Xiao Rufeng found unnerving.


    "So are you and Elder Meng the only ones living in this estate?" She asked Yan Xiuchen, hoping to break the silence around them. "Your ce is nice, though. I guess I''m not really used to long silences like this."


    "Not really. The household helpers are living on the other side, but if you want to ask if I have any family or rtives living here, the answer is no." Yan Xiuchen replied. "Just like you, I''m not on good terms with my rtives, not when they are shamelessly coveting what is mine."


    "At times like this, I wonder if it would have been better to be born as amoner." Xiao Rufeng sighed.


    When Yan Xiuchen didn''t say anything, she took it as a cue for her to continue.


    "I mean¡­ wouldn''t it be better if I am amoner and not a daughter of some wealthy family? I just want to lead a normal, happy life, but I guess that''s too much to ask for." She continued.


    "There''s nothing wrong with wishing the best for yourself." Yan Xiuchenmented. "As for you leading a happy life, that''s for you to decide and not your birthright, isn''t it?"


    "If I may be bold to say, I think you are doing well yourself. You don''t ask your family for any favors and support throughout your career as an actor, and I think that''s admirable. If it was another person, I wouldn''t doubt that they would use their family name to advance themselves in the industry you are in."


    Xiao Rufeng couldn''t stop the blush that spread on her face. There it was again. It was times like this that Yan Xiuchen would catch her off guard and make her feel special, making her feel like she mattered.


    His every word managed to get through her, reminding her that she was doing just fine, giving her the boost of confidence she needed. Xiao Rufeng didn''t expect that she would hear the words and recognition she''d been waiting for from Yan Xiuchen and not from her own family.


    "Why, thank you, Mr. Yan. That''s very nice of you. You don''t know how much those words mean to me." She smiled brightly at him, and he had this expression on his face that she couldn''tprehend. Was he blushing?


    A small smile curved on his mouth before he hid it behind his ss as he took a sip from his drink.


    "Then I''m d. It must be challenging for you toe here and endure mypany."


    Xiao Rufeng shook her head, denying his im. Was it weird that she feltfortable being with him but couldn''t stand being close with another man?


    "Not at all. I''d rather be here with you than be somewhere else." She replied, somewhat aware that she had thrown Yan Xiuchen''s words back at him.

 Chapter 494 Why Is It You? (1)

    She sat there and waited with her husband, her three uncles and Xi Qian in the waiting room. Su Xiaofei shut her eyes and hoped that the surgery would be sessful. Whoever the donor was, they had given her mother a chance to live and spend more time with her.


    ''Please let her be okay.'' She prayed in her heart. ''Please give my mother back to me.''


    Su Xiaofei started to feel restless a few minutes after the doors to the operating room were shut, the red light shing, indicating that the surgery was ongoing. She was never great at being on the side lines and waiting.


    At least now, she didn''t feel alone with her family being here to be her anchor at her lowest point in her life. In her previous life, she was only allowed to see her mother after the funeral. Su Xiaofei had never truly felt alone until that moment.


    Then two hospital personnel came, bringing the containers carrying the organs that would save her mother''s life. ording to the doctors, the donor was also within the facility, so they would be able to harvest the organs they needed and transfer them to Yun Qingrong''s body immediately.


    Knowing that she wouldn''t be able to endure waiting here for the news, she stood up and left the waiting room. She heard her uncle''s voices, asking her where she was going, but she tuned those voices out.


    Lu Qingfeng and Xi Qian chose to follow her, though without a word, and when she stopped and faced them, she allowed her tears to run down her cheeks again.


    "Feifei¡­" Xi Qian took her hand with hers and gave it a slight squeeze. "I know that you are worried about Aunty Qing, but don''t do anything that you might regretter."


    "I can''t be there." Su Xiaofei shook her head. "I need to see who the donor is, and thank them for this favor. I need to speak to them."


    "But the doctors say it''s confidential. You aren''t supposed to know who the donor is, Feifei." Xi Qian reminded her best friend.


    It was obvious that Su Xiaofei was trying to keep her thoughts upied with something else at this moment. Xi Qian couldn''t me her, though. She had seen many family members waiting outside the operating room throughout her time as a nurse. Some would receive great news, others will receive devastating news in the end.


    "But I need to know and meet them, Qian. If you are in my shoes, won''t you at least say a sincere thanks to the person who gave your mother a chance to live?" Su Xiaofei insisted.


    Xi Qian fell silent for a moment. Su Xiaofei didn''t need to say that, because she understood what her best friend was feeling at that moment. Yun Qingrong was like a mother to her. Heck. Yun Qingrong was more of a mother to her than the woman who actually gave birth to her.


    Su Xiaofei wasn''t the only one distressed seeing Yun Qingrong''s health dwindling with each passing day. It also broke Xi Qian''s heart that she couldn''t do anything to ease the pain her Aunty Qing was enduring all this while. Even the thought of losing her disturbed Xi Qian greatly.


    "I know, Feifei. It''s just that it''s at the donor''s discretion whether they want the recipient to know their identity or not. It''s clear that whoever it was, they didn''t want you to know."


    "Still, I would like to thank them in any way I can. It doesn''t matter if I don''t see their face. I just want to extend my utmost gratitude for their favor." Su Xiaofei then nced at her husband, who nodded in response.


    Xi Qian sighed. What was she expecting from Lu Qingfeng anyway? This little tyrant was incapable of denying Su Xiaofei''s requests, even when they were younger. It was so obvious to her who was wearing the pants in their marriage.


    Seeing that her best friend had already made up her mind, Xi Qian could only follow Su Xiaofei and the three of them headed to the ward where the donor could be found.


    Su Xiaofei didn''t know what to expect, but she tried to muster all the courage she had to thank the donor for their kindness and generosity. With the time constraint they were facing, every single day without finding the organs meant more stress on her mother''s body.


    When they strode to the reception desk, the nurse gave them a wide smile. She stared at Su Xiaofei and thought that she was the patient''s family. The nurse looked younger than Xi Qian and her, and it seemed like she was a newbie.


    "Are you here to see Miss Bai? The doctors are still checking on her." The nurse said with a wide smile on her face.


    "I''m sorry?" Su Xiaofei looked at the nurse incredulously. Had she heard the woman right?


    "Did you just say Miss Bai? You mean the actress Bai Qingyue?"


    Lu Qingfeng stiffened next to her, while Xi Qian furrowed her brows in confusion. None of them were expecting to hear that Bai Qingyue was here.


    "Oh? Aren''t you her family?" The nurse then realized the mistake she made. "I''m sorry! I thought you were her younger sister."<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Xi Qian opened her mouth in surprise and nced at her best friend curiously. Since when did Feifei be associated with Bai Qingyue? She also couldn''t me the nurse for mistakenly taking Su Xiaofei as Bai Qingyue''s family, given their resemnce to each other.


    Next to her, Lu Qingfeng had a nk expression on his face, but given how his jaw hardened upon realizing what was happening, Xi Qian thought that he might know something she didn''t.


    She was supposed to meet and thank the donor, not to hear that Bai Qingyue was also admitted here for some unknown reasons. What the heck was Bai Qingyue doing in the nephrology ward at this time?


    "Do you mean to say that the donor is none other than Miss Bai herself?" Su Xiaofei asked, her eyes narrowing. What was Bai Qingyue trying to y this time?


    The youngdy shivered under her gaze and bit her lower lip. She couldn''t utter a word, as she had already made a mistake of disclosing Bai Qingyue''s identity.


    "No. I suppose you don''t need to answer that." Su Xiaofei gritted her teeth as the other woman''s silence was also the clear answer she needed.


    "I want to speak with the donor if possible."


    They were already here anyway, so might as well face the truth and see if it was really Bai Qingyue who had extended an olive branch to save Yun Qingrong''s life.


    The young nurse hesitated from her ce and didn''t give Su Xiaofei an immediate answer.


    "Y-your name please¡­"


    "Su Xiaofei." Su Xiaofei said. "Tell Miss Bai that Su Xiaofei is here and want a word with her."


    The nurse scampered away in fear, leaving the three behind. Xi Qian frowned and wondered what was happening and why Su Xiaofei was acting like this. She didn''t miss the venom in Su Xiaofei''s words when she mentioned Bai Qingyue''s name.


    Was the actress caught up with Su Xiaofei''s grudge towards Mo Yuchen?


    Feifei had once told her that she had chosen to abandon her quest to exact revenge on Mo Yuchen in favor of leading a happy and fulfilling life with Lu Qingfeng and her mother. However, that didn''t mean that Su Xiaofei was willing to forget everything in the past.


    Bai Qingyue''s greatest supporter was none other than Mo Yuchen. While Xi Qian wasn''t aware of the dynamics of Su Xiaofei''s involvement with the actress, she could sense the hostility in her best friend''s tone.


    It didn''t take long, and the nurse returned, still looking like she was afraid of Su Xiaofei. She then led the three to one of the private rooms, knocked on the door, and opened it for them.


    "Feifei, keep your calm, okay?" Lu Qingfeng said, but his wife remained silent.


    As they entered the room, Su Xiaofei stopped mid-step when she saw her birth mother lying on the hospital bed, looking pale.


    Bai Qingyue turned her head and looked at her before she quickly averted her gaze by looking down at her hands.


    "You aren''t supposed to be here."


    "Why is it you?" Su Xiaofei spat out venomously, her whole body trembling as she looked at the woman who gave birth to her. She couldn''t understand what Bai Qingyue was thinking this time and what was her motive for helping her.


    Memories of what happened in the past yed on her mind. Her time as an actress in her previous life was filled with obstacles and suffering, not only because of Ye Mingyu, but also Bai Qingyue.


    The Bai Qingyue she knew would never do something like this out of kindness. It wouldn''t be the first time Bai Qingyue tricked her and betrayed her in the end.

 Chapter 495 Why Is It You? (2)

    In her previous life, there was a time that she had a brief connection with Bai Qingyue. Bai Qingyue had saved her from being sexually harassed when Ye Mingyu spiked her drink on one asion and thought that the actress might not be as bad as she thought she was.


    After that, she had met the woman on several asions and Bai Qingyue was kind enough to teach her how to sing the song she''d been struggling to practice. She had thought that the actress was very kind to make an effort to check on her once in a while after her falling out with Yun Qingrong.


    s, she should have known that the woman was up to something. Perhaps it was because Bai Qingyue was trying to get information from her and wanted to confirm if she was the daughter the actress had long abandoned.


    When she told Bai Qingyue that she was nning to audition for a major role, the actress''s face changed and looked at her with displeasure. It made Su Xiaofei think that the actress had suddenly became a different person.


    "Why are you insisting onpeting with Ye Mingyu? You''re not even near her level. Just give up. You aren''t born to act, and surely your mother didn''t raise you to be a dog who only knows how to follow Ye Mingyu around." Bai Qingyue said with a straight face.


    That was the most hurtful thing Su Xiaofei had ever heard during her time as an actor. While she knew that she wasn''t as good at acting as Ye Mingyu, she thought that by working hard to hone her skills, she would be able to reduce the gap between them.


    After that, Bai Qingyue made sure to remind her that she didn''t belong to the showbiz industry, and she should consider leaving the stardom and limelight to Ye Mingyu, who was obviously more beautiful and more popr than her.


    She struggled to keep up with Ye Mingyu, always exerting more effort to catch up with her. It hurt to hear, even for a prideful person like her, that her hard work was for nothing.


    Su Xiaofei red furiously at her birth mother. She felt Lu Qingfeng touch her arm, attempting to calm her down, but she couldn''t. She was struggling to keep her emotions in check as she looked at Bai Qingyue.


    "Is this one of your ploys to trick me?" She hissed at Bai Qingyue. "Do you think that by doing this I would be able to forgive you for abandoning me, choosing your career over your own child?!"


    She heard Xi Qian sucked in a breath once those words left her mouth. While she had told Xi Qian about her being adopted by Yun Qingrong, she purposely omitted the part that she knew who her real parents were.


    She then felt her husband''s arm, wrapping around her torso, pressing her back against his chest. Su Xiaofei was d he said nothing, because she needed him to understand that it wasn''t easy for her to confront Bai Qingyue like this.


    Bai Qingyue was silent, as if she didn''t have any reason to defend herself from Su Xiaofei''s harsh words. It made Su Xiaofei wonder if this was the Bai Qingyue she knew.


    Did she really know Bai Qingyue at all? Was she missing something? She questioned herself.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Su Xiaofei regretted not knowing how Bai Qingyue ended up in her previous life after her death.


    "Did you assume that by giving my mother the organs she needed, you would be able to rectify your mistakes?" Su Xiaofei continued, her eyes shining with tears as she struggled to calm down.


    Every time she sees Bai Qingyue, she couldn''t help but remember those hurtful words she said to her in her previous life. It hurt more because she thought that Bai Qingyue cared for her, that she believed in her. So it came as a surprise to Su Xiaofei that Bai Qingyue had used her influence to make some directors and producers pick Ye Mingyu over her.


    "I don''t expect you to understand." Bai Qingyue replied, still not daring to meet Su Xiaofei''s gaze. "I didn''t want you to know, and you weren''t supposed to know that it was me."


    Su Xiaofei wiped her tears with the back of her hand. She couldn''t understand why she was even crying at this moment.


    Regardless of who the donor was, she should be happy that her mother would have a better chance to live after this. But knowing it was Bai Qingyue¡­ She didn''t know how to proceed from here.


    It wouldn''t hurt this much if only she didn''t remember what Bai Qingyue did to her in her previous life. She wouldn''t have cared so much if she didn''t know this woman was her real mother.


    Su Xiaofei thought that she didn''t have any lingering feelings for this woman after all that she found out about her. Even now, her mind and heart couldn''tprehend what she feels at this very moment.


    She should feel grateful that Bai Qingyue saved Yun Qingrong''s life, but a part of her wanted to see her regret what she had done to her. She wanted to see Bai Qingyue feel remorse and for her to know that she was nothing to her.


    "I didn''t think you would try to meet the donor this early. Your mother is still in the operating room, and I thought I still had enough time to be transferred to another hospital before you could find me."


    Su Xiaofei''s jaws hardened, knowing what Bai Qingyue said made sense. Because she couldn''t stay still while the organ transnt was ongoing, she thought that she would use the time to thank the donor and their family instead of waiting.


    "Then tell me the truth, why did you do it?" Su Xiaofei asked, almost pleading. "I need to know why¡­ did you do it, so I would forgive you?"


    Her tears continued to roll down her cheeks, but she didn''t bother to wipe it dry anymore.

 Chapter 496 Why Is It You? (3)

    Bai Qingyue lifted her head this time and looked at her daughter, seeing her crying. When she came here to confirm if Su Xiaofei was really her daughter, she only wanted to know if Su Xiaofei held a grudge against her, but she didn''t expect to see her in the lowest point of her life.


    Bai Qingyue had long stayed away from being a mother. Even in the roles she was ying, she refused to y motherly roles or to hold a child no matter how much others insisted. In her whole life, she had only held a baby once, and that was her daughter. Her one and only child.


    The same daughter who was looking at her with tears pooling in her eyes at this very moment. The same daughter who made it clear that she didn''t care one bit about her and only treated her as a person who gave birth to her, nothing more.


    Su Xiaofei made it clear that she could never be her mother, to which Bai Qingyue wasn''t nning to contest at all. The moment she abandoned Su Xiaofei, she had already forfeited all her rights to be her mother.


    However, seeing Su Xiaofei in tears as she broke down in front of her disturbed Bai Qingyue greatly. Just as Su Xiaofei said, she shouldn''t care anymore how she lives her life after leaving her, but Bai Qingyue couldn''t.


    "I know that I have no rights to be your mother, and I don''t n on bing one." Bai Qingyue started. "I know I messed up badly, and I don''t deserve neither your forgiveness nor sympathy."


    Thankfully, her husband was also like her, who wasn''t expecting to have a kid in the future. Bai Qingyue didn''t think she had what it takes to be a good mother.


    Su Xiaofei said nothing, but only leaned on her husband for support because she didn''t trust herself at that moment. Her eyes stung with tears, and she wasn''t able to stop it. She felt tired of everything. She wanted to be furious at Bai Qingyue, but now it felt like she didn''t have the right to because of what her birth mother had done.


    "I need a better exnation than that. That exins nothing." She pointed out after sensing that Bai Qingyue was trying to get a reaction from her.


    "I suppose you are right." The actress shut her eyes and took a shallow breath. ''I shouldn''t care about you, but when I saw you crying, my heart couldn''t take it.'' She thought.


    Her daughter remained silent, but her expression told Bai Qingyue that she didn''t believe her.


    "You are the bane of my existence. If it wasn''t for you, I wouldn''t have lost the love of my life. I hate your very existence." She admitted, surprising not only Su Xiaofei but also Xi Qian and Lu Qingfeng, who were listening to their conversation.


    Lu Qingfeng''s eyes turned cold as he looked at his wife''s birth mother. He couldn''t understand how a mother could hate her daughter this much. It was then he decided that even if the world hated Su Xiaofei, he would love her with all he had.


    "I hated that you were conceived at the wrong time. I hated that I had to choose between my family and Qiao Fengying and was forced to do something so horrible." The actress continued. "But when I gave birth to you and held you for the very first time, you opened your eyes and smiled brightly at me. You smiled at me, who hated your very existence."


    At this, Bai Qingyue let out a mockingugh. Su Xiaofei''s smile was what haunted her in her waking hours, which only reminded her how miserable and pathetic she was.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "And then I saw you crying, and I thought that it wasn''t supposed to be like that. To be honest, I do not care whether Yun Qingrong lives or not."


    Su Xiaofei''s expression immediately darkened at that, but she didn''t dare to cut off Bai Qingyue''s exnation.


    "I only wanted to see you smile again, even if it isn''t directed to me." Bai Qingyue sighed. "I really didn''t want you to know about this."


    Su Xiaofei scoffed at that.


    "You want me to believe that? Because what I see is that you are using this as a free pass to redeem yourself. How am I supposed to hate you, be angry with you now? I''m upset and mad, but surely I can''t be like that anymore because of this."


    "That''s not true." Bai Qingyue gave her daughter a pointed re, which only made their resemnce more obvious because Xi Qian and Lu Qingfeng realized where Su Xiaofei got this familiar look she had on whenever she was annoyed.


    "You have every right to hate me. I don''t expect you to ept me as your mother. Your mother is Yun Qingrong." She insisted.


    "Then what do you want in exchange for this? Surely, you didn''t do it out of kindness." Su Xiaofei questioned her.


    Bai Qingyue fell silent and considered her answer. This was why she didn''t want Su Xiaofei to know. She gave a part of her organs to Yun Qingrong because she knew what the woman meant to Su Xiaofei.


    If she said that she did it without expecting anything in return, Su Xiaofei wouldn''t believe her. It was obvious that her daughter held deep resentment towards her, and she couldn''t fault her for that. She would never be able to justify what she had done to Su Xiaofei and Qiao Fengying many years ago, so it was fine if Su Xiaofei hated her for as long as she wanted to.


    "You really want to know?" She asked with a bitter smile.


    "Would I waste my time here if not?" Su Xiaofei frowned.


    "Then promise me that you wouldn''t let the public know about this rtionship between us." She demanded, knowing that Su Xiaofei would uphold her promise after this.

 Chapter 497 Two Sides Of The Same Coin (1)

    Su Xiaofei sneered at her mother. So in the end, Bai Qingyue only cared about herself. All the excuses she said earlier were nothing but lies. She was a great actress, after all. If she didn''t know any better, she would have fallen for it and believed Bai Qingyue''s lies again.


    "I know you wouldn''t do it out of kindness." She said mockingly. "Fine. I suppose that is a fair deal. The public won''t know about us being rted to each other. After this, I hope you will never bring up the fact that I am your daughter ever again."


    "Great. It''s not like I want everyone to know that you are my daughter." Bai Qingyue easily agreed with her. No matter what she said now, it was obvious that Su Xiaofei wouldn''t believe her at all.


    Was it really hard to believe that she still had her maternal instincts and wanted to do something for her only child?


    The mother and daughter pair stared at each other for a long moment, as if gauging each other. Su Xiaofei wanted to see if Bai Qingyue was telling the truth, but it was hard to tell what the actress was thinking at this moment.


    She imed that she had done it for her sake. That she didn''t want to see her crying helplessly. How was she supposed to believe that?


    "Then I don''t need to waste my time here." Su Xiaofei broke the silence, finally able to rein her raging emotions towards her mother. "We don''t have anything to do with each other from now on."


    "That settles it then." The actress agreed with her and watched as Su Xiaofei left with her best friend while Lu Qingfeng remained.


    Bai Qingyue looked at him curiously. From the moment she met her daughter, this young man was always by Su Xiaofei''s side. She then thought that Su Xiaofei had a strong bond with this man, even before the two had gotten married.


    "Is there something you need?"


    "Why did you lie to Feifei?" Lu Qingfeng asked.


    The actress let out a low chuckle and shook her head.


    "How would you know whether I was lying to her or not?" She asked in return. "I''m an actor. How could you possibly tell I was lying to your wife?"


    "Because your eyes don''t lie." Lu Qingfeng replied at once. "You and Feifei share so many things, and that''s one of them. She can say the most vicious words with a straight face, but her eyes would never lie, at least to me."


    Bai Qingyue stared at him with widened eyes. That wasn''t what she was expecting to hear from her son-inw.


    "How sure are you?"<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Lu Qingfeng didn''t respond immediately, but instead looked at her with a straight face.


    He knew she was lying because she did what she had done because she was really concerned about Su Xiaofei. If not, would Bai Qingyue have ceased her own life in their previous lives, years after Su Xiaofei''s death?


    Bai Qingyue wanted her daughter out of showbiz because she knew how vicious people could be. However, she had never known that what she did only pushed Su Xiaofei into depression at that time.


    If she didn''t care about Feifei at all, she wouldn''t have stepped forward and donated a part of her organs to Yun Qingrong. No matter how harsh her words were, it wouldn''t hide her concern over the child she imed had nothing to do with her.


    "You can lie to Feifei and to everyone else, but I wonder how long you would be able to lie to yourself," were Lu Qingfeng parting words before he left her to find his distressed wife, leaving the actress on her own.


    Once her guests were gone, Bai Qingyue lowered her guard and allowed her tears to flow freely from her face. She sniffed, swallowed hard and started to sob quietly. How can Lu Qingfeng tell that she was in a state of beyond pain?


    She tried to convince herself that this was for the better and that Su Xiaofei didn''t need her in her life because she already had a person to call her mother.


    It was better this way. They could continue on with their own lives and pretend that they had never crossed paths. She would allow Su Xiaofei to hate her as long as she wanted if that would make her feel better.


    Bai Qingyue knew she made a huge mistake, an unforgivable one, and she had to live with that for years. How many times had she cried herself to sleep, only to be haunted by nightmares of the daughter she abandoned? Just as Su Xiaofei said, she was a heartless monster when she should have been her mother first and foremost.


    She knew that she made a mistake when she abandoned her at the orphanage, but it would be too unfair for Su Xiaofei to be raised in a dysfunctional family like the one Bai Qingyue had. Furthermore, she also didn''t want to rob Qiao Fengying''s future by tying him down in marriage and forcing him to provide for her and their unborn child.


    She was young and stupid and a coward on top of that. The fault was hers to shoulder, not for either Qiao Fengying or Su Xiaofei. That had been on her. The only good thing that happened was that the child she left was taken in and raised by Yun Qingrong, and she was grateful for that.


    Yun Qingrong had been the mother that Bai Qingyue could never be to her child. She loved Su Xiaofei the way she should have and raised her as a decent woman.


    When she heard that Yun Qingrong had slipped into aa and saw how devastated her daughter was, Bai Qingyue didn''t think twice and let herself get tested to see if she was a match, knowing that she shared the same blood type as Yun Qingrong.


    Since she couldn''t be the mother Su Xiaofei deserved, she was willing to give her daughter one.

 Chapter 498 Two Sides Of The Same Coin (2)

    Su Xiaofei would be lying if she said that she wasn''t grateful for what Bai Qingyue did. No matter what her birth mother''s intentions were, it wouldn''t change the fact that she had saved Yun Qingrong''s life. The bitterness she felt for Bai Qingyue somewhat diminished, but it wasn''t enough for her to forget the pain of betrayal she suffered in the past due to her own mother.


    She wanted to think that Bai Qingyue did it to make it up to her, but she couldn''t trust her at all. Not when Bai Qingyue still chose her career and reputation over her for the second time. It hurts to know that she cannot be Bai Qingyue''s priority.


    Perhaps she was foolish to expect that her birth mother would change in this lifetime. While she was certain of how Qiao Fengying felt for her, it was just impossible for Su Xiaofei to believe Bai Qingyue''s words and take them at face value.


    Maybe this was for the better. Su Xiaofei thought. At least after this, she and Bai Qingyue wouldn''t have anything to do with each other anymore and her mother wouldn''t be able to betray and hurt her this way.


    The urge to cry was so strong, but she kept her tears at bay as she returned to the waiting room with Xi Qian. She ignored the worried gazes she was receiving from the Yun family and remained silent on her seat. She focused on her mother''s recovery rather than thinking about what Bai Qingyue did for her.


    "How are you feeling, Feifei?" Xi Qian asked. After her outburst earlier, Su Xiaofei had no doubt her best friend was worried about her.


    "I can manage, Qian. I''ll be alright as long as I can have my mother back." She replied, implying that she only needed Yun Qingrong to be okay now and that Bai Qingyue was of no importance to her.


    Xi Qian nodded and said no more. After what transpired during their meeting with Bai Qingyue, she had no doubt that Su Xiaofei was trying to convince herself that she wasn''t affected by what Bai Qingyue said earlier.


    An hourter, Lu Qingfeng came back with the Qiao family. The moment Su Xiaofei saw her father, she immediately rose from her seat and embraced him, much to Qiao Fengying''s shock. She had never initiated a physical contact like this before, and he could only look at Lu Qingfeng, surprise evident on his face.


    "We heard the news. We came as soon as we could. How is she doing?" He asked his daughter.


    "We haven''t heard any updates from the doctors yet."


    It was Yun Yuanzhi who answered Qiao Fengying''s question, given how distressed Su Xiaofei was this time. The whole family was already informed about Qiao Fengying''s status as Su Xiaofei''s real father. They also knew about Bai Qingyue''s rtionship with the two, but they had noment over the matter.


    "We appreciate youing here for support, Mr. Qiao." Yun Yuanzhi continued as he shook hands with Qiao Fengying, while thetter kept an arm around his daughter.


    "How can we not be here when Miss Yun and Feifei need us? Lu Qingfeng kept us updated with what''s happening, and I''m d that you were able to find a match for Miss Yun."<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "What''s the matter, Xiaofei?" He asked Su Xiaofei when he felt her shiver under his touch. He brushed a piece of hair away from Su Xiaofei''s face, and ced it behind her ear.


    "I need to have a word with you. Please¡­" Su Xiaofei said in a tone that made Qiao Fengying worry. He had never seen her act like this before.


    "Alright." He replied, giving his wife a knowing look.


    Liu Shn nodded in understanding. She and Qiao Yuhan went and sat next to Xi Qian and waited with the rest of the Yun family. Whatever Su Xiaofei was about to tell him, he would tell Liu Shnter. Thankfully, his wife understood him well and didn''t make a fuss when it came to dealing with his daughter.


    Su Xiaofei led her father to a deserted hallway, with Lu Qingfeng apanying them.


    "Xiaofei, what''s going on?" Qiao Fengying asked. He could sense that even though Yun Qingrong received the organs she needed, his daughter was still somehow disturbed.


    "She''s here. My mother." Su Xiaofei said, looking him straight in the eyes. She would rather tell him this than let him hear about the identity of the donor from others.


    Qiao Fengying opened his mouth to ask what she meant by that, but seeing her eyes, he knew at once that she wasn''t talking about Yun Qingrong. He clenched his jaws and remained calm. He hadn''t mentioned anything about Bai Qingyue, but his daughter and son-inw were smart enough to figure out the identity of her real mother on their own.


    "Bai Qingyue is here, and she was the one who donated the organs for my Mama." Su Xiaofei exined. She was still having conflicted feelings over this fact.


    Qiao Fengying thought that there was nothing else that could surprise him at this point, despite how mistaken he was. He couldn''t believe what he was hearing right then and there. Did Bai Qingyue really do it?


    "She did?" He asked, making sure he wasn''t hearing things. He then nced at Lu Qingfeng who gave him a curt nod in affirmation of what Su Xiaofei had just said.


    "We met her earlier. I''m not really sure why she did it. She might regret itter." His daughter continued to exin. "She asked me to keep our rtionship with each other a secret from the public. I guess her career and reputation are far more important for her." She shrugged, as if what Bai Qingyue said earlier didn''t affect her at all.


    Qiao Fengying stared at his daughter. While Su Xiaofei spoke about her mother nonchntly, he could see it in her eyes that she was disappointed with Bai Qingyue. Not that he would ever me her for that.

 Chapter 499 Two Sides Of The Same Coin (3)

    Still, it was a surprise for him to hear that Bai Qingyue had done such a thing for their daughter''s sake. After their nasty break up and falling out, Qiao Fengying had made sure to cut ties with her and had never met her since then. He spent a lot of years trying to find their daughter, which not only put him under a lot of pressure but also put a strain on his marriage with Liu Shn.


    "I see. Then did you ept her proposition?"


    "How can''t I?" Su Xiaofei grumbled. "I know no matter how much I give back won''t be enough to repay what she did for my mother."


    Qiao Fengying fell silent. He knew what Su Xiaofei said was right. Bai Qingyue had surely done something for Yun Qingrong that none of them could have. He could see the conflicting emotions in his daughter. There was no doubt that she despised Bai Qingyue for tearing their family apart, and for abandoning her when she was still a baby.


    "It''s alright, Feifei. It''s not your fault. Your mother made that decision and we should respect it." He murmured.


    Qiao Fengying was sure that Bai Qingyue had done it as a sort of retribution for what she had done. If Bai Qingyue didn''t care for their daughter at all, she wouldn''t have chosen to save Yun Qingrong''s life.


    "But¡­" Su Xiaofei wanted to argue, but he shook his head.


    "Let me talk to her, alright? Your mother needs you right now. You should be there once they push Miss Yun out of the operating theatre."


    Qiao Fengying rose to his seat and patted his daughter''s shoulder before kissing her temple. He then gave Lu Qingfeng a curt nod, leaving Su Xiaofei in his care.


    Once he was gone, Lu Qingfeng took the seat his father-inw had vacated and allowed Su Xiaofei to bury her face on his chest as she cried. He knew that the past 36 hours had been hard on his wife.


    "Am I such a horrible person? I thought that I don''t give a damn about her anymore, but why does it feel so painful?" She lifted her head and looked at him with teary eyes.


    "I''m sorry, darling, but I don''t think you''ve done the right thing this time." He gently wiped her tears dry. "If she was the same Bai Qingyue I knew from my memories, then I think that the two of you weren''t honest with each other earlier, but I don''t me either of you."


    "Tell me how she ended up in your ''dreams''. Do you know what happened to her after I died?" Su Xiaofei asked. Since Lu Qingfeng mentioned his memories from their previous lives, then maybe he knew something about Bai Qingyue that she didn''t.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    As a ghost, the ces she could be at were limited, and she mostly stayed and haunted Yun Qingrong''s estate where Lu Qingfeng lived after her passing. So she didn''t know much about what happened to others, except for Lu Qingfeng.


    Lu Qingfeng''s jaws hardened, his face became cold as he tried not to remember the days when Su Xiaofei wasn''t with him anymore. However, thinking about the past, he didn''t want to believe that Bai Qingyue truly hated Su Xiaofei because of what the actress had done after her passing.


    A person who woulde to Su Xiaofei''s grave every single month for seven years couldn''t possibly hate her. She woulde without fail, and there were even times that he would find her already there before he was. The actress wouldn''t say anything to him, but would only smile bitterly and leave without a word.


    Bai Qingyue must have been really devastated with grief and guilt that she eventually took her own life to end her suffering. A woman who had visited her daughter''s grave for years couldn''t possibly hate her child. She must have said those hurtful words earlier to Su Xiaofei to increase the distance between them and to prevent Su Xiaofei from bearing the guilt.


    "When you died, Qiao Yuhan and I decided to bury your remains next to your father." Lu Qingfeng swallowed hard. Just remembering those days was enough to make him ufortable. He didn''t like the thought of his wife being dead.


    "I''m not sure how Bai Qingyue found out about your death, as your name had already been forgotten by the industry back then. For seven years since your death, she woulde and stand in front of your grave for more than an hour, staring at your name. It only stopped when the news about her death filled the news. She died from a drug overdose. Apparently it wasn''t the first time she attempted to do it."


    Hot tears began to flow and Su Xiaofei covered her mouth in shock. She couldn''t believe that Bai Qingyue had mourned her death in her previous life. How can she not know of this?


    ''Because you were blinded with rage and revenge that you refused to hear the other side of the story.'' Her mind taunted her.


    Did Bai Qingyue regret being harsh on her? Did she regret leaving her daughter, and did she feel guilty for giving Ye Mingyu an upper hand instead of assisting her own child to seed?


    "You know, Feifei. Sometimes people say things that they don''t mean, only to regret it in the end. People tend to throw hurtful words when they are cornered or angry. It''s not that I''m telling you to forgive her, but I hope you would at least give her the benefit of the doubt and listen to her version of the story." She heard her husband say.


    "One must be careful with their words, for words have the power to uplift a person or break them, don''t you think?"


    Su Xiaofei chuckled at her own stupidity. It seemed like there were so many things she still didn''t know. Being reborn had surely given her a chance to see everything from a different point of view.

 Chapter 500 Two Sides Of The Same Coin (4)

    There was a knock on her door and Bai Qingyue lifted her head up to see who it was. Her agency and her manager didn''t have any idea of what had happened, and surely no one woulde to see her. Not even her husband.


    "Come in." She said, and the person stepped inside at once.


    Bai Qingyue would have never guessed that the person who came to see her was her ex-lover. The father of her child, Qiao Fengying, whom she hadn''t seen or talked to since their break-up.


    "What are you doing here?" She frowned, disliking how vulnerable she looked right now.


    Qiao Fengying remained standing at a safe distance from her. After not seeing her for so many years, he was oddly at peace now. Perhaps it would have been a different matter if he hadn''t found out that Su Xiaofei was actually the daughter he was frantically searching for. He might still hate her till this day if that was the case.


    "I heard what happened from Feifei. I just came here to thank you."


    Bai Qingyue blinked twice and looked at him confusedly, wondering if she had heard him right.


    "Yes, I''m thanking you on Feifei''s behalf. I know why you did it, and we''re forever grateful for what you did for her."


    The actress scoffed at that and looked away.


    "It doesn''t seem like your daughter shares the same sentiments as you."


    "That''s because you lied to her. You are always like this, Lan Xi. You always say the wrong things instead of making things right." Qiao Fengying furrowed his brows, clearly displeased with her.


    Bai Qingyue shot him a re. She hadn''t been called by that name for a long time, but she didn''t dare to correct Qiao Fengying.


    "What is it about you and your son-inw using me of lying? What if I only did it because I want to get rid of her from my life for good?" She challenged him.


    Qiao Fengying sighed and went to stand next to the window of her hospital room, seeing that the sun was already high up in the sky. He remained silent as he reminisced about the past.


    "If you didn''t care about Xiaofei, then why do you have such a pitiful expression on your face?" He finally said after a long silence between them.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "I do not!" The actress eximed in rage. Did Qiao Fengyinge here to argue with her or what?


    "You aren''t the only one to me, Lan Xi. I know you wouldn''t have to abandon Xiaofei if only I was a man you could rely on during those times. I know now that you did what you tought was best for the three of us, albeit I still don''t approve of it."


    Bai Qingyue remained silent and didn''t dare to meet his eyes.


    "I know you volunteered to donate for Xiaofei''s sake. If she were to lose Yun Qingrong, you know what would happen to her, and you want to avoid that. So, please stop pretending that you didn''t care about her or that you hate her when you don''t. You wouldn''t have chosen to give birth to her and leave her at the orphanage if you don''t feel anything for her."


    "It still doesn''t change the fact that I robbed you and her of the chance of being together as a family." Bai Qingyue replied. "I wouldn''t be able to give back the lost time for the two of you, and I won''t be able to be the mother she needed."


    "So you really don''t hate her."


    "Hate her?" The actress snapped her head to look at him, her eyes pooling with tears once more. "How could I hate her? Could you?"


    Qiao Fengying pressed his lips into a thin line. Of course, he couldn''t. That was his daughter, alright!


    "I gave birth to her, yes, but I left her at that horrible ce. Do you know how much I regretted it? Do you know how hard I tried to find her, only to be told that she was gone? It almost drove me insane. She was so small that she barely fit my arms when I held her the first time."


    By now, she was a crying mess as she remembered those times. She would sneak out of her filming sets to find the traces of where her daughter could be, but she would alwayse back empty-handed.


    "And then one day she showed up in front of me, smiling, looking at me like she could see past my facade. I must have been insane to think that she was my daughter, and I have kept an eye on her since then. I went to see her during her university entrance examinations, I even went to her graduation ceremony, looking at her smiling face as she walked up to the stage. Su Xiaofei¡­ this youngdy¡­ I don''t know what kind of feelings she instilled upon me that I couldn''t stop thinking of her since I met her."


    Qiao Fengying looked at her in shock. He couldn''t believe that she''d been paying attention to Su Xiaofei for years now. The more shocking was the fact that Su Xiaofei might have known Bai Qingyue was her mother even before he found her.


    "And then when I saw her wedding photos at Mo Yuchen''s office, with you posing with her and her husband in a photo, I knew then that she''s mine. I came to see her, but I didn''t expect that she wouldsh out at me like that." Bai Qingyueughed at herself. She should have known that Su Xiaofei wouldn''t treat her kindly after what she had done to her.


    "I knew right then and there that I could do something for her, and it didn''t matter what she thinks of me after all of this. Of course, I don''t hate her. I only want her to move on with her life and forget that she has a useless mother like me. She needs Yun Qingrong. That''s the least I could give her."

 Chapter 501 Two Sides Of The Same Coin (5)

    Su Xiaofei froze from where she was standing after hearing what Bai Qingyue just said. It was one thing to hear it from Lu Qingfeng, but it surely felt different hearing the truth from her birth mother''s mouth. So it turned out that Bai Qingyue had been suffering all of these years and regretted abandoning her. Bai Qingyue was inflicting punishment on herself even in Su Xiaofei''s previous life.


    "Feifei¡­"


    Her husband''s voice brought her back to reality. She then slowly and silently closed Bai Qingyue''s door and gave Lu Qingfeng a weak smile. She had heard what she needed to know, and there was no need for her to subject her own birth mother to further humiliation by confronting her herself.


    Su Xiaofei led her husband away from Bai Qingyue''s hospital room, aware that Lu Qingfeng was looking at her with confusion. They came to confront Bai Qingyue for the truth, but who would have thought that they would identally overhear the actress''s conversation with Qiao Fengying in the process?


    It showed a new side of Bai Qingyue that Su Xiaofei had never known of. She would never have assumed that her birth mother was having such thoughts and concerns about her, and it made Su Xiaofei feel guilty for even doubting it.


    Still, words that had already been spoken were like spilled water that she would never be able to take back. Su Xiaofei knew this and even if she wanted to question Bai Qingyue herself, she knew that the actress would change her tune again.


    ''If Bai Qingyue has decided to cut our ties for good, then so be it.'' Su Xiaofei thought.


    Just like her, Bai Qingyue was too prideful to allow herself to lower her guard and admit what was truly in her heart. Not that Su Xiaofei could me her. It wasn''t easy to admit that you made a mistake, especially a huge one like this, and there weren''t many people who could do it.


    "Are you sure about this, Feifei?" Lu Qingfeng asked her. He didn''t want her to regret this decisionter. They had wasted a lifetime already. He didn''t want her to have any more regrets in this lifetime.


    "I am sure." She nodded in affirmation. "Since she''s already made up her mind, let''s just leave it be. She has done me a great favor that I could never repay."


    Lu Qingfeng stared at her and asked no more. He felt that it shouldn''t end up this way for her and Bai Qingyue, but he had no right to force his wife to do something she wasn''tfortable with.


    "Alright. If that''s what you want."


    When they returned to the waiting room, they were greeted by the whole Yun family, except for their patriarch and Yun Xiang. Seeing this, Su Xiaofei couldn''t help but question her uncles. It was impossible for them not to know where Yun Xiang was.


    "I haven''t seen nor heard anything from Brother Xiang these days, did something happen to him?" She asked.


    The oldest Yun brother grimaced at her question and hesitated to answer her. Even his brothers could only avert their eyes, as they didn''t have any idea where their nephew could be, and it was starting to worry the rest of their family.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "He''s been away for some time now. We heard that he filed for an indefinite leave, but we have no idea where he''d gone. Let''s just hope that nothing bad happens to him, and that he''s safe." He said after pondering his words for a moment.


    "I see." Su Xiaofei nodded. If the Yun family didn''t have any idea where Yun Xiang could be, then she couldn''t possibly know where he was at this very moment.


    She remembered that Yun Xiang had done the very same thing in her previous life. The man had suddenly disappeared without a word after Ye Mingyu chose to be with Mo Yuchen instead of him.


    Su Xiaofei knew that there were things that would remain the same in this lifetime, but she couldn''t think of any reason why Yun Xiang would disappear right now. Suddenly, she had a bad feeling about this.


    She realized that thest time the man was seen was on her wedding day with Lu Qingfeng. Yun Xiang couldn''t possibly leave because of her, right?


    "Feifei, darling, what is it?" Lu Qingfeng asked when he noticed her unusual silence after speaking with her uncles. "Are you worried about Mother? The nurses said that it might take some time before the surgery ends."


    "Just thinking about something else¡­" She started. "Do you think you can help us find Brother Xiang? It''s almost three months now, and we haven''t heard any news from him."


    Su Xiaofei didn''t want her husband to be worried about her. Heck, she didn''t even know what Yun Xiang was thinking at this very moment. It was easy for her to predict his moves when he was still head over heels for Ye Mingyu, but now that his eyes were set on her, Su Xiaofei wasn''t certain how Yun Xiang would act around her.


    Lu Qingfeng fell silent and didn''t respond to her request immediately, which made her even more ufortable thinking about Yun Xiang. Did he know something that she didn''t? She wondered.


    She didn''t know how Yun Xiang ended up after her death, and she was starting to regret not paying to other people aside from Lu Qingfeng during her time as a ghost.


    "I''ll see what we can do." Lu Qingfeng finally said. "But you shouldn''t get your hopes up, Feifei. It would be hard to find someone who doesn''t want to be found."


    There was a hint of seriousness in his voice, as if he was subtly warning her about something.


    Su Xiaofei understood what her husband meant by those words. If Yun Xiang wanted to be found, his family would be able to easily find him. He was clearly hiding from the rest, doing something. But what it was, she had no idea.

 Chapter 502 Mutual Attraction (1)

    Yan Xiuchen tugged his tie irritably as he looked at his reflection with a grim expression on his face. His dark hair was slicked down into a neat part and his sses seated on the bridge of his nose, barely hiding the horrendous scars on the right side of his face.


    There were only three days left before Xiao Rufeng would leave his estate, and they would go back to how they were prior to this arrangement - strangers to each other.


    "Are you ready, Mr. Yan? The car is ready and waiting for you."


    The said woman arrived at his office and looked at him bemusedly. He gave her a dismissive look, daring her to utter another word.


    "Hey, don''t look at me like that. I''m merely the assistant who had no choice but to agree to your business associates'' requests. You really need to meet them this time." Xiao Rufeng said in defense.


    Yan Xiuchen could only huff in annoyance. He would rather be here and not waste any time away from her, but he also knew that he couldn''t simply dismiss his business associates'' request for a meeting.


    "Come on, you haven''t left the estate since I came here, right? Don''t let others think I''m keeping you here all to myself." She grinned at him, which only made the scarred man groan inwardly.


    "I suppose so." He wasn''t looking forward to meeting other people at this moment. If he was meeting his brothers, then surely it would be a different matter.


    Xiao Rufeng didn''t say anything, her eyes staring at him. It wasn''t a secret why Yan Xiuchen had kept his interaction with other people to a bare minimum. His face surely got a lot of attention, which made him feel ufortable and unwanted.


    "Would you mind if we try something new?" She suddenly blurted out, getting Yan Xiuchen''s attention at once.


    "What is it?"


    Xiao Rufeng hesitated for a moment. She knew that she was always treading on ice whenever she was looking at his face. Wasn''t it obvious that he was trying his best not to intimidate her with his look?


    "Do you mind if I put some makeup on you?" She blurted out. "Oh, I don''t mean to offend you. I''m just thinking that maybe if we could put makeup over your scars, it would make you feel more confident meeting others."


    Yan Xiuchen stared silently at her. He had never entertained such ideas before. He was so used to being alone, being stared at by others with pity and repulsion that he didn''t bother to change anything on his face to make him more likeable.


    "You can do that?" He asked, not daring to raise his hopes so he wouldn''t get disappointed if she couldn''t.


    Xiao Rufeng''s smile that bloomed afterwards was almost blinding for Yan XIuchen, forcing him to avert his gaze away from her.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Uhm¡­ yes, the Concealer is a great product to use if you need to cover any scars. Its high pigmentation covers any discoloration and matches it to your natural skin tone. I have a couple of some we could try to see if we can make it work." She replied with eagerness in her eyes.


    "Well, what are you waiting for? We don''t have much time to waste, Miss Xiao."


    His mouth twitched and for a moment, Xiao Rufeng thought he was smiling at her.


    Xiao Rufeng hurriedly sprinted out of his office towards her assigned room. She cursed inwardly when she remembered that she was staying on the other side of the mansion and it would take her over ten minutes to be able to return to Yan Xiuchen.


    She ran as fast as she could and reached her room in under five minutes. Once she threw the door open, she rummaged through her bag and took out her makeup kit. She then hurriedly went back to Yan Xiuchen''s office as fast as she could.


    When she came back, she found Yan Xiuchen seated behind his desk, reviewing documents in one hand. He gave her a curious look when she came towards him with a knowing smile.


    "Now, Mr. Yan, will you allow me to work on it?" Her eyes showed some excitement and mischief that seemed novel to Yan Xiuchen. It made him wonder if he was going to regret agreeing with her.


    He sighed and ced down the documents on his desk and gestured to allow her to start working. Xiao Rufeng ced her makeup bag on his desk and started pulling out the cosmetics she might need.


    Yan Xiuchen froze when she suddenly leaned close to him, invading his private space. The brush in her hand slowly worked over his scars and he looked at her serious face up close. He realized that she had this expression on her face whenever she was deciding on something.


    As she worked on his face, Yan Xiuchen remained silent and allowed the woman of his dreams to do whatever she liked. He might regret thister, but he thought that this was a better way to dy his meeting with his colleagues.


    It was the first time that a person, aside from his butler, was willing to get this close to him and he didn''t know what to feel about it. He wanted to ask her not to leave in three days, but there was no reason for her to stay longer than she needed.


    After all, she only came here to repay the favor she owed him, nothing else. He would always be alone. No matter how much he hoped, Xiao Rufeng''s presence only reminded him that he was unlovable and that no one would ever see past his face.


    Xiao Rufeng seemed pleased with what she was doing, as she didn''t even realize that the man in front of her was enthralled by her beauty.


    "Now, that looks better." She suddenly lifted her gaze and froze still when she noticed how close they were to each other.

 Chapter 503 Mutual Attraction (2)

    There was something about him that called to her, and Xiao Rufeng wasn''t sure what it was. Was it his sharp mind? She couldn''t find the right words to exin it. She was fascinated with him, she was sure of it. Heck, she might be attracted to him too!


    Xiao Rufeng could also see that he was trying to keep his distance from her, but she couldn''t stay away from him whenever they were together. Yan Xiuchen wouldn''t say much to her, but with the slight inclination of his head, she knew that he was paying attention to whatever she was saying.


    He was kind to her, there was no question about that, but sometimes Xiao Rufeng wondered if it was all out of courtesy, or he was also attracted to her the way she was to him. The way he looked at her with appreciation whenever they dined together every night, the way he reminded her that she was fine being her.


    Seeing him up this close, it only reminded her that she had it bad for him.


    He was smart and responsible, and he took his duties very seriously. She had never thought that she would find it attractive in a man until she saw Yan Xiuchen work without aint, no matter how packed and busy his schedule was. Something in the way he presents himself entices her.


    Xiao Rufeng didn''t want to think that this was just a ''transference'', that she was channeling her feelings for Jin Qiu to Yan Xiuchen in hope that her feelings would be reciprocated. No. That can''t be. It would be unfair for Yan Xiuchen if that was the case. He deserved to be loved by someone as he was.


    "I''m sorry." She pulled away and lowered her gaze, aware of the slight blush on her cheeks.


    She didn''t want to get attached to him if all of this would disappear one day. It would be better if she doesn''t get involved with him, as she wouldn''t be able to forgive herself if she ended up hurting him in the end.


    "How do I look?" Yan Xiuchen asked her, looking a little worried as he tried to picture what Xiao Rufeng had done to his face.


    "Wonderful." Xiao Rufeng said at once. "Would you like to see it yourself?"


    She was d that Yan Xiuchen broke the awkwardness between them. She stood up straight and gave way to allow him to check his appearance on therge mirror in his room. For someone who didn''t like being stared at, Yan Xiuchen had one in his private office.


    Yan Xiuchen hesitated for a moment before he stood up and made way in front of the mirror. He stood in front of it and didn''t dare to look at his reflection. He didn''t want to get disappointed, but he knew he needed to face the truth sooner orter.


    He slowly opened his eyes and stared back at his reflection in the mirror, his mouth hanging open in shock and amazement. Furthermore, he couldn''t recognize the man that was looking back at him. Raising his hand, he watched as his reflection did the same, and Yan Xiuchen couldn''t believe what he was seeing.


    The scars on the right side of his face were barely noticeable, although the scar at the corner of his mouth remained, at least he didn''t look as horrendous anymore. Surely, his business acquaintances wouldn''t find his appearance horrible tonight.


    It was almost like he was looking at a different person and not himself. He had to admit that Xiao Rufeng had the talent and skills for makeup if she was able to make a monster like him look like a decent human being.


    "So, what do you think?" Xiao Rufeng appeared next to him and smiled, but something about the way he looked didn''t sit well with her.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    He looked great, alright. If Yan Xiuchen hadn''t gotten into an ident that gave him these scars, Xiao Rufeng thought that he would be one of the most handsome men she had ever met. There''s no doubt about it, but a part of her wanted to see his scars rather than covering them with makeup. She wanted to see the real him, the wed Yan Xiuchen who she met weeks ago.


    "Not bad." He nodded, but it felt ufortable looking at himself like this. He felt different, not like himself, the real Yan Xiuchen.


    Still, he wouldn''t me Xiao Rufeng for any of this. She was merely concerned about him.


    "I guess I should get going then." He said, his voice t and wary.


    Xiao Rufeng flinched at that. It seemed like she wasn''t the only one who found his appearance odd today. He looked somewhat strange right now.


    "Will you be fine on your own?" She asked. She was half-tempted to apany him today, but Su Xiaofei''s conditions rang in her mind, preventing her from doing so.


    "No need. I can manage. We also don''t want to get on Su Xiaofei''s bad side." Yan Xiuchen replied knowing what she was thinking, allowing her to adjust his jacket.


    Suddenly, Xiao Rufengughed.


    "What''s so funny?" He frowned. Yan Xiuchen thought that she found his appearance ridiculous this time.


    "Just thinking that it''s great that you are wearing these kinds of suits when attending parties." She grinned at him. "When I was younger, I always wondered why my father''s guests liked to wear coats with tailcoats. They look like penguins to me. Don''t you think I''m right?"


    The corner of his lips curled into a smile.


    "Did you tell that to your father as well?"


    Yan Xiuchen realized that he loved hearing stories about her childhood. This wasn''t the first time she shared something like this with him ever since she came to be his temporary assistant.


    "I did. He told me that wasn''t nice to say, but I could tell that he found humor in it."


    "Can''t me him, though. You have a wild imagination there."

 Chapter 504 Mutual Attraction (3)

    Yan Xiuchen was already used to being stared at, but tonight felt different. People weren''t looking at him with disgust, but more out of curiosity. Even his colleagues couldn''t help but give him a second look, as if they weren''t sure whether this was the same man they were acquainted with. It was like it was an entirely different person that was meeting them tonight.


    He wondered what Xiao Rufeng truly thought of his appearance today. Did she also find it as odd as he did? It wasn''t like he didn''t like how he looked tonight, because for the first time, he couldn''t see the disgust and fear people usually showed whenever they looked at his face.


    The night went by peacefully and when he returned home, Yan Xiuchen didn''t expect that he would see Xiao Rufeng waiting for his return at the front doors of his home.


    "What are you doing here?" He asked in surprise. Although Xiao Rufeng was wearing a thick coat to protect herself from the night breeze, the weather in Shenjing at this time of the year was biting cold.


    "I couldn''t sleep, so I decided to wait for you." The actress replied sheepishly. Her breath fogging in front of her face as she speaks.


    Yan Xiuchen clicked his tongue in disapproval, before opening the doors so they could enter the household.


    "Still, you could have waited for me inside rather than staying outside. How will I exin to Su Xiaofei if you fall sick after this?" He said, but a warm feeling spread in his chest when the thought of her waiting for his return sunk in his mind.


    Xiao Rufeng flushed and looked away, d that they were inside his grand mansion, protecting her from the coldness of the night.


    "Sorry. I didn''t expect that you woulde home thiste. I should have known."


    To her surprise, Yan Xiuchen took both of her hands and examined them. They were pale and cold to touch and having him this close as he leaned in to her, Xiao Rufeng could smell his clean aftershave. Her face instantly turned beet red at their proximity as she held her breath.


    "I-It''s nothing." She forced herself to respond.


    "You should be more careful, Miss Xiao. I would hate it if you fell ill because of me." His gaze then moved to her face, reminding her once again of how oddly attracted she was to this man.


    It was odd for her to feel this way, considering she didn''t know much about him, and they had only been acquainted with each other for almost two weeks now. They only had three days left until their arrangement came to an end, but Xiao Rufeng felt like she wasn''t ready to leave him just yet.


    Daring herself to confront this unknown feelings he instilled in her, Xiao Rufeng invaded his private space and immediately, Yan Xiuchen''s whole body stiffened as he looked at her, utterly bewildered by the sudden movement.


    "You look different." She murmured, much to his confusion. She couldn''t stop staring at his face.


    Wasn''t she the one who suggested this? Then why did she feel disappointed upon seeing the perfect, elegant man she knew Yan Xiuchen could be without the prominent scars on his face? This wasn''t the man who saved her life. This wasn''t her Yan Xiuchen at all.


    Then she swore to herself. Her Yan Xiuchen? Was she insane? Since when did he belong to her? She must really be losing her mind. This man wasn''t hers in any sense of the word. She needed to get a hold of herself.


    Xiao Rufeng sighed inwardly. She didn''t know why she was even bothered by him.


    "I thought this is what you like to see." Yan Xiuchen cocked his head to one side as he looked at her.


    "No. Of course not. That''s not what I meant when I suggested this to you." Her brows drew together. She lifted her right hand, wanting to touch the side of his face that was covered with makeup.


    It bothered her, alright, and she couldn''t exactly exin why she didn''t like this version of Yan Xiuchen when there was nothing wrong about the way he looked tonight.


    Yan Xiuchen visibly flinched, and her hand stopped midair.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Sorry. Were you ufortable having makeup on your face?" She asked as she lowered her hand. She berated herself for even daring to touch his face.


    Yan Xiuchen swallowed hard. Did he feel good? Not really, although he admitted that he liked that he didn''t receive any unusual stares tonight. He didn''t really like being himself. Xiao Rufeng made him a decent man tonight, and he could see that other people were pleased with his appearance, so why wasn''t she?


    "You want to hear the truth? It felt nice not to receive repulsive stares from others." He started, "but I would rather not wear it anymore if you are looking at me like this."


    "What?" It was Xiao Rufeng''s turn to be confused.


    "You look at me as if you pity me. Is that what you think of me, Miss Xiao? Did you volunteer toe here and be my temporary assistant out of pity? I''ll tell you now, I don''t need either of your pity or sympathy."


    He then smeared the makeup on the right side of his face with his handkerchief, as if it disgusted him to have it on his face.


    Yan Xiuchen couldn''t believe he was saying these words to her, but these were the things that were bothering him the moment she volunteered to be his assistant. God, she was the most amazing woman he''d met, and it was a pity that he couldn''t have her all to himself.


    No, because Xiao Rufeng deserved better than a broken man like him. He didn''t want other people to criticize her for being with him. She didn''t deserve any of that.


    "That''s not true, Mr. Yan! I like you the way you are!" Xiao Rufeng eximed. Seeing the scars visible on his face, she knew then that it was part of the reason she was attracted to him. This was the Yan Xiuchen she knew, and not the perfect man earlier.


    ''You are insane, Xiao Rufeng.'' She taunted herself.


    "You want me to believe that?" He said with a derisive snort. "Forgive me, Miss Xiao, but I have lived my thirties and know what people think of me. They flinch whenever they look at me. They turn away when they see my face. Haven''t you done the same? Do you know it hurts to know that I couldn''t be anything, but a benefactor, to you? That I''m pining away like some child¡ª"


    He paused and realized that he made a slip of the tongue. It wasn''t his n to confess to her. He didn''t want her to feel repulsive towards him, not when they were about to part ways. Xiao Rufeng would pull away from him, and he would be left wallowing in his own humiliation.


    Xiao Rufeng turned to stare at him with widened eyes, shocked to hear this sudden outburst from him.


    "I like everything about you, but I know I cannot have you. I like you more than I should, but I don''t dare to hope, Miss Xiao. Someone like you doesn''t deserve someone like me, but I couldn''t seem to stop liking you even more when I''m with you." He continued, seeing how wide her eyes became at his confession. He then shut his eyes, knowing the impending rejection that was to follow.


    "I''m sorry. Let''s pretend none of this ever happened, that you heard nothing from me." Yan Xiuchen grimaced. He hated himself at that very moment. He practically gave her a reason to run away from him.


    To his surprise, Xiao Rufeng said nothing and only stared at him. The confusion on her face was now lost and was reced by something Yan Xiuchen couldn''tprehend. He knew then that he ruined everything they had right now with his sudden confession.


    "You shouldn''t speak like your feelings don''t matter. You matter, Yan Xiuchen." She said with a frown on her beautiful face. He looked so tormented that she couldn''t help but ache for him.


    "I speak from experience, Miss Xiao. To be honest, you are the only woman who looked at me without her stomach churning at the sight of my face. You weren''t revolted with my face, and I admit that initially, that piqued my curiosity."


    When she said nothing, Yan Xiuchen continued.


    "I''ve already epted that I will grow old alone. A man like me doesn''t have any choice when ites to love and affection. I''m only wanted by others for my fortune. I''m sorry that I have burdened you this way. I must be really foolish to even think¡ª"


    However, even before he could finish his words, a pair of soft lips stopped Yan Xiuchen from saying more, leaving him astonished.

 Chapter 505 Only A Monster (1)

    Xiao Rufeng didn''t like how Yan Xiuchen demeaned himself.


    What made him think he didn''t deserve to be loved? Just because his face was scarred, it didn''t mean that he didn''t deserve to be happy like the rest. She wouldn''t hear any of such nonsense, especially from him.


    Didn''t he know how amazing a person he was? Over the span of eleven days working as his personal assistant, Xiao Rufeng witnessed herself how dedicated he was to his work and how responsible and sympathetic he was as a business owner.


    At one asion, someone brought an issue about the union of employees in one of the subsidiarypanies he recently acquired, asking for a humane and fair working time. As the new owner, they hoped that Yan Xiuchen would consider hearing their demands for a healthy working environment at theirpany.


    Manypanies these days only gave their employees a day off in a week and were required to exert more than eight hours at work, leaving them either exhausted or having less time to spend with their families and to themselves.


    Xiao Rufeng was curious to see how Yan Xiuchen would handle it, as not many businessmen would allow such a change that could totally tip the bnce at the workce. To her surprise, Yan Xiuchen easily agreed to the request of the employees, with very few conditions on his part.


    Not only had he given them fair hours of working, but he also asked his team to review and revise the employees''pensation and benefits. If he was anything like any of those other greedy, selfish businessmen, Yan Xiuchen would have fired all of them on the spot and moved to the next issue, but he didn''t.


    So she really didn''t get why he thought that he was a monster that cannot be loved and appreciated by anyone. Didn''t he know that he was more than the scarred face man everyone knew? In fact, he was way better than other businessmen she had encountered in the past.


    Actually, she shouldn''t have been surprised that he had confessed his feelings for her. For the past week and a half, they were practically together all the time and would only part ways when it was time for them to retire for the night. Add to the fact that he imed that she was the only woman who was properly civil with him, of course Yan Xiuchen had fallen in love with her.


    Xiao Rufeng didn''t know what made her kiss the scarred man in front of her, but she didn''t regret it at all. Perhaps she had been longing to do this for some time now, and the urge to kiss him after hearing his confession earlier had gotten the best of her.


    She felt Yan Xiuchen stiffening against her, and she briefly wondered if he would reject her too. Fear crushed through her heart. Fear that he might have regretted what he had said, and he truly didn''t mean what he had just said.


    There was no doubt that he was a man with issues, and yet, he was really wonderful to her. Yan Xiuchen appreciated her, believed in her as if she was the smartest and funniest woman he''d ever met. He patiently listened to everything she said and never judged her for her shorings.


    It wasn''t like she couldn''t fall in love with him. Heck, Xiao Rufeng was sure as hell that if it wasn''t for the fact that she would face another painful rejection, she could see herself falling for him.


    ¨C<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Meanwhile, Yan Xiuchen was having a hard time grasping what was happening. One moment, he was thinking that Xiao Rufeng was going to turn him away, then the next thing he knew she was kissing him with her arms sliding over the back of his neck, pushing herself closer to him.


    He felt like his mind short-circuited for a moment as he stared at her in shock. This was his first kiss, and he had no idea what to do as he had never kissed anyone before. What if he made a mistake? What if he disappointed her?


    However, even before Yan Xiuchen coulde up with an answer to his own question, he felt Xiao Rufeng''s tongue touching and licking the tight seam of his mouth and he could swear it was enough for this woman to bring him down to his knees and worship the path she had walked on.


    He groaned, held her by her shoulder and returned her kiss with equal fervor. Yan Xiuchen never thought he would be able to experience something like this. Even when he was younger, he ached for someone to touch him as passionately as Xiao Rufeng was touching him right now.


    His hand reached for her, cupping her cheek as he allowed her to lead their kiss. He was forced to lean down, so she wouldn''t strain her neck too much because of the obvious difference in their heights.


    He nted his mouth over hers and sucked gently on her lower lips, earning a delicious moan from her. Xiao Rufeng parted her mouth and allowed him to stroke his tongue inside. Her lips were soft, and she tasted so sweet that Yan Xiuchen couldn''t think of anything that could be sweeter and more addictive than her.


    They were too engrossed in each other that they failed to notice another presence. Elder Meng cleared his throat and immediately, Yan Xiuchen and Xiao Rufeng stepped back from each other, with their eyes still in daze.


    Yan Xiuchen stared at the woman in front of him and saw how Xiao Rufeng''s cheeks were tainted with a deep blush and her lips a little plump, thoroughly kissed by him.


    "I-I should get going. Good night, Mr. Yan, Elder Meng." He heard her say, before seeing her leave.


    Yan Xiuchen then turned to Elder Meng, who was looking at them with amusement, and raised a hand.


    "Not one word." He warned him.


    "What? I wasn''t nning to say anything." The older manughed, before leaving Yan Xiuchen on his own.

 Chapter 506 Only A Monster (2)

    Yan Xiuchen knew he had it bad for her. After that sudden kiss they shared earlier, he couldn''t get the memory out of his mind. Once Elder Meng left, he lifted his hand and traced his lower lip gently and blushed profusely. He then lowered his head and wondered if all that happened was nothing but a figment of his imagination.


    Xiao Rufeng had kissed him! Kissed someone like him?! What was she even thinking?


    He strode towards his room, down the dark hallways he was familiar with. Yan Xiuchen wasn''t sure what made Xiao Rufeng kiss him, and wondered if she would regret it once she realized the seriousness of what she had done.


    Yan Xiuchen stared at the empty gray walls of his bedroom. There wasn''t much to see in his room except for a huge, immacte bed at the center, a night stand and a window that allowed the moonlight to lit up the ce and a door to the adjoining room that contained his private bathroom and walk in closet.


    In his mansion, there were only two ces where a mirror could be found. One was in his private office and the other one was in the room where Xiao Rufeng was staying. It was this way because he never liked seeing his own reflection staring back at him. It was enough for him to see people scampering away from him to remind himself that he was unwanted.


    The next day, Xiao Rufeng came to his office as usual, but this time there seemed to be a permanent blush on her face and she couldn''t look at him straight in the eyes. She still did her usual routine and didn''t make any mistakes despite her mind being preupied.


    Around lunchtime, they moved from his office to the dining room. By this time, Yan Xiuchen couldn''t take her silence anymore. She used to be full of spirit and always had something to tell him, but now, she was so silent, it bothered him.


    He lowered his fork and regarded her.


    "What is it?" He asked, willing himself to remain calm while being fully aware of his racing heartbeat at that very moment.


    "I-I¡­" Xiao Rufeng''s gaze remained on her te, as if she would rather look at it than turn to face him.


    She swallowed hard, averting her gaze away from him. Xiao Rufeng didn''t even know how to exin herself and why she kissed himst night.


    She took a calming breath and decided to be truthful to him. Yan Xiuchen deserved that, and not the excuses her mind was trying to conjure.


    "Last night¡­ I shouldn''t have kissed you."


    The moment she said those words, Xiao Rufeng could see that it broke Yan Xiuchen. He didn''t respond for a moment.


    "I see." He said eventually and rose from his seat. Xiao Rufeng knew right then that she had made a mistake.


    She followed after him and held his arm to stop him from leaving.


    "I didn''t mean¡ª"


    Yan Xiuchen turned to face her and gave her a withering look.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "You don''t have to feel guilty about it, Miss Xiao. I truly understand what you mean." He said with a mockingugh, but it sounded so bitter and cold to Xiao Rufeng.


    "And you''re leaving soon. What else do I have to do with you? You don''t need to say more."


    She frowned and her hold on his arm tightened. Xiao Rufeng was annoyed that he was selling himself short. He was an enigma to her, but she couldn''t help but be fascinated by him.


    She knew that after what her sister had done to her and how Jin Qiu broke her heart, she shouldn''t let her guard down so easily, but Xiao Rufeng felt conflicted at this very moment.


    A part of her wanted to let him be and pretend that he was just another man that was fascinated by her looks, but the other side of her wanted to probe these feelings she had for him, despite knowing that it could break her.


    "Can''t you listen to what I want to say first before jumping to conclusions?" She gave him a defying look.


    Yan Xiuchen fell silent, and she took it as a cue for her to continue.


    Xiao Rufeng lifted a hand, wanting to touch the scars on his face.


    "May I?" She asked warily.


    Yan Xiuchen''s whole being wanting to say no, but he swallowed his pride and allowed her to touch him.


    "You may." He answered, and it didn''t take long before he felt her fingertips touching the scars on his face.


    Yan Xiuchen stilled under her touch as she traced the scars on his cheek. The urge to p away her hand was so strong, but he forced his hands to stay still on his sides and allowed Xiao Rufeng to take a look at his horrendous face that kept everyone away from him.


    He wondered what she was thinking at that moment. Did she understand how broken and repulsive a man he was? That a woman as beautiful as her deserved a prince charming, and not a beast hiding in the dungeon.


    Then he felt her tracing his jawline before moving to his mouth that was slightly twisted by his scars. One of the many reasons why he couldn''t smile freely.


    "You aren''t as bad as you thought you are." She murmured, her eyes never leaving the scars on his face. "Every one of us has ws, and it happens that yours are visible for everyone to see, but you aren''t less than a person, a human than the rest of us, Yan Xiuchen. You aren''t a monster."


    She looked at him straight in his eyes as she said this. Yan Xiuchen would never be a hideous monster in her eyes.


    "Do you know who''s the real monster? My sister who looks so gentle and pretty but is so willing to sell her own sister for a favor, and you''ve saved me from her."

 Chapter 507 Stay With Me (1)

    Yan Xiuchen averted his gaze, but didn''t push her hand away from his face.


    "Others would have done the same." He said, but Xiao Rufeng disagreed with him.


    "No." She smiled humorlessly. "You haven''t been exposed enough to other people because you are limiting yourself here, but I have."


    The scarred man looked at her with confusion, but didn''t dare to question her.


    "That night, I was sure as hell that I would be sexually vited." Her tears pooled in her eyes, and Yan Xiuchen''s jaws hardened upon seeing it. Seeing her like this made him feel like his heart was being ripped out of his chest.


    He wanted to see herughing and smiling, making his dull life look brighter.


    "I''m not saying these to remind you that I''ve onlye here because you saved me, but I want you to understand that if it wasn''t you who received me that night, the first thing you would see in the news the next day would be my own death."


    Yan Xiuchen sucked in a deep breath at that. He couldn''t imagine that his bright star would cease shining if she ended up on someone else''s bed. He shouldn''t be concerned about her because if that was the case, he wouldn''t have known she existed, but the thought of her losing the glint in her eyes, being lifeless made him feel ufortable.


    ''Damn you. Xiao Yunyao.''


    He had been relentless, punishing Xiao Yunyao in public without Xiao Rufeng knowing. However, he had to admit that he wouldn''t be able to meet Xiao Rufeng if it wasn''t for her vicious younger sister.


    "You saved me, and I''m not just talking about my safety. You saved not only my future and career, but you also saved my life. You''ve never made me feel less than a person. Do you know that I have topete with Xiao Yunyao every single day of my life? That I''m reminded every single day that being a Xiao is what defines me and I have no other options in life?"


    Yan Xiuchen''s heart ached for her, and he couldn''t understand why some people were so bent on ruining her.


    "Do you know what I''m seeing now?" She asked him, and he shook his head in response.


    "You might find it strange, but I really don''t find you ugly, Yan Xiuchen. We all have our own ws, and we aren''t perfect either. Just because you don''t see a scar on me doesn''t mean I''m not enduring anything."


    Yan Xiuchen wanted to tell her she was wrong and that she was perfect in his eyes, but he didn''t voice it out because he knew she would disagree with him.


    "What I see is a man who holds respect for another person. He is a man who wouldn''t think twice to help a person in need. I saw a man who kept his distance away from others because he didn''t want them to feel ufortable with his presence. A man who barely leaves the safety of his own house, but would make sure that his employees wouldn''t becking anything that hispany could provide. You helped them by improving the quality of their life at the expense of a possible higher profit."


    Astonishment shed through Yan Xiuchen''s face as he looked at her. He had never heard these words from other people, until she came along.


    "You aren''t as bad as you think you are. Please don''t sell yourself short. If you think people hate you, feel repulsed by your face, that''s because they are horrible, and it''s not you. Compared to other men I''ve met in life, you are a wonderful person, Yan Xiuchen."<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    So why are you denying the happiness you deserve? You are so convinced that your face is hideous, and no person would take a liking to you and see the real you. You know what? I''m proud of you. Not all men can do what you''ve done. I hope one day you will realize that you aren''t the monster you thought you were."


    "But isn''t that the truth? I look like a monster and I doubt that anyone would take me at face value, not unless they see the fat wallet I have with me." He grimaced.


    She shook her head and sighed. Xiao Rufeng realized that mere words wouldn''t be enough for her to change Yan Xiuchen''s opinion of himself.


    "Don''t you know that there''s a thin line between the hero and the viins¡ª the very same monster they need to defeat?"


    Yan Xiuchen took her hand that was still on his face and kissed her palm so tenderly.


    "Thank you." He whispered with gratitude.


    "No. I should be the one who should be thankful for everything. Although I''m not sure if I deserve your feelings, rest assured that I will treasure it dearly."


    His breath was caught at that. She wasn''t rejecting him?


    Xiao Rufeng''s cheeks were tainted with a blush again, and he wondered¡­


    "I don''t understand." He started and inclined his head, studying her face closely. It was hard for him to believe that he was the reason for this reaction of hers.


    She couldn''t possibly like him, right?


    The actress blinked and furrowed her brows, which made her look adorable in his eyes.


    "Understand what?" She asked.


    "I don''t understand why you are blushing like this? You''ve been blushing like thistely, I wonder if this is because of me or am I just seeing things?"


    "Well¡­" Xiao Rufeng''s blush intensified until the tips of her ears turned red. A hint of unease shed through her face as she looked at him.


    "Is it really hard to believe that I like you too? I''m not sure where this is headed, but I want to know more of you, if that is okay with you." She said shyly.


    His eyes warmed and for the first time in his life, Yan Xiuchen felt like he was wanted by another person.

 Chapter 508 Stay With Me (2)

    Xiao Rufeng knew that she would eventually leave the Yan Mansion, but neither she nor Yan Xiuchen spoke about it that day. They spent the rest of the day doing their own tasks at work until the working hours ended.


    When she tidied up her small desk, she found Yan Xiuchen standing in front of her with a slight flush on his face. It made his scar more prominent in her gaze, but it didn''t bother her at all. After their intimate conversation during lunch, she felt that she could be more at ease in hispany.


    "What is it?" She asked. She wondered if these feelings she had for him were nothing but tonic and couldn''t turn into a romantic one.


    "I was thinking¡­" Xiao Rufeng saw the hesitation on his face, "I was thinking if I could invite you for dinner."


    "We dine together every day since I came here." She pointed out, and she could see a hint of disappointment crossing his face, "but if tonight''s a special one, does it mean I need to dress up?"


    He cleared his throat and looked away, reprimanding himself for acting like a boy in front of his crush. Xiao Rufeng was willing to get to know him better, and he couldn''t possibly waste this chance if it meant that he could be with her in the future.


    "You don''t need to. You are beautiful just the way you are." He said it so low that Xiao Rufeng would totally miss it had it not been for him standing so close to her.


    Xiao Rufeng couldn''t resist and smiled at that.


    "You flirt. I didn''t know you could be this charming."


    He flushed more and pressed his lips together.


    "It''s just a simple dinner and a movie night if you are up for it." He said in response.


    Since he couldn''t take her out for a decent romantic dinner date because of the agreement he had with Su Xiaofei, Yan Xiuchen could only ask his butler for help to prepare a special dinner tonight.


    "A movie night?" Xiao Rufeng raised a slender brow at him. "You sure we can have it here?"


    "I have an entertainment room solely for that reason. With so many unused rooms here, it would be a waste not to use some of it." He shrugged.


    "I suppose we have a date. I''ll see youter then?"


    Yan Xiuchen nodded and opened the door for her. She bid her thanks, her lips curling into that beautiful smile he wouldn''t get tired of seeing. He couldn''t wait for tonight''s dinner and hoped that everything would go ording to his n.


    Xiao Rufeng showed up to dinner ten minutes early, a bit on edge. She hadn''t been on a date for about five years now, and it''s been a long time since she went out with any man. Still, it didn''t stop her from dressing up nicely tonight.


    She dressed casually, wearing a pair of ck leggings and stylish brown boots. She wore a nice scarf over her sweater to protect herself from the extra coldness of the night and put on light makeup on her face. Xiao Rufeng also made sure to wear her long hair in a pull through braid.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Still, when she knocked on the door of the dining room, it still surprised her that it was Yan Xiuchen who opened the doors for her and not his elderly butler. Her brows shot up in surprise seeing his outfit, tonight.


    Yan Xiuchen wasn''t wearing his usual dark business suits, but instead was wearing a white sweater with navy jeans that gave him a cool, casual look without much effort.


    "Woah, you look good tonight, Yan Xiuchen." She blurted out. Since she had decided to see where this attraction would take her, Xiao Rufeng had dropped the formality between them and regarded him with his name.


    "Not like you usually don''t look as good as this, but I think these clothes suit you very well." She added.


    Yan Xiuchen looked flustered, not used to receivingpliments like this.


    "Thanks!" He replied, before turning away to shut the door behind her.


    When Xiao Rufeng turned to face him, she was surprised again to see a rose that greeted her.


    "Is this for me?" She gasped. "Oh, how silly of me. Of course, it is."


    She then took the rose from his hand and gently touched its petals. Indeed, it really felt like a long time since someone had treated her like this, and Xiao Rufeng couldn''t stop the smile spreading on her lips.


    "Thank you." She murmured and gently pressed her lips to the flower.


    As she expected, Yan Xiuchen made sure that their dinner tonight was extra special. The food was delicious and the dessert he handed her was spectacr.


    "How did you know that this is my favorite?" She asked Yan Xiuchen to have a piece of her chocte melting cake. The caramel sauce drizzled on top of the vani ice cream added anotheryer of vor to her favorite dessert.


    "I read one of your interviews for a magazine before. It mentioned that you like this dessert from a particr coffee shop, so I ced an order and had it delivered here."


    Xiao Rufeng stared at him with awe. He did that just for her? It must have been hard to keep the dessert intact since the very coffee shop he mentioned was in Qiying City and was made by her dear friend, the shop owner, Shen Jiao.


    "By the way, do you have any ns after this arrangement is over?" Yan Xiuchen suddenly asked, and just like that her mood changed.


    The smile on her face slightly faltered. Having this arrangement end meant she didn''t have any more reason to see Yan Xiuchen and that she needed to face the ultimatum Su Xiaofei had given her.


    "What''s wrong?" Yan Xiuchen asked, and she could see that he was regretting asking her that question.

 Chapter 509 [Bonus ]Stay With Me (3)

    Xiao Rufeng felt a moment of sadness. She didn''t want to return to her normal daily routine just yet. She wasn''t ready to be parted from Yan Xiuchen, not when they were starting to try to get to know each other better. s, their two weeks arrangement was almost over, and she needed to get back to work soon and face her responsibilities.


    "Did I say something wrong?" She heard Yan Xiuchen ask, with a hint of guilt in his tone.


    Xiao Rufeng shook her head and sighed, cing her fork down to face him. She didn''t want him to think that he was the problem, when the truth was she was the one who was too cowardly to face the problem that awaited her once she left the safety of his mansion.


    "I just realized that I haven''t made a decision yet. President Su gave me an ultimatum to decide how we should deal with my sister for what she has done to me." She told him.


    Yan Xiuchen''s eyes turned cold, remembering how scared Xiao Rufeng was that night. She even begged him for her life, and that was the reason he could never forgive Xiao Yunyao.


    "Su Xiaofei wants the authorities to get involved?" He probed and she nodded in response.


    "I share the same sentiments as her." Yan Xiuchen said.


    He couldn''t me Lu Qingfeng''s wife for wanting to sue Xiao Rufeng''s sister and hold her ountable for what had happened that night. What Xiao Yunyao had done was in cruel towards her own sister. It was him, Yan Xiuchen, who would destroy Xiao Yunyao with his own hands and make sure that she would never be able to hurt Xiao Rufeng again.


    "But if we sue her, I fear what could happen to my fatherter. His health has been deteriorating over the past few years and I don''t want to be the reason he sumbed to death so early." Xiao Rufeng tried to reason out, but Yan Xiuchen shook his head in disapproval.


    "Su Xiaofei is trying to protect you and secure your safety in the future. Can''t you see the gravity of your sister''s actions towards you? You told me that you were so ready to forfeit your life that night, but we somehow avoided it. If you are going to ask me to prioritize my happiness, then can''t you also put in more effort to make sure you are safe?"


    The actress was rendered speechless by his words. Not only was Yan Xiuchen reminding her that her manager''s n was for her own good, but he was also indirectly telling her that his happiness would be based on her.


    Xiao Rufeng didn''t want his world to be focused solely on her. She wanted him to learn how to trust other people and learn to be truly happy, but she also knew that Yan Xiuchen was right.


    "She''s still my sister¡­"


    "No sane person would scheme like that towards their own sibling. It seems to me that Xiao Yunyao has never considered you a blood-rted kin." Yan Xiuchen retorted, only proving how weak her reason was.


    "There''s no guarantee that she wouldn''t attempt on your life in the future." He continued. "It''s better for Su Xiaofei to nip it in the bud before Xiao Yunyao imposes more danger on you. Do you think she would regret what she has done? If she seeded that night, you wouldn''t be here, dining and speaking to me."


    Xiao Rufeng had no words to refute that. Even she couldn''t tell what was going on with her own sister. Still, even if she and her father didn''t get along well, she couldn''t just deliver a blow to her younger sister without considering how it would affect their father''s condition.


    "It seems to me that you''ve already made up your mind." Yan Xiuchenmented. "You know this, but you are just afraid to face the consequences if you choose the right decision."<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Sorry. I ruined our night." She apologized and ced her hand on top of his.


    Tonight was supposed to be theirs, and they shouldn''t be arguing and talking about her younger sister.


    Yan Xiuchen shook his head. He was the one who brought up the issue by asking her.


    "There''s no need to apologize. I''m d that you are telling me this. I''m not trying to impose my opinion on you, but I hope you will consider what I said earlier. Su Xiaofei and I are merely concerned about your welfare."


    "I know that." She replied and resumed eating her desserts.


    "So, what do you n to watchter?" Xiao Rufeng asked about their movie, wanting to change the topic between them. The night wasn''t over yet, and they could still have some fun before she left his mansion.


    "I''m not really into chick flicks and horror films, so you can skip those." She added with augh.


    It was strange that she could be at ease in hispany this soon, while she couldn''t stand the presence of any man near her since their first encounter. Xiao Rufeng wondered if it would change soon, and she would be able to return to normal.


    "Ah, then feel free to choose from the wide selection we have there. I don''t often watch movies as I prefer to read books in my spare time." Yan Xiuchen said.


    "So I noticed." She chuckled at him.


    Both of them fell silent after that as they finished their meals. Once done, Yan Xiuchen stood up and was about to lead her to the entertainment room when he noticed that Xiao Rufeng remained seated, looking at him with hesitation.


    "What is it?" He asked, because he couldn''t stand thinking that she was just being nice to him when she could be somewhere else with someone else.


    "Actually, Yan Xiuchen. I don''t want to leave yet."


    She looked at him, hoping that he would understand what she meant.


    He remained silent and kept her gaze.


    "Then don''t leave and stay with me."

 Chapter 510 Hanging On A Thread (1)

    It''s been a week since Yun Qingrong received Bai Qingyue''s organs. The surgery was deemed to be sessful by the doctors, but even so, Yun Qingrong remained asleep, which only extended Su Xiaofei''s worry about her mother.


    Yun Qingrong was currently hooked to a breathing machine to help her, since her heart had stopped beating on its own in the operating room, but the doctors managed to get it back.


    Su Xiaofei was d that she wasn''t inside the OR to witness it because it would surely break her beyond repair. Just the thought of losing her mother was enough to push her to the edge. However, seeing her mother in this state, not being able to breath on her own worried Su Xiaofei and her husband to no end.


    Her brain was still active, so the doctors imed, and Su Xiaofei wondered where her mother was and what she was doing at that moment.


    Could Yun Qingrong see how she desperately wanted to have her back? Could she hear her silent pleas?


    The doctors assured Su Xiaofei and the rest of the Yun family that Yun Qingrong''s condition was now stable and that there were no signs of her body rejecting the new organs. However, they couldn''t tell when she would wake up from hera. This left their whole family wondering if Yun Qingrong would be able to wake up, or if they should prepare for the worst just in case she didn''t.


    When the doctors left, Su Xiaofei hadn''t spoken a word and remained next to her mother.


    "Feifei, dear, I heard that you are needed at Bluemedia. Why don''t you go and let us look after your mother this time?" Her aunt Yan Mei said gently.


    Yun Zhaonan nodded in agreement. The doctors had already done what they could do to help Yun Qingrong and what was left was only for her to wake up and reunite with them.


    "We''ll keep you posted on whatever that''s happening here. Don''t forget that your mother is a Yun, so she can''t possibly give up without a fight. Since you took over Bluemedia, you can''t turn your back on your obligations now. Regardless of who you are, you are also one of us, Xiaofei. You are Qing''er''s daughter, so don''t give up so easily."


    Su Xiaofei simply stared at her mother, her face expressionless. Her lips then quivered slightly before she nodded in agreement.


    Just as her uncle had said, she couldn''t turn her back on Bluemedia because she would be putting her mother''s legacy and years of hard work in jeapordy if she chose to neglect her duties. She needed to show herself tomorrow and face the board, and her Uncle Fang had already done his best to dy this important meeting with them.


    She allowed her husband to take her away and lead her to the car that was waiting for her. As soon as she sat next to her husband in the backseat and shut the door, Su Xiaofei wept in silence.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Mama is going to wake up, right? She already has the organs she needed, but why isn''t she waking up? She should wake up!" She clung to Lu Qingfeng in despair. It was evident on her face that she was hurting, and she was just trying to remain calm in front of the Yun family.


    "I wish I knew the right answer to your question, Feifei." Lu Qingfeng kissed her crown. It hurt to see her like this, and he was annoyed that he couldn''t do anything but stay by her side throughout this ordeal.


    "Just like the doctors said, it is up to her whether she wants to live or not. But do you know what I think, Feifei? I know Mother wouldn''t want to see you in this state and would do her best to return to us, no matter how hard it would be." He told his wife, wiping the stream of tears on her face.


    Su Xiaofei said nothing, but she continued to sob in his arms. She wasn''t good at waiting for too long, unlike her husband.


    When they returned home, she barely finished her dinner and went to bed as soon as she could. Lu Qingfeng could only look at her, filled with worry in his eyes. The past two weeks had been hell for all of them, and he wasn''t sure how long it would take before everything was settled. It was obvious to him that he wouldn''t be able to see Su Xiaofei smile genuinely again, not unless Yun Qingrong woke up and returned to them.


    He then realized that for the first time, Yun Qingrong had a chance to change her fate in this lifetime. In his two previous lives, she died, leaving Feifei miserable and alone, which Mo Yuchen took advantage of.


    "I''m sorry I couldn''t help at all." He said once he settled next to his wife on their bed.


    If only he was able to find a match for his mother-inw earlier, Yun Qingrong wouldn''t have slipped into aa.


    Su Xiaofei turned to her side and faced him. She took his hand and kissed his knuckle. She had no idea that her husband was harboring such thoughts.


    She hadn''t realized that Lu Qingfeng was also being hard on himself because of her. Even when they were younger, Lu Qingfeng strived to make her happy and content in his own way, regardless of what people thought of him.


    "You have nothing to apologize for, dear. It''s more than enough for me that you are here by my side. You are my strength, my support when I''m weak. I couldn''t ask for a better husband than you." She assured him.


    In her past life, when her mother died, she had no one to rely on, but now, she was surrounded with people who not only loved her, but also her mother. Su Xiaofei thought that she wouldn''t be able to reach this far if not for their support.

 Chapter 511 Hanging On A Thread (2)

    The amount of workload that was waiting for Su Xiaofei the next day was astonishing. It was like she hadn''t done any work for weeks and it had umted during her absence, although she kept working at the hospital as she stayed next to her mother.


    She couldn''t me her assistants either because the Zhang sisters had done their part to make sure that she would be able to deal with the most pressing matters in thepany. Still, Su Xiaofei knew that she wouldn''t be able to finish it at her usual pace, not when her mind was still on her mother''s wellbeing.


    Meanwhile, Lu Qingfeng was also upied with his work while keeping up with his master''s degree. His schoolwork didn''t take so much of his time, as he treated it merely as a refresher and was taking it out of formality.


    Everyone at Lu Corporation and the newpany he established with Song Yiran''s help, Lu Conglomerate, knew that he really didn''t have to take it as he was capable and had already proven his business acumen.


    "Miss, Lingling just called, and she wants to inform you that Miss Xiao refused to leave the Yan Mansion. Miss Xiao insisted that she would be resuming her work as usual." Zhang Lan announced, earning a groan from Su Xiaofei.


    Su Xiaofei sometimes hated it when her assumptions turned out to be correct. She knew that Yan Xiuchen had a thing with her talent, but she had no rights to poke her nose in their affairs. However, she wasn''t sure if this arrangement would be favorable for Xiao Rufeng.


    "I''ll give her a call and ask her about what''s happening myself."


    It didn''t take too long for Su Xiaofei to get connected to Xiao Rufeng through a video call. The actress looked nervous and fidgety at the same time, and it seemed to Su Xiaofei that her talent had really chosen to stay longer at Yan Xiuchen''s ce.


    "Zhang Ling informed us that you have decided to stay. Why?"


    Xiao Rufeng didn''t answer her manager''s question immediately, as if she was trying to find the right words to exin herself clearly.


    Su Xiaofei narrowed her eyes dangerously at that. Xiao Rufeng hadmitted a lot of mistakes in the past, and Su Xiaofei had no ns to deal with a possible heartbreak in the future.


    "Did Mr. Yan convince you to stay there?"


    Xiao Rufeng gasped and shook her head vehemently. She knew that Su Xiaofei was concerned about her safety, but there was no way Yan Xiuchen would force her to make such a decision.


    "No! Mr. Yan didn''t do such a thing. It was me who asked him if I could stay longer here to apany him." She blurted out.


    "If he needed apanion, surely he could find another one and not you." Su Xiaofei probed, knowing that her talent wasn''t telling her everything.


    "I came to like him." Xiao Rufeng finally admitted. "I want to get to know him better."


    "But that doesn''t mean you need to live in his house." Her manager pointed out.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "I know that, but how am I supposed to meet him, see him if my schedule wouldn''t allow me?"


    Su Xiaofei didn''t say anything about that. She reminded herself that there were no uses in any of her talents'' contracts that prevented them from having a rtionship. She wasn''t as heartless as Mo Yuchen who imposed such terms over Golden Star''s neers. However, that didn''t mean she could ignore any of it. As their manager, she had to make sure that their rtionships wouldn''t affect their careers and reputation in public.


    "I know that I might regret thister, but please try to understand, Su Xiaofei¡­" She heard Xiao Rufeng say.


    Since she didn''t regard her as her manager or President Su and instead called her by her given name, this only meant that Xiao Rufeng was treating this seriously. Xiao Rufeng wasn''t merely a talent to her, she was also a dear friend. This was why she was strict over herpared to the other talents she managed.


    It wasn''t like Su Xiaofei was against Xiao Rufeng pursuing a rtionship with Yan Xiuchen, but Xiao Rufeng had a hard time moving on from her first heartbreak, and she had been a crying mess for some time.


    "Fine, but what would you do if the public found out about your rtionship with him?"


    "Does it matter?" Xiao Rufeng asked, and she instantly regretted saying that when she saw Su Xiaofei frown on her screen. She pursed her lips and sighed.


    "If Yan Xiuchen and I ended up being in a rtionship, I wouldn''t deny it." She decided.


    "That''s easy for you to say, Xiao Rufeng, but others would perceive it as you hugging his golden thigh to get a favor from him." Su Xiaofei reminded her.


    "That''s ridiculous. At the end of the day, we are still human beings just like the rest, so why can''t they respect us?" She retorted, a little upset because she knew that what her manager said held some truth in it.


    After all, Yan Xiuchen wasn''t a simple man. He was loaded with a lot of money, and she should expect that many would raise their brows at her for choosing to be with him. However, Xiao Rufeng didn''t give a damn of what others thought about it, as long as she and Yan Xiuchen knew the truth.


    "Well, you are a public personality, of course people would have some opinions about you." Su Xiaofei already knew that her talent was stubborn and tended to stick to her decision once she made up her mind.


    "How about your dear little sister? Have you decided yet?"


    At those questions, Xiao Rufeng''s face fell and even without her answering, Su Xiaofei knew that she wouldn''t be pleased with her talent''s decision.


    "I hope you won''t regret this decision someday."


    "I hope so, too." Xiao Rufeng solemnly agreed with her.

 Chapter 512 Hanging On A Thread (3)

    After her conversation with her manager, Xiao Rufeng tried to focus on memorizing her script, as the filming of the series she was starring in would resume in three days. This only meant that she would see Yan Xiuchen less, and she wasn''t looking forward to it.


    Seeing that she was making no progress, she dropped her script on her bed and decided to see if Yan Xiuchen was done with his work. Now that his assistant had returned, there was no need for her to follow and apany him throughout the day, and she somewhat missed it.


    She stood up and pocketed her phone, just in case Su Xiaofei wanted to discuss something with her again. Thinking about it, it was weird that the emergency person listed on her profile wasn''t her father, but Su Xiaofei. Xiao Rufeng supposed that she trusted her manager that much and knew that despite their different views and opinion, she knew that Su Xiaofei would have her back.


    She then headed to the opposite wing of the mansion, where Yan Xiuchen''s private office was located. Some household helpers that saw her lit their eyes up and greeted her with a smile. If it wasn''t for the strict rule Yan Xiuchen imposed on them during Xiao Rufeng''s stay, they would have asked the actress for a photo with her.


    Everyone here seemed to like her and was eager to extend a hand whenever she needed help, not knowing that the helpers were wondering if she would be the futuredy of the house.


    Maneuvering through the huge mansion, Xiao Rufeng walked down the hallway quietly and gently knocked timidly on the heavy wooden door of Yan Xiuchen''s office, pushing it open when she heard his deep voice telling her toe in.


    "Are you still busy?" She asked, peering around, then looked at the scarred man, still seated behind his desk.


    Yan Xiuchen was bent over a document, his brows furrowed in concentration. He then lowered the document he was reading as his expression softened upon seeing her.


    "Not anymore. Just a little annoyed with the report I received."


    Xiao Rufeng gently closed the door behind her and went to sit across from him.


    "Work rted?" She asked.


    "Yes and no." Yan Xiuchen looked angry, but she knew it wasn''t directed at her. The scars on his face were slightly livid.


    "I''ve found the rats in my hotel." He said, almost a growl.


    She blinked at that, not knowing what he meant by that. Was there a pest control problem in one of the hotels he owns?


    When she said nothing, Yan Xiuchen noticed her confusion and knew that he needed to exin further.


    "I''ve always wondered how Mr. Wan and your sister managed to get through the security of our hotel that night. It turned out that they also paid people to make sure that no one would be able to spot you being brought to me. I guess they weren''t that stupid and tried to cover up their tracks." He said with annoyance.


    "Still, what they have done is unforgivable. If you only agreed to punish your sister, this would be hard evidence we could use against her."<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Xiao Rufeng fell silent. This made her wonder if she made the right decision to let Xiao Yunyao off the hook by asking her manager not to pursue a legal case against her.


    "What would you do then?" She asked curiously.


    "I don''t need such people working for me. Of course, I fired and cklisted them. If they are able to ept dirty money to cover up a crime once, then surely they would do it again."


    Xiao Rufeng shivered in her seat upon hearing that. If it wasn''t her, then maybe another woman would fall under the same scheme. She couldn''t me Yan Xiuchen for firing those people, because he only wanted to make sure it wouldn''t happen again.


    "So how about you? How''s your day?" Yan Xiuchen asked, seeing how affected she was by the news he shared with her. He didn''t mean to make her sad. He only wanted her to be aware of what was happening.


    "It''s fine. We are being called to resume the filming in three days, and I''ve already informed President Su that I''m extending my stay here." She shrugged, d that he changed the topic between them.


    "I bet she disagreed with you." Hemented. Knowing Su Xiaofei''s personality, he wouldn''t be surprised if she disagreed with Xiao Rufeng''s decision of not only her staying here, but also regarding Xiao Yunyao.


    She shrugged. "I already expected that to happen. I knew that she reprimanded me out of concern."


    "You must have given her enough of a headache that she couldn''t fully trust you. I''m starting to think that Su Xiaofei is overprotective of you." He chuckled, surprising Xiao Rufeng.


    "Hey! It''s not like I was the one who started those fights." She pursed her lips and crossed her arms over her chest. "They were the ones who were first mean to me. I was only giving them get to taste their own medicine." She added.


    Xiao Rufeng didn''t want to admit that he was right. That Su Xiaofei had done enough favors for her that she might not be able to repay them unless she became a queen as her manager wanted her to be.


    "Anyway, what''s the n tonight?"


    For the past three nights, she and Yan Xiuchen ditched the romantic movie night and chose to have apetitive game when Xiao Rufeng found out that he turned his basement into a massive gym and housed different courts.


    Yan Xiuchen looked at her face, forgetting his tiredness from the long day he had at work. He was starting to look forward to the evenings that were spent with her. Now that she is returning to work, he couldn''t possibly waste another minute with her.


    "You decide. I''ve already beaten you thrice."


    "I''ll be sure to break your record soon!"

 Chapter 513 Two Mothers (1)

    Bai Qingyue heard the news that Yun Qingrong still hadn''t woken up yet, even after receiving the organs she needed to live. It frustrated her to know that her efforts could be for nothing if Yun Qingrong failed to wake up.


    When she decided to be a donor, she didn''t think twice and did it for Su Xiaofei''s sake, but now, with Yun Qingrong still unresponsive, this only meant that her daughter''s suffering would be prolonged.


    She knew that she had been the worst mother for Su Xiaofei, and she was never going to make it up to her, but she wanted to at least try.


    It''s been a week since their surgery and while she was recovering well, Bai Qingyue hadn''t received any visits either from her husband, who was still out of town due to work, or her manager. And while she could always make an excuse as to why she was confined in the same hospital where Yun Qingrong was, she had to be careful with her words.


    There was a knock on her door and as she nced at the time, Bai Qingyue already knew who it was. There was only one person who bothered to pay her a visit every single day without a miss, making sure that she was doing well.


    "Enter." She said, and the door opened, revealing a young, dashing man¡ªher daughter''s husband.


    Lu Qingfeng ced down the paper bag he was holding on the small table and nced at her.


    She was seated on an armchair by the window, watching the people outside.


    "Why do you still bother toe here? Although your wife is my daughter, you have no obligations to look after me. Weren''t you there when we both agreed that we have nothing to do with each other anymore?" She asked him.


    Lu Qingfeng would bring her things she might need, but he didn''t stay long or ask her for anything, which Bai Qingyue was thankful for.


    The young man stared at her and didn''t utter a word in response. Lu Qingfeng was doing this because he knew that even if his wife wanted to tend to Bai Qingyue, Su Xiaofei''s pride wouldn''t allow her to do so.


    "Anyway, since you are already here, do you mind if I ask you for a favor?"


    At this question, Bai Qingyue received a different reaction from her son-inw, aside from his usual poker face.


    "If that is something within my ability, I don''t see why not." He replied.


    "Then if possible, I want to see Yun Qingrong and pay her a visit. Don''t bring Su Xiaofei when I visited her mother. I don''t need her breathing down my neck every time we see each other."


    Lu Qingfeng''s eyes slightly widened at that. He wasn''t expecting Bai Qingyue to ask him for such a favor.


    "Why?" He asked in return. "Why would you want to see Mother?"


    Bai Qingyue returned her gaze outside, slightly pulling her chin and biting her lip. Lu Qingfeng noticed that even if his wife didn''t grow up with her real mother, these little habits were still passed on to her.


    "Because it would be a real pity if she dies, isn''t it? If she''s still in aa, there''s a possibility that she could still hear us, but couldn''t wake up on her own. Yun Qingrong need enough drive and reason for her toe back." She paused and clenched her fists on the nket that was draped on herp.


    "I wish I could do more, but obviously, it isn''t a fight for me to win."


    Lu Qingfeng didn''t give her an answer and pondered over his choices. He knew the reason Bai Qingyue didn''t want to inform Feifei, but he wouldn''t betray his wife by choosing her birth mother over her.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "I can''t promise you anything, Miss Bai. I can arrange your visitation, but it would still depend on whether the Yun family approves of it." He said, omitting the part that, of course, he would inform Su Xiaofei about her odd request. Lu Qingfeng also wasn''t sure if his wife would allow it to happen.


    "Fine." The actress huffed, clearly displeased with his answer. "Just make sure Su Xiaofei wouldn''t be there."


    Despite her words, Lu Qingfeng could see that her eyes softened a little upon mentioning his wife''s name.


    "If you would excuse me, then."


    Once he was out of her hospital room and confident that he was out of everyone''s earshot, Lu Qingfeng gave his wife a call.


    Su Xiaofei didn''t pick up his call for the first time, but she did on the second.


    "Yes, darling?" She answered and he could tell from her tone that she was having a hard time at work.


    "Feifei, dear. Something came up and I want to hear your opinion before deciding on it." Lu Qingfeng said.


    "Did something happen to Mama?" Su Xiaofei eximed, stricken with worry about her mother.


    "No, but I met Miss Bai again today. She asked if she could pay Mother a visit. Of course, I didn''t give her any definite answer without consulting you."


    He heard a shuffling sound from the other line.


    "Did she now? What is she trying to get out of it this time?"


    "Feifei¡­"


    "Sorry, darling. I just can''t understand that woman. She is such an anathema to me."


    "I won''t let her see Mother if that''s the case." Lu Qingfeng answered.


    "No. Let her see Mama. Despite her not so likeable personality, we have to admit that she saved Mama''s life. Letting her see her wouldn''t be a problem, as long as she isn''t up to something else."


    "Alright, if that''s what you want. I will make sure that she will be apanied during her visitation."


    "I can''t thank you enough, but I''ll make sure to make it up to you once all of this is over."


    Lu Qingfeng''s lips quirked at that. She should know by now that he would do anything for her.


    "I will look forward to it then."

 Chapter 514 Two Mothers (2)

    Bai Qingyue had to admit that her son-inw was quite efficient. She had only told him her request several hours ago, but he was already able to arrange her visitation to Yun Qingrong. She was wheeled to the private ICU room where Yun Qingrong was upying, and she was greeted by the three Yun brothers and Yan Mei.


    It seemed to her that the Yun family had already found out that she was Yun Qingrong''s donor. They weren''t supposed to know, but Bai Qingyue couldn''t do anything about it now.


    The oldest brother had an unreadable expression on his face upon seeing her. Yun Zhaonan only nodded at her while the youngest, Yun Shao, was the one who eagerly greeted her and thanked her.


    "Our family couldn''t thank you enough for what you''ve done for our sister, Miss Bai. We owe you a great favor." He told Bai Qingyue.


    The actress only smiled and nodded. She didn''t tell them that she had only done it because of Su Xiaofei. If her daughter hadn''t had a breakdown that night and cried helplessly, Bai Qingyue knew she wouldn''t even think of donating.


    Yan Mei had a conflicted expression on her face and didn''t utter a word to her. When her husband questioned her about it once Lu Qingfeng and Bai Qingyue entered the room, Yan Mei couldn''t help but sigh in frustration.


    "I''m torn. I knew that Bai Qingyue practically saved Sister Qing''s life, but I''m also struggling to ept the fact that she was the same heartless mother who abandoned Feifei. My heart ached for that child, dear. You''ve seen how broken and helpless she was whenever she''s here with us."


    "You don''t have to make peace with her or ept her and I''m she doesn''t expect any of that. Think of it as her trying to make it up to Xiaofei by saving Qing''er''s life. What was done is already done, and we could only move forward for the better. I''m forever grateful for what she did, but the only person whom she needs to ask for forgiveness from is Xiaofei, not us." Yun Zhaonan replied and gave his wife a tight hug. The past two weeks were truly hell for their whole family.


    "I guess you are right." Yan Mei sniffed. "I just don''t want Feifei to live through the worst nightmare ever again. She has had enough of it."


    Back to Bai Qingyue and Lu Qingfeng inside Yun Qingrong''s room.


    He had wheeled her next to the bed where Yun Qingrong was lying and took several steps back to give Bai Qingyue enough time and some privacy to talk to his mother-inw. Bai Qingyue wasn''t even supposed to be here, given her state. She hadn''t fully recovered yet, but he could see that she was determined to see Yun Qingrong.


    From where he was standing, Lu Qingfeng couldn''t see Bai Qingyue''s face, but he could faintly hear her voice speaking to Yun Qingrong.


    "I have to thank you for taking care of Feifei all these years. Being a mother to her when I could not. You don''t know how grateful I am that you were the one who found her." Bai Qingyue started as she looked at Yun Qingrong''s face, a single tear rolling down her cheek.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "I gave you a part of myself, hoping that you would recover. You see, Feifei still needs you. It''s toote for me to mend our rtionship as mother and daughter, and I have no qualms about that. But you need to wake up, Miss Yun." She said softly and sobbed quietly. She wanted to believe that Yun Qingrong could hear her.


    "I know you love Feifei more than I ever could, so you would know for sure how devastated she is right now. She still needs her mother, Miss Yun and that is you. You need to fight for your life for her sake, please."


    "A good mother wouldn''t leave her child to fend for herself. I chose the easy way out, and I admit I was a coward. I cannot be the mother she needed, Miss Yun, so that''s why you should wake up. You know her better than me. She cannot be without you, but she can live without me in her life."


    She didn''t say any more, but her words were enough to leave Lu Qingfeng astonished. He could somehow understand why Bai Qingyue wouldn''t want Feifei to see her in such a state and couldn''t be truthful to her. Whenever he visited her, he could see the guilt and pain reflecting in her eyes as she thought about Su Xiaofei.


    Perhaps this was her own way to repent and punish herself for her actions, but Lu Qingfeng believed that just like him and Feifei, everyone deserves a chance to be the better version of themselves.


    While it was true that it was hard to ask someone for forgiveness, Lu Qingfeng also knew that it was harder to forgive oneself. Bai Qingyue must have regretted and suffered in silence all of these years without anyone knowing.


    It was just a pity that she and Feifei shared a stubborn streak. They would rather part ways and ignore each other''s existence rather than fix their rtionship.


    "I''m done here now, Mr. Lu. Thank you for granting my request." Bai Qingyue said as she pushed her wheelchair away from Yun Qingrong and faced him.


    "It wasn''t me who gave you the permission to visit Mother. It was Feifei." He said in response.


    The actress clenched her jaw and nodded, her eyes shining with tears.


    "I see. Then you have to extend my thanks to her."


    Well, she did say that she didn''t want to see her daughter during her visitation, but she didn''t technically tell Lu Qingfeng to hide it from Su Xiaofei. She should have known that Lu Qingfeng wouldn''t keep her request a secret from his wife. Her daughter was lucky to find such a sensible and loyal husband.

 Chapter 515 Two Mothers (3)

    Three dayster, Lu Qingfeng picked up Su Xiaofei at Bluemedia, immediately earning people''s attention once he strode to the lobby of thepany building and took the private elevator with Nine. It wasn''t even the first time that he''d paid her a visit at her workce, but he couldn''t seem to get used to the stares he was receiving from Bluemedia''s employees and guests.


    When the door slid open, the two were greeted by Zhang Lan, who then led them to Su Xiaofei''s office. Su Xiaofei''s secretaries, who were stationed outside her office, stood up upon seeing him and greeted him politely, knowing that he was a close friend of their president.


    Lu Qingfeng wasn''t surprised to see his wife bent over a document with a deep frown etched on her beautiful face. To think that she had given up her lifelong passion for acting in front of the camera and decided to work behind it, Lu Qingfeng couldn''t be more proud of his wife.


    He knew she had given up a great deal just to lessen the burden on her mother''s shoulder and to make sure her friends, like Xiao Rufeng, would lead a better life this time. The more he thought about it, the more he realized that their life was too different from what they previously had.


    Su Xiaofei was now alive and happier, married to him. Xi Qian was doing well and was far from the clutches of her family, albeit her romance with Li Xiran wasn''t progressing as he expected it to. Xiao Rufeng was able to avoid her end by meeting Yan Xiuchen and Yun Qingrong had a chance to avoid her death because of Bai Qingyue.


    All of these happened because he and Su Xiaofei had made the better choice for them.


    Su Xiaofei lifted her head when she heard their footsteps, her smile spreading on her lips as she looked at him. She stood up and gestured to her husband to take a seat, while Nine and the Zhang sisters left to give them some privacy.


    "I thought you were already done. Did Ie too early?" He asked as soon as he sat down.


    "No. I''m just trying to clear as much work as I can so I won''t be too busy for the rest of the week."


    "Are you sure you don''t want to send her off?" Lu Qingfeng asked his wife. He''d informed her over a phone call earlier that Bai Qingyue was about to be discharged from the hospital as she had chosen to transfer to another hospital for the rest of her recovery period.


    "What''s the point?" Su Xiaofei asked in return, resting her head against his arm, deciding to take a break from her work. She was starting to realize how she missed spending more time with her husband.


    "It was obvious that she had already made up her mind. There''s nothing else we could do if she really wanted to leave." She reasoned out.


    He frowned but said no more. It was obvious that the mother and daughter would never see themselves on the same page, no matter how they truly felt inside. He just wished that neither of them would regret it and lead a happier life once this is over.


    "I received a call from Chen-ge." He recalled the recent conversation he had with Yan Xiuchen. "Did Xiao Rufeng inform you about their current arrangement?"<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Su Xiaofei pulled away from him and ran a hand over her face. Just thinking about Xiao Rufeng was enough to remind her of the problems that may arise because of her talent''s decisions. Xiao Rufeng surely avoided her death by meeting Yan Xiuchen, but she wasn''t sure if it was okay for her talent to get involved with the scarred man.


    "I trust Chen-ge, but you don''t have to put blind faith in him." Lu Qingfengmented. "The only thing I could vouch for is that he''s a very private person and a decent man. I''m surprised that he''s attracted to Miss Xiao."


    Lu Qingfeng had known Yan Xiuchen for years now, and he certainly knew that the older man wasn''t interested in getting involved with women. Yan Xiuchen refused to give him more details, though, but it was enough for Lu Qngfeng to know that Song Yiran might have been right when he implied that their eldest brother was interested with the actress.


    "I really can''t do anything about it." She sighed. "I just wish that everything would work out for the two of them."


    She didn''t want to see Xiao Rufeng in a mess again. She had a hard time helping her friend. During those times, it seemed as if Xiao Rufeng had hit her rock bottom when the man she loved abandoned her and chose her younger sister instead.


    Su Xiaofei could understand Xiao Rufeng''s pain, because she had experienced the same thing in her previous life when Mo Yuchen turned his back on her and decided to be with Ye Mingyu instead.


    "Let them learn from experience. Maybe it would turn out good for them. It took us years to be together anyway." Lu Qingfeng shrugged. He really never had an opinion on who his brothers should be dating anyway.


    Su Xiaofei nodded. "I couldn''t agree more with you."


    She had wasted a whole lifetime before she realized that she was meant to be with him. She would have avoided the tragedy in her previous life if only she had paid attention to the red gs during her entire ordeal with Mo Yuchen.


    Su Xiaofei admitted that she was guilty and at fault for what happened to herself. She also thought that Xiao Rufeng also deserved a second chance in love like her.


    But would Yan Xiuchen be the right person for her friend? Su Xiaofei wondered.


    She shook her head. Just as Lu Qingfeng said, they could only hope for the best for their friends. Maybe by being with Yan Xiuchen, Xiao Rufeng would learn patience from the man.

 Chapter 516 Past And Future (1)

    Six weekster.


    Xiao Rufeng sat in front of the mirror and started to remove the makeup from her face. She looked upset after being reprimanded by the director for the umpteenth time since they resumed their filming.


    She had no problems with her scenes taken with her fellow actresses, but whenever she had to act with the male lead, Xiao Rufeng couldn''t stand being so close to him that she would start trembling without a reason.


    "Should we inform President Su about this?" Her assistant asked curiously.


    Xiao Rufeng clenched her jaws and shook her head. She would rather Su Xiaofei hear it from her than from other people.


    "No. I will tell her myself." She replied.


    Perhaps she really needed professional intervention. There must be underlying feelings that need to be dealt with. This was the reason she never paid her father a visit. She had no idea how to face her younger sister after what Xiao Yunyao did to her.


    Once the filming was done for the day, she waited until most of the staff and her fellow actors left before bidding goodbye to her assistant. Since she was now living with Yan Xiuchen, he would pick her up after work, which she found to be really sweet of him.


    Xiao Rufeng knew that he only found peace and safety in his home, and he was willing to get out and see the world just for her. She supposed that he was trying his best to change for her sake, and she appreciated the effort he was putting in.


    However, as she strode towards the deserted parking lot, Xiao Rufeng didn''t expect to see a person she hadn''t seen or talked to for years. Jin Qiu was there, leaning against the door of his car, busy with his phone. He had this smile on his face, and she didn''t need to guess who he was talking to.


    When he heard her footsteps, he turned to face her and straightened up. He ended the call and greeted her.


    "Xiao Rufeng, can you give me a moment and talk to me, please?"


    She stopped in her tracks and looked at him with a frown.


    "What is there to talk about?"


    She hadn''t bothered to go home to confront her dear little sister as she chose her peace over another conflict with Xiao Yunyao, but it seemed like thetter still wasn''t giving up on making her life miserable.


    "Uncle said that neither he and Yunyao could reach you, and they are worried about you. I checked the apartment where you are staying, but someone said that you haven''t returned for weeks. Rufeng, what''s going on? Is there a problem?"


    ''Yes. There''s a big problem and that''s my sister.''


    That''s what Xiao Rufeng wanted to tell him, but she held her tongue from saying it. She didn''t want him to get an impression that she was still bitter for him choosing her younger sister instead of her.


    "I''m busy with work, and I''m staying with someone. If there''s any pressing matters within thepany, I believe Yunyao is responsible enough to fix it herself." She said and tried to walk past him, but he blocked her.


    She shot him a fierce re.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Rufeng, your family is facing a serious problem. How can you pretend not to care about them?"


    How can she not know that Xiao Yunyao was facing an issue in theirpany? The scandal about her misdeeds remained all over the news and more people wereing forward to sue her ass.


    "What does it have to do with me? Am I the one who messed up her responsibilities and tried to cover up her mistakes by bribing the affected customers? Also, could you please stop referring to me by my given name? We aren''t that close, Mr. Jin." She retorted with annoyance.


    Jin Qiu''s expression hardened, but didn''tment on it.


    "I just came here to tell you that Uncle wants to invite you for his birthday party in two weeks. I know you two aren''t on good terms right now, but Uncle wants you to be there." He paused, a conflicted glint shing in his eyes, before continuing.


    "Yunyao and I are also going to announce our engagement, and we would very much appreciate it if you woulde and celebrate with us."


    Xiao Rufeng chuckled. Now she understood why her sister sent Jin Qiu to her. Wasn''t this like Xiao Yunyao telling her that she had lost to her yet again?


    "Well, I guess congrattions are in order. However, I cannot confirm anything. I need to check with my assistant if I have prior engagement on that day." She said and turned to leave.


    Her steps faltered when she saw the familiar ck limousine that had been picking her uptely. Without looking back at Jin Qiu, she strode towards it and thanked Yan Xiuchen''s driver for opening the door for her.


    She was about to greet him when she noticed his stiff posture and how Yan Xiuchen couldn''t look straight at her. Xiao Rufeng knew right then and there that he''d seen her talking to Jin Qiu, but wouldn''t ask her anything. She dearly hoped that he would ask her something, so she can exin to him to avoid any misunderstandings between them.


    "Have you been waiting for long?" She asked, breaking the silence between them as the car started to drive away.


    "Your boyfriend?" Yan Xiuchen asked, his tone almost a growl.


    Xiao Rufeng blinked, before shaking her head.


    "No. That''s Jin Qiu. Apparently, he and my sister are about to get married. He just invited me to attend my father''s birthday party, as they are nning to announce it on that day." She said.


    Yan Xiuchen faced her this time, taking a moment to stare at her.


    "You are in love with him."


    Her eyes widened in shock, but she easily recovered.


    "I was in love with him." She corrected him. "That''s different."

 Chapter 517 Past And Future (2)

    Xiao Rufeng looked upset and annoyed at the same time, catching Yan Xiuchen off guard. For the weeks they''d been together, they had never argued, and this was the first time he''d seen this expression on her.


    "Did you think I woulde and live with you despite my manager''s objection? Have a little trust in me, please?" She said and ced a hand on Yan Xiuchen''s right hand that was resting on his knees.


    Yan Xiuchen stared at him and nodded, but it was clear to Xiao Rufeng that he was still disturbed about her meeting with Jin Qiu.


    "I trust you. It''s just¡­ I don''t trust other people." He admitted quietly.


    From what he knew of Xiao Rufeng, she wasn''t the kind of person who would toy with someone else''s feelings.


    Xiao Rufeng understood his concern, but it would be bad if she said that she was somewhat pleased knowing that he was jealous? But she couldn''t help but be moved, seeing his tortured look when she realized he had seen her with Jin Qiu.


    "It''s all in the past now. You see, Jin Qiu and I have known each other since grade school and used to be good friends. That is, until I developed feelings for him and confessed to him."


    "He turned you down?" Yan Xiuchen asked incredulously, as if he couldn''t believe that the woman of his dreams would not be wanted by anyone.


    She shrugged and continued.


    "You can say that. He hasn''t really given me an answer, but I noticed the changes in him. It didn''t take long before I found out from a mutual friend that he already had a girlfriend and that is none other than my sister."


    Xiao Rufeng chuckled, but her eyes slightly dimmed at the memory. Perhaps it wouldn''t have hurt that much if Jin Qiu told her himself intead of her having to hear it from other people.


    "Anyway, that''s pretty much it. We''ve never talked to each other since then."


    "So, are you going to attend their engagement? As her older sister, you should show your support for Xiao Yunyao." He was saying this, but the way his eyes narrowed dangerously told Xiao Rufeng that he hadn''t forgiven Xiao Yunyao yet.


    She fell silent, pondering whether she should give Xiao Yunyao the satisfaction to mock her by announcing her engagement with Jin Qiu in her presence.


    ''Who cares about them?'' She thought. Why did she need to be sad about their uing engagement? She should be happy for Jin Qiu and her sister.


    "I''m thinking I would go not because of the engagement, but for Dad''s birthday. Would you like toe with me as my plus one?" She asked Yan Xiuchen cautiously, paying close attention to his reaction.


    Yan Xiuchen stiffened next to her, and she thought that he would refuse her. Was she asking too much? He had done so much for her that was out of hisfort zone. A little more and he might regret pursuing her.


    ¡ª<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Yan Xiuchen''s eyes went wide at her request. The scars on his face red against his blush upon realizing what she was trying to imply. By going as her date, wouldn''t that mean that she wasn''t ashamed of being seen with him in public, and she was willing to introduce him to her family?


    He seemed frozen in ce. His mouth parted slightly, but no words came out. What was he supposed to say? Yan Xiuchen had no idea.


    "I understand if you aren''t willing. Am I going too fast? Am I too forward? I wouldn''t attend if you weren''t with me." She pursed her lips, but kept her hold on his hand. "I just don''t want Xiao Yunyao to think that I''m still pining over Jin Qiu."


    "A-are you sure?" He asked in disbelief.


    Regardless of her reason, wasn''t she afraid how the public would perceive them being together? She was an actress who was starting to make a name for herself, and Yan Xiuchen knew the possibility of the rumors that could ruin her name because of who he was and what he had.


    It took a lot of courage for him to leave his home to pick her up himself after work. He did this because he wanted to make sure that she would be able toe back safely, but being seen with her in the public¡­ he hadn''t truly given it a good thought.


    Technically speaking, neither he and Xiao Rufeng had put abel on the rtionship they had. Were they exclusively dating? Yan Xiuchen wasn''t sure. While they enjoyed each other''spany for the past weeks and were getting to know each other better, a part of him didn''t want to believe that he could be this lucky.


    Still, what was she thinking? Wasn''t going out in public together and being introduced to her family a big deal for the two of them? Weren''t they going too fast?


    What would her father think if he finds out that his eldest daughter was seeing a grotesque monster like him? Wouldn''t that put more strain on Xiao Rufeng''s rtionship with her father?


    Yan Xiuchen didn''t want that to happen. He would never force Xiao Rufeng to the point where she needed to choose between him and her father. He was already used to being scorned by others, and he wouldn''t want Xiao Rufeng to experience any of it.


    "You don''t want to?" She asked, but he didn''t utter a word in response.


    Xiao Rufeng wouldn''t me him if he turned her down this time. Yan Xiuchen surely wouldn''t expose himself just for her sake.


    "It''s not that. I''m¡­ I''m not good with strangers." He admitted.


    "And I know that, but if it will make you ufortable, then I would rather not go. You don''t have to force yourself."


    He turned his attention outside the window, butced his fingers with hers.


    "Let me think about it." He finally said after a long silence between them.

 Chapter 518 Opposites (1)

    Even before Xiao Rufeng could give her manager a call, the director had already reported her problematic performance to Su Xiaofei. At once, Su Xiaofei had already sent Zhang Ling to pick her up in Shenjing and brought her back to Qiying City.


    Yan Xiuchen wanted toe with her, but he already had prior engagements he couldn''t reschedule. She could see it in his eyes that he wanted toe with her so badly and ditch all of his appointments, but he couldn''t.


    "I''ll be fine. I''ll be back before you know it." She assured him with a smile, confident that she would be able to settle her problem soon.


    Yan Xiuchen could only stand outside the front doors of his mansion and watched her leave, as the car Zhang Ling brought with her drove away from his estate.


    "Ah, you have it bad for him, don''t you?" Zhang Ling teased her as soon as Yan Xiuchen was out of their sight.


    Xiao Rufeng blushed at her friend''sment and looked away.


    "Is it really that obvious?" She asked.


    "Hmm. It''s not the first time you didn''t listen to President Su''s opinion, but I could see why you chose to stay with him."


    "He isn''t as bad as others thought him to be, Ling. If only they could see past his scars, they would realize how good of a person Yan Xiuchen is."


    However, all of her confidence suddenly disappeared the moment she stepped inside her manager''s office the next day.


    Su Xiaofei didn''t seem to notice her arrival. Her manager was seated in her executive leather chair, facing the windows. Torrents of rain blurred the view of the roads and red traffic lights from the distance.


    Finally, Su Xiaofei lowered her phone and swiveled her chair to face her. Even as she was seated, her whole body was emanating with authority and her face was just too beautiful for Xiao Rufeng to look at. For some, Su Xiaofei might be frightening to look at, but Xiao Rufeng knew that her manager was merely trying to grasp her control.


    "Hey. I''m sorry I wasn''t able to pay Miss Yun a visit."


    News had spread that Yun Qingrong''s surgery had seeded, but she was still under aa. Xiao Rufeng knew how Su Xiaofei felt at this very moment, because she was also gripped with fear and worry when her mother never woke up after being confined in the hospital when she was very young.


    Xiao Rufeng shivered as Su Xiaofei''s gaze brushed over her, head to toe, as if thetter was trying to see if she had sustained visible injuries during her time in Shenjing. She was reminded of the reason she was summoned here.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Su Xiaofei rose from her seat to her full height and walked around the desk, gesturing for Xiao Rufeng to take a seat.


    She did what she had been told and sat on the ck leather couch in Su Xiaofei''s office and saw her manager did the same across from her. Su Xiaofei sat with her legs crossed and Xiao Rufeng had an odd realization of her manager''s mannerisms of a queen like Bai Qingyue and Tang Liyan. Everything about them was a pleasure to look at.


    "Mom is recovering well, but she still hasn''t woken up yet." Su Xiaofei answered her, her tone had a hint of worry in it, before it changed to a serious one.


    "You told me that you are doing just fine. If I hadn''t received that call from the director, I wouldn''t have thought that you have a persistent issue."


    Xiao Rufeng winced at that, but she tried to remain calm.


    "I also thought I was okay, but now, I realize that I''m not."


    She was foolish to assume that she would be able to outgrow and ovee her fears on her own. There were even nights that she would wake up, gasping for breath as the memories haunted her.


    Su Xiaofei stared at her for a moment before pinching the bridge of her nose. She and Xiao Rufeng had dodged the bullet this time only because the one who received Xiao Rufeng that night was Yan Xiuchen. Both women knew how it would horribly end, it was another man.


    "I''m not mad at you, Rufeng. You know that more than anything else, I just want you to be safe. I''m sorry that I failed you that night. I shouldn''t have left you to your own devices and let Zhang Ling apany you."


    Xiao Rufeng didn''t expect to hear this from her manager-sh-friend. She had no idea that Su Xiaofei was ming herself for what happened that night. She had thought that her fear of being close to another man that wasn''t Yan Xiuchen would fade eventually, but she was proven wrong again.


    "It''s not your fault, Feifei. It''s me who should have paid more attention to what was happening around me. You''ve reminded me over and over again not to provoke Yunyao for my sake, but I didn''t listen to you. It was me who underestimated her cruelty."


    Somehow, knowing that there were people who were truly concerned about her filled her heart with warmth. Not only did she have friends to rely on, but she also had Yan Xiuchen by her side.


    "I informed the director that you were almost sexually assaulted, but didn''t give him the details. He was kind enough to understand your situation and asked if we could do anything to help you. We both agreed that you needed medical intervention to deal with your trauma, and I''ve already found a great doctor that could help you. She''s located in Shenjing, and you wouldn''t have to worry about the confidentiality of your condition."


    "Alright. I will be sure to make time for the sessions." Xiao Rufeng easily agreed with Su Xiaofei''s arrangement. She could only hope that she would be able to recover fully and get over the trauma her sister inflicted on her.

 Chapter 519 Opposites (2)

    "You still haven''t changed your mind about taking legal actions against your sister?" Su Xiaofei asked her curiously. This was one thing that still bothered her till this day.


    If she was in Xiao Rufeng''s shoes, she would have taught Xiao Yunyao a lesson for messing with her. Sister or not, that wasn''t a good excuse to let her off the hook.


    Xiao Rufeng averted her gaze. She knew that Su Xiaofei would do her best to seek justice for what happened to her. It was just a pity that she didn''t have enough courage to see her own sister behind bars.


    "You know what she pulled on you wasn''t just a simple prank. If things went ording to n, we both know that you wouldn''t be here, talking to me anymore. Yan Xiuchen also gave me a CCTV recording where her assistant was seen bribing some of his hotel''s security personnel."


    "I understand what you mean, Feifei. It''s just¡­ that''s my sister we are talking about." She said in defense. Xiao Rufeng also didn''t expect that Yan Xiuchen would have done such a thing. He and her manager seemed to have decided to persecute Xiao Yunyao.


    Su Xiaofei only stared at her, as if she had just lost her mind.


    "I don''t expect you to understand. You didn''t have any attachment to Ye Mingyu, but I grew up with Xiao Yunyao. She''s a cunning, scheming, spoiled brat, alright, but she''s still my sister."


    "Even though it''s obvious that she doesn''t feel the same for you?" Su Xiaofei asked.


    She couldn''t me Xiao Rufeng forparing her rtionship with her sister to her and Ye Mingyu. Xiao Rufeng didn''t know that she and Ye Mingyu weren''t blood rted to each other anyway.


    Xiao Rufeng said no more. She would rather pretend that she didn''t have a sister and forget Xiao Yunyao''s existence rather than deal with her. Although she knew where Su Xiaofei and Yan Xiuchen wereing from, she was too cowardly to ruin Xiao Yunyao''s life.


    "Then what do you expect me to do? I am not as heartless as my sister."


    This time, Xiao Rufeng couldn''t stop her tears from rolling down her face.


    "These are all too confusing to me. I don''t know what else to do." She added helplessly.


    When Xiao Yunyao was born and came home with her father and her stepmother, she had been thrilled to know that she wouldn''t be alone, but how was she supposed to know that Xiao Yunyao would grow to hate her?


    She shared everything with her little sister, and tried her best to be the best older sister to Xiao Yunyao. However, at the end of the day, she would be the forgotten one, the one who would take the me and be wronged whenever Xiao Yunyao was hurt.


    "I wish I could be as strong as you and Xi Qian. I wish I could be as wise as Jiao-jie, but I can''t." She shook her head.


    Every time she thought of making Xiao Yunyao pay for what she did, her father''s delicate condition was like a thorn that stopped her from doing it. If their father wouldn''t be caught in between her feud with Xiao Yunyao, then she would surely give her manager the go signal.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Fine. I won''t ask you about this anymore if you''ve already made up your mind, but I cannot assure you that other people who were involved in this would keep their silence." Su Xiaofei said, implying that Xiao Yunyao had offended Yan Xiuchen aside from her.


    Xiao Rufeng wiped her tears dry and smiled weakly.


    "I understand. Thank you for everything." She lowered her head and gave her manager a polite bow.


    "You know you don''t have to do this, Rufeng."


    Su Xiaofei understood that Xiao Rufeng was nothing like her. Xiao Rufeng might be stubborn as hell, but she wasn''t as cruel and vicious as her and her sister. It wasn''t in Xiao Rufeng''s nature to be vindictive towards those who wronged her.


    "What about Ye Mingyu?" Xiao Rufeng suddenly asked. She hadn''t forgotten yet how she foolishly fell on Ye Mingyu''s trick. "That bitch still owes me for tricking me that night."


    When their filming resumed, she noticed that Ye Mingyu had made sure that their encounters were reduced to the bare minimum. If Ye Mingyu was being haughty and arrogant in front of her before, the said woman now scampered away from her in fear like a mouse running for her dear life.


    Her manager scoffed at that.


    "I assure you. You wouldn''t want to be in her shoes right now. It seems like you aren''t the only one who has been harassedtely.


    She made sure to keep an eye on Ye Mingyu since Xiao Rufeng''s kidnapping, and she found fascinating news. It seemed that Cai Lin had truly lost his mind and was starting to get aggressive with his stalking of Ye Mingyu. Adding to the fact that Ye Mingyu was being wanted by loan sharks.


    "What exactly happened? If you don''t mind me asking." Xiao Rufeng couldn''t help but be curious.


    "Apparently, her dead mother owed a lot of money from several loan sharks. They found out that Ye Mingyu is her daughter and wanted her to pay them, and I''m telling you, we are talking about a hefty amount of money. They are starting to harass her, but herpany intervened and blocked all the news about it."


    Xiao Rufeng gasped and covered her mouth in shock. She would have never thought something like that happened to Ye Mingyu recently. No wonder Ye Mingyu was acting suspicious recently.


    Su Xiaofei was tempted to sell and spread the news all over the media, but she wasn''t stupid to make the Ouyang family her enemy. She was curious though how Ye Mingyu would deal with this problem.


    In her previous life, she had relied a lot on Yun Xiang''s help to protect herself from Cai Lin and those loan sharks. However, now that Yun Xiang was out of the picture and neither of them had anything to do with each other, Ye Mingyu was desperate to find someone to help her right now.

 Chapter 520 Opposites (3)

    Su Xiaofei''s assumptions were spot on.


    At that very moment, Ye Mingyu was seated behind the wheels of her car, looking frantically left and right to make sure she wasn''t being followed by anyone. Whether it was Cai Lin nor those loan sharks, she didn''t want to see any of them right now.


    Cai Lin had somehow lost a few screws in his head and thought that they were still together and in love with each other. It had been years since she cut ties with him, but the man insisted that they were still in a rtionship and refused to leave her alone. He broke into her previous apartment and thankfully, she wasn''t at home and had managed to avoid him.


    Ye Mingyu paid the damages he left in her apartment to herndlord, but thest straw that forced her to move out was when the loan sharks her mother was indebted to started showing up at her door.


    ''Damn it!'' Ye Mingyu thought as she hit the steering wheel in front of her. Her mother was already dead, but she was still giving her a headache and difficulties to this day.


    It seemed to Ye Mingyu that the issues she had been running away from in her previous life had somehow been able to follow her here in this lifetime.


    How did those people know where she lived anyway? She had been very careful with her words and made sure to use different routes whenever she was on her way back home.


    It had been hard enough for her to get the female lead role from Xiao Rufeng because a certain someone had made sure to rub the difference between her and Xiao Rufeng in her face. Xiao Rufeng was an heiress and she, Ye Mingyu, was nothing but a daughter of a convicted criminal.


    Ye Mingyu had tried her best to step away from her father''s infamous reputation, but she hadn''t thought that her mother would give her a pain in the ass long after she was gone.


    ''She knew she was dying. She could have put those monies to good use and saved them for me.'' She thought with a grim expression on her face.


    Her mother knew that chemotherapy was expensive and with the way her cancer progressed, her chances of living were quite low. She then remembered reading the news that Yun Qingrong managed to dodge death this time, but was still in aa.


    ''Lucky bastard.'' She scoffed, thinking that the only reason why her mother was dead and Yun Qingrong was alive was because thetter had a lot of money at her disposal.


    Ye Mingyu hated her mother even in her previous life. If it wasn''t because of Ye Xing, she wouldn''t have to lead a life filled with bitterness. Her mother was the cause of her problems and suffering, and the more she thought about it, the more hatred she felt in her heart.


    It would have been better if her mother chose to give up her custody to her father and allowed her to live with them instead. She didn''t mind living with Yun Qingrong and Su Xiaofei because she was certain she could get rid of them eventually.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Someone knocked on the window of her car and she turned to see who it was, her expression immediately turned into horror. She screamed for her dear life while the man outsideughed uncontrobly like a demon.


    This was the same man who kicked her door weeks ago and demanded money from her. It seemed like he had brought more people to intimidate and harass her this time, as Ye Mingyu spotted a group of men she hadn''t noticed earlier after leaving the shopping mall.


    She immediately ignited the engine of her car and drove away in panic. She ignored the fact that she was in a crying mess and was trembling in fear. Ye Mingyu ignored the red light and didn''t bother to stop, hoping they wouldn''t be able to catch up on her.


    Did they think that just because she secured a role in a TV series, she was now swimming in a lot of money?


    Heck. She couldn''t even buy things that she wanted to and even if she had money, she wouldn''t pay any of them.


    All of these wouldn''t have happened if things had gone ording to her n. She thought that by getting close to Mo Yuchen, she would be able to get a hold on him and use him against Su Xiaofei. She also thought that by bing his woman, she would be able to use his influence and get rid of her problems.


    Thankfully, Top Tier Entertainment took pity on her this time and allowed her to stay at one of the residences they provided for their artists. Not only did she not need to pay for her own rent, but she also didn''t have to worry about her door being kicked down by these hooligans.


    Still, it didn''t mean she would be safe once she stepped out of the apartmentplex. Ye Mingyu knew that those men and Cai Lin were lurking out there, waiting for the right chance to corner her again. See, just look at what happened when she lowered her guard.


    ''I need help. Someone who can help me get rid of them.''


    Ye Mingyu knew that she couldn''t run away forever, and that she needed to do something. Didn''t she lose her life previously because she had been running from them? She wouldn''t allow it to happen this time.


    But from whom should she ask for help? She asked herself as she pulled her car to a stop.


    Her useless father was still in prison. Feng Xue''er refused to have anything to do with her since their high school graduation. Mo Yuchen specifically threatened her not to show herself in front of him ever again. She had no friends or rtives she could rely on.


    No¡ª she knew someone who might be able to help her this time.

 Chapter 521 Ominous Feeling (1)

    Ever since Yun Qingrong and Su Xiaofei kicked out the Chen family from their household, it''s been hell for their whole family. Not only did Su Xiaofei make sure to ruin Chen Li''s future by sending her to a juvenile detention center, but she also made sure that Madam Chen wouldn''t be able to find another job from another wealthy family.


    Thevish lifestyle they used to enjoy had been taken away from them and just as Madam Chen thought they could leech on her cousin''s fortune, Yun Qingrong divorced Su Haoran and sued him for embezzlement. This effectively ruined all their hopes that they would be able to get back on their feet and sustain the lifestyle they were used to.


    Three years after Chen Li was sent to the detention center, Madam Chen died from a heart attack after she was battered violently by herst employer. Meanwhile, Chen Hao dropped out from college and started to lead a dangerous life by joining a local mob in Qiying City.


    It was already seven in the evening when Ye Mingyu reached the ce where she knew she could find her second cousin. She had heard from the old aunty that was living next to Chen Hao''s ce that he was a frequent patron of this nightclub.


    She hadn''t seen nor talked to Chen Hao since her return and she wasn''t sure if he would willingly help her, but she had no other choice but to try.


    Taking onest glimpse at her reflection, Ye Mingyu made sure that her wig was in ce. She even bothered to wear a pair of colored contact lenses to change the color of her eyes. She had a thickyer of makeup on her face and drew fake freckles over her nose and cheeks, just to make sure no one would be able to recognize her.


    Her management had warned her specifically to avoid any confrontations or create a scene that could make the public hate her.


    Hate her? Ye Mingyu scoffed inwardly. It wouldn''t be that easy.


    For her, men were easy to manipte and take advantage of. She only needed to shed a few tears here and there, then act pitiful, and it was enough to evoke an overprotective streak in them. Women were a different matter, but it wasn''t that hard to make fake assumptions and use them against each other.


    She alighted her car and made her way to the entrance of the nightclub. She easily passed through the security and was met with a crowd and overly loud noise inside. The people were shoulder to shoulder, and they were swaying to the beat of the music.


    Ye Mingyu looked around and grimaced. It would be hard for her to find Chen Hao in this ce full of people. If he wasn''t at the counter or the dancefloor, then he might be in one of the VIP booths she could never trespass. She pursed her lips and decided to observe first.


    She ordered a drink and stared at the partying people. Ye Mingyu would have joined them if she didn''t have any pressing matters on hand. She wasn''t sure if Chen Hao would be able to help her in any way, but she also knew that her choices were limited at this moment.


    "Well, well, well. I wouldn''t have believed it if I didn''t see you with my own eyes. What brought you to my turf, dear little cousin?" She heard a familiar voice.


    Ye Mingyu turned her head and found Chen Hao next to the bartender, concocting his own drink from the vast selections of liquor behind him. He had a cocky smile on his face, and he looked expensive.


    Based on his movements, she could tell that he knew what he was doing, as if he had already done this a hundred times.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "You own this ce?" She blurted out in surprise, once his words sunk in her mind. Ye Mingyu hadn''t expected that this little hooligan would be able to make a fortune on his own.


    The man chuckled darkly and looked at her with mockery.


    Ye Mingyu tried to rein her growing annoyance at her cousin. She reminded herself of the reason she came here.


    "Can''t believe it? How about you, then? I thought that my sister and I are no better than church mice in your eyes?"


    Ye Minyu pressed her lips together and almost forgot thest conversation she had with the Chen siblings. She regretted all of it now. She shouldn''t have said those words, but there was nothing she could do now. How can she not be mad at them when their whole family kept leeching on her father''s resources?


    "Help me. I have no one to turn to." She muttered lowly, hoping that he would be able to hear her despite the loud noise from her background.


    "So, let me get it straight. You want my help. But what can you give me in return?" Chen Hao asked.


    When she said nothing, he shook his head and sighed in feigned disappointment.


    "Look here, dear little cousin, you can''t expect toe here and demand that I help you when you don''t have anything to offer me. That''s quite foolish, don''t you think? No wonder you can''t beat my dear little Feifei after all these years."


    Ye Mingyu''s eyes shed dangerously at him. She hated beingpared with Su Xiaofei, especially when she was the one being painted in a bad light.


    "Now, now, don''t look at me like that. You can only me yourself for your failures. Now tell me what kind of help you want. Who knows, maybe I''ll consider it if ites with a fair price." He grinned devilishly at her.


    "What do you want?" She asked.


    His eyes gleamed, making Ye Mingyu shiver from the way he smiled at her.


    "I only desire one person, if you can deliver her to me, then I will fulfill your request without question."

 Chapter 522 Ominous Feeling (2)

    Lu Qingfeng knew that he had woken up that morning on the wrong side of the bed. The sky was still dark outside, and his wife was peacefully slumbering next to him when he awoke from another nightmare.


    Having the same nightmare after not having it for some time felt ominous. He was about to leave for Shenjing the very next day and suddenly, he felt the need to stay with Su Xiaofei. His instincts were telling him something was about to happen, but he wasn''t sure what it was.


    Su Xiaofei rolled on her side and draped an arm on him, stopping him from leaving the bed earlier than usual. Lu Qingfeng knew that she was a bit of a restless sleeper since they were younger, but oddly enough, he could easily fall into slumber when she was by his side.


    His hand reached and brushed her hair away from her face and kissed her forehead. Even after being married to her for months now, a part of him was still in disbelief that she was here with him as his wife, and she wasn''t running away from him.


    At least life this time had been good not only to him, but to her as well. It was odd that Mo Yuchen wasn''t doing anything, though, and he wondered if the man had changed his mind about pursuing Feifei.


    Ye Mingyu, on the other hand, was doing terrible this time. She couldn''t have her way and provoked Su Xiaofei. Her failed attempts were like multiple ps on her own face, which only humiliated herself further.


    Lu Qingfeng gently removed his wife''s arm and slipped out of their massive bed. He knew she needed more sleep these days and didn''t bother to wake her up. Considering how hectic her work schedule was, it was a surprise that she was able to make time to visit her mother and came home with him on time.


    Although they hadn''t made love for weeks now, he hadn''t demanded intimacy from her and was willing to wait a little longer. Lu Qingfeng admitted to himself that he was missing her too.


    He went down the stairs and made a beeline to the kitchen. While most people were still asleep at this time, Lu Qingfeng was able to sort out his thoughts as he moved around the kitchen, brewing coffee and making breakfast for himself and his wife.


    So it came as a surprise to him when he heard a knock on the door and saw Zhang Lan standing at the doorway with a stiff expression. He gave her a quick nce, then returned his attention to the meat he was cutting with a sharp kitchen knife.


    "What is it?"


    Zhang Ling''s lips quivered and lowered her gaze to the floor.


    "We received intel from one of our people who was following Ye Mingyu as the Madam instructed." She started, "but I thought¡­ I thought it would be appropriate to report this to you, Master, rather than deliver it to her."


    Zhang Lan''s tone implied that Lu Qingfeng wouldn''t be pleased with the information she was about to report. She swallowed the invisible lump in her throat when Lu Qingfeng''s hands stopped midair and looked at her.


    "And that is?"


    She suddenly thought that she should have waited for her master to finish whatever he was doing. Seeing him holding a very sharp knife in one hand made her break out in cold sweat.


    "Ye Mingyu went to a nightclubst night and met with Chen Hao. Our men said that she was asking him for a favor."


    Lu Qingfeng raised a slender brow at her.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "What does it have to do with Feifei?"


    Zhang Lan suddenly felt that the air within the kitchen had suddenly turned suffocating.


    "Chen Hao implied that he wants a woman as payment for granting Ye Mingyu a favor." She paused, gauging her master''s reaction. Zhang Lan mentioned this to her younger sister earlier, and Zhang Ling panicked at once when she heard it.


    "He''s talking about the mistress. There''s no doubt about it. Xi Qian once told me that Chen Hao had been eyeing the madam indecently without her knowing." Zhang Ling told her. "If the madam''s life is in danger, you must report this at once, Lan-jie!"


    And so she came here, wondering if she had done the right thing by believing her sister''s im. What if Zhang Ling was wrong and Chen Hao was speaking of another woman?


    The kitchen knife in Lu Qingfeng''s hand slid and fell on the counter with a loud clunk.


    "Are you certain that those were his words?"


    "I believe his exact words were ''I only desire one person, if you can deliver her to me, then I will fulfill your request without a question.''"


    Lu Qingfeng fell silent and didn''t say anything in response. He looked as if he was in deep thought.


    "You may leave." He finally said after a long silence, dismissing her.


    Zhang Lan released the breath she didn''t know she was holding before quietly leaving her master on his own.


    Was this why he dreamt that he was holding Su Xiaofei''s dead body again? Lu Qingfeng wondered.


    Chen Hao.


    How could he forget that man?


    In their previous life, Chen Hao was harboring indecent thoughts about Su Xiaofei and while Su Xiaofei kept her distance from the man, it didn''t stop Chen Hao from lusting over her.


    When Su Xiaofei lost her child and divorced Mo Yuchen, Chen Hao made a move towards her and tried to molest her. In her despair to save herself, his poor Feifei chose to throw herself from the high stairs, breaking her leg badly in the process. When he finally found her, he discovered that the incident had left her crippled for the rest of her life.


    Lu Qingfeng looked at the trail of blood left on the de of the kitchen knife in front of him, his eyes darkening. It seemed like he needed to teach Chen Hao a lesson again.

 Chapter 523 Cat-And-Mouse (1)

    His thoughts were upied for the next hour, but he was still able to finish preparing the meal for him and his wife. He stood in front of the coffee maker in a daze. Lu Qingfeng was still bothered by his recent nightmare, and there were times when he was afraid that he would never wake up and would realize that he was once again holding his wife''s dead body.


    He snapped out of his thoughts when he felt a pair of slender arms wrapping themselves around his waist and felt soft bosom pressed against his back. Lu Qingfeng didn''t need to turn to see who it was, as only Su Xiaofei would be brave enough to touch him like this.


    "You are up too early. I missed you in bed." Sheined.


    The corner of his lips curled up. Just knowing that Su Xiaofei wanted him, needed him, loved him was enough to make his mood better. He wouldn''t know what he would do if he woke up one day to her hating him.


    "I couldn''t go back to sleep. I''m sorry for leaving you. I just don''t want to disturb your peaceful slumber." He said and turned to face her, resting his hands on her hips.


    His gaze swept over her face, remembering how her brows would crease in confusion, just as she was doing right now and how she would press her lips into a thin line whenever she was upset.


    "Is something wrong?" Su Xiaofei asked, noticing his unusual silence. She knew that something was going on in his mind again, and that it involved her.


    How can she not notice that her husband wasn''t his usual self today? The sun was barely up, but it seemed like he was already dealing with a ton of problems.


    "Don''t tell me that your stay in Shenjing will be extended?" She asked when her husband said nothing in response.


    When they got married, Su Xiaofei and him agreed to impose a rule in their marriage that neither of them would file for divorce under any circumstances and they wouldn''t be apart from each other for longer than two weeks.


    However, now, two weeks felt very long for Su Xiaofei and she was starting to wonder if she made a mistake by not shortening it to under a week. She didn''t think she would be able to stay and wait for her husband for that long.


    "Your power of deduction, my dear, is impressive." He smirked, "but that''s not it. I decided to reschedule my trip to Shenjing."


    "But why? I thought that you are trying to rush to settle things before Grandpa announces his retirement?" She tightened her hold in his hands, not letting him go.


    Su Xiaofei knew that it had also been hard on her husband these past weeks and she felt guilty for dragging him into her family issues. She hated that Lu Qingfeng had to sacrifice so much for her sake.


    Lu Qingfeng remained silent and took her hands in his. This was what he wanted. Her, being by his side, healthy and alive. However, the threat was still there, trying to take her away from him.


    "I''m afraid that I would lose you again." He said after a long silence.


    Her eyes widened, not expecting that this was what he''d been mulling over. What could possibly happen that would make Lu Qingfeng think of this again?


    "Ye Mingyu sought Chen Hao recently and I''m afraid that they are both targeting you again."<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Su Xiaofei finally understood what was happening.


    Right. How could she forget that the Zhang sisters'' loyalty wasn''t solely to her, but to Lu Qingfeng?


    Chen Hao.


    How could she forget that lecherous man? Until her veryst breath, she would never forget the smirk on his face when he chased after her and ripped the straps of her dress from behind. Just thinking about it was infuriating.


    After she was left crippled and was taken in by her younger brother, she was left haunted by the memory of that assault for many nights. Chen Hao never left her in peace, even during the final moments of her life, and now he was back, colluding with her enemy to hurt her again.


    Her eyes darkened murderously. Su Xiaofei thought that her desire to seek revenge was already gone, but the thought that Chen Hao and Ye Mingyu scheming against her brought back the desire to crush them with their own eyes.


    "I won''t let them harm you."


    Lu Qingfeng''s fingers lightly touched her face, getting her attention back to him.


    "I know, but you don''t have to. It''s nothing I can''t manage." Su Xiaofei murmured, her heart aching from the way her husband was looking at her.


    She knew that Lu Qingfeng would go the extra mile to protect her, but Su Xiaofei would rather dirty her hands than pass the me to him again.


    Still, how could Lu Qingfeng turn a blind eye when he knew someone was out there, plotting to hurt his wife? There was no way he would allow Su Xiaofei to suffer because of those two again.


    "Then let me help you." He insisted. "I can''t leave knowing I could lose you."


    He said in a way that broke Su Xiaofei''s heart. The memory of how Lu Qingfeng ended up in her previous life was still clear in her mind. Looking at Lu Qingfeng, she didn''t have the heart to decline his request.


    "I''ll make sure none of them will be able to harm you again." He promised.


    Su Xiaofei nodded and held his hand that was holding the side of her face. She felt better now, knowing that she wouldn''t be alone in this.


    "Can I have the honor of nning it then?" She asked, smiling sweetly at him. "And could I also get what you made earlier? I''m quite starved."


    It was too early for them to worry about those two anyway, she would rather enjoy her morning with her husband.

 Chapter 524 Cat-And-Mouse (2)

    A week had passed and Yan Xiuchen still hadn''t given Xiao Rufeng an answer. She surmised that he wouldn''t ept her request toe with her to her father''s birthday celebration and Xiao Yunyao''s engagement party.


    ''It''s too early to introduce him anyway.'' She scolded herself for not considering his opinion before asking him.


    "I feel like an idiot sometimes." She muttered as she ran her fingers through her thick, dark mane. At least here in Shen Jiao''s caf¨¦, she could be herself, without worrying what others would think of her. Shen Jiao had made sure to keep their meeting private, to protect her and Su Xiaofei from any unnecessary rumors.


    It was over the weekend, and she decided to catch up with her friends, but didn''t expect that they had already received the news from Su Xiaofei.


    "Well, were you too busy with work and Mr. Yan that you couldn''t check our group chat? I''m disappointed that you didn''t spill the tea yourself." Xi Qian shrugged, while Shen Jiao merely gave her a smile.


    Xiao Rufeng decided to stay here for a week after her meeting with Su Xiaofei. Considering that her scenes were mostly filmed, she wouldn''t be needed until the next Monday. She was nning to return to Shenjing this evening and couldn''t wait to see Yan Xiuchen again.


    They''d been talking over the phone and chat messages, but she didn''t think it was enough for her. Xiao Rufeng never thought that she would be this attached to himpared to the men she dated before him.


    "Don''t be so hard on yourself, dear." Shen Jiao said reassuringly. "You are doing well by staying away from that sister of yours."


    "Exactly. She only has herself to me for what she has done. You are being too kind for not having her sacked yet." Xi Qian chimed in. "I would have given the bitch a couple of ps to teach her a lesson."


    "Hey. Don''t teach Rufeng violence." Shen Jiao lightly pped Xi Qian''s arm, but her tone was teasing.


    "What''s wrong with what I said? We didn''t bring her with us to train in self defense only to be bullied by some spoiled brat who won''t ept their differences." Xi Qian scoffed.


    When she heard the news of what happened to Xiao Rufeng, she was really upset that she wasn''t there to help her at all. Ye Mingyu wouldn''t have easily tricked her and she wouldn''t have fallen under Xiao Yunyao''s scheme. s, nothing could be done now.


    "So what''s the real score between you and that Mr. Yan?" She asked with a knowing smile.


    Xiao Rufeng''s face turned red at once and she lowered her gaze.


    "Oh dear. Look at her! She''s blushing!" Shen Jiaoughed behind her hand, while Xi Qian burst into a round ofughter. They both knew Xiao Rufeng''s history with her previous rtionship.


    "So, you are living together?" Shen Jiao teased.


    "It''s nothing like that!" Xiao Rufeng eximed. "His mansion is too huge, it''s impossible for us to see each other. He wouldn''t even realize I was home unless I announced it." She added.


    "I doubt that." Shen Jiao chuckled.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Me too." Xi Qian grinned.


    Xiao Rufeng sighed and didn''t dare to argue anymore. It was clear that these two were just teasing her. She was usually silent whenever they were talking about their love lives as she didn''t have anything to be proud of.


    "Sorry for beingte. I have a meeting I couldn''t reschedule."


    Su Xiaofei finally arrived with the Zhang sisters and took a seat next to Xi Qian. She rested her head on her best friend''s shoulder and eyed the blushing actress.


    "I would have never thought you would spend your week here rather than spending time with your new beau." Shemented.


    The rest of the girls started giggling again.


    "Don''t tease her, Feifei. Xiao Rufeng is shy." Xi Qian patted her best friend''s head gently.


    "I don''t mind her dating Yan Xiuchen." Su Xiaofei said in a serious tone, "but she better make sure she won''te running to me, crying, saying that she had a bun in an oven, and he won''t take responsibility for it. I wish she would focus on her career rather than subject herself to a heartbreak again, but who am I to stop her, right?"


    Xiao Rufeng''s face turned red even more, but what her manager said rang in her mind.


    Were they even together now? She pondered. She never made it clear with Yan Xiuchen if they were in a rtionship or not.


    Xiao Rufeng didn''t think she would be able to pretend that she was fine if he told her they weren''t. She wouldn''t be able to turn around and keep a smile on her face, while knowing her heart was breaking apart once again.


    When she returned to the hotel room where she was staying that night, she was greeted by a surprising scene. The whole living area and the balcony was covered in enormous vases full of flowers. It suddenly made her room look more like a florist than a hotel room.


    "What the¡­"


    She picked up an envelope tucked carefully in one of the vases, pulled out a card and read it.


    ''I never thought a week without you could feel like an eternity. So I sit here, waiting for your return, watching the seconds turn into minutes, then turning into an hour. I cannot wait to see your smile again.''


    Xiao Rufeng couldn''t stop the smile spreading on her lips as she read it all over again. She picked up one rose and took a sniff of it, unable to stop grinning. She knew who these were from.


    For someone who had never been in a romantic rtionship before, he was doing good at making her more interested in him. Still, she was aware that both of them were trying their best to figure out how they could make this ubeled rtionship work.

 Chapter 525 I Don’t Want To Be Your Friend (1)

    Meanwhile, Xi Qian''s days had been nothing but long and uneventful. She spent most of her time making sure her patient was following the doctor''s orders and taking his medications on time, while working hard to revise everything she needed to cover for her studies.


    When she returned to the Li Estate that night, she hadn''t expected to see Li Xingtian out on the porch, mulling about something. He stopped and turned to look at her when he heard her footsteps. He gave her a curt nod and gestured for Xi Qian to join him.


    "Must be nice to go out and have fun once in a while." Hemented, pouring her a cup of the tea he was steeping before Xi Qian arrived.


    "You haven''t gone out for a while. You should also take a break." Xi Qian replied, after giving him a quick thanks.


    "I know I should, but I can''t afford to slow down right now, not when my brother needs help." Li Xingtian sighed, but Xi Qian could see that he was under stress these days, just like his older brother.


    Ever since her small talk with Li Xiran that day at the beach, she never had another conversation with him. Xi Qian had tried her best to avoid him and was doing a great job at it.


    "You should also tell that to my brother. I haven''t seen him take a break since he got back. Not here, not at thepany." Li Xingtian eyed her as he took a sip from his cup. "Did you two have an argument? You are avoiding him."


    Surprised by that, Xi Qian was thankful she wasn''t drinking the tea as she might have spat it out. Instead, she merely raised a slender brow at the younger Li brother.


    "I am? Since when did you care about your brother anyway?"


    Li Xingtianughed at that. He really couldn''t me Xi Qian for questioning him like this.


    "I don''t. I''m just curious as to why he''s been unusually cranky these past few weeks and then I noticed that you are rarely around whenever he''s home. So I figured it must be rted to you."


    Xi Qian shook her head and averted her gaze, choosing to look at the blooming garden that Li Xingtian''s mother diligently tended. She would be lying if she said she didn''t find Li Xiran attractive, but she would rather not have anything to do with him. She also didn''t believe Li Xingtian''s im that Li Xiran was on edge because of her.


    "We have nothing to do with each other."


    "Uh-huh, I sure do believe you, Miss Xi." Li Xingtian said with a teasing smile.


    "I''m not forcing you to believe me." She shrugged.


    Xi Qian ignored his teasing and excused herself. She went to her room and closed the door behind her with a soft sigh. Now that Chairman Lu was doing better and was recovering well, she could ask to terminate her contract at any time.


    It would save her from a lot of stress and worries if she ended her contract early. The payment she received from the Li family was enough to support her for a few months once she entered med school.


    However, would it be the best course of action to take from this point?


    Xi Qian shook her head and shed her coat, putting it on the rack and decided to resume her studies. She wouldn''t have gone out today if she hadn''t received a call from Su Xiaofei, asking her to join the rest of their friends who were meeting up that afternoon.


    She spent another hour catching up with her studies until her body clock reminded her that it was time to retire for the night. She stood up and took a quick shower, dressed in her pajamas.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Taking a nce at the clock on her nightstand, Xi Qian thought that most people would be asleep by this time. She went down the stairs and straight to the kitchen to refill her water bottle, but she didn''t expect that there would be another person awake at this time of the night.


    Xi Qian stayed rooted in her ce and hardened her hold on her water bottle as she looked at Li Xiran.


    Li Xiran, who wasn''t expecting to see her at this time either, was rendered speechless. They hadn''t talked to each other since their meeting at the beach resort. He assumed that with Xi Qian''s avoidance, it was a clear answer to his question and he respected that.


    "Good evening." He heard Xi Qian, who kept a poker face as she strode to the fridge to refill her drink, greeted.


    "Good evening."


    Li Xiran followed her with his gaze and said nothing. What else could he say if she had already made her decision. She wouldn''t be his friend and would rather keep him at arm''s length. That was already enough to tell him.


    Xi Qian pretended like she wasn''t bothered by his gaze, but there was no need to make small talk with him now.


    "I heard from my father that you asked for early termination of your contract. Is that really needed to avoid me, Miss Xi?"


    Xi Qian turned around and looked at him impassively. She wasn''t sure how Li Xiran came to that conclusion.


    "It''s true that I''m considering terminating my contract early, but my decision has nothing to do with you." She made it clear to him.


    "Is that so?" Li Xiran frowned. "I guess I''m overthinking. I''m sorry."


    He turned around and was about to leave when Xi Qian called after him.


    "What made you think I''m leaving because of you?" She couldn''t help but ask.


    Did Li Xingtian''s words earlier hold some truth to it?


    Li Xiran looked at her over his shoulders and chuckled.


    "Actually, I don''t want to be your friend."


    Xi Qian sharpened her gaze at that. Thankfully, she didn''t lower her guard with him. She was really tempted to give him a piece of her mind.


    "I want to really pursue you, but I can''t think of a way how."

 Chapter 526 I Don’t Want To Be Your Friend (2)

    What was she supposed to say?! Xi Qian internally screamed.


    She wasn''t that dumb to not know what Li Xiran was talking about, but she also didn''t want to make false assumptions.


    Seeing that she wasn''t going to say anything in response, Li Xiran stared at her blushing face.


    "Would it have been better if you weren''t my father''s private nurse?"


    "It''s nothing like that." Xi Qian avoided his gaze.


    "Xi Qian."


    Once more, she looked back at him, aware of her flushing cheeks. Li Xiran would always use honorifics whenever he was talking to her. She couldn''t remember if there was a time he had referred her by her given name before this.


    "I''m considering terminating my contract so I can focus more on my studies. The examination is due soon. It really has nothing to do with me avoiding you." She said, trying her best to keep calm.


    He stepped forward until he was close enough for her to smell his scent. Xi Qian was forced to look up to keep her gaze on him as she held her breath. She hadn''t been this close with a man for a long time and she was starting to wonder if she was really attracted to Li Xiran and she was merely making an excuse not to talk to him.


    "You look better today. I heard you went out to see your friends."


    Xi Qian couldn''t help but frown over his words. What did he mean by that?


    "I just noticed that you looked haggardtely." Li Xiran exined. "I didn''t mean to spy on you. Lu Qingfeng said that you have been helping him and his wife look after his mother-inw."


    The slight blush on his face looked fascinating in Xi Qian''s opinion. She would have never thought that a man like him would have such a nice side like this. She supposed that he''d been keeping up with everything professional and hadn''t lowered his guardtely.


    "You are interested in me?" Her tone was more like a statement than a question.


    Li Xiran looked at her in confusion.


    Xi Qian remained silent and it was his turn to get flustered by her gaze.


    "Is it really that hard to believe?" He asked.


    Xi Qian said nothing. She couldn''t think of anything she had done to get Li Xiran''s attention other than that fateful night they ended up at the rooftop of the hospital where she used to work.


    "I think Miss Xi is such an exceptional woman. She''s smart, she''s kind and she''s really a good friend who would stick with her friends through thick and thin. How could I not admire her?"


    Xi Qian''s face couldn''t get any more redder than it did. She hadn''t heard such apliment from another person before and Li Xiran made it sound like she was a good person. It wasn''t like she didn''t think she was, but she didn''t dare to think she was a great person to begin with.


    "T-thanks." She said after a long silence and rubbed her arm.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "If you are really determined to leave, then I will not stop you. But won''t you consider giving me a chance?"


    Xi Qian wasn''t able to answer him. Not only was she busy with her studies, but she wasn''t sure if she was ready to date again.


    "Aren''t you worried that I''m amoner?"


    How could she forget that he was the CEO of a hugepany? Many would look down on her if they knew that he was seeing someone below his status.


    "Why would it be a problem? I like you because of who you are, not what you are." He furrowed his brows as he looked at her.


    "I would be very busy and wouldn''t be able to make time for you."


    Which was true. If she somewhat got lucky and got into med school, Xi Qian was sure that her schedule would be as hectic and busy as always. How many times had she heard that the biggest reason for cheating and the third-party affairs was theck of time those couples had for each other?


    "And here I thought I would be the one being at fault by not making time for you." Heughed awkwardly.


    "Thepany is doing well now with Lu Qingfeng and Yan Xiuchen''s help, but I think if we can manage our time well, we''ll be able to make time for each other." He paused and looked at her.


    "That is, if you are willing. I''ll have long work hours and unprecedented meetings that maye up anytime. It mighte as a problem¡­" He said as if he was already guilty of it.


    Xi Qian blinked and stared at him. She didn''t think that he had already thought that far ahead and was apologizing for something he hadn''t done yet.


    "I don''t mind at all." She said, looking flustered.


    If Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng managed to wait five years before they could be together, then she could also do it if she put her heart into it.


    "Is that a yes, then?" Li Xiran reminded her of his previous question.


    Xi Qian went frigid, her back went ramrod straight.


    One of the reasons why she didn''t want to get close to him or befriend him was because she knew, even if she denied it, that she was drawn to him. It would also mean that allowing him to get close, was allowing herself to get exposed and hurt again by another person. Xi Qian thought that she wasn''t ready for it.


    "I still haven''t left yet¡­" She said with a smile and nced at him. Xi Qian hoped that she wouldn''t regret thister.


    Li Xiran opened his mouth, but no words came out. It took a moment before his face lit up and returned her smile.


    "Then I''ll look forward to our first date." He whispered, before leaving the room, giving her onest nce as he ascended the stairs.

 Chapter 527 Brotherhood Night (1)

    It wasn''t the first time that Lu Qingfeng''s brothers would meet without him. The five men decided to ditch poker in favor of ying chess tonight. Yan Xiuchen was in the middle of his game with Li Xiran when Song Yiran arrived.


    "Howe whenever Lu Qingfeng isn''t here, you alwaysete, Yiran?" Zhu Baichuan asked as he shot Song Yiran an amused look. He was seated across from Ning Xuan, who was his opponent for a chess game.


    Next to them, another table was set where Yan Xiuchen and Li Xiran were both engulfed with the game they were having. Neither of them stopped to greet Song Yiran and focused on their next move.


    Song Yiran grunted and pulled a pack of cigarettes from his coat and lit one. He pulled a vacant seat and sat next to Ning Xuan and Zhu Baichuan''s table. He wasn''t in the mood to participate in any game tonight anyway.


    "Was in a meeting that I couldn''t easily leave." He replied with an annoyed tone.


    He would have arrived way earlier if he managed to sneak out of the club, but it was too impossible for him to leave when that woman was clinging on him like a python, trapping her prey. If he didn''t need to close the deal with the owner of that luxury cruise, Song Yiran wouldn''t have to meet that demanding woman.


    "You mean on a date with a woman who won''t let you off?" Ning Xuan grinned at him.


    Everyone in their brotherhood knew that Song Yiran''s way to seal the deal with his prospective business partners was through women. Whether they were the daughters of the owner of thepany, the CEO herself or a rtive to the decision maker, Song Yiran was able to get the deal he needed through socializing with them.


    "Hey, it''s not my fault that they couldn''t get enough of me." Song Yiran smirked, then eyed the game Yan Xiuchen was having with Li Xiran. He was surprised that even though Qiying City was far from Shenjing, the newest member of their brotherhood never missed a single meeting and always arrived on time.


    Li Xiran looked up, gave him a nod in greeting, then turned his attention back to the chessboard. It was obvious that Yan Xiuchen wasn''t giving him any chance to win, and Song Yiran wondered if this was their first game of the night or not.


    It wasn''t the first time he''d seen their eldest brother y chess, but it was definitely the first for Li Xiran. Yan Xiuchen was supposed to be very good at chess like Lu Qingfeng, who Song Yiran had never beaten so far, but Li Xiran seemed to be more or less holding up well on his own. Either Yan Xiuchen was going easy on him or Li Xiran was a pretty decent yer himself.


    "I thought Lu Qingfeng would be here." Song Yiran said, as he epted the bottle of cold beer, Ning Xuan handed it to him.


    "Do you really have to ask?" Ning Xuan replied. "Even though his mother-inw''s life is out of danger now, he can''t possibly leave his wife on her own."<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Song Yiran scoffed at that and let out an exasperated sigh. He was hoping he could meet Lu Qingfeng tonight to ask the younger man''s advice about something, but Song Yiran guessed he could only wait or just give Lu Qingfeng a callter.


    "Su Xiaofei isn''t a weak-minded person. She can manage on her own and doesn''t need Lu Qingfeng''s pampering." He muttered.


    It must be Lu Qingfeng who wasn''t willing to leave her side, not the other way around. How could the rest of their brothers not see that Lu Qingfeng wasn''t the one wearing the pants in his marriage with Su Xiaofei?


    No matter how frightening Lu Qingfeng was for other people, he would always make an exception towards his wife. Lu Qingfeng wouldn''t vocally admit it, but Su Xiaofei was his bottomline and the reason for his existence.


    "I bet something must havee up that made him decide to postpone his trip to Shenjing this time."


    Ning Xuan shrugged, while Zhu Baichuan only chuckled, before resuming the game they were having before Song Yiran''s arrival distracted them. Unlike Yan Xiuchen and Li Xiran''s game, theirs wasn''t a serious one. From the looks of the chess pieces on the board, it seemed to Song Yiran that Zhu Bacihuan was going to win.


    Song Yiran was left with no other choice but to watch the game between his brothers. He was d that he was able to rx for now and do nothing. This was why he was looking forward to their brotherhood meet up nights. Not only was he able to forget his worries, but he was also able to catch up with his closest friends.


    An hourter, Li Xiran flicked his king, finally admitting defeat against Yan Xiuchen. Song Yiran looked over their board and saw that Li Xiran had really lost. Yan Xiuchen was able to corner him, but without losing both of his queen and rooks first.


    Song Yiran stood up and gave Li Xiran a pat on his shoulder. It was astounding for him to know that aside from Lu Qingfeng, Li Xiran was able to give Yan Xiuchen a real challenge.


    "You did well. The three of us could barely hold a candle against Chen-ge and Lu Qingfeng. To think that you managed to get him this far¡­ you are quite admirable."


    Li Xiran blinked twice and only nodded. He wasn''t used to beingplimented by others, but he supposed Song Yiran was merely being kind to him and didn''t want him to feel bad about his loss.


    They watched as Yan Xiuchen rose from his seat and made his way to the bar counter to ask the staff for a bottle of bourbon. He didn''t take long to get back to his seat, offering a ss to Li Xiran and Song Yiran.

 Chapter 528 Brotherhood Night (2)

    "So, how is it going between you and Miss Xiao?" Song Yiran asked Yan Xiuchen, effectively taking the older man''s attention.


    Yan Xiuchen shot him a pointed re, but Song Yiran didn''t seem like he was afraid of it.


    "Fine." Yan Xiuchen conceded, knowing that Song Yiran wouldn''t let him off the hook so easily, unless he talked.


    "She''s still living with you, then?" Song Yiran persisted in questioning him.


    The scarred man could only sigh and run a hand over his face. He was pretty sure that his face was burning with embarrassment. Damn Song Yiran and his big mouth. Did he really need to ask such a question at this time?


    All of his brothers were now looking at him, waiting for his answer. Now, the enjoyment he had got tonight had peaked at the door, ready to leave him behind in his own misery.


    "She is, but she''s in Qiying City at the moment and will return soon."


    "Ah, Chen-ge is really into her, huh?" Ning Xuan nudged Zhu Baichuan who onlyughed at his reaction. "It seems that we''ll get another sister-inw soon." He added.


    Yan Xiuchen huffed and looked away, aware that his face was betraying him at that moment.


    Marriage?


    Yan Xiuchen had never considered that. Heck, he hadn''t given it a thought for a long time, since he had fully resigned to his fate - that he would be alone forever and that no woman would willingly love him and stay by his side - until Xiao Rufeng came along.


    When Xiao Rufeng asked him if he could apany her to meet the rest of his family, the thought of marriage crossed his mind. He wondered if Xiao Rufeng was looking for a long term rtionship with him, but he dared not get his hopes up.


    ''She''s afraid that Xiao Yunyao will hurt her if shees alone.'' He tried to reason out.


    He thought that neither he nor Xiao Rufeng were ready for marriage, and he wouldn''t be that selfish as to ask her to abandon her career and be a housewife instead. He''d seen the passion in her eyes as she talked about the roles she wanted to y in the future and how excited she was to y challenging roles that not many actors would dare to ept.


    "Don''t be silly." Song Yiran hummed as he swirled the bourbon in his ss. "Xiao Rufeng is an actress and although Chen-ge could give her anything she wants, I bet she''s as prideful as Su Xiaofei who won''t allow a man to splurge money on her."


    "How do you know about that?" Yan Xiuchen asked in surprise.


    Was he really that predictable to his brothers? Even Lu Qingfeng, who was closest to him amongst his brothers, never questioned him about Xiao Rufeng.


    Indeed, he had tried giving Xiao Rufeng expensive gifts throughout the past weeks, but he would always find the same thing on his desk in the morning with a "Thank You" note from her.


    "You did try to give her something!" Song Yiran burst into a round ofughter.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Of course he did." Zhu Baichuanmented. "It''s normal for him to try to leave a good impression on Miss Xiao."


    Li Xiran remained silent. He wasn''t really good at interacting with women, so he couldn''tment about Yan Xiuchen''s rtionship with Xiao Rufeng. Even he was having a hard time chasing after Xi Qian who had been avoiding him like a gue for weeks.


    "Isn''t that a good thing?" Ning Xuanmented. "It means that Xiao Rufeng isn''t staying with Chen-ge because of his money, but because she really likes him as he is. It''s rare to find a woman who wouldn''t scale your value based on what you could offer to her."


    The rest of them fell silent at that. Given their current status, it was indeed hard for them to find a partner who would be truthful to them and could look past what they are and ept them for who they are.


    "That''s true. I hope things will get better for you and Miss Xiao then." Zhu Baichuan said.


    The scarred man only nodded. He was d when their conversation shifted to business talks, much to his relief. He didn''t know how long he would be able to take it if Song Yiran continued with his probing about his current rtionship with Xiao Rufeng.


    Thinking about her made Yan Xiuchen miss her more. She had gone to Qiying City a week ago, and what was supposed to be a three-day trip was extended to a week. Waiting for her return had put him on edge these days, and he''d been staring into nothing, hoping that time would go faster.


    Yan Xiuchen had prided himself as a person with a lot of patience, but waiting for her return had made him more anxious than what his work could ever make him. Days and nights felt longer without her by his side and while he knew that he hadn''t given her a clear answer to her recent request, he was already looking forward to what awaits them in the future.


    ''Perhaps I should give her my answer once she''s back.''


    He nced at the time on his watch. The flowers should have been delivered to her suite by now, and he hoped that she would love them.


    "Ah, hell. He''s smiling again." Song Yiran groaned, the alcohol was starting to affect his mind. "I probably should start getting used to seeing Chen-ge smiling more from now on."


    Yan Xiuchen grunted, wondering why Song Yiran couldn''t leave him alone.


    "Stopining. You just haven''t found the right woman for you, despite being flocked by women." He red at him.


    "Sorry, Chen-ge, but I have no interest whatsoever in being tied down by marriage."


    Song Yiran then leaned close to Yan Xiuchen and slid a small box into thetter''s coat pocket.


    "I bet you won''t stay a <anno data-annotation-id="323ce171-97a2-a7e6-ad08-b6eeede1fe15">cherry boy</anno> for too long. This mighte in handy." He said with a wink.


    <annotations style="disy: none;"><ol ss="tinymce-annotation-container"><li data-annotation-id="323ce171-97a2-a7e6-ad08-b6eeede1fe15">ng. A term originating from Japan that is ng for a male who has no experience in sexual intercourse and activities.</li></ol></annotations>",

 Chapter 529 We Meet Again (1)

    Su Xiaofei had been waiting. Waiting for her mother to wake up and for Ye Mingyu and Chen Hao to make a move. However, Yun Qingrong remained unresponsive and Ye Mingyu hadn''t made any move to reach out to her.


    ''She''s probably still figuring out how to fulfill the part of the deal with Chen Hao.'' Su Xiaofei thought as she sat next to her mother''s hospital bed, wiping Yun Qingrong''s arm with a damp, clean washcloth.


    "I wish you would wake up soon. I have so much to tell you." She whispered to her mother.


    Su Xiaofei missed her mother terribly. She wanted to hear Yun Qingrong''s voice and see her smile again. It suddenly felt so long since she talked to Yun Qingrong and wondered when she would wake up.


    Yun Qingrong''splexion was starting to improve and her body wasn''t rejecting the organs Bai Qingyue donated, much to Su Xiaofei''s relief. However, there was no telling when she would wake up. The doctors couldn''t give them any definite answer as to why Yun Qingrong remained in aa when her body was obviously recovering well.


    "A lot of things happen while you sleep. Do you really want to miss all of it? I want to bring you to Hazel Brew Cafe once again and catch up with you. Those old geezers at thepany are still bullying me to this day." Su Xiaofei whispered, as she looked at mother with worry.


    She knew that she couldn''t force the heavens to grant every wish she had in her heart, but Su Xiaofei really wanted to see and talk to her mother once again.


    "Bai Qingyue donated her organs to save you. Surprising isn''t it?" She chuckled amusedly. "I would have never thought that she would do something outrageous like that, but I suppose we owe her a great favor from now on."


    The door opened and Yan Mei entered. She smiled when she saw Su Xiaofei and greeted her.


    "Xiao Feng didn''te with you?" Yan Mei asked Su Xiaofei as she ced a vase with fresh flowers on the table. She had been the one staying with Yun Qingrong when everyone else wasn''t around and Su Xiaofei was relieved to know that Yan Mei was here.


    Su Xiaofei shook her head. She came here straight from Bluemedia and she wasn''t expecting Lu Qingfeng to be here all the time. She wouldn''t find fault with him if he couldn''te and visit her mother.


    "He''s busy with work, but he said he would drop by and see Mama once he''s free. I''m sorry that I couldn''t stay and look after her.We''ve been swamped."


    Lu Qingfeng had decided to upy the study back at home and do all his work remotely. It only meant more video conferences and phone calls for him to attend to, since he could not be in Shenjing until he was certain that his wife was out of danger. He also made her security a bit tighter than usual, and Su Xiaofei hadn''tined about it at all.


    "Of course you are. You and Lu Qingfeng are runningpanies and many people rely on you. You two are working so hard. It''s a pity that you couldn''t have a decent honeymoon after your wedding."


    Yan Mei took a seat on the couch and looked at the mother and daughter pair. She then realized the weight of the sacrifice Bai Qingyue had made for Su Xiaofei''s sake and finally understood her motives.


    "That could wait, Aunt Mei. A-Feng and I would be able to have as many honeymoons as we want once all of this is over." Su Xiaofei replied with a slight blush on her face.


    "Dear, time isn''t owned by anyone. It''s not something you have control of. Don''t take it for granted, Feifei. Let''s try to avoid any regrets in the future."


    Su Xiaofei fell silent at that. Yan Mei was right. She had almost forgotten about that. Now that her life was far from the miserable life she used to have in her previous life, she couldn''t predict what could happen in the future.


    She was suddenly unsure about what awaits her and Lu Qingfeng in the future and she was careless to think that they had absolute control of the future. She just wanted to lead a happy life with her family, but she knew that unless she got rid of Ye Mingyu and Mo Yuchen from her life, that wouldn''t be possible to attain.


    "I see. Thank you for reminding me, Aunt Mei."


    She knew then that she needed to reconsider her priorities from that moment and should discuss this with her husband. With Ye Mingyu and Chen Haoing after her, it was hard for her to tell what their next move would be.


    A knock on the door brought her back to reality. Lu Qingfeng stepped inside the room and greeted Yan Mei, before kissing Su Xiaofei''s cheek.


    "Still the same?" He asked, taking a quick nce at Yun Qingrong worriedly.


    It''s been weeks and the rest of them were starting to get restless waiting for her to wake up. Old General Yun had alsoe and visited her whenever he could, but he couldn''t stay longer like the rest of them.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "En, although the doctors assured us that she''s doing well." Yan Mei was the one who answered his question. Since she was the one who stayed with Yun Qingrong throughout the day, she was most familiar with the progress of her treatments and condition.


    "I see." Lu Qingfeng sighed and took a seat, looking more tired than usual.


    Su Xiaofei furrowed her brows and knew that Lu Qingfeng hade here as soon as he finished today''s agenda. The dark circles beneath his eyes were starting to be prominent due to hisck of sleep.


    "Are you alright? You look paler than usual." Yan Mei nced at him, then turned to her niece.


    "I''m fine, Madam. Just a little too tired from work." He grunted and Su Xiaofei shot him a worried look.


    Lu Qingfeng wouldn''t have to force himself like this if it wasn''t for her. Still, she couldn''t afford to be distracted by her guilt.


    Yan Mei nodded before excusing herself and left the couple, giving them the privacy they needed.


    "Are you sure you want to stay here? Aren''t you more needed in Shenjing?" Su Xiaofei took a seat and ced a hand on his forehead to make sure he wasn''t having any fever.


    "I''m fine, Feifei. It''s not like thepany would fail without me there. I don''t need to micromanage everyone." He assured her. Her safety was far more important to him than anything in this world.


    "Chen Hao hasn''t made a move yet, has it?" She asked.


    Lu Qingfeng nodded, but that didn''t mean he didn''t make any move against Chen Hao. He would make sure Chen Hao wouldn''t be able to think of lusting after his wife once he took everything from him.


    "We''re already keeping an eye on him and Ye Mingyu. He made a few phone calls to her, but she only answered once." He told her instead.


    "She''s probably still making ns to approach me." Su Xiaofei sighed.


    There must be something else she could do rather than wait for Ye Mingyu to harm her.


    To be honest, it disappointed her that Ye Mingyu''s scheming ability was subparpared to what she used to do in Su Xiaofei''s previous life. The Ye Mingyu in this lifetime had repeatedly failed on her quest to destroy her life.


    ''Perhaps this was for the better.'' She thought and lowered her gaze as Lu Qingfeng drew her close to him.


    Su Xiaofei couldn''t help but think of Ye Mingyu and her past life. If it was the same scheming Ye Mingyu she was facing right now, Su Xiaofei wasn''t sure if she would be able to outwit her. She was such a foolish person in her past life, and there wouldn''t be much difference now. She could only be cautious and prepared for the time Ye Mingyu strikes.


    "Well, the more she hesitates, the more favorable it is for us." Lu Qingfeng pointed out. Indeed, Ye Mingyu was sparing them some time to prepare as she hesitated.


    "Right." She chuckled. "Her two remaining brain cells must be fighting toe up with a better n."


    "Then we must pray that they kill each other so she wouldn''te up with any more ridiculous ideas." Her husband grinned.


    Lu Qingfeng ran his fingers gently over her long hair when sheid her head on hisp as they upied the couch in her mother''s hospital room. He didn''t want to miss times like this in this lifetime. He waited for a long time just to be with her, so how could he allow anyone to hurt his wife?


    Su Xiaofei shut her eyes and hummed. Whatever Ye Mingyu was up to, she would make sure that she would have thestugh.

 Chapter 530 We Meet Again (2)

    "Feifei, darling, you need to wake up."


    Su Xiaofei groaned and tried to cover her face with one hand, eager to get more sleep, but Lu Qingfeng''s voice sounded happy and nervous at the same time. Just what was going on? She wondered as she grunted and cracked her eyes open.


    "What is it?" She asked, trying to blink away her sleepiness to focus on what her husband was telling her. She felt refreshed from her nap, but Su Xiaofei wasn''t sure how long she had been sleeping.


    "Mother is finally awake and she''s looking for you." Lu Qingfeng told her. "You wouldn''t want to keep her waiting, right?"


    That was enough to jolt Su Xiaofei up. Was she still dreaming or did her husband just say that her mother was awake now?


    "What?" She eximed, turning her head to look at her mother, her eyes widening as she saw Yun Qingrong''s smiling face looking at her.


    "Now, now, Xiao Feng. I told you to let Feifei sleep more." Yun Qingrong said to her son-inw before meeting her daughter''s gaze.


    "Why, hello, President Su. d to meet you again. How''s your sleep? Sufficient, I hope?"


    "Mama¡­" Su Xiaofei whispered with widened eyes. Her tears fell uncontrobly down her face as she stared at Yun Qingrong in disbelief.


    How many times did she imagine what would happen if her mother woke up from hera? The words she tried to memorize for this day were already forgotten as the feeling of shock, hope and love washed through her.


    "I''m not dreaming?" She said to no one as her sight became blurry with tears.


    This can''t be a dream, right? It would be truly awful if this was just another trick of her imagination.


    From the corner of her eye, she could see Lu Qingfeng smiling at her brightly. Lu Qingfeng smiling¡­ She could count on her fingers the many times she had seen Lu Qingfeng smile like this. It was a rare urrence, even for Su Xiaofei. It was a smile that could only be seen on special asions.


    "No, dear. Why don''t youe here and let me see you up close?" Yun Qingrong said, extending an arm to Su Xiaofei.


    There was no breathing pipe attached to her anymore. The young doctor who came to check on Yun Qingrong excused himself to call the doctors that were assigned to her. She looked pale and her voice was a little hoarse.


    Su Xiaofei slowly stood up. She didn''t realize there was a light blue fleece nket on herp and only became aware of it when it fell to her feet. But she chose to ignore it and strode towards her mother in a hurry, throwing her arms around Yun Qingrong as she continued to weep.


    Her mother was awake and alive. Yun Qingrong wasn''t going to leave her. Not this time and not anytime soon.


    "I miss you too, dear. I''m sorry for making you worry." Yun Qingrong said, kissing her daughter''s crown, her eyes shining with tears.


    She mouthed her thanks to Lu Qingfeng, who only nodded in response.


    Su Xiaofei only parted from her mother when the doctors arrived to check on Yun Qingrong''s condition. Yan Mei had already notified the rest of the Yun family, so Su Xiaofei expected that her uncles would be joining them here soon.


    She went to her husband and wrapped her arms around him and sobbed quietly.


    "I thought you would be happy." Lu Qingfeng hummed, allowing his wife to seekfort in him.


    "These are happy tears." She muttered, her arms tightening around him. She was beyond happy and couldn''t contain all of it.


    "Then I''m d."


    Now that Yun Qingrong was awake, it had no doubt removed the heavy pressure on their shoulders, especially for Su Xiaofei. After weeks of waiting, Lu Qingfeng was d that he would be able to see his wife genuinely happy again.


    It didn''t take long and the whole room was buzzing with people as the Yun family arrived and celebrated Yun Qingrong''s recovery. Everyone was happy to see her. Even the old general hade and shed a few tears as he gave his daughter a tight hug.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "I''m so d that you are awake now." Yan Mei told Yun Qingrong. "You gave all of us quite a scare when you suddenly fell into aa. I have never seen Feifei cry so much."


    "I''m sorry, dear," Yun Qingrong replied as she gently kissed Su Xiaofei''s temple, who refused to leave her side once the doctors left. "I didn''t want you to make you worry."


    "It''s alright, Mama. What''s important is you are here with us now."


    Now that Yun Qingrong was awake, the doctors were certain that she was on her road to full recovery. Although she still needed to stay at the hospital for another week and continue with her treatments, Yun Qingrong would live.


    When the rest of the family left, it was already past midnight. Su Xiaofei had fallen asleep next to her mother, leaving Yun Qingrong in Lu Qingfeng''spany.


    Yun Qingrong rested a hand over her daughter''s head and smiled. It didn''t matter if Su Xiaofei was already a grownup, because she would still be Yun Qingrong''s precious baby.


    "She must be really exhausted." Shemented, before ncing at Lu Qingfeng who had upied the seat next to her bed. "You too."


    "It''s okay, Mother."


    "No, it''s not." Yun Qingrong shook her head. "Thest thing I want is to burden you and Feifei. I cannot imagine how scared Feifei was when I fell into aa."


    Lu Qingfeng said nothing. Perhaps Yun Qingrong was lucky that she wasn''t able to witness it. Just remembering Su Xiaofei''s reaction during those hard times was enough to break his heart.


    "Is it true then? That it was Bai Qingyue who saved my life?"


    Lu Qingfeng stared at her in shock. None of them had informed her about the identity of her donor. Was Bai Qingyue right back then when she said that Yun Qingrong was able to hear them in her unconscious state?


    "I heard her pleading to me." Yun Qingrong answered his unspoken question. "I hear her telling me to live for Feifei''s sake. There were times when I slipped in and out of consciousness, but I couldn''t wake up. I just heard voices, but that too was very limited."


    Lu Qingfeng didn''t dare to question her. Heck, he and Su Xiaofei had undergone rebirth and something like this was surely possible. It was just hard for him to understand how all of it works, but he surmised that even a person like him wouldn''t be able to understand most of it.


    "I can''t really exin it. It felt surreal, but I know that it really happened. I feel like my heart is really at peace now and I''m ready to face the world again. You don''t know how happy I am that I still have a chance to spend more time with you. I guess I really owe Miss Bai one."


    She paused and beckoned Lu Qingfeng toe closer. He hesitated for a moment, but eventually did what he was asked. Suddenly, Yun Qingrong pulled him into an awkward embrace.


    Lu Qingfeng went rigid, but didn''t pull away. He still had some physical aversion to other people other than his wife. It had been so long since his parents had died in a car crash, but how they treated him had left lingering effects his whole life. He had never thought that he would be able to open his heart again for anyone, not until he met Su Xiaofei.


    "It must have been hard for you too, Xiao Feng." Yun Qingrong said. "I''m sorry."


    "Mother and Feifei need me. How can I turn a blind eye and not help at all?"


    Thankfully, Yun Qingrong released him, much to Lu Qingfeng''s relief, but one of her hands rested on the side of his face now. He looked at her confusedly.


    "That doesn''t change the fact that I made you worry. I care about you, Xiao Feng. Even if you and Feifei didn''t end up being together. You are like a son to me."


    Lu Qingfeng said nothing and hid the slight blush on his cheeks. He didn''t think he would ever get used to it.


    "Now that you and Feifei have one less problem, maybe you can have a proper honeymoon now. I cannot wait to hold your babies if you n to have one."


    "Ah, about that¡­ Feifei and I decided to postpone it for now."


    He didn''t have the heart to break the news to his mother-inw. Even if Su Xiaofei never said it, Lu Qingfeng knew that she hadn''t gotten over the trauma of losing her child in their previous life. She had once mentioned to him before she died that Mo Yuchen killed a part of her when he forced her to abort their unborn child.

 Chapter 531 Can You Be Mine? (1)

    Yan Xiuchen arrived homete in the evening. His head was aching from the prolonged meeting he just attended. He was supposed toe home earlier, wanting to wee Xiao Rufeng upon her return, but it was impossible to ditch everything to his subordinates.


    ''She must already be asleep by now.'' He thought as he strode towards his study, wanting to clear his mind before retiring for the night. It was a pity that he wasn''t able to see Xiao Rufeng today, now that she was here. If only time would pass faster, so he would be able to see her early in the morning.


    He took off his jacket and ced it on his arm, while his right hand fiddled with the top buttons of his dress shirt. He opened the door of his study and stood frozen on the spot when he found Xiao Rufeng seated on the couch, browsing thetest newspaper. She lifted her head and broke into a smile when she spotted him.


    "Hey. You look tired. Long day?" Xiao Rufeng asked.


    Yan Xiuchen blinked and nodded, realizing that he wasn''t imagining things and that Xiao Rufeng was really here in front of him.


    "I thought you''ve already turned in. Aren''t you tired?" He asked in return.


    He joined her on the couch and smiled weakly. While he was d to see her tonight, Yan Xiuchen was also worried about her.


    "Not tired." She smiled at him. "I was hoping to see you as soon as I arrived, but Elder Meng said that you were out."


    "So you decided to wait for me?" He asked in confusion. He had never experienced having someone waiting for him at home. Xiao Rufeng was making him feel things¡­ emotions that he wasn''t familiar with, but he didn''t mind it at all.


    Xiao Rufeng lowered the newspaper on herp and tried to suppress her smile. There it was again, the same blush and expression that was making Yan Xiuchen catch his breath, enthralled by her beauty.


    "I couldn''t sleep without seeing you first anyway. I miss you." She admitted quietly.


    "As I, you." Yan Xiuchen replied, and the two were trapped in a staring battle.


    Yan Xiuchen wanted to reach her, touch her, kiss her, but he stopped himself from doing so. However, Xiao Rufeng noticed the sudden change in him and moved closer to him, invading his private space.


    "W-what¡­" He wanted to ask her what she was doing, but Yan Xiuchen sucked in a breath when her hand touched the scarred side of his face.


    When he flinched at her touch, Xiao Rufeng pulled her hand away, but he grabbed it.


    "Sorry. I couldn''t stop myself." She apologized to him and stared at him for a moment before continuing, "but you won''t touch me¡­"


    Yan Xiuchen was rendered speechless at that. He had never thought that someone like Xiao Rufeng woulde his way one day, and here they were.


    "You want me to touch you?"<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Xiao Rufeng pulled away, but remained seated close to him. She knew that they were attracted to each other, but they had their own personal issues they had to deal with on their own.


    "Yan Xiuchen, what are we?" She probed him. "Are we.. Are we together?"


    She didn''t think she would be able to endure it if Yan Xiuchen was just ying with her feelings. After the heartbreak she went through because of Jin Qiu, she never thought she would be able to open her heart to someone else ever again.


    "What do you mean?" Yan Xiuchen furrowed his brows, not sure what she was trying to convey to him.


    "Are we together?" She repeated her question. "Can you be mine?"


    Xiao Rufeng had never thought she would say these words again. Thest time she uttered them was when she was still in love with Jin Qiu and had confessed her feelings to him years ago. She suddenly felt guilty, saying the same words to Yan Xiuchen.


    ''I cannot be owned by anyone.'' Jin Qiu told her with augh, clearly not sensing that she justid her heart bare only for him to break it into pieces.


    Of course, she knew that she couldn''t own him, but that wasn''t what she meant when she asked him that. After that incident, Xiao Rufeng had decided to cut her ties with him in order to get over him, but it was proven hard.


    "I can''t stop thinking about you. These past weeks, my days were filled by you." She chuckled, but averted his gaze. "The week that I wasn''t with you felt excruciatingly long that I couldn''t wait to return to your side and speak with you again."


    Here she was, trying to bare her heart once more. Couldn''t she be any more foolish than this? Xiao Rufeng thought. But she didn''t think she could continue not knowing what she was in Yan Xiuchen''s heart, not when her heart was betraying her and falling in love again.


    Then she lifted her head, meeting his shocked gaze, an emotion that was apparent all over his face.


    "I like you. I like you a lot." She clenched a hand over her chest. "But I don''t want to get ahead of myself and assume that there''s more than the friendship that we have now."


    Good lord, why did she feel like her heart was breaking all over again? Xiao Rufeng had no idea. If Yan Xiuchen turned her down, she wasn''t sure what to do after this. However, it would be wrong to push him for something that was against his wishes, even if it was her.


    ''Leave and never turn back.'' She mocked herself. ''Pretend that it doesn''t hurt despite the fact that you are dying inside.''


    Yan Xiuchen turned his face away, hiding his scarred side away from her, and Xiao Rufeng felt her heart drop. He didn''t want to have anything to do with her.


    "I see. So this is your answer." She smiled and was about to rise from her seat when he stopped her.

 Chapter 532 Can You Be Mine? (2)

    "You¡­ want to be in a rtionship with me?" He asked her.


    The expression on his face looked shattered, his voice stiff and sounded uncertain. He looked at her as if he couldn''t quite believe what she had just said to him.


    "Is it really hard for you to believe that I like you?" Xiao Rufeng returned to his side and rested her head on his chest, feeling him stiffen at the contact. "You know this isn''t easy for me, too."


    Yan Xiuchen said nothing. He''d once said he liked her, but would that be enough to pursue a rtionship with her?


    He lifted a hand and touched her head, getting Xiao Rufeng''s attention. She pulled away and looked at him nervously. Xiao Rufeng knew that she needed to tread with care when it came to him. Yan Xiuchen obviously didn''t have enough confidence in himself, believing that no one could see past his face.


    He brushed her hair off her shoulder and looked at her straight in the eyes.


    "Are you certain that you want to be with me? There are other men that would love to be with you."


    "And you don''t?" She frowned at him, but he fell silent.


    "I think I''m in love with you." Yan Xiuchen admitted. The redness of his face was a stark contrast to the uneven white scars on his face.


    Now he had her full attention. Xiao Rufeng stared at him in surprise. Her heart would have melted into a puddle of goo if she hadn''t heard his next words.


    "But I''m not sure being in a rtionship with me would be good for your career and reputation." He reminded her.


    She opened her mouth to argue that it didn''t bother her, but was stopped when he ced a finger on her lips.


    "You don''t know how happy I am that you like me too, that you are interested in me, but do you really want to be in a rtionship with me? Have you given it a good thought on how this may affect your life as an actor? You might not care what others think of you, but I do. I don''t want anyone to speak badly of you because of me."


    Xiao Rufeng clenched her jaws, tears now spilling from her eyes, immediately sending Yan Xiuchen into panic mode. He never meant to make her cry.


    "Please don''t cry. I didn''t mean to hurt you."


    He couldn''t stop himself from leaning forward, pressing a light kiss on the corner of her mouth, surprising not only Xiao Rufeng, but also himself.


    "So you don''t want me?" She asked with teary eyes.


    "Want you more than anything in this world." He corrected her.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Then, you''d rather let other people take away what we could have. Is that it?"


    Xiao Rufeng wasn''t sure which was more painful. Being rejected or being told that she wasn''t worth fighting for. Yan Xiuchen clearly was in love with her, but he didn''t want to take the chance to be with her.


    However, she also knew that what he said had a valid point. Her manager would surely say something, but she didn''t doubt that Su Xiaofei would understand her. Xiao Rufeng had never thought that her career as an actor would be an obstacle to her love life.


    Yan Xiuchen fell silent, considering her words. She made it sound like he was a coward. Was he? He questioned himself.


    Here''s Xiao Rufeng, professing her feelings to him, and yet he was being such an idiot, making her cry. His loneliness seemed ebbing away as he looked at her tear-stained face, his heart clenching painfully at the sight of it. He''d made her cry, and Yan Xiuchen hated himself for it.


    "I just don''t want you to get hurt because of me." He murmured, her sorrow was tearing him apart. He didn''t like how things were turning out tonight, but he knew it was his fault.


    "But right now, you are the one who''s hurting me." Xiao Rufeng choked out between her sobs. "Don''t you have any faith in me?"


    Yan Xiuchen mentally berated himself.


    "I''m sorry¡­ I never meant to hurt you. It''s just¡­ it''s hard for me to trust people."


    "You have to understand that it''s not for other people to decide whether we should be together or not. I chose you, didn''t I? I''m not going to deny you in public even if the whole world finds out about it, but you¡­"


    "You''re right. I''m a coward." He finished her sentence for her, but Xiao Rufeng shut her mouth and turned away, not wanting to look at him.


    "I have never thought that I would be the first one who would hurt you instead. Forgive me." He took her hands and kissed her knuckles so tenderly that it hurt Xiao Rufeng.


    "But if you would have me¡­. Whatever remains in my tattered heart is yours and yours alone. There wouldn''t be anyone but you. It is yours, darling, even before you asked for it. It is yours till the end of time. If you want to pluck my heart and crush it with your own hands, all you have to do is say so, and I''ll happily give it to you."


    Xiao Rufeng sucked in a breath and regarded him for a long moment. She could see that he was longing for her.


    Such a bold confession from him had certainly caught her off guard. This damaged person was trying his best to please her, to love her despite knowing that she could hurt him the way he could hurt her, and yet here she was, doubting him.


    She wanted to kiss him and make him understand that she knew the consequences of her choices. Damn it all to hell.


    Suddenly, she threw her arms around his shoulders and Yan Xiuchen pulled her towards himself for a hard, breathless kiss. A kiss that they both denied themselves of all through the weeks they spent together.

 Chapter 533 Stay With Me (1)

    The need they felt for each other was palpable and Xiao Rufeng wondered if Yan Xiuchen was going to take back his words, but as his lips continued to im hers, tongue sweeping inside her mouth, fighting for domination, she knew she really had it bad for him.


    Other women would have fled the moment they''d seen his face, but she didn''t. Xiao Rufeng wasn''t one to believe in love at first sight. Heck, she refused to believe in love after her fall-out with Jin Qiu, yet the moment she had seen Yan Xiuchen''s scarred face, something about him drew her to him.


    He was so different from all the men she''d ever met and dated. Yan Xiuchen fascinated her in a way that made her think of him more these days. She must be really losing her mind if she found his scars attractive and hot at the same time.


    It didn''t matter to her if he was scarred and broken. She would have him regardless. Xiao Rufeng knew that it wasn''t her job to fix him, but she was willing to help him see that there was more to life than lurking in the background, denying himself the happiness he deserved.


    Their kiss was a bit sloppy and awkward due to Yan Xiuchen''s inexperience, but Xiao Rufeng noticed that he was quite a fast learner. Her pulse fluttered with excitement at the thought of Yan Xiuchen wanting her as much as she wanted him.


    Suddenly, she found herself burning, in need of him. She wanted him to push her down on this very couch and ravage her, im her as his. She was so engrossed in their kiss that she didn''t notice that she had moved over hisp and straddled him.


    Yan Xiuchen stiffened, but didn''t pull away. His kisses started to slow down and became more gentle, while his hands rested on her hips as they continued their kiss until he eventually pulled away. His eyes were a bit dazed when he looked at her.


    Xiao Rufeng heaved a deep breath and rested her forehead on his shoulder, trying to hide the intense redness on her face. Yan Xiuchen must have realized the awkward position they were in now, but didn''t push her away. She felt his hands move from her hips to her back and slowly rubbed it in circles. She could feel his chin resting on top of her head as he held her close.


    "You aren''t going to take back your words, are you?" She asked.


    She didn''t have the courage to look at his face, fearing what she would see in his eyes. Before he arrived, she''d been pondering how to confront him about what they had, afraid that he would reject her.


    When she remembered the first kiss they had prior to this, Xiao Rufeng thought that he would use it as an excuse to touch her, kiss her unbridled, but none of it happened as Yan Xiuchen would always keep her at arm''s length whenever they were together. It frustrated her and made her yearn for him at the same time.


    There were times when she would shamelessly dream of kissing him for hours. Nothing else than losing themselves in each other''spany, exploring each other''s lips, not caring even if the world burned around them.


    "I won''t. I''ll be with you for as long as you want me." Yan Xiuchen replied.


    A smile curved her mouth.


    "Then you are bound to stay with me for a very long time." She giggled.


    Yes. She wanted him. Wanted to be with him. Whether she would regret this decision or not, she would leave it to the sober Xiao Rufeng in the future to deal with.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    He chuckled, amused at her words. He could see that she wasn''t repulsed by his horrendous scars, in fact she hadn''t backed away and was eager to touch them.


    "Sounds like a n to me."


    Xiao Rufeng sighed and parted from him. She found Yan Xiuchen watching her cautiously, his eyes never leaving her. She realized that she wasn''t the only one who was afraid of this sudden change in their rtionship.


    "I''m new to this." Yan Xiuchen started, admitting hisck of experience in terms of rtionships and intimacy. "You will have to forgive me if I do things that may upset you, but I will do my best."


    Xiao Rufeng said nothing and looked at their intertwined hands. His hand wasrger than hers, and it felt warm andforting. While her entirety was rejecting another man''s touch on her, she was eager for Yan Xiuchen to put his hands on her.


    ''Ridiculous.'' She mocked herself, but then she realized that Yan Xiuchen had been waiting for her response.


    "I really don''t mind being with you." She repeated. "Do you trust me?"


    Yan Xiuchen didn''t respond immediately, but he nodded his head shortly, much to her relief. Xiao Rufeng knew that this wasn''t easy for him, that he was practically stepping out of hisfort zone to be on the same page as her.


    "I''ve already declined the invitation to attend my dad''s birthday party." She told him. "But Dad insisted for me to have dinner with them before the event."


    She lifted her gaze and observed him warily. "Do you want toe with me?"


    She knew that the thought of them being seen in public was still putting Yan Xiuchen ill at ease, but if they were going to pursue a rtionship with each other, Xiao Rufeng wanted him to get to know her better.


    "So, just us and your family?" He asked.


    "I suppose so, but Jin Qiu might be there. I know Xiao Yunyao wouldn''t miss the chance to rub her engagement in my face at any given chance." She chuckled.


    Yan Xiuchen''s expression hardened. Being reminded that Xiao Yunyao would be there, there was no way he would allow Xiao Rufeng to be bullied again by her sister.


    "Alright. I''lle with you."

 Chapter 534 Stay With Me (2)

    Yan Xiuchenid on his bed, staring at the ceiling of his room. He couldn''t sleep at all. His mind yed the events earlier and the feeling of Xiao Rufeng''s body against his. He couldn''t believe that she wanted someone like him.


    He had been tense as hell earlier as he waited for Xiao Rufeng toe to her senses and realize that he wasn''t the one she needed, but she didn''t. To his surprise, she had shed tears instead, thinking that he didn''t want her. She even made him feel emotions that were unfamiliar to him - such as jealousy and desire.


    He had been so upset seeing her talking to Jin Qiu before. Although Yan Xiuchen hade to terms that he would spend his whole life in solitary, the thought of Xiao Rufeng being with another man disturbed him greatly.


    And then she kissed him.. Kissed him!


    Her lips tasted so sweet and soft, leaving Yan Xiuchen addicted to her. He liked the way she curled her hands in his hair and pressed her body against him as they continued to kiss. The softness of her body, the taste of her lips were too much for him to handle.


    He had never thought that he''d have these. Even in his younger years, when he ached to be with a woman, looking at the reflection of his face was enough to remind himself of how repulsive he looked.


    Xiao Rufeng would be his first in every aspect and he was thrilled to know that she wasn''t repulsed by his appearance at all. However, Yan Xiuchen didn''t want to raise his expectations towards her. He would be happy with what she was willing to give him and wouldn''t ask for more.


    However, being able to touch her was overwhelming and Yan Xiuchen had a hard time keeping his desire at bay. He''d felt an insane urge to kiss her, ravage her and he briefly wondered if Song Yiran''s words bore some weight in this foreign instinct when he slid that box of condoms in the pocket of his coat.


    Yan Xiuchen sat up and ran a hand over his face. He cursed Song Yiran for messing with his thoughts. He then nced at the nightstand that hid the box of condoms from his eyesight. He supposed he should get rid of it. Just because he and Xiao Rufeng were together now, it didn''t mean that he could have his way with her body.


    No. He would rather keep his hands off her than disrespect her.


    Yan Xiuchen wasn''t sure what time he fell asleep, but the next time he opened his eyes, the sun was already up in the sky. He rolled on his side and looked at the empty space next to him. He nced at the time and saw that it was ten in the morning and his phone was filled with notifications from his assistant and a message from Xiao Rufeng.


    He couldn''t stop the smile spreading on his lips as he re-read her message over and over again. It took him a moment before he decided it was time for him to start his day.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Ah, sost night wasn''t a dream after all. Yan Xiuchen mused to himself. Every ounce of his being was now determined to protect her and make Xiao Rufeng happy.


    He took a shower and dressed up, then went straight to the dining room to have his lunch. Elder Meng was waiting for him with that same teasing smile on his face, making Yan Xiuchen wonder if his old butler knew what transpired between him and Xiao Rufengst night.


    "Miss Xiao has already left for work. She said that you won''t have to pick her upter because she has a prior engagement her manager had arranged for her to attend." His butler said as he served Yan Xiuchen''s meal.


    He briefly wondered if he should share the news with Elder Meng. Xiao Rufeng and his butler seemed to get along very well, and from what he heard, his house helpers had also taken a liking to her. Whether it was because she was a celebrity or because of her kindness, Yan Xiuchen wasn''t surprised that she was able to win them over.


    Yan Xiuchen nodded and ate his meal in silence. It''s not even half a day but he was already missing her. Now, he felt like a ridiculous, lovesick fool waiting for her return, but for some reason, he didn''t mind it at all.


    "I called your assistant when you didn''te down in time." Elder Meng said. "He left the reports you needed in your office. Should I fetch them or will you go and see them yourself?" He suggested, but Yan Xiuchen shook his head.


    "Don''t bother. I''ll see them myself." He replied. He already knew what kind of reports were waiting on his table.


    It had been weeks since he threw Xiao Yunyao into a scandal and while the news was slowly ebbing away from the public eye, it didn''t mean that she was safe from him. Xiao Yunyao had been pestering his assistant and secretaries for a word with him. He already knew what she wanted from him, but he had no ns on giving Xiao Yunyao an easy way out.


    And then he remembered that he was about to meet her over dinner with Xiao Rufeng. He knew right then that he needed to do something to make sure Xiao Yunyao would never dare to scheme against his woman again.


    His woman. Yan Xiuchen froze at the thought. They were already in a rtionship, but it still felt surreal for him that Xiao Rufeng had just be his girlfriend and that she wanted him.


    As expected, he hadn''t heard from Xiao Rufeng all day. Her schedule must have been too busy and now that she had to attend sessions with her new doctor, courtesy of Su Xiaofei, Yan Xiuchen knew that the time he usually spent with her would be reduced.

 Chapter 535 In A Moment (1)

    Xi Qian''s gaze swept through the room she had upied these past months. This would be herst day here at the Li Estate. Strangely enough, she didn''t find herself as lonely in this ce as she thought she would be. Although her time with the Li family was short, she had to admit that she loved theirpany.


    Madam Li was a kind host. She was very patient with her and usually dropped by to give her snacks while she was studying. It was odd, but Xi Qian briefly thought that it was like a mother looking after her child who was about to leave for college.


    She chuckled and shook her head. How very different from her own mother whom she hadn''t seen or talked to ever since theirst encounter over five years ago. Not that her mother didn''t try to reach her. In fact her mother had constantly pestered her with phone calls and text messages that forced Xi Qian to change her number to avoid her.


    Meanwhile, Chairman Li was a pleasant person to chat with. He also didn''t mind when she spent most of her free time in their vast library to study and would asionally ask her about the progress of her studies. He would sometimes ask their cook to make something for her to eat after work.


    Li Xingtian wasn''t as bad as she thought the more she interacted with him. Although it was obvious that he''d been sheltered for too long and became conceited, Chairman Li''s ailment had surely pulled Li Xingtian off his high horse. Now, he was willing to work with his elder brother without making too much fuss.


    The more Xi Qian stayed with them, the more she thought that this was the kind of kinship she had been missing her entire life.


    She should be happy, but it only made her feel lonely. Xi Qian thought that after her grandmother died, she would get used to being on her own. Although Su Xiaofei and Yun Qingrong were the closest ones she had as her family, she didn''t want to be presumptuous towards them.


    "Pathetic." Xi Qian mocked herself. She couldn''t believe that she was still yearning for such familial affections from others.


    With her luggage settled, Xi Qian left her room and joined the rest of the Li family for dinner. Everyone except for Li Xiran were already there and somehow, Xi Qian felt disappointed that he wasn''t here on herst day as his father''s private nurse.


    "Miss. Xi, when you are free, don''t forget to pay us a visit once in a while, okay? If you need any help, you only need to say the word." Chairman Lu told her, making Xi Qian feel flustered and moved at the same time.


    "Thank you for your hospitality, Chairman Li. I surely did enjoy my time here with all of you." She said bashfully.


    Madam Li sighed. "It would be lonely without you here."


    "Mom, you are overreacting. Miss Xi is her own person. We can''t force her to stay with us for longer. She also has a life she''s aiming to pursue." Li Xingtianmented as he devoured the roasted meat on his te.


    As much as Xi Qian had grown on him, Li Xingtian knew that Xi Qian needed to leave. How would his foolish brother chase after her if she was stuck here with their family?<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    He scoffed inwardly. Li Xiran wasn''t even trying to hide his interest in Xi Qian. Thankfully, he wasn''t foolish enough to make a move on her while she was living under the same roof as him.


    "Xiran still hasn''t arrived?" Chairman Li nced at the vacant seat on his right and frowned. "Doesn''t he know that it''s Miss Xi''sst day with us? He could have freed up his time and join us tonight."


    His eldest son was rarely seen at home and he was wondering if Li Xiran still held some grievances towards him. The old man was worried that Li Xiran would continue to keep him at arm''s length.


    "He said he had a dinner meeting with one of the investors." Li Xingtian shrugged. "His meeting with Lu Qingfeng has already been canceled twice, so he won''t be able to back out this time."


    He paused and then gave Xi Qian a nce, remembering that she was friends with Lu Qingfeng.


    "Aren''t you friends with Young Master Lu, Miss Xi?" He asked, piquing both of his parents'' attention.


    "You know Lu Qingfeng?" Chairman Li asked in surprise. Even for a person like him, it was hard to secure a connection with the young man, given how private the Lu family was.


    "Yes. I''m good friends with his girlfriend, Su Xiaofei, the one who visited me a few weeks ago." Xi Qian replied, remembering that Lu Qingfeng and Su Xiaofei would only announce their marriage in a month. She was in no position to spill the news regardless of who the person was in front of her.


    "I see. That''s surprising to hear. So the rumors about her and Mr. Lu holds some truth to it." Chairman Li hummed in understanding. He knew about Su Xiaofei and her involvement with Lu Qingfeng, but he had no idea how deep their connection was.


    He looked at Xi Qian and smiled. This woman had such a strong backing and yet, Xi Qian chose the harder path and didn''t take the easier road.


    Chairman Li had no doubt that Xi Qian was a smart and independent woman, but wouldn''t her life be better if she asked for and relied on Su Xiaofei''s favor?


    Seeing how Xi Qian got along well with his sons was also the icing on the cake.


    Ah, looking at her made him regret not having a daughter. It was a pity that after Li Xingtian was born, the doctors deemed that it was unsafe for his wife to have any more children. He pushed the thoughts away and changed the conversation to Xi Qian''s future ns.

 Chapter 536 In A Moment (2)

    It waste at night when Li Xiran returned home. His meeting with Lu Qingfeng took longer than expected. If Su Xiaofei didn''t barge into his study earlier and red furiously at her husband for beingte, Li Xiran knew that he wouldn''t be able to leave sooner.


    He walked into the dimly lit hallway and sighed. It seemed that everyone was asleep now, aside from the guards that were stationed at their posts.


    As he removed his jacket, he remembered that it was Xi Qian''sst day living here with them. It hadn''t been too long since their encounter, but he hadn''t expected that Xi Qian woulde to a decision so soon and would choose to terminate her contract early.


    Thinking about it, perhaps it''s also time for him to leave his father''s estate and live alone again. It wasn''t like he would have a hard time on his own. Even before he returned here and took over their family business, Li Xiran had been living on his own since he was sixteen.


    "And here I thought you were avoiding me."


    Li Xiran didn''t expect that he would meet Xi Qian at this time. She was dressed in a blue bunny printed pajamas and was holding a water bottle.


    Ah, it seemed that Xi Qian had a routine she strictly followed before going to bed and that was to make sure she had something to drink beside her bed. His lips curled into a slight smile.


    "Were you waiting for me?" He asked in a teasing tone.


    "You wish." Xi Qian scoffed and walked past him, intending to get a refill in her water bottle.


    Li Xiran''s smile widened as he decided to follow her to the kitchen.


    Xi Qian didn''t seem to mind that he was tailing after her, but she tried to fight the slight blush creeping on her face. She didn''t know how she would face Chairman Li and the rest of them if she truly decided to pursue a rtionship with Li Xiran after this.


    "Do you have a ce to stay after leaving us?"


    Li Xiran then remembered that he didn''t know Xi Qian''s personal number. How would he be able to keep in touch with her after she leaves?


    "I''m fine. Don''t worry about me. Feifei lent me an apartment she owned in Qiying City. It''s where I have lived all this while."


    Going back to her previous ce, Xi Qian wondered if that meant that she would also return to her boring and predictable life. Her best friend was already happily married to Lu Qingfeng and Xiao Rufeng was obviously head over heels with this Yan Xiuchen guy she had yet to meet in person. Those two had content smiles on their faces, making Xi Qian wonder if love could truly make one happy.


    "Then would you mind if I go visit you sometime?" Li Xiran asked, looking flustered. "If you need my help, I wille even if it''s at ungodly hours."


    Xi Qian turned to him and raised a slender brow. She noticed the bashful look on his face and chuckled. She had to admit, he was quite cute when he was acting like this.


    "Sure. Just make sure to bring drinks and some snacks with you, but I doubt that you would have any spare time to spend with me." She shrugged as she pulled the fridge''s door open. "I heard from Feifei that Lu Qingfeng and you are about to reopen the beach resort soon."


    "Indeed, but it won''t be that soon. Don''t worry about it."


    Li Xiran stood behind her and was about to take a can of beer from the fridge and when she turned to face him. That single move was enough to leave the two in a trance as they stared at each other.


    "Li Xiran, why do you like me?" Xi Qian suddenly asked, not budging from her position.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Up close, she could tell that he was a nice man. Tall stature, firm body, good looks. He also smelled so good. Xi Qian couldn''t fathom what made him interested in someone like her. Surely, it wasn''t because of her cynical attitude.


    "Huh? Do I really need a reason to like you?"


    "There could probably be a reason, no?"


    A woman like her couldn''t give him anything. Well, her body was one thing, but people can have sex without having feelings for their partner, right?


    "That¡­ Let me think about it." Li Xiran said after a moment. "Do you need anything else?"


    "The fridge. I will close it if there''s nothing else." When she said nothing.


    Xi Qian blushed at their proximity and nodded.


    Li Xiran then gave the fridge door a slight push to close it, trapping Xi Qian in between.


    She clutched her water bottle on her chest and looked up at him. Even with the dim lights, she could see the passion in his eyes. She swallowed the invisible lump in her throat and held her breath.


    "So our date¡­"


    "Whenever you are free."


    Li Xiran said nothing and stared at her. Xi Qian could tell that he was hesitating to tell her something.


    "What is it?" She asked impatiently. It seemed like she needed to confront him if she wanted some clear answers from him.


    "Huh?"


    "You look like you wanted to tell me something. If you are going to say that you''re backing out, that''s fine. You are not under any obligations to protect my feelings."


    He frowned and hardened his expression.


    "It''s not like that, Xi Qian." He spoke as if it hurt him to be so close to her. "It''s just that I¡­"


    "You what?" Xi Qian narrowed her gaze on him.


    "I want to kiss you." He blurted out, much to her shock.


    Xi Qian stared at him and none of them said a word. A few secondster, the can in his hand and the water bottle she was holding fell on the floor as they started kissing each other.

 Chapter 537 In A Moment (3)

    Xi Qian knew that she shouldn''t be doing this. She knew that it was inappropriate for her to kiss the son of her employer. Well, former employer. What would Chairman Li think if he found out that she was this intimate with his eldest son?


    However the more she kissed Li Xiran, the more she thought that it didn''t matter now. The moment the clock hands hit twelve midnight, her contract was officially ineffective. She and Li Xiran knew this.


    Perhaps this was one of the reasons why he was bold enough to make a move on her. Anyway, Xi Qian didn''t care anymore. Besides, with the way he was kissing her, it was hard for her to think clearly. He was surely taking his sweet time kissing her.


    Once they parted, none of them said a word until she broke the silence between them.


    "Whatever happens to date first, kisster?"


    Li Xiran chuckled at her amusedly, his gaze lowered at her plump lips he just tasted.


    "My apologies. I will make it up to you next time."


    She snorted, but didn''t pull away from him. She had never seen him this carefree ever since she met him at the hospital.


    "Don''t worry. I won''t get you in trouble." He said while his hand traced up her arm. He was a little worried that she would reject him again earlier.


    Li Xiran had wanted to kiss her so badly and he was craving for more. Now that she was no longer employed by his father, perhaps Xi Qian wouldn''t be so hesitant if he asked her out again.


    "You gotta stop looking at me like that." Xi Qian said, leaning close enough so that their breaths mingled. She stared into the bottomless depths of his eyes.


    "Looking like what?" He chuckled.


    "Looking as if you want to devour me alive."


    He leaned forward as if to kiss her, but his lips diverted to her jaw, peppering it with soft kisses until he reached the lobe of her ear.


    Xi Qian sucked in a deep breath and berated herself inwardly when she realized that her body was responding to his touch. His hands moved up her thigh, and she cursed as she thought of how devastatingly close it was to where she wanted them but still far away to satisfy her.


    "You don''t want to?" He whispered against her skin with a wicked smile.


    "Depends, but surely not here?"


    She must be out of her mind for allowing Li Xiran to kiss her here of all ces. If Li Xingtian came and saw the two of them, Xi Qian was sure she wouldn''t hear the end of it.


    Makeout with him? Fine, but there was no way she would do it with him here in the kitchen where anyone could see them.


    Xi Qian forced herself to remember why it would be a bad idea and where she was at the moment. Li Xiran''s close proximity wasn''t giving her any chance to clear her mind and think straight. She knew she had it bad for him. Wasn''t this the reason why she had tried to avoid being close to him?


    Was it about time for her to stop the dry spell she imposed to herself? Has it really been that long since thest time she shared this kind of intimacy with someone?


    It was obvious that they were both attracted to each other, but Xi Qian wasn''t quite ready tomit to a rtionship at the moment. They could be friends, alright, but she wondered if casual sex with him was on the menu.


    His darkened eyes looked at her for a long moment before he took her hand in his and gestured for her to follow him. It became apparent that Xi Qian wasn''t the only one who was struggling with self control right now.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Xi Qian knew she shouldn''t, but she silently followed him to his study. Once she stepped inside the room, the clicking sound that followed made her more aware of Li Xiran''s presence next to her.


    It didn''t take long before she found herself pinned against the door, being kissed by him again, their hands wandering aimlessly on their bodies. His kisses were relentless and wanting.


    The rest of the night was a blur for Xi Qian as she basked in Li Xiran''s attention. She remembered a lot of drinking andughing. There was also some kissing and touching, but she wasn''t sure how far she and Li Xiran had done it.


    When Xi Qian woke up the next day, it was already past nine in the morning, her head pounding. She waste for breakfast but she supposed she didn''t need to join Chairman Li and his wife and chose to take a quick shower first.


    Her memories fromst night''s events were still blurred, but she could remember drinking wine with Li Xiran after their little makeout session in his study. Her face burned red from the memory. If she and Li Xiran weren''t at his parents'' house, she had no doubt that they would have gone all the way.


    She was having a hangover and couldn''t even remember how she managed to return to her roomst night. Thank goodness that she was fully dressed and Li Xiran was nowhere to be found.


    Su Xiaofei and the Zhang sisters would arrive anytime soon to help her move back to Qiying City. Now that Yun Qingrong was finally released from the hospital, they were all relieved and the knot in their hearts was finally gone.


    "You look pale, Qian. Are you sick?" Su Xiaofei asked as soon she alighted from the car and gave her best friend a good look. She expected Xi Qian would be quite lively today, but instead, Xi Qian looked like she needed some rest.


    Xi Qian was dressed in a light gray sweater and a pair of denim pants. Her hair was free from its ties, covering the marks Li Xiran might have left on her neck fromst night''s activities.


    "I''m fine. I think I drank too muchst night." Xi Qian groaned. She regretted not taking something for her hangover.


    Su Xiaofei smiled, giving Xi Qian a knowing look, but thetter averted her gaze. She probably had a good guess as to what had happened, but Xi Qian wasn''t in the mood to discuss her personal affairs.


    "Should we get going then?" Xi Qian said, trying to dodge her best friend''s unspoken question, leaving no room for arguments. Even Zhang Ling was looking at her curiously, but she didn''t care.


    Xi Qian didn''t really have much stuff and after bidding goodbye to her former employers, she left the estate with her best friend. Chairman Li and his wife seemed sad to let her go, but they sent her off with a smile on their faces.


    "Thanks, Feifei. You know you don''t really have to do this, but I''m d you came to pick me up." She was starting to feel dizzy, her stomach was starting to churn. Xi Qian was thankful that she hadn''t eaten anything yet or she could have made a mess.


    She and her best friend were seated in the backseat, with Su Xiaofei busy working on herptop. Even while traveling, Su Xiaofei can''t seem to leave her work. It seemed like they had something inmon after all.


    "You don''t have to thank me, Qian. I''m just d that everything''s working out for you. Why don''t you take a short nap? I''ll wake you up once we arrive." Su Xiaofei suggested, knowing that Xi Qian wasn''t feeling well.


    As soon as Xi Qian shut her eyes, she fell into a deep slumber. The ride back to Qiying City was filled with silence and when Su Xiaofei was done with her work, she found her best friend already dozed off. An hour or two was enough for her to rest, giving her enough energy to unpack her thingster.


    There were times she wondered if she had made a mistake for not intervening in her best friend''s blooming romance years ago, saving Xi Qian from this heartbreak that changed her. s, she had been afraid that if she intervened, things won''t go well with Xi Qian and Li Xiran once their paths crossed.


    Whatever happened to Xi Qian these days, Su Xiaofei was d that she was starting to see the old Xi Qian she knew, before her heart was broken. It had been a long time since thest time she saw Xi Qian at ease.


    Had she made the right decision? Su Xiaofei wasn''t certain. But seeing that Xi Qian was starting to get over her previous rtionship, Su Xiaofei could only watch and hope that things would get better for her best friend.


    "Be happy, Qian. That''s the only thing I wish for you." Su Xiaofei whispered, allowing her best friend to rest her head against her shoulder, just like they used to do when they were younger.

 Chapter 538 Dear Little Sister (1)

    Xiao Rufeng had been pacing around her room, wondering if Yan Xiuchen woulde and apany her to the family dinner her father had arranged. While she didn''t doubt his words, she was aware that Yan Xiuchen was doing his best to amodate her request. He was changing for her sake, but she wouldn''t me him if he changed his mind at thest minute.


    The knock on her door pulled her out of her thoughts. She strode towards the door and found Yan Xiuchen standing outside her door, dressed in a ck suit with a ck shirt underneath and a gray tie. His hair was brushed impably smooth into a part, his hands holding a pair of sunsses.


    "Are you ready to go?" Yan Xiuchen asked, his eyes roaming over her appearance. "You look beautiful."


    Xiao Rufeng blushed under his gaze and nodded. "You look dashing."


    Yan Xiuchen moved his gaze inside the room, looking everywhere but at her. He was blushing, much to her delight.


    "Should we get going then?"


    He offered an arm to her, which she epted at once. As the car they were in left the mansion, Xiao Rufeng spotted Elder Meng at the foyer, waving a hand towards them.


    "Thank you for agreeing toe with me tonight. Actually, I''m not sure what to feel or do once I see Xiao Yunyaoter. I fear that I might not be able to keep my anger at bay once I see her." She told Yan Xiuchen.


    "No one would me you if that happens." Yan Xiuchen gently brushed his thumb over her hand he was holding. "It was already hard enough to believe that your own sister was able to do such a horrible thing towards you. You are already being kind to her by not pressing legal charges against her."


    Xiao Rufeng fell silent. This was something she had yet to deal with and she could only hope that she wouldn''t regret this decisionter.


    "It''s never toote, you know." Yan Xiuchen said as if he knew what was going on in her mind at that moment. "You only need to say the word and Su Xiaofei and I would do our best to protect your reputation in public."


    She didn''t doubt his words. At least Yan Xiuchen was able to give her the assurance she needed. If Xiao Yunyao tried to do anything, then she would be able to rectify her mistake and retaliate in defense.


    When they arrived at her family''s estate, Xiao Rufeng''s anxiety came back at full force. This was the first time she was introducing someone she was seeing to her father and she was worried that he would disapprove of Yan Xiuchen.


    Tonight''s dinner could make her life more miserable than it already was. She allowed Yan Xiuchen to take her hand when he alighted the car first. As she stood next to him, she surveyed the ce where she grew up, where she made good, short memories with her mother.


    The two were greeted by the doorman who looked at Yan Xiuchen''s scars a bit too long for Xiao Rufeng''s liking. No wonder Yan Xiuchen disliked attending social events. She was starting to wonder if she had made a bad decision by bringing him tonight with her.


    Yan Xiuchen was obviously on edge and she nced at him worriedly. Her hold on his arm tightened. The moment they stepped inside the sitting room, they saw Xiao Yunyao and her mother talking to Jin Qiu. Jin Qiu''s parents were also there, which Xiao Rufeng hadn''t expected.


    "Ah, Feng''er, you are finally here. It''s been a while since we''ve seen each other." Jin Qiu''s mother regarded her with a smile, her smile faltered when she looked at Yan Xiuchen.


    They stopped whatever conversation they had to nce at the neers. Xiao Yunyao looked at her sister with a mocking smile before turning her attention to Xiao Rufeng''spanion. She gasped and looked at Yan Xiuchen with unconcealed disgust.


    "Oh my god, Feng Jie. How could you bring such a scar faced person to our private dinner?!"


    Everyone turned their gaze to Yan Xiuchen and Xiao Rufeng was horrified with the way they looked at her boyfriend.


    "Enough!" She eximed. "How could you say such an insensitive remark to a guest?"


    She was livid, her eyes ring furiously at her younger sister. She was itching to cross the room and p away the smug on Xiao Yunyao''s face. She should have known that Xiao Yunyao would take this chance to humiliate her by using Yan Xiuchen, but she had never thought her younger sister could be this heartless.


    "Guest? We aren''t the one who invited Mr. Quasimodo here. It was you, dear sister. Or was he the phantom who intended to feed on beautiful women like you? No matter how jealous you are, Feng Jie, you could have at least brought a man you could be proud of." Xiao Yunyao chuckled and wounded her arm around Jin Qiu who was looking at Xiao Rufeng and Yan Xiuchen with a frown on his face.


    The more Xiao Yunyao insulted Yan Xiuchen in front of everyone, the more Xiao Rufeng regretted sparing her. Wasn''t it obvious that her younger sister was trying to humiliate her?<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "I said stop! He''s my boyfriend. Haven''t you embarrassed me enough?! If you''re going to continue being impolite, don''t me me for what will happen next." Xiao Rufeng glowered at her.


    "What''s wrong? I''m merely stating the truth, Feng Jie. Why are you with him anyway? Just look at his hideous face!" Xiao Yunyao stood up, took a step forward and gave Yan Xiuchen a head to toe look, noticing the expensive suit and watch he was wearing.


    "Oh, I finally got it. He''s loaded with money, isn''t he? Sis, I know that you need to hug a golden thigh to make yourself relevant in showbiz, but couldn''t you have chosen a better man? You could have asked me or Dad if you needed some help rather than selling yourself to the phantom. There''s no need for you to whore yourself just to get something."


    Xiao Rufeng gritted her teeth and marched towards her sister. She raised her right hand and gave Xiao Yunyao a loud p that left a massive red mark on his cheek, shocking everyone.


    No matter how annoyed or angry Xiao Rufeng was towards her sister, she had never onceid a hand on her.


    Xiao Yunyao held the side of her face and stared at her sister in shock. She was stunned in ce when she saw the murderous look on Xiao Rufeng''s face.


    "You struck me?" She asked in disbelief. The burning pain on her face let her know that she wasn''t imagining things.


    For the first time, Xiao Yunyao felt scared of her older sister. She then cried in pain when Xiao Rufeng grabbed a fistful of her hair and pulled her face close to hers.


    "I could do more, dear little sister. I haven''t seen you for a while and you have developed such a filthy mouth? Do you gargle dirty water every morning without a miss?" She sneered at Xiao Yunyao''s face. She understood now why Su Xiaofei could never get along with Ye Mingyu, despite them being sisters.


    "Xiao Rufeng, release her at this instant!" Jin Qiu red at her. A look of hatred and fury on his face.


    "Well, Mr. Jin. Since my stepmother doesn''t seem capable of disciplining my sister, I should take over the job, no?"


    "Yao''er is merely concerned about you." He hissed then turned his eyes to Yan Xiuchen. "You know this is an intimate dinner between our families, but you chose to bring him tonight?"


    "Whoever I bring as my date tonight has nothing to do with you, Jin Qiu. Perhaps you are right. We could have attended tomorrow to ruin your engagement party, right? I think Yunyao would love to be the center of everyone''s attention by then."


    "Feng''er, Yaoyao, what''s going on?"


    A familiar voice forced Xiao Rufeng to release the hold she had on her sister. She pushed Xiao Yunyao away from her, making thetter fall on the cold floor. Lifting her head, she saw her father looking at them with displeasure from the top of the stairs.


    Jin Qiu immediately came to his fiancee''s rescue and helped Xiao Yunyao back to her feet.


    "Dad, Feng Jie hit me!" Xiao Yunyao eximed with tears spilling from her eyes.


    Their father looked at Xiao Rufeng with disappointment, his eyes questioning her.


    "She insulted my boyfriend. Do you really expect me to watch as she runs her mouth uncouthly?"


    "Boyfriend?" Her father furrowed his brows then turned his head to regard his eldest daughter''spanion. His eyes widening in recognition.


    "CEO Yan, what brings you here tonight?" He hurriedly went downstairs to wee their special guest, much to everyone''s confusion.


    "I came to finally meet my girlfriend''s family, but I guess I''m not weed at all."

 Chapter 539 Dear Little Sister (2)

    Xiao Yunyao gave her father a confused look, wondering how he knew the scar faced man apanying her sister tonight. Her father''s face nched upon hearing what this man said. His eyes turned to her and disappointment shed on his face.


    "Yaoyao insulted you?" He asked in disbelief. As if he couldn''t believe that his sweet and gentle daughter was capable of doing such a thing.


    Yan Xiuchen shrugged and took a seat in the nearest armchair and crossed his legs as if he was the one who owned the ce. Xiao Rufeng stood next to him and ced a hand over his shoulder, not daring to leave his side.


    "Oh, yes." Xiao Rufeng gritted her teeth and shot her younger sister a scathing re.


    "What was it again? Ah, I whored myself to this scar faced man because he''s loaded with money and could help me advance in my career. How very good of you, dear little sister."


    Xiao Yunyao was still confused about what was happening. She could only surmise that the person Xiao Rufeng brought today was acquainted with their father. The man must be really loaded with money if their father was on edge by his mere presence in their home.


    "You did what?"


    Her father turned to face her, his whole body trembling with rage. Xiao Yunyao had never seen her father this angry, well not when it''s directed to her. He was usually ballistic whenever Xiao Rufeng did something stupid.


    "I¡­" She had no words to refute or deny her older sister''s im.


    "How could you say such vicious words to your sister?! Yunyao, I''m so disappointed with you. No matter what differences you have with your sister, you shouldn''t have crossed the line and disrespected her like this!" He chided her.


    "But¡­" So he was upset at her disrespecting Xiao Rufeng and not because of the scar faced man?


    Xiao Yunyao wanted to reason out that it was her older sister who wanted to ruin their night by bringing an outsider to their private dinner. They were supposed to celebrate her uing nuptial with Jin Qiu, and she wanted to see Xiao Rufeng wallow in self-pity. However, she had never expected that her sister would bring a plus one with her tonight.


    Their father turned his attention back to her sister''spanion. His back so stiff, Xiao Yunyao wondered what was wrong with her father. She had never seen him this nervous, not even when they were meeting business associates and prospective investors.


    "CEO Yan¡­ you know my eldest daughter?" He gave Xiao Rufeng a questioning look.


    "More like I''m dating her." Yan Xiuchen lifted a hand and covered Xiao Rufeng''s hand that was on his shoulder. The smile he gave her was a bit lopsided due to the scar at the corner of his mouth, but Xiao Rufeng blushed regardless of it.


    Her father was a bit startled by the news. Although he knew that her daughter had dated before, she never bothered to introduce any of them to their family. He wondered if things between them were serious.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "But who would have thought that as soon as we came here, I would be insulted by your youngest daughter. She even went as far as painting Rufeng as a slutty woman who sleeps around." Yan Xiuchen''s tone went low and became frightening. His eyes narrowed dangerously on Xiao Yunyao.


    Xiao Yunyao shivered under his gaze, but she refused to avert her gaze from him. Doing so would only mean that she admitted her wrongdoings. She would never give Xiao Rufeng the satisfaction of winning against her.


    "I¡­ I apologize on her behalf, CEO Yan. It''s me who failed to teach my daughter well." Their father lowered his head, much to everyone''s shock. Even Xiao Rufeng was rendered speechless seeing her father act like this.


    "Dad!" Xiao Yunyao hurried next to her father and nudged him to stand up straight.


    "How could you do this? Not only did you degrade your own sister, but you also offended the wrong person." Her father asked as he flung her hand away from his arm and looked at her with disappointment.


    "Xiao Yunyao, did I spoil you so much that you would run your mouth carelessly and offend anyone at will?" He glowered at her, and Xiao Yunyao was taken aback by his words.


    Her father had indeed spoiled her from the moment she was born and gave everything she ever wanted willingly. As long as she wished for it, her father would try his best to hand it to her without a question. However, now, it was clear that her recent actions towards Xiao Rufeng and herpanion distraught her father.


    "Mr. Xiao, you don''t need to be too riled up. It wasn''t like this was the first time your youngest daughter offended me." Yan Xiuchen chuckled darkly, sending a cold shiver down Xiao Yunyao''s spine.


    "I wonder if I should thank her." He continued. "If it wasn''t for your youngest daughter, I would have never known that you have such a lovely daughter like Rufeng, Mr. Xiao."


    As he said this, he gave his girlfriend a heated look.


    "So lovely that I''m willing to offer my own heart to her on a silver tter."


    "CEO Yan, I don''t understand¡­" Xiao Rufeng''s father furrowed his brows in confusion.


    Was the reason Yan Prime Holdings pulled out their products from the shelves of their shopping malls and boutiques because of his eldest daughter''s disagreement with Xiao Yao? To think that the aloof business tycoon was enamored with his Feng''er¡­


    The smile on Yan Xiuchen''s face vanished and immediately, Xiao Rufeng''s father sensed that the man was displeased with his other daughter, Xiao Yunyao. However, even if Yan Xiuchen was in a rtionship with his eldest, he thought that it was below Yan Xiuchen''s status to get involved with his daughters'' conflict.


    "Why don''t we ask your youngest how she sent her own sister to my bed, then?"

 Chapter 540 Dear Little Sister (3)

    "She what?" Xiao Rufeng''s father eximed loudly, while their guests looked at Xiao Yunyao with widened eyes.


    "Mr. Xiao should have known that I have asked my people to pull out your products from the establishments I own." Yan Xiuchen continued. "Xiao Yunyao has insistently requested a meeting with me over the past few weeks, but the moment I met her the first time, she insulted me right off the bat. Howughable."


    It was only then it dawned to Xiao Yunyao why her father seemed careful while talking to this man. She felt like someone had just poured ice-cold water over her entirety, leaving her rooted in ce. She had never thought that the business tycoon she had been trying to seek these past weeks was none other than the scar faced man Xiao Rufeng was currently dating.


    The strength in her body seemed to leave her upon realizing the mistake she justmitted. Xiao Yunyao had no idea how she would be able to fix it. If it wasn''t for Jin Qiu appearing next to her, catching her fall, she would have found herself on the floor.


    Her father stared at her in shock. He opened his mouth to ask her if Yan Xiuchen was telling the truth, but her reaction alone was enough to answer his unspoken question. To think that his youngest daughter wouldmit such a crime toward his eldest, he was ashamed and rmed at the same time. He couldn''t believe that he had just raised a monster in his own household.


    "How could you?" He asked in disbelief as he looked down at Xiao Yunyao.


    "Dad, let me exin¡­ I¡­" Xiao Yunyao tried to find the right words to defend herself but couldn''t. Being exposed to everyone like this, she had no words to refute Yan Xiuchen''s im, not when she had also explicitly offended him tonight.


    Mr. Xiao thought that no matter how his daughters didn''t get along with each other, none of them would willingly send the other in harm''s way. For Xiao Yunyao to betray her elder sister, sending Xiao Rufeng to a man''s bed, what did this mean?


    Just the thought of what could have happened to Xiao Rufeng was enough to drive him crazy. He looked at Yan Xiuchen and met his gaze.


    "I did not touch your daughter, Mr. Xiao. I might be hideous to look at, but I''m no monsterpared to your youngest daughter." Yan Xiuchen said with a straight face. His words somewhat give Xiao Rufeng''s father a relief.


    "President Su and I wanted to press legal charges against Xiao Yunyao, but Rufeng begged us not to." He said, clenching his jaws in annoyance. "We have incriminating evidence that could prove that Xiao Yunyao is one of the persons behind Rufeng''s kidnapping weeks ago. However, as much as I want to see her behind the bars, I cannot ignore Rufeng''s wishes."


    Xiao Rufeng''s father looked at her, as if asking her silently if she was indeed alright and was unharmed. She nodded at him, but averted her gaze, knowing that this was a heavy blow on her father. As she looked at her father, she wondered if his view and opinion towards Xiao Yunyao would change after this.


    She lowered her eyes, not daring to hope anymore. How many times had he disappointed her by taking Xiao Yunyao''s side unconditionally? Xiao Rufeng couldn''t remember.


    He staggered back, and his breathing became uneven, rming Xiao Rufeng at once. Her father clutched his chest painfully and fell on his knees as the truth slowly sunk in.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Dad!" Xiao Rufeng released Yan Xiuchen''s hand and rushed to her father. She hurriedly opened the top buttons of his shirt, removing any obstruction to his breathing. She then shot her stepmother a look, who was starting to panic upon seeing what had just happened.


    "His pills! Go get his pills!" She yelled at her. "Call for help. Goddammit!"


    Meanwhile, Xiao Yunyao remained still in Jin Qiu''s arms and looked at her father nkly, meeting his using gaze.


    He was breathing harshly, but the look he was giving her was filled with pain and disappointment. It pained him to think that Xiao Rufeng almost lost her dignity and reputation because of his other daughter.


    He knew that he hadn''t been a good father to Xiao Rufeng. They were always at odds, especially with Xiao Rufeng''s decisions about her future. She wanted to pursue acting, but he wanted her to seed their family business together with Xiao Yunyao.


    He knew how dirty the showbiz industry was and feared that it might hurt his eldest daughter, but never did he imagine that it would be Xiao Yunyao who would cause harm to his firstborn.


    The more he thought about it, the tighter fear gripped his heart. He knew his eldest daughter well enough to know that if she were tainted that night, she would rather cease her life.


    Yan Xiuchen came to them and helped him to get back on his feet. He supported Xiao Rufeng''s father by wounding his arm around the older man to pull his torso up.


    Xiao Yunyao''s mother returned with a white bottle of pills in her hand. Her hands were shaking as she passed the bottle to Xiao Rufeng.


    Yan Xiuchen helped Xiao Rufeng''s father to the seat he just vacated and allowed her to feed her father the medicine he needed and passed him a ss of water to drink.


    "How could you do this, Xiao Yao? She''s your sister. How could you¡­" Mr. Xiao repeated his question like a mantra, while Xiao Yunyao could only weep, not daring to look at him anymore.


    "Did you know about this?" He asked his wife and when he saw the guilt on her face, he knew then that he almost lost his eldest daughter for good.


    "Of course, you knew. I wonder if it was the first time you schemed against my Feng''er behind my back and harmed her."

 Chapter 541 Consequences (1)

    It was impossible for him to believe that this was the first time his second wife and Xiao Yunyao tried to harm his eldest daughter. He knew that Xiao Rufeng never got along with them and had chosen to distance herself from him and his second family. Still, it didn''t mean that he had disowned her as his child.


    It pained him to realize that Xiao Rufeng might have been dealing with this on her own for a long time. Perhaps with him favoring his younger daughter, Xiao Rufeng could have thought that he wouldn''t listen to her if she tried to inform him of what was going on.


    "Were you trying to kill my daughter?" He asked incredulously.


    "It''s not like that¡­" He heard his wife say, but her expression was enough for him to know that he was right.


    Xiao Yunyao said nothing and could only cry, while her elder sister''s expression hardened. Xiao Rufeng refused to show weakness in front of these people. Her pride wouldn''t allow her to do so. However, she couldn''t believe that tonight''s dinner would turn out like this. This wasn''t how she wanted to introduce Yan Xiuchen to her father.


    "Dad, you have to calm down. We''ll discuss thister." She suggested, but her father shook his head. From the corner of her eye, she saw Yan Xiuchen making a call, overhearing him summoning a doctor toe to her father''s home.


    "No. Since we''re all here, I''ll deal with this problem this instant." Her father insisted, holding her hand in a vice-like grip, as if he was afraid that she would disappear from his sight.


    "Xiao Yao, I expect to see your resignation letter tomorrow, early in the morning."


    Xiao Yunyao ceased her crying at once and looked at her father with widened eyes.


    What was that supposed to mean? She wondered. What was she supposed to do when, her whole life, she had expected that she would be the one to seed in their family business?


    "But Dad, you can''t do this¡­"


    "I can''t? Then give me one good reason why you did that to your elder sister!" He demanded, his fury rising once again, reflecting on how Xiao Rufeng must have suffered throughout the years because of him.


    If only he had paid more attention to his eldest and didn''t spoil Xiao Yunyao rotten, thetter wouldn''t have entertained such vicious thoughts towards her sister. s, he knew that it was toote to regret now, but that didn''t mean he would not seek justice for his eldest.


    Xiao Yunyao clenched her fists tightly on her sides, then nced at Yan Xiuchen.


    "Mr. Yan, please forgive me for offending you. I didn''t mean to do so." She lowered her head and put on the best pitiful look she could muster, so he would take pity on her.


    It still shocked her to know that the man she''d been trying to reach out to for the past weeks was none other than this scar-faced man in front of her. If only she could take back the words she had thrown at him earlier¡­<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    However, what Xiao Yunyao didn''t know was that for Yan Xiuchen, Xiao Rufeng was now his bottom line. It was also obvious that Xiao Yunyao was only sorry right now because she was caught, and not because she truly regretted what she had done to her sister.


    "I''m not the person you should seek forgiveness from, Miss Xiao. You know this." He pointed out the obvious.


    Xiao Yunyao was taken aback by his words, but she refused to acknowledge her sister and ask for her forgiveness. Just as she thought that she already had more than enough on her te to deal with, the next words were enough to shatter her dreams and future.


    "Dear Lord, I''m somewhat thankful that this happened before the announcement of their engagement." Jin Qiu''s mother suddenly blurted out, much to Xiao Yunyao''s shock. "I''m sorry, but I don''t think that there would be any wedding happening between our children." She added with a frown.


    "Mom!" Jin Qiu eximed.


    "What?! If she could scheme and send her own sister to another man''s bed, who could guarantee that she wouldn''t smother you to death if she became displeased with you?" His mother reasoned.


    "I certainly won''t allow such a vicious and ck hearted woman into our family! You will not marry her!" She pointed at Xiao Yunyao. "I told you to consider Xiao Rufeng instead, but you fell for this fox''s charm."


    "Your mother is right. A woman like Xiao Yunyao isn''t someone we can wee into our family." Jin Qiu''s father chimed in.


    He was displeased to know that he wouldn''t be able to connect with the Xiao family through marriage, but he would rather stay out of the Xiao family''s issue rather than get caught in between and offend Yan Xiuchen in the process.


    Madam Xiao started to panic as she witnessed how her daughter was starting to lose everything. She tried to reason out with Jin Qiu''s mother but her husband didn''t give her a chance to do so.


    "I will not let the two of you off easily." Mr. Xiao heaved a deep breath, his eyes ring furiously at his wife. "I cannot tolerate someone who is harboring such murderous thoughts towards my daughter. Expect the divorce papers to be delivered soon." He told her.


    Madam Xiao was stunned in her ce, not quite believing what he had just said. Even Xiao Rufeng was surprised with her father''s decision.


    "I have always wondered if Xiao Yao is really my daughter." He continued, dropping another bomb to everyone.


    "I have trusted you, taken care of you and yet, what did you do to my Feng''er? You isted her from everyone, made her feel like she wasn''t part of our family. I was really a fool, thinking that my daughters would one day mature and would ept each other despite their differences. I see now that I was gravely mistaken."

 Chapter 542 Consequences (2)

    "It might be toote to do this, but let''s run a paternity test between me and Yaoyao. Rest assured that if it''s proven that she''s really my daughter, I would give her what''s rightfully hers."


    However, this im was enough for others to question Xiao Yunyao''s position in their family. Wouldn''t that mean that Mr. Xiao only married her mother just to take responsibility for getting her pregnant? But if it was proven that she wasn''t his child, everything would obviously be handed to Xiao Rufeng.


    Xiao Yunyao nced at her mother and saw how ghastly pale her face was. Her heart dropped to her stomach, as fear filled her entirety. What if she wasn''t her father''s daughter? Wouldn''t that mean that she was nothing but an outsider to the Xiao family?


    Meanwhile, Xiao Rufeng was left bbergasted. That was such a low blowing from her father. Did he really suspect that Xiao Yunyao wasn''t his from the start, but proceeded to marry her stepmother?


    "Dear, how could you say such words? Yaoyao is yours. Weren''t you there when I gave birth to her? Even your cousins say that she resembled you somehow." When her husband merely red at her, she continued with a feign calmness on her face.


    "Don''t decide so recklessly. This must have been a misunderstanding." Madam Xiao said, trying to convince her husband to calm down. "I''m sure that Yaoyao didn''t mean to harm Feng''er."


    Yan Xiuchen grimaced at her words and couldn''t help but interrupt her. He realized that the apple didn''t fall far from the tree after all. Xiao Yunyao was just like her mother. For Xiao Yunyao to be able to think and act like this, she had obviously learned it all from her mother.


    It made him wonder what kind of person Xiao Rufeng''s mother was. She must have been quite a kind person, Yan Xiuchen thought, given how Xiao Rufeng would light up whenever she talked about her mother.


    "Madam Xiao must be taking me for a fool, then. I''m pretty sure that the security recording we secured had Miss Xiao Yunyao visiting the hotel I owned and bribing one of our staff members.


    Mr. Xiao scowled at his wife, his eyes fixated on her.


    "CEO Yan already has evidence that could prove your daughter''s crime, and you are still trying to pass it off as a misunderstanding?"


    "Would you rather believe a stranger, Dad, than me and Mom?" Xiao Yunyao retorted. "He''s dating Feng Jie. Of course, he would side with her."


    "Pathetic." Yan Xiuchen spat out venomously. "You have offended me by trying to make one of my properties a crime scene, and now you are trying to push the me on us? You are really quite something, Xiao Yunyao."


    Xiao Yunyao flinched over his words, while Jin Qiu red at him, but Yan Xiuchen couldn''t be bothered with the other man at all.


    "Enough! Are you still going to deny it? Do we need to see the evidence for ourselves before you admit to your crime? It''s not like I don''t believe you, Yaoyao, but I can''t think of any reason why CEO Yan and Su Xiaofei would want to press charges against you if you haven''t done anything to your sister!"<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Xiao Yunyao and her mother fell silent, while Jin Qiu''s parents shook their heads and convinced their son to leave and not get involved with Xiao Yunyao anymore. However, Jin Qiu refused to leave her side, so his parents could only excuse themselves and leave, but not before giving Xiao Yunyao a disapproving look.


    Xiao Yunyao could only look at her father with teary eyes. She couldn''t believe that he was denying her in front of everyone.


    Su Xiaofei.


    How could Xiao Yunyao not know that woman?


    Five years ago, she attempted to bribe Su Xiaofei to drop Xiao Rufeng as her talent, but that woman threatened to expose every single secret she had been hiding in the closet. Xiao Yunyao didn''t even know how Su Xiaofei was able to dig her dirt and use it against her.


    For the first time in Xiao Yunyao''s life, she found a person more cunning than her. Su Xiaofei scared the hell out of her during their encounter and since then, she never dared to go anywhere near that demoness.


    This was why she could only rely on someone else to scheme against her sister. However, she didn''t expect that Su Xiaofei would still be able to get herself involved in her recent mischief and had been waiting for the right moment to pounce on her.


    What''s more, she had just signed a death wish when she offended Yan Xiuchen tonight. It seemed like everyone had decided to persecute her tonight.


    "Dad, please¡­" She begged her father, but he was too heartbroken to hear any more of her excuses.


    "You can''t do this to me. I''m your daughter! You can''t fire me. You need help to run thepany." She reasoned out.


    What was she supposed to do then? She was on the verge of losing her status as an heiress of the Xiao family and had been stripped of her position in thepany.


    "Take your mother with you and leave. I can''t bear to look at the two of you right now." Her father dismissed her. "Whether your mother was lying to me or not, we can only wait and see. You don''t need to worry about thepany. I might be sick, but I''m not disabled. I''m still capable of running thepany on my own until I deem one of you worthy to seed me."


    Xiao Rufeng raised a slender brow but didn''tment on it. Her father should have known her stand about it. She had long told her father that she had no interest in seeding thepany. Although she had received the education she needed to run thepany, she knew that she wascking in experience that Xiao Yunyao had umted.

 Chapter 543 There’s Only You (1)

    Even with a lot of pleading and tears, Xiao Yunyao and her mother couldn''t convince Mr. Xiao to hear their side. They were led away by the butler of the Xiao family and were reminded to cooperate. The mother and daughter left without sparing a look at Xiao Rufeng. They didn''t even bother to ask for her forgiveness. Their action spoke volumes of their stand to both her father and Yan Xiuchen.


    It didn''t take long before the doctor Yan Xiuchen had called arrived, followed by another doctor who Xiao Rufeng recognized as her family doctor. With Yan Xiuchen''s help, they moved her father from the sitting room to his bedroom to have him checked thoroughly.


    Xiao Rufeng didn''t say a word and left them be as her sole focus was her father''s condition. She was d that Yan Xiuchen was with her and had not left her side even for a second as the doctors tended to her father. Once they deemed him safe and out of danger, they left and allowed Xiao Rufeng to talk to her ailing father.


    "You really want to divorce her just like that?" She asked him.


    This was the first time her father had stood up and sided with her ever since she first started getting trapped in multiple arguments with her stepmother and Xiao Yunyao.


    Her father and Xiao Yunyao''s mother had been married from the time Xiao Yunyao was born up to now. Was it really alright for her father to make such a reckless decision? Regardless of whether she hated Xiao Yunyao or not, she would never wish for anything bad to befall on her sister.


    "I may be foolish, Feng''er, but I''m not blind." Her father said with a guilty tone in his voice. "I thought that by having her as your second mother and with Yaoyao around, you would be happy again. I guess I made a bad choice then."


    From the moment his first wife died from illness, Xiao Rufeng had never been the same again. The once bright and cheerful child was gone overnight and she had stopped smiling at him. Mr. Xiao thought that having a younger sister would somehow open up his eldest child''s heart to them.


    s, Xiao Rufeng only gave the infant a good look and didn''t stay too long during their introduction. Since then, she had kept everyone at arm''s length and never bothered to make any effort to get closer to his new family.


    He had thought that in time, Xiao Rufeng would eventually ept him, but he was proven wrong this time. Because the one who isted her, gave up on her and kept her at a distance was none other than he himself.


    His wife and Xiao Yunyao took advantage of this and tried to harm her behind his back. Knowing all of this, how could he let them stay with him any longer and overlook the things they had done to harm his eldest daughter?


    "Is Yunyao really not your daughter?" She was still in disbelief that her father would try to disown her younger sister after their confrontation earlier.


    This was something Xiao Rufeng had never thought was possible. For as long as she could remember, her father had treated Xiao Yunyao like a pearl in his hands, so for him to harbor such thoughts and uncertainty surprised her.


    Now that Xiao Yunyao was being kicked out of their family business, she had no one to support her and protect her from public scrutiny aside from her mother.


    "I''m not sure myself. We''ll see whether she''s really mine or not." Her father grunted and took a deep calming breath. He then nced at the closed door of his room.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "He''s waiting for you outside, isn''t he?" He asked Xiao Rufeng, pertaining to Yan Xiuchen.


    Blush crept on the apple of her cheeks as she nodded. This wasn''t what she imagined when she decided to introduce Yan Xiuchen to her father. Would he think bad of him after what transpired earlier?


    "He''s really good and kind to me." She said in response, paying attention to her father''s reaction.


    "I can see that." She heard her father chuckle with a slight smile. "He looks at you as if you are the only one that matters. I suppose I can forgive his impertinence earlier if he treats you better than I do."


    "I''m sure he''s regretful for it. He''s someone who doesn''t lose his temper easily." Xiao Rufeng said, her brows furrowing together realizing how easy it was for her father to ept her rtionship with Yan Xiuchen.


    "You don''t mind me being with him?" She asked, when her curiosity got the best of her.


    "I do mind honestly." Her father replied. "I mind it a lot."


    Seeing the confusion on her face, he decided to exin himself.


    "I could see that he''s quite smitten with you and I believe that you aren''t with him for the sake of his money. My Feng''er wouldn''t whore herself and sleep around. If she wants something, I know that my daughter would rather work for it herself than ask someone else for a favor." He said with a glint of pride shining in his eyes.


    Xiao Rufeng''s eyes were stung with tears as she looked at her father. Somehow, it gave her a glimpse of the father she knew and loved before Xiao Yunyao and her mother came into their lives.


    "If he hurt you in any way, you tell me right away, okay?" Her father continued. "He might be a business tycoon with a lot of money to his name, but I won''t allow him to bully you."


    "You are worrying for nothing, Dad. I trust Xiuchen. He won''t deliberately try to harm me in any way."


    "I hope you are right, Feng''er. You have suffered enough in this family. I want you to be happy, even if it means being with him."


    Xiao Rufeng could see now that he had a lot of regrets after tonight''s event. Somehow, in her eyes, her father looked tired and weary.

 Chapter 544 There’s Only You (2)

    By the time Xiao Rufeng''s conversation with her father was over, he requested to have a private talk with Yan Xiuchen. Xiao Rufeng wasn''t sure if that was a good idea, but she had no other choice but to let Yan Xiuchen inside her father''s room and wait downstairs.


    She opened the ss sliding door of their sitting room and stepped out onto the cobblestone pathway that led to the gardens where she used to hide when she was younger. Her head upied with her father''s words earlier, she turned back to stare at the starless sky heavenward.


    Xiao Rufeng had grown up and spent a lot of her childhood years in this ce, yet she didn''t feel at homepared to when she was at Yan Xiuchen''s mansion. It was surprising to think that if proven right, Xiao Yunyao would be kicked out of their home and would be stripped of her family name. She had never seen her father that angry for as long as she could remember.


    However, now that things had happened and Xiao Yunyao was out of the picture, Xiao Rufeng realized that her father needed her, now more than ever. Although she loved being close with Yan Xiuchen, she couldn''t pretend that she wasn''t concerned about her father and leave the responsibility of looking after him to other people.


    Suddenly, she felt a pair of big, warm hands cupping her shoulders and Xiao Rufeng smelled Yan Xiuchen''s familiar scent before he drew her against his chest and kissed her temple.


    "It''s cold out here." He said softly.


    "I hadn''t noticed." She whispered in response. "But I feel better now that you are here."


    She saw his lips curled up into one of his rare smiles and sighed in relief.


    "Dad didn''t try to interrogate you, did he?"


    "Something like that. But I''m sure he only asked me such questions because he''s concerned about you, which he obviously hasn''t done for a very long time. He also thanked me for keeping you safe and sound that night." Yan Xiuchen said.


    "Isn''t it a bit toote to pretend that he cares about me now?" She frowned.


    "It''s better to bete than never, Rufeng." He answered her, pressing a kiss on her shoulder, making her body feel warmer than usual.


    Yan Xiuchen omitted the part where Xiao Rufeng''s father asked him if he intended to marry her or if she was just one of the fly night affairs he had. Of course he shamelessly said that he was willing to put a ring on her finger if he was given a chance, much to Xiao Rufeng''s father''s amusement.


    However, Yan Xiuchen was aware that it was too early for him to ask for her hand in marriage. It was obvious that she still had a lot of things she wanted to do in her life and marriage was thest thing on her list. He also didn''t want Xiao Rufeng to argue with her father just when things were starting to get better between them.


    Xiao Rufeng pressed her back against him, molding her body to his and gasped when his arm wound around her. She shivered at the proximity she had with him and a wave of heat pulsed though her, desiring his touch all over her body.


    However, her earlier thoughts came back, reminding her of the conundrum she was in. Her rtionship with Yan Xiuchen was still new and she was aware that she needed to tread carefully with him so as to avoid any misunderstandings.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Xiuchen, now that Xiao Yunyao and her mother are sent away, Dad needs me."


    She felt Yan Xiuchen stiffen behind her before he released a sigh after a long silence.


    "If that''s what you want to do, then I will support you. Just know that I''m here whenever you need or want me." He reminded her.


    Xiao Rufeng turned to face him, cupping the side of his face.


    Yan Xiuchen flinched at her touch. Although he allowed her to touch his scars, he still couldn''t help but feel ufortable by it. He wanted to smack away her hand, but he also wanted her to touch him, to remind him that she wasn''t repulsed by his appearance.


    "I am confident that I want you and want to be with you for a very long time. If I need to say ''I love you'' every single day just to remind you, I will do that. Just because I''m moving back with my father, it doesn''t mean that I''m breaking up with you."


    "I know that." Yan Xiuchen gave her a wry smile. "But I also can''t be selfish and keep you all to myself. Just like you said, your father needs you."


    Before Xiao Rufeng could respond, he added. "Let''s go home. We surely had an eventful night."


    They left her family estate once Xiao Rufeng was assured that her father had already fallen asleep and resting. She told the butler to inform her father that she would be back the next day to discuss things with him.


    As soon as they were in the limo that awaited them outside, Xiao Rufeng rested her head on Yan Xiuchen''s shoulder, feeling sleepy and tired at the same time. She sighed softly when he pulled her close, his hand around her waist.


    "I''m going to miss you." He admitted in a soft voice, his mouth a breath away from her ear.


    Xiao Rufeng nced up at him and smiled.


    "I''ll miss you too, but I''ll make sure to give you a call and message you every single day. There wouldn''t be anyone else and there hasn''t been for some time. There''s only you in my life right now." She leaned forward and waited for Yan Xiuchen to kiss her.


    He was startled for a moment, but he eventually lowered his head and allowed himself to taste the sweetness of her lips once more and kissed her softly. However, just that small taste was enough spark for both of them tobust into a wild me together.

 Chapter 545 *R18 In Your Arms (1)

    Kissing Xiao Rufeng like this had always put Yan Xiuchen''s self-control to a test. It was hard for him to think of anything at the moment, as his every thought was filled with her and only her. A full body tremble moved through him as Xiao Rufeng moved closer against him, her soft chest pressing against his.


    Yan Xiuchen pulled away and sucked in a deep breath. His face was red as he held Xiao Rufeng''s shoulder to keep her away from him. He didn''t quite trust himself at that moment.


    "Too much?" Xiao Rufeng asked with a slight smile as she cupped his face.


    "Yes¡­ Just give me a moment to calm down." He admitted.


    "It''s okay. I''m sorry for making you ufortable."


    Xiao Rufeng lowered her hand and sat up straight next to him, looking disappointed, but her body wired with need. She wanted to kiss him more and so much more, but it was obvious that he couldn''t make up his mind.


    It wasn''t the first time something like this had happened. She wondered if she wasn''t attracted enough to him, or if it was him who was trying to force himself to allow himself to be touched by her.


    If she didn''t know him any better, Xiao Rufeng would think that he wasn''t sexually attracted to her at all. It wasn''t like he wasn''t interested or doesn''t reciprocate her feelings, if anything he looked torn and was struggling not to pounce on her and kiss her with all his might. He would always back away like this, leaving her aching and frustrated at the same time.


    But she understood that all of these were new to Yan Xiuchen. He once admitted that she was the only woman who was able to get close to him and was sure that he didn''t receive much love and attention from others.


    Despite being together now, Yan Xiuchen was still anxious at times. Xiao Rufeng knew that he still thought that he was a hideous person and didn''t deserve to receive anything from her. It was something that had affected his whole life and the reason he kept everyone at arm''s length, leaving him lonelier than ever.


    "You seem uneasy. Is there something wrong?"


    "No. It''s not you¡­ it''s me that couldn''t take any more of this." Yan Xiuchen said with a self deprecating tone.


    He shook his head, willing the indecent thoughts out of his mind, but he didn''t know if Xiao Rufeng knew how it felt to be cast away, to make people churn with the look on his face.


    He still wasn''t sure what made Xiao Rufeng like someone like him. Didn''t Xiao Yunyao just call him a phantom? Surely if Xiao Yunyao could see how horrendous his face was, Xiao Rufeng was more than aware of it too.


    "You what? Don''t you like touching me? Kissing me?"


    Xiao Rufeng knew that she was ying dirty, but she couldn''t help seeing him blush. She also didn''t miss how he ached to touch her when he thought that she wasn''t paying attention. Was he afraid that she would reject him if he did?


    "We can take it slow. I don''t mind waiting a little longer." She forced a smile although her whole body was aching for him to fill her, take her until she couldn''t think of anything else but him.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "I¡­ I don''t know how to please a woman."


    There, he said it. Yan Xiuchen grimaced and looked away in shame.


    Xiao Rufeng blinked at that and turned to face him. She didn''t expect him to be this honest with her. Well, she had boyfriends before him and dated during her college days. It never urred to her that she would date a man like Yan Xiuchen.


    But something about his admission made her cheeks burn with a blush. She had never been with a man who was as vocal with need for her as Yan Xiuchen was.


    "You want to please me?"


    "Of course I do. I-I want you." His face reddened as he looked at her. "In fact, I desire you."


    Xiao Rufeng could feel her whole body heating up at the end of his words. His mere presence was enough to put her in a trance. Didn''t Yan Xiuchen know how attractive he was in her eyes?


    He felt big, hard and warm against her and his familiar scent was enough to drive her with need whenever he was close. Xiao Rufeng had never felt this kind of attraction for her previous boyfriends. She was like a cat in heat.


    Well, she wasn''t appalled with the idea of being touched by him or imed by him. In fact, she couldn''t wait to feel his big hands touching every inch of her body, so Yan Xiuchen shouldn''t worry too much about his inexperience.


    "Is that all? Then how would you know if you don''t touch me?"


    Yan Xiuchen stiffened next to her and she thought that he would deny her once again. Instead, heced his fingers with hers and kissed her knuckles, his eyes meeting hers.


    "I don''t know how much is too much."


    "It''s okay. I''ll tell you where I want to be touched." She said breathlessly.


    His face was close enough for Xiao Rufeng to kiss, his breath brushing against her face as his gaze moved over her as he studied her. Yan Xiuchen looked calm this time, but his eyes shed with desire towards her.


    When he drew her close to him once more, Xiao Rufeng shut her eyes and allowed him to kiss her. His tongue brushed against her lips, intending to deepen their kiss. She whimpered when she felt one of his hands ever so slowly moved from her nape down to the corbone andid his palm against her breast.


    Sensation red through her and she dug her fingernails on his shoulders as he plundered her mouth with his tongue while his hand started to map her body. His touch was a little rough and uncertain, but Xiao Rufeng couldn''t be bothered by it.

 Chapter 546 *R18 In Your Arms (2)

    When their lips parted, she was breathing hard and her face was redder than before. She felt Yan Xiuchen''s lips move to the side of her neck and he gently ced a kiss on the skin below her ear.


    Thankfully, Yan Xiuchen had already pressed the button that lifted the barrier between the driver''s seat and the backseat, giving them enough privacy to make out.


    "You still have time to tell me to stop." Yan Xiuchen whispered with a ragged breath.


    "Why would I tell you to stop when I''m quite enjoying this with you?"


    Her answer snapped something within Yan Xiuchen and he immediately reimed her lips in a deep, passionate kiss. He kissed her, full of need, all at once. It was as if he couldn''t get enough of her, and like a bonus, Xiao Rufeng was enthusiastically reciprocating his passion.


    Yan Xiuchen pulled her closer against him, then tugged her leg over hisp and turned her until she was straddling him, allowing her to feel how much he wanted her. She leaned in, rested her hands on his shoulders as they kissed.


    His left hand slid up to her hair and released it from her hair mp.


    "I like it when your hair is down." He whispered next to her swollen lips as he ran his fingers through her hair. "You''re so beautiful, I''m tempted to keep you all to myself."


    Xiao Rufeng chuckled at that and tapped the tip of his nose.


    "It''s okay, babe. I have no ns to ditch you for someone else." Her hand slid between them and rubbed the straining erection tenting in his pants. She adjusted herself over hisp, riding the skirt of her ck evening dress and exposing her smooth legs.


    Yan Xiuchen groaned low against her mouth and let his head rest on her shoulder.


    "Xiao Rufeng, you are cheating." He said through gritted teeth.


    "Make me yours." She said and ran her tongue against his neck, sending shivers down his spine.


    He pulled away, giving her a tortured look.


    "Do you even know what you are asking?"


    "Yes." She said with certainty between frantic kisses. "Do you want me to stop?"


    Want her to stop? Yan Xiuchen grunted. How was he able to stop now when she was seducing him like this?


    His hands slid between them and Xiao Rufeng stilled, her eyes widening in surprise.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Two can y this game, don''t you think?" Yan Xiuchen said huskily next to her ear, his fingers pushing her panties aside and lightly touched the swollen nub of her weeping sex.


    "Ohhh¡­" She moaned and stopped rubbing his length.


    "I didn''t know that this was apetition." She shut her eyes, her hands moving to his chest for support. Her breathing grew rapidly under his touch.


    "Are you sure you don''t know how to please a woman? Because you are doing a good job right now." Xiao Rufeng sounded pleased, much to his delight.


    She sucked in a deep breath when a fingertip slid in, drawingzy circles around her clit, sending a bolt of pleasure through her body.


    Yan Xiuchen watched her expression as if he was fascinated by her look. He couldn''t believe that this beautiful woman loved him, wanted him. She wasn''t repulsed by his touch and instead craved it. He felt like a lucky bastard that just hit the lottery out of the blue.


    He continued to touch her and she started to make this noise that only fueled his desire to have her. He wanted to touch her all over. Kiss her until the world around them was forgotten and lose himself in her.


    ''Can you be mine?''


    She once asked him, but Xiao Rufeng had no idea that he was already hopelessly in love with her and his heart was already hers even before she asked for it. He''d never thought he''d have her, have what they had now and he feared that she would wake up one day and realized that she didn''t love him at all.


    If Xiao Rufeng was under the spell, Yan Xiuchen hoped that it would never fade away. It must be wrong for him to think like this, but he couldn''t remember wanting something in his life as much as he wanted her now before.


    "I might be addicted to you. God, I think I''m crazy about you." His eyes roamed over her face, liking how she looked. "I can''t stop thinking about you, Xiao Rufeng. You don''t know¡­ You don''t know how much you mean to me despite how recent it was since we met each other. I want to be the man worthy of you. I want to be the man you need."


    Xiao Rufeng would have smiled and pulled him into a tight hug if she wasn''t distracted by his fingers that were exploring her.


    "You are fine as you are, but you could strive to be better." She suggested.


    When his fingers grazed her clit, she cried out, but the sound was immediately swallowed by his mouth. Yan Xiuchen kissed her, his tongue thrusting deep into her mouth at a maddening pace, promising Xiao Rufeng of what awaited her once they reached his mansion.


    Yan Xiuchen couldn''t seem to stop touching her even if he was aching with need to bury himself deep into her. He slipped one finger inside of her and marveled at how wet and hot she was. Her inner muscles clenched around his digits and he imagined being squeezed deliciously by it.


    Her hips started to move, following his pace until she spiraled higher and higher, reaching her orgasm. Yan Xiuchen felt her tense and shudder over hisp, her nails clutching his coat. He released her lips and she moaned his name, sounding breathless.


    Yan Xiuchen took back his hand and looked at his wet fingers in disbelief. He''d made here so hard that his hand was drenched with her juices. He just hoped that he wouldn''t mess up thingster.

 Chapter 547 *R18 In Your Arms (3)

    Yan Xiuchen thought that it would take them some time before arriving home. With Xiao Rufeng syed on hisp like this, so sensuous and seductive that he wasn''t sure if he would be able to wait a little more.


    Xiao Rufeng panted and clung on to him. She murmured his name as he started to suck on the skin at the side of her neck, his hands running her sides, taking his sweet time with her.


    "I like it when you say my name like that," Yan Xiuchen mumbled, his breath hot against her skin. "What do I have to do to get you to say it again?"


    Xiao Rufeng gasped and pulled away to look at his face.


    "You want me to spell it out?"


    Was this really the same man who was struggling to keep his hands from her earlier?


    "Maybe I want you to beg." He whispered with hooded eyes, his hand rubbing her smooth thigh.


    "Right, I should make you beg for me." He decided.


    Xiao Rufeng muttered a low curse when his hand found her mound again, his fingers sliding into her. She could feel herself clench as he started to pump slowly at first, but picked up the paceter. The sound that was escaping her lips was unfamiliar to her.


    In some part of her mind, she knew that she was being reckless, but Xiao Rufeng couldn''t give a damn about others other than Yan Xiuchen. She had never dated a man who was as honest as him. He was surely taking his time to learn which touches would satisfy her the most.


    One of his fingers circled her clit slowly while another teased her entrance, eliciting a whimper of pleasure from her. She started thrusting her hips up to his touch, riding his hand as though her life depended on it. Her soft groans of pleasure became lost in his mouth when Yan Xiuchen captured her lips in a searing kiss.


    The pressure building up in her stomach was begging for another release. Xiao Rufeng''s mind was too clouded to think straight, but Yan Xiuchen decided to tease her like he''d promised. He slowed down when he knew that she was close.


    Xiao Rufeng moved harder against his hand, but she was starting to get frustrated when he wouldn''t go any faster when she became aware that she was almost there, ready to release. As if to punish him, she bit his lower lip hard, satisfied when he grunted and his fingers sped up again.


    When she came and moaned his name again, the sound ended up lost in his mouth. Yan Xiuchen didn''t let her up until she was done. It took some time before he pulled his fingers out one by one, until they released her swollen lips.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    With her hair down, Xiao Rufeng looked thoroughly kissed and marked by him. She was panting as she stared at him, seeing the contrasting colors on the right side of his face. She watched as he raised his fingers and closed his mouth around those fingers that had been in her. Xiao Rufeng couldn''t help but blush.


    "You taste good." He said quietly, his eyes meeting hers. He was staring at her hungrily.


    Xiao Rufeng didn''t remember much of the time until they finally arrived at his mansion. Before they alighted the car, she slid down from hisp and adjusted the skirt of her dress. Her fingers ran over her hair as she tried to tame it.She had never felt this horny before, but her body yearned for the feel of his touch and she couldn''t get enough of the taste of him.


    They wasted no time getting inside. As they entered, Yan Xiuchen gave Elder Meng a nk look while the older man grinned at him, his eyes catching the twined hands of the couple and the slight blush on Xiao Rufeng''s cheeks.


    Xiao Rufeng politely greeted him, but stayed close to Yan Xiuchen. Her cheeks were heated and she wondered if the old butler knew what she and Yan Xiuchen were doing before their arrival.


    Yan Xiuchen led her inside without a word, holding her hand as they walked through the dark hallways that lead to his bedroom. He supposed he needed to thank Song Yiran for giving him that box of condoms after all. Xiao Rufeng might be leaving him to live with her father, but she was leaving him with something he would remember until hisst breath.


    Xiao Rufeng looked around. She had never been to this side of the mansion before. The marble floors were the same as the rest of his home, but she noticed that the decorations and paintings looked more expensive on this side of the mansion. Unlike her, Yan Xiuchen definitely had good taste when it came to decorating the ce.


    ''Or maybe he hired an expert to do the job for him.'' She thought before she realized that they had arrived at his bedroom.


    Before he unlocked his door, he dipped his head and gave her a chaste kiss that left her breathless. Once they were inside his dark bedroom, she immediately tried to grasp him blindly, helping him shed his clothes, but before she could release the buckle of his belt, Xiao Rufeng felt her back hit the door behind her as Yan Xiuchen dominated her lips again before moving to her neck.


    She could only mewl and writhe against him as he licked and sucked on her exposed skin. One of his hands traveled up her body and started caressing her breast through her dress, making her groan.


    "You''re still not going to change your mind?" He asked between their kisses. As much as he liked her to stay with him, Yan Xiuchen also didn''t want to force himself onto her.


    "Do you want me to?" She asked in return and Yan Xiuchen stilled at that.


    "No, but I''m not sure this is what you really wanted. I don''t want you to regret any of this tomorrow morning."

 Chapter 548 *R18 In Your Arms (4)

    She chuckled and sucked in a breath when she felt his hard erection pressed against her belly. Yan Xiuchen was obviously scorching with interest, but he was still giving her a chance to change her mind.


    Her cheeks heated as she looked at him. Okay, that was really sweet of him. Xiao Rufeng thought. But she couldn''t think of anything right now when he looked sinfully delicious at this moment. His coat was long discarded and the dress shirt was torn open to reveal his chest, which was perfectly sculpted along with his abs.


    The only source of light in his room was the moon outside, but it was enough to give them a glimpse of each other and allow them to see the bed at the center of his room.


    Xiao Rufeng suddenly swallowed the lump in her throat and stared at the bed for a long moment. Thest time she was in the same room with a bed with Yan Xiuchen was during their first encounter.


    She had been terrified to death, thinking that Xiao Yunyao would finally be able to destroy her once and for all. Who would have thought that the man whom she was delivered to would be the same man she woulde to love deeply.


    "Are you alright?" She heard Yan Xiuchen''s worried voice ask. "You are crying."


    As if to prove his im, he gently brushed off the tears that escaped from her eyes and kissed her forehead.


    "These are happy tears." She smiled at him. "I just couldn''t believe that I could be this happy. Dad loves me, believes in me and I have you who love me unconditionally."


    Yan Xiuchen didn''t say anything, but his gaze was intent on her face. Xiao Rufeng didn''t know that he was the one who couldn''t believe he could be this lucky to have her. Surely, there were many other men out there who would die to have her by their side and have her love them, but she had chosen him instead.


    He reached out to her, cupped the side of her neck and subtly drew her back towards him. Xiao Rufeng was helpless to pull away, fascinated by his dark eyes. His hand reached for the zipper of her evening dress and slowly pulled it down until it fell on the floor, revealing her topless with only her panties on in front of him.


    His mouth then lowered on hers. Xiao Rufeng didn''t expect to be kissed by him with such tant intensity. Yan Xiuchen pulled her against him, his chest brushing against hers.


    His tongue flicked against the seam of her mouth, urging her to open up for him and she was helpless to deny him. They were just kissing, but somehow, it felt very sensual for Xiao Rufeng. A low mewl escaped her when his tongue plunged into her once more, turning their sweet kiss into a decadent exploration of her mouth. His tongue stroke against her own, bold and assertive.


    Yan Xiuchen had not even taken her to the bed and imed her body but yet, he had already taken control of her body and made her hum with desire. All he''d done was kiss her, but she felt keenly aware of every bit of him. The way her nipples brushed softly against his chest, the way his hard length pressed against her belly, letting Xiao Rufeng know how much he wanted her.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    After what it seemed to be eternity, Yan Xiuchen pulled away and slowly led her to his bed. Xiao Rufeng staggered back until the back of her knees hit the edge of the bed and allowed her lover toy her down, on top of the sheets.


    His right hand came up and touched her head gently before his fingertips ran down the side of her face as he looked at her, as if memorizing her features up close.


    "So beautiful." He murmured, as if he was talking to himself and not her.


    Xiao Rufeng didn''t know what to say and could only look at him. Shadows caressed his face, but even with scars, she really didn''t find his appearance revolting as he thought it would. She had no illusions as to what all of this was between them, but she was really happy being with him and Yan Xiuchen never made her feel uncertain and insecure at all.


    She liked him - No, loved him. Not that she could easily be attracted to a man. As an actress, she had encountered so many handsome and dashing men who could promise to move heaven and earth for you, but would eventually leave you alone once you professed their love for them.


    "You''re so beautiful, that I couldn''t take my eyes off you all day."


    "Kiss me." She whispered in the dark. "Take me and make me yours."


    His fingertips yed along her jawline as Yan Xiuchen obliged her request. She barely noticed that he was now looming over her. He then pulled away, hip lips leaving featherlight kisses on her eyebrow, on her cheek then skimmed along her jaw and chin.


    She reached out to him and trailed a hand down his chest, feeling the hardness of his body, enjoying how Yan Xiuchen grunted. She could feel him settle between her slightly parted legs. She could feel the heavy heat of him and was half tempted to wrap her legs around him.


    His weight then suddenly shifted, making his length settle on her sex before rubbing up, much to her delight.


    A soft whimper escaped her throat and she automatically lifted her hips in response, wanting more friction between them. She raked her nails across his shoulders, encouraging Yan Xiuchen to give her more. However, Yan Xiuchen caught her off guard when he moved down her chest and flicked her aching nipple with his tongue before taking it into his mouth.


    Xiao Rufeng cried out, her fingers grasping his hair, back arching as she lost herself to the sensation of his mouth on her heated skin.

 Chapter 549 *R18 In Your Arms (5)

    She was his dreame true. Yan Xiuchen wondered if Xiao Rufeng knew this. A part of him was still in disbelief that the woman of his dreams would reciprocate his feelings and wanted to be with him in every possible way.


    As Xiao Rufeng arched her back, pushing her body towards him in silent invitation, his hands came up to epass her soft breasts, pushing them together and giving them a squeeze as his fingers toyed with its hardened peaks.


    She moaned and a jolt of pleasure moved through her at the touch. Her hands went to his shoulders, her nails digging in as he continued to flick her nipple with his tongue before moving over to the other breast to give it the same attention he''d given to the first one.


    His hands then traveled southward, wanting to get a taste of her desire. Reaching the thin nest of curls between her legs, Yan Xiuchen brought his arm down, gripping each of her thighs andid them over his broad shoulders.


    He could feel himself hardening as he imagined her spread beneath him, his hands were on her hips as he dragged her into him and speared himself inside her, filling her, and wrapping himself in her warm wetness. He wanted to plunge endlessly and lose himself inside her.


    Xiao Rufeng propped herself with her elbows, wanting to see what he was up to, but before she could ask him, he brought his thumb up to her drenched sex and spread herherlips. Her head was thrown back as he buried his face in her aching flesh. She gasped, her hands gripping the sheets below her as Yan Xiuchen tasted her.


    His tongue stroked out and licked her lightly and she almost screamed his name again when his tongue found her clit and toyed with it. To her surprise, Yan Xiuchen stiffened against her and sat up.


    He felt so incredibly hard and he could feel the precum leaking from the tip of his fully engorged member. He had to stop now or he would release before he ever gets anywhere near being inside her.


    As much as he wanted to take his time with her, his body was throbbing with need to take her at once. Yan Xiuchen wanted her screaming, moaning and panting beneath him, to drive her crazy as he was for her.


    He had never been this exposed to a woman who was daring enough to touch him so free, but he also took this time to carve every inch of her body into his memory. He relished every touch, every sound she made just for him.


    When his eyes swept over her nudity once her dress was discarded, he was already hot and hungry. Their night had barely begun, but Yan Xiuchen thought that he was already at his limit.


    Never had he been wanted like this before and it was an overwhelming sensation even for him. Yan Xiuchen found himself humbled for some reason. He also wanted to justify Xiao Rufeng''s choice to be him and give her the pleasure that she was seeking from him.


    "What''s wrong?" Xiao Rufeng asked.


    Instead of answering her, Yan Xiuchen fiddled with his clothes and discarded them one at a time. When he dragged his boxers down and exposed his length, Xiao Rufeng''s face burned. He was incredibly hard and thick and she wondered if her body would be able to aodate his size.


    Amongst her friends, Xiao Rufeng would always feel out of ce when Xi Qian and Shen Jiao started to make sexualmentaries or jokes about men. While she had dated in her college years, she had never truly gone all the way and did it with any of them.


    Yan Xiuchen then reached over the bed, his long limbs stretching to the bedside table that she hadn''t even noticed. He pulled a box of condoms out and tore one of the foil packets and dragged it to envelop his long length.


    He then eyed her, as if asking her for permission to continue. Xiao Rufeng nodded her assent and moved to the center of the bed, with her legs parted. Yan Xiuchen moved himself on top of her and propped himself up on his elbows, his tip lined against the slick opening of her sex.


    Slowly, ever so slowly, he thrust deep within her. Yan Xiuchen was nning to go slow, but the thought that it would only prolong Xiao Rufeng''s difort crossed his mind. She whimpered at the sting of the invasion. Pearls of tears escaped her eyes and Yan Xiuchen instantly felt guilty.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    He leaned in and kissed her cheek, murmuring his apology. She shook her head and only smiled at him, her arms snaking around him, forbidding him from leaving. Her eyes then caught the scars that ran down from his neck down to the right side of his chest.


    "It must have hurt a lot." Shemented, then noticing the deep flush on his face, deeply aware of how deep his sex was buried in her own.


    "Losing my mother that night hurts more." Yan Xiuchen leaned in once again, distracting her from looking at his hideous scars and the pain of their union by kissing her.


    Even he couldn''t believe how good it felt to be inside of a woman''s body, what''s more it was Xiao Rufeng. She felt so tight, so warm, that it was hard for him not to release at that very moment.


    When she nudged her hips slightly, he took it as a cue to start moving. At first, he subtly rolled his lips and rocked her body with his. The slow roll brushed against her swollen clit made Xiao Rufeng release his lips and clung to him tightly. He was unbelievably deep inside her, and she loved the feeling of being filled by him.


    His pace started to increase. He surged deep inside her, rocking her entire body on the bed, causing her to cry out with pleasure. Each thrust was rough with need and the difort Xiao Rufeng felt earlier was instantly reced by an inextinguishable fire.


    She clung to him as he began a hard and steady rhythm of thrusts that was enough to leave her breathless. The slide, the pressure, the pleasurable sounds Yan Xiuchen was making on top of her was almost enough to make her lose herself. She had lost herself in the sensation, her eyes closed, her head thrown back as she continued to make soft, pleading sounds with every thrust he made.


    Suddenly, Yan Xiuchen shifted his weight on his knees and adjusted her hips, and the next thrust he made caused her eyes to fly open. It felt different in a good way and Xiao Rufeng stared up at him in confusion. He thrust again and her walls instantly clenched around him in response, making him groan and suck in a breath.


    "Ohhh, keep doing that!" She cried out.


    Yan Xiuchen obliged, although he could feel himself at the edge of his release. He thrust into her, each one more intense than the other, shoving their bodies across the sheets with his next push and she cried out as her orgasm came so close. His hands found her hips, holding them in ce as they carried on their rhythm. Their skin made an obscene pping sound as he thrust up to meet her movements.


    A moan ripples through her as he hits that same spot she didn''t even know she had. Xiao Rufeng was struggling to speak,pletely focused on how good he felt inside her. He was rubbing against her in the most incredible way that made her entire body arch with pleasure. She was so close, too close until¡­


    Xiao Rufeng cried out her release beneath him as her orgasm rushed through her with a force. Her sex clenched tight around him and she heard Yan Xiuchen utter a muffled curse before he came inside her, thrusting hard until he felt drained and copsed next to her on the bed.


    Once done, he exhaled heavily and faced her. He hadn''t forgotten how she shed tears when he prated her.


    "I''m sorry if I hurt you."


    Xiao Rufeng nced at him and curled on his side, resting her head on his chest. She had thought that her first time would be filled with pain and disappointment, but what they had tonight was incredible and mind blowing.


    "I''m fine. You are amazing. This is amazing." She kissed him once again, before settling next to him and started to doze off, her eyelids getting heavier and heavier from exhaustion.


    Yan Xiuchen remained still. He wasn''t sure what he was supposed to do now. As hey on his bed with her next to him, he stared up at the high intricately patterned ceiling of his bedroom. Xiao Rufeng didn''t seem bothered about sharing the bed with him nor was she in a rush to leave him, and that made him smile with content.

 Chapter 550 Tearing Apart (1)

    Su Xiaofei crawled over her husband, yawning as she tucked the nket to cover her bare chest. She searched their room for her panties, which Lu Qingfeng had flung off somewhere hours ago. She found it at the foot of the bed, chuckling as she picked it up and put them back on.


    Making love to her husband after weeks of abstinence was like experiencing the first spring night once again. Lu Qingfeng had been gentle with her, although she was deeply aware that he was merely reining his self-control for her sake.


    Lu Qingfeng''s hand reached for her, his eyes closed.


    "Come back to bed, Feifei. It''s still too early." He murmured.


    "I can''t," she said, moving to his side to press a kiss on his cheek. "I need to apany Mama for breakfast. You sleep, though. You were up untiltest night, working."


    She''d had toe barging into the study to drag him to bed. Of course, Lu Qingfeng had been reluctant to leave, not until she started stripping in front of him, then he couldn''t go to bed fast enough with her.


    Su Xiaofei''s life was almost perfect. Not only did she have a loving husband and a good mother, she also had friends she could rely on when needed. However, she couldn''t really ignore this ominous feeling that something was about to happen. She pushed these thoughts away and ran her fingers through her long hair and tied it in a messy bun.


    "I''ll join you in a minute." She heard Lu Qingfeng grunted before rolling on his side, revealing his broad back that had scratch marks on it.


    Su Xiaofei blushed and went straight to their bathroom. After taking a quick shower and dressing up, she went back to their bedroom and found her husband over the phone. He gave her a curt nod, and she decided to head downstairs to see if her mother was up.


    She found Yun Qingrong already in their dining area, eating her breakfast alone. Her mother''s face lit up once she''d seen Su Xiaofei and gestured for her daughter to join her.


    "You are up early, Feifei. I thought you and Xiao Feng said you''re going to take a day off today?" Yun Qingrong said.


    Su Xiaofei sighed and thanked the house helper for serving her breakfast. She waited until they were left alone and were out of everyone''s earshot. Since the problem involved Bai Qingyue, she didn''t want anyone to find out about her association to the said actress.


    "There''s an emergency meeting. The director and the producer of the film Tang Liyan and Bai Qingyue starred in were both upset with Miss Bai''s absence for these past weeks. I''m sure they would request to kick Miss Bai out of the project and be reced by another one."


    Yun Qingrong lowered her teacup and frowned. Su Xiaofei didn''t need to exin why Bai Qingyue was absent during the filming, and it was because of her. Somehow, this made Yun Qingrong feel guilty.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Feifei, do you mind if Ie with you? I won''t cause you any trouble. I just want to help Miss Bai with this problem."


    "But Mama, you don''t need to do this."


    Su Xiaofei understood that her mother was feeling grateful towards Bai Qingyue, but she didn''t think Yun Qingrong should mediate for the actress. Not only would she see her birth mother today, but she also expected to see Mo Yuchen''s annoying face. Oh, how she couldn''t wait to leave the meeting sooner.


    "Feifei, I know how you feel towards her, but it won''t hurt us to help her this time, after what she''d done for you." Yun Qingrong said gently, her hands reaching forward to touch her daughter''s hand.


    Several reasons rushed through Su Xiaofei''s mind as she thought that it was a bad idea for her mother to meet the actress. The less encounters she had with Bai Qingyue, the better. Su Xiaofei had no reason to break her part of the deal she made with her birth mother, but seeing Yun Qingrong''s decisive expression, she could only nod in agreement.


    Su Xiaofei didn''t know what to feel towards Bai Qingyue now. It still baffled her to think that she had made such a huge sacrifice to let Yun Qingrong live. How was she able to nurse the grudge she had towards her if things had turned out like this in this lifetime?


    If what Lu Qingfeng said to her were true, and Bai Qingyue had died with a broken heart years after her death, did it mean that Bai Qingyue regretted what she''d done to her?


    "You don''t need to forgive her if you don''t want to, Feifei." Yun Qingrong said, much to her surprise.


    "I don''t know what Miss Bai told you, but as a mother, even if you end up hating me, as long as you are happy and content, then I wouldn''t mind it at all. You are our daughter. She might not be the mother you needed, but it doesn''t mean she has never held you dearly in her heart." Yun Qingrong said and then paused as if she remembered something.


    "I couldn''t imagine how painful it was for her to abandon you¡­She was very young when she had you, and I didn''t doubt that she was scared of everything. There had been rumors about how strict her parents were towards her before, to the point that she couldn''t even make any decisions nor use the money she earned from her acting and projects."


    "Have you met them then, Mama? I mean my real grandparents?" Su Xiaofei asked.


    Since Yun Qingrong had been in the industry for decades, she must have met Bai Qingyue on several asions.


    "I did." Her mother nodded. "And I could say from experience that they were really hard to get along with. They always interfered with Miss Bai''s work and Miss Bai even went as far as suing her own parents to leave her be. That made me wonder what kind of environment you''d grow up in if Miss Bai decided to keep you."

 Chapter 551 Tearing Apart (2)

    Ten minutester, Lu Qingfeng joined them. Yun Qingrong smiled at him and their conversation shifted to another topic. Now that she was on her road to recovery, she couldn''t wait to see how life would turn out for her growing family.


    Suddenly, she was hoping that her daughter would give birth to her grandchild soon. Although Yun Qingrong knew that Feifei and Xiao Feng were dying to start a family of their own and focus on their respective careers, she couldn''t help but imagine how lively their home would be once there''s a child to brighten up their day.


    "What do you have in mind, Mother?" Lu Qingfeng asked, when he noticed that his mother-inw had been awfully quiet since his arrival. He suddenly felt that he missed something.


    "Oh, nothing too serious. Just wondering when you and Feifei would give me some grandchildren. Dad also asked me the same thing yesterday, but I told him that you two are quite busy these days." She said, before smiling when she noticed how red her daughter''s face was.


    "Mom really knows when to joke." Su Xiaofei muttered next to her husband.


    "Oh, dear. This old woman really can''t wait to hold her grandchild now that she has a chance to live longer. I''m not pressuring you and Xiao Feng though, because I know in due time you will have the little bundle of joy when both of you are ready."


    "I''m ready." Lu Qingfen announced shamelessly. "It''s just Feifei who seems to be married to her work before me. I''m probably just a kept man after all."


    Su Xiaofei pinched his side and red at him, but she knew that he wasn''t lying when he said that he was ready to be a father, but was she?


    "By the way, I heard from my brothers that your Brother Xiang has been missing for some time now. Feifei, do you know anything? I thought that he''s really fond of you and might have mentioned anything that bothered him." Yun Qingrong asked her daughter, much to Su Xiaofei''s relief.


    She didn''t know how to answer Lu Qingfeng''sment about wanting to have a child, though the thought wasn''t unweed for her now, unlike before.


    Su Xiaofei blinked, while Lu Qingfeng''s eyes darkened. He lowered his gaze to hide it from his mother-inw, but it was toote to keep it from his wife, as Su Xiaofei had already taken notice of it.


    "Not that I know of, Mama. We haven''t seen nor spoken to Brother Xiang ever since our wedding." She answered.


    Yun Qingrong''s face fell.


    "I was hoping that you might know something. Dad has been looking for him. If he has any problems, he should tell us. We wouldn''t mind helping him if there''s anything."


    "Mother, it''s hard to find a person who''s not willing to be found." Lu Qingfeng said. "Perhaps he has personal reasons to distance himself."


    "I think he''s right, Mama. Brother Xiang would surely contact any of us if there''s anything he needs." Su Xiaofei agreed with her husband.


    "I see, then I hope you and Xiao Feng are right." Yun Qingrong sighed for the umpteenth time already.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Su Xiaofei stared into her cup and mulled about what was going on with Yun Xiang. It can''t be that he had fallen in love with Ye Mingyu once again and was nning to harm her reputation in public.


    Once they were done with their breakfast, the couple excused themselves and returned to their room. Su Xiaofei closed the door behind her and held Lu Qingfeng''s wrist to stop him. He turned around and looked at her in confusion.


    "What is it?" He asked.


    "You know something, right? You know what Brother Xiang is up to." She narrowed her eyes on him and waited for his answer.


    Lu Qingfeng wouldn''t have made such an expression earlier if he didn''t know anything.


    "He''s hiding, yes. And he''s also been investigating me discreetly for some reason. I wouldn''t be surprised if he suddenlyes back and uses me of something." Lu Qingfeng answered, knowing that he couldn''t hide anything from his wife when she''s questioning him like this.


    Su Xiaofei released his hand and stared at him wide-eyed. That wasn''t something she expected to hear from him.


    "Why didn''t you tell me this before?"


    He shrugged and took a seat on the bed, pulling her to sit on hisp. Lu Qingfeng had already known that his wife would react like this.


    "You were already worried about Mother''s condition and had been too busy with work." He said gently, his fingers tucking some of her stray hair behind her ear. "I didn''t think he''s doing any harm, so I didn''t see the need to inform you of it."


    "Still, you are my husband!" Su Xiaofei scowled. "What is he even trying to do by investigating you like a criminal?"


    She was upset, not at Lu Qingfeng, but at Yun Xiang. Su Xiaofei never thought that her so-called cousin would dare to do such a thing. They might have not gotten along well in her previous life, but Su Xiaofei thought that if she couldn''t forgive Yun Xiang for his past deeds, they could at least be civil to each other.


    By investigating her husband, wasn''t it like Yun Xiang was proiming war against them? Just what did he think he was doing by investigating Lu Qingfeng? What was he trying to prove?


    Su Xiaofei might not have known, but Lu Qingfeng had an idea why Yun Xiang did it. If Yun Xiang was trying to dig dirt against him, then he would be disappointed.


    "Don''t worry, Feifei. I''m not sure what he''s trying to do, but I''m pretty sure he wouldn''t be able to incriminate me." Lu Qingfeng said, as if whatever Yun Xiang was trying to prove didn''t bother him at all.


    "I still don''t like it." Su Xiaofei was still annoyed. "If he decides to make a scene against you, I will not forgive him."

 Chapter 552 A Glimpse Of The Past (1)

    Was it a coincidence or were her instincts on point all this while? Su Xiaofei wondered.


    From the moment she sat in the backseat of the car with her mother next to her, her phone beeped, notifying her of a new message. Su Xiaofei pulled it out of the pocket of her coat, her eyes narrowing slightly seeing the name of the sender.


    Yun Xiang.


    ''Speaking of the devil.'' She thought.


    Wasn''t it just an hour ago when her mother asked her about Yun Xiang''s whereabouts? Su Xiaofei wouldn''t be surprised if she was the only one Yun Xiang tried to reach. This only meant that her husband''s assumptions about her cousin were right and Yun Xiang would try to instill trouble between them.


    She pondered for a moment whether she should read his message or not. After weeks of his disappearance, this was the first time Yun Xiang had ''appeared''.


    Opening his message, there was only an address indicated on it and a small note that she shoulde alone. Su Xiaofei raised a brow and locked her phone, choosing to ignore him. How dare he think that she would listen to what he would say? Did he expect her toe running to him without a question?


    "Are you nervous? Don''t be. They wouldn''t dare to find fault with you. I heard from Fang Yi that you are doing remarkable work at thepany. More projects for the artists areing in because of your hard work. I heard Full Moon''s first major concert''s tickets were sold out from the first day it was released. I cannot wait to see what other changes you have made in thepany." Yun Qingrong said with a hint of pride in her eyes.


    Su Xiaofei flushed from her mother''s words. It had only been a few months since she took over her mother''s ce at thepany and it had been hard for her to adjust. She had been working nonstop despite the difficulties to bnce her work and personal life and she was aware that it was also affecting her married life with Lu Qingfeng.


    "I''m actually nning to hand over Full Moon''s and Tang Liyan''s management to Zhao Yi." She told her mother.


    "Why? Is there a problem?" Her mother looked at her in surprise.


    Yun Qingrong knew that her daughter had been taking care of Tang Liyan and monitoring her career from the very start and Full Moon''s career, which had barely just started. Could her daughter afford to pass the obligation to someone else?


    "I want to spend more time with A-Feng. I wouldn''t be able to do that if I don''t reduce my workload and I''m sure Zhao Yi would be more than willing to take over their management.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "So you''ll only keep Miss Xiao''s management?"


    "Yes." Su Xiaofei smiled at her mother. "She would only drive Zhao Yi crazy and since I made a promise to her, I intend to see our deal to the end."


    Since she promised to make Xiao Rufeng a queen, she couldn''t possibly hand over her management to her previous manager. While Su Xiaofei knew that Zhao Yi was a capable manager, she also knew that she wouldn''t be able to fully understand Xiao Rufeng, especially now that the actress was romantically involved with one of Lu Qingfeng''s brothers.


    This only meant that she needed to make sure that Xiao Rufeng''s affairs would be kept private, not unless the two decided to make it public. However, Su Xiaofei believed that it wasn''t the right time.


    "Well, if that''s what you want, I don''t see why you shouldn''t." Her mothermented. "But I''m happy to know that you are prioritizing your life with Xiao Feng. Have you considered moving out and living together on your own? I wouldn''t be surprised if Xiao Feng would want it."


    Su Xiaofei''s eyes widened at that. While she and Lu Qingfeng hadn''t talked about their living arrangement just yet, she knew that they were bound to live separately from her mother.


    "I suppose you haven''t." Her mother smiled at her knowingly, "but the two of you should reconsider. You don''t need to worry about me. I have caused enough worry in your marriage and I don''t want to be the reason for any misunderstandings. You are husband and wife, and while it''s true that you''ve known each other since you were younger, marriage would change your perception of him once you are living with him."


    Su Xiaofei stared at her mother, wondering if she was saying this based on experience. How long had Yun Qingrong seen through Su Haoran''s lie? She wondered. Yun Qingrong had defied her own father just to marry the man she thought loved and cared for her. It must have been hard for her mother to know that she made the wrong choice by being with him.


    Well, not like she was any different from her mother. She needed to experience several betrayals and eventually death before she realized her mistakes. If she wasn''t reborn and met everyone again in this life, Su Xiaofei would surely bring her deep grievances and resentments to the afterlife.


    "I can leave the house and move back to my father''s home. Now that I have been given the chance to live longer, I want to spend more time with him and take care of him." Yun Qingrong gave her a warm smile, something that Su Xiaofei had missed for weeks while her mother was in aa. "We have made so many wonderful memories at home and I want you and Xiao Feng to make memories with your own family."


    "Thanks, Mama." She replied, wounding her arm around Yun Qingrong''s arm and rested the side of her face on her mother''s arm. "I''m really happy that you''re here with me."


    Su Xiaofei had almost lost hope of being with her mother again. However, this only reminded her that helping Bai Qingyue to retain her role was still not enough to repay the favor she had done for them.

 Chapter 553 A Glimpse Of The Past (2)

    They soon arrived at Golden Star Entertainment''s headquarters in Qiying City. Su Xiaofei had never stepped into this ce since her rebirth as thest memory she had of this ce left a bitter taste in her mouth.


    She had swallowed her pride and made a scene to see Mo Yuchen, wanting to beg him not to divorce her. However, she was denied and was told to nevere and bother him ever again. She was then further humiliated by being dragged away by the security.


    Just recalling those times was revolting, reminding Su Xiaofei of how she had lost her own dignity because of poor judgements, as she was too jaded to think that Mo Yuchen had truly cared about her. Being here only reminded her of how foolish she had been in the past.


    Mo Yuchen''s personal assistant had greeted them and led them inside thepany. He was slightly startled when he saw that Su Xiaofei had arrived with Yun Qingrong, but didn''t make anyment.


    "This way please, President Su, Miss Yun." He told the mother and daughter pair, looking a bit ufortable seeing Su Xiaofei once again.


    There was something about Su Xiaofei that he couldn''t exin, but thankfully, Yun Qingrong was to apany her. The previous head of Bluemedia was known to be a gentle mannereddy and he couldn''t possibly chase her out even if she wasn''t expected to be here.


    After all, Yun Qingrong was the founder of Bluemedia Entertainment and now that Bluemedia was being managed by her daughter, thepany itself had suddenly be a ck horse that was fiercelypeting with Golden Star and Top Tier.


    Su Xiaofei ignored him and didn''t bother to say a word. This was the same man who looked down at her smugly in her past life as he delivered Mo Yuchen''s words to her in front of everyone. She was aware of the confused look her mother was giving her at that moment, but Su Xiaofei knew that Yun Qingrong wouldn''t understand her displeasure.


    She ignored the curious stares they were receiving from other guests and talents Su Xiaofei recognized at the lobby. There was no way they didn''t know who she was, considering her name had been dragged into recent rumorstely. Like the ones that used her of having an affair with her own biological brother and cheating on him with Lu Qingfeng and Mo Yuchen at the same time.


    Her father was beyond mad about it and was tempted to reveal their real rtionship, but Lu Qingfeng managed to suppress the news and filed several libel charges against those media personnel responsible for mudslinging her name.


    The director and the producer as well as the scriptwriter for the film Bai Qingyue and Tang Liyan were starring in were there as well as the two queens. Tang Liyan politely greeted them while Bai Qingyue remained seated impassively in her seat, reviewing her contract, pretending that she hadn''t noticed their arrival.


    It was only when the director cleared his throat and rose from his seat did Bai Qingyue lifted her head and regarded the neers.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "President Su, Miss Yun. It''s been awhile." She told them, her face not giving any indication that she was associated with either of them.


    Su Xiaofei gave her a curt nod and took a seat alongside her mother. The director raised the issue of the dy in the filming schedule, courtesy of Bai Qingyue''s frequent absences for the past weeks that disrupted the progress of their project.


    "Can CEO Mo exin to us what the hell is happening? If Miss Bai continued not to show up at our filming set, I don''t see the point of keeping her in the cast. There are other actresses who could rece her and y the role well." He said as he cast Bai Qingyue a displeased look.


    "I already said this before. Miss Bai had fallen sick and needed some rest. Didn''t we send you her medical certificate? I do believe that Miss Bai is still the perfect actor to y the role alongside Miss Tang. Since she has somewhat recovered from her illness, she would be able to act her part." Mo Yuchen tried to reason out and Bai Qingyue nodded her affirmation to his im.


    "What do you think, President Su? Miss Yun?" The producer asked for their opinion. "We can rece Miss Bai for the role and find a recement very soon, but this would mean the filming would be extended and Miss Tang would need to retake her scenes with the neer."


    "I can''t me Miss Bai. In fact, I can somewhat sympathize with her. For as long as I remember, I''ve never heard of Miss Bai taking a hiatus during her two-decades long career. She has always been in the limelight, working nonstop. Her body probably decided to remind her that she needed to rest." She paused and nced at everyone.


    "I believe that all of us are striving to keep up with the pressure of our daily lives and responsibilities, but for someone who is as hardworking as Miss Bai, she needed a reminder to slow down like everyone else. Please give her a chance. I''m pretty sure that Miss Bai would give you the best oue for this film." She said with a slight smile, leaving everyone speechless.


    Su Xiaofei hid her smile behind the document she was pretending to read earlier. No wonder her mother was able to build a strong connection with people within the industry. Not only did Yun Qingrong know what words and tone to use, but her expression was enough for the gentlemen within the room to consider her opinion.


    Both director and the producer conversed in low voices with each other until they reached an agreement.


    "Miss Bai, we are willing to give you onest chance. Please don''t let Miss Yun''s pleae to waste."


    "You have my word." Bai Qingyue affirmed, aware of why Yun Qingrong was helping her this time.

 Chapter 554 Meeting Yun Xiang (1)

    Bai Qingyue managed to keep the role, courtesy of Yun Qingrong''s help. Not that she really needed the other woman''s assistance, as she could use a use in her contract that stated that they are prohibited from recing her as the actress portraying the role alongside Tang Liyan''s when most of the scenes were already taken.


    Still, this didn''t mean that she wasn''t grateful for Yun Qingrong''s help, as it only made her life easier since she didn''t need to convince the gentlemen herself. As for Su Xiaofei, she showed no interest nor made no indication that she was concerned about her.


    ''She''s merely doing her part of our deal.'' Bai Qingyue thought, forcing her eyes to not look at her daughter''s face anymore, but she had to admit that Su Xiaofei''splexion looked healthier nowpared to thest time she''d seen her.


    The actress was content with that. She would never want to see her daughter in such a disastrous state ever again, and it didn''t matter if Su Xiaofei chose to remove herpletely from her life.


    Once the meeting was over, Yun Qingrong came to her and invited her for lunch. Bai Qingyue nced at her daughter, wanting to see if Su Xiaofei wouldin about it, but she only pretended as if she hadn''t heard anything.


    "Isn''t that right, Feifei? You don''t mind having Miss Bai join us, right?" Yun Qingrong asked her daughter with a smile. She was hoping that her daughter would agree with her.


    Su Xiaofei was about to answer her mother when her phone beeped again. She looked at the screen, and it was Yun Xiang again. She furrowed her brows and sighed. He was insisting on meeting her and knew that she had purposely ignored his message anyway. However, this only made her curious as to what Yun Xiang had to say about her husband.


    "It seems I can''t join you today, Mother, but please enjoy your lunch with Miss Bai." She replied, somewhat relieved that she didn''t need to stay in Bai Qingyue''spany any longer. Su Xiaofei couldn''t stand being in the same ce as her birth mother, and it didn''t help that Mo Yuchen was looking her way unabashedly.


    "I see. Then you should get going. It must have been important if you are personally needed." Yun Qingrong said before turning to face Bai Qingyue. "So, what do you think, Miss Bai?"


    The actress regarded her for a moment and nodded. She couldn''t think of any reason to decline Yun Qingrong''s invitation, not when the woman just helped her deal with her problem.


    The three of them left the conference room, and Su Xiaofei was aware that another set of eyes were watching her intensely. She had to pretend not to see or to hear Mo Yuchen during the meeting, although the man tried to initiate a conversation with her.


    ¡ª


    She dropped her mother and Bai Qingyue at the restaurant she and Yun Qingrong frequented before and bid goodbye, intending to meet Yun Xiang. Yun Xiang was insisting that she should meet him today as he needed to tell her something very important.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Miss, why are we going to that ce?" Zhang Lan asked curiously. Even her younger sister nced at Su Xiaofei who was seated nervously in the backseat. The address Su Xiaofei had given them wasn''t a safe ce for her to be.


    "I''m meeting Yun Xiang. I want to know why he suddenly requested a meeting with me. Don''t tell my husband until I know what''s going on." Su Xiaofei replied, but she already had a gist of Yun Xiang''s motives for insisting on meeting her today.


    "Then Madam, if you don''t mind¡­ I have a proposition for you." Zhang Lan continued before pulling the car to a stop and turned to look at her mistress. Since she was sure that Su Xiaofei would insist on going and meeting Yun Xiang, she needed to ce a precautionary measure.


    She and her sister would be the ones responsible if Su Xiaofei ended up getting hurt today and surely, their master wouldn''t be merciful to them if that happens. Zhang Lan didn''t want to imagine the kind of punishment that would await them if they failed to protect their madam.


    "The location that Mr. Yun gave you is a notorious ce for illegal traders." She started, frowning at the thought of Yun Xiang carelessly cing their mistress in danger. Zhang Lan had no doubt that Yun Xiang knew how dangerous it would be for Su Xiaofei to step into thatwless ce.


    Su Xiaofei shot her brows in surprise. She didn''t expect that their meeting ce would be dangerous, bute to think of it, no wonder the Yun family couldn''t find any lead on Yun Xiang''s whereabouts. They probably never suspected that he would be hiding in such a ce.


    "Is that so? Then, does that mean it''s impossible for me to meet him?" She questioned her bodyguard. Su Xiaofei trusted Zhang Lan''s judgment, and she knew that her bodyguard would always put her safety as her top priority.


    "I have a way that we could go there, but Madam should cooperate with me." Zhang Lan answered, waiting patiently for Su Xiaofei to decide.


    "Sure. Then what are we waiting for?"


    Half an hourter, Su Xiaofei looked at her reflection in the mirror of a dressing room. Zhang Lan suggested for her to change their outfits into streetwear and have her put on thick makeup on her face and wear a wig to change her appearance.


    Su Xiaofei chuckled at her appearance and shook her head. She suddenly felt like it had been a long time since shest put herself in disguise. Thest time she had done this was with her husband when they saved Mo Yuan''s life. She had never thought that she would be in the same circumstances again, albeit, she would be doing it with Zhang Lan this time.

 Chapter 555 Meeting Yun Xiang (2)

    The ck Dwarves'' was located in the middle of the city. It was thergest block in the entire street, and it was hard to miss it. Su Xiaofei walked with Zhang Lan, who was also wearing her disguise, and walked several blocks away from the ce, leaving Zhang Ling in the car to keep watch on the recording of her conversation with Yun Xiangter.


    "Don''t worry, Madam. I won''t leave your side." Zhang Lan whispered next to her as she opened the door of the establishment, allowing her to get in first.


    As soon as she walked in, Su Xiaofei had the urge to cough. She held her breath as the stench of cigarette smoke hit her nose. Coupled with the strong scent of alcohol and old wood, she tried her best not to curl her nose in disgust and waited for Zhang Lan to lead the way.


    How was she supposed to find Yun Xiang in a ce like this? How did she let that man talk her intoing to this ce?


    Round tables were spread throughout the room while girls who were wearing skimpy dresses danced on the stage, entertaining their patrons. Some were even perched on men''sp as they giggled in hushed conversations. She and Zhang Lan tried to keep a nk face when they walked past a couple who were making out in the corner.


    A woman in herte thirties obstructed their way and looked at Su Xiaofei from head to toe. Su Xiaofei only raised a slender brow and waited for the other woman to say something.


    "Which one of you is a little flower?" She asked in a rude tone.


    Su Xiaofei inwardly scoffed.


    ''Really, Yun Xiang? Can''t you be more creative in giving me nicknames?'' She thought.


    "That would be me." She pointed to herself.


    The older woman stepped forward and narrowed her eyes on Su Xiaofei, but thetter stayed still.


    "Is there a problem, Madam?" Zhang Lan asked, hoping for a distraction. Su Xiaofei couldn''t afford to be seen in a ce like this, given her status as the president of an entertainment agency and the wife of the head of the Lu family.


    "Nothing. I just thought that she looked familiar. Like that actress Bai Qingyue. You have the same face shape and eyes." The woman replied.


    Su Xiaofei inwardly groaned. She had put in a lot of effort in disguising herself, going as far as putting fake freckles and mole above her lips, but this woman was still able to associate her with her birth mother?


    "I''ll take that as apliment." She forced herself to smile, although she was so close to stalking out of this ce already.


    "Third floor, bedroom at the end of the hallway." The woman told them, before chuckling. "I have never seen that guest receive femalepany until today. I guess he''s not into men as I thought he was."


    Su Xiaofei''s jaws dropped while Zhang Lan coughed behind her hand, attempting to stop theugh that was about to escape from her lips.


    "Let''s keep going then." Zhang Lan told her boss, before slipping some cash into the woman''s hand and whispering in her ear. "I hope the madam would be kind enough to keep our trail under the rug."<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Su Xiaofei said nothing and allowed Zhang Lan to grab her wrist and leave the older woman alone. Once she recovered from her shock, she cleared her throat and Zhang Lan released her.


    "Sorry. I had to do that just in case someone questions her about our presence here." She told Su Xiaofei.


    "Is the cash enough to keep her mouth sealed?" Su Xiaofei asked. She didn''t bring any money with her today and didn''t think that they might need it.


    "It should be more than enough. Now, please don''t forget that we only have fifteen minutes. We cannot afford to stay longer than that." Zhang Lan replied, her eyes kept looking around for something suspicious.


    When they arrived at the third floor, Su Xiaofei coughed and blinked to clear her eyesight. What the hell were these people doing here, smoking like there was no tomorrow? Aren''t they afraid of dying of lung cancer or any rted diseases?


    Zhang Lan then knocked on thest door in the hallway, just as the other woman had instructed. A familiar voice reached Su Xiaofei''s ears as the person behind the door said, "Enter."


    The door opened and immediately closed as soon as the two women stepped in. A man was seated on an armchair next to the window with a book on hisp. It was Yun Xiang, but in Su Xiaofei''s eyes, he looked a little different.


    "I told you toe here alone." He grimaced as he nced at Zhang Lan.


    "And put my safety in jeopardy? My, dear cousin, I didn''t know you wanted to ruin my reputation by inviting me toe to a ce like this." Su Xiaofei snorted, which was very udylike of her.


    "Then ask her to stay outside. I don''t want her to hear what I want to tell you today." He demanded.


    "That''s not possible, Mr. Yun. Su Xiaofei is my master''s wife. It would be inappropriate to leave her alone in yourpany."


    Yun Xiang shot her a re, but Su Xiaofei wouldn''t allow her subordinate to be bullied by him.


    "Zhang Lan is merely concerned about my safety, Brother Xiang. But if you''re really notfortable having her here with us, then fine."


    She also didn''t want Zhang Lan to hear what Yun Xiang would say about Lu Qingfeng.


    "But Madam! I can''t leave you on your own." Zhang Lan eximed, looking at her mistress in shock. There was no way she would leave her with Yun Xiang, even if he was her cousin.


    Su Xiaofei nodded at her. "I''ll be fine, Zhang Lan. It''s not like Brother Xiang would assault me."


    Yun Xiang looked at her as if she just hit him, but he said nothing in defense.

 Chapter 556 No Regrets (1)

    Zhang Lan stared at her mistress, but seeing that Su Xiaofei had already decided, she knew that it was pointless to convince her to allow her to stay with them. She cast Yun Xiang a warning re before turning around, stepping outside and giving the two the privacy they needed.


    Her mistress was aware of what she was thinking, but Su Xiaofei didn''t want to make Zhang Lan more upset than she already was by listening to what Yun Xiang would say about Lu Qingfeng.


    Su Xiaofei took a seat on the nearby chair and crossed her legs. Her expression was a mixture of annoyance and boredom. The only reason she willingly came here was to hear how Yun Xiang would talk about her husband.


    ''There''s something you need to know about your husband.'' His second message said.


    Su Xiaofei would have ignored him, but her curiosity got the best of her. She was also aware that Yun Xiang would insist on reaching her, had she not shown up today.


    What was there to know about Lu Qingfeng? Even if her husband didn''te clean to her on his own, she was aware of the evil deeds he had done in their previous life. No matter if she and Lu Qingfeng were reborn, she would love and ept her husband unconditionally.


    It wasn''t like she didn''t care about what Lu Qingfeng did, because there was no way she would be able to change the past and could only prevent her husband frommitting the same mistake in the future.


    "I thought you wouldn''te." Yun Xiang said as he took the other seat across from her.


    "Why wouldn''t I? You said that I must know something about my husband." Su Xiaofei replied nonchntly, but her eyes were showing displeasure towards him.


    "You need to see this." Her cousin said, cing a man envelope in front of her.


    Su Xiaofei stared at it for a moment, then nced at Yun Xiang''s apprehensive expression. She then picked it up and pulled out the contents. As expected, it was a detailed report of what her husband was up to over the past five years.


    She was even surprised that Yun Xiang was able to find out about the existence of the brotherhood Lu Qingfeng had with his friends.


    ''The rest of his brothers must have known about this already.'' Su Xiaofei thought.


    Her husband''s circle of friends wasn''t something anyone could easily offend. If none of them had made a move after knowing that Yun Xiang was snooping in their business, it might be because they knew that Yun Xiang wouldn''t be able to find enough dirt to use against Lu Qingfeng, or they weren''t bothered to deal with an insignificant threat.


    Her eyes then narrowed at the sudden disappearances of his uncle and his second cousins. Although Lu Qingfeng hadn''t told her what he''d done, Su Xiaofei already had an idea of what might have happened.


    "Is that all?" She asked, throwing the papers on the table between them. She briefly wondered if Yun Xiang had done the same to Ye Mingyu and Mo Yuchen in her previous life, and how Ye Mingyu dealt with him.


    "What do you mean, ''is that all?''?" Yun Xiang scowled. "Haven''t you read that your husband is involved in some suspicious activities? Perhaps you didn''t even know what kind of person you''re married to."


    Su Xiaofeiughed at that, but she was itching to give Yun Xiang a smack for daring to speak badly of Lu Qingfeng in front of her.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "I expected more from you, Brother Xiang. What do these documents prove anyway? What is so suspicious about Lu Qingfeng making friends while he was attending university and helping them secure profitable deals and business prospects?" She asked in return, eyeing Yun Xiang suspiciously.


    "And why are you doing this, anyway?" She added in an usatory tone, catching Yun Xiang off guard.


    It took him a moment to recover from his shock and straightened his back, trying to look determined in front of her.


    "I''m merely concerned about you¡­"


    "Bullshit." Su Xiaofei cut him off. "We both know why. Do I need to say it out loud?" She challenged him.


    Yun Xiang was being a fool if he thought that she would divorce her husband and chose him instead.


    Yun Xiang stared at her for a long moment, then slumped back into his seat, running his fingers through his thick dark hair. He looked confused and irritated at the same time.


    From the way he looked, Su Xiaofei knew that he had had it rough these past few weeks. The stubble on his face was more prominent, and the dark shadows beneath his eyes told her that he had not had a good night''s sleep for some time now.


    "Stop this already, Brother Xiang. Don''t make me hate you." She reminded him.


    At those words, Yun Xiang snapped his head to look at her in disbelief.


    "You would rather choose and stay with Lu Qingfeng, despite how devious he is?" He asked in disbelief.


    "That''s my husband you are talking about," Su Xiaofei shot him a fierce re. "He isn''t the only one you are disrespecting here, but also me."


    How could she not be mad when someone talks badly about her husband? She wasn''t as innocent as Yun Xiang thought her to be, nor as oblivious as Lu Qingfeng assumed. She knew her husband wasn''t perfect and had so many ws, like her.


    Su Xiaofei knew that no one would be able to understand her and love her better than Lu Qingfeng. She might be foolish to overlook his ws, but she would have him anyway. If there was no Lu Qingfeng in her life, she would rather spend the rest of her life in solitude.


    "Do you really trust him that much?" Yun Xiang probed, wanting to see if she was dead serious.


    "I do." She nodded in affirmation. "Whether I made the right decision or not, it would be on Lu Qingfeng and not any another person."

 Chapter 557 No Regrets (2)

    "Grandpa and your Dad are worried about you. Please go home. You really don''t need to do all this. I''m your cousin. Let''s keep it that way, unless you want me to hate you and make enemies in the process." Su Xiaofei said.


    Yun Xiang didn''t seem to understand what she meant, and she sighed.


    "Do you really think my husband and his friends are oblivious to what you are doing?"


    His eyes widened in understanding.


    Had he really not considered it?


    "See? And I don''t see the point of doing all this. I don''t know and would rather not know why you are even attracted to me, but I would rather tell you the truth now than lead you on for something that could never happen."


    Su Xiaofei paused, wondering if Ye Mingyu made that decision in the past. Seeing how crazy Cai Lin became, it was obvious that she had led him on without any intention of epting him. She kept him around her with an ambiguous status because he was useful and immediately cut him off when she no longer had any use of him.


    ''How selfish and arrogant.'' Su Xiaofei thought. Not like she was any better than Ye Mingyu anyway.


    Compared to the previous Ye Mingyu, she was nothing against that woman''s scheming. Ye Mingyu loved to make use of anyone in her favor, but Su Xiaofei would rather not invite trouble to her door by making thingsplicated between herself and Yun Xiang.


    "I see." Yun Xiang sighed, and somehow, Su Xiaofei saw some enlightenment and understanding in his eyes.


    "You are right. Our family is more important than these." He said, gesturing to the reports he had given her earlier.


    "I hope that you are right about him, Xiaofei. I would be the first one in line to beat his ass if he dares to make you cry."


    At those words, Su Xiaofei chuckled. She was relieved to know that she was able to shake some sense back into Yun Xiang.


    "I would expect nothing less with you, Brother Xiang. Please don''t disappoint me."


    Su Xiaofei then rose from her seat, intending to leave before her husband became worried about her whereabouts. However, she stopped in her tracks when Yun Xiang called her name.


    "Xiaofei?"


    She looked over her shoulder and waited for him to continue.


    "Yes?"


    "I wonder¡­ if you aren''t my Aunt Qing''s daughter, and we aren''t cousins, would you consider me?" He said in a low tone, which Su Xiaofei almost missed.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "No." She answered without batting an eyelid.


    "But Xiaofei¡­"


    "You are a good man, Brother Xiang and I don''t think we arepatible in many ways. You deserve to be with someone who would choose you every single day of your life no matter what and not regard you as an option. Please be happy, Brother Xiang."


    Yun Xiang opened his mouth to say something, but what he had in mind earlier had disappeared after hearing what Su Xiaofei said. He looked straight in her eyes and saw that she wasn''t lying at all.


    He burst intoughter and held his forehead in one hand. How ridiculous. He had thought that he would be able to sway Su Xiaofei to leave Lu Qingfeng if he revealed her husband''s wrongdoings, but instead, she only imed to love Lu Qingfeng even more. He really didn''t have a chance to win her heart at all.


    Su Xiaofei eyed him, wondering if he finally lost all the screws in his head. She was starting to think that Yun Xiang was bing a different person from the one she knew.


    "Thank you, Feifei, and I''m sorry for causing you and Lu Qingfeng trouble. I have no excuses for what I''ve done, but please extend my apology to your husband. I know better now."


    Su Xiaofei regarded him for a moment and nodded. She could only hope that Yun Xiang would uphold his words today and not cause her any more trouble in the future. Thinking of the kind of interaction they had in the past, she thought it would be unfair to treat Yun Xiang unjustly when he hadn''t done anything to harm her or Lu Qingfeng.


    Today was¡­. Well, a bit disappointing in her opinion though. Just as she thought that she could at least be civil with him, Yun Xiang entertained this foolish idea to pursue her.


    "If that''s all, I''ll be going then. I hope to hear the news of your return soon." She said as her parting words.


    When she stepped out of the room, she found Zhang Lan waiting for her in the hallway with a stiff expression on her face. Su Xiaofei didn''t need to ask, for she knew that her bodyguard was upset that she made her leave her alone with Yun Xiang.


    "You heard all of it?" Su Xiaofei asked, and Zhang Lan nodded in response. She supposed that Yun Xiang hadn''t chosen the right spot to meet her.


    "Don''t tell Lu Qingfeng. If Yun Xiang broke his promise today, you would be the first one to deal with him."


    This somewhat appeased Zhang Lan as she nodded withoutining. Zhang Lan led her mistress out of the club, making sure that no one was paying attention to them. Once they were out, the earpiece in her right ear beeped, reminding her of the report she just received from her younger sister.


    She stopped, making Su Xiaofei halt and look at her confusedly. Zhang Lan reached out a hand and picked up an invisible lint on her cor, making it look like a friendly gesture to the public eye.


    "Madam, Ye Mingyu has followed us here and took some photos. Your order, please?" She whispered.


    Su Xiaofei blinked twice, before her lips curled into a smile. How could she not take advantage of this opportunity to hit two birds in one stone?


    "Tell Zhang Ling to invite Miss Ye for a coffee. I''m sure she has a lot to say to me now."

 Chapter 558 Ye Mingyu Returns (1)

    While Su Xiaofei waited for Zhang Ling to fetch Ye Mingyu for her, she discarded her disguise and cleaned her face from the thick makeup. With the problem rted to Yun Xiang resolved, she couldn''t wait to get rid of Ye Mingyu and Chen Hao at the same time.


    If it wasn''t for them, Lu Qingfeng wouldn''t have to work harder than usual and would be able to spend more time with her. With his session in the Lu Corporation almost in sight, Chen Hao''s threat was looming to ruin their ns.


    Su Xiaofei sat in a VIP booth of a five star restaurant. She was now dressed in her pristine business suit, nursing a cup of tea in one hand as she admired the scenery outside the window. Her life was almost perfect now. What else could be missing?


    A child. Her heart murmured, reminding her of the fear she tried to bury deep in her heart. Six years since her rebirth, it still feels fresh in her mind.


    She remembered her mother''s words earlier that morning. It made sense to her why Yun Qingrong would ask her such a question, but Su Xiaofei didn''t know how to answer her mother without offending her or making her husband upset.


    While she had no doubt that Lu Qingfeng would respect her decision if she chose to be childless throughout their marriage, she doubted that the Lu family would agree with her. They might even scheme and force Lu Qingfeng to divorce her, or worse trick him into having a child with another woman. With Qin Ying keeping tabs with her husband, Su Xiaofei wouldn''t be surprised if that woman colluded with her husband''s rtives.


    However, even if she had discarded Mo Yuchen from her life in this lifetime, that one memory still haunted her till this day. It was one thing to avoid Mo Yuchen, but Su Xiaofei thought that she could never forgive him because of it.


    She might have been able to let go of her long grudge towards him for choosing Ye Mingyu and betraying her trust by taking over her mother''s fortune. But she would never be able to forget what he had done to their child. Her child.


    Su Xiaofei knew that she might be unfit to be a mother and it would be unfair for the child to be born into theplicated life she had, but she wouldn''t abandon him or her nevertheless. After being forsaken by and betrayedter on by Bai Qingyue, she wanted to prove that she was nothing like her mother.


    It was just, she couldn''t have foreseen that Mo Yuchen hated her enough to even deny the existence of their child. She knew that Lu Qingfeng would never do such a thing, but a part of her knew that she wasn''t willing to experience the pain of losing a child all over again.


    There were nights when she would wake up in cold sweat next to Lu Qingfeng. Although she tried to assure him that it was nothing, she didn''t know how to tell him that she had once fallen pregnant and lost her child in the process.


    She was reborn, but that didn''t mean what she experienced never happened. It just hadn''t and would never happen this time because she had taken another path by making better choices. Still, the memory of Mo Yuchen forcing her to get an abortion had taken a piece of her soul with it.


    ''I wonder if this is the same reason Bai Qingyue helped us.'' She thought as she wondered how she felt that unexinable attachment to her unborn child. Was it her maternal instincts ying a role?<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    As she pondered these thoughts, Zhang Lin arrived with Ye Mingyu in tow. Su Xiaofei lifted her face to look at Ye Mingyu''s face, only to be frozen on the spot. A chill ran down her spine as she stared at Ye Mingyu''s mocking smile. It felt so familiar and horrifying at the same time. She suddenly had a bad feeling about this meeting.


    "Miss Ye, please take a seat." She gestured to the vacant seat across from her, masking the uncertainty in her voice.


    Su Xiaofei had doubts, but she wanted to see whether she was right or wrong this time. This ominous feeling she was having for the past days¡­ was this the reason for it?


    Ye Mingyu took the offer easily, then picked up the menu arrogantly as if she wasn''t afraid of Su Xiaofei. Gone was the Ye Mingyu who was cowering and flinching whenever she saw her and was reced with a confident and arrogant person. rm bells rang in Su Xiaofei''s mind, but she kept her expressions neutral.


    Even the Zhang sisters looked at Ye Mingyu with confusion, as if they couldn''t recognize this person at all and Su Xiaofei couldn''t me them. She should have known of the possibility that this might happen a long time ago.


    "Imagine my surprise when my assistant said that she spotted you near the ck Dwarves. Were you there to see someone?" She asked, her gaze never leaving Ye Mingyu''s face. Was she imagining things? She wondered.


    Ye Mingyu froze then nced up to look back at Su Xiaofei and broke into another smile.


    "My, I could have asked you the same question, President Su. Is your husband aware that you are meeting another man behind his back? Poor Lu Qingfeng. It must have been hard for him to satisfy someone like you." She replied mockingly.


    Zhang Ling gasped upon hearing those words while Zhang Lan narrowed her eyes dangerously on Ye Mingyu.


    Su Xiaofei said nothing and only stared at Ye Mingyu nkly, but her heart was already in turmoil. She could recognize this woman anywhere without a doubt, and she couldn''t believe that she was meeting the person responsible for her mother''s death and her own.


    This was the same Ye Mingyu who had ruined her life from her previous life!

 Chapter 559 Ye Mingyu Returns (2)

    Su Xiaofei let out a chuckle and picked up her cup of tea, giving Ye Mingyu a smile.


    "Meeting a rtive doesn''t count, Miss Ye. You are free to tell my husband what you think, but are you sure you are ready to face the consequences and his wrath if I prove to him that you are lying?"


    Ye Mingyu only giggled in response, which the Zhang sisters found odd. Anyone who would dare to deceive their master would surely regret crossing paths with Lu Qingfeng, so how could Ye Mingyu brush their mistress''s im so easily?


    "I see that you were able to put a leash on your dog, Su Xiaofei." Ye Mingyu said as she poured herself a cup of tea and took a sip from it. "And your taste remained the same, bitter and boring."


    Su Xiaofei said nothing, but her eyes narrowed sharply at Ye Mingyu''s words.


    "He used to follow you around like a lost puppy you know. Everyone knows that he''s head over heels for you and you''re oblivious to it. It was really surprising that you have chosen to ditch Mo Yuchen and be with him. I guess that Lu Qingfeng could give you more than your ex-fiance, am I right?" Ye Mingyu continued.


    Su Xiaofei was certain by now that this was the Ye Mingyu she knew in her previous life and she wondered what she was doing in this lifetime. She knew that Mo Yuchen and Ye Mingyu eventually divorced a few years after her death, but she had no idea what happened to Ye Mingyu after she lost her brief fame and wealth.


    "You know, I can''t me myself for being stupid these past few years." Ye Mingyu leaned back in her seat and crossed her legs, looking as if she was a queen that everyone needed to regard. "We are sisters and yet we don''t get along."


    "You know well enough that it isn''t true." Su Xiaofei cut her off. "I''m no daughter of that excuse of a man you call father."


    "Indeed." The other woman hummed in agreement. "I suppose you are right. Su Haoran is a shitty father after all, but the things he should have given me fel into your hands. Don''t you think it''s unfair for me, dear little sister?"


    Silence followed while the two of them regarded each other. Su Xiaofei knew she had to be careful not to expose anything that may prove that she was reborn.


    "What do you want, Ye Mingyu?" She asked, breaking the silence between them.


    "What do I want?" Ye Mingyu repeated the question and cupped her chin as she gave it a good thought.


    "Initially, I wanted to crush you under my foot like an insect that you are and take everything from you." She told Su Xiaofei without batting an eyelid.


    "Why, you little¡­" Zhang Ling was about to go and drag Ye Mingyu out when her elder sister pulled her back. Ye Mingyu ignored her though and continued.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "But that wouldn''t be easy, now that you are married to Lu Qingfeng, and Mo Yuchen hates me to the point that he wouldn''t even want to speak to me. I suppose I could seduce Yun Xiang? He''s still loaded with money after all and he would do whatever I ask him to without a question. Cai Lin is out of question though, he''s practically useless and couldn''t even fend for himself."


    Hearing Ye Mingyu spoke like this left everyone around her speechless.


    Alright. This was the Ye Mingyu Su Xiaofei was ustomed to in her previous life, but there was something different to this version of Ye Mingyu. Her honesty was baffling Su Xiaofei, and she acted like she was afraid of nothing. She spoke like she was mentally unsound and broken. Even her eyes looked dted in a weird way. Was Ye Mingyu taking drugs?


    Su Xiaofei lifted her hand and nced at her bodyguards.


    "Leave us." She said, not wanting for them to hear what Ye Mingyu would say next. "I''ll call you when Miss Ye and I are done with our afternoon tea."


    Ye Mingyu wouldn''t be able to harm her physically anyway, but she summoned Zhang Lan toe to her and whispered hermand out of Ye Mingyu''s earshot. Zhang Lan nodded impassively and left with her sister.


    "Did Chen Hao tell you toe here and follow me?"


    "Ha! Chen Hao, that pig! When I told him that you would never ept him, he threw me out of his club in rage. How stupid." Ye Mingyu shook her head. "He''s been lusting after you for years, you know. I guess he''s mad that you got married even before he could make a move on you."


    Su Xiaofei stood up and crossed the distance between them and grabbed Ye Mingyu''s chin to look closely at her face, her nails digging harshly against the other woman''s soft skin.


    "You said you wanted to crush me?" She probed. If this was the same Ye Mingyu she knew and she was being honest like this, something must be going on then.


    "Uh-huh, I killed you once. It wouldn''t be hard to do it again." Ye Mingyu said as if she was pleased with herself. "Too bad though that I couldn''t force Mo Yuchen to kill you, but I did enjoy forcing the other Su Xiaofei to get rid of her child. That dumb Mo Yuchen, when I asked him which one would he chose between you and your child to live, he actually chose you instead. Guess he would rather lose his child than lose the two of you."


    Su Xiaofei froze at that. She couldn''t understand what Ye Mingyu was talking about.


    Ye Mingyuughed after seeing her reaction.


    "Silly of him, right? The poison in Su Xiaofei''s body was already bone deep when she fell pregnant. Mo Yuchen already knows from the start that it would kill her if she ends up with a child."

 Chapter 560 Ye Mingyu Returns (3)

    Su Xiaofei couldn''t believe what she was hearing from Ye Mingyu''s mouth. Was she telling the truth or was Ye Mingyu trying to mess with her mind? Was that why Mo Yuchen wouldn''t allow them to consummate their marriage? He knew that she was poisoned by Ye Mingyu and yet, he hadn''t done anything to help her, protect her as his wife.


    Rage filled her entirety, her hand tightening on her teacup the more she gave it a good thought. If Ye Mingyu was telling her the truth, then Mo Yuchen had chosen to abandon her from the very start of their marriage. He had chosen to betray her. What kind of husband would like to see his wife being killed by another woman? A man with a mistress. However, based on Ye Mingyu''s words now, it didn''t seem that she and Mo Yuchen had a harmonious rtionship at all.


    If it was Lu Qingfeng, Su Xiaofei knew that he would have scouted the whole world to find the remedy for her illness. Her husband would never allow anyone to harm her and would rather dirty his hands to protect her honor. Such a stark difference from how Mo Yuchen treated her in her previous life.


    Su Xiaofei released Ye Mingyu''s face and took a stroll around the room they were in, her mind going several miles wondering what was happening to the other woman. She wanted to think that Ye Mingyu was somewhat deranged and the words that came out from her mouth were ridiculous. As to how much of what she said today were true, Su Xiaofei wasn''t sure.


    She had sent Zhang Lan to check what Ye Mingyu had been doing these days and what she was doing downtown near the ck Dwarves. Whatever happened to Ye Mingyu recently, it made her remember the memories from her previous life, just like Lu Qingfeng did.


    ''Maybe she experienced something traumatizing to make her act like this.'' She thought.


    It was hard to tell how far Ye Mingyu had gained the memories and how she would act from now on. Would she try to ruin Su Xiaofei''s life the way she previously did?


    "I helped Mo Yuchen win against hispetitors by convincing him to marry Su Xiaofei," Ye Mingyu shrugged, as if she couldn''t recognize or even remember who she was talking to.


    "By marrying her, Su Xiaofei would obviously hand over the management of Bluemedia to him, since that woman had no idea how to run it anyway." Ye Mingyu continued. "She''s a shortsighted woman who only cares about what she wants and doesn''t care about her mother''s legacy. Her mother was really such an unfortunate person to adopt a person as shallow as her."


    Su Xiaofei returned to her seat and smiled extremely sweetly at Ye Mingyu.


    "So what do you think of me, Miss Ye? Considering I''m also Su Xiaofei." She asked.


    Ye Mingyu stared at her like a deer transfixed by the bright headlights. She blinked several times and slowly nodded her head.


    "You aren''t that Su Xiaofei." She rubbed her chin and noticed that the silverwares on her te was missing. Just when did Su Xiaofei take them without her noticing? Su Xiaofei even went as far as discarding hers and hiding them subtly.


    "You aren''t foolish like her." She added as if she was amused by Su Xiaofei. "It''s a pity though that my previous self had failed to take advantage of you."


    "What would you do then, if you were in her shoes?" Su Xiaofei kept Ye Mingyu within her line of sight.


    When she noticed that Ye Mingyu was mentally unsound, she stealthily removed the silverwares the restaurant staff prepared for her. There was no way she would allow Ye Mingyu to stab her or kill her in broad daylight.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Ah, you are making my head hurt!" Ye Mingyu grimaced. "How can I possibly beat you when the differences between us are already outstanding!"


    Su Xiaofei''s expression remained nk as she listened to Ye Mingyu.


    "But do you think you could help me though? You''re the head of Bluemedia now. It should be easy for you to make me a queen."


    "And why would I do that?" Su Xiaofei arched a slender brown at her. "Just like I said earlier, we are not siblings nor are we friends. So what made you think that I would help you?"


    "You won''t? Well, I guess I have to get rid of Xiao Rufeng then. Isn''t she your precious little talent right now?"


    Su Xiaofei scoffed, but she didn''t miss the warning in Ye Mingyu''s tone. She didn''t doubt that this woman was capable of doing it. However, what Ye Mingyu wasn''t aware of was Yan Xiuchen''s involvement with Xiao Rufeng. Ye Mingyu would be digging her own grave to lie in if she dared toy a hand on Xiao Rufeng.


    "Haven''t you already tried that? You''ve tried to poison her, sell her to her younger sister to get the lead role." She reminded Ye Mingyu.


    "Oh, no, dear. That wasn''t me." Ye Mingyu grinned at her widely like a Cheshire cat, before she paused. "I shouldn''t be telling you this though. How reckless of me."


    She rose from her seat, intending to leave but suddenly stopped in her tracks.


    "Say, if I kill you now, do you think things would be better from me?" She asked Su Xiaofei. She sounded bored, but Su Xiaofei could see the intent in her eyes.


    "Hmm? Spending the rest of your days behind the bars like your father? I don''t think you would enjoy that." Su Xiaofei replied. She was having a hard time understanding Ye Mingyu''s motives now.


    Ye Mingyu scowled and nced up at the ceiling, as if it could offer her some advice.


    "I see, then I have no choice but to be you then." She said before leaving without exining herself any further.


    Su Xiaofei could only look at Ye Mingyu''s retreating figure, her mind couldn''te up with a conclusion of this meeting with her.

 Chapter 561 Ye Mingyu Returns (4)

    When she returned home, Su Xiaofei was surprised to find that Lu Qingfeng had been waiting for her. He looked distraught and worried. As soon as his eyesnded on her, he released a sigh of relief and drew her into a tight embrace as soon as she entered their bedroom.


    "Is there something wrong?" She asked, but allowed her husband to hold her tightly if it meant that he would be assured that she was fine.


    "I received a report from Zhang Ling this afternoon. You shouldn''t have gone to that ce, Feifei. Even if you trust Yun Xiang, there''s no telling who you would stumble into at such a ce." Lu Qingfeng said with a hint of displeasure and worry in his voice.


    "I have Zhang Lan apanying me. I came back in one piece, see?" She said in defense, but she knew that it was reasonable for her husband to act like this.


    Lu Qingfeng released her and allowed her to put down her handbag and watched her remove her jewelry one after another.


    "Zhang Ling said Ye Mingyu is acting suspicious. What''s going on, Feifei?"


    She looked at him through the reflection of her vanity mirror, sensing his distress over her meeting with Yun Xiang and Ye Mingyu. She remained silent for a while, but then decided to tell her husband how her conversation with Ye Mingyu went.


    "She sounds crazy, A-Feng. I fear that she might do something." She said, joining him on their bed and held one of his hands. "Zhang Lan said that Ye Mingyu was involved in a minor car ident the other day and hit her head after having a huge fight with Chen Hao. Is it possible that she has the same case as you?"


    Lu Qingfeng''s jaw hardened as he looked at their twined hands. Ye Mingyu being reborn wasn''t good news at all.


    "From your other memories, do you remember what happened to her?"


    When she realized what she just asked, Su Xiaofei lowered her gaze, looking guilty. Asking Lu Qingfeng what happened was also like reminding him of the bad memories he would rather not think of.


    "She and Mo Yuchen divorced before their third wedding anniversary for some reason," Lu Qingfeng answered. "After some time, shepletely disappeared from the limelight, but in truth, Mo Yuchen set her up and sent her to the mental hospital where she eventually died due to unknown causes."


    Lu Qingfeng knew the reason why Mo Yuchen had done it was to seek revenge on Ye Mingyu. Since he had no use for her and Ye Mingyu had known so much about him, Mo Yuchen needed to get rid of her. What better way to convince everyone that Ye Mingyu was lying, aside from painting her as an insane one in public? No matter what Ye Mingyu said, no one would take her words seriously because of it.


    Mo Yuchen killed his second wife the same way Ye Mingyu killed Su Xiaofei. He poisoned her slowly, letting Ye Mingyu experience the same torture and pain Su Xiaofei had undergone. But Lu Qingfeng wouldn''t say these words to his wife. If Ye Mingyu somehow lost her mind in the process and was reborn like them, the best way to deal with her was to send her back to the mental hospital and drug her until she couldn''t think of anything.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    ''But Feifei is no murderer.'' Lu Qingfeng thought. His wife was nothing like him, or Ye Mingyu and Mo Yuchen. She would never take another person''s life no matter how much they''ve wronged her.


    "Didn''t she give birth?" She asked, earning a confused look from her husband. "I thought she would end up pregnant, given that they were together for three years."


    Heck, didn''t Ye Mingyue to see her before she died, telling her that she was pregnant with Mo Yuchen''s child? Did Ye Mingyu lie and say those words only to spite her?


    "Ye Mingyu never had a child." Lu Qingfeng said. "There had been rumors that the Mo family had been pushing her to have one, but she defied her inws'' demands."


    "Why don''t you call Master Ouyang and tell him what''s happening to Ye Mingyu? If she''s really a threat to Xiao Rufeng''s safety, I wouldn''t be able to interfere if Chen-ge decided to make a move to protect her." He suggested.


    Su Xiaofei rubbed her temple with her free hand and sighed. Ye Mingyuing back in her life like this would onlyplicate things because she had no idea what the other woman was thinking. She couldn''t understand Ye Mingyu''s parting words earlier.


    "I''m not sure how I should convince him. Something must happen first before they deem Ye Mingyu mentally unstable. What do you think?"


    Only then would they have a reason to remove Ye Mingyu from the series she was currently working on along with Xiao Rufeng.


    "We can''t do that. If we wait until something serious happens because of Ye Mingyu, it might lead to bigger problems. I think she won''t target you for the meantime since she might hold some resentment and anger towards Mo Yuchen, but that doesn''t mean we should lower our guard against her."


    Su Xiaofei agreed with her husband and decided to change the topic between them. Since Yun Qingrong had given them a go-signal to move out and live on their own, the couple had decided to move to Shenjing once Lu Qingfeng''s session in Lu Corporation was confirmed. They would be living at the Lu Estate for the meantime, until they were both ready to start a family back in Qiying City.


    "My rtives would surely nitpick and find faults in you, Feifei. Don''t let them bully you."


    "Bully me?" Su Xiaofei chuckled, shaking her head amusedly to her husband, "They should make sure their maintenance medications are always in reach. I''m afraid, dear hubby, I would be the one who would do the bullying, not them."

 Chapter 562 Feng Xue’er’s Accusation (1)

    A weekter, a startling news reached Lu Qingfeng and Su Xiaofei. Cai Lin was found dead with his body floating in the shallow waters of the river separating Qiying City from Guangshang. Su Xiaofei was left speechless and Lu Qingfeng''s features hardened upon hearing it.


    "Do you think Ye Mingyu was involved?" Su Xiaofei asked once her assistant had given her and her husband the privacy to talk.


    "It''s hard to tell." Lu Qingfeng replied. "But it''s a possibility. Let''s wait and see what the investigators would say about the cause of his death."


    After all, Cai Lin had been persistently stalking Ye Mingyu over the past months and it wouldn''t be surprising if Ye Mingyu couldn''t stand him anymore and took matters into her own hands.


    Still, killing someone like this¡­ Su Xiaofei felt a cold shiver run down her spine. Was Ye Mingyu not afraid of retribution and karma?


    However, just as Lu Qingfeng said, it was still too early for them to use Ye Mingyu of something. The authorities had yet to identify the cause of Cai Lin''s death and what he was doing before his untimely demise.


    Su Xiaofei tried not to overthink it, but thest conversation she had with Ye Mingyu still bothered her to this day. How could she not when the other woman had voiced out some ufortable remarks that would leave one speechless?


    She continued her daily routine while her mind was still upied with Cai Lin''s death for the following three days until she and Xi Qian received the date for Cai Lin''s mourning and funeral.


    Since Cai Lin didn''t have any rtives or money left to his name, the people he got along with during their time at Qiying City Academy had stepped forward to chip in to pay for his funeral.


    Su Xiaofei wondered if Ye Mingyu would show up. As for Feng Xue''er, she hadn''t seen or talked to her for years, but Su Xiaofei was certain that she would pay a visit. Feng Xue''er''s name was known within the showbiz industry, but she wasn''t as popr as she was in Su Xiaofei''s previous life.


    "I''ll go with you." Lu Qingfeng said when he heard about her intention to attend Cai Lin''s funeral. "He''s my senior, after all."


    So the next day, Su Xiaofei came with her husband and was surprised to find that Song Yiran was already there. Xi Qian arrived a momentter, with Li Xiran, but her best friend refused toment on why they came together.


    Song Yiran, though, had struck a conversation with Li Xiran and Lu Qingfeng to dispel the awkward silence around them.


    "I would have never thought that Cai Lin would end up like this." Song Yiran muttered next to Lu Qingfeng. "He''s the star of QCA. How did his life turn miserable? This wasn''t what I had in mind for our ss reunion."


    Su Xiaofei knew the answer but didn''t voice it out. From the moment the graft charges against Cai Lin''s father had resurfaced, he was already doomed. For someone who had never experienced bitterness in life, Cai Lin had a hard time adjusting to his new life as amoner without a cent to his name.


    "I say it''s because of his poor choices." A familiar voice caught their attention.


    Feng Xue''er, who looked more beautiful than thest time they''d seen her, joined their table. She eyed Su Xiaofei with a nk face, then greeted Xi Qian once she was seated next to Song Yiran.


    "Did you keep in touch with him after we graduated?" Song Yiran asked her.


    Feng Xue''er shook her head. Su Xiaofei could see the hint of sadness in her eyes, although Feng Xue''er kept her expression impassive. She might have moved on from her heartbreak due to Cai Lin, but it wouldn''t change the fact that the man had once owned her heart.


    "No. I just heard that he''s been trying to make ends meet by taking up several jobs at once." She answered, pretending that she wasn''t affected by Cai Lin''s death.


    "But still, why did he need to work that hard? It''s not like he was deep in debt and owed someone a lot of money." Song Yiran frowned.


    He tried to investigate what Cai Lin had been doing over the past few years, trying to find out if his sudden death was rted to loan sharks that could be harassing him, but that wasn''t the case. The only detail Song Yiran found odd was that Cai Lin had been wiring money to random people every month. That can''t be a brother or a sister because Cai Lin had no living siblings after his one and only brother died three years ago.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Hmm¡­ it''s hard to make assumptions when we aren''t sure of what''s the truth and not." Xi Qian said. "What do you think, Feifei?"


    Su Xiaofei did not deign any reply and only shrugged. It was better for her to pretend that she knew nothing about Cai Lin stalking Ye Mingyu.


    Suddenly, Feng Xue''er''s face darkened and she stiffened next to Song Yiran. Her eyes were looking past him, as if she had just seen someone. Su Xiaofei had a bad feeling about this.


    She cursed inwardly and turned to see who had just arrived and found Ye Mingyu with a wide smile on her face, greeting their other schoolmates, as if she was here to socialize and catch up with everyone and not to attend a funeral.


    "She''s smiling like that even though this is a funeral? Is something really wrong with Ye Mingyu, or is her poprity blinding her?" Xi Qianmented, with Li Xiran sighed with disappointment next to her.


    Along with Xiao Rufeng, Ye Mingyu''s name was starting to gain a ce in the public eye with her ster portrayal as the best friend of Xiao Rufeng''s role in the TV series they starred in. The first season had be the talk of the town and many had given both actresses high praises.


    "You shouldn''t be surprised. We all know that Ye Mingyu likes to revel in praises thrown at her." Feng Xue''er said bitterly. It was obvious that she still held some resentment towards Ye Mingyu even though a long time had already passed.


    "She''s an actress, but she should have known that this isn''t the right time to entertain such praises from our schoolmates." Xi Qian couldn''t help but agree with Feng Xue''er though.


    Still, something about how Feng Xue''er reacted from the moment she saw Ye Mingyu made Su Xiaofei suspect that the other woman knew something about Cai Lin''s death.


    They took turns to give respect to Cai Lin''s remains for thest time. Su Xiaofei wasn''t nning to stay for long, but someone grabbed her wrist, stopping her from leaving the restroom.


    "Feng Xue''er?" She blinked. She could easily release herself and run away from this woman, but she wanted to know what caused Feng Xue''er to act like this.


    Feng Xue''er released Su Xiaofei''s wrist and ran to the door and locked it in a hurry. She then checked every stall in the bathroom to make sure that no one would overhear what she was about to tell Su Xiaofei. She came back and grabbed both of Su Xiaofei''s hands, looking nervous.


    "It''s Ye Mingyu. I''m sure of it. You need to be careful around her."


    Su Xiaofei frowned. "What are you talking about, Miss Feng?"


    "Cai Lin called me a week ago. He sounded like he was drunk and I didn''t take his words seriously, but he said that Ye Mingyu finally epted him." She grimaced but her eyes were now shining with tears. "He said that Ye Mingyu agreed to move in with him, but how was it possible that three dayster, he ended up dead?"


    "Miss Feng, you do know that this isn''t enough to use someone of murder." Su Xiaofei reminded her, slowly peeling off Feng Xue''er''s slender fingers from her hands.


    "You don''t believe me?" Feng Xue''er asked in disbelief.


    "It''s not that I don''t believe you, Miss Feng. But if you mentioned what you''ve told me today to the authorities, Ye Mingyu would only use this and file a defamation case against you. You don''t want that to happen, Miss Feng. Not when your brand is starting to flourish."


    Feng Xue''er somewhat calmed down upon hearing that. Indeed, her business was doing welltely and it would be bad for her if someone like Ye Mingyu dragged her into a legal battle. It would surely tarnish her reputation.


    "What should I do then?" She asked Su Xiaofei desperately, clinging on her arm. "There was nothing else that Cai Lin mentioned about but her before his death. I''m sure we would be able to find something in his possession to increminate Ye Mingyu."


    "You really believe that Ye Mingyu did it?" Su Xiaofei challenged her. "Are you sure you''re not saying these words out of jealousy?"

 Chapter 563 Feng Xue’er’s Accusations (2)

    "And why would Ye Mingyu want him dead if they were in a rtionship? It doesn''t make sense, Miss Feng." Su Xiaofei added, acting like she was oblivious about the real score between Cai Lin and Ye Mingyu.


    "Or did he know something and she needed to shut him up?" She whispered so low that Feng Xue''er wouldn''t be able to catch what Su Xiaofei had just said if she wasn''t leaning close enough to her.


    Feng Xue''er stared at Su Xiaofei like a deer caught in the headlights, looking at Su Xiaofei with confusion.


    "I¡­" She stuttered. "That''s possible." She said in the end.


    There must be a logical reason why Cai Lin was killed, Feng Xue''er thought. Despite Cai Lin betraying her and choosing Ye Mingyu over her, it had been hard for her to let go of the feelings she had for him.


    It was one thing to see him loving another woman, but to see him dead? Feng Xue''er couldn''t ept it. Feng Xue''er would rather see him alive and happy with another woman than knowing that his life had already perished.


    "Is Cai Lin still worth all the trouble, Miss Feng? After all he''s done to you?" Su Xiaofei whispered like a devil in her ear.


    "I''ll prove to you that it is Ye Mingyu who had killed him." Feng Xue''er said in defiance. "You better look out for yourself because we both know she hates you down to the core and would ruin you any chance she gets."


    "Thank you for your warning, Miss Feng. I will keep that in mind." Su Xiaofei pulled away and straightened her ck outer coat. "However, I suggest against rushing to join Cai Lin in the afterlife, if someone really murdered him."


    Feng Xue''er hardened her expression, but her eyes told Su Xiaofei that she understood the risks involved in what she was about to do. If she dared to investigate Cai Lin''s death, she might as well stir the grass and startle the snake.


    Su Xiaofei thought that it was pointless for Feng Xue''er to do it, since Cai Lin had never once taken her feelings seriously. She thought that Feng Xue''er would be better off with another man who would cherish her rather than pining over a man who was obviously not into her.


    Still, who was she to criticize Feng Xue''er when she had done the very same thing in her previous life? At least Feng Xue''er wasn''t as insane as she was, forcing to marry Cai Lin despite all odds. She hadn''t lost everything because of a man.


    Su Xiaofei allowed a bitter smile to cross her lips and left the washroom without sparing Feng Xue''er another nce. From the corner of her eye, she saw Ye Mingyu trapped in the middle of a conversation with a man, but stopped and nced at her direction with a somewhat amused look in her eyes.


    Maybe Feng Xue''er had a valid reason to suspect Ye Mingyu. Maybe she, Su Xiaofei, was overthinking things again.


    "Is everything alright?" Xi Qian appeared in front of her. Su Xiaofei hadn''t noticed her friend''s arrival.


    "En." Su Xiaofei nodded. "Just a little tired from the long day I suppose." She didn''t bother to share the conversation she had with Feng Xue''er earlier. Not when Ye Mingyu was dangerously close.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Where''s Li Xiran?" She asked, hoping to avert Xi Qian''s attention, "I didn''t know you are dating again."


    "I''m not sure about that, Feifei." Xi Qian looked elsewhere, as she couldn''t meet Su Xiaofei''s gaze.


    Su Xiaofei remained silent for a moment, before a thought dawned on her.


    "But you''re sleeping with him." She said with a straight face while Xi Qian''s face flushed at once.


    "I''m not sure if I''m ready for a rtionship yet, Feifei." Xi Qian mumbled. "And with the exams just around the corner, I can''t afford to be distracted." She reasoned out.


    "And what did Li Xiran say about this arrangement?" Su Xiaofei questioned her in disbelief. She couldn''t quite believe that Xi Qian would choose to have such a rtionship with Li Xiran. Weren''t they supposed to be madly in love with each other, just like they were in her previous life?


    "He said that he''s willing to wait¡­" Her best friend said, and Su Xiaofei could easilyplete Xi Qian''s unfinished words. ''Wait until I change my mind.''


    Li Xiran wasn''t willing to give her up just yet, or maybe he was confident that he would be able to change Xi Qian''s mind. As much as Su Xiaofei wanted the two to be together, she would rather let Xi Qian decide for herself.


    Because if there was something Su Xiaofei knew about Li Xiran in her previous life, it was that once he decided on something, he would see it through until the end, even if he failed. But Su Xiaofei knew the reason Xi Qian was hesitating and she couldn''t me her best friend for it. It was something only Xi Qian could deal with.


    "Don''t let him wait for too long, Qian. No matter how patient a person is, there''s no telling how much time we would have to be with them." Su Xiaofei said, wounding her arm around Xi Qian.


    ''Just like how much time I wasted by chasing someone who despised me when the person who could love me with all his might was right by my side all this time.''


    Xi Qian refused to answer, her face clearly showing her confusion. But it all changed when they saw Lu Qingfeng, Song Yiran and Li Xiran waiting for the two of them.


    Su Xiaofei immediately released her best friend''s arm and went to her husband, while Li Xiran stepped forward and said something to Xi Qian, which Su Xiaofei failed to catch. However, she didn''t miss how Xi Qian''s eyes softened from the moment Li Xiran reached her and talked to her.


    She believed Xi Qian and Li Xiran would be fine once her best friend realized what she wanted.

 Chapter 564 Be With You (1)

    Yan Xiuchen woke up before the sun rose in the sky. It was still dark outside, yet he was woken up by something that tickled his face, eventually finding a bunch of tousled hair on the pillow next to him.


    Right. Xiao Rufeng was now spending her nights here on his bed since the night they visited her family. There were times he wondered if this was all nothing but a dream. However,st night, when they made love for the third time, it felt too good, too real for him to doubt it anymore.


    Never in his life did he think that he would share such an intimacy with another person. Xiao Rufeng allowed him to touch her, kiss her and make love to her until she was writhing in pleasure and desire. She had weed his touch. No - more like she craved for it.


    Yan Xiuchen reached out and brushed a lock of her dark hair away from her beautiful face, watching her sleep. His heart was filled with love and gratitude for her, as well as tion he never thought was possible.


    Hearing Xiao Rufeng say she loved him sounded like a dream and a miracle wrapped as one, but hearing her cry and gasp as he made love to her was heavenly. What had he done to deserve someone like her in his life?


    He needed to do something for her. Yan Xiuchen thought. He wanted to give back the same kind of happiness Xiao Rufeng had given him.


    But then again, he couldn''t deny her anything. Even now, as she was about to leave his mansion to live with her father, Yan Xiuchen could only agree although every piece of his being wanted to keep her only to himself.


    Xiao Rufeng mumbled something in her sleep and rolled to face him, her long dark hair spreading over his ck silk pillows. He wanted to take her again. Feel her soft walls squeeze him as he buried himself deep in her. But she was sleeping so peacefully that Yan Xiuchen didn''t have the heart to disturb her in her slumber.


    Maybe he should get up and do some work instead while waiting for her to wake up. Xiao Rufeng was scheduled to leave that afternoon, but that didn''t mean they couldn''t spend more time with each other.


    They were exclusively dating, ording to Xiao Rufeng, and she had made it clear that she wasn''t willing to entertain the idea of having to share him with another woman. Yan Xiuchen found it amusing, but he didn''t say a word and only agreed with her.


    He even thought that her worries were unfounded. Yan Xiuchen had never fancied a woman before her and surely not after her. He somewhat regretted that he hadn''t waited until marriage to have her in his bed and thought that they might be going too fast with their rtionship, but Xiao Rufeng didn''t seem to mind and had proactively participated in their joint exercise.


    Yan Xiuchen sighed inwardly, thinking of how he looked like a lovesick fool who was now pining over his woman. But for some odd reason, he didn''t seem to mind it. Perhaps this was what Lu Qingfeng felt whenever Song Yiran tried to pester the younger man about his married life with Su Xiaofei.


    He shifted on the bed, forcing some space between them as he had be as hard as a rock again that morning. His need for her was apparent, judging by how stiff his erection was. It also didn''t help that Xiao Rufeng was sleeping naked right next to him on his bed. He wanted to bury himself inside her, but he wouldn''t. Not when Xiao Rufeng was unconscious and wouldn''t get the chance to decline him.


    Instead, he sat up, his back leaning against the headboard, the nket barely covering his nakedness. He ran his hands over his face and sighed. Once Xiao Rufeng left his hometer, it would be hard for him to sleep on this very same bed and not think of her.


    "It''s too early to make such a face, babe." Xiao Rufeng muttered quietly, giving him a small smile.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Yan Xiuchen slipped back under the sheets and faced her, his fingers tracing up her sides, sending tingles down her spine.


    "Hey." He said quietly. "It''s a little early. Why don''t you sleep more?"


    "Good morning to you too!" Xiao Rufeng chuckled, her voice a little hoarse. A blush spread to her cheeks when his hand rested on her thigh. "Do you have any ns today?"


    He shook his head and sat up, the sheets falling on hisp.


    "Why''d you ask?" He asked in return and watched as she followed his lead and sat up, not bothering to cover herself.


    Yan Xiuchen was forced to avert his gaze. God, she was so beautiful, and she was his.


    "It''s the weekend, and I thought that it would be nice to have you all to myself, even for just a moment."


    "I''m yours," he corrected her. "No matter what day it is, I''m yours."


    Xiao Rufeng''s lips curled up into that one beautiful smile that could make him lose his mind. He would never get tired of seeing it on her face.


    "You flirt!" She yfully pped his arm andughed. "You don''t have to say such sweet words to convince me to stay here with you."


    "But you said your father needs you right? Even though it was already proven that Xiao Yunyao is your sister, he still kicked her out of his home and hispany. He even divorced his wife for your sake."


    Yan Xiuchen was still in disbelief when they saw the report that Xiao Yunyao was really Xiao Rufeng''s sister and not a bastard of another man. They were nothing alike at all.


    "I would love to stay, Xiuchen, but it''s only a temporary arrangement, right? In the future, you have to give better excuses for me to stay with you permanently, but for now¡­" She leaned forward and kissed the corner of his lips.


    "We''ll have to make do with what we have."

 Chapter 565 Be With You (2)

    Yan Xiuchen eyed the luggage in Xiao Rufeng''s room. He hated seeing it as it reminded him that he wouldn''t be able to see her for some time. He started brooding in the corner as he watched her clean her vanity and packed the remaining of her things.


    Xiao Rufeng casted him a look through the mirror and smiled. She had never been with a man who looked at her like this. Someone who wasn''t willing to part from her and it felt nice knowing that someone truly loved her without a doubt.


    However, she needed to return to her father and help him deal with thepany somehow. Things had been very trying for her father and she couldn''t turn a blind eye to it. She''d been living in the past for far too long, and she wanted to start a new life with her father and Yan Xiuchen without her sister in it.


    "Why the long face? It''s not like you''ll never see me again." She told her boyfriend. It wasn''t like she wasn''t sad about this temporary parting between them, but Xiao Rufeng also wanted to know if the passion and feelings they had for each other would remain despite the distance.


    She was afraid that whatever she had with Yan Xiuchen, was just a fleeting feeling. That he would get tired of her or would change his mind about her and break up with her just like all her ex-boyfriends. Xiao Rufeng''s previous rtionships had never evensted three months and she knew that she was the problem.


    "I just didn''t think that you''d need to leave this soon." Yan Xiuchen muttered with a sigh. He thought that they would have a bit more time together, especially now that they had just gotten together.


    "I will be busy with filming these few days because they''re starting the production for the second season of the series."


    "Which only means that I won''t be seeing you anytime soon." Yan Xiuchen finished the words for her.


    Xiao Rufeng zipped herst luggage and went to sit on hisp, wrapping her arms lovingly around him. She noticed that Yan Xiuchen liked it when she initiated physical contact between them. Sometimes she would find him hesitating for a moment, wondering whether it was alright for him to hold her, to touch her, and she found it somewhat endearing. Yan Xiuchen would always give her the choice.


    He brushed her hair off her shoulder, leaned in and kissed her cheek lovingly. Times like this made Xiao Rufeng feel warm and loved at the same time and she wanted to preserve it.


    "I''ll call you everyday when I have time, so you don''t feel lonely when I''m not here with you." She assured him, but she knew that phone calls would never be enough. Xiao Rufeng would surely miss him.


    Xiao Rufeng needed him to be near her. She had never thought that she would be the one clinging to him this badly. To her surprise, Yan Xiuchen had never said a word ofint about her leaving, well, if she ignored his obvious disy of disappointment.


    "Hmm¡­ I heard some disturbing news from your manager though. Something about being careful around Ye Mingyu." Yan Xiuchen said.


    Xiao Rufeng pursed her lips and nodded. She thought that she was the only one who had noticed the sudden change in her fellow actress.


    "She''s changed¡­ in a creepy way somehow." She agreed with him. "Something must have happened to her."<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "A schoolmate of hers who turned out to be her stalker is also dead. I understand why Su Xiaofei would be wary of her."


    Xiao Rufeng opened her mouth, but couldn''t say anything in disbelief. Her manager didn''t mention anything about it to her. She just thought that Ye Mingyu was unusually happy and friendly these days. She had no idea something as horrible as that had happened.


    "You don''t mind me adding a few security personnel on you, do you?" Yan Xiuchen asked. He almost forgot to discuss this with Xiao Rufeng because his mind was on something else.


    She shook her head. Xiao Rufeng didn''t want anyone to think that she had been relying on someone''s help to keep her lead role on the show. She wasn''t dating a simple man after all.


    "Three is enough. I''ll just limit my encounters and meetings with Ye Mingyu." She shrugged, but Yan Xiuchen wouldn''t have it.


    He would send extra men to protect her in the shadows. Yan Xiuchen wasn''t sure what kind of person this Ye Mingyu was, but he wouldn''t take any chances, not when his woman was involved with that clearly suspicious person.


    "Alright. Just make sure not to give her any reason to seek you out. We''d rather not have any opening for Ye Mingyu to hurt you."


    "I guess you are right." She sighed.


    "I know I''m right. What do you n to do with your sister?" Yan Xiuchen asked.


    It was one thing to allow her to leave his side, but the thought of Xiao Yunyao scheming against Xiao Rufeng was something he would never allow to happen again. He would ensure that no one was able to harm his woman under his watch.


    "I don''t know. There''s nothing else I could do for her. I just hope that she won''t me me for what happened."


    "Well, she wouldn''t have time to mess with you anyway. Not when everyone is doing everything to sue her for the damage she has done to their faces."


    Xiao Rufeng didn''t need to ask to know that he was talking about the premature form that Xiao Yunyao''s team released to the market. From the looks of it, thepany pushed all the me on Xiao Yunyao and she would be facing all the legal charges personally. Their father agreed to pay for the medical expenses andpensations involved to her sister''s victims.


    "Let''s not talk about Ye Mingyu and Xiao Yunyao, shall we? I''d rather think and talk about us than them." She said, burying herself in his embrace.

 Chapter 566 Denying Herself (1)

    "This is ridiculous!" Xi Qian frowned as she looked at her reflection in the mirror.


    Shen Jiao and Su Xiaofei came barging into her apartment, pulling her out of bedte in the afternoon, telling her that they were going bar hopping that night to celebrate her getting into med school.


    Xi Qian was nning to spend the rest of her day resting to catch up with the sleep she had been deprived of for several months. Now that her hard work had finally paid off and she could finally have some peace, but she couldn''t me her friends for wanting to celebrate her achievement.


    "Come on, Xi Qian. Xiao Rufeng wille with us to introduce her new boyfriend. You can bring yours too, if you want." Shen Jiaoughed, and shoved a towel in Xi Qian''s arm before deciding to raid thetter''s closet for a decent dress.


    "What boyfriend?" Xi Qian frowned, before shooting her best friend an usatory look.


    "Don''t look at Feifei like that, Qian. I spotted you on a date the other day at a mall." Shen Jiao answered.


    "I¡­" Xi Qian found it hard to defend herself. It was impossible for her to deny that she was with Li Xiran the other day.


    It was the day of her exam and he volunteered to treat her to a meal after hours of struggling and racking her brain to answer the questions. Li Xiran had insisted on apanying her and had been patient with her. Could she really call him her boyfriend?


    They kissed, held hands, shared their body warmth with each other beneath the sheets, but something was still holding her back from epting what they truly had at this time.


    "Go now! We don''t want to keep them waiting for too long." Shen Jiao pushed her into the bathroom, forcing her to take a shower.


    An hourter, she found herself on the top floor of a five star hotel, where the finest restaurant was located. An expensive crystal chandelier was hanging from the ceiling, a long table was set in the center with several people already sitting around it. A soft music was being yed, setting an rxed ambience around them.


    The ce looked so formal that Xi Qian suddenly felt like she didn''t belong in this ce. Everyone was dressed expensively. Even Xiao Rufeng looked divine and unusually happy next to a scarred man next to her.


    "I thought this was a celebration?" Xi Qian asked. She could recognize three out of the five men seated. As for the other two, she was sure she had never encountered or crossed paths with them before. From their looks alone, she could tell that they were big shots like Li Xiran and Lu Qingfeng.


    Su Xiaofei walked towards her husband and gave her a quick peck, before eyeing Xi Qian.


    "I thought you''d like to meet some new friends tonight." She suggested.


    Li Xiran rose from his seat and offered a seat to her. Xi Qian epted it without a question and sat next to him. With Li Xiran next to her, the difort she was feeling dissipated.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    She wasn''t looking at him, so Xi Qian didn''t notice the smoldering look he had on her. But Su Xiaofei and Shen Jiao didn''t miss it, thetter hiding her smile behind her drink while Su Xiaofei pretended like she saw nothing.


    Li Xiran held Xi Qian''s hand under the table and Xi Qian tried to keep herposure. Since the other men were his friends, would this mean that their rtionship was going to be official?


    ""I¡­ I don''t know what to say¡­ but thanks foring here to celebrate with me."


    She didn''t have a family to celebrate or to share her achievements with, so having her friendse and prepare something for her today was a pleasant surprise for her.


    The night felt blurry for Xi Qian, but she truly enjoyed the night with her friends, regardless of her priorments. Li Xiran''s friends were polite and decent, with Song Yiran making the conversations among the group entertaining.


    "Where''s Ning Xuan anyway? Shouldn''t he be here by now?" He asked as he picked up his drink and eyed the rest of his brothers. He thought that for the first time in months, the six of them would beplete tonight.


    Zhu Baichuan agreed with him. They all flew to Qiying City, courtesy of Li Xiran and Su Xiaofei''s invitation, to have a decent gathering of their brotherhood. Lu Qingfeng had missed a lot of their meetings previously and they needed him to be present.


    "His meeting must have kept him." His eyes thennded on Xi Qian. "So where did you and Li Xiran meet? I finally understand why he isn''t willing to move to Shenjing despite the need to stay longer there."


    "We met under unfavorable circumstances, I''m afraid." Xi Qian replied. "But everything is fine now. I used to be his father''s personal nurse."


    She left out the fact that she lived under the same roof with him and the rest of his family for a few months before they became an item.


    At her suggestive nce, Li Xiran took the liberty to fill up the details, but omitting some personal details between them. She trusted that Li Xiran hadn''t shared any intimate details with them.


    "I suppose it''s fate that brought you together then, Li Xiran seems happy enough."


    Xi Qian took a sip from her drink, but didn''t respond. She was beginning to understand that she was treating Li Xiran unfairly. She realized now how she was making thingsplicated between them, when it''s clear to her what Li Xiran felt towards her.


    "Don''t worry. Whenever Li Xiran was in Shenjing, he didn''t see another woman." Song Yiran winked at her suggestively, and she had this urge to give her schoolmate a good smack on his head. It was obvious that this man hadn''t changed, not one bit.

 Chapter 567 Yours Alone (1)

    Why would she worry about Li Xiran meeting another woman? Xi Qian thought. They weren''t in an exclusive rtionship and she wouldn''t stop him from seeing others. However, a bitter feeling settled in her stomach as she imagined Li Xiran with someone else. Did she somewhat grow some feelings for him?


    "Are you alright? I can send you home now, if you''re tired." Xi Qian heard Li Xiran say next to her. She shook her head in response.


    "No. Let''s stay a little longer, shall we? It''s not everyday that you get to meet up with your friends like this, right?" She replied.


    Su Xiaofei said that some of theirpanions had flown in from Shenjing just to meet them. From the looks of it, it was obvious that Li Xiran had been enjoying the conversation he was having with his friends. She had never seen him as easy going andfortable as this. It would be too selfish of her to deny him this moment with his brothers.


    "Alright¡­" Li Xiran didn''t question her any longer and Xi Qian took the chance to drag her best friend away for a private conversation.


    "Hey. What''s the matter?" Su Xiaofei said as she took a seat on the rooftop poolside bench of the hotel they were in.


    "I dunno," Xi Qian admitted. "I also want to know what''s going on with me." She added, before downing her drink in one go.


    She was somewhat frustrated. Xi Qian was starting to feel annoyed with herself. She knew she felt something for Li Xiran, that''s for sure, but she wasn''t certain how deep and serious it was.


    "You know, Qian. You can tell me whatever it is that''s bothering you." Su Xiaofei said, eyeing her patiently.


    "I''m not sure myself." Xi Qian admitted. At least she only had one problem to worry about, now that the examinations were over. How could she exin what was wrong when she couldn''t exin it herself?


    "Is this something about you and Li Xiran?" Su Xiaofei continued to ask her and Xi Qian wasn''t surprised by the spot on guess because her best friend knew her better than her own family ever did.


    She remained silent. The night breeze somewhat gave her thefort she needed. Perhaps she already knew the answer, but she was still in denial.


    "I love him." She finally said, almost a whisper. "But I''m afraid, Feifei. I''m afraid that I wouldn''t be able to keep up with what we have and he would give up on me like my ex-boyfriend did."


    "It''s not your fault, Qian, but it''s unfair to keep Li Xiran waiting like this if you couldn''t be 100% sure that you want to be with him."


    "I gave him a choice." Xi Qian insisted.


    "And he agreed to stay?" Her best friend asked in disbelief. Su Xiaofei was surprised that Li Xiran was tolerating Xi Qian to this extent. "Did he say the L word?"


    Xi Qian hummed. "But I didn''t say it in return. He never said it again after that one time."


    "Maybe that''s because he doesn''t want to get disappointed." Su Xiaofei shrugged. "Being rejected hurts like a bitch after all."


    "But I didn''t reject him!" Xi Qian eximed, but she knew what Su Xiaofei meant with those words.


    "I just¡­" She tried to find the right words to exin herself. "He caught me off guard when he said it. I didn''t expect him to say those words in the middle of our¡­"


    Her cheeks burned red and she tried to hide it from Su Xiaofei, who had already seen it. Her best friend chuckled and said no more, giving Xi Qian enough time to calm down.


    "There''s nothing wrong with doubting things, Qian. It only means you care about those feelings of yours and you care about Li Xiran." Su Xiaofei said after a long silence between them. "I just wish that you wouldn''t cage yourself in your past anymore, since you''ve already learned the lesson it was supposed to teach you."


    Xi Qian supposed that her best friend was right. "So do you think I''m ready?"


    "Only you can answer that question."


    When the party ended, she and Li Xiran left and she was starting to regret drinking too much. Her head was swimming from all the wine she drank tonight and she''d eaten very little earlier due to her nerves.


    The talk she had with Su Xiaofei helped ease her somehow. It was clear now that she was in love with Li Xiran too. It was bananas to know that she had been denying what she truly wanted.


    ''Li Xiran isn''t the type of a man who would pluck a girl out of nowhere and turn her into a woman he wants by his side.''


    In all honesty, Li Xiran was the type of man she wanted. There were times that she couldn''t believe that someone like him wanted to be with her, despite her hesitation.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Big, warm hands cupped her shoulders and she smelled Li Xiran''s familiar scent. He then rubbed her arms as if trying to warm her up.


    "You okay? It didn''t seem like you enjoyed the party." He said.


    "I did." Xi Qian said in defense. She stepped back and allowed Li Xiran to hold her. "I''m happy and lucky to meet new friends. Your new friends. Howe you never mentioned them before?"


    Li Xiran shrugged and watched as the numbers indicating the floors in their elevator descended.


    "I didn''t know you would be interested to know more about me¡­ I thought mypany is enough for you." He said, but there''s something with the way he smiled that didn''t sit well with Xi Qian.


    Xi Qian faced him and looked straight into his eyes.


    "I do want to know you better." She said. "You''re not just a fling."


    Li Xiran smiled at that. A genuine one this time and Xi Qian couldn''t help but think that she liked it better.


    "I''m not?" He gave her a boyish grin, as if he was pleased with her answer.


    "So¡­ are we together now?" He continued, giving her a guarded look, just like the one he had given her when she didn''t tell him she loved him back.


    "I thought it''s already given." Xi Qian gave him a pointed look. What was the point of denying herself of what she truly wanted anyway?


    It took Li Xiran a moment to understand what she was saying, as if he didn''t expect her to answer him here, at this time, of all ces. Xi Qian would usually avoid having this conversation with him, but that didn''t mean that he wasn''t concerned about what she thought of what they had.


    A part of him died when Xi Qian never returned the words he identally spouted that night. He should have never said it in the midst of their passion.


    "I¡­" His mind went ck and couldn''t say anything in return.


    "Let''s go home now. I''d love to have a personal party with you." She winked at him suggestively.


    The manughed at that and Xi Qian shivered at the intensity of the gaze he was giving her. Xi Qian never felt as wanted as this by a man before. It was like he couldn''t wait to possess her, to im her, mark her as his.


    "You''re quite lovely in that dress, Xi Qian, but I cannot wait to see you out of it." He whispered to her ear before iming her lips in a sweet smile.


    "Are you trying to romance me? Coz I think it''s working." Xi Qian ran her hands over thepel of his coat and kissed his cheek.


    "Is it? It''s good then. I would like to take you home, but your ce is nearer and mine''s not ready yet."


    Li Xiran peeled himself from her and drove his car to the apartment where Xi Qian was staying, but he couldn''t stop Xi Qian from teasing him, touching him, and it was a real challenge for him to pull the car to a stop and have her here and now. He groaned as her hand pulled his shirt open and touched him.


    "Xi Qian, as soon as we get you home, I''m making you mine again."


    The journey suddenly felt like it was taking forever. He steeled himself not to react to her touch but it was hard to ignore her when Xi Qian was looking at him like this.


    "Come on then, Li Xiran. Chop chop and drive faster, but make sure not to step on the wrong one." Xi Qian replied, her dress was now ridden up high, allowing Li Xiran to get a glimpse of her smooth legs that drove him crazy.


    "Or maybe I don''t want to wait until I get home. I want you now." She added suggestively.


    Her hand slid between them and rubbed the growing erection tenting his pants.


    "A little more, dear. Just give me five minutes and we will be there." Li Xiran tried to convince her, but his body was clearly betraying him.

 Chapter 568 Yours Alone (2)

    She didn''t expect to be woken up the next day by a phone call. Xi Qian groaned and rolled to her side, blindly searching for her phone. But instead, her hand touched something warm and hard at the same time. As she raised her head to see what it was, she realized that Li Xiran had chosen to spend the night with her and hadn''t left yet.


    "Who''s calling you this early in the morning?" He grunted, before passing her phone to her hand. He then covered his eyes with one arm in an attempt to get more sleep, though it was obvious that neither he nor Xi Qian could go back to their slumber at this rate.


    Xi Qian answered the phone and pressed it between her shoulder and ear to listen. She then grabbed Li Xiran''s discarded shirt and slipped out of the bedroom barefooted, quietly. It seemed to her that everyone was on a quest to ruin her ns of taking a short break.


    Ten minutester, she came back to the bedroom and slipped back under the sheets next to Li Xiran. Xi Qian wasn''t nning on attending the ss reunion with her college ssmates. She knew what would inevitably happen.


    Well, more like whom she would definitely stumble into if she attended. Still, she refused to say that she avoided the encounter with that man because she still hadn''t gotten over him. To her, Wei Zhijuan was currently nothing but a person in her past.


    "Who was that?" Li Xiran said. He sounded neutral, with a hint of curiosity.


    Xi Qian sighed and looked at the nk ceiling of her bedroom, aware that his warm hands were trailing her sides.


    "My ssmate back in Uni," she replied. "Said there''s a ss reunion next week."


    "But you don''t want to go?" When she said nothing, he continued. "Qian, what''s wrong? You can talk to me."


    The softness of his voice tempted Xi Qian to confide in him, but she couldn''t. She knew it wasn''t easy to fully rely on him when she had built solid walls around her to protect herself from another heartbreak.


    "It''s nothing, really. I just know what to expect at this kind of reunion. Bragging here and there, nothing more." She sighed.


    It had always been like that, and she didn''t doubt that some would use it as an opportunity to gain leverage from their batch mates.


    "Or you can just meet friends and catch up with them?" Li Xiran suggested. "You''ve been working hard and deserve to have some fun, don''t you think? Don''t overthink it, Qian."


    Xi Qian remained silent, but she knew that Li Xiran was right. She must be overthinking things, and it was clouding her judgment. She had been worried about how people would think of her and she started losing sight of what was important to her.


    "Perhaps, you are right."


    "You know I''m right." He said with a smile.


    Later that week, Xi Qian found herself next to Li Xiran in his expensive Porsche convertible. The sun warmed her skin, but it did very little to soothe her churning stomach. She couldn''t understand why she was even nervous. This was the first time she was attending a social event with Li Xiran, clearly establishing their rtionship with each other.


    Buildings and cars blurred into an endless stretch of ck and white as the car sped along the highway. The university where Xi Qian finished her nursing degree was a private one and she expected the event to be a morous one.


    Once they arrived, Li Xiran helped her alight from the passenger seat and Xi Qian smoothed a hand over her hair and white dress. She couldn''t afford to humiliate Li Xiran in any way, now that she had chosen to be with him.


    "What are you thinking?" Li Xiran said, noticing the slight frown on her face.


    "Nothing."


    He nced over at her, taking a moment to take in her appearance.


    "We don''t have to go in if you don''t want to, you know. I can bring you somewhere else." He suggested.


    His dark midnight hair was tousled as if he''d just gotten out of the bed. It made him look absurdly endearing in Xi Qian''s eyes, making her smile.


    "No, I can''t do that. I''ve already confirmed our attendance today."


    "Ah, and here I thought you could help me buy a new mattress for my bed. I have no idea that moving out and decorating your own home could be time consuming." Li Xiran sighed.


    Xi Qian shook her head andughed, the knot in her stomach slowly loosening with the help of Li Xiran. He always knew the right words to say to make her rx.


    "You know, when I first met you, I thought that you were a control freak, especially with the way you talked to your brother." She admitted as they walked towards the designated venue of the party.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Is that so? And here I thought I managed to charm you the moment you saw me."


    Li Xiran shrugged and smiled. Ever since their small talk at the beach resort he had never tried to hide that he was interested in her. Although Xi Qian resisted his charms at first, trying to convince that what she felt was purely tonic, Li Xiran continued to pursue her.


    "It''s still not toote to ditch everyone." He said with a mischievous grin.


    Her lips twitched. She tried not to focus on the way his shoulders and hips moved under his perfectly fitted clothes. Xi Qian had a devilishly handsome man with her, and somehow she felt like she didn''t belong in this ce.


    "You don''t have to go inside with me, if you don''t want to." She took his hand and dragged him. "Come on, we''rete. Let''s go."


    When they arrived, Xi Qian stered a perfect smile, a mask that she put on that would never waver in public.


    "Xi Qian, I thought you wouldn''te. You didn''tst time."


    Xi Qian tried her best not to roll her eyes. While she was acquainted and on good terms with everyone, she wasn''t particrly fond of this woman, Fu Yan. She was always trying to find something to criticize her about, no matter how trivial it was. She was beautiful, there was no doubt about that. But Fu Yan disliked being overshadowed by anyone.


    Fu Yan then shamelessly eyed Li Xiran, her eyes instantly lighting up.


    "And this is?" She asked, but she didn''t wait for Xi Qian to answer as she had already stretched a hand towards Li Xiran.


    "Hi, I''m Fu Yan, Xi Qian''s friend."


    Instead of taking her hand for a shake, Li Xiran ced a hand on Xi Qian''s hip and pulled her closer to him.


    "Hello. It''s nice to know that Xi Qian has more friends than I thought she has. She has never mentioned your name though. I''m Li Xiran, Xi Qian''s boyfriend."


    Fu Yan opened her mouth to say something, but Li Xiran didn''t give her a chance to respond as he led Xi Qian away.


    "You just arrived and you are already breaking the hearts of other women?" Xi Qian chuckled.


    "I just don''t like how she looks down on you." Li Xiran frowned. "Don''t tell me most of your ssmates treat you like that. No wonder you hesitated toe today."


    Xi Qian shrugged. "Not all, but some can be tiring to talk to."


    She no longer tormented herself on why some people, like Fu Yan, would treat her like this. Xi Qian just treated it as one of the indignities of life. She gave him a tight smile, telling Li Xiran that there was more to it.


    They stepped into the ivory marble foyer, seeing the gold trimmed chairs neatly arranged along the walls while a long table was set in the center, separating the room into two. Foods were already served, drinks came as everyoneughed and upied themselves with endless talks Xi Qian couldn''t rte to.


    As she and Li Xiran chose to move to the part of the room that was less crowded, they stumbled into someone for the second time.


    "Xi Qian?" The man looked at her in surprise.


    Xi Qian kept herposure and smiled. "Mr. Wei."


    Then she nced at the very pregnant woman next to him. Wei Zhijuan put a hand on his wife''s back. The very same woman he married not long after his breakup with Xi Qian. She was wearing an expensive looking ring, her hand rested on her stomach.


    "Congrattions! I didn''t know you''re already expecting."


    No, actually, Xi Qian already heard the news three months ago, but she pretended to be oblivious to it. She couldn''t believe he would bring his wife here today. Was he nning to torment her by showcasing how happy he was with his wife now?


    His wife looked at Xi Qian with an uncertain smile, then at Wei Zhijuan, then back at Xi Qian.

 Chapter 569 Yours Alone (3)

    It was weird for Xi Qian. She thought that seeing her ex-boyfriend with his very pregnant wife would hurt her, but she felt nothing of the sort. With Li Xiran standing next to her, holding her close, Xi Qian couldn''t feel any disappointment or pain at that moment. She was expecting jealousy to eat her up by now, but it wasn''t the case.


    She had avoided attending any social events where there''s a possibility that he would show up with his wife. But here they were, unavoidably in front of her. Xi Qian didn''t feel anything except relief that things hadn''t worked out between her and Wei Zhijuan, because she would never be able to meet Li Xiran and get together with him if it did.


    Why did she even fear seeing them together? She couldn''t even remember what made her attracted to Wei Zhijuan in the first ce.


    They made a handsome couple and Xi Qian couldn''t deny that his wife was a stunning woman. So different from what she heard from their mutual friends. Wei Zhijuan had a glint in his eyes that told her that he was happy with his current life.


    "Thank you. This is a lovely party and it''s nice to meet Zhijuan''s old friends. He''s quite a loner, you see. He didn''t even invite any of his friends to our wedding." His wife said with a smile. She was glowing, despite the awkward atmosphere between them.


    Xi Qian convinced herself that this woman was innocent, and she shouldn''t put the me on Wei Zhijuan''s wife.


    "I feel the same, Madam. I only know a couple of friends of Xi Qian''s. I''m really d she agreed to bring me as her plus one tonight." Li Xiran said, reminding Xi Qian that he was there with her.


    Xi Qian settled on slipping an arm around him, portraying themselves as a couple madly in love with each other. She sensed Wei Zhijuan''s suspicious look but pretended like she didn''t even notice it.


    "Sweetheart, care to introduce us? Are they your ssmates, too?" Li Xiran questioned her.


    "This is my senior, Wei Zhijuan and his wife. He used to help me a lot during my intern years." Xi Qian cleared her throat and introduced him to the other couple. "This is Li Xiran, my boyfriend."


    Wei Zhijuan''s wife gasped, her eyes widened a bit.


    "You are Li Xiran? I thought you looked familiar. So you are really him."


    "You know him, dear?" Wei Zhijuan asked his wife.


    She shrugged. "Not really. I just saw his name and face over the news. He''s a business tycoon."


    Wei Zhijuan looked at Xi Qian suspiciously.


    "I didn''t think that you are into businessmen now." He told her, which made Xi Qian arch a slender brow at him. Who was he to question her like this?


    "Xiran''s more than just a businessman. He''s my partner in all aspects."


    She then drew him away from the couple. She didn''t know what to think about Wei Zhijuan''s behavior, but she refused to entertain any of it. Her hand stayed in the crook of Li Xiran''s arm as they headed to the doors that lead to the leisure room where guests could take a break.


    "Your ex-boyfriend?" Li Xiran asked, once they were seated.


    Xi Qian stared at him, trying to see if he was jealous or angry in any way, but he seemed calm. Wei Zhijuan used to be upset when he found her spending too much time with another man and he would argue with her for hours because of how improper it was.


    "He is. We dated for three years and broke up a few months ago. Aren''t you upset?" Xi Qian knew she shouldn''t pursue the subject, but she couldn''t stop herself.


    "Why would I be upset? He''s nothing to you now, isn''t he?" Li Xiran eyed her.


    Xi Qian blinked twice before leaning close to him, running a hand discreetly on his legs beneath the table. She was somewhat emboldened to know that this man trusted herpletely. He had put her first and had stayed with her, no matter how hard it had been for him.


    "And here I thought I might need to convince you that he''s nothing but an ex. That you and I are on a different ne. Permanent, if you''ll allow it. " Her voice sounded sultry and enticing at the same time.


    "Hmm¡­ can I change my answer then?" Li Xiran smiled at her, cupping the side of her face, leaning to kiss her cheek. It was so sweet, Xi Qian was stunned by it.


    "He''s married now anyway, so finders keepers."<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    But Xi Qian remained silent. She looked at him as if she couldn''t believe what he was saying.


    "Is something wrong?" Li Xiran asked, when he noticed the sudden change in her mood. He shot her an unreadable look. "If you aren''t feeling well, we can leave now."


    It must be because of meeting that douchebag earlier. If he had known that this was the reason why Xi Qian was hesitating toe today, he wouldn''t have persuaded her.


    "Oh no. There''s no need for that. Are you getting bored here? I really can''t deal with anyone right now."


    Li Xiran stared at her face lovingly.


    "Then let''s go somewhere else where we both can enjoy the night." He smiled at her and took her hand.


    Xi Qianughed and ignored her ssmates who cast them a look of confusion. She allowed Li Xiran to take her away and drive her somewhere else with a n in mind. They ended up on top of the mountain road, leading to another district in Guangshang.


    Li Xiran parked his car and lowered the windows, allowing Xi Qian to see the bright lightsing from the city.


    "It''s pretty here. How did you know there''s a spot where we could oversee the city here?" She asked, feeling overwhelmed by the scenery.


    "I thought you might want to stargaze with me, but it''s really impossible to see them in the city at night. So this is the closest thing I could think of." He shrugged. "I used toe here when I was younger. It gives me the break I need from everyone. No schoolwork, no nagging father, no annoying little brother to eat my ears out. What about you? What do you do when you want a little time to yourself?" Li Xiran asked in return.


    Xi Qian pondered for a moment, trying to remember her younger years with Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng


    "Did you know that Lu Qingfeng and I didn''t get along well when we were younger?"


    "Really?" Li Xiran shot his brows up. "Mr. Lu thinks highly of you. I have never heard him utter one word against you when he talked about you."


    If it was in the past, Xi Qian would have scoffed and brushed off his ims, but now, she somewhat believed him.


    "Is that so? It''s good then. I wouldn''t want someone to be with Feifei and not ept me as part of their lives." She shrugged. "We used to be breathing down each others'' neck. I knew that he liked Feifei, and used it against him."


    "He must be annoyed then. Keeping him from his crush." Her boyfriend chuckled amusedly. Li Xiran had never heard her speak about her childhood years or herself during the weeks they had been together. He was d that she was finally opening up to him and not keeping him at arm''s length.


    "Damn, you are right. Feifei was oblivious about it, but he would try to get her attention any chance he could. Being close to her didn''t stop him from trying to pursue her."


    "So when did your cold war with him finally end?" He asked, liking how her eyes lit up when she talked about her friends.


    Xi Qian didn''t answer promptly. She paused a little to try and recall the past.


    "It was a little after my eighteenth birthday."


    As much as she wanted to forget what could have happened that day to her if Su Xiaofei hadn''t saved her, Xi Qian knew that her life changed for the better since that day. Her best friend finally snapped out of her obsession for Mo Yuchen and the little tyrant had be more tolerable, which Xi Qian didn''t fail to notice.


    It was hard for her to exin what caused the change in her two friends, but if it wasn''t for their influence, Xi Qian didn''t think she would be able topletely cut off her ties with her father and his family and try to live the life she always wanted.


    "It''s not nice to be the third wheel though." Sheughed and unlocked the door of the passenger seat to get a good look at the scenery.


    Li Xiran followed her shortly and stood next to her, leaning against his car.


    "Seeing them fall in love with each other made me realize how lonely I was." Xi Qian continued, her voice a little sadder this time.

 Chapter 570 A Twisted Fate (1)

    "Feifei, don''t you think that two burgers should be enough?" Lu Qingfeng eyed his wife suspiciously, noticing the sudden burst of appetite he didn''t know she had. He had to put away his untouched meal, hoping that Su Xiaofei wouldn''t overeat tonight.


    Su Xiaofei always watched what she ate and was careful not to indulge in too many sweets after every meal. However, since the week started, she had been sending the Zhang sisters to get various types of foods she''d been craving for and tonight, she was able to convince Lu Qingfeng to drop by a fast food chain to get some snacks on their way home.


    "But didn''t you say I can order whatever I want?" She said defensively, making Lu Qingfeng regret the offer.


    "What''s going on, Feifei? Did you skip lunch again?" He eyed her suspiciously. Even with Zhang Ling''s help, it was hard for Lu Qingfeng to make sure that his wife was having her meals on time. He would rather not have her starving herself again.


    "Huh? No. Of course not." She mumbled, which only meant that Lu Qingfeng got it right.


    "I kinda dozed off earlier and missed some of my appointments." She admitted. Thankfully, those appointments could be rescheduled forter.


    Lu Qingfeng cleared his throat and looked outside the window, seeing the other cars disappear from his view as Nine drove them home. He had an inkling of what was going on with his wife, and he counted the days since thest time they made love to each other.


    It was after Xi Qian''s celebration party, and it had been over a month since then.


    ''But we used protection, didn''t we?''


    The memory of that night was blurry for Lu Qingfeng, but he did remember returning home and being jumped by the equally drunk Su Xiaofei. He woke up the next day, finding a used condom on the floor with his wife already in the bathroom, starting her day before him. If that was the case, there was no way he knocked her up, right?


    "Where did you and Xi Qian go the other day, by the way? Zhang Ling said you also canceled all your appointments and asked her to reschedule them. Did something happen?" He asked, forcing his way in through another subject. It wasn''t like he didn''t trust Su Xiaofei, but he didn''t want to be left in the dark for too long if there''s another problem he could help her with.


    "Oh, that''s my annual check up. Xi Qian usually scheduled it for me ever since you moved to Shenjing years ago. I almost missed it if it was not for her reminder." Su Xiaofei gave him an awkward smile, which only told Lu Qingfeng that she wasn''t being totally honest with him.


    "Everything alright?" He continued to probe. He had a nagging feeling that there was more to it than she had let on.


    "Uh-huh, nothing''s wrong. You''ll be the first to know if I''m sick or anything."


    Lu Qingfeng swore that she was hiding something, but he didn''t have the guts to call her out for it. It was either she wasn''t ready to tell him about whatever it was, or she was trying to buy time to figure out the problem herself. He just hoped that there was nothing wrong with her body. He wasn''t looking forward to spending another day at the hospital after dealing with his mother-inw''s illness.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Also, since Qian will start attending med school soon, I decided to catch up with her." Su Xiaofei added, as if she was trying to convince herself that there was nothing wrong.


    Suddenly, she started to feel nauseous and dizzy at the same time. She held her husband''s arm tightly, her face draining its colors as she yelled at Nine.


    "Stop the car! Please, stop the car! Stop the car right now!"


    It was a miracle that Nine was able to remain calm as he veered to the side of the road and pulled the car to a stop, given how sudden Su Xiaofei had shouted her orders.


    Su Xiaofei opened the door next to her and threw up the contents of her stomach on the pavement, her eyes losing focus around her as Lu Qingfeng pulled her back and handed her a box of tissues.


    "Feifei! What''s going on? Are you sick?" He started to panic, not knowing what was wrong with his wife.


    "We should get you to the hospital." He decided. Since Su Xiaofei wouldn''t tell him anything, he would ask the experts instead.


    Su Xiaofei shook her head and groaned next to him.


    "It''s nothing, A-Feng. It must be the sushi we had earlier. Didn''t Zhang Ling tell you I also threw up an hour after I had it? I''m fine now... I just want to go home and take a bath." She scrunched her nose in disgust.


    "I want to take a long soak in the tub." She paused and grinned at him. "With you, if you don''t mind joining me." She added, almost a whisper.


    He shook his head, but worry was still etched on his face. He wanted to convince himself that everything was fine for the time being. Chen Hao and Ye Mingyu had a fall-out recently and were now at each other''s throats for some reason. If Su Xiaofei was hurt in any way, surely the Zhang siblings wouldn''t hide it from him.


    "I see. Let''s go home then." He then nodded to Nine to tell him that everything''s settled for now. His heart ached to see his wife trying to keep everything to herself. He wished that she would rely on him more.


    Weren''t they husband and wife? Partners in all aspects? As long as Lu Qingfeng could do it, he would do it without a question for her sake.


    The memory of him holding her dead body shed in his mind, and it sent chills down his spine. No. Anything but that.

 Chapter 571 A Twisted Fate (2)

    The next day¡­


    It was another weekend and because of that, Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng didn''t need to leave home for work. Ever since Yun Qingrong had moved back into her father''s residence to take care of the old general, their home felt a little too quiet for Lu Qingfeng''s liking.


    Yun Qingrong had already transferred this property, along with her other assets under Su Xiaofei''s name and there was nothing else Su Haoran could do about it. No matter how much he tried to appeal and im his non-existent rights on them, they were now legally his wife''s.


    Lu Qingfeng was reading a document in his hands while his wife remained sleeping on their marital bed. Su Xiaofei hadn''t thrown up sincest night, but the slight paleness on herplexion was starting to worry him.


    His thoughts were pulled back to reality when his phone rang. He raised a brow when he saw Xi Qian''s name on the screen and gave his wife a quick nce. Xi Qian rarely called or texted him unless it''s something urgent or important.


    He silently slipped out of the room and went to the study across their bedroom and answered the phone.


    "Ms. Xi? Something I can help you with?" Lu Qingfeng asked.


    "I''m not the one who needs help, Lu Qingfeng. It''s Feifei." He heard his wife''s best friend say from the other end of the line.


    It felt like someone punched Lu Qingfeng in the guts as rm bells rang in his mind.


    "What kind of help?" He asked, trying to keep himself calm, but it was hard, especially if the problem involved his wife.


    Lu Qingfeng heard Xi Qian mutter a low curse before answering him.


    "She hadn''t told you anything?"


    "Nothing so far. I asked herst night about where you two went, but she said it was for her annual check up. Is that true?"


    "Yes. I can vouch for that." Xi Qian said, but it wasn''t enough to calm Lu Qingfeng at all. It only meant that Su Xiaofei wasn''t lying to him on that part.


    "And the result?" He asked. There was no reason for his wife to act weird if the results were nothing to worry about.


    "Not good, Lu Qingfeng. Actually, she''s¡­" Xi Qian took a deep breath. "Feifei is pregnant." She added, almost a whisper in Lu Qingfeng''s ear.


    Lu Qingfeng fell on his seat and froze in disbelief. He couldn''t believe what Xi Qian just said.


    His wife was pregnant? This was good news! The thought of a little humaning into this world through Su Xiaofei''s body, with his blood flowing through its veins made Lu Qingfeng feel beyond happy.


    He was about to be a father. To have a child with his wife! Lu Qingfeng thought that he couldn''t be any happier after Su Xiaofei epted him and married him.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    But why did Xi Qian say that it wasn''t good? Was there something wrong with their child? They should be celebrating right now, but why did Su Xiaofei and Xi Qian act like they were in a bad situation instead?


    "You don''t seem happy with the news, Miss Xi. Tell me what''s happening to my family." Lu Qingfeng pointed out.


    Was Su Xiaofei upset with him for knocking her up? After all, she did say that she wasn''t ready to start a family with him.


    What was Lu Qingfeng supposed to do now?


    Xi Qian sighed, and he could hear her prancing around, as if she was trying to find the right words to exin it.


    "Feifei called me because she was experiencing heavy and painful bleeding four days ago. It was normal for her to endure some cramps during her period, but she told me this time was different. That''s when I picked her up at Bluemedia and brought her to the hospital. Indeed, she was also scheduled for an annual check up, but that was supposed to be next week.


    "I asked someone at the hospital if we could do it ahead of schedule, and they agreed. That''s when we found out she''s pregnant and could possibly lose the child. She was given meds to keep the embryo intact in her uterus, and I asked Feifei to discuss this with you, but I suppose she didn''t."


    "And you didn''t bother to call and inform me?" Lu Qingfeng couldn''t believe what he was hearing. So he was right all the time, but he was more furious with himself.


    He had noticed how Su Xiaofei would curl on their bed in pain, breaking into a cold sweat and was left immobile by it recently. She imed that it was normal, that she only needed to take some pain relievers. Now that he thought about it, he wondered if those medicines affected their unborn child.


    "It''s not that simple, Lu Qingfeng! I would have told you right then and there, but Feifei doesn''t want to tell you yet. I''m not sure what''s wrong with her, too, alright? She stayed at the hospital for the whole day, then asked me to apany her to see Brother Han. You remember him, right?"


    Of course Lu Qingfeng did, but if Su Xiaofei sought to find Han Zijun, it only meant that she had an idea of what was happening to her. Fear gripped Lu Qingfeng''s heart when he realized what it could be.


    The cold poison.


    The very same thing that killed Su Xiaofei in their previous life. How could it possibly still harm her in this lifetime, when she and Ye Mingyu barely crossed each other''s paths this time? Howdid Su Xiaofei still end up poisoned?


    "And what did Brother Han say about it?" He asked, hoping for the best.


    Xi Qian hesitated, which only put Lu Qingfeng on edge.


    "Xi Qian, please tell me¡­ I can''t lose Feifei¡­ nor the child." He asked in despair.


    "Brother Han said that Feifei should abort this pregnancy, or the cold poison would kill them both."

 Chapter 572 A Twisted Fate (3)

    When Su Xiaofei woke up, it was already past noon and her husband was nowhere to be seen. Not that she found it unusual, since she had no doubt Lu Qingfeng was working again. She went to the washroom and freshened up, then nced at her reflection in the mirror.


    She had never thought she would find herself in the same situation again. Not only did she find herself pregnant, but she was also poisoned by the same one that killed her in her past life. Su Xiaofei found it unfair, thinking how twisted her fate was.


    Four days ago, she woke up with a really bad cramp and realized that she was bleeding. She checked the calendar and saw that she was two weeks dyed from her expected monthly period. Su Xiaofei didn''t think much about it since there were times that she would miss her period entirely or it woulde a littleter than usual.


    However, as her day progressed, the pain started to be more intense. This was far from the menstrual cramps she usually had and she considered the possibility of her being pregnant.


    Was this the price for trying to change the course of her life, avoiding the misdeeds she had done in her previous life? Was this some kind of punishment for being selfish, for loving Lu Qingfeng with all that she had, that she had to lose her child again in order for her to survive?


    No. This can''t be. She refused to experience that empty, hollow feeling inside her ever again. Su Xiaofei didn''t know how she managed to leave the hospital with a sane mind days ago. It killed her to know that the little life she created with Lu Qingfeng would need to die for her sake.


    ''No! This can''t be happening to me again!'' She screamed in her mind.


    She was so afraid, and she didn''t know how to break the news to her husband. Su Xiaofei assumed that Lu Qingfeng would agree with Han Zijun''s suggestion to terminate the pregnancy so she could get treated by him. But how could Su Xiaofei allow that to happen? She would rather die than to let her child be taken away from her for the second time.


    ''Is it because I''ve done too many bad things in my life that the heavens decided to treat me this way?''


    Su Xiaofei allowed herself to cry this time. She didn''t cry often, even during her toughest times. It was truly rare for her to break down like this. But finding out that she had to lose her child again made her cry painfully. It seemed that no matter how she lived her life in this lifetime, she was still destined to be killed by Ye Mingyu.


    Once she calmed down, she washed her face for the second time and decided to find her husband. She went to the study and didn''t find him there, which she found weird. Was Lu Qingfeng not home? She wondered.


    She went back to their room and checked her phone for any messages he might have sent, but there was none. Where could her husband possibly be at this time?


    "Do you know where A-Feng has gone?" She asked Zhang Ling when she found her assistant, lounging in the living area and conversing with her elder sister, Zhang Lan.


    "I''m afraid not, Madam." Zhang Lan answered instead of her sister. "He went out in a hurry an hour ago. Should I give Mr. Nine a call to ask their whereabouts?"<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Su Xiaofei shook her head, ignoring the confused look on the Zhang siblings'' faces.


    "No, there''s no need for that." She replied. It was rare for her assistants to have a break like this and she''d rather not ruin their day.


    Instead, she went to the kitchen and requested ate lunch. With her mother gone and her husband not around, Su Xiaofei realized that she didn''t like being alone. It''s been a very long time since she felt this kind of loneliness and uncertainty.


    After her meal, she decided to finish some work while waiting for her husband''s return. It must have been something really urgent if Lu Qingfeng had to leave in a hurry and not notify her of his whereabouts.


    ''It''s not like you are beingpletely honest with him too.'' She reminded herself.


    She unconsciously rubbed her t stomach, the thought of hurting her husband and losing her child was tearing her apart.


    But how was she supposed to share the news with her husband if she knew that it would break him? Lu Qingfeng had experienced enough trauma in his life and she didn''t want to hurt him more.


    Night came, but Lu Qingfeng has yet to return home. Su Xiaofei ate her dinner alone, but she didn''t have any appetite to finish it. She gave Xi Qian a call, but she couldn''t reach her best friend either. Was there something she was missing? Even Lu Qingfeng wasn''t picking up her phone call.


    She retired for the night, hoping that her husband would be home soon, especially now that she was dealing with something so serious. Su Xiaofei knew she needed to inform her husband eventually and they needed to make a choice very soon.


    Su Xiaofei wept silently on their bed until she fell asleep, with herst thoughts on how unfair the fates were to her and Lu Qingfeng.


    An hourter, the door of their bedroom opened, revealing her drunk husband, looking disheveled and uneasy at the same time. He looked at his sleeping wife and almost broke into tears but didn''t. He allowed himself to slump on the cold floor, running his fingers through his already messy hair.


    Su Xiaofei stirred on their bed, slightly rousing from her slumber. She cracked her eyes open and looked up, then her eyes shifted around their room, finding her husband on the floor. She sat up and their eyes met. There were no words needed to exin what was going on.


    "You knew..."

 Chapter 573 I Cannot Lose You (1)

    "Of course I know. Do you really n to hide the truth from me, Feifei?"


    The slight tremble in his voice almost broke Su Xiaofei. The dam she held back was threatening to burst again. From the look on his face, Su Xiaofei knew. Why else would she find her husband like this if Lu Qingfeng didn''t know?


    Guilt riddled on her face. This wasn''t how she wanted to break the news to her husband.


    She sobbed, tears now streaming down her face. She could feel her heart shattering at the sight of Lu Qingfeng''s appearance. This was the same broken man she''d seen when she was a wandering ghost. There was no doubt that Lu Qingfeng was shit scared of the dreaded possibility.


    "Darling, you have to calm down. It''s not the end of the world yet, sweetheart." Su Xiaofei beckoned him toe to her, but he didn''t move from where he was seated.


    Lu Qingfeng looked at her with a pained expression on his face.


    "You''re pregnant." His tone was more like an usation in her ears.


    "Yes." Su Xiaofei didn''t deny the truth from him. It was pointless to lie to him, when she knew he went out to seek the details he needed.


    "I spoke with Han Zijun." He said, not breaking his gaze on her.


    "And what options did he give you?"


    "He said that the poison on your body would take time to take effect, but it''s best if he could treat you as soon as possible. However, the treatments are harmful to our baby and it might trigger the poison to act harshly and kill it in the process."


    Without the treatment, the poison would slowly eat her body from the inside, just like what happened in the past. The cold poison was already spreading, which meant that Su Xiaofei had had it for some time now, and she didn''t know.


    His eyes shimmered with tears. Lu Qingfeng felt breathless. How could their lives suddenly turn upside down? They were doing fine weren''t they?


    "You aren''t going to die, Feifei. I won''t let you. I cannot¡­" His voice trailed off, but Su Xiaofei understood what he was trying to say.


    Lu Qingfeng said no more. His body shook as he sobbed. He was given a tough choice of letting go of her or their unborn child, and he was stuck in a conundrum. He felt a pair of arms around him and found that Su Xiaofei hade to him instead and held him.


    "I''m so sorry for putting you in a difficult situation. I didn''t mean for any of this to happen." Her voice cracked. "You know that as much as I love you, I love our child as much. I can''t¡­"


    Lu Qingfeng cried more. Just thinking of killing his baby was like a painful stab in his chest, but it was either their baby or his Feifei. He knew very well that he couldn''t live without her and he didn''t want to experience losing her all over again.


    "It''s going to be okay, A-Feng."<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "No, Feifei. It won''t be!"


    He knew that she had alreadye to love the child and if he dared to force her to terminate this pregnancy, it would break her apart. Su Xiaofei would never forgive him, and she would end up hating him. She would see him as the monster he was, just like everyone else.


    But which was worse for him? To be hated by her and knowing that she would live, or allow her to give birth to their child, only for her life to perish?


    Others would say that they couldn''t imagine a life without their other half, but Lu Qingfeng knew how it would be and he refused to experience that hell all over again.


    "It''s not going to be okay!" He cried into his wife''s shoulder, clutching onto her as if he was afraid that he would lose her.


    Why was the heavens punishing him¡ªthem, like this?


    There was only one thing he wanted in his life, and that was for Su Xiaofei to lead a happy life, regardless if he was in it or not. Wasn''t that why he kept his distance from her when he found out that she married Mo Yuchen in his previous life after he woke up from a longa? He''d done so much for her sake, or was it for himself?


    Regardless, Lu Qingfeng didn''t want to lose her again. As sad as it was, the only way for Su Xiaofei to survive was to terminate this pregnancy.


    "I should be the one who needs to apologize to you, Feifei. I failed you. I put you in this situation." He choked a sob. "I should have been more careful and shouldn''t have gotten you pregnant. I should have done better to protect you."


    Su Xiaofei''s lips trembled.


    "I''m not going to terminate the pregnancy, Lu Qingfeng." She said with conviction. "I''ll give birth to this child alive, even if it kills me."


    Lu Qingfeng pulled away and looked at her as if she had lost her mind.


    "Feifei, if you don''t terminate it, you will die and I''m not okay with that. I won''t allow you to die and bury you for the second time!" He reminded her, which only proved Su Xiaofei''s assumption back then, that he was reborn just like her.


    "Then you should have known that this isn''t the first time that this has happened to me." She eyed him. "Mo Yuchen chose to abort our baby to save my life in his own twisted way and now, you''re in the same position as he was."


    Lu Qingfeng had no words to refute what she had just said. He felt her cupping his face and saw her looking at him with a pained expression. He never wanted to see her like this. Not like this.


    "Just like you, I came back to life for the second time. I fought so hard to change my fate and chose to be with you in this lifetime. However, it seems like I cannot truly avoid the death g that awaits me."

 Chapter 574 I Cannot Lose You (2)

    "Since it had alreadye into this, there was no point in keeping secrets from each other anymore." Su Xiaofei said when her husband remained still and said nothing to her admission. She cleared her throat and knelt in front of him, taking in his disheveled appearance.


    It hurt to know that she was the reason why Lu Qingfeng was like this again. Didn''t she swear that she would change the course of his life for the better after she was reborn? Yet, a single mistake shemited had once again put him in the very situation she had sworn to avoid.


    "I know, Feifei. I know. It doesn''t matter because I won''t let you die. Do you really think I could live knowing you''re gone? Might as well tell me to die with you, because I wouldn''t be able to be there for our child and that would be unfair for all of us." Lu Qingfeng said.


    He would be too broken to look after the child and their baby won''t just lose a mother if Su Xiaofei died, but a father, too. Lu Qingfeng would rather terminate this pregnancy than endanger his wife and put their child''s life in misery.


    "Brother Han said that the poison is slowly spreading, don''t you understand what this means, Feifei? He''s a medical genius, alright, but I won''t take the risk."


    "I know, which is why I will try to carry it until I''m allowed to give birth to it prematurely. The technology is far better now. If I''m lucky, I''ll be able to carry it for six months and then I''ll allow Brother Han to treat me. This baby is not just mine, Lu Qingfeng."


    She took his hand and ced it on her lower abdomen.


    "It is also yours." Su Xiaofei said, her eyes brimming with tears. "Please don''t tell me you''re fine with killing your own child."


    "But Feifei¡­"


    "Please." She begged this time, knowing that just like Lu Qingfeng, she couldn''t relive the same nightmare all over again. "The baby is healthy, I''m not, but there must be something else we could do to keep the child."


    "W-we can try again once you are in better shape." Lu Qingfeng suggested, but Su Xiaofei vehemently disagreed with him.


    "We don''t know that. I might not be able to get pregnant the next time."


    "Feifei, please."


    She shook her head.


    "I''m not going to abort our baby. You can''t force me to do it, ever."


    "How about a surrogate? The baby would stille from us." He continued, and she could sense the despair in his tone.


    "Hell no! I won''t allow another woman to carry our child! No, Lu Qingfeng. Don''t try to sway me to agree with you because I''m not going to."


    "Fine. Adoption then."


    "It''s not the same." Su Xiaofei broke into tears and covered her face with both hands. "Please don''t do this to me. I need your help, but you aren''t helping me at all."<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Damn it, Feifeil Why can''t you understand that this is the only way for you to live." Lu Qingfeng said through clenched teeth, making Su Xiaofei realize that she and her husband had never had a heated argument like this before. This was a first in their marriage.


    "I''m not going to die, A-Feng. Brother Han said that he would try to find a way to save both of us." Her hand settled on her lower abdomen as tears continued streaming down her face.


    Su Xiaofei needed him by her side. Why couldn''t he understand that she was doing this for her own sake? The grief would kill her all over again if they forced her to abort her baby.


    She was furious, but not towards him or Han Zijun, who was only concerned about her welfare. No matter how hard they beg her to do it, she wouldn''t, couldn''t. They had to decide whether they were going to help her in this fight or not.


    She and her baby were going to survive and she had faith in Han Zijun. She genuinely believed that he would be able to find a way around it without sacrificing her baby''s life.


    "We don''t have any choice, Feifeil. You know this."


    Su Xiaofei red at him, it hurt her to know that he was willing to give up this easily.


    "No, we always have a choice. It''s either you are with me on this, or we''ll part ways from here!"


    Both of them went still after her outburst. Both of them were caught off guard by her words. Despite uttering those words herself, Su Xiaofei almost couldn''t believe that she blurted them.


    "I-I didn''t mean that way, A-Feng." She took his hand and kissed his palm. "I''m so sorry, I shouldn''t have said those words."


    ¡ª


    "You are making a mistake, Feifei. This isn''t just about you and the baby. Your mother and I are going to suffer if this ends up badly."


    Lu Qingfeng stared at her, clenching his jaw. How was he supposed to support her if she was being like this? His whole body tensed as he tried to contain his anger. He stood up and looked at his wife with conflicted emotions.


    "Sorry, Feifei. I don''t think I can help you with this." He said before storming out of their room, leaving his wife in tears.


    Su Xiaofei was being stubborn, and that same stubbornness would be the death of her. The only possible way to save her life was now out of the choices and Lu Qingfeng needed to think of a way to change his wife''s mind and he couldn''t do it while seeing her tears stained face.


    Han Zijun had informed him that he was still finding another way to save both his wife and child, but the doctor reminded him that he and Su Xiaofei needed to make a decision soon.


    He needed to procure a good n that would assure her recovery and he could only hope that she would listen to him this time.

 Chapter 575 I Cannot Lose You (3)

    Lu Qingfeng locked himself inside the study the next day and refused to have a word with her. Nine was the only one who could enter and leave the room, and even with Su Xiaofei begging the man for help, her husband''s assistant was clueless as to what he could do to help the couple.


    "I''m sorry, Madam. The Master wished for some time alone." Nine replied when she met him in the hallway. He just stepped out of the study that afternoon after delivering some files to Lu Qingfeng.


    He had never seen Lu Qingfeng act like this before. His master wanted him to find any cases of people who were afflicted with the cold poison and find out how Su Xiaofei ended up being poisoned in the first ce.


    The Zhang sisters would always test Su Xiaofei''s food and drinks for poison before handing them to her, but there must be some circumstances when the two weren''t able to do it.


    "I see." Su Xiaofei''s face fell. She didn''t expect that Lu Qingfeng would understand her so easily. After all, there was a lot to take into consideration.


    "If you''ll please excuse me." Nine immediately left, knowing that he couldn''t offer anything to ease Su Xiaofei''s worries.


    However, there was something only he could do, and that was to find out who dared to harm Su Xiaofei, inciting Lu Qingfeng to cause havoc. Nine didn''t tell Su Xiaofei how angry Lu Qingfeng was right now, and he''d rather not see her husband at the moment.


    Lu Qingfeng wasn''t just sulking, but he was also trying to get to the bottom of this problem. The possibility of the antidote being kept by someone was quite high.


    "Madam, Miss Xi is here to see you." Zhang Lan informed her of Xi Qian''s arrival.


    Su Xiaofei hurriedly went downstairs and threw her arms around her best friend and started to weep again.


    "Please don''t tell me you agree with him too, Qian. Don''t leave me too."


    Xi Qian led them to take a seat on the couch and held both of Su Xiaofei''s hands.


    "Lu Qingfeng isn''t leaving you, Feifei. He just... just needs some time to figure this out. You know very well that he doesn''t like not being in control, whether it''s his family business or his personal problems."


    Xi Qian knew that it wasn''t like he couldn''t understand Su Xiaofei, but the logical thing to do to save her life was to end this pregnancy. As much as she wanted Su Xiaofei to live, Xi Qian couldn''t simply disregard the unborn child''s life. Perhaps letting Lu Qingfeng see what he was trying to get rid of would be able to make him understand.


    "Then he''d better figure a way out of this, because there''s no way I will allow him to kill our baby for my sake." Su Xiaofei insisted. It seemed to her that her tears wouldn''t run dry anytime soon.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "I know you want it, Feifei. Believe me, Lu Qingfeng wants the baby more than anything else, but you have to understand that he cannot risk losing you in the process."


    "I can''t terminate this pregnancy, Qian. Why can''t A-Feng understand that? If I kill this child, I might as well die too. Please convince him not to make me abort it." Su Xiaofei replied, allowing her tears to flow freely.


    Xi Qian leaned forward and wrapped her arms around her best friend. She would do anything just anything to help Su Xiaofei live, but she also knew that once her best friend decided on something, it would be impossible to change Su Xiaofei''s mind.


    "Lu Qingfeng isn''t the only one who''s afraid to lose you, Feifei. But I''ll do my best to protect you and your baby. Give Lu Qingfeng some time. We both know he isn''t one to gamble if he cannot assure his wins. Perhaps once we meet Brother Han the next time, he will be able to give us better options." She said once she released Su Xiaofei.


    Su Xiaofei nodded, but her mind was still contemting how she ended up in this situation. When she found out that she was pregnant with Lu Qingfeng''s child, she was ecstatic. However, Han Zijun told her that there was a trace of cold poison in her blood.


    "Just take it easy, okay? If you are serious about keeping this baby, then I will fight tooth and nail with Lu Qingfeng for you to give birth to it. I don''t mind picking up where we stopped." Xi Qian patted her friend''s shoulder reassuringly.


    Su Xiaofei smiled in return, thinking that if she had Xi Qian in her previous life, her best friend wouldn''t allow Mo Yuchen to drag her for an abortion.


    "Thanks, Qian. I''m happy to know that I''m not alone in this fight."


    "Do you mind if I crash in here tonight? I''ll just use my old room." Xi Qian asked.


    "But what about your studies?" Su Xiaofei questioned her.


    Xi Qian had just enrolled into the med school she''d been eyeing for years. Su Xiaofei didn''t want to ruin her friend''s chances.


    "Don''t worry about it. I have a month left before the school year starts and I would rather be here to look after you."


    Unbeknownst to Su Xiaofei, Xi Qian had been severely traumatized years ago when Su Xiaofei took the stab for Master Ouyang. Since then, she had decided to pursue a career in medicine, while researching the effects and antidote for a cold poison which no one had been able to procure yet. No one even knew how the poison was made.


    With Han Zijun''s approval, she had volunteered to take care of Su Xiaofei. It would have been easy for the two of them to dy the effects of the cold poison on her body, but now that Su Xiaofei was pregnant, it made things moreplicated than it already was. Time was their enemy at this moment.

 Chapter 576 Broken Beyond Repair (1)

    Three dayster.


    Su Xiaofei was seated in the backseat of the car with her husband on their way to meet Han Zijun. Ever since that night, she hadn''t seen Lu Qingfeng until now. He didn''t return to their bedroom to retire for the night, nor apany her during meals. She knew that she was being unfair to him for forcing him to do something he didn''t want, but their baby wasn''t something she could easily and selfishly get rid of.


    Lu Qingfeng wouldn''t even give her a nce now, and she had no doubt that he was still upset with her. Su Xiaofei didn''t want any of these and wished that she had been more careful. Had she not been poisoned, Lu Qingfeng wouldn''t be torn in this conundrum with her.


    She wanted to hug him, to tell him that everything will be alright, but she couldn''t. Because there was no telling how this pregnancy would end for her and their baby.


    She couldn''t be this weak. Su Xiaofei knew that she needed to be strong in order to survive this ordeal together with her husband. She wasn''t even that sick yet, and there must be something else they could do to keep their child and remove the poison from her system.


    Su Xiaofei realized that Nine wasn''t driving in the direction of the public market, where Han Zijun''s pharmacy was located. Instead, he drove towards the outskirts of Qiying City, and they entered an exclusive subdivision that housed several estates owned by prominent wealthy families.


    Lu Qingfeng waited for her to alight from the car and greeted Xi Qian who had arrived at Han Zijun''s ce before them. Su Xiaofei was left in Xi Qian''s care as Lu Qinfeng walked ahead of them.


    "He still hasn''t talked to you?" Xi Qian frowned as she held Su Xiaofei''s hand. Thetter shook her head and could only sigh dejectedly.


    "If he insists on treating you like this, I will kick his arse myself." Xi Qian glowered at Lu Qingfeng''s back.


    "Give him time, Qian. It''s not easy to ept any of these." She replied.


    Still, what if she didn''t have the time?


    It didn''t matter, because she had already made up her mind to keep her baby. She wasn''t going to abort it and let the person responsible for her poisoning ruin her life. But she needed Lu Qingfeng in this fight, she needed him to be there for her.


    A servant of the Han household led them inside and brought them to a room filled with old books and scrolls, which Su Xiaofei had assumed to be Han Zijun''s office. Lu Qingfeng sat across from the doctor, while thetter rose from his seat and gestured for Su Xiaofei to follow him.


    "Let me check you first." Han Zijun said.


    Su Xiaofei eyed her best friend and her husband, but only Xi Qian gave her an assuring smile. The fact that Lu Qingfeng hadn''t told her anything nagged her. He was clearly sulking and she didn''t have the strength to argue with him anymore.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    ¡ª


    Once she and Han Zijun were gone and went to the connected room, Xi Qian shot Lu Qingfeng a fierce re. She knew that this was a lot to take for all of them, but Lu Qingfeng knew better than to treat his wife as coldly as he did.


    "Stop being a prick and talk to Feifei. She needs you now more than ever. Whatever happened to your promise that you would take care of her?"


    "Do you think it''s easy for me to choose between her and our child''s life? Do you think I want to see her walk to her own death and feel useless because I couldn''t do anything to save her?" Lu Qingfeng snapped at her, his eyes showing his frustration.


    "It kills me whenever I think that I would lose her and I couldn''t do anything for her."


    Lu Qingfeng hated himself for wanting to abort his own child, but he needed Su Xiaofei to survive. He knew that he would be broken beyond repair if he lost her. Looking at her paleplexion earlier, noticing that she was breathing faster than usual, was enough to make him worry to death.


    He wasn''t angry at her, because he knew how much Su Xiaofei wanted this child. Heck, he wanted it too, but not at the expense of her life. How could he bear to see her belly growing with their child when he knew that she was practically killing herself?


    He couldn''t just sit still and watch as she gets more and more ill each passing day. No, he couldn''t, he wouldn''t. Although he knew why Su Xiaofei didn''t want to terminate this pregnancy, that didn''t mean he was willing to lose her for the third time.


    What was the point of being reborn again if he would lose her again? Lu Qingfeng knew that he had done a lot of terrible things in his previous life, so he strived to be a better person this time, but it seemed like that wasn''t enough to warrant a happy life with Su Xiaofei.


    What else did he need to do? What else should he give up for the heavens to give him that one thing his heart yearned for?


    Was he really destined to live a life without Su Xiaofei?


    Perhaps he was really foolish to cling on to an empty promise she made during their childhood, but Lu Qingfeng wasn''t willing to experience that same hell all over again.


    "That''s not true." Xi Qian scowled. "Feifei needs you to understand her and support her with her choice. She''s wondering if you would ever make peace with her decision. Don''t turn your back on her now, Lu Qingfeng. You''re not the only one who''s hurting here."


    Lu Qingfeng shook his head. He hadn''t made peace with her choice, and he didn''t think he''d be able to. Why couldn''t Su Xiaofei understand that he was nothing without her? He wanted her to survive. Goddammit!

 Chapter 577 Broken Beyond Repair (2)

    Thirty minutes had already passed, but Han Zijun and Su Xiaofei had yet to return from the examination room, making Lu Qingfeng fidget in his seat, but Xi Qian remained calm. Xi Qian was thinking that Han Zijun was trying to be thorough with his assessment, which was fine for her. Meanwhile, Lu Qingfeng decided that this was heaven''s way of punishing him.


    Then a woman came from the examination room, taking both of their attention.


    "Master Han wants the two of you to follow me. He said that he wants to show you something." She said, ncing between Lu Qingfeng and Xi Qian.


    Lu Qingfeng sprang back to his feet in an instant, his expression hardened, wondering what it could possibly be. Xi Qian followed behind him and when they entered the examination room, they were both surprised by howrge it was.


    They heard a sob from the other side of the room, and Lu Qingfeng stiffened once again. His heart dropped. There was no doubt that it was his wife who was in tears and as to why Su Xiaofei was crying, he was sure he was partly responsible for it.


    "In here!" They heard Han Zijun''s voice and the two nced at each other and headed to the other part of the room that was veiled by a white curtain.


    When they arrived, they saw Su Xiaofei lying on a small bed with tears in her eyes. Lu Qingfeng was tempted to envelop his wife in his embrace and hold her tight. Seeing her in tears was enough to waver his resolve and agree with her choices.


    Su Xiaofei thought that he was avoiding her, but in truth, Lu Qingfeng would always find himself seeking after her at the end of the day. At night, he would sneak into their room, sit at the edge of their bed and watch her sleep. His heart ached knowing that she fell asleep crying, and he was the one responsible for it.


    "What''s wrong?" He asked Han Zijun with a frown. "Why is she crying?"


    "Calm down, young man. Can''t you see that those are tears of joy? Take a seat and have a good look at your children."


    Children?!


    Lu Qingfeng wasn''t the only one who was shocked to hear those words, because Xi Qian immediately turned to see what was going on. It seemed that Han Zijun was performing an ultrasound on her best friend.


    "Can you see them?" Han Zijun ran the scanner across Su Xiaofei''s exposed stomach. "There are two dots on it. Fraternal twins, it seems. Miss Su''s uterus looks healthy and the babies'' heartbeats are normal."


    Lu Qingfeng gaped at the screen, hearing the swishing sound from it, followed by the constant and steady rhythm of heartbeats. Something within him stirred and suddenly, he was filled with guilt. How could he even think to terminate the lives of these children? He understood now why his wife refused to give them up.


    She hadn''t even given birth to them yet, and Lu Qingfeng knew that he was already wrapped around their fingers. There was no way he would insist on aborting them now that he finally had a glimpse of them.


    Han Zijun put away the equipment and Su Xiaofei sat up and neaten her clothes. She gave her husband a nce, her lips quivering. Her eyes were pleading him not to kill their children.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    When Lu Qingfeng stepped forward and drew her into his embrace, Su Xiaofei broke in tears and clung to him. There were no words needed to be said, because Lu Qingfeng wouldn''t dare to take their children away from her.


    Xi Qian let herself smile, finally relieved that Lu Qingfeng was able to regain some sense and listen to Feifei.


    "What options do we have now?" Lu Qingfeng questioned.


    Han Zijun printed the ultrasound result and handed it to Xi Qian as the couple was currently upied with each other.


    "One baby is enough to change the hormone levels in her body, but now that we are aware that there are two, this only means that her hormones would act like it was on drugs and may speed up the effects of the poison." Han Zijun started to exin, crossing his arms over his chest as he leaned against the table behind him.


    Lu Qingfeng said nothing, but held his wife tighter. It seemed that Su Xiaofei wasn''t willing to part from him yet, as she wrapped her arms around his waist, forbidding him to leave. It felt good to have his arms around her again.


    "Then what do we do?" She asked Han Zijun in return.


    "Lu Qingfeng said that you two will be moving to Shenjing."


    Su Xiaofei nodded at that. Lu Qingfeng was about to be announced as the new head of Lu Corporation thising weekend, they needed to fly to Shenjing soon.


    "Then that''s great. I''ll follow you there and consult my elders about this poison. I have yet to find or make the antidote for it, so our best solution is to find whoever poisoned you and take the antidote from them."


    "How sure are you that they have an antidote?" Su Xiaofei asked, curiously.


    In her previous life, no one was able to procure the antidote for it. So how could Han Zijun be this confident to believe that there was one?


    "Miss Su, if there''s something I know about these kinds of poisons, those who administer it would surely have one, just in case they were poisoned by it. The faster we get our hands on that antidote, the better for you and your children." The doctor said in a matter-of-fact tone.


    "While waiting, we can dy the effects of the poison by administering drugs in small amounts to suppress them."


    "So we will stick to Feifei''s n?" Xi Qian asked. "Deliver the babies, then you will do whatever you have to do to get the poison out of her body?"

 Chapter 578 [Bonus ] You Can’t Die On Me (1)

    "Something like that." Han Zijun nodded in affirmation. "We can only dy the spreading of the poison in her body. Since she''s having twins, the earliest we could deliver them is at twenty-eight weeks."


    "Would the poison affect the twins?" Su Xiaofei asked worriedly.


    It only dawned to her recently how dangerous and serious this pregnancy was to her and her babies. Since the poison was in her blood, it would only make sense that it would find its way towards her children.


    Han Zijun fell silent for a moment as he tried to find the right words to exin his opinion.


    "The centa would provide nourishment and oxygen to your growing babies. It also removes waste products from the babies'' blood, but it''s hard to tell whether it would be able to block the poison from harming them. We still need to wait a few more weeks before I could run a blood test on them. It can be done around the eighteenth week of your pregnancy."


    Su Xiaofei''s fell and she sighed. "I see."


    "Nine is already investigating it." Lu Qingfeng kissed her crown and rubbed her back in an attempt tofort her. Su Xiaofei''s heart fluttered at the sudden disy of affection.


    Su Xiaofei knew that Nine was efficient with his work, but she wondered if the man would be able to get to the bottom of the issue. She had been very careful with her meals and her drinks, and she couldn''t fathom when she was poisoned without noticing.


    Later that day, Su Xiaofei went home with her husband and Xi Qian. Her best friend immediately excused herself and gave the couple the privacy they needed. As Lu Qingfeng tucked her into their bed with such gentleness, Su Xiaofei could feel her eyes stinging with tears.


    "Shhh¡­ Don''t cry, Feifei. Have you forgotten what Han Zijun said earlier? You don''t need to stress yourself up. It would be bad for the babies." Heid next to her, his hand gently rubbing her still t stomach, which undoubtedly would grow much bigger in the following weeks.


    "I''m d that you are here with me." She said in response, her hand reaching up as her fingertips ran gently over his cheek.


    Lu Qingfeng looked like a mess, but he was still sexy as hell. She wanted to kiss him, feel him inside of her again, assure him that she would be just fine, their children would be just fine.


    "You can''t die on me, Feifei. You aren''t allowed to die and leave me and our children."


    When her lips curled into a smile, he shot her a re.


    "It''s not funny, Feifei. You know that I wouldn''t be able to continue living without you. I need you. We need you."


    "I know, dear. I''ll do my best to keep myself alive. Just promise me that you''ll never ask me to abort them ever again. It would kill me before the poison does. If you force me to do it and kill our children, I swear to you, I will hate you so much that I will never be able to look at you. Do you want that?"


    Lu Qingfeng pressed his lips into a thin line, but conceded.


    "No." He responded, "but you can''t expect me to be okay with it either. I want you to fight hard, Feifei."<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Silence engulfed them as both were upied with their own thoughts. Su Xiaofei broke the silence between them as she heaved a deep sigh and curled next to her husband''s warm body. His familiar scent perfectly calms her nerves.


    "I''m still having that nightmare." She started. "I keep dreaming about that time when Mo Yuchen''s people dragged me and forced me to get an abortion. I can''t go through that same hell all over again, Lu Qingfeng. The feelings I had for him died the same day he reaped the child out of me. He became the monster in my eyes, and I will never forgive him for that. So please, don''t be like him. I don''t want to hate you, so stop asking me to abort these children and help me instead."


    A sob tore through her, and she pressed her face to his chest. She felt his arms around her and his lips touching her forehead.


    "I''m sorry. This is all my fault. I should have protected you better."


    "No, it''s not. Don''t me yourself for this. How were you supposed to know that someone out there wanted to take my life using the same methods Ye Mingyu used in the past? It was me who failed to pay attention to what I put in my mouth. Regardless of who did it, we will get over this problem soon. I won''t let them tear our family apart." Su Xiaofei insisted.


    Lu Qingfeng froze at that.


    Family.


    Once again, Su Xiaofei had given him something so precious.


    Lu Qingfeng never had a loving family. He knew that he was born out of need for an heir, not because of love. His mother barely gave him any attention when she was still alive and would only spare him a nce whenever he was in trouble, while his father was barely at home and was constantly absent from the moment he started being aware of his surroundings. He promised not to be like his dead father.


    "I''m going to be a father." He voiced out in a daze.


    Su Xiaofei parted from him and wiped her tears dry.


    "Yes, Vice President Lu, you are finally going to be a father. So, how does it feel being a father at the age of twenty-three?" She smiled at him.


    Lu Qingfeng scoffed, but his eyes glinted with amusement.


    "You know, I''m way older than that." He reminded her with a pointed look.


    Su Xiaofei gasped, then grinned at him yfully.


    "Makers above, how could I forget that my husband is an old man trapped inside the body of a young man?"

 Chapter 579 You Can’t Die On Me (2)

    Knowing that Lu Qingfeng was now on board and was willing to help her get through her pregnancy made everything easier for Su Xiaofei. Her heart felt at ease knowing that he was there for her. They flew to Shenjing on a private ne with Xi Qian on board.


    The moment they arrived at Lu Qingfeng''s penthouse, Su Xiaofei dragged him to the bedroom and made love with him. Lu Qingfeng hesitated initially, not wanting to hurt her in the process, but she assured him that she was fine.


    It must have been her hormones, but Su Xiaofei was in need of him. Her sex drive was over the roof. The sex they had was more mind-blowing than before because there was no need for him to use a protection, and he was able to feel more of her.


    Lu Qingfeng barely left her side, making sure that she wasfortable and fed. Su Xiaofei could only smile as she watched her husband being careful around her, as if he was afraid that she would hurt herself or their precious children.


    "From this moment onwards, you aren''t allowed to do anything." He told her with a straight face.


    Su Xiaofeiughed at that and pped his shoulder.


    "Can''t do, or are you forgetting who''s managing Bluemedia right now?" She reminded him.


    "But you can delegate your tasks to your subordinates. What''s the use of hiringpetent people if they can''t make your workload lighter?" He frowned, not willing to back down on this argument.


    Lu Qingfeng furrowed his brows and sat down next to her as he wrapped his arms around her body.


    "I simply don''t want you to tire yourself out, Feifei. Carrying twins isn''t easy to begin with."


    She rolled her eyes at him.


    "You worry too much. I''m not even showing yet. People won''t know that we''re expecting, not unless we announce it, or I''m obviously round with our twins."


    Su Xiaofei inwardly smiled at the thought. She wasn''t having a pair of twinsst time. Was this some kind ofpensation for the loss she experienced before?


    Little did she know that Lu Qingfeng was also thinking the same thing. She had lost her child twice in his previous lives and he would do everything he could to prevent that from happening again.


    For once, Su Xiaofei thought that they were a normal couple, excitedly waiting for their children''s arrival. It didn''t feel like death was looming over her. They decided to wait until her twelfth week mark passed before they announced her pregnancy to their families.


    Perhaps it was because he was able to see the glimpse of their children that Lu Qingfeng''s overprotectiveness rose to another level. Su Xiaofei always knew that he would be a great father, and she couldn''t wait to see him interact with their children once she gave birth to them.


    "Are you sure it''s okay for you to attend tomorrow''s event at thepany?" He asked with a hint of worry in his tone.


    "I can''t possibly miss my husband''s session ceremony." She smiled at him. "Anyway, you promised to announce our marriage tomorrow. You aren''t nning to take back your word, are you?"<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Of course not." He muttered. "I simply can''t wait for the whole world to know that you are my wife. No one would be able to take you away from my side and whoever poisoned you, I will make sure that they would know what hell on earth feels like. I will not go easy on them."


    His eyes shed murderously. Just thinking that someone had attempted to kill his wife was enough to anger him. Lu Qingfeng had been trying to keep his rage under his cold mask, but Su Xiaofei could still see through it these days. It reminded her of something¡­


    "A-Feng, Yun Xiang said that you killed your uncle and cousins in a fire. Is that true?"


    Lu Qingfeng lifted his gaze andd stared at her nkly.


    "Is that what he said when you sneaked out to meet him?"


    Su Xiaofei flushed in embarrassment. She knew that Lu Qingfeng knew about her little escapade to meet Yun Xiang. She had waited for him to question her about it, but he never did until now.


    "My wife blushing like this upon mentioning Yun Xiang? Hmm¡­ am I supposed to feel jealous that he lured you out?"


    "Sorry. I know that he would insist on meeting me in secret. I made things clear with him so hopefully, I was able to bring some sense to his head and remind him that I''m already off limits."


    Lu Qingfeng said nothing, but thinking that Yun Xiang had said those words to paint him as a viin in his wife''s eyes left a bitter taste in his mouth. He could only hope that Su Xiaofei was right this time and Yun Xiang wouldn''t chase after her anymore.


    "I didn''t kill them." He said after a long silence between them. "I might have done it in our previous life, but not this time."


    Su Xiaofei blinked at how honest he was with her.


    "Then where are they?" She couldn''t help but ask.


    If he didn''t kill them, why did Yun Xiang think he did?


    "Somewhere dark where they could experience having everything taken away from them." He said cryptically.


    She didn''t probe his answer, as she knew that Lu Qingfeng''s other rtives were quite cruel towards him even in their past lives. She knew that there were things he was keeping from her to protect her from them.


    "Why didn''t you¡­" Su Xiaofei couldn''t finish her question, but her husband understood what she was trying to say.


    "Because I want to be a person worthy of you. I''m nning to hand them over to the authorities once we collect enough evidence to incriminate them. I won''t allow them to roam around freely when I know that they could harm you after they failed in taking my life."

 Chapter 580 You Can’t Die On Me (3)

    Su Xiaofei merely looked at him, aware of how close he was to her now. She had no doubt that Lu Qingfeng would do anything to keep her safe. However, she didn''t want him tomit another mistake because of her again.


    When he lowered his lips to her for a kiss, she pushed her worries away and let herself feel him. The kiss was like water for a parched soul--their hands clutching desperately to each other, wanting to say the words that neither weren''t able to voice out. Both were aware that they could never be without the other.


    One minute, they were in the kitchen preparing their dinner and the next thing Su Xiaofei knew, she was pinned beneath the muscled form of her husband on the bed, unclothed. His grunts of pleasure rivaled her moans. The sounds they were making only got louder and faster as they worked to reach the pinnacle of their pleasure.


    They made love until she couldn''t think of anything else and feel anything but the pleasure coursing through her extremely satiated body. It made her think that makeup sex with Lu Qingfeng was far better than anything they previously had.


    After Lu Qingfeng drew her a warm bath and fed her a small meal for dinner, Su Xiaofei dozed off, unaware of how intense his eyes were on her. He pulled up the nket over her naked form next to him, her face serene in her sleep. He regretted making her cry, but the fear that he would lose her again got the better of him.


    "You can''t die on me, Feifei. I won''t let you." Lu Qingfeng said with despair.


    His phone rang and he immediately picked it up, seeing that it was Nine calling himte that night.


    "Master, I''ve already sorted the possible scenarios on how the madam got poisoned, and amongst them one fits the circumstances." Nine didn''t waste time and delivered his report.


    "And that is?" Lu Qingfeng''s eyes and voice turned cold and dark.


    "They used Madam Yun to poison her. Zhang Ling and Zhang Land said that the only time they didn''t test Madam''s food and drinks is when she''s having a meal with her mother."


    "I see."


    Lu Qingfeng understood right then that his wife didn''t bother to do it because she trusted Yun Qingrong and she didn''t want her mother to suspect anything. Since the one who poisoned his wife wouldn''t be able to get past the Zhang sisters'' security, they opted to use someone who''s close to Su Xiaofei instead.


    Yun Qingrong would surely be horrified if she knew this. She would be heartbroken if she knew that she was the one who allowed others to hurt his daughter. Lu Qingfeng knew then that he needed to be cautious when they broke the news to his mother-inw. She was still recovering from her recent illness and he didn''t want her to me herself for Su Xiaofei''s condition.


    Han Zijun said that the poison she ingested was still considered a small amountpared to what she got during the stabbing incident years ago. The doctor assumed that whoever was behind the poisoning, wanted Su Xiaofei to ingest the poison in small amounts but consistently.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Lu Qingfeng knew that Su Xiaofei had been visiting her mother at the Yun Estate weekly and having afternoon tea with his mother-inw. It made sense why Nine would suspect that Su Xiaofei had gotten poisoned there.


    "Find out who contacted my mother-inw over thesest few weeks and trace if they are somewhat rted to Ye Mingyu or Chen Hao. Let me know as soon as possible and don''t let anyone know about this until we get to the bottom of it."


    He couldn''t think of anyone else who wanted to hurt Su Xiaofei other than Ye Mingyu. Lu Qingfeng doubted that Chen Hao was involved though. If anything, that annoying pest wouldn''t want Su Xiaofei dead.


    "I understand, Master. I will continue my investigation and will report to you as soon as I find out more."


    It seemed to him that no matter how he tried to change the course of his life, there were things that he couldn''t totally avoid, just like the situations that are threatening to be a tyrant again.


    Lu Qingfeng had tried his best not tomit serious crimes in this lifetime for Su Xiaofei''s sake, but this time was different, now that his wife and children''s lives were involved. They''d dare to touch his bottomline and there would be repercussions.


    ''Sorry, Feifei. If I need to be a tyrant again to protect you, I''llmit those sins willingly all over again.''


    After ending the call, Lu Qingfeng went back to his wife''s side and pulled out hisptop. He began browsing and reading medical articles about pregnancy and how to take care of his pregnant wife. If Su Xiaofei had seen this, there was no doubt that she wouldugh at him.


    Ah, he practically turned 180 degrees and jumped into her boat as soon as he''d seen his children at the ultrasound. Knowing that she was carrying his children... not just one, but two, filled Lu Qingfeng with immense bliss and excitement.


    He was so tempted to announce her pregnancy along with their marriage, but Lu Qingfeng knew that it wasn''t the right time yet. Not until he was able to get rid of the threats that were lurking, waiting to harm his wife.


    He pondered if he should ask his assistant to appoint a medical staff on standby, aside from Xi Qian, who could take care of his wife. If anything happened to her, Lu Qingfeng didn''t trust himself to have a sane mindter.


    Since Su Xiaofei refused to stop working at Bluemedia, he could onlypensate by making sure she wouldn''t overwork herself, now that she was pregnant. Luckily, she had already handed over Tang Liyan''s management to Zhao Yi so she had one less talent to look after.

 Chapter 581 Surreal Dream (1)

    It had been a while since thest time Lu Qingfeng attended a brotherhood night. As the night continued, he was able to catch up with what he''d missed over the past weeks.


    "Are you and Su Xiaofei staying in Shenjing for good?" Song Yiran asked. Ever since he ventured out on his own, without relying on his brothers'' help anymore, he was spending more time in Shenjing and only would only go to Qiying City for short visits.


    "Not really." Lu Qingfeng replied. "Just until we''re able to settle the business here. I''m sure she prefers staying in Qiying City rather than here."


    "So you''re still allowing her to work despite her condition?" Li Xiran asked.


    Lu Qingfeng eyed the older man and he didn''t need to ask how Li Xiran knew about his wife''s delicate condition. How could he forget that Li Xiran was now dating Xi Qian? He wasn''t sure though if Li Xiran was also aware that Su Xiaofei was poisoned.


    "I wanted her to stop, but she insisted that she''s still capable of running Bluemedia." He replied with a tone that let his brothers know that he wasn''t pleased with Su Xiaofei''s decision.


    "Huh? Is she sick or something?" Song Yiran cocked his head to look at the youngest member of their group. "Is this why you couldn''t leave Qiying City before?"


    Lu Qingfeng''s jaws hardened before drinking his whiskey in one go. He didn''t want to drag his brothers into his problem, as he was so used to dealing with everything on his own. However, the more time he spent with them, the more he felt that he could rely on them.


    "She''s pregnant." He admitted, which was followed by a whistle from Song Yiran.


    Ning Xuanughed and patted Lu Qingfeng''s back.


    "You sure don''t waste any time when ites to her, huh? Marrying her at the first chance you got and now knocking her up? Lu Qingfeng, you are several steps ahead of us already."


    "Congrattions!" Zhu Baichuan said while Yan Xiuchen gave Lu Qingfeng a concerned look.


    "But you don''t look happy." The scarred manmented. "What''s going on?"


    Lu Qingfeng''s hold on his ss tightened. He should be over the moon right now if not for the fact that his wife was poisoned.


    "Feifei was poisoned by someone. Han Zijun would have treated her by now and stopped it from spreading, but she refused to terminate her pregnancy."


    Ning Xuan frowned. "Who would dare to poison her under your watch? They must be tired of living."


    Zhu Baichuan scoffed at that and shook his head.


    "She''s Lu Qingfeng''s wife. That alone is enough for her to be targeted by those who opposed him." He pointed out. "I''m pretty sure Big Sis has made enemies herself, considering her line of work."<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Do you know what kind of poison it is? Is there something we could do to help?" Yan Xiuchen asked Lu Qingfeng. Amongst his brothers, he was the closest to Lu Qingfeng because he had never shown disgust or treated him unjustly when they first met.


    Initially, Yan Xiuchen was suspicious of this young man who kept seeking him for advice although he had long graduated from the same university Lu Qingfeng attended. They had met several times at various social events and Lu Qingfeng had made it bearable for Yan Xiuchen to stay as he kept him upied.


    Add to the fact that Xiao Rufeng was close to Su Xiaofei, it seemed to him that his girlfriend was still oblivious of her manager''s health condition. Yan Xiuchen didn''t want her to worry to death. He was also willing to help Lu Qingfeng to the best of his ability.


    Lu Qingfeng hesitated, but the faster they could find an antidote for his wife, the better. The Yan family had betterwork than his Lu family and he wasn''t able to utilize his family''s resources in fear that his rtives would use the chance to strike him and harm Su Xiaofei further.


    "It''s called Cold Poison. Unlike other known poisons, this one acts slowly until it''s deeply rooted that it''s impossible to be treated anymore." He answered.


    "Isn''t Han Zijun known to be a medical genius?" Ning Xuan asked. "Shouldn''t he be familiar with that poison?"


    Lu Qingfeng shook his head. He knew that it was hard to procure the antidote in a short time, unless they got it from the maker of the poison itself.


    "He knows how to dy the effects and get rid of it, but an antidote is the fastest way to deal with it. It''s hard for him to make it himself because he didn''t have a sample of the poison to use."


    Yan Xiuchen remained silent. He had heard of this poison before, but he assumed that it was a myth and didn''t take the information seriously.


    "I might not be able to get you the antidote, but I sure do know where we could possibly get this poison." He said after a long silence.


    Lu Qingfeng whipped his head and looked at Yan Xiuchen in surprise. Even Nine wasn''t able to achieve such a feat, as he couldn''t find any lead on where the cold poison could be obtained. They had surmised that it came from the ck market and surely cost an arm or a leg, and Lu Qingfeng hadn''t expected to hear that Yan Xiuchen might have knowledge about it.


    "You do?"


    There''s was no why Lu Qingfeng would reject Yan Xiuchen''s help.


    Yan Xiuchen nodded, but his hardened features told Lu Qingeng that it wouldn''t be easy.


    "Yes, but give me some time. It''s hard to squeeze information from that man after all and money alone isn''t enough to make him speak."


    "I wish I could help, but I doubt that any of my business associates know about that cold poison." Zhu Baichuan sighed. "But just in case, feel free to call me anytime if you and Big Sis need help." He told Lu Qingfeng.

 Chapter 582 Surreal Dream (2)

    Lu Qingfeng arrived home and found his wife already asleep on their bed. Su Xiaofei had a slight fever that morning, which immediately sent him and Xi Qian into panic, fearing that the first dose of medicines Han Zijun had given to her wasn''t working.


    He had given the doctor a call and informed him of his wife''s condition, only to be told that Han Zijun had expected it to happen and they could only wait and see how Su Xiaofei''s body would react to a small dose of medicine that would force the poison out of her system.


    "It''s her body finally registering that a harmful substance has entered its system. Since her body is focused on nourishing the children in her womb, it would take some time for it to react to the cold poison. Su Xiaofei had once been infected with it years ago, right? I suppose that her body should somewhat limate to it." Han Zijun said earlier.


    Lu Qingfeng sat on the armchair facing their bed and ran his hands on his face. He didn''t like feeling useless. He dreaded, now more than ever, knowing that not only he might lose his wife, but he might lose their children as well.


    Children.


    The thought of having children with Su Xiaofei still felt surreal for Lu Qingfeng. When he married her, he knew from the beginning that she wouldn''t consider having a child in this lifetime. This was why he was content to know that they would only have each other in the future and decided to support her decision even if the Lu family criticized her for it, but he would be lying if he didn''t consider having a child with her.


    Su Xiaofei stirred on the bed and cracked her eyes open.


    "Hmm¡­ darling, is it you? Come to bed now. I miss you."


    The corner of his lips curled into a slight smile. He was tempted to do what she said, but he rose from his seat and kissed her temple.


    "In a moment, Feifei."


    He then made his way to the bathroom and did his nightly routine. He couldn''t just join Su Xiaofei on their bed, bringing the filth of the outside world. Now that she was pregnant, he needed to pay more attention to her health.


    Su Xiaofei remained exactly where he left her when he returned. Lu Qingfeng slipped beneath the covers next to her, pulling her warm body towards him. He pressed a kiss on her bare shoulder and wrapped his arms around her as if he was afraid that she would leave him.


    Mornings had be his favorite part of the day, at the first awareness of her warmth next to him. Lu Qingfeng didn''t want to wake up alone, without her by his side, in his life again and he would do anything just to keep her to himself.


    She scooted back towards him and tugged him closer, his arms curled around her chest as she let out a sleepy sigh.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    -


    Weekend finally came and thest preparation for the uing party was in full st. Lu Qingfeng left the preparation to Katarina and Nine while he tended to his pregnant wife''s needs. Yun Qingrong and the rest of the Yun family would also arrive anytime soon as they were also invited to Lu Qingfeng''s session party.


    "Lu Qingfeng, would you please take a seat? Feifei is feeling just fine and for once, stop being a worry wart." Xi Qian huffed as she crossed her arm over her chest, watching the young man who hadn''t taken a break to make sure that his wife''s clothes and food for today had been checked and tested.


    Su Xiaofei merely chuckled and shook her head. She was seated on a couch with a warm drink in her hands as she watched her husband give orders to the Zhang sisters.


    "Let him be, Qian. I''m pretty sure he''s just trying to keep himself upied." She told her best friend.


    Xi Qian looked at her with worry and took a deep breath before settling next to Su Xiaofei. She really couldn''t me Lu Qingfeng for acting like this. Heck, even she felt at loss at times when it came to Su Xiaofei.


    Aside from her, Han Zijun and the rest of the brotherhood, no one was aware of Su Xiaofei''s condition. They might be able to hide the fact that she was poisoned, but it wouldn''t take long before Su Xiaofei started showing, indicating her pregnancy.


    The dull thump in Xi Qian''s chest remained as she watched her best friend''s health slowly deteriorate. Han Zijun had asked her to pay attention to the changes on Su Xiaofei''s body for the whole month because this was the most critical time for Su Xiaofei.


    Su Xiaofei''s body might reject her twins at the same time, in an attempt to get rid of the poison inside of her. The wing feeling in Xi Qian''s chest only intensified when Su Xiaofei broke in and out of her fever or when she experienced a dizzy spell in the middle of her shower. She didn''t tell Lu Qingfeng about it because of Su Xiaofei''s request, but since then, she made sure not to let her best friend out of her sight.


    The door of the penthouse opened, revealing Yun Qingrong and Yan Mei. The two older women sauntered inside and were greeted by Lu Qingfeng first, before being led to where Su Xiaofei and Xi Qian were.


    Su Xiaofei''s face lit up as soon as she saw her mother. For the past weeks, she was only able to talk to Yun Qingrong through phone calls and video calls. Having her mother here made Su Xiaofei a lot better.


    "Is it me or have you gained weight since west saw each other?" Yun Qingrong asked after giving her daughter a tight hug. "Xiao Feng even called me to ask for the tea I''ve given to you. Are we expecting good news anytime soon?"

 Chapter 583 I Owe You Everything (1)

    Su Xiaofei gave her husband a look, as if she was silently asking him for permission to share the news with her mother. Indeed, she had gained a considerable weight this past week and with twins growing inside of her, she would show faster than those who were carrying singleton babies.


    "A-Feng and I are expecting. Is it that obvious?" She said, as she failed to suppress the smile that spread on her face upon thinking of it. Just the thought that she would be able to be a mother this time filled her with immense happiness.


    Yun Qingrong broke into a wide smile while Yan Mei lightly squealed before covering her mouth in surprise, excusing herself.


    "You are glowing, darling." Her mother responded with teary eyes. "I can''t help but notice."


    "Congrattions, Feifei! This is really good news. It''s been awhile since thest child birth in our Yun family. I can''t wait to share this news with Father." Yan Mei said excitedly.


    "Auntie Mei, A-Feng and I are hoping you keep this a secret for the time being, just until I get past the twelfth week mark." Su Xiaofei gave her aunt an apologetic smile.


    Yun Qingrong frowned and held her daughter''s hands.


    "Why? Is there something wrong with you and the baby?" She asked worriedly. "But if that''s what you really want, I guess we''ll just wait for you to announce it to the rest of our family."


    Her daughter had fallen pregnant just a few weeks after she moved to the Yun Mansion. Yun Qingrong was starting to wonder if she made the wrong choice of leaving her daughter''s side. Had she known this would happen, she should have waited a little longer before deciding to move out.


    "Babies, Mother." Lu Qingfeng corrected his mother-inw. "Feifei and I are expecting twins." He said proudly.


    "Twins?!" Yun Qingrong gasped. Had she heard her son-inw right? "You''re really having twins?"


    She couldn''t contain her happiness anymore and pulled her daughter into a tight hug. She was really relieved to know that Su Xiaofei wouldn''t have to face the same criticisms she did when she couldn''t conceive a child during her long marriage with her ex-husband.


    "Oh, Feifei. I''m so happy for you and Xiao Feng. I can''t wait to meet your children."


    Su Xiaofei''s heart clenched painfully, hearing her mother''s words. She didn''t have the heart to tell her mother her condition, fearing that it would only cause her distress. It hadn''t been too long since Yun Qingrong was hospitalized and Su Xiaofei would rather wait and see if her condition would improve under Han Zijun''s care.


    She met Xi Qian''s gaze and she knew right then that she had made the right choice of not telling her mother about her being poisoned. Seeing her mother happy like this, then delivering the bad news, would be heartless even for someone like her.


    "You are already pregnant, are you sure you can still continue working?" Yun Qingrong asked once she and Yan Mei finally calmed down and took a seat, drinking their tea.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Actually, Mother. I was nning to ask you about that." Lu Qingfeng took a seat next to his wife while Xi Qian sat across from them. "I''m hoping you can convince Feifei to take a maternal leave at some point before she gives birth to the twins."


    This would also give Su Xiaofei a good excuse to step back from the limelight and focus on her pregnancy and treatments.


    Su Xiaofei gave her husband''s hand a tight squeeze before giving him a pointed look. She should have known that Lu Qingfeng would use this opportunity to convince her to stay at home and not work.


    "Ah, then¡­" Yun Qingrong hesitated for a bit but Yan Mei assured her.


    "It''s alright, Sister Qing. I''m sure Father would understand." Yan Mei said. "Since Feifei is carrying twins, her pregnancy might be delicate."


    "I just thought that I could spend more time with my father." Yun Qingrong sighed, but she also knew that her daughter would need some help as her pregnancy progressed.


    "Mama, Qian is also taking care of me." Su Xiaofei tried to protest. "I''m pregnant, not invalid." She reminded them. She was starting to get annoyed with how everyone was treating her right now.


    "But Feifei, Xiao Feng, you better allow us to visit you. I''m sure the rest of the family would like to be involved with this child-rearing."


    "I have no qualms about that, Aunt Mei. I know Feifei would throw a fit at home once she starts getting bored of having nothing else to do." Lu Qingfeng easily agreed with her request, much to Yan Mei''s delight.


    Since Lu Qingfeng had already agreed, Su Xiaofei could only nod her assent. She still believed that she''s capable of handling her usual workload, but understood her husband''s worry very well. It was one thing for her to be pregnant, but being poisoned had totally thrown them for a loop.


    However, if she allowed her mother to move back in and live with them again, it would be hard to hide his real condition from Yun Qingrong. Su Xiaofei would rather avoid that.


    "Have you told your father yet? Mr. Qiao would surely be over the moon once he hears the news." Yan Mei asked.


    Su Xiaofei''s smile faltered. She might be able to hide her illness from her mother, but Qiao Fengying was a different one. Since their arrival in Shenjing, her father hadn''t wasted any time to drop by to see her and Lu Qingfeng. He had noticed her paleness during hisst visit and it had been hard for her and Lu Qingfeng to convince him not to call a doctor on call.


    "We''re nning to tell him tonight. Right, Feifei?" Lu Qingfeng gave her a meaningful look.


    Su Xiaofei tried her best not to roll her eyes. It seemed that they wouldn''t be able to stick with their original n any longer.

 Chapter 584 I Owe You Everything (2)

    The banquet hall was filled with guests even before it started. It was easy to tell that most of the outstanding and prominent figures in the city were invited to this event, only proving that the Lu family had a vastwork that they could utilize at will. This would also mean that Lu Qingfeng would have more responsibilities now that he was ascending as the head of the family.


    Su Xiaofei had taken a seat next to Chairman Lu and her mother as they waited for the party to officially start. Xi Qian, along with her father and the rest of the Qiao family was seated nearby and was busy conversing with each other, asionally throwing Su Xiaofei a smile.


    Su Xiaofei had no doubt that her father had been bombarding her best friend with questions, now that Qiao Fengying had been made aware of her pregnancy. Even Lu Qingfeng''s grandfather couldn''t stop himself from smiling as if he just received the most glorious gift tonight.


    Su Xiaofei knew then that she was in a difficult situation and she needed to make preparations before handing the management of Bluemedia back to her mother. But thinking of how the three families couldn''t wait to spoil her children, Su Xiaofei''s heart filled with warmth.


    Back in her childhood days, she always thought she was unwanted. Even when she found out that she was adopted by Yun Qingrong in her previous life, she felt more alone than ever. While it was true that she had Lu Qingfeng and Xi Qian by her side growing up, she was yearning for the love and attention of her parents. Now that she''s pregnant, she was determined to ensure that her children would never doubt their worth and would shower them with all the love she was deprived of previously.


    Su Xiaofei''s eyes swept around the hall seeing familiar faces. She spotted Yun Xiang talking to their cousins and he raised his flute when their gazes met. She was relieved to know that Yun Xiang was keeping his promise to her.


    Then from the corner of her eye, she spotted Lu Jinglin in a corner alone. It was obvious that she was trying not to make herself relevant and to hide from her father. Su Xiaofei made a mental note to have a word with her husband''s cousinter, since she had yet to discuss the project she initiated with Lu Jinglin. The manuscript that Lu Jinglin had sent her the previous week was quite enthralling to read.


    Su Xiaofei also noticed that the rest of her husband''s brothers came to show their support for him tonight. Xiao Rufeng had alsoe, but she had chosen to keep a distance from Yan Xiuchen, even though the two had arrived together earlier.


    As the emcee officially started the event and announced Lu Qingfeng as the new CEO and President of Lu Corporation, Su Xiaofei''s lips curled up into a dazzling smile. It was almost like she wanted to tell the world how amazing her husband was and how he was capable of anything.


    Lu Qingfeng was called up to the stage to give his ceremonial speech. He started giving a brief history on how the Lu Empire had started and how his grandfather sacrificed his sweat and blood to make sure their family business would flourish.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Throughout it, Lu Qingfeng did not mention his deceased parents. Su Xiaofei then realized that she only knew her deceased inws on a surface level and Lu Qingfeng had yet to tell her why he didn''t like them.


    Lu Qingfeng''s eyes then shifted to the spot where she, her mother and his grandfather were seated. Su Xiaofei then held her breath, wondering if he would truly announce their marriage this time.


    "I would like to thank my grandfather, whom without his guidance all these years, I would never have achieved as much as I have today. To Miss Yun, whom from the moment I met, treated me and guided me like a mother I never had. In her quiet and stern ways of teaching me and Feifei while growing up, she taught me how to acquire the patience a businessman should have." Lu Qingfeng said before giving his grandfather and mother-inw a polite bow.


    "Andst but not the least, to the most important person in my life. Without you, I would have never had the courage to step out of myfort zone and venture to the unknown. To my lovely wife, Su Xiaofei ¡ª thank you for making me the happiest man on earth. I owe you everything."


    Su Xiaofei tried topose her expression, aware that cameras were now pointed in her direction. Damn that Lu Qingfeng for being too cheesy and all on stage, now she had no idea where to hide her face!


    Everyone''s eyes were on her and it was starting to make her ufortable in her seat. Thankfully, she didn''t feel nauseous at the moment or else she might have humiliated him and the rest of their family.


    Su Xiaofei slowly stood up and gave everyone her smile and a little wave before returning to her seat. Being stuck inside her office for some time now, she realized that she hadn''t been asfortable as she was being looked at,pared to when she used to be a celebrity.


    However, she couldn''t help but be happy with his announcement. Now, the public wouldn''t have to drag her name and associate her with Mo Yuchen ever again. This would also be a huge bomb thrown over to her husband''s rtives who were still plotting against him. Even now, they were hoping that they could put Qin Ying by his side.


    As soon as Lu Qingfeng announced their marriage, it was all over the news within an hour. Su Xiaofei was sure that their faces would be stered over the entertainment news again, but she couldn''t be bothered about it for now. As long as the rumors weren''t malicious this time, she wouldn''t give it a damn.

 Chapter 585 The Shi Family (1)

    An hourter, Su Xiaofei was bombarded with congrattory greetings from the guests of the Lu family. She stered her usual cordial smile as she interacted with the guests, aware that Lu Qingfeng''s eyes were following her. Her husband wasn''t even trying to pretend as he continued to follow her with his gaze while he continued his conversation with his business associates.


    "Ah, you should have seen how my father reacted when Lu Qingfeng announced your marriage. He was really an idiot if he thought that Lu Qingfeng would fall for a beauty trap when he''s already smitten with you." Lu Jinglinmented next to her. The woman was dressed in a tight fitting ck dress that reached her knees tonight.


    "You really like seeing your father angered to death, don''t you?" Su Xiaofei arched a brow at her husband''s cousin. A little amused that this woman was ying a dangerous game with her own father.


    "What can I say? It''s tit for tat for all the horrible things he did to me." Lu Jinglin shrugged before thanking Xi Qian for handing her a flute of champagne. She was more at ease, now that she was in Su Xiaofei and Xi Qian''spany. She could feel her father''s ring daggers at her earlier, but she couldn''t be bothered to acknowledge his presence.


    "Isn''t that Qin Ying? What is she doing here?" Xi Qian spotted a familiar face next to Lu Jinglin''s father and furrowed her brows in confusion.


    "What else? She''s trying to be the next Madam Lu, but Su Xiaofei has already beaten her to it." Lu Jinglin muttered, until she saw Xiao Rufeng making her way towards them.


    "Oh my god. Isn''t that Xiao Rufeng? I can''t believe my luck! I''m a big fan of hers!" She fanned herself with one hand, attempting to calm herself down from being starstruck, but failed.


    Xiao Rufeng greeted Su Xiaofei and gave Xi Qian a hug, much to Lu Jinglin''s surprise.


    "You know each other?" Lu Jinglin''s eyes widened as she looked at the three women in front of her. She suddenly felt like she didn''t belong in Su Xiaofei''s circle.


    "Why are you surprised? Are you forgetting that Xiao Rufeng is signed under Bluemedia?" Xi Qianughed at her.


    "Oh, right! Silly me." Lu Jinglinughed at herself. "Thanks, Miss Xi. Actually, I almost thought that she was signed to Top Tier Entertainment with Ye Mingyu."


    "Why would you think that?" Xi Qian frowned.


    "Because Ye Mingyu has the same style as Xiao Rufeng recently. Didn''t you notice? Their makeup, their dress style as well as how they project themselves in front of the camera is almost the same. A little more and I would think it''s some kind of marketing style to build their image as a team."


    Xiao Rufeng gave her manager a worried look. This wasn''t the first time she heard thisment though. Indeed, Ye Mingyu''s image in public had changed dramatically overnight and her name was always being dragged inparison to Ye Mingyu.


    "My assistant said the same thing, Feifei. What should we do?"


    Xi Qian frowned and furrowed her brows in annoyance.


    "Isn''t it like Ye Mingyu riding Rufeng''s coat-tails and using her poprity to give herself a boost?" Shemented.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Let''s talk about itter." Su Xiaofei replied, but it was obvious that she was also caught off guard with the news.


    She had heard that Ye Mingyu got a new manager now from Top Tier, but she was aware that Ye Mingyu''s manager was trying to clean up after the mess her talent had made all this while. Ever since herst encounter with Ye Mingyu, it was bing harder for her to predict what was going on in that woman''s mind.


    Su Xiaofei thought that Ye Mingyu was trying to find a way to steal her identity and her body, but now, Ye Mingyu seemed to be targeting Xiao Rufeng instead.


    "Feifei, can I have a moment with you please? I want to introduce you to someone." Lu Qingfeng suddenly appeared, taking her attention.


    Lu Jinglin nudged Su Xiaofei to go with her cousin.


    "Go now. I''m pretty sure A-Feng can''t wait to show you off as his wife to his associates." Sheughed at her cousin''s annoyed expression.


    "You are talking nonsense once again, Lin''er." He scoffed, taking his wife''s hand in his arm.


    "Is she?" Xi Qian gave him a grin. "We both know that you couldn''t wait to put a ring on her finger even when we''re younger."


    Lu Qingfeng grimaced at that, but didn''t say a word in defense, since he knew what Xi Qian said was right while his cousinughed at Xi Qian''s words.


    "Give him a break, Qian. It''s his night." Su Xiaofei sighed and allowed her husband to lead her away from her friends. Eyes were following them, but neither she nor Lu Qingfeng bothered to meet their gazes.


    "Do I need to meet the rest of the family now?" She asked, knowing that being Lu Qingfeng''s wife also meant that she needed to tolerate and interact with the rest of the members of the Lu family. Su Xiaofei didn''t think that his rtives approved of her as his wife.


    "Yes, but don''t worry. They''re all bark but no bite." Lu Qingfeng tried to assure her. "They also know that offending you is directly disrespecting me as head of the family now. You are expected to be the one in charge of hosting events and parties for the family, aside from giving birth to my child."


    "Grandpa, Feifei is here."


    The old man immediately ceased talking and faced the couple. He broke into a wide smile as he saw Su Xiaofei.


    "Ah! My favorite Xiaofei is here." He eximed. "Come here, dear and let me introduce you to some of our rtives."


    Su Xiaofei stepped forward and was greeted by the sight of a couple, with the woman holding a familiar young boy in her arms.

 Chapter 586 The Shi Family (2)

    She quickly gave her husband a questioning look and Lu Qingfeng nodded in affirmation to her unspoken question. The young babe in his rtive''s arm was none other than Lu Junjie, albeit still a baby and was still living with his parents.


    Su Xiaofei''s heart clenched painfully at the sight of him. When she was still a ghost and Lu Qingfeng wasn''t at home for her to follow around, she usually tailed the young boy and knew of his grievances. She had watched Lu Junjie grow up from a young boy to a decent young man his parents could be proud of under Lu Qingfeng''s tutge.


    Lu Junjie always felt sad and empty, missing his parents. Although he and Lu Qingfeng were really close and had bonded like real father and son, there were times that the young boy would seek sce in thepany of his parents'' faded photograph.


    However, it wasn''t toote for her or for Lu Qingfeng to save his parents from their impending death. They still had enough time to make sure that Lu Junjie''s parents would be able to avoid the death g that awaited them.


    From what Su Xiaofei knew, Lu Junjie''s parents died because someone was hunting his mother for valuable information. They died while trying to escape their pursuers and ended up in a severe car crash one rainy night.


    "A-Feng, introduce your wife to your cousin. I need to receive this call for a moment." Grandpa Lu said, before whispering to Su Xiaofei, telling her not to worry over her new rtives.


    "Hello. I can''t believe that Su Xiaofei is our rtive now." Lu Junjie''s mother said bashfully, trying to soothe the crying infant in her arms but failing. She gave her husband a helpless look as neither of them managed to pacify their crying son.


    "Sorry about this. He''s usually calm and not a fussy kid." She gave Su Xiaofei an apologetic look, but thetter only smiled and dismissed her apology.


    "May I?" Su Xiaofei asked, gesturing to the crying child. She had never been good with children, as they would usually cry upon seeing her face. She didn''t know if it was because they found her hideous or scary.


    "May I hold him?" She repeated, seeing the parents'' confusion at her question.


    Lu Junjie''s mother hesitated for a moment, but then handed her son to Su Xiaofei without a question. She sped her hands together as if she was worried that the child would do something. Her son was unusually fussy today because of his swollen gums, but she and her husband couldn''t miss this rare gathering with the rest of the Lu n.


    Su Xiaofei drew the young infant close to her bosom and smiled as she gave the child a good look.She gave the child a gentle pat on his back and made a shushing sound in an attempt to calm him. She couldn''t believe she was holding him now. There were times in her past life when Lu Junjie would cry and she wanted to give him a reassuring hug, but it wasn''t possible back then.


    "Hello, Little One. I''m your new auntie now. You can call me Auntie Fei." She slightly gave the child a gentle bounce and the child immediately ceased his crying to look at her.


    The young Lu Junjie stared at her face for a moment and Su Xiaofei wondered if he would reject her. However, much to her relief, the child let out a high squeal and waved his tiny hands, attempting to touch her face.


    "He likes you." Lu Qingfeng whispered next to her as he allowed Lu Junjie to hold his forefinger. The child was attempting to put it in his mouth.


    "He''s teething, isn''t he?" Su Xiaofei chuckled as she noticed that Lu Junjie wanted to gnaw on something and cried when Lu Qingfeng pulled his finger away.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Lu Junjie''s mother pursed her lips and gave her husband an ''I told you so'' look. Instead of answering her, her husband decided to ask Su Xiaofei.


    "You can tell, Miss Su?"


    How could a socialite and rich heiress like Su Xiaofei know such things? He didn''t peg her as someone who likes being around children.


    "Please call me Xiaofei. We are family now." Su Xiaofei corrected Lu Qingfeng''s distant cousin. "It''s just a hunch because he keeps trying to put his fist in his mouth and he''s constantly pulling his ear."


    "That''s what I told him, Xiaofei. I told him Jun isn''t feeling well, but he insisted that we should attend tonight." Lu Junjie''s mother scoffed, while her husband rubbed his nape awkwardly.


    "I''m Shi Mingli and this is my husband, Lu Mingzhe. This is our son, Lu Junjie."


    Su Xiaofei beamed them a smile and allowed Lu Qingfeng to take his nephew from her. She then gave the couple a firm handshake.


    "I''m Su Xiaofei. I guess I don''t need to say more when everyone here seems to know who I am."


    "When Mingzhe told me that Xiao Feng knew you personally, I couldn''t quite believe his im." Shi Mingli''s expression softened upon seeing how the young couple took a liking to her young son. Lu Junjie hated being touched and held by others other than her and her husband.


    "He likes you and Xiao Feng. I can''t believe this."


    "Huh? Is he a difficult child?" Su Xiaofei nced at her husband who was now trying to tickle the child under his chin to make him giggle. She briefly wondered if Lu Qingfeng would do the same once their twins were born.


    "Not really." Lu Mingzhe shrugged. "Jun just doesn''t like people who wear perfumes and strong scents on them. He sneezed at them most of the time."


    "Such a sensitive nose." Su Xiaofei smiled.


    "Well, what can I say? He''s born in the Shi family." Shi Mingli giggled behind her hand. "My family is known for running a traditional apothecary. We tend to have sensitive noses, far superiorpared to normal people."

 Chapter 587 The Shi Family (3)

    Su Xiaofei gave her husband an inquisitive look, but judging by the way Lu Qingfeng''s brows furrowed, she knew right then that he had the same thought. Since the Shi family had been in the traditional apothecary for ages, would it be possible that Shi Mingli or other members of her family were aware of the nature of the cold poison?


    "I''m sure he will be fine." Shemented, her lips unconsciously curling up as Lu Junjie drooled on her husband''s ck jacket.


    Lu Qingfeng didn''t seem to mind the mess his nephew left on his clothes, but he passed the young child to his mother, barely aware that Shi Mingli was feeling a bit embarrassed in front of him. It was only when she apologized that he realized what happened.


    "It''s nothing to worry about." He told Shi Mingli nonchntly. "I have a spare one I can change into."


    "Does this mean that you are also a practitioner?" Su Xiaofei asked Shi Mingli, wanting to know if they could get a lead from her.


    "I-I used to, before meeting my husband and having our son, but I decided to retire."


    "That''s surprising to hear." Shemented. "I thought that the Han family was the only one who had stuck to practicing traditional medicine these days."


    "You know the Han family?" Shi Mingli asked in surprise.


    "Well, A-Feng and I are acquainted with Han Zijun." Su Xiaofei replied.


    Despite how popr medical technology and western medicine was these days, the Han family was still the most prominent traditional practitioners in the country. Although there were others who practiced the same profession, Han Zijun and his family remained one of the best over the past century, even known celebrities and politicians would try to curry their favor whenever possible.


    "I see." The older woman nodded in understanding. "I have heard about him, but unfortunately our Shi family''s business isn''t as flourishing as it used to be."


    "How so? Does it need some funding to keep it going?" It was Lu Qingfeng who asked Shi Mingli this time, subtly probing into the situation of her family business.


    "It''s just that no one in the family is willing to practice it anymore." Shi Mingli looked nervous.


    "Did something happen?" Lu Qingfeng continued to ask her, while Lu Junjie was trying hard to get Lu Qingfeng''s attention back at him.


    His cousin''s wife hesitated and bit her lower lip.


    "My grandfather encountered a mishap that took his life. Dad did the same, so no one tried to follow in their footsteps anymore." She admitted quietly before ncing helplessly at her husband.


    "A-Feng, could we talk somewhere else privately?" Lu Mingzhe said. "Actually, we came here to ask you a favor. It''s really important for us."


    His wife nodded in agreement, which was enough to warn Lu Qingfeng and Su Xiaofei of the severity of the death g that awaited Lu Junjie''s parents.


    It didn''t take too long for them all to move to a private room. Zhang Ling and Zhang Lan stood outside the door, making sure no one would try to eavesdrop or disturb them.


    "Brother Mingzhe, what''s going on?" Lu Qingfeng joined them, as soon as he changed into a fresh suit. He took a seat next to Su Xiaofei and took her hand in his.


    Lu Junjie had finally tired himself out and dozed off in his mother''s arms, who was now seated across from them. He was oblivious to the distress his parents were facing at that moment.


    "Actually, A-Feng, we were hoping if you''ll allow me to work for you and stay in one of the Lu family''s estates for the meantime. It is just¡­" He hesitated for a moment, as if he was trying to find the right words to convince the younger man to agree to his request.


    "Brother Mingzhe, you have to tell me what''s going on. Feifei and I wouldn''t be able to help you if you are hiding important details from us." Lu Qingfeng didn''t beat around the bush and forced his cousin to admit their problem.


    "Let me." Shi Mingli told her husband. "It''s my family''s problem that dragged you into this anyway."


    "How could you say that?" Lu Mingzhe frowned. "You are my wife. Do you think I will allow anyone to threaten you? I might not have the power to get rid of them, but I won''t stand still and do nothing!"<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Someone''s threatening Big Sister?" Su Xiaofei rose a slender brow, feigning surprise by the sudden outburst of the couple in front of them.


    Shi Mingli nodded, her eyes then lowered to her son.


    "Just as I said earlier, my grandfather, as well as my father, stumbled into a mishap. The Shi family has been running the apothecary for decades. We were once considered people with God''s hands because we were able to treat severe illnesses that normal doctors couldn''t cure. It wasn''t until my grandfather used his ability and created something that was against the values of our Shi family did things start to spiral out of control. He procured a dangerous poison."


    "The cold poison." Lu Qingfeng suddenly said, catching Shi Mingli off guard.


    "You''ve heard about it?" She gasped, but then recovered when she remembered what kind of person Lu Qingfeng was. "Of course, you do. There are rumors that it has already affected a few people."


    "Not just heard. Actually, we are looking for someone who can make the antidote. Someone poisoned my wife with it and Han Zijun is trying his best to cure her while keeping her pregnancy."


    "What?! How is this possible? There''s only one person I know that has the cold poison in his possession and that''s the person who''s hunting me down." Shi Mingli nced at Su Xiaofei and wondered how the young woman got poisoned. She didn''t think there was any connection between that man and Lu Qingfeng''s wife.


    "Does your grandfather know about this?" Lu Mingzhe asked him.


    Lu Qingfeng shook his head.


    "No. We would have allowed Han Zijun to properly treat Feifei if she wasn''t pregnant. Han Zijun told us that the treatments would be dangerous for the fetuses."


    "I see. So we are both in a conundrum then."


    "I''m sorry. I''m really sorry." Shi Mingli couldn''t keep her tears at bay and cried once she realized that her grandfather''s creation had harmed yet another person.


    "So you are running away from someone." Lu Qingfeng''s steady tone brought her back to the issue. "But why are you being hunted down when you''ve long retired from being a practitioner?"


    "Yes." Shi Mingli nodded. "Mingzhe and I have relocated a few times already to avoid being caught. But now that we have Jun, we both agreed to seek the protection of the Lu family in order to avoid them. They are trying to force me to make them more of the poison or hand them the form, but I wouldn''t."


    "Do you know how to make the antidote for it? I''ll make a deal with you right here, right now, if you can make it."


    Lu Qingfeng knew that he was being selfish for forcing Shi Mingli to help them. As part of the Lu family, he obviously needed to look after them without a question, but he doubted that this couple would ept his help and would think of it as a charity they didn''t deserve.


    Shi Mingli''s lips quivered as she knew that Lu Qingfeng was also in a desperate situation to treat his wife.


    "I know, but it''s harder to create than the poison itself. The raw materials alone aren''t easy to find these days."


    "Don''t worry about it. I will assign someone to collect them. As long as you can make the antidote for Feifei, I''m willing to give you the protection you and your family need. However, I will also need you to work alongside Han Zijun. Han Zijun wasn''t able to get rid of the poison from Feifei''s body in fear that it might retaliate and affect our children instead. Money is not an issue as long as you can provide the result I needed."


    Su Xiaofei opened her mouth to say something, but found herself rendered speechless. It seemed like her husband wasn''t taking any chances and was willing to find all possible ways to treat her and save not only her life, but also their twins. She tried not to be emotional by it and shut her eyes to stop her tears from falling.


    Shi Mingli paused and looked helplessly at Lu Qingfeng.


    "Please allow us to stay with you. If I must, I will help you procure the antidote to save Xiaofei. I''m willing to do anything as long as my son would be spared from bearing the consequences of my family''s sin."


    Lu Qingfeng didn''t give her an immedicate answer as he pondered their choices. Even if Shi Mingli was able to make the same cold poison, it was useless for Lu Qingfeng because the one he was after was the antidote for it.

 Chapter 588 Out Of Desperation (1)

    The news of Su Xiaofei''s marriage to the new CEO of Lu Corporation filled the headlines for the next several days. Her office had been bombarded with invitations for interviews and several media personnel camped out in front of Bluemedia''s headquarters, hoping to get a glimpse of thetest power couple in the country.


    However, their attempts were in vain because Su Xiaofei hadn''t been able to leave the ancestral Lu estate where she was now living with her husband, as the symptoms of her pregnancy had been keeping her from leaving.


    Su Xiaofei was hovering over the sink inside the bathroom, throwing up the contents of her stomach. The delicious food she had eaten that morning was now being flushed down the drain and only the bitterness of the bile was left in her mouth.


    "Should I give the Master a call and inform him of what''s happening?" Zhang Ling asked as she pulled Su Xiaofei''s hair away from her face as her mistress struggled to stay on her feet.


    Su Xiaofei shook her head and gargled water to remove the nasty bitterness from her mouth. She had never experienced any of these when she fell pregnant in her previous life, but thought that maybe it was because Mo Yuchen didn''t give her a chance to experience it as he had forced her to abort her pregnancy as soon as he found out.


    "There''s no need. Xi Qian should be arriving soon. It''s nothing to worry about, Zhang Ling, but thank you for your concern."


    Zhang Ling smiled and helped her mistress return to the bed and checked her temperature ording to Xi Qian''s instructions. As Su Xiaofei''s pregnancy progressed, the poison in her bloodstream started to react to the sudden spike of her hormones, giving her mild fevers and chills that was enough to send her husband into a state of panic.


    This was why she would rather wait for her best friend''s return instead of informing Lu Qingfeng of her current condition. Unlike her, Lu Qingfeng wouldn''t be able to take any leave from work since he had just assumed the highest position in theirpany. It would be difficult for him to be there and take care of her himself.


    She fell asleep before Xi Qian arrived with Shi Mingli.


    "How is she?" Xi Qian asked Zhang Ling as soon as she entered her best friend''s bedroom. Her heart ached seeing the slight paleness on Su Xiaofei''splexion.


    "She kept throwing up and couldn''t keep anything in." Zhang Ling sighed, ncing at her mistress worriedly. She had brought home the documents that Su Xiaofei needed to see, but as soon as she saw her mistress making a beeline to the bathroom again, she knew that the paperwork would need to wait.


    "It''s normal, Miss Zhang. As long as there isn''t any blood leaving her body, there''s no need to panic." Shi Mingli said, before taking a seat next to the chair by the bed and checking Su Xiaofei''s heartbeat.


    "How is it?"


    She was slightly relieved when Lu Qingfeng told her that Shi Mingli would be helping them look after Su Xiaofei. There''s a limit to what she could do to help her best friend and having Shi Mingli, who was more familiar with the cold poison, meant that they were closer to finding the remedy for Su Xiaofei''s illness.


    "A little faster than normal. Both her pregnancy and the poison could do that. I''ll brew something that could help her calm her upset stomach. This may persist for another week or two, so we better make sure that we replenish the nutrients she isn''t able to take on her own."


    Xi Qian nodded in agreement. Han Zijun had said the same thing and told her that he would leave the pregnancy matters to Shi Mingli while he continued to formte the antidote. Xi Qian thought that he might have willingly stepped back, knowing that Lu Qingfeng wasn''tfortable having a man look after his wife. They all know how possessive that tyrant was.


    The next time Su Xiaofei rose from her sleep, she heard a giggling sound of a baby and she wondered if she was dreaming. It was only when she saw Shi Mingli seated next to the bed, holding Lu Junjie, did she realize that she was awake.


    "Hi, Aunty Feifei. We''ve been waiting for you to wake up." Shi Mingli said yfully, waving her son''s hand towards Su Xiaofei.


    Su Xiaofei pulled herself up, leaning against the headboard. She grunted when she saw the stack of papers left on the desk a couple of meters from where she was. She didn''t need to ask Zhang Ling if those were the documents that needed her immediate attention.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "How are you feeling now? You''ve been asleep for at least five hours." Shi Mingli asked her while trying to cate her baby boy on herp.


    "I feel horrible." Su Xiaofei admitted with a grunt, feeling her stomach churning again, despite it being empty. "I know that this is normal for pregnant women, but why do we need to go through this?"


    "Who knows? Even us traditional doctors cannot exin such wonders." Shi Mingli asked. "No one knows the real cause of morning sickness during pregnancy, but its severity varies among women."


    "I''m kind of jealous of those women who don''t suffer morning sickness, but if this means that my babies are developing well, I don''t have any choice but endure it, right?" She smiled at the older woman. "I still can''t believe that there are two lives living inside of me."


    She rubbed her barely noticeable bump, her eyes softening as she wondered what her twins would look like. Su Xiaofei couldn''t wait to find out their gender and how many traits they get from Lu Qingfeng and how adorable they could be.


    For the first time since her rebirth, Su Xiaofei wanted to have something so desperately. Perhaps she was lucky that it was Lu Qingfeng whom she married this time and not the scumbag who took everything from her in her previous life.


    Su Xiaofei couldn''t think of anything but her children now and how much she wanted to live to be able to see them grow and spend the rest of her life with Lu Qingfeng. She believed that she was reborn for a reason, and she wouldn''t put it to waste by chasing after the revenge that not only could ruin her life, but also hurt her loved ones.


    "None of us are prepared to be parents. You know, when I married Lu Mingzhe, I told him that we cannot have a child until I''m able to settle the problem my grandfather started." She then chuckled and lifted up her chubby little boy for Su Xiaofei to see.


    "But look at this bundle of joy. He''s simply perfect and I''m willing to do everything for his sake. I just hope that when he grows up, he will never doubt our love for him."


    Lu Junjie made a high pitch squeal and waved his chubby arms, wanting to be held by Su Xiaofei. Shi Mingli gently brought him down the bed and the young boy struggled to crawl towards her aunt. Both women let out augh when he cried midway, noticing that he wasn''t making any progress.


    Su Xiaofei took pity on him and picked him up, allowing Lu Junjie to sit on herp and gently brushed his thin hair with her fingers.


    "I''m sure he wouldn''t. He would grow up as a young, handsome man who has a heart that listens to others and a mind that could see beyond deceit." Su Xiaofeimented, knowing how much Lu Junjie missed his parents, even after Lu Qingfeng adopted him. The young boy would never admit it to anyone, but he would speak of his woes and grievances to his parent''s photograph whenever he could.


    "Xiao Jun, I hope you''ll be good friends with my babies in the future. Be a good big brother to them, okay? If they start to fight over something trivial, you have to be patient with them. You have to wait for a few months though before you can y with them."


    Lu Junjie burst intoughter as if he understood her words, while his mother looked at Su Xiaofei with worry.


    "Xiaofei, I want to apologize to you." She said, knowing that merely saying sorry wouldn''t change anything.


    "Sister Mingli, is there a need for you to apologize? You''ve really been a good help to us these days."


    "No. I''m apologizing for my family''s misdeeds. If my grandfather didn''t make that poison, you wouldn''t be in this dangerous situation with your twins." Shi Mingli replied with a downcast expression on her face.


    "Now that you mention it. Why did your grandfather make such a poison? Did he want to kill someone so badly?" Su Xiaofei asked out of curiosity. "But you don''t have to tell me if you don''t want to. I''m merely curious about his reason."

 Chapter 589 Out Of Desperation (2)

    "I don''t know all the details." Shi Mingli replied. "but my father said that my grandpa fell into a great debt because of gambling, and in order to repay all of it, he agreed to making the cold poison that was initially believed to be a myth by everyone."


    Shi Mingli was very young when all of it happened. She could barely remember seeing her father in a heated argument with her grandfather. In her memories, she could remember her grandfather smiling and always cracking a joke to make herugh.


    "However, just when he thought his problems were solved, the man he was indebted to demanded him to make more of it. He must have realized the mistake he''d made, but it was toote, so he went into hiding. None of us knew where he was or what happened to him. It wasn''t until five years after his disappearance did we hear that someone found his dead body floating near the riverbanks."


    Su Xiaofei''s eyes widened in surprise. Why was it the same as Cai Lin''s sudden death? Was it just a coincidence or was the person behind those men''s deaths the same?


    When Shi Mingli left, taking Lu Junjie with her, Su Xiaofei had the small meal the woman prepared for her before doing the work that had been waiting for her since that morning. Thankfully, Zhang Ling had organized it ording to its importance, so she was able to finish the documents one at a time, before she reached a film proposal for Xiao Rufeng.


    After having a good rest, giving her a clearer mind, Su Xiaofei realized what Ye Mingyu was trying to achieve by copying Xiao Rufeng and riding her coattails.


    Ye Mingyu had once used the same method before with a fellow actress she worked with in their previous life. Ye Mingyu built up her reputation as a spare tire until the said actress encountered an ''ident''. In the end, her projects and endorsements easily fell into Ye Mingyu''s hand without question.


    ''It''s either Ye Mingyu has known about Xiao Rufeng''s rtionship with Yan Xiuchen, or she already has a n to stage Rufeng''s ident.''


    Su Xiaofei tried to recall the tricks that Ye Mingyu used in the past, but it was hard to remember things now that she was pregnant. Was it her hormones trying to mess with her brain? She wondered.


    She picked up her phone and dialed Xiao Rufeng''s number. She expected Xiao Rufeng to be home today, since her filming was rescheduled to another day. However, the one who answered wasn''t her friend, but Yan Xiuchen instead.


    "She''s taking a nap now. Is this important, President Su?"


    Su Xiaofei was about to say no, but decided to ask Yan Xiuchen''s opinion over the matter that she was dealing with Xiao Rufeng. The man listened to her concerns and didn''t interrupt her until she was done speaking.


    "Showbiz is such a dirty ce. I can''t believe Rufeng has to expose herself to such a dangerous workce." He muttered.


    Su Xiaofei only smiled and pondered his words. It had always been that way, although she tried her best for Bluemedia to give their talents the support they all needed. It was hard to keep up with thepetition nowadays and she knew that Xiao Rufeng would need to harden her heart if she wanted tost in this industry.


    "Despite the rumors and backstabbing, it''s her passion for acting that keeps her going." She said in response. "I just called to ask her if she''s willing to take daring roles after her filming with the TV series is done. Don''t worry. It''s nothing about showing more skin on the big screen."


    "I''m not worried about that." Yan Xiuchen replied. "I trust Rufeng, but not those around her. I''m still upset that she easily let her sister off the hook and let the judicial system decide on Xiao Yunyao''s fate. However, if what you said about Ye Mingyu is true, then I wouldn''t stay still and do nothing."


    "I would have given her her own security team, but I don''t want others to think that I''m favoring her and to notify Ye Mingyu that we are aware of her scheme."


    After all, Xiao Rufeng hadn''t reached the same status as Tang Liyan, so she cannot enjoy the perks of a queen without being one.


    "You sound so certain that this Ye Mingyu will harm Rufeng. I feel like there''s more to this than her being the illegitimate child of your adopted father."


    Su Xiaofei wasn''t expecting to hear that from him.


    "Let''s just say that there are things that can''t be forgotten." She said, not willing to disclose the real reason behind her animosity towards Ye Mingyu.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Mo Yuchen was smart enough not to seek her, but she wondered if he was reborn like her and Lu Qingfeng. It was getting harder for her to find an opening to take over Golden Star from the inside and she wondered if Mo Yuchen was aware of her ns.


    "Fine. You don''t have to tell me. Don''t worry about Rufeng''s safety. I will provide it." She heard Yan Xiuchen say.


    "Aren''t you afraid that your rtionship with her will be disclosed to the public? Because knowing Ye Mingyu, she might use you to ruin Xiao Rufeng''s reputation."


    The scarred man scoffed at her words as if she was saying nonsense.


    "You think I will allow that? I already have connections with major news outlets, Su Xiaofei. Only those media agencies who want easy money would publish Ye Mingyu''s nonsense against Rufeng."


    After the ordeal they faced with Xiao Yunyao in the past, Yan Xiuchen had taken it upon himself to make sure that no one would dare speak badly of his woman. He might not be a man that Xiao Rufeng could be with in public, but he would make sure that she wouldn''t regret choosing to be with him.


    ¡ª¡ª


    A month passed and Su Xiaofei''s pregnancy was shared with the rest of the Yun family. Her days were filled with nning to decorate one of the vacant rooms to turn into a nursery and trying to keep up with her work at Bluemedia.


    She couldn''t fully step back and leave the work to Yun Qingrong anyway. While Yun Qingrong returned to Bluemedia as an OIC, Su Xiaofei kept the authority on decision making for thepany.


    They also didn''t wait too long to find out the culprit of her poisoning because Chen Hao demanded that Su Xiaofei should give back the shares Su Haoran used to own to Ye Mingyu in exchange for the antidote he imed to have.


    She and Lu Qingfeng considered giving it back, but were stopped by Shi Mingli.


    "Neither my grandpa nor my father was able to make the antidote. Unless they have someone that could surpass Mr. Han''s intelligence and the form, I doubt that he really has the antidote. This might be a trick that could end badly for you, Xiaofei." She said, which made the couple decide to verify Chen Hao''s ims before giving him an answer.


    As for the Yun family, the Qiaos and her friends, they came to Shenjing to celebrate Lu Qingfeng''s twenty fourth birthday and throw a baby shower for them. The party had been amazing and fun until a strong wave of dizziness hit her and she fainted in front of everyone.


    When she woke up in the hospital, she found her mother in a chair next to her. She felt guilty seeing the worried expression on Yun Qingrong''s face. She hoped that neither Lu Qingfeng nor Han Zijun had told her about the poisoning.


    "What happened?" Su Xiaofei asked, as she tried to sit, but she felt dizzy and nauseous at the same time.


    "You fainted, darling." Yun Qingrong helped her to sit properly on the bed. "I need to go and get Han Zijun." She said, leaving her daughter with the Zhang siblings.


    Han Zijun walked into the room with Shi Mingli and Xi Qian. The look on their faces was enough to tell Su Xiaofei that she and her babies were in trouble. Lu Qingfeng rushed in, took in her appearance and held her hand as they waited for what Han Zijun would say.


    "Su Xiaofei, do you really want to keep this pregnancy? Because I''m telling you right now, it''s impossible for you to carry them to full term. You will be dead by then if we wait that long. The poison is starting to spread now. The centa is keeping your babies safe from the poison, but it wouldn''t do much for you."


    "How long do we have until it''s deemed safe to deliver the twins?" Lu Qingfeng asked, surprising Su Xiaofei. She could see now that her husband wasn''t willing to lose their twins and she wasn''t alone in this battle. She was now in the thirteenth week and her small baby bump was visible to everyone''s eyes.

 Chapter 590 Nip It In The Bud (1)

    Han Zijun had a conflicted expression on his face while Shi Mingli was looking at Su Xiaofei worriedly. They had expected that the poison would spread faster than usual in Su Xiaofei''s body due to her pregnancy, but not at this insane rate.


    "It''s hard to tell, but ideally, we should deliver the children between the twentieth and twenty fourth week if we''re still unable to make the antidote by then. We will try to keep the three of them alive, but I suggest that she take aplete bed rest starting today." Han Zijun replied.


    As Su Xiaofei looked at him, she noticed his dishevelled appearance and the slight darkening under his eyes, indicating that the man had been staying upte for days as he continued to work along with Shi Mingli.


    Lu Qingfeng nodded. Was it toote to consider granting Chen Hao and Ye Mingyu''s demands now?


    He shook his head. Su Xiaofei refused to give Ye Mingyu the satisfaction that thetter was able to fuck up their lives for the second time. By giving in to their demands, it would also mean that they would try to cause more trouble in the future for Bluemedia.


    The sudden news of Su Xiaofei stepping back from Bluemedia had caused several rumors about her being pregnant, but it was something neither she nor thepany had confirmed. Even Lu Qingfeng''s rtives had been giving him a call to ask him about the said rumors.


    "Then Feifei will carry the baby until then." He decided. "How about her treatments? Are you nning to increase the dose of her meds?"


    "We will proceed as nned." Han Zijun responded. "Miss Shi and I are just waiting for theb results to be out and we will start working on the antidote while keeping Su Xiaofei''s treatments under the same dosage."


    "Please don''t tell my mother. She doesn''t need to worry more than she already does." Su Xiaofei requested, tears blurring her vision. She was starting to hate herself for putting her family, especially Lu Qingfeng, in this difficult situation.


    "Don''t cry, Feifei. We haven''t said anything to your mother." Her husband reassured her.


    Su Xiaofei was allowed to return home and was immediately put on bedrest just as Han Zijun instructed. All of her meals and drinks were tested before she ate and Lu Qingfeng made sure to provide anything she might need to cure her boredom.


    The next day, Su Xiaofei received an unexpected guest. She hadn''t anticipated that Bai Qingyue would try to seek her again after their encounter at the hospital. Zhang Lan hesitated to leave the room and decided to stay, just to make sure that the actress wouldn''t try to do something to their mistress.


    "What are you doing here?" She frowned at Bai Qingyue as soon as she settled on her cushion seat.


    "You are really pregnant?" The queen''s eyes rested on Su Xiaofei''s growing belly in surprise.


    Su Xiaofei said nothing and only gave her mother a nk look.


    "I guess Ye Mingyu wasn''t lying when she imed that you are. Is she also telling the truth when she said that you are dying?" The actress continued to question her.


    "Is that why you are here?" Su Xiaofei raised a slender brow at her. "You couldn''t wait to get rid of me, can you?"


    "Nonsense. I might not like the idea of hanging my dirtyundry in public, but I will never wish ill on my only child." Bai Qingyue grimaced. "Ye Mingyu came to me and threatened to reveal our rtionship in public. She wants me to help her grow her connections in the industry by introducing her as my mentee."


    "Oh?"


    Su Xiaofei wasn''t surprised to hear that Ye Mingyu wasn''t wasting her time to advance her career by taking advantage of Bai Qingyue''s secret, but she didn''t expect that Bai Qingyue held a bit of concern towards her. However, if there was one thing she knew about her biological mother, it would be Bai Qingyue hated being threatened by anyone.


    "So what now? You agreed with her?" She couldn''t help but ask.


    The superstar actress remained silent, looking at her cup of tea instead.


    "I didn''t, but I expect that she would try again."<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Aren''t you afraid that she will ruin your reputation in public? You haven''t been involved in any scandal for a long time and she might really drag your name into the dirt this time." Su Xiaofei reminded her.


    "And then what? Allow someone as haughty as her to think that she can bully my daughter? A no-name actress like her who hasn''t proven anything yet. Why should I feel threatened by her when I can just get rid of her for good?" Bai Qingyue chuckled darkly. "You should have done it from the very start, Xiaofei. You shouldn''t have given her any opportunity to antagonize you. You should have nipped it in the bud even before it blooms."


    "Heh. I guess I''m not as vicious and merciless as you, Mom." Su Xiaofei said thest word with mockery in her eyes.


    Zhang Ling shared a knowing look with her elder sister, thinking that the apple didn''t really fall far from the tree, seeing how this mother and daughter conversed.


    "So did she indeed poison you? Will you and your children be alright?"


    Su Xiaofei only made a nonmittal sound.


    "Pregnant and poisoned. Ye Mingyu surely knows how to take advantage of the situation. She has be a thorn in my side that I need to get rid of as soon as possible." She muttered. She then noticed that Bai Qingyue couldn''t tear her gaze away from her stomach.


    "I''m carrying twins, if that''s what you want to ask and no, we don''t know the gender yet."


    Bai Qingyue snapped out of her gaze and stared at her daughter with surprise, as if she hadn''t expected that Su Xiaofei would willingly disclose such information to her.


    "I''m not expecting anything from you. You couldn''t be a mother to me, so I don''t expect that you want to be involved in their lives once I give birth to them."


    Bai Qingyue had no words to refute what her daughter had just said. Her conflicted expression made Su Xiaofei wonder if this woman suddenly had a change of heart. Till this day, she couldn''t fathom how Bai Qingyue''s mind works. Maybe she would never be able to understand her mother.


    "Understandable." Bai Qingyue nodded. "There are roles that even I cannot y willingly and ordingly."


    She then gave her daughter a pointed stare, a little upset that Su Xiaofei hadn''t done anything to retaliate against Ye Mingyu after what thetter did to her.


    "You have to live, Xiaofei. Promise me you will live and get through this. I know what''s going on with Ye Mingyu and Xiao Rufeng, so don''t worry about your little queen. I will take her under my wing instead of Ye Mingyu."


    Su Xiaofei chuckled and cupped her chin amusedly. Her mother''s proposition would surely benefit her and Xiao Rufeng greatly.


    "That''s so kind of you, Mother, but you shouldn''t take Ye Mingyu''s threat lightly. What if she really did disclose that you abandoned me in favor of your bright future? Even Mo Yuchen and Golden Star wouldn''t be able to save you."


    "Then I will jump to your ship and sign under Bluemedia instead. I haven''t made any intention of renewing my contract with Golden Star anyway." Bai Qingyue said without batting an eyelid. "It''s not that hard to twist the information, as long as we know how to gain the public''s sympathy. People like to hear what they want to hear." She added.


    "So you mean to say that you want to lie instead?" Su Xiaofei wasn''t surprised that Bai Qingyue was willing to do anything to save face in public.


    The actress shrugged. She had been in the industry long enough to know how to deal with a scandal. She wouldn''t have reached this far if she didn''t know how to deal with them. Also, it wasn''t the first time that someone attempted to ckmail her by threatening to expose the fact that she had a child out of wedlock.


    "A little lie won''t hurt. A rising star that was frequently abused by her parents had to give up her child for adoption. Ye Mingyu may continue to throw mud and try to ruin our names in public, but that would backfire on her sooner orter."


    Somehow, Su Xiaofei couldn''t doubt her mother''s words. Bai Qingyue spoke with a glint of rage in her eyes, especially when she mentioned Ye Mingyu. It made her wonder if Bai Qingyue was enraged by the fact that Ye Mingyu was using her to threaten her mother.


    "Do as you wish, but don''t me me if things don''t go your way." She answered, thinking how odd it was for her to have a decent conversation with Bai Qingyue now.

 Chapter 591 Nip In The Bud (2)

    Xiao Rufeng had returned homete at night, only to find her father still awake in his private study, his head hovering over the pile of documents that were stacked on his table. Seeing him like this, she wondered if their family business would be fine when he had no one to help him to manage thepany anymore.


    It had been fine when Xiao Yunyao was around to help him before, but now that her younger sister was gone, the burden fell on him. He lifted his head and smiled when he saw her at the doorway. Xiao Rufeng stepped inside and shed her outer coat before greeting her father.


    "Is everything alright, Dad?" She asked as she took a seat across from her father, eyeing the messy table between them.


    "Nothing that I can''t manage, Feng''er. Although this would take a lot for me to finish."


    Seeing the conflicted expression on her face, he continued.


    "It''s nothing to worry about, Feng''er. You do what you need to do. I''m not asking you to give up your acting career just to seed me in thepany. I realized that more than your sister and your stepmother, it was me who had hurt you the most for years. I''m really sorry, Feng''er. I should have listened to you."


    "But wouldn''t that be for the better?" She retorted. "Yunyao isn''t here to lessen your workload now and it would be hard to hire a decent manager these days."


    Xiao Rufeng then wondered if Yan Xiuchen would be able to help her to scout for one. If it would help to reduce the workload and pressure on her father, then she wouldn''t mind being indebted to Yan Xiuchen.


    Her father smiled at her suggestion, but eventually shook his head. He couldn''t allow his eldest daughter to suffer more because of him. After all, it was his mistake that left them in this situation. If he hadn''t been blinded by his other daughter''s viciousness, Yan Xiuchen wouldn''t havee knocking on their door, seeking vengeance on his Yaoyao.


    "Rufeng, I have done all of these before. It''s not like I''m helpless and clueless."


    Xiao Rufeng frowned at her father''s words. Indeed, her father had been able to make their family business flourish through hard work. However, at his current age, she believed that he should be enjoying his retirement rather than cleaning after the mess her younger sister left behind.


    It wasn''t like she felt guilty or took pity on Xiao Yunyao, because after everything that her younger sister had done to her, it only proved that they wouldn''t be able to see each other as sisters. Xiao Yunyao had repeatedly crossed the line and eventually touched her bottomline. The more Xiao Rufeng thought about it, the more she understood Yan Xiuchen and Su Xiaofei''s reasoning.


    It was bad enough that even their father''s marriage with Xiao Yunyao''s mother had ended along with it, which only meant that he had no one else to rely on but Xiao Rufeng.


    "That''s true, Dad. But you have to remember that you aren''t as strong and as healthy as before. It''s different now. I don''t want you to overwork. Can''t we just hire someone to help you manage thepany or someone trustworthy that we can promote? It would be better if we could delegate the work you have rather than doing everything on your own again."


    Her father didn''t respond immediately and considered her suggestion. While it was true that he can hire another to help him manage theirpany, he still wanted Xiao Rufeng to be involved with it.


    "Do you n on being an actress for the rest of your life?" He suddenly asked, catching his daughter off guard.


    "I haven''t given it a good thought." She admitted. "I didn''t even think I''d make it this far."


    Her father chuckled amusedly. It used to hurt looking at his eldest, but now, he noticed that Xiao Rufeng had grown up to be a beautiful woman he and his first wife could be proud of.


    "You are just like your mother. Both of you are quite persistent when you decide to do something. I guess that''s why I wasn''t able to convince you to return home and manage thepany with Yaoyao. Your mother would be proud of you if she was here with us."


    Xiao Rufeng said nothing as she noticed how her father''s face fell upon the mention of her deceased mother and Xiao Yunyao. She didn''t need to ask to know that he was missing them, especially her mother.


    "Have you and Yan Xiuchen talked about your ns for the future?" He asked curiously.


    Ever since his eldest introduced Yan Xiuchen as her lover, he''d been curious about the said man.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Xiao Rufeng had no idea how to answer her father. She and Yan Xiuchen had only agreed to keep their rtionship private ording to his request. As for their ns for the future, neither of them had mentioned it. They were content with what they had now, enjoying each other''spany.


    "Tell me he''s serious about you, Feng''er. Thest thing I want for you is to have your heart broken by another man. I wouldn''t be able to forgive Yan Xiuchen if he hurt you. I hope he''s treating you better than I did."


    "Dad. You are thinking too much!" She eximed, her cheeks feeling warm from her father''s words. "He isn''t like that and he''s treating me very well. I trust him."


    Thinking about it, being with Yan Xiuchen was far better than being with any of her exes in the past. Xiao Rufeng could truly be herself around Yan Xiuchen. He was also very patient with her and hadn''tined once, even when they could barely see each other due to her hectic filming schedule.


    "That''s good. I don''t care if he''s a business tycoon. If he makes you cry, I will make him pay for it." Her father replied, much to her irritation. Xiao Rufeng knew that he was just trying to rile her up by using Yan Xiuchen.


    The next day, she woke up early and drove towards the Yan Mansion to visit Yan Xiuchen. She hadn''t seen him since the Lu family''s session party and was eager to be with him after days of being apart from each other.


    As soon as she parked her car and walked to the front door, Elder Meng appeared and weed her.


    "Elder Meng, Good morning! Is Yan Xiuchen busy? Do I need to wait?" She asked with a warm smile. It suddenly felt like it''s been too long since she had been here. Xiao Rufeng realized that it wasn''t just Yan Xiuchen she was missing, but the days she used to spend here as well.


    The older manughed and politely let her inside before closing the double doors behind them. Xiao Rufeng was dressed casually in a in white shirt, blue denim pants and white sneakers. The red jacket she was wearing earlier was draped over one arm, while a pair of dark sunsses rested on the bridge of her nose.


    "Master Yan is currently in a conference, but it shouldn''t take long since he knows that you are arriving today." He replied, his eyes taking in her appearance and noticing the slight bruise on her arms. "Master wouldn''t be impressed once he sees those bruises."


    Xiao Rufeng shrugged and adjusted her sleeves, as if it was enough to cover the bruises she got yesterday during their filming.


    "Thest few scenes for the series were intense. I didn''t even realize I had them until my assistant brought a lot of ice and medicine as soon as she saw them."


    "Then you should be more careful in the future, Rufeng." Yan Xiuchen''s voice startled her for a moment.


    She turned her head to her right and saw him walking towards them. With a slight nod from Yan Xiuchen, Elder Meng excused himself and left the couple alone.


    Yan Xiuchen pulled her arm gently and looked closely at her darkening bruise, his brows furrowing together as if the mark offended him greatly.


    "I don''t like you being hurt, Rufeng. It pains me to see your body marred with these."


    "You are worrying too much." She sighed before cupping his scarred face, drawing him closer to her. "It will heal, but I''ve been careful enough to check the props just in case someone decides they''ve had enough of ying the side character."


    "It doesn''t matter if you have the lead role or not, because for me you''ll be the only one."


    Xiao Rufeng yfully smacked his shoulder and pouted, but her eyes were shining with happiness in them.


    "You know how to flirt now? Who are you and what did you do to my darling?! I demand that you return him at once!"


    He raised a slender brow at her and Xiao Rufeng''s face turned beet red when he suddenly pulled her into his arms, her chest pressing against his strong form.

 Chapter 592 Eternal Spell (1)

    Xiao Rufeng intended to spend her whole weekend with Yan Xiuchen. She had been content with the way her life was going and didn''t think there''s anyone who would be able to sour her mood. Neither she nor Yan Xiuchen had mentioned anything about her younger sister, though she knew that he''d been keeping an eye on Xiao Yunyao.


    Perhaps he had considered the thought that Xiao Yunyao might seek revenge towards her. Yan Xiuchen had vowed that nothing was going toe between them. Not a crazy little sister, not their families nor her avid fans.


    She wasn''t the only one who had been busy anyway. Yan Xiuchen was doing his best to clear his calendar and make sure to spare some time to talk to her, but it had been hard. It was the time of the year that Yan Xiuchen needed to do his annual inspection, so he was all over the country for the past weeks, so they hadn''t seen each other.


    There were times that Xiao Rufeng was feeling needy and wanted to talk to him more, but she had been content in waiting for a bit because he always made time for her and Yan Xiuchen never failed to do so.


    It wasn''t like they never encountered a problem. Just like any other couple, there were times when she couldn''t understand him and had to be patient with him. Though Xiao Rufeng wanted to think that she was the luckiest woman on earth to have him, Yan Xiuchen wasn''t a person who was vocal with his feelings, but he would make sure she knew she was loved by him through his actions.


    "Are you sure this is enough?"


    Xiao Rufeng broke off from her trance when Yan Xiuchen asked her. They were working in his kitchen as she insisted that they needed to try some recipes she''d seen online.


    "Yes. The recipe calls for 10 grams. It should be alright." She answered with a slight blush on her cheeks.


    Dear Lord, she really had it bad with him. Despite the fact that they were together now, Yan Xiuchen was still able to make her heart flutter from the sight of him. His eyes would always light up whenever he saw her and that was enough for Xiao Rufeng to know that he wanted her.


    Didn''t he know how handsome he was in her eyes? Just by looking at him made her remember the dirty and intimate things they had done behind closed doors. Xiao Rufeng had no doubt that her boyfriend would be popr with thedies if his face wasn''t marred with scars.


    Some people might find his scars hideous to look at, but it made her all hot and bothered and she had to press her legs together in a poor attempt to stop herself from being turned on by the sight of him. She cleared her throat and tried to focus on the matter at hand, hoping that Yan Xiuchen hadn''t noticed her burning cheeks.


    ¡ª-


    As Xiao Rufeng worked in his kitchen, wanting to bake something for them to enjoy, Yan Xiuchen couldn''t take his eyes off her. Even when her cheeks were dusted with flour as she identally spilled some on her clothes, she still looked beautiful in his eyes. She looked a little stressed though, which he was sure it was because of the uing premiere of the second season of the series she was starring in along with Ye Mingyu.


    "Calm down, Rufeng. You look stressed and uneasy. Do you want to tell me what''s bothering you?" He asked as he leaned against the counter, waiting for his girlfriend to calm down.


    "Is it obvious?" Xiao Rufeng smiled awkwardly, trying to smooth her shirt. "Sorry. I just don''t know what to expect after the series is over. Su Xiaofei hasn''t informed me of any other project being offered to me."


    "I know you, Rufeng. You would chatter non stop whenever something bothers you. You have this look on your face that tells me you are worried about something. I had a word with Su Xiaofei before and from the way it is going, I think she already has a n in mind."


    "But I should be receiving offers and endorsements right now. Ye Mingyu have already secured some and the series hasn''t even wrapped up yet. What if I''m not really as relevant as I thought I am?" She said worriedly.


    "You didn''t fuck up, Rufeng. You just need to be patient. Why don''t you take a break and rx, now that the filming is almost over?" Yan Xiuchen suggested, picking up one of the eirs Xiao Rufeng baked earlier and nibbled delicately on it.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "This is amazing! If you ever get tired of acting and want to pursue a career in baking, let me know. I''ll be the first one to invest in your bakery."


    Xiao Rufengughed at his words, but Yan Xiuchen was dead serious with his suggestion. He liked spoiling her, but it was obvious that she wouldn''t want to receive neither expensive jewelry nor and title many businessmen would covet to own.


    He didn''t care how much it would cost him, nor did he care if another man could provide it for her. All he knew was that if someone wasing to hurt or take away his woman, he''d make them pay for it.


    "Hmm¡­ but I don''t like to cook for people." She quietly admitted while stirring the batter in the mixing bowl she was holding. "I like baking, but I don''t think it''s a career I would like to pursue. It''s supposed to help me rx and calm down, not be another headache I need to endure."


    She smiled when she saw the affectionate look on his face and somehow, her woes were forgotten. Perhaps she was overthinking things and it didn''t help that she''d been constantlypared to Ye Mingyutely. That woman seemed to have changed overnight and it''s frightening.


    ¡ª-


    Yan Xiuchen woke up with Xiao Rufeng in his arms. It was one of the things he looked forward to whenever she came to visit. He loved the feeling of her warmth next to her. His hand reached out and brushed her hair away from her face, marveling at what good deed he had done to be able to be loved by someone like her. She was like a dream that came true.


    "You''re beautiful to me. Your scars are the part of you that I like. They are a reminder of how strong you''ve be." Xiao Rufeng once told him and she had gently touched the scars that ran from his shoulder down to his chestst night.


    Xiao Rufeng groaned and rolled to her side, wanting to sleep a little more, knowing that she wouldn''t be needed anywhere except here, next to Yan Xiuchen. Her arms reach for him, intending to trap him in the bed with her.


    "Morning." He whispered, as he brushed her hair away again. "Can''t we stay here in bed a little longer?" She asked.


    "Rufeng, as much as I want to stay in bed a little longer with you, I have a video conference in an hour. I need to get ready." Yan Xiuchen gently peeled her hands off his arm and slid out of the bed, allowing her to sleep longer.


    He covered his nakedness with a robe and nced at the woman who decided to return to her slumber as soon as he left. Her bare back exposed for him to see. The marks left on her smooth skin was a reminder of yet another passionate night they shared.


    Yan Xiuchen had thousands of things he could say right then. She was like a siren who had put him under an eternal spell. She had ruined him and he knew that he wouldn''t be able to look at another woman without thinking of her.


    Meeting Xiao Rufeng had been one of the best things that ever happened in his life, aside from meeting his brothers. However, being romantically involved with her had made him the happiest he could remember. She challenged him to be better, delighted him in everything and now, even though he had a feeling that he had known this woman for a very long time, Xiao Rufeng still managed to surprise him once in a while.


    Suddenly, he desperately wanted to see his future with her. He would move heaven and earth to have her by his side forever. He wanted her to stay here with him forever, but Yan Xiuchen knew that it was still too early for them to consider marriage. Not when she had a lot more to aplish as an actress.


    Suddenly her phone rang, but Xiao Rufeng didn''t budge from the bed to answer it. It seemed like she really decided to leave everything momentarily behind her as she slept.


    Yan Xiuchen shook his head and picked up her phone. His eyes narrowed dangerously when he saw the name shing on its screen.

 Chapter 593 Eternal Spell (2)

    Jin Qiu''s name shed on Xiao Rufeng''s phone. Yan Xiuchen''s eyes narrowed, wondering what the other man wanted from his girlfriend now. Jin Qiu had stood up for and protected Xiao Yunyao despite finding out the horrible things Xiao Yunyao had done to her sister. He would never understand why Jin Qiu had chosen the younger Xiao sister, but it didn''t matter now, since Yan Xiuchen had no ns on giving up Xiao Rufeng.


    He pondered for a moment if he should answer the phone call or not. He wondered if Jin Qiu had finally realized his mistake and wanted to make amends with Xiao Rufeng? Although Yan Xiuchen trusted that Xiao Rufeng wouldn''t see another man behind his back, it didn''t mean that other men wouldn''t try to seek after her. In the end, Yan Xiuchen chose to wake Xiao Rufeng up and handed her the ringing phone.


    "What is it?" She grumbled, sitting up and allowing the sheets to gather on herp, exposing her bare chest in sight.


    Yan Xiuchen was taken aback and blinked twice in surprise. Xiao Rufeng has been getting bolder and more confidenttely.


    "Jin Qiu is persistently calling you. I think you should answer him."


    Xiao Rufeng huffed and hit the answer button. She didn''t need to ask to know that Jin Qiu was calling her because of Xiao Yunyao.


    "You better give me a good reason why you''re waking me up early on my day off." She said with irritation.


    "Yaoyao''s trial starts today. Can''t you help her?" Jin Qiu said from the other end of the line and it only irritated Xiao Rufeng further.


    "Of course I know that her trial starts today, but why would you think I will help her after all she has done against me? Even Dad couldn''t tolerate her any longer. She''s on her own now." Xiao Rufeng reminded him, adjusting the sheets to cover her chest while Yan Xiuchen decided to take a seat next to her, wanting to know what Jin Qiu was up to.


    "She''s still your sister, Rufeng. She doesn''t have anyone right now." Xiao Rufeng could hear the disappointment in his voice, but she didn''t give a damn of what Jin Qiu was thinking right now.


    "You''re lying again, Jin Qiu. She still has you, doesn''t she? You decided to stay with her although you know that your family disapproves of her already." Xiao Rufeng pointed out. Ever since that night, Jin Qiu''s parents had called to cancel the engagement between the two and were now seeking out other eligible women for their son.


    Jin Qiu didn''t have a word to refute her words, which only proved that Xiao Rufeng was right.


    "We''re both wasting time here, Jin Qiu. There''s nothing else I can do to help Yaoyao. The only way she would be able to get through this is to prove that she''s innocent, which we both know that she''s not. If there''s nothing else, then please don''t call me anymore." She said, ending the phone call even before Jin Qiu could say another word.


    "He really doesn''t know when to give up." Yan Xiuchenmented as Xiao Rufeng leaned her head against his shoulder.


    "He had it bad for her." She agreed with his observation. Xiao Rufeng had never thought that Jin Qiu would throw his logical mind to the wind for Xiao Yunyao.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "I also have it bad for you, but you don''t see me doing something stupid and using you as a reason for it." Yan Xiuchen pointed out, immediately making her blush from his words.


    "Don''t be silly. You don''t need topare yourself to him, because you are far better than him." She replied, thinking that she was lucky that Jin Qiu didn''t reciprocate her feelings because it led her to a man that could love her with all his might.


    Yan Xiuchen gathered her into his arms and held her close. "You trust me that much?"


    She craned her neck to look at his face, her brows pulled together.


    "What kind of question is that? Of course, I do. I don''t understand how others can''t stand being with you when you are so easy to love." Xiao Rufeng then shifted and threw a leg over his hips and moved to straddle him. With her hair still a mess and body lit up by the faint morning sun, she looked like some kind of goddess who trespassed his world and took everything from him.


    Yan Xiuchen blinked and tried not to smile at her words. It was enough for him that Xiao Rufeng loved him. He didn''t care if the rest of the world didn''t like him. The way she easily voiced her love for him made him feel a lot.


    "Speaking of trust, we don''t need to use protection anymore."


    This was something she forgot to discuss with him yesterday and she hoped that he wouldn''t get mad at her for getting a birth control device from the hospital.


    He looked at her confusedly as he set his hands on her hips.


    "Are you sure? Su Xiaofei and your father will surely skin me alive if I suddenly knock you up. You don''t have to do this, Rufeng." As much as he wanted to be inside her without a barrier separating them, Yan Xiuchen didn''t want her to regret her decision in the future.


    "Do you not want to? Because it''s okay if you aren''t ready for it. I know something like this would need both of our consent. If you''re notfortable with it, it''s okay. We can continue using condoms." She shrugged.


    "And why do you suddenly want to stop using any protection?" He raised a brow at her.


    Xiao Rufeng bit her lip and rested both of her hands over his shoulder. Unlike their previous lovemaking, she was more confident to show her body to him now. He liked that she wasn''t acting like walking on eggshells when she was with him.

 Chapter 594 R18 Eternal Spell (3)

    "Well, I had a discussion with Feifei and Qian. Feifei ended up pregnant despite her and her husband choosing to stick to using protection and her not taking pills. Qian suggested that I get an IUD just in case. She said that I can choose to remove it whenever we are ready to start a family and have a baby."


    Yan Xiuchen chuckled. If Su Xiaofei approved, then there was nothing to worry about. He also liked how considerate Xiao Rufeng was towards him. He was also d that she was considering spending her future with him.


    "Did I cross the line? I''m so sorry if I didn''t discuss this with you before getting one." Xiao Rufeng said when he didn''t say anything. Xi Qian had arranged her meeting with a doctor as soon as Su Xiaofei gave her a go-signal.


    Yan Xiuchen shook his head and cupped the side of her face, drawing her closer. He didn''t think there would be a day that he wouldn''t love this woman. As for her deciding to get an IUD on her own volition, he had no problem with it. It''s her own body anyway and he had no right to decide what was good or not for her as long as it would not affect her health.


    "It''s fine. I just didn''t expect that you would do this for me. If you change your mind, just tell me and we''ll go back to using protection."


    "It''s not just for you, you know. As much as I love you, we both know we are quite not ready for a baby. Give me a few more years then we''ll talk about it." Xiao Rufeng melted against his chest, meeting him halfway for a kiss.


    His hands slid around her back, lying on his back when she pushed him, his hard length pressing against her entrance that made her gasp between their kisses. When she pulled away, he gave her enough time to change her mind, but she didn''t. Instead, Xiao Rufeng tugged his robe open and set herself on top of him, working the tip to slide inside of her.


    "You feel so good. I love it when you''re inside of me." She admitted breathlessly.


    Yan Xiuchen loved it too. His eyes darkened with desire as his woman took the lead. He could feel her wetness between her legs and it only made him harder than he already was.


    She moaned and mmed all the way down, sheathing his hard length to the hilt. Yan Xiuchen rested his hands on her upper thighs, feeling heady with desire and need as he felt her inner walls gripping him tight.


    It started to feel better when she started moving, rolling her hips as she pressed her hands to his chest and rode him slowly. Yan Xiuchen tried hard not to shut his eyes as he watched himself disappear into her as she continued to move on top of him. The feeling of her without protection was too much for him. He knew right then that he wouldn''t be able tost long this time, and could only hang on to give Xiao Rufeng the satisfaction she needed.


    "Please touch me, love." She begged. "Touch me, please¡­ and make me feel good."


    Yan Xiuchen cursed inwardly, but did as he was told. He palmed one of her breasts and teased its tip, while his other hand moved between her legs and traced slow circles around her clit with his thumb.


    Xiao Rufeng threw her head back and cried out, her strokesing faster, walls clenching around him tightly. It was too much for Yan Xiuchen and as soon as his woman reached her peak, he rolled them to switch positions.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Xiao Rufeng hadn''t recovered yet but Yan Xiuchen mmed back inside her, pumping himself hard, sending her high into another orgasm while he lost himself. She could only clung unto him, nails digging on his broad back as he drove himself inside of her. Each stroke created a delicious friction between them, soaring their pleasure to unimaginable heights.


    He leaned down and nipped her earlobe, hands palming her breast as he continued to push his way inside her.


    "Gods above, I love you." His voice was rough. "I love you so much that the days when I''m not with you feels painstakingly slow."


    Xiao Rufeng opened her mouth to say something. She wanted to tell him that she felt the same, but his brutal thrusts didn''t give her a chance to utter a response. Her mind was clouded with pleasure and she could only nod and hold to his wrists as she parted her thighs wider until she felt herselfing for the second time.


    Who cares if Xiao Yunyao was spending the rest of her life behind bars? She would rather be here with Yan Xiuchen than be anywhere else.


    She shut her eyes in pleasure and felt Yan Xiuchen following her over the edge, spilling himself inside her. She then felt his mouth descend into hers and kissed her deeply. A momentter, he pulled out from her, leaving her feeling empty. Heid next to her while cing gentle kisses on the knuckle of her left hand.


    "You seeded in keeping me in bed. I think I''ll bete for my conference meeting." He said, ncing at the time on the nightstand.


    Xiao Rufengughed and grinned at him.


    "You are the one who couldn''t keep his hands off of me, CEO Yan, how is it my fault now? But I do agree. Let''s get moving. I''m kinda curious now how the trial would affect Yunyao. I know Dad won''te to see her."


    She was up by then and strode across the room naked, and disappeared into the bathroom without waiting for him.


    "Hey. Are youing or not? I thought you''re in a hurry? Let''s save some time by sharing a shower."


    Yan Xiuchen couldn''t stop a smile from spreading on his lips. Her teasing tone was enough to convince him to join her. He then climbed out of bed and stalked towards the bathroom.

 Chapter 595 Road To Stardom (1)

    Xiao Rufeng decided to apany Yan Xiuchen that day. Although it was Sunday, the man still hadmitments he needed to fulfill. After his hour-long video conference, Yan Xiuchen invited her to go out for a walk, although he specifically implied that it was more like her apanying him to work.


    Before going out, he asked her for a favor to put some concealer over his scars because he intended to do a secret inspection at a townhouse he recently acquired that was located in a high end, executive vige. She dly epted his request and immediately started working on his face.


    "Are you sure you''d rather go with me than see your sister''s trial?" He asked as Xiao Rufeng focused her attention on his face. She looked so serious as she applied makeup on his face.


    "What for? The media will be providing us with the details of the trial anyway." She shrugged. "I only intend to see how it will end once the jury delivers their verdict."


    Although she knew that Xiao Yunyao wouldn''t spend the rest of her life behind bars, she knew Yan Xiuchen would drag her younger sister''s name to the mud, ruining her reputation. It was Yan Xiuchen''s way of punishing her and Xiao Rufeng wasn''t interested in convincing him to change his mind.


    Once they were dressed in their disguises, with her sporting short brown hair and bluish green contact lenses, the two first drove to visit a shopping mall that Yan Xiuchen owned. Xiao Rufeng had been to this ce before, but as a celebrity promoting her endorsements and projects, not as a casual shopper.


    This big city was filled with skyscrapers, and the buildings nearly blocked her sight from seeing the sky. However, the shopping mall that the Yan family owned stopped at four stories. Despite that, the ce wasrger in terms of floor areapared to the nearby establishments.


    Various people walked around them. Some were dressed in casual business suits, while others were in jeans and in shirts. Xiao Rufeng was d that she came with Yan Xiuchen today, because it had been a while since she went out without worrying of being swarmed by people and fans.


    "Do you want to look around first?" Yan Xiuchen asked, allowing her to hook her arm with his.


    She beamed him a wide smile, which made Yan Xiuchen hold his breath.


    "You don''t mind? Would you show me around?"


    He shrugged as he led her inside the shopping mall, only releasing her for a moment to get past the security at the entrance. As soon as she was done, Xiao Rufeng held his arm and smiled like an excited child that was promised her favorite doll.


    "I''m just worried that your feet will hurtter." Yan Xiuchen replied.


    "Ah. I know what you mean, love. That''s why I chose to wear these tfy sneakers. I just want to understand how you run your business empire. Maybe I could learn a thing or two and use it in an appropriate role."


    Yan Xiuchen nced at their twined arms then to her smiling face, his face unreadable. However, when ites to Xiao Rufeng, did he really have the heart to deny her of her request?


    "Alright. Just make sure not to garner unwanted attention from others. I''d rather you enjoy your day off than attract other unsavory rumors about us."


    Xiao Rufeng hummed in agreement. Privacy while being in public wasn''t something a celebrity like her could enjoy. She also understood that Yan Xiuchen was merely concerned about her reputation and not because he didn''t want to be seen with her.


    Yan Xiuchen opened the door of a fashion boutique and allowed her to step inside first. Xiao Rufeng blinked as she read the name of the shop. Since when did Butterfly Chrysalis open a branch here? She was sure that this shop wasn''t here thest time she visited the ce. She gaped at how massive the ce was and how pretty the disyed dresses were. She went to the first stall of dresses, marveling at a red dress that caught her attention.


    It was something that she once saw Tang Liyan wear during the premiere night of the film she and Bai Qingyue starred in. Butterfly Chrysalis was a partner of Bluemedia and it only made sense why someone like Tang Liyan would be able to get her hands on such an expensive dress as this.


    "I never thought that Butterfly Chrysalis would open a branch here." She told Yan Xiuchen.


    The man shrugged and buried his hands in the pockets of his long coat. While his sunsses and makeup were able to reduce the appearance of the scars on his face, the scars on his hand were still recognizable.


    "Mr. Si used to have a branch in XN Mall, but because of some problems he encountered with his lease, Su Xiaofei gave me a call and asked if there''s an open space they could rent at a prime spot."


    "I didn''t know you and Feifei are on friendly terms now." Xiao Rufengughed, amusement apparent in her eyes.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "She''s Lu Qingfeng''s wife and your manager. Of course I would try to be on speaking terms with her. However, I do admit that she made me feel ufortable."


    "How so?" Xiao Rufeng asked as she continued to browse the selection in the boutique. "I know Feifei could be intimidating and strict sometimes, but she''s really a good person."


    "I have no doubt of that, love. It''s just that when I look at her, I feel like I''m speaking to a strict older sister I never had."


    Yan Xiuchen didn''t mention that Xiao Rufeng was also one of the reasons for that. His woman might not have noticed it yet, but Su Xiaofei liked being in control not only when ites to her business, but also with her talents'' private life. Although he had to admit that it was one of the traits he admired in her.


    Yan Xiuchen bought her three dresses from Butterfly Chrysalis, much to her delight. When lunchtime came, they went to a popr restaurant and asked for a private booth. As soon as they followed the waitress who was leading them to their private booth, Xiao Rufeng spotted Mo Yuchen having lunch with Huang Jingjing, who was rumored to be his fianc¨¦e after breaking his engagement with Su Xiaofei.


    Xiao Rufeng heard things about him from Xi Qian and Shen Jiao, but she didn''t have an ounce of interest to know more about Mo Yuchen. However, from the way Mo Yuchen looked at his rumored fianc¨¦e, Xiao Rufeng surmised that the two didn''t get along too.


    "Who are you looking at?" She heard Yan Xiuchen ask, but before she was able to answer her, he followed his gaze and spotted Mo Yuchen a couple of meters away from them.


    "I see."


    "I only recognized him. I swear I''m not interested in him." She said and she immediately regretted blurting out those words. Xiao Rufeng was worried that Yan Xiuchen would misunderstand her.


    "I believe you." He responded nonchntly before leaning closer to whisper in her ear. "As long as you continue to scream my name when I''m inside you."


    Xiao Rufeng felt her cheeks getting warmer. Heck, when did he learn to flirt like this? They hadn''t seen each other for a few weeks and now he had an arsenal that could leave her speechless.


    "Yan Xiuchen!" She hissed at him, wanting to p away the smug look on his face as he looked at her.


    Once they were inside the private booth, she chose to ignore him and looked outside instead. She wanted to cover her face right then and there. Thankfully, they were in disguise today, so people wouldn''t easily recognize her.


    "Did I go overboard? I didn''t mean to make you ufortable. I''m sorry." Yan Xiuchen said when he realized that she wasn''t going to talk to him or acknowledge him anytime soon.


    Xiao Rufeng was taken aback by his sudden apology and mentally berated herself. It wasn''t like he offended her, because she knew that he was merely trying to assure her that he didn''t perceive Mo Yuchen as a rival.


    "No. Don''t apologize. I''m just¡­ I''m just not used to it." She blushed under his gaze. "We''re good."


    "Then why are you looking at CEO Mo? You know him?"


    "Not really." She hummed, enjoying the smoothie the waitress served earlier. "I heard things about him from Xi Qian though. I''m just curious if he''s really a bad person like Xi Qian painted him to be."


    "And you wanted to see whether it is true or not?"


    Suddenly, her phone beeped, indicating new messages from the chat group she had with the other girls. One particr message caught her attention - It was from Shen Jiao.


    "Little Superstar, your name is on the headlines again."


    Xiao Rufeng knew then that she was somehow involved in another scandal.

 Chapter 596 Road To Stardom (2)

    "What could it be this time?" She groaned as she opened the link Shen Jiao sent her.


    Yan Xiuchen moved to her side, curious as to what had made his woman upset this time. He had made sure that no libelous articles or news about her would be released in public without his knowing. However, none of them had expected that Xiao Rufeng would get involved with Bai Qingyue this time.


    ''Xiao Rufeng, a queen in the making.''


    What was this all about? She wondered. Xiao Rufeng wasn''t sure why she was in the limelight of the news again.


    "Huh? Bai Qingyue is leaving Golden Star and joining Bluemedia?" Xiao Rufeng furrowed her brows in confusion. "What does it have to do with me?"


    "Why do you seem surprised? Isn''t it normal for artists to leave their agency when they have already served their purpose?" Yan Xiuchen asked.


    "But not for a queen like Miss Bai and Miss Tang." Xiao Rufeng pointed out.


    Because queens were practically considered as cash cows for huge entertainment agencies like Golden Star and Bluemedia. There was no way Golden Star would allow Bai Qingyue to leave them easily. As Xiao Rufeng read the article, she was surprised that Bai Qingyue mentioned her name and wanted to take her as her protege.


    "Something must have happened." She heard Yan Xiuchen say. "But wouldn''t it cause a rife between Su Xiaofei and Mo Yuchen?"


    "I''m not sure¡­" Xiao Rufeng sighed as she ced her phone down. She could already imagine how fans would react to Bai Qingyue''s statement. Furthermore, she doubted that Su Xiaofei had no idea of this.


    Yan Xiuchen remained silent and started eating his meal. He knew that as Xiao Rufeng''s career continued to progress, it would only mean that her private life would garner more attention. He wondered how long they would be able to keep their rtionship a secret from the public if this continued.


    "What do you think?" He asked Xiao Rufeng, wanting to know what she had in mind.


    "I''m not sure what to think of it. I could only assume that this is to divert everyone''s attention from me and Ye Mingyu."


    "Ye Mingyu has a powerful backing now. You should be more careful."


    Xiao Rufeng snapped her head towards him and looked at him with wide eyes.


    "How do you know that?" She asked. It seemed to her that Yan Xiuchen knew more than her.


    "Su Xiaofei and I discussed your security details and I decided to send someone to keep an eye on Ye Mingyu. It turned out that she became the lover of a businessman. Su Xiaofei must have known it already and is already taking preventive actions to protect your reputation."


    "So we''re more or less in the same boat, huh? I didn''t expect Ye Mingyu would do such a thing."


    "Don''tpare yourself to that woman. You are nothing like her." He gave her a displeased look. "I promised myself that I will protect you from any harm, regardless of who it is. I wouldn''t stand back and let anyone hurt you."


    Xiao Rufeng released a breath she didn''t know she was holding.


    "What they have and what we have are different. I''m not with you because of sexual favors, and I know you aren''t with me just to gain something in return."


    "That''s not true. I get something from you." She paused and leaned forward toward him, her hand reaching out to touch his face, careful not to wipe off the concealer over his scars.


    Yan Xiuchen went still but didn''t flinch under her touch. If it was in the past, he would deny himself of physical intimacy or closeness with another person.


    "I''ve got a best friend and a lover in you. I wouldn''t dare to be with another person that isn''t you." She smiled when he released a shuddering sigh.


    "I''m not going to leave you, ever. If the timees and our rtionship is brought to light, I would dly admit that I''m with you. I used to believe that I belonged nowhere before meeting you. Heck, I didn''t even think that I woulde to love you. But here you are, proving to me that I matter and that when I''m with you, I am home."


    Yan Xiuchen gave her a small smile.


    "You mean it?"


    "With all my heart." Xiao Rufeng promised her.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Then I want to be with you, if you''ll have me." He suddenly said with all seriousness.


    She stared at him for a long moment before it dawned to her what he meant by those words. Her cheeks burned red, but she allowed her lips to curl into a smile. It hadn''t been too long since her father asked her about her and Yan Xiuchen''s future ns, and she was d that Yan Xiuchen wanted to be with her.


    "I''ll be honored to be yours." She responded.


    Yan Xiuchen took her hand that was on his face and pressed a kiss on her knuckles.


    "Do forgive me if I didn''t prepare a ring yet. I was under the impression that marriage isn''t in your ns."


    "You are right." Xiao Rufeng admitted. "I haven''t really considered it before. Perhaps it''s because I was caught up with work that I didn''t think I would be in a serious rtionship before meeting you. But you''ll have to be patient with me, my love. There are things I need to achieve before we can tie the knot."


    "I don''t mind waiting a little longer." This time, he reached out a hand and gently brushed the fringe of her wig. "I have waited for someone like you for my whole life. A few more years of waiting is nothing, as long as I know that we''re together. It''s a small price to pay, considering who I''m waiting for."


    Xiao Rufengughed and moved closer to him, running her hands up his chest before looping her arms around his neck.


    "I love you." She murmured and Yan Xiuchen broke into a genuine smile.


    ¡ª-


    The next day, Xiao Rufeng was summoned by her manager and Zhang Ling came to the Yan Mansion to pick her up. However, Xiao Rufeng didn''t expect that her friend was taking her to the Lu family estate instead of bringing her to Bluemedia''s headquarters in Shenjing.


    "President Su is with Miss Yun and Miss Bai today. They are all expecting yourpany." Zhang Ling exined.


    Xiao Rufeng said nothing and remained silent in the passenger seat. Thest time she had seen Su Xiaofei was during Lu Qingfeng''s session party and then there were rumors about her being pregnant when Yun Qingrong stepped forward and assumed the management of Bluemedia once again.


    She didn''t dare to ask her manager or question Xi Qian. Xi Qian went back to Qiying City to attend med school and Xiao Rufeng hadn''t seen or talked to hertely. She didn''t need to ask for her to guess that this meeting with Bai Qingyue could affect her career and her future.


    When she was led to a sitting room where her manager and their guest was seated, Xiao Rufeng''s eyes widened when she saw Su Xiaofei''s protruding stomach. So the rumors were true after all. But why did Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng not announce it to the public?


    "Sorry, I''mte." She said, giving her seniors a polite bow.


    "Take a seat, Rufeng. We haven''t started yet." Su Xiaofei gestured to the empty seat on her right, which was next to Yun Qingrong.


    Xiao Rufeng took a seat and greeted Bai Qingyue, before giving her manager a questioning look.


    "I suppose you already heard the news of Miss Bai signing an exclusive contract with Bluemedia?" Su Xiaofei started and Xiao Rufeng nodded in response.


    "Miss Bai wants to take you under her wing and train you herself. This is one of the conditions of her contract."


    Xiao Rufeng nced at Bai Qingyue as she took a sip from her drink, looking at ease in her seat. She couldn''t understand why Bai Qingyue would take an interest in someone like her. She and the reigning queen had never crossed paths before and had never made a project together, unlike Ye Mingyu.


    "May I know why?" She couldn''t help but ask her manager. She knew that Su Xiaofei intended to keep her promise by making her a queen someday, but she didn''t consider that it would involve Bai Qingyue in the process.


    "It''s because we have a mutual enemy, Miss Xiao." Bai Qingyue answered her instead. "Ye Mingyu is threatening me, but I want her out of this industry, even if it means that I have to give her rival an advantage."


    "And you cannot do it while you''re with Golden Star?" The younger actress retorted.


    Bai Qingyue''s lips curled up and for a moment, Xiao Rufeng thought that she was looking at her manager.


    "Golden Star has already served their purpose. It''s time for me to venture into the unknown."

 Chapter 597 Accompanying A Vicious Tiger (1)

    Xiao Rufeng couldn''t believe that Yan Xiuchen''s assumption turned out to be right. He didn''t even know Bai Qingyue personally, but he was able to tell that the Queen wasn''t bothered one bit by what Golden Star would think about her departure from their agency. As to Bai Qingyue''s true motive, that was something Xiao Rufeng had to find out for herself.


    "Then may I know why Miss Bai wants to take me under her wing?" She asked, wanting to see if the Queen would be honest enough to give her an answer.


    "As I said, I merely agreed to this condition to spite Ye Mingyu for daring to threaten me." The actress replied with a wicked smile.


    Su Xiaofei sighed and gave Bai Qingyue a pointed look, as if she was silently chastising the actress, but Bai Qingyue ignored her and acted as if she didn''t say anything wrong.


    "How did CEO Mo react to your decision to leave Golden Star?" Yun Qingrong asked the actress.


    "He was upset, but I think he already anticipated this would happen when I didn''t bring up my contract renewal at all." Bai Qingyue replied nonchntly.


    Su Xiaofei arched her brow. "And he let you go just like that?"


    "Of course not. Mo Yuchen isn''t kind enough to let me go without anypensation on his part." Bai Qingyue scoffed and crossed her legs, looking as if she was royalty, waiting impatiently for her subjects to leave.


    As Xiao Rufeng looked at the older actress in front of her, she realized that the Bai Qingyue the public knew was far different from who she really was in real life. She didn''t expect that Bai Qingyue would have a carefree personality in person. Perhaps Bai Qingyue had created that aloof public personality to protect herself. She wondered if she should do the same to protect her private affairs.


    "Doing this wouldn''t mean Ye Mingyu would stop with her threats." Su Xiaofei pointed out.


    "Who cares?" The actress waved her hand. "Ye Mingyu could try to start the rumor about you being my daughter, but who would believe such a nonsense if she doesn''t have any proof to prove her ims?"


    Xiao Rufeng was thankful she wasn''t drinking anything at that moment. Of all the things Bai Qingyue would say, she didn''t expect that the actress would say such a thing. She looked at her manager, wanting to see if Bai Qingyue was telling the truth, but as soon as she saw Su Xiaofei''s expression, she knew right then that they were mother and daughter. It finally dawned on her why Bai Qingyue had a striking resemnce to her manager.


    "I''d rather not underestimate what that woman could do." Her manager responded to the actress with an annoyed look on her face.


    Su Xiaofei would asionally make this face when things weren''t going the way she nned. Considering that Ye Mingyu had still managed to poison her in this lifetime due to her own carelessness, Su Xiaofei wouldn''t be surprised if that woman would use other despicable ways to get what she wanted.


    Su Xiaofei wasn''t even denying what Bai Qingyue just said. Did this mean that she was recognizing the actress as her biological mother?


    Xiao Rufeng nced at Yun Qingrong and only saw Su Xiaofei''s mother smile. Yun Qingrong didn''t seem to be bothered with what Bai Qingyue just said. If things were like this, then there''s no need for her to poke her nose in her manager''s business.


    "So what did he ask for aspensation?" Su Xiaofei asked. She shifted in her seat, trying to find afortable position. Xiao Rufeng knew that it had only been a month and a half since shest saw her manager, but seeing her round belly made her think that Su Xiaofei was already in the third trimester of her pregnancy.


    "Hmm... it''s nothing to worry about." Bai Qingyue replied. "I do know some of his dirty secrets, so he wouldn''t try to do anything against me."


    The smile that appeared on her face sent cold shivers down Xiao Rufeng''s spine. She had a feeling that whatever it was, it was quite serious if CEO Mo would dly give Bai Qingyue her freedom.


    Su Xiaofei scoffed while Yun Qingrong looked amused over Bai Qingyue''s words. Xiao Rufeng had a feeling that this was a usual urrence among the three of them. It made her feel assured that everything was alright, and that she had nothing to worry about.


    "I heard that Ye Mingyu had just secured a lead role for a film that will be released thising winter. She really isn''t wasting any time, now that she has a golden thigh to hug." Su Xiaofeimented while Yun Qingrong frowned.


    "His daughter is quite persistent in causing you trouble, Feifei." She said with a sigh, as if the thought of Ye Mingyu near her daughter upset her.


    "You worry too much, Mama. If anything, the more confident Ye Mingyu is, the more she''s inclined to make mistakes along the way." Her daughter said confidently.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Are you sure about that? Why?" Bai Qingyue asked, voicing out Xiao Rufeng''s question as well.


    However, Su Xiaofei didn''t utter a single word and only smiled. These were the times when Xiao Rufeng would think that her manager knew something none of them did. For instance, Su Xiaofei was able to resolve internal conflicts within Bluemedia even before they went out of hand. It made her wonder if her manager had sent out spies to gather information for her.


    ''She''s part of the Lu family now and considering how efficient Lingling and Zhang Lan are, I shouldn''t be surprised.'' Xiao Rufeng thought. After all, considering how Yan Xiuchen viewed Lu Qingfeng, then she shouldn''t doubt that there were things their families would be able to find out that others couldn''t.


    "Because If there''s something I know about Ye Mingyu, it''s her recklessness in her choices. She might be enjoying the attention of her lover now, but she has no idea how dangerous that person is. Han Yize isn''t someone she would be able to control at all."


    Xiao Rufeng blinked. She had met that person before, during one of the events she attended. Han Yize tried to befriend her, but she politely declined his invitation to have dinner with him.


    Bai Qingyue hummed and slightly nodded her head.


    "Han Yize have taken young aspiring artists as lovers before, but if you pay attention to what happens after their parting, you''ll notice that no one knew what happened to his ex-lovers."


    "Actually one of our artists got involved with him several years ago." Yun Qingrong said, catching everyone''s attention.


    "Do you mean Miss Lin, Mama?" Su Xiaofei asked. She briefly remembered that her mother had been stressing about a young talent of Bluemedia years ago, while Su Xiaofei was still Fang Yu''s apprentice.


    Yun Qingrong nodded and had this confused expression on her face.


    "Lin Zihan was supposed to get a big break, but she suddenly disappeared without a word. Neither her family or her friends knew where she went or if she was having problems. She just disappeared without a trace, but her belongings remained where she had left them. We reported her sudden disappearance to the authorities, however, none of them were able to locate her whereabouts. To this day, I still have no idea where she could have been and why she suddenly left."


    "There were rumors that she was in a rtionship with Han Yize before." Bai Qingyue continued. "Her career had suddenly taken a great leap during those times and she was practically invincible. None of herpetitors was able to catch up with her. Then, just as Miss Yun said, Lin Zihan disappeared and nothing was heard from her ever again."


    Xiao Rufeng trembled unconsciously. She now understood why Yan Xiuchen insisted on tightening her security these past weeks. She wasn''t even aware that she somewhat piqued the attention of that man in the past.


    "So do you think Ye Mingyu will end up with the same fate if she''s not careful in taming the vicious tiger?" Xiao Rufeng asked.


    "This is just an assumption, but Ye Mingyu would surely test her limits when ites to Han Yize. There are things that one shouldn''t cross when ites to that man." Su Xiaofei said with a cold glint in her eyes, as if she knew this person herself. "If she''s not careful, she''ll end up with Lin Zihan."


    She then nced at Xiao Rufeng.


    "He tried to lure you too, didn''t he?"


    Xiao Rufeng''s eyes widened in shock. How did Su Xiaofei find out? She''d never mentioned it to anyone.


    "Your assistant told me that Han Yize tried to invite you several times for dinner. I''m d that you turned him down." Her manager said, as if she knew what Xiao Rufeng was thinking.


    Xiao Rufeng lowered her gaze and blushed.


    "I''m notfortable being stared at by him." She admitted. "That''s why I didn''t entertain his invitation."

 Chapter 598 Accompanying A Vicious Tiger (2)

    Though Xiao Rufeng left after lunch, Yun Qingrong and Bai Qingyue stayed with Su Xiaofei. As the days passed by, Su Xiaofei''s bump continued to grow and as much as Lu Qingfeng wanted to stay with her throughout the day, it was impossible for him to ignore the work that continued to pile up on his desk.


    "Feifei, why don''t you take a rest now? Since we''ve already discussed the ns for Miss Bai and Miss Xiao, you can leave the rest to me." Yun Qingrong suggested. She had decided to move to Shenjing the other week to be closer to her pregnant daughter.


    "I agree with your mother." Bai Qingyue chimed in. "You should focus on your pregnancy now and shouldn''t stress too much on work. It''ll affect the health of your babies if you keep stressing yourself like this."


    Su Xiaofei stared at her nkly, surprised that Bai Qingyue was voicing such concern towards her. She would have never thought that her biological mother had this side in her. She had always thought that this actress cared for no one but herself.


    "What?" Bai Qingyue asked her.


    "Nothing. Just lost in thought." Su Xiaofei replied, before slowly heading to the sitting room to take a rest. It had only been half of the day, but she was already feeling tired and sleepy.


    "I''ll get going then." The actress said. "Be careful and take as much rest as you need."


    Bai Qingyue excused herself even before her daughter could respond to her. Yun Qingrong thanked her and sent her off while Su Xiaofei decided to take a short afternoon nap.


    ¡ª-


    When Lu Qingfeng returned home early that afternoon, he found his wife dozing in the sitting room, with an open book about pregnancyying on the ground beside her. Seeing her grow rounder with his children made him feel ecstatic and afraid at the same time. While Han Zijun and Shi Mingli were able to dy the spread of the poison in her body, the antidote was still in the process of development.


    Chen Hao had suddenly gone into hiding and Ye Mingyu had been taken under Han Yize''s wings. Lu Qingfeng and his wife obviously knew that man from their previous lives, but none of them had expected that Han Yize was involved with the Cold Poison.


    Han Yize was a distant rtive of Han Zijun. Although he wasn''t proficient in traditional medicine, the man had ventured into the pharmaceutical business, which was more profitable than sticking to the Han family''s business that had been established a long time ago.


    However, in terms of wealth and influence, Han Yize was still falling behind the Han family, so he had to rely on underhanded methods to get what he wanted.


    Lu Qingfeng gently picked up his sleeping wife and brought her back to their bedroom, cing her gently on their bed, making sure that he wouldn''t disturb her sleep. Now that she was pregnant, she was heavier than usual.


    He gently brushed his fingers on her hair and ced a gentle kiss on her forehead. She was more precious now, more than ever. He needed to find the antidote soon, before the poison started to affect her body and their children.


    It was for this same reason that he requested to meet Yun Xiang in private. The next day, Yun Xiang arrived at his office at Lu Corporation in secret.


    "Is there a reason why your people suddenly dragged me here?" Yun Xiang frowned as he took a seat across Lu Qingfeng. He was taken that morning from his home by Lu Qingfeng''s people and he couldn''t even do anything about it.


    "I need your assistance." The younger man said.


    "You need assistance but you''ve taken me against my will?" Yun Xiang bit out.


    Lu Qingfeng sighed and rubbed his temple.


    "I suppose an apology is needed. Please ept my sincere apology for my subordinates'' actions. I merely told them to invite you here."


    Yun Xiang stared at Lu Qingfeng for a moment, trying to see if he was sincere with his apology, but he only saw the impassive mask the young man always wore. Seeing Lu Qingfeng like this, it was hard for him to know what he was even thinking.


    "What kind of help do you need?" He asked after a long silence between them.


    "I need to find Chen Hao as soon as possible. My people are quite upied right now and I would rather not treat them like hunting hounds just to find that vermin."<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Yun Xiang tsked in annoyance. Lu Qingfeng was still the same arrogant young man he met in the past. He didn''t understand why Lu Qingfeng held such animosity towards him. He was sure that he hadn''t done anything to offend Lu Qingfeng.


    "You confessed to Feifei." Lu Qingfeng suddenly blurted out.


    Yun Xiang went still, his eyes widening in surprise. So that''s why Lu Qingfeng hated him. He lowered his gaze, but didn''t deny the younger man''s im.


    "What about it? Su Xiaofei already chose to be with you and nothing I say would be able to change her mind." He replied.


    ''Especially now that she''s pregnant with your child.'' He thought, not daring to voice out his thoughts to Lu Qingfeng.


    "Feifei is poisoned by Ye Mingyu and Chen Hao. I need to find Chen Hao to see if the antidote is in his possession." Lu Qingfeng said coldy. "Nine will give you all the details of his secret properties and evidence of his crimes."


    Yun Xiang was taken aback by Lu Qingfeng''s words. He didn''t expect that his pregnant cousin was facing such a dangerous predicament.


    "How could you allow them to hurt Feifei?!" He blurted out with rage.


    He had willingly given up his stupid ideas on Su Xiaofei because he thought that this tyrant was capable enough to take good care of her, but it seemed that he was gravely mistaken.


    "They used Aunty Qing to poison Feifei. Do you think she would be able to get that poison under normal circumstances?" Lu Qingfeng retorted, his eyes showing rage and guilt that Yun Xiang had never seen in him before.


    He looked like a devil, promising bloody murder to those who dared to touch his wife.


    "And what will you give me in return?" Yun Xiang asked. This time he met Lu Qingfeng''s eyes, refusing to back down. There was no way Lu Qingfeng would ask such a favor without taking in other options at his disposal.


    "What is it that you desire?" Lu Qingfeng asked in return.


    Yun Xiang fisted his hands on his side. His mind went nk at that moment. He didn''t know how to answer Lu Qingfeng at all.


    "Give me time. I need to figure it out." He admitted.


    Initially, he only cared about his work, but his life suddenly turned upside down when he met Su Xiaofei. His thoughts were gued with her until he couldn''t think of anything but her. However, how could he dare to say such things to Lu Qingfeng without facing any consequences? Su Xiaofei might be oblivious to her husband''s devious ways, but that didn''t mean Yun Xiang was also the same.


    "Fine. As long as it''s within my capability, I will give it to you." Lu Qingfeng replied. His cold, dark eyes made it clear that Su Xiaofei was not an option.


    Yun Xiang hardened his jaws. Lu Qingfeng didn''t need to remind him. He hadn''t forgotten the promise he made to Su Xiaofei anyway and he wasn''t nning to break it at all. He would rather see her with another man than have her hate him.


    "Are you sure that they are the ones responsible for Feifei''s condition and not your family?" He narrowed his eyes on Lu Qingfeng. Considering how his rtives dared to threaten Lu Qingfeng''s life, he wouldn''t be surprised if they dared to seek revenge on his wife.


    "Hmm. Chen Hao and Ye Mingyu had already made demands in exchange for the antidote. At the moment, Han Zijun is able to repel the poison from Feifei''s body little by little. However, having the antidote would not only save her life, but would also keep the twins away from danger."


    Yun Xiang said nothing and considered his options and why Lu Qingfeng had sought him instead of dirtying his own hands.


    "You don''t want to kill Chen Hao yourself?" He questioned, but seeing how Lu Qingfeng went stiff in his seat and his eyes zing with killing intent - he had a clear answer.


    "As much as I want to, Feifei doesn''t want me to pile up more sins than what I''ve alreadymitted. I want to see Chen Hao and Ye Mingyu''s end, but a quick death will be too easy for them. I''d rather them live the rest of their lives in despair and experience hell on earth. I do not care if it is behind bars or a mental facility. They will pay for what they''ve done to my wife."

 Chapter 599 *R18 Full Body Inspection (1)

    During the earliest week of Su Xiaofei''s pregnancy, she wasn''t able to eat anything without throwing up. However, as soon as she passed her twelveth week mark, she was eating more than usual. She had cravings for Braised Short Ribs that she would have seconds whenever her mother brought her some.


    Now that she''s reaching her twentieth week, she was starting to get annoyed looking at her reflection because her weight gain was bing more and more noticeable.


    "I''m starting to look like a whale." She groaned. "Do you think I will start walking like a penguin soon?" She asked her husband.


    Lu Qingfeng, who was already settled on his side on their bed, lifted his head from the document he was looking at to nce at his very pregnant wife. She was dressed in a loose nightgown that reached past her knees.


    "It''s true that you have gained weight, but what does it matter?" His answer only soured Su Xiaofei''s mood, but he continued. "There are two babies growing inside you. It''s only natural for you to gain more weight, Feifei."


    "That''s true." Su Xiaofei sighed. "But my tummy isn''t the only thing that''s putting on weight it seems." Gesturing to her arms and thighs to her husband.


    "I''m not sure what you''re worried about, Feifei. You are still beautiful in my eyes."


    Her cheeks burned red and she turned away from his intense gaze. Ever since her bump started to show, Lu Qingfeng hadn''t touched or be intimate with her. She was starting to wonder if her husband didn''t find her appealing anymore, now that she was bigger.


    "It''s nothing you wouldn''t be able to shed once you give birth anyway. I want you to prioritize your health, Feifei."


    Lu Qingfeng had read about pregnant women suffering from mood swings, so he tried to be more patient with her.


    Su Xiaofei knew what he meant, but it was hard for her not to be bothered by the sudden increase of her weight. She never dared to show her nudity in front of him since her bump started showing. She slipped on her side of the bed and snuggled next to her husband.


    "By the way, do you n to throw a baby shower before giving birth? We only have four weeks left before the girls are out." Lu Qingfeng suddenly asked, effectively making Su Xiaofei forget her worries for a moment.


    She groaned as she pushed herself up to a seated position, feeling very much like she was about to pop anytime soon. Now that they knew that they were having girls, the days had been spent on what they should name the twins and how to proceed with their n for the nursery room.


    "You don''t allow me to work anymore and I''m confined in this estate, except when I need to go to the doctor''s appointments. I have nothing but free time, A-Feng, so I guess throwing a baby shower would be fine." She huffed in resignation. Su Xiaofei knew that there was nothing else she could say that could convince her husband to allow her to work and share the burden with her mother at theirpany.


    "As much as I love our girls, they really did arrive in such an unexpected time." She said, gently rubbing her stomach with a smile.


    Lu Qingfeng knew her words weren''t meant as criticism, but they still took a jab at his heart anyway. Han Zijun would have been able topletely treat his wife by now if she wasn''t pregnant.


    "It''s my fault, Feifei. I should have been more careful. You weren''t quite ready for this."


    "Stop apologizing already. They are already here and we can only adjust and live through it. You''re not the one looking like she swallowed a beach ball anyway."


    It was Lu Qingfeng''s turn to sigh. He ced the document he was reading on the nightstand and regarded his wife.


    "Don''t be so hard on yourself, Feifei. You still look beautiful, and didn''t Brother Han assure you that your weight gain is still normal? It''s a testament of your motherhood. What else must I do for you to believe me, Feifei?" He asked.


    "I''ll strive every day to be worthy of you and our daughters. Know that I will never forsake you and our children regardless of the circumstances." He added.


    Su Xiaofei lowered her gaze to her stomach and remained silent. Maybe it was just her hormones messing with her brain again. She wasn''t really intent on pushing the me on her husband.


    She took a deep breath. There was no way she would doubt his words now. Lu Qingfeng had proven time and again that he truly loved her. Still, it wasn''t that easy to just rid herself of her feelings about her body. It had really been a challenge when Han Zijun insisted she be put on bed rest weeks ago.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Lu Qingfeng moved closer to her and brought her into his embrace.


    "Don''t worry too much, Feifei."


    "But you wouldn''t even touch me¡­"


    Su Xiaofei wasn''t nning to voice out those words, so she was shocked as soon as she realized what she had just said. Her face med from embarrassment.


    Lu Qingfeng pulled away and blinked at her, as if wanting to see if that truly bothered her.


    "I didn''t touch youtely not because I don''t find you attractive at all, Feifei. I''m just worried about you and the twins. You are already experiencing some difort and I don''t want to add more just because of my sexual needs. Don''t you know how hard it is for me to stay calm when all your softness and scent is all over me. I want you more than you know, Feifei, but I will not endanger you, so I restrained myself."


    Su Xiaofei''s jaws hung in disbelief. She really thought that her husband was turned off by her growing figure. It never urred to her that he still desired her.


    "If you don''t believe my words, should I show you then?"


    Su Xiaofei gaped at her husband like a fish. Her mind went nk upon hearing those words. However, even before she could respond, Lu Qingfeng''s hand already started their quest on her body while his lips started leaving gentle kisses on her exposed neck. When her back hit the softness of their bed, she finally reacted to his ministrations.


    "Wait! I-"


    But she wasn''t able to finish her words because Lu Qingfeng imed her lips with a searing kiss, reminding her once again of what she''d been missing over the past weeks. He sucked on her bottom lip sensually until he pulled a little moan from her. When he pulled away and gazed at her, watching as the heat in his eyes brought a blush to her cheeks, he smiled.


    "If you will allow me, I will have you tonight, Wife."


    "But.. but I don''t look good¡­"


    She squeaked and then moaned when she felt his hand run up her thigh and gently ran over the seam of her underwear before tracing up to where he knew her sensitive bud would be and drew circles on it.


    Then his lips went back to hers. This time, she reached up and cupped the back of his neck, bringing him closer to her. The sensation of his kiss and his touch were enough to ignite the desire in her. She went to her knees and pushed him to lie down.


    She moved to sprawl over his body this time, switching ces with him, her lips peppering his face with kisses while her hands lifted the seam of his shirt, tugging it up and off of him. She then began kissing the passage down - starting from his chin to his corbone, then down to every inch of his pale flesh that was bare before her. She then nced over the bulge of his pants. It was sizable, but still not stiff enough to her liking.


    "Someone''s getting excited."


    Lu Qingfeng wanted to reach out and touch her, but he suppressed his urges and allowed her to take the lead. He feared that he might get too rough with her, considering her frail condition.


    Totally disarranged, he froze when she reached down, her tongue licking its way to his navel before feeling her pull down the sleep pants he was wearing, dipping her hand to bring his masculine appendage and erection up to view. She then grasped its circumference with one hand, rolling the semi-hard length between her fingers.


    While Lu Qingfeng tried his best not to sit up and touch her, Su Xiaofei continued pleasuring him, her hands moving up and down his entire thick length, enjoying how he tried to stifle a moan.


    "It''s been far too long don''t you think, dear?"


    "Y-yes." He easily agreed with her and she smiled when he shivered beneath her. She could''ve sworn that she saw goosebumps rise, but they disappeared quicker than she thought possible.

 Chapter 600 *R18 Full Body Inspection (2)

    Lu Qingfeng groaned, itching to reach her. "Feifei, you are teasing."


    His wifeughed amusedly. "What do you think I was trying to do?"


    "Take it off already." He said, feeling ridiculous that he was easily turned on by her little teasing.


    "Uh-huh, I thought I''m the one who''s in charge tonight." Su Xiaofei answered and as punishment, she released his length and sat back to watch him with mischief in her eyes. "But it would be rude of me if I deny my dear husband what he wants, right?"


    She looked at him again, half undressed while he was tenting so much that there was a gap in his boxers. The sight of him being disheveled and in need fueled her excitement. She had to agree with him. These past weeks had been hard not only for her but also for her husband. However, her self confidence was quite low. She slid down his pants, fully freeing his straining erection.


    One of the babies kicked then, making her gasp and hold her stomach. It immediately sent rms to Lu Qingfeng, forcing him to sit up and hold her arm.


    "We don''t need to do this, Feifei." He said worriedly.


    Although it pained him that he would be left unsatisfied after his wife''s teasing, he''d rather take a very cold shower tonight than to see her suffer any difort.


    "No, it''s fine." She hissed in annoyance. It wasn''t like she was upset with her twins, but she desperately missed her husband''s touch.


    "But Feifei¡­"


    "I said it''s fine." She insisted, pushing him back on his back, straddling him, before getting rid of her own nightgown and panties with difficulty.


    Lu Qingfeng had a retort, but it quickly died on the tip of his tongue. He groaned in pleasure as she grinded against him, arousing him further. His wife slid him inside and he lowly rumbled out a sound. Her arms depended on his shoulder for support as she moved herself up and down on his length while he kept his one hand along her hip while the other one glided to the undersides of her breast, teasing and reveling in the softness of her skin.


    He then moved to cup one of her full globes, exploring with one hand, feeling their weight and roundness in his palm. His fingers narrowed on her rosy buds, rolling them till they stiffened. Su Xiaofei was telling the truth. It seemed that her belly wasn''t the only one that put on weight. He felt her hand grasping his hair before pulling her into a kiss.


    Lu Qingfeng cupped her face, kissing her fervently this time, taking his sweet time to taste her. Her lips parted with a muted moan and he took the chance to dive into her mouth, his tongue imed her mouth hungrily. She pressed into him, burying him deep inside her as she kissed him as intensely as she could.


    Su Xiaofei gasped as she ground herself into him, wanting him to rub her clit in the right ce. She leaned back just slightly and pumped. His cock ran right over her G-spot and she cried out.


    "Yes, yes, that''s it, darling. I need more!" She panted, putting one hand behind her to support herself and kept the other other her stomach as she moved. In this position, Lu Qingfeng was able to hit that spot over and over, and she felt herself rushing towards the elusive orgasm she hadn''t had for some time now.


    "Feifei¡­ I¡­" Lu Qingfeng hissed, but her scream broke through her as she cried out in ecstasy with her walls attempting to milk him, but he refused to release this early on her.


    He moaned in her mouth as she took control of the pace of their lovemaking, but he needed to have more, after being deprived of her for weeks, than what she was willing to do in her current state. They broke away momentarily for air and Lu Qingfeng gently manuevered her onto her back, pulling out from her tight, wet sheath for a moment.


    "W-what¡­" Su Xiaofei asked confusedly, seeing his erection still standing proud, glistening with her remnants. He looked thoroughly defiled and she relished it.


    Instead of answering her, Lu Qingfeng kicked away the remaining of his clothes, then positioned himself between her thighs. He paused for a moment and titled her pelvis, angling her in a better position as he ced a pillow under her. He was suddenly reminded of her delicate form and he did not wish to hurt her in the midst of satiating his own desire.


    "Make love to me, please." He heard his wife say breathlessly.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Feifei darling, do you trust me?"


    Su Xiaofei looked at him and broke into a smile. "With all my heart."


    Lu Qingfeng let his eyes feast on her beauty. She was rounder now, but her skin was still smooth and wless. Her belly was expanded due to carrying their twins. Her slender muscled legs gained a little fat now, but he didn''t mind it at all. His wife was worrying for nothing, because he still found her desirable.


    His dark eyes then fixed on the swells of her breast, now fully exposed to his gaze. He plunged forward, taking them open mouth, nibling, sucking and tasting them, feeling her back arched towards him as though she was wishing for more. His hand continued to explore the hills and valleys of her body, familiarizing himself with the changes as he reached south, sliding one finger between her wet folds, stroking her until his name spilled from her sweet lips.


    A small smirk spread danced his lips as he continued to rub her more, feeling her increased wetness dripping between his fingers. He slid another finger, feling his digits being hotly wrapped and sucked in as he pushed in and out of her again. He felt her thrash around and he knew he had to taste her. Lu Qingfeng buried his face between her legs even before she could react, attacking her swollen bud with his tongue,pping and stroking her mercilessly.


    Su Xiaofei could only buck against him, holding his head in ce as the sweet sounds of her pleasure began filling their room. Her toes curled and uncurled and her thighs and calves trembled as Lu Qingfeng moved to suck her clit and gently rolled it between his teeth. She could feel her eyes rolling from the intense pleasure, pushing his face on her drenched core as orgasmic waves washed through her.


    Her twins started kicking again, as if demanding to know what had caused the tremors in their temporary home. She rubbed her stomach in an attempt to calm them.


    When Lu Qingfeng pulled his head up, his gaze locked with hers. His mouth and chin glistened with her essence. He didn''t even bother to wipe it away and instead licked his lips clean.


    Su Xiaofei removed the hand she didn''t know she had ced on her mouth to contain her moans. She took deep, heaving breaths as she stared into his steady and lustful, dark eyes. She knew then that this was far from over.


    "You''ve gotten your share, I should get mine." He pointed out, then raised a slender brow when she suddenly pulled the sheets to cover her nakedness.


    "Why are you trying to hide your body from me, Feifei?"


    Su Xiaofei bit her lip. She couldn''t stand his staring on her body. However, she also knew that Lu Qingfeng deserved the truth from her.


    "I don''t look the same anymore."


    "Obviously." He slightly cocked his head. "And?"


    "It''s¡­ it''s embarrassing, darling. Pregnancy changes a lot in women." Her face burned in shame.


    Before they got married, or even in the beginning of their marriage, she was quite confident with her body, but now, it was different.


    "I asked you earlier if you trust me." Lu Qingfeng reminded her and she nodded. "Then believe me when I say that you are still ravishing in my eyes. Let me show you how I worship your body, wife."


    Lu Qingfeng slid out of the bed and extended a hand for her to take. She hesitated for a moment but epted his offer. He helped her off the bed and her fluids dribbled down her thigh as he walked her over to the tall mirror that was hanging on the wall. He ced her directly in front of it, while he stood closely behind her.


    "My lovely, beautiful wife. See for yourself how stunning you are. See for yourself what you''ve done to me." His right arm snaked around her, his hand cupping her chin gently for her to look at their reflection to the mirror.


    Su Xiaofei''s cheeks burned, but still looked in the mirror. She saw her bare form and how disheveled her husband was. This was far from the usual Lu Qingfeng anyone was ustomed to. She was seeing a side of him that only she could see. This was the man who loved her dearly.

 Chapter 601 *R18 Full Body Inspection (3)

    Her face reddened as she looked at her reflection, feeling embarrassed of beingpletely exposed not only to herself, but to her husband as well. She''d never dared to look at the changes on her body, bare and naked in front of a mirror. It was only now that she was able to see how much changes took ce over the past twenty weeks.


    It only made her feel more self-conscious, seeing the dark line bisecting her stomach, her protruding belly button and the veins standing out against her pale skin.


    "You don''t seem to believe me when I say that you''re still beautiful." Lu Qingfeng said next to her ear. Their proximity allowed her to feel his warmth and presence that somewhat soothe her nerves and made her feel aware of him.


    "Well, how can I? I look like a whale now." She answered, a little too defensive to her liking. Su Xiaofei didn''t want to sound mean and insensitive to her husband.


    She felt his slender fingers slowly move down till it settled on top of her bump. Su Xiaofei didn''t want to admit it, but she liked being touched by him.


    "You aren''t fat, Feifei. You are merely eating enough for our daughters to grow well. Is your figure more important than their health?" Lu Qingfeng gently asked her.


    "Of course not!" She eximed. "I''m just embarrassed at how I look. It''s not about me hating carrying our twins."


    "There''s not much time left anyway. Once you give birth and are cured by Brother Han, I''m sure you''ll be able to lose the extra weight in no time." Her husband tried to assure her. "Never hide your body from me again."


    Su Xiaofei sighed. "I understand what you mean, dear. Pregnancy is such a beautiful thing, but it changes a woman''s body in so many ways. Even after I give birth to them, I''m afraid some of those changes will remain. These stretch marks would remain."


    "Wouldn''t that be a reminder that we''ve conceived beautiful children? It''s also a reminder of how much change you are willing to sacrifice for the sake of our daughters."


    Su Xiaofei froze. She hadn''t considered those before.


    Before she was able to response, Lu Qingfeng gently pushed her forward, her arms being held by him before he plunged himself into her waiting sex. She cried out as he rammed into her, her breast bounced obscenely in the mirror.


    "You are everything for me, Feifei. It doesn''t matter what lifetime we are living in, it doesn''t matter what you look like." His voice came harshly as he continued to pound into her. I will never stop loving you, do you understand now?"


    Something inside Su Xiaofei crumbled after his confession. She should have known better than to doubt his affections for her. This man - who was willing to taint his hands with blood, the same one who would burn the world to honor her name in some twisted way, loved her entirely.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    She looked at their reflection in the mirror, witnessing how her husband lost himselfpletely as he made love to her. Her hair was mussed, lips swollen and red, while his hair was disheveled, looking as if he just got out of bed, his face had a hint of blush on it as he struggled to keep his control so he wouldn''t ravage herpletely. Looking at their reflection like this was shockingly erotic.


    "You''re insanely gorgeous." He said, meeting her gaze in the mirror.


    Su Xiaofei panted as she watched them through heavy-lidded eyes, her face flushed. The cool air made her nipples perky and she watched as her breasts bounced with every thrust her husband was making. Her knees felt weak, and she threw her head back as he buried his length down the hilt. She moaned at how stretched and full she felt between her legs.


    His eyes met hers in the mirror and without a word, he took her so hard and fast, all she could do was to trust that he wouldn''t let her go. She could feel the hot me inside of her threatening tobust and she couldn''t breath or think anymore. She couldn''t do anything except feel what her husband was doing to her.


    The tension built inside her, and she bit her lower lip.


    "Don''t, Feifei. I want to hear you scream my name. Let everyone who may hear know that I desire you." Lu Qingfeng said, thrusting into her with unrestrained control.


    She shrieked and screamed his name as her entire body seemed to incinerate itself. She bucked helplessly against him, impaling herself over and over again on his hard length. He felt impossiblyrge and hard inside her and she could feel her inner muscles spasming before Lu Qingfeng let out a guttural cry as he emptied himself inside her.


    They stood there for several seconds, just staring at each other in the mirror and panting. Then, Lu Qingfeng pulled out, and she clenched against the sudden emptiness. His essence gushed out of her opening, her body far too filled with their children to amodate his load to hold. He released her arms and drew her into his embrace, kissing her temple gently.


    "I love you, Lu Qingfeng." She said softly. That immediately took his attention as he looked at her through the mirror. A small smile of contentment spread on his lip as he kissed her cheek.


    "And I love you more."


    Su Xiaofei looked at the fluid that was running down her thigh, then at her appearance in her husband''s arms. She looked disgusting, and at the same time loved and beautiful, assured that Lu Qingfeng''s affection for her didn''t lessen, but grew more as their family of two was about to grow into four soon.


    "I''m tired." She said with a content sigh.


    "Then let''s get you cleaned up before going to bed." Lu Qingfeng said as he led her to the bathroom to have her cleaned, but not before worshiping her body for the second time that night.

 Chapter 602 The Tyrant In Me (1)

    The next day, Su Xiaofei was still asleep on their bed when Lu Qingfeng received a phone call from Yun Xiang. Apparently, his wife''s cousin had finally managed to find where Chen Hao was hiding. Yun Xiang called to ask what Lu Qingfeng wanted to do next.


    "You are right. He''s hiding in one of his secret properties. I''m now coordinating with someone at the police station to make a raid tonight and see if Chen Hao has the antidote we need. Chen Hao supposedly runs a club. It makes a lot of money, but isn''t a very popr ce. We are confident that his club is merely a front, but you''ve provided enough evidence for us to incriminate him." He said.


    Lu Qingfeng said nothing and considered his choices. He knew that he wouldn''t be satisfied seeing Chen Hao behind bars for daring to harm not only Su Xiaofei, but also their children. His whole body was eminating murder intent.


    "Send me the address. I want to see for myself how Chen Hao would end this time." He told Yun Xiang, exchanging a few words before hanging up.


    "Is that Brother Yun?" Su Xiaofei sat up and yawned behind her hand. Her body is still humming from the incredible lovemaking she had with himst night. She thenid her face on his shoulder, the scent of her calming his seething rage inside.


    "En. They''ve already found Chen Hao''s location."


    "Did they find out if he has the antidote?'' She asked.


    "We aren''t sure yet. They will conduct a raid tonight, but Yun Xiang promised to find anything he could. He asked me if I want to join themter tonight."


    "What do you want to do with Chen Hao then? I don''t doubt your ability to whoop someone''s ass, A-Feng, but you aren''t allowed to kill him, especially now that the authorities are on his case."


    "I''m not sure myself." He admitted. "But I feel like I wouldn''t be happy and satisfied unless I inflicted pain on him in person."


    He wanted to beat the hell out of Chen Hao for repeatedly trying to harass his wife. Because of Chen Hao, Su Xiaofei ended up crippled in their previous life. She suffered chronic pain because of it - aside from the effects of the cold poison in her body. Suddenly, an idea clicked and Lu Qingfeng knew exactly what he wanted to do to Chen Hao.


    "I want him to experience all the pain and suffering he inflicted on you in this and the previous lifetime. Chen Hao needs to experience having nothing and living in hell on earth. Since he didn''t hesitate to collude with Ye Mingyu by using cold poison on you, let me see him struggle to live every single day because of it."<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Through Yan Xiuchen''s connection, he was able to get a hand on the cold poison. He had given one small vial to Han Zijun for research purposes, but he kept the other one just in case it might be useful in the future. Shi Mingli wasn''t certain how many vials were still avable, but she was certain that her grandfather only made ten vials before his death.


    Su Xiaofei lifted her head and looked at him in surprise. Lu Qingfeng didn''t have any intention of killing Chen Hao, but poisoning the man would mean that he would slowly watch him die from it. A cold shiver ran down her spine. Regardless of which lifetime they were in, it cannot be denied that this was the same tyrant who forced so many people to their deaths in her name.


    She didn''t want to be a hypocrite nor a sanctimonious person who would give excuses over Lu Qingfeng''s actions. He knew that what he''d done wasn''t right, but still did it. Who was she to criticize him and lecture him about morals? As she looked at her husband, Su Xiaofei knew that she would have done the same if she wasn''t being confined here at home and worrying about their children''s safety.


    "Then do as you wish. Make Chen Hao and Ye Mingyu regret touching our bottomline." She said after a long silence between them. "But you have to promise me that you wouldn''t do anything heinous once all of these are settled. I wouldn''t want any of our sins to be the reason for our daughters to suffer in the future."


    Lu Qingfeng opened his mouth to say that it would be hard for him to change overnight. If he didn''t exert his dominance, many of his enemies, as well as the members of the Lu family, would use his wife and children to threaten him.


    "I have to apologize, Feifei." He gently brushed his fingers on his cheek. "If someone dares to harm you and our children, I wouldn''t mind taking their pathetic lives to teach them a lesson. It''s better for us to nip the issues in the bud before it blooms and endanger our children in the future. As long as they don''t dare toy a hand on you and our children, I won''t do anything towards them." He said truthfully.


    Lu Qingfeng didn''t want to lie to her and pretend like he was a decent, good man because he wasn''t. He wasn''t sure how much Su Xiaofei knew about his dark side, but he would rather bear the consequence of his sins, as long as he wouldn''t lose her again.


    "So Chen Hao and Ye Mingyu¡­"


    "I''ll deal with them. I''ll make them pay for the tears you shed and the pain you''ve endured because of their actions. They are underestimating the person you are married to."


    "Let me deal with Ye Mingyu and Mo Yuchen then." Su Xiaofei demanded. "It''s not for you to fight what''s supposedly mine."


    "Alright. If that''s what you want, but know that I wouldn''t hesitate to retaliate fiercely if they try something on you again." Lu Qingfeng conceded, knowing that he wouldn''t easily win this argument with his pregnant wife.

 Chapter 603 The Tyrant In Me (2)

    It was said that a ferocious tiger would exert all its energy whenever it was hunting. No matter if it was merely a rabbit or a deer, it would not waver. So Lu Qingfeng stood by patiently outside as he waited for Yun Xiang and the police to apprehend Chen Hao and his people.


    ''Patience.'' He reminded himself. One thing for sure, he would prolong Chen Hao''s suffering until he wished he was dead rather than being left half-dead and incapable of doing anything himself.


    Han Zijun was almost done with the antidote, but the more they waited for their daughters to be born, the more stressful it was for Lu Qingfeng. He''d been on edge ever since Su Xiaofei fell pregnant, knowing that she was poisoned at the same time.


    The potency of the antidote was over eighty percent and although it was still too low for them to feel relieved, Lu Qingfeng would rather take this chance than none at all. He would have preferred it if they could increase their chances of saving both his wife and prevent any side-effects on their daughters.


    "It''s almost time, Master." Nine nced at Lu Qingfeng through the dashboard mirror. He couldn''t fathom what his master was thinking, but one thing for sure was that Lu Qingfeng was here to spill some blood.


    After what Chen Hao had done to their mistress, the rest of the elite guards of the Lu family were also itching to beat the hell out of Chen Hao and Ye Mingyu, however, they couldn''t make a move until their master gave the word.


    The Zhang siblings were the most affected amongst them. The guilt of failing to protect Su Xiaofei had been eating them. They wanted to join them, but their responsibility to protect their mistress was more important than anything else.


    "Send reinforcements. We have to make sure Chen Hao won''t be able to escape this time." Lu Qingfeng said. It was a mistake not to go after Chen Hao the moment they received his threat and Ye Mingyu''s demands.


    It didn''t take long before screams and gunshots could be heard from the club that was owned by Chen Hao. The patrons and customers fled from the scene in panic, not knowing what was going on. Lu Qingfeng remained inside the car, waiting for Yun Xiang''s call. Since they were coborating with the authorities, they gained a special permit to check the premises to find the whereabouts of the antidote.


    He touched the small vial of poison in the inner pocket of his coat. Regardless of how this night will end, he would make sure that this would be the day Chen Hao''s nightmare would start.


    It took half an hour before themotion finally ended, and the silence that filled the usually loud club was deafening. When Lu Qingfeng stepped inside, shattered ss and spilled drink were everywhere on the floor. Tables and chairs had been thrown everywhere. The ce was dimly lit by the remaining functioning overhead lights that didn''t break. However, it still reeked with the scent of alcohol, smoke and drugs.


    Lu Qingfeng curled his nose in disgust. He made a mental note to take a long shower after this. before seeing his wife. Like any other pregnant woman, Su Xiaofei''s sense of smell had heightened immensely, to the point that people around her had been careful not to wear strong perfumes or smoke.


    "This way, Master Lu." One of Yun Xiang''s subordinates led him and Nine to where they were keeping Chen Hao.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Lu Qingfeng and his personal bodyguard followed him without a word, but their eyes were busy checking the ce. When they reached a dark hallway, leading to the room, Chen Hao''sugh reached their ears as he mocked Yun Xiang.


    "I didn''t know you''ve be Su Xiaofei''sp dog now. What did she promise for you to agree to do the dirty job for her? Did she promise to take you as her side lover, given that she couldn''t give up her little boytoy?" Chen Hao said, bursting intoughter.


    "Shut your mouth, you bastard." Yun Xiang pped Chen Hao on the face. A red mark left the side of his face as he continued to give Yun Xiang a mocking look.


    "What? Don''t like to hear the truth?" Chen Hao continued. "Su Xiaofei doesn''t reciprocate your feelings, yet you are shamelessly still trying to gain her attention."


    "Says the man who still fantasizes about having her." Lu Qingfeng said, announcing his arrival to the other two men.


    Lu Qingfeng strode towards them, then looked down at Chen Hao who was bound on a chair, hands tightly tied behind him. Yun Xiang moved closer to him to whisper, informing them that they have yet to find the antidote in Chen Hao''s possession.


    Chen Hao''s eyes shed with rage upon seeing Lu Qingfeng, but the younger man didn''t seem perturbed despite being scrutinized by him. He sneered and spat the blood from his mouth and sneered at Lu Qingfeng.


    "Who wouldn''t want such a beautiful doll in their possession? Su Xiaofei used to be dumb and only cared for herself. The only thing she knew was how to make herself look pretty. It''s really a pity that Ye Mingyu''s ns didn''t work at all." He said, eyes shing with mischief.


    "She''s your cousin." Yun Xiang sneered, making Chen Hao burst into another round ofughter.


    Yun Xiang''s face fell, realizing what he just said. Was he no different from Chen Hao for pining after Su Xiaofei? He looked at Lu Qingfeng, trying to see if the young man thought the same.


    "How ironic isn''t it, Mr. Yun? I could say the same thing to you." He then turned his gaze to Lu Qingfeng. "So is your wife really pregnant or were you hiding the fact that she''s dying? It''s not toote, Lu Qingfeng. Hand her over and give into Ye Mingyu''s demands and Su Xiaofei would live."

 Chapter 604 The Tyrant In Me (3)

    "Do you think we are as stupid as you to do such a thing?" Lu Qingfeng''s voice was so cold, that even though the air conditioner inside the room was broken, a cold shiver still ran through Yun Xiang''s spine.


    "I doubt that Ye Mingyu would hand over something as important as the antidote to an idiotic person like you."


    "What did you say?!" Chen Hao yelled. He tried to resist and pull from his ties, wanting to smack away the arrogant look Lu Qingfeng had on his face. Even when they were younger, whenever Chen Hao saw Lu Qingfeng with Su Xiaofei, a seed of envy would sprout in his ckened heart.


    He couldn''t help butpare himself to this young man. Lu Qingfeng had everything he wanted in life. He was born with a silver spoon, which only meant that Lu Qingfeng had never tasted bitterness in life, and was blessed with outstanding looks as well as IQ. And despite Lu Qingfeng''s introverted personality, he was still able to make himself popr among his peers.


    Thus, Chen Hao could somewhat understand why Ye Mingyu hated Su Xiaofei - the same way he hated Lu Qingfeng''s very existence. Those two were the reminder of the lives they would never have. While he and Ye Mingyu had to experience struggles and hardships throughout their childhood years, Lu Qingfeng and Su Xiaofei had everything handed to them on a silver tter without asking.


    "So not only are you stupid, but you also have hearing impairment." Lu Qingfeng continued. "It didn''t matter whether you have the antidote or not, because my wife would surely outlive you and Ye Mingyu. I only came here to execute the punishments."


    Something about Lu Qingfeng changed and suddenly Chen Hao''s instinct was telling him to run for his life. However, because he was tightly bound by Yun Xiang earlier, he wasn''t able to resist that much when Lu Qingfeng moved towards him and pulled out a small vial with a ck fluid in it.


    Chen Hao''s eyes widened. Fear gripped his heart while rm bells rang through his mind as he watched Lu Qingfeng twist the cap of the vial to open. Something about Lu Qingfeng was different and Chen Hao couldn''t point out what it was. He had seen Lu Qingfeng and Su Xiaofei grow up from childhood to their teenage years with his own eyes, but he never saw this young man make such an expression that promised imminent death.


    "Lu Qingfeng! What are you trying to do?! If Su Xiaofei knows what you are doing, do you think she would still want to be with you?!" He eximed, feigning toughness in front of this tyrant.


    "Lu Qingfeng, wait! This isn''t part of our n!" Yun Xiang was about to step forward, but Nine stopped him, gesturing for him to step back and let his master deal with Chen Hao.


    Lu Qingfeng chuckled. "Why do you and Yun Xiang have this delusion that Su Xiaofei is oblivious to what I am? Su Xiaofei knew the kind of devil she is married to, but still chose to love a twisted person like me rather than be with some lowborn scum like you."


    Chen Hao looked confused at what Lu Qingfeng had just said. He looked at Yun Xiang, whose gaze was now at his feet.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Suddenly, Lu Qingfeng grasped Chen Hao''s chin and forcedfully poured the contents of the vial down his throat. Chen Hao struggled, wanting to spit the ck fluid out, but Lu Qingfeng prevented it by holding him still. Pain shot through him as the poison went down his tract. As soon as Lu Qingfeng released his hold on him, Chen Hao attempted to clear his air passage.


    "Don''t worry. That poison isn''t enough to kill you, but it''s enough to damage your voice for good." Lu Qingfeng said coldly, before taking a second vial from his pocket. This time, the liquid inside was as clear as spring water.


    Chen Hao hadn''t recovered from the pain caused by the first poison when the second one was forced down his throat by Lu Qingfeng.


    Lu Qingfeng decided to eradicate those people who would pose a threat towards his growing family. He hadn''t been lying to his wife when he told her that he didn''t mind spilling the blood of his enemies if it would guarantee their family''s safety.


    Yun Xiang could only watch in horror, feeling conflicted at the same time. Did Lu Qingfeng poison Chen Hao because they believed that thew wouldn''t be able to give him and Su Xiaofei the justice they deserve and had decided to take matters into their own hands?


    While Yun Xiang understood the couple''s predicament, a part of him disagreed with their ways of dealing with the problem. As much as he hated Chen Hao and Ye Mingyu for harming Su Xiaofei, Yun Xiang didn''t think that what Lu Qingfeng just did was right.


    "You will die in six months, although you will experience constant pain before the poison takes your life. Do you think Ye Mingyu and her new lover will be kind enough to give you the antidote you need?"


    Lu Qingfeng''s words rang in Chen Hao''s mind and it was enough to send him into a panic. Dealing with Han Yize wouldn''t be easy, but as Chen Hao looked at the devil in front of him, he thought that Lu Qingfeng''s ways were more detrimental and vicious than Han Yize.


    "Lu Qingfeng, you can''t kill him." Yun Xiang reminded his cousin''s wife. Even if Su Xiaofei knew about Lu Qingfeng''s dark side, it didn''t mean that he would allow Lu Qingfeng tomit more atrocities under his watch.


    "I know, that''s why I poisoned him. I won''t give him an easy way out." Lu Qingfeng replied. He then walked to where Yun Xiang was and gave Nine a pointed look. "I''ll leave the rest to you. Make sure to leave him in a vegetative state so that he wouldn''t be able to function on his own. Just as Lt. Yun said, don''t kill Chen Hao."

 Chapter 605 The Tyrant In Me (4)

    Was Lu Qingfeng satisfied now? No. It wouldn''t be enough to quell the rage in his chest. Perhaps he might have already lost his sanity by now, after undergoing rebirths and living three lifetimes, but the Lu Qingfeng from his original life was far too different from what he was now.


    Just the thought of Su Xiaofei dying before him was enough to drive him crazy. He might not be able to stay sane if something happened to her again this time. He loved her throughout his lifetimes that it would be impossible for him to forget about her. Not now that she had be his wife and bearing the fruits of their love.


    Lu Qingfeng didn''t wait for his bodyguard to finish the job and decided to wait in the car. He wanted to return to his wife''s side now, but he needed to make sure that Chen Hao wouldn''t be able to pull off anything to harm her from now on. This way, the only possible threats towards his family were Ye Mingyu, and possibly Han Yize.


    When Nine returned half an hourter, giving him an affirmative nod, Lu Qingfeng felt that the pressure on his shoulder was reduced, now that Chen Hao was already out of the picture.


    "Rest assured that he would never be able tomit any atrocities. Not only did I make him crippled, but I made sure he would never be able to use his dominant hand properly. Even if he wanted tomunicate with anyone, it would be hard for Chen Hao, since Lt. Yun assured that the evidence provided would be enough for Chen Hao to receive capital punishment from the state." Nine told him.


    Lu Qingfeng hummed and said nothing further on the matter, settling for a simple "Let''s return home then."


    Without another word on the matter, they returned home in silence. Lu Qingfeng didn''t waste time and went to the master bedroom as soon as arrived, only to find Shi Mingli, injecting his wife''s usual medicine into her arm.


    "How is she?" Lu Qingfeng asked, seeing how unusually pale his wife was.


    "She broke into another fever this afternoon, but we managed to break it." Shi Mingli responded. "Doctor Han believes that the level of poison in her blood stream has considerably lessened since we started her treatment."


    "How long will it take for Brother Han to finish the antidote? Are we still on track?"


    "Han Zijun believes that he will be able to finish it in two weeks. He''s trying to find a way to increase its potency." Lu Junjie''s mother fell silent for a moment. "We both fear that the poison would retaliate harshly on Su Xiaofei''s body, if the antidote failed to cure her."


    "Do you have a n B then?" Lu Qingfeng asked. There was no way he would allow his wife to subject herself to that kind of threat.


    "We''re still trying to formte one. We''ll discuss this with you and Su Xiaofei once we are confident with the n."


    Shi Mingli excused herself then, leaving Su Xiaofei with Lu Qingfeng. As if sensing his arrival, Su Xiaofei cracked her eye open, finding him settled next to her.


    "You''re home. How did it go?" She asked. Su Xiaofei was aware of his and Yun Xiang''s n today, and she insisted on him not to personally participate in the raid, in fear that it would harm him.


    "Chen Hao will be bedridden for life and Yun Xiang is certain that he wouldn''t be able to avoid the verdict of the court this time. You don''t need to worry about him anymore." Lu Qingfeng murmured gently, but his eyes were so cold, that it almost reminded Su Xiaofei of the tyrant Lu Qingfeng she had seen as a ghost.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Then that''s good. It''s a pity I didn''t see it myself."


    Lu Qingfeng''s eyes softened as he brushed a few strands of stray hair away from her face.


    "I allowed Nine to exert his frustration on Chen Hao. We''ll still be working on how to destroy Han Yize, so it might take some time for us to deal with Ye Mingyu for good."


    "Don''t worry about it, dear." Su Xiaofei scooted closer to him, wanting to hold him, but with her bump in the way, it wasn''t easy to hug him in this position.


    "I know a good way to sow discord between them." She smiled mischievously. "Zhang Lan and her team have been following Ye Mingyu for sometime now, so she''s able to collect dirt that Ye Mingyu wasn''t expecting could be used against her."


    Lu Qingfeng stared at his wife, for a moment, thinking that he might be worrying for nothing when she already had things on hand to use against her sworn enemy.


    "Just be careful, Feifei. Whatever it is, make sure that it won''t be traced back to you."


    Su Xiaofei''s lips curled into an evil smile. It had been a mistake for her to lower her guard before, but she would make sure to return the favor to Ye Mingyu.


    "They won''t. Guess who gave me the evidence that could ruin her reputationpletely."


    He raised a slender brow at his pregnant wife. How could she find this matter amusing? Lu Qingfeng wondered.


    "Who is it?" He asked, knowing that she was merely waiting for him to ask before divulging the information to him.


    "Who else but Yan Xiuchen." She chuckled. "I couldn''t believe the extent he''s willing to do just for Xiao Rufeng."


    Lu Qingfeng wasn''t expecting that Yan Xiuchen would willingly cooperate with his wife, but he understood why his eldest brother would do such a thing.


    "You should know by now the kind of person Chen-ge is. I suppose Miss Xiao has really left an impact in Chen-ge''s life that he''s willing to get rid of anyone who''ll obstruct her way in the showbiz industry."


    "Then I must tread carefully around him. I wouldn''t want to be on his bad side if he could be as scheming as this." Su Xiaofei said with a teasing tone.

 Chapter 606 Star Talk (1)

    The news of Bai Qingyue joining Bluemedia spread like a wildfire not only on entertainment news but also on social media tforms. However, aside from it, news about Bai Qingyue having a child out of wedlock had also spread everywhere. Su Xiaofei and her mother had no doubt that Ye Mingyu was behind it.


    Negativements and articles about Bai Qingyue continued to sprout online. While Bluemedia was able to suppress these kinds of news from major news outlets, most of these malicious articles were published by small and no-name magazines who were known for criticizing and targeting several celebrities'' reputation online.


    The queen received harsh criticisms because of it, painting her as a selfish mother for abandoning her child in favor of her flourishing career. Some were borderline libelous that Bluemedia had started tracking those sites and users that continued to spread hatred and profanity against Bai Qingyue.


    "Hmm¡­ to think that she''s able to make such a scandal happen in such a short span of time, I have to apud Ye Mingyu this time." Bai Qingyue said as she pierced the sliced cake on her te and savored it.


    Su Xiaofei eyed her birth mother, wondering since when did they be so casual with each other that she was able to spend her tea time with Bai Qingyue now. The actress would drop by to see her once in a while without notifying her,ing and going as she pleased. Whatever happened to their deal of not intervening in each other''s life?


    "She found a golden thigh to help her. Fortunately, he''s not strong enough to contend with us. Do you have a n on how to turn the tides?" She asked her mother.


    "Xiao Rufeng and Ye Mingyu finished filming their series, right? Do you think it''s about time for me and Miss Xiao to coborate on a project then?"


    Su Xiaofei hummed, then remembered one of the scripts Lu Jinglin sent to her a month ago. She made a mental note to review it and see if they could use it as a material for the next project Bluemedia would solely produce.


    "You should focus on promoting the film you have with Miss Tang first before anything else." She reminded her mother. "I scheduled a live interview for you and Miss Tang on ''Star Talk'' thising weekend. The host might corner you and force you to give ament over this scandal."


    The talk show ''Star Talk'' was the leading show in the country and had been around for more than ten years. Though it would periodically change its host, it cannot be denied that it was still one of the most highly anticipated TV shows. They were usually the first ones to give voice to the big stars and celebrities that were being dragged into scandalous issues.


    Bai Qingyue arched her brow at her daughter, amazed that Su Xiaofei had managed to secure an interview in such short notice. Only big shots in the industry could get a timeslot on ''Star Talk''. Even Mo Yuchen would need a week''s notice before his request could be approved.


    It hadn''t been too long since Su Xiaofei took over the management of Bluemedia, but the change and growth of thepany was obvious even to theirpetitors in the industry. She didn''t doubt that Su Xiaofei would be a decent actress herself if she''d chosen the same path as her, but Bai Qingyue thought that being the big boss and working behind the scenes suited her daughter better.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Alright, but what if they drop your name and im that you are my daughter? Surely, Ye Mingyu wouldn''t waste this chance to humiliate you."


    It was Su Xiaofei''s turn to arch a brow at her. If she didn''t know her mother better, she would falsely assume that Bai Qingyue was concerned about her. However, how could she forget that this woman will do anything to protect the career she had built over the years?


    "Do they have proof?" She challenged her mother. "When you gave birth to me, you didn''t even use your real name on the records, this is why Mama and I had a hard time trying to find my real parents. If we couldn''t find it, I doubt that they could, not unless they presented a forged document. They''ll be the one humiliating themselves, not me."


    "I''m guessing that Ye Mingyu would try to drag you into the hype. Since I didn''t yield to her demands, she is trying to throw dirt on us. But I do hope she''s ready for the ramifications of her actions." The actress replied. She eyed her daughter for a moment, a slight worry shing in her eyes.


    Su Xiaofei was carrying twins, which meant that her pregnancy was delicate at the same time. It had been hard for Bai Qingyue when she was pregnant with her daughter and she could imagine how much difort Su Xiaofei was experiencing this time.


    Su Xiaofei cupped her chin and sighed, ying a lock of her hair around her finger.


    "She''s still considered a starlet with no aplishments to brag about. How dare someone like her try to pull the tail of a tiger? Wouldn''t it be like having a death wish? I suppose I need to remind Ye Mingyu of who she is and our staggering difference in showbiz."


    "And if her boytoy tries to offend you?" Bai Qingyue asked her. It seemed to her that Su Xiaofei was too confident that Ye Mingyu would fail.


    Su Xiaofei scoffed at that. The Han Yize now didn''t have the sufficient wealth and influence to challenge Lu Qingfeng.


    "Do you think my overprotective husband would do nothing and turn a blind eye to it? Han Yize must be so full of himself if he couldn''t see the disparity between him and Lu Qingfeng. Antagonizing me and Lu Qingfeng in public at the same time is like telling the world that there''s something wrong with his head."

 Chapter 607 Star Talk (2)

    The day of the interview arrived. Su Xiaofei remained at home, trying to find afortable position in her seat as she waited for the talk show to start. She had waited for the issue to reach its peak before scheduling Bai Qingyue for a live interview. She didn''t doubt that many people would try to use the talk show to corner the queen and ask for herment about the rumors surrounding her.


    It had been a while since thest time her name was dragged into an issue, and many of her fans had supported her and tried to brush off the allegations against her. Su Xiaofei had no doubt that there were people getting paid to attack and besmirch Bai Qingyue''s reputation this time.


    "It''s amazing how Miss Bai is able to keep herposure throughout this ordeal. Many of her fans have also stepped forward to defend her against the malicious usation towards her." Zhang Lingmented as she checked the trend on social media.


    "It''s because Bai Qingyue takes care of her loyal fans and asionally hosts fan meetings. She also gives them benefits that other celebrities wouldn''t do. This is why, despite the mud Ye Mingyu is throwing at her, the front line of defense would be Bai Qingyue''s loyal fans." Su Xiaofeimented, groaning in difort as she felt one of the twins kicking in her stomach.


    "Are you alright?" Zhang Lan asked her mistress in a worried tone. "Should I get you something?"


    Despite having stepped back from managing most of Bluemedia''s affairs, Su Xiaofei insisted on being hands on for Xiao Rufeng and Bai Qingyue''s projects. Even now, she wanted to observe the entire broadcast to make sure things would go ording to n.


    Su Xiaofei shook her head and smiled at Zhang Lan. The Zhang sister had be more strict and overprotective ever since she fell pregnant. She also didn''t need to probe further to know that they were still feeling guilty for identally allowing her to be poisoned under their watch. If she hadn''t begged Lu Qingfeng to spare them, she was sure that the two would receive punishment for failing to protect her.


    "I''m alright. These little ones seem like they can''t wait to get out and see the world. They are getting more active these days." She said as she rubbed her stomach gently, trying to soothe the twins.


    "So we don''t need to do anything else to help Miss Bai?" Zhang Ling asked, reminding Su Xiaofei of their conversation.


    "It depends on what Ye Mingyu will do next and if Bai Qingyue is still able to resist her. However, there are times that we don''t need to lift a finger to exact revenge. We''re already lucky that we will get to witness how badly this will end for Ye Mingyu."


    There was no doubt that Ye Mingyu was the one behind all of this. She foolishly thought that with the few details she remembered from their previous lives, she would be able to use them without repercussions. It would also be hard for her to convince the fans to go against Bai Qingyue easily.


    ¡ª-


    As soon as it was announced that Bai Qingyue and Tang Liyan would appear on ''Star Talk'', Bai Qingyue''s name became one of the hottest topics and she took the top spot on the most popr entertainment search rankings. The viewership of today''s episode of the talk show was expected to set another record because it features the two queens.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    The talk show was scheduled for 5PM and it would be a live broadcast. It would be hard for them to fix anything if Bai Qingyue made a mistake, but Su Xiaofei doubted that her mother would misspoke. Knowing her mother''s personality, Ye Mingyu was guaranteed to be seen in a bad light after this.


    The two queens arrived an hour before the talk show began. As soon as Bai Qingyue stepped out of the van that brought her to the TV station, she was immediately surrounded by fans and reporters. Her bodyguards stepped forward to control the crowd and made way for the queen to pass through.


    When Bai Qingyue entered the TV station, she found that Tang Liyan had already arrived before her. The other queen gave her a warm smile and a greeting.


    "Sister Bai, President Su just called. She''s been looking for you." Tang Liyan said as soon as Bai Qingyue took a seat.


    "That girl is worrying too much." Bai Qingyue muttered.


    "She''s merely concerned about you, Sister Bai. Xiaofei could be overprotective at times, but she means well." Tang Liyan smiled at her.


    Bai Qingyue said nothing and focused her attention on the list of questions she was expected to tackleter during the talk show. However, her mind was obviously not into it, because Tang Liyan''s words had somehow left an impression on her.


    She didn''t want to assume that Su Xiaofei had finally forgiven her. That was like asking for the impossible. It was enough for her that Su Xiaofei wasn''t trying to get rid of her whenever she was in her presence. At least, that was better than being ignored by her. It was something she could tolerate better than beingpletely rejected by the child she gave birth to.


    When she thought that she was going to lose Su Xiaofei again when Ye Mingyu imed to have poisoned the young woman, Bai Qingyue had been blinded by her rage. She almost threw her logical mind to the wind and rushed to her daughter to see if Ye Mingyu was telling the truth. However, she couldn''t understand why Su Xiaofei and her husband looked too calm, considering her delicate condition.


    "Miss Bai, Miss Tang, we are about to start now." A staff member of the talk show came to call the two out.


    Bai Qingyue gave her reflection onest look, making sure that her makeup was on point, making sure that she wouldn''t resemble her daughter too much.

 Chapter 608 Star Talk (3)

    "Do you think Xiaofei is watching the broadcast?" Tang Liyan asked Bai Qingyue as they waited for the hosts to introduce them to their audience.


    Bai Qingyue let out a chuckle and shook her head.


    "Shouldn''t you know her better than me, Sister Tang?" She teased back.


    Tang Liyan let out an amusedugh at that. "Right. I should know better. She will definitely be watching to see how everything will turn out today."


    It wasn''t the first time that Su Xiaofei had used this same method to clear the name of Bluemedia''s talent in public. She would put her talent in the hot seat and allow the hosts to throw direct or harsh questions at them. If that wasn''t enough, Su Xiaofei would make sure to publish irrevocable evidence in the public to support their ims. It was as if Su Xiaofei wouldn''t send them here unless she was certain that they would be able to turn the tables on those allegations.


    The two were then allowed to join the hosts on the stage, taking seats across them. Not long after the director gave the cue and let the camera roll.


    "It''s been a decade since two queens shared the big screen together and now, two reigning queens are eager to prove that real queens didn''t need to go against each other, but to make sure their crowns stayed on top of their heads. With two of the biggest entertainment agencies releasing a film directed by a renowned world ss director, these queens would leave us on the edge of our seats. These queens are none other than Tang Liyan and Bai Qingyue!" The female host announced, followed by a loud cheering from the audience area.


    Afterward, the male host started asking Tang Liyan and Bai Qingyue regarding the film they were both promoting, asking about their experience working with each other for the first time. The first half of the interview was focused mainly on the film and what the audience could expect from it. However, during themercial break, another wave of allegations was thrown towards Bai Qingyue online, igniting another round of heated arguments within the forum.


    Photos ofparison between Bai Qingyue and Su Xiaofei were released, each showing how the two resembled each other in so many ways. The caption even implied that Su Xiaofei was the daughter Bai Qingyue had out of wedlock. Whoever released these photos only added fuel to the fire.


    ''The resemnce between the two is really uncunny. One could easily have mistaken President Su as Bai Qingyue in a quick nce.''


    ''You think she''s really Bai Qingyue''s daughter? But why would she end up being the heiress of Bluemedia?''


    Theizens had different opinions over the matter, but most of the fans weren''t blind to see that someone was targeting Bai Qingyue.


    ''Surely this isn''t just a hype Bluemedia started just to promote the recent film they produced with Golden Star, right?''


    ''I agree with thementer above. Did you notice that the usernames of the one who posted the rumor and the one spreading the photos are the same? They are really putting in quite an effort to besmirch Miss Bai''s reputation.''<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Bai Qingyue''s phone beeped from her pocket, she immediately checked it and saw that it was a short message from her daughter, informing her that Ye Mingyu had already exposed their rtionship as mother and daughter in public.


    The actress remained impassive. Her face showed nothing that could imply that she was bothered by Ye Mingyu''s move. However, deep down, she was already seething with anger. How dare someone like Ye Mingyu think that she could bully her daughter?


    When the second half of the talk show resumed, it was obvious that the hosts wanted to put her in the hot seat this time. Bai Qingyue could sense that the two were hesitating, but the director had given them the go-signal to corner the actress.


    "Miss Bai¡­ currently, there''s a hot allegation being thrown at you, would you be willing to bring light to these rumors?" The female host asked, treading carefully as she probed the actress.


    Bai Qingyue gave her a small smile, making the hosts ufortable. "It depends on whether those allegations make sense."


    "Then would you tell us why you left Golden Star Entertainment as soon as you finished filming the movie with Miss Tang and signed with Bluemedia in a hurry?"


    "While it''s true that Golden Star gave me the opportunity and allowed me to reach where I am now today, I believe that it was time for us to go our separate ways as our goals and priorities are different now."


    "Then why did you choose Bluemedia when there are otherrger entertainment agencies that could give you better benefits?" The male host found an opening and continued to probe.


    Bai Qingyue cocked her head to one side and chuckled, while Tang Liyan remained calm next to her.


    "Because President Su and her team intrigues me. Is that enough reason for you to believe me?"


    The two hosts looked at each other, before the male host took the opportunity to ask Bai Qingyue what everyone wanted to ask her right now.


    "Speaking of President Su, there is news spreading around that she''s the child you abandoned. Someone posted photosparing you and President Su. What can you say about these rumors?"


    "You know, when I first met President Su six years ago, I thought that I was looking at my own reflection when I saw her. I''m not surprised that people are seeing it the way I saw it before. However, believe it or not, scientists say that statistically, every person has roughly six doppelgangers out there in the world. That means there are seven people with your face, including you, out there. So how is it different for me? Why is it that President Su can only be my daughter and not a close rtive or a doppelganger like everyone has?"

 Chapter 609 Shoot Oneself In The Foot (1)

    "I''m pretty sure that I''m not the only actress out there that has a look alike somewhere. While I''m honored to find and meet one as beautiful as President Su, don''t you think that these allegations thrown against me are ridiculous?" Bai Qingyue continued. "I''ve been in this industry for more than twenty years. If I really had a child out of wedlock, this issue should have surfaced a long time ago and not now, when I just joined Bluemedia. The timing of these rumors is questionable. Not only is it targeting me, but also President Su as well."


    The female host was stunned for a moment, but immediately recovered from Bai Qingyue''s straightforward answer. Bai Qingyue had just effectively turned the suspicion and motives towards the people who started the rumors.


    "Miss Bai, are you confident that this isn''t a hype started by your new agency? What are your thoughts about these rumors about you abandoning a child?"


    "ording to President Su''s age, if the allegations hold true, that would mean that I would''ve given birth to her around the same time I was filming ''Under the Turbulent Times''. No matter how hard I try to hide it, my fellow actors as well as our director would have definitely noticed my pregnancy, considering the amount of fitted wardrobe I had to wear."


    Many of her fans in the audience area nodded their heads in agreement. Most of them had been following Bai Qingyue ever since her first TV drama appearance.


    "Also, it''s impossible for Bluemedia to use such underhanded methods just to start a hype. President Su is a very private person, despite leading one of thergest entertainment agencies these days. I was personally assured by her that Bluemedia''s team would exert all efforts to file necessarywsuits on those who are spreading malicious usations towards us."


    Bai Qingyue had underestimated Ye Mingyu''s stupidity, but it seemed like Su Xiaofei was right this time. A part of her wondered how much Su Xiaofei knew about Ye Mingyu. But why did it feel like her daughter held deep animosity towards the other woman? Just what had Ye Mingyu done to Su Xiaofei to earn such hatred?


    "If you don''t mind mementing on it, it seems to me that this industry is getting more disgusting and toxic." Tang Liyan said, her hand patting Bai Qingyue''s hand in reassurance. "I can''t believe that people would maliciously nder Miss Bai like this and would even go as far as to drag our President Su into this. How could these people be so shameless? If there''s something I learned from President Su since joining Bluemedia, it is to know the ountability of one''s actions. I hope these people know what''sing to them soon."


    It sounded like a threat, but it further emphasized the course of action that Bluemedia would take after this live broadcast. It didn''t matter whether the rumors were true or not, because Su Xiaofei was certain that no one would be able to provide evidence to prove that Bai Qingyue was her mother.


    As soon as the live broadcast had ended, Bai Qingyue and Tang Liyan left the TV station after thanking their loyal fans for being there to support them. At the same time, theizens had different reactions to Bai Qingyue''s response to the issues, but most of them agreed that the actress''s resemnce towards Su Xiaofei was uncanny.


    However, this time, they were leaning more towards believing that Su Xiaofei looked like the actress''s younger sister rather than her daughter. They also believed that the allegations being thrown at Bai Qingyue were centralized and nned.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Back at the Lu Ancestral Estate, Su Xiaofei turned off the television and shut her eyes. Bai Qingyue''s answers were enough to divert the attention of those who spread rumors against her. Bai Qingyue''s loyal fans even went as far as collecting information from where the rumors had started and posted the timeline on different social media tforms.


    "They made the job easier for us." Zhang Ling said, as she browsed the posts rted to Bai Qingyue on herptop. "How should we proceed then, President Su?"


    "Is Huo Yuxin back in the country now?" Su Xiaofei asked, ncing on her side to look at her assistant.


    Zhang Ling nodded. "Miss Huo just arrivedst night and has checked in at a hotel. Should we invite her here then?"


    She and her elder sister were both confused about how Su Xiaofei knew about Huo Yuxin and thetter''s rtionship with Han Yize. Huo Yuxin used to be an actress ten years ago, but after her nasty breakup with Han Yize, she left the country in ordance with her parents'' wishes.


    "No. We have already signed a contract with her. It doesn''t matter if we meet face-to-face or not. Huo Yuxin only needs to divert Han Yize''s attention from Ye Mingyu before I destroy both of them. Release the photos to the media, let them know that we are weing Miss Huo to Bluemedia." Su Xiaofei immediately replied.


    Although she had directmunication with Huo Yuxin, she wouldn''t subject herself and her daughters to further danger by meeting that woman outside. Lu Qingfeng hadn''t forbidden her to leave the estate, but she decided that she would remain at home unless she needed to go out for doctor''s appointments.


    Ye Mingyu might be able to manipte Han Yize through sexual favors, but Su Xiaofei intended to get control on the man by using the emotional attachment he used to have with Huo Yuxin. Although it was true that the two ended their rtionship several years ago, there was one thing Su Xiaofei was confident about - the simrities of the women Han Yize were involved in with Huo Yuxin


    Perhaps the reason Han Yize was looking at those women was to see a glimpse of his first love in them, though he was left disappointed with the ring truth that he wasn''t truly over her.

 Chapter 610 Shoot Oneself In The Foot (2)

    Three dayster, Ye Mingyu was pacing back and forth in her room, trying to reach Han Yize through her phone, but she couldn''t reach him. Han Yize had left her promptlyst night without as much of an excuse. It shouldn''t have bothered her, but she didn''t like not being in control. Han Yize''s purpose was to give her the shelter and protection she needed against Su Xiaofei, not to be used and left at whim by him.


    ''Damn it! Where could he be this time?'' She tried to dial his number again, but she couldn''t reach him.


    Just as she was upied with thoughts on how to deal with Bai Qingyue''s enraged fans, who were now proactively defending the actress online, a new scandal erupted from nowhere, implying that she was ''caught on a date'' with Han Yize.


    ''Shit.'' Ye Mingyu cursed inwardly. She had been very careful when meeting Han Yize in public ces. How could someone recognize her through her disguise? The photos showed that they were being followed not only on a single asion, as she recognized the ces she and Han Yize had visited a few weeks ago.


    ''We are being followed? Is it Su Xiaofei''s doing or a normal paparazzi who just wants another scoop?'' She wondered. Ye Mingyu wasn''t sure how this would affect her future ns. She wasn''t even sure if Han Yize was already aware of this.


    Ye Mingyu was scheduled for a photoshoot for the recent brand endorsement she secured with Han Yize''s help. However, as soon as she stepped out of the car, she immediately became the center of attention as media reporters gathered around her.


    "Miss Ye, are you Mr. Han Yize''s girlfriend? Where did you meet him? Are you two nning to tie the knot soon?"


    "Miss Ye, what''s the real rtionship between you and Mr. Han? He was previously involved with other young actresses, are you aware of this?"


    The questions seemed to imply something. As she looked into their eyes, Ye Mingyu was reminded of those mocking gazes that haunted her in her previous life.


    Ye Mingyu squeezed her way past those reporters with the help of the bodyguards Han Yize assigned to her. The reporters continued to fire her questions, but she didn''t bother to stop and give them a satisfactory answer. How could she answer them when the man involved with her was nowhere to be found? There was a saying that careless talk could lead to a disaster. She refused to hand them extra immunation to target her!


    Because she didn''t know what Han Yize was up to, Ye Mingyu wasn''t willing to respond to the scandal. What if she said something that could be used against herter? She wasn''t as dumb as the Su Xiaofei she used to know in her previous life. That woman would run her mouth without considering how it would affect her career.


    Ye Mingyu gritted her teeth before slipping back her innocent mask in ce. She smiled and spoke gently and politely towards the staff and the photographer, trying her best to leave a good impression on them. She couldn''t afford to make a mistake when cameras were focused on her.


    However, Ye Mingyu would never know that she had already fallen into Su Xiaofei''s trap without knowing it. Because some witnesses emerged and proved that she and Han Yize had arrived together in some ces. The reporters were then able to twist a seemingly innocent meeting between a man and a woman into something else.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    It didn''t help that Han Yize''s previous involvement with other actresses had resurfaced and Ye Mingyu was painted as a woman who was willing to climb on someone''s bed just to gain a favor.


    Her involvement with the man triggered endless scolding and criticism fromizens. Despite the fact that she wasn''t the only one involved in the scandal, no one dared to throw a stone at Han Yize and strangely, the ones who kept persecuting her online were all women.


    "I''m sure Han Yize is her money boss. How do you think Ye Mingyu would survive in this industry if her younger sister had chosen to support Xiao Rufeng over her?"


    "Compared to Xiao Rufeng''s talent, Ye Mingyu only looks like her backdrop. It''s easy to tell why Xiao Rufeng managed to get the lead role while Ye Mingyu ended up with the supporting role. Not that the supporting role is bad, but Ye Mingyu could have executed the role better."


    Ye Mingyu came homete at night furious, seeing how the discussions against her proliferated online, effectively turning everyone''s attention away from Bai Qingyue''s abandoned child. A gloomy atmosphere spread around her.


    Things were getting out of control now and every second passed that Han Yize hadn''t returned only pushed her further on the edge. She needed to release a statement soon. She couldn''t allow anyone to bully her!


    She forced herself to suppress her anger. Once Han Yize arrived, she knew that she was unable to antagonize him in any way. Despite being stupid when ites to women, that man was dangerous enough to kill anyone who opposed him using underhanded methods. Who knows if he will use the cold poison on her if she gets on his bad side.


    Han Yize finally arrived past midnight. Ye Mingyu rushed downstairs to see him, only to notice that the man looked distraught. He didn''t look like his usual self.


    "Did something happen? Why the long face, dear?" She asked sweetly, touching his arm only to be peeled away by Han Yize.


    "I''m tired. Can we talk about this in the morning?" He said, brushing her off.


    Ye Mingyu clenched her fist and forced herself to smile. She cannot afford to offend her money boss right now.


    "Of course. Just let me know if I can help you with anything. By the way, the news about us being together has reached the media, should I release a statement about it?"

 Chapter 611 Broken Beyond Repair (1)

    Bai Qingyue and Ye Mingyu''s names continued to upy the headlines for the next few weeks. While the queen wasn''t affected by the allegation thrown at her, it left Ye Mingyu on the edge as she remained silent throughout the ordeal. It took some time for Han Yize to be able to take down the articles and news about them, and Ye Mingyu noticed the sudden change in his ever since that night he''d suddenly left her on her own.


    Something must have happened. If it was about his work, then she had nothing to worry about, but there was something about the way he acted that made Ye Mingyu suspicious. Han Yize still met and saw her at night, but he wouldn''t spend the night with her. He looked frustrated about something, but he wouldn''t tell her what it was.


    While Ye Mingyu was struggling to keep Han Yize on her side, Su Xiaofei had just passed out and woke up in the hospital owned by the Han family for the second time.


    "What happened?" She asked Shi Mingli.


    "You passed out again. You were burning with high fever when Zhang Lan brought you here." The woman replied. "I''ve already called your husband. Lu Qingfeng said he''s on his way now."


    "Su Xiaofei, you will need to deliver the twins now." Han Zijun said in frustration.


    He and Shi Mingli had managed toplete the antidote they were working on, but it seemed that Su Xiaofei''s body couldn''t keep up with her pregnancy while trying to keep the poison at bay. Zhang Lan had barged into his office that morning, insisting that he check on her madam immediately.


    "No. No." She shook her head. "I still have a week to carry them, right? The more weeks we could give the girls, the more chances they could survive well at birth."


    "No, Miss Su. It has to be now. It''s now or we can''t help you." The doctor''s voice was almost pleading in Su Xiaofei''s ears. She had never seen Han Zijun this desperate.


    "But you are Han Zijun. You can pull miracles. You are one of the best doctors in our country. Surely you can do something about it." Su Xiaofei insisted.


    "This won''t work for me, Miss Su. Another week and you might die. Your body is starting to shut down already. In another week, we won''t be able to help you or save your twins anymore, but if you deliver them now, I''ll promise to do my best to save all three of you."


    Su Xiaofei said nothing and stared nkly at the ceiling, tears streaming down her face.


    "Let me bepletely honest with you. There''s a chance that one of your twins might not be able to make it. Unlike the other one, she''s smaller and weaker."


    Su Xiaofei swallowed hard upon hearing Han Zijun say that. She didn''t know if she would be able to get over another child loss. The grief almost killed her in her previous life, since a part of her was lost along with her child.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Shi Mingli held Han Zijun''s arm and shook her head.


    "Let me talk to her about it."


    The doctor hesitated for a moment and nodded. He gave Su Xiaofei onest look before leaving her with Shi Mingli.


    The older woman took a seat next to Su Xiaofei''s bed, thetter refusing to look at her.


    "Sister Shi, do you also think that I''m selfish and being illogical for not terminating this pregnancy?" Su Xiaofei asked without looking at Shi Mingli. The older woman became an older sister she never had and she was able to confide in Shi Mingli easily.


    "No. Of course not, Xiaofei. It''s easy for someone to say that they would rather choose you to live over the child and tell you that you can have more children in the future, but what do they know?" Shi Mingli answered, taking Su Xiaofei''s hand in hers.


    "Actually, dying having a child was just an excuse Mingzhe and I used. We had trouble conceiving a child over the years and I suffered four miscarriages. You can imagine how heartbroken we were back then. I almost didn''t want to see a positive pregnancy test again in fear that it would end in another loss."


    Su Xiaofei remained silent and continued to weep. She knew that by being selfish and keeping her pregnancy, she was hurting Lu Qingfeng all over again.


    "To be told that you should terminate this pregnancy as you would have higher chances of getting pregnant in the future sounds insensitive to me, whether you have a child before or not. Sure, others might think that you are being stupid right now, but do they know the feeling of being empty? It''s something I would never wish for someone to experience."


    "The loss of a child may be the worst trauma a human being can experience. When a woman loses a child, she would be filled with intense anger and feelings of bitterness and unfairness at a life left unfulfilled. Fear or dread of being alone and overprotecting your surviving children may haunt her. She could resent parents with healthy children. She could feel that life has no meaning and would wish to be released from the pain or to join her child."


    Su Xiaofei was familiar with such feelings. How many times did she wish she was dead after Mo Yuchen forcibly aborted their child from her womb? How many times did she look away when she saw a woman holding their baby in her arms while she held nothing?


    "It''s not your fault, Xiaofei. I''m sure Lu Qingfeng understands you now. However, you have to promise that you wille back to us alive. We will do whatever it takes to save the girls, but you have to fight for your life, because if you die, your girls will not only lose their mom, but also their dad." Shi Mingli reminded her.

 Chapter 612 Broken Beyond Repair (2)

    "Sister Shi¡­" Su Xiaofei was rendered speechless as she studied Shi Mingli''s face.


    "I''ve only known you and Lu Qingfeng for a few short months, but I could tell how important you are to him. You are his other half, his soulmate. It''s obvious that if he loses you, he would also lose himself for good. Your death would turn him into something that he isn''t, and I''m afraid that he would hold this resentment towards your girls if they survived while you didn''t."


    Shi Mingli had seen how Lu Qingfeng looked at his wife - as if Su Xiaofei was his everything.


    "A-Feng would never do that!" Su Xiaofei eximed, her eyes shone with tears.


    She had seen herself how her death destroyed the man she loved, but she doubted that Lu Qingfeng would hold their daughters responsible for her death.


    "You might be right and I may be wrong, but you have to know grief can ruin many good things in life. It can destroy bridges if one isn''t able to get through it." Shi Mingli nodded. "But Lu Qingfeng would be miserable without you. He will never get over you, so you better fight for your life."


    "W-why are you telling me this, Sister Shi?" She asked. The tyrant and heartless Lu Qingfeng she used to haunt in her previous life was left embedded in her mind.


    "Because I need you to know that this isn''t just about you, Xiaofei. Dr. Han and I might be able to treat you from the poison, but if it has already left irreparable damage on your body, it''s hard to tell what could happen. You might get better, or you might slip into aa. If you die, none of us would be able to help Lu Qingfeng and you would be leaving him broken beyond repair. There''s noing back for him and your twins might as well end up in your mother''s care instead."


    No. Su Xiaofei couldn''t allow that. Would she have to watch Lu Qingfeng spend the rest of his life in misery again? How could she bear to see her mother raising her daughters when she could barely take care of herself? Yun Qingrong was still recovering from her previous illness and she wasn''t in the best of health now.


    "Okay, I get what you mean. We have a deal." Su Xiaofei conceded. There might be no other third chance or rebirth waiting for her if she failed. Failure isn''t an option this time. She needed to live not only for her husband and daughters, but also for her continuously growing family.


    In her previous life, Su Xiaofei had always found herself alone, especially when Lu Qingfeng fell into aa and Xi Qian unexpectedly died. She had no one to rely on or confide in. Her mother died shortly after her marriage to Mo Yuchen while she didn''t have the chance to know her real parents at all.


    Now, not only was she reunited with Lu Qingfeng and married him, but she was also able to gain a new family through the Yuns and Qiaos, and got to know her parents better from a different point of view. She was now surrounded with friends and loved ones.


    If she was able to keep fighting until herst breath in her previous life, she had more reason now to recover and live. Lu Qingfeng also loved her so much that she owed everything to him. She had to survive.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Deal." Shi Mingli sighed before pressing the button to call in the nurses to bring Su Xiaofei to the delivery room. "If it makes you feel better, Miss Xi will be apanying you in the delivery room. As soon as we take out your girls, Dr. Han and I will start to treat you."


    ¡ª


    Once Lu Qingfeng, who had rushed to the hospital, arrived at the floor where the delivery room was, he immediately noticed that the floor was cleared out and only a few nurses were there to amodate them.


    Out of breath, he reached the end of the hallway only to see his mother-inw, along with Bai Qingyue and Qiao Fengying waiting outside the delivery room. Lu Qingfeng had never seen these three in the same ce as they were now.


    "How is she?" He asked Yun Qingrong. He regretted not arriving sooner. Lu Qingfeng had wanted to leave his office the moment he heard the news, but several things and the bad traffic jam had dyed him greatly.


    "Feifei has already gone under. Xi Qian just rushed in to join them an hour ago. A-Feng, don''t you think that this is too early for Feifei to give birth? Is there something wrong with her that Dr. Han decided to deliver the girls early?" Yun Qingrong asked nervously as she sped her hands on her chest.


    Lu Qingfeng looked at his mother-inw and then turned to his wife''s biological parents. By the way Bai Qingyue clenched her jaw hard, he realized that the actress was aware of Feifei''s real condition.


    "Feifei and I trust Brother Han''s judgment. He wouldn''t have suggested it if he didn''t perceive a threat on Feifei and the twins'' lives." He said, dodging to answer Yun Qingrong''s question. It was Su Xiaofei who insisted to hide the truth from her mother anyway. If Yun Qingrong found out that she was the opening used to poison her daughter, they had no doubt that she would me herself for life.


    "Still, this is too early." Qiao Fengying agreed with Yun Qingrong''s opinion. "I know something was wrong with Feifei during myst visit. She seemed weaker and very lethargic." He then looked at Bai Qingyue who hadn''t said a word since her arrival. "What are you doing here anyway?"


    Bai Qingyue arched a slender brow and crossed her arms around her midsection.


    "What? Can''t I show support and worry for my new manager?" She retorted nonchntly, before turning her gaze back on the closed door.

 Chapter 613 Fatherhood (1)

    Despite Bai Qingyue''s callous words, Lu Qingfeng could see in her eyes that she cared about his wife. If there was something he was sure of, it''s the fact that Bai Qingyue still held her child in her heart, regardless of what she said. She wouldn''t have bothered toe here if she wasn''t worried about her daughter.


    Lu Qingfeng took a seat next to Yun Qingrong, hands sped together as they waited. He wanted to go inside the delivery room, but he didn''t quite trust himself to witness Su Xiaofei in a state of bloody mess. The only reason he wasn''t panicking now was because Xi Qian promised to be there by his wife''s side.


    However, every second that they didn''t hear anything or see someone leave the room felt like an eternity. Lu Qingfeng had always prided himself as a man with great patience, but this time, every inch of his body wanted him to go inside to assure himself that his wife was still alive.


    As they waited in the hallway, his brothers arrived with Xiao Rufeng and Shen Jiao in tow. Both women gave him a greeting before they moved on to Yun Qingrong and Qiao Fengying.


    "What are you doing here?" Lu Qingfeng asked as Song Yiran hooked an arm around his shoulder, dragging him away from the women. He wasn''t expecting them all to be here.


    "We came here to show our support. How could you leave us out today? If Li Xiran hadn''t told us what was happening, we would''ve been oblivious for the second time." Ning Xuan replied, eyeing the closed doors of the OR. "So how''s Big Sister?"


    "We haven''t heard any update from Brother Han yet. Xi Qian is still with them." Lu Qingfeng answered. Having his brothers here with him somehow lessened his worries.


    "Su Xiaofei is delivering the twins too early. Is everything alright?" Song Yiran asked him this time.


    "I''m not sure myself, but Brother Han insisted that the twins need to be delivered now or they might face seriousplicationster."


    As soon as he answered Song Yiran, the doors opened and two nurses came out pushing two incubators with Xi Qian following after them. She was still dressed in her scrubs and a blue mask on her face, hair tied behind her. Everyone rushed to see the babies.


    "Oh my goodness. They are so tiny!" Xiao Rufeng murmured next to her boyfriend as Yan Xiuchen held her hand.


    Yun Qingrong agreed with the actress. She wanted to hold her grandchildren, but she knew that they needed to be transferred to the NICU. The twins needed to stay inside the incubator to survive outside their mother''s womb¡ªbecause they were born prematurely.


    "The elder one is this little one here." Xi Qian said, pointing at therger one between the twins.


    "We got them, Lu Qingfeng. Now, you need to be strong for Feifei and these two."


    Lu Qingfeng gave her a curt nod, hands clenching hard on his sides. He knew Su Xiaofei needed him to be their pir.


    Meanwhile, Bai Qingyue remained mum and only stared at the pair of twins. It briefly reminded her of the time she gave birth to her daughter. She also gave birth to her daughter prematurely and she remembered Xiaofei being so tiny by the time the nurse handed her baby to her.


    "Congrattions for being a daddy!" Song Yiran eximed, giving Lu Qingfeng a pat on his shoulder.


    Lu Qingfeng remained silent, but his eyes never left his daughters. As soon as his eyesnded on them, the air in his lungs disappeared. As he looked at them, his heart felt like it wanted to burst from so much joy.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    What Xiao Rufeng said was true. They were too tiny.. However, even if he wanted them to grow for another week inside his wife, it would only make their situation more difficult than it already was.


    The nurses then wheeled the twins to the NICU, leaving Xi Qian behind.


    "Xi Qian." Lu Qingfeng whispered.


    "What is it?"


    Lu Qingfeng looked her straight in the eyes and said; "Don''t let her die, please. We need her."


    Xi Qian stared at him for a long moment before nodding.


    "I don''t intend to lose her. We''ve got this." She said before going back inside the OR.


    "Go and see your daughters. I will be here." Yun Qingrong told him, and Lu Qingfeng immediately rushed to see his daughters again and prayed to deities above like he''d never prayed in his entire life.


    He stopped in the hallway outside the NICU and looked at his daughters through the ss window that allowed parents and guests to check on the babies. Behind him, his brothers appeared and looked over his shoulder to take a look too.


    "Have you and Su Xiaofei already decided on their names?" Yan Xiuchen asked. From where they were standing, it was hard to take a good look at the Lu couple''s daughters.


    "En. Feifei and I have already chosen names for them." Lu Qingfeng responded, his voice thick with emotion.


    "What''s wrong?" Yan Xiuchen asked when he noticed the sudden change in his younger brother. He could sense that something was bothering Lu Qingfeng.


    "I wanted to abort them at first. Feifei insisted on keeping them. I''ll never be able to forgive myself for even thinking of terminating her pregnancy."


    "You are merely thinking of Su Xiaofei''s safety and I''m sure they wouldn''t me you for it." Zhu Beichuanmented, knowing how hard it was for Lu Qingfeng to begin with.


    "Still¡­" Lu Qingfeng was about to respond, but Song Yiran cut him off.


    "You are worrying too much. Since your daughters are already here, you will have to take care of them while Su Xiaofei is recovering. We both know that she would put your daughters'' welfare above herself." His friend reminded him.


    Lu Qingfeng could only sigh and nod in agreement. Once his wife was awakened, she would surely rush to see their twins at once.

 Chapter 614 Fatherhood (2)

    Hourster, Su Xiaofei was moved to the ICU, leaving Lu Qingfeng feeling drained and exhausted. Han Zijun and Shi Mingli had given his wife the antidote that would effectively get rid of the cold poison in her body before it could take root deep in her bones.


    Because she had fallen pregnant at the same time she was poisoned, the cold poison slowed down and was suppressed by the sudden change of hormones in her body. There was no sign that the poison had damaged any of her internal organs, much to Lu Qingfeng''s relief, but they needed to wait and see how her body would react after being given an antidote with eighty percent efficiency.


    "She''ll get better." Bai Qingyue said next to him as they watched Yun Qingrong and Xi Qian feed the twins for the first time.


    Lu Qingfeng nced at her, surprised that she was still here even after Feifei had given birth to their daughters. For someone who once imed that she didn''t care about her daughter, Bai Qingyue surely was a hypocrite, but he wouldn''t dare to say it to her face.


    "I know, but I also know that Feifei would be upset that she couldn''t be here. She loves the girls the most."


    "And so do you." Bai Qingyue pointed out. "It must have been hard for you not to be by her side at this moment."


    "Father wants to apany her at the moment. I know it''s been a while since theyst saw each other." Lu Qingfeng tried to reason out. Seeing his wife in an unconscious state was testing his patience and resolve. He would rather be here than to overthink things again.


    Bai Qingyue chuckled and said nothing, then they saw Xi Qian left the NICU room and joined them, leaving Yun Qingrong to tend to his youngest daughter.


    "I''ll need you to sign their papers. Have you decided on their names?" Xi Qian asked.


    "Feifei decided to name the elder one, Qianyue and the younger one, Qingyan." Lu Qingfeng replied nonchntly.


    Xi Qian blinked while Bai Qingyue was rendered speechless next to him. She looked at him as if he''d grown another head over his shoulder.


    "Are you sure?" Xi Qian asked once she recovered from the shock.


    Lu Qingfeng shrugged before returning his gaze to his twins. Their names sounded perfect to him.


    "It''s what Feifei wants and I have no qualms about it." He knew the reasons behind their daughters'' names and he had to admit that he liked them too.


    "I see. Then I''ll get the papers now. Why don''t you two go inside and see the twins yourselves? You''ve beening here frequently to check on them, but you haven''t held nor talked to your daughters, not even once." Xi Qian suggested.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Lu Qingfeng hesitated as if he was conflicted whether seeing his daughters without his wife was right or wrong.


    "You are stalling." Bai Qingyuemented, and Lu Qingfeng finally understood why his wife couldn''t stand being in the same ce as her mother. Bai Qingyue surely could be irritating with her straightforward attitude. She wasn''t nearly as delightful as she thought she was.


    "Fine. I''m going in." He conceded, knowing that his wife''s mother would only annoy him further.


    For the next few days, Lu Qingfeng could be found in the NICU, spending more time with their twins after seeing his wife first. Su Xiaofei still hadn''t regained her consciousness and Han Zijun assured him that they wouldn''t expect her to wake up too soon since they decided to keep her in aatose state to allow her body to recover faster.


    The twins were pulling through, but they were still very small and needed a lot of care to grow healthier. Lu Qingfeng was thankful that he wasn''t dealing with all of these on his own.


    The Yun family flew in from Qiying City just to visit Su Xiaofei and her twins. Qiao Fengying and Qiao Yuhan had also dropped by a few times to see them. Lu Qingfeng''s brother-inw seemed head over heels for his nieces the moment he met them.


    When Yun Qingrong wasn''t at Bluemedia and in-between meetings, she was with her granddaughters, talking in murmurs to both of them. Lu Qingfeng found her several times seated inside the NICU with one of the twins.


    She would even read them nursery rhymes like any kind grandmother would do for their adorable grandchildren. He could see how much these babies brought happiness to his mother-inw''s life.


    As for Bai Qingyue, she didn''t return after Su Xiaofei gave birth. She continued her work as usual. The scandal did nothing to ruin her reputation and it was slowly fading after the overwhelming news about Ye Mingyu''s affair broke out. Lu Qingfeng wasn''t sure if the actress was avoiding meeting Qiao Fengying and his family, or if she was confident that her daughter would recover well.


    "Was Feifei this small when you got her?" Lu Qingfeng asked, trying to strike a conversation with Yun Qingrong.


    "Oh no. She was already a year old when I saw her at the orphanage. The director did say that Feifei was a preemie when they got her." She paused and gently brushed her fingertips over Lu Qianyue''s head. "I think Xiao Yue looks a little like Feifei when I got her. I''m sure she''ll start looking like her mother soon."


    Lu Qingfeng smiled and then proceeded to take his shirt and held his younger daughter on his bare chest for skin-to-skin care, just like Xi Qian taught him. She said that it would help his daughters'' feel warm and loved. Since Xiao Yan was smaller than her older sister, they paid more attention to her condition.


    Yun Qingrong smiled and watched them from the corner of her eye. She had known that fatherhood would suit him. As for her daughter, she was wondering when Su Xiaofei would wake up. She was already missing a number of significant moments with her newborn babies.

 Chapter 615 First Love (1)

    Everything was going out of hand. Ye Mingyu was sure of it. She rarely saw Han Yize nor talked to him since that night and while she was aware that something had changed between them, Ye Mingyu was in denial as she refused to believe that she was losing her control over Han Yize.


    At first, she only sought the man for protection and influence, but because he''d been spoiling her to no end, Ye Mingyu started to grow fond of Han Yize and wanted to be with him for good.


    It wasn''t like she didn''t try to find out the reason for his sudden cold treatment towards her. Ye Mingyu had observed him for several days, but she couldn''te up with any conclusion. At night, Han Yize would slip into her bedroom and have sex with her, but he would always leave her side before the dawn breaks.


    It also didn''t help that she couldn''t reach Chen Hao and had no idea of his whereabouts. Thankfully, she didn''t hand him the cold poison, or else Han Yize would surely throw a fit at her instead.


    There was only one vial left in Han Yize''s possession and he was still trying to track the Shi family''s remaining descendant to get the form and procure the poison himself. It had been a coincidence that their paths crossed. Ye Mingyu knew that he was a dangerous man, but nevertheless, she would rather take advantage of him than admit defeat against Su Xiaofei.


    Su Xiaofei hadn''t been seen in public for almost half a year now. There were rumors that the new Madam Lu had fallen pregnant and took a step back to prioritize her family, but Ye Mingyu knew very well that Su Xiaofei was hiding her illness. The poison must have spread and was killing her by now.


    Ye Mingyu was waiting for the news of Su Xiaofei''s death because Lu Qingfeng refused to give in to her demands months ago. She didn''t think it was possible for them to find a way to cure Su Xiaofei.


    As Han Yize continued to be preupied, barely giving her any attention, Ye Mingyu was once again left to her own devices. She went to the audition that Han Yize arranged for a week ago and hadn''t expected that Xiao Rufeng would be there as well.


    She forced a smile and greeted her fellow actress. There was no way she would allow Xiao Rufeng to take away the lead role from her for the second time!


    "Sister Xiao, what a surprise. I didn''t expect that you would be interested in auditioning for this role."


    Xiao Rufeng''s lips curled into a smile, but her eyes had a glint of simmering rage in them. She would never forgive Ye Mingyu for poisoning her friend and for trying to reveal her rtionship with Yan Xiuchen in public.


    "Why, of course. You aren''t the only one who has a golden thigh to rely on, after all. Which makes me wonder, Sister Ye, who''s the better one between our men? But I guess you already know the answer since you still can''t get rid of me for the third time."


    The smile on Ye Mingyu''s face faltered, but she dared not lower her mask. The only person who had seen the real her was Su Xiaofei, but she assumed that Xiao Rufeng was also aware of her true nature by now.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "I don''t know what you are talking about, Sister Xiao. What are you trying to imply here?" She lowered her tone and gaze as if Xiao Rufeng was bullying her.


    Xiao Rufeng giggled behind her hand then stepped forward, invading Ye Mingyu''s space, much to thetter''s surprise.


    "If you couldn''t beat me, what makes you think that you will win against Su Xiaofei? I haven''t forgotten what you''ve done to me at the club and I will surely return the favor to you a hundredfold." She whispered next to Ye Mingyu''s ear. She pulled away before Ye Mingyu could say a word.


    "Sister Ye is worrying too much. I''m not here to audition for the lead role. I came here to apany one of our juniors to audition instead." She then gestured to the young woman standing behind her.


    "Do your best, alright? We can''t let others think that a newbie can beat you to it." Xiao Rufeng said as a parting word, leaving Ye Mingyu seething in rage, fists clenched as she stood by herself.


    Xiao Rufeng was smiling at her, but Ye Mingyu felt that it was merely a facade. She could feel that Xiao Rufeng wanted to hurt her badly right then and there.


    People murmured behind their hands as they gave Ye Mingyu a mocking look. She wanted to scream right in their faces and tell them that they had no right to mock and ridicule her. Hearing what Xiao Rufeng said earlier made everyone think that Ye Mingyu was a scheming woman.


    It wasn''t a secret that Xiao Rufeng had beaten Ye Mingyu for the previous lead role and had been involved in a scandal during the filming of their TV series. Ever since Ye Mingyu entered the showbiz industry, most of the news about her was in a bad light and she was always involved in scandals - one way or another.


    The resentment in Ye Mingyu''s heart grew. Whether Su Xiaofei was around or not, that woman was still able to annoy the hell out of her through Xiao Rufeng. Because of these two, her career had never been smooth sailing since her debut.


    She also just recently offended Bai Qingyue, but she had to admit that she underestimated the senior actress when ites to manipting the public''s opinion towards her.


    Ye Mingyu forced herself to calm down and focused on the script she was holding. However, a part of her was confused about what Xiao Rufeng knew about her. It seemed like Han Yize wasn''t the only one that had changed, her enemies were also waiting for the right time to retaliate against her.

 Chapter 616 First Love (2)

    When the lead role ended up in the hands of the junior who Xiao Rufeng was apanying earlier, it shocked not only the actress, but also the public. The young actress was neither a popr star nor did she have an outstanding background. Ye Mingyu was practically beaten by a newbie and it would surely hurt her pride more than being beaten by Xiao Rufeng.


    Before Su Xiaofei had given birth and was admitted to the hospital, she had already arranged a few ns for Xiao Rufeng and the Zhang sisters to follow. Xiao Rufeng didn''t even know how Su Xiaofei knew that Ye Mingyu would audition for the lead role of this TV series.


    Su Xiaofei purposely asked her to bring this newly signed actress of Bluemedia here to audition instead of her. Her manager said that the role doesn''t fit her, but it still left Xiao Rufeng confused in the end.


    However, as soon as she saw Ye Mingyu, she understood her manager''s motive clearly. Xiao Rufeng then knew that Su Xiaofei was giving her a chance to humiliate Ye Mingyu and get back at the woman for her past misdeeds against her. If she hadn''t fallen for Ye Mingyu''s lies back then, she wouldn''t have ended up being kidnapped by her sister and sent to Yan Xiuchen''s bed.


    "Great job, Rufeng. President Su would surely be pleased with the news once she wakes up. Ye Mingyu would surely lose her cool once again because of this." Zhang Ling said as she drove her to Bluemedia.


    Being reminded of her friend-sh-manager''s current condition, Xiao Rufeng couldn''t help but feel sad. It''s been a week since Su Xiaofei had given birth to her twins and slipped into a medically induceda, but it wasn''t clear when she would be able to wake up and hold her daughters for the first time.


    "Did Feifei know that Ye Mingyu will audition too? Why didn''t she ask me to audition instead?" She asked her manager''s assistant.


    "We''ve been keeping an eye on Ye Mingyu and her lover. It''s normal for President Su to take advantage of it. Do you know a certain Huo Yuxin, Rufeng?" Zhang Ling asked in return.


    "I do. Didn''t she used to be an actress before? But she suddenly left the limelight when she was about to reach the peak of her career."


    "Huo Yuxin is the cousin of Huang Jingjing, Mo Yuchen''s fianc¨¦e. Huang Jingjing wanted her cousin to sign under Golden Star upon her return, but President Su convinced Huo Yuxin to join Bluemedia instead. Do you know why she easily epted President Su''s invitation?"


    Xiao Rufeng shook her head.


    "I have no idea. What does it have to do with Ye Mingyu anyway?"


    She then remembered seeing Mo Yuchen and Huang Jingjing having a meal together when she went out with Yan Xiuchen that day. Xiao Rufeng surmised that Huang Jingjing was trying to convince Mo Yuchen back then.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Well, you see. President Su dug into the skeletons in Han Yize''s closet and we found out that he was once involved with Huo Yuxin. They used to be childhood lovers. She is his first love but he lost for good. They didn''t break up because they fell out of love, but because Huo Yuxin''s family went bankrupt. Han Yize''s family refused to agree to their marriage and criticized her for being a mere actress. She left the country when it was clear that he couldn''t stand up for her and cut off ties with him for good."


    Xiao Rufeng stared at Zhang Ling for a moment. She didn''t know what to say at all. She''d never thought that Huo Yuxin had lost everything because of her love for Han Yize.


    "Since then, Han Yize has gotten involved with several actresses, as you know. One even went missing, but the truth was Han Yize killed her and threw her remains in the sea, so no one would be able to find her."


    Horror washed through Xiao Rufeng upon hearing that. So that young actress, Lin Zihan was already dead and killed by none other than Han Yize himself? She made a mental note not to argue with Yan Xiuchen anymore when ites to her security.


    "Although the two broke up years ago, it''s quite obvious that Han Yize hasn''t gotten over her. He chose those actresses, along with Ye Mingyu, because they somewhat resembled her."


    "But does Miss Huo feel the same? I mean, does she still love Han Yize?" Xiao Rufeng asked curiously.


    Zhang Ling shrugged as she turned the steering wheel on the right, entering the Bluemedia''s premises.


    "Does it matter? Even if she still loves him, Huo Yuxin''s resentment towards him runs deeper than her love. Han Yize''s family is the one responsible for making her family bankrupt, because they disagreed with the idea of her as their daughter-inw. Her parents'' health took a toll and they both fell sick and lost their lives shortly after. Huo Yuxin would never be able to forgive him in this lifetime. She decided to sign with Bluemedia in exchange for President Su''s help to avenge her family''s misfortune in the hands of Han Yize and his family."


    "Wouldn''t that mean that she would also deal with Ye Mingyu?" Everything was starting to make sense now to Xiao Rufeng. However, she was astonished to find out that Su Xiaofei was taking advantage of Han Yize''s attachment towards Huo Yuxin.


    Zhang Ling pulled the car to a stop in their designated parking space. She then alighted the car and Xiao Rufeng followed her lead.


    "There''s no need for Miss Huo to deal with Ye Mingyu. Her mere presence is enough to shake Ye Mingyu''s small world and push her to a corner. You should know what kind of person Ye Mingyu is by now. She''s a selfish little bitch who doesn''t like sharing her toy. Once she threw a fit and tried to assault Huo Yuxin, the person who would immediatelye to Miss Huo''s defense would be Han Yize."

 Chapter 617 First Love (3)

    When they arrived at one of Bluemedia''s conference rooms, Xiao Rufeng was surprised to see Huo Yunxi waiting for them. She turned to look at Zhang Ling, but her friend only smiled and gestured for her to take a seat.


    Huo Yuxin gave them a warm smile. She was as beautiful as a blooming flower in early spring. Compared to Ye Mingyu''s false facade, looking at Huo Yuxin was refreshing to one''s eyes.


    "Good afternoon, Miss Huo. President Su is still on her indefinite leave, but she left a couple of scripts for you to consider." Zhang Ling then handed three folders to the actress.


    "Is it true then that she''s on maternity leave? It has been months since the public saw her." Huo Yuxin tried to probe. She had seen how well everyone in Bluemedia continued to function without Su Xiaofei, and although the previous president, Yun Qingrong, was around, the decision-maker was still her daughter.


    Zhang Ling only smiled. "If these scripts aren''t to your liking, President Su suggested for you to guest on talk shows to inform the public that you are back."


    The scripts she just handed were for other films that Ye Mingyu was about to audition for as well. It wouldn''t take long before Ye Mingyu found out that Han Yize was losing his interest in her because his first love had just returned to the country.


    Huo Yuxin didn''t ask for more, realizing that the president''s assistant was tight lipped when it came to Su Xiaofei''s whereabouts and condition. It made Huo Yuxin more curious about Su Xiaofei who managed to create a huge ripple in the entertainment industry since taking over the management of Bluemedia.


    Huo Yuxin had heard about Su Xiaofei. There were various rumors revolving around her that involved Mo Yuchen, her ex-fianc¨¦, and her childhood friend, Lu Qingfeng, who eventually became her husband.


    There wasn''t much information avable about Lu Qingfeng as he had never entertained any interviews that involved his private affairs. Unlike Mo Yuchen, who was asionally seen in several articles and on entertainment news, Lu Qingfeng''s name barely appeared even in the finance and business section.


    Huo Yuxin thought that the couple was quite good at keeping their affairs away from the public eye. Even well-known paparazzis were afraid to cross the line and offend Lu Qingfeng. Was this why no matter how many rumors sprouted about Su Xiaofei, none of them were able to leave a mark on her name?


    "I see. I guess that''s fine with me. I trust President Su''s judgment." She paused before taking the three folders and handed them over to her private assistant, who was standing behind her.


    "However, would I be able to meet her personally once she''s back to work?"


    The only reason she agreed to sign under Bluemedia was Su Xiaofei''s promise to grant her that one wish that would free her from guilt and despair. As long as Su Xiaofei could ruin Han Yize, she didn''t care if that woman took advantage of her.


    "Why, of course, Miss Huo. President Su is just currently upied with personal matters. I''m sure meeting you will be one of her priorities once she returns to her office." Zhang Ling assured her.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Then that''s reassuring to hear. It''s been more than a week since I arrived in the country, but I haven''t met my new manager yet, so I look forward to meeting her soon."


    Once Huo Yuxin left with her assistant, Xiao Rufeng took a seat and sighed. No one in Bluemedia knew about Su Xiaofei''s real condition aside from them and Yun Qingrong. However, she had to admit that Su Xiaofei had made things easier for them even when she wasn''t around.


    "Such a long sigh, Rufeng. You haven''t even started working on your new project." Zhang Ling teased her. "You still have time to spend with Mr. Yan before you start."


    Xiao Rufeng blushed at that. She still wasn''tfortable discussing her rtionship with Yan Xiuchen, even with her friends.


    "He''s still on a business trip, but he will be home tonight." She murmured with a slight blush on her cheeks.


    "Then you still have enough time to prepare for his arrival." Zhang Ling continued to tease her. "Have you formally introduced him to your father?"


    The actress remembered the first time she brought Yan Xiuchen home with her, but Xiao Yunyao had effectively ruined their night.


    "I did, but I had a nasty fight with Yunyao. Dad is curious whether we are seriously dating and intending to get married, but I don''t want to rush Xiuchen into it. I''m not ready to settle down either." She confessed to Zhang Ling.


    Zhang Ling paused whatever she was doing and took a seat across from Xiao Rufeng.


    "Did you discuss this with Mr. Yan? What did he say then?"


    She was curious about how Yan Xiuchen was treating her friend. Zhang Ling knew that Xiao Rufeng''s rtionship with Yan Xiuchen had bloomed unexpectedly due to Xiao Yunyao''s scheming, but a part of her wanted to make sure that the man wasn''t one of those possessive men who would try to tie down her friend. There were countless horrendous stories of young actresses being abused by their wealthy lovers and Zhang Ling didn''t want her friend to be one of those stories.


    However, she was relieved to hear that Xiao Rufeng didn''t want to settle down yet. President Su still had so many ns for Xiao Rufeng''s career, and it would be a pity if Xiao Rufeng made the mostmon mistake many rising starsmitted in the past. And while Su Xiaofei didn''t forbid any of the talents of Bluemedia from dating, she made sure to be aware of whom they were involved to as a precaution.


    "He said that there''s no need for us to rush into marriage. He''s willing to wait until we''re both ready tomit. Xiuchen understands that there are still things I want to aplish before we start a family."

 Chapter 618 In Between (1)

    Waiting for Su Xiaofei to wake up had been testing Lu Qingfeng''s patience greatly. He had waited for her throughout his life, but this time was different. He had a feeling that his wife might be experiencing something out of this world again. Han Zijun imed that they were able to neutralize the poison in her body and it was safe to rouse her from her medically induceda, but she wasn''t waking up.


    "Feifei, do you still need more time? Aren''t you curious about what the girls look like? They are beautiful." So beautiful that he couldn''t help but feel guilty whenever he thought that he had once wanted to kill them to save her life.


    Lu Qingfeng swallowed hard and stared into nothing while holding his wife''s right hand. Tears glistened his eyes, probably at the memory of the past. If he loses her again for the third time, he wouldn''t know how to live through that nightmare all over again.


    There was no way he would be able to love another the way he loved Su Xiaofei. Not in his original lifetime, not in the second one, surely not this time. She was everything he ever wanted. And there was no way he would let another woman raise their children. He wouldn''t be able to bear them calling another woman their mother.


    "You have to return to us, Feifei. You know that I can''t live in a world without you."


    Was he losing her again? He wondered.


    No. Feifei knew that he and their daughters were waiting for her. There was no way she would die like this, especially not when her body was already out of danger. Han Zijun couldn''t exin why she wasn''t waking up when everything was normal on their tests. All they could do now was wait and pray for a miracle.


    Lu Qingfeng was getting more and more restless with each passing day that Su Xiaofei remained asleep. The only thing that kept him from losing his mind was their daughters who needed him. However, everytime he went to the NICU without Su Xiaofei felt like he was being stabbed with hundreds of needles at the same time. Their girls needed their mother as well.


    ¡ª


    Su Xiaofei cracked her eyes open and lifted her torso by propping on her elbows. She blinked twice, trying to figure out where she was. Thest thing she remembered was being rushed to the OR to give birth to her girls. Did her body give up? Did she die?


    She looked around, trying to recognize her whereabouts, but she couldn''t remember being here, not even in her previous life. Su Xiaofei found herself lying under a big, tall tree. The sun was high up in the sky and the breeze blew by, but she couldn''t feel anything.


    She paused her thoughts when she heard a loud girly squeal from the sea of yellow flowers in the field. A young girl and a boy around the same age emerged from the field and joined her under the tree.


    Su Xiaofei looked at them, wondering why these two were ignoring her. As she took in the appearance of the children, her hands came to cover her mouth in surprise. Why¡­ Why did they look like her and Lu Qingfeng when they were younger? What''s the meaning of this?


    She followed the children and watched them for days.


    "Am I dead?" She looked at her hands and noticed that she was almost like a silhouette with no solid form.


    "No, you''re not." Someone said behind her.


    Su Xiaofei turned around and saw a young man in histe teens smiling at her. He was exceptionally handsome and something about him reminded her of her husband. He had this dark pair of eyes that seemed to stare right into the depth of her soul. He had midnight hair and slightly sharp facial features.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "You aren''t dead. You are merely trapped in the ovepping lives of Lu Qingfeng."


    "What do you mean?" She frowned. She knew that her husband was reborn like her, but did Lu Qingfeng really live through two rebirths just to be with her?


    "This is Lu Qingfeng''s original lifetime." The young man waved his hand to emphasize his point. "At least this is the remnants of his memories."


    Su Xiaofei said nothing and watched the young girl annoy the boy and force him to give her a piggyback ride. Their interaction as children was no different from how she and Lu Qingfeng used to interact when they were that young.


    She then looked at the young man who was dressed in a pristine white shirt and matching pants. He had this slight smile on his lips as he looked at the children.


    "You remind me of someone I know." She blurted out.


    The young man raised a brow at her and asked, "Who?" with an unreadable expression on his face.


    Su Xiaofei opened her mouth to answer, but she had no idea who this young man reminded her of.


    "Who do I remind you of?" The young man smiled at her, as if he knew the answer himself.


    She shook her head and tried to focus on the children ying around in front of them.


    "It doesn''t matter. It seems like you already know the answer anyway." But it bugged Su Xiaofei to know that this man knew her when she didn''t have any idea of his identity.


    "Who are you? And why are you showing me Lu Qingfeng''s memories?" She demanded.


    "Calm down." The young man said.


    The more Su Xiaofei looked at him, the more she felt like she knew him somewhere. However, for someone with striking features as he had, there was no way she would be able to forget such a face.


    "Calm down? How can I calm down when I have no idea why I''m even here?" She hissed. "Are you here to torment me using my husband''s memories? Take me back." She demanded, invading the young man''s space. "Take me back to where I''m supposed to be!"

 Chapter 619 In Between (2)

    Su Xiaofei had been following the younger version of her and Lu Qingfeng for days now, familiarizing herself with how different their lives werepared to what they had in their recent lifetime. If this young man was telling the truth, she might be able to find out why her husband was reborn twice.


    "Calm down. There''s nothing to worry about, Mom! You aren''t dead yet!" The young man eximed, catching Su Xiaofei off guard.


    She whipped her head to look at him. She took a good look at him for a long moment.


    "What did you just call me?" Su Xiaofei asked in disbelief.


    "I don''t believe that you''ve truly forgotten about me, Mom." The young handsome man smiled at her as he stood a couple of feet away from her.


    "You¡­"


    So she wasn''t just overthinking things. Su Xiaofei thought. She really did know who this young man was, but who could he possibly be?


    Wait. He called her mom. It only registered to her what he meant by that.


    As she looked at him in disbelief, she couldn''t stop the tears spilling from her eyes.


    "It''s you." She said in a broken voice. Tears well up in her eyes.


    Su Xiaofei reached out to him, but the young man stepped back. She insisted on reaching him, cupping the sides of his face as she gave him a good look. He was that child she''d lost in her previous life, but why did he resemble Lu Qingfeng more than Mo Yuchen, whom she was married to in her previous life?


    The young man gave her a weak smile and Su Xiaofei pulled him into a tight hug and wept. This was the son, the child she had lost a long time ago. Having him here in her arms felt like she had found the missing puzzle piece toplete her life.


    "Look at you." Sheughed with teary eyes. "My child is so handsome, but why are you here if I''m not dead yet?"


    "It''s alright, Mom. When a person experiences rebirth and reincarnation, their memories from their previous life are usually wiped away to allow new ones to umte. However, certain circumstances such as death and painful experiences could leave a mar on one''s soul. My death is the reason for your rebirth."


    Su Xiaofei pulled away and looked at her son confusedly. Didn''t she experience rebirth because of Lu Qingfeng?


    "I don''t understand¡­"


    "Just like Lu Qingfeng, you''ve experienced two rebirths, Mom. The only difference is that he retained the memories of your original timeline during both rebirths, but you didn''t. You''re the reason for Lu Qingfeng''s existence, that''s true, but the reason for your rebirth is because you couldn''t let me go."


    Su Xiaofei opened her mouth to say something, but the memory around them suddenly changed. The mother and son witnessed how the young Su Xiaofei was beaten harshly by her adopted father, Su Haoran.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Bastard." Su Xiaofei hissed, but immediately regretted it once she remembered that her son was standing next to her.


    "This is the Su Xiaofei that Lu Qingfeng loves and adores, Mom. Although your meeting in the next lifetimes were different, the thread of fate would always bring you together." The young man replied.


    The next scene showed them the young Su Xiaofei meeting the young Lu Qingfeng under the tree again. This time, Lu Qingfeng was seated on a wheelchair and was coughing. He looked really sick and pale, which made Su Xiaofei worry about his condition.


    She''d never thought that her husband was a sickly child in their original timeline. Was this the reason why her husband imposed a strict health routine on himself?


    "He hit you again, didn''t he? Damn him. One of these days, I''ll smack the hell out of your father." The young Lu Qingfeng frowned as he took in the girl''s swollen face and bruised arms. "I told you to run away from him and stay with me instead. Why won''t you consider it?"


    "And then what? Allow my father to cause a scene and demand money from your family? No way! He''s already epting that I''m not asking you for money or anything. It will be bad if I move in with you." The young Su Xiaofei huffed, taking a seat by the root of the great tree.


    "I can''t wait to grow up. Once I turn eighteen, I can live on my own." The younger girl said. "It would be nice to see the metropolitan city and see the brightest stars in person."


    The young Lu Qingfeng chuckled and wheeled his wheelchair near her.


    "You still want to be an actress? They won''t hire someone who walks like a yeti like you." He teased her, earning a pout from the young girl, who lightly pped his arm in response.


    "Who are you calling a yeti? Just wait and see! When I be a popr actress, you''ll beg me to sign your butt!"


    Su Xiaofei couldn''t stop the smile spreading on her lips as she watched her younger self and Lu Qingfeng interact. It seemed to her that no matter what lifetime they were in, some things remained the same between them.


    "Cities are huge ces. Are you sure you want to live on your own when you grow up?" Young Lu Qingfeng asked her.


    "Of course not. You''ll be my Money Boss, right? You''ll help me to settle down in a new ce and get me my first gig." The girl beamed a smile at him.


    "Sure, sure. Allow me to recover fully first and make a lot of money. However, you have to promise that you won''t hug another thigh other than mine." Lu Qingfeng grinned.


    It was only then did Su Xiaofei notice that she was younger than Lu Qingfeng in this lifetime. However, regardless of the lifetime she and Lu Qingfeng were in, she had always relied on him the most.


    Seeing how deep her bond with her husband was, Su Xiaofei couldn''t help but feel guilty for subjecting Lu Qingfeng to all those heartaches and hardships.

 Chapter 620 In Between (3)

    Witnessing these memories made Su Xiaofei restless. This was the same feeling she had when she turned into a wandering ghost that haunted Lu Qingfeng in their second lives until hisst breath. She could only watch as events unfold in front of her.


    A matron from a rich family came to the rural vige where the young Lu Qingfeng and her younger self were living. It was revealed that she was the long-lost daughter of an heiress and was taken back. Su Haoran received a hefty amount of money aspensation for raising her.


    During that time, the young Su Xiaofei was starting to lose her sense of sight. It was said that it was due to the constant trauma she received from Su Haoran''s beatings that a blood clot had formed.


    "So, I''m going to the big city early to meet my real mom and get my eyes treated." The young Su Xiaofei said to her childhood best friend. Her eyes were covered to protect them from light and further damage.


    The young Lu Qingfeng said nothing and stared at her smiling face. Su Xiaofei and her son stared at him with curiously.


    "Will you be here when Ie back?" The young girl said. Her new bodyguards were waiting for her a couple of steps away from them, allowing her to bid goodbye to her friend.


    Lu Qingfeng heaved a sigh and leaned his back against the trunk of the tree. He looked better now and wasn''t bound to a wheelchair like he wasst time.


    "Do I have a choice?" He responded.


    "Why do you sound upset?" The girl cocked her head to one side, trying to figure out where he was. "I''m just going to the city earlier than we nned. If I don''t return here, you have to promise toe to me instead. You said that people in the city could be mean. I need you to be with me."


    Lu Qingfeng stared at her for a moment, as if he was considering her words. It seemed to Su Xiaofei that the younger version of her husband didn''t like crowded cities and would rather live in a peaceful, rural ce like this.


    "Okay. I''lle to you if you don''t return to see me. You better do something productive while waiting for me. No one will help you with your homework, so you have to do it yourself. Don''t you dare forget about me!"


    The girl burst intoughter. "Who would be stupid to forget about you?"


    However, that stupid one turned out to be Su Xiaofei herself. Not long after her surgery, she had selective amnesia where she forgot everything and her time with Lu Qingfeng. She never returned and Su Xiaofei was forced to watch her young husband wait many moons and days for her young self to return, but she never did.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    She wasn''t surprised when Mo Yuchen appeared in the scene and drove Lu Qingfeng away when thetter tried to seek Su Xiaofei. She could only watch as Mo Yuchen schemed against Lu Qingfeng, pushing her husband to death by tampering with the break of the car he was in.


    She lowered her gaze as the next events came to her in a blur. It wasn''t the first time she''d seen Lu Qingfeng on his deathbed, but it still killed her inside everytime.


    The wailing of a child caught her attention and she saw the other Su Xiaofei on a hospital bed with an infant in her arms. Tears were welling in her eyes, but she had a genuine smile on her face as she held her baby.


    Su Xiaofei turned her head to the young man apanying her through this memoryne. He nodded in response to her unspoken question. Still, why did she feel like she was forgetting something?


    "You said that you are the reason for my rebirth, why do you say so?"


    "Because you regretted everything, but not me. In thest moments of your life, you remembered Lu Qingfeng. You regretted everything you''ve done to him, but if you didn''t do what you did, you''d never have me as your child. When I died, you assumed that heaven was punishing you for Lu Qingfeng''s suffering. I could see now that it''s still the same."


    "What?" Su Xiaofei furrowed her brows in confusion.


    "Mom, why do you think that you are the viin who ruined people''s lives? You didn''t do anything atrocious and never went overboard in your previous lifetime, but why do you still think you need to prove yourself to everyone? People keep calling you names, ming you for something you are not, until you end up believing their words."


    Su Xiaofei didn''t know how to answer him at all. It never urred to her that perhaps she wasn''t the viin that she thought she was. She might have been stupid and foolish for seeking a man like Mo Yuchen, but she''d never go as far as ruining someone''s life. In fact, wasn''t she the one who ended up with nothing in the end?


    "You also med yourself for my death. You''ve lost me twice, Mom and each time, it broke you beyond repair. I be a shadow in your heart, a deep seated guilt you cannot let go." He stepped forward and gently brushed her tear stained face. Su Xiaofei didn''t even notice that she was crying again.


    "It''s not your fault, Mom. You lost me because my soul was iplete, so I had to leave. But you¡­ you have to return to my sisters now, Mom. They are waiting for you. Lu Qingfeng is waiting for you. You''ve been gone for too long. If you stay in this space, you will start to forget them and you won''t wake up ever again. I can''t keep you here any longer. I''m sorry for making you cry."


    Su Xiaofei held his wrist and shook her head vehemently, not willing to let him go.

 Chapter 621 Never Meant To Stay (1)

    "How can you ask me to leave if you knew that losing you broke me?" She asked helplessly. "Why did your soul be iplete? Was it because of me?"


    Was it her fault that her son didn''t get the chance to be born? Was it because of something she had done without knowing the repercussions of her actions?


    "There you go again, Mom. Stop putting the me on yourself. Various factors influence theplex divine process of rebirth. It has nothing to do with what you''ve done, Mom." Her son replied, giving her hand a light squeeze assuringly.


    "Souls take multiple births ande in different human bodies for their earthly incarnations. Sometimes, when we have some karmic debts from our past lives, we are given little choice and are sent off to our next life to learn specific lessons required to settle the karmic bnce."


    She nodded at her son''s exnation. Su Xiaofei had once thought that it was one of the reasons why she was given a chance to live her life again.


    "You and the others were given a chance to be reborn to rectify the mistakes you''ve made in your previous lives, the only thing that differed was that you were able to retain most of the memories from your previous lives. Others would get a rebirth and would follow through the same course and events of their previous life, some would make the same mistakes again while others cunningly avoided the red gs along their way." He continued to exin.


    Su Xiaofei stared at him, ignoring the fact that their surroundings were changing again into nothingness. The more she looked at him, the more she felt like he looked like Lu Qingfeng.


    "You remind me so much of A-Feng." She sighed. Even the way he talked was almost the same as her husband''s.


    The young man''s lips curled into a smile which was strikingly simr to Lu Qingfeng''s rare smile. But how was that even possible? The child she gave birth to was fathered by Mo Yuchen. How could their son resemble Lu Qingfeng instead of him?


    "I know, Mom. I''m just like him. That''s why you have to go back. I love you as much as Lu Qingfeng loves you. Lucky he isn''t here, or else, he might misunderstand me." He chuckled.


    Su Xiaofei brushed a piece of hair away from his face. Somehow, having him here made her feelplete.


    "Please go back, Mom. For me. Be with them. You still have so much more to live for. It''s time for you to heal from your grief of losing me and move on." He said.


    "How could you ask me this? If you know how much I love you, you wouldn''t dare to ask me to leave you again." Su Xiaofei asked and her son released a deep breath.


    "You can''t stay with me, Mom. I don''t want to be the reason for your pain anymore. Your body is currently healing and it''s time for your soul to heal as well. I want you to lead a happy life with Lu Qingfeng and my sisters. I was never meant to stay and live with you in your previous lives, however, if you return now, there''s a chance that I will be reunited with you."


    Su Xiaofei stared at him for a long moment. Didn''t he say that his soul was iplete, that''s why she''d lost him?


    "But you said that your soul is iplete." She pointed out.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Her son took her hand and took her for a stroll. They walked together, their steps creating ripples on the clear water beneath their feet.


    "It''s because my parents are ipatible. Who knows. Maybe when you and Lu Qingfeng decide to have another child again, I might be able to finally be born and return to your side again."


    Su Xiaofei said nothing and allowed her son to lead her to nowhere, until they both stopped. She looked at him for a long moment.


    "Will I be able to remember you once I go back?" She asked. It would be a pity if she would forget being reunited with him here.


    "No. This is the ce where some people go when they fall into aa. Lu Qingfeng had once been here, as well as your mother, but neither of them remembered what transpired here. It would be the same for you, Mom, but you still have to go back. I''ve been keeping you for far too long already."


    "How? How do I go back? I don''t even remember what brought me here." She sniffed, trying to suppress her urge to cry for being parted with her child again. How was she supposed to leave when she knew that she could be with him here?


    "Just think of Lu Qingfeng, my sisters and everyone who is waiting for your return. It''s what I want, Mom. If fate allows us to meet again, I hope that you''ll still be my mother."


    Su Xiaofei nodded and gave him a tight hug. "I love you so much and I''m sorry for failing you."


    "You have nothing to apologize for, Mom. If anything, I regret being the cause of your heartbreak." The young man said before giving Su Xiaofei a light peck on her cheek before they broke apart.


    "Do you have a name? I''ve given you one, right?" Su Xiaofei asked, trying to grasp anything that could help her keep a memory of him in her mind, regardless of how miniscule it would be. She took in his appearance, trying to engrave it in her mind.


    The young man smiled and Su Xiaofei''s form slowly dissipated into golden grain, being swept away by the wind.


    "You know my name, Mom. Just like how you knew Xiao Yue and Yanyan''s name in your heart." He answered her.


    Su Xiaofei started to panic, her tears streaming down her face again. She stared at her son''s face and reached out for him, but he faded away. Before she lost her consciousness, she whispered his name under her breath.


    "Qingyuan."

 Chapter 622 Never Meant To Stay (2)

    A month had passed since Su Xiaofei gave birth to her daughters. Yun Qingrong and Qiao Fengyin were two of her most constant visitors, wanting to see if she had woken up and was recovering well. The two had been on edge for the past two weeks, eversince Su Xiaofei didn''t wake up after Han Zijun deemed her ready to be roused from hera.


    Lu Qingfeng didn''t have the heart to tell Yun Qingrong the truth, but he was able to confess to his father-inw. Obviously, Qiao Fengying had thrown a fit and almost med him for failing to protect his daughter.


    His father-inw didn''t talk to him since then and had avoided him at all costs and Lu Qingfeng couldn''t me Qiao Fengying for reacting like that, since he was also quite disappointed with himself. Lu Qingfeng knew that he wouldn''t be able to forgive himself for that for a very long time. However, Qiao Fengying still dropped by to see Su Xiaofei and his grandchildren.


    As for Yun Qingrong, Xi Qian took the heavy burden and lied to her, iming that it was an after-effect of Su Xiaofei''s body trying to deliver the twins too early. It pained Xi Qian to know that she had lied to the person she treated like her own mother, but she also knew how Yun Qingrong would react if she knew the truth about her daughter''s poisoning.


    "Aunty Qing, are you sure you don''t want to go home yet? You need to take care of yourself, or else, Feifei would be upset if she found out that you are neglecting your health because of her." Xi Qian asked Yun Qingrong.


    The older woman shook her head and held her daughter''s hand. Su Xiaofei was already transferred from the ICU to a VIP room where she could recuperate in private. Everyday, after her work, Yun Qingrong would sit next to her daughter and speak to her. Sometimes, she would go to the NICU to read books to her grandchildren.


    Su Xiaofei remained the same. While all her vitals were normal, she wasn''t waking up. Her brain was still active, which made Lu Qingfeng wonder where she was and what she was experiencing while ina.


    "I suppose you are right." Yun Qingrong sighed. She was about to stand up from her seat when she caught something that made her stop.


    "Qian, what''s wrong with Feifei?" She asked worriedly. "Why is she crying?"


    Xi Qian immediately stepped forward, her heart racing in her chest. She checked on her best friend, noticing that Su Xiaofei was starting to show signs of consciousness. She sprinted outside to call Lu Qingfeng and Han Zijun immediately.


    Lu Qingfeng was the first one to arrive. He went beside his wife and saw that she was crying in her sleep while Yun Qingrong decided to step back, eyes filled with tears and worry.


    "What''s happening?" She asked Lu Qingfeng, but even her son-inw had no idea how to answer her, since he was clueless himself.


    Tears were streaming down his wife''s face and he didn''t know how much longer he needed to endure until Su Xiaofei woke up. Lu Qingfeng knew that his sanity was almost at its limit and he was afraid of what he might do if she died again.


    Suddenly, Su Xiaofei made a gasping sound, as if she was trying to catch her breath. Then she started coughing and gasping for air. Su Xiaofei was waking up. Lu Qingfeng bent down over her and held her on her shoulders, seeing her eyes open.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "A-Feng?" She murmured, before she was engulfed into his tight embrace.


    "Don''t you ever dare to scare me like that again." He said, kissing the top of her crown as he allowed himself to shed a few tears.


    Lu Qingfeng was relieved that Su Xiaofei had woken up and was alive. She wasn''t going to leave him nor their daughters.


    Yun Qingrong was crying happily as she saw that her daughter had finally awakened. Xi Qian returned with Han Zijun and Lu Qingfeng begrudgingly let go of his wife to allow the doctor to check on her condition.


    Half an hourter, Su Xiaofei was left with her husband. Lu Qingfeng sat on the bed and held her without saying anything. He was content on knowing that he had her back in his arms again.


    "How long have I been asleep?" She asked, breaking the silence between them.


    "A month. Han Zijun and I agreed to have you in a two-week medically induceda, but after that, you didn''t wake up. You gave everyone quite a scare because of it, though Han ZIjun assured us that everything is fine now."


    "You mean I don''t have the cold poison anymore?" Su Xiaofei pulled away from him and looked at his face. He said that she''d been asleep for a month, yet she didn''t feel like she hadn''t seen him for that long.


    "Yes, but to be sure, he decided to put you under observation for the next few weeks to make sure that they''vepletely removed it from your system." He paused as he remembered her crying during her awakening. "Do you remember why you were crying when you woke up?"


    "I was crying?" Su Xiaofei raised a slender brow at him. "Isn''t it because I was trying to catch my breath?" How was she supposed to know what made her cry when she just gained her consciousness?


    Lu Qingfeng shook his head. "No. Mother saw you crying before Xi Qian noticed that you were waking up. I thought that you might have experienced something out of this world again. To be honest, I was worried that the Su Xiaofei who would return to me would be another one from another lifetime."


    Su Xiaofei froze, not considering such a possibility, but she was relieved that she was able to return to them. She couldn''t remember what made her cry earlier, but she felt better than ever.

 Chapter 623 Back In Action (1)

    Something had changed. Lu Qingfeng was sure of it. As he looked at his wife, he couldn''t see the usual glint of bitterness in her eyes - the one she used to have, as if the world was her enemy and she needed to take control of her life. However, now as he looked at Su Xiaofei, she looked like she was at peace and was not bothered by anything.


    He felt like being near death''s door could really change a person''s heart. What could his wife possibly encounter during her deep sleep that she suddenly had such a change of heart? Lu Qingfeng was certain that she was still the Su Xiaofei he married, but she had changed to the extent that left him baffled.


    "I want to see our girls now. How are they?" Su Xiaofei asked, pulling him out of his trance.


    "I need to ask Brother Han if it''s alright to bring you to them. They are still under observation in the NICU, but I''ve requested for Brother Han to set up a private room for them at home, where the girls would be better taken care of. What do you think?" Lu Qingfeng responded.


    Su Xiaofei pondered for a moment, considering her husband''s suggestion. She knew that he was doing this to keep the fact that their family had just weed their newborn twins hidden. There weren''t many people who were aware of her pregnancy and poisoning, but with their twins needing more time to limate to the sudden change in their surroundings, she and Lu Qingfeng needed to be more careful.


    "Do what you think is right, dear. You shouldn''t have bothered asking me about things like this." She said with an assuring smile.


    "That''s not possible, Feifei." Lu Qingfeng frowned. "We are husband and wife. Just because you are married to me, doesn''t mean that you don''t have a say in our children''s upbringing. You are my wife, my equal. If anything, I was the one who failed you as your husband. I should have paid more attention to your safety earlier."


    Su Xiaofei was stunned by his words, but then remembered what Xi Qian told her before leaving earlier. Xi Qian mentioned that her father, Qiao Fengying, was treating her husband indifferently these days. Lu Qingfeng must be ming and punishing himself because of it.


    She reached out a hand and touched his face, catching Lu Qingfeng off guard. Since she had just woken up, Su Xiaofei felt weak and couldn''t move from the bed. Han Zijun also deemed that they needed to observe her for the next forty eight hours to make sure that she was healthy enough to leave the hospital and return home.


    "Why are you doing this to yourself, dear?" She asked with such tenderness in her eyes. "I never once doubted your love and devotion for me ever since my rebirth. I know from the moment I chose you that you''ll be thest person who''ll want me to be hurt, so please don''t punish yourself any longer, Lu Qingfeng. I need you to be strong, especially now that we have children to take care of."


    Hearing such words, Lu Qingfeng felt like he was given a moment of rity. Right. How could he forget that he cannot afford to waste his time and energy in self-wallowing? Su Xiaofei wasn''t the only one who needed him with a sane mind.


    A smile crossed on his lips as he chastised himself inwardly for being foolish. He shouldn''t trouble his wife further. He has had enough of his foolish regrets now.


    "You''re right. If you''re okay with my suggestion, then I''ll ask someone to prepare our home for you and the girls'' return."


    Su Xiaofei lowered her hand, pleased with his answer.


    "I trust that everything will go smoothly then. I was a bit worried that things would be harder due to my condition." She leaned her back against the massive pillows Lu Qingfeng propped behind her to make her morefortable.


    "It''s nothing to be worried about, Feifei. Zhang Ling is doing a great job following your orders. She seeks your mother''s advice whenever she isn''t certain about how to proceed with certain situations. Although, it''s obvious that your partners and business associates are already having suspicion about your long absence. I suppose you''ll need to give them a call to assure that everything''s fine on your end."


    "I guessed as much." Su Xiaofei sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose, trying to guess how much work was waiting for her upon her return. She couldn''t help but feel guilty for leaving a ton of work to the Zhang sisters, although she knew that they were still practically her husband''s people.


    "Do you think you can lend me people aspetent as the Zhangs? I would very much like to give them a few days off for them to enjoy after all of these." She asked her husband. She rubbed her slightly bulging stomach, a little upset that she couldn''t go to her daughters now.


    As if her husband knew her thoughts, he assured her. "You worry too much, Feifei. I''m sure Brother Han will allow you to see the girls very soon."<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "It''s just that I didn''t even have a chance to see them or hold them when I gave birth to them. It feels unfair to know that all of you have already met them. Did grandpa drop by to see them?"


    Lu Qingfeng closed the curtains in her room and sat on the chair next to her bed.


    "He came back from his trip as soon as he heard that you''ve given birth. Actually, he''s the one who came up with the idea of setting up a sterile room at home so you three can go home together." He said proudly. "It seems to me that he couldn''t wait to spoil those two."


    She chuckled at that. "As if you wouldn''t."


    Lu Qingfeng said nothing, but his smile was enough to let Su Xiaofei know that she was right.


    Su Xiaofei was told to stay in the hospital for another week. Furthermore, she was allowed to visit her daughters who were still fighting for their lives in the NICU. She said nothing as she held her daughters'' hands for the first time, but her eyes glistened in tears knowing that it was her selfishness that brought them all here.


    However, just as she told Lu Qingfeng, it was a waste of time to drown herself in self-wallowing and regretting what had already happened. They could only do what they could at the present, and that was to take care of the girls. Shit had already hit the fan anyway, they could only prevent things from getting worse from here.


    "They''re so tiny." Su Xiaofei said as she sat on a wheelchair, facing the ss wall that allowed her and Lu Qingfeng to see their daughters from the ss window of the NICU.


    "Yet, so beautiful like their mother." Her husband replied, cing a firm hand over her shoulder to assure her that the girls were doing fine. Even their youngest daughter was doing well now.


    The twins were growing rapidly and gaining a lot of weight, though they were still connected to tubes that kept them alive and breathing.


    Su Xiaofei wished that she could hold them longer than she was allowed to, just like other mothers who were able to nurse their newborns. However, she was aware that her girls needed more time inside those incubators to make up for the time they''d lost in her womb, where they were supposed to be growing.


    Meanwhile, Lu Qingfeng wanted to tell her to be patient, that the time woulde when she would be able to hold their children at will. However, he also shared the same sentiments as his wife. He couldn''t wait for that day toe and see her hold their daughters with a bright smile on her face.


    "Grandpa has already started preparing the sterile room for them. If things go ording to n, we will be able to move them this weekend." He assured her. The security back home was tightened and Su Xiaofei expected that they wouldn''t be receiving guests for the meantime.


    Lu Qingfeng stayed with her at the hospital that night, trying to catch her up with things that happened during her long sleep. Morning came, and Su Xiaofei didn''t expect that the first person who woulde to see her was Bai Qingyue.


    Her husband excused himself, telling her that he would grab something for them to eat and left her with her mother as Bai Qingyue nonchntly took a seat on the couch.


    "Eager to see if I''m dead or alive with your own eyes?" Su Xiaofei chuckled with amusement.


    "Don''t be silly. If there''s anything I know about you, you are no different from me, Xiaofei. You are quite resilient and would never give up without a proper fight."

 Chapter 624 Back In Action (2)

    Su Xiaofei said nothing and merely looked at her birth mother, thinking that none of them could really get away from each other''s lives. Would this be the kind of rtionship the two of them would have if things didn''t spiral down in her previous life? s, it was useless to ponder what could have been. Perhaps, this was easier than trying to undermine each other.


    "Stop patronizing me, Miss Bai. Is there something that you need from me?" Su Xiaofei couldn''t wait for her husband to return. It wasn''t like she was ufortable having her birth mother nearby, but she was feeling uncertain having her here.


    Bai Qingyue took a deep breath and shook her head, thinking that Su Xiaofei was still wary of her. Even she couldn''t exin the need to see her. When she heard the news that Su Xiaofei had woken up, she came here in a rush this morning. However, now that she had seen her daughter awake and well, she felt lost, not knowing what to do next.


    "There''s no other reason. I just came here to see you." She shrugged, knowing that it would be pointless to lie to her daughter now. "You aren''t nning to return to work soon, right?"


    She could still remember how she struggled to keep up with her work after she gave birth and left her daughter. It hadn''t been easy to work long hours when her body just barely recovered from childbirth.


    "No. Not so soon. My daughters need me." Su Xiaofei replied. Unlike her birth mother, she would always prioritize her children before others. It wasn''t like she needed to go back to Bluemedia when there weren''t any pressing matters that needed her immediate attention.


    "You aren''t worried about what Ye Mingyu will do now?" Bai Qingyue pressed.


    "Should I be?" Her daughter chuckled. "From the moment she thought that she bested me by poisoning me, it was the start of her downfall. There''s no need to be hasty when I alreadyid the grave for her to lie in."


    "You''re confident that she will willingly fall into your trap?"


    Su Xiaofei lowered her head. Now that she had a clearer mind, she knew that Ye Mingyu only managed to harm her because she had lost the will to seek revenge. Not only did she halt her takeover n of Golden Star, but she became wary when the Ye Mingyu of this lifetime started to act like the Ye Mingyu of her previous life.


    However, now, she realized that she''d been worrying for nothing. Ye Mingyu imed that she wanted to take her ce, but how would that be possible? Ye Mingyu might be able to lure Han Yize to help her, butpared to her, Su Xiaofei had every resource she could use at her disposal.


    How could a mere starlet dare to beat a president of a huge entertainment agency anyway? Not only was Su Xiaofei able to suppress Ye Mingyu''s career, but she could also shadowban her from auditions and possible endorsements. It would beughable and sound foolish if she couldn''t crush Ye Mingyu with her current ability.


    She wasn''t a mere B-rated actress who relied on her mother''s influence anymore. Now, she was building a massive empire, umting her own connection and resources to use at will. Ye Mingyu might have changed her Money Boss, but it was still nothingpared to having Lu Qingfeng next to Su Xiaofei.


    "Then I hope you are right. Guess I''m worrying for nothing." She heard her birth mother sigh.


    Su Xiaofei raised a brow at her. "Are you still worried that the public will find out about us?"


    "No." Bai Qingyue immediately responded. "I wouldn''t worry about that anymore. I trust that you would be able to keep any news about it from the media."


    "You trust me that much, now?" Su Xiaofei hummed, looking at her birth mother, amused. Back when she had just been reborn, this kind of conversation and interaction with the woman who gave birth to her was unimaginable.


    Bai Qingyue shrugged before standing up, clutching her purse and tucking some stray hair behind her ear.


    "You''ve proven howpetent you are. Do you know that Golden Star is having an internal conflict now because of you? There were some who think Mo Yuchen had made a grave mistake when he agreed to dissolve the engagement between the two of you."


    "Does it matter?" Su Xiaofei yawned behind her hand sleepily. "It''s his fault for being greedy and foolish, but I guess it''s normal for humans like us. Mo Yuchen would need to learn from it."


    "You speak as if you''ve lived several lifetimes." Her motherughed. "Anyway, that''s right. He should own up to his own mistakes and learn from them."<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    ¡ª


    When Lu Qingfeng returned, Bai Qingyue was already gone and his wife was dozing off again. Zhang Ling came to deliver the reports that her mistress might need to review once Su Xiaofei woke up, then Xi Qian arrived with Li Xiran to visit her.


    "Did wee too early?" Xi Qian asked, as she shed her outer coat and hung it on the rack.


    "No, Feifei just dozed off after meeting Ms. Bai earlier. Aren''t you two supposed to be back in Guangshang now?" Lu Qingfeng responded.


    Xi Qian smiled a little, trying to suppress the blush on her face.


    "Qian just wants to stay a little longer here in Shenjing to see her nieces. We''ll go back this weekend." Li Xiran replied instead of her. He could sense that Xi Qian had beenpletely enamored by Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng''s daughters.


    "What? I''m just making sure that Feifei and the girls are fine. Brother Han also gave his go-signal and allowed Feifei to be discharged." Xi Qian said in defense. She had been relieved when her best friend woke up. Honestly speaking, she had been worried when Su Xiaofei didn''t wake up for two weeks after the medicines and treatments stopped.


    When Su Xiaofei woke up two hourster, she had a small meal and went to see her daughters again with Xi Qian. Xi Qian took the elder twin and gently ced her in Su Xiaofei''s arms.


    Su Xiaofei felt that her daughters were too small and breakable. She held Qianyue with such cautiousness that made Xi Qian smile.


    "It''s alright, Feifei. Just make sure to support her head and back properly. Isn''t she beautiful?" She murmured, eyeing the small baby in Su Xiaofei''s arms.


    "What can I say? Lu Qingfeng and I make beautiful babies." Su Xiaofei agreed with her best friend, gently taking in her sleeping daughter''s appearance. "I think she got an equal share of A-Feng and my best features. She''ll be a real beauty once she grows up."


    "Lu Qingfeng should be worried then." Xi Qian chuckled. "If these two grow up to be as beautiful as you, he needs to prepare to drive the flock away from them. No doubt these two will be a handful."


    "That''s fine. There are many people who love them anyway. I''m sure they didn''t need to worry about being loved or not. I hope that they wouldn''t doubt themselves because of how others perceive them to be. They aren''t just the Lu family''s heiresses or President Su''s sessors, they are our most precious children." Su Xiaofei said, filled with love.


    Xi Qian looked at her friend and her niece, smiling as she noticed how at peace and happy Su Xiaofei was. She was really d that she was able to help Han Zijun throughout these past months and took care of Su Xiaofei herself.


    "How are you doing in med school anyway? I bet it''s been hard traveling back and forth just to visit us." Su Xiaofei asked, her eyes clearly teasing Xi Qian. "Isn''t Li Xiran causing you any trouble?"


    Xi Qian cleared her throat and looked away. No one could really me her if she admit that the twins had already got her wrapped around their fingers.


    "Initially, it had been hard for us." She admitted. "With our conflicting schedules, it was hard to see each other and we could only talk through phone calls at the end of the day. We decided to move in together when he disagreed to break up with me."


    That instantly caught Su Xiaofei''s attention. She hadn''t thought that Xi Qian would consider leaving Li Xiran this early, just when things were starting to fall in ce for the two of them.


    "Why would you ask him to break up with you? Are you still worried about what people would say about you being with him?" Su Xiaofei knew that her friend was a bit sensitive when it came to their social standing. "You are my friend. It shouldn''t have mattered if you and Li Xiran are doing well together. Did his family disapprove of you?"


    Xi Qianughed. "You misunderstood, Feifei. Xiran and I won''t break up over such trivial matters."

 Chapter 625 Cast Aside (1)

    Three months had easily passed. Su Xiaofei was adamant on seeing her daughters every chance she could. When the twins were allowed to be transported back home, she didn''t leave their side and watched closely as they were brought into the sterile room where the two would be upying for a few weeks.


    Meanwhile, Ye Mingyu continued to spiral into depression as she couldn''t get any roles from the auditions she took part in over the past weeks. She would always lose the roles to others, most of them were those who were signed under Su Xiaofei''spany.


    Aside from that one film that Han Yize had secured for her, her name was constantly dragged into several issues involving young artists she used to work with. She initially thought that these were Han Yize''s doing to keep her name relevant, but as the gossip and rumors slowly became libelous, Ye Mingyu started to wonder if it was Su Xiaofei''s doing.


    However, it had been more than nine months since she poisoned Su Xiaofei. Since then, that woman had never been spotted in public. Ye Mingyu supposed that Su Xiaofei was gravely ill by now or she might really be pregnant like others assumed her to be.


    Ye Mingyu was starting to lose her cool. It also didn''t help that she barely saw or even talked to Han Yize now. It seemed to her that the man always had an excuse not to meet her. She was starting to wonder if the man finally grew tired of her, or perhaps he was keeping another woman behind her back.


    Han Yize wasn''t at thepany whenever she dropped by to pay him a visit. He couldn''t be found at his penthouse either, which drove Ye Mingyu mad. It waste at night and she awaited his return outside the building of his penthouse.


    She tried to dial his number, but he wouldn''t pick up. She waited until she was awakened by the arrival of a ck sedan car and she rushed to see if it was her lover.


    Ye Mingyu was stunned and stopped dead when she saw two people alight from the car. Her heart dropped when she saw Han Yize clinging to a familiar looking woman. He looked drunk, whether it was from the alcohol or love, Ye Mingyu wasn''t sure.


    ''Han Yize, you bastard! You dare to betray me?!''


    She glowered at her lover. Not even Mo Yuchen would humiliate her to this extent. Men were supposed to heed to her every whim in the past. It had never ured that she was to be at their disposal.


    She rushed to the two and pushed the woman away from Han Yize. Thankfully, the woman was able to keep her bnce and stared at Ye Mingyu in surprise. She then straightened her back and nced at Han Yize with a smile.


    "Yize, you''ve been following me around for weeks and yet you''re keeping a secret lover here? We haven''t seen each other for years. You truly have changed." She chuckled, brushing off the invisible dirt from her coat.


    "I should get going now. You''ve really collected a lot of hearts to break. You are truly a pitiful man."


    Before Han Yize could respond, the woman slid into the driver''s seat and drove the car away from theplex, leaving him and Ye Mingyu standing at the empty space.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Seconds passed before it dawned to Ye Mingyu the identity of that woman. Wasn''t that Huo Yunxi? How did Han Yize end up knowing that woman?


    Huo Yunxi''s face had been in the recent news these days as the newest talent joining Su Xiaofei''spany. Under Su Xiaofei''s management, Huo Yunxi was starting to get back on her track to stardom. The actress even managed to snatch one of the roles Ye Mingyu had been eyeing for.


    Bluemedia''s reputation had taken a massive leap and had naturally be one of the mostpetitive entertainment agencies these days. They were considered as the dark horse that broke the rivalry between Top Tier and Golden Star. All of these started ever since Su Xiaofei joined Bluemedia.


    Ye Mingyu couldn''t believe that the foolish viiness she used to push around was capable of such a feat. The Su Xiaofei she knew in the past wouldn''t even dare to do things out of herfort zone. It was one of the reasons why she was able to manipte her in the first ce.


    ''Don''t tell me Su Xiaofei was the one who brought Huo Yunxi back?'' She seethed, her face contorted in anger. She couldn''t believe that even at the brink of death, Su Xiaofei still managed to mess with her life.


    "Yize, what''s the meaning of this?" She grabbed Han Yize''s arm, while he was still in daze, looking in the direction where Huo Yunxi''s car disappeared.


    He turned to face her and glowered at her.


    "What are you doing here? Didn''t I tell you that you''re not allowed to see me here?" Han Yize replied, pulling his arm from her grasp and strode towards the apartment building.


    Ye Mingyu was stunned for a moment, before she ran and followed after him.


    "You dare to see another woman behind my back? What do you take me for, Han Yize?!" She demanded, obstructing his way.


    At this rate, she could feel that she was losing him. How could this be possible? Ye Mingyu thought that if she was able to get a strong support like Lu Qingfeng was to Su Xiaofei, she wouldn''t need to encounter many obstacles not only in her career, but in her life too.


    It would have been better if Mo Yuchen would fall for her charm again, but that stupid man was still head over heels for Su Xiaofei even in this lifetime. Ye Mingyu couldn''t understand what Mo Yuchen and Lu Qingfeng saw in that foolish woman that they were willing to put everything at stake for her sake.


    "Just another woman who doesn''t know her ce." Han Yize sneered, before walking passed her.

 Chapter 626 Cast Aside (2)

    Late at night, Lu Qingfeng returned home and found his wife cradling their youngest daughter in her chest as she dozed off on the rocking chair in the nursery room. The past three months had been a busy period for their whole family, however, now that the twins were deemed to be in excellent condition and their tubes finally removed from their tiny bodies, Su Xiaofei was spending most of her day with them.


    Lu Qingfeng gently took the sleeping baby from his wife and tucked Yanyan in the crib that she shared with her older sister. A smile curling his lips as he took in the two baby girls his wife had given birth to.


    At three months old, their size wasparable to a newborn baby. However, he and Su Xiaofei were assured that the girls would be able to catch up to a normal child growth and would gain a lot of weight in due time.


    Lu Qingyan - Yanyan for short, had been a clingy child toward their mother. She would always cry, knowing that her mother would give her the affection and the attention she demanded. She also hated being held by others, except for her parents of course.


    Meanwhile, her older sister, Lu Qianyue, affectionately nicknamed Xiao Yue by everyone, preferred to take longer sleep and was a curious fellow whenever she was awake. She liked seeing colorful things and liked being held by her father. She also liked being coddled by her uncles and aunts, especially Xi Qian.


    Lu Qingfeng would never have imagined in his previous lives that he would one day be a father. However, just looking at their daughters filled him with immense happiness he never thought was possible.


    In his previous life, when Su Xiaofei died, he spent sleepless nights thinking that his life had no more meaning, but now that his daughters were here, Lu Qingfeng wished that he would be given enough time to take care of them and see them grow with his own eyes. He was willing to do anything to keep them safe.


    Su Xiaofei stirred from her sleep and noticed that Yanyan was missing from her arms.


    "Yanyan?" Her eyes widened in panic, wondering if she had dropped her daughter.


    "Here." She heard Lu Qingfeng''s voice. She lifted her head and heaved a sigh of relief when she saw that Yanyan was sleeping peacefully next to Xiao Yue.


    "Sorry. I shouldn''t have dozed off while holding her."


    Lu Qingfeng strode towards her and picked her up gently. Su Xiaofei gasped, but wound her arms around him for support. He hadn''t held her like this for a long time. He silently stepped out of the nursery room and shut the door behind him quietly.


    "You were tired and nothing bad happened to Yanyan anyway. Are you sure you are ready to return to work?" He asked as he gentlyid her down on their bed. He watched as she leaned back on the soft pillow and sighed.


    "It can''t be helped. I''ve been gone for a long time." Su Xiaofei replied. "I''m invited to the award ceremony for the film festival. I can''t hide from the public anymore."<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    The film starring Bai Qingyue and Tang Liyan was already released and became a blockbuster. The two were even nominated and wouldpete against each other for the ''Best Actress'' category at the film fest.


    Over the past few days, everyone was busier than normal because the end of the year was approaching. It also meant that most entertainment agencies were preparing for the award ceremony. All the nominees for each category were already announced and everyone expected that the brightest stars would make an appearance at the ceremony.


    With the two queens of Bluemedia raking up ticket sales, the media had been trying to get an exclusive interview from both Bai Qingyue and Tang Liyan as well as Su Xiaofei. From the moment she joined Bluemedia and took over the management after her mother''s retirement, the name Su Xiaofei had slowly be known in the entertainment industry.


    Not only because of her dazzling beauty that wasparable to the brightest stars in the showbiz industry, and definitely not because she married one of the most eligible bachelors in the country, but because she had managed to revive the brightness of the stars that were deemed to be forgotten.


    "Should we go together?" Lu Qingfeng moved to his side on the bed and brushed her hair away from her face lovingly.


    "You don''t mind going with me? What about the girls?"


    Su Xiaofei was surprised that her husband was suggesting she attend the event with him. Lu Qingfeng was the Big Boss of Lu Corporation and Lu Holdings. It was understandable that his schedule would be full ofmitments at work and thest thing on his list was to attend a social function or a public event.


    It wasn''t like this was the first award ceremony Su Xiaofei had attended, but attending with Lu Qingfeng would surely get everyone''s attention. Obviously, Lu Qingfeng wouldn''t bother to poke his nose in Bluemedia''s business, but that didn''t mean the public wasn''t curious about him.


    "I''m sure Mother wouldn''t mind spending the night with them." Lu Qingfeng hummed, cing a kiss on her bare shoulder. "I will instruct Nine to add a few nannies and guards if you want."


    He knew perfectly well that neither of them could stay too far away from their daughters. Even at work, Lu Qingfeng would assionally check on their daughters through the baby monitors and video calls with his wife.


    Su Xiaofei conceded and agreed with her husband''s suggestion. It wouldn''t be so bad to announce her official return to work and let Ye Mingyu see her in public for the first time, alive and well. She couldn''t wait to see how hopeless that woman was once Ye Mingyu realized that she was already sinking, fast.


    However, neither she nor Ye Mingyu were aware that the real trouble had yet toe.

 Chapter 627 Public Appearance (1)

    Tonight was the most anticipated night of the year in the entertainment industry. It was the biggest annual film event that most people were waiting for. With Bluemedia gaining two queens within a year, many were curious how Bai Qingyue and Tang Liyan perceived each other because they were alsopeting with each other for the ''Best Actress'' award.


    "Hey, who do you think would win the Best Actress award?" Someone murmured from the crowd of people outside the venue.


    "I don''t know. It''s hard to tell who is better between the nominees, but regardless who wins tonight, it wouldn''t change the fact that Bluemedia has caused enough headlines this year."


    Aside from Blumedia''s talents, one of the hottest searches was the president of Bluemedia herself. Even if Su Xiaofei barely made any appearances in public since joining her mother''spany, she managed to gain a steady following. While others followed her because of her pretty face, some followed her due to her fashion sense.


    When the clock hit 7PM, celebrities started to arrive one after another. The ce was suddenly filled with photographers wanting to get a good shot of the stars as they walked on the red carpet.


    It was a cold night, but the celebrities who arrived were dressed thinly, shing their magnificent features in front of the camera with a dazzling smile on their faces. They neither showed any ws nor difort as they took their time on the red carpet.


    It didn''t take long before Su Xiaofei''s car pulled up at the end of the red carpet. As soon as the media noticed the emblem of Bluemedia on the corner of the windshield, they immediately flocked and waited excitedly on both sides of the carpet.


    At this time, the person who alighted first was Lu Qingfeng. He was wearing a dark blue suit, with his hair brushed away from his face. Afterwards, he extended a hand for his wife to take and Su Xiaofei appeared in front of everyone, wearing a flowing ck gown, with diamond earrings glittering as the sh of the cameras hit them.


    Since this was her first public appearance, the cameras kept snapping to take photos of her. Unlike other celebrities that arrived earlier, Su Xiaofei was warmly wrapped in a cloak with a white fur lining around her shoulders.


    Lu Qingfeng offered his arm and his wife smiled at him. As they walked together on the red carpet, the reporters followed them in a hurry. Seeing Su Xiaofei tonight was one thing, but having the new Chairman of Lu Corporation attending such a huge event, everyone couldn''t wait to hear and see more about him.


    "President Su, please look here!"


    "President Su, over here, over here!"


    Su Xiaofei reached the signing wall, but she didn''t bother to put her name because she wasn''t a celebritypeting for an award. She and her husband stopped and allowed the photographers to snap a few more pictures of them together. As she stood next to Lu Qingfeng, they easily caused amotion on the livestream that was being broadcast at the same time.


    "Oh my goodness, they look so good together! It''s a pity that neither of them are celebrities. Having such a face and body, they could easily topple the brightest stars from their seats!"<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "This goes to show that the most beautiful faces aren''t only limited in showbiz. I would love to work in Bluemedia just to see a glimpse of President Su!"


    The host of the ceremony stepped forward and greeted the married couple, intending to interview Su Xiaofei, who''d been missing in action for some time now. How could he waste such an opportunity to question the elusive leader of Bluemedia Entertainment?


    "President Su, what a surprise! It''s been months since we''ve seen you. Where were you at?" His tone was teasing, but it was obvious that he was voicing out everyone''s curiosity.


    The corner of Su Xiaofei''s lips curled. She nced at Lu Qingfeng, who gave her an approving look. They both knew that they couldn''t keep the existence of their daughters secret for too long.


    "It hasn''t been too long since my husband announced our marriage during an event hosted by Lu Corp not long ago." She started. "However, my husband and I weren''t aware that we were expecting as well at the time. When we found out, we both decided that it would be better for me to step back and focus on my pregnancy. Now, we are d to share with everyone that we''ve weed not one, but two daughters recently."


    The emcee was stunned for a moment, not expecting to receive such an answer from Su Xiaofei. However, he recovered quickly and congratted the couple immediately.


    Su Xiaofei''s answer immediately cleared the spections of her sudden retreat from the limelight and disproved the ims that she was gravely ill. Su Xiaofei had no doubt that Ye Mingyu was hoping to hear thetter. Too bad though, because Ye Mingyu didn''t consider that the woman Han Yize was trying to find was under Lu Qingfeng''s protection.


    "So, President Su, two of your queens arepeting for the ''Best Actress'' award tonight. Who do you think would win between Miss Bai and Miss Tang?" The emcee continued to probe her.


    Su Xiaofei let out augh, while Lu Qingfeng remained impassive next to her. Did others really think that she would take a pick and favor one of the two queens?


    "Oh my. Miss Bai and Miss Tang are both spectacr in their own way. It''s really hard to tell who amongst the nominees will win tonight. I''m really d that I''m not part of the judgingmittee, but regardless of who wins tonight, I''m pretty sure that the judges had gone through thorough deliberation to award the most deserving nominee."


    "Indeed." The emcee was convinced by Su Xiaofei''s ability to dodge tricky questions like this. "We shall wait and see who''ll win tonight."


    Knowing that Su Xiaofei was here, everyone''s anticipation on how the ceremony would unfold had risen.

 Chapter 628 Public Appearance (2)

    Whether Su Xiaofei attended tonight or not, she and herpanion were allocated with reserved seats near the front, along with other leaders of the entertainment and mediapanies. Su Xiaofei was amused that several of them took time and paid her husband a greeting. It seemed that even if she and Lu Qingfeng were working in different industries, his family influence still surpassed hers.


    In the midst of exchanging pleasantries, she found Mo Yuchen and Huang Jingjing arriving together. Huang Jingjing was looking at her with curiosity, while Mo Yuchen''s expression hardened once he spotted Lu Qingfeng next to her.


    "CEO Mo, won''t you introduce me to this beautifuldy apanying you?" Su Xiaofei asked Mo Yuchen with a mocking look. She didn''t give Mo Yuchen a chance to reply, as she immediately greeted Huang Jingjing instead.


    "Hello, Miss Huang. I''m Su Xiaofei. Miss Huo Yunxi has told me great things about you."


    Huang Jingjing was stunned for a moment and stared at Su Xiaofei. A smile then spread on her lips as she shook hands with Su Xiaofei.


    "It''s a pleasure to finally meet you, President Su." She replied.


    Su Xiaofei couldn''t sense any malice from this woman, but she could see the amusement in Huang Jingjing''s eyes as thetter watched Mo Yuchen''s difort. Something about Huang Jingjing intrigued her, but she didn''t dare to ask more as themittee staff gestured to invite them to take their designated seats as the ceremony was about to start.


    Su Xiaofei wanted to tease Mo Yuchen a little more, but she also knew that her husband disliked being in the same ce as Mo Yuchen.


    "Is he still trying to bother you?" Lu Qingfeng asked once they were seated.


    Although he knew that Su Xiaofei had long moved on from Mo Yuchen, he knew that the man was still harboring feelings towards his wife. He could see the same regret he used to see on Mo Yuchen''s face. He had no doubt that Mo Yuchen had already heard about his wife giving birth to their twins.


    "No." Su Xiaofei replied. "Our interactions were very limited. I''m keeping our meetings strictly professional."


    Lu Qingfeng said nothing, but that didn''t mean he wouldn''t keep an eye on Mu Yuchen anymore. He didn''t care if his wife didn''t want to exact revenge on Mo Yuchen, but Lu Qingfeng still won''t forgive the man for hurting her in their previous life, regardless of Mo Yuchen''s reasons.


    It didn''t take long before other celebrities filled the venue. Of course, Bai Qingyue and Tang Liyan had the best seats near the VIPs. From the corner of her eye, she spotted Xiao Rufeng a couple of seats behind them and gave her a smile.


    Xiao Rufeng was nominated for the ''Best Neer'' award, and oddly enough, despite Ye Mingyu ying a second lead role, she was able to get the same nomination as Xiao Rufeng.


    Huo Yunxi also arrived with a partner. Su Xiaofei was surprised that it was Qin Muyao who was escorting Huo Yunxi tonight. She didn''t know that these two were now acquainted with each other.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    As for Ye Mingyu, she arrived alone, but her dress tonight spoke of money, a lot of it. Su Xiaofei inwardly chuckled and shook her head. Ye Mingyu was still the same shallow woman she knew from her previous life. She liked bragging about the things Mo Yuchen had given her before, but now, she was showing off the things Han Yize provided for her.


    Their attention was brought back to the stage as the big screen shed the names of the films nominated for Best Picture. Su Xiaofei had expected that this would be a long night for her and her husband.


    "I miss our girls." She sighed, resting her head lovingly on Lu Qingfeng''s arm. "Do you think they miss us?"


    "Feifei, they''re too young to understand that we aren''t at home at the moment. Maybe you can give Mother a callter to check on them." Lu Qingfeng tried to suppress his smile, seeing her boredom.


    "I surely will." She agreed with him. "But it''s unfair that it is only I who are missing them. Don''t you miss them too?"


    "I sure do." Lu Qingfeng answered. "They are our daughters. Of course, I constantly think of them regardless of where I am and what I''m doing."


    "I know that fatherhood suits you." Su Xiaofei smiled at him. "Though the girls arrived too early, you''ve never once backed down from the challenge of fatherhood. Just don''t spoil them too much. It''s hard enough that those girls have already managed to win everyone''s favor with their smiles alone."


    "I admit that it''s hard, but I like to think that raising Lu Junjie previously has helped me to get used to being a father. However, the girls are harder to deal withpared to him. Xiao Yue and Yanyan have different preferences and I need to be more gentle when ites to them."


    Su Xiaofei hummed. There were nights when she found Lu Qingfeng reading books about child-rearing and how to handle newborns properly. She knew well that he''d been trying to bnce his time at work and for their family. It was really a relief to them that she wasn''t poisoned anymore, which meant that it was one less problem to worry about.


    Once the winner for Best Picture was announced, the ceremony immediately moved to the ''Best Neer'' category where Xiao Rufeng and Ye Mingyu were both nominated.


    "Chen-ge is also here." Lu Qingfeng said.


    "Really?" Su Xiaofei tried to look around them, but she couldn''t spot Yan Xiuchen anywhere.


    "He told me that he''ll be apanying Miss Xiao tonight. I''m certain he''s also here."


    "Well, if he''s here, then I''m sure that it''ll only make Xiao Rufeng more nervous. She would want to win the award and win against Ye Mingyu, not like she could easily beat Xiao Rufeng in the first ce."

 Chapter 629 Win Or Lose (1)

    Just as Lu Qingfeng had said, Yan Xiuchen was also at the venue, mingling with the crowd without making his presence known. From where he was seated, he could see the love of his life conversing with a happy smile on her face with the woman seated next to her. However, he could also see her nervousness at the same time.


    Yan Xiuchen couldn''t stop himself from smiling. Her smile was something he was willing to protect at any cost. This was why he made sure that none of Ye Mingyu''s attempts to tarnish Xiao Rufeng''s reputation were fruitful. He wouldn''t fail to protect her as her man and would allow no one to harm her.


    "Do you think Miss Xiao will win the award?"


    Yan Xiuchen wasn''t nning to bring Elder Meng to apany him tonight, but the old man insisted oning with him to show support for their future madam. Furthermore, it wasn''t usual for Yan Xiuchen to willingly go out in public like this.


    "It would be good if she could win it, but herpetitors aren''t weak. However, I know that she''d done her best and wouldn''t have any regrets if she lost. I can only help her make this better for her."


    Elder Meng smiled and gave his master an approving look. Things had been going well between Yan Xiuchen and Xiao Rufeng. His master''s rtives hadn''t dared to make a move since Yan Xiuchen had proactively made sure that they wouldn''t cross the line for Xiao Rufeng''s sake.


    One of Yan Xiuchen''s men came and whispered something to him. Yan Xiuchen kept his gaze below them as he and Elder Meng remained in the private booth at the balcony. It had been easy for him to get a spot in this event because he practically owned the whole venue.


    This was why no one was able to spot him arriving with Xiao Rufeng earlier. It would be easy for them to slip away without getting anyone''s attention.


    "Master, we spotted Han Yize nearby. Should we do something?"


    They were given an order to keep an eye on the man.


    Yan Xiuchen remained silent, but looked at Lu Qingfeng from afar. As if the man could sense his stare, Lu Qingfeng whipped his head and looked in their direction. Their gaze only met for a few seconds, but there was a mutual understanding between them.


    "Let Lu Qingfeng and Su Xiaofei deal with him. Just make sure that neither Han Yize nor Ye Mingyu would dare to get anywhere near Xiao Rufeng." He delivered his order after a long silence.


    "Understood." His subordinate replied and excused himself at once, leaving Yan Xiuchen with Elder Meng.


    The award ceremony continued until it was time to announce the Best Neer category. Yan Xiuchen stood and waited for the nominees to be called. He spotted Xiao Rufeng sping her hands together, eyes fixated on the huge screen above the stage.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    The names of the nominees were shed on the screen, one by one, until Xiao Rufeng''s name appeared on it. Xiao Rufeng lowered her gaze as her eyes clouded with nervousness.


    Yan Xiuchen wanted to go to her and assure her that things would be fine, but he didn''t think it was the right time to announce their rtionship in public. He also knew that Xiao Rufeng wanted to prove to everyone that whatever achievement she would have was due to her hard work and not because she had him to back her up.


    He didn''t care whether she would win or lose tonight because his perception of her would remain the same. No amount of awards would be able to change his love for her.


    The audience erupted into apuse as everyone waited for the presenter to announce the winner. Even Ye Mingyu''s eyes lit up in anticipation. She and Xiao Rufeng starred in two different films, and she refused to believe that her performance would fall behind Xiao Rufeng this time.


    The spotlight suddenly turned towards all the nominees, their faces shed on the big screen. Xiao Rufeng tried to contain her nervousness and forced herself to keep a smile on her face. Yan Xiuchen''s heart ached seeing her like this. However, he knew that he couldn''t intervene in her career.


    As the presenter pulled out the content of the envelope, Xiao Rufeng''s expectation failed to meet the reality as the name announced by the presenter wasn''t her name, but Ye Mingyu''s instead. Yan Xiuchen could see the disappointment in Xiao Rufeng''s face, but she immediately hid it behind a smile.


    "Ye Mingyu from ''Brightest Star''!"


    Hearing Ye Mingyu''s name, the audience had conflicted expressions on their faces, as if they didn''t believe that neither Xiao Rufeng nor the other contenders fell behind Ye Mingyu''s performance. They felt that Ye Mingyu didn''t seem to deserve the award after seeing a snippet of her performance being yed on the big screen.


    ¨C


    Ye Mingyu shot up to her feet and happily made her way up the stage to ept her award. She had a wide smile on her face, momentarily forgetting her woes over the past weeks. She finally received the recognition she''d been eyeing for and hoped that her career would continue to flourish after receiving the award.


    ''Su Xiaofei, can you see? You cannot stop me from advancing.''


    Ye Mingyu gave her speech and tried to find Su Xiaofei in the audience. Their gaze met at once, and they regarded each other in silent contemtion. Ye Mingyu gave Su Xiaofei a mocking smile as she bragged about how she worked hard and gave her best to win the golden award.


    She saw Su Xiaofei leaning on Lu Qingfeng and whispered something, but she couldn''t be bothered by what the other woman was saying at that moment. The only thing that she could think of was how blissful it was to be regarded and acknowledged by everyone. Her wishes hade true and neither Su Xiaofei nor Xiao Rufeng could stop her this time.

 Chapter 630 Win Or Lose (2)

    "Look at her. So happy winning such an award. She has no idea that Han Yize bought the award to pacify her. Such a greedy man. He''s chasing after his first love and yet couldn''t let go of Ye Mingyu. I wonder how long it would take before she realized that he would never choose her." Su Xiaofei smiled, watching Ye Mingyu go down the stage, holding her golden award with pride.


    "Some people won''t realize the truth until it is toote. Let her enjoy this small win, Feifei. In the future, don''t hesitate to crush her. Who knows what kind of scheme she woulde up with once she finds out about our daughters." Lu Qingfeng responded.


    That immediately reminded Su Xiaofei of how dangerous Ye Mingyu really was. Ye Mingyu had once attempted to take her life, and now that she had children, she feared that Ye Mingyu would find an opening to reach them instead.


    Su Xiaofei shut her eyes for a moment. Once she opened it, a dangerous glint that promised pain and malice shed in her eyes.


    "Ye Mingyu would be too upied with her own affairs to scheme against me. I want to see the despair in her eyes once she realizes that she''s taking the same path I did in our previous life."


    Ye Mingyu was mistaken if she thought that she had already won against her. When ites to love, the one who fell in love first was the loser and Ye Mingyu hadn''t realized the mistake she justmitted.


    "I asked Brother Han and Sister Shi to create another batch of antidote just in case. We don''t know when they will poison anyone else." Lu Qingfeng told her. It also meant that the potency of the antidote would be greater than what had been used on his wife.


    Before Su Xiaofei could make ament, her attention was pulled back to the stage. It was time to announce the winner of the ''Best Actress'' category. Tang Liyan and her birth mother werepeting for the award under the same film they starred in.


    Since Tang Liyan''s return, this was the first time she was nominated for a major award. Although she had managed to regain the status she had prior to her marriage to her ex-husband, winning an award was something she''d been eyeing since her return.


    The two presenters took the spotlight and introduced the six nominees for the category.


    "You know that Xiao Rufeng would lose tonight, but who do you think will win between Miss Bai and Miss Tang?" Lu Qingfeng asked his wife curiously.


    Su Xiaofei shrugged as the excerpts of the nominees'' performances were yed on the screen.


    "Who knows. Maybe Miss Tang will win tonight. I was telling the emcee the truth earlier when I said that it''s hard to guess who would win. Bai Qingyue yed the role of a psycho serial killer while Miss Tang yed a blind pianist. Both roles are hard to portray and not many actors could do it well."<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Su Xiaofei knew how hard it was for the two queens to act alongside each other. It was for this reason that she paid attention to the script, making sure that the both actresses would be able to showcase their abilities without overshadowing each other. It wasn''t easy for the director and the scriptwriter though, and it took weeks before they were able to finalize the film, satisfying both Bluemedia and Golden Star at the same time.


    "The best actress award goes to¡­. Tang Liyan from "Melody from the Heart"!"


    The screen showed Tang Liyan being stunned in her seat once she heard that she won the award. If it wasn''t for those who were seated next to her, she wouldn''t have moved from her seat and headed towards the stage to ept her award.


    Once the presenter handed her the golden phoenix award, the actress broke down into tears. The presenters were kind enough to give Tang Liyan a handkerchief to wipe her tears and calm down for a moment, before allowing her to give her speech.


    "Sister Tang, could you please share your thoughts?"


    Hearing the emcee''s question, the actress scanned the audience and found her manager. She raised her award toward Su Xiaofei and gave her a polite bow, not only once but thrice.


    "I just want to thank my manager, President Su, for giving me a second chance not only in my career but also in life. She was the only person who believed I''ll be able to pull myself out of despair and pain. I have a lot of regrets in life, but I will never regret putting my faith in President Su."


    The camera was now focused on Su Xiaofei. She didn''t say anything when the other presenter came to her. She merely stood up and humbly bowed at Tang Liyan before returning to her seat.


    The actress continued to express her gratitude towards her with teary eyes. When Su Xiaofei sought her for the first time, she never thought she would be able to escape the hell that she''d willingly stepped into when she married her ex-husband. She didn''t even think it was possible for her to free herself from her mother''s control.


    "You were the only one who supported me when no one did. For this, I will be forever indebted to you." She continued, not caring if she looked like a crying mess.


    Initially, the only reason Su Xiaofei took interest in Tang Liyan and Qin Muyao was because she didn''t want to waste their potential by meeting the red gs that would lead to their own death. However, who would have thought that her rebirth had also been a way to help these two souls lead a better life this time?


    Tang Liyan was thanking her, without knowing that her courage was the reason she was able to reach this far. Su Xiaofei merely used an excuse to take advantage of her.

 Chapter 631 Forever By Your Side (1)

    The award ceremony ended without any scene or scandal. Most were thrilled as they left the venue one by one. Those who won an award invited their closest friends for a celebration and Su Xiaofei was obviously not spared from several invitations.


    "Bluemedia will hold one for Miss Tang for sure. Please expect an invitation from us." She said, quickly excusing herself and her husband from the growing crowd that was blocking the entrance.


    Lu Qingfeng held her hand and stopped her, pulling out his phone before looking around.


    "What''s wrong? Did something happen?" His wife asked curiously.


    Su Xiaofei wondered if he was as impatient to return home as she was. She couldn''t wait to see their girls and kiss their heads lovingly. She and Lu Qingfeng had only been away for three hours but she was already missing them.


    "This way." He said, leading his wife away from the crowd and taking one of the emergency exits of the main hall.


    Yan Xiuchen had just informed him via text the best route for him and Su Xiaofei to leave the venue in peace, without the need of being cornered by reporters outside. His elder brother and Xiao Rufeng had already managed to escape earlier.


    "Do you know where this would lead us?" Su Xiaofei asked.


    However, before Lu Qingfeng could answer her, their attention was caught by amotion somewhere. The voice they just heard was familiar to their ears. The couple wondered what made Ye Mingyu this angry. She was screaming like a banshee somewhere nearby.


    As they turned into the next hallway, they found Ye Mingyu yelling at Huo Yuxin who looked ufortable. The side of her face had a red mark on it and one didn''t need half a brain to know that it was Ye Mingyu who caused it.


    "What? You have nothing to say now?!" Ye Mingyu yelled at Huo Yuxin. "You were brave enough to seduce him in front of me and now you act like you''ve been wronged by me?!"


    Huo Yuxin rubbed her arm and turned on her side, trying to avoid confronting Ye Mingyu.


    "Should we help her?" Su Xiaofei heard her husband ask, but she shook her head in response.


    "There''s no need. Miss Huo can handle this herself. I have to admit that I didn''t expect that she was able to corner Ye Mingyu so easily." She chuckled.


    She knew how easily Ye Mingyu would get annoyed when someone kept trying to obstruct her. Su Xiaofei had no doubt that Ye Mingyu was trying to create a wedge between her lover and Huo Yuxin. Han Yize was a Money Boss Ye Mingyu couldn''t afford to lose right now.


    As if on cue, Han Yize came in a hurry. He was startled upon seeing Ye Mingyu, but his expression hardened when he saw the red mark on Huo Yuxin''s face. His eyes darkened and before Ye Mingyu could hurt his first love any further, he came forward and protected Huo Yuxin like a hero.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Han Yize! What''s the meaning of this?!" Ye Mingyu''s voice came out like a shrill, hurting Su Xiaofei''s ears.


    However, Han Yize ignored her and led Huo Yuxin away, who was visibly trembling from being harassed by Ye Mingyu earlier.


    Obviously, Ye Mingyu went after them, wanting to confront the two. Huo Yuxin kept muttering her apology while she was still in Han Yize''s embrace. Ye Mingyu dropped her award and attacked the other woman.


    Su Xiaofei gasped and covered her mouth in mocking surprise. Who would have thought that she and her husband would witness such a scene? Ye Mingyu didn''t disappoint her at all. She had already expected that this would happen once Ye Mingyu crossed paths with Huo Yuxin.


    Between the two of them, it was obvious who Han Yize would choose and it would be bad for Ye Mingyu. Han Yize''s womanizing antics started when Huo Yuxin left him, and now that she was back, those suppressed feelings would eventually resurface once he saw her again. It was what Su Xiaofei wanted to take advantage of.


    "Oh my, what a performance. Who would have thought that Ye Mingyu is capable of such a feat." She was saying this, but Lu Qingfeng could see that his wife was quite enjoying the scene being yed out in front of them.


    It was obvious to him now that things were going well ording to his wife''s ns. He was initially worried that she wouldn''t be able to deal with Ye Mingyu on her own, but it was now proven that Ye Mingyu was being yed by Su Xiaofei without knowing it.


    "Ye Mingyu! Stop this nonsense!" Han Yize pushed his arm to distance himself from Ye Mingyu.


    "You dare to side with that woman?! How could you do this to me?!" Tears were now streaming down Ye Mingyu''s face as she looked at her lover and Huo Yuxin.


    Huo Yuxin said nothing as she cowered in fear, while Ye Mingyu''s words only infuriated Han Yize further. He was frustrated at Ye Mingyu for making such a scandalous scene, but he was angrier because she even dared toy a hand on the woman he truly loved.


    "Are you out of your mind?" He sneered, pushing Ye Mingyu away from him.


    Han Yize always thought that Ye Mingyu was a smart woman with a good temperament. He never thought she could be this crazy.


    Ye Mingyu stepped back, but lost her footing and fell hard on the cold floor. She was about toin when a shooting pain hit her out of nowhere and she cried in pain.


    Everyone was curious to know what was up with her now. They all wondered if this was one of Ye Mingyu''s acts. However, as she curled on the floor, holding her lower abdomen, Su Xiaofei saw a trickle of blood on one of Ye Mingyu''s legs.


    The smile on her face instantly disappeared as she realized what was happening to Ye Mingyu now.

 Chapter 632 Forever By Your Side (2)

    Meanwhile, Xiao Rufeng was unusually silent since she and Yan Xiuchen left the venue. Yan Xiuchen surmised that she was still upset about losing the award to Ye Mingyu, but didn''t know how to make her feel better.


    "Are you still upset?" He asked, gently brushing his fingertips over her hair as the car drove them back to his mansion.


    "I just thought that if I lose tonight, it would be alright. But I couldn''t ept losing to Ye Mingyu out of all the nominees." Xiao Rufeng admitted. "It would have been fine if I lost to someone else, but¡­"


    "You didn''t think Ye Mingyu deserved to win." Yan Xiuchen finished her sentence for her.


    Xiao Rufeng nodded and lowered her head in shame. She shouldn''t have been too confident that she would win.


    "Sorry. Just as I thought you could be proud of me. I promise to do better next time." She mumbled.


    Yan Xiuchen sighed and drew her into his embrace. He ced a chaste kiss on top of her crown and patted her back in assurance.


    "You speak as if it is a sin to lose in apetition. You and I both know that Ye Mingyu only managed to get the award because her man bought it for her. You are nothing like her, Rufeng. You always do your best, so don''t let this discourage you. No matter if Ye Mingyu got the award, you are still the winner in my eyes."


    Xiao Rufeng blushed at his words and was thankful that he wasn''t able to see her face right now.


    "You always know the right words to say, huh." She chuckled against his broad chest.


    "That''s not true." Yan Xiuchen responded. It was his turn to feel bashful.


    "You have no idea how hard it was for me to talk to you during our first encounter. I wanted to hear you talk to me more, but I had no idea how to lead a conversation with you." He confessed, remembering how pathetic he might have looked during their first meeting.


    "I didn''t know you were interested in me from day one." She lightly teased him. "So did you ept Mr. Lu''s invitation for lunch because you wanted to see me?"


    "Something like that." He easily admitted. "But I wasn''t hopeful that you would see me as me. I just wanted to see you even from afar. I dare not ask for more."


    "Then I''m d that I volunteered to be your temporary assistant. It would do you no good if you keep watching me from afar. That would make you sound like a stalker." She giggled.


    Once the car pulled to a stop, arriving at Yan Xiuchen''s mansion, he alighted first before extending his hand to Xiao Rufeng.


    "I know that you''re still upset from not winning the award, but Elder Meng prepared a special dinner for us tonight. Would you mind joining me?" He asked before Xiao Rufeng could step out.


    "Why, of course. I''m quite starving actually. I tried to control my appetite these days in fear that I won''t fit into the dress Xiaofei sent me."


    Xiao Rufeng stepped out and stood at her full height. She was wearing light makeup on her face, her hair pinned up in an borate hairstyle. Crystals dangled on her ears as it perfectlyplemented the beige colored dress with high slit, exposing her beautiful legs. On top of it, she was wearing a khaki colored coat to protect her from the coldness of the night while her feet were enclosed in a pair of high heeled shoes.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Lead the way, love." She yfully winked at Yan Xiuchen as she hooked her arm with his.


    As they enjoyed a romantic dinner with Yan Xiuchen, her disappointment over her loss was somewhat forgotten. Once they were done with dinner, Xiao Rufeng took a long shower while Yan Xiuchen made ate night phone call.


    When she stepped out of the shower, he was nowhere to be seen. She decided to clear her head while waiting for him at the balcony of his room, marveling at how peaceful the night was.


    "I''ll just do better next time. I''ll make sure that they won''t have a chance to deny that my performance is beyondparison."


    Yan Xiuchen joined her shortly, their hands intertwining each other as they looked at the faded crescent moon above the sky. The cool breeze ruffled her unbound hair and Yan Xiuchen stepped closer to hug her from behind.


    "I love you."


    Her inside grew soft at Yan Xiuchen''s admission of love. He never failed to remind her everyday of how amazing she was and how much he loved her. Xiao Rufeng thought that she would never get used to it.


    "I love you too, Xiuchen." She responded. "You are one of the best things that have happened to me."


    Yan Xiuchen turned her slowly to face him. His right hand caressed her cheek gently as she closed her eyes at this sweet moment shared between them.


    "Will you marry me, Miss Xiao Rufeng? Would you give me the honor of bing your man? Your husband?"


    Xiao Rufeng immediately popped her eyes open. In front of her, in his hand, was the most beautiful diamond ring she''d ever seen. Her eyes immediately shone with tears.


    "Xiuchen¡­ I¡­"


    They had already talked about their future together, but she hadn''t expected him to propose to her like this.


    "I know it''s only been months since we met, but I feel like I''ve known you for years. I thought I should propose to you in some grandiose way or in front of your friends - our friends, but let me be selfish this time, Rufeng. I just want this to be between you and me. Please say yes and marry me."


    His face grew blurry as tears filled her eyes.


    "Please say yes and make me the happiest man alive."


    Xiao Rufeng smiled. "Yes! A million times yes! I say yes!"

 Chapter 633 Forever By Your Side (3)

    "I hate it when you cry." Yan Xiuchen said, trying to wipe her tears dry. "I hope these are happy tears. I know you said you aren''t nning to marry soon, but allow me to give you a ring."


    Yan Xiuchen slid the diamond ring on her ring finger and Xiao Rufeng couldn''t contain her happiness. Tears rolled down her cheek as she marveled at how beautiful the ring was. This was way better than receiving an award tonight. She couldn''t stop her tears from flowing as she was ovee with inexplicable happiness she didn''t know was possible.


    He understood now why Lu Qingfeng would exert his effort and go to such an extent just to make sure that Su Xiaofei was content and happy. Yan Xiuchen knew he would do the same for Xiao Rufeng.


    "It is." Xiao Rufeng''s face broke into a wide smile before wrapping her arms around her fianc¨¦, allowing her tears to fall freely this time.


    Yan Xiuchen said nothing and held her closely. He was relieved to know that she didn''t turn down his proposal. He feared that after letting her wait since theirst talk, Xiao Rufeng would change her mind. His eyes lightened, his shoulders finally rxing. He put his hands on her arms and he sighed at how right this all felt to him. He didn''t want anyone else but her.


    Then he kissed her. His lips were firm and sure. The warm feeling of joy bloomed within him as she responded to his kiss. It became something more, deeper, as though he wanted to devour her entirety.


    Xiao Rufeng clung to him, her body heavy with ache for him, their kiss making her head light.


    "Should we meet your father and inform him of our engagement?" He asked.


    "Would it be alright if we host a dinner instead? I would like to invite our friends and share the good news." Xiao Rufeng replied. She couldn''t wait to share the news with her father, though she hoped that he wouldn''t force her and Yan Xiuchen to hasten their wedding ceremony. They might need to wait for a few years before they decide to officially settle down.


    "Alright, I will leave the nning to you. If you need help, I know Elder Meng would be more than happy to assist you."


    "Okay. Leave the rest to me, but you will have to share some input in the nning. I do not want you to feel ufortable at our own engagement dinner."


    She knew very well how ufortable he could be in the presence of other people. Yan Xiuchen might be used to his brothers''pany, but with a few of her friends attending, Xiao Rufeng knew that he would keep his distance from them somehow.


    Xiao Rufeng looked into his eyes. They were so dark and beautiful, she thought she might sink into them and nevere out. It hurt to breathe, imagining how her life would be without him. She took a moment to calm herself.


    "If Mom was alive, I''m pretty sure she would approve of you." She said, suddenly missing her mother. She wouldn''t have the courage to love Yan Xiuchen if it wasn''t for her mother''s teaching. In some way, Xiao Rufeng wanted to believe that it was what led her to be with him.


    "I feel the same." Yan Xiuchen replied. "My mother would be happy to know that I found someone who loved me wholeheartedly like she did. Why don''t we visit their graves on your day off? They wouldn''t be able to join us at our wedding, but that doesn''t mean we can''t give our respects to them."


    "That''s a great idea. To be honest, it''s been a while since I visited my mother''s grave."


    Weekend came and they drove to the cemetery where Xiao Rufeng''s mother''s remains were buried. Their drive to the cemetery was silent, save for her asking to stop by a florist to buy some flowers for them to leaveter. Normally, silence wouldn''t bother Yan Xiuchen, but as they slowly reached their destination, he didn''t know what to expect on their visit.


    Her mother had long been dead, but it was certain that Xiao Rufeng held her mother in high regard and Yan Xiuchen didn''t want to leave an impression that he didn''t care about her deceased mother.


    When they arrived at the cemetery, Xiao Rufeng led him down the rows of graves until they stopped at a small mausoleum for the Xiao family. He helped his fianc¨¦e clean up the ce first and allowed her to pay respect in silence.


    "Hi, Mom. I''m sorry if it''s been a while since I came by to visit you. I''ve been extremely busy these days." Xiao Rufeng said as sheid the flowers they bought earlier. Things have been pretty crazytely, but I hope you haven''t been too worried. I wanted to introduce the boyfriend I mentioned earlier to you - well, fianc¨¦ now since he recently proposed to me. We''ll be sure toe back and visit you soon."


    She then turned to Yan Xiuchen. "Is there something you want to say, love?"<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Yan Xiuchen stared at the grave for a long moment, before uttering the first thing that came to his mind.


    "I will strive every single day to be worthy of your daughter."


    Xiao Rufengced her hand with his and he looked over to find her smiling at him. He marveled in it, and promised to uphold his word to make her happy to the best of his abilities.


    "You are more than worthy of me, Xiuchen." She said and he shook his head.


    "I still have a long way to go to prove myself, love. We will have to agree to disagree. I don''t want to argue in front of your mother."


    Xiao Rufengughed at that and rested her head against his strong arm. Though it was still winter, a sense of warmth embed in her heart as they stood in silence, each upied with their own thoughts.


    ¡ª


    It''s been a week since themotion she and Lu Qingfeng witnessed in the scandalous affair between Ye Mingyu and Han Yize. Somehow, a video of it was leaked on the inte and manyizens criticized Ye Mingyu for being shameless. However, what bothered Su Xiaofei was the possibility of Ye Mingyu having a child.


    "President Su, it''s confirmed that Ye Mingyu is pregnant." Zhang Ling said, handing her the report she was able to gather from the hospital where Ye Mingyu was currently confined. "She didn''t lose her baby and Miss Huo is currently forcing Han Yize to marry Ye Mingyu because of it."


    "Do you think he will marry her?" She asked her assistant, catching Zhang Ling off guard.


    Zhang Ling furrowed her brows as she contemted what could happen next between Han Yize and Ye Mingyu.


    "I don''t think he would willingly marry her, now that Miss Huo is back." She said with all honesty.


    "Correct. That''s why we needed to leak the news to the media and reveal Ye Mingyu''s pregnancy. It wouldn''t only force Han Yize to marry her, but it will also force Ye Mingyu to step back from the limelight." Su Xiaofei replied.


    "Would Ye Mingyu give up her career just to have her baby?" Zhang Ling curiously asked. From what they know about Ye Mingyu, she was a selfish person who put her needs above anyone else, Zhang Ling doubted if that woman was capable of love.


    "She wouldn''t have a choice but to keep her pregnancy." Su Xiaofei replied, as she looked at the copy of her nemesis''s medical report. "It''s a mistake for her to allow herself to be emotionally attached to Han Yize and there is no way she would allow Han Yize to discard her because of Huo Yuxin. She would use the child in her womb as a bargaining chip to keep him to herself."


    The past Su Xiaofei was no different from the Ye Mingyu she was dealing with now. Su Xiaofei had done the same thing in the past, but ultimately failed in the end. She wondered how long it would take for Ye Mingyu to notice that she was taking the same path as Su Xiaofei did in her previous life.


    "Han Yize would hate her more because of this. The moment Ye Mingyuid a hand on Huo Yuxin, her value had already diminished in his eyes. However, with Ye Mingyu bearing his child, his parents wouldn''t allow him to get rid of it and would force Ye Mingyu to deliver the child."


    "His parents disapproved of Miss Huo, but do you think they would ept Ye Mingyu easily?" Zhang Ling asked.


    "Of course not. They would tolerate Ye Mingyu because of the child in her womb, but once she gave birth, she would be deemed useless to them. I wouldn''t be surprised if they forced her to give up her rights and raise the child themselves."

 Chapter 634 Falling Deeper (1)

    The news of Ye Mingyu''s affair and pregnancy spread like wildfire. Just as Su Xiaofei expected, Han Yize''s parents stepped forward and took Ye Mingyu under their care, effectively protecting her from being harmed by their son.


    Ye Mingyu had been ecstatic to find out that she would be the future Madam Han once she and Han Yize got married. She didn''t care if she was to give birth to a child if it would mean that she would be securing her future and get rid of Huo Yunxi once and for all.


    Han Yize''s parents took her in and allowed her to live with them, while forcing their son to do the preparations for their wedding. Ye Mingyu hadn''t seen him for days now, but she wasn''t bothered by it. Soon, Han Yize wouldn''t have any choice but toe to her and acknowledge that he could only be with her from now on.


    "Don''t worry about Huo Yuxin, Mingyu. I''m sure she wouldn''t dare be his mistress now that you are pregnant. You only need to focus on your pregnancy and leave the rest to us." Han Yize''s mother once said, much to Ye Mingyu''s secret delight. She was now aware that Han Yize''s parents disliked Huo Yunxi for their son and did everything they could to separate them in the past.


    She was finally living the life she always wanted. Servants followed her around, always at her disposal and she didn''t need to worry about being harassed by the loan sharks her deceased mother was indebted to. There was no way they would knock on the Han family''s door and cause trouble.


    "Is this the kind of life Su Xiaofei has been enjoying all this while?" She thought as she took a sip from her warm drink, enjoying the coolness of the afternoon breeze in her private quarters.


    The Han family was surely loaded with money, because wherever she looked, staggering wealth was staring back at her. It couldn''t bepared to what she used to have while she was only Han Yize''s lover. Han Yize had kept their affair at bare minimum, allowing her to live alone in an apartment where their meetings were limited.


    She checked her phone and grimaced seeing how everyone was criticizing her for being shameless and using a child to trap a man in marriage. Ye Mingyu had no idea who leaked her condition to the media, but it only put pressure on Han Yize to leave Huo Yunxi and marry her instead.


    However, she had no idea that this sudden turn of events wouldn''t be favorable for her in the end. Su Xiaofei knew that Han Yize''s parents were strictly following tradition and she had no doubt that a wedding would be held soon to protect their family name.


    As for Ye Mingyu, she might be able to enjoy the perks of being Madam Han, but with her mother-inw hovering over each of her actions, she would soon be driven mad by it.


    Ye Mingyu had just entered the kitchen when she found her soon to be mother-inw arriving with a lot of shopping bags with her. The old woman ced all of it on top of the table and beckoned her toe closer. Ye Mingyu stered a wide smile on her face as she looked curiously at what the older woman had brought home with her.


    "Mother, you surely bought a lot today. You should have told me you were going out so I can apany you." She said sweetly, making sure to leave a good impression on the older woman.


    "What are you saying, Mingyu? It''s not safe for you to go out now, not when everyone is still talking about your sudden pregnancy." The older woman said. She sounded like she was chastising Ye Mingyu, but it was obvious that she was spoiling her at the same time.


    "But¡­"


    The older woman waved a hand, brushing Ye Mingyu''s concern off. She cut one of the tin packets she pulled out from her shopping bag and handed it to Ye Mingyu.


    "I brought you some nourishing tonic. Here, take this and drink it so your baby will grow healthier. Yize might be focusing on western medicine these days, but it wouldn''t change the fact that traditional medicine is way better."


    Ye Mingyu curled her nose in disgust once she read the contents of the packet. However, as the older woman waited for her to finish the drink, she didn''t have a choice but to drink the content in one go. She made a face as the taste hit her tongue and swore that she''d never tasted anything so disgusting in her life before.


    "Mother, what is this? This tastes awful!" She said, before rushing to get a ss of water to rinse the disgusting vor that was left on her pte.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    However, one ss wasn''t enough to wash away the bitterness in her mouth, leaving her no choice but to brush her teeth and gargle mouthwash once the old woman left. In her mind, she was cursing her mother-inw for daring to subject her to such torture. Who in their sane mind would drink it willingly?


    "That one is made with fish. Fish is said to be essential for the development of your baby''s brain. I''ll ask the cook to prepare you a seaweed soup for dinner. Make sure not to skip your meals. I know that actors like you always keep an eye on your weight, but you can''t have skinny bones while being pregnant with my grandchild."


    Ye Mingyu said nothing and tried to force herself to keep a smile on her face. However, she didn''t expect that the old woman would take her hand and frowned upon seeing her well manicured nails, painted with red polish.


    "Take this off as well. We don''t know what kind of chemicals those nail polish have that can harm your baby. It''s only until you give birth, Mingyu."


    Meanwhile, even with the widespread news of Ye Mingyu being pregnant with his child, Han Yize didn''t stop seeking Huo Yunxi. Huo Yunxi had just gotten out of her car after a long day at work, when Han Yize appeared from nowhere, grasping her wrist before she could walk away.


    "What do you think you are doing here?" She sneered at him, trying her best to free her wrist from his hold, but Han Yize tightened his grip.


    "Listen to what I say first. You can''t just get rid of me like this." He said almost pleadingly.


    Huo Yuxin huffed and looked at him with disgust.


    "The one who got rid of me first was you, remember?" She retorted. "You let your parents harm my family, sending them to their deaths before you decided that you have had enough of me."


    "What the hell are you talking about?" Han Yize glowered at her. "I didn''t do such a thing. You were the first one who fled the country after receiving a lot of money from my parents. You left me without a word or any exnation of why you were leaving me."


    She suddenly went still and stared at him for a moment, before she finally realized that everything that happened in the past were just the tricks his parents used to break them apart.


    "I see. So that''s what they told you? I wouldn''t be surprised if they say that I ran away with another man."


    Seeing how Han Yize''s jaws hardened upon hearing her words, Huo Yuxin burst intoughter, barely concealing the amusement in her face.


    "I''m right, and you easily believed their words without bothering to find out the truth from me." She said with teary eyes. "Do you know how they forced my family business into bankruptcy? Do you know how it led to my father''s death and how depressed my mother became after we lost everything? You keep saying you love me, but never once did you prove it through your actions."


    This time, she was glowering at him, baring all the woes and grievances she suffered because of her love for him in the past. Huo Yuxin deeply regretted being involved with him in the past. She wouldn''t have lost everything had she not fallen in love with this man.


    She regretted everything now and just as she thought she would never be able to exact revenge on those who ruined her life, Su Xiaofei extended her an olive branch. Huo Yuxin wasn''t sure how Han Yize offended Su Xiaofei, but she could sense deep hostility from her manager towards him and Ye Mingyu. Something must have happened before her arrival.


    "Please leave." She said, willing to keep her expression neutral. "Your lover is now pregnant with your child, so please understand that we can never be together anymore. I don''t want to be your mistress, a woman you could only love behind your parents and the public. Let''s end it all here, Yize."

 Chapter 635 Falling Deeper (2)

    Han Yize stared at Huo Yuxin in disbelief. His hold on her wrist loosening, which she took advantage of at once and freed herself.


    "Don''t look for me anymore and focus on Ye Mingyu. I really don''t want to have anything to do with you now, so let''s end it all here." She continued.


    "No." Han Yize shook his head. "Did you return just to mess with my life and leave me again?"


    "You are wrong." Huo Yuxin glowered at him. "I came back because I have had enough of running away. I have had enough pretending that I''m okay when I''m not. My life doesn''t revolve around you and I want to start a new one without you in it. So please, stop this nonsense already and don''t drag me into your family affairs." She said before turning, leaving Han Yize on his own.


    She also didn''t mention the fact that Han Yize''s had too much blood on his hands. He''d kill people out of whim and never regretted it. Huo Yuxin didn''t want to be involved in any of his wrongdoings, because she knew Han Yize wouldn''t be able to avoid retribution soon.


    Han Yize stood there for a long moment, as if he couldn''t believe that Huo Yuxin would easily leave him like this. Her words continued to ring in his mind as he left the apartment building, realizing what could have truly happened in the past.


    When he arrived at his parents home, he found Ye Mingyuughing at something his mother just said. The two women ceased their conversation when they noticed their arrival.


    "Yize, you''re finally home. I thought I would need to call you again and drag you here myself." His mother said.


    However, Han Yize stood still as if he didn''t hear what his mother had just said. Huo Yuxin''s words earlier were starting to sink in his mind. Seeing his mother, he then knew the reason why Huo Yuxin abandoned her.


    "What are you doing just standing there?" Ye Mingyu said, ying the role of the filial daughter-inw easily. "Mother went through all this trouble just to cook for us."


    His eyes then turned to Ye Mingyu and his hate for this woman rose to another level. Han Yize wanted nothing but to strangle her to death and throw her remains somewhere no one would be able to find her remains.


    He believed that she was the very reason Huo Yuxin didn''t want to get back with him, not realizing that even if Huo Yuxin still had any remaining affections for him, she wouldn''t be able to turn a blind eye on his misdeeds.


    "I''m tired. I have a long day today and would need to leave early for a business trip." He told his mother, purposely ignoring Ye Mingyu''s presence. Han Yize swore that he would make Ye Mingyu suffer throughout their marriage. She would regret messing with him and crossing the line.


    ¡ª


    While Ye Mingyu had willingly stepped out of the limelight, good things continued to happen to Xiao Rufeng. Aside from her engagement to Yan Xiuchen, she would be working on a film with Bai Qingyue. It wasn''t announced in public yet, but the script was based on one of the proposals Lu Jinglin sent to Su Xiaofei a couple of months ago.


    "Are you sure you want to use this script?" Lu Jinglin asked Su Xiaofei, looking nervous and tense at the same time. They met today to discuss the contract and the details of the film Bluemedia would be producing.


    Su Xiaofei had just officially returned to work and instead of moving back to Guangshang, she and her mother decided to handle thepany management from Shenjing. They left Fang Yi to oversee things back in Guangshang. While Su Xiaofei missed being near Xi Qian, she knew that her friend would be alright, now that thetter was living with Li Xiran.


    "What are you worried about? I think this script is really good. A-Feng also thinks the same. Give yourself some credit, Sister Lin. I''m not doing this out of pity. I truly see potential in your work." Su Xiaofei replied.


    She had heard about Lu Jinglin''s circumstances from her husband, but to see that Lu Jinglin''s father was able to ruin her to the extent that she couldn''t be confident with being herself, broke Su Xiaofei''s heart. It must have been hard for Lu Jinglin to grow up without anyone helping her nurture her talent.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Maybe it was because Lu Jinglin had been suppressed by her father her whole life that it was awkward for her to eptpliments from other people. From the moment she started being conscious of her surroundings, she had always doubted herself and her capability.


    "A-Feng really said that?"


    She couldn''t believe that her own cousin would say it. Lu Jinglin knew how much of a perfectionist that man was and everything was supposed to go ording to his ns. If Lu Qingfeng believed that her work was good, then maybe Su Xiaofei was really telling the truth.


    "Yep. Actually, he''s the one who picked this script amongst the others. He said that the role would surely work for Miss Bai, but it would be challenging for Xiao Rufeng. What do you think, Rufeng?"


    Since they were about to sign a contract, minus Bai Qingyue, Xiao Rufeng was also present to meet Lu Qingfeng''s cousin for the second time. She was surprised when she found out that the scriptwriter of the script Zhang Ling handed to her was this very woman.


    "I really don''t mind, Feifei." She smiled at her manager. "It will be hard for me to portray a role like this, but this is excitingly challenging for me. Has Miss Bai epted the role?"


    "En. She has already signed the contract, although I told her to wait until both of you came to a decision." Her manager sighed.


    Su Xiaofei rubbed the space between her brows, remembering how eagerly Bai Qingyu showed up at her office that morning, demanding the contract for her to sign. She was starting to think that her mother''s peculiar actions was what made Mo Yuchen agree to release her from the Golden Star.


    Xiao Rufeng inwardly smiled. Su Xiaofei was pretending that she didn''t care about her birth mother, but she could see that the queen was starting to grow on her.


    "Then there''s no reason for us to stall the film. Since you already found a director, then what else are we waiting for?"


    "I have something to tell you before you sign that contract." Su Xiaofei said with all seriousness, immediately getting both women''s attention.


    "The producer of this film won''t be Bluemedia alone. A-Feng and Yan Xiuchen both decided to inject funds into this film." Su Xiaofei then nced at Lu Jinglin. "He didn''t want you to worry about the production cost and he wanted to make sure that your father won''t dare to undermine you again, if this film was to be sessful."


    Lu Jinglin lowered her gaze and fidgetted in her seat. She knew how important this project was for her, but she was scared to face yet another failure. How many times did she end up disappointed in the end? No matter how much work she puts in, she always finds herselfcking and failing in so many ways.


    If the film failed, not only would lose face in front of Lu Qingfeng and his wife, but this would be yet another heartache she would have to endure for a long time. Her father would also use it against her and remind her that her value was limited as a bargaining chip for an arranged marriage she never wanted to partake in.


    "My debt to him is piling up." She muttered guiltily, but was loud enough for Su Xiaofei to hear.


    "I don''t think that he sees it as a debt. It''s more like he''s investing in you, Sister Lin. A-Feng did that because he believes that you have potential. Same to you, Rufeng." Su Xiaofei told her friend. "Yan Xiuchen only wants to spoil you. He said that since you wouldn''t ept any expensive gifts from him, he might as well help you produce a film you could be proud of. I don''t think both of you would want to disappoint them."


    "If you put it that way, how can I not agree?" Xiao Rufeng smiled, before signing the contract in front of her. Zhang Ling then took it from her and the three of them waited for Lu Jinglin''s turn.


    Lu Jinglin shut her eyes and mustered all the courage she had before finally signing the contract. Although Su Xiaofei and the director approved of her work, she needed to rework some parts to improve it. It wasn''t the failure that held her back anyway, it was her fear of failure that kept her from moving forward. She knew this, yet it wasn''t easy to free herself from it.

 Chapter 636 Loving You Till The End

    Although Ye Mingyu had stepped back from the limelight, Su Xiaofei kept a close eye on her. She knew that the wedding preparation between Ye Mingyu and Han Yize was already happening. The date was set, but it was obvious that the groom didn''t want to participate and help with the nning of the wedding.


    As promised, Huo Yuxin kept her distance from him, which only fueled Han Yize''s anger towards Ye Mingyu. The marriage between the two was destined to crumble on its own. With neither love nor respect for each other, Su Xiaofei knew that she only needed to wait and see how Ye Mingyu would end.


    Meanwhile, Su Xiaofei used this rare opportunity to spend more time with her family. When she returned home from work, she didn''t expect to find Lu Qingfeng arriving before her, looking after their girls.


    "Look who''s finally here. Mommy''s just got home and needs to clean up first before she can hold you, okay?" Lu Qingfeng murmured softly to their youngest twin as he held the infant on his chest.


    Su Xiaofei raised a slender brow, but understood that her husband was merely making sure that the twins wouldn''t easily pick up any illnesses.


    "Alright, I''ll be right back." She conceded. "I should have known better."


    Once she left, Su Xiaofei''s ears picked up Yanyan''s crying sound. Her daughter must have been upset that she didn''t go and take her from Lu Qingfeng''s arms. Yanyan and Xiao Yue were turning four months old soon, but the two obviously had their own individual preferences.


    She couldn''t remember what happened when she gave birth to them, but Su Xiaofei would never be able to forget how she felt the moment she held the twins for the first time. The memories she had on that day faded in her mind, but she remembered having a word with Xi Qian before she lost consciousness on the operating table.


    "Qian¡­ if you have to¡­ please choose¡­ choose to save them."


    Xi Qian looked at her, eyes shining with tears.


    "Do not speak of such things, Feifei." She bit back. "I agreed for you to continue this pregnancy because I want you to be happy and live with no regrets. Perhaps I''ve been foolish all along."


    "Don''t say that, Qian. You don''t know how relieved I am that you stood by me." She said before losing her consciousness.


    Su Xiaofei knew that she couldn''t be so lucky for the second time and vowed to herself never to put her husband and her loved ones in such a difficult situation again. She couldn''t afford another mistake that could threaten their lives.


    She was given a chance to live her life again, and yet she had stupidly hurt Lu Qingfeng and everyone because her selfishness. If she died during childbirth, Lu Qingfeng would be miserable all over again. She wouldn''t have another chance to rectify her mistake if that happened.


    When she returned to the nursery dressed in her house clothes and freshly came out from shower, Yanyan was already dozing off in the crib next to her sister.


    "She threw a fit when you left. I really don''t know where she got this trait." Lu Qingfeng murmured as they watched their children asleep.


    "You really don''t know?" Su Xiaofei chuckled. "I know someone who could be as persistent and clingy as her."


    She gave him a knowing look. A glint of mischief shed in her eyes.


    "Even now, I know that he keeps a secret folder on his phone that contains pictures of me. I bet he made another folder filled with new pictures of his daughters."


    Lu Qingfeng looked away, but there''s a distinct blush on his cheeks. He didn''t even deny what Su Xiaofei had just said. Su Xiaofei really liked seeing him flustered like this and knew very well that he wouldn''t bother to defend himself.


    "By the way, Grandpa wants to introduce them to the public and the rest of our family soon. Would it be alright with you?" Lu Qingfeng asked, trying to change the topic between them.


    "I don''t mind, but would they be safe from your prying rtives? Aside from Lu Jinglin and Grandfather, I trust no one from your family."


    "That''s why he asked for the Yun family''s assistance this time." Lu Qingfeng replied. "With Mother and uncles'' intervention, I don''t think my rtives would do something to the girls. You should have seen how your three Uncles reacted when Mother brought them here for a visit the other day."<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "These two easily won their hearts, didn''t they?" Su Xiaofei chuckled, amazed that their children were able to win over her uncles so quickly.


    She and Lu Qingfeng grew upcking love and attention, but they were both d that their daughters wouldn''t suffer the same. Although her rtionship with her birth parents were improving now, it wouldn''t change the fact that their absence during her childhood had affected her so much.


    "En. I wouldn''t have any doubt that Grandpa and your father just gained morepetitors for the one who could spoil these two the best." Lu Qingfeng smiled genuinely.


    "Are you and Dad okay now?" Su Xiaofei asked. "Should I have a talk with him and exin your side?"


    Her husband shook his head. Su Xiaofei could still sense the pain and guilt in his eyes. It wasn''t his fault, but hers, but Lu Qingfeng chose to take it as his sin to bear.


    "There''s no need, Feifei. He was right when he said I failed you and I learned a lot from that mistake. I know it might take some time for your father to forgive me, but I''ll do my best to prove that it won''t happen again."


    "That, I know. I know I need to change and be a better person for our girls, but I''m afraid I''m not done yet. Not until I get rid of Ye Mingyu will my grievances be put to rest." She admitted.


    Lu Qingfeng held her wrist and pulled her away from their sleeping daughters. Although their minds were still young, he didn''t want them to hear what Su Xiaofei was saying.


    "You aren''t nning to kill her, are you?"


    He was aware that Su Xiaofei was the one pulling the strings to force Ye Mingyu and Han Yize to marry, though he doubted that she had predicted that her nemesis would fall pregnant in the process.


    Su Xiaofei shook her head.


    "Of course not. Death would be an easy way out for her, after all the horrible things and situations she put me in. I want her to experience the despair and suffering I endured because of her. Though I know that in some way, I''m also responsible for what happened in the past, I cannot forgive her for plotting against Mama''s life."


    Though Su Xiaofei couldn''t understand why that horrible woman was given a chance at rebirth, she wanted to see what Ye Mingyu would do if she found herself in Su Xiaofei''s shoes. However, it only disappointed Su Xiaofei, for it opened her eyes to just how foolish she''d been in her previous life.


    She blindly rushed into marriage with Mo Yuchen, thinking that both of them could be happy. She deluded herself that they were in love and it was Ye Mingyu who broke their marriage apart, when it was doomed to end from the very beginning.


    "Be careful then. Ye Mingyu might be upied with her impending marriage, but if she turns her attention back to you, know that I wouldn''t turn a blind this time and would deal with her myself."


    Su Xiaofei took his hand and ced it on her cheek, noticing how warm he was despite his cold countenance.


    "I''m so lucky to have you as my husband. I don''t think there''s anyone else that couldpare to you." She said with all honesty, wanting to express her gratitude to her husband.


    Lu Qingfeng was stunned for a moment, then his gaze lowered to her parted lips. Was it really his persistence on seeking her that brought them together? He didn''t want to think that Su Xiaofei only chose him and married him out of pity.


    "Did it bother you when you found out what I feel for you?"


    It was only at the end of her life in their previous life did he voice out what he felt for her. He didn''t manage to confess his feelings the first time and though he managed to tell her in the second one, it was toote for him to change anything.


    "I admit that it caught me off guard. I only thought that you were overprotective of me because we almost practically grew up together. How naive I was to think of it, but I know better now." Su Xiaofei stepped forward, invading his private space.


    "Darling, it''s toote to regret, don''t you think?" She asked before allowing their lips to meet halfway.

 Chapter 637 Alone In This World (1)

    Three months easily passed, the day of Ye Mingyu and Han Yize''s wedding finally arrived. The news reached the public and although the wedding was expected to be grand, no one was on Ye Mingyu''s side to give her away to her supposed husband. With her mother dead a long time ago and Su Haoran serving his time behind bars, Su Xiaofei realized that Ye Mingyu had been truly alone from the start.


    Han Yize was greeting the guests, but it was obvious that he didn''t have any interest in mingling with them. He left and allowed his parents to entertain them instead. He didn''t even spot his second cousin, Han Zijun, who arrived with Su Xiaofei.


    The two instantly garnered everyone''s attention because of Su Xiaofei''s presence. It wasn''t a secret that she was rumored to be Ye Mingyu''s sister. She was dressed in white fitted dress that reached her knees. It seemed that she had lost a lot of the weight she gained during her pregnancy.


    "You know, Xiaofei, I never thought you''d be brave enough toe here with me." Han Zijun admitted, as they gave a polite smile to the other guests. "I''m surprised that your ever overprotective husband allowed you to step into their of your very own nemesis."


    She hade today as Han Zijun''s plus one, because she knew that neither Ye MIngyu nor Han Yize would extend an invitation to her.


    "You''ll be surprised at how many guards he sent with me this time." She chuckled. "How can I miss this chance to gloat in front of Ye Mingyu? I''m pretty sure she''s feeling sad because none of her so-called friends came to greet her."


    For someone who used to be a social butterfly in their previous life, Ye Mingyu surely wasckingpany these days. The tables had been turned now, and Ye Mingyu was married, but she was about to experience the pain of being neglected and unwanted at the same time.


    "Su Xiaofei? Why are you here?"


    Su Xiaofei turned to the direction of the voice and saw Feng Xue''er alone. The woman was dressed in a pitchck dress and she looked ghostly pale.


    "Oh my, what a surprise, Miss Feng. Were you able to find the evidence you were talking about during ourst meeting?" She raised a flute towards Feng Xue''er as a greeting.


    Feng Xue''er visibly nched and rubbed her arm.


    "I did, but I don''t know what to do with it." She admitted, her voiceced with fear.


    "And yet, you dare toe here knowing that you may suffer the same fate as Cai Lin. Did Ye Mingyu send you an invitation?" Su Xiaofei asked.


    "She wants to mend our friendship, which I doubt existed in the first ce. How could I possibly be friends with a heartless person like her? She took advantage of him, drove him mad until she had enough of him and discarded him like a worthless person."


    "Then hand over the evidence to the police and let them handle the case." Su Xiaofei suggested, but Feng Xue''er shook her head.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Did you grow soft, Su Xiaofei? I might be afraid of her, but that doesn''t mean I will forgive her."


    After saying those words, Feng Xue''er left and disappeared.


    Su Xiaofei pondered for a moment and turned to face Han Zijun.


    "Excuse me, Brother Han. I need to greet my sister privately." She excused herself and went to the private waiting room where Ye Mingyu would receive guests before the wedding started.


    "Be careful then. I wouldn''t want Lu Qingfeng toe after me." Han Zijun said and spotted the Zhang siblings in the crowd, making their way to follow their mistress.


    Su Xiaofei left with her bodyguards and entered the bridal chamber with them. She didn''t argue with them anymore and didn''t want the Zhang sisters to regret anything again. These two never dared to leave her out of their sight no matter where she went.


    Ye Mingyu, who was dressed in a bridal gown, was startled upon hearing the door open. No one came to see or greet her. She knew that those who were here today only came to show face to the Han family.


    She turned her head, wanting to see who entered the room. The smile on her face faltered upon seeing Su Xiaofei alive and well. She still looked as stunning as Ye Mingyu remembered and was reminded of just how much she hated Su Xiaofei''s very existence.


    "A wedding is supposed to be the best day of a woman''s life, but why do you look like you are in for a funeral instead?" Su Xiaofei chuckled, her eyes sweeping around the room, scanning to see how many gifts the bride had received, but Ye Mingyu was perfectly alone.


    "Su Xiaofei," Ye Mingyu hissed, not bothering to hide her annoyance. "What are you doing here?"


    She couldn''t believe that Su Xiaofei managed to survive. Didn''t she put enough cold poison in the tea she had given to Yun Qingrong? It should be enough to kill Su Xiaofei slowly. It was simply impossible for this viiness to be able to face her unscathed when almost a year had passed since then.


    "What am I doing here?" Su Xiaofei ced a hand on top of her chest, feigning feeling hurt by Ye Mingyu''s words. "But what kind of sister would I be if I don''t show up here to give you my blessings? After all the trouble you went through to make sure we are rted to each other, are you going to deny me?"


    "Blessings, my ass!" Ye Mingyu sneered. "You just wanted to see me suffer, didn''t you? Guess what, Su Xiaofei. You can''t stop me anymore."


    "You think that being a Madam of a wealthy family would make you happy?" Su Xiaofei frowned. "Are you sure this marriage would give you everything your heart yearned for? Ye Mingyu, you are more foolish than I think you are."

 Chapter 638 Alone In This World (2)

    "Even now, as you are about to walk down the aisle, no one is here beside you. You have no family or friends to apany you."


    "If you are going to insult me on my own wedding day, just leave." Ye Mingyu said. "You aren''t even invited."


    Su Xiaofei said nothing, she instead shook her head. Did Ye Mingyu lose her sane mind because of her rebirth? She was supposed to rectify her mistake and lead a better life this time, but why was she digging her own grave? She couldn''t even see that Han Yize would be the one who would ruin her in the end.


    "I came to give you this." Su Xiaofei ced a small vial on the table. She stepped back and allowed Ye Mingyu to see what it was.


    Ye Mingyu shivered and looked at Su Xiaofei in horror. She could recognize that bottle anywhere. How did Su Xiaofei manage to get her hands on the cold poison? Thest vial was in Han Yize''s possession and even now, he wasn''t able to reproduce it because he had yet to capture the granddaughter of the Shi family.


    "You and Chen Hao tried to kill me with the cold poison, didn''t you? And yet, here I am, standing alive in front of you. You were cunning when you schemed to use my mother to kill me, but you probably never thought that I''d survive. Too bad, the same can''t be said about your cousin, Chen Hao. He passed away this morning in his prison cell if you haven''t heard."


    "Y-you¡­ you are lying. That.. that can''t be!" Ye mingyu said in panic as she cradled her head with both hands. "So did youe here to poison me instead?"


    Su Xiaofei desperately wanted to end things between her and Ye Mingyu, but after all that had happened, she had enough of the scheming. Would it be selfish for her to lead a happy life with Lu Qingfeng and their twin daughters? Would it be bad if she said that nothing else would satisfy her aside from seeing her loved ones happy?


    "No. I came here to wish you a happy life. You have tried to ruin mine, not realizing that you are also ruining yours. You only take what you want, not caring about the consequences. You speak as if your suffering in your childhood years was my sin, but didn''t you think that the one who abandoned you and your mother was Su Haoran and not me?"


    Su Xiaofei expresed the thoughts she''d been keeping for a long time. She felt wronged when Ye Mingyu used her for possessing the things and life she should have just because she was adopted by Yun Qingrong and Su Haoran.


    On what grounds did she ruin Ye Mingyu''s life? Ye Mingyu suffered because she had a bastard and greedy father who coveted Yun Qingrong''s money and properties. So how did it end up being her fault? Was Ye Mingyu''s suffering enough as an excuse for her to plot against Yun Qingrong''s life and use Mo Yuchen to ruin her life?


    No. Su Xiaofei didn''t think so. No matter the reason, her mother''s death shouldn''t have happened. People really needed to own up to their mistakes and learn from them.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "You are making a mistake right now by marrying Han Yize. You should have known that his affections for Huo Yuxin wasn''t just a fleeting one. I know whatever I say now won''t make you change your mind, but take this¡­" She pointed at the small vial with clear liquid in it.


    "This isn''t the cold poison, but its antidote. It doesn''t matter whether you believe me or not, but I''m sure that the day wille when Han Yize will have had enough of you."


    "Ha! You think I will believe such lies?!" Ye Mingyu was glowering at Su Xiaofei now. "You just want me to take the poison and kill me instead."


    "You really think I''m harboring such thoughts against you, Ye Mingyu? I might be an extremely foolish person, but I''ve never once thought that I should take your life."


    Su Xiaofei''s answer caught Ye Mingyu off guard, but she refused to believe that Su Xiaofei came here out of kindness. The Su Xiaofei she knew didn''t even care about those who were around her and only thought of herself.


    Ye Mingyu sighed and looked away, looking defeated although it was her own wedding day. She should be happy, she should be celebrating, but seeing Su Xiaofei had soured her mood.


    "Why do you care? You should be happy marrying a great man like Lu Qingfeng. I heard that you also have kids now. You have everything a woman wants in her life, so who are you to criticize me? Do you know what it feels like worrying about what you''ll eat next? Do you know the feeling of being scared to death because you don''t know whether you''ll have a roof over your head the next day? Spare me your pity excuses, Su Xiaofei, and just leave."


    When it was obvious that Ye Mingyu wouldn''t hear anything more from her, Su Xiaofei decided it was time for her to leave. There''s no point pushing her opinion on Ye Mingyu when the other woman decided to take the path that would lead to her own downfall.


    "Fine, but let me warn you once and for all. If you dare to show up in front of me, or scheme against me, don''t me me for being impolite. There will be no next time, Ye Mingyu."


    Once Su Xiaofei and the Zhang sisters stepped out of the bridal chamber, Ye Mingyu stood from her seat and took the small vial Su Xiaofei had left behind. She stared at it for a moment, before throwing it with all her might at the wall.


    "You still dare to look down on me, Su Xiaofei? I hate you. I really hate you!"

 Chapter 639 Fleeting Happiness (1)

    The wedding between Han Yize and Ye Mingyu went on as scheduled. As Ye Mingyu walked down the aisle alone, a wide smile broke on her face. It didn''t matter if she disliked the nefarious wedding dress her new mother-inw forced her to wear. Han Yize''s mother had been criticizing her choices ever since she moved in with them.


    At least, the dress his mother chose smartly concealed the swell of her belly and it didn''t matter that Su Xiaofei was here, trying to ruin her day.


    Ye Mingyu was certain that she had finally won. She would never experience bitterness in this life ever again. Not only did she no longer need to pay heed to her father''s shameless demands, those annoying loan sharks would never dare to harass her again!


    Of course she made sure to pay off her mother''s debts using the money she received from her new inws. Those two were easy to manipte anyway. With a mere act, they were ready to give her the money she needed. She also couldn''t allow those loan sharks to tarnish her name, now that she was part of the upper circle.


    She lifted her chin and walked proudly as if nothing could faze her anymore. She didn''t even need to return to acting, now that she could sleep on a bed of money. It was a pity she couldn''t share this sess with anyone and that she needed to step out of the limelight to give birth to her child.


    Her parents should be here, giving her hand to her groom, but maybe it was for the better that neither of them were here to ruin her day. Ye Mingyu would rather be alone than have them here only to be mocked and insulted because of them.


    Despite the fact that her mother had died a couple of years ago, the resentment in her heart did not die down. It was her mother''s fault that she had to lead a life full of bitterness regardless of the timeline she was living in. She med her mother for allowing her father to abandon her and getting into trouble with the loan sharks. Their lives wouldn''t be as pitiful as it was if only her mother had the backbone to chase after her father when he made her pregnant.


    As for Su Haoran, that old man could rot behind bars for all she cared. Su Haoran neglected her and made a fake family with another woman, hoping he could get his hands on his wife''s possession. Too bad for him, Su Xiaofei in this lifetime was as wicked as Ye Mingyu was. He was easily casted aside and had lost everything without knowing where he went wrong.


    Once she reached the end of the aisle, Han Yize took her hand but didn''t bother to look at her. He looked impatient, like he was ready to leave at the first sign of opportunity, but Ye Mingyu didn''t care. Whether it was Su Xiaofei or Huo Yuxin she was against, those two didn''t manage to defeat her at all.


    She knew that Han Yize''s mind wasn''t with them. He was probably thinking about Huo Yuxin, who abandoned him for the second time without batting an eyelid. Huo Yuxin had already lost her chance to be with him. No matter what Han Yize does, his parents would never approve of that woman.


    The ceremony continued and she and Han Yize exchanged their vows and they were officially announced as legally wedded husband and wife by the presiding officer, Ye Mingyu couldn''t contain her happiness at that moment.


    ''I didn''t know that you could be this magnanimous, Ye Mingyu. Clearly you are marrying someone else''s trash. I''m d that you are sparing the rest of the women by keeping Han Yize to yourself.''


    Feng Xue''er''s words earlier rang in Ye Mingyu''s head. The two of them had a little argument before Su Xiaofei came to annoy her further. Initially, she thought that in time, Feng Xue''er would soften up and reconcile her friendship with her.


    ''Did she find out what I''ve done to Cai Lin?'' She wondered, but Ye Mingyu immediately pushed the thought away. This wasn''t the right time to think of such nonsense.


    There was no way that Cai Lin left something that could incriminate her. She had made sure to destroy any evidence that could implicate her upon his sudden death. She was just worrying for nothing. Ye Mingyu convinced herself.


    "That''s not true. You are only saying that because you didn''t want to see me happy, Xue''er. It''s been a long time already, why can''t you move on? It''s not my fault that Cai Lin chose me over you. It''s not my fault that I''m getting married now while you are still wallowing in self-pity since Cai Lin died." She told Feng Xue''er, causing thetter to run away with tears in her eyes.


    Did Feng Xue''er think that she could bully her? Ha! Even Su Xiaofei couldn''t trick her into not getting married today. Ye Mingyu was sure that those two only came here to ruin her mood, but neither of them were sessful.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    During the wedding reception, she spotted Su Xiaofei and Xiao Rufeng together. She indeed sent Xiao Rufeng an invitation, wanting to see the other woman''s reaction. However, Xiao Rufeng merely gave her greeting to Han Yize''s parents and didn''t even acknowledge Ye Mingyu.


    ''Those bitches might be colluding to ruin my day.'' Ye Mingyu sneered inwardly, but she didn''t dare to show her displeasure in front of their VIP guests. She needed to act like a woman expected of her status now. She wasn''t just a starlet who was trying to climb up her way to stardom.


    No one would be able to ignore or bully her now. The Han family''s status and influence was way better than the Mo family and she didn''t need to get involved with their difficult family issues. Ye Mingyu was confident that with the existence of her child, her position in the Han family wouldn''t be threatened by anyone.


    ¡ª


    "She''s pitiful, isn''t she?" Su Xiaofei asked Xiao Rufeng as she held a flute of wine in her right hand, eyes fixated on the bride.


    Xiao Rufeng followed her gaze and shook her head. Ye Mingyu''s smile was almost blinding today. There was no doubt that she was one happy bride. She didn''t understand how her manager could say that Ye Mingyu was pitiful.


    "I don''t think so. After all the things she had done, why do you think she''s pitiful? I''m sure she wouldn''t think the same. She''s so happy right now that she didn''t even notice the annoyance in her groom''s eyes."


    "She''s pitiful because she blinded herself into believing that everything is fine. This is nothing but a fleeting happiness." Su Xiaofei exined. "Sooner orter, Feng Xue''er woulde after her. And soon, she would notice that she hadmitted a grave mistake by offending Han Yize and forcing him into marriage. The doe must be tired out first before the wolf ims his prize and Ye Mingyu hadn''t realized that the doe is her."


    She then lowered her head pondering how to ruin Han Yize for good. Using Huo Yuxin alone wasn''t enough. She needed to make sure that Han Yize wouldn''t be able to harm her family and her daughters in the future.


    ''You are no murderer, Feifei. It''s my hand that''s already tainted with blood.'' Lu Qingfeng once told her when they were discussing how to deal with Ye Mingyu and Chen Hao. He said that, but wasn''t she the reason why her mother died and he became a tyrant?


    Chen Hao was already dead and that was courtesy of her husband. Su Xiaofei didn''t dare to find out the details on how Chen Hao died, but her heart ached knowing that Lu Qingfeng had willinglymited a sin because of her, yet again. She couldn''t stop him from going after Chen Hao and it was another burden for Lu Qingfeng to bear for the rest of his life.


    "I do hope that this will be thest wedding I''ll attend this year." She suddenly blurted out. "I have so many functions I need to attend for Bluemedia and the Lu family, I''m starting to spend less time with my babies. So you better not be walking down the aisle with Yan Xiuchen anytime soon, okay?"


    Xiao Rufeng''s face turned red, trying to ignore the teasing look Su Xiaofei was giving her.


    "No. Not so soon, but we''ll get there eventually." She replied bashfully. Her friends weren''t wasting time to tease her after she and Yan Xiuchen invited them to a private dinner.


    "You''ll be a stunning bride by then. I''m sure that Yan Xiuchen won''t be able to take his eyes off you." Su Xiaofei said confidently. Xiao Rufeng didn''t manage to meet Yan Xiuchen in her previous life and it made her curious about how he ended up back then.


    "Stop teasing, Feifei." Xiao Rufeng pouted. "If anyone looks ready to seal the deal, it would be Xi Qian, not me."

 Chapter 640 Fleeting Happiness (2)

    Ye Mingyu''s pregnancy had now reached the fifth month of gestation, preventing her from hiding her swollen belly. She and Han Yize didn''t have a honeymoon because he left the country as soon as their wedding reception was over. It infuriated Ye Mingyu, but she wasn''t allowed to show such emotions, not when her inws were constantly in her presence.


    However, once Han Yize returned from his long trip, he was rarely at home to see her. It didn''t bother Ye Mingyu at first because she was busy burning as much money as she could on several expensive purchases.


    She made sure to follow the trend and buy clothes she hoped she''d be able to use once she gave birth. She was now stuck at home and was forbidden by her inws to make any public appearances.


    But it didn''t take long before she noticed that Han Yize wasn''t paying her any attention. They even slept in different rooms despite being married. He woulde home early to take a shower, only to leave within an hour.


    One morning, Ye Mingyu waited patiently for her husband to return home. She had just called his assistant and found out that he was on his way home. She wanted to settle the problem between them once and for all.


    Ye Mingyu stood up as soon as the front door opened, intending to confront Han Yize.


    "Ha! I thought I need to wait another day to see whether or not I still have a husband that woulde home to me." She sneered as soon as she saw her husband.


    Han Yize was startled upon seeing her, but his eyes went cold as he saw her growing belly. Ye Mingyu shivered, not knowing why he was looking at her like this.


    "Whether I return home or not, that''s none of your business. Did you have fun spending money that isn''t yours? How does it feel for a peasant to experience the life of a princess for the first time?" He retorted viciously.


    Ye Mingyu''s face nched before it turned red in rage. She couldn''t believe that Han Yize, of all people, would throw that fact to her face.


    "How dare you talk to me like that?!" She screamed, taking the vase next to her seat and threw it with all her might to her husband, but Han Yize easily evaded it.


    "Are you crazy?!" He looked at her with disgust. "Had I known that you were like this, I wouldn''t have even spared you a nce!"


    "Ha! It''s toote to regret now!" Ye Mingyu bit back. "Huo Yuxin won''t take you, no matter how much you grovel for her to take you back. Do you even know how much she despises you now?"


    Something about what she just said felt oddly familiar to Ye Mingyu. Weren''t these the words she once uttered to Mo Yuchen before, when he had abandoned Su Xiaofei for her?


    Han Yize''s eyes darkened, but he didn''t say anything in return. Instead, he stared at her for a long moment, making Ye Mingyu shiver under his gaze. He then walked past her and left without a word.


    Ye Mingyu flopped back on her seat, taking a deep breath. She had never seen Han Yize that scary before. She didn''t even realize she was holding her breath earlier. Something wasn''t right, but she couldn''t point out what it could be.


    She didn''t dare to run after Han Yize and immediately returned to her own room. She knew that they didn''t marry out of love. Han Yize only married her out of obligation, while she married him for his money, knowing that he still wasn''t over Huo Yuxin.


    It was pointless for her to chase after a man who''ll nevere to love her. Still, she thought that they could get along regardless of their differences since they were once lovers.


    ''It doesn''t matter. He wouldn''t dare to get rid of me so long that I have his child.'' Ye Mingyu thought.


    It was then that she decided to not care about her husband''s whereabouts. With only the house servants apanying her in her day-to-day life, Ye Mingyu didn''t realize that she had willingly caged herself, giving Han Yize the advantage over her.


    Day after day, she wasted her time spending her husband''s money. She would entertain her inws once in a while when they came to visit, but as another week passed, Ye Mingyu found herself bedridden.


    She woke up one morning, burning with high fever and everything ached. Her world was spinning and she couldn''t muster any strength to leave her bed, so she called someone for help. She could feel a mild difort in her stomach.


    Ye Mingyu rolled on her side, intending to take the ss of water she had left on her nightstandst night, but her fingertips toppled it and it fell on the floor, breaking into smithereens. She cursed and shut her eyes, wondering what was happening to her. She lost consciousness and didn''t know what happened next.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    When she didn''t leave her room, the attendanding nurse that was hired by her inws decided to check on her.


    "Mrs. Han, are you awake?" She knocked on Ye Mingyu''s door, but there was no response. However, it was almost past two in the afternoon and none of them had seen their mistress emerge from her room.


    "Mrs. Han, I''m going inside if it''s alright. I need to check your blood pressure." The nurse said and silently entered Ye Mingyu''s room only to find the mess on the floor.


    She hurriedly went to Ye Mingyu and saw her covered in sweat, her lips dry and cracked and herplexion too pale.


    "Mrs. Han! Mrs. Han! Wake up!" She pulled the nket out of Ye Mingyu''s form. "Please, wake up!"


    Ye Mingyu was breathing fast and she looked like she was in pain. As she rolled on her side, the nurse was horrified to see fresh blood stain on the bed sheets.


    ¡ª


    "President Su, Ye Mingyu was rushed to the hospital this afternoon." Zhang Ling said, while Su Xiaofei was tidying up her desk, intending to go home as soon as possible.


    Su Xiaofei stopped whatever she was doing and lifted her head to look at her assistant. "And?"


    "Han Yize was asked to sign a form to allow the doctors to remove the dead fetus in her womb." Zhang Ling hesitated and looked at her mistress with confusion. "He signed the form without batting an eyelid. It was as if he expected it to happen."


    Su Xiaofei sighed and stood up, facing the high ss window in her office. She knew that this would happen sooner orter, and it only proved how insane and dangerous Han Yize could be. Even tigers rarely eat their own cubs without a reason.


    "Han Yize poisoned her. It''s only natural that she would lose the child."


    "Would this mean that Ye Mingyu has reached her end?" Zhang Ling asked.


    "No." Her elder sister joined their conversation. Zhang Lan knew that this was far from over. "I don''t think Han Yize would kill her this early."


    "Han Yize despises her, and Ye Mingyu must havemitted a grave sin if he had decided to take action this early in their marriage. He would have turned a blind eye on her, ignored her if she had stayed put and yed her role as his wife. She might have brought up Huo Yuxin against him." Su Xiaofei exined.


    The man still hadn''t given up trying to win Huo Yuxin''s heart.


    s, the actress had already made a decision to cut off her ties with him for good, but with his persistent stalking, Huo Yuxin was forced to end her lease on her apartment early. She had since chosen to live in one of the apartment buildings provided by Bluemedia for their talents. She even requested a restraining order against him, and Su Xiaofei had given her her own security team, just in case he might do something.


    "What will happen to Ye Mingyu now? Will Han Yize divorce her?" Zhang Ling continued to ask. She was astonished that her mistress was able to predict that something like this would happen between the two.


    Su Xiaofei merely shrugged and decided she couldn''t be bothered about how this would end for Ye Mingyu anymore. She supposed that since things had turned out like this, it only meant that Ye Mingyu didn''t heed her warning and had discarded the antidote she''d given to her.


    ''Foolish. You were blinded by your own greed. You didn''t heed my warning.'' She thought.


    "Does it matter whether they divorce or not?" Zhang Lan said. "We wouldn''t have to waste our resources keeping an eye on her, and we wouldn''t need to be concerned that she might attempt something against our mistress again."


    "She wouldn''t have time to scheme against me." Su Xiaofeimented. "Now that she has lost her child, she''ll realize eventually that once again, everyone is her enemy."

 Chapter 641 Same Path, Different Ends (1)

    By the time Ye Mingyu gained consciousness, she found herself lying on a bed in an unfamiliar ce. As she looked around, cold horror washed through her as she realized where she was. She tried to sit up, but every single part of her body was aching. She felt very weak, as if she didn''t have any strength remaining in her. She furrowed her brows, feeling that something was wrong with her body.


    ''What happened?''


    As she looked down at her stomach, she froze and stared at it nkly. It''s still swelling, but she could feel the emptiness inside her. Where did her baby go? What happened to her?


    As if on cue, her mother-inw stepped inside the room. The old woman didn''t even bother to help her sit up. Ye Mingyu noticed the disappointment and annoyance on her mother-inw''s face.


    "If you had trouble sleeping, you shouldn''t have taken sleeping pills! Look what has happened! Because of you, we lost our grandchild!"


    Ye Mingyu was stunned upon hearing those words. Her child died in her womb? What did her mother-inw mean by saying that she had taken sleeping pills? She had never done that! She was well aware of its effects, and because her baby was an important tool in keeping this marriage, she wouldn''t dare risk anything.


    "Mother, there must be a mistake. I never took any sleeping pills! Why would I take it when I know that it could harm my baby? In fact, I''ve been so lethargic and sleepy these past few days that I didn''t rely on pills to fall asleep!" She said helplessly.


    She, Ye Mingyu, was careless enough to lose her child? How was it even possible?! There was no way she would try to get rid of her own child, at least not intentionally.


    The thought made her halt and her eyes darkened upon realization.


    "Where''s Yize, Mother?" She asked coldly, her expression simmering with rage.


    "He left as soon as he signed the abortion papers." Her mother-inw sneered. "It''s because of you that he was upset."


    The old woman decided to leave, but not without cursing Ye Mingyu repeatedly under her breath. The moment the door shut, Ye Mingyu burst into a round ofughter, looking as if she had truly lost her mind.


    It reminded her of what had transpired in her previous life. Didn''t Su Xiaofei lose her child the same way? Her husband had taken away her child, knowing that it would destroy whatever hold she had on him and his family.


    ''Good. Very good, Han Yize. How dare you kill my child?! You will pay for this!''


    However, what Ye Mingyu hadn''t realized was that Han Yize wouldn''t give her any chance to retaliate. It hadn''t even been twenty-four hours since the surgery when awyer of his came to her hospital room and handed her the divorce papers.


    "Miss Ye, Mr. Han said that there''s no need for you to stay with him anymore as he is willing to give you back your freedom. Of course, he''s willing to give you the alimony you deserve. Mr. Han wishes the best for you even after all of these."


    Ye Mingyu''s eyes stung with tears, but she refused to shed them in front of a stranger. Han Yize wasn''t wasting time to get rid of her, just as Mo Yuchen did to Su Xiaofei before. It was only now did Ye Mingyu realize that she was currently experiencing what Su Xiaofei went through in their past lives.


    She briefly wondered if Han Yize had poisoned her too. However, unlike Su Xiaofei, Ye Mingyu refused to admit defeat so easily. Ye Mingyu swore that she wouldn''t end up in the same pathetic state that woman was in. She and Han Yize were only married for over three months, and he was already set on divorcing her. She wondered what kind of excuse he told his parents to get their approval on this.


    She took the divorce papers and checked the amount of the alimony she would receive if she epted the divorce. Ye Mingyu shook her head and gave the papers back to thewyer.


    "Sorry. Tell my husband that the alimony isn''t enough to keep my mouth shut. Who knows what I could say to the authorities if I made a mistake." She was forced to smile, although everything in her hurts.


    Thewyer''s eyes narrowed because he knew what Ye Mingyu was trying to get out of this.


    "It''s not good to test Mr. Han''s patience, Miss Ye." He reminded her.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "I know, but it''s his fault that he kept me by his side, giving me ess to what I shouldn''t have. What do you think, Mr. Lawyer? Isn''t it proper for me to demand morepensation, considering what he''d done to our child?" She retorted. Even in her weakened state, Ye Mingyu didn''t forget to take advantage of her own husband.


    If Han Yize truly wanted to get rid of her, then he should be ready to give up a huge sum to make sure she wouldn''t sell him off. She knew some of the illegal businesses he operated aside from the pharmaceuticalpany he was running.


    "How much does Miss Ye want then?" Thewyer asked, making the smile on Ye Mingyu''s lips widen.


    "One Billion. No more, no less. And oh, tell him that I need an estate under my name. He won''t hear anything from me and I''ll keep my mouth shut for his sake." She then made a motion as if she was zipping her lips to silence herself andughed.


    Thewyer merely gave her a nod and excused himself, but the look he sent Ye Mingyu was scathing.


    Ye Mingyu chuckled and heaved a deep breath, but flinched as she settled on her bed. She didn''t feel any grief over losing her child, but she couldn''t help but feel disappointed that she hadn''t saved up all the money she spent using the Han family''s resources.


    There was no need for her to grieve over her lost child, because she only intended to use it as leverage against its father. Now that it was gone, Ye Mingyu could only use other devious ways to get more money from this farce of a marriage.


    ¡ª-


    When Han Yize heard Ye Mingyu''s demand, he was blinded with rage that he swiped everything on his table, breaking a couple of things he paid no heed to. He should have known better. Ye Mingyu was a scheming bitch who would do anything to leech on his money. He initially thought that by getting rid of the child in her womb, it would break Ye Mingyu, but he was surprised to know that she didn''t dwell on the death of their child like any other normal mother would do.


    "Annoying bitch!" He roared and hiswyer stepped aside and ignored his outburst. This wasn''t new to him anyway.


    "Miss Ye demanded one billion and an estate under her name for her silence. I think we should give it to her before she starts spouting things about you." Han Yize''swyer asked.


    "If I give her what she wants, who can guarantee that she won''t sell me off to the authorities?" Han Yize scowled, running his hand over his face in frustration. He clearly underestimated Ye Mingyu''s shamelessness. He also knew that giving in to her demands would mean that she would have him under her control and he hated that.


    "But if Ye Mingyu utter a word, it would be easy for the police to find a lead and incriminate you. I don''t think Ye Mingyu has the guts to sell you off anyway, considering that she also tainted her own hands with blood, unless she has found a way to push all the me on you."


    "So you suggest for us to just give in to her demands and let her off the hook?" Han Yize red at the other man.


    Thewyer chuckled darkly and pushed the bridge of his eyesses. A wicked smile spread on his lips. He believed that there was still a way to silence Ye Mingyu for good and avoid future problems caused by her.


    "No. We are merely diverting her attention and let her assume that she has the upper hand. She might be able to get the money she wants from you, but considering her personality, how long do you think it will take before she runs out of money? While she splurges your money, we should ruin her chances of going back to the showbiz industry. We''ll have to cut off any resources and opportunities she has. If anything, you don''t need to do much because there''s someone out there who''s hell bent on destroying her."


    Han Yize somewhat calmed down hearing those words. He sat back on his armchair and looked at his trusted partner.


    "Is it Su Xiaofei? I thought that woman lost her fangs the moment she gave birth to her daughters."


    Thewyer let out augh and shook his head.


    "I''m afraid she''s more dangerous now, like a lioness protecting her cubs, but no. It''s someone who used to be close with Ye Mingyu, but now harbors deep hatred towards her."

 Chapter 642 Same Path, Different Ends (2)

    Su Xiaofei was surprised when she heard that Ye Mingyu and Han Yize were divorcing this early, but she supposed that things were starting to fall apart between the couple. She couldn''t bother to do anything, since she was merely a spectator this time. She didn''t have time to spare on them anyway, because if it wasn''t work that was keeping her busy, it would be her daughters.


    Xiao Yue and Yanyan were growing so fast and it was getting harder and harder to part from them in the mornings. There were times when she and Lu Qingfeng would take turns to bring the twins to work with a heavy set of their own bodyguards. They are turning nine months soon, but they already know how to get whatever they want.


    Lu Qingfengid with his arm draped around his sleeping wife, hisrge hand resting protectively over their twin daughters who refused to sleep in their nursery room that night, both throwing a fit not wanting to be parted from their mother.


    Despite the long day he spent at work, sleep seemed to evade him that night. He was left to admire and watch his little family sleep in peace. He brushed off the few locks away from Su Xiaofei''s face, his heart filled with warmth knowing that she wasn''t going anywhere, she wasn''t leaving him again.


    He had watched her with tenderness on many nights as she tried to bnce hermitment at work while trying to take care of their daughters. His love for her was amplified as he watched her care for them, held them in her arms, sang for them - something Lu Qingfeng regretted not hearing more.


    Su Xiaofei was quite a decent singer in their previous life and although Ye Mingyu was able to beat her when ites to acting, thetter was no match against his wife''s melodious singing. It was the most beautiful sound in the world for him, especially when she and their daughters'' synchronized theirughter as they yed their silly games.


    His ears picked up the wind that blew among the rainy night outside, kept at bay by the sturdy walls of their manor while his family was tuckedfortably under the sheets, the warm glow from their night light illuminating the room.


    Lu Qingfeng remembered so many nights spent alone in Su Xiaofei''s room after she died. The cold and loneliness never bothered him, but as hey next to his sleeping wife and daughters, he couldn''t fathom how his life turned out like this this time.


    Now, he didn''t think he could live without Su Xiaofei and their daughters by his side anymore. Not when he could feel an overwhelming desire to protect them and know the joy he felt in hearing his daughters''ughters and cries. He couldn''t forget the feeling when he held them in his arms for the first time.


    Yet, despite the joy of the arrival of their daughters in their lives and their household, Lu Qingfeng found his wife still having difficulty sleeping, and it wasn''t merely due to the incessant needs of their daughters.


    Since she woke up in the hospital weeks after giving birth to their twins, Su Xiaofei was being haunted by nightmares of the past, wherein she was forced to relive the days when Mo Yuchen forcibly aborted the child in her womb and seeing Yun Qingrong die.


    It puzzled Lu Qingfeng at first because she hadn''t had one of those since their marriage, but now they disturbed her at least twice a week, if not more. Su Xiaofei was already exhausted from managing Bluemedia, now that it was growing, and from caring for their twin daughters. He feared that if her nightmares persisted, it would affect her health sooner orter.


    Su Xiaofei started to whimper beneath his arm, whimpering restlessly as she broke into a cold sweat. Lu Qingfeng had no doubt that she was having another episode of her nightmares and he felt lost not being able to do anything to help her. He removed his hand from the twins and gently shook Su Xiaofei''s shoulder, hoping that she would wake up from her nightmare.


    "Feifei... Feifei darling, please wake up." He whispered close to her ear, hoping not to wake up their daughters.


    Su Xiaofei immediately snapped her eyes open and as soon as she saw his face, relief washed through her. She propped herself up and checked on their daughters. Xiao Yue and Yanyan were both sleeping soundly, snuggled up together just as they had been in her womb before.


    "Sorry. I didn''t think I''d have a nightmare tonight." She murmured her apology.


    "Don''t apologize, Feifei. It''s not like anyone could predict when nightmarese and go." Lu Qingfeng said, cing a gentle kiss on her temple.


    Relieved that their daughters were safe, Su Xiaofeiid back down and turned to face her husband. Lu Qingfeng immediately pressed her against his chest and buried his nose on her crown, while she wrapped her arms around him. He held her close and gently ran his fingers through her hair, attempting to calm her down.


    "That''s already the third time this week." Lu Qingfeng said quietly. "Are you sure you don''t want to get checked for it? I''m not sure why you are having these nightmares again."<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "I think it was triggered when I gave birth to our girls." Su Xiaofei said, "and it persisted when I learned about what happened to Ye Mingyu recently."


    Lu Qingfeng released her to look at her face.


    "What does it have to do with that woman? Is she threatening you again?" His eyes narrowed dangerously.


    "No. No." Su Xiaofei smiled at him and rubbed his chest with her palms. Her husband had already shed all his childlike features, making him more appealing in her eyes.


    "Ye Mingyu has just lost her baby. Han Yize had induced her miscarriage."


    Lu Qingfeng stilled at that. No matter how bad a tyrant he was in his previous life, he had never harmed innocent children.


    "But that''s not all. Han Yize asked the doctors to remove her uterus so Ye Mingyu cannot bear another child from now on without her knowing."


    Following her line of thoughts, Lu Qingfeng understood then what his wife could be thinking.


    "So you wondered if Mo Yuchen had done the same thing to you in the past?"


    "I... I don''t know." She admitted. "Do you think Mo Yuchen... do you think he..."


    "No." Lu Qingfeng didn''t allow her to finish her sentence. "In his own twisted way, I know Mo Yuchen has feelings for you." He then grimaced at the thought.


    "I see." Su Xiaofei would have teased her husband, looking as if he had downed a jar of vinegar, but she knew this wasn''t the right time for it. "I guess motherhood is provoking the unwanted memories I''ve been trying not to remember. A part of me is afraid that when I wake up, our girls won''t be here. I have to go to their nursery room every morning to convince myself that I haven''t lost them too."


    Lu Qingfeng knew of it. For others, it might have looked like she was merely doting on their daughters, but he had seen the way she looked at their children. Oddly, there was no guilt in her eyes anymore, and he could only see relief with a mix of longing for something he didn''t know. He could only assure her that their daughters would be safe.


    Lu Qingfeng lowered his head to hers and kissed her slowly. Their lips taking their time, hands pulling each other close until they were flushed against each other. His wife moaned softly into their kiss. Even now that they were married with two children, his desire for her didn''t waver one bit.


    Since their girls were born, he and Su Xiaofei rarely had time to themselves and he hadn''t dared to make love with her for months, worried that she hadn''t fully recovered yet. They could only steal kisses and make out like this, which only left him in disappointment.


    When they parted, both were heaving for breath. Lu Qingfeng pressed his forehead against hers and cupped her face. He really hated it whenever she cried because of Mo Yuchen or Ye Mingyu. Can''t those two drop dead on the ground somewhere and leave his Feifei alone?


    "As long as I''m here, no one will take away our daughters. I will take care of you and protect you with everything I have until myst breath. Nothing can break us apart and no matter how many lifetimes I live, with memories intact or not, I will always find you and you''ll find your way back into my arms."


    Su Xiaofei shut her eyes, attempting to cease her tears, but some managed to roll down her cheeks. Lu Qingfeng immediately kissed them away and murmured words tofort her. Indeed, she was lucky to have Lu Qingfeng by her side.

 Chapter 643 My Sweet Little Moon (1)

    For the following months, Ye Mingyu''s name didn''t even cross Su Xiaofei''s mind as she was upied with work and a number of meetings. Lu Qingfeng wasn''t doing any better because now that his grandfather had stepped down from their massive business empire and had handed the authority to him, more work was piling up daily.


    It was a good thing that her mother, Yun Qingrong, and his grandfather asionally offered a hand to help them look after their twins while the couple were busy at work. Su Xiaofei was d that her mother was recovering well, and there were no signs of cancer rpse. Yun Qingrong had officially retired, leaving the managementpletely to her daughter.


    Su Xiaofei had just finished a conference meeting and returned to her office when she found a bouquet of flowers on her table. A small smile appeared on her lips as she picked up the handwritten card that simply read: Happy birthday, dearest.


    Her husband had never once forgotten about her birthday, and if anything, Lu Qingfeng was more excited to celebrate her birthday than she was. She had heard from Zhang Ling that he asked his assistant to clear his schedule for the whole day, intending to spend time with their girls while Su Xiaofei promised to return home early.


    "President Su, the car is ready." Zhang Lan''s voice took Su Xiaofei''s attention.


    "You and Lingling can take an early off today." She replied. "Nine and his team will take over tonight and this weekend."


    Meanwhile, back at home, footsteps could be heard along the side of the garden as Lu Qingfeng walked with his youngest daughterfortably in his arms. The little girl had been restless and wasn''t able to fall asleep, unlike her elder twin sister. Lu Qingfeng had decided to take her out for a moment, not wanting his other daughter to wake up from her afternoon nap.


    Xiao Yue and Yanyan had recently turned one year old and the more time passed, the more they could see the difference between the twins. The twins were fraternal, so Lu Qingfeng and Su Xiaofei''s family didn''t need to wonder who was who between them.


    "What''s wrong Yanyan?" He murmured. "Are you feeling ufortable somewhere? Is your tooth bothering you again?"


    Xiao Yue was the first one to start teething and it had been a nightmare seeing their daughter feeling difort and crying non stop because of it. A few weekster, Yanyan followed, but this time Lu Qingfeng and Su Xiaofei knew what to do to help their daughters to relieve the pain on their gums.


    Lu Qingfeng didn''t want to admit it, but he was initially hesitant and nervous to hold their daughters because despite him living three lifetimes and dying in his forties in his previous life, he didn''t have much firsthand experience when ites to newborn infants.


    However, he decided to educate himself in fatherhood and help his wife with child rearing. He learned how to care for their girls, feed them, change them and set them down for their sleep whenever he came home after work hours. Despite the work he helped with, it was still Su Xiaofei who did most of the work for their babies, making sure the two knew that they were both loved by their parents.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    The sudden cooing from his daughter had his dark eyes darting down to Yanyan''s eyes, which were almost the same as his. His wife once said that their youngest was starting to look more and more like him, which Lu Qingfeng found amusing and endearing at the same time. Meanwhile, Xiao Yue''s hair that was starting to curl on its ends and her sweet smile were obviously inherited from her mother.


    Yanyan''s hands reached out to the falling leaf the wind had carried up from the ground, wanting to catch one that was still floating mid air behind her father. Her eyes teared up when the leaf fell out of her reach until it hit the ground. Su Xiaofei''s warning about their babies being at the age where they would willingly put objects into their mouths crossed his mind.


    "That''s not good for chewing, little one. I''ll get you something much better than that." He said, kissing his daughter''s cheek. "Mommy''sing home soon and once your sister wakes up, I''ll take you out for dinner."


    The little girl immediately ceased her crying, much to Lu Qingfeng''s surprise. Don''t most babies throw a fit when adults don''t easily yield to their request? He supposed his daughter was able tomunicate with them and could easily understand what he just said.


    "Or maybe it''s because I mentioned your mommy?" He chuckled, a teasing smile yed on his lips. "You really do love Mommy, eh? Don''t worry, little one. You''re not alone. Daddy has waited for a very long time just to be with her."


    He tapped her small nose and couldn''t stop himself from smiling. Their daughters'' smiles andughter were so infectious that even he found himself smiling more these days.


    Lu Qingfeng had no doubt that no one would be able to believe what he just said. Their rebirth was a secret; he and Su Xiaofei decided to keep it a secret. Not that others would believe what they''ve lived through and experienced.


    "Let''s go back shall we? Mommy wouldn''t be pleased if you caught a cold after being outside for too long." He said, starting to tread back to the main house.


    Yanyan babbled away. Her tiny hands grabbed her father''s sweatshirt and she giggled lightly. Lu Qingfeng was really d that their family was able to ovee the problem during their gestation. The twins spent several weeks in the hospital before he and Su Xiaofei could bring them home. He didn''t think he could be happier, now that their family of four wasplete.


    When they arrived at the nursery room, Lu Qingfeng''s smile widened seeing that his wife had returned home, cradling their eldest in her arms happily.

 Chapter 644 My Sweet Little Moon (2)

    It felt like it had been a long time since Su Xiaofei had a break from work. She hadn''t been willing to take three days off work, but Lu Qingfeng rarely had time off like this too. With the help of Zhang Ling, Su Xiaofei managed to push back some of hermitments and pulled up some meetings ahead to reduce the workload that would await her return.


    Su Xiaofei was watching television as her twins crawled on their y mat on the floor and Lu Qingfeng took an emergency phone call from work outside. It was their first day off, but she couldn''t keep her thoughts away from work.


    Xiao Yue crawled up to herp and tugged on her long hair, trying to get her attention.


    "What do you want, my sweet little moon?" Su Xiaofei picked up her eldest daughter and gave Xiao Yue a kiss on both cheeks, earning a loud giggle from the child.


    Noticing that she was being left out, Yanyan ignored the toy blocks she was ying with earlier and went to her mother in a hurry. Yanyan let out a whimper seeing her sister having a good time with their mother.


    Lu Qingfeng came back and witnessed this scene before him. He chuckled and picked up Yanyan from the ground.


    "Up, up, up! Look! Our Yanyan is so high!"


    Su Xiaofei lowered Xiao Yue on herp and nced towards her husband and younger daughter. Her lips curled into a smile, seeing theughing child who let out a loud squeal as she was lifted to the air by Lu Qingfeng.


    "Wanna go up again, Yanyan?" He asked their daughter with a warm smile on his face, the child continued tough with glee.


    Xiao Yue pulled herself back on her feet and went to her father, seeing how her sister enjoyed ying with him.


    "Darling, someone''s waiting for her turn. You won''t want her to think you''re ying favorites." Su Xiaofei told her husband.


    Lu Qingfeng looked down and saw that Xiao Yue was waiting for him with apprehension. Seeing that he cannot ignore her, he gently lowered Yanyan to the ground and lifted their eldest up in the air, the room filling withughter for the second time.


    Su Xiaofei watched them in silence, allowing Yanyan to scoot next to her. For the past months, their happiness had been immeasurable ever since the arrival of their girls. They tried to witness their many milestones, from talking to sitting up to crawling, no matter how busy they were.


    Still, seeing Lu Qingfeng finally smiling and content made her heart swell with happiness. Though it took them a long time to be together because of her indecisiveness and poor choices, she was d that things got better.


    Her phone suddenly buzzed, startling her. She picked it up and saw Feng Xue''er name. That woman had been calling her every day, sometimes multiple times a day and she''d ignored her every time. Su Xiaofei believed that she didn''t have anything to say to Feng Xue''er but knew that this would have to stop.


    Maybe she should finally hear what Feng Xue''er wanted to tell her. If she was calling this often, maybe it was about something important.


    "Yes?" Su Xiaofei asked, giving her husband an apologetic smile as she left the twins with him.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Su Xiaofei, thank goodness you picked up the phone!" Feng Xue''er sounded slightly frazzled. Surprising, given that they never had been on friendly terms in the past.


    "What do you want?"


    "I was wondering if we could meet."


    "Sorry, no time." Su Xiaofei immediately turned down Feng Xue''er''s invitation. It had been hard for her and Lu Qingfeng to get some free time to spend with their children and she would rather not waste it.


    "I really wanted to tell you this personally, but¡­" Feng Xue''er sighed. "I''m really sorry for the things I have done to you in the past. I have said callous remarks without considering what you''ll feel. It''s just¡­ it''s just that I kinda envy you."


    Su Xiaofei scoffed at that. She didn''t find anything that Feng Xue''er should be jealous about. Her parents were mostly absent in her life and she tried to hide her sadness by building walls around her.


    "I know you can''t forgive me and I understand that. I''m also aware that this apology is toote, but I just want you to know that I''ll try to fix things. The evidence that will incriminate Ye Mingyu has already been handed to the authorities. I''m just giving you a heads up, just in case Ye Mingyu tries to do something again and drag you to the mud with her."


    Feng Xue''er sounded determined to make things right, but did Su Xiaofei need her apology? Not really. While it''s true that Feng Xue''er was one of the key people who made her life miserable in her previous life, most of the bad things that happened to her were because of her own doing.


    However, something cold and hard inside her thawed and loosened.


    "Understood." She replied. "Be careful in your fight with Ye Mingyu. Make sure to put that woman in jail before she could hurt another person."


    "I''ll see you around then."


    Su Xiaofei didn''t reply and hung up. It was then she found Lu Qingfeng staring at her worriedly.


    "Is everything alright?" He asked while holding Xiao Yue in one arm.


    "Yes. I was just surprised by Feng Xue''er''s apology. Do you think we could have been friends if Ye Mingyu didn''t use her and feed her lies about me?"


    Lu Qingfeng shrugged. "How would I know? But from the looks of it, you and Feng Xue''er have some simrities, like your tenacity to prove you are right and your quick temper. It''s not toote to mend things between the two of you anyway. I''m sure Feng Xue''er would love to have a friend who wouldn''t think twice to scold her when she needed one."

 Chapter 645 Removing Pretenses (1)

    The news of Ye Mingyu''s involvement in Cai Lin''s death spread like wildfire. With the evidence provided by Feng Xue''er, the police were quick to apprehend Ye Mingyu to make her statement. Fans online went wild and had been talking about it nonstop. Some of them even took this chance to drag Ye Mingyu''s name to the mud and criticize her harshly.


    The issue only intensified when an intimate video of Ye Mingyu with a stranger had been leaked online and it seemed that this man was a married one and not Han Zijun, her ex-husband.


    Su Xiaofei wasn''t surprised since she had already been notified by Feng Xue''er before it happened. She could already guess what would happen next. She put away her phone and went to her car to go to her next appointment.


    In her previous life, her reputation had been ruined because of false usations thrown towards her. It wasn''t her obsession with Mo Yuchen that ruined her future, but the public''s scrutiny against her.


    Now, the tables had been turned and the one being detested by the public was Ye Mingyu while she was living a happy life with her family.


    Zhang Ling received some emails, asking for Su Xiaofei''s statement orment about Ye Mingyu''s recent predicament.


    "Madam, they are asking if you want to say a word about Ye Mingyu¡­" She told Su Xiaofei, who was busy reading a script, in the backseat of the sedan that Zhang Lan was driving.


    "What does it have to do with me?" Su Xiaofei chuckled. "They only remember that she''s somewhat rted to me when Ye Mingyu was in trouble."


    Zhang Lan scoffed and shook her head, clearly agreeing with their mistress. These reporters were only interested in adding fuel to the fire and wanted to drag Su Xiaofei''s name into the issue.


    If it was before, Su Xiaofei would be sure to humiliate Ye Mingyu further and make her life miserable, but now, it seems that neither Ye Mingyu nor Mo Yuchen exist in her world, and she has somewhat forgotten about them.


    Although she was able to secure a share from Golden Star Entertainment, the person who was giving Mo Yuchen a great headache these days wasn''t her, but his younger half-brother, Mo Yuan, who recently returned from overseas to fight for his inheritance, much to Old Madam Mo''s chagrin.


    Su Xiaofei had been pretty idle these days as most of the major projects theyunched had been going smoothly. With their recent cooperation with Top Tier Entertainment, the TV series Yun Qingrong had been nning for a decade had be a reality.


    Yun Qingrong couldn''t believe that her daughter had managed to make one of her dreamse true. The script she wrote needed a massive amount of funds because it was a high-fantasy romance drama.


    Who would have thought that her daughter would be able to make Bluemedia so sessful that Su Xiaofei was able to make this dreame true? With Lu Jingli''s help, Su Xiaofei made it possible.


    Now, it was the highest grossing TV series in the country, featuring Qin Muyao and another rising actress from Top Tier Entertainment.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Su Xiaofei smiled contently. Others could only see her sess, but not the painful sacrifices she had to endure just to prove to everyone that she didn''t need to rely on her mother or her husband to make Bluemedia flourish.


    She had always known that she wasn''t as smart as the other businessmen and could mostly rely on what she knew in her previous life. However, with so many changes since her rebirth, Su Xiaofei needed to work harder than anyone else. Even so, she couldn''t help but feel distressed knowing that she would spend less time with her daughters and husband.


    Now, she had more respect for those mothers who were able to bnce their work and personal life, because it would never be easy. While it''s true that their family''s help had greatly lessened the burden on her and Lu Qingfeng, they both knew that their girls needed them, especially at their young age.


    When she arrived home, she was surprised to see her father, Qiao Fengying, ying with her daughter with a smile on his face.


    "You two are growing up too fast." He told Xiao Yue as he brought the girl in his arms. "Slow down will you, darlings? Granddad isn''t satisfied with pampering you just yet."


    Qiao Yuhanughed as he handed a cookie for Yanyan to munch.


    "Dad, I thought you said that you aren''t good with children." He grinned.


    "Hey, your sister was taken away from me before I could have a chance to know her and learn to be a father. There''s no manual to follow on bing a father. You think your brother-inw was prepared too when these two little buns arrived?" Qiao Fengying said in return.


    Meanwhile, Lu Qingfeng who was apanying them, smiled and ced down the refreshment and snacks for Qiao Fengying and their twins. He lifted his gaze and smiled widely when he saw Su Xiaofei arrive.


    "Mommy''s finally here now." He told the twins.


    As if on cue, the little girls scampered to their feet and rushed towards their mother with glee.


    "How are my adorable babies? You aren''t giving Granddad a hard time, right?" Su Xiaofei asked before receiving sloppy and wet kisses from her daughters on each side of her cheeks.


    "Nah, Fei Jie. It''s Dad who didn''t have the heart to part with them yet. He''s scheduled for a two-week business trip with Mom overseas, so we dropped by to see Xiao Yue and Yanyan. Thank goodness Brother Feng was here when we came unannounced. I told him he should give you a call first beforeing here." Her brother replied.


    Qiao Yuhan, now in his early teens, looked dashing. He was starting to look like the Qiao Yuhan Su Xiaofei had met for the first time in the past, though he looked happier now.

 Chapter 646 Removing Pretenses (2)

    After her short married life with Han Yize and being cklisted by Top Tier Entertainment for breaking several of her contracts and endorsement, Ye Mingyu lived splendidly for the first few months. She spent the alimony money she received from Han Zijun and partied all night. She had thought that things were going well for her, not until the police came to her door and questioned her about Cai Lin''s death.


    Now that the news was out, everyone was hounding and criticizing her fiercely, the same way they did to Su Xiaofei when she set thetter up to bully her in public. Though Ye Mingyu liked being the center of everyone''s attention, she couldn''t stand being mocked and ridiculed by anyone. She detested it, especially those eyes that ridiculed her when she and her mother were as poor as a church mouse with nothing to eat.


    Herwyers couldn''t bail her out and Ye Mingyu found herself spending time in a detention cell. It didn''t matter if she had money, she didn''t have any connections she could use to escape this predicament.


    Ye Mingyu was waiting for herwyer''s return when the prison guard came and called her attention.


    "You have a visitor." He said with displeasure, as if he wasn''t pleased to be the one delivering her the news.


    "Who?" Ye Mingyu rose a slender brow. Who would want to see her right now?


    It can''t possibly be her ex-husband, right? She hadn''t seen Han Zijun since their divorce was finalized. With no other choice, Ye Mingyu followed the guard who brought her to the visitation area. As soon as she saw who was waiting for her, her face scrunched into a deep scowl.


    Feng Xue''er.


    ''What is this dumb woman doing here?'' Ye Mingyu thought. Perhaps Feng Xue''er came to confront her to find out if she was really involved in Cai Lin''s death. However, once she was seated, she could clearly see the expression of the other woman on the other side of the ss wall that was separating them.


    Feng Xue''er''s eyes were red, as if she had cried before she came to meet Ye Mingyu. She had this determined look on her face that Ye Mingyu couldn''tprehend.


    "I knew you''re the one who killed him, but how could you?" She sneered at her, eyes burning with hatred as she looked at Ye Mingyu. "Cai Lin really did love you."


    "Xue''er, what are you talking about?" Ye Mingyu feigned innocence, allowing a few tears to roll down her cheeks. "I''m being framed here, Xue''er. I don''t know who set me up for this, but I did nothing wrong!"


    Feng Xue''er''s eyes darkened. If there was no ss between them, she would have pounced on Ye Mingyu already and tear off her hair from her scalp.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "The person who put you behind the bars is none other than me." She spat venomously, liking how Ye Mingyu was stunned into silence, staring at her with widened eyes.


    "What? You''re easily ditching your pitiful acting now? Cai Lin was poisoned to death and there wasn''t anyone around him vicious enough to do it but you! How could he know or suspect that you were trying to kill him?" Feng Xue''er chuckled, but her tone sounded like she was about to break down.


    "It didn''t matter that he lost his family''s fortune. He worked hard and provided for you the whole time you were overseas, away from here. But why? Why would you do that to him? Cai Lin was willing to move heaven and earth just for you, but how did you repay him?"


    "How is it my fault?" Ye Mingyu didn''t bother to keep up her sweet, innocent appearance now. "I never ask him to do all of those anyway. He willingly did that on his own ord, no matter how I tried to persuade him to forget about me and move on. You should know him better, Feng Xue''er! Cai Lin had lost his mind after his family''s downfall!"


    Of course, Feng Xue''er knew that. She knew that Cai Lin had dramatically changed after his family lost everything and he fell from grace. He didn''t have the face to see anyone, but he couldn''t easily give up on Ye Mingyu too.


    "It still isn''t enough reason for you to kill him, Ye Mingyu." This time, Feng Xue''er didn''t bother to stop her tears from flowing.


    "You are such an idiot." Ye Mingyu sneered back. "You''re still clinging on to the person who never bothered to acknowledge you even after his death? I haven''t seen nor met anyone as foolish as you."


    Feng Xue''er had no words to refute any of that, because she knew what Ye Mingyu said was right. If only she could teach her heart how to unlove a person, but this traitorous heart of hers won''t even budge. Perhaps now that Cai Lin was dead and the person behind it was in prison, Feng Xue''er would finally be able to ept this closure and start anew in her life.


    "I''ll see to it that you would spend the rest of your life behind the bars. You better be prepared to burn all that money you got from your ex-husband," were Feng Xue''er''s parting words before turning her back on Ye Mingyu.


    She could hear Ye Mingyu cursing her behind her back but she ignored her. Once she stepped out of the room, her whole body trembled as if she lost her strength. A pair of arms held her, keeping her from falling on the cold floor.


    When Feng Xue''er lifted her gaze, she saw that it was Su Xiaofei. She broke down in tears and clung to Su Xiaofei for support. She was thest person Feng Xue''er expected to see right now, but it didn''t matter anymore. She didn''t care anymore.


    After all this time, she could finally grieve over Cai Lin''s death and allow herself to heal from this nightmare.

 Chapter 647 Goodbye, Dear Father (1)

    Su Haoran hadn''t seen the world outside the detention center he''d been in for the past several years. He had no idea what was happening outside as he was forced to live his life within the four corners of his cell every single day.


    If it wasn''t for that wretched Su Xiaofei ruining his ns, he wouldn''t be wasting his time here. His Ye Xing had died after three years after he was put behind bars, and his ungrateful daughter Ye Mingyu had not shown herself for over a year now.


    He had no idea that his own daughter was also being held in a police station for murdering someone. Unlike him, who was sentenced to a lifetime in jail, Ye Mingyu was facing the possibility of receiving capital punishment for her offense.


    Su Haoran rolled on his side and tried to catch some sleep. Because of the incident and a riot that happenedst night, he didn''t manage to get any sleep and had been awake for the past forty-eight hours. He was unwilling to get along with his fellow inmates and was on bad terms with some of them.


    He was born in a rural province up north and his parents were very poor farmers. Despite this, his parents hoped that he would be able to improve his quality of life by getting a decent education and getting a job in the highly urbanized cities of the country.


    He studied hard and was able to secure a schrship from a high ranking state university. Su Haoran took pride in the fact that he was able to get first ce every year. Later on, once he graduated, he met the love of his life.


    Ye Xing was a shop attendant at the nearby boutique in his neighborhood. The two of them fell madly in love with each other and decided to move in together. However, around that time, he met Yun Qingrong in the samepany he was working for.


    Compared to Ye Xing, Yun Qingrong had the elegance and temperament of a young miss, as expected from a wealthy family. Not only was Yun Qingrong pleasing to his eyes, she was also kind and easy to please. So it wasn''t a wonder why Su Haoran became attracted to her the more time he spent with her. However, he couldn''t easily let go of Ye Xing.


    Su Haoran decided to pursue Yun Qingrong in order to climb thedder faster with her help, while leaving Ye Xing oblivious of his affair. When Yun Qingrong''s feelings for him deepened, it was only then he decided to break up with Ye Xing, not knowing that she was pregnant with his child. His greed to be rted and part of the prestigious Yun family blinded him and he didn''t look back.


    However, who would have known that instead of living in leisure after marrying Yun Qingrong, Su Haoran was denied the acknowledgement he craved from his inws? He initially thought that the Yun family was looking down on him because of his simple background, not knowing that his wife''s family could see past his pretense and was aware of his motive.


    It didn''t take long before Yun Qingrong started her own entertainment agency, Bluemedia. Everyone in his hometown thought that because he was the husband of the president of this agency, Su Haoran had be a big shot, but what they didn''t know was that Yun Qingrong had never allowed him to hold a huge amount of money. She didn''t trust him to manage their finances whether it was at Bluemedia or at home.


    Sure, Yun Qingrong made sure he was nevercking when ites to food, clothing and basic necessities, but she had never willingly given him money to spend on other things. This was why Su Haoran tried to get his hands on Bluemedia''s projects, taking the chance to embezzle some of thepany''s funds and trying to go on as many business trips as he could without Yun Qingrong suspecting him.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Then, after over a year of being married to her and still childless, they both got themselves checked, only to find out that his wife had trouble conceiving. Su Haoran was livid. He thought that Yun Qingrong had deprived him of the things he deserved as her husband. She wouldn''t give him money, now she couldn''t even give him a child?


    Their rtionship then took a worse turn when Yun Qingrong came home with a baby girl she had came upon from an orphanage and insisted that they should adopt the girl and raise her as their own. Su Haoran was obviously against it, but seeing that Yun Qingrong decided to take the infant as her daughter, he conceded and allowed his wife to process the adoption.


    The girl his wife adopted was quite a beauty even in her young age. However, because she was spoiled rotten by Yun Qingrong, the girl developed a haughty and arrogant personality growing up. Furthermore, this girl had never treated him with respect as her father and would only listen to Yun Qingrong.


    Even the young boy who followed her around wouldn''t even pay him a nce nor bother to greet him. He would only sit silently next to his adopted daughter, listening to whatever she was bbering about.


    A guard came to his cell and tapped the rails to get his attention.


    "Su Haoran, you have a visitor." The man said with a huff.


    Su Haoran immediately sat up and ran a hand over his face.


    "Having such a beautiful daughter, she must be really unlucky to have a father like you."


    The fury in Su Haoran''s heart was ignited. What unlucky? The one who was unfortunate here was none other than him! That useless daughter of his couldn''t even check whether he was still alive here in the detention center or not and only cared about herself!


    However, the moment he saw the face of his visitor, his eyes narrowed in suspicion.

 Chapter 648 Goodbye, Dear Father (2)

    "What are you doing here?" He sneered as he looked at his ex-wife''s adopted daughter. Su Haoran couldn''t think of a reason for Su Xiaofei to be here.


    Su Xiaofei merely raised a slender brow at him and crossed her arms arrogantly.


    "I came to see you. Hasn''t it been years, Father?" She spat thest word in a ridiculing tone. "Aren''t you d that you received a visit from me, considering Ye Mingyu hasn''t bothered toe and see you for awhile now?"


    Su Haoran never liked this woman, even when she was younger. He hated the way she looked at him with those dark, sinister eyes, as if she could see past his facade. If it wasn''t for this woman, he didn''t think he would end up in this ce.


    "I came here to deliver the news, considering no one bothered toe and inform you about what''s happening outside."


    Su Haoranughed at that. Although he was curious, he would never admit it to Su Xiaofei''s face.


    "What could have possibly happened for you toe all the way here just to see me? Is your mother dead?" He asked with a mocking tone.


    Su Xiaofei''s eyes immediately darkened and turned cold upon his words and Su Haoran wondered if he was imagining it.


    "Fortunately, no." She replied. "My mother will surely live for a very long time, but the same couldn''t be said about your dear daughter, Ye Mingyu."


    He pounced forward, hitting the ss wall that separated them with clenched fists, eyes ring daggers at Su Xiaofei.


    "Su Xiaofei! What have you done this time?!"


    "Eh? It''s not me. I did nothing to her, mind you. Ye Mingyu is the one who killed one of her secret lovers. What does it have to do with me? It''s not like I was the one who told her to do it to Cai Lin." Su Xiaofei said in defense. A smile then bloomed on her beautiful face. "Aren''t you proud of her? She''s following in her daddy''s footsteps."


    "I''m not a murderer." Su Haoran sneered, but he chose to divert his gaze elsewhere and didn''t dare to meet Su Xiaofei''s eyes.


    "But you did attempt on my Mama''s life, right? You think I didn''t know what you were trying to do when you took Ye Xing and Ye Mingyu to live under one of my mother''s estates?"


    Su Haoran''s eyes widened at that, surprised that Su Xiaofei knew what he was attempting to do before Yun Qingrong divorced him. He had no words to refute what Su Xiaofei had just said.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Cat bite your tongue now?" Su Xiaofei''s eyes glimmered with mischief. "Ye Mingyu is really your child, seeing that she was harboring such ill intent towards other people." She snickered.


    "Get out! Leave me alone! Did youe here to rub this in my face?! Didn''t you get what you wanted when you forced your mother to divorce me?! You ungrateful child! Your birth parents must have been so disappointed that they decided to abandon you in the orphanage!"


    Instead of seeing Su Xiaofei being offended by his words, Su Haoran was shocked when the woman in front of him burst into a round ofughter, as if she had just heard a joke.


    "My, my. I would love to hear Dad''s opinion once I told him what you''ve said today. My birth father is quite a big shot, you see. Ever heard of the name Qiao Fengying? He''s my real father. As for the woman who gave birth to me, well, you can put the me on her instead. If she hadn''t left me in that orphanage, Mama wouldn''t have seen me and adopted me. If you think I''m after my Mama''s fortune like you, then you are wrong."


    Su Haoran''s form ckened on his seat. Qiao Fengying. He had heard of that name before. Wasn''t that man considered as one of the self-made billionaires these days? So the girl his ex-wife adopted was destined to be a big miss of a prestigious family.


    "You didn''te here just to deliver the news to me, right? You wouldn''t have bothered to see me unless there''s something you wanted."


    Su Xiaofei''s eyes darkened. The memory of her pitiful, tragic end in her previous life shed in her mind. While she was grieving over Yun Qingrong''s sudden death, Su Haoran and his lover had been spending her mother''s money as if it was theirs and had livedvishly. Just remembering how heartbroken her mother was before her death was enough to make Su Xiaofei''s blood boil with anger.


    "I just want to see for myself how pitiful you would be, now that you''ve lost everything." She said with a straight face. Her eyes seemed like they were harboring a raging storm that Su Haoran couldn''t understand.


    She had lost everything in the past and she would make sure to return the favor to those who caused her misery. Su Xiaofei might not be able to torture them herself, but she could stil find a way to make their lives miserable. She knew that by seeking revenge, she needed to prepare two coffins. One was for her enemy and the other one was for herself. One wrong move and she would end up on the losing end again.


    However, she had more reasons to make sure she wouldn''t fail. Not only because she had a family to protect, but because she made a promise to make sure Lu Qingfeng would be happy in this lifetime.


    "There''s no way your daughter would be able to avoid capital punishment for what she had done. However, considering that she made a lot of enemies, I wonder if the jury''s decision would end up terminating her life first."


    She rose from her seat and gave Su Haoran a cold, piercing look.


    "Goodbye, Father. This would be thest time I''ll see you. Don''t worry, I''ll make sure to send off your daughter once it''s time on your behalf."

 Chapter 649 Lost Forever (1)

    Mo Yuchen had enough of hearing theints from his grandmother. He knew well that the old woman was only trying to protect her from his father''s second family, but he disliked how his grandmother tried to dictate how he should live his life. It didn''t matter what lifetime he was living, because she remained the same.


    He tugged on his tie in frustration and walked out of the family room of their estate, unwilling to stay a minute longer with his family. Now that Mo Yuan had returned, it only made thingsplicated and harder at Golden Star. He took his car keys and went out, despite the fact that snow had started falling that afternoon.


    He drove aimlessly around Qiying City, not knowing where he was going. Big snowkes continued to fall over the city. It was after working hours, so he wasn''t surprised that there were a lot of people rushing to get to the public transport.


    As Mo Yuchen waited for the traffic light to turn green, he watched as several couples cross the road hand in hand. Then his eyes caught a pair of mother and son, happily striding along the pedestalne, the young boy grinning widely at his mother.


    He wondered if things didn''t go bad between him and Su Xiaofei in his previous life, would she smile brightly as this mother while she was holding their own child?


    Mo Yuchen forced to tear his gaze away from the pair. He deeply regretted what he''d done, but he didn''t think he would be able to live if Su Xiaofei ended up dead because of their child. He didn''t have any other option back then. It was either he chose Su Xiaofei and lost the child, or lost them both altogether.


    ''You lost both of them in the end.'' He mocked himself. Mo Yuchen wondered what Lu Qingfeng would do if the young man was in his shoes.


    He knew he shouldn''t be thinking of Su Xiaofei now. She was someone he couldn''t reach, no matter how hard he tried to catch up with her.


    Was she doing well? Was Lu Qingfeng treating her better?


    What about him? Was he doing better without her and Ye Mingyu?


    Mo Yuchen supposed that his life was tolerable nowpared to the one he had in the past. He was able to think clearly without worrying about Ye Mingyu breathing down his neck.


    Even though he didn''t marry Su Xiaofei and take over Bluemedia ording to his grandmother''s n, Golden Star was still thriving well. It only proved that he didn''t really need to rely on Bluemedia''s resources to be able to stabilize theirpany and save it from bankruptcy.


    Initially, he thought that by being reborn, it would mean that he would have a chance to rectify his mistakes and treat Su Xiaofei better. He wanted to propose to her, make her his wife and hold on to her hand forever.


    However, he returned to the past toote. Late to the point of no return. She became Lu Qingfeng''s wife and was now a mother of two beautiful girls.


    Seeing the mother and son pair, Mo Yuchen then knew where he should go. He stopped to buy a beautiful bouquet of flowers and ced it on the passenger seat of his car before resuming his driving.


    The snowfall was heavier now and the winds were stronger, so he drove cautiously. An hourter, he arrived at a cemetery that was being nketed by the snow. He alighted from his car and took the bouquet of flowers he bought with him. He then noticed that another ck car was parked nearby and he surmised that someone hade to pay a visit to their deceased loved ones.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    As he made his way to the great tree situated at the deeper part of the cemetery, Mo Yuchen''s brows drew together in confusion. He spotted a familiar man, dressed in a ck turtleneck and dress pants with a thick khaki overcoat protecting him from cold weather. The man was staring up nkly at the tree, deep in his own thoughts.


    When the man turned to face him, noticing his presence, Mo Yuchen''s jaws hardened.


    "Lu Qingfeng." He said, eyes narrowing in suspicion. "What are you doing here?"


    Mo Yuchen didn''t understand why his rival was here. It couldn''t be a coincidence that Su Xiaofei''s husband knew of this special ce. This was where Mo Yuchen had ced the remains of the unborn child he''d taken from Su Xiaofei. Although she didn''t conceive their child in this lifetime, it didn''t mean that the child didn''t exist for Mo Yuchen.


    "To pay respects and uphold the promise I made." Lu Qingfeng replied, his dark eyes gauging Mo Yuchen in return.


    "You look surprisingly well." Lu Qingfeng said, returning his gaze back to the great tree in front of them.


    Mo Yuchen said nothing and ced the bouquet of flowers at the root of the tree and stood in silence. What was there to say anyway? He and Lu Qingfeng never got along even in his previous life.


    Perhaps it was for the fact that he knew that this young man was harboring feelings towards Su Xiaofei that he couldn''t stand Lu Qingfeng''s presence. A part of him knew that if given a chance, Lu Qingfeng would sweep Su Xiaofei off her feet and pursue her until she couldn''t deny him anymore.


    His assumptions turned out to be correct because Lu Qingfeng managed to win her heart this time and had married her as soon as he got the chance. Oddly, Mo Yuchen somewhat felt relieved that Su Xiaofei married her childhood friend instead of him.


    Perhaps, deep down, Mo Yuchen knew that no matter what he felt for her, his guilt was stronger than his love.


    "How''s Feifei?" He asked after a long silence between them.


    Lu Qingfeng shot him a look.


    "Better than ever."


    "Be good to her or else¡ª"


    "You don''t have to tell me how to treat my wife. We are nothing alike." Lu Qingfeng cut him off.

 Chapter 650 Lost Forever (2)

    Mo Yuchen grimaced, but didn''t say more, knowing what Lu Qingfeng said was right. Su Xiaofei deserved to be happy and he could see now that this young man was able to make her happy the way he, Mo Yuchen, should have in their previous life.


    He knew he already had his chance, but he messed it up. The things he had done to Su Xiaofei were unforgivable and he didn''t deserve her love at all. In the end, she''s gone from his life now and he knew that she was nevering back. The regret he felt was like a stone stuck in his throat.


    Even now, he couldn''t even say a word or ask for her forgiveness. At times he dreamt at night, he would dream of Su Xiaofei''s tear-stained face, begging him not to take away their child.


    It was a pity that he never got the chance to make it up to Su Xiaofei. His eyes reddened, but Mo Yuchen knew it was toote to regret now. He looked at Lu Qingfeng one more time, before turning around and left.


    -


    Pain etched a deep line on Mo Yuchen''s face, and the pale purple bags under his eyes made him look drained. Others wouldn''t have noticed the signs of his suffering, but Lu Qingfeng could easily tell, because he''d once been there.


    The sound of Nine''s footsteps could be heard when he approached his master. Every year, Lu Qingfeng woulde to this ce and would stare nkly at the great tree in the cemetery. Even the madam wasn''t aware that the master would asionallye here.


    The reason was really simple, but Lu Qingfeng wasn''t ready to tell anyone. He knew the reason why Mo Yuchen hade today, to this same ce, looking lost at the same time. Su Xiaofei probably didn''t know that Mo Yuchen hade to love her over the years she''d chased after him and that he was also heartbroken after choosing for her to live rather than lose her along with their child.


    It didn''t matter now. Lu Qingfeng thought. Even if he and Su Xiaofei didn''t exact revenge on Mo Yuchen, thetter would have to bear the guilt for the rest of his life.


    When Lu Qingfeng woke up in this third lifetime, he made a promise to Su Xiaofei''s child that he would surely save her this time. Now, that promise had been fulfilled, but he decided to stille here to visit the child his wife never had.


    "Be at ease now, little one. Your mother is alive and happy with your sisters." Lu Qingfeng thought before deciding to leave as well before the snowstorm prevented him from returning home in time.


    He also didn''t want Nine to spend any more time at work, now that his younger brother had recovered from his illness and hade home with him.


    Once he settled at the backseat of the car, his phone rang and Lu Qingfeng immediately answered it. He would never make his wife wait for him for too long to answer.


    "Daddy, are you gonna be home soon? Someone''s being cranky here." He heard Su Xiaofei''s amused voice from the other end of the line. Lu Qingfeng had no doubt that she was talking about Yanyan again.


    "Xiao Yue! Yanyan! Come talk to daddy!"


    He could hear their daughters'' squeal as they chanted ''me, me, me'' at the same time. Xiao Yue seemed to win as she was the first one to call him ''Dada''. When ites to personality, their eldest daughter seemed fairly stubborn and outgoing just like their mother, while Yanyan could rival her father''s determination when she wanted something.


    Though he and Su Xiaofei were determined not to spoil their daughters, Yanyan was always so insistent on getting her way and it could be tiring at times. Xiao Yue could be just as demanding as her younger twin sister, always working on new ways not only to entertain herself but the rest of their family as well.


    "Alright, Xiao Yue, give the phone to Yanyan now." Su Xiaofei murmured quietly as she coaxed their eldest to pass the phone to her sister. "Say hi to daddy, Yanyan."<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Hi, little sweetheart. Daddy and Uncle Nine are on the way home now. How are you?"


    "G-good." The child managed to mumble, but Lu Qingfeng could already sense her frustration.


    "Yeah?" He replied. "Have you been good to mommy? Been a little angel for her?"


    "No." Yanyan answered. Su Xiaofei had a mild fever that morning, so she decided to stay at home for the day.


    "No?" Lu Qingfengughed along with his wife. "Why, no?"


    "No." Yanyan insisted, allowing her mother to hold the phone as she took interest in her own hands.


    "She''s fine, dear. Just a little cranky because she couldn''t take a nap with Xiao Yue earlier." Su Xiaofei interrupted.


    "She''s still in love with her favorite word it seems." Lu Qingfeng murmured, earning a derisive snort from his wife.


    "Well, from whom did Yanyan hear that word? She says no to everything now. Anyway, I''m giving them a quick bath. Too bad I can''t bathe you too."


    Lu Qingfeng''s lips curled up. "Perhaps, we can arrange that tonight."


    "Depends on how dirty you are." She paused as if she remembered something.


    "Hey." Her tone told him she''s up to something again.


    Lu Qingfeng checked the weather outside the car and was d that the snow was finally stopping.


    "Have you thought about what I saidst month? I want a boy next."


    "Oh?" He was taken aback by her sudden request and didn''t manage to give her an answer. Lu Qingfeng had been traumatized during the conception of their daughters. A part of him wanted to say no, but found it hard to deny his wife''s wishes.


    "Can''t we wait for another year, Feifei? I don''t want Xiao Yue and Yanyan to think we''re ignoring them if we had another child now."

 Chapter 651 Fate Of The Wicked (1)

    "This Ye Mingyu thinks too highly of herself. She''s crying innocence now even though there''s strong evidence that she was the one who murdered her ex-lover."


    "Does she not know shame? Previously, she tried to use Su Xiaofei''s name to create hype as a newbie actress. She even went as far as sabotaging Xiao Rufeng''s costume during the time they worked in a TV series together."


    "Isn''t she afraid of being struck by lightning?"


    "What do you know? When a woman turns heartless, they could be cruel and disgusting and have no sense of shame anymore."


    Thest hearing on Cai Lin''s death was scheduled today and everyone was waiting to see how this would end for Ye Mingyu, who was used of being the one behind his sudden passing. People were curious about the jury''s verdict.


    Ye Mingyu had lost the sense of time after being held in prison for almost a year now. The amount of money she got from the alimony after her divorce with Han Yize had mostly been used to pay thewyers who were failing to prove her innocence.


    Far from the beautiful and always charming Ye Mingyu, the woman who was brought in by the police looked untidy and distraught. People found it hard to believe that Ye Mingyu actually took advantage of Cai Lin''s obsession towards her and used him to sustain thevish lifestyle she had overseas.


    Reporters had camped outside the hall of justice, wanting to get a scoop on this scandalous case. When Su Xiaofei arrived with her husband, they snapped their cameras frantically towards the power couple. Both were dressed smartly in their three piece business suits, with Su Xiaofei rocking her ck trousers and ck high heels as she walked next to her husband.


    Who didn''t know about the Big Boss of Bluemedia being married to the business tycoon of the Lu Conglomerates? There had been rumors that Su Xiaofei broke her engagement with Mo Yuchen years ago to marry her childhood friend once Lu Qingfeng reached marrying age.


    Su Xiaofei found the rumorsughable, while Lu Qingfeng thought that it had been him all these time pursuing her, not the other way around.


    "President Su, did youe here to show support for your little sister? Are you and Ye Mingyu on speaking terms again?"


    Su Xiaofei merely smiled and declined to give a statement as usual, not giving them any satisfactory answer they could use to write up.


    She only came today to see for herself the kind of punishment Ye Mingyu would receive. How could she miss her chance to witness Ye Mingyu''s miserable state and at her lowest point?


    ''I came to see the fate of the wicked.'' She told Lu Qingfeng earlier when he asked why would she bother toe here to see Ye Mingyu when it''s certain that she''ll receive capital punishment.


    Ye Mingyu spotted her in the audience area. Her eyes turned cold, fists clenching so tight her nails painfully digging into her palm. She hated the look of content and happiness on Su Xiaofei''s face and wanted to tear her face with her own hands.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Why? Ye Mingyu couldn''t understand. Why was Su Xiaofei so lucky? She had thought that Yun Qingrong was Su Xiaofei''s achilles heel, so she targeted her mother as soon as she was able to put her own father under her control.


    Su Xiaofei only smiled, as if to express the words she couldn''t say in Ye Mingyu''s face. The verdict was about to be announced soon. She spotted Feng Xue''er at the other side of the seats and gave her a curt nod, while the woman smiled genuinely at Su Xiaofei for the first time.


    It seemed to Su Xiaofei that Feng Xue''er was certain that she would get the justice Cai Lin deserved today, but she could only hope that Feng Xue''er would truly move on and live a life she deserved without clinging on to the past.


    Ye Mingyu lowered her head and didn''t dare to look at anyone''s eyes, knowing that she would only see mockery and ridicule on their faces. No matter how she lived her life, those pairs of eyes didn''t want to leave her alone.


    Only when the verdict was announced did Ye Mingyu lift her head and start to cry helplessly. As expected, she received the harshest punishment as a penalty. A life for a life.


    Su Xiaofei''s expression hardened as she looked at the woman who made her previous life miserable. For the first time in her life, she saw Ye Mingyu truly miserable, but it was odd that she didn''t feel any joy from it, and neither was she sad. She couldn''t exin what she was feeling at that moment. She should be celebrating and feeling vindicated now that Ye Mingyu had lost everything - she couldn''t even keep own life.


    She left with Lu Qingfeng as soon as the verdict was announced, not giving anyone a chance to ambush her for yet another series of questions. Lu Qingfeng seemed to notice her uneasiness and hurriedly led her away from the crowd of reporters waiting outside.


    Once they were seated safely inside their car, he took her hand in his and gave it a light squeeze.


    "Are you upset? I thought you would be happy knowing that Ye Mingyu wouldn''t be able to harm you or anyone after this."


    "I think so too." Su Xiaofei sighed and looked at her husband with a confused expression. "I don''t know what to feel right now. I thought I would be happy seeing her breaking down, but I''m not. If there''s anything, I''m relieved to know that there''s no way she would be able to recover from this."


    "Then do you care what would happen to her after all of these?" Lu Qingfeng asked.


    Su Xiaofei shook her head in response. She used to spend her time thinking and plotting against Ye Mingyu before, but now, she didn''t.


    "Then, darling. You finally managed to break away from her shadows."

 Chapter 652 Fate Of The Wicked (2)

    ''This couldn''t possibly be happening to me!''


    Ye Mingyu was shocked to hear the verdict of the jury. Although herwyers had told her of this possibility, she thought that the worse oue for her would be lifetime confinement. She thought that as long as she could live, there''s still a chance for her to start anew once she left this horrendous ce.


    She regretted not being able to be reborn in this life much earlier, before the time she and Su Xiaofei''s path crossed. However, it was toote for her to change anything. The verdict was like a fiery p on her face, making her realize the gravity of her actions.


    It wasn''t like she was the ''Ye Mingyu'' who killed Cai Lin, it was actually the one originally from this lifetime. She never thought that the person who would put her into this situation wasn''t her nemesis, Su Xiaofei, but Feng Xue''er, who she had relied on a lot in the past.


    Ye Mingyu thought that she only needed to be wary of Lu Qingfeng. She was able to bully Su Xiaofei and humiliate her, but she had Lu Qingfeng backing her. In her previous life, this tyrant had ruined their lives after Su Xiaofei''s death and she wasn''t spared from his rampage.


    She couldn''t even bare to look at Lu Qingfeng without remembering the torture he subjected her to that eventually led to her death. But now¡­ how did it end up like this? Ye Mingyu couldn''t believe that she had lost to a small fry like Feng Xue''er.


    When she married Han Yize, breaking several of her contracts for endorsements and projects that Top Tier Entertainment had given her, she was cklisted by the Ouyang family and they weren''t willing to take her back when they divorced. She paid arge sum of money as a penalty to avoid being sued.


    Realizing that she was trapped in a dead end, a sense of panic slowly overcame her. Ye Mingyu tried to find Su Xiaofei in the crowd, but she couldn''t see her or Lu Qingfeng anywhere. She was sure that they were just seated there a moment ago.


    Even when the police escorted her out of the courtroom, her eyes filled with tears were still looking for Su Xiaofei. She resisted their hold until a few officers came over and cuffed her hands behind her back, before dragging her away.


    ''Su Xiaofei, where are you?''


    ''Su Xiaofei, you can''t turn your back on me like this! You are nothing without me!''


    She couldn''t think of anyone who can help her right now.


    Mo Yuchen? That man had long disappeared from her life, even before she was reborn in this life.


    Han Yize? No matter how she tried to contact him, he didn''t offer her any help. Instead, she received a threat from him through his assistant.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    She had no family or friends and she simply had nowhere to turn to.


    "If you dare to speak recklessly about me, I will kill you and make sure that no one will be able to find you or your dead body."


    The police were indeed trying to extract information from her about Han Yize, because they knew he was involved in some illegal activities and crimes, butcked enough evidence to lock him up. They were hoping that as Han Yize''s ex-wife, they would be able to garner some useful information from her.


    But what they didn''t know was that Han Yize was a paranoid person and after being with him, Ye Mingyu realized that she barely knew anything about him and anything else he did aside from managing his pharmaceuticalpany.


    If it was not for the cold poison, she wouldn''t even get involved with this man! However, Han Yize had something she didn''t have and had been craving for a long time - power and control. She thought that by having him by her side, she wouldn''t have to face bitterness in life any longer. It was just a pity that she caught feelings for him, but Han Yize''s heart was still with another woman.


    Ye Mingyu cursed the original Ye Mingyu in this lifetime for being so stupid. She shouldn''t have let her rtionship with Feng Xue''er turned sour. In the past, she was able to move up thedders courtesy of her, but now, Feng Xue''er was the one putting the nail in her coffin.


    She didn''t know how long she''d been sitting on the cold floor of her detention cell when the food ration was delivered to her. Ye Mingyu eyed the food for a moment, wondering when she would have herst meal. Nevertheless, she ate it without aint and drank the water till itsst drop before moving to the bed to lie down.


    It didn''t take long before she felt a burning sensation spreading too quickly in her body. She screamed for help, curling on the floor as she gasped in pain, but no one came to her aid. Ye Mingyu didn''t understand what was happening to her, until a familiar person stood outside her cell and looked at her with a cold pair of eyes.


    "Y-you¡­"


    She recognized him as one of Han Yize''s subordinate who mostly did the dirty work for him, so Ye Mingyu was frightened upon seeing him. She was so terrified that her entire body began to tremble, especially when the man met her gaze. He was dressed as a police officer.


    "You''re part of the police force?" She asked in disbelief.


    "Why do you think they couldn''t capture him?" The man chuckled amusedly. "Master is making sure you won''t mess with his life until you take yourst breath. Don''t worry, we gave you a high dose of cold poison. It shouldn''t take too long. This will give you a quick death, Ye Mingyu."


    It was only then that it dawned to her what just happened. Han Yize, her ex-husband, had poisoned her. That man really intended to shut her mouth till she was six feet under!

 Chapter 653 Epilogue (1)

    Lu Qingfeng watched as his two-year-old twin daughters chased one another at the local park with their bodyguards scattered around discreetly, making sure not to get unwanted attention from the others. However, he was oblivious to the look women were throwing his way as they mumbled to each other.


    ''He must be looking after his friend''s kids, what a good friend he is.''


    ''Or maybe they are his nieces? He looked at peace while looking at them.''


    Xiao Yue and Yanyan were giggling and squealing in delight as they took turns tagging each other. He was d to see how well they were developing. They could run and jump with ease and their sense of thinking was better than most kids their age. The girls were able to express themselves though they weren''t so articte yet.


    Although he supposed that the two had never been disregarded for too long. Whenever he and Su Xiaofei were upied with work, their family and friends would easily volunteer to look after Xiao Yue and Yanyan, and Lu Qingfeng hadtely been thinking of how to make sure their girls wouldn''t grow up spoiled rotten and expecting everything to fall into their hands as they wished.


    Lu Qingfeng''s attention was suddenly diverted when he heard Yanyan calling for him.


    "Dad!" Yanyan hurriedly went to the bench where he was seated and ced her small hands on his thigh. Her cheeks flushed red from the exertion of running around.


    The women who''d been checking him out gasped behind their hands when they heard what Yanyan called him. It seemed like they were surprised to hear that he already fathered two children at such a young age. He looked like he was still in his early twenties, usually an age where one was just starting to build a career.


    Lu Qingfeng never thought that there would be a day he would have a child on his own. Well, Su Xiaofei didn''t just give him one, but two adorable girls who won his heart at first sight.


    "What is it, Yanyan?" He asked his daughter affectionately.


    Yanyan pointed her small finger towards the yscape at the center of the y park.


    "Jiejie stuck. Can''t get out!"


    Lu Qingfeng rose from his seat and held Yanyan''s small hand and followed her over to a series of tunnels that were twisted and turned around the yscape. He then heard a sniffling and low crying sound somewhere until they found Xiao Yue, with her hand stuck on a mesh screen.


    He looked at the slightly tangled mesh then to the tear stained face of his eldest daughter. Although it pained him to see her in distress, Lu Qingfeng knew that Xiao Yue needed to learn how to calm down first and deal with the problem at hand. The mesh wasn''t tangled that much and with a little effort, he knew that Xiao Yue would be able to free herself, only if she would cease her crying and work to free her hand.


    "Dad, help please." Xiao Yue turned her ssy eyes towards Lu Qingfeng, looking at him with despair.


    Lu Qingfeng inwardly sighed and forced a smile on his face.


    "It''s alright, sweetheart. You can get your hands out on your own."


    His daughter gave him a startled and confused look, something Xiao Yue inherited from their mother. Su Xiaofei used to give him this kind of look when they were younger.


    "But I''m scared¡­"<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "I know, Yue, but there''s nothing to fear when Daddy is here."


    That somewhat calmed his daughter, much to Lu Qingfeng''s relief. Xiao Yue then started looking at her left hand, stuck in the mesh and then slowly pulled and turned her wrist until she freed herself. She then began looking around to find a way to get out, taking in her option before deciding where to go.


    Lu Qingfeng watched his daughter intently and a wave of pride washed through him. He followed the twisted tunnels with his eyes and went to the other side where a small slide was the only way to exit the yscape.


    The two of them waited for a long moment before Xiao Yue emerged as she pushed herself down the smile. She then immediately ran towards her father and Lu Qingfeng lifted her up in his arms, taking in her wide grin.


    "Dad! I did it! I did!" She squealed loudly.


    "That''s my girl." He murmured. "In the future, Mom and Dad will teach you and Yanyan how to solve riddles and problems like this, so don''t easily cry, alright?"


    Xiao Yue nodded and upon being reminded by her mother, she looked around but didn''t find her.


    "Where''s Mom? I want to see Mommy."


    "Right here, darling."


    The trio turned their heads and saw Su Xiaofei walking towards them. She was wearing a three piece ck business suit with her hair tied near her nape.


    "How did it go?" Lu Qingfeng asked after receiving a peck on his cheek from his wife.


    "It''s over now." Su Xiaofei replied.


    Three days ago, they heard of Ye Mingyu''s sudden passing in her detention cell. The police announced that Ye Mingyu suffered a sudden heart attack after receiving the verdict on her case, but Lu Qingfeng and Su Xiaofei knew that wasn''t the case. Someone came and made sure that Ye Mingyu wouldn''t sell information out to the authorities.


    Since Ye Mingyu didn''t have family members left aside from Su Haoran, who was detained in another facility, Su Xiaofei was asked to oversee and arrange the funeral for Ye Mingyu. Today was the day they put Ye Mingyu''s remains in its resting ce next to her mother''s.


    "So how do you feel now?" He asked once their daughters chose to resume their y, leaving them in each other''spany.


    Su Xiaofei hooked her arm with his and rested her head against him.


    "At peace." She started. "But more than anything, I''m pleased that I proved her wrong. That I''m worthy to be loved and to be happy."

 Chapter 654 Epilogue (2)

    Three yearster¡­


    "When''s Daddying home?"


    "Mom, can''t we call on Daddy? I really miss him."


    "I know, darling." Su Xiaofei gave her daughters an apologetic smile. "But Daddy''s doing his best to get home to us now."


    It had been two weeks since Lu Qingfeng went on a business trip and she never thought that the girls would suffer a serious separation anxiety after not seeing Lu Qingfeng for a while. This was Lu Qingfeng''s first business trip since the birth of their daughters.


    Xiao Yue and Yanyan were both rtively well-behaved toddlers, but with Lu Qingfeng away, Su Xiaofei noticed the sudden change in the two. Xiao Yue would asionally run around the hallways during the first days he was gone, looking for her father in his study and would cry when she couldn''t see him, and Yanyan was so distressed about the absence of their father that she would refuse to finish her meal. She also decided to stick to Su Xiaofei''s side and refused to be parted from her. Yanyan would have a full blown meltdown whenever Su Xiaofei was out of her sight and when she didn''t find her after waking from her nap.


    Su Xiaofei tried to persist during her husband''s absence and through the help of the Zhang siblings and her mother, the three of them managed to survive their first week. However, all hell broke loose in the second week.


    Because Yanyan had be extra clingy to Su Xiaofei, refusing to leave her side, Xiao Yue felt that she was being left out and would asionally cry when Su Xiaofei''s attention was on her sister. She would only stop crying once Su Xiaofei held her as well.


    But the girls were starting to be growing heavy these days and Su Xiaofei didn''t dare to carry the girls in her arms together. However, she made sure that she slept with them during nap times and at night, assuring them that she wasn''t going anywhere.


    Su Xiaofei gave her husband a call that night once the girls finally fell asleep on the massive bed she shared with Lu Qingfeng.


    "So, you''re noting home then?"


    The deep sigh she heard from the other end of the line made her heart sink even lower than it already had.


    "I don''t know, Feifei." Lu Qingfeng uttered softly. "I''m really, truly sorry. If everything went ording to ns, I would be home with you. We are doing our best to find another way, but if the snow carries on like this¡­"


    He didn''t finish but Su Xiaofei understood. She would rather hime homete than put himself in danger just to return to her side.


    "How''s Xiao Yue and Yanyan?" He asked, clearly missing their daughters just as terribly.


    "They just fell asleep, but they''ve been constantly asking me and Zhang Ling when are you returning home. Please be safe and call me if anything." She reminded him.


    "I will." Lu Qingfeng promised. "Take a rest as well, Feifei.."


    Su Xiaofei bid her goodbye and joined their daughters on the bed and slept. She only wished that things would get better once Lu Qingfeng was home.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    She rolled on her side, brows furrowing when she felt cold lips touching her face. Su Xiaofei cracked her eyes open, seeing the blurred vision of her husband''s face hovering near her.


    "Feifei¡­"


    She sat up and blinked her sleepiness away, only to be startled when a pair of arms pulled her into a tight embrace. Her eyes widened seeing Lu Qingfengying next to her, a tired smile on his face.


    "You''re back." She whispered, ncing at the clock and saw that it was three in the morning.


    "I promised you didn''t I? I couldn''t wait for another day to be home." Lu Qingfeng chuckled.


    Su Xiaofei threw her arms around him and pulled his head for a kiss. Their lips merged, kissing each other passionately, their hands skimmed around until their heated bodies asked for more. She parted from their kiss and saw the heated gaze in his eyes, wanting to devour her.


    "But the girls¡­" She could feel the head of his length touching her slippery core. She didn''t even realize that he''d strip her panties off earlier.


    "Deep asleep, but if you are worried about waking them up, be silent, wife." He then pulled her to the bathroom, pinned her against the door before sheathing himself in her tight heat in one push.


    Su Xiaofei''s eyes rolled back as he started to pump himself into her. They almost never got any time to themselves, since their twins took most of their free time from work. She felt his tongue run on her neck, fingers teasing her nipples as he took her from behind, hard and deep.


    The hand that was holding her neck moved to her mouth and parted her lips. She sucked on his fingers, tasting herself on them. She wanted to call his name desperately and cry out from pleasure, but their children''s sleeping faces reminded her to remain silent.


    Lu Qingfeng was just as quiet as he continued to thrust in her, face contorted in pleasure. When she came, he followed her and filled her to the brim with his essence.


    When the two returned to their bed after cleaning up each other, they were relieved to see the sleeping faces of the twins. Theyid beside each other and joined their children in slumber.


    By the time Lu Qingfeng woke up, it was because Xiao Yue had thrown something in his face. He sat up and saw that it was an opened envelope. He found his wife seated on the bed grinning at him.


    "What''s this?" He asked, pulling out the paper from the envelope to read its contents. The confusion morphed into shock at once.


    "Daddy?" Yanyan called out, but instead, Lu Qingfeng turned to his wife.


    "This¡­"


    "Happy birthday, dearest! And congrats for being a daddy for the third time." Su Xiaofeiughed.


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