《Lazily Yours.》


 Chapter 1: Lazy Heiress

    Chapter 1: Lazy Heiress


    2020, Magical City of Long


    ....


    "Sess is certainly not for thezy."


    Lyca Huang nodded at her cousin''s words. She rested her elbows on the table and propped her chin on her palms. Her brown eyes that mirrored her cousin''s sparkled with mischief as she smiled at her.


    Lyca could tell her five reasons whyzy people were more likely to be sessful.


    However, she was toozy to open her mouth and argue. "I agree," she answered. Besides mocking her, Huang Xiaoxuan actually had a point.


    "Of course you would," her cousin sneered. "I am not being nosy. But I think the fact that you are already twenty- one and have not even started with your college education is crazy. What do you think will happen if you introduce yourself as my cousin?" Disgust clouded her gaze.


    "I haven''t tried it," Lyca shrugged.


    "They will think I have azy cousin!" Huang Xiaoxuan''s beautiful face morphed into a scowl.


    Lyca nodded and didn''t bother to correct her cousin''s words. Why try to impress someone who she didn''t like? "I agree," she said for the second time as her lips lifted into a mocking smile.


    As expected, her cousin''s face turned ugly. She red at Lyca for a few seconds, her eyes narrowing on Lyca''s red dress before she turned to talk to the person sitting next to her. Seeing this, Lyca chuckled.


    Since the party began, everyone had been avoiding Lyca like a gue and yet this Huang Xiaoxuan still dared to sit next to her. She must have thought that she could provoke Lyca into talking to her. If this were her past life, Huang Xiaoxuan would already be dead, her throat slit from one of Lyca''s daggers.


    However, in this life, she was toozy for such things. She would rather stay quiet and be an absolute wallflower than attract anyone''s attention.


    Lyca threw another grape into her mouth. She looked at the other Huang family member''s socializing with each other as she tried to stop herself from yawning.


    She immediately reminded herself not to think about her king-sized bed anymore.


    She lowered her head and looked at the scarlet liquid in her wine ss. It sparkled under the light of the chandelier just above her, making it look like a part of the starlit night sky just outside of the mansion. She lifted the ss and held it in front of her nose. Smelling its aged aroma somehow made her more sleepy.


    She stifled another yawn.


    "I have an announcement to make," Huang Yi Cong, the patriarch of the Huang family, said in a room full of Huang''s. His croaky voice was loud enough to interrupt the roaring conversation among the nearly twenty people in the dining room.


    ''This announcement must be big,'' Lyca silently thought as shezily leaned back on her velvet chair. After all, Huang Yi Cong would not have made this birthday party exclusive to their family if it wasn''t. She looked at her grandfather, who just turned eighty years old today.


    She tucked a loose strand of her ash-blond hair behind her ear as she looked at the various expressions of the other members of the Huang Family. Slowly, the conversations died down.


    "Everyone please take a seat," her grandfather gestured for everyone to take their seats at the long rectangr table in the room.


    Lyca examined her grandfather. The old man''s robust physique towered over everyone as he stood, holding his winess in his left hand. For a few seconds, her eyes darted toward the moon pendant on his neck. Memories- sad ones, clouded her gaze.


    "Today I turned eighty," her grandfather started. "Years ago, before myte wife passed, I promised her that I would never stop working for thepany that we built together. I also promised her that once I turned eighty I would announce the person that will inherit thepany."


    Gasps and murmurs immediately followed the old man''s words. Judging from everyone''s reaction, it seemed that no one really expected the old man to announce such matters now.


    "Father I have a question." Huang Ying, the Eldest daughter of Huang Yi Cong raised her hand.


    "Hm? What is it?" her grandfather lifted an eyebrow.


    "Are you saying that after today you are going to leave thepany?" For the second time, murmurs echoed inside the dining room. The old man had been working in thispany for almost six decades! Was he finally leaving?


    "No," The old man shook his head. He then looked at his three sons and his only daughter. Then slowly, his gaze roamed towards his grandchildren''s faces. "My sessor needs training. I am not leaving thepany until I am sure that this person can manage the business well," he uttered.


    For a few seconds, Lyca thought that her grandfather''s eyes had paused in her direction. However, she was quick to shrug the feeling off. Since transmigrating into this body, she had actually never recalled her grandfather being close to her.


    "Alright then," a confident smile bloomed on her aunt''s face. Hearing this, the old man cleared his throat and started talking about the history of the Huang Security Group.


    She looked at her grandfather, pretending to listen to the story that she heard every family gathering. While she found all this boring, Lyca would also not miss seeing the drama that woulde after this announcement.


    She could not wait to find out who was the unlucky person who her grandfather would name as the person who would follow in his footsteps. Lyca absentmindedly propped another grape in her mouth as she pretended toprehend her grandfather''s words.


    "This is why with the happiest heart I want to let everyone know that I chose my one and only granddaughter, Lyca Huang, the daughter of my third son, as my sessor and the future CEO of Huang Security Group."


    Silence followed her grandfather''s words as they echoed inside Lyca''s ears. For a few minutes, not one person inside spoke a word as they awkwardly looked at Lyca, then back to the old man who this granddaughter clearly resembled.


    "Father! What kind of madness is this!?"

 Chapter 2: Chaos

    Chapter 2: Chaos


    Chaos.


    That was not enough to describe the events following the announcement. Yelling instantly ensued. Questions, conjectures and insults were thrown


    How could Lyca manage thepany? She hadn''t even started her college education! She had neither the experience nor the brains to do it.


    "Father! How could you say this?" Huang Ying, the eldest of Huang Yi Cong''s four children asked. Her beautiful face contorted into an ugly scowl, "Are you joking?"


    "Father isn''t this a bit too sudden? Naming an heir who is only twenty one with no experience whatsoever is a bit illogical."


    "I agree! She is too young and inexperienced. She does not have a job, and she is clueless about business! How could she run a multi million dor empire?"


    "She hasn''t even finished her college education yet!"


    "She is toozy. How could she manage apany?"


    "Her father spoiled her a lot too. She grew up being treated like a princess! There is no way that"


    Lyca listened as everyone started shouting at the same time. She opened her mouth to say something but in the end, she decided against it. It would be nothing but a waste of her energy.


    Lyca propped her chin into her palms, her eyes crinkled as she smiled at everyone who looked at her. Arguing against someone who had already made up their mind was just too tiring. Popping a grape into her mouth, Lyca returned her grandfather''s calm gaze.


    Her grandfather''s white hair, that was almost identical to hers, caught her eyes. A suspicion instantly ran rampant in her mind. However, she was toozy to confirm it. Not when everyone was shouting and pointing their fingers at her and her father.


    "Enough!" the booming sound of the Patriarch''s voice instantly silenced everyone. It echoed against the walls of the mansion, reminding them that they were still in the presence of the man who had firmly held the reins of thepany for decades. "Sit down," the old man added, his voice stern as he looked at his eldest daughter and second son.


    "Father "


    "I said ENOUGH!" Silence followed the old man''s words. A thick ominous atmosphere started spreading inside the room. "I am not done talking." The old man stated, his voice calm yet loud enough for everyone to hear. Seeing everyone turn silent, the old man continued.


    "My decision is already final." He eyed Lyca, "You will take over thepany once you are ready. Training will be provided and you will familiarize yourself with the industry." He then shifted his gaze to his four children. "Now you can ask your questions." It wasn''t permission but an order. This was something that the old man always did every time he was at hispany.


    "Father, as I said Lyca did not study business management. She is not familiar with thepany. Why would you make her your heir?" Huang Ying asked, ignoring her father''s scowl. "My brothers and I have worked in thepany for years. How could you give the position to one of your grandchildren instead of us?"


    "Elder sister, you are already married to the Zhang Family," Huang Li Dong, the second son of the patriarch sneered. "Did you expect father to leave thepany to you and the Zhang Family?""You "


    "Father" Huang Li Dong interrupted his sister''s words. "I think Lyca is a smart woman however, making her the CEO of thepany will not only cause chaos, this will also make the shareholders question our family. How could you entrust thepany to someone who hasn''t even finished her education or has any work experience? Your other grandchildren are obviously more qualified than her. Please reconsider."


    "I agree," Huang Ying reluctantly nodded at her brother''s words. "Lyca is young. What do you think will happen to our stock once the media gets ahold of this news?"


    Lyca continued to listen as her aunt and uncle gave their reasons for the old man to reconsider his decision. She rolled her eyes inwardly as she ate. She then eyed her father sitting a few seats away from her. Unlike his elder brother and sister, Lyca''s father was not very outspoken.


    As expected, the man was only listening to her brother and sister''s arguments, asionally nodding his head as if this had nothing to do with him or his daughter.


    "What do you think about this matter, Sheng Hong?" The old man''s questions brought Lyca back from her stupor. She stared at her father who was about to answer the old man''s question. Then her gaze drifted to her mother who was sitting next to her father.


    "I believe this has nothing to do with me," Lyca''s father, Huang Sheng Hong answered. "My daughter had already turned twenty-one a few days back. She can now decide for herself."


    "See? This is what I''m talking about. Sheng Hong spoils his daughter too much. He practically lets her do everything she wants! This " Huang Ying shook her head. "This is very embarrassing, father. Please reconsider. We cannot let a woman who was spoiled rotten by her parents handle ourpany." Huang Ying''s tone was harsh as disgust swirled in her orbs.


    "Fool," the old man cackled. "You.. All of you are fools." He snorted as he sent a meaningful gaze towards his granddaughter. "I can only hear dogs barking up the wrong tree." He then shifted his gaze towards his eldest daughter and second son. "The argument that Lyca is too young and inexperienced is already debunked by her-worth. The argument that she is uneducated is already debunked by her records. If you want to give me a good reason not to make her my heir then feel free to do your own research ande back to me once you are ready!"


    "Father!" Huang Ying furrowed her brows, confusioncing her gaze. She looked at her brother, "Sheng Hong, what is father talking about?"


    Both Huang Ying and Huang Li Dong turned their attention towards Huang Sheng Hong then towards the ck-faced Lyca. The old man''s words reverberated inside them, filling their minds with nothing but confusion and irritation.

 Chapter 3: Work Harder

    Chapter 3: Work Harder


    "What does this mean?" Old Man Huang''s second son, Huang Li Duo, squinted his eyes at Lyca. He then stared at the mockery in his father''s face. This instantly infuriated him.


    "It means that Lyca is a CEO at the young age of eighteen. Is that something that any of your spawns have achieved?" The old man scoffed as he leaned against his leather chair. He eyed his granddaughter''s calm expression before he sighed inwardly. This granddaughter of his was truly a mystery.


    He then looked at his four children. Huang Ying was frowning from where she sat opposite him. His third son Huang Sheng Hong had his daughter''s nonchnt face while his youngest, Huang Qingyun was staring straight at the firece. Seeing the four of his children in his study with Lyca only made him realize that he made the right decision.


    "What are you talking about?" Huang Ying demanded. "What nonsense is this?" She red at her younger brother, demanding an exnation. The explosive news from her father earlier was already enough to ruin her night. She never expected that the old man would reveal more shocking news after calling them into his study for a private meeting. "Lyca? A CEO? Are you trying to make meugh?" her condescending tone echoed inside the old man''s office.


    "Do you think this is aughing matter?" her father lifted an eyebrow. "Lyca went abroad to finish her education. She took Chemistry and Physics. At eighteen she started making perfumes. At neen she sold the form to a prominent brand and quickly earned her first five hundred thousand dors by selling other forms."


    "Now, at twenty-one, she is worth twenty million dors." He continued, satisfied by the shock on his children''s faces. "She earned it on her own, using her own brain, without her father''s or my help. Is that something that any one of you had achieved at her age?"


    "And why don''t we know this?" Huang Ying asked, her gazending on thenguid Lyca a few chairs away. "Why did you hide this from us?"


    "We didn''t hide it," Huang Sheng Hong denied. "You simply hadn''t asked me or my daughter."


    "What kind of excuse is that?" Huang Li Duo barked. "We always thought Lyca never finished her education! And you didn''t even bother to correct us? You made us and our families look like fools!" Huang Li Duo''s anger exploded at his third brother. How could he have hidden this information from them?


    "So it is my fault that you assumed the wrong things?" Huang Sheng Hong asked, his face devoid of any expression.


    "You  we are your elder siblings!? Do not talk to us like this!" Huang Ying scolded. She let out a sharp breath as anger exploded inside her.


    Watching the chaos unfold in front of her only made Lyca sleepy. Disinterest shed in her eyes. The only reason why she took chemistry and physics was that she wanted to understand more about this parallel world. However, she could not tell them this. She also couldn''t tell them that selling forms was the easiest method that she found to earn money without working very much, ah.


    Lyca eyed her grandfather, who was already staring at her. To be honest, she wasn''t very surprised that the old man knew about her secret. Well it wasn''t really a secret. Lyca had only made sure to keep people from noticing her. Neither she nor her parents told anyone about her achievements, and they never bothered correcting anyone who ridiculed them in the past.


    To them, it wasn''t really a big deal. At the end of the day, Lyca and her parents had peace, and people didn''t scheme behind their backs as they never saw them as threats. Wasn''t that what everyone wanted? To live azy and casual life?


    Lyca and her parents wanted to live in peace. And that was the reason why they never told anyone about her education or achievements.


    However, exining this to the Huang Family was quite difficult. The Huang Family had been fighting for status and recognition since forever. They wanted power and more power. They wanted money, fame, and recognition. To these people, wealth was everything.


    How could they understand the concept of life that Lyca wanted?


    "I ept your decision," Lyca spoke for the first time, interrupting the argument that her aunt and uncle were trying to raise. She eyed her grandfather. "Since you already made your decision, then I will ept it." Being an heir was something that Lyca had already experienced in her previous life. The only difference was... this time she did not have to kill anyone to get it.


    Wasn''t that nice?


    She knew it would not be an easy journey. However, this was a new lifetime. And people who be heiresses in this world were pampered. She smiled inwardly. This only meant more servants and food, right?


    "Then, all is good. Your training will start soon. I will have someone "


    "I want someone good looking to train me," Lyca dered shamelessly. She smiled as her aunt''s and uncles'' jaws dropped, their eyes wide as they stared at her in horror.


    Good looking? What kind of request was that?


    However, instead of reprimanding her, Old Man Huang let out a burst of deep heartfeltughter. He shook his head helplessly before looking at Lyca.


    "Good. I will arrange that."


    "Father!" Huang Ying recovered from her surprise. She instantly objected, "Can''t you see? This is the wrong decision!"


    "Aunt Ying actually, this is only logical," Lyca chimed in. Slowly a smile appeared on her lips. "I am fairly young. I value beauty above all else. This  A beautiful person would only encourage me to work harder."


    "You "


    "Also, I want to go and study management," Lyca interrupted her aunt. Her perfume business was quite simple and all she actually did was sell forms. As embarrassing as it may seem, Lyca did not have any idea how to manage a proper business. That  and she wanted to infuriate the people in this room.


    "I don''t have a background in business, and I am only thriving in my perfume sales because of my knowledge of chemicals." And poisons, she wanted to add, but in the end, she decided against it.


    She couldn''t really tell them that she only took chemistry because she wanted to create poisonous chemicals right?

 Chapter 4: Beauty Rest

    Chapter 4: Beauty Rest


    "Good! Very Good! It will happen." The old man pped his hands and beamed, his previous smugness was reced with warmth and something unidentifiable that only made everyone more confused.


    "This is madness!" Huang Li Duo clenched his hands. He red at his younger brother as he cursed inwardly. Growing up, this Huang Sheng Hong neverpeted with anyone else! He wasid back tooid back and rxed that not one of them even considered him aspetition.


    His daughter''s personality was almost identical to his cool andzy disposition. Who would have thought that these two woulde out victorious after all these years? "Father how could you have someone like this as your heir?" He gritted his teeth. He could feel anger flowing inside him like ava, threatening to erupt anytime. "Someone who iszy and values appearance above experience and knowledge?"


    "Do you think you can just insult my daughter like that?" Huang Sheng Hong''s voice echoed inside the study. "Who do you think is more qualified to handle the family business? Your lecherous son who has been sleeping with models and actresses? He doesn''t even have the guts to ept that he got someone pregnant at the age of eighteen. A man like that " Huang Sheng Hong made a deliberate pause as he narrowed his eyes at his elder brother. "A man who does not have any principles is a good-for-nothing!"


    "You! Do you dare fight with me, Sheng Hong? How dare you! My son is "


    "So you can insult my daughter, but I cannot insult your son?" Huang Sheng Hong sneered. "I am but a silent man, elder brother. But don''t you dare insult my daughter in front of me."


    "Sheng Hong Li Duo this is enough." The old man''s voice echoed. "I understand the concern, but only one person can inherit thepany and that is Lyca." The authority in the old man''s voice was apparent. It contained the finality and decisiveness that the old man had always shown over the years.


    "What if I can prove that Lyca does not deserve this position?" Huang Ying met her father''s sharp eyes. "What if she doesn''t perform as expected? What if she does not deliver? What will happen then?"


    "Then, she will be challenged," The old man said. "By anyone." His gaze swept over his four children. "This has always been the rule in the family."


    "Can we issue a challenge now?" Huang Li Dou asked.


    "You can."


    "Then, I will have my daughter, Huang Xiaoxuan fight against Lyca," Huang Li Duo dered. He raised his chin, his gaze full of confidence as he looked at Lyca. "Do you ept?"


    "What kind of challenge are we talking about?" Lyca asked. Was it her fault that she was unfamiliar with the rules in this family? In the past, this Huang Family did not have such rules, ah.


    "Intelligence and martial talents." Huang Li Duo eyed the old man before he observed his younger brother''s reaction. Surely, Huang Sheng Hong would not be this confident when it came to the ability of his daughter, right? After all, Huang Xiaoxuan had a ckbelt in karate and was an expert in judo and taekwondo. There was no way that Lyca would be able to defeat her cousin.


    "Then, no problem." Lyca yawned. She eyed therge wall clock behind her grandfather''s seat and wondered when they would finish this meeting. It was already half past nine in the evening. That was half an hour past her bedtime! She expected that once she decided to agree, these people would just stop talking and end the meeting.


    She was wrong.


    These people would never let her have her beauty rest!


    Lyca started to feel enraged. She could feel her pulse quicken as she started eyeing her uncle''s neck. Killing this man now would surely silence him, no?


    She shook her head inwardly. All she wanted was to have anguid life yet these people were disturbing her peace!


    "What arrogance!" Huang Ying sneered. This Lyca might be smart and rich, but wasn''t she nothing but azy woman who did not know what the real world looked like? All her life, this Lyca was pampered by her doting father and loving mother. She lived in luxury all her life with her servants always following her orders.


    "But we should make it fair," the old man said. "I don''t want you to think that I am favoring Lyca more than Huang Xiaoxuan. So, each will have their own trainer. Each will study martial arts and business management. Each will have equal opportunity to beat the other." He pursed his lips.


    "The winner will be the heir to Huang Security. The loser will spend the next three months in the ancestral house repenting and praying. Do you have any more suggestions?" he asked.


    "I want the loser to abandon the family name and leave the Huang Family. The loser will be removed from our ancestral book. No questions asked," Huang Li Duo said. "The contest will be in a month." He then looked at Huang Sheng Dong. "What do you say brother?"


    Lyca''s father pursed his lips. He didn''t miss the mockery in his brother''s eyes. "I have no problem," he uttered. His daughter was someone who could even beat him in hand to handbat. Lyca was a woman that not even he wanted to mess with. Of course, he would never tell this secret to his brother. "But are you sure you can handle it? Your daughter, losing the family name? She already has nothing but our family name. Once she loses it "


    "Shut it!" Huang Li Duo hissed, irritation shing in his eyes. "Think about your own daughter!"


    "Alright. It seems that we already have something that we can agree upon," the old man said, interrupting the turmoil that was brewing in front of him. "Let''s seal the challenge with our blood," he uttered as a sinister smile dangled on his lips.

 Chapter 5: Hypocrisy

    Chapter 5: Hypocrisy


    Perfect Pizza!


    This was one of the reasons why Lyca loved being around her mother all the time. "Thank you!" she groaned as she finished off the final bite of her favorite cheese pizza. "I would starve without you," she said, her eyes sparkling at her parents stern faces.


    Maybe it was the wrong timing, Lyca thought. "Is this because of the bet?" she asked her father, Huang Sheng Hong. In response, her father nodded.


    "I am confident in your skills. Knowing you, I know you will win," her father uttered. "However, I am worried that Huang Li Duo and Huang Ying will scheme against you. I don''t want to put you in any danger."


    "Your father is right," Tang Nini echoed the concern in her husband''s tone. "The Tang Family will always have your back. However, it is too risky. I would not want you to live in a separate house from us." A part of this challenge was that Lyca would live in a separate house than her parents. This was suggested by Huang Li Duo himself and was seconded by Huang Ying.


    The corner of Lyca''s lips turned up. Sinceing to this world ten years ago, her parents were already like this. They were both loving and doting. Unlike her previous life, these two did not train her to be an assassin or pressure her to learn fighting. However, since Tang Nini came from a military family, it was only normal for Lyca to learn martial arts as well.


    "I think you should stop worrying about this matter. If something happens to me then I''m sure grandfather would never forgive them." Nonchnceced her tone. She finished her juice beforezily leaning against the couch. It was already eleven in the evening and all she wanted to do was sleep after having her snack. However, she couldn''t exactly say that to her parents, right?


    She watched as her father''s lips thinned. His brows furrowed as he stood from his chair. "Have a good rest. I will see you tomorrow."


    "Alright," Lyca beamed.


    "You just finished eating. Don''t sleep yet," her mother reminded her. "At least, not within thirty minutes."


    "Alright," Lyca said for the second time. She then started walking towards her bedroom, the smile on her face never vanishing. Maybe it was because this was already her second life or because she used to practice magic in her previous life, but in this lifetime, her metabolism was as fast as it was in her previous life. She didn''t really need to wait for thirty minutes before she could sleep since she knew the food that she just consumed wouldn''t have any effect on her body.


    Lyca started humming a tune as she opened her door and went to her walk in closet to change her clothes. She eyed her reflection in the floor length mirror on her closet door. She frowned before letting out a long sigh. The familiarity of the face that she could see in the mirror was somehow enough to make all the memories resurface in her mind- memories that she had tried to bury sinceing to this world.


    She hated this face!


    This was supposed to be another world! Another dimension! How could she still have the same face as the previous Lyca, the one who was betrayed in Xu Empire!? Lyca squinted her eyes at her reflection before turning towards her bed.


    Hate would get her nowhere. Hate would only destroy her pretty face. She chanted inwardly.


    She could not let the past be a part of her future. She was lucky. The gods had given her the chance to have a second life in a world without any magic. She was lucky to have generous and doting parents. She, Lyca was lucky to even have the chance to live after all her crimes in her previous life.


    .


    When Lyca woke up, the sun was already trying to force its way through the curtain. She squinted at the small rays that managed to prate her velvet curtains before rolling out from her bed. Eyeing the clock on her bed side table Lyca instantly wondered why she didn''t wake up from her rm clock.


    "Oh wait, it''s broken," she muttered while rolling her eyes. Judging from the small debris scattered around the clock, she must have broken it while sleeping. This should be the thirteenth clock that she had broken just this month. She instantly reminded herself to put the clock at the foot of the bed or somewhere outside her reach next time.


    "Young Lady," a soft voice made her turn towards the door. She watched as one of their servants came inside. "Forgive me for disturbing you," the servant''s gentle voice echoed inside Lyca''s room as she gave a respectful bow.


    "Hm?" She lifted an eyebrow.


    "Miss Xiaoxuan is here to see you."


    "So early?" she grumbled as she stood from her bed. "What time is it?" she asked.


    "A few minutes after ten."


    "Oh!" Lyca nodded. "Still too early. Tell her I just woke up. Have her join me for breakfast." She yawned before walking towards her bathroom. This Huang Xiaoxuan is really something. How could shee here after the challenge? Wasn''t she afraid that Lyca would kill her?


    Lycaughed at her own thoughts. This world was very different from her previous one. This world hadws, and people here needed to follow them, or they would spend time in prison. Contrary to her previous world, this was a ce where people had rights protecting the weak. They had rights for the poor and the oppressed.


    The hypocrisy. She thought inwardly as shezily undressed herself. Despite having thesews, Lyca knew that the rich and powerful were still more valued, revered. Thew didn''t really matter to them.


    Now that she thought about it, the only difference in her world was that people in the Xu Empire killed in front of everyone. They worshiped the strong and mocked the weak. In this new world, the strong still killed. However, they tended to hide it from the masses. They oppressed the impoverished while they only showed their gentle smiles and humongous donations to everyone.


    If this was not hypocrisy, then what was?

 Chapter 6: Eat

    Chapter 6: Eat


    "When they told me that you sleep a lot, I never thought that you would still continue even while I''m here," Huang Xiaoxuan''s voice echoed against the marble tile into the minimally decorated walls of the living room. She rose from her seat and red at Lyca. "You really dared to make me wait for more than an hour?"


    "Did I?" Lyca lifted an eyebrow. A sly smile escaped her lips as she walked past her cousin and into the dining room of the mansion.


    "Where are you going?" Huang Xiaoxuan''s shrill voice reached her ears.


    "Eat."


    "You How dare you? I will tell grandfather about this matter! You just wait and see! I''m sure "


    "You''ll tell him that I wanted to eat?" Lyca sat on the long rectangr table that was already full of her favorite dishes. "Sit and eat," shemanded.


    Huang Xiaoxuan immediately exploded when she saw Lyca''s nonchnce. She walked towards Lyca. "You are unbelievable!" she gritted her teeth. "Do you think you already have grandfather''s favor just because he chose you? Grandfather is not a partial man! Once I tell him that "


    "Noisy." Lyca raised her head and met Huang Xiaoxuan''s furious gaze. "Sit down and eat."


    "Hah!" Disbelief shed in Huang Xiaoxuan''s eyes. "I may be younger than you but I "


    "If you n to disturb my meal, please leave," Lyca interrupted as she started eating the fruits in front of her.


    "You "


    "Yes. It''s me. Please leave."


    "Lyca! You are going overboard! I am here to have a decent conversation with you, and you just ask me to leave?"


    "Hungry. Can''t talk. Go Sit. Down. And. Eat." Lycamanded, making sure to emphasize each word. "Simple instruction. Even a toddler can understand it."


    Seeing the disinterest in Lyca''s face, Huang Xiaoxuan stomped her feet and sat on the vacant chair next to her. She would never forget the embarrassment that she received today! She grabbed one of the strawberries and put it on her te. "Now! Can we talk?"


    "Who talks while eating?" Lyca rolled her eyes.


    "Ahhh! You You you stupid you are crazy! This is insane!" Huang Xiaoxuan snapped. This Lyca was famed for being azy introvert. She did not have a job and spent most of her time cooped up in her room reading books about the stars and the universe.


    This woman only spent her time reading, sleeping and eating! Because of this she had never developed any rtionship with her cousins. Everyone in the Huang Family generally avoided Lyca for being too different. Most family members just ignored her while some like Huang Xiaoxuan and her father looked down on her.


    Well, this was before her secret was revealed by the old manst night. Seeing Lyca eat as if she never heard her call her crazy only made her more infuriated. What kind of person would allow another person to call them insane? Was this because Lyca was looking down on her which was why she could not be bothered to answer her?


    "I want you to ask grandfather to make me the heiress and not you," Huang Xiaoxuan dered. "I know you were only forced to agree because of your parents. You shouldn''t force yourself into doing something that you don''t like." She stared at Lyca who was now eating a "You are having burgers?" she asked incredulously. She was certain she saw Lyca eating some bananas earlier.


    Why was she eating a big greasy burger full of cheese now?


    "Can you at least pretend to be normal while talking to me?" she hissed. She could feel her fury boiling inside her. Huang Xiaoxuan felt that talking to someone like Lyca was just giving her stress. Staying with a person like this could potentially give her anger management issues and probably stomach ulcers too! "Are you listening to me?"


    "Are you deaf?" Lyca fired back. "I said, ''No talking while eating,''" she repeated without even looking at Huang Xiaoxuan.


    "You" Huang Xiaoxuan balled her hands into fists. She red at her cousin. "You don''t deserve to be an heir. Tell me. Did you pay someone to fool grandfather about your supposed achievements abroad? Do you think you can fool everyone? Aunt Ying and father will never believe you and your father''s lies." Still, Lyca ignored her.


    "It is very disrespectful of you to stay silent while I am talking here! Is that how your parents raised you? Does grandfather know about this?" Huang Xiaoxuan added. Seeing Lyca continue to ignore her, she raised her hand and mmed it on the red oak table.


    *BANG*


    The table shook, causing some of the fruits to fall on the floor.


    "Answer me! I will not stand anyone disrespecting me like this!" Huang Xiaoxuan raised her voice. Her face turned scarlet. She stared at Lyca who had turned to look at the fruits on the floor before shifting her eyes towards her direction. Seeing that she finally got her cousin''s attention, a smug smile dangled on Huang Xiaoxuan''s lips.


    "Just because grandfather dered you as the heir does not mean that it is already set in stone. Did you forget about the challenge? Once I win it, and we both know I will, you will be stripped of yourst name and your status. Are you not afraid of that?"


    In response Lyca grabbed a napkin. She elegantly dabbed it on her lips before she cleared her throat. "Is this how your father raised you?" Lyca''s voice was not loud but it was crisp and clear. It contained a tinge of authority and grace. "Huang Xiaoxuan, you must have had a sad, sad childhood. Didn''t you?" She shifted her gaze and looked at Huang Xiaoxuan. "What a pity. It seems you are nothing but a pretty face."


    Huang Xiaoxuan widened her eyes. For some reason, Lyca''s words seemed to prate the deepest parts of her brain. "You know nothing!" she hissed. "You and your sheltered a** know nothing about me!"

 Chapter 7: Proof

    Chapter 7: Proof


    "What a waste," ignoring Huang Xiaoxuan''s outburst, Lyca shifted her gaze to the food on the floor. "People who waste food are evil."


    If Lyca was known as thenguid one, Huang Xiaoxuan was known for her short temper and spoiled nature. However, everyone in the family did not mind this. After all, Huang Xiaoxuan was a top student, a talented piano yer and an athlete. She was famous in her school and even attended international contests.


    Just like her father, Huang Xiaoxuan was alsopetitive and loved getting recognition from everyone.


    "You just insulted me and father, and now you are talking about food?" Raw anger shot through her like a bullet. Huang Xiaoxuan fought the urge toy her hands on Lyca. Controlling her fury, she let out a sharp breath. "You will regret this. I will inform my father about what you said."


    "I will inform grandfather. I will inform my father," Lyca mocked in a squeaky voice, clearly imitating Huang Xiaoxuan''s way of speaking. "Are you a toddler?"


    "You You "


    "Sister Yi''an," Lyca interrupted her. "Please clean the mess and charge Miss Huang the exact amount for the food that she wasted," Lyca directed softly. Not long after, a woman who seemed to be a couple of years older than her walked inside the dining room.


    "You want me to pay?"


    Lyca stared at Huang Xiaoxuan in response.


    "You want me to pay for the food?" Huang Xiaoxuan repeated her question, disbelief shing on her face. It wasn''t even an hour, and she could already feel herself aging faster than she could even blink. The more she interacted with Lyca the more she felt that she was bing dumber!


    "You wasted it. You pay," Lyca said before she started eating again.


    "No. Why the hell would I do that? You were the one who made me angry! It was your fault, not mine. If grandfather learns that you asked me to pay for the food that was wasted because of you, he will  "


    "What an eye opener." When Huang Xiaoxuan heard her grandfather''s voice, she instantly froze, her face paling. She turned towards the entrance that connected them to the living room. As expected, there stood Old Man Huang together with Huang Li Duo and Lyca''s father, Huang Sheng Hong.


    It was as if a bucket of ice water was poured on her head. She felt her body turn cold as she stared at her father''s angry eyes. "Grandfather father I " She stood from her seat, her hands balled into a fist as she struggled to contain her nervousness. "This is a misunderstanding Lyca and I were just talking"


    "Is this how you raised your daughter?" the old man sneered. He turned toward his second son, then walked towards Lyca without waiting for his first son to respond. "What happened here?" he eyed the maid who had already started cleaning the food on the floor.


    However, before Lyca could even open her mouth, Huang Xiaoxuan quickly chimed in, "Lyca insulted my father. So I I got angry and mmed my hand on the table causing the food to This was all Lyca''s fault. Grandfather, she questioned the way my father raised me and even said that I must have had a sad childhood." She sent a provoking re toward Lyca.


    "Is that true?" Old Man Huang asked. "Is she telling the truth?"


    "Yes," Lyca answered in an almost irritated tone. She was hungry. She could hear her stomach calling, shouting for her to continue eating her food. "I asked her to leave. She wouldn''t."


    The old man let out a sigh. "Why are you here?" he asked Huang Xiaoxuan. "Your father told me you were supposed to be in a special ss today."


    "Well. I I was just here to congratte my cousin for the uhst night. But she had this extremely nasty attitude. Grandfather please don''t me me for saying something like that. I was only angry. This woman insulted me for no reason at all. Then she wanted me to pay for the food. How is that even fair?"


    "Is she really here to congratte you?" Old Man Huang asked Lyca.


    "No."


    "You''re lying!" Huang Xiaoxuan imed. "I was originally here to congratte you." She grabbed her bag and got the chocte that she had originally bought for herself. "I even bought this chocte for you! As a congrattory gift! This is imported chocte! And yet you " Huang Xiaoxuan''s eyes reddened as she looked at her grandfather. "I demand justice! Grandfather, please give me justice! I don''t deserve this kind of treatment."


    She looked at Lyca''s nk face andughed inwardly. How could Lyca beat her? She, Huang Xiaoxuan was good at twisting any situation in her favor. "Please grandfather," she added. She batted her sad eyes at her father then toward Old Man Huang.


    "I have proof," Lyca uttered in a low voice.


    "What proof?" Old Man Huang asked.


    Lyca looked at Huang Xiaoxuan''s miserable expression. Slowly, her lips lifted into a mocking grin. "I have proof that she is lying."


    "I am telling the truth!" Huang Xiaoxuan fired back. How could Lyca have evidence against her? This woman was bluffing.


    "Sister Yi''an, can you get myptop from my room? The one that is connected to the cameras all over the house," Lyca spoke almostnguidly. She leaned on her seat and grabbed a couple of fries. Lyca had installed cameras all over the house simply because she wanted to see everything without leaving her room. She wanted to avoid other people, so she used the CCTV''s to check if anyone was visiting her parents. Of course, they were equipped with motion sensors and voice recorders.


    "CCTV?" Huang Li Duo frowned as his eyes roamed about the dining room. "Why would you have CCTV in your dining room?" he asked before looking at his daughter''s nervous expression. He cursed inwardly. This Huang Xiaoxuan was so simr to him that he hated it. He knew that she must havee in here to provoke Lyca into hurting her or convince her into declining the position as the heir.


    He already told her over and over not to provoke Lyca for now. And yet sheThis daughter of his was just so disappointingly dumb.

 Chapter 8: Chocolates and Damages

    Chapter 8: Choctes and Damages


    Hearing this, Huang Sheng Hong cleared his throat. This was something that his daughter insisted upon so she could avoid going downstairs if there were people visiting them. "This is for security," he uttered. "My daughter wanted to make sure that every corner of our house is protected, so she installed all the security cameras by herself." He was actually the one who installed them because Lyca had asked him to. But did that even matter?


    "That is an extreme invasion of privacy!" Huang Xiaoxuan protested. "Why would you even have"


    "This is their house. Their rules," Old Man Huang interrupted her. "Now, is there something that you want to tell me, youngdy?" His lips thinned.


    "I Grandfather" Huang Xiaoxuan stuttered before sheposed herself. "There is nothing."


    "Father, why are we wasting our time over something like this? Our people are waiting. We are alreadyte for today''s appointment. Is this really necessary?" Huang Li Duo immediately tried to convince his father to stop pursuing this case. How could he let his daughter suffer the consequences of her dumb actions. "Our people have been waiting for us for almost two hours now just because we had to adjust to Lyca''s schedule. I say, this is a bit over the top. We should just go."


    "What are you so afraid of, elder brother?"


    "I am not afraid of anything! All I''m saying is we are running a business. We can''t tolerate someone who doesn''t wake up until ten in the morning." Huang Li Duo tried to change the topic. ording to Huang Sheng Hong, his daughter always woke up at ten in the morning. A future CEO should not do this.


    "Your daughter lied," Lyca''s voice attracted everyone''s attention. "Is that something that we should tolerate?"


    "I did not lie! You insulted my father and "


    "I insulted you," Lyca interrupted her cousin, her eyes glued on Huang Li Duo. She eyed the maid that was walking towards them and held her hand out to ept theptop.


    "Grandfather, I am telling the truth. Even Lyca said that she insulted my father. We should not tolerate this behavior at all. Insulting your elders deserves punishment."


    "I agree," Lyca''s finger''s flew over the keyboard. She was no expert inputers but her skills were passable enough to ess a recording from a tamper resistant system on a separate encryptedwork. "I should be grounded." She gave anguid smile, instantly making Huang Xiaoxuan irritated.


    "Here," Lyca said as she turned the video towards them.


    "That That''s "


    "Alright. That''s enough." Huang Li Duo tried to grab theptop but he stopped midway when he noticed his father re at him. He pursed his lips, anger shing in his eyes. He eyed his pale daughter before looking at the video. He knew that Lyca would have chosen to install something that recorded audio so he had tried to divert his father''s attention earlier.


    Hate started coursing through his veins. As expected, it was his daughter who started ranting first. Her nasty words echoed inside the dining area for everyone to hear.


    "You were lying." Old Man Huang''s eyes were devoid of any expression as he turned towards Huang Xiaoxuan.


    "I " The CCTV was already unexpected enough, the voice recording was another thing that she had never expected. A normal person would install something that took video but not audio as this was a great invasion of privacy. However, she had forgotten that this cousin of hers was extremely far from normal. Lowering her head, she gritted her teeth. She balled her hand into a fist.


    "And I gave you the chance to tell me the truth."


    "Father this is just a mere misunderstanding. These are children. Are we really going to let this blow out of proportion? Children fight all the time." Huang Li Duo tried to ease the situation. While he thought that his daughter was extremely dumb foring here despite his warnings, he also thought that she didn''t deserve any punishment at all.


    It was clear that Lyca provoked Huang Xiaoxuan. This was Lyca''s fault. If his father needed to punish anyone, it should be Lyca. However, he chose not to voice his opinions. After all, Lyca was still the heir apparent that his father chose.


    "Grandfather I''m sorry. Please forgive me." Huang Xiaoxuan could feel blood in her throat from extreme anger. However, this was not the right time for any of this. "Lyca provoked me. She knew that you wereing, and she purposely provoked me so she could record this and smear my name. However I understand that what I did was wrong. So I I will ept any punishment that you give."


    Lyca snorted in response, mockery apparent on her face. Huang Xiaoxuan might sound apologetic, but she was still ming her for instigating their argument. What a maniptive human. She eyed her beautiful cousin''s slim throat before turning her head away. "It''s alright," she uttered.


    She then held her hand out in front of her cousin. "Pay for the wasted food." The only thing that irked Lyca was the wasted food. She used to live in a ce where food was extremely precious as droughts often urred. How could this woman just waste it because she was angry?


    "I How much was it?" Huang Xiaoxuan asked. A mixture of disbelief and surprise could be seen on her wless face.


    "Fifty plus damages."


    "What damages are you talking about?" Huang Li Duo asked.


    "Dying my lunch," she answered before she took one of the fries and shoved it in her mouth. "Seventy in total."


    Seeing Lyca''s resolute expression, Huang Xiaoxuan opened her purse and put the exact amount of money in front of her elder cousin.


    "Choctes?" Lyca reminded her.


    "What choctes?"


    "You''re here to congratte me, yes?" She held her hand out again, this time it was closer to Huang Xiaoxuan''s face. "Choctes."


    Everyone turned silent. The thing was they could not find what was wrong in Lyca''s words. Huang Xiaoxuan said that she bought the chocte for her cousin. It was only right that she should give it to Lyca, no?

 Chapter 9: Extremely White

    Chapter 9: Extremely White


    It wasn''t even noon and Huang Xiaoxuan was already grumpy. Her face contorted into an ugly scowl as she eyed Lyca who was sitting beside her.


    Of course, Lyca was ignoring her. What did she expect from this woman? She huffed and turned her attention to her phone instead. The ride towards the Huang Security group headquarters needed at least thirty minutes, and she needed to find a way to divert her attention or she wouldn''t be able to stop herself from strangling this woman.


    Meanwhile, Lyca was leaning against her seat, her eyes closed as she thought about her decision to be the heiressst night. She could already feel herself regretting it. And she hadn''t even started doing anything yet.


    Now that Lyca thought about it, working under her grandfather would require a lot of effort, a lot of sleepless nights and maybe skipped meals! A part of her wanted to decline. However, she also could not deny the part of her that was curious about the old man''s ne. She remembered seeing the old man wearing the ne ever since she came to this world.


    While she was not certain about it, she could see that it was the exact same ne that she had when she died in the other world or dimension that she hade from. Her lips thinned as she let out a sigh. Lyca didn''t have a single clue as to how she came to this world. Her closest guess was the existence of an alternate dimension. However, she couldn''t really prove it. She had been reading a lot of books, analyzing a lot of theories and experiments. But it was all futile.


    Not one of them could exin how she arrived in this world.


    Lyca remembered reading some of the empire of Xu''s journals about the universe and the stars. However, she couldn''t remember any that mentioned anything about another dimension. While she came from a world of magic, Lyca had actually never heard of anyone traveling through time or between universes using their abilities.


    But what if this was all a freaky ident? A mistake made by nature? However, there was also the possibility that it wasn''t. And the thing about things that were not idents was that they could be repeated, duplicated. Meaning, those people could also travel to this world just like her.


    Now, Lyca would never let that happen.


    While her inner self had been telling her that this didn''t matter anymore, she still could not shake off the feeling that it did. Or maybe it was just her curiosity she didn''t know. But, she was adamant on finding out the truth soon.


    When Lyca opened her eyes again, they were already at Huang Security. She eyed the thirty floor building surrounded by trees as Huang Xiaoxuan got out of the car to follow Old Man Huang and the others. Huang Security was apany that had been running for decades, so its building was not considered new , but it was well maintained. Despite its walls being turned to ss, the building stillmanded dominance with its archaic vibe.


    Headquartered on top of the hill that the Huang Family owned, Huang Security was an internationally known privatepany that offered a lot of security services. These ranged from cybersecurity, armed transportation of goods, logistics, military technology and hardware.


    She got out of the car and followed the group inside. Eying the array of ck Mercedes that were parked near the entrance, Lyca let out an exasperated sigh. The number of cars seemed to tell her the responsibility that she needed to carry as the CEO of thispany. She had dug her own grave, ah.


    "Today, I will let you choose your trainer," Old Man Huang''s voice reached her ears. She lifted an eyebrow in response. It seemed that her grandfather was really fair about this contest. Not long afterwards, the group arrived in Old Man Huang''s office at the most secure location in this building the core.


    Or that''s what they called the ce.


    The core was a secured and closed room five hundred meters below the ground. It was designed to withstand both nuclear and chemical attacks and was well equipped with its own water system, electricity source and food for the entire Huang Family in case an emergency happened.


    This ce housed the control system for the whole building as well as the old man''s office where he worked with his most trusted people.


    She watched as the old man disabled the various security measures, before finally giving them ess to his office. Lyca could not help but feel tired for her grandfather. How could an old man undergo this procedure everyday? Retinal scans, palm scan, voice matching and other verification technology. This this looked very exhausting ah. Lyca immediately decided that if she was really going to work in this ce, she would live here instead.


    She would not waste her time doing all this everyday as she was sure all these procedures were enough to tire her out.


    "Alright, call them," she heard her grandfather order over the intemunication device that sat on top of his mahogany table. Contrary to the technology that was used to build this ce, her grandfather''s office was actually pretty old? For some reason, the office reminded her of a ce in her previous life. It wasfortable, warm, messy. It felt real.


    Her eyesnded on the framed images on the old man''s bookshelves. There were pictures of all her rtives, his sons and daughter and each of their families. However, what caught her attention was an old photo that was ced on the top-most shelf. It was a family picture of three people she didn''t know. However just like her their hair was extremely white.

 Chapter 10: Take Care of Me

    Chapter 10: Take Care of Me


    The mechanical sound of the door brought Lyca out of her stupor. She turned towards the entrance and stared at the three men walking in their direction. The two younger men instantly caught her attention. ''What eye-candies,'' she mused. Leading the two was an older man, maybe around her father''s age. The man stood in front of her grandfather. His stern gaze was straight as he greeted, "Director, sir."


    "At ease," Old Man Huang nodded. He then turned towards the two younger men. "These two are the best of the best that we have. IQ and martial arts, intelligence andbat. Everyone, I want you to meet, Shen Qui." He pointed at the one on the left then toward the one on the right. "And this is Li Xian." Old Man Hou ced his hands behind his back as he walked around the two.


    "Lyca, what do you think?" Old Man Hou asked.


    "Hmm?"


    "Are they good looking enough?"


    "Oh!" Lyca nodded. She hadn''t expected the old man to actually give in to her demands. Lyca had only said that to irritate her aunt Hou Ying. Who would have thought that the old man would take it seriously? "Good," she answered after a few seconds of awkward silence. She looked at the two men and nodded in approval.


    To be honest, the old man could work in a brothel. It seemed that the old man''s taste was extremely good, ah.


    "Then you chose. Both are qualified to train you."


    "Grandfather," Huang Xiaoxuan chimed in. "Don''t you think we deserve to know everything about them? Their records, their IQ and martial arts skills? Will you really allow Lyca to choose just based on physical appearance?" Huang Xiaoxuan fought the urge to roll her eyes at her cousin''s shallow behavior. No wonder, her father was extremely confident that she would win this bet.


    Eying the two men, Hou Xiaoxuan''s lips curled into an evil smirk. Last night, her father already told her to choose, Li Xian. He might not be as good looking as this Shen Qui but he was actually the top of his ss and was very good in martial arts.


    "Good catch." Old Man Huang nodded. "Lyca are you interested in knowing everything about them?"


    "No," Lyca said before she stood and held her hand in front of Li Xian. "Hand." The otherplied without asking questions. Lyca said nothing as she let go of the man''s hand and turned her attention to Shen Qui. Without saying anything, she held her hand in front of him. Her intentions were clear, she wanted to shake his hand. Just like Li Xian, Shen Qui alsoplied. Seeing Lyca fall into deep thought, Huang Xiaoxuan immediately frowned.


    Could it be that herzy cousin was able to figure out Li Xian''s abilities just by holding his hand? She opened her mouth, wanting to say something. In the end, Huang Xiaoxuan kept her thoughts to herself. She would not want her grandfather to think that she knew about this man''s talents. After a couple of seconds, Lyca still didn''t let go of Shen Qui''s hand. This immediately made thetter a little ufortable as he wondered why this young miss was starting to stroke his hand.


    ''Was this some kind of trick?'' Shen Qui''s mind turned alert.


    "Granddaughter, is something wrong?" Old man Huang asked. Just like the others, he had been confused as to why Lyca would want to hold their hands.


    "Him," Lyca spoke. "I want him." She turned towards the old man but didn''t let go of Shen Qui''s hand.


    Seeing this, Huang Xiaoxuan and even her father immediately celebrated inside their heads. Shen Qui was only the second in his ss, and Li Xian always beat him when it came to martial prowess.


    "Have you decided?" Of course, Old Man Huang also knew that Shen Qui was not as good as Li Xian. His eyes turned towards Lyca''s hand which was still holding Shen Qui''s as he wondered. Could it be that Lyca chose the more good looking Shen Qui because of his appearance and not his talents? Almost immediately the old man turned suspicious. How could he miss the interesting glint in Lyca''s eyes? Old Man Huang had watched her enough to know that Lyca was not a stupid person. In fact, she was the smartest of them all. Lyca nodded and smiled.


    "Shen Qui?" the old man wanted to confirm. While he was still unsure of this matter, he decided to trust his granddaughter. "You want him to train you?"


    "Hmmm."


    "Alright, Shen Qui will apany you in your sses which will start next week. He will act as your ssmate and bodyguard. He will stay around you. This is for your safety. In case someone would want to sabotage this challenge." The old man continued. "Li Xian will stay with Xiaoxuan."


    Seeing both Lyca and Huang Xiaoxuan nod, the old man gave a small nod of approval and added, "After you start with your education, the challenge will be in effect. You are not allowed to go home or contact me. You can, however, ask your father to help you. But, you are not allowed to hurt each other. Am I clear?"


    "Yes grandfather." Huang Xiaoxuan stood next to her new training partner. That''s right, Huang Xiaoxuan did not actually view Li Xian as someone above her, like a trainer. He was just a training partner.


    "Good, everyone leave except Lyca Ummm. Ehem" the old man eyed his entric granddaughter awkwardly, his eyes focused on her hands. "You can let him go now."


    "Oh!" As if an electric pulse hit her, Lyca immediately let Shen Qui''s hands go and gave a meaningful smile to the tall man next to her. "Take care of me," she said, surprising everyone in the room. However, most of them were already used to her way of saying iplete sentences because of herziness. They immediately understood that what Lyca really meant was ''Brother Qui, please take care of this junior.''


    Of course Shen Qui stilled. He had no way of understanding what that sentence meant. However, he had no choice but to give the weird woman a small nod.

 Chapter 11: Personal Fortress

    Chapter 11: Personal Fortress


    Following the director''s instructions, everyone including Shen Qui and Lyca''s father left, leaving Lyca alone with her grandfather. Silence immediately filled the room.


    "Sit." The old man instructed as he sat on his leather chair. "Granddaughter you must be wondering?"


    "Yes." She answered. Of course, she was wondering a lot of things right now. However, she was toozy to ask her questions. Thus, she looked at him and waited for him to exin certain things that she did not understand.


    "Then let me exin." The old man nodded. "I am not going to conceal anything to you as you will be the one that can rece this old man."


    "Competition." Lyca said. Prompting the old man to chuckle.


    "You will defeat her. That is something I already know." He then stood from his seat and faced the picture frames on the shelves. "Our Huang Family is one of the strongest families in this country. People like to associate themselves with us. Other ns worship us. However, this is nothing but a false pretense. These people know that we are growing weaker and weaker as the days pass by." His eyes were glued to the image of his wife. "My sons, althoughpetitive, do not have the talent to be the next leader. They simply do not qualify."


    His words made Lyca frown. The three sons of Old Man Huang were all brilliant and talented in martial arts. Were there any more qualifications aside from this? Moreover, Lyca always knew that their family was rich, why was the old man talking about growing weaker everyday? Of course, Lyca maintained her silence.


    "My dear Granddaughter I want to ask you one thing." The old man made a deliberate pause as he turned and met Lyca''s eyes. "What is your goal in life."


    "To live a happy and carefree life." She answered without batting an eyelid. This answer surprised the old man so much that it made himugh. The more he looked at this granddaughter of his, the more pleasing she became in his eyes.


    "And to achieve that what are you going to do?"


    "Be rich and live a secure life away from people."


    Another boisterousughter echoed inside the room. Not long after, his face turned serious. The old man went back to his seat and stared at his silent granddaughter. Not a trace of amusement could be seen in Lyca''s eyes. It was as if she was really serious about her statement. "Granddaughter, are you serious?"


    "Yes."


    Hearing this, the amusement in the old man''s eyes vanished. "But you epted the position."


    "Yes."


    "Tell me why." His voice was stern yet it wasn''t enough to hide the questions inside him.


    "This granddaughter iszy. The CEO orders people to work. Thus, this granddaughter epted the title so I can order more people to work for me."


    "" The old man was speechless. How could a reasoning like that exist? However, he decided to ignore this and thought that Lyca was only acting like this so he would no longer ask any further questions about her wealth. "What is your future n?"


    "To save enough and leave thepany to live in a house with servants and livezily until I die." Her monotonous answer was already expected. In the end, the old man shook his head, dejectedly.


    "Let me tell you something about our Huang Family and then you decide whether you still want to live a carefree life just like you wish." He said. Without waiting for Lyca to nod her head, the old man continued. "Our Huang Family is not as wealthy as it looks. As I said, we have trained countless numbers of people and yet, not many of them excelled in this world. Mostly they were only average. Our family needed someone that could bring the family back to the pedestal. This was not a small matter. Doing this will not be easy and you will not be able to live the carefree life that you wanted."


    However, Lyca''s face didn''t change. Instead of reacting, Lyca listened attentively, her eyes would casually nce at her grandfather''s ne as her mind thought of a few things.


    "What do you mean?" After a few minutes of silence, she asked her grandfather. "We have money, servants andpany. Why do we need topete for this pedestal?" In her previous life, Lyca had been one of those people who tried her best topete against everyone. She was the best, the heir, the most beautiful. She was feared.


    However, in the end, she still met her match in the hands of the man that she loved.


    In this life, she would not allow that to happen again. Lyca only had one goal. And that was to live a carefree life away from schemes and distrust. To do this, she could not attract attention to herself. Thus, she had secluded herself from her family and lived the way she wanted to live.


    However, the position of the CEO was also quite tempting to her. It wasn''t because she thought she could earn money but it was actually because she had nned to create her own little army to defend her in times of need. Lyca Huang, the next heir, wanted to use this opportunity to build her own base and army using the technology of their securitypany.


    Once she seeds in building her personal fortress, Lyca was nning to retire at a young age. Sleep, enjoy food and live. Wasn''t that a happy future? But, how could her grandfather not understand her real goal? After she expressed her real goal, the man Huang already thought that she would use this opportunity for her own self. A sighed escaped the old man''s lips.


    It seems that this time, the Huang Family stumbled into a truly peculiar heir. "Granddaughter Do you really believe that this world is as simple as you perceive it to be?" He met her granddaughter''s eyes. It seems that he would be forced to exin everything to Lyca for her to understand his words.

 Chapter 12: Calluses

    Chapter 12: Calluses


    In response, Lyca just stared at her grandfather. In her mind, every world was the same. Be it the magical world where she came from or this modern world. It was a ce where foxes devour sheep, where the strong kill the weak. Was there another world aside from this one? Of course, she said nothing. Instead she waited for him to continue his words.


    "Our Huang Family is not some family who got our riches from our business. We dabble in everything, ck market, gambling, the underworld. For years, our family established our wealth using the blood and bodies of our branch families as the foundation."


    Lyca narrowed her eyes, and the cloud of suspicion started to form in her mind. Was it possible that


    "Our Huang Family''s history started hundreds of years ago. There are two well known ns in this city. One is our Huang Family, while the other is the Long Family. Years ago, the Long Family tried to enter into a marriage alliance with our Huang Family. And that was when they betrayed us."


    It was as if a stone was lodged in her throat as she stared at her grandfather. Why did that story sound like what happened in her past life?


    "Since then, the Huang and Long Families have been each other''s nemesis." The old man let out a sigh. "Of course, this was nothing but a legend. Something that was passed from mouth to mouth. No one was able to verify this as the written history of our city had long vanished. All records were burned during the Great n Conflict that happened five hundred years ago."


    "That was one of the saddest parts of our history. The conflict killed many of our assassins, people who had abilities beyond human perception. Some ns were obliterated while some were weakened to the point of losing all of their influence. Of course our Huang n was not one of those ns. We survived and so did the Long n. The conflict killed a lot of people, giving birth to more hatred. Because of this, the feud between our Huang n and Long n continues to this day."


    The older man sighed before he continued, "Even in business, the Long n is trying to provoke us, creating conflict every now and then by sabotaging our businesses in the country and abroad. And to be honest this is getting exhausting."


    Lyca''s lips thinned. It seemed that this Huang Family was moreplicated than she originally thought.


    "Now, to continue," the old man said. "Our family is losing our influence. We are losing in this never ending battle. Our ck market influence is slowly decreasing, our mines have been raided and destroyed, and our experts have been poached by the Long Family." His face turned serious, a tinge of anger visible in his time-worn eyes. "They are trying to swallow our entire family."


    "Grandfather" She looked at him. "All I want is a peaceful life." If she knew that this Huang Family had this kind of background, she would have declined that CEO position! She could only sigh inwardly. Why did her grandfather not tell her this before he dered her as his heir?


    "As I said you can have your peace if the Long Family stops what they are trying to do now. Our Huang Family only wants to focus on business and we had not done anything to provoke the Long Family for years now. However, this changed when the Long Patriarch sumbed to illness five years ago. After his son, the current patriarch, became their n leader, he started provoking us. Surprisingly, that man has gathered the support of many other families."


    Couldn''t they just kill everyone and move on with their lives? Of course, she didn''t utter such words to her grandfather. On the outside, her face wasnguid and rxed. However, on the inside, Lyca was already thinking of ways to easily deal with this problem. Should she poison everyone in the Long Family? Maybe put it in the water that they drink? Attacking them head on sounded troublesome. Or she could just run away and disappear.


    Right now, running away to avoid conflict was really tempting. Seeing her nk expression, her grandfather let out another sigh.


    "I know it is too much to understand. However, you are the only one who can lead the n."


    "Why?" Why her? Lyca''s cousins like Huang Xiaoxuan and her brother Huang Zi Yan were both outstanding. Even her other cousin Huang Gong was also outstanding in both business management and martial arts. Now, the thoughts of building her own fortress using her family''s money hadpletely disappeared from her mind.


    "You don''t need to know that for now," the old man said. "All I wanted to tell you was that you cannot achieve your dream of having a peaceful life not if the Long Family continues their current actions. Think about it."


    Lyca said nothing. Her grandfather was truly cunning. He first asked her what her goal was so he could adjust his story and create an obstacle for that goal. She lowered her head. While she wasn''t sure about the story, she was certain that some of it was true while some was false.


    Still her grandfather did make sense. If the Long Family continued their ns, there was no way that Lyca would have her futurezy days. Shaking her head, Lyca turned towards her grandfather, silently asking if he was going to say more. She had been up for too long, it was already making her head ache. She needed her bed.


    "Before you go I want to know why you chose that kid Shen Qui? Surely, you knew that Li Xian''s ability is much better than his?"


    "Is it?" Lyca raised an eyebrow as she gave her grandfather a mysterious smile. Was Li Xian really better than Shen Qui? Judging from the calluses on their hands, it was the other way around.

 Chapter 13: Lasers

    Chapter 13: Lasers


    Seeing her knowing smile, Old Man Huang immediately decided to check everything about Shen Qui again. However, before he could even start setting this n into motion, Lyca already dered. "Don''t investigate him."


    "Why?" When he saw that Lyca didn''t have the intention to expound upon her words, Old Man Huang nodded. Since she didn''t want him investigated, Lyca must have a n on how to deal with Shen Qui. "Alright. I understand. Since it''s already like this, I will not intervene. Just do whatever you want." He waved his hand, gesturing for her to leave the office. Talking to someone like his granddaughter was truly troublesome as he would be forced to think thoroughly about every word. It seemed that Lyca was indeed the right candidate.


    Slowly, his eyes shifted towards the frame on his shelves. He stared at the picture on the top shelf and sighed.


    ...


    After Lyca left her grandfather''s office, Huang Li Duo decided to give them a tour of the tall building. Of course, a part of this was to show off his daughter, Huang Xiaoxuan''s familiarity with thepany. This was a clear sign that she had been to this building before unlike thezy and ignorant Lyca Huang who had never shown any interest in managing their family business before.


    "This facility isplete. We have a Dojo for people who want to get some sweat out of their bodies, a gym, a firing range equipped with all thetest firearms technology in the world, aputer room, a researchboratory that is in charge of researching and developing weapons and high tech tools." Huang Li Duo watched Lyca''s nk expression as he gritted his teeth inwardly. Everything that he said could amaze anyone. Why was Lyca not showing interest in any of this? Was it possible that she did not understand his words? "Do you want me to exin?" he asked Lyca who was looking at the lighting in the all white corridor that they were walking through. Was she wondering about the lighting?


    Huang Li Duo couldn''t stop himself from frowning. The only good thing about this tour was the fact that Lyca''s father, Huang Sheng Hong didn''t apany them. He had actually decided to go to the training room and watch the new batch of recruits train while leaving his daughter alone to tour thepany with Huang Li Duo.


    "That one." As expected, Lyca pointed at the white light that was used in the corridors. "Does it havesers?"


    Her question surprised him. However, he quickly recovered and nodded. "Yes, thesers will be activated after working hours. Every corridor that leads to the research facility has aser mechanism that automatically detects intruders." To make this ce more secure, not many people knew about thesers. Even Huang Xiaoxuan who apanied him often since she was a child did not know of this matter. "However, that is confidential. I wonder how you knew that it has aser mechanism? Did my younger brother tell you that?" He raised an eyebrow. He was already nning to tell all this to his father.


    As the patriarch and director of thepany, Huang Yi Cong clearly told everyone who knew about the security mechanisms of this building not to tell anyone about them. This was one of their highly guarded secrets. How could Huang Sheng Hong tell Lyca about this confidential secret? Wasn''t that a breach of their father''s trust?


    "I wouldn''t ask if I knew." Lyca''s words immediately made him frown. He opened his mouth to rebut her only to realize that he actually didn''t know what to tell her. Lyca indeed was wondering if it hadsers. She was asking a fucking question! Embarrassed at his own assumptions, Huang Li Duo turned his head away and continued talking about other things inside the building instead.


    "Just like the military, we recruit young people and train them. We do this because our elites ept difficult missions from privatepanies. These missions are the ones that must be kept a secret from everyone. If something goes wrong, the employer would not ept any responsibility for the mission. Of course, most of these youngsters are from different orphanages and do not have immediate families." This wasmon knowledge in the family. The Huang Family was not only a securitypany but it did all sorts of business including assassinations, secret missions and other confidential things that needed utmost secrecy.


    "Once one of you bes the new CEO, every mission taken will need your approval. You along with some important people in thepany will decide which missions will be epted." Prideced his voice. "Our Huang Family does not ept missions without a hundred percent guarantee that we can do it. We pride ourselves in our hundred percent sessful mission rating." He eyed Lyca and smirked when he saw herpletely in a daze.


    What he didn''t know was that despite Lyca''s nk expression, she was already cursing andining inwardly. Deciding which missions to take? Meetings? Managing the recruits? All of these needed hard work! How could she act happy when she heard such stuff? Soon afterward, Lyca''s mood turned sour. Her goal of living a happy andzy life seemed to be farther away than what she originally thought.


    Seeing her downcast expression and slumped shoulders, Huang Li Duo and Huang Xiaoxuanughed inwardly. They immediately thought that Lyca was so shocked at all this that she turned gloomy. She must have realized that her knowledge about thepany was too little. What an embarrassment!


    These thoughts made Huang Li Duo and Huang Xiaoxuan beam. They eyed each other, their eyes glinting with mischief as they continued walking.


    "Next we will go to the training grounds." Huang Li Duo hid the victorious smile from his face and stered a worried look in its ce. "Lyca I hope you won''t be surprised by any of this. Our recruits tend to be so hot blooded and fierce. Sometimes, these youths can''t control themselves and will shed some blood while practicing."

 Chapter 14: Human Anatomy

    Chapter 14: Human Anatomy


    Lyca rolled her eyes inwardly. Was this man expecting her to puke from a little blood? She ignored Huang Li Duo''s meaningful gaze towards his daughter and just pretended to continue staring at the lights.


    After a couple of minutes, the trio arrived at the training grounds which was located on an underground floor of the building. This was a few floors above her grandfather''s office. She then watched her uncle enter two passcodes, each longer than twelve characters so they could enter the training area.


    "The codes change every week. You need to have them here," Huang Li Duo pointed at his temple. "to be able to stay in this area. If you fail to memorize the code, then you won''t be able to get in." He gave a smug smile. For a few seconds, he waited for her to show some sort of a reaction. In fact, he was only saying this to try and get a reaction from his niece. Each person could actually use their ID cards to enter this area. Lyca doesn''t need to know any of that.


    Seeing Lyca''szy gaze, Huang Li Duo couldn''t help but sneer inwardly. She was really good at pretending!


    To his knowledge, Lyca had never visited this ce before. It was only normal for her to feel amazed with all the technology in front of her. However, it seemed that just like her father, Huang Sheng Hong, Lyca''s face was almost paralyzed. Her default nk appearance only made her look dumb! Huang Li Duo couldn''t help but feel angry towards his father''s unfair decision about this matter. Was the old man trying to run theirpany to the ground? Just what was he thinking?


    The electronic sound of the reinforced door being opened brought him back from his stupor. This time, the grand training grounds made Lyca''s upper lips twitch. This underground facility was huge and bright. However, what surprised her was the fact that the training grounds in front of them really looked like a mini forest. She could see grass everywhere. There were also trees and


    "I can understand the surprise," Huang Xiaoxuan whispered. "This is your first time here. But let me tell you this, those trees are not real. They areputer generated."


    Lyca raised an eyebrow. Computer generated trees? This was the first time that she had heard of that.


    "This is like a hugeputer. Everything here uses 8G technology that creates a life-like environment. Depending on the type of training that the recruits are doing, we can create an extremely cold environment with fake snow and cold temperatures, desert-like environments with nothing but sand, and of course we can create dense forests like this," Huang Li Duo proudly rattled off. "Someone!" his voice echoed. "Turn off the mechanisms!"


    After a few seconds, the image in front of Lyca slowly blurred until itpletely vanished, leaving nothing but steel walls. Surprisingly, she could see real soil with a few rocks. Still, the area was quiterge and was divided by steel-like walls.


    "We try to mimic real training grounds, thus, we use soil," Huang Li Duo continued. His eyes were glued on the middle aged man approaching them. "This is the person in charge of training the recruits. We also have another person in charge of the elites. These men have their own dietitians to ensure that they have perfectly bnced meals that are beneficial for their bodies. To your right, you can see the hospital. It''s actually a clinic, but because of the number of people going in there everyday, most people started calling it a hospital. Nothing severe, just some stitches or muscles they pull due to training."


    "Lieutenant Colonel, sir," the middle aged man immediately greeted Huang Li Duo. He stood ramrod straight a few feet away from his superior, eyes steely and unyielding.


    "At ease." Huang Li Duo nodded. "This is Major Yun Jixi, the one in charge of training. Major, you already know my daughter, Huang Xiaoxuan. And this is my niece Lyca Huang." He said as he pointed as he pointed at Lyca. "She just returned from abroad," he immediately lied. Even Huang Li Duo couldn''t stomach the fact that Lyca had just stayed inside her house even if she had been back for almost an year now. "From now on, these two will asionallye in here to train with the recruits and elites." Huang Li Duo made a deliberate pause. "Take me to the Elites."


    "Yes, Sir!" Major Yun immediately led them towards the training grounds.


    "This training ground is about the size of six football fields and is divided into four parts. The first section is where we train recruits for the second stage." Huang Li Duo put his hands behind his back as he continued walking. He would look at Lyca from time to time, observing the changes in thetter''s face. "The first stage is for all the conditioning trainings and basic military skill, this is done outside. We have about fifteen hectares for that purpose. The people who pass the training will thene here to learn our secret military skills and choose which weapon they would like to specialize inaside from firearms of course."


    Huang Li Duo continued, "Major Yun, there''s no need to show the equipment sections. Go directly to the Assault Section." He then eyed Lyca and started exining. "The Assault Section is a special unit where we teach human anatomy. In short, it is the part where we teach them how to kill using an individual''s weakness. Specialmando tactics as well as hand to handbat are also taught there. This area is thergest among the four sections."


    Lyca nodded in response. To be honest, everything about this ce sounded impressive. This was not something that she had seen in her previous life.


    "Alright, we''re here." Huang Li Duo walked inside and smiled. "Oh! Look! Perfect timing! They are dissecting a corpse! I believe we should go and watch them. This will also serve as a lesson to the both of you. I believe the instructor is showing them some of the most vulnerable parts of the human body!" He started beaming. "What do you think, Lyca?"


    Lyca looked at Huang Li Duo. As usual, her gaze didn''t contain any emotion. However, on the inside, Lyca felt a little troubled. Why would they dissect corpses? Wasn''t this a securitypany?


    The more information she had about thispany, the more confused she became. Why did it sound like this was a secret facility that trained assassins? Wasn''t this just like her previous life?

 Chapter 15: Lovers

    Chapter 15: Lovers


    "No." Lyca''s words were already expected. However, this didn''t damper Huang Li Duo''s mood for his scheme. Huang Li Duo had been working in thispany since he was twenty. He knew how these people worked. He knew that the strong would never respect the weak. Once they see how weak Lyca was, they would never respect her as a leader.


    He pursed his lips as they continued walking. Of course, he was far from done. Since Lyca was already here why not take advantage of it? When the group entered themando and martial arts section, the soldiers inside immediately stood still, face stern and greeted Huang Li Duo. "At ease gentlemen." He said and nodded towards Shen Qui and Li Xian who were following them.


    Earlier, Huang Li Duo had made the two intentionally hear their conversation. He wanted them to know that Lyca was the future leader and yet she was this weak. What was good in serving the weak? "Today, two lieutenants are going to demonstrate a new technique that everyone will learn. This is a highly skilled technique that will focus on your agility instead of strength." He signaled both Lyca and his daughter to stand in with the soldiers. "In the battle, the strongest one does not necessarily end up as the victor. Strength does not equate to victory. I have seen tall, big men with the strength of a bull get defeated by someone weaker but more agile. Today, these gentlemen will show you a certain footwork that will make you evade the strong attacks of your enemy. This footwork will also make your body faster, agile. But this is not for everyone."


    Huang Li Dup roamed his eyes to everyone. "Usually, only the ones with lighter physique can use such moves. Which is why this is good for covert assassinations that require silent killings. Not only will this make you more agile, it will also make you scale in high walls and mount yourselves in trees. Again, not everyone has the talent to do this, but it will be very important for survival skills. Do you understand me?"


    This time Lyca attentively listened to his words. These moves somehow made her interested. In her previous worlds, there were people who used magic and there were people who practiced Qing Gong. This Qing Gong was a martial art technique that would make the practitioner run faster and have lighter footsteps. People who practiced Qing Gong could perform gravity defying moves like gliding in water. She immediately wondered if this set of moves was the same as one that Qing Gong warriors in her previous life used to practice.


    "Yes Sir!"


    Lyca calmly watched as Shen Qui and Li Xian, both tall men who were wearing a set of ck uniforms stood on the stage in front of everyone. They bowed at each other before performing a certain set of hand movement. Then the two started exchanging blows. Of course, Lyca''s eyes immediately examined Shen Qui''s movements. She frowned.


    The man was more agile and lightpared to Li Xian. However, he was clearly not hitting Li Xian in the right spots. It was as if he was avoiding hitting his opponent. She narrowed her eyes. In her previous life, Lyca was not that strongpared to other people. That was because she never practiced strength training. Her martial arts skills were never intended to prolong the fight with extravagant and powerful movements. Her martial arts was aimed to kill as soon as she encountered the enemy.


    In her previous world, Lyca started studying acupuncture points since she was three. Her training soon started when she turned five. However, that training only involved training her eyes and senses. She needed to observe her opponents carefully through her eyes, nose, ears and the sense of touch. She needed to immediately find their weakness and strike.


    The kill should be quick and silent. Then that was it. Missionpleted.


    Seeing Shen Qui''s powerful but useless moves made her wonder why a man capable of killing Li Xian with a mere punch was avoiding hitting the man? Was it possible that Shen Qui liked Li Xian? Lyca nodded her head. Soon after, she had lost interest in this fake fighting and started thinking about the recent drama that she watched while she was on her king size bed, eating her grapes.


    Wasn''t that a drama about two men in the same sect who started off as enemies but then became sworn brothers and then fell in love with each other?


    Was it possible that Shen Qui and Li Xian were like that too? Now that she thought of it, Shen Qui was really beautiful to a point that he started looking like a woman. His body was lean and tall. On the other hand, Li Xian was not that good lookingpared to Shen Qui, but the aura surrounding him was undeniably very manly. Looking at Li Xian was like staring at a sharp sword. The two almost seemed to have the same height but Li Xian''s body was obviously bigger. His muscles bulged under his ck fit shirt.


    She looked at the two people again and realized that Li Xian was also not hitting Shen Qui on the right spots! It''s like they don''t want to injure each other! Her nk expression soon turned to glee as excitement shed in her eyes. Of course, Lyca misunderstood everything.


    In her previous life, a practice or a demonstration like this was never fake. In fact, each practitioner needed to do their best to fatally injure the opponent to show that they deserve their position in the family. Everyone in their family treated a practice match like a real battle. Everything was always a life and death situation.


    Lyca was so used to such concepts that when she saw Li Xian and Shen Qui avoiding each other''s vital points, she immediately thought that it was a staged battle aimed to impress the new recruit. That or Shen Qui and Li Xian were actually lovers who loved each other so much they couldn''t bear to hurt each other even in a practice match.

 Chapter 16: Battleground

    Chapter 16: Battleground


    "Li Xian wins!" Huang Xiaoxuan was the first to shout the moment the match was over, Li Xian''s kick hit Shen Qui''s chest. She immediately looked at Lyca only for her to see thetter yawning, her eyes half closed. Huang Xiaoxuan immediately turned red in anger. She elbowed her. "Lyca! Stop embarrassing the Huang Family!" She gritted her teeth. As a proud phoenix of the Huang Family, Huang Xiaoxuan always walked with her head held high, her nose pointed at the skies. She was from the morous and talented Huang Family this was something that her father ingrained into her.


    Huang Family was one of the top two families in Long City. They were brave yet smart, talented yet reliable, hard working yet persevered. These were the core values of their family. How could someone like Lyca even call herself one of them? This was preposterous!


    As usual, Lyca just gave her a confused look. Right now, Huang Xiaoxuan was already wondering how did this woman who looked like a stupid fool earn her money that their grandfather was so proud of. Wasn''t that just money? She lowered her head, fist clenched. Who knows if this fool actually used her body to earn all that money? The more Huang Xiaoxuan thought about it, the more she looked down on Lyca!


    "Alright Xiaoxuan I know you have already practiced some of the steps since you were a child. Why don''t you demonstrate them to our new recruits?" Just like his daughter, Huang Li Duo was a very proud man. This was also because Huang Li Duo was gifted with two smart and talented children. How could he refuse this opportunity to show off the gap in between her phoenix of a daughter and Lyca? "Everyone thedy next to my daughter is Lyca Huang. Some of you might not have heard her name before as she just arrived from abroad. She is the daughter of my third brother, Lieutenant Huang Sheng Hong who worked with your drill master when you were training in body conditioning above!"


    Lyca didn''t even turn her head to look at everyone. She just continued staring at Shen Qui with her eyes half closed. The gesture was pretty simple but everyone immediately noticed it. Shen Qui was indeed very good looking. Was it possible that one of the Huang Family memebers had taken a fancy to the young man?


    "Alright father!" Huang Xiaoxuan immediately nodded, her face was stern and serious. Since Lyca was showing how stupid she was, Huang Xiaoxuan had decided to show how excellent she truly was. "I call this movement, thirty six light technique. She looked at everyone. "Please watch carefully." Huang Xiaoxuan immediately started bending her body, like a skilled gymnast as she performed a series of stunts that involved tumbling, showing off her bnce, strength and flexibility. Then she made a deliberate pause and looked at everyone. "I need someone to act as my sparring partner." Of course, she already knew who she would be picking. "Cousin Lyca! Will you please"


    "No." Lyca''s answer was enough to make her speechless. Everyone around them immediately looked at Lyca then to Huang Li Duo and Huang Xiaoxuan. How could Lyca refuse a challenge? Of course, Lyca couldn''t care less about these people''s thoughts. She was already sleepy, hungry and tired. If she decides to fight, who knows what her hungry self would do?


    "It''s alright Xiaoxuan just chose someone else." Huang Li Duo said. "Lyca just arrived from abroad. She also didn''t grow up around our recruits. It is only natural for her to feel fear and get intimidated by your performance."


    Lyca fought the urge to roll her eyes. Performance? A circus performance? "I want to go." She eyed her uncle. "Home." Of course, she didn''t miss the disgusting from the new recruits. However, she was really hungry to even think about people she doesn''t know.


    "Well then"


    "Cousin " Huang Xiaoxuan interrupted her father. She walked towards Lyca. "As the younger generation of Huang Family, I believe it is best that we show the new recruits our formidable talents. After all, we will soon take over thepany."


    "I believe my younger cousin is right." A man''s voice suddenly came from behind the recruits. Everyone turned their heads, except Lyca. The voice was already familiar to her. Wasn''t this the son of her Eldest Aunt Huang Ying? The young master of the Zhang Family, Zhang Jiu.


    The man walked in front of the recruit. He eyed Lyca for a few seconds before he bowed at his Uncle Huang Li Duo. "The younger generation of the Huang Family is the future of thispany." He uttered. Despite being a part of the Zhang Family, Zhang Jiu liked to spend his time in this training facility to train his body. He would join the training of some elites and loved to show off his skills in handling guns. "Young Cousin Lyca please feel free to show us your formidable skills. This is not some socialite meeting where people with the most grace and elegance are praised. Treat this as a real battleground."


    Hearing Zhang Jiu''s words, Huang Xiaoxuan''s pride bloated. She eyed Lyca. "Cousin" The sudden smile on Lyca''s face made her forget what she was about to say. She opened her mouth to say something else. Next time she knew Lyca was no longer standing a few feet away from her.


    *THUD*


    Everyone widened their eyes when they noticed Huang Xiaoxuan sprawled on the floor, unconscious. Everything happened too quick that not many people saw what transpired before their eyes. Everyone took a step back out of instinct, as if a predator just attacked one of their own.


    The next time they knew, Lyca was already standing in front of Zhang Jiu, beaming, like a predator who just found her prey.


    "Lyca what have you done!?" Huang Li Duo''s voice interrupted the tense environment. He immediately ran towards her daughter, panic can be seen in his eyes.


    "Battleground." Lyca''s voice was melodious. She looked at the shocked expression of her older cousin Zhang Jiu. On the battleground, one would not wait for their enemy to tell them that they were ready for them to start the fight. "Right, cousin?"

 Chapter 17: Provoke

    Chapter 17: Provoke


    Battleground.


    One word was enough to stop Zhang Jiu''s mind from functioning. He stared at her smile as a chill ran down his spine. What was happening? Until now, he wasn''t able to understand what had gone down. He didn''t see Lyca move, all he saw was Huang Xiaoxuan falling on the ground like a doll whose strings were severed. And yet, her word ''battleground'' was enough for him to understand the reason behind her actions.


    In front of an enemy, talking was useless. It was better to act and show how formidable you are in one move. "You"


    "I am tired." Lyca withdrew her gaze. Once again, her face turned nk, no sign of the chilling appearance that she had earlier could be seen in her eyes. What was happening? Even Huang Li Duo was confused.


    "Lyca! Exin yourself now! What did you do to" Before Huang Li Duo couldplete his sentence, his daughter stirred and opened her eyes. Confusion could be seen in Huang Xiaoxuan''s eyes as she looked at her father. Did something happen?


    "Father?" she asked. Until now, Huang Xiaoxuan didn''t have any idea that Lyca had already attacked her and made her unconscious in a single move. She looked at her father''s anger as she wondered why she was in her father''s arms. "Father I am fine." She immediately noticed that her father''s gaze was glued at Lyca. "Father"


    "Li Xian take her to the infirmary. Have the doctors thoroughly check her and see if she injured something." He feared that his daughter actually suffered an internal bleeding! While most of the people here didn''t see the attacking, Huang Li Duo saw Lyca use her finger to attack something in his daughter''s neck. It was too quick that he wasn''t sure what part of his daughter''s neck was hit.


    The next thing that he saw was Huang Xiaoxuan fainting from that attack. Too quick. It was just too quick that he could not understand what had happened. Why would Lyca attack his daughter? However, Lyca''s one word made him understand her intention. Zhang Jiu said to treat this as a battle ground. And treat it as such she did. In a fight, there was no ce for permission and mercy. No hesitation or doubts. It was a life or death situation.


    "Father"


    "Just follow Li Xian." He stood and helped his daughter up. Huang Li Duo might be extremely prideful and arrogant but he would always prioritize his children first. He gave Huang Xiaoxuan a gentle look before he patted her shoulder, as if assuring her that everything would be fine. Then he turned towards Lyca who was not even looking at him but was looking at Zhang Jiu instead.


    "Lyca.." He started, his eyes nce through Lyca''s thin arms and small waist. Clearly, she never practiced any strength training and would be weak against someone double her size. However, that attack that she did was too quick and merciless. If she faced someone bigger than her, even Huang Li Duo won''t be able to tell which one will win. "Exin yourself."


    "Battlefield." Lyca turned her attention towards Huang Li Duo. She was honestly toozy to exin. Since these people didn''t understand her intention then she wouldn''t waste her saliva exining herself to stupid people! Shezily looked at Huang Li Duo before she looked at Shen Qui. Seeing thetter was already staring at her, Lyca suddenly winked at him.


    She winked at Shen Qui! This cemented their assumption that this Lady Huang is indeed infatuated with Shen Qui!


    "Talk properly!" Huang Li Duo said, his voice was not loud yet it contained the authority that he held in this training ground. "Why did you hurt her when she was unprepared? You took her by surprise and fatally wounded her!"


    Lyca raised an eyebrow. Is this old man serious? "She''s alive, isn''t she?" If she intended to fatally hurt Huang Xiaoxuan, she would probably be dead by now.


    "You"Of course, Huang Li Duo couldn''t rebut her words. His daughter was indeed alive and well. She was able to walk on her own, her face is not pale, her eyes were also clear and bright. "Still! That attack was uncalled for?"


    "Formidable talents." Lyca said. "What you call formidable is called gymnastics. What I call formidable is enough to kill you in three seconds." She shook her head. She immediately regretted her words. She spoke too much. It seems that all energy in her body was about to run out. She seriously needed her sleep.


    Who would have thought that Lyca would be thinking about sleeping in the middle of a tense atmosphere like this?


    "Cousin what you did was indeed brilliant but it was far too dangerous. Xiaoxuan is a weak little girl. How could you attack her and make her faint?" Zhang Jiu chimed in. "Your attack was too crafty but it was dirty to surprise your opponent like that."


    Lyca didn''t respond. She scoffed and gave him a mocking smirk. Dirty? Crafty? These people were clueless about what a battlefield is! Of course, she chose to keep her words to herself and waited for her uncle to say something. Lyca knew that despite Huang Li Duo''s arrogance, the man was loyal to her grandfather. He was loyal to the Huang Family. And that was one of the reasons why he was still standing there in front of Lyca.


    But that didn''t mean she would just let this man trample her and attempt to hurt her. She had been silent for too long that these people thought they could actually scheme against her. How pitiful. If she was not toozy to act, this Huang Li Duo and even Zhang Jiu would have also lost their consciousness by now. After all, she was always ruthless to people who were nning to hurt her.


    Lyca''s mind was actually pretty simple. She would let these people talk to her as if she is a nuisance. But she won''t let them touch a strand of her hair. Lyca intentionally hurt Huang Xiaoxuan to establish this fact. She wanted Huang Li Duo and Zhang Jiu to understand that she was not someone that they would want to provoke.

 Chapter 18: Grounded

    Chapter 18: Grounded


    Huang Li Duo''s face turned dark. How could he let this woman continue to disrespect him in front of everyone? "Let''s go to the Directors office." He looked at Shen Qui. "Come with us. You will act as a witness."


    When Lyca heard this, her mood immediately became worse. Why did she need to talk to her grandfather? She needed to rest! She lowered her gaze hiding the irritation that she felt inside. She needed to finish this as quickly as possible.


    Of course, Lyca said nothing as she followed her uncle back to her grandfather''s office. She kept her head lowered, hiding the anger in her eyes. In her previous life, the heir did not need to exin why she killed someone. It seems that the rules of this world were indeed different. She nced at her uncle''s dark face and immediately realized that this Huang Li Duo and his daughter Huang Xiaoxuan were so alike. They cannot solve the matter on their own and would prefer to involve other people.


    This should be the reason why Old Man Huang didn''t choose this man to lead thepany! After all, he was a bit stupid and was too arrogant.


    "Cousin where did you learn that move?" she heard Zhang Jiu utter. He was walking next to her. "Now that I think about it that move is not one of the techniques that we have in the Huang Family. Are you secretly learning some moves like that to surprise everyone? Also the movement of your feet was too light and agile! Does this mean you are secretly practicing our light footsteps technique? Say, who is your master? Can you introduce me to your master? How about this why don''t we fight and If I win you will introduce me to your master? I was thinking"


    A chatterbox! Lyca didn''t know if she shouldugh or cry at Zhang Jiu''s changes. Of course, she immediately made a mental note to avoid this person in the future. Clearly, this Zhang Jiu loved to fight. Now that he saw Lyca''s ability, all the disgust that he felt earlier vanished like smoke in the air. He immediately felt the need to challenge his younger cousin.


    "No." Lyca''s words interrupted his three minute chatter.


    "What do you mean no? No as in you won''t introduce me to your master? Or no, you won''t fight with me? Are you saying that you are practicing a different technique? Or are you saying that you didn''t secretly learn it? Oh! You want to keep your moves a secret? That is indeed very reasonable. You can''t just teach someone a secret technique like that. Thus, I wanted you to introduce me to your master and"


    Lyca was truly speechless. How could someone talk so much? Just hearing him talk for a few minutes was already making her head ache. Was this person for real? Lyca decided to ignore her sense of hearing and continued walking towards her grandfather''s office. After a few minutes of identification, they finally arrived inside the office. Surprisingly, Li Xian, Huang Xiaoxuan and even Lyca''s father Huang Sheng Hong were already in the office.


    "Father." Huang Li Duo immediately started narrating what happened and would asionally ask Shen Qui and Li Xian to corroborate his story. "I believe it is only right to punish her for attacking Huang Xiaoxuan with the intent to kill her."


    Huang Sheng Hong''s snort followed his older brother''s words. He looked at his own daughter, pride brimming in his eyes before sending a gaze full of ridicule to Huang Li Duo. As Lyca''s father, Sheng Hong was aware what kind of woman his daughter was. However, he was not the type of person who loves boasting. Moreover, Lyca had always been clear that she did not want to attract any attention to herself. His daughter never showed interest in the family business and he was not nning to force her something she does not like.


    All he wanted was for her to live a happy life.


    However, these people seemed to think that Lyca was a pushover. He sneered inwardly. "We already watched the video, elder brother." He said. He knew that Huang Li Duo would try something like this. So, he immediately went back to his father''s office to warn him about it.


    In the end, Old Man Huang watched everything from the camera in the training grounds.


    "We also know why she acted that way." Huang Sheng Hong continued. He eyed his daughter''s sleepy eyes. Seeing this, he immediately knew what his daughter was thinking right now.


    Sleep.


    As usual, Lyca wanted her sleep. She must have been really irritated and angry inwardly. Sheng Hong forced himself not tough at his daughter''s expression and looked at his brother instead. This man was really scheming.


    "Intent to kill?" Old Man Huang spoke. "If Lyca wanted to kill Xiaoxuan do you think she would wake up in a matter of minutes?" He raised an eyebrow. The old man already realized his mistake of agreeing to this challenge. He should have just stood on his ground and dered Lyca the heiress.


    However, it was toote. He could already see the effects of what he did. A sigh left his lips. The white haired heir was always the most capable one. That was something that he himself knew from his experience. But this was a secret that only the patriarch should know. He could not let the other family know the Huang Family''s secret.


    "Father!" Huang Li Duo''s face darkened. The old man really favored Lyca!


    "However, I do agree. That attack was indeed uncalled for." The old man suddenly said. Right now, he understood some of the things that his granddaughter loved. Someone who wants azy and casual life would not want to stay in this ce for too long. "That''s why I will punish Lyca a month of staying in her family''s mansion. You will have to skip a few days of sses but that should not be a problem."


    "Grounded?" Lyca asked. She couldn''t hide the stars in her eyes.


    "Yes. You are grounded." The old man sighed. As expected, Lyca immediately lowered her head, hiding the happiness that she felt inside. The old man didn''t know if he wouldugh or cry. This granddaughter of his was really unique.


    .....


    Schedule: 1-2 chapters everyday at reset. Please vote for this novel. I needed to get this into top 50 to have more readers. This novel is not contracted and I am still thinking if I should contract it or not. So I need your help to advertise it through the rankings. Thank you.

 Chapter 19: Live With Me

    Chapter 19: Live With Me


    "Young Lady, Mr. Shen is waiting for you downstairs." Yi''an, one of Lyca''s beloved ''assistants'' said. She continuedbing Lyca''s long hair. "For more than thirty minutes now. The other servants said that he seemed irritated."


    "Is he standing?'' Lyca asked. It had been a week since her punishment started and this was the first time Shen Qui hade to see her, unannounced. It was nine in the morning. Who visits at that time like this without even telling her in advance? Lyca was still sleeping when he arrived. She needed time to prepare.


    "Yes, Young Lady. He refused to sit."


    "His fault." Lyca said. "Bun." She said. Getting ready with such long hair was so annoying. However, her mother loved her hair so much and she loved to braid it from time to time. Because of this Lyca decided not to cut her hair at least not now. In this world, Lyca had grown attached to the two people who spoiled her too much. Her parents.


    In her previous life, her parents were so focused on their own jobs that she had grown closer to her maternal family the family who adopted her when she lost her mother and father. However, her parents in this world were really different than the ones she previously had.


    They were caring and loving. They were rich and loved to buy her things. And most importantly, her parents are both good cooks! How could such people exist in this world? Sometimes Lyca couldn''t help but wonder if she was already in heaven. Of course, she knew that was very unlikely as she was a sinner. Surely, the sins she hadmitted was enough for her to rot in hell.


    Sadly, her mother was not here to help her braid her thigh length hair. So she settled for a bun on top of her hair instead. At least it would be quicker that way. She nced at Yi''an who was happily doing her hair into a messy bun that she liked the most. One word and Yi''an already understood her intention.


    This is why she loved this smart servant the most. After a few more minutes, Lyca put on light makeup topliment her pale yellow dress that emphasized her jade like pale skin. She especially made herself more beautiful when she knew that she would see the beautiful man Shen Qui.


    After all, she couldn''t let people think the man was even more beautiful than the owner of the house. Lyca chuckled at her own thoughts. "Leave." She uttered. Yi''an immediatelyplied. Seeing her servant gone, the smiling face that she had earlier disappeared. She then made sure that the dagger in her legs was perfectly hidden. She then opened her jewelry box and chose a set of ne equipped with anti poison and a bracelet with her personalized twelve needles.


    Lyca was not nning to lower her guard in front of a man who was hiding his true strength. After making sure that she looked pleasing enough, Lyca left her room and went to the back garden where Shen Qui was already waiting for almost an hour now. The back area of the mansion had a small garden and a swimming pool which Lyca loved. Of course, she doesn''t swim it would be too tiring. Instead, she asked her father to make an outdoor space where she couldnguidly lie and spend her afternoons while reading a book or sleeping.


    The area was of course, covered from the heat of the sun. It is well equipped with LED lights that she wanted to have in case she wanted to eat her dinner in this space. Each piece of furnishings in this patio was requested by Lyca as they made her life easier while staying in this space.


    "Miss Huang." Shen Qui immediately greeted her when he saw her. No smile nor anger could be seen in his eyes.


    "Sit." She took a seat at the modr white sofa that she wanted as she could easily turn it into a small bed. "Eat with me." She eyed the three servants that wereing with tes and sses in hand. "Breakfast." She was really hungry, ah.


    Surprisingly Shen Qui took a seat without saying anything. "Thank you Miss Huang but I already finished my breakfast."


    "Lyca." She corrected him. Polite people made her ufortable. She couldn''t trust people who were overly polite or courteous. For some reason, she thought that they were scheming against her. Of course, this intuition was a part of her past life. Something that she couldn''t just abandon.


    "I am here to talk about the arrangement of the Director. He said I needed to train you. I would like to"


    "Live with me." Lyca immediately said.


    "Excuse me?" A frown appeared in his stern face. Live with her? What is that supposed to mean?


    "Live with me." Lyca said. She knew that he had heard her clearly the first time. However, Lyca was toozy to expound her simple words. So she repeated her words instead. "Live with me."


    "Miss Hu Lyca I don''t understand. You want me to live with you? In this mansion?"


    "Apartment." Lyca said. Once she started going to school, she was not going to stay in this mansion anymore. One was because it was part of the deal and second is because this was far from the school that they were going to attend. It is not very ideal at all.


    "But that" Confused, Shen Qui didn''t continue his words. He stared at the woman''s beautiful face, wondering if she was serious. Why would she want him to live with her? He remembered how Li Xian started teasing him about being liked by Lyca. However, he never put it in his head.


    Could it be that Lyca was one of those women who loves chasing men that didn''t like them? The thought immediately made him tense. Was he supposed to ept this offer? "Lyca I don''t think this  this is proper. A man and a woman living in one space is just"


    Amused, Lyca smiled. How could she not understand his meaning? "Just what?"


    ....


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 Chapter 20: A Fast Learner

    Chapter 20: A Fast Learner


    "Inappropriate, Miss Huang. It''s inappropriate." Shen Qui forced himself to maintain a straight face.


    "It''s not." She immediately responded as she started eating her pancakes. "Nobat training. I want weapons."


    "You wanted me to train you in handling weapons?"


    She nodded. This man was a fast learner! First of all, she did not want to hurt herself in training various martial arts. Moreover, doing this would also affect the technique that she already knew. Second, Lyca chose weapons training as she wanted to familiarize herself in different types of weapons aside from her dagger and needles. Lyca was also nning to create a new weapon using the current technology that thepany had. This weapon would be as light as her needles and as fast as her daggers. However, she was nning to create something that activates without using too much effort.


    The goal was always to make her life easier and smoother. No need to think about the unnecessary things.


    "What kind of weapon?"


    "Everything."


    Shen Qui stared at her for a few seconds. He thought back to the disy he saw the other week. He was not very familiar with her moves but because of the Qi in his body, he was able to see her actions clearly. Shen Qui had his suspicions but he had decided not to tell anyone about it. But that movement was clearly an indicator that this miss was an expert that could kill anyone if she wanted to.


    Was that the reason why she wanted to be trained in weapons instead? Shen Qui was always a man who took his job seriously. He frowned and looked at Lyca who had just finished eating her pancake and was now getting herself a new one. "The Director told me to train you in everything that includes martial arts too. I can train you in both martial arts and weapon handling. I can also teach you battle strategies." To him, Old Man Huang''s words were absolute. Since Old Man Huang wanted him to train this little girl then he would train her.


    "No." Lyca shook her head. She finished another pancake before she added. "Honey." She held her hand in front of him.


    "Oh!" Shen Qui immediately passed her the honey. Then he waited for her to say something. Sadly, Lyca never spoke again. Instead, she finished another batch of pancakes and started eating the greasy fried chicken. It was followed by another meat and vegetable sd before finally eating some fruits and a cake. Forty minutes and two seconds. Shen Qui had to count. He couldn''t help it.


    His gaze turned towards her skinny body, her small face, her white hair, her weak arms. Then he asked himself. ''Where did all the food she ate go to?'' He couldn''t help but wonder. However, when he thought about her having an eating disorder, his thoughts soon became full of pity.


    As expected, no one was born perfect.


    "Im done." Lyca said as she dabbed the napkin on her lips. She eyed Shen Qui who had been silent now. "Weapons?"


    "As per instructed by the director, I will teach you both weapons and martial arts." He said sternly.


    "You will live with me?" she asked.


    "No. I am not living with you."


    Lyca''s beautiful eyes squinted. Did he refuse because of his secret? "Live with me." This time it wasn''t a question but an order. This man would live in her apartment. After all, he would be close to her and her family. How could he allow this Shen Qui to hurt her mother and father in the future? She needed to keep this man next to her all the time! "I''m not asking." She rose from her seat. "Follow." She said.


    Without any other words, Shen Qui followed her into the mansion. What he saw inside immediately surprised him. Contrary to Shen Qui''s expectations, Huang Sheng Hong''s mansion actually looked cozy and warm. This was the exact opposite of Huang Li Duo''s mansion that screamed luxury. This ce was inviting and not intimidating. The interior of the mansion had warm colors, tiled floors and a beautiful chandelier.


    Unlike the other Huang Family''s mansion that he had visited, Shen Qui felt that every nook and cranny of this ce had been used. He looked at the woman who was walking in front of him as he started to wonder where she was taking him. However, this question was soon answered when they walked inside a gym like space with a heavy punching bag and kicking bags, punching mitts and a floorpletely protected by gray martial art mats.


    Now that he thought about it, Lyca''s father, Colonel Huang Sheng Hong was an expert in both Karate, aikido and judo. This ce should belong to Huang Sheng Hong. Again, his eyes darted towards Lyca''s delicate back. He couldn''t help but wonder if she learned that weird martial art that she used from her father. Could it be some sort of a family secret?


    But judging from Huang Li Duo''s reaction, that was not the case. It was pretty obvious that the old man was surprised by Lyca''s actions too.


    "We''re here."


    Shen Qui looked at the separate space that they were in. It was half the size of the gym, but this one did not have any equipment at all. It was a room that reminded him of a recording studio with its sound proofed walls. He looked at her and waited for her to speak.


    Of course, Lyca returned his gaze. She then smiled at him. She hated exining. Thus, she found a way to make him understand that she doesn''t need any martial arts training. "Fight me." She said. For azy person like her, fighting was like a shortcut out of everything. Surely, this would make Shen Qui understand her point.


    "Excuse me?" Shen Qui was bbergasted. What was she talking about? "You want me to fight you?"


    Lyca nodded in response. At least this Shen Qui was smart. He didn''t need someone else to trante her words anymore.


    ....


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 Chapter 21: Too Extravagant

    Chapter 21: Too Extravagant


    Shen Qui eyed her dress. Then his gaze darted towards her face. Clearly, she was not wearing anything remotely appropriate for a fight. Then why would she challenge him? Was this a test of sorts? Shen Qui frowned at the thought. Was this youngdy testing him? "I''m sorry but" he wasn''t able toplete his words when Lyca suddenly walked towards one of the walls and pressed something, making the t walls reveal different kinds of weapons.


    Daggers, fighting knives, swords, axes, spears. Wait why did she have a peculiar collection of weapons? Was she However, before he could say anything, Huang Sheng Hong''sughter echoed inside.


    "Lyca" Her father smiled at her. He eyed the variety of weapons in front of his daughter and immediately understood what happened. He immediately approached her. "Let''s not do it this time. Your mother will prepare some pizza for you. How about I talk to him?"


    Pizza? Of course, Lyca''s attention waspletely diverted at the mention of pizza. She immediately nodded and said. "I want to live with him." Before leaving the room with no exnation.


    "" Shen Qui didn''t understand what was going on. Pizza? A pizza was able to change her mind in a matter of seconds? He let out a sigh of relief.


    "Mr. Shen." Huang Sheng Hong gave the young man a wry smile. "Please follow me to my office."


    "Yes sir."


    It didn''t take too long for the two to reach Huang Sheng Hong''s office. "When I received a call that you hade here I had to immediately leave my job toe here." He gave him a stern look. "My daughter has an extremely peculiar way of dealing with things. I was afraid that she would ask you to fight with her. I guess my suspicions were well founded." For some reason, Lyca hated talking and tried to settle every argument with her silencing the opponent to prove her point. Of course, the only people that knew of this were the servants, her sparring partner Yi''an and her parents.


    Simple yet brutal. That was Lyca Huang. Her father knew that some people might misunderstand this daughter of his in the future. "My daughter is not a simple person. That''s all you need to know. However, to her, this challenge that my father gave her is nothing but a simple task. But" Huang Sheng Hong looked at his family portrait that was framed on top of his table. "I am not here to talk to you about that." Sheng Hong had always been confident that Lyca would win thispetition. "I am here for a request."


    "Request?"


    "I want you to teach her social skills instead."


    What kind of request was this? Shen Qui immediately thought about Lyca''s actions earlier. "Sir, she wanted me to teach her weapons. That"


    "Guns." Huang Sheng Hong exined. "My daughter is proficient in using the weapons that you saw earlier. Daggers, swords and spears. She can be considered an expert in all those weapons. However she has always hated guns and thinks they are too loud." Huang Sheng Hong knew that Lyca didn''t exin all this to Shen Qui. Therefore, he immediately decided to clear out all the doubts in the young man''s head.


    Hearing this, Shen Qui turned silent. The youngdy didn''t say anything about this at all and just asked him for a fight. How was he supposed to know these things without her father''s exnation? Earlier, he was honestly thinking that Lyca wanted him to choose a weapon for the fight. If she had just exined herself better then


    "Please don''t me my daughter." Huang Sheng Hong smiled. "I spoiled her too much." His gaze turned gentle. "She always hated talking to people since she was young. She is somewhatzy and refused to socialize with others. She was very silent and just liked to observe her surroundings. I didn''t realise when she started to say less and less but you should begin getting used to it now."


    So should he start practicing his skill at guessing the actions of others? Shen Qui frowned inwardly. How was he supposed to train someone who was not even willing to talk to him? His indifference towards this youngdy had just been stained with a little dislike. As someone who had worked hard since he was young, how could he tolerate someone who waszy to the point of cutting off her sentences? He snorted inwardly.


    "Do you understand me son?" Huang Sheng Hong asked. He let out a sigh inwardly. Hepletely understood Shen Qui''s thoughts right now. Even he, as Lyca''s father, understood how difficult it was tomunicate with his daughter. However, unlike everyone else, Lyca would actually talk to her parents like a normal human being.


    Who knows if Lyca would soon talk to Shen Qui like that too? Maybe they needed to be close for that to happen. "Thus I would like to request that you live with her for the time being. This challenge is extremely dangerous. Some people will begin scheming against her and might even send assassins. I need someone close to her all the time. Would you be able to do this task for me?"


    "So the weapons"


    "Naturally, you will help her while living with her. Everything will be provided so you don''t have to worry about this matter."


    "And the social skills"


    "Well ording to my calctions. You have about a ten percent chance in seeding. So I am not very hopeful about this." For the first time, Hong Sheng Hong, the brute colonel who helped train recruits gave an embarrassed smile. Was his daughter really this peculiar? But most importantly, did he even have a choice to decline? Slowly, his gaze turned serious.


    "Yes sir!"


    "Good then about the school that you two will enter. Lyca doesn''t know this yet but it is not the usual school that people in college will attend."


    Shen Qui''s faze turned stern as he continued to listen to Huang Sheng Hong''s words. Moreover, Sheng Hong also exined to him the changes in the challenge. The old man actually decided to change it into a six month challenge to match the school''s special requirement. This challenge was also submitted to the special school of elite and was just waiting for approval.


    This Wasn''t this just a bit too extravagant for a simple challenge?

 Chapter 22: Long Founding School of Elite.

    Chapter 22: Long Founding School of Elite.


    When Lyca heard the changes that her father mentioned, her face immediately turned dark. The agreed time was one month from now! Why did the old man extend it to six months? Just what kind of school was the Long Founding School of Elite? And why was it that Lyca couldn''t find it on the Inte? When Lyca heard her father''s exnation about the matter, her face turned even darker.


    Long Founding School of Elite.


    It was actually a special school of Elite that was for those who were neen and above. This was a school that did not ept foreigners and was only open for the members of the Founding Families of the country. These were the families that had been rich since the country had been founded.


    "I believe this is Huang Li Duo''s another scheme. After what happenedst time, he must have realized that Huang Xiaoxuan cannot beat you. Thus, he decided to find ways to extend this challenge. I''m afraid that" Huang Sheng Hong didn''t continue his words. Giving Huang Li Duo more time would also give him the opportunity to try and assassinate Lyca. How could he allow such things to happen?


    "This school" Lyca said after a few minutes of silence. "They only have six months worth of school a year. And they do an overallpetition at the end of each school year. Is it for influence?"


    This time, Shen Hong nodded. The thought of this school was enough to make his face turn ugly. He could not really hide this matter from his own daughter. Well it''s not like he could hide it when Lyca was actually a very smart woman. Normally, the Huang Family did not join this struggle with the other families to prove who had more powerful heirs. However this time was different.


    The Huang Family had been losing their influence. With the current schemes that the Long Family were up to, the Huang Family who had avoided all those schemes needed to let everyone know that they cannot be bullied. Therefore, they needed to win thispetition!


    However, Huang Sheng Hong did not want to see his daughter get hurt. When he heard his father and Huang Li Duo tell him about this matter, his initial reaction was anger. Thispetition was known to cripple people''s both the physical and psychological abilities of many students. Why would he allow his daughter to risk her life for something like that?


    Huang Sheng Hong immediately disagreed. Because of this, his father was forced to inform them about the current pitiful state of the Huang Household. Then the old man actually begged him to reconsider his decision. The thing was Huang Sheng Hong was never the type of father who would force something onto his daughter.


    Thus, he was here to talk to her about this matter. If Lyca decided to refuse, then no one would be able to force her into anything.


    "And this is because of the current state of our Huang Family?" Lyca asked as she massaged her temple. This was such a headache. With this Long Family trying to ruin her Huang Family, her dream of living azy life was going to be difficult. She really needed to stabilize this Huang Family first before she could live her dream life.


    She thought of all the things that she needed to do. First was to determine who Shen Qui was and what his real purpose was in hiding his strength. Second, she needed to defeat Huang Xiaoxuan which was really easy. Third, she needed to create something that could protect her in case of emergencies. She was already nning to create or invent something helpful for her ultimate dream. Fourth, she needed to build a fortress for her mother and father and her to live peacefully for the rest of her life. This n needed money so she was already nning to sell some of her inventions in the future. Fifth was to retire and just die from pure boredom.


    With this school''s appearance, Lyca would be forced to add another task to her already long list of tasks. Sixth, defeat every other elite and reinforce the influence of the Huang Family.


    All this Everything sounded so tiresome, Lyca could already feel her limbs hurting in advance! She let out a long sigh before she finished thest slice of her pizza that her mother had especially made for her. "Father" She said while dabbing a napkin in her lips. "Do you trust me?" She asked as she met his concerned gaze. Trust was very important and right now, Lyca only trusted her mother and father at the moment. She needed to know if these two would support her in her goal of living a carefree life!


    "Of course I do! I would trust you with my life!" He answered without batting an eyelid.


    "Then good!" Lyca said as she rose from her seat. "ept this arrangement. I only want one thing in return."


    "Weapons? Tech? Research? Money? We will provide everything for you to seed." He smiled, confidenceced his tone. However, Lyca only shook her head in response. She pursed her lips and stared at her father for a few seconds.


    "I want to live with Shen Qui."


    "Eh? You" Slowly Huang Sheng Hong''s face turned dark. Even he, a male could say that Shen Qui had excellent looks! He immediately remembered the scene where Lyca held Shen Qui''s hands. His face turned darker. Was it possible that "You"


    Seeing her father''s dark face, Lycaughed. "Shen Qui and Li Xian are lovers, father. In the future, stop thinking about these things. I don''t want to be a third party."


    ""


    ....


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 Chapter 23: Chemicals

    Chapter 23: Chemicals


    Lovers? Huang Sheng Hong didn''t know if he was supposed tough or cry at his daughter''s words. However, on the outside, he forced himself to maintain a stern expression. What was this daughter of his talking about? Since when did Shen Qui and Li Xian turn lovers?


    "Alright. I will leave and sleep." Lyca said before leaving. She didn''t need to hear her father''s reaction as both of them knew that she wasn''t really going to sleep. Surely, the fact about Li Xian and Shen Qui surprised her father so much to the point of being speechless. Lyca went to her room and immediately went to the secretboratory that her father asked his people to make for her.


    Looking at the various chemicals inside herboratory, Lyca chose something that was full of colored green liquid then another one with a blue one. After a few minutes of mixing some stuff, a satisfied expression slowly blossomed in her face. If that Shen Qui was indeed nning against her family, she would not hesitate to use this liquid to make him suffer.


    A sinisterugh escaped her lips. After watching the solvent for a few more minutes, Lyca immediately started crystallizing it. In case, Shen Qui won''t drink the poison, Lyca was already nning to make him swallow it instead. Then she let out another sinisterughter.


    This poison ehem was designed to mess up Shen Qui''s reproductive system! Just the thought of it made her giggle. After a few minutes, Lyca opened herputer and started thinking of this new poison''s name.


    Gentle Size. A solvent that will melt men''s reproductive organs in a matter of days.


    Such a silly name for a solvent that would create problems for men. Should she make someone drink this tablet as a sort of way to test it''s capabilities? Lyca fell into another dilemma. Now that she thought about it all of her poisons were untested as she couldn''t really ask people to drink it- That would be problematic and would only attract attention.


    Lyca also hated experimenting with animals as she found them cute and therefore couldn''t hurt them. If this continued she couldn''t make antidotes for these poisons as she had no way of knowing the extent of its effects. She needed to test it on people.


    Lyca raised an eyebrow as it hit her. The Long Family. The Huang Family''s enemies. Should she find the time to test her newly created poisons against those people? Slowly, a smile slithered on to her face. Long Founding School of Elites.


    Wasn''t that a ce where the elites and talented go to? Meaning, these people should be experts in martial arts and geniuses? An idea came to her mind. Maybe going to this school was not such a bad thing after all.


    ...


    Days passed. Soon, the month of being grounded finally ended. Of course, this was not a very good thing for Lyca. She wanted to stay inside her house forever! Yet, she knew this was nothing but her wishful thinking.


    "A week from now, you and Shen Qui will go to the Long Founding School of Elites. Inside the school a dormitory exists but you can choose to stay in an apartment inside the campus. Most of the students would actually prefer apartments than the dormitory as they hate sharing rooms. Of course, there were also people who wanted to stay with someone and build their influence." Old Man Huang said as his gaze traveled towards Lyca and Shen Qui. Then he looked at Huang Xiaoxuan and said. "Since you refused to live with Li Xian, I have set up a"


    "I want to live in the dormitories." Huang Xiaoxuan interrupted her grandfather''s words. She had decided to live in a dormitory as this would broaden herwork. It would allow her to socialize with more people not just in Long City but also throughout the whole country. She was sure that most people would also choose this method to build some friendships too.


    After all, everyone in this school wanted to establish their influence and name in the country.


    "Question." Lyca suddenly raised her hand. "Can we bring things to the school?"


    "Things? If you mean weapons no. You are not allowed to bring destructive weapons inside the school. I believe people are still allowed to carry defensive weapons. Daggers for example are quitemon as these people have some daggers given to them by their ancestors."


    "" Lyca was confused. Just what kind of school was this? For some reason, this reminded her of a somewhat powerful sect that trained all future heirs. Why did a school like this exist in this world?


    "That''s all for now. I will personally send you to the school one week from now. You can do whatever you want. You can use this time to prepare yourself. This is an important battle not just for both of you but for the whole Huang Family''s future."


    "Yes Grandfather." Huang Xiaoxuan nodded. Right now, her haughty appearance was no longer there. After what happened a few weeks ago, Xiaoxuan realized something big.


    She had underestimated her opponent. Since her father informed her about Lyca''s achievement she had already looked down on her and thought that she was nothing but a clown who used her money to make those forms. It seems that she was wrong. So wrong.


    When Huang Xiaoxuan saw the video of how Lyca struck her, making her faint in less than two seconds, she realized that this cousin of hers was hiding her strength. She wasn''t sure why Lyca did it but all she knew was the fact that this Lyca could kill her if she wasn''t more careful in the future.


    This woman was actually so ruthless and cunning. Moreover, Lyca was so good at acting like a stupid sheep when in fact she was a fox! However, this didn''t mean that she would easily give up. In fact, she already had a n in mind. She would gather all the influence that she could get and learn everything in six months. She would work hard and do everything she could to defeat this Lyca Huang.


    ....


    What do you all think of the new cover? Did you notice her dagger? Its too small... ai.


    Please don''t forget to vote.

 Chapter 24: Preparations

    Chapter 24: Preparations


    Lyca was given a week to prepare before the start of her sses. Because of this, Lyca had decided to gather more information about this school. She had been cooped up in her room for a long time that her information about the families surrounding the Huang Family had beencking,


    "So your dream of having azy life is clearly not happening?" Lyca''s cousin Tang Ruyiughed. "I told you that is clearly impossible." As a twenty four year old woman who was in the military, Tang Ruyi had clear and bright eyes. Coupled with her dark hair that was always tied into a tight bun and beautiful longshes, she could be considered a beautiful woman. On the outside, she was known as a demoness Major who participated in shootingpetitions. However, in front of Lyca, she was the funny and sweet cousin who loved to y with her when they were young. Tang Ruyi moved the knight towards Lyca''s queen. "This Long Founding School of Elites is actually like a military school. But instead of training you for wars, you are trained to be ruthless in the business world. Most people whoe out on the top of this school are now business tycoons." She sneered. "This is a very selfish school for the arrogant elites who think they are better than the military who defend this country. How stupid." Disgustced her tone.


    In response, Lyca let out a deep sigh. "This was because of the current Huang Family''s condition." She waspletely helpless about this matter. If the Huang Family don''t find their peace, Lyca won''t be able to achieve her dream either.


    "And that cousin of yours? What was her name? Lady Huang Xiaoxuan? Hmph! I am wondering why she is so proud of herself. She is not even very good at shooting targets. How can she even bepared to you!?" Tang Ruyi and Lyca were descendants of the Tang Family whose rootsy in the military. The two actually grew up ying with darts. Well by ying, it meant Tang Ruyi kept throwing the darts and Lyca lying down while appreciating her cousin''s talents.


    Seeing a woman who was very good with darts was very refreshing for Lyca. Still, Tang Ruyi knew that Lyca was not someone to be trifled with. She might have azy ass but she was also very good in self defense using her weird martial arts. Moreover, she also saw her handle daggers before. As the person who could be considered closest to Lyca, she knew that this woman was someone who wouldn''t hesitate to kill anyone who dared to mess with her.


    "Let''s not talk about irrelevant people, alright?" Lyca moved her queen and eyed her cousin. "Tell me more about this Long Founding School of Elites." As someone who was considered a military genius, Tang Ruyi''s information about everyone else was notcking.


    "Well where would you like me to start? You know the Tang Family has never involved themselves in matters like this. We chose to focus on training and serving the country. As for those people they clearly look down on people who came from military families and think that we are all brutes with no brains. Cousin you really should show those people the real Tang Family genius! Never allow them to trample on you! Hmph! Those people are quite arrogant because of their money! They actually think that they can do everything using their cash? Let me tell you about the Xu Family from the North of the country"


    Lyca cleared her throat interrupting her cousin''s words. It seems that Tang Ruyi missed her so much, she couldn''t stop herself from telling Lyca all the rumors that she gathered on her previous assignment. "Long Founding School of Elites." She reminded.


    "Oh! Yes how could I forget? Hehe" Tang Ruyi gave an awkwardugh. "Anyway the exams that will happen in six months. It should be invention and martial arts. In this final exam, you can invent anything under the heavens. The better the invention the bigger the points. Only those people with top points will fight in martial arts. I don''t have the details but I am quite sure those Elites are not so smart. They just used their money to pay someone to create something for them! Of course, being rich is considered a skill too! So I am sure that they use their money to pay someone to invent and buy it. Anyway the school does not care about this. You can cheat, you can copy someone''s invention as long as you have the capability. As I said this is like the military type survival of the fittest training."


    "How irritating." Lyca said. "Checkmate."


    "Hmph! You are only making me talk while you think about chess! This is unfair I want another game!"


    "I am tired."


    "You You are always like this. Whenever you win you always say you are tired so I won''t" She made a deliberate pause when Lyca passed her something. "Eh? What is this?" She eyed the ss tube that was sealed with wood. On top of the wood is a small red button.


    "Made ofpound"


    "Speak properly cousin you know I don''t understand things like this." Tang Ruyi interrupted her.


    "A smoke bomb that will create a big spark capable of blinding the opponent. Especially those wearing night vision goggles. This will not only create a blinding light but will also emit some poisonous gas capable of knocking down a man who is two hundred and fifty ponds." Lyca answered. When it came to her inventions, Lyca was neverzy in her exnations. This was because these things were clearly dangerous. She would not want this cousin of hers to harm herself. "Payment."


    "Ah? You will give this to me?" Of course, Tang Ruyi beamed. She knew about Lyca''s toys and how each and everyone of them were clearly dangerous but was specifically designed for military personnel like Tang Ruyi. "Thank you! Do you have any more of these? I can buy"


    "No." Lyca shook her head. Right now, she was not nning to reveal her secrets to the world.

 Chapter 25: Agitated

    Chapter 25: Agitated


    Long Founding School of Elites. A weekter.


    Founded in 1095, this school used to be a ce where the royal families and noble families of the country of Xu learned their craft. With its staggering motto ''The House that Rules the Lands'', the school received a lot of recognition from the internationalmunity and was considered one of the top research universities in humanities and social sciences, agronomy, robotics, chemistry and physics.


    Located in the middle of a ten hectare forest near the border of Long City and Xie City, the Long Founding School of Elites boasts the view of both the river and the sea. It was known that the school did not ept nouveau riche people but only the founding families of each region.


    Or at least that''s what everyone outside the school knew.


    Lycazily looked at the castle in front of her. Yes, it was indeed a castle. Something that she only saw in the movies with princesses and their knights in shining armors. When Lyca arrived at this school, she was honestly surprised to know that her grandfather''s arrangement was not going to happen.


    The woman who is touring them mentioned that since there are only two hundred students this year, they decided to put everyone in one castle. Of course, everyone would have their own room that isplete with amenities where they can cook, wash their clothes and even a small gym to train their body. Extravagant? Well Lyca hated it.


    This school only allowed their own servants that were assigned to each student. These people would be in charge of cooking and doing all the chores that their master needed. The thing was Lyca doesn''t trust any of them. Not the school, not the people around her and of course, not the servants that were to be assigned to her.


    She eyed Shen Qui who was walking next to her. Right now, Shen Qui''s identity as a representative from the Huang Family was somewhat special. Lyca didn''t know how the old man was able to pull such a thing off but she guessed that this was something normal in this school.


    While in this school, Shen Qui would act as her bodyguard. But since only the administration knew of this, he would pretend to be her ssmate instead. Moreover, because of the challenge between Huang Xiaoxuan and Lyca, both Shen Qui and Li Xian would have to stay in a room that was connected to their young miss'' room.


    "Wee to the Long Founding school of Elite''s simple Abode." The woman who was touring the students was wearing an extremely tight pencil skirt paired with a blouse that seemed two sizes smaller than her original size. Her blond hair was in a tight bun and a smile was stered on her face. She asked them to call her Miss Xin. She was one of the lecturers in this school and was the one assigned to lead the new students around The Abode the literal name of the castle.


    "Check out the room assignments over there. You can see your names with the keycards. If you lose your keycard you have to pay for. I know you can afford it but the payment is usually in shares. The one that you will inherit from your family for your respectivepanies." She beamed, a dimple appearing in her cheeks. "Only the key card can be used to open the doors. So you have to be very careful. Curfew is twelve midnight. Sex is allowed but no killing." She smirked when she heard most male students chuckle. "Once you get caught  an extreme punishment will be given."


    She then looked at every one of them. "Aside from our research building, this is the most secured facility in the campus. The security mechanisms will be equipped after twelve so if you are not here by that time I highly suggest that you just go home to your family and note back. Do you understand me?"


    Seeing some people nod, Miss Xin smiled. "Tomorrow at four in the afternoon we will have a grand assembly and a banquet after. You will meet everyone by then. One month worth of humanities sses will start the day after tomorrow. After a month, everyone will focus on their chosen field of science in regards to their invention." She said before bidding everyone goodbye.


    Right now, there were about thirty students in the hall. All of them were wearing branded clothes and sweet perfumes. Lyca started to observe everyone in the room. Her habit of staring was once again activated as she looked at the beautiful faces of the people around her.


    Was this some sort of a beauty contest? Lyca wondered. Male and female, all tall, all elegant and perfect. She didn''t know that the Xu Country was actually full of beautiful heirs and heiresses.


    "You should stop staring." She heard Shen Qui''s voice behind her. Lyca immediately turned towards the man and eyed the two key cards in his hand. "It makes people ufortable." Shen Qui added.


    Lyca immediately smiled. This man was getting agitated because of the presence of good looking males around him. Was he afraid that he would give in to temptation and sleep with one of them? She chuckled at her own thoughts. Poor Li Xian very poor indeed.


    Seeing the weird smile on Lyca''s face, Shen Qui sighed and led her to the third floor where their rooms were located.


    "No elevators?" Lyca frowned. Was she supposed to walk like this everyday?


    "It''s currently full. All students are using it. Exercise is good for your body." Shen Qui said.


    "Then carry me." Lyca stopped walking after a few steps. He looked at her, wanting to know if she was serious with her words. Then he remembered Huang Sheng Hong''s words about how Lyca was a littlezy. Was this still considered a littlezy?


    "Carry me." She looked at him and batted her eyes, hoping that he would see her as a little sister. Since this man was already in love with another man, it would be hard for her to use her charms. So she decided to act as a little sister instead!

 Chapter 26: Injured

    Chapter 26: Injured


    Shen Qui stared at her in disbelief. Then he looked at the other students who were also walking on the huge staircase. Without saying anything, Shen Qui carried her, one arm under her legs the other supporting her back. A beautiful smile immediately slithered on to her face as she held onto his neck. The scent of refreshing wood reached her nose. This man smells like heaven! She buried her face into his neck, making him flinched.


    After a few more minutes, the two arrived in room 304 where Lyca will stay. While Shen Qui will stay in the next smaller room 305.


    "Alright. You can leave now." Lyca said as she sprawled herself on the bed. Indeed, a bed was one of the greatest inventions in this world. Sheughed inwardly as she thought of her previous life where the bed was not asfortable as this. This was indeed the peak of luxury! A king size soft bed!


    Seeing Lyca ignore him, Shen Qui excused himself and walked towards the next room. His room was obviously smaller than Lyca''s. However, it was still very well furnished. With its queen size bed, amp table, a study table a few feet away from his bed, a small counter with coffee maker and a cab for his clothes.


    This was enough to satisfy Shen Qui. Sighing, the man sat on his bed. He couldn''t help but stroke his chest. For some reason, being with Lyca always gave him an ominous feeling. It was as if her eyes were saying something opposite to her words. This youngdy was very unfathomable and hateful.


    Shen Qui examined his clothes cab and decided to change from the suit that he was currently wearing. It was rmended that everyonee here with a suit such a weird rule. And he found it ufortable. He immediately took off his coat, followed by his undershirt. Once the feel of luxury left his upper body, he proceeded to take off his pants, leaving hisfortable boxers on.


    Someone''s gasp interrupted him. He stilled for a few seconds before turning towards the door. "You"


    "Oh! Don''t mind me!" Lyca walked towards the bed. "I was here to check your bed." She smiled, her eyes were of course glued to his abs.


    It was as if a cold bucket of water was thrown on him. He didn''t notice Lyca standing behind him! He coldly red at her, hoping she would understand the awkwardness in the current situation. Of course, she didn''t. Instead, Lyca continued walking towards the bed, her eyes still on his body.


    "Lyca I believe"


    "You have a very nice body." Lyca interrupted him. "No wonder, Li Xian likes you."


    Shen Qui froze, eyes widening at her words. What the hell was she going on about?


    "Nice bed too." She beamed as her eyes darted towards his crotch. "Nice one I mean the pillows."


    Shen Qui stood there, staring straight at Lyca''s lecherous gaze. Did she realize that this is such an abnormal situation? And why was she talking about Li Xian? "Please leave."


    "Can I touch it?"


    "No! Please leave!"


    "Is it because I''m not male?


    Shen Qui felt his neck turn hot, blood rush through his face as he strode towards her. The little hate that he had seemed to increase! With his face flushed, Shen Qui held her arm, trying to pull her out of his bed. Surprisingly, Lyca didn''t even do anything and just let him pull her towards him.


    "Hard." Lyca beamed, her hand was already in his stomach. "I like it."


    "You" Shen Qui was honestly speechless. However, he knew that talking to this woman was useless. So he pulled her towards her room, let her sit on her own bed and left. This time, he made sure to lock the door of his room. Just what kind of situation did he get himself into?


    Since the door was already locked, Shen Qui didn''t see Lyca''s cold expression the moment he left. The smile on her face was no longer there, her eyes were sharp and chilly as she continued to stare at the door. Then she dialed her phone. "Yi''an send me everything."


    "Yes Young Lady." She heard Yi''an''s voice on the other line and immediately ended the call. Because of Shen Qui''s internal strength, Lyca decided to let her people gather all the information that they could find about Shen Qui. She wanted to know everything about the man.


    To her surprise, everything about his birth was considered confidential information. Then she discovered that Shen Qui''s uncle who died two years ago worked under her grandfather. She immediately concluded that Shen Qui''s identity was kept a secret by Old Man Huang.


    However, she didn''t give up. Instead, she asked her people to gather all the training files about this mysterious man. She thought that a man with his strength would surely slip up in his training. Shen Qui was said to have started his training inside the Huang Facility at the tender age of ten. Surely, in those thirteen years of training, Shen Qui must have shown his strength at least once.


    And what she found totally surprised her. Shen Qui had always been second in everything. Be it marksmanship, anatomy, knife skills, explosives or martials arts. He was never the strongest. Because of this, her cautiousness against the man had increased. She wanted to know how he was able to control his strength. So she asked him to fight with her. Sadly, her father arrived and stopped it.


    So, Lyca had the idea of touching his body instead. As someone who had studied acupuncture and assassination, Lyca was extremely sensitive to a person''s strength. She could determine a person''s strength just by touching their pulse or their body.


    And so she touched him. Again she found something unexpected.


    Shen Qui was not hiding his strength. He was actually injured, gravely at that. If her guess was right, Shen Qui was using his internal strength to suppress his injury. Now that the mystery against this man has disappeared, Lyca didn''t know if she should continue to waste her time investigating him.


    Or if she should just get rid of him and frame Huang Xiaoxuan and her father?

 Chapter 27: Fresh Air

    Chapter 27: Fresh Air


    Grand Assembly.


    The grand assembly that she was expecting involved talking and a lot more talking, while she sat there and pretended to listen. However, in front of her was something far from that. This was not a grand assembly but a banquet, a party where everyone was allowed to build connections and interact with each other. This was one of the things that she hated the most.


    Lyca sat there, a smile stered on her face as she eyed everyone from the balcony. The party was currently held in a hugewn with its own fountain and beautiful lights. Everyone was wearing formal clothes as they talked andughed with each other. Meanwhile, Lyca decided to stay in a dark balcony located at the mansion fronting thewn.


    She took a sip of her champagne and eyed Shen Qui who was silently standing next to her. Since that incident the other day, both Lyca and Shen Qui didn''t utter a word to each other. Shen Qui was obviously upset while Lyca was still deliberating if she should get rid of the injured man next to her.


    Lyca believed that this injury would be a burden to her in the future. However, this man didn''t actually do anything to provoke her or her parents. He had been obedient and didn''t do anything but stay silent. Killing him would be a pity. Maybe she could use him to test her poisons? Or perhaps use him to perform tasks for her. Either way, Lyca was still hesitant to kill him.


    Of course, Shen Qui had no way of knowing this. On the outside, Shen Qui stood next to Lyca like a statue while on the inside, he was still fuming about this pervert''s actions the other day. He couldn''t understand why the good natured and casual Colonel Huang Sheng Hong was able to raise a daughter like this. The more he thought about it, the most irritated he became. It seems that he was really bound to hate this youngdy!


    "Isn''t this Miss Huang? Lyca Huang?" an amused voice echoed behind them. "I never expected that Miss Huang would actually dare to bring a bodyguard to this party. There were rumors that you are really scared for an assassination attempt. Is that true?"


    Lyca turned towards the man and two women. The man was huge big and tallpared to her midget height. While the women looked like dwarves standing next to the big guy. She frowned and turned her head away. She was not going to talk to people she doesn''t know. Seeing this, the man''s face turned ugly.


    "Master Lin it seems that she is ignoring you." The woman snickered.


    "Perhaps she is deaf?" another one said. This only made the Young Master in front of them fume. Lyca clearly looked at him for a few seconds before turning her head back to the party. What was this woman''s problem?


    "You Are you ignoring this young master?"


    This time, Lyca didn''t even look at him. She elegantly brought the champagne ss to her scarlet lips and took a sip of the fragrant beverage.


    "Master Lin"


    "Shut up!" Young Master Lin''s face was dark as he walked towards Lyca. He extended his hand to grab her shoulders. This action was easily stopped by Shen Qui. "You What are you doing? Let go of my hand!" He red at Shen Qui who twisted his hand as if it was nothing. "You dare hurt someone like me? Even if you are in the military, I wouldn''t"


    "It seems that someone is spreading secrets." Lyca''s voice was surprisingly sweet. This was something that Young master Lin never expected. "Who is it?" She turned towards him. Now that he had the time to look at Lyca''s face, Young Master Lin couldn''t stop himself from gasping.


    This. Howe that damn Zhang told him Lyca was nothing special?


    "I" Young Master Lin stuttered. When they told him to provoke Lyca, he never expected that this bodyguard would directly involve himself in her matter. "Let me go or I"


    "Or what?" Lyca''s lips lifted into a smile.


    "Miss Huang I suggest you let Master Lin go now or we will scream." One of the women said.


    Ignoring her words, Lyca stared at this Young Master Lin, eyes narrowed. She had been feeling that someone was watching her since she arrived at this party. This was another reason why she decided to find a remote ce to hide and observe everyone. Who would have thought that these people would directly send someone to provoke her?


    Finally, Lyca made her move. She turned her body towards the man and suddenly used her small hand to grab the man''s cheek.


    "You What are you doing?" One of the women said.


    "I can''t wrap my hand around his neck." Lyca said as she raised her head to look at Young Master Lin. "Lucky."


    Young Master Lin widened his eyes. If she could wrap her hand around his neck? did this mean she would break his neck? That damn Zhang already told him that this Lyca was abnormal! However, he forgot to tell him that she was actually a murderer! Young Master Lin couldn''t stop himself from shaking. For some reason, Lyca''s eyes made him scared. What the hell was wrong with this woman?


    "Miss Lyca"


    "Do you want to die?" Lyca interrupted his words.


    "No No please let me go." He knew martial arts, he had trained since he was young. However, his body refused to move no rather he couldn''t move. Fear slithered inside him as his body refused to follow his thoughts. He couldn''t lift his other arms or move his body. What was happening? Suddenly Lyca tightened her hand around the man''s neck.


    "Who?" she asked. Seeing Young Master Lin''s confusion from Lyca''s words, Shen Qui shook his head inwardly.


    "She meant who told you about her bodyguard being in the military." He tranted her words.


    "Oh I I It was Young Master Zhang the second son of the Zhang Family!" He immediately blurted out.


    "Who?" Again, Lyca asked. And again, Shen Qui was forced to trante her words.


    "She''s asking who sent you here? Is it still Young Master Zhang?"


    Young Master Lin was speechless. However, seeing the cold gaze that Lyca gave him, he opened his mouth to answer her. "No.. No I just came here to get some fresh air."

 Chapter 28: Worth

    Chapter 28: Worth


    Seeing Lyca narrowed her eyes at him, Young Master Lin continued. "I really came here to get some fresh air! I came here with thedies! I was nning to have a good time!" This was a remote and dark part of the balcony and he knew that this is a little blind spot of the CCTV. He was originally nning toe here to have a good time. "I  I was not nning to provoke you I was only nning to make you leave."


    Lyca let go of his neck. She then turned her back away from him, as if nothing just happened.


    "Leave." It was Shen Qui. It seemed that he could already see his role in this woman''s life in the near future. "Miss Lyca is busy. Leave."


    "Oh! Oh! Of course Of course we will leave!" Master Lin nodded his chubby face and almost ran away with his women in tow. Seeing this, Shen Qui turned towards Lyca.


    "Do you believe him?" He asked.


    "No." She answered and looked at the people in the balcony. "No Killing." That was the rule in this school. However, since they didn''t say they couldn''t hurt each other, Lyca assumed that they were allowed to do just that. A snort escaped her lips. She knew that someone asked that fatty toe in here, yet, she chose not to act. At least not right now. Or at least not tonight.


    .....


    After leaving the balcony, Master Lin immediately went towards the office of the Supreme student council where Young Master Zhang was there with his friends and a few other women.


    "Hmp! You told me that she won''t hurt me!" He eximed when he opened the door. "Young Master Zhang! Exin yourself! Are you trying to get me killed?" Until now, he couldn''t forget the look on that woman''s eyes. Moreover, her bodyguard was clearly a strong person too. That was not a part of what this Young Master Zhang told him! Because of that, he couldn''t help but wonder if this man was nning to have him killed!


    "Young Master Lin please calm down and exin." The one who spoke was a twenty three year old man with a sleek ck hair, sharp eyebrows and beautiful features. "Are you trying to say that my future fiance hurt you?" He snorted.


    "Young Master Long I am telling the truth. She strangled me! Look! Look there should be some signs there! Maybe some bruises!" He lifted his head to show them his neck. However instead of listening to him, everyone startedughing their buts off.


    "Young Master Lin your neck is full of fat. We can''t really see any bruises." It was Young Master Zhang. He continuedughing along with everyone else. "Do you think her hand would be able to grab your neck? Thest time I saw my cousin she was skinny and her hands were small. Are you sure that you actually saw her this time?


    "You" Young Master Lin felt his face turn hot. "Her white hair is not somethingmon! And that bodyguard of hers that man grabbed my hand and twisted it! I felt something crack in my hand!"


    This time, everyoneughed even more.


    "Young Master Zhang how tall are you?"


    "Six Foot  why are you asking such questions?" He asked the woman who sat next to Young Master Long.


    "Well you are tall and your body is huge. Please forgive my words but can someone really just grab your neck and twist your hand? That that really sounds impossible to me!" the woman smiled. "Moreover every one of us knows that you practiced martials arts when you were young."


    Young Master Lin balled his hand into a fist, his face flushed as he red at the woman. "You how dare you!?"


    "Young Master Lin no offense but this is really hard to believe. Was it possible that the two women you were with earlier refused to kiss you so you were in a bad mood?"


    "You" Young Master Lin was truly speechless. Unable to contain his anger, he stomped off and left the room. These people had been making fun of him because he had the lowest family influence in this group. It was lucky for him to be able toe to this school because his father had to beg the Long Family to make him act as Young Master Long''s assistant.


    Because of this, everyone who was very close to Young Master Long had been making fun of him and treating him like a ve! These people never treated him like a human being! He tightened his fists as he thought of his revenge against these people. But first, he needed to teach that Lyca and her bodyguard a lesson that they couldn''t forget!


    Right now, Young Master Lin was ming Lyca for everything! After all, no one believed him because of her small frame! Unbeknownst to him the moment he left that room, Young Master Long also asked everyone to leave except for his good friend Zhang Zhi.


    "You are really smart." Zhang Zhi was Lyca''s cousin. He is the second son of Huang Ying. "Now that stupid Lin will try and get his revenge against that cousin of mine." He couldn''t help butugh at the scene that he witnessed earlier. This Young Master Long was indeed very smart.


    "I wanted to see Lyca''s skill." Young Master Long responded with a smile. "It is only right that she proves her worth to me."


    "Well my mother wille here tomorrow. Would you like her to formally introduced you to"


    "Not as a fiance. After all your grandfather didn''t want this alliance to happen. I want Aunt Ying to introduce me as the head of the student council at this school."


    Zhang Zhi smiled and nodded. "Alright let''s do that."


    ...


    Thank you for your support and don''t forget to vote. I uploaded a map of Long City and Xu Country in my instagram: @blips01

 Chapter 29: Quier

    Chapter 29: Qui''er


    What happened earlier became an eye opener for Lyca. Shen Qui was a very talented man! He was actually very good at tranting her words. It was as if he could read her mind! In less than thirty seconds, she immediately concluded to keep him alive.


    She eyed the man who was standing like a statue beside her. "Someone is watching." She said in a low voice enough for him to hear. A cold breeze followed her words, she involuntarily shivered and immediately med her off shoulder ck dress. The party had started for about an hour now and it didn''t show any signs of stopping. How tiring, she thought.


    "Hmmm. Probably the student council." This was the first time that the Huang Family had participated in something like this. It was only normal that everyone would keep their eye on Lyca and her cousin. "The Zhang Family also has a representative. Zhang Zhi, twenty two. That man earlier was Young Master Lin Tao from the Lin Family. Rumors said that he was only allowed here because of the Young Master of the Long Family, Long Yi."


    "Very well informed." She praised as aical glint shed in her eyes. However, since it was dark, Shen Qui failed to notice it. "Who is that?" She pointed at the man wearing an all red suit.


    "That is the Young Master of the Qin Family. Qin Feng is twenty one, he just arrived from abroad. He has already finished his undergraduate studies and is majoring in economic and international studies. He is the heir to the Qin Family."


    Lyca smiled in response. "And that?"


    "That is the Young Miss of the Lin Family main branch. That is Young Miss Lin Yao, the pride of the Main Lin Family. Young Master Lin and his family were considered a side branch and not as influential as that family. Anyway, she is adept in arts, music and a very good marksman. She is twenty one and engaged to the Young Master of the Hou Family, Hou Liang. That is the man wearing a cape over there. He is a useless womanizing trash and this Young Miss Lin hates him. However, the two couldn''t" he gulped when he noticed Lyca smiling at him.


    "Continue." She beamed. Wasn''t it nice to enjoy the view with her champagne while this man tells her everything about everyone in this party? It seems that keeping him alive was the best decision that she made since arriving in this school. "I love it. Continue."


    "Oh. The two couldn''t really ask their parents to cancel the engagement as this was set up by their elders. Plus the Hou and Lin Families are really close and have partnerships in various businesses."


    "Hmmm." Indeed that sounded veryplicated. She watched the beautiful Young Miss Lin for a few seconds then looked at Hou Liang who had two women in his arms. The man was tantly disrespecting Miss Lin in front of everyone! A weirdughter escaped her lips.


    Of course, Lyca was not nning to involve herself in their engagement. However. She needed a person to test her previous solvent. Unable to stop herself, anotherughter escaped her scarlet lips. It seems that Young Master Hou was a very unfortunate individual.


    "Who is that?" Lyca said, her head was tilted to her left. "Right. Red. Five foot six. Curls. Woman." She said. She felt this woman''s gaze for a few seconds now. The woman had been pretending to talk to some people while ncing at this balcony. This balcony was dark and since she was wearing a ck dress, it would be difficult for someone without trained eyes to spot them.


    "That should be someone from the student council. Young Miss Liu Chin of the Liu Family. They are not from Long City but from the neighboring Xie City. Her family is the rival of the Xie Family when ites to wealth and territory. I believe, right now, the Liu Family is fighting with the Xie Family over the ports. Complicated and Chaotic." He answered. As someone trained since he was ten, Shen Qui would nevere in a ce like this without knowing everyone''s identity. It was always better to know who your enemy was. He looked at Lyca''s side profile as he wondered what weird things she was thinking about now.


    "Oh." Lyca turned towards the sweetughter of a few people not far away from her. Surprisingly, it was Huang Xiaoxuan. The social butterfly Huang Xiaoxuan was happily talking to a group of men and women that Lyca didn''t recognize. With her long white gown with a tube top and pink lips, Huang Xiaoxuan looked like she was about to marry someone.


    Heh. Now that she looked at everyone''s dresses, she immediately noticed that Huang Xiaoxuan''s was one of the most luxurious gowns that would immediately attract anyone''s attention. She eyed the sparkling stone in the dress and immediately felt a little heavy. Too wasteful. This Huang Xiaoxuan actually wore an expensive wedding gown in the grand assembly! If only she used the money to buy food


    She shook her head. It was clear that Huang Xiaoxuan wanted to build connections. She wanted attention so she could easily build connections with the future heirs and heiresses. Huang Xiaoxuan didn''t even bring Li Xian here. She must have feared that the appearance of a bodyguard beside her would make her look weak. The thing was, Huang Xiaoxuan failed to understand that these connections won''t be able to help her in the future. These people wanted benefits that might be something that Huang Xiaoxuan won''t be able to give unless she became the CEO of Huang Security.


    "Qui''er." Smiling, she turned towards him. "Let''s go back." She said. For some reason, she felt that this party resembled the gatherings that they used to have in her previous life. It only had one purpose and that was to increase your connections and find someone suitable to marry. Just the thought of being married to one of these people almost made her feel sick.


    Memories of her past life soon filled her head. Wedding night, betrayal, death. Face paling, she closed her eyes and let out a long sigh. Seeing this, Shen Qui immediately knew something was wrong. He didn''t bother arguing about the weird nickname as he nodded. "Alright."

 Chapter 30: Point System

    Chapter 30: Point System


    However, before the two could move from the balcony, the sound of someone using a microphone echoed. "Ehem. Good Evening everyone." Lyca and Shen Qui turned towards the fountain. Both raised their eyebrow at the same time when they saw an unfamiliar man wearing a purple suit with pink neckties, standing by the fountain with a few students. "I am Young Master Xie and I am from the student council. As you all know, our positions are inherited so we have been in this school before the school year started to take care of things. One of the things that we agreed to have today is a point system. Nothing fancy just a silly point system that will constitute ten percent of your final grade, six months from now." He smiled, his phoenix eyes glinting with mischief.


    "I am here to announce the mechanics of the point system which will start tonight. In this system, you can challenge anyone you want to. You can challenge them in debate, drawing, dancing, swordy, musical instruments, martial arts, shootingpetition, archery, you name it." He continued, his gaze roamed around the students. "If one issued a challenge today, it must bepleted before midnight of the next day. No excuses. Each challenge will have the same rewards. Winner will get two points. And the Loser will have three points subtracted from their total points."


    Gasps and whispers followed his words. Seeing this, a confident smirk could be seen in the man''s face. "Once you reach zero or negative you will be kicked out of this academy, with no chance of returning even if your parents beg the school. The winner would of course have the opportunity to join the student council body and will get twenty million in gold." Another round of gasps and whispers followed. "An outsider is not allowed to know about this point system. You cannot tell your family about this as well. Refusal to follow thew will get you expelled and the school will ban your families from joining the school for the next ten years."


    "Questions?" he looked at everyone.


    "Here." A chubby man wearing a white suit raised his hand. "Are we allowed to challenge someone to gambling? A game of chance?"


    "No, Young Master Ning. You cannot challenge someone to a poker. Only abilities that involve real skills" He looked at the chubby man in disgust.


    "Can we have a bet in every challenge?''


    "You can bet." Young Master Xie said.


    "Life and death challenge?" Someone from the back raised a question.


    "No. We will not take responsibility for anyone''s death. Therefore you are not allowed to have life and death challenges inside the school. Of course what you do outside of the ten hectare school premise has nothing to do with us." He winked at the person who asked. "Are there anymore questions?"


    "Can we issue a challenge to anyone?" Someone with huge eyesses asked.


    "You can issue a challenge but you have to issue a reward as well. For instance you can challenge someone to withstand one shot of your newly made gun. People who can withstand that will win this challenge and will have that two points while you lose three. Additionally, you also have to give them another reward. Because of the peculiarity of the challenge, you can give them whatever you want. Most people would reward shares while some would use diamonds of equal value." Young Master Xie exined.


    Lyca frowned at his words. If her guess was right, then this should be the exact reason why they created this crazy system. People were bound to make something, an invention. And they would need someone to test it. In that case, they could issue a challenge to everyone.


    Young Master Xie continued. "The crux of the matter is that the challenge willst for twenty four hours. If you want to issue a challenge to everyone, it would mean you are ready to have points taken from you in case you lose. Example, if you have a total of twenty points and ten people will take your challenge. Out of ten, if eight people were able to withstand or fight you and win. Meaning you lose to eight different people in twenty four hours. So you will lose a total of twenty four points while each of them will gain your promised rewards and two points from the school. Now, twenty points minus twenty four points means you now have negative points. Meaning you have to leave." The man in purple started beaming. "So unless you are extremely confident that no one would be able to beat you I suggest you stick to challenging a simple person that you can easily bully." He snorted. "Did I answer your questions?"


    "Yes, sir!" the man at the back became enthusiastic.


    "Alright rankings will be released every Friday. Since today is a Tuesday, the first set of rankings will be released a few days from now. Tonight is going to be the start of this rule. Every academy teacher has already approved including the Director of the School. If you want to challenge anyone, just open the school app on your phone. I''m sure you don''t need some teaching to do that, right?"


    The young masters and young misses startedughing, the atmosphere turned light. Seeing this, Young Master Xie added. "No silly challenges like, I challenge this young miss to kiss me for two million diamonds. Anyone who issues a silly challenge like that will have five points taken from them. Check your student profile to see your total points. Each of you will be given ten points tonight. After that you can start challenging anyone."


    "Last question." A woman with a crisp voice and blond hair raised her hand. "If three people decided to challenge Person A on the same day, what would happen?''


    "Naturally, that is not allowed. If person one, two and three challenge person A on the same day, then person one will do the challenge tomorrow. Person two will do it the day after tomorrow. Person three will do it after that. And yes, Person A wont have any rest at all."


    "What a cruel rule." Lyca noted when she heard the rule. This was designed to kick someone out of the school. She snorted.

 Chapter 31: Take Off Your Clothes

    Chapter 31: Take Off Your Clothes


    Lyca''s eyes turned towards Shen Qui. For some reason, her mind was telling her that they did this because of Li Xian and Shen Qui''s presence. This school was indeed full of wolves. It''s funny how Lyca didn''t know their names yet and someone was already scheming against her. She turned her gaze towards the man in purple. She immediately wondered if they could challenge the student council themselves. That should be possible, right? As if on cue, a man wearing an all ck suit with a mask on his face asked. "Can we challenge someone from the student council?"


    The man in purple''s eyes lit up. "Of course! The greater the challenge the greater the rewards!"


    This sentence seemed to make everyone overly excited. Seeing this, Lyca pat Shen Qui''s shoulders and the two of them silently walked out of the party. There was no need to stay in that party anymore.


    Lyca let out a yawn when the two arrived in her room. She motioned him not to leave yet as she had something to tell him. "Take off your clothes." She said.


    "You" Shen Qui''s face turned ugly. What was this pervert trying to do? "Lyca that is improper. It is better that we keep our rtionship professional." Lyca only smiled in response. However, her mind was honestly still thinking about this Point System. Young Master Lin''s knowledge about the current arrangement only meant that other people know of this too. Meaning, there are people who knew Shen Qui''s identity. And for a moner'' to join this school is a bit too much for those rich young masters and heirs.


    "Someone is scheming." She said and sat at the edge of her bed. "I need to help you." Without Shen Qui here, no one would carry her in the stairs or trante her words. No one would tell her about every gossip in this school. This man was very useful for someone like her who thinks gathering information is a very taxing job.


    "Help what? You just asked me to take off my clothes! How is that supposed to help me?" Unable to stop himself, Shen Qui spoke his thoughts. This woman was she going to take advantage of his body? "I believe you drank a lot of champagne you should sleep now." He turned his back and started walking towards his room. However, Lyca''s hand suddenly grabbed his shoulders, it wasn''t full of force, yet it was enough to stop him from walking.


    He immediately tried to shake her hand off. Irritated, Shen Qui used his left hand to grab Lyca''s right hand that was on his shoulder. "What?"


    "I don''t like you." Lyca suddenly said.


    "Well I don''t like you too!" He blurted, his anger rising in his chest. He was supposed to be calm and collected at all times, yet this woman is really testing his patience over and over again. How is he going to survive in the next six months with a woman like this by his side!


    "You''re not worth my time." Lyca added.


    "Good!"


    "Hmmm." She smiled. "Now take off your clothes."


    "Why the hell would I do that?"


    "If it makes you that ufortable, I can take off my clothes too. It''s all fair."


    He widened his eyes. "I am not taking my clothes off." He said. This craziness is truly beyond hisprehension. He let go of her hand and continued walking.


    "You are injured."


    Lyca''s words immediately made him halt his steps. He turned towards her, as his heart raced. How the hell did she know? "You" He gulped when he saw Lyca hold her hands in front of him.


    "I want to help." She moved her fingers as if she was massaging something. This immediately made him suspicious. Why does that action make him ufortable?


    "What injury are you talking about?" Shen Qui pretended not to know. "I am not injured."


    "I am toozy to talk. If you want to continue suppressing your injury then leave my room. I don''t want to talk to stupid people!" She hissed and started walking towards her bed. She already wasted a lot of time talking to this brute and yet, he dared deny his injury? How hateful.


    Seeing Lyca already lying on her bed, Shen Qui stood there as still as a statue. So that''s it? No exnations? No questions? She just wanted him to take off his clothes to help his injury? If only she would exin more, then he would have understand everything! This woman was truly unreasonable! However, how could Shen Qui deny Lyca''s request this time?


    Even old man Huang and other people around him didn''t know that he had an injury that he got when he was eight. Only histe uncle knew of this matter. But in only a few interactions, Lyca was able to find out about it. Was it truly possible that she was skilled in controlling her internal energy too?


    Now that he thought about it, the attack that Lyca did to her cousin was really quick and merciless. Was it possible that this woman used her internal energy to do that? "How did you know I''m injured?" He frowned.


    "Why should I tell you?" Lyca said without looking at him.


    "I will take off my clothes." He said as he sighed inwardly. He was really interested to know how this youngdy would help him with his injury.


    "Hmph!" Lyca snorted. In the end, he agreed to take off his clothes. Yet he was acting hard to get earlier. Did he really think she liked to touch people who already had a partner? She, Lyca Huang was not that kind of woman! "No pants. Just the shirt." She said as she sat back up. "Come." He motioned him to approach her.


    Shen Quiplied. This woman had already seen him almost naked once and it was not like he was ashamed of the body that he had worked hard for. However, he could not deny that Lyca''s eyes were making him ufortable. There was actually no lust in it and he found that a problem. Why was she looking at him like an object instead of a man with a well defined body that could fire up a woman''s desire? This he found this fact not only disturbing but really scary.


    ####


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    Blips

 Chapter 32: Misunderstanding

    Chapter 32: Misunderstanding


    When Lyca touched his chest, Shen Qui wasn''t able to stop the hiss from his lips. Her hands were cold freezing. Her face on the other hand was showing that weird smile again. "Aren''t you going to ask me how I got injured?"


    "No." Lyca said. That was none of her business.What''s important was for her to keep him by her side in the next six months. She needed a strong ally. "Drink this." She handed her a ck tablet.


    "What''s this?" Of course, Lyca didn''t answer him. Instead she handed him another tablet.


    "And this," she added. Now that she was able to touch him without any protests, Lyca became certain that the man before her was stabbed a few centimeters away from his heart. It was supposed to be deadly and was enough to kill a young boy. However, another person initially saved Shen Qui before he was able to control his own energy. She watched as Shen Qui drank the medicine without asking any more questions. Then she fell into a deep stupor.


    There were a total of seven energy points in the body. The Crown, Third eye, Throat, Heart, Sr, Sar and Root. Each one of them was located at specific parts of a person''s body. In her previous world, these points were considered useless to a magician as magicians used their mana to create magic. Most magicians did not use this for cultivating one''s energy points as it would take months or years. To a normal magician that was nothing but a waste of time.


    Unlike the normal magician, the previous Lyca was an assassin who relied on her senses and body to kill her enemy. Because of this, she was very familiar in using Energy points to her advantage. Each energy point would give you absolute control of a certain ability. For instance, controlling the crown energy point would make one more intelligent and would increase their awareness which was very important for an assassin like Lyca, while cultivating a person''s sacral energy point would enhance their stamina and speed.


    The only disadvantage was the fact that a normal person would take almost half of their lifetime to be able to control one energy point. Of course, the talented ones would be able to do it in a matter of months.


    Cultivating one''s energy points was not only difficult and time consuming, it was also useless in a battle unless you practiced the right martial art that would enhance your ability. This was, after all not a superpower but a way to enhance oneself using the energy of the world.


    "Heart?" She asked. The only reason why he would cultivate his Heart Energy point was because it was known to suppress any injury. The look on Shen Qui''s face was enough to confirm her words. Based on her knowledge from the previous world, cultivating one''s Heart Energy point would increase one''s control on his body. Absolute control would make anyone hit any target as long as they were able to control their vision and hands. This would let the user suppress any injury or poison too. But once a practitioner suppress injuries, his ability to control the other part of his body would lessen


    Of course, something like this needed a lot of practice.


    "My uncle taught me." Shen Qui said after a few minutes of silence. After drinking that medicine, he immediately felt a cold sensation in his chest. Something that contrasted the usual hot and sharp pain that he felt every now and then. For him to feel something like that in fifteen years was enough to make him happy.


    Lyca said nothing as she held his pulse, silently observing any peculiarities in his body. Healing this man won''t be easy. "Six months. I can heal you in six months."


    "Heal?"


    "Keep my secret. I can heal you and kill you. Keep that in mind."


    Shen Qui stared at her brown eyes, wondering if she was telling the truth. His uncle told him that even the technology won''t be able to heal him. The internal energy he painstakingly practiced was something that could only suppress the injury until he grew old and died. Even with the internal energy, Shen Qui still needed to suffer pain if the temperature got too cold or hot. For more than ten years now, Shen Qui didn''t attempt to develop any of his energy points as he knew this might worsen his injury or at least that''s what his uncle told him.


    But Lyca''s words He opened his mouth wanting to ask questions but ended up closing his mouth and saying nothing. He was curious, he wanted more information. Where did she learn this? How would she heal a wound that even technology couldn''t heal? However, he also knew that Lyca would never answer any of his questions.


    "Don''t get the wrong idea." Lyca said. "I don''t like men who like other men."


    "" He was about to argue when Lyca continued.


    "I hate cheating. You should never cheat on your partner. If I know that you cheated, I will cripple you down there. Then I will kill you."


    "" What the hell was she talking about?


    "Don''t deny. I know." She added, her face serious as a hint of warning can be seen in her eyes. "Don''t cheat or you are dead! Li Xian is not that good looking but his body is good."


    "What are you talking about?" He couldn''t help but wonder how Lyca misunderstood him. Did she see something that would make her think he and Li Xian were lovers? "I think there''s a misunderstanding somewhere."


    "Hmmm." Lyca nodded. "I knew you were not a cheater."


    Shen Qui widened his eyes. Heh. As someone who never had a girlfriend before, he was not very experienced with women. However, he was certain that he was not attracted to his good brother Li Xian. However Shen Qui was not nning on convincing someone who already made up their mind. In the end, Shen Qui nodded at Lyca''s words.


    ....


    Author''s note:


    Question: Is this going to be a novel with superpowers?


    Answer: No. The Seven Energy Points is something that I got from the seven chakra points in our body. If you look it up online, there are ways to meditate and open this points and this will make us healthier and more rx. I changed this part and just added some subtle body changes. Nothing much. This will NOT give them the ability to produce fire or control water.


    Please don''t forget to vote.

 Chapter 33: Unconscious

    Chapter 33: Unconscious


    "Do you know how to develop your other energy points?" Lyca asked as she raised her head and observed Shen Qui''s face. With her hand on his pulse, Lyca was confident that Shen Qui wouldn''t be able to lie to her.


    "No." Shen Qui shook his head. "My uncle said it would be useless to learn. My body is is weak and the one that I learned is only for my injury."


    "Hmmm." Lyca nodded. That would make sense. Developing his other energy points when his body was still injured would only further damage his heart. "People will challenge you tonight." She uttered. "The medicine that I gave you will stop you from feeling the pain but it is not enough to heal your wound. My guess is someone will challenge you to a duel." People here look down on people from the military. It would make sense for one of them to humiliate a military man by challenging him into something that he was good at andpletely beat him at it.


    Heh too bad Lyca already had a way to counter them. To keep herself safe from these challenges, she already had a way to scare people. When she sensed that Shen Qui turned silent, Lyca raised her head and met his eyes. She frowned, silently asking him to exin himself.


    Since Shen Qui was getting better at his trantion, he immediatelyplied. "You spoke a lot." He said. "That is unusual."


    She avoided his gaze. If this was not a ce full of wolves, would Lyca really help him? No way! That was only a waste of her effort. She rolled her eyes and decided to stroke his abs. Wasn''t this the thing that she liked the most?


    Slowly, a smile slithered on Lyca''s frowning face. She knew that Shen Qui was not the type that would get attracted to a female like her. Surely, being touched by a female was not a big deal, right?


    "A week from now I will start healing you." She added. "It will be painful but you must not scream."


    Shen Qui stared at the little woman that was stroking his muscles like some pet. "Why?" He asked.


    "Just don''t." She shrugged andid down on her bed. "Check the university app. Expect a challenge."


    Shen Qui immediatelyplied. He didn''t understand why Lyca would think that someone would challenge him since not many people knew him and the real circumstances of his presence in this school. He was expecting to see a ck page. To his surprise, there were already seven challenges issued on the page!


    A gasp immediately escaped his lips when he saw his name followed by the challenger. Lin Tao of the Lin Family. "It''s Lin Tao he is challenging me in throwing knives."


    "Oh." Lyca nodded, disinterestced her eyes as she looked at the app from her phone. "Don''t worry about him." That man is as good as dead. Lyca sneered as she thought of her encounter with Young Master Lin earlier. Did Lin Tao think that she, Lyca Huang would just let herself be approached by an arrogant young master without any repercussions?


    Heh. "Hey Qui''er."


    "Stop calling me that." He interjected. "Please call me Shen Qui."


    Lyca immediately held her two palms. "I already touched you. We are close."


    "I would really appreciate it if you"


    "Qui''er."


    ""


    "Qui''er."


    ""


    "Qui''er."


    ""


    "Qui''er."


    "Alright Alright just don''t do it in front of other people." He sighed, helplessness shed in his eyes. This woman is still considered his boss after all.


    "Good. Qui''er." Again, Lyca mentioned the nickname, making sure to drag the letters in her mouth. "Take off my clothes."


    Shen Qui immediately took a step back. "No. Please Miss Huang let''s maintain a" His words were interrupted with Lyca rolled over and showed him the back of her dress.


    "Zipper. Take it off." She smirked.


    "Miss Huang"


    "Then scissors." Lyca interrupted him.


    A sigh echoed inside the room. He shook his head. Just what kind of life awaited him in the next six months? He approached the bed. Without saying anything, Shen Qui turned his head away before sliding the zipper down. After that, Shen Qui immediately left the room without sparing her another nce, leaving Lycaughing behind his back.


    Lyca continuedughing even after Shen Qui was already inside his room. Teasing that guy was indeed funny. However, she couldn''t seem to fathom why Shen Qui would still act like a chivalrous man when Lyca already knew that he was in a rtionship with Li Xian.


    Was it possible that Li Xian was actually the jealous type? Lyca immediately offered some silent prayers to Shen Qui and Li Xian''s rtionship. After all, she knew that having a jealous type partner was bound to cause a lot of misunderstandings in the future.


    ...


    While Lyca was praying for Shen Qui''s rtionship, the party a few hundred meters away from the mansion was still ongoing. By now, many young masters were already drunk. Near the fountain, a group of men in their early twenties wereughing while talking about the challenges that were issued on the same day.


    "A bodyguard? That Young Miss Huang is so bold to bring a bodyguard to the grand assembly that is only for the people with noble blood." A man with a squeaky voice snorted. "Is this information reliable?"


    The chubby man across him immediately nodded. "Of course! I challenged him for this reason. Once I defeat that man you guys should issue the challenge too. Let''s exhaust his points until the school decides to kick him out." This man was of course, Young Master Lin. Just like everyone in the group, disgust was also swirling in his voice. Once that man was gone, he could finally show that arrogant woman who the real boss was. So what if she is going to be Young Master Long''s fiance? Does she think Young Master Long is going to treat her well just because she''s a little pretty?


    However, his thoughts were soon interrupted when he felt his heartbeat elerate. Young Master Lin soon paled as he clutched his neck. Slowly, his eyes bulged as the pain in his neck multiplied. He didn''t even have the chance to say anything as he fell on the floor.


    Unconscious.


    ####


    Authors note:


    Let me tell you something. As of 6 pm Sunday only 697 people added this book on their library. And we were able to get into top 102 with more than 1000 votes at the end of the week. How awesome is that? Thank you so much for the support! I am so grateful for everyone''s help.


    Please don''t forget to vote for the novel.


    Top 70: Mass release of 5 Chapters Sunday October 18.


    Hugs and kisses,


    Blips

 Chapter 34: Small Provocation

    Chapter 34: Small Provocation


    Student Council Office


    "A poison?" Young Master Long Yi lifted an eyebrow when he heard Zhang Zhi''s report. "I didn''t know the Lin family actually had enemies."


    "That is not our concern. The problem is the challenge. Now that Lin Tao can''t make it then"


    "Of course we have to cancel it! The rules state that we should cancel it." The one who announced the terms of this point system said. Young Master Xie was wearing a purple shirt with his matching purple pants. He eyed Young Master Long sitting opposite to him. "If you really wanted that bodyguard out then, we can always pay someone to challenge that man." He started reading the fashion magazine in his hands. "Plus what''s so good about a military man? Each of us here have our own secret martial arts. If one of us would fight him he will surely lose."


    "You are underestimating our Huang Family too much." Zhang Zhi said. True, the Huang Family was not as strong as the Long Family right now. However, history suggests that the two families used to have the same equal standing many years ago. Even if he had long allied himself to the Long Family, Zhang Zhi was still a proud Huang descendant.


    Young Master Xie only rolled his eyes as he continued looking at the fashion magazine.


    "Actually Xie Jun is right." Long Yi said. "I believe we can always find someone to test the waters first. What happened to Lin Tao was too suspicious for me." He narrowed his eyes at the steaming from the tea in front of them. The fragrance of the jasmine tea was not enough to calm his mind. For some reason, he felt that Lin Tao''s incident was connected to Lyca. After all, the fattyst night said that Lyca strangled him. However, no one believed the man as it was indeed impossible for a small woman to strangle a gigantic man like Lin Tao. "Do you have news as to what kind of poison was used?"


    "The doctor said it was a type of snake venom that was mixed with a certain chemical. Young Master Lin is not dead and would probably survive as they were able to stop the poison from spreading. The Doctor said the Young Master was lucky that the poison was only applied on his skin and was not put on his drink. The poison seemed lethal." One of Long Yi''s servants answered.


    "And they have yet to determine the poison?"


    "Yes, Master."


    "Interesting." Long Yi uttered. "They are sure it was applied?"


    "Yes, Master. The Doctor said the damage on Young Master Lin''s neck was circr and its spreading. If one threw the poison towards him, then the burn or the rotting shouldn''t be circr. Someone needed to touch his neck to be able to apply the poison using a special method."


    "Hmmm." Long Yi motioned the servant to leave them alone before he looked at the other two people inside the student council office. Those words seemed to reinforce his beliefs that it was indeed Lyca who poisoned Lin Tao. But why? Was it because the man provoked her? But to hurt someone just because of a small provocation wasn''t that too excessive for a woman like her?


    "Zhang Zhi Aunt Ying should be here in a few minutes." Long Yi reminded him. "You should wee your mother. As for you Xie Jun go and ask someone to get Lyca Huang. Tell her she was summoned by her aunt. I want to meet that woman."


    ...


    Lyca almost jumped up when she noticed Shen Qui standing next to her bed, silently looking at her like a creep. "Do you want to sleep with me?" she shamelessly asked. She had actually slept so much that she didn''t notice this man approached her. Lyca''s hand made its way on her dagger just behind her pillow as she smiled at Shen Qui. "Come. I''m sure Li Xian won''t mind."


    Aplicated expression can be seen in Shen Qui''s eyes. "Lin Tao is ill. He won''t be able to do the challenge with me."


    "Oh." First thing in the morning and Shen Qui was already talking about men. How unappetizing. She pulled the covers closer to her body and closed her eyes. However, her senses were wide open. One more step and the dagger in her hand would surely stab this man''s heart. "I am not interested in men who don''t have abs." She said almostzily before yawning. "If you are not going to get in the bed with me then go and evaporate!"


    "An acid was found in his neck. It made the skin rot, giving him intense pain, making him pass out." Shen Qui continued as he stood next to her bed. When Lyca said the other night not to mind Lin Tao, Shen Qui thought she was only underestimating the opponent because he was a little fat. However, when he heard the news of Lin Tao''s incident, he couldn''t help but think this was all Lyca''s doing.


    Last night, he clearly saw that Lyca grab the man''s neck.


    "Are you responsible for what happened to him?"


    "Noisy." Lyca found another pillow to cover her head. "Leave me alone."


    Seeing this, Shen Qui was forced to withdraw his thoughts and said, "It''s already ten in the morning. The rm clock has rung two times before you broke it and went back to sleep. That rm clock was given by the director and was specifically made for you." He started talking, hoping it would be enough to wake her up. "That rm clock is worth"


    The loud knocking on the door interrupted him. "I will go open the door. When Ie back make sure that you are already up or I I will get some water and pour it on your head. The director told me to train you. Consider this a part of your training!" he said before he walked towards the door. Seeing that it was the familiar man in purplest night, Shen Qui opened the door.


    "Good Morning. I know you are already familiar with me but let me introduce myself again. I am Young Master Xie Jun from the illustrious Xie Family of Xie City. May Ie in?"


    ...


    Please don''t forget to vote for the novel.


    Top 70: 5 chapters mass release. With my current collection it will be close to impossible. hehehe... But no one really knows, right? This novel is not contracted so there''s no way WN would advertise it. heheheh

 Chapter 35: Not a Man of Few Words

    Chapter 35: Not a Man of Few Words


    "Young Master Xie, I''m afraid this is not the right time. Miss Huang is still sleeping." Shen Qui said. "But if you would like to  you can wait inside the living room."


    Xie Jun only smiled and tried to push Shen Qui out of his way. His previous words before were supposed to be an insult for a meremoner like Shen Qui. Xie Jun doesn''t need his permission toe inside Lyca''s abode. "Hm?" Xie Jun raised an eyebrow when he saw Shen Qui not budging. But since he didn''t use half of his strength to push him, he immediately assumed that Shen Qui was just a little stronger than he is.


    So he pushed him again.


    This time, he did it with the intention to shove him out of his way. How dare amoner like Shen Qui dy him? Still, Shen Qui didn''t budge. He immediately looked at the man who was staring straight at him. "How dare you look at me like that?" Xie Jun asked.


    In response, Shen Qui only raised an eyebrow as he wondered if this man had problems in his brain. "Young Master Xie, I am assigned to keep Miss Huang safe. I don''t think I can let you in."


    *BANG*


    He closed the door in front of Xie Jun''s face. What a creep, he thought as he went back to Lyca''s room to wake her up. Before Shen Qui could take a step away from the door, someone knocked the door again. He knew it was the same Young Master Xie.


    "Open this door now!" Xie Jun''s voice echoed. "Or you will face repercussions!"


    Shen Qui sighed. He opened the door and looked at the man wearing purple. "Miss Huang is still sleeping. Pleasee back a few hours from now."


    "If you close that door again, I will have the school suspend you."


    "Young Master Xie, I have read all rules in this school. Even the ones authored by the illustrious student council. Not one of them states that you can have me suspended because someone is still sleeping when you visit their room." Shen Qui said, his face was stern. It was devoid of any emotion. However, an obvious irritation could be seen in his eyes.


    Beforeing in here, Shen Qui had memorized all thews that they needed to follow, he memorized everyone''s names. From the janitor to their director and their pets. He even included their families and businesses. Shen Qui knew that among all students here, Li Xian and him might be the one who knew every nook and cranny of this school.


    How could this Xie Jun try to fool him?


    "You I am having you suspended for disrespecting a student council member!" Xie Jun felt his face turned hot. As the member of the Xie Family, this was the first time that someone lower than him talked to him like this.


    "With all due respect, Young Master Xie, I have also read everything about disrespecting the student council. One of which clearly states that as long as you are inside the property of a student, they can do whatever they want to you in the name of self defense." Shen Qui said.


    "You What are you talking about?"


    "You can lie to your fellow student council members but Miss Huang''s room is filled with cameras with voice recorders as Miss Huang''s hobby is collecting random videos. If you really want to create some stories about me disrespecting you, then I can show everyone the video of me properly telling you that my mistress was still sleeping and you were attempting to shove me out of the way and enter the room."


    What nonsense was this man talking about? Xie Jun felt his throat went dry, his face so hot from the embarrassment that he felt. However, Shen Qui was not done yet.


    "Young Master Xie, as a trained military man, I can push you and create some injury by defending myself. But instead, I told you that I cannot let you in and promptly closed the door. If you think that is disrespectful then please file aint against me. My mistress will surelye with me and put you in your ce." Shen Qui said. His cid face didn''t reveal his internal emotions. Shen Qui was never a man of a few words. Outside of training, he loved talking with his brother Li Xian and the others. He loved expressing his emotions and putting people in their ce.


    As someone who practically grew up interacting with adult soldiers, Shen Qui had developed the hobby of being shameless. Of course, he would never dare show this in front of Lyca. He watched as Xie Jun''s face turned so red it looked like he was about to explode from anger.


    The man in front of Shen Qui opened his mouth, then close it. For some reason it reminded Shen Qui of a fish. Seeing this, Shen Qui forced a smile out of his serious face. "Young Master Xie with all due respect. I still needed to wake up my mistress. If you wanted to talk to my mistress pleasee back after an hour. By then I will immediately let you in."


    *BANG*


    Once again, the door in front of Xie Jun closed. It took him a few minutes to realize that he was already alone in daze while staring at the door. "Good!" Xie Jun gritted his teeth. "Very Good!" He personally came here to assess this Lyca woman. Who would have thought that a mere bodyguard would dare treat him this way? He balled his fist and narrowed his eyes at therge room number in front of him.


    He would never forget this embarrassment! He, Young Master Xie Jun of the Xie Family would never forget this day! To satisfy his anger, Xie Jun opened his phone and dialed a number. "I want you to challenge someone to a sword fight." He said. "That''s right cripple him. I will send you the details." He immediately ended the call then raised his feet to kick the door! This Shen Qui and Lyca Huang he would teach them a lesson they would never forget!


    ...


    This is a bonus chapter for ending up near top 100. Thank you very much for the support and please don''t forget to vote for the novel.


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    Blips

 Chapter 36: Future Lab-rats

    Chapter 36: Future Lab-rats


    Lyca''sughter echoed inside her room when she heard Shen Qui recount what happened when she was still sleeping. Who would have thought that she would miss something like this? "Xie Jun?" She said beforeughing again.


    After a couple of minutes ofughing her heart out, she stared at Shen Qui''s face. Offending a student council member. It seemed that this Shen Qui was actually fearless. "Be careful with our food." She said. Now that they had offended someone with a high status in this school, they couldn''t really consider anything around them safe. Especially their food.


    In this world, using poisons was not asmon as her previous world. However, it was still something that someone desperate to hurt them would do. Lyca narrowed her eyes, slowly, her understanding about this world was changing. The more she exposed herself, the more she realized that this world and her previous world were actually quite simr.


    The grumbling in her stomach interrupted her stupor. "Oh. Hungry." She looked at Shen Qui.


    "I can''t cook."


    For some reason, his words were enough to break her heart. Living with someone who can''t cook was worse than dying! Lyca frowned. "Boil eggs." Surely, boiling is something that anyone can do. However, instead of moving, Shen Qui just stared at her.


    "We don''t have eggs." Who would have thought that this young miss would not want to eat the food in this school? "Nor groceries. Or cookware."


    Lyca widened her eyes. She didn''t actually check the kitchen when she arrived and was not nning to do. After all, she was counting on Shen Qui to cook for her. She turned silent. Bringing a servant into this school was not possible. It was one of the rules.


    "Is there a way to break the rule?" She asked herself.


    "Student Council members can bring servants here." Shen Qui said. He could actually cook and do basic dishes like boiled egg, fried egg and scrambled egg. He also knew how to make instant noodles. However, he was a little embarrassed to offer this skill to this young miss.


    "How?" she asked.


    Shen Qui immediatelypleted the question. "How to be a part if the student council? Its inherited." He answered. "But if you be the top student in the point system then you can join them." Last night, Shen Qui had read everything about this point system. So he knew everything about it.


    "Oh?" Lyca didn''t say anything. She just opened her phone and looked at the challenges on the school app.


    "Challenge the student council?"


    "You can. Losing will cost you twenty points and winning will give you ten points." Shen Qui snorted. That was an unfair use but since these people considered themselves the royalty of this school then that sounded reasonable.


    "Oh. And if we win can we take their spots?"


    "No you cannot. As I said there are only two ways to be one of them. It''s either you inherit it, which is not possible since this is the first time the Huang Family has joined this school. And winning in the point system."


    "Oh. Can we challenge them now?"


    Shen Qui turned silent. The smile on Lyca''s face made him doubt her real intention. Was she nning on challenging someone from the student council for the servants? "Yes. But only one member can be challenged at a time."


    "Someone challenged you!" Lyca almost jumped out of her bed. "Sword fight!" She then started beaming. Someone actually challenged Shen Qui! "Let me." She started typing on her phone while Shen Qui opened his own phone and looked at the details of the challenge. However, what he read next made him speechless.


    It was Lyca''s name. Lyca Huang actually dared to challenge Young Master Xie!


    [Drink Nonfatal Poison. Stay conscious for five minutes. Reward: Five Million in Diamonds.]


    Shen Qui blinked when he read the details. He stared at his phone wondering if he really saw the right thing. He blinked and this time another challenge popped up.


    [Drink Nonfatal Poison. Stay conscious for five minutes. Reward: Five Million in Diamonds.]


    This time, it was directed to the man who challenged Shen Qui to a sword fight! This. He stopped looking at his phone and stared at Lyca who was nowughing like a maniac. It was as if she had just opened a very good gift. Why was she so happy? However, the thing that disturbed him the most was the fact that Lyca''s challenge had proven his previous assumption about Lyca and Young Master Lin''s neck. Lyca poisoned the chubby man just by touching him.


    How the hell was that possible? What kind of woman would poison a man just like that? Shen Qui gulped. It seems that this mission was not only troublesome but would be full of dangers. Not only from the people surrounding them but from Lyca herself.


    "Alright. I''m in a good mood. Take off your clothes." Lyca said.


    "" This again. "Are you going to "


    "Of course. I will check your wound then you will buy groceries for me."


    Shen Qui nodded. So far, he discovered that aside from her medicine, Lyca was notzy when it came to her food and things that made her happy. At least now, he knew what would make Lyca talk more. This should be considered a sess. With this in mind, Shen Qui immediately took off his clothes and approached Lyca.


    Lyca happily started another round of healing or touching his body. This was only interrupted when she received a call on her phone. This time it was Huang Ying, telling Lyca to meet her in the student council office.


    "Hmmm." Lyca responded with a period. "Buy some stuff. I will see youter." She said before she gave him another two tablets as she left the room to go to the student council office. She was honestly excited to meet the people behind this scheme. Of course she was also excited to talk to her futureb-rats. Lyca maintained a smiling face until she walked out of the mansion.

 Chapter 37: A Club

    Chapter 37: A Club


    Lyca was unaware that her challenge towards Young Master Xie had already gathered the attention of everyone in the school. Lyca was after all, the first student who had the guts to challenge someone from the council.


    Even the student council members were surprised to see Young Master Xie being challenged by someone from the Huang Family. This uproar was not only because of the challenge but the prize and even the type of challenge issued. A poison? A non fatal one at that. What kind of poison can that be? Surely, the Huang Family did not want to offend the whole Xie Family by targeting their young master right?


    Everyone immediatelypared the two families and found out that when ites to power and wealth the two were almost close to equal on the outside. However, most of them know that the Huang Family was weaker than the Xie Family from the Xie City.


    The students couldn''t stop themselves from discussing Lyca''s bold move. However, when they saw Lyca challenging another person just after she challenges Young Master Xie, they started thinking there should be a problem somewhere.


    Five millions worth of diamonds? Wasn''t that too extravagant for a prize like this? Was it because the poison was dangerous? After all, she wouldn''t name it a poison if it wasn''t, right?


    Lyca on the other hand was unaware that everyone already knew her name inside the school. She was calmly walking towards the two floor building that was the office of the student council members. And yes, it was the whole building with thirty rooms, five suits and a gym. This was one of the advantages of bing a member.


    A man with a ck suit and white gloves led her to the office where the council discussed their affairs.


    "Miss Lyca Huang is here." The man announced as he opened the door. After leading Lyca inside, the man bowed and left without saying anything. The strong smell of a flower immediately assaulted her senses. Lyca frowned. She hated that smell.


    "Lyca!" It was Huang Ying. She was wearing a ck pant suit, showcasing her curves. She immediately approached Lyca and gave her a tight hug. "The Zhang Family has a spot in the student council. Your cousin Zhang Zhi took the spot from his elder brother." She exined before she ushered Lyca to sit beside her. "Oh. I''m sure you already know everyone here, right?" a gentle smile was on her face.


    Lyca on the other hand was already looking at the people inside the room. Four males and one female, all in their early twenties, all beautiful like a flower. Is this some sort of a club where one should be beautiful to be able to join? "No." Lyca answered. Aside from Young Master Xie and her cousin Zhang Zhi, she didn''t know the other people here.


    Obviously, everyone was surprised by her honestly. Who doesn''t know the members of the Student Council?


    "It seems that we are not as famous as we originally thought." The man who was sitting on the table spoke. He flipped his long straight hair before he started walking towards Lyca. "I am from the Xiao Family." He said as he held Lyca''s hand. "I am twenty three this year, Pisces, my favorite color is white and you can call me Ken. And yes I am looking for my Barbie''s." He slowly brought her hand into his lips.


    "Oh." Lyca said as she pulled her hand away from him. What a weird bred, she thought. Her gaze then traveled toward the other people in the room.


    Huang immediately cleared her throat. "This is Young Master Long from the Long Family." Huang Ying introduced the man with a ck sleek hair before pointing at the man next to him. "Young Master Xie is here too. Of course, your cousin and this is Zhang Zhi''s fiance, Young Miss Ling, Ling Nana."


    Contrary to Ken Xiao''s action, the other three men didn''t shake Lyca''s hand while Ling Nana just nodded and smiled. Seeing this, Lyca looked at Huang Ying. "Why did you call?"


    "Oh nothing much. I just wanted to check if you like the suite room that you were staying in." Huang Ying''s face was totally different than when she was calling Lyca azy woman during Old Man Huang''s birthday.


    "Oh. I''m good." Lyca said before she gave a meaningful smile at herb rat, Young Master Xie.


    "Really? I heard you already challenged someone?" Huang Ying said, making Lyca nod in response. She wasn''t sure why these people were here while Huang Ying was talking to her.


    "Mrs. Zhang, Miss Huang already challenged our Young Master Xie. She wants him to drink a poison for five million in diamonds." It was Ken Xiao. He sat next to Lyca, a huge smile was on his face. "Tell me Miss Huang what kind of poison does Young Master Xie need to drink for this five million prize?"


    A snake. That was the only word that Lyca could think of while looking at this Young Master Ken Xiao. He literally looked like a devious snake. Now that the man was close, she could clearly see his pale skin and green eyes which only reminded Lyca of a snake. How could someone resemble a snake so much? "Something I made." She answered and turned her attention back to Xie Jun.


    "And it is not fatal, yes?" This time, Long Yi asked. Just like everyone else, he was also speechless when he saw the challenge that Lyca actually issued against Young Master Xie.


    "No. Not fatal." Of course, it was not fatal. She was nning to give Young Master Xie her new Gentle size poison! This was his punishment for scheming against Lyca''s injured trantor. Of course, this poison would not show its effects in the next few weeks but she was already nning on adding something else to make Young Master Xie faint in a matter of seconds.


    "And I heard you also challenge the Young Master who challenged your bodyguard?" Long Yi asked.


    "Hmmm."


    "Is it the same poison?"


    "No." She shook her head. Did these people think that they could harm her trantor, researcher and future assistant?


    "It''s still not fatal?"


    Lyca looked at Long Yi for a few seconds before she spoke. "Not sure." This is the first time that she would test the poison. Who knows if its fatal or not? Lycaughed inwardly when she saw the dark expression on everyone''s face.

 Chapter 38: Best Comprehension

    Chapter 38: Best Comprehension


    Silence followed her words.


    "You know that''s not allowed. Killing a student is not allowed." Young Master Xie spoke.


    "Is that so?"


    "Didn''t you read the rules?"


    "No." Lyca smiled. Of course she knew the rules. She was not nning on killing anyone. At least not yet.


    "And the poison?" Young Master Xie said. "Tell us its contents!" He was challenged to drink poison! It was normal for him to show concern about this matter.


    "Are you a chemist?" Lyca raised an eyebrow.


    "No. None of us are experts in chemicals." Long Yi said. After what happened to Lin Tao''s neck, his view towards Lyca had already changed. However, he didn''t tell anyone about this matter as he was nning to use this in the future to control her. Who would have thought that she would tantly challenge someone using poisons?


    Long Yi can''t seem to understand why Lyca would expose a secret like that.


    "Oh. Then No. Bring a chemist if you want." Lyca said as she tossed a card in front of them. When they saw a card, not one of them spoke. Lyca Huang is actually a licensed chemical engineer. Are they really going to argue about chemicals with someone like her?


    "Lyca dear I think there''s no need for this, right?" Huang Ying said. "Chemicals are highly dangerous. Why would you want people to drink something that you concocted?"


    "For fun." She answered with a straight face. She was supposed to sayb rats but that would be too much for their faint little hearts to handle. She eyed Zhang Zhi and Young Master Long. These two people should be the one responsible for sending that fatty?


    "Our Lyca is truly adorable." Huang Ying faked aughter as she looked at the younger people in front of her. "Please don''t mind her. She has been raised abroad and does not understand protocol that much."


    "Oh? Abroad?" Long Yi uttered. He had been thinking how to engage Lyca into an entertaining conversation. However, it seems that this young miss refused to give them some face. Well if she indeed grew up abroad, that would exin herck of manners. Well then it seems that he needed to act himself. "Aunt Ning and her son, Young Master Zhang needed to talk in private. I think we should leave. As for you Young Lady Huang please follow me, I will give you a tour inside the building."


    "Brother Long I want to apany you." Ling Nana spoke for the first time, her gentle voice was apanied by a gentle smile on her face.


    "Hmmm. Do what you want." Long Yi said as he rose from his seat and led Lyca out of the room with Ling Nana following closely behind them.


    "Miss Huang" Ling Nana didn''t give Long Yi the opportunity to speak. She immediately held Lyca''s hands. "Aunt Ying said you were from abroad? May I know what country?"


    "No." Lyca said.


    "Ai Miss Huang is truly peculiar." Ling Nana giggled, hiding the embarrassment in her eyes. "We already know which country from your files."


    "Then why ask?" Lyca said with a straight face. She looked at the rooms in the second floor, silently scanning for the kitchen. She came here thinking these people would offer her food. Tsk. Lyca clicked her tongue, extremely irritated.


    When Ling Nana heard this, her face immediately flushed. She eyed Long Yi who was silently walking next to her. Seeing theck of reaction in Long Yi''s face, Ling Nana felt even more aggrieved. She lowered her head, hiding the ufortable expression on her face.


    Lyca on the other hand ignored this. She slowly shook off Ling Nana''s hands and continued looking for food. Wasn''t it normal for the one who invited another over to offer food? Why didn''t they offer her food? Not offering your guests anything was as cruel as pping them in the face. Lyca continued grumbling inwardly.


    "This building has five suite rooms. One of which is my room. The other student council members live in this building too." Long Yi said. "All suite rooms are located on the second floor." He continued while observing Lyca''s reaction.


    Lyca nodded in response. Who cares about the suite rooms when they can''t even offer her good food? "Young Master Long Young Miss Ling. I have to go now." She said.


    "Why? Do you have somewhere you need to be? If you want, I can ask someone to inform them that you will be canceling this appointment and"


    "I''m hungry." Lyca interrupted Long Yi.


    "Oh." Long Yi nodded. "Do you want me to bring you to the banquet hall?"


    "" Was this even a question that one needed to ask? Lyca fought the urge to kick this stupid man. "No. I will leave first." Without waiting for them to respond, Lyca already turned her back against them. She hated stupid people who couldn''t understand her simple words. As expected, Shen Qui was still the best person with the bestprehension in this school.


    Ignoring the gaze of the two student council members, Lyca left the building and immediately went back to her room. Her understanding about these people had increased once again. Lyca immediately decided to avoid talking to those people again. She feels that being with them would make her starve from hunger. That did not sound too good. Nope not at all.


    When Lyca arrived in her room, an egg was already there but Shen Qui wasn''t. A note that said he is out buying pots was left on the table for Lyca to read. When she read this, Lyca could only nod and went back to her bed. It seems that she still needed to suffer before she could eat her fill.


    Well this was the product of being cautious which was her choice all along. So she couldn''t reallyin.


    So, Lyca decided to sleep instead. She didn''t concern herself about the student council members that not anyone would have the opportunity to talk to. Or her Aunt Ying and Zhang Zhi clearly being on the Long Family''s side. Nope. This was not as important as her food and  sleep.

 Chapter 39: Crazy Woman

    Chapter 39: Crazy Woman


    "Aunt Ying that Lyca is quite bold, turning her back on Brother Long and I without even giving us the chance to rebut. She is clearly disrespecting the student council." Ling Nana''s face was morphed into an ugly scowl. Someone who was from the Huang Family did not have the right to act so haughty in this ce!


    "Lyca well she has always been like that." Huang Ying sighed. "The most important thing for now is for us to get rid of her bodyguard." Getting rid of Shen Qui who was directly working for that old man would give them an excuse to try and poach Lyca to their alliance. Once Lyca became the next head, it would be easier for them to take over the whole Huang Security.


    "Actually, we have more pressing concerns than this." Long Yi''s face was solemn. "The acid in Lin Tao''s neck was surely done by Lyca. That means she''s capable of making Acids and Poisons. That makes her even more dangerous. Are we really going to allow her to brandish that kind of weapon in front of us?" Fiance or not, Long Yi''s interest had always been about his family. Something that could threaten his family was considered his enemy.


    "Then what do you suggest?" Young Master Xie asked. "If we cancel the challenge"


    "No. We''re not going to cancel the challenge. But we will make it difficult for her to issue challenges like this. Aunt Ying I suppose you already know that woman''s weakness?"


    "Hmmm." Huang Ying frowned as she thought about her eldest son''s words about Lyca''s peculiar martial arts. "Weapons. I haven''t seen her handle a weapon. She is probably good at handling guns as her father is an excellent marksman but the other type of weapons" She shook her head. "With herzy disposition, I doubt she had the interest to learn about other weapons."


    "I understand. Ling Nana weapons is your specialty. You should know some experts in weaponry. Please ask them to challenge her and do not challenge her on your own. We don''t want her to think that we created this point system to deal with her."


    Ling Nana immediately beamed. "Should we cripple her?"


    "Probably a small damage to her eyes or hands would do. We should stop her from creating more of those poisons. If we"


    Young Master Xie''s gaps interrupted Long Yi''s words. He stared at his phone, disbelief shing in his eyes before looking at Long Yi and everyone else. "She" this crazy woman!


    "She what?" Ling Nana grabbed the phone from Xie Jun''s hands and read it. Slowly, her face turned sour. "She actually challenged everyone."


    "What?" Zhang Zhi and her mother Huang Ying spoke at the same time. "What do you mean?"


    "She issued a challenge to everyone." Xie Jun confirmed. Ten million worth of diamonds would be given as long as they could withstand one of her non-lethal poisons. She also attached her license as if telling everyone that she was qualified to deal with chemicals."


    "This"


    Everyone''s expression turned grave. They originally created this point system to deal with Shen Qui and Li Xian. These two were not originally from a prestigious family so having them here was a big issue. Moreover, they also wanted to use this opportunity to show the Huang Family who the real boss was.


    But with the current turn of events


    "What about the rules?" Huang Ying''s voice interrupted everyone. "Is this allowed? She just challenged a member of the student council! She also challenged the person who challenged Shen Qui! Can she issue another challenge?"


    "She didn''t vite any rules." Xie Jun seethed. He recalled that damnmoner telling him that he read the every rule andw of this school. If Lyca had someone who had memorized all thews by her side, it would be hard for her to make a mistake! Using thew against her would be quite difficult! "She can challenge whoever she wants."


    Hearing this, everyone''s face darkened. This point system was supposed to make Lyca lose all her arrogance! It was designed to give advantage to the student council! But she actually took advantage of it before they could even make a n against her!


    "What a cunning little devil." Long Yi shed a cold smile. "Since she wants to y this game then let''s stay on the sidelines and watch. We don''t know what her end goal is at the moment. Let''s just observe for now." Lyca was not the stupid and ambitious type. Surely, her actions had reasoning behind it. Of course, no one inside this room would be able to guess that Lyca only wanted a servant and since only student members can have a servant


    Lyca on the other hand was coldly looking at the scrambled egg in front of her. She looked at Shen Qui''s embarrassed face then back into the burnt egg. "No frying. No cooking. Just boiling!" Lyca said. It seems that this Shen Qui was only good at boiling eggs. "Rice?" She asked.


    "Oh! I know how to cook rice! Here here We have a rice cooker so it isn''t a problem."


    Lyca narrowed her eyes. Cooking rice in a rice cooker? Even toddlers could do that! "You wasted eggs." She uttered. She wasn''t mad that she wasn''t able to eat good food. She was more mad that he had ruined two eggs! "Pay."


    "Alright.. Alright. I will." Shen Qui was feeling ipetent. This young miss was very particr with her food. One minute more of cooking time and she would already consider it as burnt. He wanted to curse! This was the normal way that he scrambled his egg! What was sheining about? Now she even wanted him to pay!


    He looked at her dark face. "Shall I make another one?"


    "Leave!" Lyca said coldly. "Bring the eggs!" She rose from her seat and approached the kitchen herself. She needed good food and she didn''t have someone to cook for her! Now, she would be forced to cook all by herself.


    This is not the life that she wanted!


    Lyca gritted her teeth as she started chopping ingredients. Meat, vegetables, spices. In less than two minutes, Lyca finished the meticulous chopping. "Why are you still here?" she asked the man who stood frozen by the fridge. What? Did this stupid man think she couldn''t cook?


    .....


    Thank you for your support. Please continue voting for the novel.

 Chapter 40: Tall Trees Attract Wind

    Chapter 40: Tall Trees Attract Wind


    Shen Qui was bbergasted. No he felt that his brain had left his body as he stared at the way Lyca handled the knife as she chopped the onions like it was nothing. The rhythmic sound of the knife hitting the chopping board was the only thing that could be heard inside the kitchen. He held his breath as he looked at her expert level of dexterity. She was clearly chopping some vegetables but why did it seem ominous to him?


    "Why are you still here?" he heard her ask.


    "Oh I I didn''t know you could cook."


    She scoffed in response. She was not an expert cook but she could definitely feed herself if she wanted too. Without saying anything, Lyca started heating the pan and tossed all her ingredients including some pork. Then she started boiling some water for the noodles.


    This was a simple dish that she learned in her previous life. It was quick, easy and filling. For now, Lyca was nning to cook for herself. Then she would win the point system, have her servant and live leisurely while attending sses.


    After fifteen minutes, Lyca already started assembling her food. Then she ignored Shen Qui and started eating on the table.


    "" She didn''t even ask him if he was hungry.


    "Eggs." Lyca said. Since Shen Qui dared to burn the egg, then he should eat it all by himself.


    "My duel for tomorrow" Shen Qui sat next to Lyca and started eating his scrambled egg. Really, he had no problem with his food. He could eat whatever it was that the world would offer him. Shen Qui was not someone from the rich. He and his uncle lived frugally before his uncle started working for the Huang Family.


    He could even remember himself eating one bread a day just to survive. He remembered feeling so happy when he started eating three times a day in the Huang Family''s training camp. Eating three times a day was a luxury to him.


    "Oh. I will put something in the sword. Just cut your opponent and he is dead."


    "Killing is not allowed. I''m sure you already know that." He answered. Why did Lyca love to deal with her opponent this way?


    "Your choice." She shrugged and continued eating. What''s the point of prolonging the fight? Lyca couldn''t understand Shen Qui''s reasoning. "It would be good if they expel us." She said. First and foremost, this was the first time in twenty one years of her life that she had to cook for herself! When she was in the mansion with her parents, her mother and father would always cook delicious food for her!


    Second, Lyca can''t have any servants and this Shen Qui was actually useless in the kitchen! And third, she hated working hard! Why did she need to work hard and earn points just to have a servant? Quitting would damage the Huang Family''s reputation so she didn''t have any other option but to have them kick her out.


    "Too much hassle." She continued grumbling. She wanted a life of luxury. She wanted to eat delicious food and look at beautiful people all day! Lyca already lived a life of suffering from her previous one, she did not want to live like this again. "I want to quit!" She whined in between chewing and swallowing her food.


    She was really starting to hate this school more and more. If she continued to stay here, Lyca could only see one future and that was topletely destroy this school to pacify her anger. "Hateful." She added.


    "Is that why you issued the challenge?" Shen Qui asked. The challenge was meant for everyone did Lyca think it would be a short cut to having servants? People would surely scheme against her. The only way for her to avoid all this was to be the new leader of the school. But that was almost close to impossible. Heughed at his own thoughts.


    Impossible.


    Lyca didn''t answer him. She issued that challenge to everyone because she was toozy knowing the names of herb rats. And she thought it would be the fastest way to earn points. Once her points were high enough, she could be a student council member and have her servants. Then she won''t have to cook anymore and justy in her bed all day.


    Not many people would be able to understand the simplicity of Lyca''s reasoning. One would think that she was scheming for something big, something sinister. Who would have thought that she only wanted servants to cook for her? Shen Qui didn''t really know if he wanted tough or cry. This woman


    "So you want to fight?" After she finished her food, Lyca''s mood seemed to have gotten better. "You know how to wield a sword?" she asked.


    "Yes."


    "Then finish it as soon as possible." Lyca said. "The quicker the better. Don''t hurt your opponent too much. I need him for my experiment the next day."


    "" Shen Qui had already guessed that Lyca was nning to do this. She was nning to bait everyone into fighting him then challenge them the next day. This would give Lyca the opportunity to have someone test her poisons while sending some warnings to the people who wanted him out of this school. Once everyone would see the effects of her poison, they would soon stop challenging Shen Qui.


    Should he thank her for doing this? Shen Qui gave Lyca aplicated look.


    To be honest, this n was quite bold and direct. Lyca didn''t even hide the fact that she was a chemist and just showed everyone her license. It was as if she wanted everyone to know that she was capable of killing them. Was she trying to use fame to avoid trouble? But that should not be the case, right?


    Tall trees attract wind. Meaning, the more fame and sess she received the more enemies would start to surround her. So why was she doing all this?


    ....


    Don''t forget to vote. :)

 Chapter 41: Allies

    Chapter 41: Allies


    Shen Qui didn''t realize that fame could be used as a shield too. For someone like Lyca who was toozy for confrontation, using fame and fear of the people was the best way to avoid conflict. Wouldn''t it be nice to just sit there and eat while knowing no one would attempt to kill you as they were already afraid of your retaliation?


    Seeing hisplicated gaze, Lyca just left without sparing him another nce. She honestly didn''t care about Shen Qui''s thoughts, currently Lyca was not someone considered strong in this world, thus, people were trying to offend her.


    Regret.


    If only she had the power to turn back time. Lyca really wanted to decline her grandfather''s offer. How did she ept such responsibility? Just the thought of it was giving her a headache. So, she decided to sleep instead. She didn''t bother herself about Shen Qui''s matters anymore. Since the man was confident to fight then she would watch him win. If he lost then it only meant he no longer deserved to stand by her side.


    Lyca was not a very kind person. She wouldn''t want someone that would be a burden sooner orter. With this in mind, Lyca slept. When she woke up, it was already morning the next day. Another problem immediately knocked on her stomach. She was hungry!


    Shen Qui cannot cook! How infuriating. Just the sight of this man was already making her more hungry.


    "I made eggs." Shen Qui said when he sensed Lyca''s bad mood. Surely, it was because of food. Why else would she stare at the kitchen without blinking? This young miss was just simply too weird. "Boiled. Soft boiled and hard boiled." He added. In case Lyca did not like Hard Boiled eggs, Shen Qui had made sure to prepare an alternative for her. "You shouldn''t be picky or you will starve."


    "Hmph!" Lyca snatched the eggs from Shen Qui''s hands. This man was a really fast learner. She didn''t even have the time toin and he already resolved the problem. "Tell me." She said as she started eating eggs. When it came to food, Lyca was not actually that picky. It''s just that this body had grown up in the luxurious household of Huang Sheng Hong and his wife. With a mother and father that gave her delicious food all the time, Lyca''s pte had gotten used to delicacies.


    However, in the previous world, Lyca had actually tried to eat almost everything. During her training, one of them involved survival. After all, it was not unusual for an assassin to be targeted and chased by people. What would happen if they ended up in an ind or in a dense forest alone? Thus, they were trained to eat everything under the sun. Rats, snakes, raw mushrooms, everything. As long as it wasn''t something with poison, then it should be fine. Above all else, the most important thing was to survive.


    Funny how she had done everything to survive and yet in the end she had still fallen and became a victim of a shallow scheme. Lyca''s face darkened. Until now, she couldn''t ept her fate in her previous life. Should she really ept the fact that those people murdered everyone she loved?


    "Do Do you think the eggs are bad?" Shen Qui hesitated. He actually thought that he perfectly cooked the eggs this time. Then why was she scowling? Did she require the eggs to cook for a specific number of minutes for them to be of her preference? For some reason, he felt chills run down his back. This youngdy She was not going to kill him because of eggs, right?


    "The challenge."


    "Oh!" Shen Qui nodded. "Five people already responded to your challenge. So from tomorrow onwards you will have to face them with your solvents."


    "Five?" She frowned. Only five? She thought that the rewards were tempting enough! She needed more people. And she needed them to register before the first person would suffer under her hands. If they realized that her poisons were potent and might cause danger, those people would not ept her challenge! In the end this was a problem.


    Lyca swallowed the egg and closed her eyes, savoring the simple dish in her mouth. "I need fried chicken." Four eggs was not enough to satisfy her anger and hunger. She needed more. "Burgers too."


    "Then I will buy them now."


    "No." Lyca suddenly shook her head. "After the fight." She gave him a meaningful gaze. "Defeat him fast, then you can go buy food."


    Shen Qui gulped before he nodded.


    "Come." Lyca finished the eggs and gestured for him to follow her inside her room. When Lyca saw that he had already taken off his clothes, she immediately gave him a confused look. "What are you doing?" Was this man morefortable when he didn''t have a shirt on?


    "I I thought"


    "No problem. Continue." She shrugged before she suddenly strode towards him. Lyca''s eyes turned fierce, a smile appeared on her face.


    The next thing that Shen Qui knew, a dagger was already on his neck. He felt the sharp and small thing being pressed against his neck, a little push and the de would surely cut him. Lyca''s hot breath was already behind him. However, just who was Shen Qui?


    Silence followed Lyca''s actions.


    "Not bad." Lyca smiled as she lowered her head and eyed Shen Qui''s dagger that was aimed at her stomach. One wrong more and his dagger would pierce her organs. She nodded in approval and withdrew the dagger then patted his shoulder''s twice, as if telling him to calm down. She then walked towards the bedside table, carelessly turning her back on him as if she didn''t just tried to kill him a few seconds ago.


    "Here." She handed a white piece of paper to Shen Qui. "You already know this. The person that you will fight is a national champion in sword fighting. Take him seriously. I highlighted the weakness in his style. Attack it, make him defend himself. Don''t make him attack you. Once he is already tired, beat him unconscious. Don''t kill him. I need him for tomorrow." Of course, the person who researched it under her instructions was her favorite servant and sparring partner Yi''an.


    Surprised shed in Shen Qui''s eyes, just earlier, this woman had pointed a dagger on his neck, then she gave him his enemy''s weakness just like that. "You spoke too much."


    Lyca, who was standing a few inches away from him, raised her head, she stared at him for a few seconds. "When ites to my allies, I always talk a lot." She said, not a hint of emotion could be seen in her eyes. For a few seconds, Shen Qui was speechless. Does this mean she considered him an ally? He was about to ask another question when Lyca added. "Don''t misunderstand. I don''t have a choice."


    Shen Qui nodded. Indeed, Lyca didn''t have a choice but to consider him as an ally. After all, she was away from her family. "What if I betray you?" Out of nowhere, the words came out from his mouth. Betrayal, wasn''t that the most hurtful thing that anyone could do?


    Lyca snorted. "You won''t."


    "You seem really confident?"


    "It''s not confidence." Lyca said. "If you do. You die." A smile slithered on her face as she tiptoed, making her face closer to his. "And once you do I will skin your body, cut you to pieces and burn you. Not even the dogs would be able to recognize your remains." She then leaned closer, her lips almost touching his.


    Contrary to her expectations, Shen Qui didn''t flinch. He only stared at her boundless eyes and smiled. "Good. Then from now on we are allies." Then he turned his back and left her alone inside the room. Allies the word lingered in the air like a thick smoke, making the atmosphere tense and suffocating.


    ####


    Thank you for your support and please don''t forget to vote.

 Chapter 42: Goodluck

    Chapter 42: Goodluck


    Lyca narrowed her eyes at the man''s retreating back. Not an ounce of fear could be seen in his eyes. Seeing him leave made Lyca frown. Was he not afraid of her? Lycaid on her bed and thought about the dagger on her stomach earlier. Actually, she didn''t notice him move. When she targeted his neck, Lyca truly underestimated the man and thought, she could use it to show her dominance.


    She was wrong.


    It seemed that her initial thoughts about him were wrong. However, Lyca didn''t detect an iota of killing intent from the man. That could mean, he was not intending to hurt her either. Still, the skills that he showed in that confrontation was enough for her to determine that if she fought with him. There would be no way to predict who would emerge victorious.


    After all, Shen Qui was taller and stronger than her. When ites to brute force, the man would surely win against her. But when it came to agility, Lyca might have a chance of winning. But with Shen Qui''s hidden skills, she truly could not tell who would win if they gave it their all. Well if she cheated and used some chemicals and threw it in his pretty face then that would surely assure her victory.


    Allies.


    Was that word really something that one should carelessly utter? No. Lyca would never say something like that to someone weaker than her. Lyca closed her eyes and steadied her breathing. In this world, how many people would she consider an ally? Her mother and father and Tang Ruyi. Those were the only three people that she would trust with her life, her allies. Shen Qui''s serious face suddenly shed in her mind.


    Very well having another good looking ally was not actually a problem. With this in mind, Lyca started beaming and hummed a tune, then she thought about the people who epted her challenge. Right now, only seven people would experience her drug or poison. Seven was too small a number. She needed more. Lyca opened her phone and started challenging people who challenged other people. She shamelessly scheduled each challenge after their fight, making them weaker and maybe even wounded. But since that was a part of the rule, they will be forced to drink her poison.


    Well since they dared issue a ruthless rule, then Lyca was not nning to give the student council some face. She shamelessly issued twenty challenges in an hour! Shameless!


    When everyone saw the list of challenges issued by the lunatic Miss Huang, their throat dried, face paled. Who would dare act like this? Was she nning to make the student council move against her? No was she nning to over turn the whole school with her crazy challenges?


    However, Lyca did not care about other people''s opinion. She just found the perfect way to experiment on others without facing legal problems! How could she let go of such an opportunity? Moreover, she would earn points and be a student council member and have her own servant. Then she would finally have her delicious food! Just the thought of it immediately made her beam, happiness shone in her brown orbs.


    Clearly, Lyca was very motivated to finish this task. For her servant! For her delicious food!


    Beaming, Lyca run towards Shen Qui''s room and abruptly opened it without even knocking. "Qui''er!"


    Silence. Followed by more silence.


    Lyca''s eyes widened, her mouth was already on the floor as she stared at the naked man in front of him. His wet hair glistened as a towel was slumped on his shoulders. This...


    "You You Get out!" Shen Qui didn''t have the time to cover himself. He immediately pushed her out of his room and closed the door behind her with a loud bang. "Shameless! How could you just barge into a man''s room without knocking!? You are supposed to act like a proper nobledy! You are a Lady of the Huang Family! Daughter of the kind hearted Colonel Huang Sheng Hong! Why are you acting like this? You are so shameless! I have never seen anyone act like you do! How did the kind colonel have this kind of daughter!" Shen Qui said all those words all in one breath! His face was so red, his hands clenched into fists. If he won''t say everything in his heart, his anger would never subside!


    "You didn''t lock the door." Lyca''s voice on the other side of the door almost made him burst into rage. After a few minutes, Shen Qui wore a ck tactical pants and abruptly opened his door, his face dark. He needed to give this woman a piece of his mind or. He was not able to continue his thoughts when he noticed a huge shadow leaning against the door. With his sudden action of pulling the door open


    The next thing he knew, Lyca was already falling towards him.


    *THUD*


    The two fell on the floor, with Lyca lying on top of Shen Qui. Earlier, she was leaning on his door, listening to his grumbling when he suddenly opened the door, making her lose her bnce and fall on him.


    "Hehe" She honestly didn''t know what to say. She gave him a cheeky smile. "Your body is hard. Not veryfortable."


    Shen Qui''s face darkened. His body was hard? It wasn''t ufortable? What the hell was this woman saying? And why was she smiling like a sheep? Clearly, an hour ago, this woman had just tried to kill him and threatened him. Why was she acting like this now? "Get off."


    "Can''t."


    "Get off!" He might be really angry right now but for some reason, he did not have the guts to push her off him. "Now!"


    "Heh. Can''t." Lyca smiled as she rested her elbow on his chest, she gave him a sheepish smile.


    Shen Qui felt her head boil. This woman How shameless could this woman be? "I have a fight! Get off me!"


    "Oh. I forgot." Lyca immediately stood and waited for him to stand next to her. Then she looked at his shirtless upper body and started grinning. "Here to wish you luck." She nodded to herself. "Goodluck." Then she turned her back and strode towards her room, closing the door behind her with a loud bang.


    Shen Qui on the other hand just stood there bbergasted. He was originally nning to talk to Lyca until his anger subsided. However The woman had already run off to her room. Barging in was not an option. After all, he was still a very cultured man. Hmph! Just you wait and see!


    ....


    Announcement: I will release 1 chapter everyday for the rest of the week. I willpensate with a mass release Monday next week.

 Chapter 43: Bets

    Chapter 43: Bets


    Lyca smiled as she started browsing through her phone. This afternoon, Shen Qui would be fighting with that sword master while she would have a face off with Young Master Xie. After a few minutes, Lyca decided to lock her door and pulled out a huge suitcase from her closet. It was ck and inconspicuous. While this ce had lockers, Lyca was not that confident to put her things inside something that robbers would always target first. Instead, Lyca brought a lot of luggage with her. Big and small, in all shapes and sizes. Lyca then neatly arranged or at least asked Yi''an to arrange it neatly.


    Just like all the luggage in her closet, Lyca opened it using her finger print. She slowly opened it, revealing a huge metallic box that needed a twelve digit code and the another finger print. A mechanical swoosh sound immediately echoed inside the walk in closet.


    Lyca''s eyes seemed to sparkle as she nced at the contents of the box. These were all the chemicals that she was able to create since she was sixteen. That was five years ago! Five years worth of work to create something she could use to defend herself.


    Aftering into this world, Lyca immediately decided the type of life that she wanted to live. So, she needed something that she could use for her fortress. This was the reason why she wanted to raise money as soon as possible to fund her own pce. A cheeky grin appeared in her face. In her previous world, the ingredients for making poison had magic. Magical nts, Magical Beasts, Demon Cores and even Beast skins, could be used to create something. Be it medicine, poison, armor, swords. Everything about that ce was full of magic.


    This meant thating into this world was extremely awkward for someone like Lyca. This world had no mana, no magic. They had chemistry, physics and technology. This world was definitely unique. When she realized that great difference, Lyca immediately started researching about it. Her first goal was to get stronger and to do that she needed to be knowledgeable.


    And this is how Lyca developed interest in poisons and chemicals, something that was that was referred to as alchemy or chemistry in her world. Who would have thought that creating something would be fun? Too bad, this ce hadws that would not allow her to test her creation on living beings without proper certifications. Of course, Lyca refused to get these certifications.


    That would be akin to telling everyone what she was nning to do! "Hmmm. Gentle size." She scanned the small vials that contain the crystallized version of her poisons. After a few seconds, Lyca finally widened her eyes and picked up two small vials. One of which had a liquid and the other one had capsules.


    She smelled the solvent and went into her smallboratory inside her closet and started checking some chemicals and measurements. After twenty minutes of mixing some colorful chemicals, Lyca started humming as she waited for her new solvent to crystallize so she could give it to Xie Jun. Of course, Lyca was confident that this solvent was not really fatal as her nose could identify something that could kill a human. Lyca''s sense of smell was the product of both her past life and her present life. It was far superior than the senses of normal people.


    Again, her memory took her to her past life. Long ago, those people actually asked them to choose the solvent that would heal their own wound. As assassins, they needed to be careful and always alert. Thus, they needed to develop all the senses in their body. The sense of smell was developed in a very peculiar and brutal way.


    Lyca was around thirteen at that time, when each of them was wounded by an elder. Each of them were given a set of unnamed poisons and medicine. The elder then ask them to identify which one of them was the poison and the medicine. Then, they would drink the medicine to heal themselves.


    This was not only to test the youth''s sense of smell but their mental strength too. Under the pressure of the wound and the elder''s gaze, each youth started rummaging through the vials, smelling it, hoping that they would find the right one to survive. Seventy youths started the test and only Fifty two of them came out alive. Some died of bleeding as they refused to drink the unnamed vial because of fear, some died from the wrong medicine, and some died from drinking the poison.


    It was harsh; brutal but a necessity for their survival.


    After finishing the new ''Gentle Size'', Lyca closed the luggage, making sure to put it inside the secured location before finally going back to her bed and checking her phone. "Eh? Betting?" Someone was actually betting between Shen Qui and that sword master?


    And it seems that everyone bet on the sword masters victory. An unfathomable glint shed in Lyca''s eyes. The sword fight should be starting soon and Lyca had previously decided not to go because that was just a waste of her energy. She already knew that Shen Qui was going to win anyway.


    With this in mind, Lyca immediately sent out a bet on Shen Qui! It seems that this school was not only a walkingbrat but a walking money making school too!


    Lyca beamed. Two million for Shen Qui''s victory. Then she started looking at her challenges. Should she bet on herself too? But that would be too obvious, right? And once these people see that her chemicals were very potent and dangerous, they would surely not bet against her.


    Lyca fell into deep contemtion. It seems that she needed a new strategy. But wait! Young Master Xie Jun was a known member of the student council! It meant people were surely going to bet for him! An evil smile slowly bloomed on Lyca''s face. It seems that challenging them had some extra benefits for her as well.


    ###


    Thank you for your support! Please don''t forget to vote for the novel.


    1 chapter for the rest of the week- mass release next week Monday.

 Chapter 44: Onslaught

    Chapter 44: Onught


    On the other hand, Shen Qui was standing in front of the stage where the duel was scheduled to happen. He honestly never expected that there would be a lot of people here today. Were they here to see him lose? Shen Qui lowered his gaze as he sneered.


    "Hey you!" a man who was about six foot tall called him out. He was wearing a white bodysuit that looked like the uniform that one would wear to a fencing tournament, except this one did not have the helmet that protected one''s head. "You dare show your face here?" the man''s arrogant words reached his ears. Shen Qui didn''t react. He just stood a few inches from the stage, scrutinizing the man in front of him. "You still daree here after knowing that I have waited for more than thirty minutes now?"


    Shen Qui raised an eyebrow. The duel was at one in the afternoon. Before stepping into the arena like hall, it was still twelve fifty, meaning the man had been here just after twelve. Shen Qui stopped himself fromughing as he wondered if this man was joking. He ignored the ring man and walked towards the stage.


    "Hmp! You think I will let you off?" the man continued. Now that Shen Qui was already on the stage, he could clearly see that the man was standing in the middle as stiff as a statue. Does this mean that this guy had been standing just like this for thirty minutes now? Unable to stop himself, Shen Qui chuckled. This young master should be twenty three just like him and yet he was acting like a toddler. "You Are youughing at me?" the man asked.


    "If I''m notughing at you then do you think I amughing at your mother?" Shen Qui taunted, beaming. Almost instantaneously, the man''s face reddened. He pointed his sword at Shen Qui.


    "You You dare disrespect my mother? I will kill you!"


    "I can''t kill you." Shen Qui said as he held the sword that he carried on his back. "Lyca said I can''t."


    "You" the man in front of him trembled with rage. Why did this man sound so sad when he said he couldn''t kill him?


    "Master Ma cripple that man!" One of the men from the audience shouted. "Cripple him for disrespecting you!"


    "No! Kill him! Kill! Kill!" Another voice chanted from the side.


    A few other students inside started shouting profanities and telling the Sword Master to cripple him. Shen Qui was obviously surprised. In his simple mind, rich people were supposed to be elegant and gentle. So who were these foul mouthed people watching them now? But then he remembered the shameless Lyca and immediately reminded himself that he was still angry because of what happened earlier.


    "Alright." A man wearing ck suit with white gloves suddenly walked to the stage. He looked at Shen Qui and the Master Ma. "No killing inside the school. We do not take responsibility for any of this. If you want to kill each other do it secretly and not inside the school." He said sternly. "When ites to the duel, the rules are simple there is no rule. As long as you don''t kill the other party then we are good. Once one of you says that they surrender, then the fight will automatically stop. If the other party doesn''t stop the attack the moment the other party surrenders, then we will intervene. Both will be punished, money will be taken, suspension and maybe even expulsion. Do you understand?" the man raised his arm. He didn''t wait for any of them to respond before he said. "Start." Then he walked out of the stage without sparing them another nce.


    Seeing this, Shen Qui suddenly smiled at the man a few feet away from him. "Why are you so red Master Ma?" He taunted, still Shen Qui didn''t unsheathe his sword. He merely held it on his left hand.


    "Hmph!" Master Ma snorted before he tightened his hand around the hilt of his sword. "If I don''t cripple you today then I am not a sword master anymore! I swear by my" he wasn''t able to continue his words when he saw Shen Qui disappear from where he was standing. Shen Qui actually attacked without waiting for Young Master Ma to finish his words.


    The sound of two swords shing immediately echoed inside the area. It was of course followed by cheers and whistles. The people here already knew that Young Master Ma who came from a n of sword masters would win this fight. There was no question about that.


    When they saw Shen Qui''s untrained posture that was nothing but full of brute force, the faces of the audience started to morph into disdain. Young Master Ma was clearly an expert, his arms so fluid and quick, his eyes  wait why was Master Ma seem to struggle to defend himself?


    When everyone started to realize that the man they called Master Ma was forced to take a step back to defend himself, they immediately realized that something was wrong. Why was he Why did it seem like Young Master Ma''s face was losing its color!?


    Panic arose inside the hearts of the crowd. This Master Ma was a national champion in sword fighting! At the tender age of neen he was already considered an unmatched expert. How could a meremoner who was trained in using their brute strength evenpare to Master Ma?


    This


    More and more people started wondering why Master Ma was not attacking. Why did he always defend himself against Shen Qui? Why was he not attacking his opponent? What the hell was happening?


    "It''s not that he is not nning to attack." One man wearing all white said as he sighed.


    "What do you mean?" the man beside him was wearing purple, again. He frowned at Long Yi. Naturally, this man is Young Master Xie. "What do you mean? What is happening?"


    Long Yi just shook his head as he stood and started walking out from the VIP room to the arena. "He can''t. Master Ma can''t fight back." Under the onught of those deadly attacks that targeted his fatal points, Master Ma cannotunch a single attack without suffering a serious injury. "Let''s go. It will be your turn next. Let''s see what that poison is capable of doing." Long Yi spoke before leaving the room.


    ....


    Thank you for your support and please continue voting for the novel.


    Also... WN didn''t offer any contract for this novel yet. Hehehe.

 Chapter 45: Tea

    Chapter 45: Tea


    Lyca woke up from someone softly knocking on her door. She yawned before staring at the door, wondering if she should open it or not.


    "Hey, it''s me." Shen Qui''s voice echoed from the other side. Lyca raised an eyebrow before she dragged herself out of the bed. She checked her phone and realized that it was already four in the afternoon. The scheduled time for her challenge to Xie Jun was actually at five.


    She had overslept! Lyca didn''t even know how she fell asleep. She was only nning to watch some drama series on her bed. She let out a sigh before she opened the door. Shen Qui''s smiling face immediately made her suspicious. Why was this man smiling like that? "Hm?"


    "I won." He answered. "I made some tea. I also bought the burgers and Fried Chicken." He suddenly pulled her towards the dining table. After winning, Shen Qui was in a very good mood, he already forgot that Lyca saw him naked earlier. "As a way to thank you."


    "For what?"


    "The pointers." He said as he got a tea cup and poured her some scented tea. "This is the Shen Family''s special tea. I am not good at cooking but I am extremely good at making tea." He smiled and poured himself a ss of tea. Then immediately took an elegant sip.


    "Tea?" What kind of tea? She wanted to ask, instead, Lyca ended up smelling it instead. "Rose?"


    "Yes. It''s Rose tea. Try it." Seeing his confident smile, Lyca only raised an eyebrow before sipping the tea. Seeing this, Shen Qui started beaming, he was confident in his tea, alright. This was something that the Shen Family were proud of. "The man earlier fainted. I did what you told me to and made sure to not damage any major organs. Some wounds are inevitable but nothing major."


    To be honest, the note that Lyca gave him was a total surprise. It was actually the first time that he saw such detailed notes about someone''s weakness. Even the timing of the opponents sh was included as well as their breathing. Everything was so well arranged that he doubted Lyca would be able to do it in one day. However, who was he to ask questions? "Are you ready for your challenge to Young Master Xie?"


    Lyca nodded and didn''t say anything. Her face was devoid of any expression. "This tea it''s from the Shen Family?" For some reason, the tea is very familiar to Lyca.


    "Hmm." He nodded. This was something passed down to the men and women of the Shen Family. He lowered his head as he hid theplicated expression in his face. "I''m the only one who knows how to make this type of tea now."


    "Oh?" Lyca raised an eyebrow but decided not to say anything. For some reason, she felt that this Shen Qui had a veryplicated background. Just the internal energy was enough proof of that. Lyca nodded and continued drinking the sweet tea. "I like it."


    "I know you would like it." Since his uncle died, this was the first time that Shen Qui made the tea for someone else and it was because of how grateful he was. During the fight earlier, he realized that the opponent was very skilled. That Master Lin had his own sword style that could easily defeat him without the notes that Lyca had given him. After all, Shen Qui was a soldier. He was not an expert in swords.


    Seeing the sincere smile on Shen Qui''s face, Lyca frowned and lowered her head to stare at the tea instead. This man seemed innocent and deadly? Such a weirdbination. After she finished her tea, Lyca rose from her seat. "I will go change."


    "Oh. I will wait for you. Let me apany you to the arena. It''s huge it reminded me of a huge basketball arena but instead of a basketball court there was a huge stage in the middle. They said it was" of course he didn''t continue his words when he saw Lyca had already left. A wry smile bloomed on his lips before he looked at the empty teacup The Shen Family''s tea cup.


    After a few minutes, Lyca went out of her room and the two immediately started walking towards the arena that Shen Qui was speaking about. "Hmm?" Lyca paused when she saw a woman blocking her way.


    "Miss Huang?" the woman smiled brilliantly. "Hi, I am Liu Chin from the Liu Family in Xie City." The woman didn''t even look at Shen Qui as she continued. "Do you have some time to talk to me?"


    "No." Lyca said. The Liu Family and Xie Family of Xie City were known rivals. Only a fool wouldn''t understand that this woman was going to make a deal with her to harm Young Master Xie.


    Surprise shed in the woman''s beautiful hooded eyes. "Miss Huang."


    "No and No." Lyca said before she walked past Liu Chin. Was she really someone that would involve herself in a family war like that?


    "You" a man suddenly came towards them. "How dare you disrespect Miss Liu?"


    "It''s alright." Liu Chin said, an unfathomable expression shed in her eyes. "I believe Miss Huang is a very cautious person. She can''t talk to us in the open. At least not before she''s had her challenge with Xie Jun." Slowly her gaze turned cold. She had been debating on approaching Lyca to talk about her challenge to Young Master Xie. After all, the enemy of her enemy was considered her friend. With the current situation of the Liu Family, they would need a strong ally like Lyca. However, at that time, she still wasn''t sure of her strength so she hesitated. After knowing the result of the fight between Lyca''s bodyguard earlier, Liu Chin''s mind became clear. She needed Lyca''s help.


    But it seems that approaching her right now for the challenge was a little bitte. "I misjudged her." She said. "Let''s go and watch the show."


    The man nodded and followed Liu Chin towards the Arena. As long as they see Young Master Xie suffer, then the two were willing to forgive the disrespect that Lyca had showed today.


    ....


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 Chapter 46: Genius Translator

    Chapter 46: Genius Trantor


    "Beingte is a ground for disqualification." Xie Jun''s voice resounded inside the arena when he saw Lyca walk inside, her steps unhurried as she put her hand behind her back. It was as if she was taking a stroll to appreciate the flowers instead of having a challenge. This immediately made Xie Jun feel insulted.


    "Article Five of the rules under the handbook that was written and approved by the student council states that disqualifications can only happen if the other party waste by a margin of more than thirty minutes." Shen Qui immediately answered him. "We were onlyte for ten minutes."


    Xie Jun''s face immediately turned scarlet. Shen Qui had emphasized that the rules were approved and created by the student council themself. As a member of the student council, Xie Jun was already aware of that! This man was indeed looking for death.


    Lyca on the other hand didn''t even look at him. She walked towards the stage and asked Shen Qui to bring her portable chair near the desk that was provided by the school. She then sat and looked at Xie Jun. "Ready?"


    Xie Jun squinted his eyes. "I have something to ask. If something happens to me, what will you do?"


    "Naturally, I pay and leave."


    Pay? What the hell does that mean? Seeing Xie Jun''s confused look, Shen Qui who stood next to Lyca tranted. "She said, she will pay the school. And will leave after the school decides to expel her."


    "I was asking about death!" Idiot! He wanted to curse. However, he chose to keep his cool. "What if I die from this poison?" If he knew that Lyca would challenge him first, he wouldn''t have agreed to create this point system this year just to get rid of a few people! It wasn''t worth it at all!


    However, wasn''t it a little toote to regret now?


    "Then we bury you."


    Lyca''s answer made him speechless. Of course, Shen Qui immediately added to her words.


    "She meant, she will attend your funeral and throw some white flowers to send your soul to see King Yama."


    Xie Jun''s face turned darker. These two Are they nning to kill him from anger?


    "Don''t die." Lyca said.


    "She meant don''t die because she will challenge you again." Like the genius trantor that he is, Shen Qui immediately added a bit of his thoughts here and there. Surely, Lyca wouldn''t mind, right? Inwardly, Shen Qui was alreadyughing his heart out. Who would have thought that pissing rich people off would feel this good?


    "Brat! Do you know who I am?" Xie Jun raised his voice, he red at Shen Qui, his eyes showed so much anger it could make anyone shiver in fright. Anyone except Shen Qui and Lyca. The two only looked at him without showing any expression on their faces. Seeing this, Xie Jun narrowed his eyes at this Shen Qui.


    ording to the information that he got, Shen Qui did not have family. His uncle died a few months ago. That should be the reason why this man was extremely fearless! He was not afraid that Xie Jun would ughter his family because he had none! He sneered inwardly. He would make sure that this guy suffers soon!


    Again, the man wearing a ck suit with white gloves walked to the middle and started exining the rules. However, this time, he included that since these are dangerous chemicals, they specifically created some more punishments in case the poison would harmed anyone.


    "You will give us theponents of the poison before someone can drink it. These poisons should not harm any students. Punishment would include permanent banishment from the school. Not just you but the whole Huang Family. You will also agree to leave the Huang Family and will change yourst name. You will agree to leave Xu Country and never to appear here again. You will spend three months with the Family that you offended. Naturally, they can do whatever they want to punish you. But we can assure that you will not be killed. After three months, they will let you go and you can leave the country."


    "Those rules are too harsh! Shen Qui immediately said.


    "This is only fair, considering Miss Huang''s capability to harm anyone here. She could challenge anyone and kill them." The man answered sternly. "Here is the contract, both of you need to sign this. I will act as the witness."


    "That"


    "Qui''er." Lyca held her hand and epted the contract. Then she read it carefully before signing it. She was expecting them to create some absurd punishment like this. "Next time. Bring tea." Lyca muttered after she handed the paper to the man so Xie Jun could sign it.


    "Remember what would happen if you harm me!" Xie Jun snorted. Long Yi was indeed a genius. He immediately thought of a way to counter Lyca''s crazy actions. It seems that the future of the Long Family would be very prosperous after Long Yi bes the next head! He nced at Lyca, a smug smile apparent on his face.


    However, Lyca only propped her chin unto her palms as she signaled Shen Qui to bring the bag and put it on the desk. Then she motioned him to give the paper that contains the ingredients of this particr solvent so the school chemist could examine it. After making sure that the solvent did not contain any deadlyponents, the Chemist immediately told the man to proceed.


    Seeing the Chemist that Xie Jun specifically hired to examine the ingredients gave him a nod of approval, Xie Jun let out a sigh of relief.


    "The challenge is simple. Young Master Xie needs to drink thepound created by Miss Huang and ensure that he stays awake and alert for the next five minutes. In case he faints within the span of five minutes, he will lose." The man continued. "Drink!" He immediately gave the signal. Hearing this, Lyca''s eyes turned alert. The potency of this poison was a little lower than her stash of chemicals simply because she wanted to make it look like she won because of luck. Once that happens, Lyca was nning to increase the prize, enticing people to try out her solvent.


    This would give her plenty of opportunity to adjust the potency and check which solvent would show the best result!


    ...


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 Chapter 47: A Dead Man

    Chapter 47: A Dead Man


    Xie Jun narrowed his eyes at the woman dressed in a pale blue knee length dress, sittingnguidly in front of him. A light make-up could be seen on the woman''s face, her hair was messily tied into a bun behind her head. Was she really a young miss of the Huang Family? Compared to her cousin, Huang Xiaoxuan, Lyca''s face right now did not show that she was someone important!


    Xie Jun immediately thought that Lyca was looking down on him! Women who stood next to him always wore extravagant make-up to attract his attention! Hmp! He snorted and approached the desk. He eyed the poison in front of him before looking at Lyca. This time, Lyca was staring at him. However, the excitement in her eyes immediately made him ufortable. "If I die, the Xie family will kill the whole Huang Family!" He spat. Of course, his words were not enough to change the expression in Lyca''s eyes. "You Are you ignoring me?"


    "She is waiting for you to drink it. Dummy." Shen Qui said. "If you are afraid just say it!"


    Xie Jun''s face contorted into an ugly scowl. "You''re a dead man." He threatened.


    "Survive this poison first before you say that." Shen Qui responded with a smirk. A sh of fear immediately glinted in Xie Jun''s eyes. What did Shen Qui mean by his statement? Survive the poison?


    "You"


    "Young Miss, I think he will pee his own pants." Shen Qui ignored the man wearing purple and turned towards Lyca instead. "I think we should challenge him again after this one. I wonder what will happen if a student council member loses the ten points?" He raised an eyebrow and sent Xie Jun a provocative gaze. Seeing the man pale, Shen Qui could onlyugh inwardly.


    "Drink." Lyca said as she wondered what this man was waiting for. In response, Xie Jun finally brought his gaze back to the crazy woman''s face. He gritted his teeth before he drank the poison without saying anything. He had already hired a group of doctors and a chemist to examine his body once something happened to him. There should be no problem anymore, he convinced himself.


    Xie Jun was actually expecting to feel pain or difort anywhere. Contrary to his expectations, he felt nothing. Not an itch, ache or any difort. Nothing! Even the tablet did not have any taste. The chemist said that this was a crystallizde version of the solvent so it should have the same potency and taste. But this one doesn''t have any taste at all.


    His gaze turned usatory towards Lyca. "If I die."


    "We will bury you!" Lyca said. "Now shut up!" She started staring at Xie Jun then asionally looked at the time. One minute and nothing happened. Lyca used the record button on her phone to record the result. Seeing her talk to her phone about the details of the poison, Xie Jun''s face turned darker and darker. If they knew that this woman would use this opportunity to do an experiment, they would have created some rules against using poisons!


    That damn Zhang Zhi who was Lyca''s cousin, didn''t inform them about this important matter! Because of that, they actually made the wrong calction and immediately thought that their scheme would seed. If this continues. Xie Jun''s expression turned grave. They could not let this crazy woman continue!


    He eyed the VIP room where Long Yi was staying. Surely, that genius Long Yi already figured out what to do with this woman right? Two minutes. Still nothing.


    Xie Jun didn''t feel any difort on his body. He eyed Lyca''s excited eyes as she continued recording using her phone. This woman was indeed abnormal. However, the fact that she was still the future Mrs. Long is undeniable.


    Now that Xie Jun thought about it, this would be a problem in the future. Right now, the Long Family and Xie Family were considered equal in power and wealth. However, if the Huang Family joins them especially with this crazy woman Lyca Huang. The Long Family would surely be more powerful. Moreover, this woman was highly abnormal and does not follow reasoning. What was more dangerous than opponents who did not think like a normal person?


    Three minutes.


    Xie Jun sighed. It seems that this poison does not have any effects on his body? He looked at Lyca and opened his mouth wanting to disturb her, however, his gaze was soon attracted to the man standing next to Lyca. The damnable Shen Qui was actually looking at him sternly. This man''s mouth was the exact opposite of his beautiful appearance. Xie Jun decided against talking. After all, the five minutes were not up yet. Once it is done, he could always say every insult that he wanted to.


    "Qui''er what will happen if a student council will run out of points?" Lyca asked Shen Qui. She hadn''t read the rules because she was confident that Shen Qui would know about it.


    "They will be kicked out." Shen Qui confidently said. This rule was clearly made to make it look like the Student Council was fair and just. They must have made it because they thought that no one would dare challenge them. After all, they were all from powerful families and they could always gang up on someone. Too bad, they meet the young miss who does not think like a normal person. Shen Qui could onlyugh at their bad luck.


    "Oh? And If they are kicked out who will rece them?" Lyca''s eyes brightened.


    "No one." Shen Qui answered. There were only two ways to enter the student council body and that was by inheritance and winning their various contests or point system. Aside from that, you cant just kick someone out and rece them.


    As expected, Lyca''s face immediately turned down-casted. She was looking for ways to be a member immediately. But it seems that she still needed to wait for more than a month. She eyed Shen Qui. Though this guy was an eye candy, he didn''t know how to cook. It''s not like she could eat his abs, right? A sigh escaped her lips as she then looked at the time. Four minutes and thirty seconds had passed since he drank the poison, she gave Xie Jun a beautiful smile and watched him fall from his seat with a loud thud.


    ####


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 Chapter 48: A Womans Weakness

    Chapter 48: A Woman''s Weakness


    "Brother Xie!" the woman sitting next to Long Yi screamed when they saw Xie Jun faint just before the five minute mark.


    Long Yi on the other hand had an extremely dark look on his face. He stared at the group of physicians running towards Xie Jun who was now lying on the floor, unmoving. Soon, his gaze traveled towards Lyca who was calmly talking to her guard. She didn''t even look at Xie Jun nor showed any concern that thetter would die.


    This woman


    Seeing the current situation, the verdict was quite obvious. Lyca had won this round. Long Yi finished his tea before he walked out of the VIP room, ignoring the words of the female that apanied him earlier. Lyca was an extremely dangerous individual. After leaving the arena, Long Yi walked towards his car and let his servant open the door for him. The moment he sat inside of his car, he immediately called his father, telling him to try and talk to the old man again about an engagement.


    If Lyca''s skills were this strong, he was afraid that Lyca would be able to incorporate this talent in their securitypany. If she created some poisonous bullet, there would be a problem! He needed her by his side! "Prepare a gift and flowers." He ordered his driver. "Deliver it to Miss Lyca Huang''s room." He said as he thought about the information that he had learned about Lyca from her aunt Huang Ying.


    Lyca did not involve herself in the affairs of theirpany and hid her talents from their prying eyes. Even Huang Ying was unsure if thetter knew martial arts. But she was sure Lyca must have learned how to shoot a gun as her father was an expert in guns. With this in mind, a sinister glint can be seen in Long Yi''s eyes. "Find someone good in martial arts. Issue a challenge to Lyca." He said. Now that Lyca showed talent in Chemistry, he wanted to see if this woman was also talented in some other areas. If she was, then he wouldn''t hesitate and get close to her, even wooing her just to make that woman his.


    After all, a woman''s weakness was still her emotions. As long as Lyca would fall for his charms, then he would be able to control her!


    Meanwhile, Lyca had already lost interest in a loser like Xie Jun. She was currently asking Shen Qui about the schedule. sses would start the next day and Lyca still hadn''t gotten her schedule. Good thing, Shen Qui was quite reliable. He immediately told her about the sses and schedule. Apparently, in the first month, this school would teach them the basic foundations of humanity and ethics. Then they would let everyone do whatever they want for the rest of the six months.


    "Can we go home after one month?"


    "No. We have to stay here." Shen Qui said. By now, the winner was already announced and a group of people were helping Xie Jun out of the stage. "Until the six month mark."


    Lycazily yawned. So she wouldn''t be able to see her mother and father for almost six months? This was indeed a big problem for her. "Carry me." She said. "Tired."


    "" Lyca sat down while looking at Xie Jun earlier. What was so tiring about that? However, Shen Qui stillplied and signaled her to ride on his back. Seeing this, Lyca was extremely ted. She beamed and motioned him to lower himself so she could mount herself on his back. However before Shen Qui could act, a shrill voice already echoed in the arena.


    "Lyca! Have you gone insane?" Of course it was her cousin Huang Xiaoxuan. She marched towards Lyca, a few people following behind her. Just like before Li Xian was not with her. "Did you really have to offend the Xie Family? Are you nning to drag the whole Huang Family down with you?"


    "Miss Huang, you are really gutsy. To offend a powerful family like that." Someone behind Huang Xiaoxuan clicked his tongue. "I thought this young miss was smart. Apparently, she is only so-so."


    "Who are you?" Lyca immediately asked. When the man heard this, he immediately smirked.


    "Funny how someone would not recognize me. I am Meng Fan from the Meng Family! My father works with eh? What are you doing?"


    "Issued a challenge. I will see you in the arena." Lyca said before she motioned Shen Qui to lower himself again. This bunch of people were extremely troublesome to deal with.


    "You Lyca! How dare you issue a challenge to one of my subordinates?"


    Lyca didn''t even look at her stupid cousin. It seems that this Huang Xiaoxuan didn''t learn fromst time. Since it''s like this then Lyca immediately issued another challenge. "Don''t worry. Your next." She said.


    Huang Xiaoxuan, widened her beautiful eyes. Unable to believe Lyca''s words, she along with everyone else opened their phone and looked at the school app.


    "You"


    Lyca only smirked in response.


    "I will tell grandfather about this!"


    When Shen Qui heard that, he immediately smiled and called out the staff just a few meters away from them. "Thisdy said she would divulge the information of the point system outside of the university. Her name is Huang Xiaoxuan from the Huang Family, room number 207."


    Huang Xiaoxuan''s face instantly paled. Shen Qui''s voice was loud enough for a few people to hear them! He even included her name and room number. This man "Officer Shen it seems you have forgotten that you are working under the Huang Family."


    "Stupid. I am working for Lyca." Shen Qui said. This group of people did not really suit him. Too much stupidity! Even the soldiers of humble backgrounds from the Huang Security were not this stupid! He immediately wondered if these people experienced too much pampering while they were young that their brains had be muddled.


    The rules clearly stated that you cannot allow your family to know this point system. As a soldier, Shen Qui was very particr about the rules! "Letting someone outside of the university know about the point system will incur punishment." He looked at Huang Xiaoxuan and immediately pitied his brother Li Xian. At least, Lyca was extremely smart! Dealing with Lyca would be better than dealing with someone stupid!


    #########


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 Chapter 49: Problems

    Chapter 49: Problems


    Before anyone could say anything Lyca already patted his shoulders. "Toozy." These were merely kids in Lyca''s eyes. How could she waste her time here when she wanted to have a taste of Shen Qui''s tea? That thought sounded weird. Of course, Lyca decided to focus on the current situation in front of her. "Give me your names." She immediately said, shutting everyone up in the process.


    Why the hell would they give their name to a lunatic like this? Who knows what kind of poison would this woman give them? Even if it was deemed as safe and non-fatal, they wouldn''t be that stupid to try and drink one. Everyone was smart enough. They immediately avoided Lyca''s gaze. Some of them regretted being close to Huang Xiaoxuan and immediately decided to stay away from this miss moving forward.


    After all, Huang Xiaoxuan and Lyca didn''t have a good rtionship.


    Seeing their ugly expressions, Lyca ignored them and hopped onto Shen Qui''s back. Shefortably hugged his neck and rested her head on his back. Under the eyes of the other students Shen Qui left the arena with Lyca on his back. Of course, Lyca didn''t care about their weird expressions. She only had enough energy to walk towards the arena and not the way back. She closed her eyes, and stayed quiet until they reached her room.


    "This ." Shen Qui was speechless when his gazended towards the sea of different flowers that was piled in front of Lyca''s door. "Someone sent flowers."


    "Throw." Lyca answered and didn''t let go of Shen Qui''s back. Seeing this, thetter used his feet to move some flowers before opening the door and leaving the flowers outside.


    "You don''t like flowers?"


    "I like you more." Lyca answered. She honestly hated flowers. To her, Shen Qui was more useful than flowers.


    "We should maintain our professional rtionship Lyca. You should be more careful. I am still a man after all." He said. This woman seemed too bold and unrestrained. It would be good to establish a boundary as early as now.


    "No." Lyca answered as she got off his back. She sat on the couch and smiled at him. "I won''t."


    Shen Qui could only shake his head. What was he expecting? "Your father told me to train you in guns? Here is the list for your schedule tomorrow. At five, the challenge that you issued to Master Ma will still happen in the Arena. After that, would you like to go to the shooting range inside this school? I can start teaching you tomorrow."


    "No. Next week." Honestly, she didn''t like guns. However, for the sake of not embarrassing her father, she would pretend to put some efforts in learning this time.


    "Alright then."


    After Lyca made her food, she and Shen Qui silently ate before she told him that to not disturb her as she needed some sleep. When Lyca arrived inside her room, she made sure to lock the doors and started crystallizing her next poison. After she finished her tasks, sheid on her bed, extremely happy with the results that she observed today. It seems that her previousputations were urate after all. She opened her phone and started reading the news in the forums only to realize that a few people were talking about her.


    However, since their opinion did not concern her in any way, Lyca just closed her phone and started reading some messages that she didn''t read earlier. Then her face darkened. It was Tang Ruyi. She actually missed a call from Tang Ruyi? Lyca didn''t hesitate to call her noisy cousin again.


    "Lyca!" On the first ring, Tang Ruyi answered. "I am d you are still alive you brat!"


    "What''s wrong?"


    "We heard that some people are targeting you at the School? Is this true? Our Tang Family will definitely support you on this! Do you want us to"


    "No. Not true."


    "Eh? Are you sure? Our contacts specifically said that"


    "Did you tell mother and father?"


    "What? Of course not! I would never want them to worry about this matter! Plus, the Huang Family seems to have encountered a few problems a few days ago. You should definitely visit them."


    "Problem?" Lyca frowned. Because of the Tang Family''s military background, they couldn''t just dabble into others'' problems. especially when it came to businesses as this would ruin their reputation.


    "Grandfather told me to inform you about this matter. I think your grandfather Huang is still keeping this a secret from everyone else. You really should help that old man to keep the Huang Security safe from the schemes of other families. Oh! I also heard another rumor! This is extremely unreliable but"


    "What?" Honestly Lyca had an ominous feeling about this.


    "It seems that the Long Family is pressuring your Old Man Huang for a marriage alliance!"


    "With who?"


    "Of course you and their Young Master!" Tang Ruyi said before sheughed. "They already heard that you might be the next head! Now they are rushing to make a marriage alliance with the Huang family. Listen to me that Long Family wanted to unite Long City for a long time now. This must be the only solution that they could think of. Now I heard Old Man Huang didn''t agree. So they are causing some problems to the old man, pressuring him to agree to this deal."


    "That''s it?" Lyca said. "Is there anything that you want to tell me?"


    "No. That''s all. You should take care of yourself and don''t fall for that fox Long Yi! Hmph! I heard he was not supposed to be the heir, it was his elder brother! Guess what happened to his elder brother? The man was lying on the bed and will never be able to walk again. Therefore, Long Yi became the heir. What kind of person would attack his elder brother just because of a position? Hmph! An extremely ruthless person!"


    "Hmmm. Thank you for the warning. I will pay you soon."


    "Hehehe Cousin Lyca is still the best. I want the bullet that you gave me before the one that will explode when inside a human''s body. I love those the most. But you already know this. Hehehe Don''t forget to visit me on your break! Alright! I will leave now. I think I have talked too much." She let out another burst ofughter before ending the call.


    ....


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 Chapter 50: Extremely Infuriating

    Chapter 50: Extremely Infuriating


    Lyca''s face turned solemn when she got off the phone. A marriage alliance? The concept of marriage made Lyca extremely anxious. She could not let this happen! How could she let other people dictate her marriage? Surely, her grandfather would never agree, right?


    This Long Family  she needed to take care of this family as soon as possible! With this in mind, Lyca called Shen Qui on her phone and told him toe to her room. After a few seconds, Shen Qui arrived.


    "Tell me the situation of the Huang Family." Her order surprised Shen Qui. He hesitated for a few seconds before he asked.


    "What do you want to know? I am not a high ranking officer so I have no knowledge with the specifics. If you want to know, you should probably ask your father."


    "Tell me everything that you know."


    "As far as I remember, the Long Family have been trying to provoke your Huang Family. They actually created their own securitypany and chose to poach a lot of talents from the Huang Family."


    "Poach?"


    "Yes. They have very good benefits. Including sry, retirement, healthy benefits and other stuff. Moreover, their technology is highly advanced too. Most younger talents actually resigned from the Huang Family and moved to the Long Family. The only ones inside the Huang Family are retired soldiers who are justnguidly staying because of loyalty to Old Man Huang. These were veterans who served the government. Aside from this, there are a few people who stayed. Li Xian and I are two of those people. Currently, out of twenty people who graduated from my ss, only six of us remain in the Huang Group."


    Lyca frowned. She never thought that the Huang Family had fallen to such a degree. Her mind instantly turned alert. It seems that she needed to leave this ce as soon as possible and help out her mother and father. However the challenge with Huang Xiaoxuan would prevent her from taking over the position of her grandfather.


    "And our clients?" Lyca asked.


    "I have no specifics on this. However, I am sure that we are losing clients. Also our private army is not doing very well either. Some merchants tantly stopped selling supplies like gunpowder to us. Meaning, we can''t just create bullets anymore. I am sure Old Man Huang is having a headache in dealing with such things."


    "How can I leave this ce?" Lyca asked him.


    "Leave temporarily or permanently?"


    "Temporarily."


    "For that. You have to file for a leave. And you needed points to do that. Twenty points for five days of leave. Right now, you have twenty points. But this week, your schedule is packed. It would not be easy for you to leave."


    "Other way?"


    "An emergency." Shen Qui said. "If there is an emergency. You can leave for at least three days."


    "Emergency?"


    "Yes but they still need to approve your leave."


    Lyca gritted her teeth. Leaving this school is extremely troublesome?


    "Actually there is another way."


    "And that is?"


    "If something big happened inside the school. Like fire or something like that. They can suspend the whole school to make the students safe." Shen Qui stared at her for a few seconds. "But you are not going to burn the school right?" That was an extremely dangerous thought!


    "Tell me what is the purpose of this school?"


    "To nurture talented heirs and expose them to the cruelty of the real business world." He immediately said. "This was stated in their goals and objectives handbook. Something that he memorized, along with the rules.


    Lyca turned silent. Right now, Lyca was extremely worried that those people would force her grandfather to agree to a marriage alliance! She would never allow that to happen. She immediately examined her options. One, she could leave the Huang Family and bring her parents to live somewhere else. Of course, that was going to break her father''s heart. So this option was not very good at all. Second, she could fight back and kill master Long here. She would be able to do it in secret. However, this action might make the Long Family think that it was the Huang Family who attacked them. They could use this to punish the Huang Family, including her parents! Nope. That is not a very good option.


    Third, she could pretend to have an emergency but what kind of emergency? Moreover, Long Yi who was from the student council might not approve that she leave the school premises now. Fourth, she could hunt down students. Killing them one by one. Though that was highly dangerous, she was confident that she would be able to do it. Once the school thinks there is a serial killer on the loose, they will of course protect the students and let them go back home until they solve the cases.


    But that method was extremely risky as the university might not let them go out of the university until they solved the strain of murdering. So that option is not very good either.


    Well herst option was to use her points to go out. However, her points were only twenty after winning against Xie Jun. Tomorrow, it would increase to twenty- two. By the end of the week, she would be able to have about twenty six points. That should be enough to pay for the leave. But then again, those are points that she wanted to earn for her servant!


    Does this mean, she would be doomed not to have any servants on her own? Lyca''s problem was really big this time! She felt her head ache. Maybe she should just kill Huang Xiaoxuan and use her funeral as an opportunity to leave?


    But the time would not be enough! This was extremely infuriating!


    "Well if you want to earn points faster then you should challenge another student council member." Shen Qui immediately suggested. He too understood that the only way for her to leave was to use her points. "Each of them will make you earn five points you know."


    Lyca looked at him for a few minutes, her face was extremely serious. It immediately made Shen Qui ufortable. He shivered involuntarily before asking, "You What are you thinking?"


    ####


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 Chapter 51: Lunatic Princess

    Chapter 51: Lunatic Princess


    Narrowing her eyes at Shen Qui, Lyca examined the other''s reaction. Right now, she was thinking of two ways out of this predicament. Challenge Long Yi until his points reached zero. Or marry another person, like this bloke in front of her. However, both methods were not very suitable at the moment.


    In the end, Lyca closed her eyes and thought about her mother and father. In her previous life, she wasn''t able to save the people who treated her like a normal human being. In this life this would never happen. "Can theye here?" She asked. "Visit?"


    "Of course, they can. Once a month, they cane here."


    "Then prepare!"


    "For what?" Shen Qui asked.


    "For a war." With her eyes closed, Lyca motioned him to leave her alone. Slowly, Lyca fell into deep contemtion. In every world, powerful people rule and though she had been avoiding the limelight before, she could no longer continue living like this. If she wanted her family to be safe this time, Lyca would never let the shackles of normal reasoning bind her.


    After that night, Lyca immediately issued a few more challenges. This time, she challenged everyone in the student council. One member each week. This action caused anothermotion. However, how could these people tell their family about a lunatic like this from the Huang Family? They were not allowed to divulge any information about it! Seeing Lyca''s unreasonable behavior, they started to get close to her. However, their efforts were futile.


    Lyca refused to even talk to someone or ept any tea invites for a tea party. She would always stay cooped up in her room as if she was afraid of sunlight!


    Additionally, Lyca has a peculiar bodyguard who didn''t allow anyone to approach her as she slept during sses! Even the faculty members were starting to have a headache when dealing with Lyca. It was only a week. ONE WEEK and this woman had already disrespected them over and over again. They tried to embarrass Lyca by calling her, asking her questions,plicated ones but in the end, Lyca would answer them without even opening her eyes! Who would have thought that aside from being unreasonable, Lyca was really smart too?


    Slowly, the people in the school started calling her the Lunatic Princess. However, who would darein? Lyca didn''t break anyws! Not only in the challenges, even in sses, Lyca''s intelligence was very obvious- no one would darein about her! Plus not one of her targets suffered a grave injury. They would only faint a few seconds before the five minute mark. And points will be taken from them.


    After one week of always winning, another news surprised everyone. The famed Long Yi was seen bringing some flowers to Lyca''s apartment! Not only this, he brought some expensive gifts too! Everyone was speechless!


    This was a tant move of the Long Family to recruit someone from the Huang Family! How could they allow the Long Family to gain another powerful ally? But then again, what could they do? Even this school was founded by one of the Long Family''s ancestors!


    Lyca on the other hand, never cared about any of this. She was reviewing her points, everyday. One week and right now she had a total of thirty four points. She could sacrifice twenty points to see her family but her father and mother had already told her that they would visit her next week. Right now, she needed to umte enough points for her to be a member of the student council.


    Of course, Lyca had no idea what was going on outside of her sses and challenges. She had long stopped asking Shen Qui about rumors and decided to create some chemical models of the form that she was nning to make for the Huang Family. After all, she was nning to make the Huang Family the number one family in this City.


    "Lyca Long Yi is outside. Should I let him in?" She heard Shen Qui''s voice outside.


    "No." She answered. "No time."


    "Alright." Shen Qui nodded and immediately ryed the news to the man behind the door who was bringing a bouquet of flowers that seemed to be as big as him. "My mistress can''t see you right now. She is extremely busy, her body is starting to ache. Seeing you will make her situation worse." He said with a straight face. Right now, Shen Qui has been challenged four times. However, seeing how Lyca always challenged anyone who challenged him, those people seemed to stop issuing various challenges to him. They must have feared Lyca''s retaliation!


    Of course, this made him ted. Right now, Lyca was also helping him with his body. This made him really grateful and happy. He was always in a good mood! Therefore, he decided to be an even better trantor to help Lyca out!


    As always, Long Yi just smiled and handed the flowers to Shen Qui. "Please hand this to your mistress. Tell her I will visit the Huang Family this month. I hope she cane see me after that." While he was smiling, there was an obvious tinge of warning in his voice.


    "Okay." Shen Qui nodded and gave him a small smile. Lyca already said that she hated flowers and yet this Long Yi just kept on giving her flowers. Was he really that dumb? Seeing the woman that he liked throw away the flowers should be enough to let him know that Lyca is not big on flowery stuff! If Long Yi was smart, he would have sent her snacks and delicious dishes instead. Shen Qui was sure that Lyca would never say no to that.


    Aiyo. It seems that Long Yi was too used to being wooed by women that he actually didn''t know how to properly gain a person''s heart. With this in mind, Shen Qui started smiling and put all the flowers behind the door. Once it gets dark, Shen Qui would sneak out and throw away the flowers in the forest.


    "That man is wasting his money. He could have just bought food and gave it to people in the streets." Shen Qui mumbled as he walked towards the kitchen. It was already eight and yet Lyca was still in her room doing god knows what. This was his cue it was his signal to start boiling eggs so she could eat.


    ....


    Authors note: I made a mistake and actually made the points fifteen instead of twenty. Her current total points is already twenty after she win against Xie Jun. I am so sorry for the inconvenience. I already corrected the previous chapter. Big thanks to the person who pointed it out.


    Thank you for the support! I am happy and grateful! Please continue voting for the novel.

 Chapter 52: Treacherous Heart

    Chapter 52: Treacherous Heart


    "BANG!"


    "She actually dare to say no?" Xie Jun''s saliva flew everywhere as he threw the ball that he was holding towards the wall, creating a loud bang in the process. "She declined to see you? The nerve of that woman! Does she know who you are?"


    Long Yi just gave a wry smile. Honestly, this was something that he never expected. In this school, women would fight one other just to serve him! After all, the Long Family was really prosperous as of the moment. All his life, women were the ones who approached him because of the benefits that he could provide them with. It was never the other way around. However, now


    "Are you going to visit the Huang Family soon?" Zhang Zhi asked. Just like Xie Jun, he was surprised that his cousin would really dare to useme reasons just to decline Long Yi''s visit. He never actually thought that Lyca would be so courageous!


    "I will. Me and my father will soon visit the old man. I will be with Aunt Ying and we already have the support of your second uncle, Huang Li Duo Huang Xiaoxuan''s father!"


    "Then that is good!" Zhang Zhi immediately got excited.


    Of course, Lyca was not happy to hear this news from Shen Qui. "Really?" Her face was grim as she eyed the man opposite him.


    "Yes. Why the hell would he go and see Old Man Huang?" Shen Qui''s gaze turned sharp. "Unless wait they want a marriage alliance?" He let out a surprise gasp. "They want to" his gaze turnedplicated. Seeing Lyca''s dark look, Shen Qui immediately excused himself. "I make you some orange juice." This woman needed to rx!


    He immediately went to the kitchen and made her some fresh orange juice. When he turned towards Lyca''s room, the other was already standing a few feet away from him. He flinched, surprised at her sudden appearance. An ominous feeling rose inside him. "What- Nevermind, here is your juice."


    "Shen Qui, do you like me?" she leaned towards him, showing a little bit of her chest that was covered by her thin robe. She smiled and batted her eyelids.


    "No," he answered, his face stern. "I mean"


    "Good!" The smile on her face disappeared as she nodded, satisfied at theck of emotion on his face. "Then marry me."


    Shen Qui turned silent for a few seconds. He looked at her cold face. "I can''t." He shook his head and handed her the juice. His face was solemn as he added. "Don''t marry someone you don''t love. It won''t have a good ending." Without waiting for Lyca to say anything. He already walked towards his room, locking the door behind him.


    This expression surprised her. She stood frozen. She was not really serious in the first ce. She too would never marry someone she didn''t love. But what was that reaction? She frowned and eyed the now closed door of his room. Then she shrugged and went to her own room.


    After that, the topic of marriage was never brought up again. Lyca and Shen Qui continued working on their own. Days slowly passed. Lyca of course keeps on winning at an rming rate that even the student council was nning to meet her to at least stop this madness.


    Of course, Lyca was already anticipating for that day toe. It wasn''t even a month yet and her reputation inside the school as the most peculiar person was already carved in everyone''s heart.


    Today, Lyca brought her parents to her room. Her smile was so brilliant it was enough to blind Shen Qui. He stared as Lyca was talking happily at her mother, boasting about her achievements so far.


    This This wasn''t the Lyca that he knew! Shen Qui just stood a few feet away from the small family, observing Lyca. He stared at Lyca''s sincere smile that he had never seen before. Her eyes twinkled, her grin was so huge it was somewhat scary. He gulped and avoided looking at Lyca''s beautiful face. Was this really the Lyca thezy Lyca who doesn''t even finish her sentences?


    For some reason, he felt a little tugged in his heart. Unable to exin the emotion, Shen Qui decided to think about other things instead. Of course, this reaction didn''t go unnoticed by Lyca''s father. After a few hours of catching up, Lyca brought her father to her room to have a private conversation while her mother made her some food.


    This was something that surprised Shen Qui again. Who would have thought that Lyca''s mother, the Colonel''s wife, Tang Nini would personally cook for her daughter? He knew that Tang Nini grew up in the Tang Family which was known for their military achievements. In his simple mind, Tang Nini was born rich. And well rich misses were people who loved tomand people! They didn''t have to cook or clean as they have servants to do that!


    It seems that this family was indeed very unique?


    Meanwhile, the atmosphere inside Lyca''s room had turned extremely suffocating.


    "So you already knew of this?" Huang Sheng Hong never expected that Lyca would obtain such crucial information even if she was inside the school.


    "Is it true?" Lyca asked, her tone grim.


    "Yes. That is indeed true. Of course me and father would never agree to this engagement."


    Lyca knew that the old man would not yield. However, if the Long Family continued pressuring them, there would be no guarantee that the old man would maintain this stance. After all, there were also people working under the old man. Loyal soldiers and veteran who chose to stay with the Huang Family. If the Huang Family lost more clients, those people would suffer too. Will her grandfather really choose her over those loyal soldiers and their families?


    That is a very hard thing to say.


    Lyca already witnessed the treacherous heart of humans before. She knew how fickle a human''s heart can be. "I am nning to help." Lyca said. "I believe it is time to ept Grandfather''s position."


    "But the challenge"


    Lyca snorted in response. "Challenge?" She raised an eyebrow, a tinge of blood thirst seemed to cover her whole body. "I will kill everyone who dares to stand in my way father." She said. "Even if that person is rted to me by blood."

 Chapter 53: A Legend

    Chapter 53: A Legend


    "Lyca you"


    Lyca stood up from her seat. She looked at the silent night outside of her window. "Shen Qui and Li Xian have decided to stay with grandfather despite being talented. I know it is because grandfather had saved them before. It isn''t just a blind loyalty." Loyalty? Does that even exist? Wasn''t she betrayed by those people she deemed loyal before?


    Huang Sheng Hong looked at his daughter. A sh of sadness could be seen in his eyes. The girl in front of him, Lyca seemed to have be mature. She was no longer the little princess that he loved to pamper. She was someone ruthless, someone he didn''t recognize. However, no matter what, this woman was still his beloved daughter. "Yes. You are right. The people who stayed by your grandfather''s side owe him. Most of them wererades or families of his deadrades. He helped them and protected them when they were weak."


    "Meaning, he still has some subordinates that can be trusted. That is good."


    "What are you nning to do?"


    "Retaliate."


    Before Huang Sheng Hong could even open his mouth, Lyca had already handed him a stack of papers. "I want you to make these types of bullets. I know you are an expert marksman and you know your way with guns and bullets. Read it. You should already know what it is for."


    Huang Sheng Hong immediately started reading the papers in his hand. Slowly, his eyes widened, his hands shook. "These are"


    "A bullet that will rot the flesh of humans." Lyca said. "I trust that father can do this in a week?"


    Huang Sheng Hong''s pupils shook as he looked at the detailed instruction, chemicals, metals and other elements that Lyca was nning to use. "Yes. Three days I can arrange this in three days."


    "Good. I will take a leave five days from now and will be there when Long Yi and his father will visit grandfather." She then looked at her father''s face. "Do you have a target?"


    "Target?"


    "An assassination target, father."


    Unable to believe his daughter''s words, Huang Sheng Hong asked. "You want me to find an assassination mission for you? Lyca what the hell are you talking about?"


    Lyca turned silent for a few seconds. Right now, he was the only person that would know this secret. "I want to create an opportunity for the Huang Family." Her lips thinned. To be honest, she was not that confident that this man would just agree with her ns. After all, this man was still his father. She knew that Huang Sheng Hong was never the type of man that would put his daughter in danger or at least not knowingly. In fact, Lyca was already nning some arguments to present just to make him agree.


    "And you want to kill someone?"


    "I am the future head of the Huang Family. If I don''t dirty my hands now then " She knew that this man already understood her meaning. In this cruel world, someone who would lead a family could never maintain their innocence. They would sooner orter fight to survive. "This is thend of the wolves, father. It''s either you be the alpha of the pack or stay a sheep and wait for them to devour you." Seeing the different emotions swirling in her father''s eyes, Lyca added. "I guess you already know which animal I would choose to be."


    Huang Sheng Hong lowered his gaze. Eyeing the paper in his hand, he started to wonder when did his little Lyca be so headstrong and brave. However, these thoughts didn''tst as his gaze soon turned resolute. Of course, he already knew that this would happen. But he never expected it to be this soon.


    His little Lyca was growing up. And it seems he couldn''t stop her anymore.


    "Being a head has a lot of responsibilities." He said. His words were extremely clear. As Lyca''s father, he knew her just like the back of his palm. This daughter of his would always prefer to rx than working hard. "Can you really"


    "Hehe father." Lyca gave an awkward smile. "Isn''t this why I let you know about my ns?" She raised an eyebrow and smiled at the man in front of her. She was only nning to be the leader in name! Huang Sheng Hong was still young , alright!? Meaning, he could still work as her assistant. Or maybe not an assistant, maybe the vice president of Huang Security. In her mind, Lyca already likened this situation as her bing the queen and her father would be the prime minister.


    Before her imagination would explode, Lyca decided to think about their current predicament. "I want to get a high ranked mission that would involve sniping. I am nning to use these bullets. I want people to know that the Huang Family are not someone that they could just provoke."


    "You you wanted to use guns?" He asked, surprised. He knew that Lyca knew how to shoot but she kept onining that guns were too loud, heavy and the recoil was too strong that it gave her bruises. Of course, this was because she always preferred to practice using long firearms and guns that one would use in hunting


    "Yes. However I need you to keep this a secret."


    "Even from your mother?"


    "Mother would never approve of my ns, father. If she knows of this she will assume I have grown up and will stop making food for me." She gave a sly smile.


    "You" In the end, Huang Sheng Hong shook his head helplessly. "What do you want me to do?"


    "Make a secret identity for me and Shen Qui."


    "Shen Qui?" his gaze immediately darkened. This good looking man who was living with his daughter is not very favorable in his eyes.


    "I need a spotter." And someone to carry her gun.


    "So two identities?"


    "Yes. I want someone from the Tang Family."


    "Both males?" He asked. In response Lyca smiled and nodded. Yes, she was nning to have this secret identity. She was not only nning to protect the Huang Family but create a legend A legend from the Tang Family.

 Chapter 54: Loyalty

    Chapter 54: Loyalty


    Moreover, this was another part of Lyca''s n. She wanted another persona that she could run off to and use in her schemes anytime.


    "Good!" Huang Sheng Hong nodded as hemented inwardly. His little girl was really not so little anymore. But putting her in a small cage was indeed dangerous. Just as Lyca mentioned. This is a world of wolves. It''s either she stayed a sheep or turned into a wolf. He gave his daughter another look before sighing. "About Huang Xiaoxuan. Don''t forget that she is still your cousin. I know Huang Li Duo, her father was a little arrogant and troublesome but he is loyal to the Huang Family."


    "Loyalty." Lyca uttered, dragging the words in her tongue as she looked at her father. "ording to the dictionary, it''s a strong feeling of support or allegiance." She stared at him, her eyes scrutinizing the changes in her father''s face. "And Father feelings change."


    Huang Sheng Hong opened his mouth, wanting to rebut her. But what could he say? She was right. Feelings change. There was no guarantee that this loyalty would stay the next day or even today. He was about to say something when Lyca added.


    "Don''t worry. I won''t kill anyone who haven''t done anything to us." She uttered. "I am not nning to prolong this matter. I don''t want to spend years stressing over something that I can finish in a few month. I will finish it as soon as possible." As someone who doesn''t particrly like working so hard, Lyca would always prefer the quickest method that she can do to finish everything and she can have her precious free time again.


    She sighed inwardly. Lying around doing nothing is still better than having all these responsibilities and power.


    Seeing her resolute expression, Huang Sheng Hong nodded and sighed. "I trust you." To him, this daughter of his was more important than his life. Of course, he would always put his trust in her words. "Everything will be ready once you leave the school."


    Lyca started beaming as she gave a shdrive to her father while retrieving the paper that she gave him earlier. It would be better to always secure important transactions like this. "The password is mother''s birthday with your birthday and the name of my dog." She smiled.


    Hearing this, Huang Sheng Hong nodded and gave a helpless smile. Lyca never had a dog. Meaning, she only said it to confuse anyone listening to them. After a few more conversations about the specifics of the mission that she wanted, Tang Nini finally called them for dinner. Of course, Shen Qui joined them.


    Seeing Lyca happily talking to her mother and father, Shen Qui could only eat his food silently. For some reason, he felt a great sense of envy. He envied Lyca for having a family. He envied her for being loved and pampered. For someone like him who was chased out of his family''s home at such a young age, seeing a family like this in front of him was enough to squeeze the little emotion that he had for those people.


    That''s right. Why would he feel jealousy? Those people attempted to kill him when he was nothing but a child. Why would he longed for something like that? Shen Qui lowered his gaze as tried to mask the anger in his eyes.


    After the meal, Lyca and Shen Qui sent them off and went back to their rooms.


    "Are you alright?" Lycazily walked inside Shen Qui''s room. This time, she knocked and thetter clearly gave her permission to go inside. She immediately went and dropped to his bed. Of course, she had sensed the weird vibe that he was giving off earlier.


    "Hmmm." Shen Qui was doing push ups next to his bed. "Is something wrong?" he asked.


    "None. Here." Lyca rolled towards him and handed him her phone. But since Shen Qui is doing push ups, she put her phone on the carpet so he could see it. "Buy it."


    "A rifle?"


    "On the ck market." Of course, Lyca was not nning to use a gun from the armory of the Huang Security. "I want the best."


    "What are you nning to do?"


    Lyca shrugged in response.


    "You " Shen Qui stood up. Using a towel to wipe the sweat on his forehead, he looked at the beautiful woman lyingzily on his bed. "Are you nning to kill Long Yi?" By now, he already understood that this Lyca was actually a very ruthless woman who was hiding behind herzily appearance. Just the thought of those poisons that she gave those young masters was enough to make him tremble! On the outside, those young master''s didn''t show any signs of problems or sickness. However, Lyca actually told him that the real target of her poison was actually the count of sperm cells and the size of their manhood. She was actually cutting off the ability of those people to reproduce! Just what kind of ruthlessness was that? He immediately thanked his luck. At least, he never offended Lyca before. Who knows, what kind of poison does this woman have?


    "No." She shook her head. She looked at him. "I will trust you." She said. Shen Qui paused for a few seconds. He then turned his head away as he thought about his conversation with Huang Sheng Hong earlier. Clearly Huang Sheng Hong warned him not to break his daughter''s fragile heart. What does he mean by that?


    Does the colonel think that Lyca was a fragile doll?


    Does this mean he was not aware what kind of evil woman his daughter is? Shen Qui could only nod. In the first ce, they were not in a rtionship. Lyca clearly thinks that he was in love with Li Xian. And he was not nning to correct that assumption. Was it his fault that this woman''s way of thinking was different than most people?


    Moreover, it''s not like he likes her like a man would like a woman. True, she is very beautiful. But she scares him. Lyca was someone that could put something in his water and kill him without even knowing how he died. Plus, he doesn''t like howzy she was. She loves to eat a lot, and sleep like a child. She also has a lot of secrets and wait why was Lyca not speaking anymore? Slowly, Shen Qui turned towards the woman in his bed.


    Yep. Asleep. In his bed.


    Shen Qui shook his head and went to the bathroom to take a bath, hoping that Lyca would wake up and move to her own bed soon.


    ############


    Please don''t forget to vote.

 Chapter 55: Handsome and Big

    Chapter 55: Handsome and Big


    When Lyca opened her eyes, she immediately knew that she was in the wrong bed. Shezily sat in the bed, her eyes roamed around the room. Not seeing Shen Qui inside made her frown. She looked at the time. It was already twelve in the evening. It seems that she dozed off in his bed. Lyca went out of Shen Qui''s bed and walked towards the living room. Just as she expected, the man was trying to fit his tall stature on the couch.


    "Hey." Lyca poked his face. "Hey pretty boy." Looking at this man up close, made her realize that Shen Qui was indeed very pretty.Blessed with long curledshes, the man would sure look good in makeup. She chuckled while staring at the face that could easily stop someone in their tracks. His tousled ck hair was rich and luscious. His features were defined, it was as if they were molded from granite. She started beaming. "Hey wake up. Or I will kiss you." A mischievous glint quickly shed and disappeared in her eyes.


    Almost immediately, his eyes flew open. His brown deep seated eyes immediately turned sharp, alert. He red at her as he sat on the couch, trying his best to shake the sleepiness away. "Why did you wake me up?" Irritation shed in his eyes.


    "Your back." She stood and watched his face. Without saying anything else, Lyca walked inside the door leaving him in daze. For a few seconds, Shen Qui just looked at Lyca''s closed door, an unfathomable expression glinted in his eyes as the edge of his lips quirked upwards into a devilish smile.


    ..


    Slowly, days passed.


    Lyca continued, winning the challenges as she attended her sses religiously. After a few more days, Lyca and Shen Qui filed for a leave. As her bodyguard, Shen Qui could actually leave as long as Lyca was with him.


    "Your luggage is ready. We should leave early tomorrow." Shen Qui said, turning his head away to avoid Lyca''s alluring pose. He then sat on the couch just a few feet away from her. Since her parent''s visited her, Lyca started to act like this. She had been nonchnt, almost ignoring the fact that he was still a man. However, he knew that Lyca was not trying to seduce him, instead, she clearly thought that he likes men.


    He then recalled Huang Sheng Hong''s warning and request to keep her safe. A sighed escaped his lips.


    Lyca on the other hand, was lying on her bed, wearing her thin robe while acting oblivious about the trouble in Shen Qui''s eyes. She ignored Shen Qui''s words and continued reading the files that her father sent. "Hey, did someone told you that you were pretty before?"


    "Why would someone call me pretty?" he asked. He was handsome, not pretty.


    "I don''t know. Didn''t Li Xian called you pretty before?"


    Irritation immediately shed in his eyes. "Lyca you should know that we are not lovers, right? Are you trying to make a joke? Your sense of humor is reallycking."


    "Oh?" She looked at him, shamelessly moving his gaze from his face to his body under the shirt and denim pants that he was wearing. "I don''t believe you." She dragged her eyes back to her book, her lips were nted into a smug smile.


    "Li Xian is my brother. You should stop thinking weird things. Or else I will prove to you how I like women."


    "Oh?" His words were not enough to make her blush. Her seductive red lips turned upwards into an enchanting smile. "How?"


    Shen Qui felt his face turned hot. He immediately gulped and turned his head away. Crazy woman! He knew how Lyca seemed to enjoy teasing him a lot.


    "Eh? I thought"


    "You should be careful with your words. I am still a man after all."


    Seeing his reaction, how could Lyca stop teasing someone this adorable?


    "Qui''er how old are you?" Lyca smiled.


    "Twenty three."


    "Oh young." She spoke as if she wasn''t only twenty one. Of course, this was because she felt a little older than him as she had already lived another life in her previous world. "And fresh. Hey.. Qui''er why don''t you marry me?"


    "What nonsense are you thinking again?" In a week, this is the third time that Lyca asked him to marry her!


    "Long Yi won''t be able to ask for a marriage, if we are already married." Shrugging, she answered. "You are not bad. Handsome and big I mean tall. I like tall men."


    He snorted and leaned against the couch. "You talk as if marriage is something like a convenience."


    "Isn''t it?" In her previous life, she married someone because of love and of course, her n''s urgings. Her fiance in her past life, was a very influential man. Seeing his fake sincerity, gifts and sweet words, Lyca had actually fallen for him and agreed to marry him. That decision had also something to do with the fact that she and that man had missions together, experiencing life and death situations while covering each other''s back.


    Thinking about it now, Lyca was too stupid. She was a fool who fell in love because of flowers and empty promises. To prevent this from happening again, Lyca had long decided to always stay away from possibilities of putting her marriage into someone else''s hands. Not even her parents would be able to dictate her marriage.


    "You know" she smiled. "Marrying me had many benefits too."

 Chapter 56: Cupid

    Chapter 56: Cupid


    Irritation immediately shed in Shen Qui''s eyes. However, he quickly hid it from Lyca. Hearing how this woman talked about marriage as if it was a deal was making him agitated. He had long promised himself that he would never be like his mother. He could never marry someone just for convenience.


    Seeing his face turned darker and darker, Lyca merelyughed. "You think you needed love to marry someone?" she asked. "Feelings are fleeting Qui''er. Just like the weather it changes."


    "How did you be like this?" Shen Qui countered. This woman grew up in a happy family, something that he never had. And yet, the way she talked made it seem as if she suffered a lot.


    Of course, Lyca just shrugged and chose not to answer him. Instead, she started reading again, ignoring him until she felt like sleeping. "Eh? You''re still here?" Lyca smiled. "Do you want to sleep beside me?" How could she miss the opportunity to tease him again?


    "And if I do?" he asked. Seeing Lyca''s smile vanished, Shen Qui snorted and left the room without saying anything else. Seeing him gone, Lyca''snguid appearance disappeared. She didn''t know why that man stayed this long despite her teasing. All she knew was that Shen Qui''s presence dyed her previous ns. She stood and went to her walk-in closet to change her clothes.


    Donning an all ck tight leather pants, a ck tank top with ck leather jacket with a hood that could cover more than half of her face, Lyca nodded at her current appearance. Then she secured a couple of her chemicals, needles and daggers on her boots. After making sure that she already had everything that she needed, Lyca opened herptop and activated a virus that would freeze the CCTV of the building for five minutes.


    This virus was something that she asked her father to acquire.


    Lyca didn''t tarry as she silently opened her window. Just like a cat, Lyca stood on the baluster, her back against the walls of the mansion as she examined the surroundings. She then started to count the balcony on the second floor. Since each room had their own balcony, it was easy for Lyca to know which one was Huang Xiaoxuan''s room on the second floor.


    Room 207.


    A smile slithered in Lyca''s face, her gaze turned alert as she started to adjust her breathing while studying the current airflow all of which were basics to be able to hide herself and make her presence vanish. She looked at her watch. Three minutes and forty seconds before the virus would unfreeze all images.


    Without any hesitation, Lyca jumped down, silentlynding onto the balcony just below her own. Using the shadows to cover her, Lyca started walking into the ledge that ran around the whole mansion. As wide as a single foot, the ledge was more than enough for her to walk through.


    From time to time, Lyca would examine her surroundings, making sure that no one was watching her. Of course, she was about eighty percent sure that people were no longer outside because of the curfew. She reached another balcony, Room 205. One more balcony and she would reach Huang Xiaoxuan''s. After stealthily walking on the ledge, Lyca finally arrived at her destination.


    "I told you! If we don''t kill her now, there is no way that she would let me be the next CEO and Marry Long Yi!" Huang Xiaoxuan''s sinister voice was the first thing that she heard when shended on her balcony. Was she nning to kill her? Clearly, Huang Xiaoxuan was unaware that someone was outside listening to her malicious words.


    "Father I really like Young Master Long" Huang Xiaoxuan started pleading. "Why can''t you just contact them for an engagement? Why do I need to be the heir apparent first before you could do that? I told you! We should just kill Lyca! She is the only thing that is preventing me from bing the CEO."


    Lyca raised an eyebrow. It seems that Huang Li Duo didn''t approve of Huang Xiaoxuan''s n to kill her?


    "No! I want her dead! Why can''t you do it? You know But But father! I think Young Master Long likes me too! I told you he spoke to me today!"


    Hearing the woman''s nonsense words, Lyca shook her head as she decided to withdraw. Tonight, she was originally nning on putting somete acting poison on her food that would look like some bacteria. Of course, it was not fatal. It could only make her sick, really sick again nothing fatal. But it would have been enough for Huang Xiaoxuan to stop going to this school because of her weak body. Then the challenge would be off.


    However, it seems that Huang Xiaoxuan was not only a stupid woman. It seemed that she was also a naive, lovesick fool. Sneering, Lyca started walking back towards her room. It seems that Huang Xiaoxuan liked Long Yi? Wouldn''t it be better to have these two people marry each other?


    Of course Lyca was not thatzy to y cupid when ites to her enemies. An ominous glint shed in her eyes. Lyca was never a kind hearted person. Since Huang Xiaoxuan wanted to hurt her then she would dly reciprocate. Lyca''s thoughts were interrupted with the sudden rm.


    She let out a cursed. It seems that someone discovered the virus? Without any hesitation, Lyca jumped towards her own balcony. However, because of the rm, she had long lost her momentum. Another cursed left her lips when she saw that she wouldn''t be able to reach the balcony. She miscalcted her strength. She tried to stretch her hand, hoping she could grab onto something, maybe the baluster or something anything! It was a futile attempt. Just as her body started responding to the gravity, she felt someone grab her hand.She immediately raised her head and met Shen Qui''s eyes. Just like a fish out of the pond, Lyca opened her mouth and closed it without saying anything. With just one pull, Lyca was already standing in front of Shen Qui in her balcony.


    She looked at him, unable to process what just happened.


    "Inside." Shen Qui pulled her towards her room, his face was grave. He had promised both Huang Sheng Hong and Old Man Huang to protect this woman. As someone who owed his life to the Old Man, Shen Qui wanted to repay him by doing his best in protecting his granddaughter. But how could he protect a mysterious entity like this woman?

 Chapter 57: Devious

    Chapter 57: Devious


    Shen Qui sat opposite to the woman who was wearing ck. By now, the loud rm already stopped. A sign that they had finally fixed the problem. And since the campus police were not here yet, it could only mean that those people were not able to connect whatever it was that happened to Lyca.


    "What were you doing outside?" A tinge of tensionced his voice. He stared at her eyes, as she met his gaze. The two stared at each other in an odd way.


    "You don''t need to know." Lyca uttered. She was not nning to exin herself.


    Pursing his lips, a dangerous glint shed in his orbs. When he promised to protect this woman, the old man never mentioned anything about her climbing walls in the middle of the night. Either way, he was not nning to break his promise to the man who saved him and his uncle.


    Shen Qui eyed her attire that was dyedpletely in ck. He had guessed what she wanted to do. But he needed her confirmation. He needed to know what kind of trouble she was in. However, instead of staying on the couch and answering his question. Lyca stood and walked out of her room. What she needed was some coffee, not some conversation with a naive man like Shen Qui.


    "We are not done talking." Shen Qui''s hand grabbed her wrist. "Sit."


    "Oh? You think you have the right to know?" She raised an eyebrow as she eyed his hand, waiting for him to let go of her wrist. Something that didn''t happen. Instead, Shen Qui squinted his eyes at the woman in front of him. Was she going to attack him? He couldn''t help but wonder.


    In those few seconds of silence, the two look at each other, both assessing each other''s next actions. Both faces were unreadable. Then Lyca made her move. She kicked his shin, something that he was already anticipating.


    Shen Qui side stepped avoiding her leg by a few inches.


    "Is this the only thing that you are good at?" He challenged, his hand still on her right wrist. She squinted, adrenaline hummed through her blood as her left hand shot towards his jaw. Again, Shen Qui dodged without using any effort. "Are you going to act like a toddler? Or talk like a f*cking human being!?" He asked, extremely irritated at her urge to fight. For crying out loud, all he wanted was to talk! Was that so hard to do?


    Lyca clenched her jaws, ring at him. "Let me go."


    "Not until you tell me what is going on! You keep on saying that you trust me and yet do the opposite thing. You don''t f*cking tell me anything and just tease me like a teenager! You think I want to stay here?" He snorted as he leaned forward, his face a few inches away from her. "I made a promise to your grandfather, the man who saved me. I am serving the future leader of the Huang Family and that is the only reason why I am staying."


    Lyca felt his breath rub against her cheek. She stiffened at the close proximity.


    Seeing the changes in her expression, Shen Qui pulled her closer, wrapping his hand around her waist. "You are stuck with me, Lyca Huang. Whether you like it or not, I am your only ally in this school."


    Lyca stared at his brown orbs. Despite his words, there was not a tinge of emotion in his eyes. This wasn''t the man who lived with her for a few days now. This wasn''t the naive Shen Qui. He was a different man.


    "Now start talking." He added.


    Lyca snorted before her left armshed out, this time with a dagger. Surprised at her action, Shen Qui leaned back, letting her go in the process. However he wasn''t able to avoid the sharp edge of the dagger as it cut a small part of his right cheek. He brought his gaze back at the woman, who was coldly looking at him. His thumb made its way into his cheek, wiping away the small amount of blood that now stained his once wless skin.


    The wound wasn''t deep, yet it was enough to draw out a bit of his blood. Slowly, he brought his thumb into his lips, sucking the scarlet liquid as he stared at her face. "Devious." He uttered, his voice rough.


    A smug grin appeared on her face as she used her agility to approach him again. This time, Shen Qui didn''t allow her to hit him. He dodged, sidestepping as he countered her punch towards his gut. She then shot her leg towards his crotch. Again, he used his hand to stop her leg. Seeing how his movements had be faster, Lyca immediately knew that it was because his injuries were healing.


    She shouldn''t have healed him! Extremely irritated, Lyca threw another punch at him. This time, he avoided it before he seized her left arm, twisting it behind her back. Shen Qui stood behind her, his hand holding her wrist, locking it.


    Lyca hissed. The fact that he was stronger than her was undeniable. He held her waist as she struggled against him.


    "I told you you can''t win against me." His voice was rough against her ears. His confidence sent goosebumps all over her body. It wasn''t just because he was stronger. It was because Lyca had been lying around,zing around without even exercising her body. True, she could kill someone using her surprise moves, but in front of a soldier. This was nothing.


    "You know" Lyca''s chest raised, her heart hammered against her ribcage as she tried to catch her breath. "I take back my words." She uttered. "You are not pretty at all." She then took a step back and suddenly lowered her body. She used all the strength that she had in her body to throw him over her shoulders.


    Seeing him lie on the floor, Lyca didn''t waste any more time as he pounced towards him. She sat on his waist, grappling him, nning to ruin his face with her fist. Yet, Shen Qui suddenly moved his arms. With his huge body, it was easy for him to overpower her.


    ....


    Check out the image in thements below.

 Chapter 58: Kiss

    Chapter 58: Kiss


    Lying in her back, Lyca''s arm was on Shen Qui''s armpit while his other arm was around her neck. In a f*cking scarf hold. Lyca let out a curse as she looked at his serious expression just a few inches away from her face.


    The edge of Shen Qui''s lips curled into a cruel smirk as Lyca fought the fluttering awareness that rippled through her while looking at his eyes. Their gazes met. His eyes held her attention, not allowing her orbs from moving away. The man''s after shave wafted through her nose, it smelt of wood and forest. She loved it.


    Wait what the fuck was she thinking? She watched as his lips parted. Was he about to scold her again? Lyca gulped. A thick suffocating silence descended between them. For a few seconds, the ticking sound of the clock on the wall was the only thing that could be heard in the room.


    Contrary to her expectations, Shen Qui said nothing. He continued staring at her beautiful eyes, then into her nose and the pout on her lips. Then he dragged his gaze back to her orbs. The woman in his arms just stared at him, waiting for him to break the silence. He gulped before his gaze traveled towards her lips again.


    Lyca''s tongue slowly darted out, moistening her lower lip. Seeing this, Shen Qui felt heat spread through his face. He could smell her perfume. It wasn''t the spicy perfume that he expected her to wear. No. In fact, it was sweet. Was it vani? He wondered.


    "I think you should let me go." This time, Lyca decided to break the silence. She could feel her body start to throb under his gaze. She couldn''t let this continue.


    "Oh!" As if lightning hit him, Shen Qui immediately let her go. He stood, awkwardly staring at Lyca who was sitting on the floor. He didn''t miss the redness in her neck. "I''m sorry." He uttered. He immediately turned his back and started walking to his room.


    "Shen Qui!"


    Hearing her, Shen Qui froze but didn''t turn towards her. He fucking lost his cool! How could he lose control just like that? He was waiting for her to say how she would ask for a recement to her grandfather. He was nning to just nod and pack his things. Then that would be the end of it. He could only hope that Lyca wouldn''t tell her grandfather what happened or he would lose the only ce that he had considered home.


    He heard her stand up and walk towards him.He felt her standing behind him, staring at his back. "Look at me." She uttered, the chill in her voice was no longer there. He felt her tug his wrist, a small pinched. Turning towards her, Shen Qui immediately realized Lyca''s scarlet red face. His lips parted. He was about to ask her if she was alright when she suddenly pulled his head down, mming his lips into hers.


    Shen Qui widened his eyes. He had the urge to push her, however, his hand seemed to grow a mind of their own as they folded themselves around her waist, pulling her closer towards him. The kiss was sloppy, careless as if the two didn''t notice the fluttering sensation that started to grow inside them. She reached out her arm and wrapped them around his neck as she arched her body into his broad chest. Soon, he felt his body turned hot as the kiss removed all the worry that he had earlier. It was as if his brain stopped working but he didn''t want it to end.


    Then she pulled away.


    Just like that, Lyca stopped the kiss. She stood in front of him, sharp eyes staring straight into his. Funny how he subdued her with just a few moves and yet, he couldn''t even look at her eyes after the kiss. What a rare breed of man.


    "I" He opened his mouth but was interrupted when her finger touched his lips, silencing him.


    "I wanted to know how it felt." She shrugged and took a step back. "Just so you know it felt good. And I will kiss you again." She nonchntly waved her hand. "Let''s talk tomorrow. I want to sleep." She turned her back and walked towards her room, leaving him alone in the living room as still as a statue. Slowly, his lips turned upwards into a slight smile. Then he retreated towards his room.


    Unbeknownst to them, the school grounds turned chaotic after they discovered someone nting an untraceable virus into their system. The security was obviously tightened as the faculty members had an emergency meeting. The breach was immediately considered an attack against the whole school.


    ......


    Contrary to their n, Lyca and Shen Qui woke upte. "Let''s talk when we get home." Lyca said.


    "Home?" He raised an eyebrow. "Your mansion?"


    "Of course." Lyca uttered.


    "Oh." He was expecting that she would send him back to the training center. Shen Qui helped her out with her luggage as the two exited the mansion and rode the car that was waiting for them outside. After the car sessfully left the school grounds, Lyca suddenly motioned him to sit properly. Without saying anything, Lyca used his leg as her pillow.


    "Sleepy." She uttered. After kissing this man, Lyca didn''t have a good night''s rest. It is only right that this Shen Qui would sacrifice his legs so she could sleep in the car. Smiling, Lyca closed her eyes, unaware of theplicated gaze that Shen Qui was giving her.


    ....


    Thank you for the support. Please don''t forget to vote for the novel.

 Chapter 59: Pure Hatred

    Chapter 59: Pure Hatred


    Lyca sat in the middle of her personal training space inside the mansion. She narrowed her eyes at the file in her hands. On the paper was an image of a young man with a bright smile, a small dimple and dazzling brown eyes. This was Shen Qui at neen. When he was assigned an assassination mission for the first time.


    She browsed through his records once again, her eyes emotionless. Since she arrived in the mansion this morning, Lyca had not left this room. She nced at the smiling face again. Funny how the people who always loved to smile sometimes had the saddest pasts.


    How could someone look so dazzling despite the number of people that he had killed at such a young age? This man was not the innocent Shen Qui that she thought him to be.


    Lyca had underestimated him. That was an undeniable fact. She had believed he was just another soldier with a bad past, determined to have their revenge against the people who treated them badly. Lyca had underestimated his perseverance and dedication. She had underestimated his training.


    She had bex, careless even. She had lived so carelessly that she had forgotten the rules from her previous life. Never judge someone by their outer appearance. Sinceing into this world, Lyca had never trained her body. It was mostly because her training involved meditation and she realized she was toozy to do that. She fought, asionally spar with Yi''an and her servants but that was it.


    Because of theck of magic in this world, Lyca had slowly underestimated the martial arts that these people learned. She had thought they were naturally weaker than her someone who had lived in another world. Someone who already had a lot of experience in assassinations.


    How naive. She had been naive.


    Slowly, she closed the file in her hand and stood from her seat. The knock on the door was the signal that she had been waiting for. Lyca walked towards one of the soundproofed walls. She used her fingerprint to open a secret vault that mostly contained important files about chemicals. This time, she put the file inside the vault.


    "You called for me?" Hearing his voice immediately reminded her of the intensity of his eyes, hisfortable smell and the way he never actually retaliatedst night. Instead, he dodged and avoided hitting her. Despite him being stronger, the man never unted it in front of her. Was it because she was considered his superior?


    "I want you to train me." She turned towards him, staring at his gentle face. Funny how this gentleness would change into something dark when he fought. Dark. Cold. Deadly. And dangerous. "Seriously." She added.


    She walked towards Shen Qui, hands behind her back. Seeing this, a smirk bloomed on his face. He was never the type of mix business with pleasure. And yet this woman


    "You know I am wondering." She stopped a few inches away from him. "Who is the real Shen Qui?" The man from the other night was not this gentle man in front of her. She was certain of that. "Is it the man who smiled like a naive college student? Or the one who reeked of death and blood."


    "Why can''t I be both?" Wasn''t it necessary to create a facade? In this type of job, showing everything in one go could mean death. And he dreaded death.


    He lowered his gaze, moving his body forward towards her, eliminating the little bit of space between the two of them. Last night, Shen Qui had been hazy, almost confused. It was because he tried to understand her reasoning something that he shouldn''t have done.


    Lyca was an endless abyss. Delving into its depths would only make him more irritated, confused and angry.


    He felt her extend her hand into his chest, she started tracing circles. He flinched. "I read your file." She said.


    "Was it enough to impress you?"


    "Enough." Shrugging, she continued tracing circles in his chest. She had read the files that were kept by her grandfather the ones that contained the real files about Shen Qui.


    "Did you threaten the old man?" he raised an eyebrow. The only person who knew his past was the man who saved him and had been protecting his identity for years now.


    "Hmmm. I am not that heartless."


    He snorted in response.


    "I suppose you wanted revenge?" Lyca asked.


    "Revenge" The word rolled in his tongue. "Sounds sweet but it''s unattainable." At least for now.


    "And if I decide to help you?" she asked.


    "What will you ask in return?" He countered. Lyca was not the type of woman who would just give without having something in return. He met her eyes as she raised her head. A smile was already stered on her lips.


    "You." She answered.


    "Why?"


    "Do I need a reason?" Lyca decided that she didn''t want to do all this alone. Wouldn''t that be too exhausting? So, she had already nned to create a team of people that would work for her. First, was of course, her father who would manage thepany under her name. Second was her mother who grew up in a military family. And third was a person that will protect her while shezed around.


    Of course, the current circumstances were not enough to change her mind about her ultimate dream. To Lyca, this was just a small mishap; a small clog that served to only dy her ns. To survive, she needed someone that would always stand by her side. Someone that needed to do the heavy lifting for her.


    Seeing his stern gaze Lyca moistened her lips. "I need someone strong."


    "To protect you." He finished her sentence. "While you sleep and eat nonchntly?" Just what kind of twisted reason was this?


    "Hmmm." She nodded. Lyca had fought other people in her family before, like her father and mother and she was well aware of their skills. They were both good and would surely be able to protect her. But Shen Qui''s internal energy would make him the best candidate for this task. He was healing, meaning, his senses would soon be sharper and he would be able to develop the other points in his body. And once this happened the man would be stronger.


    Plus, this man wanted revenge to the Xu Family a name too familiar. A name that made her blood boil with pure hatred.

 Chapter 60: Equivalent Exchange

    Chapter 60: Equivalent Exchange


    Shen Qui didn''t miss the anger that quickly shed in her eyes. "And if I say no?" He raised an eyebrow.


    "Then.. I would have to convince you?" That sly smile again. He hated how she was so confident, always underestimating him. Underestimating someone was something forbidden in his line of work.


    "How?" He forced the word out of his mouth.


    "Let''s see" Lyca acknowledged the sudden desire stabbing in her stomach. "Maybe I would kiss you, again." She didn''t hide the lust in her eyes.


    "That wouldn''t be enough."


    "Greedy." She mused, her hand touched his jaw. The small action made him freeze, goosebumps spread all over his body. Using her thumb, Lyca traced his jaw until she touched his lips. "But reasonable."


    For a few seconds, she saw anticipation shed in his eyes. Seeing this, Lycaughed, her eyes turned crescents as she took a step back. "We have more important things to discuss, lover boy."


    His eyes glinted as he followed her. ying with fire was a very dangerous thing. Yet, Lyca seemed unaware of this?


    "This is our target. A loan shark from Xie City. You twisted my arm so I can''t shoot anymore. Meaning you will do it for me." She shrugged as she gave another nonsense reason for him to finish the job for her. "I will act as the spotter. Read it."


    Surprised at the sudden change in her tone, Shen Qui decided to remove her inviting appearance earlier as he started reading the file.


    "Last night, I was nning to poison Huang Xiaoxuan. However, when I heard ask her father to kill me. I decided to reciprocate."


    "You will kill your own cousin?"


    "No. Death is easy." Shrugging, she pointed at the file. "Concentrate on the details of the target." Seeing him drag his gaze back to the file, Lyca continued. "Huang Xiaoxuan likes Long Yi. So I am giving her what she wants. After all I am a very kind woman." Again, he raised his head and stared at her. "Stop staring at me like that!"


    Shen Qui felt his lips twitch as he lowered his head again. Kind? Wasn''t she nning to poison her own cousinst night? Of course, he didn''t voice out his opinions and studied the target instead. Lyca continued talking. "Long Yi will visit my grandfather. He will being with the current patriarch who is also his father."


    "You want to meet him?"


    "Yes. You and I will meet them. Along with my grandfather."


    "You want to defeat the Long Family?"


    She snorted in response. "I want to live azy life and I will destroy everything that will stop me from having that kind of life." Nonchnceced her voice. This wasn''t just a simple defeat. Lyca was not nning to leave anything to this n. She was not nning to sow some seeds and give them the opportunity for sprout revenge.


    Dealing with someone who wanted revenge would be too troublesome; too much of a hassle.


    "I asked father to create a special type of bullet. You will use the bullet in shooting the target. You can hit him in the chest instead of his head."


    "Bullet?"


    "Rot." She answered. "The bullet will rot one''s flesh. Hitting someone''s chest or stomach would be the best way to showcase its capabilities."


    "You created a new bullet like this?"


    "Yes. This will be the start of Huang Family''s counter attack. Thosepanies or merchants who refused to sell us gun powder and other materials will never be able to buy our products again, unless they offer us a sincere apology with a lot of goods aspensation for breaking our hearts." Lyca was not a kind hearted woman. Since those people decided to side with the Long Family, then she would include them in her retribution and show them that kicking the Huang Family while they were down was the worst decision that they could make.


    "But once the bullet hits the market wouldn''t that be bad for the Huang Family? It will make other businesses create something like that too. They can easily study the " He didn''t continue his words when Lyca handed him a tablet.


    "It will explode." She answered. "If someone tries to study the bullet it will explode."


    Wasn''t this too vicious? As If sensing her thoughts, Lyca smiled and nodded.


    "So you are nning to decline the marriage alliance?" he asked.


    "Yes."


    "The Long Family can be a little persistent."


    "I know." She knew that the Long Family might use the merchants to pressure her grandfather. This is why she wanted to do the mission before they could visit the Huang Family. She just didn''t want to give the grandfather even the slightest bit of time to consider this marriage.


    "Lyca" he looked at her. "This is a very dangerous n." All this required timing perfect timing. The shooting, the bullet, the ck market, the Long Family.


    "But I have you to protect me from danger." She answered, not caring about the fact that she had already ignited something inside him. Nor the fact that she was standing next to him too close. Shen Qui fought the budding attraction as he forced himself to stop staring at her. "It''s either I go all out or just let them devour the Huang n." Lyca added.


    He stared at her side profile, wondering why she had suddenly changed the way she treated him. Was it just because of his file, his secret? She tilted her head towards him. "I consider you my partner. And it''s either I trust my partner or I trust no one at all." She uttered. Of course, this trust was something reinforced by the fact that they needed each other right now. She needed him by his side while he needed her for his revenge. The was just the concept of equivalent exchange.


    ....


    I believe, we are going to end at top 60? Thank you so much everyone! We will have 5 chapters mass release Monday! Let me tell you something else. Novels in top 50 have tens of thousands of collections. Viins Redemption have 2k collections while Lazily yours only have 900 and we were able to rank in top 60. It''s amazing!


    Also, I just signed a contract for the novel. You don''t have to worry, I will inform you if they approve the contract. I will also inform you if I decide to lock it. Base on my calctions, I might lock the novel around chapter 80+


    I hope you will still support this author. Have a wonderful day ahead!

 Chapter 61: Emotionally Unavailable

    Chapter 61: Emotionally Unavable


    "It''s too cold here. It would be nice to just cuddle and sleep." Lyca shivered from the cold breeze. She moved a little closer to the man wearing ck tactical attire next to her. The long rifle between them made her frown. "You have big hands I like it." She continued mumbling, distracting herself from the cold.


    "I think that is the wrong thing to say, considering I am about to kill someone."


    Lyca responded with a chuckle.


    "Concentrate," he said.


    Seeing his serious expression, Lyca immediately said. "I got some movement. Just right on time." Their current target was known to be a very meticulous guy who followed the same schedule every day. He would always leave his house at ten in the morning and have his coffee at ten-thirty. Then he would start his meetings at eleven. "This guy seemed to love his schedule so much."


    "Hmmm. Wind?"


    "Push two clicks to the right." She said and turned her attention back to Shen Qui. She watched as he turned silent, face stern while staring at his target. She looked as his Adam''s apple bobbed, his tongue darted out, moistening his lower lip.


    "I have a clean shot."


    ''Of course, you do.'' She wanted to say, however, she chose not to and just continued staring at him. Then he pulled the trigger, the recoil rocked his shoulder back. Lyca raised an eyebrow when he saw the change in his expression. It was surprisingly detached, cold even. Something that she never expected.


    "Hit." Shen Qui said. "Time to move." He stood and didn''t even spare her any nce. Of course, Lyca didn''t tarry. She immediately helped him put the gun inside a padded guitar bag. And left the rooftop with him. It didn''t take too long for them to leave the building that was still under construction.


    The two decided to drive for a few more minutes before they disposed of their current wigs and clothes and changed cars.


    After four hours, Lyca and Shen Qui finally arrived in Huang Security to report their aplishment. All throughout the ride, Lyca was sleeping so Shen Qui drove silently and didn''t engage in any conversation either.


    Her nonchnt attitude was not really something new to him. "Hey we are here." He slowly poked her shoulder. This woman was always tired despite not doing anything.


    Lyca opened her left eyes while keeping the other close. "I won''t wake up." She said and closed her eyes again.


    "Hey, your grandfather is waiting." He said. He knew she was already awake. "Wake up or I will leave you."


    "You are hopeless." She opened her eyes. "This is the part where you lower your head and kiss me" Shaking her head, Lyca added. " Tell me Qui''er. Did you have a girlfriend before?"


    He frowned at her question. "No. I never have the time." Unimpressed, Shen Qui''s lips thinned. "It''s not like you had a boyfriend before."


    "Oh?" It seems that Shen Qui had looked into her private files. She smiled, amusement shed in her eyes. She had been married and she was not innocent in her past life. She and that man did it before they even got married because they were so f*cking in love with each other. Just the thought of it, made her want to puke her guts out. Funny how her heart had been ripped apart by that man and yet it still managed to beat. Was that even possible? Lyca turned silent. She couldn''t help but wonder if this heart of hers would one day beat for someone again. She snorted at the thought.


    "Now that I thought about it we are both inexperienced in this kind of thing." She clicked her tongue as if the fact that they were inexperienced made her a little disappointed. Of course, Shen Qui just gave her a weird look. This woman is definitely weird. "Still, basic logic should make you kiss me so I should wake up."


    "That is an extremely twisted logic."


    "But you liked it, don''t you?" She reached out and stroke his neck. "You are blushing."


    Ignoring her, Shen Qui got out of the car and carried the huge guitar case. "I am leaving you." He needed to make a report and talking about her twisted logic is not the best way to spend his free time. Moreover, he needed to stay away from her or he won''t be able to stop himself from following her extremely bad logic. Shen Qui clenched his jaws, he could feel the hate that he had turned into attraction. After all, he was not naive. He could feel his body slowly react to her touch.


    However, he knew that Lyca was only teasing him. The absence of emotion in her eyes was like a wake-up call. She is not taking him seriously. Lyca seemed tooplicated for his simple mind to understand and he was not the type to involve himself in insincere emotions. He was not nning to get involved with someone emotionally unavable. Shen Qui''s parents were enough to prove that without love, a rtionship would never survive and would end up in a disaster.


    He started walking away and heard her got out of the car, following him. Despite all these self-realizations, Shen Qui still felt his body stiffened when he felt her closely following behind him. The attraction was too much for him to handle. However, he knew that Lyca only sees him as someone that she could use. Maybe even someone that she could throw away anytime.


    The sound of the elevator that would lead them towards the lower floors interrupted his stupor. He immediately walked inside with Lyca in tow. The long silence buzzed in his ears. He slowly eyed her and wondered what she was thinking. Why was she so silent? Sensing his gaze, Lyca turned her head towards him. She smiled a smile that didn''t reach her eyes.


    To his surprise, seeing her like this stung his chest. He immediately lowered his head, avoiding her eyes. What was that just now?


    ...


    Only 1 chapter for today. Please read my announcement on discord. Thank you and have a wonderful day ahead. Mass release: Monday.


    Question: Do you think an emotionally damaged person still have the chance to fall in love again? Or maybe even trust another person again?

 Chapter 62: Pulse

    Chapter 62: Pulse


    When the two arrived in the old man''s office, the tension between thempletely vanished. Lycazily sat on the chair across her grandfather and started telling him what happened. Lyca purposely told her father not to tell her grandfather any details before. She didn''t want to risk it.


    When the old man heard about the bullet, his eyes turned so wide, Lyca had to fight the urge tough. However, knowing her, Lyca only told the old man to talk to her father instead. She had more important things to attend to, like creating a form that was a stronger version of this bullet. She had been nning to sell it to the highest bidder to obtain some quick cash for thepany and to let those merchants know that the Huang Security was not something that they could offend.


    Of course, she told her grandfather not to tell her mother about this and to keep her identity a secret. After all, she was using the identity of the Tang Family as her cover.


    "Going home?" Shen Qui asked as the two left the Security Company. Lyca silently nodded, her mindpletely upied with her previous ns. After a few minutes, the two arrived home. Since Lyca only had five days, she needed toplete everything that she hoped to aplish while she was still out here.


    When Lyca arrived in her house, she immediately started working her ass off something that she wasn''t really nning on doing in this life. But she didn''t have a choice at the moment. Not when people were threatening to ruin her family, again. Fighting against Shen Qui a few days ago made her realize that she had been too naive in her initial assumptions about this world. So, she decided to at least work just a little more show more effort and work hard. Just the thought of it made Lyca sigh.


    Unknowingly, she had already spent hours inside her room.


    "Hey" his words were followed by a few knocks. "You left the door open." He was talking about the door of her smallboratory just inside her room. This wasn''t really aboratory but a ce where she wrote down all the forms, a ce filled with white boards and the smell of her coffee. He walked inside, his eyes roamed around, curiously staring at the numbers in front of him. "I''ve been trying to call your phone. It was switched off. So I knocked on your door, tried to call you but you didn''t answer. So I tried to open the door, surprisingly it was open. I went inside and saw that the lights were on inside your walk in closet." He exined.


    She responded with a smile. The fact that he was concerned about her thoughts was somewhat cute. "Why are you here?" She asked, turning her body towards his.


    "Oh!" For a few seconds, her eyes seemed to stop his brain from working. Seeing her tired eyes stare back at him, coupled with the fact that she was wearing another one of her thin white robes was enough to entice him. He gulped. Working with someone attractive was indeed a problem for someone inexperienced like him. It would have been better if Lyca was a little unattractive. Too bad, she wasn''t. But the fact that she was a mystery should have been enough to scare him away.


    He always used to joke around, telling his friends that it wouldn''t matter how pretty the packaging was. It was about the feelings, it should be about the emotions. And this woman never seemed to have emotions. At least not towards him. He sighed. What the hell was he thinking? "Dinner your father told me to call you down for dinner." He said after a long time of staring at her. "I told him that you were doing something so he asked me to bring the food to you instead." He avoided her gaze.


    Funny how he had been telling himself to stop being attracted and stay away but his body waspletely reacting the opposite way. That damn kiss. He cursed inwardly, ming himself for fighting her. If he hadn''t fought against her, that kiss wouldn''t have happened. Then he wouldn''t be having such weird thoughts around her.


    Lyca raised an eyebrow. She wondered if Shen Qui had shifted closer to her, she didn''t see him move. Was it just her imagination? She stifled a yawn. Maybe looking into forms made her imagine things. Closing her eyes, Lyca immediately smelled his woodsy aftershave. She gazed up to his eyes. She opened and closed her mouth, but no words emerged. Did she just forget what she was trying to say?


    Lost in her thoughts, Lyca didn''t know if she was the one who tiptoed or he was the one who lowered his head. All she knew was the fact that his breath was already on her face.She blinked as she saw the intensity that was starting to coat his orbs. She felt his hands touch her waist, moving into her lower back so he could pull her closer. Then another hand moved at the back of her head.


    She could have backed away. After all, she didn''t feel anything special for this man. She had been teasing him, enjoying the fact he always tried to hide his blush when she was around but she had no concrete feelings towards Shen Qui. He was an ally but she wouldn''t sacrifice herself to catch a bullet for him. She could have pushed him and cursed. Maybe even kick him in the crotch just for touching her.


    And yet she didn''t.


    Instead she leaned forward, pressing her mouth into his. This time, he didn''t freeze. He responded by holding her tightly against his body as he slowly moved, backing her against the wall. Eyes closed, Lyca clung into his hair as if afraid to let him go. She felt her breath hitch as it left her lungs, slowly he slipped his tongue inside her mouth, savoring her.


    The loud clink of one of her white board markers hitting the floor brought them back to their senses. He awkwardly took a step back and turned his head towards the form on the white board. "What''s this?" His words almost made Lycaugh out loud. Was he afraid of her? She couldn''t help but wonder.


    She willed her pulse back to its normal rate before she said, "I''m hungry. Let''s eat."


    "Eat-eat what?" Realizing the absurdity of his question, Shen Qui''s face reddened. "Oh! I am done eating. I will sleep." He said before walking out of her room without sparing her another nce.


    ....


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 Chapter 63: Pretense and Mockery

    Chapter 63: Pretense and Mockery


    Seeing his retreating back, Lyca could only shake her head helplessly before going out to eat her food. Sexual tension was of course natural for younger people like them. It wasn''t weird that their body would react that way. She too would not deny her desire but there was always the right time for something like that.


    Lyca ate her food before going back to her tasks. And just like that the days passed. Today, Long Yi and his Father Patriarch Long together with their elite security decided to visit the Huang Security. Under the pretense of exchanging knowledge, the Long Father and son smiled as the old man together with Huang Li Duo, Huang Sheng Hong and Huang Ying weed them.


    "Today, we brought some of our Elites so they can spar and learn from the Elites of reputable apany like the Huang Security." Everything about Long Yi''s father spelled politician. His harmless smile that resembled Long Yi''s, his precise and practiced elegant actions. Just one nce from the CCTV monitor and Lyca immediately knew that this man was cruel.


    She stared at the man who looked like he was only in his forties. The Long patriarch had the same ck slick hair as Long Yi. His eyes also resembled his son''s. Aside from this, their other physical features are different.


    "They want to fight." Shen Qui snorted as he dragged a chair next to her. The two started listening to the conversation inside the Old Man''s office. Of course, the Old Man approved and gave them ess to the CCTV without saying anything. Until now, the old man was still so happy because of the bullet that Lyca created. His opinion towards this granddaughter of his kept bing more and more favorable as the days passed.


    "Show off."


    "Yeah. Three of those people came from the Huang Security."


    "Oh?" Lyca raised an eyebrow. "Which one?"


    "The one with a crew cut and a scar on his left cheek. Second one is that person next to Long Yi. He was the third of our ss. And thest one is my senior. The one tallest one. I believe he is about six five or six six. He is known for his strength." He exined and pointed at the screen. "This one right here."


    Lyca pursed her lips. Loyalty indeed had its price. These people were trained under the banner of Huang Security and yet they looked at her grandfather as If they didn''t recognize him now. "Can you win against them?" She nced at him, purposely dragging her eyes towards his neck.


    "A month ago, I wouldn''t have the right strength to do that but now I am confident that I can." He clenched his jaw. He hated how these people valued benefits more than they valued the person who had trained them. At least now, he didn''t need to control his strength or worry that the injury in his chest would ache.


    Lyca nodded. Of course, his body should have felt the changes by now. After all, she used her internal energy to help him out every time she gave him the medicine. Lyca would send her internal energy into his body, guiding the medicine into his injury. However, Shen Qui was not aware of this. Knowing Shen Qui''s personality, if he knew that Lyca was using all of her internal energy to help him out, he would only feel guilty and might even stop her from treating him.


    Aside from the sleepiness, Lyca actually didn''t have any problems in helping him out. Making him strong would also benefit her as he was the one guarding her. Plus, this would help her circte her energy and replenish it everyday something that she never did since she came into this world.


    Just thinking about her slowly increasing strength because of healing him was enough to lift her mood up. Plus, since Shen Qui beat her, Lyca had been doing her meditations early in the morning as she faced the sun. She also slowly practiced her own set of soft martials arts, a martial art that didn''t exist in this world.


    "Then you fight them." She uttered as she stared at the three people on the screen. "They are here to show off, aren''t they?" She snorted. "Break a limb or two."


    A cruel smirk slithered on his face. "Then let''s do just that."


    ...


    "Unfortunately, all of our elites have assignments." Huang Sheng Hong answered.


    "Is that so?" Patriarch Long gave a disappointed sigh. "Too bad. I already invited some guests to watch the show today. I was trying to let them see the strength of the Long City." His words immediately made Old Man Huang frown.


    "You invited who?" He didn''t hide the displeasure in his eyes. Clearly, the Long Family wanted to use this opportunity to embarrass them. This Patriarch Long even dared to bring the people who transferred from hispany! These people were youngsters who had trained with the Huang Security. Just seeing them around was enough to make Old Man Huang boil in anger. These people.


    "The Xie and Liu Family of the Xie City as well as other prestigious families in our region. I Patriarch Huang please forgive me for not informing you in advance. I just... it was my mistake. I had this meeting with the Xie Family earlier this month and they mentioned how their family was getting stronger everyday. So out of nowhere I I just told them that we would show them the strength of Long City." His voice was extremely regretful and fake. Patriarch Long used the most nonsense reasons he coulde up with to make himself sound righteous.


    Patriarch Long continued. "How can I let those people think that the Long City is weak?" He dramatically clenched his jaws, his fist tightened as his knuckles turned white. Seeing the man like this would be enough to evoke the emotions of other people in Long City.


    But everyone in this room knew that this was nothing but a facade full of pretense and mockery.


    "But Patriarch Huang I think it is only right that we show them the strength of the Long City. These families think that they can just bully us!" Patriarch Long uttered.


    "Patriarch Long with all due respect inviting them here without our permission is extremely disrespectful." Huang Shen Hong said. He could feel the anger from his father so he decided to take over. He looked at Patriarch Long. "If you really want "


    "Actually father" Lyca''s voice interrupted him. "Shen Qui can fight." Lyca said.


    .....


    Pls don''t forget to vote.

 Chapter 64: Strength

    Chapter 64: Strength


    "Ah this must be Miss Lyca Huang?" Patriarch Long couldn''t help but beam at the sight of the woman wearing ck leather pants and a white tank top. Her long white hair was tied behind her back in a simple ponytail, not an ounce of make up could be seen on the woman''s face. He nodded in approval. Completely casual yet still beautiful. It seems that his initial thoughts to offer an engagement was the right choice after all. He immediately stood and held his hands towards Lyca.


    "Patriarch Long this is indeed my daughter." Huang Sheng Hong was the one who epted Patriarch Long''s hand, shaking it and letting go just before the patriarch could react. What did that action mean?


    Seeing her father act like this, only made Lyca smile. She didn''t miss the way her father would re at Shen Qui every time they were together or how his expression changed every time Lyca would talk about Shen Qui. Of course, this was quite understandable. Huang Sheng Hong watched his daughter grow up before his very eyes. Seeing her grow her wings like this was creating some tension inside her father''s heart.


    The fact that someone thought of her like this made her smile, it sent a warm feeling inside her chest. "Mr. Long" Lyca didn''t spare Long Yi a nce. "I am Lyca Huang I am very pleased to meet you." She eyed the surprise in Huang Li Duo and Huang Ying''s face. After all, she was finally talking like a normal being this time. Lyca continued. "Since Mr. Long already invited other people to watch as we showcase our strength, why don''t we let Shen Qui fight those three people? Not at the same time of course." She beamed.


    Her direct words made Patriarch long raise an eyebrow. Shen Qui, was not even as strong as the other one named Li Xian. However, that Li Xian was inside the university right now. He intentionally created this challenge to avoid Li Xianing in here. Meaning, his victory was already assured.


    In his eyes, the people inside the Huang Security were nothing but a stepping stone to his dream to unite the whole Shun Region! He even specifically invited the leaders of the other cities in the region just to let them know his intention of bing the leader of the whole region. "You want one man to fight three of my men?" He asked, unsure if he heard her words correctly. Was this little woman underestimating them?


    "Yes. Three minutes per fight. Three minutes break. The rules are simple. The one who surrenders first, will lose."


    "Lyca" Old Man Huang couldn''t help but speak up. He knew that Shen Qui was weaker than Li Xian however, he was still considered a top fighter. When fighting one of the three people who transfered to the Long Company, Shen Qui might have a chance of winning. But fighting against three was a difficult feat.


    What was Lyca nning? Huang Li Duo couldn''t help but look at his younger brother Huang Sheng Hong. Lyca''s father didn''t show any tinge of worry or sign that he will stop her.


    "Younger brother Sheng Hong" Huang Li Duo uttered. He might be arrogant and hated this niece of his but Huang Li Duo was a member of the Huang Family through and through. He would not want to embarrass his own family members in front of so many people. "What is she doing?" he gritted his teeth.


    "Brother are you worried about my daughter?" A hint of amusementced Huang Sheng Hong''s voice.


    "I am worried about Shen Qui! Idiot!" Huang Li Duo hissed. "Shen Qui is one of our Elites! What do you think will happen if he gets injured."


    "Since Shen Qui volunteered then it only means that he is confident in his skills." Huang Ying chimed in, elegantly sipping her tea while staring at Lyca''s proud appearance. Of course, she didn''t care if Shen Qui lost or got injured. He was just another pawn in her game. After all, she was already considered a member of the Zhang Family who was an ally of the Long Family and someone from the Huang Family. Meaning, whoever imed victory today would be inconsequential for her. After all, she would be the one who would benefit the most.


    "Are you trying to underestimate my people youngdy?" Patriarch Long uttered. He didn''t hide the hint of anger in his voice. "Shen Qui cannot fight all of them." He said. If he let Shen Qui fight the three of them, winning the fight wouldn''t even showcase the skills that his people have. It would defeat the purpose of showing off!


    "Patriarch Long is talking about strength and refuses to let the Huang Family showcase their own strength. I was thinking that Patriarch Long was doing this for the whole Long City." She smirked, her voice was loud enough for everyone to hear. "It seems that Patriarch Long was doing this for his own Long family."


    "You" The woman''s sharp tongue surprised him. He wasn''t aware that speaking directly was Lyca''s way of closing the deal, finishing the conversation in the shortest way possible so she could eat and rest.


    The sound of the inte ringing inside the Old Man''s office interrupted his words. Old Man Huang''s secretary immediately answered the phone and looked at them. "The people from the Dong Family, Xie and Liu Family just arrived. Are we going to let them in?" The Secretary respectfully asked.


    "Oh! It seems that they are finally here." Lyca said. "Shen Qui change your clothes. It is time to fight." Lyca sent a provoking nce at Patriarch Long. This man wanted to use them as a stepping stone? Too bad she had a hobby of turning situations around, making them benefit her instead.


    She smirked and turned towards the Secretary. "Let them in. Prepare the fighting ring on the second floor as well as refreshments. And oh give me some grapes, the seedless ones." She turned his attention back to the Patriarch. "Patriarch Long lets see each other on the second floor. No matter who the winner is, I am sure that the other leaders from the other city will see the strength of the Long City." Finally she looked at the three people sitting next to Long Yi. "Goodluck."


    ######


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 Chapter 65: Pervert

    Chapter 65: Pervert


    Without waiting for anyone to react, Lyca walked out the room with Shen Qui. She followed him towards the dormitories that were supposed to be for the elites. Walking inside Shen Qui''s room, Lyca immediately noticed the woodsy smell that made her smile. A small double bed was on the wall. Opposite the bed was a table with a ckmp, and next to the table was his closet.


    She sat on his bed, bouncing, making it squeak. "This is hard." She uttered.


    Shen Qui gave her a stern gaze. "I will change."


    "So? It''s not like I haven''t seen you naked before." Rolling her eyes, Lycaid on the bed, her arms sprawled across the sheets.


    "If your fatheres to know that you were inside my room while I changed my clothes he will kill me."


    "Don''t worry. I will protect you."


    "" So reassuring. Shen Qui shook his head and started undressing. He couldn''t help but wonder if she would one day take him seriously. He took off his shirt, leaving his pants that hung on his hips; low enough to tease her imagination. Of course, Shen Qui wasn''t even thinking about that right now.


    When he saw those people visit, his mood had been a little bad. Those people knew him and trained with him. However, now, they were standing against the Huangpany by joining hands with the Long''s. Those people had tried to ask him to join them before but Shen Qui politely declined. He valued loyalty, he valued promises. Moreover, he was really grateful for the old man for helping him and his uncle out all those years ago.


    "Come here." Lyca said just as he finished taking off his pants. He turned towards her.


    "Stop being a pervert." Unable to stop himself, Shen Qui uttered. He wasn''t sure if he was saying those words for Lyca or for him. After all, they were inside in HIS room. Just the two of them, with him almost naked, while she was lying on the bed.


    "I was going to help you dummy." Rolling her eyes, Lyca sat back up and stared at him. Seeing this, Shen Qui walked and stood in front of her.


    "In another two weeks you will bepletely healed. By then you can start to develop your other energy points."


    "I can?" He felt her touch his stomach, stroking it softly. Making him frown. Was she trying to help him or just being a pervert again? However, he chose not to say anything.


    "Yes. You can spar with me while I teach you the right meditation methods to open the energy point in your forehead. We should be good." She nodded while sending her energy towards her. After this, she would once again feel extremely tired and might even fall asleep during the fight.


    Shen Qui nodded and epted the tablet that she gave him, shoving it in his mouth and waited for it to show its effects. "The medicine"


    "Not many people can make it." Lyca lied. Of course, there were people who could make it but not all of them could use internal energy to help fortify Shen Qui''s body. "Alright. I''m done." She motioned for him to take a step back as she went back to his bed, shamelessly snuggling under the covers.


    "You are not nning to sleep, right?"


    Lyca yawned. "I am. Don''t worry. I know you will win." She winked at him while making herselffortable.


    "You"


    "Give me thirty minutes to take a short nap. Then wake me up."


    "You are nning to let them wait for thirty minutes?" Shen Qui watched as Lyca''s face turned rxed. Slowly, Shen Qui lowered himself in front of her as he tried to poke her face. "Hey!" Did she fall asleep just like that? Frowning, Shen Qui eyed her soft and even breathing. Falling asleep in front of a man that she barely even knew. Shaking her head, Shen Qui decided to sit on the bed to wait instead.


    He really couldn''t do anything about this woman''s sleeping habits. Of course, it didn''t ur to him that her energy had been drained as he was not really familiar about the things that internal energy could do. When his uncle taught him the meditation method that he learned, he never told him about anything else and just told him about its special properties the ability to have absolute control of his body. His only purpose in learning it was for his injury.


    After thirty minutes, Shen Qui immediately woke Lyca up.


    ..


    It had been thirty minutes since Lyca and Shen Qui left the office and by now, everyone was already inside the second floor, where the Octagon was located. With its structure made of metal walls and chain like fence, this resembled the Octagon where professional fighters in the mixed martial artspetition fought.


    "Where is Lyca?" Huang Li Duo couldn''t help but tense as he looked at the people who leisurely sat on the seats surrounding the octagon fighting ring. These were representatives of mayors and prominent families in the Shun Region. Some of these people were in the military while some were businessmen.


    "Stop worrying about my daughter." Huang Sheng Hong said, his eyes would dart towards Long Yi then towards the twenty other people inside the second floor. He too was not expecting that the despicable Patriarch Long would actually do something like this. That man really wanted to embarrass his Huang Family.


    "Do you think she she realized that she made a mistake and"


    "Stop it... Li Duo." Huang Ying joined in the conversation. "If Lyca doesn''te here she would not only embarrass her father but also the whole Huang Family." She continued smiling.


    "Hmp! Why are you even here? Why don''t you sit next to your husband and the Zhang Family?" Huang Li Duo certainly hated this older sister of his. After knowing that the Zhang Family were already in bed with the Long Family, Huang Li Duo''s hate for her only intensified. How could Huang Ying abandon their family at times like this? Originally, he had Huang Ying''s back in scheming against Lyca. However, her tant favoritism towards the Long Family made him rage.


    Still, Huang Li Duo couldn''t do something about this anger as his father told him not to hurt his elder sister.


    "Li Duo you spoke as if I am no longer a part of your family. Are you still upset that I was the one who suggested to our father about the Lyca and Long Yi''s engagement? Do you want me to change it to your daughter instead?"


    ....


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 Chapter 66: Is This It?

    Chapter 66: Is This It?


    Their discussion was interrupted when Lyca strode inside with Shen Qui. Both dressed in ck, face stern. "Miss Lyca Huang" A man with a huge bulging stomach greeted, his voice reminding her of a eunuch. Lyca just looked at the people sitting in luxurious leather chairs, wine in their hands as theyughed and talked. Her entrance had interrupted all of their conversations.


    Seeing the look in Lyca''s eyes, her grandfather didn''t tarry and approached her. "Are you sure about this?"


    "Hmmm." She nodded. "Please tell them to start as soon as they can." She walked next to her father, sitting calmly as if she didn''t let these people wait for thirty minutes. Lyca didn''t bother to apologize or had any interest in talking to anyone here.


    She was tired. No scratch that, tired was an understatement. She badly needed her bed, she needed to sleep and wake up the next day. Alright maybe she needed her food first. She nced at the coffee table in front of them and grabbed the peeled grapes. Ignoring everyone else''s gaze, Lyca started eating.


    "Alright since Miss Lyca is finally here. We should start?" Patriarch Long was not happy nor excited about thispetition. But what could he do about it? Old Man Huang insisted on trusting his granddaughter. He could only grit his teeth in anger. He was sure that everyone here knew what his real goal was. Despite knowing this, Lyca still managed to find a loophole and used his righteous words against him.


    This made him extremely irritated. However, since he was afraid of losing face, Patriarch Huang was forced to agree to her arrangements. One versus three. He hated this idea.


    This would not let him show off the ability of his people and will not entice the guests to invest in his securitypany. If that happens Patriarch Long hid the malicious glint in his eyes as he stared at Lyca. Smiling, he continued. "The rules are simple. We will follow what Miss Huang said. There will be three rounds. Three minutes per round, followed by three minutes of rest. The first one who surrenders will win."


    Lyca nodded as she ate her grapes.


    "Alright first one is Chuck. Twenty three" This time Long Yi spoke as he started giving them Chuck''s background and aplishments. "ck belt in judo and karate, a sharpshooter, an expert as amando" He eyed every potential investor before he finally looked at Lyca. The woman appeared calm and rxed as she continued eating. She didn''t even spare him a nce and treated as if she hadn''t met him before.


    Slowly his gazended towards the good looking man standing beside Lyca. Shen Qui. Was it because of this man? Long Yi couldn''t help but wonder if Lyca would finally look at him once this Shen Qui died. "Since we cannot predict what will happen inside the ring, every fighter can do whatever they want." He gave a meaningful gaze at Chuck. If he could kill this Shen Qui then that would be better. Either way, they needed to get rid of this man.


    Chuck''s lips thinned. He stood, eyeing Shen Qui that was still standing beside Lyca. There was a reason why he switchedpanies and that was because of the high tech training that they had. "How about weapons?" He asked Long Yi.


    Long Yi shrugged and looked at Lyca, asking her thoughts about the matter.


    "Up to you." Still Lyca didn''t bother looking at him. This made Long Yi extremely infuriated. He had nned this to embarrass the Huang Family. Then they could publicly dere that the Long Family would protect the Huang''s and to seal this promise, Long Yi would marry Lyca.


    This was an borate n that his father had schemed. However, this woman was just really hateful. He couldn''t help but start to wonder if he was not good looking enough in her eyes. Again, he med the good lookingmoner behind Lyca. This was not jealousy. This was hatred something that screamed at him to kill Shen Qui before Lyca would develop any emotions towards this man.


    "Then since Miss Lyca has no problems with weapons then you can choose whatever you like." He immediately signaled Chuck to get his weapon. "As long as it isn''t a gun then it should be fine." Long Yi gave a look of ridicule to Shen Qui. Chuck was known for his expertise in daggers. With his quick reflexes and the training that the Huang Family had provided, Chuck''s potential was already awakened.


    Lycazily tilted her head and looked at Chuck who removed two daggers from his boots. It seems that their enemy hade prepared. She smiled and snapped her finger, "Sister Yi''an." She called out. In a few seconds, Yi''an who was wearing an all ck suit strode inside the room as she dragged a heavy suitcase behind her. Thirty minutes ago, Lyca had already told her to bring her weapons to Huang Security.


    Beaming, Lyca tugged Shen Qui''s pinky finger. "Choose the whip." She said.


    "What is that?" Patriarch Long asked when he saw the woman start to open therge suitcase in front of Lyca. "Weapons?"


    "Oh Personal collection." Lyca was nning to take advantage of this opportunity to introduce to these people the things that the Huang Family could do. After all, she was nning to snatch all these investors from the Long Father and son duo. She started smiling, "Made by my Huang Family."


    Everyone just nodded and waited for Shen Qui to pick his weapon of choice. Under everyone''s gaze, Shen Qui picked a peculiar looking whip with a lot of thorn-like spikes. Just the mere presence of the whip was enough to intimidate someone.


    Surprisingly, Lyca stood when she saw Shen Qui finished picking up the weapon. "You already saw this, yes?" She uttered. These were the weapons that she had in her training room. He nodded in response.


    "Then you should know that every spike isced with poison." Lyca said in a soft voice as she touched the whip in his hands. "Don''t let it hit you. Make sure to cripple your enemy." Since her voice was low, not even Huang Sheng Hong could hear her words. Lyca''s father could only frown as he looked at his daughter standing in front of Shen Qui, talking to him as if they were extremely close.


    Is this it? He couldn''t help but ask himself. Will his daughter marry this man now? Will she move to her own house and create her little family? Huang Sheng Hong lowered his gaze. Should he prepare a wedding suit now? Surely, he wouldn''t want to look ugly at his own daughter''s wedding, right?


    .....


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 Chapter 67: Limp

    Chapter 67: Limp


    "Hmph! Your daughter is really" Huang Li Duo''s face darkened. "Seeing Lyca stroke Shen Qui''s hand in front of Young Master Long"


    "If you like that Long Yi so much then why not make your daughter marry him?" Huang Sheng Hong said. He hated how this Huang Li Duo acted like Long Yi was already his daughter''s fiance! First and foremost, Huang Sheng Hong was not nning to involve himself in his daughter''s marriage.


    True, he was protective and feared that someone would hurt his princess but he couldn''t put her in a cage forever. Moreover, he couldn''t just stand by and watch as his daughter married someone she doesn''t like either. And Huang Sheng Hong was smart enough to know that Lyca would never like this Long Yi. Ever!


    "Alright! Let''s start!" Long Yi''s voice echoed. Watching Lyca act oblivious was really making him irritated, he already made a mental note to make this Shen Qui suffer soon. SOON!


    The two immediately went inside the cage-like ring.


    "Let''s not waste anymore time." Long Yi uttered as Lyca went back to eating her grapes. "Start!" Long Yi said while pressing the timer.


    When Shen Qui heard Long Yi''s words, he immediately turned alert, his body had be more agile and light. Coupled with his training, he was extremely confident that he could win against this traitor. He held the whip before his feet sprang towards Chuck an action that surprised Chuck. After all, he was holding a dagger while Shen Qui was using a whip. Coming closer would be disadvantageous for Shen Qui.


    "Foo!" He spat, his hands tight around his dagger. Lashing out the dagger, his feet were already taking a step forward. His n was simple. Exhaust Shen Qui''s energy by making him defend himself. However, Shen Qui''s agility surprised him. He missed? No Shen Qui was no longer in front of him!


    Before he could even turn around, Shen Qui''s strong arms had already grabbed him in a forearm lock around his throat. Shen Qui had a choke hold on him. However, Chuck soon recovered and tried to elbow the man, doing a maneuver that was supposed to make Shen Qui let him go.


    Sadly, Shen Qui had anticipated such actions. He snorted and held Chuck''s body tightened until both of them hit the floor, making Chuck struggle in breathing. However, Shen Qui used this opportunity to wrap his legs around the man''s waist. As he slowly used his whip, and cut Chuck''s arm and neck.


    "This is full of poison." He said.


    Chuck''s eyes went so wide as he felt his arms slowly lose its strength, turning limp. He opened his mouth to say something but even his throat started to go numb. What was happening? Seeing this, Shen Qui gave an evil smirk and changed the choke hold into a shoulder lock. After all, performing an arm lock or shoulder lock against someone who can''t move is easier. Moreover, since they were already on the floor, not many people would notice that Chuck had already lost the ability to move his arms.


    Shen Qui met Chuck''s wide eyes. If the man would tap three times, then Shen Qui won''t have a choice but to let go as that was a sign of surrender. Too bad


    With Chuck''s paralyzed arms, he had no way of tapping.


    *CRACK*


    Shen Qui''s cold eyes coupled with the evil smirk in his face was thest thing that Chuck saw before he lost his consciousness.


    Silence followed.


    "You What did you do?" It was one of the men that apanied the Long Father and Son.


    Shen Qui''s face turned stern as he slowly stood. The fight didn''t evenst a minute. He immediately let the medical team inside the ring as he stood up, his hand on the whip while his eyes met Lyca''s. Seeing Lyca beam at him, giving him a thumbs up, the sternness in his face disappeared for a few seconds.


    "He didn''t tap." Shen Qui shrugged as the Long Father and Son along with Old Man Huang walked inside the ring.


    "Broken shoulders. He should be fine." The doctor said as he instructed his people to bring a stretcher so they could carry him out of the ring. Everyone turned their eyes towards Shen Qui. Everything happened so quickly that they didn''t notice anything wrong with his words.


    "Ladies and gentlemen" This time it was Huang Sheng Hong who spoke. He stood and looked at everyone. "Shen Qui already tried his best not to hit his opponent knowing that the whip wasced with paralyzing poison. However, in the middle of a real fight, people will always make mistakes. On behalf of our Huang Security. I would like to apologize to everyone for finishing the fight in less than a minute." His tone was extremely sincere as he gave a slight bow.


    "A poison?" As expected, a man raised an eyebrow.


    "Yes, Mr. Tang all of our weapons areced with paralyzing poison. One cut and it could paralyze an arm or a leg." Huang Sheng Hong said all the words that Lyca told him to say. After all, this was all his daughter''s ns.


    "And you guys make these weapons?"


    "Yes, Mr. Li we make weapons like this."


    "Impressive." These people were businessmen. Of course, they immediately saw the future profits of these weapons. This immediately made the Long Father and Son frown. This is supposed to be their show! They wanted to showcase the difference in strength between the Huang Security and their own Long Family Security Company! How did it be the Huang Family showing off their weapons?


    "If your weapons wereced with poison then" one man chimed in. "Oh! Is that why the Huang Security just sent out one man to fight against three people?" the man immediately turned excited.


    "Yes, sir." Huang Sheng Hong forced out a smile on his face. "In real life and death situations, there are no rules. It is either you survive or you die. This is why our Huang Family tends to focus on practicality and survival rather than showcasing one''s ability aesthetically. Thus, we create special weapons like this."


    ....


    Thank you for your support. Please continue voting.

 Chapter 68: Highschool Lovers

    Chapter 68: Highschool Lovers


    Patriarch Long''s face turned ugly when he saw everyone''s enthusiastic attitude about these poisons. "Alright since it is already like this. We should continue with the fight." He uttered. He couldn''t ept such defeat. No! He would never let these people defeat him! "You Go!" He pointed at the one who studied with Shen Qui.


    The man stood and immediately revealed a long-ded knife as his weapon; It was a machete.


    Lyca couldn''t help but lift an eyebrow. It seems that they are nning to take Shen Qui seriously now. However, shepletely trusted Shen Qui when ites to fighting.


    "Jun is an expert with knives. Huge ones. He is very good at targeting using his small knives and uses a machete as his weapon during missions. Because of this people know him now as Jun Machete. It was an alias given by his friends because of his unique fighting style." Long Yi introduced the man.


    "Since your weapons have poisons wouldn''t it be fair if youced our weapons with poisons too? Or at least use a different weapon without one?" the man spoke. After all, he and Shen Qui trained together and came from the same batch. He honestly would not want one of them to get hurt.


    "Jun that''s enough." Long Yi said. "When ites to fighting there is really no such a word as fairness." Plus, doing that would damage their reputation.


    The man named Jun clenched his jaw before he entered the ring without saying anything.


    This time Shen Qui chose a sword. The fight immediately started and just like before, Shen Qui''s agile movement surprised Jun. He tried to avoid the sword in Shen Qui''s hand as he was aware that it wasced with poison. One cut is enough to decide the winner. Clenching his jaws, Jun tried to fight back, brandishing his huge machete towards Shen Qui.


    It was futile.


    In a minute, Shen Qui was able to sh his back. It wasn''t a shallow cut. Coupled with the poison, Jun struggled to maintain standing before he shouted. "I surrender."


    Another cheer and waves ofughter echoed outside of the ring. Isn''t this brilliant? A poison capable of paralyzing someone in a matter of seconds? The conversation immediately turned towards the potential of this paralyzing poison. Will it give other effects other than paralysis? How are we going to cure this paralysis once we get cut with this weapon? Everyone excitedly asked Huang Sheng Hong questions about this weapon and the Huang Family''s ns in manufacturing them. They seemed to forget that they were originally here because Patriarch Long invited them.


    Of course, in the eyes of these people, benefits are more important than any shallow friendships. It was the profits, it was the money. It was the potential of Huang Security.


    "Really? This is a newly developed technology?" Mr. Tang smiled. As someone from the northern part of Shun regions, he came here wanting to know if the Long Family was worth his investments. He actually found a treasure instead. "What materials did you use in making these swords?"


    "Spring steel." As someone who watched his daughter created drawings of different kinds of weird weapons, Huang Sheng Hong was already so familiar with making these things.


    "Isn''t that the newly created type of metal?" one of the people asked. "But it was too hard to make, no?"


    "Hard but very durable. Moreover, if it is tempered perfectly, it would be able to resist shock. Plus it is cheap." Huang Sheng Hong answered. He eyed his daughter who was still eating her grapes, her eyelids were half open as if she will fall asleep anytime now.


    "Ah! Mr. Huang we are extremely interested in this project! Why don''t we postpone the rest of the fight and talk about this great project instead?" Mr. Smith uttered, smiling. "As someone from abroad, it would be nice for me to bring these beautiful poisonous weapons and sell it to my home country!"


    When Huang Sheng Hong heard this, he immediately looked at his father. Seeing Old Man Huang beamed with happiness, Huang Sheng Hong immediately motioned Shen Qui to bring Lyca somewhere to sleep. Shen Qui immediately put the weapons back as he nodded.


    "Hey, let''s go." He said. Without saying anything, Lyca nodded. She was exhausted. She was about to ask him to carry her when she remembered her father was still standing next to her. A wry smile escaped her lips as she met Shen Qui''s eyes. As if understanding her thoughts, Shen Qui frowned and eyed Lyca''s father.


    Seeing this, Lyca smiled. For some reason, this reminded her of one TV series that she watched about highschool lovers around their strict parents. Lyca stifled a yawn and followed Shen Qui out of the room. "I want to sleep."


    "I know." He answered. However, he stopped walking when he felt Lyca tugging his elbow.


    "You''re wounded?" She was talking about the small cut on his arm.


    "It''s nothing." Surely, a small cut wasn''t enough to kill him.


    "Oh." She was honestly toozy to argue. "Your room."


    "What?"


    "I''m going to your room." She walked towards the elevator.


    "No that is not going to happen!"


    "Heh." Lyca just smiled. Can he really stop her? Without saying anything, Lyca marched towards the dormitory and walked inside Shen Qui''s room, falling into his bed. "Get your first aid. I will treat that cut." She looked at him.


    "It''s nothing." However, the intensity in her eyes was enough toply without saying anything. After he got his first aid kit from his bathroom, he immediately gave it to her.


    "Remove your shirt." She met his eyes. Shen Qui nodded. He removed his shirt and sat next to her. Ignoring his gaze, Lyca started cleaning his wounds. Seeing her serious expression immediately made him wonder what she was thinking while holding the sters. He dragged his gaze towards the plumpness of her lips while reminding himself not to engage,


    He was too engrossed in his own thoughts that he didn''t notice Lyca was already looking at him through hershes.


    ....


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    ...


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 Chapter 69: Nightmare

    Chapter 69: Nightmare


    When he realised that she had been staring, Shen Qui shifted his gaze away, avoiding to meet hers. What was she doing? He couldn''t help but wonder.


    "Qui''er if you keep on acting like a cute little boy around me. I will keep on treating you like a little boy."


    His jaws clenched at her words. He dragged his gaze towards her, meeting her eyes. "What do you want?"


    "You." Her lips turned upwards.


    He returned her gaze but said nothing. He continued staring as if itching her face into his brain. "I''m done." He eyed his bandaged arm and stood up. His mind was telling him to leave, or he won''t be able to withstand the temptation. He was about to say something and go, but he noticed her already lying on the bed, fast asleep. Frowning, Shen Qui immediately knew that something was wrong.


    This was the second time that she slept like this in front of him. He knew Lyca was not like this. He checked her pulse but immediately realised nothing was wrong. Shen Qui didn''t remember her do anything strenuous earlier. Why would she be this tired? Shen Qui sat next to her and checked her temperature. She didn''t have any fever either. Confused, Shen Qui decided to stay next to her until she wakes up, maybe even asked her what the hell was going on with her body.


    If Lyca wanted a partnership, the least she could do is tell him if she was experiencing some sort of sickness. He stared at her sleeping frame, wondering if she would say to him a single thing once she wakes up. This woman seemed to hate exnations a lot. She would rather have people misunderstood her than exin why she did what she did.


    Slowly, seconds turned minutes and minutes into hours. Shen Qui started to feel a little thirsty. However, when he was about to stand and leave the bed, Lyca''s hand snaked towards his wrist, gripping it hard.


    "How dare you." She whispered. He was stunned to see her eyes open.


    "Lyca?"


    "I will not forgive." Angerced her voice. Shen Qui immediately knew something was wrong. Her voice was too different. He had never heard her this angry before.


    "Lyca?" He sat back down, his free hand cupped her face. "Are you alright?"


    Suddenly, her hands pushed him away. "I will kill you."


    "Hey!" The creased in his forehead deepened as he caught her hands and pinned them lightly on the bed. "Look at me." He knew Lyca wasn''t seeing him. "Hey!" She is having a nightmare. But why does her voice sound so real? "Lyca? Look at me?" She didn''t. Instead, she started to struggle as she closed her eyes.


    How often did this happen? He couldn''t help but wonder. Worryced his orbs. "Hey you''re safe." His voice was soft, gentle even. He hoped it was enough to calm her down. "Lyca?" This is breaking him.


    "Let me go." She whimpered. Tears fell from her eyes.


    "Lyca!" A low growl of frustration apanied his words. What was happening? "HeyIt''s me. Calm down." He stared at her pale face, curious at the kind of thing that would make her cry, and make her angry. Seeing her continue to struggle under his arms, Shen Qui did, the only thing that he could to try and wake her up he kissed her.


    Her lips were soft against his. He felt her stiffen for a few seconds. He immediately wondered if she would push him away, perhaps curse at him for taking advantage of her while she was sleeping. Yet, she didn''t. For a few seconds, her lips parted in surprise. The kiss must have been enough to wake her up.


    Instead of pushing him away, Lyca did the only thing that he never expected to happen she kissed him back.


    When he let her wrist go, her hands immediately folded around his neck, Lyca parted her lips, giving him silent permission to slid his tongue into her mouth. The desire within him surged.


    Lyca was kissing him back. This was not the usual kiss that she gave him. No this was different. Shen Qui struggled to control his emotions as his pulse raced, his heart hammered against his chest. He wanted more.


    He wanted more of her.


    Unable to contain himself, Shen Qui''s hands started exploring her curves as his lips trailed kisses down her neck. He wanted her out of the tank top that she''s wearing, he wanted to caress her skin.


    "Shen Qui?" Her voice woke him up from the intensity of his own emotions. He froze and jumped out of bed.


    "I I''m sorry." Regret surged inside him. How could he take advantage of a woman like that? Shen Qui immediately turned his head away. "You were having a nightmare.. I I will leave for a while." Clenching his jaws, Shen Qui didn''t wait for her to say anything as he left the room. He shouldn''t have stayed, he thought.


    ...


    Please don''t forget to vote.

 Chapter 70: Danger

    Chapter 70: Danger


    Lyca took a long time to process everything. Lying back on the bed, she calmed her breathing as she balled her hands into tight fists. She needed to forget. Staring at the white ceiling, she recalled her nightmare just now. She bit her swollen lips. This was not the first time that she had nightmares about her past. Over and over, those faces would appear in her dreams. The screaming. The massacre. The betrayal. That smile of the traitor. And herst breath in his arms.


    This time, however, the dream looked too real, too intense. She wasn''t able to control herself. Her grief and anger boiled like hotva inside her. Lyca continued staring at the ceiling as memories of her past life swirled on her head. Vivid images of the arrow impaling her parents. Clear shouts of panic. The anguish, the helplessness and hopelessness. Everything was too clear, she could feel raw sadness throbbing inside her.


    A dry mockingughter escaped her lips. Sinceing into this world, she has tried running away from those memories. Every time they came, she would push them out of her head and pep-talked herself into pretending it never happened. That it was over. Still, the pain was there. The undeniable scar and fear of losing her loved ones again.


    She let out a loud sigh as she recalled Shen Qui''s lips against hers. Her hand touched her lower lip. Closing her eyes, she recalled his hoarse voice, his eyes that were filled with regret. This kind of misunderstanding often happened in those TV series that she loved to watch. The man would start to think that the female lead hated him. While the female lead would pout in the corner waiting for him to approach her again.


    And just like that, this misunderstanding would only grow bigger until an ident happened and both would realize that they actually loved each other for a long time now. Such an overused plot. She snorted and immediately decided to tell him that she was not angry the next time she saw him.


    That was a fact.


    Lyca wasn''t angry that he kissed her to wake her up. Or that he wasn''t able to withstand the temptation in front of him. In fact, she liked it. She liked his kisses, his touch.


    The loud sound that came from her phone interrupted her thoughts. She immediately opened the text message from Shen Qui.


    [Your father is looking for you. I am going to see Li Xian. Don''t wait for me.]


    "How thoughtful." She smiled and sat on her bed. After fixing herself, Lyca went out and walked towards Old Man Huang''s office. She had slept for more than two hours. She wondered if those people are already done talking by now.


    Just as Lyca expected, the guests already left upon arriving in the old man''s office.


    "I am d that you are already here." Old Man Huang immediately started beaming. "Ah! Lyca I was not expecting Shen Qui to actually beat them Hahahaha" his loudughter echoed. The obvious glee shone on the old man''s face, his eyes sparkling at his granddaughter as he rose from his seat and pulled her for an awkward hug.


    "Heh father Lyca is not used to seeing you like this." Seeing the wry smile on Lyca''s face, her father, Huang Sheng Hong immediately rescued her. "We should all calm down. " He pulled his daughter towards the empty chair. "You must be wondering what happened?"


    She nodded in response, her eyes on the Old Man''s wooden table, hoping to find something she could eat while talking. As if sensing her thoughts, Old Man Huang gave her some nuts. Lyca only smiled and looked at her father, waiting for him to exin everything.


    "Alright where should we start?" Huang Sheng Hong said. "We are going to sign a deal next week for the weapons. Many wanted to know the form for the paralysing poison. Of course, we refused to give them anything."


    "And the Longs?" Lyca knew that her n was wless. All she wanted to know was the Long Father and Son''s reaction.


    "What can they do about it?" Old Man Huang answered. "They came here to try and embarrass us. They wanted those people to invest in their securitypany. Instead, they invested in ourpany. I am sure that Patriarch Long must have been so angry right now."


    "And the marriage alliance?" she raised an eyebrow.


    "What marriage alliance?" Huang Sheng Hong beamed. "Are they really going to offer a marriage alliance after what happened?" He lifted his chin proudly.


    "Then that is good." Lyca said.


    "But you and Shen Qui have to be careful from now on. The Long Founding School of Elite was founded by one of the Long Family''s ancestors back then. Meaning, their influence in that ce was enormous. If you want I will withdraw your  "


    "It''s fine." Lyca smiled.


    "Then, that is good." Old Man Huang nodded in approval. Their conversation was interrupted when someone knocked and walked inside the office.


    Seeing that it was Huang Li Duo and his daughter Huang Xiaoxuan, the old man immediately motioned them to sit. He called them to talk about important stuff about the future of Huang Security right now.


    Lyca only nced at Huang Xiaoxuan before fixing his gaze towards her uncle. Based on the conversation that she overheard, Huang Li Duo was against his daughter''s n on killing Lyca. Then he thought about Huang Sheng Hong''s words about Huang Li Duo being loyal to the Huang Family.


    By now, Huang Li Duo should be aware of Lyca''s capabilities. Meaning, he knew that with Lyca''s help, the Huang Family would soon flourish. She couldn''t help but wonder if Huang Li Duo would act cordially towards her now.


    "Alright. Huang Xiaoxuan, Lyca you two go outside first while I talk to your fathers. I will call for youter."


    Lyca nodded and left without saying anything. Seeing this, Huang Xiaoxuan followed her out of the office.


    "Surprisingly, your dog is not with you." Huang Xiaoxuan''s words reached her ears. "Did you leave him somewhere?" She snickered.


    Lyca only lifted an eyebrow. Does this mean that Huang Xiaoxuan was still oblivious about what happened earlier? Was it possible that her father didn''t say anything to her? "Well I was not surprised that Li Xian is not with you today." She knew that Huang Xiaoxuan was too prideful to have a bodyguard around. In her eyes, she doesn''t need someone to guard her all the time.


    "Li Xian is still in school. I didn''t allow him toe with me. Unlike other people, I am capable of defending myself. Without my approval, he won''t be able to go outside."


    Lyca immediately frowned when she heard her words. "What do you mean? I thought they could leave with us?"


    "Leave? Why would I want someone to follow me around? Plus Li Xian had a challenge today, so he can''t really leave. The only reason why I am here was because grandfather called for an emergency."


    Lyca felt her face lost all its colours. Her heart started pounding, racing against her chests as she recalled Shen Qui''s text. She stopped walking and turned towards Huang Xiaoxuan. "Keys."


    "Excuse me?" Seeing the anger in Lyca''s eyes, Huang Xiaoxuan instinctively took a step back, her gaze turned alert.


    "I said" Lyca''s feet suddenly sprang forward; a dagger was already on her hand. "Give me your f*cking keys." She hissed as she pointed the dagger on her cousin''s neck.


    Huang Xiaoxuan trembled, her back was already on the wall. Tears welled in her eyes as she nodded and gave Lyca her car keys. This woman was crazy! "I will tell" She wasn''t able to finish her words when she saw Lyca already walking away from her.


    After making sure that no one was around, Lyca immediately opened her phone and dialled Yi''an''s number. "Yi''an. Shen Qui is in danger. Track his phone for me."

 Chapter 71: Rule Long City

    Chapter 71: Rule Long City


    The red Ferrari hummed as it traversed towards the busy streets of Long City. The sounds of frenzied honk echoed behind as she swerved the car, trying her best to avoid the traffic. "Where is he?" she asked. Using the Bluetooth headset, Lyca was talking to Yi''an who was tracking Shen Qui''s phone.


    "Shen Qui is moving towards an abandoned building a few kilometres away from the Zhang Family''s mansion. It borders Long City and Ralia City. I already sent the address to the GPS on your car."


    "Hmmm." Lyca didn''t tell her father or Old Man Huang about this as she was not really sure what was going on. She would not want them to panic just because of a mere instinct. Moreover, she was afraid that someone next to her father and the old man is a traitor.


    She tightened her hand around the steering wheel, her face unreadable as she thought about Shen Qui''s message telling her that he was going to see Li Xian.


    How could he see Li Xian when the man was still in School?


    There was also the possibility that Shen Qui was lying but why the hell would he lie to her? Moreover, it was weird for him to send a text. Why would he even tell her if he is going to see someone? It''s not like she is his girlfriend! Unless of course, he was trying to send her a message! That text alone was already wrong.


    Lyca was too engrossed in her own emotions after her nightmare that she didn''t think about that text properly. She eyed the GPS and realised that it would take her another forty minutes to an hour to reach the location. One hour is too long. She needed to get there in thirty. With that in mind, Lyca pumped the gas. This time around, Lyca was not nning to let anyone die because of a mess she created.


    ......


    Shen Qui frowned. "I already told you. I am not going to be a member of the Long Security Group." He eyed the man sitting to his right.


    "We know that." The man''s deep voice contained a hint of danger, making the nerves in Shen Qui''s stomach clutch. "Mr. Long needed to see you."


    Shen Qui snorted. The man next to him was the tall man that he never fought earlier because of the investors'' suggestion. He was about six foot five, with broad soldiers and a crew cut. This man looked intimidating and dangerous. Of course, as someone who had worked with him before, Shen Qui knew how dangerous this man was. This person was also the previous top agent in Huang Security who loves taking missions alone, confident of his brute strength.


    So when he approached him a few minutes ago when he was having coffee outside of Huang Security and told him that he had Li Xian, Shen Qui had no choice but toe along with him. This man could beat Li Xian in a fight. He saw it happened before during a practice match.


    "So, they are nning to kill me." Shen Qui muttered as he looked at Zach Liang the tall man next to him.


    "You are young and talented. It''s either you join us, or you perish."


    "That makes sense." Shen Qui shrugged, not a hint of fear was apparent in his face.


    "The Long Security is going to rule Long City soon. If you join us the benefits would be endless."


    "Is that why you joined them a year ago?" He didn''t hide the disgust in his tone.


    "Loyalty is but a word. When ites to practicality, it''s useless." Finally, the man turned towards him. "Our technology is at the top of the whole Shun region. Compared to Huang Security''s traditional approach, our Long Security focuses on new inventions."


    Shen Qui clenched his jaws. Funny how these people think that their technology could help them against Lyca''s craftiness. Didn''t they already lost a lot of investors because of her intervention? Once Lyca decides to introduce her bullets to the market, the Long Security would have another problem.


    Seeing the disinterest in his eyes, Zach Liang shrugged and stayed quiet. He already did his best to convince Shen Qui, if the man would remain like this then he wouldn''t hesitate on killing him today. Slowly, the van that they were riding slowed down until it came to a full stop just in front of an abandoned building a perfect location to dispose of someone.


    Of course, Shen Qui knew that this was their goal all along. Kill him. But he was not nning on going down without taking a few of them with him. He got out of the van and looked at the four-story building in front of them. There are a total of three abandoned buildings in this area; all have four stories. Broken debris already littered the three unfinished buildings, dust apanied the cracks that surrounded it. It was already past six in the evening. With the absence of the sun, everything around them was nothing but darkness.


    Without the light from the car, Shen Qui wouldn''t be able to see the buildings at all.


    "Inside. Mr. Long is waiting inside." Zach said, his voice stern. Shen Qui nodded and walked inside, his hand was resting on his pockets. Zach already took his gun earlier, but he never took his knives as he was confident that he would be able to beat Shen Qui with just his brute force. Shen Qui and Zach threaded inside, the sounds of their boots apparent against their every step on the rubbles.


    He immediately noticed the small battery operatedmp that was in the middle of the space. It created shadows from the people surrounding it.


    "Mr. Shen.."


    Shen Qui lifted an eyebrow at the man. He was expecting to see Patriarch Long or even Long Yi. But this man


    "This is the head of our research team. Mr. Long. Gary Long. He is here to ask you about the details of that poison." As if sensing his thoughts, Zach said.


    "Why should I tell you?" Aside from the man wearing white named Gary Long and Zach, six people stood next to the head of the research department. All of them were about six foot tall, wearing dark tactical suits and armed with a gun. Probably 9mm.


    "Because you don''t have a choice."


    "Li Xian is not here is he?" Shen Qui thought that getting Li Xian out of the Long Founding School of Elites would be easy as the Long Family is very influential in the school. It seems that he was wrong.


    "Of course, he''s not." Mr. Long''s lips thinned. "Now if you want to survive. You better tell me what I wanted to know."


    ...


    Check out map in thements.


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    BTW WE ARE ALREADY CONTRACTED! YEY!

 Chapter 72: Killing in the Dark

    Chapter 72: Killing in the Dark


    "Did the long father and son sent you here?" Shen Qui asked. For some reason, his gut is telling him to bid for more time. More time for what? He couldn''t help but wonder.


    "Dead people don''t need to know that." Now that Shen Qui stared at the man in white, he immediately noticed the man''s resemnce to the Long Patriarch. A rtive? Perhaps a cousin.


    "I thought you wanted to recruit me?"


    "Why the hell would I recruit you?" the man squinted, displeasure apparent in his face. "Zach must have created some stories to make you talk." He sneered as he motioned one of his people. To his right, the man immediately ran towards the car parked inside the abandoned building and came back with a chair. Giving it to the man so he could sit while talking to Shen Qui.


    Mr. Long sat down and smiled at Shen Qui; in his hand was a pistol. Under the lighting from themp, his smile looked sinister, not a hint of friendliness apparent on his face. "Let''s talk." He uttered. "I don''t believe that Lyca was the one who made all those poisons. She is, but a child. I know someone is working behind her. I want to know this person''s name."


    Shen Qui''s eyes narrowed. Standing next to him, Zach exuded killing intent. One wrong answer and the man would definitely kill him. Instead of cowering, Shen Qui met Mr. Long''s eyes. "And if I didn''t?"


    Just as expected, he felt a st of coldness that moved towards his head. Instinctively, he lowered his head and turned towards the huge man towering over him. Shen Qui was not the type that would cower in front of someone bigger. Hurling himself towards Zach, his fistunched towards Zach''s jaw. When he missed, Shen Qui leapt towards Jack, a move that surprised everyone. Shen Qui kicked his legs, knocking him into the floor, a loud grunt escaped Zach''s lips. Seeing everyone''s surprised expression, Shen Qui''s legs sprang forward, aiming the knife in his hand towards Zach''s neck.


    *BANG*


    The sound of a gun rung inside as Shen Qui felt a pang of pain on his right arm. That damn Mr. Long actually shot him. Good thing his aim was f*cking bad. Ignoring the pain, he sat on Zach''s stomach, with the knife on his hand. He had long decided to kill this man. He refused to die today without taking this traitor with him.


    "Shoot him! Kill him!" Seeing Shen Qui''s aggressiveness, Mr. Long knew that he needed to die right then and there. Immediately, he stood and walked back towards the car. The six people surrounded Shen Qui, one of them aimed a gun towards his head. But, before he could even pull the trigger, a knife flew towards his neck. The sound of the man''s muffled scream as he held his throat as if trying to stop the blood froming out interrupted themotion.


    When another knifended on another one''s head, everyone seemed to have woken up to their stupor. Guns out, eyes alert as the remaining four people scrambled to find a cover. "In the car! Back in the car!" Someone shouted.


    "Mr. Long! Go inside the car!"


    "Mr. Long is dead! Look!"


    "F*ck!"


    "Who is it?"


    "Kill Shen Qui!"


    Someone fired a gun towards Shen Qui''s direction, but a knifended on his arms before he could pull the trigger, missing the shot.


    "Find the knife user!"


    "F*ck! Call for backup!"


    Footsteps and curses echoed as the remaining soldier ran towards the column supporting the building. They wanted something that could hide them from the one who was using a knife to target them. But with the darkness surrounding them, how could these people spot an assassin whose specialty was killing in the dark?


    Too much is happening at once. However, Shen Qui ignored them. His gaze had turned dark as he sat on Zach''s stomach, grappling him. Shen Qui swung the knife towards him, but the man quickly blocked his hands, preventing Shen Qui from shoving the knife into his head. With Zach''s strength, overpowering Shen Qui, who was already wounded, was an easy thing. Zach made a maneuver to remove the de from Shen Qui''s hand. Then he turned the tip of the knife towards Shen Qui''s chest. Zach gave a sinister grin before he shoved it towards his opponent''s flesh. But Shen Qui was quick enough to move his body, making the knife impaled his shoulder instead of his chest. A curse left his lips.


    Zach shoved Shen Qui, pushing him away from him. Zach''s huge body and strength had always been his advantage. Zach''s hand found the gun on his waist and pointed it towards Shen Qui. "Die, you b*tch!"


    Gunfire split the air.


    Then a small thud followed.


    Shen Qui froze when he realised that the one who got shot was Zach instead of him. He immediately stood and pivoted behind him, his eyes looking for the shooter.


    "I always hated how loud it sounds." Lyca''s voice sent relief towards him. He looked at the woman who was standing behind Mr. Long''s car before his eyes roamed inside the space. Realising that all soldiers are now on the floor, a sigh of relief instantly left his lips. He could still feel his heartbeat against his chest, his adrenaline humming inside him as he watched Lyca approach him.


    She was still wearing the same tank top but she looked like she purposely rolled over the dirt, making the white top turn into gray. With her ck pants, it would be hard for them to notice Lyca in the shadows. Her hair was still tied in a messy bun, and sweat can be seen trickling down her forehead. She was beautiful.


    He was about to walk towards her when he noticed her face changed. He instinctively turned behind him, only to realise that Zach was still alive, standing back on his feet. This time, a gun was pointed towards Lyca. He didn''t know what got into him, hell he didn''t have the time to think about it anymore. He dragged his body in front of Lyca, wrapping his arms around her.


    Both of them mmed on the floor just as the thunder of gunfire exploded.


    .....


    Don''t forget to vote. :)

 Chapter 73: Home. With her.

    Chapter 73: Home. With her.


    "You''re too heavy." Lyca''s words brought him back from his stupor. "I think it''s better if I stay on top from now on." She grunted when she felt him move and sat next to her.


    "You "


    "Yes you didn''t have to catch a bullet for me." She already saw him stand before Shen Qui turned his head around. When Shen Qui ran towards her, Lyca already threw a knife towards Zach''s forehead, killing him instantly. She sat next to him, eyeing the de on his shoulder. "They areing."


    "You killed everyone."


    "They just tripped and killed themselves." Shrugging, Lyca stood. "Can you walk?" She turned her attention towards the corpse that littered the floor around them. Slowly, she walked towards Zach and slit his throat an action that surprised Shen Qui. Clearly, Zach was already dead. Then Lyca walked towards the other corpse and slit their throat one by one. "Just to make sure." She said coldly.


    Shen Qui nodded, lips thinned. He followed Lyca out of the building.


    "Does it hurt?" Lyca asked.


    "Like a mosquito bite." Compared to the pain in his chest that he would experience if the weather were too cold, this knife wound was like a mosquito bite. The two sat on the van that Shen Qui and Zach were riding earlier. Shen Qui immediately noticed the driver, who was still sitting in the driver''s seat, dead. With his throat slit. He eyed her side profile. "You saved me."


    "This is the case of the beauty saving another beauty." Lyca answered. There wasn''t a hint of humor in her voice.


    "Thank you."


    "If you want to thank me. Then.. Just give me your body." She turned towards him, looking at his pale face. Obviously, he already lost a lot of blood. "Take it." She handed him a pill. "For your blood loss. Don''t tell anyone about it."


    Shen Qui epted the pill and swallowed it without asking any more questions. "I might just give you my body someday." He said while chuckling.


    She stifled augh. Her hand were stroking the row of small daggers on her legs. These people targeted him because of her; it was only natural for her to save him. What she never expected was for him to try and save her even in his wounded state. She tried to recall thest time someone tried to sacrifice themselves to save her. That''s right. It never happened before. Not in her past life and not in this life. "Just so you know I like the kiss." She immediately decided to clear up the misunderstanding between them. "No need to feel guilty about it."


    "" Is this really the time to talk about a kiss? Shen Qui wondered how can Lyca be this calm. He never knew that she was adept at killing people; he never saw it in her file. Lyca was only twenty-one, and as far as he knows, she didn''t have any experience in the field. And yet, here she was, calmly talking about a kiss after killing a lot of people. He stared at her face wondering if she felt a little bit of guilt from killing those men, just like how he felt when he first had his first kill at neen.


    Shen Qui remembered not being able to sleep for days after that. Will Lyca feel the same? A tinge of worry shed in his eyes before he remembered that he was the one full of wounds and bruises. Shouldn''t he worry about himself instead?


    "Why are you looking at me like that?" she met his gaze, an eyebrow lifted.


    "I just think you were beautiful, earlier."


    The coldness in her eyes eased. "Hah Qui''er is bing bolder." She smirked and turned her attention towards the building. "Aside from my father and you, no one else will know that I am the one who killed those people. They will know it''s you even grandfather will think it''s you."


    His jaws clenched.


    "Are you scared of me?" Lyca''s question made him look at her. She was already staring at his face, and he wasn''t surprised to see how cold it was. Not an iota of fear lingered in her eyes. Despite the darkness, he could feel her eyes scrutinising him. Was she expecting him to say yes? He fought the urge to hug her and give her the assurance that she needed.


    "No." He answered.


    "Then good since you already know some of my secrets. I think it is best that you just marry me. Or I might have to kill you too."


    "Talking about marriage next to a corpse." Shen Qui chuckled, ignoring her threatening words. "That''s a first."


    "Oh? Are you scared of the corpse? Kick him out of the car then."


    "" Yes. This woman is indeed crazy. But for some reason, he had started to anticipate the things that he will soon discover about her.


    Soon, the sounds of cars approaching reach their ears. Instead of moving, Lyca just sat on the van''s entrance, calmly looking at the buildings. After a few seconds, Huang Sheng Hong arrived with three of his trusted men and a medic. Seeing corpses inside of the building, Huang Sheng Hong only gave a meaningful gaze towards his daughter before instructing his men to tend to Shen Qui''s wound and clean the area. He didn''t even bother asking any questions He knew this was not the time for questions. They needed to leave this ce as fast as possible.


    "Ride with me." Lyca said as she motioned Shen Qui to follow her towards the car that she was using earlier.


    "I can''t drive." He immediately said. "My shoulders."


    "Hmmm." She quickly nced at his injured shoulders and nodded. Afterwards, she went inside the driver''s seat. Seeing this, Shen Qui gave a wry smile. Who would have thought that thezy Lyca would decide to drive a car one day?


    "Where are we going?" he asked.


    "Home." One word was enough to warm his chest. He turned his attention towards the road, trying to ignore the new emotion inside him. The silence inside the car was enough for him to realise how fast his heart was going.


    Home. With her.


    The beauty who saved him.


    ....


    Surprise chapter for being contracted!


    Thank you for the support and pls continue voting for the novel.

 Chapter 74: Weird Story

    Chapter 74: Weird Story


    "I was thinking of withdrawing you two from the school." Old Man Huang''s face was stern as he eyed Shen Qui and Lyca. "I already talked about this to Huang Li Duo and your father. While Li Duo disagreed and wanted his daughter to continue building connections in the school, your father said it is all up to you."


    Lyca''s lips thinned. After what happened yesterday, it would be hard maintaining a cordial rtionship with the Long Family. Of course, herzy self tells her to just stop going to school and avoid all the trouble. However, what happened yesterday had upset her.


    Lyca wouldn''t stop until the Long Family learn their lesson. "I will continue going to school." she said sternly.


    The old man stared for a few seconds, wondering if she was serious. If one would know about Lyca''s personality, they would immediately conclude that she would withdraw and avoid the hassle and the trouble. "Are you sure?"


    "Shen Qui will protect me." She answered. Her voice didn''t have a hint of uncertainty. Hearing this, the old man shifted his gaze back to Shen Qui. Nodding, the old man let out a sigh. What happenedst night was something that none of them had expected. And killing the head of the research team had given him quite the headache.


    He took another nce at Lyce, wondering why she would want to hide her abilities and tell everyone that it was Shen Qui who killed those people. The old man was certain it wasn''t Shen Qui. As the person who saw Shen Qui train and mature in front of his eyes, he was very familiar with him. Even the way he kills his opponents is very familiar to the old man, it was something that he will know.


    When the old man saw the knife marks on everyone''s neck, he immediately knew that it wasn''t Shen Qui''s doing. No, the kill was too clean. That wasn''t Shen Qui''s style. It must have been Lyca''s.


    The thought of this made the old man nod. At least he is aware that Lyca is more than capable of defending herself. However, he still needed to talk to Huang Sheng Hong about this. After all, the father and daughter had the same weird story about Shen Qui losing himself and killing everyone when he saw Lyca following him.


    The story was too crazy, without any creativity, he immediately knew that they were lying. This father and daughter were toozy to make a believable alibi! At least the old man is nning to make up a new story! A believable one! He sighed. "Then, if you really wanted to go. I won''t be able to stop you. Just make sure that you are safe."


    Lyca nodded in response. Leaning back, she asked, " What about the bullet?"


    "Well the news about the bullet that was able to strike through metal and melt flesh is starting to spread. We will soon introduce it to the market." The old man gave Lyca aplicated look. Lyca suggested that they sell the bullet at a costly price on the ck market. They will use another identity to make the people angry with the ridiculous demands.


    Then the Huang Family wille and save the day. The Huang Family will reveal that they just created the same bullet, except this one is more effective and potent. Then they would sell it with a fifty percent discount.


    Of course, the mercenaries would immediately buy from the Huang Family and would surely think highly of thepany for not being greedy.


    What they don''t know is the fact that Lyca purposely lessened the effects on the ones in the ck market, and the one from Huang Security is the original bullet.


    This level of maniption.


    This level of nning.


    This is from the future head of Huang Security.


    The old man felt his heart swell with happiness. Just thinking about the insult and pressure that the Long Family had given them in the past few years


    "Good." Lyca nodded. The goal is to make the Huang Family rule this city. As long as she is not the one personally doing everything, then Lyca has no problem making the Huang Security more secure and safe for her.


    "Hmmm. You can leave now. I already told the school that you two encountered an ident while training. They gave you and Shen Qui three days extension."


    "Thank you, grandfather." Lyca stood and walked out of the room with Shen Qui in tow. After walking out of the office, the long stretch of silence in between them made the long corridor more suffocating.


    Shen Qui eyed Lyca''s side profile, lips thinned into a line. He wondered why Lyca had been avoiding him all of a sudden. Since they arrived at the mansionst night, Lyca didn''t actually say a word to him. And every time she would look at him, it was as if she wasn''t looking at him at all, that he was invisible. "Hey, is there a problem?" He managed to ask.


    "Hm?" Finally, she turned towards him. "Thinking."


    "About what?"


    She didn''t answer and just walked next to him.


    "Are you mad?" He asked. Was she mad that she had to save him? Was she mad that he wasn''t strong enough?


    "No." Lyca looked up, meeting his gaze.


    "Did I do something wrong?"


    She raised an eyebrow.All night, she had been thinking about him trying to save her from the bullet that was about to hit her even though he was injured. All night, she had been wondering why he would do such a thing when all she did was treat him like a toy, and not take him seriously.


    There wasn''t any hesitation in his gaze, not a hint of confusion. And it confused her. Even that man never did that in her past life. True they had fought next to each other but he never did, not even once, tried to save her when he was also wounded.


    However, Lyca wasn''t nning on talking about this matter. So, she gave him a slight smile and shook her head. "No. You didn''t do anything wrong."


    "Then?"


    "I was thinking." Lyca answered.


    "About what?"


    "You."

 Chapter 75: Confrontation

    Chapter 75: Confrontation


    Shen Qui frowned. This time, Lyca''s voice didn''t have a hint of ridicule in it. Was she serious? Just the thought of it made his heart skip. "YouAre you angry?"


    She fought the urge tough. No, she wasn''t. This was not anger. This is confusion. "No." She answered, still smiling.


    That fake smile again, he thought and turned his head away. Then he just followed Lyca out of the building. Shen Qui felt frustration bubbled inside him. He was not f*cking naive.


    He knew he liked her. His attraction had been growing every day and yet, she doesn''t even take him seriously.


    He hated it.


    But is he really going to act like a f*cking coward and hide his emotions around her? Clenching his teeth, Shen Qui remembered how Lyca told him not to act like a boy if he didn''t want her to treat him like one.


    Shen Qui had been so engrossed in his own thoughts that he didn''t notice them arrived in the mansion.


    "Hey," He walked towards her then pulled her to her room.


    "Is there a problem?" This time, she didn''t ask him to let her wrist go. This time she didn''t have the urge to fight him.


    "We need to talk." He closed the door behind him, locking Lyca''s room.


    "About?"


    "I like you."


    Lyca''s eyebrow lifted. The confession wasn''t a surprise.


    She knew. She could feel it. She wasn''t someone with a teenager hormone who couldn''t even tell that a man likes her. "And?" However, she also knew she couldn''t give him something more than this something more than what they currently have. She lifted her gaze to his.


    "You''re not gonna push me away, are you?"


    Surprised at his question, Lyca immediately noticed that he took a step towards her. She took a step back, it was instinct kicking in. "Why the hell would I push you away?" To be honest, she was toozy to deal with rtionships. She had trust issues and a crazy mind. Her heart had been ripped out of her chest and sewed back in. She was someonepromised. And he deserved someone better than that. He deserved better than her.


    He narrowed the small distance between them, his hands were still on her wrist. He stood in front of Lyca, his presence towering over her.


    "You told me not to act like a boy."


    "And?" she asked, curious.


    "I am not nning to keep my emotions bottled up."


    "So?" She raised her chin as if challenging him to tell her more.


    "I know you don''t like me."


    That was wrong. Lyca fought the urge to argue. She doesn''t necessarily hate him. And yes, maybe she liked him and his presence. "I can''t give you the thing that you want." She decided to be honest. She was not nning to prolong this matter.


    Her heart had been sealed away. Broken, betrayed, and battered, she wasn''t nning to give it to someone else again.


    "I know."


    "Then? Why tell me you like me?" She knew he was smart and perceptive. A little innocent but definitely not dumb.


    "Because " he swallowed as he stared at her eyes, his Adam''s apple bobbed. "Because I am willing to take what you can give."


    She froze at his words. Take whatever it is that she could give? The word sound sweet she felt her gut hurt.


    He moved closer and she took another step back until her back hit the wall. She felt the hair on the back of her neck lifted. She could sense danger from a mile away and right now, she knew that the man in front of her was the danger... to her heart. She gulped.


    "It''s not in my nature to trust people." She managed to say. At least not anymore. She couldn''t even trust herself. How could she give something that she doesn''t have?


    "You don''t have to trust me." He answered almost immediately. "It is enough that I trust you."


    Her lips pressed tightly together but she didn''t argue. Shen Qui blindly took the pills that she gave, not even asking what it was. As if realizing her thoughts, Shen Qui''s lips lifted into a smirk.


    "I am not dumb Lyca." He uttered, his voice a little dark, humorless as he pressed his body against hers."I know one of the two pills that you gave me on that day was poison. I know that one of the pills that you give me after that was the cure. To avoid the symptoms, you have to give me the pills every day. Betraying you would mean... I would die too."


    For a few seconds, she felt her throat turned dry, unable to refute his words.


    "I know that you asked to live with me because you sense the internal energy around me, you thought I was nning to do something bad to your family. So you decided to always keep me close."


    He knew. Lyca never thought that he would know. Her gaze turnedplicated. Seeing this, Shen Qui added. "I also knew that you can use both your right and left hands while everyone knows that you are right-handed. You don''t like yellow but your mother likes it so you wear it in front of her. Sometimes you are toozy tob your hair so you tie it in a bun instead. You hate your long hair but your mother loves it so you chose to keep it." He was trained to observe. He was trained to remember every little detail. And Shen Qui remembered every little detail about her.


    "You are dangerous. More dangerous than everyone that I have met before. But that won''t stop me from trusting you."


    "You know too much." She hissed. Logic dictates that this Shen Qui needed to die for knowing a lot of things about her. But Lyca was never the type to follow normal logic. She watched as he tilted his head, amusement shed in his eyes.


    "You''re not nning to kill me are you?"


    "And if I do?" She countered, waiting for the fear to shed in his eyes. She was waiting for him to realize that this confrontation was wrong. That he made a mistake.


    "It''s your choice." He shrugged. "I would have died if you didn''t save me back then. You already own my life, Lyca Huang." He took a step back. "You can do whatever you want."

 Chapter 76: Negotiation

    Chapter 76: Negotiation


    Lyca''szy self was telling her to just nod and kick him out of her room so she could sleep. It was nudging her to ignore his words, forget this night. But half of her, the evil half of her, the one who wanted to hurt people and see the fear in their eyes, the one who loved adventure and thrill was telling her something else.


    Lyca chuckled."You are more observant that I originally thought." His keen mind caught her off guard and so was his naivety. Her tense shoulders rxed. Slowly a smile blossomed on her face. True, she let him drank the poison pill. True, she had been giving him the cure everyday. And everything that he said about her mother was true.


    She was never someone that would just trust a pretty face and Shen Qui was not an exception. This time, she was the one who took a step toward him. Surprisingly, he didn''t take a step back. He stood still, letting her approach him.


    "I might be naive in your eyes. But I am never the type to run away from my emotions." He uttered.


    "Are you sure this Is not some adrenaline rush? A fleeting feeling of celebration?" she asked, eyebrow lifted. She saved him and he might have gotten confused the gratefulness to liking. She wanted to make sure.


    "You can tell yourself whatever you want."


    "So stubborn." She snorted.


    He pressed his lips together, his eyelid fluttered a thing that he usually does when he was nervous. He gulped his nonexistent saliva. "Aren''t you the same as well?" his tone turned challenging. Aren''t they the same? Just one was more heartless than the other.


    "I am damaged, broken in so many ways. And you are a warrior you need someone like you."


    "So?" This time, it was Shen Qui''s turn. So what? What does this have to do with his feelings? He watched as Lyca smiled.


    "You are right." Nodding, she realized that their faces were already so close, she couldn''t focus on his eyes. So she gazed at his lips instead. She saw him part his lips and waited for him to say something.


    "It''s a yes."


    "Excuse?" her eyes sprang back to his.


    "You have been asking me to marry you. The answer is yes." Seeing the confusion in her eyes, Shen Qui gave a mockingugh to himself. He didn''t know what had gotten into him. What marriage? He had been with this woman for weeks! F*cking weeks! The small sane part of his brain wanted him to quickly take back his words. But it was too small, he didn''t bother listening to the little bit of logic that he had left.


    Seeing her turned silent, Shen Qui continued. "I know some of your secrets. Its either you marry me or kill me. I guess you have no ns on killing someone useful to you. So you have one choice left. Marry me."


    His words rung inside her head like a tolling bell. But she said nothing. Marriage. Is a joke.


    "I am intelligent. My observations skills are way above normal human beings. I can protect you."


    She wanted tough. Was he trying to convince her? But Shen Qui didn''t stop.


    "Once people know of your talents. Their greedy hearts would want to have you. You are intelligent and deadly. Marrying you would be like an instant ess to the wealth and things that you can do. Are you really going to worry about such things in the future? With the personality that you have, you will scheme and try to kill them. But do you think that would be good for your parents? Do you think that will give you the opportunity to continuezed around and sleep all the time?"


    She opened her mouth but closed it again when she realized he was right. Damn, he was right. This man knows her way too much, he knew where to hit her on the right spot. This man can talk and she could only hope that this mouth of his won''t disappoint her.


    Seeing this, a smirk appeared on Shen Qui''s face as he continued. "Marrying me would save you the hassle. True, it might not be enough to stop other people but at least you have a reason to have me stay beside you, all the time."


    "You are right." She nodded. She would be toozy to deal with this things toozy to face it. She would rather take her parents and just run away. But running away would make her too tired. She just wanted to live a rxed life. Was that something so hard?


    "Plus my fighting skills would be perfect to yours." He added. "You are weak when ites to direct confrontations because you are toozy to practice. So you needed the darkness to hide you you needed distractions. Whereas my skillsy in direct confrontation I can be the distraction." Confidenceced his tone. "And I believe, I am good looking enough for your peculiar tastes."


    Did he really have to add that? She chuckled. "You are very good in convincing people. I bet you can convince someone to kill themselves."


    "Then? Are you willing to marry me?" Of course, he didn''t change the topic. His stubborn self wouldn''t let him do that.


    "You are the safest choice." She shrugged. "I hope you won''t regret it."


    "I already told you. Whatever you are willing to give, I''m taking."


    She snorted. She had watched romance series about the rich male lead convincing women to marry them because of their money and convenience. While this man was using herziness to convince her. Isn''t that too funny? "You don''t know how to cook."


    "You can pay someone to cook for you." He answered almost immediately. "While I learn." His woodsy smell surrounded her. And she could smell something else. Was that cinnamon?


    "Fair enough." She nodded and chuckled at the funny negotiation. "If you like someone else I will kill you."


    "You don''t like me and yet you are already this possessive. I wonder what would happen if you finally like me as much as I liked you?"


    "That''s not going to happen." She felt him shift his head closer, his lips just a few inches away from her as his hand rested on her waist, pulling her closer towards him.


    "Too bad." He dipped his head until his mouth brushed against hers. "I am here to convince you otherwise."


    Then he kissed her again.


    ...

 Chapter 77: Basic Skills

    Chapter 77: Basic Skills


    Lyca closed her eyes as she drove her fingers into his hair, anchoring his mouth to hers. Almost immediately, she felt desire coarse her bloodstream, an overwhelming anticipation of what was toe. But Shen Qui wasn''t here for that. He lifted his lips away from her. Despite his ufortable erection, he had to take it slow. He knew she wasn''t ready.


    Too bad, Lyca didn''t have the time for the push and pulls. No, she was toozy to deal with something like that. She was already expecting him to withdraw after pouring his hearts out. Shen Qui must have expected her to just let it be. He must have been expecting her to turn around and go to her bed that had been calling out to her since she arrived.


    Too bad Lyca wasn''t nning to listen to anyone other than the primal instincts that are surging inside her.


    So, she used her small hand and grabbed the front of his shirt, pulling him towards her. When Shen Qui lost his footing, Lyca only smiled as they fell into the bed, with himnding on top of her.


    She raised her head and looked at him. She had thought his eyes were brown. It reminded her of chestnuts. However, she could clearly see that it had turned a little darker, into a rich chocte brown. She loved choctes.


    Drawing a soft breath, Shen Qui ran his fingers into her white hair. He used his elbows to support him as he aligned his hips with hers. His breath heated her lips.


    *Knock*


    *Knock*


    The loud knocking on Lyca''s door was akin to a cold bucket of water that was spilled inside them. It was as if lightning hit Shen Qui as he rolled over and sat up, his back to her. He eyed Lyca''szy eyes, wondering what had gotten into him.


    "I aming in!"


    The tense atmosphere weed Tang Ruyi. When she saw a man sitting on Lyca''s bed, she froze and took a step back, preparing to run and avoid Lyca''s wrath.


    "Since you are already here. Come in." Lyca didn''t hide the irritation in her voice.


    "Hehe." A burst of awkwardughter was the only thing that came out of Tang Ruyi''s mouth. "I was just Should I just leave?" She watched as her cousin sat on the bed and gave her a nk look. When she saw Lyca raised an eyebrow, Tang Ruyi waltzed her way towards Lyca''s bed. "Who is this? Hmmm good looking man? Your new boyfriend?"


    Lyca ignored her cousin''s words instead, she looked at Shen Qui. "I will give you my documents tomorrow." Hearing this, Shen Qui smiled and nodded.


    "Why are you here?" Lyca asked her cousin.


    "I miss you." Sheughed and sat next to Shen Qui while ignoring Lyca''s dark face."So? What is your name? I am Tang Ruyi. Do you Ummm Lyca? Where are we going? Hey I am not done talking yet! Where are you taking me?"


    "Too noisy," Lyca said as she pulled her cousin towards the garden at the back of the mansion. She then signaled Yi''an to bring them some refreshments.


    "He is handsome I think if he turns into a woman, he would be more beautiful than you! Heh, Lyca did I disturb something? Don''t worry, I will not tell Uncle Sheng. Just tell me one thing is he a good kisser? If he isn''t I suggest you drop him. Men that can''t kiss can''t make you happy down there, either."


    "Shut up!" Lyca hissed.


    "What? All I''m saying is theyck basic skills. That''s not very good in the long run."


    Seeing Lyca red at her, Tang Ruyi couldn''t help butugh out loud. This cousin of hers never really react like this before. "So? When is the wedding?" Judging from her reaction, that guy is a good kisser. With this in mind, Tang Ruyi giggled and followed Lyca until the two reach the garden.


    "So?" Tang Ruyi beamed. "Tell me about him."


    "You are here because of that thing?" Lyca immediately changed the topic.


    "You " Tang Ruyi let out a dramatic sigh, shaking her head as if she just missed something big. "This is supposed to be big. You know I know you never had a boyfriend before. "


    "" Can she strangle this woman?


    "Alright I know you are about to kill me." Donning her best business-like smile, Tang Ruyi''s started. "I already arranged your identity. Tang Xi or also known as Jax, twenty an illegitimate cousin of mine from abroad. Quiet, secretive, and handsome. Tang Xi decided toe home and be a part of the Tang Family. But because of his affiliations abroad, he needed to leave every now and then and just visit when he is avable."


    Lyca nodded. "And Shen Qui?"


    "Oh!? That''s his name? Wait oh! He is the bodyguard?" Tang Ruyi smirked. "I see I see" then she gave a mischievous wink. "Men in uniform huh." She knew that Shen Qui is from the military and she was aware of his background too.


    "Continue."


    "This brat is really too serious. You should rx more and enjoy Shen Qui."


    "I would have if you didn''t arrive!" Hissing, Lyca turned her attention to Yi''an who wasing their way. "Your fault." She added and turned her eyes towards Tang Ruyi.


    Seeing Lyca''s face, Tang Ruyi burst into another fit ofughter. "Alright. Next time I won''te in without hearing your approval." The two grew up together and were very familiar with each other''s houses. Just like sisters, they would sometimes go into each other''s room without knocking.


    "So?" Lyca asked.


    "Oh, right Shen Qui. He will be your assistant. I prepared apletely different identity for him as well as prosthetics to change his face and something for his height. Also I would prefer that he doesn''t follow you all the time. It would be too obvious if you are always together at the same time that you vanished from the Huang Family''s estate."


    "Hmmm." Lyca nodded.


    "I heard you n toe back to school? Even after what happened?"


    Again, Lyca nodded as she started drinking her tea.


    "Are you crazy? The Long Family will see you as a threat. Something that they either needed to eliminate or recruit." That is basic logic. Now that they knew she could create chemicals, they would want to take advantage of these skills and use them for their own benefit. If Lyca won''t cooperate, then those people would surely kill her. It''s either they can use her or they kill her.


    "Not if I eliminate them first." Nonchnceced her tone.


    "You "


    "You will see." Lyca interrupted her cousin''s words.


    .....


    Please don''t forget to vote.

 Chapter 78: Stupid Games and Stupid Prizes

    Chapter 78: Stupid Games and Stupid Prizes


    R18?- NO SMUT


    .......


    Tang Ruyi''s expression turned serious. If Lyca was nning to go against the Long Family then she, Tang Ruyi would be there for her. "Tell me about your ns."


    "It''s fine." Lyca beamed. "A secret."


    "Hm? Does this involve Long Yi?"


    "Not telling." She darted her tongue out and turned her head away.


    "I know this is about Long Yi''s birthday!" Tang Ruyi beamed and talked about the things that Lyca asked her to do. Since Lyca doesn''t want to tell her, she knew it must be something that she can''t talk about. Perhaps because of the location or other reasons.


    After a few hours, Tang Ruyi bid her goodbye. Finally, Lyca was able to enjoy her bed. Slowly, days passed. In these three days, Lyca didn''t go out of her room and just spent the time eating and sleeping. Something that her parents were already used to but not Shen Qui.


    How could a human just stay in her room all day and not do anything? Worried that Lyca is sick, Shen Qui had to check on her on the third day. When he walked inside Lyca''s room, he immediately noticed her sitting on the balcony, staring, in a daze. She was wearing a short sleeping gown that showed her jade-like legs and was sitting in a hanging egg chair made of rattan wood. In front of her was a stack of books, an unlit candle, and a small coffee table with some of her chamomile tea.


    Lyca didn''t bother turning her head to look at the man who walked in her balcony.


    Seeing herzy appearance, Shen Qui just shook his head. "Here marriage certificate. You needed to sign."


    His words immediately got her attention. "And we''re already married?"


    "Yes."


    "Oh." Nodding, she epted the paper and immediately signed her name.


    "You stayed in your room for three days."


    "Hm?"


    "Without going out."


    "Hm?"


    "You just slept and ate all day."


    "And?"


    "Well that''s not very healthy, is it?"


    "No. Not healthy."


    "I don''t want to be a widower at twenty-five."


    Lyca''s eyebrow lifted. "Are you cursing me?" She fought the urge tough. What widower? This man''s honesty is sometimes infuriating. "I am tired."


    "From doing nothing?"


    She nodded. "I am saving energy."


    "To do nothing?"


    She looked at him and didn''t miss the concern in his eyes. "To do you." She uttered and immediatelyughed when she saw his face reddened. Surprised at her own reaction, Lyca awkwardly shut her mouth beforeughing again. That joke was funny, alright? Alright, that wasn''t really a joke.


    Seeing her sincereughter, Shen Qui shook his head, unable to hide the smile on his face. This woman He is really helpless against her.


    "You should wake up and at least move your body thirty minutes every day." He uttered. "Why don''t you join me? We can jog together."


    She pursed her lips, fighting the urge tough. "I have other ways to do some physical activities, but none of them involves having clothes." She said before bursting into another peal ofughter. She immediately saw his eyes darkened at her words. His gaze moved from her corbone to her chest and into her legs. Then he dragged his eyes back to her face. Her lips were already lifted into a sly grin.


    He stood and walked inside her room.


    "Hey! The certi " She didn''t finish her sentence when she saw him lock the door. Then he strode towards her, cupped her face, and nted a kiss into her lips. It wasn''t the soft kiss that he always gave her. This time, it was rough and sloppy and hungry. She felt him bit her lower lips as he lifted her andid her towards her bed.


    Before she could utter a single word, she already felt his hand into the hem of her nightgown. Using a bit of his strength, he pulled the clothing, the gown parted with a loud ripping sound. She immediately felt need surging inside her. Surprise and anticipation hummed in her blood as she threaded his fingers into his head. She could feel his erection on her stomach.


    The kisses continued before his mouth closed over to her breast. She closed her eyes as a moan slid past her lips, her hand flew towards his shoulders. She could feel her need pulse in her stomach. He slid his body down and started kissing her thighs. Then he yanked the small fabric that covered her core as he met her eyes. He stared at her as his thumb stroked the aching nub in the middle of her thighs.


    Her brown orbs darkened with delight.


    Running a finger into her damp opening, Shen Qui started trailing kisses to her stomach then into her breast. He used his tongue to flicked her hardened nipples. She could feel her core throbbed against his touch, begging for him to slid a finger or two. He grinned before slipping a finger into her wet opening. Slowly, he started thrusting, filling her in, stretching her.


    She could feel every bone in her body melt as he continued thrusting. Soon enough, the pressure in her stomach made her gasp for air. She closed her eyes, biting her lips as the waved of orgasm wracked her insides.


    The absence of movement immediately brought her back from the intense pleasure that she just felt. Her eyes flew open and saw the devilish glint in his dark chocte orbs.


    Holding her eyes with a wicked smile, he rolled away. The loss of his body heat immediately made her frowned. Her chest lifted as she waited for him to say anything. Was he going to stop? Now? "y stupid games win stupid prizes." He uttered, the smirk on his face was apparent as he dragged his gaze into the naked beauty his naked beauty. "You have no idea how much I want you." His voice was dark and hoarse. "But not here." Not when he haven''t obtain the approval of her father... yet. Then he turned his back away and walked out of the room, leaving her alone in the bed squirming with anger raw anger.


    .....


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 Chapter 79: Date

    Chapter 79: Date


    It had been twenty-seven hours, three minutes, and twenty three-four seconds since Lyca had talked to Shen Qui. Not that she was counting.


    Her face had be so cold, even her father didn''t dare utter a word towards his princess. He could only give Shen Qui a look full of questions, wondering why his daughter was angry. Did Shen Qui do something?


    Lyca and Shen Qui were already on the school premises, inside their room when someone from the student council asked Lyca toe to the student council building. To appease her anger, Lyca decided to vent it to someone else. Thus, she went to the student council building thinking that these people would try and argue with her. If that is the case, she would have a reason to hurt them.


    Yes. She needed to p someone. If worsees to worst, Lyca was nning to slit someone''s throat. Preferably Long Yi''s throat but she could do Xie Jun''s too. Maybe that stupid cousin of hers from the Zhang Family or his fiance.


    "Miss Lyca Huang is here." The same man wearing a ck butler attire with white gloves led her inside the student council office. Surprisingly, only Long Yi and Xie Jun are here this time.


    "Lyca." Long Yi gave her a cordial smile. When he saw that she was alone, the smile on his handsome face widened. "Please take a seat."


    "Is there something?" Lyca asked.


    "How disrespectful." Xie Jun was the first one who reacted. Today, the man was wearing another shade of purple that almost looked like white. "Is that how you talk to the head of the student council?"


    Lyca''s slips curved into a smile, surprising Xie Jun. She was already in a bad mood and this stupid man was trying to provoke her. Does Xie Jun think she had no way of killing him while he sleeps? The thought made her snort.


    "Ehem that is alright." Long Yi decided to appease Lyca. After knowing her capabilities, he already realized that the Long Company needed someone like her. Especially now that they just lost their head researcher. "Jun it''s fine. No need to worry about it."


    "Hmph!" Xie Jun crossed his arms across his chest and snorted before turning his head away.


    "Lyca Ummm it''s alright that I call you Lyca, right?"


    She nodded.


    "Well, you have been away for quite some time. A lot have happened when you were gone." He stood from his seat and walked towards Lyca who was still standing in front of the Long rectangr table where the student council always have their meeting. He walked in front of her and eyed her cold expression.


    Lyca was wearing all-ck jeans with a ck shirt and a leather jacket. It made her look like a rebel. It made her look scary and hot. Unknowingly, he nodded in approval. Even his father liked Lyca''s appearance. He too had no problem with her. "We decided to make you be one of us."


    Her nk gaze met his eyes. Still, she said nothing and waited for him to say the ''but''.


    "But" As expected, Long Yi added. "You have to promise not to challenge anyone anymore."


    "And If someone challenges me?"


    "Naturally, you can choose to ept or decline."


    Lyca''s lips twitched as she added. "And if someone challenges Shen Qui?"


    "Your bodyguard is not part of the deal. I''m sorry. He is here as a student. We can''t just make be one of us too. After all, he didn''te from a prominent family. He never had any training when ites to etiquette. He is a little bold, naive, and dangerous." Long Yi maintained a smile.


    "No." Lyca answered.


    "What do you mean no?" Xie Jun interjected. "You think, just because the student council agreed to let you in we can now bend the rules and add another person?"


    "No. I am not going to be one of you." Lyca uttered. She raised her chin, her gaze challenging. "I am bold, naive, and dangerous. I didn''t have any training when ites to etiquette. I f*cking curse like a sailor."


    "You "Xie Jun''s face darkened. However, before he could say anything else, Long Yi already held his palm towards him. A gesture that immediately silenced Xie Jun.


    "I always knew you would say that. But think about it. A member of the student council has many advantages. From fame to influence and power. This ce is like a training grown for future leaders like Xie Jun like you and me." He then reached out to try and touched Lyca''s hair. However, Lyca moved her head, dodging his hand.


    "And Shen Qui?"


    "As I said" When he saw the indifference in Lyca''s eyes, Long Yi immediately knew Lyca wouldn''t change her mind unless Shen Qui woulde along with her.


    "Lyca you don''t have to worry about security. We will provide you with everything. Servants, your own butler, security personnel, and everything you want. That is one of the perks for being one of us."


    She frowned. "I don''t trust you. It''s either you let him in and let me bring you own servant or let me continue challenging everyone in this school including you."


    Surprised at Lyca''s threat, Long Yi stared at her small pretty face. He had never met someone as bold and daring as her. He couldn''t help but wonder if she would be this feisty in bed too. He can wait. As his fiance, this woman was bound to be his. "Well if you badly want to bring him with you then you must agree to one condition."


    She lifted an eyebrow.


    "Have a date with me." Long Yi''s words was definitely a surprise to Lyca. Sadly, he didn''t specifically say if he wanted to have a date with Lyca alone. Meaning she could bring someone to apany her. Someone like Huang Xiaoxuan and Shen Qui. Just the thought of that man''s name made her face darkened. She couldn''t forget the evil smirk that Shen Qui gave her.


    "Is that alright with you?" Long Yi said, his voice had turned gentle. Seeing Lyca''s dark look, made him think that she really disliked him. And it was probably because he was someone from the Long Family. But he was not nning to give up. Instead, he was nning to enjoy the chase.


    "Alright. We have a date." Lyca answered.

 Chapter 80: Old Man Huang Sheng Hong

    Chapter 80: Old Man Huang Sheng Hong


    Long Yi beamed. He tried to touch her silver hair again. And for the second time, Lyca dodged his hand, wondering if LongYi was someone with problems in his head. It was clear that she didn''t like him to touch her. But this man was just


    Lyca gave him a weird look. She was certain she hadn''t poison this man before. Why was he showing some signs of mental health issues?


    "I just thought your hair is exquisite."


    She responded with a nod. It was indeed beautiful. But it was too long. Seeing that she wasn''t interested in talking to him, Long Yi tried to change the topic. "Thest time that we are here you said you wanted to see the cafeteria? Why don''t I show you the kitchen? And "


    "No thanks." After she killed the Long Family''s head researcher, Lyca decided to be more careful. Even if Long Yi would point a gun to her head, she would never eat something from this man''s kitchen.


    "Is there anything?" She asked. Long Yi might be another eye candy but Lyca didn''t like him. There was just something in this man''s face that she hated. She wondered if it was because his hair looked more prim and proper than her messy bun. Or the fact that his eyshes were too long it lookedpletely unnatural.


    Still, everything about this man was screaming vain. Even Shen Qui who was more good-looking than this man was not this vain.


    "WellLet me apany you back to your room."


    "Why?" her question made him speechless. What does she mean by that?


    "I I just wanted to tour you around. I am sure that you haven''t "


    "Thank you but I hate walking."


    "" Again, he felt a little absurd. Did Lyca hate him this much? He turned towards Xie Jun and motioned him to leave them alone. Xie Jun grunted before heplied. Seeing the man in purple gone, Long Yi immediately started talking. "Look... about what happened a few days ago It was all my father''s decision to challenge yourpany. It wasn''t my intention to make you angry."


    "" This man is indeed vain. Too full of himself. "You are thinking too much." Overthinking kills. This Long Yi will probably die at an early age.


    "I am sorry that I didn''t inform you beforehand." He took a step towards her. But contrary to the movies, Lyca didn''t take a step back. Instead, she lifted an eyebrow, daring him to take another step. One more step and he would end up dead.


    "Mr. Long you are over-thinking. I didn''t even notice you are with your father until you spoke to introduce your people." This was the longest sentence that she spoke since she arrived here.


    A sigh escaped Long Yi''s lips. Conquering a woman like Lyca wouldn''t be easy. "My apologies." He maintained a kind smile. "Thank you foring here. I will send you details about the date. It would be right after my birthday." He then went back to the table and handed her a sleek, ck invitation card. "You are invited. Wear something ck."


    She eyed the card before she nodded and epted it.


    "Is there anything?"


    Long Yi smiled. It seems that Lyca is indeed toozy toplete some of her sentences. Zhang Zhi''s words were actually right. "No." Shaking his head, a peculiar glint shed in Long Yi''s eyes. "Some people will move your things and of course, Shen Qui''s things to your new room."


    "No need," Lyca uttered but didn''tplete her sentence again. She just turned her back and left him wondering what was the meaning behind her words. Of course, she wasn''t nning to rify anything. Staying with a man like Long Yi was bad for her. Moving forward, she should definitely avoid that man. Lyca rode a car towards the mansion where she was staying with Shen Qui. She wasn''t nning on talking to him yet, however, to her surprise Shen Qui wasn''t in the room when she arrived.


    Her gaze immediately darkened when she saw a note on the table.


    [Your father wanted to talk to me. I made some tea and oven-baked bread pizzas. I followed the instructions. It was good. I hope you like it. :)]


    "" A smile crept on her face when she saw the smiley face. Damn, Shen Qui was trying to coax her into speaking to him. She was still mad but seeing the pizza made her realize that her life was too short to be angry about something. So, she smiled and started eating the bread pizzas. Since it was good, Lyca decided to give him half of her forgiveness.


    What Lyca didn''t know was her father didn''t summon Shen Qui. It was the other way around. It was Shen Qui who wanted to talk to Huang Sheng Hong about something very important.


    "You " Huang Sheng Hong''s face reddened when he held the paper that Shen Qui gave him. "You andYou wanted to marry my daughter?"


    "Yes, sir."


    "And she actually signed this paper?"


    "Yes, sir. I haven''t submitted it yet so we are not officially married."


    "And you still dared to show your face in front of me?" Huang Sheng Hong gritted his teeth, his vile gaze bore into Shen Qui. "You did you force my daughter into " Just the thought of it made him want to explode.


    "Sheng Hong" Contrary to Huang Sheng Hong, Tang Nini calmly drank her tea next to her husband. "I think Lyca was the one who forced this young man into marrying her."


    "You how could you say something like that about our daughter?"


    "Heh This old man. We all know her like the back of our palms. You think she would let anyone decide her marriage? You think someone like Shen Qui could force her into something like that?" Tang Nini smiled and look at Shen Qui. "Young man be honest with me and start talking about the first time that my daughter asked you to marry her."


    "Tang Nini! How could you "


    "Can you calm down and sit down!?" Tang Nini raised her voice and red at her husband. "Stop acting as If you are the one who proposed to me! Have you gotten too old that you already forgot how we got married?"


    Huang Sheng Hong''s lips pressed in a straight line as he clenched his jaws unable to refute his wife''s words.


    "Now" Tang Nini''s voice turned gentle as she smiled and darted her gaze back to Shen Qui. "Tell me everything."


    ...


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 Chapter 81: Grand Wedding

    Chapter 81: Grand Wedding


    "So, you like her?" Tang Nini was so calm, it made Shen Qui a little nervous.


    "Yes, Maam."


    "I don''t think my daughter would just like anyone." Huang Sheng Hong chimed in. His arms crossed on his chest as he red at Shen Qui.


    "I told you. Stop it. I will talk to him." Tang Nini said, then ignored her husband again. "So? Did she tell you that she like you back?"


    "No, Maam."


    "But she already proposed for more than three times, yes?"


    He nodded in response.


    "Hmmm." Tang Nini dark her tea while nodding. "Well young man. Can you handle my daughter?"


    "Yes, Maam."


    "You think anyone can just handle my daughter?" Huang Sheng Hong snorted.


    "Sheng Hong?" Tang Nini turned her gaze towards her husband. "He is alive. And they already kissed."


    "You "


    Shen Qui stared at Tang Nini. He never mentioned anything about a kiss or anything private between him and Lyca, yet she calmly guessed it. He couldn''t help but look at Huang Sheng Hong whose face had turned a shade darker. Shen Qui had been anticipating the worse about everything. He knew that his shoulders still hurt, but if Huang Sheng Hong would ask for a fight, he was prepared to say yes.


    He was also expecting Lyca''s mother to cry and walk out. But this is far very far from his expectations at all. Shen Qui always thought that Lyca was a bit weird. It seems that her parents are peculiar type of people too people who don''t follow the norm.


    "This old man" Tang Nini turned her attention back to Shen Qui. "Ignore him. He can''t ept that Lyca would soon turn twenty-two. He can''t ept that she would soon find a man and get married and leave this house." Shen Qui heard Huang Sheng Hong snort in response.


    "I believe she did this because of the Long Family?" Tang Nini continued.


    "Yes, Maam."


    "And after that what was your n? Are you certain you can stand to be with someone who doesn''t like to go out of the house? As her mother, Tang Nini knew Lyca better than anyone else. "My daughter doesn''t like to interact with other people. She hated the crowd and would always choose her bed. You could give her all the jewels in the world, and she would still prefer a king-size bed with some delicious food." Tang Nini''s eyes were gentle as she smiled. Her smile immediately reminded Shen Qui of Lyca.


    Shen Qui met the older woman''s eyes. "Yes, Maam."


    "Of course, you will say yes now! Would you say no in front of her parents?" Huang Sheng Hong added. "If you dare hurt Lyca"


    "Sheng Hong! Do you think anyone can just hurt your daughter?"


    Once again, Huang Sheng Hong turned silent as he remembered the people that Lyca killed in that abandoned building. All of their throats were slit, eyes wide opened as if they died without knowing who killed them. He turned his gaze back to Shen Qui. His initial suspicions about Lyca''s arrangement was true! His instinct had been telling him that Lyca would take a liking to Shen Qui because he was good looking.


    That was why he hated the fact that Lyca and Shen Qui were practically staying in one house. Just the thought of Lyca and Shen Qui''s room in the school, made him fumed. He couldn''t help but think about things that only intimate people do!


    Huang Sheng Hong knew his daughter so much, he knew that Lyca would always get what she wanted in the shortest way possible. If Lyca wanted Shen Qui then she would


    His gaze turned sharp as he fought the urge to get his gun and shoot this young man.


    "I want you to give my daughter a grand wedding! I want her to wear a gown and walk down the aisle. She deserves that!" He barked.


    "This is why I am here." Shen Qui met the Colonel''s gaze, bravely. "I want her to like me before a grand wedding."


    "Hmph! You are too full of yourself! You think my daughter will like you?" This man might be good-looking but


    His face contorted into a scowl when he realized that he couldn''t really find something to dislike about this Shen Qui!Alright, maybe Lyca would indeed like him. BUT that is only if he works hard enough.


    "But isn''t this good?" Surprisingly, Tang Nini was beaming with delight. "At least Qui''er was waiting for Lyca to like him back."


    "Stop calling him Qui''er!"


    "Sheng Hong stop being jealous." Tang Nini continued beaming. "Alright. You have my approval. I will personally take care of this wedding certificate and keep this marriage a secret for six months. Then we can do a grand wedding."


    "Tang Nini!" Huang Sheng Hong tried to get the piece of paper from Tang Nini''s hands. However, the other stood and kicked a chair towards her husband, blocking his way. "You How could you approve of this? Do you think Lyca will like him?"


    "What''s not to like?" Tang Nini rolled her eyes. "Ignore him. He is a bit salty." Then she started smiling again. "Now why don''t we think about the color theme of this wedding? Huang Sheng Hong I suggest you stop embarrassing yourself or I will choose an ugly suit for you."


    Shen Qui gave Tang Nini a wry smile. This was the first time that he saw this kind of personality from the Colonel and his wife. And instead of getting scared, he felt a little warm in his chest. Shen Qui felt that despite all the words, these two were sincere. They love Lyca and would always want her to be happy.


    Of course, Lyca was unaware of this matter. After seeing Long Yi, she decided to find something that would make her happy. Thus, she chose to watch some cute rom TV series while eating the bread pizza that Shen Qui made for her.


    ....


    Goal for mass release next week.


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 Chapter 82: Tsundere Clown!

    Chapter 82: Tsundere Clown!


    Lyca woke upte the next day. It was already noon and since today was Long Yi''s birthday, the school actually made everyone attend a birthday party for everyone. This was also a way for them to mingle and build connections as their parents were also invited.


    However, aside from this, Long Yi had an exclusive party that only includes about twenty people from the university and ten people that was not from the university. This list includes sons and daughters of the richest businessmen in the whole Xu continent as well as the member of the student council. Of course, Lyca was included in this list of people.


    When Lyca discovered that Shen Qui wasn''t back yet, she forced herself not to call him to ask if he was still alive. That man didn''t even apologize and just made her some bread with toppings. The lower half of her body wasn''t ready to forgive him, yet!


    With this in mind, Lyca started preparing for the party. She wasn''t really the type of woman that would need hours to prepare herself, however tonight, she was nning to do something else. something big.


    Wearing a ck and white re dress with her three-inch ck stiletto, Lyca arrived in the Student Council Building just ten minutes after the party started.


    However, before she could walk inside the building, Huang Xiaoxuan suddenly arrived in front of her. "Why are youte?" Huang Xiaoxuan asked. "The party started ten minutes ago and I have been here for more than twenty minutes now."


    "Why are you here?"


    "You didn''t know? I am Long Yi''s new secretary. He personally asked me for a coffee so he could recruit me. I was also invited to the party." Seeing the interest in Lyca''s eyes, Huang Xiaoxuan started talking as they walked towards the second floor of the building where the exclusive party would be held. "Well I have been doing really good in my sses. Unlike other people who always sleeps in ss, I am taking this opportunity seriously. Besides, this is the first time that the Huang Security joined this school. It is only right that one of us gets the highest grade or even top this school. Of course, we already know that I would definitely rule the rankings after the school year."


    "Ah you and Long Yi are really perfect for each other."


    "I agree." Huang Xiaoxuan said before he snapped. "What do you mean by that? Stop saying nonsense things! What if other people hear you? They might think that I like Long Yi!" Seeing Huang Xiaoxuan''s serious expression made Lyca want tough out loud. This woman is definitely a tsundere clown!


    Huang Xiaoxuan continued. "All I''m saying is now that I am working as Long Yi''s secretary, you should behave yourself. Don''t embarrass me in front of Long Yi and you should always remember that the reason why they decided to make you one of them is because of your freaky challenges. You aren''t supposed to make so many challenges like that."


    Again, Lyca nodded and let Huang Xiaoxuan continued talking as she looked at her cousin''s figure that was very obvious from the short and ck bodycon dress with a little bit ofcy see-through garments and long frontal slit, she was wearing. Her cousin looked extremely alluring.


    "Hey... Do you like Long Yi?" Lyca directly asked.


    "You why the hell would I like him? He is our enemy!"


    "Do you want to sleep with him?"


    Her words halted Huang Xiaoxuan''s steps. She immediately dragged Lyca towards the corner near the stairs. "What are you talking about?"


    "I can help you."


    "What "Huang Xiaoxuan straightened her clothes and cleared her throat. "What are you nning?" Lyca''s words immediately made her change her tone.


    "I can make Long Yi sleep with you." She decided to be direct. As expected, Huang Xiaoxuan gave her a suspicious look. "But if you don''t want"


    "I want to!" Huang Xiaoxuan blurted out before ring at her. "Tell me about your n."


    Lyca only smiled. "I will text you the details. For now, you have to drink this."


    "What is that?"


    "Aphrodisiac. The effects will start two hours from now."


    "Why the hell would I drink that?"


    Lyca shrugged. "Since you don''t want it then "


    "I want it!" Huang Xiaoxuan grabbed the tablet and drank it without asking any more questions.


    "Good girl." Lyca beamed. "Don''t worry. I am someone from the Huang Family. I would not let you embarrass yourself tonight."


    "Hmph! I already know that!" Even her father told her that Lyca would never hurt her unless she would do something stupid. "I will trust you this once." Her father warned her about being close to Long Yi. However, Huang Xiaoxuan was adamant that Long Yi was someone destined for her. So, she did her best to get his attention.


    Now that she finally seeded, she was nning on seducing him. And since Lyca presented this opportunity then, Huang Xiaoxuan was nning to take advantage of it.


    "Good." Lyca nodded. Since this woman wanted Long Yi so much, then she could have him. After all, Lyca was a very generous woman when ites to teaching someone a lesson.


    When Lyca arrived at the party, Long Yi and the others immediately weed her with a huge smile. Most of them congratted Lyca for being the new member of the Student Council.


    "So?" Long Yi''s voice was soft as he leaned towards Lyca''s ears. "Did you prepare a gift for me?"


    Lyca looked at him and fought the urge to punch his beautiful face. This man is really making her ufortable. She knew that her expression was saying how she hated this man''s presence, and yet Long Yi doesn''t seem to get it. Was he thinking that she was just ying hard to get?


    Lyca forced a smile out of her face as she handed him a small box. "It''s called gentle size." She answered. "You can use it against your enemies." Her eyes twinkled as she watched him open the box in front of her.


    ..............


    Remaining chapters will be releaseter today. Nov. 2 is my mother''s birthday so I was a bit busy.


    Goal for mass release.


    Top 40: 5 chapters


    Top 30: 8 chapters


    Please don''t forget to vote.

 Chapter 83: Broken Neck

    Chapter 83: Broken Neck


    However, before Long Yi could open the leather box, he closed it and eyed Lyca. "Thank you." A sincere smile shed on his face. "I will check it outter. I think the gift is very special. I don''t want other people to see it."


    Lyca fought the urge to roll her eyes.


    "Cousin. It is so sweet of you to give Mr. Long a gift." Huang Xiaoxuan stood next to Lyca. Of course, she noticed how Long Yi had been giving Lyca all of his attention since she arrived. However, she also saw how Lyca ignored him. Huang Xiaoxuan knew Lyca enough to know that the woman was toozy to engaged in conversations like this. So, she chose to stand by her side and answer Long Yi''s question for Lyca.


    "Hm." Lyca nodded, her eyes were observing the crowd. Just like Lyca and Huang Xiaoxuan, everyone was wearing ck. Except for Long Yi who was wearing an all-white suit. Under the dazzling light of the chandelier, Long Yi looked even more attractive. Even Lyca gave a nod of approval to the man.


    "Xiaoxuan why don''t you get Lyca something to drink?" Long Yi said.


    "No." Lyca shook her head and stared at Long Yi. "I would only drink something that you personally gave me."


    As expected, Long Yi beamed at her words. He was supposed to be the birthday celebrant but Lyca personally asked him to serve her. Of course, to him this means something. Maybe Lyca was trying to see if he would act arrogant and decline?


    That was not going to happen tonight. He immediately stood from his seat and walked towards the area where the drinks are located.


    "That man is a fool. You sure you like him?" Lyca mumbled when Long Yi finally left them.


    "You This is his birthday. Why would you "


    "People would do everything to get what they want," Lyca said. "Keep that in mind."


    "Hmph!" Huang Xiaoxuan left Lyca''s side to help Long Yi get the drinks. Lyca is indeed quite abnormal. Tonight was supposed to be Long Yi''s birthday and yet she dared ask him to get her drinks? How inappropriate.


    Seeing Huang Xiaoxuan leave, Lyca also stood and left the room. It was too crowded and Long Yi won''t leave her alone. That man is either too clueless or he is thinking that she was purposely acting like this to get his attention. Typical prideful man who can''t ept someone doesn''t like them.


    Just like the TV series that she watchedst night.


    The room where the party was held was huge and elegant. She was expecting that the party would happen on that meeting room with a huge rectangr table and portraits of the previous student council presidents hanging on the wall. To her surprise, they were actually in the room across the meeting room. She eyed the huge chandelier that was made of crystals and beautiful rustic redmps.


    The ck-themed party was using red to highlight itsvish decorations. From the blood-red roses that adorned the huge rectangr table to the red velvets used in the lounge furniture. A huge ck three-tier cake with red ribbons and roses was in the middle of the room just below the chandelier.Lyca couldn''t help but wonder why Long Yi would wear white when the theme was actually red and ck.


    Attention.


    That was the only thing she could think of. Of course, he would want all the attention to himself, after all, this was his birthday. Lyca immediately thought about her past birthdays. She hated celebrations especially something that would remind her of a wedding. Because of this, her parents never really followed the usual big and grand birthdays for her. Instead, they would celebrate it with just the three of them. And of course, sometimes Yi''an and the other servants would join them.


    She wondered if Shen Qui would join them this year though. That man is too unpredictable. Sweet and gentle and naive. Then he would turn into someone dangerous, cold, and someone that she would love to devour.


    To be honest, she liked that kind of transition. A man with many sides and secrets. She found it mysterious. Too bad she doesn''t have the ability to reciprocate what he was giving.


    "Long Yi was looking for you." Lyca turned towards the man who approached her. Wearing a ck suit with purple ties, Xie Jun was surprisingly smiling at her. "Why are you hiding here?" Lyca was actually on the balcony of the meeting room just across the room where the birthday party was held.


    Ignoring his words, Lyca turned her attention to the tranquility in front of her.


    Xie Jun just shrugged and stood next to her. He hated this woman but for their ns, he needed to at least act cordially. Plus, tonight Long Yi was nning something for Lyca. He could only hope that this woman would fall for it. Or they would face another trouble.


    "You should go back to the party. Many people wanted to talk to the new member of the student council. You should know that this membership would be inherited by the members of the Huang Family, right?"


    Again, she didn''t answer. She just stood in a daze, watching the sparkling lights around the building. She badly wanted to go back to her room and cuddle the wrong word. She meant snuggle in her bed with herfortable pillow and nkets and preferably a handsome man like Shen Qui.


    "Do you hate speaking to me that much?" Xie Jun asked. He was really helpless when ites to a weird woman who doesn''t follow basic etiquette in conversations!


    "Hate," Lyca uttered, her gaze still on the lights. "You think too much." Hate was a strong word that meant she cared. She doesn''t.


    She wouldn''t care if Xie Jun would suddenly fall from the second floor and broke his neck. Finally, Lyca turned her head and stared at Xie Jun. Her gaze darted towards the man''s neck.


    "What What are you doing?" Xie Jun shivered and took a step back, his instincts telling him that something is definitely wrong with this woman.


    "Too noisy." Lyca smiled an evil, sinister smile.


    .....


    I might lock the chapters starting chapter 90. We will see. SMUT before lock.


    Please don''t forget to vote.


    3/5

 Chapter 84: Come Back and Save Me

    Chapter 84: Come Back and Save Me


    "Whoa! Stay away from me!" Xie Jun almost jumped out.


    Seeing him run away from her as fast as the lightning, Lyca couldn''t help butugh. Was she so scary? She shook her head inwardly. Xie Jun was too dumb to y this game, his changes and actions were too obvious. It immediately made Lyca suspicious. Coming in here and talking to her was like telling her ''hey I am nice because we have an evil n.''


    Such a novice. Lyca sneered. Well it''s not like she doesn''t have something nned against them too. All she needed now is to wait something that she is very good at. Lyca leaned against the baluster waiting for Long Yi toe and find her. However, instead of Long Yi, another person found Lyca on the balcony first.


    "Lyca Huang."


    She squinted at the woman whose breath smell of vodka. Wearing a ck low cut halter top, the woman who approached her is someone insignificant. She eyed the woman''s thick makeup, red lipstick, and intricate hairstyle. This should be Zhang Zhi''s fiance but she had actually forgotten her name.


    Seeing Lyca examined her clothing, the woman beamed and twisted her hips as she walked towards Lyca, emphasizing her ample breasts and perfectly crafted legs. She stood in front of Lyca, her eyes squinted. "Why are you here?" the woman asked.


    Lyca tried to remember the woman''s name but immediately realized that she couldn''t. Was it Ling something?


    When the woman saw Lyca just stared at her in a daze, she snorted. She hated how everyone wanted to have this woman by their side. And she hated how she needed to cooperate for this crazy n.


    Just what was so good about Lyca?


    The woman let out a sigh inwardly. Acting like she''s f*cking drunk is not easy for someone like her whose alcohol tolerance was considered high. She immediately reminded herself about the things that Long Yi would give to her Ling Family once the ns seed.


    "Why are you here?" Again, the woman asked.


    Still, Lyca didn''t answer and turned her attention to the lights. She had been waiting for them to finally make their move. She had been wondering if Long Yi would use Zhang Zhi against her, but it seems that he was smart enough to use the fiance? A weak woman against another woman.


    "Hey! Why are you ignoring me?" The woman tried to touch her shoulders but Lyca already took a step back, avoiding her hand. "You "


    "You''re drunk. Go to sleep." Lyca met the woman''s eyes. She was unsure if this woman was really drunk or pretending to be one. But if this woman would dare hurt her, Lyca wouldn''t hesitate to make her sleep forever.


    "Hmph! So arrogant! Just because you are Zhang Zhi''s cousin doesn''t mean that I would put up with your disrespect." The woman said.


    "Ling Something" Lyca uttered. "Are you in love with Long Yi?"


    "" The woman stilled. Her eyes turned wide. When she saw the ridicule in Lyca''s smile, her expression turned ashen. How did Lyca know? Was it because she volunteered toe with Long Yi and Lyca the first time that they met? "What What are you talking about?"


    Lyca shrugged. Obviously, this woman didn''t like that dumb cousin of hers. Just like Huang Xiaoxuan, this woman liked Long Yi too. That man had so many women liking him, his wife would have to fight a lot of women. Suchplicated life is only suited for the male lead in the series that she was watching.


    "You should tell him."


    "Stop it!" The woman hissed. "You know nothing!" Lyca''s words were nonchnt and direct. She hated it. How could someone engaged to another guy tell someone that they liked them? At least, her dignity wouldn''t allow her to do such things.


    Lyca pressed her lips together. Having too manyplications in a rtionship is to hassle. She would be toozy to deal with that. "Poor Long Yi." She mumbled. Long Yi must have thought that he was lucky to have this many women like him. But how could he deal with too much drama in the future? Moreover, Huang Xiaoxuan Long Yi''s rightful wife is not someone that would allow other women to approached her husband.


    Lyca was sure that Huang Xiaoxuan would raise hell once Long Yi would sleep with another woman. Pitiful. But Lyca is excited to see the drama unfold.


    "Hmph! Don''t act as if you don''t like Long Yi! You are just too weird to notice it now!" The woman roared as if trying to attract the attention of other people.


    Lyca just stared at the woman, waiting for her to finally make her move. Lyca couldn''t help but wonder about Long Yi''s creativity. Is this Ling Woman going to act as if Lyca bullied her? Maybe she would provoke Lyca into hurting her? Maybe she would suddenly act like Lyca pushed her and she would trip and fell?


    This This is like all the concubine''s schemes as they fought for the emperor''s attention!


    "If you hated to be with the student council so much then why join?" The Ling Something woman added. Still, her voice was loud. This time, Lyca was certain that she was trying to attract an audience. Seeing this, Lyca opened her phone and sent a text to Shen Qui.


    [Come back and save me]


    "Why are you ignoring me?" The woman tried to snatch the phone from Lyca''s hands. Soon enough, the woman realized that Lyca is stronger than she looks.


    "How disrespectful," Lyca utteredzily. "You want my phone so much?" She lifted an eyebrow before she shoved her phone in the woman''s face. "Then eat it!"


    Surprised at her actions, the woman screamed and staggered. Her eyes wide, mouth agape. How could a woman be this aggressive? "You "


    "Next time you touch me, I will kill you," Lyca said coldly. Was she someone that would allow insignificant people to bully her? She smiled and enjoyed the fear in the woman''s eyes.


    The woman used the baluster to support herself as tears started streaming down her face. "How dare you threatened someone from the student council?"


    .....


    Do you like the new cover?


    Please don''t forget to vote.


    4/5

 Chapter 85: Knight in Shining Armor

    Chapter 85: Knight in Shining Armor


    "What is going on here?"


    Lyca fought the urge tough when she heard Xie Jun''s voice. Such dramatics. Is it really necessary to have this much casts when scheming against her? These people are truly overestimating her.


    "What did you to Ling Nana?"


    "Oh? That''s her name?" Lyca lifted an eyebrow then watched as Xie Jun helped Ling Nana.


    "What did you do?"


    Lyca''s gaze darted towards the group of people following Xie Jun. Ling Nana wanted an audience and Xie Jun brought the audience here. Wonderful n. Lyca would have given them a round of apuse. If they used someone who could act better than these two.


    Before Lyca could say anything, Ling Nana already blurted out the fact that Lyca shoved her phone on her face and that she threatened to kill her when she just wanted to talk. After all, she was the newest member of the student council.


    "Brother Jun" Ling Nana''s shoulder shook as she sobbed. "I please don''t me Lyca Aunt Ying told us that she grew up abroad. So So her morals are different. She was just upset that I tease her about being the new muse."


    "What do you mean? You think growing up abroad would give her the right to hurt someone? You Lyca Huang How could you hurt Nana like this? She is the kindest girl in the council! Plus, she is Zhang Zhi''s fiance! If you don''t like Nana then at least show some respect to your cousin!"


    "That''s right, Lyca. I think what you did was unforgivable. I think we have rules against such cruelty."


    "As a member of the student council, you should be the model student."


    Slowly, the people who followed Xie Jun voice out their opinions while some people just chose to watch the show.


    "Lyca you should apologize to Nana, right now." Xie Jun said. "Or we will press charges."


    "Brother Jun no need. There is no need to apologize or press charges." Ling Nana bit her lower lip. "I understand that I was too noisy and I keep on asking nonsense questions. So So I know a lot of people don''t like me because of that."


    "Nana!"


    "No Brother Jun. It''s fine. I understand Miss Huang. I was just I was trying to be friendly and I guess she doesn''t like that."


    "Nana I suggest you press charges. This woman is pretty violent."


    "She is from the Huang Family, right?"


    "Oh! Right I heard about that too! I need to talk to my father about their connections with the Huang Family."


    Whispers turned into an irritating buzz in Lyca''s ears. Still, she said nothing and just watched as Ling Nana and Xie Jun continued acting as if the current issue doesn''t concern her at all.


    Lyca looked at her watch and immediately notice that it is almost two hours after Huang Xiaoxuan drank that pill.


    In less than twenty minutes, the pill will start showing its effects.


    "Hmph! What can you say about it!? Why are you so silent?" Xie Jun said, he lifted his chin and gave Lyca a smug look. Since Ling Nana dared to say this, he knew that the CCTV must have captured this incident and that must be the reason why Lyca wasn''t saying anything.


    "Brother Jun" Suddenly Long Yi arrived with Zhang Zhi. "What is happening here?" Just like the knight in shining armor, he immediately stood in front of Lyca, as if protecting her from everyone''s gaze. Of course, Zhang Zhi stood by his fiance. "What is going on? Why are you embarrassing her in front of everyone?" Long Yi continued.


    "Long Yi, this woman actually shoved her phone on Ling Nana''s face! Ling Nana is already drunk, when I arrived here with the others, she was using the baluster to support herself, her face was extremely pale as she looked at Lyca. I am sure that the CCTV must have captured this incident."


    Long Yi''s face darkened, he turned towards the pale Ling Nana then towards Lyca. "Is it true?" His voice was soft,pletely contrasting Xie Jun''s usatory tone.


    "Yes." Of course, Lyca nodded. It was true. Why would she lie?


    "See? I told you, this woman is dangerous! She is violent and doesn''t respect us!" Xie Jun said.


    "Cousin! Why would you even hurt Nana? You know that she is a very kind woman. She doesn''t have any intention to hurt you!" Zhang Zhi put his arms around Ling Nana as he asked Lyca.


    "Well she said she liked Long Yi." Lyca''s words weren''t loud but it was clear. Almost everyone lifted their eyebrows when they heard her ims. "She is already your fiance and yet she still dared to say that she liked Long Yi. In front of me." Lyca''s narrowed her eyes at Ling Nana. "So I shoved my phone on her face. She''s lucky I didn''t bring any daggers with me."


    "You That is not true!" Ling Nana sobbed. "You are lying. Why would you even think that I like Brother Yi?"


    In response, Lyca shrugged. Judging from Zhang Zhi''s reaction, he already knew his fiance liked Long Yi.


    "Zhi! Please don''t believe this woman. You know me! Why would I even say something like that?" Ling Nana said when Zhang Zhi removed his arms around her. "Zhi! Please listen to me" Who would have thought that the witch Lyca would use something like this to counter them? "Zhi please she''s lying. She wanted to break us up. Please"


    Lyca snorted inwardly. Lyca already observed that Zhang Zhi really liked this woman but Ling Nana liked Long Yi. Of course, it was obvious that Zhang Zhi also noticed this but he kept quiet hoping that Ling Nana would soon change her heart. This issue must have created some tense atmosphere between Zhang Zhi, Ling Nana, and Long Yi.


    Now that Lyca brought it up, Zhang Zhi immediately believed her. Why, you asked? Because Zhang Zhi and Ling Nana knew about Lyca and Long Yi''s engagement. It would be natural for Ling Nana to confront the future fiance of her beloved.


    Seeing their ufortable faces, Lyca had to bite her lower lip, forcing herself not tough. Ah this is just too fun.


    Too fun indeed.


    .....


    This is superte.


    The party just ended an hour ago.


    Please don''t forget to vote.


    5/5

 Chapter 86: Inhibitions

    Chapter 86: Inhibitions


    A sigh escaped Long Yi''s lips. He looked at Ling Nana who was crying in Zhang Zhi''s arms. "You two should go. Nana is drunk."


    "But Brother Yi this woman"


    "Nana let''s talk about this when you are not drunk. I will personally examine the CCTV tomorrow. Is that okay?" Long Yi said, a charismatic smile stered on his lips.


    Ling Nana looked at Lyca, her face aggrieved before she nodded and asked Zhang Zhi to apany her. When Ling Nana and the other''s left, Long Yi immediately asked everyone to leave them as well. That included Huang Xiaoxuan who was following him around all night.


    "I''m so sorry about that." Long Yi uttered. "I would warn Nana about this behavior." He sighed. "I always knew that there was something different about how she treated me. It turns out" Long Yi shook his head. "Let me assure you. I don''t like Ling Nana and nothing is going on between us. My brother Zhang Zhi, liked her and I would never do something to treacherous to my brother." He exined gently.


    "Hmmm." Lyca nodded. Does she look like she care? The show ended just like that. She wanted to watch more of it and yet, Long Yi immediately sent everyone away. Was it because he was afraid Lyca would turn the situation around? Such a boring show. She wondered if Long Yi was still nning more. Or he was only nning to act as a knight in shining armor. Too bad, she doesn''t need one. "Apology epted." She added.


    "" Long Yi shook his head and let out a low chuckle. He stood next to Lyca, gazing at the lights on the trees. "Do you like to stay in a ce like this?"


    "Yes."


    "That''s good. Your room will also have its own balcony and a view like this too."


    Lyca nodded, saying nothing. It would be good to bring her egg swing in a ce like this and just sat all day reading some novels or watching some TV series. That life would be divine.


    "Before you left for a leave, I saw you practice your shooting with your bodyguard." Long Yi said. Actually, he didn''t saw her, but he watched all her videos when she was practicing in a shooting range. What surprised him was the fact that Lyca couldn''t shoot! Her aim was bad, her posture was toozy, and she kept onining! "I happen to know a lot about guns. If you want I can show you my personal collection in my room?"


    "No thanks," Lyca uttered. She doesn''t particrly like guns. If Long Yu would tell her that he would show her knife collections, then she might consider going to his room. "Loud."


    "Oh? You think they are loud?" Long Yu chuckled before he suddenly handed her a ss of champagne. "Here let''s drink to that."


    "Hmm?" She lifted an eyebrow, staring at the champagne before turning her head towards Long Yi. "What for?"


    "This was the first time that I heard someone said they think guns are too loud. At least in front of me." He loved guns. And every time he brought up the topic around guns, every woman would immediately show some interest and say they wanted to check out his personal collections.


    Yet, Lyca is different.


    "Oh." Lyca nodded. A whiff of some other chemical from the champagne immediately caught her attention. Aphrodisiac? No, this was something else. Lyca''s nose was sensitive to the smell of chemicals.


    She epted the ss and closed her eyes as she held the ss in front of her nose. Then a beautiful smile slithered on her face. So, Long Yi wanted her to visit his room just enough for the medicine mixed with the alcohol would show some of its effects.


    If she was right, this one would make her lose her inhibitions, increase sexual drive, and make her more rxed. When mixed with alcohol, its effects would triple. However, too much of this drug could potentially kill someone with a weak heart.


    "Well" Lyca uttered. She lifted her gaze and met Long Yi''s eyes. "I hate guns. " She held the ss towards him.


    A soft clink followed as both drank the champagne in their sses.


    "Hmmm. To be honest, I wasn''t expecting that you would say no." He chuckled."Most girls would surely agree once I asked them to visit my room."


    "Girls," Lyca uttered. "I am no girl."


    "True that is indeed true." Long Yi gulped. He stared at Lyca''s shadowed face as he celebrated inside. Lyca just drank the wine and even emptied her ss! This He already won. "You are stunning." He added.


    "I know."


    "" It seems that the poison is still not showing its effects. Long Yi chuckled, his orbs turned a shade darker as she watched Lyca stared into the forest again. What was so good about bushes, trees, and lights? He wondered. Why does this woman love to stare at nothing? "If you want I can bring you somewhere with a beautiful view of the garden and forest."


    "Really?" Lyca asked. Her hooded eyes looked enticing, yet Long Yi wasn''t nning on doing something now.


    "Hmmm.Come." Long Yi gave a gentle smile. Like a wolf in a sheep''s clothing, Long Yi held his hand towards her. He definitely thought that Lyca would ept his hand and let him lead her to the room. To his surprise, Lyca walked past his hand and said.


    "I can walk, Mr. Long I''ll be fine without your hand."


    "" Long Yi squinted his eyes but said nothing. Instead, he put his hands behind his back as he walked next to Lyca out of the meeting room. "So, Lyca why don''t you tell me about the things that you like? Soon, we will start working together in the student council, and I don''t know anything about you yet."


    "Food," Lyca uttered.


    "Hmmm?"


    "I like food."


    "Oh!" He gave a wry smile. "Me too." He couldn''t help but feel disappointed in himself. It had been a few hours since he started talking to Lyca, and she wouldn''t really say anything concrete about herself. This was too different than his previous women, who would tell him everything about themselves in five minutes. And honestly, he had no idea how to handle this awkwardness anymore.


    Of course, Long Yi was unaware that Lyca already told her something important about herself. She liked food and people who gave her food.


    ....


    Normal release schedule will start tomorrow.


    Please don''t forget to vote.

 Chapter 87: Useless

    Chapter 87: Useless


    "This room"


    "Is going to be your room." Long Yi smiled as he motioned her toe inside the room. "A lounge, a king-size bed, a piano, a small kitchen with fridge and oven, and a small balcony." He pointed at the king-size bed with white canopy curtains. "It''s from abroad. This room highly resembled mine except, my room has a huge jacuzzi."


    Roaming her eye around the room, Lyca immediately realized that this room was too much for her taste. The red carpet looked expensive butcks personality. The floral wallpapers on the walls are too girly, the white king size bed with white canopy curtains was too clean. She wouldn''t sleep on it, afraid that it would get dirty.


    She looked at the wooden furniture and the chandelier. All of them looked elegant and expensive but definitely notfortable. This room was fit for a princess without any personality. A yes woman who wouldn''tin about the nd yellow bulbs used in themps and the wooden furniture being too ufortable.


    "So? Do you like it?"


    "I like the kitchen." If there was one thing that she liked about this ce was the fact that the fridge was huge and the oven has enough space to bake bread pizza. The thought of bread pizza''s reminded her of Shen Qui. If that man won''t arrive and save her tonight, she would probably punch his jaw and ruin that pretty face.


    "Great! Now I will take you to the balcony? I promise the view is definitely worth it."


    Lyca nodded. It had been a few minutes since she drank that champagne and she could already feel her body temperature change. Judging from the effects, the champagne must have had high alcohol content. Probably higher than twelve percent. Was Long Yi nning to make her unconscious? She wondered as she followed him towards the balcony.


    "This room is just next to my room. From here, you could see my balcony. Right there." He looked at Lyca''s flushed face and smirked. "Of course my offer from earlier still stands. If you want to go to my room to watch the view then "


    "Let''s go to your room." Lyca suddenly said. She didn''t have much time to y with this man''s game anymore.


    "Of course," Long Yi beamed. He couldn''t help but apud his own self for his nning. It didn''t even take them two minutes to arrive inside his room. The room in front of Lyca was huge- Bigger than the previous one. However, just like the previous room, Long Yi''s room was too elegant for her tastes. Not that she had the time to think of this now. Lyca looked at Long Yi.


    Desire shed in her eyes. Her core ached and she knew it wasn''t for Long Yi.


    Lyca gulped when Long Yi caught her eyes. He smiled and locked the door behind him. Then he walked towards her. When Long Yi tried to remove a strand of her hair on her face, Lyca didn''t protest. She just stared at him, face flushed as she bit her lower lip. She could feel her heart raced, her core throbbed.


    "You are very beautiful." He narrowed the small space in between them. Lyca''s pupils shook as she lifted her gaze and met his darkened orbs. Then he parted her lips, waiting for him to lower his mouth into hers.


    When Long Yi saw Lyca''s appearance, glee and arousal clouded his gaze. He could feel his manhood hardened. He pulled her towards him. And for a moment it was as if his world stopped spinning. Just staring at her eyes, was enough to intoxicate him. He lowered his lips however before his lips could brush hers, he felt a soft sound on the back of his neck.His gaze dimmed and he fell to the floor with a loud thud.


    "F*cker! You think I would sleep with you? You think I would f*cking kiss your filthy mouth?" Unable to stop himself, Lyca balled her fist and punched his stomach. She knew it wouldn''t show any bruises the next day. Her chest raised as she used her internal energy to control the effects of the drug.


    Seeing Long Yi on the floor, Lyca let out another curse before she opened her phone and called Huang Xiaoxuan. "Get your ass in Long Yi''s room! Now!" She ended the call and ruthlessly kicked Long Yi''s stomach again. This man deserves to die the most painful death!


    Then she roamed her eyes inside the room until she found the fridge. She immediately got herself some cold water and pour it on her face. She couldn''t deny the fact that the drug was slowly showing its effects on her.


    Damn Shen Qui!


    She was saving the effects for him and the man didn''t even bother calling him. What kind of husband would do that to his wife?


    She eyed the unconscious Long Yi and approached him, she was nning to kick him again when she heard someone knock on the door.


    She immediately knew it was Huang Xiaoxuan.


    "Come inside and bring him to the bed."


    "I can''t carry him alone." Huang Xiaoxuan''s face was already flushed red, she was biting her lips as she looked at Long Yi. "What  what did you do?"


    "Drag him!" Lyca said. "Stupid! Or do it on the floor!" She ruthlessly opened Long Yi''s mouth and put a couple drops of potion towards his tongue. "I am leaving."


    "Ah Lyca he is too heavy. Help me drag him to the bed."


    "Useless!" Lyca red at her. "Just f*cking do it on the floor!" She ignored Huang Xiaoxuan as she walked towards the balcony and jumped from the second floor  An action that surprised Huang Xiaoxuan.


    Lyca''s words, actions, and gaze seemed too unfamiliar that she wondered if she was really talking to Lyca and not someone else. However, she had no time to think about this.


    She nced at Long Yi and thought of Lyca''s words Is she really going to have her first time on the floor?


    .....


    Don''t forget to vote for the novel. I hope we can stay in top 40this week. :)

 Chapter 88: Protected and Coveted

    Chapter 88: Protected and Coveted


    Slight r18? Or maybe r17? lol


    #######################################


    Lyca leaned her back against the rough bark of a tree just a few meters away from the mansion. Her face had turned so hot, her breathingbored. She felt herself sumb to the effects of the drug.


    Lyca can easily dispel this drug. She has ways to put it out of her system. But she wouldn''t. Nope. She won''t do that.


    She struggled to stand and gritted her teeth. The trees in front of her seemed to dance, the shadows that littered the concrete pathway looked like humans with really long hands and legs. Biting her lips, she looked at the huge shadow of the person approaching her.


    "Lyca?"


    Relief washed through her.


    "What the hell is wrong? What happened?"


    Lyca didn''t notice the small cut on Shen Qui''s lower lip as she smiled at his handsome face. She leaned her body towards him. "Bring me to my room."


    "What "


    "Shhh." Lyca held a finger against his lower lip. "Room." She continued smiling as Shen Qui lifted her up. Wrapping her arms around his neck, Lyca whispered. "Someone drugged me."


    He stiffened at her words, but he didn''t stop walking. He couldn''t. The thought of him not arriving on time immediately made him feel guilty. He waste. He could have saved her.


    "Only you can help me now." She added before she slowly ran her fingers into his soft hair. To her, his timing was just perfect. Shen Qui''s expression turned rigid as he strode towards the room and put Lyca on her bed.


    "You have something that could remove the drug, right?" Worryced his tone. "Am I right?"


    "Right." She stared at his serious face before pulling her towards the bed to join her. Ignoring his question, Lyca continued. "Where have you been?" Shen Quinded softly on top of her.


    "We should take the drugs out of"


    "Shhh." She used a finger to trace his lips. "You can do it for me." Her voice had turned breathy.


    Shen Qui frowned. Worry shed in his eyes before he realized something. Lyca could actually use her internal energy to prevent the effects of the drug. Just like how he could lessen the pain in his chest. He stared at her dted pupils and gulped as the realization hit him. She did it for him.


    "You like me but too scared to touch me. Tell me Qui''er you think I''m not pretty enough?" she pouted.


    Seeing her like this only made him sigh. He then removed a dark blue velvet box from his pocket. "It''s my mothers." He opened the box and revealed a beautiful emerald ring. "It''s a Shen Family''s heirloom." He didn''t wait for her to answer as he removed the ring from the box and put it on her ring finger. Surprisingly, the ring fit perfectly.


    Lyca just stared at the ring in a daze. It was as if she had forgotten what she wanted at this moment. "Where have you been?" Her eyes met his chocte orbs before moving to his lips. "My father?" That wasn''t a question. Slowly he nodded and smiled.


    "He asked for a small sparring session."


    Lyca nodded. Since Shen Qui was still alive then she would assume he got their permission before submitting the form. His thoughtfulness made her smile. She held her hand in the air and gave the ring a nod of approval. It wasn''t a huge diamond, but she actually loved it. She liked how simple it was. She smiled and dragged her eyes back to his.


    "Thank you." It was as if all the drugs in her system left her head as she looked at his eyes behind his longshes. She immediately noticed him leaning closer, then closer so close her vision blurred.


    "I am going to kiss you," he whispered.


    "Please do."


    Lyca felt all the air left her lungs when his lips touched hers. Softly at first, gentle and tender. Her mouth moved lightly as she responded, caressing his lips.


    "You are now my wife."


    Her eyebrow lifted at his words. Was it possible that Shen Qui stopped what they were doing the other day because they weren''t married yet? Or was it because he still needed to ask for her parent''s permission first? However, Lyca had no time to think about this now.


    Shen Qui''s kisses had turned rough, showing all the pent up emotions and arousal he had been suppressing around her. Lyca had been such a tease. Too beautiful and enticing for him. Yet, he managed to suppress his desire for days now. He had been aching to touch her, craving for her body to be his.


    She wound her free hands around his neck, anchoring his lips into hers. However, Shen Qui pulled back just enough to hook his arm under her knees and wrapped the other behind her. Confusion immediatelyced Lyca''s gaze when Shen Qui suddenly stood with her on his arms and walked towards her bathroom.


    Before she could say anything, Shen Qui already turned the shower on and let the warm water drenched both of them. She gasped, surprised at his actions. It must have been the drugs. Even in front of temptation, he wanted to


    Her thoughts scattered when she saw the intense hunger in his eyes as he pulled her closer to him. She gulped at the depths in his eyes that was enough to steal her breath away. For a few seconds, the two just stood under the rain shower, letting the water glide into their bodies. Then his lips came down to hers, hard. iming her mouth into a passionate kiss. His tongue thrust inside, searching, exploring as his hand tugged the wet dress.


    She could have told him to use the zipper, but she liked it when he ripped her dress. He had done it once, and Lyca wouldn''t mind letting him do it again. The sound of the ripping sound immediately sent shivers of pleasure in her spine, desire tugged her stomach. She could feel the tenderness and intensity of his kisses. Somehow, it made her feel protected and coveted.


    And she wanted more.


    ....


    Next update will beter at 12 noon GMT+8. I have been thinking about the number of chapters per day since I am about to lock the novel and I thought, it would be good to make it 3 chapters per day. Let''s see.


    Don''t forget to vote for the novel.

 Chapter 89: The Night is Long

    Chapter 89: The Night is Long


    R18.


    ...


    Drenched and wet, Lyca pulled away, enough for him to see her ckcy underwear. She watched his gaze darkened, his lips parted before his eyes sprang back to her hers. She felt his hands on her waist, gliding towards her lower back until his hand caressed her bottom. Then he abruptly turned her around, her back against his hard chest. She immediately felt his erection pressing against the curved of her butt. Heat radiated through her.


    He slid his hand on her belly, his other hand ying with her taut nipple behind the ck thin garments. Lyca felt desire pooled through her core as she closed her eyes, a moan escaped her parted lips. When was thest time she felt something like this? She couldn''t help but wonder but immediately shook the thoughts out of her head.


    She felt his mouth softly nipped her ear as he unsped her bra. Then his hand started stroking her now bare breast. Eyes closed, Lyca pulled her head back. Anticipation and desire wracked her body when his hand slid through her ck panties. He immediately found what he was looking for. Her clit throbbed against his thumb.


    "Oh, God." She uttered when he slid a finger inside her slick entrance. She could feel her core stretched around his finger.


    "Do you have any idea how much I want you?" he whispered in her ear.


    "I have some idea." She gently pushed his hand away from her core, turning around to face him. "You''re still dressed." Her eyes trailed down towards the obvious bulge in his pants.


    "And you''re still beautiful." Staring straight at her, Shen Qui lifted her chin. "Eyes on me."


    "I was staring at you." She chuckled, her gaze daring. He met her eyes before he dipped his head, his lips into hers. His hand reached out to turned the shower off. Then he pulled away, enough for him to take his shirt off.


    "And this?" Lyca wanted to rip his jeans but that would be too wild for their first time.


    "Later." He smiled before pulling her towards him, his erection pressed on her stomach. He then angled her body and lowered his head, his tongueving her taut nipples. An overpowering lust made her moan. She arched her back, her hands clung on his hair as she bit her lips. She felt his hands glide on her bare back before tugging the small garment that covered her core.


    Lyca''sstomach tightened. She wanted him now, inside her. She hated how he had been dragging everything yet, her body couldn''t help but shiver in his touch. Her body quivered as his hot breath caressed her breast. Then he stopped and looked at her. His frame towered over her as he smiled.


    Irritated, Lyca lifted her head and red at him.


    "Two choices let the drug leave your system or we stay here all night."


    Her upper lip twitched. "Why?"


    "I don''t want to do something that you won''t remember."


    Lyca felt her pupils dted. He was scolding her but she could feel her insides twist at his words. She squinted her eyes at him. "Fine." She inhaled, his scent surrounded her. "Done." It was as easy as pinching someone. But the fact that he cared this much only made her more arouse instead of feeling angry.


    He lifted an eyebrow and smirked. Then he got a towel and wrapped her naked body before lifting her and strode towards the bed. Gently, heid her on the king-size bed. "Good Girl." She heard him utter, amusementced his tone.


    Lyca bit her lower lip. There it was again, the twisting in her stomach, the desire pooling in her entrance as he lowered his mouth into her nipples. One hand tugging the other breast while the other stroked her thighs, leaving both soft and tingling sensation inside her. She gulped as she fought the urge to beg him to just plunge into her.


    The prickling in her stomach intensified when his fingers found her clitoris. Using his thumb, he teased her clit, the aching nub responding beautifully to his caress.


    "More," she begged as she breathed against him.Hearing this, Shen Qui''s desire ring out of control. He lowered his head towards her belly, scraping his teeth into her stomach as he parted her legs apart. Her hand flew towards his wet, messy hair as he used his tongue to flicked her clit.


    Thrashing her head against the pillow, Lyca''s back arched. This man was such a tease. He then started tracing circles around her clit as he thrust his tongue inside her wet folds. Her eyes snapped shut as a low growl escaped her lips.


    "I inside me." Her lips trembled. She wanted him inside her.


    Ignoring her words, Shen Qui uttered. "Touch your nipples Lyca."


    She obeyed, rolling the peaks in between her thumb and finger. Lyca bit her lip, as rolls of pleasure wracked her brains.


    He swirled his tongue on her clit as a finger slid inside her. She gasped, and slowly moved her thighs, grinding against his finger. He started moving his finger, pushing and pulling as his tongue yed with her clit until all the irritation inside her left, leaving her nothing but scorching desire. She could feel her body respond to his actions. Her core tightened around his finger, his breathing turned sparse as her hand made its way into her hair. She clung to his head, guiding him as she raised her hips, absorbing every movement of his mouth over her core.


    She could feel her heart drummed against her chest as she felt climax loom inside her. The small pulses on her stomach exploded, charging her into oblivion. Her legs shook, her head thrashed against the sheets as she cried out his name.


    Lyca caught her breath as she opened her eyes. There he was, staring at her again. His face too close, his hot breath against her cheek made her breathing hitched."The night is long." She managed to say before she pushed him away, then rolled over and straddled his body.


    ....


    Don''t forget to vote. Wink.

 Chapter 90: Daring

    Chapter 90: Daring


    R18.


    ............


    On all fours, Lyca looked down at him and stared at his body. Shen Qui looked like a real-life sculpted god with all the defined muscles. "Your pants doesn''t suit you." She said as she unsnapped his jeans. Before he could say anything, her hands were already on the tab of his zipper, tugging it down. His erection strained against his boxers.


    She stared at him and realized he was staring at her face, a slight smirk stered on his face as he watched her eyes daringly surveyed his body.


    Watching his eyes only made the primitive thrill run through her insides.She slowly lowered her head into his nipple. Slightly blowing it, watching the redness of his neck traveled to his face. Her tongue darted out, flicking his nipple before she slipped her hand into his boxers. Wrapping her fingers around his length, Lyca watched as he let out a low primal growl.


    He had been eager for her touch, for her hand around him. Now, there had been something soforting in knowing that starting today, she would be his, and he would be hers. His hand slid through her hair. Using his other hand, he cupped her chin and pulled her for a short kiss before Lyca pushed him back into the bed.


    He felt her lips warm against his skin as she drifted lower until her hair tickled his belly. Lyca smiled before pulling away and helping him out of his pants and his boxers. His erection sprang free.


    He watched as she dragged her tongue towards her lower lip. Desire coated her eyes.


    Seeing her like this made him want to curse. She didn''t know how close he was to losing control. He wanted to ravage her, own her, and make her scream his name over and over. In the end, he gulped all the thoughts away from his mind as he watched her lower her mouth into his manhood.


    Shen Qui felt current skittered over him as her mouth closed around him, licking the tip before creating small circr motions that made him want toe right then and there. He slid his finger through her hair and held her back when he felt too close. Shen Qui couldn''t help but lost himself in the wild pulsations inside him. He wanted her.


    He wanted to control himself as much as possible but easily abandoned the idea. The feel of her tongue against his shaft was more than he could handle. He felt his body grew tense from anticipation. Holding his breath, he felt the warmth of his orgasm pooled on his stomach. He tried to pull her head away, but Lyca grabbed his hand and took all of him as he exploded inside his mouth.


    Satisfied, Lyca finally let go and used her hand to wipe the corner of her lips. She tilted her head, watching as his chest moved up and down, trying to catch his breathing. His lips were parted, eyes closed. As if sensing her gaze, Shen Qui''s eyelids fluttered open, revealing that dark chocte orbs that she liked. Then he pulled her into his arms, earning a small squeal from her.


    One hand beside her face, he leaned down and kissed her. Her run his lips along the inner surface of her lower lip, then traced her pouting outline. His free hand move to her breast, fondling her breast. A hoarse cry of pleasure escaped her.


    "I want you inside me." Her voice quivered as she felt herself burn under his touch. "I''m on a pill." She uttered as he covered her naked body with his, catching his weight using his forearm to keep his body from crushing hers.


    "I''ll be careful. I promise." He met her eyes. For a few seconds, she thought she could see concern shed in his beautiful orbs.


    Or not. Lyca wanted to say, but no words came out of her mouth. She slowly spread her legs as he aligned his hips into hers. Shifting his weight, he slowly sank inside her.


    Lyca''s eyes snapped shut as she held her breath. She had been wet, dripping, and yet the pain of having it the first time was still there. It wasn''t as painful as she remembered it. Was it because she liked Shen Qui better? Or was it because his tongue had been more skillful? Lyca twisted beneath him, her tiny muscles tightened around him, clenching him. She frowned, eyebrows creased as she bit her lips.


    "Hey look at me."


    Lyca''s eyes parted, revealing the depths of her brown eyes. For the first time since she met him, she felt exposed under his gaze. She wanted to look away, focus on the sex. But she couldn''t. Something in his eyes was so enticing, so beautiful, she couldn''t look away.


    He started moving his thighs, plunging and withdrawing slowly stretching her. Lyca let out a moan as she wrapped her legs around his waist. Slowly the tingling pain vanished, turning into something she never felt before. Then he pulled out and brushed the head of his shaft of her wet folds. She moaned and waited for him to plunged into her depths again.


    When he did, Lyca almost exploded. She could feel the pulses as her insides tightened and rubbed against his shaft. "More," she said, her breathing ragged. Shen Qui tensed, her erotic voice echoed inside him. He struggled to control himself as her hands clung to his shoulders. He lowered his head and tasted her parted lips.


    Shen Qui kissed her hard, biting her lower lip as her tight muscles squeezed around his erection. She couldn''t take it anymore. The ache in her core grew, the pulsations intensified. "I''m about to "


    "I know." His words ended with a low growl.


    He pulled away and used one of his hands to tease her nipples. He could feel his own orgasming. "I can''t" He couldn''t stop himself anymore. He decided to unleashed his need and desire that had been buried inside him for days. His thrusts turned faster, deeper, and clumsier. He pumped harder, in and out, as his heart raced, his moans turned into low growls. He felt her muscles convulsed around him.


    Her core squeezed him as she arched her back towards his chest and let her orgasm hummed inside her. She snapped her eyes shut as she bit her lips, her fingers dug against his shoulders. The stinging sensation made him reared back and inadvertently drove his manhood deeper inside her. He leaned closer and nipped her neck. "Come hard for me." His voice was gruff and hot against her ears.


    Lyca let out a wordless cry as she shuddered under him. Almost immediately he followed, his hot liquid pouring inside her. The tight wetness that surrounded his shaft pulsated around him as he mmed his lips against hers. Both closed their eyes as they held each other. Gasping for air, he copsed on top of her with his forearm supporting his weight.


    He withdrew carefully before he rolled next to her, still trying to catch his breath.


    "You, okay?" She looked at him. He smiled and pulled her towards his chest.


    "Is there a word that meant I am better than okay?" he asked and kissed her forehead.


    .....


    Please don''t forget to vote. :)

 Chapter 91: Yukata

    Chapter 91: Yukata


    R18.


    ..............


    Lyca dreamed she''d gone to paradise. She felt herself sat on a swing and ate her grapes, humming a tune that her mother used to hum. She felt light, happy, and contented.


    However, the feeling didn''tst too long. Lyca frowned. She immediately noticed something was wrong. She never dreamed like this before. It was always chaos and darkness. It was always falling and dying. It was always about pain. The sudden change made her confused- A confusion that was enough to wake her up.


    She reluctantly opened her eyes. His face was the first thing she saw. The corners of Lyca''s lips lifted as memories of the previous night swirled inside her brain. A distinct lust crawled inside her body, reminding her of how he had explored her body and how she had screamed his name over and over again.


    "Awake?" he turned and leaned towards to kiss her. Surprised, Lyca just stared at him in a daze. "Are you alright?" he asked.


    Slowly it registered in her mind. This man was already her husband! Meaning.... he would be in her bed every time she wakes up.


    "Does your body hurt?" He pulled down the sheets that covered her naked body. "You don''t exercise so your stamina is not good." He didn''t wait for her to answer as he pressed a kiss on her neck then trailed small kisses into her breast, each kissed created small fiery sensations against her skin.


    Her skin heated under the caressed of his lips.


    "Don''t start," she said, but her hands were already wrapped around his shaft.


    "Hmm? Why?" He licked her pebbled nipple. "Are we still attending ss?"


    "We have a date." She moaned when his hand found the nub in between her thighs. Her words, however, was enough to pull him away from her skin. He lifted his gaze and stared at her.


    "Date?"


    She nodded in response. Double date.


    He fell silent as he tried to recall all the conversations that he had with his friends and Li Xian. What would people do on a date aside from visit parks and museums? Watch movies?


    "You haven''t tried dating anyone, have you?" her hand started stroking his manhood.


    "Did you date someone before?"


    "No." At least not in this lifetime. She was too busy watching TV and eating and sleeping. She had no time to date anyone.


    "Then what are we going to do?" First and foremost, he grew up around his uncle and other men who talked about women when they''re drunk. He never heard them talk about having dates before. When he was mature enough to start his own training, he had friends who talked about watching movies and going to parks with their girlfriends. But he never had time for those.


    "I don''t know." Lyca shrugged. She was waiting for Long Yi to reach out so she could also invite that Huang Xiaoxuan. Then they would have a double date. She was honestly excited to see what would Long Yi do if he sees Huang Xiaoxuan again.


    Are they going to act as if nothing happened? Did the two even do it in the first ce?


    "There is a festival in Long City right now."


    "Festival?" She raised her head and kissed his chin.


    "Firework festival." He tilted his head and met her lips. A hungry kiss, enough to ignite the desire on her body, followed. Lust coiled inside her as she writhed beneath him.


    "Is this the festival where we can wear costumes?"


    "Yukata."


    "Hmm?"


    "It''s called a Yukata."


    "Oh!" She nodded. Her breath hitched when his lips started kissing her breasts, his tongue circled her are as his other hand fondled her other breast. She arched her back as the small flutters of electricity in her stomach intensified.


    His hand found her already wet entrance. She was certain she heard him chuckle when he realized how ready she was. He then let a finger traced her soft entrance, teasing. She moaned and bit her lower lip, her body had been so sensitive from his touch. And she quite liked it.


    His lips moved towards her belly, nuzzling, and tasting her silky skin. Her hand tangled on his hair as he waited. Waited for her to guide him towards her sweet spot. And when she drew her towards the flesh in between her thighs, Shen Qui didn''t hesitate.


    His finger was already inside her as his tongue invaded her core. She felt her stomach twisted, an overwhelmingly prickling sensation gnawed inside her. And just as she was so close, Shen Qui pulled her away from the edge. Thrashing her head against the pillows, Lyca grunted, she gripped his hair a little harder.


    Right when she was about to let out a curse, Shen Qui started running his tongue against her folds, the sensation enough to shut her up. The scorching need in her core was overwhelming. She could feel it slowly consumed her. Just when she was so close again, Shen Qui slid on top of him.


    He was breathless, trying to stop control himself. Shen Qui''s eyes met hers before she pushed him towards the bed and straddled him. Her hand was already stroking his shaft. She had been so damp, she wasn''t able to stop. She lowered herself into his manhood and let itpletely impaled her.


    Shen Qui clutched at her hips, barely hanging in control as his length filled her. She braced her hand on his chest, strands of her white hair messily covered her face, making her look more enticing. With a soft curse, she started rotating her hips and moving up and down.


    Lyca groaned, her body softly shivering as her breathing turned ragged. The intense need made her shudder as she continued moving. When she felt him angled his hips to meet her thrusts, she almost exploded right there and then. But she controlled herself. She wanted to wait for him to teeter on the edge with her.


    Biting her lips, Lyca started moving faster. She felt every cell of her body turned alive as sweat trickled on her forehead. Her needy groans were followed by his grunting as he gripped her hips, pumping into her, deeper and faster until she was about to explode.


    Her breathing rasped, her body quivered as she soared to the edge with him.


    ....


    Don''t forget to vote.

 Chapter 92: Guitar

    Chapter 92: Guitar


    Please check out this video before reading the chapter. Please... I promise its worth /watch?v=HS1OLc1WWnY


    ........................................................


    Lyca snuggled into his warmth. "I think I will go and jog with you." He chuckled at her words.


    "Or we can just stay in bed all day. You know thirty minutes of"


    "No. You are going to wring me dry."


    Heughed, his warm honeyed tone echoed inside her as he pinched her waist. "Coming from you that sounds a little funny." He leaned and kissed her forehead. "Sleep. I will go and make breakfast."


    "It''s already noon."


    "I''ll boil some eggs." He uttered, making her giggle. Then she nodded and closed her eyes. After a few seconds, she felt him leave her room. Lyca smiled and drifted into sleep. This time, she had a dreamless nap.


    When Lyca woke up again, she was still alone in the bed. She stretched. Her grumbling stomach made her got out of bed and find something to wear.


    The moment she walked out of her room, the soft strung of a musical instrument immediately caught her attention. She stood and looked towards Shen Qui''s room.


    Lyca went to the kitchen and grabbed the eggs before going inside his room. She saw him on the bed, a guitar in his hand. She lifted an eyebrow when he stopped strumming the guitar and turned towards her. He was wearing ck jeans without his shirt, revealing his defined muscles. The knot in her stomach intensified. She immediately med it on being hungry.


    "You can y?" She said and sank into the bed next to him. She immediately spotted the scratched marks on his shoulders and back.


    "A little," he said.


    "Then y," she started eating the eggs.


    "I thought we''re gonna have a date?"


    She shrugged. "Let''s goter. Fireworks." She ate while looking at the guitar, waiting for him to sing something for her.


    Slowly, his fingers strung the guitar, his eyes were glued on hernguid appearance. Lyca was wearing another one of her short silk sleeping gowns as she used her elbows to support her, resting her head into her palm.


    ''Wise men say''


    ''Only fools rush in''


    His beautiful deep singing voice surprised her, she lifted an eyebrow and dragged her gaze into his eyes. This was different than his speaking voice but definitely the same as the voice that he used herst night. It was low and manly, and it immediately made her want to just jumped into his arms and remove that pants on his hips. Of course, the food in her hand prevented her from doing so.


    ''But I can''t help falling in love with you''


    ''Shall I stay?''


    ''Would it be a sin''


    ''If I can''t help falling in love with you?''


    Shen Qui smiled. "Would you like to sing with me?"


    "I can''t sing. In this lifetime and her previous life, she hated singing. She was off-tune and she didn''t understand anything about music. "I didn''t know you are this good." This was apliment. Shen Qui can sing, his voice, and tune so beautiful it made her want to just meld with him. She sighed inwardly.


    She should stop thinking about this man in her bed. It would make her sound like a pervert.


    "I can do a lot of things." He said. And used his long hands to strung the guitar again.


    ''Like a river flows''


    ''Surely to the sea''


    ''Darling, so it goes''


    ''Some things are meant to be''


    His voice was smooth and powerful and soothing in away. She watched him closed his eyes.


    ''Take my hand''


    ''Take my whole life too''


    ''For I can''t help falling in love with you''


    The lyrics continued to roll over from his lips. Enamored by the emotions from his words, Lyca stared at his face in a daze. His eyes were closed as small creases appeared on his forehead. He was enticing.


    ''Like a river flows''


    ''Surely to the sea''


    ''Darling, so it goes''


    ''Some things are meant to be''


    Slowly, Shen Qui opened his eyes and stared at her.


    ''Take my hand''


    ''Take my whole life too''


    ''For I can''t help falling in love with you''


    ''For I can''t help falling in love with you''


    He smiled as he ended the song. "What are you thinking?" He didn''t miss the awe in her eyes.


    "You could be a singer." She answered and started chewing her eggs again. She had been too engrossed in his singing that she had forgotten how hungry she had been.


    "Would you like to be my manager?"


    "No. Sounds tiring."


    Heughed at her words. "My mother was a singer. And I looked just like her."


    Interest shed in her eyes. It wasn''t because of the information but was because of how he said it. Did he hate the fact that he looked just like his mother? She wanted to ask, but her mouth was full of eggs so she just nodded and continued eating.


    The loud knocking on the door interrupted the silence. "I''ll check who it is." He walked out of the room.


    "Lyca! Where are you!" Lyca didn''t move when she heard Huang Xiaoxuan''s voice. She had been wondering if this woman was still alive or if Long Yi identally killed her in bed.


    "Hey!" Huang Xiaoxuan opened the door in Shen Qui''s room and walked inside. "What are you doing in his room? And why are you lying in his bed, wearing something like that?"


    "Did you sleep with him?" Of course, Lyca ignored her question and ate her eggs.


    As expected, Huang Xiaoxuan''s face reddened. "Yes."


    "And why are you here?"


    "He was calling your name. He must have thought ... you slept with him."


    "And?" She asked. Why the hell would this woman tell her about their activities in bed? They were not that close.


    "He was angry when he woke up and found me in his bed."


    "Oh. Then why are you still alive?" Lyca asked, suspicion apparent in her eyes. Did this woman died and came back to life just to haunt her?


    .....


    Pls checkment for link of youtube video.


    Don''t forget to vote.

 Chapter 93: Date

    Chapter 93: Date


    Huang Xiaoxuan''s face turned ugly when she heard her words. Memories of Long Yi''s scary face when he discovered that the woman next to him was Huang Xiaoxuan, floated in her head. It made her tremble. Lyca was right, Long Yi could have killed him and she wouldn''t be here right now. "He didn''t." She swallowed the heartache down and red at Lyca. "I told him, I saw his room open and I got curious so I walked inside and found him on the floor, lying. He was drunk so I tried to help him up when he started kissing me."


    "Hmmm," Lyca said. She finished the four eggs and looked at her empty bowl. She wanted more.


    "He Lyca you have to tell my grandfather that he should arrange for an engagement for Long Yi and me."


    "Why not ask Long Yi yourself?" Most engagements were arranged by the family of the male.


    "He said he said we should just forget about it. And treat it as a mistake."


    "Too bad." Lyca shrugged.


    "Why are you acting like that? Long Yi and I already slept together. You should tell grandfather about this and support me on my engagement."


    "" Wouldn''t it be weird for her to tell their grandfather that Long Yi and Huang Xiaoxuan slept together so they should set up an engagement? That would make it too obvious that this was all Lyca''s doing. "No. I won''t." She answered, unable to process Huang Xiaoxuan''s stupidity.


    "Why? You You are the one who dragged me into this."


    "Right. I could also kill you if I want to." Lyca said. "I already helped."


    "What help? You You didn''t even help me lift him towards the bed. I have to That was no longer the point. I know grandfather favors you and was already treating you as the next n head. So you should tell him about my marriage."


    "Ask your father."


    "He He doesn''t want to." Huang Xiaoxuan already asked her father for the marriage. However, Huang Li Duo''s opinions towards Lyca was changing along with the changes that she brought to the Huang Family. Huang Xiaoxuan knew that her father would always favor the one that would help the Huang Family. Obviously, this marriage couldn''t help the Huang Family in any way since the Long Family was their rival. "Lyca please just tell grandfather about it."


    "Does Long Yi like you?"


    "That "Huang Xiaoxuan turned speechless. Clearly, Long Yi liked Lyca instead of her. "But something already happened."


    "Fool." Lyca rolled her eyes. "Make him like you." Isn''t that simple logic? If you like someone try and make them like you. This Huang Xiaoxuan wanted marriage when clearly the guy likes someone else. She is truly hopeless.


    "But " Huang Xiaoxuan''s words were interrupted when someone knocked on the door. Hearing this, Lyca''s face suddenly turned excited. She smiled and jumped out of the bed, leaving Huang Xiaoxuan alone in Shen Qui''s room.


    Lyca strode towards the door that was already opened by Shen Qui and immediately beamed at Long Yi. However, she soon realized that her actions had been too suspicious. So, she frowned, her gaze turned stern. "Why are you here?" she asked while standing next to Shen Qui. The man was still not wearing his shirt, proudly showing all the scratches on his shoulders and back.


    Lyca didn''t know if he was doing this on purpose or he was really notfortable with his clothes not that she wasining.


    Long Yi smiled and handed Lyca a bouquet of flowers. Seeing this, Shen Qui smiled coldly. If only he gave her a box of donuts, then she would be happier.


    "She''s allergic." Shen Qui suddenly grabbed the flowers. "Mr. Long is clearly not paying attention. I am sure Mr. Long knew that we are throwing all the flowers that you sent. That''s because of an allergy. Are you perhaps trying to kill my mistress?"


    "" The animosity in Shen Qui''s words was too apparent it made her freeze. She doesn''t have any allergies and she wasn''t nning on having one. However, she immediately decided to y along. "Sadly, I am allergic to all flowers." She wanted to add how she was allergic to men like Long Yi too but remembered that Long Yi''s rightful wife was still here. "Come inside Mr. Long. I will get dressed." She said and turned her back towards her room.


    Of course, Long Yi maintained the smile on his face as he walked inside Lyca''s abode. Contrary to his expectations, the living room was simple without any florals and extravagant designs. A couch located near the firece and a small coffee table were in front of it. Even the carpet was beige and simple.


    Did he misjudge her after all? He roamed his eyes inside the living room.


    "Mr. Long" Huang Xiaoxuan''s meek voice immediately erased the smile on his face. He looked at the woman who was standing awkwardly near the kitchen. "I " Seeing the dark look on Long Yi''s face made Huang Xiaoxuan stutter. Long Yi was here to see Lyca and he even brought her flowers. A pang of jealousy twisted inside her.


    "Why are you here?" Long Yi asked.


    "I I was just "


    "I invited her to the festival." Lyca''s voice came behind him. Long Yi immediately turned and saw Lyca wearing a simple beige sundress. Her hair was tied in a messy bun revealing her loop ck earrings as huge shades hung on her nose. Her red lips smiled at him. "I''m sure Mr. Long won''t mind, right?"


    Long Yi''s face darkened but he quickly hid the emotions in his eyes. Instead, he smiled and Lyca. "Of course not. I am good. Are you ready?"


    Lyca didn''t answer him, instead, she looked at Shen Qui''s door. When the door opened Lyca smiled and said, "Yes, we are ready."


    "The four of us?" Long Yi felt his face turned hot from the anger that was starting to boil inside him. He couldn''t help but wonder if Lyca had nned all this from the start. He eyed Shen Qui''s casual appearance that contrasted his own clothes.


    Shen Qui was wearing ck shorts and a faded blue shirt that made his muscles a little bit obvious, he paired it with some brown loafers. Compared to Shen Qui, Long Yi was wearing brown chinos and a white shirt with a zer and leather ck shoes.


    "Yes. Just like you said. A date." Lyca smiled sweetly as she walked towards Shen Qui. "Let''s go?"


    ....


    Checkments for clothes.

 Chapter 94: Yukata and Paper Umbrella

    Chapter 94: Yukata and Paper Umbre


    "You " Huang Xiaoxuan widened her eyes in surprise as she saw Lyca stood next to Shen Qui, waiting for them. Lyca wanted a double date? This woman didn''t tell her anything, she never even had the time to fix herself. Huang Xiaoxuan was wearing a ck re dress. It was simple and was supposed to be something that she only wore inside her room or this dorm. However, she was too afraid to say anything. So, she nodded and followed Lyca and Shen Qui out of the door.


    "Are we going to the fireworks festival?" She walked next to Lyca, asking meekly.


    "Hmm." Lyca nodded.


    "Mr. Long have you seen the firework festival before?" Huang Xiaoxuan immediately forgot about the tense atmosphere and started talking to Long Yi.


    Of course, Long Yi''s expression turned sour. However, how could he treat Huang Xiaoxuan bad when Lyca was walking in front of them? So, he forced himself to talk to this woman instead.


    Meanwhile, Lyca and Shen Qui ignored them as he started telling her about thest time that he and his friends visited the fireworks festival.


    "And you wore a Yukata?" Lyca asked, eyes full of curiosity.


    "Of course not!" He frowned. Li Xian and the others have girlfriends. He didn''t have one. He would look stupid standing there alone all by himself.


    "Then will you wear one now?"


    "Of course, I will." He said and didn''t hide the excitement in his eyes.


    The four of them left the building using two cars. That was because Lyca didn''t want to ride Long Yi''s limousine and asked Shen Qui to drive another car. In the end, Long Yi and Huang Xiaoxuan rode the limousine while Shen Qui and Lyca were using a gray Mercedes.


    The festival this time would be on the East side of the city which was considered near the university. In fact, one would be able to see the fireworks from the university too. However, Lyca wanted to visit as this was her first time at a festival and she wanted to eat some food while making Long Yi angry.


    After a good five minute ride, the group finally arrived in the parking lot.


    "We need to walk for about five minutes before we arrive at the food stands." Shen Qui said.


    "And the Yukata?"


    "We can buy a cheap one at the entrance." Shen Qui answered.


    "Why would we buy a cheap one?" Huang Xiaoxuan chimed in as she side-eyed Long Yi. How could Long Yi wear something cheap? "Where can we find something that doesn''t look cheap? Preferably not something hot."


    Shen Qui only lifted an eyebrow before he turned towards Lyca and ignored Huang Xiaoxuan. Clearly, Huang Xiaoxuan didn''t understand that this was not a fashion show. There was no need to wear something extravagant as this was about the spirit of the festival, the food, the games, and the fireworks.


    Talking to Huang Xiaoxuan would make anyone crazy.


    "We''re not wearing the Yukata." Long Yi said.


    "Up to you." Shen Qui shrugged as they started seeing more and more people walking to and from the entrance of the festival. Some of them were already wearing their Yukata and even had paper umbres. Seeing this, Lyca turned more excited. She ignored Long Yi''s dark face and Huang Xiaoxuan''sints and held Shen Qui''s hands dragging him towards the ce where they can buy their own Yukata.


    Just seeing their hands together made Long Yi grit his teeth in irritation. He was supposed to be the one standing next to Lyca and not some cheap bloke who didn''t even bother buying a good Yukata for his date. Long Yi''s mood worsened.


    "We should go." Huang Xiaoxuan said. She doesn''t know how to approached Long Yi''s bad mood but she still pretended not to noticed the scowl on the man''s face.


    "Did you tell her?" Long Yi suddenly hissed. This was actually the first time that he talked about what happened the other night since they saw each other in Lyca''s room.


    "Tell Tell what?"


    "Did you tell her aboutst night?" His dark tone was enough to make her tremble. Huang Xiaoxuan''s eyes reddened.


    "I How could I do that?" she lied. "You told me not to say anything."


    "Good. What happened between us was a mistake. You better keep your mouth shut or I will make your life in the school a living hell." He said before turning his back and walking towards the store that sells Yukata. When he arrived, Lyca was already on the cashier buying a Yellow Yukata with a lot of flowery embellishments while Shen Qui bought a sky blue Yukata with what looked like leaves as embellishments.


    He gritted his teeth as he approached the two.


    "That was quick?" A fake smile slithered on his face.


    "Hmmm," Lyca said. Someone like her doesn''t like staying in a store like this for more than five minutes. It was enough that she liked the color. Moreover, it''s not like she would wear this Yukata again after this festival. "You should choose. We are going to change."


    "We?" Long Yi''s eyebrows lifted.


    "She doesn''t know how to wear it." Shen Qui answered, he stood behind Lyca and gave Long Yi a smug smile. It was as if Long Yi''s throat turned dry. What was that supposed to mean? He was about to open his mouth to protest when Lyca pulled Shen Qui towards the back of the store where the stalls for changing their clothes were located.


    Long Yi felt his face burned, his hands clenched as he watched them disappear from the crowd.


    "I thinkwe should buy it too." Huang Xiaoxuan''s voice almost made him explode in anger. He red at the woman.


    "You buy something for us. I will be in the stall waiting for you." He said and followed Lyca and Shen Qui. He couldn''t let those two get out of his sights. He knew that Lyca was deliberately doing this because of Huang Xiaoxuan. Lyca must have thought that he and Huang Xiaoxuan are a couple. He felt that he needed to exin his side to Lyca.


    ....


    Please don''t forget to vote for the novel.

 Chapter 95: Big

    Chapter 95: Big


    R18- NO SMUT


    ...........


    "I thought you hated Yellow?" Shen Qui eyed the yellow Yukata that Lyca picked.


    "But you liked it." She answered.


    "How did you know I like yellow?" he asked as he locked the stall that they were in.


    "Simple." She uttered but didn''t say anything. When Shen Qui convinced her to marry him, he talked about her hating yellow. But why only yellow? When she practically doesn''t like everything that was not ck and white? That was because he liked Yellow. Thus, he was more sensitive and more observant when ites to that color. "And it''s beautiful." She uttered. The Yukata that she picked would stand out even more because of her white hair.


    She then held her arms and looked at him. "Undress me." She smiled. "I don''t know how to wear a Yukata." Not true. In her previous life, she had worn a Yukata many times.


    He gave her a sheepish smile, almost making herugh at loud. This time, Shen Qui didn''t rip her clothes. He already knew that this dress didn''t have a zipper. So, he slowly eased it over her head. Before the dress left her body, his other hand already cupped her naked breast, kneading them until she moaned and arched into him. He started nibbling her neck, slowly biting her corbone. "You actually forgot to wear a bra." Amusement shed in his voice.


    "It''s called a silicon nipple tape." She whispered. "If you don''t like it I can remove it for you." He stopped kissing and looked at her. Slowly, a smile slithered on his beautiful face.


    "Let''s hope you won''t regret that." His eyes darkened as he pinched the nipple tape, making her moan in the process. "Let''s change your clothes."


    Lyca pouted and nodded. This man''s self-control was indeed very good. And she hated it.


    She held her arms and let him put the Yukata on her. He wrapped the Yukata around her left hip, making sure to touched and softly squeeze her skin. Then he wrapped the left side over the right.


    He held the Yukata and wrapped the sash around her three times. Finally, he tied a bow behind her.


    "Thank " before she could utter a word of thanks, she felt his hand slip inside her Yukata and touched her core. Her eyes widened from the surprise. Seeing her reaction, Shen Qui pulled her closer.


    "I hopeyou have enough energy to stop yourself from screaming,ter." His deep voice almost made her melt.His words were enough to make her wet. "Look at that." He smirked. "One sentence and you''re ready." He lowered his head and tasted her slightly parted lips. His hand busily ying her clit. Then he withdrew his hand and met her eyes as he licked his finger.


    Just the action almost made her erupt. She gulped, instantly regretting the fact that she had to purposely seduce him. Now she would have to wait for hours.


    Fucking hours. She looked at the small stall.


    "Nope." Shen Qui suddenly said. "Not here." He added as he removed his own clothes and changed into his Yukata. Then he turned towards her. "You''re so red," he chuckled. He could only imagine what was inside Lyca''s mind right now. "Let''s go?"


    His words woke her up from the surging lust that was threatening to devour her. Looking at Shen Qui, Lyca gave a wry smile and followed him out of the stall. Outside, Long Yi and Huang Xiaoxuan were already standing. Both a little irritated at the fact that they took a lot of time changing their clothes.


    "What took you so long?" Long Yi couldn''t help but be suspicious.


    "No idea," Lyca said. It was the only words she could use to describe what just happened inside. She had no idea when did he started to be so sexy and manly and hot and She shook her head. She should stop thinking about him inside her while she was in a very public ce with her enemies.


    "We should go and shoot something." Shen Qui suggested, but her mind seemed to spiral out of her head. Shoot? What is he going to shoot? She gulped and stared at him. Seeing her face, Shen Qui shook his head inwardly and pointed at the nearby stall. "Games with prices. Toys."


    "Oh!" Huang Xiaoxuan was the first one to react. "Mr. Long was extremely good at shooting. Should we have some sort of a contest? Lyca what do you think?" Huang Xiaoxuan was wearing a blue yukata that matched Long Yi''s. Of course, Long Yi stoppedining a long time ago. After all, he was the one who told the crazy Xiaoxuan to buy the Yukata. He wouldn''t dare me her in front of Lyca.


    "Of course. Shen Qui is extremely good at shooting too." Again, the words spiraled in her head. He is indeed good at shooting. "We should have a contest."


    "How about we have two against two contest?" Huang Xiaoxuan said excitedly. "The loser will buy the winners some food."


    "Smart," Lyca uttered. Her mind was still in shambles, but the mention of food somehow made her a little bit better. "Let''s go."


    The group immediately approached the stall, but since other people were ying ahead of them, they chose to stand nearby and looked at the prizes.


    "Do you want the Bear?" Shen Qui asked her. "Or the Lion? I think the Lion would suit you." In front of them were a lot of huge stuffed toys. Some are known cartoon characters, while some were animals. "Which one do you think is the cutest?"


    Lyca bit back the words that she was about to say. She couldn''t really tell him that he was the one that she wanted as he was already aware of this. "The biggest one." Lyca doesn''t particrly like stuffed toys, but the biggest one would have a really fluffy stomach that she can use as her pillow.


    "Alright." Shen Qui nodded before he whispered. "You always like it big, don''t you?"


    ###########


    Please don''t forget to vote.

 Chapter 96: First Prize

    Chapter 96: First Prize


    Lyca felt her face turned hot. She immediately turned her head away, trying to hide the blush creeping on her neck. She gulped and kept quiet until the heat on her face disappeared.


    This situation wasvery unfavorable to her. Lyca''s eyes roamed around the stalls and booths, trying to find a ce where she could drag this man inside. Unfortunately for her, everywhere was packed with people and children. She frowned at the knot inside her stomach.


    "They''re done. We should go and y." Huang Xiaoxuan almost jumped with excitement as she ran towards the stall. In front of them are booths with different games, but all the prizes were the same. "Balloon pop!" Huang Xiaoxuan pointed at the second booth with darts and balloons.


    "Good Afternoon, youngsters." An older man smiled. "Ten darts for five Yuan."


    Long Yi immediately took his wallet and paid for twenty darts while Shen Qui paid for ten. Without saying anything, Long Yi walked towards the tform that has all the balloons.And shoot the darts. One by one, the balloons pop, making the old man''s eyes so wide, his mouth dropped on the floor.


    "This dear youngster" The old man immediately approached Long Yi the moment he finished shooting twenty darts. Having someone like Long Yi was not very good for his business. So, he wanted him to disappear immediately. "Dear sir for the prize"


    "Let her choose." Long Yi immediately pointed at Lyca.


    "Oh!" Lyca smiled. "All the small ones." Long Yi hit the balloons, which was about fifteen feet away from him. And this would only qualify them for the smaller and medium-sized stuffed toys.


    "Twenty small ones?" the old man confirmed.


    "Yes."


    He immediately gathered all the small stuff toys and handed it to Lyca.


    "No. Him," Lyca said. Her point was simple, let Long Yi bring the stuffed toys. Would she really carry all that all by herself? Lyca would never do that. By now, they have gathered the attention of a few people. After all, it wasn''t normal for someone to just hit all twenty balloons that were about fifteen feet away from them. So, many girls immediately started looking at Long Yi, their eyes full of unmasked infatuation.


    "You You wanted him to carry it?" the old man hesitated.


    "Yes." She only smiled and poke at Shen Qui''s arm, telling him to aim for the first prize, which was on the moving balloon. The first prize would qualify them for one big stuff toy. Seeing Lyca turned her attention to Shen Qui, Long Yi gritted his teeth, but he still chose to keep his calm. Was he supposed to carry all twenty small stuff toys? He had been too quick to shoot the darts that he had actually forgotten to ask the man which one would give him the biggest stuffed toy.


    He immediately med this on his desire to show off in front of Lyca.


    Seeing Long Yi stared at the stuffed toys, Huang Xiaoxuan sighed and approached him. "I can I can carry the others." She uttered.


    "Carry everything!" Long Yi hissed and turned towards Shen Qui, who just missed his first shot. He immediately snorted. Even if the balloons were moving, hitting it was still so easy. What kind of soldier would miss that shot? And this man really dared to train Lyca how to shoot?


    Of course, he wasn''t aware that Shen Qui and even Lyca were both hiding their real strength. After all, they now have the identity of the ultimate killer from the Tang Family. The two already killed that man from Xie City using that identity. Moreover, the researcher from the Long Family as well as some of their elites also died in Lyca''s hand. They needed to be careful around people like Long Yi. To hide this fact, the two agreed to keep their abilities hidden.


    After his fifth try, Shen Qui finally hit it. Lyca beamed and patted Shen Qui''s shoulder before she turned towards Huang Xiaoxuan and Long Yi. "We lost." She smiled and held her hand towards Shen Qui. Thetter immediately took her wallet from his pocket and gave it to her. Lyca actually asked him to bring her wallet earlier as she found it too heavy. Lyca wanted to bring cards, but Shen Qui told her it would be good to use cash as some stalls only ept cash and coins. Because of this, Lyca asked him to withdraw money and made him carry a wallet full of coins.


    "Here. For your food." She handed the money to Huang Xiaoxuan as Shen Qui picked his prize from the old man. It was a huge brown bear that was almost half of Shen Qui''s height. He carelessly flung it to his shoulders as he walked towards her.


    Long Yi got more irritated. He felt that Shen Qui was rubbing some salt to his wound. He should have chosen the first prize! First and foremost, carrying one big stuff toy was easier than twenty small ones. He immediately med the dumb Huang Xiaoxuan for this mishap.


    "Food," Lyca said. "Let''s eat." She only ate some eggs earlier, and watching Shen Qui made hungry. She needed to satisfy this hunger as soon as possible.


    "The food stalls should be at the back." Shen Qui said and held his hand so Lyca could grab it. He then looked at Long Yi. "It''s going to get crowded as we walked towards the food stalls. You should hold each other''s hands. So you won''t get lost." Both Shen Qui and Long Yi was about six foot tall, so it would be easy to find them in the middle of the crowd. But Lyca and Huang Xiaoxuan are both around five foot six. If they got lost, it would be hard to find them with all these people around.


    Lyca held Shen Qui''s hands, and before Long Yi could protest, they already disappeared into the crowd.


    "Mr. Long"


    "If you get lost then you can go home of your own." Long Yi said and left Huang Xiaoxuan alone. He doesn''t really care about this foolish woman. He wanted to go with Lyca and Shen Qui and try to talk to her aboutst night. However, he never had the chance as Shen Qui always stood by her side. This made him more and more irritated, he felt like choking someone.

 Chapter 97: Professional

    Chapter 97: Professional


    "What do you want to eat?" Shen Qui stood in front of Lyca.


    ''You'' she wanted to answer but ended up biting her tongue and staring at the stalls in front of them. "Takoyaki, Yakisoba, Grilled squid, Grilled corn, Okonomiyaki, Yakitori, Apple candy, and chocte banana and beer," Lyca said in one breath. She then let out a sigh before she sat on the bench that could amodate at least four people. Lyca was too tired, she felt like going home and eating Shen Qui instead. Before her mind started wandering, Lyca bit her lower lips, waking herself up from her imagination.


    Is she really going to think about this until they go back to her room? The waiting game was killing her.


    "Mr. Long, what do you want to eat? I will go get some food." Huang Xiaoxuan asked as she sat next to Lyca. She was exhausted, but she doesn''t mind at all. It was all worth it in the end.


    "I suggest you try the grilled beef too," Shen Qui said. "That stall."


    "Alright," Lyca nodded. "Hungry."


    "Hmmm. I will go buy some," Shen Qui immediately went to the stalls to buy Lyca''s orders leaving Lyca with Long Yi and Huang Xiaoxuan.


    "I want everything that Lyca said earlier." Long Yi said nonchntly. Now that Shen Qui was gone, he immediately found a way to talk to Lyca alone. Hearing this, Huang Xiaoxuan nodded. She then stood and followed Shen Qui towards the stalls.


    "Hey" Long Yi moved a little closer to Lyca. "Are you mad at me?"


    "Hmm?" She finally decided to stop staring at the food and looked at Long Yi. "No."


    "Then why did you bring Shen Qui and Huang Xiaoxuan?"


    "Shen Qui is my bodyguard. Xiaoxuan is my cousin." She said.


    "But the date is supposed to be just for the two of us."


    "Oh?" Lyca lifted an eyebrow but said nothing. She was toozy to exin useless things to this man.


    "About Huang Xiaoxuan there is nothing between us."


    "Oh?" Lyca shrugged. Poor Huang Xiaoxuan, she thought inwardly. But this was the life that Huang Xiaoxuan wanted, so Lyca was not nning to intervene. That woman even wanted to kill her just so she could have an engagement with this abusive r*pist. She should face the consequences of her actions.


    "Just to be clear I like you. I don''t like your cousin. Nothing is going on between Huang Xiaoxuan and me. The only reason why I personally recruited her to be my secretary was that I wanted to get closer to you."


    Lyca looked at Long Yi''s face and wondered if he was really this delusional. Isn''t it clear that she doesn''t like him? "Thank you. I like myself too." She smiled. If there was one person that she liked the most, that would be herself.


    "" Long Yi swallowed all the resentment that he had. He had never tried to woe a woman this abnormal. "My point is I would like to date you."


    "Oh?" She tilted her head then she nodded. "I would like to date myself too." If she were Long Yi, she would like Lyca too. After all, she was too cool and beautiful. She giggled inwardly at her own thoughts before she turned serious. "Thank you, Mr. Long. Let''s keep our rtionship professional."


    "" What professional? What does she mean by that? Long Yi felt helpless. Embarrassment and anger swirled in his orbs, but he quickly forced it inside him. This was the first time that he actually confessed to someone, and ask them for a date. And Lyca just rejected him like that? Long Yi gritted his teeth. "Listen Lyca" He said, his voice turned serious as the slight smile on his face disappeared. "I am not someone that would give up just like that. You can keep acting like a fool, but I know you are aware of the engagement." He watched as Lycazily stared at him. He could help but wonder if she was listening to his words or was thinking of something else.


    He continued. "I will talk to your grandfather and tell why he should agree to make the Huang Family and Long Family connected by marriage. Our families had been in a misunderstanding for so long. It is time that both of our families make Long City more prosperous."


    "You''re threatening me." She stated. Who cares about Long City? Who cares about making Long City prosperous? If she wanted to make a city better, she would have chosen to dabble in politics. What she hated was the fact that this Long Yi really dared to involve their families. She hated the hassle.


    "That''s not a threat. That''s a promise."


    Lyca just stared at him and said nothing. So the man''s ego was bruised and he ended up threatening her. Next, this man would surely resort to violence. Poor Huang Xiaoxuan. "Mr. Long " Lyca beamed. "You should watch your back."


    "" Unable to make sense of Lyca''s words, Long Yi squinted his eyes at her. He knew that Lyca was threatening him, but for some reason, he could feel that something else was hidden behind her words. Somethingplicated.


    Lyca fought the urge to roll his eyes and started staring at the stall instead. Watch your back was so simple. She was nning to stab him in the back literally. Was that something soplicated to understand? This man just attempted to r*pe her. Did he think she was a very forgiving woman?


    Lyca was literally nning to stab him just after she moved to the student council building. She was nning to teach him a lesson and was even deliberating of she would cut his manhood or not.


    Long Yi, on the other hand, was thinking why would Lyca warn him and tell him to watch his back. He couldn''t help but wonder if the Huang Family have spies nted around him and hispany. Well that should be normal. But why would Lyca warn him? Was it possible that they are nning something big?

 Chapter 98: Pig

    Chapter 98: Pig


    After two batches of food, Lyca finally finished her dinner and immediately suggested that they just stay on the bench and sit until the fireworks would start. She was toozy to move, and moving around with Shen Qui would make her hungry again. So, she wanted to just sit and wait for the time to go home.


    "Stop embarrassing yourself and move. Are you a pig?" Huang Xiaoxuan gritted her teeth as she whispered towards Lyca. Lyca actually showed howzy she was in front of Long Yi! What would Long Yi think about the Huang Family?


    "Pigs are more trainable than dogs and cats," Lyca answered. "They are the smartest domestic animal. You should get one."


    ""


    "Actually, if you watch the fireworks from here, you will stain your neck plus, the view is not nice at night." Shen Qui immediately suggested. Seeing Lyca turned sleepy again made him wonder howe she was still so skinny. How could someone eat and sleep so much not have an iota of unwanted fats in their body? "How about we have another contest? This time I am taking the contest seriously." He looked at Long Yi who had been quiet since they arrived. He was certain that Lyca said something to this guy. This Long Yi must be wracking his brains, trying to understand Lyca''s words.


    "Mr. Long how about another contest? Earlier, we agreed to have the two of us against the two of them. We should try it this time."


    "Why don''t we y a game that doesn''t involve shooting?" Shen Qui suggested. "We still have about two hours before the fireworks will start."


    "What game are you thinking?"


    "Goldfish catching." Shen Qui shrugged as he looked at Lyca''szy appearance. For some reason, he had a fleeting feeling that Lyca would be very good at catching goldfish.


    "Oh! That''s a game of luck. I heard that paper that they use is super thin so you have to be lucky to catch goldfish." Huang Xiaoxuan had never been to a festival like this but, she already used the Inte to check the information about this festival while she was waiting for her food order earlier. However, Long Yi was still in a very bad mood.


    Being rejected and maybe even ridiculed by Lyca was enough to ruin his day.


    "Then why don''t we do this. The loser of this game will go home." He looked at Shen Qui, his confidence soaring. Long Yi wondered why Lyca would prefer this blokespany over his. Was it just because he was her bodyguard? He couldn''t help but wonder if something abnormal is going on between the two.


    Surely, Lyca would not lower her own reputation and have a rtionship with an orphan soldier, right? After all, Lyca came from two prominent Families. Both the Tang Family and Huang Family would surely object to this rtionship.


    "How about this" Shen Qui said. "The winner can demand everything to the losers. I think that is fair than forcing someone to go home, no?"


    "I agree." Huang Xiaoxuan nodded. "Of course, I know Lyca agrees too."


    Shen Qui beamed. He knew he wouldn''t be able to catch some fish, but he was somehow sure that Lyca would win this game. Knowing Lyca, she would surely ask these two to go home.


    "Let''s go." Shen Qui held Lyca''s hands and started walking back to the booth with different games. "So the rules are simple. The person who can catch the most number of fish in thirty minutes win." He eyed Long Yi and sent him a mocking grin, just enough to make the man more sullen. Seeing Long Yi forced himself not to act out of his character in front of Lyca was enough to make himugh inwardly.


    After a few minutes of walking and trying to avoid the increasing crowd, the group finally arrived in one of the booths that were for goldfish catching. Thedy behind the booth quickly exined that they were using real goldfish and would just reward them with the one goldfish if they were able to catch five real goldfish. Moreover, the winner would also have a card for unlimited takoyaki was one of the well-known stores in Long City. Thedy also exined that they will be using a mechanism to create some fake waves that would be enough to damage the papers that they would use.


    Because of its difficulty, three papers only cost one Yuan.


    Watching Lycazily stared at the fishes made Shen Qui smile. He then leaned towards her and whispered. "You should catch more. I know a ce. A quiet one." He immediately noticed the redness creeping towards her ears before Lyca elbowed him, making him grunt.


    "For being a jerk," Lyca said. If he knows a ce, then why let her wait since earlier? Most importantly, how did he know such a ce? This man deserved some beating. "Just you wait." She hissed.


    "Let''s start with thirtys." Long Yi''s voice reminded them that they were not here alone. "We have thirty minutes to catch a fish." He purposely reminded them, hoping that Shen Qui would stop whispering nonsense towards Lyca.


    The group quickly paid and once again gathered the attention of the people surrounding them. After all, these were groups of good-looking couples. Moreover, some people also thought that it was foolish for them to sped ten Yuan without even considering that there will be waves that would interrupt the water. Plus the goldfish are pretty small, and the papers were too thin. Even the waves could destroy it.


    The group then approached a ten-foot rectangr pool that only one foot in depth where the goldfish were freely swimming.


    "You can start when you''re ready. Here are the thirtys for each of you," thedy added before she stood next to the pool and turned on the fake waves.


    Both Long Yi and Huang Xiaoxuan immediately started scooping the fishes only to realize that thes were indeed very thin. Because of the waves, thes would be destroyed before it could even approach a fish. Their faces turned solemn as they look at Shen Qui and Lyca who were staring at the fishes.


    "No using of hands," thedy reminded them and smiled. Since morning, no one has sessfully caught a fish. However, this smile didn''tst too long when Lyca suddenly scooped a goldfish in just one swoop. Gasps followed as everyone watched her caught the second one in another swoop. She was using one paper, and she already caught two fishes.


    Seeing this, Shen Qui sent another smug gaze towards Long Yi. As expected, his woman could catch fish.


    ....


    Pls dont forget to vote for the novel.

 Chapter 99: Picture

    Chapter 99: Picture


    This was not a very smart choice.


    Lyca immediately regretted following Shen Qui towards the hill. She couldn''t help but wonder if Shen Qui was trying to punish her for being toozy. Why would he want her to walk too much?


    "We''re almost there," Shen Qui uttered, his hand holding hers tighter. "Are you alright?" He immediately noticed the sweat on her forehead. Shaking his head, he knew that this was because of herck of exercise. "You really should jog with me every morning."


    "Why can''t we do it at night?" she mumbled, making him chuckle.


    "The sun is good for your skin." Lyca had been too pale. He knew it was because she rarely goes out.


    Lyca sighed but said nothing. She eyed the stuffed toy in his other hands. "Where did you put the goldfish?"


    "I gave it to some kids." He shrugged. Earlier, Lyca caught twenty goldfish in a short amount of time, because of this, thedy asked them to pick a prize and stop catching goldfish anymore. In the end, Shen Qui picked two beautiful goldfish but gave it to some children as he knew Lyca would be toozy to take care of them anyway.


    Because Lyca won, she told Long Yi and Huang Xiaoxuan to find their spot for the fireworks. No reasons were given, aside from the fact that everyone was supposed to do her bidding since she won. Of course, this made Long Yi frowned, but he curtly nodded as he realized that they already had a deal about this earlier. In the end, he went back to the school while leaving Huang Xiaoxuan to find her ride back to the school.


    Lyca couldn''t help but wonder if Huang Xiaoxuan would continue this crazy infatuation after all that Long Yi did to her. Of course, if Huang Xiaoxuan is a masochist, then she would continue acting like a lovesick fool.


    "What are you thinking?"


    Lyca had been in a daze, she didn''t notice that they had stopped walking. "We''re here?" She roamed her eyes and immediately noticed that they were on standing on top of a hill. She inhaled the scent of leaves that enriched the air. It made her smile. "This is a beautiful ce." In front of them were a few trees that elegantly casted their shadows towards the carpet like grass. The warm breeze and the rustling of the wind reminded her of the forest. But this ce had fewer trees, with obvious walking trail marks everywhere.


    "Come."


    She turned her head and realized that Shen Quiid a coat just under one of the trees. He sat and motioned her to sit next to him. Lycaplied, a smile was already stered on her face. "How did you know that this ce exists?"


    "This ce was off-limits. This used to be a ce where you can have some pic and stuff like that. But the city decided to close it when they notice that people started vandalizing the ce. They don''t throw their garbages in the bin, and some of them leave their bonfire without putting out the fire. So, the city decided to close it until they can develop some sort ofws about this ce. But this has been dyed because some corporations wanted the ce. This is now a battle between environmentalists and big corporations."


    Amusement shed in her eyes as she sat next to him. "So we are here illegally?"


    "Does it matter?" A sly grin slithered on his face. "It is only illegal if someone catches us."


    "Smart," She looked at the lights of the festival just a few kilometers from where they were. Shen Qui drove for about fifteen minutes to this ce before they started walking. She turned towards him and stared at his gentle side profile.


    She watched as his longshes fluttered before he slowly dragged his gaze towards her. "Please don''t tell me you''re hungry again." He teased and used his hand to tuck a strand of her white hair behind her ears.


    "No. Not yet." Sheughed and turned her head away. The gentleness in his eyes was too obvious it made her feel a little guilty. After all, she doesn''t feel anything towards him. Aside from the overwhelming desire that needed to be satiated, Lyca doesn''t feel any emotional attachment towards Shen Qui. And she wanted to keep it that way.


    Seeing her look away, Shen Qui only shook his head inwardly before looking at the festival again. A long stretch of silence descended between them.


    He liked her and everything about her. It wasn''t something that he decided.Hell, he didn''t even know he had been in too deep until his mouth asked her to marry her. He chuckled inwardly.


    Of course, Shen Qui wasn''t nning to do something drastic and force her into something she doesn''t like. He wouldn''t dare push her into liking him. The fact that she had been more talkative, that she had been showing a little bit of herself was enough. Little steps... little baby steps.


    "Hey," Shen Qui suddenly nudged her.


    "Hm?"


    "Let''s take a picture." Without waiting for her to say anything, Shen Qui already held his phone and clicked the camera. In response, Lyca snapped her eyes shut from the blinding sh. "Smile." Another sh followed.


    "Are you crazy?"


    He responded with a chuckle and ignored her as he looked at the photos. "Look, you are frowning, and I look handsome. This is like the beauty and the beast. Of course, I am the beauty." He pointed at the first photo where Lyca''s eyes were closed, her brows furrowed while Shen Qui who was sitting next to her, was smiling.


    "Delete it."


    "This is going to be my new wallpaper."


    "Hey! Delete that!" This man was not cute at all. She watched as Shen Qui set the photo to be his new wallpaper. How embarrassing. "Delete it"


    "Or what?" He turned and smirked at her. "You''re not going to kill me, are you?"


    She frowned in response. Again, heughed the amusement in his voice was apparent.


    "Take another photo."


    He beamed and once again lifted his phone. "One two" Shen Qui didn''t continue his words when he felt her lips on his cheeks. Surprised glinted in his eyes as the clicking sound of his phone followed.


    ....


    Please don''t forget to vote.

 Chapter 100: Precipice

    Chapter 100: Precipice


    R18


    .....


    "Hey, it''s starting." Shen Qui looked at the festival. The music that would apany the fireworks was especially loud, but since they were already far, they could barely hear it.


    "It''s beautiful isn''t it?" Lyca looked at the fireworks. "How long will itst?"


    "Probably an hour? Probably longer."


    She nodded. An hour sounded too long, but to a spectator that could be too short. She looked at his face that was illuminated by the different colors of the fireworks.


    "What do you think will happen once Long Yi realized that we are already married?" Shen Qui asked. He knew that she was already staring at him. So he withdrew his gaze from the fireworks and met her eyes.


    "Who cares?"


    "True." He nodded. Right now, this marriage was still considered a secret until the grand wedding that he promised to Huang Sheng Hong. He smiled and held Lyca''s chin between his thumb and finger. He then leaned towards her, tasting her luscious lips. Almost immediately raw hunger zed inside his body.


    He deepened the kiss, teasing her lips apart with his tongue. His hands smooth over her Yukata, slipping inside, looking for her bare skin. Lyca hissed when he found her stomach. She hadn''t realized how she needed his heat until his hands grazed her ribcage.


    "Let''s go," He suddenly pulled away.


    "Where?" she asked, wondering if he is going to let her wait again.


    "Car. Can''t have you naked here." He stood and pulled her up before he took the jacket and pulled her down the hill.


    "But the fireworks?" She asked.


    "We can see it in the car." He added. He could have just sat in the car with her and watched the fireworks. But he wanted to show her the beauty of the festival at night. He wouldn''t want her to miss the beautiful lights that they can only see from this hill. After all, Lyca doesn''t like going out. No one really knows when would be the next time they have a date like this.


    "Carry me." She said. She already walked up the hill, and she found walking down so tiring. If she lost all her energy, how is she supposed to moveter? Sheughed at the thought.


    Of course, Shen Qui didn''tin and just carried her like a knight carrying the princess. "I told you you needed some exercise."


    She said nothing. She had been meditating every day almost every day. And that should be enough for her to live a long life. After all, she wasn''t really nning on running a marathon. Seeing hernguid appearance, Shen Qui added.


    "You know so you can keep up with me." He smirked and ignored the pout on her face.


    "You saying that I can''t keep up?"


    "Can you? You can''t even walk this much." He gave a rough chuckle. "I can run while carrying you."


    "Show off."


    He shrugged and suddenly kissed her forehead. "All I''m saying is "


    "I know." Lyca interrupted him. "No need to worry. I will make sure to exercise with you until I can keep up"


    "Not that kind of exercise."


    "That''s the only exercise that I am willing to do." Her voice contained the finally that made him shut his mouth for a few seconds.


    Such a stubborn woman. He immediately wondered what would he do to convince her to at least jog with him.


    Shen Qui would soon realize that there is only one-way Lyca would agree to jog with him. But that would be forter.


    It didn''t take him five minutes to jog from the top of the hill to their car.


    "Impressive." She said when Shen Qui got inside the car with her. Just like what Shen Qui said, the fireworks are indeed visible from where they sat. She looked at fireworks, and for a few seconds, shes of her wedding night with that man swirled inside her mind. She frowned, wondering what happened after she died. Did that man end up being happy? Did he regret anything at all? Was he able to sleep at night knowing he chose power over his heart? Knowing his chose power over her?


    When Shen Qui held her hand, Lyca flinched, her instincts kicking in.


    "What are you thinking?" He asked, curious at the sudden frown on her beautiful face. Slowly, he reached out, using one of his hands to cup her face. He knew something was bothering her, and seeing her like this made her chest ache.


    She stared at him, saying nothing before she held his hand that was on her face, holding it against her chest as if telling him to listen to her heart instead If she still had one. A smile soon slithered on her face. Thinking about her painful past was sometimes inevitable.


    "Come over here." Shen Qui''s voice was a little hoarse. His sharp need slicing through his skin. She didn''t protest when he carefully dragged her in hisp. She straddled him, saying nothing as he held her waist and pulled her closer, letting her feel his erection. Then his hand traveled on the back of her neck, pulling her towards his lips.


    That''s right, being in his arms just felt exactly right. She should cherish this and not think about the what if''s. Of course, she knew this wasn''t love. Attraction maybe. But she doesn''t care. NO she meant the pleasure that now turned into a craving had filled her brains with a different kind of madness. A madness that made her not care about her emotions and focus on her want, need, and him.


    Desire and hot need swirled through their bodies as he moved the Yukata and imed her nipples. Pleasure immediately overrode the feeling that Lyca had earlier.


    Lyca had been waiting for hours. Biting back her groan, she managed to undo the belt of his Yukata, and was a little irritated when she remembered that he was still wearing his shorts beneath the clothing.


    That was not fair.


    She undid his shorts, and he lifted his hips, shrugging the material along with his boxers down. She stared at him, desperation shed in her eyes. As if understanding her unspoken words, he moved her Yukata, his hand slid under her. She moaned his name.


    With his tip at the opening of her core, Lyca didn''t hesitate as she lowered her body unto his. For a few seconds, they held their breaths, letting the haze from the onught of sensations passed before he began to gently rock under her.


    One of his hands moved towards her breast, the other in between her legs. She moaned and murmured a soft whisper of need against his lips. Erotic sensations flooded in between them as she rotated her body, building the pressure quickly. Lyca had been waiting all day, and having him inside her almost immediately brought her to the edge of the precipice.


    Her fingers tangled on the short hair of his nape, lips cursing in between his kisses. Their harsh breathing and moaning soon filled the car before he finally sent her over. Then he burst inside her, crying out her name as she fell against him.


    ....


    We are almost done with ARC 1. Major things will happen onwards. Please don''t forget to vote and thank you for your support.

 Chapter 101: House

    Chapter 101: House


    Lyca snuggled in Shen Qui''s arms. She inhaled his scent and smiled.


    "Hey, we have a ss." Shen Qui''s voice drifted inside her head. Last night, they arrived reallyte and had anotherte night bout. Because of this, Lyca was really tired. She felt that her legs were shaking, her waist was about to leave her body.


    Who cares about sses? Lyca chose to study hard before because she wanted to graduate earlier and spend her dayszily. Why does she need to bother herself with attending sses now? "Also, your father ising." Shen Qui added.


    "Huh?" She lifted her half-opened eyes and stared at him. "Who?"


    "Your father. He said he would visit."


    "Why?"


    "I don''t know " He shrugged. In response, Lyca sat on the bed and shamelessly eyed Shen Qui''s upper body before she shook her head. It seems that she needed to prepare herself for her father''s interrogationter.


    "I''m taking a bath. Don''t join. Or we would spend the whole day washing each other''s body." She said in a serious tone as she closed the door of the bathroom behind her. She didn''t even realize that she had been naked until she saw her own reflection on the mirror of the bathroom. Sighing, Lyca decided to start taking a bath instead.


    When her father arrived, Lyca was already dressed, her hair was braided by Shen Qui, and in return, she also made some noodles for him. Then she watched as Shen Qui''s face reddened after tasting her food. The man got teary eyes real teary eyes.


    It made her wonder if he was happy that she made food for him or that it was because her food was delicious or perhaps it was disgusting, and he had to force himself to eat it.


    In the end, she shrugged and finished her own food, ignoring the emotional man in front of her.


    "So you are married." Huang Sheng Hong was frowning as he squinted at Lyca''s appearance. "Who braided your hair?" His gaze turned towards Shen Qui. "It was you" He stated.


    "Father..." Lyca smiled at the man opposite her. "Why are you alone? Where is mother?" As expected, her question made Huang Sheng Hong froze. If Lyca guessed correctly, her mother must have warned Huang Sheng Hong not toe here. However, the man just couldn''t control himself. So, he came here without the permission of his wife. "Father I remember when mother got angry"


    "Stop talking." Huang Sheng Hong said sternly. "This is something that a father should do." He said and handed Lyca a velvet box wrapped by a red ribbon.


    "What is this?" She immediately opened the box and widened her eyes when she saw a key inside. "A house?"


    "Your mother wanted a penthouse. I wanted a house with some basement and a secret room." He stated coldly before looking at Shen Qui. "A ce where one could hide dead bodies."


    Shen Qui almost choked on the tea that he was drinking. What was that supposed to mean? Of course, he didn''t cower, and instead, he smiled at Huang Sheng Hong. "Thank you, father."


    "What father?" Huang Sheng Hong snapped before he recalled that Lyca was actually sitting next to Shen Qui. So, he nodded and said, "Hmmm At least you are smart enough to start calling me father."


    Lyca fought the urge tough out loud at her father''s actions. She was now very curious about the events that happened at the meeting that Shen Qui had with her parents. Did her father acted like a child too?


    "Thank you, father." Lyca smiled sweetly before he elbowed Shen Qui. "Does father liked the tea?"


    "Yes. This is indeed an excellent tea. Did you order this abroad? I would like to bring some of these to your mother." Huang Sheng Hong answered almost immediately. Of course, he maintained a very stern appearance.


    "As expected. I am sure both of you will like this. The tea was actually a secret tea recipe that was only from the Shen Family. Only people who have Shen bloodline can make this tea. Of course, Shen Qui only brewed this tea to special people in his heart and people that deserved his respect." She exaggerated. "One of these days, Shen Qui and I would visit you and mother, and he would personally make some tea for you and mother. What do you think?"


    Shen Qui turned speechless when he saw a smile blossomed on Huang Sheng Hong''s face. Who would have thought that Lyca could actually talk like this! He felt goosebumps skittered all over his body. Of course, he found this side of Lyca likable too!


    "Hmph! At least this brat is good at something." Huang Sheng Hong snorted before downing the rest of his tea. "Also now that the gift had been finalized, I am here to tell you two to hide the marriage for now. We didn''t tell anyone about this marriage. Not even your grandfather. Do you understand?"


    Lyca noddedzily.


    "Good. I am here to discuss about the bullets. So far, the market''s response about it was extremely good. Even your grandfather and I, are surprised about it. The profits" Huang Sheng Hong immediately started talking about the bullet that Lyca especially created for the Huang Security.


    The bullet was a hit not just in the ck market, even some securitypanies started ordering the same bullets for their own use. "I followed your suggestion and limited the orders that we can deliver per month. Right now we have... I believe fourpanies on the waitlist." Just as expected, her daughter''s suggestions were always right. Now that bullets have been limited, the demands in the market were raised. Some people even started to curry favors for the Huang Family.


    This made everyone in the Huang Family happy. Especially the old man. However, not all good thingsst. Just after Huang Sheng Hong told Lyca about this news, a devastating news arrived in the form of a phone call. Almost immediately, Huang Sheng Hong''s face paled as he looked at Lyca. "Your grandfather Your grandfather fell unconscious and is currently in the hospital, right now."


    ...


    Please don''t forget to vote.

 Chapter 102: A Very Dangerous One

    Chapter 102: A Very Dangerous One


    "Take that woman to the police!" Huang Ying shrieked when she saw Lyca, her face was pale, eyebags apparent in her eyes. She wanted to approach Lyca, but the man next to her held her arm. "Father was poisoned. If someone is capable of poisoning him, it should be this woman."


    "Huang Ying! How dare you say something like that to my daughter?"


    "Stop it, Sheng Hong! I always knew that you spoil your daughter so much. But this. Our father." Huang Ying started sobbing.


    Lyca calmly looked at Huang Ying as she wasforted by his fourth uncle, Huang Qingyun. This man is the most low-key member of the Huang Family, who didn''t show any interest in the family business. He was having his own retail business, and even his son that was about the same age as Lyca was not close to any of their other cousins.


    "Huang Ying tell us what happened. Weren''t you the one who met father before he became like this?" Huang Li Duo sternly asked, his face dark as he looked at Huang Ying.


    "We were talking that''s all. Then he just he just suddenly copsed."


    "Do you think we are going to believe that? What did you do to our father?" Huang Li Duo barked. He knew that Huang Ying was already an ally of the Long Family. How could he believe her silly words? "Tell us the truth!"


    "I told you! We were drinking tea. And he just copsed! So I thought I thought someone poisoned him. And all of us here know who loves to y with poison, right?"


    "So, you think Lyca poisoned father?" Huang Sheng Hong''s face turned ugly. He knew that Lyca would never do something that would make her work harder. If the old man dies, the person that would be the head will be Lyca. He knew how much she hated that. "My daughter would never do that."


    "Of course, you will defend her! She is your daughter!"


    "Huang Ying! Why would you push the me to Lyca? You are the one who had a talk with our father before he copsed!"


    "If I want to poison our father, why would I do it when we were talking and make myself and prime suspect?" Huang Ying countered.


    Seeing all this, Lyca sat on the bench next to her stood Shen Qui. Someone was trying to use this incident and frame her. Lyca was very aware of that. However, she couldn''t really tell who it was. For now, her guess was Huang Ying. But how could she just merely guess base on instincts?


    "First, let''s all calm down." His fourth uncle, Huang Qingyun uttered. "We are not sure if our father was indeed poisoned. There was no way that the doctors wouldn''t be able to tell if something like that happened. All we needed now is to wait. Stop this argument. Father will be alright." As the youngest, Huang Qingyun was surprisingly the calmest. He continued consoling his older sister as he sighed.


    "We all know that Lyca did it." Huang Ying continued. "Once our father dies she would be the next person that would lead the family. She had the motive and the means."


    Lyca nodded. That made sense. Indeed, she had the motive and the means to kill the old man. But if she was the killer, she won''t poison the old man as that was akin to telling everyone that it was her who did it. She would probably slit the old man''s throat on his way home. A clean hit.


    Then she would make everyone think that it was the Long Family who did it.


    Lyca shook the thoughts out of her head. She was certain that Huang Ying had something to do with it. Was she nning to file a criminal case against her? Slowly, Lyca''s gaze turned towards her parents. This scenario wouldn''t only affect her but also her parents.


    Then she dragged her gaze back to Huang Ying.


    "What are you staring at?"


    Lyca''s lips thinned into a straight line, but she said nothing. She continued staring at the sobbing Huang Ying.


    "YouWhy are you looking at me like that?"


    "You seemed so certain that I was the one who poisoned grandfather. If I wanted him dead, did you think I would use poison?" She asked.


    "You "


    "Huang Ying stop it." Huang Li Duo stood next to Shen Qui, a clear indication that he also believed Lyca''s words. He had seen her act against Huang Xiaoxuan, and he knew she was capable of killing someone without using poison. "She had a point. If she wanted to kill someone, she wouldn''t use something that would easily say she did it."


    Huang Li Duo was always someone who valued the Huang Family more than he would value any rtionships. He was a proud Huang, and he would do everything to maintain the status of the Huang Family. He knew the type of things that Lyca could bring to the table, and he wanted her to lead the Huang Family. Even if that meant hurting his daughter, Huang Xiaoxuan''s feelings.


    This conversation was halted when a doctor went out of the emergency room. He immediately approached everyone, his face grim. "Old Man Huang''s condition is stable." He started without waiting for anyone to ask a question. "However, we are not sure if he will wake up again, and if he will, we can''t really assure that he can move his body."


    "What do you mean?" Huang Ying asked as tears flowed in her cheeks like a stream.


    "A poison damaged most of his internal organs. We were able to stop it in time but the damage has been done."


    "What kind of poison could do something like that?" Huang Li Duo asked.


    "A very dangerous one. We are still doing tests to determined what was use to create the poison. We have never seen anything like it. The effects were too quick Old Man Huang''s arms were already ck when he got here.It was like a fast-acting bacteria that ate most of the cells in his body. He was lucky that he was still alive."


    Lyca frowned, her mind in shambles. If she was right, a poison like that was very popr in her previous world. But not in this world.

 Chapter 103: Worst Case Scenario

    Chapter 103: Worst Case Scenario


    "So they requested to transfer the poison investigation towards the Huang Security so we can investigate it. For now, they are requesting you to stay inside our home or at least not go to the Huang Security." Huang Sheng Hong stated as he sat behind his office table. In front of him sat Lyca and Shen Qui. "Huang Li Dup argued with Huang Ying and Qingyun, but both were adamant that Lyca was dangerous."


    Huang Sheng Hong never expected that Huang Qingyun would suddenly involve himself like this. He also never expected that the man was friends with most of the people on the board.


    "Why would they think Lyca would poison her grandfather? It was clear that someone wanted to frame her." Shen Qui said in a solemn tone.


    "Despite our reasoning, Huang Ying had been crying to the other board members, using her sob story and the fact that Lyca seemed to have the motive to do so."


    "So, the board members just agreed to keep her out of thepany? After what she did with the bullet?"


    "It''s fine," Lyca uttered. She looked at her father, then moved her gaze towards Shen Qui. "If they were using the same poison that I knew then Grandfather would die tonight." This should be everyone''s concern instead of the fact that she wouldn''t be allowed to go to Huang Security. Is she really the type of person that loved spending her free time in an office?


    Her statement made everyone silent. However, Lyca wasn''t done talking. She continued, "And they would make me the prime suspect." She eyed her mother who was standing behind her father. "They have spies around us. Meaning someone nted the same poison inside this household and probably in my room at school."Lyca''s words were soft and unhurried. As if, she wasn''t talking about her own possible demise. "They are nning to use thew against us. They would get a search warrant and search our property. Then they will find the poison and immediately arrest me."


    "You "


    "That is the worst-case scenario that could happen." A scenario that had about sixty percent chance of happening. "Whoever was behind this would then make me an offer. An offer that would help me get out of the current situation and save my ass." Of course, those people would surely ask her to do something for them.


    Lyca had been silent since they left the hospital. Her mind had been thinking, analyzing the events before her. Her desire to protect her family kicked in. "If that happens I would need you two to be strong." She added and didn''t miss the horrified expression of her mother and the anger in her father''s face. "I want you to trust me, and Shen Qui." She looked at her parents then to Shen Qui. Even her words surprised her. But, she knew it had something to do with the fact that she let him drank one of her poisonous tablets before. If he betrays her... he''s dead.


    "Lyca how could you talk like " Like she was leaving them? Her mother gulped the tears away as she walked next to her daughter. She then pulled her daughter for a hug. "I won''t allow them to hurt you." Her voice had the certainty that Lyca wanted to hear.


    "It''s fine mother," she forced a smile. "They can''t hurt me." She had been preparing for something like this to happen. Unlike her previous life, she was ready for everyone who was nning to ruin her family.


    "Lyca this poison that you said "


    "I doubt they would use something that could kill grandfather. Maybe paralyzed him but not enough to kill him." She interrupted her father''s words. That poison required the most poisonous frog in this world and the venom of a poisonous snake. When mixed together it would cause paralysis and kill cells but one needed a huge amount of it to kill a man the size of her grandfather. Unless of course, those people had been nning this for a long time now.


    "What are you nning to do?" Shen Qui couldn''t help but ask. For some reason, he could feel something different in Lyca''s gaze. Was she nning to kill someone?


    "They are nning to take Huang Security." Lyca ignored his question as she looked at him. "They would cancel your mission to protect me and call you back in thepany, put you under surveince, and might restrict your movements." Right now, Lyca was telling them all the possibilities that she could think of. She wanted them to prepare for the things that might happen so they could react ordingly and not ruin her ns. She was toozy to bother withplications. It would be good to be direct and deal with all the possibilities as early as now.


    "I wille with you."


    "How did you know I am going somewhere?" She lifted an eyebrow at Shen Qui''s words. She knew he would abandon thepany for her. What a bad soldier, but she liked it. A smile was already on her face.


    "You are going somewhere?" Huang Sheng Hong asked. "Where?"


    She pursed her lips and eyed her mother. She knew that Tang Nini already guessed her ns. After all, her mother''s brains are just like hers.


    "Tang Family." Tang Nini uttered.


    "Again, this is like the worst situation that could happen," Lyca said. Mostly, the worst situation would happen unexpectedly. It is best to let them prepare as early as now. "I already arranged everything and Yi''an was aware of it." It was best if her parents didn''t know the specifics of her ns.


    "Yi''an"


    "If she betrays me she''s dead," Lyca said.


    Understanding shed in her parent''s eyes. Yi''an was someone that grew up in the Huang Household. Her mother used to work as Tang Nini''s maid in the Tang Household. Until now, her mother was serving Tang Nini. Of course, both her mother and Yi''an were trained and are very much involved in the security of this household.


    A thick suffocating silence descended inside the room. Each of them was thinking about the possibilities that Lyca mentioned.


    "So what are we going to do?" Huang Sheng Hong was the first to ask the question.


    "Wait," she answered. "We wait then we move." She said as she rose from her seat. All this thinking was making her sleepy.


    "Your grandfather "


    "If he survives this night, then I can create something to help him. But he won''t be able to move that arm anymore and his organs would be damaged forever." Despite her grandfather''s appearance, he was already an old man. His body wouldn''t be able to withstand all the treatment needed to keep him alive. She sighed inwardly.


    This was truly an unexpected situation. Something that she never thought would happen. Attacking the patriarch just as she was trying to help the Huang Family survive in this cruel world. Not that she mes them.


    The bullet must have threatened their enemies. Whoever was behind this does not want Huang Security to grow. They wanted to devour them before they can create another invention that would rock the market. Lyca went out of the room with Shen Qui before she took her phone and called a familiar number. "Ruyi.." She started. "I need your help."


    ....


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 Chapter 104: A Believable Reason

    Chapter 104: A Believable Reason


    Lyca let out a loud sigh as she stretched on her bed. Just as she expected, it was indeed very tiring to deal with stuff like this. She badly wanted toin but felt no one would understand her anyway. Shen Qui might probably look at her and think that she was a selfish coldhearted b*tch when her grandfather was dying, and all she does wasin.


    Lyca already dealt with a lot of death in her previous life. Was it possible to say that she was used to it? Or maybe just maybe something was indeed wrong in her thinking. Lyca sighed and sat on her bed. Shen Qui was still in her father''s office with her mother while she insisted on staying in her room. This gave her the time to be alone and think about things.


    She wanted to sleep, but obviously, she couldn''t. Lyca liked to think she doesn''t really care about anyone else in the Huang Family aside from her parents. However, this thinking was clearly wed and wrong. The fact that she couldn''t sleep right now was enough proof that she cared more than she hoped for.


    She stood and was about to walk out of her room when the door opened, revealing Shen Qui with a worried expression on his face. "Your grandfather"


    "Is he dead?" What a cold-hearted thing to ask. Lyca frowned at her own words. "I''m sorry."


    "" Shen Qui cleared his throat. He looked at the embarrassment in her usually stoic face and sighed. "He was safe and still alive. I was trying to say that the poison was identified. It contained one of the ingredients that you used on your pill the one that you showed during the challenges in school. Huang Ying''s men and the Zhang Family''s men were now on their way to the school to check your things."


    "And people areing here too?" she asked, and he nodded in response.


    Lyca turned silent. Just as she expected. It wasn''t even twenty-four hours since her grandfather was rushed to the hospital, and those people already found the ingredients of the poison. Of course, she knew those people would have the papers to prove that they were right. Another sigh escaped her lips.


    "Yes," he answered and immediately went to her walk-in closet and dragged two huge suitcases. "Let''s go."


    Lyca didn''t tarry. She nodded and followed him out of the room.


    "Lyca" Tang Nini and Huang Sheng Hong were already standing outside of her room. Both have grave expressions on their faces.


    "Just as I predicted." She uttered and gave them a smile full of assurance. "Huang Ying won''t ask the police to find me." She assured them. Huang Ying and even Huang Li Duo were big on pretending that the Huang Family was perfect. And they wanted to keep it that way.


    Surely, those two wouldn''t announce to the world that Lyca tried to kill her own grandfather. "They might probably try to detain me inside the Huang Security and forced me to marry that Long Yi." She shrugged and hugged her mother. Lyca maintained her cid appearance not because she was calm inside but because she actually didn''t know how to react.


    Lyca couldn''t even remember when was thest time that she let emotions ovee here. She couldn''t even remember thest time she shed some tears because of something that happened in this world. Sometimes, Lyca wondered if she was being a freak or abnormal but would always convince herself that this was a part of building walls around her heart.


    She knew she cared for her parents but to act emotionally around them that is something that Lyca found so hard to do.


    She gave her father a tight hug before she told her parents to calm down. She would soon found a way to clear her name. After all, she wasn''t nning to bebeled as someone that cruel in this world too.


    "I will this mansion," she uttered. She would surely miss the convenience but she knew this is a necessary action.


    Lyca and Shen Qui went to the basement parking and essed an exit that would require them to walk in a secret passage for about an hour before they would arrive in a ce away from the Huang Mansion.


    Then the two would go to Xie City and Kong City, Ralia, then finally back to the Long Mansion. This time, she would be the genius Tang Xi while Shen Qui would act as her assistant.


    Meanwhile, Huang Ying immediately strode inside Huang Sheng Hong''s mansion,  few loyal veterans of the Huang Security was following closely behind her. Aside from them, Huang Li Duo, Huang Qingyun, and even Huang Xiaoxuan were also there.


    "Where is she?" Huang Ying barked when she saw Huang Sheng Hong calmly sitting on the couch in the living room.


    "Who?" Huang Sheng Hong seeped the tea that Shen Qui steeped before they received the news about the poison.


    "Your good daughter! Where is she?"


    "What daughter?" Huang Sheng Hong lifted an eyebrow.


    "You "


    "Older brother" Huang Qingyun walked towards Huang Sheng Hong. "We are here to take Lyca back to the Huang Security. Please don''t intervene. You know this is what we do to someone from our family that breaks thews."


    "Oh. That daughter." Huang Sheng Hong finally lifted his gaze away from the tea. Then he shrugged. "I kicked her out."


    "What?"


    "She poisoned our father. What if she tries to poison me too? So I kicked her out."


    "" Does this man was really toozy to make a believable reason? Everyone was speechless at Huang Sheng Hong''s shamelessness.


    "Huang Sheng Hong! Stop speaking nonsense!" Huang Ying narrowed her eyes at her brother''s calm appearance. All these efforts will be for naught if Lyca won''te with them and marry Long Yi.


    All this would be useless!


    Moreover, this would give Lyca a chance to counter their move and ruin their ns. She gritted her teeth and gave Huang Qingyun a meaningful gaze.


    If Lyca wouldn''t cooperate with them... then she can just die. This will make sure that no other people would be able to take advantage of her skills.


    ..................


    1/5


    Goal for mass release:


    Rank 35 and up- 5 chapters.


    Rank 30 and up- 8 chapters.


    Another smut ising but people are starting to wonder if this is Book of Lust instead of Sloth. Hahahaha. Comment if you want one.


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 Chapter 105: Evil Incarnate

    Chapter 105: Evil Incarnate


    When Lyca walked out of the passage, she immediately noticed the car that was waiting for them a few meters away from the secret door. She looked back and noticed that the door were actually covered with nts to camouge it. But, she didn''t have the time to even rx. The sound of another car approached the area made her frowned. A few men went out of the car.


    She narrowed her eyes at Zhang Zhi. Her initial suspicion about a traitor was indeed true. Someone must have known about this passage. Someone close to her parents.


    "Cousin" Zhang Zhi beamed at her. He was wearing a dark blue tactical suit, a gun was holstered on the right side of his hip. "Where are you going? I heard you tried to poison my grandfather. Are you perhaps running away? I mean... guilty people run."


    Lyca''s eyes immediately darted towards the four tall men surrounding Zhang Zhi. If her calctions were right, these people were from the Zhang Family. Lyca side-eyed Shen Qui as if silently sending him a signal. She knew his eyes were glued on her face was he immediately noticed the small action. Shen Qui gave a short nod, his jaws clenched. The Glock on his waist was loaded and ready. One-step and these people were dead. His right leg took a single step back.


    "Come on cousin I''m sure you don''t want to gather any attention right? I mean this ce is near a vige, yes?" Zhang Zhi taunted, his eyes were full of ridicule. "Juste with us. We are not here to hurt you. Everyone just wanted to talk... like normal people. We don''t really need to fight." In reality, Zhang Zhi was actually itching to fight against Lyca. His older brother told him about her skills and he wanted to personally test it.


    "Move," Lyca said. She calmly put her hands on her hips where a row of knives was neatly tucked. As much as possible, she didn''t want to hurt anyone. Of course, she wouldn''t bother killing people either but that would mean... using her energy.


    "Who are you trying to scare?" Zhang Zhi snorted. "Did you really think you can escape from my family? Are you insane? Even if you escape, we can always use your parents and held them as hostages then we can " Zhang Zhi didn''t continue his words when he felt a small ache on his shoulder. He immediately lowered his head and widened his eyes at the knife that stabbed through his left arm. "You " He didn''t even notice her throw a knife towards him. He was about to say something when the loud sound of a gun echoed.


    *BANG*


    *BANG*


    *BANG*


    *BANG*


    Zhang Zhi trembled when he noticed that the men next to him were slowly falling. "Hey! Hey! What are you doing?" He couldn''t help but scream in panic. But Zhang Zhi had no time to think about them now. All he could think was the fact that his arms are turning numb. Without having second thoughts, his hand reached out to his own gun.


    *Swooosh.*


    This time, the sound of the knife dancing through the air was much clearer. Zhang Zhi didn''t know if it was because of his adrenaline or Lyca deliberately threw it slower. He could only flinched when the knife hit his right leg. He staggered, fear shed in his eyes. "You I am still a Huang! Are you really going to hurt me?" His face had now turned so pale, his voice quivering.


    "You know" Lyca uttered in a soft voice as she walked towards him. "I always thought I had been too kind." She took another step, the sound of branches and twigs cracking beneath her boots filled the air. "So, I will tell you three mistakes that warranted your death."


    "You " Zhang Zhi tried to use his right hand to grab the gun but another knife impaled on his right arm, making him howl in pain. "What are you doing!?"


    "First you showed up," Lyca said. She was now a few feet away from Zhang Zhi. "Second, you threatened to hurt my father and mother. Never use them against me." She then tilted her head, enjoying the fear in Zhang Zhi''s face. Seeing the man in pain seemed to give her enough pleasure, she wanted to giggle. Bloodthirst soon covered her orbs. "And third I don''t like your face." She stopped when she was only a foot away from Zhang Zhi who was already trembling on the ground.


    "No NO! Don''t get close! You are not allowed to kill me! The  I am someone from the Zhang Family! The Long Family is behind our back! If you touch a strand of my AHHHHHHHHHHHH!" He screamed when Lyca suddenly twisted the knife on his leg. "Stop! Stop!"


    "Eh?" Lyca''s eyes darted towards the liquid flowing from Zhang Zhi''s crotched. "How boring." She chuckled. "You actually peed because of a little pain?" A snort escaped her lips. "Let me tell you something else" Lyca bent her knees and crouched in front of the wounded Zhang Zhi. "Your mother framed me. Now she would have to watch you suffer."


    "What What do you mean?"


    "Simple. I am a very nice person. So I won''t kill you." She grinned but he didn''t miss the sinister glint in her eyes. Then she added, "If they won''t arrive here in thirty minutes you will die. Not from the wounds but from the poison thatced the first knife. Your mother will watch as your leg would slowly turn ck. You know just like what she did to our grandfather? And third the knife on your right arms would stop your body from producing more sperms. It will shrink your manhood and make you impotent."


    "You "Nice person? Lyca was actually iming she was a nice person? This fate is worse than death!


    "Now don''t faint. I will remove my knives. Don''t worry, I didn''t hit any major arteries so you won''t really die of blood loss."


    "No No No! Please Lyca that would"


    "Stop begging." She hissed and removed the knife on his left arm. Zhang Zhi''s painful howls soon followed. "See? You didn''t faint. Such a good boy. I hope mommy dearest would be happy to see you alive." She then used his shirt to wipe the knives clean. "Tell your mother this was her fault. And I wille back to ruin her."


    "You are an evil incarnate!" Zhang Zhi forced the words out of his mouth. He clenched his jaws as sweat trickled his back and forehead.


    "Nah" Lyca shrugged. The smell of blood, the fear, and the painful expression that Zhang Zhi is giving her, were making her smile. "Think about it. The person who sent you here was the evil one. They knew that Shen Qui and I were capable of killing and yet they still sent a young master like you when they can send an expert to fight against us." She snorted. "Someone wanted you dead, Zhang Zhi boy." Her voice was soft, the exact opposite of the meaning behind her words. "Someone wanted you and the Zhang Family to suffer. I wonder who could that be?" She then winked at him and stood.


    "I''ll see you again Zhang Zhi boy." She chuckled and started walking towards the car. "I will definitely see everyone again." He heard her say.


    ....


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 Chapter 106: Passive

    Chapter 106: Passive


    Lyca had been too passive.


    She liked to think that she could have a normal life this time. She was wrong. She was so damn wrong. A sigh left her lips when she thought about what she did to Zhang Zhi. Sometimes sharing the same blood as someone didn''t mean they were family.


    Sometimes,families were the ones that would shed their own blood to save you.


    This wasn''t a simple, blood is thicker than water nonsense. Clearly that Zhang Zhi and his mother didn''t think so. To them, benefits are greater than blood. And they deserve what wasing.


    She side-eyed the man next to her. Shen Qui had been quiet since they left the forest. She couldn''t help but wonder what he was thinking.


    Did what happened earlier scared him? She wanted to know but was toozy to asked, so she closed her eyes instead. Lyca couldn''t help but wonder why she cared about what he felt. However, she immediately concluded that it was because he was with her now, he was an ally. And it''s either she trusts her allies, or she trusts no one at all.


    After a couple of minutes, they stopped in a house in the middle of nowhere. This was a ce where another car was waiting for them. Huang Sheng Hong had been very meticulous and extravagant when ites to the things that he provided for Lyca''s escape this was something that she was so thankful for.


    "Are you alright?" he looked at her, wondering what she was thinking. Lyca was never the type to voiced out her words, or at least not clearly.


    Shen Qui was looking at her, his back against the car as he watched her change her clothing.


    This was a part of the escape n; Change their car, their clothing, and the way they looked.


    Right now, Shen Qui had a cap on his hair. He was wearing a ck shirt and ck denim. A silver bracelet hung on his wrist. While Lyca had to wear a wig her hair color was too noticeable. Because of this, she chose a short ck wig.


    "I was thinking of cutting my hair short.," Right now, her hair was her biggest problem. Not many people have white hairs scratch that not many people have long white hair that looked like silver when the light hits it. It was just too much. "Probably a pixie." She added while ignoring his question.


    Lyca wasn''t fine. She wanted to sleep and rx and yet those people "When I get back, I will kill them." She mumbled. This time, she would stop acting so passively and engage them.


    "We needed a n for that."


    "The n is to fight and kill," She said and stood in front of him. Lifting her gaze, Lyca immediately realized that he was giving her another one of his soft gazes. "What?" she asked.


    "You are not fine at all."


    Of course, she wasn''t fine. She was forced to abandon her lifestyle and food. She had to leave her parents behind and even her bed. "Let''s go." She shrugged and was about to walk towards the driver seat when Shen Qui suddenly held her wrist, halting her steps. "Hm?" She lifted an eyebrow and stared at him.


    "You know that I won''t leave, right?"


    "If you leave you die." It was that simple.


    "Do you think I stayed because of the poison?" Instead of being angry, he smiled at her cluelessness. No, she wasn''t clueless, she was pragmatic. Someone that would look at realistic reasoning instead of the theoretical one. Someone practical.


    "If I was wrong" Lyca uttered softly. "You won''t tell me either way." She said and tried to squeeze her hand out of his wrist. People usually tell the other the things that they wanted to hear.


    "Did you think I offered the marriage because I know you let me drink a poisonous pill?"


    She looked at him and gulped. That should be one of the reasons why he stayed, right? Seeing the look on her eyes, Shen Qui sighed and pulled her towards him. "Funny how you seemed to think that no one is capable of loving you."


    Love. Lyca snorted. "Until now, scientists didn''t know if love is real or it was only a product of someone''s imagination."


    "That was not my point." He said. His voice was soft too soft. The look in her eyes was enough for him to know what she had been thinking, and it pains him.


    Her views on marriage and love were the exact opposite of his but he wasn''t willing to give up. This is like a small set back, a small pebble that was trying to meddle in his rtionship with her. Slowly, his hands held her waist, moving into her lower back as he let go of her wrist. His other hand cupped her cheek, lifting her head. "Poison or not I will stay." He wanted to add the word ''Always'' but that would sound too tacky. She would probablyugh or perhaps snort.


    She sighed and pretended not to see the emotions glinting in his eyes. The man in front of her was soft and warm and sweet and naive. A mixture of cold and danger. Someone that wouldn''t hesitate to show the emotions in his eyes. She used to wonder if a man like that truly existed. However, now that she had found herself one, she had been having some difficulty handling his honesty and vulnerability.


    Unlike her, this man was stable. His principles were simple, and some candies would probably make him happy. She wondered if she really deserved someone like him. Lyca ended up nodding and said, "Thank you."


    Of course, she knew that words were merely words unless someone acted upon it. And she was honestly waiting for him to act on it. So, she moved her hand towards her pocket and suddenly gave him a small box.


    "What is this?" He asked and opened the box.


    "Wedding gift."


    "The antidote?" his eyebrow lifted. Again, her eyes were enough to answer that question. "I don''t think I can have this."


    "It''s necessary," Lyca said. Once they get separated, Shen Qui would start to feel the effects of the poison inside his body. "The game had just be more dangerous. I needed you to be in your top condition." A part of her was saying that this wasn''t the only reason why she gave him the antidote. Yet, she was toozy to even bother listening to the small voice.


    Shen Qui stared at her intently before he swallowed the pill without asking any questions. Almost immediately a cold sensation spread from his chest. He closed his eyes for a few seconds.


    "Feel good?" she asked. Opening his eyes, Shen Qui nodded in response. He was indeed feeling better. However, the feeling didn''tst too long when he heard Lyca''s next word. "Then you can use that car. I will use this car. Let''s separate for a while. You can go back to Huang Security if you want to. Stop thinking about me "


    "Stop it," the changes in Shen Qui''s voice made her stop. His stubborn eyes met her cold ones. "I am not sure if you are trying to test me or if you seriously think that I would leave." The softness in his voice vanished. A cold, deep tone reced it. "There are only two ways that I would let you go. One is if I am dead. Second is If I die. So if you badly want to leave you alone then kill me." His tone was full of warning and danger that she wasn''t willing to face.


    She narrowed her eyes at him. She immediately regretted trying to test him.


    "I thought so." Shen Qui clenched his jaw. "Now" He looked at theplicated emotions in Lyca''s eyes. Lyca was an adult woman who knows how to handle her emotions. Soon, she would realize how he was nning to stay with her until he breathed hisst. This wasn''t some one night stands or some fleeting emotions. He was nning to stay with her until his hair turned white and wrinkles littered his forehead. Of course, he wasn''t willing to sound so cheesy. So he kept all this to himself. It was enough that he knew.


    "Get in the car." He added. "Or I will kiss you, and we wouldn''t be able to leave this ce until tomorrow."


    .....


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 Chapter 107: Mess

    Chapter 107: Mess


    Lyca and Shen Qui continued to travel unaware that Huang Ying and the others had been in a mess because of what she did to Zhang Zhi.


    "That woman was so vile!" Again, Huang Ying was crying. Just watching his son in aa was too much for her. She couldn''t understand why Lyca would hurt Zhang Zhi when the other didn''t do anything to her. "She "Her shoulders shook as she felt her younger brother''s arm patted her back.


    "It is natural that she would feel anger. After all, we framed her."


    "Shut up!" Huang Yi screamed. "Are you saying that I was wrong in the first ce?"


    Huang Qingyun only shrugged in response. If Huang Ying''s husband, Zhang Yulong didn''t promise to invest in his business, he wouldn''t dare do something like this to Lyca. He calmly sat next to his older sister and looked at Zhang Zhi''s legs.


    The poison that they used were from the Long Family. Now, Lyca actually used the same or perhaps the same type of poison to Zhang Zhi. It was as if she was telling them that she can poison them too. "You know If I had known that we are going to be in this type of trouble now, I wouldn''t have agreed to cooperate with you." As a businessman, hisworks were good, and he was mostly friends with the other executives and board members of Huang Security. Because of this, Huang Ying asked for his help.


    After all, this n won''t go through without the approval of the board members. "Well it was toote to regret anything now." He actually thought that this would be easy stuff to do. Just support his sister, capture Lyca, and all is good.


    The money would be his as well as all the benefits from the Huang Security. To him, this was supposed to be a win-win scenario.


    "Shut up!" Huang Ying hissed. When they found Zhang Zhi outside of the passage, he already fainted, and his heartbeat was already weak. ording to the doctor, they were still lucky. If they arrived ten minutester, Zhang Zhi would have been dead.


    A sigh left Huang Qingyun''s lips. "Who would have thought that Lyca is too cruel?" He couldn''t help but question his previous decision. If he had known that Lyca was actually this type of person, he wouldn''t have done something to offend her. He would have just stayed away and minded his own business. "Now that I thought about it, she is from the Tang Family. That mother is hers was also cruel, no?"


    "I said shut it!" Seeing her son like this was not the only thing that bothered her. It wasthe door of the hospital room burst open, revealing her husband''s angry face followed by her eldest son Zhang Jiu. "Husband! Husband!"


    "What have you done, Huang Ying?" Zhang Yulong looked at Zhang Zhi. His gaze immediatelynded on his son''s legs. "Exin yourself!"


    "Husband this " Huang Ying immediately exined that it was Lyca who did this to Zhang Zhi. "That woman was truly vicious! She even had the "


    "You knew that she was with a man who could kill elites. Zhang Zhi wouldn''t survive if he fought with Shen Qui. So, why did you decided to send him? Have you lost your mind?" Zhang Yulong wasn''t having it. First and foremost, they were aware that Shen Qui killed the top researcher of the Long Company. He even killed all the elites that apanied the man. Why would Huang Ying send their son to face that man?


    "Husband that it was Lyca who "


    "Answer me! Why did you send him against those two people?" Zhang Yulong barked. Seeing his son suffer because of his wife''s miscalctions were truly making him mad. It wasn''t like he was underestimating Zhang Zhi. But this child was inferior to his own elder brother. When ites to fighting Zhang Zhi was considered weak. "Did you want him to die?"


    "I Husband he was the one who said that he wanted to go. He wanted to prove himself to Long Yi and the Long Family. I told him not to go as it can be very dangerous. That bullet alone that Lyca made was proof that she can create things that could hurt our son! However, Zhang Zhi had been very hardheaded and refused to listen to me!" When Zhang Jiu, her eldest son pulled her for a hug, Huang Ying couldn''t help but started wailing.


    Seeing his wife like this, Zhang Yulong stopped asking any more questions. He knew that Zhang Zhi had the tendency to prove that he was capable too. But did Lyca really have to go too far? "Did you know what kind of poison was used in his body?"


    "The doctors have no idea," Huang Qingyun answered. "Judging from his ck legs, there is a possibility that Lyca used the same poison as the one that that my father drank."


    Zhang Yulong''s jaw''s clenched. "That one should have some sort of antidote, yes?"


    Huang Ying suddenly shook her head. "I believe it was a different poison. The effects were pretty simr, but this one the Doctors said that there are two different poisons in his body. One is a mild one, but when mixed with the poison on his legs, the mild one seemed to turn wild, and that caused him a lot of pain. So he fainted. His organs were fine. There were no damages, but they were still trying to determine the type of poison that was used on his body."


    "That woman is indeed very cruel," Zhang Jiu uttered, his jaws were clenched as he patted his mother''s back. "However, the fact that she produced a poison just like what grandfather took was enough to amaze me." He continued. A talent like that is indeed amazing to the point of being scary. However, if they couldn''t take advantage of that talent then there is no way that they would keep that woman alive.

 Chapter 108: Paracord

    Chapter 108: Paracord


    Sadly, this was not the only sad news that they received. After a couple of minutes, one of their people told them that an ident happened.


    "What ident?"


    "Madam" the man hesitated as he eyed Zhang Yulong. "We checked Miss Lyca''s suitcases in her dorm and "


    "Speak properly!" Zhang Yulong ordered. "Tell us what happened!"


    "Master the suitcases exploded."


    "What? Then tell the school to involve the police! It is high time that we press charges and tell them that Lyca intentionally damaged some properties." Zhang Yulong immediately said.


    "Master no properties were damaged."


    "What do you mean?"


    "The one inside the suitcases were all destroyed, but the suitcases were intact. There was some sort of mechanisms that was triggered when we forcibly open the suitcases. It ruined everything inside the suitcase. And and the people who inhaled the gas from the explosion. Is starting to feel feverish."


    "Fool!" Zhang Jiu hissed, his face dark. "Why didn''t you scanned the suitcases first? You know that she is an expert in poisons!"


    "Young master please forgive us. It''s just that we never thought something was wrong with the suitcase. We were expecting a secret vault or a secret room. Who would have thought that she would put some valuables inside a suitcase and just leave it in the open?"


    "That woman." Everyone''s face was grave. They couldn''t believe the number of mistakes and problems that this n brought them.


    "I want you to iste everyone who inhaled the poison. We don''t really know what it was. It is better to be more careful about it."


    The man nodded in response before leaving.


    "No wonder Huang Sheng Hong was so nonchnt about this matter. He must have known about this," Huang Qingyun uttered.


    "That man is another scary entity." Zhang Yulong clenched his jaws. "He and his wife were able to hide Lyca''s talents for years. They even managed to make us believe that Lyca was nothing but an untalented andzy person. That was why we never saw them as a threat!" If they knew that it would turn out this way, they would have eliminated the whole family before Lyca could blossom from her cocoon.


    Everyone went silent as they thought about the things that they needed to do to take advantage of Lyca''s talent. Of course, Lyca is unaware of this matter.


    Currently, Shen Qui and Lyca were sitting in the bathroom.


    "So, we were supposed to stay in a hot spring?" Shen Qui couldn''t help but lift his eyebrows. Weren''t they supposed to be in a hurry? People were chasing them, right?


    She looked at him from the mirror of the cheap motel that they were staying in. She eyed her now ck hair. "You know how to color and braid my hair."


    "I was asking about the hot bath."


    "Oh." She gave him a suspicious look. "Did you have a girlfriend before you know me?" Again, she ignored his question.


    "No. And I braid your hair just like a paracord bracelet." He was trained for survival. Of course, he knew how to do a simple fishtail braid.


    "Is that so?" Now that she thought of it, her hair at that time was indeed braided like a paracord bracelet. She nodded and looked at him as he started blow-drying her now ck hair. "You know how to blow dry too."


    "Myte uncle had long hair." She didn''t miss the hint of sadness in his voice. Lyca shut her mouth at that. So what if he had a girlfriend before her? Why does it matter? She is his wife NOW. It''s that simple.


    After a couple of minutes, Shen Qui finally finished blow-drying her short ck hair. "It wasn''t that short," Lyca uttered. Her hair was really long, before. Shen Qui told her that he would help her cut her hair. After cutting about five inches of her waist-long hair, he stopped and told her that this was perfect for her.


    However, she still thought it was long.


    "It''s beautiful," he said.


    "Thank you. I''m sure it''s not as beautiful as your brown hair." Just like her, Shen Qui decided to dye his hair brown.


    He gave her a look. "So? The hot spring?"


    "Let''s act like a couple."


    "We are a couple a married couple." He corrected her.


    "I mean newlyweds."


    "We are newlyweds." He said.


    "I was trying to say that they wouldn''t look for us in a hot spring. They would think that we are hiding somewhere. This is good for both of us. We should act like we are on a honeymoon."


    He immediately nodded. Lyca actually had a point. Who would have thought that they would go to a hot spring instead of running and hiding? Her idea might be weird, but it would definitely work. "So there is a hot spring in Xie City?" he asked. Lyca had already prepared everything. This made him wonder if she really wanted to go to a hot spring while trying to escape from someone. Is this part of her escape n?


    "Yes," Lyca said and walked out of the bathroom, Shen Qui followed behind her after cleaning the area. He used a lot of cleaning materials, wiping everything, and making sure they didn''t leave any prints inside. He put the ck garbage bag inside one of the bags that he bought just for this purpose.


    "Where is it?" He sat stood across her.


    "Near the school."


    "Hm?" The Long founding school of elites is located in between Long City and Xie City. "Why would you want to stay in a hot spring near the school?"


    "So we can blow it up."


    "" He immediately shook his head. "You are nning to blow it up?"


    "I don''t have a n. I just want to go inside and blow it up."


    "" Wouldn''t that kill a lot of people? Seeing his face darken, Lyca chuckled.


    "Kidding. I only wanted to put some harmless poison in their water source."


    "You "


    "They won''t know." She assured him, thinking that he was worried that they will catch her. Lyca had studied the water system of the school, and she was very confident that she can do it. Especially during the dark.She beamed at her. "Don''t worry about me."


    "" He wasn''t worried about her. He was worried that she would kill everyone inside the school just because Zhang Zhi threatened to use her parents against her.

 Chapter 109: Onsen

    Chapter 109: Onsen


    "I always thought men and women can''t bathe together in an onsen together," Lyca mumbled as they followed the older woman wearing a Yukata towards the room that they rented. Luckily, the old woman didn''t hear her words as she continued talking about the hot spring.


    "This is just alone side the To River and surrounded by greeneries. We have both a mixed bath and a women''s only bath. On the mixed bath, women needed to wear towels while men can go there naked or use a towel to cover their lower body." She halted her steps and turned towards the two. "To ensure privacy, we have no camera''s inside the baths. The Camera is only in the hallways. The bath is open until twelve midnight. However... the room that you bookedes with its own personal bath so... that shouldn''t be a problem." She then started walking again. After a few minutes, the woman stopped walking and opened a sliding door that would lead them to another hall.


    Lyca was about toin about walking too much then the woman finally stopped walking and held her hand towards the room. The woman then smiled and said, " We have twenty rooms in this inn. Ten of which isplete are amenities and a small private hot bath. This is one of those rooms. We also provide traditional cuisine that you can enjoy while you stay on the premises."


    Lyca and Shen Qui walked inside and immediately gasp when they saw the beautiful interiors. Paper walls are in abundance. Mostly, the ce was made of wood and minimal decorations. A sound of running water immediately caught Lyca''s attention. She walked towards the balcony and immediately realized that the source of the flowing water was a Buddha that sat on top of a huge rock. Water flowed from the Buddha''s head then into the small steaming pool beneath it. The marbled tile that surrounded the hot bath made her smile.


    She found the space peaceful and perfect for someone like her. If only she could stay in a ce like this forever.


    "This is beautiful."


    The woman smiled before she bowed and bid them goodbye. Lyca turned her attention back to the beautiful private hot spring before she heard Shen Qui muttered.


    "No bed."


    "Huh?"


    "This is a traditional inn. They have no huge bed just like the one in your room." He exined. He had suspicions that Lyca didn''t check the specifics of this room and just book the most expensive one thinking it would give her the absolutefort that she needed.


    As expected, she frowned and sighed. Indeed, she didn''t check the amenities in the room and just booked using a secret ount with another name. However, Lyca didn''t let this dampen her mood. She immediately tied her hair up into a bun and removed her shirt.


    "What are you doing?" Shen Qui asked. Of course, half of him already knew the answer to his question. He let out a sigh when Lyca removed her clothing and immediately sat on the onsen or the hot spring. "I will go set up our luggage." He said and left without waiting for her to answer his words. He couldn''t just watch her naked inside a small tub of hot water without feeling all kinds of swirling emotions inside his body.


    Seeing his disappearing back, Lycaughed and shook her head. Then she closed her eyes and enjoyed the perfect temperature of the water. She leaned against the rock that surrounded the small onsen and didn''t even notice that she had already fallen asleep.


    "I heard that onsens have at least neen minerals." Lyca jumped out of the onsen when she heard a man voice next to her ears. However, she quickly realized that it was Shen Qui.


    "You are jumping around while naked." Amusementced his tone as he pulled her back to his arms.


    "Did you set up our things?"


    "Yes, Madam."


    "And the CCTV?"


    "Yes, Madam." He beamed and kissed her neck. "I can assure you, this ce is secure without any CCTV''s that could spy on us." He said, his voice hoarse as he kissed her temple. This onsen was like a part of the room. Walls made of wood also surrounded the onsen. However, to make sure that enough life would be able to pass through, the roof of this space was transparent, allowing anyone to see the stars at night.


    The space was actually very intimate and private. Perfect for newlyweds like them. "You know" Lyca turned and look at him, smiling. "Bath''s like this weren''t allowed in the past. It was illegal. Of course, it''s a shame. I''m sure men would want to enjoy the show of watching a woman bath in front of them." This was a practice that was considered illegal in her previous world too.


    "Well we weren''t born in that era so we were lucky." He chuckled, his light brown orbs slowly turned darker.


    "That was the reason why some couple put a screen in front of them. A thin one." She leaned closer and brushed her lips into his. Then her tongue darted out and slowly traced the bow on his beautiful lips.


    "What would happen?" He asked.


    "They watched their women touch their own body behind the screen."


    "So, they would watch the women masturbate?"


    "Hmm." She pulled away and nodded.


    "And after?"


    "Well I don''t know." She shrugged. "I haven''t tried it yet." She didn''t miss his fevered gaze as she chuckled.


    "To be honest, that sounds horrible." He smiled. "I couldn''t watch you do something like that in front of me. I would probably ruin the screen."


    "Brute."


    "What can I say?" He lifted an eyebrow and smiled at her. "I have such a beautiful wife."


    .....


    Disimer: The history that I mentioned was purely out of imagination and not based on Japanese or Chinese culture.


    Please don''t forget to vote for the novel. The rankings is really inspiring me to write more.

 Chapter 110: Steam

    Chapter 110: Steam


    R18. Mature readers only. :)


    ....


    "When I think of hot spring, I always thought of hot water and steam." She smiled and let her head fall back. Closing her eyes, letting her body enjoy the perfect temperature of the onsen. "I was wrong," she mumbled. "The steam was still there, but the temperature was just perfect."


    "You are perfect," His words brought her gaze back to his.


    "I think so too," a mischievous smile was already on her face as she decreased the small distance between them. "Well at least you didn''t leave when I told you to leave." Or she would be lonely now. Alone in this ce. Not that it mattered really, she would probably spend her time here then sleep before sending some bacteria to the students in the school, making everyone sick and forcing the Long Founding School of Elites to close for a short period of time.


    "Did you really think I would leave?"


    She pursed her lips and snaked her arms on his neck. "Good things are nothing but shadows, and once darkness fell, they leave and disappear."


    He chuckled in response. "Darkness shows you the stars while the light will guide your way. You just have to learn how to appreciate everything around you. Not everything is ck and white."


    "How did you be like that?" She lifted an eyebrow. This man''s life was nothing but a tragedy too. How did he be a man with a bright outlook in life? A man who believes in romance and fireworks and stars.


    "I should ask you the same." He smiled, his hand grazed her cheeks. "I believe that people needed to experience darkness to appreciate the light. Some people tend to take advantage of what they have because they never experienced the pain of losing it." Having a wound in his chest made him appreciate health. Losing both of his parents made him value rtionships more. "It is about perspective. You can think that the world hated you for taking away what you love the most or think that maybe the world wanted to teach you the value of things." He stared at her eyes. "I know you think that''s naive."


    "It is naive." And stupid. But she didn''t dare say it.


    "I told you life is not just about light and dark. It is about finding the light in the middle of the darkness. Both can''t exist without the others. You just have to learn to make peace with it."


    "You sound like some motivational speaker."


    He shrugged in response. Without his own morals and personal values, he would have drowned in his thoughts of revenge. He would probably die before he turned twenty-three. That was not a life that he wanted. "Just so you know shadows don''t leave you."


    "Hm?" She lifted an eyebrow. Seeing this, Shen Qui added.


    "They temporarily disappear, but they never leave you."


    She fell silent before she smiled. He was the exact opposite of her. A walking light that could illuminate her dark one. Funny how they were clearly opposites yet, they were now married to each other. Fate was indeed a mysterious thing. "Clearly, our thoughts are different. How could you like someone who had the exact opposite as your personal thoughts?" she asked.


    "Why does that matter?"


    "In the long run, it will. Rtionships are fragile."


    "Rtionships " He uttered the word slowly. "Rtionships built of lies and pretensions were fragile. One speck of truth, and it would copse." He had been honest, and he would stay that way. Of course, he knew that Lyca was hiding a lot of secrets, but that didn''t matter. He knew that she would tell him everything once she is ready.


    He was not in a hurry.


    "Hah " Lyca uttered. Shen Qui is too bright it is blinding her. She closed her eyes and pursed her lips. She could hear her own breathing against him. She could feel his gaze on her.


    When Lyca opened her eyes again, she smiled and said, "Kiss me."


    Saying nothing, Shen Qui lowered his head and kissed her. The insatiable hunger zed inside Lyca. She held the back of his head as his hands captured her breasts. His possessive fingers caressed her already hard nipples, encircling them before his palms skimmed across her stomach, down to her thighs.


    A moan escaped her lips.


    His hand soon traveled down to her legs, hooking them behind her knees. Then he pulled her closer, hoisting her leg towards his waist, wedging his thigh in between hers. Her body burnt with need when she felt his erection pressing against her sex. He was letting her feel him, all of him.Unknowingly, her hips started gyrating, grinding her core sensually against his hardened shaft.


    She felt him move. He slowly walked towards the edge of the onsen until her back hit the rock-like structure. Surprisingly, It wasn''t something ufortable or maybe she had been too engrossed in her own pleasures that her body refused to recognize any other sensations other than the ones on her stomach.


    Her core felt swollen, and she wanted him inside her with the hot water surrounding them. She wanted him to take her, right there and then, make her moan and screamed for more. "Give it to me." She managed to say in between her kisses. Her voice was hoarse and erotic that probably matched how she looked right now. Yet, she never had the time to think about it.


    She heard him grunt as he pushed his full length inside her. Lyca let out a low guttural sound of pleasure. She immediately pushed against him, wanting him to delve deeper within her. "Shhh. Rx.." That deep voice seemed to increase the electrifying sensations inside her body. He started thrusting. This time it was unhurried and slow and deep. She moaned and let her head fall back, pulling away from the kiss. The thrusts were controlled as if he was careful not to hurt her back from the rocks behind her.


    She wanted to tell him to go faster. But no real words came out of her mouth, aside from the moans and words of begging. Lyca''s mind seemed to shut down.


    When his mouth started teasing her nipples, she let out a primeval groan, a low cry of ecstasy followed as she immediately felt herself approached the peak. She ground her hips, urging him to go faster. His hands found her hips, locking them in ce, reminding her that he was the one in control. And just as she was about to burst, Shen Qui suddenly increased his pacing, pumping vigorously as his hand found her nub in between her thighs.


    Lyca didn''t hold back. She met his thrust as she felt her body approached the edge. When her legs started shaking around him, Shen Qui finally gave in and burst inside her. Their cries of pleasure filling the atmosphere.


    Both sank into the water as they tried to catch their breaths. Both of their bodies still shuddering from the aftermath.


    She felt him caressed her cheeks using the back of his fingers.Her closed eyes snapped open, and immediately regretted that same gentleness in his eyes. "Thank you for letting me stay," he uttered.


    ....


    Please don''t forget to vote for the novel.


    2/4

 Chapter 111: Tang Nini

    Chapter 111: Tang Nini


    "Laws are made to make the world a better ce. But in the end, they won''t save you," Lyca shrugged as she looked at the vial in her hand. Shepletely understood where Shen Qui wasing from. He was, after all, a man who was trained to follow the rules. She, on the other hand, was trained not to let the rules stop her.


    She put the vial next to the thin mattress that they were using before she stood and started changing her clothes. They were only going to stay in this ce for a night. Enough for her to put the poison on the school''s water system.


    "What does it do anyway? Is it like going to make everyone sick and die?" he asked.


    "I am not a murderer," She shrugged at her own hypocrite words. She was a murderer, but she doesn''t really kill anyone that doesn''t offend her. "Stomach ache." She answered. "Enough for them to dere an emergency and shut down the school."


    "People don''t drink from faucets you know. They have bottled water and soft drinks in a can for that."


    "Who told you that these ones needed to go to their drink?" She eyed her as she finished putting on a bra. "This is not a bacteria. It''s a poison that won''t show its effects in the next few days. Everyone who would use their water system would suffer from its effects."


    "How?"


    She shrugged in response. "Wounds and respiratory." She answered.


    "And if someone doesn''t have any wounds in their skins?"


    "First and foremost, it applies to any skin opening. If they use the water to brush their teeth and their gums bleed, then the poison would enter their body. If they have a small pimple, and they wash their face, then the poison will enter their body."


    "I I didn''t know that poison like that " If something like this gets in the hands of the government, Shen Qui couldn''t imagine its possible effects.


    "I know," Lyca uttered. "I only have one poison like this. I am not nning to make another one again." She could make one, but it would be best that she keep it a secret.


    "Are you sure you are going alone?" He asked when Lyca started wearing another one of her all-ck attire.


    "Hmmm." She nodded. Moving in the dark was something that she was very good at. "Give me one hour." She finished tucking some daggers on her boots and kissed him. Then she grabbed the vial and said, "I will see youter."


    ....


    "I want you to call your daughter now," Huang Ying gave a phone to Huang Sheng Hong, her face was morphed into an ugly scowl as she continued. "My son is fighting for his life and the doctors said that we needed an antidote or he will die!"


    "And? What does it have to do with me?" Huang Sheng Hong''s lips lifted into a smile. "Is he my son?"


    "You "


    "Older brother Lyca was the one who did this to Zhi''er. I suggest that you "


    "How did you know it was Lyca? Did you see her do it?" He interrupted Huang Qingyun.


    "Stop being so shameless and do it now!"


    "Elder Sister " Huang Sheng Hong snorted. "Did you think this would happen when you tried to poison our own father?"


    "You "


    "You see this is how you were wrong." Tang Nini chimed in. She was calmly sitting next to her husband. She met Huang Ying''s angry eyes and smiled. "Chemicals and poisons are very dangerous stuff. You cant just offend someone who can use the air to kill you and your whole family."


    "Are you threatening me?"


    "I don''t know Ying. Am I?" Tang Nini sent her a provocative smile. "Oh no no you are not going to touch me." She shook her head when she saw Huang Ying raised her hand to p her. "You don''t want to break your arms, do you?" Despite her words. Tang Nini''s voice was gentle and soft.


    "Tang Nini! How dare you say that to me! I am still the elder sister of your husband! This ispletely disrespectful."


    "Did you think about respect when you poison father?" Tang Nini countered. "I don''t know about you Ying, but I always respect people who deserved my respect. The fact that you are older and yet, I don''t respect you says a lot about the kind of person that you are."


    Her sharp tongue was enough to render Huang Ying and everyone else speechless. Everyone here knew that Tang Nini came from a military family. They also knew she was trained in martial arts and was an expert marksman. But she hated showing off and was always calm around them.


    The only thing that made Tang Nini react was when someone flirted with her husband. However, this time, Tang Nini actually insulted Huang Ying with her direct words. "You know when you nned to frame my daughter, you should have known that she wasn''t the type to sit down and wait for you to strike her, right? Or did you really see my daughter as a very stupid person? Did you think she was as mentally challenged as your son?"


    "You "


    "Zhang Zhi is dumb." Tang Nini continued, the smile on her lips never left as she enjoyed watching Huang Ying''s angry face. "If he was not dumb, then he should have known that Lyca would surely use him to get back to the people who framed her He was nothing but a useless piece of trash. You should just let him die."


    When Tang Nini saw Huang Ying''s face turned so red as if it was about to burst, she elegantlyughed as she uncrossed her legs. Then she added, "Stupid people don''t have a ce in this world Huang Ying. They would die early. So, here''s a harmless suggestion. You go back to the hospital, pull the plug on your son, then cry and pray." She nodded as if she just said the best idea to Huang Ying. "Pray that Lyca won''t go after the other members of your family."


    "Because she woulde back. And it would be nasty," Tang Nini ended before she took a sip of her tea and turned her head towards the magazine in her hand. "We won''t escort you out. Take care on your way to the door."


    .....


    Don''t forget to vote for the novel.

 Chapter 112: Criminals

    Chapter 112: Criminals


    "I was thinking of stopping at Kong City," Lyca stated the moment she sat on the driver''s seat of the car. Shen Qui just finished checking for trackers in this new car, and they were about the leave the hotel. "I would love to stay here."


    "We can alwayse back," he said as he started driving. "When you say stop, you mean stop like stay for a while?" He asked, his eyes still on the road.


    "Yes. I was nning to stay and find some people." The other night, Lyca realized that she really should start doing all her ns instead of lying down and procrastinating. This was something that she owed to herself.


    Her goal was still the same. She wanted azy life in the future, but to do that, she needed an empire. This time, she was talking about a personal Empire. Not the Huang Security, but her ownpany  a hidden one. She closed her eyes and recalled the feeling of running around in the darkness the other night.


    Her movements were agile, her feet were silent like a cat jumping and climbing trees. Lyca smiled, she couldn''t remember thest time that she had actually tried doing something like that in this world wait that''s right. She never did.


    In her previous life, running around in the dark had been her hobby. She loved feeling the air against her skin, she loved the moon but especially love the dark, starless nights. She loved it when she heard the sounds of crickets and other animals in the dark.


    However, sinceing into this world, Lyca never once tried to practice her skills. Obviously, this affected her body. She was slower, and her body felt heavier. But that should change soon.


    If Lyca wanted to have the peace that she wanted then, she needed to sacrifice a few years and actually do some things that she didn''t imagine doing in this world. The first thing was to recruit some people that would work for her. Nothing fancy, Lyca wanted to recruit experts, not soldiers. She wanted to make her own personal army then eventually her own securitypany.


    "I wanted to make my ownpany."


    "Hm?" Shen Qui side-eyed her.


    "You will be the CEO," she uttered. "You will be the cold and jealous CEO."


    "Hm? Have you been watching too much TV series again?" He asked. What cold and jealous CEO? Most CEOs were old men who were too busy that they didn''t have the time to apany their wives. Most of their marriage would then end up in a divorce.


    "I am serious," she uttered. Her temper wouldn''t let her handle people. However, Shen Qui isn''t like her. "You should be the CEO that won''t allow me to go out of the house and assign ten security around me when I shop."


    "" He chuckled as he wondered what was she talking about.


    "I would create my ownpany and make the Huang Security and the Long Family fall at the same time."


    "Hm?" That sounded too ambitious, but his woman loved creating something impossible. So, he smiled and nodded. "Alright."


    "What?" Lyca lifted an eyebrow.


    "I said I will be a cold and jealous CEO."


    "That easy?"


    "Would you want me to say no first? Then give inter?" Seeing the pout on her face, he immediately realized that she had been thinking about naughty things again. "I am driving," he reminded her while shaking his head inwardly.


    "I knew you would be boring."


    "Boring is good."He nodded. "So? Kong City?" Lyca seemed to love changing the topic all the time.


    "Oh, I wanted to recruit criminals."


    "Huh?"


    "Thieves and mercenaries," she added. Lyca doesn''t like to employ polite people.


    "Criminals?" Another peculiar taste. But at this point, he was no longer surprised to hear something like this from his wife. She was unique, and he liked her that way.


    "Criminals are better. I don''t trust polite people. Plus, when criminals die, the government won''t ask us questions." Lyca shrugged. Recruiting someone who trained in the military or some veteran, was too obvious. As much as possible, she doesn''t want to leave any trail. "Because of this, I need you to act like my boss."


    "Boss?" Heughed. "You are talking about making your ownpany, but you are toozy to recruit people."


    "Well I am not HR. I am the wife of the CEO."


    "Your point is wless."Shen Qui chuckled. He never once expected that being chased by people would actually be this fun. He was expecting some adrenaline pumping in their veins all the time as cars would follow them around. First the hot spring, then recruiting criminals.So far, this had been really fun. He couldn''t help but wonder if they would one day rob a bank too.


    "First we needed money." Lyca''s words made him froze. Are they really robbing a bank? He asked himself. "Hey, why are you looking at me like that?" She lifted an eyebrow. "Eyes on the road."


    "Oh." He dragged his gaze back to the road. "So, if we needed money, what are we going to do?"


    "Let me remind you that we are fugitives."


    "You are making it sound as if we are criminals," he said.


    She shrugged and continued. "I have a lot of cash with me, but it won''tst long if we are nning to recruit people."


    "So? Are we robbing someone?"


    "God, no! Do I look like a robber to you?


    Would it hurt her if he said yes? "No. Of course not. Just curious."


    "Liar." She giggled. "Alright we are not robbing someone. Robbing means that you are doing it on day time. Once you do it at night, it is already called burry."


    "Robbing involves forcing someone while burry involves entering a ce to steal a property." He immediately corrected her crazy words but soon realized that he had fallen into Lyca''s trap. She ended up giggling again, a small dimple appearing on her cheeks.


    Shaking his head, Shen Quiughed. "Seriously. What are we going to do?" She wasn''t nning to steal from someone, right? He looked at her, helplessness shed in his eyes.


    Lyca sounded like she wasn''t the daughter of someone who works for the government. How strange, but for some reason he also found it very attractive.


    ....................


    4/4 - I hope I can release 4 chapters tomorrow too.


    Please vote for the novel. T.T

 Chapter 113: Conspiracy

    Chapter 113: Conspiracy


    Current Location: Kong City


    "We don''t need to steal from people," Lyca uttered. "At least not personally." She stood in front of a club and eyed the neon lights that were illuminating the club''s name ''Conspiracy'' "I love its name." She added, beaming.


    He looked at her side profile. This club was in the middle of Kong City. He eyed the people lining outside of the club and immediately noticed their high-end clothes. He immediately wondered if Lyca was nning to go clubbing just after visiting a hot spring.


    "This is a high-end club. What are we doing in this ce?" He asked. "It is full of cameras."


    "I want to own this ce."


    His eyebrow rose. A club? Lyca wanted to own a club? Pursing his lips, Shen Qui examined the ce. Aside from being really high end, the club looked clean on the outside. It seems that security was pretty tight too. He didn''t ask her why she wanted to own a club. Shen Qui already guessed her answer.


    Lyca wanted to blend in and disappear in the crowd.


    "Law 18- Do not build fortresses to protect yourself Istion is dangerous," Lyca said without looking at him. She could sense the confusion in Shen Qui''s gaze. So she exined further. "In a crowd. You are shielded from your enemy." Shen Qui had learned the art of war and engaging against a more powerful enemy. While she she learned the art of blending in. The art of survival when pursued. She turned towards Shen Qui, a smile was already on her face.


    Then she continued. "I am nning to recruit experts, not people who worked from the government. These are people who hated restrictions and rules and being controlled. If I wanted to lead them I need a ce like this."


    He nodded. Hepletely understood her point.


    "Now since you are the future big boss of the club. You should make all the preparations and talk to the big boss of the club. Negotiate." She added and gave him a folder from the car.


    Shen Qui immediately opened the folder and watched a character profile of a man that looked like he was in his early thirties. Blond short hair, and a single earring on his right ears. The man was clearly a foreigner even his name sounded like one. "Santa Rivers." He uttered the name.


    "He owns the club. His business is counterfeits from money to jewelry. He is also a coward." Lyca uttered. "You go talk to him after two hours."


    Shen Qui looked at her without saying anything. Lyca already gave her the files that included their n. "You sure about this?"


    "Yes, Qui''er." Lyca beamed and tiptoed to kiss him. "Burn them once you''re done." She uttered and winked at him. Without waiting for him to say anything, Lyca passed him a leather jacket and drove the car away from the club.


    .....................


    Two hourster.


    Current Location: Conspiracy Club, Kong City.


    "He is avable to see you now." A man whose face was full of the dark tattoo said. He didn''t hide the tinge of disgust in his voice as he looked at the pretty body in front of him. In response, Shen Qui downed the ss of whiskey and followed the man towards the second floor of the club.


    Just like his initial observation, the club was indeed not somece where anyone could get into. It was also clean and most patrons were calmly talking in booths instead of dancing and shouting in the middle of the dance floor. The man let Shen Qui to a ck door that needed one''s fingerprint to be able to get into. When the two walked inside the door, Shen Qui immediately noticed the soundproof walls that canceled the loud of the music outside.


    "This way," the man was just about the same height as Shen Qui. But obviously, he was a bit bulkier. "Gun." He held his hand in front of Shen Qui as he stood on thest door of the VIP rooms. Shen Quiplied. He handed him the gun from his waist and held his two hands up, a clear sign that he wanted him to check if he had other weapons.


    The man snorted. "Even if you have other weapons, you will die before you couldy a finger to our boss. And you should stop acting as if you can kill him. Aren''t you here to earn some quick buck?" Then he opened the door and bowed at the man sitting in a ck leather chair that was staring at the club from his seat. Shen Qui roamed his eyes inside the room and nodded at its sophisticated decoration. A huge ss wall was located behind the leather chair. This ss wall also acted as a one-way mirror. On the outside, it looked just like a mirror that reflected the lighting of the club. But the people inside the room can clearly see what was going on on the first floor.


    "You wanted to see me?" the man turned towards Shen Qui, a smile was on his beautiful face. He was wearing a gray suit that matched his gray eyes. "I heard you have a proposition?"


    Shen Qui said nothing as he walked towards the man and sat opposite him. "I wanted to buy the club."


    "Eh?" Amusement shed in the man''s eyes as he nced at Shen Qui''s serious face. Slowly, his gaze darted towards Shen Qui''s chest. He darted his tongue and lick his lower lip. "You wanted to buy my club? You haven''t introduced your name yet."


    "I am called Q." Shen Qui said. "Name your price. I will pay you in cash." He couldn''t help but wonder if Lyca made him talk to this man because of his preference. Santa Rivers'' sexuality was not included in his portfolio but judging from the way he was trying to stop his saliva from flowing out of his mouth as he ogled Shen Qui, it was already obvious. Funny how Lyca immediately sent him here to talk to this man.


    "Mr. Q.," The man gave a burst of humorousughter. "You  How old are you? I think you don''t understand your own words." He beamed. "Are you perhaps here for some fun?" He lifted an eyebrow as he darted his gaze towards Shen Qui''s body. "I am up for some fun." The man added. "Tell me... how much do you want?"


    Shen Qui pursed his lips as a sinister glint shed in his eyes. "Roman Rivers is your grandfather, yes?"


    As expected the mention of his grandfather''s name made Santa''s face ugly. "You "


    "And he hated your sexuality?" Shen Qui said in a serious tone. The file didn''t contain any reason why this man''s grandfather would hate his grandson. However, now


    "You " the man''s tone immediately changed when he heard Shen Qui''s words.


    "Good." Shen Qui smirked. "Now that I finally got your attention. Let''s do this again. I will buy the club with a discount. In return I will have my people kill your grandfather and the adopted grandson that he was grooming to follow in his footsteps. Everything will be done in the utmost secrecy. All I wanted is the club." He smiled and handed him a piece of contract. "Do we have a deal, Mr. Rivers?"


    ...


    1/4 Please don''t forget to vote.

 Chapter 114: Sealing the Deal

    Chapter 114: Sealing the Deal


    "What did you say?" Santa Rivers frowned.


    "You heard me." Shen Qui shrugged and calmly stared at him. "I know that your grandfather doesn''t like you and that is why he was grooming someone else to rece him. He didn''t even acknowledge the fact that you are his only grandson." Shen Qui''s hands slowly drummed against the expensive wooden table before he shifted his gaze towards the man''s scowling face. "Now now don''t get mad. I was only trying to help you here." He gave a harmless smile.


    "You You said you will kill him?"


    "He is nothing but a sexist pig who murders, r*pes, and abuse women. People like that deserve to die. " Shen Qui said, the evil smirk on his face was still there.


    "And And you only wanted this club?"


    "Do you think it''s unbelievable?" Shen Qui lifted an eyebrow.


    However, instead of the reaction that Shen Qui had expected, Santaughed out loud. His voice echoed inside the small room as tears welled in his eyes. "You? You said you will kill my grandfather who owns a fifth of these cities illegal casino?" Again, Santa burst outughing. He waspletely caught off guard. How could someone be this naive? "Ah tell me what substance did you use?" This man looked just about twenty or twenty-one years old. Someone who was still in college. How could he take someone like this seriously?


    He watched as Shen Qui just looked at him, his face waspletely nk. "Look." Santa chuckled. "If you want to get my attention then you win. You absolutely have my full attention tonight. I won''t even spend a minute away from you. So why don''t you tell me the terms? Do you need money for your college education? Do you want the newest phone? Or perhaps money to use the substance that you took today?" Amusement shed in Santa''s eyes.


    Seeing Santa act like this, Shen Qui sighed and opened his phone but he didn''t dial any numbers instead, he just unlocked his phone and used its light to illuminate his own face.


    "Hm?" Santa was about tough again when he heard the ss behind him cracked. He turned towards the ss and immediately saw the huge hole that Santa paled as he followed the hole and realized that someone actually shot the ss behind him, only missing a couple of inches away from his face. He eyed the door across him that now had a huge hole from the bullet.


    Speechless, he eyed Shen Qui who now turned off his phone. If his guess was right, he used the light of his phone to tell the sniper across this building where to aim. "You "


    "The ss in your office was bulletproof, tempered to withstand a fifty-seven mm naval gun and someone from outside the building could only use heat vision to be able to determine our actions." Shen Qui exined. Lyca already informed him beforehand to put the phone in front of his face in case Santa wouldn''t believe him. She knew that the man wouldn''t believe someone that looked so young.


    "You actually " Santa couldn''t help but gulped, fear shed in his eyes as he saw Shen Qui smile at him.


    "Do you believe me now?"


    "But But killing my grandfather is practically impossible. You can''t just" His grandfather''s security was even stronger than the security of the mayor in this city. How could this young man kill someone like that? He eyed Shen Qui''s face, confused at the man''s confidence. Was it possible that someone else was supporting him? Someone powerful?


    "I have the means to kill him and everyone around him in less than three minutes." Gas. That was the answer to the question that Santa had wanted to ask. Lyca could create a poisonous gas that could make everyone lose their consciousness or even worse, die. If something like that happened, slitting their throats was practically as simple as one, two, three. When ites to killing people, he knew Lyca enough to know that she would always take advantage of what she had to save herself the effort and time. Thus, he was confident that she would surely utilize her poison this time.


    "You would you  " Santa balled his hands into a fist, trying to stop himself from trembling. Half with excitement, half with fear. "You only wanted this club?" He owns a lot of clubs, more than he could even handle. This club was nothing but one of his properties. It wasn''t even his most favorite club. "I can I can give it to you."


    "Hm?"


    "As long as you kill my grandfather then I will give it to you. I will transfer everything to your name." His grandfather''s death would make him the sole person that would inherit the whole Rivers family business. That was something that he wanted to achieve since the old man started discriminating against him because of his sexuality. He eyed Shen Qui, this time, the fear in his eyes vanished. "As long as you kill everyone around him. I will give you the property and ten million in cash."


    Shen Qui''s lips twitched. Surely, Lyca had predicted this scene as she included some conditions on the file that she gave him. "Conditions." He started. Since Lyca trusted him with this matter then, he wasn''t nning to fail her. "I have conditions."


    "Hm?"


    "I want two million in untraceable cash. And the assurance that you woulde to my aid once I needed your help."


    "My help? You have a person who could snipe a tempered ss made by the military in this country. I am sure that my men are obviously inferiorpared to your people."


    Shen Qui smiled and nodded, keeping the facade that he was indeed a strong boss. "Well that wasn''t the help that I wanted."


    "Then say it. What do you want?"


    He smirked. "Weapons. I would soon need your connections to smuggle some expensive weapons from another continent." He leaned towards Santa, still smiling. "Mr. Rivers you must remember that I won''t take betrayals well. I could kill your grandfather in the next five minutes but I would need your assurance that you would help me."


    "Five minutes?"


    "It''s easy." Shen Qui said. "Remember this if I could kill a person like him in five minutes I could kill you in two."


    Santa gulped, shivered ran towards his spine. "Alright." He nodded and held his hand towards Shen Qui. "This is a deal. Let''s immediately sign the paperwork once you give me proof of their deaths."


    ....


    Thank you for the support. Please continue voting for the novel.


    2/4

 Chapter 115: Sinners

    Chapter 115: Sinners


    Santa gulped the tears of happiness away from his eyes when he ended the call with thewyer. He just received the news of his grandfather''s death. All dead. That was thewyer''s words.


    He looked at Shen Qui, who was calmly sitting while reading the magazine. Santa let out a long sigh of relief as he walked towards Shen Qui. Without saying anything, he signed a piece of paper and handed it to the man. Then he handed him the documents that contained the ownership of the club. "Thank you." This time, Santa didn''t hide the relief on his face. He eyed the hole on the wall and smiled. "Thank you, Mr. Q. I will definitely help you out whenever you needed my help." This was not only because he was grateful but because he wanted to build connections with a man like Mr. Q.


    "Hmmm," Shen Qui lifted his head. "Then I needed a few of your men to set up this ce first. I will gather my most trusted people ande here after two weeks. For now you can take care of this ce," he epted the paper and stood in front of Santa. He smiled. "Remember I am not a big fan of Christmas."


    "" Santa could only shake his head as he smiled and watched Shen Qui leave the ce. Then he eyed therge clock on top of the door.


    Five minutes.


    Just like what Shen Qui said, he killed everyone in five minutes. Just the thought of thewyer''s words made him tremble. Thewyer told him that it was a very nasty fight. People lost their limbs, and blood flowed like a river. Many people heard the gunfight, but when reinforcements arrived all twenty people inside the mansion were all dead, massacred. It was a very horrible situation.


    The authorities immediately dered that it was another one of the gang fights that had been going on for decades now. However, Santa knew that this was not a gang fight. This wasn''t someone who wanted to get their revenge. No. This was someone who wanted to own a club.


    Just like that, one of the biggest gang leaders in Kong City had fallen because someone wanted the ''Conspiracy''. Santa''s eyes darted towards the door, and sigh. Mr. Q was a very mysterious existence. He could only wonder what kind of miracles the young man would bring to Kong City and even perhaps the Xu Country.


    Shen Qui, on the other hand, was already inside the car outside of the club. He wasn''t surprised to smell the thick smell of blood around Lyca.


    "I suppose, we now own the club?" There was mirth in Lyca''s voice. He nodded in response as he leaned towards her, capturing her lips for a long, hungry kiss.


    "Everything good?" he asked.


    "Hmmm," Lyca said before she added pressure to the elerator. The two left the club and checked themselves in one of the most expensive hotels in the City. This time Lyca told him that no one would look for them in a ce like this as everyone would think she would prefer to check herself in a more remote ce to avoid detection.


    When Lyca arrived inside the suite room, she immediately took a bath and changed into another set of ck clothing.


    ''Where did you get the info about that man?" Shen Qui hugged her from behind as she brushed her teeth. Her hair was wrapped in a towel while a robe covered her naked body.


    "Ruyi." She uttered. "You take a bath and change too. Let''s go somewhere. Running away is making me so stressed."


    "" He chuckled and immediatelyplied. They have been traveling for days now, and both were really exhausted. However, half of him was actually excited about what was toe.


    Shen Qui quickly finished his bath and dressed in casual shorts and some shirts that made them look like young college travelers, enjoying the city.


    "You sure we are still leaving? It''s already four in the morning." Lyca just killed a bunch of people. Logic dictates that she needed her rest. Her one-word answer shut him up.


    "Sunrise." There wasn''t a hint of emotion in her voice as she drove the car silently. He clenched his teeth in response. He wanted to touch her face, assure her that everything was fine, but he also knew that this wasn''t what Lyca needed right now. This was only his naive self telling him to follow all the romantic scenes that he saw in the movies before.


    The two maintained their silence until they reached a known hiking spot that should give them the view of the sea and the sunrise. Lyca got out of the car and waited for him to follow her. Then they followed the trails as the sun was slowly showing itself. It didn''t take them five minutes to arrive on a cliff with a huge tree. Sharp rocks littered below the cliff as the sound of strong waves against the rocks filled the atmosphere. The air was crisp and salty.


    "You wanna talk about it?" He broke the chilly silence in between them. He then watched as she turned her head towards him. She lifted her lips into a smile, but he didn''t miss the coldness in her eyes. Her cold orbs meet his gentle ones as he gave her a smile full of assurance.


    "Do you believe in god?" Lyca suddenly asked.


    "I do," he answered almost immediately. When he was but a child, that man tried to kill him, injuring his heart. The injury was supposed to kill him in less than a minute. He was weak and small. He wasn''t supposed to survive, and yet he was still alive. "You?"


    "No," Lyca turned her head towards the sun that was starting to illuminate the sky with its rich hues. Tangerine with a cast of crimson and gold was slowly making their way into the white clouds. It was mesmerizing.


    Lyca bit her lower lip. In her previous life, she had killed hundreds, and yet she was still alive. She sighed.


    Sometimes death is a better ending for sinners like her.


    .....


    Please don''t forget to vote for the novel.

 Chapter 116: Mr. Q

    Chapter 116: Mr. Q


    Shen Qui nodded. That was something that he expected. After all, they were the exact opposite of each other. "What are we going to do next?" he asked.


    "Sleep."


    "How long?"


    "Two days." She shrugged and sat on one of the roots of the tree.


    "You are nning to sleep for two days?"


    "We " She shut him a look. "We are sleeping for two days." Then she gave a mischievous wink. The dark aura surrounding her vanished as sheughed at her own words. "We already have the perfect hideout. Next, we need people that we can trust."


    "Criminals." Shen Qui uttered. Is it really possible to trust criminals? He couldn''t help but asked himself as he sat next to her.


    "People are simple Qui''er," she smiled. "As long as you appeal to their weakness, they will follow you."


    "Just like what you did to that Santa?" His eyebrow rose.


    "Yes. It was that simple. Since we wanted them, to help us we will help them in return."


    "I didn''t know you were so kind." He chuckled. In response, Lycaughed.


    "What makes you think that I would do all the work?" She rested her head on his shoulder. "I am the wife of the CEO. I shouldn''t work."


    "You should have seen that Santa''s face when he thought I am a very influential man."


    "Behind the King is a powerful Queen," Lyca uttered as she inhaled his scent and close her eyes. That''s right, she wasn''t nning to reveal herself as the one behind all this. She was toozy to handle all the conversations and fakery. She could stand behind him and act as his secret weapon. That life sounded better than talking to snakes, and rabbits, and wolves in sheep''s clothing.


    "You seemed to calm about this matter," he said. Wasn''t she afraid that the Long Family will target her parents?


    "They won''t touch my mother and father." She uttered. "I am not sure if you know this, but my mother has strong ties in the government. Plus, she was someone from the Tang Family. Moreover, I already sent them a warning. Zhang Zhi''s oue was like a reminder and a threat. If they continue hunting me I would retaliate, and they would end up like him."


    He nodded. "Are you not going to recruit someone from the Huang Family?"


    "Hah" Lyca looked at him. "You wanted Li Xian to join us?"


    He shrugged. Li Xian was a colleague and a friend. But he wouldn''t want to put him in any danger. Plus, Li Xian had the tendency to always follow the rules. If he met someone like Lyca he would probably go crazy from her peculiar way of handling things.


    "We should go." Lyca yawn. She had been up all night, stalking and finishing people off. She was exhausted, but she still wanted to see the sunset as she wanted to remind herself that she was still alive. That this was not her previous life, and that in this life she still had a chance.


    She chuckled at her own thoughts. Was she really hoping for a chance to be happy? How silly. Then she looked at him. Shen Qui smiled and nodded at her. Then he stood and held his hand in front of her, telling her to hold on as he would pull her up.


    She returned his smile and didn''t hesitate as she lifted her hand to met his. Shen Qui pulled her up and continued holding her hand as they went back into the car.


    ...........


    Two days after the massacre.


    Location: Kong City


    The news of the massacre had reached the ears of the other gang leaders, but at this point, no one cared who the culprit was. It was obviously an assassin. Meaning, Roman Rivers offended someone capable of hiring that fearsome enemy. Instead, all they wanted to know was the name of the Assassins.


    "This assassin is clearly showing off." A woman with striking blue hair flicked his cigarette to the man opposite him.


    "F*ck off," the man hissed without removing his eyes from theptop in his hand. "The people behind it were clearly experts. Can we reallypare ourselves to them?" His hand flew on top of the keyboard.


    "There wasn''t really news in the ck market since that happened. I am wondering if they found that assassin." She held a coin in front of her face, smiling as she held it against the light. "Hey, heads, and you buy my food." She sat on the couch.


    "I always win," the man uttered shortly. Hearing this, the woman beamed and flicked the coin. Then she used her left hand to catch it from the air and mmed it on her forearm.


    "Tsk." The woman clicked her tongue. "How do you do that?"


    "I''m the lucky twin." The man answered. "While you are the unlucky one. It''s that simple." He shrugged and finally lifted his eyes away from hisptop. "I want the usual."


    The woman grumbled some curses before she stood and grabbed her wallet and jacket from the table. Then she walked towards the door, abruptly opening it, only to see someone standing in front of her. "Huh? You lost?" she asked the handsome man who was wearing dark blue shorts and a white shirt. The man towered over her five foot three height.


    "No." The man gave a gentle smile. "I believe I am in the right ce. My name is Q and I am here because I have a proposition for you, and your brother. May Ie in?"


    "Excuse me?" the woman raised an eyebrow. "I don''t have a brother. I think you got the wrong address." She was about to m the door shut when the man held the entrance, preventing her from closing it.


    "Miss Rue" the man uttered, murdering the pronunciation of her name in his lips. "I know your brother just hacked a corporate office and stole two million only to donate it in an orphanage. He might be Robinhood in his eyes, but to me he is nothing but a criminal. Now we both know you two can''t fight against me, and my men. Why don''t you let me in and listen to my proposition?" the man lifted an eyebrow as he smiled at the ashen face Rue.


    ..............


    4/4


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 Chapter 117: Blackmail and Business

    Chapter 117: ckmail and Business


    "You wanted us to work for you?" Rue scoffed. She couldn''t help herself. The man in front of them looked just like a sheltered young master. How could he speak about something so nonsense?


    "Yes. That is right." Shen Qui nodded. He satfortably on one of the working chairs inside the small studio apartment. He looked at the scowling Rue and his twin brother Ronan Chu. These two were not really famous criminals, but both of them were good atputers.


    A little part of Shen Qui was actually doubting this decision. After all, these two people don''t really have a good track record of working with other people. However, Lyca assured him that he was talented enough to recruit them.


    "You think the gun in your waist was enough to convince us that you are someone powerful?" Ronan asked. "We don''t work well with other people Mr. Q. I suggest you leave now."


    "Well I am nning to recruit a group of criminals like you to work for me."


    "I said we can''t work for you!" Ronan hissed. "Leave now."


    Shen Qui''s lips pressed into a thin line. He looked at Ronan then to Rue. "Do you really want to stay in a ce like this forever? Then move the next month because you can''t earn enough to pay for the rent?"


    "You "


    "If you are here to insult the way we leave then, just leave us alone," Rue uttered.


    "I can give you money."


    "And so was every people who offered us a job." But it always fails. Those people would only harbor bad intentions of his twin sister, and they would be forced to leave and run away. "I won''t work, Mr. Q."


    Shen Qui smiled and nodded. "How about the kids that you are helping each month? Once I call the police and tell them that the stolen money was donated into their orphanage what do you think will happen to those kids?" He lifted an eyebrow.


    "This is ckmail!" Rue uttered.


    "Oh. No" Shaking his head, Shen Qui added. "This is business."


    "You " Ronan narrowed his eyes as a long stretch of silence filled the atmosphere. "Do you think we can work well together after you ckmail us?" How could he let someone like Mr. Q get close to his sister? Ronan was a man, and he knew that most men would soon like his sister. If this person would His gaze darkened as he met Rue''s gaze.


    Seeing the two look at each other, Shen Qui smiled and opened his phone. "Hello is this the police "He didn''t continue his words when he saw Rue pull a knife and threw it on his way. Shen Qui beamed then moved his body, letting the knife miss him by a few inches. Then he removed his gun and pointed it at the woman.


    The same smile was on Shen Qui''s face as he ended the call. "I see so you want to y it that way."


    "You think we are afraid "


    *BANG*


    Shen Qui pulled the trigger. There was no hesitation in his gaze.


    Rue''s loud scream followed, her hand covered her left ear, face paling as she red at Shen Qui. "Don''t ever point a knife at me,dy." Shen Qui said. His tone was calm, gentle even, but the sinister glint in his eyes was too apparent, it made the twins feel as if a predator was in front of them.


    "Are you fucking crazy?" Ronan immediately approached his sister, anger apparent in his eyes.


    "The bullet grazed her ears." Shen Qui said. "It wasn''t enough to kill her."


    "You are insane? She''s a fucking woman!"


    "And?" Shen Qui uttered. "Should I let her knife hit me because she''s a fucking woman? Or did you think I would make an exception because of her appearance?" Rue and Ronan were both very beautiful people. They grow up in an orphanage after their mother who had an affair with a foreigner, died.


    "You "


    "Your twisted thinking was the reason why men are afraid to report their physically abusive partners." Shen Qui said. "She tried to hurt me so I hurt her in return. Too bad she wasn''t fast enough to avoid my bullet." A smug smile slithered on his face.


    Rue whimpered. The small cut in her ear was indeed small, and won''t be enough to kill her. However, the fact that Shen Qui didn''t hesitate to hurt her was truly unbelievable. All her life, men lined up to adore her. Not hurt her! She red at him.


    "Now Now" Shen Qui crossed his leg over the other. "Here''s what I am willing to give you. The first is sry. You will have a monthly sry and bonuses just like regr employees." He started talking about the benefits that Lyca would offer to all of her ''employees''. "You will be given a home, a ce to stay. Rent-free. No more running from the authorities. We can use our connections to change yourst names and erase your data in Kong City. You will live a new life and would stop running away from the police. You can go out at day time without being scared that someone will spot you."


    Using Santa Rivers'' connection, Shen Qui can do all these things with ease. Now that he thought about it carefully, Lyca was truly smart. First, her demands for Santa Rivers was minimal. Two million was considered a small price for his grandfather''s death. Lyca made Santa owe them, she made him unconsciously fear them and made him think that he needed to build some connections to the influential and strong Shen Qui.


    While all of this started with a facade, the influence that Santa Rivers could give them was enough to really make them powerful in this city.


    "So? What do you think?" Shen Qui raised an eyebrow at the twins. "I know I know you can''t make your decision now. So if you make up your mind, just go to this ce two weeks from now." He put the card next to Ronan''sptop and beamed. Then he stood and walked towards the door. "One more thing" Shen Qui stopped walking and turned his head towards Ronan.


    "Don''t look at me like I will take your sister from you. I am married. Your sister cannot bepared to my wife." He said before leaving. "Not even a strand of her hair isparable to my wife. So get your thoughts straight."


    ....


    Don''t forget to vote for the novel.


    Usual updates will start 13th midnight. Moving forward, I will release 3-4 chapters everyday. This week, I am not sure if we would reach the goal for mass release since most people stopped voting. But its ok. Have a good day ahead and take care.

 Chapter 118: Cleo

    Chapter 118: Cleo


    Location: West of Kong City


    The soft wind sighed against her skin, reminding her that she was outside, away from thefort of a bed. Lyca pursed her lips and thought about her current mission. "You are nothing without a good team," Lyca mumbled as she sat on the huge branch of a tree. "A good team is everything." For someone like her, having a good team ehem or people working under her was the best way to have an easy life.


    If not for this, Lyca wouldn''te into a city where gangs were more powerful than the mayor, where the heirs of the criminal group were more known than the actresses and actors in the industry. She eyed the abandoned building a few meters away from her. Then to the group of men partying just outside of the building.


    It took Lyca a great deal of convincing her cousin before Ruyi gave her the files that she wanted. It was, after all, very confidential information that only the military had ess to. The information that she had now cost a lot of new chemicals that she made.


    She looked at her watch before leaning against the tree. She closed her eyes as she thought about Shen Qui, wondering if he was able toplete his task. He should have. The twins were not really hard to handle. The sound of the cars approaching made Lyca froze. She immediately controlled her breathing, eyes towards the cars. Two sedans wereing towards the group of men.


    "Hey, she''s here."


    "Be prepared," one of the men uttered as they stood from their seat and look at the carsing their way. They watched as the cars came to a full stop just a few feet away from them. It''s light illuminating them.Four people got out of the car, one woman and three bulky men.


    "Cleo" a man greeted the woman, smiling. "Where is it?"


    "In the car." The woman said. Her eyes roamed around the area, for a few seconds, her gaze halted at the building. "Where is my money and the file?"


    "Show us the contraband babe then we show you the money." Another man uttered.


    The woman named Cleo scoffed before she instructed one of her people to open the trunk of their car. "Everything is there. The diamonds and jewelry. I did everything that you asked. Now give me what I need."


    "Rx" the man beamed as he walked towards Cleo. He lifted his hand and attempted to touch Cleo''s face, but thetter immediately took a step back, avoiding the man''s palms. "You''ve changed." The man said as he smiled. "I like it."


    "Where is it!?" Cleo hissed. "I want it! Now!"


    "My My what an impatient woman."


    "Give me the files, Thane!" She asked, her hand moved towards the gun on her waist.


    "Alright " the man beamed before he held his hand at the man standing behind him. Seeing this, the man handed him a folder, and Thane handed it to Cleo.


    Cleo immediately opened the paper, and almost immediately, her face paled. "You " Before she could open her mouth, five loud gunshots echoed. Cleo widened her eyes, she wanted to pull her own gun, but it was toote. The cold, hard tip of Thane''s 45 pistol was already on her chin. Seeing her expression made Thane chuckled. "I miss you, babe."He leaned towards the woman and brushed his lips into hers. "When you betray me six years ago you made the wrong choice. Now you are going to suffer and die because of what you did." His hand gripped her wrist away from her gun, twisting it, making her flinched.


    "Clean everything," Thane said as he looked at the abandoned building and signaled his sniper to approached them. "Heh" Thane turned his attention back to Cleo. "You areing with me."


    "You told me you have the file!"


    "I lied," Thane said. "I tried to look for your son but it seems that your lover was adamant about hiding him from you. Can''t me him really who would want to associate their child to a Thief like you?"


    "You How dare you!?" Cleo gritted her teeth.


    "Plus, that man is influential. Did you think, I would be able to bypass his security?" Thane chuckled. "Don''t worry I won''t let your death in vain. I will throw you in the river and feed you to the fishes. I am sure they would be happy to have you as their meal. That is such a meaningful way to die. Isn''t it?"


    "Psycho! Let me go!" She struggled when Thane removed her gun and checked her body for more weapons. The gun was still pointed at her chin.


    "Psycho?" Thane''s eyes met hers as he smiled and pointed the gun to her temple. "I will show you what a real Psycho is like" He was about to pull the trigger when he heard a thud next to him. "What are you " Thane didn''t hesitate to walk behind Cleo, using her body as a shield as he snaked his arms around her neck, choking her from behind. "Sh*t! I thought this woman never had back up?"


    Thane was about to let out another curse when another one of his men fell, a bullet was in the man''s forehead. Sadly, the opponent was using a silencer. With the absence of sound and the darkness, Thane and his men couldn''t determine where the bullet wasing from.


    "In the building!" one of the men said as he used the car to cover himself. "We should " he didn''t finish his words. The man fell on the ground, a huge bullet wound was in the man''s chest.


    "Who is there?" Another one asked.


    "He''s not on the building! He should be on the hill across us! Snipers use heights as their advantage!"


    "Then shoot the hill! Or we die!" Each and every one of them was now crouching on the ground including Cleo. She really didn''t know who the sniper is. Who knows if this sniper was here for the diamonds that she stole? If that happens it could mean the sniper''s target was really her."


    ....


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 Chapter 119: Xi

    Chapter 119: Xi


    "Fire!" Thane instructed his men to fire at the hill across them. He too removed his gun from Cleo''s head and shoot blindly at the grasses. The sniper should be there! Lying down with his gun. "Don''t stop shooting!" He instructed when he noticed that most of his men stopped shooting.


    When Thane turned his eyes around, his face immediately darkened. Most of his men we already dead! "Sh*t! Whoever is there. Don''t kill us!" He uttered. "If you want the diamonds we will give it to you!" Just like Cleo, Thane, also figured out that the man shooting them was after the diamonds that Cleo stole. "We will also give you the b*tch who stole the diamonds! We are not really involved in this! Someone just paid us to do this!" He shouted as he pointed his gun at Cleo. "Come on! Our boss is really powerful! We can make a deal!"


    "F*ck you, Thane!" Cleo hissed. "If you don''t tell me who your boss is then "


    "Dumb b*tch! That ex-boyfriend of yours paid us to kill you so, he doesn''t have to deal with you anymore!" Thane blurted."Now go and walk towards the hill! Raise your hands. Go! Or I will shoot you!"


    Cleo clenched her teeth. She couldn''t stop but let out a curse. That man is indeed cruel. He already took her child after she gave birth. And now, he actually wanted her dead?


    "NOW!" Thane panicked when he saw thest of his men fell on the ground. "Or I will kill you!"


    "Fine!" Cleo hissed. She slowly knelled before standing, her arms up as she looked at the dark hill. Is this really the end of her life? Cleo couldn''t help but think about that cold man who she loved. That man ruled Kong City, and he was the reason why she disappeared all those years ago.


    Now that she''s back, the man immediately paid some people to kill her. How cruel. She bit her lips and took the first step towards the hill.


    "I can give you all the diamonds!" she heard Thane shout behind her. "Just  Just let me live!" Thane continued. "This b*tch offended a Gang Leader in this City. If you turn her towards that man, I am sure that he will reward you handsomely! I suggest you "


    *THUD*


    Cleo froze when she heard the loud thud behind her. She didn''t need to turn her head to know that it was Thane. A bullet was probably lodged in between his eyebrows. She gulped and eyed the hill. "I''m sorry." She uttered. "I didn''t mean to steal the diamonds," desperation coated her voice. "I did it for my son." Cleo''s beautiful brows creased as she closed her eyes.


    Right now, she could only pray and hope that this man would at least pity her and let her live. She knew it was too far-fetch. She knew it sounded impossible. But Cleo needed to do a lot of things, she needed her revenge. She needed to see her son."Please" Cleo didn''t stop the tears that fell on her cheeks. In face of death, Cleo didn''t hesitate to express all the emotions that she kept for years.


    She stopped caring about maintaining the cold facade as she sobbed, showing the vulnerability of a mother, of an abused woman. "Please just let me live." When Cleo heard soft footsteps towards her, she flinched and stood like a statue.


    She didn''t dare open her eyes as she lowered her head. A sniper who just killed more than five people in less than thirty minutes is not someone to be trifled with.


    "Lift your head."


    Cleo trembled in surprise when she heard a woman''s voice. She lifted her head and opened her eyes. A woman with ck hair and the same jet ck attire stood in front of her. She gulped in fear when she realized that the woman had a huge rifle that she didn''t recognize on her shoulder.


    "Please don''t kill me," she uttered when she saw the knife in the woman''s hands. "I the diamonds  it''s yours all yours just please let me live."


    The woman''s brown eyes stared at her. "I will let you live. If you agree to work for my boss."


    "Huh?"


    The woman didn''t repeat her words. Instead, she pursed her lips and looked at the dead bodies on the ground. "You have two minutes to decide before the police will arrive in this area. It will be ruled out as another gang killings."


    "I You want me to join you?" Cleo asked as she stopped her voice from trembling. "To do what? I I am not a good fighter or a shooter."She watched as irritation shed in the woman''s eyes.


    "Will you join me or not?"


    "I will! I will join you!" Cleo nodded.


    "Good. Now carry the diamonds and jewelry then, follow me. Let''s leave before they arrive."


    "Y Yes!" Cleo immediately said before she followed the woman''s instructions. After a few seconds, Cleo was already running towards Lyca with a huge bag on her shoulders.


    "Let''s go," Lyca uttered and started walking towards the hill. Not even a few minutes, and the sound of the police car filled the area. Cleo could still the red and blue light that seemed to re at her. She quickly turned her back towards Lyca. "I I am Cleo. What What is your name?"


    "Xi," Lyca uttered.


    "Oh! Thank you for saving me, Xi." Cleo uttered and saw Lyca shrugged in response. Then the two walked about another two minutes before they arrived in a car that was hidden in the bushes. Lyca immediately sat on the driver''s seat and told her to put the diamonds on the back of the car.


    "So Ummm why did you stop?" Cleo couldn''t help but asked when Lyca stopped the car in a motel.


    "Out."


    "Huh?"


    Without saying anything. Lyca handed her a card. "Go to the club in two weeks. Our boss will be there."


    "I "Cleo epted the ck card with a huge letter Q on it. Below the letter was the name of the club as well as the address. She then got out of the car.


    "We found your son," Lyca added. "If you don''t show up. It means we can kill him along with his father." Her words made Cleo''s eyes turned so wide, her face paling. But before she could say another word. The car already disappeared in front of her.


    ....


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 Chapter 120: Gambling

    Chapter 120: Gambling


    Trigger Warning: Mentions of cannibalism


    .....................


    It was almost twelve midnight when Lyca and Shen Qui pulled into the bar just north of Kong City. As a bar located in the border of the next region, Danae, was frequently visited by both from Kong City and its neighboring Phur City from Navut Region.


    "You could have worn something less revealing," Shen Qui said in a dark tone as he eyed Lyca''s dark blue short dress. It was halter and showing a lot more skin than he would prefer. He gritted his teeth as he walked out of the car and opened the door for her.


    "I am your escort Mr. Shen it is only reasonable that I wore something that would make me look like one," Lyca uttered when she stood in front of him. Her red lips lifted in an enchanting smile. Which made him more irritated. How could he let other people see his wife looking like this?


    This was actually the first time that Lyca put this much makeup, and he...


    While he finds her enchanting, he hated the fact that other people would see it too. Shen Qui''s jaws clenched. He had never been jealous before. Nor had he experienced something that made him really really irritated. He''d like to think that he was a very rational man. Someone honest about his emotions. However, this time Shen Qui felt that he is about to lose all the rationality that he had left.


    Seeing his dark face only made Lyca giggled. She tiptoed and gently kiss his parted lips. "Just think of it this way they can look and stare. But only you can touch me," She added. "Plus, in front of everyone, we needed to act like this," Being an escort was actually theziest way to get into a ce. Who would dare decline such an enchanting woman like her?


    "Hey! You are not allowed to do some nasty stuff here!"


    The silence was interrupted when a bulky man approached their car. "If you want to have some fun. We have some VIP rooms inside." He grunted and look at Lyca before staring at Shen Qui, who was wearing a dark casual suit. "You here for something?"


    "Santa sent us for the ores," Shen Qui said and pretended that he didn''t notice the man''s eyes towards Lyca.


    The man narrowed his eyes on him before he stared at Lyca again. "Invitation." Seeing his lecherous gaze, Shen Qui''s face darkened. However, before he could take a step towards the man. Lyca already held her hand, tangling it into hers. Then she lifted her head and bit his neck. The bite was not enough to draw some blood, but it was definitely enough to wake him up.


    Shen Qui shook the thoughts out of his head and immediately got the small invitation in his jacket pocket.


    "Hmmm. Q? And this is your plus one?" The man looked at Lyca.


    "Yes."


    "Good," he nodded. "Follow me," he motioned them to follow him at the back of the bar where the secret entrance was located. "If you want to have some fun with your escort you can upy a VIP room. We can assure you we have no cameras, whatsoever."


    "We would like to gamble tonight," Shen Qui said almost sternly.


    The man shrugged in response. "Your choice." The man was very ustomed to seeing rich young masters visit this ce to show off to their dates. This wasn''t nothing new to him. "Come" He said and motioned Lyca and Shen Qui to walk inside. Then he led them to an elevator that led them underground.


    When the elevator door opened, both Lyca and Shen Qui couldn''t help but gasp at the current scenery in front of them.


    "It''s a restaurant for extinct species, pangolins, shark fins, elephants, and other expensive meat that is banned on the outside. If you have some preference, you can definitely make some requests to the chef. Scorpions and other bugs are here too."


    Lyca giggled and leaned towards Shen Qui''s ears. "I heard some people here eat fetus." She said and deliberately made her voice a little louder. "Do you want to try?"


    Shen Qui''s eyes glinted, but he forced himself to maintain the facade. "Do you want to have one?" He masked the anger in his voice as he leaned closer to Lyca''s face.


    "I don''t know do you?" She giggled.


    Hearing the two talk like this, the man stopped talking and lead them to the next area of the underground facility instead. Single people like him actually had no right to interfere with couples like the two youngsters following him.


    "This is a cafe. Behind this is a spa where you can have massages and some extra services if you want one." Seeing Shen Qui''s disinterest, the man just shrugged. It was normal for him not to show some interest in services like this, after all, the beautiful woman in his arms should be enough to satiate his hunger. "Alright next we will arrive at the main hall. If you want to join or guessing then, you have to register. We don''t ept money," the man said. "Diamonds and other expensive stones are preferable."


    The two just nodded. Diamonds? Lyca had a vault full of diamonds and jewelry so, they had no actual problem in getting in. Then the man led them to a hall with a humungous stage in the middle. The red carpet that covered the whole ce matched the designs of the stage. With the sparkling chandelier, the round tables draped with red velvet like cloth and soft jazz music, one would think that this was a high-end restaurant instead of a gambling hall.


    Lyca''s eyes halted to their left, where a bar was located. Different types of drinks were served.


    "Itplimentary as long as you will join," the man said when he caught her staring at the drink. "Do you want to register?"


    "Yes," Lyca answered almost excitedly, jumping up and down as she pointed at the bar then whispered to Shen Qui.


    "Alright let''s go before the other guests arrived." The man said. Seeing the two only made his previous conclusion that these were nothing but another rich heir that wanted to have fun. "This way."

 Chapter 121: Quickest

    Chapter 121: Quickest


    "This is also one of the top auction houses in the whole Country of Xu. Just in case you needed to sell something, " The man said as Shen Qui gave an ID to the woman behind the ck table. He then gave the woman two pieces of diamonds. As expected, the woman lifted an eyebrow and stared at Shen Qui. "Both of you? You sure you want her too?" Having an escort was, of course, pretty normal. But usually, they don''t actually let the escort join them in picking ores.


    "Hm." Shen Qui wrapped his hand around Lyca''s waist and nodded. "Two people."


    "Good. Two people each will have ten ores. You can pick it out along with everyone else." The woman handed a red small ribbon pin. "Put this on so, the one near the ores will let you in."


    "Alright, since you are already registered. I will leave you two on your own." The man said before leaving without sparing them another nce. Shen Qui and Lyca immediately went to the bar and presented their red ribbons to get some drinks. Sitting on one of the seats in the bar, Lyca roamed her eyes around the area.


    This ce is like a haven for illegal activities. It is not only a ce for gambling but also for prostitution and, of course, auctioning stolen items. Because of this, many gang leaders frequent this area.


    "Eh? What a pretty woman. You wanna sell her to me instead?"


    Shen Qui and Lyca ignored the voice that sounded behind them. The two just sat closely, eying the guests that are now starting to crowd the hall.


    "He is ignoring me."


    "Hey, Qui''er" Lyca leaned towards Shen Qui''s ears. "Can you tell me about the rules?"


    "People who try to offend other people will be banned. People who do not respect a woman will be escorted and banned." He answered.


    "Then don''t move."


    "Huh?"


    The two looked as if they were whispering against each other''s ears. This made the man more irritated. Not only did the two ignore him, they even dared to flirt in front of him."You two " Again, Shen Qui and Lyca ignored him. He gritted his teeth and grabbed his beer. He then walked around in front of Shen Qui and raised his hand intending to throw it in Shen Qui''s face. But how could Shen Qui allow such a thing to happen? He moved his foot and kicked the man''s shin, making sure that it was hidden from the camera. He then pulled Lyca in his arms as the man fell on the floor, apanying this was the sound of the ss of wine breaking on the floor.


    "You "


    Shen Qui only lifted an eyebrow at the man, as if silently challenging him to tell everyone about what happened. Of course, the man didn''t open his mouth toin. How could he act like a cry baby in front of other influential people? The man gritted his teeth and stood up. He then eyed one piece of broken ss that was lodged in his hand.


    "Mr. Li, are you alright?"


    "Yes. Yes. I am fine." The man named Mr. Li looked at Shen Qui and walked away without saying anything.


    Lyca only smiled in response. Of course, she wouldn''t me Shen Qui for trying to defend her.


    "Mr. Li is a man that holds grudges." The bartender who saw what happened said. She smiled at Lyca, her two deep dimples appeared, making her look cuter. "I hope you brought bodyguards. I am sure he would be waiting for you after this."


    The n is to amaze people and established their names. Of course, Lyca immediately came up with another peculiar way to make their names known out there. And to be honest, Shen Qui was slowly loving Lyca''s ns. First, it was very effective. Second, she always finds the best and quickest way to do something. Of course, this was only because she wanted to finish it as fast as possible. Lyca loved to rx and would want to spend most of her time doing just that.


    So, she always came up with an easy n a little risky but definitely easy. For instance, Lyca told him that they needed money to establish their own operation and group. Of course, she wasn''t willing to touch her own money that was probably being monitored right now. However, Lyca was also toozy to rob or steal from someone. She said it was too risky.


    Thus, she suggested gambling with ores. Lyca was pretty confident that she could identify which ores have jades and other expensive gems inside. She even told him that this had something to do with internal energy. Of course, she taught Shen Qui the trick so he would do all the work for her.


    He remembered her say, "To survive in the world of criminals we must act like one. We don''t need to be like them. Blending in is find." Lyca''s words echoed in his head. It was quite reasonable, and Shen Qui clearly understood Lyca''s point.


    "Let''s go?" Lyca said. Her words woke him up from his stupor. He noticed that there are already people on the stage. "Starting." Lyca held his hand as he nodded, and together, the two of them walked towards the stage.


    "So? Mr. Li is talking about that couple?" Lyca heard someone say. Her hearing and other senses are really sharp so, it was easy for her to overhear conversations like this. This can be very overwhelming. So, it would take her a couple of seconds to identify the speakers, especially in a ce with a lot of people like this.


    "Good Eveningdies and gents!" A man wearing an all-white suit stood in the middle of the stage, a smile was stered on his face. "I am your host, Ben." Obviously, a fake name just like that man''s fake smile. But Lyca and Shen Qui turned their attention to the man as they listened to the rules of the gambling.


    ....


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 Chapter 122: Ten Ores

    Chapter 122: Ten Ores


    "First, you will be given the five minutes to pick ten ores. Then it is time to bet which one has the best gems. You can, of course, bet on yourself. As usual, we only ept diamonds. No cash. Anyone who will not follow the rules won''t be able to attend any future events." The man smiled and look at every one. "Firste, first-serve basis."


    Then he smiled at the people below the stage. "Alright. We will start. It Is already one in the morning. Those who arete can''t join us anymore." He looked at his watch and smiled. "Time starts now!"


    "Three stones to your left, two stones down, and one stone left," Lyca said under her breath as she and Shen Qui approached the table where the ores are located.


    "How did you " Shen Qui was about to pick one of the stones when another hand quickly held the ores and pulled it away from Shen Qui. Mr. Li''s smiling face interrupted them. "You "


    "For that," Lyca uttered. She already felt that this man had been watching them since the man in white started talking. She knew this Mr. Li would try and snatch whatever it is that Shen Qui would try to pick.


    "Ops. Sorry about that." Mr. Li chuckled, but Shen Qui ignored him. Lyca, on the other hand, continued pointing ores and red at him as he picked every one of Lyca''s choices and put it in a designated transparent box with his name on it. "Prettydy since you are already staring at me like that why don''t you just apany me for the rest of the evening?"


    Lyca fought the urge to roll her eyes. By now, Mr. Li already got his ten ores. With these, he won''t be allowed to pick any more ores. Lyca pretended to frown. "Now, everything that I want is taken by him!" Lyca crossed her arms across her chest, looking extremely irritated.


    "You don''t have to worry too much. How about I pick some ores for you? How about this" Shen Qui suddenly said. "If I give you jadeite, you will  " He leaned and whispered something to Lyca, making her giggle. Seeing this, Mr. Li snorted before leaving the table.


    The rules are simple. Once you are done picking your ores you have to leave so others can still pick up their ores. When he saw Shen Qui started holding the smaller ores, Mr. Li let out another snort, his gaze full of disgust. As someone who is a veteran, he knew that the smaller ores don''t have any good jades inside. And if they do they have smaller ones. Meaning it is not as valuable as the big one.


    He decided to look at other people and stop staring at this Shen Qui. Clearly, the man is nothing but a horny young master trying to show off to his date. How disgusting.


    Slowly, everyone started retreating from the table. However, Shen Qui and Lyca were still there. The two needed to choose twenty stones for both of them, and from the looks of it, Shen Qui was the only one choosing stones by touching them.


    "Hmph! Look at that young man pretending to know about ores. Isn''t he a first-timer?" Mr. Li immediately started talking to the men and women next to him. "Just look at him acting like an expert," he chuckled.


    "Mr. Li isn''t that the couple from the bar earlier? Are you saying that because the girl doesn''t like you? I remember you even fell on your knees to try and convince her toe with you, no?"


    "Shut it!" Mr. Li hissed at the woman.


    "It seems that they are choosing smaller ores. Was it because they think it would do them any good?"


    "I think it was the girl that wanted the stones."


    "He is trying to show off," another one chimed in before the group startedughing. Of course, it was normal to see some foolish rich heirs that though they own the world just because of their rich parents. "Look at the time. Seconds."


    "Oh? They still needed five more ores. Why is the man pretending to examine the ores? There''s no way to know the kind of jade inside without opening it. Was he trying to fool the girl?" Mr. Li continued.


    "Probably told her that he knows sh*t." Another one shrugged. "This is a game of luck. The lucky ones win. It''s that simple."


    *DING*


    *DING*


    *DING*


    "Times up!" The man in white went up on the stage and smiled at everyone. "Ready to bet?" the man gave a meaningful nce at Shen Qui and Lyca. Of course, the man knew that they were first-timers. And just like most first-timers, they still don''t understand that this was a game of luck. They also tend to bet higher than the usual one.


    "We only ept diamonds for the initial bet. The person who will get the highest number of jade or the highest quality of jade will automatically win the initial bet. Let''s start with five grams of diamonds. Put your bets on the pouches with your names on it and put it right here," he pointed at the middle in front of him.On top of the table, there was a transparent box so, there was no way that anyone would dare touch the pouches after they put it on the box.


    He then watched as everyoneplied. Using a small scale to weigh the diamonds and putting it inside their pouches. Of course, no one would bother cheating in an even like this. After all, this is a very prestigious gambling facility owned by one of the five great kings that run the huge ck market in Kong City.


    "Wonderful!" the man beamed and pped his hands in excitement. "Now it is time to bet on your own ores. Here is the deal about betting you can bet anything! And I mean anything under the sun. Once you win, thepany will double it for you. You can bet a hundred million dors and, if you won we would give you another hundred million dors. It is that simple. However if you lost there is no way of getting back your hundred million. Is that good? Of course, this is just an example. We ept everything except cash. Most people would bet diamonds and even properties. This is already up to you!" He beamed and side-eyed Shen Qui. To be honest, he was a little excited about what this young man would bet to try and show off to the beautiful woman in his arms.


    ....


    Please don''t forget to vote.

 Chapter 123: VIP

    Chapter 123: VIP


    Two different kinds of jade jadeite, and nephrite. Everyone knew that nephrite is the moremon type of jade that had been mined in the country for years now. nephrite''s colors vary from white and gray and some variations such as dark green, brown, and ck. However, the mostmon nephrite color is white. On the other hand, jadeite had more variety of colors. While the mostmon color of jadeite was pale green, this type of jade coulde in the color green,vender, yellow, ck, and white.


    All these weremon knowledge when ites to ying this type of game.


    "Now. Just to add." The man smiled. "We always make sure to maintain confidentiality. So, your bets are considered secret." He then looked at the people below the stage. "Ladies and gentlemen, you can also bet for someone. And if you win we will give you the exact grams of diamonds from the pool. If you please write your bets now. And put it in your transparent ss with your name. " He held his hand and handsome men and women wearing a ck suit walked towards the stage. They stood next to each guest, a transparent ss on their hand. On top of the ss were the names of the participants.


    Without waiting for the man to say anything else, most people on the stage wrote their bet, folded their paper, and put it inside the box. Even Shen Qui and Lyca put their own bets without saying anything.


    "Well now that everyone is ready I believe we can now start opening the ores." The man motioned to the woman on his right. "Let''s start with this beautiful miss. Pleasee here and let us open the ores. To everyone who wanted to bet to this miss'' ores. You already know what to do."


    "Hey the woman next to you is staring at you." Lyca''s voice suddenly drifted towards Shen Qui''s ears. He lifted an eyebrow and looked at her. The woman standing next to him was the one with the transparent box with his name on it. These women should stay by his side until he finished opening his ores. "I don''t like it," Lyca said while frowning. She hated how the woman seemed to undress Shen Qui with her eyes. What kind of woman undresses a man like that? Just the thought made her frown.


    Shen Qui suddenly chuckled and leaned down to kiss her. After a long kiss, Shen Qui turned towards the woman next to him. "Stay at least two feet away from me. I don''t like to get close to other people."


    The woman''s face reddened before she quickly lowered her head and took two steps away from Shen Qui. Seeing this, Shen Qui nodded and turned towards Lyca again. "Satisfied?" he whispered.


    "You know" Lyca gave an enchanting smile. "By now you should know what are the things that would satisfy me."


    "Aside from food and sleep?" again, his eyebrow shot up.


    "Aside from food and sleep," she nodded.


    "Shall I guess?"


    Lyca gave a soft giggle. "Not here." She might not be able to control herself and pull him towards the bathroom. That would be


    "These two are really newbs."


    The two stop talking when they heard a man''s voice next to Shen Qui. "Stop flirting and look at the other people so you will learn!" Of course, the man was none other than Mr. Li. Seeing Shen Qui and Lyca flirt and ignore everything else is truly making him jealous.


    Shen Qui only scoffed in response when he felt Lyca pinched his waist. That was a signal. She was telling him to kill Mr. Li. With this, Shen Qui calm down and ignored Mr. Li. In his eyes, the man is already a dead man.


    "Next! Mr. Li! Ah our beloved patron." The man in white suddenly beamed. "Please show us your ores. So far, not many people were able to get some nephrite, and until now, not one of them got jadeite. Please allow us to open your ores." When Mr. Li heard this, he immediately went and brought his box. Then handed it to the man near the machine that could open the ores.


    "Mr. Li do you have specific requests? Would you like us to open a certain ore first?"


    Mr. Li gave a friendly smile. "You know that I have been in this ce for years right?"


    "Right. You are indeed one of our VIP members." He uttered.


    "Can you please exin the perks of being your VIP?''


    "Well" the man in white didn''t hesitate. "A VIP can bet more than the others. They can also bet against some yers."


    "Interesting rule," Lyca uttered in a low voice.


    "Well I want to bet against that young newbie right there. I want him not to show his face in this club once he lost this game." He uttered. "And leave the girl behind."


    "Mr. Li even as a VIP member you cannot do something like that." The man wearing white uttered. "You cannot force him to leave his woman behind. This was against the rules."


    "Hmph!" Mr. Li snorted. "Of course, he knew about the rules but, he wanted to show off to Shen Qui. "But the rules didn''t say anything in the case, he agrees about the bet?"


    "That is indeed the truth." The man in white smiled. "Well then if the young man agrees thepany won''t get involved in deals like this. So, young man would you agree?"


    "No." Shen Qui coldly said.


    "Young man"


    "No." Again, he repeated his answer and started at Mr. Li. Does this man really dared challenge him about the rules? "The rules state that the host won''t be able to force a yer to do someone''s bidding. Even if that someone is a VIP. Am I right Mr. Li?"


    Mr. Li narrowed his eyes at Shen Qui but didn''t say a word to refute his words. Shen Qui''s words were, in fact, right. Mr. Li couldn''t force him to have a deal with him, even if he is a VIP.

 Chapter 124: Horrible Advice

    Chapter 124: Horrible Advice


    "That Of course, thepany won''t force Mr. Q to join this bet against Mr. Li, even if he is a VIP. After all, we value fairness to everyone." The man in white smiled as he gave an apologetic look at Mr. Li. How could he try to use his charm towards someone who already knew the rules? While this surprised him, the man in white just took it as Shen Qui being cautious. After all, this was his first time. The man might have studied every rule in this ce just to keep himself safe.


    Mr. Li scoffed. "What a coward."


    Shen Qui snorted in response. Dead men can''t tell anyone that they were cowards.Then he turned his head away and look at Lyca instead.


    "Well then since Mr. Q didn''t agree I believe we need to proceed?" the man in white uttered. He then gestured for his assistant to start opening the ores in Mr. Li''s box. Slowly the ores were open, and just like everyone else, most of them didn''t have a jade. However, thest two were different.


    "A nephrite! A dark-green nephrite!" the man in white''s eyes widened as he stared at the nephrite that was the size of a baby''s fist. True, it was small, but this was the first rare nephrite that they got tonight. He immediately asked the person who examines jades toe forward and appraise the nephrite. Just like what the man in white or Ben said, it was indeed anephrite a rare dark green nephrite!


    "This is wonderful!" Ben couldn''t stop himself from beaming as he eyed Mr. Li. "Congrattions! So far, this is the rarest nephrite that he found tonight!"


    "Thank you!" Mr. Li said. However, his eyes were on Shen Qui and Lyca. How could he forget that embarrassment that he felt earlier when this man kicked his shin? He gave Shen Qui a smug smile, after all, this was supposed to be Shen Qui''s ores. Seeing Shen Qui just smirked at him, he snorted and epted the congrattory words of the other yers. This wasn''t the first time that Mr. Li got himself a rare nephrite. but this was the first time he was using it to teach newbies a lesson to always respect their seniors.


    "Now let''s open thest ore. I can only hope that this is another nephrite." Ben excitedly look at the ore and watch his assistant opened it. "Eh? Another dark green nephrite?" Ben''s eyes sparkled as his heart started pounding. One nephrite for one gambler is pretty normal, but two rare nephrite in one yer was just very lucky! "Ah! It seems that Mr. Li is indeed very lucky tonight!" Ben said before he announced the two rare items that Mr. Li found.


    Almost immediately the atmosphere turned joyful. Cheer and some nking sses followed as the people who put their bets on Mr. Li immediately celebrated the rare asion. Everyone already assumed that Mr. Li would win this gambling tonight.


    After about five minutes of congrattory messages, the crowd finally settled again, and the opening of ores continued.


    "You shouldn''t have provoked him." An older man suddenly said as he stood next to Shen Qui. He let out a sigh. "Provoking a businessman like Mr. Li just because of a woman. Was just a poor decision on your part. The best thing that you could have done was to give him the woman and endure. Then once you are stronger and have more influence than him then you strike and make him suffer."


    Shen Qui didn''t answer the old man. The old man''s suggestion was something that normal businessmen would do. Does he really look that normal? Well maybe he was normal. But the woman next to him was far from that.


    "Aiyo younger people these days are really stubborn." The man let out another sighed. "Every young people these days always thinks that they were in the right. Even if they were clearly wrong. Here is a word of advice young man. After this you should apologize to Mr. Li and leave him the girl." The old man shrugged. "Women are everywhere you can find them in every corner of this ce. There is no need to try and show off to someone. You know that " the old man suddenly stopped talking. He opened his mouth to try and say something, but no words came from his mouth.


    He tried to scream, but he seemed to. He couldn''t hear his own voice. The old man stared at Shen Qui''s calm face as she struggled to say a word any word.


    Still, nothing came out of his mouth. He widened his eyes, his tongue slowly darted out of his mouth as his wrinkly face paled. "I think this man was having a heart attack." Lyca''s voice interrupted the current opening of ores. Ben immediately stopped talking and motioned some people to help the old man out of the stage. There was no hint of emotion on Ben''s face as he instructed his people to bring the old man to the hospital. Then he looked at the current person in front of him and acted as if nothing happened.


    Even the people surrounding them acted as if it was a normal thing that happened almost every day. Seeing this, Lyca couldn''t help but sigh. This ce really reminded her of some gambling areas in her previous world. However, this wasn''t her concern anymore. That old man won''t die anyway. A stroke would probably stop him from talking without therapy, but that was all.


    Lyca just thought that the old man kept on giving horrible advice to Shen Qui so, she used the needle on her bracelet and poked the man''s elbow. The old man didn''t feel any itch whatsoever and didn''t even notice her hand moving. Lyca looked at Ben and the others. Now that she thought about it, these people can be a very bad influence on Shen Qui''s pure heart.


    She needed to stop these people from corrupting her Shen Qui.


    .....


    Don''t forget to vote for the novel.

 Chapter 125: Cheating

    Chapter 125: Cheating


    Even with the old man''s ident, the gambling continued, until it was already Shen Qui''s turn. Lyca immediately acted coyly, holding Shen Qui''s hands as the two walked towards Ben. She turned her red lips up, as she whispered towards Shen Qui.


    Seeing this, Ben cleared his throat. "Mr. Q "he gave a half-hearted smile. By now, everyone was already thinking that Mr. Li would win tonight. Because of this, not many people were paying attention to gambling anymore. Moreover, Shen Qui was a beginner, an unknown person who offended a patron.And no one really put their bets on him. The box with Shen Qui''s name on it was empty. Thus, no one was really that interested to see his ores."Let''s begin." Even Ben didn''t think Shen Qui was anything special. To his eyes, he was nothing but another heir.


    He then eyed his assistant who started opening the ores and couldn''t help but sigh. As expected, the first batches of ten ores didn''t have any ores in them. He looked at Shen Qui''s cid face and couldn''t help but shook his head inwardly. However, this expression didn''tst too long when his assistant opened the eleventh ore."Eh? What- A ck nephrite?" Ben uttered when his assistant started opening the first of the second batches of ores. His words were enough to gather the attention of other people. His eyes widened. A ck nephrite is even rarer than a dark green one.


    Almost everyone looked at the eleventh ore, and slowly, their expressions changed. "Hah! A ck nephrite!" Ben almost screamed. He immediately looked at the appraiser, gulping. "It''s really a ck one!"


    "This "


    "He got a ck nephrite? How lucky!"


    "Could be a beginner''s luck." Another one whispered.


    "Mr. Li had two dark green nephrite so he would still win."


    "Still, a ck one is really rare, right?"


    Ben looked at Shen Qui when the appraiser told him that this is indeed a ck nephrite. However, it was small too small. Everyone knew that Shen Qui and Lyca actually chose the smaller ores earlier.


    "Oh?A ck one is indeed rare. But it was too small." Mr. Li sneered." Unless he could" a lump appeared on Mr. Li''s throat when he saw the next ore. The dark green luster of the nephrite made his face dark. A ck one and a dark green one? He blinked. Then he blinked again. Was he hallucinating? However, the silence in the crowd was enough to answer that question.


    He immediately stared at the ore.


    "Does this mean he will win?" Mr. Li heard someone behind him say.


    "He already had two rare ones."


    When the thirteenth ore revealed themon white nephrite, the buzzed increased. Many immediately wondered if this was still luck.


    "He is cheating!" Mr. Li''s voice echoed when he saw the white nephrite. How could someone be this lucky? "He should have a way to know that there is a nephrite inside the ores! I suggest we examine him and that woman. They are cheating!"


    Everyone below the stage started whispering, some immediately nodded their heads, agreeing to Mr. Li''s words. After all, the man is already a long time customer of this ce. Seeing the crowd starting to agree with Mr. Li, Ben looked at Shen Qui before he asked, "This ce doesn''t allow cheating. Once we discover that someone is cheating, an instant banned is not the only punishment. Our other establishment would also get involved. And of course, the authority."


    "You should check if he has something on him perhaps a device that could identify if jade is inside an ore. Like a scanner!" someone from the crowd shouted.


    "I agree! There''s no way that a first-timer could be that lucky!"


    "But I thought everyone was scanned the moment they register?" The man was talking about a scanner that would scan record devices and even video device once your register. One needed to talk into an airport like a scanner every time they walked towards the registration tform.


    "Well they must have missed it." Many people nodded. Because of this, Ben let out a sigh.


    "Mr. Q I am so sorry, but because of everyone''s suspicion, we would have to check if you have something on you." Ben said, his words were apologetic, but the look on his eyes was enough to tell Lyca and Shen Qui that these words were nothing but some fakery. Ben clearly wanted to check them too.


    "Are you sure this is necessary?" Shen Qui asked.


    "Yes, to satisfy everyone''s concern someone will scan you to determined that you are indeed not cheating."


    "And If I prove that I am not cheating?"


    "Well " Ben looked at Mr. Li. "We will continue opening your ores."


    "What about the embarrassment that you have caused us?" Lyca uttered. "If it was proven that we are not cheating then, you shouldpensate us for the emotional damages that you caused. After all, that man just ndered us because he was about to lose."


    "Her words are reasonable." Mr. Li spoke. "I am willing to give you one million worth of cash if it was proven that you are not cheaters. But if we found out that you are cheating the consequences would be dreadful." Seeing the confidence in Lyca''s eyes, made Mr. Li doubt his previous ims. However, he wouldn''t dare back-out now. Moreover, having all that jade was truly making him doubt if it was because of luck.


    "One million." Lyca smiled. "From everyone?" Her gaze soon roamed towards the people surrounding them. "Sounds fair."


    "" Mr. Li gulped. He only said that he would give them a million. Why is this woman involving everyone in this matter?


    "How arrogant." A man chimed in. "Since you are so confident that you aren''t cheating then I agree. I, too, would give you a million. But if you lost you already know what would happen, right?"


    Shen Qui smiled in response. "Of course. But the fact that you think we can actually cheat under the scanning and all security protocol of thepany is beyond me. Did you really think thispany is a ce where cheaters coulde and go? My... my...." Shen Qui looked at Mr. Li. "I didn''t know that a patron like you would look down on this ce too much."

 Chapter 126: Direct and Mysterious

    Chapter 126: Direct and Mysterious


    "You " Shen Qui''s words were enough to make Ben frown. That was right. With the current technology that they had, there was no way that someone like Shen Qui would be able to get inside. He cleared his throat and was about to say something when Lyca''s voice echoed.


    "Just do it." She uttered, impatienceced her tone. Lyca stood next to Shen Qui. In her eyes, all these squabbles were nothing but an easy way to establish herself in this dirty little world. Her eyes soon focused on Mr. Li before she looked at the guests below the stage. These were supposedly the influential people in the Shun Regions and the neighboring cities.


    Right now, most of these people were giving them dirty looks. The disgust in their eyes was too apparent it would make anyone tremble in fear. But to Lyca, this was another thing that would prolong their stay here. Such a hassle.


    Hearing this, Ben signaled his people to inform the people behind the CCTV to scanned both Shen Qui and Lyca. The task didn''t evenst two minutes before he receive a call stating that the couple didn''t bring any wireless device or anything that would have scanned the ores.


    It was the same exact thing that Ben feared. There was nothing in them. He immediately med himself for being easily swayed by Mr. Li''s ims.


    "So? How is it, Ben? Did they "


    "No." Ben interrupted the man. "They don''t have anything on them."


    A long stretch of silence was followed by whispers.


    "Of course, we don''t." Shen Qui sneered. "How could we get inside with all the scanning in this underground facility? I wasn''t expecting that a VIP member didn''t actually know this. How embarrassing. This makes me wonder how does this facility choose its members. Was it all because they frequent this ce? Was it because of the amount of money that they spent here? Or perhaps " Shen Qui turned his head towards Ben. "Just by drawing lots."


    "Mr. Q "


    "Let''s continue." Shen Qui interrupted Ben before looking at Mr. Li. "Apology epted. Wire the money to me before leaving this ce. Thank you."


    "" Mr, Li opened his mouth to say something but the warning gaze that Ben gave him was enough to shut him up.


    "Alright since it''s all settled. Since there was a betting earlier and most people lost the facility would surely assist everyone in transferring the money to Mr. Q." Ben couldn''t help but feel morose. It seems that he had misjudged this young man''s character. Clearly, Mr. Q looked young and naive but his words and mannerisms were different. He gritted his teeth but was forced to maintain a cordial attitude.


    So, he let out a huge smile and instructed his assistant to continue opening the ores. To his surprise, another one of the smaller ores had another white nephrite. While the quality was not that good, Shen Qui''s total numbers of nephrite were enough for him to win the gambling tonight.


    Ben could only sigh after he announced the winner. This was truly a taxing night for him. He immediately escorted Shen Qui and Lyca towards the VVIP room that was intended to make transactions for the winners. This room was located on the second floor of the gambling hall. The walls of the room were upholstered with ck velvet that helped mask the noise from the outside. An elegant chandelier hung on the wall, that somehow reminded Lyca of a chandelier that she saw when she was studying abroad.


    Now that she thought about it, most of the things inside this gambling hall were from abroad. The huge statues that lined the wall, the paintings, architecture and the style of chairs and tables looked like a high-end restaurant from the west. She wondered if the owner of this ce was a foreigner. Sadly, that information was above Tang Ruyi''s paygrade. It was actually a piece of confidential information.


    "Please take your seats." Ben smiled as he eyed the woman carrying Shen Qui''s box that contained his bet. The agreement was to double whatever it was that was inside the box. So, it was important to maintain its security. "Well that was fun." As the manager of this facility, it was Ben''s task to maintain good rtionships with the patrons. "Please this is an expensive wine that we got three years ago. Before that, this wine had been in the market for nearly ten years. It was made fifty years ago and there were only two bottles of this wine left in this country." He slowly poured some wine for both Shen Qui and Lyca.


    "Mr. Ben." Shen Qui looked at Ben before looking at the woman with the box. "Forgive my impatience but shouldn''t we open the box now?"


    "Mr. Q is a very direct man." Ben''s motive was actually quite simple. He was here to build rtionships and obtain some information. After all, Shen Qui was a newbie and it would take them a few hours before they could get ahold of Shen Qui''s background. At the same time, Ben wasn''t willing to offend Shen Qui this time. So, he motioned the woman to put the box in front of them. Using his ring as a way to open the box, Ben immediately got ahold of the paper that contained Shen Qui''s bets. "Eh?" For a few seconds, his eyes went wide before he managed topose himself again. "A club and five million worth of diamonds?"


    That was a very extravagant bet! Most people here would only bet their cars and some ancient jewelry, maybe some extra properties and antique things. Of course, there are always crazy folks that would bet with tens of millions of diamonds. But to bet a club and five hundred million worth of diamonds.


    Shen Qui only pursed his lips in response was Lyca was already holding the wine ss. Her eyes were closed as she started inhaling the scent of the wine, trying to identify its properties. She was still acting coyly, smiling, and widening her eyes at the chandelier as if it truly impressed her. Because of this, Ben didn''t even bother looking at Lyca and had his focus towards the direct and mysterious Mr. Q.

 Chapter 127: Shameless

    Chapter 127: Shameless


    "So?" Shen Qui maintained his stern face as he looked at Ben. However, he didn''t miss the change in Lyca''s expression. It was subtle, the small movement in her eyes, the movement in her fingers that was resting on his leg. Something was wrong with the wine, he immediately concluded.


    "Well of course. Let me allow my people to prepare everything. Give us a few minutes." Ben signaled the woman earlier and his men to leave them. "Please give me a few minutes. For now, please enjoy the wine," he stood and gave Shen Qui and Lyca a small bow before leaving the room.


    When Ben left, Lyca and Shen Qui eyed each other, but none of them said anything. They knew that a camera was nted inside this ce. They also know that there was a recorder that would record everything that they say. Of course, Lyca did the best way to avoid any possible conversations.


    She suddenly sat on hisp, straddling him as she smiled. Then she leaned towards his ear. "People are watching."


    "Naughty," his voice was low and warm, sending small shivers inside her stomach. He then removed the ss of wine from Lyca''s hands and put it on the table. Isn''t this just the best excuse that one can have to avoid drinking the wine? His hand held her hips, locking it against his.


    "I haven''t done anything like this before," she giggled and stared at his eyes. Brushing her lips against his, Lyca whispered. "But I think I would like it." Her face was too close to his, she could feel his hot breath against his lips. His shadowed face stared back at her, his half-opened eyes made her want to beg him to undress her. But that  is something forter.


    Seeing the look in her eyes, Shen Qui smirked before his other hand slowly moved towards the back of her head and pulled her closer, smashing her lips into his. The kiss was steamy and hot. There was no pretense nor fakery as they closed their eyes and parted their lips letting each other''s tongue intertwined.


    The two were so engrossed in kissing each other that they had forgotten someone else is looking at them from the hidden camera inside the room.


    "Why are they kissing?" Ben hissed.


    "Boss, they are teenagers. Or at least they look like they are still in their early twenties. You know how people that age these days. I wouldn''t be surprised if they do it inside that room while waiting for you." Another man chuckled. "That would be good. Watching a live show "


    "Shut it!" Ben frowned. The wine contained something that would make it easier for him to negotiate with Shen Qui. However, it needed at least five minutes to take effect. If this kiss goes on "Go and send that woman inside." He uttered.


    "Boss I don''t think that is such a good idea"


    "Just send her in!"


    "Mr. Q is armed," the man shrugged before he picked up the phone and told someone to send the woman in. Then the two watched as the woman meekly walked inside the room. To their surprise, Lyca and Shen Qui didn''t stop doing what they were doing. The two just kissed, touching each other''s body and acted as if . No one was watching them.


    "Shameless!" Ben eximed. These two were really disrespecting the facility!


    "Probably high?"


    "This is not going to work," Ben uttered. He couldn''t really stay out here for too long and make Mr. Q suspicious. "If they won''t drink the wine" A sigh escaped his lips as he watched Lyca started to grind her hips against Mr. Q. "Young people are clumsy too clumsy."


    "He won. Just give him what he wanted."


    Ben shrugged in response. "Process it. He wanted another club, we should have that. He wanted diamonds, he should uphold the dignity of this facility."


    "Weren''t you nning to drug them?" Ben''s assistant immediately ridiculed him, but he stood from his seat and started calling people to process everything. "Aiyo Ben it seems that our profits tonight were affected because of the diamonds."


    "It was beginners luck," Ben uttered and clicked his tongue. He was nning to drug them, but he wasn''t nning to do something so extreme that could damage the facility''s reputation. "Tsk. This is really a bad night for us," he stood from his seat and put his hands in his pockets. "Tell me if everything is ready."


    "I need five more minutes. You should go back."


    Ben nodded and clenched his jaws before walking back to the VVIP room. When Ben walked inside, Lyca and Shen Qui were still kissing. This made him wonder if they were on to something. "Ehem" When the two noticed that he was already inside, they immediately stopped kissing. Lyca sat properly and beamed at him.


    "We''re sorry about that."


    "" Seeing this woman smiled at him like this really made him irritated. Ben frowned and looked at Shen Qui instead. "Thank you for patiently waiting Mr. Q. Everything will be ready in five minutes."


    "Thank you." Shen Qui said. "As expected of this facility."


    "Hmmm." Ben nodded and faked another smile. Then he poured himself another ss of wine and held it in front of Shen Qui and Lyca. "Here cheers to this transaction."


    "Mr. Ben you didn''t give us our winnings yet." Lyca reminded and giggle. "I believe, a toast would be logical after we got our diamonds. Isn''t that right, honey?" She leaned towards Shen Qui. Her action immediately made Ben furious. However, he was still forced to smile at the escort.


    "That is right." Ben gritted his teeth inwardly and thought about the investigation that he just opened about Mr. Q''s identity. Too bad, he didn''t actually include this woman in his investigations. In his eyes, Lyca was nothing but an escort. Why would he waste his resources and time with this woman? However, after tonight, he immediately made a mental note to search for this escort and show her the consequences of talking like this to the people of this facility.


    If needed, Ben was nning to kill her.

 Chapter 128: Men who hurts Women

    Chapter 128: Men who hurts Women


    "So? Did you found out anything about them?" Ben immediately asked when Shen Qui and Lyca left the property. "Anything at all?"


    "No. Just some basics age and address. They seem to be affiliated with Santa Rivers. Aside from that, nothing more."


    "Nothing?" Ben narrowed his eyes. "How could it be?"


    "Two things its either Santa is helping them. Or.they came from a really powerful family, and they hid their real identity. Either way, both of them seem to be dangerous."


    "Even the girl?"


    "Xi. Her name was Xi, and yes, they are lovers. She''s not an escort. She had been apanying the young man since they arrived."


    "Tch!" Ben frowned. He never thought that even the girl would have that kind of background. "Why would she act like a f*cking hooker? If she came from a "


    "It worked though." The man answered. "You never paid attention to her. You also never tried to build any connections. If she was really an important person, you already miss your chance of creating a good impression. I say, her ways are very effective." The man shrugged and shifted his attention back to theputer. Seeing this, Ben let out a curse.


    It was one way to discriminate against people by the way they dressed. Some really powerful people love using casual clothing and don''t really wear a lot of jewelry. Thus, he always tends to avoid discriminating against someone just because of their appearance. But that woman''s actions.


    It was really enough to make him think that she was no one. After all, influential people wouldn''t choose to act like that to blend in. Some of them would just change their items of clothing and appearance. However, their actions were still elegant. Even the way they speak was still the same.


    "Maybe she was just a lover." Ben consoled himself. Ben had been in this line of work for more than ten years. With this experience, he was smart enough to know that people who are so good at hiding their identities were killers and maybe even wanted criminals. But why would a wanted criminal visit this ce? "Investigate!" He uttered. Not knowing was actually worse than guessing and making himself worry about things that were far from the truth. It was always best to know everything before making such conclusions.


    Ben didn''t know that by the time he would discover their identity, Shen Qui and Lyca had already turned Kong City upside down.


    .....


    The sound of the ss hitting the wall echoed as the smell of alcohol and tobo filled the air.


    *PAK!*


    "Husband, please. Please stop it. I am" using the support of the bed, the woman tried to stand up but Mr. Li kicked the woman''s stomach, making her fell back on the floor with a loud thud. "Please" she begged, tears ran down her cheeks as blood flowed from her nose. "I beg of you "


    "SHUT UP!" Mr. Li raised his hand, wanting to p the woman''s face again before he spits on her face and walked away. "You should be thankful I didn''t kill you. Because of your constant calls, I lost tonight''s gambling. You f*cking whore"


    "But "


    "You know I have some business to attend to! Why did you have to call me just to ask if I aming home? Huh?"


    The woman pursed her lips and lowered her head. "Please. Our daughter is asleep if she hears you "


    "One more word and I will kill you and your daughter!" Disgust shed in his eyes before he turned his back and walked out of the room, leaving the woman sobbing on the floor.


    "Make sure the guest room is clean." He instructed one of his servants before walking towards his study. Mr. Li''s face was dark, his fist clenched as he sat on the chair behind the rectangr mahogany table in his office. He eyed the picture frame on his table and was immediately reminded of losing all his money tonight. Just looking at the smiling face of his wife made him want to puke.


    This woman was the reason why he lost all concentration and lost all that money. Why does she need to call him if their daughter was sick? Isn''t it her job to take her to the hospital and make sure that she is fine? He had been working all day, and this woman was staying at home with their daughter. Why does she need to inform him about all this nonsense?


    Lost in his own anger, Mr. Li grabbed the picture frame and threw it on the firece across him.


    Seeing the frame broke made him smile. However, this smile didn''tst too long when the lights suddenly went off.


    A ckout? Mr. Li frowned. He was about to call the butler when the lights suddenly turn back on. Letting out another snort, Mr. Li stood and went back to his bar to pour himself another ss of whiskey.


    "You know" Mr. Li froze when he heard a woman''s voice behind him. "I wasn''t nning to show myself tonight." Mr. Li immediately turned and widened his eyes at the woman sitting on the couch next to his firece. "But seeing how you treat your woman like that I couldn''t help myself."


    "You You are " He tightened his grip on the ss as heposed himself.


    "You see " Lyca leaned against the soft cushion, smiling. "I am extremelyzy when dealing with things. But when ites to men who hurt women I tend to be too hardworking in making them suffer."


    Mr. Li narrowed his eyes and walked back to his table, calmly. He might be a little drunk, but the memory of this woman was itched inside his brain. Even if the woman was now wearing a white wig, he would still find it easy to identify who she was. "Why did youe here?" He asked. If the woman was nning to kill him, he wouldn''t be standing here right now.


    However, instead of answering, Lyca only smiled and waited for him to try and remove the gun that was tucked on the table.

 Chapter 129: Helplessness and Hopelessness

    Chapter 129: Helplessness and Hopelessness


    Mr. Li didn''t show the panic inside him as he sat on his chair. Narrowing his eyes at Lyca, his hand slowly reached out towards the Glock that was tucked just on his table. "Do you want money?" Aside from killing him, the second reason that anyone would want to see him is if they wanted to negotiate for money.


    "For some reason, I felt like this house was too huge for you and your family," Lyca answered, ignoring his question. "A ten-bedroom mansion for a family of three. Then I realized, it was because this was not a home. It''s a house." She uttered and stared at the firece where the framey shattered. Then she slowly shifted her gaze towards the man who was now holding his gun towards her.


    "You think you can barge in here and act like you own the ce?" Mr. Li sneered.


    "Pull the trigger," Lyca uttered. "Mr. Li one of the kingpins in Kong City." She mocked. "You have been sitting on your throne for a long time that you have already forgotten the weight of an unloaded gun." Disgustced her tone.


    The smug smile on Mr. Li''s face immediately vanished as he tried to pull the trigger. When he realized that the gun was empty, he immediately ran towards the next gun located near the


    *BANG!*


    "One more step," Lyca said, her tone devoid of any emotion. "Try me." Her cold voice made the older man froze. His eyes turned towards her.


    "What do you want?"


    "Your life," Lyca answered almost immediately. When she saw the fear in Mr. Li''s eyes, she chuckled and put the gun towards the coffee table in front of her. Then sheid a knife next to the gun. "Pick."


    "You "


    "You can pick both if you want."


    "How dare you!? You think you can "


    *BANG!*


    Mr. Li trembled when he saw how fast Lyca''s movements were. She didn''t even hesitate to point the gun at him and shot just a few inches from his ear.


    "Look "


    "You see. " Lyca leaned against the soft cushions. "This is what it felt like to be helpless. To stand in there hoping that somebody woulde and save you from the clutches of death." She met the old man''s eyes. "This is what your wife felt every time you hurt her."


    It was as if a huge lump appeared in Mr. Li''s throat. He struggled to speak as she stared at the younger woman''s chilly expression.


    "Feel free to hope, though." She shrugged. "You can of course hope that one of your people woulde in here, barging with guns and kill me." She snorted. Shen Qui was outside, taking care of everyone. She was confident that he could defeat everyone with his current skills. "You know I always believe that the people who watched you abuse your wife were worse than animals. Therefore everyone of your men should die just like animals too. ughtered, impaled, dead before they even understood what was happening around them."


    "You Who are you!?"


    "A nobody." She stood and picked up the knife. Then she held both of her hands towards Mr. Li. "You can choose one. Or you can choose both. Either way you will die by my hands tonight." As someone who had experienced the same hopelessness once, Lyca felt like giving this old man the worse possible death that she could give him.


    Of course, thezy part of her knew that prolonging his death would only bring her nothing but more work. Lyca already knew that just like the movies that she watched, killing Mr. Li would open a new can of worms, bringing them new enemies.


    And the more she dragged this. the more problems It would bring to her and Shen Qui.


    And since the problem means another hard work, Lyca wanted to avoid them as much as possible.


    "You "


    Mr. Li wasn''t able to finish his words when Lyca flicked her hands, sending a needle towards the man''s throat. Then she watched as Mr. Li started to tremble and fell on the floor. The absence of fear in the old man''s eyes made her smile. "You know When an air bubble enters an artery, it''s called an arterial air embolism. A rare case." She tucked the knife and gun behind her before she showed him a syringe. "Air bubbles can travel to your brain and heart. Which will cause a heart attack, stroke, and many other things."


    She showed the old man the tip of the needle as she beamed. What was worse than knowing that you are about to die?


    It was knowing that you would die in pain, it was feeling the pain that would make you wish you are already dead. It was being unable to utter a single word or move a single muscle as a small harmless girl inflict pain into your body. It was knowing that you only have seconds left to live


    It was the helplessness.


    The hopelessness.


    "This is insulin," Lyca uttered. "A healthy person like you didn''t need insulin in his bloodstream. So, injecting this into your body would have devastating effects on your organs, especially on your heart. Along with the air bubble, your death would like a simple heart attack. At least your daughter and wife would think it was a heart attack." She watched as the expression of the man changed into anger slowly morphing into fear. Seeing this, Lycaughed and didn''t hesitate any longer. She stabbed the syringe at the old man. Smiling, she watched the helplessness register in the old man''s face.


    "I''ll see you in hell, old man," she said and watched as life slowly disappeared in the old man''s wide eyes. "He would die in two minutes." Lyca lifted her gaze from the old man. She stared at Shen Qui that had been standing by the door.


    "Everything is taken cared of." He answered and walked next to her. "You didn''t torture him." There was a surprise in his voice.


    She chuckled. "Just so you know I am a daughter too." She raised her head and stared at his side profile. "I wasn''t born without a heart, Qui''er." Then she turned silent, regretting the words that she just uttered. Why does she need to say something like that to this man?

 Chapter 130: Buy and Sell

    Chapter 130: Buy and Sell


    Lyca stood in front of CONSPIRACY, a ss of wine was in her left hand as she stared at the neon lights on top of the two-story building. About twenty people were queuing to go inside the club, the look of excitement were stered in everyone''s faces as they talked to their peers.


    Lyca looked at the time from her phone in her right hand. Eleven in the evening should be too early for people who wanted to go wild and party. It was Friday, and she was expecting to have more people tonight. She walked towards the full parking lot. Her boots echoed against the small pebbles that littered the space. Then she sat on the hood of Shen Qui''s car before she emptied the wine in her hand.


    It had been two days since Mr. Li died. The news about his death rock Kong City, but it wasn''t enough to create some waves. After all, the police were quick to announce that it was another gang-rted incident. It was normal for them to see people like Mr. Li died. To avoid theplications of investigating someone from another gang, the police immediately ruled it out as another Gang Killings. This was something that she already expected.


    "Yi''an." Lyca suddenly uttered when she felt someone walking towards her.


    "Young Miss"


    "It''s Xi." Yi''an was the person who set up her escape. She knew everything about Lyca''s n or at least part of it. She also knew that Lyca needed her assistance. Thus, she came here after days of avoiding the people that had been following her around. "Are we safe?" Lyca asked.


    "Yes, Xi." Yi''an doesn''t need to ask any more questions.


    "Wonderful," Lyca uttered. "Are we alone?"


    "Yes."


    Lyca nodded and got down from the hood. She then opened the car and sat on the driver''s seat. Seeing this, Yi''an also got inside the car. Sitting in the front seat, Yi''an handed her a phone. "This is for the Madam. She said "


    "I won''t be contacting them for the time being." Lyca suddenly said. "Keep it."


    "Yes."


    "How is everything?" There wasn''t a tinge of emotion in Lyca''s voice.


    "The old man is stable but still in aa. Young Master Zhang is also in aa. The Long Founding School of Elites just announced that they will send their students home because of a certain virus. The Master and the Madam are safe but worried. The Master couldn''t stop but ask about the n. Just as instructed. I didn''t tell them everything."


    Lyca pursed her lips. Her escape n was only for her to stay away from Long City and live a normal life. But because of her grandfather''s matter, she was forced to do the things that she never thought she would do again in this world. And she hated it. She turned towards Yi''an who now donned a short dropped hair. "You look good."


    "Thank you," Yi''an forced a smile as she lowered her head, hiding the blush creeping on her neck.


    Lyca smiled and stayed quiet. She would have wanted to cut her hair like this. But for some reason, Shen Qui was able to convince her that she looked good with her current hairstyle. "Here are the files about Mr. Li''s business." She handed Yi''an a sh drive. "Mr. Li was known for smuggling. He had a way to enter in and out of cities undetected. I wanted to acquire this."


    On that underground facility, many people had the same smuggling business as Mr. Li. And all of them were here target. It was only unlucky that it was Mr. Li who provoked them first. Lyca''s goal was simple. She wanted a way to enter Long City without any hassle. Thus, she needed a way to acquire someone''s smuggling business. Now that Mr. Li was dead, Lyca was nning to loot his smuggling business and use everything she could to establish her own smuggling business.


    This wasn''t stealing, alright. This was looting a burning house. Of course, Shen Qui already argued with her about this matter.


    "Understood."


    "I will wire you the money needed. Use this identity for now." she handed Yi''an an envelop that wasplete with a new ID and bank details. "And the thing that I asked you about?"


    "The Long Family is indeed using the cover of their security agency to smuggle weapons and bombs to very questionable people. I have started creating a portfolio for their clients which included all ways that we could get ahold of them."


    "Good." Lyca smiled before she started the car. Huang Ying was pretty confident because of the Long Family that was backing her husband. At the end of the day, everything still revolved around the Long Family. "Come with me." It didn''t take long for the two to arrive in downtown Kong City. The smell of tobo, alcohol, and piss was the first thing that assaulted their senses the moment they got out of the car. "Shen Qui is busy with his business." She calmly said as she grabbed a small attache case from the back of the car. "Cash."


    "Hm." Yi''an nodded and held the bag a little closer to her body. She then followed Lyca into the back alley of an old building. After a few twists and turns, the two arrived in front of a red door. Next to the red door, a bulky six foot four man stood. When he saw two women wearing ck approached him, the man only stared at them. There was no trace of disgust in his eyes. "Are you lost?"


    "I am here to see the boss," Lyca spoke in a clear voice. Her identity was still the assistant of Shen Qui. Thus, she needed to act her part.


    The man stared at Lyca for a few seconds before he held his palms in front of her. Without waiting for the man to speak, Lyca handed a few thousand of cash to the man. "Good," the man nodded. "Get in."


    Lyca and Yi''an immediately went inside and followed a young man to another red door. Now that Lyca thought about it, this building seemed to be full of red doors.


    "What is your business here?" the thick smell of alcohol and smoke made Yi''an cough. "Little girls You daree to this ce when you can''t even stand the smell of smoke."A man stepped out of the shadow. He was wearing an all-white attire, his beautiful ebony skin shone against the onlymp that was illuminated the whole room.


    "I am here to buy and sell information," Lyca uttered. The most effective way of ruining an empire is to ruin it from within. She smiled at the man, confidenceced her orbs. "Are you interested to know more about the Long Family''s famous drug and the Huang Family''s famous bullet?"


    "Oh?" the man lifted an eyebrow before he walked towards Lyca."This is ce is not something that little girls like you should visit." He sat on the velvet chair in the room before he motioned them to sat across him. "Do you know a lot about them?" He asked after Lyca and Yi''an settled down.


    "Just enough." Lyca maintained a harmless smile on her face.


    "Well then... you already told me what you want to sell. However, I wanted to know what you want to buy." The ck market was such aplicated ce. The information that Lyca had was something that many would definitely want to buy. However, the man was certain that this information woulde with an equal price.


    "I want to know... everything about the Shen Family from the Capital."

 Chapter 131: Jealous

    Chapter 131: Jealous


    "The Shen Family?" the man lifted an eyebrow. "Little girl this information is quite bothersome to acquire."


    "Can you give it to me?" this facility was the ce where people that needed information would go to. And this would be Lyca''s entrance to the ck market of Kong City.


    "Of course I can." The man nodded "I can acquire every information on this with the right price."


    "Wonderful. Now let''s start with the Long Family. This is the form to the drug that they were selling on the ck market." She handed them an envelope from Yi''an. "And this if for the bullet."


    "You "


    "I know that you can auction this information off. The bullet is very dangerous and otherpanies are starting to experiment with things. But because of the peculiarities of the chemicals used to make it, all of them failed."


    "You are right. I am indeed nning to auction it off."


    "Give me twenty percent."


    "Eh?" the man tilted his head towards her as if he didn''t hear her previous words. "Did I hear the right thing?"


    "Yes," Lyca uttered. "The information about the Shen Family was valuable but I can always get it from other people. However, the information about the drug and the bullet is something that you can only get from me."


    "Hah!" the man beamed. "This was the first time someone would actually ask me something like this." Seeing the confidence in Lyca''s eyes, the man couldn''t help but wonder if she was someone sent by a powerful family. However, this was none of his business. He was never the type that would care about his client''s background. This was one of the reasons why he was considered one of the most trustworthy people on the ck market.


    "Does that upset you?"


    Lyca''s question surprised him. He stared at the younger woman before he shook his head. "No." This was also the first time that he met someone so direct. He couldn''t help but wonder if the woman was in a hurry.


    "Then twenty percent."


    "Alright. How do I contact you?" the man epted the envelope.


    "Conspiracy. I live in that ce." Lyca uttered. "My assistant here will take care of things." The only reason why she personally came here was that this matter involves Shen Qui''s maternal family. She felt that it was only right to handle this matter on her own. After all, this was her side of the bargain.


    Lyca stood from and gave the man a friendly smile before she left with Yi''an. The two maintained the silence until they arrived in the car. After a few more minutes, Lyca and Yi''an arrived at the club. However, Lyca told Yi''an to find a house where she could stay. Perhaps buy one.


    Lyca wasn''t nning to bring Yi''an inside the club as she wanted her to stay in the shadows and support her. She then went inside the club. Right now, the club was already packed with people. The strong scent of alcohol lingered in the air. For a few seconds, Lyca roamed her eyes, observing everyone inside the club.


    Santa actually did an excellent job in changing the ce. Previously, this club was already clean and elegant. However, after Shen Qui''s suggestions in changing the lighting and seating arrangement, the club was now exuding the ambiance of elegance and fun.


    She eyed the two women hanging on the air with nothing but two cloth-like harnesses. Near the women were lights that flickered and seemed to dance along with them. Then her eyes went to the bar where a few men and women were waiting for their drinks while talking and flirting. Near the bar, a small stage was located with a huge piano.


    Previously, the theme of this club was red, but now, everything inside was painted ck. Even the velvet couch was all ck with gold ents. Even the elegant stairs that swirled towards the second floor was now painted in ck.


    "You here alone?"


    Lyca turned towards the man who approached her. "No," then she dragged her eyes back to the chandelier that sparkled against the red and blue lighting of the dancefloor.


    Seeing that Lyca wasn''t interested, the man just left while shaking his head. Most people inside are not really here to drink but to mingle with other people their age. Some were just having a good time with their friends while drinking and asionally dancing on the dance floor.


    When Lyca saw that everyone seemed to enjoy the night, she decided to go to the second floor. When Lyca opened the door, the first thing that she saw was the twins, working closely with Shen Qui. And when she said ''closely'' it means it was too close. Lyca hid the sh of irritation in her eyes as she silently walked next to Shen Qui.


    "Hey," Shen Qui uttered, his eyes were on theptop.


    "Where have you been?" Rue asked. Both Rue and Ronan wasn''t aware that Lyca was the real boss in this ce. In their eyes, she was but another expert that Shen Qui hired.


    "Killing people."


    "You should just stay here in case the boss needs you." Rue snorted.


    Lyca didn''t answer her as she stared at Shen Qui''s elbow that was too close to Rue''s elbow. The man seemed unaware of the closeness as he stared at theptop in front of them. Lyca couldn''t help but wonder what would make Shen Qui so busy, he didn''t even lift his head to look at her.


    "If he needs me. He can just find me." Lyca said. Her words were enough to attract Shen Qui''s attention. Finally, he removed his eyes from theptop and stared at Lyca. "If you think I would hesitate to ruin that thing. Then think again." She can ruin hisptop and just buy him a new one. She started frowning at the intensity of her own irritation. Unable to understand her own emotion, Lyca grabbed one bottle of red wine and walked out of Shen Qui''s office.


    Was she jealous? She couldn''t help but wonder.


    Wait was she jealous of theptop?


    She stopped walking then decided to go back to the room. Seeing her back, silence once again descended inside as the three people watched her walk towards theptop and grabbed it from Shen Qui.


    Without saying anything, Lyca left with theptop in her hand. And a bottle of wine on the other. If she was jealous of theptop then she can just destroy it. Then buy him a new one.

 Chapter 132: The Wife

    Chapter 132: The Wife


    Halfway through the hallway, Lyca realized how childish she had been. What the hell was wrong with her? She frowned and went back to the room. But when she turned around, Shen Qui was already standing by the door. She gave an awkward smile as she walked towards him. "Period." She uttered anotherme excuse before she handed theptop back. "Stomach hurts."


    "Oh, then we should go," he opened the door and called out. "Hey, Ronan, take care of the rest of the CCTV." He didn''t wait for the man to acknowledge his words as he closed the door and held Lyca''s hands. "Let''s go," he pulled her towards the elevator that would lead them to the underground of the club.


    This underground was like a condo unit equipped with everything that one needed to survive. It had five rooms and one master bedroom. All rooms had their own toilet and bath. There was also aputer room, a small gym, a kitchen, and a living room.


    "Do you want me to make some food for you?" he asked when he saw the dark look on Lyca''s face. He heard from his friends that a woman with their monthly menstruation was always moody and dangerous. "A massage?"


    She rolled her eyes and just nodded. She doesn''t have her monthly frustrations but it was toote it say it now.


    "Who knows that handling something like this is really troublesome?" He uttered. "I think working for someone is sometimes more convenient than managing your own business." He shrugged before he lifted her hand and kissed the back of her palms. "I think the reason why most CEO I know are bald is that it''s too tiresome."


    She chuckled at his words. Alright, she had been moody, really moody but this man would never really fail to make her smile. "You would probably be bald one day."


    Heughed and pulled her towards the living room. The huge boob art in the living room caught her attention, again. "I don''t like that art." She uttered. "Change it into something. I would prefer abstract or lilies and bamboos. No boobs." She was certain that Santa was using this ce as some sort of orgy space.


    When the two arrived inside the room, Shen Qui immediately told her to wait for him. After a couple of minutes, he came back with some hot tea. Lyca didn''t hesitate to drink the tea and pouted. She was currently sitting on the couch just a few feet away from the king sized bed. A small coffee table was in front of the couch.


    Since they arrived in this ce, Shen Qui had been really busy with everything, he didn''t have the time to make her some tea. She hated it. Call her childish but Lyca hated not having his attention. She knew this was toxic, but she couldn''t help it.


    She had been too used to him around her that the changes are making her irritated. But who was she toin? Shen Qui was doing this for her.


    "Why are you angry?" he asked as he leaned against the soft cushion.


    "It''s been two days since we arrived in this ce."


    He nodded in response and waited for her to say something. However, Lyca only pouted. How could she say that she missed being with him? Two days  It was only two days. But Shen Qui had been really busy. She fell asleep without him by her side and woke up with him gone.


    What kind of life is that? "I think I know why some marriages don''tst." Aside from the fact that the groom would kill the bride, another reason wasmunication. Just like now, Lyca was a little hesitant tomunicate her feelings, afraid that it would make him guilty. However, this mimunication would soon turn into a big misunderstanding- something that she wouldn''t want to have with him.


    Shen Qui had been working really hard. And she can see it. Shen Qui didn''t study business management or finance. Managing a business was new to him. However, he was doing his best for her sake.


    And yet, here she was, acting like a spoiled little princess, demanding some attention. She stared at his tired face.


    Guilt shed in her eyes.


    "Did something happen?" he asked. There he was again. Showing the vulnerability behind the cold boss that he had been showing to everyone else. She hated how innocent he looked every time he asked her questions like this. "Are you mad about something?"


    Shen Qui had never been in a rtionship before. He also didn''t have many female friends. However, he was smart enough to know that women areplicated creatures. "Does it hurt too much?" And he had studied anatomy to know that having this monthly torture can be frustrating to some women. "Do you want to "


    "It''s been two days that you haven''t kissed me." She said. Alright, she was really being childish and demanding and shallow. But for once, Lyca decided to give in to what she really felt. "I missed it."


    Surprise shed in his eyes before he gave a boyish smile. "I hated being a boss."


    "I hated being the boss'' wife too," she chuckled. Both of them haven''t experienced this before. It would be weird for them to turn into experts in just a few days. Lyca started smiling as she realized something. "Why don''t I give you a massage?"


    "Hm?" he lifted an eyebrow.


    "You heard me," she smiled. The sess of the opening of their new club was because of Shen Qui''s hard work. She realized that she hadn''t really acknowledged this fact and just let him do everything that he needed to do.


    "Massage?" He looked at her intently before realization shed in his eyes. "So, you don''t have that " he nodded and smiled before he leaned towards her, giving her a quick kiss. "Alright then let me test these massage skills of yours." He down for another kiss. "And I kissed you before I go to sleep." She was just dead tired and didn''t notice it.

 Chapter 133: Moving On

    Chapter 133: Moving On


    "How did you know how to massage someone?"


    Lyca fought the urge tough at him. He wasn''t really aware that she knew about all the acupuncture points of the body.


    "You call this a deep tissue massage?" Shen Qui asked.


    "Hmmm. Just be quiet and close your eyes." There were many types of massages out there, and this one was for people with strains and injuries. However, Lyca thought that this would be the best massage for his body. Shen Qui wasn''t really bulky. He was tall and lean, but his muscles were all in the right ces. A massage like this would surely benefit him the most.


    Lyca felt him chuckle and watched as he closed his eyes. After a few more minutes, Shen Qui''s breathing turned calm. She carefully rolled next to him and stared at his soft features. When asleep, Shen Qui''s appearance would show his real age. The creases on his brows would disappear, reced with peace and calmness. She liked it.


    A smile soon slithered on her face as sheid on her back and stared at the white ceiling. In her previous world, Lyca was aware that there were two types of pain. One that hurts and one that changes a person. All her life was only focused on inflicting these kinds of pain on her enemy.


    It was all about pain and suffering and killing.


    So, how did she know that she loved that man? She didn''t. She just felt it. The extreme infatuation, the need to be with him, the possessive tendencies. At that time, she thought it was love. It should be. Why else would she want to be with that man all the time? Why else would she feel anger towards everyone that would threaten her rtionship with him? Why else would she want to own him? Possess him like a property?


    However,ing into this world made her realize that what she felt was not love she doesn''t have the heart for real love. What she felt back then was an obsession. It was the extreme want to own something and that something was that man. It was unhealthy and toxic. It was her karma.


    This realization had something the drama that she watched in this world. Of course, she knew that people wouldugh at her shallow excuse. But it was a fact.


    In her previous world, TV and mobile phones don''t exist. Moreover, she spent her time studying military strategies and tactics in killing someone. She wouldn''t have the time to read romance books or any other thing about emotions.


    Coming into this world and watching all those TV series made her realize how unhealthy her previous life was. It was full of doubts and jealousy. At that time, she found it hot when that man would get jealous. She found it nice when just like her, he would ask his people to secretly follow her around. It was a weird rtionship. And yet she liked it.


    Lyca soon realized that it was because of pride. The thought of owning someone that was sought after by everyone. The thought of bing that man''s woman was just exhrating. The thrill of having another woman watched her with envy and jealousy as she walked next to him.


    And maybe that man felt the same shallow way too. Or why else would he decide to kill her for more power? Until now, Lyca finds it hard to move on from her anger, from the insult. She found it hard to forget all the things and foolishness that happened to her. She med herself for acting that way, making the only people that treated her as family suffer because of her messy rtionship. Slowly, she turned her head towards Shen Qui.


    Without moving on she would never be able to open her heart again. She knew this marriage started with a silly negotiation, attached to the extreme attraction that they felt towards each other and bound by a promise of revenge. She wasn''t really intending to fall in love or feel that same possessiveness again. However, Lyca was smart enough to know that her previous toxic tendency was slowly slithering into the cracks of this rtionship.


    Just her emotions earlier were enough proof that she was once again starting to fall into that endless whirlwind of toxic behavior. She was starting to see him as a possession. A thing that she own.


    She let out a deep sigh. As much as possible she wanted to keep this rtionship as toxic-free as possible. In this world, she wanted to avoid everything that happened in her previous one.


    But. Was that really possible? Would she be able to move on without the closure that she needed from her previous world?


    Lyca only wanted to be happy and live a carefree life. However, fate had different ns for her. The currentplications in her life made her realize what she really wanted. And that is closure revenge.


    However, that was just impossible.


    She could never go back. All she could do is move on. Lyca let out a burst ofughter full of mockery.


    MOVING ON.


    It was such an easy thing to say. Lyca didn''t know how many times she told herself to focus on the now and forget what happened in the past. She didn''t know how many times she tried to convince herself to just think about her current life and live the life that she wanted.


    But why was she struggling now? Why can''t she just sleep and move on the next day? Why was it so damn hard?


    Again, she focused her attention on the ceiling as she wondered what was really the meaning behind the word moving on. Was it epting that she could never change anything about the past?


    Was it forgetting everything that happened and learning from it?


    Does it need forgiveness?


    Does it need revenge?


    Just what is moving on? And why can''t she just do that?


    Biting her lip, Lyca sat on the bed and slowly covered Shen Qui with a nket. She eyed the time. It was almost four in the morning. She knew that the club would stop epting guests around this time. She hesitated for a few minutes before she stood and walked out of the master''s bedroom.


    "Finally done?"


    Lyca paused when she heard a woman''s voice. ncing at the boob art, Lyca let out a sigh and didn''t utter a word. However, the woman in the living room wasn''t nning to stop talking just because she refused to respond.


    "Look are you really his wife?"

 Chapter 134: Intervened

    Chapter 134: Intervened


    Lyca deadpanned. She turned her attention towards Rue. "Does it concern you?"


    "The boss just started this business, and you are ruining it."


    Rue was wearing a red jacket on top of her white halter top. She crossed her leg on top of the other as she lifted an eyebrow towards Lyca. "I think you don''t deserve him."


    "You think, so?"


    "I know, so," Rue watched as Lyca slowly walked towards her. Half of Lyca''s face was hidden in the shadows, and a half was illuminated by the onlymp inside the room.However, this wasn''t enough to hide Lyca''s beautiful features. Her tall straight nose perfectlyplemented her deep-seated eyes. Her pouty lips were just perfect for her small heart-shaped face.


    And Rue doesn''t like it.


    Growing up, Rue had been used to the attention. She was used to people always telling her she was the top beauty in her ss and campus. Her intelligence and grace were even more than those girls who came from rich families. Rue grew up in a scheming and chaotic world. While this Lyca was just...


    "Why is that?" Lyca stood in front of the woman.


    "Because you do nothing all day? You don''t support him. Let me correct that you don''t have the talent to support him. Aside from" Rue''s eyes drifted towards Lyca''s fit body. Lyca was wearing her signature ck clothes with a ck leather jacket. "Aside from serving him." She continued. "You are bringing nothing to this group."


    "You think so?"


    "You are dumb andzy. Without your beautiful face, you would be nothing."


    Lyca nodded. Of course, she wasn''t going to exin everything to this shallow woman. She just doesn''t have the energy to argue against someone who already made her their mind. Lyca just shrugged and turned towards the kitchen. She wanted some food, perhaps some ramen.


    "I am not done talking."


    Lyca stopped walking and eyed Rue''s hand that was on her wrist. Then she dragged her gaze back to the woman''s face. "And?" Lyca asked.


    "And And I like him." Rue suddenly uttered. For a few seconds, Rue regretted those words. However, it would be toote to take them all back now. She actually doesn''t like Mr. Q like that. Maybe she admired him because she had seen how hard he worked in the past few days. But she doesn''t want to be the man''s romantic partner.


    Her irritation towards Lyca was from the fact that she was doing nothing these days aside from walking in and out of the club. Then she would just barge in and disrupt the peaceful working space that Shen Qui created with them. Such an immature woman doesn''t deserve to be with a man like Mr. Q.


    Lyca''s pretty face should be the reason why the boss would just abandon everything just to spend a few minutes with the woman. "And if you keep on having tantrums and showing that  and showing this immaturity, then let me warn you. I would take him away from you."


    "You think his rtionship with me is any of your business?" Lyca asked.


    "Mr. Q promised us a ce to stay, money, and a job. He promised to help our the ce that we came from." Rue uttered as she ignored the deadly glint in Lyca''szy gaze. "I can''t have you disrupting that promise."


    "So you are taking away something that is not yours?"


    For a few seconds, Rue turned silent. She can''t back down now. "Yes. If if you continue to act like an immature child, I will definitely take him away from you."


    Lyca pursed her lips. The thought of Shen Qui being with another woman She had never thought of that before. She frowned as she stared at Rue''s serious face. She couldn''t help but wonder if She Qui would really like Rue if she try hard enough to attract his attention.


    If that happens, would he leave her? Lyca turned silent as her brain tried to ess the emotions that she had buried for years now. What would she feel if he left?


    Without saying anything, Lyca shook Rue''s hands away from her wrist and continued walking.


    "If you think you are some sort of an irreceable being then think again." She didn''t miss the provocation thatced Rue''s voice.


    "You think I wouldn''t hurt you?" Lyca asked.


    In response, Rue snorted. "Then do it."


    Cleo, haven''t really told them anything about how Lyca recruited her. She just showed up and talked to Shen Qui before she started working as a bartender. Because of this, Rue and Ronan weren''t aware of Lyca''s talents. All they knew was the fact that the woman named Xi was sleeping with Mr. Q. The two seemed together but pretty far away from each other.


    Or at least that''s what Rue felt about the two. Shen Qui clearly liked Lyca while the other well she found the woman named Xi really hard to understand. In Rue''s eyes, Lyca was like a shadow. She just vanished and show herself to take Shen Qui away from them.


    The sound of her jacket being cut by an object brought her back from her stupor. She immediately looked at the arm part of her jacket. The once perfect red jacket was now punctured by the dagger that proudly stood on the wall a few feet behind her. She looked at Lyca. "This is my only nice jacket," she said. She didn''t expect Lyca to actually know how to use a knife too.


    "Next one is going to be in between your brows," Lyca said coldly.


    "And this should prove something?" Rue uttered. "So you can throw a knife. I can do that too." She uttered, unafraid. Rue didn''t understand why she felt the need to intervened in her boss'' love life. All she knew was the fact that losing this good employment would make them go homeless again.


    She doesn''t want that.


    Rue liked it here. She like that Ronan wasfortable with his current job. She liked that they are hidden and safe. And she liked that Mr. Q was not like the previous employers that they had.

 Chapter 135: Fate

    Chapter 135: Fate


    Lyca had her eyes narrowed at Rue. She tilted her head, prepared to strike a killing blow. With her current emotion, Lyca found it hard to even think about the consequences of her actions. She clenched her hands into a tight fist before she slowly turned her head away. Killing this woman would not give her anything. Not money, not fame, nor any purpose. It would prove nothing.


    "Hmph." Rue snorted when she saw Lyca just ignored her and walked towards the kitchen. She wanted to say something more but decided against it. She continued to watch as Lyca went back to her room with an instant noodle in her hand. It seems that the woman doesn''t really care about their boss. Rue couldn''t help but wonder if Mr. Q was just blind or he still had that hope that Xi would actually like him.


    How unfortunate. Rue sat on the couch and close her eyes. Mr. Q was a very good looking man. He might be dangerous but his generous offer made her think that the coldness in his gaze was nothing but a fake persona. Mr. Q had the money and brains and yet he couldn''t get the heart of the woman that he liked.


    Meanwhile, Lyca just silently ate her noodles while staring at Shen Qui''s face. She knew she wasn''t dragging him down as she was literally his boss. However, the woman''s words made her realize that she had actually started to like Shen Qui. And losing him to another woman would definitely hurt her.


    She started wondering what she liked about him. Was it the sex? Was it his face and body? Was it his gentle side? Or was it the rough one? For some reason, she really couldn''t pinpoint anything. She just she just like him.


    Was it possible that she only felt like this because he was the only one who was helping her right now? That theory was very usible. Lyca finished her food as she decided to save herself from this mess by sleeping.


    Why was she overthinking things? She could always let everything flow on its own and let the emotions grow naturally. It was already established that they are attracted to each other so liking each other was just part of the evolution of their emotion.


    With these in mind, Lyca changed her clothes and decided to lie next to him. She had actually missed snuggling against him. Smiling, Lyca poked his face, immediately waking Shen Qui up. "Hug." She uttered. She wasn''t in any mood for sex. She just wanted to be in his cozy arms as she felt that this reminded her of home. Shen Qui stirred awake. He smiled and pulled her towards him.


    Using his arm as a pillow, Lyca smiled while breathing his scent.


    "Hey did you ate something without me?" He must have smelled the lingering scent of noodles that was still in the air.


    "I was hungry."


    "Hmmm." He nodded and kissed her forehead. "I forgot to give you something." He suddenly said. He gently removed his arms from the bed and rummage through the drawer on the bedside table.


    "What is it?"


    "Father gave it to me before we left. I forgot about it until I saw it the other day. But I got too busy so I forgot about it again." Shen Qui said before he showed her the moon ne that her grandfather used to wear. The surprise in Lyca''s eyes made Shen Qui smile. "He said you would like to have this ne."


    "It''s from grandfather," she said as she watched the pendant glint against the light in the dimly lit room.


    "It is. Father said that the only person who can wear this is the head of the family. And that is you." He sat on the bed. "Come let me put it on your neck." Shen Qui thought that the surprise on Lyca''s face was only because she never expected to wear the ne so soon.


    Lyca gulped and just nodded. All the thoughts in her mind seemed to leave her brain as she stared at the ne. Why does she have an ominous feeling about this ne? Lyca remembered that she had this ne before she died or at least something extremely simr to the ne.


    She remembered holding it before breathing herst.


    Seeing it up close made her a little reluctant to wear it again.


    "What''s wrong?" he asked.


    "I I just thought that "


    "Come on you are the next n head. You should wear this. It matches your hair," the gentle smile on his face brought a smile upon her face. That is right, the color of the pendant was just like her hair.


    "Alright." Said as she let him put the ne on.


    "Beautiful." Shen Qui uttered as he watched her neck. The current crescent hung on Lyca''s neck like it was meant for her. Still smiling, Shen Qui pulled her into his arms and let her use his arm as a pillow as he hugged her from behind. "We should sleep." Shen Qui added. "Stop thinking about things and just sleep."


    His words made Lyca frowned. Stop thinking about things and just sleep. She uttered it inwardly. It was such a simple sentence. Yet, she knew it was something she was incapable of doing. Oh, how she wished she could just close her eyes and sleep in a matter of seconds.


    "Goodnight Lyca." She heard him say. "Sleep tight." She felt him kissed the back of her head as she nodded.


    "Goodnight."


    Lyca slowly felt Shen Qui''s breathing turned rhythmic, his breathing soft as his free arm snaked on his waist. It was the exact opposite of the chaos in her mind. Slowly, her hand moved towards the pendant. She held it as she thought about the events that happened before she died.


    Then she closed her eyes. If she could wish one thing it would be toe back to that world and have her revenge. Thene back into this world with a little smile of satisfaction on her face.


    Unbeknownst to her fate heard her wish.


    ....


    Please don''t forget to vote for the novel.


    Let me see if I could give the mass release today or tomorrow.

 Chapter 136: Emperors Secret Weapon

    Chapter 136: Emperor''s Secret Weapon


    "Your highness. I hope she wakes up soon."


    "Is she still ill? Did you check her temperature?"


    Lyca frowned when she heard voices that seemed too close to her face.


    "Yes. The fever had subsided, but I believe she is still sick. Look at her face? It is so pale."


    "Can you call the Royal Doctor?"


    "And tell him what? That she is not waking up? She is not dead."


    "Shut your mouth! Do you know the consequences of talking like this in front of the Princess?"


    A long stretch of silence followed the woman''s words. Princess? Royal Doctor? Slowly, Lyca opened her eyes. The pain in her head immediately made her hissed.


    "Your highness you are awake!"


    "Call the Royal Doctor!"


    "Someone call "


    "No," Lyca uttered, still confused. "Don''t call anyone."


    "Your Your highness but your wound"


    "Leave." She said in a cold tone, her face still pale from the memories that are starting to swirl inside her head.


    "Your highness "


    "Everyone leave the room," Lyca said as she held her head and let out a curse inwardly. As someone who had transmigrated into another body before, she was quite familiar with this scene. She eyed her jade-like hand before she closed her eyes and slowly absorbed everything that she can.


    This wasn''t the first time that Lyca experienced something like this. When she traveled to Lyca''s body, she was about five or six years old. At that time, little Lyca fell into the pool and almost died. She fell into aa for a few days. When she woke up in that body, Lyca felt the same pain that she was feeling now.


    Lyca couldn''t understand what was happening. However, her hand slowly touched her neck. Just as she expected, the ne was no longer there. For some reason, she felt that this had something to do with the ne. After analyzing her current state, Lyca immediately let the memories of this body inside her brain.


    Slowly, her already pale face turned paler as her hands clenched into tight fists. This.


    Why was she here?


    When Lyca opened her eyes again, the coldness from her orbs seemed to make the temperature inside the room dropped a degree lower. She was back in her previous world. She stared at the sky blue canopy in her bed before she examined the room.


    She was indeed back in her previous world. This was the world where Xu Ke killed her. And based on this body''s memories. This was only one year after the massacre. Lyca trembled as she gritted her teeth. She was currently the Second Princess Ye Bai of the Xu Empire.


    Currently, the Ye Family was having a power struggled against the Xu Family who seemed to be stronger overnight. Many people had wondered why the Xu Family suddenly changed. Even the Royal Family had sent their spies to acquire such information. However, not one of them returned.


    Of course, Lyca knew it was because they got all the resources of the Huang Family that they killed on that wedding day.


    "Princess Ye Bai!" the door of the room opened with a loud thud as a woman wearing a yellow dress strode inside.


    "Imperial mother." Lyca forced the words out of her mouth as she tried to sit on her bed. While she doesn''t feel any physical pain, Lyca still acted weak in front of the Imperial Concubine, the current favorite of the Emperor. She tried to remember everything she could from this body and immediately concluded that acting weak would be her best course of action before she would decide what to do in this world.


    "My dear daughter. This mother failed you. This mother was useless. This mother deserved to be punished for letting you save my life. " The Imperial concubine immediately started crying as if her pet just died. Lyca forced the urge to retort the woman. Since the Imperial concubine had been acting like this, it only means that someone was watching. Was the Emperoring to see her?


    Just as she expected, the thin voice of a Eunuch suddenly announced the Emperor''s arrival.


    "It''s alright. You don''t have to force yourself to stand up." The Emperor''s words surprised everyone inside Lyca''s quarters. She immediately lowered her head, hiding the torrents of emotions in her eyes. The Royal Family was full of treacherous people. She was certain this Emperor came here today not because he actually cared for his daughter.


    It should be because of something else. Was it a marriage agreement? Lyca couldn''t help but wonder what could be so important that it would make the emperore here and personally see her.


    "I heard that your wounds are mostly healed?" the Emperor said.


    "Yes, your highness."


    "Good. "Then he looked at everyone else in the room. "Leave us." He said. After a few minutes, the Emperor cleared his throat. "I want you to get close to the heir of the Xu Family."


    She raised her head at his words. Meeting the Emperor''s eyes, Lyca struggled to contain her current emotion. "Xu Family."


    "I have heard that the heir of the Xu Family, Xu Ke is a cold man who doesn''t like the traditional weak women. There had been talks of engagement in the past months, but the Xu Family never epted anything."


    Lyca gulped. "Your highness no one knows that I am General Bai."


    The Emperor''s eyes narrowed. "Let him know that you are General Bai."


    Lyca bit her lips as she slowly nodded. Right now, she doesn''t have any choice but to agree to the man''s words.


    "Good. You should take more time to rest. You will see him in the uing banquet," The Emperor said coldly before leaving. Seeing the Emperor disappear from her quarter, Lyca heaved a long sigh as she thought about his words.


    She tried to rummage her memories and immediately found what she was looking for. She, Ye Bai was actually a general a woman pretending to be a man. She was considered as the Emperor''s Secret weapon someone that he personally trained himself.


    It seems that no matter where she went, chaos would eventually follow her around. What a drag.

 Chapter 137: Bronze Mirror

    Chapter 137: Bronze Mirror


    Lyca eyed her reflection on the bronze mirror in front of her. This world doesn''t even have a good mirror. She had been used to the luxury that her parents, Huang Sheng Hong and Tang Nini had provided. Because of this, all these things inside this pce no longer interest her. The food seemed to nd, the mirror is not clear enough. Even the water is not the perfect temperature. She also felt that the bed was not veryfortable at all. Moreover, she found her clothes tooplicated to wear. Why does it take too long to wear some clothes?


    Of course, she knew the answer to this silly question.


    "Your highness the Royal consort and other concubines are here to see you. Shall I tell them to wait on the  "


    "No," Lyca uttered. "Tell them I am not feeling well." It had been three days since she woke up into this world, and until now, she still refused to receive any visitors. This wasn''t only because she hasn''t decided what to do in this world, yet. It was because she hated interacting with these people.


    The Concubines and consorts are all smart and scheming. They would always sound sweet and gentle. However, she knew this was all fake. Does she really have time for acting like this? All she needed is


    Lyca paused as she continued to stare at her white hair and small little face that resembled Lyca''s original one back on Earth. She couldn''t help but wonder what happened to her body in that world. Did she die? Or was she only in aa? What about Shen Qui? What did he do when he discovered her body? Did he panic? Did he did he cry? Did he ask a doctor to examine her?


    Slowly, she bit her lips and eyed theyers of clothing around her body. As much as she wanted to stay in her own quarters and rest. Lyca couldn''t really do that. She needed to find out where did Xu Ke put the moon ne. She needed to go back.


    She needed to see her family again. She missed her father and mother and the noisy Tang Ruyi. She missed Shen Qui and of course the food, the tea, and thefort. She honestly doesn''t want to stay in this world anymore.


    Lyca sat towards her bed. In the past two days, she realized that she actually doesn''t care about revenge anymore. She would, of course, do it if she had the chance. But right now, all she cared about was her body on Earth. Would she be able to go back? To answer this question, Lyca needed to get that ne back.


    She wouldn''t hesitate to dig her own body just to get that ne and see if she could still go back. She looked at the carpeted floor as she thought about her question before she came here.


    That night, she asked herself about the meaning of Moving On. She had wondered if it was the forgiveness of the revenge or perhaps forgetting everything. Then she wished that she woulde back here to fix all those things, to pick up all the pieces of her heart that she left her.


    Who would have thought that fate would once again y with her emotions? She was given a chance toe back and do what she needed to do. However, traveling back also made her realize the answer to her question. Moving on wasn''t about revenge or forgiveness. It wasn''t about forgetting everything and pretending that it never happened.


    It was eptance. It was epting the pain and getting used to it. It was living with it and epting what she had lost. Then cherishing what she had found. This time, Lyca found her loving family. Her father Huang Sheng Hong and her mother Tang Nini were the two things that she found the moment her soul traveled to Earth. Then there was Shen Qui.


    Right now, she couldn''t really tell if she loved him. She knew that she liked him and that emotions grow from a simple attraction. She also knew that loving someone is not like a twenty-four-hour event. Love needed to be cultivated. Suffice to say, Lyca is still unsure where her emotions are going, but she is now willing to try.


    Fate had given her a chance toe here not for revenge but for her to realize the importance of what she had lost. She then recalled Shen Qui''s words about finding the light in the dark. His naivety and simplemindedness made herugh at that time. She thought it was nothing but false positivity.


    However,ing into this world made her realize that what he was saying was true. She found her light in the middle of all this craziness. And she was excited to tell him this.


    Slowly, a hopeful smile slithered on her face before she stood and went back to find some clothes that would suit her best. Wearing such heavy clothes wouldn''t make her move. So, she needed to find something lighter.


    After a few minutes of rummaging through her clothes, Lyca finally found a ck man''s clothing. If her guess was right, this is the clothes that General Bai would wear when she was not Princess Ye Bai. She didn''t hesitate as she changed into the man''s clothing. Then, she found some daggers that General Bai owned. After making sure that she is armed and her face had been altered to look like a man, Lyca used the window to leave her room.


    She then started running towards the roof, jumping and evading the gazes of some guards that were stationed outside her pce.


    When she first arrived on Earth, she actually thought that she missed this ce. However, now, the feeling was just different. Funny how she always seemed to want something then had the tendency to take it for granted once she already had it.


    What a silly life.


    After a few minutes, Lyca finally left the pce and walked towards the market of the Empire. She eyed the people walking on the streets as carriages passed by. It was still six in the evening, and many people are still on the streets. Eyeing the gands that were used to decorate the stores, Lyca realized that there should be an event happening today.


    Perhaps a festival? She looked at the children running. "Hey you" she made her voice a little lower as she flicked a coin in her hand. "Is there some celebration happening tonight?"


    "Ah? Young master, did you forget? It is the engagement celebration of the crown prince. Everyone is celebrating. People from other kingdoms are here to attend the festivities."


    She frowned. "Isn''t it tomorrow? The engagement?"


    "Yes, Young Master. But the festivities already started two days ago. Some envoy of other Empires were already here. Some of them even came from powerful families. They are here to send their congrattory gifts to the Prince and the future Princess Consort."


    "Thank you," Lyca nodded and gave the child a coin. An engagement party means there will be a lot of peopleing to the Empire to celebrate the event. These should include royalties from other kingdoms and envoys from merchant families.


    She had actually forgotten about the event! Lyca clicked her tongue as she lowered her head. Events like these are the favorites of assassins. It was the best way to kill someone influential and pinned it on other people.


    This would also mean that


    "Ah!" Lyca immediately rubbed her head when she felt it hit a hardshe raised her chin and looked at the man that stood before her.


    Seems like fate really wanted her to face her previous life.


    .....


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 Chapter 138: Unfortunate To Know You

    Chapter 138: Unfortunate To Know You


    "Are you alright?" Xu Ke stared at the little man in front of him. "Did you break something?" For a few seconds, he couldn''t help but stare at the white-haired man.


    "I No My apologies." Lyca immediately avoided the man''s gaze as she made her voice a little lower. "Please excuse me."


    "Hey!" Xu Ke followed the man. "Are you perhaps a local here? I am looking for the best tea house. Can you rmend me something?"


    "Try the Abundance Tea House." She muttered.


    "Can you take me to the "


    "No." She said and hastened her steps. Seeing him again should have awoken all the anger inside her. It should have made her blood boiled with anger and rage. To her surprise, she actually felt nothing. No anger. No guilt. And absolutely no love.


    "Hey" Xu Ke suddenly held her shoulders. "Why don''t you apany me towards the tea house? You don''t want me to inform everyone that you are different from what you are wearing, right?"


    Jerk! She wanted to punch him. That was when she remembered why she was trying to see this man in the first ce. Her eyes soon trailed towards his neck. Just as she expected, he was wearing a ne. But because of his current clothes, she couldn''t see the pendant of the ne.


    "So?" Xu Ke lifted an eyebrow when he saw the woman red at him. For some reason, the woman''s gaze made him want tough out loud. It reminded him of someone''s eyes. And he wanted to gouge it from this woman''s sockets.


    "Only if you buy me some tea."


    "Oh?" Even the woman''s way of talking was simr to that person. Should he remove her vocal cords too? Interest shed in his eyes as he nodded. "Alright. Lead the way."


    Lyca started walking next to him. She didn''t miss the dangerous glint in Xu Ke''s eyes. She immediately wondered if Xu Ke remembered her. She was already wearing a different face and different hair. But she was acting and speaking just like her previous self just like the woman that Xu Ke killed. Would he notice the simrities?


    After a few twists and turns, they finally arrived in a tea house that was surrounded by bamboo. It was located in the outskirts of the town and was pretty far from the center of the market. Therefore, not many people frequent this ce. Mostly, the people who visited the tea house had been here before.


    "Beautiful ce."


    She didn''t respond. Xu Ke had been here before when he was still with her. Memories shed in her eyes. Now that she had the time to think about those memories, she finally understood that those emotions that she felt before were different. It wasn''t love. Attraction, maybe. But she was certain those were not the selfless love that she had read on earth.


    "Good Evening guests! Would you like a small table for two? We also offer a private space with the view of the win "


    "We will take a private space." It was Xu Ke who answered. Coupled with Xu Ke''s white robe, the gentle smile on his face made him looked like a kind god walking amongst mortals.


    "Alright!" The young attendant nodded. "Please follow me towards the second floor." He walked ahead of them and lead them towards the tables near the window. Each table was separated by bamboo walls with paper tiles. A small candle, located at the center of the table was enough to illuminate the small space.


    Xu Ke and Lyca immediately took their seats. Both had their heads towards the view of a smallke from the window.


    "Why are you dressed like that?"


    "Excuse me?" she asked.


    "Clearly, your white hair was a dead giveaway of your identity. If you wanted to change your clothing then you should have changed your hair color too."


    Lyca almost wanted to p her own face. This wasn''t her choice! This was Ye Bai''s style of clothing when she was General Bai. However, since she was not wearing a soldiers helmet right now, it was pretty obvious that she was a female. This was also because of her smaller physique. Compared to Xu Ke''s six-foot frame, Ye Bai was only five foot seven, making her on the shorter side of males.


    "You know me?" she asked.


    "If you are not one of the people from the Royal household then, I am willing to burn my hands in this candle."


    She fought the urge to roll her eyes. However, Xu Ke''s changes made the creases in between her brows deepened. The Xu Ke that she remembered had always been cold and emotionally unavable. He was the exact opposite of Shen Qui


    Wait why was she thinking about Shen Qui now?


    Shen Qui''s face shed in her memories. When ites to face value, Shen Qui was absolutely considered superiorpared to Xu Ke. When ites to talents Shen Qui should be better since he was already good without using Qi and elemental abilities that people in this world had.


    Wait why was sheparing the two?


    "Then you can burn your hands." She turned her head away, irritation glinted in her eyes.


    Seeing her reaction, Xu Ke smiled and leaned towards her. "You know your eyes and the way you talk reminded me of someone. It makes me want to remove those eyes from your pretty little face and carved out your neck from your body."


    "Is that someone important to you?" unfazed at the change of tone, Lyca met Xu Ke''s eyes. This was the real Xu Ke that she knew. She wondered what took him so long to show his real colors considering she was acting just like the previous Lena.


    "No." Xu Ke smiled and leaned back. "I killed her."


    "How bold," she said. The absence of emotion from her own voice surprised her. She was expecting herself to break down and attack him. But instead, she smiled and added, "That someone is unfortunate to know you."


    ...


    Do you think, Lyca would have her revenge? Do you think she will kill this man?


    Please don''t forget to vote for the novel.

 Chapter 139: An Impostor

    Chapter 139: An Impostor


    "You don''t seem to care?" Xu Ke squinted at her.


    "Why should I?"


    "I just told a princess that I killed someone."


    "Was that supposed to scare me?"


    "Hah So a white-haired royalty that wasn''t scared of someone like me. Let me guess Are you General Bai?"


    The smirk on Xu Ke''s face made her snort. As expected, the man had always been smart. This was why the king told her to just show him that he was a she. The king knew that this Xu Ke was very intelligent and would easily figure it out.


    "I see so you are indeed General Bai. There were rumors that the peculiar General had always been strange, different from other men. Who would have thought that he was actually a she? And a beautiful princess at that."


    "You already know my name but you have failed to introduce yourself."


    "Call me Xu."


    "From the Xu Family?" she feigned surprise. "The heir of the Xu Family? Are you Xu Ke?"


    "It seems that I am not the only one that was very much informed about everything?"


    Lyca didn''t respond as she watched the attendant brought the tea for them. She had sensed him watching her, but she didn''t care. She wanted to have the pendant back, and unfortunately, Xu Ke might be the only one that knew the location of the moon pendant.


    After the attendant left, Xu Ke continued. "I have heard of stories about the Princess'' talents when ites to military strategies. I hope that the princess would one day show me these well-known skills." His body was extremely rxed to the point of beingzy. She couldn''t help but wonder why was he acting this way.


    No, the most important thing to ask herself now was Why is he here? As the heir of the Xu Family, he wouldn''t just act as an envoy to an engagement party. His father would never allow that to happen. Xu Ke''s presence only meant that he was here to kill someone.


    Just like Lyca, Xu Ke was also an assassin who had worked with her multiples times in the past. Isn''t that the reason why she started developing feelings for him? They were always together, and thetter refused to let her go without him. When ites to strength, Xu Ke''s skills were considered on top of Lyca''s. However, unlike the previous Lyca, this body was quite powerful too, maybe even more powerful than Xu Ke''s.


    Ye Bai was not just a small soldier. She was a General with a specific set of talents and skills that includes magic, Qi, and even her internal energy have been developed. She was a talented woman who was considered a top general in this Empire.


    "I wouldn''t want to meet Young Master Xu again." She uttered.


    "Why not?"


    "I don''t like your eyes," she uttered."I wanted to gouge it since I saw you earlier, but that would make quite the mess."


    "You You are threatening me." He stated beforeughing, his melodiousughter was the exact opposite of the evil aura that surrounded him. "How amusing. This was the first time that someone tantly told me these things."


    "Being your first in something I am taking that as apliment, Young Master Xu." Of course, she wasn''t nning to back down.


    Xu Ke gave her a meaningful smile before he drank his tea. He then stared at her cold face. "I think I like you."


    She snorted in response.Aren''t these the words that Xu Ke told her before? In the past, this made her blushed like a f*cking tomato! "Well you are not exactly my type."


    "Really? What''s not to like?"


    "Your shoulders are too broad for my small frame, your eyes looked really sinister, and your hands are a little short and skinny." She frowned when she remembered Shen Qui''s words about always liking it big.Why was she thinking of Shen Qui in the middle of all this?


    "Hah! How brutal!" Instead of frowning, Xu Ke only smiled at her. "But I like it!" Excitement shone in his eyes. "I would love a good chase."


    Lyca snorted as she drank the tea. Then slowly, her eyes focused on theke outside of the window. The lights from the small candles that were floating on theke made the water looked magical.


    "Why are you here Young Master Xu?" she asked, without turning her head to look at him.


    "I am currently the Xu Family''s envoy." He answered. "But the princess already knows that, right?"


    She pursed her lips into a thin line. Just as she expected, Xu Ke was indeed here to kill someone. She had been with this man for too long that she immediately sense the lie in his words.


    "Ah the tea here is indeed good. Would you like toe to have tea with me the day after the banquet?"


    Lyca shrugged in response. She was actually looking for a way to make him show her the ne. However, that would require him to get naked something that would never happen. "Alright." Lyca kept her silence until Xu Ke finally got tired of talking and told her that he would retire.


    As the two were about to leave the bamboo forest, Lyca suddenly had a crazy idea. She stopped walking and stared at the bamboo bridge that they were walking. This bridge should lead them towards the exit of the tea house.


    "Is there something wrong?"


    Lyca slowly turned towards him before she sent a kick that he quickly dodged. "You are not Young Master Xu." She uttered and watched as he jumped a few feet away from her.


    "What you think I am an impostor?"


    Instead of answering his question, Lyca''s feet sprang forward. In a few heartbeats, she was already in front of Xu Ke. Her fist immediately started attacking him until he was forced to move back, his direction now towards theke.


    "Tell me! Who are you, and why are you trying to impersonate the Young Master of the Xu Family!?"


    .....


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 Chapter 140: Yellow

    Chapter 140: Yellow


    Xu Ke stared at Ye Bai''s face before he smirked. "You think I am trying to impersonate him?"


    "The heir of the Xu Family wouldn''t personallye here just for a wedding!" she squinted her beautiful eyes and threw a dagger towards him. In response, Xu Ke took a few steps backward, the smile on his face didn''t falter.


    "Interesting." He uttered. However, Lyca wasn''t about to stop doing her n. She continued attacking until they finally arrived at theke. To her surprise, Xu Ke didn''t engage and just continued defending himself.


    This wasn''t the Xu Ke that she knew.


    Again, Lyca let out a series of attacks, and every time, Xu Ke only defended himself. She then held his wrist, attempting to throw him towards the water. But thetter was quick enough to remove her hands, making a small maneuver to hug her and jumping into the water with Lyca in his arms with a loud ssh.


    "You "


    Xu Ke''sughter echoed when he saw the woman''s face reddened.


    "I can''t swim!" Lyca suddenly said. Her head bobbed as she opened her mouth, and tried to reach out towards the man. "He Help!"


    At first, Xu Ke didn''t help her. Who would believe that the great General cannot swim? Then he started frowning when he saw her struggle. Without having second thoughts, Xu Ke held Lyca''s hands and attempted to pull her. To his surprise, Lyca suddenly smiled at him. Then he felt her knees hit his crotch.


    His eyes widened as he opened his mouth into a silent scream. The pain was just he red at Lyca who was already standing on the water. The surprise that he felt was not enough to dampen the pain from the kick.


    "Hah." Lyca beamed. By now, she already got what she was looking for. The ne was indeed in Xu Ke''s possession. With Xu Ke''s white robe it was easy for her to see the silhouette of the ne under his clothes now that it was wet. "Next time don''t impersonate someone like the great Xu Ke."


    "You You think Xu Ke is great?"


    She snorted in response. Of course, she had to say those words to make this man think that she liked Xu Ke. "I hope you freeze and die." She said before turning away and disappearing into the dark. Lyca then went back to her pce and change her clothing.


    She knew that Xu Ke would definitelye and find her after what happened tonight. While he doesn''t like that man, Lyca also understood that without Xu Ke, she would still be alive in this world. Meaning she wouldn''t have the chance to meet Huang Sheng Hong, Tang Nini, and Shen Qui.


    This should be the light in the darkness that Shen Qui was speaking about, right? The positivity in the middle of all the cruel things happening around her? The thought of the man, made her smile as she continued tob her long white hair.


    She used to hatebing her long white hair. But now everything about her perspective is changing.


    "Your highness this is the dress that the Emperor wanted you to wear tomorrow."


    Lyca let out a series of coughs. Dresses are supposed to be handled by the Empress or the Royal Concubine. But this time, the Emperor wanted to make sure that she avoided any schemes for her to look beautiful tomorrow. The Emperor was really supportive of her ns to seduce Xu Ke.


    Lyca only nodded as she examined the yellow clothing. She was certain that it was made with the best materials that they had. With its beautiful embroideries of small flowers that seemed to dance under her gaze, there was no doubt that she would really look good in it.


    Yellow.


    Lyca lowered her head. Shen Qui liked yellow. She wondered what would he say when he saw her wearing something like this.


    She immediately made a mental note to have someone make something like these clothes when shees back. She shook the doubts out of her head. She had faith that she would be able toe back. After all the stuff that she had gone through, she was certain that nothing was impossible in this universe.


    Yes, that''s right. She needed to hold on to Shen Qui''s words. She needed to change her perspective about everything and create her own light in the middle of this darkness.


    Lyca continued to mutter Shen Qui''s words until she closed her eyes and fell asleep. When she woke up the next day, Lyca was summoned by the Emperor to attend a breakfast banquet with some of the special guests. The Emperor sent her another yellow clothing for her to wear to the banquet.


    This time, she knew that Xu Ke would be there. After all, the Emperor wouldn''t invest this much just to make her look beautiful if the man wouldn''t attend this banquet.


    "Your highness, this buyao was given by the empress. This one wouldplement your dress." One of her servants immediately showed her a hair ornament that can only be worn by people from the Royal Family. She lifted her eyebrow and nodded.


    The Buyao was made of gold and some jade ornaments. It wasn''t really showy, but it would look beautiful in her white hair that was now in a perfect updo. She smiled at her reflection as she put on a thinyer of makeup. Then she wore a perfume sachet that was gifted by the Emperor.


    With a smile on her face, Lyca started walking towards the pce where the banquet will be held. The Royalty''s residence was not reallyplicated as all of the houses where the princess, prince, and concubines were staying were located on one side of the emperor''s pce while the halls where the Emperor would do all of his banquet and events were located on the opposite side.


    Meaning, for her to arrive at the hall, all she needed was to walk in a straight path. This convenience was enough to make her day. With the same smile on her face, Lyca arrived in the hall and was immediately greeted by the announcement of the Emperor''s Eunuch. She bowed at the emperor and the empress before she faced the other envoys of the kingdom and just as she expected, Xu Ke was indeed there.


    Lyca''s eyes turned so wide when she met Xu Ke''s gaze. Then she turned her head away and pretended that everything was fine. Inwardly, Lyca wasughing. Even she found her acting a little too believable.


    But all this would have been better if her partner in crime, Shen Qui, was here.

 Chapter 141: A Childs Game

    Chapter 141: A Child''s Game


    "Princess Ye Bai, this is the minister of finance from the neighboring empire. He is here as the envoy sent for the gifts. And this is the prince of"


    The man next to Lyca continued to introduce the people around them. After a couple of minutes, Lyca finally found a way to leave and went to the back garden of the event hall. For her, socializing is still something exhausting. She would rather stay in her bed and sleep than talk to people who could easily stab anyone with their tongues.


    Even the previous Ye Bai, hated events like these. "I am wondering if the Princess already leave the party. Turns out she is only hiding her. Are you perhaps hiding from me?" Lyca rolled her eyes when she heard Xu Ke''s voice behind her.


    "You are thinking too much." She uttered.


    "Are you still thinking that I am impersonating myself?"


    "I don''t know what you are talking about."


    Xu Ke let out a low chuckle. "I wasn''t expecting that I would find someone so interesting in the royal family." When Lyca didn''t answer him, he looked at the man-madeke in front of them. His eyes were on the colorful fishes. "Turns outing in here was the best choice."


    "I don''t have any idea what you are talking about."


    "Your highness, Young Master Xu." A man almost the same age as Ye Bai called out. He was wearing a blue robe. A gentle smile was on his face. "The Elders wanted you two toe back. They said there will be games."


    "Games?" Lyca''s brow shot up. Who wants to y games?


    "Yes, Your highness the emperor and the crown prince, as well as the future princess consort, wanted everyone in the young generation to join the fun." The man was one of the close confidants of the crown prince who grew up with Ye Bai. Judging from the man''s gaze, it was pretty obvious that he liked Ye Bai, but was too shy to say something.


    "Alright," Xu Ke put his hand behind him as he waited for Lyca to walk next to him. Sheplied and said nothing. She couldn''t help but wonder what was Xu Ke''s n and who was his target.


    Today, a lot of people were attending the banquet, and most of them were influential envoys from other empires. Some of them were even princess and princesses who came here to try and build some connections.


    "You have to shoot the target while riding a horse," Lyca said someone say. "This should be good for men but of course, women who would like to participate were all wee to try." Lyca stared at the eunuch who is also working as the emperor''s right-hand man. She couldn''t help but wonder if the King specifically arranged this type of game for her to show off.


    So hassle.


    "Are you going to join?"


    Lyca leaned back when she noticed Xu Ke leaned closer to her. She gave him a look. "Why would I join?"


    "If you will join. I would join too."


    "You want to have somepetition against me?" Xu Ke knew that she was hiding her identity as the general. So, she couldn''t really show off her skills when ites to using a bow and arrow.


    "Of course." Xu Ke beamed at her. Seeing thetter''s smile almost made her want to puke. Being close to him doesn''t make her feel the butterflies that she felt when she was around Shen Qui. However, she would be lying if she says that she doesn''t have any sudden urges to kill Xu Ke. She doesn''t really care if the man dies but if given a chance, she would want him to die by her daggers too.


    Such confusing emotions made her irritated.


    "I heard that all the royalties of the Ye Royal household were trained in sword and bow and arrow?" As expected, Xu Ke made his voice louder, making the other people around him hear it.


    "Considering that the Emperor was once a famous general, it is only natural that the emperor would share his genes to his children." Another one chimed on.


    "I agree." Xu Ke smiled. "This is why I would like to challenge the second princess for today''s game.''


    "The second princess?"


    "Why would he challenge the second princess?"


    Xu Ke only smiled when he heard the other people''s words. "Second Princess Ye Bai would you like to use to me show the skills of the royal household?


    That sentence is just so wrong! Lyca thought inwardly as she maintained the kind and gentle smile on her face. "No." Her words came as a surprise to everyone. Even the emperor''s face changed when he heard her words. "However, if Young Master Xu wanted to bet something important with me then I might just agree to show off." She smiled. "After all, ying a game without some prizes was just like ying a child''s game. It shouldn''t be taken seriously. What do you think Young Master Xu?"


    Lyca''s bold words made the people around her gasped and whispered to each other. The Second Princess is actually one of the most lowkey royalty in the pce. She seldom left her quarters and doesn''t attend most of the events in the pce.


    These people didn''t know that the reason why she wasn''t seen all the time was that she was attending these events as General Bai and not as Princess Ye Bai.


    "You wanted to bet with me?" Xu Ke couldn''t believe the words that he heard. After all, women should be more reserved, someone gentle, and don''t really say something bold. However, when he remembered that Ye Bai was actually a general, he immediately realized that Ye Bai must have been influenced by those soldiers'' way of speaking.


    "Of course." Lyca smiled as she met his eyes. "Are you perhaps scared that you will lose?"


    Xu Ke pursed his lips. To be honest, Ye Bai''s boldness was really refreshing to him. "As long as his highness, the emperor had no problems with me betting against his beloved daughter, then I am in."


    ....


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 Chapter 142: Final

    Chapter 142: Final


    Lyca couldn''t help but wonder why this man would actually challenge her. Was he nning to embarrass her or perhaps he was nning to involve her in his political ambitions? She looked at the emperor wondering if he would actually agree.


    If the emperor would agree, Lyca wouldn''t hesitate to show her skills to everyone. When she saw the Emperor nod, Lyca pursed her lips and focused her attention on the man wearing white in front of him.


    "So? What do you want?" she asked the man.


    "Well, if I win how about you have some tea with me?" his words made everyone speechless. The heir of the Xu Family was asking the second princess for a date? This was something crucial to the politics of the whole empire.


    Everyone knew that the second princess had always shown her support to the Emperor. This was the reason why even if all of the princesses were already engaged to other young masters, the second princess doesn''t have any engagement yet. Rumor has it that the Emperor was actually letting the young princess decide which gentlemen she would like to marry instead of marrying her off to someone for political reasons.


    Now, once the second princess would get the Xu Family''s support through Xu Ke, it would mean that the emperor would also get their support. As expected, the faces of those people who are currently opposing the crown turned dark. Everyone here knew that the Xu Family was very influential In the southern part of the empire. They are rich and have a lot of resources.


    "Tea?" she lifted an eyebrow as she smiled at Xu Ke. "Such a simple request. I can give you more your highness are you certain that a simple tea is the only thing that you want?"


    Xu Ke''s nodded inwardly. As expected of a female general. He was certain that not many women could utter such words in front of him. Then he smirked. "Tea and I want the second princess to apany me for a few days while visiting the beautiful ces in the Empire. What do you think?"


    "Fair enough. If you win However, If I win." Her eyes bored into his before her gaze lowered towards his long beautiful nose then towards his lips. And neck. "That one. That ne."


    Xu Ke squinted his eyes but said nothing.


    "I want that ne if I win." She reiterated. "What do you think, Young Master Xu?" Lyca was smart enough to know that this Xu Ke was actually trying to use her as a shield. Xu Ke knew that the Xu Family had incurred enough enemies which would easily make him the target of many assassinations.


    With the princess by his side the people would surely think twice in attacking them. As expected this man was still as cunning and sinister as before.


    "The ne is very important to me, your highness."


    "That makes me want to have it." She sneered inwardly. She didn''t hesitate to show the little evil glint in her eyes, making him think that she only wanted it because she knew it was important to him. "That would make you take this bet seriously."


    "Then can I still change my previous bet?"


    "Of course." She lifted an eyebrow. "Tell me what you want."


    Everyone couldn''t help but apud the princess'' guts. Who would have thought that beneath the princess'' silver hair and gentle appearance was a bold and brave woman? Many officials couldn''t help but shook their heads as they watched Xu Ke smile at the princess. Of course, they didn''t miss the interest that Xu Ke was showing to the Princess.


    It seems that an engagement would soon follow.


    "I want you to be my main wife."


    Silence followed his words as everyone looked at the emperor, waiting for him to say something to the young man. Everyone was expecting him to fume in anger and asked his guards to send the young man out of the hall.


    Instead, the king let out a soft chuckle. Shaking his head, the Emperor''s chuckle soon became a burst of full-blownughter. Hisughing voice echoed inside the room. He then looked at Xu Ke. "What a brave young man. To actually use this bet to make an engagement, this is the first that I have encountered such a thing."


    Xu Ke gave a small bow. "Thanks to the emperor''s generosity in his praises."


    The Emperor smiled. "So an engagement if the second princess would lose." The Emperor gave Lyca a meaningful nce. Of course, this man would want her to lose so she could have an engagement with Xu Ke. Too bad for him, Lyca wasn''t going to have another engagement with a man like this.


    Plus she was already a married woman.


    She shook her head inwardly. She really should stop thinking about Shen Qui in the middle of the chaos she was currently in.


    "Alright. As long as the second princess would agree to the bet. Then I can approve an engagement." Amusement shed in the Emperor''s eyes as he continued to stare at Lyca.


    "Well then do you agree?"


    "Just so you know" Lyca suddenly uttered, she lifted her chin and stared at Xu Ke. "I don''t like you." The people around them who heard her words let out a surprised gasp. What''s not to like? Was the second princess actually blind? Xu Ke was handsome, and this engagement would definitely help the emperor in his ns to conquer some of the smaller kingdoms in the south. "I will only agree to marry you. If you promise that you won''t take any other woman in your household."


    "Of course." Despite the gasps and whispers of other people, Xu Ke didn''t hesitate to nod at her words. "I would never marry another woman aside from you."


    Lyca smiled as she nodded. Isn''t that what this man told her before? He actually used the same script to fool another woman? Rage started to boil inside her as she quickly turned her head towards the target board, hiding the disgust and anger in her eyes.


    That''s it. It is final.


    Xu Ke needed to die.

 Chapter 143: Perfume

    Chapter 143: Perfume


    In the end, Xu Ke was still someone who values power above everything else. She looked at the expression that Xu Ke was showing at her and sneered inwardly. Xu Ke looked as if he really liked Ye Bai. His gaze was gentle, with a little hint of coldness. The satisfied smile on his face would make any woman think that he really liked Ye Bai. It was as if, he couldn''t wait to win this contest so he would be able to own the woman that he liked.


    She hated it.


    Fighting the urge to roll her eyes, Lyca looked at the Emperor as she tried to assess the current situation. No matter what happens she couldn''t let Xu Ke win this game. She needed that ne. And to her, having that ne is more important than anything or anyone in this world.


    "Alright. Since the Emperor already agreed to have the contest. Would any of you two like to create your own rules? Something unique than what everyone is used to?" the Eunuch asked.


    Lyca immediately looked at Xu Ke. This was a popr game that soldiers liked to y, it was a simple way to gauge one''s talent in archery. There were three stages of the contest.


    The first is to use an arrow and a bow to shoot a certain unmoving target while riding a running horse. The second was to shoot a really small object while riding the same running horse, and the third was shooting a small moving object. While this sounds easy, not many soldiers actually have the talent to hit a target while they were moving.


    As a Generalmanding thousands of soldiers, Ye Bai is actually very adept in using bow and arrow. However, she knew that Xu Ke Is also an expert in this game as a bow and arrow is actually his expertise. Just like how Lyca was considered an expert in daggers, Xu Ke is also considered the best of the best when ites to hitting his targets.


    "For the third stage I want to have a blindfold." Xu Ke uttered, confidenceced his tone. "Of course, if the Second princess doesn''t like it then we can just consider the second princess losing a round."


    Shameless! Lyca could only pretend to smile at the Xu Ke. "No problem." She has to win. No matter what happens Lyca needed to get the pendant and get back. She lowered her head as she hid the different emotions in her eyes.


    "Alrightthe two of you will be given thirty minutes to prepare and change your clothing." The Eunuch said. Lyca didn''t tarry. She immediately left with one of her servants so she could change her clothing.


    "Wait!"


    Lyca halted her steps and turned towards the man who was now standing next to her.


    "Why do you want my ne?"


    "Why do you want me?" Lyca countered, making Xu Ke speechless. "It is not yette. You can withdraw from this uselesspetition."


    "Why would I do that?"


    "We don''t like each other, Young Master Xu. That is enough reason to stop thispetition."


    ''If you don''t like me then, why didn''t you say something?"


    She squinted at him. It seems that Xu Ke had already seen through the scheme of the emperor. However, the man''s confidence in his charms was making her speechless. Does this man really think that every woman would just flock on his way because he was a little handsome? Lyca held her hand and motioned her servants to leave them.


    "I thought so," Xu Ke smirked as he started walking next to her. "I never thought that the great General Bai would one day be embroiled in all this politics. I was hoping that you won''t agree with my proposal. It would be such a waste to know that you will only end up dead after all this."


    The subtle threat made her snort. She put her hands behind her back. "The politics in this empire has nothing to do with me." She stopped walking and lifted her head, meeting his gaze in the process. Again, her eyes trailed down towards the ne on his neck. "You said that the ne is important and yet you easily agreed to have thepetition with me. Even if you know who I really am." Her voice turned soft. "I guess she wasn''t that important to you. Or at least not as important as you im it to be."


    "How did you know this was owned by a woman?"


    She pursed her lips in response. She saw an evil glint in his eyes, something that she quickly hid. Judging from Xu Ke''s personality, the man must have been angry that she was able to guess everything correctly.


    "I am not as dumb as you think. Judging from the way you say it the ne came from a past lover. Did she leave you for another man?"


    "Would you believe me if I tell you that she died from my arrow?"


    She frowned when she didn''t saw a hint of regret in his voice. "Did you love her?"


    "Love " he dragged the words in his lips. "What is that?"


    Indeed. What is love? Even she, wouldn''t be able to answer that question. "Did you regret killing her?"


    "Regret Was dreaming about her every night can be considered regretting my actions?" She turned silent as she continued walking. When she noticed that Xu Ke didn''t follow her, Lyca stopped and look back at the man who was standing there, in a daze.


    "I don''t believe you," she dered. "I would never believe a single word from your filthy mouth." Then she left him all alone as she walked towards her quarters to change her clothing. She had witnessed the man shot her in the past. He ruthlessly used his arrow and bow to shoot her leg then, her shoulder before she was able to escape. There was no remorse in the man''s gaze, nor love, nor guilt. All he had was a nk expression that made her wonder if he even recognized her as his bride.


    For years, Lyca had dreamed about that nk gaze. For years, she cried and yelled for the gods to just give her a chance toe back and have her revenge. She had prayed, wished, and hoped that when she died on Earth, she would be able toe back to this ce and make Xu Ke suffer.


    So, what changed? Why was she not doing anything about the revenge that she so wanted to have in the past?


    If one would ask her if she hated Xu Ke she would definitely answer a big YES without even batting an eyelid. She hated him, and that is an undeniable fact. However, a part of her, a small part of her soul, seemed to crave for something else other than the revenge that she thought she wanted.


    It was closure.


    It was a way to move on.


    At that time, Lyca didn''t know why Xu Ke killed her and her adoptive family. However, as she essed the memories of Ye Bai, she understood theplexities of the political warfare between the Xu Family, the Ye Family, and another family from the western borders of the Xu Empire.


    This information was something that she never had any ess to before her death. And while this information interests her, she also realized something. She no longer wanted to kill people in this world. She wanted to leave as soon as possible. She no longer wanted to get involved in Xu Ke''splicated life nor go back to her previous life. She wanted to go back to Shen Qui.


    When the princess came back to the hall, she was already wearing a ck robe. Her long white hair was tied behind her back in a bun. A simple arrow and bow were on her shoulders. She looked at the Eunuch and immediately spotted Xu Ke, who was giving her aplicated gaze. She turned her head towards the emperor, who seemed too excited to see thempete.


    And that was when she noticed it.


    Lyca''s eyes widened at the ck perfume sachet that Xu Ke was wearing on his waist. That  That was something that she made. It was as if her world stopped spinning, her heart started racing as her gaze met Xu Ke''s. The perfume was something that she made to protect Xu Ke from poisonous gases. But why would he wear something like that in an event like this? Unless


    Lyca''s gazended on the emperor as she suddenly screamed.


    "PROTECT THE EMPEROR!"

 Chapter 144: Satisfy his Greed

    Chapter 144: Satisfy his Greed


    The confusion that everyone felt when they heard her voice died down when an arrow flew towards a minister, directly hitting him in the chest. Chaos ensued.Lyca didn''t tarry. She ran towards her father and used her dagger to sh a man''s neck when he tried to move his sword towards the emperor.


    "Take him inside his quarters," Lyca called out to one of the guards. "Protect him!" Her eyes roamed around. Men and women were now panicking, as they ran towards the exit. The appearance of men wearing ck made a lot of people forgot that this was still their empire, protected by soldiers and shadow guards. "Men!" Lyca yelled. Almost immediately five men wearing ck appeared in front of her. The men bowed and waited for her order. "Make sure the emperor survives."


    Her eyes roamed inside the hall, looking for Xu Ke. Unfortunately, thetter was already gone. Suddenly, she felt the back of her head tingle, her head instinctively turned towards her left, and she moved her body towards the right, just avoiding the arrow by a few inches. She stared at the source of the arrow and wasn''t surprised to see a man in white, smiling at her.


    She frowned and started running towards Xu Ke. This body was equipped with both martial arts and Qi as well as a few elemental abilities. She had gone through wars and killed people, making this body''s aura really bloody. She had masked this by not showing herself in events and using the identity of the general. However, now that she was in front of Xu Ke and his men, Lyca wasn''t able to stop the body''s bloodlust from reeking. She jumped, rolled, and ran as she followed Xu Ke. It didn''t take too long for her to catch up when Xu Ke suddenly stopped moving.


    Lyca immediately noticed that they have run as far as the outskirts of the empire. They were currently in the tea house surrounded by bamboos. "Why do you want my ne?" Xu Ke asked. The gentleness in his eyes was gone. It was reced by something she was very familiar with. Fury.


    The first time that Lyca saw this fury was when Xu Ke pulled the arrow on their wedding night. This was after he actually missed his target. When he didn''t hit her. "Because it''s important to Young Master Xu." She responded with a smile.


    "Your moves the way you killed that man. Why do you have her killing moves?"


    "Whose killing moves?" she frowned.


    "Don''t you dare act like a fool with me! Your eyes, your voice, even the way you jumped on the walls! Did you know her?"


    "I see" Lyca nodded. "So you thought I am someone else. Who is she? A lover?" His face darkened at her words. Seeing this, Lyca continued taunting. "Ah did you kill a woman that you really love?" she didn''t hide the mockery in her tone.


    "I will kill you." Xu Ke hissed before he disappeared from where he was standing. Lyca''s eyes turned alert before she jumped a few steps back and eyed the dagger on the ground. She raised her head and immediately saw Xu Ke on one of the bamboos. Smiling, Lyca jumped, following the man as she released her own daggers towards him.


    "I pity you, Young Master Xu." She said as she dodged one of Xu Ke''s kicks. "You are actually this crazy." Her hand, however, was not aiming any of Xu Ke''s major organs, instead, she was trying to grab the ne that hung freely from Xu Ke''s neck.


    "Why do you want my ne?"


    "It doesn''t belong to you. Why can''t I have something that is not yours?" she countered. Kicks, punches, and daggers were thrown as the two continued talking.


    "It is mine."


    "It belongs to the woman that you killed. Aren''t you afraid that her ghost will haunt you?"


    He snorted at that. "Tell me who you are, and I will give you the ne. Tell me how you met her!"


    She chuckled. Would he even believe her if she told him who she was? "Foolish," she released another dagger that made him jumped a few bamboos away. Xu Ke hooked his left leg on the bamboo as he stood and narrowed his eyes at Lyca.


    "If you won''t tell me then just forget having the ne."


    "Or you can just die, and I can have that ne." She sneered and once again started attacking the man. Xu Ke was considered the best in the Xu Family. However, Ye Bai''s constitution was also perfect for Lyca''s skills. Moreover, Ye Bai was actually more powerful than the previous Lyca. With these, Xu Ke found it hard to even touch a strand of her hair.


    However, this wasn''t enough to make Lyca happy. Xu Ke and her were actually evenly matched. She eyed Xu Ke''s still clean clothing and perfectly kept hair. "Did you even love her?" Changing her tactics, Lyca asked Xu Ke with a smile on her face. "Did you think you deserve to have her ne?"


    As expected, Xu Ke''s face darkened when he heard her words. She continued. "You promised to love her and only her. But what did you do? Your arrows killed her along with the poison. Tell me Young Master Xu, was she someone important to you? Or just another woman that you wanted to use for your dreams to lead this continent?"


    "How did you know all that?" Xu Ke asked. "Answer me!?"


    "Why does it matter?" she asked. "You killed her because you wanted to swallow her family''s resources and make the Xu Family stronger! Because the Huang Family was an ancient secret family, no one even noticed that they vanished. Did that satisfy your greed?" she taunted. "Was their deaths enough to satisfy whatever it is that you wanted?"


    "SHUT UP!" Xu Ke''s face turned red. The next thing she knew, he was already standing in front of him. His hand clutched her neck, enabling her from breathing. "You think you know me?" He hissed, his crazed eyes bored into her. "Who are you to act as if you know everything!?"

 Chapter 145: Disappointment in Her Eyes

    Chapter 145: Disappointment in Her Eyes


    Lyca smirked, but because of Xu Ke''s hand on her neck, she was unable to say anything.


    "Who do you think you are!?" Xu Ke hissed at her. "What gives you the right to speak to me as if as if you were there?" He used more effort and lifted her away from the bamboo. "Do you really think I wouldn''t kill you just because you know her?" When he saw Lyca''s smile, Xu Ke added. "Did you think I am afraid of your father? Listen here The Xu Family is going to own this empire. You and your family will die by our hands."


    "You know " Lyca struggled to speak as her hand tried to removed Xu Ke''s hand from her neck. "You can have everything in this world and I would only care about the ne." She beamed before she suddenly kicked the side of his face. Surprise and anger shed in Xu Ke''s eyes.


    This wasn''t from the attack. Rather, it was because Lyca had actually snatched the ne while he was clutching her neck. Xu Ke staggered when Lyca''s knees hit his chin. Then he watched as Lyca stood by the Lake a few feet away from where he was.


    "You " He wasn''t expecting her to still hide a little bit of her strength.


    "This world can burn, Young Master Xu. And I would never care."


    He paused at her words as he recalled this was the same words as that woman told him when they were talking about the empire. Huang Lena The woman never had the ambition to stand by him when he bes the king. The woman wanted to stay in the shadows, killing and living the life that she wanted with her family. The woman The woman that wasn''t willing to give up her life just to be with the life that he wanted. The foolish woman. "You are " He slowly jumped from the bamboo andnded a few feet away from her. He stared at the ne in her hand before his eyesnded on her smiling face. "Those words."


    "Even if I burn with them?" Lyca suddenly added. "Yes. Even if you burn with them." She watched as Xu Ke''s eyes widened. Seeing this, she continued. "But what if I want to own this world?" These were the exact conversation that they had before their wedding. "Are you willing to stand by my side?"


    "Shut up!" Xu Ke tried to attack her. But this time, she was too quick to avoid him.


    "I am satisfied and happy right now, Young Master Xu. I am satisfied and happy with you. I don''t like to change that." She continued. "But I want you to be with me."


    "I said shut up! Stop talking! Shut up!"


    "I would be with you. Just not next to you." Lyca said everything from her memories as if it just happened yesterday. "The throne is not suited for someone like me. I have no ambitions to be a ruler. I always wanted to live a simple life, Xu Ke. Theplications in my life right now is enough. If I can''t even subdue the other side of the family, properly. Then how could I make a whole empire respect me?"


    "I will kill you! Stop talking now!"


    Lyca remained unfazed. Despite Xu Ke trying to attack her, she continued talking, reminding him of their conversation. "I respect you. Isn''t that enough?" this was Xu Ke''s words. Previously, it made her heart melt, her eyes watery. However, now, those were nothing but empty words and promises. "Stand by my side, Lena. Be my queen." Sheughed at that. She? A Queen? She was a killer. She bathed in the blood of her enemies and loved watching their pain. How could someone like that be a Queen? She remembered not responding to his words. Instead, she kissed him.


    In the past, Huang Lena never wanted aplicated life. She was satisfied and happy. Doing missions with him, killing their targets together, making love under the moonlight. She was happy, and that''s what matters. However, he was different. His ambitions were different. Seeing his face reddened as he attempted to make her shut her mouth seemed to bring some satisfaction inside her. "Young Master Xu if you don''t want her to stop your dreams. Why not just leave her?" Of course, she knew the answer to this question. Huang Lena liked Xu Ke, a lot.


    Would she really let the man leave him?


    "Why did you have to kill her?" She continued speaking, enjoying the anger that shed in Xu Ke''s eyes. From the previous encounter, Lyca knew that she wouldn''t be able to kill the man with her current skills. However, his life is no longer her business. Sometimes, living is more difficult than dying.


    And what is more difficult than living with guilt and all the what if''s inside one''s brain?


    She chuckled. "Just so you know she would never forgive you." But she will move on and ept that she made a mistake in loving you. She would use this experience to learn and be careful in her next life. She will survive, and she will go back to the people that loved her and cherished her. "I hope I won''t see you again, Young Master Xu. And I hope. You won''t stop thinking about her until the day you die." She smiled before she turned her back and disappeared from theke.


    It didn''t take too long for her to arrive at her own pce. Lyca didn''t even care to ask about the Emperor as she put the ne on her neck. Then she held the ne and closed her eyes, hoping this was enough to make here back to him. When she realized that she was still in her quarters, Lyca didn''t hide the disappointment in her eyes.


    Why is she still here?


    Defeated, Lyca sat on the bed and let out a deep sigh. She can''t stay in this world forever. She needed to get back.


    But how?


    .....


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 Chapter 146: Justice

    Chapter 146: Justice


    "This attack was the result of our carelessness!" The Emperor of Xu Empire sat on his throne, his face dark as he looked at Ye Bai who stood before him. "The Xu Family tantly attacked a member of the royal family!" The thing is, the Emperor couldn''t do something about this as the Xu Family''s base was not some ce that anyone can go into.


    The Xu Family''s estate was located on top of a teau. To protect themselves, the teau was equipped with a lot of mechanisms, and poisons that were made by Lyca in her previous life. All of these poisons could kill hundreds of people just from one poisonous trap. While the Emperor didn''t know this, he actually had no idea where the Xu Family was located. He had sent a lot of scouts just to pinpoint the real location of the teau but, because of the intense fog and other traps set up by the Xu Family, these people never returned.


    "I know where the Xu Family is located," her words were enough to make her father silent for a few minutes.


    "What did you say?"


    "A spy sessfully created a map with the Xu Family''s location. Unfortunately, he died just after he arrived to give me the map. It included all the poisonous gas and traps that the Xu Family used around the teau." Lyca knew that she wouldn''t be able to defeat the whole Xu family without an army. Thus, she needed the emperor to help her.


    "You already know the location of that despicable family?"


    "Yes, I will be needing your permission to send an army of our experts tounch a surprise attack."


    The Emperor''s eyes squinted at her. "Are you certain?"


    "Yes, your highness."


    The Emperor turned silent for a few minutes. "You wanted an army of experts and not the whole army? Why?"


    "The Xu Family are experts, your highness. We cannot use normal soldiers against them. Moreover, the map that I received showed all the locations of their traps. I only wanted to lower our casualties." The best war was the war that one could win without a fight. However, this war won''t happen without one. Lyca needed her revenge, no this wasn''t revenge. This was justice.


    She needed to have her justice. She needed to be at peace. She figured this would be the only way for her to move on ande back to Earth. Justice for her family.


    "Moreover, I wanted to create the facade that we are preparing to attack our enemies on the border. I wanted to make them lower their guards when they see our people preparing to attack the other enemy while our experts sneak out and give a surprise attack to the Xu Family."


    When the Emperor heard her exnation, the obvious creases on his forehead disappeared as he nodded. If someone would ask him who he trusted the most, the Emperor would definitely say it was Ye Bai. She wasn''t only smart, she was brave and an expert in warfare. If he could, he would want her to be the next Empress. "I understand," he uttered. "Well then, I am giving this task to you. I want you to prepare everything. We. Will pay them back."


    She immediately kneeled and answered, "Thank you, your highness. I will definitely pay them back with our army!" After leaving the pce, Lyca immediately went to her own quarters to prepare to go back to the military base. Under the veil of the night, Lyca left her quarters and arrived at the base as General Bai.


    Lyca was actually in a hurry as she wanted to exterminate the Xu Family and let Xu Ke feel what she feel before. With this in mind, she immediately created a n and assembled the best of her people. These were her most trusted soldiers, the best among the best. Of course, Lyca was very careful in meeting those people as she knew that a spy might be lurking in the troops. During this meeting, she had given them the maps and how to disassemble the traps as well as the herbs that they could use to save themselves from the poisonous gasses. All of these were things that she installed in the past. Of course, she would have a secret way to avoid it.


    After a few hours of meeting, Lyca finally went back to her room to rest. Then on the next day, she immediately assembled the remaining army and told them that they are going tounch an attack on the enemy on the border. Her decisions and nning seemed so direct it made everyone believed that this was the Emperor''s decision.


    Lyca didn''t tarry. She wanted to bezy and just sleep, but this wasn''t the time for that. She can have all the rest when she got back. Right now, her focus was getting back to where she actually belong. After making sure that everything was prepared, Lyca left with her soldiers towards the border. This time, she would lead them to the border while her experts would attack the Xu Family.


    She had arranged it this way because she knew that Xu Ke was watching her. She couldn''t risk it. As much as she wanted to help her experts in killing the members of the Xu Family, Lyca couldn''t deviate from her ns.


    "I wasn''t expecting General Bai to be this decisive."


    Lyca immediately narrowed her eyes at the man sitting on top of the boulder. "Howe you are here?" she asked Xu Ke. In a few days, she and the army would arrive on the border. Right now, they were currently setting up their tents for the night. However, Lyca had walked towards a cliff not far away from them so she could see the Sunset.


    "You took something that is mine. I am here to get it back." Xu Ke''s face was calm, yet his eyes were full of turbulence. She sneered in response.


    "There are things that you can never have again, Young Master Xu. And this the ne was one of those things."

 Chapter 147: Horizon

    Chapter 147: Horizon


    "It is mine!"


    "Is it?" She narrowed her eyes, her hands were already on her daggers that she hadced with poison just for this man. "You killed her and her family and you stole the ne from her. Now you are iming it was yours. Following this logic, this ne should be mine after I stole it from you, no?"


    "You "


    Lyca chuckled. "Xu Ke you are still the same." She lifted her chin, silently challenging him toe down and fight her. However, thetter didn''t move. Instead, he stared at her face for a few seconds.


    "You know nothing."


    She sneered. "Would you want me to tell you what she said before she died?"


    He squinted at her, "Who are you!?"


    "I believe you already know that," she countered as she took a single step back. Lyca wasn''t really sure if she would want him to know who she really was. However, she realized that him knowing her real identity would be better.


    "You are " Xu Ke frowned as he stared at her small little face. He was certain that he never met her before bumping into her on the empire. However, everything that she said about Huang Lena and him was real. Even the exact words that Huang Lena told her. She even knew that he killed Huang Lena''s family. Suspicion shed in his eyes. Is that even possible?


    He watched as Lyca smirked at him. Unable to contain his irritation, Xu Ke jumped down from the boulder and stood in front of her. "Are you her?"


    "Who?" she lifted an eyebrow. He didn''t miss the amusement in her eyes. Was she enjoying this? He gritted his teeth and said nothing as he lowered his head and stared at her face. Ye Bai was beautiful. Not the kind of beauty that would be able to make someone salivate. She was just like Huang Lena, her eyes were cold, deadly even. However, for some reason, he had found this enticing. This woman''s simrities with Lena was astounding.


    Xu Ke had heard about souls moving to another body before. However, there was no proof of such things. There were merely rumors. "Are you Huang Lena?" he managed to say. It was as if his world stopped when he saw her smile.


    She said nothing, no denial or confirmation left her mouth. She just stared at him, staring at his eyes like like she knew what was going on in his mind. The smile on the woman''s face reminded him of the real reason why he followed her around. Taking advantage of the situation, he reached out and tried to grab the ne from her neck. However, Lyca was already expecting such action. She immediately used a dagger to counter the attack, shing it towards thetter''s face before she jumped a few feet away from him.


    When Lyca saw a small cut on Xu Ke''s cheek, she beamed. It seems that she had won this time. Xu Ke had been really upied with his own thoughts that he wasn''t able to dodge that knife.


    "You are dead." She uttered.


    "Poison." The realization hit him as he frowned. Does this confirm that this woman was indeed Lena? His Lena? Slowly, his eyes turned gentle, his gaze bored into her, looking for that small confirmation that he was looking for. "You are you Huang Lena?"


    "Would that change anything?" she asked.


    He frowned in response. He immediately felt his cheek started to turn numb. It was indeed a poison. He narrowed his eyes at her. "Are you here to kill me? Have the revenge that you wanted?"


    "Would you believe me if I say that I don''t want to kill you? At least not anymore?" At first, she wanted to kill him. Then she decided against it. At the banquet, Lyca once again decided that this man needed to die. Her confusing emotions were because of her current state. She had been caught in between wanting to have her revenge and wanting to go home.


    Half of Lyca wanted that revenge while half wanted to leave this forsaken ce. Since she actually didn''t have a n, Lyca had changed her opinions every now and then.


    "No. Lena would never spare someone."


    She chuckled at that. He was right. The previous her would never spare anyone. She would cut someone''s head even if they were already dead just to make sure they won''te back to have their revenge. She would slit someone''s throat knowing they already died from her poison just to make sure that everything will go in ordance with her n.


    She was ruthless and merciless.


    And somehow, this ruthlessness had changed when she arrived on Earth a ce withws and restrictions. She had been used to herzy life and lost interest in killing people.


    "You already poisoned me. You can kill me anytime," he said. He already felt his arms losing their strength, his legs would soon follow, and he wouldn''t be able to escape this ce. When he saw herughed, confusion immediatelyced his gaze.


    "No," she could kill him. But she won''t. This man let her watched as her family was ughtered in front of her. This cold-hearted man let her watched as children and the old were used as a target for the arrows of the Xu Family assassins. This man deserved to suffer just like her.


    And death is something that he doesn''t deserve. "I know where the Xu Family was," she rxed her arms and stared at his already pale face. To her surprise, Xu Ke wasn''t really doing anything about the poison. She was certain that he had ways to at least lessen the effects of the poison. However, he wasn''t doing anything about it. He just stood there like a f*cking statue, and stared at her as if he waiting for her to deliver the final blow.


    Her words, however, made thetter frowned. She didn''t miss theplicated emotions in his eyes. "You wanted to " Of course, he already knows what she wanted. "So you wanted to do the things that I did to you."


    "Wrong," Lyca said. "I would never kill you." It would be enough for her to know that the Xu Family would vanish in this world. She was confident that it would happen. This was because of the Xu Family''s arrogance.


    Because of the poisonous traps that she set, the Xu Family stopped assigning people to check the ce. They were too confident that no one would be able to arrive on top of the teau. Of course, this was no longer the case now.


    Xu Ke turned silent when he realized what she really wanted. So, she wanted to keep him alive for her to see the fall of the Xu Family. What a cruel woman. She knew that Xu Ke was too shameless and prideful to kill himself. He would rather suffer than make people let fun of him. He snorted as he staggered. "You are still the same ruthless woman that I know."


    Lyca stood in front of Xu Ke, her eyes were cold, lips pursed into a thin straight line. Even if Xu Ke would go back to the teau, there is no way that he would be able to save his family. Slowly, her lips lifted upwards into a cruel smile. "An eye for an eye, Young Master Xu."


    "An eye for an eye," he uttered as he smiled at her. He could feel his consciousness starting to leave his body. However, he knew that this poison wasn''t deadly. It would only make him lost his consciousness for a short period of time, enough for her to ran away from him. He stared at her eyes, waiting for her to ask him some questions. Asked him why he did what he did. Asked him if he regretted it. Asked him if it was worth it.


    However, Lyca didn''t utter another word. A long time ago, she had wondered why he did it. If he had actually regretted it. If he thought it was worth it. However, this was in the past. Now that she stood in front of him, she had realized that knowing the answer to these questions wouldn''t make her feel anything good.


    If she wanted to move on, she should start by stop asking the why''s and the how''s and ept that no matter what, she couldn''t change everything. Lyca coldly watched as Xu Ke slowly fell on the grown, unconscious. Then she lifted her head towards the thick canopy that still covered this part of the forest, a sigh of relief left her lips.


    Turning around, Lyca walked towards the cliff to watched the sunset. When she arrived, she immediately remembered Shen Qui. They too, had watched the sunrise before, after she massacred those people. That sunrise wasn''t really particrly special. However, hispany was something that she was thankful for.


    Smiling, Lyca sat on the edge of the cliff, her eyes focused on the red and yellow hue that sprawled on the horizon. The sunset was the end of the day, but it was also the beginning of another beautiful night. She sighed and removed the ne that hung peacefully on her neck. Eying the moon pendant, Lyca couldn''t help but wonder who made it.


    The pendant had been with her family in this world for years. It was her grandmother''s, something that was given to her. However, she never expected to see the ne again when she traveled to Earth. Moreover, she never expected that the ne would once againnd on her neck.


    She lifted her gaze towards the horizon as she clutched the pendant tighter. She wished she could just go back. She missed her parents, she missed Shen Qui and her bed. She missed his tea and the pizza that he made. She missed him . And everything about him.

 Chapter 148: Shes back

    Chapter 148: She''s back


    Lyca woke up from her aching head. She frowned, her hand immediately tried to massage her temples as she tried to sit. Then she paused, eyes widened when she realized something. She was currently in a soft bed!


    The sound of the soft refrain of an acoustic guitar immediately attracted her attention. She stilled on the bed, eyes closed as she let out a sigh of relief. She was back. She should be.


    The guitar continued, and it didn''t take her a second to guess that it was Shen Qui. Though, he wasn''t singing along with it. He continued strumming, its sound effortlessly filled the room. It was soothing and hypnotic, and she missed it. Slowly, she opened her eyes as she turned towards her right. Just as she expected, Shen Qui was there. Sitting with his back on her. Engrossed in his own music, Shen Qui was facing the firece with his eyes close.


    For a few seconds, she stared at his shadowed face. The dimly lit room together with the sound of the guitar made her eyes sparkled with tears. Her frowning brows slowly rxed as she chose to keep quiet and listen.


    She''s back.


    Lyca closed her eyes as tears trickled down the side of her face. Memories of what happened in that world surge inside her. Then she shook it out of her head and turned towards Shen Qui. The past her past doesn''t matter anymore.


    "Hey."


    Shen Qui opened his eyes when he heard Lyca''s soft voice. He had dreamed of her calling out to him, he had dreamed of her asking him toe with her. And it always ended up with him waking up, calling out to her name.


    "Hey."


    This time, Shen Qui froze. Frowning, he pressed his lips together. Had he finally lost it? Had he finally be insane?


    "Hey Qui''er."


    Shen Qui''s head turned towards Lyca as fast as a heartbeat. Then his eyes widened as his gaze turned unfocused. He had dreamed of something like this before. He shook his head and stared at Lyca again before he carefully ced his guitar against the wall and pinched the back of his palms.


    Was this another dream? He couldn''t help but ask himself. However, this all stopped when he felt her touch him. His eyes flew open as he stood, almost in a panic.


    Lyca was standing in front of him! She was awake and smiling at him. He gulped, his world stopped when Lyca held his face. She lifted her head and met his eyes.


    "You " he stuttered.


    "This is not a dream." A dimpled smile lingered on her lips before her hand trailed towards his hair. It has gotten longer, the lines on his face had be more pronounced as a stubble silently grew on his chin. She didn''t miss the dark circles under his eyes and and the tears pooling in his


    Lyca''s thoughts were interrupted when he suddenly pulled her for a hug. His arms were tight around her as if he was afraid that she would disappear the moment he loosened his hug. She felt him trembled and sobbed. Lyca immediately hugged him back. She wrapped her arms around him as tightly as she could.


    Who would have thought that she would actually miss this bloke? She chewed on her lip as she tried to stop the sobs from leaving her lips. That would be embarrassing, she thought. Her efforts were futile. It all came crashing down when she heard him let out another sob. She felt his shoulders tremble as his hug became tighter.


    "I can''t" she patted his back. "I can''t breath" These words seemed to wake him up as he pulled away and held her two arms before he started kissing her head then her forehead, down to her cheek and nose then, to her chin and jaw. "Hey, " she uttered, smiling.


    "You are awake." He stated as he wiped his tears and once again pulled away to stare at her face.


    "I am awake."


    "You were sleeping for too long." He didn''t let go of her arms. It made her wonder if he was still afraid that this was all a dream.


    "How long?"


    "Three years."


    "What did you say?"


    "Three years. You slept for three years." Once again, he pulled her in his arms. "Come sit. Do you want to eat something? Let me get you something. What do you want to eat? Chicken and burgers? I can make you some pizza and tea. Maybe some porridge first? Right the Doctor said that  You haven''t eaten any solids for too long you might have "


    "Wait." She stared at Shen Qui that was sitting on the bed with her. He had actually let her lie back down as if "What happened to me?" Why was he treating her as if she got sick?


    Shen Qui pursed his lips. "I think you needed to eat before asking such questions. Let me get you some porridge first. Then we can talk." He left the room without saying another word. Seeing Shen Qui close the door behind him, Lyca''s face immediately turned ugly. Three years? She had been sleeping for three years? She was clearly on that side for days! It wasn''t even a month! It was days, not months, and certainly not three years!


    Why would she sleep her for three years? When Shen Qui came back, Lyca was still in a daze.


    "Here let me" he said as he held the spoon in front of her mouth. She wanted to tell him that she could feed herself, but the look on his face was enough for her to stop all the words that she wanted to say. She silently opened her mouth and ate the porridge that he prepared for her.


    "How did you make porridge so quickly?" she asked.


    "I make one every day," he smiled. "The doctor said it would be good to feed you something like this when you wake up. So I make one every day so I can feed you anytime you wake up."

 Chapter 149: The CEO and the Sleeping Beauty

    Chapter 149: The CEO and the Sleeping Beauty


    "So, are we still married? Did you divorce me?"


    After three years of sleeping, this was the first question that she asked him after she finished her meal. He frowned. "Why would I divorce you?"


    "I slept for three years! Isn''t that something that would warrant a divorce?"


    Again, he gave her a look. Indeed, his Lyca was back with her weird thinking. "No. I would never divorce you."


    "Oh." She smiled and changed the topic. "So, you are telling me that I just didn''t wake up one day? That no matter what you did, I just slept?"


    Shen Qui nodded at her question. Lyca frowned. "For three years?" Again, he nodded as he held her hand. "And what did the doctors said? What about my parents? You didn''t tell them, right?"


    "No, I didn''t. And no one could tell what happened to you. I have contacted a lot of doctors from this continent and abroad."


    She nodded before she held her neck. The ne was silently sitting on her neck. Lyca opened her mouth and ate the peeled grapes that Shen Qui gave her as shey in the bed. Shen Qui, on the other hand, was sitting next to her. "So, we are still in Kong City, and you already owned a lot of clubs?" This was a part of Shen Qui''s story while he was feeding her. "So you have be a CEO, and I I became the sleeping beauty." She chuckled at her own words. When she saw Shen Qui''s serious face, she immediately stopped smiling. "I just " She couldn''t really tell him what happened. She knew he wouldn''t believe her. And honestly, she doesn''t know how to react to his questions about it. She too didn''t understand what happened to her. As far as possible, Lyca wanted to keep what happened a secret.


    Those were a part of her past life, and it had nothing to do with this life.


    "I''m sorry." She said. "I know you were worried about me." He had insisted that they call a specialist to check her body. But she profusely refused. She was fine, she wasn''t ill, and her body was in perfect condition. This, somehow, made him more worried.


    "Why are you apologizing for something that you have no control of?"


    She pursed her lips and said nothing. She really wanted to joke around andugh with him, but it seems that this man had changed. She stared at him. Shen Qui had gotten serious, older, and mature.


    While she


    Her thoughts were interrupted when he held her hand. Squeezing it, Shen Qui smiled at her. Then he cupped her face. "I miss you." She had been gone for so long too long. Then he leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "There were times that I I didn''t know what to do. You were sleeping, and I felt alone." He clenched his jaws, his vulnerable gazended on her eyes. "I didn''t tell mother and father about you, and I asked Yi''an not to tell them either. I asked her to trust me and that I promised her that you will wake up. Mother and father tried reaching out, and I told them this is a crucial moment for us." His mumblings were interrupted when he felt her hand on his cheek.


    He felt her wiped away a tear that fell on his cheek. His eyshes fluttered, embarrassment and reliefced his orbs. For three years, he had been strong.


    For three years, Shen Qui never cried. Not when he was talking to the specialist and not when he was alone with her. For three years, he told himself that he needed to be strong to protect her.


    He stood and fought those people, hoping that she would wake up one day and stand by his side. However, now that she was awake he could only cry like a little baby who found his mother. What an analogy, he thought as he chuckled. He wasn''t a little boy who found his mother. He was a husband who was reunited with his wife.


    In front of those people, Shen Qui was strong and cold. He was a killer, a scary existence. However, in front of Lyca he was just a husband. A lover who missed his wife.


    "I''m sorry," Lyca said as she pulled him in her arms. Going back in time wasn''t something that she expected. It wasn''t a part of her calctions and ns. However, it also gave her the most benefit thest piece of the puzzle she didn''t know shecked. She had found her closure. The proper ending to her story with Xu Ke.


    And now, she was ready to start again.


    Lyca gave Shen Qui a tight hug as a smile hung on her lips. "It''s alright. I am here now," she stroked his back. After a few more seconds in her embrace, Shen Qui pulled away and kissed her lips.


    "Three years it had been three years."


    "That you didn''t sleep with me?" she asked and didn''t miss the amusement in his eyes.


    "That  Yes," he nodded speechlessly. Lyca hasn''t really changed. She was acting like she just slept yesterday and woke up today. This, of course, made him happy. "But I wanted to say that it had been three years. I am now a CEO. I think it is about time that youe to the CEO''s wife?"


    "I was always the CEO''s wife." She uttered before she narrowed her eyes. "Does this mean some women are trying to steal my CEO?"Why else would Shen Qui ask her something like this? She just woke up, and Shen Qui was already asking her to act like a wife. Does she need to fight rivals this time? Just the thought of it immediately made her head hurt. Seeing the suspicion on her eyes, Shen Quiughed, the creases in his forehead disappeared as he shook his head and smiled at her.


    "You really." He chuckled and kissed her again. "Sometimes, I can''t understand the way your mind works."


    "Mr. Shen you are already a CEO, and every TV series is telling me that all CEOs have flocks of women following them around. I just wanted to prepare myself for possible  confrontations and catfight."

 Chapter 150: Dating

    Chapter 150: Dating


    Their conversation was interrupted when the door suddenly burst opened and revealed the pale face of Yi''an. "Young miss!" Unable to stop herself, Yi''an ran towards Lyca and pulled her in a tight hug. "Boss Q called me and told me toe here! I immediately knew that the Young miss is awake."


    "Name''s Xi," Lyca corrected. "Stop calling me young miss."


    "Young Miss!" Yi''an stubbornly said as she pulled away. "Please forgive me young miss but I have been so worried and I just can''t not right now." She shook her head. Seeing this, Lyca let out a sigh as she stood from the bed and stretched her body. For some reason, she doesn''t feel anything numbed from lying for three years. It only felt like she had slept yesterday and woke up refreshed today.


    "Tell me about the Huang Family and the Long Family."


    The two suddenly turned silent at her words. She turned towards them. "Tell me everything."


    "Young miss you were sleeping for three days so a lot of things already happened in the Huang Family." Yi''an eyed Shen Qui. "The Long Family had long taken over and is the current owner of the Huang Security. They made it look like this was a marriage alliance. Long Yi married Huang Xiaoxuan while the old man is still in aa. There were rumors that the old man is already dead but Master Huang Sheng Hong was able to confirm that he was still sleeping. Young Master Zhang actually woke up but he won''t be able to walk again. I believe, they are trying to use some high-tech experiments to make him recover. As for Huang Ying well she instructed her people to imprisoned the master and the madam. However, she is afraid to hurt them as she still doesn''t have any idea about your location. Also" Yi''an talked nonstop about the current affairs of the Huang Family.


    "Rumor has it that Huang Xiaoxuan is already pregnant right now." Yi''an ended her words before she let out a long breath. "Right now, Boss Q just started creating a new securitypany. We have hired experts too however, it wasn''t really that sessful as we don''t have anything that could be considered unique." Both Yi''an and Shen Qui lowered their heads, seemingly embarrassed by the result of their efforts.


    "I see" Lyca nodded. "Well that is not a part of my concern right now." She said. Huang Ying is a coward. She wouldn''t hurt Lyca''s parents knowing that she could stille back. "I just got back." Would she really tackle all this when she just woke up? Not gonna happen. She then looked at Yi''an. "Go out first."


    "But young miss"


    "She is right, Yi''an you can leave now." Shen Qui uttered.


    "Yi''an you are ruining my moment with my husband." She added and smiled. "I want information that''s all. Give me a month." She uttered. "You can leave now."


    Yi''an froze for a few seconds before she stood and gave Lyca another hug then she left without saying anything.


    "Let''s date." Lyca dered when Yi''an left. She met Shen Qui''s eyes and didn''t miss the surprised swirling in his orbs.


    "But your body"


    "No I mean you and me. Let''s start dating."


    "" They are already married. What was she talking about? Of course, Lyca''s next words answered his question.


    "You told me you liked me. Now I realized that I liked you too. Isn''t this the perfect time that we start dating?"


    "We are already married." He reminded her.


    "I know! But we haven''t really dated. We just got married." She uttered. After liking each other, it is only right that they start the next step and that is dating.


    Unable to understand her train of thought, Shen Qui just stared at her in a daze, wondering if she had some sort of amnesia. Clearly, they have been married and made love countless times.


    "I think it is best that we start all over again." Lyca suddenly said. Now that she was free from her past, it is only right to start this rtionship from scratch. This is fair to him and their rtionship.


    "You wanted to start from scratch?"


    "Yes." She decided to be honest. She liked Shen Qui and honestly, she wanted this rtionship to work out. Unlike the previous one that she had, Lyca wanted to know Shen Qui and slowly grow her like to something more. "Why are you staring at me like that?" she asked. "Do you think do you think this is quite abnormal? Do you " she didn''tplete her words when Shen Qui suddenly approached her. He held her waist and pulled her words him.


    "I would be d to date you." He smiled.


    "Really?"


    "Of course." The idea of dating again when they were already married is something that he never thought of before! Was it because they were on the run? Now that Lyca mentioned it, Shen Qui couldn''t stop the smile from leaving his lips.


    "Really?" she smiled.


    Seeing her eyes sparkling, Shen Qui nodded and leaned down to capture her lips. The kiss started as gentle as if he was careful not to hurt her. However, when Lyca sense this, she immediately wrapped her arms around his neck as his hand slowly moved towards the back of his head, locking him into her.


    Soon, the kiss turned hot, clumsy. It only took them a few minutes to undress themselves.


    "Hey what" Shen Qui''s words were interrupted with Lyca''s kisses. "Your body."


    "What?" she asked, irritation apparent in her eyes. "What''s wrong?"


    "You you were sleeping for three years. I don''t think we can do this now."


    "Why not?" her face darkened. Knowing Shen Qui, Lyca already knew that this man wouldn''t really touch her now. "Why not?"


    "Not until you agree to see a doctor with me." He answered sternly. He had watched her while she was sleeping, he took care of her hoping that one day she would wake up. Now, that Lyca was awake, Shen Qui wanted to make sure that there was nothing wrong with her body. Despite the need that hammered through him, Shen Qui''s concern for her still won.


    She red at him. Honestly Lyca didn''t know if she would be happy or angry at this man''s reasoning. "Alright. I agree. Have some doctor check my body." She uttered, a little irritationced her voice.

 Chapter 151: You Will Break

    Chapter 151: You Will Break


    Lyca stared at Shen Qui''s side profile as he listened to the doctor that he invited. For some reason, Shen Qui was showing a different expression as he continued staring at the doctor. It was cold, domineering, and something that she had never seen before. Was this the changes bought by the things that she encountered in thest three years that she wasn''t here?


    "Are you sure she was fine?"


    "Boss Q I already told you. There is nothing wrong with the miss'' body. Every scan that I had is showing the same thing. She is fine. Her bones, her organs, her brains, blood, and even her hair and nails were perfectly fine." The doctor looked at the young white-haired woman thatzily sat next to Shen Qui.


    "Then that is good. You may leave now." Hearing Shen Qui''s words, the Doctor didn''t hesitate. He immediately got up and bowed to Shen Qui before bowing to Lyca. The boss was actually showing so much kindness to the woman, this means that the white-haired woman was really important to the Boss.


    "See? I told you I am fine." Lyca smiled when she noticed the gentleness that shed in Shen Qui''s eyes. "Also I am really hungry. I can''t just eat porridge all the time."


    "Then I will "


    "You can take me out. For lunch." Her words interrupted him.


    "Alright," he stood and immediately pulled her towards the closet. "I bought the clothes. In case you woke up."


    She lifted an eyebrow. "You bought all this?" She eyed the array of ck and red dress and pants in front of her. Each has different types of fabric, style, and shade of color. Her hand immediately grabbed the ck dress that would perfectly hug her body. Then she started undressing her clothes in front of him.


    Seeing her naked form, Shen Qui chuckled. "Lunch."


    "You already have your lunch in front of you and yet you still act like that." She snorted, her body easily slipping into the ck dress. Shen Qui told her that he would actually wipe her clean every day, she wondered if thetter would


    "I haven''t touched you for three years." As if reading her mind, Shen Qui immediately reasoned. "I just wiped you. No naughty stuff."


    She pouted and rolled her eyes. "Did you sleep with someone else while I was sleeping?"


    "Of course not!" he answered without batting an eyelid.


    "Then why aren''t you touching me? Don''t you miss me?"


    He lifted an eyebrow. "You woke up a few hours ago. Not even twenty-four hours and you are already thinking about things that might damage your body." He approached her and helped her with the zipper of her ck dress. Then he added casually, "I missed you so much. No words would be able to describe my current emotions. However, I am not a fool. Wanting you is different from needing you. I don''t just want you Lyca. I need you. And needing you would require your body in top condition. It would need you to eat and sleep and recover from whatever it Is that made you sleep for three years. Or"


    "Or what?" she challenged. "What will happen if I don''t do that?"


    "You won''tst an hour." He smiled. "You will break."


    His words were gentle and soft that she wondered if she had actually misinterpreted the warning in his voice. She felt her stomach tightened at his words. She met his eyes and immediately noticed the change in those eyes dark chocte. It had turned darker than its usual dark brown color.


    "You really are"she shook her head. She already felt her core turned wet, her nipples reacting to the words that he used to describe what would happen to her once she won''t listen to what he wanted. She knew it was for her own good. However, the pulsations inside her seemed to remind her that she had been dry for three f*cking years. "Do you know what would happen to you if I knew that you slept with someone else in the past three years?"


    "You don''t trust me." He stated. "That is understandable."He nodded and held her chin. "I have never and would never betray you."


    "That wasn''t the answer to my question." Unfazed, Lyca held his gaze. She was hungry not for any fancy food. She was hungry for him. But sadly, this man would always prioritize her wellbeing above everything else.


    "No, and that will never happen."


    "Good." She didn''t hide the sinister glint in her eyes as her lips curved into a sexy smile. "Do you know how much I want you, right now?"


    "I can guess." He murmured. "But that can wait." His hand trailed towards her jaws, down to her neck and corbone. Then into her breast, slowly cupping them but quickly moving on towards his stomach and her waist.


    "You really know how to torture me." She wasn''t expecting her body to react like this. "I hate you."


    "Really?"


    She nodded and tried to take a step away from him but he was quick enough to stop her. He turned her around, her back against his chest. Then he lifted her and slowly pushed her against the wall. Then he used his other hand to put her two hands above her. "One move and I will stop." He said, his voice enough to send shivers down her spine. She could feel his erection pressing against her lower back. She wanted to move her hips, rubbed it against his manhood but his warning seemed to make her freeze.


    Lyca faced the wall, her hands up as she stood as still as a statue.


    Then she waited. Waited for him to touch her.


    .....


    I already promised 4 chapters for Viin''s Redemption tomorrow. So I MIGHT not be able to write more chapters for this novel tomorrow (Just 2)


    Please don''t forget to vote for the novel and thank you so much for your support.

 Chapter 152: Realizations and Jealousy

    Chapter 152: Realizations and Jealousy


    However, the touch that she anticipated didn''t arrive. She frowned and turned towards his phone that vibrated against the table a few feet away from them. Frowning, Lyca turned towards Shen Qui who was deliberating if he would answer it or not. Her face immediately turned ugly as the realization hit her.


    This was not three years ago. He was no longer the Shen Qui that she adored. He was a fully grown-up man with a business to handle while sheshe was different.


    Lyca pursed her lips and hid the irritation in her eyes before she suddenly walked towards the phone and handed it to him. Then, she stared at him. "Call me once the car is ready." Without any hesitation, Lyca turned her back away from him.


    This was not her trying to throw another tantrum. This was her trying to understand that Shen Qui had a life other than her. His world no longer revolves around her anymore. And just like him she should have a life too.


    She grabbed a coat, and her wallet that was in the closet before she walked out of their room and was immediately weed by the changes in front of the house. The lights were different, the paint and even the furniture were all different. She hid the distorted emotion that she felt.


    She was, after all, gone for three years. Did she think that the world would stop just because she was sleeping?


    The air was suddenly interrupted by the sound of the ss breaking, shattering into smaller pieces as it hit the floor. Lyca turned towards the woman standing a few feet away from her. Rue stared back at her, eyes wide, mouth agape.


    "You You are "


    She didn''t let Rue finished her words as she shrugged and continued walking towards the elevator. She could understand the surprise in the woman''s face as Shen Qui didn''t inform them yet that she was back, alive and kicking. Lyca felt the woman''s gaze follow her until the elevator closed. She also saw Shen Qui walking out of the room, walking towards her, with his worried expression.


    However, Lyca quickly pressed the close button of the elevator. She would honestly want to be alone for a few minutes. When Lyca hit the ground floor of the club, her eyes had to adjust to more changes. The club seemed to have be bigger, grander. Huge cylinder-like chandeliers hung on the high ceiling as soft music engulfed the area. Then a piano was in the center on the dancefloor. It was ck and shining against the soft lights of red and blue that came from the ceiling.


    A soft sigh escaped her lips. Three years was indeed a very long time.


    She walked out of the club and actually realized that it wasn''t noon. It was already about to get dark. She looked at the sky, face serious as she asked herself if she was really this unlucky.


    First, she fell in love in that world, then the man that she loved or she thought she loved killed her. Then her soul actually got transferred into this world where she found a simple goal, a simple purpose. Who would have thought that she would go back into that world? "Well f*ck you." She uttered. She doesn''t really know if she wanted to say this to herself or to the person that seemed to y with her fate.


    Lyca couldn''t help but asked if someone had actually cursed her fate in her past past life.


    Then she started walking to her left. She had been gone for three years, and everything around her including the man that she liked had changed. Honestly, she thought that she could still act the same around him. She tried to at least she did.


    But the gap between them was just too massive. She didn''t know how to fill it up again. This cursed fate was really making her life harder, ah. All she wanted was to livezily and yet and yet everything around her was just making her work harder. Even Shen Qui it seems that now, she would need to work harder to be able to be the CEO''szy wife. It seems that she really needed to adjust her mental state of mind before she could see Shen Qui again.


    Sighing, Lyca''s feet brought her to the center of the city. She didn''t how far had she walked or how long was she gone. When her feet started to hurt, Lyca finally realized that she was wearing a high heeled boot while walking in the streets of Kong City. "So smart." She mumbled as she leaned against a car that was parked in front of a restaurant. Then the sound of her grumbling stomach reminded her of  her husband.


    Slowly, Lyca''s eyes widened. She told Shen Qui to call her but but she actually didn''t bring any phone! She closed her eyes in irritation. Ah, she had been really careless.


    "Hey, we don''t allow anyone loitering here." A muscr person wearing a white uniform approached. "This is a private restaurant. You can go inside and order. But if you are waiting for anyone, please wait somewhere else. This is only for our customers."


    She froze for a few seconds before she shrugged and walked inside the restaurant. She was hungry, and since she actually can''t contact Shen Qui, she would rather eat here alone.


    "Miss I apologize, but all of our tables that could amodate one person were taken. Would it be okay, if I arranged a seat that is for two people?"


    Lyca immediately nodded at the attendant and followed her into a private room that was the only avable in the restaurant. After making herselffortable, Lyca immediately ordered her food and silently waiting for her order.


    The private room was actually it actually looked romantic. It was a simple room with paper walls and somenterns. The sound of the flowing water added to the oriental vibe that the ce wanted to show. A soft, yellowish lighting made the ce morefortable. It immediately reminded her of the ce that Shen Qui and her visited while they were running away. That''s right, this ce just looked like that hot spring! She smiled at the thought of him. She had actually missed that guy.


    After a few minutes of thinking about everything that she missed, Lyca finally realized something. So immediately opened her wallet and gritted her teeth when she realized that it doesn''t have cash on it. Why would Shen Qui remove all her cash? Well now that she thought about it. She wasn''t really holding a wallet but a cardholder!


    She was really hopeless!


    At least, the cards inside were all credit cards that she set up before she became the sleeping beauty. Ahhh she really wanted to smack herself in the head. It was as if sleeping for three years really made her muddled. Why was she even sulking about something so useless? When she was in that world, she had thought of making her life better by forgetting about her past and starting a new life with Shen Qui and her parents.


    And the first thing that she actually did when she arrived was run away.


    "Miss I am sorry but  would it be okay for you if you  transfer to another private room? Someone actually wanted to use this room for dinner. I would really like to apologize for "


    "No." Lyca interrupted the attendant''s words. "Please serve my food. I am a bit hungry."


    Surprised at her words, the attendant stared at her. "Miss please I am begging you. The person who wanted to use this room is a friend of our boss Q. And she is a bit demanding. She said he would ask the boss to fire me if you "


    "Boss Q from the Conspiracy?" she lifted an eyebrow.


    "Yes, Miss. It is indeed Boss Q."


    "Then tell that person to pound sand. I am not moving, and I am hungry."


    "Miss please." The attendant was about to say something more when a man wearing ck suddenly strode inside.


    "What''s taking you so long? Our Young Miss wanted this because of the view. I already told you, she is a close friend of Master Q. She and Master Q had a very close rtionship!"


    Lyca''s face immediately darkened. The word ''close rtionship'' seemed to echo inside her head."I am not leaving my seat. You can however call Master Q. Tell him I want him toe here this instant."


    Her words surprised the man and attendant.


    "Who do you think you are?" the man immediately raised his voice but was unable to approach her when he felt himself losing control of his right leg.


    "Give me your phone," Lyca said, but she didn''t wait for the woman to answer. Lyca used his agile hands to get the phone from the woman''s pocket. She doesn''t really have any idea if Shen Qui still has the same number. However, she was only hoping that her luck wasn''t actually that bad.


    She dialed Shen Qui''s number and immediately smiled when she heard a ring.


    "Lyca? Where have you been? What the "


    "Come save me," Lyca uttered. She didn''t even wonder why Shen Qui knew it was her on the other line. Lyca continued, "Someone was iming to be your wife, and if you don''te here I will kill everyone in this ce. I will give you ten minutes. Track this phone number."

 Chapter 153: Ten-Minute Mark

    Chapter 153: Ten-Minute Mark


    "You Who are you?" after a few seconds of the numbing feeling, the man finally managed to regain his strength.


    Lyca didn''t miss the hesitation that shed in the man''s eyes.


    "How dare you treat Boss Q like that?"


    "Simon? What is going on here?" a sweet, melodious voice suddenly interrupted the tense atmosphere. The sound of a woman''s heels nking against the floor echoed. Soon enough, a blond woman walked inside the room. "What is taking so long?" the woman''s gazended on Lyca. "If she wanted money just give her money. There is no need to attract any more attention."


    "Miss Jessica, this woman just she just called Boss Q."


    "Hm?" the woman stared at Lyca, eyebrow lifted then sheughed. Even the woman''sughter sounded beautiful, soft, and gentle. "And you believed her? Do you think anyone could just call Q?"


    "Miss Jessica, this woman really did"


    "How much money do you want?" Jessica asked.


    "How much money do you have?" Lyca responded as she crossed her right leg over the other. Then she stared at the woman''s blue eyes that reminded her of the ocean. "Are you Q''s woman?" Almost immediately, Jessica''s cheeks reddened as she turned her head away.


    "That is none of your business." Jessica bit her lip, looking extremely beautiful as she batted her eye shes.


    "Miss Jessica and Boss Q are the top couple here in Kong City! Everyone is aware of that." Man answered.


    "Is that so?" Lyca said, hiding the sinister glint in her eyes. "Do you know he was married?"


    "Those are rumors." Again, the man answered. "If Boss Q would marry someone that he would marry Miss Jessica."


    "Stop it, Simon. What are you talking about?" Jessica''s face turned red, it looked like she was about to burst. Lyca sneered silently. She wasn''t denying the jealousy that she currently felt. It was hot and suffocating and probably the worse thing that she felt since she came back.


    Realization immediately hit her. She liked Shen Qui to the point of wanting to kill this woman just because she was blushing!


    "If you and Q were really that close why not call him here?" Lyca said. "So we can talk. Properly."


    "Do you think I would just disturb his business because I can?" Jessica fired back. "I am not that insane."


    Lyca sneered in response. The anger in her heart surged, like hotva threatening to erupt.


    "So, if you don''t want Boss Q''s people hunting you. I suggest you leave this ce right now and don''t let Miss Jessica see your face again."


    "If you badly want this room, then I can give it to you," Lyca answered the man. "But you have to give me your head."


    "You" Jessica and the man''s face changed from her words. She smiled at them as she continued.


    "That or you can try and force me out. But fair warning. It would be messy."


    "This woman is really " the man wasn''t able to finish his sentence when Lyca suddenly took off her highheeled boots. "What are you doing?"


    "Again, if you want me out. I suggest you use force and give me your best shot."


    "Miss Jessica, this woman is really "


    "Miss look" Jessica ignored Simon''s words as she took a step towards Lyca. "I am not sure why you don''t recognize me. But my father is Mayor Dongfang. Do you really want to offend Boss Q and my father just because of your stubbornness?" Jessica prided herself on being gentle even in the middle of confrontations like this. She would always maintain a smile on her face even when she was dealing with angry people. Because of this, she wasbeled as Goddess Jessica, who loved to do a lot of charity works and would probably be the next Mayor of the City. "As I said I can give you some money for you to transfer. There is really no need for us to act so aggressively when we can always solve this by having a decent conversation."


    Lyca''s lips pursed into a straight line. Too bad she was toozy for conversations. She would rather attack first before talking than talk and talk and talk and waste each other''s saliva without really seeing much results. She tilted her head as she inhaled a sharp breath. Then she licked her lower lip.


    "So? How much is it? I can give you everything in cash." Jessica gave her a polite smile. Sadly, Lyca had always hated Polite people. It reminded her of those ministers in her previous life. People who always act polite and gentle and they wouldn''t hesitate to stab you in the back.


    "I am not moving." She crossed her arms and met Jessica''s eyes. "And I am not talking."


    "This woman is really disrespectful." Simon spat as he strode towards Lyca, to grab her arms and throw her out of the room. However, before she could reach Lyca, a chair blocked him. He wasn''t sure if Lyca actually kicked the chair as she didn''t notice her leg move. The chair was enough to slow his movements.


    "You sure you won''t wait for ten minutes?" She asked Simon. As much as possible, she would want to wait for Shen Qui but if these two are really that eager to die then "Well then how about " She didn''t finish her words as she suddenly threw one of her boot towards Simon.


    *PAK*


    The tform hitting Simon''s forehead was followed by his angry grunt. She watched as Simon staggered and lost his bnce before she looked at the wide-eyed Jessica. "You can either call your people and have everyone attack me at the same time or You stay here, and I use my other heel to hit your head. What do you think Miss Jessica?"


    "You "


    "Miss Jessica call the security and the other people. This woman just assaulted me." Simon struggled to stand, the bleeding on his forehead was enough to make him look more hideous.


    Lyca snorted as she nced at the phone in her hands. She knew that Shen Qui would easily find her. After all, he still had Rue and Ronan. "Ten minutes is almost up," she uttered and shifted her gaze back to Simon. "You will die on the ten-minute mark."

 Chapter 154: Miss Xi

    Chapter 154: Miss Xi


    "Crazy! This woman is crazy!" Simon mumbled before he finally decided to remove his phone and send an emergency call to Miss Jessica''s personal guards. Seeing that that woman didn''t stop him or had no intention of speaking again, he immediately instructed his people toe and bring their short firearms. Since the woman wasn''t easily intimidated by money, position, and even him, she figured that a group of men wearing ck with short firearms would be enough to scare her off.


    This City was not particrly new when ites to these things. In fact, this was considered the norm in ces like this. He looked at the pale face of Jessica. "Miss Jessica please hide behind me." He stood in front of Lyca, knees shaking. "You will regret this."


    "I am in a bad mood today," Lyca said. "And that is the reason why I am letting you suffer. If I was in a good mood you would have been dead by now." If she was in a good mood, she would want to finish this as fast as she can. Kill the man and finish her meal. She then turned towards the trembling attendant. "I want my food now. I am hungry."


    "This I Miss "


    "Now!" she hissed.


    "Don''t listen to her," Simon uttered. "She is crazy. Just call security." If she wasn''t crazy, the name of Boss Q or Jessica''s father would have been enough to make her run far away from this ce.


    "But But "


    "Miss Jessica knows your boss! Do you really want to get fired from your job?"


    "Yes Yes, Mr. Simon." The attendant gave Lyca an apologetic look before she ran out of the private room.


    "See that?" Simon looked at the woman whom he hasn''t recognized. Simon was certain that he had met everyone influential in this City before. Be it the corrupt politicians and their families to the gang leaders and their daughters. Not one of them has someone who had white hair. He was certain that he wouldn''t miss someone like Lyca. "This is what happens if you really try to offend someone you don''t know." A smirk escaped his lips when four of his men entered the small private room.


    "Get this woman out of here. Miss Jessica wanted this ce and yet this woman was trying to act like she owns the ce." The four men bowed at Simon before they approached Lyca. Each of them have serious expressions on their faces, some even have sinister glints in their eyes.


    Squinting her eyes at them, Lyca stood and didn''t hesitate tounch the first attack. She was never the type to wait for someone to attack her. She would rather kill than be killed.


    *CRACK*


    The sound of someone''s arms broken seemed to wake up everyone''s previous opinions about Lyca. The atmosphere turned even more tensed as she let go of a kick, letting itnd in the jaws of one man approaching her. Then she pivoted, turning her heel as she threw a dagger towards Simon, hitting his legs.


    *AHHHHH!*


    Lyca didn''t stop. Kicks and punches were thrown towards the other guards, each hitting them in the face and other body parts. Soon, moans of pain echoed inside the small room.


    "All this because you wanted to sit on this table." Lyca looked at Jessica who trembled from her gaze. "All this because you wanted to use your connections to make people do your bidding." Lyca touched the table, unable to stop herself she balled her hand into fists and threw a punch towards the table.


    The loud sound of the wood hitting her skin echoed. Then she nced at her bleeding hands, the small pain that she felt only meant that she was still alive and that this wasn''t a dream. She was angry. She was jealous, and she really wanted to kill people. She smiled and took a step towards Jessica. In response, Jessica took a step back, face pale as she trembled.


    "Don''t  Don''t get too close!" Jessica spat. "Who are you? Who sent you? Is it my father''s enemy? Are you here to take my life?"


    Lyca snorted. "You think too much." She was only here to eat. But this woman wanted to provoke her by using Shen Qui''s name. Isn''t that funny?


    "What is happening here?" a woman''s voice interrupted Lyca. She immediately turned towards the woman wearing an all-ck suit with a pencil skirt. Surprised shed in her eyes. "Xi? Miss Xi?" The woman in front of her was the woman that she saved from that gang. The thief, Cleo Stevens. "I Miss Xi!" Cleo threw her arms towards Lyca while ignoring the group of men on the floor.


    What is more important than seeing the woman who saved her? Even though Lyca was having a white wig this time, Cleo could still recognize her as she actually had Lyca''s face itched in the deepest parts of her memories.


    "Manager Cleo!" Jessica uttered as she bit her lips. A few minutes ago, she didn''t understand the confidence that Lyca had about Boss Q. But seeing the manager easily recognized Lyca, she immediately intervened and, see if the woman also recognized her. Seeing the sh of recognition in Cleo''s gaze towards her, a sigh of relief escaped Jessica''s lips.


    "Miss Jessica." Cleo gave the woman a cordial smile. Still, she didn''t even look at the people on the floor who were seething with both anger and embarrassment. "Is there a reason why your bodyguards would disturb important guests in the restaurant?"


    "Manager Cleo" Jessica almost immediately bit her lips. She lowered her gaze, looking wronged and aggrieved. "I only wanted to sit in this VIP room. You have seen me use this room all the time since since this is where I met Boss Q before. But she I have actually offered some initiative for her, including offering a payment. However, she still wouldn''t leave the room. This room is of the utmost importance to me. It held some special meaning to my heart, and everyone here knows that. So I "


    "So you told your people to attack a small woman like Miss Xi?"


    "Manager Cleo actually it was the other way around. She was the one who attacked my people." Jessica said. However, she immediately realized something. The woman named Xi was small, probably about five foot six, and she was skinny. Her face was pale, and her hands were bleeding. No matter where someone would look at it, they would immediately think that the group of six-foot men attacked her and she was only defending herself.


    These thoughts were soon interrupted when footsteps echoed outside of the room. Then the door was opened by one of Shen Qui''s men, letting him inside. When Jessica saw this, relief shed in her eyes. "Boss Q!" she almost eximed but immediately hid the enthusiasm in her voice. "Boss Q!" The boss actually came here to save her from the crazy woman''s clutches.


    However, the gentle smile on her face froze. Then she realized that Shen Qui wasn''t even looking at her... His gaze was instead directed to the white-haired woman named Xi.


    "I was so worried." She heard Shen Qui said before he strode towards the white-haired woman and pulled her in a tight hug.

 Chapter 155: Vulnerable

    Chapter 155: Vulnerable


    Lyca bathe on his warmth as she lifted her arms and folded them around him. It was as if she hadn''t seen him for days when it was only hours. Yes, she missed him and this incident made her realize that she had been naive and immature. She honestly, was too frightened to attach herself again but was adamant to start a new rtionship with Shen Qui.


    His soft expression made the guilt that she felt more suffocating.


    "Don''t do that again." His gentle voice made her swallow all the exnations that she wanted to tell him. Instead, Lyca tightened her arms around him.


    Lyca bit her lower lips before she whispered. "I''m sorry." There are no other words that could describe what she felt. It wasn''t just embarrassment for her actions and guilt over the fact that he had been so worried about her. It wasn''t just the fact that he still acted as if she wasn''t acting like a child.


    She felt him stroke the back of her head, his arms easing around her. "What happened here?"


    She froze as she recalled that people were still watching them. Lyca slowly pulled away from his hug and looked at everyone in the room. "This is your restaurant?"


    "Ours." Shen Qui corrected.


    She nodded in response. "Then I don''t want to see them again."


    "Understood." Shen Qui nodded and looked at one of his people. Almost immediately, his men helped the people on the floor up.


    "Your master Q! What are you doing? These people are my bodyguards."


    "And?" There was no amusement in Shen Qui''s voice.


    "I I " Jessica gulped as she nervously looked at Simon as if trying to ask him to help her. And he did. The man immediately said.


    "Why would you banned us in this ce?"


    "Aside from the fact that the owner doesn''t want you here?" Shen Qui fired back, he looked down towards Simon''s leg before he snorted. "You dared attack the owner and you still asked why you were banned? Did a donkey kick your head?"


    Lyca pursed her lips as she stopped theughter from escaping her mouth. It seems that Shen Qui was still the same all along. She yfully pinched his arms as her eyes twinkled with mischief.


    "Take them out Including the mayor''s daughter." Shen Qui uttered.


    "Young Master Q! You can''t do that to Miss Jessica! She is "


    "Now." After Shen Qui''s words, more people suddenly arrived in the room and almost dragged Simon and the others out of the room.


    "My father will surely know how you treated me today!" Jessica pouted as she red at Lyca. "I hope it''s worth it." Warningced his voice before she stormed off and followed her people out of the room.


    The silence that followed seemed to wake Lyca up from her stupor. She lifted her head and stared at him. She wasn''t surprised to see him already staring at her. "I''m sorry."


    "Let''s go." Shen Qui gave her a wry smile as he tried to lead her out of the room.


    "But "


    "Is there something wrong?"


    "I''m hungry."


    Realization shed in his eyes before he chuckled. "To the office."


    "Oh!" she nodded. She had forgotten that Shen Qui owned this ce. He should have his own office in this facility. She smiled and followed him out before she realized that she wasn''t wearing her shoes anymore. She halted her steps, looked at her feet before lifting her gaze back to the man next to him. Without saying another word, Shen Qui lowered himself and carried her in his arms like a princess, an action that made her smile. Then he brought her inside a room that was three times bigger than the private room earlier.


    The locking sound of the door almost made her flinched. She turned towards him and eyed his hands that were still on hers. "I think I was overwhelmed," she started. The small distance between them somehow made her feel a little lonely and confused. She met his gaze. "Waking up " And realizing that she wasn''t gone for days but years. "Waking up, three years after, was overwhelming. I don''t know if I should be happy or sad. I don''t know how to act. I don''t even know how to act around you." For the first time sinceing into this world, Lyca started fidgeting.


    She tried to lower her head and avoid his gaze, but Shen Qui was quick to hold her chin up. "I''m sorry," he said as he erased the small distance between them. His warmth immediately sent flutters on her skin. Her gaze turned ssy, she felt her cheeks turned hot as tears pooled in her eyes. She held her breath, trying her best to act strong in front of him.


    Since they had been together, Lyca had never shown any of her vulnerability. She had avoided it and run from it. But this time it''s different. She wanted him to hear everything, her fears, her wants, her anxiety when she arrived. But no words came out of her mouth. Instead, her tears started flowing on her cheeks. Her upper lip quivered.


    She could feel her emotions ran rampant. Lyca closed her eyes, she could hear her heartbeat racing against her chest, it thundered against her ears. "I''m sorry," she whimpered. She didn''t know if this was an apology for her cursed fate, for her husband who had clearly suffered while she was sleeping, for herself who found it hard to adjust to this new reality, or for everything.


    Letting out an uncontroble sob, Lyca felt his thumb wiped away the tears on her cheeks as he cupped her face. Lyca slowly opened her eyes. The creases on her eyebrows eased when she saw the gentleness in his orbs. There wasn''t a hint of anger in his brown eyes, not a tinge of irritation. Only patience kindness and some other emotions that she didn''t recognize.


    Shen Qui rested his forehead against hers as his lips lifted into a slight smile. "You really are a handful."


    "Did you regret marrying me?" she asked.


    "Not a bit."


    She beamed at that. "Same," she uttered. "I think I would never regret bing your wife."

 Chapter 156: Hormonal teenager

    Chapter 156: Hormonal teenager


    SEMI R18? Someone should tell me if this is considered Semi. lol


    .....


    They were both scared.


    That was something that Shen Qui was aware of. He was scared to lose her again while she was scared to face everything. And talking about what scares them was just something else entirely. He knew she wasn''t ready to do that with him.


    He stared at Lyca, who was sitting next to him, her legs were rested on hisp as she finished her tea. A satisfied smile lingered on her face. She had been saying how she loved the burgers and had proven it by actually eating four of them on top of the braised pork and sweet and sour fish that she had. This made Shen Qui smile.


    "The call that I took earlier" Shen Qui interrupted the silence. "It''s from a spy in the Huang Security."


    She nodded. "And I assume that was why you paused?" She immediately assumed that it was work or someone else, she didn''t really think that he would have a lot of phones. She also never considered the fact that it might be someone from Long City.


    "Huang Ying is trying to use her authority to force your parents into telling them where you are. I believe she is still angry about her son."


    "I see." Lyca squinted at the tea before she epted a tablet that Shen Qui handed. After reading the contents, Lyca''s expression changed. It seems that she can''t rest for now. She needed to show her ws. Sighing, Lyca started reading everything. "When did youpile all these?"


    "I figured you needed all the updates when you wake up."


    She looked at him. So far, he had been really meticulous about everything. He had prepared food every day, in case she woke up. It was, of course, normal for him to prepare a file that contains every single detail on their Empire. He even included their current worth.


    She stopped herself from smiling too much. Shen Qui had always been thoughtful and considerate. Slowly, she lifted her gaze from the numbers and peeked at his serious expression while he started talking about the details on the tablet.


    Her eyesnded on the small stubble on his face, wondering if it would feel ticklish against her skin. Then she stared at his lips, slightly parted, moist as he continued talking, unaware of the thoughts running in her head. Lyca gave a cheeky grin, watching him discuss things made her want to just jumped into his arms and get naked.


    Was that really too much to ask?


    A part of her wondered what would he do if she would use her strength to subdue him. Squinting her eyes, Lyca''s mind started swirling, desire shed in her eyes as she gulped.


    "Are you alright?" He asked, his handsnded on top of her leg. She didn''t know if he was intentionally stroking her leg because he noticed the changes in her eyes or he was only concern that she would fall asleep again.


    "I''m perfect." She said while staring at his hands. His fingers were long, callused, and big. She missed it.


    "You sure?" his words interrupted her stupor.


    "Sure," she dragged her eyes towards his concerned face as she smiled. "I feel good." But she wanted to feel better. She wanted to feel his arms on her breast and her waist and inside her core. She wanted to feel him inside her. "Continue." She said, wondering if she had identally let out a moan as she thought about his hands.


    "You are so red." He moved towards her and put his palm on her forehead. "Do you have a fever?"


    How clueless, she mused inwardly. And she loved it.


    "No. I am just a little hot." Should she ask him to take off his shirt? She wondered before she giggled. "But I feel wonderful." She stared at his eyes. "Even the doctors were sure that I am doing good." She reiterated, she wanted to mention this fact over and over to him, get it into his thick skull, make him realized that she wasn''t just hot about all this. She was bothered and wet, and it was turning her into a hormonal teenager.


    "Alright," he suddenly pulled her towards hisp, hugging her from behind as he rested his chin on her shoulder. "This one is our fifth club. I started this just a year ago. Look at the profits" he started pointing at the numbers on the tablet, unaware that Lyca wasn''t really listening to any of his words.


    She didn''t know if she would wiggle her bottom just to make him notice, or she would identally moan just to


    "Behave."


    She froze at his words.


    "Hundred percent, remember?" he said, which really sounded like a rasp against her ears. She knew he wouldn''t touch her until he was sure that she was fine. For some reason, this is really irritating her. The doctor''s words and even her words were not enough to assure him. She immediately wondered what kind of assurance does he wanted.


    However, who was he to stop her fantasy? She gave a mischievous smile before she nodded. "It''s hot I am taking off my jacket." She didn''t wait for him to respond. Lyca took off her jacket as she sat on hisp, showing him her pale neck while she slid her arms out of the fabric. When she felt him kiss the back of her neck, Lyca almost wanted to cry from happiness.


    Is this it?


    Of course, disappointment rush inside her when he started talking about the business again. She knew he was proud, and he wanted her to know how hard he had worked. But this was really not the time for that! Why was this man so weird? She rolled her eyes and forced all the erotic thoughts out of her dirty little brain.


    Judging from Shen Qui''s romantic side, Lyca could predict that he would want the sex to be on the bed, perhaps some candlelights and sweet music. Of course, that was not the problem. She loved that too. The problem is actually WHEN!?


    Was he nning to kill her or punish her by prolonging her agony?


    "Hey, I need something." She decided to try again. After all, failing three times doesn''t really mean that she would just give up. Quitting was never a part of her option.


    "Hm? Are you still hungry?"


    "I need new underwear."


    "Oh... Then let''s buy some tomorrow."


    "I need new underwear now."


    "Why? I don''t think you gain any weight since you started sleeping." She doesn''t need to turn towards him to know that he was frowning. She felt his gaze on her back, trying to assess if she lost some of her weight.


    "The one I''m wearing is currently wet." She managed to say after a few seconds. Then she turned towards him. "And it will continue So it''s either you do something about it. Or buy me new ones."


    His lips parted at her words. Surprised and desire shed in his eyes before his gazended on her lips, slowly moving towards her neck and into her chest. A satisfied smile appeared on her lips before she heard Shen Qui''s next words.


    "Then let''s go buy you new ones."

 Chapter 157: The Real Her

    Chapter 157: The Real Her


    The changes in Lyca''s face made Shen Qui chuckle, he turned his head away before bursting out into a softughter. For a few seconds, Lyca was confused. She squinted her eyes, her face morphing into a frown before she gave him a yful shove. She moved away from hisp and sat a few feet away from him.


    He turned at her and gave her a wide-eyed look before dissolving into another puddle ofughter.


    "Stopughing!" she hissed while pinching his arm. Seeing Shen Qui''s carefree self-made her smile inwardly. Now that he was acting like this, Lyca immediately felt that he had turned younger. The creases on his forehead disappeared and were reced by the face of the man that she knew before she fell asleep. "Stop mocking me!" she uttered and red at him. And he did before hepulled her back towards him and let her sat on hisp, straddling him. Lyca let out a soft squeal from the sudden action.


    Smiling, Shen Qui held her waist as he lifted his head, staring straight at her. "You look cute when you do that."


    "Do what?" Does she look cute when she tried to flirt? Was he trying to say that she looked like a child while flirting? Then that could mean it was a failure. Flirting was supposed to make her look a little sexier. Not cute.


    "When you pinch me."


    "Masochist." She squinted at him while she used his shoulders to support her arm and rested her forehead against his.


    "I meant the face that you make."


    She chuckled at his rification. Closing her eyes, Lyca slowly inhaled his scent. "I think I am hungry, again."


    He cocked his eyebrow. "You were always hungry. How are you doing that?"


    "I should ask you the same question." She decided to be upfront. "How can you stand this? You do know this is doing nothing but fuel my insecurities, right?"


    "I wasn''t aware that you have insecurities." He blinked at her. She was perfect in his eyes. How could someone like that be insecure? He was certain that Lyca would be toozy to even think about insecurities.


    "I was gone for three years." She uttered. "What if you found someone else better than me?" Isn''t it better to talk about this now than have unresolved issuester on? Communication. She remembered reading about this. She remembered some dramas that she had watched about misunderstandings just because of theck ofmunication.


    Well Shen Qui and her were already dating, and she wasn''t nning to ruin that.


    "Is there really anyone better than you?"


    His words made her beamed. "For some reason, I think your mouth has be better at these things."


    He only chuckled before sighing. "I don''t want to hurt you."


    "You really think you can hurt me?" she noticed the guilt in his eyes. "You don''t tell me"


    "What?"


    "Did something happen down there?" Her eyes widened. "Are you already impotent? Or was it damaged?"


    Shen Qui''s jaws dropped on the floor. This This again?


    "Be honest!" Her tone changed. "Is it already useless?"


    He honestly, didn''t know if he shouldugh out loud or cry from her words. In the end, he shook his head and put his hand at the back of her head, pulling her down for a kiss. "I''m afraid." He uttered in between the kisses. He wasn''t only afraid of hurting her. He was afraid that he would wake up after he savored her.


    Until now, Shen Qui still felt that he was dreaming. That he was in limbo. He had this dreamed before. Of them eating together, happily chatting, yfully kissing. Of her running away and him finding her. Then he would touch her, give her what she wanted, and she would disappear.


    Just like that, he would wake up miserable, angry, and sad. He wouldn''t want that again. To Shen Qui, having her like this in a dream is better than watching her disappear again.


    Suddenly, the room resounded with Lyca''sughter before her expression soften. Her hand soon traveled on his neck as she met his confused gaze. "In your dreams " she smiled. "Did I try to kill you?"


    His Adam''s apple bobbed at her questions. However, before he could even open his mouth, a dagger was already on his throat. This This was definitely not a part of his dream.


    "Who would have thought that one day, I would use coercion just to have someone sleep with me?" She didn''t hide the adoration in her voice as she moistened her lips. Shen Qui''s thought surprised her but shepletely understood it. After all, Shen Qui was alone.


    He already lost a lot of people around him. His father abandoned him, his mother is dead, the whole main branch of the Shen Family died including his uncle who raised him. His fear to lose someone again was understandable. She tightened her hand around the hilt of her dagger and pressed it against his neck. Smiling, Lyca leaned closer until her lips touched his ears. "Should I draw a little blood?" she whispered.


    She wasn''t some sadist, and she was certain he wasn''t a masochist but the fact that her dagger was against his throat right now was somehow turning her on. Sheughed inwardly. That That sounded a little intense and dark.


    But it sounded like her the real her.


    For a few seconds, Shen Qui froze. The sharp object pressed against his throat seemed to assure him that this was all real. He suddenly held her shoulder and slowly pushed her body away from his. Lyca was still on hisp, smiling. Her dagger was still on his throat as he stared at the mischief on her face.


    He squinted at the cheeky grin on her face. Absorbed by the current electric current running on his veins, resolve shed in Shen Qui''s eyes as his hand locked into her small waist. His other hand cupped the side of her face, his thumb stroked her cheeks, gently. Then he leaned forward and captured her lips.

 Chapter 158: I Promise

    Chapter 158: I Promise


    R18


    ..........................


    The moan that Lyca made when Shen Qui ripped her clothes was guttural. It was raw and pure of desire. Was it even possible toe just from being naked? Her hand rose and sank into his dark hair as she weed his tongue in her mouth. She missed this


    She missed him. Then his lips slid down towards her neck, blowing the sensitive skin. His hand was already on her twin peaks, fondling her breast, tugging her nipples. A slow moan escaped her lips. His mouth against her skin felt wonderfully familiar but excitedly new at the same time.


    It was the reaction of her body. After all, she had been asleep for three years, and damn, she knew she needed a cobweb clearing orgasm.


    She felt his erection against her stomach made her want to pull that damn belt and just ripped his jeans apart. Does she sound like a hormonal teenager, again? Her thought vanished when he slid one of his hands on her bottom, squeezing it as if urging her to take off her jeans. And she really wanted to.


    Except, his arms around her made her unable to move away from hisp. He moved his mouth back to hers and kissed her again, the passion made her shiver with erotic pleasures.


    This deal started off as nothing but fun for her. Shen Qui was an easy one, good-natured, kind, and handsome. And he liked her. He can be rough if he wanted to, soft most of the time but definitely the type of man that would take care of herzy ass. However, the marriage that she thought would only bring her nothing, but benefits soon turned into something more.


    Something that made her feel at home.


    The kiss made her breathless. It was deep and slow. It made her shudder as she clung to him, eyes closed while slowly grinding her hips against his. Lyca was about to reach out and remove his shirt when his hand suddenly stopped her. "I have scars."


    It was as if her world stopped spinning, the air turned thick around her as she asked. "What do you mean?"


    "From surgery. idents. Killing people. It''s been three years Lyca. I am notthe same." There was a little dismay in his voice. Her face turned stern, awareness surge inside her. She was angry not to him but to the people who hurt him.


    "Show me."


    There was a little hesitation in his eyes. It immediately made her wonder if this was really the reason why he was scared to get her naked. "Did you think I would be horrified to see scars in your body?"


    "It is horrifying," he said. In the past three years, Shen Qui wasn''t just sitting down, doing nothing. He needed to protect her, and to do that, he needed to continue what she had started.


    "I''m not afraid of scars." Gentlenessced her voice as she slowly understood his reasoning. Shen Qui feared that she would no longer like him once she saw some changes in his body. She smiled and gently kiss him. "And I am not that shallow. Scars won''t make me leave you." Her hand slowly slid the shirt out of him and surveyed his body.


    Lyca''s frown deepened as her gazended on the scar around his arm and chest and...


    Scars many scars. From bullets and knives and probably swords. What did Shen Qui do in the past three years? What did he do to protect her? A myriad of emotions flowed inside her as she met his gaze. Her handnded on his chest, she could feel his heart hammered against his ribcage. Then she smiled, a gentle and sincere smile that she rarely showed to anyone. "Not hideous enough to scare me away."


    Relief shed in his eyes but before he could say anything, Lyca''s lips were already on his, and this time, he didn''t hesitate. He stood, backing her up until her back hit the wall. She held him tight as her legs wrapped around his waist, her lips still fastened against his.


    Lyca didn''t know when he managed to remove the rest of her clothes. All she remembered was quivering from his touch as he lowered his head and started tasting her breasts, teasing her nipples while his hand busily removed his own jeans.


    Lyca''s core throbbed against his stomach, and she knew he felt it as he shifted her down, aligning his hips into hers. He opened her eyes and immediately saw the different emotions that glistened in his orbs. Hooking her legs tightly around his hips, Lyca arched against him, silently begging for him to enter her, begging for his possession.


    And heplied. Slowly, he lowered her hips, cupping her behind as he tenderly entered her. She was wet, ready as her core squeezed against his shaft. The action made her grunt, but he immediately held his breath, trying to control his own desire. It took him everything to stop himself from mming into her and lose himself in her arms.


    But Lyca was different. She always knew what she wanted, and this time... she wanted him. Seeing how controlled he was, Lyca leaned and bit his neck before she whispered.


    "I want it fast and hot. I want it rough. I want to scream your name and hear you scream mine."


    For a few seconds, he stilled, his hooded eyelids blinking before he finally eradicated his control. Her moans followed as passion overtook his senses. He kissed her roughly, sloppily as he pushed and pulled, pumping into her until the heat consumed them. She weed him like a dry dessert weed the rain. Her low moans echoed, followed by his low curses.


    Lyca felt sweat trickled down her back as friction erupted in between them. It only took a few seconds for her to feel the orgasm pooled in her stomach, slowly engulfing her, taking her higher into the pinnacle that she had wanted to reach since she woke up. Her breathing turned uneven, her chest rose and fell as her core twisted and pulsated against his manhood. She was about to burst.


    Her hands tunneled into his hair, slowly pulling as she bit her lower lip.


    And he thrust deeper in response. The need to possessed his wife surged through every vein of his body as he battled his own release. And when her leg started to tremble around his waist, Shen Qui started pumping faster, harder, invading every bit of her core. "Too... Good." She heard him groan.


    Then he shattered just as she exploded around his shaft.


    Raw pleasure rippled inside them.


    He drove inside her again and again, making her arch her back as her own release pulsated inside her.


    Then she felt him moved back towards the couch and slowly sliding his shaft out of her core. Shen Qui gently put her down, letting her lean against the soft cushion of the couch. Without saying anything, he kneeled in front of her, watching her gently as she tried to catch her breath.


    It took her a few seconds to realized that he wasn''t moving. He was just staring at her naked body, using his eyes to survey her curves.


    "What are you doing kneeling there?" she asked before she realized something. Shen Qui was once again hard.


    She gulped as her gazended on his manhood before moving towards his eyes. Then she gave him a mischievous smile.


    "I won''t break." She smirked, her own arousal swirling in her eyes. "I promise."

 Chapter 159: Appetizer

    Chapter 159: Appetizer


    R18.


    ..............


    Of course, Lyca knew that promises were made to be broken. And she broke it, or at least, she felt broken. Her body sore, eyes about to close from exhaustion as she felt him carry her out of the restaurant.


    It was quiet, and no one was around, the restaurant had long closed its doors to new guests as Shen Qui strode towards his car. Of course, Lyca didn''t notice the line of men wearing ck giving Shen Qui a bow as he walked past them.


    "I feel like my back is about to break," Lycain when he finally sat her down. She heard him chuckle, but he didn''t say anything, and she didn''t open her eyes to look at Shen Qui. To be honest, this was the first time she had been this tired. Of course, she could only me this for being asleep in thest three years.


    She hated how Shen Qui was right. This body didn''t have any form of exercise in thest three years, it would be normal for it to suffer. Lyca scowled when she thought about the sore that she would feel tomorrow. She even wondered if she would be able to walk.


    She felt him sat on the driver''s seat.


    "We don''t have a driver?"


    "No. I don''t trust anyone else." She heard him mutter as he started the car. Lyca didn''t have to open her eyes to know the serious expression that Shen Qui had.


    "It''s alright. I am here now. I can drive you around."


    He chuckled at that. The thick atmosphere was instantly reced by a joyful one. Unable to stand the soreness in her body, Lyca decided to take a nap. She instantly drifted into a dreamless sleep.


    When Lyca woke up, she was already on their bed, naked. Of course, Shen Qui took her clothes when they arrived. She fought the urge to roll her eyes as she sat down and pulled the sheet to cover her chest.


    "Awake?"


    She turned at the man who just walked out of the shower. Sadly, a towel was wrapped on his hips. After a disappointed sigh, Lyca dragged her gaze towards his abs and chest, then finally into his face. She immediately noticed the smirk on his lip. "Hungry?"


    She raised an eyebrow. "For food?"


    "You know what I mean." He slowly threw the towel that he was using to wipe his hair into the couch and walked towards her. Lyca arched a sly eyebrow. True, she had overestimated her body and thought that he could handle a six-foot-tall man who was craving for her. However, this was not enough to stop her from satiating her own primal hunger for him.


    He edged closer to her, his gaze was already on the sheet that covered her body. "Did you remove my clothes without my permission?" she managed to ask.


    "I was certain it was illegal, but I did it anyway," he mumbled, his shadowed face radiated with desire.


    "I may not be in the police, but I was certain there is such a thing as a citizen''s arrest." She licked her lips, and carelessly lowered the nket, showing a bit more of what was beneath it. In response, his shoulder lifted in a shrug before he suddenly flung himself into the bed.


    She giggled, her own arousal ring out of control.


    "You still sore?" he asked as he settled on top of her, using his elbows to support himself, carefully avoiding not to crush her beneath him. In response, she ced her hands on the side of his face, her lips parted as stared at him. The stubble on his face was gone, he already shaved it when she told him earlier that it was tickling her, not in an arousing way but in a way that would make herugh and giggle nonstop.


    His skin was still damp from the shower, his skin smooth against hers. The scars on his chest and arms were still there, but who cares about those things? "Does it matter?" she responded, and his face almost immediately lit up in response.


    "You sure you won''t break, again?"


    This time, she lifted an eyebrow. "Does it matter?" she chuckled. Will her answer matter? She would break anyway, and she would dly do it in his arms. Smiling, she stared at his now dark chocte eyes and waited for him to lower his head, and pressed his lips against hers. She could feel her thighs quivered in anticipation of what was about toe.


    "What about work?" she asked when he didn''t answer her.


    "What work?" his hand slowly stroked her cheek. He smiled, his warm breath brushing against her face. She felt her nipples pebbled, aching for him to touch it, her stomach twisted as he stared at her face, as if trying to itch every angle of her inside his brain.


    "Really?" she asked, a little impatient. "Are you going to make me beg?"


    "Too impatient, I see?"


    She pouted, wondering why he loved teasing her too much. Unable to withstand the myriad of emotions inside her, Lyca pulled him towards her. The fragrance of his aftershave filled her nose as her lips melded into his. His hand slowly made its way into the nket, pulling it down.


    He hasn''t even touched her body, and Lyca was already shivering, half in anticipation and half in lust that seemed to screamed at her to shoved him. Handcuffed him, make him lie on his back, and ride him until she was satisfied. Of course, she didn''t do such a thing.


    First and foremost, the night was still long. This This was nothing but the appetizer. The main course was yet toe.


    A moan escaped Lyca''s lips when he felt his hands skimmed through the side of her breast, teasing her. She opened her eyes and tried to look at him but the ecstasy that rocked through her when his hand reached out to her already wet core was too much for her. Her eyes snapped shut, back arching.


    She tried to maintain the little sanity she had left and reached out to pull the towel that was still on his body, but he quickly used his other hand to hold her. "No touching," he uttered, mischief shed in his eyes.

 Chapter 160: Home Was Not a Place

    Chapter 160: Home Was Not a ce


    R18 - Slight


    ................


    Lyca closed her eyes and focused on the attention that Shen Qui was giving her. She let her head fall back, her moist lips called out his name as he gave her another mind-boggling electrifying sensation. Shen Qui asked her not to touch him. And while she wanted to, she chose toply and follow his instructions.


    Lyca''s heart swelled when she realized that Shen Qui did this because he knew how her body was still hurting from earlier. Instead of doing anything else that would worsen the pain. His consideration despite all the surging hormones made her smile. She felt him kissed her breasts, her torso, her belly, her thighs until he finally savored her.


    She moaned at his delicious bites and nibbling as his tongue invade every inch of her body. After a few seconds of giving her all the erotic sensation, his full length finally slid into her core. Almost immediately, an onught of sensations rocked her body. She mumbled his name as he whispered hers. She felt her insides wrapped around his thick member as both of their breathing turned ragged. She arched her back and shuddered beneath him.


    Each thrust drove her wild, it drove her insane, it made her want more.


    Lyca had always known she was greedy, and this was one of those times that she would only want more of him more of this. She epted his deep thrusts as she whimpered, asking him to dive deeper into her. She wanted to open her eyes and look at him, his face, the intricatecework in his eyesshes, his beautifully crafted lips. But his thrusts had be faster, pumping into her, drawing her into another fierce orgasm.


    She angled her hips, meeting his thrust as she slowly slipped into the edge. She felt her flesh burned with him, her eyes closed when they finally lost themselves in each other''s arms. Soon, their cries of pleasure filled the air before he copsed on top of her.


    For a few seconds, the room was filled with their breathing as the two tried to catch their breath. He rolled next to her before the back of his palm caressed her cheek. She turned her head and smiled at him. Just as she expected, Shen Qui''s face was full of vulnerability, a vulnerability that had nothing to do with their current naked bodies.


    "It wasn''t a dream," she heard him say, his voice nothing but a whisper. She didn''t know if it were meant for her or words meant tofort himself. She smiled in response and leaned towards him, kissing the edge of his lip.


    "No. It wasn''t." Assurance filled her tone. Then she snuggled into his arms, listening to his erratic heartbeat that was slowly turning steady. She smelled his scent and smiled.


    Home.


    Was not a ce. It was him.


    ........


    When the two woke up, it was already noon. Of course, Lyca immediatelyined that her back was hurting. So, Shen Qui brought her to the tub for another hot sizzling bath.


    "I should act as your Secretary," Lyca uttered as he dried her hair. After three years, the hair that Shen Qui trimmed was now longer, The ck hair dye faded. After all, it wasn''t meant to be permanent. She stared at her reflection before she smiled. She hadn''t really change that much, the same eyes staring back at her, the same white hair, small heart-shaped face, plump pinkish lips. "I told you not to bite me." She frowned as she eyed the marks on her neck and the top of her breast.


    "I bought a turtleneck."


    "" That wasn''t her point.


    "And it''s ck."


    She shook her head in amusement. "So? The Secretary?"


    "Of course, you can do whatever you want. But it would be better If we are always together."


    Lyca nodded. From their conversationst night, she realized that Shen Qui actually had many enemies. Many of them were people who underestimated his age and tried to take advantage of him.


    After a few minutes, the two finally went out of the room. Just as she expected, Yi''an, Rue, and Ronan as well we Cleo were already there, waiting for them. Lyca and Shen Qui already had their lunch so, the two were already dressed for business the moment they walk out of the door. Lyca was dressed in a ck turtleneck that covered her arms and neck and paired it with some white jeans and boots while Shen Qui was dressed in his usual suit.


    "We receive two calls from the Mayor." Cleo immediately reported the woman''s almond-shaped eyes couldn''t help but stare at Lyca. After what happened the other day, Cleo was certain that Lyca or Xi wasn''t just Shen Qui''s wife. She might even be the boss of their boss!


    "And?" Shen Qui uttered as he walked towards his office. After using his fingerprint to enter the room, Shen Qui sat on the leather chair.


    "Well... He wanted an exnation about what happened yesterday."


    "What did you tell him?"


    "I told him how Miss Jessica offended someone she shouldn''t have," Cleo answered. "He insisted on seeing you."


    "I don''t want "


    "You should see him," Lyca uttered interrupting Shen Qui then she looked at Cleo but before she could utter another word, the door was open and a tall woman entered wearing a tight pencil skirt, stilettos, and a coat that was two sizes smaller than the woman''s bosom. Lyca lifted an eyebrow when the woman approached Shen Qui with a lot of familiarity.


    The woman didn''t even bother looking at anyone else as she bowed and smiled. "Boss Q here is your schedule for the day."


    "We are in a meeting, Hu Lan. You can go back and wait for us upstairs."


    Lyca didn''t miss the smirk on Cleo''s lips and the smug smile that Rue gave after they heard Shen Qui''s voice.


    "But I "


    "I told you not toe here if it''s not something important."


    "Boss Q the mayor is waiting for you in one of the VIP rooms at the bar." Hu Lan lowered her head and bit her lower lip. "I was only here to "


    "Alright. You can leave. Tell him I am still in a meeting." Shen Qui ignored the woman''s face that was full of resentment. Seeing the disinterest in Shen Qui''s eyes, the woman almost stumped her feet and finally looked at the other people inside the room. Almost immediately surprised shed in her eyes when her gazended at Lyca.

 Chapter 161: Accidents

    Chapter 161: idents


    "Who is she?" the woman named Hu Lan asked.


    "What does it have to do with you?" Rue fired back. "Boss Q told you to leave! You leave!"


    Tears pooled in Hu Lan''s eyes. She tried to look at Shen Qui, but thetter was looking at his tablet, checking his schedule for the day. Seeing that no one really minded her current state, Hu Lan couldn''t stop the tears from falling from her eyes. "Boss Q I will go and check out if the mayor is doing fine." Sadnessced the woman''s voice before she strode out of the office.


    "I always hated that woman."


    Lyca heard Rue muttered under her breath.


    "F*cking white lotus."


    "Rue " A hint of warning coated her brother''s voice. "Her father saved Boss Q."


    "Hmph!"


    Seeing this, Lyca gave Shen Qui a meaningful nce, but she said nothing. Rather, she was toozy to utter a word. She trusted Shen Qui, and even if he cheats on her hehe She could always kill him. No


    She could always kill both of them.


    Shen Qui suddenly shivered. He peeled his eyes away from the tablet and looked at Lyca just in time for him to see the sinister glint in the woman''s eyes. He shook his head inwardly before he started talking to Cleo as well as Rue and Ronan. All throughout the conversation, Lyca didn''t utter a single word as she stood, leaning against the wall opposite Shen Qui.


    Lyca listened and assessed the current situation, and right now, she could instantly deduce that Shen Qui was indeed considered a scary entity in the City. His power could now rival Santa Rivers, which was now Shen Qui''s business partner. Lyca also discovered that a lot of changes already happened in Kong City.


    The previous Gang Leaders were not reced with Lords. And Shen Qui was one of the four Lords that was considered big enough to ruin any politician in the City.


    "Do you have questions?" Shen Qui asked Lyca after he instructed the others to leave first.


    "No."


    "You sure?" he lifted an eyebrow. "Did you wonder why"


    "No. I will ask you if I have one." She smiled and approached him. "Let''s go?"


    "I already told Cleo to tell the Mayor that we can''t make it. We are busy."


    "Are we?" she lifted an eyebrow.


    "We are" he nodded as he stood and walked in front of her. "We are going somewhere?"


    "Does it involves eating?" She beamed. She wanted to ask if this would involve eating each other, but she chose not to say such things and make herself look like a naughty teenager.


    "Eating cotton candies." He chuckled and pulled her out of the office.


    "Are we going on a date?"


    "Hmmm." He nodded. "I should take you to dates all the time so we can move on."


    "Move on from what?"


    "We are currently dating, we need to move on to bing an engaged couple." His tone was so serious, Lyca wondered if he was serious or he only wanted to make herugh. After all, they were already married. Though, she was certain that she told him that they should start again and should start by dating each other.


    Smiling, Lyca let him pull her towards the elevator. "My hair is currently white. There is a possibility that the Long Family''s people would recognize me us."


    "They can''te inside my turf," he shrugged. "They can''te inside our turf."


    Lyca nodded but said nothing. This was actually true. It would be hard for them to attack them here. However, this was not her concern. "Where are you taking me?"


    "To our new home." Shen Qui said.


    "Hm?"


    "I figured we need something with a hugeb so you can do whatever you want. Plus your body needed exercise. We don''t have enough space in the house."


    The two exited the bar and walked towards the parking lot.


    "Boss Q!"


    Both turned towards the woman who was calling Shen Qui.


    "Boss Q" Of course, this was non other than the woman who walked inside the office earlier. The beautiful Hu Lan. "Boss Q I already gathered by stuff. I am getting ready to live in the hub. Lyca noticed that everyone actually called the underground ''The Hub''. She wondered if it was Shen Qui who wanted them to use the name.


    "Alright." Shen Qui nodded. "Is that all?"


    "I was just I was just wondering about my room." The woman said. Her eyes, however, were glued on Shen Qui and Lyca''s hands.


    "Ask Rue to guide you."


    "But Boss Q Miss Rue is really"


    "Ask Cleo."


    "Oh I I am just wondering if Boss Q would help me with "


    "Find someone else to help you." Shen Qui said with disinterest before he turned towards Lyca and walked towards their car.


    "Boss Q I am just wondering if I can choose a room."


    "Ask Cleo for everything. She should know." Shen Qui shrugged and opened the front seat so Lyca could sit inside. Ignoring the woman who was still staring at them in a daze, Shen Qui also sat on the driver''s seat and left with Lyca.


    "She is the daughter of one of my men. Twenty one. Her father diedst week after an encounter with an enemy. I promised her father that I would keep her safe." Shen Qui exined calmly. "When she asked if she could stay at the hub. I agreed. I was already nning to move anyway."


    Lyca''s lips thinned. "She likes you."


    "I don''t like her."


    She nodded. "Tell me about this house?"


    "It''s underground. Complete technology, a high techb, huge space for your exercise."


    "I don''t need a huge space to exercise." She immediately said before sheughed. "I can always exercise in our bed. Perhaps Yoga."


    "You wanted to do Yoga in our bed?"


    "Of course I would do it with you." She calmly said before her hand made its way into his leg.


    "I''m driving," he stated, but she didn''t miss the excitement in his voice.


    "And?" Her eyes were already on his crotch.


    "idents happen on the road." He eyed her for a couple of seconds before dragging his gaze back on the road. Then he pumped the gas, making the ck Mercedes roared beneath them.


    "idents like my lips identally falling into yourp?"


    He chuckled at that. "Yes idents like that."

 Chapter 162: Taking it All

    Chapter 162: Taking it All


    Slight R18


    ......


    "He''s married?" Hu Lan''s face instantly changed when Cleo told him that Boss Q was already married. "How could that be?"


    "What do you mean? He was always married."


    "To that woman?"


    "Yes, that woman is named Xi."


    "Xi" Just saying her name made her frowned. "But howe I didn''t know this?"


    "Why do you need to know this?" Cleo rolled her eyes. "That''s his private life. It had nothing to do with you."


    Hu Lan stomped her feet and red at Cleo. "But But my father told me that he was always alone."


    Cleo pursed her lips. Not many people knew that Lyca suddenly fell ill a few years back. After all, Shen Qui asked them to keep it a secret. "He was always alone." She uttered. "But that doesn''t mean he wasn''t married."


    "So all this time Boss Q had been married?"


    Cleo nodded in response. The Boss was not really showing any interest to any women who tried to flirt with him. It was clear that he wasn''t avable from the start. How could these people think that they could just get close to someone who was already emotionally unavable? She shook her head inwardly. For some reason, most women, including Cleo herself always thought that they could change someone and make them fall for them.


    It was a crazy assumption that made her and most women suffer.


    "This will be your room."


    "Oh what about Boss Q''s room?" Hu Lan hid the excitement in her eyes.


    "That one. But they won''t be staying much in this ce anymore. Perhaps, they would stoping here."


    "Why?"


    "No Idea." Cleo lied. "He just said so."


    "Was that because of that woman?"


    "Name''s Xi." Cleo didn''t hide the irritation in her voice. "Her name is Xi and I suggest you respect her or "


    "Or what?"


    Cleo narrowed her eyes at the naivety of the woman. Was this woman that obnoxious? Xi was oozing bloodlust and danger. Even the way shezily looked at people was making Cleo tremble. Or perhaps this was only because Xi was the one who saved her from those people. "You will see." She uttered. "Just put your things here. That one''s a gym, that''s Boss Q''s office. You can''t go in there unless he told you to. Food is free as well as amodation."


    "Oh." Hu Lan nodded and watched as Cleo close the door, leaving her alone inside her room. She nced at her single bed and immediately wondered what kind of bed does Boss Q had. However, the thought of the white-haired woman made her scowl. Married? Her father never mentioned anything about Boss Q being married. She spouted and sat on the edge of the bed.


    But isn''t this just marriage?


    It''s not like they have some sort of chains that tied them to each other.


    ..


    Meanwhile, Shen Qui and Lyca were unaware that someone was already nning to break them apart. They were too busy to even think about that. Or at least, Lyca was too busy licking and pleasuring him that she hadn''t thought about killing people, yet.


    She nced at Shen Qui''s scarlet red-faced as he tightened his grip on the steering wheel, his other hand was guiding Lyca''s head.


    "Eyes on the road," she managed to say, amused at her own skills.


    Shen Qui started to be breathless, Lyca''s tongue was driving him crazy. He let out a curse as he felt himself swelled as she wrapped her lips around his manhood. "F*ck Lyca we will definitely die from a road ident," he said.


    "Hmmm definitely." She managed to say in between licking the shaft and taking care of the tip. "Come," she whispered, and almost immediately, his release followed. Lyca calmly licked him dry before she sat back up, straightening her own clothes, and eyed the traffic in front of them. She wasn''t even aware that there was traffic nearby. She then looked at his still red-faced. "What''s wrong with you?" A smirked hung on her face. "Why so red?"


    Shen Qui was blushing, and she found it cute. She wondered if she should do this from time to time just to see his red-face again.


    "That was"


    "I know I''m awesome." She gave a mischievous wink and watched him fix his clothes. "So, how far is it?"


    "About ten more minutes."


    "Oh then let''s talk about me taking care of the women around you." Lyca suddenly said, her eyes glinted with an unfathomable expression.


    "Hm? You mean"


    "It''s better to extinguish the fire before it had the chance to spread." She beamed. "Now why don''t you tell me everything about the women who were trying to attract your attention?"


    He looked at her, his own smile widening. "Why do you think that you need to take care of them? I can take care of them on my own."


    "Oh?"


    "Hmmm." Shen Qui nodded. "There will always be women who would like to get close to me and men who would want to own you. Killing one or two won''t stop them."


    "Good point. But it is still better to kill one or two to avoid the hassle." Lyca shrugged. She was a veryzy person. She would rather act now while the problem was still small than wait for it to grow bigger andplicate her life.


    After a few minutes, the two finally arrived in what looked like a simple two-story house that was located in the south of Kong City. The house lies in the middle of a ranch with horses and a really hugewn. A small forest was located near the ranch. "This ce" Lyca''s face changed when she realized something.


    "This is the border of Ralia City and Long City," he smiled proudly. "I figured it would be easier for you."


    Lyca gave a sly smile. As always, Shen Qui was thinking about her. Sometimes she wondered if she really deserved a man like this. After all, she was a very selfish woman. She loves to take and take and seldom gives back.


    "Why are you looking at me like that?"


    "I am taking it all, and I won''t give it back." She said as a cold breezended on their skin.


    "And?" he chuckled. "What''s that supposed to mean?"


    "Nothing. Don''t mind me." She turned her attention back to the house.


    "I don''t really care."


    Lyca''s head darted towards him. "Excuse me?"


    "I said I don''t care. If you really love someone you give them everything that would make them happy."


    "Excuse me? What did you say?"

 Chapter 163: Jogging

    Chapter 163: Jogging


    What is love?


    Lyca couldn''t help but wonder as she turned to look at Shen Qui. For a few seconds, she feared that she would see something else in his eyes.


    "You know it."


    "You " she squinted. Was that a confession?


    He gave her a cheeky smile in response.


    "Was that a confession?" she asked. Some men find it really hard to confess what they really feel inside but she knew he was different.


    "And if it was?"


    "You sure it''s not some Stockholm syndrome?"


    Her words made him burst into a puddle ofughter. "Why would you even think that?"


    "I kidnapped you." She smiled, making the tense situation instantly lighter. "And held you captive for years now."


    "That wasn''t against my will."


    "Of course, that what''s you thought. You are already in love with the person who kidnapped you away from your friends."


    He shook his head, helplessness shed in his eyes before he erased the distance between them. His lipsnded on her temple. "I don''t believe in love at first sight."


    "Please don''t tell me I am the only exception." She knew that would be a lie.


    Heughed at that. How could she be this calm? Shen Qui was trying to calm his raging heart and Lyca''s cheekiness was not helping him. He felt more nervous. "No. You are not an exception. I never liked you when I saw you."


    "Really?" she lifted an eyebrow as she met his eyes. He was already staring at her, so she folded her arm around his neck.


    "Really. I think you were a bit naughty."


    "Is that so?" she remembered herself holding his hands and not letting go the first time they met. "Oh! Did you really think I chose you because you were a bit good looking?"


    "That''s not the case?"


    "Of course not. I chose you because it''s big."


    "Huh?"


    "Your hands, silly. What were you thinking?" she giggled and tiptoed as she gave him a light kiss. Seeing how his mood eased, she immediately asked. "So? Are you going to confess?"


    "Yes. I was about to. Then you started talking about my hands." Lyca only beamed in response.


    "Then continue."


    "Well you already ruined the mood. I am not confessing now."


    "Really?" she frowned. "Do you want me to beg?"


    "Why do I think that every word thates out of your mouth was always naughty?"


    She held back herughter. "Probably because you are naughty."


    He leaned and kiss her forehead. "I think I never thought you are anything special when I met you. Aside from being a little bit pretty."


    "A little?"


    "And you are incrediblyzy."


    "That is a fact."


    "You like to sleep, and eat without exercising."


    She nodded. Indeed, that was her hobby.


    "But I started to like that side of you."


    "And?" her eyes gleam with excitement. She remembered that Xu Ke didn''t really confess to her. It was like both of them agreed that they were already in a rtionship. Lyca wondered how would it feel if someone would sincerely tell her that they love her. Would her heart flutter in response? Would she feel butterflies in her stomach?


    Unfortunately for her, before Shen Qui could say anything, a few people wearing casual clothing ran towards them and bowed in front of Shen Qui.


    "Boss Q you have arrived."


    ""


    "" Lyca felt as if a cold bucket of water drenched her soul. She red at the man, her eyes silently sending daggers, hoping that it would make the man die right in front of them so Shen Qui would continue talking.


    Of course, this did not happen. Instead, another five men arrived and bowed at him.


    How could these people be so good at ruining moments?


    "Hmmm." Shen Qui calmly nodded at the people in front of them before he held Lyca''s hand and pulled her towards the two-story house. Then he started talking about the house. Right now, the house still looked like a wooden cabin. "If you want we can do some renovations. Make it look more modern. Right now, I thought it would fit right into the Ranch. What''s important is the underground structure of the house."


    Lyca only nodded, saying nothing as she examined the current interior of the house. Then she followed him towards the bedroom where the ess to the underground was located. Using her fingerprint and eyes as a part of the security requirement for the elevator to move, Shen Qui and Lyca finally entered.


    "This is too tiring," Lyca uttered. She honestly would not want to go out and go in with all these security protocols. Though she knew this was useful, she was toozy to do all this every time. "When are we moving to this ce?"


    "Tomorrow.We just need to pack out clothes and were good to go. This is aplete facility." He said as a hint of prideced his voice.


    "Good!" Lyca nodded. Seeing her sudden enthusiasm, Shen Qui led her towards the room then into the other parts of the underground facility.


    "Everything on that luggage of yours was inside. No one else knows about this aside from me." Shen Qui said as they left theb.


    "Hmmm. Thank you." The fewer people knew about her secrets, the better it is. Lyca never thought that she would one day want to stay in a ce like this. It wasn''t just because it was really quiet and cozy but because of the amount of attention that Shen Qui gave in building the facility.


    The man actually decided to follow the cozy vibe of the Huang Mansion where she grew up. The muted paints, the arrangement of the furniture, and even the type of chandelier that hung on the ceiling. Shen Qui made sure that everything was to her liking. Even the master''s bedroom where they will be staying was almost identical to her room at the mansion. It even had the hanging egg seat that she loved so much. Even her books were the same!


    Of course, she already knew that Shen Qui was this observant, but she didn''t think that he would actually observe every little detail about her. She looked at his side profile as he happily held her hand. "I love it." She uttered, smiling.


    "I know you would love it."


    "So?" she lifted an eyebrow as she sat next to her on the couch, he immediately wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer to him.


    "Let''s go somewhere elseter." He said.


    "Why are you being so sweet?" she asked, wondering if he would finally continue his confession. Wouldn''t it be nice if Shen Qui would tell her that it was because he loved her so much? Lyca felt butterflies swirling in her stomach as she beamed at him, eyes sparkling with excitement.


    "Because I miss you."


    "Oh." Hiding the disappointment in her eyes, Lyca smiled. Of course, she wouldn''t force him to confess. It was enough that she heard him say it once.


    Alright who was she kidding?


    Lyca actually wanted to hear it again. However, she was too shy to ask him. So, she leaned forward and kissed him instead. "I''m tired. I think we should just go to the room and rest, no?"


    He chuckled and kissed her forehead. "Nope. I am taking you to the training area."


    "Excuse me?" As expected, Lyca''s face changed."I don''t need any training."


    "Your body needed some exercise."


    "So the date that you are talking about "


    "Let''s jog in a park with cotton candies."


    "Nope." She shook her head as if her life depended on it. "Not happening." However, Shen Qui wasn''t nning to hear another one of her silly reasons, he stood and scooped her up, carrying her like a princess as he strode out of the living room and went to the elevator.


    "I can''t jog and wear my boots," she added. "I don''t have any clothes for jogging, with no shoes either. You know running shoes are necessary to exercise! I can''t do it with other shoes or I will "


    "I already prepared everything for you."


    "Well I can''t wear any other shoe brand aside from "


    "Yep, bought it." Amusement shed in his eyes.


    "I only wear ck shoes. I think they are morefortable than other colors."


    "I know my little wife. I saw your shoes in your wardrobe before. The brand, size, even the color, and the shoces that you love so much. I included your specific water bottle, the towel that you use, and the outfit."


    "" Speechless, Lyca pouted. Again, Shen Qui''s attentiveness was justWas this because he loves her? A cheeky grin escaped her lips. Is this the reason why she was treating her too well? She wrapped her hands around Shen Qui''s neck and waited for him to let her down. Of course, he only did it so she could go inside the car.


    Smiling, Shen Qui drove her to a park that was near the training center of their new securitypany. Again, Lyca tried to reason out and told him that her body was still numb from the previous night''s activities. However, Shen Qui only told her that she was already an expert in circting her internal energy which would easily remove all the pain that she had in her muscles. With this, Lyca finally shut up.


    "Hundred percent remember?" she heard him say. She pouted and just looked at the people in the park as she crossed her arms around her chest. Then, her gazended on the woman wearing tight shorts and a bra that should be two times smaller than her size.


    Who else could it be other than the woman named Hu Lan?

 Chapter 164: Tracksuits

    Chapter 164: Tracksuits


    "Boss Q?" Hu Lan gave Shen Qui and Lyca a harmless smile as she ran towards them, her chest bouncing at every step that she took. "Miss Xi. It''s nice to see you here." She nodded at Lyca. Contrary to the expression that she showed when Lyca when they met, Hu Lang was now smiling so much, her mouth so, wide it could reach her ears.


    Lyca shivered inwardly. The woman was clearly scheming, and she was making it really obvious. Did Hu Lan really think this would work? "Are you guys here to run?"


    "No. We are here to sightsee." Lyca answered before Shen Qui could even open his mouth. Azy smile was stered on Lyca''s face as she wondered if the woman''s breast would be heavy. Running with that breast ... should be inconvenient, no?


    "Oh. Well then I will go ahead and run. I still have ten miles more for today." Sweat trickled down Hu Lan''s face, down to her neck and corbone, and finally soaking her bra which, seemed to emphasize the woman''s nipples. Lyca looked at the array of men on the side of the oval track, staring their way. Of course, all of them were staring at the FFFFF cup of the woman in front of them.


    "Alright. Take care." Lyca smiled gently as she looked at Shen Qui who was not looking at Hu Lan, instead, he was looking back at the shirtless men resting near them. When the group realized that Shen Qui was actually staring at them, they immediately stood up straight and started running again.


    Lyca''s gaze went back to Hu Lan, who was running again. "That woman is really hot." She uttered. "Like a pepper."


    "I hate peppers." Shen Qui shrugged before he held her hand and led her to the smallfort room in the park where they could change.


    "Don''t you like women like that?" Lyca suddenly asked.


    "Women like what?" he asked.


    "The hot ones."


    "You mean like you?"


    She frowned. "I mean like Hu Lan, silly."


    "That''s what you call hot?" his eyebrow lifted.


    "Isn''t it?"


    "Not in my book." He led her inside the cubicle and opened the ck gym bag that was slung on his shoulders. "Why are you asking about this, all of a sudden? Are you going to tell me that you like to look like that?"


    "No. Of course not. Just curious."


    Shen Qui shook his head. He was smart enough to know some stuff about women from his friends before. Women were extremelyplicated creatures. They would ask their partner all about stuff, and when they don''t like their partner''s answer they get mad and would start a fight.


    He remembered one of Li Xian''s ex-girlfriend, asking Li Xian about his sex life with the women before her. Of course, Li Xian answered honestly. Then, his girlfriend stopped talking to him for a few days. At that time, Li Xian didn''t understand why the woman was upset. He answered everything that she asked, and he was honest about it. Li Xian was certain that she would get mad if he lied too. What was he supposed to do? What was he supposed to say?


    Isn''t this enough proof that women were indeed veryplicated? Of course, he knew that Lyca was a different breed of woman. And he was always honest with her. So, there was no need to worry about her throwing tantrums and other stuff like that.


    "Alright. Then let''s change clothes. I will run with you."


    "Really?"


    "Of course." He looked at her, wondering what kind of naughty things were running in her head again.


    "You want to take off your clothes in front of me in this small cubicle with just the two of us?" she lifted an eyebrow and dragged her gaze towards his body. "I mean I am not going toin... Not at all."


    ..


    It took them almost one hour before they finally went out of the cubicle. Lyca was beaming as she held Shen Qui''s arms.


    "Boss Q Miss Xi" Again, Hu Lan approached them. She gave Lyca a friendly smile. "Are you going to stretch before running?"


    "It''s good we''re done stretching."


    "Oh" Hu Lang looked past them as she wondered where did they stretch. "Then would you like to join me and run?"


    "No " Lyca answered.


    "Miss Hu you should finish whatever it is that you are doing." Shen Qui said. Dressed in a ck tracksuit that matches Lyca''s clothes, Shen Qui looked dashing with his muscles that were emphasized by the clothing. His hand held Lyca''s waist, who was also dressed in an equally ck tracksuit that covered her whole body.


    Lyca was honestly expecting Shen Qui to buy something sexy for her. Maybe a sexy sports bra and some really tiny shorts. Well she was wrong. The man actually bought tracksuits for the two of them! A couples set that had the same color and style.


    The sports bra that Shen Qui mentioned before was still there too except she had to wear it beneath her clothing, and she had to wear the shorts on top of her leggings, so it wouldn''t emphasize anything that might attract the attention of other men.


    To his defense, Shen Qui said that this would make her produce more sweat. Which totally made sense


    He then started jogging with Lyca. To their surprise, Hu Lang actually joined them and started talking about anything under the Sun. From the colors of their tracksuits to the flower and nts in the park.


    "Miss Hu you are disturbing us." Shen Qui''s words stopped the woman''s next words.


    "Boss Q"


    "Husband" Lyca rested her hand towards Shen Qui''s shoulder. "Don''t be like that Miss Hu is just being nice. Introducing the names of the flowers and trees with me. After all, this was my first time on Earth." She beamed, instantly making Hu Lan''s face so red. She eyed Lyca, unaware if she was really saying something nice or was trying to insult her. "Miss Hu " Lyca continued. "How about we race."


    "Eh?"


    Lyca met the woman''s eyes. "Sprint. One hundred meters. What do you think?" her eyesnded on Hu Lan''s blessed bosom before beaming. "If I win you have to dance in front of them." She looked at the other men looking their way. Lyca always liked to be direct. She hated how this woman was following them around and since Shen Qui was not doing anything about it then she decided to take over.


    "Miss Xi"


    "If you win I will leave the track and you can jog with my husband. What do you think?"

 Chapter 165: Starting Pistol

    Chapter 165: Starting Pistol


    When ites to running, Lyca was confident that she could beat anyone here, even Shen Qui. Of course, running a marathon was a different story. Lyca can run very fast. That was something she was good at because of her body type and internal energy. She can jump into walls, buildings and her agility were really good.


    Lyca knew that her stamina won''t be able to make her run six miles straight without the property training. And, of course, she was toozy to train.


    "Smart" she heard Shen Qui muttered, and she beamed in response. She knew that Shen Qui was not dumb. If Lyca really wins, she would show Hu Lan why she was Shen Qui''s wife, teach her a lesson that she would never forget. And she always wins or at least, she knew she would win this time. And since his wife wanted to y then...


    "WifeYou can''t do this" Of course, Shen Qui immediately used his own acting skills for Lyca. "You haven''t run in years If you do this, you might"


    "No, husband" Lyca''s voice was stern. "I will have this race, and you can''t convince me otherwise."


    "" Hu Lan looked at Lyca then into Shen Qui. She started to wonder if the two were trying to make fun of her by acting like this No most importantly, she didn''t know that the usually cold Boss Q was actually this sweet?


    "So Miss Hu do you agree to this race with me?"


    Hu Lan turned silent for a few seconds before she slowly nodded. Shen Qui should be aware that she was using this track every day to run. She wondered why he didn''t tell his wife about this matter. If he was truly worried about his wife, then he should have warned her against Hu Lan''s own skills. She eyed ShenQui, wondering if he deliberately tried to make his wife go through with the race she Hu Lan could defeat her and they would be able to run together while his wife gets out of the track.


    Was it possible that the boss doesn''t like to jog with his wife? Slowly, her brains started turning, twisting as she came up with her own analysis into the situation. First, it was highly possible that the boss doesn''t want to spend some time with his wife when she was clearly inexperienced in running. Even her outfit looked weird, alright.


    She was clearly a beginner.


    Second, was the possibility that Xi just forced the boss toe here and run because she knew that Hu Lan would be here in the afternoon. Was it possible that Xi was jealous of her hourss figure? She eyed Lyca''s chest. It wasn''t small, but it wasn''t big either. Of course, this was nothingpared to her own chests. Slowly, pride swelled inside her head as she straightened her back and smiled at Lyca.


    "Alright husband let your people prepare. Ten minutes should be enough, right?"


    Shen Qui helplessly nodded and left. As expected, Lyca would still handle women who were showing some interest in him. While he wasn''t particrly against this, Shen Qui knew that Lyca can be a little extreme in her ways. She would prefer killing people immediately just to save time and energy.


    Unlike her, Shen Qui would want to handle this differently. Cheating was not a dance with only one person involved. It wouldn''t happen if he won''t entertained these women. It wouldn''t happen if he won''t give them the time to be alone with him. They can do whatever they want, and Shen Qui wouldn''t care. His heart, body, and brain were already with Lyca. There was no way that he would get attracted to other women.


    Shen Qui was never the type of person that would harm other people without being provoked first. To him, these women were not really worth his time.


    This mentality was opposite to Lyca''s, and he was aware of that. Lyca was dangerous more dangerous than him. Plus, her mind worked in a different frequencypared to everyone else. Lyca would always prioritize herfort, and she had the tendency to use extreme ways just to avoid a hassle in the future.


    For instance, Lyca would surely kill a person now while they are still weak while wait for them to grow stronger and have the capability to defeat her. She would slit that person''s throat and burned their bodies just to make sure they won''t be able to disturb them in the future. While Shen Qui would wait he would wait for them to provoke him before he does something about it.


    He quickly instructed his people to vacate the ce so Lyca and Hu Lan could race. As expected, this immediately attracted the attention of many people not just from the men that were running but to the civilians that were enjoying the scenery of the park. Men, women, and children gathered near the track that ShenQui''s men created, trying to see what was going to happen.


    Of course, many of them already recognized Hu Lan as she was a frequent runner in the ce. While they wondered who was the white-haired woman.


    "Alright are you girls ready?" One of Shen Qui''s men asked. He looked at the two women, and when he saw both of them, nod and started adapting the position that runners made in the starting line, he immediately uttered.


    "On your marks!" he raced the starting pistol.


    "Get set!" The two women had their eyes on the finish line as they crouch, their feet ced against the blocks, hands-on the starting line with their faces rxed and ready. He eyed Boss Q, who was standing at the finish line, his face was as calm as the two women. While the man wasn''t really aware of the bet, he was certain it had something to do with the fact that Hu Lan, had been trying to get close to the boss while he was already married to the white-haired woman.


    "Go!"


    His voice was followed by the loud sound of the starting pistol.

 Chapter 166: Naughty... Naughty Wife

    Chapter 166: Naughty... Naughty Wife


    Both Hu Lan and Lyca immediately started running with the pistol echoed.


    Their feet sprang forward, eyes were glued at the finish line. Hu Lan was confident that she would win, after all, she heard the boss said that Lyca didn''t practice all the time.The boss even voiced out his concerns about this matter.


    She thought she would finally have it. A hundred meters was not really far and she knew it would only take her seconds. However, just as she started beaming, just as the finish line was already in front of her, the swoosh sound of Lyca running past her echoed in her ears.


    Hu Lan had to stop. She had to stop just as she was already a few feet away from the finish line as she watched Lyca hugged Boss Q, kissing him as If they were alone. She felt her heartbreak into small little pieces as Boss Q wrapped his arm into Lyca''s waist, pride can be seen in the man''s eyes. For a few seconds, Hu Lan thought that she was dreaming. She wondered if she was actually hallucinating, But the pping sound of the people surrounding them woke her up from her stupor.


    Then she watched as Lyca turned towards her. Hu Lan paled before she suddenly copsed. "Ahhh my feet hurt. I think I may have cramps." She acted as if she was really in pain. Then she eyed Shen Qui. Half of her hoped that Boss Q would approach her and help her up. While half of her already knew that the man would instruct other people to help her up.


    Sadly, Shen Qui didn''t even bother looking at her. He only nced at her for a few minutes before whispering towards Lyca''s ears, like f*cking highschool lovers. Irritation boiled inside her, but she quickly lowered her head, hiding the anger in her eyes.


    "The deal said that you are going to dance in front of them if I win." Lyca''s voice suddenly echoed. She lifted her head and stared at the white-haired woman. "And if you win you will get to jog with my husband, alone." Almost immediately, Hu Lan''s expression changed. She immediately wondered what was Lyca doing. Why was she saying this in front of everyone?


    "I know dancing with cramps can be a little embarrassing, and I was never intending to watch you embarrass yourself in front of everyone in the first ce. But you tried to covet my husband in front of me, and logic dictates that I should punish you." Lyca added. "However, I am merciful. As a woman, I won''t let you do the end of the bet."


    Hu Lan didn''t know if she would feel relieved that she won''t have to embarrass herself in front of other men or feel angry now that most bystanders, people who frequent the park, now know that she liked a married man. She roamed her eyes towards the people who heard Lyca''s words, and as expected, each of them was showing looks of disgust while some were actually looking at Lyca with pity on their faces. Why are they showing such expressions towards Lyca? She won the race while Hu Lan lost! They should pity her instead!


    "Ahhh Miss Xi I am sorry, but my leg really hurt." Hu Lan screamed, her face contorted into an ugly scowl as she tried to make herself look too pitiful. To her surprise, Lyca walked towards her and smiled.


    "Then let me help you. " Lyca held her hand towards Hu Lan. For a few seconds, she wondered if Lyca was sincere or was she


    Her thoughts were interrupted when Lyca suddenly crouched next to her as she withdrew her hand. "Where does it hurt Miss Hu Lan? It seems that you can''t even stand? Was it that serious?" Lyca gave her a sincere smile before turning her eyes towards Shen Qui and everyone else. It was as if she was trying to show how pure she was by helping the woman who tried to seduce her husband! "I''m sorry, but I am not really an expert in these things, but let me instruct Boss Q''s men to take you to the hospital instead."


    Seeing this, the other men and Shen Qui''s employees immediately helped her by lifting her up so they could take her to the clinic near the park. The Lyca walked towards Shen Qui while sighing, her face looked sincere and gentle.


    "You asked her to dance when she lost. I was honestly thinking that you would let her dance." Shen Qui muttered after he instructed his people to disperse the crowd.


    "What are you talking about? I am not that cruel!" she faked a smile. If she would demand Hu Lan to honor the bet, the woman would only cry and make herself look so pitiful, earning the pity of everyone. Why would she make herself looked cruel just for a stupid woman like that? This was not really Lyca''s goal, alright.


    Lyca only made everyone think that she was merciful and kind. Even if Hu Lan already tried to seduce her husband, she still didn''t do anything to punish her.


    Wouldn''t that make everyone think that she was a really nice woman? Lyca giggled at the thought.


    "I always thought you are cruel." She heard him say.


    "I am cruel." It''s just that she would rather do her crimes while everyone was thinking she was the nice one.


    "You " Shen Qui immediately lifted an eyebrow at his wife''s antics. Understanding shed in his eyes. "Alright then now that everything is good. We should start our jogging session for today. This will surely improve your cardiovascr "


    "You seemed to calm. Did you realize what I just did?"


    "Of course." Shen Qui smiled. He knew her better than everyone here. Of course, he knew that Lyca didn''t approach the woman because she wanted to help her earlier. She approached her because she wanted to get close to her, enough to administer whatever it was that would make Hu Lan suffer. "Was it a needle?" he asked, and she beamed in response.


    "I guess you really know me better than most people." She said andughed before they two started running. "Alright just onep for me. I already ran a lot."


    "What''s that supposed to mean?" Shen Qui asked.


    "I mean I already used a lot of energy on that race. I can''t run anymore."


    He shook his head in response when he realized Lyca''s n. She actually wanted to use the race as an excuse so she could stop exercising. So, escaping the exercise was her goal all along. "Naughty as always, eh?" he mused.


    "Naughty people get punished." She looked at him, beaming.


    "Are you going to run if I punished you?"


    "You do realize that whatever punishment you were nning to give... is equivalent to running, right?"


    "How did you know what kind of punishment that was in my mind?"


    Lyca suddenly stopped jogging and looked at him. "Well... if you won''t give me the punishment that I was thinking of. I won''t run anymore." She crossed her arm, her face extremely serious. It made Shen Quiughed.


    "..." Yep, he was totally helpless around her.


    In the end, Shen Qui nodded. What a naughty... naughty wife, he thought inwardly.

 Chapter 167: Overdramatic Act

    Chapter 167: Overdramatic Act


    "AHHHHH! Why is my skin so itchy?" Hu Lan tried to scratch her arms but was stopped by the older woman who was also the doctor attending her.


    "You really should stop scratching your skin. I already gave you some medicine to stop the itch. Are you certain you are not allergic to pollens? I am just wondering why would you suddenly get these red dots all over your skin." The Doctor sighed. "You really should have your blood tested. This is just a small clinic so, we don''t have the types of equipment needed to test you."


    "You think it''s my blood?"


    "I can''t be certain. Without any tests, I''m afraid that I cannot give you any other medicine."


    Hu Lan''s face darkened. She did know why she had a sudden reaction when she arrived at the clinic. "Is it possible to develops allergies when I am already this old?" She doesn''t have any allergies when she was a kid, so this is really making her confused.


    "Of course. Some people develop different allergies as they grew older." The doctor walked towards her desk. "Alright I am done putting a bandage on your feet. Be careful next time. You can leave once you are ready."


    Then the doctor ignored her and started doing all of the paperwork in front of her. Seeing this, Hu Lan frowned and tried to scratch her neck before she stopped her hand midway. She can''t scratch herself and risk having scars! He was certain that this would make Boss Q disgusted!


    ...


    On the other hand, Lyca and Shen Qui finished jogging after onep. Lyca already said that she wasn''t running anymore because of the race and she was excited about Shen Qui''s punishment. This, of course, made Shen Qui sighed inwardly.


    "Running is not really for me, husband," Lyca said as she tried to catch her breath. "I can''t run a marathon. I just can''t. I feel like dying."


    He chuckled at her overdramatic act.


    "And we don''t really need a marathon to kill people." She lowered her voice as she waved at some other people who ran past them. Since Lyca showed her kind and beautiful side, many people in the park started saying hi to her, some children would wave and congratte her for winning the race."Let''s go and eat? I want tofu and beef and noodles. A burger would be nice too. What do you think?" When Shen Qui didn''t answer Lyca, she lifted her gaze towards the man and discovered that he was looking at the ck car a few meters away from them. Lyca eyed the car and sighed.


    It seems that her punishment will be dyed for about an hour or two.


    Lyca eyed the plump man who just got out of the car. The two waited for the man to reached them.


    "Mayor Dongfang." Shen Qui gritted.


    "Mr. Q." The mayor gave his usual gentle smile to Shen Qui before finally turning his gaze towards Lyca. "And this is?"


    "My wife Xi."


    The mayor removed his sunsses as he stared at Lyca for a few seconds. "I didn''t know that Mr. Q is already married."


    "Is that something that Mayor was interested in knowing?" Shen Qui fired back. "I didn''t know that the mayor was actually interested in my personal affairs."


    Almost immediately the mayor''s face changed. He darted his gaze back to Shen Qui. "This woman looking nothing like my daughter."


    "That is right." Shen Qui uttered. "That''s the reason why I never liked your daughter."


    The mayor''s face reddened. "Mr. Q "However, she managed to maintain a small smile on his face. Knowing that this was a public ce, the mayor was forced to lower down his voice and not yell at Shen Qui for insulting his daughter. "Is this why you never agreed to have at least one date with my daughter?"


    "The mayor is really smart." Shen Qui suddenly walked forward, his six-foot frame towered over the mayor''s five-foot stature. "You drugged my drink just so you can try and make me sleep with your daughter. And when that didn''t happen, you attempted to use coercion and actually killed a few of my people." His tone was low but it was enough for both the mayor and Lyca to hear. "That alone warrants your death."


    "Mr. Q" the mayor narrowed his eyes. "You should know about the people supporting me right? You think you can defeat me?"


    "Four days ago I never thought that I would be able to defeat anyone of you. But today" Shen Qui made a deliberate pause as he smiled at the mayor. " Today is different." This man wasn''t only a good mayor in this city. He was also dumb and was acting like his daughter''s ve!


    The man would actually do whatever it is that his daughter wanted! And since Jessica wanted Shen Qui, this mayor had been trying to set him with his daughter. From the events to the invitations of private gatherings. The mayor actually took advantage of the fact that Shen Qui was only starting up and was trying to bully him using his connections.


    Too bad for him, Shen Qui was always one step ahead of everything.


    "This is an invitation." The mayor suddenly said as he handed an invitation towards Shen Qui. "Dinner with my daughter. You will apologize for embarrassing her like that."


    "Mayor, you should know that "


    "I know who you are Mr. Shen." The Mayor interrupted his words. He gave Shen Qui a smug smile. "I know about you two, and you will follow whatever it is that I tell you to do or the Long Family will know about you and thisdy."


    Seeing how Shen Qui turned silent at his words, the mayor beamed and patted Shen Qui''s shoulders. "I never liked you for my daughter. But she likes you, and I can''t do anything about my angel."


    With a huge smile on his face, the mayor looked at Lyca one more time before leaving them with his bodyguards.


    "That man" Shen Qui said as he watched the mayor waved at the people around them.


    "Needed to die." Lyca ended his sentence as her lips lifted into a sinister smile.


    ....


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 Chapter 168: An Assassin

    Chapter 168: An Assassin


    Santa Rivers had been the patriarch of the River''s family for more than three years now.


    But that doesn''t mean, the man had it easy. He wiped the sweat from his forehead before he downed the water from the water bottle that he always carries when he worked out. Then he looked at the number of phone calls from his business cell.


    Ten.


    Ten missed calls in one hour.


    Did something huge happen? He couldn''t help but wonder why would his people call him when they knew he never entertained any calls while he was working out. He opened his message box and was surprised that he didn''t see any unread messages. Shaking his head, Santa walked out of his personal gym and walked towards his room so he could take his shower.


    Sometimes, living in a ten-bedroom house, was really nice. Especially if he wanted to have peaceful nights like these. He had been really stressed with worktely, his transactions with Mr. Q had been really stressful as the man had been offending people left and right and was slowly showing his authority to everyone in Kong City.


    Of course, this put Santa in a very delicate situation with everyone. After all, everyone knew that he supported Mr. Q. He sighed and put his phone towards his bedside table before he peeled his work out clothes off his body and walked stark naked towards his bathroom.


    On the outside, Santa loved to be with people. But he especially reserved this house just so he could rx all by himself when he was experiencing tough times like this. Santa let out a soft moan when the hot water hit his body.


    Since Santa purchased this house, this was actually thest time that he had showered in this ce, alone. After all, he has always been with women and men every time he visited this ce. People that he would bring into this ce to help him rx and ''unwind''. He closed his eyes and weed the silence as well as the hot water that soon covered his body.


    The steam from the hot water can be seen all over the ss walls of his suite bathroom that he specifically designed for himself. This bathroom had its own jacuzzi, a spa, its own walk-in closet, and a huge shower room covered by transparent sses. He considered this his heaven.


    After a long thirty minute bath, Santa finally decided to leave the shower. He used a towel to dry himself before he walked out of his showed still naked.


    "Can you cover yourself?"


    Santa froze when he heard a woman''s voice inside her room. Almost immediately his gaze turned sharp. He took a step back, his senses alert as he located the source of the voice. It was a woman someone he never saw before. He squinted at the woman''s distinctive white hair and the smirk on her face.


    "Who are you?"


    "Wear something to cover your body." The woman uttered. "My husband is not here. He would kill you if he knew that I have seen your body."


    "" Unable to process her words, Santa stared at the woman''s face as he stood as still as a statue.


    "Tsk." He heard the woman clicked her tongue before she disappeared from her seat. It was as if Santa''s whole body turned cold as he shivered, goosebumps all over his body. He knew that the woman didn''t really disappear, instead, she moved and approached him. But under the dim lighting of themps and his not so bad eyesight, the woman only looked a blur in his eyes.


    The next thing he knew, she was standing in front of him, a towel was in the woman''s hands. "You "


    "Why are you being so proud of these things?" he didn''t miss the irritation in the woman''s eyes. "I hate it when men unt it, and it wasn''t even that big." She mumbled and turned towards the chair near the bedside table. "Cover your body, or I will shoot it."


    These words were enough to make him move. He immediately used the towel that the woman handed and covered the lower half of his body. His mind was still in turmoil, his heart raced as she looked at the woman''s cold eyes. "Who Who are you?"


    "Santa River''s right?" the woman crossed her left leg over her right, which emphasized her leaned legs under the ck leather jeans that she was wearing.


    He nodded. "Who are you?"


    "Rx, if I wanted you dead, you would have been dead by now."


    "Who are you?" he frowned when he realized that this woman was actually trespassing and is threatening to shoot his his manhood in his own house.


    "Call me Xi." The woman calmly lifted a gun and a knife and put it on the bedside table next to her. "Rx I just wanted to talk to you."


    "You  You just threatened me."


    "I don''t like seeing other men naked." Lyca beamed. "Other than my man, of course. And stop staring at me as you could kill me. I emptied all of your guns in this room. You took a lot of time taking a bath, and it gave me more time to find all of your hidden guns."


    "Do you have a business with me?" Finally, Santa''s nerves started to rx. This woman''s words were indeed true. Judging from her skills toe in here without triggering any of the rms, this woman must be really skilled. An assassin.


    "I do." She nodded. "But first... I need a ss of wine or whiskey. Anything will do." Lyca stood and walked towards his bar, which was just located a few feet away from his bed. She scanned the sea of alcoholic beverages and poured herself one. "You want one?" She asked at the frozen Santa.


    "No-No." Santa stuttered before his face turned dark. Why was he acting afraid? And why was he acting like this was not his turf? No wrong question.


    Why was this woman acting like they were close? "I I don''t think I remember knowing any Xi," Santa uttered as he watched Lyca finished her drink.


    "Hm?" Lyca lifted an eyebrow. "How could that be? I thought I was fairly known." She beamed, totally enjoying the changes in the man''s expression.

 Chapter 169: Upcoming Turbulence

    Chapter 169: Uing Turbulence


    "You Did someone send you to kill me?" Santa was a man who had many enemies. In fact, if this woman would tell him that someone sent her to kill him, he wouldn''t be able to guess who would do that. Perhaps he would mention all of his enemies and would still miss the name of the one who sent this woman.


    "Aish Santa This is what happens if you sleep with a lot of married men."


    "" He frowned, wondering what was this woman was talking about.


    "Alright, enough talking. I am only here to have a decent conversation."


    "Then stop bullshiting about things and say what you want to say!" he hissed, his impatience clearly showing to try and hide his fear.


    "I heard that you are one of the four great lords in this city?"


    He nodded and watched Lyca went back to the seat near his bed.


    "And I also heard you are quite ambitious?"


    "What does this have to do with anything else? If you want to kill me. Then do it!"


    Lyca held the man''s gaze before she sighed. "It seems that your fear has clouded your judgment. I would change that tone if I were you. After all, my patience is not as big as my boss."


    "Boss "


    "I wanted to make you the mayor of this city."


    A long silence followed his words as Santa stared at her, his face unfathomable. For some reason, this felt like the conversation that he had with Q before.


    "Well do you want that?"


    "You think you can just hand me the seat of the mayor? You think it would be that easy?"


    "It is easy. We can kill everyone else in the council and "


    "Whoa Whoa! Stop right there!" Santa finally moved. This time, he walked towards his bed. Sitting, Santa stared at the woman''s nonchnt expression. "You wanted to kill the mayor? Are you perhaps one of Q''s people?"


    Lyca''s eyebrow lifted. "Hm? I guess the mayor''s actions against my husband is public "


    "Whoa! Whoa! Stop right "


    "Can you stop saying whoa, whoa like a child?" she asked. Lyca didn''t hide the irritation in her voice. Of course, she had already researched this man''s famous personality beforehand.


    "So you areQ''s wife?"


    "I am." She smiled and held her chin a little higher.


    Santa frowned. "And you wanted to kill the mayor?"


    "That''s not your concern anymore. What I wanted to ask if you Santa Rivers would be willing to be the next mayor."


    His lips pressed into a straight line. "Why are you asking me? What about Q?"


    "He already had his hands full in trying to manage me. And I think he is too nice."


    Santa opened his mouth. He wanted to ask her if she really just said that her husband is nice. Q had been chaos havoc within this city. Santa and he practically changed the status quo of the criminal organizations in this city. However, the woman''s eyes made him shut his mouth. The woman''s smile was enough to make him utter a small ''huh''.


    "So?"


    "And what''s the catch?"


    ''There is no catch, Mr. Rivers. This will be the start of your career. You have us behind your back while you make our lives easier. It''s a win-win." Lyca beamed.


    "Are you really capable of that? If you kill "


    "I killed your grandfather in seconds, Mr. Rivers. His security is certainly higher than every politician in this city."


    Her words shut Santa up. Now he understood why she would say that it was already taking Shen Qui everything to control. So this woman this woman was the person who killed his grandfather more than three years ago. "So what am I going to do?"


    "Tonight, a fire will rock this city. Use your money and donate. Be everyone''s saint."


    "You are nning to kill innocents?"


    "Gang members. Not really innocents and before you asked, yes, I would kill innocents without batting an eyelid." She smiled and tilted her head. "Of course, I wouldn''t do that. At least, I don''t want my husband to think that I am some sort of monster. A beautiful monster."


    Santa''s face had been serious since this woman started talking about killing people. However, the casual tone that the woman was using is making him doubt everything that she said. Was she joking? Should heugh?


    The woman''s unpredictability is confusing him. "That''s all?"


    "Of course, more problems will arise in this city and youthe future mayor of Kong City would always find a way to help its people."


    Santa turned silent as he lowered his head. If the mayor dies now, the person that would be the next mayor should be the vice mayor which is backed by another criminal organization. If the vice mayor would win the person that would take over is the person from a council.


    Killing a mayor or perhaps the whole council is just something so impossible and would definitely catch the attention of a lot of people. They could, of course, use terrorism as an excuse but that would attract the attention of the national government. And once the national government intervenes, it would limit also affect the ck market in this city.


    If that''s the case


    Santa lifted his head to look at Lyca but to his surprise, the woman was no longer on her seat. The gun that she put on the side table was no longer there too. On top of the side table was a single note that says ''I''ll see you soon, Mr. Mayor.''


    Goosebumps littered his body when he read the message. He didn''t even notice the woman disappear from his room. Then the cold air made him shiver. His eyes immediatelynded on the open door that would lead him to the balcony of this room. He sighed as he stood and closed the door.


    "Xi" What a mysterious person. Then a smile lingered on his face. It seems that Kong City would have some uing turbulence.


    He better prepare for it.

 Chapter 170: Mirrors

    Chapter 170: Mirrors


    Jessica eyed her reflection as she smiled. Seeing that the smile looked a bit crooked, Jessica frowned before trying again.


    This time, she lifted the edge of her lips and brought the smile to her eyes. "Wonderful." She said. Then she cleared her throat and lowered her voice. "You are so beautiful." A shy expression shed in her eyes before she slowly smiled, her cheeks turned red as she answered her own statement. "Thank you, Young Master Q."


    Seeing the perfect smile stered on her face, Jessica giggled and finally walked away from her walk-in closet that was surrounded by mirrors. Of course, she made sure that even her exit would look elegant, perfect.


    Then shey on her bed and started thinking about the date that would happen tomorrow. Her father already assured her that Boss Q would be there. She eyed the time from her phone and immediately sighed when she realized that it was already eleven in the evening. She was supposed to sleep early because she needed at least five hours to prepare for her date tomorrow, however, she was really nervous.


    She felt that Boss Q needed to see the perfect side of her for him to like her. She had practiced the perfect smile, the perfect walk, even the perfect voice that she could use tomorrow, and she still felt that this was not enough. She frowned.


    She already hired some professionals to make her look beautiful tomorrow. Why was she so nervous? Biting her lower lip Jessica closed her eyes, but she could only see Shen Qui''s face.


    "Useless!" she hissed, her expression turning ugly as she opened the drawer from her side table and grabbed a couple of her antidepressant medication and sleeping pills. She had stopped drinking these things as she felt that it was ruining her body. However, this current situation is calling for it.


    Tomorrow, she needed to bring her most beautiful self to see him. With these in mind, Jessica swallowed all the pills with the held of the bottle of water on her bedside table. Then once again, she closed her eyes and put on her sleep masked before she smiled. She was already thinking about seeing Shen Qui tomorrow.


    Would he smile at her? Would his eyes sparkle once she walked inside the private restaurant that her father booked just for the two of them? This She was really excited! She could feel her heart raced just as she thought about the things that Shen Qui would do to her once he got drunk. Of course, Jessica already practiced every reaction that she would do once Shen Qui would kiss her, touch her hand, and caressed her skin.


    Slowly, Jessica drifted to sleep, unaware that someone was already sitting in the darkest part of her room, staring at her with disgust in her eyes. Of course, this person was none other than Lyca. She squinted her eyes at the woman lying on her king size pink bed with pink sheets and pillow. Jessica was wearing pink pajamas and even a pink sleep mask.


    She made sure to turned off all the lights in Jessica''s room, only leaving amp located next to her telephone that was next to her bathroom. Then Lyca walked towards the sleeping Jessica. She stared at the woman before she opened her drawer. Of course, she was using some gloves to avoid any fingerprint marks.


    Lyca then opened the antidepressants and sleeping pills and made sure to put it on top of the bedside table, making it look like Jessica drank a lot of it before she slept that she had forgotten to even close it. Then Lyca took a picture of the pills with Jessica''s name on it.


    She smiled at the evil thoughts running in her mind. Funny how her nature would alwayse out every time, someone would threaten her peace. Speaking of peace, Lyca thought about Long Yi and the Long Family. Right now, Shen Qui is already considered a scary entity in Kong City. Soon, they will establish a name in Long City and the neighboring city. Then she would finally have her revenge against those people.


    For now, Lyca was taking it slowly, not because she couldn''t do it. But it was because Shen Qui was sure that someone was supporting the Long Family, and there was a possibility that it was from the Capital. First, they needed to find out and assess the threat before acting. Or at least that''s what Shen Qui said.


    After all, the man was about nning while she was the exact opposite.


    Her thoughts were interrupted when Jessica muttered Shen Qui''s name as if she was dreaming about him. For some reason, just the thought that another woman was dreaming about Shen Qui was making her angry.


    Should she just kill this woman?


    She squinted and removed a needle from her wrist. Then she stopped moving. It was as if she heard Shen Qui''s words, telling her about the n. She pouted and muttered a curse. As much as she wanted to just do whatever she wanted, this world actually hasws and rules that would put them in danger if she became too careless.


    And she wouldn''t want to put him in danger.


    A sadistic smile shed on her face as she removed another needle and slowly injected it into the woman''s veins on her arm. Of course, this was not some drug that would make the woman high. She started beaming as she thought of the effects of the poison.


    Judging the narcissism that this woman had in her bones, Lyca was sure that she wouldn''t dare step out of her room tomorrow. After making sure that the woman was still asleep, Lyca immediately put some hidden camera in the woman''s room.


    Of course, she would want to see her reaction while she eats some popcorn and fries and drinking Shen Qui''s tea.


    Or maybe eat Shen Qui as well.


    Sheughed at the thought before she finally left the room.


    .....


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 Chapter 171: Beg

    Chapter 171: Beg


    R18- Slight? Hahahahah


    Jessica woke up feeling good about herself.


    A smile was already on her face as she removed the sleep mask from her eyes. She immediately opened her phone and frowned when she saw the pills on her side table. She clearly remembered putting it back in her drawer. However, Jessica also knew that she was a bit high from too much excitement. Maybe she just forgot about it?


    Shrugging, Jessica put the pills back in the drawer and opened her phone to check out some of the texts from her friends and her social media sites. And that was when she noticed it.


    Jessica''s loud squeal echoed, making all the servants in the mayor''s house panic.


    "Don''t get inside!"


    "Young miss."


    "Don''t you dare look at me! Call my father! Where is my father!?"


    "Young missst night there was a big fire in the "


    "Who cares about a fire! Call my father! Asked him toe now!"


    "But miss "


    "NOW!" Jessica said as she locked the door of her bathroom. Once again, she nced at the reflection in the mirror before letting out another squeal. She held her face and immediately felt the pimple-like rashes that were on her cheeks. The same rashes were scattered on her arms and neck and


    Jessica took her clothes off and let out another squeal when she realized that the rashes were on every corner of her body! She held her face and started popping the pimple-like rash. She needed to get rid of it.


    When popping didn''t work, Jessica found some facial wash and used it on her face and neck. Sadly, none of them work.


    "Where the hell is my father!" Jessica screamed as she started crying. How could this be? How could this happen just as she was about to have dinner with Young Master Q? "Father! Call my f*cking father!" Jessica said as she suddenly grabbed a vase and throw it in the mirror.


    The loud crash made everyone in the mansion more frightened. Of course, none of them dared to go inside Jessica''s bathroom. Instead, they called the mayor, making him leave his meeting early so he could go home and amodate his daughter.


    When the Mayor arrived and saw his daughter, he immediately asked all the specialists in the city toe and examined his daughter.


    .


    The culprit Lyca, on the other hand, was feeling happy about something else. Something that is not rted to the woman''s new appearance.


    "Lower a little bit to the center." She instructed. "Don''t squeeze my butt, you silly." She giggled when Shen Qui''s hand caressed her bottom. "I didn''t know you are so good at this."


    "I am good at everything. You just don''t know it yet." He said, his tone light before he leaned and kissed her naked back.


    "This is all your fault. I suggest you stopped kissing me and continue massaging my back."


    He chuckled but didn''t stop kissing her. Instead, he turned her around, letting her lie on her back before he started kissing her neck.


    "I said my back hurts."


    "I know you have a way to fix that." He mumbled, his hand was already on her leg, trying to move it apart so he couldy on top of her. "And this is your fault. Who told you not to wear any clothes in our bed?"


    She giggled at that. "You were already sleeping when I got home." She had a busy night, alright. She went to see Santa and even give Jessica a wonderful gift before she lit a few neighborhoods where drugs were prettymon. She closed her eyes and let out a moan when Shen Qui''s lips captured her hardened nipple. "You know this is making me think."


    "Hm?"


    "So far, the problem that we have is because you were too pretty."


    "Really?"


    "Hmm." She nodded seriously.


    "Please don''t tell me you will do something to my face to make me ugly."


    Lyca was about to say something when his hand reached out and touched the flesh in between her thighs. Her stomach churned when he started ying with her clit. "I was  "


    "Hmm? What did you say?" He teased her when he noticed the changes in her breathing. "Already? I just touched you."


    "Not my fault that you are pretty." She smiled, her cheeks turned red. "I was "Again, she wasn''t able to continue her words when he suddenly slid a finger inside her. "Ohh this is intentional. Stop trying to touch me when I am about to say something."


    "So, you want me to stop?"


    "What? No! Why would you stop?"


    He let out a low chuckle as he lowered his head and started kissing her rib cage. "Then... Why don''t you tell me what you like?"


    "I won''t say it." She fired back. "You have to make more effort and make me beg." She giggled and met his eyes. "Your good looks were not enough to convince me to say it."


    He lifted an eyebrow, eyes twinkling with desire as he slowly darted his tongue and licked her stomach, instantly making her giggle. Then he added another finger inside her.


    She moaned, her core clenched against his hand. Lyca''s threw her head back, her hand dug against the sheets as she felt her core tightened around his fingers, adjusting. She could feel her core pulse around him as he started thrusting, in and out of her. "Faster" she said, her voice was nothing but a rasp. She lifted her thigh as she met his thrusts.


    A smug grin slithered on Shen Qui''s lips as he stopped thrusting and removed his fingers inside her. "I''m sorry what did you say?"


    Almost immediately her eyes were opened as she red at him. "Really?"


    "You just said something like my good looks is not enough to make you beg?"


    Lyca''s eyes turned watery, her cheeks red as she met his gaze. "Please... I want you inside me."


    ....


    5/5


    Please don''t forget to vote for the novel. I will try to release more chaps tomorrow. Let''s see.

 Chapter 172: Counting

    Chapter 172: Counting


    R18


    .............


    The intense feeling that Lyca was experiencing inside her was as thrilling as it was intimidating. And she doesn''t want it to end.


    "What was that again?"


    "I will kill you," she hissed. "I will " All the thoughts inside her scattered when he finally slid inside her, slowly filling her insides with his length. She arched her body towards him as she closed her eyes.


    "Yes" she whispered in delight. She felt his questing hands sliding towards her rib cage and into her breasts, fondling, massaging her rigid nipples. She rolled her hips, moaning his name as he started thrusting inside her. She held into his shoulders as she melted into the raw desire pulsing on her flesh.


    This man was a gods gift, she decided when he started to move faster, Lyca eagerly matched his pace. Her hands dug on his shoulders, as she locked her ankles behind him. His hand soon found her pulsating clitoris, using his thumb to flick it, sending hundreds of electric currents inside her body. She whimpered, low curses escaped her lips.


    Then he lowered his head and captured her lips in a greedy kiss. Lyca peaked quickly, her body had been very sensitive from his touchtely and just a few of his full thrust inside her was enough to trigger yet another mind-boggling orgasm from her.


    She let out a low cry of ecstasy as her leg convulsed, trembling from the release that she just had.


    But Shen Qui wasn''t done. A smile rose on his lips as she suddenly stopped thrusting. He stared at her flushed cheeks, waiting for her to steady herself and open her eyes.


    And when she did, Shen Qui tightened his grasp around her hips before he made a maneuver, turning her over. Heid on his back, Lyca was now on top of him, straddling his hips. The surprise in her eyes didn''tst for long when Shen Qui raised his head and showered her breast small kisses, his hand slowly reached her bottom, squeezing, urging her to start moving on top of him.


    And she did.


    Lyca''s hips started rolling, gyrating before she started moving up, then down. She could feel her stomach tightened once again, her body responding to his kisses, to the way that his hand touched her skin. She pushed against him, letting the raw need take over her sanity.


    He teased her nipple in response, drawing moan after moan as he licked and tugged. Her arm folded on his neck as she threw her held back, another release threatened to wreak havoc inside her. A stab of erotic sensation spiraled inside Lyca as she felt another releaseing her way.


    He must have felt her core tightened against his manhood. "Lyca," his voice was deep, a husky growl. She met his eyes and didn''t miss the savageness swirling on his orbs. His breathing turned fast, his hips bucked as his hand held her waist as if making sure that she won''t slip off. Her legs started trembling, her own orgasm seemed to make her flesh burned with him. She lowered her head, lips parted as she weed the ferocious kiss that he gave her just as he shattered, losingpletely in her.


    Lyca was still shaking slightly when sheid next to him, copsing on the bed without any energy left in her body. She tried to catch her breath. "It''s morning."


    "Hm."


    "We''re supposed to take a bath before we start our day."


    His eyes flew wide open as he turned his head towards her. "Taking a bath in the bathtub is that right?"


    Lyca beamed. "Should we do it together? Or"


    "Together, of course." He sat and eyed her body that glistened with sweat. "You, good?"


    "Is that even a question?" she fired back. "But you have to carry me." She winked at him and he chuckled in response.


    "Of course," he answered.


    .....................


    "You''ve been away for three years." Shen Qui said as he gave Lyca a hot ss of milk that apanied her toast and some fruits for her breakfast.


    "And? What does this have to do with anything else?"


    "Well, that was three hundred sixty-five days times three. Meaning that 1095 days without you."


    "You were counting?"


    "Of course, I am counting. I am extremely good at math."


    "" She started eating her toasts as he sat next to her. "And?"


    "We are newlyweds. I had to do someputations here. Just basic math. 1095 days times two. That is with the basic assumption that we do it twice a day. Meaning that was 2190."


    "You mean " she looked at him, bbergasted.


    "It''s simple. You owe me 2190 orgasm."


    "" Crazy. She narrowed her eyes wondering if he was serious, and when Shen Qui didn''t change her expression, Lyca immediately asked. "How much do I owe you now?"


    "2150."


    "" She blinked. Then she blinked again. "Are you serious?"


    "This is a very serious matter." He pressed his lips together as he returned her gaze.


    "You''re crazy."


    "Of course, I am crazy." He answered and gave her another toast. Falling for a woman like Lyca could be described with that word. Crazy. "I heard about the fire." He casually changed the topic.


    "How many died?"


    "Well someone actually pressed the fire rm just as the fire started so no one got hurt." He gave her a meaningful nce. "Should we go and check the site?"


    "Nah toozy for that." She beamed. "Why don''t we stay here and just count orgasms?"


    He chuckled. "I was kidding."


    "I wasn''t." Her eyes darted towards his neck. "2150, you say?"


    He shivered at her gaze. He immediately finished his milk. "You are too pale. You need the sun. We should go and shop."


    "Shopping centers have dressing cubicles, right?"


    He narrowed his eyes. "Why are you asking questions like that?"


    "Curiosity?"


    Of course, the twinkling in her eyes told him everything about her n. He sighed in response and just gave her another toast. "Eat first then we can decide if we are going to watch movies or go some hiking."


    "Or we can just stay here and count orgasms?"

 Chapter 173: An Allergic Reaction To Nothing

    Chapter 173: An Allergic Reaction To Nothing


    Soon, Lyca realized that owning a lot of clubs and restaurant is not as exactly as she thought it was. Despite staying in their new home, Rue and Ronan including Cleo was still able to reach them and reported all the affairs in their business.


    "So, Hu Lan was still in the hospital, crying like a crazy woman," Cleo said.


    "I heard Miss Jessica was in the hospital too?" Rue chimed in as she took a huge bite of the apple in her hand. She eyed Lyca but didn''t say anything else. Two women were already in the hospital less than forty-eight hours after they met Lyca. Now, she wasn''t smart smart like her brother, but she wasn''t dumb. Both Jessica and Hu Lan liked Boss Q. And both women also met the boss'' wife just before they went to the hospital. "I say an allergic reaction to nothing was really a mysterious case." Again, her gaze darted towards the cold face of Lyca before she looked at Shen Qui. "The fire that happenedst night stirred the whole city. Santa Rivers were suddenly there showing all support. Boss, I think we should show ourselves too. You know, make people think that we are nice."


    "What are you talking about? We are nice people." Ronan lifted his gaze from hisptop before he stood and walked towards Shen Qui''s table, showing him the contents of theptop. "Seems like Miss Jessica is not giving up?"


    His words immediately attracted Lyca''s attention. She uncrossed her legs and walked towards Shen Qui.


    "Look at her social media status. Even mentioning how men should like women for their inside beauty and look at that flower.


    "Goodness" Rue uttered. "Did she thought the boss sent those flowers?"


    "Her father sent those flowers, but make it look like Qui''er did it."


    "How did you know that?"


    Lyca didn''t answer, instead, she handed a sh drive to Ronan and went back to her seat. "Jessica is clinically insane. She already went to a center abroad for two years beforeing back two years ago. Her father was feeding her fantasies, giving her everything that she wanted to make her happy. It would be less hassle that way. Once she starts throwing a tantrum, her father would find it hard to handle her."


    Shen Qui frowned at the information presented in front of him. Of course, he was aware of Lyca''s n in ruining Jessica''s face, but he never thought that the woman was actually someone crazy.His gaze lifted toward his wife. "Then let''s send her some flowers." He smiled.


    "Did you just read my mind?" Lyca smirked. Seeing the smile on her face, Cleo couldn''t help but frowned as she asked.


    "What is happening? Why are we sending her flowers? I thought we hated her?" She looked at Rue then to Ronan, hoping that the twins could answer her question. "Guys I am not that smart." She was a thief, alright. She can steal diamonds and gadgets, but she well she wasn''t really a genius.


    "I don''t get it too." Rue looked at Lyca. "Did I miss something here?" Of course, she knew that asking Lyca would be useless as the woman doesn''t seem to like talking to her. So, she looked at her twin brother instead.


    "They wanted to distract the mayor."


    "Smart," Lyca nodded at Ronan''s words. Three years ago, Ronan was already good looking, a little boyish but definitely good looking. Now, however, Ronan seemed to mature, looking more like a man than a boy. The thick sses on his eyes added some sort of sexiness into his appeal.


    "When the Mayor received the call, he immediately left everyone. He knew that people needed him, people who were affected by the fire needed him, even the media needed his presence to create some sort of a facade that he really cared about everyone. This would make his reputation better. However, he received a panic call from his servants about his daughter. And just like that, he vanished."


    "Ah? So you wanted to ruin the reputation of the mayor?"


    "Precisely." Shen Qui nodded.


    "What for? It''s not like the public doesn''t know about his illegal business, no?"


    Shen Qui turned towards Cleo before he leaned against his leather chair, his hand started drumming on the wooden table in front of him. "We are not doing this just so we could ruin his reputation, Cleo. We are doing this to change everything in this City."


    "Change like politics? The leadership?" Cleo''s eyes widened, her eyes immediately turned towards the real boss, Lyca. "Please don''t tell me you wanted to be the next mayor." She didn''t hide the dismay in her eyes.


    "No. I am not good in faking my smiles."


    "Someone Someone. "Cleo''s eyes widened. Just like her, both Rue and Ronan''s face changed. "Santa?" They were nning to make Santa the next Mayor of this City? The realization hit her. So the flowers were like bait to Jessica, gave her a little hope, then throw it all away, making her throw another tantrum.


    Now, a tantrum shouldn''t really affect the mayor too much, except except when something was happening in the city that would require the mayor''s presence. A fire is one of those things. Her wide eyes were glued at Lyca.


    "Why are you staring at me like that?"


    "I just " isn''t this the ssic, the ends justifies the means? But she couldn''t help but wonder about the means that Lyca was nning to use? As someone who once witnessed Lyca''s cruelty, she couldn''t help but wonder what is going to happen in this City soon. To her surprise, Lyca only smiled at her.


    "Stop thinking about things that would stress you out. Are you trying to prolong this meeting?" Lyca lifted an eyebrow. "I heard that you are here to talk about an uingpetition for the securitypanies in this city?" This news was the only reason why she agreed to let them in, alright.


    Lyca was honestly nning to spend more time with her husband when these three suddenly informed them that they actually qualified to attend thepetition as theirpany was already more than a year old. Apetition between securitypanies?


    Of course, she''s in.

 Chapter 174: Direct and Quiet

    Chapter 174: Direct and Quiet


    "There will be a city-level securitypanypetition. This will include everything. From technology to assessing the threats to rescue operations." Ronan immediately started filling her in about thispetition. "Right now, there were four security agencies in this city. Of course, these are not the best in the region but they are a little above us because well "


    "Well, what?" Lyca asked.


    "Well weck people. The skilled ones were already on the other agency."


    "How about our technology?"


    "We are currently working on the technology part." This time, it was Shen Qui who answered her. Starting apany from scratch was not an easy feat. While he was able to build a reputation in this city, sess was not really something that one would be able to achieve just by his name alone. He needed people.


    Talented ones.


    While Lyca was sleeping, Shen Qui opened a few clubs and restaurants then he started working on the securitypany that she wanted to create. Because Lyca was sleeping and Yi''an is not really working under him, Shen Qui had to use everything that he knew to establish what he had now.


    Sadly, he knew it wasn''t enough.


    "Then we''re good." Lyca''s words interrupted his thoughts. He stared at her, his gaze curious. Did he just hear her say we''re good?


    "I can hire experts to help us. Just take care of everything else."Lyca added. To be honest, jumping walls and threatening people was something that she was good at, not business. At least, Shen Qui could manage the business aspect while she could act as the secret weapon of the CEO.


    She beamed. That sounded too cool in her ears.


    "Xi, I think you are underestimating everything. We only have two months before thepetition. We don''t have the technology, no people, we don''t have trained experts either."


    "Do we have ab?" Lyca asked.


    "We do," Ronan answered.


    "Do we have a ce where people could train?"


    "Yes."


    "Then we''re set. Since we qualified then submit an application form we will join thispetition!" She didn''t hide the excitement in her voice as she opened her phone and sent a text to Yi''an.


    "You seemed too happy, it''s scary." She heard Rue said but decided to ignore it. Before she fell asleep, Lyca already had a list of people ehem criminals that she wanted to hire. These are experts! People that were working in the ck market. She already had their names, locations, and even their weaknesses!


    How could she not use these resources for thispetition?


    Of course, she still needed to take care of their names as they too had many enemies. Or she can just kill their enemies! That sounded usible! The smile on Lyca''s face turned bigger as she ignored everyone''s gaze and started exchanging texts with Yi''an.


    "What is next to this citypetition?"


    "Region. We will go against, Long and Huang Security from Long City. Those two are really difficult because of their bullets and "


    "We can make something like that." Lyca lifted his head and looked at Ronan.


    Ronan lifted his eyebrow. "Make the bullet?"


    "Hmmm. I need your expertise inputer. Rue will be your assistant."


    "What about me?" Cleo asked. "What should I do?"


    "Do what you do best."


    "Steal?"


    Lyca''s eyes immediately turned towards Shen Qui. "No not steal. Borrow." She smiled before looking at Cleo again. "We are going to borrow something from someone then return it."


    Everyone opened their mouth then closed it again. Seeing this, Lyca shrugged and gestured for them to continue what they were talking about. Sometimes, when she gets too excited, she would forget that talking means consuming a lot of her energy. If she wanted to pay Shen Qui another five orgasms today, she really needed to save her energy.


    Seeing her lost interest, the others started talking about business something that Shen Qui was very good at. Just listening to them talking about numbers, the market seemed to make her head hurt.


    This was also the first time that Lyca knew that Shen Qui and Ronan were actually investing their money in the stocks! He even held shares in some of the powerful corporations in the country! She didn''t hide the pride in her eyes as she continued smiling and eating her grapes.


    Lyca could only thank the gods when she realized howpatible she was with Shen Qui. Lyca was never good with business rather, she was toozy to do business. And Shen Qui was the opposite! Who would have known that the man would be very good at analyzing the market!


    Seeing that the other four people inside the office were now talking about opening more branches in other countries, Lyca decided to excuse herself. She used Shen Qui''s car to go to Yi''an''s house a small two-bedroom house in the suburbs of Kong City.


    While Yi''an was also working with Shen Qui, she was only in charge of things that concerns Lyca. For instance, she was the one gathering information about the Long and Huang Family as well as the other families who supported the Long Family. Aside from this, Yi''an is also doing all the ck market things like illegal shipments and selling of stolen merchandise.


    "Young Miss!" Since Lyca woke up, this was the second time that Yi''an saw her.


    "Can''t breath."


    "Young miss! I heard about the mayor''s daughter!" Yi''an immediately said as she gave Lyca a cup of tea. "Do you want me to just kill her? That would save you the trouble.


    "Rx I can take care of that."


    "Young miss, when you were sleeping, I already asked Shen Qui if he would want me to take care of those women. But he always refused and said that he has his priorities and those people weren''t one of them. While I agree with the "


    "Yi''an"


    "Yes, Young miss." Yi''an lips pressed into a thin line when she heard Lyca''s warning. Lyca had been asleep for so long that she had actually forgotten how she always wanted the quiet. Direct and quiet.

 Chapter 175: Ninja Bike

    Chapter 175: Ninja Bike


    Lyca pursed her lips as she listened to Yi''an words about the people that she wanted to hire. Lyca''s first priority was not really training but the technology and the poisons that she was nning to create. After all, one man with the right poison could always defeat an army.


    "Alright. Send me the details. I will look into it." She said before she handed Yi''an a list of chemicals that she needed to have for her experiments. "Shen Qui is going toe here.


    "Young Miss we are in the ce with families. I think it is better if he doesn''t bring his bodyguards, that would bow every time he walked past them. It would scare the "


    "No need to worry about that."


    Yi''an immediately shut her mouth and started talking about the ck market and the Long Family again.


    "So, they are actually restricting the purchase of chemicals?"


    "Yes. It has been two years now. They are trying to get a record of the people who were purchasingrge amounts of the chemical. I think they thought they could use this way to track us."


    Lyca nodded. It has been three years, and the Long Family was still hell-bent on looking for her. A sinister smile rose on her lips. "Then I will let them know that I am still alive."


    "Young miss?"


    Lyca''s smile was too beautiful it was scary. "Don''t worry just do whatever I asked you to do. She then stood and walked out of Yi''an''s office. "So you were working as a daycare teacher?" She eyed the colorful decorations and kid''s drawings on the walls of Yi''an''s living room. Lyca was actually surprised to hear that the woman was actually working as a part-time daycare teacher as her ''day job''.


    She didn''t miss the blush on Yi''an face as she nodded. "I think they were so cute."


    Lyca nodded. She doesn''t particrly hate children but she always thought they were too noisy, plus taking care of them would be too tiring. However, if Shen Qui would.


    Halt.


    Lyca frowned. Did she just thought of having kids with Shen Qui?


    Silly, she thought inwardly before she beamed. "Alright... I am leaving now. He''s here." He immediately gave Yi''an a hug before running out of the house, like an excited teenager who was about to meet her boyfriend.


    When Lyca saw the man riding a huge ninja bike, she lifted an eyebrow. He was wearing a ck leather jacket that matched his ck ninja bike and ck helmet. This.


    This wasn''t what she was thinking when Shen Qui told her that he wouldn''t attract any attention while visiting the neighborhood. "You can drive this?" she wanted to make sure that this wasn''t all for show. Shen Qui riding a huge motorcycle was definitely something that made her stomach flutter. But she wanted to make sure that they won''t end up in an ident.


    His lips only lifted into a handsome smirk, making him look a little evil, a little hotter. She giggled at the thought. "Alright"Lyca uttered. She let him put on the helmet on her.Then he turned on the ninja bike and sat there, listening to the purr of the engine as he lifted an eyebrow at her, waiting for her to get on.


    Lyca smiled before sheplied and immediately felt the engine beneath her. Shen Qui revved the engine, the huge machine shot immediately in between her legs. "Do you know how to ride a bike?" he asked.


    "I even know how to ride you. I am certain a simple bike ride is easy." She beamed and rested her head on his shoulders as she wrapped her arms around his waist.


    "So naughty." She heard him say before the bike started moving. "Stop smiling" Shen Qui''s voice reached her.


    "Why?" she asked. Lyca actually never rode a motorcycle before. While her bnce was very good, she felt that it traveling on a bike was such an inconvenience. She was certain it would destroy her hair, and she would once again use more energy to fix it. The rain and heat would be another problem. Why would she try to experience such inconvenience when she had a driver to drive her around while she sleep, eat, and read?


    Soon, Lyca understood why Shen Qui warned her about smiling too much. Hah! She immediately pursed her lips and closed her eyes when Shen Qui elerated. She wondered if the man was doing this on purpose! "Where are we going?" Lyca shouted, more like screaming.


    "I can hear you fine. Stop shouting."


    "Oh!" She pouted. This man is deliberately doing it.


    "Sunset!" Shen Qui uttered after a few seconds. "Close your eyes."


    This time, she didn''t hesitate. Lyca tightened her arms around his, as she closed her eyes and felt the wind swoosh around her. The pressure from the wind increased, and Lyca had to close the visor of her helmet to protect her eyes.


    Then she felt the bike slowly descending until it came to a full stop. She didn''t even know that she was holding her breath until relief flooded through her.


    "This is your first time?" She opened her eyes and didn''t answer him. Lyca tried to remove the helmet but discovered that it actually wasn''t easy as it looks. Without thinking she removed a dagger from her


    "Whoa! You can''t use a knife to remove that. Let me do it." Shen Qui said as amusementced his tone. Heughed when he saw her ring daggers at her.


    "You knew this is my first time, and yet you" she narrowed her eyes. "You deliberately hit a hundred kilometers per hour!"


    "A hundred and fifty."


    She yfully pped his arm.


    "And, of course, it was deliberate. It would make you hug me tighter." His nonchnce, however, made her smile. Then he smiled at her. "And it worked. That was actually the first time that you hugged me so tight, I could barely breath."

 Chapter 176: Everything

    Chapter 176: Everything


    "Where are we?" Lyca asked when she saw that they were not on some sort of cliff or beach. They were actually in the middle of two buildings. "I thought we''re gonna go see the sunset?" turned towards him. They couldn''t even see any sun in the middle of these two abandoned buildings.


    "Hmmm. Come." Shen Qui held her wrist and pulled her towards the red door with a huge EXIT sign on one of the buildings. Without saying anything, she followed him towards the elevator and into the fifteenth floor of the building.


    When the elevator door opened, Lyca immediately turned towards Shen Qui. She smiled when she saw the excitement in his eyes and turned towards the rooftop. "Date, huh." She said when she spotted the beige pic nket on the concrete floor. "I thought you will be busy?"


    "Busy is nothing but a word that doesn''t apply to you."


    She didn''t miss the amusement in his voice as he led her towards the nket. Despite wearing a dark leather jacket, Lyca still shivered from the cold breeze. "I''m hungry." The cold November breeze made her frown, but the beauty of the setting sun should be worth all the cold. Plus, she was certain that Shen Qui''s body heat was always there for her.


    "For me? Or some food?"


    She smiled but didn''t say anything else. Instead, she opened the pic basket on top of the nket and beamed. "Bento huh."


    "I didn''t make those. I just bought some from the restaurant."


    She nodded at the exnation. "Are we going to eat here?"


    "You don''t want to?"


    "Of course, I do! I just thought it''s" So this is really a date? Like something that lovers do? "New." Lyca had never been to something like this before.


    "You should get used to this."


    "That''s true." She opened one of the boxes and almost cried happiness with she saw the Salmon and some marinated shrimp. After opening the first box, she started checking the contents of the other boxes and soon realize that everything looked delicious, enticing. Beaming, Lyca grabbed a chopstick and sausages and unceremoniously stuffed it in her mouth.


    His chuckle immediately reminded her that she actually hadpany.


    "Aren''t you supposed to act all girly and say that you are on a diet?" Heughed before he started eating the grilled chicken.


    Lyca red at him before she got herself some mushrooms and ate them while looking at him. "I didn''t have lunch."


    "We had lunch together."


    "That was snacks."


    "You  ate snacks before lunch?"


    "Don''t you?" Lyca fired back. Who doesn''t eat snacks before having a meal? Ignoring him, Lyca proceeded to start eating the shrimp.


    "I have some rice balls if you want to "


    "Hmmm. Please give it to me." Of course, Lyca epted the food and immediately thank him. In her book saying no to food would bring someone ten years of bad luck. So, if someone would say no to the food three times in one day, it means they would experience bad luck for the next thirty years.


    Then Lyca paused, she turned towards him. Shen Qui was sitting next to her, silently staring at her like a creep. "Why aren''t you eating?"


    "I already ate some of the shrimps. It''s still five in the afternoon so, I am not yet hungry."


    "Oh." She nodded but held his gaze. "Is there something wrong?"


    "I just miss you and this... you eating a lot."


    "We haven''t seen each other for about four hours." She said.


    "And I still miss you." A cheeky grin escaped his lips.


    "Why are you being sweet?" Suspicion shed in her eyes as she leaned back, narrowing her eyes on his face. "Do you want anything?"


    He smiled at her cute expression. "No, but I''m sure we will be busy in theing days. Thepetition and the business. Those are two different things."


    Lyca turned silent before she looked at her food again. That is actually true. In the next few days, she would travel the whole city, scouting people that she was nning to recruit for thepetition. "You are really good with business you know. I thought you were just a bloke who liked me for my body. Turns out you were really good with handling people." She turned her eyes back to him. With their current situation, both of them needed to focus on the things that they were good at if they wanted to go back to Long City.


    The smile on his face didn''t disappear. "Not sure if that is apliment or you were actually saying that I look dumb."


    "Only dumb people would agree to marry someone like me, Mr. Shen. Only dumb people would follow me around." She smiled.


    "I think that is wrong."


    "Hm?" Lyca lifted an eyebrow before she ate another one of the shrimp.


    "I think only a genius would follow you around."


    "So you think you are a genius?" She coughed and immediately took a sip of the chilled Sake that he handed her.


    "Don''t you see it?" He patted her back, bringing her eyes back to his. "It took all the genius out of me to fall for you." Smiling, Shen Qui gave her a small wink before he held her left hand, bringing it closer to his face and finally kissing the back of her palms.


    "So you think only geniuses fall for someone like me?"


    "You think someone simple would be able to handle you?" He chuckled, even her father, Huang Sheng Hong, was very much aware of this.


    Lyca lifted an eyebrow when she realized that once again, he mentioned the word fall. "Are you saying that you love me?"


    He pressed his lips into a tight line. "You once told me that you can''t give me anything that I want." He turned his head towards the setting sun. "I think  I started loving you when you said that."


    "Excuse me?" Amusement shed in her eyes. "How could you love someone you just met?" Sheughed.


    "How did you know you can''t love someone you just met? Do you even know what love is?"


    The smile on her face disappeared. Does she even know what it was? "Well ... Do you?" she asked.


    "I think love is when you think about what you can give instead of what you can get." He turned his head and stared at her. For a few seconds, both of them turn silent. The sound of the cold November breeze filled the atmosphere as the two stared into each other. "And in this caseI am expecting myself to give everything."

 Chapter 177: Greedy

    Chapter 177: Greedy


    Lyca turned her head away. The sincerity in his eyes scorched her heart. She liked him, sure. But love? Then Shen Qui''s words echoed inside her head. ''How did you know you can''t love someone you just met? Do you even know what love is?''


    How could she say that she doesn''t love him if she doesn''t know what love it?


    "Don''t worry I am not going to force you into anything." His gentle tone brought her back from her stupor. Lyca gave a wry smile. It seems that all her bad luck from her previous life finally disappeared, and now she had be extremely lucky.


    A loving parents, a rich household, and now this a man willing to give everything for her.


    Lyca smiled. She might not know what real love was, but she was certain, it was an untamed force. Control it, and it would destroy you. One wrong assumption, one wrong move, and you will feel lost and confused.


    Love is a very potent war, a battle that could destroy people. After a few seconds of silence, Lyca looked at him, a gentle smile was on her face. "I think love is madness. It''s not the urge to sleep with each other, or the excitement and satisfaction thates along with it. Love is an art and an ident. And at the end of the day, once the passion blurred, and emotions get confusing, love is the only thing that remains."


    She felt his grip on her hand tightened, she wondered if he was expecting her to say no and tell him that she doesn''t want to fall for him. Shaking her head, Lyca continued. "You know this is my first time someone actually told me something like this."


    He chuckled, pretending to act cool despite the drumming on his chest.


    "And I think I should tell you that I like you. And I think that falling in love is a gradual thing. It''s quiet and peaceful, boring even. And I think I like to feel that someday."


    "To me right?"


    "Of course, to you." She breamed. "Do you think, there is another genius that would let me have my snacks before a meal?"


    I suppose, that made sense." The crease in between his brows started to rx before he used a chopstick and got her another shrimp. He held the shrimp in front of her. "Eat more. Enjoy your snacks before dinner."


    She giggled and started eating the shrimp. The atmosphere turned light as the two enjoyed their ''snacks'' as they watched the beautiful hue of red and yellow that littered the sky. Soon, the lights of Kong City started to shine, like small little stars, it glinted and sparkled.


    "Beautiful isn''t it?" Lyca asked. She turned towards him and wasn''t really surprise that he was already staring at her.


    "I think you are more beautiful."


    Sheughed and nodded shamelessly. "I think you are right. I am more beautiful." Heughed at her shamelessness before he folded his arm behind her, resting her hands on her waist. In response, Lyca also rested her head on his shoulder. "You smell so good."


    "That''s sweat. Aw!" Heughed when she pinched her. The cold air once again caressed them. "How about I sing a song for you?" she heard him say.


    "Are we alone here?" Lyca asked.


    "Why do you asked?" And what does that have to do with him singing a song of her?


    "Well I don''t want other people to hear you sing." This moment is not something that she was willing to share with anybody else


    He smiled. "Yes. Just the two of us. And I can''t sing in front of other people."


    "But we don''t have a guitar."


    "I can sing without one?"


    "But "


    "Stop being too picky.." Heughed. "It will sound good even without one."


    "Oh" She giggled before she closed her eyes. "Alright I''m ready." She heard himughed before he turned quiet. "Start now." She said.


    "I am trying to concentrate here. Stop talking or I will kiss you."


    Almost instantly, she pursed her lips and waited for him. Lyca can''t sing, and she wasn''t nning to try to embarrass herself by even trying. So, she wasn''t really sure if good singing required some sort of a ritual too. Maybe some prayers?


    Fly me to the moon


    Let me y among the stars


    Let me see what spring is like on


    A-Jupiter and Mars


    In other words, hold my hand


    In other words, baby, kiss me


    "Wait what song is that?" she asked, interrupting him as she looked at him. Seeing his wry smile, Lyca nodded. "Oh I will listen." She made a gesture of zipping her mouth before she closed her eyes and rested her head back on his shoulder. Lyca heard him chuckle before he turned silent again.


    Fly me to the moon


    Let me y among the stars


    Let me see what spring is like on


    A-Jupiter and Mars


    In other words, hold my hand


    In other words, baby, kiss me


    Fill my heart with song and let me sing forevermore


    You are all I long for


    All I worship and adore


    In other words, please be true


    In other words, I love you


    She felt his hand stroked her waist, creating small circles that should have been enough to make her giggle. But she didn''t. Instead, she continued to listen to the song.


    Fill my heart with song


    Let me sing forevermore


    You are all I long for, all I worship and adore


    In other words, please be true


    In other words


    In other words


    I love you


    His voice was a mixture of warm and gentle, it was soothing, making her smile as he changed the timbre, making the song uniquely his.


    In other words


    In other words


    I love you


    "It''s called ''Fly me to the moon by Frank Sinatra. I don''t know how sang it first though. But I know he sang it around the times humans went to the moon." She heard his voice.


    "Oh That sounds " She grinned at him. She doesn''t really know much about singing or any singer. She couldn''t even remember having a favorite song. "Interesting?"


    "Did you just want to say boring?"


    "What? No! I was gonna asked you to sing another one for me. Your voice is good it''s lulling me to sleep."


    "What about dinner?"


    Lyca paused. "Oh. I forgot about that." But isn''t it better to have another song before dinner too? Would that make her sound so greedy?


    .....

 Chapter 178: Radioactive Isotopes

    Chapter 178: Radioactive Isotopes


    Tonight the sun had set around six in the evening, giving birth to a night full of stars. The soft chill of the night made Lai Su hugged his coat tighter around his body. He walked briskly, trying to do his best to reach the next streets before the traffic lights would turn green.


    He muttered a curse when he almost tripped. Lai Su straightened his back as he looked around. Realizing that no one was paying attention to him, he proceeded to pick up the papers and walked towards his apartment building. He eyed his watch, it was only a few minutes past seven. However, staying in the streets of Kong City is practically a suicide for someone like him.


    He grabbed the key card and hastily opened the one-bedroom apartment that he just rented when he took the job as the new researcher in the S university. A sigh left his lips.


    Living in a city full of dangers was horrible. After all, he doesn''t really know any martial arts that could protect himself. Su Lai had long argued with himself about learning something, perhaps some self-defense or shooting, even archery would help him out. However, he was always stumped with work.


    His research about different chemicals was too important for him to spend some time in the gym or dojo to do nothing but sweat. Lai Su sighed as he removed his shoes and jacket. Then he removed his


    His thoughts halted when he noticed a man sitting on the couch that he was also using as his bed.


    "Who Who " He stammered as he cursed himself inwardly. Howe he didn''t notice the man''s presence? "Who are you?" He stared at the man who was obviously younger than him, short hair, clean-shaven handsome face. Call him judgmental, but everything about him was screaming, rich young master.


    "Mr. Lai it is a pleasure to meet you. Please sit down and call me Q."


    Q.


    He frowned and slowly moved towards the young master. He had heard of the name Q before he, to be honest, he never expected that the man would look like one of his university students. "Are you Are you really Mr. Q?" he asked. As someone who worked with chemicals all the time, Lai Su had ways to obtains some dangerous ones from the ck market, and that was the reason why he heard the name Q.


    "I presume you already heard about me?" the man calmly lifted an eyebrow before he crossed his legs over the other, a calm expression was on his face. "Did you think I am some old man, smoking old tobo?"


    "I I don''t know." He balled his hands into fists and put them in the pockets of his ck cks. "I just Mr. Q Why are you here?"


    "Well, I heard about your talents in chemicals, and I wanted to hire you." Shen Qui smiled at the man. "Name your price."


    "Mr. Q I I don''t think that is a very good idea." He had been hired by someone before, and it didn''t really end well for him.


    "I already told you. Name your price."


    Lai Su immediately shook his head as if his life depended on it. He already promised not to work for someone else again. He was tired of running, hiding. And this wouldn''t have happened if he didn''t make the wrong decision to work for that person. "I''m sorry. I can''t work for you." Determination shed in his eyes. He knew that Mr. Q is one of the most dangerous people in this city, and if he really decides to kill him then, Lai Su could only me his bad luck. However, even in his death, Lai Su would never bend.


    As expected, Shen Qui''s face darkened when he heard his words. Then he turned to the part of the room where the lighting from the smallmp wasn''t able to reach."I told you we cant recruit this one." He sighed before he removed a gun from the holster.Seeing this, Lai Su only stared at the gun, calmly. He was but askinny five-foot nine man, even if he tried to fight against, Mr. Q, he just couldn''t win.


    "Aish so impatient." The woman''s voice made Lai Su froze. He looked at the spot next to his small fridge where a woman a white-haired woman was smiling at him. He shook his head and closed his eyes. Since when did a beautiful woman smile at him?


    "Call me Xi."


    The next thing that he knew, the woman was  was already sitting at Q''sp. He gulped, confusion shed in his eyes.


    "Hisp is morefortable than your couch," the woman uttered, her voice was surprisingly soft, her white hair glinted against the warm light of themp.


    "I I already told you I am not going to work for anyone again."


    "You sure about that?" the woman lifted an eyebrow before she handed him a piece of paper that had been folded too many times. He frowned but still epted the paper. He opened it and immediately read it''s contents.


    "This This is "


    "I heard you were researching radioactive isotopes?"


    "You "


    "But someone stole your research, right?" Lyca smiled. "I heard it was actually a big pharmapany that just announced their new invention. A device that uses radioactive to kill cancer cells forever."


    "Where did you get that information?" Lai Su''s face paled, his heart started racing at the mention of the research that hepleted.


    "People talk, Mr. Lai. The only ones who would are the dead," she said coolly.


    "So So what are you going to do now? Threatened me? Do you want me to make another one of those machines? Aren''t you just like them?" Lai Su''s face frowned. "I am telling you. The machine doesn''t work. It was nothing but a failure! Do you understand? That research would only kill people!"


    To his surprise, the woman named Xi and Q only snorted.


    "Who told you that we wanted you to create something like that?" Shen Qui asked.


    "Then Then why would you hire me if not for the "


    "Aish Mr. Lai I am so sorry to burst your bubble but we wanted you to create something that kills people faster than a bullet could. We don''t want you to create something that heals but something that destroys."


    Lai Su''s face turned darker. "You are insane! I am not "


    "Check out the next form," Lyca said. Lai Su lowered his head. What he hated the most were people who wanted profits. People who would sacrifice anyone just for money! How could these His thoughts soon left him when he saw the second form. "This is"


    "I made that," Lyca said. "Now.. Mr. Lai" she made a deliberate paused and smiled at him. "Let''s do this again. Do you want to work for me? Be my assistant and create some chaos here and there." She leaned back and lifted her eyebrow. "What do you think?"


    The crease on Lai Su''s forehead deepened as he stared at the woman''s face. "You You are from the Long Family?"


    "Why do you ask?"


    "The Long Family imed that they were the one''s who made those bullets." Lai Su said. His words was enough to change Lyca''s face.


    .....


    Please don''t forget to vote for the novel.

 Chapter 179: Logic

    Chapter 179: Logic


    "What is this ce?" Lai Su''s eyes widened the moment he went inside the bright hallway that would lead him to theb. They were already inside Lyca and Shen Qui''s house. Of course, the man was using a different entrance, something that only he, Lyca, and Shen Qui have ess to.


    "You will start working in this ce now." Shen Qui said. However, Lai Su''s attention was not at him but towards the woman who had turned quiet since he mentioned the bullet. Truth be told, Lai Su would never want to work under someone who wanted money. However, working with another person who loves chemicals as much as he does is different. "The right door will lead you to your room. Everything is provided. To your left is theb. It is fully automated with a lot of types of equipment that were not avable in this country. It is, of course, the ce was equipped with stuff that could withstand radiation. It had been tested and all passed the radiation safety protocols in this country."


    Lai Su nodded. Shen Qui already told him that he would be given the ess card that is required for the experiments tomorrow. For now, all he needed to do was make himselffortable and rest.


    "We will take care of your resignation." Shen Qui added as he opened the door that would lead him towards his room. "This ce is full of cameras and traps. Please don''t walk around the hallway at night. Thesers will be activated by then."


    Lai Su immediately nodded. A house with aboratory and this kind of security sounded intimidating but he had seen a house like this before. He then looked at Lyca. "Are you about the bullets."


    "I created it." Lyca suddenly uttered as she met his gaze. "And I will prove to everyone that messing with my creation is not something they should be proud of." He walked towards their room, leaving Shen Qui alone with Lai Su.


    .....


    It had been three years since the Long Family took over the Huang Security.


    Everyone in Long City was surprised when the news of the merger happened. Of course, the merger was only on paper. On the inside, everyone knew that Huang Security is already a subsidiary of the Long Family. But this doesn''t mean that the Huang family stopped struggling. However, everything was futile as everyone in the Huang Family, except Huang Sheng Hong, already agreed to sell their shares for more profits.


    And today, the Long Corp, who is now the motherpany of Huang Security, was going to celebrate the sess that thepany has achieved since taking over thepany. It was undeniable that since the Long Family be thergest shareholder of thepany, the profits have increased. Doubled and tripled in merely three years.


    Because of this, many employees have actually considered the ''merger'' a blessing in disguise. While many of the businessmen were curious about what really happened behind the scenes, many just happily epted the changes and money thates along with it.


    "Another ten percent increase just this quarter." Long Yi next to his father as he calmly showed the presentation with all of their profits. "I know it''s still November, and the quarter hasn''t ended yet. But these numbers were really impressive." Next to Long Yi was his wife, Huang Xiaoxuan who is acting as another shareholder from the Huang Family.


    "I agree." Patriarch Long nodded, his wrinkled face eased as he looked at the numbers in front of him. "Well,dies and gentlemenI would expect that this would continue in the next few months as we wee the new year." He looked at the head researcher and calmly lifted an eyebrow at the man as if silently telling him something. "Next year, thepetition for all of the securitypanies will happen just after the Spring Festival. We already wonthe awardst year because of the bullet, I want us to create more innovations and win the next year''s award as well."


    Everyone on the table smiled and nodded. However, this environment didntst too long when Long Yi''s secretary along with a few security personnel entered the room and announced that they leave the building using the emergency exit.


    "What is happening?" Patriarch Long''s forehead puckered.


    "There is a suspected poison. There was a sudden spike of unknown microorganisms in the air." One of their security said. "It is still unidentified so, our chief security personnel suggested that we escort everyone out before it could reach this ce."


    The mention of poison made Long Yi. Huang Xiaoxuan and everyone else confused.


    "Long Yi take care of everything." The patriarch immediately stood from his seat and motioned the other executives to follow him towards the emergency exit where everyone will undergo another strenuous procedure of scanning, temperature, and blood checks, to make sure that they aren''t infected with anything that could harm the public.


    Seeing his father''s nonchnce about the situation, Long Yi nodded turned towards the security personnel so he could go to the first floor where the security room was located. From there, he would be able to see the microorganism scanners that were inside the area.


    "Husband I "


    "What!" Long Yi''s face turned dark when he realized that the foolish Huang Xiaoxuan didn''t actually follow his father. "Why are you here?"


    "I just I just thought that the mention of poison reminded me of her." She forced the words out of her mouth as she trembled inwardly. She then started to wonder why even now, Long Yi still doesn''t like her. The man is not even showing her an iota of respect. How could he still treat her like this? They have been married for a while now!


    She lifted her gaze and looked at his cold face, wondering when he would tell her to follow his father for her safety. Isn''t that the reason why she stayed? To know if he would actually worry for her safety?


    "She''s dead, stop talking about dead people." Long Yi said and walked away from her without even showing a little bit of concern towards her.


    Huang Xiaoxuan held her breath as she tried to stop her tears from falling into her cheeks. Long Yi had always been like this. Logic dictates that she should just get used to it.


    Unfortunately, she wasn''t.


    .....


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 Chapter 180: Harmless

    Chapter 180: Harmless


    Long Yi narrowed his eyes at the screen that was showing the envelope in the reception area of the building. It wasn''t a big one, in fact, one would think nothing unusual about the white letter envelop that should contain some sort of letter. The receptionist assumed it was something for Long Yi, a fan letter perhaps. After all, this wasn''t the first time that he received something like this.


    The receptionist decided to ignore the letter just like every letter that was addressed to Long Yi. Who would have thought that the receptionist would suddenly lose her consciousness? At first, no one thought it was the letter. The woman had been fasting, and everyone assumed that she justcked some sugar or calories.


    However, when the scanner spotted some unknown microorganisms in the air, they immediately knew that something else was going on.


    "Everyone is already out?" he asked, his handsome face morphed into a frown. "Howe we didn''t check the envelope?" this building had scanners that could scan potential viruses, bombs, and other illegal items. How could they miss something like this?


    "Sir, usually, envelopes like these were letters from fans. We receive something like this every day. They have these pink hearts and other stickers." Long Yi''s poprity started when he graduated from the Long Founding School of Elites and was invited by the son of the President to a g. He wasn''t really that famous just like most actors and actresses but because of the bullet from the Huang Security which was now patented after his name, many people students from universities are trying to send some letters of ''appreciation'' and some just fancy love letters to the handsome heir. Everyone in the building was instructed to just ignore the letters, put them in the box at the end of the day so they could put everything in the trash.


    "How sure are you that the source of the microorganism is the envelop?" the envelope looked nothing special. It was sparkly with lots of pink and red hearts as well as other stickers, it looked like someone that a high school student would make.


    "The increase started after she touched the letter and throw it on the bin below her table." Another one answered. "When he did the scan, that area had the densest amount of microorganisms."


    He nodded. "Alright. Prepare all suits and secure the envelope. Did we check who sent it? The courier? Anything?"


    "We are on it. We also blocked all social media posts about this incident and briefed everyone to keep their mouths shut."


    Long Yi clenched his jaw as he nodded. Some issues like this needed the intervention of the government, after all, this was a potential terrorism case. However, how could he let those people handle it and took all the credits from thepany? "Alright quarantine everyone and make sure everything is normal before letting them go home." He said, shoving his hands into his pockets so he could go to the undergroundb and watched as the experts check the envelope.


    For emergencies like these, everything must be in order. An emergency n should be set up beforehand to avoid any losses and creating mass panic. However, this was really the first time that they receive something like this. While there was no death, Long Yi wasn''t really confident about the long term effects of the air-born microorganism. After all, he wasn''t really an expert in that area.


    Long Yi''s frown deepened when he thought about the people who had all the motive to do this to them. With the uingpetition, he was certain that a lot ofpanies wanted them to lose face. But who could it be? Right now, he could only think ofpanies that are outside of Long City. After all, not one Securitypany could stand next to them in this city.


    "Sir, all the security protocols had been put in ce, traces of the microorganisms can be found in everyone''s lungs. Surprisingly, it was very easy to spot. However, it''s not showing any signs of harmful effects. We will hold everyone for the next two weeks, not allowing them to go back to their families so we can proceed with the observation."


    Long Yi''s face turned darker. "Two weeks?" With the uingpetition, they needed all the time they could get to create something new that could help the government. Meaning, this current situation is dying their efforts to win their second trophy in two years.


    "Yes sir."


    Long Yi nodded as he clenched his jaw. How about father and the other executives?"


    "They were taken to safety before the microorganism could reach them. We already examined everyone and was able to determine that there were no signs of microorganisms in their body. They are safe and are about to leave the premises."


    ...


    "I am telling you! Its Lyca! It should be her!"


    "Can you shut up and let me think?" Long Yi hissed at the woman pacing in front of him. "Stop pacing in front of me! You are making me dizzy!" he hissed, brows furrowed.


    "Yi I am sure it was her. Who else could create something like that!? She just made us look like a fool to everyone! Panicking as if we weren''t capable of knowing that it was actually harmless!"


    "I said SHUT UP! It wasn''t harmless! We don''t really know what it can do, yet!" Moreover, how could Lyca, who had been missing for the past three years would suddenly attack them like this? They already did everything to try and smoke her out, but nothing really worked. They even went as far as using her parents as hostages! Again, this didn''t work.


    Why would she suddenly appear now?


    He red at the senseless woman in front of him. "Leave my office. I don''t want to see you here." He said and turned towards theptop on top of his table. "You are disturbing me." He added before she could say another word.


    "Long Yi! I am just here to "


    *BANG*


    The loud sound of the ashtray hitting the wall behind Huang Xiaoxuan was definitely enough to shut her up. Her beautiful eyes widened at the man who didn''t even hesitate to throw an ashtray that was made of ss towards her. Slowly, her body started trembling. "You "


    "The next one will hit your head." Long Yi said, nonchnceced his tone, his eyes were still on hisptop, ignoring the tears that were flowing from her eyes.

 Chapter 181: No-Nonsense Assistant

    Chapter 181: No-Nonsense Assistant


    "So, you were saying it wasn''t harmless?" Lai Su stared at Lyca. "Why didn''t you just kill everyone?"


    Lyca''s lips were set in a grim line, her eyes were on the microscope in front of her. While her hand was busily scrambling something on the table next to her. "I am not a mass murderer."


    "You do know that your bullet killed a lot of people, right?"


    "What does it have to do with me?" she asked and finally turned her eyes towards the older man sitting next to her. "If I give you a knife and you use it to stab someone. Am I considered the criminal for giving you the knife?"


    Lai Su turned silent for a few seconds. "So, the one that you sent them what was that for?"


    Lyca shrugged. "Nothing. It''s harmless to humans. Just to make them panic and create some trouble."


    The man pursed his lips, he knew something else was going on. Something that he wasn''t aware of.


    He remembered Lyca saying that she will make them pay and he was expecting to see some action, maybe even some concentrated chemicals that would turn people into a puddle of blood."So you only wanted them to panic?" So, it was like a prank?


    Lyca shrugged and turn her attention to the microscope before she stood. "I have some times to attend to. Just follow everything that I said and were good."


    "Oh. About that bullet that you wanted to make are sure this is not illegal?"


    That got Lyca''s attention. However, instead of answering him, Lyca only smiled and leave the room.


    "What was that supposed to mean?" He mumbled inwardly.


    .


    After leaving theb, Lyca drove towards the Q Security Company thepany that Shen Qui had started. Of course, it is still far from the status of the previous Huang Security, but that was about to change.


    Right now, Q Security Company was not known. It was located in a two-story building and had only about fifty personnel, all working investigations, acting as private investigators instead of epting security details. When Lyca first heard about this, She couldn''t help butugh at Shen Qui.However, Lyca soon understood that the reason why they weren''t able to get any security gigs was not only because they aren''t certified by the government but it was also because no one knows them!


    Lyca couldn''t help but sigh as she looked at the two-story building next to the park where Shen Qui and her jogged before. She could see some people sitting near the entrance of the building, each of them had a bored expression on their faces. The blue and shirt uniform with a QSC Logo hung against their body. After letting out another sigh, Lyca approached one of them. "Is this the QSC?" She asked.


    "Hmmm. Do you need anything?" The man looked at her, after seeing that it was just a young woman, he went back to his phone. "We ept investigations, we can investigate your boyfriend for you and " the man started talking about fees and the kind of evidence that they can provide for her.


    "I am here to see your boss?"


    Again, the man paused and looked at her. "What for?" he asked. "You can just tell us what you wanted to do and." Again, he started talking about the services that they could give. Lyca only shook her head inwardly. Now, she understood everyone''s reaction when she was too eager to join thepetition.


    Lyca had been too focused on counting orgasm that she hasn''t really examined thepany closely. A wry smile escaped her lips. It seems that this is more challenging than she thought?


    "Do you know who your boss is?"


    That question shut the man up.


    "Of course we do It''s Boss Q. But currently the one taking "


    "What is going on here?" Another man approached them. He looked older than the one Lyca had been talking to,bulkier and taller. Arge scar on the man''s neck immediately caught Lyca''s attention.


    "Are you the one in charge here?" Lyca said, she didn''t miss the man''s alert eyes, immediately staring at her waist as if silently checking out if she had a weapon on her.


    "Yes, I am called Hogan. You are?" Surprisingly, the man held his hand in front of Lyca. epting his hand, Lyca nodded and answered.


    "Xi."


    As expected, surprised shed in the man''s eyes. "Are you that Xi?"


    "Boss who is she?"


    Hogan turned towards the man as he let go of Lyca''s hands. "Assemble everyone out here." Then his attention turned towards Lyca. "Please follow me inside, Boss Q already told me about you."


    Lyca only nodded, her eyes easily determined that the man might look strong but he seemed to be wounded, making him walk a little slower than the other. Perhaps a veteran? To avoid having biases, Lyca actually didn''t examine the files that Cleo sent her about each person in thispany.


    Of course, this was also because she was toozy to do so.


    The man led her towards the second floor of the building. "This way please" the man took a seat and motioned her to sit across him. " The boss told me about the team joining thepetition?" The man''s direct question made Lyca smile.


    Lyca would always prefer someone direct as it would save her more time. Before Lyca could answer, the man already added. "Now let me be honest with you. Aside from me and two other people, no one else knows military tactics here. The younger ones that we have were people that the boss saved from the streets, some of them just turned 18 while some were about twenty-three. All young people who haven''t had any training aside from fighting in the streets. Of course, because of the Boss'' efforts, each of them was already trying to learn martial arts and the basics of gun handling. They are not the best, but they could defend themselves."


    The man''s bluntness didn''t surprise her. Shen Qui must have chosen this man to be her assistant because of his no-nonsense personality. "What is your point?" Lyca asked.


    "Simple we are not ready for anypetition, and no amount of money and investments could alter this fact." The man''s face was serious as he stared at Lyca.

 Chapter 182: Think again, Hogan. Think again

    Chapter 182: Think again, Hogan. Think again


    Lyca sighed inwardly. "I am not looking for an army." She answered. What she needed was someone boring, someone that could disappear in the crowd, someone no one would notice.


    "Alright, I think there is something that you don''t understand here. First,petition has two categories. First is the military strategy. This is where we needed to utilize everything that we have to get the other team''s g. This will test the capability of our team to guard something important. We needed to prevent them from stealing our g and also try to steal their gs at the same time. Second was technology and innovation which we don''t have. Right now, our people aren''t trained enough to guard something."


    "Tell me the rules of the first category. Can we utilize traps to guard something?"


    "Of course."


    "Are we allowed to damage the enemy as they try to steal our gs?"


    "Of course. Even idental killing was allowed as long as it''s not deliberate or too obvious. Guns are not allowed though."


    "I see." Lyca nodded. She already heard what she needed to hear about the first category. She was confident that her traps would be able to stop the enemies from stealing their gs. "Second question. For the innovation and tech, can we do everything as long as we will give it to the state, as long as the military can use it?"


    "Yes. You can create some new stuff and sell it to the military and we''re set."


    "Good." Lyca nodded. "I want you to focus on training everyone inbat. Assault, breaking people''s limbs. Judo and Jujitsu, knife skills. In short, I want you to focus on killing people."


    Hogan frowned, disbelief shed in his eyes. "Are you " He examined the young woman in front of him. "Are you perhaps high?" He already expected that the woman would pursue this matter and ording to some news, this woman is the Boss'' wife, this must be the boss'' way to pamper her. Let her do whatever she wanted even if he knew there was no way they would win.


    "I only need twenty people, Hogan. Twenty people who know how to conceal themselves, blend in, and kill." Lyca ignored his question. To her surprise, the other leaned back and lifted his eyebrow before he chuckled.


    "I think there is a misunderstanding here." He said. "I said"


    "And I also said, I don''t need an army of people. I need experts, people that could kill. Not an army of losers."


    "You " Hogan shook his head, in defeat. However, he wasn''t about to lose his patience over something like this. He let out a sigh. "The boss said that we could win thispetition because of you?"


    Lyca nodded, confidence coated her eyes.


    "I don''t think winning is possible." He shook his head. "Look I get that you are ambitious. You are young and probably rich. I get that winning sounded good too good. It''s tempting to try. But we should stop dreaming and open our eyes, see the reality in front of us."


    Lyca pursed her lips. She crossed her arms across her chest and asked. "How old are you this year, Hogan?"


    "Forty-three? Why does that matter?"


    "How long were you serving in the military?"


    That shut the man up, he squinted but thought that Lyca knew his past because she looked at the file.


    "Thirteen years." He answered.


    Lyca nodded. "I am twenty-four." She uttered. "Almost half your age. With no experience in the military. I grew up in a rich family too. But what about this I want you to fight me."


    "Excuse me?"


    "If I win, you follow me. If I lose you will own thispany."


    "You " Hogan clicked his tongue, wondering if he had finally found someone so crazy they would fight someone who had worked in the special forces for years. He looked at the small woman, she was skinny, definitely too smallpared to his six-foot size. "You do know that my leg is probably the same size as your waist, right?"


    "That''s impossible," Lyca said. "But I would assume you only wanted to tell me that I am weak, right?"


    "I won''t fight you." He might not be as rich as everyone else but he was livingfortably, he doesn''t want anypany. Moreover, how could he hurt a woman?


    "I see. Then how about I fight against everyone else in this building?" Lyca was just tozy to exin to someone as close minded as Hogan. Wouldn''t it be good to show him what she could do?


    "You "


    "A small bruise no killing." She stood and didn''t wait for him to say anything else. Instead, Lyca strode out of the room, her hand was on her wrist preparing to ess her needles.


    "What the hell are you doing?" A lunatic. This woman was not only ambitious, but she was also a lunatic. Hogan''s long strides immediately made him catch up to Lyca. He walked next to her and was about to say something when Lyca suddenly raised her hand, throwing something to the man that was walking their way.


    Hogan''s eyes widened when he saw the man paused and stared at them. The man''s eyes were full of confusion as he opened his mouth and fell on the concrete floor with his eyes still open. "You! Stop right there!"


    Lyca only snorted. "You think I need an army to kill everyone inside this building?" she taunted before she threw another needle on the security personnel that was running their way. Another thud echoed. "Think again, Hogan. Think again."


    "You think, your boss agreed to make me the new head of thispany because I was f*cking him? Think again Hogan." She chuckled and threw another needle, this time, the man trembled before hitting the floor. Then she looked at the wide-eyed Hogan who had long stopped walking. "Think again."


    "What the... boss... what is happening!?" The two men who came running towards Lyca also fell on the floor, their eyes were open as if they were still unaware why they were already on the floor.


    "Stop this! Stop this right now!" Hogan''s voice thundered inside the whole building. "Are you f*cking insane!?"


    "Insane," Lyca smirked. "Is the perfect word to describe me."

 Chapter 183: Modeling Agency

    Chapter 183: Modeling Agency


    Sweat trickled down on Hogan''s forehead as he stared at Lyca who was now sitting at his previous seat. The woman looked rxed as she leaned against the leather chair, smiling at him as if she didn''t try to kill half of his men just a few minutes ago. "Are they going to be alright?" he asked.


    "They will live." She took a sip of her tea before leaning forward, her elbow rested on the table. "Do you understand why I was so confident, now?"


    "You are crazy."


    "Thank you very much. I am taking that as apliment." She answered without batting an eyelid. "I told you. I don''t need an army to stop those people. I need experts."


    Hogan''s pressed his lips together, his icy stare bored into her. "Those kids are like my children."


    "Oh did you want them dead?"


    "What are you talking about?" Irritation shed in his eyes. Hogan had never met anyone as different as this woman before, and he honestly doesn''t know how to handle her.


    "Some parents want their kids dead." She was still smiling. "I was just curious, if you are one of those people."


    He clenched his jaws before he said. "You win." He relented. This woman was indeed very different.


    "That easy?" She was honestly expecting him to argue with her, perhaps threatened her and challenge her into a fight. Was her brain too violent? She chuckled. It seems that Hogan was not only blunt, he was also smart enough to know that she was more dangerous than she looks.


    "I underestimated you because you are a woman. That was my first mistake."


    "What was your second mistake?"


    "I already made up my mind that we won''t have any chance in thispetition before you even came into this building."


    "I presumed you tried to convince Q to withdraw?"


    He nodded. He tried to talk to the young man about this matter. Of course, Shen Qui assured him that they would win. At first he thought, he was only joking. That he would change his mind soon. He was wrong.


    Shen Qui must have known about his woman''s capabilities or there is no way that he would show such confidence while talking to him.


    "What was your n?"


    "Train people." Lyca said.


    "I might have agreed but I "


    "Is there something wrong?"


    "I already told you. I treat them as my children. Not just some people that we picked from the streets."


    "Point?" she asked.


    "I would be the type of parent that would respect their decision."


    She frowned. "You are asking me to convince them?"


    He nodded. He wasn''t really surprise that the woman could already guess what he was thinking. "We promised them shelters and job. We didn''t tell them about killing people."


    She lifted an eyebrow. Hogan actually looked scary because of his bulky muscles and intimidating height. His sharp eyes and the scar on his neck only added to this dangerous aura. Who would have thought that he was actually a soft guy beneath all the tattoos on his arm?


    She smiled. Sometimes, the most heartless people were the ones who wore tuxedo''s and gowns. One should not really judge someone base on how they look.


    "Do you Do you think that would be a problem?" Hogan asked. To his surprise, Lyca only smiled at him in response.


    "Are you afraid that I would use force to convince them?"


    "Would you?"


    "Of course, I would!" Why would she waste time talking when she can always show them that she was superior? Her skills were like a short cut! And everyzy people loves having short cuts.


    "Can you  Can you at least spare the young ones? The youngest that we have was sixteen."


    "No." She stood and walked out of the office. Hogan immediately followed her.


    "Everyone is downstairs."


    "How many people do we have?"


    "Fifty-two in total. Forty-eight can fight including me. Forty-two under the age of thirty. Thirty people are sixteen to twenty-three."


    "Hmmm." Lyca nodded as they started walking down the stairs. "I need twenty. The best of the best."


    "You do know that we are a securitypany right?"


    "Hm?" she looked at him, confusion shed in her eyes. Seeing this, Hogan continued.


    "It just it looked like you were trying to create assassins instead of a securitypany." With her skills, creating a group of people like her is such an easy task. After all, the weapon that she used earlier was suited for hidden attacks and assassinations.


    "Maybe I am." Lyca shrugged. "Would you have any problems with that?"


    This time, Hogan smiled and shook his head.


    "Good. Then let''s start." Lyca stood in front of men and surprisingly a few women. They stood in straight columns in front of her and Hogan.


    "Good Afternoon." Hogan turned his attention towards the sea of people in front of them. "I am sure some of you were already aware that from today onward, we will have a new staff tasked to train everyone for the uingpetition." He started talking about thepetition before he started introducing Xi, the way that she wanted to be introduce.


    Though, Shen Qui already told her that she would manage this ce, Lyca wouldn''t really introduce herself as some Manager or CEO. Just mentioning those terms was enough to make her tired!


    Because of this, she told Hogan that she would like him to take care of all the paper works while she would act as a special trainer! Someone that Shen Qui especially hired to create some changes in thepany.


    "You can call her Xi. From now on, she will work with everyone''s personalize training. At the end of the month, there will be a test and the twenty people who would passed the test will receive money, a new housing arrangement and sry increase." As expected, his words were enough to attract everyone''s attention.


    "Chief H!" someone from the back raised his hand. "With all due respect sir but she she looked more like an actress than a trainer!" Everyone chuckled at that. Some even started whistling while staring at Lyca. "Are we really training for thepany? Or for a modeling agency?"


    Laughter echoed inside the building.

 Chapter 184: Numbers

    Chapter 184: Numbers


    "If this is training for a modeling agency then you wouldn''t be here." Lyca countered. The sweet smile stered on her face was the exact opposite of the sharp words that she just utter. "Or did you think you were tall enough for a male model?" She smirked. Almost immediately the man''s face change, his eyes squinted before he suddenly walked out of the line and approach Lyca. "Hmmm. Impetuous. Rash without even thinking if the enemy could kill them in one attack."


    Her words stopped the man in his tracks. He stood about five feet away from Lyca, ring at her, hesitating. The thick silence hung in the air as everyone stared at Lyca, realization swirling in their orbs. Everyone was aware that someone just attacked most of the people in the agency earlier. Of course, those people were still in the infirmary right now.


    "Are you going to try and teach me a lesson?" Lyca tilted her head, like a snake watching its prey. "Do it." Seeing the man stared at her for a few seconds, Lyca didn''t hesitate. She took a few steps towards the man and delivered a quick roundhouse quick. The action was swift and agile, even Hogan wasn''t able to see her leg hit the man''s stomach.


    "The first lesson is to not hesitate. NEVER hesitate." Lyca said. Her stern voice echoed inside the space. She stood next to the man that had fallen, kneeling on the ground. "Even if you are weaker, never hesitate. It''s like telling your enemy that you are weaker than them. That you are not confident of winning. " She said. "It will make them y you, intimidate you." She looked at the man. "The moment you hesitate, you already gave me the power to defeat you in one blow."


    She put her hands behind her back. "Bluff if you can."


    "What if what if the enemy is stronger? What if we already know that we have no chance of winning? What if they could kill us in one blow?" Surprisingly, the one who asked was the one that Lyca hit.


    "Name?" Lyca asked.


    "Ma Ping."


    "Ma Ping" Lyca said. "If you know that the enemy is stronger than you and you had no chance of winning then you can only do one thing." She smiled. "Run."


    She turned her eyes back to the people in front of her. Every one of them had a mixture of expressions on their faces. Some were visibly scared while others didn''t hesitate to hold her gaze the moment she stared at them. Lyca only smiled. "I want to create a team. The best of the best. People that could kill, kidnap, bluff, defend, and fight. I will train everyone for two months then there will be an examination that will determine if you are one of the twenty people that will work under me. However, Hogan insisted that I asked everyone if you agreed to my terms before I start doing anything. So, if you don''t want to be trained by me then I suggest you step out of the line now. I won''t ask any questions nor wonder why you don''t want to train. You can still stay and work boring jobs in this facility, free of amodation and food."


    The silence this time was suffocating. After all, Lyca just told them what she needed them for. She needed a fighter, killers. From her words, many of them immediately assumed that this was some sort of a special team that would act as Boss Q''s special team, people task to kill for the Boss.


    Seeing that no one actually moved out of the line, Lyca smile. "My rules were simple. I amzy. I don''t like to do much. So, everyone will have to do the work as I sit. First, let me name you using numbers. You " She pointed at Ma Ping. "You are number one. Start counting from left to right."


    "Two three four"


    Lyca only shrugged when she met Hogan''s gaze. Isn''t it better to call people using numbers? It would be easier to remember that way. Some people''s names were tooplicated to pronounce and write. Lyca had no time for that kind of effort.


    "Thirty two!" thest one on the line said. For a few seconds, Lyca got confused before she realized that the others that she attacked earlier were still in the infirmary. She didn''t really expect that those people would spend this much time trying to make their limbs move again. She thought the poison that she used should at least make them unable to move for ten minutes. It seems that those people were weaker than she originally thought.


    "Good. Training starts at four in the morning tomorrow. Be ready by three, we are going somewhere." Lyca uttered. "And oh tell the others in the infirmary about their new names." Lyca smiled before she walked towards Hogan.


    "That That is better than what I anticipated." Surprisingly, Lyca didn''t actually harm everyone forughing at Ma Ping''s joke.


    "It''s normal for someone to underestimate people. Especially a cool and harmless girl like me."


    "Harmless my ass." He muttered.


    "What was that?"


    "I said you were brilliant."


    "Thank you." She smiled.


    "Do you really think that we can win this?"


    "What do you think?"


    "I " Hogan looked at the people who started walking towards the space that they were using as their rooms. "With the right training, I think we can."


    "Hmm," Lyca said as she put her hands behind her back. "Then you can do all the preparations now. I needed to do something important." Lyca didn''t wait for him to say anything more. She just walked towards the exit, humming. Right now, she was extremely in a good mood. It seems that her n is actually doing well.


    Twenty people twenty experts twenty assassins.


    Once she would have those people, Lyca would have more time to rx as all of the killing tasks will be assign to them. Ah what a blissful life.


    The thought of just sitting and doing nothing is already making her excited.

 Chapter 185: Excuse

    Chapter 185: Excuse


    "So, you didn''t hurt him?" Cleo asked as she served Lyca her steaming coffee. "Like not even a p for the disrespect?"


    "Why would she hurt Ma Ping? The man was telling her she was beautiful." Rue uttered.


    "She was disrespected. Those people look down on her!"


    "Well this is the reason why Boss Q didn''t allow you to be Xi''s assistant. If you were there you would have pped the man just from saying that it was a modeling training." Rue shrugged. She looked at the silent Lyca, wondering what was she thinking.


    "It''s fine. I am used to people underestimating me because I am a woman. Plus, I am such a gentle woman. I wouldn''t hurt someone weaker than me." Lyca calmly took a sip of her coffee. She eyed Shen Qui from the see-through ss wall that he had in his new office. Seeing that the man is still busy with paperwork, she turned her attention back to Cleo and Rue. "And isn''t it good to make them think, I am too kind?" She smiled. "I heard that Hu Lan is still at the hospital?"


    "Please don''t tell me you are nning to kill her," Rue said.


    "What''s wrong with killing her?" Cleo asked. She looked at Rue, eyes full of confusion. Clearly, Rue and Cleo hated that woman for being too flirty to the boss. However, to Cleo, that wasn''t enough reason for them to kill her.


    "If she died, then I won''t be able tough at her when I see what she looked like." Rue didn''t hide the disgust in her voice. "Ronan said that she kept on scratching her skin even if the doctors already gave her something that would ease the itchiness. A scar is inevitable. If you know what I mean."


    "The itchiness do you think it''s some sort of a know you"


    "What?" Rue asked.


    "You know  a symptom of a genital problem," Cleo said before she turned serious. "I heard she likes sleeping with married men and leave them once the challenge is over."


    Rue and Lyca eyed each other before the two shook their heads.


    "It seems like you are really idle." Lyca only smiled. "You even have the time to listen to rumors like this?"


    "Eh?"Cleo froze when she realized the change in Lyca''s tone. "Oh! No!" Shaking her head, Cleo gave a wry smile. "No! Not true at all. I just "


    "So you asked Boss Q to be my assistant?" Lyca lifted an eyebrow.


    "That "Of course, she did! She had suspicions that Lyca was the real boss! Of course, she wanted to be the assistant of the real boss, alright! "You know Xi. Heh I just thought that I qualify as your assistant. If you think about it, I am extremely good with my hands, my interpersonal skills are just so high it is the same with my IQ and EQ. I can be very useful in the field." Before Lyca saved her, Cleo was a professional thief. She could easily blend in and steal something. Of course, she wasn''t really proud of having this kind of profession.


    "Good with hands" Rue said, smirking. "I don''t think Xi needs that."


    The light atmosphere turned lighter when Rue startedughing followed by the flustered Cleo.


    "Alright, you''re hired."


    "Eh?" Cleo and Rue turned their attention towards her.


    "I am hiring you as my personal assistant. PA."


    "You will?" The boss of the boss just decided to hire her like that? Cleo beamed. How hard could it be to be Lyca''s assistant? "Then I will do my very best to serve you!"


    "Good. Start by peeling some grapes for me. I am hungry."


    ""


    ""


    "Oh! Absolutely! Let me go and get some grapes!" Still smiling, Cleo left the two alone in the small space just outside of Shen Qui''s office.


    "So, you will start training soon?" Rue asked. She knew that if she wouldn''t speak, Lyca would just stare at her, making the current atmosphere awkward. She still remembered thest time that she and Lyca had a confrontation and on the next day, Lyca didn''t wake up. At some point, Rue thought that it was actually her fault.


    "Hmmm. Ronan is going to be busy with the Boss." Lyca said. "Would you like toe with me?" Rue and Ronan were bothputer genius. However, Rue is more like the nonchnt version of her twin brother. Now, since Ronan is already working with Shen Qui, it would be good to have Rue work for her too! After all, she could always use her skills.


    Rue narrowed her eyes at Lyca before a slow smile hung on her face. "It seems that Ronan was right? You are not the wife of the boss." How could Lyca just decide to recruit someone without even asking their boss? Simple, she was actually The Real Boss.


    "This is why I like thepany of smart people," Lyca said. At least they are smart enough to analyze everything. After all, exining the situation to someone sounded too taxing.


    And just like that, Lyca gained two women that will work under hermand. Of course, Hogan didn''t expect Lyca to bring two more beautiful women with her. He knew that most people on the team were currently young and seeing Lyca with her friends, is enough to distract them from strenuous training. However, when he voiced out this concern to Lyca, the other only shrugged and told him that distractions are part of the job.


    It''s not like they would work in an enclosed space and see nothing but walls. It is normal for them to see good looking people from time to time. So, getting used to it is a part of the training too.


    Hogan only shook his head inwardly. He doesn''t see any mistakes in Lyca''s sentence, but for some reason, he still felt that it was an excuse so she could bring her own personal helpers with her. With this in mind, Hogan just shrugged and instructed the Bus to follow Lyca''s car.


    Finally, they will start their training.


    ....


    Don''t forget to vote for the novel.

 Chapter 186: Stupid Hu Lan

    Chapter 186: Stupid Hu Lan


    Location: Ralia City- Ralia Mountains.


    "We already had permissions to use this ce, right?"


    "Do we need permission to use a forest?" Rue frowned as she eyed the tall mountains in front of them. She looked at her arms before turning towards Cleo''s arms and wondered how are they going to arrive at the top carrying massive bags for camping? Did Lyca actually do this so she could get back to her for that confrontation years ago? Rue looked at Lyca.


    Thetter was wearing ck tactical pants, paired with a gray tank top, a few daggers hung on the woman''s waist as she stared at the mountain in a daze. "Are you finally regretting your decision toe here?" Rue couldn''t help but feel a little aggrieved. There was no way that she would climb this mountain along with everyone else! She was certain she would die!


    "Why would I regret it?" Lyca turned towards Rue, confusion shed in her eyes. This was the perfect spot to test everyone''s determination. "And we are here for camping. There''s no need to ask for some permits for that." She answered before she motioned Hogan to get her a chair so she could sit.


    "You are crazy," Rue said. "Cleo and I can''t climb that mountain."


    However, before Lyca could answer her, a smallmotion interrupted them. The three women and Hogan turned to look at the group of men and women behind them. Lyca almost wanted tough out loud when she saw Hu Lan. Wearing a turtle neck and tactical pants, Hu Lang greeted everyone before she walked towards Lyca. Surprisingly, Hu Lan actually smiled at her.


    Was this woman dumb? Or was she trying to act cordially in front of everyone?


    "Miss Xi, I already asked Boss Q''s permission to join the training. He agreed and even sent me a good luck charm for the exercises."


    "Oh. He didn''t send me one." Lyca said. She met Hu Lan''s eyes. "Alright you can join us."


    "Really?" Of course, Hu Lan wasn''t expecting Lyca to be so nice today. Hu Lan couldn''t help but wonder if Xi hit her head somewhere.


    "Hmm." Lyca turned her attention towards the forest again, she ignored Hu Lan as shefortably sat in her chair and started eating some nuts. She then eyed her watch, it was still five in the morning. The sun just started peeking on the horizon.


    "Miss Xi, are we going to climb this mountain?"


    "Yes, seven-five."


    Her answer made Hu Lan froze. "What what is seven five?"


    "Your name." It was Rue who answered her. "From now on we will call you as seven five."


    Unable to understand what they meant, Hu Lan looked at Hogan, who was also her father''s close friend, questions swirled in her orbs. Unfortunately for her, Hogan chose not to exin and just shrugged. His attention was towards the forest. He couldn''t stop himself from feeling that Lyca was nning something bad for everyone.


    The cold November breeze made them felt its presence, making everyone shiver as they talked amongst themselves. Lyca told them that they are going to train today, and everyone is really excited to learn something.


    "Line," Lyca said. She stood from her seat and turned towards everyone. She eyed Hu Lan, who was in the front before turning her gaze to the other people. All in all, forty-five people came here. The others chose to stay back in the building, and some were injured, so they cannot join this type of training. "Current time is five-thirty." She spoke, her voice was not loud but it was clear and more than enough for everyone to hear.


    "Cleo will give you a piece of paper. I want you to write your name. Real ones on the sheet of paper and put it in your pockets."


    As she was speaking, Cleo already started giving everyone a small piece of paper and some pens so they could follow Lyca''s instructions.


    "At five forty-five. All of you will start trekking the mountain. This mountain is not really tall. You can walk from here to the highest point in five hours and use another five hours back. This was only if you walk. You can save time if you run," she smiled.


    "Well, that sounded really simple. Miss Xi, is right. We can actually do it in less than six hours back and forth if we are just fit enough to run." Hu Lan''s voice echoed. While this action made a few people frown, Lyca didn''t react and just continued talking as if she didn''t hear Hu Lan''s voice.


    "I want you to leave everything here. Your bags. All you can bring is a knife and an empty water bottle. I want you to run, towards the top ande back here in less than six hours."


    Hu Lan started beaming, seemingly satisfied that her words were actually right.


    "But that is not the mission," Lyca added. "The mission is to keep the piece of paper dry."


    Her words made Hogan, and a few other people frowned. First and foremost, running would make them sweat which will obviously make the paper wet. Second, the cold would make the paper moist. Leaving it somewhere would surely make the paper wet too, as the forest was naturally damp.


    "You can do whatever you can think of to keep it dry as long as you always keep the paper with you. Each of you will have a GPS so we can track you so no funny business. Anyone caught cheating will " She made a deliberate pause. "Would lose their libido for half a year." Lyca beamed. "Do we have a deal?"


    "Miss Xi, question!" Hu Lan raised her hand. "Is the forest safe? What about wild animals?"


    "Use your knives. Deal with it." Lyca answered. "Or eat them."


    "..."


    "Any other questions?" she eyed the other people. After what happened yesterday, many of them knew that she was really capable of making them lose their libido. After all, everyone who experienced that numbing needle exaggerated their stories about Miss Xi and her Needles.


    "What if we had an ident?" This time it was Ma Ping who asked.


    "You drag your wounded ass down here," Lyca said almostzily. "If you can''t... then you die."

 Chapter 187: The Real Goal

    Chapter 187: The Real Goal


    Silence descended as Lyca looked at everyone. The smile on her face was enchanting, but it had a tinge of something sinister. It was as if she was hiding something beyond that beautiful smile.


    "Questions?" Lyca looked at her watch.


    "Miss Xi how are we going to keep the paper from getting wet? If we keep it in our water bottle, the bottle will create some moisture too, because of the cold," someone from the back said.


    "Number?"


    "Twenty-nine ma''am!"


    "Two nine," Lyca uttered. "You figure it out." She beamed.


    "We will camp here and wait for you. Six hours. That''s all you have. If you arrive here after six hours, you will sleep outside of your tents. I will see youterdies, and gentlemen May The Force be with Us All!" She said, referencing the famous star wars quote before she walked back on her chair.


    "Wait... Miss Xi does this mean you are noting with us?" Hu Lan''s question made everyone paused. Since Hu Lan was not with them the other day, she didn''t hear what Lyca said about being extremelyzy. Would azy person really go with them to the mountains?


    "No."


    "But"


    "What?" Cleo asked, her tone raised. Just like Rue, she was really irritated with this Hu Lan. However, unlike Lyca and Rue, Cleo has the tendency to show her real emotions on the outside. "You think she should have another race with you? Hu Lan I don''t understand why you are here. I remember you had a sprain because you lost from Miss Xi, right?"


    "What? What are you talking about?" Hu Lan''s face reddened. Sprain because she lost? Did everyone think that she had a sprain because she


    "Aish this woman really thought that we are stupid." Cleo rolled her eyes. "It''s already five forty-five. I suggest you start running, or you won''t be back in six hours."


    "Hmph!" Hu Lan snorted before she walked away from Lyca. The mountain is not really big, and she was confident that she would be able toe back here in four hours! She had been running marathons! The farthest that she was able to run was thirty-two kilometers and this made Hu Lan very proud of herself. Confidence rolled inside her as she started sprinting towards the peak of the mountain. Sadly, Hu Lan was not an expert when ites to mountain climbing and she had forgotten to think about the high altitudes in the mountain.


    Anyone who isn''t an expert in climbing would surely surrender halfway because of the change in altitude.


    "You knowing back in six hours is impossible, right?" Hogan said, his voice was solemn as he stood next to Lyca. He, along with the other members who already past the age of thirty, were not included in the exercise. Which was actually a very good thing. Hogan wasn''t even sure if he would be able to finish the exercise in six hours. How embarrassing would that be if he fails?


    "Of course, it''s impossible," Lyca uttered as she threw another nut in her mouth.


    "Then why give them an impossible task?"


    "Hm?" Lyca lifted her head and looked at him. "The task was to keep the paper dry. Was that impossible?"


    This made him silent. All this time he had been thinking about running up and down in the mountain in six hours while the task was actually to keep the paper dry. He had actually forgotten about this!


    "I was clear with everyone. The task was to keep the paper dry. The six hours was nothing but bullshit."


    ""


    "So you "


    "I can, of course, do that. If I ride some chopper." She started smiling. "Ah Cleo... Get me theptop. I need some TV drama. Oh. Mr. Hogan please asked everyone else to help set up the tent for tonight."


    Hogan pursed his lips as he looked at Lyca''s nonchnt expression. "The training that you said you will give them is "


    "Not in the body." Lyca finished her sentence. "It''s in the mind. A strong body is useless as long as the mind is weak." Which was very true. The aim of the training was actually very simple. Lyca only wanted to know who had the right focus to finish the task. This would be very useful for security personnel.


    Determination, presence of mind, and initiative.


    She wanted people to develop those instead of some muscles. Lyca already made it clear that running was not the mission. The mission was to keep the paper dry. She doesn''t need robots that blindly follow instructions. She needed people that could think and use their damn brains to survive.


    "But how are they going to keep the paper dry?" Cleo asked as she gave theptop to Lyca. "I mean even if they wrapped it in stic that they could find along the way, it would still create moisture. The higher they go, the bigger chances it would be that the paper will get wet. Unless they won''t go at the peak, which is impossible since we have trackers on them.They can''t also leave the paper somewhere as the moisture would Aish Xi you are making my heard hurt."


    "If they are smart they will figure it out." Lyca shrugged. "Think about it we are building a security team capable of doing special tasks, guarding houses, people, documents, and special types of equipment. They needed the mind to innovate."


    Hogan, Cleo, and Rue just eyed each other wondering how are they going to keep a paper like that dry. Then they shook their heads. That sounded impossible.


    " If they arrive after six hours, they will sleep outside of their tents but the mission is actually about the paper? Xi, I think you are making everyone confuse, no?" Cleo said wryly. It was really an impossible task, but Lyca''s way of telling them about the punishment was making everyone think that it was about the running and not the paper. It would make anyone forget that the real task was actually the paper. Some people might even prioritize running! She couldn''t help but wonder what was Lyca''s goal all along.


    "One or two will get it," Lyca said as she put on her headphones and started watching the TV drama that she was watchingtely. Lyca was already assuming that everyone will try to use their water bottles for the paper, then they could use leaves or their hands to drink some water once they found a stream. Of course, this would be useless unless they add something inside the bottle that would absorb the moisture. For instance they could use their knives to produce sawdust and use it to absorb the moisture then they would be able to keep the paper dry.


    Lyca only wanted to see who had the mind to finish the real task. That''s all. Isn''t that too simple?


    Lyca sighed inwardly. Before the real training begins, she needed to find people that could lead the team. After all, she wasn''t nning to micromanage everything. Lyca''s n was to issue an order thenze around.


    Because of this, she needed responsible leaders that would make sure the task ispleted no matter what happens.

 Chapter 188: Wood Ash and Sawdust

    Chapter 188: Wood Ash and Sawdust


    "Miss Xi, I think everyone will fail the mission. Look it''s been six hours already not a single one of them returned. Shall we go ahead and call someone to find them?" Cleo said as she nced at the forest, her eyes full of worry.


    "Are they still alive?" Lyca asked without lifting her gaze from herptop. This was already the part where the wife would found out about her husband''s betrayal, alright. She just can''t miss this part.


    "Yes, Miss. Alive but barely moving."


    "Oh. Then let''s wait." In the first ce, she started the mission early in the morning so, they would have a day to run to and from the forest. There is no need to worry about adults running around. "She should just poison her husband after she divorced him. Let that younger woman take care of an impotent person. See if she sticks." She uttered while watching the show.


    Hearing the nonchnce in her voice, Cleo sighed and walked towards Rue, who was the one working with the GPS and body stats. "Hey, did someone die already?"


    "Everyone sounded enthusiastic before they started, they failed to think about the altitude. You can''t run while you are up there." Rue uttered. She looked at theptop in front of her before sighing. "This mission is more difficult than you think."


    "Really?"


    "Hmmm. " Rue raised her legs and rested it on the table. "Lyca deliberately did it so she could have some time to watch movies."


    "You think so?"


    "Yeah," Rue answered before she grabbed a pillow for the neck and close her eyes. "Wake me up after two hours. Maybe someone wille back by then."


    "Rue what if someone dies?"


    "Bury them," Rue said, her eyes were closed. "I bet that''s what would she say if you asked her."


    Cleo turned silent before she sat next to Rue and started staring at theptop screen. After two hours of waiting, someone finally arrived. Surprisingly, it wasn''t just one person but three of them. Then another five followed. Slowly, everyone started arriving. One by one, they announced their arrival and Lyca only instructed them to sit and rest. They could, of course, find their food if they were hungry, kill a snake or a rat.


    After a grueling another two hours, Lyca finally stopped watching her series. She looked at everyone''s dejected expression. "Is everyone here?" she asked.


    "No Miss, weck two people. One is Seven Five and the other is Twelve." Ma Ping or number one answered. Among his peers, he was the only one who still had the energy to answer Lyca. A wry smile appeared on his lips as he thought of Hu Lan and number twelve who liked Hu Lan. That man must have found Hu Lan and helped her.


    "Hmmm." Lyca nodded. "It''s already. Ten hours. Since they''re not here, they are already dead."


    "Aren''t we going to send someone to retrieve them?" Someone asked.


    "Number?"


    "Number five ma''am."


    "Aish next time you asked a question you tell me your number," Lyca said. "And no. Why waste some energy to save someone weak?" A long stretch of silence followed as Lyca looked at the dismay on everyone''s face. Slowly, a smile blossomed on her face. "Did any of you returned with a dry paper? Raise your hands and tell me your number."


    Surprise shed in Lyca''s eyes when she saw Ma Ping, raised his hand. Pride can be seen in his eyes. Another two people followed, and one of them is a woman! Lyca''s smile became so big it looked scary to everyone else.


    She could divide them into three teams!


    She could have three people working under her!


    "Good. Show me the paper and tell me what you did to keep it dry."


    Ma Ping was the first one who stood up. He showed Lyca the dry small piece of paper and told her that he used some sawdust to keep it dry. First and foremost the paper was only small. It was smaller than his palm. Meaning, he didn''t need a lot of sawdust from a tree so he could keep it dry.


    "Hmmm. And you?"


    "I " the second person spoke. "I am number fifteen, and I use some wood ash. I know how to create a fire using my knife and rock, and I I know that wood ash is just like baking soda, and it absorbs moisture."


    "Impressive. Wood ash is alkaline. It is indeed just like baking soda. You can also use it to clean and use it to repel some insects like cockroaches. It is useful when you are in the wild. How about you?" Lyca nodded.


    "I " the woman nervously nced at the man then to Lyca.


    "Oh! Lovers." Lyca nodded. "I understand. Tell me your number?"


    "Twenty three ma''am."


    "The three of you will have immunity in the next training exercise. Meaning, no matter the result, you will still have your meals and tent. As for everyone who wasn''t able to return with a dry paper all of you will sleep outside the tent tonight." She then removed two daggers from her hand and showed them to everyone. "First training involves your brain, being wise and smart enough to make decisions that would affect the mission. I am not only here to train your body. I know you can take care of that. I am here to train your brains, mentality is everything. In a war, the people that will win doesn''t have to have the greatest number of warriors but the smartest one. The best team wins a war without even fighting one. So, you have to be alert all the time." She started ying with the dagger, throwing it up and catching it.


    "Speaking of being alert. I want you to know that I ''might'' want to y a game with you tonight. The person who will have a small wound in their throat tomorrow won''t have any breakfast." She said before throwing the knife towards Ma Ping''s feet. Thetter jumped back, eyes wide as he stared at Lyca. "The hunting includes you. So don''t be toofortable in your tent number one. You don''t want to wake up with my dagger in your throat, right?"


    Ma Ping gulped as he wondered if Lyca was deliberately targeting him. "Yes, ma''am," he said.

 Chapter 189: Daggers and Surprises

    Chapter 189: Daggers and Surprises


    Except for the sounds of the crickets and Lyca''sints about the TV series that she was watching, the first night of their camping trip was peaceful and silent too silent.


    This silence however seemed like a sharp knife that hovered on top of everyone''s head as everyone opened their eyes as wide as they could, hoping that they could see or feel if Lyca attacks them. They weren''t so sure about her skills in attacking people, but they were sure she had some ways to make them immobile.


    The threat that she made earlier about her game was enough to keep them awake despite all the body aches that they felt from climbing the mountain. Because of this, not one of them dared to enter into a deep sleep. Some of them went as far as guarding each other as they sleep. After all, Lyca didn''t tell them anything about the rules of her game. While some of them found a spot away from the camp to hide from her. Either way, one thing was for sure. Not many of them would get the rest that they needed this night.


    Of course, Lyca was not aware of this. She was in her own tent, watching the TV series about cheating. A few curses would left her mouth every now and then as she cursed the female lead for being weak or for not killing her husband. Why would a woman who already know that their husband was cheating still chose to keep him alive? Wouldn''t it be good to increase his insurance before he could change the beneficiary then kill him, secretly?


    This was clearly stressing her out!


    [Working?]Lyca sent the text to Shen Qui before she turned her attention towards herptop. She looked at the time. It was still ten in the evening. She couldn''t help but wonder if he was already in the club.


    [Just leaving the house. How''s the training?]


    Lyca smiled. [Don''t text while driving. We''re good.] She went back on watching her TV series as she started to wonder who will sleep or not sleep tonight.


    "Hey Xi?" Cleo''s voice echoed outside of the tent. "Can Ie in?"


    "Hmmm."


    After hearing Lyca''s acknowledgment, Cleo entered and beamed at her. "So? Are we hunting tonight?" she lowered her voice, making sure that only Lyca would hear her.


    "Hm? What are you talking about?" she paused her TV series.


    "You know you said you will hunt them."


    "Oh!" Lyca nodded. "I said I ''might''."


    "Eh? So  So you won''t do it?"


    "Not tonight. No."


    "But"


    "But what?"


    "But I think they are guarding each other as they sleep outside. I think some of them chose not to sleep."


    "Oh."


    "I know! If they keep on doing this they won''t have energy tomorrow, right?"


    "That won''t kill them." Lyca already examined everyone''s health diagnosis. Everyone here was healthy without any signs of heart disease or high blood pressure. A night without resting should not be enough to kill them. Moreover, she just told them she ''might'' that was an unsure statement that aimed to make them more mindful of their surroundings.


    "Oh! Let me tell you the real reason why I am here! It''s about Hu Lan."


    "What about her?"


    "Well she and the other one twelve are together."


    "Oh." Lyca nodded, understanding shed in her eyes. "Still alive?" she didn''t hide the disappointment in her voice.


    "Yes, sadly she is, and they are moving down the mountain. My guess is, she realized we are not going to look for her so, she forced herself and that man toe down."


    "Oh. That''s bad." Lyca shrugged. The forest any forest is dangerous during the night. "I hope she dies."


    "" Why so direct? Can she at least pretend that she was worried? Cleo giggled. "Me too! I hope a poisonous snake bit her."


    "Alright you should go out and leave me alone. I am busy."


    "" Watching dramas? Cleo looked at Lyca''sptop wondering what was so good about dramas like this. "Why do you even watch drama like that? Isn''t that too cringey?"


    "Hm? This? I just want to practice."


    "Practice what?"


    "My reaction if it happens to me."


    "" Yep, this chick was definitely crazy crazier than her. "Alright. I will leave you to your drama. I need to have my beauty sleep too." She said before leaving the tent. Lyca only shrugged as she started ying the TV series again. This should be herst episode before she sleeps. She was about to lie down when she heard the sound of branches breaking under someone''s feet. She immediately wondered if it was Hu Lan.


    No that sounded too quiet. She squinted her eyes, her hands flew towards her dagger as she turned the volume of herptop and removed the headset. Then she lowered turn down it''s light, making sure that the inside of the tent was really dim.


    She tightened her hands around her dagger as she rolled, making sure she was far from the walls of the ridge tent. Then she waited. After a few minutes of utter silence, Lyca slowly got up and walked out of her tent. She examined her surroundings, and when she noticed that nothing was amiss, she frowned.


    She was certain that she heard the cracking of the branches earlier, and she was sure it wasn''t an animal. It should be human. Was someone spying on her?


    "Boo!"


    Surprised, Lyca''s first response was to let out a snort. So someone was ying a joke on her? She pivoted and suddenly threw three daggers on the shadowed spot just next to her tent. Another three small daggers left her right hand. She was preparing to attack the man when she heard Shen Qui''s voice.


    "Hey! It''s me!"


    This time, Lyca froze. Her first thought was not the anger that was already boiling inside her but the fact that she had thrown knives six knives towards him. Did she identally hurt him?


    "Qui''er?" she asked, and he chuckled in response. Then he slowly walked out of the darkness, shing her a mischievous smile.

 Chapter 190: Sleepover

    Chapter 190: Sleepover


    "Why are you here?" she asked.


    "Why does it sound like you didn''t want me here?" he countered and approached her. She immediately noticed that he was wearing a dark shirt and pants, not something that he would wear in the office. "I''m here for a sleepover?" he added.


    "A sleep... what?"


    "Sleepover," he said and pulled her towards the tent. "There are mosquitoes outside." He roamed his eyes inside her tent.


    Looking at Shen Qui''s body, Lyca immediately knew that he wasn''t injured. "Let me get my knives." She went out and collected the daggers that she threw earlier beforeing back inside. "You should have texted me that you areing." She noticed the helmet on his arm.


    "Where''s the fun in that?" he asked, smiling at her. "Plus I want to see what were you doing with them. I was expecting some action. You know a fight? But then I realized you would be toozy to move your ass away from your tent. So I came here think of this like a supervisor checking his people."


    She sat next to him and pouted. "Now I would be forced to show off. I feel pressured."


    "Pressured?"


    "You know in case the supervisor will give me a bad mark?"


    Shen Quiughed before he asked her what happened today. Of course, Lyca immediately exined everything. "I guess the good luck charm that you gave her didn''t work?" Sheughed.


    "What good luck charm?"


    Of course, Lyca knew that Hu Lan was lying.


    "No idea. She just said you gave her something. That made Shen Qui frowned. "I can''t think of anythingaside from a piece of paper with the te number of the bus since she said she can''t remember."


    Lyca fought the urge tough out loud. So the good luck charm that Hu Lang said was. A piece of paper? "Well I guess that piece of paper Is wet now." She beamed and looked at his light expression. A week ago, she could feel a little dark cloud on Shen Qui''s gaze. Slowly, that cloud disappeared, and the man had been more carefree, rxed, and happier.


    And she liked it. "Next time don''t surprise me like that," Lyca uttered.


    "Why?"


    "I could have killed you."


    "I thought you would know it''s me?"


    "Why would I know it''s you? You didn''t tell me you wereing." Her brain was extremely simple, and she was toozy to overanalyze a text! He clearly said that he was just leaving the house. Then her thoughts halted.


    Shen Qui didn''t really tell her where he was going. He just said that he was leaving. Still, Lyca didn''t think too hard about it. "This is why I am not fond of surprises." She muttered as she rested her head on his shoulders.


    "I thought you liked surprises."


    "No, I don''t." She always had dagger and needles with her. "Next time tell me if you areing."


    "Oh! By the way I was here to talk to you about something?" Shen Qui suddenly said.


    "Really? You are here to talk? JUST to talk to me?"


    Heughed. "It''s important."


    She lifted an eyebrow. "Does it involve getting me naked?"


    "No."


    "Then it is not that important." Sheughed and looked at him. "What is it?"


    "Well, it''s about the bullets that they stole. I mean the form." Shen Qui uttered. Since the person who was in charge to make those bullets were Lyca''s father, it was easy for the Long Family to ask him to give them the form when they took over thepany.


    "What about it?" The mention of her forms was enough to dampen her mood. While Lyca already instructed his parents beforehand not to mind the bullet was it was still in the experimental stage, she still felt that tantly stealing her creation and taking all the credits was too low. She remembered her father told her that the product was already patented under Huang Security. So, how could Long Yi change that? Simple! Connections. Something that Lycacked three years ago.


    "The bullets that they started manufacturing is malfunctioning. It was not melting objects and flesh."


    Lyca snorted. Of course, it was malfunctioning. After all, the bacteria that she sent them would target a specific ingredient in that bullet. Did they really think they could steal something that she made without losing a few millions of dors?


    "Of course, because of the microorganism, everyone in thepany was still in quarantine just to make sure that they are not contagious. So, everything was dyed. I heard that Long Yi and his father were arguing about this matter. The old man wanted to clear everyone without following the proper protocols because he wanted them to start working for thepetition. Long Yi wanted to follow all safety procedures."


    She smiled. Of course, Long Yi would act by the book and make everyone think he was the kind boss. Sadly for him, this was a part of Lyca''s n, and he was ying his perfect part in it. "Is that all?"


    "I''m just worried about mother and father." Shen Qui uttered. "Now that the bullets had problems."


    "Don''t worry about them. The only reason why they were still in the Huang Family was that we were not strong enough back then. Three years already passed. Both of them knew what they were supposed to do. Soon they will escape and cause a scene. We should get some popcorns for the show." She was actually using Yi''an to contact her parents and while the contact had been limited, she was confident that everything was going well. She beamed before she turned towards him. "Now unto the real reason why you are here" A cheeky grin escaped her lips before she swiftly moved towards him, he sat on hisp, straddling him.


    Shen Qui smiled, his hands were already on her waist as Lyca rested her forehead into his. "I thought I was here for a sleepover?"


    "Yeah sleep over my ass." She giggled. She was about to kiss him when anothermotion interrupted them. It was a woman''s crying voice. It didn''t take her a second to know that Hu Lan finally arrived.

 Chapter 191: A Stupid Notion

    Chapter 191: A Stupid Notion


    The moment Hu Lan arrived, she and number twelve immediately fell on the ground. As expected, everyone who was sleeping outside approached the two, lifting them up and letting them sit in a chair.


    "Hu Lan you and number twelve where have you been?" a woman asked as she nced at Hu Lan''s pitiful appearance. "You said earlier that you can make it back in six hours. It''s more than twelve hours!"


    "Hey can you stop ming her? She only helped me earlier when she saw me wounded." Number twelve red at the woman. He tried to reach out to Hu Lan''s hands, trying tofort her. But thetter turned her arms away, avoiding thetter''s hands. The man only sighed in response. "Can you at least give us some water and food?"


    "Twelve we can only give you crackers. Miss Xi said to eat everything and we were really hungry. So we ate everything." Someone from the back said.


    "Then at least let her rest inside the tent! She is wounded and tired."


    "Did you return with a dry paper?"


    "What paper?" Hu Lan frowned. "My feet hurt and something bit me in the leg, and yet you are thinking about a piece of paper?"


    "Hu Lan I think it is time that you curb down your arrogance." Ma Ping''s face was dark as he approached them. "The mission was to keep the paper dry. If you made it here with dry paper, then you can sleep in a tent. Why would we care about your legs when everyone here is tired of running? We were lucky that Miss Xi didn''t starve us because you werete." Ma Ping''s sharp words made everyone silent.


    Now that they thought about it, most trainings included a rule like that. A person could easily drag everyone down because of their stupidity. Luckily, Lyca wasn''t working on their cooperation, or everyone would end up hungry and thirsty! With this in mind, most people started ring at the two.


    "Where is Mr. Hogan? I''m sure he will help me."


    "Mr. Hogan had to leave. He will take care of our supplies while we are here." When Rue appeared, most people turned silent. "You two are alive you can find your own food and a ce to sleep tonight." She looked at Hu Lan''s feet. "We are looking for experts, not people who tripped just from a small run."


    "You You do know that experts start from being weak, right?" the man who sat next to Hu Lan said.


    "The rules are the rules twelve. We can''t bend it because you were wounded. Hu Lan was already wounded because of a race that she lost with Xi. She still insisted to train with everyone and bragged that she can finish it in six hours. Her carelessness was the reason why this happened." Again, Cleo used the fake injury to roast Hu Lan. She nced at the stupid woman and sent her a smug smile. For some reason, this Hu Lan loved using an injury as an excuse. Did she think people will pity her because of that?


    Hu Lan''s face turned red. This This wasn''t what she was expecting at all! She was expecting everyone to side with her! After all, she looked really pitiful right now. She was tired, hungry, and thirsty, and all she got was a smug smile? She lowered her head, biting her lower lip. She originally came here to try and gain sympathy. Make people think that Xi was bullying her because she was jealous!


    Who would have thought that they were the ones who actually bullied her! And Xi is not even here, yet! She gritted her teeth inwardly. She had actually forgotten that these people were people in the streets! Selfish criminals who were too young to go to prison so they only spent some time in a correctional facility and did somemunity service to get away with their crimes.


    From thieves to drug users to alcohol addiction. Some of these were actually prostitutes! Hu Lan wondered why the boss actually allowed these people to work for him! These were selfish homeless young adults, and the reason why their selfish assess were here is that the boss pitied them.


    Hu Lan''s assessment made her feel a little better.


    "Where is Miss Xi?"


    "Sleeping," Cleo answered. "Because that''s what people do when it''s almost midnight. You should go and sleep too. Or you can find something to eat. A rat or snakes." She snorted and started walking away from the crowd.


    "I want to see Miss Xi." Hu Lan uttered.


    "Why do you want to see me?" Lyca''s voice shattered the whispers. She looked at everyone. "Why are you here? Shouldn''t you save your energy for tomorrow?" Almost immediately the crowd scattered, leaving Lyca with Rue, Hu Lan, and Number Twelve. "So you''re still alive." She didn''t hide the disappointment in her voice.


    "Miss Xi can you stop being so harsh with Hu Lan? She is wounded because of the training. Can we call some doctors perhaps a person that would help her?"


    "I see so you are actually this stupid." Lyca nodded. "No wonder she used you."


    "That''s not true! I never used anyone!"


    "But you asked him to carry you, yes?" Lyca sat opposite them. From where she was, she could clearly see her tent where Shen Qui was waiting for her. She crossed her arms and looked at the stupid man. A heroplex at it''s finest.


    Not that she could me him. Hu Lan is young and fit. She is also an enchanting woman. Any man  any stupid man would look past her nasty attitude and liked her.


    "That That was only because she was wounded."


    "Is she?" Lyca smirked.


    "Miss Xi, how could you treat Hu Lan like this. Can you just "


    "No." She shrugged. "You can, of course, carry her to the hospital. But don''t expect me to wee you two, tomorrow. The rules are made for everyone to adhere to. You are weak, and you use the excuse of a wound to bend the rules. Such a stupid notion." One of these days, she was really going to give this woman a wound she wouldn''t be able to recover from.


    Of course, this would be forter. Right now, she would enjoy watching the woman make a joke out of herself. This was just like the dramas that she was watching and she was nning to enjoy it.

 Chapter 192: Mystery

    Chapter 192: Mystery


    "Miss Xi how can you be this cruel?" Hu Lan asked, she made her voice louder and made sure that the people far away from them could hear her. "Was it because of the lucky charm that the boss gave me? Is this it? Miss Xi how could you include your personal feelings while training us? Is this a part of your professionalism?"


    "What lucky charm?" Lyca asked, she lifted an eyebrow and smiled. She was honestly enjoying this woman act like a clown. Should she go grab some nuts while watching her?"


    Hu Lan chewed on her lips as she stared at Lyca. "You know what I was talking about. You even said that he didn''t give you one."


    "Oh and? What does that have to do with you beingte? Should I treat you better because of a piece of paper?"


    That shut Hu Lan up, she widened her eyes, wondering why Lyca knew about the piece of paper. Was it possible that she actually confronted the boss about it? With this in mind, she immediately lowered her head. "Then I will leave."


    "Thank god," Rue uttered. "I was thinking she was really this dumb."


    "Hu Lan are you sure you are leaving?"


    "Yes. I will go and see Boss Q. He promised to take care of me after my father died. I know he will do something about this injustice."


    Lyca really wanted tough. Does this mean Hu Lan was not only dumb, but she was also delusional? Lyca wondered what kind of mental condition does this woman had.


    "Hmmm. Then I could ask someone to drive you back." Lyca calmly said which surprised both Rue and Hu Lan. How could she act so calm about this? Does she trust the boss so much? Even Hu Lan wondered where did Lyca''s confidencee from. After all, it was obvious that Hu Lan looked better than Lyca. In both face and body, she was already the victor.


    Was Lyca that confident that she could keep the boss by her side?


    Lyca didn''t tarry, seeing the confidence in Hu Lan''s eyes, she immediately asked a person to drive the woman back to the club. "But because of this you are no longer included in these training exercises." Lyca repeatedly reminded her. She couldn''t help but wonder what would Hu Lan do if she knew that Shen Qui was actually here. Would shee back and spend another hour on the road just to see Shen Qui?


    "Alright " Hu Lan said as she followed another person to the car that would take her back to the club.


    "See? She is really stupid." Rue said as she let out a sharp breath. "Why would women want someone who doesn''t want them?"


    "You asking me?" Lyca lifted an eyebrow. The two were watching as the car started to disappear far away from them. "It''s the challenge."


    "So looking stupid is a challenge?" Rue chuckled. "Haven''t heard of that reasoning."


    "It''s the pride of conquering someone that is already own by another woman," Lyca uttered. "Once the chase is gone, they get bored and move on to another man."


    "Really?"


    "I don''t know." Lyca shrugged. "I haven''t tried it. Just some assumption."


    Rue let out another chuckle. She couldn''t understand why people in general have the tendency to want something they can''t have. Foolish.


    Why hurt yourself by chasing another person when you can be happy all by yourself? "I take it back." She looked at Lyca.


    "Hm?"


    "I think you are not a horrible human being. At least there are more people more horrible than you." Rue said before she turned her head away and walked towards her tent. "Goodnight boss," Rue uttered as she waved her hand towards Lyca''s way.


    Seeing the woman walked away from her, Lyca shook her head and walked towards her own tent. Rue and Ronan had been through a lot while growing up. And the two had been each other''s support. It would be understandable for them to just keep to themselves and not easily open up to other people.


    While Cleo was the opposite. The woman was feisty and fun. She loves talking and gossip. She loves bags and shoes and dressing up. Lyca had read Cleo''s profile and knew that she used to be an heiress. She came from a rich family until her family went bankrupt, and her father forced her to be with a criminal group boss. Speaking of that person a dangerous glint shed in Lyca''s eyes.


    A twenty-five-year-old man who slept with a sixteen-year-old woman, impregnating her when she turned neen and then throwing her away after her body changed from the pregnancy. This forced Cleo into depression, almost bing crazy as she stayed homeless in the streets.


    Then, like a phoenix, Cleo stood firm and started stealing from the rich. She turned into a rich young miss into a housewife at sixteen and into a proud thief at twenty-five. Now at thirty, all Cleo wanted was her child. The one that she hadn''t seen for years now.


    And Lyca will surely help her see her child again and get the revenge that she wanted. Right now, Lyca already determined the location of the child. However, Cleo was still a bit hesitant as she actually feared that man. It''s been years, and Cleo would still shiver at the mention of that man''s name.


    However, deep down Cleo''s eyes was something that Lyca still recognize. Affection.


    How could Cleo still love a person who abused and hurt her?


    That that is a mystery.


    "Done already?" Shen Qui''s voice brought her back from her stupor.


    "She went back to the club. She wanted to see you and tell you that I bullied her." She shrugged and looked at Shen Qui''s rxed expression as he finished brewing a tea.


    "Want some?"


    "I would want some of you... but yeah... a tea will do. For now." She winked beforeughing and epting the teacup.

 Chapter 193: Zero

    Chapter 193: Zero


    Lyca snuggled in his warmth as she alternated in between consciousness and sleepiness. She opened her eyes waiting for her vision to clear before she slowly sat down on the sleeping bag. She looked at Shen Qui''s naked chest, dragging her eyes down to his crotch which was covered by a thick nket very unfortunate for her eyes.


    She then watched the time. It was three in the morning, and it was time to hunt some people.


    Lyca was not originally nning to do it tonight, but her husband was here, alright. She would want to impress him  just a bit. Not overly impress him and make it look like she was making an effort.


    This should look as effortless as her beauty. She giggled inwardly before she grabbed her daggers next to her. Shen Qui insisted that she sleep with her clothes on because of the cold. After all, they were still surrounded by trees. Slowly, Lyca made her way out of the tent and silently examined her surroundings.


    The sound of crickets, apanied by the soft and cold breeze of November somehow made her more rxed. Lyca thought that living in her family''s mansion was good, but now she realized that having a house near this ce was better! Far away from the city, far away from people. Ah she would love to live in a ce like this.


    She silently walked towards the tent of the trainee''s, making sure that every step that she made would not make any sounds. She looked at Cleo and Rue''s tent. Before turning her gaze towards Ma Ping''s tent. With her hand tight around the hilt of her knife, Lyca started doing her mission for tonight.


    The mission was simple.


    Cut their necks without really waking them up.


    While that sounded difficult, every one of these people just spent the whole day climbing a mountain. They were tired enough not to notice Lyca approached them. Just as she expected, she easily created a small cut on Ma Ping''s neck. She couldn''t wait to see this man''s reaction tomorrow.


    Lyca giggled inwardly before proceeding to the other trainees. She was about to create a small cut on another one''s neck when she felt someone held her arm.


    "What are you doing?" Shen Qui whispered. She could feel his body behind her. For a few seconds, Lyca froze.


    "I told you!" She hissed. "No surprises!" She said and let him dragged her away from the person lying on the ground with his sleeping bag. "Where are you taking me?"


    "Why are you running around slitting people''s throats?" He asked, ignoring her question. Shen Qui started walking towards the forest, his boot creating sounds against the branches of the trees that littered the ground.


    "You are too noisy!" She uttered. "I was trying to impress you by showing you everyone''s wounds tomorrow!" Grumbling, Lyca just let him dragged her around.


    "That''s not my point."


    "Hmph?"


    "I hate it when you enter another man''s tent."


    She stopped walking and tilted her head towards him. "Whose tent?"


    "A man''s tent!"


    For a few seconds, she turned silent, wondering what was he up to. Then she widened her eyes, realization hitting her. "You are jealous?"


    "HAHA" he said sarcasm coated his voice. "So smart."


    It was Lyca''s turned tough at him. This time, she was certain that they were already far from the camp, so she didn''t hold back herughter. "You were jealous of Ma Ping?"


    "What''s his name?"


    "Number one."


    "Number one? Why was he number one?" He asked as he stopped walking and turned towards her.


    "Because he was first on the line?"


    "He can''t be number one."


    "Huh? But he was "


    "I am number one!"


    "" Oh so he was jealous of a number? "You can''t be number one." She said, sternly this time. She met his eyes in the shadowed darkness.


    "Why?"


    "Because you are zero."


    "Zero doesn''t have a value."


    She pressed her lips together, wondering if she should just let him be jealous or exin. Then she realized that prolonging a fit of nonsense jealousy towards numbers is really useless. "Zero is the origin. It is the point where the negative and positive meet. It was the point where the negative turns into a positive and the other way around. It signifies the change. Everyone had a zero point in their lives, and as cheesy as it may be you are mine. My zero. My starting point."


    For a few seconds, the frown on his face disappear. "Really?" he asked.


    "So childish." She countered. "Where are you taking me?" She immediately changed the subject. "Please don''t tell me you were nning to kill me because of jealousy?"


    "Oh " her words seemed to wake him up. He gave an embarrassed smile as he reached out and held her hand. "Then you are my zero too."


    Lyca could onlyugh at this man''s quirkiness. Shen Qui was really an open book, and she actually liked it. She remembered missing this openness when she was still in the other world. "Where are you taking me?"


    "I know a ce with a lot of fireflies." He started walking, treading forward towards the mountain. "I made some research. We could see it every night."


    "That That sounds  "


    "Boring?"


    "I was going to say magical." She chuckled, she tightened her hand around his. Shen Qui might have felt it as he lifted her hands and brought it to his lips, kissing the back of her palm.


    "It is magical." He said. He turned his face towards her and leaned down to kiss her lips.


    "Let me remind you that we are in the middle of nowhere surrounded by trees." She muttered in between the kisses.


    "Is there something wrong with kissing you in the middle of the trees?"


    She gave a wry smile. Why is this man so innocent? And why was she always horny? She couldn''t help butugh at herself. "Let''s go see magic," Lyca uttered. They should start walking, or she will devour him... in between these trees.


    ...


    Don''t forget to vote for the novel! I am writing 2 novels everyday so a mass release is really difficult but I am trying my best to write 3 chapters or more for this novel. Let''s see...


    Please don''t forget to vote. Heheheh...

 Chapter 194: Defense and Offense

    Chapter 194: Defense and Offense


    "I didn''t know there was ake here," Lyca muttered, she lowered her voice as if afraid that it would scare away the fireflies. She stood next to him, eying the insects that glimmered on the top of theke.


    "It''s beautiful, isn''t it?"


    "Hmmm." She nodded. "Just like a drama that I watched before. But I wasn''t expecting this would be very beautiful in real life." She muttered. "We should probably start doing stuff that they do in dramas see if experiencing it is better than watching it."


    "Stuff like what?"


    "Kissing in the snow, me pretending to drown so you can save me, stuff like that."


    "" Shen Qui looked at her, wondering if she was only joking. There wasn''t a hint of amusement in her voice. "You should probably stop watching TV series. It''s poisoning your mind."


    "Really?"


    "Yes. This is the reason why young girls thought every man should act like the one on the series. Like a prince charming, saving them every time they fell on a horse."


    "That''s harsh." She uttered. "And I am not hoping to find a prince charming."


    "You don''t? Then what about me?"


    "You You are the beauty. I am the Prince charming."


    "" He chuckled at that. "Right. Saving the beauty is your mission."


    "Hmmm," Lyca said before she gestured Shen Qui to sit down with her. They have been walking for about thirty minutes and her feet were aching.


    "Do you want the beauty to carry youter?" he smiled as he found a space where they could sit down. It was one of the roots from a dead tree just next to theke. Because of the light from the firefly that was reflected on the surface of theke, the surrounding areas were not as dark as the other parts of the forest.


    "That''s for the best." She chuckled. "This Prince Charming is weak when ites to things like that."


    Silence followed their words as the two looked at the firefly flying around as if choreographed by an unknown force.


    "Hey, did you mean what you said about me being a zero?"


    Lyca fought the urge to roll her eyes. By now, she was perfectly aware that she wasn''t as romantic as most women out there. She wasn''t really looking for any romantic stuff either. And talking about her emotions can sometimes be a little  cringey. "Yeah. Why?" She doesn''t need to look at him to know that he had that silly smile on his face again.


    "I like it. Why don''t you start calling me Zero? I think it''s a pretty call name too."


    "" She could hear the smile in his voice.


    "No. I think my Qui''er is just fine."


    "But Zero is fine too, and it''s mysterious. You know kinda like me."


    She chuckled in response. Ah she really can''t get enough of this man''s cuteness.


    "What is your n for today? Are you going to make them do a lot of exercises?"


    Lyca breath a sighed of relief when Shen Qui changed the topic. "No. I am making them run to the mountain. With weights."


    "I heard on the first day only three people finished the mission?"


    "Only two of them finished the mission. The third one doesn''t count. She is number fifteen''s lover."


    "So you are nning to divide the team soon?"


    "Hmmm. Number one and fifteen might be the leader." Lyca answered, her eyes were still on the fireflies. "Hogan told me that everyone had been learning martial arts and basic exercises before I woke up. So I am not going to teach them how to exercise. They can do it on their own. We only have two months to create experts. I won''t spend that time letting them roll in muds." Shrugging, Lyca suddenly pulled something out of her pockets. It was a small velvet box. She handed it towards Shen Qui.


    "What''s this? Are you proposing?"


    Unable to stop herself, sheughed out loud. "What the hell are you talking about?" She held the box in front of him, waiting for him to ept it.


    "We are dating next is a proposal, no?" Chuckling, Shen Qui epted the box and opened it. Inside was a small vial with some sort of green liquid inside. "What''s this?"


    "A gift. I thought this is the perfect time to give it to you."


    "A gift." He took the vial out and held it in front of his face. "What this?"


    "It''s the enhanced ingredient for the bullet. I wanted to create vests that this bullet won''t be able to melt or pierced. Lai Su is already working on it." She smiled as she remembered Lai Su''s wide eyes when she told him about this idea. "This is better than the Long Family''s bullet."


    "You wanted to create a vest that could stand against thisbullet?" Shen Qui frowned.


    "Yes. Our experts will wear that." Lyca was perfectly aware that the perfect bulletproof doesn''t really exist. Even steel bars or ker would still be pierced by the right gun if you hit it on the same area over and over again. Of course, Lyca was ambitious enough to think about a bullet-resistant vest. "With the technology''s evolution, I am certain that there is no such thing as a bulletproof vest, nowadays. Because of this fact, many people would focus on creating the best weapon, the best guns, and bullets. My goal is simple defense and offense. Our team is not going to be known as the team with the strongest guns but the most imprable ones. To do this I will focus on the defense as much as the offense. At the end of the day, everything will boil down to the pieces of equipment that we can create." She made a deliberate pause as she stared at him. "Do you do you think that''s too much?"


    "I like it." His woman''s mind was definitely unique- something he was very proud of.


    "Really?"


    "Yeah so let''s go back to this gift... Why give me this vial? Are you proposing to me?" Judging from his wife''s peculiarity, he was certain that a proposal for her would involve something more valuable than a ring. Like a chemical  a very valuable chemical.


    ...


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 Chapter 195: 36 Stratagems

    Chapter 195: 36 Stratagems


    Lyca only beamed. "No. I would definitely use nuclear material to propose. You know something with devastating effects." Shen Quiughed in response.


    "Then I will look forward to a very peculiar proposition." He held her waist and pulled her for a light kiss. "The sun will rise in a few more minutes. Do you want to watch the sunrise with me?"


    "No. We should go down."


    "You wanted to show off?" His lightughter echoed.


    "Of course " Lyca stood up and pulled her man up. "We should arrive there before they wake up."


    "And you still wanted me to carry you?"


    "Of course this is what you should do." She giggled and waited for him to lower his body so she could hop on for a piggyback ride. The two immediately started descending down the mountain. With his long strides and a little familiarity with the area from his extensive research, it only took them about twenty minutes to arrive in the camp.


    "Oh? The Boss is here?" Cleo lifted an eyebrow, smiling at the Shen Qui and Lyca.


    "Call everyone. It''s almost five we should start as early as now." Lyca immediately donned on a serious expression. After all, Shen Qui was standing next to her. She maintained a cold expression as she waited for everyone to form lines in front of her.


    "Good Morning." She uttered. "I can see a few of you with cuts on their throats." She heard someone groan and she was already expecting it to be Ma Ping. "Do you have something to say?"


    "No ma''am."


    "Hmmm If this was in the military I would have asked you to do a hundred push-ups." She put her hands behind her back. "But I am not as harsh. So I would only double the weights in your waist. Later." She gave him a harmless smile. "Now everyone who got a cut on their necks. I will not give you any breakfast." She eyed the lovers who both have cuts on their necks. "That''s the only rule."


    Lyca had to emphasize this rule. SHE will not give them some breakfast. But  she didn''t say they couldn''t ask their co trainees to share their breakfast. Simple.


    This would make her see if Ma Ping and the one won yesterday were  liked by the group. After all, it was still important for a leader to gain their member''s trust and sympathy.


    "Any one of you familiar with a morse code?" This should be one of the basics during their training, right? As expected, most of them nodded their heads. "Good." Lyca nodded. "Are you familiar with Thirty-Six Stratagem''s of War?" When she saw that not many people nodded their heads, Lyca started walking, her back straight as she started exining. "This is not only used in politics and war. This is also used in civil interaction and even business. I want everyone to learn it." She motioned Cleo to give everyone the gears for today''s training.


    "Today I want you to read the first five stratagems. Understand it. I will give you fifteen minutes to familiarize yourself with the stratagems. Then another fifteen minutes to make yourselffortable with the weights. Ankle sandbag weight, five kilograms in each ankle. Five-kilogram sandbag for your waist and another five for each arm. Number one will have ten in his waist." She gave Ma Ping a smirk before she continued. "The weights have trackers, and we will know once you take it off. You will have these weights will running towards the peak of the mountain and back here. I will give you another six hours to run."


    An enchanting smile bloomed on her face as she roamed her gaze at everyone. First of all, these weights will make them stronger, faster, and lighter. Which are the exact people that Lyca needed. "Questions? Yes Number one?"


    "How about breakfast? I mean I know I have not included but the others "


    "I will give you fifteen minutes to take your breakfast before you study the strategies. Any more questions?"


    "What about our baths?" A woman from the back said.


    "Did you washst night?"


    "Yes, Maam."


    "In the forest, you can''t always find a ce to clean yourself. So you have to innovate. After the exercises, you canexplore the forest to find ake or river so you can take bath." That''s if they can still walk after running with so much weight. Heh Lyca remembered being trained like this in her previous life. A ten-year-old with weights on her body just to make herself lighter. It was nothing but torture.


    She couldn''t remember how many times she fainted and how many times she cried. But at the end of the day, when the weights were lifted, Lyca remembered feeling so light, she felt confident that she could fly. The skills to be as light as the wind has saved her many many times in the past.


    "Alright everything will start once it''s already five in the morning." She looked at her watch and realized that it should take another two minutes before five in the morning. She immediately looked at Shen Qui and motioned him to follow her towards her tent.


    "You''re just gonna leave them like that?"


    Lyca snorted. "If they can''t follow the rules now they will soon die while on a mission." She shrugged. "It''s their life. Their choice."


    "I haven''t seen training like that." He watched as Lyca made herselffortable on the chair, resting her legs on the table as she put her hands at the back of her neck, her posture extremelynguid andzy. "What are you going to do with the stratagems?"


    "Hmm I will let them tell me the five stratagems after their run. And tell me what they think about it." She said before she decided to pour him some coffee. "Not as good as your tea or me but that should be enough to give warmth to your stomach before you leave for work."


    "Who told you that I''m leaving?" He lifted an eyebrow.


    "Eh?"


    .....


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 Chapter 196: The Dumb and The Genius

    Chapter 196: The Dumb and The Genius


    "I am staying." He epted the cup of coffee.


    "You are? But why?" Does this mean, she needed to try and impress him every day? What about her TV dramas? "What about the clubs? The restaurants?"


    "I don''t micromanage."


    ""


    "Technology was a very powerful thing." He gave her a smug smile. "Ronan was pretty smart. He developed some software that could make me see everything, like a bird''s eyes view of the business."


    "But"


    "You don''t want me here?"


    "Of course I do. I just thought you are a distraction. You know When I''m trying to concentrate, and you approach me, then my mind would swirl and think about jumping on you."


    "That sounds too exaggerated." Heughed at her silly face. Then he finished his coffee before pulling Lyca outside so they could have breakfast.


    "Xi, just as you mentioned Ma Ping was indeed given some food by someone. Number fifteen received something too, but he gave it to his girlfriend. So he didn''t have breakfast." Rue immediately reported when Lyca and Shen Qui approached their table. "I say that man is smart but dumb at the same time. His name is Gu Cheng. For a twenty-five-year-old guy, he is dumb when ites to women. Yan Junqi should be his first girlfriend. She is twenty-two. Also, Ma Ping is twenty-three. I already checked their records. They have been with us for almost a year now. They always trained in martial arts every day. Ma Ping was really good with grappling while Gu Cheng excelled in gun handling."


    "Thank you," Lyca uttered. Gu Cheng knew about wood ash being like a baking soda. Tell me about his educational background?"


    "He is pretty smart. I think. He was homeless before he joined us, and he loves to stay in the library in the downtown of Kong City. He graduated high school at fourteen but got into the wrong crowd. At fifteen, he went to a college University then he was used of stealing the answer key of a final examination. Especially after he aced the exams. He came from a poor background, and the only reason why he got epted for college was through schrships. The school kicked him out without proper investigations. His mother, who raised him alone soon died because of pneumonia. And he ended up depressed and homeless." Rue clicked his tongue. "The guy''s IQ is pretty good, but he was born poor. When you are the only poor person in a private university you tend to be the new target of bullying. I bet he didn''t actually steal the answer key. He just aced it, but those rich kids couldn''t ept it."


    "So he was homeless from fifteen to twenty-four?" Shen Qui asked.


    "No sir, he found a job in the library when he turned eighteen, but the previous librarian died, and the new one didn''t want him to continue working. He is smart, but hecks ambition. After being kicked out, he just worked as someone who creates essays for college students, of course, it doesn''t pay much so, he stayed homeless and just visited the library every day to write essays."


    "Hmmm. Interesting background." Lyca said as she started eating. By now, everyone was already wearing their weights and was preparing to start running. "How about Ma Ping?"


    "Don''t you want me to tell you about the woman?"


    "You can tell me everything about her once she showed me that she''s worth it," Lyca said. In this world, being a woman was not a hindrance to being independent and strong. Yan Junqi needed to prove to Lyca that she was worth her attention before she could waste Lyca''s time.


    "Alright. Ma Ping''s background is the opposite of Gu Cheng. He was not smart. The school kicked him out because he keeps on pranking the teachers and bullying the students. He graduated high school from another school at twenty." Rue gave a wry smile as she met Lyca''s gaze. "I know that''s because he keeps on dropping out anding back once he likes it. He was very friendly and loud. All the other trainees like him. But he often gets in trouble because of his false sense of justice. Every time one of his friends would end up in trouble, he wouldn''t hesitate to help them, even to the point of fighting for them. He stabbed someone when he was twenty-one because one of his friends was bullied, and he got into a fight as he tried protecting that friend. His parents kick him out after the other party didn''t want to file a case against him."


    "Opposites." Lyca gave a mysterious smile. "So Ma Ping knew about the sawdust purely because of experience while the other knew about the wood ash from his knowledge." She nodded before she finished her food. "I think we just found our two leaders?" She couldn''t wait to see what would the two men do once they were put in a tight spot. Would they break under pressure?


    "Miss Xi, everyone already started running to the mountain." Hogan''s voice echoed behind them. He didn''t hide the worry in his eyes. After all, each of them had to run while carrying twenty kilograms of extra weight. He couldn''t help but wonder if some of them would finally copse. "Last night, most of them didn''t have enough rest. So I think letting them run with weights is not a very good idea."


    "Hmmm." Cleo was the first one who nodded her head. Even she couldn''t imagine herself running two kilometers with weights. How could those people run a twenty-kilometer distance in a very steep mountain with twenty kilograms of sand in their bodies? Isn''t this pure torture?


    "This is for their benefit," Lyca said. Everything about this training would not only enhance their minds but also their brains and attitude about everything. If the ten-year-old her, survived in this kind of training, how could these adults give up? "Alright you guys should call paramedics. In case someone copses. Qui''er and I needed to do something Important."


    ...


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 Chapter 197: Ridiculed

    Chapter 197: Ridiculed


    While Lyca is rxing and having a good time with her husband, Long Yi and Huang Xiaoxuan were stressing over the fact that the newly manufactured bullets were not working.


    This wasn''t just not working because of the gun malfunction or because the shootercked skill. This was the bullet losing its properties. The chemicals inside the bullet were not doing their job, it stopped melting alloy and flesh. This prompted a lot of people to file an officialint. Even the government agencies who had the same bullet started sending them questions.


    In the end, Long Yi and his father was forced to pull out all of the bullets in the market. This, of course, cost a lot of money.


    "So until now we weren''t able to determine why the bullet stopped working? Why are they taking this long? Should we hire a new research team?" Patriarch Long''s face was dark and gloomy. Huge eyebags can be seen under his eyes which made him looked scarier than before. He started pacing in front of Long Yi''s table, his hand was on his pockets as he continued. "You said that the letter came from overseas? Howe our security team didn''t notice that something was wrong? Wasn''t it too pink and sparkly?"


    "Exactly. They thought a high schooler made it." Long Yi clenched his jaw as he met his father''s eyes. "I think it was Lyca."


    "Lyca" That was enough to make his father silent. "I thought she left the country?"


    "That was the previous assumption. The letter was also showing that it is from overseas. There is a possibility that it was her, Lyca." Long Yi uttered. "I believe it is high time that we use her parents to pressure her. Thest time that we did it we didn''t toucher her parents because of Huang Ying''s fear that she woulde back and haunt us. Well that was years ago. Now she is back. So, we should also use all the things that we can to make her give up this useless pursuit of revenge."


    "You think this is still useless to her?" his father clicked his tongue. "Yi I am disappointed in you."


    "Father"


    "This is personal to that woman! This isn''t useless! We all know how she had been really attached to her parents! Once we touch them can you assure me that she wouldn''t send something that would kill us all?"


    Long Yi''s lips thinned. His father actually had a point. However, this wasn''t enough to change his mind. Long Yi was someone who considered himself resourceful and ruthless. He would always use everything as long as it would benefit him in the end.


    "I want you to make your people in the ck market watch out for new bullets. Since she ruined the bullet that she made then, she must be nning aeback. Perhaps another bullet with the same function. We should watch out for new ones. She would definitely start doing this in the ck market." Patriarch Long uttered before he strode out of Long Yi''s office. Unfortunately, Long Yi was someone who always listens to his initial instinct.


    This incident alone was enough to tell him that Lyca wasn''t someone that he and his father could tame. She is a dangerous enemy. And just like all dangerous enemies that they had, Long Yi was nning to crush Lyca to a pulp.


    With this in mind, he immediately went out of his office. Using a secret ess that would allow him to leave the building anytime, Long Yi secretly left and made sure to give instructions not to tell anyone else where he was going.


    Then Long Yi went to the Huang Security, the ce that became a prison for Huang Sheng Hong. Of course, his wife was still in the Huang Family mansion. It had been a few months now since they decided not to let Huang Sheng Hong and his wife stay together in the same area.


    "Why am I not surprise to see you here?" Amusement coated Huang Sheng Hong''s voice. Unlike the usual prison, the ce where he was staying was a king to a hotel suite. It had a spacious bedroom, a bathroom, its own living room, and kitchen. This was, of course, because of Huang Ying''s fears that Lyca would punish them once she knew that his parents were treated unfairly.


    Long Yi nced at Huang Sheng Hong. The man still looked the same. Not even a tinge of stress can be seen in the man''s face as he yed chess alone. Huang Sheng Hong gestured Long Yi to sit opposite him. "y with me." That wasn''t a request. He was ordering him, and Long Yi hated how the man still had the authority in his voice despite staying here for months!


    Heplied and sat in front of Huang Sheng Hong. "I presumed you already know why I am here?"


    "Aside from my daughter? No. I have no idea why you are here." He moved his bishop to check Long Yi''s king. "Check."


    Long Yi frowned before he used a pawn to protect his king. "Your daughter endangered a lot of people. One report and the government will dere her as a terrorist."


    "Hmmm But you wouldn''t report her, right? After all, reporting her was like epting that a small woman was able to breach your well-knownpany?" Huang Sheng Hong chuckled. "What would your client say if they knew that someone actually breached your main base?" Huang Sheng Hong lifted an eyebrow. "What is it this time, Mr. Long? Are you going to threaten me and use my wife and daughter against me?"


    Long Yi''s face darkened when he heard the old man''s voice. He hated how this Huang Sheng Hong loved to ridicule him as if he wasn''t afraid that he would hurt his wife. "I could kill your wife and me it on you. I''m sure your beloved daughter would rage once that happens, right?" he said, trying to see if his threats would affect Huang Sheng Hong this time.


    .....


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 Chapter 198: Betrayal

    Chapter 198: Betrayal


    "Mr. Long I believe you are delusional." Huang Sheng Hong uttered. A rxed expression was still on his face. "You highly underestimated my daughter."


    "No. I am not underestimating her, in fact, I think too highly of her and that''s why I wanted to deal with her as soon as possible. She already cost us a few million. Her death would benefit nothing but us."


    "Eh?" the smile on Huang Sheng Hong''s face vanished. He stared at him, his face stern. "You think you can kill her? You can''t even find her and you think you can kill her?" He cackled. "How foolish." He didn''t hide the disgust in his voice as he crossed his left leg over his right.


    "You think we can''t find her? The only reason why we stopped looking is that we thought she would save herself and just leave us alone. Who would have thought, she would actually send a letter from abroad? Isn''t that something a stupid person would do?"


    "Exactly." Huang Sheng Hong nodded. "That is something a stupid person would do. And everyone who believed that my daughter was this stupid, is nothing but a clown." Slowly, he leaned forward. "Now now did you really think she was like that?"


    Long Yi frowned. "You can stop bluffing. She had been away for too long. The only reason why she was trying toe back now was that she alreadycked the funds to survive outside of this country."


    "Or the opposite. But you can tell yourself whatever you like." Huang Sheng Hong beamed. "After all I am just a nobody, sitting inside this prison without any knowledge of what was happening outside of thepany."


    And that''s when it hit Long Yi. He froze and stared straight into the old man''s eyes. Huang Sheng Hong knew everything! He didn''t seem to surprise about the words that he said, his threats, and even Long Yiing to this ce. The man looked calm and collected.


    One word immediately came to his mind.


    SPIES.


    But who could it be? Huang Xiaoxuan? Her father? Huang Ying? Just the thought of someone from the Huang Family spying on them, made him cursed inwardly. Now that he thought about it, Huang Sheng Hong had been here all along. How could he be so calm? Even if he mentioned Lyca''s name, the old man only lifted an eyebrow andughed at him. It was as if Huang Sheng Hong was certain his daughter was safe.


    "What''s wrong Mr. Long? Did you realize something important?" Again, Huang Sheng Hong lifted an eyebrow, a smirk was on his face as he taunted the young man. Huang Sheng Hong could onlyugh inwardly as he watched Long Yi''s face flushed with anger then, confusion then irritation. How could he not enjoy tormenting such a stupid person?


    Huang Sheng Hong was aware that the Long Family were ambitious, and they would do everything to achieve what they want. Of course, there was nothing wrong with being ambitious. However, you have to have the brains for you to seed and attain whatever it was that you want. Sadly, this man doesn''t have one.


    In the Long Family the only person who had the right to call himself a little smart was Patriarch Long. This Long Yi was nothing but a clown. Huang Sheng Hong wondered if Patriarch Long was really nning on leaving the Long Family to this clown. Wasn''t that akin to shooting himself on the foot?


    Huang Sheng Hongughed when he saw Long Yi stood from his seat. "Leaving so soon? I have been here for a long time I wanted to talk to someone. Why don''t you stay for a couple of minutes? Maybe we can have some fun ying chess?"


    "I know that there is a spy in thepany and I will find out who it was. Then I will let you watch as I make that person suffer?" When he saw the surprise on Huang Sheng Hong''s face, Long Yi immediately gave the old man a victorious smile. Did he really think that he couldn''t figure it out?


    "So" Huang Sheng Hong frowned, his eyes never left Long Yi''s face. "So you are telling me that you only figure this out because I gave you the clue?" He widened his eyes beforeughing out loud. "You You looked so proud that you figure this all out after what? A year of me being here?"


    Long Yi paled. He balled his hands into fists as he red at Huang Sheng Hong. "You "


    "Young man I am telling you." He leaned back and sent Long Yi a dashing smile. "You won''t win. Not against me and my family."


    Long Yi only snorted. "Let''s see about that." He hissed before he strode out of Huang Sheng Hong''s ce. Every time Long Yi came here, Huang Sheng Hong would not fail in using his tactics in trying to embarrass him. Did he think that would work on Long Yi forever? He knew Huang Sheng Hong only wanted him to get angry so he would divert his attention away from the spies.


    With this in mind, Long Yi dialed a number on his phone. "I want you to investigate Huang Xiaoxuan''s phone and emails. I want you to put some cameras in her office, GPS in her car, and follow her around." He said before he ended the call without even waiting for the man to answer him.


    First and foremost, Long Yi was now aware that Lyca helped Huang Xiaoxuan slept with him all those years ago. This only meant that the two had some secret rtionship that they don''t want people to know. Too bad for Huang Xiaoxuan he doesn''t tolerate betrayal.


    Once he found out that the woman was actually supplying information to Lyca, he wouldn''t hesitate to make her suffer even if she is pregnant with their child.


    .....


    Thank you for your support. Please don''t forget to vote for the novel.

 Chapter 199: Like a Princess

    Chapter 199: Like a Princess


    Ralia City


    Lyca looked at her watch before looking at the line of people in front of her. Most of them were still pale, while the others like Ma Ping looked calm. Her eyes darted towards Yan Junqi who stood confident in front of the line. Next to her was the pale Gu Cheng.


    "The first one who arrived is Two-three?" she asked as she looked at Yan Junqi. This was really enough to surprise her. She looked at the woman whose face was really serious. "Congrattions. You will still have a tent for tonight. Who were the next two?" Another two people raised their hand from the back of the line. "You will have a tent too. As for the other you can sleep on your sleeping bag outside of the tent." Lyca smiled. "Now to the real mission." She didn''t miss the change in everyone''s expression when she emphasizes the word, ''REAL''. "Two Threee with me." She gestured for the woman to follow her to one of the tables that were far enough from the people on the line.


    Without saying anything, Yan Junqi followed Lyca. Of course, Lyca had noticed the woman''s changes. "Is there something wrong?"


    "No ma''am."


    Lyca nodded. Yan Junqi should be Gu Cheng''s lover but she actually arrived first, while her boyfriend arrived more than thirty minutester. "I was expecting that you would arrive with Fifteen."


    "No ma''am." Yan Junqi lowered her head, avoiding Lyca''s gaze. "I am already rethinking about our rtionship."


    "" Rethinking? What''s that supposed to mean? Lyca''s gossiping cells started boiling, but she had to stop the urge to ask the woman more questions. After all, this was no longer her business. "Hmmm. I understand. Now tell me about the first stratagems that you read earlier."


    For a few seconds, she turned silent before she answered. "Fool the sky to cross the sea." She uttered before she held her head high and stared straight into Lyca''s face. "Fool your enemy. Do one thing while keeping your real goal a secret."


    "Give me an example," Lyca said, and without any hesitation, Yan Junqi added.


    "Appear nonthreatening to make your enemy think that you are weak. This will make them create a false sense of security. Then you strike and defeat them."


    Lyca smiled before she took a sip of her tea rather the tea that Shen Qui made for her. Speaking of that man Lyca turned her head towards the tent where Shen Qui was having a video conference with some of his people including Ronan. She shook the thoughts out of her head and turned towards Yan Junqi again. "I change my mind." She said. "I want to know why you are reconsidering your rtionship with Gu Cheng?" Isn''t it better to ask her now than hearanother gossip from


    Her direct question came as a surprise to Yan Junqi. For a few seconds, she just stood there and looked at Lyca. "Because he keeps on underestimating me." Yan Junqi answered after a few seconds of silence. "The first instance was during the run. I told him that I can do it. But he keeps on making sure that I won''t trip like a baby. The second time was today, he gave me his breakfast. The one that other people gave him. He keeps on treating me as if I am not able. I can find my own food. I can find my own water, and I can run faster than him. He might be smarter, but that doesn''t mean he should treat me like a princess all the time."


    "" A woman who doesn''t want to be treated like a princess. "I understand. You can leave. Don''t tell anyone about what I asked you. You can do whatever you want until bedtime. You can also remove your weights." Lyca smiled. She totally underestimated Yan Junqi and thought that the reason why she passed the first test was because of her lover. On the outside, Yan Junqi looked really weak and meek who would have thought she would have that kind of notion?


    Ah her mistake was underestimating Yan Junqi. Lyca immediately decided to pay more attention to the others too. After Lyca talked to Yan Junqi, she immediately started asking questions to the others, and surprisingly, all of them were able to exin the stratagems. They were able to give examples. The thing was, almost all of them were about to faint from too much exhaustion and they were only trying to keep themselves awake because they were afraid that Lyca would punish them if they sleep or even copse.


    After everyone was cleared, Lyca told them that they can do whatever they want. Of course, not one of them left the camp. Not even the people who really wanted to take a bath sincest night dared to leave the camp. This wasn''t intentional though.


    This was because of Lyca''s additional weights. The group never thought that running in a steep mountain with an extra twenty kilograms is such a difficult task. Of course, this was the least of Lyca''s concern right now.


    "So you are leaving us with them?" Cleo and Rui almost said at the same time when Lyca told them that she and her husband would leave for a few days. "And you wanted us to continue training them like this?"


    "I already gave Hogan theplete lists of training for everyone this will include the goal of each training and which people he should look out for," Lyca said sternly. After she finished today''s exercises, she received a very important call from Lai Su about the bullet that they wanted to create. Because of this, she immediately decided to leave the camp. Of course, she can only do this because of Hogan and the two other girls.


    "Why can''t you take me? I thought I''m your assistant?" Cleo said. "I thought assistants needed to be with their boss all the time."


    "Exactly you are with Xi all the time." Shen Qui uttered. "You will be associated with everything that she does in the future. People will recognize you as her assistant."


    Cleo looked at Shen Qui, confused.


    "They are not going to use that identity, dummy." Rue calmly elbowed her. If people will recognize Cleo then it would be easy for them to guess who was Lyca or the alias that she would use in this transaction.


    "Oh. That''s right." Cleo gave a wry smile before she beamed. "Alright then please trust us. We will produce the best of the best. When youe back expect a very good development. I will help you straightened out these people''s personalities."


    "Stop promising things that are so difficult to do," Rue said before rolling her eyes. Then she looked at Lyca. "You sure you don''t need my assistance?"


    "No. Thank you. I can handle it." There was a different glint in Lyca''s eyes as she smiled at the two women. Then without any hesitation, she left the camp with Shen Qui. They needed to pack some stuff for Lyca and Mr. Lai so they can leave for a couple of days.


    Their destination? Is obviously, Long City.

 Chapter 200: Coming Back

    Chapter 200: Coming Back


    "Do we need to go to Long City?" Lai Su fidgeted as he looked at Lyca. He had been so stressed out when he discovered Lyca was nning to go to Long City and present her new bullet the one that had been stronger and more efficient than the previous one. When Lyca didn''t answer him, Lai Su decided to shut up and turned his head the other way. They were currently in a car with Lyca dressed as a man, her hair was short and ck and well even her mannerisms were different.


    ording to her, she is now using her real identity, Tang Xi. Someone from the Tang Family and they are going to show up in the yearly investor''s convention where they will present the bullet and gain millions if not billions of money from investors. She specifically mentioned how they are only a start-uppany and that this should gather a lot of attention.


    "What if the Long Family will want to buy our input?" the cover story is quite simple, Lai Su would say he made the bullet from his research but he is working for Tang Xi. "You know that would make me the target right? You are using me as bait right? Miss Xi we haven''t talked about this."


    "I want them toe to me," Lyca uttered. "Using your name as a famous researcher is better than using my name. An unknown man. Don''t worry about it the Tang Family will support me." Tang Xi was a part of the Tang Family before she left Long City.


    Her background had been cleared as well as Lai Su''s. "You " Lai Su gulped. "Please don''t tell me that " he lowered his head, his hand balled into fists. If one would think about it carefully, the timing of his resignation seemed too coincidental. People would now think he resigned because he finally seeded in making the bullet. He then sold it to Tang Xi.


    He couldn''t help but wonder if she nned this ahead of time. "Please don''t tell me that you are nning to have me killed."


    "No." Lyca needed this man''s skills and title. After all, he was once a famous researcher who had been thrown away after he perfected his research. Isn''t it more logical for an old man like him who is obsessed with experiments to try and make aeback? "Your name will once again make the researchmunity shock. Isn''t that what you wanted?"


    "But I didn''t make this? Miss Xi as much as I want to be recognized, I can''t just reap the benefits of something I didn''t do." This was his pride as a researcher, as a human who loves to know more about the world. "Why not just put your name to "


    "Toozy." Imagine being asked by other researchers and scientists about chemicals and other processes. Just the thought of it is already making her tired. Plus, Lyca had an extreme allergy to socializing. She wouldn''t be able to stand and act cordially with everyone.


    ""


    "Don''t worry. Just y your role, and everything will be good." Lyca assured him before she handed him a USB. "That will be the price for helping me. It''s unfinished research about uranium and plutonium. I didn''t finish it because I got bored." When she came into this world, Lyca was itching to understand all the aspects of earth and find ways toe back to her previous world.


    She had studied everything from the animals to the rocks and gasses. Of course, she once looked into metals and atoms. She had stumbled into the two as she thought it would be the key in creating a big explosion that would open up a huge portal to the other world.


    Of course, Lyca had to give up on the idea when she realized it sounded too dangerous and would probably kill a lot of humans. Suddenly, Shen Qui''s face shed in her mind. She lifted an eyebrow before she looked at Lai Su. "I don''t need it anymore."


    She no longer had the thought of going back in that world. And she was certain the idea would never cross her mind again.


    "Really?" As expected, the man beamed and hugged the sh drive, as if it was a prized possession. It was as if he had forgotten the dangers that came along with bing the creator of this bullet. Without even waiting for her to nod her head, Lai Su was already on hisptop. He checked the contents of the sh drive andughed out loud. A reaction Lyca had already expected. The experiment she did was pretty harmful to the human body, and she was certain the only reason she survived was because of her internal energy. It could dispel the radiation just liked it dispelled the drugs Long Yi gave her on that night that he wanted to r*pe her.


    "Alright since Miss Xi is sincere. Then I will agree to be the creator of whatever it is that you make. For now." He said. "This will not continue forever."


    "Really?" She gave a sly smile. "Even if I have more research like that?"


    "Alright. Forget I said that." He waved his hand before he started reading the research results, his smile was so big, Lyca feared he won''t be able to close his mouth because of a muscle problem from smiling to much.


    After seeing this, Lyca turned her head outside of the car. They just entered Long City, and in a few hours, she will soon see the people who betrayed the Huang Family.


    But first, she is nning to send them another present.


    Lyca started beaming as she dialed Yi''an''s number. "Hey... I am already in Long City. Please send it to Huang Ying''s office and another one to the Zhang Family''s house."


    "You sure about this?" she heard the hesitation in Yi''an''s voice. "I mean... wouldn''t that mean they will start thinking you areing back?"


    "Sister Yi''an. I aming back, and yes, I want them to know that." Wouldn''t it be fun to terrorize them first before she showed herself?


    .....


    Happy 200 chapters!

 Chapter 201: Tang Family Mansion

    Chapter 201: Tang Family Mansion


    Tang Ruyi couldn''t even remember when was thest time that she cried.


    She didn''t cry when she broke her leg, nor when a bullet hit her arm. She remembered not shedding a tear when she lost her best friend a year ago or when her lover betrayed her when she was still in college. But seeing Lyca again after three years was different.


    It was like seeing her long lost sister, it was like finding a piece of her heart that she didn''t even know existed. She hugged Lyca, who now looked like a young man as tears streamed down her face. She sobbed, her shoulders trembled as she tightened her arms around the small woman. She didn''t even realize how much she missed this woman until she saw her again.


    "You left without even saying goodbye to me," Tang Ruyi started. "When I heard about what happened, I wanted to go to your house and kill that Huang Ying but mother and father as well as grandfather said that you wouldn''t like that."


    "How could you even do that to me?" Tang Ruyi continued. Seeing Lyca again seemed to awaken all the anger that she felt inside for her Aunt and Lyca. "The Huang Family are really cruel. How could they even do that to you? Wolves don''t betray their own pack mates. That Huang Ying is worse than a wolf. I swear I will make son suffer!"


    Tang Ruyi cried even harder when she felt Lyca hugged her back. "You know hugging a small man like me outside of your property could give people ideas," Lyca said in a low voice. Though her voice had been altered, Tang Ruyi could still hear the amusement in her cousin''s voice. "If your suitors knew that the great Tang Ruyi is ugly crying like this I doubt they will still like you." Sheughed. "Cousin you are already old and you don''t even have a lover. Are you sure you will keep on hugging me a cute and handsome man like this?"


    "Who cares about that?" Tang Ruyi hissed. "You have be talkative!" She eximed before she let go of Lyca and stared at her. Then she pulled her for a hug again. "I didn''t even know that you now speak long sentences! Waah!" Again, Tang Ruyi started bawling her hearts out. She, Lyca''s ymate, best friend, and self-proimed sister, doesn''t even know that thezy ass cousin of hers can now speak long sentences!


    This is breaking her heart!


    Tang Ruyi felt that she had missed a lot of years with this woman.


    "I think we should go inside," Lyca said as she eyed Lai Su who was standing next to them, pretending that he didn''t notice anything. The man wasically staring at the gate in front of them. "Let''s go."


    After a few minutes of sobbing, Tang Ruyi finally agreed. Of course, this didn''t mean that she let go of Lyca. In fact, she held Lyca''s hands, intertwining their hands together as she pulled her inside. Lyca could only shake her head inwardly.


    First and foremost, Tang Xi was a man. And she really looked like a man. To make this disguised believable, Tang Xi became a couple of inches taller than Lyca using a special shoes that would enhance her height. With this height, Lyca now looked like she was taller than Tang Ruyi.


    Lyca could only hope that Tang Ruyi''s enemies or rivals would not use this to put her in trouble. After all, it really looked like Tang Ruyi was hugging a lover than a male cousin outside of their gates. "Ruyi you should not act like this in public. Don''t forget that my current identity is different. I don''t want to get you in trouble." She uttered as they entered the Tang Family mansion.


    "I don''t want to marry someone."


    "" Lyca lifted an eyebrow. She didn''t miss the certainty in the woman''s voice. It was as if Tang Ruyi had really decided to avoid marriage.


    "What did grandfather say?" she asked. Lyca wasn''t really considered close with her grandfather from both sides, but she knew that Tang Patriarch who was a previous general was a little traditional. Strict and traditional could sometimes be a problem when ites to tackling issues like marriages. "Aren''t you engaged with another officer?"


    "It was canceled." Tang Ruyi said, almost smugly. "I already told you a long time ago. I won''t marry someone I don''t like. And I don''t think I will like another person aside from myself or you. Obviously, I can''t marry myself or you. So I will stay single forever."


    "" Lyca pursed her lips as they walked towards her grandfather''s study. Lai Su had to wait for them in the living room as she needed to have a private conversation with her grandfather. Lyca roamed her eyes around and smiled at the familiar interior of the second floor.


    The Tang Family''s mansion hasn''t really changed in thest three years. The same wooden interior, the same paintings, even the image of her grandmother and grandfather during their wedding more than sixty years ago was still hanging near the stairs.


    Just like the Huang Family house, this house felt warm and cozy. This was not only because of its soft-colored theme interior but also because of how many personal things Lyca could see around the house. Images of the whole Tang Family in frames can be seen in every part of the house. There were wedding photos, spring festivals, and even birthday celebrations.


    She could even see an image of herself on her first birth. However, these frames were not enough to make the fifteen bedroom mansion looked crowded.


    "You''re here?" the croaky voice of her grandfather weed her the moment she walked into his study. He looked at her face before his gaze trailed down her body. "When Ruyi told me that you would look different. Ididn''t even think that you would look like... this."


    Lyca''s lips thinned. She didn''t know if that was apliment or something else. But she could sense something in her grandfather''s eyes- something different.


    Was it anger? Or relief?

 Chapter 202: Tang Jingyi

    Chapter 202: Tang Jingyi


    For some reason, the old man''s voice even made Tang Ruyi silent.


    "Sit. Why are you standing there like a statue?" He lifted an eyebrow. "I heard that you are here to talk about your mother and father?"


    "Yes, Grandfather," Lyca remembered ying chess with the old man and sometimes having tea while talking about chess. Aside from that Lyca couldn''t remember being too close to the old man.


    "Hmmm." The old man looked at the silent Tang Ruyi. "You sit down too."


    "Yes, Grandfather."


    "The only reason why I didn''t act even when my daughter was clearly bullied was that she assured me this was all a part of your n." The old man said what was bothering him all these years. He was never someone that would mask their words with fakeries and nice sentences. And Lyca liked this kind of attitude the most. "Tell me about your ns. If I am not satisfied I will immediately ask my people to get Nini out of the mansion and escort your father out of the Huang Company. You knew me well enough to know that I would definitely do that."


    Direct, strict, and brave. That was Tang Guo. The renowned General of the Xu Country.


    Seeing her grandfather''s serious expression Lyca didn''t hesitate to tell him all about her ns. She started with the fact that the Long Family does not deserve a quick end. As much as she liked giving them a quick and clean end, Lyca realized that people like them deserve to suffer.


    The n was to slowly bring down thepany which of course included the Huang Family. Then she would devour thepany like a good corporate. After all, she was confident of Shen Qui''s skills in business. Then she would watch them suffer a fate worse than death.


    "You sounded confident about all this?" the old man asked.


    "Yes, grandfather. I am confident that I can do it. Of course, I would need your support."


    "So you wanted to use the Tang Family''s name to keep you safe from the eyes of the government, who would definitely eye your research?"


    "Yes, sir," Lyca answered honestly. Of course, this was one of the perks of having a well-known family name.


    "Hmmm. And this bullet?"


    "A weaker version of the one that my men and the Tang Family''s people will use." Lyca was aware that her grandfather has his own specially trained people that were serving the Tang Family and protecting them from the greedy eyes of theirpetitors.


    "Good."The old man nodded. "I will give you two people from the Tang Family to act as your guard. And " the sound of the door being opened interrupted her grandfather''s words. Lyca immediately turned her head towards the person who walked inside.


    "Grandfather!" The man approached the table without even acknowledging Lyca and Tang Ruyi. Of course, this man was not aware of Lyca''s real identity. To this man''s eyes, she was Tang Xi, an illegitimate Tang Family member who came back from abroad.


    "Jingyi." The old man''s face softened the moment his eyesnded on his other favorite grandson. Tang Jingyi, the heir to the Tang Family. At thirty-one, the man was already a lieutenant colonel and is serving the air force of the country. Known for his brilliant mind and good looks, the six-foot Tang Jingyi was considered a celebrity not just in the air force but in the whole military force.


    "Someone told me that the infamous Tang Xi would arrive today." He said, his eyes were still on his grandfather. Tang Xi''s identity was something crafted by Lyca and Tang Ruyi which, of course, had the approval of Old Man Tang. However, only the three of them inside the Tang Family knew the real truth about Tang Xi''s real identity.


    Of course, the old man and Tang Ruyi understood the risk of this arrangement. But to protect Lyca and her family, the old man and Tang Ruyi decided to take a gamble. However, this is not considered just blindly trusting Lyca. After all, the Old General and Tang Ruyi were the first two people who experienced Lyca''s brain through her inventions which saved their lives a couple of times.


    "Jingyi meet Tang Xi." The old man said. There wasn''t any trace of awkwardness in his voice. It was as if he didn''t notice the sharp gaze that Tang Jingyi gave Tang Xi.


    "I see." Tang Jingyi uttered. He looked at Lyca. "Am I interrupting something?"


    "Yes," Lyca answered sternly, surprising Tang Ruyi and Old Man Tang. "You are interrupting our conversation without even knocking. Is this how the Tang Family trained you?"


    "You " Tang Jingyi''s face turned dark. He squinted his eyes at the man who was sitting calmly in front of him. "I am older than you by a few years. I am the heir of the Tang Family, and you dare show such disrespect to me?" his voice was quiet too quiet. To someone unfamiliar with the man, they would think he was still calm.


    Lyca snorted in response. "Respect is earned Mr. Tang. Or did you think unting your status would make everyone respect you?" She countered, perfectly maintaining a calm expression. This attitude was a part of her cover. Tang Xi was not someone that everyone in the Tang Family liked. After all, he was nothing but a bastard son.


    While Tang Jingyi and Lyca were quite close while growing up, she was not wearing Lyca''s original face right now. She was Tang Xi, an indifferent bastard that everyone in the Tang Family will hate or would learn to hate.


    "YouGrandfather this person "


    "Jingyi please wait outside. I will call you once I am done talking with Tang Xi."


    Lyca immediately gave the man a smug smile. She remembered that Tang Jingyi was actually a very gentle human being behind this attitude. Of course, he was only sweet to Tang Ruyi and Lyca as he considered himself their big brother. He was smart but a little hot-headed, and he was definitely the type that would protect both Tang Ruyi and Lyca from a bullet.


    Lyca couldn''t help but wonder what will Tang Jingyi do if he knew that Tang Xi was actually her?

 Chapter 203: Married

    Chapter 203: Married


    After a few more minutes of talking, Lyca finally left the room. As expected, when he went out of the office, Tang Jingyi was there pacing.


    "I know what you are." Tang Jingyi hissed as he stopped pacing, he looked down towards Lyca. "I know what you do. You are a scammer."


    "" Lycazily stared at her cousin as she fought the urge tough at him. A scammer? Where did thise from?


    "And a killer. If you think being a Tang gave you the pass to do horrible things then you better think again." He hissed. "I will be your number one enemy in this family once you hurt someone I love. Remember that cousin." Tang Jingyi emphasized the word ''cousin'' before bumping into her shoulder and walking inside the room.


    "That man is really "Tang Ruyi uttered while shaking her head. "He would do everything to protect the Tang Family. You know he was still asking grandfather to personally escort aunt and uncle out of the Huang property. He was also constantly asking about Lyca and her whereabouts, especially during times like these where he was given a break. Sometimes, I would feel relief that he would finally leave and go back to the military base because answering his questions about Lyca is too tiring."


    "Hmm. I will keep that in mind." In this world, people who wanted to help someone who was already down are considered rare. She knew that Tang Ruyi would never leave her, but she never thought that the other people in the Tang Family would actually be this kind. She lowered her gaze. Sadly, she couldn''t tell a man like Jingyi about her current identity. After all, the man wore his emotions on his face. He might be a good marksman and a good soldier, but he always had the tendency to show everything on his reaction.


    "Are you already leaving?" Tang Ruyi uttered. "Grandfather said that you can stay in this mansion. Can''t you just stay? We can y chess? I think I am better at it now."


    "I can''t." Lyca sighed. Tomorrow would be the first day of the convention, and she needed to show herself and cause some chaos. How could she miss something that fun? "Maybe next time I will bring you to train my people."


    "You "


    "It''s a secret, for now." Lyca gave a gentle smile.


    "Hmph! Look at you keeping secrets from me." Tang Ruyi narrowed her eyes. "Tell me are you keeping other important secrets from your favorite person in the world?"


    "Yes. You are no longer my favorite person in the world."


    "" Tang Ruyi frowned. "Do you have to hurt my feelings like that?" She faked an angry face beforeughing. "Are you going to tell me that you married a handsome man and is going to have children soon?"


    Lyca stopped walking as she turned her head towards her cousin. She had actually forgotten to tell her about Shen Qui! Her lips thinned. "Yes, I am married to a handsome man."


    Obviously, Lyca was expecting some scolding from her cousin. Instead, what she got was a burst of boisterousughter that echoed inside the whole mansion. Lyca was sure that Tang Ruyi''s voice made the whole mansion tremble.


    "You?" Tang Ruyiughed before she covered her mouth as if realizing that she had been too loud. "You marry a handsome man? Tell me was it a mafia boss? Like a drug lord or something? Can you at least make it more believable this time?"


    "I married to a crime group boss." Lyca tilted her head. She was unaware that Tang Ruyi would not really believe her. Was it really impossible for her to find true love? "A handsome crime boss."


    Again, Tang Ruyi burst into a puddle ofughter. "Yeah I would never believe you. I know you wouldn''t marry someone without informing your mother and father. Come let''s go to the balcony. Can you at leastbe serious?" Tang Ruyi uttered.


    "I am married to a handsome crime boss, and my parents know about it," Lyca said, her voice was low, but it was certainly enough for the woman walking next to her. "And I am not lying. Why would I lie? I have a handsome husband." She added. She couldn''t understand why her cousin wouldn''t believe her words.


    Did Tang Ruyi think that she would never marry someone?


    "Eh I would believe you if you tell me that you married that bodyguard of yours." Tang Ruyi rolled her eyes as she pulled her towards the balcony of her own room.


    "Actually " Lyca made a deliberate pause as she waited for Tang Ruyi to settle down on the wrought iron chair in her balcony. "I married my bodyguard, who is now a crime boss."


    Tang Ruyi blinked as she stared at Lyca. Then she blinked again before she smacked her own forehead. "What the hell are you talking about? Am I dreaming or something?"


    Lyca frowned. She wondered if her statement was not clear enough. "I am married to the handsome Shen Qui who used to be my bodyguard, but he is no longer my bodyguard now as he is already my husband."


    "" This time, Tang Ruyi''s eyes widened. She could feel the seriousness in Lyca''s statement. "You You actually "


    "And before you nag for the next thirty minutes. I would like to tell you that the reason why I failed to inform you was that I fell into aa and slept for thest three years. I just woke up a couple of weeks ago."


    THUD


    Tang Ruyi fell from her seat as she stared wide-eyed at Lyca. Her eyes wide, mouth agape as if she just heard the most surprising news in her whole life. "You You "


    Lyca smiled, however, before she could startughing at her cousin''s reaction, Tang Jingyi''s voice echoed. "What are you doing to Ruyi?" Almost immediately, the man strode towards Tang Ruyi''s balcony, a gun was already in his hand as she pointed it towards Lyca''s head.

 Chapter 204: Victorious Smile

    Chapter 204: Victorious Smile


    "Don''t point your gun on me." Lyca''s face darkened.


    "Hey, Jingyi we are only talking. What are you doing?" Tang Ruyi immediately stood. "Stop it!" She tried to move her cousin''s arms away from Lyca''s head but thetter seemed to engrossed in his own anger, he actually had his finger on the trigger. "Jingyi! Stop it! This is a misunderstanding!"


    "What was he doing to you? Did he try to touch you?"


    "Jingyi! What are you talking about? I already told you "


    "Then why were you on the floor? You looked pale and scared! Tell me honestly! Did he scare you? I can blow his f*ucking heads off in a few seconds."


    Lyca snorted when she heard his words then she suddenly grabbed the gun and pulled it towards her forehead. "You wanna shoot me?" she taunted. "Go ahead." Right now, the cold barrel of the gun was in the middle of her forehead.


    "Tang Xi " Tang Ruyi panicked. She didn''t know if Lyca was going overboard with her acting but she immediately med herself for what was about to happen. When Lyca told her that make Tang Xi looked a little evil, she wrote a lot of stuff about Tang Xi as a womanizing killer. He loves women and viewed them as a part of his daily life. Of course, he was very picky and does not like women who throw themselves at him. "Tang Jingyi stop it!"


    "What?" Lyca lifted an eyebrow. Her lips slowly lifted into a mocking smile. Seeing the hesitation in Tang Jingyi''s eyes, Lyca suddenly made a move. She grabbed thetter''s wrist and twisted it before he directly grabbed the gun away from the man. Then he stood and pointed the gun back to Tang Jingyi''s head. "See that? That''s what you get for hesitating."


    "Tang Xi stop it." Tang Ruyi uttered, and Lyca only snorted in response.


    "You want to kill me inside the Tang Residence?"


    "You think I wouldn''t dare kill anyone here?" Lyca taunted him. "Next time you point your gun at someone make sure you have the intention of killing them." She hissed. "Or you will end up dead." She lowered the gun, removed its magazine, and make sure that there was no bullet inside before mming it on the man''s chest. "If I am nning to do something to Ruyi, did you think she would have the chance to fight me?" She uttered, making sure to sound as cocky as possible. Seeing Tang Jingyi opened his mouth and closed it again without saying anything, she snorted and walked past him, making sure to bump into thetter''s shoulders. Of course, Tang Jingyi was taller than Lyca, even when she was already wearing her special shoes but that didn''t mean anything to her. The height difference does not mean he was stronger than her.


    She took a step away towards the door as a smile formed on her lips. Would the man finally crack? Knowing her cousin, Tang Jingyi would soon act against her.


    "Tang Xi!"


    Lyca immediately stopped walking when she heard Tang Jingyi''s words. She was already expecting this. She erased the smile on her face before she turned towards the man, and as expected, the first thing that she saw was the empty gun flying towards her face. She sidestepped and avoided the gun, her eyes were already towards the man whose fist was targeting her jaw.


    Surprised at Tang Jingyi''s actions, Lyca took a step back, just avoiding the fist by a few centimeters.


    "Jingyi! Stop it! What are you doing!?" Tang Ruyi pulled the man. "How dare you try to hurt someone from the Tang Family?"


    Tang Jingyi red at Lyca before his gazended on Tang Ruyi. "If you think I would let anyone take one of my cousins away from this family again you are wrong. This man is only a Tang by blood! He is hostile and dangerous! He could kill you anytime he wanted to!"


    "Jingyi you "


    "I am not watching as another one of my little sisters suffer! Now shut up and let me teach this man a lesson!" He bellowed before he advanced towards Lyca''s way. Then he let go of another kick.


    However, this time, Lyca was prepared. She pivoted and dodged the kick before she finally retaliated. A dagger was already in Lyca''s hand as she swiftly moved behind the man. Using his knees, Lyca hit tang Jingyi''s hamstring muscle. While the attack didn''t sound scary or deadly, it was surprisingly enough to make Tang Jingyi lose his bnce and ended up falling on the floor.


    But who was Tang Jingyi? The man was also an expert in hand to handbat, and the fact that he was already on the floor was not enough to stop him from attacking Lyca. Sadly for him, Lyca was already so familiar with all of his moves, she could practically fight him while her eyes were closed.


    Without waiting for him to recover, Lyca jumped towards Tang Jingyi, straddling him as her dagger pressed against his neck. "Move or you''re dead." She hissed, eyes narrowed as her chest raised and fell. Lyca couldn''t remember when was thest time she had fought with this cousin of hers, but she was certain of one thing. He was still using the same techniques to fight a smaller person like her.


    This needed to change.


    Or this would put the man in danger soon.


    "You dare?" Tang Jingyi never expected that a criminal like Tang Xi would be this crafty. Using a dagger to immediately threatened him? This man was indeed a killer!


    "Tang Jingyi if you really want Tang Ruyi to be safe then why don''t you escort me as I visit Long City?" Lyca uttered. "With you around me all the time, I am sure that I wouldn''t be able to do something filthy, right?"


    "You you wanted me to be your personal guard?"


    Lyca didn''t hide the victorious smile on her face. "Of course. Or would you want Ruyi to apany me all the time?"

 Chapter 205: Pig Blood

    Chapter 205: Pig Blood


    "Can you please! Please! Don''t do that again!? You almost gave me a heart attack! Do you really want to see me dead? Lyca I couldn''t how could you fight him like that? I just Ahhh! I think would go crazy! I will definitely go crazy! Do you even know how scared I was? Lyca! I am a woman in myte twenties! I serve in the military, and I have never been this scared in my life before! Do you know how it felt watching you two killing each other? I was so scared!" Tang Ruyi red at Lyca. "Can you just Don''t give me that look! Don''t you dare pity me!"


    "I think your emotions are valid considering he really a big brother to us." Lyca sighed. "I''m sorry." She said in a low voice.


    "Stop lying! You aren''t sorry! You already n this, didn''t you? You wanted him to escort you and not me!?"


    "I am innocent."


    "Stop lying to me!" Tang Ruyi sat on the edge of her king size bed where Lyca wasnguidly lying like he owned the bed.


    "I am not lying. This was an impromptu decision." Lyca uttered. "If you tour me around, they will suspect I am Lyca because they knew we were close."


    "You can really talk long sentences now." Tang Ruyi said in a low voice. "I miss a lot of stuff. I feel like a mother who didn''t see her child grow."


    Lyca snorted in response.


    "And what was that earlier? Marriage? I mean" she suddenly screamed her hearts out, making Lyca jumped out of the bed. "YOU ARE ALREADY MARRIED, AND I AM NOT EVEN A BRIDESMAID!"


    Lyca blinked. Then she blinked again. So it seems that her cousin is more irritated that she wasn''t the maid of honor or bridesmaid? "Alright calm down" Lyca gave a wry smile. She couldn''t really remember if she had promised to be each other''s maid of honor before. "Why don''t I tell you why I got married?" Of course, this was enough to calm her cousin down. After all, this was fresh gossip from Lyca itself. After a few minutes of questions and more questions and screaming and yelling, Tang Ruyi finally stopped talking. Of course, this wasn''t because she was already exhausted from asking too many personal questions.


    It was because she received a call from a friend.


    "That was quick." Lyca stood and fixed her clothes. Fortunately for her, Tang Jingyi is no longer here. After that confrontation earlier, the man agreed to apany her before leaving in a huff.


    "Did you do something?"


    "I sent them pig''s blood."


    "" Tang Ruyi looked at her with suspicion. "There was an explosion." She stated.


    "Yeah. They must have triggered something." Lyca shrugged. "The Pig''s blood was a prank."


    "Nah you don''t do pranks. Tell me what did you do? The authorities are getting involved you know."


    "I already told you. I sent them pig''s blood."


    "With?" Of course, Tang Ruyi would never believe such a thing.


    "Well if they push an emergency button and trigger a lockdown on the whole mansion "


    "Talk faster!" Tang Ruyi uttered. This was getting exciting! How could Lyca talk like an old woman?


    "A particr gas will create a small spark once they use it to check the blood. They must have checked it."


    "A small spark?" Tang Ruyi lifted an eyebrow before sighing. "Never mind I needed to leave and go back to the base. They reported it as possible terrorism, so we are on high alert. I am not even sure if they will also call Jingyi. He is, after all, considered a high official."


    Lyca frowned. "The only reason why it would produce such a big explosion is if they tried to use a fire extinguisher to put out the fire." Then a mischievous smile slithered on her face. An experienced person who does not know how to deal with chemicals would definitely use a fire extinguisher to extinguish a small fire.


    "You " Tang Ruyi stared at Lyca in disbelief.


    "This was akin to having a fire while cooking. If the fire was caused by the oil and you put water on it, in an attempt to extinguish the fire, it would only make it bigger." Lyca exined. "The oil will spread, meaning the fire would spread too. If you panic, it would be better to just throw the pot or frying pan outside."


    "That wasn''t just a small fire" Tang Ruyi sighed. Of course, this was Lyca. Would she really prefer a small spark to announce her return? "There was an explosion."


    "Did someone from the Zhang Family died?"


    "I don''t have any news yet." Tang Ruyi went to her closet and changed her clothes in a few seconds. "I will go to the base and wait for orders. I will give you an update. We might give some security to the convention tomorrow, so I will still see you around."


    "Hmmm." Lyca nodded as she thought of Huang Ying''s reaction once she knew that there was an explosion in her mansion. Would she tremble in fear? Or screamed in anger? She couldn''t help but wonder if she would panic. Would she show herself at the convention tomorrow?


    Lyca heard that the Long Family would be there too. The news that there will be a new bullet from a start-uppany should have reached their ears by now. And this was what Lyca wanted. This explosion was designed to make them think that Lyca would try and target the convention.


    They wouldn''t think that she would be brave enough toe and join the convention on their turf. So, they would raise their guard up and would immediately offer Lyca a price to buy her research after the convention. They would want to buy her bullet. After all, it was too simr to Lyca''s and it was too important for them.


    At that time, Lyca would act helpless and would agree to their terms. Then she would give them the bullet at an extravagant price. Unbeknownst to them, everything that Lyca would make in the future would be to contend with the bullet.


    What would happen if the market would get use to the new bullet only to discover a suit that wouldpletely protect them from such weapon?

 Chapter 206: Fair Manner

    Chapter 206: Fair Manner


    The convention was a special programmed design by the government to find creative people and research. In this convention, many investors would then offer to fund the research or perhaps buy the research itself and developed it into something more useful for the country.


    The convention was a three-day event that would be held in the Long City''s convention center. In these three days, everyone would be allowed to present their projects and answer some questions from the investors.


    Usually, the people who joined the convention would be start-uppanies, and sometimes college students who created something and was nning to sell it to prominent researchpanies or wanted to attract the attention of investors for their ownpany.


    However, today, the convention was a little bit special. It was because of a certain person who actually announced that they would present a bullet that could rival the Long Family''s melting bullet the new name that Long Yi personally named the bullet that Lyca made. The news attracted a lot of attention from everyone who wanted to be the next Long Family. At first, they thought it could be something that students made.


    But they soon realized that this person was actually Tang Xi an illegitimate member of the Tang Family! Surely, this is not some fake news, right?


    "Tang Xi, grew up abroad and traveled all the time. The man likes women and killing people basically, killing is his business. Years ago, he was rumored to have a killed a whole Gang in Kong City. There were also rumors of him stealing a lot of diamonds and gold from a museum. Of course, these were all rumors. The authorities couldn''t prove anything. So he just kept traveling and killing people."


    "So, his identity was solid?" Long Yi asked the man wearing a purple suit. This was no other than Young Master Xie Jun, the person who went to Long Founding School of Elites with Long Yi. Right now, he was working as one of the executives in the Xie Family and was also closely working with Long Yi.


    "My research had always been perfect. I can assure you this man is not connected to that Lyca in any way."


    "Jun it''s always better to be safe." Zhang Zhi said as he sat in his wheelchair. He gritted his teeth and didn''t hide the anger in his eyes. "That woman actually sent explosives to the Zhang mansion! Elder brother is thinking that she would also target this convention. We should be very careful."


    "How was Uncle Zhang? I heard the explosion burnt almost half of the mansion?" Xie Jun asked. "And you are so sure that it was her? How could she blow up a mansion in less than ten minutes? You sure it''s not an enemy? Perhaps another family that hated the Zhangs?"


    "The only person who hated us so much to blow our mansion is that woman." Zhang Zhi uttered. "Father was pretty angry but the blood that we received seemed to vanished with the fire. We haven''t really gotten any solid evidence of the kinds of chemicals that were used in the explosion. We aren''t sure why it exploded when we used a fire extinguisher too. Because of theck of evidence, the authoritiesbeled it as an ident a f*cking fire ident. Useless piece of sh*t!"


    "Zhi calm down." Long Yi said in a calm voice. He had been aware that the ident that made Zhang Zhi unable to walk again seemed to mess up his attitude. "She won''t have the guts to show up in the convention. However, we have already alerted the authorities about her possible attack. They agreed to add more military personnel in the area to keep everyone safe."


    "Then that is good. Now for that Tang Xi. Do we have a n? Are we going to kill him and stole the form?" Xie Jun smiled.


    "Of course not! We are going to buy it. Make sure that everyone knows that we obtained the form."


    Xie Jun squinted. "So we are buying it? I mean we could always kill the guy?"


    "He is from the Tang Family. Right now, the Tang Family is not doing anything against the Longs, but they are considered one of the most influential families in this region. We don''t really know if they are nning something. Moreover, they are rted to Lyca." Long Yi said.


    "Hey, Jun are you sure this man is not Lyca''s contact? Maybe an ally?" Zhang Zhi asked.


    "I am sure. This man is dangerous and would rather work alone than work with other people. The only reason why he got this research was that he got ahold of the researcher before he could sell it to other people." Xie Jun scoffed. "Tang Xi must have threatened the poor guy to work for him.


    "I think we should just go. The convention is about to start. Remember the bullet is important to the Long Company. We need to obtain it using legal ways, after all, everyone is watching this bullet. We can''t just take it from them." Long Yi uttered.


    The only reason why Long Yi wanted everyone to see that they bought it fair and square is because he doesn''t want to embarrass his own family name. First, Long Yi knew that many people are watching the bullet now. Many businessmen andpanies are eying Tang Xi as they wanted to buy the form from him.


    If Long Yi would just kill him, people would think that the Long Family were bullies and someone that would use their power to achieve their goals. So, as much as possible, Long Yi wanted to show everyone that they could obtain this bullet in a fair manner. He wanted to show off not only his skills as a businessman, and prove that he was worthy of bing the next Patriarch of the Long Family.


    Everyone will see him offer a price, he would try and bid to obtain the form and create a good impression to everyone. Long Yi straightened his suit before walking out of the VIP room on the second floor of the huge convention center. Just like him, many businessmen chose to stay in this area to talk about their n and talk about the projects that caught their attention.


    After leaving the second floor, Long Yi immediately walked towards the area where Tang Xi and the researcher who made the form should be found. With Xie Jun and Zhang Zhi, Long Yi walked towards Tang Xi, a smile stered on their faces.


    "Good Morning." Long Yi said as he met Tang Xi''s gaze. "I am Long Yi, the vice-chairman of Long  "


    "Not interested." Tang Xi uttered coldly before Long Yi could end his introduction.

 Chapter 207: The Queen

    Chapter 207: The Queen


    "Mr. Tang " Xie Jun was about to say something when he saw Long Yi held his hand, a signal for him to stop talking and let him handle this. Xie Jun pursed his lips.


    "Mr. Tang would you like to go to a VIP room with me? I would tell you about my propositions."


    "Proposition." Tang Xi reiterated. "Sounds interesting, but that it''s still a no," she smiled, her gazended at Zhang Zhi and Xie Jun before settling towards Long Yi.


    "Mr. Tang I am from the Long "


    "Listen, Mr. Long. I am well aware of your identity. I am also well aware of your involvement with my cousin''s unfortunate fate." Lyca smirked at Long Yi''s reaction. Of course, she needed to mention Lyca in this conversation, or it would sound so staged. "While what happened in the past does not involve me in any way, I tend to stick to my own rule."


    "What rule is that?" Zhang Zhi asked, frowning. He didn''t like Tang Xi''s tone, but he was forced to control his outbursts because he knew how important this deal is to Long Yi.


    "No idiots allowed."


    "You " Xie Jun gritted his teeth. He was about to walk towards Lyca but Long Yi, once again, stopped him.


    "So you think I am an idiot?"


    "Are you not?" Lyca lifted an eyebrow. Her eyes darted towards Long Yi''s corporate attire and sleek hairstyle. "I heard about what happened in the Long Company. You should have expected something like that to happen, yes?" Her words made Long Yi''s face darkened, but he quickly calmed his nerves and went back to giving Lyca a gentle, knowing smile.


    "I don''t know where did Mr. Tang hear about something so ludicrous. I would assume it was one of the rumors aimed to target ourpany. After all, thepetition ising. Many people turned their greedy eyes towards ourpany, trying to drag us down to bring their ownpany name up. I would say, all these rumors were futile. After all, we have worked so hard for what we have now. The only reason why I wanted the bullet is because we wanted to further improve what we currently have."


    "Sounds enticing." Tang Xi beamed at him. For some reason, this smile didn''t give Long Yi a good feeling. This Tang Xi looked a little more like a fox who was smiling towards its prey. Good thing, Long Yi was already aware of what kind of person this tang Xi was.


    "Yes. As you know- "


    "But I am still not interested." Tang Xi continued beaming. "Tens ofpanies already scheduled a meeting with me for their own proposition. You can schedule one if you want to, but either way convincing me to sell the form would be very hard. Unless of course you are willing to use hundreds of Millions for the form. Then I am very much willing to listen." Tang Xi said but his eyes were already on the other people who were eying them.


    "Hundreds of millions."


    "The highest offer that I receive was four hundred million dors." Tang Xi uttered. War is, after all, a business. Anyone who would hold such a powerful weapon would have the ability to excel in warfare. After all, everything about the bullet is top ss. It would easily kill hundreds of people.


    "Four hundred " Xie Jun squinted. "Someone actually offered such a price?"


    "I heard the bullet from the Long Company is not doing its proper job?" Lyca turned towards Xie Jun. ''That must be the reason why they would want to pay something so big for the form, right?" Lyca remembered giving some people the form of her previous bullet the one that the Long Family had. However, all this vanished. She figured this was because of the Long Family''s influence on the ck market.


    Right now, the onlypany that had the form was the Long Family. This is the reason why the news of another form attracted a lot of attention. After all, manypanies wanted to have a contract with the military in this country something that the Long Family obtained because of the bullet.


    With the current involvement of Country Xu in conflicts outside of the country, and against the rebels, the bullet had been a necessity since the Long Family ''created'' it.


    While what happened with the Long Family''spany was a one-time thing. It hadpromised all the ingredients and all the newly manufactured bullets. The malfunction was enough to make the government doubt all the bullets produced by the Long Company. As a result, they had actually pulled out all those bullets that were issued to their soldiers and demanded an exnation from the Long Family.


    "I understand." Long Yi uttered after a few minutes of silence. "I will schedule a conversation with you. I am willing to outbid anyone and give you some benefits such as shares and even an additional percentage from the contract that we have from the government. As long as you give us the form and transfer all its rights to our name."


    "Interesting." Tang Xi uttered as he shoved his hands into his pockets. Shares and percentage? Lyca didn''t anticipate that Long Yi would be this desperate. Is it possible that the only thing keeping the Long Company afloat is the bullet? "What an interesting offer." Tang Xi added.


    "The Bullet is important for our research. As apany who was aiming for the perfect weapon that the government could use against our countries enemies, we are always generous to people who could create new things." Long Yi''s gaze darted towards the silent Lai Su, who was sitting, ying chess with Tang Jingyi. "Talented people." Long Yi added, he made his voice a little louder, attracting Tang Jingyi and Lai Su''s attention.


    Seeing that he finally got their attention, Long Yi added. "Mr. Lai if you capture his knight, you would win the game."


    Lyca looked back at his cousin and Lai Su. "Wrong." She nced at the chessboard before turning her gaze back to Long Yi. "If Mr. Lai would capture the knight that would leave his Queen open. Once Mr. Tang Jingyi captures Mr. Lai''s Queen everything is over." She sent a mocking smile at Long Yi. "Mr. Lai would lose the game."

 Chapter 208: No Interest In Men

    Chapter 208: No Interest In Men


    Long Yi lifted an eyebrow as he looked at Tang Xi. "Seems like Mr. Tang is an excellent yer of chess."


    "I am very good at it." She responded without a tinge of embarrassment. "Now if you please some businessmen still wanted to talk to me. I believe it would better if we avoid making everyone think we already have a deal, no? After all, manypanies still wanted to make an offer." Lyca gave him a knowing smile, enough for him to know that she was interested to hear other people''s offer. She wanted to make Long Yi think that to her, the one with the biggest money would matter.


    With Tang Xi''s records, she was certain that Long Yi would immediately understand her point.


    "I understand," Long Yi smiled before he nodded towards his two followers. Then the three of them left Tang Xi alone. Seeing them gone, Tang Xi turned towards Tang Jingyi and gave the man a winked which immediately irritated him.


    After Long Yi left, a few other investors scheduled a meeting with Tang Xi. All of them promised a hefty amount of money and a few other benefits just to convince him to give the form to them.


    "Aren''t you afraid that they will try and ambush you? Kill you and this scientist?" Tang Jingyi said as they ate their lunch.


    "No," Lyca answered. "I feel very safe with you by my side." She started teasing Tang Jingyi.


    "You I have no interest in men!" Tang Jinyi''s face reddened. Of course, he knew Tang Xi''s records. This guy would sleep with both men and women! As long as he liked them. "Touch me, and I will kill you."


    Lyca only snorted. This man never changed at all. Still so hotheaded, like a damn teenager. "Too bad" she uttered. "Your height is definitely my type." She cocked an eyebrow before she finished her rice wine.


    "What... height are you talking about?"


    Lyca only beamed. Speaking of height. She actually missed Shen Qui!? She smiled. She was nning to finish this as soon as she can and go back to her man''s arms. Surely, that man would start counting how many orgasms she missed.


    She chuckled at the thought of it. Of course, this chuckle was enough to darkened Tang Jingyi''s face. "You " He bit his tongue as he stopped himself from berating this man. At least, he was the one here and not Tang Ruyi. He couldn''t imagine the number of sexual jokes that this Tang Xi would make around Tang Ruyi!


    "Every time youe here! You should make me escort you around!" Tang Jingyi suddenly said.


    "Eh? I thought I am not your type?"


    "One more word and I will shoot you!" Tang Jingyi hissed.


    "Did someone told you before that you are too hotheaded? Too emotional. Why did you be a soldier? You could definitely work as an actor, you know." She calmly said. She remembered telling Tang Jingyi when they were younger that his temper was truly bad. She told him that it would one day put him in trouble. This man would always tell her that it was a part of being a big brother. Such a silly reason.


    Tang Jingyi''s forehead puckered as he red at her.


    "See?" Lyca shrugged. "You must be thinking of strangling me right?" she clicked her tongue. "Too weak I should have a talk to the old man about your position as an heir. You are old enough to control your emotions, and yet you still act like a teenager. When I was a teenager, I was already this calm and perfect. While you tsk." She shook her head whileughing inwardly.


    Tang Jingyi''s face was so adorable she wanted to just tell him she was actually Lyca and how would he react. Surprisingly, Tang Jingyi didn''t answer her. He pursed his lips and finished his food before he left the table without saying anything.


    "He hates me." Tang Xi uttered.


    "Of course he does." Lai Su said. Until now, he still couldn''t stop the goosebumps every time he looked at Tang Xi''s manly face. Even her attitudepletely changed, his simple mind couldn''t fathom the changes! "You were an asshole, you know."


    Lyca only chuckled in response. Of course, she is an asshole. She needed to act like one and give that man some tough love. That Tang Jingyi needed a wake-up call, or the Tang Family would fall into the pit of no return once he became the next patriarch.


    Sighing, Lyca grabbed her chopsticks and started eating some meat. They are currently in a restaurant just outside of the convention center where you could order a buffet of various meat and grill it on your own. Lyca ordered a lot of meat as her appetite was really good right now.


    She even took a few pictures and made sure to send them to Shen Qui.


    "Hmmm? Isn''t this Lai Su?" the loud voice of a woman interrupted Lyca''s grilling. She looked at the woman approaching them.


    "Miss Son." Lai Su gave the woman a curt nod and a forced smile. Almost immediately Lyca felt Lai Su tensed.


    "Lai Su how are you here?" the woman sat opposite Lyca without any invitation. "Don''t tell me you are here to join the convention? Did you finally seeded in creating some radiation machine that could make women fertile again?" She didn''t hide the mockery in her tone.


    "Son Yani let''s go. I am in a hurry. "Another voice reached Lyca''s ears. This time, the voice was too familiar, she immediately knew who it was. She lifted her gaze and looked at Huang Xiaoxuan who was standing by their table with a very irritated look on her face. "I told you the smell of grilled meat is making me dizzy! We should just leave this ce!" Huang Xiaoxuanined before her gazended at Lyca''s face. "You look familiar. Have we met before?"


    "No," Lyca answered almost immediately. "I would never forget a face like yours." she beamed.

 Chapter 209: Cross-dressing

    Chapter 209: Cross-dressing


    Huang Xiaoxuan frowned and ignored the guy who was giving her ascivious gaze. "Son Yani we should leave. Long Yi is waiting for me."


    "Long Yi?" Lyca uttered. "Mr. Long from the Long Family?" Her words made Huang Xiaoxuan smile.


    "That''s right. I am Huang Xiaoxuan his wife."


    "Wife" Tang Xi reiterated.


    "Is there something wrong?"


    "Oh No No nothing. I just" Lyca lowered her gaze as she fought the urge tough.


    "Just what?" Huang Xiaoxuan frowned. "Do you know my husband?" she looked at the two people in front of her and immediately concluded that these are minor characters. Both are dressed simply, no jewelry can be seen on their body and they were eating in a ce like this.


    She was certain that not anyone important would risk having the smell of barbecue in their clothes when they were about to talk to important people at the convention.


    "Do you know these two?" she asked her friend.


    "Oh. Lai Su used to work in thepany that I worked for. He is a researcher. Sadly, thepany fired him because of some grave misconduct."


    "That''s not true!" Lai Su said. How could he let this nasty woman ruin his name? He was about to start arguing and remind this Yani of her research paper that she copied from him when Lyca elbowed him. Lai Su knew that these people wouldn''t recognize Lyca as a woman because she well she even looked and sound manly than him!


    Lai Su didn''t understand how Lyca was about to change her voice and mannerisms in such a short period, but he was very impressed with the changes. Even the machine that Lyca used to changed her voice was pretty impressive! Lai Su lowered his head as he balled his hands into tight fists.


    "Really? Didn''t you sexually harassed one of our colleagues?" Son Yani''s scarlet lips curved into a mocking smile. She purposely made her voice a little louder, just to make sure that the people on the next table could hear them. "Asking for sexual favors in exchange for your research material? Lai Su You are nothing but a disgusting pig."


    "Son Yani you are going overboard!" Lai Su gritted his teeth. After his wife''s death when he was still in his early twenties, Lai Su never found someone that he liked until now. He never asked for anyone''s sexual favor or even touched another woman sexually since his wife left him! He trembled in anger, his eyes turned red. How could he stand such an insult? Lai Su felt tears pooled in his eyes.


    He was never good with confrontation and though, he was already a man in his forties, having confrontations like these was still his weakness.


    "Aiishhh My meat is burnt." Lyca''s words interrupted the tense atmosphere. She immediately used her chopsticks to get her meat, her face disappointed. "Lai Su stop talking and grill my meat," Lyca uttered. Her words seemed to calm Lai Su down.


    "And this woman " Lyca propped her handsome face into his palms. "I didn''t know that a pig could actually talk. Hey, Lai Su should we grill this woman too?"


    "You " Son Yani''s eyes widened. Does this man just call her fat? Her face immediately reddened. "You Don''t you know who I am?"


    "Hey, you! How dare you talk to the head of the research facility of the prestigious Long Family?" Huang Xiaoxuan chimed in. "You How could a man like you even insult a woman like Son Yani?"


    "Insult is different from facts," Lyca said. "I am merely asking her if she was a pig. Why are you reacting like I called her a pig?" she looked at Huang Xiaoxuan. "Ah. So you actually thought that she was a pig? What kind of friend are you?"


    "You You " Son Yani tried to yank Lyca''s arms, but the other was quick to avoid Son Yani''s hands. "You dare call me a pig?" Son Yani''s weight was always one of her insecurities. She was well aware of this and everyone around her had been very careful about mentioning this topic when she was around. Don''t get her wrong.


    Son Yani was not fat. She was a bit chubby. But was CANNOT be considered fat. Still, when she was around the tall and slim Huang Xiaoxuan and her equally slim friends, Son Yani cannot help but feel a little irritated.


    "You said it." Lyca shrugged. She looked at the newly grilled meat and immediately stuffed it in her mouth.


    "Someone who eats like a pig. Would actually call Son Yani pig?" Huang Xiaoxuan uttered. The smell of grilled meat was really making her ufortable but Son Yani was the daughter of the head researcher of the Long Family. Right now, Huang Xiaoxuan was nning to get close to this woman so she could also get close to Son Yani''s father.


    "You say that she was the head researcher? I thought that the head researcher was a male? Unless " Lyca gave the two a suspecting look before she leaned towards Lai Su. "She is cross-dressing. No wonder she looked like a boar. We should use the pronoun them from now on. Just to show that we respect them for their choice."


    "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Unable to stop herself, Son Yani threw her handbag towards Lyca. Of course, Lyca stood and easily avoided the bag.


    "Aishh. Lai Su protect my food. This woman wanted to steal my meat!" Lyca said before she turned around and stood behind Huang Xiaoxuan. "Your friend is going to steal my meat. Stop her, or I will grill her too." Lyca''s chuckle echoed in Huang Xiaoxuan''s ears.


    Before Huang Xiaoxuan could even say another word, Lyca''s words already echoed inside this restaurant. "Someone call the police! This person is harassing my meat!"


    "..."


    "..."


    "You! Come back here!" Son Yani''s face turned so red as she called out theughing Lyca. "You! How dare you call me fat! I am not fat!"


    ...


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    1/5

 Chapter 210: Bullying

    Chapter 210: Bullying


    Lai Su gulped as he looked at the slight smile on Lyca''s face. She was calmly sitting across Long Yi, Xie Jun, and Zhang Zhi. Of course, the fuming Son Yani and Huang Xiaoxuan were also inside the office of the restaurant where Son Yani and Lyca destroyed.


    DESTROYED.


    That is the only word that Lai Su could use to describe the ce after Lyca ran around while Son Yani chased her while throwing some stuff like meat, her shoes, and handbags or anything else that Son Yani could get her hands to.


    As someone who worked with Son Yani, Lai Su knew that she grew up spoiled by her rich father. He remembered that Son Yani''s father was working as the director of the research department of a school where Lai Su took his third Ph.D. At that time, Son Yani was only in her early twenties. However, she had been really childish and loved to caused problems around the school.


    When Lai Su decided to work for the school''s research department, Son Yani had been one of her colleagues. Then Son Yani''s father rmended both of them to work for that pharmaceuticalpany. At first, Lai Su thought that he could just avoid the annoying woman. Sadly, her father wanted him to work for the same department as his daughter so he could help her out.


    In the end, this woman stole one of Lai Su''s research so she could finish her own research. Lai Su tried to do something about it, but Son Yani''s father immediately came to her rescue. It had been years since that happened, and it seems that this woman hasn''t changed at all. She was still as spoiled as before.


    This woman was so used to getting what she wanted that her sense of reality had been affected. She had be delusional, thinking everything had to be fixed by her powerful father. Too bad. They met someone who was not afraid to offend people.


    Lai Su lowered his head, wondering why Lyca did what she did earlier. To someone who doesn''t know Lyca, she looked a little childish and careless,ughing in a very mocking manner as she ran around with a woman following her around. Moreover, Lyca looked like a man a handsome one at that. Earlier, many people thought that Son Yani was his ex-girlfriend who can''t ept that the handsome Tang Xi broke up with her.


    It was just a really peculiar scene.


    "Alright I want her out of my sight." Tang Xi said as she crossed her arm across her chest. "I want you to fire her in yourpany for bullying me." She shamelessly said.


    Long Yi looked at Lyca in disbelief. What bullying? Clearly, the person who had been bullied was Son Yani.


    "People who throw food are bullies. She should pay for the damages in this ce." Lyca added.


    "You you dare treat me like this?" Son Yani squealed. She was about to attack Lyca again when Long Yi raised his hand immediately halting her steps.


    "Yani calm down." Huang Xiaoxuan uttered. By now, she already noticed the difference in Long Yi''s treatment towards the handsome man that Son Yani chased earlier. Long Yi, Xie Jun, and even Zhang Zhi all had grave expressions on their faces. The trio personally came but didn''t bother greeting her or Son Yani. All of them immediately approached Lyca. "Let''s just listen to their conversation."


    "I want to call my father!" Son Yani dered.


    "How old is she? Five?" Lyca''s mocking voice only made Son Yani more furious. No wonder this Son Yan was friends with Huang Xiaoxuan, she too had the tendency to ''call her father'' when everything goes wrong.


    "Yani don''t listen to him. Let''s just leave for now. Let Long Yi handle this." Huang Xiaoxuan held Son Yani''s hands. On the outside, Huang Xiaoxuan looked really calm, but she was currently fuming. She never once thought that she would one day be this woman''s baby sitter!


    At one point, Huang Xiaoxuan wanted to strangle this woman who clearly had problems in her brains. How could she drag her into such an embarrassing situation earlier? Huang Xiaoxuan would never forget the embarrassment she felt when Son Yani started throwing tantrums inside the restaurant.


    "I will call my father!"


    Lyca only smirked in response. How could Long Yi employ someone like this?


    "Mr. Tang." Xie Jun forced the words out of his mouth. He gritted his teeth as he recalled Long Yi''s words about Tang Xi''s tendency to be a little unreasonable. Of course, this should have something to do with the fact that this guy was a psychotic killer. "What happened earlier can we just forget about it? We can make Son Yani and Huang Xiaoxuan apologize if they have disrespected you."


    His words made both Huang Xiaoxuan and Son Yani silent. The two looked at Lyca, wondering who the hell he was.


    "No." Of course, Lyca refused. "I never thought that the Long Company would actually hire people who act like a child. I don''t think I would allow such apany to hold Mr. Lai''s research. Isn''t that right, Lai Su? This woman bullied you and even said that you harassed someone. Why don''t we sue her for defamation?"


    Lai Su lifted his head and looked at Lyca. Was she doing this because of what Son Yani said earlier? "Yes, Mr. Tang." He said as he balled his hands into fists. Right now, he was certain that this wasn''t a part of her n. However, she stillpromised because of what Son Yani did. Lai Su felt a little warmth in his cold and lonely heart.


    "Mr. Tang "


    "If you don''t want to fire her. Then I can''t force you." Tang Xi stood up and shoved his hands into his pockets. "Of course, I would think that all employees working in the Long Company are like this." He smiled at Long Yi. "Take care of the damages. That''s thest thing that you can do to make the meat feel better." He shook his head. "What a wastrel."


    "Mr. Tang this "


    "Also cancel the appointment. I don''t want to talk to the Long Company anymore." Tang Xi started walking towards the exit. "Apany with no morals. Wasting food and not firing an employee like that tsk"


    "Wait Mr. Tang!"


    ...


    2/5

 Chapter 211: Life Changing Experience

    Chapter 211: Life Changing Experience


    "Yi, what are you doing?" Huang Xiaoxuan approached her husband when Long Yi called Tang Xi. "Don''t tell me you  "


    "I will fire her." Long Yi looked at Tang Xi''s back, hoping he would stop walking. Once Tang Xi sells the form to otherpanies, the Long Company would surely lose more than fifty percent of the current source of their contracts. That cannot happen!


    "Yi! What "


    "Mr. Long! What are you doing?" Son Yani''s eyes widened. "What are you talking about? I am sure my father can "


    "Xiaoxuan bring her outside." Xie Jun immediately stepped in. Of course, he understood that this Tang Xi had the right to demand anything right now. But this doesn''t mean they would just let this person get away with this. After they obtain the form, understandably, Long Yi would immediately have his men hunt this man.


    "Let''s go Yani Let''s talk about this outside." Huang Xiaoxuan''s words sounded too gentle, it was enough to make Lyca cringe. How could Huang Xiaoxuan act like this for this Son Yani? Did she be so desperate to prove herself to Long Yi? Lyca only shook her head inwardly.


    Huang Xiaoxuan was a pretty girl, she could practically choose anyone that she could marry, and yet she actually chose a jerk like Long Yi. Lyca pursed her lips as she turned towards Long Yi and hispany. "You will?" she uttered. "And once you get the form you will once again hire her, or her father would quit thepany. Ah why don''t you fire her father too?"


    "You "


    "I heard about your father Miss Son. The researchmunity fears him because of his connections in the capital." Lyca said. "Too bad for him, his daughter was a bit stupid." She added.


    "You how could you " Son Yani was already in herte twenties. All these years, she had never once talked to someone who called her stupid! "You "


    "And childish." Lyca continued, her voice was stern as she looked at the woman. "I have been very patient. You can stay here and wait for me to be irritated, or you can leave and shout outside of this property to everyone could see what kind of dog you are." This Son Yani loves to bully people lower than her simply because of her father. How amusing.


    Since this woman loved bullying and mocking people weaker than her then Lyca would not hesitate to show her how it feels to be weaker than someone. Of course, this is not some pointless fight against some cannon fodder. Lyca was deliberately doing this so she could meet this woman''s father.


    Lyca heard that the head researcher of the Long Family loved his daughter so much, he would show up every time she did something. If that is really the case, Son Yani''s father will arrive any moment now. Lyca had heard that this man was actually the person who helped Zhang Zhi got back to his feet after the poison that she gave him.


    While Zhang Zhi couldn''t use his feet anymore, he was practically alive because of this person. Of course, Lyca only wanted to meet him to exchange some pointers.


    "Xiaoxuan bring her outside!" Long Yi''s stern voice echoed inside the room. It made Huang Xiaoxuan flinched. Tears pooled in her eyes, but she quickly calmed herself and dragged Son Yani out of the room. She was well aware that staying inside would only cause more damage to their reputation.


    "Xiaoxuan! Why did you "


    "Yani just call uncle." Huang Xiaoxuan said. "I think that man is someone important in the researchmunity. He seemed to be so familiar with you and Uncle Son. You should just call uncle and tell him toe here so he could fix this."


    For a few seconds, Son Yani turned silent before she nodded and quickly called her father.


    Meanwhile, silence followed the moment Son Yani and Huang Xiaoxuan left the room. Tang Xi stood by the door, looking at Long Yi and his friends. "You wanted to make another offer?" he lifted an eyebrow.


    "Yes," Long Yi answered. "Seven hundred million dors. Five percent shares in the Long Company. I will fire Son Yani for disrespecting you, but I cannot fire her father as he is an important person in ourpany."


    "Hmmm." Tang Xi lifted an eyebrow. "Since you can''t fire him, then add another hundred million for the damages on my food."


    Zhang Zhi and Xie Jun''s face turned dark, but they didn''t say anything. Long Yi had already warned them beforehand not to intervene and just let him do the negotiations.


    "Once I know that Son Yani is still working in yourpany " Tang Xi continued, a sweet smile appeared on her face. "I will sell the form to the ck market."


    "You "


    "And if you think you can find me after this then you are only fooling yourself, Mr. Long." She grinned. "If someone like you can easily find me I wouldn''t be here standing in front of you, now." Seeing the expression on Long Yi''s face made herughed inwardly. Who would have thought that doing something like this is so satisfying?


    In her previous world, Lyca was an assassin, and confrontations like this were not her forty. When she came into this world, she chose to hide inside the house and didn''t socialize with people. This is why she would always prefer just killing someone over some useless conversation.


    However, seeing Long Yi act like a clown in front of her was so satisfying, she wanted to do it again! Well, she would definitely do this again!


    "You are tantly threatening me? In my own City?" Long Yi hissed, disbeliefced his tone.


    Tang Xi only smirked in response. "Nine hundred million just because I don''t like your tone. Take it or leave it." Lyca was enjoying everything too much, she felt that the experience was really life-changing!


    ...


    Please don''t forget to vote for the novel!

 Chapter 212: Multiple Personality Disorder

    Chapter 212: Multiple Personality Disorder


    "Well seems like that woman could maintain your contract with the government." Tang Xi made a peace sign with his hand. "Ciao." She yfully gave the man a wink, giving the impression that losing him and the Long Company does not matter to him.


    "I agree." Long Yi suddenly said. He needed this deal, and he will have it no matter what happened.


    "Good. Lai Su give him my bank details. I will wait here for the contract." Tang Xi uttered before she went back and sat on the couch next to the table with a grill.


    She was only ying with her current advantage. In a chess game, Lyca is currently the Queen. She can move in every position. Be it the defense or offense, and every piece will bend to amodate her presence.


    Sadly for Long Yi, his chess skills were a bitcking.


    "I will give you thirty minutes to prepare the contract, and I''m out of here."


    Long Yi stared at Lyca. Why does he felt that this had been Tang Xi''s n all along? Son Yani and Huang Xiaoxuan offending him so he could make crazy demands, forcing Long Yi to agree or lose the form.


    "Why are you still standing there?" Lyca lifted an eyebrow. "Tell the owner to bring me some meat on your way out." She looked at Xie Jun. "I presumed Mr. Long will stay here while the two of you would process everything?" Lyca didn''t hide the victorious smile on her face.


    It''s funny how these people aimed to rule the world when they don''t even realize that Lyca was ying them, letting them dance in her palms like damn toys? Well it''s not like these people don''t deserve it. Moreover, this is just like the prelude to everything.


    Now that Lyca had ess to the Long Company, it would be easier for her to join them. Slowly take everything away from theirpany. Lyca watched as Long Yi sat opposite her and Lai Su while Xie Jun and Zhang Zhi left to take care of the paper works.


    If Lyca''s guess were right, the trio should already wrote a contract. So, they only needed to alter it, and everything would be good. Ah, Lyca can''t wait to leave this ce so she could see Shen Qui again. Speaking of Shen Qui


    Lyca opened her phone and sent a heart to Shen Qui''s number. ording to the TV series that she just watched, sending memes and hearts like this should be good enough to remind their partners that they are thinking about them.


    Isn''t that sweet?


    In her previous life, Lyca didn''t remember doing anything like this. Her way of showing love was helping that man kill people and the other way around. Then there was sex. Sleeping around like rabbits every time they fight.


    No conversation. Just lust and desire.


    Rtionships like these are simply not bound tost.


    This world called it ''Make-up Sex'', and it was said that science can exin why you feel h*rny after a fight with your partner. However, this does not offer any resolution to the fight and misunderstanding. This would only prove that well you can have a powerful s*x just after an emotional argument.


    Communication is still the key.


    Of course, physical intimacy after a fight is still advisable. But right now, Lyca would prefer to just cuddle on the couch, watch some drama, talk about their rtionship and misunderstanding, and of course, eat something like pizza and icecream. Of course, she could always eat him too.


    Lyca blinked and blinked again before smiling like a silly person.


    On the outside, she looked like a little kid giggling while looking at her phone. But to Long Yi, this was enough proof that Tang Xi was indeed a crazy person. Why was he smiling and giggling like that when he just threatened to kill someone a few minutes back?


    The switch of the attitude does not make any sense at all!


    However, to Long Yi, this would also mean that it would easy to kill Tang Xi. After all, a crazy person like this has their own triggers that Long Yi could easily take advantage of to have his revenge.


    "Eh? Mr. Long you are staring at me like you like me." Since Lyca was in a good mood, she was nning to make it better by making Long Yi faint from anger. "Don''t tell me that you "


    "Mr. Tang I suggest that we keep this rtionship professional."


    "Thest person who told me that " Lyca gave a lecherous smile. "Is currently sleeping with me. Mr. Long let me just say this once and for all. You are not my type. So even if you are nning to "


    "Enough!" Long Yi hissed as he mmed his fist on the table.


    "My You are lucky. My food is not yet here. If you people waste another of my meat you will definitely die before you can leave this room." Lyca narrowed her eyes before beaming. "Lucky "


    Tang Xi''s sinister smile made Long Yi silent, he felt the hair behind his neck raise as if as If he was staring into a frightening predator. To him, an unreasonable person like Tang Xi was more intimidating than anyone else that he met before. Tang Xi had been showing some signs of his unpredictable behavior. Even Long Yi who prided himself on his good analytical skills found it hard to predict Tang Xi''s reactions!


    The suffocating atmosphere was interrupted when a new set of meat was brought by the owner himself. Tang Xi''s face instantly changed. It was as if his whole demeanor became lighter, kinder. The change was too sudden Long Yi couldn''t help but gasp at Tang Xi''s behavior.


    Why does it feel like he was once again looking at a different person? Was it possible that Tang Xi had multiple personality disorder?


    .................


    4/5


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 Chapter 213: Naughty Husband

    Chapter 213: Naughty Husband


    Lyca was all smiles as she walked out of the restaurant. The deal had been finalized, her money was already in the bank. Meaning, her mission is practically done.


    "Are we done here?" Tang Jingyi asked her.


    "You''re still here?" she asked. "I thought you left?"


    "Did something happen?"


    "A woman changed me," Lyca said as she sighed. "But that''s no longer important. My job is done here. I am leaving."


    "Already?"


    "You don''t want me to leave?" She already missed Shen Qui, alright. She needed to leave as fast as she could. Moreover, she was certain that the Long Family would attempt to kill her soon.


    Tang Jingyi frowned before he handed her a calling card. "Call me if you need an escort! Don''t call Tang Ruyi anymore. She would be busy in the next few years."


    "" Lyca pursed her lips before she smiled at Tang Jingyi''s retreating back. The man didn''t even wait for her to respond. He just walked out without waiting for her to thank him. Such an impatient man. Good thing, he was only staying in the base and wasn''t assigned in a real war outside of the country. Or this Tang Jingyi would be dead by now. Lyca shook her head.


    She was certain that this wasn''t thest time that she would see this man. "Let''s go." She told Lai Su who was silently following her. Then she immediately boarded a car that had been waiting for them. She knew that Long Yi would have his people follow her around. So, Shen Qui already made sure to create an escape n for her and Lai Su.


    The n was to confuse the followers by changing cars not only twice or thrice but six times. Yes, Shen Qui was adamant that they do something like this to keep her safe. Since Lyca insisted that shee back along, Shen Qui also insisted that she follow the n ande back safely.


    On the sixth time, Lyca and Lai Su had to change their clothes. Lyca would go back to being a girl with a ck wig while Lai Su would also wear a wig and a cap to hide his face.


    ................


    Meanwhile, Shen Qui squinted at the man who was kneeling in front of him. The lights of the bulbed that hung on the ceiling moved back and forth, creating shadows that made the bruised face of the man looked more beaten. If Lyca was here, she would immediately recognize the man was the one whom everyone called number twelve.


    This was the same man that apanied, Hu Lan on the mountain.


    "Who asked you to go inside the boss'' office?" A shirtless man wearing tattered denim pants asked number twelve. "Tell me! Of I will rip that face of yours apart!"


    "No one!" the man answered before spitting out a mouthful of blood. "Why don''t you just kill me? You are so good at that, yeah?" He red at the man in tattered pants.


    *PAK*


    Number twelve fell back on the floor when the man suddenly pped his face. "Next time you say, no one I would remove your nails one by one."


    "I already told you f*cker! No one asked me to go inside the boss'' office!"


    "You "


    "Gram. Stop it." Shen Qui''s voice echoed inside the small concrete room. "Leave us."


    "But boss "


    Shen Qui frowned. This was enough to silence the man. In a few seconds, the man named Gram and another two of his people walked out of the room with Shen Qui sitting on the stool in front of the number twelve.


    "Was it another gang?" He asked, tilting his head before he crossed his arms across his chest. "Or was it Hu Lan?"


    As expected, his words surprised the man. "You Don''t involve her into this!"


    "You actually let a woman fool you?"


    "I already told you" Number twelve tried to stand up but failed with Shen Qui kicked his shin. "Don''t involve Hu Lan in this matter!"


    "What did you want to know inside my office? Schedule? Passwords? Or Xi''s location?" This man was caught lurking outside of his office after he left the camp. Now, everyone was well aware that Shen Qui doesn''t just allow anyone in his office. The man actually said that he was only lost. Of course, Shen Qui knew it was bullshit.


    So, he set up a trap. Leaving his office door open as he went out of the club. As expected, this man really walked in and started checking hisputer and drawers.


    "Should I just kill her?"


    "You You can''t kill Hu Lan! She had nothing to do with this!"


    "You think so?" Shen Qui chuckled. "Because the way I see it the woman ask you something. And that was the reason why you were inside my office. How about this?" Shen Qui made a deliberate pause. "How about I call her here and shoot her before you? Do you think that would be enough to "


    "Shut up! Shut up! You beast! I will f*cking kill you!"


    *THUD*


    For the second time, Shen Qui calmly kicked his shin when he tried to stand. He fell on the floor and continued shouting about how he would kill him.


    "You see you are only wasting my time here." Shen Qui uttered in a low voice. "Tsk. You know what I hate the most, right? You must have heard some rumors about me, right?" His gazended on the man''s naked chest. "I tend to remove the hearts of the people that displeased me." A sadistic smile lingered on Shen Qui''s face. "How about I remove Hu Lan''s heart in front of you?"


    "You Don''t you dare touch her! Don''t you dare I will Once I get out of here I will f*cking kill you! Don''t you dare hurt her!"


    Shen Qui''s lips thinned. "So you don''t really care about her." He chuckled as he opened his phone. "Gram? "


    "Wait! I will speak! I will speak now!"


    "Hm?" Shen Qui''s smiled before he put his phone back in his pocket. "See how easy that was? If you decided to speak a few minutes ago, you won''t have your face broken by Gram." He clicked his tongue before he smiled at number twelve. "Now why don''t you tell me who really sent you?" Of course, he knew that Hu Lan wasn''t the one who sent this man inside his office.


    Hu Lan was too stupid for that.


    After a few minutes of talking, Shen Qui nodded before he called Gram back. "Give me your gun." Shen Qui uttered, and without any hesitation, Gram gave him a Glock.


    "You I already told you everything! You said that "


    "I said I won''t kill her." Shen Qui smiled. "But I didn''t say I won''t kill you." A sinister glint shed in his eyes before he pointed the gun into the man''s body and started shooting, emptying the bullets into the man''s body. Then he shot number twelve in the head, making sure that he would die.


    Shen Qui calmly gave the gun back to Gram before he straightened his suit and walked out of the concrete room In the underground of the club. In this line of work, the killing had be a part of his routine. He used to hate it but soon realized that he needed to do it, or he wouldn''t be able to protect Lyca.


    Shen Qui made sure that his ties were in the perfect ce as he continued walking in the long hallway that would lead him out of the secret basement where he does all stuff like this. Then his steps halted as he stared at the woman standing a few steps away from him.


    "Why are you here?" he asked when he spotted the smile on her lips. He immediately wondered if Lyca heard the gunshots. Would she be able to guess that he just tortured and killed someone?


    "There''s a blood " Lyca uttered as she walked closer towards him. "A drop of blood on your neck." She reached out and wiped away the blood on his neck. "Seems like you don''t want me here?" Amusementced her voice. "You looked too nervous. Did you just dosomething naughty?" She giggled. She could still smell blood and death around him.


    Shen Qui sigh. Worrying about Lyca''s opinion seemed useless. He held her waist, pulling her towards him before he lowered his head to kiss her. "I miss you."


    She folded her arms around her neck as she responded to the kiss. "Do you want to take a bath?" she asked as she pulled away. "With me?" She knew he was worried about her opinion about whatever it was that he just did and to be honest, Lyca doesn''t care about any of this.


    "But wouldn''t that mean we needed to drive for about ten minutes before finally arriving in our house?" he asked. "Ten minutes sounded too long, right?"


    She smiled, surprised at his question. "Naughty husband." She uttered before pulling his head down for another fiery kiss.

 Chapter 214: Game

    Chapter 214: Game


    SLIGHT R18.


    #########################################


    "You mean there are spies? I mean that''s expected. But why would they go as far as sending someone in your office?" Lyca used the nket to cover her naked body, wrapping it around her chests before she turned towards him. "Do you have something important in your office?"


    "No." Shen Qui turned towards her, his hands started tracing circles towards her neck down to her corbone. "Unless they wanted my schedule."


    Lyca narrowed her eyes. "So, they wanted to kill you." She suddenly sat on the bed. "I am leaving."


    "Again?" his gaze turned suspicious as he watched Lyca started dressing. "Santa needed to be the mayor soon."


    "There will be a charity tomorrow. We should go."


    Lyca paused before she turned towards him. "You wanted to show ourselves in the public?"


    "Isn''t it the right time? The Mayor thought that we are still hiding from the Long Family. With the current state of Long Family, I don''t think they would have the time to send their men, here."


    Lyca immediately lifted an eyebrow. She grinned before taking off her pants and let herself fall back into the bed. Of course, her happy ce is lying in this bed. If given a chance, she would never leave this ce again. She snuggled into his arms, burying her face into his neck. "You smell so good."


    "You should stop burning houses." He responded held her shoulders, making her lie on her back as he positioned his body on top of her. Shen Qui used his elbows to support himself.


    Lyca only giggled. She folded her arms around his neck. "Do you really want me to show up as Lyca in this charity event?" Right now, the Long Company is not having a good time. They just gave out a huge amount of money to buy a new form.


    Of course, Lyca wasn''t nning to give them some time to develop the form. She already nned to steal their investors from the start. And she would do just that. After giving Lyca almost a billion of money, the Long Family is not really in the right state to fight with Shen Qui''spany right now.Seeing the smirk on Shen Qui''s face, Lyca suddenly paused. She squinted.


    "You Does this mean that Long Yi would be in this charity?"


    "He wanted new investors and the Mayor who is still ckmailing us invited him."


    She grinned before her lips parted. Her gaze was already on his lips. For some reason, this conversation felt like two viins talking in the movie. It''s like the emperor and her noble consort, casually talking about their ns against the empire ns that would involve killing people and burning houses.


    "Long Yi can''t touch us here." He said as he lowered his head, his lips touched hers, but instead of kissing Lyca, Shen Qui slowly bit her lower lip, earning a soft moan from her. Shen Qui was actually right. Lyca wasn''t really someone big on nning. She was someone who likes to adapt her ns to the current situation.


    "Tomorrow, you say?" Smiling, Lyca met his eyes.


    "I already prepared something that you can wear. Tomorrow you will be my wife and business partner."


    "You will introduce me as your wife?" she lifted an eyebrow.


    "You are my wife."


    Lyca nodded before she slowly moved her legs apart, spreading them to amodate him. "So, you are willing to create a war inside this city?" she asked. She was sure that the Long family would show their support to one of Shen Qui''s enemies, prompting them to attack him.


    "It''s inevitable." Shen Qui uttered. "Long Yi''s arrival in this city would be the catalyst of this war. These people would think that the Long Family''s support would make them stronger. Thus, they will try and tantlyunched their attacks. Then we beat them in their own games."


    "I like that idea." She uttered. "But I think I would like to have you inside me more." She didn''t hesitate as she tell him what she really wanted. After all, they were already naked, in the bed. He was already on top of her, his erection pressing against her core.


    Just what were they waiting for?


    Heh, Lyca sounded like a horny teenager, and she was a bit No. Scratch that. This man was her husband. Lusting for her husband was not a sin, right? She consoled herself as she weed a kiss from him. Then she felt him enter her core, stretching her to amodate his full size.


    Lyca let out a soft moan as she arched her back. His hand was already on her breast before he started moving. Lyca closed her eyes as she itched the sensation inside her head. Her blood pulsated, rushing towards her core as she weed every thrust, every push and pull that created all those mind-boggling sensations that made her want to burst. But then he would quickly withdraw and smile at her.


    "Oh Qui''er for crying out loud " she cursed. She knew he was teasing her and she was honestly tired of that. She never wanted the slow, deep ones and he was well aware of her ''preference''.She frowned at the boyish grin on his face.


    "What?" He cocked an eyebrow.


    "You already know." She pouted, her chest raised and fell as he gave her another one of those slow and deep thrusts.


    "I can''t read your mind," he beamed.


    "I hate you."


    "Really?" he asked. "Then would you want me to stop?" His shadowed face was showing a lot of amusement. He was clearly enjoying this. He wanted her to beg. She gritted her teeth.


    "F*ck off." She said before suddenly pushing him off her, making him lie on his back as she straddled him, her hands held his wrist against the bed. "You sure, you wanna y this game?" She smirked at him. Of course, she knew that Shen Qui was physically stronger than her but she had her own advantage.


    "What game?" he feigned ignorance.


    Slowly, Lyca lifted an eyebrow before her hands reached beneath one of the pillows.


    *CLICK*


    "This game," Lyca said as she handcuffed one of his wrists towards the bed.

 Chapter 215: Worse Place

    Chapter 215: Worse ce


    R18: Trigger WARNING: R*PE


    ...........................


    Huang Xiaoxuan was frowning as she closed her eyes and leaned against the leather seat of the ck Mercedes that was taking them towards the Charity event in Kong City. "I heard that the City was full of Criminals and gangs. They aren''t even afraid of the mayor and police." She said. "I am pregnant. Do we really need to put ourselves in this kind of danger just to get some investors for thepany?"


    "I told you that your presence is not necessary, and yet you insisted toe with me. If someone happens to you, then you can only me yourself foring with me."


    "Yi "


    "Shut up, Xiaoxuan. I don''t need to hear your voice right now."


    "Yi, can you at least treat me just like your wife?"


    "Wife." Long Yi uttered the words slowly before turning his head towards her. "Do you really think you are my wife?"


    "Yi"


    "You married me because you, along with your father, does not want to go down with the Huang Family. You are like a f*cking gold-digging woman who only married someone because of the benefits." He snorted when he saw tears pooled in Huang Xiaoxuan''s eyes. "You should stop calling yourself my wife. Stop embarrassing yourself. You don''t deserve that title."


    "Then who deserves that title? Lyca?" she raised her voice. "You think that b*tch hmmm." Her words were interrupted when Long Yi suddenly grabbed her jaws, tightly holding her face. "Hhmmm.Hmmm!"


    "What? You already forgot the time where I dislocated your little jaw?" A sinister smile slithered on his face. "Do you think I wouldn''t do it again because you have my child with you? Tsk. Huang Xiaoxuan you fool. Did you really think that I would want to have a child with a woman as dumb as you?"


    "Hmmm!" Huang Xiaoxuan couldn''t stop the tears from falling. As expected, even with their child, Long Yi would still treat her like  trash.


    "Why are you crying?" Long Yi tilted his head. "You chose this you wanted this and now you are crying?" There was no hint of emotion in Long Yi''s eyes. He asked his father, begged him not to let this woman enter the Long family. However, Huang Xiaoxuan and her father somehow convinced his old man to have Long Yi marry her to show everyone that the acquisition happened because of the marriage.


    Long Yi snorted. "Stop crying." He hissed. However, instead of stopping, Huang Xiaoxuan''s shoulders started trembling, her face paling as the tears just continued to flow down her cheeks. "Ah I know what would make you stop crying." He grinned before he pulled her towards hisp. He then raised the hem of her flowy dress, his hand immediately found her underwear.


    "Yi please I am pregnant. We can''t"


    "Oh? What are you talking about? This is your favorite thing to do, right?" He opened the zipper of his trousers, his manhood quickly slipping inside her in one abrupt movement.


    "Yi please"


    "Did you forget what you did, Xiaoxuan? You ask Lyca to help you, right? You wanted to sleep with me you wanted this, right?"


    Long Yi''s grunts followed as Huang Xiaoxuan shut her mouth, tears continued flowing down her cheeks. This wasn''t the first time that this happened. And every time, she would beg him to stop, the man would only continue doing it and make her suffer. Right now, Huang Xiaoxuan was still in her first trimester, and she was aware that her body can''t handle any rough s*x. So, she chose to endure.


    For her baby.


    She would endure everything. She would endure being taken like this in front of their driver. This wasn''t new to her. She would endure all the pain and embarrassment. All the humiliation. As long as she would have the baby safely. Huang Xiaoxuan knew that Long Yi was only angry because of losing so much money from a form that was almost the same as the previous one.


    She knew that this was only Long Yi''s way of letting go of his pent up emotions. She knew that all this would change soon. Long Yi would surely change once he sees their child. He would surely love his own blood, be the father that the child needed. And maybe even love her.


    "Fix yourself. We will arrive at the charity in about thirty minutes." Long Yi said after he threw a pack of tissue towards her. "And wear a beautiful smile when you are out there. Stop looking like a ghost in front of everyone. Act friendly and stop being too jealous with every woman that approaches me!"


    "Hmmm." She nodded. Everything will pass Huang Xioaxuan was confident that Long Yi would change once she delivers the baby."I''m sorry." She softly uttered. "I shouldn''t have said something." Long Yi was right. She was the one who insisted toe with him. She had no right toin about the distance and the ufortable feeling that she had about this Charity.


    Huang Xiaoxuan quickly finished cleaning herself up. She fixed her ck dress, and her make up. Then she put a beautiful smile on her face. Once Long Yi would realize her value, his attitude would soon change towards her. Huang Xiaoxuan convinced herself as she eyed the tall buildings in Kong City.


    This was actually her first time traveling in a ce like this. Huang Xiaoxuan heard stories about the danger lurking in this ce. This was a city where drugs and syndicates were considered gods. They were worshiped and feared at the same time. Huang Xiaoxuan also heard that this was the ce where Shen Qui Lyca''s bodyguard had run off too.


    However, ording to their sources, Shen Qui never had a woman next to him. Instead, the man actually got involved in a small gang. Just the thought of Shen Qui and Lyca being separated immediately eased her mood. She might be in a bad ce right now, but she was certain that Lyca was experiencing something worse. After all, she was a woman who ran off abroad without money or any source of ie.


    This made Huang Xiaoxuan wonder how did Lyca survive until now.


    ....


    Don''t forge to vote for the novel. Thank you :)

 Chapter 216: Animosity

    Chapter 216: Animosity


    Lyca was clearly smart. But she was alone outside of this country. Huang Xiaoxuan''s mind started thinking about Lyca''s unfortunate state. Almost immediately, her mood lightened. She started smiling as she thought of how that woman must have tried to find ways to survive.


    She knew that Lyca was the person who sent that bacteria to the Long Company. Though Long Yi doesn''t want to confirm anything, Huang Xiaoxuan knew that Lyca must have found a way to do it. She wondered if Lyca had to sell her flesh to an influential person to be able to pull that trick towards them.


    "We are here."


    Long Yi''s words made Huang Xiaoxuan flinched. She stared at the huge white building with columns. The huge stair a few feet away from their car immediately caught her attention. "Seems like they really spent a huge amount for this charity event." Shemented as Long Yi went out of the car. She heard that Kong City was not a very rich city. Because of corruption and crimes, not many investors would invest in this city.


    Huang Xiaoxuan followed Long Yi out of the car and held his hand.


    "Smile," Long Yi said, a gentle smile was already stered on his face.


    "Hm,'' she nodded in response as she donned a beautiful smile on her face. She held Long Yi''s arms as the two started walking towards the carpeted stairs.


    "Don''t talk about nonsense stuff while we are out there." Long Yi said in a low tone. "I want you to just stay by my side, and if someone approaches you start talking about bags and clothes. Even art, paintings, and ssical music. You should know this stuff, right?"


    "Hm," Huang Xiaoxuan nodded. She had been married to Long Yi for a couple of years now. However, the man rarely brought her to any events because she tends to get jealous easily. Every time someone beautiful approached Long Yi, Huang Xiaoxuan would start to act like a guard dog, showing her fangs to the woman.


    Of course, she can only me herself for being so insecure. She knew that Long Yi doesn''t like this side of her, so she chose to work hard on this. Sadly, the changes that she wanted doesn''t just happen overnight. Sometimes, her real jealous attitude would stille out and make Long Yi mad at her.


    Huang Xiaoxuan focused on the people that were already inside the hall. Long Yi immediately confirmed their invitation and brought her inside. The smile on Huang Xiaoxuan''s face didn''t change as she looked at the extravagantly decorated stage ck and white stage. Tonight''s charity had a ck, cream, and gold m Hollywood theme. The cream and gold chandeliers looked really dazzling as itplemented the elegant matte ck balloons that were on the tall ceiling and the lush ck and white tablescape.


    "Please follow me I will lead you to your seats." A woman wearing a ck suit gave them a cordial smile before she walked ahead of them, leading them towards one of the tables on the right.


    Huang Xiaoxuan and Long Yi followed the woman. Just as they were about to reach their table they were stopped by an older gentleman. The man introduced himself as an attendant and told Long Yi to go to the second floor as someone wanted to talk to him before the event would start. Hearing this, Huang Xiaoxuan made her presence as little as possible while hoping that Long Yi would bring her to the second floor where all the elite businessmen would talk about their business and hobbies.


    This would be a great opportunity for her to know some of the most important individuals in this region as well as their wives. To her surprise, Long Yi looked at her, smiling. "We should go." He said. The two then followed the man towards another carpeted stairs that would lead them to the second floor of the building. After a few minutes, they arrived in a moderately decorated hall.


    This hall was obviously smaller than the previous one. ck and gold were still used to decorate the area. However, there were no chairs or tables in the floor space. The only table that she saw was the tall cocktail table in the middle of the hall where a bartender was mixing some drinks. Clearly, this hall was for people to mingle and know each other before the event would start.


    A few waiters can be seen walking around with champagne and other drinks.


    "Ah! Mr. Long!"


    Long Yi and Huang Xiaoxuan turned towards the older man who called them.


    "Mr. Ma," Long Yi immediately held his hand and shook the man''s hands.


    "And this should be Mrs. Long?" Mr. Ma held his hand towards the cream dressed Huang Xiaoxuan and smiled. "I was not aware that Mr. Long''s wife was this beautiful. It seems that Mr. Long is not only lucky in business." He teased. Huang Xiaoxuan opened her mouth, she was about to respond and thank the man for hispliment but immediately remembered Long Yi''s warning.


    In the end, Huang Xiaoxuan closed her mouth and gave a tight-lipped smile.


    "Ah! Let me introduce you to some of the biggest businessmen in Kong City. Remember that man that I told you about? Mr. Rivers? Santa Rivers? He is here. The man was currently the biggest businessman in the City. If you know that I mean." Mr. Ma whispered, his voice was loud enough for Huang Xiaoxuan to hear.


    Huang Xiaoxuan immediately looked at the group of men and women in front of them. Her gazended on the man wearing a white suit. Two women were in the woman''s arms as heughed at some joke from another person.


    "Mr. Rivers!"


    "Mr. Ma!" The man in white smiled at Mr. Ma. "And this is?"


    "Mr. Long Yi from the Long Family in Long City."


    "That''s a lot of Long." Santa chuckled. "Is that how you normally introduce yourself, Mr. Long?" Santa uttered. He didn''t hide the animosity in his gaze, but the smile on his face seemed to suggest that he wasn''t upset. This immediately made Huang Xiaoxuan wonder if they have somehow offended this man.

 Chapter 217: Jessica and Xiaoxuan

    Chapter 217: Jessica and Xiaoxuan


    "Ah! Mr. Rivers really love to joke." Mr. Ma patted Long Yi''s tense shoulders. Then heughed. Surprisingly, Santa startedughing with him. Seeing this, Long Yi calmed down and chuckled. He then asked for a ss of champagne from the nearby attendant.


    Slowly, the conversation continued with the men talking about the businesses. While Huang Xiaoxuan started talking to the other women in the group. That was until Mayor Dongfang, and surprisingly, his daughter also arrived. There had been rumors going on about Miss Jessica''s health not being good. So, the fact that she was here, looking beautiful and perfect was truly unexpected.


    What they don''t know was the fact that Jessica had to use a lot of foundation to cover all the boils in her body. It had been more than a month since thest time she saw Shen Qui, and to her, this is akin to physical torture. She couldn''t help it. Her body was aching not because of the red patches on her skin but because of her emotional sadness. She believed that seeing Shen Qui right now would make her feel better.


    Of course, the mayor disagreed at first. How could seeing someone heal his daughter? But when Jessica threatened her father with suicide, the mayor immediately relented and hired the best make up artist in the City to cover Jessica''s body with a lot of foundation.


    Jessica looked around and immediately felt a little sad when she didn''t see Shen Qui. Still, she forced a smile out of her face.


    "Are you looking for someone?"


    Jessica eyed the woman who was wearing a cream flowy dress. She smiled at the woman that she recognized Mrs. Long.


    "No I just" Jessica''s face reddened. She quickly lowered her head. "Just some acquaintance."


    "Here I notice that you didn''t get some champagne, so I asked the bartender to mix something for you. It''s nonalcoholic." Huang Xiaoxuan smiled. "Just like mine."


    "You are too kind. Thank you."Jessica immediately said. "Your dress looked really nice. I like that it''s flowy, you look like an angel."


    "Thank you. My husband picked the style for me. Your ball gown looked really nice too. Is it custom made?"


    "Yes." She specifically has this white ball gown made for this charity. She wanted to have a dance with Shen Qui, and she wanted to look like his bride. So she asked her father to make the theme ck, gold, and cream instead of just ck and gold. She wanted to make this night, her and Shen Qui''s night. "Thank you. I really love this gown too. It took them a few weeks to finish it." Jessica lied.


    "That You looked like a princess." Huang Xiaoxuan smiled. "May I know who made it. I would love to have them make another gown for me. For my maternity shoot."


    As expected, Jessica widened her beautiful eyes. "You Congrattions! I couldn''t tell that you were actually "


    "Thank you. We were so excited to have him."


    "Him?"


    "I can feel it." Huang Xiaoxuan uttered. She had hoped that this child would be a boy. She wanted to make Long Yi happy, and she thought that having a male child would change his attitude towards her and the baby.


    "I just That is so nice. I am happy for you and Mr. Long. You know what? I will send you and Mr. Long some congrattory gifts. May I have your calling card? I will call you once I send it." Jessica beamed. Long Yi and Huang Xiaoxuan were young and brilliant. She was certain that having connections with people like them would also help her out shortly once she would take over her father as the next mayor of this City.


    "Thank you!" Of course, the woman''s words made Huang Xiaoxuan beamed. Being close to the daughter of the mayor is one of her goals tonight. The two started talking about some other stuff. Surprisingly, the two actually had many simr habits.


    Even their favorite colors and favorite bag brands were the same!


    "This acquaintance that you were waiting for This is, a he, right?" Huang Xiaoxuan teased. "Does he know that you like him?"


    "I Xiaoxuan " Again, Jessica''s blushed as she finished her non-alcoholic beverage. Of course, Shen Qui knew that she liked him. But he was married! The thought made her expression sour, but she quickly masked it with her gentle smile. She tried to ask her father to just kill Shen Qui''s wife but would always tell her no and other nonsense stuff about not being able to do it because of Santa Rivers'' protection.


    "He does?" Huang Xiaoxuan''s words brought her back from her stupor. "And he still . Please don''t tell me he wanted you to confess first?"


    Jessicaughed. It would have been better if that was the only thing Shen Qui wanted. She could easily confess and even beg him to take her. Again, this is not possible as he was married. And being together with a married man would surely tarnish her good reputation.


    Of course, this is not going to be applicable tonight as her father assured her Shen Qui would not bring his wife tonight. Mayor Dongfang seemed to sure that his wife wouldn''te. This made Jessica so happy, she jumped and hugged her father, thanking him so much for all the support that he gave her. "No. I think he doesn''t know." She lied.


    "Let me tell youa secret." Huang Xiaoxuan uttered, she made her voice lower. "I was the one who confessed to my husband." She giggled like a little girl. "And look at us now?"


    "You " Surprised at Huang Xiaoxuan''s words, Jessica stared at her as she gulped. "Really?"


    "Really." Huang Xiaoxuan nodded. "My husband might look really charismatic but back then at the university, he is pretty elusive to women. So, I had to beg my father to ask him to make me his secretary. Our story started from there." She smiled, her eyes sparkling. "Now I know you would think that I am quite bold. But what can I do? I really liked him, and I was certain that he wouldn''t look at me as he was really busy with the university and his family business."

 Chapter 218: Too Late

    Chapter 218: Too Late


    Jessica turned silent. To be honest, she never expected Huang Xiaoxuan to tell her about her own experience with her husband. Jessica''s gaze soonnded towards Long Yi. The man was happily chatting with Santa Rivers, the Mayor, and Mr. Ma. He seemed to truly enjoying in here with Xiaoxuan. Is it possible that she could also have a husband like that?


    "So what happened after you confess? Did he I mean when did he start to like you? Was it something that happened overnight?"


    Huang Xiaoxuan shook her head. "No. He actually hated my guts. But you know men would learn how to value someone once they feel how sincere they were." Huang Xiaoxuan''s eyes were full of gentleness. She continued smiling at Jessica, acting like all the abuse never really happened.


    Jessica''s face reddened before she gave Huang Xiaoxuan a huge smile. She felt that meeting Huang Xiaoxuan was actually fate. This was the destiny telling her what she should do next. When she noticed Huang Xiaoxuan turned silent, she immediately looked at her and realized that she had turned pale. "Is there something wrong? Are you alright?" A sh of worry can be seen on her face. After all, Huang Xiaoxuan is pregnant.


    "Why is that woman here?"


    Jessica turned towards the entrance of the second floor, and almost immediately she felt her heart dropped. She stared at Shen Qui who was wearing a cream tux, and the woman who stood next to him. Xi.


    The woman was wearing a ck gown that hugged her slim and tall frame. It was a tube gown that seemed to have small diamonds all over the dress, making it sparkle against the chandelier. Her white hair was in an elegant french twist, showing her slender neck and a simple choker that was made of ck diamonds.


    Jessica narrowed her eyes when she noticed that the two easily got the attention of everyone inside. Her hands balled into fists, frustration pounded inside her. How could Shen Qui show up with that woman? How could he Jessica''s chest raised and fell as she tried to act all calm in front of other businessmen. She couldn''t show her real colors in front of everyone right now. Not in front of his people.


    She tightened her fist, her nails scraping her palms. The tingling sensation of her nails against her palm woke her up from her stupor. "Do you Do you know them?" She smiled as she brought her gaze back to Huang Xiaoxuan.


    "That that is my cousin who who poisoned my grandfather."


    Jessica let out a surprised gasped. Her eyes widened as she covered her mouth, acting all surprised at the discovery of Xi''s real identity. "A murderer?"


    Huang Xiaoxuan wanted to tell the woman that her grandfather was still alive. Though, he was still in aa. In the end, he decided against it. Huang Xiaoxuan thought that it would good to have everyone here think that Lyca is a murderer.


    "Let''s go. We should go. They are about to talk to my father." Jessica held Huang Xiaoxuan''s arms as they approached Shen Qui and Lyca, who was now talking to Santa Rivers and Mr. Ma.


    "We already know each other." Shen Qui''s words were the first thing that Huang Xiaoxuan and Jessica heard when they got close enough to hear the conversation. "Isn''t that right, Mr. Long?"


    "Shen Qui"


    "It''s Q." Shen Qui uttered. "Mr. Q for you. Since we are not that close." He gave a mocking smile before he got himself and Lyca some champagne from one of the attendants.


    Long Yi''s gaze however was glued at the woman next to Shen Qui. He blinked, and for a few seconds, his mind seemed to nk out.


    Lyca.


    Why was she here?


    "Mr. Long it''s a pleasure to see you again." Lyca gave an enchanting smile, which almost made Huang Xiaoxuan burst into anger. Huang Xiaoxuan moved next to her own husband, her hand was already on her stomach before she let out a fake smile towards Lyca.


    "Cousin I was not expecting to see you here."


    "You''re here?" Lyca feigned surprised.


    "Of course, I would be here. This is an event where my husband was invited to. I was not aware that this event "


    "Lyca how are you?" Long Yi interrupted his wife. "It''s been so long. Are you staying in this city all along?"


    Lyca only responded with a smile. In a few seconds, Lyca was able to determine that the two haven''t really changed when ites to their rtionship. It seems that Huang Xiaoxuan was still insecure while Long Yi is not doing enough to assure his woman that she would be the only woman in his life.


    Before Lyca could answer Long Yi, Jessica already chimed in. "Xiaoxuan I never knew that you are actually Miss Xi''s cousin. When was thest time that you guys saw each other? You seemed pretty surprised to see her in this ce." Jessica''s face looked really innocent as she looked at Huang Xiaoxuan. Seeing this, Lycaughed inwardly.


    It seems that Jessica and Huang Xiaoxuan are actually friends? This should be Long Yi''s first time in this city. Does this mean that the two only developed this friendship a few minutes ago? She took a sip of her champagne as she looked at the two. She remembered the satisfying scene that she had with that Long Yi when she was Tang Xi.


    The feeling of face pping someone is just really good, she couldn''t help herself but want to do it again. This time this would involve the two foolish women in front of her.


    "That " Huang Xiaoxuan hesitated for a few seconds as Long Yi''s warning rang in her head. However, Lyca''s smirked wasn''t helping her calm down. "We haven''t seen each other since she tried to poison our grandfather." She uttered and immediately realized that she said the wrong thing when she felt Long Yi''s hands on his waist.


    Sadly, it was toote. Everyone already showed a look of horror on their faces.

 Chapter 219: Alleged

    Chapter 219: Alleged


    "Mr. Long it seems like your wife is not feeling well." Shen Qui said. "Are you sure, she is well enough to attend events like this?"


    "Q, I think Xiaoxuan is not sick but only emotional." Jessica chimed in. Of course, she wouldn''t let Shen Qui help Lyca out. "Xi here allegedly poisoned their grandfather. I think I would understand the sudden emotion that Xiaoxuan had upon seeing her, right? After all, it was a premeditated murder."


    Xiaoxuan held her breath when she heard Jessica''s words. Who would have thought that the woman would act like this in front of everyone? She immediately regretted letting Jessica know about Lyca. Xiaoxuan''s eyes started to tear up when she felt Long Yi''s hands tightened on her waist. He was pinching it! As if he was telling her to fix this.


    Xiaoxuan''s face darkened. Why would Long Yi want her to fix this situation when this was all Lyca''s fault? This is an event for investors and businessmen! Why was she even here? But most importantly, why would Long Yi want her to clear up the misunderstanding? Does he still like Lyca? Frowning, Xiaoxuan immediately jumped to a conclusion. She couldn''t help the irritation slowly turned into anger. She could feel it boil inside her, like hotva just waiting for her to let it all go.


    "It''s alright, Xiaoxuan. It''s alright to be emotional about all this." Jessica''s voice echoed near her ears. "If something like that would happen to me, I would definitely  "


    "Jessica why don''t you apany Xiaoxuan outside for a while? I think she needed to breathe." Mayor Dongfang immediately decided to try to cool down the current situation. He, too, was not expecting Shen Qui toe here with Lyca. After all, he was aware that Shen Qui and Lyca was trying to hide from the Long Family.


    He thought Lyca wouldn''t be brave enough toe here. He even thought that Shen Qui would hesitate toe here because of Long Yi''s presence! Who would have thought that the two would fearlesslye and seemed to n everything ahead of time! This immediately made the Mayor a bit panicked. He had been using the Long Family to try and scare Shen Qui.


    Now that the Long Family knew where Shen Qui was, it means he already lost his advantage. How could he continued Jessica act like this without the advantage that he thought he had?


    "But father!" Jessica pouted. "An alleged murder is something that we should be concern about, isn''t it? I couldn''t help but wonder if " She looked at Shen Qui, wondering if thetter knew about Lyca''s actions.


    "Jessica enough! Let''s not make this event an awkward one. We are here to help, not to create a scene about murders who haven''t even proven yet." The mayor said when he felt Santa Rivers gaze towards him. Right now, everyone seemed to favor Santa more than him. And he wasn''t just talking about business. He was talking about ordinary citizens.


    For some reason, the man found a way to make them believe that he was better than the mayor. Or at least that''s what the people living in the slums said. Santa had been helping out the poor and is showing up at every charity event while the mayor was busy with his personal affairs.


    Right now, the Mayor doesn''t know the real intention behind Santa''s actions. There is a possibility that Santa is nning to run for Mayor in the next election. If that is the case, then he wouldn''t want Santa to use this event to make him look bad.


    What would the people say, if Santa would start telling them about his daughter''s behavior?


    "Father but "


    "Jessica. Please Mrs. Long is not feeling well. You should apany her outside." The Mayor faked a smile that looked more like an angry scowl than a smile.


    "Father! How could you do that? We all know that Mr. Q is "


    "Miss Jessica please don''t forget that this is still their personal matters. I mean an alleged poisoning is not as worse as the alleged murder that your fathermitted, right? Or the alleged addiction that you had? Or the alleged "


    "What do you mean?" Jessica frowned. "What alleged addiction are you talking about?" She interrupted him before she looked at Lyca. Did this woman tell Shen Qui about things about her? However, instead of answering her, Shen Qui ignored her and took a sip of his champagne instead. Seeing Shen Qui''s nonchnt expression only made Jessica more concerned about Shen Qui''s opinions towards her.


    "What do you mean? Can you please exin your words to me?"


    Santa chuckled when he heard Jessica''s words. "She''s right, Q. You should exin those words to Miss Jessica. After all, she had a spotless reputation. She is like an angel in Kong City."


    "Hm?" Shen Qui looked at Santa. "Didn''t you see it? It''s all over the Inte."


    Everyone who heard Shen Qui''s words instantly opened their phones to check social media. Even Huang Xiaoxuan, who was still emotional couldn''t help but feel curious about it. Of course, she was also thankful that the attention was now on Jessica. She knew that she made a mistake earlier, she actually looked like an uneducated and emotional woman!


    How could she talk about personal family problems in front of everyone here? How could she do it when Long Yi was trying to make himself look good in front of these investors to help with the Long Company? She heaved a sigh of relief as she looked at her phone and made her presence as little as possible.


    Whatever Jessica''s problem with Lyca is does not concern Xiaoxuan in any way. She actually thought that Jessica would be one of those women she could easily manipte and fool. Well she was right. The woman was actually a real fool.


    But not the kind of fool that would give her an advantage at all.

 Chapter 220: Burn the House to Catch a Rat

    Chapter 220: Burn the House to Catch a Rat


    Lyca looked at Jessica''s panicked expression. She slowly turned her head towards the mayor who was also watching his phone. The timing was so perfect, she couldn''t help but p her hands inwardly. First, it wasn''t her intention to create this scene with everyone. Lyca wasn''t aware that Jessica would actuallye here tonight with her father.


    However, this confirmed Lyca''s suspicions about the Mayor who is trying to control Shen Qui using the Long Family.


    Too bad, he really chose to try and ckmail Lyca.


    "What what is this?" Jessica said. "What  Who did this?" She squealed, unable to stop her anger. Who would dare take a picture of her next to her prescriptions with her name clearly written on them? "This is photoshopped! Someone must have edited this." In the image, the pills were next to her, as if she spilled them and didn''t bother putting them back. These were all her pain meds and some sleeping pills as well as her prescriptions for her other mental problems. "Father "


    "I am already on it," the Mayor said. He was already on his phone trying to call someone to take the post down.


    "Mr. Q that is not What you see on the Inte is really I mean " Jessica staggered as she tried to exin to Shen Qui that this was all fake. "Q I "


    "Alleged." Shen Qui only smiled at her before he tilted his wine ss towards her. "Didn''t you just say how concerning it is?"


    "I " Jessica widened her eyes as she opened her mouth. It feels like there was a huge stone lodge in her throat, enabling her from speaking. "This was all fake!" She managed to say after a few seconds. "This Someone wanted to  Someone wanted to " She looked at her phone and started reading thements of the post.


    [Looks like the mayor is enabling his crazy daughter. Lols]


    [I can always feel that something is wrong with this woman! Now I know why!]


    [This is why I don''t trust rich and polite people. A person with that kind of characteristics doesn''t exist.]


    [I researched the name of the medicines, and they are actually for bipr personality disorder and .]


    [The woman seemed to love her pills too much. Look at that smile on her face.]


    [Check out this article for a video that shows her real nasty personality.]


    Jessica didn''t continue her words as he checked the link that someone left on the post. Her body started trembling when she saw that it was video footage of her reaction when she discovered the red boil-like stuff on her skin. In the video, she was screaming while telling everyone to call her father like a crazy person.


    *AHHHH*


    Jessica''s loud squeal echoed inside the whole second floor before she dropped her phone on the carpeted floor. Right now, it feels like her whole world was crumbling down. She could feel the people stare at her, whispering her name. They must be mocking her! Jessica''s eyes turned bloodshot as she took a step back. The voices in her head told her that everyone inside the wasughing at her! Their gazes were full of disgust and mockery, theirughter all condescending.


    Her hands trembled as she looked at her father who was now standing in front of her as he called out her name. Even her father''s face had that look full of pity and mockery? She gulped. Was heughing at her? She pushed her father away and screamed when she noticed someone grabbed her arm. "Let me go! Let me go!" She pushed the person and tried to run away from everyone.


    She couldn''t take it. She just couldn''t stand in here while everyone wasughing at her like she was a crazy woman!


    Just as Jessica started attacking the bodyguards of the mayor that is trying to help her out, a call about an ident that was caused by a drunk driver.


    Apparently, the driver drove into an open market and injured a lot of people in the process. The Mayor stood there, overwhelmed by the call and his daughter''s behavior. For a few seconds, he thought that the timing was just too perfect. How could it be like this? Just as his daughter needed him the most, just as he showed himself in a charity to make himself look good, an ident like this happened?


    "Mayor, the press is already waiting to hear a statement from you." His secretary whispered in his ear. "Apparently, this is already the second time that an ident like this happened in the area. They wanted to hear about your ns in keeping the streets more secure. Shall I schedule a press conference for tomorrow morning?


    His secretary''s voice woke him up from his stupor. He gritted his teeth before he nodded and walked towards one of his guards. "Take her out of this building as secretly as possible. Do not let anyone see it. Do not let the press see her like this."


    "Yes, Mayor." One of the guards said.


    The Mayor forced a smile out of his face. His gazended towards Shen Qui and Lyca, then on Long Yi and Huang Xiaoxuan. Finally, he looked at Santa''s calm expression. For some reason, a part of him was saying that Santa had something to do with this.


    However, his brain couldn''t understand just how the hell did he do all this. He watched as the guards carried the struggling Jessica out of the door."Ladies and gents. It seems that I would need to leave the event. I have an emergency that I needed to attend to. Thank you so much foring to this event. I will let my secretary handle everything." He said before walking out. After making sure that he was already alone with his secretary, he immediately asked him to release a piece of news about Jessica being depressed and suicidal and use this as a reason why the Mayor had been busytely.


    Since everyone already knew that there was something wrong with his daughter, the mayor was nning to use this to make himself a kind and gentle father. He wanted to use this for his image and reputation.


    "Yes, mayor." The secretary nodded.


    "Also the timing to too perfect. I want you to investigate Santa and his people. He must have a spy inside the mansion who took all those photos. Review all CCTV''s. Make sure to find the rat." He gritted his teeth before he went inside his car.


    The Mayor wouldn''t hesitate to burn his house down just to find the person who took all those photos of her daughter.

 Chapter 221: Easy

    Chapter 221: Easy


    "That was easy," Lyca said lowly before she turned her attention towards Long Yi and Huang Xiaoxuan. Seems like she was really lucky tonight, eh? "Mrs. Long why does it seem like you swallowed something huge? Are you alright?" Lyca beamed at Huang Xiaoxuan.


    "I just couldn''t help but wonder howe the party sent an invite to the likes of you?" Huang Xiaoxuan uttered and immediately regretted her words. When ites to Lyca, controlling her anger was truly difficult. Her mouth seemed to act on its own even if her brain had been telling her to stop talking.


    "What do you mean?" Lyca looked at her, her eyes blinking like an innocent kitten. Huang Xiaoxuan couldn''t help but grit her teeth. Half of her wanted to strangle this woman while the other half wanted to scream at her until she lost her voice. She hated Lyca. She could feel her insides vibrating just from the thought of Lyca ruining her life.


    First was Long Yi. Huang Xiaoxuan honestly thought that the reason why Long Yi always looked at her with disgust is because of Lyca''s acts in the past. That woman tried to show off in front of everyone, making Long Yi thought she was the best out there when clearly, she wasn''t! This world was full of women better than Lyca and yet, everything that Huang Xiaoxuan does getspared to Lyca''s.


    There was a mistake in her report? Well that must be because she wasn''t as detail-oriented as the smart Lyca!


    There was a mistake in theboratory? That''s because the head researcher is not as smart as Lyca!


    There was a problem with the bullet? That''s because Lyca originally created it and they have no idea how to enhance it without creating a huge explosion in the f*ckingb!


    It was all Lyca!


    Lyca!


    Lyca!


    Lyca!


    "I mean murderers like you who couldn''t even be bothered with helping their parents out! Someone who would leave their parents in their enemy''s turf just because of their own selfishness."


    "What do you mean, Mrs. Long?" Shen Qui chimed in as he fought the urge not tough at this woman''s foolishness. "Is there something wrong with mother and father? Last time I heard they are in their mansion, living peacefully."


    Shen Qui''s words brought her back from her stupor. Huang Xiaoxuan stilled when she felt Long Yi''s pinched getting tighter on her waist. It was too painful.


    "My wife is just drunk." Long Yi said as he gritted his teeth. "Please excuse her. I would ask my men to escort her back to the car. So she could rest."


    "You should escort her back to your hotel Mr. Long," Lyca said, concern can be seen on her face. "I heard that she is pregnant. Drinking alcoholic beverages while pregnant might affect the fetus." She widened her eyes. "Cousin please don''t tell me you wanted to " Lyca covered her mouth, her eyes wide from the surprise.


    "You " When ites to Lyca''s way with words, Huang Xiaoxuan quickly realized that she was still a novicepared to this woman''s shamelessness. She remembered how this Lyca doesn''t like to speak and when she does, she always says all sorts of weird words. She could easily make everyone speechless.


    Years had past and it seems that Lyca was still the same while she. She was still inferior to Lyca. She clenched her jaws as she pushed away Long Yi''s hands. How could Lyca try to make everyone think that she was harming her son? "First of all, I am not drunk!" She hissed, not realizing that she had implicated Long Yi instead of Lyca. Huang Xiaoxuan actually forgot that the first person who said she was drunk was her own husband.


    "Second of all, my husband and I were invited here because we have the capability to help the people in need. We are not like you who had been running around for the past five years after trying to kill our grandfather!"


    "And third of all, I am not " she stopped talking when she heard Long Yi''s next words.


    "She had been drinking since we left our hotel. I will escort her out. Please ept my apologies, Mr. Rivers, Mr.Ma. I wille back at the start of the event." Long Yi smiled before he suddenly pulled Huang Xiaoxuan away from Shen Qui and Lyca.


    "Let me go, Yi! That was Lyca right there! Let me go! That woman just "


    "Do you want me to kill your child?" Long Yi whispered. His words were enough to make Huang Xiaoxuan froze. "Did you think I would let that child arrive in this world?"


    It was as if a cold bucket of water was poured inside Huang Xiaoxuan''s soul. His harsh words were enough to wake her up from whatever anger that she felt earlier.


    "Yi, you "


    "You are as stupid as ever," Long Yi said, his face dark, his voice low. It made Huang Xiaoxuan trembled in fear. Long Yi had been mad at her before. He said a lot of nasty words, called her names, yelled at her, and sometimes touched her but he never once sounded like he was about to kill her. "Did you see how Shen Qui was treated by everyone else?" Long Yi''s words echoed inside her ears. "Did you see how Santa greeted him and Lyca like they were close?" He suddenly pulled her towards the powder room just a few feet away from the exit of the second floor.


    "Yi, you are hurting me!" Huang Xiaoxuan said when Long Yi held her neck, slowly tightening his hands around her slender flesh. "Please let me go."


    "Did you even see how respectful Santa was to Shen Qui? He fucking adored him and Lyca! Do you think that is something Santa would do to a fucking nobody?" While Long Yi doesn''t know Shen Qui''s connection to Santa, he was nning to be careful about all this. Right now, they needed Santa''s help in the ck market in Kong City that is connected to the neighboring Ralia City.


    He needed Santa''s connection now, especially that Santa had been trying to build a reputationtely. And yet this stupid woman just ruined everything. "Did you know why I would never like you?" he asked. Almost immediately tears started to stream down Huang Xiaoxuan''s cheeks. "It''s because you are nothing but a stupid cunt who wanted nothing but to have the best, so you can show off to your equally dense friends. When you knew that I was the heir of the Long Company, you didn''t hesitate to like me, even though our families were enemies. You are stupid and dense and yet, you try so hard to matter."


    "Yi, please can we just " Huang Xiaoxuan didn''t know which one actually hurt more. Long Yi''s words? Or his hand around her neck. "Please" She struggled to get out the words from her mouth.


    "When the Huang Family fell into chaos you immediately informed me that you would stand by my side. Despite your father pleading you to prioritize the Huang Family. You actually threatened him to offer marriage or you would kill yourself." Long Yiughed. "Look at you now? Did you think that your life would be easy with me?"


    Huang Xiaoxuan''s already pale face turned so white, she looked like a piece of paper. How did Long Yi know all the things that happened before her father proposed a marriage?


    "Xiaoxuan you are making yourself look like a clown. Your make up, wouldn''t hide the fact that you are empty. You only wanted someone to praise you and assure you that you are enough. When you already know that you aren''t. You are not enough, you are not smart and you are not beautiful. And I will make sure to remind you that you are nothing to me every single time until you kill yourself." He uttered before letting go of her neck. Smiling Long Yi looked at Huang Xiaoxuan on the floor. "You can never be here."


    "Yi Why do you hate me so much?"


    Long Yi narrowed his eyes on her but didn''t say another word. Instead, he waved his hand and smirked at her. Then he turned his back and opened the door of the powder room. "I won''t tell you." Long Yi said. "You will have to wonder why I hate you until the day you die." He chuckled before she heard him instruct his people to escort her to the car. "You are lucky, I didn''t kill you. It''s not like I want you to die by my hands." He gave her another look. "That would be too dirty." He said before walking away from her, leaving the crying Huang Xiaoxuan on the floor, alone, miserable and broken.


    How did this happen to her? Huang Xiaoxuan couldn''t help but trembled in fear when she recalled Long Yi''s cold eyes. Her only fault was loving him and that''s all she did. She changed because of him. She tried to change her dress, her nail polish, her hairstyle. She tried to look like Lyca and even started to act like her.


    She tried her best to attract Long Yi''s attention and yet the man still hated her.


    Why?

 Chapter 222: Mrs. Shen

    Chapter 222: Mrs. Shen


    "I wasn''t expecting that he would actually marry a woman like that." Santa beamed as he tilted his wine ss towards Shen Qui. Then he smiled at Lyca. "The Huang Family is too stupid for having that woman marry into the Long Family. If she was the one who wanted the marriage then all I can say is she was unlucky. Did you see his hand on her waist? He was hurting her." He leaned towards Lyca and whispered. "Your cousin might be abused and is not aware of it. Are you going to do something about it?"


    Lyca only smiled. That was Huang Xiaoxuan''s choice. That woman was crazy enough to want to marry the people who wanted to devour her family. It is better to let her face the consequences of her actions. She shrugged at Santa and said nothing. She couldn''t help but wonder if Huang Xiaoxuan would still love that man after all the abuse that he gave her.


    Is love really that blind?


    Her gaze turned towards Shen Qui who was now talking to Mr. Ma and another person who approached them.


    "You do know that the Mayor wouldn''t stop until he found out about the person who posted those photos, right?" Santa said in a low voice.


    "Unfortunate isn''t it?" Lyca grinned and watched the colorless liquid on her wine ss. Slowly, she moved the ss in a circr motion and watched as the liquid moved along with it. "People tend to protect the one they love, shower them with love and affection, spoil them. And think that was the right way to show that they love them. I say those people werezy."


    "Hm? Interesting notion."


    "Don''t you agree with me?" she lifted her gaze away from the ss and looked at Santa.


    "How did you know that?"


    "Well because I can rte." Lyca chuckled. If she had a daughter or son, she would probably give them everything that they want because she waszy. She wouldn''t want to spend too much time dealing with their tantrums. "This is why I wanted a hardworking husband."A mischievous smile escaped her lips. Since she doesn''t like working too hard, she needed someone opposite that would handle everything else.


    She knew this is not something other people would follow. She wasn''t exactly the model woman material, and she wasn''t nning on changing that.


    "Interesting." Santa started smiling. "Very interesting."His gazended at Shen Qui. Seeing the man preupied with his own thoughts, Lyca took this opportunity to find a ce to sit. She dragged her gown towards the table where the bartender was located and asked if he could give her a chair. Sadly, the only chair avable was the one inside the bar.


    Lyca sigh and used the table to support herself as she stoodzily. These events don''t really suit her. However, it was perfect for Shen Qui. The man was actually a social butterfly, joking and talking to the older businessmen as If they were really close.


    He was the exact opposite of her!


    Of course, she actually liked this fact.


    "Why are you here all by yourself?"


    Lyca turned to her right and wasn''t surprised to see Long Yi, standing with a gentle smile on his face. Sadly, all she can see was the smile of a devilish r*pist and someone who abuses women. She turned to look at Shen Qui to calm herself,pletely ignoring the man next to her.


    The best way to deal with a toxic person like this is to not deal with him at all.


    "Don''t tell me he wasn''t aware that events like this bore you?" Long Yi continued as he ignored Lyca''s tant action of ignoring him. He watched as Lyca took a sip of her champagne and recalled the night where Huang Xiaoxuan ended up sleeping with him instead of Lyca.


    If Huang Xiaoxuan didn''t intervene that night, Long Yi was sure that Lyca would have been his wife now. He immediately shook the negative thoughts in his mind and continued smiling at Lyca. "It''s been three years," he stated. "How have you been?"


    Of course, Lyca didn''t answer him. He can talk all he wants and Lyca would act as if he doesn''t exist. It''s either that or she kills him which is something she wouldn''t do in front of this many people.


    "Alright I get it. You are upset." Long Yi continued before he got himself another ss of alcoholic beverage. "The Huang Family went down. Your grandfather was poisoned. Though he was still alive, he won''t be able to move his body again. It''s been three years and the only reason why he was alive is that of our kindness." He took a sip of his whiskey. "You should be thankful we never had the intention of killing anyone rted to you." He calmly said.


    Lyca squinted but maintained her silence. Seeing this, Long Yi went silent for a few seconds as he stared at her side profile. "Heard you actually married him? A nobody?"


    This time, Lyca turned her head towards him. Her eyes met his before her gaze traveled towards his neck, then towards his body and toes before lifting her gaze back to his eyes. "Compared to him" She smirked. "You are the nobody." Then she dragged her gaze towards her husband. She met Shen Qui''s gaze, and for a few seconds, she saw a worried look in his eyes. She gave the man a mischievous wink, silently assuring him that she could handle Long Yi.


    She heard Long Yi snort.


    "You think we areparable?" he asked.


    "No. You are notparable." She answered almost immediately and nodded. How could she evenpare a man who wouldn''t hesitate to take advantage of a woman of his own personal goals to a man like Shen Qui to her rough and soft, Shen Qui?


    Long Yi took another sip and smiled. "At least... you are perfectly aware of that. Listen Lyca"


    "It''s Mrs. Shen." Lyca interrupted him. "Call me... Mrs. Shen."

 Chapter 223: Foolishly Ever After

    Chapter 223: Foolishly Ever After


    "Mrs. Shen." Long Yi answered. "Doesn''t suit you."


    "It''s better than Mrs. Long." She beamed when she saw the changes in his face.


    "You do understand that we have your parents I have your parents. Their life is "


    "You do understand that threatening me would not do you any good, right?" Lyca interrupted him again. "In the first ce, doing that to my family was a very bad choice on your part."


    "So, you don''t care about your parents?" Long Yi uttered. Why would Lyca show herself here knowing that he, too, would show up in this event? This could only mean that Lyca doesn''t care about her parents. She wouldn''t care if he used them against her. Such a cold-hearted woman.


    "I care about them," Lyca answered. Her gaze was now on Shen Qui.


    "I know. And that is why you showed yourself so you coulde with me to see them after the event."


    "How foolish," Lyca uttered. "Didn''t you think that I showed myself because I am no longer afraid that you would hurt them?" As expected, her words made Long Yi silent. Lyca snorted. "Mr. Long you are as foolish as your wife. I hope you and her live foolishly ever after." She said before she walked towards Shen Qui, leaving Long Yi on the table alone.


    But how could Long Yi allow Lyca to leave now? He followed her and grabbed her wrist, making her halt her steps. "You are bluffing." He hissed, his hand tight around her wrist. "There is no way that Huang Sheng Hong would be able to escape the prison that I personally put him in."


    "I agree." Lyca nodded. "He won''t be able to leave. If he was alone." Good thing he wasn''t. "Now, if you please. Let my hand go, or you will suffer a fate worse than death." There is no iota of emotion in Lyca''s eyes. Long Yi stared at her, unfazed at her threats. Would Lyca really dare hurt him in front of all these people? Just like him, Lyca and Shen Qui must be trying to get close to other investors.


    With these in mind, Long Yi tightened his hand around her wrist and attempted to pull her towards him. Lyca stared at the foolish man. He had known that Long Yi was really stupid, but she was expecting him to at least be a little smarter after working under his father for a few years.


    How disappointing. Lyca shook her head and used her other hand to touched Long Yi''s hand that was on her wrist. The needle from her bracelet immediately impaled the back of Long Yi''s palm. The small ache made Long Yi frown. He instinctively let go of Lyca''s wrist and took a step back, his eyes immediatelynded on the small wound at the back of his palm.


    "A needle," he hissed, eyes wide at Lyca. He knew that she uses poison and seeing some blood on his skin from Lyca''s needle doesn''t sound too good for him.


    "No harm intended. The poison would lessen your sperm count. It will give you less chance to have another child again. So you should take care of Huang Xiaoxuan more. After all, this might be your only chance to have a child with someone."


    "A poison that would " Long Yi''s brain seemed to stop working as he looked at Lyca, horror apparent on his face. He remembered that both Zhang Zhi and Xie Jun had this problem. The two people''s sperm count is not enough, their bodies are not producing enough sperm to give them a child.


    Then he remembered Lyca''s tablet that Xie Jun took on the university. All those poisonings that happened at the university. The impotence that most people experienced now. Was it possible that it was all Lyca''s doing? Everything that his friend experienced


    He watched as Lyca gave him a nonchnt smile before she examined her wrist. "Tsk. Seems like your grip is too tight. I might have some bruises tomorrow." She uttered. "You should know I don''t take stuff like this too well. I have the tendency to go all out when I know that I am fighting against a jerk like you." She calmly said. "So, tell me, Mr. Long. How would you like to die?"


    Long Yi felt goosebumps slithered in his body as he opened his mouth, wanting to tell her to screw herself. But his trembling lips seemed to remind him that talking back to a lunatic like this woman would be very bad.


    Lyca clicked her tongue. "Boring," she uttered before she turned her back and approached Shen Qui a few feet away from her. On the outside, her conversation with Long Yi was quick. He tried to stop her, but she asked him to let go of her, and he did. Everything was just too quick and wasn''t enough to attract the attention of the people around them.


    Seeing Lyca stood next to Shen Qui, Long Yi''s mood turned worst. He approached the bar and ordered another mixed drink with high alcohol content and downed it like a ss of water. Anger and frustrations swirled inside his head as he thought carefully of Lyca''s words.


    He gritted his teeth and left the hall. Then he immediately called the people that were guarding Lyca''s parents. Sadly for him, everything was a little toote. No one was answering his calls. He tried to call his father but for some reason, his calls were not getting through!


    After a few minutes of trying, Long Yi finally reached someone. It was his father''s secretary who is currently in his own house. The secretary only informed him that his father was already in the mansion. Frustrated, Long Yi held his phone so tight. He wanted to scream and cursed, but he couldn''t act like that knowing other people might see him.


    He carefully thought of Lyca''s words and before he decided to just leave the event early. He needed to make sure that Lyca''s parents are still held captive. That is the only thing that they had against that woman!


    "You are back?" Huang Xiaoxuan was surprised to see Long Yi back in the car. "Is there something wrong?"


    "I tried calling your father to check Huang Sheng Hong. He isn''t picking up. Do you know why?" Long Yi asked.


    "No, but "


    "What?"


    "I can try and call him."


    "Then do it! You f*cking" He paused when he remembered Lyca''s words about not being able to have a child again. If that woman is telling the truth, then Huang Xiaoxuan''s child is the only heir he would ever have. Unless he would find other ways to have a child. He red at Huang Xiaoxuan.


    Was Lyca forcing him to have a connection with Huang Xiaoxuan? Just the thought of it was enough to make him furious.


    .....


    Don''t forget to vote for the novel.

 Chapter 224: Old Man Huang

    Chapter 224: Old Man Huang


    Long Yi squinted at Huang Sheng Hong''s now vacant room. "Are you sure he just got out without hurting anyone?"he asked his own secretary. "What about the CCTV? What about his wife? I told you to make sure she cannot leave the house. Where is she now?" He immediately left the room and went out of the ground floor where Huang Xiaoxuan was waiting for him.


    "Did your father arrived at their house?"


    "Yes." Huang Xiaoxuan nodded before she bit her lips. "But but she was " she stammered when she saw the dark look on Long Yi''s face.


    "What?"


    "She was long gone. The guards at her ce were all dead."


    Long Yi squinted. He was about to tell Huang Xiaoxuan how this was all her fault when he remembered Lyca''s words about not being able to have another child again. His eyesnded on her stomach. For some reason, Lyca''s words seemed to remind him of something.


    Xie Jun and Zhang Zhi already had problems in this area but he wasn''t really diagnosed rather, he didn''t ask his doctors about his sperm count. It was just something that didn''t make any sense at that time. However, he remembered not having any protection every time he touched Huang Xiaoxuan in the past years.


    And yet, she just got pregnant a few months back. Was it possible that Long Yi shook the thoughts out of his head and realized that he had been off because of seeing Lyca.


    "What happened?" Patriarch Long''s voice scattered all the thoughts inside Long Yi''s head. He looked at his father whose unkempt clothes only made Long Yi''s mood worst. The man must have been with a woman again. The lipstick on his father''s neck only confirmed his suspicions.


    "They escaped." He wanted to tell him how he had been calling him for hours and how his secretary was trying to reach him. How he thought he was already dead, killed by Lyca and her people. Sadly for Long Yi, his father was still alive, enjoying another woman somewhere in this city.


    "They? Huang Sheng Hong?" Patriarch Long''s face instantly changed. "Do we have casualties?"


    "Not in this building but the people on Tang Nini''s property were all dead."


    Patriarch Long clicked his tongue, anger apparent on his face. "And you said you met Lyca?"


    "Yes, father. She was the one who told me about this escape."


    For a few seconds, the old man turned silent. Why would Lyca tip Long Yi of what was about to happen? His eyes slowlynded on the CCTV''s surrounding this part of the lobby. "Disable all the CCTV''s. Make our cybersecurity check the firewall make sure no one is watching us."


    "Father?" Long Yi stood there like a statue. "CCTV?"


    Realizing that his son was really not like him, the old man shook his head and gestured to follow him towards his office. The two didn''t say anything as they rode the elevator towards the top floor of the building. "Order a lockdown." The old man said. "That woman might be watching us now."


    Long Yi pursed his lips, eyebrows furrowed. "What do you mean?"


    "Why would she warn you about an escape? Does she want you to stop it? She wasn''t that stupid." The old man started calling his people who are experts in theputer. He wanted to make sure that everything is good on their end. "I would assume that she was able to infiltrate our security. That is the reason why Huang Sheng Hong was able to leave undetected." His father''s lips were set in a thin straight line. "Tell me everything that happened in the event." He said.


    Long Yi immediately started telling the old man everything. Of course, he didn''t include Lyca''s words about his sperm count. After all, this might make his father abandoned him as the heir of thepany.


    "So, she was already his wife? Since "Patriarch Long''s question was interrupted when his secretary came inside, telling them that they already got Lyca and Shen Qui''s file. "Tell us everything about them."


    "Shen Qui changed his name into Q and became the humble owner of a chain of restaurants and bars all around the region. But this does not include Long City. The other three cities all have branches of the restaurant and high-end clubs. They did this with the help of Santa Rivers. There was a Rumor that Q was married but no one had seen him with a woman for the past three years. Lyca or Xi just appeared out of nowhere a couple of months ago. The rumors said that she came back from abroad but we can''t prove it as there were no files of her leaving and arriving in the country. She probably used a fake name. We already started to check some of the airports CCTV for her image around the time that she appeared but it would take some time."


    "And they are already married?"


    "Yes, before she disappeared." The secretary promptly nodded at Long Yi."The marriage certificate was dated three years ago."


    "Can you see any connection in the ck market? Previously, I remember that Shen Qui was working under a big boss. This big boss should be Santa Rivers? Howe we didn''t know about this when we already know that he was in Kong City? Howe we still thought he was a nobody?" Patriarch Long prided himself in being very analytical. "Santa Rivers." He answered his own question. "I want you to check the guy out. I want to know how he became like this. I want to know everything about him."


    "Yes, Sir." The Secretary bowed before leaving the office.


    "Father why would you " Long Yi stopped talking when he saw his father''s eyes that were glued towards him. He didn''t miss the disappointment in the older man''s eyes. What could this mean? "Father- I "


    "You sure you want to ask me about Santa Rivers and not think about it on your own?" Patriarch Long sighed as he turned and look at the view of the city that he could see from the floor to ceiling windows of his office. There was a reason why Long Yi was still the vice-chairman. There was a reason why Patriarch Long was still hesitant to give him his seat and thepany. And that is because he was stupid.


    Hisck of analytical skills was something that even he, couldn''t understand. The patriarch thought that Long Yi could change this part of him. He put him in the Long Founding school of elites, hoping that he would develop some sort of scheming skills that he would need in the outside world.


    Turns out he was wrong. Long Yi didn''t improve at all. In fact, the man seemed to have be more stupid now that everything had been handed towards him. Long Yi''s train of thoughts had always been weird and the patriarch wasn''t proud of this.


    How did Long Yi be like this? His cruel nature was something that he inherited from the patriarch but howe he didn''t inherit his brains? Without him, Long Yi would be truly helpless.


    Did he do something wrong to have a son like this?


    "Father, she might be nning something. I believe we should kill Old Man Huang and " Long Yi made a deliberate pause when his father suddenly turned around and stared at him.


    "The old man. Is still here." Just as the realization hit him, the loud sound of an rm rung inside the whole building. The father and son immediately looked at each other and dashed outside of the office. The two immediately went back to the underground floor where the old man was kept inside the room as they monitor his body and make sure that Lyca or not anyone from the Huang Family could easily save him.


    "Report!" Patriarch Long said the moment one of his people approached him. "Tell me everything that happened here!" He looked at the mess in front of him. The room where the Huang Patriarch stayed was now in tatters. And he was talking about some real mess. He was certain that the reason why the rm sounded was because of the explosion that happened in this room.


    "Sir, it is not safe yet. Please leave this part of the underground as our people will make sure it''s safe." The man was wearing a white suit and a mask along with a few of his people. He respectfully bowed at Patriarch Long before he added. "This ce might copse because of the damages. I would advise you to use the emergency stairs to leave the ce. We will call the security after we put out the fire and check for any leaks."


    Patriarch Long nodded and followed their instructions. He eyed the two bodies that were on the floor covered with a white sheet. "Who are those?" He asked the person wearing a white suit.


    "Two nurses who were checking the patient. They must have triggered something as they checked the patient that''s why the explosion happened." The man answered before he instructed his people to put out the fire and make sure not to touch anything. This building was full of chemicals and have ab located just above this floor, it is always best to be more careful.

 Chapter 225: WALTZ

    Chapter 225: WALTZ


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    ...


    The Father and Son went back to the Lobby and talked to security. Then they started watching the CCTV feed of Huang Sheng Hong''s floor to examined everything that happened.


    "There was no sign that he left," Long Yi uttered while his father just continued watching the video. There was indeed no sign that the man left this floor. The door was still intact and it was only opened whenLong Yi arrived to check Huang Sheng Hong''s ce. What could have happened? How did they sneak Huang Sheng Hong out? Long Yi started frowning as he thought about the possibility of the CCTV''s being hacked. "Was it possible that we are only watching a loop?" he asked. "Like they "


    "I know what a loop is," his father said. Patriarch Long''s eyes were already squinted at the monitor. After he ordered a shutdown, the CCTV''s were turned off to avoid Lyca and Shen Qui from watching whatever it was that they were doing in the building. This also meant that they wouldn''t be able to see everything.


    "Sir, the people who will clean the explosion site just arrive they will "


    "Excuse me?" Patriarch Long and Long Yi said at the same time. Patriarch Long continued. "What do you mean?"


    "The people who will examine the explosion site just arrived and they are " The man wasn''t able to finish his sentence when the Patriarch suddenly shouted.


    "LOCKDOWN EVERY EXIT! Close every entrance too!" he bellowed, his face contorted into an ugly frowned. If the people who would clean the site just arrive then those people earlier should be the ones that were sneaking Old Man Huang and Huang Sheng Hong! He remembered the two bodies covered in white on the floor. He immediately assumed that those were nurses and he didn''t even check the bodies as he thought they were insignificant!


    "AHHHH!" The patriarch mmed his hands on theputer keyboard, damaging it. "That woman " His chest raised and fell as anger flooded inside his veins. This was the reason why Lyca warned Long Yi! This was the reason why she wanted them to know that she wasing!


    That Lyca wasn''t actually targeting the stupid Long Yi! She was targeting the smart Patriarch! She wanted the patriarch to over analyze everything and think that she was watching them! She wanted him to order his people to stop the feed, creating an immediate problem for them. Lyca was banking on the fact that the Patriarch would think she was hacking them!


    Then the explosion happened! That was the final part of her n! It was the part where she would let her father and Old man Huang leave the building using the explosion as the cover! If his guess was right then, Huang Sheng Hong never actually left the building in the first ce!


    He was here all along!


    Lyca made them think that he already left as she already rescued Tang Nini first! She even made a mess and killed a lot of people, making them think that the person who rescued Tang Nini was her husband! How could this be? How the hell did this woman think all of these things?


    "Check all the exits! They should still be inside of this building! I don''t think they were able to leave immediately after the explosion!" Those people in white were the people making sure that the Patriarch would stay alive while he was transported out of the building. Patriarch Long didn''t know how would she make those people transport an old man with a lot of tubes in him but he was certain it had something to do with those people wearing white! Those people might be doctors or experts!


    While the Patriarch was already stressing over this matter, Long Yi just stood there as he slowly analyzed everything. Slowly, he too, realized what was happening. "Father, does this mean that Lyca actually told me or warn me about the escape so she could fool you?"


    Of course, his father didn''t answer him. Why waste his time answering a question when Long Yi already knew the answer to that question? Seeing his father''s undivided attention towards his phone, Long Yi gritted his teeth. He could have avoided everything if he immediately realized what was happening just from Lyca''s words.


    While it was irritating to admit, Lyca actually yed them! She yed him and his father and everyone! She made them look like a f*cking fool! He clenched his jaws as he thought of Lyca''s smiling face.


    That woman!


    That woman needed to die!


    "Father I want to send Xiaoxuan abroad," he said after a long stretch of silence between the two.


    "Is this really the right time to discuss this matter now?" his father hissed.


    "I think she might target our family too after all, we were the ones who destroyed her family." Long Yi uttered. Right now, he needed Huang Xiaoxuan to stay away from all of this until he could confirm Lyca''s words about that wound. He needed to make sure that he would be able to produce an heir before he would decide what to do with the stupid Huang Xiaoxuan.


    "Do whatever you want." Patriarch Long uttered and went back to his phone. As expected, Long Yi''s priority is really different from his.


    "Boss, it seems that those people sessfully left the building in a ck van from gate three. We are already tracking the van." One of their people said.


    The patriarch balled his hands into tight fists. "Do everything and find them! That Lyca woman needed to learn a lesson! After all this, I want you to go to Kong City and " he made a deliberate pause before he slowly calms himself. That''s right, he needed to be logical about this. Judging from that woman''s crafty behavior, this won''t be thest time she would try and trick them into her crazy schemes.


    Of course, Lyca and Shen Qui were not even thinking about this. They are currently arguing. Not because of their n but because of dancing.


    "I already told you. I don''t know any dance. Especially not a waltz."


    "I told you just step into my foot. Trust me."


    "I am scared." Lyca could feel sweat trickling down her back. "I can''t dance."


    "You are scared of a dance?" Shen Qui only gave her a gentle smile. "I never thought that you would be scared of something."


    ''I am scared of a lot of things." Does this man think she was some robot who is not scared of something?


    "Like what?" How could a woman who kills people without batting an eyelid be scared of a dance?


    "I just I don''t dance." Lyca frowned. She hated dancing and anything that involves moving a lot except killing people. Lyca doesn''t have any other skills. No painting, no any form of art, no music, and definitely not dancing. She was a very boring person who prefers sleeping and now sex above everything else.


    How could this man just ask her to dance the waltz?


    WALTZ?


    The two heard the song ended and immediately stared at each other. The entire song was spent on them arguing about dancing in the middle of the dance floor as if they were the only person on the entire event.


    "Why do I think that you are a very good dancer?"


    "Why do you think that you are always right? That''s your opinion it''s not a fact." She sighed when Shen Qui only smiled and led her back to her table.


    "You do sword dance, right?"


    This question made her pause. She looked at him, squinting. How did he know that she knew sword dancing? Sensing the curiosity in his eyes, Shen Qui chuckled. "It has a sword. I know you know how to use a sword."


    "Oh. That made sense." Lyca nodded and sat next to Shen Qui. She looked at his side profile. "I know sword dance." She knew a lot of things when ites to weapons and killings. She practiced sword dancing when she was still in her previous world. She had never practiced a dance like that in this world.


    Lyca suddenly reached out to Shen Qui''s hands. Now that she thought about it, Shen Qui was really talented in a lot of aspects. Music, art, and dancing. Of course, his mind is also more into business stuff. While she well she was the opposite. Heh, why does she feel that Shen Qui doesn''t have too many benefits in marrying her?


    "I know what you''re thinking," he looked at her, leaning forward so he could whisper against her ears. "I think I am lucky to marry you." He added.


    Lyca leaned back and gave him a suspicious look. Lucky? Of course, he was lucky! He leaned towards him. "You better remember what you said today. I will use it against you if you try and divorce me."

 Chapter 226: Imbeciles!

    Chapter 226: Imbeciles!


    After the event, Lyca and Shen Qui immediately went home. None of them talked about what Lyca''s n was until they arrived inside their room.


    "Are they on their way now?" she asked. The n was for them to go abroad for a few months, let everything cool down before theye back and see her. This was because Lyca thought everything would soon be too chaotic. She wanted to keep her parents as safe as possible.


    "Father tried toin. He said he wanted to talk to you." Shen Qui said as he watched her change her clothes. Lyca just finished taking a bath and was about to change into her pajamas.


    "And?"


    "I told him, you will get emotional if you talk to him."


    Lyca sighed while shaking her head. She already expected a reaction like that. However, she can''t really talk to any of her parents right now. She wanted everything to be as safe as possible. She wanted them to arrive in a safe ce, without any distractions. She was certain that talking to them might be enough to stop them from leaving.


    Lyca knew that both of her parents adored her too much. The two would always choose to stay in this country and be close to her. Hearing her voice wouldn''t help this situation at all. "And grandfather?" she asked, frowning. It has been three years since the old man had been poisoned and yet, he was still alive. For some reason, Lyca felt that someone deliberately poisoned him to keep him alive.


    Someone who was targeting the person that could heal the poison. She squinted her eyes. That type of poison was pretty popr from her previous world. Yet, she wasn''t sure this was something popr in this world too. She had checked everything when she was still abroad and didn''t find that poison on the list of the most fatal poison in this world.


    Was it possible that someone from her world was able toe here?


    If that is the case, Lyca needed to be more careful in the near future. Her decision to use Lai Su as the creator of the things that she is nning to make was indeed the right now.


    "Alive," She Qui pulled her towards hisp as he sat on the couch just a few feet away from their king-size bed.


    "I prefer the bed." Lyca suddenly said as she handed him theb. "My hair is long. I need to cut it. I think I would look good in really short hair. It would be easier tob, easier to wash and to dry." Having long white hair was just too high maintenance for her.


    "Why do you worry so much about that? I have been watching your hair and drying it. Then Ib it and braid it." He startedbing her hair. "Of course, if you really want to cut it short, I can do it for you. If you want, I can shave your hair just remove everything. You would look good if you are bald too."


    "" she snorted. "I have been away looking for money and I arrived here with millions. And yet, you wanted to shave my hair off. I don''t get this. I think this is abuse." She uttered, smiling.


    Shen Qui chuckled and decided to drop the topic. He was smart enough to know that he would never win in this topic. Women areplicated. It is better to just kiss them once they start talking about stuff like this. So, he kissed the back of her neck. "You would look beautiful either way."


    "Hmph!" This man was really smart. Shen Qui knew when to tease her and when to stop. Isn''t that just perfect?


    "Aren''t you gonna asked me about the training?" Shen Qui said. Since Lyca arrived, she didn''t talk about anything else aside from what she wanted him to do to her.


    Of course, he happilyplied with her every demand. He started kissing her neck, his hand was stroking her waist.


    "How can I talk about them when you always do that?"


    "Do what?" His breath was hot against her skin. It made her tremble, anticipation started to build up inside her. His hand cupped her breast, kneading it and slowly ying with her pebbled nipples. She let out a soft moan.


    "That." She said softly as she closed her eyes.


    Heughed and stopped kissing her neck. To her disappointment, he withdrew his hands and hugged her instead. "So? You wanted to ask about them now?"


    "Those people are boring. Can we just do something else?" She stood and pulled him up and pushed him towards the bed, making him lie to his back as she sat on his hips, straddling her. He watched as amusement shed in his eyes.


    "Don''t you think it''s a little inappropriate that you think about something naughty in the middle of all this?" he lifted an eyebrow, waiting for her to rebut.


    "You mean sex?" she asked. "Isn''t that human nature?"


    He looked at her beautiful face.


    "Are you saying no to me?" she suddenly asked. Her words, however, only made himughed. His warmughter echoed inside her ears, making her heart skip a beat. Lyca squinted at him as she wondered why does hisughter seem to make her feel a little lighter, happier.


    "Can I really say no to you?"


    Her lips thinned before she shook her head. "No. You can''t." She said. He rested his hands on her small waist. She could already feel his erection against her core. Too bad, they were still wearing clothes.


    "I think, I have be a little naughty."


    "A little?" he chuckled. "You call this a little?"


    "Isn''t it?"


    "No. I don''t think this is still considered a little." Heughed when he saw her frowned at his words.


    "Alright. Alright." Lyca suddenly held her arms up as if she was trying to surrender from a fight. "I will ask. They are still alive right?"


    "Alive? Yes. But what kind of question is that?" heughed out loud. "Hogan said that the training was hellish. But no one is giving up. They already sent five people to the hospital but they always came back with more energy."


    "You look so proud."


    "I am proud of you." He said. "But you look disappointed?"


    "I only wanted twenty people. Since no one is giving up then I needed to create another training. More difficult this time."


    "Why do you want them to give up?"


    This time, Lyca turned silent. She stared at his eyes as she hesitated for a few seconds. "Because "


    "Hm? Because you are toozy to pick the best?"


    More like she was toozy to deal with more than twenty people. A sigh escaped Lyca''s lips. "Yeah, something like that." Another sigh escaped her lips before she suddenlyy next to him. Lyca buried her face on his neck and pulled him for a hug.


    "You don''t have to deal with them. You know that right?" he asked and she nodded in response. She closed her eyes and inhaled his scent. Her beingzy and wanting to bezy in this world is really messing up her mind. It seems that her dream was just getting farther and farther away from her.


    Would it stay a dream forever?


    Can someone like her really survive in this cruel  cruel world?


    "Hey, why don''t you tell me about the training. I can help you. You can stay here while I " Shen Qui didn''tplete his words when she shifted and moved away from him. For afew seconds, Lyca just silently stared at his face, as if she was trying to itch every small detail of his beautiful face into her head.


    "You are spoiling me." She stated.


    "Am I? I thought you are the one that''s spoiling me."


    "I can handle the training. I will visit them tomorrow." She said and moved on top of him again. "I think, right now. We have more pressing issues that we need to address."


    "What issue?" His brows furrowed at her words. "Did something happen?"


    Lyca only gave him a mischievous grin. "That issue," her gaze went towards his torso and into his stomach. "We needed to do something about that issue."


    Shen Qui chuckled. Soon after, the sounds of their moans and grunts echoed inside the room.


    ..


    Sadly, not everyone had the same blissful night as Shen Qui and Lyca. Currently, the mayor''s loud shouts echoed inside his study as he talked to some of his people over the phone. The Mayor wanted to take down the articles about his daughter but it seems that someone was working to keep it on the top search results of every social media and search engine in the world.


    The Mayor couldn''t help but cursed over and over again as he ended the call and threw his phone towards his assistant. "You are doing nothing about this!"


    "Mayor Mayor sir, I already "


    "SHUT UP!" The Mayor mmed his fist on top of his table. "Useless! Imbeciles! All of you are Imbeciles!" He felt his anger boiled inside him when he thought of Jessica. "How is she? Did she finally fell asleep?"


    "Yes, sir but that was only after the doctors used the strongest dose of medicines to make her calm down."


    "This is all Shen Qui''s fault!" he hissed. If Shen Qui didn''t show up tonight, then Jessica wouldn''t act like a stupid fool, embarrassing him in front of everyone!

 Chapter 227: Gold Coins and Dead Bodies

    Chapter 227: Gold Coins and Dead Bodies


    "That man needed to " The mayor paused when he realized that he could no longer threaten Shen Qui because right now, the Long Family are already aware that they were here. "Call someone from the Long family. Tell them I want to make a deal. I will ruin that Shen Qui for them!" However, his thoughts soon changed when he remembered how Jessica wanted to have that man for herself.


    "Tell me everything about Lyca." He added.


    "Lyca Huang is is she is the daughter of Huang Sheng Hong and Tang Nini from the Tang Family. She is" Slowly the secretary read all the information that they acquired about Lyca. "She disappeared three years ago and just arrived. They were hiding from the Long Family but they suddenly decided to show their selves in front of Long Yi, the heir of the Long Family."


    "Then call someone from the Long Family! If that woman disappears from Shen Qui''s side then it might help Jessica." It might even heal his daughter from this disease!


    Sadly, Long Yi and the Long Family wasn''t doing any better than the mayor. After realizing what Lyca did to fool them, Patriarch Long had an emergency meeting with his subordinates. This made the Mayor more furious. How could the Long Family not agree to his requests for a meeting?


    Since the mayor was not aware of the incident in the Long Company, he immediately concluded that Shen Qui might have done something to make the Long Family avoid him.


    ...


    Long Family Mansion. 4 am- A few hours after the explosion.


    "If she was in Kong City then we should go and confront her! What are we scared of? She already caused this much damage to us!" Huang Ying was fuming. The thought of Lyca being in this country again was enough to make her blood boil in anger. How could she forget all the things that Lyca did to her son?


    Right now, Zhang Zhi''s legs were useless. Moreover, the doctor said that he won''t be able to have his own children because of his disability that also damaged his reproductive system. Because of this, he lost his fiance and had been in a very bad mood all the time.


    Huang Ying could only watch as her son drink himself to sleep and suffered because of Lyca. "How long has it been? Three years? Three years of her, still walking around while my son." She gritted her teeth, her face turned scarlet, her hands balled into tight fists. "I will definitely kill that woman!"


    "Can you?" Huang Xiaoxuan''s father, Huang Li Duo said. "Since she is back, then it means she has ns. You dared to betray her before and now you were fuming because she retaliated? Are you this stupid? Did you expect her to hide forever?"


    "You "


    "Enough!" Patriarch Long''s voice interrupted Huang Ying''s words. "We shouldn''t fight against each other. We have amon enemy and that is Lyca Huang. She is someone from your family, an entity that hasn''t bothered us for thest three years. Now, that she is back, we should all work together to defeat her. She is still nothing. She might be a poisonous little snake but she was still a small snake. We could defeat her as long as we work together." A sinister glint shed in the patriarch''s eyes. He already knew that Huang Ying''s emotions towards Lyca were veryplicated.


    And he was nning to use this to make the Huang Family fight each other. Moreover, Huang Ying could always ask her husband who is from the Zhang Family to help her. If that happens, then Patriarch Long could just focus on rebuilding hispany for the uingpetition.


    He needed to win thispetition and bring more profits to hispany. This was the only reason why he wanted to manipte these people to help him ruin Lyca.


    "How?" Huang Ying immediately asked. She couldn''t stop herself. She had watched her son suffer and her husband staying farther and farther away from her because of what happened back then. She felt that her whole life had been ruin because of what Lyca did.


    That woman needed to die.


    "I would never live while that woman is still alive." Huang Ying hissed. "Tell me what you are nning to do!" she demanded. She couldn''t wait to torture that woman, skin her alive, and feed her flesh to the dogs!


    After the patriarch told them about his ns, he immediately told them that he needed time to rest. He sent them out while leaving the smart Huang Qingyun behind. To the Patriarch, the only smart one aside from Huang Sheng Hong was the youngest Huang Qingyun.


    The man doesn''t involve himself in any business aside from something that would benefit himself. A truly selfish man that wouldn''t hesitate to betray his father for his own benefits.


    "I already told you. I can''t keep on fighting against Lyca. She is smarter and stronger than I originally anticipated. Trying to kill her was like slitting one''s own throat. Huang Ying was fool enough to believe you because she was quite emotional. Huang Sheng Hong might agree with you because of Huang Xiaoxuan. Tsk. That man dotes of his daughter too much, he was only digging his own grave." Huang Qingyun said as he poured himself some whiskey from Patriarch Long''s bar. Then he walked towards the Patriarch and sat opposite him.


    "I have a proposal." The Patriarch uttered.


    "Would it benefit me?"


    "It will." Patriarch Long smiled. "I want you to convince Huang Ying and the whole Zhang Family to fight against Lyca. I have heard that Shen Qui actually owned a securitypany that turned into apany that investigates everything. I have a hunch that Lyca was nning to join the securitypetition in the Spring. I can''t let that happen." The Patriarch calmly said as he eyed his silent son that was sitting next to him. Patriarch Long couldn''t help but wonder if Long Yi understood his point.


    "There is no way of knowing who past the preliminaries?"


    The Patriarch shook his head. "No. It was private. No matter how much I tried to ask my contacts about it, they won''t give it to me." He took a sip of his own whiskey and crossed his leg over the other. "I want to weaken Lyca. I want the Zhang family and Lyca to fight while I watch."


    "So you are nning to weaken both the Zhang Family and Lyca Huang?" Huang Qingyun snorted. As expected, Patriarch Huang was really treacherous. The Zhang Family had been his family''s supporters since he started this crusade against the Huang Family. However, now that he finally got what he wanted, he wanted to weaken them so they won''t be a threat to him. What a cruel human.


    "You are smarter than I thought?" Surprised shed on the patriarch''s face before heughed. "The Zhang Family was not particrly strong. They weren''tposed of smart people either. However, they have been steadily growing because of my family. Their businesses and worth have improved. They needed to take a small break."


    "How small is small?" Huang Qingyun asked.


    "A billion dors of damages. That small." Patriarch Long is someone who would always prioritize his own family above the others. While he was close with the Zhang''s he felt that those people would immediately betray him once they knew that he had been having a lot of problemstely. He always knew that the Zhang''s were the people that would immediately abandon a sinking ship to save themselves.


    So, before those people could do something against him, he decided to use them to the fullest first. He was sure that Lyca would never go down without a nasty fight. Meaning, the woman would definitely retaliate once the Zhang''s would try and provoke her.


    Now, everyone knew that engaging in a n war would be very costly.


    Once the Zhangs and Lyca would fight against each other, Patriarch Long was nning to watch on the sidelines, pretending to help the Zhang''s while secretly killing their people and weakening them. Once they were already weak, the Zhang''s would then continue to rely on the Long Family and would never betray him.


    Call him cruel.


    But he would never value such friendships built over gold coins and dead bodies.


    "I think you are thinking too much about Lyca." Huang Qingyun said. "Did you really think she would be able to fight against the Zhang''s?"


    "Don''t underestimate her." Patriarch Long uttered. "That was my first mistake. She won''t be able to fight their armies, but she had poison and her peculiar methods. She could easily take advantage of her talent and attack them."


    "So, what happens if she killed everyone on the Zhang Family?"


    "That would exhaust her." Patriarch Long said. "Once that happens, we create a trap and sneak attack once she wasn''t ready." He said, without even considering that Lyca had another ace by her side. Everyone was too focused on her that theypletely forgot her husband.


    Shen Qui.


    And that would be the Patriarch''s second mistake.

 Chapter 228: Love… is a Mess

    Chapter 228: Love¡­ is a Mess


    Ralia City.


    Lyca on the other hand was just enjoying her life after stealing from Long Yi. Scratch that, Lyca wasn''t really stealing. It was a deal. Long Yi agreed to give her the money. Until now, Lyca couldn''t really stop herself from smiling.


    "Sunbathing? Really?"


    Lyca turned towards her left and stared at Rue who was walking towards theke. Shen Qi and her agreed toe to the mountain where everyone was doing their training. However, the moment Lyca arrived, she decided it would be good to visit that Lake again. The one that Shen Qui showed her.


    Isn''t it better to spend more time rxing and lying around, watching the sun? Shezily beamed at Rue before turning her head back to the sun. She stared at the sun using her dark shades before she closed her eyes and let the temperature soak her skin.


    It was already December, the cold from the forest, coupled with the wind contrasted the heating from the sun. "Tell me about the current temperature." Despite lying on the grass and staring at the sun for a few minutes now, Lyca was still wearing a ck leather jacket and equally ck pants and shirt.


    "Fifteen something."


    "No snow?" she asked. She loved the snow. Of course, she also knew that this part of the Xu Country doesn''t snow during the wintertime. It was still pretty cold though. Lyca was certain that the temperature would go down to at least two Celsius or something negative. There will be no snow but the air would be too cold. This would be apanied by winds and rains.


    "Nah. If you want snow go to the north." Rue sat next to her and looked at theke. "It took me an hour to find you here. How did you even find this ce?"


    "Qui''er," shezily said before yawning. "I want to buy the mountains and build a cabin somewhere here. I want to live in this ce until the day I die."


    "You arrived too early, not many people knew that you were already here. However, I already asked them to prepare themselves.


    "Hmm. How''s everything? Did someone die?"


    Rue rolled her eyes. "Those people survived abuse and living on the streets, don''t think too low of them."


    "The training was hard," Lyca said.


    "I won''t be able to finish a day of training," Rue said as she stared at Lyca''snguid position. Lyca was using her hand to support her head as sheid on the grass and stare at the sun. Rue sighed. "You sure, we can win this?"


    "We WILL win this." Lyca finally sat on the grass. She picked a small pebble and throw it towards theke. "Using the word CAN is like questioning our ability. We have the ability to win. It''s a matter of how and when." She shook her head. "I said too much. Now I feel too hungry. Do you want to catch a fish with me?"


    "What? No! I don''t know how to catch a fish."


    "I should probably let them catch a fish for me," Lyca mumbled as she stood and started walking back to the calm. "You here to tell me something?" she said.


    "Oh, yes! Yes! I  " Rue immediately followed Lyca. "We are having a problem. Some people are you know they are starting toin about the training. I think it would be good to kick them out."


    "Why?"


    "Because they startedining," Rue added. "They could create chaos and divide the whole group. Right now, thirty-two people are training with us and "


    "No," Lyca said as she kicked the rock, sending it towards the nearby tree. The loud sound of the rock hitting the tree was enough to make Rue stopped walking. She stared at the tree whose trunk was as thick as her leg and shivered when she saw the huge hole where the stone was stuck. She looked at Lyca, speechless.


    Seeing Rue walked next to her, Lyca put her hand behind her back. "Would you rather be feared? Or loved?" she suddenly asked.


    "You Is that ''The Prince?''" Rue asked. The Prince is a book that her twin brother used to read. Just like Lyca, he would sometimes ask her if she would rather be feared or loved. "Feared of course."


    "So you wanted people to follow you because they fear you?" Lyca asked.


    "Yes."


    "Hmm." That would exin why Rue immediately wanted her to kick some people out. This is the reason why Rue would prefer to stay in the background.


    "Why are you acting so mysterious, all of a sudden?" Rue asked, wondering why Lyca was just nodding to herself. "Would you prefer love, then?"


    "No," Lyca answered. "Love would give me obligation while fear would bound people to me because they are scared of a punishment."


    "Then?"


    "Nothing." Lyca shrugged. "I am nota leader." She was the wife of a leader. She was supposed to stay in bed all day and rest. Then enjoy the leader at night. "Aishhh this imagination is really making me want to kill people." She muttered in a low voice. Sadly, this world hasws.


    It wouldn''t allow her to kill her enemies in one go. That would be punishable byws and Lyca doesn''t want to spend her time running around from the authorities.


    She kicked another stone and sent it to another tree.


    "Hey, how do you do that?" Rue finally had the courage to asked. "I never see you practice outside before. No workouts either."


    "Oh, I work out every night, alright." She casually said.


    "Not that kind of work out! I meant something that would make you kick a pebble, like that."


    "Oh, it''s called Chakra. Superpowers."


    Rue pouted but never said a thing. How could Lyca still joke about stuff like that? "You should stop acting all mysterious. Doesn''t suit you."


    "Really? I thought I look good like this?"


    Surprisingly, Lyca''s words made Rue chuckle. At first, Rue wouldn''t deny that she actually doesn''t like Lyca. She doesn''t talk much and would just disappear and reappear as if she is not one of Shen Qui''s subordinates. At that time, Rue and Ronan thought that Lyca was just someone who is working under Shen Qui.


    Someone beautiful with a few skills who is also sleeping with the boss.


    Of course, they were now aware that they were wrong. Lyca was the boss and for some reason, she doesn''t like to act like one and would rather sleep and sit doing nothing. "Hey, I have a question."


    "Hm?"


    "You are the boss and also married to our boss." Rue started. "But thepanies name and all assets were under Q''s name. Doesn''t that scare you?"


    "Why would it scare me?"


    "You know I believe that we women should have something for ourselves. A property, our own bank ount, and stuff like that. So when men leave us, we won''t end up in the streets." She looked at Lyca''s side profile. "What if Q decided to like someone else? I mean we already know that there were women who would always try to seduce men like him."


    "Oh." Lyca frowned. The thought of Shen Qui choosing another woman over her never crossed her mind. But now that Rue asked about it, she realized that it somehow made her angry. Just the thought of it made her chest ache. "I will kill him."


    "Hm? What did you say?"


    "I will kill him if he betrays me." She uttered before thinking about what she did with Xu Ke. She really didn''t kill the man despite everything that happened in the past.


    "So, you are not worried because you can easily kill him. Wouldn''t that break your heart though? Killing someone that you love?"


    "Love" Lyca uttered. Can she really kill Shen Qui? She shrugged when she realized that the thought of killing him is really making her chest heavy. It was hurting her. She suddenly stopped walking and stared at her left hand. The ring that Shen Qui gave her silently sat under her scrutinizing gaze. "What is love?" she asked.


    "Hmmm. I think love is a force of nature. It''s unpredictable, you cannotmand it or control it. You cannot dictate how or when to feel it. It''s mysterious as the weather and the sr system." Rue shrugged. "But what do I know? It''s not like I have experienced love before. I mean I love my brother. I would take a bullet for him. But I have never felt anything special towards someone else. I think love is just you know it like a collection of some wholesome emotions that you can''t control. And since you can''t control it, it would make you vulnerable to other emotions like hurt, anger, and other destructive stuff."


    "Oh." Lyca turned silent before she nodded. "Then killing Q would hurt me." Killing someone she love would definitely hurt her.


    That''s right. She actually thought that she is starting to fall for him. She is starting to feel uncontroble emotions that are making her vulnerable to other emotions. Of course, this is not a bad thing.


    "Then? Would you still kill him if he betrays you?"


    "Yeah." Lyca nodded. "I already told him. I will kill him if he like someone else."


    "" Rue turned silent. "That is pretty messed up."


    Lyca beamed and met her gaze. "Love is a mess."

 Chapter 229: Trouble

    Chapter 229: Trouble


    Rue could only shake her head as the two continued walking back to the camp. When Lyca arrived, everyone was surprisingly already standing in rows. Their faces stern as they looked straight towards Hogan.


    "Tell them to run in the mountains," Lyca said. "Make the weight''s thirty this time." She looked at Hogan before turning her head towards the group of men and women in front of her. She immediately noticed the difference between their gazes to their posture. "Questions?" she asked.


    This time someone from the back raised his hand and announced his number. "Seven!" the man was a little shorter than number one but his body was definitely bulkier. "Miss Xi, please forgive me but I am wondering why are you giving us nothing but weights and just run back and forth towards the mountains."


    "You are questioning the training?" Lyca said calmly.


    "Yes, Maam."


    Surprised at the man''s honestly, Lyca smiled. "Come here. In front of everyone." She hated exining, so she chose to just show it instead. After all, action certainly speaks louder than words. She watched as the man approached her, his footsteps were obviously lighter, his movements more agile than when Lyca started the training.


    Lyca threw a dagger towards the man. "Stand twenty feet away from me. Threw the dagger towards my direction."


    For a few seconds, the man paused and stared at Lyca. "Miss Xi I "Seeing the man hesitate, Lyca clicked her tongue and threw another two daggers towards Hogan. "Threw the daggers at me."


    "Your body?" Hogan didn''t ask any questions. He stood twenty feet away from Lyca.


    "Yes."


    Without any hesitation, Hogan threw the first dagger towards Lyca. As someone who had worked with the special forces before Hogan was quite an expert when ites to knives and any other weapons. Handling a small knife was one of his expertise. Hogan''s posture and even his agile hands easily made everyone thought that he would definitely hit Lyca if he was taking the task seriously. Half of them immediately thought that this was all staged, while half of them thought that Hogan would not seriously try to target Lyca.


    The next thing they knew, the knife already hit the ground where Lyca was standing.


    Each and every one of them stilled when they notice that Lyca disappeared from where she was standing earlier!


    "She''s behind him!" someone from the back whispered. Almost immediately, everyone turned their heads towards Hogan, and just as they already expected, Lyca was indeed standing behind Hogan. A smile was on her face as he held another dagger against the old man''s thoughts.


    While everyone was still wondering what the hell happened, Lyca didn''t tarry. She stood next to Hogan and suddenly threw her dagger towards number seven. The movement seemed too fast, it looked like a blur to everyone else but to Lyca and Hogan, everything was really clear.


    Gasps echoed.


    It was as if the air stopped moving as everyone held their breaths. They didn''t understand what was happening, all they knew was that Lyca tried to attack someone with another dagger. Everyone was expecting the dagger to hit Number seven.


    Yet, another surprising thing happened.


    Number seven was able to move a few inches to his right,pletely avoiding the knife by a few inches.


    "You "


    "Without the training, you wouldn''t be able to avoid my knife," Lyca said while smiling at the ashen face of number seven. The weights are there to make everyone''s body lighter, their movements more agile and alert. It was that simple. And she knew that after that demonstration, everyone now understood the importance of the weights. "Make the weights forty." She said. "Two more days and we will start with weapons training. I will teach you "


    "Miss Xi! Miss Xi!"


    The sound of an older man''s voice echoed all throughout the campsite. It was followed by a few more voices of men that Lyca didn''t recognize. She frowned as she looked at the other side of the camp.


    She could already smell trouble brewing. She wondered what took these people too long toe in here and create trouble. But most importantly, why are they creating trouble when she was here?


    Can theye here when she wasn''t in the camp so she won''t have to deal with these people?


    Everything was just too hassle, ah.


    "What is it?" Hogan asked the man. Lyca remembered that this was one of the older people under Hogan who is making sure that supplies are delivered and that ambnce was always ready in case something bad happens to anyone here.


    "The nephew of the mayor here wanted us to leave. He said, he is having his annual shootingpetition a few kilometers away from here and he doesn''t want to injure anyone from the camp. He said everyone was wee to join thepetition." The man looked at Hogan then to Lyca. "Miss Xi, these people had been causing us trouble for a few days now. His people are constantly harassing our people who are transporting goods in and out of the camp. One time, they even dared to stop an ambnce froming inside."


    "Oh." Lyca eyed the four peopleing their way.


    "Are you the one in charge?" A blond man with a cross earring asked Hogan before turning his gaze to Lyca. "Oh, are you, Miss Xi, that everyone had been talking about?"


    "You are?" Lyca asked, ignoring the fact that the four men had been staring at her body like they were checking out meat that they were about to cook.


    "Oh, I am Luis Tan. I am the Mayor''s nephew. Nice to meet you." He walked towards Lyca and held his hand in front of her. "I never expected a woman to actuallye here and train people. You in the military or something?"


    "Or something."Lyca smiled. "I am Xi." She answered but didn''t shake the man''s hands. "Is there a problem?"


    Luis stared at her for a few seconds, wondering if she was not really nning to take his hands in front of his friends. He faked a smile. "Aren''t you going to shake my hand?"


    "No," Lyca uttered. She didn''t hide the irritation in her eyes. "Is there a problem?"


    "You "


    "Luis just tell her what you want. Clearly, you aren''t her type." One of the guysughed. "Come on."

 Chapter 230: Save my Woman!

    Chapter 230: Save my Woman!


    "This ce has been off-limits since we came here. Please leave the ce so we can continue our training." Hogan chimed in when he saw Lyca''s frown. Shen Qui already told him how Lyca would prefer showing more than telling. She would be toozy to talk and just end up resorting to violence to prove her point.


    Shen Qui promised him that this ce will be off-limits all throughout the training so there shouldn''t be any problems. This was also the reason why no one had been walking around this area since they started their training.


    "Eh? Luis, did they just tell us to leave? I think they misheard you. I thought everyone in this area recognized yourst name?" another man from the group said beforeughing. "Seems like you''re not as famous as you thought, huh."


    "Shut up!" Luis hissed before he looked at Hogan. "I already told you! There will be no training today! I needed to use this ce!"


    "Mr. Tan, there must be a misunderstanding here, we already obtained the permission of your uncle to use this ce," Hogan uttered. The Mayor of Ralia is a very close friend of Santa. So it would make sense for them to immediately get some permits in this area.


    "Hey Luis, this man just keeps on disrespecting you over and over. Should we just call your uncle?"


    Luis narrowed his eyes at Hogan. For a few seconds, he wondered if the man was seriously trying to offend someone like him. Then he turned his attention to the cold white-haired beauty in front of him. "White hair I have heard of people with white hair before." He changed the subject. Seeing Hogan''s confidence about the permits, Luis thought that the man must have connections, making him not fear his uncle.


    Calling his uncle right now in front of his friends might embarrass him more. So he decided to check with his uncle via text before calling him in front of his friends. "You are from abroad, right?" he smiled. "I mean, people from abroad love to see shootingpetitions, no? Why don''t you "


    "No." Lyca suddenly said. "Busy. Please leave."


    Frowning, Luis examined Lyca''s face before he snorted. It''s not like he hadn''t seen beautiful women before. In this city, a lot of beautiful women would immediately agree to be his woman. Why would he want someone who clearly doesn''t want him? Of course, the answer is pretty simple.


    Ego.


    Seeing Lyca not even spare him another nce after she introduced himself to hurt his pride. How could a mere woman treat him like that? "Let''s go." He uttered. "Just don''t me me if one or two of your people will suddenly go missing."


    Without waiting for Lyca to answer, he turned and left with his friends.


    "Did that man really just threatened us?" Cleo couldn''t help but ask. She just went out of her tent and the first thing she heard was some guy threatening them. She looked at Rue who quickly gave her a short summary of what happened.


    "Let him be," Lyca uttered. "Run, if his people will take you then you can only me yourself for not being able to defend yourself or not running fast enough." She said as a peculiar glint shed in her eyes. Seems like she could actually have some fun while she was here.


    Soon enough, Lyca watched as everyone left with a total of forty kilograms of weights on their bodies.


    "You wanted them to get kidnapped?" Rue asked her the moment she entered her tent.


    "No. I didn''t say that." Lyca smirked at her and ignored Rue''s other questions. Right now, her priority is actually her sleep. Last night, Shen Qui had been acting like a brutal caveman, she didn''t have enough rest. Lyca felt that she only had a few minutes of rest before Shen Qui told her that they were already leaving for Ralia to go to the camp.


    So, she immediately went to theke when she arrived, trying to find some private ce where she could sleep. That didn''t turn out so well either.


    Now, her only chance is sleeping in her tent.


    "Don''t disturb me. I am so exhausted, my body is about to burst." She said in a low voice as she closed her eyes and fell asleep.


    Sadly for Lyca, Rue woke her up after three hours of sleeping to tell her that someone was indeed taken. It was a woman, one of the people that they were training. Before Rue could even finish her words, number fifteen, Gu Cheng suddenly went inside her tent. The action made both women frowned.


    "Miss Xi! Miss Xi! Please I beg you! Save Junqi! Please!" Gu Cheng, the brilliant man whose girlfriend was Yan Junqi or number twenty-three knelled in front of Lyca''s bed before he kowtowed, his head hitting the ground with a thud. "Please Miss Xi! Save my woman!"


    "Junqi was taken?" Lyca looked at Rue. She remembered that Gu Cheng or number fifteen along with her girlfriend won the first challenge along with number one, Ma Ping. Then on the second trial, they had some sort of a fight because Gu Cheng was being so sweet. Aishhh tooplicated! Lyca couldn''t remember what happened back then. However, she knew that Yan Junqi was smart and strong.


    She seemed to be very different than other trainees too.


    "She and another woman were taken. Number twenty-three and nine." Rue answered calmly. ''Number fifteen, you know that barging into Miss Xi''s room was very inappropriate! Why did you "


    "Tell me the details." Lyca interrupted Rue. Just as she expected, Luis was indeed someone too stupid that would create some trouble for her. Well, it''s not like, she wasn''t expecting it. She intentionally provoked the person earlier so she could use him to train her people.


    Too bad, he was stupid enough not to see through her real n.


    ....


    Thank you so much for the support! Have a good day ahead!

 Chapter 231: An Evil Plan

    Chapter 231: An Evil n


    "Five men, it seems that they were all trained. They tried to take number nine, but Junqi intervened. So, they took her too," Rue uttered.


    "Did anyone saw this happened?"


    "I was about fifty meters away when it happened, I was trying to catch a snake so we could cook it for lunch. I tried to fight, but one of them tried to shoot me in the head. Luckily, he missed." Gu Cheng showed Lyca the bloody left side of his head. "It grazed my head, and I stumbled, falling into a small cliff."


    Lyca squinted at Gu Cheng''s current clothes, it was torn and shredded. If her guess was right, he didn''t just fell on a small cliff. "Did you break something?" she asked.


    "I " Gu Cheng lowered his gaze, avoiding Lyca''s eyes.


    "Take him to the first aid personnel, his right arm is dislocated." Lyca stood and walked out of her tent, the first thing that she immediately saw was number one''s furious face. Ma Ping. The known troublemaker would stab people who bullied his friends.


    It was only reasonable for him to get angry knowing two of his friends were taken.


    "Luis Tan wanted you to join thepetition with him. Alone." Cleo''s voice echoed behind her.


    "Bold," Lyca said, she walked past the tents and into the few people who were now sitting on the floor, exhausted. "The others?"


    "Still on their way. About fifteen people are already here." Hogan joined them. "Listen, I think we should let the boss handle this. Q is close friends with Santa. And we all know that Santa could easily fix this."


    "Why fix something not broken?"


    Lyca''s words made Hogan stopped walking. He furrowed his brows and looked at Lyca''s back. "Miss Xi, this it is extremely dangerous. We can''t just go in there and  Miss Xi "


    "Not we. I." She stood in front of the trainees and smiled. "I guess everyone knew what happened?" She watched as most people nodded their heads. "Number one!"


    "Yes, Maam!" Ma Ping stood as still as a statue a few feet away from Lyca. Even though he was carrying forty kilograms of weight, he didn''t show any signs of exhaustion at all. Lyca stared at his straight posture and now define muscles that she could clearly see under his wet white shirt.


    "Form a team of five people a total of six including you. Then you will rescue number twenty-three."


    Silence followed her words as the soft breeze of December made its presence known. "Number fifteen will also form a team of five people and rescue number nine."


    "Maam, Gu Cheng is"


    "His shoulders were dislocated. He will live." Lyca interrupted him. Moreover, Gu Cheng was smart. He doesn''t really need to personally go with them to aplish this mission. "Rue will equip you with cameras. Everyone will be recorded. You go in, go out and rescue. No killings."


    Ma Ping looked at Lyca for a few seconds, wondering if she was serious. Seeing this, Lyca continued. "Rue will give you the map of their camp. You have to determine where they took the hostage and rescue them."


    "Maam forgive me for asking this, but they took one of ours. Why are we not allowed to kill them?"


    "Because it''s daytime." Lyca shortly answered.


    She ced her hands behind her and looked at Rue then to Hogan. "I will give you an hour to formte a n, I will leave here after one hour to go to Luis and join theirpetition."


    "Miss Xi! That is a horrible idea! The boss will- " Hogan chimed in but Lyca only held her hand in front of the older man''s face.


    "Take me to Gu Cheng," Lyca said. After a few minutes, she finished exining to Gu Cheng her ns, and just as she expected thetter didn''t have anyints when he heard that the one in charge to rescue Yan Junqi is Ma Ping. After all, he was aware that Ma Ping is indeed the top of the ss.


    However, he was surprised to hear that Lyca wanted him to join this operation.


    "Do you understand what I was trying to say?" Lyca asked him after she told him that she would need him to use his brains instead of his body this time.


    "Yes, miss." Gu Cheng nodded. Seeing this, a satisfied smile slithered on Lyca''s lips.


    "Ah, that was quicker than I thought," Lyca said the moment she left the tent where Gu Cheng was staying. She was expecting to hear some questions from Gu Cheng but it seems these people have clearly changed when she was away. Gu Cheng didn''t even show any signs that he was doubting Lyca''s orders. It seems that the man had developed trust towards Ma Ping too.


    "Miss Xi "


    "Hogan." Lyca nodded at the old man. "This is part of the training."


    "But the boss "


    "Do you think I would lose in a shootingpetition?" she halted her steps.


    "No, it''s just that I have heard rumors about this group of people. They love ying with girls, making fun of them before they they would torture and r*pe them. There has been a lot of cases that involve them, but they came from rich families. With Luis'' uncle being the mayor in this city, their sins go unpunished. "


    "So, no one tried to offend him and his friends?" she asked.


    "They tried to file cases, but no one would act as a witness because of the Tan Families influence. Each case was dismissed."


    "Oh." She nodded and turned towards him. "So, they are just like me, huh. Bad people whose sins go unpunished." She chuckled at her own words. "Thank you for letting me know." Lyca continued walking towards her tent. Then she opened her phone and dialed Shen Qui''s number. "Hey, lover." she stated the moment he picked up the phone. "I have an evil n. You wanna hear about it?" she asked, a sinister glint shed in her eyes.

 Chapter 232: Defenseless

    Chapter 232: Defenseless


    "She ising?" Hao Fen, one of Luis'' friends narrowed his eyes. "You sure about this?"


    "My security took two of her women. Did you think she would call the police on us?" Luis snorted before he downed the whiskey in his hand. "The only thing I am not sure about is what to do with her. I absolutely like her hair. Do you think I should remove it from her head once she''s dead?"


    "Luis, she trains people. Did you think she would be defenseless?"


    "What are you so worried about? My guards are all experts. They are special forces." Luis onlyughed. "Remember what happened when we yed with that detectivest year? She''s an expert too, right?"


    "What was her name? Cindy? Quincy? Lacy?"


    "It''s Macy, you silly." Another one chimed in right after he finished snorting the white powder on the table. "How could you forget? You were the one who ravaged her."


    "Would she be alone? Did you check who she was though? You know, we don''t want trouble knocking on our doors."


    "Unknown. I mean did you think a young miss would train people in the middle of a forest?" Luis shrugged and looked at one of his bodyguards. "Where did you put thedies?"


    "Both were fighters so we had to separate them. One was in the third tent while the other was on the fifth one."The guard answered and watched as Luis gestured him to stay outside of their tent. The guard immediately nodded. Judging from the amount of cocaine on the table, it was obvious that Luis and his friends would once again be so high before that woman would arrive. The guard let out a sigh as he thought of the poor women that this group of rich people would tortureter.


    After a few more minutes, another guard came. This time, he announced that Lyca was here. Alone.


    The men immediately chuckled andughed. Luis couldn''t help but wonder if Lyca was really that brave toe here all by herself. Was she that confident that she would be able to beat the twenty guards following him around when he stays in this ce?


    "Luis, finish this as soon as you can. You know that the other people are alsoing in to join the fun tonight. We should "


    "I know!"Luis fixed his shirt and put on his shades before he walked out of the tent, a huge smile was on his face as he held both of his hands towards Lyca. "Hey, Hey, Hey!" he said in a throaty voice. Then he cleared his throat and moistened his dry lips. "I''m surprised that you actually came here alone."


    The smell of smoke, alcohol, and drugs made Lyca frown. Clearly, Luis was already high. "You wanted me to join apetition?" She looked at the tent where Luis came and immediately spotted his other friends inside.


    "Direct to the point?" Luis uttered. "It will start in a while. Why don''t youe inside first? Join us. You know so you could rx before we start."


    "Where are they?"


    "Hm? They?" Luis lifted an eyebrow, his phoenix eyes squinting. "Oh! They are at the back."


    Lyca calmly nodded before she nonchntly walked inside the tent.


    "Oh! Hohoho!" Hao Fen chuckled along with Luis and the two other men sitting on the couch inside the tent. "She''s brave."


    "You didn''t invite me here for thepetition right?" she looked at the men in front of her and realized that they were really too high. She was certain she won''t be able to have a decent conversation with them. Lyca rested her hands on her waist and sigh.


    Well, all she needed to do is stay here for at least twenty minutes and then she''s out.


    "Leave us!" Luis suddenly ordered the guard outside. "Stay as far away as possible." His eyes were already glued at Lyca''s neck. Then towards her white tank top that showed enough skin for him to get excited about what was hidden beneath the ck leather jacket that she was wearing.


    "I heard that you love r*ping women?" Lyca suddenly asked. Lyca was a scumbag. She was well aware of that. She was not considered a nice person nor she would im to be one. However, the thing that she always hated the most were men abusing women. She hated abusers, rap*sts, and all men who think they could take advantage of any woman just because they are stronger.


    This is why she decided to create a deep scheme against Long Yi and his heirs.


    "Eh? She knows?" one of the menughed. "Does this mean she was here because she wanted to " the manughed. "Oh! But where is the thrill in that? Hey, Luis if she''s not nning on fighting then I think we should just kill her. It would be a waste. If we wanted someone willing we would have paid some prostitutes, you know."


    Luis stared at Lyca''s calm expression before he startedughing. Seeing this Lyca let out a sigh. Ah, high people are really different. They tend to live in their own world, unafraid of everything, including death.


    This, of course, is not a very good thing. How could Lyca inflict pain against them when they can''t even feel one? This This is now bing a problem.


    "Hey, Luis why don''t we y a game, eh?" Lyca uttered. She didn''t hide the disappointment in her voice.


    "Game that involves taking off our clothes? I''m game!" One of the men said.


    "No." Lyca held her hand in front of her face. She pped her hands. One moment, she was holding nothing. The next moment, there were already small daggers on every finger in her hand.


    .....


    I am so sorry, I made a mistake. I used grammarly to check my work and identally posted the wrong one here. Someone messaged me about it.


    Have a wonderful day ahead and please don''t forget to vote for the novel.

 Chapter 233: Innovations

    Chapter 233: Innovations


    Trigger Warning: Mention of Drugs and Overdose.


    .........


    The group of four men looked at her hand before one of them chuckled. Then the small chuckle was followed by everyoneughing at her.


    "Ah? Didn''t know that you love ying with those things," someone uttered.


    "I thought it was fake?"


    "If it''s real, we can use it on her," someone from the group added.


    Lyca sigh. Seems like ying with high people was no fun at all. She eyed the drug on the table and put her hands behind her back as she returned the daggers on her jacket and got some powdery liquid from her bracelet.


    Seeing her approached the table, Luis leaned towards her. "You want some?" Lyca didn''t say anything, instead, she put her hand on the powder and held her hand against her nose. She frowned. Seems like the purity of the drug is about seventy percent. Lyca was certain that this wasn''t just some drug that they got from the streets.


    "Where did you get this?" she asked.


    "Why do you want to know?" Luis'' eyes were glued at Lyca''s chest before he dragged his gaze back at her eyes. "If you want, I can make a deal with you. But you have to give me something in return first."


    "How much was it?" she asked.


    "Not telling." This time, Hao Fen answered her. The man was still chuckling all by himself. Lyca couldn''t help but wonder if it was because of the knife.


    "Is this the highest quality that you can get from the market?"


    "That should be of the highest quality. You know chemists who knew how to make higher than that are really in demand." Luis beamed at her. "If you know what I mean."


    "Come on Luis! I am getting impatient. Can I have her now? Why don''t you get the two women from their tents? You know we can have some fun together."


    Lyca looked at the man who spoke. The man seemed younger than Luis and the others. His lecherous face doesn''t fit his perfectlybed hair and jade-like skin. Judging from everyone''s skin alone, Lyca could say that this man should be the newest member of the group. Or at least, the only one who just started using the drug.


    "What if I know someone who can make something better?" she asked. As expected, her words attracted everyone''s attention.


    "You know someone that could make more than seventy percent?" Hao Fen straightened and looked at her, his eyes filled with suspicions.


    "I do." Lyca shrugged before she showed them the small stic packet that she got from her bracelet. "This is one of her products. You can enjoy this tonight next time I will make you pay for it. This is extremely expensive and " before she could finish her sentence, Hao Fen already snatched the drug from her hand.


    The packet was really big. It was only about the size of a tea. And the powder inside was just enough for one greedy person like Hao Fen.


    Lyca watched as the man tore the packet and immediately snorted the powder.


    "How was it?" one of them asked.


    "Hmmm, This is " Hao Fen made a deliberate pause. "Good. Good." He then looked at Lyca and tried to grab her arm. However, Lyca was fast enough to take a step back and avoid him. "Where did you get it?"


    "Was it that good?" Luis chuckled. "Hey, Fen''er stop being too greedy!" His words were followed by hisughter. Then he suddenly stood from his seat and approached Lyca. "Give me one more." He held his hand towards one of the men. Almost immediately someone handed him a gun. "One more, or I will blow your brains out!"


    Lyca squinted. Seems like greed is also a problem with these people? She sighed inwardly. "I only have five of them I can give you "


    "I want everything!"Luis hissed. "Give us everything, and maybe, we will let your girls leave this ce alive."


    Lyca pursed her lips and let out another sigh. "Alright alright just don''t point that gun on me."


    "Hmph! At least she was smart enough to know that we could kill her!" Someone from the back said. "I thought she''s training people? Why was she so docile? I don''t like meek women, you know." He added, and the group once again fell into a puddle ofughter.


    "Aiyahyah" someone said. "Just give him what he wants. Luis had the tendency to you know identally pull the trigger sometimes. Especially when he is mad."


    "Just let them leave this ce safely," Lyca muttered, trying her best to look convincing enough. She looked at her watch and realized that not much time had passed since she arrived here. "Here this is all I have. I don''t carry that much. That is just for personal consumption."


    Luis grabbed the packets and turned towards his friends. He wasn''t really worried that Lyca would attack them as his people already checked her for weapons. She had no guns nor knives. This was why theyughed when they saw her with some small knives earlier.


    Just like his friends, Luis thought that they were hallucinating. After all, they were all high. Moreover, they were always aware that Luis'' guards would not make here inside without checking her for weapons. They even made sure that she doesn''t have her phone with her or any other device that she could use to record everything.


    Lyca just stood there and watched as the group busily snorted the powder that she personally made. These had the sameponents as ordinary cocaine except this was a bit concentrated. Lyca personally picked the coca that she wanted to use to make these. She had to travel to that ce to personally picked the leaves and learned how to processed them.


    Of course, Lyca added her own twist with the drug, making it dangerous instead of giving them the satisfaction that they needed. She watched as Luis and the othersughed in satisfaction and finished everything like a greedy pig. Lyca let out another sigh. She couldn''t help herself.


    She was feeling a little aggrieved right now, ah. Lyca felt that she had wasted some good products for pigs that she was about to ughter. Lyca looked around the tent and found herself a chair. Next to the chair were a few long firearms, some equipped with high-end telescopic sights. She was certain that they were military grade.


    A few other weapons were also on the table to her left. Knives and some handguns.


    These people were really clumsy and stupid, and yet, they are still alive, until now. What was wrong with this world?


    Lyca turned her back towards the four men who were nowughing all by themselves. Funny how different drugs could easily mess up someone''s system. She could only hope that these people wouldn''t die of an overdose. Or everything would be a waste.


    Well, it wouldn''t really turn into waste if she would give them something that would bnce the effects of the drug on their system. But she wasn''t nning to waste another one of the precious resources that she made when she studied abroad a few years ago.That was just a big No-No.


    Seeing the men ignore her, Lyca walked towards Luis and tapped his back. As expected, the man just continuedughing and ignored her. His body must have started to go numb right now. Lyca nodded in approval. Her own drug was designed to react to another drug in someone''s body.


    Meaning, it would work best when given to people that were already high. Lyca already had her suspicion earlier that these people would do some drugs right now. After all, they had the guts to take two women in front of witnesses during the day. It''s either, Luis was already high when he made the order, or he was just stupid.


    Lyca guessed it was both.


    Lyca then grabbed Luis'' phone that was next to the remaining powder on top of the table and used the man''s fingerprint to open it.


    This wasn''t originally part of Lyca''s n. Her n was actually to kill them kidding. Shen Qui would never agree to that stupid n.


    Her n was to torture them until they confess their crimes while she recorded everything live. It would have been good to let the public watch how his nephew would use his name over and over so he could get away with his crimes. Sadly, these people were already high when she arrived here, she doubts they would still feel any pain from her torture.


    So, she had to innovate.


    This was an impromptu n.


    She beamed as she recorded the men startedughing and snorting drugs. She even made sure to focus on each of their faces as they snorted more of the drug. After a few more minutes, Lyca called Shen Qui using Luis'' phone and asked him to make Ronan hack this phone, get all the files, and transfer it to aputer.


    Since Lyca was already innovating and doing something that wasn''t a part of her original n, she was already nning to use it to earn more enemies. Scratch that.


    She meant connections. Not enemies.

 Chapter 234: A Heart is a Muscle

    Chapter 234: A Heart is a Muscle


    Lyca let out a yawn as she stopped ying with her phone. She stopped lounging on the chair and stared at the four men who seemed to have gone mental, dancing around andughing. Looking at her watch, Lyca realized that the twenty minutes had now passed. Her people must havepleted the rescue.


    She couldn''t help but wonder if they seeded. It seems that the guards didn''t know what was happening, or they intentionally didn''t tell Luis and his friends. She looked at the four men and decided to wait for five more minutes before leaving this ce. She let out another yawn before she finally decided to turn off the video from Luis'' phone and send everything to Ronan.


    Then she stood and made sure to wipe the phone clean before leaving the tent without sparing the group of men another nce. These people are bound to have their own punishment soon. But again, she was sure that those punishments won''t happen during the day. Before leaving, Lyca made sure to put another chemical that would make these people stay in bed for a few days. She needed them away from this site.


    "Miss, why are you leaving?"


    "He asked me to leave." She shrugged and gestured the guard to go to the tent so he could see what was happening inside. She then continued walking towards the person who kept her phone earlier. It took Lyca ten minutes to finally convinced the guards that it was Luis who let her go.


    Of course, the guards didn''t really have any way of knowing what really happened inside. What they saw was the men dancing without any signs of distress. There were also no signs of fighting or signs that Lyca took anything from them.


    This action really surprised the guards. How could Lyca leave when  not one of the women that Luis liked came back before? However, without any proof that something bad happened, they could only let her go while wondering why she didn''t seem to be so concern about the two women that they took earlier.


    That was when they realized that there was something wrong with this current scenario. Lyca was supposed to be here to get those two women! So.


    "Sir, they escaped!" the person that they sent to check the woman announced as he tried to catch his breath. "The two of them. They were no longer there!"


    All of the guards stood frozen as they wondered what could have happened and howe those four didn''t seem to bother that Lyca left? However, they could only shake their heads in dismay. Without Luis'' orders, they really couldn''t do anything to Lyca or her people.


    When Lyca left the camp, she immediately went back to the camp with the others.


    "Jesus! You''re safe!" Cleo immediately pulled Lyca into a hug.


    "No hugging." Lyca patted the woman''s shoulders, but Cleo didn''t budge. Instead, she hugged Lyca tighter as she wondered howe Boss Q didn''te here. Why does it seem like the boss wasn''t so worried about Lyca? Isn''t it normal for a man to do these things to his beloved?


    "Xi, I am so d that nothing happened to you." While she knew that Lyca was very capable, she still thought it was a little careless for her to just go in there without any guns or knives, without any weapons at all.


    "No Hug," Lyca uttered, this time she slowly poked Cleo''s arms. "I''m alive," she added. It''s not like she went to fight against an army. Lyca was only there to sightsee, alright?


    After a couple more seconds, Cleo finally decided to let go.


    "How''s everything?" Lyca calmly said when she went inside Rue''s tent. This is where they kept Yan Junqi and number nine. She eyed the two women that were lying in a blue camping bed that everyone was using.


    "Drugged." Rue immediately chimed in. She stared at Lyca wondering if she would see a speck of blood on her clothes but soon realize it would be useless, she knew Lyca wouldn''t leave any evidence. "Did you kill them?" she asked, expecting Lyca to give her a simple nod. Instead, what she got was a confused look on Lyca''s face.


    "What do you mean?" Lyca said as she approached the two women and examined their pulses. She then clicked her tongue and looked at the confused Rue. "They''ll live. And the people that rescued them?"


    "Gu Cheng ended up the one with the n while Ma Ping didn''t. In the end, the two decided to work together. Use one n and they rescued the women in a few minutes." Rue said, frowning. She crossed her arm across her chest. "You didn''t kill them? Why?"


    Lyca lifted an eyebrow at Rue''s reaction. Then she remembered that Rue had some experience against men like these when she was younger.


    "Those men were pigs, Xi! How could you let them go?"


    "I didn''t." Lyca walked out of the tent, and the two women immediately followed her out.


    "What is that supposed to mean? You know that they were nning to do something to those two right? How could you just let them go, like that?" Rue said, her face turned red as she balled her hands into tight fists. "I know you are perfectly capable of killing them! How could you let them live another day?" She suddenly grabbed Lyca''s arms. "How could you "


    "I could kill them." Lyca stopped walking. "I wanted to." She said. "But that would mean, putting everyone''s life in danger. Would you want to see everyone here suffer just because I let my emotion get the best of me?" She calmly removed Rue''s hand on her arm. "I was nning to torture them until they confess their crimes. I am a woman, and I hated men like this. However, when I arrived, I realized they were too high. So I did what I thought would be best for everyone." To be honest, Lyca was a little thankful that she didn''t torture them.


    "But those people "


    "Listen, Rue" Lyca sigh. "Just because we are broken is okay." She stared at Rue, wondering when did she start to be like a guru who gives advice to people. Then she continued. "But always use your brain. Don''t let your emotions ruin you. Logic is everything." She pointed at Rue''s chest. "It is nothing but a muscle that pumps blood. Use your head." She uttered before walking towards Ma Ping and Gu Cheng, who was waiting for her.

 Chapter 235: Difference

    Chapter 235: Difference


    Lyca paused before she smiled. That was a lot. It seems that being serious wasn''t really her forte? Seeing Rue in a daze, she turned her back and walked towards the group of men and women waiting for her.


    "Hogan, tell me everything." She said.


    Hogan immediately told her about what happened. Apparently, the security wasn''t really that tight and focused their attention on guarding outside Luis and his friend''s tents. This was because they deemed Lyca as more dangerous than two drugged women who were already sleeping.


    So rescuing them wasn''t the problem at all.


    "They are alive." That''s was the only thing that Lyca said. "Even if you want to try and get your revenge, you won''t be able to. My guess is they are already in the hospital right now, being treated for trying to overdose themselves with drugs." Lyca said before she instructed Hogan to keep an eye on Ma Ping. This man was quite emotional so she was already expecting him to once again try to make people pay for hurting his friends.


    Just as Lyca expected, Ma Ping was indeed trying to find ways to leave the camp when the night came. He slowly made his way towards the exit of a small clearing that would lead him towards the exit of this area. It would lead him straight to the road where he was nning to find a ride so he could go to the hospital and get his revenge.


    "Hey, where are you going?"


    Ma Ping froze when he heard Gu Cheng''s voice. He looked towards the tent a few meters away from him. A few days ago, everyone was finally given their own space to sleep so right now, this camp was already full of different tents. "Nowhere. Go back to sleep." He hissed and continued walking. Ma Ping and Gu Cheng might be considered top of this batch but they never really get along with each other.


    This wasn''t somepetition but it was purely because of their difference. Gu Cheng was quiet and not friendly. He is not very talkative and would prefer to read books. Meanwhile, Ma Ping was the exact opposite. Moreover, Ma Ping thinks that this Gu Cheng was very sexist. He thought that Gu Cheng was looking down on women too much and would always use the excuse that their biological body is different.


    Gu Cheng believed that women were naturally weaker than men because of their bodies. Gu Cheng would call it natural and it was part of biology. To Ma Ping this reasoning was bullshit. Did this man saw Lyca handle a knife? Ma Ping was confident that Lyca could kill them in seconds. Of course, Ma Ping would use this argument against Gu Cheng but thetter would always say that in front of someone really strong, Lyca would be defeated.


    In the end, the two would always end up arguing about this matter.


    "You wanted to visit the hospital?" Of course, Gu Cheng used the word visit. "Can Ie?"


    "Why would youe with me? You are wounded. You will only slow me down."


    "But I am smarter than you. I can think of ways to "


    "Is this really the time for that?" Ma Ping stopped walking and look at Gu Cheng. "Who cares if you are smarter? Can you move and hide? With that arm of yours, I doubt it." He looked at Gu Cheng''s pale face.


    "But Junqi is "


    "I am not doing this for your girlfriend dummy! I am doing this for myself. Get over yourself!" Ma Ping was really simple. He wanted to make those people suffer to keep his promise to someone. He would never allow anyone to bully someone that he knew. As long as he is still alive, Ma Ping would never allow anyone to bully someone in front of him!


    He might not be as smart as this Gu Cheng but at least he is someone who always keeps his promise.


    "I aming with you."


    Ma Ping frown."Stupid. Go back to your tent or you can watch over your girlfriend!"


    "I said "


    "I am not letting youe with me. You are far too weak. You won''t be able to fight." He said. "Go back to your tent."


    "No. That man is a nephew of the mayor I am certain that people will notice you. I would "


    "I said NO!" this time, Ma Ping raised his voice and immediately realized his mistake. He pursed his lips and red at Gu Cheng. "If someone will see us, I would break your other arm."


    "Oh? You think I would let you hurt me?" Gu Cheng took a step back. He knew how impulsive Ma Ping was. He wouldn''t let this man hurt him.


    "Eh? You two sounded so brave."


    The two froze when they heard Lyca''s voice in front of them. They turned their heads towards the clearing and immediately notice Lyca calmly standing just a few feet away from them. They didn''t even notice the woman approached them! The two eyed each other and immediately understood that if Lyca wanted to hurt them, they would have been dead by now.


    "Miss Xi we uh " Ma Ping stuttered.


    "Miss Xi, we were only trying to practice the skills that you taught us earlier. We were trying to walk around and see if our footsteps are light enough." Gu Cheng immediately said.


    "Practice." Lyca nodded. "Did someone tell you that both of you were really bad at lying?" she chuckled. "You two looked really funny right now. Too bad, I am toozy tough."


    "Miss Xi... I..." Gu Cheng hesitated. He already knew that Lyca was smart enough to know that he was lying. "I just wanted to ask Ma Ping to apany me to the hospital so I could get my revenge. This wasn''t his fault at all." In Gu Cheng''s mind, it would be better if Lyca would punish him than Ma Ping. After all, Gu Cheng was already wounded. A little more pain wouldn''t matter.


    What was important was for Ma Ping to avoid punishment so he would still sneak out and get his revenge against those people who hurt Junqi.


    ....


    Thank you and don''t forget to vote for the novel.

 Chapter 236: Alone in the Cold

    Chapter 236: Alone in the Cold


    "Miss Xi, that is not true. I was the one who wanted to leave and woke him up on my way out." Ma Ping said.


    "I didn''t know that you were friends." Lyca gave the two a knowing smile. It seems that


    "We''re not!"


    "Absolutely not!"


    The two said almost at the same time. Lyca responded with a bemused smile. Seems like Ma Ping and Gu Cheng''s rtionship was better than she thought. "Alright, I will punish Yan Junqi." She beamed.


    "What?"


    "No!"


    Again, the two said at the same time.


    "You can punish me!"


    "You can punish me!"


    Lyca snorted. "Are you twins?"


    "No!"


    "No!"


    Lyca doesn''t need the lights to know that the two had a stubborn expression on their faces. "Alright, you can follow me." She said and turned towards the clearing. "Are you going to stand there forever?" she asked.


    Ma Ping and Gu Cheng stared at each other before they followed Lyca. The two kept quiet as they walked out of the forest and into a car that was already waiting for them.


    "At the back," Lyca said as she sat on the front seat.


    "Miss Xi "


    "Shut it, Gu Cheng. Just go inside." Ma Ping hissed and squinted his eyes when Gu Cheng red at him. "What? If you don''t want to go then don''t!" he said and went inside the ck sedan. Ma Ping eyed the driver that he didn''t recognize and wondered where was Lyca taking them.


    Are they going to the hospital and make that person suffer?


    "The four of them fell in aa a few minutes ago," Lyca uttered. "It won''t kill them. But drugs are extremely unpredictable so we can''t really say that they would survive." Lyca said as the car started moving.


    Ma Ping opened his mouth but before he could say anything, Gu Cheng already said. "Miss Xi, I have a question."


    "Hm?"


    "Why not just kill them?" Gu Cheng asked. By now, he had already calmed down from his confrontation with Ma Ping earlier.


    "Their deaths won''t give me anything." Aside from having the hate of the mayor. Luis'' death was just useless to her.


    "What about justice?" Ma Ping asked


    "Hm? What about it?" she asked. Is killing someone justice?


    "Those people hurt Yan Junqi!" Unable to stop himself, Gu Cheng hissed. He immediately lowered his head, regretting his outbursts. He really couldn''t understand why Lyca didn''t hurt them. Just like Ma Ping, he wanted to hurt those people because they hurt his loved on. What was wrong with killing someone who kills people?


    Lyca didn''t answer him. Of course, she understood why they wanted to kill those people however, after what happened in her other life, she believed that justice doesn''t necessarily mean killing someone. Living a worthless life would be considered enough punishment too. "Justice is nothing but a political concept." She said. Her own justice doesn''t involve those things. Not the death penalty. Not lifetime imprisonment with a chance of parole. Justice for her is making someone suffer just like how Zhang Zhi wouldn''t be able to walk again. Or how Xie Jun''s reproductive system would start to deteriorate. Or how Long Yi would raise a child that is not his.


    She snorted at that thought.


    "We are going to talk to his uncle," Lyca uttered. This was already an opportunity that was knocking on their doors, why would she let it get to waste?


    "The Mayor?" Ma Ping asked. "But " he was about to ask more questions when Lyca suddenly adjusted the passenger seat and let out a loud yawn.


    "It''s almost dawn. Too sleepy." She uttered. "You two can continue to talk about stuff. Will nap." She closed her eyes.


    The two stared at Lyca''s nonchnt position before eying each other. Going to the Mayor''s house when it was already twelve midnight doesn''t sound very ideal at all. Why was Lyca so rxed? Aren''t they going to a war or something?


    After a few minutes of silence, the car finally slowed down before it came to a full stop.


    "Miss Xi, we are here." The driver said. "Boss Q said that I needed to wait for you here."


    "Oh," Lyca sat back up. "Then see yah." She shrugged and walked out of the car. The soft breeze made her curse. She hated the cold no. What she actually hated was the fact that she was alone when it was this cold. What is happening with Shen Qui, and why was he so busy these days?


    Lyca uttered a few low curses. Shen Co. was about to go public with the stock exchange and that was the reason why he had been too busy. Still, this is making her a little grumpy. She let out another sigh and started walking towards the small forest that would lead them to the back of the mayor''s mansion.


    "Miss Xi"


    "So noisy!" she hissed and red at Ma Ping. "You are not as fast as me but your speed should be good enough. Follow me to avoid the CCTV and stopining or I will kill you!"


    She didn''t miss the expression of the two men that were obviously taller than her. Yet it made her feel like she was talking to children. "Why are you looking at me like that? Did you think, we would knock at the Mayor''s gate at this hour?"Really? Did they think she would announce her presence when it was already midnight? Who would do that?


    Without waiting for her response, Lyca started stretching. Suddenly, her legs sprang forward, leaving a speck of dust behind her. Both Ma Ping and Gu Cheng widened their eyes. For a few seconds, they thought they were hallucinating. How could a normal person ran like that?


    The two stared at each other before following behind Lyca. As expected, the two weren''t able to catch up with her despite having longer legs. After a couple of minutes, Lyca finally arrived in front of a thirty-foot concrete wall. She stood as straight as a statue, her back against the concrete wall as she eyed her watch and waited for the two people running behind her.


    "You werete by forty-seven seconds," Lyca uttered when they finally arrived. "Now I want you to climb in these walls."

 Chapter 237: A Decent Human Being

    Chapter 237: A Decent Human Being


    "Without ropes?" Ma Ping widened his eyes. Were they supposed to climb a tall and straight wall like a lizard? He looked at the wall then into Lyca. "How?" He wasn''t surprised to see her shrug.


    "You think about it. I will give you a minute to talk. After that, I will climb and leave you here so the guards could catch you and I could use you as bait."


    "You "


    "Hey, I think I have an idea." Gu Cheng uttered and pulled Ma Ping a few feet away from Lyca. Then he whispered something to Ma Ping''s ear. Seeing this, Lyca nce at her watch. After a few seconds, Lyca informed them that they can start now. The one minute is almost up and she only has about three minutes to stay here before the camera would turn on.


    The two looked at each other before they both run towards the nearest tree that should be about twelve feet away from the wall. However, its branches extend towards the wall decreasing the distance to three feet. Of course, this wasn''t a safe distance where someone could just jump without the fear of falling. After all, the tree is not as tall as the wall.


    One needed to be extremely agile and flexible to be able to reach the top of the wall with their hands.


    Since Ma Ping is more athletic than Gu Cheng, he was the one who would jump first and attempt to reach the top. Then, Gu Cheng could follow him. This time, Gu Cheng would try and hold his body and use it as adder. He would use Ma Ping''s body to be able to reach the top first.


    From there, he would then help Ma Ping climb by pulling him up.


    Lyca doesn''t need to know what their n was. Seeing the two concentrate on their task, she took a step back away from the wall. When she was already ten meters away from the wall, Lyca suddenly ran as fast as she could and climb on the wall without using any materials.


    At first, Lyca thought that she would fail. She couldn''t remember when was thest time she did something like this and she wasn''t so confident that she would be able to seed in one go. In fact, she even thought that she would use the same method as Ma Ping and Gu Cheng.


    Surprisingly, she didn''t fail.


    Kidding.


    Lyca failed.


    On her first try.


    However, she was toozy to climb a tree so she decided to increase the distance to twenty meters this time before trying to climb the wall again. This time she seeded.


    By the time Lyca reached the top, Ma Ping and Gu Cheng were already there waiting for her. She beamed at the two before suddenly jumping to the other side of the wall without saying anything.


    Ma Ping and Gu Cheng could only shake their heads at her behavior. Who would have thought that this woman is very carefree in missions like this? She didn''t even tell them her n! All she told them was the fact that she would talk to the mayor.


    "Ready?" Lyca said when Ma Ping and Gu Cheng arrived next to her. She was currently hiding in one of the bushes in the back garden of the mansion.


    "For what?"


    "Use your training," Lyca said.


    "To do what?" Gu Cheng asked.


    "To run on the walls. If someone sees you just run out of the mansion using this wall. And run as far as you can." She smiled before she started moving.


    The two just looked at each other, for the umpteenth time before they nodded as if silently making up their minds never to follow Lyca again without proper direction, entrance and exit n, and most importantly, the real reason why they came here. Of course, this was something that they would take back soon.


    .....


    A few minutester.


    Mayor Tan was someone with a lot of enemies.


    This is a fact that all of his subordinates knew. Because of this, the security inside his mansion was pretty tight. With more than fifty people surrounding the house, randomly checking every location, the mayor was confident that no one could easily sneak inside and try to kill him.


    Well tonight, the Mayor discovered that fifty men were not really enough to stop someone skillful in the art of assassination.


    The Mayor gulped as he stared at the man sitting a few feet away from his bed. He grabbed the sheet that covered his naked body and red at the woman''s two bodyguards who were standing next to the woman. "Who are you?" he asked the white-haired woman who was calmly drinking a wine that she got from his bar. "How dare youe in here and "


    "I am here to kill you." Lyca''s words were enough to shut the old man up. "Find something to cover yourself. I don''t want to see your stomach." She said and gestured to Ma Ping to get something to cover the mayor.


    "You you are here to kill me?" the Mayor stuttered.


    "If you won''t give me the rights to the mountain in the borders. I will kill you." Lyca said before she finished her wine. "I heard that this type of wine was already considered extinct. Last time I saw something like this was more than five years ago. It was good. Can I bring this with me?" she casually asked the mayor.


    The mayor fumed with anger. Not only is this woman bold enough toe here and tell him that he was about to die. She would also steal from him? And even dared to ask his permission like he was a decent human being?


    What kind of situation was this?


    .....


    Thank you so much for your support. Please don''t forget to vote for the novel. I am preparing for my next smut chapter so... hehehe.


    I just don''t make this an erot** novel so I decided to not write smut in thest 50 chapters. Hehehe.

 Chapter 238: Pedestal

    Chapter 238: Pedestal


    For a few seconds, the mayor stared at Lyca, frowning. He felt that he had seen Lyca before. However, he couldn''t seem to tell where and when. "If you want to kill me then just kill me! Stop talking nonsense!"


    Lyca only smiled at him. "Kidding." She beamed. "I am here to talk about business." She wasn''t very good at talking about business. But she couldn''t wait for Shen Qui.


    "BBusiness?" The Mayor tensed.


    "First, I want you to give me the rights in the mountain that we are upying right now."


    "You wanted to what?"


    "The rights. I want to own it. Make it private property." Lyca wanted a base where she could live in a cabin and she thought the mountain would be perfect for that.


    "That "


    "I heard some corporation wanted to buy it so they could build a mall? Cancel the deal and give the rights to me instead."


    The mayor frowned, wondering if the woman was out of her mind. "Are you Are you serious? You do know the process of doing something like that is "


    "Not my problem anymore." Lyca shrugged.


    The Mayor narrowed his eyes at Lyca. "Then you can just kill me! I can''t back out from a deal and "


    "I won''t kill you," Lyca uttered. "I would do worse." Death is like an ending. It is an easy way out.


    "Threats you think that would work on me?"


    "Why not?" Lyca shrugged and gestured Gu Cheng to put a sh drive on the mayor''s TV. "I heard your nephew was still unconscious?"


    "You " The Mayor never had his own children so, he had treated his nephew just like how he would treat his own child. In fact, the reason why he had been so stressed today was partly because of Luis'' current situation. He looked at the smirk on the woman''s face and wondered if she was going to threaten to kill Luis or hurt him while he was still at the hospital.


    If that happens, the mayor could easily increase the security and maybe even have him transferred to a private military facility in this city.


    "I heard that the mayor had the tendency to spoil his nephew."


    "If you are going to hurt my nephew, I will "


    "Oh No!"Lyca shook her head. "No. You got it wrong. I won''t hurt him. But if you won''t do what I want I would release this to the public." She smiled and turned towards the TV that was now ying that video that she took while she was at his tent. "You know your nephew had this habit of recording people, right? What are the odds that he actually recorded himself killing and doing inappropriate things to women? What were the odds that he was able to record a conversation between you and him, mostly about women? What were the "


    "You wanted to release the video!" the mayor gasped as the realization hit him. If these videos were released to the public then then.


    "Aiyah I already told you. I am here to kill you r career." She watched the video and silently apuded herself for being too smart in her words. Seeing the mayor paled as Luis started snorting the drug and dancing in front of the camera.


    "The evidence against him and you would be astounding. I say death was definitely worse than this. Would you like me to kill you instead?" Lyca asked. There was not a hint of mockery in her tone. It was as if, she was seriously asking him if he would choose death instead of this.


    The Mayor gulped. This is indeed worse than any kind of torture. Releasing the news to the public would not only kill his career in politics. It would also possibly put him and his nephew in prison. After all, public judgment is pretty strong these days. The public would never let him and his nephew go.


    Even if he would be able to avoid thewsuits, then what about Luis and his friends? Those people were also from influential families! If they knew that it was Luis who took all these videos, they would certainly do something to Luis and may even include the mayor to make sure that their actions to save their own sons from their crimes would not reach the public''s eyes.


    This could potentially create a huge problem!


    "So?" Lyca''s words woke him up from his stupor.


    "I can''t cancel the deal. Canceling it would "


    "Aish... I am not in politics for a reason." Lyca said. "You deal with it on your own. I just want the space for myself. You threatened them or ckmail them." Who cares about the method that this old man would use? All she wanted was her cabin where she could leave with Shen Qui!


    "You "


    "I will leave the sh drive to you, Mr. Mayor." Lyca walked towards the bar and grabbed a few wines. "I am watching your every move, old man. One wrong move and the video and pictures would suddenly appear out of nowhere." Turning towards the Mayor, Lyca started humming a tune from her previous world. Then she added, "I know you would probably ask the help of the Long Family. I mean you were one of the buyers of their bullets yes?"


    That was when the mayor realized where he saw the woman. "Miss Huang?"


    "Call me Xi," Lyca uttered. "Sounds better." Her nonchnce made the mayor confused. The woman was practically acting like she was walking in a park instead of acting like a crook. He stared at the white-haired woman as he recalled the disy that she showed everyone with her poisonous weapons. Sadly, not long after that, the Huang Family fell into the schemes of the Long Family. And fell from the pedestal.


    "You can, of course, try to call them and let them know I am after you." She walked towards the door that would lead her to the balcony. "You know so you can give me some reason not to be polite anymore."


    "Polite?" The Older man asked in disbelief. "You call this polite? You are a woman from an influential family and yet, here you are acting like a criminal! You still call this polite?" Now that he knew who Lyca is, the Mayor felt less scared of the little woman.

 Chapter 239: Benefits

    Chapter 239: Benefits


    "This is my polite approach." Lyca nodded. "If I wasn''t being polite, I wouldn''t wake you up before killing you." She shrugged. "Now I will give you a few seconds to decide. Thirty, twenty-nine"


    "Wait wait"


    "Twenty, neen"


    "WAIT!"


    "Ten, nine, eight" she held her phone in front of the mayor''s face, showing him the video with the button ''POST''.


    "ALRIGHT! Alright! Alright! I get it! I understand! I agree!"


    "Ah, I should have just used this type of threats earlier." Lyca smiled and put her phone in her pocket. "Now, you can, of course, inform Mr. Long, tell them I am sending my regards. Tell them to prepare for me. I wille back soon."


    "You "


    "But if you do that just know that the video will be posted online." She then waved towards the old man. "Ciao!"


    "Wait!" The Mayor suddenly said. "Just can you just let me say something?"


    "Hm?" Lyca looked at him.


    "If I mean I know that it wasn''t Long Yi who created those bullets." The Mayor tried to get out of his bed. "From those poisons alone, I know it was you who made it."


    Lyca lifted an eyebrow and gestured him to continue.


    "Well I want to make a deal."


    "Hm?"


    "I know that the Long Family is already talking about updating the bullet. They are trying to establish their name once again. If my guess was right, this should be because of you, right?"


    "Point?"


    "Well I want to directly buy "


    "Can you give me something I don''t have?" she decided to go straight to the point.


    "Support. I have I am sure you are already aware of this but Ralia and Long City have tunnels. I can give you ess and in return, I can buy some bullets from you. I can make the mountain yours and even give you permits for building an underground city that you could use. In return, I want to be one of the first people to have ess to the future products that you make." The Mayor said in one breath. Despite its current peaceful appearance, the Xu Country is very chaotic right now.


    This was because of the Capital''s two huge families that were trying to fight each other for power. The Shen''s and the Xu Family.


    Because of this, people far away from the capital are actually having a hard time living without using some illegal methods to survive. The country had been flooded with drugs, firearms, gang wars, and many other problems.


    As someone who had his share of enemies, the mayor was just thinking about the benefits in the long run. After all, this woman was extremely talented. She was a little mean and direct but most smart people are just like that!


    "Hmmm. I can think about it." Lyca wasn''t really a nner. Shen Qui should be better when ites to this stuff. Plus she is toozy to have transactions like this. It would be better to let Shen Qui handle everything. "My husband will reach out to you for the rights and my decision."


    The Mayor pursed his lips as he watched Lyca exit his room and walked out of the balcony. "Oh, your nephew did some nasty things." He trembled when he heard Lyca''s words before she jumped out of the balcony. "He will have a very hard time in the future." He heard her say.


    After making sure that Lyca was already gone, the mayor patted his chest and heaved a sigh of relief. He didn''t know the exact details of how Luis had offended that woman and to be honest, he doesn''t want to find out any more. It was useless. The mayor was already in his fifties and at this age, he already knew how to read some people''s facial expressions. In fact, he could say that he had mastered the art of reading people.


    And that woman He was sure that she already made her decision before she even walked inside his room.


    "Mayor! Mayor! Are you alright!?" the voice of his head security personnel woke him up from his stupor. He looked at the man''s stern expression. "For some reason, he had some problems with the CCTV earlier. I immediately decided toe here and make sure you are fine."


    "I am  good," he sighed. "How was Luis?"


    The man looked at the mayor and immediately thought that the mayor couldn''t sleep because of his nephew. "No news yet."


    "I understand." The Mayor clenched his jaws. "Tell me if anything unexpected happens."


    The guard nodded before he stared at the open door leading to the balcony. He wondered if the mayor just went outside to have some fresh air or


    "Also, call my assistant, I want to discuss some important things about the future of this City." While this City is not as chaotic as Kong City, there had been a lot of problems with some riotstely. However, this is not what he wanted to talk to his assistant.


    "Yes, sir." The guard nodded and immediately left the Mayor alone.


    .


    Meanwhile, Lyca was humming another tune as they finally left the Mayor''s mansion. This time, climbing the walls wasn''t as tedious as the previous one.


    "Miss Xi "


    "Boys." Lyca interrupted the talkative Ma Ping. The trio was now walking towards the car that was waiting for them. "You should learn how to think about the future. Benefits and the overall picture. I am tired. I need my sleep. Tomorrow, let''s visit Luis and his friends at the hospital."


    "But the training "


    "We are not going at daytime, silly." Lyca rolled her eyes. Why does she feel like she was teaching children how to do bad things? She side eyed the silent Gu Cheng. She could feel that thetter understood everything. "Gu Cheng! Exin everything to your number one," she yawned. Yep, she truly love smart people.


    ....


    Thank you for your support! Please don''t forget to vote for the novel.

 Chapter 240: Conspiracies

    Chapter 240: Conspiracies


    "Hey, where are you going?" Ma Ping couldn''t help but asked when Lyca suddenly went out of the car. He was certain that this is not yet a part of the area where the mountain was located. Moreover, they were in the middle of an intersection! Why would she


    "You go ahead, I have some things to attend to." Lyca waved her hand and continued walking towards the other car that was already waiting for them. "See youter." They heard Lyca uttered as she got inside another car.


    "Young Miss Good evening."


    Lyca eyed Yi''an''s pink pajama''s. "Since when did you start liking cute stuff?"


    "I just got off work."


    "Huh?" Lyca looked at her watch. "At two?"


    "I  One parent had an emergency and called me in the middle of the night. She had to bring her husband to the hospital and no one would watch her daughter."


    "Oh." She nodded, understanding shed in her eyes. "So, you yed a princess with a child."


    "That " Yi''an didn''t continue her words as she nodded and decided to focus her attention on the road instead.


    Seeing this, Lyca once again adjusted the seat and closed her eyes. "I''ll take a nap." She uttered. It would take them about an hour to reach Kong City. Lyca just wanted to surprise Shen Qui, so she asked Yi''an to drive her from Ralia back to the club where Shen Qui should be staying right now.


    "Young Miss "


    "Tell me when I wake up," Lyca said. She said as she started dozing off. Seeing this, Yi''an just shook her head inwardly. After a few minutes, Lyca finally arrived in Kong City. She immediately went to the club and realized that Shen Qui''s car wasn''t there. Seeing this, Lyca instructed Yi''an to drive her to the ranch. "Did you want to tell me something?" Lyca said, her eyes were on the road. For some reason, the fact that Shen Qui''s car wasn''t on the club made her a little worried.


    She wanted to call him but thought it would only spoil the surprise.


    "Our investigations about Mr. Shen''s family came back."


    "The final one?" Lyca asked. She had two investigations done about Shen Qui''s family. First was the one before she fell asleep. After Yi''an received the results, she just kept them and waited for Lyca to wake up. The second one was done after Lyca read the first report about Shen Qui''s real father.


    "Something fishy happened in the past. The main branch of the Shen Family lost the second daughter or the sister of the current head. Rumor has it that she died of an overdose. But no one really saw her body as they cremated it. Also, just as you concluded, the person that he called his uncle might not be his real uncle. It seems that the information that we got from your grandfather was wrong. Perhaps it was fabricated to avoid anyplications in the long run. Perhaps, they don''t want the Xu Family to know about Mr. Shen."


    Lyca stroked her chin. This report meant that Shen Qui''s knowledge about his parents might be wrong too. She pursed her lips. It seems that she needed to show him this report as soon as possible. She closed her eyes as she thought of the trigger that made her investigate the Shen Family in the Capital.


    On the outside, the Shen Family is not considered a very strong family. However, they control all the ports in Xu Country. When Lyca first read the report about Shen Qui''s mother being killed and him harmed by his father, she almost couldn''t believe it. But her grandfather assured her that it was true and that he already had his own investigations.


    Shen Qui is an illegitimate son from the Xu Family. ording to her grandfather''s reports, Shen Qui and his mother came from a small branch of the Shen Family in the Capital.


    His mother was a singer who caught the attention of the already engaged heir of the Xu Family. He started hanging out with her until she got pregnant. He told her that he would marry her but the marriage documents weren''t really submitted. Still, Shen Qui''s mother thought they were married.


    She stayed abroad to give birth to Shen Qui and came back hoping that the Xu Family would love the child. She was wrong.


    When she came back, the news of her beloved was the first news that she received. She tried to go to the Xu Family''s mansion but was met with some bodyguards who dragged her to the back of the mansion and imprisoned her with her child.


    For months, Shen Qui and his mother stayed in that room until his father finally remembered them. The documents ended with Shen Qui and the whole branch of the Shen Family being massacred, leaving him with a wound on his chest.


    He and his uncle were able to hide and survive that massacre. The two then tried to survive. Both lived in the streets for months as Shen Qui went to school. This time, they already changed his name to Shen Qui.


    The two experienced a difficult life until Lyca''s grandfather found them and hired his uncle.


    However, it seems that this was all false. It seems that the one who created this story was trying to hide something else? Were they trying to protect Shen Qui? "You know what?" Lyca made a deliberate pause as he recalled Shen Qui''s reverence towards his uncle who raised him. Lyca decided to tread carefully. She doesn''t really know theplete details. "Keep everything in a safe. And continue investigating the Shen Family."


    "Yes, ma''am." Yi''an nodded as she wondered why would the young miss want to dabble in something asplicated as this. The previous young miss that she knew doesn''t want to include herself in conspiracies and crazy theories. She was toozy to deal with that.


    However, this time, it was the young miss who wanted to know more about Mr. Shen. Was it possible that the young miss is starting to develop feelings towards Mr. Shen? Perhaps she was starting to see Mr. Shen as someone beyond this partnership?


    "We''re here?" Lyca eyed the gate of the ranch before she opened the door and started frowning. Did she just smell... blood?

 Chapter 241: Beyond Logic

    Chapter 241: Beyond Logic


    Lyca eyed the tire marks on the dusty road that would lead her to the house. The fact that there were no guards on the gate was enough to make all her sense alert. She squinted and gestured Yi''an to kill the engine. This area should be about two hundred meters away from the house that served as the entrance to the underground house.


    "Whose there?" A man''s gruff voice interrupted Lyca''s stupor. "Miss Xi?" the man halted his steps, his strict demeanorpletely vanished. "Miss Xi howe you''re here?" Lyca didn''t miss the panic in the man''s voice.


    "No one''s guarding the gates." She ignored his question and went back to the car. She might not know this person''s name but she was a bit familiar with his face. "Where are the others?"


    "That They " the man gulped. "We had an emergency."


    "Hmmm." Lyca went back to the car and gestured to Yi''an to get back inside. She needed to see Shen Qui. She eyed the man''s current appearance and didn''t miss the small speck of blood on the man''s jeans. Seeing this, Lyca calmly asked. "How many?" Lyca doesn''t need to ask any more questions to know that something bad had happened. No wonder the man seemed to urge her to leave early and go to the mountains for her training.


    Stupid Shen Qui.


    She couldn''t help but wonder if that was the reason why Shen Qui didn''t respond to her text and even Ronan seemed a bit preupied when he told her about the CCTV being disabled.


    "That What does Miss Xi mean?"


    "How many died?"


    "We " Again, a sh of concern can be seen in the man''s eyes. "I personally don''t know. But the boss was wounded and so were a few of his men."


    "And you left the gate open." Yi''an couldn''t help but say something. Why were they so careless?


    "This whole ce had camera''s on it. Instead of taking our people to the hospital, we took them here. All of us were pretty upied with helping them out of the car. Mr. Ronan told us that he would watch the gates.


    "Ronan" Lyca eyed the CCTV that was pointed their way. So, the man had been watching her since she arrived? "Good." Lyca nodded as she gritted her teeth. "Very Good." The thought of not knowing what the hell was happening was enough to infuriate her. It seems that Shen Qui didn''t want to get her involve?


    Such stupidity? How did he survive all these years?


    "We''re going."


    It didn''t take Lyca a few seconds to arrive in the two-story house. The moment she took a step out of her car, she immediately noticed Ronan outside waiting for them. Ignoring the man, Lyca tried to walk past him.


    "The Boss didn''t want to involve you."


    Lyca stopped walking and turned towards the calm Ronan. "Excuse me?"


    "He wouldn''t want you to see him like this."


    "Like what? Dying?" Lyca lifted an eyebrow. She could feel her anger about to burst. She felt like pping this man in front of her. When she saw Ronan''s reaction, Lyca snorted. "Tell me everything."


    "I can''t."


    "Yi''an give me your gun."


    "You won''t shoot me," Ronan said with confidence when Lyca pointed the gun at him.


    *BANG!*


    The loud sound echoed next to Ronan''s ears. "Tell me everything. I won''t repeat my words for the third time." Her face darkened when a few men arrived and pointed their own guns at Lyca.


    "I can''t." Ronan pursed his lips as he gestured the other guys to drop their guns. While Ronan and Rue knew that Lyca was the real boss, these people only knew her as Q''s woman. Since these men had worked with Ronan and Q longer than they knew Lyca, it is normal for them to feel defensive towards Ronan.


    "Next one''s going to your head," Lyca said.


    "You can kill me. But I promised him not to make you do something stupid when he is still unconscious."


    "I see." Lyca nodded. Seems like Ronan''s a very loyal assistant. "Then how about I kill them?" She suddenly pointed the gun to the man nearest to Ronan and pulled the trigger. Without any hesitation, Lyca aimed at the man''s arm.


    *BANG!*


    "AHHHH"


    "What the  "


    "What are you Are you fucking  " Ronan immediately run towards the man. "Drop your weapons!" he shouted at the few people who once again raised their guns at Lyca. He knew how dangerous the woman was. He couldn''t let them provoke her. "Help him up and leave us alone!"


    "But Boss Ron! She''s unstable! We can''t leave you here alone with that woman!"


    "What kind of woman would shoot her husband''s loyal people?" someone from the back asked.


    "A crazy one," Ronan uttered. "Just f*cking listen to me! Take him to "


    *BANG!*


    The loud sound made everyone froze.


    "Who told you that you can leave?" Lyca suddenly smiled. "You do know that I have ways to kill everyone here, yes?"


    "Can you f*cking calm down!?" Ronan yelled. "Don''t involve any people! Jesus! Stop pointing that to people! What the hell is wrong with you?" Q already warned him that Lyca can be a bit crazy. HOWEVER. This is not A BIT!


    There was nothing ''little'' in her actions. Q didn''t say that Lyca would suddenly attack people once she''s angry! Howe the boss didn''t warn him about this crazy woman?


    Lyca narrowed her beautiful eyes at Ronan. The cold breeze seemed to wake her up from her anger. She stared at everyone and wondered howe the thought of Shen Qui being unconscious made her so angry, she just wanted to kill everyone who failed to protect him.


    She gulped. Shen Qui doesn''t need any protection. Yet, her first instinct was to shot someone to punish them. Her temper got the better of her. "Speak!" she ordered. "Now!"


    Ronan gestured for someone to help the person that Lyca shot. "F*cking crazy," Ronan mumbled. Rue warned him beforehand that this woman doesn''t follow the logic. But this this just beyond logic.

 Chapter 242: Her Confession

    Chapter 242: Her Confession


    "Alright! Alright!" Ronan muttered. "Stop pointing your gun to people. Jesus. What the hell is wrong with you?"


    Lyca only tilted her head at the man. "Asking nicely wouldn''t work." She uttered. That was fairly obvious, no? "Now, talk."


    "Alright Alright just" Ronan stared at Lyca. They didn''t know that this woman would actuallye here at this hour! Even Rue didn''t tell him that Lyca would leave the camp! She was supposed to be safe in that ce! "Please follow me. We can''t talk here." He said as he walked towards the house. "Q is wounded. He is unconscious and he told me not to inform you before he lost his consciousness." He exined as he led her towards the elevator that would take them to the underground facility. He eyed Lyca''s stern expression as he wondered if she was here because Lai Su told her about what happened.


    As someone who seemed to worship the ground that Lyca is walking on, Lai Su should have ways to contact her in times like this. He greeted his teeth as he thought of what happened to Shen Qui.


    "It was the Mayor?" Lyca suddenly said. Lately, they have been running around offending a lot of people. However, it seems that the Mayor was the only one that would be capable of doing something like this in the middle of Shen Qui''s turf.


    "Yes."


    "And Santa?"


    "Q is slowly bing more powerful than Santa. He can''t help us when ites to stuff like this." Ronan said.


    "And yet you didn''t use the bullet. Did you?"


    "That " Ronan gulped. He and Rue had been aware of the special bullet that Lai Su made using Lyca''s form. However, Shen Qui refused to use this to avoid attracting some people.


    "Stupid." Lyca hissed before kicking the elevator door. She almost couldn''t contain her anger.


    "I will tell you everything in Q''s office." Ronan calmly said. To him, the current Lyca actually looked like an angry tigress. Saying something more would only anger her. And right now, another outburst was not really ideal. Especially after what she did outside of the house.


    After a few seconds, the three of them arrived in Shen Qui''s office.


    "How''s he?" Lyca asked as she sat on Shen Qui''s leather chair.


    "Alive. He will wake up soon. He didn''t have any major wounds but he lost a lot of blood." Ronan uttered.


    "How?" Lyca asked. She dreaded to hear the answer but she wanted to know if Shen Qui was stupid enough to sacrifice himself to save other people.


    "He saved " Ronan gulped when he saw Lyca''s dark face. Was she mad that the boss saved a few of their people?


    "Stupid." Lyca closed her eyes. Call her selfish but if she was Shen Qui, she wouldn''t save other people simply because he had been wounded before! Shen Qui must have felt a lot of pain growing up because of his wound but the man was still acting like a damn hero! How could he even think about saving anyone!?


    Why was he so kind? She really wanted to knock some sense into that man. "And the Mayor?"


    "My guess is he would try to turn the authorities against us. Probably work with the police to make some arrests. Basically, he would give us a hard time."


    "Seems like he Is already working with the Longs?" Lyca muttered to herself. Long Yi would want Shen Qui dead first. He would think that Shen Qui was the one running everything  which was actually true. Shen Qui is the one doing everything. Therefore, Lyca would never allow that man to die.


    She squinted before she suddenly stood.


    "Where are you going?" Ronan asked when Lyca started walking towards the door. "I don''t think you should see Q at this state."


    "I''m going to sleep," Lyca uttered. Why would she see someone as stupid as that man? "Not seeing him!" Just the fact that she was too angry right now is enough reason for her not to see Shen Qui. Who knows what kind of things would suddenly appear in her head once she sees him this weak? She walked out of the office, leaving Ronan inside Shen Qui''s office.


    "Was she always like this?" He turned towards the stern-faced Yi''an. In response, the woman shrugged.


    "She''s in love." She said in a low voice. When was thest time she saw Lyca this angry? NEVER. The Lyca that she knew never lose control of her emotions. True, she wasn''t the best nner but she always found ways to adapt to the current situation. However, earlier, Lyca became someone she had never seen before.


    She was too angry.


    Ronan pursed his lips in response. If love means being this angry then he would never want to fall in love.


    "She doesn''t know it yet," Yi''an added before she followed Lyca out of the room.


    ......


    Meanwhile, Lyca immediately removed her clothes and soak herself in the bathtub when she arrived in their room. She needed to rx and cool down. She knew that she lost her cool back then and she honestly doesn''t want to do it again. "Why are you here?" she asked Yi''an who was standing by the door of the bathroom.


    "Just making sure that you are alright," Yi''an said. She stood as still as a statue as she stared at Lyca. "Are you?"


    "He''s not dead," Lyca uttered. Of course, she would be fine. "I hate stupid people." She added.


    "Do you hate him?"


    Her question only made Lyca frowned. She red atYi''an. "I''m good. Please leave me alone." In response, Yi''an nodded and immediately left the room. The word ''please'' was enough to scare Yi''an away. After all, as Lyca always says, ''Never trust Polite people.''


    When Yi''an finally left, Lyca rested her head against the tub, her eyes closed as the frown in between her brows deepened. She doesn''t really hate Shen Qui. But his decision to keep her safe was just stupid. Did that man think she wouldn''t know something happened to him? Did he think Lyca wouldn''t leave the camp just because he told her not to?


    Then she opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling. Shen Qui must have feared that something would happen to her. He must have feared that she would feel asleep for years, again. Such stupidity! But how could she me him? How could she me someone who only wanted to keep her safe?


    "Aishhh."Lyca pped the water, creating a few sshing sounds that echoed inside the bathroom. This man is just. "Hey! Yi''an!" she yelled and almost immediately Yi''an appeared on the door.


    "Young Miss?"


    "I think I like Shen Qui."


    "" Then why was she telling her? Yi''an stared at Lyca as she wondered when did she tell her stuff like this. Their rtionship might seem close but they were always professional. They never really acted like sisters or even best friends. "That is fairly obvious."


    "It is?" Lyca lowered her head. "Really?"


    "Yes."


    "Oh." Lyca just kept on staring at her legs. "Then should I tell him?"


    Yi''an immediately cleared her throat. "I would never tell a man that I like him. I would prefer to wait for him to confess."


    "Oh?" Lyca finally lifted her gaze. "So, I should wait too?" Waiting sounds horrible. But then again, Shen Qui Is still unconscious. She needed to wait for him to wake up so he could confess that he liked her too. "WAIT!" Lyca suddenly held her right hand up as if she was raising her hand to ask a question to a teacher. "Why am I thinking about all this when he was dying?"


    "Ronan said he didn''t have any major injuries."


    "Oh," Lyca said. Sometimes, her thoughts were really peculiar. She sighed and turned silent. "So I should not confess?"


    "Young Miss may I say that is on my mind?"


    "Hmmm?"


    "I mean I was talking about my personal opinion. That was me. You are different. Moreover you two were already married, no?"


    Lyca froze. Did she just forget that they were already married? Why was she thinking that they were still dating? "We are already married." She nodded.


    "So, does it matter if you like him or not?" Yi''an pursed her lips. If she was Lyca she would never confess her feelings. However, Lyca was different. She was bold andzy and very different than a normal person. "I am sure young miss already knows the answer to her question," Yi''an added.


    "You know what?" Lyca nodded to herself. She was already married to this man. However, she thought she would never fall for someone as naive as Shen Qui. Rather, she thought she would never fall for another person again. She was wrong. "I will wait for him to wake up."


    "And? Will young miss confess?"


    "No. I will p him." Lyca uttered.


    .....................


    Thank you for your support. Please don''t forget to vote for the novel.

 Chapter 243: Causing Trouble

    Chapter 243: Causing Trouble


    "I um " Yi''an stared at Lyca''s newly found enthusiasm. Why does it seem that her initial suspicion about Lyca being in love was right and wrong at the same time?


    "Alright, you can leave me now," Lyca said as she waved her hand and submerge her head into the tub, the perfect temperature of the water immediately made her felt a little fresh. Smiling, Lyca took her sweet time in the bathroom before she finished taking a bath in the shower and changed into her pajamas. Feeling fresh, Lyca dried her hair before shey on the bed, hoping that she would at least have some sleep.


    Right now, Lyca was still a little irritated by Shen Qui''s actions. However, she decided not to think about that man anymore. At this point, this should be the most logical thing to do. She needed to stop thinking about him or his wounds or the pain that he was in when the bullet hit his body. She needed to stop thinking about his pale face, his expression before losing his consciousness, and every little f*cking thing about that man!


    "Aish!" Lyca sat on the bed and pped the covers. She couldn''t sleep. No matter how much she tried to open close her eyes and count bullets, she still couldn''t sleep. Of course, she knew that this doesn''t make any sense as she was really tired from what she did earlier. Lyca never had any decent sleep in thest twelve hours and here she was unable to fall asleep. She snorted and stood.


    Of course, she knew it was because of Shen Qui.


    Lyca grabbed some jacket and went out of her room. Then she walked towards theboratory which was only a few meters away from where Shen Qui was kept. Lyca was aware that this facility had an operating room but she never thought they would one day use it on Shen Qui the one who designed the ce. Sighing, Lyca continued walking until she reached the room where Shen Qui was staying.


    Shen Qui''s operation was already a sess and the man was set to wake up in a few hours. So, he was already kept in another room next to the operating room. Slowly, Lyca opened the door and was immediately assaulted with the thick smell of disinfectants and the beeping sound of some machine that was next to the only bed in the room.


    "Your awake?" Ronan said when he saw Lyca enter the room. He was sitting on the couch, next to him was a table where he put hisptop. "It''s already five in the morning."


    "Why are you here?"


    "Just making sure that I am here when he woke up," Ronan answered. "So I could tell him that his wife is a freak."


    Lyca rolled her eyes as she walked towards Shen Qui.


    "I thought you don''t want to see him? Then why are you "


    "Are you gay?" Lyca interrupted him as she held her hand and showed him the dagger that she was holding.


    "You "


    "Are you?"


    "What? Of course not!"


    "Then, you can stay here." Lyca shrugged and tucked the dagger back into her jacket.


    Ronan''s mouth fell. He really couldn''t understand how this woman''s mind works. Why would she even think he was gay? "I I will give you some time with him."


    "Don''t leave yet."


    "Why?" Ronan asked. Right now, he really didn''t know if he should fear Lyca''s unpredictability or just be thankful that she wasn''t his enemy.


    "How was the mayor?"


    "Which mayor? You have been offending a lot of mayorstely. Are you nning to make your own empire or something?" He wondered why Lyca was never afraid to offend someone in power. Does she had some weird hobbies about offending someone powerful? He tried to ask Shen Qui about this attitude but it seems that even the boss wasn''t aware why Lyca seemed too fearless.


    "All Mayors that I offended."


    "Well if you are talking about Mayor Dongfang then he is celebrating. He must have seen some videos of Shen Qui. He is currently with his women."


    "Does his daughter know this?"


    "No."


    "Then let her know," Lyca said, her eyes never left Shen Qui''s pale face.


    "Why?"


    Lyca sighed. "So, she could kill her own father."Mayor Dongfang was someone who spoiled his own daughter. He was in denial that his daughter suffered some mental illness and is trying to downy her attitude towards the world. He loved his daughter and is giving her everything that she wanted. What would the mayor feel if his daughter would hurt him because of Shen Qui?


    That would be something that Lyca wanted to see.


    "You think she would hurt her father because of the boss?"


    "Why not? She viewed Q as a thing. Something that she needed to own. The thrill of seeking something and not acquiring it is slowly changing her brain. She will get aggressive once she knew that her father was trying to get rid of Shen Qui to make her stable. Send her CCTV''s and recordings of the mayor celebrations and what happened to Shen Qui. Make her think he is dead."


    "That " That would be too cruel. Still, Ronan nodded. The Mayor deserved it anyway."What happens if she doesn''t kill him?"


    "She will start to rebel and insist on seeing Shen Qui. She will cause trouble and while the mayor is upied, I can sneak in and make him suffer."


    Ronan pursed his lips. He didn''t miss the venom in Lyca''s words. "Alright." Once again, he opened hisptop and started typing a series of codes. For a few minutes, both Lyca and Ronan fell silent. Ronan was doing his best to avenge Shen Qui while Lyca was just staring nkly at the man lying on the bed.


    "Do you want to know about the other mayor?" Ronan broke the silence. In response, Lyca nodded. "Well" Ronan said, his hands were still on the keyboard. "He didn''t call the Long''s and I believe he really wanted to have that deal with you. He is also working on the rights of the mountain."

 Chapter 244: Weak

    Chapter 244: Weak


    "Alright. I will take care of the Long Family," Lyca said.


    "You sure about that?"


    "Hmm," she nodded. This was the original n. However, she got distracted by Shen Qui''s abs. She made a mental note not to get distracted in the future. She should just stare at his face.


    "Alright. I will go and have some rest first." Ronan uttered. Staring at Lyca, he already knew that the woman was only acting like she doesn''t care about Shen Qui. He knew that she would need as much time as she could with him. He stood and immediately walked out of the room, leaving Lyca just staring in a daze at her husband


    "How can you be so stupid?" Lyca''s voice was hoarse as she slowly reached out to hold his left hand. "Too careless Qui''er." She continued mumbling. "If this happens again, I will forbid you from going out ever again." Sighing, Lyca closed her eyes and started sharing her energy with him. She knew the process would exhaust her and would probably make her sleep for a day at most. However, Shen Qui needed to wake up soon.


    Lyca can''t run hispany, she dreaded working with other people and shecks the calmness that he had. She needed this man to wake up so she could curse him and reprimand him for trying to save another man''s life when he couldn''t save his own! Why was this man acting like the Male Lead of those TV series? "This doesn''t suit you." She uttered. "This doesn''t suit you at all. You don''t look good in bed, the hospital robe doesn''t look good in you, those tubes looked ugly, the machine is too noisy. This is not something that you want!"


    She continued using her energy to ease his pain and promote the healing of his wounded muscle. "I hate that you were too stupid and nice. How could you act like this when you have literally experienced the cruel world out there? Such a stupid man. How did I even like someone like you? I must be going crazy." Lyca continued talking to herself unaware that Shen Qui''s eyes were already open and was staring straight at her. Because Lyca had her eyes close, she didn''t see the reaction in her man''s eyes.


    "You really are too stupid. Once you wake up, I will kick your butt and make you sleep on the couch. No touching me too. That''s right, you can no longer touch me for a month. After making me worry and sad, you think you still had the privilege to touch me? Mr. Shen you should have thought about those things before you save other people." Lyca snorted. She could feel her face paling but she doesn''t care. She needed him to wake up.


    "How did I even like you? This doesn''t make any sense at all! You are too nice, too good for me. I feel like a ck speck in an item of white clothing. Man I really should stop liking you and keep this marriage professional." A sharp sigh escaped her lips. "Does a professional marriage even exists?" Alright, maybe that was too much. "Shen Qui, ah. If you won''t wake up if you really die You know what? Don''t you dare die! If you die I will cut your body into small little pieces and threw it all over the city! I will make sure to use dark arts on you and make your soul stay on earth forever! You won''t be able to reincarnate! I am telling you!" she said almost in one breath.


    "I will definitely punish you! So, you better wake up now! I know your body is better than most people. I know you heal faster too! Meaning" Lyca suddenly opened her eyes and stared at him. "You would wake up anytime soon"


    "I think even someone already dead woulde back to life because of your ramblings." Shen Qui gave a wry smile but soon frown when he saw Lyca''s pale face. "You " No wonder he started to feel that cold sensation that made him feel a lot better!


    "So, you are alive?" Lyca let go of Shen Qui''s arm and squinted her eyes on him. For some reason, her question only made Shen Qui smile. He couldn''t remember thest time that Lyca became this upset. But for some reason, it wasn''t enough to scare him. In fact, he felt a little happy to know that she was worried for him. "Just to be clear. I am not worried." Lyca cleared her throat as she lifted her chin and gave him a smug smile. She was really determined to punish this man because of his carelessness. "The only thing that I worry about is the fact that I don''t know how to run apany without your assistance. Other than that I am good."


    Shen Qui chuckled. "Yeah?"


    "Yeah. And for the record I am still mad at you. The fact that you are wounded is not an excuse for me to be nice to you."


    "You have be talkative." Shen Qui noted as he met her eyes. "Why are you so tense?"


    For a few seconds, Lyca froze. Tense? Who is tense? "I am not tense."


    "Really?"


    "Why are you mocking me?" she hissed. "Don''t forget, I can kill you anytime I want especially now that you are wounded and weak."


    "Weak?" heughed at that. "I could still go for a round or two you know."


    Lyca widened her beautiful eyes before she cleared her throat. "You should rest. I still have things that I needed to do. I will"


    "Aw! My chest" Shen Qui''s words interrupted Lyca. She stared at him. "Is there a problem? Was it your previous wound? I could call the doctor and " she paused when she realized that he was smiling at her. "Shen Qui... do you think, I would not hurt you because you were already hurt?" she red at him. How could he make this situation look like a joke and make her worry like this?


    ...........


    Don''t forget to vote for the novel.

 Chapter 245: Madness Called Love

    Chapter 245: Madness Called Love


    "You are being mean." Shen Quiined when Lyca suddenly pinched his wrist. "I am still wounded, you know."


    Lyca red at her man. "You got careless."


    Shen Qui smiled before he started coughing.


    "How could you act like a hero?" she asked. "Acting like a hero is tiresome." She remembered all the tv series that she watched. Every time, the hero would always end up wounded and bruised while the viin was justmanding people to beat up the viin. Of course, she wouldn''t want Shen Qui to be the viin either. After staring at Shen Qui for a few more seconds, Lyca finally decided to call the doctor and Ronan.


    The Doctor didn''t take too long to inform them that he is already safe which was a little surprising considering the amount of blood that Shen Qui lost. In the end, the doctor just gave Shen Qui a few more medicines that he needed to take for his recovery.


    "You were lucky, the bullet didn''t hit any major artery or organs." Ronan immediately said when the doctor left. However, Shen Qui was too engrossed as he stared at Lyca who was already sleeping on the couch. "Rue told me she''s different. I didn''t know it would be this different." Ronan muttered.


    "You can leave us."


    "Hm?"


    "She''s sleeping. Let''s talk when she wakes up."


    "Oh!" Ronan nodded when he realized that the wounded Shen Qui who was in the hospital bed was actually worried that their conversation would wake up the sleeping Lyca. Ronan stared at Lyca as he sighed inwardly and nodded."Alright I have some things to do anyway."


    "Hmmm." Shen Qui nodded, his gaze never left the woman who is silently sleeping. Then he smiled. "Turn off the lights on your way out."


    Ronan nodded in response. Love can do wonders to people he immediately told himself not to fell into this madness called love in the near future.


    ...............


    Meanwhile, Jessica was fuming as she gripped her phone tighter. Tears were already streaming down her face. She looked at the images on her phone again as she covered her mouth with her other hand. On the image was Shen Qui. He was clearly wounded. Clearly, these are some shots taken from a CCTV.


    She stood from her bed and walked out of her room.


    "Young Miss, I''m sorry but the mayor is not allowing you to leave the room." A tall man uttered the moment Jessica walked out of her room.


    "Where is he?" she asked. "Where is my father?"


    "There There is a celebration going on on the other side of the mansion. The Mayor and his people "


    "Why?"


    "That "


    "Why are they celebrating?" Almost immediately her brain spiraled out of control. Did Shen Qui die? She wasn''t even thinking about who sent her the video. Or the reasoning behind the action. All she knew was the fact that Shen Qui might have died. Is that why her father was celebrating?


    "I don''t  "


    "Did they kill someone?"


    "Young miss, I really don''t know." The guard said.


    "Then let me go and see my father."


    "But young miss, I can''t allow you to leave."


    "Just this once! I want to see my father!''


    "I''m sorry, Young Miss. The Mayor told us not to let you out no matter what happened." This was one of the Mayor''s orders. After the mayor tried his best to change the headlines about his daughter, the mayor is now doing everything to make the public forget about those images.


    Because of this, the mayor had been very busytely. He and a lot of people in this household saw how the mayor tried to clean his daughter''s reputation while he neglected some of his duties in the city. This had caused a lot of stress for the man. How could the guard do something that would only add more stress to the mayor?


    Jessica red at the man before she walked back inside her room. "AHHHHH!"


    When the guard heard Jessica''s voice he immediately froze. For a few seconds, he wondered if he should go inside. What if she was only acting? The Mayor clearly informed them about her habit of fooling her maids.


    "AHHHH Help!"


    But what if she was really in danger? With this in mind, the guard run inside the room only to feel a sudden pain behind his head. He had been fooled, the guard thought as he fell on the carpeted floor with a loud thud.


    "Stupid." Jessica hissed before she dropped themp next to the guard. Then she made sure to grab the keys to her room and lock it on the outside as she ran towards the other side of the mansion. How could she let her father celebrate with his men after killing Shen Qui?


    How could he let that man be happy while she was sad?


    Jessica gritted her teeth as she continued walking while avoiding some maids and guards that were walking in the hallway. Jessica''s familiarity in this household was the only reason why it was easy for her to navigate the area while avoiding everyone. After all, this was not the first time something like this happened.


    When she was a child, her father used to lock her inside her room or any small rooms and closets inside the mansion to punish her. At first, the small little Jessica would just cry and shout some apology to her father. Soon, she realized that these rooms actually had some sort of secret passages. Of course, this was not like the passages with secret rooms.


    This house was built tens of years ago when the time of ves was prettymon. If her guess was right these passages were built to help the ves steal some food for their families outside of the mansion.


    Since Jessica was a child, she had used these passages to get inside and outside of the mansion without his father knowing. Every time she did something, her father would immediately send her to one of these rooms and she would almost always sneak out. Too bad, these passages don''t extend to her room. Those servants were smart enough to avoid putting passages to the suite room and just put it near the stairs and the kitchen as well as the main hall where celebrations happen.


    After a few minutes of navigating through the passages, Jessica exited on one of the exits just below a stair. From here, Jessica would sneak inside her father''s office where she would wait for the man toe inside. Then she would punish him for taking away the man that she loved. Jessica immediately got into the Mayor''s study and found the gun that the Mayor was hiding below his table. Of course, she wasn''t nning on killing the mayor. A bullet to the mayor''s leg would be enough punishment for that man.


    Using the lighting and the bookshelves inside the room, Jessica easily concealed herself as she waited for the mayor to arrive.


    After a few minutes of waiting, the mayor indeed appeared inside the study. However, he was still with his men. So, Jessica chose to stay in her hiding ce and listen to their conversation.


    "You sure about that?" Mayor Dongfang asked a younger man who was wearing a blue turtleneck shirt and eyesses.


    "Of course. Anyone who lost that much blood would eventually die. Even if they would do some blood transfusion, there is no guarantee that he would survive."


    "Hmph! Then call the Long Family! Tell them toe here. Q is dead." The mayor''s words made Jessica held her breath, she immediately covered her mouth as tears welled in her eyes.


    "Mayor, I think we needed to wait for a few more hours before we call them. Our spies didn''t inform us about his death. All they said was an operation was already made. There is still a possibility that the man would wake up."


    The Mayor snorted. "He is still weak. Even if he wakes up, he wouldn''t be able to manage everything. I wanted us to swallow all of his businesses. Without him, Santa can''t do anything to us. I think I heard that Q just opened a jewelry store with some new gems that they just got from a shipment abroad? Why don''t we tag that as smuggled goods? Close the store down and have the gems for ourselves?"


    The man in the turtleneck squinted before he nodded. "That is indeed a very good idea. I will inform major "


    "So, this was the reason why you hurt Q?" Jessica''s hoarse voice immediately changed their expression. She walked out of the dark corner, sobbing. "You wanted more money, more of everything?"


    "Jessica what are you doing here?" The Mayor asked, his eyes were on the gun in his daughter''s hand. "Why do you have that gun? I already told you women are not supposed to hold guns. Come give it to me." He tried to maintain his calm expression as he ignored his daughter''s crazed expression. "Come hand it over and we can talk." He added.

 Chapter 246: Possessed

    Chapter 246: Possessed


    Six hourster.


    Lyca woke up to an aching head. She squeezed her eyes shut before jolting up on the couch. Her eyes immediately found Shen Qui''s bed. Shaking her head, Lyca sighed. It seems that she fell asleep on the couch while waiting for the doctors to finish checking Shen Qui. Was she that exhausted? Lyca slowly sat back down and stroke her waist. Turns out, sleeping on a couch wasn''t veryfortable at all.


    She then eyed the sleeping Shen Qui and smiled. Her heart was definitely happier and lighter right now that he is already awakepared tost night. A sigh left her lips. She remembered all the nonsense that she said before he woke up. Seems like a part of her didn''t want to remember those words, it was like she wanted to just bury her head so she wouldn''t have the chance to think about it. Lyca cringe then she used both of her hands to cover her face.


    How embarrassing!


    She didn''t know if something possessed her, perhaps a demon? Was it a spirit? Why was she acting so weird around Shen Qui? Why was she so tense when he woke up? And most importantly, why does she sound like a lovesick fool? She felt her face turn hot. She wondered if she already looked like a tomato right now.


    This is so embarrassing.


    Lyca immediately stood from the couch and left the room as silent as possible. Staying in the room would only make her more and more embarrassed.


    "You''re awake?"


    "Whoa!" Lyca jumped when she saw Ronan leaning against the wall just outside of Shen Qui''s room. "Didn''t see you there."


    "More like you were preupied."


    "Why are you here?" she asked.


    "To talk to Q. But since you wake up first, I will tell you the update about what really happenedst night."


    "Did he die?"


    "Who? Oh! The Mayor? No he didn''t."


    The two started walking towards Shen Qui''s office.


    "I just wanted to inform you that the people that we foundst night were not from the Mayor but from the Zhang Family. Basically, it was a shipment gone wrong. We were there to receive some important cargo. Well Q and I were at the club when we receive a call about some people who were trying to take the shipment. Of course, the name of the mayor was mentioned. So we initially thought it was him. Q had to personally go while I have to stay in the club. Just as they arrive, ten people ambushed them Seven died. Five of them were from the Zhang Family."


    "Zhang''s," Lyca uttered. "Seem like my aunt really wanted to die?"


    Ronan turned silent. He followed Lyca towards Shen Qui''s office and watch as she sat straight into Shen Qui''s leather chair.


    "I think I need to brush my teeth and take a bath before I decide on things. Or maybe not." Lyca mumbled.


    "" Ronan sighed inwardly. Yep. Lyca was definitely different from all women that he had met. However, contrary to the usual plot, Ronan decided not to fell into someone like Lyca. First, just her eyes alone were like a ma for trouble. Totally not her type.


    A crazy woman who is really unpredictable and fearless is definitely not something that he wants. "Did you just say that the Mayor survived?" Lyca asked him after a few seconds of mumbling to herself.


    "Yes. He got shot. Of course, the public doesn''t know about this yet. Apparently, he was shot when he had a meeting with an unknown person. Jessica was the main culprit. She had a breakdown and escaped from their mansion. Our people are already on high alert. She might try toe here. The mayor is fine. He is already awake and trying to do his best to find his daughter."


    "Hmmm. What a good father." Lyca shrugged. "I think it''s time that I have some conversation with him. I will visit the mayor." Lyca uttered. "Don''t let Q out of here! Even if he insists or threatened to kill you and everyone don''t let him out."


    "He won''t be able to walk yet. Not with those wounds."


    "Hmph! You underestimated me." Lyca uttered.


    "What does this have to do with you?" Ronan asked, confused. Alright, he really couldn''t understand Lyca.


    Lyca just snorted in response. Would a person like Ronan who is adept inputers and technology even believe in spiritual energy? "Just don''t let him out. If you  " she squinted. "If you let him out of this ce I will shoot your crotch."


    Ronan shivered when he saw Lyca''s eyes. "Why the hell are you staring at me like that? And stop threatening me! What makes you think that I would be able to stop him if he insists on leaving?"


    "Computers." Lyca shrugged. "I thought you are a genius? Find a way to use yourputers to stop him." She rolled her eyes. "Alright, it''s time that I brush my teeth and leave." She then walked out of the office and went to the master''s bedroom to take a quick bath and prepare herself. Today, she would visit the mayor, and ''kindly'' asked him about the Zhang Family. Then she would ''kindly'' end his misery.


    It is high time that Lyca cleaned this City up and make Santa the mayor. After all, they needed Santa to back them up against the Long. Of course, she wouldn''t make it too obvious. Perhaps a heart attack? Should she kill him with insulin? Or a staged suicide that would put the me on his daughter''s crazy behavior. Ah, if only they didn''t touch Shen Qui.


    If only, they just stayed away. They would have survived. They would surely fall from their pedestal with a wound or two but they would definitely live. However, after what they did, Lyca wasn''t nning to spare them anymore.


    Not when they hurt the man that she loved.


    Lyca paused as she stared at her reflection. Did she just


    Wait! Did she just think that she love Shen Qui?

 Chapter 247: Bed

    Chapter 247: Bed


    Lyca let out a surprised gasp. She loves him! That''s why she was so worried and tense and scared and in denial. Love. That is the only exnation for her crazy emotions. However,she decided not to think about these emotions right now as she still needed to talk to the mayor. Moreover, she also... "Whoa! Whoa! Why are you here?" Her eyes turned so wide when she saw the pale Shen Qui standing by the door of the walk-in closet.


    Then she quickly closed her eyes and smiled. Ah, that''s right. She was hallucinating. There''s no way that Shen Qui would wake up and walk around acting like nothing happened. He might have woken up earlier but that didn''t mean he could already stand and walk more than five steps away from his bed.


    Love.


    Yep. That should be the effect of this emotion. She is acting like a crazy woman she even started to hallucinate.


    "Why are you talking to yourself? Are you praying?"


    Her eyes flew open. "You''re real? Why are you here? You''re not supposed to walk around just " she looked at his leg and just as she expected, she immediately saw some blood starting to  "What the hell is wrong with you?" Lyca really couldn''t help but feel irritated. She immediately held his arm and assisted him out of the walk-in closet then into their king size bed. "If your blood gets into my bed, I will let you sleep on the floor."


    "Sounds scary," he chuckled.


    "Why are youughing." She helped him lie down. "I am going to call the doctor and "


    "I am healed. I just needed rest."


    "Still so hardheaded?" She gritted her teeth. She had never met someone as stubborn as this man. "Why are you even here? You can''t just walk around after having surgery twelve hours ago! What the hell, Shen Qui! What do you think will happen if your wounds get " she stopped talking and immediately red at him when she saw him smiling.


    "You are worried about me."


    "No. I am not. Without you, no one will run thepany! How am I supposed to get my revenge without your help? Stupid man! How did I even agree to marry someone like you in the first ce? Being stupid is contagious "


    "And yet, you love this stupid man." There was a hint of amusement in his voice. Seeing his eyes sparkled like stars, Lyca frowned. She looked at him, unamused at his antics. Around him, she had started to get nervous, tensed, and more talkative. Didn''t she promise to be aszy as possible in this world? Why was she talking a lot? She gulped. "Don''t you?" he asked.


    She immediately opened her mouth, she was about to tell him that he was wrong that this didn''t love. But, she couldn''t say it. She couldn''t lie. Not when ites to Shen Qui and her emotions.


    Shen Qui chuckled before coughing. "I just want to confirm it. I know you would try to do something about the ident. Just want to confirm" he smiled as he held her hand. "Thank you."


    "Jesus why are you acting like you''re dying?"


    "I won''t die. I don''t want you to chop me up and spread my remains to the city."


    She frowned at that. It seems that Shen Qui really heard her crazy mumblings earlier. "Don''t you dare die without my permission?"


    "Yes ma''am," he smiled before he closed his eyes. Seeing this, Lyca let out a sharp sigh. This man really something. Even daring to walk around with an injury just to confirm if she really loves him? Crazy is not really enough to describe him. But then again, no one in their right mind would propose to someone like Lyca.


    After a few minutes, Lyca decided to give the man a slight kiss on the lips before walking out and calling Ronan and the doctors to help Shen Qui. She was certain that the injury won''t kill him but his craziness is another story. So, she asked Ronan to watch Shen Qui until shees back.


    It didn''t take too long for Lyca to leave the ranch. She immediately went near the Mayor''s mansion and use the ess that she used when she visited the crazy Jessica to get inside the mansion. Of course, with Ronan''s assistance, it was easier for her to walk inside undetected.


    Lyca first went to the Mayor''s office. Ronan said the incident happened in the office and none of them notice that Jessica was hiding in the corner. She examined the area before plugging a sh drive in the mayor''sptop and copying all the files inside. Ronan told her that this might show some important stuff about the mayor''s illegal business. Thisptop is not connected to the house''sInte so it was quite hard for Ronan to hack it.


    After a few minutes, Lyca was again jumping on the walls until she arrived at the Mayor''s room. She wasn''t surprised to know that it was full of guards. It was still daytime and Lyca thought this would be the best time to visit the mayor as the guards won''t be as high alert as they would be during the night.


    "Are you sure, she wasn''t at the club?" The mayor''s voice echoed as Lyca slowly went inside the Mayor''s room through the open door. The Man was currently on his phone, there was an obvious white bandage on the mayor''s left arm. "Then find her! We can''t let our enemies get ahold of this news! And if they do, make sure they think I am fighting for my life. Let them show their fangs!"


    "What about the Zhang Family? Who has the time to deal with them now?" The mayor yelled. "Just tell them to send more people here! If they wanted to use me to target that man and Miss Huang then then they better send more people here! Tell them I am a very busy man! I don''t have the time to see them so we can n  F*ck why are they spending so many resources on those people!? Just tell them to cause an explosion or something! And don''t call me again once you have details about Jessica''s whereabouts! F*cking useless!" The Mayor ended the call and throw his phone towards the bed only to realize that someone was already sitting on his huge bed.


    "Hey, where did you buy your bed?" Lyca gave the old man a sincere smile.

 Chapter 248: Kingdom

    Chapter 248: Kingdom


    "You You are "


    "Bed. Where did you get it?" Lyca interrupted him. First and foremost, this bed is better than her bed back home! She needed to know where this man got it! Priorities!


    "That That is in " The Mayor''s feet suddenly pivoted as he tried to run towards the door. Sadly, Lyca''s knife was faster than him.


    "I was being a nice and really polite littledy to an old man and yet you acted like a criminal trying to run away from the authorities." Lyca clicked her tongue and walked towards the old man. Then she squatted and asked. "Should I torture you instead?"


    "No! No! Don''t touch me!"


    "You can scream." Lyca''s pressed a dagger in the Mayor''s neck, the sharp de immediately caused a small cut on the old man''s skin. "But that would be a very very bad decision on your part." She smiled and used more force towards the dagger. "Now let''s do it again. Where. Did. You. Buy. Your. Bed?"


    "It''s It''s" the mayor hissed when Lyca''s other hand touched the knife that hit his leg. "It''s in the northern part of the Xu Country!"


    "Ah?" Lyca pursed her lips and nodded. She actually thought that the bed was bought somewhere abroad. It seems that it was locally sourced? "Really?''''


    "Really! Really! Now get that that knife away from my neck!"


    "Oh! Right Right Here take this." Lyca suddenly flicked her hand before the mayor started choking. "It''s Ummm poison. If you scream. I will leave and you won''t have the antidote. You die." She made a gesture using her thumb on her neck. "If you don''t follow my words, I leave. You die. If you don''t answer my question, I leave. You die. You get it?"


    The Mayor just nodded his head as if his life depended on it. Who knows if this woman would say if he won''t nod he would leave too? The Mayor shivered when Lyca smiled at him. Despite the light from the outside of the room, the Mayor felt that the woman was akin to a huge boulder of darkness. Her presence was too heavy, suffocating, and deadly.


    "Stand."


    "I I don''t think I can walk."


    "Oh? Should I just leave then?"


    "I really can''t! My legs! My legs are "


    "Oh?" Lyca squinted. She actually got excited too excited she identally hurt the mayor! This was all an ident, alright? "My bad," she sounded apologetic. She wasn''t really nning to physically hurt this man until he answers all of her questions. She wouldn''t want him to bleed out and die without telling her everything. However, the thought of a newfortable bed totally distracted her."Then let''s talk here."


    "" The Mayor could feel sweat trickling down his forehead and back. "It wasn''t me!"


    "Huh?"


    "I didn''t n it all! It was the Zhang Family! They sent their people here and ask for my assistance! They threatened to report some of my businesses in Long City too! I am telling you! It was the Zhang Family!"


    "Really?"


    "Really! I am not lying! Not lying! It was the Zhangs."


    "Not the Longs?"


    As expected, the Mayor''s appearance changed. "Long? Long Family? Why would they "


    "See?" Lyca clicked her tongue. "I can see that you are lying. Should I just leave?" she taunted. Judging from the mayor''s reaction, Lyca was able to confirm that it was the Long Family that wanted her to fight with the Zhang Family. While the mayor thought that his lies were pretty good, he actually made a small mistake.


    He believed Lyca when she told him that he would die without an antidote.


    Why would he do that if the Long family didn''t inform him about Lyca''s capabilities with poisons? Of course, the Zhang Family could also do this as Huang Ying is aware of her talents in chemicals. However, the fact that the Long Family didn''t send some people against Shen Qui only cemented Lyca''s conclusion.


    In the first ce, Lyca did some nasty things in the Long Family''s building. It wouldn''t make any sense if they just let the Zhang Family send an army here and not send one of their people as support. Nope. The only way something like that could happen is if they wanted Lyca to think that the Zhang Family attacked Shen Qui.


    Making Lyca fight against the Zhang Family instead.


    Lyca couldn''t help but wonder why the Long Patriarch was trying to subdue the Zhang Family. Was he nning to control the Zhang Family forever? That is just very possible. Moreover, the Zhang Family''s Huang Ying was currently too irrational to think about this. The moment Long Patriarch mentioned Lyca, that Huang Ying must have agreed immediately without even thinking that this was a war that they couldn''t win.


    Lyca stood and held her chin. It seems that the Long Patriarch would be a bit troublesome to deal with. The man loves scheming and making people do his bidding while he stayed behind and recover his strength. Lyca squinted. But why would the Zhang Patriarch allow Huang Ying to juste here without even analyzing the events first?


    Lyca could only think of one possibility right now and that is he wanted to get rid of his wife. Lyca thought about the reports that he received about the Zhang Family. ording to the information, Zhang Patriarch and Huang Ying''s rtionship never recovered. It was because the patriarch is still ming Huang Ying for his son''s demise in Lyca''s hands.


    Even when his son woke up, the Patriarch was still adamant about separating from Huang Ying. However, Huang Ying was quite close with the Patriarch''s mother so a divorce never really happened. Lyca let out a sigh. "So it was indeed the Long Family," Lyca concluded. "However, they wouldn''t be able to do this without someone''s help. You are the one who took care of the legal stuff so someone should have backed you up." She looked at his surprised face. "Was it another greedy lord in this City?"


    "What? No No! What are you talking about?" The Mayor''s stutter was the only confirmation that she needed.


    Lyca nodded and shrugged in response."Alright I will leave now."


    "Wait! Wait!"


    "Hm? Do you have anything?"


    "What about the antidote?"


    "I don''t have one." Lyca shrugged. Right now, the best thing that could happen is to kill this mayor and let Jessica think that this was all her fault. That would make her more disturbed, therefore, she will be easier to catch. At the end of the day, Jessica was really someone innocent in all this.


    She was just a child who never got the attention of her father and developed some illness that could have been corrected if she was admitted to a hospital. However, the mayor wanted to protect his name so he chose to try and medicate his daughter inside his mansion. Then she developed some sort of obsession with Shen Qui.


    "What are you talking about?" fear shed in the mayor''s eyes. "Give me the antidote! What are you "


    "Shhh," Lyca put a finger on her lips. In the first ce, she never told him that she would give him the antidote if he answers her question. She only said that she would leave if he doesn''t. Was it her fault that the mayor couldn''t understand her words? "Question did you regret it? Raising your daughter like this?"


    The mayor turned silent at her question. No matter how much of a monster he was, the mayor was still a father to Jessica. "What What does it have to do with you?"


    Lyca shrugged in response. "Just curious." Then she used her palm to hit the back of the mayor''s neck, making him lost his consciousness. The poison wasn''t really something that could kill someone. However, the mayor would never wake up again while enduring endless pain as his bones will slowly disintegrate until his body won''t be able to endure the pain and he would finally sumb to his death.


    This would serve as a lesson to the Long Family. Lyca was never afraid of offending someone with power. In fact, she quite loved showing people that in this world, their money is useless. Slowly, Lyca retrieved her knife and exited the room. It seems like she needed to pay attention to the other Lords in this City first and finally established Shen Qui''s kingdom? Kidding.


    She only wanted to kill the other Lords except Santa and make Shen Qui the only leader in this Territory. Once this happens, Lyca''s goal of livingzily would soone to fruition.


    ....


    Thank you for your support! Please don''t forget to vote for the novel!


    My birthday is fast approaching and I am nning to make another raffle. This time, the prize would be a WN shirt! I will take care of the shipping and everything! I really hope everyone will join the raffle! I will soon announce the requirements!


    -Blips

 Chapter 249: Dying

    Chapter 249: Dying


    Just as Lyca left the mayor''s office, Long Yi and his father also received the news that Shen Qui is dying. This was, of course, the news that the Mayor wanted them to hear. He wanted the Long''s to believe that Shen Qui was terribly wounded, meaning his business was in jeopardy. Of course, this was enough to make the patriarch ted.


    The absence of Shen Qui meant Lyca would be weaker. After all, there is no way that she would be handling all the people that Shen Qui has in the ck market. "Then what are we waiting for? Call the Zhang Family and let them cooperate more with the mayor! Tell them about the things that they could possibly gain. I heard that Shen Qui actually controlled one-fourth of the territory in that City, moreover, he also owns a port! Who knows what kind of contraband can we get in that port?" Patriarch Long said after he finished his Vodka. He let the spiciness of the alcohol travel down his throat before he added. "How about that woman?"


    "No one had seen her." The man opposite him was one of the Mayor''s people. Right now, he was still unaware of the Mayor''s fate. He smiled at the Patriarch Long. "We already pushed all the me to the Zhang Family. If that woman would retaliate soon, it means we will sessfully exhaust both her forces and the Zhang''s, the mayor said that he is excited to create a territory for the Long Family in the City once this is all done."


    "And?"


    "He only wanted you to take care of Santa."


    "Santa?"


    "Yes, that man is trying to turn the people against the Mayor. It is currently causing him a headache. We needed that man gone, soon."


    "Why don''t you deal with it on your own?" the brainless Long Yi chided. "Why do you have to drag our family into your mess? We don''t want to be Santa''s enemy. Not when we haven''t established our name in Kong City."


    "Hmmm. My son had a point. Santa is a big problem in Kong City. We don''t really know if he could fight against him in his own turf." Patriarch Long uttered. "However, with the current bullets that we have." He smiled. "I am certain that we would win this time."


    "The bullet that you purchased from a certain Tang Xi?"


    Long Yi nodded proudly, the purchase wasn''t actually a secret. Everyone in Long City knew that Tang Xi left ahead of time because he already signed a contract with the Long Family. Of course, Long Yi had to make the rumors more pleasant to the ears. He made it look like Tang Xi signed a contract that would make him work for the Long Family.


    Of course, many people believed this rumor. After all, Tang Xi''s reputation is quite mysterious, and well it was just bad. They say that the man doesn''t actually care about the Tang Family and is not close to them. They also say that he loved to work independently. Moreover, the only reason why the heir of the Tang Family, apanied himst time that he visited Kong City was that they wanted to control him.


    And well it seems that Tang Xi chose to work with the Long Family instead of the Tangs.


    Of course, this was only on the outside. On the inside, the Long Father and Son knew that Tang Xi actually scammed them. The form that he was holding was not really that different from the previous form. The only difference was the fact that this one uses cheaper materials than the previous one! This has caused a lot of problems for the Long Family.


    First, with the current material, the bullet was obviously inferior to the previous one. Though the effects were almost the same, it was still different. And that small difference could make a difference in real life batter. Second, now that the quality is inferior, they were forced to lower down the price of the goods. Meaning, the profits were also affected. And third, because of the problems that the previous bullet caused, they were forced to make such crazy deals that made them pay two bullets for every one previous one that those people returned.


    What could this mean?


    Simple.


    Their losses were astronomical.


    This was the reason why Long Yi visited Kong City. He wanted to establish their name in the ck market of the whole region and he needed Santa''s help for that. Well the rest was already history.


    Right now, all they know was the fact that Lyca screwed them over by causing so much damages in the Long Company on that crazy rescue stunt that she did. With the damages in their security and the money that they lost because of the bullet, the Long family really needed to make ae back to earn more profits.


    To do this, Patriarch Long figured that the best way is to just kill Lyca and Shen Qui while they take over their business. Of course, he wasn''t a very simple man at all. So he nned to involve the Zhang Family in this matter as well as get the support of the mayor.


    And it looks like he was seeding? His train of thoughts was interrupted when the man suddenly received a call.


    "What do you mean?" the man''s tone made Long Yi frowned. Why does it seem that he was suddenly gloomy? "Alright! I will immediately . Alright I''ll be on my way." The man suddenly stood from the velvet chair that he was sitting and stared at Long Yi and the Patriarch. "I have an emergency. I need to leave. We can always talk about this matter once everything settles down."


    Patriarch Long nodded and smiled. "Of course. Yi, please escort him towards his car." He smiled as Long Yi, and the man left then, his expression turned serious. It seems that something really happened in Kong City? With this in mind, Patriarch Long dialed a number on his phone.


    "Mr. Long! I was about the call you!"


    "Did something happen?" he asked.


    "Yes, Sir! It seems that the Mayor is terribly ill," the man uttered before he lowered his voice. "Rumor has it that he is dying."

 Chapter 250: Ghost Rider

    Chapter 250: Ghost Rider


    Patriarch Long trembled, he almost dropped his phone when he heard those words. What could this possibly mean? Simple!


    A retaliation!


    It wasn''t even twenty-four hours and Lyca already retaliated? But how could that be? "Was it her?"


    "There is no evidence that it was her yet but someone stealthily attacked the mayor and "


    "But the sun is still up!?" Patriarch Long eximed. Who would be so bold to attack even when the sun is up? Simple! It was Lyca! The woman whose logic andmon sense was all wed.


    "Yes, sir."


    "Then?"


    "Well they found a small wound on the mayor''s leg but that was it. He is just unconscious."


    So, it was nothing but a small knife? Wasn''t this too obvious? This is clearly Lyca''s work and she wanted them to know it was her. She knew that the Long Family knew about her poison skills. So, she wanted them to watch the consequence of their action. For a few seconds, Patriarch Long felt goosebumps all over his body. He shivered before he turned his head to his left and right, trying to make sure that no one was listening inside this room or no one was inside the room other than him.


    "Alright I will just update me." Patriarch Long said before he ended the call without waiting for that person to say another word. Then she sat on his chair, his shoulders down. Just a few seconds ago, the Patriarch was already celebrating his victory. He was even looking forward to the spoils that they would have once they would get all of Shen Qui''s clubs and resources in the ck market. However, all this vanished when he received the wait


    The Patriarch''s back suddenly straightened. The Mayor was ill or at least that would be the news that would reach the public''s ears. However, this had nothing to do with him! So what if something happened to the mayor? So what if he dies? It''s not like the Patriarch couldn''t find another backer that he could work with! With this in mind, the Patriarch immediately dialed the number that he called earlier and demanded to know the number of the other lords who dislike or jealous of Shen Qui''s recent sess in the past three years.


    Then he started working again.


    Too bad he was toote.


    "Eh? That quick?" Lyca lifted an eyebrow when she saw the expression of the man who was sitting opposite her. They are currently in a tea house, sitting across from each other, their lips were both lifted into a slight smile like two foxes that were talking about their friendship.


    However, this was the exact opposite of what was currently happening inside the room. The man sitting in front of Lyca was actually Lord Ghost Rider A silly alias. This man was already in his forties who is known for his southern territory and his business dealings with drugs and prostitution. While Shen Qui focused his business on the ck market and ports, this man chose to focus his business on everything illegal on the streets of the Southern part of Kong City.


    Ghost Rider squinted his eyes at Lyca. "You knew it was someone from the Long Family?" he asked.


    "The Patriarch was bound to call the one with the most stupid name of the Lords soon. I just didn''t know he was actually this fast." Lyca fought the urge to roll her eyes at the man''s expression when she called his nickname stupid. This was only because the man was just he was not a ghost rider. Lyca didn''t know where this man got this silly name. One would think that it should be from some heroic deed or something really dangerous that involved this man riding a motorcycle with skulls and fires and dead bodies around them.


    The man in front of him was obese who was eating greasy foods in a tea house at two in the afternoon.


    "You You are insulting my name again! How dare you!"


    Lyca rolled her eyes before she picked one of the knives that she meticulously arranged in front of her and pointed it towards the man''s humongous belly. "Answer it." She smiled. "And remember what I told you. Agree for a meeting."


    The man snorted before he answered the call. He was currently having his second lunch when this woman just appeared out of nowhere and introduced herself as Q''s wife. Of course, the man justughed at Lyca. Why the hell would Q''s wife reach out to him? Everyone knew that he was someone who hated that man! He absolutely loathes him.


    Q was younger, taller, more good looking, slimmer, and everything that he was not! How could he not hate him? While Shen Qui didn''t do anything to directly offend him, Ghost rider still felt that staring at someone like Shen Qui was enough to make him die from too much anger. Because of this extreme hate, he instructed his people not to mention Q''s name ever again.


    So when the woman came he immediatelyughed at her. Why would shee to someone who hated her husband? Was this a joke? However, hisughter stopped when the woman calmly put her knife in front of his food. All eighteen wait was it twenty small knives of the same sizes? That''s not the point.


    The point was, she actually threatened him on his turf in the broad daylight! What nonsense is this?


    However, soon after, Lyca suddenly told him that she actually wanted to cooperate and do some business. Then she showed him images of his already sleeping bodyguards outside, telling him that saying no would make him a corpse. Moreover, this woman also told him that killing him would make her job easier as this would create chaos amongst his subordinates therefore weakening their forces.


    Taking over won''t be a problem, no?


    In the end, Ghost Rider could only calm his heart and listen to the woman''s proposition.

 Chapter 251: Unpredictable Existence

    Chapter 251: Unpredictable Existence


    "Agree to this meeting," Lyca was extremely pleased as she looked at the man who called himself ghost rider. Not only was he cowardly, but he was also someone that values benefits above everything else. Convincing someone whose motivation has always been greed to do work for her was as easy as one, two, three.


    She watched as the man agreed to meet Patriarch Long the next day before he ended the call. "Look." Ghost rider gritted his teeth. "I am not sure why you want me to meet that loser but you never mention this before. You told me you will help me defeat Lord Olfan! What does it have to do with that Patriarch? In the first ce, the Long Family is extremely greedy. Did you know how they like to make their subordinates suffer so they would stay loyal to the Long Family?" Ghost Rider snorted. "Those people have a bad reputation in the ck market. The only reason why mercenaries tolerate them is because of that bullet."


    "Meet him. He will have a good proposition for you."


    "You " Ghost Rider immediately turned suspicious. First, he heard that Shen Qui was already dead. He couldn''t help but wonder if this woman named Xi wanted to take over Q Tower now that her husband is dead. "Are you nning to take over Q Tower?" He couldn''t help but ask.


    "Q Tower?" Lyca pursed her lips. What the hell is Q Tower?


    "You don''t even know this? Ah? What kind of wife are you?"


    "I must have heard it before." It was either she was too sleepy or her mind was thinking of undressing her husband. She couldn''t remember anymore. She frowned. "Exin."


    "Tsk." How could this woman wanted him to exin? However, when he saw Lyca caressed one of the knives, he immediately froze and nodded. "The territories are called Towers in the ck market. Rivers Tower for Santa Rivers, Olfan Tower for Olfan, Ghost Tower is my territory name, and Q Tower is your tower. Isn''t this really simple?" He rolled his eyes and tried to grab one of the fried chicken but paused when a daggernded on the knife first. "What the hell!?"


    "Q Tower is a bad name. I don''t like it."


    "So? It''s the name of the leader. You can''t do anything about that!"


    "I think we should call it The Sage Tower or The Tower of No Return.''


    "" Did she just hear herself? Is this even something that they should discuss in front of her knives!? "Stop ying around! Stop wasting my time anymore! I want to know why you wanted me to meet with that Long Family! You said something about Olfan, not the Long Family!"


    "Aish" Lyca held her palm in front of the man. She squinted her eyes extremely irritated. It seems that her guess was right after all. Once Long Patriarch would hear about the Mayor''s demise, he would soon try to call someone in the Kong City. And this man should be his best candidate. Too bad for him, Lyca already goes here before him. "Stop talking for a while."


    "You don''t want me to stop talking and you are not letting me eat! What do you want me to do!?"


    "Just stop talking! Or I will slit your throat and Ghost Tower will be mine. You know what? I think doing that is actually easier for me." Seeing her sinister smile, Ghost Rider trembled before he nodded. Of course, he didn''t dare utter another word anymore. If this woman would go crazy, she could easily slit her throat.


    What could that mean for the whole Ghost Tower?


    It means, chaos! His son is not ready to take over the Tower and if this scary woman would assassinate his son then Q Tower could easily take over the Ghost Tower. Therefore, Q Tower''s territory would expand. The only tower that might have the possibility of stopping this expansion would be Santa Rivers. However, he had heard that Q and Santa are actually close! Even the rumors say that Santa treated Q just like his son!


    Ghost Rider sat as still as he could while Lyca turned silent. "Alright, take this."


    "What?" Ghost Rider eyed the tablet in Lyca''s hand.


    "Take it."


    "What is that?"


    "You aren''t in any position to ask a question," she shrugged. "Take it or I slit your throat. Consider this a new lease of life." Lyca''s calm expression betrayed the sinister words that she just said. Seeing the man still hesitant to follow her words, Lyca added. "This is me being nice."


    Nice? Ghost Rider wanted to curse. This was still consider being nice? He eyed the blue tablet for a few seconds before he nodded. If this is a poison, he could easily get someone to make an antidote for something like this. With his drug money, there is nothing that Ghost Rider cannot do.


    Moreover, his close friend who is also a doctor could help him!


    "Alright!" He swallowed the tablet and immediately waited for some sort of pain. After a few seconds, he opened his eyes and stared at Lyca. "What was that?"


    She only shrugged in response. "You will die. But not now." That''s the only thing that he needed to know. Lyca then stood from the seat and grabbed some sushi for herself. "I won''t follow you around. Or listen to your conversations. I will trust that you value your life so much that you wouldn''t even think about betraying me."


    ""


    Lyca started eating sushi. Seeing Shen Qui on that hospital bed made her lost all of her appetite. Even the sushi that looked really appetizing doesn''t taste too good anymore!


    "But but"


    "Hmm?"


    "What should I do? You only told me that you will help defeat that man Olfan. What What about my side of the bargain? What do you want me to do?" Ghost Rider couldn''t help but wonder what does this woman want. After all, she only told him to meet Long Patriarch. She never gave him any instructions or told him what she wanted from him.


    "Oh?" Lyca went back to her seat. This is why negotiations are not her forte. "Well just do whatever the Patriarch would tell you to do."


    "And what would he want me to do?"


    "He would want you to help him conquer the Q Tower."


    Her words made the man tremble. "You wanted me to help your enemy? You Isn''t that like making myself your enemy?" This woman could bypass his security and get near him without causing any other disturbance. Ghost Rider might not know how to fight but he knew that Lyca''s skill must be very high to kill his subordinates.


    As much as possible, he wouldn''t want to make himself an enemy with an unpredictable existence like her!


    "Yes," Lyca nodded. That is indeed like painting a target on his back. But this was what Lyca''s ns all along. She knew that this Ghost Rider is someone that betrayed his mother and sister who used to be the matriarch and leader of his family. Someone who would betray his family for power is not someone that she could trust. "You will be my enemy."


    "You " this made the man speechless. "What do you mean? You You just came here to make me follow your script?" Ghost Rider was truly furious. "All this conversation and  all along you wanted me to die with your Enemy?" What kind of Logic is this? This conversation is too peculiar he felt all the reasoning left him!


    "So you want to die now?" she asked. Was it so hard to understand? The only reason why she came here is to make him agree to answer that call. She wasn''t really here to cooperate. Since when did she say that she wasn''t nning on killing him?


    "" This wasn''t the point! However, Ghost Rider soon startedughing. "Ah, I get it. You are only jesting. How could you kill me? You just said that you will help my Ghost Tower defeat Olfan and his people. Then we will plunder their resources? Seventy, thirty doesn''t sound too bad now. As long as Olfan will die, I will give you thirty percent. Now that it already a ten percent increase from my previous offer. What do you think?"


    Lyca sigh and shook her head. Seems like their brain cells are using different frequencies. With this in mind, Lyca gave a wry smile before she threw a knife on the man''s forehead,pletely silencing him. Lyca just watched as life slowly dissipated in the man''s surprised face.


    "No more negotiations," Lyca muttered to herself as she opened her phone and dialed Rue''s number. "Hey, send the best five people here in Kong City. I need their help with something." She said and immediately confirmed that she wanted them to arrive tonight.


    After a few seconds, Lyca stood from her seat and look at the now lifeless Ghost Rider. "I wasted a tablet." Lyca had been doing so much stuff she doesn''t have the time to concoct some potions. Her supplies are getting low. Now, she was forced to use a tablet with this man. "Aish!" She opened her phone again and called Santa''s number. "Hey, Santa." She smiled. "Christmas ising. Come here and get the gift that I prepared for you."

 Chapter 252: Flowers

    Chapter 252: Flowers


    Lyca was all smiles as she watched Santa''s ashen expression. "Please take care of it, Santa Rivers of the Rivers Tower."


    "Why do I feel like you are mocking my name?"


    "What? No! Of course not. I would never do something like that. However, I think you should change the name of your tower into something like the Tower of Doom or something more intimidating, no?"


    "You are changing the topic! How was Q?"


    "Alive," she answered nonchntly.


    "I mean how was his recovery! Was it so bad? Can you at least "


    "No. He is fine and healthy." Lyca uttered as she recalled Shen Qui''s words about being able to do one round. Such a crazy man wouldn''t die so easily.


    "Is that why you killed seven people?"


    "Only five," Lyca uttered.


    "You killed seven! Eight including the mayor!"


    "He''s dead?" Lyca lifted an eyebrow. "That was too quick. Did he had some sort of heart problems?"


    "" Santa cleared his throat when he realized that this woman seemed too illogical. "Why did you kill Rolio?"


    "Whose Rolio?" she asked, confused. "Oh, you mean Ghost Rider?"


    "You don''t even know his real name?"


    "Does that matter? Just clean it up, make it look like it was Olfan," she eyed the sushi but ended up not eating it. Her appetite was really terrible, everything around her seemed to nd. She opened her phone and sent a text to Ronan, asking him how was Shen Qui. It seems that not knowing about his current situation is the reason why she wasn''t too hungry despite not having breakfast and lunch.


    "No."


    "Then? Isn''t this what you wanted?"


    "Jesus." Santa wanted to curse. This woman was a killer, but her brains are not really for scheming. "This will cause chaos in the whole City! Rolio had a son, he was a bit arrogant and loves to cause trouble all the time. What do you think would happen if he knows that you are responsible for his father''s death."


    "He would send me flowers."


    ""


    "He would be happy to know that his father is dead. I heard he wanted to take over the territory for a while now."


    "You  " In the end, Santa shook his head as he looked at the woman''s nonchnt expression. "Alright, you can leave I will go ahead and take care of this. I suggest youy low for a while. We don''t want people talking about Shen Qui''s widow going around killing people because her husband died."


    Lyca uncrossed her legs while smiling at Santa. Once people start thinking that Shen Qui''s widow had lost her mind, they would show their real colors and try to attack Q Tower.


    "You Please don''t tell me you are not thinking what I thought you are thinking?"


    "Hm? What are you thinking?"


    "You do know that you are very irritating, right?"


    "Yeah," she calmly shrugged. "So? What were you thinking?"


    Santa''s lips pursed into a thin line. At first, he thought that Lyca was someone who just goes in without having ns and schemes. She was clearly good at killing, a cold-blooded killer. But it seems that she doesn''t really like to analyze a lot of stuff. However, seeing that smile on her face, Sana realized that this woman might be acting dumb right now. "I am not dumb you know. I am extremely good at reading people."


    "Oh?" Lyca lifted an eyebrow as she leaned towards him while resting her elbow on the table. "Then why don''t you tell me what am I thinking now?"


    "You wanted to kill his heir? Rolio''s heir? You wanted them to think that it was Olfan so, he would mindlessly run towards the man and try to get his revenge. If that happens, you can easily devour their Ghost Tower?"


    "First, I think Ghost Tower is a catchy name. Second, I would not kill someone that still had its purpose."


    Disbelief shed in Santa''s eyes. Of course, not a small cell of his body believed her words. That sinister smile was enough to tell him that Lyca was nning to cause chaos because her husband got injured. However, a part of him knew that she wouldn''t tell him anything."If the Lords die some people would try to take advantage of the chaos and create more divide in this city. That would not benefit anyone. I suggest youy low and make the people responsible for Q''s injury suffer."


    Lyca only smiled. Old Leaders are bound to end their time. They are bound to relinquish their control and transfer it to new people. This was just the cycle of life. Of course, she didn''t say anything to Santa. Isn''t it better to show him the results instead of telling him her n now?


    "I have to go."


    "Please send my regards to Q." Santa uttered. Lyca was pretty vague when she said that Shen Qui is fine. If his guess was right, this woman wanted to use this opportunity to straightened the Q Tower and take care of some of Q''s enemies. He watched as Lyca only smiled at him before leaving the room.


    A sigh escaped Santa''s lips. Shen Qui''s meteor rise in three years was enough to make a lot of problems in Kong City. At that time, he thought the man''s scheming and hard work was scary. However, when he met Lyca, he soon realized that the reason for Shen Qui''s meteoric rise might be this woman.


    He then remembered three years ago when Shen Qui arrived in Kong City and talked to him. That person who sniped him should be that woman, right? At that time, Santa was really too happy that Shen Qui took care of his grandfather that he just agreed to whatever conditions that they want. What he didn''t know was the fact that Shen Qui and his woman would cause such huge tremors in this city. Of course, he would never regret support Shen Qui.


    "Alright, take care of the body. Make it look like it was Olfan." He sighed. He couldn''t imagine what would follow after this.

 Chapter 253: Thirteen Seats

    Chapter 253: Thirteen Seats


    Of course, Lyca didn''t listen to Santa''s advice aboutying low. When the King is ill, isn''t it the Queen''s job to calm down his subordinates? While Lyca wasn''t in the mood to actually try and talk to more people, she thought it would be good to solve one more problem before going to see her husband.


    And it was to settle something inside this Q Tower.


    After Lyca went to see that old man Rolio or Ghost Rider and knew about the Q Tower, she immediately asked Ronan about this tower, and realized that this wasn''t really some literal tower that was on her mind. And Shen Qui didn''t create this tower he stole it. Well, stealing was not really the right term as Shen Qui killed the previous leader and became the new leader.


    This Tower was previously known as the Tower of Joy. A territory that was own by a man named Joy. Of course, this was obviously an alias and a nickname that people called him because he seemed tough all the time. Rumor has it that even when this man died, he was stillughing. Some say, it was actually a medical condition and that he wasn''t actuallyughing.


    Ronan said that this territory was actually the biggest Territory among the four lords. However, this was also the one with the most problematic people. When Lyca asked about the problems, Ronan was quick to tell her not to kill anyone in the council as most of these people came from really powerful families in this city.


    This prompted her to ask what this council is. And she found out that this council isposed of twelve families that Shen Qui subdued in this territory. These are people who gave their money to Shen Qui to maintain their security in the territory. Basically, they are paying him to stay in this territory peacefully.


    This was really not a problem. Or at least, this doesn''t sound like a problem at all. However, these families are alsoposed of really greedy people that think that they are smarter than Shen Qui. These people acted as a council and would immediately hold meetings about the current situation of the territory once they see something they don''t like.


    Obviously, this had caused a lot of headaches for Shen Qui as he couldn''t just kill every one of them and was forced to work with them instead. He could, of course, try intimidating them, but what would that bring to Shen Qui? These people are paying him millions and had their businesses thriving in the territory.


    However, this doesn''t mean that Shen Qui''s journey had been smooth. This was because Shen Qui doesn''t want to meddle in other illegal things such as prostitution, trafficking, and drugs. He only wanted to focus on the ports and the firearms. This created some problems because some of those people are delving into the drug business and even prostitution.


    Lyca could only sigh after the conversation. Shen Qui never told him about these! He never once told her that he was having a hard time. Had he told her Hmmm, that might be a bad idea because Lyca would surely choose the harshest way to deal with them which was opposite to Shen Qui''s. And that might be the reason why Shen Qui didn''t tell him anything.


    Still, she found it unfair. She had been sleeping for three years, and when she woke up she went to the mountains to train people and left her husband alone! If she tells her mother about this, Tang Nini would surely reprimand her for being such a carefree person.


    After another sigh, Lyca got out of the car and walked towards the restaurant a few meters away from the parking lot. This should be where those old folks are doing their current meeting about Shen Qui''s apparent death.


    ....


    "I already told you, Q might be dead! He died! My people saw him so pale, it should be because of blood loss! Some said that the bullet hit a major artery." The man said before he put his tobo on his mouth.


    "Old Man Fang is right. This was actually the rumor right now. Moreover, I have been calling them, and Ronan was actually the one answering the call. I told him that I want to talk to Q, but he always tells me that he is in an important meeting. How could he have a meeting when it''s five in the morning? Obviously, that man was lying! Q must be dead or is dying." The man was wearing a pink shirt, a tinge of pinkish lipstick can be seen on the man''s lips. "I say, we decide who will now lead this territory."


    "I agree! We should start discussing the new leader. Clearly, that man is not capable. Why else would he be wounded if he was capable? This was his territory, after all."


    "Hmph! What if he was still alive? Isn''t it best that we make sure before deciding something?" another one chimed in. "I think, we should send someone to his Ranch. Who knows, he was just spending some time with his woman." The man chuckled.


    "Alright, let''s have a vote! If you want us to rece Q, raise your hands." The man wearing pink said before he raised his hand. "There are twelve of us, so seven votes. Alright give me seven hands. One two. Three "


    The man''s words were interrupted when the huge mahogany door was suddenly pushed open. Almost instantly, the man wearing pink immediately yelled. "This is a very important meeting! Who dare disturb us here?" he red at the security who stood in the middle of the open door. The man looked normal at first, however, everyone in the soon realized that this wasn''t the case.


    The man opened his mouth but said nothing as he suddenly fell on his knees before finally falling to the floor with a loud thud.


    "What the!"


    "What is happening?"


    "Are we under attacked?"


    "Who dares  "


    "Hi, gentlemen and women." Lyca suddenly walked inside the room. She eyed the circr table. "I heard there should be thirteen seats including Q''s. I can''t seem to find his seat. Did something happened?"

 Chapter 254: Tower of No Return

    Chapter 254: Tower of No Return


    "What the Who the hell are you?" the man wearing pink yelled as he eyed the now fallen guard."What did you do with the someone calls the head guard!"


    "That would be useless. Don''t worry, I didn''t kill them. After all, I am being nice."


    "You you put them to sleep and barge in, and you still call yourself nice?"


    "Please sit down. Don''t worry, I am not here to discuss sinister stuff. Where is my seat?" she asked.


    "You " A man suddenly stood from his seat and pointed a gun at Lyca. Without saying anything, he pulled the trigger, surprising everyone in the room.


    "Mr. Ling! What are you "


    "Eh?" Everyone widened their eyes when they realized that the woman was no longer in front of them but was standing behind Mr. Ling. "Seems like you wanted your family to lose a patriarch?" Lyca didn''t wait for the man to answer as she raised her hand and slit the man''s throat.


    "What the hell!?"


    "My goodness!"


    "What are you doing!?"


    Almost immediately screams and surprised gasps echoed inside the room. Most men sat frozen and stared at Mr. Ling who was holding his bleeding neck, struggling before falling into the table, dead. The thick smell of blood shrouded the room. "Now,dies and gents, let me ask you again. Where is my seat?" she smiled at the frozen people inside the room.


    "You Who are you?" This time, an obvious fear can be seen in everyone''s eyes. The woman just killed someone because he shot at her. She didn''t even hesitate to end a man''s life and smiled as if nothing happened! "And why are you here?" In the man''s eyes, this woman should be here to be the new leader of the territory. Why else would a monster like this suddenly appear out of nowhere "Wait you look familiar."


    "Do you know her?"


    "I think she looks "


    "My chair?" Lyca ignored their question. First and foremost, she was already tired, and theck of food is making her mood turned sour.


    "You can take my seat." A man with a square face and long hair stood and gave her his own seat before he grabbed the seat from the person who just died.


    "Thank you." Lyca smiled before she calmly sat. "Now, let''s start talking about the meeting."


    "What meeting?"


    "What is she talking about?"


    "Is she going to talk without even introducing herself?"


    "I think she is Q''s wife."


    Thest statement silence everyone inside the room. Everyone stared at her, their expressions grave. If she was Q''s wife, then what could this mean for them? Will she lead the territory now that her husband is dead? However, not all of them became wary. In fact, the man wearing pink immediately sneered. "What''s with all this fuss? If you are Q''s wife, then how dare you to kill one of ours? We are paying Q for our safety! How dare you act against one of us? Didn''t you know that your husband received a few tens of millions from each of us for our protection?"


    "Tsk. Tsk." Lyca clicked her tongue in response. "What do you think will happen if all of you will die?"


    "You you can''t say that " A man wearing a blue coat uttered.


    "Why are you so scared of her Hum? Such a p*ssy! She can''t do anything to us. If we die, what would happen to the money that we gave to Q? Our heir would " the man in pink paused when he saw Lyca smiling.


    "If you die, your heirs will bury you, and they will start giving me money to protect them." Lyca wanted tough when she saw fear shed in the man''s eyes.


    "You can''t do that!"


    "Why can''t I?" Lyca asked, amused. As expected, talking like this is still easier than having negotiations. Isn''t it better to coerce people? That would make her job easier. She silently patted her own shoulders. "Do you think, you can stop me if I kill you now?"


    "We will call the "


    "Please" Lyca interrupted. This is already awless City, where the police feared the gangs and criminals. Isn''t this why she chose to settle in this City? She fought the urge to roll her eyes. "You can only do that if you can dial faster than the knife that would fly towards your head." She smirked. "Now, what was that again? The purpose of this meeting?"


    Again, silence followed her words. This was because they realized what she was saying was actually true. If she killed them now, the police would probably rule this as some problems rted to gangs. They would never suspect this woman as she wasn''t someone known. They might even think that the people who killed them are from the other Territories!


    Then this case would be close forever! So, what would happen if she kills them? Simple. Their heirs would bury them without any justice, then they would be the new n head. Then they would give Q money to protect them. Business-wise, this move could make Q''s business bigger as they could demand more money to ensure their safety!


    The man in pink shivered as he looked at Lyca''s sinister smile. Shen Qui never talked to them like this! The man never threatened them at all! This was the reason why they were so confident. It was because Shen Qui doesn''t care about their actions and would only intervene if it would affect his territory. However, now that Shen Qui is dead then "Are you Are you nning to take over the territory?"


    "Hm?" Lyca lifted an eyebrow as she met the man in pink''s eyes. "That would be a no." Why the hell would she want to work herself to death like that? If she would manage this territory, she would end up killing everyone who disobeyed her as that would be the quickest way to subdue them. "But I am here to change the name of this tower and ask more money to ensure that you will survive this day without any bruises and wounds." She smiled. "Alright, first the name. I want to name it: The Tower of No Return! Any objections?"


    ""


    ""


    ""

 Chapter 255: Scheming

    Chapter 255: Scheming


    "I never knew that it would be like this. I was expecting some suggestions from everyone." Lyca leaned against the chair and calmly look at everyone''s grave expression. "Since it''s like this. Then it''s final. The Tower of No Return will be our new name from now on. Please send some letters to the other Lords and tell them about our new tower name." She beamed when she realized that they could easily send emails these days. Of course, she took this opportunity to introduce something else."I already asked some people to make a seal for our tower. These messages will be sent in a special envelope with a wax seal."


    "" Was she serious? Many people started to wonder if their previous assumption was actually false and that this woman was just simply crazy? In the first ce, Mr. Ling died because she shot her. If he didn''t attack, this woman would simply act like a clown. The man in pink met the eyes of the other n patriarch as he inwardly smiled. Turns out this woman was simply a joke.


    He immediately wondered why he got scared earlier. Most of them here are proficient with martial arts. Moreover, they were all experienced and skilled. Seeing someone die in front of them was pretty normal too. So, being frightened by a woman like this doesn''t make sense at all.


    Of course, he immediately med this on the fact that they were all surprised. Their adrenaline was too high. "As expected" the man in pink sneered. "Women are just different than men." He eyed the other woman sitting a few seats away from him. "Of course that is with the exception of Matriarch Chu." The woman only snorted in response. Seeing this, the man in pink brought his gaze back to the frowning Lyca. "You don''t have what it takes to rule this territory. I suggest you leave this room now and we forget what happened here. We will then asked you topensate Mr. Ling''s family for what you did. It is that simple."


    In his mind, this woman was quite smart but it''s not enough. When she arrived, she immediately used coercion to make them submit to her. Of course, because of their surprise, they immediately did it without even having second thoughts. Clearly, this was herst struggle to maintain power after her husband''s death. This was her defense mechanism. Of course, he knew that this was a useless struggle.


    A woman like this is bound to be in someone''s bed not manage a territory as big as this. "You know Miss whoever, you are, this struggle is futile. Our people saw your husband bleed to death. There is no point in trying to stop the chaos that would follow after his death. We already know the truth. Q is dead! And his three-year effort was just gone. You are alone. I suggest you follow our words and stop embarrassing yourself any further." He smirked at Lyca''s dark expression.


    What he didn''t know is the fact that Lyca was starting to get irritated. The man thought that she was scheming and is struggling to maintain power. That is not true at all! She was simply here to make sure that she straightened these people out and show them that Shen Qui has someone capable on his side. How did it alle to scheming?


    Lyca was aware that she wasn''t a very good schemer at all. She would rather use brute force than scheme against this group of old foxes. "You interrupted me," she uttered. She was talking about making Shen Qui''s seal just like in her previous world but this man interrupted her because he thought she was scheming.


    "So?" the man in pink lifted an eyebrow. "You know what? I apud you. Yes, I agree you are extremely good at acting! Again, this is all futile, we already know that Shen Qui is dead. Without him and his people you are "


    "Kill that man" Lyca said in a low voice. The sound of a ss being broken immediately silenced everyone in the room.


    "AHHH! Sniper!" someone from the group uttered. This immediately caused another ruckus as everyone looked at the now dead man in pink. A hole can be seen in between his brows.


    "What the hell are you doing!?"


    "I already told you. If you die your heirs will only bury you. I will tell them that someone is targeting our territory. First was Q and then the n leaders. Do you think they wouldn''t believe such a brilliant story?" Lyca uttered before she sighed. She then started drumming her hand on the table. "My husband was clearly alive and you were already discussing dividing the territory and considering who would rece him?" she snorted. Seeing everyone''s ashen faces, Lyca chuckled. "The only reason why I didn''t kill all of you is that I am toozy to deal with your heirs. I could, of course, kill them too but that would be very bad for business. Isn''t it?"


    "You "


    Lyca snorted as she rolled her eyes. "Funny how you are cursing my husband to die. How about I just kill you now and let him deal with your heirs. That would be a very good idea, right?" Did this people thought, she rushed in here without any backup? Lyca really wanted tough.


    First and foremost, she had five people waiting for her outside of this building. One is the sniper and four are prepared to rush in here and kill these people for her.


    "You You can''t just do that!" someone from the group said. "If we die if we die" once again, silence followed the man''s words.


    "What do you really want? I don''t believe that you only wanted to change the name and increase the money!" the woman named Matriarch Chu asked, her face was extremely grave as she stared at Lyca''s smiling face. "Just tell us what you really want so you can leave us alone!" she added.

 Chapter 256: Widow

    Chapter 256: Widow


    "She wanted us to drink a poisoned tablet?" Matriarch Chu''s eyes turned so wide, her mouth wide open. "You No! That would never happen."


    "Monthly antidote would be given. Of course, the people who don''t want to live can say no." Lyca beamed. Did they think cursing her husband was something that they could just do because they want to?


    "You How dare you to do this us? I would never drink something like that! I would rather " the man who spoke wasn''t able to finish his sentence as before a bullet hit his head, bullseye.


    "Next?" she smiled and watched as the other members started to tremble in fear. They couldn''t help but cursed.


    "Miss Miss"


    "Oh, It''s Xi." Lyca forgot that she didn''t even introduce herself to these people. She immediately smiled but soon frowned when she heard her stomach grumbling. It was already past five in the afternoon, and she didn''t eat anything since she woke up. Was this the consequence of being in love? Not being able to eat when the other is wounded? Lyca thought about her previous life and realized that every time Xu Ke was wounded, she still had her appetite and would even demand to eat more food to restore her strength. While when ites to Shen Qui, Lyca felt that her strength wasn''t affected at all. She wasn''t sleepy despite not having a lot of sleep. She also wasn''t hungry.


    What kind of curse is this?


    "Miss Xi, please we cannot drink something like this. What about our families? We are still our n leaders!"


    "Miss Xi, I still have kids in high school! Please, I cannot leave them just yet!"


    Lyca only snorted as the others started pleading too. They must have realized that Lyca wasn''t joking about any of this at all. It''s either they drink it or they die. Those were the only choices that they have.


    "Miss Xi, if understand that we are under pressure too. Lord Olfan is currently eyeing the territory. His people have been seen inquiring about the state of businesses in our territory. He is nning to take over this ce. That''s the reason why we immediately had this meeting when we heard that something happen to Q. How could we allow that Olfan to rule this City?"


    "He is right Miss Xi! That Olfan would ask seventy percent of our profits on top of the millions that we would pay him to keep our businesses away from danger. We only wanted to live, Miss Xi!"


    "We have families to feed, Miss Xi! We really cannot do this!"


    Lyca couldn''t help but smile inwardly. Funny how they immediately started calling her Miss Xi when they realized that they have no other way left. Humans are truly treacherous creatures. "No can do," her words were enough to silence everyone in the room. She stared at their expression and silently patted herself in the back. "I''m only twenty-four, and you were already cursing my husband. What if I be a widow at twenty-five?" she sighed. "What you give to the universe will alwayse back to bite you. You were hoping that he would die so, I would let you drink that tablet too. Isn''t this all fair? This is thew of Karma." She said.


    The silence that followed was only interrupted by Lyca''s stomach growling. She gave everyone a wry smile. "Alright, enough talk. I am hungry, and I miss my husband it''s either you drink it, or you die. Don''t worry, I am a very nice person. As long as you don''t curse my husband again, I won''t harm you too." She stood and beamed at them.


    "Then then if we don''t do anything we will still live?"


    "Of course! This is me being generous. Each and every one of you will receive an antidote every month. You have to drink it within that day too. Or you will suffer from a stroke. I already research your medical history and know that no one here has cancer. Radiation can be extremely dangerous to the poison and your body. So, don''t try it." See? This was her being kind and hungry. She gave them a big tight-lipped smile. "Since I am a very nice person, I would increase everyone''s contribution of two million each. In USD. Of course, I am using this to create antidotes too. So be thankful."


    ""


    ""


    ""


    Everyone in the room, except Lyca stared at each other. They didn''t know if they would actually call her out of her bullshit or just drink the tablet.


    "Of course, if you don''t want the increase than I can just "


    "We do! We want it! It''s fine!" someone from the group said before he grabbed the tablet and swallowed it. "Two million is a small amount. We can definitely produce it."


    Everyone looked at the man, expecting him to fall and die. However, nothing like that happened.


    "Fools. Did you think, I would want to waste my tablets just to kill you? I have a sniper outside and four people that could kill you in seconds." She rolled her eyes as she started walking towards the door. She knew that these people were worried that they would die once they swallow the tablet.


    After seeing that the first one who swallowed the tablet didn''t suffer any harsh effects, some of them started taking the tablet. After a few minutes, everyone on the table swallowed the tablet and looked at Lyca, waiting for her other words.


    "Hmmm. Very Good." Lyca smiled and stood there looking at everyone. The tablet that she gave them is something that would easily melt in one''s mouth, so even if they refuse to really swallow it, the tablet would still melt and enter their system in a few minutes. "You can, of course, have some doctors check your systems. Maybe even someone experts in poison. See if they can create an antidote for you." Then her gazended on the dead members. These people should have been worth two million more. But they were eh?


    Lyca''s gaze was glued towards the ne that the man in pink was wearing. After the man was shot, his head fell to his right but because the chair was actually huge, he didn''t fell on the floor. Because of this, the ne that he was wearing moved and Is now visible from where Lyca was standing.


    On the outside, the dark pendant actually looked obsidian. Perhaps even ck diamond. But, Lyca immediately knew that this was something else. Lyca knew that the small sparkling stones that were embedded on the thumb size ck pendant really looked familiar to her. In her previous world, these stones were knowns as ck stars ore.


    They aren''t really of any value and was quite popr jewelry for servants and guards. However, this type of stone should not be present in this world. When she was a bit younger, Lyca already started studying physics and chemistry to understand this world. However, Lyca didn''t limit herself in those two subjects. She also studied, biology and earth science, as well as meteorology. Of course, she wasn''t considered an expert in any of those fields. She only tried to understand the elements as well as theponents of theses.


    At first, Lyca did it to understand why magic doesn''t exist in this world. Then, she did it to try and test if she could use her spiritual energy instead. She wanted to know why the humans in this world are quite limitedpared to the world where she came from.


    "Miss Xi? Is Is there something wrong?" The man who first took the tablet asked, trembling. The woman started frowning as she looked at the man in pink! He couldn''t help but wonder if seeing the man in pink upset Miss Xi! Who knows what would she do if she became too upset? Would she kill everyone?


    "Nah." Lyca shrugged as she removed the ne from her mind. First and foremost, there are always new elements and types of stones that people would discover from time to time. After all, Earth still has unexplored ces. For instance, Mariana''s trench and even Antarctica. There is just a lot of wondrous things in this world. "I will see everyone next week for the first two million. Of course, we would also talk about other stuff. Sadly, my husband is going to take a rest for a few weeks. So, I will take over for a while." She beamed and stared at everyone''s face before finally walking out of the room.


    The moment Lyca walked out, she immediately looked at Gu Cheng and Ma Ping that was standing by the door. "Who is proficient in sniping?"


    "It''s Junqi," Gu Cheng''s smile was full of pride. It reminded Lyca of the shy smile of a high school lover introducing his lover to his friends.


    "Oh." Lyca nodded. "Let''s go. From now on, you will follow me around."


    "Miss Xi, may I know why we have to stop training? I thought thepetition was important?" As expected, Ma Ping was the first one to asked questions.

 Chapter 257: Manifest

    Chapter 257: Manifest


    "It is important." But so was Shen Qui. "But we needed to stabilize this city first." She and the others got inside the car with Gu Cheng on the driver''s seat.


    "Miss Xi, this City had always been like this before I was even born. While my family doesn''t live in the slums, most of my friends do. In fact, when my mother kicked me out for stabbing someone, a friend of mine offered his home to me. That home was located in the slums of Mr. Olfan''s Territory. The poverty and crimes were too much even for me. I ended up leaving because I couldn''t stomach it."


    Gu Cheng immediately snorted when he heard Ma Ping''s words. "Is there really something you couldn''t stomach?"


    "You haven''t been there. You spent your time staying in libraries so you haven''t seen the whole world outside! Hmph! One time, I saw an old woman who was stabbed because she refused to give the thugs the two cents that she found in the garbage. I was about to stop them when my friend stopped me and told me that involving myself would involve him and his whole family too."


    Ma Ping let out a sigh while shaking his head. At that time, he really wanted to help but he was also concern about his friend''s family. "In the end, I have to leave. I can''t keep on watching stuff like that happened in front of me all the time." His words were followed by silence as the car slowed before finally stopping in front of a woman wearing a cap, a ck guitar bag was hanging on the woman''s shoulders.


    Junqi quickly entered the car and smiled at everyone.


    "Junqi, your sniping skills are bing better and better. One of these days, you will surely surpass me."


    "You don''t have sniping skills." Gu Cheng was quick to protect his woman from Ma Ping''s teasing.


    "And you don''t have balls! What kind of man doesn''t even know how to hit a target?" Ma Ping snorted in response.


    However, Lyca continued ignoring the two. She looked out of the car before closing her eyes. Until now, she couldn''t forget about that ne that the man in pink was wearing. A part of her was telling her that this was all a coincidence while a part of her was telling her to do some research about that matter. Moreover, there was also the case of her grandfather''s poisoning. Until now, the old man was still in aa, his body was basically dead, only his brain is awake because of the current technology. That poison shouldn''t be in this world. Or at least, no one in this world was able to concoct the same poison yet. However, humans evolve. No one really knows if someone would be able to make that poison by ident.


    Lyca already tried to ask Yi''an to inquire and get a list of people who had the type of poison and venom that they use to concoct the poison for her grandfather. But they weren''t able to track that person down.


    "Where are we going next, Miss Xi? Are we going to kick some ass this time?" Ma Ping interrupted Lyca''s stupor. She eyed him before nodding. "Yes. We''re going to the base of the Tower of No Return." Ronan informed her that Q Tower or Tower of No Return is located in one of the most productive areas in Kong City.


    This was located near the port and it was also where the ambush happened. Lyca soon shook the thoughts of the ne and the poison as she thought about the current location of Shen Qui''s territory. Kong City is north of Long City and south of Phor City A city where is in the Navut Region. Of course, that was where the Capital City of Xu was located. Moreover, the Navut region is the biggest region of the five regions in this country.


    Meaning, Shen Qui''s territory is strategically ced in the middle of two thriving cities. This was only one of the reasons why many people wanted this territory. The second reason is that it had a port and is only separated by a few miles from the rich Ya City.


    Ya City is not only known for its goodnd but also known for its minerals. Mining was basically the only thing that everyone does in this City. Moreover, this ce is really rich in diamonds, gold, and other precious stones. Suffice to say, Shen Qui could always take advantage of the ports in his territory to create transportation ess for these stones to the Shun Regions and other neighboring regions.


    However, Shen Qui''s authority is not yet established. Sure, he was ruling this territory. But that man was too soft. He killed the leader and its people but refuse to touch anyone who hasn''t directly offended him. Because of this, people would still dare disrespect him in his own territory.


    "Tower of No Return." Ma Ping scratched his cheek. "Howe I haven''t heard of that ce before?" He immediately looked at Gu Cheng and thetter shrugged in response.


    "Sounds intimidating." Gu Cheng expressed his thoughts.


    "It was previously known as Q Tower but I had to change the name," she said before turning her attention towards the streets. This part of Kong City is actually not as chaotic as the other parts. This was because Shen Qui refused to let a lot of drugs in the area. This was also the reason why the other lords don''t like him.


    "Oh, by the way, I heard Ghost Rider just died," Junqi said, her gaze was already on Lyca. A part of her was wondering if it had something to do with her. "I heard his son is taking over."


    "I don''t think he had a son." The one who answered was known was Beatriz, she is a woman with a mohawk red hair and a lot of piercings. However, the woman''s voice was the exact opposite of her hard appearance. Her voice was just too soft and enticing, sweet even. Lyca couldn''t help but look at the woman.


    Beatriz excelled in martial arts and short firearms. She was also an expert in map reading and tracking as she basically lived in the mountains of Ralia City before moving to Kong City.


    Next to her sat a man who was known as Oneword. Yes. Oneword. A nickname that everyone started calling him because of his tendency to only answer every question with one word. If a question required an exnation, the man won''t simply answer and just maintain a stern expression. Aside from this, the man was also six foot seven tall. A giantpared to everyone''s small frame.


    However, Oneword is not someone that anyone could underestimate. This was because he was an assassin before he became friends with Cleo. Oneword and Cleo were also teammates before. In fact, Cleo was the one who recruited this man and gave him a permanent home. It was said that he was really good with knives and martial arts too.


    Of course, there was also Gu Cheng whose brains shouldn''t be underestimated and Ma Ping who is really good with  distracting people, and Junqi who might not be as energetic as Ma Ping but very good at handling long firearms. This team of people was considered the top five of the whole team.


    "He really had a son," Ma Ping answered and soon another round of banter started. Slowly, the team of six people arrived in the port where Shen Qui was ambushed. Lyca immediately got out of the ck bulletproof SUV.


    "Miss Xi, I am called Gas. I worked here with Boss Q. Please follow me to our base." A man who looked like he was in his forties immediately weed Lyca and directed her towards the inner part of the port.


    Just like most ports, this ce was full of container vans that were neatly stacked together. There was also a big crane and some container lifting jacks. As well as some huge trailer trucks. While this is Lyca''s first time visiting this ce, she was a bit familiar when ites to shipping stuff as most of the ingredients in her poisons were internationally shipped. "May I see the manifest?" Lyca asked. Cargo manifest should have all the list of the cargo in this private port.


    "Huh?"


    "Didn''t you hear Miss Xi? She said the Cargo Manifest!" Ma Ping immediately butted in when he noticed the man''s sharp gaze towards Lyca.


    "With all due respect Miss Xi but do you understand what a manifest is?"


    Lyca lifted an eyebrow as she looked at the man. "Yes."


    "Then you should know that this is unnecessary. You are here to review the CCTV, yes? Why do you need the manifest?"


    "Are you going to give me the manifest? Or not?" Lyca asked directly. Her words made the man speechless. He couldn''t help but wonder if she just heard the words that he said.


    The manifest would show all the cargo of their clients. Why would Lyca need such information when she was only here to check what happened with Boss Q and his men?

 Chapter 258: Kill and Plunder

    Chapter 258: Kill and Plunder


    "This dumb man. Miss Xi said give her the manifest! Just give her the manifest!" Ma Ping immediately turned furious. How could this Gas question Lyca''s words?


    "Alright! Alright! But I am warning you. These people are not just some people that you can offend. You can actually do whatever you want, but don''t you dare check their shipments. They have already passed the customs, and we are only waiting for them to get the shipments from here."


    Lyca didn''t say anything. She was aware that these ports were used to smuggle different types of goods to the country. Of course, most of these goods were illegals. After the man gave her the manifest, Lyca started reading it as she walked towards the base.


    Meanwhile, the other people in the territory was still unresigned after what happened earlier.


    "How dare that woman to treat us like ves? Does she think lowly of us?" Matriarch Chu couldn''t help but gnashed her teeth in anger as she thought of Lyca''s actions. She then looked at the man next to her seat. "Your brother? Is heing? You told me he could check viruses and toxins in our body? What about poisons? We needed someone expert in these types of things!"


    "He is not a toxicologist but he is bringing an expert with him. Don''t worry too much that woman would surely suffer once we found the cure for ourselves."


    "Hmph! It is normal for me to worry, I own thirty percent of the businesses here. What if that woman decides to take care of my family? Did you see the look on that woman''s face?"


    "This is why I called my people." A man with a long mustache known as Mr. Clint uttered. "After this toxicologist, it is best that we talk to my people and give them direct orders to get rid of that woman." Mr. Clint added.


    "An assassin?" Matriarch Chu immediately asked. However, Mr. Clint didn''t have the time to answer her question as two people arrived inside the room of the mansion. It was the toxicologist that they were waiting for. "Hmph! Quick! Take everyone''s blood and check, what kind of poison we have in our body!" Matriarch Chu quickly walked towards the two men who walked inside bringing their own pieces of equipment to examine their blood.


    After a few minutes, the two men already gathered everyone''s blood and immediately left so they could start with the long process of examinations.


    "Now that it was fixed, it is time to decide what to do with those people." Another man known as Mr. Jiale said. His eyes were narrowed as she looked at the huge painting of war behind Matriarch Chu''s seat. After the meeting earlier, everyone decided to continue the meeting in the Matriarch''s mansion as this was the biggest and most secure ce that they could find near the area where they had their meeting earlier.


    "Kill them, of course!" the one who answered was the first person who drank the poison earlier. "How could we let her live? She was different than her husband. If my guess is right, Q is already dead. She was only showing her fangs because she is afraid that we would attack her once we know that her husband is dead."


    "Even if he is not dead, he might be dying. Or that woman won''t do such drastic measures to suppress us!" Matriarch Chu added. These people were all old foxes. How could they ignore Lyca''s reactions earlier? Clearly, the woman seemed to be in a hurry to suppress them! Moreover, she was showing some signs of confusion from time to time. It was as if the woman knew nothing about the stuff that her husband does. "She might be good at killing but she is not very good at working with people like us." How could they let a woman in her early twenties act like that in front of them?


    "She is courting death!" The man who drank the poison first or Mr. Ko gritted his teeth. He never once thought that he would one day lower her head to someone even younger than her older daughter! This is uneptable! How could that woman even dream of suppressing someone like them who already survived in this cruel world for so long?


    "I have a suggestion!" Mr. Clint said before he smiled. Then he looked at the huge door and said, "Enter." As soon as he finished speaking two people entered the room. One is a blond woman wearing cktex clothes that perfectly hug her slim body and another is a man with long hair that was neatly tucked in a ponytail behind him. "These two are my experts. I know everyone had their own experts too. So, I suggest we make our own people attack his businesses. Then once that woman panicked, we shall attack their house."


    "I think this is a good idea!" Matriarch Chu immediately said. "But we needed to act as quick as possible. We need to surprise her and the people loyal to her." As someone who came from an old family in this City, the matriarch also had her own people that she could use to create some chaos.


    The man with a ponytail suddenly snorted, making everyone turned their heads towards him. "If you want to attack someone then don''t cause any damages to their businesses. It is better to directly kill them without damaging their property. After all, we can always plunder it and make it our own."


    "You who are you?"


    Mr. Clint immediately beamed when he heard the man speak. "This is Zar Clint, my only son. He is also the number one assassin in the Clint Family." After his father introduced him, he immediately added.


    "I mean, I heard this Q had their ownboratory that manufactures their own bullets. I have no interest in other businesses of his. You can have the clubs and restaurants as long as the Clint family will have those bullets and weapons then I am good.

 Chapter 259: Unfair!

    Chapter 259: Unfair!


    "So your Clint Family wanted to have those weapons? Do you think we are fools?" As expected, Matriarch Chu immediately frowned when she heard those words. "If we kill Q, everything that he owned would be divided among all of us! Why do you want to monopolize those weapons?"


    Everyone in this room was aware that Q had been smuggling firearms in and out of the country. Andpared to those weapons, small clubs or restaurants would never be considered equal.


    "Our Clint Family have spies outside of the Q''s residence. We are very familiar with the location which we can definitely use to our advantage. I think this is enough reason for us to get those bullets, no?" Mr. Clint smirked.


    "You "


    "Moreover, the clubs and restaurants are pretty good too. They already started opening branches in Phor City and the neighboring Ralia City. You should know that you can use this for your businesses, right?"


    "Do you think that isparable to the profits of that weapon? Q had an arsenal of poisonous weapons! Even Santa had to bid for that poison dagger! Though the two are close, it was clear that Q is treating Santa the same as all of us! This was because he knew how expensive those weapons are. In front of money, any friendships are useless!" another one chimed in. "We know that those weapons are more important than those restaurants! You should give us at least sixty percent of those weapons while you can keep the other forty percent!"


    Those people continued arguing about the possible loot that they will get once they kill Shen Qui and take over the territory. It was as if they didn''t just swallow Lyca''s poisonous tablets or saw the other patriarch being killed in front of them. In front of money and benefits, those people had forgotten all the danger that they experienced just by facing Lyca alone.


    After a few hours of meeting, the people inside the room finally reached an agreement about the loot and nned to observe first before attacking the ranch. Of course, Lyca was unaware of all of this. In fact, she was now on her way back to Shen Qui after such a tiring meeting with Shen Qui''s people in the port.


    Her head was aching as well as her stomach and she was in a terrible mood. In the meeting, Lyca discovered that Shen Qui was actually very passive when ites to opening branches outside of Kong City. Of course, he understood that Shen Qui wanted to remain lowkey and he doesn''t want to attract the attention of the Long Family.


    But this was before.


    Right now, the Long Family is already aware of Shen Qui and Lyca''s location. There is no use in always bowing his head and avoiding conflict. Because of this, Lyca decided to sort out everything in the port. It''s a good thing Gas, easily acknowledge Lyca as the new boss and immediatelyplied with what she wanted.


    In less than two hours, everyone in the port had be aware of the changes that Lyca wanted and started calling their special clients who use their ports to smuggle goods, informing them of the change of their policy.


    Lyca had spent a lot of time talking, listening, and thinking that right now, she felt her head was about to burst, her energy totally depleted. She couldn''t even remember when was thest time she had an actual good sleep! Or when was thest time she had food? Or when was thest time she had Shen Qui!?


    This is unfair!


    Lyca startedining inwardly.


    How could she allow this to continue? She truly needed people to help her out with sorting things out! Because of this, she called Cleo and Rue and asked them to report to the ranch. Those two women should understand her feelings and agree to help her out. Moreover, Lyca was also nning to attack Lord Olfan in the next few days. And well Lord Olfan and Cleo had a very deep history.


    After arriving at the house, Lyca quickly checked the time and realized that it was already ten in the evening. She let out a yawn before letting the other five people know that she wanted to sleep as she walked towards their room. When Lyca saw Ronan outside of the door, a sharp sigh escaped her lips.


    "One day, " Ronan uttered. "And you already killed the mayor and one lord. I wonder what would happen if you be the leader for a week?" What would happen to Kong City if Lyca would decide work ''harder''?


    "I need food and sleep," she answered, ignoring his previous words.


    "Santa was able to convince Ghost Rider''s family that someone wanted to make a change in this Kong City. That someone seemed to have a grudge with the mayor, deciding to kill the mayor and starting to kill the Lords that is as powerful as the mayor." Ronan sigh. He never thought that Lyca would actually have the guts to kill the mayor and Ghost Rider. Isn''t she afraid that she would be the number one enemy in this City?


    "I''m in a bad mood."


    "That is pretty obvious," Ronan uttered. "Q is doing good, by the way. He woke up around noon but slept again after having his lunch. Miraculously, his body is healing so fast, even the doctors were surprised." He gave Lyca a suspicious look. These changes started when Lyca was with the boss alone. He couldn''t help but wonder if she had some wonder tablet that would make someone heal faster than normal people.


    "It''s a miracle," she said and continued walking towards the door.


    "Oh, the doctor said" Ronan made a deliberate paused as Lyca halted her steps.


    "He said what?"


    "That Q is not allowed to do any strenuous activities in the next week."


    "WEEK? I thought its only forty-eight hours?" Lyca uttered before clicking her tongue. "Whatever, I will sleep." She waved her hand and left Ronan alone outside of the room.

 Chapter 260: Handcuffs and Whips

    Chapter 260: Handcuffs and Whips


    When Lyca arrived inside the room, her cid expression immediately changed. Her face darkened, her hand clenched into tight fists. Turns out, even her spiritual energy wasn''t enough to immediately heal Shen Qui. ording to Ronan, the man only lost a lot of blood. Her spiritual energy should be enough to make him recover.


    Sadly, this was not the case.


    Lyca squinted at the man silently lying on the bed. Unlike earlier, Shen Qui no longer had the tubes around him. His breathing looked peaceful too. However, his face was still pale. While Lyca knew that recovering from losing a lot of blood is not easy, she was confident that using her energy to help him out should have made the situation better.


    His healing would be faster, his body would recover at a very fast pace, even doctors would have a hard time believing it. Lyca''s feet took her in front of Shen Qui, her hand immediately held his pulse. For a few seconds, she closed her eyes as she started thinking.


    The difference between this world and her previous world was still astounding. If her guess was right, the reason why the recovery was a bit slower was that they are in this world. There is simply no Mana on this Earth. The people here cannot use magic, and even their bodies are far weaker than the normal human in her previous world.


    She slowly put Shen Qui''s hand on top of his stomach and sigh. She wanted to just lie down next to him and sleep. But she soon realized that her body had the stenched of blood and death. How could she expose him to such negative energy? She frowned and decided to take a quick bath before lying next to Shen Qui to sleep.


    When Lyca woke up, she wasn''t surprised to see that Shen Qui was still asleep. At least, this time, his face a not that palepared to earlier. He looked more alive. Lyca looked at the time and realized that she had been asleep for more than ten hours. It was already nine in the morning. She sat next to Shen Qui and stared at his beautiful face.


    Actually, Lyca was not dumb. She knew the reason why Shen Qui didn''t want her to know about the dangerous circumstances that he was in. The man must have feared that she would suddenly fall asleep and not wake up again. While she knew this was foolish, she couldn''t deny that shepletely understand his point of view. After all, this man is a lovesick fool. Just like her.


    Lyca shivered at the thought. She shouldn''t be thinking about love in front of a wounded man, right? Another sigh escaped her lips. She had wasted a lot of time thinking about her emotions, fighting all the reasons inside her brain, and telling herself that this is simply lust. It was sex nothing more. In the end, she had epted her fate. She was in love.


    Lyca slowly got out of the bed and changed her clothes before leaving the room. As expected, Ronan was already outside, waiting for her. "Do you ever sleep?" she asked while walking towards Shen Qui''s office.


    "This is an emergency! How could you increase the fees in the ports? People areining!"


    "That''s an emergency?" Lyca''s face instantly turned cold. Is this the life that Shen Qui had every day? It was so early in the morning, and she was already facing someone''sint! How could she start her day with a smile if something like this happens every day? "I am hungry," she walked towards the kitchen instead. She was originally nning to grab Shen Qui''sptop before going to the kitchen, but Ronan''s words immediately ruin her mood. Now all she needed to do is eat! Or she might identally kill someone whose name starts with R!


    Lyca reached the kitchen while grumbling. Then she immediately rummaged through the fridge, grabbed some eggs and sandwiches before making herself some egg sandwich with a lot of cheese. The action was too quick that it didn''t take her five minutes to finish everything, including eating her food.


    "That You should eat more." Ronan suddenly uttered after a few minutes of watching Lyca in the kitchen. "If Boss Q knows that you aren''t eating properly, he would surely"


    "Isn''t this his fault?" Lyca hissed and sent him an annoyed face. If Shen Qui just told her about the problem with the mayor, if he wasn''t too scared to put her in danger, this wouldn''t happen! That is simply the case! Rtionships are also partnerships! How could they consider themselves partners when the man was too scared to harm her?


    Of course, this was all inside her mind. While a part of her felt angry, Lyca still understood his point. Still, this Shen Qui needed some punishment! "I need handcuffs." She said before shoving another sandwich inside her mouth. "And blindfolds, I might need some whip too!"


    "" Ronan shivered when he heard Lyca''s words, but he didn''t answer. He couldn''t help but wonder why was she so mad. Shen Qui was the one wounded, isn''t it better to just take care of him until he heals? Why does this woman want to handcuff him? Was she really nning on whipping someone wounded?


    Lyca finished her food and left the kitchen, this time, with the silent Ronan along. Until now, Ronan still couldn''t help but wonder how cruel Lyca was. What kind of wife would whip her almost dead husband? Ronan couldn''t help but stay quiet until they reached Shen Qui''s office.


    Of course, he would never understand why Lyca was really angry. Aside from the fact that Shen Qui is wounded, she also needed to manage everything! Meaning, she needed to work hard and use a lot of her energy! This This is preposterous! Until now, Lyca just wanted to finish everything and have Shen Qui wake up so he could take over.


    "Alright, tell me everything!" Lyca said as she nced at the huge TV that was across the couch. The TV actually had all the CCTV''s around the ranch. Lyca was calmly observing the whole ce on that TV.


    "Well, people areining. They are threatening to "


    "Tell them to get the hell out of my port!" In the first ce, they aren''t earning that much money from these private yachts and shipments! Their money is from the weapons! Not from these rich people who think that they are on top of the food chain just because they have money.


    "This " Ronan gave Lyca aplicated look. As expected, she doesn''t know how to do business at all! Lyca might be good at killing, but when ites to businesses "I don''t think Boss Q would like that."


    Lyca snorted and started slouching on the chair. Then she raised both of her feet and rested them on the table, her posture was extremely rxed andzy. It made Ronan wonder if she was actually serious. "Your boss was too kind. Where is he now?" Shen Qui was managing a territory, but his head was still lowered because he doesn''t want to offend any rich family! If her guess was right, this was because Shen Qui thought that they aren''t strong enough.


    After all, three years was just too short to establish their own power and authority. Well, that was before she woke up. Right now, Lyca is awake. There are different methods to earn money using her knowledge. Moreover, the people that she had been training are showing huge potentials. In a few months, they would have thirty new experts in killing. "Alright," Ronan nodded. "I will tell Gas about it. Also, here is the list that you wanted. The list of names of the Families in that council. This includes the heirs and their current businesses."


    "Hmmm." Lyca stared at the file and started reading it. Herzy self was telling her to finish this task as soon as possible so she could proceed to the next, then finally rest. At this time, Lyca didn''t understand that in this line of work, the word rest doesn''t really exist.


    After a few minutes of studying. Lyca started smiling. She wasn''t an expert in scheming, but she could immediately see someone who was hiding their strength in one nce. "Investigate these three families. Clint, Chu, and this Arnold Yun. I want it done before the day ends."


    "Why?" Ronan couldn''t help but ask. These three families were actually the families that don''t give them any trouble at all! Why try to provoke someone that is considered their ally?


    "Just do it," Lyca shrugged and gave him back the files. "It''s important. You can find me in theboratory."


    "Lab? But Boss Q would need your help in" Ronan wasn''t able to finish his words as Lyca was already outside of the office, smiling excitedly like a kid who just received candy.

 Chapter 261: Chip

    Chapter 261: Chip


    Lyca looked at Lai Su, unimpressed. The first reason why she wanted to work with this man was because of his previous aplishments in radioactive energy which she could easily exploit for her own gains. Second, Lai Su had an obsessive personality. This personality would make the old man work and work until he achieves his goal. However, from Lyca''s perspective, this second reason also had a negative side.


    He wouldn''t stop working! He would work forgetting about sleeping and eating! "You look like a zombie." She said. "When was thest time you had a good night''s sleep?"


    Lai Su looked at Lyca and lifted his eyebrow. Does she know that she too, looked like a zombie? "I had a breakthrough on the research that you gave me thest time that we went to Long City. This could clearly help the medical field! Here! Here! Look at this! Come! Quickly!" When Lai Su realized that Lyca was ignoring him, he tried to approach the peculiar woman again. "You know, we can always use this to create something that could permanently kill cancer cells! If that happensYou aren''t interested in this research, are you?"


    "I am not interested." She gave him an honest answer. In the first ce, she already threw away this research as she realized that it wouldn''t make her create a path back to her previous world. Second, what does cancer had to do with her? She wasn''t some hero who had the intention to save all cancer patients, alright.


    Moreover, this would only add a new burden to Lyca.


    "You really I don''t know what is in your head. This is a breakthrough In the medical field! Once we " Unable to stop himself, Lai Su dragged Lyca towards the room so she could change her suit into something that would protect her from the small radiation in another room. When she saw that Lyca actually followed him inside the room, Lai Su started beaming. "Look at this!"


    "A chip?" In front of Lyca was a small chip that resembled a small thin bulb. It was about half the diameter of her pinky finger and was about an inch long.


    "This  We could insert this in the body. It could potentially kill cancer cells. Of course, I am only experimenting on rats and not on humans so I can''t really tell if it''s effective on humans. So far, I used ten rats with cancer and eight of them actually had the damaged cells dissolved by this chip. The other two were quite old so the effects aren''t too "


    "Can we make this smaller?" Lyca suddenly uttered, interrupting Lai Su.


    "Small? Smaller? Of Of course but "


    "Can we make this explode?"


    Lai Su''s face change. As expected! He already expected that this peculiar woman would ask this question! "Yes If we change ehem just a little tweaking can make them explode. But the nuclei were unstable so, it will be very dangerous. Of course, the damage would be smallerpared to atomic bombs, but the explosion would be enough to kill someone." Lai Su couldn''t help but sigh inwardly.


    He already knew that this woman''s goal is different than his goal and yet, he still couldn''t stop himself from working with her. Why? You ask? Because of her knowledge. Lyca might be a little sadistic but her knowledge far surpassed his own brains. In front of an existence like that, Lai Su was truly helpless.


    "Then tweak it," Lyca said and turned her back as she walked out of the room. "Send me the finished product so I can enhance it."


    "Enhance enhance? What are you nning to do?" he quickly followed her and the two of them discarded their suit before walking towards Lyca''s personalb.


    "I will find a way to control it." Lyca smiled. This is a small microchip with a power of a small atomic bomb. Of course, she wanted to y around with it! "Congrattions on your research. You should move to the next phase and "


    "No." Lai Su''s huge smile vanished, and it was quickly reced by a frown. "I am not going to announce this research to the world. I''m fine with knowing that I can seed. I don''t need any more recognition."


    Lyca stared at the older man before shrugging. She wasn''t really surprised that Lai Su would choose to hide his aplishments after he was used by big pharmaceuticalpanies in the past. "Alright then since you don''t want to save people. Just help me make something to kill them." She said before she gestured him to leave her alone and get some rest. The man had been working nonstop in making chemicals that they could use in their bullets before sending them to their people who create those bullets. This was all on top of his own achievements in research.


    Lyca sigh as she looked at the vials with different colored liquids. She had actually used a lot of her poisons that she needed to replenish her supplies.After making sure that she is wearing all the right suit, Lyca immediately grabbed some tongs and beakers to start with her experiments.


    Lyca knew that the whole day won''t be enough if she wanted to create poisonous tablets. She would need a week to finish everything. Moreover, it seems that her otherponents such as venoms and toxins were running low. So, she needed to make a trip to the ck market to personally purchased everything.


    Ah, she really needed to do a lot of stuff. Just thinking about it is making her feel tired. Soon after, the thick smell of boiling toxins started to spread inside the room as Lyca started to process more ingredients using her internal energy. After four hours inside theb, Ronan personally came to inform her that Shen Qui is already awake. Of course, despite being too angry, Lyca still froze and immediately ended what she was doing to see her husband.


    She only wanted to scold him, alright? She swore! That was all!

 Chapter 262: Stretching

    Chapter 262: Stretching


    However, when Lyca reached the door towards the master''s bedroom, all the thoughts in her mind disappeared. It was as if an invincible force erased all the anger that she had inside her. All the irritation vanished and was somehow reced by an unexinable emotion. Her forehead creased as she looked at the knob of the door. She couldn''t help but wonder why was she nervous.


    She should be mad! Angry and irritated! She was already nning to scold him, her script waspleted, even her facial reactions were prepared in advance. Howe, she wasn''t angry now? Instead, she felt nervous? What kind of logic is this?


    "Hoh!" Lyca patted her chest, trying her best to calm her racing heart. Her hands had be cold, sweaty even, as her heart continued to drum against her chest. She closed her eyes and thought about the different emotions that she was feeling right now.


    She was a bit happy and worried. Of course, she was excited to see him. The anger that she felt earlier already vanished, and it wasn''t showing any signs ofing back. With her hands still closed, Lyca started jumping up and down. She needed to calm down and thought maybe some light stretching would help her.


    She put her hand on her hips and started stretching. "Hoh!" This should do it, Lyca smiled before she opened her eyes. However, the smile on her face froze when she saw Shen Qui standing by the door, smiling at her. "You Why are you here?" she stuttered.


    "Why are you nervous?"


    Lyca frowned before she realized that this situation is wrong. Was she hallucinating? She immediately wondered if the chemicals that she had been handling earlier made their way into her nose. Was she high? How could Shen Qui stand there? Sheughed and said, "Good try, brain. Good try." She closed her eyes and opened them again before she started blinking rapidly.


    "Are you alright?"


    Shen Qui''s soft voice made her froze. Her eyes immediately flew open as her face sunk. This was real! "Howe you are standing here? Go inside! What the hell? How could you even stand? That damn Ronan said you needed a week to recover!" She mumbled and helped him back to the bed.


    She was too busy mumbling that she failed to notice the smile on Shen Qui''s face. He sat on the bed and smiled at her. "And you believe Ronan?"


    Lyca''s expression instantly changed, her eyes narrowed. That''s right. How could she believe Ronan? She was about to curse that man when she noticed some blood on his leg. Like a fish out of the water, Lyca opened her mouth but quickly closed it again when she realized that saying something to this stubborn guy is useless. She shook her head. "I am calling the doctors." She uttered.


    "No need. Just a little blood won''t kill me." A wry smile appeared on his face.


    "Dummy! It will affect the sheets! What about my bed?" she hissed and immediately went out of the room to call Ronan and the doctor. Then she stood, leaning against the wall just a few feet away from their bed as she watched the doctor changed the dressing of his wound.


    Just like Shen Qui had said, there is actually no need to worry. The wound was healing perfectly, and he should be out in bed after a few days. However, this wasn''t the reason why Lyca was angry. This man''s stubbornness actually knows no bounds! Howe he was still acting like he wasn''t wounded? "Exin yourself?" This time, Lyca''s face was truly serious.


    "About the bed?" he asked, lifting an eyebrow. Despite the doctor''s insistence, Shen Qui was still sitting calmly on the bed.


    "Why did you get up like that? You know that it would only worsen the wound!"


    "You took too long to enter. So I got worried."


    "" She frowned. All the nervousness that she felt earlier was no longer there. "I was praying."


    Shen Qui only gave her a mischievous smile before he patted the space next to him. In response, Lyca rolled her eyes and sat on the bed. "You got careless."


    "I did," Shen Qui said before he suddenly rested his head on her shoulder. Of course, there was an obvious difort as Lyca was obviously smaller than him. Seeing this, Lyca shook his head and folded her right arm around his neck then she slowlyy on the bed with Shen Qui and made him rest his head on her arms, instead. "I''m sorry," Shen Qui''s words weren''t loud, his voice was soft and gentle. For some reason, it seemed to diffuse all her irritations and the curses that she was nning to say a while ago.


    In the end, Lyca sighed and pulled him closer towards her chest, her other arm wrapped around his head.


    "I''m sorry," Shen Qui''s words echoed again. This time, his voice was lower as if he was trying to stop himself from crying.


    "You should be," Lyca said. "If you die, I would be a widow at twenty-four. People will think I''m cursed or something." Shen Qui chuckled in response, but he said nothing. Lyca immediately added. "And working in the port is tiring, the heat is killing me, plus handling people is not something I am very good at."


    "It''s not hot, it''s December."


    "Oh, right." Lyca chuckled. "You should recover fast and take over. I can''t continue working like this. It''s too troublesome."


    "Hmmm. It''s not even a week and you are alreadyining."


    Lyca pursed her lips before she turned towards him and kissed his forehead. The two stayed in each other arms without saying anything. Aside from their calm breathing, the room was engulfed in a cozy silence that would make anyone sleep. For a few minutes Shen Qui bath in Lyca''s warmth before he realized that she had been too silent.


    He immediately lifted his head and soon realized that she was already sleeping. His movement made her eyshes fluttered, but she didn''t open her eyes.


    "I thought I''m the patient here?" Shen Qui said, amusementced her tone.


    "Who told you that?" Lyca surprisingly answered with her eyes closed. Then she suddenly pulled him into a tight hug. "Just stay like this, while I sleep. My body heat is enough to heal you."


    ""

 Chapter 263: Compensate Me

    Chapter 263: Compensate Me


    Sleeping was something that she needed. But she soon realized that she needed him more than any sleep in this world. Lyca opened her eyes after a few seconds, as she smiled at him. She was really bad with words and she wasn''t so used to saying what she felt inside. However, she was certain that what she felt when she discovered that something happened to him was. Fear.


    She was scared of losing him.


    She wasn''t really angry. She was scared that she would lose the only person stubborn enough to stand by her side even if she was different. Lyca soon closed her eyes again before finally falling asleep.


    Lyca and Shen Qui woke up an hourter. This time, she insisted to cook something healthy for him. Lyca personally made some nourishing porridge with a few meat dishes.


    "Don''t mind the taste. These are all nourishing food. It will help with your wound."


    "" Shen Qui eyed the dark looking porridge in front of him before dragging his gaze back to her. "What is it?" He was sure that this was the first time he saw a porridge that looked evil. Of course, Shen Qui knew this wasn''t poison.


    "It''s a mixture of different stuff." She rolled her eyes and sat on the bed, calmly using a spoon to scoop some porridge and holding it towards Shen Qui. "Not Poison."


    "Of course, I know it''s not poison. But you know it''s ck."


    Irritation shed in her eyes. "Are you going to eat?"


    "Eat? Of course, I will eat!" Helpless, Shen Qui opened his mouth and swallowed the porridge from the spoon. Surprisingly, the dark food actually tasted good! Shen Qui widened his eyes before he waited for her to give him another spoonful of the porridge, sadly, Lyca didn''t move at all and just stared at him. "More."


    "Can''t you feed yourself?" she asked. "Ronan said you didn''t receive anything that would make you cripple."


    Seeing her narrowed eyes, Shen Qui chuckled. "Just feed me. I am the patient here."


    "A patient who can walk even when wounded? You are lucky I already cooked for you."


    Shen Qui onlyughed and suddenly held her hand. Because of the lighting of the room, Lyca''s face was shadowed, hiding the emotions in her eyes. However, Shen Qui knew that she wasn''t upset. At least not anymore. "I already said I''m sorry."


    "There are three steps in an apology, you dummy!"


    "I acknowledge my fault." Shen Qui added. "I won''t do it again."


    "I would remember this mistake forever," Lyca suddenly uttered. Funny how a woman''s brain always acts like aputer when ites to mistakes like this. She was certain she would remember this until they grow old.


    "Aren''t you toozy for that?"


    "Not when ites to you!" Lyca said before realizing that she actually blurted out something that is so out of her character. She immediately cleared her throat. "You are right, I am toozy for that. Let''s just forget everything."


    Shen Qui onlyughed at her awkward appearance. Seeing this, he started to eat the porridge and the meat. "How about you? Ronan said you haven''t eaten anything since yesterday."


    Lyca only snorted. As expected, that Ronan was actually a spy! "I had some sandwich. But this is only temporary, once you are healed, you canpensate me with food." And your body, she wanted to add. But immediately realized it was VERY inappropriate. Especially when she was still talking to a wounded man.


    "I can''t cook. "


    "Then boil some eggs!" Lyca uttered. This man was truly foolish, she thought. "And stop walking around anytime you want to. I am toozy to care for you."


    "Yes, ma''am." Shen Qui onlyughed. "I should honestlypensate when I get better."


    "There''s a lot of trauma involve in this ident." Lyca continued while watching him eat his food. Just seeing this man''s sparkling eyes was enough to lighten her mood. Stupid love! She cursed inwardly. "First, I now have trust issues. I can no longer trust you to handle business. Second, I had trauma when I came inside and realized there was a smell of blood everywhere. Third." Of course, Lyca had to tell him everything using her trauma as an excuse, even her trauma in shooting someone in the head was included in this long list of traumatizing events. In the end, Lyca had to catch her breath for talking too much. "That was eleven traumatizing events. I needpensation."


    The smile on her face soon vanished when she saw Shen Qui''s serious expression. Almost immediately, her brain was telling her that Shen Qui was upset about how she handled stuff when he was sleeping. Contrary to her expectations, Shen Qui sigh and stroked her hand before lifting it and kissing the back of her palm. "You worked so hard. Good job."


    "" Lyca instantly pulled her hand away. "I was working hard for you so you need topensate!"


    "Once I''m healed, I will definitelypensate fifty times what I owe you."


    She frowned. For some reason, she felt that this man was talking about something else that he owed her. However, how could she say no? Lyca only nodded. "Good, as long as you know."


    After a few more minutes, Shen Qui finally finished his food. Lyca immediately put the dishes back into the kitchen and went back only to see Shen Qui sleeping again. Shaking her head, Lyca could only stare at the man. At least the medicine that she secretly put on the porridge already started working. She stood next to Shen Qui''s sleeping frame and smiled before leaning down to kiss his forehead. "You better heal yourself faster. You owe me a lot." She said before silently leaving the room so she could once again take care of her toxins.


    "Xi, do you have some time?" Ronan suddenly appeared next to her. It doesn''t need some guessing to know that he had been waiting for her.


    "No."


    "It''s about the council. I believe they are going to send some people to attack us." Ronan uttered and sigh when Lyca finally stopped walking. However, contrary to his expectations, Lyca only said. "I know." Before she started walking again.

 Chapter 264: Detonate

    Chapter 264: Detonate


    "What do you mean you know?" Ronan frowned. "What does that mean? Are we prepared if theye here? This ranch is on the outskirts of Kong City. This belongs to Santa''s territory. That man might not help us in case an attack happens. " Santa and Boss Q had a good rtionship but it wasn''t to the point that one would want to offend all the powers in this city to protect the other.


    After all, this rtionship was purely businesslike. It wasn''t personal at all!


    "Let theme," Lyca said as she stood at the door of herb. "Just buy enough body bags." She turned towards Ronan. "Don''t disturb me. I am very busy." She still had a lot of toxins to process and Lyca couldn''t really ask Lai Su about this matter simply because he wasn''t trained at all! Toxins and venoms are very dangerous. "I will be out in four hours," Lyca uttered and went inside herb without waiting for Ronan''s answer.


    Four hours should be enough time toplete at least half of her remaining work. Then, she was nning to cook something for Shen Qui to make him sleep again. After that, she needed to sort out some stuff with Cleo and Rue as well as Ma Ping and hispany. Then, she can finally talk to Ronan about this attack.


    Ronan could only sigh as he stared nkly at the door. Lyca and Shen Qui were truly opposites. While the boss liked to n ahead, Lyca is clearly nonchnt and had her own way of handling things. Of course, he knew that both people have very effective methods. Still, Ronan would prefer Shen Qui''s nning more than Lyca''s. After all, he was someone who prefers nning too.


    After a few minutes of standing there, Ronan realized that Lyca doesn''t really have a n on talking to him right now. So, he walked back towards hisputer room to check all the details that Lyca wanted to have earlier. However, he still couldn''t help but wonder about the things that Lyca was doing in thatb.


    Ronan remembered how Lai Su told him that he was already in hisst stage of research which was obviously about radioactive energy. This made him wonder if Lyca was the person who wanted Lai Su to do the research. If that is the case then was she nning to create a nuclear bomb!?


    Ronan stopped walking. How could that woman create something so dangerous? He looked back at theb, wondering if he would ask her about it. In the end, he realized that Lyca would probably not tell him anything even if he politely asked her. She would be toozy to exin. Therefore the best course of action would be to asked Shen Qui!


    With this in mind, Ronan tried to knock on Lyca and Shen Qui''s door. Unfortunately for him, Shen Qui was sleeping and couldn''t hear him.


    Meanwhile, Lyca was staring at the chip that Lai Su created. "It''s done?"


    "Yes, just as you instructed."


    "But it''s only half a day? Howe it''s already done?" She was honestly expecting him to use a week at most to adjust theponents of her small bomb. After all, he can''t rush things when ites to these radioactive materials.


    "This is what I have been doing in thest few years of my life. I didn''t change anything aside from the number ofponents inside. Instead of targeting the cells, it would be big enough to target the whole body instead. Once this chip would enter the body, through the mouth and would be exposed to stomach acids, it would slowly dissolve and once theponents inside will be exposed in the acid it will explode." Lai Su said. "I haven''t tried it though."


    "So, it will explode in minutes? What about the surrounding people? Are they going to be exposed to radiation too?"


    "Of course! That is obviously the case."


    "Hmmm," Lyca continued staring at the chip like a tablet. This tablet could be very dangerous as it would also expose everyone to radiation. The best course of action is to use this while she wasn''t with her target. Meaning, she couldn''t use this product carelessly or when she was torturing people. "Then, I want you to create more chips like this."


    "Without the radioactiveponents?"


    "Yes."


    "Are you nning to put something else in " Lai Su didn''t continue his words when he met Lyca''s eyes. "Alright, I will do it."


    "If youck funds"


    "I have a lot of funds, no need to worry about this." All the stuff that Lyca earned when she was pretending to be Xi was used to buy materials. Moreover, there was also the percentage from the bullets. Shen Qui said that this was Lyca''s share because she basically created it. Those bullets were bought by clients overseas! And it was said that their list of clients was actually increasing every week! Meaning, Lyca''s share was also increasing. How could theyck funds?


    "Alright, you have to apany me tomorrow. I am buying some more materials."


    "Alright!" Lai Su''s enthusiastic voice was the exact opposite of what he felt inside. To be honest, Lai Su doesn''t want to leave this ce anymore. He doesn''t feel the need to go out and look at the world. To him, thisboratory was enough. However, In front of Lyca, he simply couldn''t say no.After a few minutes, Lai Su left Lyca alone as he needed to start making this chip like tablets.


    "Poisons," Lyca mumbled as she looked at the chip. In her previous world, there is no such thing as technology so using stuff like this was not possible. However, this world is different. With the help of technology, Lyca could actually create a bomb like a tablet that is full of toxins!


    He could basically let everyone drink it and just detonate it once they offend her!


    With this in mind, Lyca started smiling.

 Chapter 265: Camera Lens

    Chapter 265: Camera Lens


    Just as Lyca promised, she went outside of theb after four hours. Then, she immediately started cooking for Shen Qui. Seeing this, Ronan had nothing to say. How could he try to stop her from cooking for her own husband? He could only watch as Lyca expertly cut some chicken and vegetables.


    "Didn''t know you could cook," Rue said as she sat at the counter of the kitchen. Ronan and her watched Lyca add different ingredients to the pot. "Why is it ck?" she immediately asked.


    "You can leave me alone," Lyca answered almost immediately without looking at the two.


    "That " Rue met Ronan''s eyes before she chuckled. "Ronan is here to ask you about that attack." Rue continued. Her brother immediately facepalmed when he heard her words. He asked Rue''s help to approach Lyca because he thought that Lyca and Rue were a little close! He was honestly expecting Rue to say something nice and ask Lyca about her cooking and ingredients! Maybe even asked her about her hairstyle!


    However, Rue decided to just be direct.


    "Attack?" Lyca finally removed her gaze from the pot. "They won''t do it now. They are still trying to figure out how to get it. By now, they already know that the house outside is not really a house but simply the entrance. They are looking for someone to crack the code, probably a hacker. Let''s give them three days to a week."


    "Really?" Ronan immediately frowned when he heard Lyca''s words. Logic would dictate that they will attack as soon as possible because they would think Shen Qui is dead or is dying. They don''t want to wait for a few days and let Shen Qui recover. They would want to make sure that Shen Qui is already dead before doing all their evils deeds in the territory.


    However, instead of answering their questions, Lyca asked, "Do you have the thing that I asked?"


    "The files? Yes, it''s here." Ronan gave a table to Lyca. "Chu Family is a family that is only lead by women. All their husbands take theirst names and all their children have thest name, Chu. It''s a pretty peculiar family. They originally came from." Ronan immediately started exining the origins of the Chu Family as well as their businesses while Lyca nodded.


    "Seems like they own a big business not just in this city but the whole region." Lyca nodded while checking out the file inside the tablet. "As expected. Now tell me about the Clint Family and that guy Arnold Yun?" Of course, she was toozy to read the origins of this family while cooking. She only checked their businesses and the members of their families. Then she said, "The attack should be instigated by one of these families. I want to create a trap."


    "Trap? What trap?" Ronan frowned


    "Are we killing some of these ns?" Rue couldn''t help but ask. These families were considered old families in Kong City. Their businesses are huge and they own a lot of properties in and outside of the city. Moreover, their influence is pretty vast too! How could they kill someone like that?


    "What are we going to do?" Ronan asked when Lyca didn''t answer him.


    "Do?" Lyca lifted an eyebrow. "For now, go get Cleo and wait for me in Q''s office. While I I will go ahead and fed my husband." She said and turned her attention back at her food. Seeing her busily add some spices, Rue and Ronan could only shake their heads as they wondered why Lyca was not taking this seriously. Isn''t she worried that their people would get killed? Isn''t she worried that they would breach this ce?


    In the end, the two could only leave while Lyca started humming a song that no one in this world knew.


    After a few minutes, Lyca finally finished her food and prepared two bowls for her and Shen Qui. She then went inside the room and smiled at her husband who was still yawning. This medicine can only make people sleep for about four hours so, she was certain that by the time she finished cooking, Shen Qui is already awake.


    Shen Qui immediately sat on the bed when he saw her walk in. However, before he could say anything, Lyca''s words already echoed inside the room.


    "Don''t think too much. I am just hungry so I made something for myself too."


    Amusement shed in Shen Qui''s eyes as he nodded then he let her set the table and the food on the bed. "What is this dish?" He asked before pursing her lips. "Nevermind. Looks delicious."


    "Liar." Sheughed. It''s ck. There is simply no way that it would look appetizing.


    "I mean you, silly."


    Lyca immediately felt blood rushed on her neck. Before she snorted. "Big words, Mr. Shen. Big words." A mischievous glint can be seen in her eyes.


    In response, he gave her a boyish grin. "I''m stating a fact."


    Lyca only red at the man. This man was truly a temptress! Her eyes focused on his lips and soon trailed downwards into his neck. She watched as his Adam''s apple bobbed while drinking the soup. It was as if, her eyes turned into a camera lens that suddenly focused on his moistened lips and the fluttering of his longshes.


    There it was again. That familiar twisting in her stomach.


    Lyca could only curse inwardly as she suddenly grabbed the bowl and directly drank the soup, forgetting the fact that it was hot. Of course, it was toote when she realized this matter. "Aw! Aw!" She abruptly put the bowl back and hissed. She just burnt her tongue!


    "Hey! Are you alright?" Concern shed in Shen Qui''s eyes as he moved the table away from the bed and held Lyca''s face. "Did you burn your tongue?" He said, not realizing that he had already pulled her face closer to his and that her mind was already in a mess. "Does it hurt?" he asked.


    "It will," Lyca answered. "If you won''t kiss me."


    ...


    Don''t forget to vote for the novel.

 Chapter 266: Perfect Timing

    Chapter 266: Perfect Timing


    And the kiss that she wanted, happened.


    Sadly, she couldn''t demand more than that.


    This was the reason why she was once again in a very bad mood right now. It was already evening and the medicine that she put on Shen Qui''s soup was already working. Lyca could only stare at her husband''s sleeping frame while shaking her head.


    She didn''t want to kiss him as she knew the other side of her might suddenly turn berserk. Oh well, it was worth it, she concluded before making sure that he wasfortable. Then Lyca left the room.


    She walked towards Shen Qui''s office while silently chastising herself for being too easily distracted.


    "Xi!" Cleo was the first one who greeted her when she walked inside Shen Qui''s office. Lyca smiled at Cleo in response before nodding at the twins. She eyed the CCTV that was on the huge TV before finally walked towards the table.


    "I am tired, I will get straight to the point," Lyca said as she sat on the leather chair. "I killed Ghost Rider and is now going to target Lord Olfan''s territory." This time, she eyed Cleo who immediately turned pale.


    "You Olfan Juan Jose" Cleo''s voice shook as she used her hand to cover her mouth. "You are nning to take care of Juan Jose?"


    Lyca stared at Cleo''s pale appearance. This woman''s history with that man is the reason why she had to gather the four of them before making a decision. Seeing Cleo''s trembling hands, Lyca immediately signaled the other two to leave the room. "Sit." Unlike the twins, Cleo was standing by the firece earlier. "We need to talk."


    Cleo didn''t say anything as she found herself following Lyca''s words. "You are "


    "This is the image of your son. He is staying in Mexico. We already have people in the area. We could have a rescue operation anytime." This information was something that Cleo already know about a year ago. However, she didn''t ask Shen Qui to help her rescue her son. She only asked them for some images every now and then.


    "And tell him what?" Cleo asked, tears were already streaming in her eyes. Just the thought of seeing her son scared her. Of course, this emotion was something that she just realized a few years back. Half of her wanted to have her son and yet the other half have been telling her that it would not be fair.


    She wasn''t as rich as his father, or as influential. How could she provide for her son? How could she give him the life that he had now? Unable to stop herself, Cleo let her emotions pour as she cried. She doesn''t care if Lyca wouldugh at her stupidity or sneer at her sudden changes. After all, Lyca helped her out before, with the promise that she would help Cleo find her son. And now that they finally found him, Cleo was the one who turned into a coward. Not wanting to see her son just because she was too afraid.


    "I am not good with emotions," Lyca said. She honestly didn''t know how to handle a crying mother like this. She gulped. "So, you don''t want me to kill your ex?" Cleo had been a teenager when that Juan Jose Cozo or Olfan, became her husband. Despite all the abuse, Cleo thought that she loved him and only had the guts to leave him when it was already toote.


    "I "


    "We had a deal," Lyca uttered. She specifically helped Cleo out because of her grudge against Olfan. At that time, Olfan was already a huge influence in this City and even in the whole region. Without Lyca, Cleo wouldn''t have survived for too long. Lyca pursed her lips and stared at Cleo''s messy expression.


    "I no longer love him. However."


    "You are scared to face your son?" Lyca asked and could only sigh inwardly when Cleo nodded. "He should be about nine or ten?"


    "I Ten he should turn eleven soon." Cleo answered.


    "Can''t you tell him the truth?" Lyca was not very good when ites to kids. She just well if she could be honest, she wasn''t very fond of those younglings running around with the devilish smile on their faces. Of course, this opinion would definitely change once she already has her own child. She immediately shook the thoughts out of her head. She was too young to even think about running around with a child!


    "That I was forced to be his father''s woman, and that I foolishly fell for a man who doesn''t have the heart to love me back?"


    Lyca held her chin as she rested her elbow on the table. Juan Jose was the typical Adonis from the novels. Cold, calctive, devilishly handsome, tall, smart, rich, and involved in some criminal organizations. If Shen Qui was considered beautiful among men, that man was truly considered handsome. Sharp jaws, brown eyes, ck hair, long straight nose. It was no wonder that the teenager Cleo immediately fall in love.


    "So, you just want your son to grow up away from you?" Lyca asked. To be honest, she couldn''t do anything about this matter anymore. In fact, she honestly doesn''t know what to tell Cleo. Their personalities were so different that she doesn''t want to hurt the woman with her sharp words. After all, Cleo had been really nice to her since they met or since she saved her.


    "If that If that would make him  " Cleo''s words were interrupted when Ronan barge into the room, panic apparent in his eyes.


    "Emergency!" He gulped and didn''t even notice the crying Cleo before he continued. "Lord Olfan is here! He wanted to personally talk to you! He is waiting outside the gates with his men!" Almost immediately the temperature of the room change as a thick and suffocating silence descended into the room.


    "Talk?" Lyca lifted an eyebrow as her gazended at the frozen Cleo. The timing was too perfect. Did that man know she would soon target his territory?

 Chapter 267: Cooperation

    Chapter 267: Cooperation


    "You really love the word emergency." Lyca mused before she stood and smiled. "What are we still waiting for? Tell Lai Su to do security protocol 101. I will meet him inside the house."


    "You wanted us to release poisonous gases? What about you? Do you want to kill yourself?" Rue who was following Ronan asked. Protocol 101 is basically releasing some gas inside the house. These were really poisonous and could kill someone in seconds. How could they activate something like this while Lyca was seeing this man? "You aren''t nning on killing yourself, right?" Rue asked. "Right?"


    "You no longer look cool," Lyca answered Rue before she shrugged. "Just release it if his people would try something. Tell everyone to go as far away as possible. I won''t be able to save them in case they inhale something poisonous. Unlike her, Shen Qui''s men don''t have a way to expel this poison to their bodies. Moreover, Lyca wasn''t the type to create antidotes, after all, most of these poisons didn''t undergo any human testing. She had no way to creating an antidote that would surely work.


    The twins look at Lyca then into the still frozen Cleo before they followed Lyca''s instructions. It didn''t take too long before the whole ranch became armed and ready to receive Lord Olfan and his people.


    #####################################################################


    Despite being almost forty years old, this Lord Olfan still looked good.


    This was Lyca''s initial observation about the man who was elegantly sitting across her. He was tall, taller than her Shen Qui. His shoulders are broader too. However, Lyca felt that this mature looking guy was totally not something that she would want. Her type was definitely the fresh college graduate looking Shen Qui. "Q is not avable right now." Lyca was the first one who broke the silence before she eyed the two men standing behind Lord Olfan.


    Despite, looking so imposing with his gray tux and shiny dark shoes, Lord Olfan still had his bodyguard standing next to him. It was like he was afraid that the small woman in front of him would suddenly attack him or something.


    "I am not here for Q," As expected, even the man''s voice sounded divine too. It was deep and but not scary. In fact, this voice reminded Lyca of her father. Almost immediately, sadness shed in Lyca''s eyes before she smiled. She actually missed her parents. This should be enough motivation for her to finish these hardworking days in this city so she could finally see them again!


    "Then are you here to kill us?" Lyca asked, her straightforward tone surprised the older Lord. He chuckled in response before shaking his head.


    "I have never met someone who asked me that question and survived until the next day." He calmly said before he took a sip of the hot tea in front of him. He eyed the surrounding and ignored Lyca''s expression from his tant threat. "This ce is rather shabby for someone like Q. I presume there is an underground fortress beneath this ce?" They are currently inside a two-story house made of wood. Even the flooring was made of old wood that would asionally make a sound every time they move. Moreover, the ce doesn''t really look like it had been upied at all. It was clean, too clean.


    "Mr. Cozo," Lyca said, her face wasn''t showing a hint of fear or anger. "I presume, you are here to discuss something?" she asked. "I am a very busy person, I will give you five minutes to say whatever it is that you want to say. Or you can leave."


    "You " This time, the man standing to Lord Olfan''s left pointed at Lyca. "Who do you think you are? How dare you talk to the boss like that? You are nothing but a puny mistress and you are acting as the real boss? Take us to see Q! Or have him see us! What kind of man would actually hide behind his woman''s skirt? Such a coward!"


    Lyca lifted an eyebrow at the man as she waited for him to stop talking. "Is this how you train your dogs?" she asked the Lord. "They are barking and barking. Are they trying to die?"


    As expected, the Lord''s face changed when he heard Lyca''s words. "I am here to cooperate. But it seems that Miss Xi or shall I call you Miss Huang is currently not in the mood to talk about things calmly. This makes me wonder if Miss Huang wants to be our enemy." Lord Olfan''s tone was calm which seemed to be the exact opposite of his cold and sharp gaze that bored towards Lyca.


    "Boss, if you want I can take care of this woman! Such arrogance! This territory is new! Q is wounded and instead of asking for our help, she is threatening to kill " the man wasn''t able toplete his words as he suddenly held his neck. He opened his mouth, his eyes wide as he tried to utter another word. "Babababa" sadly, those were the only words that he was able to say. "Bababa "


    "If your dog will keep barking, the next part of his body that would be numb is his brain." Lyca smiled. This time, she sipped her tea without removing her gaze away from the Lord. She could sense that Lord Olfan already knew that she was the one who killed that stupid Ghost Rider. And that is the reason why the man didn''t just instruct his men to attack this base.


    Lord Olfan must have been trying to measure their current strength!


    "You actually harmed my men," the man sneered. "How bold."


    Lyca only responded with a low chuckle. She wasn''t the type to act against someone who is simply not worth it. However, this man actually insulted Shen Qui. How could she allow other people to insult her husband? In her mind, insulting her husband is clearly insulting her choice too! "Five minutes is almost up old man." She sent a provoking smile at the now silent guard before meeting Lord Olfan''s eyes.


    "I heard that your methods are different. But I never thought that you would be this illogical." Lord Olfan sneered. Of course, he understood where Lyca''s confidencees from. It was because they are currently in her territory. "You know, Miss Huang. Sometimes, being too aggressive is not the best choice in this field of work. But I will forgive you once as this is only because of your inexperience."


    Lyca had to stop herself fromughing at the man''s words. She couldn''t help but wonder if this man was high or he was just that confident that he would be able to intimidate Lyca. If this type of confidence worked in his previous enemies, then it only meant that those people were too weak! In the end, Lyca only shook her head. "The door is wide open, Mr. Cozo. I won''t see you out."


    "Bababab!" The guard tried to say something but his neck and tongue were already numbed. "Ba "


    "Stop it, Steven." Lord Olfan interrupted him as his expression turned serious. "I am here to talk about Ghost Rider''s Territory. I want to seize it. Right now, there are four territories in this city. I want us to kill his whole family while we divide the territory for ourselves."


    For a few seconds, Lyca blinked at him without saying anything. Did this man actually dare to threaten her before saying that he wanted to cooperate with her? "Mr. Cozo I have a question."


    "Hm?"


    "Are you awake?" Lyca asked.

 Chapter 268: Rats

    Chapter 268: Rats


    "Do you still need some time to sleep so you canplete this dream of yours?" She smiled when she saw the tinge of anger in the man''s eyes. The man''s eyes squinted at her as his lips pursed into a thin line.Lyca continued smiling. This man was known for being a killer. They say that he would never hesitate to kill someone, even if that person was rted to him. There was even a rumor that says, Olfan tortured his own father who left him and his mother when he was still a small child.


    "Good." Lord Olfan suddenly nodded. "I came here to ask for cooperation and yet you dare make fun of me. I will remember this." The man eyed his watch before staring at Lyca. "And shall I say that you will regret this action?"


    "I regret a lot of things, Mr. Cozo but this is not going to be one of them," she said, her gaze still glued at the man''s eyes. This man was rumored to be more ruthless than Santa. Moreover, his wealth is also astounding. Many businessmen would even say that this Olfan is one of the richest people in the region.


    Just as Lyca was about to tell the man to leave, her phone suddenly rung. Almost immediately, her expression changed, her face sunk. Isn''t this a signal that someone is trying to stealthily attack their base? She immediately answered the call. "I am busy."


    "Twenty people from the west another twenty from the east. Fifteen seconds before they reach the walls."


    "Take care of it. Silently." Lyca said before ending the call. For a few seconds, Lyca turned silent. This ce was located on the border of Long City and Kong City. Aside from the small group of hills that bordered it on Ralia City, this ce was basically t. Meaning, seeing people try to approach the tall walls was very easy.


    Especially if those were not really trained in covert operations. Lyca''s eyes squinted. Earlier, she already asked herself if this man''s arrival was a coincidence. It seems that she was right after all.


    This man was here for a reason.


    With this in mind, Lyca suddenly stood and went to one of the cupboards, grabbing a surgical mask and giving it to the three men including Lord Olfan.


    "What''s this?"


    "We are catching some rats," Lyca uttered. "You might not like the smell." She smiled before putting on her own mask. Then she called someone to drive them towards out and around the walls. After a few seconds, Lyca and the others finally reach the western walls and as expected, there were already bodies lying on the ground. All of them lifeless.


    Lyca calmly got out of the ck hummer and walked towards her people. She nodded at Ma Ping and Oneword before looking at the Lord who just got out of the car.


    "Big rats," Lyca said before the Lord could open his mouth to ask. She put her hands behind her back while looking at the bodies on the ground. Each of them was wearing a ck tactical suit, each had their own long firearm and some short backups. She even spotted a grenade in one of the men.


    As expected, these people were sent here to try and test their security. Lyca could only smile. It seems that the other side wasn''t aware of the security system of the ranch. Thus, they sent some sacrificembs, arming them with guns, hoping that it would reveal whatever it was that could kill them if they get too close to the four-meter wall of the ranch.


    "Miss Huang what is this?" Lord Olfan''s face was devoid of any expression. "Are you perhaps trying to scare me away?"


    "Hm?" Lyca lifted her head away from the corpses. "The Lord misunderstood." She beamed. "You are here to witness this." She didn''t hide the mischievous glint in her eyes before she asked Ma Ping. "Do we have something?"


    "We recognized one of them as someone who works with Matriarch Chu," Ma Ping gave her the tablet showing the man''s profile. However, Lyca didn''t ept the tablet, instead, she started chuckling.


    "Of course, Matriarch Chu''s people were going to be here. This was a joint operation, after all." She said before looking at Lord Olfan. "In this territory, rats and other pests are bing bolder every day. So Matriarch Chu asked my assistance to kill these rats. She said she will pay ten million in USD just to capture these big rats. She even sent her people to help out. However, it seems that these rats were really dangerous. All of them died while fighting rats, even a few of my men died too." She shamelessly shook her head making Lord Olfan Speechless. Seeing the man stare at her in a daze, Lyca continued.


    "Ma Ping, please announce this news to everyone. These people died because they were fighting rats in my ranch. Matriarch Chu said she willpensate us ten million if we help her out. However, because all of her men died, tell her I will give her a discount. Nine million in USD is not a problem anymore. Moreover, we will make a memorial for these people. These are heroes. They actually died of fighting huge rats."


    Lyca was actually expecting Ma Ping not to understand her words. To her surprise, thetter didn''t even hesitate before he nodded. "Yes, Miss Xi. I will tell Matriarch about this."


    "Don''t forget the bring the CCTV of them fighting rats just to prove that these people are brave. Tell her I am nning to release some copies online just so everyone will acknowledge their bravery. Of course, she could always buy all the videos if she wanted to release them herself. Tell her it''s another five million as the videos are in 8G. Mass producing such things are very expensive these days."


    ""


    Silence followed Lyca''s words. Everyone stared at her as if they didn''t know if they wanted tough or cry at her shamelessness.

 Chapter 269: Confused

    Chapter 269: Confused


    "Tell them, Lord Olfan saw everything and is also sending his condolences for these people''s death." She added making the Lord totally speechless.


    Lord Olfan stared at the woman as she continued giving instructions to her people. Not an iota of emotions can be seen in his face as he inwardly praised Lyca''s actions. The woman wasn''t only cunning, she was also a money-grubber. Who would have thought that Matriarch Chu would meet her match tonight? Lord Olfan''s gaze soonnded on the people lying on the ground. He didn''t smell blood when he arrived, and it was obvious that everyone didn''t have any wounds. He couldn''t help but wonder how they died. Was it some poison?


    "Yes, Miss Xi." Ma Ping''s words interrupted Lord Olfan''s thoughts.


    "Hmmm. Alright, clean up people. Don''t forget to set some traps for the rats. These rats deserve the worse death after what they did to our brothers and sisters!" Lyca righteously said before walking back towards the car. To Lord Olfan''s surprise, Lyca maintained her silence all throughout the ride as if she was really in deep thought.


    Olfan couldn''t help but wonder if Lyca already knew that he was working with Matriarch Chu this time. However, seeing the woman''s daze expression, Olfan shook his head inwardly. There''s no way that Lyca would be able to guess the real reason why he was here.


    "Mr. Cozo" Lyca suddenly said just like the car that they were riding slowly stopped in front of the house. Lyca turned her head towards him, meeting his sharp gaze. "If you continue working with them, you will suffer a great loss."


    "" The woman was threatening him again. When was thest time that someone actually threatened his business? Isn''t it during the time when that Cleo was obsessing over his son? Olfan snorted in response. "Leave us." He said.


    "Boss, are you "


    "Yes. Leave us." Olfan said. Almost immediately, his two guards got out of the car as well as the driver. "You already know that I am working with them and yet you tantly demand an exorbitant amount of money aspensation when you were the one who killed them?"


    "Would you really refute the news?" Lyca only smiled. By now, the news of Matriarch Chu''s people catching rats should have reached the Matriarch''s ears. However, she would never refute those ims. First and foremost, she would never say that those people all died after trying to sneak into the ranch. Second, refuting such ims was like saying that she really wanted to kill Shen Qui and Lyca. Third, it was like announcing to the world that she tried to rebel against the person who is guarding her business. That would only ruin the woman''s reputation.


    Lyca already knew that the woman would rather pay her millions than ruin her own reputation. She was certain that Matriarch Chu would pay her for the videos too. The smile on Lyca''s face never dimmed as she continued, "Coming in here while those people are attacking was enough for me to guess the reason why you are here. You wanted me to panic. You wanted to observe my reaction. And most importantly, you wanted to see if someone is using me to control this territory. You keep on calling me, Miss Huang. Did the Lord thought that my father was supporting me and is the one making me do all these things?" Huang Sheng Hong is more than ten years older than this man. However, Lyca had reasons to believe that they actually knew each other.


    Olfan chuckled in response. "And I got nothing." He was looking down on Lyca. She was a woman, weaker than men, dumber than men. Her emotions were her weakness just like Cleo. Women are weaker than men, and even biology itself would agree with that statement. So, why would he put this woman in his eyes?


    To him, Lyca was nothing but an angry wife. She killed Ghost Rider because she thought he was the one responsible for her husband''s ident. After all, that man had been showing his hate towards Shen Qui since the first day that they met. Then she tried to suppress the council so she could lead this territory after they finally announce Shen Qui''s passing. If his guess was right, someone else is backing this woman. That someone should be the person telling her what to do. He had guessed that it was her father Huang Sheng Hong.


    However, it seems that the woman is actually smarter than she looks.


    During the attack, Olfan was expecting this woman to panic, pale, and perhaps run away. However, she never did those things. Instead, she calmly told the person on the other line to take care of everything.


    It seems that she was really Huang Sheng Hong''s daughter.


    "At first, I was wondering if you are here to get Cleo. Or if you are here to try and kill me or everyone else." Lyca continued. "Then, I realized something. Lord Olfan never negotiates with people. He would always point a gun at someone''s head while asking them for cooperation." She made a deliberate pause as she observed the man''s reaction. "So, why would a man who obviously underestimated me try to offer a cooperation?"


    "Smart," Olfan nodded. "I already cooperated with Matriarch Chu. I, together with everyone else will take over this ce for everyone''s benefit. Struggling is pointless. It''s either you cooperate and just give me everything, or you die." Now that he already confirmed that Huang Sheng Hong is not involved in this matter, Olfan had no other reasons to dy his goal. "I want this territory, and I always get what I want."


    Lyca lifted an eyebrow before she chuckled. Soon, her low chuckle turned into a burst of full-blownughter, mockeryced her gaze. "Mr. Cozo..." Lyca didn''t continue her words as she snorted. Then she got out of the car without saying another word, making the man a bit confused. Was that it? Isn''t she going to say something frightening and intimidating? Olfan couldn''t help but frown as she stared at the woman''s back.

 Chapter 270: Retaliation

    Chapter 270: Retaliation


    Lyca immediately went back underground after Lord Olfan left. Then she immediately told everyone about her n for the uing attack. After all, those people will not give up just after losing about forty men.


    "So, you wanted us to capture them instead? Why?" Ronan asked. Isn''t it better to kill them?


    "So we can return them and demand for payment." Lyca wasn''t good in any business. But she was good at extorting someone! Since that woman wanted to hurt her then why not ask her for some extra cash before killing her? Lyca could definitely kill that woman and her cohorts alone! She doesn''t need to kill them near her territory. When she saw Ronan''s confused look, Lyca added, "For catching rats."


    While Lyca was enjoying herself with her peculiar ns of retaliation, the other side wasn''t really calm at all. The rumors that Matriarch Chu''s people died from catching rats are already on the streets. But this wasn''t the thing that made the matriarch also passed out in anger. It was because people actually started mocking her and her family. They even receive a few calls from the families that didn''t like them, mocking them for being so weak!


    Some of these people were also members of the council. So, they are aware of this n. And while some of them showed somepassion and sympathy, some of them reallyughed and mocked the matriarch for sending weak people to deal with them. In the first ce, the number of Shen Qui''s forces is already superior to theirs. How could the matriarch just send her people without even consulting them?


    Of course, these people were unaware of the matriarch''s deal with Lord Olfan. If they do, they would surely curse the matriarch for trying to fool them.


    "That She is asking fourteen million?" The matriarch''s hand trembled. She just calmed down from her initial shock only to hear Lyca''s message, asking her for money for the cooperation! What kind of madness is this? The matriarch turned so red, she felt like she was about to burst from too much anger. "That woman is clearly extorting money from us! She even dares to threaten us to reveal the video? Then let her reveal it! Let her do it! Does she think I am scared of her? I am not scared of someone like her! I will kill that woman! I will "


    "Matriarch calm down. Hey, you! Have some water first. Have some water. You need to calm down. You can''t your anger consume you. We needed a n." The woman who spoke was Matriarch Chu''s eldest daughter and the next n head, Chu Yuyan. She stroke her mother''s back, her gaze extremely gentle. "Mother, why don''t you just let me handle this? You can rx, I will work with Lord Olfan. I will personally capture that woman and bring her to you so you can punish her."


    "Olfan is no longer answering my calls! That man must have seen something! Maybe he is already working with Q! Yuyan! What are we going to do? If Olfan will work with that woman, then we are finished! The forces that we have is not even enough to fight with Q alone! How could we fight the both of them at the same time?"


    "Mother, you can rest assured. I will talk to the Lord personally to solve this matter. Surely, we can offer him some other benefits." Chu Yuyan said a different glint shed in her eyes as she thought of Lord Olfan''s face."Moreover, did you forget that we still have another hidden ace? Once we get that person to help us destroy this Xi, then we will definitely win!" Chu Yuyan started beaming.


    "Hmph!" The Matriarch shorted. It''s not like she does have any other choice. Right now, she needed to lower her head and send her daughter who clearly liked that man, for negotiations. "That woman will definitely suffer in my hands! I will skin her alive and feed her flesh to the dogs! While she was still alive!" The Matriarch could only clench her fist as she tried to calm herself.


    "As always, mother is really the scariest woman in this region. Now, for thatpensation." Chu Yuyan immediately suggested that they pay that woman what she wanted and pretend to bow their heads. That payment should be enough as an apology. "Let''s also send her some jewelry, not the expensive ones of course." The Chu family had a lot of jewelry shops around the area. Aside from this, they also have some mines in the northern part of the Xu Country. "Maybe some rare gems would do as well." Satisfied at her own suggestions, Chu Yuyan started celebrating inwardly.


    Sadly, this conversation was interrupted when one of their men suddenly barged into the room.


    "Madame, young miss something happened! There is There is a "


    "Speak! What happened?" Chu Yuyan hissed, irritated.


    "The stores four of the stores were robbed at the same time!"


    "What? What about the diamonds?" Matriarch Chu stood up and immediately asked about the diamonds. Each store had its own special storage and some of them are storing diamonds and other precious gems.


    "All taken moreover the "


    The man''s words were interrupted when another man arrived and announced that another two stores were robbed. Almost immediately Matriarch Chu paled as she sat on her chair, her hands that already stopped shaking started shaking once again. This time, she could no longer stop it. Six stores Six stores. The number of stores echoed inside her head as her brain silently calcted their possible losses.


    "What stores are we talking about?" the still calm Chu Yuyan asked, frowning.


    "That two biggest and the four smallest."


    The words hung in the air for a few minutes before the silence was interrupted by Matriarch Chu''s shrieking voice. "This should be that woman''s retaliation! Ahhhh! I will kill that woman! Ahhhhhh!"


    "Mother calm down! Calm down! Please calm down!" Chu Yuyan said as she instructed the other two men to leave them.

 Chapter 271: No Money, No Food

    Chapter 271: No Money, No Food


    Sadly, they totally underestimated Lyca''s schemes.


    "Tell me the damages!" Chu Yuyan immediately asked. "The amount." Of course, she would focus on the number of diamonds that were stolen. The biggest stores store millions of diamonds that are going to be used in the ck market. After all, most transactions in the ck market can only be one using diamonds as currency. "Speak!"


    "Young Miss we haven''t checked the amount first. When I got there and discovered that the special vault had been damaged, I immediately came here to report it."


    "The special vault you say?" This vault was something that was made with the hardest metals on this. Moreover, the security in the vault itself was already considered the best of the best! How did it happen? "Howe no one knows that someone was robbing us? I mean, what about the rms?"


    "Everything was broken. It wasn''t working. The retinal scan, the fingerprint scanner, and even thesers were turned off. My guess is an expert inputer partnered with a professional thief. They must have been nning to do this for a long time now!"


    Chu Yuyan''s face turned ugly. If that is the case, then the culprit might not have been Lyca! But who could it be? Who would dare rob them in their territory? Professionals? Hacker? Who would dare do that to their Chu Family?


    "Young Mis there is also another thing."


    "What is it?"


    "They They actually left the CCTV that was focused to the vault on. It  It allowed us to see who entered and left the vault."


    "And?"


    "Well they were wearing some sort of a pig mask. Six people entered and it was led by a woman. Young Miss, I happen to know someone very good at burry. And I "


    "Direct to the point!"


    "That person is rumored to be connected to Lord Olfan!" the man said in one go. "No one really saw her and she was very good in stuff like this. She is considered the best of the best. But she vanished a few years back."


    "Vanish?"


    "Rumor has it that she left Lord Olfan''s side."


    This only deepened the frown on Chu Yuyan''s face. Why would someone who used to work with Lord Olfan steal an extravagant amount of diamonds from the Chu Family? Unless. Lord Olfan reunited with this thief? Slowly, Chu Yuyan''s eyes widened, her face paled. Just as their people suffered from Lyca''s blow, Lord Olfan actually betrayed them!


    That man kicked them while they were done because he knew that they would be too weak to retaliate. Lord Olfan is a ruthless existence in this City. It was already known that he isn''t someone that anyone could trust as he would immediately defeat someone for benefits! That man simply had no morals, no emotions, and definitely no conscience!


    Chu Yuyan gritted her teeth, anger boiled within her. That man actually betrayed them at this very crucial moment! Is that why he refused to answer any of her and her mother''s call?


    "Alright, take me to the biggest shop!"Chu Yuyan said. She already asked her mother to take some sleeping pills and let her handle this matter. Chu Yuyan fell into silence as her people took her to the biggest shop so she could see the video for herself. Now that she thought about it, the robbery happened a few hours after their people died in Lyca''s hands.


    She refused to believe that Shen Qui and Lyca would have the time to rob them for retaliation. After all, it would only make that woman look bad. Shen Qui already promised that he would protect the businesses in this area. If he would steal from Matriarch Chu then he would definitely lose the trust that most people have for him. And this would only shake Shen Qui''s empire!


    Meaning, the only person that could do this was definitely that Lord Olfan!


    After Chu Yuyan arrived in the Shop, she immediately examined the CCTV. Just as her people said, everything was indeed very professional. From their outfit to their signs and even their actions. Everything seemed really precise like they have been practicing for a long time.


    "Young Miss, A certain Miss Xi is waiting for you outside, she said she had a clue about the stolen goods."


    These words were enough to silence the thoughts in Chu Yuyan''s mind. Slowly, her face turned ugly. Was that woman here to mock the Chu Family? This only made her more irritated. Was that woman here tough at their losses? Was she going to mock them for being betrayed by Lord Olfan?


    Chu Yuyan squinted her head as she walked out of the store and into the hummer that was parked a few steps outside of the entrance.


    "Miss Chu!'' Lyca''s enthusiastic voice weed her the moment she stepped foot inside the car.


    "Why are you here?"


    "My, what''s with your tone? I am only here because I am "


    "Quit the bullshit! Are you going to mock me for being betrayed by that damnable Olfan? Then go head! Mock all you want!" Chu Yuyan''s face turned so red, she already looked like a tomato. "Go ahead andugh all you want!"


    "Aish Miss Chu. I am really here because I have a kind heart." Lyca shook her head. "I actually had information about the stolen stuff. But it seems that the Chu Family doesn''t want my help. It''s fine. I understand. Let''s just "


    "Do you really have information about those people?"


    "Of course! Did you forget? I rule this territory now. I know the ins and outs of this ce like the back of my palm," she boasted.


    "Why would I trust you? You just killed almost fifty people from the Chu Family a few hours ago!"


    "My! It seems that Miss Chu harbors a lot of anger towards me." Lyca dramatically shook her head. "Just think about it. This robbery would definitely affect my territory! If we don''t recover the goods then people would not trust me anymore and might move their business out of the territory. What would happen to me?" she gave the woman a gentle smile. "No more people means no more money. No more money means no more food. No more food means, I might starve. Do you see the importance of this matter now?"

 Chapter 272: Returning the Favor

    Chapter 272: Returning the Favor


    "I don''t trust you."


    "You don''t need to." Lyca smiled. "I am doing this for my interest, not for you. Of course, I would ask you some money aspensation for telling you the location of those pieces of jewelry."


    Chu Yuyan squinted. This woman had been saying ''stuff'' and ''jewelry''. Was it possible that she wasn''t aware of the diamonds that the Chu family lost? Now that Chu Yuyan thought about it. This would mean that she the culprit of the burry. "Money? Again?"


    "If you won''tpensate me then I would just keep those stuff for myself and sell it to you. How about that?"


    "You "


    Lyca snickered as she raised her eyebrow. "So? What is it? I am really tired, Miss Chu. You have five seconds to decide."


    "Alright! How much do you want?"


    "Fifty million."


    "Excuse me?"


    "Miss Chu I know you came from a really old family who had a lot of mines. Are you telling me that fifty million is too much for you? I am sure those pieces of jewelry are more valuable right? Tell me did you have some blue diamonds in there? Was it a precious gem?"


    "Fifty million is a lot. I can give you ten million."


    "Ten million can only buy a few noodles. Give me fifty million and I will forgive what you did earlier. I wouldn''t pursue that and I will no longer retaliate. How does that sound?"


    "" Not retaliate? This woman just killed all the people that they sent and she still had the guts to say that she is not retaliating? What about the people that they lost? What about the shame that this woman caused them? Chu Yuyan could onlyin about all this inwardly. After all, this woman was also a cold-blooded killer.


    "Alright. But you have to promise me! You will not touch the Chu Family as long as we would not touch you!"


    "Of course!" Lyca nodded, smiling. How could she touch a fat cow like the Chu Family? She still needed their money, alright."Moreover, this wouldn''t have happened if you immediately sent the fourteen million earlier. My men were so tired of moving the bodies of your people so no one was guarding your stores. If you have given me the body just as I asked for it, then I could have bought enough energy drinks for them."


    "" This woman wanted to kill her from anger! Chu Yuyan could only take in a deep breath as she thought about her mother and younger brothers and sister. She needed to take in all this provocation and control her anger or she will suffer along with the whole Chu Family. "Alright. I understand. I should have sent it immediately."


    "See? Ma Ping look this is the type of woman that I like. So easy to talk to." She beamed. "Alright I want the fifty million now."


    "Alright Alright I will get my check." Chu Yuyan said. After the transaction, Lyca immediately gave her the information that she wanted. "The Port? Why would it be in the port?" Anger surge inside Chu Yuyan once again as she realized that Lyca might really be the person that masterminded this thing! "Why "


    "Miss Chu think about it carefully," Lyca said, impatienceced her eyes. "They wanted us to be enemies! Whoever did this wanted to use this ident to make the Chu Family hate me! Aside from this, I highly believe that they chose the port as a way to transport these pieces of jewelry because you wouldn''t look for it there! Surely, you would start the search on the streets, no?"


    "You "


    "This is taking too long, Miss Chu. I don''t need to exin anymore." Lyca turned towards Ma Ping. "I take it back, Ma Ping. I still like people that talk less and understand more. Miss Chu is not like that."


    "" Rx. Rx Rx Chu Yuyan chanted inwardly as she closed her eyes and wondered if this woman was trying to provoke her so she would do something stupid tonight. "Alright. I understand what you were trying to say. I really hope that you are right, that they are in the port." Chu Yuyan squinted her eyes. "If you are wrong The whole Chu family will be your enemy." Although they are only a branch of the Chu Family in the northern part of the Country, Chu Yuyan was still confident that they would send someone to deal with this woman if she asked for their help.


    "Of course!" Lyca smiled. "Isn''t this why I personally came here to talk to you? We no longer owe each other now. If you still want my protection, I will definitely work for you and your family again."


    Chu Yuyan said nothing as she red at Lyca before leaving the car. She was in a hurry as she needed to send her people to the port to verify Lyca''s statement.


    Lyca smiled as she looked at Chu Yuyan''s silhouette as she walked back to the jewelry shop.


    "Miss Xi we just receive a call. They already left the package on a trailer on the port." Ma Ping said as he drove Lyca away from the shop. "Miss Xi, I really can''t help but wonder. Why are we returning what we stole? I mean those diamonds are worth millions. Hundreds of millions."


    "Not anymore." Lyca smiled, her eyes were on the streets of Lu City. She had been really tired tonight. She badly needed her rest. Then she thought about the diamonds that she returned. Lyca was not a fan of those little things. She knew that people in the underground use them. However, she wanted money, not diamonds. Moreover, the portion of the diamond that she left on the port is not even half of the original amount of diamonds that were stolen.


    To Lyca, returning those sparkly little things doesn''t harm her in any way.


    "Miss Xi, you said that you would no longer retaliate. Is that true?"


    "Ma Ping remember this. Revenge is useless." Lyca said. "Let''s call this returning the favor." She added before sipping the juice that she personally concocted herself.

 Chapter 273: Alliance

    Chapter 273: Alliance


    When Lyca arrived back in the underground, she immediately went to bed next to Shen Qui. Unbeknownst to her, what happened to the Chu Family already reached the ears of almost everyone in the whole City. It even reached the ears of the now very influential Santa Rivers.


    Rumor has it that Lyca actually killed everyone in minutes just after they enter the walls of the ranch. Some say, it was such a bloody scene and that heavy artillery was used to suppressed those people, not even giving them the time to retaliate! When these rumors reached the streets, people heard that every wall of the ranch was actually equipped with automatic rifles that fire all by themselves!


    Some people imed that they hear loud shots! They were so loud, their eardrums were affected! As the story was passed down, it became more and more frightening making everyone fear Q and his fierce wife. Of course, the other family members immediately became hesitant when they heard those rumors. In the first ce, they haven''t really seen the ranch. Moreover, the only one who imed to know the ins and out of the ranch was Mr. Clint''s son. He said that there was no defense system in those areas!


    But how could they believe them now? Without weapons, how did all those people died in mere minutes? Those people were said to be proficient in martial arts! There was no way that they died from hand to handbats! They immediately concluded that having a meeting with Matriarch Chu was for the best.


    "And you needed our help now? You were the first to ridicule us when you heard the news! You actually forgot that you were also nning to attack her!" As her mother''s representative, Chu Yuyan immediately showed her fierce personality. How could she let this opportunity go without giving them a piece of her mind? "Mr. Clint''s son clearly told us there were no weapons! Yet, all those people died! If there were no weapons in the perimeter then how did they die?" Right now, Lyca didn''t send the CCTV. However, Chu Yuyan was confident that once that the woman would surely send her those CCTV soon! After all, they already paid five million for it.


    And once that happens, they will surely know what happened to those people.


    "Can''t you check their bodies?" Mr. Clint said.


    "Bodies?" Chu Yuyan balled her hands into two tight fists. "Their bodies were burned! All of them were badly burned before they were given to us! Clearly, they don''t want us to know what happens!"


    "Burned?"


    "So cruel!"


    "They actually burned the dead bodies first?"


    If that woman didn''t return burned bodies, Chu Yuyan would have known what caused their deaths! She badly wanted to call that Lord Olfan as Lyca clearly said that the Lord was there. However, the man seemed to have changed his number overnight after betraying her! Everything was really going against their way! Everything was so hateful!


    "Burned? Why would they burned it?" Mr. Clint frowned. His son clearly said that their spies know the ins and outs of the security protocols and defense of that ce. Howe they didn''t say anything about a weapon? "Are they afraid that we would discover the weapons that they are using?"


    "Or they were really using fire!" someone said. "I mean if we think about it. What if they didn''t deliberately burn them? What if they have some sort of a weapon or trap that would cause some fire?"


    Silence followed that person''s words. Even Chu Yuyan fell into deep contemtion. That statement actually made sense. What if, they burned those people? What if it was really an explosion? "A bomb?"


    "Perhaps maybe some traps on the ground. And that is the reason why they were badly burned."


    "The people living near the area "


    "The people living near the ranch is actually a mile away. I am certain they can''t hear some explosives, especially the ones that are not designed to give a big explosion but just send chemicals that could easily attract fire."


    Chu Yuyan looked at everyone at the table. She was already in a very bad mood earlier when she met that woman. She never actually thought that her mood would get worse instead of getting better after they found the pieces of jewelry. The pieces of jewelry that they found were only a worth few millions, including the diamonds! It wasn''t even fifty million! Now that Chu Yuyan thought about it, she felt that Lyca actually yed her like a damn ball!


    First, she let her believe that the person who stole from them was only Lord Olfan when clearly, she was working with the Lord! Of course, this was the only conclusion that she came up with after deliberating everything. Lord Q might be working with Lord Olfan! Those two people made them look like a fool!


    However, Chu Yuyan cannot do anything about it. She and that woman already made a promise not to touch each other again! She could only send some secret messages to the Chu Family in the northern regions and asked for their help in getting rid of that woman! How hateful!


    Then this meeting happened.


    At first, she thought that the woman was just so cruel, burning the bodies of the Chu Family''s people as a retaliation for what they did. However, this was immediately debunked by these conclusions. The fact that the weapon that was used on them meant that being burned was their fault. It was not Lyca''s fault. Those people approached the walls so they were burned. It was that simple.


    Now, she can no longer me that woman''s cruelty! To Chu Yuyan, this was so infuriating, she could feel her blood vessel burst from anger!


    "I don''t know about you but I am no longer participating in this quest to kill them." Someone''s words woke Chu Yuyan up from her stupor.


    "Same! I would rather pay than have my people killed by something like that!"


    "I would agree! I am withdrawing from this secret alliance too!"


    The statements made Mr. Clint frown. "So, we are going to allow them to treat us like jokes? Increasing the money that they wanted! And even letting someone stole from the Chu Family? Is that really what you wanted to happen?"


    "Mr. Clint, you don''t understand. We originally paid for our safety and now we are going to attack the person that is keeping us safe from those burrs from other territories? Think about it! The Chu Family only got robbed after they sent their people to attack! It only happened before they attack Q and his base! I think they are lucky that Q didn''t retaliate!" Just like Chu Yuyan, everyone here also believed that it was Q who stole from the Chu Family. After all, all of them knew that Q is only interested in weapons.


    Unlike other lords, Q only focused his business on various weapons. He wasn''t interested in drugs and other criminal crime groups do like stealing and killing. How could they believe that Q would have professionals to steal something from the Chu Family?


    "He is right! That burry only happened because Q''s wife removed the security from the Chu Family! Those burrs were only smart enough to know the perfect timing. My guess is they have been observing the Chu Family and immediately acted when they saw that the Chu Family is already down."


    "So, you are saying it is my Chu Family''s fault?" Chu Yuyan coldly asked.


    "Isn''t it?" another one answered.


    "Miss Chu, you are still young. I suggest, you clearly think about everything that happened. Everything started when you attack your own. They only retaliated by removing the security! You are lucky that Q''s wife didn''t kill you along with your people!"


    "Hmph! I am leaving this meeting. I no longer wanted to involve myself in your Chu Family! The life of my own family is far more important than this alliance!" An old man with white hair and white sword-like brows stood before promptly leaving the room.


    "Same! I am leaving. I think this meeting is already done! Everyone who doesn''t want to attack Q should leave while the people who still wanted to attack them, can stay! Of course, you can only me yourself for being too stupid once you fail." Another person left.


    "Look at those cowards!" Mr. Clint hissed. "Isn''t it only a weapon that could burn something? Why don''t we just find it! Let''s have a bomb expert and find the weapon! We only need to be more careful and not attack them when we aren''t ready! Moreover, my son''s team are experts in things like this! They can surely find someone that could disassemble a bomb!" Mr. Clint tried to reason but it wasn''t enough to stop most people at the table from leaving. To these people, it was just not worth it.


    There is no way that they would risk their families. It is better to just pay millions. Moreover, they are paying for their security! It''s not like Q''s people are using the money for drugs! They must be using the money to supply high tech gadgets that could easily stop a burry!


    "Cowards!" Chu Yuyan rolled her eyes before looking at the other two people on the table. "So, I guess it''s just the three of us?" she asked.

 Chapter 274: Eating in Bed

    Chapter 274: Eating in Bed


    "Miss Xi, just as you expected, they actually had a meeting. However, in the end, the one left is only Chu Yuyan and another two men."


    Lyca immediately frowned when she heard Ma Ping''s annoying voice. She red at the man but realized that she was toozy to reprimand him. So, she walked past him and went to the kitchen to make some sumptuous breakfast for Shen Qui.


    "Miss Xi, are you going to start cooking breakfast? This is just the right time, I realized that I actually didn''t have breakfast. That stinky Ronan just told us to cook whatever we like but I can only cook some noodles. Meaning, I have been eating noodles for days now. Someday, I will drown from MSG and die because I keep on eating noodles." Ma Ping happily followed Lyca toward the kitchen. "Miss Xi, what are we having for breakfast? I didn''t know that Miss Xi could actually cook! Aiyo, this only proves that Boss Q is so lucky to be Miss Xi''s husband."


    "Silence," Lyca said as she slowly turned her head towards the man. She slowly picked up one of the kitchen knives while staring at Ma Ping.


    "That That Miss Xi Alright." Ma Ping immediately pursed his lips while staring at the knife in Lyca''s hands. He already witnessed Lyca''s skills there is no need to even ask himself what would happen if he continued talking to her. So, Ma Ping just sat on the counter while watching Lyca cook.


    "Hm? What''s happening? What are you doing here?" Rue asked when she noticed the man sitting just like a statue on the counter.


    "Oh! Miss Rue! Shhhh Shhhh, lower your voice. Miss Lyca said she doesn''t want to be disturbed."


    "Oh," Rue said and walked towards the fridge to get herself some milk and bread. She eyed the silent Lyca and realized that she was cooking the same ck soup. "Hey, what is that?" she asked while standing next to her.


    "It''s a seafood soup."


    "Hm? Why is it ck?" she asked, wondering what has gotten into Lyca."Is that some sort of secret technique?"


    "Yeah."


    "Really?" This immediately made Rue interested.


    "Hmm."


    "Is it good? Can I have some?" she asked, curious.


    "No."


    ""


    This statement, however, made Ma Ping smile. Miss Lyca actually didn''t tell him that he couldn''t taste this special food. This only means that she agreed to make some for him right?


    "Why are you giggling on your own?" Ronan''s voice made Ma Ping froze. "I told you to inform her about what happenedst night. Did you?"


    "Oh! Yes, I already did! I already did." Ma Ping intentionally lowered his voice."Just rx and don''t disturb Miss Lyca is making food for me."


    "Hm? You " Ronan was speechless. What kind of shamelessness was this? She eyed the pot that Lyca was using and immediately knew it was only enough to make two bowls of those ck food. Of course, he knew that Lyca was only cooking for Shen Qui and herself. "Hey, Ma Ping stop hallucinating. Xi is not making food for you. It''s for Boss Q."


    "But she said "


    "Did she?"


    "Well she didn''t say anything and in my book silence means yes."


    "Aiyo Ma Ping you are still young. You don''t understand these things. Miss Xi is toozy to even answer you. That''s why she didn''t say anything."Rue said before she stuffed some bread into her mouth. Then she drank some milk. "I suggest you go and make yourself some fried eggs or you will starve. Go and eat with the others tell them to prepare. Xi might need you guyster."


    "But But"


    "Go don''t let Boss Q heard these words. Stop hallucinating or you will surely end up dead." Ronan said. Shen Qui wasn''t someone that killed people without any reason however, he also had seen that man lost all the reason and walk around right after surgery. Who knows what he will do if he heard that Lyca would cook for another man?


    "Oh, really?" Ma Ping scratched his cheek. Now that he thought about it, Lyca cooking for him was too impossible no? "Alright. I will tell the others to prepared. " Just like him, the others are also staying on the house at the ranch. That house isplete with amenities and food so staying there is more convenient.


    After Ma Ping left, Rue and Ronan met each other''s eyes before shrugging and turning towards Lyca.


    "I already took care of the pieces of jewelry that Ummm you gatheredst night. It was worth a few tens of millions. Should be enough to build another facility for the other people training in the mountains." Rue said. She already heard that Lyca actually made the Mayor agreed to give them the mountain. While she didn''t know the exact thing that happened, she could already guess that Lyca did something illegal to get it. "You know Boss Q never tried this stuff while you were sleeping."


    "Hm?" Lyca removed her gaze from the pot. "What stuff?"


    "You know stealing."


    "Oh!" Lyca nodded. "Got it."


    "Got it? That''s it? I mean I have no problems with these methods but we are creating more enemies against us. I can''t even sleep properly anymore. I am too scared that they will attack us anytime. I am scared that "


    "Miss Rue was truly funny," Lyca uttered while turning her attention back to the food. "Who told you that we are waiting for them to attack?"


    "Hmmm?"


    "Tonight, the other Chu Family''s jewelry stores will be robbed. The Clint Family''s factories will explode and Arnold Yun''s businesses will bepromised."


    "You " Ronan''s eyes widened. "You said that we are going to wait! What do you mean why attacking them like that? That would only cause more trouble!"


    "I am toozy to wait. I need to end this as fast as possible." Lyca said while preparing two bowls.


    "What do you mean?"


    Lyca only shrugged. Last night before she sleeps, she realized that she really couldn''t just wait for them to attack her! Moreover, her enemy was not the people in her territory but from the other territory. She really needed to finish this as soon as possible, so she could start doing her next ns. Then she could finally rest.


    "Ummm Xi, may I know why it looks like you are in a hurry?" Ronan asked.


    "I am in a hurry."


    "Why?"


    "Because " She put the bowl into two trays. "Because I need to have my wedding soon. That damn Shen Qui just registered our marriage without giving me a good marriage. He owed me one."


    "" Rue and Ronan just eyed each other as they watched Lyca smiled at them before walking back towards their room. "Meet me after an hour in Q''s office." They heard the woman say as they blinked their eyes over and over.


    "So she wanted to fix it as soon as possible so she can have a wedding?" Ronan turned towards Rue.


    "Yeah "


    "A wedding." Ronan knew some people who hired them before to ruin lives so they could get money, territory, wealth, influence. But this was the first time that he heard this kind of reasoning. Wedding. "Why do I feel like she''s doing stuff just because of some shallow reason?" Ronan asked.


    "Are you saying that Xi is shallow?" Rue asked. "She''s not."


    "I know! I''m just saying that it looks like she''s ying around without any rhyme or reason then at the end of the day everyone will realize that they are just dancing in her palm like a damn puppet."


    Rue shrugged in response. She, too, never once understood Lyca''s personality. She seemed soplicated and unpredictable, thinking about her is only going to make her head hurt.


    Meanwhile, Lyca was beaming while staring at Shen Qui, who was still sleeping. She was honestly proud of herself, being able to wake up so early just to cook some food for her husband. She flipped her long hair and move her face closer to Shen Qui''s.Right now, she honestly feels like the ideal wife. Beautiful, talented, fierce and knows how to cook some delicious but weird looking food.


    "Why are you smiling like that while staring at me?"


    Shen Qui''s words woke her up from her stupor. She was about to move her head back when Shen Qui suddenly put his hand at the back of her head and pulled her closer for a long kiss. "That''s long overdue," he said after pulling his head away. Before Lyca could answer him, Shen Qui pulled her into a hug, pulling her towards the bed.


    "What are you doing!? You are injured!" Lyca


    "Not anymore."


    She heard him chuckle before burying his head into her hair. "What are you doing?"


    "You''ve been putting something in my food. You are making me sleep for hours and then suddenly I just woke up not feeling anything. Tell me, Miss Lyca Huang what did you do to me?"


    "Oi, Shen Qui stop it. You need to eat first."


    "I am going to eat. " He said. "I won''t leave this bed without eating."

 Chapter 275: The Princess and the Tree

    Chapter 275: The Princess and the Tree


    Shen Qui turned Lyca around, making her lie on her back as he moved on top of her and used his arms to support himself.


    "I want to kiss you." He said.


    "If you start now, it won''t stop and your wound will bleed."


    "Doesn''t hurt anymore."


    Lyca frowned. Of course, it won''t hurt, she is giving him drugs that she made herself for him not to feel anymore! But this doesn''t heal the wound. "It''s not healed yet. If you move too much, it will still bleed."


    "I am doing good."


    "Tsk if you won''t listen to me I will"


    "You will what?" he cocked his head as if challenging her.


    "I will cut it."


    "Cut what? Your happiness?"


    "Mr. Shen it seems that you have be bolder since you got the injury?" She lifted her eyebrow and stared at his beautiful lips that were inches away from her face. "Did that injury damaged your brain?" She frowned. Why does it feel like Shen Qui is not listening to her anymore? "Or did you forget that in this rtionship I am the knight while you are the princess?"


    "Heh hmmm" He wasn''t able to finish his words when Lyca suddenly put a finger against his lips.


    "Shhhh. " Lyca tilted her head. "No need to say thank you. Just listen to my words. From now on, the Princess will be protected by the knight in shining armor. " A pleasant smirk shed on her face when she saw Shen Qui''s surprise face. Slowly, she removed her finger on his lips.


    "Since when did you be so protective?"


    "Since I " Since she realized that she loves this man. This is already her second life, a second chance to make it right. This is her second chance to make herself happy. And hell, she would never waste this opportunity to protect the people that she loves. What happened in her previous life would never happen again. Her mother, father, Shen Qui, and the Tang Family. No one would suffer because of her again. "Since I realized that I would never find someone as beautiful as you." She smirked. "Say, when you were a kid, did you y the princess of the prince?"


    "Of course, the princess, I look like a girl. Let me guess, did you act as the prince?"


    "Nah" Lyca beamed. Prince? She was toozy for that. "I was the tree."


    These words made Shen Quiugh until he ended up coughing. Seeing this, Lyca immediately made him lie back down. "You are still weak give it two more days. For now, you need to listen to me and eat whatever I want you to eat."


    "I don''t smell, right?"


    "Hm?"


    Shen Qui used some pillows and leaned against the headboard of the bed. "Every time I wake up, I am wearing different clothes too."


    "Oh? You notice?" she gave him a mischievous smile. Before giving the man a wink. "You are wee."


    Shen Qui stared at her for a few seconds before shaking his head. Lyca always imed that she waszy and yet she does a lot of things. If she waszy then what about everyone else? "Are you going to tell me what kind of storm are you nning to make?"


    "Well. " Lyca hesitated for a few seconds before she leaned closer. "I am nning to take over this region."


    "Hm?"


    "Why are you looking at me like that? I am not joking. I figured that taking over the whole region is better both in business and for our safety. We already let the Long Family know that we are in this City. It is time to start scaring them."


    "Scaring them?"


    "I just changed my ns," Lyca said seriously.


    "When?"


    "When  "When she realized that she loves him. Of course, she needed to adapt and be flexible. "When I realized that it''s actually better to have more people and scare the Long Family to death."


    "Really?"


    "Of course. I just thought that they tried to kill you so they should suffer until they die too." Lyca''s mind is actually very simple. She wasn''t the type to analyze and think of a lot of schemes. Since those people hurt the man that she loves then, she would make them suffer. No need toplicate things.


    "Is that so?"


    Lyca nodded. "Why are you staring at me like that?"


    "Like what?"


    "Like you know my secret."


    "Well do you have one?"


    Lyca only smiled before she put the food on the table. Without answering his question, Lyca started talking about what she nned to do with the territory and even the new name.


    "The reason why I didn''t provoke anyone is that you were asleep back then." Shen Qui said as the two started eating. "The territory is unstable and provoking them is a great disadvantage for me."


    "Heh, no need to exin." Lyca waved her hand. "I already know why you were so docile. But no need to worry, you have me now and we can poison our way through this."


    "That." Shen Qui pursed his lips while nodding. "That is a very peculiar way of saying stuff." Poison their way? He couldn''t help but wonder if Lyca was actually nning to poison the Chu and Clint family. Suspicion shed in his eyes. "Are you "


    "No." Lyca shook her head. "At least not everyone. We still needed them for money. But I am cleaning this territory, and everyone who is going to act like a pest will die like one."


    For some reason, Lyca''s words sent shivers down his spine. He opened his mouth to say something but ended up closing it. Until now, Lyca didn''t tell him what she was nning to do with the Chu, Clint, and Yun Family. She only told him what would happen after that. After a few minutes, the two finally finished eating, and after a few minutes, Shen Qui fell asleep.


    Seeing her husband now back in his bed, Lyca kissed his forehead before walking towards Shen Qui''s office. The medicine that she made is hopefully enough to make him feel better. Her gentle expression instantly changed when Lyca arrived in Shen Qui''s office. She nodded at the three people in the room. "One of these three families, helped the Long and Zhang Family create an ambush," she immediately said. "And they have spies both in the port and the ranch. I want to know the names of those spies and the family who assisted our enemies."


    "Is that why you didn''t touch the Chu Family?" Cleo asked before avoiding Lyca''s gaze.


    "Hmmm. But we are going offensive. Starting today, the whole Territory will know that we are not easy to deal with." Lyca said. The conversation was interrupted when someone knocked on the door.


    "Miss Xi?"


    "Come in Lai Su."


    The man immediately opened the door but didn''t go inside. He only smiled at the other three people before turning towards Lyca. "That thing is ready. If you want "


    "No. We will go with everyone else." Lyca said and gestured for everyone to follow her to theb.


    "This is actually my first time going to theb," Cleo said as they walk inside the spacious room with white walls. "It''s intimidating." Knowing that this was the ce where Lyca makes her poisons is very frightening.


    "Everyone pick a suit."


    "What for?" Cleo asked Lai Su. "Are we going to see something really dangerous?"


    "Just for safety purposes. We wouldn''t want the chemicals to burn your precious skins." Lai Su gestured towards the room that will be used for disinfection. After leaving the next room, you will go to that room to clean yourselves, take a bath and check if you had some harmful radiations in you "


    "Radiations?" Rue and Ronan said at the same time before looking at Lyca.


    "What is happening here? Are you going to bomb some regions?" Rue asked, panicked. Lyca always had a different way of thinking. This made her wonder if she would send some nuclear bomb to the Long Family for hurting her precious husband. "You you aren''t going to "


    "Why are you so nervous? Do I look like a cold-blooded murderer to you? Hey, Lai Su? I thought you said I am very nice?"


    "When did I say that?" Lai Su immediately argued but soon realized his mistake when he saw Lyca frowned. "Ah oh! Right, I remember. Miss Xi is indeed the nicest person. I said that just now."


    Lyca rolled her eyes. "Just go and change your clothes. I want to show you something." Lyca said. It didn''t take too long for them to finish suiting up.


    After making sure that everyone is already protected, Lai Sue led everyone to another room. "I just finished the one that Miss Xi asked me to do. " He gestured towards the small tablet-like metal that was supported by an arm like metal in the middle of the table. "This might look metal but it''s made of soluble materials. But it will only react to acid in our stomach. I have tried the material on rats. Since we don''t have any human subjects. It took three seconds before the nuclear material inside exploded." He then showed them the second tablet which, was in a metallic blue casing. "This one contains a poison that Miss Xi personally concocted. It doesn''t explode and kill people immediately."


    "Hmmm." Lyca nodded. "And this is where I would need Ronan''s help."


    "Hm? I don''t know Chemistry." Thetter immediately shook his head. Nuclear bomb? Poison? This  This is above his pay grade.


    "Nah, rx." Lyca smiled before asking. "I need your brains. I am sure that I am not as good as you in advanced math. I need something that we can put inside this metallic tablet. Some sort of a timer that we can detonate anytime we want." Her statement immediately made the room silent.

 Chapter 276: Ugly

    Chapter 276: Ugly


    The silence onlysted for a few seconds before Rue cleared her throat. "Alright. Ronan will surely help you."


    "Then, that''s good. Lai Su work with Ronan on this one. I still have some things to attend to. Cleo follow me."


    "No problem. Just leave it to me." Lai Su nodded and the three of them watched as Lyca left the room with Cleo.


    "She''s not nning to ruin the city right?" Rue asked Lai Su.


    "Why are you asking me?"


    "You should know these things! You help her create this!"


    "I " Lai Su turned silent as she recalled Lyca''s words about destroying lives.


    "She''s trying to make money." Ronan''s words made the two silent.


    "Huh?"


    "She went outst night and brought back a lot of diamonds and pieces of jewelry. As well as millions of money." Ronan peeled away from his gaze away from the pill and stared at Rue. "Her only goal is to make money."


    "I thought she went out to settle stuff?"


    "She did." Ronan just shrugged. He couldn''t understand Lyca''s goals and the reasoning behind her previous actions. So, he decided to just stop thinking about it and started talking to Lai Su about the thing that Lyca wanted.


    Meanwhile, Lyca and Cleo were in Shen Qui''s office. "Did you make up your mind?" Lyca asked. "I am about tounch my attack. These two territories will soon fall into chaos. So, you have to choose."


    "What do you mean?" Cleo asked, confused. She stared at Lyca who wasnguidly sitting on the couch.


    "You can only support one of us."


    "You "


    "Rtionships can beplicated and I understand that. Plus you had a kid." She watched as Cleo stood there, a deep frown was stered on the woman''s face. "I can let you go. I originally chose you because of your expertise in stealing. It was purely because of your skills. I always knew that one day we will have this talk because of your son."


    "You wanted his empire to fall?"


    "He wouldn''t share it. So I''ll destroy it instead." It was that simple. There was no special reason behind it. Seeing Cleo''splicated expression, Lyca stood and met the woman''s eyes. "I am going to unite this City. And no one could stop me."


    "Why? Aren''t you afraid of the trouble that it will bring you?"


    "Trouble" Lyca snorted. "It runs in my blood." No matter where she was, trouble will always follow her. "So?"


    "Can you assure me that my son will survive?"


    Lyca lifted an eyebrow. "Why would I touch your son?" she asked. She was cruel but not the kind of cruel that would do something like that.


    For a few seconds, silence nketed the two as they stared into each other''s eyes.


    "Are you going to kill his father?"


    "Yes." There wasn''t any hesitation in Lyca''s eyes. "I will," she added.


    Cleo stared at Lyca before she added. She already knew that Lyca won''t back down even in front of a man like her ex. In fact, she already made her decision a long time ago. However, hearing Lyca say something like taking down her ex made her scared that she forgot Lyca''s peculiar skills."Good. Then, I can only hope that I can find a good house where my son can stay once he is already in the Country."


    "He won''t be staying in Kong City. He would stay in Long City in my Tang Family." Lyca said as she grabbed a folder on the table. "I already arranged everything. He will be known as someone from the Tang Family. His name will officially change. You can choose to spend your time with him and I can just call you once I need something. This is " Lyca paused as she stared at Cleo. "Why are you crying? Did I " Lyca wasn''t able to finish her words when Cleo suddenly pulled her for a hug.


    She immediately froze before scratching her head. Slowly, Lyca patted the woman''s back and said some words to console her. "Cleo, crying like this will make you look ugly," Lyca said. "You should stop and think about your make up."


    ""


    "Hey, why are you crying so much?" Lyca asked as she awkwardly hugged her back. "This is not a big deal. It''s easy since I''m rich." She added.


    ""


    This was the scene that Rue had walked into. Cleo, crying like a child in Lyca''s arms while the other was ''consoling'' her by telling her how ugly she was when she cried. In the end, Rue had to separate the two and gave Cleo a bottle of water.


    "You really don''t know how to console someone." Rue rolled her eyes as she stroke Cleo''s back. "You should just stop saying anything when someone is crying and avoid hurting their feelings."


    "You are being ungrateful." Lyca sighed. "If I''m crying and someone will tell me that I look ugly, I will stop." Isn''t that something that everyone does? "It''s not like I cry all the time." Plus, she never had close friends that cried in her arms before. Even her cousin that considered her as her best friend never cried in her arms before. Alright, maybe she did while watching some dramas but every time she called him ugly, she would immediately stop crying.


    "You are hopeless!" Rue shook her head. "Such a peculiar woman. I am really wondering why Boss Q liked you. Hey, Xi, you should be honest with me. Did you coerce him to be with you?" Rue grabbed more tissue and gave it to Cleo.


    "Hm?" Lyca pursed her lips. "I asked him to marry me first because he is quite beautiful."


    ""


    ""


    Her statement made the two women silent. "And he is pretty helpful, hardworking too. So, we arepatible."


    ""


    ""


    Cleo and Rue met each other''s eyes.


    "So uh " Cleo said. "You are saying that you like him because of his looks?"


    "Of course!" Lyca blinked. Is it wrong to like someone because of their beauty? "I don''t need someone strong and rich." She is already strong and rich, she doesn''t need another one like that.


    "Oh!? So you only like him because of his looks?" This time it was Rue that asked the question. "Did you see his kindness and other strong points?"


    Lyca leaned against the couch and stared at the two. "We''ve only known each other for days before I asked him to marry me. So, no."

 Chapter 277: Puppets

    Chapter 277: Puppets


    "Wait! Wait! A few days? You propose to a man that you barely know?"


    Lyca frowned. "If you want someone, do you wait for a few days to get it?" she asked, confused. Actually, she couldn''t really see anything wrong with what happened. She liked him and he was the best one that could act as her assistant because his body is enforced with spiritual energy.


    "Was it love at first sight?" Cleo asked.


    "Hmmm No." Lyca answered. "Both of you lookical. Don''t tell me you haven''t tried to confess to a guy before?" Howme. "Your inexperience is making meugh."


    ""


    ""


    Cleo and Rue stared at each other, unable to decide if they shouldugh or cry at Lyca''s words.


    "So, do you like Boss Q now?" Cleo asked, the tears that she had earlier vanished.


    "Of course, I do," Lyca said as she leaned back. "Why are you asking?"


    "It''s just Hey, Xi did you have a boyfriend before Boss Q?"


    Lyca lifted an eyebrow as she thought of Xu Ke. "No." Xu Ke cannot be considered a boyfriend, he was an obsession.


    "Ah, then that exins it." Cleo nodded. "I understand now."


    Lyca smiled. "Good. Next time you like someone, just asked them directly It is better that way."


    "That is indeed better." Rue nodded after thinking about it. "So, what happens if the one that you like doesn''t like you back?"


    "Then you find another one to like." Lyca nodded, amusement apparent in her eyes. If someone doesn''t like her, then she would move on and find someone else. After all, it wasn''t really their obligation to like you back.


    "" Cleo met Rue''s eyes before she smiled and nodded. This was only typical of Lyca''s character.


    "So what if Boss Q said that he didn''t like you?"


    Lyca turned her head away as she thought about their love story carefully. "He can''t."


    "What do you mean? Did you threatened him?"


    "Yeah something like that," she nodded.


    ""


    "So,you said to find someone else to like, but you threatened him so, he can''t say no?" This was truly making Rue''s head hurt. What kind of love story is this? Isn''t this too abnormal?


    "I asked him to marry me, and he refused. Then one day, he just asked me to marry him." Lyca said. "So, we got married."


    Her words made the two women more confuse. Why does this sound too weird?This love story is definitely the weirdest love story that they heard. "That " Rue nodded. "That is definitely a very peculiar love story. I am sure your granddaughter and grandson would love listening to that story."


    Lyca eyed the ring in her hand before she nodded. "I agree."


    Again, an awkward silence covered the room before Lyca moved to the leather chair. Then her hand started drumming against the wooden table, her eyes were glued to the CCTV that was disyed on the huge TV. "We have spies." Someone is telling them information about the ranch. That Lord Olfan probably has a lot of spies inside the ranch. But since only a limited number of people have ess to this underground facility, that man shouldn''t have ways to get in.


    "Our best course of action is to attack first." Lyca suddenly said, making the two women''s jaws dropped on the floor.


    "Xi, Lord Olfan have the most people in this City. We needed a lot of people to kill everyone. Even the special pieces of training that our people had won''t be enough to save them from Lord Olfan''s men."


    Lyca snorted. Isn''t that why she showed that man that her base was very dangerous with all the poisons that she had? "I don''t have problems in manpower." One of her poisonous gasses could kill ten to twenty people in seconds. Lord Olfan''s people would be helpless against her poisons. "I need all of his operations, bases, and business."


    "Oh, we already have that one," Cleo said. "I helped Ronanplied everything."


    "Good," Lyca said before she opened her phone. Seeing that Santa was calling her, Lyca immediately answered him.


    "Hey, It''s not Christmas yet. Why are you calling?"


    "Xi, you are really something! The people in your territory wanted to attack the ranch! Even the Chu family asked for some assistance from their main family to deal with you! I heard they are sending assassins to kill you! Be more careful!"


    "Oh." Lyca nodded. To be honest, she wasn''t expecting the main branch of the Chu Family to help out, after all, the Chu Family in Kong City is not only considered the smallest branch but also the poorest. "Then, let theme here."


    "You What are you nning? Why are you being so reckless!? Does Q know about all this? He is still recovering, so please don''t do something that could harm you and the territory."


    "Yeah," Lyca said while scratching her cheek.


    "You are really fearless. Don''t you understand the effects of what you did? The Chu family is one of the wealthiest families in the Capital! They could definitely afford to send assassins to kill you."


    "I know, Santa." Lyca smiled. "I know." The Chu Family is her shortcut to the Capital where she would deal with the Shen Family and the Xu Family. "Alright, I have to go now. Bye." She said and cut the call. She doesn''t need to see Santa''s face to know that he was frowning right now. This made Lycaugh.


    Isn''t it amusing?


    The Chu Family actually thought that asking for help from the main branch is the best way to get rid of her, not knowing that they are merely puppets in Lyca''s ns. Lyca smiled as she stared at the CCTV. It seems that she would meet some people from the Capital soon.


    Should she prepare new poisons to greet them?


    Yep, that should be the best course of action.


    With this in mind, Lyca stood and walked out of the office, leaving Cleo and Rue wondering what the hell was going on.

 Chapter 278: Negotiations

    Chapter 278: Negotiations


    Lyca stayed in herb for the whole day, only getting out to cook meals for Shen Qui. Aside from her test tubes, Lyca refused to talk to other people, even for Ronan and Rue.


    After an entire day of staying in herb, Lyca finally went outside and asked Ma Ping to apany her. On her way out, Lyca called Santa for some important information that she needed. After confirming what she originally suspected, Lyca immediately instructed Ma Ping to go to one of the clubs the Clint Family owned to do step one of her n towards herzy days.


    "I''m sorry Boss but I am really confused why are we going to see someone from the Clint Family when the Chu Family is bigger than them. Are we going to get them to stand by our side? Are we going to gang up on the Chu Family?" Ma Ping started asking questions as the two traveled towards the club.


    To Ma Ping''s surprise, he didn''t hear Lyca''s answer. He turned towards her, only to discover the woman sleeping soundly at the back of the car. This made Ma Ping confused. Why was she sleeping? Aren''t they about to go to war? He heard that the current state of this territory is quite tense. Even the people working for Boss Q is nervous and couldn''t sleep because they knew that someone might attack them at any time.


    And yet Lyca is here. Sleeping soundly. There wasn''t a tinge of worry on her face. This made Ma Ping smile. Since Lyca wasn''t worried, then there shouldn''t be any reason to worry at all. This only meant that she already got everything under control! After a few minutes, they finally arrived at the club.


    "I''m sorry, but you can''t see the boss. He was doing something important." A tall andnky man said when Lyca asked to see the heir of the Clint Family, Zar Clint.


    "Let hime see me," Lyca said as she made herselffortable in one of the VIP rooms in the club. "I am not a very patient person as someone who is working with the Long Family, Mr. Clint should be aware of my temper." She smiled.


    "Who do you think you are? Don''t you know that this ce is owned by the Clint Family?" the man squinted at Lyca. "Aren''t you just someone that the boss once dated? Stop thinking that you are someone important because he f*cked you! You slut!" the man couldn''t help but cursed as he left the room. Hearing this made Ma Ping fumed.


    "Miss Xi, shall I kill that man?"


    "No need." Lyca smiled. "After five minutes, use the fire rm to make everyone leave this facility," Lyca said, lowly. The night was still young and few people are inside the club. So, making people leave is not really that big of a problem. "Then, leave the club and wait for me in the car."


    "But Miss Xi!" Ma Ping frowned. "I can''t leave you here alone!"


    Lyca roamed her gaze at the soundproofed room before she rested both of her arms on the couch, her posture looking extremely rxed. Slowly, she lifted her gaze and look at Ma Ping. "Call Ronan, tell him not to let Q out of the facility once he woke up." Judging from his recovery, Shen Qui would wake up tonight or tomorrow morning. By then, he would fully recover, even his strength should be back to normal. She was certain that the man would immediately ask to see her. "Now."


    For a few seconds, Ma Ping hesitated before he nodded. "Yes." Without any more hesitations, Ma Ping left the room and followed Lyca''s instructions. Not long after, Lyca closed her eyes. The red lighting of the room was not to her liking and looking at it will make her hungry.


    Being hungry at this time would be bad. After all, Shen Qui wasn''t here, and she wasn''t really here to eat.


    Unless, of course, Zar Clint would give her something delicious to eat, like sweet and sour pork and some beef, maybe even fried rice!


    Soon, a smile appeared on her face.


    "Coming in here knowing that I am nning to kill you, surprised me." A deep voice interrupted her thoughts about food. Lycazily opened her eyes and looked at the man wearing a ck leather jacket and a silver ne, whose pendant looked little like that stone that she saw earlier in that dead man.


    Was that a coincidence?


    However, she had no time to think about this now. Her eyes soonnded on the woman following the man, then on the other bulky man wearing a shirt that is too small for his muscles.


    "And you even came without a bodyguard?" the woman sneered. "Is this some sort of deration that you are here to negotiate for your life?"


    Lyca observed the three people closely without saying anything. These two should be Zar''s trusted subordinates. A woman who uses poison needles and a man who had outstanding strength enough to break a brick using one of his fists. These two were originally on Lyca''s list, along with Lai Su and Cleo. They were outstanding individuals who were not working with thew. However, when she saw they are already working for Zar, she immediately changed her mind.


    "Aren''t you going to say a thing?" Zar sat opposite her, a smug smile was stered on his face.


    Lyca blinked, then she blinked again. Two minutes already passed since Ma Ping left her, meaning there will be three more minutes before that fire rm would be triggered. "In fact, I am not here to negotiate for my life, but I wanted to hear what you would offer to survive tonight," she uttered. There wasn''t a hint of emotion in her voice. "Of course, if you don''t like to offer anything then, the three of you will die. Tonight."


    ....


    I am already at home but I decided to take more time to rest. Thank you for understanding.

 Chapter 279: Disadvantage

    Chapter 279: Disadvantage


    "You  " The woman stood was about to approach Lyca, but Zar held his hand up to stop her. "Do you think we fear you?" the woman red at her. "We could kill you before you could even ask for your dead boyfriend toe here!"


    Lyca snorted. If someone will die, then that is not going to be her. "If you don''t control your girlfriend, I would start by killing her. You should know that I am perfectly capable of that, right?" she stared at Zar.


    "How did you know I am working with the Long Family?"


    She smiled at the stupidity of his question. "Wasn''t too hard to guess." This man was quite ambitious, and it was obvious that he was the one who suggested the stupid n of killing her.


    "You aren''t going to tell me?" Zar smiled before he signaled the bulky man behind him to pour them some drinks.


    "Your father wouldn''t have the confidence that he had now if it wasn''t for the Long Family''s help," she stared at the winess and the red liquid that was being poured. Her nose caught a wisp of something familiar. However, without drinking the wine, Lyca wouldn''t really know the kind of poison in that liquid. She eyed the woman who was still ring at her and wondered if this was her work.


    "Smart." Zar smiled before taking a sip at the wine. "This is a bottle of vintage wine. Feel free to try it."


    Without any reluctance, Lyca epted the ss. The potent smell of a sinister poison assaulted her senses. "I am not fond of wines," she moved the ss, creating a swirling motion on the liquid inside. "I could offer you the same thing as the Long Family is offering you. I could kill your father and make you the family head."


    "Hah! Did you think that''s the only thing that they offered to give me?" Zar immediately thought that the woman before him was scared. Or else, she wouldn''t waste her time negotiating with him like this.


    "No."


    "That is not even half of what they offer to give me." The Long Family promised to give him fifty percent of the weapons that they will recover from Q''s base. That was fifty percent of everything! Moreover, they also promised to support him as he bes the new leader of this territory. That is just something that this woman could never give him!


    "I know." Lyca smiled. "Making you the n head is already me being nice," she continued moving the ss without drinking the wine. "If you continue acting tough, I could kill you now and your ambition would end tonight."


    "How arrogant." Zar sneered. "You are here alone, with no weapons aside from the two guns and some small knives and yet you think you can touch a strand of my hair?"


    Lyca snorted. Just as she expected, these people really had something that could monitor the steel weapons that she had in her. "So, that is your final decision?" she asked.


    "Zar let''s just kill this woman!" the woman spoke. "This one " However, before she could finish her sentence, she started clutching her neck as she staggered. "What is " The woman''s face turned red as she started struggling to breathe.


    "You What did you do to her?" For the first time, the bulky man asked as he tried to approach Lyca.


    "One more step and you will end up like her," she beamed and turned her head to Zar. "I warned you earlier." She already told these people that the woman would end up dead if she continued talking like this. Since the woman didn''t pay attention, it wasn''t Lyca''s fault that she would end up dying now. "Mere scanners can not detect my needles," Lyca said as she watched the woman kneel while still clutching her neck. Her eyes are turning red as foam appeared in her mouth.


    "What the hell did you do?"


    "She will die in "


    "RIIIINNNNGGGGG!" The loud sound of the fire rm was the signal that Lyca was looking for. She sighed and put the ss of wine down before she flicked her finger and threw another needle to the bulky man. However, the man was different from the petite woman, his frame was bigger and his defenses were tougher than that of the woman''s.


    He only froze for a few seconds before he moved towards Lyca''s way. In a few seconds, the man already attacked her with his ferocious fists and kicks. While Lyca was quick, her strength was undeniably lowerpared to her current opponent.


    A curse left her lips when the man''s knees hit her arms that she used to cover her stomach. She stumbled, her back hit the wall. Lyca''s eyes turned towards Zar who was trying to help the woman and before she knew it, another kick was already on her way. This time, Lyca be even more agile, her movements seemed to create some after images which were enough to confuse the man.


    "You  How did you be this strong?" the bulky man asked before he growled and attack Lyca again. The man was five foot three andpared to Lyca''s height, he was considered a giant. Moreover, his arm muscles were even bigger than Lyca''s leg. So, how could this small woman resist a single kick from him? "I will kill you!" The man said as he sent another one of his iron punches to Lyca.


    "Only if you can," Lyca gave the man a smug smile as she sidestepped and used a dagger to stab through the man''s arms. Since his skin was too thick for her needles, then why not use a knife instead? The man let out a few curses before he took a step back and removed the dagger from his arm.


    "You "


    "Die b*tch!" Lyca said before a loud bang echoed inside the room. And just like that, the bulky man fell to his knees, blood poured from the hole in between his eyebrows. Lyca snorted. Since the poison from her dagger wasn''t enough to make him immobile then, ying with him was to her disadvantage. So she shot him instead.

 Chapter 280: An Exemplary Citizen

    Chapter 280: An Exemry Citizen


    "You  " Zar''s expression changed when he saw two of his subordinates already lying on the floor, lifeless. Not a minute passed since the rm rung and two of his most trusted people were already dead!


    This!


    This was something that he never expected.


    "I warned you," Lyca smiled as she walked towards her dagger, picking it up and using the bulky man''s clothes to wipe the blood from the de. "I am here to talk about what you can offer for your life. But you were too arrogant. I can''t imagine what your father would do once he knew you are already dead. I mean you are his heir, right?" she mocked.


    Lyca thought she had enough time ying around. Moreover, she already restocked her chemicals and Shen Qui should be good after tonight. Meaning, she needed to fix everything tonight.


    "You  What do you want?"


    "Just wondering how the Long Family convinced you." Shrugging, Lyca sat back on the couch and acted like she didn''t just killed two people.


    "That is none of your business," he hissed.


    "Yeah, I know you would say that." A smile appeared on Lyca''s face before a loud band echoed inside the room. She then stared at Zar''s lifeless body and approached him. After a few seconds of staring at him, Lyca decided to slit his throat, in case he was still alive after receiving a bullet in his head.


    Then she removed her other gun and walked out of the VIP room. "Hm?" she lifted an eyebrow as she looked at the empty space. Logic dictates that Zar''s people should be outside waiting to kill her outside of the door. Surely, a measly fire rm wasn''t enough to scare them off, right?


    Lyca eyed the ground floor that was as empty as the second floor before she snorted and calmly left the building through the exit. When Lyca opened the door that would lead her to the exit, she soon discovered the reason she felt amiss earlier. Standing in front of her were about ten or fifteen people, all wearing ck with high firearms that were pointed at her. She blinked and stared at Chu Yuyan, who walked towards her. "Miss Chu," Lyca smiled. "What a coincidence." She then eyed another man who stood next to Chu Yuyan.


    Lyca was certain that this person is not a member of the local Chu Family. This should be the person who came from the main branch.


    "Seems like we underestimated your boldness," Chu Yuyan said as she gritted her teeth. Memories of Lyca making her look like a fool instantly filled her head. "You really dared to kill Zar," she snorted.


    Lyca''s lips lifted, her eyes turned towards Ma Ping who was held by two people in ck, a huge bruise can be seen on Ma Ping''s face. This man Lyca scratched her cheek. "Why are you here?" she asked, her voice as calm as her face.


    "You really dared asked us why are we here? Isn''t it obvious? We are here to teach you a lesson! You think you can just kill anyone that you like because you can?"


    "Yes." Lyca nodded.


    "You "


    "Yuyan, calm down. Let me handle this." The man held Chu Yuyan''s arm before his gaze met Lyca''s. "I am called "


    "Not interested." Lyca interrupted him. "Do you want to kill me?'' she directly asked.


    "No," Surprised at her direct question, the man smiled and shook his head. "We are here to apprehend the person who killed young master Zar."


    "Oh, then I will leave first. You can check inside and see if the criminal was still there."


    "Xi! You are truly asking for death!" Chu Yuyan hissed. How could someone be this shameless!?


    "Hm? I came here to party. But there was a fire. If you are looking for Young Master Zar, then you should go inside." She shrugged.


    "Did you think, we wouldn''t touch you?" Chu Yuyan asked, her eyes red from the anger inside her.


    "Why would you touch me? Do you like me?"


    "You "


    "Yuyan, just stop. Let me handle this." Again, the man held Chu Yuyan''s shoulders. "Miss Xi, I think you need toe with us."


    "Why?" Lyca asked.


    "Because we all know that you killed Young Master Zar."


    "Do you have evidence?" she asked, her face was as stoic as earlier. It was as if the usations truly had nothing to do with her.


    "What evidence!? You are inside! That is enough proof that you killed him! Plus the video footage would confirm that!" Chu Yuyan said.


    "Did you see the video footage?"


    ""


    "Miss Xi, pleasee with us. We really don''t want to harm you. But what you did was unforgivable," the man said before Chu Yuyan could say something more.


    "So, ording to your logic, I killed him because I was inside? Then what about the people who were there too?"


    "Stop with this nonsense! We all know that they aren''t as dangerous as you!"


    Lyca smirked. "And what if I don''te with you?"


    "Then we will have to forcibly take you," the man answered calmly. It was as if he was someone really used to handling situations like this.


    Lyca lifted an eyebrow. "Can you really do that?" she took a single step back. "Really?"


    "Miss Xi, please cooperate. We will only bring you to the police station and nothing else. Mr. Zar is an exemry citizen in this country. How could we let you go after killing him?" the man said.


    "Then" Lyca smiled. "Why don''t you try to take me? How about this?" Lyca held both of her arms up and made her voice loud enough for the surrounding people to hear her. "Why don''t you try to shoot an unarmed civilian like me? Without proof or any warrant of arrest, I have the right not to go to the police station, and yet you actually brought a SWAT team with high-grade firearms to take me down. Since I refuse to go, why don''t you try to shoot me then?" she asked.

 Chapter 281: Silenced

    Chapter 281: Silenced


    "You  " Even the man turned speechless at Lyca''s relentless behavior. He actually thought that she would easily give way ande with them to avoid trouble, after all, it was very clear that they have the advantage. Lyca only had her driver who was already beaten by their people. So, howe Lyca was still so confident that they wouldn''t hurt her?


    "You can''t?" Lyca smiled. Of course, these people wouldn''t really know anything about someone like her. After all, they still work for the police force. Shooting someone unarmed who didn''t even have any intention of fighting back is going to ruin their reputation. Lyca eyed the surrounding people who already started taking videos and wave at them.


    This was her armor.


    The current inte is such an amazing thing. Anything can go viral these days, as long as it was enough to entertain people. She then smiled at the man. "Mr. Whoever you are, are you going to arrest me? If not, am I allowed to leave now?"


    "Elder Cousin Chu, are we going to allow her to leave?" Even Chu Yuyan realized the problem in this current situation. Her cousin who is working for the department might not be able to get out of this situation unscathed if they really shoot this woman or force her to apany them with no warrants or evidence that she killed someone.


    Chu Yuyan eyed Lyca''s perfect clothes. Not a speck of blood can be seen from her dark clothes.


    "Well, since Miss Xi refused to apany us to the station, then we can only properly invite Miss Xi in the morning once everything is sorted out. Please don''t leave the City tonight. We will keep in touch."


    Chu Yuyan gnashed her teeth in anger when she heard her cousin''s words. However, she couldn''t really say anything that could avoid implicating her cousin.


    "Ah, thank you." Lyca put her hands behind her back and smiled. "However, I have two questions about this matter."


    "Please go ahead."


    "How did you know that someone died inside? I mean, the reason I waste is that I fell asleep while drinking. But I really didn''t see anybody sprawled inside. I also didn''t smell any blood. How did you know that someone actually died and even used a harmless little girl like me as the killer?"


    "Miss Xi, someone said that they saw bodies inside. That''s why we were here as we thought some sort of mass killings happened." The man smiled.


    "Then why did you hurt my driver?" she asked her second question again, her voice was a little louder this time. "My driver was earnestly waiting for me outside. He didn''t drink or did some drugs. How could the police force attack my driver? What about human rights? Are you really going to pretend that my driver doesn''t have any human rights?"


    ""


    "Xi! You are going overboard!" Chu Yuyan hissed. "The reason they hurt him is that he insisted to go inside when it was already considered a crime scene! He actually fought someone from the police and that''s why "


    "Ah, I understand." Lyca nodded. "So, two more police came to beat him up," she smiled. "So this is how people from the Capital would act in this small City."


    Her words made the man frown, but it quickly disappeared after a few seconds. The most important thing is to see if there is really a dead body inside and to arrest this woman. "Alright, I will go ahead and check the ce first. I will be in touch." Lyca smiled.


    "No need. I will wait for the result. After all, I am such a good citizen who was wrongly used of killing someone." She smiled and walked towards the car. "Just call me if you won''t arrest me or something." Beaming, Lyca gestured for Ma Ping to go inside the car while she stood leaning against the door of the front seat.


    Lyca watched as the men wearing ck went inside the facility with Chu Yuyan and her rtive. Lyca sneered. Did those people really think they would find a body? Really?


    She came here with her newly develop chemicals intending to kill people and make their bodies vanished. She was actually showing off to the representative of the Chu Family. After all, these family was known for their affinity in business. She was certain that a new product like this could catch their attention.


    Lyca started humming and closed her eyes. Her heartbeat soon turned calmed.


    "Did you really have to put yourself in danger again?"


    Lyca froze as she opened one of her eyes. Then she mmed it shut again.


    Shen Qui. It was actually Shen Qui!


    Didn''t she tell them not to let this man loose? Why was he standing here next to him?


    "If continue pretending that you are sleeping, I will kiss you." She heard him say.


    "I''m not pretending. I am really sleeping," she said before his kiss silenced her. Almost immediately, Lyca''s arms snaked around Shen Qui''s neck as she responded. It was as if her world stopped turning as she gave in and opened her mouth to receive his probing tongue.


    The kisssted for a few more seconds before Lyca pulled away. "Now, I''m awake." A smile stered on her face.


    "Why are you being so reckless?" Shen Qui''s face was dark as his hand touched her cheek. "I can smell blood. Are you wounded?" he asked.


    "It''s not mine," she answered, beaming.


    "Stop smiling like that! It won''t make me feel any better!"


    "Then should I smile like this?" she gave him a tight-lipped smile. "Or this?" Before giving him a cheeky grin. "Should I smile like this?" A huge smile that reached her ears slithered on her face as her hand folded around his waist. "Perhaps like this?" she continued teasing.


    .....


    Thank you for the support. There will be a new promotion soon and the staff asked me to write a novel to join. I already published a few chapters but is still waiting for the confirmation of the event. The novel title is: ENTANGLED: CRISSCROSS. It''s the book of lust. Please check it out if you have the time.


    Thanks.

 Chapter 282: Public Display of Affection

    Chapter 282: Public Disy of Affection


    "This isn''t funny," Shen Qui''s stern face was enough to shut her up. True, this is really not funny. She wanted toin but instead shut her mouth and closed her eyes.


    "The Chu Family brought back someone that was considered high ranking in the police department. What you did was too careless," he added. "What if something happened to you? What if they  Would you run away? Are you going to leave? Are you going to leave me?'' Shen Qui stood there and stared down at her, waiting for her to answer him.


    s, Lyca kept her silence. Lyca didn''t inform Shen Qui of her ns to kill Zar Clint before they could even attack the ce. All she told him was the fact that offense is actually the best defense. She wasn''t too upfront with her dangerous ns because she knew it would worry him and it might stop him from recuperating in time.


    "I was sleeping for a few days and here you are, carelessly doing something dangerous." Shen Qui continued.


    "I know," she uttered. She knew that Shen Qui might wake up tonight or tomorrow, so she decided toplete this part before he would know what was happening. Of course, she seeded, but Shen Qui was angry.


    "Then why?"


    "Because it''s needed." She needed to provoke the Clint Family. She needed a reason to end them at the same time while showing to the Long Family her current ability. She heard a sharp sigh escape from Shen Qui''s mouth before she felt him pulled her for a hug.


    She could understand why he was angry, and she knew she was in the wrong. She was really recklesstely. But this was the only thing she could do to maintain the unpredictability that she wanted to show. She only wanted people to think that she was reckless and unreasonable. Someone who doesn''t need rhyme or reason to kill.


    If these rumors will spread, then people would surely fear provoking her. They would fear her and wouldn''t approach her. If she is lucky, then they would leave her alone to rx and have a good time with her husband.


    "Can you stop putting yourself in danger?"


    "Says the man who didn''t tell me about his ns?" she retorted. This immediately silenced Shen Qui. "In this rtionship, trust was needed. If you won''t trust me, then I can only reciprocate."


    Another sigh escaped his lips. "I''m in the wrong," he said as he hugged her tighter. "This won''t happen again."


    "You better do that," she harrumphed and tried to push him away, but he wasn''t ready to stop hugging her. Shen Qui smiled as he tightened his embrace around her small body.


    "Ronan just discovered something," he said. "We should leave now."


    "I am not done yet," Lyca said as she eyed Chu Yuyan, who was walking their way. "Stop hugging me." Sadly, her words fell into deaf ears as Shen Qui said no and continued hugging her.


    "I wasn''t expecting to finally see Mr. Q tonight." Chu Yuyan''s words weren''t even enough to stop Shen Qui from hugging Lyca. This made Chu Yuyan frowned. "Hmph! You are still alive, and yet you actually let your woman wreak havoc in this ce. If you can''t handle the territory, then you should pick someone else to handle it for you."


    Helplessness shed in Lyca''s eyes. She shook her head inwardly. This Shen Qui is really getting bolder and bolder every day. First, he doesn''t seem scared of her anymore. Second, he was getting affectionate even in front of this many people. Of course, she couldn''t deny the fact that she actually liked it.


    Seeing Chu Yuyan''s angry expression made Lyca smile. "Ah, Miss Chu please give us more time. We are trying to express our emotions without using words." She gave the woman a mischievous wink before she buried her head in his arms, inhaling his scent.


    "You  Can you stop being too shameless? How could you act like this in front of my cousin who is a high-ranking police officer? Are you out of your minds?"


    This time, Shen Qui finally stopped hugging his wife. "Is there aw that is against some public disy of affection, Miss Chu?"


    "Yuyan, leave us. You should be thirsty, why don''t you get something to drink?"


    "But Elder Cousin"


    "It''s alright, they won''t harm me," the man gave Chu Yuyan a gentle smile before turning towards Shen Qui. "Let me introduce myself. I am Chu Nan I am from Ath Province were the main Chu Familyes from." He handed a calling card to Shen Qui. "I am assuming you are Mr. Q?"


    "You didn''t answer my question," Shen Qui said as he eyed the card. "Is there aw against some public disy of affection?"


    "Mr. Q"


    "Answer me." Shen Qui said.


    "No. There shouldn''t be anyws against hugging someone in public."


    "Good." Shen Qui turned towards Lyca however, before he could hug her again, Lyca already took a step back and beamed at him.


    "Stop it," she said. She wasn''t really the type of person who cared about other people''s opinions, but this this man is just too much.


    "But I miss you."


    "I literally saw you a few hours ago!"


    "Exactly, that was already a few hours ago."


    Chu Nan stared at the two, dumbfounded. He seemed confused about this current situation. Why does it felt like he was the one interrupting something and that he should be embarrassed?


    "Can you be serious?" Lyca hissed. Right now, she wasn''t really sure if Shen Qui was punishing her or he just turned weird because of her various concoctions.


    "I am serious. Did you see me smile or make a joke?"


    "You " Lyca wasn''t able to finish her sentence when she fell into Shen Qui''s embrace. She snapped her eyes shut. She could feel everyone''s eyes on them and it was it was a very different experience.


    ...


    Thank you for your support. Tomorrow, I will update Redemption and can only release 2 chapters for this novel.

 Chapter 283: The Damsel in Distress

    Chapter 283: The Damsel in Distress


    "You should stop hugging me," Lyca said. She gulped and continued squeezing her eyes shut. She knew she must have looked like a tomato already. "We are in the middle of something," she continued and tried to wriggle her way out of his arms. It was futile. Shen Qui wasn''t nning to let go.


    This was her punishment. "Since you are so good at putting yourself in danger, then you should stay like this for a few more minutes." She heard him say.


    Lyca sighed inwardly, helplessness rush through her. "Stop throwing tantrums." She just killed people! Shen Qui''s ability to read situations is truly hopeless.


    "Ahem" Chu Nan cleared his throat as he avoided looking at the couple. ording to his cousin, Shen Qui was wounded and is on the verge of death. If that is the case, then who is this man? Obviously, this was Shen Qui! This means that his cousin was lying.


    He couldn''t help but wonder if this was the Chu Family''s ploy to make hime here to support them in their ambitions.


    "Hey," Lyca elbowed him before mumbling, "Get off me. I smell like blood." And sweat, and she actually didn''t wash her hair earlier today. In short, she stinks!


    "Hmmm. I didn''t know that Mrs. Shen would actually act like this when embarrassed. Next time, you should stop putting yourself in danger, or else, I would hug you for an hour in a public ce like this."


    Lyca could hear the amusement in his voice.


    "And kiss you everywhere."


    "Shen Qui!" she hissed. If this man would actually do that they would end up fighting and she knew that when ites to strength, she wouldn''t be able to beat him. Unless, of course, she shot him or use her daggers. But harming him wasn''t one of her options.


    "Hmmm." Finally, Shen Qui let her go. Smiling, he examined her, making sure she wasn''t wounded. "You aren''t wounded. This is good." Then she turned towards Chu Nan. "Are you the one in charge here?"


    "Yes, I am"


    "I heard you the first time. Some assassins were here to kill my wife. I am d that she is safe but I suggest you start searching the area to find the culprit."


    ""


    ""


    "Mr. Q, I believe there is a misunderstanding here. Miss Xi wasn''t attacked."


    "Then you are saying that my wife would just fall asleep in a club? Someone must have poisoned his drink!" When ites to shamelessness, Shen Qui''s level was already on a godly level. "Mr. Chu, I suggest youb the area or I will talk to your superiors about this matter!" Shen Qui said as he held Lyca closely in his arms.


    The atmosphere immediately turned weird. How did it be like this? Clearly, they are here to arrest this woman!


    "Huh! I didn''t know that Boss Q is actually this shameless," Chu Yuyan chimed in. Hearing Shen Qui''s words was enough to make her want to erupt in anger. "Your woman killed Zar Clint and his people! That''s right! Zar Clint! The heir of the Clint family! How could you say that your wife was attacked? She was one who attacked someone."


    "I swear, I didn''t see dead bodies in there," Lyca''s soft voice made Chu Yuyan and even Chu Nan speechless. Earlier, this woman was too relentless and forceful. How did she be like a damsel now? The two-eyed Lyca who was batting her eyes at Shen Qui. "I didn''t even know that someone died!" Lyca said, her face flushed.


    Shen Qui hugged her tighter. "It''s alright, as long as you are safe then it''s fine." He stroked her back and kissed her forehead.


    "You are truly shameless! How could you "


    "Miss Chu had been saying that I killed someone, but she actually doesn''t have some proof. Husband, this woman is bullying me." Lyca''s deration silenced Chu Yuyan. She red at Lyca, disbelief shed in her eyes. The change in Lyca wasn''t only surprising, but it was too infuriating! She was actually acting like she was bullied? She was nothing but a damn white lotus!


    Except for Shen Qui, none of them were aware that Lyca did this as she was already toozy to handle them. With Shen Qui by her side, Lyca was confident that she could now have her rest and just watch a show. She met Shen Qui''s eyes and let out a deep sigh. "She had been using me of killing someone. I swear, I really didn''t see any dead bodies when I woke up."


    "Then how do you exin Zar Clint''s disappearance after he entered the VIP room you were in?" Chu Nan already has his suspicions, but he couldn''t confirm it. After all, he would need someone to verify it.


    As someone working in the police department, Chu Nan already saw a lot of weird stuff. In his mind, some glitch could cause the disappearance in the CCTV. After all, there were no dead bodies inside the room. Aside from the liquid on the floor that was spilled, there were no bodies or signs that someone died there.


    "Mr. Clint and his subordinates talked to me, but after that, he left." Lyca shrugged and buried her face into Shen Qui''s arms. "Husband, I swear I didn''t kill anyone."


    "Of course, I believe you." Shen Qui said, his eyes never left Chu Nan''s. "If my guess is right, Zar and his two subordinates were all killers and capable of killing someone in a matter of minutes. Are you saying that my wife could defeat them and worse, kill the three of them while she was alone? She is small and slim! How could she defeat three people at once? Tell me, Mr. Chu, why are you trying to frame my wife? Did you really think that your Chu Family is above thew?"


    Chu Nan squinted at Shen Qui before he looked at Chu Yuyan, as if silently asking her for an exnation. This woman was the one who told him about Lyca killing someone important. She was also the one who confirmed that their people saw Zar Clint entering the VIP room. Then she confirmed that Zar Clint never left the room.


    "I Elder Cousin, please don''t listen to them. Zar is really dead. If he was alive, then he should be here by now. This woman really killed him!"

 Chapter 284: Assassination Attempt

    Chapter 284: Assassination Attempt


    "Yuyan, I am highly disappointed in you," Chu Nan said. A part of this was an act. He wanted to show the crowd that he was not partial. However, another part of him felt disappointed in his cousin''s scheme. He had talked to the elders of the Family and knew that this side of the Chu Family was full of scheming women.


    They always wanted to rule and they would do everything to seed. At first, Chu Nan didn''t think that they would go as far as asking for the main branch to help them. However, now it seems that this was really the case. Chu Yuyan and his mother wanted to frame the wife of the current boss in this territory. This was all clear now.


    However, he couldn''t help but wonder if that man Zar Clint had something to do with this. Chu Nan lowered his gaze as he carefully thought about it. If Zar Clint had something to do with this, then he should be alive somewhere. But that would mean leaving his family and making them think he was already dead. Zar Clint is the heir of the Clint Family, and the Chu Family spent a lot of fortune to raise him and train him. So why would Zar leave?


    Now that Chu Nan thought about it, he immediately felt confused. When Chu Yuyan told him about Lyca''s background, she seemed really confident. She told Chu Nan that Lyca was a dangerous woman who killed people without batting an eyelid. She was a killer who was wreaking havoc because of the ident that almost killed her husband.


    Then Lyca was said to have targeted the Chu Family and stole from them. This was the reason the Chu Family got involved in this matter. After all, they don''t want to make it look like they don''t care about this branch family at all.


    However, it seems that this story wasn''t true at all.


    Chu Nan looked at Lyca and Shen Qui. Chu Yuyan told him that Shen Qui was wounded, but this man wasn''t showing any signs of injury. His face was rosy, lips pinkish. He doesn''t look sick or injured at all! This means Chu Yuyan was really lying about the injury.


    "Elder Cousin please believe me. This woman is really causing harm to our Chu Family!" Chu Yuyan said in a voice that only the four of them could hear. "I am really telling the truth!"


    "Then where is Zar Clint?" Chu Nan hissed before he realized his mistake. He cleared his throat once again and stared at the couple. "I will make sure to find the culprit of this assassination attempt. For now, you should leave this ce. My team and I will scrutinize every corner of this club for this matter."


    "Good. This is my business card. Call me anytime." Shen Qui handed a ck slim card towards him before he helped Lyca got inside the car. After a few seconds, the car disappeared along with Shen Qui''s people.


    "We need to talk!" Chu Nan said as he signaled his people to continue searching the area.


    "Don''t drag me! My arm hurts!" Chu Yuyan couldn''t help butin.


    "I''m sorry." Chu Nan sighed. He made sure that all the windows inside the ck SUV were closed before looking at Chu Yuyan. "You said that Q was dying."


    "I  I didn''t know that he was already healed."


    "He wasn''t showing any signs that he was wounded."


    "Elder Cousin please believe me. Everyone here knew that he was wounded and almost died. I don''t know how he turned up today, but he was really dying!" Even she couldn''t believe that someone like Shen Qui would recover in a matter of days! "I am telling you, that woman of his was a killer! She killed a lot of family n leaders here and "


    "Chu Yuyan, that has nothing to do with me! I am here because you told the elders that the Chu Family is in danger! You told everyone that she was depressed and targeting the Chu Family''s wealth! I am here because we don''t want the world to think that we don''t care about a small side branch like the Chu Family in this ce!"


    "Elder Cousin, you"


    "And yet you actually lied to me? Tell me honestly, where is Zar Clint? Did you cooperate with him and asked him to pretend that he is dead for a short time?"


    "That is not true." Chu Yuyan said. Her people who followed Lyca clearly told her everything. They saw Zar Clint go inside the VIP room and they heard the gunshots! "I am really telling the truth! That woman killed Zar and his people."


    "Yuyan, my patience is running out! I am warning you! If you don''t tell me the truth, I will have the Chu Family abandoned this side branch and cut off the supplies that we send you every month!"


    Chu Yuyan''s eyes widened. "You "


    "I will give you an hour to think about it. I brought my men here thinking that we would arrest some criminal. You don''t understand this, but bringing them here on a private ne requires a lot of paperwork. You are putting me in big trouble here!" With that, Chu Nan left the car and started smoking outside.


    Even with his threats, Chu Yuyan was still acting like she was the one telling the truth. Chu Nan couldn''t help but wonder why the woman thought that she could convince anyone with this lousy scheme. There was simply no body! How could she still let him think that the woman killed someone? Base on the CCTV, she actually didn''t leave the VIP room and just stayed there even after the rm rang.


    Then she walked out a couple of minutes after. The footage didn''t show any signs that she got rid of the body. Moreover, she simply had no way of getting rid of three bodies alone in a matter of minutes.


    ....


    Thank you for your support. :)

 Chapter 285: Helpless Lyca

    Chapter 285: Helpless Lyca


    In Chu Nan''s mind, there could only be one exnation. She didn''t kill someone.


    Right now, he could only me himself for being easily fooled by Chu Yuyan and her mother. With this in mind, Chu Nan called Shen Qui''s number and scheduled a meeting.


    Lyca only lifted an eyebrow when Shen Qui ended his call.


    "Your n is wless," he said before he pulled her for a hug. "I miss you."


    "We were literally together every day!" Lyca said. "How could you say you miss me?" She was actually toozy to argue, but she found his thoughts too overboard. She red at him as she crossed her arms against her chest. "Stop acting cute, I am still mad at you." Now that he was fully healed, Lyca didn''t hesitate to give him a piece of her mind. "You actually thought that not telling me anything would keep me safe? How foolish! If you aren''t a little handsome, I would have let you rot in that hospital bed."


    "Thankfully, I am handsome," Shen Qui grinned. "I promise I won''t do it again."


    "Women remember things like this forever. This  " Her words were interrupted when Shen Qui cupped her face.


    "I don''t mind, remember it forever."


    "Stop squeezing my face!"


    This made himughed, his face turned brighter. "Did someone tell you you are so cute?"


    "No." She was beautiful, not cute. Again, Shen Qui let out anotherugh. Before he leaned down and kiss her. "Stop acting like you, you are making me furious."


    "Why are you angry?"


    "You came here even if I told Ronan not to let you out! How could you act carelessly when you just woke up?"


    "So you were worried about me?"


    "Of course not!" she turned her head away. "I only feel sorry for the herbs that I used to concoct medicine for your blood loss and wounds. I shouldn''t have wasted too many medicines on you."


    "You know that Ronan can''t stop me if I want to do something." Despite Lyca''s angry tone, Shen Qui''s tone was still calm. There was a hint ofughter in his voice. "Even if he worked together with Rue and Cleo, they won''t be able to stop me."


    Lyca snorted but said nothing. He already knew that this guy is too stubborn. "Your stubbornness might ruin my ns." Her n was to keep his recovery a secret. Then she could use it to face-p everyone once the event calls for it. However, Shen Qui just acted like a child and immediately met with her even when he just woke up.


    "If you heard I did something dangerous, would you really stay at home and just wait for me toe back?" His retort made her roll her eyes.


    "Fair enough."


    "See? I know you would always worry about me." He tried to hug her again, but for the umpteenth time, Lyca resisted. But then again, when ites to strength, she was really no match for him. In the end, Lyca mumbled some courses as another hug enveloped her.


    Ma Ping had to endure this scene as he drove them back to the ranch. For some reason, the pang of being single is more painful than the wounds that he received earlier. After a few minutes, they finally arrived at the ranch. The lovers immediately went underground while Ma Ping was left standing just outside of the car.


    "What''s wrong with you?" Gu Cheng was the first person who approached him.


    "I would never have a girlfriend." Ma Ping said while staring at the door. "It changes people," he said before going inside the house to find something for his wound.


    Meanwhile, Lyca already gave up arguing with Shen Qui. Instead, she kept her silence and followed him towards his office. After all, she knew that arguing with this stubborn man is useless. He would only find the positive side of his words and smile like an idiot. While this irked her, a part of Lyca was actually relieved that he finally recovered.


    "Ah? You guys are finally back!" Cleo smiled but didn''t approach them. "I smell blood. Did you get hurt?"


    "It''s not our blood," Shen Qui said and pulled Lyca towards his seat. He immediately sat on the leather chair and pulled her towards hisp. The action was quick and precise. It was as if he was already used to it.


    "This  " Cleo met Rue''s eyes as they awkwardly stared at the current embarrassing scene. "Did something happen?"


    "No," Shen Qui just smiled while turning his head towards the equally speechless Ronan. "You wanted to say something? Go on we don''t have much time left."


    ""


    "Are you guys going somewhere?" It was Rue who asked the question that everyone including Lyca wanted to asked.


    "It''s nighttime. Of course, we are going to sleep. I just recovered. I need to rest." Shen Qui said without batting an eyelid.


    "Oh!" Cleo nodded. "Oh! I get it. Alright Ronan, you should tell them what you discovered! Go on!" He sat next to Ronan.


    "Go on, Ronan," Rue added, she eyed Lyca''s cid expression and feltplicated. Clearly, Lyca wasn''t in a very good mood, but she was still letting Shen Qui act like this. She couldn''t imagine what would happenter, once these two arrive in the room.


    "Oh, I was trying to investigate Grandfather Huang''s poisoning as you instructed. Just as you instructed, I am looking into both the Zhang Family and Long Family, after all, they were the ones who benefited a lot from the poisoning. It was clear to see that they were involved in this matter." As expected, his words changed Lyca''s expression.


    "And?" Lyca lifted an eyebrow as she made herselffortable in Shen Qui''sp.


    "Well it was a dead-end. It''s been like this for a few months now. But then I got bored and started investigating the members of the Huang Family that includes you, of course."


    "Get to the point, " Lyca frowned.


    "I found out something weird about your uncle, Huang Qingyun." Ronan gulped. "His wife died of poisoning too, but everything about it was kept as a secret. I mean I can''t find anything about his wife at all. Even her death certificate was missing."

 Chapter 286: Fear of Truth

    Chapter 286: Fear of Truth


    Lyca frowned. She wasn''t really close with Huang Qingyun, but she remembered ying with his son before. However, his son never once mentioned his mother, so she doesn''t have any other information about her. All Lyca knew is the fact that she died from someplicated illness.


    Of course, this could also be med on the fact that she wasn''t interested in any other things aside from food and sleeping when she was still younger.


    "I thought she died from someplicated illness?"


    "I thought so too!" Ronan said. "But I found some research materials about her. It was said that she died from a strange poison that could dissolve one''s internal organs and affect the brain but could keep the person alive. She died so I am uncertain if she died of natural causes or" Ronan met Lyca''s eyes.


    "She was still alive and is being hidden somewhere." It was Lyca whopleted his sentence. Was it possible that Huang Qingyun was the person who gave the poison because he was looking for someone that could create an antidote? Was it for his wife?


    Lyca recalled Huang Qingyun''s calmness. It was like he wasn''t actually interested in the affairs of the Huang Family. At that time, Lyca just ignored his actions because she thought he was nothing but another gold-digging asshole who wanted the money from thepany.


    But what if that wasn''t actually the case?


    "I have something in my mind. I will talk to you about the n tomorrow once I sort out my thoughts." Lyca said before she stood and walked out of the room, leaving Shen Qui and the other to talk to themselves. Lyca knew that Shen Qui needed to catch up on a lot of things with Ronan. After all, he had done nothing but sleep in the past few days.


    Lyca immediately went to have a shower and changed into an item offortable clothing before she went to the kitchen and got herself some steaming coffee. Then she went to theb and just stared at the door for a few minutes while drinking her coffee. Actually, she didn''t have the time to carefully examine that poison that was injected into her grandfather.


    She created something like it and used it to punish her aunt, but that was it. Without having the exact poison that was used against her grandfather, Lyca''s research became stagnant. And she wasn''t nning to me anyone aside from herself for this matter. Her reasoning was actually quite simple. Shecks the motivation to do so. Even the fact that she was framed wasn''t enough to motivate her.


    In the first ce, she wasn''t really close with her grandfather. She only saw the man a couple of times a year and wasn''t very familiar with him. Moreover, she actually fell asleep for three years. So, she didn''t have the time to do it. At that time, Lyca was content to know that they wouldn''t hurt her parents. After all, those two were the two most important people in her life, aside from Shen Qui.


    Another reason is the fact that Lyca was confident she would be able to revive her grandfather as long as she had the right materials. From her previous world, a poison like the one used on her grandfather wasn''t really deadly. As long as the person was breathing, one can use her Qi or Spiritual energy to disperse the poison. Of course, this would also depend on the damage to the body.


    Judging from her calctions, the poison that was used in her grandfather is just a weak version of the original poison from her previous world. After all, her grandfather is still alive despite being old. After concluding that the poison was a weaker version, Lyca just lost interest in studying it. She knew her grandfather would survive anyway, and she was toozy to do anything that would make her weak for a few days.


    Just like saving Shen Qui, dispelling a poison could also affect Lyca''s health. It might even make her sick and stay in bed for a few days  especially for a poison who had been in her grandfather''s body for over three years now. Lyca let out a sharp sigh.


    She was actually toozy to save her own grandfather, but wasn''t toozy to wreak havoc in this city. It seems that her priorities were really screwed. She really should try harder.


    "You are thinking about bringing them here?" Shen Qui''s voice didn''t surprise her. She sensed his presence for a few seconds now. Lyca just nodded in response. She was toozy to ask how did he know what she was thinking.


    "Then, what''s stopping you?" he asked.


    "Nothing." Finally, she lifted her head and stared at the gentle expression on his face. "Maybe the truth?" Lyca hated the fact that the same poison appeared in this world. She had her suspicions about this, but she was too scared to admit the truth. After all, her previous world was considerably more frightening than this world.


    "What truth?"


    She shrugged in response. On the day that her grandfather was poisoned, she already suspected that someone from her previous world could use their spiritual energy to make that poison. However, she wasn''t too sure about this matter. After all, Shen Qui who was originally from this world could use his spiritual energy as well.


    Meaning, it wasn''t really too strange that someone else could discover another way to use it. However, studying the poison would confirm her suspicion, and to be honest, Lyca was toozy to deal with anything that involves her previous world.


    "Come on," Shen Qui slowly held her hand and pulled her towards their room. "How about you rx and think about your n thoroughly tomorrow?"


    Lyca frowned. Why does she feel like his words have some other meaning?


    ....


    Thank you for your support. Please stay safe out there and avoid crowded ces. :)

 Chapter 287: The Most Dangerous Person

    Chapter 287: The Most Dangerous Person


    Surprisingly, Shen Qui did nothing that night. Instead, he spent it just kissing and cuddling her. Of course, there was the asional teasing that Shen Qui does to infuriate her. In the end, the two slept soundly in each other''s arms, both had a slight smile on their faces.


    The next morning, Lyca woke up early and immediately got out of bed before she realized that Shen Qui is already fine, healthy as a horse! There is no need to cook for him ever again. So, she went back to bed and just continued sleeping.


    When Lyca woke up again, Shen Qui was no longer by her side. She got up and instantly took some hot shower before going out to find him.


    "You''re up?"


    Lyca stood frozen when she noticed Shen Qui wearing an apron in the kitchen. She blinked and opened her mouth. She wanted to ask him what he was doing, but this was fairly obvious. He was cooking! "You are "


    "Cooking," he beamed.


    "I wanted to ask if you are making something edible." She approached him and had another mindboggling surprise when she noticed that he was cooking eggs. Yep. Just what did she expect? "Eggs?"


    "I told you, I can only cook eggs."


    Lyca didn''t know if she wouldugh or cry. Since the beginning of this rtionship, this man had been cooking eggs for her. "Did you "


    "I scrambled it with the exact numbers of time that you want. I added the butter at the exact minute that you want," he answered and handed her a bowl of his scrambled eggs. "From now on, I will study more ways to cook eggs."


    "That is  That sounds exciting," sheughed and used a fork to taste the eggs. "This is good."


    "Of course, I made it."


    "" She fought the urge to roll her eyes. "Come taste it." He said while holding the fork in front of him. Without any hesitation, Shen Qui opened his mouth and gave a boyish grin. If people would see him act like this, they would surely wonder if this was still the Boss Q that everyone knows.


    "Delicious." He said, eyes turning crescents while looking at Lyca. This time, Lyca turned speechless. She immediately lowered her head and ate the remaining eggs as she thought about her racing heart. Why would this man''s smile still make her feel like she was a teenager? Lyca startedining inwardly. "What are you nning to do today?"


    "Rest," she answered without batting an eyelid. "You are awake, you fix this territory, I need to do something important."


    "Do you want me to arrange their transfer?"


    Lyca lifted her head before she nodded. "As safely as possible."


    "Hmmm. And the Clint and Chu Family?"


    "The news about your recovery should have reached their ears by now, schedule a meeting with Chu Nan, I will meet him while you take care of the Clint Family and their other allies. They are working with the Long Family so you can make them suffer a bit more before demandingpensation."


    Shen Qui nodded, seemingly understanding Lyca''s meaning. "Should I just kill them?"


    "Huh, you are suggesting killing them now? Why didn''t you kill them before they could harm you?"


    "You know why," He shrugged, unaffected by her tone. Seeing his nonchnt attitude, Lyca rolled her eyes. Of course, she knew he did it for her. Moreover, they never anticipated that the Long Family would target Shen Qui more than they would target Lyca.


    "The Chu Family is also hiding the Mayor''s daughter. You have to be careful about that crazy one." Lyca said.


    "Why didn''t you kill her?"


    "Toozy," she finished the egg and had some milk. "You can do it if you want to." That woman was a product of her father''s sinister ways. Killing someone like her was a waste of Lyca''s ammunition.


    "Hmmm."


    "Also, I want to create this." Lyca gave Shen Qui a folder bond paper. In the bond paper was a sketch of a bracelet that looked like what Lyca always wore. However, this one was bigger.


    "What is this?"


    "I call it Poison bracelet. It''s a mechanical essory that could store twelve poisonous needles. One could use it against their enemies. Spring ising, and the training is almost done. It is time to create weapons for them."


    Shen Qui stared at the sketch as he recalled the weapons on the Huang Family''s house. He recalled some spears and swords, but there were also some weapons that he didn''t recognize. "You made this?"


    She nodded in response. Coming from a family of assassins, Lyca was very experienced in handling hidden weapons. Moreover, her family was also very adept at creating weapons like this. Of course, with the help of technology in this world, Lcya could easily create weapons like this.


    "Then do you need manpower for this?"


    "Just Lai Su. This is a highly guarded secret of mine, so for now, I will only make weapons enough for my men and yours." Her grand assault against the Long Family ising. And Lyca wasn''t nning to hold back anymore. After all, those people dared to hurt Shen Qui.


    One of these days, when people in the Long City would ask who is the most dangerous person that they cannot afford to offend everyone would immediately answer ''Shen Qui''. After all, hurting him was Lyca''s trigger. Of course, if you really want your entire family to be obliterated, then you can just hurt Shen Qui and your suffering will be assured.


    "About the Long Family"


    "I know," Lyca nodded. "Their connections run deep. They are fairly connected to the Xu Family in the Capital too. Without their connections, they would have died a long time ago." This wasn''t really surprising. After all, they were able to create the Long Founding school of Elites where most influential people go to. When ites to connections alone, the Long Family is already considered the top.


    But that will change soon.

 Chapter 288: Chu Familys Chu Munan

    Chapter 288: Chu Family''s Chu Munan


    And by soon, Lyca meant in the next few months.


    The sky is changing and the power will soon change too.


    After a few days of being holed up in herboratory, Lyca finally emerged looking like a zombie. Her face was pale, eyes red with dark bags that could rival Lai Su''s. She let out a yawn and immediately fell asleep even before Shen Qui could start scolding her.


    When she woke up the next day, Lyca had to endure being lectured about the reasons younger people die easily. She knew she was at fault and locking but she just locked theboratory because she was tackling a serious type of chemicals from a venom that they just acquired abroad. She was nning to separate theponents of the venom, and she didn''t want anyone disturbing her  not even Shen Qui.


    In the end, Shen Qui sighed. Helplessness shing in his eyes. The current Lyca was too different from the Lyca a few days before he got this injury. No matter how much he looked at it, this Lyca was a bit more serious and cold than the nonchnt Lyca that he knew. Of course, he knew this was because of what happened to him.


    This was because he was too careless and fell into the trap created by his enemies.


    "You are supposed to meet Chu Nan today," he said while giving her a cup of coffee.


    "Yes. Do you want toe with me?" Lyca said.


    "I still have some things to attend to." Shen Qui gave a wry smile. This time, he wasn''t in a rush to involve himself in Lyca''s matter. He already learned his lesson. Trusting her to do her own business was still better than trying to shield her from the world. "Of course, I can go there if you insist." He smiled. Right now, theirpany is already open for investors and he is working on expanding the restaurants in other cities near the capital, so he was truly busy.


    "Tell me about the Clint Family," Lyca said. She didn''t have the time to ask these questions when she got out of theb because she was truly tired and just fell asleep immediately.


    "They epted defeat and agreed to leave the city."


    "You made them leave?"


    "Withpensation."


    Lyca snorted. "And the spies?"


    "Done. It''s only been a few days since I woke up and a lot of things already happened. However, the Chu Family is still holding on. They think that Chu Nan is nning to do something against us." Shen Qui just shrugged. He already knew that the Chu Family would value benefits more than a mere side branch who can give them nothing but trouble.


    "Then this is good." Lyca finished her coffee and bid Shen Qui goodbye. She then brought Ma Ping with her to meet with Chu Nan.


    The meeting was in a secluded cafe in the territory. This was one of the cafes that Shen Qui owned. Surprisingly, both Chu Nan and Lyca didn''t bring any security with them today.


    "Miss Xi, you surprised me." Chu Nan smiled, his handsome appearance gave off a gentle vibe. "At first I honestly believed that Miss Xi didn''t kill Young Master Zar. It seems that I made a mistake."


    Lyca only smiled. Taking a sip of her tea, she waited for him to continue.


    "Honestly, until now I couldn''t understand how did you melt their body. I would assume it was some sort of chemical? But a chemical as strong as that would surely leave some acrid and strong smell. However, when I got inside the room, there were no traces of smell. May I know what did you use this time?"


    "No," she answered almost immediately.


    "Then shall I assume that this is Miss Xi''s scheme to attract my attention?"


    Lyca lifted an eyebrow. Who would have thought that this Mr. Chu had this narcissistic side too? At least it made man more human.


    "I would take the silence as a yes." Chu Nan chuckled, a small dimple appearing on his left cheek. This Chu Nan looked so different from the previous one that Lyca met at the club. Even their actions and the way they speak are different. "But then again, you already have an excellent man by your side. This is making me doubt your true intention. I am sure you are not so fond of me, so I can only assume that you wanted to attract my attention because of my Chu Family, yes?"


    Again Lyca didn''t respond. She stared at Chu Nan, studying his facial expressions. Then Lyca squinted before she snorted. "Who are you?" she asked. Almost immediately, the smile on the man''s face froze.


    "I am Chu Nan of the Chu "


    "Bullshit," Lyca said, her tone calm. "Give me an honest answer or don''t expect to leave this ce alive."


    The man stared at her for a few seconds before he gave a low chuckle. "My My it seems that I totally underestimated Miss Xi? Or shall I call you Miss Huang?"


    "Name."


    "Alright Just take it easy. I didn''te here for a fight. I am unarmed and I have no security personnel. I am no match for a killer like this. I called Chu Munan, I am Chu Nan''s twin brother. I arrived here with him." Lyca didn''t miss the dangerous glint in the man''s eyes.


    "And you are here to represent the Chu Family?"


    "Ah? I have never met a woman as direct as you. I was expecting that you would act like a weak little miss in front of me. Turns out, you are this direct. Again, I misjudged you."


    "Answer," Lyca coldly said.


    "Yes. To answer your question. Yes, I am the representative of the Chu Family. I am here to ask you what you want."


    Lyca only smiled. When ites to wealth, the Chu Family could actually rival the Shen and Xu Family. However, instead of focusing on politics, the family focused on earning wealth. "I want to cooperate with your family," Lyca said.

 Chapter 289: Hidden Weapons

    Chapter 289: Hidden Weapons


    "Cooperations?" Chu Munan''s eyebrow lifted, amusement shed in his orbs. "May I know what kind of cooperation do you want?"


    "Creating weapons. Ourpany is expert in creating weapons."


    "Miss Xi, our Chu Family doesn''tck weapons. We are one if not the wealthiest family in the country. How could weck the weapons to defend ourselves?"


    "I am not talking about weapons to defend yourself, but weapons that can be used to attack. Chu Munan, although your Chu Family is wealthy, you can only buy guns and bullets. But I am not talking about guns or swords. I am talking about hidden weapons."


    For the first time, the light in Chu Munan''s eyes changed. "Please exin." The Chu Family is indeed very wealthy, and they could hire people to defend them. They could also pay for the best training, butplications like greed and betrayals are still a threat to them. For instance, years ago, a child from their family was kidnapped by the expert that they hired. Luckily, the child survived, but they had to pay hundreds of millions. Moreover, the person who kidnapped the child also escaped!


    Seeing the interest in the man''s eyes, Lyca started exining the principle of her weapons. "Hidden weapons like this needle." Lyca showed him a needle that was about five inches tall. It was thin and the lighting could easily hide it.


    "That  That is just like the needle that you used to kill the woman that apanied Zar Clint!" Chu Munan eximed.


    "Precisely." She nodded. "I used this exact weapon to kill a woman that was a poison expert." Then she showed the bracelet that she designed herself. "This can shoot up to three needles at the same time. Maximum capacity is twelve needles." Of course, the quality of these weapons was lowerpared to the ones that she made for Shen Qui and the others.


    "Miss Xi, you must give me something more than this. Our people can easily create something like this. I would assume there is something unique about these needles?"


    "Poison." Lyca smiled. "A chemical capable of melting flesh."


    "You  this is just like the bullet that the Long Family created!"


    Lyca only smiled and didn''t correct him. "But more dangerous. After all, the needle along with the poison will melt once they hit the flesh or anything other than metal. Once they melt, the poison will spread, rotting the flesh."


    "This "


    "Is extremely dangerous," she finished his sentence. Smiling, Lyca took a sip at her tea while observing the man''s facial reaction.


    "Why our Chu Family?" Chu Munan wasn''t some brainless businessman. This product is extremely dangerous, so he immediately felt suspicious about this matter. Clearly, what happened at the club was a scheme created by Lyca to attract their Chu Family''s attention.


    However, even Chu Nan, his twin brother, wasn''t able to analyze this scheme. Without Chu Munan here, Chu Nan wouldn''t find out the needles that were mixed in the puddle of liquid in that room. Then, they wouldn''t have guessed that Zar Clint was indeed dead, melted into a puddle of a strange liquid that they haven''t seen before.


    Chu Nan immediately got angry and said that Lyca was probably targeting the Chu Family. However, Chu Munan was sensible enough to analyze everything. If Lyca wanted to target the Chu Family, then she wouldn''t be this bold. After all, killing Zar Clint would attract the ire of the Clint Family, and doing it publicly was just too dangerous. It was simple. Lyca did it because she wanted to attract someone''s attention, and since they were the only prominent family that just arrived, he immediately concluded that there should be a hidden message in all this.


    So, he concluded that perhaps Lyca wanted to talk to them. Perhaps she wanted to attract the Chu Family''s attention. She must have known that someone from the Chu Family''s main branch would help out the Chu Family side branch. This meeting and offer of cooperation was enough proof that his previous assumption about this woman was correct.


    Lyca Huang was a cunning and calcting person.


    "If I say that it was because you are rich, will you believe me?" Lyca said, showing no embarrassment. This was truly another reason why she wanted to cooperate with this family. They are rich and not as strong as the Shen and Xu Family. Of course, she wasn''t nning to tell them her second and third reason.


    "You mean "


    "I mean, this is not going to be cheap. How could I choose a mediocre family? I need some people who can afford my products."


    "Products?"


    Lyca snorted. "You heard it right."


    "You mean you have more than one of this type of weapon?"


    Lyca nodded. "However, I don''t want to sound boastful." She said. "It is best if you check my story by finding out the reason the Long Family swallowed my Huang Family and imed that they made those bullets."


    This revtion silenced Chu Munan. Realization settled in his eyes as he nodded. "I see. However, I cannot make the decision now. I need to talk to some elders first. If it''s alright with you, I will invite you to visit our Ath Province in the north to convince the elders. After all, this is a very important matter that involves the security of the whole n."


    "That  " Lyca hesitated for a few seconds before she said, "I will call you once I decide to visit your ce. For now, I am going to focus on the next securitypany assembly and "


    "You are nning to join?" This was enough to surprise Chu Munan. After all, the Chu Family had been investing in securitypanies for their own safety.


    Lyca smiled. "Of course. How else would I showcase my weapons in the world if "


    "You are nning to sell your weapons to other people?"


    "Mr. Chu the Chu Family didn''t show any interest in my weapons. Did you think I only have one option? The reason why I approached you this time is that you are rich. However, that doesn''t mean that other families couldn''t really afford my weapons. If the Chu Family "


    "Give me until tonight." Chu Munan said. "I will call you tonight about this matter. Miss Huang, these weapons are very important to my Chu Family. If you can create something suitable for women like nes or bracelets that could defend them, then that would be better."


    "I can create something like that."


    "Then I will call you tonight. Please wait for my call!" Chu Munan didn''t even wait for Lyca to say something as he ran out of the cafe to make a phone call.

 Chapter 290: Trap

    Chapter 290: Trap


    Seeing the man''s departing back, Lyca smiled and finished her tea. She was certain that the Chu Family would soon investigate what happened with her own Huang Family. With this in mind, Lyca left the cafe just a few minutes after Chu Munan left. Then she immediately went back to herboratory and spent hours in there before going out to have dinner with Shen Qui.


    And just as Lyca had expected, Chu Munan indeed called her at seven in the evening, informing her that the elders agreed to cooperate but she needed to go to their Chu Family''s ancestral house for a demonstration. After all, this was a big matter for the whole family.


    Of course, Lyca agreed, as this was just all in her n. In two weeks, Lyca was scheduled to visit the Ath Province in the northern part of the Navut Region. This made her schedule more and more hectic. She was already busy making weapons and taking care of the people she was training. Every day, Lyca is so exhausted, she practically sleeps in a matter of seconds after lying down.


    However, both of them understood that they need this sacrifice for their empire. After a few days of running around, Lyca finally had the time to rest. Rather, she rested and slept all day. She felt like she already lost ten kilograms of weight in a matter of days. However, her body still felt heavy. Clearly, this was from the stress.


    "Alright that is good." Lyca nodded. "Now massage my left legs Hm Go up yes Hips. En. That''s perfect." Lyca''s groaning followed as Shen Qui continued massaging her back. "This is pretty good. Just continue like this for a few minutes." She said before she closed her eyes.


    "Tomorrow, mother and father will arrive with grandfather. If they see you working so hard, they would be so proud."


    Lyca only answered with a groan. She felt like she had gone back to her previous world. Constantly, working every day, is reminding her of her previous life  something that she hated. "I feel like my bones are about to snap," she grumbled.


    "I''ve never heard of anyone breaking their bones from constantly sitting in theb."


    "Hey! This is because of mental exhaustion, alright? I am creating things my mind is always working."


    "And you feel that it will break your bones?"


    "Yeah." She nodded.


    "Hmmm you justck exercise."


    "I am always working."


    "Working in theb twelve hours a day and constantly causing nightmares to the people that you train is not considered exercise." He reasoned. Aside from making her hidden weapons and dealing with poisons, Lyca started testing Ma Ping and the other guys in Ralia City.


    Both mental and physical tests should be normal, but Lyca''s way of giving the psychological tests is rumored to have caused nightmares to some people. When asked about it, Lyca''s only answer was that she was testing the strength of their brains. Aside from this, Lyca also started giving them weapons. Mostly knives and other hidden weapons with mechanisms that could easily kill people.


    This made Shen Qui bbergasted. At first, he thought Lyca was training them for the Security Assembly. Now, he was certain that Lyca was training assassins, people like her who could easily jump into walls and run on the roofs.


    Shen Qui was about to lecture her again when he noticed her even breathing. Just as he expected, Lyca fell asleep again. He gave a wry smile and made her lie on her back as he slowly tucked her in.


    To his surprise, Lyca suddenly moved. Her hand pulling him towards her and easily snaked on his neck as she wrapped her legs around his hips, locking him on top of her. "No exercise?" she lifted an eyebrow, a mischievous glint shed in her eyes.


    Seeing this, Shen Qui nodded. "I am telling the truth." Aside from some soft stretching that she always does every morning, Lyca is not doing anything else. No jogging, not even practicing her knife skills. He stared at her half-opened eyes.


    "Then let''s exercise!" Lyca said and pulled his head towards hers. Without waiting for Shen Qui to say anything, her lips were already connected to his.


    "You are too tired. After one round and you are already out of your breath. I told you if you want to keep up with me. You need exercise."


    His words made her widened her eyes. She stopped kissing and stared at his eyes. The smile on his face made her irritated. She squinted. "Unexpectedly, you are nothing but a wolf."


    "I am just a small husband. What wolf are you talking about?" He chuckled.


    "You are actually trying to say that you aren''t satisfied with me?" Lyca lifted an eyebrow. "Good Very good!" She nodded. "You are really bing quite bold. Why don''t I show you the effects of having cultivated all of my spiritual points?" she said before pulling him back for a kiss.


    Of course, when Lyca realized that she already fell into his trap, it was already toote. She was already naked, and it already felt so good; she didn''t even dare open her mouth to say the curses that she wanted to say.


    Sadly, it was already toote for her to realize that just like her, Shen Qui''s other spiritual points have already been cultivated. Lyca didn''t know when he started doing it as he remembered only teaching him once or twice about cultivation. All she knew was that when ites to strength in bed, hers was a little lower than his.


    Of course, that is not something that she would regret.


    When Lyca woke up the next day, Shen Qui was still in the bed. She eyed the clock and smiled. It was already nine and yet he was still here, lying next to her. She fought the urge to pinch him as she slowly cuddled in his arms.


    The stress and hard work were making her feel too tired. But being in his arms was just different. It made her feel lighter, happier. Of course, she wasn''t nning on telling him this.


    At least... not now.


    .....


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 Chapter 291: Pregnant!?

    Chapter 291: Pregnant!?


    Slowly, days passed, the weather changed. Another year arrived.


    At this time, Huang Sheng Hong and her mother Tang Nini along with her grandmother already arrived on the ranch. The arrival didn''t gather a lot of attention and didn''t reach the ears of the Long Family. Because of this, the Long Family still thought that Huang Sheng Hong and his wife were still abroad and that the Old Huang Patriarch should be dead by now.


    Of course, their opinions don''t concern Lyca at all. Right now, her concern was actually the food she was eating. It was too delicious. Lyca wasn''t able to stop the tears from streaming down her eyes. She missed this. The tears weren''t enough to stop her from eating the braised pork balls with gravy followed by her tenth dumpings.


    "Aiyo this child. Eating while crying is not good. Wipe your tears, wipe your tears. Howe you are crying now? You didn''t even cry when we saw each other again." Tang Nini said as she wiped her daughter''s tears. "Does this mean you miss my food more than you miss me?"


    Seeing Lyca nod without batting an eyelid, Tang Nini slowly pinched her daughter''s waist. "Three years three years and you are still as greedy. Give some food to your husband. I made food enough for everyone. This is This is truly embarrassing, ah."


    Even Huang Sheng Hong and Shen Qui werepletely speechless. Who would have thought that Lyca would cry while eating? When she saw her mother and father again, she only hugged them and refused to let go for a few minutes. At that time, Lyca didn''t shed a single tear.


    However, right now, Lyca was actually crying! She was sobbing while eating the food that her mother made. This was really iprehensible.


    "Qui''er be honest with me is my daughter"


    Shen Qui shook his head before he shrugged. Seeing his wife like this, a different glint appeared in his eyes. His wife actually loved food a lot, and he already knew this before even marrying her. Lyca was someone who loves sleeping and eating. However, he could only cook eggs. With this in mind, Shen Qui made a mental note to cultivate his cooking skills. He needed to learn and he would never stop until he gets this kind of reaction from Lyca!


    Of course, Shen Qui was unaware at this time that he was already jealous jealous of the food that Lyca was eating. How could some food could make her react like this? He needed to learn how to cook this type of food as fast as possible!


    "Hey, be honest with me" Since Shen Qui didn''t give him an answer, Huang Sheng Hong impulsively asked his daughter," Are you pregnant? Am I going to have a grandchild soon?"


    This made Lyca paused. "Huh?" she finally removed her gaze from the food. "What are you talking about?"


    "This Sheng Hong, how could you assume that our daughter is pregnant? Is it because she was a bit emotional?" Of course, even Tang Nini was actually suspecting that her daughter was pregnant. After all, being emotional while eating wasn''t really normal.


    "I''m not," Lyca said before she lowered her head and started eating again. What pregnancy!? She is crying because of the food! After all, she grew up with her mother''s cooking. Even when she was abroad, her mother would visit her monthly to cook for her. However, this time, she hasn''t tasted her mother''s cooking for almost four years! FOUR YEARS!


    Sadly, this action roused the curiosity of her parents. They actually thought that Lyca was too embarrassed to ept it! Perhaps she was even too afraid. The two met each other''s eyes and immediately decided to have a private conversation with Lyca after all this.


    Huang Sheng Hong and Tang Nini thought Lyca might be nning to get rid of the child. Given the current situation, getting pregnant is just too risky. However, the two already decided not to let their daughter take their grandchild''s life. No matter what happens, this child must live! Determination shed in the eyes of Tang Nini and Huang Sheng Hong.


    Lyca didn''t see this small interaction as she was too busy with her food. However, this was all too obvious in Shen Qui''s eyes. He wanted to correct the two but keep his mouth shut. Shen Qui couldn''t help it. He also wanted to see Lyca''s reaction once her parents will talk to her about this matter.


    Smiling inwardly, Shen Qui used his chopstick to add more food to Lyca''s bowl. "You should eat more. Take care of your body." His obviously vague words made the two parents more certain about the pregnancy. "Mother, father today is the new year, you should eat more. Here let me pour you some tea too. This is my special tea. You should have some."


    Shen Qui''s gentle smile eased both Huang Sheng Hong and Tang Nini''s hearts. Both of them actually know that despite their daughter''sziness, Lyca was an extremely ruthless person. This was something they discovered while she was still abroad. After all, at that time, Lyca was already in her teens and she didn''t hesitate to kill people using her poisons.


    True, she doesn''t like to show off and would rather hide during events, but their daughter is an extremely resolute person. Once she already decided, she would do it no matter the cost. Moreover, Lyca was someone very vengeful. The two knew that she wouldn''t rest until she makes the Long Family suffer.


    After a few minutes, the four of them finally finished eating and Lyca and Shen Qui decided to go to the house at the ranch where the others were celebrating their new years. Since her parents just arrived, Ronan, Rue, Cleo, and Lai Su chose to celebrate the asion at the house and give them some privacy.


    When Lyca and Shen Qui arrived, the group of four finished their meals and were only drinking. So they decided to go out of the house and enjoy some fireworks.


    "You love fireworks?" Shen Qui couldn''t help but asked Lyca.


    "I like it," she answered before resting her head in Shen Qui''s head. Fireworks also exist in her previous world however, most fireworks in that world were assisted by magic. Just like the explosives that she made for the Xu Family before, everything about that world is made using magic. "Hey, I have a question."


    "Hm?"


    "Do you believe in magic?" she asked.

 Chapter 292: Ants

    Chapter 292: Ants


    "Of course, I do."


    Lyca stilled and turned towards him. "You do?"


    "Meeting you was akin to magic!" He answered, voice as gentle as his eyes.


    "I am serious!" Lyca hissed. "I am really wondering what is inside your brain!"


    "Why? I am serious too! When you held my hand back, then, I honestly thought you were a pervert! I mean, that was true, but still, it was quite different. After all, our status was different. But then I started to fall and "


    "Stop talking!" Lyca rolled her eyes, goosebumps all over her body. "Stop talking about it."


    This made Shen Qui chuckle. After all this time, Lyca was still so awkward when talking about emotions. However, he found these actions cute. Shen Qui knew that this woman cared a lot, but she doesn''t want to admit her genuine emotions to Shen Qui. Of course, her actions already betrayed her denial.


    "I was talking about the magic that can make people fly."


    "Oh! Technology can do that. Nowadays there are "


    "Can you just answer my question?" Lyca pinched his leg. "I am asking if you believe in the magic that can make people jumped so high, fly and even control elements. I am not talking about technology."


    "Oh, like superheroes?"


    "Yeah, like that."


    "Hmmm, that is hard to believe. However, technology is constantly changing. We don''t really know if someday people with superior genes will appear. But then  " Shen Qui suddenly stopped talking before he added. "But yes, I believe they exist."


    "Really?"


    "The spiritual cultivation that you gave me should be proof that they exist." He said. "My body heals faster and I am stronger and faster. Of course, I can''t fly or jump from buildings. Why do you ask?"


    "I had a dream," Lyca said.


    "About me?"


    "Can you stop that?" Lyca red. In response, Shen Qui chuckled.


    "Alright I will," he said whileughing. "What about this dream?"


    "About a world simr but different from this world," Lyca uttered.


    "An alien world?" heughed. "Alright, I will stop. Heh, it won''t happen again. I will listen now."


    "It''s a world where magic exists. A world where people can use fire magic and ice, water, wind, rocks, and even thunder. Some people can fly and even turn invisible. Some people can heal using magic, and some can be animals or nts. In that world, monsters exist. Ants as big as elephants are considered pets, and we can see a lot of flying monsters in the skies. It''s a weird world, isn''t it?" she smiled but didn''t wait for Shen Qui to continue. "In that world, I was a princess of a n."


    "What was your ability?"


    "Its darkness," Lyca answered. "I could manipte the dark."


    "That is an awesome ability. What happened next?"


    "I grew up in a rich assassin family and basically we are all assassins. Kids as early as four already started training. We train to kill." She sighed. "Sadly, I woke up too early. I wasn''t able to finish the dream." Silence followed her words. She once again looked at the fireworks disy. "What if a world like that exists? Isn''t it too scary?"


    "Now that you mention it. That was indeed scary. A world like that should bewless, right?"


    She nodded in response. "When I was in my teens, I started studying about alternate realities, alternate worlds. It was pretty interesting."


    "So you think your dream is "


    "Yeah. I think it''s like that." Unknowingly, her hand clutched her moon ne. "The universe is vast and endless."


    "I don''t know about that."


    "Hm?" she looked at him.


    "I mean... You are my universe, so I don''t know or care about this other universe that you are talking about."


    "" Lyca''s face reddened. Under the different lights from the fireworks disy, her face looked adorable. It was enough to make Shen Quiughed out loud. Taking advantage of Lyca''s daze, Shen Qui already stood and run away from her. He already knew what wasing.


    And just like that, Lyca started chasing Shen Qui.


    Under the colorful fireworks, two people run around the house. One wasughing, the other was cursing.


    "Who would have thought that Boss Q had this side of him." Ronan mused as he continued drinking his beer. The four of them maintained their distance from the lovers.


    The other three people nodded when they heard Ronan''s words. Then they continued watching the fireworks as Lyca and Shen Qui actually stopped running and walked away from the house.


    "Where are you taking me?" Shen Qui said. "Listen, while I won''t stop you from doing this kind of action right now, we arepletely exposed. The lights from the fireworks were enough to illuminate the whole ce, and if my guess is right, this wouldst for another twenty minutes. Of course, I know that you love adventure and we haven''t done this kind of thing on this ranch, but this is really too risky. What if mother and father suddenly wanted to find us? This is too embarrassing."


    "What are you talking about?" Lyca stopped walking. They are currently standing under a big tree a few tens of meters away from the house.


    "We can''t do it here," Shen Qui answered, ignoring her question. "There are ants everywhere." He said.


    Confused, Lyca tilted her head. "Huh?"


    "I know what you''re thinking. But we really can''t do it here! There are ants there can you see the small little hill? Those are colonies. Let''s find another tree."


    "Hey, hey, stop, don''t pull me. I want to do it here."


    "Why?" He widened his eyes. "The ants will definitely bite us! Are you crazy?"


    For a few seconds, Lyca stared at him, confusion shing in her eyes. She couldn''t help but wonder what kind of dirty thoughts this man had. "I just want to show you something!" Lyca said.


    "Show? Show me something? We''re not actually doing it?"


    "You pervert!" Lyca yfully pped his arms. "I just want to show you a secret." She said before she started undressing her clothes.


    "Jesus Christ! What are you doing? I told you! There are ants here!"

 Chapter 293: Seven Poisons

    Chapter 293: Seven Poisons


    With these, Lyca finally stopped undressing and stared at him. "I want to show you something that you can do too. Only people who cultivated all the internal energy points in the body could aplish this."


    "Can we fly?" he asked, smiling.


    "No. Can you just watch?" she red at him. "If you won''t stop talking, I will leave."


    Shen Qui grinned and held both of his hands up. "No more talking."


    Lyca squinted before she started undressing once again. The only reason she dared undress in this ce is that this was a blind spot from the CCTV. Of course, this was something she discovered after looking at the CCTV footage on Shen Qui''s office. After fully discarding thest piece of clothing she had, Lyca extended her right arm in front of her, connected her thumb to her middle finger.


    She closed her eyes and slowly separated the two fingers.


    When Lyca opened her eyes again, an electric-like light can be seen sizzling in between her thumb and middle finger. It wasn''t really bright, but the sound of electricity made it look like she was holding an electric current. Lyca lifted her head and stared at Shen Qui''s surprised face.


    "You look like a frog," she beamed.


    "Why did it disappear?"


    "I don''t know," she answered. Of course, the reason it disappeared is that this world doesn''t contain any qi or magical elements. That electricity was something like a trick that even kids in her previous world learned after cultivating their internal points.


    "So, that won''t work unless you are naked?"


    Lyca nodded. This was a weird thing that she found out years ago when she spent her days inside her room. Sleeping and eating, Lyca just stayed in her room all day. Even her mother and father couldn''t convince her to go out. At that time, she would enjoy a bath after cultivating her internal points.


    She got a bit curious and tried to use that technique. To her surprise, it actually worked.


    However, it only worked when she was naked.


    At that time, Lyca didn''t try to look into this matter. Her focus was looking for ways to go back to her previous world, so she spent her time reading journals and articles as well as books. Moreover, this small electricity was actually useless. It doesn''t have any electric currents and was only used in tricks.


    "I can do it too?"


    "You can try."


    "Do I need to remove my clothes too?" he asked, almost innocently. Lyca beamed but didn''t answer. She started putting her clothes on. "I can''t teach you how to do it. You do it on your own. I am toozy for that." Plus those were mere tricks. You can''t really use it in battle.


    Shen Qui smiled, his eyesplicated. Just now, he saw something unfathomable in Lyca''s eyes. He immediately knew she was still hiding something. However, he doesn''t care. She would always tell him everything once she feels like it.


    "Let''s go back?" Lyca held his hand.


    "Hmmm." He nodded and happily went back with Lyca. In the past few days since Shen Qui woke up, his rtionship with his wife had be closer. Of course, Lyca still refused to say anything about her emotions and would offend act like she doesn''t care. However, her actions were different. And actions always speak louder than words.


    Now that Shen Qui thought about it, these past few days, they would only spend the night together. Just cuddling with each other before sleeping. And these silent and boring nights were actually making him feel happier, lighter.


    After a few minutes, Lyca and Shen Qui went back inside and spent more time talking to Lyca''s mother and father before finally retiring for the night. Once again, the two just spent the time talking andughing in each other''s arms before finally falling asleep.


    On the next day, Lyca finally started to take a look at her grandfather''s current status. Of course, this includes finally checking out the poison in the old man''s body.


    "So? What was it?" Lai Su asked as he stood next to Lyca, who was looking into the microscope. "Can you identify theponents of this poison? I mean, don''t take it the wrong way, but your grandfather is already old. His body is weak. Moreover, this poison was inside him for years now. I am just curious if you can still heal him?"


    "This is the sixth time that you asked that question in two hours," Lyca said without looking at the man beside her. "You are tired. You should take a break. If you want, you can take a leave and"


    "What? No!" Lai Su immediately declined. Take a leave? Isn''t that akin to Lyca saying, you can leave the ranch and be the enemy''s target? "I misspoke just now." He dered. "I will go and focus on my own tasks." Lai Su had be Lyca''s cover for all the inventions that she made. Every one of them was under his name. Meaning, people  tens of people wanted to have him work for them.


    Once he took a step out of this ranch, people will naturallye for him.


    Lyca nodded and started recording the data that she saw just now. Right now, her mind was already in shambles, her mood worse. This was of course because of the poison.


    Now that Lyca finally examined her grandfather''s body, she discovered one thing. The poison already prated the man''s bones. Even if she could create an antidote, it would only give his grandfather at least three to five years to live before dying from the effects of the poison in his internal organs.


    Of course, for an eighty-year-old man, three to five years should be considered extremely lucky. The second thing that Lyca discovered is the fact that the poison is more potent than she originally assumed. The poison was actually a mixture of seven independent poisons that she was very familiar with.


    To create an antidote, she needed to create seven different antidotes for each poison first before she could mix it and attempt to create an antidote.


    And this is where the problem arises. One mistake in proportions of the antidote could definitely kill the old man instead of saving him. Lyca pursed her lips as she eyed her grandfather from the thick ss wall that separated them. The poison this time was indeed from her other world meaning the ingredients needed to create the antidote might not be in this world.

 Chapter 294: Ye Bai

    Chapter 294: Ye Bai


    "Huang Qingyun, Long Family" Lyca nodded. "Very Good. I will definitely make you suffer a hundred times now." She gritted her teeth. Actually, Lyca''s rtionship with this side of the family can only be considered cordial. Again, she wasn''t too close with her grandfather. However, using this type of poison against an old man is truly vicious.


    She actually couldn''t understand how the old man survived until now! Was it just luck?


    Lyca squinted, suspicions swirling in her mind as she stood and walked towards the next room where her grandfather was lying. She slowly stared at the old man''s bulky body. Despite her grandfather wearing a white hospital gown that was loose, his body was still undeniably robust. And it was pretty obvious.


    Standing at approximately six foot three, her grandfather''s body and muscles are all in the right ces. Even at eighty, the man looked like he was still in his early sixties or evente fifties. Moreover, the man ate healthily and still loves to exercise despite his body schedule. Meaning, his body was still strong despite his age. However, this body shouldn''t be enough to protect him from a potent poison like the seven treasures poison.


    Were there any external factors involved?


    That is impossible.


    Even with the current technology, Lyca hasn''t heard of any machine design to contain poisons. After all, in this world, using poisons was umon. Moreover, the fact that her grandfather is still alive until now even if he is not in the Long Family''s building means that they didn''t use any special methods to keep him alive.


    Lyca walked closer. There can only be one exnation left.


    Internal points!


    Slowly, Lyca''s handsnded on her grandfather''s pulse. She then closed her eyes and sent some of her own spiritual energy into her grandfather''s body. Using this method to examine her grandfather''s body is very taxing. However, Lyca doesn''t have a choice.


    Unlike Shen Qui who was conscious when she touched him the first time, her grandfather is unconscious. Moreover, his body is extremely weak. If her grandfather cultivated his body before then suppressing the poison this long would also make his internal points weaker.


    Lyca closed her eyes as she slowly sensed her grandfather''s body and to her surprise, the man indeed cultivated his internal points. But it was just like Shen Qui. He only cultivated the one in his chest! Lyca opened her eyes, her gaze extremelyplicated.


    Before today, she always thought that what Shen Qui learned was something that was passed from his bloodline. However, it seems that this wasn''t the case? If her guess was right, this should be something that was passed by his uncle! There is also the possibility that his uncle or the man that apanied him in running away was also the person who thought her grandfather this technique.


    Nevertheless, this is such a big revtion that gave her a lot of new ideas  Ideas that she was toozy to explore before.


    "Are you alright?" Without knowing it, Lyca already left theb and was already in her room. She looked at the man who asked her just now. It was, of course, Shen Qui. "You look a little pale," he added. Concern shing in his eyes.


    "I''m tired," she answered before sitting at the edge of the bed. Before all this, Lyca''s life was really carefree. She grew up pampered by her parents. She didn''t explore the world and just spent her time reading and experimenting, hoping to get back to her previous world. Because of this, she actually missed a lot.


    If she had been a bit interested in the family business, then she would have known that her grandfather cultivated the same technique as hers. For some reason, she recalled the image on her grandfather''s study. "I will go talk to mother and father, " she said before leaving. Seeing her current state, Shen Qui immediately followed her.


    "Father, I have to ask you something." Lyca barged into Huang Sheng Hong''s office. This underground facility is huge. It had enough rooms to amodate fifty people and even give some private offices. Right now, Huang Sheng Hong and Tang Nini are upying one of the rooms that were on the other side as Lyca''s room. Aside from this, the room next to her parent''s house was also converted to an office where Huang Sheng Hong could freely analyze and suggest training ns for Ma Ping and the others.


    "Did something happen?'' Seeing Lyca''s appearance, Huang Sheng Hong panicked. He immediately recalled his daughter being pregnant. "Why are you so pale? Do you need to go to the hospital? Where is  " before he could finish his words, Shen Qui already walked inside his office. Just like him, concern was also written on his face.


    "Do you remember the images on Grandfather''s office? The people with white hair? Who are they?"


    "That  That was an old photo. It should be our ancestors."


    "Ancestors?"


    "Yes, our ancestors have white hairs." Huang Sheng Hong let out a sigh of relief. He thought something had happened. Turns out, Lyca was only curious about this thing. "Why are you asking? If you want to hear the history of our Huang Family, then I can tell you. After all, this is not found on the records. Moreover, the fact that we aren''t from this country was also hidden."


    "We''re not from the country of Xu?"


    "Our great-great- great- great grandmother is not from this country. She had white hair. Those images should be her side of the family. Originally, your grandmother was someone with a surnamed Ye. Her name was Ye Bai. She and her family came from another country not far from her."


    It was as if lightning struck Lyca''s head. Ye Bai? Princess Ye Bai was her name when she came back to that world! "Ye Bai? And you say the image on that office was her family?" Lyca asked.


    ...


    Thank you for your support. Please don''t forget to vote for the novel.

 Chapter 295: Gods Gift

    Chapter 295: God''s Gift


    "Yes," Huang Sheng Hong nodded. "Why are you suddenly asking about this thing? Lyca, the Ye Family, and our family don''t have any good rtionships. They hated our Huang Family for taking away their heiress and bringing her into this country. At that time, her husband, your great- great-great-grandfather was not considered rich. This was a family secret. Father only told me this when you already epted the challenge from Huang Xiaoxuan. Aside from this, my father also told me that the only person who will lead the Huang n should have white hair, or else the Ye Family will destroy our Huang Family. This was a promise that was made when the Ye n wanted to kill Ye Bai and your great- great-great-grandfather."


    Standing up, Huang Sheng Hong walked towards the couch inside his office. At first, I am not nning to tell you this. Call me selfish. But those people, my brothers, and sister already betrayed us for money. If they wanted to lead the Huang Family so much, then let them lead! This was the reason I wasn''t in a hurry to have our revenge. If what your grandfather told me was the truth, then the Ye Family will destroy the Huang Family very soon." Huang Sheng Hong''s expression was grave. "Of course, I wouldn''t tell you this if you didn''t ask about them now." He wasn''t really nning to tell Lyca about this. Not ever.


    In the first ce, bing a n head was too tiring, and he knew Lyca too well. He knew that she doesn''t like to be a leader. Second, he saw how Shen Qui had treated Lyca all this time. The two were in love and Lyca was very happy. How could he put this heavy burden in his daughter''s heart?


    Being a n leader isn''t a simple matter.


    Of course, Huang Sheng Hong was aware that he had been very selfish.


    "You are right. Not telling me about this is good." She sighed and sat opposite her father. Knowledge is power. But it can be a burden, too. Just like now, knowing all this is already making her mind swirl! Lyca was certain she would spend days analyzing her father''s words, researching about this matter, and finally digesting everything. What about her sleep? What about her body? Another sigh escaped her as her shoulders dropped.


    This matter sounded tooplicated.


    She hated it.


    "Father, I am wondering about something," Shen Qui''s words interrupted her stupor.


    "Hm?"


    "Well, this Ye Family. I haven''t heard of them before. Are they really capable of destroying the Huang Family? This isn''t some ancient world. We are already in the world of tech. If a family destroys other families, I am sure that the public would punish them!" Public persecution. Isn''t that the new trend today? As long as they get the public''s approval and y the pity card, people will surely persecute the enemy without even knowing the actual truth.


    "It''s not that easy." Huang Sheng Hong uttered. "You can only say that because you didn''t ask me what country are they from."


    "Then what country are they from?" Shen Qui asked. At this time, ughtering prominent families doesn''t happen anymore. After all, media is everywhere."


    "Du Empire."


    Silence followed his words. Seeing both Shen Qui and Lyca''s surprised face, Huang Sheng Hong continued. "Du Empire of Du Country. That was also the ce where little Lyca got her degree. It was a small but rich country. They are both top one in military and medicine and many countries look up to them. When ites to wealth, Du Country ranks one. Inside the country, we can find the top 10 richest cities. One of these cities is precisely the Ye City. Known for holding the military of the Du Country, Ye City is known because of its extremely advanced medicine research, tech, and military. It''s not only the top three of the richest city, but it was also where the Royal Family lives. The Ye n."


    Lyca blinked. She opened her mouth to say something but closed it again. When she came back into that world, she upied Ye Bai''s body, a white-haired woman. Right now, Lyca had white-haired and coincidentally, her great-great-great grandmother''s name is actually Ye Bai!? What was happening?"


    "Don''t worry too much about this matter," Huang Sheng Hong uttered. "Legally, you are no longer a Huang but a Shen. And we are safe here, perfectly hidden in this fortress. The Ye Family won''t be able to catch us here. Plus, they would focus on my brothers and sister first. Moreover, this was but a story. We don''t really know if it''s true."


    "So basically, the reason why Lyca''s great- great-great-grandfather and Ye Bai survived back then is because they promised the Ye n that the white-haired one will be the only one qualified to rule the n?"


    "Precisely." Huang Sheng Hong nodded. "They are an extremely prideful people. They are from the Royal Blood, after all. How could they allow a princess to marry a pauper? They only allowed it because of that promise. The Ye n always thought that their white hairs are God''s gift. Your grandfather said that it made them think they are different from other people, that they are above others."


    "So this Ye n should be in this country now?" Lyca asked.


    "That should be the case. If that story is true then they should be here now."


    "But father, the Du Country is actually enemies with our Xu Country, right?"


    "The two leaders are not friends. The Xu Family are very prideful people as well. When ites to resources, the Xu Country is above the Du Country. Mostly, Du Country will buy supplies from our Xu Country. Remember, Du Country is extremely small. They have no fields and used all the are in their country in industrial development and other projects. Whereas our countries are extremely vast. Additionally." Huang Sheng Hong was extremely knowledgeable when ites to political and economic affairs. Therefore, he immediately started exining the matters between the two countries.


    However, Lyca''s heart and mind were already somewhere else. She lowered her head, her eyes in a daze. Xu Country, Xu Family. Du Country, Ye Family. In both worlds, both families were enemies. In both worlds, Lyca was also involved in their matters. This This is not a coincidence, right?

 Chapter 296: Running Away

    Chapter 296: Running Away


    "The Ye Family is only the royal family, but there should be a prime minister attending the countries affair''s right?" Shen Qui continued asking as Huang Sheng Hong answered. This conversationsted for a few minutes before Lyca stood and told them she needed to rest now. She was exhausted. No matter how much she analyzed it, Lyca still couldn''tprehend everything. She turned towards her father, asking him herst question before leaving.


    "This moon ne is from Ye Bai?"


    Seeing her father nod, Lyca smiled and left the room, leaving Shen Qui and her father alone.


    A sigh immediately escaped her when she left the room. It seems that herzy and casual life is really akin to a dream.


    "Are you alright?" Lyca didn''t even notice Shen Qui walking next to her.


    "Do you want to run away with me?" she asked without looking at him.


    "Runaway?"


    "Let''s find a secluded ce and stay there," Lyca suggested. This is better than working too much, fighting too much, and scheming. Ah, the life that she wanted was far from the life she had now.


    "You wanted to hide? From what?" he asked.


    This question only made her shook her head. Of course, she wanted to hide! How could she endure so much drama? How could she endure so much conspiracy? She is toozy to deal with this!


    If this was the usual drama or novel, the protagonist would surely go to Du Country and inquire about the ne! About Ye Bai and find out the truth about the poison! Then the protagonist would unknowingly offend some power and fight them! Of course, the protagonist would always end up winning.


    But how could Lyca follow the usual path?


    Her first thought was actually to run away and hide! She never even considered leaving this ranch right now! In her mind, this wasn''t wrong. So what if she hides and just istes herself from the world? So what if she just disappeared? This was her lifelong goal, alright!


    She wanted azy and casual life! No conspiracies, no scheming. Just sleeping, eating, and being happy! Lyca was unreconciled! Truly unreconciled!


    Lyca lifted her head. Did the gods actually curse her? In her previous life, it was already thisplicated. But for some reason, her second life was alsoplicated. Thew of reincarnation shouldn''t be like this!


    "Hey, what is going on with you?" Shen Qui''s words brought her back from her stupor. "Why would you run away?"


    Lyca didn''t answer him. How could she tell him she was toozy to deal with this? That wouldpletely shatter her heroic vibe! She gave him a mysterious smile instead. "Just kidding," she held his arm and pulled him towards the kitchen. "I''m hungry. Why don''t you make some eggs for me?"


    "Boiled eggs?"


    She nodded in response, a smile hung on her face. Right now, she was somehow fifty percent certain that some people from her previous world might havee into this world too! And those people might not be easy to deal with. "Let''s go have a honeymoon," Lyca suddenly said.


    Of course, Shen Qui just beamed. How could he refuse such a request? "Where?"


    "Let''s visit Ath Province in the north and make a deal with Chu Family. There is a lot of snow in that ce. It''s January, so it should be freezing there."


    "Well then, do you want to go skiing? Do you want to make some snowman? To tell you the truth, I haven''t made a snowman before." His voice was gentle. He knew this was a part of Lyca''s efforts to change the topic, but he doesn''t care. After all, they were talking about the honeymoon! It''s honeymoon! HONEYMOON!


    Shen Qui was already beaming, his smile almost reaching his ears.


    "No," Lyca said. "Too tiring. I wanna lie down and just sleep inside a cabin with snow outside."


    Of course, this was something he already expected. Skiing? Snowman? That is not even equal to her favorite hobby; sleeping.


    "And hot chocte?" he asked.


    "Of course, hot chocte. You should totally start researching how to make the perfect one and learn how to cook some soup. On this trip, you have to take care of me!" Lyca dered as she arrived in the kitchen. Going to the Ath Province wasn''t really some impulsive decision. In the first ce, the Chu Family already invited her toe and have a demo. Second, she was actually nning to go to the Extreme north which is only a few kilometers away from Ath Province.


    The herbs needed to make the antidote for the seven treasure poisons only grew in chilly ces, borderline unhabitable. And in this continent, the extreme north is the only ce that should be suitable for those herbs.


    "We We are not running away, right?" Shen Qui inquired after a few minutes of silence.


    "No." At least not now. If some conspiracies suddenly arrive, Lyca was already nning to leave and just live in a ce far away from this. "Once everything getsplicated, we should run away."


    "And leave the rest of our lives running away?" Shen Qui said. He was already waiting for the eggs to boil." With the current technology, being invincible in this world is very difficult."


    This made Lyca paused. She looked down and stared at the counter. He was actually telling the truth. Even if she runs away, her enemy might be able to find her because of technology. She pouted, her mood turned sour. In her previous world, technology doesn''t exist. If one wanted to disappear, there are a lot of methods to do it in that world.


    But this world is truly different. Satellites can be used to find someone. There was also the power of CCTV and other ways to track someone. Lyca wasn''t nning on disappearing before, so she never considered factors like this. "You are right." She said before sighing. "Ah, my dream." She suddenly extended her hands and clutched the air, her face extremely gloomy as if she just lost something very important.

 Chapter 297: Politics

    Chapter 297: Politics


    If her life was a drama series, it will be a very boring one. Lyca thought as she stared at the clouds from the window of the ne. If her life was a drama series, then she would be a background character. A rich princess who vowed not to marry a man and live in her pce alone with her two beautiful servants.


    Sadly, this life was too different.


    Lyca sighed before she rested her head on Shen Qui''s shoulders. On her insistence, they are currently in the economy ss of the ne on the way to Ath Province. Lyca actually had a choice to choose first ss, but she didn''t. Of course, this was because she knew that Chu Yuyan was there. That woman actually had the same flight as them.


    After Shen Qui woke up, the three families who nned to attack them were already considered ruined. Of course, Shen Qui didn''t kill them. Without an heir, the Clint Family transferred to another city while the Chu Family lost the support of the main n. Moreover, Matriarch Chu had a heart attack and was currently in the ICU. Rumors have it that the woman is in grave danger.


    Lyca concluded that the reason why Chu Yuyan also came today was that she wanted to beg for the main family to take them again. However, Chu Yuyan being on the same flight as them was really too suspicious. Because of this, Lyca abandoned the first-ss seat and found another two people who were willing to change their seats with her and Shen Qui.


    Her reasoning was simple. She didn''t want Chu Yuyan to suddenly ask to talk to her and ruin her moments with Shen Qui.


    "I heard from father that you wanted to get rid of them?" Shen Qui''s voice interrupted her stupor. She gave him a mysterious smile.


    "Would you me me?" she asked. For a few seconds, Shen Qui just stared at her, face unreadable.


    "No."


    "Then good." Lyca smiled. With everything that is going on, Lyca finally made a decision. She wasn''t running away. And she is going to obliterate everyone who offended her. In that way, she won''t have any problems in the future. Lyca wasn''t a very forgiving person.


    Shen Qui let out a sigh. In the end, Lyca still chose to end the Clint and Yun Family. Shen Qui made the two families leave the City, but Lyca was different.


    "This is killing the chicken to scare the monkey," he heard Lyca said. Of course, he could understand her point of view. "Are you going to change my opinion?" she asked, her eyes still closed, her face calm.


    "No," he answered. This was him being honest. The Clint Family along with the Yun Family colluded with the Long Family. This was already proven because of some transactions that the families made with each other. Because of this, Shen Qui suffered some injuries from the ambush. However, the Chu Family''s involvement in the matter was not yet confirmed. "What about the "


    "Not going to touch them until they leave the City," Lyca smiled. If the current Chu Family won''t leave Kong City, then she would not touch them. If someone would ask her why, Lyca''s answer would be very simple. Because of the benefits that they could bring to their territory.


    "I understand." Shen Qui nodded. Now that he was awake, the issue about the territory slowly died down. Some spies from the Clint Family were also caught. However, the two knew another storm ising, and that is Lord Olfan. So, Lyca wanted this cooperation with the Chu Family to bepleted before theye back and tackle the matter with this Lord.


    After a few more minutes of flying, the two finally arrived in Ath Province. Though there were arrangements made by the Chu Family, Lyca still chose to arrange her own transportation with her husband. This was only because she honestly wanted privacy.


    Arriving at the Chu mansion, Lyca realized that Chu Yuyan was already there with her assistant, who is surprisingly Jessica Dongfang. Lyca lifted an eyebrow as she met Shen Qui''s eyes. She was certain that this Jessica wasn''t on the ne with them. Moreover, the woman was still wanted for hurting her father. How could shee here? Lyca couldn''t help but wonder if Chu Yuyan actually spent millions just to bribe people for Jessica? But why?


    "Mr. And Mrs. Shen please follow me, I will bring you to your room." The butler named Anthony gave them a cordial smile.


    "He can take my luggage," Lyca said when Anthony tried to touch the luggage which contains the poison.


    "My apologies," Anthony gave a small bow. "Please follow me." Without waiting for them to say anything, he walked in front of them and led them to the second floor of the fifty-room mansion.


    "So, Miss Chu Yuyan had been here for a few minutes now?" Lyca inquired.


    "Yes, Madam. I am not aware that you are acquainted with Miss Chu and even had the same ne as hers. If we knew, we could have asked the older Madam Chu to arrange the same transportation as you."


    "There''s no need for that," Lyca said, a peculiar glint can be seen in her eyes. It seems that the politics in this Chu Family is deeper than she originally thought. However, this doesn''t concern her anymore. "Mr. Anthony, can you please rmend us some good hotpot and maybe some hot spring?" she asked, her face showing an innocent smile.


    ....


    I am so sorry for not publishing a lot these days. I am too busy and I have been sleeping a lot because I am too tired from travelling. Today is mass release day aspensation. I am nning to write 6 chapters before the day ends. Thank you for your support. Stay safe and have a wonderful day ahead!


    I am away from discord so just please send any messages on my instagram ount. thanks.

 Chapter 298: The Smell of Death

    Chapter 298: The Smell of Death


    After Anthony gave them some details of the hot spring, the man started talking about restaurants with the most delicious hotpot. This made Lyca smile all the time. Before traveling to the Extreme North, she was nning to indulge herself in this ce. Have some delicious food and enjoy a hot spring with a spa!


    This was like a break from the world  something that she believed she needed.


    "Pleasee in" Anthony said. "This is one of the best rooms that we have for our guests," Anthony said as he opened the door and walked inside. "This room already has everything that you need. A fridge and coffee maker is right over there. I will inform you once the meal is ready and will guide you to the kitchen. The rest of your luggage will be sent here in a few minutes."


    "Thank you," Shen Qui said while Lyca roamed her eyes inside. The same smile was still on her face.


    Anthony nodded before he left the room, making sure to close the door on his way out. What he didn''t know is the fact that the smile on Lyca''s face immediately vanished when he left the room.


    "It seems that they don''t want us here?" Shen Qui chuckled. His words only met a shrug from his wife. Without saying anything, Shen Qui walked towards the balcony with the view of the garden. This ce was not actually bad. It was huge and clean and even have a great view. However, it was separated from the mansion. To arrive at this ce, they needed to walk for about three minutes from the main entrance of the mansion.


    To get to this room, they needed to go through a long open balcony that didn''t have any protection from the snow or the rain. Moreover, the only way in and out of this ce is through that balcony. If there guess was right, this room should be perfect during the summer, but right now, it is the worse room that anyone could have.


    "Hey, at least the heater works?" Lyca beamed as she followed him out of the balcony. Hugging him from behind, Lyca rested her head on his back. "Don''t worry, I won''t walk outside if there is snow."


    "It will dy us." His tone was low and dark.


    "We can spend our honeymoon in this ce. They can continue treating us like this. Doesn''t matter. We leave three days from now."


    "Even withoutpleting the deal?"


    "Notpleting the deal with me is a mistake on their part," she tightened her arms around him. Chu Munan was pretty confident about this deal and yet the treatment that they received now was different. This only meant one thing. Chu Munan is on the other side of this family conflict and Chu Yuyan might be on the opposite side now.


    After a few minutes, Lyca decided to rest while Shen Qui called Ronan about their business. When she woke up, it was already six in the evening. "I''ve slept for three hours." She beamed at Shen Qui, who was drinking some coffee. "Food?"


    "I was waiting for us to invite us for some tea. But I guess that is not happening. My guess is, they won''t invite us for dinner either. I already arranged transportation for the hotel."


    "Call the ambnce." Lyca suddenly said.


    "Hm?"


    "Tell them I fainted." A smile was apparent on her face as she sat on the bed. "From hunger."


    ""


    "Why are you looking at me like that? If I won''t eat in an hour, I would faint."


    "" For some reason, Shen Qui didn''t believe her but in the end, he still nodded and called the hotline for emergencies. He immediately knew what Lyca was trying to do. Since the Chu Family wasn''t very weing, she was nning to leave the house. With a bang. Shen Qui didn''t need to ask her why. He already knew what she was trying to do.


    What would happen if the news about one of their guests fainting because they haven''t given them any food, reached the ears of other people? Maybe the Chu Family thought that Lyca and Shen Qui would raise hell because of the disrespect. But Lyca was toozy for that. In fact, she was even toozy to walk outside because of the cold! Wouldn''t it be better to just lie down while being carried out of this ce? All this made Shen Qui smile. As expected of his wife''s creativity.


    "Why are you smiling like that?" Lyca asked.


    "They will arrive in less than ten minutes." He closed theptop and slowly put them in the bag. While in the call, Shen Qui already informed them about their current location. He even made sure to inform them that his wife is not so used to the cold and hasn''t eaten since morning.


    "Good," Lyca beamed before she used some tissue to remove her lipstick and took some while powder from her bracelet. "I will look pale. But I am only sleeping. No need to panic if you see my breathing change. Just tell them I be like this when I am too hungry. Tell them I can''t go out in the cold and the people here didn''t also give us anything to eat. So I fainted." She beamed, the color of her face already changing. "Again, don''t worry, I will wake up in twenty minutes. Before that, my heartbeat will be a little slow." To avoid any problems, Lyca had to inform him about the effects of the powder.


    "The powder is called the smell of death. It will make your heartbeat so slow for a few minutes. Taking a lot of it would it make you look like you are dead. I only took a few so there is no need to worry."


    Shen Qui nodded while giving him an assuring smile. "Don''t worry, I won''t panic. But isn''t it natural for me to worry? After all, I am your husband."


    "Of course. Just act ordingly." Lyca said before yawning. "Bring the sheets. It''sfortable, and it''s cold outside." She said before she lies on the bed and closed her eyes. "Laters."

 Chapter 299: Emergency Situation

    Chapter 299: Emergency Situation


    Of course, Chu Yuyan and the matriarch of the Chu Family are unaware of this.


    "Grandmother, I really can''t wait for them to act like arrogant prick just when Grandfather arrives." Chu Yuyan smiled. The only reason they were able to do this is that Patriarch Chu and his favorite twins, Chu Nan and Chu Munan had to leave for a while for a very important meeting.


    The timing was just too perfect. Once theye back, Chu Yuyan was certain that Lyca and Shen Qui''s patience already ran out, making the two-act against the people in this ce. Lyca, that woman is arrogant and forceful. How could she endure being treated like this by the Chu Family?


    Chu Yuyan was expecting Lyca to disturb their dinner and maybe even cause create some troubles for them. By then, the Old Matriarch would surely call her husband and tell them about the disturbance. Doing this would surely earn the ire of the Old Patriarch. It would also highlight Lyca and Shen Qui''s arrogant behavior.


    "Hmph! Even if your grandfather already agreed with the elder, I still consider you as my granddaughter. No matter what, you are from the Chu Family. Always remember this, no one can bully our Chu Family!"


    "But grandma" Chu Yuyan pouted. "What about the elders? If they discover that we treated her like this, they would surely  "


    "This child, I am the matriarch of the Chu Family! So what if I treat them like this? What can they do about it? Are they going to punish me? Can they really punish the matriarch? Hmph! Moreover, your grandfather pampers me a lot! If I tell your grandfather that they disrespected me the moment they arrived, he would surely believe my words."


    "What about the deal that Chu Munan said?"


    "I don''t care about any deals! Our Chu Family is the richest in the continent! Did you really think they are the only ones who offered a deal with our family? Yuyan let me tell you this We are rich! People bow down to gain our favors. There is no need to bow down to other people lower than us. With our money, we can rule this country. However, our Chu Family''s interest doesn''t involve politics at all. This is the only reason why we didn''t get involved in any power struggle in the Capital. Do you understand me now?"


    "Yes, grandmother."


    "Good. Good. Aiya why don''t you tell me about your mother? Is she recovering well? How about the current status of the Chu Family? Don''t worry about the problem I will convince your grandfather that cutting you and your mother off is not right. We are still rtives and I was the person you named you when you were born! How could we let some small business transactions ruin our rtionship?"


    "Grandmother is really wise. Yes, my mother is recovering well. Of course, our Chu Family in Kong City suffered because of the deration. However, with grandmother''s help, I am certain that we can recover soon." Chu Yuyan smiled. The only reason why she darede here is because of her grandmother.


    Growing up, Chu Yuyan was the only person in the side branch of the family who easily got close with the main branch because this woman liked her. Aside from naming Chu Yuyan, Matriarch Chu also asked her to visit when she was a child. "Ah, grandmother let me introduce you, my good friend. Jessica Dongfang. She is the daughter of thete mayor in Kong City. Her father just passed, so I brought her here to tour her around the ce. She had been really sad about her father''s passing and" Chu Yuyan started talking to her grandmother about Jessica and soon, the three women started gossiping about the events in Kong City.


    "Truly?" Matriarch Chu couldn''t help but widened her eyes when she heard the rest of Chu Yuyan''s words. "They are murderers? Then why did your grandfather allow them toe here? They even murdered the mayor! How could they "


    "Grandmother please don''t get mad. The only reason why I told you this is because I want Jessica to act as a witness to the Elders. I think you should carefully consider this partnership. I heard that they can offer some weapons? With all due respect grandmother, our Chu Family is rich. You even said it, we don''t need to lower our heads because we have the money. How could we lower our heads and create some partnerships with murderers and ruthless people like them?" Chu Yuyan''s face was extremely sincere as she held her grandmother''s hands. "Grandmother, although Grandfather and the elders already left us to fend for ourselves in Kong City, I am still concerned about this partnership. I don''t want you to get fooled by these people! I don''t want our Chu Family to suffer from their hands!"


    "This person "


    The hurried footsteps of the butler interrupted the conversation.


    "Madam Madam some emergency personnel were outside asking to save someone who fainted. They said that Miss Xi fainted and they are here to bring her to the hospital."


    "What?" Matriarch Chu immediately stood. "Bring me to see these people! Don''t let them in, yet!" Despite her age, the current matriarch was still active and very fit because of exercise. Therefore, walking from the house towards the gate only took them a few minutes.


    "Madam, we are here to take Miss Xi to the hospital. Please let us in. This is an emergency!"


    "Who do you think you are? Speaking to my grandmother like that!?" Chu Yuyan immediately said. However, she was ignored by the personnel.


    "We are here to answer an emergency. Please let us in."


    "Are you certain that someone called you?" Matriarch Chu said. "Howe we didn''t even know that she fainted?" Of course, the old matriarch was extremely suspicious about this matter. Was this an evil plot? However, before the person could answer, a group of people arrived, attracting everyone''s attention. Seeing that it was her husband and his bodyguards, Matriarch Chu immediately turned soft.


    "Husband! It''s good that you are here! Come let''se inside."


    "What is going on here?" The man furrowed his brows.


    "Sir, Mr. Shen called us and informed us that his wife fainted. We are only here to give assistance."


    "Fainted? Then why are you still here talking? Go inside!" The Old Patriarch didn''t wait for his wife to react as he marched towards the house. "Anthony, lead them to the VIP room."


    "This"


    "What are you doing? Why aren''t you moving?"


    "Patriarch Miss Chu Yuyan and her friend are upying the VIP room and the  " For a few seconds, Anthony hesitated. "Mr. And Mrs. Chen was in the guest house on the other side of the mansion." Seeing the Patriarch''s face turned dark, Anthony immediately knelled, face paling. "Patriarch, I am only following the Matriarch''s instructions. Please forgive me!"


    "Husband this."


    "Madam, Sir please forgive me. But we are here because of an emergency. Please lead us to the room."


    "Munan! Go and call our family doctor! Chu Nan! Lead them to the room. Have them examine Miss Xi and tell them not to worry, our family doctor ising! I am sure she is only exhausted!" Then he turned his gaze towards his wife. "You! Follow me!"

 Chapter 300: Skills and Talents

    Chapter 300: Skills and Talents


    "How dare you put that Chu woman in the VIP room prepared for Shen Qui and his wife? Do you understand what you are doing?"


    "Husband!" Matriarch Chu fumed. "You dare you dare talk to me this way? Isn''t that only a room? Plus, she fainted because of exhaustion! It doesn''t have anything to do with me! I didn''t even meet her! Why are you projecting your anger towards me?"


    "Projecting?" Patriarch Chu really wanted to yell at this woman. "Lu Yanyan you are making me speechless! That Chu Woman is no longer a member of our Chu Family! Why would you make such arrangements for this woman?"


    "Husband? Can you hear yourself? You know how much care I put into Chu Yuyan since she was a child! How could you even ask such questions? Chu Yuyan might not be a direct descendant but she is still a Chu! How could we treat her like this?"


    "Lu Yanyan you have lost your mind! Get out! Go to your room and don''t talk to anyone until you realize why you make the wrong choice by letting that Chu Yuyan inside this mansion!"


    "You "


    "I will ask Munan to let that Chu Yuyan leave now. She doesn''t belong to our family anymore! She needed to leave this mansion!"


    "Husband! I dare you to say that again!" Chu Matriarch clenched her hands into two tight fists. "I dare you say that again, and I will immediately ask mywyers for a divorce! How could I endure this kind of treatment?"


    For a few seconds, the patriarch squinted, his face red from anger. "Do you understand what you are saying?"


    "Of course, I do!"


    "Then let me asked you this. What can that Chu Yuyan bring us?"


    "She  She is a talented young woman! Worthy of praises and "


    "In short, aside from singing and drawing, she cannot bring us anything."


    "You "


    "Lu Yanyan I am very disappointed. The reason why I allowed you to treat that child better than the other members of the Chu Side branch is that she looked a little like ourte daughter! I indulged your obsession and even allowed you to name her after our little daughter! But this has to stop now!" Old Chu Patriarch stood in front of the old madam. "I already dispatched my people and learned everything about Miss Xi. Did you really think, I would do something stupid? Miss Xi created the bullets that we are using right now. She is someone who invents things. She is here because of some special weapons that she created. Do you understand this?"


    "Isn''t this just weapons? Can we buy this from some other people? Our Chu Family is rich! We can do whatever we want!"


    "Stupid!" The old patriarch hissed. "We can buy products, but we can never buy talents and skills! I am looking to build rtionships! Do you think mere weapons entice me for this cooperation? I wanted to build rtions with these people and use them for our current projects!"


    "You mean"


    "I really don''t understand myself! How did I like someone like you! Lu Yanyan, if you want to draft that divorce papers then do it now!"


    "Husband!" The matriarch''s eyes widened. She had threatened her husband like this before. And every time, he would give in and apologize to her. How could he agree to the divorce now? "How could you?"


    "I spoiled you! I know my mistakes! Now we have offended the person that might have the ability to cure our grandson! You  You are so stupid! Ah! I will die from anger before I even die from old age!"


    "Cure Munan? She can cure Munan?"


    "Stupid woman!" If Lyca could create a chemical that could melt bodies, then she should have the ability to melt cancer cells or at least try to create something like that! How could his wife be so stupid to offend a person like that?


    Before the Old Madam could react, a knock on the door echoed. "Grandfather?"Chu Nan''s said before he walked inside the room. "They left. I am unable to stop them."


    "Why? How about the doctor? Did you tell them that "


    "Miss Xi was too pale. She needed immediate medical attention. Mr. Q said they haven''t had any food since they arrived and both of them were not so used to the cold so they didn''t leave their rooms expecting someone to deliver them some snacks." Chu Nan said. "Sadly, no one did."


    "So they stayed in the room for hours without food?"


    "Yes, sir. Also" Chu Nan looked at his grandmother. "The heater was broken. Both were shivering when we found them. It was too cold inside the room. I believe Miss Xi didn''t just faint from exhaustion and hunger. She fainted because of the cold."


    His statement made the older madam gasp. "Broken? How could that happen? Anthony checked it! The heater was working fine! I am sure that they deliberately did it too "


    "Lu Yanyan! Shut your mouth! If Chu Nan says it''s broken, then it''s broken!" The Old Patriarch raised his voice. "Let''s go! Apany me to the hospital! We are going to talk to them. I want you to apologize and you are not leaving the hospital until they ept your apology!" The Old man was about to burst into anger. He was just gone for a few hours because of an emergency meeting. How could this have happened? "Chu Nan go and have that Chu Yuyan leave! This was all that woman''s fault! I am certain she manipted your grandmother again! Have her leave! Tell her she is no longer wee in our Chu Family! If she refused to leave, then tell her that I won''t be merciful anymore! I will pull my shares in their business if she continues to act like this!"


    "Understood," Chu Nan nodded as he left the room.


    .....


    I will publish more chapterster. Thank you so much for your support! Stay safe and avoid crowded ces. HAPPY 300 CHAPTERS!

 Chapter 301: The Fox and the Sheep

    Chapter 301: The Fox and the Sheep


    Of course, Lyca was unaware of everything. After all, she was still sleeping nicely inside the ambnce. When Lyca arrived at the hospital, Shen Qui immediately arranged a VIP room for her. Of course, the VIP roomes with a queen-size bed, a full fridge, a coffeemaker, and a microwave with some nicely packed food.


    Just like what Lyca said, she woke up just before thirty minutes after she took the powder. When she woke up, she was already lying in the hospital VIP room with Shen Qui. "How did you get this room?"


    "Some hospitals have rooms like this for executives or people who can afford the fee. Mostly, they reserve it for people who are close to the director or some politicians." He answered. "How are you feeling? Do you feel pain?" He sat on the edge of the bed and held her forehead.


    "Why are you touching my forehead?" she frowned. "I was sleeping."


    "You were too weak! The doctor said your heartbeat was too weak, and they did some tests. When they wanted to take some of your blood, I refused and told them to get it tomorrow. I told them it was only because you were too tired and hungry."


    Lyca smiled and suddenly leaned forward, kissing him on the lips. "Smart! Smart! I like it. If they examined my blood, they might notice something is wrong. Good thinking." She gave him a wink. "Now, where is my food?"


    Shen Qui only smiled while shaking his head. "Here, I ordered it from the best restaurant here. Don''t stand up yet just eat in your bed. How about I feed you? After all, my wife is sick. She can''t lift a spoon because she is too weak."


    She beamed. "Good! That''s a wonderful suggestion. Hm? Did you change my clothes?" She noticed she was already wearing a hospital gown.


    "No. The nurses did it."


    "Oh! Why didn''t you volunteer?"


    Helplessness shed in his eyes. "We are in the hospital."


    "Oh, right? I get it. You were too shy to tell them? Why are you shy? You are the husband! Isn''t this your responsibility?" Lyca sat on the bed. "Nevermind. I am so hungry. I might be crazy if I miss my dinner." She could hear her stomachining, grumbling, and breaking some of her intestines. "The Chu Family really That old man will soone here and talk to me. Let him hear my pricing. I was nning to be good and offer them a good price. Now I will triple it!"


    "Ai you are talking too much. Why don''t you eat first? Here try this soup. I have to pretend to order all healthy food because they think you are sick. So, I didn''t order anything fried." Shen Qui slowly fed her the soup.


    "Stop lying," Lyca uttered.


    "Eh? You can tell that I''m lying?"


    "I know you," Lyca uttered before she held her hand towards him. "Burgers!"


    "Eh? You even know I ordered some burgers? You "


    "You like me too much," Lyca said. "How could you do something I won''t like?" That was simple logic. This man left his life in Long City to follow her around. He then waited while she slept for three years. These actions can only be exined by two things. It''s either he is crazy or he liked her too much. Of course, the answer was both. Shen Qui was crazy. The type of crazy that perfectly suits her.


    In short they are very suitable for each other.


    "Stop smiling like that."


    Shen Qui''s words made her frown. "Do you think I''m ugly when I smile?"


    "No. When you smile like that you look like a fox nning to eat the sheep."


    She snorted and ignored him. Of course, she didn''t stop smiling. She really found it too amusing. "This is some good burgers." She said before taking a bite. "Want some?"


    Shen Qui nodded and was about to take a bite from her burger when she withdrew her hand and hugged the burger. "Buy your own, you greedy fox!" Seeing the disbelief in Shen Qui''s eyes, Lyca giggled before stuffing the burger in her mouth, almost eating the whole thing. But how could Shen Qui allow her to eat everything in one go? He leaned forward and also took a bite from the burger in her mouth.


    "Hmmm this is indeed a very good burger." He mused while chewing the burger.


    "Hey! You  Cough  Cough!" Lyca was about to chastise him when she started choking from the burger. Almost immediately, Shen Qui immediately patted her back and gave her a ss of water. This was the scene that the Chu Family walked into when they walk inside the room.


    Lyca coughing while Shen Qui was stroking her back, with a worried look on his face. However, to the outsiders, this looks like Shen Qui was helping her as she struggled to breathe.


    "This  Mr. Q, should I call the doctor?" Chu Munan said. "I will "


    "No need." Shen Qui uttered, his face dark. "My wife is still not feeling well. Please leave us."


    "Mr. Q we are here to apologize for what happened." Old Man Chu was quick-witted. How could he miss the fact that Shen Qui was truly angry because of what happened to his wife?


    "Apologize? Apologize for what? My wife and I have been married for three years and we are trying to have a child! My wife got sick a few years ago and is still recovering from it. In fact, we already spent money just for her to conceive! I was originally against this visit, but my wife insisted oning here because she thought the Chu Family were honorable people. And yet, we actually " Shen Qui let out a sharp sigh as he looked at Lyca. "Wife just lie down first. I will talk to the Chu Family outside. Take some rest first. The doctors will examine your body tomorrow morning." Without waiting for his wife to say anything, Shen Qui already tucked her in the bed and even put the convertible table away. He then kissed Lyca, his expression gentle. "Please rest well. I will be outside. I will talk to this family for a while."

 Chapter 302: Concubines

    Chapter 302: Concubines


    "Patriarch Chu" Shen Qui held Old Patriarch Chu''s gaze, his face devoid of any expression.


    "Mr. Shen, what happened earlier was a misunderstanding. This was all my fault." Old Madam Chu''s action immediately surprised Shen Qui. He stared at the woman bowing before him. Seeing him in a daze, the old madam continued, "I admit I didn''t like Miss Lyca, but that was only because I was instigated by Miss Chu Yuyan. " Of course, she immediately put all the me on Chu Yuyan. "They led me to believe that your wife is a poisonous woman who was scheming against our family. As the matriarch, my motherly instincts kicked in and I decided to test you. I just wanted to see if you will turn hostile against us after my treatment."


    "So you were expecting us to still smile despite staying in a room without a heater?"


    "Mr. Shen, that is purely an ident. The room''s heater wasn''t broken before you arrive. That was "


    "So you are saying that I lied?"


    "No! No! No! That wasn''t the case. That is not the case at all. " The old Madam panicked. On the way here, the old patriarch already exined everything to her. How could she not understand the woman''s importance to their Chu Family? The Old Matriarch had always been proud because she was born from a rich family. She grew up and even married into another rich family. She always thought that money could buy everything.


    Sadly, money is not enough to prolong one''s life. It might be enough to numb the pain from diseases, but it''s not enough to cure it. Just as her husband said. It is easy to buy medicines and pay for the best products, but it''s not easy to find someone with the right amount of skills and talents to help them out.


    "I was too shortsighted and let people manipte me." The Old Matriarch uttered. She had lived a very spoiled life, but she knew the value of words and sincerity. After all, she already experienced a lot of things in life. If she wasn''t someone flexible, she wouldn''t have survived this long in this very cruel world. "Please forgive this old one!"


    However, this action was enough to make Shen Qui suspicious. He immediately knew that this person needed something more than the weapons that Lyca offered them. He took a step back and helped the old madam straightened her back. "It''s alreadyte now. Let''s talk tomorrow when my wife is already awake. After all, I can''t decide for her. In this incident, my wife was the one who suffered the most." His gazended towards the twins, Chu Nan and Chu Munan who were standing behind their grandfather.


    The two met his gaze and nodded silently.


    "Grandfather, we should leave. They have been through a lot. Let''s give them some time to rest." Chu Nan whispered.


    "Yes. Yes. We should leave. Mr. Shen I wille back tomorrow. I hope Mrs. Shen will recover soon." The old Patriarch gave a cordial smile before leading his wife, grandson, and parade of security towards the elevator. Seeing them gone, Shen Qui went inside the room.


    "They wanted something more than the bullet." Shen Qui said. This family existed for centuries in Ath Province. While they didn''t involve themselves in politics, these people have ruled this ce using their money. How could they just lower their heads like that?


    "Hmmm." Lyca sat back up as she nodded. "Wasn''t expecting that." Why would someone''s attitude suddenly change? Simple. They needed something from her. But what could it be? "Maybe they wanted me to marry the twins."


    "" He approached her, palms already on her forehead. "You don''t have a fever. Was it some internal injury?"


    "What''s wrong? Do you think I am not the right woman to marry the twins? I am an upright individual! Beautiful, smart, gentle, and kind. A little scheming, but not evil. A littlezy, but not too much. I know how to cook too. I should be the perfect matriarch. " She smiled.


    "Perhaps head injury?" Shen Qui''s gaze turns suspicious. "Are you high?" What little scheming but not evil? If this woman wasn''t considered evil, then everyone is considered too kind! "You should stop taking powders with unknown effects. Look at yourself, hallucinating. I should probably record this so I can show you this side when you wake up tomorrow."


    She yfully pped his arm. "You aren''t jealous? Why are you not jealous? Are you so confident?"


    "Why would I get jealous?"


    "Chu Nan and Chu Munan are both handsome and aplished. You''re not scared I will like one of them? Hm?"


    "" This woman is truly making him speechless. "Even if you like one of them, what does it have to do with me?"


    "Eh? Mr. Shen is actually this kind? You are okay with me taking concubines?"


    "" He beamed and nodded. "Of course."


    "Really?"


    "Of course!"


    She squinted. "Really?"


    "I am kind and gentle. Of course, I would allow you to take them."


    "Then screw you!" Lyca''s face darkened. "Don''t talk to me. Don''t lie down beside me!" She pulled the nket and covered her head as shey on the bed. She heard himugh before lying next to her. "This bed is mine. Go sleep on the couch!"


    Women. Shen Qui shook his head inwardly. "Wife if you really like someone." He slowly stroked her head. "Can I really stop you from doing anything to them?" Lyca was always willful and unconventional. If she would like someone, she would surely do something about it. "Even if I do something to stop you I won''t be able to. With your brains and skills, I would only end up dying. So, it is better for me to let you take them and kill them afterward, no?"


    Just as he expected, Lyca removed the nket from her head. "Really?"


    "Really," he nodded. "It''s not like I don''t have any methods to get rid of someone."


    Lyca smiled. Now that she thought about it. Shen Qui''s words really made sense. "You are still the smartest." He leaned and give him a small kiss. "Don''t worry, I won''t like anyone else."

 Chapter 303: Killing is Easier than Saving

    Chapter 303: Killing is Easier than Saving


    Just as Patriarch Chu promised, he came back in the morning, bringing gifts for Lyca and Shen Qui. This time, Matriarch Chu and the twins were still with him. This time, Matriarch Chu didn''t hesitate to apologize to Lyca.


    "Excuse me" Lyca said. She found this situation truly awkward. After all, the woman bowing before her is already in her seventies. "Patriarch Chu I am a very direct person." She was about to sayzy, but Shen Qui''s gaze was enough to stop her. So she chose the word direct instead. "Let''s just go directly to the things that you want me to do." She smiled. Pleasantries and talking like aristocrats are really not her strongest points. Seeing everyone''s expression, Lyca continued. "I know that you wouldn''t lower your head like this if you don''t want something. What is it? Do you want me to create a bomb?"


    "Do you want me to kill people?" she asked.


    "Miss Xi you are very "


    "Grandmother, Miss Xi is always like this." Chu Nan smiled at his grandmother. "Why don''t we go outside first so grandfather can talk to them?" Chu Nan supported his grandmother and left with his brother.


    "Please call me Lyca," Lyca said to the old man. She smiled. She knew that this person already had her background checked.


    "You are very direct." Patriarch Chu was sitting opposite Lyca''s bed. "I wasn''t expecting that you would go directly to the point."


    "There is no point in saying useless things." That would only prolong the conversation and decrease her sleeping time. "What is it?"


    A sigh escaped the patriarch''s lips. Smart people always act differently from normal ones. This will always make them stand out. As expected, her previous decision to invite Lyca was the right thing to do. The patriarch smiled inwardly. "I am hoping to recruit you."


    "I am not looking for a job."


    ""


    "Lyca please listen to my proposal." The patriarch said calmly. He can hear impatience in Lyca''s voice but he quickly ignored it. His current predicament cannot be exined in a few sentences. He needed time to talk to her about it.


    "Alright. I am listening."


    "My Chu Family is the richest family in the region, maybe even the whole country. However, there are things that even our money cannot buy." Slowly, the patriarch''s face darkened. "My wife and I have three children. One of them died at a very young age because of Cancer. You see? Our money wasn''t enough to save her. In fact, even if we spend all our money on her, she would still die. In the end, we chose to end her suffering and stop the treatments. After that, we have all of our descendants tested and found out that cancer that killed my daughter was hereditary."


    The old man gave a mocking smile. "But we have money. We paid for the best chef who can give us the most nutritious food. We bought a farm and raised our own food. We never used anything with chemicals that could be harmful to our bodies. We do a check-up every six months and make sure that we exercise and stay active." He let out another sigh. "But can we really fight fate? One day, a piece of devastating news arrived. My grandson, Chu Munan had a benign cyst. Of course, with the help of money were immediately had I removed. But it came back. This time it became malignant."


    These words made Lyca speechless. So, they didn''t want her to kill someone but save Chu Munan?


    "Do you understand what I am trying to say?" Chu Patriarch asked. "The grandson that I loved the most, the heir of my Chu Family, have the same disease that took my daughter''s life away." With this, Patriarch Chu stood and suddenly bowed at Lyca. "I am asking you to help them I will do my best to satisfy whatever it is that you want and support you in your future endeavors as long as you help my Chu Family!"


    "Old Man don''t be too formal. You are too formal." Lyca said and gestured Shen Qui to stop the old man. "Stop bowing like that. You are scaring me."


    "This involves the lives of my grandson! This is the future of my Chu Family."


    "So Cancer" Lyca ignored the old man''s words. "Well I have one question. Even if Chu Munan dies, there is still Chu Nan. There''s no need to act like that." Her statement made Shen Qui want to face p himself.


    "Ah, you are truly different." Instead of getting angry at her words, the old man just gave a wry smile. "Chu Nan is with the police department. He cannot inherit my Chu Family. He was well aware that we never include ourselves in politics, even before he became like that. Chu Nan already agreed to give the Chu Family to his brother. Moreover, Chu Nan wanted to serve and protect people. As hypocritical as it may sound, his ideals are different from his brother. It was different from the whole Chu Family."


    Lyca recalled the difference between that Chu Nan and Chu Munan. The difference was pretty obvious, and that made her recognize the twins immediately. They look kinda the same, but the expressions in their eyes were different. Too different.


    "I can give you whatever you want as long as you help my Chu Family."


    "Old man, why did you think that I can cure cancer? I am not some god. Cancer is not something that anyone can just cure. Plus, I have no talents in medicine. I am just someone who creates chemicals and kill people." If her guess was right, the real reason why they invited her here was because of the chemical that melted Zar Clint. How could creating poisonous chemicals be the same as creating something like that?


    "Killing people is definitely easier than saving one." She added as she observed the old man''s expression. For a few seconds, the old man stared at Lyca as a long stretch of silence followed.


    "I have a team of people working to create something to kill the cancer cells. But none of them are as excellent as you. They were all doctors who graduated top of their ss. But none of them could create something enough to melt flesh. In my analysis, someone who could create something like that could definitely create something that could save my grandson."

 Chapter 304: Painting and Pendant

    Chapter 304: Painting and Pendant


    "I want to invite you back to the mansion while you think it through. Don''t worry, if you really can''t help us then I would understand too. However, just please consider it. I could promise you everything as long as it wouldn''t harm my Chu Family."


    These were the words left by Patriarch Chu before he bid them goodbye. Not long after, Shen Qui and Lyca decided to check out and agree to the old man''s arrangement. This time, no one schemed against them and they were ced in another VIP room that was located near the master''s bedroom. In fact, Butler Anthony made sure to tell them that this room has the same amenities and view as the master''s bedroom.


    "We only have two nights left before we leave for the Extreme North." Shen Qui was on hisptop while Lyca wasughing at some TV series that she was watching.


    "This series was hrious. The guy reincarnated into the body of the Queen." She said. "I honestly just want to stay in this mansion and finish this show before leaving." Of course, she knew that is impossible. She needed to go to the North to get the herbs. Or at least, hope that she could find it.


    Lyca was aware that the possibility of finding this herb might be a little low, but she was still determined to try. This wasn''t some heroic adventure, but something she felt she needed to do. She sighed. She could of course asked the Chu Family to help her out however, she wanted to keep this thing a secret as much as possible.


    The slow knock on the door interrupted their conversation. Shen Qui immediately opened the door.


    "The patriarch is inviting you both to his study," Anthony said while bowing.


    "Alright," Lyca answered as she left the bed. Together, she and Shen Qui followed Anthony towards the Patriarch''s office. Surprisingly, the patriarch wasn''t alone. Aside from the patriarch, there are three older men and one woman that Lyca and Shen Qui didn''t recognize sitting on the couch.


    "Here they are" Old Man Chu smiled as he gestured towards Lyca and Shen Qui. "Please take a seat. How are you doing? Are you recovering well?"


    "Good," Lyca answered, her gaze was already on the man sitting next to the patriarch. Of course, she wasn''t staring towards the man''s face but at the ne with a circr white stone pendant. "Is there anything?" she asked.


    "Yes. Let me introduce you to everyone. These are the Elders of my Chu Family. Every time that we decide on something that could impact the family, the five of us would meet and discuss it. "Gentlemen anddies, this is the woman that I told you about. She created the bullet that we are using right now. She also offered to work with us for some weapons that we can use to defend ourselves. Moreover, I also asked her to work with us for Munan''s condition."


    Lyca was actually expecting one of these people to be hostile to her, maybe look down on her, and even mocked her. However, none of this happened. The four older people just nodded and smiled at Lyca, all of them have a calm expression on their faces.


    "So you are from the Huang?" The man with long white hair smiled.


    "Yes," Lyca said, her eyes turned to meet the man''s experienced eyes. Despite the man''s all-white hair, he actually looked about fifty or perhaps inte forties. Among the elders here, the man looked the youngest. Lyca eyed the man''s neatlybed long hair that should be longer than Lyca''s hair. He tied it in a simple ponytail behind him. Interesting, Lyca thought.


    "We already looked into your file for both of you," this time, the woman spoke. Her gentle eyesnded towards Shen Qui, then on Lyca. "I hope we didn''t offend the both of you by looking into your past. This is just some precaution that we needed to do before we invite some people in our Chu Family."


    "It''s not a problem." Shen Qui answered. "I think we would turn suspicious if you im that you know nothing about us."


    "Clever words." Patriarch Chu smiled. "Now let''s get straight to the point. I actually called you here to ask about the business proposal that you wanted to have with our family. You don''t have to worry, this will not affect my request about Munan. I just wanted to hear what kind of weapon can you provide us and if there is a possibility of producing this weapon for the market?"


    "There are different types of weapon that I can offer. However, not everything can be mass-produced. Not everything can be shared with the public." A secret weapon would lose its value if people would expect it in a fight. Seeing the interest in everyone''s eyes, Lyca started discussing the weapons and even showed them her bracelet that she made with her father.


    "And you are nning to personally craft this weapon?"


    "No, my father will." Lyca gave a gentle smile.


    "Your father."


    "When I was nothing but a small child, I already have this weird interest in weapons. However, how could I create something with my small arms? I need the assistance of my father. I designed it while he creates them. This continued until I became an adult."


    "I didn''t know Huang Sheng Hong knew how to create poisonous weapons."


    Lyca only smiled in response. She grew up like a princess. Her father and mother would never let her do something that could possibly harm her. How could they allow her to create sharp des for the spears that she wanted to make? Huang Sheng Hong immediately disagreed and offered to give him the ns while he hired expert ironworkers for the project.


    Because of this, Huang Sheng Hong was very familiar with the weapons that Lyca was using.


    "Good good! Now elders, as you can see  " The Old Patriarch started discussing with the elders. However, this conversation wasn''t enough to remove Lyca''s attention away from the painting hanging in front of them. It was an oil painting of scenery that shouldn''t be in this world.


    "I will help Chu Munan." Her words interrupted the conversation. "But I want to know everything about that painting and that stone." Lyca pointed at the white stone pendant hanging in one of the elder''s neck.

 Chapter 305: Yin Yang Nirvana Lake

    Chapter 305: Yin Yang Nirvana Lake


    "You would help Munan? Then it''s good. That''s good wait" The Old Patriarch''s gaze turned stern. "Did you just say that you will help us? You agreed to help my team of doctors?" Almost instantly, the patriarch''s face reddened.


    "Patriarch calm down calm down" One of the Elders immediately said while patting the patriarch''s back. Then he turned his gaze towards Lyca. "You only wanted the painting and my ne?"


    "Money would be involved too. However, I wouldn''t demand anything until the product is done. All I wanted is to know more about that painting for my artistic pursuit." Lyca said. "Growing up, I always love paintings and jewels. I am familiar with all types of gems and I am an expert in identifying them. However, this is the first time that I saw that type of stone. The one in your neck."


    "This is gifted by the Xu family, I''m afraid I cannot "


    "Xu Family from the Capital?"


    "Yes, President Xu gave one of us a ne like this. He said this is from a meteor that hit the country, hundreds of years ago."


    Lyca stared at the pendant for a few seconds. "Then can I just study it? Borrow it for a month?"


    "This "


    "Elder Chen It''s fine. She can borrow mine." Patriarch Chu immediately said. "Just like what the Elder said, every one of us has this kind of ne. I don''t usually wear mine unless I see the President. You can always borrow my pendant and return it whenever you finish studying." Patriarch Chu didn''t doubt Lyca''s words because he already read her files. He knew that the woman likes to study things. Chemistry and Physics were only one of the things that she studied when she was still in college. She also dabbled in Earth Science and other sciences.


    It would be obvious for her to be interested in something like the pendant. After all, this is very rare.


    "That painting I can also give it to you." This is something that I bought from an Auction in the Capital. If you like this kind of aesthetics, I can always give you the contact of the auction house and see if you can get another painting from the same artist."


    "Then, we already have a deal. I would trouble you to lead me to yourboratory tomorrow. " Lyca nodded. She smiled at everyone before she left the room with Shen Qui. Not long after, the two arrived in their own room.


    "What was that all about?" She Qui asked, brows furrowed. He fought the urge to asked her more questions before she could exin herself.


    "That painting was something from my dream." She answered as she stood in front of him, her gaze meeting his. "That view doesn''t exist in this world. It was called the Yin Yang Nirvanake. Half of it is made of snow, while half is made of hotva. I wanted to know who made that painting."


    "The dream about the other world?" he asked.


    For a few seconds, Lyca just stared at him before she nodded. She was nning to tell him about her past but this wasn''t the right time.


    "And cancer? Will you "


    "Lai Su will do that. He is already studying cancer cells before he met me. With the right bribe, he would never say no to me."


    It was as if a thorn was removed from Shen Qui''s chest when he heard Lyca''s words. To be honest, he didn''t want his wife to stay in this ce and create that cure. Lyca was already too busy with everything else. How could she still manage this task?


    Of course, this was purely because of his selfishness. With her current schedule, his wife was already upied all day! She spends her day in theb and just goes out to eat or sleep. She doesn''t have the time for him anymore. If she epted this task, then maybe Lyca won''t sleep or go back to their room! She would stay in theb all day!


    That  Shen Qui would never allow such a thing to happen!


    Especially not because of another man.


    "Why are you smiling like that?" she asked. "Are you that happy that I won''t work here?"


    "Of course!" He nodded. Even if he already told her that he wasn''t the jealous type, Shen Qui was still a man! He was confident, but he would never allow his wife to spend a lot of time with another man!


    "Ah? Are you scared that he will give his body to me as payment for curing him?"


    "You are watching too much drama."


    "But you already give your body to me when I cured you, right?" She winked, rendering him speechless. Then she chuckled and walked towards the bed. "My bed is only enough for two people." She said. Her words were enough to lighten the atmosphere.


    "I just don''t want you to stress yourself too much. The assembly ising and there is also the Long Family. How could you handle all these things?"


    "I don''t need to handle everything on my own." Lyca reasoned. "Isn''t this why I was looking for talents?" How could she spend her days on boring tasks like that? Lyca smiled. "Someone is standing in front of the door. Open it." She said as she walked towards the couch.


    "Hm?" Without asking any more questions, Shen Qui walked towards the door and opened it. "Mr. Chu are you going to stand there forever?" He asked. Shen Qui''s face was calm, but his voice wasn''t able to hide the hostility against him.


    "May I talk to Miss Lyca?"


    "Hmm. Pleasee inside." Shen Qui said before he sat next to Lyca.


    "Can I talk to you in private?" Chu Munan''s words were enough to rouse the anger inside Shen Qui. His face darkened.


    "I am her husband," he reminded. "Or did you forget that?"


    "Mr. Shen"


    "He is right." Lyca smiled. "We are considered one. Just say what you want to say and stop wasting time."

 Chapter 306: Snowman and Honeymoon

    Chapter 306: Snowman and Honeymoon


    A sigh escaped Chu Munan''s lips. "I just wanted to thank you. I heard about what you wanted from grandfather. I wasn''t expecting Miss Lyca to be someone who pursues arts. If you want I can apany you to some museums near the mansion. Ath Province has a very deep history and "


    "I am not walking out of this mansion," Lyca said. Aside from the fact that she was still halfway through her drama, walking outside in the cold wasn''t veryfortable. At any time, Lyca would always prefer to stay at home and just lie down on her bed than walking around in some museums.


    "She meant it''s too cold. She just recovered from fainting. She can''t just walk around and visit some museum." Shen Qui chimed in.


    Chu Munan ignored Shen Qui''s words and just stared at Lyca. "Then perhaps some coffee? As a way to thank you for agreeing to help me."


    "Coffee?" she asked, frowning. "If you really want to thank me, then give some something good. Perhaps some bar of golds?" This made Chu Munanughed.


    "I didn''t know Miss Lyca actually knows how to joke."


    "I''m not joking. If you don''t have gold, then just give me a million," she said calmly. Coffee? Her husband makes the best coffee and tea in the world and this man actually wanted to take her to drink another coffee just to thank her? Chu Munan it seems that the Old Patriarch''s words about his brain are not true at all!


    "I  " Chu Munan sighed. He already knew that Lyca is very direct. He should have expected her to demand something like this. "I will send it to you tomorrow."


    "Mr. Chu."Lyca smiled. "I was joking." The changes in her tone were too obvious it was enough to make Chu Munan speechless. What was going on? Earlier, he was certain that Lyca was serious about the money. However now "Then... You agree to have coffee with me?"


    "Of course not!" Lyca said. "To thank me then please arrange a group of five people to act as our bodyguard as we visit the Extreme North."


    "Extreme You wanted to go to the Extreme North at this time of the year?" The North is perpetually snowy all throughout the year. However, December, January, and February was the worse time to visit the ce. "It wasn''t only windy, the snow is very thick. In that ce, theypletely suspend everything around this time of the year because of the snow. Because of that, not many people visit the ce and there is practically no transportation aside from the train that will stop at the train station every day."


    "Isn''t this why she wanted your help?" Shen Qui asked.


    "You "


    "Mr. Chu, I just want your assistance. You are already aware that I grew up in a ce without snow and my dream is to build a snowman!" Lyca smiled gently. "I really wanted to stay in a ce with a lot of snow for my honeymoon."


    Almost immediately Chu Munan''s face changed. "Honeymoon?"


    "Yes. We have been married for three years now but because of some problems, we weren''t able to spend some time with each other."


    Chu Munan frowned. ording to his investigations, Lyca and Shen Qui didn''t separate and were always together in the past years. Lyca''s statement made him a little confused. "So you wanted to visit the north for your honeymoon?" For some reason, she found her reason too unbelievable. Honeymoon? Snowman? It''s either she was lying and just found some random reason that she could use to convince him or this woman is really innocent who loves fairytales and snowman!


    But how could someone capable of killing people who still love to make a snowman?


    This meant Lyca was lying! But his research showed that this woman graduated really young and even had double majors. She also graduated top of her ss! That means she was smart and perfectly capable of thinking of a better reason for her lies! Chu Munan couldn''t help but overthink things.


    He already assumed that Lyca was a very deep individual, but this this doesn''t sound too deep at all. "Alright. Are you sure you only need five people?"


    "Yes. Just let them follow us. No need to reveal their presence. I just want to feel secure during my honeymoon." Her smile was too dazzling and innocent, it made Chu Munan too confused. What was happening?


    "Alright, I will also arrange the transportation. Just leave everything to me." An assuring smile was stered on his face. "I will invite you for a coffee after your honeymoon. For now, I will leave you to rest, after all, you are still recovering." He immediately bid them goodbye and went out to make arrangements for Lyca and Shen Qui.


    "The poor man must have been very confused." Shen Qui mused while sitting on the couch. Lyca was already on the bed, watching her drama. Chu Munan immediately agreed to the arrangement simply because he can also use his people to spy on Lyca. After all, her reasoning about the snowman and honeymoon was really sketchy.


    Chu Munan would never guess that Lyca was actually using his men as witnesses. She wanted them to inform Chu Munan that she never left the cabin and just spent all her time with her husband. In this way, other people who would inquire about this trip would never get suspicious.


    ''It was a honeymoon trip.'' Nothing more.


    "People who loved to schemes easily get confused because they think that everything is a scheme," Lyca smiled. "The King finally discovered that it was the Queen who helped him by cooking for the ministers. Hah, I wonder if he will finally sleep with her." Sheughed before turning her head towards Shen Qui. "Let him think whatever he wants. One day, he will die from overthinking and analyzing simple things." She smiled before turning her head back to her tablet.


    Just as Lyca expected, Chu Munan was indeed thinking about her ns. "Grandfather, why do you think she wanted to go to the Extreme North? It''s too cold there! Honeymoon? Forget honeymoon! Who would enjoy a honeymoon in that ce? I think she is lying. Grandfather, do you think she is there to do something. I don''t know illegal?" Chu Munan continued pacing inside his grandfather''s office.


    "Munan why are you overthinking this matter? This has nothing to do with you! Unless, of course you develop a one-sided crush on Miss Lyca?" Right now, Old Patriarch Chu was too happy to even think about a simple matter like this. Lyca already promised to help them, so his worries already disappeared. All he needed to do now is just provide her the pieces of equipment that she needed. "Of course, I would understand if you like her and it is normal for any man to like an outstanding woman"


    "Grandfather that woman is also an outstanding killer." Chu Nan was quick to remind his grandfather. "My brother would never like a woman like that! Isn''t that right, Munan?"


    However, his question was met with silence from his brother.


    ...


    Please don''t forget to vote for the novel. Thank you :)

 Chapter 307: Killing the Flower

    Chapter 307: Killing the Flower


    "Eh? Why are you so silent?" Chu Nan frowned. "Don''t tell me you really like that woman? Brother You She is married!"


    "And?" Chu Munan''s face turned dark. It took him a few seconds before he realized his words. "I  I am tired. I will leave first. Grandfather, please arrange everything on my behalf." He said before walking out of his grandfather''s office.


    "Eh? Grandfather! Why aren''t you saying anything? You know how my brother is like if he likes "


    "Stop it. Chu Nan." Patriarch Chu sighed. "I never forbid you from liking anyone. If your brother likes her then what can you do about it? We can always like a flower even if it already belongs to another person."


    "Grandpa you know I am not worried about that. I am worried about him killing the flower! You know him! If he can''t have it, no one else can! How could you even allow him to like a married woman? No! How could you allow him to like a woman like Lyca Huang?"


    "If I tell him, I don''t like him liking her. Would he really listen to me?" The Old Patriarch reasoned before he waved his hands. "I will talk to your brother once he calms down. For now, take care of the honeymoon. Just give them the best cabin around the area and make sure the transportation isfortable."


    "Alright. Just talk to Munan and tell him that his healthes first. Stop worrying about other things."


    "Hmmm." The old man said before he gestured his grandson to leave his office. After some thought, the Old Patriarch left his office and asked a servant to invite Shen Qui and Lyca for some tea.


    It didn''t take long for Lyca and Shen Qui to arrive in the room surrounded by paintings. "This room "


    "Is where we receive our important guests." The old man continued Shen Qui''s words. "This ce is where we held important ceremonies in our Chu Family. Come... Take your seats. Today, I will let you taste the special tea that we can only make once it''s winter."


    Lyca smiled. For some reason, she doesn''t believe that anyone could make better tea than her own husband. However, she still nodded and keep her mouth shut.


    "I heard that you two are nning to have a honeymoon in the northernnds?" the Old Patriarch asked.


    "Yes. She wanted to enjoy some snow together." Shen Qui held his wife''s hand. "This is our first time traveling together."


    Seeing Shen Qui''s gaze turned gentle, the Old Patriarch nodded and started talking about the paintings inside. After all, Lyca said that she was pursuing art. To his surprise, Lyca was truly knowledgeable in paintings. To be honest, the old patriarch suspected that Lyca wanted the painting because of some secret reason. "I heard that someone from the northern part of the country made the painting. Though I am not sure where exactly. From my inquiries, this person always stayed in the northern extreme around this time to paint. Don''t worry, I am asking my people to get this person''s address so you can try to meet each other."


    "That is generous of you." Beneath the smile on her face, lies a dangerous glint that the Old Patriarch failed to see. "Winter and paintings. I can understand this person''s desire to paint in the northern part of the country. After all, I heard that the north has some picturesque view."


    "They do have some excellent views. Ah, speaking of which, I have some really good paintings here that I acquired  " The patriarch started talking about each painting in the room. To his surprise, Lyca was truly knowledgeable in arts. "Ah? I was surprised! Pleasantly surprise. I never thought that your knowledge in painting is so rich."


    "Old Man... " Lyca said after she took a sip of the tea. "Let''s be direct here. I am really curious why you invited us for some tea. Is it just because you wanted to talk about paintings?" Because this conversation is really making her sleepy! The women in her previous world love to talk about paintings and music, but she grew up talking about weapons and killing. All this talk about the stroke and colors is making her dizzy.


    "Ah? Oh I  " The old man cleared his throat. "I wasn''t expecting that  Ah nevermind. Nevermind. The reason why I asked to have some tea is because of the honeymoon. Let me be honest with you. The person who made the painting is someone close to the Xu Family. I am thinking that you are going to visit the extreme north because you want to meet this person. I just  Miss Lyca, I just want you to know that our Chu Family doesn''t include ourselves in politics and the Xu Family is "


    "You are afraid they will try to hire me too?" she asked.


    "This littledy is really too direct. Too direct. You will give me a heart attack if you continue talking like that." The old man patted his chest. "The Xu Family is known for their hospitals and pharmaceuticalpanies if they know that you are going to work for us then "


    "If they can give me something better than this painting, I might just work for them," Lyca said. "I am joking." She added when she saw the old man''s face dropped.


    "This  Are you trying to kill me?"


    "My wife loves to joke, Old Man Chu I hope you don''t mind it." Shen Qui chuckled. In fact, Lyca said those words with a very serious expression, it was not a surprise that the old didn''t find it funny.


    "As long as it''s a joke, then no problem." Old Man Chu gave a peal of awkwardughter. "Ah, I almost forgot. That Chu Yuyan was already back in Kong City. I already asked my people to keep an eye out and don''t let her scheme against you. Of course, if you want to just kill them, then I can arrange the matter. After all, they have embarrassed the family and even tried to manipte my wife."


    The old man''s statement made Lyca smile. Obviously, he was trying his best to impress her. "Then do it." She answered. The old man already offered to get rid of Chu Yuyan and her family. This would save Lyca a lot of time and energy!

 Chapter 308: Stupid and Coward

    Chapter 308: Stupid and Coward


    "Eh? You wanted me to  "


    "Didn''t you offer to do it? Did I mishear you?"


    "Ah? No! No!" That was purely out of courtesy. But who would have thought that "Then no problem! I will do that. I will make the Chu Family leave Kong City."


    "Oh, then good," Lyca said. "Is there anything else that you wanted to discuss with me?"


    "Yes. About the cure. I wanted to know if you have ns? Are you going to focus on looking for medicine that you fight against cancer cells? Or radiation? Right now there is a lot of research about this matter. If you want, I can lend you some"


    "No need." She answered. Lai Su should be an expert in this matter. "It''s alright. I can handle it. As for the n I will give it to you after my honeymoon. I will personallye here before I go back to Kong City."


    "That is good! Tomorrow, I would like to tour you to ourboratory. I will arrange the transportation at ten in the morning. Then we can have some lunch together."


    "Good." Lyca nodded. "I would like to sleep you can discuss the details with my husband." Without waiting for the old man to answer, Lyca already left the room. The business side of things was not her forte, so there is no need to pretend that she was interested to talk about these things.


    "Miss Lyca?"


    "Hm?" She turned and was surprised to see Chu Munan standing behind him. "What are you doing here?" she asked. "Did your grandfather call you?" She didn''t hear him approach her. This could mean that this man''s martial arts are pretty good too.


    "I was just randomly passing by. I didn''t think that you would be here."


    "Oh." Lyca nodded. She turned towards her room and was about to walk away from him when Chu Munan suddenly walked in front of her.


    "Would you like some tea?"


    "No," she answered.


    "Then how about coffee?"


    "No."


    "How about food? Are you hungry? I can take you to our patio and let you taste some of the best delicacies here."


    "Food?" She met his eyes. "What kind of food?"


    This made Chu Munan smile. "We have Rubing, it is goat''s cheese that is fried or salted. We have the best Rubing here. We also have Yak Meat. It is simr to beef, but the taste is pretty strong. Ath Province is known for its Yak Meat too! And of course some wild mushroom dishes."


    "Does it taste good?"


    "Of course!"


    "Then ask them to prepare a lot of them. I am hungry. Lead me to the patio." She said.


    "Yes, your highness." Chu Munan smirked. "I heard that you liked that painting from my grandfather''s office?"


    "Hmmm."


    "I was there when my grandfather bought it. Do you want to hear the story behind the painting?"


    "Alright." Of course, she agreed. That scenery doesn''t exist in this world. She couldn''t help but wonder how the artist did it.


    "Well ording to the artist. Theke was once two deities who fell in love with each other. However, they came from two rival ns. One is the ice n and one came from thend of fire."


    Lyca nodded as she listened to the story that she was very familiar with. This story also existed in her previous world. However, the legend stated that those two deities were not ordinary people as they were the son and daughter of the n head. When both of the n heads knew that they have a rtionship, they tried to use their own children to create some traps for the other. The woman who came from the ice n was imprisoned. While her father pretended to be her and sent some letter to the young master of the fire n for a meeting. Of course, the man arrived at their secret meeting ce.


    The Young Master was unaware that his people were following him and was also nning to sneak an attack on the young princess of the Ice n. To their surprise, various types of attacks weed the Young Master, and he died almost immediately. When the Young Princess was informed of her lover''s death, she cried and cried until she fainted.


    Of course, the fainting was only an act. When the doctor''s arrived, the Young Princess suddenly woke up and attacked everyone. Then she escaped and went to their meeting ce. Then she killed herself.


    That''s all.


    It was some stupid story of forbidden love with a sad ending.


    Legend has it that a god heard their prayer before they died and pitied them. That''s why he made theke. One made of Lava and one made of Ice to keep them together, forever.


    "Isn''t it romantic?" Chu Munan smiled. "What do you think of the story?"


    "I think the woman is stupid and coward," Lyca said. "She is clearly capable of escaping and running away. Why did she wait for her lover to die before doing all that?"


    "That  That is true too." Any woman who heard this story would always act like they were about to cry. However, Lyca called the woman stupid. This made him smile. "Indeed. That woman is very stupid." This was the first time that someone called the female lead of the story stupid. However, Chu Munan wasn''t angry at all. In fact, he felt happy that someone finally said what''s really on their mind.


    "Ah, please take a seat. The view on this side of the mansion is exquisite. I always love to dine here."


    "Oh. Where is the food?" Lyca asked.


    "It should be here in a few minutes." Chu Munan said. In fact, he already told the attendant earlier to take as much time as they need to make the food. This will give him more time to talk to Lyca.


    "How many minutes?"


    "About ten or fifteen."


    "Can they make it five? I mean" Lyca avoided his gaze. "I am a bit hungry."

 Chapter 309: Xu From the Capital

    Chapter 309: Xu From the Capital


    "This Of course!" Chu Munan immediately signaled one of the attendants to approach him and give some instructions. "So, that painting. I heard that the one who created that only makes one or two paintings a year. Every one of them cost more than two million! But no one actually knew the face of this person. Even the Xu Family doesn''t give this person''s name. I have never really met an artist that is this private." He said while pouring some tea for Lyca.


    "Suspicious," Lyca mumbled.


    "I''m sorry, what did you say?"


    "I said, I''m hungry," she answered.


    "Oh then how about I go to the kitchen and personally get the food for you?"


    "That" For a few seconds, Lyca hesitated. "I hope it''s alright with you. I am really hungry." While her words sounded sincere, Chu Munan still felt a little aggrieved. After all, he was expecting her to say no. However, he still smiled before leaving and going to the kitchen.


    Chu Munan wouldn''t really say that he liked Lyca. However, he cannot deny the fact that she is very smart and direct. She was the exact opposite of the woman that he met before. Moreover, she was very capable and isn''t some damsel that needed saving all the time. In fact, Chu Munan chose to change his attitude base on Lyca''s behavior. He had always been cunning and smarter than most people. However, he didn''t want to show that attitude in front of her.


    Lyca''s personality was clearly very dominant. Therefore, he chose to act like a sheep in front of her. After a few minutes, Chu Munan came back with the servants. All of them were bringing a different type of food. Almost instantly, a smile appeared on Lyca''s face. She immediately started eating, without even asking Chu Munan if he wanted to eat too.


    "Oh, I almost forgot" Lyca said. She lifted her face and saw a smile on Chu Munan''s face. "The Cabin I want it to be as remote as possible. I don''t want other people disturbing my honeymoon." She said. Even though the old patriarch and Chu Munan already told her that the one who created the painting was also in the extreme north, Lyca still wanted to go to the most remote ce in the mountains.


    This was because her priority was the herbs.


    "If you can arrange a remote ce near a remote vige, then that would be good."


    "You  You really wanted to spend your honeymoon in that ce? I mean It''s cold and there might be "


    "Brother Munan!" His words were interrupted when a woman followed by two servants wearing blue uniforms walk towards them. "Brother Munan, I just came back from the Capital. I bought you your favorite cakes." The woman was wearing a white dress with a red cape. She stared at Chu Munan with her almond eyes. "Brother, how are you feeling these days? It''s so cold? Why are you staying here now? Let me apany you inside and "


    "Rong''er I have a guest."


    "Oh? This is "


    "This is Miss Huang from Kong City. My grandfather invited her."


    "Old Man Chu? Why did he invite her? Kong City is pretty far from here. I didn''t even know that you  " The woman widened her eyes. "Didn''t you go to the Kong City a few days ago? Did you "


    "Rong''er why don''t you go and talk to grandfather first? Miss Huang is eating, and it''s not very polite to talk about these things now."


    "Brother Munan "Rong''er pouted. "You didn''t even introduce me to her."


    "Oh, right? How could I forget? Miss Huang this is my childhood friend. Xu Rong''er."


    "Xu?" Lyca lifted an eyebrow. "From the Capital?" It seems that the world is getting smaller and smaller.


    "Ah, I grew up here, but my Uncle is indeed President Xu."


    "Hmmm I see." Lyca said before she started eating again.


    "Brother Munan, this woman is so  "


    "Rong''er, I am currently talking about business. So please visit grandfather first. I will talk to youter."


    "You promise?"


    "Of course."


    "Alright then. I will see youter." Xu Rong''er gave him a sweet smile before leaving with her servants.


    "Rong''er had a heart disease." Chu Munan uttered while watching the woman''s back. "Her parents sent her in the province to protect her from the clutches of the people in the capital."


    Lyca nodded as she wondered why this man was exining things to her. Of course, she focused her attention on the food. "If you want to talk to her. You can just leave me alone." She wanted to tell him that she can finish everything without him, but forced herself to stop those words from leaving her mouth. After all, the man was sick. What if he copses from anger?


    "No. That''s not what I meant. I was just telling you that she is a weak girl."


    "Eh? Are you afraid I will hurt her?"


    "No. I am sure you won''t hurt someone innocent." In fact, he is scared that Xu Rong''er would blindly offend Lyca. After all, that woman grew up spoiled. She is very willful and arrogant. How could Xu Rong''er stand Lyca''s nonchnt ways? "If one day, she would do something to offend you. Just forgive her. She is just "


    "Does she have a problem with her brain?"


    "Ah? No. No. She had heart problems."


    "Then how old is she?"


    "She should be twenty-one. Why?"


    "She is old enough, and she doesn''t have some problems in her head. If she offends me why should I forgive her?" She asked. That request totally doesn''t make any sense at all.


    "" He wanted to rebut but Lyca''s words actually make sense. In the end, he sighed before shaking his head. He could only hope that Xu Rong''er will not offend Lyca while she was still here. "Miss Lyca, Rong''er grew up weak. If she get''s angry, she would faint and would have fever for days. That is the only reason why I asked you to forgive her. Please be lenient. Also, she is not my lover. I am really concerned about her father''s rtionship with my own Chu Family. Please don''t misunderstand my intention." he blurted out. Chu Munan was afraid that Lyca would misunderstand his concern for Xu Rong''er.

 Chapter 310: Another Man

    Chapter 310: Another Man


    "This Dong Po Pork is the best," Lyca said, ignoring his lengthy exnation. This, however, made him think that she is angry. Chu Munan smiled.


    "Xu Rong''er is "


    "Mr. Chu "


    "Please call me Munan. Mr. Chu is just too formal."


    "Mr. Chu," Lyca said without looking at him. "You are thinking too much. Your affairs don''t concern me." What concerns her is the food. "Who made these dishes?" Can she recruit the chef?


    "It is made by our family Chef. He is working with us for nearly forty years now." He could only fake a smile before he started eating. For a few seconds, Chu Munan didn''t know what else to say. Clearly, Lyca wasn''t listening to his words. Calling him Mr. Chu right after he told her to call him Munan was a silent deration that she doesn''t want to get close with him.


    In the end, Chu Munan chose not to say anything else and just answered Lyca''s questions about the food.


    "Brother Munan!"


    Of course, how could Xu Rong''er allow Chu Munan to spend so much time with an unknown woman? After waiting for nearly ten minutes, she decided toe here and just join them!


    "I came here because I got hungry eh? The food  where did it go?" Xu Rong''er looked at the nearly empty tes. Earlier, she saw a lot of food on the table and assumed that it would take them a long time to eat everything. But now


    "Rong''er why did youe? It''s cold out here. If you wanted to eat, you could always ask the chef to make something for you."


    "Brother Munan, why can''t I eat here?" Xu Rong''er sat on the circr table. She was sitting in between Lyca and Chu Munan. "I miss talking to you. Plus, is there really something that you can''t talk to Miss Huang while I am here?"


    "Mr. Chu, thank you for the meal. I am full now." Lyca stood and was about to leave when Xu Rong''er suddenly pulled her arm.


    "Where are you going?"


    "Miss Xu, let my arm go."


    "Rong''er what are you doing? She is done eating."


    "Brother Munan, she is avoiding me." Xu Rong''er pouted. "I just arrived, and she immediately decided to leave. In my Xu Family, no one can leave the table while I am still eating. Even you know this. How could she  "


    "Rong''er let her go first." Chu Munan quickly removed Rong''er''s hands around Lyca''s arm. After all, he knew what kind of person Lyca was. Though she looked harmless with herzy eyes, Lyca was not someone to be trifled with.


    "Brother! How could you treat me like this!"


    "Rong''er" A tinge of warningced his tone. "Be a good girl and just listen to me, alright?" He forced the anger inside him. If only his grandfather didn''t ask him to be good to this woman! Without Old Man Chu backing Xu Rong''er, this woman would have long died in his arms. Oh, how he wanted to choke the woman to death.


    "Chu Munan! What do you mean by that? Clearly, she is disrespecting me!"


    "Mr. Chu control your dog. Don''t let her bark at the wrong person." Lyca smiled. This time, she walked away from the table before she stumbled. "Ah, my stomach hurts."


    The action made Chu Munan and Xu Rong''er stand. However, before Chu Munan could approach Lyca, Shen Qui was already next to her. "Is she"


    "I will take care of her," Shen Qui''s voice was stern as he looked at the empty tes. Then without saying anything else, he carried her and walked towards their room.


    "What''s wrong with her? She was just fine, then she suddenly copsed. Eh? Brother Munan, does she have health problems?"


    "Who knows?" Chu Munan squinted. Clearly, Lyca was pretending to be sick this time. However, he couldn''t understand why she suddenly did it. If she wanted to get rid of him, then she can just leave. Does she need to act so sick? Was it a show for her husband? Or for him?


    Once again, his scheming mind started turning, trying to analyze Lyca''s action.


    "We are inside the room, you can stop pretending now." Shen Qui said.


    "Heh," Lyca jumped out of his arms and smiled. As expected, Shen Qui immediately understood that she only did it because she was too full to walk back. Moreover, she already saw him walking towards them. She beamed. "Done talking with the old man?"


    To her surprise, Shen Qui didn''t answer her. Instead, he red at her. "Done eating with another man?"


    "" She widened her eyes. "You "


    "Of course you are done. You are so full you can''t even walk back to our room." He answered his own question and walked towards the bathroom. "I''m going to take a bath. Prepare your things. We are leaving tomorrow."


    "Eh? Leaving?"


    "Oh? You wanted to stay here and continue eating with another man?"


    She blinked as she stood there, frozen. He was jealous? "Are you jealous of the food?" He snorted in response before he went to the bathroom and locked the door.


    "Hmmm," Lyca nodded. Was he angry that she didn''t leave some food for him? Was he angry that she ate with Chu Munan? But Shen Qui should know her better than that! Ah, thinking about this is making her head hurt. A part of her immediately told her to just sleep, everything will be better once she woke up. However, the other part of her was actually worried?


    Lyca changed into her pajamas and lied down. She wanted to wait for Shen Qui to finish his bath to talk to him. However, she was really sleepy. So when Shen Qui went out of the bathroom, Lyca was already sleeping.


    Shaking his head, Shen Qui sat next to her. He let out a sigh as he wondered. Does she really love food so much? Does she love it more than she loves him? Eh, too childish! He immediately reprimanded himself. However, seeing that Chu Munan smile while watching her eat was making him too angry. How could he let another man watch his wife like that?


    He clenched his hands, face dark as he recalled Chu Munan''s smiling face.

 Chapter 311: Coaxed by his Wife

    Chapter 311: Coaxed by his Wife


    It was all the misunderstanding. This was Lyca''s first thoughts when she woke up the next day. She became too full and just like a pig, she immediately fell asleep on thefortable bed. Surely, her husband wouldn''t me her, right? She stared at Shen Qui''s sleeping face.


    It was too peaceful, too beautiful. Ah, she couldn''t afford it. She couldn''t afford to make this man mad! With this in mind, Lyca cleaned herself before going to the kitchen.


    "I''m sorry, what? You wanted to cook? Little Miss, how could we let a guest cook?" The Chef asked. He was already a man in his sixties with long white hair and a wrinkled face. "Moreover, what kind of dish are you nning to make?" Lyca looked thin and beautiful. The Chef also heard that this young miss grew up in another prominent family in the south. How could someone like her, who grew up pampered, knows how to cook? "Miss, this kitchen is not a yground. If you want to y, then you can just ask anyone to apany you in "


    "I will make Dong Po Rou for my husband," Lyca said. "Mr. Chef, if something happens to the kitchen, I will pay the Chu Family. So there''s no need to worry."


    "" What kind of assurance was this? "Young Miss this "


    "Well, I can always ask Old Man Chu if you want me to," Lyca said.


    "I "


    "Uncle Fu, isn''t this just the kitchen? Miss Lyca is our guest, just let her cook the food that she wanted to cook." Chu Munan''s arrival immediately made the old man smile.


    "Alright, since the young master said so." The old Chef bowed towards Chu Munan before leaving with his people.


    "You wanted to cook a meal for your husband?" Chu Munan smiled. He was sleeping just now when one of the servants informed him that Lyca was walking towards the kitchen. He thought that she was hungry again. However, he heard her say that she actually wanted to cook a meal for Shen Qui?


    His previous analysis immediately changed. He originally thought that Lyca was the dominant one in this marriage. It seems that his previous assumptions were wrong! "The ingredients"


    "I can find it," Lyca said. This kitchen was big with a lot of cupboards and three fridge. However, the ingredients that she wanted weren''t too rare. And just as she expected, she immediately found some Pork belly, Scallions, Ginger, Wine, light and dark soy sauce, and rock sugar. With these, Lyca started making the dish for Shen Qui.


    "Miss Lyca, if you don''t mind" Despite Lyca ignoring him while she was cooking, Chu Munan didn''t leave the kitchen. Instead, he stood there and stared at Lyca. "I have a question."


    "Hmmm."


    "I don''t understand why you are suddenly cooking for Mr. Shen? Do you think the food here tastes bad? Did hein?"


    "This is something a wife should do."


    Chu Munan''s jaw dropped. Howe this differs from his previous analysis? Even the information that he gathered about Lyca and Shen Qui was enough for him to conclude that Lyca was the one wearing pants in this rtionship! She was the one who grew up in a rich family. She was domineering and arrogant. She doesn''t care about other people''s opinions and just does whatever it is that she wanted to do.


    ording to the information that he gathered, there is a possibility that she just married Shen Qui because she didn''t want to marry the Young Master of the Long Family! Chu Munan already looked into Shen Qui''s background and discovered that the man grew up poor with his uncle. The only reason why they stopped living in the streets was because of Old Man Huang.


    Clearly, Shen Qui was more inferior to Lyca in every way. Thus, he concluded that Lyca should be the one in charge of this rtionship. So why was she trying to do something like this? For some reason, a little tinge of irritation shed in his eyes. "I would never let my wife do something like this."


    "Ah, Mr. Chu being coaxed by your wife is not a bad thing," Lyca said. "Of course, you don''t have one yet, so you don''t know what it feels like to be coaxed by someone."


    "You  " Why does it feel like Lyca was deliberately making him angry? "You really know how to cook dishes?"


    "Simple ones," Lyca said. Dong Po pork is not aplicated dish. It is just braising the pork and waiting until it''s done. Would she really cook something tooplicated and tiring? That is simply against Lyca''s principles!


    "Is this something from the south? Cooking for one''s husband?" Chu Munan grew up in a rich household. Both her mother and father with busy with business every single day. The two are barely at home. Moreover, he never once taste a dish cooked by his mother! He didn''t even know if his mother could cook simple dishes.


    Chu Munan remembered being sick when he was younger and his mother would only drop by to ask the servants about his body. She would never cook some porridge or feed him. In this family, money is more important than making simple dishes. Chu Munan''s expression changed. It seems that pretending like an inferior guy wouldn''t work on a woman like Lyca.


    He snorted and approached the stove. "I never expected Miss Lyca to be such a virtuous wife."


    "Virtuous, yes. I am virtuous and beautiful," she answered. For a few seconds, a long stretch of silence followed her words. Lyca let out a few yawns. All this waiting game was making her sleep. Good thing, she downloaded some episodes of that TV series on her phone!


    While Chu Munan was thinking about the words that he wanted to say, Lyca was already giggling because of the drama. Chu Munan squinted his eyes before he left the kitchen, leaving Lyca alone as she continued tough at the Queen''s reaction after her first night together with the King.

 Chapter 312: Lycas Swift Counterattack

    Chapter 312: Lyca''s Swift Counterattack


    "Where are you taking me?" Shen Qui said when Lyca dragged him out of the room. He was currently having a video conference with Ronan when Lyca suddenly arrived and told him that there was an emergency. "What emergency are you talking about?"


    "Just follow me, alright? No need to ask so many questions."


    "I thought we have an appointment at ten?" Shen Qui asked.


    "I already told the Old Man to do it after we get back from our honeymoon," Lyca said. "Here sit down."


    Shen Qui lifted an eyebrow. "This is" This was the same ce where Lyca was dining with Chu Munan yesterday. "What are you doing?"


    "I especially cooked something for you."


    "Hm?" He looked at the stainless dinner table cover on the circr table.


    "I made some Dong Po Rou. Just like what I had yesterday." When Lyca took the cover, the sweet smell of Dong Po Pork immediately filled the air. "Of course, this was better than what I had yesterday. After all, I am also a godly chef!" She shamelessly said. "Why are you frowning?" she couldn''t help but ask.


    "Did you  " Shen Qui gulped and hesitated for a few seconds. "Did you cook for other people too?" Lyca was definitely a good cook. If other pests taste her cooking then


    "Of course, not! That would be too tiring. How can I endure cooking for other people? My arms are too thin!"


    A smile immediately bloomed on his face. "Then this is your apology?"


    She snorted. "I''m sorry for not leaving any food for you."


    He narrowed his eyes. But before he could say anything else, Lyca already sat next to him. "I am kidding. I''m sorry for eating with another man." Pursing her lips, Lyca waited for his response. She batted her eyelids and leaned closer. "You''re not going to say anything?" she asked.


    "I  " Who would have thought that she would say something so direct? He was prepared to give her a cold shoulder! But this Shen Qui hasn''tunched his ns, and Lyca already had a counterattack. And a swift counter-attack at that. He lowered his head, his ears slowly turned scarlet.


    "Mr. Shen, you should know that I never cook for other people. I only cooked for my mother and father once whereas, I already cooked a lot of dishes for you. I even took care of you when you got sick."


    "So you wanted my forgiveness as payment?"


    "What? Of course not! How could I act like that? I am not petty!"


    "Alright, no need to discuss this. I know you are born petty. I forgive you. But you aren''t allowed to eat with another man again."


    "Except father."


    "Except father," he nodded. "And you aren''t allowed to cook for other people anymore."


    "Except my parents?"


    "Yes. Except for your parents."


    "So you''re not angry anymore?"


    He smiled in response. Angry? He didn''t have the time to show his anger, and she was already coaxing him! Shen Qui smiled before they started eating. Unbeknownst to them, Chu Munan, Chu Nan, and their grandfather were watching the couple from the second floor of the mansion.


    "Her husband was jealous so, she cooked a meal for him." Old Man Chu uttered. "Base on your inquiries, this rtionship was too sudden, and it seemed fake. But three years have passed since their marriage. It''s actually pretty normal for people to develop deep feelings towards each other. After all, they have been through a lot." He eyed Chu Munan. "Munan, what do you think?"


    "I don''t care about any of these, grandfather. As long as she can create something to cure me, then it''s fine." He walked away from the window.


    "Really? I heard you stayed in the kitchen while she was cooking earlier. Did you talk about food while you were there?"


    "Chu Nan, I am warning you!"


    "Grandfather, look at him. He is so angry. I bet he likes Miss Huang so much but is currently angry that he didn''t met her sooner."


    "Munan" Old Man Chu sighed. "How are you feeling these days? Miss Huang said that she will be gone for a week beforeing back to Ath Province."


    "I am feeling good. I already said it, as long as she can cure me then it''s good."


    "Then about Rong''er"


    "Grandpa, let''s not talk about nonsense things for now." Chu Munan interrupted his grandfather. "How can you talk about marriage? I am still dying! Moreover, I already told you. I am not marrying someone I don''t like." With this, Chu Munan walked out of the room, his face dark, hands clenched into two tight fists.


    "Grandpa, I already told you. Munan would never marry Rong''er. That man always does what he likes. We can''t really make him do something he doesn''t like." Chu Nan said. "Nevermind, I am leaving. I will apany Miss Lyca and Mr. Shen to the North and make sure that they arefortable."


    Since everything is already arranged, then going to the Extreme North was easy and veryfortable. They use some private vehicles to travel, so it was faster and morefortable. All throughout the ride, Lyca slept on Shen Qui''s arms and when she woke up, they already arrived in a small town in the North.


    The Cabin that Chu Nan arranged for them was a two-story house just outside of the town.


    "This ce is really cold. This isn''t the first time that I visited this part of the country, but this is the first time that I came here during the colder months." Chu Nan smiled. "My people will be staying in that small house to your left. Four of them will stay to guard you. I hope you will enjoy your vacation." He said before politely saying goodbye to the couple.


    Honestly, Chu Nan is afraid to stare at Lyca''s eyes. After all, he was there when she lied about killing people. He was also there when they discovered that the puddle of liquid inside that room was actually dead bodies that were turned into liquid by this evil woman.


    To him, standing next to Lyca is like standing in front of an enormous monster that could devour him alive!

 Chapter 313: Two Lives

    Chapter 313: Two Lives


    "At least that man is smarter than his brother." Shen Qui said before he hugged Lyca''s waist. "Little wife, even if he is smarter, you are not allowed to eat with him."


    "Chu Munan won''t do anything." She folded her arms around his neck. "He is just confused. This is the first time he met such a perfect woman like me. Virtuous and beautiful, smart and cunning. Pure but not innocent. Thisbination is so deadly, he can''t stop thinking about it."


    "At least you are not so talkative when you''re with him," he smiled and flicked her nose. "Let''s check out the house?"


    "Chu Nan said this is a two-bedroom house. Why do we need to check it? I want to lie down and sleep."


    "You slept on your way here."


    "That wasn''t veryfortable at all." Lyca immediatelyined. This time, the trip was almost eight hours. How could she sleep in a car for eight hours!? "Ah! What are you doing?" she yelped when Shen Qui suddenly carried her in his arms. The two stayed on the second floor for hours before Shen Qui went downstairs to try and cook something. Seeing that the cupboards are all full, Shen Qui gave a wry smile.


    Lyca said to make some eggs, but he really wanted to create something good for the winter. This time, Shen Qui decided to make a simple congee. Shen Qui was not an expert in cooking, but he was very familiar with the steps in making Congee. With a smile on his face, Shen Qui started making food for his wife.


    After thirty minutes, Lyca was already eating some hot congee, her smile was so wide it almost reached her ears. "Ah, husband, I should make you jealous a lot."


    "What kind of logic is that?"


    "If you are jealous, you cook something that''s not egg for me! Isn''t this a genius idea?" She giggled and gestured him to give her another bowl of food. "Ah, at least the Chu Family is smart enough to give us a house with a lot of food." Shortly after, Lyca once again slept for a few hours in Shen Qui''s arms.


    When she woke up, she checked the time, and it was still noon. However, the skies outside were already dark. She slowly sat on the bed and looked at the sleeping Shen Qui before walking out of the room. This time, Lyca checked the house and nodded in appreciation.


    This house was pretty cozy. Though it wasn''t as big, it was perfect for a small family. She eyed the reading nook located in the living room. Next to it was the firece. On the other side of the nook was the window that would give you the view of the snow. "Hmm? Missed calls?" Lyca immediately dialed Yi''an''s number while walking towards the nook.


    "Sister Yi''an?"


    "Young Miss, I''m sorry for disturbing your honeymoon but It''s about the Shen Family."


    The smile on Lyca''s face instantly vanished. "Speak." She sat on the nook as she looked at the nket of snow outside. "I understand. I will go back a week from now. Did you already take care of Lai Su''s transport? Good. How about the Longs?" Yi''an was the only person in charge of monitoring the people at Long City.


    "Is that so?" Lyca asked. "So the Long Family already heard that I want to join the assembly. Good for them."


    "Young miss, you know the Long Family would do anything to attain their goal. What if they try to do something to stop you from joining?"


    Lyca sneered. This despicable family is backed by the Xu Family from the capital. If only she could find a way to make these two families fight against each other, then it would be easier for her to destroy them. "It''s fine. We can just create problems for them."


    "Problems like what?"


    "Ah, Sister Yi''an I will have to think about this first. Right now, I am spending some time with my husband. How can I think about scheming? For now, I will enjoy this vacation and then I will call you once I already think of something, alright?"


    "But Young Miss"


    "It''s fine. Just focus on teaching some kids first." She said before cutting off the call. Then she immediately sent a text to Yi''an telling her that she couldn''t say what she wanted to say. Or at least, not when she was still inside the house. After all, It is always better to be cautious than regret itter. After texting with Yi''an, Lyca started checking the maps of this area.


    The herbs that she was looking for only grew in a ce that is cold all year round. It also wanted to stay in the coldest part of the area. ording to the map, this should be the coldest area that is upied by people.


    ording to the map, there is one cave near this town, but it would take care at least two hours to reach that ce. However, with the current snow, walking near the mountains would be too dangerous. She badly needed those herbs to create an antidote.


    Lyca went back to the room. After making sure that there was no hidden camera or voice recorder in the room, she immediately woke her husband up and informed him about her n.


    "No! You cannot go to the mountains alone!" Shen Qui said.


    "If both of us will leave the cabin, the people on the house will notice. They will follow us. I don''t want them to know the real reason why we are here." There is really no other choice. Shen Qui needed to stay here and let them see him walking around the house.


    "Then I can get it for you! Why don''t you give me some photos of the herbs that you wanted? Plus, I have more experience. I am confident that I can stille back here despite the thick snow."


    She frowned. How could she give her photos when those herbs don''t exist in this world? "No. I need to go there. The herbs are poisonous. I know how to handle poison." Plus, she already lived two lives. In her past lives, traveling in this kind of snow wasn''t really a problem.


    ....


    Don''t forget to vote for the novel.

 Chapter 314: Cave

    Chapter 314: Cave


    Shen Qui understood the importance of these herbs. However, he would never want to put her in danger. He stared at her stern expression. "I can''t lose you."


    "What are you talking about? I wille back."


    "I hate your confidence." For once, can she ask for his help? As if sensing his thoughts, Lyca smiled. She held his hand.


    "And I love that you are always willing to support me."


    ""


    "This is for grandfather''s recovery." A genuine smile appeared on her face. "Just trust me, alright?"


    Despite all the words he wanted to say, Shen Qui ended up nodding. He knew what kind of woman his wife is. She iszy but once she decided to do something, no one can stop her. "Alright, I will be here. I will give you three days. If you aren''t back after three days, I will find you."


    "Then, I will leave tomorrow morning." The darkness will be her cover.


    Just as they nned, Lyca left that morning while it was still dark. To avoid leaving footprints, Lyca took advantage of the trees. Jumping from one branch to another, Lyca started her journey towards that cave. The absence of magic in this world is making Lyca use her internal energy more. Since she already cultivated her energy points, Lyca''s body was naturally more agile and light than normal humans.


    While she still couldn''t fight against gravity and fly, Lyca still has other ways to jump from branch to branch. Of course, she decided to use the power of technology and created some sort of hook that she once saw batman use. It was attached to her arms, making her easily use it to swing to the next tree leaving no traces.


    Moreover, Lyca also had other utilities that were on her belt designed to help her out in this mission. With her all-white suit and white utility belt, it only took her a few hours to arrive at the mountain where the cave was located.


    From here, Lyca needed to walk for about an hour before she would reach the cave. Lyca eyed her watch and smiled when she discovered that it only took her two hours to arrive in this ce. Of course, she could only me this on the snow and slippery trees.


    Smiling, Lyca started walking. However, she soon found that her previous estimate might be wrong. The snow in this area actually reached her waist, and it was getting thicker. A sigh escaped her lips before she took an orange powder from her utility belt and started sprinkling them into the snow.


    Almost immediately, the snow started melting at a very fast rate. To prepare for this exploration, Lyca especially created this powder to melt snow. Her goal wasn''t to actually melt everything but make the snow reached her legs, making her walk easier. This time, Lyca took another two hours to finally reached the mouth of the cave.


    This cave''s entrance wasn''t really big. It was about a meter and a half high and a meter in diameter. ording to the information that Ronan gathered, not many peoplee to this ce because of the snow. During summer, the snow would melt and reveal the whole cave, but still, not many people in the area dared to explore it because of a certain scary legend.


    They said that there are actually wailing ghosts inside this cave. ording to the people leaving in the closest town, this cave was cursed because a priest once took his life inside the ce. When they found the body of the priest, half of his flesh was already gone, probably eaten by some animal.


    ording to the people, the priest''s ghost still haunts this ce and would wail every night.


    Lyca examined the entrance of the cave and after making sure that there are no signs of other people taking shelter of the cave, she walked inside. Her eyes instantly adjusted to the darkness as she examined the ce. While the scary stories might have scared a lot of people, Lyca was sure that there are still people using this cave for shelter, especially if there is a snowstorm.


    When she walked inside, she instantly discovered that the cave was bigger than it looks. The course rocks that surrounded the ce were probably enough to shelter at least four people. Lyca closed her eyes, her sense alert. So far, she couldn''t hear anything aside from her footsteps against the rock. Using her shlight, Lyca examined the walls.


    To her surprise, it wasn''t as wet as she originally thought. Lyca decided to continue walking deeper into the cave.


    This time, she could hear the sound of dripping water echoing inside the cave. Slowly, her footsteps took her to what seemed like the end of the cave. She checked her watch. She had been inside for close to an hour now, and she had lost track of how far she had walked away from the entrance. After examining the walls of the cave, a sigh escaped her mouth. All she could see were a few moss and ferns. Aside from this, there were no signs of the herbs that she was looking for.


    Did shee here for nothing? Lyca leaned against one wall. Ronan already told her that this cave wasn''t that deep and there was nothing there or so the people in the town imed. However, she didn''t believe them. She was honestly hoping that she could find something today.


    So, she wasted all her energy for nothing? She snorted. There are other caves in this mountain, but all of them are pretty high up. Traveling in this type of weather is not only foolish but also very dangerous. Of course, she wasn''t that crazy to waste her energy again!


    However, she soon realized that something was wrong with this cave. Earlier, she heard some water dripping from god knows where. However, the ce was dry. There were no signs of any water inside. She adjusted her shlight, making it brighter as she examined the ce again.


    This time, she started touching the moss and ferns and discovered that the ferns covered a small hole just enough for her to climb into.

 Chapter 315: Ghost

    Chapter 315: Ghost


    Lyca squatted and used her shlight on the hole. To hole''s direction was upward, which meant it would probably lead her towards the depths of the mountain. Without any hesitation, Lyca squeezed herself into the hole and started climbing up. The hole was only enough to amodate one person, but because of Lyca''s thin frame, she could still move around and examined the wet walls.


    It took her about an hour to finally arrived in another spacious ce. The ce was dark and moist. She could hear water running, probably from a small stream. Lyca used special lighting that illuminated the small room like a cave. This time, there seems to be no other exit aside from the small hole that she used to arrive in this ce.


    However, this is not what surprised Lyca.


    What surprised her is the fact that this ce looked like someone was living here! It had a bed-like structure and a table-like structure that was carved on the walls. There was also a rock that was carved to look like a stool. She could see pots and some teacups.


    She looked on the other side and found out that there were also ferns growing in there. However, aside from the ferns, she could see stones that she recognized from her previous world that were growing on the walls of the cave. Moreover, on top of the stones were the herbs that she was looking for!


    Lyca immediately turned alert! ording to the TV Drama logic, there should be some sort of animal guarding treasures like this. Maybe an enormous snake? A dragon? Then she shook her head. The room is only about forty meters big. How could a dragon fit in such a small space?


    But most importantly, why was she thinking of a dragon? This is modern earth! Dragons don''t exist in this world! A sigh escaped her lips as she approached the stones that sparkled against the light. It looks like someone upied this ce a long, long time ago. Probably someone who also came to her previous world.


    That someone must have realized that this ce has these stones?


    Or perhaps she was only overthinking.


    If that person really knows that these were precious herbs, then why left them here?


    The person who stayed here should be someone who doesn''t recognize these herbs and stones.


    With this in mind, Lyca used her knife to carve the blue sparkling stone and ck stones from the cave walls. Then she put it in the pouch she had on her belt.


    This trip was not wasted. She was finally able to confirm that this world and her previous world might not be too different at all. After a few hours of trying to remove the stones, Lyca finally seeded. She frowned when she looked at her watch.


    It was already nine in the evening. Meaning, she had been inside trying to remove these stones for almost five hours? Who would have thought that the stones are so hard to remove? But hey, at least going down from the hole is easier than climbing and crawling up here!


    Lyca didn''t let all herints weigh her down. She also didn''t stop to examine the stones and the herbs. Her priority right now is to go home.


    Just as Lyca expected, going down is actually easier than going up. She just jumped, sliding into the hole, and ignored the bruises that she would possibly sustain. She needed to get out of this ce quickly.


    Lyca finally let out a loud sigh when she reached the bottom. However, her relief didn''tst too long when she heard some footstepsing her way.


    "Is someone here?" A male voice echoed. "I''m sorry, but I am lost. The storm outside was pretty strong so I hope to take some shelter in this ce."


    Of course, Lyca didn''t panic, she did her best to hide the hole and sat on the rocks as she looked in the direction where the footsteps wereing from. The voice mentioned a storm. Does this mean she would spend the entire night here?


    "Eh?" The person stopped walking as he directed his shlight towards Lyca''s feet. "Someone is really here." Surprisingly, the man didn''t approach Lyca and just sat directly opposite her. On the other hand, Lyca was staring at the man wearing an all-ck attire. Unlike Lyca, the man was wearing a bulky coat, boots, a beanie, gloves, and even a thick scarf. "You Why are you dressed like that?" The man asked as he met Lyca''s eyes.


    "I''m lost," she answered and lowered her gaze, avoiding the man''s eyes. Lyca was currently wearing an all-white suit that she asked Lai Su to make for her. It is made of thin material, so it wasn''t bulky at all. Of course, she is also wearing a white beanie made of the same material.


    To be honest, her outfit doesn''t look like she is here for a walk. Instead, it looked like she was in a snowy town, casually strolling in the malls.


    "You''ve been here for a few hours?" the man asked. "I''m sorry I asked. Please don''t mind me. I will leave as long as the storm is gone."


    Lyca nodded in response as she crossed her arm, putting her hands into her armpit. This action looked like she was feeling cold. However, she was just doing this to hide the daggers in her hand. Lyca just lowered her head. She already turned off her shlights before the man arrived. So, the only thing illuminating the whole ce was his shlight that he directed on the walls.


    The lights weren''t actually enough to make the space bright however, Lyca''s vision was notparable to a normal human''s. Despite the dark, she could still see the features of the man and found the man''s features familiar. Too familiar.


    "Hey, if you don''t mind me asking are you" the man nervously gulp. "You''re not a ghost right?"

 Chapter 316: The Weak Scholar, Ken Xu

    Chapter 316: The Weak Schr, Ken Xu


    Lyca smiled. "What are you doing in this mountain?" she asked.


    "Painting."


    "In this type of weather?"


    "I love toe here when it''s cold. It gives me peace of mind." The man smiled. "By the way, my name is Ken. Ken Xu. May I know your name?"


    "Xi," Lyca said.


    "Oh." The man lowered his head.


    Soon, minutes turned to hours. However, the silence between the two wasn''t suffocating or intimidating. Lyca just sat there, her back against the rocky walls, eyes half-closed as her hand tightly wrapped around the hilt of the dagger.


    Her heartbeat was calm as she listened to the man''s breathing. Just as she expected, the man was also calm. A while ago, the man already started sketching while staring at the darkness.


    "Where are you going?" The man asked when he saw Lyca stood.


    "Leaving."


    "The storm" Ken didn''t continue his words as Lyca was already walking towards the entrance, a shlight in her hand. "Hey wait for me!"He immediately put the sketchbook back into his bag and followed Lyca. "Hey! It''s just the two of us, don''t you think we should stick together?"


    "No," she answered.


    "Are you  Are you really leaving?"


    Lyca side-eyed the man who walked next to her. "Yes."


    "What about me?"


    She didn''t answer him.


    "Can Ie with you? Don''t worry, I will pay you! My family is rich I can afford to pay you to be my guide."


    Lyca snorted. Does this man really think she was a fool? He arrived in this ce alone, and now he needed someone to guide him?


    "Hey, I can really pay you!"


    Clearly, this guy thought he could easily fool Lyca. He suddenly held her shoulder. This prompted Lyca to stop walking. She turned towards the man.


    "Look, if you help me go back to the town, I will give you a million. As long as I get back home safe. I will pay you." Ken said as he quickly let go of Lyca''s shoulders. "I  I''m sorry." Because it was really dark, the shlight wasn''t really enough to show her hisplete feature. However, even a toddler could guess that the man was actually acting pitiful right now.


    "No."


    "You  " Ken gulped. "You are clearly very capable. Why can''t you take me back home?"


    "I''m a terrorist." Lyca started walking again. "Leave me alone." His name was enough to make her want to kill him. Ken Xu? Xu Family! Xu Ke!


    Lyca didn''t have to write everything to know the simrities!


    "You hey! Where are you going? Are you really going to leave me alone? What if I die?"


    This time, Lyca finally stopped walking. She directed her shlight towards the man''s face. In response, Ken immediately took a step back and used his hands to cover his face. "What are you doing?"


    "If you won''t stop talking, I will kill you," she uttered as her heartbeat quickened. The light from earlier made her see the other person''s countenance. No wonder just listening to him speak was enough to rouse her irritation! This man actually looked like Xu Ke!


    "But I can pay you!" The man''s voice quivered. "I really can pay you!"


    Lyca snorted. Even this man''s acting was truly outstanding. She wanted to give him a round of apuse. Slowly, Lyca calmed herself. She clenched her jaws before she started walking again. Who would have thought that one day, he would see this face again?


    Moreover, his name was actually Ken Xu? Clearly, the man is rted to the Xu Family. She immediately started calcting everything and somehow concluded that this person must be connected to Xu Ke. It''s either this person had Xu Ke''s soul inside him too. Or he had another weird connection to Xu Ke!


    However, Lyca didn''t kill Xu Ke in that world. How could his soul travel here without dying in that world? But this is the only exnation she coulde up with now. This man should be the person who created those paintings. Her already dark face turned darker when she realized another crucial thing.


    Xu Ke visited the cave that had the herbs!


    Lyca doesn''t believe in coincidences!


    "You''re not really going to help me out?" Ken''s voice echoed behind her. "It''s not like I can harm you. I am really weak and the only reason why I got here is that I got lost. Mypanions must be looking for me right now."


    Again, she responded with a snort. A weak person wouldn''t be able to find this ce! No! A weak person couldn''t really travel in this type of temperature.


    "Can you at least tell me your real name?"


    "So you can go to the police andin?" Lyca answered. "I am a wanted prisoner. The only reason why you are still alive is that you are slightly good-looking. If I am not in a hurry to escape, I would have forced you to sleep with me." For some reason, those words made her gut twist. Shen Qui''s face shed in her head.


    Why does the shameless statement make her feel embarrassed about herself? Clearly, she only said it to make the man ufortable!


    "You "


    "Stop talking about your money," she hissed.


    "But "


    Lyca hastened her steps towards the entrance.


    "How are you going to leave this ce? The snow outside must be so thick. If you really  Whoa! Whoa! What are you doing? Why do you have a gun?" Ken immediately held both of his arms up. "You  You said you won''t kill me!" His voice was trembling as he closed her eyes.


    "Are you one of the officers pursuing me?" Lyca asked.


    "What? What are you talking about?"


    "Stop pretending! A weak man wouldn''t be able to walk in this kind of weather!" She uttered. "Who are you?"


    "I  I am just a weak schr! If you want you can check my bag! It''s nothing but art supplies and food!" He stuttered. "Can you remove the shlight from my face? It''s hurting my eyes." For a few seconds, Lyca didn''t say anything.


    Then she snorted and answered, "Dream on!"


    Ken felt a painful tug on his head before darkness took his consciousness away.

 Chapter 317: Inferior

    Chapter 317: Inferior


    This time, Lyca didn''t hesitate as she grabbed his wallets and took all of his cash and cards. She wanted to stage it as a robbery, but of course, she knew this would not fool this man. However, it was still worth it. Plus, she really wanted to examine his ID and asked Ronan to get every piece of information about this man.


    Then Lyca ran out of the cave, using her powder to melt the snow. The storm was not yet gone, so walking outside was extremely dangerous. Despite all this, Lyca continued walking and running, jumping and swinging just to get away from the cave as fast as possible.


    Lyca didn''t let the snow and the wounds she umted from slipping and falling slow her down. In less than two hours, Lyca arrived in the cabin. However, she was surprised to see that someone was actually visiting them at this hour?


    It was already six in the morning, yet the absence of the sun made it looked like it was still midnight. Moreover, the current snow is making it really hard to walk around. Lyca rubbed her hands together. She had been out in the cold snow. Her palms are starting to feel numb.


    "Mr. Chu, I already told you for the umpteenth time, my wife is sick. She wasn''t really used to the cold. She is currently resting." Shen Qui hid the irritation in his face as he coldly looked at Chu Munan. "Whatever it is that Old Man Chu wanted to say, you can always say it to me."


    "My grandfather wanted me to deliver the news to Lyca."


    "I prefer if you call her Mrs. Shen." Shen Qui smiled before he sipped his tea. For some f*cked up reason, Chu Munan arrived early in the morning and asked to talk to Lyca.


    "Mrs. Shen or Lyca, it has nothing to do with you." Chu Munan''s face darkened. "I am only here to deliver a piece of news from my grandfather. I didn''t expect that you would finally show your true colors and act like this. Are you trying to sabotage the cooperation that my family and Lyca agreed to?"


    "Mr. Chu," Shen Qui elegantly crossed his legs before smiling. "Did you really think that my wife would pursue this cooperation if I tell her that I don''t like working with the Chu Family?" He asked and snorted when he saw Chu Munan''s face turned scarlet red. "Did you forget? You are the ones who needed her help. It''s not the other way around. Did you really think we aren''t capable of looking for another painting? My wife was generous enough to ask for a painting and some stone because she wanted to cooperate with your Chu Family in the near future. And yet you  " He clicked his tongue and looked outside, his face cid.


    "You  " Chu Munan felt something huge was stuck in his throat. He red at Shen Qui. "You really think, she would choose someone like you? Shen Qui don''t forget she picked you out because of convenience. Her background was superior to yours. She could leave you anytime."


    "Mr. Chu " Shen Qui sneered. "If she wouldn''t choose me then did you think she would choose you?" His background was simple and he wouldn''t be able topare to someone like Chu Munan and the Chu Family. But he knew Lyca. She wouldn''t care about trivial things like backgrounds. Seeing Chu Munan turned speechless at his words, Shen Qui poured himself another cup of tea. "I made the tea myself. You should have some."


    "Good. It seems that you are really confident. I truly underestimated you!"


    "I don''t understand what you are talking about." Shen Qui smiled. Seeing Chu Munan''s face was enough to satisfy him. "Mr. Chu is sick, I am wondering why you would personallye today when Mr. Chu Nan is perfectly capable ofing here?"


    In response, Chu Munan squinted his eyes at Shen Qui. He had been thinking of trying to barge into the room on the second floor and see if Lyca was really there. However, he knew his martial arts might be inferior to Shen Qui''s. Moreover, he was not in his hundred percent state. The only reason why he was able to persevere and even have the strength toe here is that his cancer was only in the early stages.


    "Drink up," Shen Qui said. "The tea should be good for someone like you."


    "I don''t need your pretentiouspassion!" Chu Munan hissed. "I am sick, not dying." He was already in an extremely bad mood. This ce was actually pretty cold. Despite his grandfather''s protests, he came today just to deliver the news to Lyca. However, he had been here for almost an hour, and yet Shen Qui still refused to make him see Lyca.


    "Ah, not yet dying," Shen Qui smiled. "Ipletely understand the anger. No need to fret, I wouldn''t take this personally. In fact, I would convince my wife to do her best to create a cure for you."


    "You  " Chu Munan couldn''t believe that when ites to talking, he was actually inferiorpared to Shen Qui! Ah, Shen Qui! Shen Qui! Who would have thought that talking to this man is enough to make him so angry he could feel his throat constrict from too much irritation?


    He thought of Shen Qui''s background. At eighteen, he went to the mandatory military training for two years. At twenty he finished it and was promoted to a certain position. Then he started working for Huang Security Company and be a private soldier that is still connected to the government.


    It seems that Shen Qui actually had a pretty rich experience in working with people. Aside from this, Chu Munan was certain that Shen Qui is inferior to him in every way! That''s right In background, education, family, and even in looks. Shen Qui is considered inferior!


    .....


    Thank you for your support. Don''t forget to vote for the novel.

 Chapter 318: Warmth

    Chapter 318: Warmth


    "Unfortunately, I still have a sick wife to attend to. So I cannot really apany Mr. Chu all day. It was still early in the morning. As you can see, I didn''t have a goodnight''s sleep because I took care of my wife. Mr. Chu, you can alwayse back a few days from now when my wife recovered."


    Chu Munan gritted his teeth. If he continued to stay here, he would surely sumb to his sickness and might even spit some blood. "Are you hiding something, Mr. Shen? Is Lyca really here?" Yesterday, his people reported seeing Shen Qui walking around, but Lyca didn''t even get out of their room. Was she really sick? Or something else was going on here?


    "Of course. Did you think my wife would be crazy enough to sightsee in this kind of weather? Last night, there was a pretty strong storm. Did you think someone was crazy enough to out in that kind of weather?"


    "Then let me see her."


    "Excuse me?"


    "You imed that she was sick. Let me see her."


    "Why would I let you see my wife in our bed?" A vein in Shen Qui''s temples twitched. "Do you want to say that again?" He said while slowly rolling up his sleeves.


    "Are you threatening me? You think you can leave this ce alive if you hurt me?" If only he could anger Shen Qui enough for the man to hit him, then he could get rid of this man! Chu Munan was certain that Lyca wouldn''t offend his Chu Family just for this man.


    "Mr. Chu" Lyca''s crisp voice surprised both of them. "I believe even your grandfather would p you for those words." She smiled, face paled as she walked out of the room. Lyca was wearing her robe, her white hair untied.


    "You why did youe out?" Shen Qui approached her and supported her as she walked down the stairs. "When you told me you wanted the snow for our honeymoon, I was already reluctant. I know you weren''t used to the cold." Shen Qui gave a sharp sighed. "Let me get a nket for you." He wrinkled his brows before giving her some hot tea. "Here."


    Without saying anything else, Shen Qui walked towards their room to get a nket for her.


    "You  You are sick?" Chu Munan tried to touch Lyca''s forehead, but she quickly leaned back and dodged his hand. "I "


    "Did you think I would fake my sickness while running around in this type of weather?" Lyca smiled gently, but she didn''t bother to hide the anger in her eyes. "It seems that the Chu Family doesn''t really trust me."


    "That was not the case. This is all my fault. My grandfather told me not toe here and just wait for you to return, but I insisted oning in here. I got worried because of the weather."


    "What do you want to tell me?"


    "After all the efforts, grandfather finally found out the name of the person who made the painting."


    "Hm? That is pretty impressive." Lyca took a sip of the tea. She gestured him to continue speaking.


    "His name is Ken Xu. He is the President''s Nephew and Xu Rong''er''s cousin."


    "So " Lyca paused. "He is not the President''s son?"


    "No. But he is pretty close with the president. He is a doctor and is personally taking care of the President''s health."


    "A doctor?" Lyca smiled.


    "Yes, he is pretty young too. The President once talked about his talented Nephew. However, he never introduced this person to us because of his sick body. We can''t find any other information about him. There are no images either. The Preside is adamant on protecting this person."


    Lyca eyes Shen Qui, who covered her with the thick nket. "To be able to get this information in such a short time. It seems that no one can underestimate the Chu Family''s connections."


    "Of course. My grandfather promised to get the information. It is only right that we deliver it on time."


    "Thank you," Lyca said. She was honestly thankful that this man came today. It saved her a lot of time.


    "You seemed to pale, your lips are bluish. Are you really alright?" Chu Munan asked.


    "Of course. I am just not used to the cold. I will get used to it."


    Chu Munan nodded. He really couldn''t understand why Lyca would feel like this. The heater in this house was running, and it wasn''t really that cold inside. Was it because she wasn''t used to the cold? "Alright, I will tell grandfather to send more people to help you out in case you need anything else."


    Shen Qui snorted. Really? They wanted to send more people to guard them? How silly. Did they think Lyca would run away if she saw that person who could paint?


    "Hmmm. Thank you. I will go ahead and rest now. We won''t see you off." Lyca smiled. Seeing Lyca like this seemed to tug something inside Chu Munan. He wanted to ask her again if she was really alright, but was stopped by Shen Qui''s re. He rolled his eyes and left the house.


    "What happened?" Shen Qui immediately carried her back to the room? "Why are you  " Without waiting for her to answer, Shen Qui opened her robe and saw the bruises and some small cuts. "You  what the hell happened to you?"


    "I''m tired. I  " Before she could finish her sentence, Shen Qui already run out of the room and returned with some warm beverages. Then he got more nkets and wrapped her. Seeing his brows drawing together and eyes filled with worry, a certain warmth flooded in Lyca''s chest. It made her heartbeat skip.


    A smile appeared on her face. "You are cute when you act like a worried wife." She mused.


    "You are crazy," he said. "You are definitely crazy! How did I even like someone as crazy as you!?"


    ....


    Please don''t forget to vote for the novel. :)

 Chapter 319: Shy

    Chapter 319: Shy


    Lyca fought the urge tough. "You areining and crying," she held his hand and pulled him, making him lie down next to her. "I am alive, aren''t I?"


    "You look like a dead human!"


    "Are you saying, I am ugly?" she frowned.


    "That''s not my point. What happened to you? Did you fought someone?" He hugged her and made her use his arm as a pillow.


    "No. It''s because I was in a hurry to see you."


    Instead of saying anything, Shen Qui just hugged her, giving her his body heat. She had too many secrets. She was too deep. While he couldn''t understand why she was really willing to act like this just for some herb, Shen Qui respected her decision and has always been supportive of her. "Don''t sleep," he said. "Just stay like this for a while."


    Lyca pressed her lips together, brows drawing closer. For some reason, she could feel a pang of guilt inside her chest. She quickly closed her eyes. "The herb is very important for me. I can''t use other people to get it. I already told you it''s poisonous. Moreover, I need to handle it carefully or it will lose its essence. I need it to save grandfather."


    Shen Qui nodded. A part of him knew that she was lying. But so what? Lyca is with him now and that is the most important thing. Huang Sheng Hong already informed him before he even married her that she is difficult to handle, difficult to tame.


    "I heard your conversation with Chu Munan."


    "You were eavesdropping?" he chuckled.


    "What? No! At least not voluntarily. You were talking, and I didn''t cover my ears. So I heard it."


    "Your logic is " heughed again and kissed her forehead. "So? Do you understand? That Chu Munan was only acting like a sheep in front of you. He had his own motives. You should be careful."


    "If you tell me to stop this cooperation with the Chu Family, will listen to you."


    Her words made him silent as he turned towards her, his face facing hers. "You will?" He lifted an eyebrow.


    "Of course, I''m a genius I can find ways to get close to the Shen and Xu Family."


    "Silly girl." Shen Qui said. "You don''t have to sacrifice so much just for my Shen Family."


    She smiled. Of course, she knew that this man was still hiding something from her  something about the Shen Family. Funny how they are still hiding things from each other and yet they would trust each other with their lives. Isn''t that entertaining?


    "The Xu Family is backing the Long Family. I also believe that this Ken Xu was the one making the poison."


    "The one that "


    "Yes." Lyca nodded. Chu Munan said that he is a doctor and is taking care of the President''s health. That is the reason why the Xu Family is protecting him, even though he is not a direct heir. She couldn''t help but wonder how did the Chu Family find out about this.


    "You think that he was the one who wanted to poison Old Man Huang?"


    "What? No!" Lyca smiled. "Ken Xu must have sold the poison to the Long Family or Huang Qingyun. Or perhaps they acquired it using other ways. However, I am pretty confident that this man created the poison." Aside from this, she also guessed that Ken Xu''s arrival in that cave wasn''t a coincidence. The man must have known about those herbs.


    Truly crafty.


    That man actually monitored the ce and waited for someone to get the herbs. However, she couldn''t understand one thing. Why did he have to expose himself like that? If he had some technology in that cave that could detect the arrival of other people then, he didn''t need to personallye to know her identity.


    Does this mean that man didn''t use any technology but some magic as a detection? But magic doesn''t exist in this world! If that man used magic, thening to the cave would make sense. After all, the magic would only detect if someone entered the cave and not the identity of that person.


    Ah, Xu Ke Ken Xu.


    Was it possible that you found a way to use magic in this world?


    Lyca let out a sharp sigh. "Hey," she poked the side of his face. "Do you love me?"


    "Huh?"


    "You already said you like me are you going to tell me you love? Or not?"


    "Of course I do," he answered, frowning. This woman was truly unpredictable. Even if he understands most of her actions, Shen Qui couldn''t understand her train of thoughts. "How about you?"


    Lyca stared at his eyes. "Yeah."


    "What''s that supposed to mean? What yeah? Yeah, you love me? Or Yeah.. yeah I sound boring?"


    "Yeah. Hey! That hurts! Don''t you dare flick my nose like that again," she mumbled while stroking her nose.


    "What yeah? Talk like a human being." He was alreadyughing as his hand found her waist.


    "I won''t answer you. Consider this a punishment for flicking my nose!" Lyca covered her head with the whole nket. "I will sleep. Leave me alone."


    "Eh? But you didn''t tell me what the Yeah meant! Hey!"


    "I am wounded! Cuts and bruises are all around my body. I can''t talk."


    "" Shen Quiughed while shaking his head. "Alright, I already know you love me. No need to say it. I remember when I was wounded you were crying while mumbling. You also "


    "Stop talking!" Lyca said. How could this man recall those embarrassing things while she was weak?


    "Oh? Little Lyca is embarrassed? I wasn''t expecting that something like this could actually make a bold woman like my wife shy? She wasn''t even shy when she knowingly swallow some drugs and asked me to save her! How could mere words embarrass her? I must be dreaming!"


    "Shen Qui I am warning you! Get out of here! I want to sleep!" she growled and attempted to kick him out of the bed. However, the thick nkets restrain her movements. Seeing his wife wrapped like a dumpling trying her best to hit him, Shen Quiughed and hugged her instead.


    "Stop hitting. Stop hitting. I already know you love me so much it''s hard to bear," he chucked.


    "Shameless!"

 Chapter 320: Lai Su the Shield

    Chapter 320: Lai Su the Shield


    In just a blink of an eye, the seven-day honeymoon passed with Lyca just tangled on the bed with her husband. This wasn''t really something she wanted, but Shen Qui wouldn''t let her out of the bed. Of course, she tried toin and other ways to make him agree, but thetter was hell-bent on making her stay in bed.


    In Shen Qui''s words, Lyca isn''t allowed to leave the bed as she was sick and weak from the cold. They needed to recuperate. Shen Qui took care of everything. From the cooking to cleaning, even her hot bath! Again, sheined, but he only reminded her of how hurt he was that she left him alone for an entire night.


    In the end, Lyca just shook her head. She was helpless! Truly helpless!


    But this wasn''t really a bad thing. Lyca just spent her honeymoon sleeping with her husband. Isn''t that what she wanted? "Now that I thought about it, this is actually the life that I want." Lyca mused as Shen Qui massaged her waist. "You should learn how to cook more dishes. I can''t just eat egg and porridge forever. Plus, that pizza that you love to make was quite unhealthy. I am always in bed without exercise, I need to eat healthy aw slowly!" Lyca winced. "Don''t get angry I will start an excellent exercise routine once we get back. I need to stay fit. I realized that staying with you is going to break my bones."


    "Says the person whose appetite is just too "


    "Don''t say something like that." Lyca smiled. "It''s only right that my appetite would be good. I am still young, alright!"


    "It''s done." Shen Qui said. "Get dressed. The car should be here anytime now."


    "I don''t want to leave."


    "Get dressed." Shen Qui lifted Lyca and made her lie on her back. "Of we won''t leave this ce and Chu Nan will wonder why we arete. Then he would barge in and disturb us. How could you let someone disturb you? A tigress would surely kill the intruder. Would you be able to take responsibility for killing someone from the Chu Family?"


    "You talk too much." She held both of her hands up, gesturing him to pull her up.


    In response, Shen Qui pulled her up and out of the bed. "But you like it, don''t you?"


    She didn''t answer, instead she started undressing herself. "I want to stay in this ce."


    "Nah, I can''t let you stay in bed forever. You are already pale from theck of sun, you don''t exercise and just do some stretching. If you keep on doing this, I will be a widower at the age of thirty."


    "" Why does this man keep on cursing her? She faked a smile and finished dressing before she went back to bed, letting Shen Qui finished packing their things. "Being pampered is good." She beamed before she closed her eyes and fell asleep.


    When Lyca woke up again, Shen Qui was already carrying her in his arms towards the car. Of course, she just continued sleeping on her way back to the Ath Province. After another painful eight-hour drive, Lyca and Shen Qui finally arrived in the Chu Family mansion.


    This time however, Lai Su was already waiting for them along with Rue.


    "Mr. Lai is an expert in this field. He will be working with you on a new technology that he developed. It was a tablet that could slowly kill cancer cells. However, this is nothing but pure theory. We haven''t tested this to any subjects," Lyca exined to Old Man Chu.


    "You mean  this man"


    "Yes, Old Man. Lai Su is a genius. Someone who was previously robbed of something he created before. Currently, he is studying radiation therapy. I am sure you already know this, but radiation therapy usually aims to kill cancer cells or slows down their growth by targeting their DNA. Lai Su is currently creating something, a tablet that should be taken without showing any side effects. Meaning, it will only target all the cancerous cells."


    "That  Is this true?" Even Chu Munan was surprised to hear about this matter. Radiation therapy had various side effects. The current radiation therapy not only targets cancer cells but can also damage other healthy cells. This is why it had some bad said effects too.


    "Yes. All of my people are capable of doing miraculous things." Lyca eyed Lai Su who was already frowning. Lai already promised himself that he would stop this crazy obsession with cancer, but he can''t. While he had been low key about his progress, Lyca knew everything about it. In fact, she even helped him because of the research papers that she gave him.


    However, right now, Lyca was speaking as if this was all Lai Su''s doing. Once again, she was using him as a shield. Only Lai Su and Lyca knew that this research was only sessful because of Lyca''s research materials.


    "So, Mr. Lai will create this tablet and sell it to the Chu Family?" Old Man Chu asked. As someone working in the business industry, he was already thinking about the things that this tablet can give them. There would be an endless benefit for both Lai Su and the Chu Family!


    Almost immediately, the gazes of the other Chu Family members changed as they stared at Lai Su like he was a money-making machine.


    "Lai Su can decide what he wants to do." Lyca shrugged. "I promised to treat Mr. Chu, and that is what I will deliver. Creating one tablet will cost us a lot of money. However, I am certain that the Chu Family will notin about this matter. The tablets will be created in myboratory and Mr. Chu will go to Kong City a month from now to start his treatment. Do you have any questions?" she smiled at everyone before stifling another yawn.


    .....


    I am slowly getting used to the routine of writing a lot. Soon, we will have updates everyday.

 Chapter 321: Power of Money

    Chapter 321: Power of Money


    "Wait so you wanted my brother to take these tablets that weren''t even tested to live human subjects?" Chu Nan immediately said. "I won''t allow that!"


    "Mr. Chu, do you really have a choice?" Lyca fought the urge to roll her eyes. "Plus, isn''t this why we would do some test first? Lai Su would stay here for a few days to conduct the test with a few people."


    "So you wanted to conduct the test with a few people, then give the same medicine to my brother a few days from that? What about the long-term effects?"


    "We will have to see," Lyca said. "However, this is only your first option. Option two is to wait a bit. We wait for six months and see if Mr. Chu Munan''s current treatment would help him. You can call me once the cancer is already in itster stages. At that time he might be bald and his skin is "


    "Stop talking. That won''t happen." Chu Nan hissed. "Give us a year! Show us the result of the test for one year, then we will decide if we would give that to my brother."


    "Alright," Lyca smiled.


    "Alright? You agree?" Chu Munan asked.


    "Why wouldn''t I? That''s your life. If you don''t want it, fine." Did this man expect her to insist and force them? This treatment wasn''t a hundred percent sure. She was only using this to get into the Chu Family.


    "You "


    "Miss Lyca, I am just wondering. Are you really confident that this tablet can cure cancer? You said that this can only target the damaged cells?" Old Man Chu asked.


    "You are right. This would only target those cells. I know that another pharmaceuticalpany already imed that they have a device that does the same thing. You should look into thatpany. I am certain that you would see Lai Su as one of their previous employees." This time, it was Shen Qui who answered them.


    "You are saying that


    He responded with a mysterious smile. "As you can see, we have a medicine, not a device."


    The old man''s lips thinned into a straight line. Lyca originally came here for cooperation. She wanted them to support her weapons business. However, he and the Chu family wanted her help with Chu Munan''s illness. "This medicine I am wondering when did you make it? Surely it would take a few months toplete this no?"


    They asked Lyca to help them, and they expected her to work with them. This meant they would have the time to entice her to join their family. Who would have thought she already finished the medicine?


    "Yes, a few months. Lai Supleted this a few months back," Lyca lied without batting an eyelid. How could she not understand the old man''s real purpose? The Chu Family was known for being entrepreneurs, not soldiers or politicians. All these years, the Chu Family had been hiring people that could protect them. Skillful and talented people like Lyca and Shen Qui would surely bring them endless benefits.


    The Chu Family always have good foresight and that was the reason why they were able to avoid the schemes from the Xu and Shen family. This time, they wanted to work with Lyca and develop a good rtionship with her. Who would have thought that Lyca already finished this thing that they wanted? All she needed now test this with some live subjects.


    "The entire family will think about this," Old Man Chu said. He looked at Chu Nan. "Call the elders, tell them I want to talk to them an hour from now. You can leave now, I want to talk with Miss Lyca and Mr. Shen."


    The twin brothers left the room, leaving Lyca and Shen Qui with Old Man Chu.


    "You wanted this stone let me give this to you first." Old Man Chu pushed a wooden box towards Lyca. "This is something that President gave the Chu Family. I don''t particrly like it, as I don''t want to wear jewelry. However, I have asked my people to check what kind of stone this is. They said this was something that can only be found in the depths of Shu Inds, which was near Kong City. There was nothing special about this stone. Every family who always attended the yearly spring banquet would receive gifts like this from the Xu Family."


    Lyca epted the box, but she didn''t open it. "The painting was made by Ken Xu? How old is he this year?"


    "This  I can''t really say." The Old man said. "We don''t have any other information about this man. We don''t know where or when he was born. We only know that he is President''s nephew. He doesn''t attend any functions as well. They say that he was a weak person, but extremely brilliant. They say that this person could heal any poisons using herbs."


    "And?"


    "And " the Old Man sighed as he leaned towards Lyca. "It was said that this person was the one who gave the Zhang Family an antidote to heal the poison that affected your cousin. Of course, this was some rumor. I heard that Young Master Zhang was supposed to die from that poison." The old man gave Lyca a meaningful gaze. Using his money, he was able to find everything about Lyca and her Huang Family. Of course, he already knew everything about her poisons.


    This was the power of money.


    "Where did you hear it from?" Shen Qui asked.


    "I have my ways. I believe the madam of the Zhang Family, your aunt Huang Ying, is trying to suck up to the Xu Family. At first, she wasn''t aware that it was the Xu Family who helped her son. I believe, the master of the Zhang Family kept it from her because of her difficult tendencies."


    "I see." Lyca nodded.


    "Ah, this is the painting. You can have it." Old Man Chu handed her another rectangr wooden box. "Now, unto the thing that I want to talk to you. This cooperation is very important for my Chu Family. I can only hope that you could stay here and do the experiments. This will keep you safe and "


    "Can''t," Lyca immediately declined. "Old Man, I just got married. I am still on my honeymoon. How could I stay here and risk having a divorce from my husband? Old Man, are you trying to ruin my marriage?"


    ""

 Chapter 322: Emotional Lai Su

    Chapter 322: Emotional Lai Su


    "This  You have been married for three years, no?"


    "More than that. Still, the honeymoon phase is the first ten years! This is where people would know if they are reallypatible!"


    "I  I didn''t know this." But then again, his marriage was purely for benefits who developed into something more. However, he still couldn''t help but wonder if this is something the younger generation hade up with? "So if you want to stay in your Kong City then would it be alright if I asked Chu Nan to follow you?"


    "Why would he follow me?" Lyca asked.


    "To learn from you."


    "Old Man I don''t think that is necessary," Shen Qui said.


    "You misunderstood. I want him to learn the art of poison from you. Chu Nan had a strong sense of justice. It was strong to the point it was crooked. In this world, real justice doesn''t exist. This firm belief that he could help everyone is weighing him down. Because of this, he chose to work in the police force. As you can see, Chu Nan hated people like you. However, this is also the best way to learn. I am already old and if Chu Munan couldn''t make it then"


    "Still no." Shen Qui said. "You asked my wife to help you with Chu Munan and now you asked her to teach Chu Nan, old man, are you trying to snatch my wife from me?"


    "Heh, actually my husband had a point. Moreover, why would you want your grandson to learn about poisons? I believe Mr. Chu is already good at martial arts and he could use guns. He could defend himself. I am just a weak woman who can''t even stand the cold. I am not qualified to be his teacher. Moreover "


    "I am willing to pay you and make you an elder of my Chu Family."


    Lyca squinted before she smiled. "Then, let me think about it."


    Seeing Lyca''s smile, Shen Qui sighed inwardly. Ah, it seems that her goal to use the Chu Family is bing more and more obvious each day. After a few minutes, the three people finally had the perfect arrangement for Chu Nan. Then the two told the patriarch that they are scheduled to leave that same night.


    The patriarch immediately tried to stop them, but Lyca was adamant about leaving. This was something she promised to Shen Qui. Moreover, they have more important things to attend to. Like creating the antidote for her grandfather and dealing with Kong Citi''s problems. There is also the Assembly for the securitypanies.


    "Alright, Chu Nan will take care of his job here then he would follow you. Mr. Lai would be staying here until all the test has been made. Once everything goes well, Chu Munan will apany him to Kong City for his treatment. I will convince the elders about this. I will just call you once we already decided." Old Man Chu said after failing to convince Lyca to stay.


    Lyca nodded and smiled before going to her room Shen Qui. As expected, Lai Su was already waiting for them in the room.


    "Xi, if you wanted to get rid of me, you could have informed me in advance! That way, I can adjust my emotions and act ordingly!" Lai Su couldn''t help but feel aggrieved. After all, this was a surprise to him. Lyca didn''t even consult him before making this decision. He immediately felt that Lyca was trying to get rid of him! "Was my performance not good enough? Do you think my intelligence is "


    "Aiyo who would have thought that Lai Su is such an emotional person? I thought people with high IQ have low EQ?" Rue snorted next to him. "Stop acting like a child and just listen to her exnation first. You are looking down on yourself too much. Plus, if she wanted to get rid of you, she would kill you to avoid futureplications."


    "You "


    "Rue is right," Shen Qui answered. His wife was already on the bed, lying with a bowl of grapes. So, it was his job tofort this emotional man. "She was doing this to give you connections and the ability to take back what was taken away from you." Shen Qui said. Lai Su is someone who doesn''t like scheming. This was because he had been a victim of extreme scheming before. Because of this hate, he developed a tough personality to other people.


    "You mean"


    "Once you take this medicine. What do you think will happen to the people who took your research away from you?" Shen Qui slowly peeled the grapes from Lyca''s bowl. Of course, his lovely wife was just staring at the ceiling, waiting for him to peel the grapes. She was in an energy-saving mode.


    "So she is not leaving me here?"


    ''She is leaving you here. But Rue will be with you." Shen Qui said. "Just a few weeks should be enough for you toplete the testing with live subjects. Then you cane back and let them deal with the effects. They only wanted to see the possible harmful effects of the medicine. Of course, you can stay here if you want."


    "Stay? Who wanted to stay here?" Lai Su snorted. Staying with Lyca means learning a lot of things. That is something that the Chu Family''s money wouldn''t be able to afford in this lifetime.


    "This will, of course, attract the attention of thepany that you worked for before. So, Rue is here to protect you. She is good at martial arts and hacking. Plus, you will stay in theb the whole time. And we already asked the old man to keep this as quiet as possible. No one would know your identity until this medicine is revealed to the public."


    Lai Su gulped. If the medicine is sessful, then he could finally prove to his dead loved ones that he wasn''t crazy after all. Lai Su wasn''t after the fame or the money that this project could bring him. All he wanted was to prove that he didn''t steal any ideas or giarized anything. He had the skills to finish a project! This would mean he would finally get the justice that he deserve from all those years ago!

 Chapter 323: Euthanasia

    Chapter 323: Euthanasia


    Just like that, Lyca and Shen Qui arrived in Kong City. It was already eight in the evening when they arrived, and Lyca was pretty tired. After a quick talk with her parents, Lyca decided to go to sleep while Shen Qui dealt with the business with Ronan.


    Since the year just started, Shen Qui had to deal with a lot of meetings. Moreover, because of their current expansion, he also needed to travel. However, since these locations aren''t really far, he would always go home after his meeting.


    When Lyca woke up the next day, she immediately went to herb to test the herbs that she got from her travels. Another reason why Lyca insisted on going back is that she wanted to preserve the properties of the herbs. This time, she immediately started working on her experiments. Lyca was too engrossed in her experiments that she didn''t step out of herb the entire day.


    When she decided to call it a day, it was already ten in the evening. Lyca immediately changed and checked her phone. She could see three missed calls from Shen Qui and two calls from an unknown number. When she checked the messages, she immediately gave a wry smile.


    Shen Qui: I heard from father that you didn''t eat. I am currently in Ralia City, but I can go back and have a meal with you.


    Shen Qui: No breakfast and lunch. Are you still the Lyca that I knew?


    Shen Qui: I know that you are busy and you wanted to heal grandfather. But eating is important too.


    Shen Qui: If you lost more weight, I will stop working and forced you to eat the food that I cook every day.


    Lyca giggled as she continued to read the messages. She could, somehow, imagine his worried face and it was honestly making herugh. Was that too mean?


    Shen Qui: Hey babe, I''m sorry I didn''t mean to threaten you. I am already on the way home. How about I make somesagna for you? Hm?


    Babe? This man really started calling her babe?


    Shen Qui: Wife, I am wrong. Whatever I did just forgive me and eat something. I asked Ronan to bring you ramen. its instant ramen. It''s not healthy, but it''s yummy. Eat something.


    Shen Qui: .


    This man is really making herugh.


    When Lyca finished reading the messages, she was already in the kitchen. She noticed some pack of instant ramen, but before she could open one. She heard her mother''s voice behind her. "Lyca Huang it''s already sote! Why did you ignore me all day?" Lyca gave a wry smile. Her mother is very particr about food. She is a very good cook, and she always likes to spoil her daughter with her dishes.


    Seeing Lyca missed breakfast, lunch and dinner immediately made the fiery woman angry. "Thatboratory of yours doesn''t allow anyone aside from you to ess it. I tried to call Shen Qui and Ronan about it and they too are helpless about the password. I tried to knock, but you didn''t hear me. I tried to  " Her mother started ranting while she started heating food for her daughter. "You are already so skinny. What about my grandson in your stomach? Are you really "


    "Ma, what are you talking about?" Lyca asked, her eyes were already on the noodle that Tang Nini put in front of Lyca.


    "My grandchild! Stop acting like  wait" Tang Nini widened her eyes. "Did you  Did you went away this time to kill my grandchild?"


    "Ma! How could you say something like that? Do you think I am that cold?"


    "Yes! Lyca Huang be honest with me! What did you do? Let me look at you. Quick, stand up and "


    "I am hungry, not pregnant. And I can''t be pregnant. We are both too stressed. How could we create a child?" Both of them are busy and she was on a pill. How could she get pregnant? "Plus, we are using protection. This isn''t the right time to be pregnant."


    "You "


    "Let me eat first. Let''s talkter." Lyca said as she buried her head into the food. She was really hungry, but she had forgotten about it because of her excitement. After all, this is the first time that Lyca was able to closely examined something that also existed in her previous world. Lyca didn''t even notice when her mother left her. All she knew was the fact that when Tang Nini came back she was already dragging Huang Sheng Hong with her.


    "She''s not pregnant." Tang Nini said. "You said you were so sure she was pregnant. How could you let me expect something? I was excited and even dreamed about holding a grandchild and yet you "


    "Why are you angry with me?'' Huang Sheng Hong asked, confused. "You also thought that she was pregnant. Why are you ming me?"


    "If I say it''s your fault, then it''s your fault!" Tang Nini hissed. "Sit down, sit down. I will make some snacks for you!"


    ""


    "" Lyca sighed inwardly. Her mother and father are always like this. Seeing them still like this now is enough to make her mood even better. "In my estimate, I will finish making an antidote after two weeks." Lyca suddenly said. "I can''t assure you that grandfather would wake up, but I am pretty confident that the antidote is enough to fight against the poison."


    "You mean"


    "I mean, there is still a possibility that grandfather won''t wake up. And if he will, there is also a possibility that he won''t be able to use his lower body anymore." This was the bestpromise she coulde up with.


    "What if he doesn''t wake up anymore? Do we have any other option?" Huang Sheng Hong asked.


    "No." Lyca shook her head. "I suggest we let nature do the rest." Death is a natural thing. The old man is already more than eighty years old, so his body might not be able to help him recover. She eyed her father and mother. She doesn''t need to say anything anymore. She knew that the two understand her meaning. If this doesn''t work, then there can only be one thing that they can do.


    Euthanasia.


    ##########


    Euthanasia, also called mercy killing, act or practice of painlessly putting to death persons suffering from painful and incurable disease or incapacitating physical disorder or allowing them to die by withholding treatment or withdrawing artificial life-support measures.

 Chapter 324: Lunch Date

    Chapter 324: Lunch Date


    Lyca finished her food and quickly went to her room to rest. Without even changing her clothes, Lyca fell asleep on the bed. When Shen Qui arrived, she was already snoring loudly. He could only smile as he slowly removed her clothes and tucked her in the bed. Since he was afraid to wake her up, Shen Qui just let her sleep naked under the sheets.


    This surprised Lyca. She opened her eyes and turned towards him. Shen Qui was still sleeping soundly, unaware that she was already staring at him like she was about to eat her prey. Smiling, Lyca stared at her long and thick eyshes. She immediately realized that this man was pretty blessed in the looks department.


    While Lycashes can be considered long, it wasn''t as thick as his. Moreover, his skin looks fantastic under the lighting. She couldn''t really spot a single scar. Did the gods really carve him to look this good?


    "You''re drooling," Shen Qui''s warm voice reached her ears.


    "Huh? Who''s drooling?"


    "You," he said. His eyes were still half-closed, his lips turned upward into a smug smile. "Every time you stare at me, you drool."


    "No, I don''t," she immediately wiped the corners of her mouth. "What are you talking about?" Her question made him burst into a peal ofughter. How can someone be this cute?


    "You don''t get it," he leaned and kissed her forehead.


    "Why don''t you kiss my lips instead?" she asked.


    "You are naked."


    "And?"


    "I can''t kiss your lips."


    Where did that logice from? Lyca narrowed her eyes on him. "What time did you arrivest night?"


    "About midnight."


    "Oh" She snuggled into his arm. "When we have kids, I want them to look like you."


    "Hm? Where did thate from?"


    She smiled. "Mother and father thought I am pregnant. It made me think. I want a kid that looks like you."


    "Oh, I understand. I would like someone that looks like me too. I think it would be  Aw! Stop hitting!"


    ''You are bing bolder and bolder!" Lyca giggled. For some reason, she is loving this shameless side of him. "Such narcissism!"


    "Did I say the wrong thing? I just agreed with you, ah!"


    "You are supposed to say that you want someone that looked like me, you dummy!" Lyca said.


    "But I really agree with you. I think a kid like me would be so cute no?"


    "" Was he trying to say that she is not cute? "I am cute too."


    "Yes, you are. You are cute stop hitting." Heughed before yawning. "I want to sleep."


    "But?"


    "But there is a problem in the port. I need to coordinate with Ronan and the others."


    "So you will stay in the port?" she asked.


    "Probably. I have a meeting in the afternoon."


    "How about I take you to lunchter?" Lyca asked. "I feel like you are so busy, you don''t have the time to eat with me."


    "I wasn''t able to eat with you for one day." He was only away for one day because of that meeting yesterday. "I am going to stay in the City today. Oh, I received an invitation yesterday from Lord Olfan. This is for his birthday banquet."


    Lyca pursed her lips. She let out a sigh. "When will Chu Nan arrive?"


    "Two days from now. Why?"


    "I want him to attend this party with Cleo."


    "You You want to "


    "Isn''t it time that we destroy this territory system in the city? Santa will be the mayor and he will rule this city." In this way, Shen Qui would have more time with her. Isn''t that nice? Of course, she wasn''t nning to tell him her real reason.


    "That is a good idea. Alright, you just have to talk to Cleo about this matter. I will take care of the rest."


    "Good. Good as expected of my husband. Truly hardworking." She gave him a huge grin.


    ....


    When Lyca informed Cleo about her n to have her attend Lord Olfan''s birthday banquet as their representative, thetter''s expression immediately darkened.


    "You wanted me to "


    "It''s time that we take care of them. The spring festival ising."


    "" What does killing people have to do with the spring festival? As if sensing her thoughts, Lyca immediately added.


    "Oh, I mean the assembly. We can''t have too many enemies working against us. One or two should be enough."


    ""


    "I am toozy to take care of everyone." Lyca shook her head. "After the Spring Festival, I will take a leave!"


    "" What leave? Cleo eyed Shen Qui and Ronan as if silently asking them what she was talking about.


    "I want another honeymoon!"


    ""


    ""


    ""


    "Xi I have a question." Cleo said. "Since you are not going. Does this mean I will go there alone? You won''t allow Boss Q to escort me, right? Moreover, Ronan doesn''t like events like that and would prefer to date hisputer than me."


    "No. You will go with Mr. Chu. Chu Nan from the Chu Family. With him by your side, Olfan would never hurt both of you. After all, the Chu Family is far more influential and wealthier than Lord Olfan. Surely, he wouldn''t want to offend the Chu Family."


    "Chu Nan oh! Is that Chu Yuyan''s cousin?"


    "Hmmm. He will be my disciple."


    "" Ronan met Shen Qui''s eyes.


    "What? You don''t believe me? Ask my husband!"


    "That man is so dumb, how could he be your disciple? He is here to freeload! It''s better to make him work for his food!" Shen Qui said almost immediately.


    "So this Chu Nan should be capable too, right?"


    "Not as capable as everyone else, but he is good." Shen Qui answered.


    "Then that''s it!" Lyca smiled. "Everything is set now." She stood and walked towards the door. "I go and change my clothes. I have a lunch date with my husbandter."


    "She is  " Cleo didn''t continue her words, helplessness shed in her face. "Boss Q, Xi is still acting as if she isn''t nning to go to war. Are you sure it''s alright to have a dinner date when we are preparing to strike Lord Olfan''s territory?"


    "Of course," Shen Qui smiled a beautiful smile that reminded her of sakura blossoms. "I will go and change my clothes. I have a lunch date with my wifeter."


    With that, Shen Qui left his office while humming.


    ""

 Chapter 325: Innovations

    Chapter 325: Innovations


    "I want some cotton candy," Lyca said as she sat on the concrete chair that can be found all over the park. "The weather is good for some cotton candy."


    "I thought you are already so full?" Shen Qui chuckled.


    "Why are you asking such a question? I am full, but I still have some space for some cotton candy." She frowned. "Being able to marry someone like me who loves to eat you is your blessing."


    "Blessing. Yes, a blessing. Why are we celebrating? Did you finally make the antidote?"


    "No. I need your help for that," Lyca beamed.


    "Do you want me to take the antidote first to see if it''s working?"


    "What? No!"


    "Then did you ask to have this date so I would agree?"


    "Too many questions. Even without this date, you would always agree." She fought the urge to roll her eyes. Leaning towards him, Lyca squinted. "Or are you going to say no to me?"


    "What? How could I do that?"


    "See? We are a match made in heaven." Lyca said before she gestured towards the stall selling cotton candy. "I want the sky blue one."


    "Alright." After a few minutes, Shen Qui came back with huge cotton candy in his hand.


    "Only one?" she asked. "You don''t like it?"


    "I thought we''re sharing?"


    Thus the glutton Lyca was forced to share her food with her husband.


    When the two finished their date, Shen Qui insisted on sending Lyca home while he attend some meetings, but she quickly refused. Instead, she asked him if she could visit his new office. Right now, Shen Qui is already using the newly renovated building. This is also the same building where the securitypany was located.


    "So this house will be in the ranch. There will be forty rooms, each room will have two beds and a bathroom." Ronan who was also at the office started discussing the house that Lyca wanted to build in the property. This house is going to be the shelter for those people in Ralia.


    Of course, this is just like a second base. Right now, there is also construction going on in the mountain where the others are still training.


    "Thest stage of their training will start very soon. " Lyca started typing on herputer. "I am excited to win the assembly this year."


    "You are so confident?" Ronan asked.


    "Of course!" Is that even a question?


    "I heard you were actually training assassins. Not people from a private securitypany."


    "You don''t understand this. Ourpany is not going to ept the small mission. We won''t ept missions like guarding a celebrity or guarding an important party. Those people are elites."


    "If you aren''t nning to ept missions like that then  " Ronan removed his eyes from the screen and looked at Lyca. "Are you only epting dangerous missions like guarding secret packages? Or guarding big politicians?"


    "Of course. This is a private army. Not some small securitypany."


    "You "


    "Aiyo... You are worried that I won''t be able to find clients?" Lyca smiled. "It''s like this I don''t need to find clients. They are going to find me."


    "" Her deration made Ronan speechless. Even the Long Security Company is not this confident. "Ah! Speaking of the assembly, I already finalized that design that you gave mest time. If you have the time, you should visit the team that Boss Q hired for the suit."


    Lyca sighed. She actually had more things to do! Why does it feel like she is already doing a lot? Howe there are still more things that needed to be done? "I quit."


    "Huh?"


    "Can''t you take care of the suit? Just inform me once it''s done."


    "Can''t. I am already very busy."


    "" Lyca frowned. "Hey, give me books."


    "Huh?"


    "Hacking books."


    "There are no hacking books. I don''t have one. Why do you need it? Don''t tell me"


    Lyca just shrugged. If she could learn to program then she could create robots, no? Howe she didn''t think about this before? If she could create robots or even programs, then her life would be easier!


    Lyca facepalmed!


    She is so dumb!


    "Are you alright?"


    "Give me the basics of programming!"


    Seeing Lyca''s determined look, Ronan sighed before he handed her a few books from the shelves in Shen Qui''s office. With the books in hand, Lyca felt more assured. Once she learns how to code, then she could start creating robots!


    Of course, Lyca''s thinking was just too simple. She got too excited that she had forgotten how busy she was. She wouldn''t have the time to study these books or practice the craft.


    "Alright, I will take a look at the design." Lyca smiled. "Send it to me."


    "I already sent it in your email, but you were too upied with your honeymoon. I guess you didn''t check?"


    Lyca didn''t respond as she immediately opened her email and saw an excepted mail.


    "Just as you instructed, this suit will include a lot of innovations. First is the anti thermal feature that will hide the soldiers from enemy detection. There are also anti-mine boots that you thought of earlier. Look at that visor. That is also bulletproof. On the visor, there is also a piece ofmunication equipment. Just as you instructed, this is lightweight fiber, and an engineered armor ting just like the one that Lai Cu made in hisb. It can stand up to .50 caliber bullet."


    Before Lyca went to Long City as Xi, she already gave this design to Ronan and Shen Qui. After all, this was her goal. She wanted something that could withstand the bullets that she was selling. Slowly, Lai Su and her had been innovating and creating parts of this armor.


    "Are you sure we can finish one for the assembly?" Ronan couldn''t help but ask.


    "Hmmm. No." Lyca shook her head. "At most, we can make ten."


    "Then the others?"


    "They will wear a weaker version of this one. Something that couldn''t withstand a .50 caliber bullet but should still keep them safe."


    After a few hours of talking about this project, Shen Qui finally finished his meeting.


    "Why are you in a hurry?" Shen Qui asked.


    "I am going to study coding." She beamed as she started reading the books that Ronan gave her.

 Chapter 326: Final Procedure

    Chapter 326: Final Procedure


    Sadly, Lyca fell asleep on her way home. When she woke up, the night already passed. She eyed the clock and frowned. It was already seven in the morning, and Shen Qui was no longer sleeping next to her. Howe she fell asleep for so long? She got up and took her bath before she went to herb to take care of some things.


    Of course, the thought of learning how to codepletely left her mind.


    Lyca was too focused on creating the antidote. However, she would need Shen Qui''s help for the final step. After a few days of going to herb, it was finally time for the final procedure.


    "I know it sounded crazy, but I have been testing it," Lyca said. "But I can''t do it alone."


    Shen Qui stared at his wife''s hesitant expression. "Do you need my blood? He asked.


    "What? No!"


    "Then do you need my skin?"


    "Of course not!"


    "Then why are you acting like that?" He couldn''t help but ask. Was it something embarrassing? Was it his sperm? But that would be too illogical? "What do you need from me?"


    "I know it sounds crazy." Lyca bit her lips, unsure of how to tell him what she really wanted. "But this is the only way."


    He pursed his lips. Talking like this was not Lyca''s style. For some reason, seeing her acting like this is making him nervous. What if she needed him to do something crazy? When ites to this wife, if his crazy is nothing but an understatement. This meant that whatever it was that she wanted him to do is actually more than crazy!


    "Take off your clothes."


    "Huh?"


    "I want you to take off your clothes."


    Shen Qui gulped. Are they doing it in theb? This is a very private ce, and he was confident no one would walk in on them as no one knows the password aside from him, Lai Xu, and Lyca. Even Lyca''s parents didn''t know the ess code! "It''s the middle of the day." That''s right. It was still noon. He was about to ask her to eat when she suddenly told him that she was in thest stages of making the antidote. She dragged him inside theb for thisst step that she wanted him to do. "Are you going to throw the antidote at me?"


    "No. Just take off your clothes," Lyca said as she started taking off her own clothing. Seeing her serious expression, Shen Qui didn''t ask anymore. He started taking off his clothes and waited for her next instructions.


    "Nowe here," Lyca said. She gestured towards the table with a lot of beakers and sk. Each of them has different colored liquids.


    "What are we doing?" He asked.


    "Hold my hand and close your eyes."


    "Are we praying?" What a silly question. Shen Qui chuckled at his own words.


    "Remember the thing that I showed you during the new year?"


    "The electricity?"


    She nodded. "Did you try it?"


    "No." Even Lyca said it was a minor trick. "You said it was useless."


    ''Well it was enough to stimte the properties of this liquid." It was enough to stimte poisons, making it more potent. This was something she discovered while experimenting with the herbs. Lyca figured that sense the herb also excited in the previous world, then there is a possibility that it would react to that trick. So, she tried it. And it immediately showed some changes.


    Sadly, it was too little. The small spark of electricity from her alone wasn''t enough to stimte it. All she needed was a bit more force enough to shock the liquid. Of course, Lyca considered using electricity. Sadly, the liquid didn''t react when she used electricity from this world.


    She had been experimenting and even adjusted the volts, but it didn''t work. Because of this, she came up with the idea to ask for Shen Qui''s help.


    "So I just need to close my eyes?" Shen Qui asked. Since Lyca said that this would work, then he had no more questions. She absolutely trusts this woman.


    Shen Quiughed at his own thoughts. She realized that if Lyca wanted to sell him, he would agree and even help her count the money.


    "Hmm," she nodded. In her mind, our body is a conductor and Shen Qui''s internal energy was already cultivated. So, it should be that easy, right?


    She was wrong.


    This world didn''t have magic or Qi. How could it be that easy? After her first try, Lyca realized that this was harder than it looks like. For a few minutes, Lyca tried to do it again, but she still failed. "Can you think of extending your blood?" She asked. She wasn''t really a teacher, and she had no idea how to teach him this trick. "Just like you know, think of extending your blood from your hand."


    "Hmmm." Shen Qui nodded without saying anything.


    This time, Lyca felt it. The current was stronger, dense. She could feel it from Shen Qui''s hand. This made her smile. This time, Lyca slowly put her left hand on a beaker while her other hand held both of Shen Qui''s hands. After a few seconds, Lyca finally opened her eyes.


    She let out a gasp. In front of her was a liquid a sparkling liquid. The liquid was ck and sticky. With the small sparkling particles, it actually looked like a small universe. After a few more seconds, Lyca took her hand out of the beaker and told Shen Qui to open his eyes.


    "Put your clothes on," she said as she stared at the liquid, ignoring the fact that she was naked too.


    Seeing her eyes glitter with excitement, Shen Qui shook his head and grabbed ab coat. Then he silently put it around Lyca. "Sess?" he asked while putting his clothes back on.


    "Should be," Lyca met his eyes. "With these I should be able to heal grandfather."

 Chapter 327: Cleos Boyfriend

    Chapter 327: Cleo''s Boyfriend


    Lyca stood next to her grandfather, her brows furrowed, weariness apparent in her eyes.


    It had been three days since the treatment started and the old man''s body was already showing some signs of recovery. However, he is still unconscious. In fact, Lyca wasn''t really that confident that the old man will wake up again. She sighed before leaving the room. Sinceing back from the north, Lyca didn''t have a really good sleep. This was because of her experiments and her dreams.


    Nightmares.


    When was thest time that Lyca heard the cries of her family from the previous world?


    Having these dreams again made her a little panicky. The dream coupled with the fact that someone who actually looks like Xu Ke is here is making her anxious.


    "Little Xi, we are leaving." Cleo''s words brought Lyca back from her stupor. She eyed the gorgeous woman wearing a fiery red gown that perfectly hugged her body.


    "Where''s he?" she was asking about Chu Nan. A couple of days ago, Chu Nan arrived at the ranch. He was sulky and was always frowning. He refused to talk to other people and would just stay in his room reading some war books. When Lyca informed him about the thing with Lord Olfan, Chu Nan immediately said no.


    How could he use his connections to ruin the man? Chu Nan suspected that Lyca already nned this beforehand, and that she was now taking advantage of the Chu Family for her own goals. For a few minutes, Chu Nan started scolding Lyca for even thinking that he would cooperate with her. Just because his grandfather said that he will be Lyca''s student doesn''t mean it will happen!


    So, Lyca asked him to leave.


    Why would she feed someone who iszily lying around? Beingzy was her role! Not Chu Nan''s! Since he refused to do anything, then he could just go home! Then Lyca leave and came back with a piece of paper. It actually contains the cost of his stay and even food! The woman wanted him to pay her before leaving!


    This made Chu Nan so angry, he felt like he was about to burst. In his life, this was the first time that someone dared to tell him that he was freeloading! He wasn''t freeloading! He was here because his grandfather threatened to abandon him if he wouldn''t be able to know how to create an antidote for at least three types of unique poison!


    That old man was truly cunning! He knew that Chu Nan loathed the Xu Family, thus he cannot ask for Ken Xu to help him! Aside from that man, the only other option that he had was Lyca Huang!


    But how could he work with this criminal?


    Lyca only smirked when she saw his angry face. Then she gave him a folder that showed all of Lord Olfan''s crime inparison to Shen Qui''s. Seeing the things that Lord Olfan did was enough to stimte the hero inside Chu Nan. After all, this was the case of choosing between two devils. In the end, he chose to help the lesser evil.


    "I only need to protect her?" Chu Nan''s face was extremely dark when he first saw Cleo. "Why can''t youe with me?"


    "Because I am married," Lyca answered without a hint of amusement on her face. She was actually married, ah. Why would she apany another man to a party? She, Lyca Huang, was a virtuous woman!


    After that, Chu Nan asked Lyca why he needed to protect Cleo. Can he bring someone more capable of protecting herself? In Chu Nan''s eyes, Cleo wasn''t particrly someone that he could trust to save him if something came up. She was a thief! For crying out loud! To make matters worse, she was also the Lord''s ex-girlfriend! It was tooplicated! Too dangerous! Chu Nan had to decline for the umpteenth time!


    He was here to learn poison!


    POISON!


    Not be someone''s bodyguard.


    Chu Nan''s refusal finally broke the camel''s back. Cleo''s anger exploded. The woman''s sharp tongue made Chu Nan speechless. Was this woman a rapper? How could she talk so fast?


    "You think I would like you to be my bodyguard? Mr. Chu let me tell you something! I have been through a lot! I almost died five times in that man''s hands and yet here I am! I am still alive! I survived torture and other nasty things! You think I won''t survive a night without your assistance? Do you think you are a good bodyguard? You are looking down on me? I became a thief to survive! How about you? You worked in the police force because you wanted to help people? Give justice to other people? Well You are naive! How could someone give justice? There is no such a thing as justice! You are only doing this to try to console yourself! You wanted to tell yourself that you are a good man!"


    "" Lyca was speechless too! That was actually the first time that she saw Cleo became so angry. She had seen the woman cry and became too excited. She had seen her begged, but she had never seen her this angry! Ah, Cleo was actually so handsome when she became irritated.


    "Xi, I don''t need the assistance of some hypocrite! I can do it on my own. This man just arrived here. Clearly, he couldn''t understand why we are doing this. Just send him back to his Chu Family. How could he stay in a ce like this? How could he, the majestic police officer, associate himself with people like us?"


    "You  I am not looking down on "


    "Shut up! If you think you are so good then why don''t you fight me in a one-on-one match!" Cleo''s words almost made Lyca flinched. Did she really just challenged Chu Nan? A match? What match? Why can''t she stop thinking about dirty things? Lyca facepalmed.


    Now that Lyca thought about it, Chu Nan and Cleo actually looked good together as they re at each other. Ah, she had never thought of this before?


    "You? You wanted to fight?"


    "Do you dare?" Cleo wasn''t showing any signs of backing down. She is not considered an expert in fighting, but she had been through a lot of fighting before!


    "Alright, stop." Lyca finally said something. "Let''s not talk about fighting anymore. Actually Chu Nan, I wanted you to help Cleo and act as her boyfriend this time. I "


    "NO WAY!"


    "NO WAY!"


    Both spoke at the same time.


    "Xi, that''s not happening! That man would know! I would never choose a coward to rece him! Why don''t you send Ma Ping instead? That man is good in martial arts too? He will surely protect me."


    "Enough of this," Lyca said as she stroke her temple. These two people are actually so troublesome, ah. "Chu Nan, it''s either you do it. Or you go home!" Those were Lyca''s words before she left the two and went back to herboratory.


    "Do I look good?" Cleo''s words pulled her back to the present time. Lyca smiled.


    "Like an angel."


    "More like a temptress." Chu Nan''s voice immediately made Cleo frowned. However, she was forced to ignore the man.


    "I don''t know why he came back. He was already in the car earlier." Cleo said while looking at Lyca.


    "Well, I am here to remind you that we are going to bete!" Chu Nan hissed.


    Seeing the two about to start arguing again, Lyca cleared her throat. "I am so tired. Enjoy the party, I will take a nap then change my clothes to follow you." This was, after all, a part of their n. Lyca smiled at the two before she went to her. Then she immediately made some phone calls to Shen Qui, who was still in his office.


    "Was it sessful?" she asked.


    "Yeah, we will hijack his shipment a few minutes from now." Shen Qui uttered. "I know you are tired, you should sleep. I will wake you up after we are done. Then we can go and meet that man together."


    "Hmmm," Lyca said. She immediately ended the call and fell into a dreamless sleep.


    When she woke up again, Shen Qui was already sitting next to her, a gentle expression stered on his silly face.


    "What?"


    "You are so beautiful when you drool," Shen Qui chuckled.


    "Ew!"


    This made himugh. "But you are really beautiful, ah." Leaning down, Shen Qui kissed her forehead. "Let me take you to your bath? We still have a long night ahead of us."


    In normal times, this statement would make Lyca excited. Her dirty recalled the times that he said this. However, tonight was different.


    "Alright," she nodded and held his neck as he carried her towards the bathroom.


    Meanwhile, the atmosphere in Lord Olfan''s study was the exact opposite of Lyca and Shen Qui''s room. It was gloomy and suffocating. "They confirmed?" Lord Olfan lifted an eyebrow. "Shen Qui and Lyca actually confirmed that they will attend my birthday? This is good. Very good!"

 Chapter 328: Representative

    Chapter 328: Representative


    The Banquet this time will be at Lord Olfan''s mansion. This time, everyone who was invited was all prominent people. Not just in the city but also in the entire region and even a few of his friends from the other regions flew here just to attend his birthday party.


    "Are they here?" Olfan asked the man standing next to him, his voice lowered as he smiled at the other people at the party.


    "No, sir."


    "I wasn''t expecting that Q would reallye to your birthday," the man opposite him said before drinking his wine. "Ah, rumor has it that they are working on abolishing the territory system. What do you think about this?" The man was actually the newly appointed leader of the Ghost Tower. This man is thete Ghost Rider''s illegitimate son. His name was Wei Yimu.


    "Little Brother Wei should stop listening to gossip like this." The man sitting next to Wei Yimu smiled. "It has been like this for years now. How could someone who only stayed here for a few years do such a thing? Lord Olfan is not only the leader of this ce, he is also considering the mayor''s position. Once he bes the mayor, there will be no going back. The entire City would surely belong to him." The man crossed his long legs and elegantly sipped his champagne before kissing the woman in his arms.


    "These are nothing but rumors." Lord Olfan spoke, shes of Lyca''s face filled his head. For some reason, he was actually excited to see the woman who was almost half his age. He thought about Lyca framing him, letting everyone think that the robbery on the Chu Family''s jewelry store was his doing. However, he wasn''t really ming her.


    After all, that also saved him the trouble of getting rid of the Chu Family. Because Lyca made everything think that he did it, the Chu Family stopped contacting him. Which was for the best. After all, the Chu Family had ties in the capital.


    "Nevertheless, they are extremely courageous, no?"


    "I heard another rumor," Wei Yimu spoke. "Listening to various rumors every day can be fun, too. After all, I work in the entertainment industry. I need to listen to various gossips from the crowd so I could stay away from troublesome people."


    "What is it, this time?"


    "I heard that the one responsible for the destruction of the Chu Family in Kong City is actually the Main branch. And get this! Q and his wife recently traveled to the north for a honeymoon when this happened. Do you think that "


    "That they were the ones responsible for the destruction of that family?" the man next to him lifted an eyebrow. "That is an interesting rumor. However, I believe that the person who created these rumors was Q himself." His crispughed followed his words. "If you think about it, that man created some rumor that he was already dying. Because of this, his rivals showed their true colors. Even the people in his territory tried to take over. However, he walked out of his house after a few days as if he wasn''t wounded at all! That man is very cunning. He wanted to see who will go against him if he pretended to die then destroyed them. Base on my analysis, it looked like he was hiding behind his wife. But in reality, he was actually the one who nned all that.''


    "You think that "


    "Of course! I think they nned to kill your father too! They must have hired some special assassins to do it. This is to make us think that they are desperate for control. They wanted to let us see that they are panicking and are trying to take over the other territory. That action showed that they were struggling and are only pretending to be strong on the outside."


    Wei Yimu went silent. Bing the next leader wasn''t really his intention. All he wanted was to be a good actor and receive some awards. Who would have thought that one day, someone would inform him he was actually Ghost Rider''s son? The changes were too abrupt; He felt like this was all a dream.


    Wei Yimu decided to decline and not get involved in this matter, but he figured that he could actually use his new status to help his career. Thus, he agreed to be the new leader and use the money of the territory to produce his first film!


    "You are thinking too much, " Lord Olfan said. "I believe, Q was really wounded." And he also believed that this wasn''t Q''s ns, but that woman of his. Lyca Huang. A genius who graduated college at a young age. She made the bullet that caused waves of panic. She made weapons and poisons without an antidote. Then she disappeared just before the Huang Family copsed three years ago.


    While Lord Olfan didn''t know what exactly happened back then, he knew that this Lyca Huang needed to die soon. Or she would continue causing more and more problems for him. "Let me tell you something, gentlemen." He smiled as he made a deliberate pause. Seeing that he already had the two men''s attention, he continued.


    "As long as you find the right woman to stay by your side, you can have everything in this world." Isn''t that what happened to Shen Qui? Lord Olfan sneered. A mere nobody who was favored by a talented genius. Now, that man was enjoying all the privileges thate with having a wife like Lyca Huang.


    Of course, this would notst very long. As of tonight, Shen Qui and Lyca would disappear in this world forever.


    "Lord, the representative of Miss Huang and Boss Q are here. "


    "Representative?" Lord Olfan frowned before his gazended on the woman wearing a fiery red dress who was clutching a man''s arm. His face instantly darkened. Cleo? Why is she here?


    ##########################


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 Chapter 329: Honey

    Chapter 329: Honey


    "Sir, Miss Cleo is here with Mr. Chu from the Main Branch of the Chu family as Boss Q and Lyca Huang''s representative." The attendant said whispered. "They were able to provide the invitation and Santa was following them so I had to let them in."


    Olfan narrowed his eyes, his usually calm face turned dark. "Invite them here." While Lord Olfan could see them, Cleo and Chu Nan cannot actually see him through the bulletproofed room that he was in. This room was located on the second floor just across the stairs, giving Lord Olfan a way to secretly look at everyone.


    "You  Why would you invite that woman here?" The man sitting next to Wei Yimu immediately reacted. As someone who had worked with Olfan for years, he naturally knew Olfan''s history with this woman! He red at Cleo. "This woman is still alive, thanks to you. If she was my woman, I would have killed her after running away like that!"


    "Well, she wasn''t." Lord Olfan snapped back. "And she is alive, not because I want to. But because she was really good at hiding."


    "You knew that she was with Shen Qui! Why didn''t you kill her?"


    "And risk them causing trouble in my territory?" Lord Olfan retorted. "Killing that woman while she was working with another leader is a provocation to the leader. Why would Lord Olfan do that? Both Cleo and Shen Qui are not worth it!


    Slowly, the door was opened and Chu Nan walked in. Cleo was still holding his arm. "Lord Olfan" Despite the smile on Chu Nan''s face, the expression in his eyes was actually nk. "Happy birthday, I am here as Lyca Huang''s representative. I hope you don''t mind."


    "Mr. Chu is too polite. Please take a seat," Lord Olfan gestured him to the vacant couch to his right. This room was not that big, and it was only surrounded by a variety of couches. A ss table can be seen in the middle of the couches. It was full of various beverages.


    "Ah, also this is the gift that Miss Huang and Mr. Shen especially prepared for you."


    Lord Olfan lifted an eyebrow as he eyed the box. "They heard that you like horses so she went to the north and requested the Chu Family to create a small horse using a rare material." He smiled as Lord Olfan opened the box. Inside the box was indeed a horse. It was red and was about the size of a toddler''s palm.


    "Exquisite," Lord Olfan smiled. "This is very precious. Please tell them that I like the gift."


    Chu Nan nodded while cursing inwardly. Gift? What gift!? This was his horse! Lyca actually had the guts to tell him that she would borrow it just for this asion! Yes, she told him! She wasn''t asking for his permission, she just directly told him what she nned to do.


    While infuriated, Chu Nan had no choice. He agreed when Lyca told him that she will give him a form of a poison that is so potent it could kill people in seconds!


    "Of course," Chu Nan said.


    "Mr. Chu is from the Main Branch of the Chu Family, yes?" The man next to Wei Yimu said. "Ah, where are my manners? I forgot to introduce myself. I am called Fu Su from the Fu Family in Aiba Region."


    "Oh, I haven''t heard of any Fu Family in that Region." Chu Nan smiled. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Fu, I am Chu Nan. I am from the Main Branch of the Chu Family."


    The man scowled when he heard Chu Nan''s words. Still, he pretended that the insult didn''t affect him as he smiled, "I see. How about thisdy sitting next to you?"


    "This This is my girlfriend. Cleo. Honey, why don''t you say hi to everyone?" His tone was gentle, soft even. However, it only made Yu Su and Lord Olfan more and more irritated.


    "Hi, everyone. I am Cleo Stevens." A beautiful smiled bloomed on her face as she shyly nced at Chu Nan.


    "You  You are his girlfriend?" Yu Su was about tough out loud and say some insulting words towards Cleo when Lord Olfan cleared his throat. It was enough to stop him.


    "Interesting," Lord Olfan said.


    "Isn''t it?" Chu Nan chuckled and looked at Cleo. "We are a match made in heaven." Of course, he actually meant hell. How could he, a police officer, bepatible with a professional thief?


    "Stop saying things like that. You are making me shy." Cleo yfully pinched his arm and lowered her head, her ears already turned scarlet.


    "Then that is good," Lord Olfan uttered. He clenched his jaw and finished the whiskey in his hand. "The Chu Family Is in Ath Province, may I know why Mr. Chu is in this part of the country? Was it for business? If it was, then I have a few businesses of my own. Would you be interested in some coboration?"


    "No." Chu Nan smiled and poured some champagne for Cleo. "I am not here for business."


    "Really?" Su Yu asked. "Then are you perhaps here for Miss Stevens?"


    "Of course, I am here to visit her and have some fun. It''s been some time since we saw each other. Isn''t that right, honey?"


    "Right," Cleo''s eyes were sparkling. Actually, she didn''t know she could act this well until she saw Lord Olfan. Right now, there was no anger in Cleo''s heart. No more regrets. No more ming. There was only the urge to make the man irritated. Since Cleo didn''t have the capability to kill him, then she would disgust him! Anger him until he copsed!


    Of course, this was only inside her mind. On the outside, Cleo was shyly clutching into her boyfriend''s arm, her head lowered as she obediently listened to the conversation inside the room.


    ....


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 Chapter 330: You Can Leave

    Chapter 330: You Can Leave


    After a few more minutes, Olfan led everyone down to join the other guests, giving the chance for Chu Nan and Cleo to talk to the people attending the party.


    "It seems like many people still recognize you?" Chu Nan used his hand to remove a strand of Cleo''s hair on her face. The action looked sweet and gentle.


    "I am quite popr back then." Everyone here knows that she was Lord Olfan''s pet. Of course, she was popr andughable, a loser who will follow that man''s orders.


    "He is staring at us." Chu Nan said. "Do you want to dance?"


    "I can''t dance."


    "Liar." Chu Nan smiled. He held his hand in front of her. "Shall we?"


    For a few seconds, Cleo just stared at his hands. When was thest time that he danced with someone? Eh, years too many years to count. With a small smile, Cleo held his hand and let him led her towards the dance floor.


    "For you to like a man like that tsk" Chu Nan clicked his tongue just as he pulled her towards him. Hands on her waist, he added. "What a loser."


    Cleo snorted in response. Of course, she was a loser back then. She held her chin up and met his eyes as she folded her arms around his neck. "That is true." A smile blossomed on her face. "I was once a loser."


    Chu Nan fought the urge to roll his eyes. At least this woman''s awareness is on point.


    "You don''t understand. Emotionally unavable people are the most attractive sometimes." She smiled as they started dancing. "Hot and cold. Handsome and stubborn. Aloof and dangerous. Those men are the most attractive. Of course, this is something that a boy like you won''t understand."


    "You know, women that talk like you aren''t very attractive, right?"


    "Attractive or not, it has nothing to do with you." It''s not like she was looking for someone to like her. All she wanted was for her son to like her. The thought of that young man made her heartbeat raced. She lowered her head and avoided Chu Nan''s gaze.


    "That man is looking like he would eat everyone around him. I didn''t know that Xi''s n would be this effective." Chu Nan leaned closer. "Who would have known that The hot and cold, handsome and stubborn, Aloof and dangerous, Lord Olfan would actually act like a jealous mortal?"


    Cleo snorted. Jealous? More like he was angry that someone else found the woman that he already threw away, attractive. To Olfan, she was his property; she was just like a bag that he already left in the trash. However, one day, a man found that bag and decided to polish it, clean it, and made it look brand new.


    Then the man walked around Lord Olfan carrying the beautiful bag. Of course, this man Lord Olfan fumed in anger. Cleopletely understood Lyca''s n. She wanted him to be distracted. Of course, Lyca was smart enough to make someone from the Chu Family act as Cleo''s boyfriend.


    In this way, Lord Olfan would hesitate to do something to them. After all, he wouldn''t risk having the Chu Family as an enemy. Lyca knew that Lord Olfan was a very very meticulous man. If it''s not worth it or if it could get him into more trouble, he would never do it.


    Just like how he never dared kill Cleo while she was around Shen Qui. Lord Olfan just thought that killing her is not worth the trouble.


    "Kiss me," Chu Nan''s voice made her froze.


    "Huh?"


    "Don''t tter yourself." Chu Nan said. "I just want to make it look convincing. That boss of yours is really troublesome. If this Lord Olfan wouldn''t throw a tantrum tonight, then I won''t get my little horse back."


    "Huh?" Cleo stared at him. "Why are you mumbling like a child? Can you speak proper  " She wasn''t able to finish her words when Chu Nan suddenly lowered his head and kiss her. She widened her eyes, ready to push him. But his tight hands around her waist reminded her of the reason why they are here.


    Instead of resisting, Cleo slowly responded. She closed her eyes and gave his tongue ess to her mouth.


    "Ehem"


    The two immediately stopped kissing.


    "Lord Olfan?" Chu Nan lifted an eyebrow while Cleo lowered her head. By now, her face already turned so red, she was certain she already looked like a tomato. How embarrassing. Xi never told her to kiss this man. This wasn''t a part of the n.


    "May I know if Miss Stevens is interested in a dance?"


    Cleo''s breath hitched. She lifted her head, eyes full of questions. "Excuse me?"


    "I am asking you for a dance."


    Cleo smiled. "Then No. I am not interested." She then held Chu Nan''s hands. "I am a bit dizzy."


    "Then let''s sit down?" Chu Nan chuckled. "I''m sorry it seems that she can''t dance anymore." While his tone was polite, there was no hint of amusement in Chu Nan''s face.


    Lord Olfan snorted. "I am not sure if you are aware of this. But this woman is the mother of my child."


    "Hm?" Chu Nan donned a surprised expression. He looked at Cleo than to Lord Olfan. "I am not aware."


    "At least now you are aware."


    "En However, I am quite curious. What does this have to do with me?" Chu Nan held her waist.


    Pursing his lips, On nodded. "You are right. This has nothing to do with you. If she is dizzy you can take her to a room upstairs. The first one to your right."


    "No need," Chu Nan said. "I will take her home."


    "Home?" Lord Olfan squinted. "Who told you that you can still go home?"


    "Is the Lord trying to make me stay here against my will?"


    "No. Not you." Lord Olfan uttered. "Her" He looked at Cleo. "I just realized that my son needed a mother. She can stay. You can leave."

 Chapter 331: Under Arrest

    Chapter 331: Under Arrest


    Cleo''s eyes widened. She never expected that this man would actually detain her tonight! This was never part of the n!


    "You wanted me to leave my woman, with you?" Chu Nan smiled. By now, the three of them already attracted the attention of everyone on the dancefloor. Most of them already stopped dancing and just stood there watching the show. "Are you trying to make meugh?" Chu Nan asked.


    "Do I look like I am joking?"


    "Yes." Unperturbed, Chu Nan lifted an eyebrow. "You lookical."


    Cleo held her breath. Honestly, she didn''t know that Chu Nan would be this daring. How could he offend Lord Olfan when they are currently inside his house? Is this man fearless?


    "I see So you would drag the whole Chu Family into this?" Lord Olfan clicked his tongue. He then looked at the surrounding people. "I am sorry to inform everyone that I am not feeling quite well. I need to retire for the night. The party is over."


    "I don''t think I need the Chu Family to deal with a crazy ex-boyfriend," Chu Nan answered him.


    "Are you sure you wanted to offend me just for a used shoe?"


    "You sure you wanted to hurt me just for a woman that you already threw away?" Chu Nan countered.


    "So, that Xi must have thought that I am afraid of the Chu Family." Lord Olfan nodded in understanding. "She miscalcted. I am not afraid of anyone." One by one, the people around them left. They already saw the tension happening between the three, and not many of them would want to get dragged into something that they would regretter.


    Lord Olfan then shoved his hands into his pockets. "So, let me asked you again are you willing to offend me just for a woman like this?"


    Chu Nan only smirked. Instead of saying anything, Chu Nan leaned closer and kissed Cleo''s temple. "Are you willing to kill me and risk offending my family just for a used woman?" Once again, he asked. For some reason, seeing Lord Olfan''s face darkened made him want tough out loud.


    Chu Nan never knew that he was actually this good at acting! Ah, it seems that Lyca already saw thising? Why else would she tell him to bring a gun? Ah, that woman was truly cunning. He couldn''t help but wonder if Cleo already knew what Lyca''s n was? Seeing the man clenched his jaw and started ring at him, Chu Nan''s smile became more and more provoking. "Let me asked you something Lord Olfan. Did you really think I woulde here and run away because I was scared of you and your people?" Right now, there were already about ten men wearing ck that is standing a few meters away from them.


    "You dare insult me in my own home?"


    "This is not considered an insult, yet." Chu Nan smiled. "Ah, if there is nothing I should leave this ce. My woman is not feeling well."


    "try to take a step out of that door and you will die."


    "My My" Chu Nan''s words were interrupted when a man wearing ck tried to call our Lord Olfan''s name.


    "Not right now, Bo! I am busy!" Lord Olfan uttered. His gaze soon met with Cleo''s watery eyes. "Still afraid of me, I see. If you are so scared, why did youe here? Did youe here to try and show off that you found someone else despite being discarded by me?"


    "You have no right to speak to her like that!" Chu Nan hugged Cleo. "We are leaving."


    "Try it!" Lord Olfan''s voice boomed, it echoed inside the whole mansion like a p of loud thunder. "Try it and you''ll die without even a corpse!"


    "How bold," Chu Nanughed. "Who would have thought that the meticulous devil would finally crack just because of a woman? When Xi told me that you would never try to offend my family, Iughed. I didn''t believe her. I already know you aren''t that smart. If you are smart, how could you let go of a woman like Cleo?"


    "You "


    "Am I wrong? You let go and now regretting your actions. You could fool them but not me." Chu Nan snorted, arrogance apparent in his eyes. "You miscalcted." He smiled. "You lose."


    "Lord!" The man wearing ck approached them. When the man heard Chu Nan''s words, he already knew that this man is involved In the things that happened earlier. He immediately leaned towards Lord Olfan and whispered a few words. Slowly, the atmosphere turned colder, darker. But just as he was about to move, footsteps echoed inside the mansion.


    "Surround them!" Shen Qui''s voice thundered. Almost immediately, another group of men wearing ck arrived.


    "What is what is happening?" Someone from the back asked.


    "Drop your weapons!"


    "Drop it now!"


    "On the ground! On the ground!"


    The scene immediately turned chaotic as Lord Olfan tried to grab Cleo. However, Chu Nan was quick enough to use his strength to defend the woman in his arms. "What do you think you''re doing?"


    "This is not over!" Lord Olfan uttered before he attempted to run towards the stairs.


    "Eh? Where are you going?" The one who spoke was none other than Lyca. She was sitting on the baluster of the huge stairs, azy smile was on her face.


    "You "


    "Juan Jose Cozo I am arresting you on suspicion of multiple murder and homicide, drug possession and trafficking, prostitution, sexual assault and human trafficking, rape, arson, Illegal possession of firearms" The man stated a lot of crimes enough to make Lyca sleepy. "You do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defense if you do not mention when questioned something youter rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence."


    Lyca beamed as she waved at him. Ah, those cases were of course true. But the police had no evidence of them and if they did, they didn''t live long enough to submit it. However, this time, it''s different. Lyca had been watching this man for a few months. And she had the Chu Family as her backer.


    Isn''t this why she wanted to get close to the Chu Family first before she dealt with this man?

 Chapter 332: Antidote!

    Chapter 332: Antidote!


    Lyca''s smile became more and more beautiful as she smiled at Lord Olfan. It had been a few minutes since he was arrested.


    "Where are you taking me?" Olfan asked, his voice deep.


    "Hell," she answered without batting an eyelid. Actually, the car was still in the mansion. There was also no driver sitting in the police car. "I know you contacted the Long Family. I want to know what they want you to do and I will give you a painless death."


    A snort escaped the older man''s lips. "You won''t touch me."


    "You think so?"


    "Not when my people are about to attack your ranch."


    Lyca only smiled. "Then let them attack."


    "I never thought you would be this confident."


    "I am always confident." Lyca smiled. Killing is basically the only thing she was good at. This self-awareness was enough to make her confident. "Now the Long Family?"


    "I thought you wanted Cleo to kill me?" Olfan sneered. "I guess she doesn''t have the heart to kill the man that she loved? What a cowardly woman."


    Lyca pursed her lips. She was currently sitting next to him inside the small police vehicle. A small dagger was dancing in her fingers. "I didn''t want her to kill you. I never asked her to." The thick ominous silence followed her words.


    "So you just nned all this. You wanted to show that she actually found someone else just before I was arrested. Was it to distract me?"


    "Of course." Lyca smiled. "I am a very petty person. You let her watch as you screw countless of women before. Why can''t you watch her while she danced with another man?"


    "This has nothing to do with you! This is in between me and Cleo!"


    "True." Lyca nodded. "Cleo is my person. But you are actually saying the truth. This is your personal matter."


    "" Lord Olfan frowned. This woman actually agreed with him? "Then why involve yourself? I am certain you are not in love with Cleo. I am also certain that you don''t want my territory. Why involve yourself?"


    "Because I am petty." Lyca said. Actually, she had long heard that this man is already cooperating with the Long Family. Even if this was a rumor, Lyca still felt that it is better to teach people lessons about this matter. The message was simple. If you get involved with the Long Family, you will suffer a loss.


    By now, the street so Kong City should have already heard the rumor. After all, Lyca already sent people to spread it within the City. Soon, these words will reach the ears of every other family in the Region. Then they will realize that the families who have allied themselves with the Long Family suffered.


    Her target was to cripple the support that the Long Family received from these families.


    "I will stop answering any of your questions." Lord Olfan said.


    "Good," Lyca said before she smiled and suddenly used his hand to attack him with something. Lord Olfan tried to move and dodged the attack but the police car was too small, his long legs couldn''t really move freely. Moreover, he also had some handcuffs on both his hands and his feet!


    "What are you  " He didn''t finish his sentence when he felt a small pinch like pain on his neck. His expression changed when he saw the now empty needles in her hand. "You "


    "After two minutes, you will start to feel excruciating pain. It was like your bones had been moved and removed from your body. The pain would make you faint. But no need to worry, I can give your heart adrenaline so it will not shut down." A sadistic face. These words swirled in Lord Olfan''s head as he started at Lyca.


    "You dare?"


    "No offense, sir, but I think the people who would want to see you dead right now would be more than fifty. I am sure that those people would send their own assassins to silence you. Politicians, drug lords, and corrupt officials would join in. I am only giving you a shortcut. Isn''t it good to feel pain now? Then feel itter?"


    "" What kind of logic was this?


    "Eh, I am just in a hurry. I can''t waste my time here. I am exhausted. So, it''s either you give me what I want and I will stop the pain or you know what I mean, right?"


    Lord Olfan squinted. Lyca was saying the truth. Now that he was arrested, the people who worked with him would surely panic and try to kill him, silence him. He lowered his head, a peculiar glint can be seen in his eyes. It seems that Lyca was still too naive? "Alright. I will tell you."


    "Eh? So easy?" Lyca smiled.


    "The Long Family are arranging people to target your securitypany. I believe they are slowly sending people to Ralia City to make trouble for your team. They asked me to help them."


    "And you did?"


    "Of course. I don''t particrly like you."


    "Oh " Lyca nodded in understanding. "Seems like the feeling is mutual. I  " Before she could finish her sentence, the man''s expression changed.


    "This is  " He held his breath. "Antidote! You said you will stop it!" His face turned pale, beads of sweat trickled down his forehead. This was the first time that he experienced the viciousness of this woman. He actually thought she was bluffing, or perhaps the pain would be something he could take.


    He was wrong.


    Just like what she said, this actually felt like his bone was broken! Every time he moved, his body would hurt like hell! He red at her. "Antidote!" Even speaking would make his body hurt.


    "Alright Alright Calm down. I never thought two minutes is not enough. First, you have to tell me why the Xu Family is supporting the Long Family."


    "What?" He gritted his teeth. "You said"


    "I said I will give you the antidote once you answer me. " She smirked. "And all of my questions."

 Chapter 333: Gentle Woman

    Chapter 333: Gentle Woman


    "You dared  AHHHH!"


    "Answer," Lyca said in a calm voice. "Or suffer?"


    "I don''t know!" Lord Olfan said as he did his best not to move a single inch of his body. However, how could Lyca let him do that? With a huge smile, Lyca poked his arm. The excruciating pain made him tremble. By now, his suit was already wet because of his sweat. "I really don''t! I have no idea that the Xu Family are helping them!"


    "Then have you heard of Ken Xu?"


    "Heard! Heard!"


    "Who is he?"


    "Another poison expert! He is giving out poisons to people that he liked. No antidote just poison!"


    Lyca squinted. "How old is he?"


    "I don''t  I don''t know! I haven''t seen him! I don''t know what he looks like!"


    "But you already spoke with him?"


    "Yes! AHH Lyca! Give me the antidote!"


    Lyca pursed her lips. "Did you know why the Shen and Xu Family hated each other?"


    "No!"


    "Be honest." Lyca smiled.


    "I am really  Ahhh Jesus Christ! I am telling the truth! I am telling the truth!" The more he spoke, the painful it became. His face turned uglier as he tried his best not to lose consciousness. "I am telling the truth!" He stared at her with amused eyes. "The The hate existed before  Before I was even born."


    Lyca nodded. She then showed him another syringe with green liquid. With no hesitation, she injected it into his neck. Smiling, Lyca looked at him and waited for the pain to stop. "Thank you for your cooperation." With that, Lyca left the car, leaving the pale Lord Olfan inside.


    Lord Olfan calmed his breathing. His body trembled, deeply traumatized by the pain. It wasn''t even five minutes since she injected that form and the pain is already subsiding. His heart turned calmer. However, this wasn''t enough to calm the older man''s expression. Right now, his deep hatred towards Lyca tripled. An ugly smile slithered across his pale face.


    The only reason why he told her those things is for her to fight against the Long Family while he watched on the sidelines. Then once the fight is over, he would kill the winner and be the ultimate victor. Just you wait Lyca Huang.


    "I will personally cut your throat and let my dogs r*pe you! You will regret making me suffer like this!" He hissed. After a few more minutes, he finally calmed down. Lyca was too foolish to think that arresting him like this would stop him. Naive.


    "Boss I am going to take you to the police station. Once we are there we will interrogate you, then stage an escape n." The man who sat on the driver''s seat immediately said in the low voice. "The others will follow us to the station." The man added before starting the car.


    Lord Olfan didn''t say anything. That''s right, every police officer in this City was under his payroll. They already arranged everything. Once something like this happened, the protocol is to first bring him to the police station. He wanted his enemies to taste victory before finally showing his cards. He snorted as he thought of that excruciating pain that he experienced earlier.


    Soon, very soon. He will make everyone who betrayed him today suffer!


    .


    "Xi! How could you let him live?" Cleo couldn''t help but asked as they followed the police car towards the station. "That man  I told you! Everyone in this City be it the chief or the mayor  the previous one was under his payroll! How could you just let him go?"


    Lycazily leaned against Shen Qui''s shoulders. They are currently riding a ck bullet-proof van. The one who was driving was Ma Ping. Next to him was Gu Cheng, while Cleo and Chu Nan were sitting in front of Lyca and Shen Qui. The couple actually chose to stay at the back of the van so no one would disturb them if Lyca identally fell asleep.


    "You are thinking too much." Her nonchnt reply made Cleo tense. Each and every one of them worked hard just to capture that man. The evidence that they found was kept secret. Their spies worked hard, even Chu Nan had to contact his friends from the NSA to help them out. How could Lyca be so rx? Lyca should know that this man was dangerous, right?


    "Lyca "


    "If I kill him while he is inside the car, everyone will think that I am the murderer," Lyca added. "How could you make everyone think that way? I am but a gentle woman!" She stifled a yawn.


    "Then you mean" Cleo didn''t finish her sentence. "But what if they escaped on the way to the station?


    "Not his style. He would escape while he was at the station to show us that he was untouchable." Shen Qui answered before he gestured for Cleo to stop asking questions. His wife is already tired from talking too much today.


    Seeing the slight smile on Lyca''s face, Cleo sighed and looked at the silent man beside him. As if sensing her gaze, Chu Nan turned his head towards her and shrugged. He, too, doesn''t have any idea about Lyca''s n.


    "Ah, let me tell you this. Lord Olfan will surely die tonight." Lyca smiled. "Of course, he will die while I am already sleeping in my husband''s arms and dreaming about cotton candies." Earlier, Lyca gave the man two poison. The first one caused him pain. While the second one was hidden on the antidote that he made. Well, it wasn''t really an antidote as it is not her style to create one.


    That second syringe was just another poison that could cancel the effects of the first one. It was enough to remove the pain and make someone feel better. However, this type of particr poison would show its effects once the person who ingested it will take water. That''s right.


    Once Lord Olfan will drink water, the poison will immediately show its potency. Ah isn''t that fun to watch? Just as Lord Olfan already thought he was winning, his life would suddenly end.


    Sweet, isn''t it?


    ....


    Don''t forget to vote for the novel.

 Chapter 334: Baggage Compartment

    Chapter 334: Baggage Compartment


    When ites to ruthlessness, Lyca always knew she was second to none.


    Because of herziness, she tends to kill people immediately. Not giving them the chance to scheme against her and disturb her peace. This was the reason why she mostly killed those n heads in their territory. Lyca wasn''t some hypocrite. She knew she was a sinner. She also knew that the reasons why she kills people are somewhat dense.


    Sometimes, she killed them because she became too irritated. Sometimes, it was because she was toozy to reason with them. Sometimes it was because they did something terrible and she didn''t like it. In the end, her reasoning had something to do with herzy nature. She just gotzy and decided to end it.


    However, unlike Lord Olfan, Lyca never killed people for fun.


    Lyca nced at the one-way mirror. She rested her head on Shen Qui''s shoulder and didn''t move an inch. Like a dead log, she just stared at Lord Olfan without saying anything. Her eyes soon darted towards the water on the table. Lord Olfan just arrived in the interrogation room and was given an unopened bottle of water by the officer. However, instead of drinking it, Lord Olfan just sat there and stared at the mirror.


    He knew that some people were also staring at him behind that mirror. A snort escaped his lips. "Lyca Huang I know you''re in there. Why don''t youe and ask me some questions?"


    Lyca rolled her eyes. So naive. Judging from the man''s eyes, Lord Olfan really looked confident and arrogant. The man must have already nned his escape with his people. Oh, well even if he escaped this prison, he would still die soon. "I''m sleepy. Let''s go home." Lyca said.


    If this man really wanted to escape, then it would be reasonable for her to leave now. In this way, she would avoid the uing battle that will happen. ording to Lyca''s sources, Lord Olfan was fearless because he had a lot of people working under him and because everyone here also received some payments from the man.


    "Hmmm. Let''s go." Shen Qui didn''t ask any questions. Since Lyca said that this man would die, then he would surely die. Shen Qui didn''t have to ask the exact method of how Lord Olfan would die. He helped Lyca out of the room and they went into the car that was waiting for them.


    "Our people already spotted some carsing this way." Ma Ping immediately said. "Boss, what are you going to do?"


    "Leave them be," Lyca answered. "It''s better to go home and sleep. She could help the police officers fight but that would risk an injury, maybe even a couple of death from her people. Nope. Not gonna happen."


    "Then Lyca let me asked you this. What will happen if that man escapes?"


    Lyca immediately turned towards Chu Nan. She canpletely forget about this man, ah! Howe his presence is this low? "He will still die."


    "How? Do you have people in his team?" Chu Nan realized that his question sounded off, so he added, "I was only curious. I am here to learn poison so I am very curious if you will use any poison to kill him."


    "Use," Lyca uttered. Like azy cat, she adapted anothernguid form and smiled. "I already said, he will die tonight. If I tell you my methods, you need to be my man." Sheughed when she felt Shen Qui flinched. "But I already have a husband. So if I tell you my secret, I would have to kill you after."


    "You  " Chu Nan bit the inside of his cheek to stop himself from arguing against this woman. It would be pointless and definitely not worth it! Who knows if this woman would suddenly poison his water and kill him?


    Just as the group finally left the police station, Lord Olfan was also ushered into his cell. All throughout the interrogation, he didn''t say anything nor touched the bottle of water that they gave him. When he was already inside his cell, he sat calmly on the corner most part of the cell and started counting.


    One, two, three, one.


    One, two, three, two.


    One, two, three, three.


    After a few minutes, someone arrived and put a cup of hot water on the floor just in front of his cell. The person didn''t even nce at Lord Olfan before leaving without saying anything. When he left, Lord Olfan couldn''t help but smile. Ah the signal just now meant he should calm down. Their people areing to save him.


    With this, Lord Olfan silentlyy on the bed without a mattress and stared at the ceiling. Lyca''s face once again shed in his head. He clenched his teeth and started counting once again.


    One, two, three, one hundred one.


    One, two, three, one hundred two.


    BOOM!


    The loud sound thundered inside the police station. It was followed by the sound of more explosions and gunfire. Meanwhile, Lord Olfan kept on counting. He didn''t even turn towards the door of his cell and just kept on staring at the ceiling as if this attack doesn''t concern him at all.


    After a few minutes, loud footsteps echoed towards him. He stopped counting and slowly sat on the bed.


    "Boss! We are here to get you out!" The man used his gun to open the door of the cell and handed him bulletproof. "As expected, the defense of the station was quite weak. They also didn''t call a reinforcement." The man gave a smug smile. Everyone here was considered their Lord Olfan''s employees too. "We killed about two of the police officers and just made a show that we were struggling to fight against them. Follow me, boss, our car is waiting at the back." The man said before leading him towards the back of the building. A ck Mercedes was already there, waiting for them.


    "So, only police are there?" Lord Olfan asked. He was actually hoping that Lyca would still be here in the station.


    "Yes, sir."


    "Hmmm" He nodded and immediately got inside the car. "Let''s leave. Make a big explosion. Free the other prisoners."


    "Yes, boss!" the man enthusiastically responded before he closed the door and gave a yful grin towards the now moving car.


    "Boss, after two turns, we will move to a different car. Then another. A private jet is already waiting for you just in Xie City."


    "Hmmm. How about the people that we sent to Q''s ranch?"


    "No contact. They must have died. But the others near the ce imed that they didn''t hear any gunshots nor explosions."


    Lord Olfan''s brows furrowed as he squinted his eyes. No gunshots or explosions could only mean that her ranch was equipped with a mechanism that could poison people! Long Yi told him before that Lyca was an expert in poisons. At that time, he thought it was nothing but a word of caution.


    Lord Olfan already experienced Lyca''s ruthlessness. Thus, he knew that she was actually very capable of creating a poison that could kill people in a matter of seconds. "Give me my phone."He said as he opened a new bottle of water inside the car. Earlier, he didn''t drink anything that was given to him afraid that it was poisoned. It made him so thirsty. He finished the 500ml bottle of water in one go.


    Then he dialed Long Yi''s number. After a few rings Long Yi''s cold tone reached his ears.


    "You are still alive?"


    Lord Olfan snorted. "You are still alive. How could I die?" He chuckled. "I think you are right, Lyca is indeed preparing a big-scale poison. Probably preparing to attack the Long Family and kill everyone."


    "How did you know that?"


    Lord Olfan smirked. Obviously, his n is to make Lyca and Long Yi fight on their own. So, he added more fuel to the fire. "I sent my people into her base. All of them died. I didn''t hear any news from them."


    Silence followed.


    Lord Olfan added, "You can ask your contact. I am merely warning you. I will leave the country so you won''t be able to contact me for the time being. You better prepare yourself. She is preparing to face the Long Family very soon." Lord Olfan didn''t wait for him to say anything. Feeling smug, he ended the call and opened a bottle of wine.


    Lyca already knew that the Long Family is trying to sabotage her business, again. Now, Long Yi is also aware that Lyca is slowly creating dangerous poisons for them. Sooner orter, Lord Olfan will see a good show from these two people.


    "Hmm?" Lord Olfan squeeze his eyes shut when his head suddenly started aching. "What  " he wasn''t able to finish his words as he clutched his throat. His face instantly turned red as he struggled to breathe. Aside from his aching head, his stomach started hurting.


    "Boss? Are you alright?" the man asked. "Boss?"


    "Take me Take me too "


    "Alright boss I will take you to the airport as fast as I could." The driver thought that Lord Olfan was so eager to leave this ce. With this in mind, he went full throttle and arrived at the airport after ten minutes. However, when he checked Lord Olfan, he already lost consciousness.


    Panicked, the driver immediately knew something was wrong. He called his other colleagues and everyone decided to put the boss inside the private ne to avoid other people seeing him. After all, news travels fast and soon, the police wille barging in here and check the area.


    "We should hide the boss until a doctor arrives." The man already called their boss'' doctor, so he confidently suggested those words.


    "I agree. If the policee in here and check then we will be arrested too!"


    ''Then hide the boss in the baggagepartment. This is for the boss'' safety too!


    Surely, he wouldn''t mind. Right?

 Chapter 335: Lazy Lyca

    Chapter 335: Lazy Lyca


    Lord Olfan was dead.


    Yet, this news never reached the ears of anyone. In fact, rumor has it that he is already abroad. After his daring escape, Lord Olfan is now abroad, waiting for the situation to calm down. Then he wille back.


    And have his revenge against Lyca and Shen Qui. Most importantly, he would make Chu Nan and the Chu Family suffer.


    Lyca calmly ate the grapes from the bowl. She turned towards Cleo. "That it?" she asked. It has been a week since Lord Olfan disappeared. "No more?" How boring.


    "No more. We were able to confirm his death. His subordinates who discovered his body just ran off to god knows where. What  What are we going to do with his body?" she asked.


    Lyca lifted an eyebrow. "Bury him. Why do we have his body?"


    "I tried telling you, but you were too busy sleeping! I have been trying to tell you for days. Boss Q doesn''t want to get involved and is traveling frequently for his expansion. Mr. Huang Sheng Hong is also assisting him."


    "Oh." Lyca nodded and threw a few grapes into her mouth. "I deserve some rest. I have been busy and will be busy in theing days."


    "I know. So what are we going to do with his body?"


    "Bury it." These people are really weird. Why would they keep his body? "If someone died, just bury them." Was that so hard to understand?


    Cleo nodded. They reason why they didn''t touch the man''s body was because they thought Lyca would examined him. After all, he died using her poison. "Oh, Rue and Lai Su will arrive in a few days too. Also Ronan said the prototype is done. You can check it anytime so we can finally start production."


    "So quick?" She still wanted to rest, ah.


    "Yes. He said he wanted to make a few more during thepetition. When are we going to Long City to attend the assembly?"


    "The Assembly is after Spring Festival, no?" Lyca just wanted to make sure.


    "Yes. It will be in the Long Founding School of Elites. Rumor has it that the President will attend. Of course, this could be some hype to make people want to attend."


    "Oh. Then we should celebrate Spring Festival in Long City," she smiled.


    "What about Mr. And Mrs. Huang?" Right now, Cleo is the one acting as Lyca''s secretary because she was worried that Lyca wouldn''t be able to finish anything without a good secretary. Shen Qui already has Ronan, so she chose to assist Lyca this time.


    "They will stay here and take care of my grandfather," Lyca said, a slight smile was on her face. Speaking of her grandfather, his treatment would be over soon. Sadly, he is still not showing any signs of waking up. However, the old man''s body is healing.


    The poison is slowly being neutralized by her antidote, and his body is slowly recovering. But the damage was really too big. Waking up might still take a few more weeks, if not months.


    "Oh, then I will arrange everything. Our flight, house and "


    "Hey, Cleo I think you are a really excellent secretary. Do you want to be my secretary?" Lyca interrupted her.


    "" She nodded. "How did you survive without a secretary? You are toozy, ah."


    "I didn''t need one in the past." She was merely a pampered princess before she married Shen Qui. Moreover, she has Yi''an to peel her grapes. "Then I fell asleep and of course have Q to clean my body."


    ""


    "Now, the business is doing good. Shen Qui can''t take care of me. And Yi''an is busy too. I hate booking flights and nning. At least, I have you now."


    "Yeah So back to the n. I found this mansion in Long City. It has over fifty rooms. It''s huge and it could surely amodate everyone once we go there. Boss Q wanted to know if you would want to buy this house. He said this will serve as a vacation house. Look at the pictures. Also, it''s near the beach and river that borders Shi City. It has" Slowly, Cleo started talking about the interior of the house. The colors, furniture, design, the future changes, the lighting, the gate, thewn, the swimming pool, training ground, and "Eh?" Cleo stopped talking when she heard a light snore from Lyca.


    She immediately walked in front of the egg chair where Lyca wasnguidly sitting and sigh. Asleep.


    And drooling!


    Cleo gave a wry smile before she left the documents on the small table next to her. Then she found a nket and put it on Lyca. This ce was still located in the underground. However, to create a cozy atmosphere, Shen Qui installed an aquarium on the wall. It was an enormous aquarium with various species of fish. In front of the aquarium was, of course, Lyca''s favorite space. It was the egg chair, a few stacks of books, and a small coffee table, enough to put her bowl of fruits.


    "She''s asleep," Cleo said when she saw Chu Munan pacing just outside of Lyca''s cave  or at least that''s what Lyca loved to call it. "You can''t wake her up. She will turn into another person and might kill you."


    "My grandfather asked her to teach me something!" Chu Nan gnashed his teeth. "She didn''t teach me anything in the past few days. Why was she staying there all the time!?" Chu Nan has never been inside Lyca''s cave, so he didn''t know what this ce is.


    "She''s busy," Cleo calmly said. This wasn''t the first time that she saw this man here. "If you are too idle, you can go ahead and read the book that she gave you. Didn''t she tell you to familiarize yourself with the chemical elements? You should do that."


    "I want to learn poison! It doesn''t have anything to do with that damn table of elements!"


    With this, Cleo smirked. "Fool. I already told you she''s busy."


    "Doing what?"


    Cleo was about to blurt out ''sleeping'' but she quickly stopped herself and made a little white lie. "We are currently making a special armor. It''s in itsst stages. She  She is currently reviewing the materials used so we can start production."


    Seeing Chu Nan''s face changed, Cleo added, "Don''t disturb her and just wait for her to leave this room."


    "She will leave once her husband returns! If Shen Qui is here, then he won''t have time to teach me!"


    Cleo just shrugged. "If you want to die, then go ahead and wake her up." With this, she left him alone with a mocking smile on her lips. She actually hoped that this man would wake Lyca up and experience some real thrashing.


    ..


    Slowly, the days passed.


    After another two days of Lyca staying in her new cave, she finally went outside. This time it was because she wanted to see her husband. Shen Qui and Lyca had beenmunicating through their phones for the past few days because he was currently in another region, trying to obtain some contracts with otherpanies in the restaurant business.


    Moreover, Shen Qui also wanted to expand the restaurant on the neighboring Ibya Region and Navut Region. Of course, with the help of Chu Family, this has been going smoothly.


    "Lyca Huang, my family had been helping your husband and yet you aren''t doing your part! Where is the form of the poison and antidote that you wanted to give me?" Finally, Chu Nan had the opportunity to talk to her.


    "Oh? Then can you give me at least thirty names of chemical elements?"


    "You "


    "It''s been so long and you aren''t studying? Ah so you aren''t that smart after all?"


    Chu Nan red at her. However, Lyca just ignored him and continued walking. First, she needed to check on her grandfather. Second, she wanted to tell her mother and father that she will go to Ralia to check out everyone''s training.


    "Where are you going?" Chu Nan asked.


    Lyca didn''t answer him. She felt that Chu Munan is actually a little likable than this Chu Nan. Was it because Chu Munan was ill? Oh, now that she thought of Chu Munan, Lyca''s lips turned upwards into a slight smile. She received a couple of calls from Lai Su in the past few days, and everything was good in their part. The one that Lai Su created was able to affect the cancer cells in the mouse that they used in the experiments. Now, the already started experimenting on humans and Lai Su said that the results are pretty good!


    So the question now is pretty simple.


    Can they really cure Chu Munan?


    Lyca smiled until she reached her grandfather''s room. Of course, Chu Nan still followed her. He even followed her inside and watched as she carefully check her grandfather''s involvement. "Is he going to live?" He couldn''t help but asked. His grandfather said that Old Man Huang had no chance of living.


    However, right now he could already see changes in the old man''s face. He isn''t as pale anymore. It was as if he had gotten younger. His peace looked peaceful and vigorous. He immediately made a mental note to inform his grandfather about this matter.

 Chapter 336: A Dirty Fighter

    Chapter 336: A Dirty Fighter


    "He will," Lyca''s words interrupted his stupor. She turned towards him. "Feel free to inform your old man about it." Finished speaking, Lyca turned towards the door. Of course, Chu Nan followed her out.


    ''The elements"


    "Can you tell me at least thirty of them?"


    "Of course not!"


    "Then not teaching. I don''t have dumb students."


    "You "


    "How''re your martial arts?"


    "Good."


    "Then if you can defeat my people, you can learn."


    "What people?" Chu Nan asked, confused. Cleo is not good at martial arts. Ronan might be good, but that man always has his eyes on hisputers. Then was it the guards? "Your security can''t beat me." He said, confidence apanied his tone. How could a mere security personnel beat him? He was trained in both hand-to-handbat and other fighting skills. He even had a ck belt in Karate and excelled in mixed martial arts. This was something he was very proud of.


    "Not them. Come with me." Lyca said while using her phone. Her rxed behavior only made him irritated.


    "How dare you use me to check if they are capable?"


    "Not using you. Can you stop talking?" Lyca uttered. He was already calling Shen Qui. After a few rings, Shen Qui answered her call. "Hey Howe you are still not home?" Her tone instantly turned sweet and gentle. The changes were too quick. It made Chu Nan frowned. He quietly walked next to Lyca, not even moving away.


    Honestly, Chu Nan didn''t know what to do. He felt that walking away would be appropriate, but right now, he wanted to follow Lyca. He is afraid that this woman would once again disappear once he walked away. So, he shamelessly walked next to her as she spoke with Shen Qui.


    When Lyca was finished speaking, they were already in Huang Sheng Hong''s office. Lyca quickly told her parents about her n to visit Ma Ping and the others before leaving with Chu Nan and Cleo.


    "I have never been to Ralia."


    "Hmmm," Lyca just nodded. "It''s good."


    "" What was that supposed to mean? This woman is really so weird. Earlier, she was talking a lot to her husband! The most surprising thing was she actually talked like a normal human! When the call ended, she went back to being weird!


    "So you are going to teach me poisons in Ralia?"


    "If you can beat my people."


    "Of course I can beat them!" He rolled his eyes. Of course, this statement was proven wrong the moment he started fighting with Ma Ping.


    When Lyca and Chu Nan arrived, everyone already finished their training for the day. Lyca immediately instructed them to form a line as she wanted to check their progress. Almost immediately, the already tired group suddenly turned active. Smiles can be seen in their faces, each of them excited to show off to Lyca.


    She had been gone for so long, the group actually thought she had forgotten about them!


    "Alright, first fight with Ma Ping."


    "Where are we fighting?" Chu Nan immediately eyed the four-story building to his left then the two-story building across it. They are currently in the middle of the buildings. A bonfire can be seen in front of the group.


    "Here," Lyca said. She took a bite of the burger that was given to her by Cleo and gestured for Chu Nan to fight in the middle, near the bonfire. "There fight there."


    "This  " Chu Nan squinted when he noticed a man walked out of the crowd. He was shorter than Chu Nan by a few inches. "I already  " he wanted to tell him that he remembered him but was cut off by Ma Ping''s words.


    "Let''s fight. This trick won''t work on me. "


    "" Chu Nan looked at the people watching them. Men and women actually showed excitement. Maybe they are not aware who he was? But this man in front of him and a few people in the group have apanied them when raiding Lord Olfan''s house. They should know that he was working with the police.


    "What are you waiting for?" Ma Ping stood proud, eyes squinted at Chu Nan. He was wearing all ck clothes. A ck tactical pants paired with another ck tank top that showed his firm muscles.


    "How arrogant," Chu Nan heard enough. He walked towards the space. "Don''t me me for not showing any mercy!" Without waiting for Ma Ping to say anything, he charged towards him. His goal? Grappling!


    Chu Nan was obviously bigger and bulkier than Ma Ping. He was confident that once he gets ahold of Ma Ping and pinned him into the sandy soil, he would immediately win. "Huh?" Chu Nan had to stop when he realized that Ma Ping was no longer in the space before. "Too quick?" He frowned. However, before he could turn to look for him, he already felt someone kick his back. He stumbled but quickly gain his bnce. "You  " Such a dirty fighter?


    "Mr. Chu, there is no right way to fight someone. It''s only death and survival." Ma Ping said, his face serious.


    "Good!" Chu Nan uttered as he sprang forward. He refused to believe that this small man could defeat him using his agility alone! This time, Ma Ping met his fist. He dodged, kicked, and sent one of his palms.


    Of course, Chu Nan''s experience didn''t disappoint. He was already bigger and stronger, he was also older and more experienced. It was already expected that he would eventually win. However, Ma Ping wasn''t nning on giving the man an easy win. He fought, gaze resolute as he studied each and every movement of Chu Nan.


    "Time''s up!" Lyca''s voice rang. Ma Ping and Chu Nan immediately stopped fighting.


    "There''s a time limit?" Chu Nan asked, confused.


    "Not earlier, but it''s already three minutes. Are you nning to make me wait here all night? Ma Ping, you lost." Lyca stood and walked towards him. "Although you are younger and more inexperienced than Mr. Chu, you still lost."


    "" What was she talking about? Why does it feel like Lyca was insulting Chu Nan instead?


    "Well Miss Xi"


    "I don''t ept reasons," Lyca said sternly. "The mission is to finish people as fast as possible. Use every method. You could have used the sand to blind him, kick his balls. But you didn''t you wanted to fight fair and defeat him with your ability. In a war, do you think people do that?"


    "" This isn''t a war. Isn''t this a practice match? Chu Nan became more and more confused. Why was she talking about wars and ending people? Just... Just what kind of ce is this?


    ....


    Don''t forget to vote for the novel.

 Chapter 337: Mechanical and Biochemical

    Chapter 337: Mechanical and Biochemical


    "I won''t fight anymore!" Chu Nan said. "How could I fight ten people in one night!? What do you take me for?"


    "Oh, you''re tired? Turns out a police officer can only do "


    "Stop using this excuse over and over! You  You are crazy! I quit! I am telling my grandfather "


    "So childish." Cleo sneered. "Mr. Chu we aren''t forcing you to fight. We are just a bit disappointed. We heard that people like you could actually fight against ten people at the same time. Now, you are about to fight ten people and they aren''t even attacking you at the same time."


    Chu Nan finished the water that Lyca handed. "Your people are freakish." These people were all agile and they fight dirty too. After the first fight, everyone seemed to think that they can just do everything to win. They throw sands and some were using words to provoke him.


    Chu Nan was able to defeat a few of them, but his energy was also depleted. Tackling one or two of these people was really tiring. "Listen I am not trained to fight against ninjas." That''s right. These people reminded him of ninjas that he saw on the TV. They are quick, they can dance in the air and act like acrobats.


    "Alright let''s call it a night then." Lyca frowned as she looked at everyone. "I am disappointed." With that, she turned towards the two-story building. Chu Nan and Cleo immediately followed her.


    "Hey, be honest with me. Why are you training assassins? I heard earlier that they will join the security assembly. These people"


    "Aren''t you tired? You should sleep. Tomorrow, you will fight more people." Lyca said as she threw a small vial to Cleo. "Use this to clean his bruises." Then she threw another one. "Let him take that. He won''t feel a thing tomorrow."


    "Oh. Alright" Cleo said. "Hey, follow me. Xi will sleep now."


    "What about my poison?"


    "Did you defeat all of them?" Cleo asked.


    "You  That is impossible."


    Cleo just shrugged and led him to his own room. The room wasn''t big. It has a double bed, a small toilet with a shower, a table, a small window, and a cab. "Your things will be sent here tomorrow. For now, use those clothes."


    "What is this ce? Howe those people are like that?" Lyca said earlier that all of them trained for a few months already. When she scolded them, she was acting like having those results after training for just a few months was terrible. "Months they have been training for months. I have been with the forces for years," he uttered.


    "Yeah they are young. Take off your clothes." Cleo said sternly.


    "Why?"


    "I am going to use this on your wounds."


    "Oh." Seeing Cleo''s unabashed expression, he shrugged and took his shirt off. "All of them are hitting fatal points. If I am not careful enough, I will injure myself."


    "They are trained like that."


    "To kill people?" he asked.


    "Yeah," Cleo said as she sighed. Some parts of his body were already turning a little bluish. "I am sure that Xi won''t let you fight again tomorrow."


    "But she said"


    "She''s always like that," Cleo uttered. "She''s different. Alright, I am done. You should take one of these tablets." She put the vial on the table.


    Chu Nan squinted his eyes at the tablet. "This ce should be a secret, no?"


    "Ah, you finally had some brains?" Cleo sneered. "This ce is a secret."


    "Then she took me here to "


    "To help her and help you," Cleo uttered. "You are helpless. I should go now." She said and turned towards the door, leaving a serious Chu Nan inside.


    Just like what Cleo said, Lyca didn''t ask Chu Nan to fight again the next day. Instead, she scolded her people and told them that in front of a person who has trained for so long, they will surely die. Then she gave them some tips.


    Of course, this tip only made Chu Nan frowned.


    Lyca actually said that if they can''t beat them, using martial arts then use knives. If they can''t kill them using knives, use guns. Just do it as quickly as possible to avoid being injured. Finally, if the opponent is really strong and they can''t kill them, then the best option is to run. Run as fast as possible. Isn''t this why she had been training them to run in the mountains every day?


    This this is really weird, ah. But for some reason, it made sense. Lyca had been telling them that survival is the most important. In a battle, the most important thing is to live.


    "Alright, check out the things that I bought. Each of you will have six daggers. All of these are custom-made base on your capabilities." Lyca gestured Hogan and his people to give them the boxes. "I know that you have been training with knives and guns in the past few days now. It''s time that we focus on one thing. I want to have an impromptu examination using the daggers and guns. I want to see everyone''s capabilities. Then I would divide you base on your results. There will be two groups, mechanical and biochemical. Mechanical as the name suggests would use knives, guns, and other things that needed pressure and ability, and skills. Biochemical... Is by using poison." She said as his gaze darted towards Chu Nan. "You  will be the first member of my biochemical team."


    "Ah?"


    "Yes, you," Lyca said, her gaze darted towards the other people that were forming a line in front of her. "In the next few days, everyone will train base on their groups. Mechanical will train using guns, knives, and other weapons. Biochemical will train with explosives, poisons, antidotes, acid and chemical elements." She once again looked at Chu Nan. "Everyone of them has memorized the table of elements and the art of war." Seeing Chu Nan''s dark expression, Lyca smirked. "Don''t worry, they can teach you if you forget something."

 Chapter 338: Lasers

    Chapter 338: Lasers


    After Lyca''s new arrangements, everyone started showing off their ability and she quickly divided everyone into two groups. The first group or the mechanical group were experts in knives and guns, while the second one were good with explosives.


    "I will not join thepetition," Chu Nan dered when they finished the first assessment. "If you think you can "


    "I didn''t ask you to join," Lyca interrupted him. "You can leave now." Her eyes were already on the man sitting on the chair, reading the art of war book. Seeing her in a daze while staring at her husband, Chu Nan snorted and left the tent. "Howe you''re here?" she walked straight into hisp, smiling.


    "I thought you miss me?"


    "Why would I miss you?" she retorted, her hands were already on his chest. "You lost weight?" She knew he had been busy with the restaurant business. He had been traveling in and out of the city for the current expansion n.


    "You''re worried?"


    She squinted. What kind of question was that? Of course, she would be worried. "Of course, not! You are an adult, you can eat whatever you want." Shen Qui turned silent. "Kidding," Lyca smiled and lower her head to kiss him. "If you want to lose weight so much, then you can just stay with me all day. How about that?" She mumbled in between the kisses.


    She heard him chuckle as he lifted her up, moving her so she would face him, her legs wrapped around his waist. "You looked stressed," Lyca noted, her hand was already on the small stubble on his face. "Was it that stressful?"


    "It''s fine. A bit busy but should be manageable."


    "You should sleep."


    He lifted an eyebrow in response. "Really?"


    She nodded as if her life depended on it. "Yeah, sleep. I''m not some maniac, alright."


    "I was here to show you the armor suit. Ronan called me when you didn''t check it out. I immediately knew that you wanted me to bring it here."


    "Really? How did you read my mind?" She chuckled and stood. Then she pulled her towards her room. "I will check it out. You should sleep here. I will wake you up after three hours?"


    "Hmmm." He gave a wry smile. "Alright, I will listen to you."


    Lyca beamed before she tiptoed and kiss his cheek. Just like a cat, Lyca nimbly left the room without waiting for Shen Qui to say anything. "Ah, at least I didn''t let temptation defeat me!" She muttered, proudly. She could rip off his clothes and do something immoral with him, but he was tired. The dark bags in his eyes were enough to stop her brain from giving her other thoughts.


    Lyca immediately went to Hogan''s office, where the armor was. When she got there, Chu Nan and Cleo were already standing next to the ck armor.


    "Isn''t it too small?" Cleo said.


    "It''s flexible. Design to adapt to the body of the person who wears it." Lyca exined, a small smile already on her face. "Give me a gun."


    Without any hesitation, Hogan gave her a small handgun. "Away," she uttered. Cleo and Chu Nan immediately move away from the armor. Then she fired the gun with no hesitation.


    *BANG!*


    *BANG!*


    *BANG!*


    The sound echoed inside the small room, the smell of gunpowder filled the entire room.


    "It''s bulletproof." Chu Nan gasp. No, this was the only thing that he could say after seeing the wless armor. The bullet wasn''t able to make a slight scratch.


    "Lighter," Lyca uttered, and once again Hogan gave her one. This time, she used the lighter on the fabric. "Fireproof, bulletproof." She smiled. "Good enough."


    "This  " Hogan was about to say something when Lyca turned towards him.


    "This is the weaker version of my original design. The original one needed a lot more time to finish. Thus, I asked Ronan to create a team and make something like this. Everyone in my team will wear one." She approached the armor and push a button on the helmet. Almost immediately, the helmet moved to show the face of the mannequin that was wearing the armor. "This one has a night vision andmunication tool. The visor won''t emit the usual green light that the military use. Right now, the armor won''t be able to withstand .50 cal. But the original version can. However, this once can hide against thermal scanning. It''s lightweight and doesn''t absorb water. Perfect for the team."


    "Got it," Hogan said, his eyes seemed to shine as he stared at the armor. "Then can I try it on?"


    "Of course. Just let me shoot you one time. See if you can feel it."


    "Good!" Hogan said. Excitement can be seen in his eyes. He had been in the military for years and he already saw different types of armors and bulletproof vests, but none of them resembled this one. Ah, he immediately remembered some movies that used weapons like this. "Ah, Xi I am wondering. What about its weapon? Can this fireser too?"


    "" Lyca rolled her eyes. "Nope. Just use your gone and knife. Nosers."


    "Oh," he nodded. Even without thesers, he was still happy to wear this, ah.


    After a few minutes, Hogan finished wearing the armor. "I''m ready," Hogan smiled. Of course, Lyca didn''t hesitate and fired the gun towards the man''s legs. "Hmmm not bad. Actually, it''s just like an ant bite. I felt the bullet but not the usual pain."


    "Hmm," Lyca smiled. "Alright, take it off. I will let Ronan know to start with the production. Let''s hope he could finish everything before the assembly." With this, Lyca left the room. Of course, Chu Nan followed her. However, this time, he was silent.


    His lips pursed, head lowered as he recalled everything that happened earlier. In the market, armor like this doesn''t exist. Meaning, Lyca''s team should be the first team to wear this type of armor in the assembly.


    "Allmunications made within this ce will be recorded and tracked." Lyca''s voice interrupted his stupor. "This is considered a secret. Anyone who betrays me will end up like Lord Olfan."


    Chu Nan stared at Lyca. He wasn''t really nning to betray her. However, he was nning to tell his grandfather about this. As if sensing his thoughts, Lyca turned towards him. "You can tell him after the assembly." She smiled.

 Chapter 339: Cyanide

    Chapter 339: Cyanide


    Chu Nan''s expression changed. "Do you want to sell the armor to us?"


    "Can." Lyca smiled. These are the ones with the lower quality. Of course, she can sell them and have some profits.


    "What about that bullet? The one that you created? Does it work on this armor?"


    "No." Lyca shook her head. The primary purpose of the armor is to be the greatest weakness of that bullet. Lyca smiled. In fact, the original bullet that she made could still hurt the armor, but that bullet is no longer in the market. The current one  the one that Lyca sold to Long Yi while she was acting as Xi  was not the same as the original one.


    The second bullet was specifically created to have a weakness.


    Just like that, Lyca''szy days ended. Recently, she had been running around in Ralia, training people, checking the production of the armor, and teaching some of the basics in using chemicals in explosives. Of course, Chu Nan has benefited as he actually learned a lot of things that were not taught when he was still working in the police.


    "This weapon is disguised as a pen but it fires hydrocyanic acid in the form of gas meaning, cyanide. It''s colorless. Usually, cyanide was described as a chemical having a bitter almond oil smell. This one, however, is odorless. It''s a perfect tool to assassinate someone." Lyca lifted a pen from the table. "Cyanide is most dangerous in enclosed spaces as it quickly evaporates in open spaces. I am certain that everyone here is already familiar with how Cyanide can kill someone. "


    Chu Nan squinted when he heard Lyca''s words. His gaze was glued to the pen in her hand. "How about the antidote?" he asked. As someone in the police force, he is very familiar with the danger that this poison can do. It can basically affect both the heart and brain as it will target the cells that are carrying oxygen. Someone who survived cyanide poisoning would usually still suffer from brain damage.


    The good thing about this poison was the fact that it had an antidote. The antidote is of course mostly in the government or military hospitals.


    "I don''t have an antidote," Lyca smiled at him. "I don''t make antidotes. I always believe that prevention is better than cure. So, I am injecting everyone with something that I created myself. It''s something that couldbat the attacks of cyanide on the cellr level. Meaning, even if you inhale the gas, it won''t affect you. Of course, eating someone might have different effects."


    "You created something like that?" Chu Nan was shocked. How could someone create something like that? "How?" he asked.


    "I mixed them up." Lyca gave him a weird look. "Having an antidote without the approval of the government is illegal. So I created something that will protect me from the damage. That is not illegal." Lyca exined. Unlike her previous world, some antidotes and poisons are regted by the government. Meaning, they always keep a list of people who buy ingredients for an antidote. If they found some anomalies, they would directly arrest that person for making an antidote, especially if that person is trying to sell it on the ck market.


    Lyca was toozy to have an approval or deal with the government. So she created something like this instead.


    "Of course it''s not illegal!" Chu Nan said. "No one has that kind of thing." If the government will know that she was able to create something like this, they would surely raise hell to get it. He eyed Lyca, a sh of worry glinted in his eyes. He stared at the pen before asking. "You said this injection is only effective if you inhale it? What if you ingest the poison?"


    "Eh you would probably die," Lyca said. "I already tried the injection to myself and even inhaled cyanide. Of course, it worked. As you can see, I am still alive. However, I didn''t dare ingest it. You can, of course, try to ingest one so I can study the result."


    ""


    "Next is this "


    "I still have a question!" Chu Nan raised his hand. Lyca rolled her eyes in response.


    "What?"


    "I am wondering if the cyanide wouldn''t work. The target survived. What would you do?"


    Lyca stared at him. "Nothing. Living in fear is worse than dying." Logic would dictate that this person would immediately hire people to protect him. Or even increase his security and maybe eveny some traps for the assassin. Why would Lyca risk it? Just let the man die from being too scared, ah.


    She smirked. Of course, this is a case to case basis.


    "Alright, I am tired. Everyone should leave. I need to sleep." Lyca said. "Don''t forget, tomorrow, I will have another assessment." After this assessment, she is going to divide the group once again. There will be two primary groups. One is headed by Ma Ping, the other will be headed by Chu Nan. Each group will have twelve people.


    Then, these twelve people will be divided into two teams. Six people each. Four of them will be experts in Mechanical, while the other two are experts in biochemical.


    Lyca didn''t wait for anyone to say anything as she walked out of the room and went straight to her office that is connected to her room. She then opened herptop using a series of codes and started reading the files that Sister Yi''an sent her.


    The moment she opened the file, Ken Xu''s face was the first thing that she saw. It was followed by his files. 32 years old, martial arts expert, sharpshooter, poison expert, and surgeon.


    Interesting.


    Lyca started reading the man''s background. After a few minutes, she closed the file and herptop. Then she went and lie down on her bed. Ken Xu''s face shed in her head. When Ken Xu was a child, he fell into ake and went into aa for a few days. Isn''t that something that happened to her as well?

 Chapter 340: Right Choice

    Chapter 340: Right Choice


    Slowly, days passed. The cold days turned warmer, days turned longer.


    One week before the spring festival, Lyca and the others were already in thest stages of the training. The sses about explosives and poisoning were already over. Right now, there were already twenty armor made and everyone was really excited to use it.


    Of course, this included Chu Nan.


    Since he was considered a leader of a team, Chu Nan will also participate in the assembly. Of course, he is not going to attend the activities andpetition. He is going to attend the assembly as Lyca''s assistant, along with Cleo.


    The person who will act as the leader of the second group, the person that would rece Chu Nan during thepetition is going to be the smart Gu Cheng. He is also the one leading the Biochemical team. Gu Cheng''s intelligence was apparent. When ites to explosives, he is already considered an expert. Of course, he was still careful around poisons  especially the ones that Lyca made herself. After all, those poisons don''t have any antidotes.


    When Chu Nan asked Lyca about this, her answer was pretty simple. ''It''s not possible for her to create an antidote without consuming the poison herself. And she was toozy to do that. So she didn''t."


    Chu Nan could only sigh as he told his grandfather about this. When his grandfather asked him when he is going home, Chu Nan actually refused. Lyca already taught him some antidotes of the poisons in this world. She even gave him a couple of forms to help him with radiation poisoning.


    If one would think about it carefully, the things that he learned now were more than enough for him to return to his grandfather''s side. However, he couldn''t. Rather he wouldn''t.


    In the past few weeks that Chu Nan stayed in Ralia to train with Lyca''s people, he discovered one thing. It wasn''t too bad to be friends with everyone. Even Cleo, who was always following Lyca all the time, is slowly bing likable in his eyes.


    Slowly, Chu Nan interacted with the group and he discovered that each and every one of them had their own stories. Each story was more interesting than his. For instance, the jolly Ma Ping had a personality that was simr yet different from his. The man wouldn''t stand as his friend was bullied. This is something that is so simr to Chu Nan.


    There was also the smart Gu Cheng and his woman, irondy Yan. That''s right, the Yang Junqi who was kidnapped before had now be one of the strongest in the group. Lady Yan''s domineering personality waspletelypatible with Gu Cheng''s submissive one.


    There was also a man named Oneword who became one of the people that talked to Chu Nan most of the time. Contrary to his nickname, the man was actually quite talkative. Chu Nan soon discovered that Oneword''s father was once a police officer who died while on duty. He was shot by a drug dealer. Thus, Oneword hated drug dealers the most.


    "You sure you''re not leaving?" Cleo stood next to Chu Nan, a cup of coffee in her hand.


    "Ah, thank you for the coffee." Chu Nan smiled and immediately took the coffee from her hand.


    "That "


    "Ah, so bitter? Did you forget to put sugar?"


    "I don''t do sugar or cream," Cleo took the cup back, her eyes were already on the people having their morning training. Each of them was on the ground, sparring with their partners.


    "Oh." Chu Nan snorted. "I am not leaving unless Xi told me to leave on her own."


    "You are too childish," Cleo uttered. "A few weeks ago you were always barking like a dog because you wanted her to teach you something so you could go home. Now you won''t leave if she won''t ask you too? So shameless."


    Chu Nan didn''t say anything. It is normal for him to change his mind all the time.


    "Say, are you spying on us? Are you going to steal informationter on?"


    "Stealing something is your job," Chu Nan fired back. "If I steal something, your boss will probably kill me. So while the thought appeared in my mind before, I am logical enough to know that it won''t end well."


    A smug smile appeared on Cleo''s face. "As long as you know."


    Years from now, when Chu Nan thought about the time when he decided to stay with Lyca, he would pat his back and smile. He made the right choice.


    ....


    Meanwhile, Long Yi and the Long Family were also preparing for the uing assembly. Right now, they didn''t put Lyca''s agency in their eyes. After all, it was nothing but a start-uppany. What would apany like that do?


    While Lord Olfan''s words about poison repeated in his mind, Long Yi wasn''t that worried about it. Lyca would nevermit murder in front of everyone. He was confident that Lyca would never strike during the event. Of course, he already has some preparations if this happens. For instance, they already prepared some suits for gaseous poisoning. Their food and water supplies were also checked every day. Everything from the water that they used to take a bath, to the water that is used to wash the fruits and kitchen utensils were thoroughly checked.


    He was confident that Lyca would never be able to use her poisons in Long City!


    "Sir, this is the list of the Security Company that will join the assembly this time. There will be a total of eightpanies from this region alone. One from Long City. Three from Xie City. Two from Kong City and two from Ralia."


    "Hmmm," Long Yi epted the list and immediately checked the names under Shen Security. Lyca Huang''s name was especially irritating. Of course, there was also Shen Qui and Chu Nan? "Chu Nan? Chu Family?"


    "Yes, sir."


    "Why would someone from the Chu Family joined them?" Long Yi had been to the capital a lot of times, and he was very familiar with the Chu Family. He remembered the twins, Chu Nan and Chu Munan as he already met them before. "No. That can''t be. This must be the wrong person."

 Chapter 341: Jealous Person

    Chapter 341: Jealous Person


    "Sir, Miss Lyca had been in the Chu Family''s ancestral house after the new year. She was also seen with Mr. Chu Nan for a few times. Our team who had been watching in Ralia also confirmed this matter. I already checked the background. It is indeed Mr. Chu Nan from the Chu Family of Ath Province."


    Long Yi''s brows furrowed as he snorted. "Lyca ah, I wonder why you have been silenttely. Turns out, you wanted the support of someone powerful. I wonder if you already knew about the Xu Family?" He continued to mutter. "Well what about the ''ident'' that we prepare for them?"


    "Everything is prepared sir, we weren''t able to get into their camp as the securities were really tight but we can do it on the road. We already analyzed their most logical route. The ident will happen in Ralia."


    "Good. Did you already tell father about this?"


    "About the list? No, sir. But Patriarch Long is already aware of the ident."


    "Good. Keep it that way."


    "Yes, Sir also"


    "Hm?" Long Yi lifted his gaze. "What is it?"


    "The Madam''s stomach is getting bigger. She she asked if you could apany her while she gave birth."


    "No." Long Yi said. "Just gave her the best doctor. Tell her I''m busy."


    "Understood."


    With this, the man respectfully took a step back and left him in his office alone. He eyed the file of paper on his table and let out a sigh. Lately, his father had been very busy with his ownpany that he let Long Yi handle the assembly. There were a lot of things that he needed to take care of. Thus, he was very busy.


    He eyed the list and decided to put it in the drawer of his table.


    At the same time, Lyca was staring at the map of Shun Regions. In this Region, there are four cities. The Kong City, Ralia, Long, and Xie City. Aside from the Kong City, who is considered the most chaotic part of the region, the others were led by ''aristocratic'' families. Ralia was led by the Tan Family, Long City was led by the Long Family, and Xie Family ruled Xie City.


    Right now, Kong City was still chaotic, but it would soon change after the election. Especially after Lord Olfan''s disappearance. Meaning, another family would rule Kong City soon. Lyca already promised Santa this, so she doesn''t have any problem. Surely, that man won''t betray her if the timees.


    Now, she needed to get back to Long City. She thought about her fun childhood in Long City and sigh. In the City, there were a lot of prominent families, but none of them dare to face the Long Family. Even the prominent Huang Family suffered after they dared decline Long Family''s good intention.


    "There might be an ambush here," Lyca suddenly pointed at one route leading to Long City. "By now, they already know that someone from the Chu Family is here. So they will attempt to teach me a lesson. The goal this time is to make my people wounded. In that way, they won''t be able to attend the assembly." She sneered.


    "This route is quite remote," Cleo immediately added.


    "Hmmm."


    "So? What are we going to do?"


    "Set up two tinted buses. They will leave ahead of us. Prepare six SUV. The team will use the SUV and use an alternate route. We will take the long road and turn towards Kong City before going to Long City." Instead of the shorter route that would go directly from Ralia to Long City, Lyca chose the longer and safest one.


    "We will leave the day before the scheduled time," Lyca added.


    "Got it. Do we have any arrangements for Boss Q? Shall I inform him about this matter?"


    "Hmmm, yeah." Lyca yawned. "Tell him toe here and get his armor suit."


    Cleo stared at Lyca. Why not call the boss herself? Was she toozy to call? Or the two had a fighttely? Now that Cleo thought about it, she hadn''t seen Shen Qui for four days now. Did the two really fight?


    Lyca turned towards Cleo. "We are not fighting," she quickly exined. She could easily read Cleo''s face, it was so easy for her to guess. "He is currently in Aiba, he is trying to close a deal. This restaurant is going to be the first restaurant that we have in that Region."


    "Oh" Cleo nodded. But this doesn''t exin why she wouldn''t call her husband no? Suspicionced Cleo''s gaze. As if sensing her thoughts, Lycaughed.


    "The person that he is trying to negotiate with is a woman." Lyca beamed. "If I call him that woman might get jealous and not close the deal."


    Cleo frowned. "Are you trying to sell your husband?" She remembered something. A rumor It was something that Santa said himself. The man said that Lyca actually made Shen Qui negotiate with Santa because of his preference for younger, handsome boys.


    Now that Cleo thought about it. That is indeed something that Lyca would do.


    "Aish what are you talking about?" Lyca sneered. "I am a jealous person. If he likes someone else, I will kill him."


    "Then? Why don''t you call him?"


    Lyca snorted. "Because I''m a jealous person!" Isn''t that enough exnation? If she called him and asked for his day, she might get jealous and leave everything to follow him around!


    "Oh! So you you are already jealous and you are scared that you will get more jealous and be crazy?"


    "" Lyca red at her. She wasn''t jealous She is just being careful! After all, prevention is always better than cure. "I trust him."


    "Oh?"


    "Betrayal means death, and he knows this," Lyca said before she gestured her to leave the office. "Don''t forget to call him. Tell him to go to Long City with me. I need support." She sat on her chair and yawned. Ah, thinking about Shen Qui talking to some beautiful woman is making her angry.


    It''s better to find something to eat to pacify herself.

 Chapter 342: Ice Cream

    Chapter 342: Ice Cream


    Lycazily eyed the scorching sun. Today was Spring Festival, and she was waiting for Shen Qui in one park in Long City. The first three days of the Spring Festival were supposed to be spent with family, however, Lyca deliberately came to Long City to trick the Long Family into believing that she hadn''t met with her mother and father, yet.


    On this day, Lyca was actually nning to visit some rtives in Long City. She was born here, isn''t it reasonable for her to have some rtives in this ce? She smiled at the man approaching her. Shen Qui was wearing dark sunsses, an equally dark shirt, and jeans with ice cream in his hands.


    "You''rete," Lyca grabbed the ice cream and pouted. Last night, Lyca already arrived in the City but Shen Qui just arrived now. Of course, she knew it was because of a flight dy. Spring Festival was an extremely important holiday in this country, many people would surely go home at this time.


    "I bought you some snacks from the Aiba region. I am sure you would like it."


    "Do I look like someone easily bribed with food?" She squinted. She thought about the woman that this man met in Aiba Region.


    "Yes."


    "" Why so honest? Lyca''s face turned dark. "I haven''t seen you for a few days and you are already like this?"


    Seeing that she was already in a foul mood, Shen Qui immediately held her waist and pulled her towards him. "I was wrong. I deserve to be punished." His smiling face betrayed his words. "How about you use handcuff? Hmm?"


    "So nasty. Do you think I am an easy girl?" Lyca snorted before she leaned her head into his arms. "I suddenly want to go home and get handcuffs."


    "" Shen Qui fought the urge tough at her cute reaction. "Then how about we just stay in our room?" When he arrived earlier, Cleo informed her that Lyca went out. He tried to call her but ended up being rejected. Of course, he knew that she was a little down because he had been too busy. So, he bought her ice cream.


    "Spring Festival is for family members. What are you talking about?" She inhaled his scent and lifted her head. "I think I miss you."


    Her words were stern. He lowered his gaze and kissed the tip of her nose. "How about we just go home so I can show you how much I miss you?" A mischievous glint shed in his eyes. "Hmmm?"


    This made herugh. "So naughty."


    "I''m sorry, I was really busy."


    "You are lucky you have a very kind wife," Lyca uttered. "How was the contract?"


    "Good! This year, we will open restaurants in two prominent hotels. All branches, in the country and abroad."


    Lyca''s eyes widened. "Really?"


    "Of course, I am such an amazing man after all."


    "Narcissism is a disease."


    "If I am not amazing, you wouldn''t have agreed to marry me," Shen Qui immediately reasoned.


    Of course, Lyca nodded. "This is true. How could someone like me chose someone that is not as amazing as me?"


    "" Why does it feel like this woman was more narcissistic than he is?


    "You don''t agree with me?"


    "My wife is always right."


    "Smart man." Lyca kissed his ears. "How about we go home now?"


    "Not mad anymore?" he chuckled.


    "Toozy to be angry," she said before she started licking the now melting ice cream. "I like it like this."


    "Melted?" He gave her a wry smile.


    "Yeah... Reminds me of something." She winked at him.


    ""


    .................


    Spring Festival was a big event for the Huang Family. Or at least this was the case four years ago.


    During Spring Festival, Old Man Huang would usually invite his whole family for dinner and some fun. However, this tradition had long stopped because of what happened all those years ago.


    Today, the second son of Old Man Huang, Huang Li Duo tried to be act excited and happy. His daughter, who had been staying abroad in the past few weeks, will go home and see him. Of course, her husband, Long Yi, would apany her.


    "I am still curious. Why would she go home while she is already heavily pregnant? Makes little sense to me." Huang Li Di''s son, Huang Zi Yan asked. He finished his coffee and looked at his father. "That bastard Long Yi must have refused to visit her abroad. Tsk."


    "Zi Yan your sister only misses us. No need to think about it. Their marriage is their own matter."


    "Old Man, you saw how that man treated Xiaoxuan and you are still acting like a blind person." He wanted to add some nasty words and asked the old man if he still considered himself as Huang Xiaoxuan''s father. How could a father act like this just for benefits?


    "And what would you want me to do?" This matter had been bothering Huang Li Duo for years now. And yet he was helpless. "Don''t forget that your sister threatened to kill herself if I didn''t ask that Long Yi marry her! She loves the man so much. It''s either I gave in or she will die." As Huang Xiaoxuan''s father, his choice was pretty obvious. It was his daughter''s life.


    A sigh escaped his son''s lips. "I will apany her back abroad after Spring Festival. She cannot stay here. I heard from Long Yi''s assistant that Lyca would join the Assembly this time. It is getting more and more dangerous."


    The mention of Lyca''s name made the atmosphere tense, heavy. "She''sing?" Huang Li Duo had long expected this. He thought about seeing his own father on that bed. He turned silent as he wondered if Old Man Huang was able to live after they escaped the facility.


    "I heard she is already in the City. Long Yi is trying to track her right now. We should prepare ourselves. That woman is unpredictable. We don''t really know if she suddenly decides to visit us today." Huang Zi Yan muttered. "After all, she is crazy enough to do that."


    ....

 Chapter 343: Holiday

    Chapter 343: Holiday


    Who would have known that a few minutes after he said this, someone announced that Lyca was outside and is requesting an audience?


    The father and son paled as they stared at each other.


    "Jinx!" Huang Li Duo hissed, his eyes narrowed at his son. "Go and prepare our people. Call your aunt and Long Yi! I will go and see her!"


    "But what if she "


    "Do you really think she''s that foolish? She won''t kill me and bebeled as a criminal."


    "Alright."


    Seeing his son leave his office, Huang Li Duo immediately instructed the attendant to bring Lyca inside the mansion. It took Huang Li Duo a few minutes to arm himself with some guns and knives before he finally arrived in the Huang Family living room.


    "Uncle!" Lyca''s smiling face instantly made his face dark.


    "Let''s stop the fakery! Why are you here?" He sat opposite Lyca and Shen Qui.


    "To visit family."


    "We  We were no longer family."


    "Oh?" Lycaughed lightly. She started peeling an orange that was given by the servant. However, Shen Qui grabbed the orange from her hand and started peeling it. "I bought some gifts."


    "I am not interested in your gifts."


    "It''s not for you." The smile on her face widened. "It''s for your daughter."


    "You "


    "She''s almost due?"


    "Are you threatening me?"


    "Uncle I now understand why guilty people always think that everyone around them is out to get them." She frowned. "How have you been? I heard that you were angry with Aunt Ying and Uncle Qingyun for a long time after they poisoned Grandfather?" ording to her father, Huang Sheng Hong, Huang Li Duo actually argued with his sister back then. However, he was powerless against Long Yi and his father.


    "That''s not true."


    "Hmm." She started eating the orange that Shen Qui handed her. "I heard Long Yi treats your daughter badly. Are you happy to see her suffer?"


    Huang Li Duo''s face reddened. He couldn''t help but gnashed his teeth. Memories of his once lovely little daughter shed in his head. "I don''t know what you''re talking about! You aren''t wee here! I suggest you leave as soon as possible."


    "Oh" Lyca nodded. "Did you call them, already? You know that killing me won''t do you any good, yes?"


    "You "


    "I have spies. People working under you and everyone else. I have poisons surrounding this ce. My death would mean you will die too."


    "You think I''m scared of you!?"


    "Then why don''t you do it? You can try and kill me if you want?" Lyca smiled. "I heard... Huang Xiaoxuan is already on her way here."


    "How did you know that?"


    "I don''t know what would happen if she suddenly died? Do you think her baby will die too? Isn''t that too pitiful?"


    "You "


    "Hehe Rx, Uncle. I am kidding. It''s a holiday today. Isn''t it time to have some fun?"


    "And this is your idea of fun? I already said! You aren''t wee here! Leave now before I decide to kill you."


    "But it''s Spring Festival!" Lyca retorted.


    "We are not families!"


    "Then you aren''t nning to offer me some food? How mean." Lyca frowned. "Since it''s like this I will leave. Husband, let''s go." Lyca''s eyes twinkled as she went out of the mansion with Shen Qui.


    "You are enjoying this like a sadist."


    Lyca turned towards him before he pouted. "Ew. I am a kindhearted girl who wanted to spend some time with rtives on this Holiday!" She didn''t wipe the smug smile off her face.


    The two walked towards the car that was waiting for them.


    ...


    "She came here to announce her arrival!" Huang Ying said, her shrill voice echoed inside the study. It had been one hour since Lyca left. When she arrived here with her people, Lyca was no longer here. Her useless brother was actually so useless! How could he let that woman go? "So? She can nowe and go in your ce? How dare you allow her to leave this ce unscathed?"


    "Huang Ying, calm down."


    "Calm down? Calm down? Really? That''s all you have to say? Calm down? After what you did!?"


    "Elder Sister, Elder Brother Li Duo is right. Please calm down. Let''s be rational. We should think of the reason why she announced her arrival."Huang Qingyun who had been silent since his arrival uttered. "This isn''t her style."


    "This is true." Long Yi who sat next to Huang Qingyun added. "This isn''t her style at all." He already knew that Lyca ising for the assembly. But he didn''t expect her to act like this. In fact, he was expecting her to hide and stay hidden until the assembly will start.


    "Then why did she do it?" Huang Li Duo was also confused. Lyca came here and really brought some unopened supplements for pregnant women. This made him confuse.


    "She wanted to rile us up!" Huang Ying said. "She wanted us to feel fear and tremble because we can''t do anything about her being here!"


    "Actually, I think we can do something about her." Huang Qingyun spoke, his face stern. "Mr. Long and the Long Family owned this City. If you think about it, they are really influential. Even the police "


    "I can''t do it." Long Yi immediately said. While it''s true that the Long Family is really influential right now, he can''t actually influence the police to frame Lyca. "I have investigated and found out that she is now working with the Chu Family. The heir of the Chu Family, one of the twins, Chu Nan is apanying her right now."


    "You mean But how did she convince them to work with her? I remember you said they only owned a few restaurants in and outside Kong City?" Huang Ying''s face darkened. She already confirmed this matter. Lyca and Shen Qui indeed owned a few businesses. It shouldn''t be enough to attract the attention of the Chu Family.


    "Her skills," Huang Qingyun said. "She is smart and skilled in poison. I remember, Old Man Huang praised her before because she was able to create some perfume forms? She could have used some forms and sell it to one of theirpanies."


    Silence filled the room.


    "So if we can''t influence the police then, how are we going to frame her? That woman is careful enough. She won''tmit any crimes while she was in here."

 Chapter 344: Crying for the Camera

    Chapter 344: Crying for the Camera


    While everyone was nning on how to get her in trouble while she was in the city, Lyca and Shen Qui were walking by the beach. The two were holding their shoes as they yfully kicked the sand. The soft breeze weed them.


    The two didn''t speak for a few minutes before Shen Qui received a call confirming that the target already arrived in Huang Li Duo''s mansion.


    "Alright, go for it." Shen Qui didn''t bother to ask Lyca what to do next. He could read her like the back of his palm. "The fireworks will start soon."


    Lyca nodded. She turned towards Shen Qui and gave him a gentle smile.


    "What''s wrong?" His gaze turned suspicious. Does she need anything? "You  You are not going to kill anyone, yes?"


    "Of course, not." She gave a burst of lightughter. "What do you take me for?"


    "Awbreaker," he answered without batting an eyelid.


    "I thought you''re on my side?"


    Shen Qui chuckled. "Alright, I was wrong. You are a sweet, gentle, and kind wife."


    "Hmm. You learn quickly. It was already six in the evening. While this wasn''t her first time watching the sunset with Shen Qui, this sunset is a bit meaningful to her. "Hey, I have a question."


    "Hm?"


    "Did you find it lonely? I mean before you met me?"


    "Lonely? Hmmm Not really. I spent Spring Festival visiting friends."


    Lyca lowered her head. "What do you think of the Shen family?"


    "Nothing. I am not one of them."


    "Because you are a Xu?"


    Shen Qui stared at her. "I am not a Xu either. I am nothing but your man. You are my only family."


    Lyca elbowed him. "When did you learn to say those words? You are making me cringe."


    Heughed and rested his arm on her shoulder. "After you take care of the Long Family, what are you nning to do?" For some reason, he could already guess her answer.


    "Return some favors," Lyca smiled. "Settle some grievances then live a happy life."


    The sound of the waves kissing the beach filled the air.


    "Then, Xu Family?"


    "Yes. I already promised you this."


    "You don''t have to do your promise." Shen Qui said and for a long time, Lyca didn''t say anything.


    "Why?"


    "It''s all good now." He eyed the setting sun. "Why do we need to go and provoke some people when we are already happy? We are together?"


    "After what they did to your mother?"


    "The past is the past. It''s enough that I have you now." Shen Qui smiled, his gaze still glued to the sun. "Some people might call me a coward. But I don''t want to lose myself in this pathway. If I stayed with the Xu Family, I probably won''t meet you. If they didn''t kick me and my mother out, then I would have be one of them. Are you going to marry me if I am one of them?"


    "Probably not," Lyca answered. "You might be handsome, but the trouble thates along with the Xu Family is not worth it. I can just pay some other beautiful models to satisfy me and  aw! Did you just pinched me?"


    "Your brain is really weird. Stop thinking about weird things." The conversation was pretty serious. How did ite to her paying models to sleep with her?


    Lyca stroked her arm. "If I get a bruise, you will pay for it."


    "I can only pay you with my body. I don''t have anything else with me."


    "Who''s thinking about weird things now? Hm!?" Slowly, her face turned serious. "So you don''t want to watch them burn?"


    "So sadistic." He shook his head. "If we provoke them who knows if we will end up dead? As I said, we are happy now. Why do we need to run around and have people want to kill us? You know living like that is tiring."


    "You actually have a point," she nodded. She is toozy for that!


    "I always have a point."


    Sheughed. "So after this we are going to get married?"


    "I thought we are already married?"


    "I mean me in a white dress, walking down the aisle while you cry?" Like the fairytale! Sheughed at her own thoughts.


    "You want me to cry?"


    "Of course, you should cry for the camera. We could post it on social media and brag about it. Isn''t that the trend today?"


    "Stop watching dramas." He could onlyugh. Cry? When she was sleeping, he was crying all the time! He no longer has tears to cry for the camera!


    .....


    Huang Li Duo''s Mansion


    Long City


    The atmosphere was still as thick and suffocating as ever. However, the argument already died down. Aside from the sound of the wall clock ticking, the room was wrapped with an ufortable silence.


    "So the fireworks just now."


    "No one died!" Long Yi clenched his teeth. Just a few minutes ago, a two-minute firework interrupted them. They didn''t know who lit some fireworks inside thends surrounding the mansion. All they know was the smoke from the fireworks reached the mansion.


    Everyone who actually inhaled the smoke fell asleep!


    "Luckily, no one died." Huang Li Duo echoed his words. His face was dark.


    "Then shall we call the police and tell them about it? I''m sure it was that Lyca who did it! She is trying to show us that we are helpless against her!"


    Long Yi gritted his teeth. After the fireworks, they finally understood why Lyca came here. She wanted Huang Li Duo to call everyone and gather them here. She wanted everyone to see how capable she was! "Calling the police would be useless. I would expect that they wouldn''t be able to find any proof of the chemical that she used. She is crazy and clever. Moreover, people would surelyugh at us for being scared because of a mere firework."


    "What about the servants who lost their consciousness?"


    "They lost their consciousness for two minutes. Are we really going to tell the police about it?" Long Yi asked. "They didn''t die. People would surely think we are making a fuss just to frame someone!"

 Chapter 345: Element of Surprise

    Chapter 345: Element of Surprise


    "That man is nothing but an arms dealer! Why can''t we target them?" Huang Ying''s nose red at the thought of Lyca and Shen Qui. "This time it was only a sleeping gas. What about next time? She is clearly warning us! She wanted us dead! And she isn''t nning to make it easy!"


    Arms Dealer?


    Huang Li Duo and Huang Qingyun looked at their sister. As if realizing her mistake, Huang Ying added, "I just discovered that he and Santa were already branching out. They have bases in the Five regions! They are using their shippingpanies to cover this up. If we cooperate with the military, we will surely win."


    "This meant theirwork is increasing." Long Yi''s expression was grave. He always thought that Shen Qui is not that big in the ck market. Arms dealing is not really something umon these days. Even small-time ports tried this business before. "Arms dealer  especially the bigger ones are hard to deal with. We will need a lot of evidence against them. I will talk to my father about this matter." This is a matter of national security. Someone like him doesn''t have the right to involve himself in matters like this.


    "We thought he is just trying to curry favors to Santa? And that port We are already aware that his business involves illegal weapons. Howe we didn''t know that they have currently branched out? What about our spies?" Huang Li Duo asked.


    "Dead." Huang Ying didn''t hesitate to answer. "After Shen Qui showed himself, we lost contact with our spies. The Mayor already died, the vice mayor is currently working for Santa. The four territories are practically nonexistent now that Lord Olfan refused to show himself. It was a mess. The Kong City is really messy right now."


    "How did you know this?" Huang Qingyun asked.


    "I was watching them! That woman made my son like that! She ruined my family! How could I take my eyes off her? Since she revealed herself, I already asked my people to follow her all the time!"


    "Ying do you know how dangerous that is?"


    "So what? She ruined my family! If I don''t ruin hers! Then I am not Huang Ying!"


    The men inside the room went silent. They say that a woman is actually the most vicious type of animal in the world. Huang Ying''s family indeed suffered because of Lyca. Everyone in this room understood that Huang Ying''s mind was already full of vengeance. However, the Zhang Family couldn''t just send their people to Kong City to kill Lyca.


    Moreover, that woman was always protected and would rarely go out. Lyca''s routine was practically well known to people. She doesn''t like to spend a lot of time away from her house. Her schedule is also unpredictable. That''s why sending assassins is just useless.


    However she is currently in Long City. On their turf.


    That woman fearlessly came back and even did something to challenge them. How could Huang Ying miss this opportunity to kill her?


    "Ying, I think we should think about it." Huang Qingyun always believed that he is rational. He would never let emotions get the best of him. "If we think about it, Lyca could actually kill us today. But she didn''t. Meaning, she might not be here to kill us. There is also the chance that she is just trying to bait us into hurting her."


    "You "


    "Actually, Mr. Huang Qingyun is right." Long Yi uttered. "Lyca arranged this meeting for us. She wanted us to know that she is here. Why would she announce her presence instead of hiding? She might be baiting us to act against her. I believe she has a trap prepared for us." After a long silence, he added, "I suggest we take extra precaution in theing days. Lyca is a petty person. She would surely do something more than this. Huang Ying, don''t do anything stupid. She could easily kill your whole family. If that happens" He gave her a stern gaze. Long Yi didn''t have to tell her what would happen if Lyca actually killed her family, right?


    Knowing Lyca, she would surely keep Huang Ying alive and watch as she goes crazy.


    "Mr. Long this isn''t like you. Are you telling me that you are scared of her?" Huang Ying snorted.


    "No. However, before Lord Olfan left. He told me that she had a special weapon that could kill people in seconds. It should be some poison that she is trying to develop. I already asked my contacts in the government to look into it."


    "Terrorism?" Huang Li Duo asked, and Long Yi nodded.


    "For now, that is the only thing that I coulde up with. So let''s all be smart and stop provoking her while she was in the City. Just wait for me to produce some evidence. As long as we can prove that she possessed something that could harm people then she is finished." This was actually the only way that he could fight against her. The government. The Xu Family.


    "Then are we going to watch them destroy our lives? Long Yi, I didn''t know that you are actually a coward!" Huang Ying sneered. "Just because she now has the support of the Chu Family, you immediately want to stop attacking her even if she is in your Long City? How cowardly!"


    Instead of getting angry, Long Yi just stared at the woman. "If you want to attack her then do it. But don''t involve me in your matter. Since you really want to die, then just go and provoke her. You are such a stupid woman! If you think that she woulde here without arming herself, then you are wrong! If you want to defeat Lyca Huang, then don''t use your stupid method! All we have now is the element of surprise!"


    That''s right. He was investigating this matter secretly because he wanted to surprise her. This was the only way that he would be able to destroy the pest.

 Chapter 346: Sweet Rice Balls

    Chapter 346: Sweet Rice Balls


    "Boss, may I ask why you are scared of Miss Lyca Huang?" Long Yi''s driver and the assistant asked.


    "That doesn''t concern you!" Long Yi hissed, his gaze was outside.


    "But boss! Even the old master is thinking that Miss Huang is crazy. Why not just kill her? After that firework incident, I think we should really kill her before she could do something to us."


    "And you think it was that easy?" He already sent spies and assassins to kill her! Did anyone of them return alive? Were they able to contact him just after they arrived in Kong City?


    No!


    Those people disappeared!


    He worked with the Clint Family and even Lord Olfan! Where are they now?


    One was destroyed, the other was hiding!


    He could only silently grit his teeth in anger as he tries to hide these things from his father!


    "Sir, Miss Huang Xiaoxuan insists on going to the mansion."


    "She came back?" Long Yi asked, surprised. "Why?" That woman was indeed too emotional! "Is this because I refuse to apany her while she gives birth?"Too stupid! He sent her away to keep her and the baby safe! Because of her random emotions, she came back and risk their child''s life! "Let her in!"


    "Alright, sir." The man immediately gave instructions on the servants using his blue tooth headset.


    ..


    Spring Festival.


    To Lyca, it''s all about the food. When she was still in Long City, she loved to eat various foods made by her mother. Sweet rice cake, dumplings, sweet Rice balls, longevity noodles, sweets like dried fruit and candy, jujube, and of course, spring rolls. In fact, all holidays are all about the food.


    She was toozy to leave the house. So she spent all of her time eating instead.


    Ah, how she missed her previous life.


    "What''s this?" Lyca sat on the concrete chair. Shen Qui refused to go home and asked her to visit some shops in the downtown area. He wanted them to lit somenterns and buy some trinkets. Of course, she initially declined.


    Isn''t that mean she is going to walk around? Even the thought of walking around is already tiring, ah.


    "Open it," he smiled. This was the same smile that he used to convince her toe. It was that gentle, warm, and cozy smile that she liked the most.


    Lyca stared at the red rectangr box that was about the size of her phone. "This is too big for red packets?" she mumbled as she opened the box. "Eh? This"


    "Sweet rice balls."


    Lyca stared at the food. "This one looks like something " She turned towards him. "Did you  the reason you werete is that you went home and ask my mother to make food for me?"


    "Of course." A smug smile appeared on his face. He leaned closer. "Eat. I brought you here because she said that you dislikeing in here. Meaning, you haven''t visited this ce before. You are from Long City and you don''te to this ce during times like this. You are just wasting your time by" Shen Qui continued talking while Lyca lowered her head to look at the carefully crafted food in her hand.


    Heat traveled to her face as her hand trembled. She lifted her head and look at him. Shen Qui was still muttering something about beingzy. "So talkative," she whispered.


    "Why are you crying?" he frowned. "Was it because I''m so sweet?"


    Sheughed. "Stop it."


    "Was it because I''m handsome?"


    "Thank you," Lyca smiled. She never expected him to bring her something like this. She lifted one of the balls and eyed the small river where thenterns are floating. "You are right. This ce is beautiful." After walking by the beach, Shen Qui insisted that theye here. She thought this was nothing but another tiring escapade that might probably end up with them having sex in the car.


    She was wrong.


    And yes, she had a nasty mind. She stared at his side profile. The smile on her face didn''t falter. "You know what? You are right this life is actually good."


    "Really?"


    "Yeah let''s stop provoking other people and just live this life peacefully." Lyca started eating the rice balls before she leaned her head on his shoulders. Her eyes were on the river that reminded her of the skies. This life is indeed very good.


    .


    After the Spring Festival, the assembly immediately started. This is going to be a five-day assembly with the security agencies in the region. On the previous assembly,panies from other regions could join too. However, the current demands for mercenaries and personal security increased inside the country. Because of this, many securitypanies started emerging in the past years.


    To solve this issue, the government arranged for two types of assembly. The first one is regional. It will be held in their regions. Thepanies that will win the regionals will then participate in the grand assembly in the capital.


    Just the thought of going to the capital made Lyca giddy.


    This time, she wasn''t too excited to fight against the Xu or Shen Family. She was actually excited to be recognized in the whole country. After all, she trained these people. Winning this assembly would surely bring them more clients and money too.


    "There will be eightpanies who qualified for the regionals." Ronan''s voice echoed behind her. "Here''s the list of thepanies and people that will participate this time. Check out their profiles." Obviously, Ronan was talking to Shen Qui. After all, Lyca had been in a daze since they arrived in the Long Founding School of Elites. Judging from the way Lyca smiled at the school buildings, Ronan already concluded that she was nning to do something sinister this time.


    He could only hope that she wouldn''t blow up the building where they will be staying.


    ...


    Thank you for your support. Please don''t forget to vote for the novel.

 Chapter 347: Psychopath!

    Chapter 347: Psychopath!


    "This is your previous school?" Cleo asked the smiling Lyca. When she ignored her question, Cleo added, "Stop smiling like that."


    "Why? Do I look ugly?"


    "It''s not about that. You are too beautiful it will attract other people''s attention." Plus, her hair was white. It''s unique. Lyca actually looked like an evil viin nning to overthrow the throne right now. It wasn''t a very pleasant sight.


    "Oh. I understand." Lyca finally stopped smiling. She nced at the people walking around in the canteen. Most of them were men wearing various uniforms. Some were staff and security personnel walking around, checking the parameters.


    "I heard, there will be an important person in the assembly. They said it''s the president, you think it''s true?"


    "No," This isn''t the grand assembly. There is no need for him toe. Of course, there might be some other people that woulde. Other important people like Ken Xu. Lyca squinted at the thought of that man''s face. If that man investigated her, then he would surelye here for the assembly.


    If he wille here, then he would surely do something to meet her. Ah, just thinking about it was making her tired. She should cross that bridge when she got there.


    Lyca nodded inwardly. Actually, she could always decline an invitation, but knowing Xu Ke, he would surely use other methods to meet her. Meeting him might be inevitable in the future, so she needed to do her best and pretend that she is normal.


    Heh that is such a difficult thing to do! She is not normal, her hair is not normal, her eyes were definitelyzier than normal people. Even her smile was too beautiful for someone, normal. Lyca smiled as she thought about praising herself too much. She was not perfect. If someone would ask her to rate herself, she would immediately say she is about ny-nine percent.


    The remaining one percent is for her to improve herself.


    Alright, her brain is thinking about other things again. Sometimes, her train of thoughts are not normal too! She should focus on the food in front of her "Oh, where is the food?" Lyca asked.


    "In your stomach, you finished everything," Cleo grumbled. Who would have thought that this canteen would serve such delicious crabs? "I spent my time peeling the crabs! I wasn''t able to eat anything!"


    "Oh that sounds horrible," Lyca smiled. "Did you "


    "I already ordered a second batch. The server was giving me weird looks. All the shells of the crabs were in front of me, and now I want a second batch. Maybe he was thinking, I am such a glutton." Cleo continued grumbling like an aggrieved child.


    "Oh, I have some news."


    "Hm?"


    "About him"


    Cleo lifted her head and stared at Lyca. "They they got him?"


    Lyca nodded in response. "He is already in the Tang Family. He will change hisst name and will be adopted by the Tang Family. Stop crying the crabs are here." She warned her when she noticed Cleo''s eyes were already red.


    "You  you were trying to distract me by making me cry?" Cleo forced a peal ofughter and looked at the server. "She ate all the crabs earlier. I was too hungry and was too emotional just now."


    The server nodded and smiled before leaving.


    "Eh? Why are you looking at me like that?" Cleo asked.


    "That man is very handsome." Lyca smiled. "Not as good looking as my man, but definitely more handsome than Chu Nan. What do you think? If you need me to coerce him to marry you, I can "


    "What the hell are you talking about?" Cleo widened her eyes, horror apparent on her face. Coerce the waiter? How did Lyca even "I don''t like him. I just thought he was cute."


    Lyca gave a burst of mischievousughter before she started peeling the crabs. "I will peel and you eat this time. But you can only eat half of the order, I will eat the other half." She chuckled. After a few minutes of eating, Chu Nan arrived with Hogan and the two immediately ordered some food too.


    Again, the handsome waiter served them and Lyca started teasing Cleo again. After a few minutes, the group finally finished their food.


    The group immediately went to the building that they were assigned the stay. This building is considered one of the smaller buildings in the school. After all, Lyca and herpany were not even half of the people in otherpanies.


    "Sixty?" Cleo asked. "They have sixty people? That''s a lot! We  We only have twenty-five, right?"


    "Twenty-eight." Chu Nan answered. Right now, they are in Lyca and Shen Qui''s suite room. They already checked everything inside this room and were certain that there were no video cameras or recorder around. Because of this, they did the meeting here, after they settled their things in their own rooms.


    "Then how are we going to fight against them?"


    Ronan answered this time. "The assembly will have three categories. The first is physical, eachpany will be given a secret mission. I heard it will be a rescue mission. You have to rescue someone that was imprisoned in the mountains."


    "Uh, we are a securitypany. Why do we need to rescue someone?" Cleo asked.


    "They considered us as private armies. Thepany that will win will have the right to ept rescue missions and coordinate with the police and military." Ronan exined. "They will judge base on the time. There will be a lot of traps this time. Each person needed to have a powerful body and mind to be able to pass through the traps."


    Lyca frowned. She already heard Ronan exined these things to her before. However, she never expected there will be minor changes this time. "Second?" she asked.


    "Well the second is strategy. The second and third are actuallybined this time. They will judge base on time and strategy. They will also test our capabilities to guard. However "


    "However what?"


    "I heard that only the top threepanies from the Physical category will participate in this stage." Ronan gulped.


    "And?" Lyca asked, wondering why this man''s face was too dark. "Why you are frowning like that? Did you met your ex-lover?" She would only frown like that if she met Xu Ke, alright.


    "No. I mean weck people."


    "Hm?" Lyca lifted an eyebrow.


    "The first category needed twenty people. Meaning, only twenty are allowed to join. After that, twenty-five people will be allowed to enter the second and third categories. The catch is they will do the second and third category right after the physical tests. Meaning, our people will be exhausted." Shen Qui exined. "We don''t have any substitute. We can''t afford to have wounded people or we will be at a disadvantage."


    "Hmmm now that you said that" Lyca smiled. "That is indeed a problem." She slowly stroked her chin. "Tell me about the rules this time."


    "We can do everything as long as we don''t kill," Ronan uttered. Almost immediately, the expression of everyone in the room turned grave. If they can do anything, it means that their opponents can do that too. Meaning, if they try to target Shen Security then they will surely suffer.


    "What are the prohibitions?"


    "Deadly weapons are not allowed, but we can make a trap made of wood. That is equally deadly. We all know that idents happen. So if someone identally killed anyone because of their trap then they won''t be held liable."


    "Hmmm I understand. How about armors?"


    "We can wear anything as long as it doesn''t have any deadly weapons."


    Lyca smiled this time. "Then we still have a chance." All their armors can defend against gaseous attacks. Meaning, they could utilize poisons. Of course, she wasn''t nning to kill anyone this time. However the rules didn''t say anything about making anyone sleep, no?


    Smiling, Lyca continued. "I want you to submit the armors for examinations. To them, this is just normal armor. They won''t have the time to check itsponents. A quick X-ray would be enough to show that it didn''t have any weapon inside."


    "You mean we are going to use gaseous attacks?" Chu Nan asked. "Killing is not allowed!" In his mind, Lyca might be nning to use deadly chemicals and make it seem as if it was an ident. Moreover, a gaseous attack would be very difficult to track, especially if the gas already evaporated or disappeared. It would not leave any trace to the surrounding environment too!


    "Do you really think I''m some sort of psychopath?" Lyca squinted, and he nodded without batting an eyelid.


    "Yes!" Until now, he couldn''t forget the pool of liquid in that bar. Those were remains! A body that turned into liquid because of her. If she wasn''t a psychopath, then


    "Aiyo Mr. Chu let me asked you this Did you see me kill anyone that didn''t provoke me?"


    He pursed his lips. "How would I know?"


    "Then you are judging me base on the fact that I defended myself?" Lyca argued. "I only melted their bodies to make it easier to dispose of them!" And to test her newly made potion. "I am sure that I am not some psychopath!"


    "Do you think psychopaths say that they are psychopaths?" Chu Nan asked. In his mind, this woman was really an emotionless killer!

 Chapter 348: Trap

    Chapter 348: Trap


    "Alright, enough of that." Shen Qui uttered. "She''s not nning to kill anyone." He coldly red at Chu Nan. Lyca is not that reckless. She was talking about masks, meaning she''s nning to use something that will either make people sleep or make people lose their strength. This Chu Nan looked really stupid.


    Lyca immediately smiled. As expected, Shen Qui is still the best trantor.


    After their meeting, Lyca and others finally made a n. Then Ronan immediately submitted the armor to themittee. This is not reallypulsory, but they wanted to get themittee''s approval before doing something that might vite the rules. After all, they are here to win. A minor mishap might ruin everything.


    They also made sure to memorize the rules, or at least Shen Qui memorized everything to make sure that their n will go smoothly.


    "You say that the armor is weird?" Long Yi frowned. He was currently talking to one of themittee members.


    "Well, we haven''t seen anything like it before. We did the basic checking and discovered that it is just a light armor with night vision visors."


    "No weapons? Or harmful poisons?" Long Yi asked.


    "No, sir."


    "Are they viting any rules?"


    "No, sir. You are allowed to wear any type of uniform. An armor can be considered uniform too." The staff said.


    "Then why did you tell me this!?" he asked, irritated. If they didn''t vite anyws, then why tell him? Isn''t this just another armor?


    "Well Well, you said to report everything that they do so I" the middle-aged man stuttered. "I brought the pictures that I took for the armor."


    "Leave it there! Just give them back the armor! I am sure that they already informed the otherpanies about this. If we refuse them, they might take it as I am doing it because she is a Huang!" Long Yi gestured for the man to leave him alone. He was currently in his office  the one that he used when he was still the student council president. Even the previous student council members are with him.


    "So? We''re not going to disqualify them?" Xie Jun said. As usual, he was wearing different shades of purple. A purple brooch surrounded by a different shade of purple stones was also on his shirt.


    Zhang Zhi who sat next to Xie Jun snorted. He wheeled his wheelchair closer to Long Yi and grabbed the stack of images from his table. "Well... This is really an impressive-looking suit." Sarcasmced his tone. shes of Lyca''s face made him frown. Until now, he could still remember that woman''s face as she poisoned him, making him unable to walk again. One day. He thought. One of these days, he would surely cut that woman into small pieces, grind her flesh until he was satisfied with his revenge.


    "I heard she made another ruckus when she arrived?" Xie Jun ignored Zhang Zhi and stared at Long Yi. "Fireworks? I am wondering if she killed anyone?"


    Long Yi shook his head. Lyca was too smart for that. After that incident, everyone actually decided to have doctors and checked the people who fainted. As expected, none of them showed any signs of bing sick. There were also no traces of chemicals in their system.


    The test results were enough to prove that not doing anything about that firework was the right decision. If they actually called the police and asked them to arrest Lyca, they would only end up as a joke to the other rich families in the region. After all, the results didn''t show any drug that could induce sleep.


    Until now, he couldn''t understand why Lyca did it. He already read about drugs that could make people sleep for a few minutes, but none of them are invisible. Once experts test them, they would always show signs in the human body. This made him wary.


    That firework disy was indeed a trap.


    A trap that cannot be avoided.


    After the test, Long Yi realized something. If he reported Lyca, then his reputation would be tarnished for reporting anyone without valid proof, he would end up as aughingstock. Of course, he avoided this by not reporting her to the authorities. However, the result of the matter was also the same.


    That firework made him fear her even more. It made everyone in the Huang Family tremble and panicky. Lyca''s goal of frightening them was achieved.


    So even if he didn''t report her, even if he saved himself from the ridicule of other people, he was still a victim of Lyca''s insidious scheme. He became even more afraid of her.


    "She needed to go," he said after a few seconds of silence. "Herpany might be dangerous. I am sure that her goal is not owning a simple security agency. She might be here to show off her strength and gain the authority to ept dangerous missions from the President. We need to do something to disqualify her!" This was the reason why he asked these people to meet him today.


    "I have a n," Xie Jun smiled, his purple contacts gleam under the lighting of the chandelier. It made him look sinister, dangerous. "Drugs are prohibited, no? We can nt drugs into their luggage and pretend to have an inspection. That will not only disqualify them, but also tarnish their reputation in the industry. After all, we can''t really trust people who are drug addicts, right?"


    "Hmmm I agree with him." Zhang Zhi added. Even though he is Lyca''s first cousin, he already hated her too much. Seeing her suffer is actually better than seeing her dead. "We can always pretend to gather them in the hall while our people nt the drugs to their room. Of course, we just need to take care of the CCTV."


    Long Yi looked at the two people. He pursed his lips as he squinted. "Actually that n might work this time."


    ....


    Please don''t forget to vote. Thanks:)

 Chapter 349: Tomato

    Chapter 349: Tomato


    Sadly, they underestimated Lyca.


    When Lyca received the invitation, the first thing that she did was gave it to Chu Nan and Cleo. She smiled and tell them to bring everyone to attend this opening ceremony. She was nning to rest and spend some time with her husband.


    In the first ce, Lyca was quite emotional. This is the ce where he saved her. For some reason, the thought of drugging herself just so he could save her sounded so creepy. Heh, she actually sounded like a pervert. If she was a man, what she did should bebeled as rape, no? After all, it really looked like she forced herself to be with him.


    Now that she thought about it, Lyca became even more gloomy. She pretended to be drugged just so he would touch her! Ah, why does she sound desperate! She calmly told herself that she is already an older woman, both in mind and in heart. This is her second life, alright?


    But the more she thought about it, the more agitated she became. The school actually brought memories that made her feel embarrassed! So while her enemies are scheming against her, she was lying in bed and staring at the ceiling, confused.


    What should she do next? Should she ask him about it? Should she ask him if he felt forced to be with her? What If he would say yes? Are they going to divorce soon? Actually, Lyca''s mind is very chaotic right now. The thought of divorce was making her feelplicated.


    Of course, this also made her realized that after all, she was still a woman. Her tendency to overthink things is a part of a woman''s instincts.


    "So you won''t attend this opening? Everyone is actually required to attend."


    "I am sick," she grimaced when she heard Shen Qui''s voice. She couldn''t help but wonder ifing into this school also reminded him of some things. Slowly, she turned towards him and observed his eyes.


    "What''s wrong?" he extended his hand and touched her forehead. "You don''t have some fever."


    "I''m sick of my mind," she said, her eyes still on his face.


    "What happened?" she didn''t miss the sh of worry that glinted in his eyes. His brows furrowed, lips thinning into a stern line. "Did something happen?" She hid the guilt inside her and smiled.


    "Hey, did you regret marrying me?"


    "Ah?" What the hell is she thinking?


    "It''s human nature to think about things like this from time to time. It''s like a child you know they sometimes think if they are adopted."


    ""


    "Say something."


    "If I say, I don''t regret it you will say that I am lying and I only said it because that''s what you wanted to hear."


    "Ah? You can read my mind?" Lyca widened her eyes. Was she really that easy to read?


    "If you like someone too much, you can actually end their sentences. What''s wrong with you?" He leaned closer.


    "I r*ped you."


    "Huh?"


    "I mean I created some scenarios to make you sleep with me." She even jumped from the second floor of the building and run so she could meet him. Heh, so desperate.


    "Oh. " Shen Qui nodded and smile. Then she didn''t say anything else.


    "You You are angry?"


    "So people are scheming against you and you are here lying, thinking about sex?"


    She blinked and blinked again. "Uh"


    "Naughty girl," he chuckled and leaned closer, his lips were already about to touch hers. "You just wanted to sleep with me, right?"


    "Uh"


    "Then your mind can''t stop it? Your brains are weird differently, so you were reminded about that night?"


    For some reason, she felt her cheeks turn hot. She knew she was blushing. However, she was lucky that he was blocking the light.


    "Then you thought about drinking the drugs that he gave you and jumping from his room. Then you ran towards your room while calling me?" He darted his tongue and licked her lower lips. "Then you thought about us in the shower? When you begged me and made it seem like I had no choice but to sleep with you or you won''t be able to recover?"


    She wanted to nod but couldn''t move. She felt him licked her lips again.


    "You forgot something," he continued, and she gulped. She could feel sweat trickling down her forehead, her heartbeat raced for some reason. She actually she couldn''t say anything! "I asked you to remove it on your own. I know you can do it. You were already naked, yes? But I refused to touch you unless you don''t have some drug in your system. I wanted you to remember." She always found his voice sexy, enticing. The throbbing in between her legs was a reminder that this man was actually an enchantress!


    Ah, right? This husband of hers was actually very good-looking and also very good at seducing her. To be fair, he was already good at everything, except cooking.


    Lyca didn''t even realize that she already closed her eyes. She could feel her heart drumming against her chest. "And you already know what happened after you remove the drugs, right?" he chuckled and she felt his cheeks turned hotter.


    She knew she already looked like a tomato.


    "Open your eyes," it wasn''t a request. It was an order, and she happily obliged.


    Staring at his shadowed face, Lyca realized how she always seemed to miss him. Is that logical? Even if he goes out of the house to work, she always missed something about him. She gulped.


    She could feel her breath against his face.


    "Don''t ever doubt yourself again." Shen Qui uttered.


    "Huh?"


    "This is the first time that you actually look dumb and defenseless." She always looked so independent and cunning. "I like it."


    Like a goldfish, she opened her mouth but close it without saying anything. Well she couldn''t really answer him as he was already kissing her.


    ....


    Please don''t forget to vote for the novel.

 Chapter 350: Underwear

    Chapter 350: Underwear


    WARNING: SLIGHT R18


    ...


    He moved his mouth over hers, exploring.


    The kisssted for a few minutes before he slid his hand at the back of her neck. His other hand found her breast. Squeezing lightly, Shen Qui''s hands explored her curves as his lips trailed down towards her neck. Her hands went to his hair as her nipple hardened against her bra. After a few seconds, their clothes found themselves on the floor, abandoned.


    He touched her nipples, and the sensation made her wet, entranced ached. She always hated forey, as she was always in a hurry to have him inside her. She hated the teasing and the waiting, but her mouth could only let out a moan.


    He continued to rub his thumbs around her are. "Do you want more?" He lifted his gaze and stared at her moistened eyes.


    "Are you trying to kill me?" she asked. How could she possibly say no? Was he trying to make her beg? He chuckled in response before he leaned closer and kiss her lips. She let out a small groan when his hand found her wet spot.


    And she could only reciprocate. Her hand slid down his torso and into his already hardened manhood. His gaze darkened. He knew what she wanted, but he wasn''t nning on giving in. "Behave" his voice ended up with a low growl. She giggled. Behaving in front of a naked man like Shen Qui is for the weak.


    She suddenly maneuvered, turning him, making him lie on his back as she sat on his naked waist. A mischievous glint shed in her eyes.


    She was about to lower her head into his manhood when they heard a low rm from theptop just a few feet away from their bed. The two immediately turned their heads towards theptop. Shen Qui frowned while Lyca fought the urge to kill people.


    Some people are trying to open their luggage! "What the fuck!" she cursed, her blood boiled with anger. She wanted to scream, strangle someone and bathe in their blood!


    Alright, that was just an exaggeration. She just felt really furious. She felt like she was about to explode.


    For some reason, Shen Qui managed to ignore her reaction as she sat on the bed naked. His hands were already on theptop. Actually, the rm earlier showed that someone was walking near the luggage. It was a sensor-type video camera that detects movement. Then it will automatically record something.


    "This room lost its power. Someone might be trying to hack the CCTV too. It''s pretty dark. Maybe they think everyone attended the opening ceremony? We can''t see the people trying to open the luggage." He was talking about the luggage that contained the suit. To keep it safe, they specifically requested to put it in an adjoining room next to their room.


    Meaning, whoever was trying to pry open the luggage was also in the next room to theirs. "Get dressed first," Shen Qui said, his eyesnded on her scowling face. Heughed. "I will take care of it."


    "What?" Lyca asked. "No! Stay here! For crying out loud are you going to run away?"


    "" Her priorities are still different. Shen Qui smiled wryly. However, before he could open his mouth to reason with her, Lyca already added.


    "Since they wanted to scheme against me, then let them! Let them finish it! I want to see what they are nning this time!" she said and put her underwear back on. Then she sat next to him on the couch. Shen Qui was already wearing his jeans without his shirt while she was still in her underwear.


    Of course, she wasn''t nning to put her clothes on! She was nning to continue, alright!


    "We can''t see it" Shen Qui said. Because the light of the other room was off, they can''t really see what the other people are trying to do. This camera wasn''t designed for darker rooms. Seeing the dark screen, Lyca''s face turned darker.


    "Very good. These people deserve death." Without waiting for Shen Qui she walked out of their room in her underwear and walked towards the door that connected them towards the room with the luggage. However, she didn''t open the door.


    Instead, she grabbed a bead from her bracelet and squeeze it. Then she covered her nose and put it on the small space just below the door. Squeezing it below the door, Lyca looked at Shen Qui and signaled him to cover his nose too.


    These people are really good, it seems that the gas is taking its time to work. She couldn''t help but wonder if they were wearing some masks. She narrowed her eyes and held her hand towards Shen Qui. As if reading her mind, he handed her two daggers as he held two hunting knives.


    Lyca then leaned her ears towards the door and gestured to him to prepare. Since the gas didn''t work then they will fight against these people, ah.


    Looking at Lyca who was wearing close to nothing, holding two daggers, Shen Qui could only smile wryly. It seems that his lovely wife was furious.


    Lyca held three of her fingers as she closed her eyes, trying to adjust to the darkness before she could enter the room. Three, two, one then she abruptly opened the door. Of course, she could ask Shen Qui to kick it but the door was open in the first ce. There is no need to make so much noise.


    What happened next was boring.


    Or at least, that''s what she thought. She rolled over and jump towards the first person that she spotted. While the sudden action surprised those people, they weren''t some dumb criminals. They immediately tried to fight, but Lyca and Shen Qui''s actions were too vicious.


    The two didn''t give them the chance to fight as they used their weapon to target the back of their necks at the base of their skull, immediately cutting the spinal cord from the brain. Instant death. It was quick and vicious.


    The four people inside didn''t have the chance to scream or ask for any help. After thest person fell with a thud, Lyca let out a few curses before kicking their corpses. These people actually dared to disturb her, ah! So frustrating.


    "Only four people," she heard Shen Qui uttered. "And they are dead."

 Chapter 351: Fainted

    Chapter 351: Fainted


    Lyca said nothing. She just shrugged. They couldn''t really turn on the lights of this room, so they used shlights to examine the corpses. Just as Lyca expected, they were trying to open the luggage. In fact, they already opened some luggage. However, what surprised her was the packs of tablets. Judging from the weight of each pack, she could determine it to be about a hundred grams. She picked up one of the packs and held it closer to her nose.


    Dugs?


    Stimnts?


    "What is it?"


    "Should be drugs," Lyca uttered. "So they are nning to nt drugs?" she nced at the half-open window of the room. These people actually came here. Did they think she wasn''t here?


    "I already called Ronan. He ising over. He didn''t join the opening too. He should be able to exin this."


    Lyca nodded and grab the drugs before going back to her room. Then she finally decided to put on her clothes. After all, she already smelled of blood and death.


    Right now, she could only curse these people, ah.


    Lyca checked the tablet again. This time, she held it against the light before smelling it again. She could identify what type of drug is this without using her microscope. So she took one tablet. The reason why she easily took it is that she was confident that she could expel it anytime she wanted to. After a few minutes, the drug showed its effects.


    It was actually something that could make people faster? Or at least that''s what Lyca thought. It''s some sort of hormone that could influence people''s muscles. Making them faster and stronger. Of course, drugs like these are banned in the assembly. Lyca shook her head and expelled the effects of the tablet from her body.


    "Turns out Cleo had a white wig." Shen Qui''s said as he walked inside her room. "Maybe they thought she was you?"


    "Why was she wearing a wig?"


    Shen Qui shrugged in response. Perhaps the woman was trying to irritate Chu Nan to death? "What kind of drug is that?"


    "Call the security. Tell them someone attempted to steal our suits. These are some hormonal drugs. It''s one of the banned drugs in the world of sports. I bet, they will announce a surprise checkter after the opening. Tell that damn Long Yi that I fainted because I was too nervous." She said.


    "." Shen Qui stared at his wife. "I got it." With his, he immediately opened his phone and called someone. Seeing his back against her, Lyca sighed. Ah, she missed him and yet some people really wanted to ruin her fun. She grumbled and made sure to secure the drug, then she murmured a few curses before lying on her bed.


    She was too angry just now; she needed to sleep.


    ...


    The news of someone trying to steal their suit surprised a lot of people. Of course, Shen Quiined beautifully that many people couldn''t help but pity him.


    "Mr. He, I understand your concern. The people who wanted to steal my armors were really brilliant. After all, they hacked the CCTV and even managed to cut off the power in that room. They also managed to get in without making any sound. Of course, I am not saying that they are very familiar with the ce. No that''s not my point." Shen Qui''s words weren''t loud, but everyone in the room heard them. "It was good that I was still changing my clothes so I could attend the opening ceremony. My wife, who was also changing clothes with me, fainted from shock when she heard the voice."


    "Mr. Shen you are saying that the four people were able to go inside the room easily?" One man who is a senior executive of Sheng Gu Security asked. Questions apparent in this already wrinkled face.


    "Yes, sir. As I was saying, there were no signs of forced entry. Moreover, we requested to have an rm in that room. But it wasn''t triggered. Of course, I am not saying that they must be someone who works in this institution."


    Soon, the other people asked him various questions and Long Yi who was sitting a few meters away from him could only grit his teeth in anger. He had seen the bodies. All of them died without any other wounds aside from the cut behind their necks. The death was swift and sudden.


    At least, he knows that those people died immediately, and that they didn''t have the time to confess about Xie Jun who contacted them. He lowered his gaze as he tried to hide the anger in his eyes. Shen Qui had been answering questions and shamelessly, repeating the words that those people are familiar with the ce.


    He keeps on repeating those words, it was pretty obvious that he thinks that the scheme was made by an insider. Long Yi turned to his left and notice a gaze from another executive. He smiled and acted like he couldn''t understand the man''s meaning.


    It was very clear!


    Everyone is now thinking that the Long Security is coveting those armor!


    Fuck you, Shen Qui!


    He wanted to scream at the fake sadness in the man''s face. How could someone be this shameless? He even imed that his wife fainted because she was too scared! That woman was a killer! How could she faint just like that?


    Long Yi looked at Xie Jun, who was sitting next to him. "Stupid," he hissed. Long Yi joined the opening ceremony to create an alibi. It was Xie Jun who instructed his people to get into Lyca''s room. Earlier, Xie Jun said that he already saw a man, and a woman walked out of Lyca''s room. The woman clearly had white hair! The CCTV wasn''t able to capture the woman''s face, but she was also wearing a ck jacket and ck clothes!


    He actually thought it was Lyca!


    Because of this, Xie Jun immediately instructed his people to go inside the room. Who would have thought that they would lose contact a few minutes after they got inside?

 Chapter 352: White Haired Woman

    Chapter 352: White Haired Woman


    "So? The woman wearing a white wig? How the hell did you fuck it up? Look! Everyone now thinks that I wanted that armor! Xie Jun, are you trying to sabotage mypany?"


    "Brother Long that''s not the case. I really made a mistake this time. When I saw a white-haired woman walking out of their room, I immediately thought it was Lyca. I mean Only she had white hair. Moreover, why would someone else pretend to be her? Unless, of course, they wanted to spoil our ns! They must have known in advance that something is going to happen."


    "You are suggesting there is a spy? The only people who knew the n are those who are already dead and us!" Zhang Zhi said in a low voice. "I believe they set this up. Just for us."


    "What do you mean?"


    "They must have thought that we wanted to get the armor. So they submitted the armor for checking, silently informing us that they have something like that. Then waited for us to act." Zhang Zhi said. He let out a sharp sigh. "Now, everyone is thinking that we wanted that armor."


    "Are you ming me?" Xie Jun asked. He didn''t miss Zhang Zhi''s sharp gaze towards him. "It''s not my fault that they were already nning to create this trap!"


    "Shut up!" Long Yi raised his voice. "I will talk to themittee about this. We know that everything is thinking we wanted the armor, but they can''t prove it. Those people are dead, brutally murdered. I will talk to themittee, convene another meeting with Shen Qui and possibly with Lyca! We will find ways to have them disqualified before thepetition starts tomorrow!"


    Their discussion was soon interrupted by a noise. Voices echoed outside of the student council room.


    "Where is he?" It was none other than Long Yi''s wife, Huang Xiaoxuan''s voice. "I know he is here!"


    "Madam the Master is really busy. Please calm down and "


    "Calm down? Are you trying to order me?"


    "I wouldn''t dare."


    "Good! Now open the door! Or I swear I will "


    A loud sigh brought Long Yi''s attention back to the people inside the room.


    "She is my cousin, but I can''t stand her." Zhang Zhi said. "Too dumb. Is this because she loved you too much?"


    "Women are like that. They love too much and be like this. Stupid." Xie Jun sneered. "You should let her in. She is pregnant, right?"


    Long Yi could only clench his jaw and nodded.


    "Alright. Zhang Zhi and I will leave. I believe she came because she knew that Lyca is also here. That woman is irrational. She is like a rabid dog. You should ask your people to escort her and make her avoid Lyca at all cost."


    Xie Jun and Zhang Zhi look at Long Yi''s dark face before leaving.


    Huang Xiaoxuan didn''t even look at the two who greeted her. She strode inside and immediately confronted her husband. "I came home because I want to spend some time with you! When I woke up, the servants inform me that you left! Long Yi how could you be so cruel?"


    "Why are you here?"


    "You  did you just hear what I said? I am about to give birth! I need your attention!"


    "Do you think I am a doctor? I assigned three doctors to help you." Long Yi ignored her as he sat on his table and open a drawer. He looked at the divorce papers that were drafted by hiswyers, then stopped himself from giving it to Huang Xiaoxuan.


    Once she gave birth, he would immediately give her the divorce papers.


    "You really  I am already carrying your child and yet you are still treating me like this?" Huang Xiaoxuan''s eyes were swollen. She had been crying on her way here. "Was it because she is back?"


    "This ce is not for you. Be obedient and go back to the mansion. You are about to give birth and need constant monitoring to "


    "Was it because of Lyca?" Huang Xiaoxuan''s shrill voice echoed. "You left your pregnant wife so you could see her again?"


    Long Yi finally lifted his gaze, his cold eyes met her sad ones. "And?"


    "You "


    "Are you going to divorce me? Leave me?" Long Yi snorted.


    Huang Xiaoxuan''s tears fell. The coldness in his eyes reminded her of the morning after he slept with her. It was freezing. Her lips trembled as she clenched her fist. "I am staying."


    Long Yi snorted in response. "I am busy. If you want to stay just stay and leave me alone. Don''t create any more trouble for me."


    "You are scared that I will create trouble for Lyca?"


    Long Yi snorted. Was Huang Xiaoxuan really a lunatic? "If you want your child to die, then go ahead and scheme against her. Just remember this once the child is lost... This marriage will be over too."


    Her gaze faltered, disbelief sh in her eyes. "How could you curse your own child? You really  You would choose Lyca''sfort above mine? You don''t want me to scheme against her? You don''t want me to hurt her? What about me, Long Yi? Did you think that this you leaving me and running her is not hurting me?"


    Long Yi snorted. He fought the urge tough at this stupid woman. "You think you can hurt her?" He squinted his eyes. "Huang Xiaoxuan you are indeed dreaming. If you want to survive, I suggest you wake up as soon as possible and stop thinking about things that you cannot do!"


    Huang Xiaoxuan stared at him. It hurts her that Long Yi is thinking too highly of that woman. However, arguing with him like this is not going to change anything. "I will stay and watch thispetition with you," she dered before leaving the room.


    Seeing his wife gone, Long Yi could only let out a few curses. Every time Lyca appears, bad things keep on happening to him. It''s truly infuriating!


    ..


    Lyca lifted the teacup and smelled the tea in her hand. Its fragrance is enough to make her smile. "So" she lifted her gaze away from the cup and look at Cleo and Chu Nan, who sat opposite her. "White wig?"


    "Well" Cleo lowered her gaze before she pointed at Chu Nan. "It''s his fault."


    "Why is it my fault? I didn''t wear some white wig!"


    "You told me to wear it!"


    "You lost the bet!" Chu Nan reasoned. "Not my fault that you are so stupid!"


    "You "


    Lyca lifted an eyebrow. "What bet?"


    "He said you won''t attend the ceremony. I said you would. After all, you train those people." Cleo sighed. "Of course, I lost and as a consequence, I wore the wig."


    "If I joined then Chu Nan would put the wig on?"


    Cleo nodded. She honestly thought that Lyca would join the opening ceremony. "I won''t do it again."


    "And the ck clothes?" Lyca inquired.


    "I thought it would look cool to wear ck too. It looks good on you."


    "Well she''s Lyca. You are you." Chu Nan snorted.


    "Are you saying that she is pretty while I''m ugly?"


    "Your words. Not mine."


    Cleo''s face turned scarlet red. She clenched her fist. "Mr. Chu you are purposely picking on me! How about we fight!"


    "" Chu Nan shrugged and look at Lyca. "It''s not a big deal, right?"


    "No. It''s not a big deal. In fact, I am quite thankful. You should wear that wig more and attend events under my name."


    ""


    "That  " Cleo gulped. Lyca smiled at her as her eyes trailed down towards Cleo''s clothes. Unknowingly, Cleo hugged herself. "Why are you looking at me like that?"


    "You are a bit taller than me. But just a little. Our bodies are almost the same." Lyca smiled before she looked at Chu Nan. "Mr. Chu is also quite handsome. Not as handsome as my Shen Qui but passable."


    Cleo and Chu Nan frowned at the same time, a foreboding feeling boiling inside them.


    "Oh?" Ronan who just walked inside the room with Shen Qui paused when he noticed the weird atmosphere inside. "What''s happening?" He looked at Shen Qui, who walked towards Lyca. Kissing his wife''s lips, Shen Qui sat next to her and poured himself some tea.


    "I already took care of everything. I wasn''t expecting to point out the real culprit. However, mostpanies now think that Long Yi is eying our armor. We should be safe for now." His gaze turned towards the white-haired Cleo. Lifting an eyebrow, he looked at his lovely wife who is enjoying her tea.


    Sensing his gaze, Lyca look at him and smiled. "We should be thankful to Cleo. At least the person behind this was dumb enough to think that she was me."


    ....


    Thank you for your patience.

 Chapter 353: Date

    Chapter 353: Date


    "I never thought that we would encounter problems like this even before thepetition started," Chu Nan mumbled.


    Lyca and Shen Qui snorted almost at the same time. "This is just the start," Lyca uttered. Will Long Yi really stop because of a minor mishap? The least that he could do is just me someone else for this mistake and move on. He would surely n something else.


    After the incident, Lyca and Shen Qui were soon transferred to a different room. In the same building. Just like the previous one, this room had an adjoining room for their suitcases. After moving, they immediately checked for some bugged and were able to rest after making sure that there were no cameras or recorder in the room.


    Not long after they sat down in their new room, themittee once again summoned them. This time, it will be a private meeting and Shen Qui would talk to themittee without the leaders of the otherpanies.


    Surprisingly, Lyca actually came with him this time. Dressed in her signature all-ck clothes, Lyca didn''t tie her white hair and just let it down. She also put on dark eyeliner, entuating her dark and longshes. Lastly, she used scarlet red lipstick with a red lip liner for her lips.


    Shen Qui''s face instantly turned dark when she saw her walk out of the door. "Why are you dressed like that?"


    "Huh?" She looked at her ck leather jacket and equally ck jeans. "I don''t have any other clothes." She didn''t bring any other outfits because she thought choosing what outfit to wear would take a lot of time. So, she brought ck leather jackets, white and ck tank tops, and ck jeans.


    "Why did you put some makeup on?"


    "Oh?" She lifted an eyebrow. "Do I look too pretty?"


    He pursed his lips in response. "Don''t you have some nude lipstick? Don''t let your hair down like that. Let me braid it."


    "Do you think red doesn''t suit me?"


    He didn''t answer her. Instead, he approached Lyca and grabbed ab somewhere so he could braid her hair. "Next time call me. I will braid it every time. Don''t let your hair down like this."


    "Why?"


    "Having long wavy hair is bad for your health."


    "Huh? I haven''t heard of that before."


    "That''s the new study."


    "Really?''


    He nodded as if his life depended on it. He quickly braided her hair, then examined her again. "Is that an eyeliner?"


    "I was trying to look edgy." She grumbled when she noticed his frown.


    "Hm," Shen Qui nodded. "Don''t use red lipstick again."


    "But why?"


    He didn''t answer her. Instead, he pulled her closer and leaned towards her ears. "It will be hard for me to kiss you."


    "" Really? For some reason, she actually thought he would say that she is too pretty and he couldn''t bear to let other people watch her. It seems that the new drama she is watching is wrong after all. Maybe the cold and domineering CEOs are the only ones who will say those lines?


    "Do you understand?"


    "Huh? Understand." She nodded. "Yes. Totally understand." So he loves to kiss her. That should be something that would make her happy. "So you won''t kiss me now?" she asked.


    "No."


    "" Was this some sort of punishment for being too pretty?


    "Let''s go?" He held her hand, and the two calmly strode out of their room. They continued holding each other''s hands as they walked out of the building. "We''re walking to themittee''s building." Shen Qui told the person that was sent to drive for them.


    This university is actually big that one needed to ride a car or bike if one wanted to reach the next building. Because of this, themittee sent a car and a driver to fetch Shen Qui and Lyca. "But sir, I was asked to guide you to the building. Moreover, walking would take about twenty minutes. This meeting "


    "Ah then you can go ahead and drive the car while we walk." Shen Qui said. Before the man could answer, Shen Qui already added, "The weather is too good to be wasted. My wife is too beautiful for me to hide her inside the small car."


    "" The driver could only smile wryly as he watched the couple walk away from him.


    "So it''s alright if other people see me like this?" Lyca couldn''t help but ask. Is this man really willing to share her with the world? How annoying!


    "No." He looked at her. "Isn''t that why I braided your hair? Right now you are about seven out of ten."


    Surprise sh in her eyes. "Really? Then what about earlier?"


    "Eleven."


    "" She beamed. "Silly."


    He responded with a boyish grin. "You can tell me if you are tired or getzy. I can carry you in my back."


    "Hey " She squinted. "Did you deliberately make me walk because you know I won''t walk all the way to the building?" She was wearing her signature ck boots. While it was only about three inches, she still felt that walking for about twenty minutes is going to consume a lot of her energy, ah.


    "Of course. If I don''t carry the beauty in my arms, then I am not the beauty''s husband!"


    "Ew!" Lyca giggled.


    The two slowly walked towards the building while the car was slowly following them. Watching the twoughed and talk like this made the driver envious. He couldn''t stop himself and smile as he thought of his younger years.


    Ah younger people are truly blessed. They could still act like they are on the date, even though the wholemittee is already waiting for them.


    However, this carefree rtionship could actually make anyone envious. Couples usually sumb to a stressful situation and ended up fighting. However these two actually ended up dressing up and walking around like they were on a date.


    This rtionship could make anyone jealous, ah.


    ....


    Please don''t forget to vote for the novel. Thank you.

 Chapter 354: False Accusations

    Chapter 354: False usations


    "The goddess of love, Aphrodite, considered Crape Myrtle tree sacred. The blooms of these trees are nowmonly used in royal weddings. So, I wanted to nt these types of trees outside of our house. We could also add some cherry blossoms, Wisteria the pink one symbolizes romance. Jasmine would be good too. And of course, the elegant redwoods which symbolize forever." Shen Qui said as the air blow past them. Lyca nodded in response. She looked at the trees on their way.


    Earlier, they were talking about their cringy feelings. Now, he was talking about trees  the trees that he will nt once they finally buy a house. Once they would finally decide to start a family. Lyca inhaled his familiar scent as he walked towards the building. Of course, he was already carrying her in a piggyback.


    "How about flowers?"


    "Do you like flowers?" he asked.


    "The poisonous ones," she answered without batting an eyelid. "The poisonous ones are really beautiful."


    "Your preference is really weird."


    "Isn''t that why I married you?" she retorted andughed. "I am not good with nts. Toozy to take care of them." She would only take care of them if they have any use to her. Lyca wasn''t really someone who loves nts and flowers.


    "Why are you so ruthless? nts are symbols of life."


    She rolled her eyes. Lyca thought about her training when she was still in the other world. When she was a child, she was already tasked to kill people. At the tender age of ten, she was asked to kill a bandit who murdered and rape a woman in the vige. The bandit was already weak and was even blindfolded.


    At that time, the small Lyca hesitated. In the end, she wasn''t able to kill him. As a punishment, he was given five more people to kill. Every time she failed killing one, five more people will be added. It was cruel, but in that world, it was considered perfectly normal. While all of them were murderers and evil, the small Lyca thought about their lives and their families.


    In the end, she still killed them.


    Since she was young, her family taught her that the lives of humans are just like nts. You have to kill them if they started to rot. Or else, they would damage the other nts. This philosophy had been instilled into her until now.


    "I think you have gotten heavier." Shen Qui''s words brought her back from her stupor. "Did you eat a lot of seafood again?"


    "Are you calling me fat?"


    "No. I actually think it''s good. Your face is too small. It''s smaller than my hand. You should eat more and gain a few more pounds."


    "" She pursed her lips into a tight-lipped smile. "We are almost there let me down."


    "The room will be on the second floor. You sure, you don''t want me to carry you?"


    Lyca giggled. She was really tempted to ask him about this. But they are here for a serious matter. Oh, well in the end, she still nodded and hugged his neck like a small little spoiled monkey.


    When they arrived at the door, Shen Qui finally put her down. "Don''t smile too much." He even reminded her before they went inside the room.


    "Why?" she asked. Does her smile look crooked? Of course, Shen Qui didn''t answer her and walked ahead of her as he opened the huge wooden door of the room.


    "Ah, Mr. Shen I am d you finally decided to show yourselves." Xie Jun''s words weed them, animosity painted all over his handsome face.


    Shen Qui only snorted and looked at the man with a few white strands of hair. "Mr. He, I wasn''t expecting that other people that are not a part of themittee woulde here." He squinted at Long Yi before turning his gaze towards the older man. "Oh, may I know if you finally decided to disqualify them after what they did?"


    "What the hell are you talking about?" Xie Jun hissed.


    "Mr. Xie calm down." The man named Mr. He sent a warning re to the man wearing purple before he smiled at Shen Qui. "Please take a seat. Mr. Shen Miss Huang."


    Lyca and Shen Qui sat in front of a long rectangr table where the six members of themittee were seated. Aside from them, Long Yi, Xie Jun, and Zhang Zhi were also seated at the table.


    "Were you able to determine the culprit who sent those people?" Shen Qui asked. He decided to go straight to the point and save himself and of course his lovely wife from all nonsense introductions.


    "This This isn''t about that." Mr. He said. "This is about you killing those people. Right now, tracing them back is hard because obviously, they can''t talk anymore. They can no longer defend themselves. We already examined the crime scene and we notice that those people were killed directly. Two things. First, you are too strong to be able to subdue four people your height in a few seconds. Second, they weren''t given any opportunity to fight back simply because they can''t."


    Shen Qui lifted an eyebrow. "You wanted to say that I nned everything. I killed those people and created false usations to frame someone?"


    Mr. He pressed his lips together. His gaze was enough to confirm Shen Qui''s thoughts. "Mr. Shen there were no signs of forced entry. Nor signs that they struggled. It was as if they just let you kill them. May I know why is that?"


    "Wait I am confused." Lyca frowned. "So you are saying that we should have let them fight back and give us a few cuts?"


    "This This is not what "


    "Then, why are you asking that question? The fact that we could kill them in a few seconds means that they aren''t capable to fight back. Are you trying to doubt our abilities?" Lyca asked. "Are you trying to say that it is best if we have created a messy fight just to prove that they fought back and we didn''t just kidnap them for the purpose of framing someone? Say, Mr. He are you here to disqualify us because we didn''t let the criminals fought back?"


    .....


    Please don''t forget to vote for the novel. :)

 Chapter 355: Making Babies

    Chapter 355: Making Babies


    "That is not what this is about! We are here to decide if Mr. Shen is trying to frame someone or not!"


    Lyca yawned. "So, you aren''t concerned that someone is trying to steal our armor. Instead of investigating who is brave enough tomit such crimes, you are here. Asking us why we didn''t let them fight."


    "Miss Huang you have been using we in your statement." Zhang Zhi who was sitting next to Long Yi said. "May I know if you helped Mr. Shen fight those people."


    Lyca only pursed her lips at Zhang Zhi. "How are you, cousin?" She emphasized the word cousin before her red lips lifted into a beautiful smile. "I heard you can''t walk, anymore."


    "You  "Zhang Zhi''s face paled when he heard the provocation in his tone. He wanted to tell her that it was her fault. That she caused this! However, Long Yi was fast enough to stop him. "That is why we summoned you here."


    "Oh. If you want to walk again. Maybe I can help you?" Lyca continued. "Of course, you would have to beg me first."


    "How dare you!" Xie Jun mmed his fist into the table. "Stick to the topic and stop talking nonsense!"


    "Oh?" Lyca finally turned towards the man wearing purple. She smiled at him without saying anything.


    "It seems that they are more concern about proving that we are framing someone instead of finding out who would dare try to steal something during the assembly." Shen Qui murmured. Of course, his voice was loud enough for everyone to hear. "I guess you are, right?" Shen Qui turned towards Lyca. "The person who tried to steal our things is indeed very very close to themittee. Makes me wonder who that is."


    "You "


    "Xie Jun calm down. This has nothing to do with us. We are not part of themittee." Long Yi said.


    "Mr. Shen is there a way that you can prove those people are indeed able when you ended their lives?"


    "So stupid," Lyca uttered. "Since you really wanted to disqualify us. Then why don''t you do it, right now? Announce it to everyone, yeah?" She knew that no matter what they say today, these people won''t stop. So, it is best to save time and just go directly to the point. "Hurry up and disqualify us!" She crossed her legs. She realized that being elegant wasn''t really a part of her trait, ah.


    She was toozy to be elegant.


    She could only go directly to the point and save some time so she couldze around and procrastinate.


    "How disrespectful." A man who looked just a bit older than Long Yi spoke. "I presume that you have some evidence in your hand, right? If we disqualify you right away, you will immediately release the evidence and make us look bad." The man smiled, he stared at Lyca and Shen Qui like a father would stare at his two stupid kids. It was like he was reading them, like a book. "Please show us this evidence so we can investigate this case properly."


    The man''s eyes immediately drew Lyca''s attention. The man''s eyes weren''t showing any obvious emotions. "Who are you?" Lyca asked. This time, the man''s jaw dropped. Obviously, he wasn''t expecting her to ask his name now.


    "I  I am one of themittee members. I am called Xu Jihan."


    "Xu Mr. Xu." Lyca smiled. So, he is smart because he is a Xu? "We won''t give you anything."


    "So you won''t help with the investigation, either?"


    "No." Shen Qui answered. "We don''t have the right to help you. After all, you were already thinking that we frame someone. It''s only right that we stay away from the investigation, right?" All this time, Shen Qui was staring at Long Yi''s reaction.


    First and foremost, that Mr. Xu was right. They have the video from the suitcase. That video shows those people trying to open the suitcase, rummaging through it and even talking amongst themselves. It also showed the moment, Lyca and Shen Qui opened the door, surprising everyone and killing them in a few seconds.


    If these people would disqualify theirpany, then Lyca would surely release that video. That would make them lose their credibility. A scandal like that would surely affect the securitypanies in the whole region. Of course, Long Yi didn''t even consider that Lyca and Shen Qui had evidence against those people.


    Xie Jun was certain that he cut off the power in that area. Even the CCTV didn''t show anything around that part of the building. Xie Jun was confident that the person he hired to hack the CCTV was an expert.


    Seeing the confidence in Shen Qui''s face, the light in Long Yi''s eyes seemed to dissipate. He couldn''t help but wonder if Shen Qui and Lyca were bluffing. However, he isn''t courageous enough to make them reveal their hand.


    Everyone''s expression turn grave. Now that they thought about it, these two actually came here prepared. They took their time and treated them like fools!


    "So? Are you going to disqualify us? Or not? I mean please don''t take it personally, but my people are really nervous because of this meeting. They thought themittee actually wanted to disqualify us and steal our armor." Shen Qui smiled. In the end, themittee officials were forced to let them leave and could only assure them that they were thoroughly investigating this matter.


    "So we are just going to let them leave?" Xie Jun was the first one who broke the suffocating silence inside the room. "Clearly, they are trying to frame us. Now, everyone thinks that we wanted their armor! We all know that it was nothing but ordinary armor! Yet, thepanies are thinking that we wanted it!" Obviously, Xie Jun could only use his anger to mask the embarrassment that he had because of that mistake.


    "There is no proof that they are framing you. Mr. Shen didn''t mention anything about the Long Company."


    "Bullshit!" Xie Jun hissed. "He was telling everyone that that we did it. Sure, the way he phrased it looked like he was telling them not to use us! But he actually "


    "Jun calm down." Long Yi stood. "We are leaving."


    "But "


    "Let''s go!" Long Yi said. Without looking at the faces of themittee members, he strode out of the room with Zhang Zhi and Xie Jun behind him.


    However, how could something like this end in a very boring manner?


    When Long Yi walked out of the room, he immediately froze. He was actually tempted to go back inside and endure the embarrassing gaze of everyone in that room than watch another nonsense confrontation in front of him.


    That''s right. In front of him was the fuming Huang Xiaoxuan and the smiling Lyca.


    Long Yi''s face darkened, he could feel his migraineing  an intense migraine at that.


    "So you are still alive." Huang Xiaoxuan sneered.


    "Hehe" Lyca only beamed at her. Which made her more frustrated. "You look ugly."


    "You "


    Lyca chuckled. Of course, she was only kidding. Huang Xiaoxuan actually looks radiant. Her hair was in a perfect bun, her face was a little pale, but it made her look delicate instead of pitiful. She was wearing a blue dress that seemed to hide her bulging stomach. "I want to anger you to death, but I don''t want to kill an innocent child. So let''s save this confrontation after you gave birth, alright?"


    Huang Xiaoxuan''s chest raised and fell. Anger started to boil inside her. Seeing Lyca was actually different than making her people take photos of her as they followed the woman. "How dare you call me ugly!"


    "Oh did your husband said you were beautiful? If he did please believe him." Lyca always knew how to rub salt into Huang Xiaoxuan''s wound.


    "You  You actually "


    "Did I say something wrong?" Lyca asked. "My husband always says I am beautiful, even if I drool. So I was assuming that  " She widened her eyes and used her hands to cover her mouth. It was as if, she just discovered a big and ugly secret. "Cousin this "


    "Let''s go." Shen Qui tugged her elbows. Actually, he doesn''t want to put Huang Xiaoxuan in any danger now that she is pregnant too. He wasn''t really that cold-hearted to involve an innocent infant in this silly game. "It''s not worth it." He leaned towards her and whispered. "How about we go back to the room and make babies? Hmm?"


    "Eh?" Lyca froze before sheughed. "Alright let''s go ahead and make babies." With that, she ignored the fuming Huang Xiaoxuan and walk away from her.


    "We are not done talking!" With her emotions and raging hormones, Huang Xiaoxuan was unable to stop her anger from exploding. She walked towards Lyca and tried to pull her hair, but thetter moved. She side-stepped, making Huang Xiaoxuan miss her braided hair.


    "Cousin if youy a finger on me. You will surely die. Do it if you want to make your husband a widower at a young age."

 Chapter 356: Jiayou!

    Chapter 356: Jiayou!


    Huang Xiaoxuan''s hands froze in the air. However, her eyes were already on Long Yi, who was standing a few feet away from them. She was expecting Long Yi to defend her, however, she didn''t get the reaction that she wanted.


    Long Yi just stood there and stared at Lyca like she was his f*cking wife!


    "Mr. Long!" Lyca smiled. "You should call your wife beautiful from time to time. If you don''t feel like it, just like for the sake of the baby."


    Long Yi''s face contorted. What kind of advice is that? However, Lyca was already walking away from him and the frozen Huang Xiaoxuan.


    "You''re just going to stand there? You won''t even defend me?" Huang Xiaoxuan asked her husband.


    "Defend you from what?" Long Yi answered as he walked towards her. "Did someone attacked you? Or you tried to attack someone but failed miserably?"


    "You "


    "When Ites to pissing people off you are no match for her." Xie Jun interrupted Huang Xiaoxuan. "You should give up and stay out of her way. You are pregnant after all. You don''t want some idents to happen, right?"


    Before she could answer, Long Yi, Xie Jun, and Zhang Zhi already walked the other way. She stood there alone, face red in anger.


    ...


    "If I get pregnant, you should tell me that I am pretty every day." Lyca held Shen Qui''s hands as they walked down the stairs. "Some pregnant women became really insecure and act irrationally. So, it''s better if you remind me that I am still beautiful no matter what."


    "Hmmm." Shen Qui nodded. "You are beautiful no matter what."


    "When I get moody, you should smile and be patient with me."


    "Alright."


    "And when I want something irrational. Just don''t do it. It''s just me wanting some attention. Just tell me that I''m pretty."


    "" He nodded. "You are worried that I will treat you like Long Yi treats his wife? It''s different. He never liked her."


    "Oh? Then does this mean you like me?"


    "No."


    ""


    "I love you."


    "Ew!" She giggled. "Stop saying words like that. It''s too embarrassing." The two continued walking and after a few minutes, they finally arrived in the building. This time, they went straight to their room and asked their people to rest.


    Sadly, not many of them were able to rest.


    On the next day, most of them had huge eye bags and pale faces.


    "We were so excited. We couldn''t sleep." Gu Cheng said as he lowered his head, trying to avoid Lyca''s gaze.


    "I am all about aesthetics," Lyca said. "Now that everyone looks like an ugly Panda, I am hesitating if I should still bring you out to join the contest."


    Shen Qui immediately cleared his throat. "You all know that we have an event today and you actually didn''t sleepst night?" They are currently having their morning formation in front of their building. Everyone who will participate in the physical contestter was here. Even Ronan was here, along with everyone else. "We only have limited people and you still let your emotions win."


    "Boss, please forgive us this time, ah." Ma Ping said. "This is the first time that we will join something like this. We were too nervousst night. Don''t worry, this won''t affect our performance at all."


    "The first stage will be rescuing people. You need your strength to be able to run towards the mountain, fight the bandits and rescue the kidnapped victims. You didn''t have much sleepst night! How could you say that this wouldn''t affect your performance at all?" Hogan, who had been with the group since they started training, asked. He was standing just next to Lyca and Shen Qui. "Moreover, if one of you gets wounded, then that person won''t be able to attend tomorrow''s event. As Boss Q said, we have limited people. Otherpanies have sixty, some have seventy people with them. We are only twenty-eight, including Mr. Chu. Can you see the difference now? How could you be this careless?"


    The thick silence hung in the air before Lyca cleared her throat, attracting everyone''s gaze. "Actually, injury is something that we cannot avoid." She smiled at everyone. However, for some reason, her beautiful smile didn''t give them relief. In fact, it made them afraid. What was she nning to do? Every one of them was almost a hundred percent sure that Lyca was going to punish them. "So I thought of a way to let everyone face the consequences of their actions." Lyca was still smiling. "If you get wounded I won''t give you my medicine."


    Her words sounded sweet, but the people who were forming a line knew what kind of medicine Lyca was talking about. It was the numbing medicine that could numb any type of injury. For instance, a person could break his bone and Lyca''s medicine could easily mask the pain from the injury.


    Unlike most numbing creams that would soon lose their effects after a few hours, Lyca''s numbing medicine is taken orally and applied to the wound. It wouldn''t lose its effects after just a few hours! It was a very effective medicine that could remove any of their pains. From knife wounds to simple bruises! That medicine could remove the pain, making them ignore it and continue their training.


    If Lyca wouldn''t give them that medicine, then they would surely suffer!


    "Alright, I am not unreasonable. So, I won''t tell you not to get injured. In fact, feeling pain sometimes is very good! It reminds us that we are still alive!" Lyca beamed as she stared at the horror in their faces. "Alright don''t look at me like that. I will naturally give you the medicine after we finish this event. I meant after thest day of the event."


    Lyca roamed her eyes, meeting everyone''s gazes. "Do we have a deal?"


    "Yes!" They answered in chorus.


    "Do you understand?"


    "Yes!"


    "Good!" Lyca beamed. "Then jiayou! I hope you will get injured and be reminded that you aren''t dead yet!"


    ""

 Chapter 357: Shameless Tactic

    Chapter 357: Shameless Tactic


    Chu Nan wasn''t allowed to join the first event. Or at least, Lyca and Shen Qui didn''t allow him to join. Despite, trying his best to convince them, the two declined and told him to stay with Ronan and Cleo instead. Of course, they assured him that he could join in the final stages of thepetition.


    "The map is like a maze. We cannotmunicate with them during the rescue. Of course, they can alwaysmunicate with themselves." Ronan said. His eyes were focused on the screen on hisptop. "Are you sure that you are going to send fifteen people this time? I mean that''s too little. There will be at least thirty enemies. Live people who knew martial arts. These people were from themittee."


    "So many? The scenario, this time, is not rescuing the president, right?" Lyca thought that they are doing overboard this time. How could they assign thirty people to protect someone? Does this mean the person who was kidnapped was extremely important?


    "Well, they wanted to test the physical ability of eachpany. Meaning, they wanted to showcase martial arts and weapon handling. They will not use real weapons this time. The guns looked and felt real. However, the bullets are pellets. Once it will hit someone, the pellet will be lodged to the clothes and produce a yellow color. SWAT used this for training. I guess the Long Family donated this as they were known to make toy guns like this." Ronan exined and showed them a model of the gun. "Anyway, once you are hit you are considered down and are not supposed to stand up again. However, my concern lies in the fact that an opponent can use martial arts to take you down. They were instructed to make it look realistic."


    "Meaning?" Shen Qui asked.


    "You can tap out. You can only faint."


    "What kind of rule is that?" Cleo reacted. "They are bullying us! I am sure that this is Long Yi''s scheme! They know that we have fewer people so they want to target us!"


    "That is obvious. Long Yi wanted us out of thispetition. If he asked those people to use martial arts and ''identally'' target some fatal points, then we are finished." Ronan said.


    "Then they will be disappointed." Lyca''s words interrupted the gloomy atmosphere. "I trained those people to be fast runners before I trained them in martial arts and weapons. Do you think they could outrun anyone of my people?" Lyca smiled.


    Plus, before the first stage began, she already gave instructions to her people. It was only one word, and that is to run. Run as fast as they could. Be shameless and run. At the end of the day, the people who survive and could rescue the kidnapped victim would be the winner.


    This isn''t some martial artspetition where people needed to show how brave and strong they are. This is a rescue operation.


    "So? Do we have a n for this?" Chu Nan asked.


    "Mr. Chu, the first stage already started. Isn''t it toote to ask about this?" Shen Qui answered.


    "I already told them to run as fast as they could." Lyca dered.


    In response, Chu Nan avoided Lyca''s gaze. He didn''t know if he shouldugh at this simple strategy or cry and be scared that people wouldugh at them once they see them running away.


    "Thispetition is testing physical abilities," Lyca said. "If you read the rules, they didn''t say that everyone should fight. Moreover, running is an ability too! Can anyone here ran as fast as them in the mountains?"


    "You read the rules?"


    "No." She shook her head. "But my husband memorized it. I can just ask him anything!"


    Chu Nan nodded as he looked at the huge TV in front of them. The TV was showing all the CCTV in the area of thepetition. Right now, it''s showing the first group that needed to face the bandits. And that is, of course, the Shen Security.


    Shen Security was actually the unluckypany that got the number one. Of course, they weren''t aware of this was also a part of Long Yi''s scheme or if Lyca who chose the paper was just unlucky. Of course, cheating is not allowed. While they decided to show the video, themittee also informed them that the formation of the guards and even the guards would change so no one could cheat the game.


    "It''s starting look! Someone is about to meet one of the guards!" Since everyone was wearing ck armor, they couldn''t see who was behind the mask. "Ah!? That person ran away!?" Cleo said. She didn''t know if she should be excited that they didn''t get any injury or disappointed that the person just ran away like that.


    "Ah? So smart!" of course, Lyca praised her people. "Look at him, running like he wasn''t wearing armor. Look! To avoid people, he is going to climb on trees! Hahaha!" Lyca''sughter echoed. As expected, everyone around her is too clever, ah!


    But this tactic is really too shameless!


    Now that Chu Nan looked at the eight different videos, he couldn''t help but give a wry smile. Until now, there was no confrontation as the fifteen people that Lyca''s sent was hiding in the trees! They were jumping and swinging on the branches like monkeys!


    She looked at thezy smile on Lyca''s face. This woman This woman was so shameless! Chu Nan was certain that no one expected this type of development. However, he already made a mental note not to go out of his room and hide his face in public. He was sure that thepany would receive ridicule from otherpanies, ah.


    "Mr. Chu that face that you are making is really ugly. I am not sure if you are crying or smiling, ah." Lyca suddenly said. "What''s wrong with you?" she asked.


    "Uh? Nothing! I am just I want to ask you a question. Did you tell them not to fight?"


    "Of course, not!"


    "Then why are they running and avoiding fighting."


    "In rescuing someone. Do you really have to fight? Fighting takes time. If you can avoid it, then why not just avoid?"


    Her words rendered him speechless. Actually, her words made sense. But for some reason, he still thought it was shameless to just run like this, ah.

 Chapter 358: Rescue

    Chapter 358: Rescue


    Dumbstruck.


    Long Yi was at a loss for words when he stared at the TV live coverage of Shen Security in this rescue mission. It took him a few minutes to recover from the initial shock he felt when he saw them running around. "Is this in the rules?" he asked.


    Xie Jun who sat next to him shook his head. He too had been struck dumb because of the current development. "No. The rules didn''t say anything about running and climbing trees."


    "F*ck! So shameless?" Zhang Zhi said. "How could it be like that? This is going to test their physical abilities! ThisThis should be grounds for disqualification, right?"


    "How could it be?" Xie Jun argued. "Themittee never thought that someone would actually hide by climbing trees and would run every time they see an enemy. Can you think of anyone else who could easily do that?"


    "This agility is basically a part of the test too." Long Yi''s face darkened. He paid a few of the guards to hurt Lyca''s people. Maybe break a few bones. This would stop them from joining the second stage of thepetition. However, how could they break a few bones when Lyca''s people are this agile?


    "Their training" Xie Jun pursed his lips. "I remember one of your people saying that they just run in the mountain for their training. It was basic for the military to run while carrying weights." They already sent spies in Ralia to check out Lyca''s team.


    Their people already reported that they just run in and out of the mountain and practice some basic martial arts. There was nothing special about it. The reports even included a picture of those people running towards the mountain at dawn.


    However, if the training was really normal, then howe these people were so light? Or at least they look like they can run with the wind!


    "The armor looks heavy. I am surprised that they can still move around with that armor." Zhang Zhi said. The armor actually looked bulky and funny. It looked like some armor from a sci-fi movie.


    "Ask themittee if they are viting any rules." Long Yi said, and in response, Xie Jun immediately left the room toin to themittee. When he arrived at the room where most of the important staff upied, he immediately noticed the thick suffocating silence inside the room.


    Just as he expected, the members of themittee also had dark looks on their faces. Every one of them just stared at the screen, jaws clenched, eyes wide. It was like everyone was scared to blink and miss anything.


    "Sir, theythey were able to rescue the person. Shall we announce the time now?" A small voice of a woman interrupted the silence.


    "Huh?" Almost immediately, everyone looked at the video that shows the kidnapped victim. Just as the woman said, the victim was no longer there.


    "How could that be?"


    "How can they rescue the kidnapped without triggering any rms at all!?"


    "What?"


    "Rey! I want to see what happened!?"


    "Were they cheating?"


    "We were busy watching the people climbing trees and hiding, we failed to notice who rescued the kidnapped victim!"


    "My god! Isn''t it too quick? Not even ten minutes?"


    "I thought the area needed at least ten minutes to breach? How could they rescue the victim in less than ten minutes?"


    The voices echoed.


    Xie Jun stood there in silence as everyone else was busy talking amongst themselves. Soon, the rey video was shown and everyone stared as two people slowly approached the kidnapped victim. The two people wearing ck were walking like cats. Their bodies bend forward on all fours as they approached the room.


    "Opening the doors would cause an rm! Why Wait can you please go back a few minutes from that time. Check out the control room of the area." Someone said. The only way that the rm wouldn''t work is if they already disabled it from the control room. However, the control room is considered the most heavily guarded space next to the space that held the victim.


    "My god! They How could someone be that shameless?"


    "They actually "


    At the start of the video, two people immediately approached the control room and used stones to hit the back of the head of the guards. One by one, the guards fell. "Howe we didn''t see this earlier?"


    "We were too engrossed as we watched the others approaching the facility that held the kidnapped victim. We didn''t notice anyone approaching the control room."


    "Using small stones that they picked on the area is not I mean it''s not mentioned on the rules, right? It''s not a part of the banned weapons." Someone from themittee said.


    "No. Who would think about throwing stones like that?" This method is truly ridiculous, ah!


    "Then what are we going to do? Everyone must have seen what happened. Are we going to announce the time now?"


    "Of course, we are going to announce!" The one who spoke was none other than Mr. Xu. "They rescued the kidnapped victim. Sure, they didn''t follow any of the traditional rescue methods, but they were still able toplete the mission."


    "Sir, I think this would affect the morale of the otherpany. This would only put more pressure on them."


    Mr. Xu sneered. "Announce it. Since they were good, they let the otherpanies feel the pressure. Thispany is operating for less than five years that they were able to achieve such results. Let the otherpanies see it!"


    "But sir the otherpanies"


    Mr. Xu interrupted the person who spoke. "This is no longer our business. Tall trees attract wind. If they were so threatened, then they should handle the Shen Security themselves. Don''t get involved in this matter. Announce the result! Shen Security SS. They are now the new dark horse in thispetition. They didn''t vite any rules. In fact, we will praise them for using such peculiar tactics."


    "Yes, sir!"

 Chapter 359: To Win and Conquer

    Chapter 359: To Win and Conquer


    "Less than ten minutes? Less than ten minutes! Ma Ping and Gu Cheng are so awesome!" Cleo couldn''t help but jumped out of her seat as she pped her hands. "Ah, so awesome!" Like a child, Cleo jumped up and down as she stared at the time on therge TV.


    "Can you stop jumping like a child?" Chu Nan who was sitting next to her uttered in a low voice. "That rescue mission was done perfectly and quickly. Less than ten minutes is a very good time. If my guess is right, the otherpanies won''t be able to finish that in such a short time. They will feel pressured and embarrassed. After all, we only sent fifteen people this time. Moreover, none of them were wounded." Actually, Lyca''s strategy was pretty good this time.


    It was smart and not something that many people could think of.


    "Now, many would think that we are weak," Ronan said, his eyes were sparkling as he stared at Lyca. Now that he said those words, Chu Nan immediately realized the underlying strategy that Lyca used this time. By acting like they were afraid of confrontation, people believed that they weren''t capable.


    Meaning, they would underestimate them.


    Moreover, those people would surely do their research and realized that Lyca''s team was only formed about two months ago. Obviously, two months is not enough to train people to the point of perfection.


    The strength of the team relied on agility. This is why Lyca let them run to the mountain with weights. It would make them lighter and faster. The target of her training was always her people''s agility. She wasn''t aiming for the perfect soldier that could fight face-to-facebat.


    "My people''s martial arts are only so  so," Lyca said. Actually, no one could really say that they will win a battle base on their martial arts skills. In a fight, the most vicious one would always win. For example, the weaker party could always use tricks  dirty tricks to win a fight. They could blind their opponents using sand or any type of powder. Then they would easily gain some advantage.


    These tricks are dirty and might be frowned upon, but these are survival skills. In life and death situation, skills like these could save your life. She leaned against Shen Qui''s arms and added, "War is often won by deception, showing confusion while being organized, seeming hungry while being fed, seeming poorly armed while having concealed sharp weapons, seeming to have few troops while having many." Pursing her lips, she eyed the shing words on the TV. "The best wars are won without fighting."


    Lyca thought that her personal belief is actually pretty useful in survival. After all, she already lived another life and experienced a lot of death and even war. She lost people and watched as her family was ughtered. In her previous life, she loved working alone. This was not because she was confident in her skills. It was because her viewpoint was always different.


    She was a killer azy one. For her, if other people could do it, then let them do it. If she could avoid fighting and hurting herself, then just sit down and avoid it. If she couldn''t defeat the enemy, then what''s the use of fighting? Run! If the enemy has many people, then she would use her brain and defeat them using the smallest effort.


    She wasn''t the type to act like a hero and save people. She was always the type to prioritize herself above everyone. Of course, at the end of the day, she still died because of her stupidity.


    She lowered her gaze to hide the emotions in her eyes.


    She always believed that she was selfish. Aside from herself, she would only save those people that were important to her, and she is willing to do everything to keep the people that she cared about safe.


    "Our resources are inferior to otherpanies because we have fewer people. This is why we need to beat them using tactics and innovations." Shen Qui added. "However, we should be very careful. After all, tall trees attract wind. The otherpanies would soon target us."


    "Hmmm" Lyca nodded. "Power is seductive and many people would do everything to get it. Thepany that would win this assembly would surely have the influence and power. Thus, the otherpanies would try to do everything to get the first ce. In the first stage, I am confident that no one could beat our score. Meaning, we will take the first prize. On the second and third stage, people would start to be wary of us."


    "We already showed them that our people are faster." Chu Nan uttered. "In the next stage, somepanies will directly create strategies to target our speed." This was his worry. It actually seemed like they already showed their cards. It was just the start of thepetition and they already showed everyone what they were capable of."


    Lyca pursed her lips. She chose not to say anything because talking a lot is really tiring, ah.


    She closed her eyes and thought about what Shen Qui said earlier. Tactics and Innovations. They already showed other people what they were capable of unique yet very effective tactics. Meaning, it''s time to show the innovative side of theirpany.


    Shen Security.


    This is not just apany that would ept normal security details. This is going to be thepany that would make the criminals shiver in fear. This wasn''t just because of their skills. This was because of the gears. The gears that Lyca would personally create.


    "Ask everyone to gather in front of the building that we were staying. Don''t let them take off their armors. From now on, they will not take off any of their armor inside this facility." This is for their security and this is going to showcase the capability of Shen Security.


    After all, Lyca wasn''t just here to win.


    She was here to conquer.

 Chapter 360: Truffles

    Chapter 360: Truffles


    "Let''s beat her at her own game," the cold voice echoed inside the car. "I want you to make sure that her team will get poisoned."


    "I understand."


    "Does this mean, everything is ready?"


    "Yes. We are prepared. Tonight, most of her people will get diarrhea."


    "Good. Make sure that they will me the Long Family."


    "I understand."


    Just like that, the conversation ended. The man sitting in the car left and soon, the car slowly moved without leaving any traces of the malicious meeting that just happened a few seconds ago.


    ....


    Just as Lyca expected, they really got first ce this time. With a thunderous eight minutes and forty-seven seconds, they be the leadingpany on the first day of thepetition. After thestpany finished, themittee immediately set up some banquet for everyone.


    "Miss Huang, may I know why your people are still wearing the suit that they wore during thepetition earlier? What was so special about this armor?" A woman who looked to be in herte thirties or early forties asked Lyca. She removed a strand of her long blond hair from her face and tucked it behind her ear. Then she gazed at Lyca''s perpetually smiling face.


    She knew it was fake. She also heard about the rumors of Lyca being difficult to talk to. However, she doesn''t care. Her task for the night is to at least establish a connection to the woman behind the CEO of Shen Security. "Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. I am the wife of Mr. Yu of Yu Corporations. Please call me Lan Yi."


    "You already know my name," Lyca said. The smile on her face was still the same.


    "Ah? Yes Yes you are right." The woman awkwardlyughed. What poor etiquette! "So, about the armor."


    "It''s fashion."


    "Cough Cough" Lan Yi swallowed the surprise and smiled. "Really? I I never saw anything like that before."


    "It''s couture." Lyca smiled. She was enjoying this banquet with the wine and the food in front of her. Yet, this woman kept pestering her. In fact, this wasn''t the first woman who approached her tonight. Most women who talked to her were wives of the CEO or important figures. Apparently, in the upper society, the rich wives stick to themselves to gossip about thetest trends in everything.


    "Cou  Couture" Lan Yi cursed inwardly as she wondered if this woman was some ignorant country bumpkin who was able to marry someone rich. However, Lan Yi was already experienced in social gatherings. Despite being displeased at Lyca''s actions, she still maintained the smile on her face. "That is some nice armor. It looked sturdy and of coursefortable." That was her being sarcastic. The armor looked hard and heavy. If anything, the armor looked ufortable and ugly in events like this.


    She nced at the group of people in Lyca''spany who were enjoying their food. They wereughing and were really loud. Not one of them was showing any indications that they had attended events like these!


    She turned her head away to hide the disgust in her eyes. The only reason why Lyca''s people were invited was that they broke the record and were able to finish the task in less than ten minutes. Of course, everyone here knew that they use such a cowardly method to win. On the outside, they were trying to make connections to Shen Qui and his people. However, on the inside, each of them was snorting in disgust.


    Shen Security was considered an infant in the security industry. She even heard rumors that they only started training their people a few months ago. Because of this, many executives were quite unhappy that they took the first ce. They thought that it was an insult, a loud p in their faces.


    "Very sturdy," Lyca finally removed her gaze from the truffle in front of her. She smiled at the older woman wearing a blue knee-length dress. She was beautiful and really looked elegant with her pearls and perfect smile. In short, she is the type of woman that Lyca hated the most. Pretentious and nasty. "It could easily kill people."


    "That  " Lan Yi''s face changed. So vulgar! How could a woman who looked tender and delicate just talk about killing people in front of their food? She immediately hid the irritation in her eyes. "That is indeed unique. I heard that Shen Security had unique methods too. I guess this armor matches their uniqueness." She said.


    "True." Lyca nodded. "Our uniqueness made us break the record. Miss Lan should ask her husband to think of unique methods, too. After all, Yu Corporation was second to thest in the rankings. That must have been really devastating, right?"


    ""


    Seeing Lan Yi opened her mouth and closed it without saying anything, Lyca chuckled and started eating again. The problem with other people is that they think too much about other people''s thoughts, other people''s opinions. They care more about what other people say.


    Of course, she couldn''t me them. In fact, she thought this was nothing but normal.


    "Hey, Cleo can you get more truffle mushroom pasta for me?" She asked Cleo, who was silently enjoying her wine next to her.


    "Sure." Cleo smiled and ignored the woman who stood next to Lyca.


    "I think what you just said was pretty offensive." Lan Yi suddenly said. "It''s inappropriate."


    "Is it?" Lyca looked at the woman. "I didn''t know saying the truth could be so inappropriate?" She sneered andughed when the woman red at her before leaving. The smile of sessced her lips. She chose the corner most table to have peace. She came here to freeload some delicious food and not to talk about fashion. They were in a banquet, ah. But most people are roaming around and talking instead of eating. What a waste.


    "Hey, Xi we have a problem."


    "Huh?"


    "Ma Ping and the others are starting to have a stomachache. Are we going to make them go back to the building to rest?" Cleo who was still holding the empty te asked.


    "Go back," Lyca answered. "But where''s my truffle?"

 Chapter 361: All In

    Chapter 361: All In


    "Xi we should leave. It''s bad." Cleo leaned towards her. "It''s not just Ma Ping. Most of them had to run back to go to the toilet. I am suspecting that someone is making fun of us."


    "Oh?" Lyca lifted an eyebrow, her eyes were still on the empty te. "Are they vomiting?"


    "No but I can''t be sure. Let''s go and check."


    "You check," Lyca said. Diarrhea is not something that could easily kill them. Moreover, she could easily heal them, alright. At this point, all she wanted to do was eat. "Stop panicking. I know food poisoning sounds ufortable, but it is not an umon thing to happen." She smiled and gestured her to get the food instead.


    Food poisoning? Then howe she isn''t feeling unwell? She saw that those people were trying to eat truffle pasta earlier. Since most of them didn''t recognize the food, they just ate everything that Lyca and Shen Qui ate to avoid embarrassing themselves.


    Meaning, this isn''t some simple food poisoning. However, Lyca is confident that the goal is not to kill her people. First and foremost, they already have the first ce. If all of them would die after obtaining the first ce, then some people would surely talk. That would only embarrass the event and themittee. Second, whoever is trying to do this should not be someone from themittee, as they were afraid that Lyca would suddenly strike back and release some evidence against them. Those people already had some bad blood with Lyca. If they wanted to act, they wouldn''t make it so obvious.


    This means that the possible suspect is one of thepanies. Of course, the number one suspect is Long Yi and the Long Company. She turned her head towards Long Yi and of course his wife, who stood next to him. The two of them were talking to some other older folks, smiling andughing with them.


    Long Yi Does this man really want to die? Provoking her and harming her people like this Was it possible that he wanted her to lose control and retaliate against everyone? Retaliate against him? If that is Long Yi''s goal, then he would never achieve it.


    She calmly took some wine and finished it before she gestured the waiter to give her another ss of wine.


    After a few minutes, Lyca''s food finally arrived. This time, Shen Qui also approached him. "How was the food?"


    "Delicious," she smiled at him. "I wish you can make something like this."


    He lifted an eyebrow and eyed the truffle mushroom pasta. "Then I will do my best."


    She giggled in response. "You are already so handsome. If people knew that you spoil your life like this they might try to steal you away from me."


    "Then they should try it. I had beennguid these days. I need to practice my mind and body."


    She pouted. "I thought I am doing the best at practicing your body?" She then held Shen Qui''s arm and whispered something, making him chuckle in response.


    The quick banter didn''t escape the eyes of the older people who joined the party. Lyca''s actions were too seductive, her smile coquettish. This, of course, made many people unhappy.


    "Let''s go?" Shen Qui said and Lyca nodded. She then ignored her food and left the banquet with Shen Qui. Of course, Cleo who was so red was following them.


    "Damage?" Lyca asked the moment they stepped out of the hall. The smile on her face was still the same.


    "Eighteen."


    "That''s a lot."


    "Hmmm." The two started walking towards their car. Since there was an emergency, the two rode a car instead of walking towards their building.


    "They were going all in." They only have twenty-eight people, including Chu Nan and Hogan. However, Hogan was too old and Chu Nan had a special identity. They weren''t really considered a member of the troop. Meaning, if eighteen people were poisoned, they would only have a total of eight healthy people for tomorrow''s stage.


    Soon, the car arrived at the building, and the three of them immediately checked everyone. Lyca started checking everyone''s pulses, immediately determining that they were indeed poisoned. "It wasn''t in their food," she concluded. "Must be in the water."


    "Then what can we do about it?" Chu Nan asked.


    "Medicine," Lyca said before she walked out of the room and went to her and Shen Qui''s room. She quickly opened her suitcase and rummage through a lot of potions and tablets that she had. "Let them take this. This will not stop the stomach ache but would help them recover their energy." After giving Shen Qui a few tablets, she started mixing some liquids. The medicine that she had is not enough for eighteen people. She needed to make more  rather, she needed to innovate and make something that could stop the spread of poison.


    "Was it deadly?" Cleo asked as she wiped the sweat on Lyca''s forehead.


    "No. But it would make them weak." Weak to the point of not being able to walk. The people who did this must have thought that they would go to the doctor. If they did, the doctor would immediately say this was ordinary food poisoning. They might even say that her people''s stomach is not used to eating some of the raw food that is included in the banquet.


    "Weak then tomorrow."


    "They can join." Lyca dered. After about thirty minutes, Lyca finally left her room and asked Shen Qui to give each of them a drop of the purplish liquid that she made.


    "What was that?"


    "Something that could help them," she answered Chu Nan. To be honest, she doesn''t know what to call that liquid. However, she was confident that it would end the pain that they are feeling right now. That liquid could easily destroy any mild poison and remove it from the system. The only disadvantage is the fact that you needed to vomit for a few minutes to remove the poison in your system. After that, everything should be good. "The energy drinks that I created for everyone. Drink it tomorrow morning." She was talking about the vial that she gave everyone. This vial could replenish their strength. Drinking the vial would assure that they will be in their peak condition tomorrow.


    With that, Lyca didn''t wait for anyone to say anything. She met Shen Qui''s eyes and nodded slightly before leaving the room.


    It''s time to talk to Long Yi.

 Chapter 362: We are not Friends

    Chapter 362: We are not Friends


    "Food poisoning?" Long Yi looked at Xie Jun. "Are you sure?"


    "Yes. That''s the reason why they left early," Xie Jun said in a low voice. "We should leave too."


    "Hmmm." Long Yi said. He didn''t even nce at Huang Xiaoxuan, who was talking to other women as they left the hall with Xie Jun in tow.


    "How about your wife?"


    "She''s trying to socialize. Don''t inform her about this matter." Long Yi told Xie Jun as he boarded the car. After a few minutes, he finally arrived at the building where his people were staying.


    "Tell me everything that you know," he said, his gaze turned towards Zhang Zhi who was on hisputer.


    "After eating, they left. To some people, it looked like something people like them would do. They would surely avoid talking to people. Some also think that they avoided conversations because they were warned in advance to avoid being recruited by other people. However, I was wondering why they were running towards the toilet in the hall. Some of them started running towards their building too. I sent some people, and they confirmed that some people heard those people in armor talking about a stomachache." Zhang Zhi said. "Not long after Shen Qui and Lyca left the building too. They didn''t wait for the announcement. They just left. Of course, we already know that only an emergency like food poisoning could make them do that."


    Long Yi squinted at the screen. It contains images of Lyca''s people Below, each image was some basic information that they were able to gather. "So every one of them were from the streets?"


    "Aside from Mr. Chu, yes."


    "And all of them was poisoned?"


    "We can''t be sure about that. I already asked our people to watch the building. If it''s food poisoning then, they would surely bring the team to the hospital, right? Or at least call a doctor. I already checked everyone in their team and surprisingly, they don''t even have a doctor on their team."


    "Really?" Even Xie Jun was surprised to hear this. "That''s foolish. It''s either they were too poor or they are actually so confident that they won''t have any injuries. How stupid."


    "So nothing yet?" Long Yi remembered that it was already about an hour since Lyca and Shen Qui left. "Did anyone left the building?"


    "None."


    "Do you think she had something that could save her people?" Xie Jun couldn''t help but ask. Almost immediately Long Yi''s face darkened. That is possible. A person who knows that Lyca is adept with poison could easily conclude that she had something that could heal her people.


    "Keep watching. I will go to my room. Call me if there''s anything." Long Yi didn''t wait for them to respond. He walked towards his room and removed his coat. The chilly breezeing from the window made him frown. He couldn''t remember if he left the window open before leaving. Did he forget to lock it? Or


    "Close the window. I''m cold." Lyca''s voice was followed by a sharp and cold metal in his neck. "You can fight, but I can assure you. I will win and you will die."


    "Why the hell are you here?"


    "To say, hi?" she used more force on the knife. "Look there''s blood. Are you going to close the window? Or just let me identally cut your throat because of the cold."


    "" That doesn''t have any connection at all. In the end, he still closed the window. "Was it because of the poisoning? I didn''t do it."


    "I know," Lyca smiled. She walked in front of him. "You are not that stupid to use such a simple method. You know I am adept with poison. You would know that I have something that could counter a simple trick like that."


    He pursed his lips and watched Lyca''s small frame. Lyca was only one foot away from him and he could clearly see her long eyshes, the perfect curved in her upper lip made him gulped. He turned his head away. "I wouldn''t do something like that."


    "No need to be so nervous. I know you didn''t do it." Long Yi oh Long Yi. Lyca smirked. "Why are you avoiding my eyes?"


    "Don''t get too close."


    "Oh? I don''t sense any fear?" She chuckled. Actually, she was here because she actually thought that it was Long Yi who did it. When she arrived earlier, Long Yi and Xie Jun just arrived and she heard their conversation. She was confident that the two aren''t clever enough to fake an entire conversation. Moreover, they didn''t know she was here.


    "Can youCan you move a bit? I am not going to fight you."


    "Oh?" Lyca smiled and took a step back. "I want to know who wanted us to fight. The person who did this would have thought that I would immediately think it was you. Was it someone from themittee? Did you offend someone capable of poisoning my people and not everyone else in the party?"


    "I offended a lot of people and we are already fighting, aren''t we?"


    Lyca snorted. "If I wanted to fight with you. You would have been dead by now." She titled her head. "Why are you so nervous? Did you do something wrong?"


    "I did a lot of things! Now, can you tell me, why are you here?"


    "To talk," Lyca said. "Give me some wine," she gestured, and heplied. Long Yi walked towards the small bar in his room.


    "Whiskey?"


    "I like everything that''s hard," she sat on the couch and crossed her leg over the other. "Was it that Xu guy?"


    "I don''t know what you are talking about."


    Lyca snorted. Of course, she didn''t believe him. If her guess was right, there would be a drug test tomorrow morning before the second stage. Meaning, if her people would take normal drugs tonight they would get a positive result.


    Isn''t that something that would automatically kick them out of thepetition?


    Now, Lyca wasn''t a genius. However, she knew that many people would be happy if they leave. It seems that she was so good at pissing people off. If she died, many people would hold a party. Ah, this is why she wasn''t nning to die just yet.


    Pissing people off is fun, alright!


    She epted the ss that Long Yi handed and drink the alcohol in one go. "Surprisingly, you didn''t put some drugs on it."


    "You "


    She chuckled at the ufortable expression on his face.


    "So? Enemy?"


    "I told you! I have a lot! Why are you asking me? Why don''t you ask yourself? Do we havemon enemies?"


    "Common enemies? I am not sure." Lyca pursed her lips. She was particrly good at offending people, now she couldn''t count her enemies anymore.


    "Your people how are they?"


    "Dying," she answered without batting an eyelid.


    "You already got the first ce. I am sure a lot ofpanies aren''t veryfortable about this. Maybe one of them wanted you to target us because of this poisoning. They wanted us to deal with each other. In that way, they will remove two of the bestpanies in the assembly. It''s killing two birds with one stone."


    "Ah? I didn''t think of that before." Sarcasmced her voice. "So smart, ah." Sheughed when she saw his ears turned red. "For the first time, young master Long is not angry but actually embarrassed. Say, do you like me?"


    "Who would like a woman like you?"


    "True. Only geniuses would like me. Just look at my husband? He is even prettier than your wife."


    "Will you die if you won''t say something so annoying?"


    Lyca only sneered in response.


    "Why would you think it was Mr. Xu?" Long Yi asked.


    "Why not him? Aren''t you close with the Xu Family?"


    "You " A woman so direct is not a very pleasant woman.


    "You think the reason why you are still alive is that you are capable?" Lyca said. "The reason why you are still alive is that you are friends with the influential Xu Family."


    He gnashed his teeth. Was she trying to say that without the Xu Family is nothing?


    "What''s with that look?" She lifted an eyebrow. "Don''t tell me you don''t know this? The reason why you are still up on thedder is because of the Xu Family. Those old businessmen are not going to tell you this. After all, being too honest is dangerous."


    "Then why are you telling me this?"


    "Because we aren''t friends?" She stood and poured herself a whiskey. "And I love pissing people off." She went back to her seat before she finished her second ss of alcohol. "You should be careful. After all, some people wanted us to destroy each other. And I am nning to give them a good show."


    "YouYou are nning to take revenge? I already said I didn''t do it!"


    She didn''t answer him. Instead, she looked at the door. "Your wife is here. It wouldn''t be too good if she walked in on us talking and drinking like this, right?"


    Long Yi immediately turned towards the door and almost instantly, Huang Xiaoxuan barged in, crying. The cold air once again hit his skin. He looked at the now opened window and sighed.

 Chapter 363: Dal Valley Security

    Chapter 363: Dal Valley Security


    "If you want to cry. Do it outside. I want to sleep." Long Yi said and ignored Huang Xiaoxuan''s antics. Sometimes, he wondered why he agreed to marry this woman. However, he was reminded of the divorce paper that he already prepared for her after she gave birth. After the divorce is finalized, Long Yi isn''t nning to see Huang Xiaoxuan again.


    "You "


    Long Yi clicked his tongue before leaving the room.


    .


    Just as Lyca expected, someone ordered a surprise drug test on the second day of thepetition. Every one of them, including Lyca and Shen Qui, was asked to take a drug test. Of course, they all had negative results.


    "If they wanted to target us then our results should have been positive, right?" Cleo chided. "Howe they are targeting us over and over again? Are they really tired of living?"


    Just like Cleo, everyone in the room had a dark look on their faces. "Do you think it worked?" Chu Nan couldn''t help but ask. He had stayed with Ma Ping and the rest in Ralia, and he sincerely liked them. Seeing them suffer likest night was enough to make him angry.


    "Of course. Just wait until shees back." Cleo had confidence in her tone. Lyca was a woman who could do miracles. She could save and kill at the same time. She is her goddess, and she would blindly trust Lyca with all her heart.


    "You are that confident. That thing that she gave them have you seen that before?"


    "No."


    "And you still thought it would help them recover their strength?"


    "Yes." She had seen her create miracles before. There is no need to question Lyca''s ability. Since she promised to do it, then she would do it!


    The door was suddenly opened, and Lyca with Shen Qui walked inside. They were followed by Hogan.


    "Did it work?" Cleo asked.


    "Hm, more or less. Everyone canpete now." Shen Qui nodded.


    "Then? What are we waiting for? Let''s go!"


    ..........


    The news that everyone canpete is not only surprising to Chu Nan but to Long Yi and some executives who already expected that they won''t join today''spetition.


    When they heard that the group of twenty-six people are already up and in their formation outside of their building, many people were really curious if the rumors about food poisoning were true. Was it something that they just made up to make people happy and crash their hopes at thest hour?


    "How could they even stand up? I already talked to some staff who were able to take those bottled water! All of them went to the hospital too. Some of them even fell into aa. How could those people withstand a poison like that?" Xie Junined.


    "I told you, Lyca is brilliant. Now she must have thought that we did it." Zhang Zhi gnashed his teeth. Long Yi didn''t tell them anything about Lyca''s visit the other night, so they were still thinking that she would use them.


    "The worse that she could do is try to poison us. We have doctors and everything around us had been thoroughly checked. Even the PH level of the water that we drink is checked for some reason. This meant that we are safe from poison. However, if she had ways to retaliate against us then we could easily ask themittee to disqualify her." Xie Jun had this brilliant idea of baiting Lyca. However, he didn''t say those words to Long Yi. Moreover, it was too risky. What if she would kill them immediately? What was the use of baiting her when they were already dead?


    "Why are you so silent?" Zhang Zhi asked Long Yi.


    "I was just thinking why would someone want to frame us."


    Almost immediately, silence followed his words. Long Yi added, "Clearly, someone wanted her to target us because of what happenedst night. But who could it be?"


    The silence continued before they decided to lead their people to the area for thepetition.


    "Allpanies, even the ones who failed and weren''t able to be a part of the top three are here." Xie Jun couldn''t help but mumble. "Thispetition is pretty tight." The top threepanies are going topete this time.


    This time thepetition is going to be about security. The test is supposed to showcase thepani''s strategies and tech. This time, they were still allowed to use fake guns. However, they could use some weapons aside from explosives and guns and des. Everything is good as long as they wouldn''t fatally wound someone.


    "Most of our people could use whips and other weapons like tasers and pepper spray, brass knuckles and batons are allowed too." Zhang Zhi said. "I already asked our people to chose their preferred weapons."


    The aim of this stage is to test the capability of each contestant to think beyond the box. How are they going to fight and secure their gs from the other team using these weapons?


    "At least Shen Security is not that good in martial arts. We need to think about the otherpany." The otherpany that made it into the top three is called Dal Valley Security. They are from Xie City and is considered as one of the top securitypany in the region. However, they have the reputation of being too bloody. In short, they don''t mind killing people just to make sure that they aplish their mission.


    Rumor has it that these people were very in demand in the ck market. Many businessmen want to hire them because of their experience in killings.


    "Have you seen them?" Zhang Zhi asked. "They don''t ept women and they don''t ept someone that is shorter than five foot ten. They are bulky and most of them have shaved heads. Looked intimidating."


    Actually, even Lyca was also looking into this group of people. She wasn''t very concerned about Long Company. However, she is worried that her sleeping gas won''t work on the people from Dal Valley.


    She eyed the muscled group of men and sighed. The gas that she gave her people could make people lose their strength. However, it would take a few seconds before it will show its effects.


    Those people from Dal Valley were tall and bulky, she is afraid that the gas would take longer before showing its effects. Meaning, her people wouldn''t have any other choice but to fight against them. Looking at her people, she let out another sighed.


    She hired both men and women. The women were not particrly tall, only about five foot six and five foot seven. She could even spot someone who is about five foot four. Compared to the people in Dal Valley, her people can be considered midgets!


    "I only have one word to tell everyone." Lyca''s expression was serious this time. This is herpany''s chance to gain more prestige. This step is basically the first step to sess! "Dirty," she said in a voice enough for everyone to hear.


    The point was simple. y smart, y dirty. No need to think about the rules in fighting and think about surviving. They could run and of course, they could fight and y dirty. "I won''t tolerate any mistakes," she added before leaving.


    Meanwhile, the gigantic men in Dal Valley were also nning on the strategy that they wanted to use for thispetition.


    "Shen Security isposed of really young people. The oldest that they have is Hogan, which is injured and is not going to join thepetition. Next is Chu Nan who had a special identity thus, he is not joining thispetition too. This time, we are lucky, Shen Security is just a newpany. They might be fast, but what can they do once we break their legs?" The man who spoke was the head of the training department in Dal Valley, Mr. Liang. He is an ex SWAT from their city. Just like everyone in their team, the man is very good at martial arts and using different weapons.


    "So, I wanted you to focus on the Long Company instead. In terms of sizes, those people are almost the same size. In terms of experience, we areparable too. Moreover, they have the backing of the Xu Family from the capital. I believe, the fact that they rank below us was fake." He made a deliberate pause. "Long Yi, must have wanted us to believe that they were weaker than us. They wanted us to underestimate them. Of course, this is not going to happen." He smiled at his trained men.


    "This time" Mr. Liang continued. "I want you to crush the Long Company first before targeting the Shen Security. We need to take down the g of our strongestpetitor. Then we obliterate Shen Security. I am doing this so we can instill fear in this new Shen Security! We need to show them how it''s done! Show them who we are! Show them that kids like them wouldn''t survive just by running around!"


    "Do you understand?"


    "YES SIR!" Their voices boomed in the entire area.

 Chapter 364: Mission: Capture the Enemys flag!

    Chapter 364: Mission: Capture the Enemy''s g!


    This time, the second and third stage is going to happen in an open arena. However, it will happen during the night. The arena that they were talking about isn''t exactly an arena, but more like a farm. It had trees not enough to make it look like a forest but enough to shade the entire area.


    It was t and full of grass. And most importantly, it was vast.


    The total area of the space was ten hectares or about eighteen and a half football fields. During thepetition, they would litter the area with traps. Of course, these traps were fake. However, once a person identally triggered one, everyone around him or her will be considered dead. Meaning, they will have to leave the arena and won''t join thepetition.


    There will be three teams. Each team will have twenty-five people and they will be given a map. From the start of thepetition, the three groups will be forced to fight with each other to be able to upy the two towers hidden in the ten-hectare piece ofnd.


    Well a tower cannot be hidden as it was big, but the point was, it cannot be seen on the map. So, you will have to run around for some time before you can see one of the towers. The tower had nothing on it. upying one wouldn''t give you any points. However, this would surely help you with your defense.


    The mission this time is to defend the g, secure it, and not let the other team take it. If you are inside a tower, you can easily see who ising to attack you and, of course, n to defend or run. That is why it was smart to take one of the two-tower from the start of thepetition.


    To make thepetition spicier, they announced that fighting can only happen at night. During the day, they can do everything. They can hunt for food, they can scout the tower, and observe their enemies. However, they cannot attempt to steal their enemy''s g during the day. This rule is something very specific, as they even gave the exact time that would act as the switch. It was six in the evening and six in the morning.


    "Stupid." Ma Ping rolled his eyes, he had been watching the people from Dal Valley. Each of them was wearing a military-style uniform. "They are looking down on us."


    "Of course they are." Gu Cheng said. "Look at their biceps."


    Ma Ping''s gaze instantly turned towards his friend. "Why would I stare at other man''s muscles? Are you stupid?"


    Gu Cheng scratched his head. He was talking about their body type. This Ma Ping is too stupid, ah. He wanted to tell him about their body proportionspared to theirs, but he figured that this stupid monkey would misunderstand him again. This conversation would always end up in an argument.


    "Do you guys know what to do?"


    The two looked at Chu Nan, who approached them.


    "Yes. We need to y dirty as possible."


    "" Chu Nan forgot the next words that he wanted to say. For a few seconds, he tried to find any signs that Ma Ping was joking, but he couldn''t find one. "You  What was your n? Do you even have one?"


    "We''re not telling you."


    "" Howe this Gu Cheng is so direct? Not even sparing his feelings? "I  I understand." Ma Ping and Gu Cheng are actually considered the leader of the team. One was smart and one was stupid. They actuallyplement each other.


    To his surprise, these two are actually very good when they work together. Gu Cheng would always take care of the nning, while Ma Ping would usually do the action. Ma Ping is a simple-minded person and is very goal-oriented. He was the type that would always stick to Gu Cheng''s n and perfectly execute it.


    He had heard rumors that the two always fight and call each other stupid, but he never witnessed this scenario before. "I just wanted to warn you. The Dal Valley people were older and malicious. They were mercenaries in the ck market and wouldn''t hesitate to kill you. In their eyes, you guys are considered infants. You have to be very careful and protect each other out there."


    Gu Cheng shrugged as usual while Ma Ping actually nodded and smiled at him.


    "Thank you," Ma Ping said. "Don''t worry about it." Actually, he wasn''t very confident in fighting one of these six-footers too. However Lyca said to do it the dirty way. So, he was nning to avoid confrontation and use the stuff that Lyca gave them to weaken their enemies first.


    Moreover, he was a very fast runner, ah. He could also climb trees. Actually, he is more confident in his escaping ability than fighting against these men in a fair duel.


    "So you guys have any other stuff aside from that small rope that you have in your waist?" Chu Nan couldn''t help but wonder.


    "No." Ma Ping uttered. "It''s heavy." If they bring a lot of stuff, they wouldn''t be able to run like the wind if they saw an enemy.


    "Oh, then how are you going to  you know what? Nevermind. Good luck." Chu Nan said. He didn''t miss the ridicule in Gu Cheng''s gaze. Gu Cheng is actually a likable guy, smart and silent. However, just like most people in the team, they have problems with the authority and mostly, thew.


    Lyca''s team of people are basically teens who experienced some cruelty from a few police officers before. They were nothing but homeless teens, who were oppressed and found their home in Shen Security.


    A sigh escaped Chu Nan''s lips. It seems that Lyca''s people are actually looking down on him? He couldn''t help but wonder why? Was it because he was always doubting them? But isn''t that a natural thing to doubt their peculiar methods?


    Ah, nevermind. These were nothing but kids. Chu Nan repeated reminded himself.


    After a few minutes, the attendant announced that they were about to start.


    Mission: Capture the Enemy''s g!


    ....


    Please don''t forget to vote for the novel.

 Chapter 365: The Tower is a Trap

    Chapter 365: The Tower is a Trap


    Just like the previouspetition, everything that is happening in the arena was also broadcasted. It was broadcasted on the TV and also on the enormous stage just in front of the entrance. While many people and even executives chose to look at the live broadcast on the stage, Lyca and Shen Qui chose to go back to their room.


    "You are so calm, ah," Cleo spoke. She followed Lyca and Shen Qui into their room to watch the broadcast. Since their living room is not really that big, the others like Ronan and Hogan were In their own room while Chu Nan also joined Shen Qui and Lyca. "Hogan and Ronan also came back to their rooms. Among all thepanies, we are the onlypanies who didn''t leave anyone in the entrance in case one of our people will trigger a trap."


    "Stop overthinking," Lyca said. Even if they trigger a trap, they won''t be considered dead. After all, her people were smart. They would surely take advantage of the surrounding resources while moving forward. Moreover, their visors have both night and infrared vision. When ites to survival skills, those people should be considered top-notch, ah. "Just trust in the process." Lyca couldn''t think of anything tofort Cleo.


    "Frowning like that will give you wrinkles. Just look at Mr. Chu''s face." Lyca added.


    "" Why does she have to mention his face? Was he really that ugly? Chu Nan always believed that he was born good-looking, ah. "You should stop talking about nonsense stuff and focus on what was happening right now."


    "Oh," Lyca nodded before she turned towards her husband. Shen Qui was the only serious one as he watched the TV. "You watch, I will sleep."


    "But  " Chu Nan was about to protest when Lyca interrupted him.


    "Mr. Chu, if I get worried would that change anything?" she asked. Worrying about her people should be normal. However, this won''t help anyone. Aside from giving her stress. Thinking too much is bad for her mental health, ah. It is better to sleep now and wake up refresh.


    "No." Chu Nan answered. "Then can you at least tell me what is going to happen?"


    "Oh. I didn''t discuss this with them." Lyca said.


    ""


    "I don''t micromanage," she added. A good army is not just people who can follow instructions. It is also the ones who can decide on their own. "They are a team. Once they take missions, I won''t be the one creating ns for them. I won''t participate in nning or executing anything. This stage will serve as their training." Feeling that she already said too much, Lyca sighed and kissed Shen Qui''s cheek. Then she left the living room and walked towards her room.


    Being worried is actually pointless. As someone who is already living her second life, Lyca thought that overthinking won''t get her anywhere. It would cause anxiety and sleeping disorders. So, she decided not to think about things that she couldn''t change or influence.


    "They will climb into trees." Shen Qui said just after Lyca left.


    "Climbed trees? They won''t fight for a tower?" Cleo asked.


    "No." Shen Qui shook his head. "The person who designed thispetition was truly clever. First, they only made people fight during the night when it would be hard for them to see each other. This would increase the difficulty of the stage. Fighting for towers would surely injure a few people. Imagine this each team would have twenty-five people, right? These people were all experienced, good in martial arts, and they were carrying nonlethal weapons. Meaning, twopanies with equal strength fighting against each other would eliminate a few of their members and weaken eachpany."


    Shen Qui made a pause before he continued. "This means that the twopanies who would fight against each other for a tower on the first night when everyone else is energized and strong would sustain a lot of losses. And this is only the first night."


    "So the strategy is not to fight for the tower?"


    "Yes. Lyca''s people are smart enough. She told them to do it the dirty way. Meaning, they would never fight in a fair duel. At most, they would hide on the first night. Watch as the two remaining teams fought against each other and wait for them to settle in their towers before attacking." Shen Qui said.


    "Plus people think that they are not very good in martial arts, that they are weak," Cleo added. "So, it would be logical for Long Company and Dal Valley to target each other first before they would try to take care of our Shen Security, right?"


    "This is logical." Chu Nan nodded. Actually, he thought that Lyca''s people would use their advantage in speed to locate the first tower and upy it before other teams can. After all, being in a tower is advantageous. "So, they won''t upy any towers? But this would give them a significant advantage. Their visors are night vision, they can see in the dark, spotting enemies if you are on top of the tower is very easy."


    "No." Shen Qui said. "The tower could be helpful for someone like Dal Valley who is very brutal and confident in their skills. Our people are smaller and considerably weaker. A tower would trap them, however, a tower could also act as the best spot to deal with their enemies." Shen Qui didn''t exin further.


    Shen Qui knew that every one of the team has the bracelet that Lyca created. It wasn''t fatal and the poison that they have is nonlethal and could only make people sleep. Their strategy could be simple this time, they could trap their enemies in the tower and use the poison to make them sleep. Then they would get their gs without even using any tremendous efforts.


    Of course, this is also the best-case scenario. Shen Qui knew that the enemy wouldn''t just let Shen Security''s people trap them. Meaning, a fight would surely happen.


    Now their greatest advantage is actually the fact that people are underestimating them.

 Chapter 366: Night Vision

    Chapter 366: Night Vision


    The fact that Lyca''s people were climbing trees again was not that surprising. In fact, the otherpanies already expected this and even created some ns to counter this.


    One of the people who created a n against them was called Crow. He was tall  one of the tallest people in Dal Valley, and his crow-like eyes, earned him the name. He and his team of four people were tasked to target a few people from Shen Security.


    Their strategy goes like this, Dal Valley is aware that fighting on the first night could cause extreme losses on their side. However, they are not willing to suffer alone. So, they created a n to slowly and surely target Shen Security while they were sleeping at night.


    The team already knew that Shen Security is cowardly. They already anticipated that they would notpromise and would choose to hide, especially on the first night. Of course, their hiding spot should be the trees that surrounded the area.


    The n was simple. Create a fire below the trees and wait for the person to go down. Then they would end them. Yes, the instruction is not to break some bones but to kill them cleanly. Who would darein if they imed that they identally killed them because they were too strong?


    Dal Valley''s people were tall and robust, they were obviously stronger and more experienced. If they say that they didn''t control their strength, who would dare say that they were lying? They were too strong and Shen Security''s people are too weak. That would be the conclusion at the end of the first night.


    Tonight they dispatched a total of eight people. Two groups with four people in each group. One group was led by Crow and the other was led by another tall and slim man called Shadow. Known for being fast and deadly, Shadow is not only considered one of the fastest but also considered one of the deadliest people in the Dal Valley.


    "They were wearing that weird ck armor. So it''s going to be harder to spot them in the dark. But they should be sleeping in the trees. What we need to do use the smoke bomb first. I am sure that not many people could withstand the smoke bomb mixed with that chemical with a foul smell. Since we can''t see them, just target all the trees." Since all of them followed Shen Security''s People when they run to the east, they were confident that they are just around the area.


    "Crow, I saw someone in that area. I think he was climbing one of the trees." Shadow uttered.


    "Then let''s go ahead and use our modified smoke bombs. Prepare your mask and night visions. We are going to see where are they going to run." Someone from the group said. After a few more minutes, their meeting finally concluded and everyone agreed to use the modified smoke bomb to reveal the enemies.


    After throwing about ten modified smoke bombs, they immediately hid themselves and waited for the smoke to suffocate those people.


    Time passed.


    They waited and waited but didn''t see any movements in the area.


    "Hey, is it possible that they didn''t choose the trees around here?" Someone whispered.


    "Impossible. I told you, I saw someone climb that tree earlier."


    "Then why aren''t they moving?"


    "Maybe that weird armor can also be a mask?"


    Crow''s face darkened. The armor that those people were wearing looked impressive, but they didn''t see it have any visors. Is it possible that they hid the helmet somewhere? No, he remembered that those people were just bringing ropes. They weren''t even bringing any bags that could hide a mask or a helmet.


    "Maybe we got it wrong?"


    For the first time, Shadow started doubting what he saw earlier. Is it possible that he didn''t see anyone climbing trees? But how could it be?


    "Alright, someone checked the tree that Shadow was talking about." Crows instructed one of his men to slowly approached the tree. Actually, the tree was not that tall. It was bout twenty feet, but it had a lot of leaves. "You  slowly approached that area. Be careful."


    When ites to fighting, he was confident that his people could easily take down one of those weak people from Shen Security. So, he didn''t instruct anyone to follow the person that he asked to check the tree. If worsees to worst and someone was indeed in that tree, the person that he sent could just kill the person on the tree.


    Everyone''s gazes were alert as they watched the person slowly approached the tree. The thick silence nketed the group as the person that they sent slowly neared the tree. Five more steps Three more steps Two one


    Everyone held their breath as the man examined the tree. Since he was wearing a night vision, he didn''t need to use a shlight anymore.


    "Someone " Before Shadow could finish his words, he saw a shadow suddenly lodge itself into the person that they sent. Yes, using the night vision, the person looked like a shadow. This made everyone confused. "Fuck! That is a person!" Shadow eximed! "The night vision is not working! Remove it! Remove it!" He said. But it was toote, the person near the tree was already on the floor. They didn''t know if he was still breathing, and the figure that attacked him used a really bright LED shlight and focused it on their eyes. Usually, this should not be enough to hurt their eyes but for some reason, the light seemed to pierced through their pupils.


    The sudden light made everyone who wasn''t quick enough to remove their goggles experienced sh blindness. Most of them groan, some of them cursed.


    "Shadow! Follow that person! We can''t use night vision this time!" Crow said. Earlier, he wasn''t able to remove his goggles, so he too experienced the temporary loss of vision caused by the shlight. "F*ck! Run after them! Everyone who can see follow that man!"


    "And someone checked Gaspar! See if he was still alive!" Crow shouted. He wanted to know if that person killed the man that he sent to investigate.

 Chapter 367: Priced Treasure

    Chapter 367: Priced Treasure


    It was as if something was lodged in Long Yi''s throat when he saw what happened. He jolted on his seat, "They can''t detect the armor??" This means that all their night vision will be useless against Lyca''s people?


    "Does did themittee knows about this?" This discovery was enough to surprise everyone who was watching the show. "If they can''t be seen then  That would be dangerous!"


    "What about thermal goggles?" Zhang Zhi blurted. "Do you think Do you think it won''t detect the armor too?"


    "How could they allow those people to wear the armor? That is simply unfair!!!" Xie Jun continued. "Plus, I heard nothing was so special about those armors? Why are they "


    "The question is actually, how are they going to defeat Lyca and her team now that the night vision goggles don''t work on them? They were already wearing ck, so spotting them would be difficult especially at night."


    "Look! What is that?" Zhang Zhi eximed when he noticed that the people running after the person who assaulted the man earlier were dancing?


    In fact, they weren''t doing some krumpings. They were trying to fight off insects. That was surrounding them. Crow and the other didn''t know if they should cry from too much anger or shout and cursed that person that they were following. After some time, they actually got their vision back, and they too followed Shadow and the others.


    However, they no longer had any traces of them. They tried to run towards the east; they heard Shadow informed them that he is going to the east before leaving. But how did he vanish just like that? And what are these insects?


    "What the hell are these? Looks like bigger mosquitoes?" The insects that suddenly surrounded them were bigger than mosquitoes. And they wait! "Yellow Jackets!" Wait why would Yellow Jackets attack them during the night? Yellow Jacket''s can''t see in the dark, right?


    "Let''s get out of here!" Crow said before running on the opposite way. He tried to make the insects leave him by running in a zigzag, but soon he realized that something was wrong.


    No one was following him.


    A foreboding emotion suddenly spread inside him as he halted his steps and leaned against a tree. Then he turned towards the direction where he came from. No one was indeed following him. The people that wereining and cursing earlier were no longer there too. What is Before he could analyze everything, a dull pain hit his temple.


    Then his consciousness faded.


    "We''re not allowed to kill them," Gu Cheng''s voice can be heard.


    "I know." The person who answered him was the one that they were trying to follow earlier, and it was a woman. To be more specific, it was Gu Cheng''s woman, Yan Junqi. Since she was wearing the armor, no one noticed that she was actually a girl. "Let them smell that gas to make them sleep. Let''s remove their weapons and get out of here."


    Striking people''s temples could actually kill someone. However, since they weren''t allowed to kill, Yan Junqi didn''t strike them hard enough to kill them. Every one of them was taught to hit fatal points and immediately kill people. But the rules are making them control their strength to avoid killing someone.


    Everyone in the team knew that thispetition would also test their control. In fact, most of them knew that they weren''t skilled enough. They needed more training. And thus, they considered thispetition a real life training! "Hmph!" Yan Junqi snorted before she removed everything that the man could use. Of course, she wasn''t nning to use those things. In fact, they were going to burn those stuff in front of everyone tomorrow morning.


    "I''m done here. Let''s go check out Ma Ping and the rest." Yan Junqi said. Ma Ping and another two people were the ones in charge of dealing with Shadow and the other two people that followed them.


    "Let''s tie them up and hang them in the trees!?" Gu Cheng''s sudden suggestion made her pause.


    "I think that is an excellent idea?"


    .


    Watching the two people wearing ck armor tying those people up and hanging them on the trees made all the viewers speechless. What''s the purpose of this, ah? Are they just doing this to embarrass those people? That would surely provoke the Dal Valley''s people!


    "Did you see that thing that the man in ck put towards their nose? That should make them sleep more, right?" Long Yi''s secretary said. "Isn''t that too sinister? They were trying to make fun of Dal Valley''s people! Sadly, when those people discover their men tomorrow, they won''t be able to easily find the Shen Security Team."


    "I think it''s good that we didn''t instruct our people to follow them." Xie Jun muttered. "Or we would be a joke. Those two people weren''t even six-foot-tall, ah! And they easily tied and hang those five men! How embarrassing!"


    "Now that I think about it. Lyca and her people don''t really follow logic. And they have weird tools. Did you see those insects? I think that man in ck did something to make the insects surround the group of men."


    "Maybe they have something that could attract insects and dispel them? They have powders and gas. The reason why they can carry it is that it is nonlethal. But this is really unfair to everyone." Xie Jun added.


    "I think their aim is not really to win thispetition." Long Yi''s words made the other two silent. "I think they wanted to show off their technology and attract investors. The armor is already considered a priced treasure. The things that they are using are all unique and new. Attracting the eyes of otherpanies is already akin to them winning thispetition." Long Yi''s face was dark. He already understood Lyca''s retaliation. No, she wasn''t nning to retaliate against him and poison him just for show. She was nning to show their innovation, the technology that she created, and face p the people that wanted her to fail.


    No. It was like she was telling everyone that even if they disqualify her and Shen Security, they would still win because they already attracted the eyes of the investors.


    She was like telling everyone, ''I am already this awesome. What can you do against me?''


    What a clever woman. What a deadly and clever woman.

 Chapter 368: Not Compatible

    Chapter 368: Not Compatible


    The first thing that Lyca did when she woke up the next day was to jog.


    Kidding.


    The first thing that she did after waking up is, of course, going back to sleep. Who wakes up at six in the morning? She grumbled and when she woke up again, it was already eight in the morning. Smiling, Lyca left her bed, took a bath, then went out of her room to have her breakfast.


    Shen Qui was no longer in the bed when she woke up. She couldn''t help but wonder if he even sleptst night. If he didn''t, she should help him rxter, right? As a wife, this is her duty.


    "Oh? You know how to cook?" Lyca looked at Chu Nan who was wearing an apron. Cleo followed him out of the kitchen.


    "He asked me to teach him how to make some breakfast," Cleo exined. "I taught him how to fry ham and toast bread." Sarcasmced her voice. "I wanted to watch and yet this man wanted me to cook. How horrible."


    "Did something happenst night?" Lyca ignored the two. Her eyes were already on the table. "And where is my husband?"


    "Shen Qui was having breakfast with the otherpanies. He, along with the executives joined the breakfast banquet."


    "A banquet?" Howe no one invited her? As if sensing her thoughts, Cleo said. "He asked me to apany you to go there when you wake up."


    "Then, we should go right now! I am hungry." Lyca said. "Please lead the way."


    "You''re not even going to asked aboutst night?" Chu Nan walked next to Lyca.


    "What happenedst night?"


    "" Because of the event, Chu Nan couldn''t sleep and even lost his appetite. He couldn''t understand his emotions. He was scared and excited and nervous. In fact, this was the first time that he felt something like this. Howe Lyca was different? She should be more nervous since she trained them, right? "Your people hung a few people of Dal Valley. Then then they strip them naked."


    "Oh?" Lyca chuckled. "Interesting. They were trying to provoke Dal Valley?"


    "Exactly. I think it was stupid." Chu Nan said. Last night, they got lucky because they used some tricks. The enemies already discovered that you can''t use night visions to spot them. They won''t be that lucky next time.


    "I actually think it was smart," Cleo chimed in. "Think about it, what would happen if the people from Dal Valley would get angry?"


    "They would focus on Shen Security." Chu Nan answered.


    "Eh? Howe you are so stupid? Are you sure you are a cop?"


    Chu Nan was about to start arguing with her when he heard Lyca''s voice. "Angry people make mistakes. They would take it as a personal attack and be blinded by rage."


    Chu Nan turned silent. "I arrest criminals. I am not some rogue who knows how to antagonize people." He said.


    "Still, your brain is still poorpared to ours, ah," Cleo said. Her words immediately infuriated Chu Nan.


    "By the way, how many people were injuredst night?" Lyca asked.


    "Overall? Hmmm Shen Security''s people were sleeping, so no one got injured. Long Company had twelve injured people as they fought against Dal Valley for the first tower. Dal Valley, including the right that our people took care of, they should have sixteen or seventeen injured people."


    "That''s good."


    "Oh, by the way, Munan ising with Miss Rue." Chu Nan said. "He said he is going to watch."


    "Miss Rue?" Lyca lifted an eyebrow.


    "The treatment is showing positive signs. Grandfather is really happy, and he started addressing her Miss Rue." Chu Nan exined.


    "Oh! That''s good."


    After a few minutes, the trio arrived in the hall where they had the dinner banquet. This was the same hall where the food poisoning happened.


    "Miss Huang!"


    Lyca ignored the woman''s voice. Talking to the housewives wouldn''t do her hungry self any good. Lyca pretended not to hear the calls of those women as she walked towards the table with various dishes. Smiling, she started gathering food and even instructed Cleo and Chu Nan to carry the rest for her. She was too hungry ah, she needed the energy to function.


    "Miss Huang I am wondering if you heard us?"


    Lyca was already walking towards Shen Qui''s table. Her husband also saw her and is walking towards her, with a gentle smile on his face.


    "I am busy, please call me again," she muttered. Seeing the woman about to explode, Cleo quickly added.


    "Miss Rosendale, please pardon Miss Huang, she had a stomachachest night. She is trying to recover her strength. Please excuse us." Cleo faked a smile. Obviously, Lyca was already talking to her husband a few steps ahead of her.


    "What an abnormal woman."


    She heard Chu Nan muttered.


    "Social gatherings like these are good for her and herpany," he added.


    Cleo didn''t say anything. What was the use of arguing against someone who already made up his mind? Half of her already sympathize with Chu Nan simply because he was too stupid. Social interactions and fakery are only required for people who rely on connections to seed in life. Lyca doesn''t need that.


    Last night, they already showed the ability of their armor. Even without faking their personality, they would still gain some clients in the future. "Mr. Chu, some people who had real abilities, don''t rely on things like that." She said in a low voice before she walked towards Lyca and Shen Qui.


    Chu Nan frowned. Growing up, connections were something very important to him. However, this world is different from his world in Ath Province. He stared at Cleo''s back and wondered if one day he would be able to interact properly with people like them.


    Ah, nevermind! His grandfather told him that he can leave after learning. After thispetition, Chu Nan already decided to leave. He and everyone else in Shen Security are simply notpatible.


    ....


    Don''t forget to vote for the novel.

 Chapter 369: Topnotch!

    Chapter 369: Topnotch!


    "Lower your heads. Stop ring at them." Mr. Liang from Dal Valley had to instruct his people to stop staring at Lyca and Shen Qui''s way.


    "Boss, they embarrassed us. Aren''t we going to do something about it?" Someone from the staff said. "How could they remove their clothes? It''s a provocation. They are trying to make us look like fools!"


    "We were fooled." Mr. Liang hissed. His men were all trained killers, being ridiculed like this would surely make them lose their cool. In this game ofplicated chess, the first people who would blow one''s lid would definitely lose the game.


    Sadly for him, his people were known for their tempers.


    Dal Valley''s people were confident. They were deadly, they have good training and support and they always finish their missions. This made them arrogant.


    What would happen if mere kids would make fun of them? Ridicule them?


    They would explode.


    And this will be their greatest weakness.


    "Stop staring."


    "Boss, what can we do about this? Once they saw their teammates in that state, they started running after Shen Securities people. Those people are hiding at night and they had a good night''s sleep in those trees while our people were awake the whole night. They needed their rest!"


    Mr. Liang sighed. His men, the abled ones, already started to chase after those people. While they aren''t allowed to fight, many of them were hunting the people from Shen Security, hoping to know where they were hiding so they could hunt them during the night.


    Those people already didn''t have enough sleep the other night because they fought against Long Security. How could they hunt people during the day? This should be the right time to rest.


    "Those rats are really dirty. They are ying dirty." Mr. Liang said, his gaze turned towards Chu Munan and the others. "We cannot touch the ones inside the arena. But we can always touch the ones outside." He stood from his seat. "Let''s go back to our building."


    As time went by, everyone started to anticipate the nightfall once again. They wanted to know what would happen on the second night of thepetition.


    Right now, no one was able to get a g and some people from Dal Valley were already trying to hunt the people from Shen Security. This turn of events was unexpected to most people who thought that Dal Valley would surely take care of Long Security first. This made them excited. They wanted to know what is going to happen now that Dal Valley who is actually considered the strongest of the three teams is going to fight against the weakest.


    "What do you think would happen next?" Someone from the staff asked his colleague.


    "I think Dal Valley won''t win against the Shen Security. These people were very clever, ah. Think about it. Shen Security sleptst night while Dal Valley didn''t. They were busy fighting and applying first aid to their people who got injured. When the sun shone, they thought they would be able to sleep. Who would have thought that they would see their colleague being mocked like that? I actually understand their anger. But they let their anger get the best of them, ah."


    "This is true. However, I think Long Security is going to win this time. They won the contestst time, right?"


    "Aish they only win because they cheated. They know what''s going to happen."


    "How did you know that?"


    "I don''t. But that was the rumor when they won, ah. You weren''t here yet so you didn''t know this. Long Security was backed by Xu Family. Of course, they would win. In fact, if they win this year''s contest, I wouldn''t be surprised. They were not strong physically but when ites to connection, they are topnotch!"


    Slowly, the rumors about Long Company started to circte among the staff. In just a few hours, a lot of people already knew that Long Security cheated on thestpetition. Now, they are watching if the Long Security would cheat again.


    Rumor has it that Long Security, already knows where the traps are located. They actually memorized the maps that showed all the traps.


    Speaking of those traps, each team had their way to avoid them. So, no one suffered from the traps yet. Even Shen Security who is considered the baby and the weakest knows how to utilize their current resources to avoid the traps.


    Finally, the second night of thepetition started.


    This time, everyone''s eyes were following the people from Shen Security. Some of them wanted to see the things that their unique armor could do. Some of them wanted to know how are they going to deal with the people from Dal Valley.


    However, watching from the TV is very different from being there in the arena.


    On the arena, the people from Dal Valley are on high alert. They were guarding their g and trying to hunt Shen Security. However, because they already have a lot of injured, doing the two tasks together was a little challenging.


    "What do you think would happen tonight?" Viper asked. He is one of the uninjured members of the Dal Valley. Tonight, he was using his night vision to examine the surroundings before removing it. He turned towards the man standing next to him, his name is Jun.


    "I don''t know. But the Long Security would not attack tonight because they were trying to recover. I don''t think they wanted to fight again tonight." Jun answered.


    "What do you think about the Shen Security? Do you think our people found them?"


    "They followed some smoke during the noon, thinking it should be someone from the Shen Security. Let''s just hope that they found them. So they could attack them tonight."


    "This is unfair, ah. We didn''t have any sleep and spend the whole day guarding the g."


    .....


    Thank you for the support. Don''t forget to vote for the novel.

 Chapter 370: Losing their Flag

    Chapter 370: Losing their g


    That''s right. After they saw their people naked, hanging on the trees, they became so angry that most of the healthy ones didn''t even rest. They just decided to start hunting them during the day, locate them so they could attack them during the night.


    In the end, aside from the injured ones, no one was able to sleep. Now that they thought about it, most of them were used to not sleeping during missions. However, this time it''s different. Their emotions were pretty messed up. Most of them were insulted and angry, they just wanted to have their revenge and kill some people.


    This emotional state isn''t very good forpetitions like this.


    "What is that?"


    "What?" Viper asked.


    "I thought I saw some shlight that way."


    "Huh?" Viper put his goggles on before removing it and using a telescope without night vision. "It''s too dark. I can''t see anything." Earlier today, the people that were hung woke up and informed them that the armor had some sort of special effects that would render night vision goggles useless.


    "There! There! Did you see?"


    "What are you talking about? I can''t see anything!" Viper said, he tightly held the baton against his chest. There were brass knuckles in his fingers.


    "It wasn''t there anymore. Maybe they were just fireflies?"


    "Fireflies?"


    "There! I''m sure it''s not some fireflies! Those are definitely shlights!" Jun said. "Are they I think someone is going to attack us?"


    "What?"


    "Someone is running towards the tower! Go and alert the people downstairs!" The tower that they were in was tall and slim. It looked just like a medieval watchtower with only one door and a few windows on top of the tower. They put their g on the topmost part of the tower and the only way to ess it is through the main door or climbing the tower. Both are considered difficult because of a few reasons.


    The door had the strongest security. It was a thick wooden door that needed a lot of strength to breach without guns or explosives. After going through the door, one needed to fight the guards stationed downstairs before they could reach the stairs that would lead them to the topmost part.


    Once they arrive, there will be a few people guarding too. Meaning, another fight would happen.


    Jun stared at the three people running towards the tower. Realizing that there were only three people, Jun rxed but he didn''t let his guard down. He knew that three people won''t be able to fight against the people downstairs.


    While there were only two uninjured people in this tower, the remaining people could still fight against enemies despite having small injuries. They were experienced and older. They can''t be underestimated!


    "I already informed them!" Viper approached him. "If they are going to breach the front door because they thought we don''t have people inside then they made a mistake. Huh? Did he stop running? What is the"


    *CLING*


    Before the two could react they heard something hit the floor behind them.


    "He threw something Isn''t that our modified smoke bomb?"


    "What the "


    The two immediately found something to cover their nose with. However, the smoke made it difficult for them to see the whole top floor now.


    "Hmmmmm. Hmmm." Viper opened his mouth, he tried to warn his colleague to be careful as they might climb the instead of breaching the front door. However, the spiciness of the smoke, once he inhaled it through his mouth, made him stopped talking.


    "CLING"


    Another modified smoke bomb!


    Sweat trickled down Viper''s back. He wasn''t sure why they threw the bomb here. But he would never leave the g alone. He was forced to use his night-vision goggles. The smoke is really painful to the eyes too!


    Now that he had his night-vision goggles, he tried to examine the ce and found out that the smoke is really not making him see anything.


    ''F*ck! How did they get our modified smoke bombs? Wait! That''s right! They undressed the eight people that followed themst night. They stole the bombs from those eight people!'' Viper thought to himself. Those people are actually using their weapons against them! How hateful!


    After struggling for a few seconds, he found his mask and immediately used it.


    "Jun!"


    "I''m here! They also threw the modified smoke bombs against the door! The smoke is slowly making its way inside!"


    "F*ck! What are they nning to do!?"


    "They wanted us to run outside! They are smoking us out!" Jun concluded. "Let''s stay with the g. I don''t think they could fight their way in. Meaning, they should they are going to climb!" Jun run towards the window. By now, most of the smoke from the two smoke bombs started to dissipate. He used this to his advantage to check the three people. Just as he expected, they were no longer there. "I can''t see them!"


    "I thought they are going to climb?"


    "I They should " Jun hesitated. The tower''s topmost floor was surrounded by windows. It had six windows all around it. The two immediately checked all the windows and


    ''CLING!''


    Another smoke bomb!


    "Who is throwing them?" Viper couldn''t help but asked himself. The windows were already open because of the smoke. So, someone could easily throw another smoke bomb inside. However, they couldn''t see anyone below the tower. No one is standing near the tower either!


    That was when he realized something.


    He was wearing night-vision goggles!


    He tried to remove them but the smoke stung his eyes. His face instantly turned ugly as he took a step back and used a wall to support his back. "Against the wall!" He said in a grave tone.


    And that was when it started.


    He felt something hit his neck. A palm? He instantly grabbed his neck and let out a few coughs. "Who''s there?"


    ''THUD''


    "Jun!????" he called out. "Hey!" What is happening? Unfortunately for him, he didn''t have the time to find out as he felt something hit his head, instantly rendering him unconscious. And just like that, the g that the two people were protecting vanished as if it was taken by ghosts.


    When the smoke dissipated, the injured ones discovered that they already lost their g.

 Chapter 371: Cookies

    Chapter 371: Cookies


    "What the f*ck was that?" Mr. Liang''s voice thundered inside the room. "What the hell was that?" Again, no one answered his question. All of his people were silent, not one of them dared speak. "I am going to themittee!" He didn''t wait for any one of them to stop him as he walked out of the room and drove towards the building.


    It was already nine in the evening, yet the building where themittee members live is still lively. Many people walked in and out of the building. Some of them were clearly drunk while some were loud.


    Mr. Liang didn''t spare these people another nce as he strode towards the second floor. His destination? Themittee hall. He knocked three times before walking inside.


    "Ah, Mr. Liang Please take your seat." A man wearing an all-white suit said. "Your timing is just right. Miss Huang and Mr. Shen just arrived."


    The man''s words made Mr. Liang halt his steps. He looked towards his right and just like what the man said, Lyca and Shen Qui were already there. Not only them, even Mr. Long from the Long Company and his wife were also here. Some executives were also here. They were sitting at a long rectangr ss table. "What is this?" he asked.


    "Oh, the Long Company areining about the armor." Mr. Xu answered as he walked inside. He was wearing a pink suit. He smiled at Mr. Liang and gestured the older man to take his seat. "Are you going toin as well?"


    Mr. Liang snorted before taking his seat. He didn''t forget to re at Lyca and Shen Qui. "Yes, I amining. That armor is a cheat! You should be banned from thispetition!"


    "On what grounds?" Shen Qui asked, a smile was on his face. It immediately infuriated Mr. Liang. He opened his mouth to answer his question but he soon realized that the armor didn''t break any rules.


    "We should examine that armor for weapons!" Mr. Liang managed to squeeze the words out of his mouth. He had been too impulsive! Seeing his people beaten using dirty methods made him so angry he actually marched here without arranging his thoughts first!


    "They already checked the armor." Shen Qui said in a light tone. "Are you saying that the Committee is ipetent?"


    Speechless.


    Everyone in the room''s face darkened. Shen Qui''s words were actually simple, yet the meaning behind his words was enough to make everyone else reconsider what they were about to say. Saying that they wanted themittee to take a look at the weapon again meant that they are doubting themittee''s capability. It is an insult!


    "I didn''t say that!"


    "Then? What are you trying to say?" Shen Qui said.


    "Obviously, he wanted to say that you were cheating." The speaker was none other than Xie Jun. Just like Mr. Liang, he dragged Long Yi and everyone else here toin because of what he saw just now.


    "Cheating?" Shen Qui smiled at him. "In what way?"


    "You You created an armor that would make someone invisible in night vision goggles! That is considered cheating!"


    "So we can''t create something new?" Shen Qui turned his gaze towards themittee members. "Is that part of the rule?"


    Again, no one was able to answer him. That wasn''t part of the rule. In fact, they were encouraged to innovate and create some new gadgets.


    "Actually, this is not against the rules." Mr. Xu''s words interrupted the thick and suffocating silence. "They created something incredible. Inventors shouldn''t be punished just because they invent something new. They should be encouraged to create more."


    "So, you won''t do anything against what happened just now?"


    "Well, if you can tell me a rule that the Shen Security broke then we will do something about it. What happened just now was a part of thepetition. The Shen Security showed resourcefulness by using their enemy''s modified smoke bombs against them. Then instead of breaching through the door where the security is heavy, they climbed on the walls. Using nothing but simple ropes. They took advantage of the smoke to make Dal Valley''s people wear night goggles. With these, they won''t be able to see them climbed." Mr. Xu smiled. "I believe it shows strategy, resourcefulness, and creativity. Isn''t that why thepetition was made? To highlight these things?"


    "But they use dirty means!" Zhang Zhi uttered.


    "The smoke bomb was created by Dal Valley, right?" Mr. Xu asked. "Aside from using their armor and the rope, they didn''t use anything else. What dirty means are you talking about?"


    "Still, an armor like that is not good for thepetition!" Someone from the executives said. "The armor has a great advantage! With that thing, the Shen Security would surely win thepetition!"


    "True!" Mr. Xu smiled. "Being brilliant is indeed an advantage."


    Most people frowned when they heard his word. However, not one of them said some objection. Clearly, Mr. Xu was siding with Shen Qui because he wanted to create some connections to have ess to the armors. After all, the military in the country could use this armor!


    This armor would surely increase the fighting power of Xu Country!


    "Alright since no one else wanted to say something, I would advise you to go back to your ces and watch the show. Let''s all learn a thing or two from the Shen Security''s people." The smile on Mr. Xu''s face widened. "By the way, may I invite Mr. And Mrs. Shen for a chat?"


    Mr. And Mrs. Shen.


    Everyone turned towards Shen Qui and Lyca. The fact that he called them Mr. And Mrs. Shen was like a deration. He knew about the Huang Family and what they did to Lyca and his family. He was actually trying to gain Lyca''s favor!


    "Sure." For the first time since she walked inside, Lyca spoke. She smiled at Mr. Xu, eyes turning into crescents as she added, "By the way, may I know who made these cookies?"


    Her words made them realized something. She wasn''t speaking earlier because she was busy eating the cookies in the middle of the table.

 Chapter 372: Assault

    Chapter 372: Assault


    "So? Who made the cookies?" Lyca asked again, the moment everyone left. She lifted her head, dragging her gaze away from the cookies. "Was it imported?"


    Xu Jihan smiled in response. "Yes, it was. It''s a special cookie from Du Empire. I personally love the cookies. So I always asked my cousin every time he visited the country. Unfortunately, I only have a few boxes left. I can only give you one box of this cookie. I have to save some for myself."


    "Oh." She didn''t hide the disappointment from her eyes. Too unfortunate indeed. She eyed Shen Qui and blinked at him.


    Shen Qui gave a wry smile in response as he patted her head like a puppy. When Lyca heard about her white hair and the Ye Family from Du Empire, she didn''t say anything. It was as if she didn''t want to visit Du Empire to see the Ye Family.


    However, now that she heard about the cookies, she showed a special expression. Something that says, ''I will go to Du Empire to buy these cookies or I will die.''


    He leaned over and kiss her head. Hoping that she would behave. They are here for business, ah.


    "I want a coboration. I want you to sign a contract with the government. The armor I want it. I want you to exclusively make the armor for the military."


    "Mr. Xu this is "


    "Please call me Jihan." Xu Jihan smiled at Shen Qui, his handsome face looked amicable and trustworthy.


    "Alright, Jihan. This is not a simple matter. We needed to talk to our investors about this."


    "By investors, you mean?"


    "The Chu Family." Shen Qui said. "Just a few weeks back, we sign a contract with Chuu Family. We were paid to create the weapons for them. In fact, the reason why we were able to procure the material easily is because of them. The armor is made of a rare alloy that is not found in this country. Most of its materials were made abroad."


    "I see." Xu Jihan nodded. After this assembly, the news about this armor would surely spread. Investors andpanies that would want Shen Security to create the armor for them would surely arrive soon. "I guess I needed to personally talk to Old Man Chu about this matter."


    "Right now, our biggest investor is the Chu Family." Shen Qui said. "However, the armor was personally designed and handcrafted by our people."


    "Mr. Shen or May I call you Qui?"


    "Sure." Shen Qui said.


    "Alright. I want to be honest with you. This armor is revolutionary. It can avoid the detection of night vision goggles and if I would assume, even thermal scans too, right?"


    Shen Qui only smiled in response. "Jihan, I hope you don''t mind, but this is a very importantpetition for us. Right now, all I wanted was to focus on thepetition and nothing else. How about we schedule a meeting after thepetition?"


    For a few seconds, Xu Jihan was silent. He started drumming his long, slender fingers against the wooden table. "Alright. I understand."


    "Good," Shen Qui smiled and stood from his seat. Then he held his hands in front of Xu Jihan. "I will see you soon, Mr. Xu."


    "Indeed, let''s see each other soon." Xu Jihan epted his hands and shook it. He then watched as the two left the hall. After a few minutes, the smile on his face vanished.


    "Young master?" A man wearing a ck suit bowed behind him. "They are gone."


    "Hmmm. Tell Ken that they are wanted to wait until thepetition is over."


    "Yes, Sir."


    "And schedule a meeting with Mr. Chu, the old man. I want to talk to him. In private."


    "Yes, Sir."


    "One more thing do you know who poisoned their people?"


    "Yes, Sir. It was Miss Huang. Huang Ying."


    "Huang family It seems that I was right to call them Mr. And Mrs. Shen."


    "Yes, Sir. Miss Huang is upset that Mr. Long didn''t want to do something against Miss Lyca. She is still mad because of the things that happened to her son and her family. So, she worked with one of our staff and use some poisoned water. She wanted to frame the Long Family then watch in the sidelines as the Long Family and Lyca destroyed each other."


    "I see."


    "I already took care of the staff."


    "Good. Send what you discover to Miss Huang, Lyca Huang. Tell her it''s a gift from me."


    "Yes, Sir."


    "One more thing" Xu Jihan narrowed his eyes. "Can you find out which Shen Family did Mr. Shen came from?"


    "Oh, Mr. Shen grew up in the streets. Old Man Huang pitied him and picked him up."


    "Just like that?"


    "Yes, sir. He was raised by his beggar uncle, who is a military veteran but had PTSD. Unlike other veterans he wasn''t functional and was known for his temper."


    "Hmm." Xu Jihan nodded. "What a sad sad past. No wonder his aura is different from many people. Turns out he was raised in the streets. Ah, isn''t he just like his team? I believe, the reason why he helped those groups of misfits is because they reminded him of his pitiable self. He was lucky, Miss Lyca liked his pretty face."


    "There were rumors about Miss Lyca''s attitude. She was brilliant and graduated with two degrees but she"


    "She what?"


    "She liked good-looking people."


    "Oh, isn''t it natural to like good-looking people?"


    "No, Sir. Miss Lyca is different. When she was still in college, someone tried to assault her. She killed the person, her parents had to go there and helped her."


    "As she should."


    "Well it was different."


    "How different? Did she cut his body into pieces?"


    "No, sir. I was able to find small pieces of proof about this matter, as her parents already did their best to erase this in her records  to everyone''s record for that matter. We gathered some info and talked to the police personnel who first showed up. He said Until now, he would never forget the white-haired beauty."


    "Why is that?"


    "Because Because she said that she killed him because he was ugly. That statement was vague, but I guessed she wouldn''t kill him if the man was handsome?"


    ....


    Don''t forget to vote. :)

 Chapter 373: Meeting

    Chapter 373: Meeting


    "Hah?" Surprisingly, Xu Jihan let out a burst of loudughter. His shoulders shook as he held his stomach. Laughing like this is hurting his stomach, ah! "That that is funny! What did she do to the body?"


    "It was a messy kill," his assistant answered.


    "That''s expected. She was young back then. I would be intrigued if she suddenly killed someone like an expert killer. But that story is really entertaining! Alright. You can leave now."


    "Yes, Sir."


    "Onest thing Ken? Did he tell you when will he arrive in Long City?"


    "No sir."


    "Alright, I will call him myself. You may leave."


    "Yes, Sir."


    .


    Lyca and Shen Qui decided to leave Long Founding School of Elites for a while. There reason if of course food. Lyca wanted a date and to eat some street food at the night market, and Shen Qui happilyplied. After a few hours, the two arrived at the school and immediately went back to their building.


    However, just as they were about to walk inside, someone suddenly approached them and introduced himself as the secretary of some executive. They actually wanted to schedule a meeting right after thepetition. This made both Shen Qui and Lyca speechless.


    It was already midnight!


    Who conducts business like this? But then, they soon realized that this was because of the armor.


    After what happened tonight, everyone would start topete for meetings with Shen Qui and Lyca.


    In the end, the two politely told the secretary to just call their secretaries for a meeting. In the end, the task fell to Cleo and Ronan. From now on, the two would start receiving calls about these meetings.


    "Xi, someone left this here for you." Cleo handed her an envelope. "He said he was Mr. Xu''s assistant."


    "Oh." Lyca immediately opened the envelope and discovered a sh drive. Without saying anything, she nodded and went to her room.


    "Hey, they sessfully got the g of Dal Valley. Then they ran away and hid somewhere. The people from Dal Valley are looking for them. However, some of them were able to activate some traps. They had a few losses!" Cleo said as she watched Lyca go inside her room without saying anything. "Did I say something wrong?" she asked Shen Qui who was standing in the living room, his eyes were on the TV.


    "No, she just wanted to sleep."


    "Oh."


    "Just don''t talk to her if she''s hungry or sleepy." Shen Qui reminded. "Tell me everything that happened when we''re gone?"


    Chu Nan answered him. "Well we got the gs and we are running around again. A few people from Dal Valley tried to Hey, Shen Qui I am really curious" Chu Nan made a deliberate pause as he stared at Shen Qui. "How are they  I mean that thing that they use in attracting insects? What is that?"


    "Lyca created that. She created something that could attract yellow jackets and repel them. It was an ointment. You have to apply it to a tree to make the Yellow Jackets surround that tree."


    "She created that?"


    "Yes."


    "That is scary."


    "It is. She could easily apply it to you while you''re sleeping and hehehe" Cleoughed. "She had other stuff too. I remember she spent a lot of time in herb creating some stuff."


    "I saw that." Chu Nan said. "How did she know all these things? I doubt chemistry major students know how to create weird stuff like that."


    "They know how to They just have to study it to create one." Cleo said as Shen Qui sat next to Chu Nan. "Oh, I remember Lyca created that special spray that could make people asleep. She put it on the armor too, right?"


    "Hmmm." Shen Qui said. "Themittee checked the armor and didn''t do anything about it. Of course, it was because they didn''t know what and where to check. Anyway, we will receive big orders of this armor very soon. So we should be busy. After thispetition, people will start to approach us."


    "What about my Chu Family?"


    "Of course, you will be our priority." Shen Qui said.


    Chu Nan nodded. "Good. As expected. So, what do you think will happen next?"


    "I know! The Dal Valley will work with Long Company!" Cleo said, raising her right hand like a child trying to answer the teacher''s question.


    "That is possible. If that''s going to happen, it would be difficult, right? How could the fight against two teams?"


    "Their martial arts are good. They would still win, even if the two teams would work together. After all, they are not fighting a fair fight." At the end of the day, the people who could defeat their opponents win, the people who could take the g would take the first ce. It was that simple. No one cared about the methods that they would use to get the gs.


    ..


    Meanwhile, Lyca was staring at the proof that Xu Jihan''s secretary gathered. "Huang Ying?" This waspletely unexpected to her. But it did make sense. The woman''s anger was beyond logic. Lyca harmed her son, so she had all the reasons to be angry, ah.


    After checking all the evidence, she nced at the number at the end of the documents. It was Mr. Xu Jihan''s number. He actually put it at the end of the documents. She stared at the number, quickly memorizing it before she went to take a bath.


    After a quick bath, she immediately fell asleep without even changing into her pajamas. She was already naked, if Shen Qui would not touch her tonight, she would definitely raise hell, ah!


    Sadly for her, Shen Qui was really exhausted. It was already two in the morning when he went inside. He didn''t even take a bath as he lied down and hugged Lyca''s naked body.


    After a few seconds, he started snoring.


    .....


    Thank you for your support and please don''t forget to vote for the novel.

 Chapter 374: A Secret

    Chapter 374: A Secret


    Huang Ying on the other hand was feeling all sorts of emotions. She was angry, nervous, scared, and sad. Her n to make Lyca have revenge against Long Yi failed! In fact, Lyca wasn''t disqualified. In fact, she had be more popr because of that damn armor!


    How could Huang Ying allow these?


    She started pacing inside the hotel room. Currently, she chose to stay in a hotel near the Long Founding school of elites as she wanted to be there and watch while Lyca fell. Now that her ns are failing, how could she watch Lyca suffer now?


    *BANG!*


    Huang Ying jolted when the door in her room suddenly opened. "What is Mr. Long? What are you doing here?" She took a step back and gulped as she stared at Long Yi''s dark face.


    "You really had to ask that question?"


    "Mr. Long? What  What are you talking about? It''s it''s eight in the morning and I don''t remember that we have any scheduled meeting."


    "Huang Ying! From now on, our cooperation is done!" Long Yi said. "I will talk to your husband about this. I will no longer work with the Zhang Family! I am nning to sell all the shares that we own in yourpany!"


    "Long Yi! What the hell are you talking about?"


    "Can you stop acting like you are innocent?" Long Yi hissed. "I know what you did! I know you tried to frame me! I know you wanted Lyca to destroy me while in thepetition!"


    "I "


    "Don''t bother denying. I already sent the evidence to Mr. Zhang! You and him would have a delightful conversation soon." Long Yi received the news from Mr. Xu. The person who wanted to frame him is actually Huang Ying. Because of this, Long Yi called and informed his father that he wanted to stop the cooperation. The Old man was fuming when he heard the news and immediately agreed. "Oh, look at that? Someone is calling you. I believe that is Mr. Zhang. You should answer it!"


    "Mr. Long I I really don''t know what you are talking about."


    "I already said stop trying to convince me. Huang Ying, I never thought that one day you would actually back-stabbed me and the Long Family. We helped you acquire the assets from your father and even the whole Huang Family. However, what did you do? I hope your husband would chase you out of the Zhang Family for his stupidity and "


    "So what if you caught me?" Huang Ying suddenly raised her voice. "Right now, Lyca is thinking that you poisoned her people! The only reason why she isn''t doing anything to make you suffer was that she was busy with thepetition. What do you think would happen after they win thispetition?"


    Long Yi sneered. This woman cannot recognize danger from afar. Right now, provoking Lyca like this would be dangerous for them. Long Yi red at Huang Ying before he snorted and left the room.


    Seeing him gone, Huang Ying immediately answered the phone and, as expected, it was her husband. Another argument between the two started.


    "You are going to cut off my aunt?" Huang Xiaoxuan was waiting for her husband in the car. They were currently outside of the hotel. "Just because of Lyca?"


    "Stupid," Long Yi said. "Why don''t you go to your aunt? You and her had a lot of simrities."


    "You"


    Long Yi crossed his arms and closed his eyes. He doesn''t want to talk to stupid people anymore. It was simply tiring. True, he and Lyca were enemies. However, he is not someone that would blindly attack her after everything that happened. If he wanted to defeat Lyca, then he needed to n ahead and stop acting out of impulse.


    "How about my Huang Family?" Huang Xiaoxuan suddenly said. Right now, Huang Security still existed as a subsidiary of Long Company. It was managed by her father and Huang Ying. Now that Long Yi wanted to cut ties, then what about her Huang Security?


    "Naturally, your father will take care of it. Huang Security is our subsidiary. We owned it. However, we all know how it had been losing money since we acquired it. If this would continue until the second quarter then my father, the chairman would surely do something about it."


    "What do you mean?" Huang Xiaoxuan widened her eyes. Long Yi and her marriage happened because of this acquisition, or at least that''s what was written on the news. If they would abandon Huang Security, then what about their marriage? Huang Xiaoxuan is starting to have a bad premonition about this matter.


    "Long Company is apany. It needed money to run. If Huang Security won''t give us profits then why would we keep it? Do you think we are a charity?" Long Yi answered without even looking at her. It was as if the Huang Family had nothing to do with him!


    Huang Xiaoxuan gritted her teeth. She tried to say something but ended up maintaining her silence. Long Yi''s words were very clear. He wouldn''t value rtionships and wouldn''t hesitate to let go of thepany as long as it won''t give him profits.


    At the end of the day, Long Yi would care about benefits above everything else. Then what about her?


    What would happen if Long Yi would see her as useless too? Would he leave her? No, that is impossible! They already have a child together! She got pregnant to stop him from leaving her. She was certain that a child would change the dynamics of their rtionship!


    Long Yi would never leave her! Not when they already have a child together! But what if he discovered that the child is not his? Huang Xiaoxuan gulped as she made up her mind. She needed to bury this secret forever.


    And to do that she needed to take care of the doctor who examined Long Yi before. She needed to make that man silent forever.

 Chapter 375: Ambush

    Chapter 375: Ambush


    At the end of the second night, Shen Security has been considered thepany that would win thepetition. They already have the second g without having any injuries. They also stayed in the trees most of the time, only going down to find some food around the area.


    Originally, targeting these people shouldn''t be that hard. However, the trees where they were staying had a lot of yellow jackets. It seems that Lyca''s people were using the insects to defend them against the enemies.


    This made it very hard to even approach the trees that they were staying. Then another problem arrived. No one saw the gs of Shen Security.


    Since they were staying in the trees, they didn''t put their g in a single spot and actually hid them. So, is this a vition of the rules? It should be right?


    Wrong.


    The rules didn''t say anything about hiding the g. It only said that they could do everything to protect it. Of course, hiding it somewhere while everyone is running around is prohibited. For example, you cannot bury the g in a safe ce and leave it there. However, hiding the g in a person''s body is not prohibited as you are still carrying the g with you.


    Everyone on the TV saw that the g is still there and Shen Security would actually pass it around. The g doesn''t just stay with one person. They would pass it and then they would protect the person that has the g by staying in the trees around that person. The tree that is keeping the one with the g would also have a lot of insects around it. It would be difficult to approach it if you aren''t wearing that armor that would stop the insects from biting them.


    Now that they already have two gs, they are now passing around not just one g but two! Then the people who had the gs would stay in two different protected trees.


    "Actually, they were using that rope that they were carrying to secure them in the trees." Someone from Long Security said. "They use it to keep them from falling in case they sleep too much."


    "Sleep too much? They really dared to sleep during apetition like this? How arrogant!"


    "The insects are keeping them safe."


    "I thought this was prohibited?"


    "It''s none lethal, unless you are allergic to Yellow jackets then you would surely die in a matter of minutes. So how are we going to attack them? We don''t have anything that could cover our entire body. Our armors aren''t enough to protect us from the bites. And we weren''t sure if we are allergic to the bites. If we are then we would surely die here!"


    "Sir, someone from Dal Valley is here. They said they wanted to talk!"


    Everyone turned silent as they looked at their leader. The man''s name was Leo, and he was considered the captain of the team. "The sun is up so we can''t fight. It''s alright. Let them in."


    "Yes, sir."


    After a few minutes, two people walked inside the first floor of the tower. One of them was only wearing a shirt and pants without any armor. This person was none other than Crow. He, along with his team, was the first person who suffered from Shen Security.


    Those people took away his clothes, only leaving him in his underwear. Unlike his naked teammates, Crow was still considered lucky. He figured that maybe the person who removed his clothes was a woman. Thus, she left him with his underwear.


    "We are here because we want to cooperate with you." The man who spoke was called Rat, or at least his teammates called him Rat because he looked like one. While this nickname made him furious before, he had gotten used to it as time passed by.


    "Cooperate? You think we would let you in our tower so you could steal our g?" Someone asked.


    "The Shen Security embarrassed us. They made fun of us and made us lose our face in front of everyone. There is no going back. We will destroy them. We don''t care about the g anymore!" Crow said. He gnashed his teeth as he recalled the embarrassment that they felt when they woke up upside down on that tree. It was so horrifying, he would surely remember it until he grows old.


    "So you are not going to go inside our tower?" Leo asked.


    "No. We wanted to set up a trap. We are certain that they would target you tonight. We will ambush them." Rat said.


    "And what would happen after you ambush them? What about their g?"


    "Naturally, it would go to you. After we take care of them, we would announce that we are not going to continue with thepetition. After all, killing is prohibited."


    "You "


    "Yes, we are nning to skin them alive!" Crow said. The humiliation that he and his people felt that time would be doubled, even tripled! They would surely have their revenge tonight!


    "You wanted to kill them? That is against thew!"


    "What is against thew is none of your concern anymore," Crow said. "Those people made us lose face. If we won''t kill them, our Dal Valley would surely lose its clients."


    "He is right. Dal Valley is known for being ruthless. We don''t need to show any mercy towards them." Rat added.


    "So? Your men would just wait outside?" Leo was still hesitating. He knew that these people should not be trusted. At this point, his only concern is the gs. He needed to have the g and win thispetition. If Dal Valley would ambush those people, then that would mean that would have ess to the gs first. The temptation would be too strong!


    What if they take the g and take care of Long Company after they kill those people from Shen Security!?


    "Yes, we will wait outside. I promise you. I would not take the g. We were only here to kill them!"

 Chapter 376: Gangster Boss

    Chapter 376: Gangster Boss


    And just like that, the third night started.


    The cooperation between the Long Company and Dal Valley was something that the people from Shen Security expected. This was a part of Gu Cheng''s calctions.


    "So, they would try to ambush us tonight." Gu Cheng looked at everyone. Aside from Gu Cheng, the sound of flying insects that were around them buzzed against their ears. "Is everyone ready for tonight?" he asked.


    Everyone nodded, without saying anything. Contrary to other teams, these groups of people always maintained their silence. They only talk if it''s needed. Things like saying ''Yes, Sir'' loudly were something that has to be avoided. They did this to avoid attracting too much attention to themselves.


    "Alright, you can all sleep." Gu Cheng said. "Don''t forget to wake up at four in the morning."


    Gu Cheng knew that they would try to ambush them. He didn''t know where they would stay, but he was confident they are going to wait for them the whole night. Sadly for them, Gu Cheng and his whole team are nning to rest.


    They are going to rest while their enemy is going to spend the night waiting for them.


    And so the waiting started.


    Seeing the people from Shen Security sleeping calmly caused another debate outside of the arena. Clearly, their aim is to make people stay up the entire night while waiting for them. Then they would attack just as the sun is about to rise.


    "Smart!" Chu Nan smiled. "By the way, my brother and Miss Rue are going to arrive tonight. I will go ahead and wait for them outside of the building. Oh, this reminds me, grandfather wanted to talk to Shen Qui and Lyca. Where are they?"


    "Boss Q is talking to Ronan. They had some business conference with some suppliers abroad. Xi is I don''t know. She was on her way outside thest time I saw her." Cleo answered. "I will apany you outside. I miss Rue the most." She stood, and the two went out of the building.


    Meanwhile, Lyca was indeed outside. She was talking to Yi''an on the phone.


    "Really?" Lyca lifted an eyebrow. "So the Zhang Family is already this problematic. At least, Long Yi is smart enough to cut their connections as early as possible."


    "Young Miss, Huang Ying''s husband already packed her things and threw them out of the Zhang Mansion. I''m sure that Huang Ying would once again me you for this. I''m afraid that "


    "Just keep on watching her. How about his brother?" She was talking about Huang Qingyun, her youngest uncle. She already asked Yi''an to check him out after the report that Ronan gave her about Huang Qingyun''s wife.


    "I wasn''t able to get any evidence that his wife is still alive. The spies that I sent weren''t able to get anything relevant either. There was no secret room in his house, or at least, they didn''t notice one. However, our spies said that his son is always at the Capital these past few days. When he was still in college, he and one of the Xu Family''s children had be closer. And we''re talking about really close. I believe, the elders are even considering marriage alliance."


    "Interesting," Lyca nodded. Why would the Xu Family want an alliance with Huang Qingyun? Right now, Huang Qingyun is still considered rich because of his investments before the fall of the Huang Family.


    "Also About the doctor that took care of Huang Xiaoxuan IVF. Our people spotted someone following the doctor tonight. Perhaps Huang Xiaoxuan would try to kill him?"


    "That is a possibility."


    "Then are we going to protect him?"


    "Yes, exined everything. Book a flight abroad and set up a new identity. You should know what to do."


    "Yes, Miss. I also forward Mr. Xu Jihan''s information. He is Ken Xu''s first-degree cousin. The two were quite close and there were rumors that he is working under Mr. Ken Xu. He is like the person doing all the dirty deeds, the transactions, the killings. He is a dangerous man."


    "I already expected that."


    "Alright. I will call you again once I get something more. For now, I am trying to get close to the Shen Family in the Capital. By the way, Young Miss, when are you nning to visit the Capital?"


    "Wait getting close I thought you are watching over kids."


    "I am watching over kids," Yi''an said, her voice became smaller. "The Shen Family''s kids. I am acting like a tutor."


    "Wah you really love kids!" Lyca chuckled. "How about you watch over my kid once I give birth?"


    "Young Miss?"


    "I said I want you to "


    "Are you pregnant, young miss?"


    "Huh?" What''s with these people casually asking about her pregnancy? She remembered her mother and father taught that she was pregnant too! "No. I''m not!"


    "Alright. Let''s talk once you are already pregnant."


    "" She snorted when Yi''an ended the call. Smiling, Lyca continued walking the night was particrly nice. There were no rains, and the air doesn''t feel heavy. Lyca continued walking for a few minutes until she spotted two people walking her way. Wait why were they walking? She could see Chu Munan dragging two enormous suitcases while Rue was walking like a gangster boss with her high-heeled boots.


    "This is your fault! You said you are familiar with this ce!" Rue''s voice was stern. "Did you expect Lyca would personally run outside once they knew we were walking towards the building? So stupid!"


    "Stop talking. So noisy."


    "You should have "


    "Stupid woman! I arranged everything and made sure to take the most difficult route just so that Miss Xu won''te with us! Just shut your trap, will you? I am trying to call Chu Nan! Damn what happened to the reception?"


    Lyca stopped walking as she stared at the two people. They continued arguing as they walked. What is happening? Since Lyca didn''t ask anything about these two, she wasn''t aware of their transportation arrangement.


    However, Chu Munan actually said about not making Miss Xue?


    "Hey." Wanting to satisfy her gossip genes, Lyca walked out from the dark. "Why are you here?"


    The two instantly stopped walking and stared at her. It was as if they saw a ghost. "What''s wrong? Did something happen?" Lyca asked.

 Chapter 377: Three Things

    Chapter 377: Three Things


    Rue pursed her lips, her eyes darted towards Chu Munan. "This man insisted that we take economic flights, ride a taxi, and just walked from the gates of Long Founding School of Elites because he was afraid that Xu Rong''er would follow us to Long City. That woman is crazy in love with him and he doesn''t want to marry her, but instead of talking to her like a mature thirty-year-old man, he was running away like a f*cking child!"


    Lyca''s jaw dropped. This was the first time that she heard Rue said something so long! Was she angry?


    "My feet hurt!" Rue added. "I am hungry because he refused to stop in a restaurant! We had been walking for a few minutes and my heels are killing me! I am hungry and tired!"


    That should exin it! Turns out, being hungry and tired could make everyone angry!


    Lyca squinted at Chu Munan. "Mr. Chu you did a lot of things just to avoid your fiancee?"


    "She''s not my fiancee."


    "But you were about to marry her, right?"


    "That was because I thought I would die!" Chu Munan gritted his teeth. The reason why he agreed to this nonsense engagement before was that he thought was dying! Who would have thought that Lyca would suddenly appear in his life one day?


    "Oh." Lyca nodded, disinterest shed in her eyes. "You should carry Rue. She is tired. Act like a gentleman, ah."


    "What about the suitcase?" Chu Munan asked.


    "You drag it with you. I can drag it. I am just a weak woman, ah." She showed her arm. "So thin."


    Chu Munan and even Rue were speechless. "I am good," Rue said after a few seconds of silence.


    "No, it''s good. Look at his muscles. This is a six-foot man with the right muscles. He should be able to carry your sixty-kilogram self. Just do a piggyback so he could still use his hands for the suitcase."


    Rue awkwardly looked at Chu Munan. "No. I''m good. He won''t be able to carry me. Let''s go. Are were near?"


    "Are you insulting me?" How could Chu Munan say no to Lyca''s order? "I can do it." He would never act like a woman in front of Lyca!


    "No. It''s good."


    "No. Let me carry you."


    "I said, I''m good."


    "I said, let me carry you!"


    "No!"


    "Come here! I will carry you."


    "I said No!"


    "I saide here!"


    Lyca let out a sigh. "Ah, you two continue arguing. I am sleepy."


    Who would have thought that she wouldn''t stop them? Lyca actually started walking away from them!


    "I told you! I will carry you! I won''t let you continue walking like that! Let me carry you!"


    "Stupid!" Rue hissed.


    "Come here."


    Rue let out a surprised squeal when Chu Munan suddenly pulled her towards him. He then squatted, giving her ess to his back. "Come on. She is serious about leaving us here."


    "Moron!" Rue said. However, sheplied and attached herself to his back. The twoRather, Chu Munan followed Lyca as Rue rode on his back. Of course, he didn''t forget to drag the two suitcases behind him.


    "So" Chu Munan was already out of breath after a few minutes of walking. "Are we there yet?" He could see buildings nearby.


    "Yes. A few more minutes."


    "I  "He was about to faint! He could feel his strength leaving him. However, he decided to persevere. He couldn''t faint in front of Lyca!


    "Are you alright?" he heard Rue asked.


    "Of course." Chu Munan made sure that his voice was loud enough so Lyca could hear him. "I might be sick but I still exercise in the mansion. I used to lift weights."


    "Then why are you so thin?" Rue asked. Actually, Chu Munan doesn''t have bulky muscles at all. Obviously, Lyca just lied earlier because she was toozy to listen to them.


    "I''m not thin."


    "Of course you are. I saw your body. You have no muscles at all."


    "You saw my body?" Chu Munan''s already pale face lost all its color.


    "Of course. I worked with Lai Su, remember?"


    "That  Then you must be blind. I have muscles."


    Rue rolled her eyes. Clearly, Chu Munan liked Lyca. In fact, when they were still in Ath Province, he would always ask her questions about Lyca''s preference. Rue tried to tell him that Lyca is not like some normal princess. She was different.


    However, the man just keeps on asking her questions. In the end, Rue told him that Lyca loves three things. Eating, sleeping, and Shen Qui.


    The man stopped talking to her for a few days after that. She thought he decided to give up. Turns out he was learning how to cook. How stupid.


    Did he miss the third thing that Lyca loved? It was Shen Qui! It was her husband!


    "Jesus! What are you doing!?"


    When Chu Munan heard his brother''s voice, relief washed over him. He immediately gestured Rue to get down, and she immediatelyplied.


    "Why are you carrying her?" Chu Nan''s face was already dark. "Don''t you know that my brother is sick? How dare you ask him to carry you?"


    "I didn''t ask him," Rue said. "He insisted."


    "What? That is "


    "Nan help me with this." Chu Munan handed the two suitcases to his brother. "I need to enjoy the view here. Hey, you  " Chu Munan called out Rue. "Can you apany me for a while?"


    "No," Rue said bluntly. "I''m hungry. We didn''t have food since we left Ath Province. I would rather eat than watch the view in the dark!" With that, she strode towards Lyca and the two just kept on walking towards the building.


    Seeing them gone, Chu Nan let out a sigh of frustration. "Let''s go."


    Chu Munan didn''t say anything. He just followed his brother inside.


    "You know you shouldn''t like someone like her." This time, Cleo spoke. "I am Cleo, by the way. I am Lyca''s assistant and I am telling you not to like her."


    "Why is that?" Chu Munan asked.


    "Because she won''t like you."


    ""

 Chapter 378: Richest Family

    Chapter 378: Richest Family


    Cleo continued, "Lyca once told me. If the one that you like doesn''t like you, then just find someone else to like." She shrugged and started jogging so she could catch up to Rue and Lyca. "Hey! Wait for me!"


    The twins stared at each other before shrugging. Then Chu Nan started asking questions about his brother''s treatment. "I am surprised that the old man actually allowed you toe here."


    "Why wouldn''t he allow me toe here?"


    "Isn''t he afraid that someone would target you?" Chu Nan''s eyebrow raised. Actually, he was really worried when he received the news of Chu Munaning to see Lyca. Chu Munan is obviously weaker than Chu Nan, both in the physical and mental aspects. He was scared that Chu Munan wouldn''t be able to adjust easily.


    "I am around Lyca and a securitypany. Who would dare target me in a ce like that? Plus, grandfather wanted me to observe and learn from them."


    Chu Nan''s face turned dark. "What would you want to learn from them?" Was he trying to learn how to kill? If he was, then being with Lyca is the best way to learn those stuff. However, Chu Munan is the next patriarch, his task is to manage the family business and not involve himself in dirty things.


    "Everything. Grandfather gave me market research about Shen Security and the things that they are nning to create. It was awesome. I am nning to involve myself in this business."


    "You just wanted to get close to Lyca." Chu Nan rolled his eyes. "This will be your room. It''splete, this is a mini-suite. There is a living room, a small kitchen, a balcony, and room. This is connected to my room so just holler if you need something."


    "You know" Chu Munan sat on the couch and spread his arms. He smiled at his brother. "I never dared to like someone since I got sick." When he was diagnosed with Cancer, he stopped doing everything that he wanted to do. He stopped liking people and even stopped seeing his friends. Of course, this was partly because his grandfather had be overprotective of him.


    Actually, his grandfather never approved of him going to Kong City with Chu Nan before. He was scared that someone would kidnap his grown-up grandson. However, Chu Munan threw a tantrum and forced his grandfather to agree.


    At that time, he felt that there is something special about Kong City. It was just an intuition. And then he met Lyca. The woman was so different and unique. Liking her was actually really easy. It was easier than breathing.


    "You heard Cleo she won''t like you."


    "Liking someone is a process. How would you know that she won''t like me?"


    "Clearly you are not as handsome as her husband." Chu Nan said, unimpressed. "You aren''t some delicious food either. And clearly, you don''t look like a bed."


    "" Why does it seem that Chu Nan''s words echoed the words that Rue told him? "I know how to cook."


    "Stupid." Chu Nan said. He sat next to his brother. "How are you?"


    "The treatment is sessful. However, I still need them to check my body weekly in-case, the cancer cells will appear again." Chu Munan smiled. He never expected that one day, he would say something like this. He was actually a little hopeless before the treatment started. However, now it seems that he found some new sun in his dark dark world. "How about you tell me about thispetition? I heard the armors were awesome? Even grandfather is ecstatic about this armor!"


    "You have to see for yourself." Chu Nan said. He didn''t miss the tinge of pride inside him. What was that? Clearly, he wasn''t one of them, yet talking about their aplishment made him proud?


    He led his brother to his room. This time, he didn''t lead him to Lyca and Shen Qui''s living room as he knew it would only cause more problems. He turned his TV on. "They "


    "They are sleeping?" Chu Munan frowned. "I thought there will be lots of fighting?"


    "They are saving their energy." Chu Nan sighed. Then he started exining the past events. He even included the poisoning and how Lyca solved it. He also included the fact that the Xu Family was now eyeing the armor.


    "Tsk, now that I think about it Lyca is really smart." Chu Munan chuckled.


    "Why is that?"


    "She found a way not to deal with the investors. At first, I am a little confused about why would she want to work with us. She could work with other families and maybe even worked with internationalpanies that focused on advanced weaponry. It was because she was toozy with investors."


    "Huh?" Chu Nan couldn''t seem to understand his brother''s words. Was it because hecked some business genes inside him?


    Chu Munan continued, "The Chu Family is considered the richest family In the country. Basically, our worth is even bigger than the Xu Family. With us acting as Lyca and Shen Qui''s backer, many people would hesitate to even set up a meeting to work with them. If they really wanted to work with Shen Security, they might even end up talking to the Chu Family first. Lyca just saved herself a lot of meetings and dinners from investors. Hah I am sure that grandfather is already having a headache right now. His secretary must be receiving a lot of calls from variouspanies because of the armor!"


    Chu Nan turned silent. "Do you think that was her intention all along?"


    "Of course!" Chu Munan said. Rue said that Lyca hated social interactions. Clearly, she worked with the Chu Family because she thought that the Chu Family is enough to intimidate a lot of investors. And she was right!


    Not many people would approach the richest family in the country.


    ...


    Thank you for reading! Please don''t forget to vote for the novel.

 Chapter 379: Poisonous

    Chapter 379: Poisonous


    All night, the people from Dal Valley had been very anxious. They were nervous and a bit excited to be able to have their revenge against Shen Security. So they waited and waited.


    They didn''t put on any goggles and wrapped their faces with fabric. They wore their mask to protect themselves from any surprise gases. Then they stayed in the trees, waiting like crocodiles waiting for their prey.


    The n was supposed to be simple this time. Stay in the trees and wait for them to arrive, then target their fatal points. Break their necks, punch their throats, kill them.


    Slowly, time passed by. Midnight came and the people from Dal Valley were still alert, their eyes wide and they were really to pounce on people that would approach them.


    Just the small gust of wind and the low rustling of leaves would make them tense. They needed to be alert at all times!


    Soon enough, it was already one in the morning. They had been in the same ce all night. Some of them have to stop themselves from going down and would just urinate from the tree, some even dared to hold it in, scared that the sound would alert their enemies.


    The waiting game wasn''t simple at all.


    It was already two in the morning when some of them decided that maybe maybe the Shen Security isn''t nning to attack Long Company tonight? Maybe they wanted to study Long Company first? However, they still stayed in the trees.


    What if they decided toe?


    None of the people from Dal Valley lowered their guards. Some of them have injuries and bruises and some of them were in pain. But none of them lowered their guards. For the people from Dal Valley, revenge is more important than any pain.


    At three in the morning, some of them were starting to feel the effects of not having enough sleep. In the past three days, they were lucky if they could sleep for two hours every day. They prided themselves on being robust and strong but not having enough rest in the past three days coupled with their injury is already showing its effects.


    Even robots would suffer some problems if they run out of energy!


    At three-thirty, some of them were already starting to close their eyes. It was inevitable. They were already tired and it was cold. The silence was making them want to just sleep and recover. It has been hours since they waited and they still didn''t see any signs of the Shen Security''s people.


    Maybe they were wrong.


    Maybe Shen Security is too clever to attack the Long Company just after they attacked Dal Valley.


    One of them let out a long sigh before he crossed his arm across his chest. He couldn''t stop himself, his eyes seemed to close on their own ord. Because of this, he grabbed a rope from his waist and used it to tie himself against the tree. This would keep him safe in case he would actually fall asleep.


    He eyed his watched and discovered that it was almost four in the morning. Two more hours and it would six in the morning. At that time, they won''t be allowed to attack anyone anymore.


    With this in mind, the man decided to persevere and hoped that he won''t fall asleep until six. Sadly, his eyes were starting to be heavier and heavier.


    Meanwhile, Leo from Long Company was also waiting for some action. He was using a thermal scanner to check the location of the people from Dal Valley and discovered that they were still sitting unmoving on their trees.


    "It seems that the Shen Security isn''t nning to attack us tonight?" One of his people asked.


    "Probably. It was really easy to predict that the Dal Valley''s people would try to ambush them. So maybe they got scared." Someone answered. "I have seen the people from Shen Security. They were even smaller than us. Lean and small. They have a lot of women too. I mean we have women in our team but they weren''t allowed to join thispetition because they were obviously weaker than men."


    "I heard that Shen Security just started training months ago. Those people didn''t have a good foundation and were just kids who grew up in the streets. Some of them didn''t even have the mandatory military service yet."


    "Unfortunate, isn''t it?"


    Leo sighed as he listened to the conversation. "Dal Valley underestimated them. Look at them now? Shen Security is not simple. You are too arrogant."


    "Boss, stop being too uptight, ah. We are just discussing them."


    Leo looked at the person who spoke. "If you have the time to talk about this, then you better check Unorthodox Army It''s a part of Dragon''s Secret Teachings. Those people are following all the principles in that teachings. I am wondering if they studied all the teachings in warfare."


    Leo checked the thermal scanner again, then he frowned. The people of Dal Valley were still sitting, but some of them have their heads tilted as if they were sleeping. Of course, he couldn''t me them if they would really sleep. "Wear your masks." He ordered. He is having a bad feeling about this.


    "Why? What about the Dal Valley''s people? Are they "


    "Just listen to me to wear your masks!" He squinted at the trees surrounding the tower. He thought he spotted some movements earlier. However, he couldn''t identify it. "Stay alert! I think they did something to the people from Dal Valley! They might be starting their attack now!"


    Someone immediately warned the people downstairs to brace for an attack.


    "I believe they would still use that smoke bomb to attack us! We should be careful. Wear a normal goggle, just in case!"


    "Boss! Someone wait Those are people are running towards our tower!"


    "Wait why there''s more than ten of them?"


    "Boss! They wanted to breach the door!"


    "Don''t be scared! Their martial arts are not good!" Someone from the back said. "They won''t do a frontal assault."


    *CLING!*


    Everyone froze when they saw something hit the floor.


    "GAS!"


    It was indeed another gaseous attack. However, this one doesn''t look like the modified smoke bomb that the Dal Valley''s people created. This time, the smoke is green. It looked poisonous and"F*ck! They are trying to kill us! The gas is poisonous!"


    "Calm down! Calm down! Don''t panic!" Everyone is already wearing their masks. The gas is not going to affect them at all! Or so they thought.

 Chapter 380: Flabbergasted

    Chapter 380: bbergasted


    Soon, their throats started to sting, eyes watery. This made most people panic. What kind of poisonous gas is this?


    "Rx! Run outside! Leave the tower! Go! Go! Go!" Leo''s voice thundered. He wasn''t panicky. His experience in the military paid off this time as he assisted his people out of the tower. "Leave the tower! Now! Go!" He immediately folded their g and put it in a case before securing the case in his clothes. He helped some of their injured people who are having a hard time running out of the tower.


    Soon, Long Company''s people walked out, their faces flushed, relief can be seen in their eyes. The feeling of fresh air, away from the green gas made them assured. At least they didn''t die? Right?


    Then they soon realized something was wrong.


    "F*ck! They are attacking us!" The relief didn''tst too long when they notice more and more people emerge from the dark. Shen Security''s twenty-five people surrounded them. None of them spoke before they started attacking. Then chaos ensued. The Shen Security were actually smoking them out!


    Leo didn''t know why the Dal Valley''s people didn''t help them. He couldn''t seem to understand why they were still in their trees, hiding. Was it possible that they wanted the Long Company to take care of the people from Shen Security? They must be nning to snatch the g right after the fight where everyone is weak!


    As expected! They cannot be trusted!


    Leo gritted his teeth as he swung his arm towards the man in armor who stood next to him. The man wasn''t tall, probably five foot ten. Compared to Leo''s six-foot height and bulky body, the man in the armor shouldn''t have any advantage at all.


    This conclusion was quickly proven untrue. The man in the armor easily dodged his fist and made a somersault, turning his head over heels, the sudden movement surprised him but he quickly recovered and avoided the person''s kick. He didn''t have the time to examine his surroundings as he staggered, a few kicks were targetted his way. He frowned.


    This isn''t taekwondo! This is Capoeira!


    Then he heard the person cursed.


    "F*ck! Gu Cheng! You said this is good! You liar!"


    "Stupid fool!"


    Leo heard someone answer. Then he noticed the change of stance.


    "Capoeira is utter bullshit!" he heard the man said before he suddenly sent a barrage of fists towards Leo. Of course, the man was none other than Ma Ping. Earlier, Gu Cheng told him to master the art of martial arts! Thus, he chose some various martial arts and soon realized that he missed the first hit thanks to that damn kick!


    In fighting, you cannot guarantee victory using useless martial arts. Ma Ping not only let out a barrage of fists but some surprised kick which surprisingly hit Leo''s tall frame.


    The secret in these fights was simple. Ma Ping actually realized that these people were practitioners of various martial arts, taekwondo, karate, aikido, and some more useless stuff that bes useless in street fighting.


    As he finallynded a punch to Leo''s face, Ma Ping recalled Lyca''s golden words. The first rule in fighting is to try and avoid it first. Second is to run if you can, hide if you can. Lyca obviously told them to avoid hurting themselves. Forget about pride and stuff. Their body is more important. Then if they can no longer run, they should throw the first hit. And when they hit, hit hard! Finish the fight as soon as possible.


    Don''t fall over to the ground and be wary of your enemy''s friends that could easily sneak an attack or threw a bottle in your head. Hit hard and nasty, target the throat and the nose or temple. And once he staggered and fall, you have to run or kill them. Slit their throats just to make sure that they are dead.


    Simple.


    The instructions didn''t have anyplicated words, it was easy to remember. Even someone like Ma Ping who isn''t very smart understood all of it.


    So, he chose to apply it. He did a maneuver and hit Leo''s throat, making him stagger. "Ah, I can''t kill you." He said, in a voice that made Leo shiver. "Is that the g?" Ma Ping asked as he kicked Leo''s chest, making him fall to the ground. Lyca told them not to kill anyone.


    But she didn''t tell them about breaking a few bones! So, he threw himself into Leo. He sat on Leo''s waist, legs straddling him as he started punching and punching


    "Oi! Ma Ping! Get the g and let''s get out of here!"


    "Oh?" Gu Cheng''s voice seemed to wake Ma Ping up. He lifted his head and realized that a few of his teammates receive some injuries. However, most of them were fine. Two or three people were actually fighting against one enemy. Obviously, the fact that they were uninjured, and they weren''t tired became their greatest advantage in the end.


    He moved his gaze towards the bloody man. And suddenly snatched the case from Leo''s back.


    "We got it!" Ma Ping said.


    "Alright. Then Run!"


    ""


    ""


    ""


    ""


    ""


    Everyone watched as Shen Security people withdrew and started running back towards the trees. Of course, they helped their injured teammates, helping them run faster. What was going on? Clearly, Shen Security already won! Why did they run back to the trees?


    Even the people watching were a bit bbergasted. They couldn''t seem to understand their action.


    "Ah, they just wanted to be safe," Lyca exined. It was already five in the morning and Shen Qui woke her up so she could watch this part of thepetition.


    "What do you mean?" Rue asked. She was sitting next to Lyca. Just like Lyca, she also woke up to watch this part.


    "I told them to always make sure everything is good before they lower their guards." For example, she told them to slit their enemy''s throat to make sure that they were dead and only rxed after that. Right now, their enemies aren''t dead yet. So obviously, they couldn''t rx just yet.


    Obviously, they cannot kill people. So, they needed to wait until they leave the arena before they would lower their guards.

 Chapter 381: Uncle Xu

    Chapter 381: Uncle Xu


    The Shen Security won the Assembly!


    The news made a lot of happy, sad, angry, curious, and surprised. The team that was considered the weakest actually won the assembly!


    After the announcement, the teams were immediately escorted out of the arena. Shouts and congrattory words weed Ma Ping and the team. However, their priority is actually not to celebrate but to help their injured teammates.


    Out of twenty-five people, seven people were actually injured. Of course, none of them have fatal injuries. Most were just broken arms and some bruises from the brass knuckles that their enemies used. Even Gu Cheng and a few other people had some cuts on their faces because of thest fight.


    "There will be a celebration tonight, right after the awarding ceremony. The program will start at six in the afternoon. That should be enough time for them to prepare." Onemittee member spoke before he left the Shen Security alone.


    Shen Qui''s people didn''t receive any fatal wounds, but their enemies are not that lucky. Thest fight against the people from Long Company showed the fighting prowess of Shen Security. Most of them were fighting like it was a brawl, a street fight.


    They are experts in dodging and running around, confusing their enemies, and most importantly, they only know how to target fatal points. All of their punches are kicks were targeted in the body parts that would cause the most damage or most pain. For instance, a lot of men fell because they actually receive a kick in the crotch.


    Some of them fainted on the spot from the pain.


    While this infuriated Long Yi and his team, they couldn''t reallyin about it. In a fight, you can''t really tell your opponent not to hit your manhood, right? The fight was enough to prove that Shen Security knew how to defend themselves.


    The method that they used was all practical and effective.


    And because of that, they won thepetition.


    "I am just curious about that green gas that those people used. Those were probably lethal. Isn''t that prohibited?"


    Lyca lifted her head and saw Huang Xiaoxuan standing in front of her.


    Since the sun is up, Lyca decided to find something that could hide her from the heat. She found a tent a few meters away from the team. She instantly sat down and started eating nuts while enjoying the reactions of everyone around Shen Security.


    "I have some here. Do you want to try it?" She casually asked. "See if it kills you?"


    "You "


    "No time to talk to you." Lyca interrupted her. "I heard Long Yi had a new close friend? I heard it''s a woman? Do you know?"


    Huang Xiaoxuan widened her eyes. She opened her mouth but couldn''t say anything. Seeing this, Lyca added, "Ah, you should probably stop following me and follow your husband instead?"


    "Humph!" Huang Xiaoxuan decided to ask Long Yi about this woman that Lyca was talking about! She turned around and walked towards Long Yi!


    "How clever."


    Lyca turned her head and looked at Mr. Xu Jihan. Today, he was wearing a sky blue shirt with a navy blue zer and some chinos. It made him looked younger. Lyca lifted an eyebrow as she threw a nut in her mouth. She waited for him to say something.


    "Hah" Xu Jihan stood next to Lyca, his head lowered. "I came here to give you this."


    "Hm?" Lyca epted the folder and read its contents. Then she dragged her gaze back to the man''s well she couldn''t really see his eyes as he was wearing dark sunsses. So, she stared at his nose instead.


    "As an apology for being too careless. I wasn''t able to prevent Huang Ying from harming your people." Xu Jihan''s lips lifted into a gentle smile.


    "Shares?" Lyca asked. Xu Jihan was giving her shares of Zhang Merchandise!


    "Yes. We own a few shares. Ten percent of Zhang Merchandise is owned by Xu Family. I made some calls, and I was able to get the shares under my name. I am giving it to you."


    "Oh." Lyca nodded. Why does it seem that this person is bribing him? Did he really think she was so easy to bribe?


    Ah, she actually felt insulted. She knew for a fact that she was definitely easy to bribe. But why is he doing this in front of so many people?


    Lycaughed inwardly. She stared at the shares again. These actions were akin to a deration from the Xu Family. They wanted to gain her favor and their methods were pretty direct.


    If her guess was right, then the Zhang Family should be done.


    "Mr. Xu "


    "Please call me Jihan."


    "You are so casual. You are definitely older than me. I can''t call you Jihan. If you want, I can call you Uncle Xu."


    "" Does she have to emphasize his age? Xu Jihan cleared his throat. "I am only thirty-two this year. There is no need to call me uncle."


    "Oh. Then I will call you Mr. Xu."


    "" Can''t she just call him brother like normal women?


    "Ah, yes. I was trying to say that the Zhang Family didn''t actually seed in their ns." She smiled. "They weren''t able to harm my team." For a few seconds, she stared at his face, gauging his reaction. However, he maintained that gentle and harmless smile on his face, like a champion. Seeing this, Lyca added. "However, the Long Family harmed my Huang Family. I am sure that you are very aware of that?"


    Since they wanted to gain her favor, then why not just use them to destroy the Long Family? This time, the smile on Xu Jihan''s face vanished. He removed his shades and met her eyes. "You wanted me to cut ties with the Long Family?"


    "Did I say that?" she tilted her head, the smile on her face didn''t falter. "I don''t remember myself saying that."


    Xu Jihan smirked. Interesting very interesting indeed. "I see. I understand your point."


    "Ah, as expected, Mr. Xu is really smart." See? This is why she like smart people! They could easily understand the sinister meaning behind her innocent words!

 Chapter 382: The Strong and the Crafty

    Chapter 382: The Strong and the Crafty


    "How the hell did you fell asleep while they were fighting?" Mr. Liang''s voice boomed inside the hall of their building. "You were watching them! You were alert, and you waited! But you fell asleep! How did that happen?"


    "Boss we don''t know. We woke up because the staff who escorted us out woke us up. They must have done something that could make us sleep. And "


    "Shut up!" He doesn''t want to hear it. He doesn''t want to listen to ipetent people anymore! "After this Dal Valley would never be able to show their faces in the ck market! We would surely die from shame! How embarrassing! The Dal Valley who was known for being ruthless, known for killing without having second thoughts actually fell asleep! This isThis is just" Mr. Liang clutched his chest.


    "Mr. Liang... Are you alright?"


    "Boss, you look pale!"


    "Someone call the team doctor!"


    "Boss! Take a seat! Have some water first!"


    This scene is not only limited to the Dal Valley Company. In the Long Company, Long Yi was staring at his people, his face dark, lips pursed into a straight line. "You failed." Thispetition means a lot to the Long Family, as it would help them after all that scandal with the bullet. "You brought shame!" he added. "Those people don''t even know particr martial arts! Did you see them fight? They were dirty fighters! They kick your crotch and p your faces! And you let them! YOU. LET. THEM!"


    Unlike Dal Valley, no one dared talk back to Long Yi. Seeing his people''s dark expression, Long Yi continued. "Those people started training months ago! MONTHS! How about you? You are older, bigger, and more experienced! And yet you lose! YouYou  You actually lost to their tricks!"


    "Boss Long, you said it yourself. This was because of their tricks. They also used that gas the green one, and we thought it was dangerous. Some type of gaseous poison would immediately target their lungs, killing them in a matter of seconds. Everyone is aware of that.


    So, when they saw that green gas, their first instinct was of course to run. They didn''t think that Shen Security''s goal all along is to make them leave the tower and ganged up on them! Those shameless people even dared kick someone who is already wounded! They are unprincipled and disgusting!


    "Long Yi, that green gas"


    "I already talk to Mr. Xu, Mr. Shen already showed them the gas before. It was green and could cause some watery eyes and sore throat. Aside from that it doesn''t have any harmful effects. It was just some sort of fake poisonous gas that aims to make the enemies panic. Just like what happened earlier." Long Yi said to Xie Jun.


    In response, Xie Jun shook his head in dismay. "This time, Lyca brought a lot of tricks with her. She actually made us look like clowns."


    "She used us to showcase their technology." Long Yi said. As irritating as it was, this was the truth. Lyca used thispetition to introduce her new gadgets to the world. This time, the Long Company didn''t just lose the assembly, they would surely lose a lot of clients. He eyed his team, disappointment shing in his eyes.


    He wanted tosh out at them, cursed them. But then again, he also couldn''t me them. They aren''t weak. It''s just that Lyca''s people were crafty.


    And in this world, the strongest don''t always win. Mostly, the crafty and wise would prevail.


    "Let this be a lesson to you. Never underestimate someone again." Long Yi didn''t know if he said those words for his team or for himself. After all, he, just like everyone else, underestimated Lyca''s people. "Asked the doctors to check everyone! Prioritize those who had to sever injuries." He said before leaving the hall. Right after they announced the winner, Long Yi brought his people here without even bandaging their wounds because he wanted to say something to them.


    Long Yi walked out of the hall. He turned on his phone, intending to call his father when his wife suddenly blocked his way. "Huang Xiaoxuan can you move?" He didn''t hide the irritation in his voice.


    "I''m about to give birth. My stomach is hurting."


    This statement made Long Yi paused. He stared at her. "Then call your doctors. Have the driver send you home so you could give birth."


    "You''re not going toe with me?"


    Long Yi furrowed his brows. "Can''t you see what was happening? I am busy! I need to pacify a lot of investors after this."


    "But I am about to give birth! It It is really starting to hurt!" Sweat was already trickling down Huang Xiaoxuan''s forehead.


    "Do you need me to push the baby for you?" Long Yi snapped back. "Do you think the baby is inside me?"


    "You "


    "I can''t help you. I''m not some doctor!" Done talking, Long Yi walked past her.


    "Long Yi!" Huang Xiaoxuan tried to follow him but she stopped when her stomach started hurting again. She held her bulging stomach, her face paling. The reason why she didn''t leave even if it was already hurting was that she wanted to look pale and weak. She hoped it was enough to arouse Long Yi''s pity.


    She was wrong.


    And she was too stupid.


    Long Yi ignored her as he walked out of the building. Right now, there are more important matters to attend to than this woman''s baby. Their losses this time are not going to be small.


    "Long Yi! What the hell happened! Tell me everything!" Long Yi had to put the phone away from his ears to avoid breaking his eardrums from his father''s screams.


    "Calm down father I still have ways" Long Yi started talking to his father, telling him everything about Shen Security and his n to poach some of their people. That''s right, Long Yi was indeed nning to poach some of Lyca''s people.


    Long Yi noticed that everyone on Lyca''s team were people that they randomly pick up on the streets. Most of them were homeless too. And usually, people like this are the easiest to sway.

 Chapter 383: Surrounded by Bees

    Chapter 383: Surrounded by Bees


    Soon, the celebration started. This time, manypanies were invited to attend the awarding. However, most of them are not really here to watch it. Most are here to interact with Shen Qui.


    Wearing an all-ck three-piece suit, Shen Qui held his wife''s hand as they walk inside the hall where the awarding ceremony was going to happen. The theme for tonight''s awarding was quite ssic. It was ck and white and red.


    The moment the pair walked on the red carpet, most people who were waiting for them instantly turned their heads, smiling. These people were not aware that it was Lyca who personally designed the armor. All they knew was that Shen Security was owned by Shen Qui, therefore he was the boss.


    Seeing the woman in red in Shen Qui''s arms, most executives nodded, then turned their heads back to Shen Qui. The woman in his arms was beautiful, but she was just his wife.


    On the other hand, Lyca was wearing and blood-red dress that hugged her curves. It was a long sleeve, turtleneck dress that Lyca chose for herself. It wasfortable, and the fabric was great. And of course, she knew she would look good in it. Aside from this, it would save her from wearing a coat for the cold.


    She smiled, eyes turning into crescents when she spotted the banquet table. When the two arrived, the two were immediately surrounded by people who were quick enough to congratte them and introduce themselves. Because of this, Lyca excused herself and went to Cleo and Rue, who were already there waiting for her.


    "I heard Miss Huang is already inbor," Cleo immediately started gossiping. "And Mr. Long is here. He is not even embarrassed to be here while his wife is giving birth?" She red at Long Yi, unimpressed. "Olfan was a bad husband, but he was there when I gave birth. Men like Long Yi are really making me irritated. Look at him why was he smiling too much? Who was he trying to impress?"


    "Hehe" Lyca just chuckled before she started eating. "Can you get me more food? I would like that yummy truffles pasta." She said. Huang Xiaoxuan is actually giving birth right now? Interesting.


    "Miss Huang"


    Lyca''s gaze drifted towards Chu Munan, who sat next to Rue. They are currently at a circr banquet table so she could easily see him.


    "You look beautiful tonight."


    "Thank you," Lyca said. "I think I look beautiful every day." Her point was simple. She was beautiful every day, but this Chu Munan just called her beautiful tonight. He was obviously doing this for formality.


    Chu Munan nodded. If a man praises a woman, it is proper that she act bashful before praising him back. It seems that his calctions were wrong.


    "Just look at my husband" Lyca rested her elbow on the table and propped her chin on her palm. "He is dashing, isn''t he?" She smiled. When ites to looks, Shen Qui was definitely more beautiful than her tonight. "What do you think, Mr. Chu? Do you think my husband is beautiful?"


    "That I have never  I don''t think beautiful is the right word to describe a man."


    "It''s not?" Lyca lifted an eyebrow. The corner of her lips lifted into a smirk as she kept staring at her husband. Surrounded by older men, Shen Qui actually looked like a flower surrounded by bees!


    "You seem to like beautiful things?"


    "Who doesn''t like beautiful things?" Rue who sat in between them asked. She then pushed the te full of peeled grapes towards Lyca. "Everyone likes beautiful things."


    Chu Munan pursed his lips. He was about to say something more when he felt his brother who sat next to him elbowed him. He instantly red at Chu Nan. He promised Chu Nan that he won''t say something inappropriate to Lyca tonight. Chu Munan believed that he didn''t say anything inappropriate, ah.


    "By the way," Chu Nan cleared his throat. "I am really curious about the reason why Dal Valley''s people fell asleep? Is it some type of chemicals?"


    "Yes."


    "Can you produce something like that for us?"


    "No. I''m not nning to sell it."


    "Why?"


    "It can be used to r*pe women."


    "" That was an unexpected answer. But Chu Nan could understand her point. Those people from Dal Valley were sleeping soundly. Even if the people from Long Company and Shen Security were already fighting, they still didn''t wake up. It was a very effective chemical that could definitely be used to take advantage of women.


    "So, it''s alright to sell people chemicals that could people but not alright to sell those gas?" Chu Munan chimed in.


    "Yes."


    "But why? Killing someone and r*ping someone is "


    "How could you say that killing someone and r*ping someone isparable?" Rue instantly fired up. "You business people have really different morals than us mortals! Some r*pe victims survive and suffer nightmares because of their past. Some just be depressed and some wouldpletely lose themselves. How is thatparable to dying?"


    Chu Munan was speechless. His mind was indeed all about profits. In business, some people would definitely forget their morals and focus on money.


    "Ehem" Chu Nan cleared his throat, saving his brother from the embarrassment. "Then what about that bracelet? Are you going to make something like that for the Chu Family too?"


    "Yes," Lyca nodded, her attention was already on the pasta.


    "So, udylike." Chu Nan said when he saw Lyca ate the pasta without having second thoughts. He was used to women pretending that they were on a diet in events like this. They would only eat fruits, scared that eating more would suddenly make their tummy bulged. That would be a problem once people would take photos of them.


    "Oh, this reminds me. Grandfather wanted to talk to you in person." Chu Munan finally dared to say something after being speechless by Rue''s words. "The Xu Family already scheduled a meeting with grandfather, and he wanted to talk to you about those weapons."


    "The Xu Family is working with my enemy," Lyca said. Unless they destroy Long Family, Lyca wasn''t nning to work with them. Her gaze turned towards Long Yi, who was talking to some people that she didn''t recognize. Soon, her gazended towards Xu Jihan who was sitting not far from her table.


    As if sensing her gaze, Xu Jihan turned towards her. Their gazes met.


    He lifted his ss of wine and slowly tilt it towards her, then he gave her a meaningful smile.

 Chapter 384: Mortal Enemies

    Chapter 384: Mortal Enemies


    The peaceful smell of freshness was the first thing that Lyca noticed the moment she walked out of the hall. She found a balcony away from the crowd and chose to hide stay here. Spring ising or maybe it''s already here.


    She eyed the trees around the building, its long limbs stretched upwards towards the skies as if worshiping it. Then a smile appeared on her face. Lyca considered these alone moments the best. The quietness, the silent breeze, and the darkness. It made her feel that she belonged.


    Of course, this would be a hundred times better if she could sit somewhere and have a cup of coffee or a ss of wine.


    "A woman''s loyalty is tested when her man has nothing. A man''s loyalty is tested when he has everything."


    Lyca didn''t have to turn around to know that it was Chu Munan. She continued staring at the trees, ignoring the man who stood next to her.


    "You are alone while your husband is talking to a lot of clients. Why is that?"


    She wanted to tell him it''s her preference but she was toozy to exin to people that don''t matter. So, she maintained her silence and pretended he was not there.


    "The ceremony just started. Cleo and Rue were looking for you."


    "Mr. Chu I want to be alone," Lyca said. Then she looked at him. "I don''t like scheming people. Tell the people following you to delete the photos that they took here. Or they will die."


    Chu Munan''s jaw dropped. He stared at her.


    "I don''t make threats." Lyca met his gaze for a couple of seconds before turning her head towards the trees. "You don''t want to make me angry."


    "How did you know someone is following me?"


    Lyca pursed her lips. Chu Munan is the heir to the Chu Empire. Obviously, his grandfather would never let him leave without some security personnel following him around.


    "I already lost them beforeing here." He tried to exin. This wasn''t his idea, it was his grandfather''s.


    "They know where you are going," Lyca said. "Two people are hiding behind the tree, seven meters away from the main door. They are taking pictures of you and me."


    "Two?"


    "One of them is not your bodyguard. Probably someone that Miss Xu sent to protect you."


    "I "Chu Munan''s brows furrowed, the lines on his forehead deepened. "This wasn''t my intention. I promise you I didn''t do it. It should be my grandfather."


    "Fix it," Lyca said. She had no problems taking this Chu Munan in. However, she is too tired of petty schemes. What would Miss Xu do if she receives images of them talking on a balcony in the dark? The first thing that she would probably do is send those photos to Shen Qui. "And stop liking me. I won''t like you back."


    "" He opened his mouth but ended up closing it without saying anything. "Your husband what if he betrays you now that he is already in the spotlight?"


    "He will die."


    "" Disbelief shed in his eyes. "You would kill him?"


    "He will die." That is the only answer that he would get. "Everyone who betrays me would suffer the same fate." Her eyes were still focused on the trees. "They won''t even know that they are already dead."


    "After this, somepanies might try to poach your employees and see if they know about the secret of the chemicals that you used during thepetition. What would you do about that?"


    "It''s their choice."


    "But you would kill them?"


    "I am not going to answer a self-incriminating question. It''s enough that you know they will die."


    Chu Munan stared at her side profile. "So, you will kill them. Would you really kill your husband too?"


    "Why are you worried about that, Mr. Chu? Do you like my husband?"


    "You "


    "Since you don''t like him that way, then stop thinking about him. I am a jealous person. I can''t take it if someone thinks about my husband that way."


    "" This conversation is bing weird. This made Chu Munan silent. For a few seconds, he didn''t speak. Before he nodded and left. "I will take care of it."


    Lyca didn''t acknowledge his words. She already knew that people might try to poach her own people. In the first ce, this is the reason why she set up some defenses. First, she made it look like the one who made the chemicals was Lai Su. Ma Ping and the rest thought that it was Lai Su. If someone would sessfully poach her people, they would say that it was Lai Su who made those stuff.


    Of course, Lyca had confidence that Lai Su won''t betray her. After all, the man doesn''t value money or fame. He only cared about learning and his experiments. Next is the fact that everyone would soon move to the Ranch. They are going to set up recruitment for new people to start training in Ralia while Ma Ping and the rest would start living in the ranch.


    Right now, their focus would be the production of the armor and training new people. Lyca wasn''t nning to put Ma Ping and Gu Cheng''s team on any mission. She was nning toplete her original n. Ma Ping and Gu Cheng would be their own personal armies.


    The one that would guard her while shezed around like a real boss. Lycaughed inwardly.


    Right now, Shen Qui is really one of those CEOs who was talking about businessmen all day. And she is going to be the CEO''s lovely wife. With the money that Shen Qui is making, Lyca doesn''t have to work anymore. All she could do is just lie down and rx.


    Meh. Obviously, she knew she was only dreaming. She already attracted the attention of the Xu Family and soon, the Shen Family would hear about their armor too. These families have their own small armies so it would be logical for them to order some armor from Lyca.


    While Lyca is more than happy to make some of the weaker armors for them, she is more concerned about the fact that Shen Qui is still a Shen and a Xu.


    And Shen and Xu were mortal enemies.


    Should she just imprison her own husband to keep him safe?

 Chapter 385: Celebrations

    Chapter 385: Celebrations


    The awarding waspleted without any hitch. Of course, Lyca chose to hide in that quiet corner, sleeping. Well, napping should be the proper term.


    When they arrived at the building, Lyca instantly asked for a massage and some medicine for her back pains. It was because of her posture while napping.


    "Where are you going?" Shen Qui asked when Lyca changed her clothes into some faded jeans.


    "Going to see if they are still alive."


    "Let me apany you." Shen Qui followed her out of the room, and the two walked where those wounded members were located. The room wasn''t huge, but it was cozy and warm. It was enough for ten beds.


    When Lyca walked inside the room, she was honestly expecting everyone wounded in their beds, nursing themself back to perfect health. What she saw made her speechless.


    Contrary to her expectations, the room was crowded. All of the members were there celebrating.


    "Miss Xi!" Someone called out when Lyca walked inside.


    "Boss Q!"


    "What are you guys doing here?" Shen Qui asked. Of course, the answer was pretty obvious.


    "We can''t celebrate on our own. So we ask Boss Hogan to let us in." Ma Ping answered; a tinge of red was already on his cheeks. The smell of alcohol wafted through Lyca. "Congrattions, Boss! We won!"


    Cheers and apuse followed his words.


    "Boss, it''s so good to win even when we were considered the weakest! Let me tell you this, and their gazes were nowpletely differentpared to when we just arrived, ah!" Ma Ping continued. "It''s so good to prove that we aren''t useless!"


    Lyca pursed her lips. It seems that her worry about their injury was uncalled for. "We will leave tomorrow at noon. We will move back to the mansion."


    "Still in Long City?" Gu Cheng asked.


    "Yes. We will stay at the mansion for a few days." She still needed to settle something.


    "Then boss, are you going to join us? We can celebrate here! It''s not that big, but it''s alright! I made fried some chicken feet and some ox tripe."


    "Where did you get that?" Lyca frowned. These people had food poisoning, and yet they are still careless!


    "Boss, we tried the food from the banquet, but we couldn''t even pronounce it, ah. And it tasted weirdst time. So, we asked someone to buy the food from the market. I cooked it myself!" Ma Ping proudly said. "It should be safe!"


    "What about the liquor?" Shen Qui asked. Last time, they got the poison from bottled water.


    "Oh, we were drinking beer this time. We don''t like the taste of wine. Too boring."


    "What if you get food poisoning again?" Shen Qui''s furrowed his brows.


    "Ah, then we can just knock to Miss Xi''s room!"


    ""


    "Her room is my room too. We will be celebrating tonight. You can''t knock in our room." Shen Qui said.


    "Oh then we would wait outside!" Ma Ping was quick to answer. He didn''t even bat an eyelid. He was sure that Lyca would help them if they get food poisoning. With Lyca as their boss, they were confident that mere food poisoning wouldn''t be enough to kill them.


    On the other hand, Shen Qui wanted to curse the dumb Ma Ping.


    "Make sure you will get up early tomorrow. If you arete, I won''t wait for you." Lyca said before she found Hogan in the crowd. "Get more beers."


    "Yes, ma''am!"


    Shen Qui and Lyca eyed each other before they left the room and went back on their own.


    "You said about celebrating on our own?" Lyca immediately said after he locked the door. Instead of answering her, Shen Qui walked in front of Lyca and pulled her for a hungry kiss.


    In fact, many executives and managers invited him for a drink outside of Long Founding School after the awarding. Many asked him for a drink at their private bars and clubs, promising some women and a good time. While some were bold enough to ask him for a private meeting in their vi.


    Obviously, Shen Qui declined. At that time, he was already busy looking for his wife, who vanished before the program started. At times like this, Shen Qui doesn''t want thepany of others. He only wanted herpany.


    They could walk under the moonlight, or sleep, orzily watch some of her favorite TV series while drinking some wine. They could eat pizza and have some cheap bears. They could y games on their phones or y chess. To him, these small precious moments with her are more special than any celebration that those people could give him.


    At the end of the day, Shen Qui would always choose to celebrate with Lyca.


    Not long after, the two were already naked in their bed, celebrating another sess.


    The night swiftly passed, the morning sun soon reminded them that another day hase. Today, everyone will leave Founding School of Elite and go back to the mansion that was located near the southern part of Long City. The estate was located near Lyca''s previous house who Huang Ying already sold right after she rescued her parents.


    When the group arrived in the mansion, Lyca instantly informed them to rest and gain their energy. They would soon go back to Kong City, but they needed to recover their strength first.


    "My grandfather will arrive tomorrow morning," Chu Nan informed Lyca and Shen Qui during dinner. "He is scheduled to have a meeting with Xu Jihan tomorrow."


    "Hmmm." Lyca nodded. Actually, she was very curious, what Xu Jihan would do to the Long Family. She met Shen Qui''s eyes, and both nodded at each other.


    Some words are just meant to be spoken through actions.


    Just like how, on that night, Lyca left the mansion with her husband separately. The two only had one destination. Long Mansion.


    It is time to talk to Old Man Long about life.


    .....


    Please don''t forget to vote.

 Chapter 386: Premature

    Chapter 386: Premature


    "We lost three clients overnight," Old Man Long''s secretary said. "They are willing to breach the contract and pay the fees."


    Old Man Long immediately looked at his son, who was sitting opposite him. "And you said the effects shouldn''t be that big?" Sarcasm was apparent in his voice. "Is that your professional opinion about the matter?"


    "Father These people were clearly sucking up to Lyca and Shen Qui. They must have known about our rivalry. Sooner orter, they would realize that they made a mistake. It would be toote by then."


    "Long Yi, you are trying to downy the current situation. Why is that?" Old Man Long squinted. "Did you forget that Long Company is basically the onlypany that is giving us profits right now? Huang Security and otherpanies own by Long Corp are not giving us anything! What do you think would happen if we lose Long Company?"


    "Father I " Long Yi gulped before he lowered his head, avoiding his father''s eyes. "I think this shouldn''t be I think we should focus on our rtionships with the Xu Family."


    "Excuse me?"


    After a few seconds, Long Yi finally found the courage to speak. "The Xu Family is trying to gain their favors too." Until now, Lyca''s words about the Xu family being the only reason why no one is attacking the Long Family is still in his mind. In fact, he couldn''t stop thinking about it.


    Long Yi never doubted his business capabilities. He was a proud man, someone who was born to manage a multimillion-dorpany. However, after that secret meeting with Lyca, Long Yi is starting to doubt himself. He is a little scared that her words might actually be true.


    What if the reason why they were in their current state was not because of his capabilities but because everyone was scared of the Xu Family? What if he reallycked the skills to manage apany? Their losses this time were enormous. This made him wonder if  it was because of hisck of skills.


    "I gave you thepany to train you for my position, and yet you You are thinking about useless things right now?" Old Man Long couldn''t help but cursed inwardly.


    "Father, what would happen if we lost the support of the Xu Family?"


    "That won''t happen! The Xu Family owes us too much."


    "But But Shen Company could help the military of our country! If they If they chose to abandon us because of it then "


    "The only way that they would be able to abandon us is if they kill me. I know all of the Xu Family''s secrets. I have worked with the President before. I knew all the dirty deeds that he did. The Xu Family would never abandon us!"


    Long Yi pursed his lips as he lowered his gaze. "I already asked my people to try and get close to Lyca''s team. Today, one of them casually asked someone about those weapons. And that person just answered that the weapon was personally made by a smart person in their team. Aside from Lyca, I think someone else knows the design of the armor."


    Old Man Long leaned against his chair. His gaze was glued at hisptop. "I want to create armors like that. I will give you a month toe up with a designa new one. We don''t have to copy them I think we are very capable of creating our own design! I want you to hire experts, scientists, technicians, people who are good withputers! I want you to hire new people that would help us with this design."


    "But father, this would need money. If we "


    "I want to halt all of our current projects and focus on this armor."


    This made Long Yi silent. Right now, they are involved in a lot of things. However, their primary focus is creating weapons for the military. That bullet was basically their lifeline. If they focus on armor making, they would need to reduce the number of bullets that they create monthly.


    This would surely affect their original profits.


    "I know this would affect our profits," the old man said. "However, you and I saw what those armors can do. My people already spotted a few foreigners who arrived today. These people were all in the weaponry business. I believe they are here because of that armor. Right now, Lyca and his people are the only ones creating those types of armor. They are monopolizing the market. So, I want to create something better and cheaper than those weapons."


    Seeing his son in deep thought, he continued, "I would schedule a meeting with Jihan tomorrow. I will promise him an exclusive supply of our armor as long as he supports us."


    "But but we''re not even sure if we can make one!"


    "I thought you are nning to poach Lyca''s people?" Old Man Long said.


    "That "


    "I am giving your my permission. I want you to create a new design in one month, a better design."


    For a few seconds, Long Yi wondered if he is really capable of doing this. Then he nodded. "Yes, father."


    "Hmmm. Also, your wife already gave birth. It was a girl."


    "Oh," Indifference can be seen in Long Yi''s eyes.


    "However, the girl was born prematurely. She needed to stay in the hospital for a little while."


    "Oh, I already expected that."


    "This thing with Xiaoxuan I heard you already made ourwyer make a divorce letter?"


    "Yes, father."


    "Hmmm." Old Man Long said. "She is a burden. It is better to cut ties with her."


    "Yes. I agree with you."


    "Alright, you may leave now."


    "Hm. I will see you tomorrow." Long Yi said before leaving the room. After he left, Old Man Long immediately tried to call Xu Jihan only to discover that he couldn''t get through.


    "Can you call Xu Jihan''s secretary? Tell him that I want to talk to him," he immediately ordered his secretary.


    ...


    3/5

 Chapter 387: Issues

    Chapter 387: Issues


    Old Man Long''s face was morphed into an ugly scowl. "Mr. Fang, I asked to see Mr. Xu may I know why you came here instead?" When his secretary called Mr. Fang earlier, Mr. Xu''s secretary clearly said that he ising tonight. So, howe it was only the secretary who came? Where is his boss?


    "I said I woulde." Mr. Fang said. "Mr. Xu is currently busy. So, he wanted me toe to meet you instead."


    "You think I am just someone that a mere secretary could meet?" Old Man Long hissed. "I want to meet Xu Jihan! I want to have lunch with him! Tomorrow!"


    "Mr. Long, Mr. Xu is not just someone that a mere like you could meet anytime. My boss is working with National Defense. He is not somenguid young master that you could just summon anytime."


    Old Man Long stared at Mr. Fang, surprised. Since he met this man, Mr. Fang was always respectful towards him. So, what''s with the change of attitude? Was it No! That is impossible! Xu Family would never abandon his Long Family.


    "Mr. Fang that is not what I was trying to say. I just I am still a little stressed out because of what happenedst night. As you know, the Shen Security won the assembly." He forced himself to sound amicable. Mr. Fang was only a secretary. However, he is extremely close to his boss. He was Xu Jihan''s right-hand man.


    Mr. Fang only smiled in response. He drank his tea before he met Old Man Long''s eyes. "Mr. Xu is busy. He wanted to work with Shen Security. Obviously, there are some problems with that. So, he is busy taking care of that problems. He is already in the Capital. He won''t be able to have lunch with you tomorrow."


    "Oh Then How about I just go to the Capital? I also have some new propositions for Mr. Xu. I believe the president would be interested to hear about this matter." This time, his tone towards Mr. Fang was really respectful. It was the opposite of his tone earlier.


    This meeting didn''tst for long. Mr. Fang shortly informed him that he is also on his way back to the Capital and that his flight would be in an hour, so he needed to leave. Soon, Mr. Long was left alone in the office.


    This time, he didn''t hide the anger in his eyes. It seems that the Xu Family is going to abandon him just because of some armor? Old Man Long couldn''t believe this! He stood and walked towards his table, he then opened a safe just from one of his drawers and stared at the documents and sh drive that he stored in there.


    Those documents were full of confidential secrets of the Xu Family. From the people they killed without any mercy to the mines they stole and viges that they burned. These secrets could surely destroy them.


    If the Xu Family would do something against his family, they would surely suffer from the consequences of their actions. Or at least, Old Man Long thought so.


    On that night, Old Man Long suddenly suffered a stroke. All the evidence that he was reading before he copsed vanished along with his consciousness. When his secretary came back, the safe was already closed. The Old Man was already lying on the floor. Luckily, he isn''t dead yet.


    The news instantly rocked the whole Long City on the next day.


    The Long Corp''s stocks instantly fluctuated before taking a deep dive. After all, their chairman was already inatose. This made Long Yi and the whole Long Family panicked. As Old Man Long''s son, Long Yi instantly called for a meeting.


    He needed to protect thepany while his father is still in the hospital!


    "So, you are saying that before father copsed, Mr. Fang was there with him?" Long Yi asked his father''s secretary.


    "Yes, sir. He wanted me to leave, so I went out of his office. The conversation was really short. After a few minutes, Mr. Fang went out, and I escorted him out of the house. When I When I came back, Chairman Long is already on the floor."


    "Mr. Fang is Mr. Xu Jihan''s secretary?"


    "Yes, sir."


    "Why did he see my father? Do you know?"


    "No, sir. But the chairman was furious. He wanted to talk to Mr. Xu. I called his secretary, and he said that he would drop by. Who would have thought that only his secretary woulde? When I left, Chairman Long is already frowning."


    Long Yi turned silent. Problems upon problems. He couldn''t understand why issues would suddenly appear once Lyca is nearby. A sharp sigh escaped his lips. "The doctor said it was because of his hypertension. They would do their best to make him wake up soon." Long Yi said. "You may leave now. Oh, from now on, I want you to help my secretary. As the acting chairman, I would need your help and cooperation."


    The secretary nodded and bowed before leaving.


    When Long Yi was alone, he started massaging his temples. Since he received the newsst night, he wasn''t able to sleep as he went to the hospital for his father. When the morning came, he instantly called for an emergency board meeting.


    It was already afternoon, and he couldn''t even remember if he already had his lunch yet. He stared at the numbers in front of him. Right now, the market is already closed. And the bloody color in the stock market was hurting his eyes more than what happened to his father.


    The stocks plummeted, and he Is starting to doubt if he would be able to recover from this.


    The knock on his door interrupted his stupor. "Sir, Mr. Zhang is here. He wanted to talk to you about the "


    "Tell him to fuck off!"


    "Sir?"


    "Tell him to leave! I don''t want to talk to anyone right now! Don''t let anyone disturb me! I need some time to think!"


    .....


    4/5

 Chapter 388: Not Worth it!

    Chapter 388: Not Worth it!


    On the other hand, Lyca had been staring at the ceiling since she woke up. Seeing all the documents that she gotst night, Lyca couldn''t help but shiver. Who would have thought that the Xu Family in this world is just the same as the Xu Family in her previous world? Mass murder, r*pe, corruption, and many more things.


    She couldn''t help but wonder where Old Man Long found those proofs. Was it possible that he worked with the Xu Family tomit those murders?


    She pursed her lips as she thought about what she didst night. Initially, she wanted to talk to Old Man Long, scare him until he would make his family and himself suffer. She wanted toy a trap but ended up giving him a stroke instead.


    It was because of those documents.


    She wanted to have the documents as fast as possible. Her curiosity got the best of her. Of course, she didn''t regret hurting him. Those files were things that were not on her research. Those were big secrets!


    When Lyca decided to get out of her bed, it was already one in the afternoon. She took a quick bath and went out of her room to find some food. Earlier, Shen Qui already informed her that he would be in a few meetings. He would be swamped with work and meetings today.


    The bigger the business, the busier he would be.


    That is something that she already epted. Of course, she had noints about this. After all, during the night, he was all hers. If Shen Qui would one day abandoned his nightly duties with her, then that would be the time she wouldin.


    "Hey, grandfather is waiting for you to wake up. However, he is already having lunch with Mr. Xu." Chu Nan said when he saw Lyca walking towards the dining room.


    "Mr. Xu is still here?" Lyca frowned. Last night, when she was eavesdropping, she clearly heard his secretary said that he was no longer in Long City. It was all a lie,


    "Of course! He wanted to meet grandfather. They are in the garden at the back, waiting for you. Shen Qui had another meeting. He said it was about the opening of his restaurant in the Aiba region." Chu Nan started walking next to Lyca. The two walked towards the back garden with a small artificial waterfall.


    "Lyca!" Xu Jihan stood up when he saw her approached. Then he grabbed an umbre and walked towards Lyca. "Here you go. It is always better to protect your skin from the sun."


    "I had sunscreen," Lyca didn''t bother thanking him. She could smell the fakery from this guy from a mile away.


    "Oh still you can''t let the sun touch your skin directly. It''s dangerous." He walked on the other side of Lyca. "I came here to freeload some lunch. I hope you don''t mind."


    She turned towards him. She wanted to say that she minds. This man was really shameless, eating someone''s food. However, she was toozy to scold him.


    It was simply not worth it.


    "Buy more food," Lyca said. Since he ate their food, it''s only fitting that he buy more for them.


    "Of course, I already asked my people to bring some professional chefs for dinner. This time, it''s my treat."


    "" Lyca deadpanned. So, he was only looking for ways to spend more time with them. "I heard about Old Man Long. Did you have anything to do with that?"


    "What? Of course not. The Long Family is a family friend. I would never hurt them."


    "Then why are you here?" She asked. She didn''t miss the amusement in his eyes.


    "I have a scheduled meeting with the old man. And I wanted to talk about the armor."


    "Oh." Lyca already knew this. However, she isn''t the CEO of Shen Security. She is the CEO''s wife. Boring business meetings have nothing to do with her.


    Lyca quickly greeted Old Man Chu when she arrived in the covered seating area in the middle of the garden. Then she started eating.


    "When I saw the armor, I was honestly surprised. I never thought that someone could create a suit so functional and effective." Old Man Chu started talking. "At first, I had little doubts about our cooperation. After all, the concept of armor like that was really unbelievable. However, I am now fully convinced that Shen Security is very capable of creating something so magical."


    Lyca didn''t say anything. The armor that they made this time didn''t have the chemicals that could make it withstand that special bullet that she created. They didn''t have the time to make it totally invincible. Right now, Lyca wasn''t nning to reveal the original design of the armor.


    She wanted everyone to believe that this was already the best.


    Then she would secretly create those armor for her people.


    "Hmmm. I agree. To be honest, we were trying to create an armor like this for a long time now. However, the armors that we were able to create were not as light as the ones that Lyca''s people were wearing. It also had more expensive materials. It''s heavy and expensive. Those two weaknesses made us stop the project." Xu Jihan said. "I am really wondering what kind of material did Shen Security use in making those armor."


    "That a secret," Lyca said. When she came to this world, she spent a lot of time studying chemicals, rare metals, and physics to figure out a way to go back to her previous world. This is why she knew quite a bit about metals and how to alter them.


    "Ehem of course. I understand that." Xu Jihan gave an awkwardugh. This woman is really difficult to talk to, ah. "By the way! The cookies that you likest time. I brought it with me."


    ...


    Thank you for your support. Please use your PS stones to vote for the novel.


    5/5

 Chapter 389: Nothing But the CEOs wife

    Chapter 389: Nothing But the CEO''s wife


    He was definitely trying to bribe her with food this time. However, Lyca refused to bow down.


    She nodded and epted the cookies without saying anything. Then she continued eating.


    "Now that Shen Security already won thepetition, people are starting to inquire about your ns for thepany." Old Man Chu said. He tried his best to stop the current awkward situation. "People are interested in other gadgets that Shen Security is going to make in the future. I already talked to Mr. Shen this morning and thought of having an exhibit to gain more investors. The aim is to show some of the gadgets that the Shen Security invented."


    "Oh," Lyca nodded. Talking about these things is so dull. She wanted to find a ce to just hide and just eat her food silently.


    "The potential of the weapons is endless. Right now, international rtions are not as good as ten years ago. For instance, Du Empire and our Xu Country''s rtions are not very good. It may look good on the outside, but it''s in a very fragile state. One mistake and war would erupt anytime."


    Lyca lowered her head as she listened to Xu Jihan''s words.


    "Aside from this, our rtionship with Xiaojing Royals from Xiaojing sect is not very good either. We are surrounded by potential enemies. War hasn''t erupted because the power between the three continents is equal. Once the power dynamics between the three countries change, a war would immediately follow."


    Lyca nodded inwardly. When she arrived in this world, she instantly studied geography and familiarized herself with the countries, empires, and leaders. In this world, there are a total of eight big continents. The Xu Country is not even considered one of the biggest of these continents. The most significant two are ria and Sceastein. Both have powerful armies and good leaders. They are rich not just in the economy but also in resources.


    Next is Kaplon, a country known for its intelligence and innovations. They were the first to travel in space and the first to create an innovative weapon. This is also where she had some of her education.


    The fourth is Achines, a ce known for its forest. It had a big, mostly unexplored forest that covered most of the country.


    The fifth is Agrus. It was located in the northern part of Xu Country. The people in Agrus loved peace and religion. They are peace-loving people who avoided war and conflict. However, they are considered an impoverished continent because most of Agrus has snow. Not many people chose to stay in this cold and wet ce.


    The sixth is Xu Country, where Lyca was staying. The seventh is Du Empire. They put most of their national budget on their military and economy, and thest is called Xiaojing. It was a country with multiple nations. They were lead by Xiaojing Royals from a nation call Xiaojing Sect. This is a rich country because of their oils, but they are located in a desert.


    Du Empire, Xu Country, and Xiaojing are neighbors, and their rtionship is good on the outside. However, the tension between these three countries is increasing day by day.


    Lyca is not an expert in national rtions, so she doesn''t know why this is happening. However, she knew that this has something to do with some terrorists hailing from Xiaojing.


    "What do you think of this, Miss Huang?"


    Lyca lifted her eyes and looked at Xu Jihan. "I don''t know."


    "Hm? You mean you don''t know? Or you are not interested to know?"


    She wanted to say both but ended up saying, "I am toozy to know." If she wanted to know more about politics, she would have taken some international rtions courses back in college. But this does not interest her at all.


    Lyca thought it was veryplicated. Her brains won''t be able to take the scheming.


    "Interesting," Xu Jihan smiled. Or at least, he looked like he was smiling. On the inside, he was already frowning. Xu Jihan had traveled in and out of the country. He met different types of people, different cultures, and personalities.


    However, not one of them would tell him that they were toozy to know about politics. Most women would pretend to know, some would offer their opinion, and most men would always tell him what they think about the matter.


    This was actually the first time that someone told him they are toozy to know! This made him unable to respond. It was because he didn''t really know how to react!


    "Well, youngsters nowadays are really different. They don''t mind about topics like this anymore. Miss Lyca is not someone interested in politics. She is an inventor." Old Man Chuughed. "Topics like this should be for people like us."


    "" Xu Jihan didn''t know what to say.


    The old man was saying this to help him out. However, he felt that Old Man Chu is actually calling him old. Was he really that old? Xu Jihan was only thirty-two! He wasn''t that old, alright!


    "Heh, actually, I have met investors before, and I agree with Old Man Chu. Most of them don''t really care about politics." He gave a peal of awkwardughter before he drank his tea. "Anyway, as I was saying, the current state of weaponry in the country is not promising. So, I wanted to cooperate with Shen Security. I want to know if you are interested in any cooperation with Xu Country?"


    "Well " Old Man Chu coughed. "I am actually not "


    "No need to worry about the production cost. We would give you the best materials and even create a specialb for you. What do you think?"


    "I "


    "Actually" Xu Jihan interrupted the old man. "I would like to know about Miss Huang''s opinion about this matter." He turned his head towards Lyca. "What do you think?"


    Lyca rolled her eyes inwardly. "Mr. Xu I don''t understand why my opinion is needed about this cooperation. I am not working on this project. I am only here to cheer for my husband. I''m sure you already know this, but I am nothing but the CEO''s wife."


    ..


    1/5

 Chapter 390: Good Will

    Chapter 390: Good Will


    Meanwhile, the atmosphere in the private tearoom was a bit chaotic. There was definitely anger, some resentment, and fear in the air. This continued for a few minutes as Shen Qui was calmly drinking this tea.


    "Mr. Shen I don''t understand this" Zhang Yu Long''s hands shook as he stared at Shen Qui. "This This is force acquisition!"


    "Exactly," Shen Qui smiled. His gaze never left the old man''s face since they started this conversation a few minutes ago. This was Huang Ying''s husband. His name was Zhang Yu Long, and he is the current head of the Zhang Family. "Without the support of the Long Family, your Zhang Family could crumble anytime." His smiling face was beautiful, yet to Zhang Yu Long, it was haunting.


    He eyed the documents in his hand. "I can''t ept this. The terms are just too much! I won''t ept this!"


    "Mr. Zhang beggars can''t be picky." Shen Qui said. "Do you think manypanies would actually acquire yourpany now that you lose the Long Family''s support?"


    "You "


    "I am telling the truth." Shen Qui said. "Right now, no one would try to get close to yourpany because they would fear the anger of the Long Family. In Long City, Long Corp rules. So this is totally understandable, right?"


    "I already said "


    "If you are hoping that the Long Family would still support you after you beg them, then I suggest you think again. The Long Family''s patriarch is dying. He might never wake up, and obviously, Long Yi doesn''t like your Zhang Family because of your wife." The smile on Shen Qui''s face didn''t fade. In fact, it became more beautiful, more brilliant.


    "You You are enjoying this, aren''t you?"


    "Of course!" Shen Qui didn''t bother denying it. "You made my wife and my Huang Family suffer three years ago. Seeing you like this is making me feel giddy."


    "You Evil!"


    "At least I am not evil enough to kill you and your family." Shen Qui uttered. "I mean Lyca could do that, but she didn''t." Actually, these people were lucky that his wife is a bitzy. Now that Shen Qui thought about it, Lyca''szy personality was actually a blessing from the gods. If Lyca wasn''tzy, then she would surely be a heartless killer.


    Lyca doesn''t really think much about killing. Shen Qui couldn''t understand why Lyca''s brain seemed to think it is normal to murder people. Despite being born in a happy family with loving parents, Lyca''s view of life was quite entric. Lyca''szy ways saved a lot of life!


    "Now about the acquisition"


    "You are so ambitious!" Zhang Yu Long hissed. "How could a mere nobody like you acquire out Zhang Company? I already said this I would never allow this to happen! If you badly want to acquire it, then you can do it over my dead body."


    "Ronan"


    "Boss?"


    "How many shares do we have now?"


    "Forty percent."


    "What would happen if we sell it now?"


    "We would lose about ten percent of our money, but thepany''s stock prices would surely take another deep dive."


    "Do you think it would help them if we sell our shares now?" Shen Qui continued asking.


    "No, it won''t."


    "You "Zhang Yu Long gulped. "Do you  "


    Shen Qui smirked at him. "You can''t believe the number of shareholders who agreed to sell their shares once they realized that the Long Family is no longer supporting you."


    "You You already own forty percent?"


    "Of course. Do you think I would have the guts to meet you without my shares? Did you think I am as ignorant as I want back then?" People grow, and just like everyone else, Shen Qui had learned a lot in the past years.


    "Why are you doing this? If you think this is justified, let me tell you the number of employees we have. We have a total of three hundred factory workers, not including the higher positions. These people''s primary source of ie is their job. If you take away thepany from the Zhang Family, these people will lose their job too. I think this revenge of yours has nothing to do with them." Zhang Yu Long said.


    Shen Qui nodded. "True. These people would indeed lose their jobs. However, this is making me curious. If I don''t buy yourpany, do you think these people would not lose their jobs? Right now, I am the onlypany who wanted to help you, and yet you actually decline my goodwill. Mr. Zhang I think your love for your employees is a bit crooked. After all, you are not willing to sacrifice your pride for them."


    Zhang Yu Long gulped all the resentment away. He red at Shen Qui. Who would have thought that years ago, the boy that the Long Family chased along with Lyca woulde back and do this? If he had known back then that this would happen, then he would have already cut ties with Huang Ying as earlier as possible!


    He wouldn''t have let his sons be influenced by his wife''s greed.


    He would have stayed away.


    Unfortunately, regretting all this is a bit toote now.


    "What would happen to my Zhang Jiu?"


    "He would continue working for thepany. After the acquisition, we would own thepany, but this doesn''t mean Zhang Jiu would lose his job. In fact, I would like him to continue in his managerial role as I help thepany up."


    Zhang Yu Long stared at the documents. After reading it for the umpteenth time, he let out a sharp sigh. Right now, the only one willing to buy hispany is Shen Qui. Right now, his debts are starting to catch up to him. If he still refuses to sell thepany, his employees would suffer, and his debts will drown him.


    He needed money.


    And he needed it fast.


    Long Yi already abandoned him. No matter how much he tries to call him or show up in his house, he is already refusing to see him.


    His only hope is only Shen Qui and LS GROUP.


    "I have one question. LS GROUP is the motherpany of Shen Security as well as Shen Resto?


    "Hmmm." Shen Qui nodded.


    "What does it stand for?"


    "Lyca Shen." Shen Qui smiled. "Now I need you to decide yourpany''s direction in the next five minutes as I have another meeting in thirty minutes. I can''t bete."

 Chapter 391: Assault and Slander

    Chapter 391: Assault and nder


    When the Long Family''s patriarch suddenly fell into aa, thepany''s stock prices instantly dropped. Of course, this was considered normal as thepany''s future is now uncertain under the new acting chairman Long Yi. Because of this, many stockholders chose to sell their stocks in a panic. Some even sell the stocks at low prices simply because they wanted them gone.


    Of course, Shen Qui took advantage of this.


    Not only did he started buying shares from Long Corp., but he also bought some shares from Huang Security. In this type of war, winning overnight is almost impossible. And Shen Qui was actually nning to take it slow slow and painful.


    He was nning to take everything that was taken away from his wife, and he would make a big show out of it. He wanted to make sure that Lyca would sit in the front seat to watch this beautiful show.


    "You "


    Shen Qui just walked out of a restaurant with Ronan when he heard a shrill voice.


    "How dare you!"


    He already expected to see Huang Ying, but he never expected to see her just a day after her husband signed the acquisition.


    "Where is your wife!? Where is she? How dare you bully my family like that?"


    "Call the police," Shen Qui said in a low voice as he removed his shades and smiled at Huang Ying. "Miss Huang I am surprised that you are not still in prison. How are you?"


    "You What kind of question is that? Why would I be in prison?" Huang Ying red at Shen Qui. She stood a few feet away from him. "Where is your wife? Let me talk to her!" Since the other night, Huang Ying had been looking for ways to talk to Lyca.


    She already visited the mansion where she was staying, but she refused to say her. All the people in that mansion said she was sleeping. How could someone sleep all day?


    Obviously, it was a silly reason just so she would stop standing outside of the mansion.


    "My wife is not feeling well. Do you need something?"


    "You forced my husband to sign that acquisition, didn''t you?"


    "Miss Huang, I don''t understand what you are talking about."


    Huang Ying squinted. She took a step forward.


    "I would advise you against that. Hurting me would surelynd you in jail." Shen Qui gave a tightlipped smile. The confidence in his face only made Huang Ying more and more furious. She wanted to p that man''s handsome face. She wanted to wipe off that smug smile on his face. She wanted to hurt him!


    Unfortunately, she knew that wouldn''t be possible at least not right now.


    "Your wife already destroyed my life! Why isn''t she satisfied? Why does she want to destroy my family too?"


    "What family? I thought Mr. Zhang already kicked you out?" Shen Qui asked. "He said "


    "I don''t care what he said! I am the mother of his children, and I am still his wife! I didn''t sign the divorce! Meaning, I am still a part of the Zhang Family!"


    "Oh." Shen Qui said as he started walking towards the parking lot, a ce where CCTV was located. He then eyed Ronan, who was walking ahead of him. "Miss Huang I am in a hurry." He wanted to finish all the meetings as fast as possible so he could go home to his wife. "If you want to say something "


    "Give thepany back to my son!"


    "Does he have five hundred million? If he does, then I would be thrilled to give it back to him."


    "You I am still your wife''s aunt! How dare you disrespect me?"


    Shen Qui halted his steps. He turned towards her, confusion painted on his face. "So you can disrespect your own father, but I can''t disrespect you who is merely stranger to me? Where did you get this logic?"


    "You You "Huang Ying pointed at him, but Shen Qui already ignored her. He put his shade back on as he walked towards his car. "I said, don''t disrespect me like that! I am an elder! Don''t you dare walk away while I am still talking!" Unable to stop herself, Huang Ying used her handbag and threw it towards Shen Qui''s head.


    The sound of her bag hitting Shen Qui before it hit the ground made her pause. Taking a step back, Huang Ying instantly paled. Unfortunately, she couldn''t see the look on Shen Qui''s eyes as it was covered by the shades, but she knew he he was furious.


    "I won''t hit back," Shen Qui''s voice rifted towards her like a hot electric current. It made her shiver in fear. "I don''t hit women."


    "I I didn''t mean to do that."


    "The CCTV would say otherwise." Shen Qui only smiled at him.


    And that was when she realized that this man this evil man, must have wanted her to hit him. "You you actually "Huang Ying tried to curse at him, but no words left her mouth when she spotted the two police officersing her way. "Help! This man is trying to assault me! He He wanted to kidnap me!" In a desperate attempt to escape, Huang Ying blurted out the first words that she could think of.


    She knew it was stupid.


    And she knew she shouldn''t have said something like that.


    But it was toote.


    "Sir, I am Ronan please check the video from the footage of my car just now. This woman was attempting to hurt my boss." Ronan was quick enough to defend Shen Qui as he showed his phone. "This is connected to the front camera of the car." He instantly exined to the two cops.


    "That That is not true! I didn''t do anything!"


    "Miss Huang you didn''t just hit me. You are also ndering me. As you know, I am a businessman. reputation is very important for me." Shen Qui smiled at her. "I hope you still have money for yourwyers because I will assure you. This is going to be a very long case."


    ....


    3/5

 Chapter 392: Salary

    Chapter 392: Sry


    Right now, everyone in the Huang Family is already in a panic. This wasn''t just because of the Long Patriarch''s demise. It was because of Huang Ying''s current situation.


    After assaulting Shen Qui, Huang Ying is still in prison because her husband refused to bail her out. Not only this, a few people who used to work in Huang Security are nowing forward to testify against her. All of them were using her of assault, and someone even dared use her of attempted murder. Luckily the person was able to run.


    This news surprised the whole Long Family. Huang Ying came from the wealthy Huang Family, and her husband was someone from the Zhang Family who is also considered well off! How could this have happened to her?


    Of course, the Huang Family knew that it was Lyca.


    "I want to go and talk to Lyca." Huang Li Duo said. He was currently pacing in his office with his wife, Li Tang.


    "Husband I am terrified. I am scared that Lyca would hurt our daughter. What if she what if she will take our grandchild? Huang Xiaoxuan is very vulnerable right now. I''m afraid that "


    "Lyca wouldn''t go that low." Huang Li Duo was sure of that. "She could have poisoned Huang Ying and kill her family. But what did she do? She made her go to prison!"


    "But father" The man who spoke was Huang Li Duo''s eldest son, Huang Zi Yan. "It is still best if we tell Long Yi to take care of Huang Xiaoxuan. Maybe increase the security at the hospital. We can''t be too careless. That Lyca had no morals. I am sure that she would hurt a child and would not feel any remorse whatsoever!"


    "Go ahead and call Mr. Long. I will try to call Lyca No, perhaps, I could talk to Mr. Shen. That''s right" In his eyes, Shen Qui came from a poor background. He grew up without any family. Huang Li Duo was confident Shen Qui would be easier to talk to, he would be easier to influence than that shrewd Lyca!


    After a few minutes of calling his friends, he finally found a number of Shen Qui''s secretary. Who would have thought that the secretary would immediately tell him that Shen Qui had no time to talk to him?


    "I am his Uncle! I am his wife''s Uncle! Howe he is too busy to talk to me?" Huang Li Duo hollered. Shen Qui is married to the prosperous Huang family, and he is considered his senior! What is this too busy status that he was so proud of?


    "Mr. Huang Mr. Shen doesn''t have any living rtives aside from his wife. His wife only has a mother, father, and grandfather. I don''t remember Miss Lyca saying something about an uncle. Stop being so shameless and wait in the line."


    "You "He was about to yell at Ronan when he realized that the call already ended. "Let''s go to the mansion that she was staying! Bring gifts! I will try and convince her to spare her aunt!"


    "But husband her father and mother"


    "They are missing! Nowhere to be found! Who knows if they are still alive? We are still considered Lyca''s elder. We should go now. Prepare some expensive herbal tea and some imported food and choctes."


    "Alright Alright I will do that."


    After about thirty minutes, the two left their estate and drove towards the mansion where Lyca was staying. And just as expected, the guards didn''t let them in. Huang Li Duo didn''t know if he should throw another tantrum just outside of the gates or pretend to faint from exhaustion.


    This current situation is really embarrassing. Who would have thought that Lyca wouldn''t even give them a bit of a face? Everyone in Long City knew that Lyca is a Huang. While they didn''t know the exact reason she left, many thought it was because Huang Family schemed against her and Huang Sheng Hong.


    What would happen if they knew that Huang Li Duo and his wife didn''t have the chance to enter Lyca''s mansion? What would happen if they knew that Lyca refused to see his Uncle?


    Surely, people would start to connect the dots and conclude something that could damage his family!


    "Mr. Huang please move to the other side. Please stop blocking the driveway."


    Huang Li Duo almost erupted in anger when he heard the guard''s voice. He gnashed his teeth and silently drove his car towards the other side. Then he went out of his vehicle and tried talking to the guard again. Telling them that he had some gifts for her.


    However, just like before, the guards said that Lyca was sleeping and didn''t want to be disturbed.


    "Eh? Who are these people?"


    Huang Li Duo''s attention turned towards the ck tinted van that stopped at the gates. A woman wearing shades that were almost bigger than her face was looking at the guards on the window.


    "Reporting to Miss Xu, this man is called Mr. Huang, he wanted to see Miss Lyca, but Miss Lyca said she didn''t want anyone to disturb her sleep."


    "She''s still sleeping? It''s already eleven in the morning!" Xu Rong''er said. "Open the gates, let the man in."


    "Miss Xu, I''m afraid I can do that." The guards said.


    "Don''t you know who I am? Chu Munan said that he already informed the guards that I aming!"


    "Miss Xu, with all due respect, all of us here knew who you are."


    "Then? Why aren''t you following my orders?"


    "Ma''am I''m afraid we can''t follow your orders. You aren''t the one paying us our sries." Someone from the back said.


    "You What did you say?" Disbelief shed in Xu Rong''er''s face. She quickly removed her shades. "Say that to my face again!"


    "Miss Xu, we can''t follow your orders. You aren''t the one paying our sries."


    "You You really "Xu Rong''er face instantly turned scarlet red. The man actually repeated his words? Wasn''t he scared of her?


    "Miss Xu, please go inside. Please don''t block the driveway." Again, that person said.


    ....


    4/5

 Chapter 393: Foolish Woman!

    Chapter 393: Foolish Woman!


    "You What did you say?"


    The guards stared at each other. It turns out that the woman was only pretty. Sadly, she is deaf. The guard, who was none other than Ma Ping, who volunteered to guard the gates because he was too bored, gave Xu Rong''er a look of pity.


    What a beauty.


    Sadly, she was deaf.


    There should be new technology for hearing aids, right? He should suggest to Miss Lyca about creating small hearing aids for women.


    "Why are you giving me that look?"


    "Miss Xu, PLEASE GO INSIDE" Ma Ping used his hand to sign, hoping she would understand it better. "INSIDE. YOU. ARE. BLOCKING. THE. DRIVEWAY!"


    "Jesus this man just yelled at me! Hey, someone call Chu Munan here! I want to see him! Right now!" Xu Rong''er said. She was done talking to these people and decided to call her cousin instead. "I am not moving my car here until my cousin is here! And someone call that Lyca! I wouldn''t tolerate such disrespect from any of you!" With that, she closed the window of her van.


    She is not going to talk to stupid people anymore!


    "Young Miss, please ignore this person. I believe they aren''t aware of your identity. That''s why they are treating you like this." her personal servant, Annie, said. "Please don''t get too angry. Mind your health and just ignore them."


    "Humph! Annie! You have been with me for years now. Since when did people talk to me like that? Disrespecting me is like disrespecting my uncle! How could I allow them to do that?"


    Annie just shook her head inwardly.


    After a few minutes, Chu Munan arrived at the gates. "Rong''er, what is happening here?"


    "Brother Munan! Brother Nan!" Chu Rong''er greeted the twins who approached her car. She immediately got out of her car and started exining what was happening. "That man said he won''t obey my order because I am not paying for his sry. That man over there said that I am blocking the driveway! Then then" Xu Rong''er''s face turned red, tears started streaming down her cheeks. "That man shouted at me!" She pointed at Ma Ping. "Brother Munan please help me get rid of that man!"


    "Rong''er calm down I am sure this is just a misunderstanding." Chu Munan had an instant headache. The people that Xu Rong''er was pointing at were actually Lyca''s people! "You! Howe you are here?" He asked Ma Ping.


    "I was bored inside." Ma Ping said. He actually wanted to sightsee, but Lyca said it''s dangerous right now. The only way he would see something new is to stay in the guardhouse and check out beautiful cars in the neighborhood.


    "So  So you just decided to work as a guard?"


    "Why? Do you think I''m not qualified?" Ma Ping asked.


    "That is not my point!" Chu Munan said. "How could you disrespect a guest like that? Even if you are not the security, you still needed to respect your boss'' visitor."


    "She''s not Miss Lyca''s visitor." Ma Ping countered. Miss Lyca would never have friends like Miss Xu!


    "You "


    "Ma Ping can you tell us what happened here?" Chu Nan interrupted his brother.


    "Well Miss Xu wanted to let Mr. Huang in. How could I let that man in? Miss Lyca is sleeping, and she doesn''t like it when people disturb her! This woman acted surprised that I wouldn''t listen to her orders. How could I listen? Is she my boss? She''s not giving me my sry, food, and amodation! So why would I listen to her order? Do you want me to bebeled as a traitor?" Ma Ping was really irritated. Lyca had problems with traitors. She also had issues with people not following her order. Why would Ma Ping want to offend Lyca for some beautiful woman with an awful attitude?


    Seeing everyone''s jaw dropped, Ma Ping continued. "This woman asked me to repeat my words as she removed her shades, so I did. Then, she got angry! I thought she was foolish. It''s such a simple sentence, but she couldn''t understand it! So, I told her to just go inside and stop blocking the driveway! Then Then she asked me to repeat my words again! This made me conclude that the woman is actually deaf! So I made sure that she would hear my words."


    Ma Ping was looking at them as if they were the stupid ones.


    And this type of gaze could make anyone angry.


    "AlrightAlright please apologize to Miss Xu. She is not deaf. She was just surprised by how you treated her. She isn''t used to it."


    "Why would I apologize? Will she give me my sry next month?"


    ""


    ""


    "Brother Munan! See? Do you see this? That man is so disrespectful! How could you allow him to guard this ce!? I want you to fire him! Fire him now!" Xu Rong''er couldn''t take it anymore. She raised her voice. "I want you to cklist him! I don''t want him to find any work again!"


    "Ah? This woman is actually so dumb!" Ma Pingughed. He couldn''t believe it! This woman is more stupid than him! "Hey Why would I apologize to someone like you? Did you expect to be treated like a princess everywhere you go? Wake up, woman! Are you dreaming? Ah, you are pretty, but it turns out you have problems here!" He pointed at his temple.


    Ma Ping didn''t give anyone a chance to respond as he continued, "Your Brother Munan can''t fire me because he is not my boss! He is not giving me my sry, food, and amodation! So stop acting like a brat! This is not your pce, and we are not your people! If you didn''t take your car from the driveway, I would be delighted to call a tow truck to take care of it!" Ma Ping said, unfazed. Aside from Lyca and Shen Qui, he won''t listen to anyone else''s orders!


    ...


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 Chapter 394: The Cool Boss

    Chapter 394: The Cool Boss


    Sleeping too little and too much could give you an intense headache.


    This was something that Lyca found infuriating. Why does her head hurt even when she was sleeping? Her brains aren''t working, her body is resting. So what''s with this pain?


    Lyca found this absurd.


    Yet, this intense pain was really wreaking havoc inside her head. This made Lyca irritated, angry, fuming, and all adjectives that she could use to describe her current emotion.


    "I am telling you! This man needed to disappear in front of me right now! Pronto! I want this man jobless! Homeless! I want him to "


    Lyca grimaced. Apparently, listening to someone like Xu Rong''er could multiply the pain in her head. "He is my people." Lyca interrupted the never-ending, gibberish sentences from Xu Rong''er. "You aren''t my people. You can leave."


    "How dare you! I was invited here by Brother Chu! How dare you act so mighty in front of me!?"


    "Miss Xu are you going to stop yelling on your own? Or do you want me to help you?"


    "Brother Nan! This woman is "Just like a child who didn''t get her favorite candy, Xu Rong''er threw another tantrum. She stomped her feet and red at Lyca.


    "If she won''t shut up. I would make her shut up forever." Lyca calmly said.


    This sentence seemed to make everyone freeze. Even Xu Rong''er couldn''t believe what she said. "You are threatening "


    "Rong''er, let''s go." Chu Nan was the first person who acted. He had seen what Lyca is capable of. If Lyca wanted Xu Rong''er dead without any evidence, then that would surely happen. "Let''s stop this these people didn''t do anything wrong at all. It was their job to guard. They can''t just let unknown people in."


    "Humph! But how could they disrespect guests?"


    "You are not their mistress'' guest." Chu Nan said, he held Xu Rong''er arm and tried to drag her away from the living room. A few minutes ago, Xu Rong''er demanded to see Lyca. She won''t shut up until she talks to the only person capable of ordering the guards around.


    In the end, Chu Munan relented and woke Lyca up. Who would have thought that the moment Lyca woke up, she would be in a terrible mood? Chu Munan was really surprised. How could Lyca act like a child? He just woke her up because of an emergency. It''s not like he killed her pet or something.


    When they arrived in the living room, Xu Rong''er immediately started cursing Lyca for not training her people properly. Her criticisms, which are primarily curses and insults, made Lyca''s face darker and darker. It was as if she wanted to murder someone.


    "But"


    "Miss Xu may I know who let you in?" Lyca suddenly asked.


    "It was Brother Munan, of course! He invited me here!"


    "Did you invite her here?" Lyca asked.


    "That I didn''t have a choice."


    "Oh then both of you can leave," Lyca said. "Pack your bags and leave."


    "You "


    "Miss Xu, is this Mr. Chu''s estate?"


    "It''s not! But "


    "Do you think I used any of the Chu Family''s money to buy this mansion?"


    "I don''t know! How should I know?"


    "I didn''t," Lyca answered her own question. "Do you think Mr. Chu helped me buy the food and pay electricity in this humongous house?"


    "You What is your point?"


    "Mr. Chu doesn''t give me rent or pay me for the utilities. Mr. Chu is freeloading. He doesn''t have the right to invite you in." Lyca stood. "You are noisy and stupid." Then she turned towards Chu Munan. "And you are spineless and a coward. Go screw yourselves!" Done speaking, Lyca didn''t hesitate to walk away from them. "Don''t you dare touch my people. Or you will suffer." Of course, she didn''t forget to threaten them like a cool boss.


    In times like this, Lyca still chose to act cool despite the pain in her head. After all, Ma Ping and the others are here.


    "She She Brother Munan that woman  "Xu Rong''er actually didn''t know what to say. "She just she just called me noisy and stupid!" Her eyes widened. In a few minutes, two people scolded her like she was a child! How could she take this!? "You stupid woman, do you think I am scared of you?" Her feet suddenly moved forward. Xu Rong''er strode towards Lyca that was already walking towards the stairs. Then she raised her hand and tried to grabbed Lyca''s long white messy hair.


    "Rong''er!" Chu Nan ran behind her. He tried to grab her arm, but Xu Rong''er dodged his hand then elbowed his stomach. Without any hesitation, she tried to grab Lyca''s hair again.


    "Huh?" Xu Rong''er''s hands halted in the air when she realized that Lyca was no longer in front of her.


    "Listen b*tch" Lyca''s sinister voice rang next to her ear. She shivered, goosebumps skittered all over her body. "You better pray that your security personnel is strong enough to defeat me. Or you will die in your sleep tonight. You won''t even know what killed you." Lyca whispered. "If you don''t believe me, then why don''t you find out what happened to the two people that you asked to follow me as I sneaked out of my mansion? Wait you can''t ask them anymore. Because they''re f*cking dead."


    Xu Rong''er''s hands trembled, her face paled. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something but soon realized that her throat is dry.


    "Tonight, you better stay in a close, secure room. Or you will definitely die."


    Xu Rong''er''s heart was beating so fast, she couldn''t seem to hear anything else aside from its sound. Soon, she realized that Lyca was no longer behind her. She gulped and tried to maintain a calm appearance as she looked at Chu Nan then at the people in the living room. "I''m leaving," she said. That woman is a freak! She is not going to show herself in front of that woman again!


    ...


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 Chapter 395: Thank Him? Or Despise him?

    Chapter 395: Thank Him? Or Despise him?


    Huang Li Duo was livid.


    He had been standing outside of Lyca''s mansion, and no one let him in! He saw many peoplee and go, including Miss Xu''s van, but no one offered to let him in. He tried asking over and over again, and every time, they still used the same reason.


    Lyca was sleeping.


    After a few more hours, Huang Li Duo realized that it was already eight in the evening. He walked towards the guards and asked them to see Lyca again. This time, they let him in.


    Walking into Lyca''s mansion, Huang Li Duo realized that many people upy this ce. He couldn''t help but wonder if Lyca''s whole team was here too.


    "You can stay here. Miss Lyca wille in a while." The man who led them towards the back garden said.


    "Thank Thank you "his wife managed to say. "Li Duo it seems that everything already changed. Even that Miss Xu wasn''t able to order Lyca around. I did my research and found her social media. I sent her a thank you message for trying to stand up for us. Apparently, Miss Xu is actually someone from the Capital. She is rted to the Xu Family too. She is quite close to the president."


    Huang Li Duo maintained his silence for a few seconds. "Did you hear anything about Xiaoxuan today? How is she?"


    "She is recovering well. But Long Yi didn''t visit her yet, so she is a bit sad. She had been crying. Li Duo I am terrified. The current situation is not very good for us. Huang Ying is in prison, and I cannot contact Huang Qingyun. I believe he already left Long City. By now, my friends must have heard that Lyca made us wait for a couple of hours before seeing us. I just "


    "Stop thinking about what other people think and focus on what we can do to help our daughter and son." Huang Li Duo could only sigh. He was furious. In fact, he wanted to say a lot of things to Lyca. He wanted to demand that she listened to them.


    However, he soon realized that he was stupid. Lyca didn''t even listen to someone that is connected to the Xu Family. How could she listen to them now?


    After thatpetition, after showing her gadgets, people are now trying to gain Lyca''s favor. The dynamics of power are changing, and it''s not going very well for the Long and Huang Family. Even the Zhang''s already suffered in Lyca''s hand. It is only a matter of time before they suffer too.


    "I brought tea."


    The couple''s attention turned towards the man who walked inside the seating area. It was Shen Qui, followed by his secretary and another man who was bringing them tea.


    "I can''t offer you dinner." Shen Qui continued. He removed his necktie and handed it to Ronan before sitting in a Rattan chair opposite Huang Li Duo. "I assumed you are here to talk about the future of the Huang Family?"


    "Why are you here?" Huang Li Duo frowned.


    "Why can''t I be here?" Shen Qui asked. "This ismunal property. My wife and I own this mansion."


    "That " Shen Qui''s calmness is giving him a foreboding emotion. Huang Li Duo couldn''t pinpoint it now, but he was sure something strange was going on here. "That is not my point. I mean that I wanted to see my niece."


    "Which niece? The one that you framed?"


    It was as if a hard object was lodged in Huang Li Duo''s throat. It turns out that Shen Qui is holding a grudge. "Mr. Shen I don''t think my family''s matter concern you. I am only here to talk to my niece."


    "The niece that you spoke of. happened to be my only family." Shen Qui opened two buttons of his shirt. Then he leaned against the chair and stared at them, his eyes serene. Huang Li Duo couldn''t tell if he was serious or angry. "The only reason why you were able to go inside is that I told them to let you in. As one of the younger generation, how could I let my wife''s uncle stay outside the mansion like that? Unfortunately, my lovely wife is tired. So I have to deal with you just after I arrive."


    "She had been sleeping all day! Howe she is still tired now?" Huang Li Duo''s wife couldn''t help but join in the conversation. She tried to maintain her calmness in front of the person that they looked down on before. "I I just wanted to see her and have some important conversation."


    "About how you guys imprisoned her parents and poisoned her grandfather?" Shen Quiughed, head leaning back. A sharp glint shed in his eyes. "Or did you think I would forget that?"


    "Can''t you just let us see Lyca?" Huang Li Duo asked. Clearly, Shen Qui''s goal was malicious. He had been sitting here reminding them of the past. His intentions can''t be that good!


    "No. My wife was toozy to even deal with you." Shen Qui drank his tea. "My wife likes to act like anguid young miss. She wanted revenge, and the first thing that came to her mind was killing everyone. She said it would save her time. She is toozy to scheme."


    "You "


    "So, I decided to take over." Shen Qui''s smile became more beautiful. "How could I let my wife scheme at the expense of her energy and time that she could use in sleeping and eating?"


    "You " Huang Li Duo was totally speechless. He couldn''t understand why this conversation is making him tremble inwardly. Actually, he didn''t know what to feel right now. Should he be thankful that Shen Qui stopped Lyca from killing them?


    Now that he thought about it, not one of the Huang Family is dead. Despite Lyca''s reputation in Kong City, she didn''t kill anyone when she arrived here. Even her people refused to kill anyone in thatpetition, even when they could easily do that.


    Was it Shen Qui''s doing?


    If so should he thank him for saving his family?


    Or despise him for whatever it is that he is about to do?


    #####


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 Chapter 396: Gifts and Kindness

    Chapter 396: Gifts and Kindness


    "What do you want from us?" Huang Li Duo decided to be direct. He wasn''t dumb. He already understood Shen Qui''s meaning. He had been reminding them of the past, telling them of Lyca''s n and his actions. Clearly, he wanted them to offer him something.


    "I want everything that you took away from my wife."


    "You Mr. Shen, you can''t be that greedy." Huang Li Duo said. "I heard that yourpany is actually doing good now. Why do you still want our small Huang Security?"


    "No reason. Just want to make my wife happy." Aside from making Lyca happy, Shen Qui hadn''t thought of any other reason.


    "You You actually You are actually making fun of us!"


    Shen Qui smirked. He lifted his tea and held it in front of his nose. The smell of peppermint wafted through him. This was actually a tea that Lyca gave him. She said it would make him feel good, make him sleep better, and help prevent cold. She said that too much stress and theck of sleep could give him many health problems.


    Shen Qui wasn''t too fond of peppermint, but he decided to take it since Lyca gave this to him. "I am just enjoying the process." He stared at Huang Li Duo. Shen Qui''s memory was rather sharp. He could remember everything almost as if it had happened yesterday.


    It was some sort of a gift and a curse at the same time.


    Right now, he could still remember what happened that day. They were in the secret passage out of Huang Sheng Hong''s house. Lyca had been framed, and he chose to follow her instead of going back to the Huang Family. Now that he thought about it, following Lyca back then was actually the best decision that he ever made in his whole life.


    On that day, he chose to follow his heart more than logic. This was something he was very proud of.


    "I want your shares. I want Huang Security back." Right now, Huang Security is actually struggling under the Long Corp. Who would have thought that Huang Security would be reduced to doing menial jobs like guarding some schools andpanies one day?


    Huang Security saved Shen Qui and his uncle back then. It''s time for him to repay the goodwill that old man Huang gave them.


    "I can''t give you that!" Without the shares, he would be left with nothing! Huang Li Duo''s wife is not someone from a prominent family. She doesn''t have any connections and only had some friends from the upscalemunity after they married.


    Without the shares, Huang Li Duo would be left with nothing! "My shares will be given to my son after my death!"


    "Oh "Shen Qui nodded. "I understand. If I were you I would be reluctant to. But, I want to ask you this. Are you really willing to fight me?"


    Huang Li Duo couldn''t say anything. Fight Shen Qui? Right now, he wasn''t sure of that. He didn''t have the time to check Shen Qui''s current capabilities yet as he never put Shen Qui in his eyes. To him, Shen Qui is nothing but a dog that Lyca picked up somewhere. However, it seems that Shen Qui showed a lot of potential both in business and scheming.


    "The read the current financial documents of yourpany and realized that it is losing more money than it is earning. Your profits are originally aren''t high before Lyca left. You were already struggling. However, it seems that being with Long Corp. didn''t actually make it any better. This made me wonder why you chose to work with them in the first ce." Shen Qui finished his tea.


    Then he continued, "I was thinking of ways why you would poison your own father, frame your niece and agree to imprison your own brother. Then I realized that it must be because they promised to make you the CEO of Huang Security? Of course, money should be involved too. Meaning, they must have given you a few hundred million for you to agree to poison the person who raised you."


    "It wasn''t me." Huang Li Duo said. "I didn''te up with the n. I was okay with Lyca taking over. I agreed to make her the next CEO."


    "I know." Shen Qui nodded. "Isn''t that why I only wanted to have your shares? I could have asked for your life in exchange for your son and daughter''s life."


    Huang Li Duo''s wife let out a surprised gasp, her face paling. The tone of the conversation is normal. No one raised their voice, no one sounded sarcastic. However, this is more than enough to intimidate her. "Mr. Shen please don''t harm my children!"


    Shen Qui was clearly threatening them! Huang Li Duo would have erupted by now if he didn''t know that he was capable of hurting his son and daughter. "Mr. Shen I''m afraid that I have to think about all this first." Huang Li Duo said.


    "I understand," Shen Qui nodded. "But I am going to leave this ce two days from now. I expect you toe up with something before I leave. If I won''t hear anything from you"


    "I know," Huang Li Duo nodded. "Then then in these two days, you won''t touch my family?"


    "Who knows?" Shen Qui gave him a meaningful smile.


    Shen Qui''s answer made him stumped for words. He knew. Shen Qui clearly understands what he is trying to do. So, he didn''t say that he wouldn''t touch his family in these two days. Meaning, once Huang Li Duo would contact his friends and ask them for their help, Shen Qui would harm his family.


    Everything would depend on Huang Li Duo and his actions.


    Huang Li Duo lowered his head. How did ite to this?


    How could a mere outsider threaten him now?


    "Also... I want to send gifts to Miss Huang Xiaoxuan and her child. Actually, it was my wife''s gift."


    "No! There''s no need." Huang Li Duo answered without batting an eyelid. "But... but thank you. I appreciate the kindness." He tried to fake a smile. Kindness? Is this really considered kindness?


    .....


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 Chapter 397: Rongers Realization

    Chapter 397: Rong''er''s Realization


    Meanwhile, Xu Rong''er sat silently in front of the dining table. The smell of her favorite soup wasn''t enough to bring back her appetite. "Did something happened when you saw Lyca today?" The deep voice of her elder cousin, who she considered brother, woke her up from her stupor.


    She lifted her head and looked at the man opposite her. "Yes."


    "Hm?" The man lifted an eyebrow. "Tell me about it."


    "I want to cancel my engagement with Chu Munan."


    "Huh?" Xu Jihan, Xu Rong''er''s ''elder brother,'' stopped eating. Disbelief shed in his eyes. "But you liked Chu Munan? Did he tell you that he doesn''t like you?"


    "No." Xu Rong''er met her brother''s eyes. "And that''s the problem. He doesn''t like me but doesn''t have the spine to tell me. Lyca was right. He is spineless and a coward."


    "" Xu Jihan couldn''t believe his ears. "Rong''er I know you grew up with him. When the Xu Family sent you to Ath Province because of your weak body, we didn''t think you would develop some deep friendships with the twins. It wasn''t our intention to force you into an engagement either. You were the one who asked uncle to do it. You cried and threw a tantrum when your uncle told you that Chu Family can be difficult as they aren''t interested in politics. Uncle tried to stop you, but you cried until you fainted. In the end, he agreed." He tried to gauge her reaction. "After all that crying, you are just going to cancel this engagement? Why is that?"


    "I don''t like him anymore." Xu Rong''er said. When Lyca threatened her, when Lyca stood next to her with a sharp dagger pointed against Xu Rong''er''s throat, Chu Munan''s expression didn''t even change.


    No, Chu Munan didn''t react at all. He just sat there speechless.


    Why would Xu Rong''er want to be with a guy like that? Clearly, he was a coward! He can''t stand up for himself, and he can''t save her.


    "You can''t just like someone for years and not like them back after a few hours. What happened? Tell me." This time, Xu Jihan''s tone started to get serious. At first, they thought that this engagement is not going anywhere. They already heard that Chu Munan is sick, and he doesn''t have a lot of time. Moreover, the Chu family is different from the other affluent families in the capital. They are only interested in money, not power.


    So what if Xu Rong''er marries him?


    In a few years, Chu Munan would die, and Xu Rong''er would be a widow. End of story.


    Xu Rong''er is someone born with a weak body too. So they always gave her what she wanted.


    However, Lyca''s appearance changed everything. Xu Jihan knew Old Man Chu. That man only cared about money and his family. He doesn''t like to involve himself with people like Lyca. So, why did he chose to work with her in the first ce?


    After much analysis, Xu Jihan concluded that this must have something to do with Chu Munan''s illness. If that is the case, then it would be possible that Chu Munan''s life could be extended. Moreover, Chu Munan is the future patriarch of the Chu Family. Meaning, he would take over the whole Chu Empire and would work closely with Lyca.


    This rtionship is just priceless.


    So, how could Xu Rong''er just say that she doesn''t want to marry Chu Munan anymore?


    "I already told you. He couldn''t even defend himself. If trouble happens, he wouldn''t be able to defend me too! I want a man that would defend me and prioritize me all the time." Xu Rong''er said. While she grew up pampered and spoiled, she wasn''t stupid. She knew that Chu Munan didn''t like her like a woman. She knew that he was only pampering her because of his grandfather''s orders. She could see it in his eyes his unemotional eyes.


    She honestly thought that she could change him. After all, she was beautiful, bright and she came from an equally wealthy family. Moreover, Xu Rongr thought that Chu Munan would soon start liking her back. And to be honest, she didn''t want to give up on that thought.


    But what happened earlier changed her mind. No, it totally changed her whole perspective in life.


    Xu Rong''er knew martial arts. She wasn''t the best and couldn''t fight against bigger and more experienced people. But she was confident she could easily beat another girl. Who would have thought that Lyca is not just some other girl?


    When Lyca suddenly disappeared in front of her, Xu Rong''er knew that her skills are notparable to Lyca''s skills. Xu Rong''er didn''t even know how she disappeared in front of her! She didn''t see her move. She didn''t see after images or stuff like that. She just felt the cold, sharp dagger in her throat.


    A person like that is someone that could easily defeat her guards. Lyca was someone that could easily overpower and kill her. Lyca was right. She better pray that her guards could beat Lyca. "I made a mistake."


    "Hm?"


    "I asked my people to follow Lyca because I thought Brother Munan liked her. I wanted to steal some photos and show them to Chu Munan to reveal Lyca''s real colors."


    "You were too impulsive," Xu Jihan said.


    "I know. Those people never contacted me again."


    Xu Jihan stared at her. "Dead?"


    "Who knows? Maybe I would be able to find them in the morgues, dered as another john doe. But I am not interested in that anymore."


    "So? What does this have to do with the engagement?"


    "Well it made me realized something. Lyca is a dangerous person, and I am not her opponent."


    "That Isn''t that too obvious?" Xu Jihan said in response, she red at him.


    "Not to me! I am more beautiful, I am wealthier, and I have a big brother like you! Who would dare say that she is better than me?" But Lyca could kill her in a matter of seconds. "Because of this, I decided to stop liking Chu Munan and work on myself instead! I won''t like him until he starts to like me back!" And until he would learn how to stand up for himself.


    ....


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 Chapter 398: Excited

    Chapter 398: Excited


    This was all a lie.


    Xu Rong''er couldn''t find anything else to tell her brother. So, she made up a lie like that.


    In truth, she wasn''t nning to marry Chu Munan anymore. A weak woman like her needed someone that could protect her, and she was confident that it''s not Chu Munan.


    .


    The event with Xu Rong''er didn''t really have any effects on the mansion. When Xu Rong''er left, Chu Munan stayed. He didn''t even bother stopping orforting Rong''er when she left.


    After that, Chu Munan just stayed around with his brother and Cleo and Rue.


    "How could you stay?" Cleo asked Chu Nan. "I thought you are already nning to leave?"


    "My brother is staying. I can''t leave him here."


    "Why are you treating us like we''re bad people!?"


    "You are bad people!"


    "Humph!" Cleo crossed her arms across her chest.


    "Hey, why don''t we go somewhere? I haven''t been here before, so I think we should enjoy ourselves before leaving, right?" Chu Munan suddenly said. He had been a little down since Lyca told him that he was spineless and coward. He felt that he needed to leave this mansion or he would suffocate.


    "Hmmm that is actually a good idea. How about we tour the night market downtown? I heard it was good. I also heard that Xi and boss Q liked to go there for some midnight snack." Cleo instantly turned giddy. Right now, she was trying her best not to beg Lyca to bring her to her son, who was also in Long City. In fact, she had been trying her best to stay away from Lyca to reduce the temptation.


    The idea of going out in the middle of the night was instantly approved. Since Lyca was already sleeping with Shen Qui, the four of them just told Ronan about their trip and even invited him. However, Ronan had more important things to attend to than going outside and eating.


    When the four of them left, Ma Ping and another member wanted toe with them. However, they were reminded that Lyca didn''t allow them to leave the mansion. After all, they were direct members of the team. It would be easy to target them once they were alone in the open.


    After deciding on their destination, they borrowed one of the more low-key cars. They left the mansion at around eight in the evening, promising toe back before midnight. Everyone is already done with their dinners so, they chose to visit snack bars in the night market.


    Long City is actually just like most cities in the region. The customs and religion are mostly the same, and they enjoyed the same type of food. However, some other special snacks are only unique to Long City.


    The cold breeze made the group of four people more enthusiastic about this trip.


    "I want some Ramen!" Cleo said in a loud voice just as they got off the car. They were currently in the parking lot, and they were on their way to the entrance of the night market just a few meters away.


    "Why do you like Ramen so much? You are reminding me of Lyca too much. It''s scary." Chu Nan said.


    "Lyca is such a pretty girl. Why are you scared of her?"


    "Who says that I am scared of her?" Chu Nan retorted. "I just thought it''s weird that you girls are slowly learning things from her. You should stop while it''s early. One day, you would be able to stay in bed the whole day and would think it''s normal."


    This made Cleo and Rue chuckled. To be honest, the two of them also noticed the difference in their personalities. They seemed to have adapted Lyca''s carefree ways. "Isn''t it nice to be so carefree and beautiful at the same time?" Cleo said. Sadly for her, she isn''t as pretty as Lyca. Acting carefree and beautiful is actually two different worlds away from each other. "Sadly, if I sleep all day and eat without exercise, I would end up with an unhealthy body. I wish I can just lie down and still manage to maintain my figure like Lyca."


    "Dream on!" Chu Nan said. "That woman is not normal."


    The four of them quickly registered and got inside the night market. Since it was their first time, they decided to stick together, and they even bought a cheap map that would show them the location of all the best-selling shops in the market. The noise and cheers, touches ofughter, and some yelling weed them. This type of excitement was somehow infectious.


    "Look! They even have games! Shooting games!" Cleo said excitedly.


    "So childish." Chu Munan rolled his eyes.


    "Eh? We should go get some of those temporary tattoos." On the other hand, Rue wanted to have some badass tattoo on the nape of her neck. Her conservative twin brother didn''t really allow her to get a tattoo, so seeing temporary tattoos like this always excited her.


    "I want a tattoo too!" Cleo chimed in, and the four of them decided to buy some temporary tattoos then find a ce to apply them. After walking for a few minutes, they found a small milk tea stall with a few chairs and tables. After buying some milk tea, they decided to rest and start applying the tattoo.


    "Whoa! Look! Isn''t this the people from Shen Security?"


    The loud voice made the four of them froze. They looked behind them and discovered three tall men walking towards them. Onepany instantly shed in their mind. Dal Valley.


    "Oh? They even brought pretty girls with them!" One of the men spoke. The smell of alcohol drifted as they walked towards Cleo and the others. "Hey, prettydy. Why are you with these losers who only know how to cheat?"


    "Look, they even look like p*ssies! Such pretty boys! Hahaha" The three people were already a few steps away from them. "Why don''t youe with us, real men? We can show you what good time means."


    The words were enough to infuriate Chu Nan, but he kept his silence.


    "Leave us alone!" Chu Munan hissed.


    "Oh? He dared talk back "Again, theyughed. "Only real men have the right to talk back! Cowards can just go to hell!" With that, the man suddenly swung his arm, his hand balled into a fist. The action was quick, but Chu Nan was definitely faster. He calmly epted the man''s punch with his palm. Holding the man''s fist, Chu Nan slowly gripped the man''s hands as he stood.


    "Real men ept defeat," Chu Nan said. By now, Cleo and the others are already on their feet. All had serious expressions, all hands balled into tight fists. "P*ssies!" Chu Nan squinted before he pushed the man''s hands away.


    Because the man was already drunk, it was easy for him to lost his footing. He stumbled, his butt hit the ground with a loud thud.


    Seeing their friend on the ground, the two others didn''t even think about the consequences as they sprang towards the four of them. Chu Nan quickly maneuvered a roundhouse kick, easily sending the second one on the ground.


    He didn''t allow the third one to approach hispanions as he jumped towards him, the two of them rolling on the streets.


    Screams of panic can be heard. Some yelled for the guards toe and stop the situation.


    On the other hand, Chu Nan was already sitting on top of the man, his legs straddling his enemy. Then he gave the man a barrage of punches, each hitting his face. It took him a few seconds to send all three people on the ground.


    When he realized that there were already people surrounding them, he calmly stood and showed his ID. "Calm down, everyone! I am with the police department." He said as he walked towards Cleo and the others. "Are you alright?" he asked.


    "Yeah" Cleo wasn''t able to finish her words. Her eyes widened. Without waiting for her brain to tell her what to do, her legs were already moving towards Chu Nan. She moved towards him, pushing him out of the way. "MOVE!" she said. Then she paused when she realized that the knife that was supposed to hit Chu Nan was now moving towards her stomach.


    Her brain shouted at her, telling her to move and avoid the knife. But for some reason, her body stopped cooperating. She simply stood there as the de pierced through her.


    ....


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 Chapter 399: False Sense of Security

    Chapter 399: False Sense of Security


    The knife didn''t hit any major arteries and organs.


    "Cleo was lucky this time." There were no emotions on Lyca''s face. She stared at the woman silently lying in bed as she thought of all the organs in the abdomen. Liver, galldder, spleen, pancreas, stomach, small andrge intestine, kidneys, dder, even sexual organs, and abdominal aorta. The de could easily pierce one of them.


    But it didn''t.


    And that was mainly because Cleo was lucky, and Chu Nan knew how to administer first aid. He was able to prevent Cleo from losing too much blood.


    "If I lost my secretary, I would have cut your arm." Lyca turned towards Chu Nan. "And penis."


    Despite Lyca''s words, Chu Nan kept staring at Cleo''s pale face. Seeing this, Lyca continued. "So, your enemies were already on the ground. Why did you stand up and leave them? Why''d you turn your back on them?" Isn''t that basic? When you have enemies, you make that they can''t stand up before you walk away from them.


    Lyca''s rule is to make sure that they are dead first.


    "I I don''t know." Chu Nan gnashed his teeth.


    "You take care of her," Lyca said. "Two days from now, she will be transferred to Kong City''s top hospital. I expect you to take care of her until she recovers." That wasn''t a request but an order.


    Chu Nan nodded without saying anything. Lyca stared at Cleo for a few more minutes before she nodded and left with Shen Qui without saying anything else.


    "Hey, listen" Chu Munan said as he caught up to them. "I think what happened was an ident. You shouldn''t me my brother for that."


    Lyca lifted an eyebrow. He stared at Chu Munan.


    "He didn''t know that the man had a knife on him. He was worried about me, that''s why he turned towards us. It was really an ident."


    "Mr. Chu shall I asked you why you didn''t help your brother fight off three people? Why was he fighting them alone?" Lyca gave him a meaningful smile. "There you go." Chu Nan and Chu Munan were two very different people. One is a coward, and the other has a false sense of righteousness preventing him from breaking thew. When Chu Nan realized that the man couldn''t fight anymore, he stood and examined hispanions.


    His first instinct was to make sure that everyone is safe and not to make sure that his enemies were dead. Chu Nan wouldn''t kill anyone. He was probably thinking of arresting those people who assaulted them. That''s why he introduced himself as a cop.


    Chu Nan wanted to protect his brother.


    That was the only reason why he decided to take on three opponents and didn''t even let his brother fight.


    "Do you have anything?" Lyca asked. While she saw Cleo, Shen Qui was taking care of the legal matters.


    "They posted bail."


    "How?" Lyca asked.


    "The people from Dal Valley got involved. Turns out they have connections in the police department."


    "Then let them be." Her statement made Shen Qui paused for a bit, but he nodded in the end. Lyca continued, "Revenge is a dish best serve cold and poisoned."


    When Lyca and Shen Qui arrived in the mansion, the atmosphere was obviously affected by ident. Everyone knew Cleo and had gotten close to her during training. They cared for the woman who always followed Lyca around and is obviously upset because of what happened.


    "That Dal Valley was too much! Miss Xi, just give us an order! We will finish them off!"


    "The reason why they dared do that is that they thought we aren''t capable of defending ourselves! They are looking down on us because we didn''t show off our skills during thepetition."


    "We should ambush some of their people! Beat them until they are dying!"


    Lyca nodded. She was sitting in the living room with the other members of her team. "I like your suggestion. But we''re not doing anything like that."


    "But why?"


    "We should avenge Miss Cleo!"


    "Miss Cleo was really nice!"


    Lyca shook her head. "No. We will not attack them. We are going to leave this city. We will let everyone think that we are cowards and that we are running away. Outside of thepetition, we will maintain our weak image." Feign retreat and use ambushes to destroyrge forces with small ones. Openly act as if you are intending one thing, then do something else. She wanted to lull them into a false sense of security.


    Right now, Shen Security is not that big. Shen Security''s total number is not even half of Dal Valley. While Lyca is still confident that her people would defend themselves using her poisons, she doesn''t want to see her people injured.


    That''s right, Lyca didn''t want to see any one of these faces in a hospital bed. Worse dead.


    So, she wanted to approach this with strategy and calmness. But first, she needed to manage these people''s emotions. "Calm down. I won''t let them get away with it. I''m not a very forgiving person."


    "So? What are we going to do?"


    "Everyone is going to leave tomorrow. Absolute safety is the priority. Everyone will be wearing their armor. Everyone will be armed with their guns and special bullets. I am not taking any chances here."


    Everyone nodded their heads. Lyca added, "Prepare for a battle."


    "Miss Xi, you mean to say that we will get into a fight tomorrow?" Hogan asked. "Didn''t you say that "


    "I said I want to let them think that we are weak. The news of our departure will reach their ears soon. They would think that we are running away and might set up an ambush. By then we will kill them. I don''t want anyone to show any mercy."


    Lyca''s words made most of the people inside stiffened. "Remember this is not yet the revenge part. This is merely us protecting ourselves."


    .....


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 Chapter 400: Foresight

    Chapter 400: Foresight


    When Mr. Liang heard that Lyca and her team would go back to Kong City, he let out a burst of deep evilughter that resounded throughout his office.


    It was the type ofughter that could easily give people nightmares, the one that the viin makes every time he outsmarts the protagonist.


    "See? I told you! They relied too much on their suitst time. They have no real skills!" Mr. Liang said to the man sitting opposite him. "Did they think messing with our Dal Valley was a good thing? I will make sure that each and every one of them r suffer!"


    "As expected, your foresight is still the best. Shall we proceed to part two of the n?" Mr. Liang''s right-hand man said.


    "Of course! Prepare our men! Tomorrow! We will attack them on their way back to Kong City! We will kill every and show them that we aren''t people to be trifle with!"


    "Then, I will prepare the men. Do we need special weapons? We don''t really know if they will be difficult to deal with."


    "No need. Use all the untraceable firearms with normal bullets. There is no need to invest too much in killing them. I am sure that they would die from a bullet or two."


    "What if they wear those weird costumes?"


    "We are not sure if those armors are bulletproof. However, I am sure they won''t just wear those armors while traveling. It''s not like they are aware of the ambush." Mr. Liang said. "Prepare our men and proceed with caution."


    "How many people are we going to bring this time?"


    Mr. Liang was silent for a few seconds before he smiled. "Twenty. Armed with long rifles. Instruct them not to approach the cars. Just fire instantly as long as the target is spotted. Then approached the car once you are sure they are already dead."


    "Understood," the man smiled before he bowed and left. This mission is something that would regain their title as the most ruthless securitypany in the Region! They would not waste this opportunity to prove that they are still number one in the ck market!


    The news of what happened between Dal valley and Shen Security''s people soon reached the other businessmen''s ears, and they immediately anticipated a good show.


    "Stupid people." Xu Jihan said when he heard the news. "They wanted to harm the twins and can''t even do it right."


    "Brother you "


    "Obviously, the target was the twins. They wanted to show their superiority. They wanted to let the business world know that they are not afraid of anyone. Not even the richest family in the country."


    "Why does it sound like you want to see one of the Chu twins injured?" Xu Rong''er asked. She closed the fashion magazine in her hands and looked at Xu Jihan.


    "Of course. That would make it more fun."


    Xu Jihan''s smile made Xu Rong''er froze. She nodded and opened the magazine again.


    "Aren''t you going to see Chu Munan?" Xu Jihan asked.


    "Brother, I already told you. I am done with my unrequited feelings." Plus, she is scared of Lyca. Xu Rong''er decided to stop digging her own grave and stay at home instead. "When are we going back to the Capital?"


    "My flight is tomorrow. Are youing with me? I thought you will stay with Chu Munan in Lyca''s house?"


    Xu Rong''er shrugged. "I don''t want to go to Lyca''s house anymore."


    "Why is that?"


    "Because" What if Lyca decided to kill her and bury her somewhere? Xu Jihan and the Xu Family might not see her corpse if that happens. "Because I don''t want to see Chu Munan. I don''t like him anymore." She lied. She didn''t tell her brother about Lyca''s threats because she didn''t want to sound like a child anymore. She is already in her twenties.


    What would Lyca say if she involved Xu Jihan in this matter?


    "But I am nning to visit their home soon." Xu Jihan smiled.


    "Did Lyca invited you?"


    Xu Jihan opened his mouth before shaking his head. "No."


    "Then don''t bothering." She would only call Xu Jihan a freeloader. That woman is a bully! She would surely bully her brother until he decides to leave.


    Soon, the two decided to go back to the Capital first. If Xu Jihan wanted to go to Lyca''s home in Kong City, he would bring Xu Rong''er along. However, Xu Jihan needed to gain Lyca''s invitation first.


    Just like Xu Jihan and Rong''er, the Long Family is also discussing what happened with Shen Security and Dal Valley. And just like Xu Jihan, Long Yi was a bit disappointed that Chu Nan was not harmed.


    "If Mr. Chu would receive an injury, the Chu Family might me Lyca, and worse would stop their cooperation. After all, the twins are the future of the Chu Family. Sadly, those people are a bit dumb. If they wanted to deal with Chu Nan and Chu Munan, they could have assigned more people to fight them. After all, Chu Nan is in the police department. He knows a thing or two about fighting." Long Yi was currently in his father''s office. He was busy with a lot of paperwork when Xie Jun suddenly arrived with the news.


    "What are we going to do about them? Are we just gonna let them leave like this?"


    "What can we do about it?" Long Yi countered. "My Long Corp is facing a lot of problems. I don''t even have the time to sleep and eat anymore. How could I find the time to deal with them? If anything, I think it''s good that Lyca would leave this City. She didn''t even stay here for a month, and Long City is already this chaotic. That woman is really a bad omen."


    Xie Jun sighed. "Alright then I would instruct my people not to touch them."


    "That''s good. Right now, we should let Shen Security and Dal Valley fight while we recover our strength."


    "How''s thepanytely?" Xie Jun asked. The Xie Family and Long Family are long-time friends. In times of need, the Xie Family didn''t abandon Long Family and decided to help them buy some of the stocks that the investors sold.


    "Ah, we are recovering well." Long Yi said. Lately, some foreignpany is buying a big chunk of stocks which is helping them a lot.


    ###################################


    Happy 400 chapters! Please don''t forget to vote.

 Chapter 401: Disrespect

    Chapter 401: Disrespect


    The day that they were supposed to go back to Kong City arrived.


    This time, they purposely chose a shortcut road that would lead them to Kong City. The street was not as crowded as the others, and it would pass through a few areas with a lot of trees. Lyca anticipated that the attack would happen in one of those areas.


    Just like the people who attacked them, Lyca''s people were armed. Everyone was given a set of daggers, a short firearm, and Lyca''s new bullet. This time, Lyca was nning to use this ambush as a way to show off her new products and make a few people suffer.


    "Everyone ready?" Lyca looked at her team. All of them were wearing armor. In response, the team nodded silently. "Good. Remember this time. You don''t have to control yourselves. Shoot ''em, shoot ''em dead. I won''t tolerate mistakes."


    Again, everyone nodded. A gentle smile appeared on Lyca''s face. "Wonderful. Now everyone go inside your designated cars. Remember The people that wanted to harm you doesn''t deserve to live anymore." She waved and watched them go inside their vans.


    Soon, four ck tinted vans left the mansion. The vans were not bulletproof, and everyone inside was wearing armor. Even the drivers were wearing one.


    The smile on Lyca''s face disappeared as she turned towards Ronan. "I want to see everything real-time."


    Ronan smirked. "A little demanding but sure." Ronan didn''t hesitate to take Lyca to his office. After typing a few codes, oneputer screen instantly satellite images of the vans. "Don''t touch anything. I will go to Q''s office. I need to finish a few things."


    "Oh." Lyca nodded. With their newfound poprity, Shen Qui''s schedule was really packed. While she doesn''t like it, Lyca decided not to do anything. After all, he is doing this for her. She then turned towards Rue, who had been silent since that incident. "Why are you here?"


    "I want to see it."


    "Oh."


    Rue sighed. She had been close to Cleo for years now. In fact, she considered Cleo, a very close friend. Seeing her bloody and injured made her angry. "I pped Chu Munan."


    "Hm?" Lyca looked at the beautiful woman next to her. "Why?"


    "He said it was not Chu Nan''s fault. Howe it''s not his fault? He just stood up and walked away! Those people were not dead, and yet he just walked away! He was scared that he would hurt them too much."


    "Oh. You should have kicked him too. You know "Lyca''s words were interrupted when she heard some shouting outside of the room. She stood up and strode out only to see Ronan trying to stop Xu Rong''er from walking towards the room Lyca was in. "Howe you''re here?"


    "There will be an ambush!" Xu Rong''er said. "Can you let me go now? I am not some criminal! I told you! I am here to talk to her! Howe everyone around this ce is so weird and disrespectful? They don''t even know how to respect ady!"


    "We know how to respect people." Ronan let Xu Rong''er''s hands go. "But you aren''t acting like one."


    "You "


    "What do you want to tell me?" Sensing the woman about to erupt into another endless chatter, Lyca asked.


    "I said there will be an ambush! Xu Jihan received some news from people from Dal Valley. They are going to ambush your people!"


    "Oh. Is that why you are here?"


    "Of course! Go and call your people! Make them stop turn around and go by ne!" Seeing Lyca just looked at her without moving, Xu Rong''er started to get nervous. "Why are you in a daze!? Where is Brother Munan? Was he did hee with them?" In her mind, Lyca was so shocked because someone important traveled with those people.


    "I''m just wondering," Lyca said.


    "What?"


    "Who let you in?"


    "Why are you thinking of such things during this time?" Unbelievable! Can this Lyca act like a normal person?


    "I want to fire them."


    "You "


    "So, who let you in?"


    "No one! I barged in! My guards beat them." There was a tinge of pride in her voice.


    "Oh. That made sense." Lyca shrugged. Since her people were already going back to Kong City, only regr guards remain at the gates. "I should hire more experienced people."


    "Howe you are thinking about that now? I want to know where is Brother Munan!"


    "Why are you asking me?"


    "You "Of course, she would ask Lyca. Chu Munan came here to see Lyca. It meant he would always follow her around. "Is he inside the room?"


    "Do after receiving the news you just came here because you are worried about my people? I think that''s very sweet. Right, Ronan?"


    "Hmm. Sweet."


    "I came here because I want to know where is Brother Munan!"


    "Oh. Then he is not here. You can leave now."


    "You Stop right there!" Xu Rong''er yelled when Lyca turned around and started walking towards the room. "Why are you so calm? Aren''t you scared that your people will die?"


    "I''m scared," Lyca said. "But what can I do about it?"


    "You can ask them to turn around."


    "They won''t."


    "You Did you know about this ambush ahead of time? No" Xu Rong''er shook her head. "That''s impossible. I know you don''t have people inside Dal Valley!"


    "I don''t have people inside Dal Valley," Lyca confirmed. But isn''t it too apparent that those muscle heads would try and ambush her people for revenge? "You can leave now. Thanks for telling me about this. I just decided not to kill you anymore."


    ""


    ""


    Xu Rong''er just stood there as Lyca walked away from her. She sighed in defeat. This woman is definitely something. Turning towards Ronan, Xu Rong''er said, "Everyone here is weird."


    "I''m taking that as apliment." Ronan shrugged. "You know the way out. Don''t get lost Lyca had traps around this house. She hates rats."


    "" Was he threatening her? However, Ronan already walked inside one of the rooms not far away from her. Defeated, Xu Rong''er rolled her eyes and let out a few curses before going out of the mansion.


    "That woman is really ungrateful!" She instantlyined when she got inside her car. Next to her sat Xu Jihan.


    "I already told you. She already knows. Howe you never believe me?"


    "But you said she didn''t have spies around them? How did she know? Did she guessed it?"


    Xu Jihan nodded. "You can''t judge that woman. You should have just listened. I just received a call from my people. Chu Munan is with his brother in the hospital. Do you want to see them before leaving?"


    Xu Rong''er crossed her arms and shook her head. "No. I want to leave this ce as soon as possible!"

 Chapter 402: Power of Netizens

    Chapter 402: Power of Netizens


    Lyca continued watching the real-time footage until she fell asleep.


    Who would have thought that watching a real live video can be so dull? Of course, this was because she could only see traffic. A long, irritating traffic. Just watching it made Lyca dizzy. So, she closed her eyes and didn''t even realize that she was already sleeping.


    When Lyca woke up again, it was because Rue was shaking her shoulders.


    "You drool when you sleep," Rue said, her eyes were focused on theputer screen.


    "But I''m still beautiful," Lyca answered. Her husband said she was beautiful even when she was drooling. This made her more confident to sleep everywhere.


    "It''s there "


    "Oh!?" Lyca stopped slouching and stared at the screen. On the footage, they could see a tree in the middle of the road. Because of this, the four van''s stopped. But none of them got out of their cars. Lyca rubbed her palms together. Anticipation swirled in her eyes.


    She couldn''t hear the sound but, she was thinking of some badass sound that they y when during a war movie trailer, like the beat and the sound of guns, footsteps, then the loud thundering gunfires.


    Lyca''s palms started to sweat when she spotted shadows walking towards the vans. The video is actually not that clear, but she could clearly see people walking towards her vehicle. Then it started.


    The ground of men surrounded the car and started firing. It didn''t take too long before their bullets run out. Then they stopped moving. Lyca could feel the thick silence, the smell of gunpowder in the air, and the visible confusion in the men''s faces.


    "Ah! I wish I was there!" she said as she watched the group of men slowly approached the vehicles to check them. They wanted to know if they seeded. One of the men opened the van, and almost immediately, someone jumped out of the van.


    Despite not being there, Lyca could imagine the adrenaline that her people must have felt as they started shooting their guns towards the group of men. One, two, three, four it didn''t take ten minutes before the group of twenty people who were there to ambush them fell. Dead.


    End of story.


    Lyca gulped. "Call the police," she said, and Rue instantly followed her orders. "Tell them our people were ambushed and defended themselves. Make a copy of this video and send it to the media."


    "Media?"


    Lyca nodded. Dal Valley already revealed that they have a lot of connections in the police department. It would be useless to give the video to the police. "Oh, by the way what time is it?"


    "It''s six."


    "Then they closed off that road?"


    "Looks like it," Rue said as she started working. Rue isn''t as good as her brother, but she knows how to copy a video. In ten minutes, Rue anonymously created an email while watching the police personnel arrived in the area. "They arrested them!"


    "That''s expected."


    "What about the armor!?"


    "It will detonate once they touch it," Lyca said. The armor was specially made for her team. She made sure that no one would be able to steal it and take advantage of her design. Lyca looked as her people calmly surrendered and got into the police vehicles. "Let''s take a trip to the police station." Lyca stood and walked out of the room.


    Seeing this, Rue brought herptop and the files that would serve as proof before following Lyca out.


    "Hey I want to have some delicious dinner." Lyca said the moment she entered Shen Qui''s office. "What are you doing?"


    "This is the design for the new restaurant in Saka Region. It''s in a hotel." Shen Qui lifted his gaze. The dark bags under his eyes made Lyca frowned.


    "Did something happen?" She sat on hisp and folded her arm around his neck.


    "Anotherpany wanted to monopolize the supply of beef in the Saka region. It is causing me problems as the governor is connected to thepany." Shen Qui had always been honest to Lyca about everything that is going on in thepany.


    However, most of the time, Lyca wouldn''t ask him questions. She was never interested in doing business and was even toozy to look at their profits and reports.


    "Oh seems like managing a business is really hard," Lyca said. "Do you need my help?"


    "You want to be the CEO? If you do, I would immediately quit." He was serious. He didn''t take any business courses and only learned because he studied hard. It was tiring and definitely taking a lot of his time away from his wife.


    "What? No! I mean in talking to the governor. I am definitely a good talker."


    Shen Qui instantly sent a warning nce to Ronan, who was about tough at Lyca''s words. "I am good. I can manage. By the day how was it? Did we seed?"


    "Hm. The police arrested them. I already told Rue to post it online and let theizens judge the whole situation." In this world,izens are definitely influential people. They can change the situation and even changews. The most important thing is to act like you were the bullied party, and people would just magically defend you even if they don''t know you! "I am on my way to the police station. I want you to book a restaurant so we can eat together."


    "Your people are in jail. How can you celebrate?"


    "They won''t stay in jail tonight." She said, confidenceced her voice.


    "Why is that?"


    "Obviously it''s because I''m beautiful."


    "" Shameless!


    Lyca giggled. Obviously, Xu Jihan would help them out. Lyca didn''t ask that man for help. Still, she was confident that once Xu Jihan sees that video, he would instantly get her people out. And maybe evene back to Long City to have another talk with her.


    This time, Lyca was sure that the conversation is not going to be about politics.


    .....


    Please don''t forget to vote with your PS. Thanks :)

 Chapter 403: Fatherly Smile

    Chapter 403: Fatherly Smile


    On that night, Mr. Liang had a heart attack and died on the spot. This was his second heart attack in one week, and this time, he wasn''t able to survive.


    The news of Dal Valley losing all of the people they sent to ambushed Shen Security didn''t only make them aughing stock in the Region. It also affected their stocks. Overnight, Dal Valley crumbled.


    Most of the executives denied any involvement in the ambush, and some filed resignation on the next day. It was shocking. It was devastating, and it was definitely frightening.


    Now, the people who were having second thoughts about the armor are already moring for Shen Qui''s attention. How could they ignore the fact that it was bulletproof? How could they ignore the fact that it could withstand a long firearm?


    This isn''t just armor!


    It was something that could change the warfare history of their country.


    Of course, Xu Jihan was obviously one of these people.


    Just like what Lyca expected, Xu Jihan used his connections to make her people leave prison. No questions asked.


    Sadly, when Xu Jihan arrived in Long City, Lyca was no longer there. She was already on her way back to Kong City! Xu Jihan could only curse inwardly as he ordered his people to take him to Kong City to see Lyca.


    Meanwhile, Lyca wasnguidly humming a tune as she used Shen Qui''s leg as her pillow. She was listening to Spotify music that was supposed to make her sleep without having any more headaches. Of course, she knew it was a lie.


    However, there is no harm in trying, right?


    "Huang Li Duo already signed the documents. He sent itst night after he heard the news about the ambush."


    "He saw the video," Lyca said. "And he got scared."


    "That is true. Now, we currently owned sixty-seven person of the shares. The Long Family owns the rest. Do you want to go back to the Huang Security now?"


    "No," Lyca said. "Father should take care of that."


    "So the rule that only white-haired people could manage thepany is "


    "If the Ye Family''s threats were real, then howe the Long Family is still alive now? Moreover, the Ye Family must have forgotten about that promise years ago. I think grandfather is just too stubborn and old fashion to still think about the Ye Family."


    "Alright how about I make you the CEO by name and your father as the Vice President? He would do all the hard work while you just stay with me?"


    Lyca smiled. As expected, her husband is still the best. "Sure!" As long as she doesn''t have to wake up early and act busy all day, then she had no problems. "By the way, what about the Long Family?"


    "I already own twenty percent shares of Long Corp. Sooner orter, I would own at least thirty, then I would talk to Long Yi. Are you sure that his father won''t wake up again?"


    "Positive."


    "Then The Long Corp is bound to fall in a few days."


    Lyca frowned. This meant more work for her husband, right?


    After a long drive, Shen Qui and Lyca finally arrived at their ranch. She instantly went and talk to her father about what happened before examining her grandfather. Sadly, old man Huang is still not showing any signs of waking up.


    However, hisplexion had obviously be better. At least, he doesn''t look dead anymore.


    "You wanted us to go back to Long City?" Lyca''s mother, Tang Nini asked. She wondered if she heard Lyca''s words right.


    "Of course. Long City was the ce where you were born. And Huang Security belongs to father. It''s only right that you guys manage it."


    "Then what about the Huang''s?"


    "Huang Qingyun is missing. Huang Ying is still in prison, and Huang Li Duo already sold his shares to Shen Qui. Right now, I am sure that Long Yi would not dare do anything stupid after my husband takes care of him." Lyca said proudly.


    Tang Nini and Huang Sheng Hong met each other''s eyes, understanding shed in the faces.


    "What about you?" Huang Sheng Hong asked. "You are supposed to be the CEO."


    "Oh. I will be the CEO, alright. Huang Security is going to be under LS Group, so there is no problem. However since I am a very busy person, I won''t be able to manage it. So I am leaving it to you, father. I know you can do this."


    "Bu Busy?" Tang Nini lifted an eyebrow.


    "Yes, mother. You don''t know this, but I am a very talented person. I am going to focus on my passion from now on."


    "And that is?"


    "Of course, it''s creating weapons for humanity." Eating and sleeping too. But those were ehem not her priority right now.


    This time, helplessness shed in Huang Sheng Hong''s eyes. Unfortunately for him, he knew his daughter too well. He knew how she hated waking up early and working. How could she work as a CEO in apany? However, he wasn''t nning to force her.


    In the end, Huang Sheng Hong nodded and left Lyca''s room with his wife. Then he turned towards Shen Qui''s office.


    Huang Sheng Hong just sat opposite Shen Qui and maintained his silence for a few minutes.


    "Father did something happen?" Being stared at by Lyca''s father like this is making Shen Qui ufortable. Are they going to ask for a grandchild? Is he going to scold him for making her daughter lost a lot of weight?


    "I just want to thank you."


    "Huh?"


    "Mr. Shen I always think that you are lucky to be able to marry my daughter. It turns out she is fortunate to be able to marry someone like you too."


    "Father? I don''t I don''t understand. Did something happened?"


    "No. I am just here to thank you for doing all this." Huang Sheng Hong gave Shen Qui a warm and gentle, fatherly smile.


    ....


    Please don''t forget to vote with your PS. Thanks :)

 Chapter 404: Showing Love

    Chapter 404: Showing Love


    Now that the armor''s strength had been established, many internationalpanies are now eying the design for themselves. Many people sent some executives to negotiate. Some of them wanted Shen Security to produce the armor for them, while some were straightforward enough to say that they wanted to buy the design.


    "Shen Qui had been very busytely," Tang Nini spoke as she gave her daughter a ss of orange juice. "Why are you at home all day? It''s been days since you arrived and you are still staying at home. Aren''t you worried that your husband would get sick for overworking?"


    Lyca took a sip of the freshly juiced orange. Since they arrived, her mother and father had been telling her not to mistreat Shen Qui. She started to wonder if she did something wrong.


    Why are they treating her like she was abusing her husband?


    "He''s good."


    "He wakes up at four in the morning and sleeps reallyte at night. How could you say he is good? Lyca as my daughter, you knew how much I took care of your father when you were younger. Why aren''t you taking care of your husband?" Her mother sat opposite her. "If you didn''t step up your game, someone else would take care of your husband, and it would be toote by then."


    Lyca stared at her mother. This should be because of what Shen Qui did with the Huang Security, right? However, now that she thought about it, she had been negligenttely. But that was only because she was busy with the new design of her armor.


    The previous one was bulletproof, but it wasn''t strong enough against her metal melting bullet. That bullet could melt metals any types of metals. Meaning, Lyca needed to use a different kind of alloy in this armor.


    Her design is already done, and they are already working on the prototype of the weapon. This armor is going to be better than the previous one. "You should show Shen Qui that you love him." Her mother''s words made her frown.


    "Ma That''s not fair."


    "Hm?"


    "You are assuming that I am not showing him love."


    "Well you wake up after he leaves for work, and you sleep before he arrived at night." Tang Nini shrugged. "It was just a smart guess on my part."


    "It wasn''t a brilliant guess." She pursed her lips before drinking the rest of her juice. Then she stood.


    "Where are you going?" Tang Nini instantly asked.


    "Showing love."


    "By cooking? What are you going to make?"


    "Noodles," Lyca answered.


    "You "Tang Nini widened her eyes. She wanted to say something but couldn''t utter any word. Her daughter was someone who loves to eat but doesn''t like cooking. She can cook simple meals, but she seldom does this. "Just make sure it tastes good. Don''t embarrass me, ah. I taught you how to cook, but you don''t like to learn."


    Lyca shrugged. Actually, her mother didn''t know that she knows how to cook a lot of stuff. This was something that she learned from her previous world. With this, Lyca instantly started working in the kitchen.


    After about an hour, Lyca left the Ranch and drove towards Shen Qui''s new office with her lunch box. When she arrived, she directly walked towards Shen Qui''s office only to see him having a meeting.


    Everyone turned their heads towards her as she walked inside without saying anything.


    "Excuse me this is a private meeting." A man wearing a three-piece ck suit said. He narrowed his gaze at Lyca and looked at Shen Qui. "Secretary?"


    "No." Shen Qui met the man''s eyes. "Wife."


    "Oh that exins it. But Mr. Shen  this is a private meeting. Please tell your wife to leave first," the man said, unamused.


    Hearing this, Lyca turned her attention to the two people aside from Ronan and Shen Qui. One was the man who spoke just now, and the other was a woman. Beautiful blond hair, long legs, and piercing blue eyes. A foreigner. The two guests looked at Shen Qui, waiting for him to instruct Lyca to leave the room.


    "Mr. Bailer, she is the core of thispany. If you wanted to have a private meeting then maybe you can do it with some otherpany? The whole LS Group would never tolerate people that would talk like that to the person that owns LS."


    "You "


    "Bailer calm down," the woman''s eyes flicked towards Lyca before she stared at Shen Qui again. "Since Mr. Shen said it''s good. Then I have no problems with her staying here. So, the contract"


    Lyca watched as the woman talked about some profits and figures as she sat on the couch a few feet away from them. Right now, Lyca understood that killing someone is definitely easier than Shen Qui''s job.


    Talking about numbers and contracts, as well as uses and conditions, are too much. If this was Lyca, she wouldn''t negotiate and would directly resort to threatening people to make life easier and faster.


    Lyca stifled a yawn as she leaned against the couch. Her eyes were on the ceiling. She decided to stop listening to the numbers and just think about other stuff like food. That''s right she made Shen Qui lunch, but since Shen Qui had to finish a meeting, the noodles might be bad!


    Eying the people in the meeting, Lyca let out a sigh before opening her phone and started chatting with Lai Su about some experiments that she did with the armor.


    "Thank you, Mr. Shen I never thought that we would be able to close this deal today." The woman smiled. "Also my father asked me if you would be avable for dinner tonight? He was on his way to a state meeting. He heard that I am meeting you, so he instantly told me to invite you for dinner. He heard about the Shen Security''s aplishment and is very interested in the armor."


    "No," Shen Qui answered without batting an eyelid.


    "Really?" the smile on the woman''s face vanished. "Why?"


    "I am not avable because I already have an appointment. Please call Ronan next time to schedule for dinner." Shen Qui stood and held his hand towards the woman. "Please call my secretary if you have anything else. It is nice talking to you, Miss Park."


    The woman''s eyes lightly squinted before she stood, her all-white skirt suit perfectly hugging her body. The woman was actually pretty tall, about five foot ten, and slim. "Hmm. Thank you.


    I look forward to happy cooperation."


    With that, the woman left with her secretary in tow.


    "What''s for lunch?"


    Lyca was still in a daze. She didn''t even notice Shen Qui''s smiling face that was already close to hers. "Huh?"


    "I mean lunch."


    "Oh? I made something special."


    "Really?" Excitement shed in Shen Qui''s eyes. "What is it?"


    Before Lyca could answer, Ronan already walked towards them. He eyed the paper bag that Lyca put on the coffee table in front of the couch. "What is it?"


    "It''s his favorite."


    "Oh?" Curiosity swirled in Ronan''s eyes. "What is it?"


    Lyca beamed at the two men. "Noodles!"


    "" Ronan eyed Shen Qui''s happy face. He didn''t even know that Shen Qui actually liked to eat noodles. "Oh then I will have to go and eat in the pantry. I can''t eat noodles." Ronan said.


    "Huh? What do you mean?"


    "I meant I am watching my health. So, I can''t eat the food that you brought."


    Lyca frowned. "Oh? You thought I made something for you?"


    "You didn''t?" What was more embarrassing? Assuming that Lyca included him in her act of goodwill? Or the fact that she didn''t actually spare his feelings and nonchntly made him feel that he wasn''t someone important?


    "Of course not! I only cooked for two people." Lyca said. Then she smiled at Shen Qui "Come, let have lunch together."


    Ronan scratched his head before leaving Shen Qui''s office. Howe the movies that he watched were wrong? In the film, the boss''s wives would bring food for everyone, maybe even order food for everyone every time she visits.


    Because of his, every employee liked her.


    Shaking his head, Ronan decided not to think about it anymore. It''s better to just find food to eat than think about that woman.


    Meanwhile, Shen Qui and Lyca immediately started eating when Ronan left.


    "So? Are we celebrating something?" Shen Qui asked.


    "Huh?"


    "I mean did something special happened today?"


    "No. What do you mean?"


    "Thest time you made something for me was when I was wounded."


    Lyca stared at his side profile as he ate the noodles. Why was she feeling a little guilt? "I am here to show love."


    "Hm?" This made him stop eating. "Show love?" He turned towards her before he smiled. "So you are now dering your love to me in public?"


    ""


    "Are you going to bring flowers too? And choctes?" he teased.


    ""


    "How about some surprising date?"


    "" What is he talking about? Jokes are considered half meant does this mean that Shen Qui wanted her to do this? Then maybe she should start doing this too? "Since you like that. Then we should do that," Lyca answered, making Shen Qui coughed, the noddle stuck in his throat.


    ###################


    Please don''t forget to vote with your stones.

 Chapter 405: I Will Take Care of You

    Chapter 405: I Will Take Care of You


    Huang Ying felt like her gaze was swirling. She felt like she was rolling around, her surroundings blurry and almost unrecognizable. Huang Ying squeezed her eyes shut. She tried to hold her head only to discover that she cannot move her limbs.


    She soon realized that she was lying on a cold, hard floor.


    This wasn''t the prison!


    rm echoed inside her head as she opened her eyes and examined her surroundings. She tried to move her body, to no avail.


    What is happening?


    Surrounded by walls, Huang Ying couldn''t see anything else inside the room except the ceiling''s lightbulb. "Is anyone Is anyone there?" Huang Ying tried to stop her voice from quivering. She needed to act tough. "Hello?"


    Silence followed her words. "Is anyone here? I am warning you! Let me go or else" Or else what? She grimaced, her face turned dark. No one, not even her husband, would try and save her. "Or else my family will hurt you!"


    "Hello!?"


    "Anyone?"


    ''Is anyone here!?"


    "HEY!"


    "Can someone hear me?"


    Slowly, her anger turned into fear. What is happening here? Where is she?


    Again, she tried to move her limbs. Her legs and arms felt numb. Aside from this, she didn''t feel any particr pain from her body. She figured that someone must have given her something that could limit her movements.


    But who could it be?


    Lyca?


    Only Lyca is adept at using poisons!


    "Lyca!?"


    "Hey! Lyca, I know you are outside! Let me out!"


    "Lyca! Can you hear me?"


    "LET ME OUT!" She screamed and screamed until her throat started to felt dry. It began to ache.


    Frowning, Huang Ying once again looked at the small room she was in. She was hoping that Lyca was generous enough to put some water inside the four-by-five concrete room. She eyed the only window that was on top of the door and shouted.


    "Lyca! This isn''t funny! What are you nning to do? Are you going to hurt your aunt? Your own blood? Lyca! You b*tch! Come here and show me your face!"


    Once again, she started shouting. This time, she included a few colorful curses and insults. However, not even a strand of Lyca''s hair arrived. Soon minutes and hours passed. Still, she decided to maintain herposure. She screamed until her throat couldn''t take it anymore.


    However, Huang Ying didn''t shed a tear.


    And she promised herself not to show any weakness in front of that damn Lyca.


    Crying in situations like this would never help her. It would only satisfy her enemy!


    *EHHKKKK*


    The sound of the metal door being dragged open brought her back from her stupor. She instantly looked at the person who walked inside. It was someone she didn''t recognize. The man stepped inside and brought a chair, putting it a few feet away from Huang Ying.


    "Hey!" Her voice was croaky and breathy. Speaking would only make her throat hurt even more. "Hey! You Who are you!?"


    Sadly, the man only ignored her and walked out of the room, leaving the door open. Huang Ying''s eyes focused on the door, and for a moment, she thought she saw someone familiar walk past it. She shook her head.


    Impossible.


    She is hallucinating.


    Closing her eyes, Huang Ying rested her head on the cold hard floor. Then she waited. Soon that Lyca would arrive and sit on the chair, right? She paused and waited until finally, she heard footstep approaching.


    Huang Ying opened her eyes. Soon, horror registered into her pale face. "Qingyun?"


    "Hello, Elder Sister. I never expected that they would mistreat you. Matt, please give her a chair. I can''t talk so someone lying on the floor like a ve." Huang Qingyun gave her a gentle smile. For some reason, the smile gave an ominous feeling.


    "Qingyun, what is going on here? Did you save me from Lyca?" Huang Ying said as the man named Matt lifted her up and put it on another chair. "I can''t move my hands. Can you do something about it?" she asked.


    "Elder Sister how have you been? I heard that you were in prison for a few days already. How could your husband abandoned you?"


    Memories of herself being stuck in prison made her irritated. "Qingyun, you have to help me this time. That Lyca actually framed me! Then Then she bullied my family into giving her shares! That woman was vicious! I''m afraid that she would soone for you and Huang Li Duo!"


    "Huang Li Duo already gave them his shares."


    "What!? But how could that be? He Is he so scared of Lyca? If he already gave his shares, then what about our shares? What are we going to do to Qingyun, why are you smiling like that?"


    "I already decided to sell my shares. And I am here to ask you to sell your shares too." He gestured, and Matt handed Huang Ying a folder. "Your thumbprint will do."


    "You What are you doing?"


    "Elder sister didn''t you hear me? I am here to make you sell your shares."


    "What What are you talking about?"


    However, instead of responding to her question, Huang Qingyun only smiled and watched as Matt signed the document using Huang Ying''s hand.


    "No! I didn''t agree to this! How could you do this! The Huang Security is all I had left! I won''t do this! Huang Qingyun, what are you doing? How could you do this to me?"


    "Tsk... "Huang Qingyun smiled. "You don''t understand. I am only doing this for you. If you won''t give them the shares, then they woulde after you next.


    "You "


    "Don''t worry. You won''t die."


    "What are you talking about!?"


    "But elder sister you have to lose your mind and memories. After all, you already know too much about my family and me."


    "What are you talking about?" Confused, Huang Ying asked.


    "Simple. I will give you something of course, it is not as dangerous as what I have given to father. However, this medicine will erase your memories. After that, my people would take you back to prison, where you will start acting like a fool. Soon, they will notice it, and yourwyer will have insanity plead. Then they would take you to a mental facility. I already prepared your room, and I promise to give you all the luxury that you deserve." Huang Qingyun smiled. "Don''t worry, Elder Sister. I will take care of you."

 Chapter 406: The Adopted Child

    Chapter 406: The Adopted Child


    "Crazy?" Lyca frowned. "How could that be?"


    "Well when the authorities found her, she was already drenched in her pee. She just sat there in the prison cell." Shen Qui uttered. "Herwyer pleaded insanity and showed some diagnosis of being bipr. Now they are considering moving her to a facility in Long City."


    "A facility? Mental Facility?" Lyca asked.


    "Yes."


    Lyca''s lips thinned. She stared at the armor that she was checking before Shen Qui arrived. A mental facility she wasn''t aware that Huang Ying would fall into this state. "How about her shares?"


    "I am actually here for that. I need to go back to Long City and have a personal conversation with Long Yi. I need him to give up Huang Security. I will go with mother and father."


    "How about me?" she pouted. Why does she feel like the adopted child?


    "Father said that you were busy."


    Lyca rolled her eyes. Of course, she knew that her father is scared that they would fall into another scheme. He didn''t want to put her in any danger again. "I''ming."


    In the end, Shen Qui could only smile and nod. At the end of the day, his boss is not Huang Sheng Hong. It''s Lyca! After informing Lyca of their new schedule, Shen Qui left Lyca alone in theb to continue working on her armor. However, Lyca just stared at it as she thought about Huang Ying.


    Her case was definitely weird. However, if what happened to Huang Ying would happen to Lyca, she might go crazy too. Huang Ying already lost her children, husband, and family. Even the Zhang Family''s business was already in Shen Qui''s hands. This might have devastated her.


    After a few minutes of silence, Lyca started working again. She was currently testing the bullet to the armor.


    "Xi, Mr. Xu Jihan is here to see you. Shall I let him in?"


    "No," Lyca answered without batting an eyelid.


    "He said it''s important that he talks to you." Cleo continued.


    "Shen Qui is still here. Let him talk to my husband."


    "He said he wanted to talk to you."


    "I''m not talking." Lyca''s words contain the finality that Cleo needed. "Alright." She smiled. Because Lyca had been spending her time in theb, they installed a new way tomunicate without going inside theb. After all, the people who knew the password were Lyca, Lai Su, and Shen Qui. The others, even her mother and father, didn''t have ess inside theb.


    Aside from this, Lyca added some strange and dangerous security features inside and outside theb.


    Of course, everyone understood why Lyca did this. Right now, theb was considered an important ce in this underground facility.


    "Mr. Xu, I''m sorry, but My Boss is not avable. I would advise you to please call my number in advance to set up an appointment. As you know, Miss Lyca is really busy right now. She can''t just see anyone who doesn''t have an appointment."


    "Miss Cleo" Xu Jihan smiled at her. "I never thought that you would be able to walk around just after a week of being stabbed. But I am d to see you doing well."


    Cleo rolled her eyes inwardly. Who would want to stay in a room with that Chu Nan for days? The moment she realized that her wounds stop hurting, she instantly insisted on working. After all, her work is simple. She is just answering some calls and arranging Lyca''s schedule.


    Moreover, Lyca''s schedule consisted of staying at home, in herb, and seeing Shen Qui. What was soplicated about that?


    "Yes, thanks to Miss Lyca''s help. I am already perfectly healed after about ten days of being in bed."


    "Impressive." Xu Jihan said. "However, I am not leaving this house until she meets me. You don''t know this, but Mr. Park here is working with the defense ministry. He is very interested to see one of the armors in action. I understand that this is a bit drastic but please can you just tell her toe out?"


    "Mr. Xu I am wondering Miss Lyca is not the  "


    "Ah, Cleo! I''m d I found you here!"


    Cleo froze when she heard Chu Nan''s voice. "Howe you are outside?" Chu Nan approached them. "It''s hot outside." Since Lyca refused to see Xu Jihan, Cleo had no other choice but to just let them sit outside of the ranch''s two-story house. "Ah? Mr. Xu? Howe you are here? I don''t remember you being on Miss Lyca''s schedule today."


    "How would you know her schedule?" Xu Jihan frowned.


    "Obviously, I have been acting as her secretary in the past few days." A smile blossomed on Chu Nan''s face. "Miss Cleo why don''t you go inside so you can drink your medicine first? Don''t worry about Mr. Xu I will take care of him."


    "" Cleo red at the smiling Chu Nan. What was this man''s deal? Was that the first time that someone saved him? It wasn''t like she lost an organ or something! She was fine, healthy as a horse. Aside from few stitches, she is already good. "Mr. Chu what are you doing working for us? You are a guest! Why don''t you go inside first and sleep?"


    "It''s ten in the morning. I just woke up." Chu Nan maintained a warm smile on his face. "Ah, Mr. Xu I am so sorry that you have to see that. Miss Cleo had an ident a few days ago. It was fatal. She is still sick." He then suddenly pulled her towards him. "She can''t quite walk yet." Without warning, he suddenly lifted her up into his arms, carrying her like a damn princess. She let out a surprised squeal.


    "Please excuse me. I will take her inside. Don''t worry, I will talk to Miss Lyca and try to convince her to talk to you." With that, Chu Nan left without waiting for Xu Jihan to say something.

 Chapter 407: She Was His Woman

    Chapter 407: She Was His Woman


    "I suggest that you see him." Chu Nan stood outside of theb, talking to the white box-like machine. This machine was supposed to act like a microphone that would connect him to Lyca. Until now, he couldn''t say the name of the device. "Mr. Xu is here with Mr. Park. He is someone from Saka and is working in the ministry of defense. They are here because of the armor."


    No answer.


    But what did he expect?


    "He won''t stop until you decide to see him." He waited for a response. Chu Nan sighed. He was about to leave when the door of theb suddenly open. Lyca walked out, wearing jeans and a ck shirt. Her hair was tied back in a simple ponytail. "Finally."


    "I''m hungry."


    "What about Mr. Xu?"


    "I don''t know why he needed to see me. I''m sure he doesn''t need my signature or something." Lately, she had been very busy with her experiments. "Where''s Shen Qui?"


    "He left before Su Jihan arrived."


    "Then I will talk to Mr. Xu." Lyca said. "But first sandwich."


    ""


    ..


    Lyca sat opposite Xu Jihan. And thetter met her gaze before awkwardly smiling at her.


    "Miss Huang I''m so d that you actually agree to see me today."


    "Mr. Xu may I know if you have a job?" Lyca asked, her face serious.


    "Of course. I work with the minister of defense, and Mr. Park here is also working with me. He is from Saka Region." As usual, the smile on Xu Jihan''s face was there. It was beautiful too beautiful it would scare anyone.


    "Ah, then do you still have a job?"


    "Of course I do!"


    "Oh." But this man was really idle. He was not busy at all! He was just running around and seeing people. He looked rx and happy too. Lyca couldn''t help but wonder what kind of job this man does. Isn''t it good to have this kind of job?


    "Now Mr. Park here really wanted to see the armor. I hope you don''t mind but "


    "Mr. Xu I am sure you are aware that there is already a scheduled exhibit for these things." Lyca interrupted him. "Are you really here to see the armor? Or see me?"


    "Cough cough." Xu Jihan quickly covered his mouth. He couldn''t help but feel helpless around Lyca. In fact, most of the time, he doesn''t know what to do or say to appease her. Moreover, she also had this feeling that Lyca doesn''t like him.


    He couldn''t help but wonder why.


    So far, Xu Jihan couldn''t think of anything else that would acquire Lyca''s wrath. In fact, he even tried to earn her favor by helping her out with the poisoning and Zhang Family.


    "In fact" Mr. Park, who was keeping his silence until now, spoke. His voice was stern with a tinge of fatherly warmth. It reminded Lyca of her grandfather''s tone. Judging from the old man''s looks, he should be in histe fifties or early sixties. He is tall and bald. A few wrinkles can be seen on his forehead. "I was the one who asked him to take me here."


    "Oh."


    "I already tried to schedule a dinner with Mr. Shen, but he was busy. Watching the video made me excited, so I begged him to take me to see you." Mr. Park exined. His phoenix eyes were glued towards Lyca''s face.


    "I see" Lyca said. "I don''t have any control in any of these things." She had control, but that would make her work more. She isn''t paid to be these people''s tour guide. So, no. It''s better to sit and stare at a nk space than waste her energy for nothing.


    Not even a penny.


    "Is that so?" Mr. Park asked, the glimmer in his eyes died down. It was something that surprised Lyca. She observed the older man''s expression. "That That is unfortunate."


    "Hmmm." Lyca nodded. "If you want to see it, then please give Mr. Shen a call. He is the CEO and is in charge of stuff like this." At the end of the day, the actual fact is that Lyca is not very good at business. She doesn''t like negotiations and small talks.


    After a few more minutes, the two of them bid her goodbye and left as Chu Nan escorted them out of the house. Even when Lyca already agreed to see them, she didn''t allow them to go inside her underground space. She only let them get inside the house and offered some tea which the two refused to touch.


    "I wonder if Mr. Xu will ever learn that talking to you would be useless," Chu Nan said. He sat opposite Lyca, who was still in the living room of the house. "What''s wrong with you?"


    "Nothing," Lyca said. Or at least she couldn''t say it yet. Her mind took her back to Mr. Park''s gaze. It was warm and gentle and weird. Lyca was sure that she wasn''t hallucinating. "Let''s go inside. Instruct our people not to let them in again."


    "Not even at the gates?"


    "Yes." Lyca nodded.


    Meanwhile, Xu Jihan and Mr. Park''s car were already outside of the gates when someone spoke.


    "So? Was it her?" Xu Jihan asked the older man. "Was she the woman that you met at the mountains?"


    Mr. Park didn''t say anything. Instead, his hand slowly adjusted the skin mask that covered his face, making sure that his wrinkles aligned. "No." The voice that came out from Mr. Park was obviously younger this time. It was different from when he was talking to Lyca earlier. "It wasn''t her."


    "Are you sure?"


    "Hmmm. It was dark, and I didn''t see her face clearly, but her voice was different."


    Xu Jihan sighed. "After searching for months, she''s the only woman that I found near the mountains that time. She was having her honeymoon with Shen Qui."


    "Hmmm." Mr. Park nodded. "She''s not the one."


    "You seemed too sure? The altitude and cold might have changed her voice."


    "She''s married."


    "Huh?" Xu Jihan stared at Mr. Park, confused. "What are you talking about?"


    However, thetter just responded with a shrugged, a sign that he doesn''t want to talk about it anymore. That woman that he met in the cave was definitely the woman that he was looking for. She was his woman. And he was sure that she wouldn''t just marry someone else.


    Why? You asked?


    Because she loved him. She loved him with all her heart.


    There is no way that she would agree to marry another man!

 Chapter 408: Law of Attraction

    Chapter 408: Law of Attraction


    Just as Lyca expected, Xu Jihan didn''t actually schedule a meeting with Shen Qui. This made her more suspicious.


    "A skin mask?" Ronan frowned. He looked at Shen Qui then at Lyca in the rearview mirror. "I haven''t heard of a good one. I meant... I saw one in spy movies? But a real one? No. However, I am certain that it would be very possible to create one of that stuff. Maybe the spies from the government have one."


    "You haven''t heard of a real skin mask?" Lyca asked.


    "No. Wait are you are you going to start making skin masks too?"


    "I''m nning to." Lyca shrugged.


    "That cannot be legal."


    Lyca rolled her eyes. She already killed people, steal and did a lot of other horrible things. What kind of legal was this man talking about? "How far along are we to Long City?" She ignored Ronan, who sat on the front seat and tugged Shen Qui''s arms.


    "About thirty more minutes."


    "Then that should be enough for my sleep." She closed her eyes but didn''t actually feel asleep. Until now, Lyca couldn''t help but think about that man''s eyes. It was gentle and warm and deadly. And it was familiar so familiar it gave her goosebumps.


    Ken Xu.


    The name had been stuck in her head for months now. Seeing the man right now actually makes sense. However, Lyca already changed everything around her aftering into this world. She was no longer the hardworking and efficient killer that she was once. She was now thezy Lyca. And she actually thought that she perfectly managed to maintain this image.


    Everyone around here knows that she wanted azy life. And some hated her for it.


    Surely, that wouldn''t escape Xu Ke''s eyes, right?


    Lyca bit her bottom lip. If Ken Xu came to see her, then it only meant he was definitely Xu Ke! He must be looking for her because of the herbs that she took! Xu Ke should be the person who created those poisons. After all, she taught him some of the deadliest poison in that world.


    Xu Ke must have arrived in this world earlier than her. But what about the things that happened when she was in aa? Was it possible that she was only dreaming? Was it possible that all those things were some sort of closure that her mind gave her before she could move on and love someone else?


    Ah, all this thinking is making her head hurt. It is better to stop assuming and just sleep.


    When Lyca woke up, they were already back in the mansion that they used to stay a few days back. "Oh? They''re already here?" She looked at the two cars already parked inside the parking lot of the mansion. One car was used by her parents with Ma Ping and Oneword, and the other was used by the Chu twins, Cleo and Rue. She remembered leaving first, howe they arrived first?


    "We were at forty miles per hour because you were sleeping," Ronan said. He felt dizzy from riding at forty miles. As much as he hated it, he couldn''t say anything because Shen Qui would immediately re at him the moment he attempted to open his mouth!


    "Oh. That made sense. Well? Let''s go inside!" She looked at Shen Qui and realized that he was already on his phone. Ah, being a CEO was really making him busy. However, Lyca didn''t feel any sadness at all! Having a hardworking husband, that pampers herzy ass is still the best!


    "So? When are we going to Huang Security?" She walked towards her father, who was already walking with his and Tang Nini''s luggage in tow.


    "Tomorrow."


    "Oh." Lyca nodded. "And you are going to stay here after this?"


    "Yes. We will be visiting your maternal grandparents this afternoon. So you shoulde."


    Lyca nodded. Right now, the Long Family should be too busy to care for them. Moreover, Shen Security is now the hottestpany in town. The Long Family would be hesitant to touch them now that everyone is eying their armor.


    "I need to see someone first. So I''ll just see you there for dinner. I will be with Shen Qui." She remembered that she hadn''t introduced her husband to anyone in her maternal family yet. Of course, aside from her cousin Tang Ruyi who saw Shen Qui when they were about to


    Uhh thinking about things like these in the middle of the day has been proven unproductive and frustrating, especially in public.


    So, Lyca beamed and went to her room to think about it in private.


    After a few minutes, Shen Qui arrived in their room. When he saw that Lyca was lying on the bed, he instantly jumped towards her. "Tired?"


    "I would be if you do something," She snaked her arms around his neck, then she pulled him for a kiss. A bubble of pure joy seemed to upied Lyca''s bloodstreams. Apparently, thinking about things like this in the daytime was not as bad as she thought.


    Sometimes, she should just let the universe decide. Some people would call thisw of attraction. The more you think about it the more the universe will align itself to make it happen!


    Ah she should think about sleeping with him all the time, from now on!


    When the two left the room, it was already three in the afternoon. Both already took a bath and changed their clothes. Unlike Lyca''s previous all-ck attire, she especially wore a midi dress today. It was white with pinkish and some red petals that looked more like blood than petals.


    Nevertheless, her white hair made the dress popped. It made her look like a goddess


    Of course, she only had Shen Qui to thank for this. After all, he was the one who bought the dress for her.


    "We''re going to see Huang Ying." Lyca''s statement made her father froze. Huang Sheng Hong and Tang Nini were already in their bulletproofed car, waiting for Lyca and Shen Qui. "I will meet you for dinner," Lyca added.


    "You are you are going to a mental institution? Why?" Huang Sheng Hong asked.


    "Father I''m not going there to kill her." Of course, Lyca went straight to the point. She knew that her father wanted to know if she would kill his sister. "I just wanted to see her."


    "Alright then call me if you need anything. Let''s meet in your grandfather''s mansion. Tang Ruyi and your Elder Brother Tang Jinyi would be there too. As well as your aunts and uncles. It would be good to introduce Qui''er to everyone." Tang Nini pulled her daughter for a hug.


    However, Lyca''s face was already dark. Qui''er? Qui''er?


    Did her mother just called Qui''er?


    Why was she so angry?


    Why does it feel like she was jealous of her own mother?


    "Haha I''m kidding. I won''t call him Qui''er from now on. Xiao Qui would be best." Her motherughed and looked at Huang Sheng Hong." You win seems like she is indeed miserable that I called him Qui''er."


    "" Lyca was speechless. Lyca just realized that she was actually a very jealous and petty person.


    ....


    Please don''t forget to vote. I will be back with many release once I finish moving. Thanks :)

 Chapter 409: Dont be Nice

    Chapter 409: Don''t be Nice


    "So basically the prisonI meant the police, paid for this kind of mental institution?" Lyca whispered, her head leaned towards Shen Qui. He nodded in response.


    "Apparently, they put all their sick prisoners here."


    "But this isn''t a prison!" This ce is a hotel. Period!


    Therge pired doors, the high ceilings, the beautiful chandeliers, and carpeted floors, the lovely front desk attendant and the soft couch in the waiting, everything about this ce just looked like a part of some hotel! Lyca frowned and didn''t say anything else. She eyed the staff wearing white and sky blue uniforms.


    Actually, this looked like an expensive restaurant too.


    Either way, Lyca knew that the government wouldn''t be able to afford to send prisoners to facilities like this.


    "Mr. And Mrs. Shen? Please follow me." A woman said. She then led them to the second floor of the facility and into a room. "This room is connected to Ms. Huang''s room. We use this for observation. Right now, Miss Huang just woke up, and as usual, she was just staring at the space. She does this all day." The woman paused for a few seconds before she continued. "It''s like Miss Huang became a child. Someone who doesn''t even inform us if she urinates and other things. She doesn''t speak and just cries if she wanted something. There are also signs that she doesn''t seem to recognize ournguage. Just like a newborn."


    "You said earlier that we can''t talk to her?" Shen Qui asked.


    "No. Not without herwyer."


    "I understand. Then may I know if her family already saw her like this?"


    The woman shook her head. "Aside from you she never had any visitor."


    Shen Qui nodded and looked at Lyca, who just stood there staring at Huang Ying. "So you are basically treating her like a child?" Shen Qui continued asking. "Is she showing any suicidal tendencies? Maybe even talking to herself?"


    "No. Nothing like that. She just threw a tantrum if she is hungry. She doesn''t say anything else, just screams and cries and kick the floor. We don''t have any diagnosis, and this is the first time we saw someone like this. It was like a case of amnesia, but everything inside her brain had been erased. Even her basic functions."


    "Amnesia?"


    "I am justparing it to Amnesia." The woman instantly said. "We don''t really have any concrete diagnosis. We already invited a few specialists from Du Empire. They would soon visit the country and do some checking."


    Lyca nodded at Shen Qui.


    "Alright then since we cannot talk to her, then we''ll just leave. I will have my secretary call herwyer to schedule a proper visit."


    "Thank you for your understanding, Mr. Shen." The woman smiled. "This ce always values our clients. We already tried to contact Mr. Zhang and his sons, but the three refused to see Miss Huang. I hope that you will have the chance to talk to her so we will see if she would show any signs that she recognized you."


    After a few more pleasantries, Lyca and Shen Qui exited the building and went to their car.


    "Thoughts?" Shen Qui asked.


    "It might be amnesia. I am a bit familiar with what happened to her but I need to have a sample of her blood to be certain." Lyca''s brows furrowed, her expression ugly. Thezy look that she always had vanished as she looked at Shen Qui. "I want to go home."


    "How about the dinner?"


    Lyca sighed. "Alright then let''s go to the Tang estate." Right now, Lyca was about eighty percent certain that the person who did this was Huang Qingyun. The thing is she had no proof.


    This was nothing but an assumption based on another spection that he might have also poisoned his own father and wife. It wasplicated, and just thinking about investigating the matter is already making her tired.


    Huang Qingyun should be connected to Xu Ke.


    That was the only conclusion that he coulde up with.


    Overthinking is hurting Lyca''s head. It is making her sleepy.


    So she closed her eyes and took a quick nap.


    When Lyca woke up, she was already in Tang Mansion. She eyed her watch and discovered that it was still a few minutes past six in the evening. Eyeing the cars parked in front, she knew that her aunts and uncles are already inside. "Alright this side of the family can be challenging," Lyca said.


    She chose not to go out of the car first and give her husband some pep talk. "My grandfather is very strict. Most of the Tang Family members are in the military, and they are very stern and strict, so you have to act ordingly. My cousin, Tang Jinyi, always thinks he is my brother and is a bit overprotective of me. My cousin, Tang Ruyi you can just ignore her. There is also my aunt Ji Ling and uncle Tang Er. His name is exactly spelled as er, like number two. So everyone calls him Tang Second. He is outstanding in martial arts and has the habit of squeezing people''s hands especially on their first meeting. Then he would im that they only got hurt because they are weak. He would then say that if he wanted to hurt them, then he would have squeezed so hard and broke their bones."


    Shen Qui looked at her, astonished. He didn''t know that the Tang Family is actually this unique?


    "Don''t look at me like that. I''m not even done. I know your memory is excellent so we shouldn''t have any problems with this. Just remember their habits, and you will survive. So, my other uncle, Tang Wai, is a businessman. He is a bit weird. He loves all things that shine. He loves wearing clothes that sparkle, but he stopped when his wife Major An Qui thought that he was actually more beautiful than her. Of course, it was only because they have the same haircuts. In fact, Major An is definitely more handsome than her own husband. This is a reverse role. The husband is a bit feminine, while the wife is really manly with her guns. She is a sharpshooter too who won a lot ofpetitions for the country. Also they have a daughter who likes to follow me around when we were younger, but I don''t like her since she is a bit scheming. She might try to seduce you, but you don''t have to worry. I will kill you both if she seeds."


    ""


    "Anyway, the most important figure is my grandfather. His standard is very high. He is a general and had been to wars in the past. He reeked of blood lust. Rumor has it that he could kill a person with his bare palms in one move. I don''t believe this, but you can ask him about it. Just Just "


    "Just what?"


    "Don''t act nice," Lyca said.


    "Why?" He asked, confused. He was meeting her rtives. He is supposed to act friendly, so everyone will like him, right?


    "It''s enough that my parents like you a lot," Lyca said. What if someone would try to snatch him since he is so nice? That would be a problem!


    Shen Qui gave a mischievous grin. Turns out that she was only acting like a jealous kid. "So what if everyone likes me? The question is will I like them back?"


    This answer seemed to satisfy Lyca. "Good answer." She gave her a thumbs up. "Then they can like you, but you aren''t allowed to like them back. Also Hmmm!" Lyca wasn''t able to end her sentence when Shen Qui''s lips suddenly pressed against her lips. She widened her eyes but didn''t protest. Instead, her hand made its way into the back of his neck. She held it, making sure that he wouldn''t be able to stop the kiss anytime he wanted to."


    *KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!*


    *KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!*


    *KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!*


    *KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!*


    Lyca pulled away and red at the person who was knocking at the window of their car. It was none other than Tang Ruyi.


    "What are you doing inside?" Tang Ruyi asked when she opened the window. She then stared at Shen Qui and examined his clothes. "Oh? You''re not doing anything?"


    "Why are you here?"


    "To catch you in the act, of course!" Tang Ruyi rolled her eyes. "If you didn''t do anything, then why did you stay in the car for so long?"


    "None of your business!" Lyca hissed. "Get out of the way!" She pushed the door and walked out of the car.


    "Why are you so grumpy? Did I interrupt something? Wait!" Tang Ruyi leaned forward. "You''re not wearing panties right? Aw! Why''d you hit me for?" Tang Ruyi followed Lyca, who was already holding Shen Qui''s hands and walking towards the mansion. "I missed you! How could you be so cruel!" Tang Ruyi grumbled.


    "Next time... Find a boyfriend and stop interrupting me."


    "Oh! I have one!"


    "Hm?"


    "I meant in my dreams." Tang Ruyi said beforeughing. Seeing this, Lyca looked at Shen Qui and gave a wry smile. Yes, her Tang Family is very unique.

 Chapter 410: Sweet Talker

    Chapter 410: Sweet Talker


    "More wine!" Tang Wai said as his gazended towards Lyca, who just walked inside the house. His eyes instantly widened as he strode towards his favorite niece. "Lyca!" Obviously, his eyes were glued to her clothes. "You little pretty thing! You have gotten even prettier now that you  Oh? Is this your husband?" Tang Wai beamed and held his hand in front of Shen Qui. "Call me Uncle Wai if you need any help with your wardrobe, I will definitely be there to assist you."


    "Uncle Wai are you saying that my husband doesn''t look good in his clothes?"


    "Eh?" Tang Wai froze. "She can speak now? Tang Nini! Your daughter can speak now!?"


    "Tang Wai she just doesn''t like talking to you!" Another man walked towards them. He was taller than Shen Qui with broad shoulders andrge muscles. "I am Tang Er. You can call me Uncle Second. Let me take a look at you." He didn''t wait for Shen Qui to say anything as he already touched Shen Qui''s shoulders. "Strong biceps, you know martial arts? How about we learn from each other?"


    "Tang Er, you are still as brute as ever." Tang Wai scoffed, displeased at his brother''s behavior. "Lyca dear why don''t I show you my new "


    "Tang Wai behave yourself," the stern voice of a woman made Tang Wai grin.


    "Of course. I''m leaving now."


    "" Unable to believe his ears, Shen Qui looked at Lyca, who just shrugged in response. Then he saw a woman who was about five foot ten, just a few inches shorter than Tang Wai. The woman walked towards them. Her short-cropped hair wasn''t able to affect her elegance and grace as she approached them with her long maxi dress.


    "She''s Major An, Uncle Wai''s wife," Lyca said in a voice that only Shen Qui heard.


    "Hello I am An Qui. Please forgive my husband''s weird behavior. He owns a clothing line and is somewhat excited every time he sees good-looking people. He likes to see them wear his clothes." The woman smiled. She then gave Lyca a short hug and shook Shen Qui''s hands. "Tang Second, father is looking for you."


    "Is he?" Tang Er didn''t wait for her to respond as he turned his heel and walked back towards the house.


    "That man likes to spar. I had to lie to him so he won''t ask for a friendly match." An Qui smiled.


    "He already asked him," Lyca said.


    "Hmmm. Just as expected." She eyed Shen Qui. "No need to be scared of him. He looked like a giant, but his heart is soft. The man always cries every time he and his wife watched Titanic." An Quiughed. "Ops. Don''t tell him that you know." Herughter echoed at the pir pathway that would lead them to the entrance of the mansion.


    On their way, Tang Nini joined them as she was waiting for Lyca and Shen Qui to arrive. "Your grandfather said that you go to the study that moment you arrived." Tang Nini said. "He wanted to meet Shen Qui."


    "Hmmm." Lyca nodded. The atmosphere inside was very festive. Many of her cousins were ying some board games, while some were just talking and near the bar where the alcohol was located. When Lyca came in, the noise died down almost immediately.


    They looked at her before staring at Shen Qui.


    "Hey, introduced him." Tang Ruyi whispered at Lyca. "It''s too awkward."


    Lyca, on the other hand, just shrugged. Instead of saying anything, she held Shen Qui''s hands and pulled him towards her grandfather''s office. Usually, everyone in the room would continue what they were doing. They were already used to Lyca''s ways. They knew that she doesn''t like talking.


    She would y chess with them without saying anything except asking for food. She would sit down and close her eyes during a gathering. Aside from Tang Ruyi, who likes to sit next to Lyca and Tang Jinyi, Lyca''s other cousin just ignored her or tolerated herziness.


    But not this time.


    "Eh? Where do you think you''re going!?" Tang Jinyin appeared in front of Lyca, blocking their way. His gaze was glued towards Shen Qui.


    "To grandfather," Lyca answered.


    "Without introducing him to everyone?"


    "Are you grandfather?" Lyca asked.


    Before Tang Jinyi could say anything, Shen Qui''s already held his hands in front of him.


    "Shen Qui. I assumed you are Tang Jinyi? My wife''s elder brother?"


    The frown on Tang Jinyi''s face instantly disappeared as he nodded. "Did she tell you that?"


    "No. But judging from your re at me, I am assuming that you care for my wife a lot. Thank you so much for taking care of Lyca."


    Tang Jinyi forgot all the words that he wanted to say as he shook Shen Qui''s hands. He continued to smile. "Very good! As an elder brother, it is my task to protect Lyca at all costs. There''s no need to mention it."


    Lyca rolled her eyes inwardly. It is really a blessing that Shen Qui is very good with words.


    "I heard that your chess is excellent?" Shen Qui asked.


    "Of course," Tang Jinyi lifted his chin. "Did Lyca tell you that?"


    Shen Qui smiled but didn''t say anything. Tang Jinyi was ying chess when they arrived. "I know that Lyca got her chess skills from you."


    "That is true. I taught her chess." Tang Jinyi nodded. "How about we "


    "We''re going to see grandfather." Lyca interrupted him. This stupid was really showing his stupidity. Lyca could still remember when he met her when she was Tang Xi. He was acting like Lyca would steal Tang Ruyi. Now, just a few words from Shen Qui, and he was already smiling and acting close.


    Lyca couldn''t take it.


    "Then let''s y chess after you meet grandfather! Go! I won''t stop you anymore!" Tang Jinyi said then he words towards Tang Ruyi, who was sitting on the couch.


    "You should find a man like that. Elegant and knows how to respect his elders."


    "" Tang Ruyi could only shake her head in embarrassment. Tang Jinyi still didn''t understand that Shen Qui was purposely ttering him to make him leave! What a stupid man!


    "I never thought she would marry someone charismatic." The woman who sat next to Tang Ruyi spoke. Her eyes were still on the stairs. "And good looking too. I heard he didn''te from any influential family? How did uncle and aunt agree to let him in the family?" She leaned towards Tang Ruyi and continued to gossip. "I also heard that they just did it to avoid Mr. Long from the Long Family? Do you think that''s true?"


    "Tang Fangmei!" Tang Ruyi looked at her. "Are you sure you will gossip these kinds of things with me?"


    "You Hmph!" Tang Fangmei crossed her arms across her chest. "I was just saying he is a bit good-looking! Why are you acting like that? It''s not like I would steal him!"


    Tang Ruyi snorted. "If you do something like that, uncle Wai will strangle you. You know how much he liked Lyca."


    "I don''t understand why my father liked her so much. Hell I don''t even understand why you like her too much. When ites to age, I am closer to you and her. Her parents spoil her a lot. They give her everything she wants."


    "Are you saying that aunt and uncle don''t give you anything?'' Tang Ruyi asked. "I am sure that Uncle Huang Sheng Hong and Aunt Nini don''t give Lyca money. She has her own funds. How about you? I heard you are still epting allowance from Uncle Tang Wai. Now who spoils who?"


    "You "


    Tang Ruyi rolled her eyes. "You''re just jealous your father wanted her to model. I heard you only got the role because she declined?"


    "Tang Ruyi! You are going overboard!!!" Tang Fangmei stood and immediately walked out of the living room. Seeing this, Tang Ruyi let out a burst of evilughter. What a clown!


    Meanwhile, Lyca''s assumption about the things that her grandfather would say to Shen Qui didn''t happen. In fact, since they got inside, her grandfather just calmly talked to Shen Qui without showing any of the strict behavior that he consistently showed to Lyca and everyone else.


    The loudughter of her grandfather brought her back from her stupor. She looked at Shen Qui then at the old man. She was in a daze earlier that she didn''t know why her grandfather wasughing. After listening for a few seconds, Lyca discovered that they talked about thepetition that Shen Security just won.


    "Of course, everything happened because you have a brilliant granddaughter. Mr. Tang, I think Lyca actually inherited her mind from you."


    "Ah, such a sweet talker! Stop calling me Mr. Tang. Just call me grandpa instead!"


    "" Lyca lowered her head. It seems that she was worried for nothing!

 Chapter 411: Eavesdropping

    Chapter 411: Eavesdropping


    Lyca expected a lot of things in this meeting. She expected her uncle would ask Shen Qui for a fight in the ring. She expected her uncle Wai to ask Shen Qui to try out his new designs. She also expected Uncle Wai''s daughter would flirt with Shen Qui.


    Lyca''s expectations didn''t end there. She also expected her grandfather to at least show a little doubt towards Shen Qui.


    Oh well! She was wrong.


    First and foremost, her grandfather liked her husband. He wasughing with him and seemed to forget that Lyca was still there, dozing off. The older man was in an excellent mood even when they were already eating. In fact, he insisted that Shen Qui sit next to him. Of course, Lyca had to sit next to her husband too.


    Then after dinner, the old man asked Shen Qui to y chess against him. The two continued ying chess and ignored everyone else, including Lyca.


    Well, they didn''t really ignore her as she also went to her grandfather''s study to take a nap while the two were enjoying their tea.


    "This tea is excellent!" Old Man Tang nodded. "I didn''t know that you could brew a tea like this." He stared at Shen Qui before bringing his eyes back to the Chess Board. "May I know who taught you this kind of brewing?"


    Shen Qui smiled. "It''s myte uncle."


    "Late uncle I heard he was with you on the streets before Old Man Huang found you?"


    Shen Qui nodded. "We were on the streets for a few years." But that was only because his uncle was injured. He was wounded for a few years and was unable to find a decent job.


    "Hmmm. I understand."


    Since the old man didn''t ask any other questions, Shen Qui just continued ying without saying anything. Seeing the boring game, Lyca yawned. She was trying to sleep, but she found the couch too ufortable. "Grandfather, I will go out for a while."


    "Hmmm."


    Lyca leaned and kissed Shen Qui on the cheeks before leaving without saying anything else. She slowly closed the door and turned around.


    *CRASH*


    The loud sound of ss breaking interrupted the silence outside of Old Man Tang''s office.


    "Jesus Christ! Why do you have a dagger in your hand?" Lyca''s cousin, Tang Fangmei, eximed.


    "Why are you eavesdropping outside of grandfather''s office?" Lyca asked.


    "I was about to knock on the door!"


    "You have been standing there for more than three minutes." Lyca squinted.


    "I "Tang Fangmei gulped her fear away. "I was just trying to see if if grandfather would say something."


    "Something?" Lyca lifted an eyebrow.


    "Well I I wanted to know if he would talk to you about my engagement."


    "Engagement?" Lyca lifted an eyebrow. "Someone agreed to marry you?"


    "You You are so rude! That''s why I never liked you!"


    "Hmmm. So? Who agreed to marry you?" Lyca''s curiosity spiked. "Not all people in the Tang n liked her, and she was very aware of that. One of them is Tang Wai and Major An''s daughter Tang Fangmei. Growing up, the two never liked each other. Since Tang Fangmei was older than Lyca, she wanted to boss Lyca around but never seeded and would end up getting in trouble instead.


    This woman liked to scheme and would do her best to get Lyca in trouble, but Lyca recorded most of their conversation, and sometimes, Lyca would actually bring a video recorder with her. This ruined all the ns that the child Tang Fangmei tried to framed Lyca.


    Moreover, because of the proof, many people her age never liked Tang Fangmei. In fact, most of her cousins ignored her and were very rude, calling her a scheming concubine and other nasty names. This made Tang Fangmei hate Lyca to the point of using her image as a target board for her darts!


    "Why would I tell you?"


    "Oh? You think I will snatch him?" Lyca chuckled as she slowly withdrew the dagger from her cousin''s neck. "Do you want me to tell grandfather not to make this engagement?" Judging from Tang Fangmei''s words, it was evident that Old Man Tang had thest say about this marriage.


    "What? Why would you do that? Can you just mind your own business?"


    "I''m too free and bored. I need to do something. Why don''t you let me meet this man? Hm?"


    "What the hell are you talking about?"


    Lyca smirked. "You were already sleeping with him, right? Hehe are you pregnant?"


    "You "Tang Fangmei''s face reddened. Seeing this, Lyca snorted.


    "Why don''t you just tell your mother that you already love this guy?" Lyca asked. Tang Fangmei grew up in a very different household. Her mother had a very dominant attitude, while her father was the other way around. Moreover, her mother used to punish her the military way when she was still a kid.


    Lyca recalled that Major An used to let her daughter run miles every time she makes mistakes. Not only this, she would let her do challenging exercises to the point of fainting. While her father tried to stop this, Tang Wai is very helpless in front of his wife. In the end, he would cower and just let his wife do everything that she wanted.


    One time, Lyca remembered Tang Ruyi gossiping that Major An made her daughter roll like a barrel right after eating because of her grades. In the end, she vomited all the food that she just ate before fainting.


    It was a pretty harsh punishment.


    "Why why would I tell her that?" Tang Fangmei asked.


    "I don''t know," Lyca shrugged. "Just saying."


    "You You are really shameless!" Tang Fangmei hissed. "You just want to get me in trouble!"


    Lycaughed. Every time her mother punished Tang Fangmei because of her schemes, she would always me Lyca. Instead of thinking about why Major An punished her, she would feel that it was all Lyca''s fault.


    Lyca thought that this thinking is quite abnormal and was toozy to interact with her. This woman doesn''t need any advice. She needed therapy!


    Lyca walked away from Tang Fangmei. A smirk was stered on her face.


    "Hey! Where are you going?" Tang Fangmei followed her towards the stairs.


    "Food," Lyca answered.


    "You are still as greedy as ever!"


    "I don''t get fat." Lyca''s answer only made Tang Fangmei more irritated. Everyone in the Tang Family knew that she was someone who quickly earned kilograms of weight just from one party. Lyca''s words felt like she was mocking her!


    "Hmph!" Tang Fangmei''s face was already dark, but she still decided to follow Lyca.


    "Stay away from me," Lyca said.


    "Why should I?"


    "People might think we are friends."


    "You "


    Lyca continued walking. Her destination was, of course, the kitchen. Everyone in the living room was doing their own things. Some were talking. Some wereughing, and some were ying board games. Her father and her Uncle Second were drinking by the bar, and her mother was talking to one of her cousins.


    "I want to ask you something."


    "Hm?" Lyca looked at Tang Fangmei.


    "You and the Xu Family are still enemies?"


    "Why do you want to know?" Lyca said as she opened one of the two-door fridge. After grabbing a few fruits, she looked at Tang Fangmei, who was just staring at her, her face unreadable.


    "I I just I am curious."


    "I don''t understand what you are talking about." Lyca started eating the grapes.


    "Can you stop treating me like a fool?"


    "You are a fool. Don''t need to treat you like one."


    "You  hoh!" Tang Fangmei closed her eyes and took a deep deep breath. She needed to cleanse herself from too much irritation. She always knew that Lyca is this type of woman! Spending a lot of time with Lyca would kill someone earlier! "Can you just answer my question?"


    "I already answered your question."


    "Lyca, can you just "


    "I said I don''t understand." Wasn''t that a precise answer? Why was this woman so angry? "Too much anger can kill people," Lyca added.


    "I really hate you. Do you know that?"


    "Know," Lyca chuckled.


    "Then can you tell me if you are still enemies with them?"


    "The Xu Family and I don''t know each other."


    "Stop lying! I heard my father asked my mother''s help to save aunt Nini from Long Family. And I heard my mother said that it''s difficult since Xu Family backs long Family. She said that the Tang Family is a military family, and one mishap could kill or imprison the whole Family. Being in the military means it would be very easy tobel you us traitor!"


    "Oh, you were eavesdropping?"


    "That''s not my point!" Tang Fangmei eyed the knife to Lyca''s left. For a few seconds, she was tempted to stab Lyca''snguid gaze. However, she knew that she wouldn''t be able to beat Lyca. She would only end up in the hospital if she fight against her. "Can you just tell me the truth?"


    Lyca stared at her and blinked. She already answered Tang Fangmei''s question, ah.

 Chapter 412: Lycas Way

    Chapter 412: Lyca''s Way


    "That is just a yes or no question! Was it really that hard to answer me?" Tang Fangmei''s face turned red.


    "I said I don''t have any associations with the Xu Family. How could I be enemies of people I don''t know?"


    "So you weren''t enemies?" Tang Fangmei asked. Lyca''s answer was so calm. There was no anger in her face nor any signs that she was lying.


    "I don''t know," Lyca shrugged. "Why don''t you ask them?"


    "You "


    "So this man is from the Xu Family. I don''t think grandfather would approve of that."


    "Then why don''t you "


    "Nope!" Lyca shook her head. Why do women think she could help them with their marriages? Huang Xiaoxuan asked her to talk to Old Man Huang, too. Now, this woman would want her to speak to Old Man Tang. What''s the deal? Did they think she was some sort of matchmaker?


    "But "


    "Nope," Lyca said. "Just elope." She said. However, she knew that this woman would never do that. Tang Fangmei is enjoying her rich lifestyle thanks to her parent''s money. If she eloped, then what would happen to her allowances? "Ah, before you do it, find a job first." Before marrying someone, it is still better to find a steady source of ie.


    Lyca thought her advice was pretty helpful and logical. Who would have thought that this woman would never appreciate it? "You really want to get me in trouble, right? Do you want to see me suffer? Well jokes on you! I will not listen to your advice or anything that you say! You know what? You don''t have to talk to grandfather about anything! I believe that Xu Jihan could convince my grandfather to have a marriage with me!"


    "Xu Jihan Xu Jihan fell for you?" Lyca couldn''t help but raised an eyebrow. If her memory serves her right, that man is nothing but a cunning snake.


    "You knew my boyfriend?"


    "Boyfriend. Does he know he is your boyfriend?" Was this woman hallucinating? She should be. Lyca stared at Tang Fangmei, hoping to see signs she was on drugs. Being an addict is actually better than falling for that lunatic. At least being an addict is redeemable. She could go to rehab or something.


    While falling for that guy is just not.


    Xu Jihan had danger written all over his face!


    "How did you know Jihan?"


    "Not telling."


    "Are youDo you like my boyfriend?"


    "Xu Jihan is not that handsome," Lyca said. In her book, face value is significant. "And too slim."


    "Are you saying that he is ugly?"


    Women.


    Lyca rolled her eyes. She was a woman, and she knew how a woman''s brain works. "Yes. He is ugly."


    "How dare you!" Tang Fangmei hissed. "My Jihan is "


    "I didn''t know he is your boyfriend. Thest time we spoke, he said he is single." Lyca lied and watched as Tang Fangmei''s face darkened.


    "YouYou spoke with him? When?"


    Lyca chuckled in response. So Xu Jihan is really not aware of this ''boyfriend'' thing. Was it perhaps a one-night stand? Hehe Lyca wasughing inside. Her cells seemed to get excited, hoping to get the newest gossip in the family.


    "Do you personally Are you two close?"


    "No." Lyca finished her grapes and opened the fridge to get more. "He wanted to get close, but I refuse."


    Tang Fangmei turned silent. What was worse than being lied to? It''s the fact that she couldn''t tell the truth from lies. Lyca looked so serious but carefree at the same time. She felt Lyca was taking her as a joke, but... also being serious with her? This made her confuse.


    It was confusing. But Tang Fangmei thought this was her only chance to know more about Xu Jihan. "He works in the ministry of defense." Tang Fangmei decided to test Lyca. "Actually, you don''t know this, but my mother already asked her friends to hire me. I will start working in the ministry of defense in a few weeks."


    "Oh." Lyca just nodded. This time, she was holding the grapes and some nuts.


    Xu Jihan clearly travels a lot. There''s no way that Tang Fangmei would have the office romance that she was hoping for.


    "Why don''t you ask me about my future boss?" A smug smile appeared on Tang Fangmei''s face. It was confirmed that she would start working in the same department as Xu Jihan soon. It was also real that her future boss is the valiant Jihan.


    "I''m not interested." If her memory serves her right, this woman is a management graduate. She isn''t in the military, nor did she practice anything that is rted to the ministry. With this, it would be urate to assume that she would be working as a secretary.


    So Tang Fangmei is going to work as one of Xu Jihan''s secretaries?


    Interesting.


    Very Interesting


    Seeing Tang Fangmei just stared at her in disbelief, Lyca took it as a sign that the conversation is over. She grabbed her grapes and nuts and went back to her grandfather''s study. This time, Tang Fangmei didn''t follow her.


    When Lyca arrived in her grandfather''s study, Old Man Tang was just congratting Shen Qui for winning another game. "Grandfather," Lyca said. "I want to talk to you." She met the old man''s gaze.


    Old Man Tang didn''t show anything in his eyes. No surprise, no anger or irritation. It was as if he was already expecting her to talk to him. "If you want me to help you fool some people again, then I''m afraid I won''t be able to help you this time. After what you didst time, the Long Family inquired about Tang Xi and his whereabouts. They are closely watching us. I don''t want them to get that idea who Tang Xi really was."


    Lyca smiled. This is what she loved about the old man. He was direct about everything. So Lyca reciprocated. "Do you know about Tang Fangmei working in the ministry of defense?"


    Her question made the old man frowned. "I remember An Qui approaching me about this matter a few days ago."


    "Then you know the reason she wanted to work there?"


    The old man didn''t answer. He slowly shook his head.


    "It''s because she liked Xu Jihan from the Xu Family." Lyca decided to tattle. She then told him everything that she discovered just from that short conversation earlier. Lyca knew that the old man would handle this.


    There is no need for her to do anything else.


    This was Lyca''s way.


    If someone else could do it then just let them. This will save her energy and time.

 Chapter 413: Dead People Dont Ask Questions!

    Chapter 413: Dead People Don''t Ask Questions!


    To Lyca, the mini-reunion was just like every other reunion in the past. Except this time, she couldn''t really sleep because she kept on worrying about Shen Qui. Of course, she regretted overthinking these things.


    Her most significant gain for tonight was the fact she knew about Xu Jihan''s admirer.


    It was already eleven in the evening when Shen Qui and old man Tang finished their games. By now, most of the Tang family members already went home, promising to have another gathering in a few days for Old Man Tang''s uing birthday.


    When Lyca and her parents went home, they decided to take the same route towards the mansion. Two cars left the Tang Mansion only to encounter a few minutes just after they left the vige.


    The Tang household was located near the Long Family''s estate. It was in a vige surrounded by trees and tall gates. It was supposed to be secure and was guarded twenty-four seven. However, just as Lyca and her parents left the gates, a van suddenly blocked their way.


    It was clearly an ambush.


    Lyca and Shen Qui instantly turned alert as their eyes met. Their car was in front of Lyca''s parents'' car, so they saw everything and immediately noticed the problem.


    Both of the cars were bulletproofed, so they are confident that they could survive a few shots as long as they won''t use high-caliber firearms.


    "Protect father I will protect mother." Lyca stared at her husband. They are currently in the middle of nowhere, just along the border between Ralia and Long City. This ce wasn''t really barren as they could still see a few houses nearby, but Lyca was sure none of those people would get involved in this situation. "You know that I love you, right?" she asked before she realized her awkward question. Lyca gave a wry smile before she chuckled. "Don''t you dare get any injury." She knew that her parents are both capable. However, she was nning to get out of this situation, suffering nothing. Before the people in the Van could get out, Lyca already jumped out of the car, she was followed by Shen Qui. The two just let their car bumped into the Van that was blocking their way.


    It was an action that the people inside didn''t expect.


    The people inside the Van jumped out, revealing their ck clothes and bos.


    Lyca hissed as her feetnded on the road. She didn''t pause as she dashed towards a tree that could cover herself. See? This is why she hated wearing a dress. Lyca examined her dress, making sure that there is no hole or anything.


    Priorities.


    This dress was still Shen Qui''s gift. Though, she is already nning not to wear a dress again.


    She looked at the men who stopped her parent''s car. Some of them were already walking towards Lyca''s way. They must have seen her jumped with her dress.


    In the end, Lyca med her dress for this misfortune.


    "Raise your hand! And show yourself!"


    Lyca didn''t answer. She and Shen Qui didn''t bring lots of bullets. The only weapon that she brought was a small gun that she could fit in her stockings. It had six bullets, and she didn''t get any extra bullets.


    "Get out of the tree and raise your hand!"


    Lyca cursed inwardly. Her dress was white, so it''s easier for them to spot her. "Alright! I''ming out!" She held both of her hands up. "Don''t shoot my dress! It''s expensive!" Slowly, she walked out of the tree with her hand held up. She then eyed Shen Qui''s direction and met his gaze. He wasn''t that far away from her, but she could clearly see his reaction because of her internal energy.


    "Come over here!" The man''s voice was deep, Lyca thought he sounded older. "Don''t you dare move your hands, or I will shoot!"


    Lyca snorted inwardly. She eyed her parents, who just got out of their car, then she let out a loud sigh. She followed the man''s instruction and walked towards her parents, who were also raising their hands. She stood next to her mother while Shen Qui stood next to her father.


    "Check the cars! Check for an armor!"


    Lyca lowered her gaze. Despite the current danger, her heart wasn''t racing, her face rxed. It was as if she was watching a boring show instead of being here.


    Just like Lyca, her parents and Shen Qui were also calm. Not one of them asked questions or inquired anything. They just stood there, hands raised.


    "None!"


    "We can''t find anything!"


    "How about weapons?" the man asked.


    "None."


    The man stared at the four of them, his eyes scrutinizing.


    "Boss! Let''s kill them! Since we can''t find a weapon, let''s just kill them!" Someone from the back suggested.


    Lyca lifted her head in response. She stared at the man who spoke and memorized his stature. "I have a question." Lyca suddenly said.


    "Dead people don''t ask questions!"


    "Oh," Lyca nodded. She just wanted to ask how they would like to die. But it seems they don''t think this question mattered at all. "One more thing!"


    "What!?" The man with the deep voice asked, irritated.


    "I was just wondering"


    "If you are going to ask who sent us, then you are unlucky! You would never know!" A man with a throaty voice said.


    "Oh no! No!" Lyca shook her head took in a deep breath. Then she held her breath and smiled. "Do you believe in hell?"


    "Boss, the woman was clearly bullshitting us! We can''t find any weapons. Let''s just kill them!"


    "What''s that smell?" A person who stood next to Lyca''s car asked. "Hey! Do you smell that?"


    Everyone inhaled, and some started coughing.


    "It''s an agent," Lyca said. "Not dangerous to your health it''s from the car." She smiled.


    "Everyone, be careful. Cover your noses!" The man with the deep voice said.


    Lyca clicked her tongue. "Well I already said that "


    "You b*tch!"


    *BANG!*


    The loud sound of a short firearm being fired interrupted Lyca''s words. For a few seconds, it was as if the world stopped spinning. Time stopped turning as everyone expected Lyca to fall to the ground. A panicked scream followed the devastating sound.


    "What did you do!?"

 Chapter 414: ‘Satisfied?

    Chapter 414: ¡®Satisfied?''


    Seeing everyone''s panicked reaction, Lyca and Shen Qui made their move. They suddenly grabbed their parents and pulled them back to their car. The sudden action made the other people fire at them.


    And just like the first person who fired his gun, every time someone uses their firearm, it would explode. The explosion would cause a fire that would cling to the body of the person who had the gun powder or the person who fired the gun.


    "Stop firing!"


    "Stop it!"


    "Go help the others! They won''t shoot us!" The man with a deep voice red at Lyca. "Enough with the tricks!"


    Lyca, who was already inside the car, just snorted at the man before she patted Shen Qui''s arms. Thetter responded by starting the vehicle. She heard her father and mother started calling for backup. Then she rolled the window of the car and smiled at the man. Did they really think that the armor was the only thing keeping Lyca and Shen Qui safe?


    Isn''t that a little stupid?


    "I tried to warn you," she said and revealed the small handgun she had in her leg.


    "If you shoot, your gun will explode."


    "Really?" Lyca pointed the gun at him and pulled the trigger without any hesitation. The loud bang echoed. Except this time, her gun didn''t explode. The gas would only react against gunpowder that didn''t have any other properties. Lyca''s gun isn''t like that.


    Surprised shed at the man''s face when he felt the pain in his legs. Seeing Lyca''s action, the rest of the people started to panic. Some of them found a ce that would protect them from Lyca''s guns. While they could literally fight against Lyca using their martial arts but they didn''t know if she still had any tricks hidden on her sleeves. Lyca already burnt a few of their people, and to be honest, this made the group a little reluctant to attack her.


    Some of them felt that they were actually tricked toe here to die in her hands.


    Slowly, Lyca opened the door and walked out of the car. She walked straight to the man lying on the ground, trying to crawl his way up to a tree by the road.


    "I''m not telling you anything," the man hissed. He grabbed a hunting knife from his boot and held it in front of him. Usually, a shot in the leg is not enough to cause him this much pain. But for some reason, the bullet is different from the previous ones that hit it. It was too painful. It felt as if it bored into his bone and left small fragments of ss on its way in.


    The more he tried to move his leg, the more painful it became.


    "I''m not asking you anything," Lyca squatted next to him. The knife was directly in front of her face. "You don''t have the strength to wield this knife anymore. Give it to me." With that, she snatched the knife from the man''s hand. The swift action didn''t surprise the man. What surprised him was the fact that his hand turned numb.


    She was right.


    He didn''t have the strength to wield the knife anymore.


    What was happening to him?


    "The people who sent you here wanted you to die," Lyca said. She started ying with the knife, slowly making it turn and dance on her hand. "Military-grade weapon, excellent hunting knife. It could easily kill a boar in the wild. But you know what I liked most about bigger knives like this?" She didn''t wait for him to answer. "It''s the sound that people make once this knife was used to slit their throats." She closed her eyes and took in another deep breath. The smell of gunpowder was still thick in the air. What apanied it was the smell of burnt flesh. "As someone who works with the special forces, I assumed that you are very familiar with this sound no?"


    "I don''t know what you''re talking about!"


    Lyca sneered before she suddenly yanked the man''s clothes, ripping the sleeves of his dark jacket. "Your tattoo says otherwise." She pointed at the man''s tattoo. "Let me guess ex-special forces? Dishonorable discharge and you are now leading your own team of people?"


    "You said you won''t ask questions!"


    "True. So I should just kill you instead."


    "WAIT!"


    "Hm?" Lyca tilted her head.


    "What what did you do to me? Why am I losing my strength?"


    "Oh! I will answer that." Her finger slowly made its way into his bleeding wound. She then put her finger on it. And just as the man expected, he didn''t feel the pain from her hand.


    "Poisoned!" the man eximed.


    "False!" Lyca responded. "It''s a bullet that sucked your strength, transferring it to mine." She wasughing inwardly. For some reason, watching people''s expressions as she spouts some bullshit stuff gave her too much fun, satisfaction. "You know like how vampires suck blood from their victim. My bullets suck your life force out of your body. Then it would prolonged mine."


    "You Stop lying!" The man tried to make his voice more imposing, but he felt that his throat is starting to turn numbed too. He thought he was beginning to lose control of his limbs. How could this happen? The bullet hit him a few minutes ago! How could it affect his nervous system? Was it really a poisoned bullet?


    Lycaughed in response. "Dead people don''t get to demand things." She roamed her gaze towards the other people who were already dead from the fire. Earlier, they were still struggling and running everywhere, trying to remove their clothes on fire.


    Now they were dead.


    She then looked at her car. It hit the van, so a small part of its bumper was already damaged, but the smelling from the car was still strong. The windy night only made the gas more frightening. "Don''t worry, I won''t use this knife to kill you. That would be a waste of such a good quality knife." Lyca stood. She didn''t even bother removing the piece of clothing that covered the man''s face. To her, he was nothing but a dead pawn.


    The real yers were not these people.


    But the people watching her right now are. She looked to the east and stared at the darkness. Then she mouthed


    ''Satisfied?''

 Chapter 415: Despicable Ken Xu

    Chapter 415: Despicable Ken Xu


    "She can''t see us, right?" Xu Jihan shivered and handed the tactical binocrs in his hand. "Right?"


    Ken Xu just shrugged in response. He handed the binocrs back to his cousin. "There is a possibility that she could see us."


    "How?" Xu Jihan asked, panickedced his voice. They were about two hundred meters away from Lyca. It was already nighttime, and they were wearing dark clothes. They didn''t have anything that could attract any attention as they watched everything happening on the road.


    Again, Ken shrugged and stood. "We''re leaving," his voice was as stern as his expression.


    "What''s wrong?" Xu Jihan asked. "Don''t worry, even if she asked them, they wouldn''t be able to tell her anything. They don''t know that I was the one who paid them. Every transaction was anonymous. All they knew was that I am another arms dealer from Du Country." He followed Ken towards the car a couple of meters away from them. "What''s wrong? Why are you so nervous. No need to worry. We can always have ess to the armor on the exhibit." He sat in the driver''s seat and watched as a few police cars approached Lyca and everyone else.


    "I am not worried about that," Ken said, jaws clenched.


    Seeing his cousin''s face, Xu Jihan decided not to say anything else as he started the car. "Where to?"


    "I want to attend Old General Tang''s birthday days from now."


    "Huh?"


    "You want to see Lyca as Ken?"


    "Yes." Ken Xu nodded. Slowly, a smile appeared on his face. "Yes, I will see Lyca as Ken."


    Xu Jihan pursed his lips as he nodded.


    The two soon disappeared in the dark.


    ...


    Meanwhile, Lyca was in a terrible mood.


    She felt that every time she came to Long City, her mood would always be bad. This meant that staying in this ce would only drain her energy.


    "So they just exploded on their own?" The police who sat in front of Lyca asked. His gaze was gentle, the exact opposite of his loud and irritating voice.


    "Yes like robots," Lyca answered. "Are they robots?"


    "And you didn''t do anything to make them explode? No chemicals? Nothing?"


    "I have the right to remain silent," Lyca said and closed her eyes. She hated doing stuff with witnesses because of the fact that she needed to sit here for a couple of hours until herwyers would save her from this hell hole.


    Lyca already asked these people to give her something that would make herfortable. Food, a lovely sofa, or a reclining chair. But these people just let her sit in this damn chair with nothing but a table and a massive mirror in front of her. Lyca really felt this is irritating!


    "You shot the man''s legs, and he is now in aa."


    Lyca rolled her eyes. "Mr. Police officer, I am a small, vulnerable woman wearing a dress and high heels. Did you really think I wouldn''t defend myself if strange people would try to kill me?"


    "I am the one asking questions here," the man said, unimpressed. True, Lyca was small, but he already saw the dashcam. She was clearly talking to the man before he lost consciousness and was calmly staring at people''s burnt corpses.


    That wasn''t something that innocent people do. No, in fact, most innocent people won''t get blocked by an army of mercenaries.


    "Miss Huang?"


    A man wearing a three-piece suit walked inside the room. "Don''t say anything else. You are free to go." He handed a stack of paper to the cop and smiled at Lyca. In response, Lyca nodded at Ronan and left the room with him.


    "Where''s he?" she asked.


    "In the car."


    "Parents?"


    "Safe and sound."


    "Good Job."


    "Thanks."


    "But you are not mywyer."


    "No." Ronan shook his head. "Yourwyer is already on his way home. Don''t worry about that. Worry about the fact that people are already asking about the reason for the explosion. They think you did something to those people. This way"


    "Not on the front door?" Lyca lifted an eyebrow when Ronan led her towards the exit.


    "Reporters are in the front. They are crazy for a story. They think it might be magic."


    Lyca nodded. She couldn''t me them. Chemistry is really akin to magic.


    After Lyca walked inside the hummer, she heaved a sigh of relief when she saw her husband safe and sound. The reunion fueled a fiery kiss and a longforting hug. Not long after, the group arrived in the mansion just as her parents arrived in another hummer.


    "Your car we will retrieve it as soon as possible." Shen Qui said. "People are showing interest, and they are asking questions. After all you are not working for the government. Producing weapons like this is just dangerous and definitely illegal." Even if you are defending yourself.


    That was the sad reality.


    Lyca stayed silent as she cursed Xu Ke inwardly. The man was still cunning and dangerous as ever. She lowered her guard for a few hours, and she already fell into the man''s trap.


    Ken Xu wanted her to work with the Xu Family. He deliberately attacked her in a ce and time where she had to choose between showing her secrets and saving her parents and husband. Xu Ke knew how much she valued her family. Just like in the past.


    That''s why he used them against her.


    This put her in a very tight spot.


    This only meant that Xu Ke already knew that she was his past lover.


    Lyca squinted. This meant that his next action would be showing up on her grandfather''s birthday. This would cement the rumors about Lyca working with the Xu Family. In this lifetime and thest, Xu Ke was still the same. He would do everything to benefit him.


    Even if Lyca didn''t do anything to offend him. Even if she was careful with her actions and acted differently. That man still dared to trap her.


    How despicable!

 Chapter 416: Regrets

    Chapter 416: Regrets


    "Listen, Lyca, I am not going to tell you what to do. But" Huang Sheng Hong let out a loud sighed, his hand was on the whiskey that he just poured. "It is getting dangerous for you. I have a property abroad. We can leave the country. Stop producing these weapons and surrender them to the government. Then we live a peaceful life." Huang Sheng Hong wasn''t a coward. However, he would rather see his family safe and sound, living a boring life somewhere, than be embroiled in another troublethis time with the government.


    Huang Sheng Hong didn''t want to see his daughter in another troublesome situation where she needed to hide and run away again.


    If Lyca didn''t know about Xu Ke, then she would have agreed to her father''s words. She would run away but would never surrender everything that she made. However, she knew that Xu Ke would never stop unless he got what he wanted.


    "I know, father. Don''t worry about it." Lyca looked calm on the outside, but she was furious right now. That man was targeting her family again.


    "I trust you." This was her father''s response before he left with Tang Nini back to Kong City. Of course, the two didn''t actually want to leave Lyca and Shen Qui in Long City. But Lai Su just called and told them that Old Man Huang showed some progress and even signs of waking up.


    This made Huang Sheng Hong ecstatic and, at the same time, scared for Lyca''s safety.


    In the end, Lyca insisted that no one would touch her now. They would be hesitant to attack because they aren''t sure if she still had other tricks on her sleeves. Lyca assured her parents that she would be safe even without them.


    The two reluctantly left Long City wearing the new armor that Lyca made for her parents.


    When her parents left, Lyca let out a sigh of relief. The news about her grandfather made her happy and a little rmed at the same time. They cannot let anyone else know that her grandfather recovered from that poison.


    ....


    Meanwhile, Shen Qui only stayed for a couple of hours in the mansion before he left to see Long Yi.


    "I heard about everything," Long Yi was calmly sitting in a velvet chair. "Lyca was smart. But sometimes being too smart would act as a double-edged sword." He held his tea close to his mouth. He continued, "This new technology that she created was quite dangerous. I could understand the amount of attention from the government. If she won''t work with the government, they would soonbel her as someone who creates weapons for mass destruction. An arrest would soon follow. They might even make it look like she was a terrorist and frame her."


    Shen Qui nodded. "But I am not here to talk about those weapons Mr. Long." Shen Qui''s face wasn''t showing any hint of emotion, and Long Yi hated it. He couldn''t tell if Shen Qui was mocking him or was about to kill him.


    Still, Long Yi pretended calm. "To be honest I didn''t know that you were the one who was buying the shares. I thought it was another corporation based abroad." While he was seething with rage inside, Long Yi was smiling on the outside. "In fact I always wanted to meet the owner of LS Group. To thank him." Who would have thought that he would be meeting Shen Qui instead?


    The man that he looked down.


    The man without any sort of unique background was now knocking on his doors. Shen Qui''s very name is threatening hispany! Right now, Long Yi was forcing himself to act calm and talk to him as if they were equals. This was not because he respected Shen Qui. He knew that Shen Qui only got everything because of Lyca.


    He knew that Lyca was the real mastermind of thispany.


    Without Lyca, Shen Qui was nothing.


    And Lyca was precisely the reason why he was acting like this towards him.


    Shen Qui only stared at him in response. Seeing this, Long Yi continued, "I read the contract that you sent in advance, and I should say I didn''t like it. Mr. Shen, I am not sure if you are trying to look down on mypany by offering such a nasty contract."


    "I am looking down on your Long Company." Shen Qui said. At the end of the day, Long Company used questionable and evil methods to achieve its goals. However, a part of him was also thankful to Long Yi.


    Without him Lyca would never have agreed to marry Shen Qui. This was the reason why he told Lyca not to kill Long Yi. Shen Qui was a firm believer in Karma. He knew that the universe would always make you pay one way or the other.


    Shen Qui was not some ungrateful person. He knew that Long Yi yed a role in his destiny. If anything, Shen Qui also knows that Long Yi was the type of person that would ruin himself. He was ambitious without the ability. Greedy without the right strategy. Soon, Long Yi would destroy himself, and Shen Qui would just watch on the sidelines once that happens.


    "You already own over thirty percent of my Long Company, and yet you say that you are looking down on us." Long Yi scoffed. If Shen Qui was looking down on them, then why buy the shares? Long Yi wasughing inwardly. He knew that Shen Qui thought thepany was productive enough. That''s why he wanted to own it.


    "I never wanted to own your shares." Shen Qui said.


    "But you "


    "Read this." Shen Qui handed another folder. "I want to acquire the Huang Security and the patent to the bullet that my wife created." Long Yi shamelessly imed those patents, and this was making Shen Qui ufortable.


    "Impossible!" If there was one thing that he could not give, that would be the bullet. It was basically the lifeline of thepany.


    "I already own sixty-seven percent of the shares. I can do whatever I want with Huang Security."


    "But you are greedy enough to want the patent for the bullet," Long Yi sneered. "I can''t give you that. You can have Huang Security, but the production of those bullets stays with me."


    "It''s defective." Shen Qui said.


    "I don''t believe you."


    Shen Qui snorted but didn''t say anything else. Long Yi used the mixture that Lyca sold to him when she was pretending to be Tang Xi. The form itself was defective. While many mercenaries used it now, everything about this bullet would crumble once someone would know its defect. "Alright" Shen Qui shrugged before he pressed the send button on the message that was already typed on his phone. "Then I hope you won''t regret it."


    Long Yi snorted. If he regrets something, it was underestimating Shen Qui. He never thought that one day, his man would stand in here and act as his equal.


    What he regrets the most was the fact that he didn''t kill Shen Qui all those years ago. If he had known that this man would pose a threat to him, he would have asked his people to kill Shen Qui and even Lyca.


    1/3


    Finding my mojo back. Hehehhee I am going to slowly release more chapters. Slowly but surely this time.

 Chapter 417: Talker

    Chapter 417: Talker


    Long Yi balled his hand into fists as he tried to stop his arms from shaking. He squinted, eyes focused at the current reports that Shen Qui was showing him.


    "You This is This is not real."


    Instead of saying anything, Shen Qui stood. It was his time to say goodbye. This conversation was done. "I still have another meeting to attend to Mr. Long. Send my regards to your father," he smiled and walked out of the private room without even waiting for Long Yi to say anything.


    "Release a press release tomorrow. Huang Security is officially under LS Group." Shen Qui uttered the moment he left the room as Ronan nodded and started to take down notes. "Tomorrow, release the report that I just gave to Long Yi."


    A part of Shen Qui''s n was to give the news to Long Yi in advance. He wasn''t giving Long Yi a chance to fight back. Instead, he wanted him to panic and make more mistakes. Walking out of the restaurant, Shen Qui was surprised to see two military men standing by the door.


    The two instantly approached him and announced their names. They then invited him to a car that was waiting just a few feet away from the restaurant entrance. The two refused to tell him who is the person inside the car and just told him that it is vital that he talk to this person.


    Shen Qui looked at the tinted ck BMW before turning his gaze to Ronan. "Cancel my next meeting. Go to the mansion."


    For a few seconds, a sh of worry glinted in Ronan''s eyes before he nodded and walked towards his car. After all, the two military men standing were both captains. They even showed IDs to prove their identities. Someone who could easily make two Captains their errand boy was definitely not a simple person.


    "Mr. Shen"


    The man inside the car was young. Probably in his thirties, his eyes looked just like Shen Qui''s. Intelligent, cunning, and ruthless. It reminded him of himself too much. He couldn''t help but stare at it for a few seconds.


    "Ah, where are my manners. I''m sorry. Please call me Dr. Xu. Dr. Ken Xu. I worked with NSA. I don''t think we need any ID as you could easily search my name online. Though my photos are not on the Inte." A smile appeared on his face. "Please excuse my rudeness. I invited you without having an appointment."


    "Dr. Xu " Shen Qui remembered Lyca being interested in the Xu Family, specifically the man who gave the painting and stones to the elders in the Chu Family. Shen Qui''s memory was sharp enough to know that this man was someone that Lyca already investigated before. However, since Lyca didn''t talk to him about it, he didn''t ask any questions and took it as a part of her curiosity. "It''s my pleasure to meet the great Dr. Xu."


    "You have heard about me?"


    "The Chu Family talked about the best doctor in Xu Country. It was said that he was a young doctor who might have the ability to help Mr. Chu Munan. However, the Chu Family didn''t dare asked the Xu Family because they knew of Dr. Xu''s importance in the country."


    Ken smirked. He didn''t know that this Shen Qui was quite a smooth talker. "I see " he nodded. "Well then would you like to have some wine? This one" Ken held a gourd made of ss. "This is something that I made myself. It had a lot of health benefits."


    Shen Qui shook his head. "My apologies. But my health had been a little badtely. It must be the stress. I no longer drink alcohol."


    "Is that so?" Ken cocked an eyebrow. Smiling, he poured himself a ss of scarlet red wine and started tilting the wine ss. "You were actually the first person who wasn''t so nervous upon knowing my identity."


    Shen Qui didn''t answer him. The car soon moved slowly along the streets of Long City. "Don''t worry, this is just a little tour." Ken''s voice was soft and gentle. It reminded Shen Qui of a doctor''s voice every time they talked to a dying patient. It reminded him of the doctor that informed him that his uncle was dying. It had a tinge of sympathy. But it wasn''t enough to hide the apathy in Ken''s eyes.


    "Mr. Xu is jesting. I don''t think people would get nervous upon knowing you. I believe your brilliance would be enough to make them speechless."


    Xu Ke sneered inwardly. Now he understood that this Shen Qui wasn''t a simple person. Was this the reason why Lyca married him? After that night, he already knew that this marriage was sudden. She married her bodyguard to avoid another marriage.


    This made Xu Ke confused. His woman was not someone who would just marry a guy to avoid another marriage. She was brave and emotional. She would rather die than marry someone she didn''t love.


    Because of this, he decided to see Shen Qui. He wanted to know what kind of man she married in this world. In the end, Xu Ke only became confused. This man was a talker. She didn''t like that.


    She liked silence. She like someone that could apany her for days without speaking. She was an assassin, and talking wasn''t her strongest talent. She would prefer killing her enemies directly instead of talking.


    So why marry someone who could talk like this?


    "Anyway I am here because I wanted to offer you something." Ken took a sip of his wine. "I wanted you to be a consultant for the military. In return, you will have a Colonel rank, and you will be recognized in the country."


    "Consultant?" For what? "Dr. Xu I don''t seem to understand why you would choose a small-time businessman like me as a consultant?"


    "Mr. Shen let''s stop the pretense. You already know what I want. The weapon. The weapon that you have. The one that reacted to gun powder. I want it."


    .....


    2/3

 Chapter 418: Standard Questions

    Chapter 418: Standard Questions


    "Of course, I am also nning to give you more. There will be a contract between us for everything that you invented. Everything will be supplied to the military first. Then we will slowly equip the police and so on."Xu Ke made a deliberate pause before he continued, "You see that chemical could put our whole military at risk. Once those ouws would get their hands on those chemicals, they would surely use it against the police and military who is maintaining the peace of our country." Xu Ke continued. "It''s easy to say that you are an independentpany, and we understand that, but you are creating something that could change the warfare of our country."


    Shen Qui already knew that this wasing. He just didn''t realize that it would be this fast. Just like what Lyca said, her inventions would soon catch the eyes of the government and terrorists. "Dr. Xu Please put everything in writing. I don''t want tomit to anything without proper documentation." Shen Qui smiled. He didn''t say that he agreed to his terms. He just said that he wanted it documented.


    This answer made Xu Ke frowned. He couldn''t help but wonder what would happen if some other people would get ahold of those chemicals first. What if What if Lyca would sell them to terrorists and other mercenarypanies?


    Right now, Xu Ke wasn''t sure if she already knew who he was. He recalled her reaction when they met at that cave. She was clearly trying to avoid him. She even became violent and attacked him. Lyca saw his face, and she knew that this is how Xu Ke looked like even in that alternate world.


    "I see," Xu Ke nodded. He couldn''t help but hate Shen Qui. Yet, he continued to y with the wine as he thought about Lyca and her aim.


    At first, she thought Lyca was just another woman with white hair. Even her actions and mannerisms were different from the woman that she was in the previous world. However, he soon found out about the Ye Family and her grandmother Ye Bai.


    Princess Ye Bai


    Ye Family''s white hair


    Soon, he connected the dots. Just like him, she traveled into this world too. And it is vital, and he talked to her and made her agree to his terms in this world. He wanted her to help him


    In fact, Xu Ke was confident that only Lyca could help him open a pathway from this world to their world. This was something that he had been attempting to do since he arrived in this world all those years ago.


    "Well then here is my card. Please feel free to call me anytime. I would call you a few days from now to schedule another meeting. By that time, I hope you could sign the contract with us."


    Shen Qui only nodded. After a few minutes, the car came stopped, and Shen Qui got out in front of a familiar shopping mall just in the outskirts of Long City. Clenching his jaw, Shen Qui watched as the car slowly disappeared in the traffic.


    Seeing them gone, Shen Qui dialed Ronan''s number, informing him that he is in the mall. Since he was already here, he just took advantage of the time to buy some of Lyca''s favorite pastries and other delicious snacks that she would surely like.


    It took Ronan a few minutes to call him back, telling him that he was already outside waiting for him. Since Shen Qui just finished his quick shopping, he went out of the mall and into the car.


    Shen Qui didn''t tell Ronan about Ken Xu, and thetter didn''t ask as he drove his boss back to the mansion.


    ..


    The smell of delicious pastries stirred Lyca awake. She gulped and slowly opened her eyes. Seeing the tray on the bed, a huge smile appeared on Lyca''s face.


    "Awake?" Shen Qui sat on a chair just next to themp. He was reading a magazine, wearing afortable blue pajama.


    "What time is it?"


    "Four in the afternoon." He closed the magazine and put it on the table where themp was located.


    "Oh," she nodded. "Is it my birthday?" she asked, confused.


    "No. I''m sure it''s not your birthday."


    "Then" Looking at the different types of pastries, Lyca grew nervous. She gulped. "Anniversary?"


    "No."


    "Was it your birthday?" Did she forget his birthday?


    "No."


    "Then was it sex anniversary?"


    "" He couldn''t understand how her mind worked, and that was probably for the best.


    "Did I forgot something? Was this the day I woke up from being asleep for three years? Or the day that I started sleeping?"


    "Can''t I just buy something without any asion?"


    This instantly calmed Lyca down. "Oh. Of course, you can." She looked at the pastries and soon realized that there was also a hot cup of coffee next to it. However, this made her more suspicious. Shen Qui was sweet, too sweet, but he doesn''t do this type of stuff. And she was fine with that.


    Lyca would rather stay quiet and sleep than talk about flowers and do romantic stuff. Of course she had no problems if that romantic stuff would involve having a quickie in a toilet somewhere.


    Alright, her brain is acting weirdly again.


    "Did something happen?" she asked. "Are you cheating on me?"


    "" Can she asked standard questions? Like how was his day? He gave a wry smile. "Something happened, and I would never cheat on you."


    "Good." She nodded. "Did you  kill Long Yi?"


    "" Again, he shook his head. "I met Dr. Xu today. Ken Xu." He didn''t miss the changes in Lyca''s expression. "He wanted to work with us."


    Lyca stared at Shen Qui for a few seconds that felt like forever. "You met Mr. Ken Xu?"


    "Yes."


    "And you talked to him?" Lyca could feel her arms shaking from fury. Xu Ke actually dared to approached Shen Qui? Her Shen Qui?


    ....


    3/3


    Thank you for the support.

 Chapter 419: Lyca the Alien

    Chapter 419: Lyca the Alien


    Lyca sat in front of Shen Qui, listening. Her face was nk, her appetite when she woke up just vanished out of thin air. Just hearing Ken Xu''s name was making her feel down.


    "So I told him to put it on the contract," Shen Qui said. "I didn''tmit to anything."


    Lyca nodded in response. Right now, she had no other choice but to work with them. Actually, she was nning to sell them the form and never worked with them again. However, she also knew that this would be close to impossible at this point.


    Xu Ke is clearly trying to get close to her again.


    "What do you think?"


    Lyca lifted her head and looked at Shen Qui. At the end of the day, Shen Qui would always ask her opinions about things like this. While she would always tell him to do whatever want, this time, Lyca did something crazy. "I need to tell you something."


    "Hm?"


    Lyca frowned. She opened her mouth and closed it, saying nothing. She couldn''t speak! No the truth is she didn''t know where to start. "I I am an alien." Lyca facepalmed. The silence that followed her words made her tense. She gave a wry smile and looked at her husband. "I''m serious."


    She knew that telling him where she came from was inevitable.


    "I know," he pursed his lips and stared at her. Then he smiled. "Only an alien would be as beautiful as you."


    "" Lyca was speechless. Was he joking? "I''m serious. Technically I am an alien since I am not from this world."


    Shen Qui nodded, urging her to continue. There was still a slight smile on his face, and she hated that she didn''t know what it means. Was he making fun of her? Did he think she was crazy? Slowly, she started telling him about the world that she said she dreamed of.


    The magic, the assassins, the royalties, her family, and... Xu Ke.


    "It wasn''t a dream. It was like a past life. Now I don''t know why I remembered my past life, but it was there. The memories " All this time, Lyca didn''t peel her gaze away from Shen Qui''s reaction. He, too, was staring at her, listening carefully.


    "So the Internal Energy?"


    "It was something that people who couldn''t learn magic practiced like knights and mercenaries in my world practice that cultivation. This would make their body stronger, they heal faster, and their body bes lighter. However, In that world, they can channel it outside of their body.


    "Like the electricity? The one that we did for Grandfather Huang''s cure?"


    She nodded. Shen Qui was too calm about this. He wasn''t thinking that she had gone crazy from sleeping too much, right?


    "That exins the expertise in martial arts and weapons?" he continued asking, and she nodded once again.


    "The poison too?" he asked.


    "Yes. Everything that I learned in the past I tried to recreate it in this world. The strange footwork that would make it look like I would vanish, the knife skills, my martial arts, my speed, and my internal strength. Everything."


    Shen Qui pursed his lips in response.


    "Are you Do you need some time to process this?" Lyca asked hesitantly. The fact that he didn''t answer for a few seconds made her heart skip a beat. She was actually nervous? Lyca mocked herself inwardly. In front of guns and people who wanted to kill her, she never felt scared. However, in front of Shen Qui''s gaze, Lyca felt naked, exposed. Her heart started racing, drumming against her chest. She wondered if her face was losing all its colors too.


    "You So you and this Xu Ke were lovers?" Shen Qui asked.


    Lyca nodded in response. Apparently, he was thinking about her ex-boyfriend?


    "And you love him?"


    "" Did he hear what she just said about her magical world? "I don''t know." She lowered her head. There should be a borderline between loving and thinking that you own something. And she didn''t know which side of this border, her feelings for Xu Ke stood.


    But then again, the fact that she was doubting her emotions was saying something about their rtionship.


    Once again, Shen Qui turned quiet. He just stared at her, like he was reading some important documents. Lyca almost couldn''t take it.


    She wanted to ask. She wanted to know what he thought about all this.


    But half of her knew that it wasn''t easy for ordinary people to believe her story. At most, he would think that she dreamed all this, or worse he would think she was crazy.


    "I believe you."


    It was as if the word echoed in Lyca''s head. Over and over and over again. Relief shed in her face. Then she stilled. "Why?" she asked. Funny how earlier, she wanted him to believe her, but now, she was asking why.


    "Because you said it." Shen Qui said seriously. If Lyca said that she could heal a dying person, he would believe it too. Hell, if she would say that she could fly, he wouldn''t hesitate and asked her to teach him how to fly too.


    "Re Really?" she asked, confused. He nodded in response.


    "We are together now." Shen Qui said. Who cares about the past? Who cares about her past? There is no reason for him to care about a past life. In fact, he was thankful for her honesty. He knew that talking about these things was difficult for someone like Lyca. "So I assumed Ken Xu is this Xu Ke?" he asked without any hesitation. He wondered why someone like Dr. Xu would see him personally.


    Now, Shen Qui already knew the answer to the question in his mind. Ken Xu wanted to meet Lyca''s husband.


    "I think so,'' Lyca nodded, and she started telling him about the man that she met in the cave. She then told him her suspicion that Xu Ke was the one behind Mr. Park and the one behind the ambush.


    He must have wanted proof that she was the woman from his past. He set up an ambush hoping that she would use some peculiar method to defend herself just like her previous self. And she did.


    Lyca did it to protect the people that she loved.


    Xu Ke was cunning enough to use her loved ones again. He knew Lyca too well.

 Chapter 420: Haggle

    Chapter 420: Haggle


    "So the three years that you were asleep you went back? But this time, you woke up in a different body?" Shen Qui asked. It was already six in the evening, and they have been talking since Lyca woke up.


    "Yes, I woke up in a Princess Ye Bai''s body."


    "Isn''t that "


    "Yes! My grandmother." Lyca nodded. "She had white hair too, and guess what? She looked like me. She looked like Lyca."


    "And you didn''t kill him?"


    "No." Lyca shook her head.


    "Why?"


    "Because If he didn''t kill me, then I wouldn''t have met you." Lyca''s answer surprised her. Her lips thinned. "And having him live a miserable life with his enemies gone should be enough."


    "It''s not making any sense." Shen Qui said. He handed Lyca another pastry. "You were gone for three years but you said you were only there for a few days?"


    She nodded.


    "Then you still met him while you were there?"


    "Yes."


    "So why was he here now? It looked like Xu Ke arrived in this world ahead of you." Or at least based on the poisoning of Old Man Huang. Lyca suspected that Xu Ke was the person who made those poison. She also suspected that he was giving it to people hoping that someone would be able to cure the poisoned individual. Xu Ke must have known that the person who could heal the poison came from his world too.


    That''s why he nted those herbs in the cave.


    Lyca suspected that Xu Ke also nted these herbs in every cold ce in the world. He wanted to know who would get it and use it to cure the poison.


    But this was nothing but her suspicions. Lyca said she was toozy to investigate further.


    She never had ns to engage with Xu Ke. Meeting him was just unexpected. Lyca wanted to live azy and peaceful life. Of course, this is nothing but a dream something that might not happen soon. "I think you are unlucky." Shen Qui watched as Lyca finished another pastry.


    "You think so too?"


    "Hmm," he nodded. "You wanted azy life, but you also let life just dragged you into these situations. You are unlucky." In her past life, she fell for another man, and that man murdered her family then killed her after taking advantage of her talents.


    She died and arrived in this world. Then she lived a few years of peaceful life, trying to find her way back. That was until fate intervened. "But I''m notining," he peeled another pastry from the stic and gave it to his wife. Without all these crazy coincidences, they won''t even meet. She wouldn''t be there to help him with his wound, and she wouldn''t be his wife.


    "You know what?" Lyca epted the pastry and stared at its star-like shape. Then she smiled. "I think I agree with you." Without those difficulties, she wouldn''t meet him.


    "So Xu Ke?"


    Lyca sighed. Honestly, she didn''t have a concrete idea of handling this man. Xu Ke was a sociopath. He was a maniptive asshole. Lyca was confident that he won''t get jealous that she married another man. However, he would startparing himself to Shen Qui. "The exhibit will be next week?" Lyca asked. She noticed that since they revealed the armor, they have received many invitations both in the country and abroad. Some were from universities wanting them to speak about robotics, chemicals, and even security.


    She realized that the more money you earn, the busier you be.


    That is a hassle.


    She wondered if there is another way to earn more money without working?


    Aside from stocks and other investments, Lyca wanted a steady flow of millions in her bank ount. Should she just ckmail some politician into giving her millions monthly?


    When Lyca realized that her brain is going in another way again, she instantly turned her attention to Shen Qui. "Yes, it will be next week." Shen Qui said.


    "Then let''s work with them. First, I want to have the patent and the right to improve it without asking for anyone''s permission. I also want to give them the armor''s design blueprint and the agent''s form that would react to gun powder. We give it to them and earn our millions. That''s it." This was her only term. She doesn''t want to manufacture the armors for them. What she wanted was to sell the design, and they can make it on their own.


    For a few seconds, Shen Qui thought about these terms before he nodded. "Two billion?" he asked.


    Lyca instantly beamed. "Is that considered a lot?"


    "It is. But considering the importance of the design and chemical form, it would be worth it."


    "Then let''s make it three billion!" Lyca held her three fingers. "They can haggle."


    "" Shen Qui just stared at her. It is funny how she thought this is like a wet market where you can persistently haggle until the vendors would give in. He gave a wry smile as he nodded. "Of course. Three Billion is good too."


    "So after this, we would be billionaires?"


    "Yes." Shen Qui''s eyebrows drew together. Earlier, Lyca was a bit down because of Xu Ke. But when she heard the Billions her mood changed.


    "Also I want to give them the old design of the armor." Lyca said. Soon, the two talked about the specifics of what they wanted from the government. Since Xu Ke tried to corner them then she would give in. "But first I wanted to release the news to the media." Lyca''s words made Shen Qui silent. Lyca beamed. "Create a rumor about us selling the designs for three billion. I want this news in international news blogs and other websites that were open to all people."


    "You wanted terrorists and other countries to be aware of the transaction?"


    "Of course!" Lyca said. "Then they could send a bigger offer."


    Shen Qui blinked. Did Lyca just.


    "Don''t look at me like that, ah. I just want to show Xu Ke that we are receiving bigger offers from other people. Then he would have to choose. Either he matched their offer, or we sell it to otherpanies!"


    Shen Qui turned speechless. In the end, he felt that it was actually Lyca who wanted to trap Xu Ke.

 Chapter 421: Sworn Enemies

    Chapter 421: Sworn Enemies


    Two days after the ambush was Old Man Tang''s birthday. This was also the day that the malfunction of the Long Companies bullet started to spread. A study had been released online. It stated that the bullet was not only dangerous to its user as it would produce a toxic gun powder, it would also cause long-term effects that would include hallucinations to anyone who smelled the gun powder! The worse thing is the fact that the bullet would act as a drug to its user.


    The more you smell the gun powder, the more you would want it.


    The news was strange and unbelievable. However, it didn''t take too long for many people to notice that it was somehow true. Some of them only wanted to use the bullet and nothing more.


    On that day, three people who had a test dered that they developed mysterious illnesses because of keeping the bullet close to them. Two of the men showed infertility and other chronic diseases, while the other actually had cancer. Rumor has it that the bullet''s gun powder contained asbestos and benzene that could cause cancer.


    When the news blew up, Long Company''s shares suffered another tragic fall. But this wasn''t something that surprised a lot of businessmen. Since Old Man Long suffered a stroke, many businessmen were not really enthusiastic that thepany would survive in Long Yi''s leadership.


    However, this wasn''t the hottest news in the market. Many sites suddenly released another rumor. Shen Security, who was under LS Group, is nning to cooperate with the government! A credible source said that they are willing to sell everything for Three Billion. Right now, the cooperation wasn''t final yet. They also didn''t announce which project they would sell for Three Billion, but many anticipated it was the design and blueprint of the armor that shocked the world a few weeks back.


    "Long Yi had been calling me since morning. I''m sure it was about the news. I already sent a breach of contract to hiswyers. Since the bullet is actually dangerous, they would need to pay us a few hundred millions worth of damages. We would release a statement banning them from working with us again. Right now, Long Yi is done." Xu Jihan was smiling as he poured more syrup for his pancake. He then poured the rest of the syrup into his strawberries and apples. "Didn''t know that this Shen Qui is so scheming. He first bought the stocks to make them recover, creating a false sense of security. Then sold it just before he released the news. He actually had a few hundreds of millions of profits. If I had known that he would do that, I would have bought a few millions of shares too."


    "Do you need more money?" Ken asked after he sipped his tea.


    "You won''t understand since you don''t invest in the stocks. It was about the thrill."


    Xu Ke snorted. "Is everything set for tonight?" Today was actually Old Man Tang''s birthday. And he already asked Xu Jihan to set everything up for him.


    "Yes. I aming with you."


    Xu Ke lifted an eyebrow but didn''t say anything.


    "You know? I am more concerned about the rumors. The price was already three billion. Once the news would reach the ears of those privatepanies abroad, they would surely send her a higher offer. Why do I feel like she was waiting for us to move before giving us a huge blow?"


    "No matter the price it would be worth it." Xu Ke''s aim was to get closer to her. As long as he would work with her, then he is fine.


    "You sure about that?" Xu Jihan lifted an eyebrow. For some reason, he felt that Xu Ke had be dumber. Does this man like that Lyca Huang? Impossible! Xu Jihan had been friends with his cousin since they were in their diapers. All these years, Xu Ke never allowed anyone to take advantage of him. If anything, Xu Ke was the type of person that would always use his brain to take advantage of people.


    "Of course. I am always sure of my actions. Oh about my clothes. I want a white three-piece suit."


    "You areing to a birthday. Why would you wear white?" White is always associated with death, and it''s a color worn in funerals, not on happy celebrations.


    "You have a point. Then just do a three-piece ck one."


    "Why are you acting like a high school student who just developed a crush?" Xu Jihan finished his pancakes and grabbed his ss of milk.


    "Because" Xu Ke made a deliberate pause. He initially chose the color white because Lyca would surely wear ck or red. It wouldpliment her clothes. "Because I''m bored."


    "So believable," Xu Jihan rolled his eyes. "Anyway I already looked into Lyca''s past, and just like you, she also had an ident when she was a child. She fell into aa too. But it was just a for a few days."


    Xu Jihan lowered his gaze as he hid the excited expression on his face. He had been looking for someone like him in this world. He gave out all those poisons and created scenes and idents that would reveal people like him. All along, he never once thought that his woman would also travel in this world with him.


    If this isn''t fate, then what is?


    Who would have thought that the woman whom she liked, the smartest woman he knew, the only woman that he wanted to have and stand beside him, woulde into this world with him?


    Isn''t this a sign that they should rule this world together?


    "Did you find anyone else from the Ye Family in the country?" Xu Ke asked. This was his only problem. Lyca was actually a Ye, and his family and the Ye Family were sworn enemies. In this world and thest.


    ....


    I will try to write 4 chapters total before reset! Wish me luck! :)

 Chapter 422: Blamed

    Chapter 422: med


    "No. Not one from the Ye''s." Xu Jihan said. "However, I am not confident about these findings. You know how cunning they are. She had white hair. Once you try to trace her history, you would know that she is a Ye. Even from the direct lineage. Knowing those people, they would never let this opportunity go."


    The Ye Family are considered the Royals in Du Empire. They handle international rtions but don''t really manage the country. The current monarch, Nichs Ye, was a cunning King, a strict father, a scheming friend, and a very dangerous enemy. Despite all the smiles, he was known for his cruel actions to benefit his own country.


    For instance, asked the prime minister to focus more on the military and used this advanced military system to intimidate other countries. The man wasn''t a dictator, but he was very clear on the things that he wanted. And that is to make his country the number one.


    It is undeniable that the country is considered the most expensive and one of the world''s top three wealthiest countries. If Nichs wanted Lyca to work with their government, he would surely do everything to achieve this goal.


    "Monitor all entrances in the country. I want to know if he would send a representative on Old Man Tang''s birthday. Also I want to change the gift. I wanted to give the old man that painting."


    "The wedding painting?" Xu Jihan asked. Xu Ke had been very obsessing with a painting of a bloodied man and woman in a traditional red wedding dress. The painting didn''t show the couple''s faces, but it was clear that the woman in the man''s arms was already dead as he carried her in the middle of the woods.


    "Precisely."


    "Cousin you are going to a birthday party. Why would you give such a bloody painting?" That painting was full of blood. There was even an arrow stock in the bride''s legs. Plus, you can see traces of blood everywhere. Why would he want to give this painting to the birthday celebrant?


    A sigh escaped Xu Ke''s lips. "You are right. Just  Just hide the painting for now." Sometimes, he would get impulsive and do some strange things when ites to his woman.


    Meanwhile, Long Yi is not as rxed as Xu Ke and Xu Jihan. Right now, he was pacing inside his room. Both of his hands were holding two different phones. One was his business phone, while the other was his personal cellphone. Therge bags under his eyes, coupled with his pale face, made him looked a littledead.


    The ring in his phone stirred him out of his stupor.


    "How dare you!" Long Yi hissed. His face turned darker when he heard Shen Qui chuckled in response.


    "Good Noon Mr. Long. How may I help you?"


    Long Yi let out a couple of curses. At first, he thought Shen Qui would never give the news to the media. After all, he still owns a big chunk of shares in thepany. He was wrong oh! He was so wrong!


    Shen Qui was actually a cunning fox!


    He waited for the prices to bounce back before selling his shares. Then he released the news. All this happened in one day. It made Long Yi conclude that this was deliberate. The timing was so perfect, he knew that Shen Qui must have been nning this revenge for a long time.


    Shen Qui didn''t get what he wanted. So he is pulling him down! "What the hell do you want from me?" Shen Qui''s voice was light. It was as if he just finishedughing.


    "Nothing," Shen Qui said. "I already have everything that I need."


    "If you want the patent then I will give it to you!"


    "How do you like the news?" Shen Qui answered almost immediately.


    "Shen Qui, I am telling you many people would "


    "Guilt-tripping me won''t work." Shen Qui interrupted him. "It only works on good people. I''m not one of those."


    "You "


    "Instead of trying to see me why don''t you focus on your debts instead? I heard you already owe the government a few hundreds of millions?" There was mockery in his tone. At the end of the day, life is still like a wheel. It would always turn.


    Last time, Long Yi and the Long Family were considered on top. The wheels turn, and now he was at the bottom.


    Instead of blowing up, Long Yi let out a deep chuckle. He never thought that one day, he would actually lose this fight. His father is still in aa. His friends and family instantly left him the moment the government announced the verdict about those bullets. Everyone else is eitherughing at him or hiding from him, pretending not to know his current predicament.


    All this time, Long Yi achieved everything because of his connections. He and his father took advantage of this as they conquered and oppressed smaller businesses. All those people celebrated with them. They gave them gifts and epted the Long Family''s bribes in return for their help.


    Right now, all those people vanished. They left him. Alone. "You must be enjoying this" His voice contained the defeat that was showing in his eyes.


    "I am." Shen Qui answered without batting an eyelid. "My wife said she liked it. She thought it was like watching some Drama. It was very entertaining."


    "Lyca" Long Yi dragged Lyca''s name on his tongue. Yes. Lyca. It was her. If he married Lyca, this wouldn''t have happened. Lyca would have been standing by his side now, creating those weapons for him, treating him as her king.


    But this did not happen.


    Just as Long Yi was thinking about all this, Huang Xiaoxuan walked inside the room. She was wearing a long white off-shoulder dress. Her face was still pale. The smile on her lips was weak, but it was there. It had a promise of tomorrow, a promise ofpany despite the dark times.


    But Long Yi''s gaze was already dark.


    "Our child" Huang Xiaoxuan''s smile had a hint of relief. It was gentle and beautiful. "The doctors said they would sign the release "


    "It''s your fault!" Long Yi hissed.


    "Yi?"


    "This Everything is your damn fault!" Long Yi suddenly yelled at her. He ended the call and red at the frozen Huang Xiaoxuan. "You seduced me. You drugged me. You made her think that I like you! I never liked you, and I never will!" He took a step towards her, his hands balled into tight fists. He was fighting his inner demons, trying his best not to hurt her delicate face.


    "Yi? What are you talking about?" The smile on Huang Xiaoxuan''s face froze. She took a step back as he took another step towards him. "You Are you alright? Did Did something happened?"


    "What a foolish question. You didn''t even know what happened to me?"


    "I I don''t I was at the hospital, I wasn''t looking at my phone I was "She was just staring at their child, crying and praying. "I didn''t mean to "


    Long Yi snorted. "Foolish!" By now, Long Yi was already two feet away from her. He squinted his eyes. "Since I met you all the bad luck started happening in my life. I always thought it was my fault. But then I realized it was yours!"


    "You "Tears were already streaming in Huang Xiaoxuan''s eyes. Since giving birth, this was the first time that she came home and met him. This was the first time that she saw him. She thought he would be different. After all, their child was already safe. How could he still treat her like this? How could he me her for everything? She did nothing but love him! She only loved him!


    Before she could say anything else, Long Yi''s palms alreadynded on her cheeks. She staggered and clutched her cheeks. Despite all the abuse and ill-treatment, this was the first time that he did this. "What are you doing? Long Yi... I just gave birth! How could you hurt me like this?" She instantly reminded him of the fact that she gave birth to his child!


    She was the mother of his child!


    How could he still hurt her?


    "Hurt you? Huang Xiaoxuan... I should have killed you when I had the chance!" Long Yi said.


    And that was thest words that Huang Xiaoxuan heard before she felt his hand clutched her throat.


    ....


    This was a long chapter.

 Chapter 423: Best Granddaughter

    Chapter 423: Best Granddaughter


    Long Yi''s downfall was inevitable. Shen Qui and Lyca already expected him to lose. What they didn''t expect was for him to actually kill his own wife, Huang Xiaoxuan.


    Of course, Lyca and Shen Qui were unaware of Huang Xiaoxuan''s death. Currently, they were on their way to Old Man Tang''s birthday.


    "I hate purple," Lyca said. "I feel like an eggnt while wearing one."


    "But you were wearing one."


    "You told me I look pretty in this dress!" Her dress was actually a hombre purple. It was a beautiful A-Line dress with intricateces, beads, and tulle. It was a midi dress, and the best thing about this dress was that she could easily cut it. In case another ambush happens. Yes. The tulle is removable!


    "You were pretty all the time. Even if you''re not wearing clothes."


    Lyca chuckled. "So nasty," she was calmly sitting on the front seat, staring at him as he drove the car. "The color purple makes me feel like a royal, you know. Like a queen or a princess."


    "And you don''t like it." That wasn''t a question. Shen Qui knew that she wasn''t the type to want to be a princess.


    "Ah, when I was a child, I never wanted to be a princess. I thought it was way tooplicated." Lyca uttered as she closed her eyes. "Anyway do you think grandfather would like our gift?"


    "Of course he will."Shen Qui assured her. At this point in time, everyone who would receive the armor that Lyca personally made would indeed feel lucky. Especially if they knew that this armor was specifically designed and created with the lightest material. It wasn''t big and bulky. This armor wasn''t really aplete armor but more like a bulletproof vest. Except this one is very hard to recognize.


    It was small and thin. You could easily hide it in a suit.


    After a few minutes of driving, the two arrived in Tang Family''s mansion.


    Walking inside the mansion, the two didn''t actually attract much attention. Everyone was looking at the group of women dancing in the middle of the stage located in front of the tables and chairs. The party was at the back of the mansion where everyone could have the perfect view of the city lights and the garden.


    Small tables for people who wanted to stand can be seen near the bar while the bigger tables were ced near the stage. This time, Lyca didn''t immediately go to the table nearest to the food. Instead, Shen Qui and her walked towards her grandfather, who was surrounded by many people.


    "Grandfather," Lyca''s smile was as gentle as her voice. She hugged her grandfather. "Happy birthday!"


    Old Man Tangughed. After the ambush, he already told Huang Sheng Hong not to show up and just leave the country. It was bing more dangerous for them. He was confident that many people would use his birthday to try and meet Lyca.


    He wouldn''t want to put his daughter and granddaughter into a difficult situation.


    "Grandfather," Shen Qui also greeted the old man. Then he handed the box. "This is our family''s gift. We hope you liked it."


    In front of everyone, Old Man Tang epted the gift. He didn''t hand it to his secretary and just held it close to him. He then turned towards the people surrounding him. "You two you didn''t have to bring anything for my birthday. You know that I never liked extravagant gifts. Your presence is enough for me."


    "Grandfather, Lyca made this gift for you. Please ept it." Shen Qui said. He could feel everyone''s gaze turned towards his wife.


    "Ah, right everyone this is my granddaughter Lyca Huang and her husband who is now my grandson, Shen Qui." Old Man Tang''s voice was light. Before anyone could say anything, he already added, "You two arete. It''s already seven you should go and find something to eat. I included some of Lyca''s favorites tonight. Feel free to enjoy the food."


    "Old Man Tang why does it feel like you wanted them to leave? These two youngsters were showing their filial piety, and yet you would just send them to eat?" The man who spokeughed. "How about this That gift was made by your granddaughter. Why don''t you open it and show it to us? Wouldn''t it be nice to show off the things that our granddaughters made?"


    "General Li this gift was made by my granddaughter. Naturally, I wanted to show it off. However, I cannot just open it in front of everyone. After all, it was made for me. Isn''t it right that I see it first?"


    "Hahaha! You are still childish!" General Li sneered. "Here look at this" He opened to buttons of his shirt and showed a huge ne made of various stones. "This is made by my granddaughter. She loved to design jewelry and thought it would be nice to make something for me. You see this stone? This represents bravery and patriotism."


    "That is such a shy ne," Old Man Tang said, unimpressed. "I would never wear something so huge around my neck."It would make him feel like a dog.


    "Hmph! That wasn''t the point! The point was that I am very proud of this creation! I asked an expert jeweler to appraised this ne, and he told me it was worth about three million!" General Liughed. "Is my granddaughter the best? Or not?"


    "Of course not!" Old Man Tang instantly argued. "Your granddaughter is obviously not as good as mine!"


    "Then why don''t you open the gift? Let me guess this should be a huge collection of jewelry. It was wrapped in a gorgeous box, and it didn''t look that heavy. Tell me if I''m wrong."


    "General Li let me tell you something." Old Man Tang lifted his chin as he dered proudly, "My granddaughter is not as dense as some people. Why would she give me a piece of useless jewelry? Is that something that would help me walk? Or eat?" His voice attracted a lot of people''s attention.


    "Then why don''t you open the box so we can see if she is one of those dense people?"


    .....


    1/5


    Don''t forget to vote for the novel. :)

 Chapter 424: Eagle and Prey

    Chapter 424: Eagle and Prey


    Before Old Man Tang could say anything, Shen Qui suddenly chuckled. "General Li, the gift is dangerous to strangers. It is specifically made for Grandfather."


    "Dangerous?"


    When the people surrounding them heard his words, they became even more curious.


    "What could be something so dangerous that could harm other people?"


    "It will explode if expose to other people''s smell." Shen Qui lied without batting an eyelid. This is just the security feature of the thing that we gifted grandfather."


    "Security feature? I''ve never heard of that."


    "Well that''s it. You already heard it. The gift is not safe for other people to see." Old Man Tang smiled. "If you really want you can apany me when I open it. Of course whatever happens to you is not going to be my problem. Hahaha."


    General Li eyed another man at the corner of his eyes before he let out a deep, heartfulughter. "Old Man Tang we used to work before. Why would you want to hurt me?"


    Old Man Tang just continuedughing before the butler approached him and whispered to his ears. "Chu Family?" He looked at Lyca and Shen Qui.


    "Yes, Master. Mr. Chu Munan and Chu Nan are here," the butler continued. "Also someone from the Shen Family from the Capital also arrived."


    Old Man Tang lifted an eyebrow. "Then let them in."


    "Old Man Tang, it seems that your old bones are getting more popr these days, ah." One of the men surrounding them said. "The Chu and Shen Family? Those people don''t just attend birthdays of retired General like us."


    "Ah please excuse me. I will go and wee the new visitors." He turned towards Shen Qui then he realized that Lyca was no longer standing by his side. "I "


    "Uncle Wai and Uncle Second are alreadying here to help you entertain the new guests." Shen Qui smiled at the old man before excusing himself too. In the first ce, he wasn''t a Tang. It would be awkward if he apanied the old man in weing those people. Even Lyca, who was clearly a Tang, is already gone, hiding somewhere with food.


    He looked at the people who just arrived. Aside from Chu Nan and Chu Munan, who brought Cleo and Rue as their partners, there was also another woman. This should be the representative from the Shen Family.


    As if sensing his gaze, the woman turned towards Shen Qui and smiled. Shen Qui just nodded and turned his head away. The woman''s name was Shen Jiao. Jiao meant tender and beautiful, and this woman really looked like one. However behind all the smiles was actually a very ruthless woman.


    Shen Jiao is the person that the Shen Family sent every time they try to close a deal. And this woman would always close the deal no matter what it was.


    She was also the eldest granddaughter of Shen Duyi the current patriarch of the Shen Family.


    After a quick scan, Shen Qui finally found Lyca selecting food from the banquet table. Despite all the people walking his way to greet him, Shen Qui approached Lyca and held the te in her hand. Then, he stood by her side as she chose various food for their dinner.


    "The Shen Family arrived." Shen Qui said in a low voice. "Just as you anticipated."


    Lyca nodded. "The Eldest?"


    "Yes."


    Again, she nodded. It seems that the Shen Family also wanted to have the deal with her? Lyca chuckled inwardly. The Shen and Xu''s were obviously rich not as rich as the Chu, but they are pretty powerful because they have their own family armies. Rumor has it that the Shen and the Xu''s were actually wealthier than that Chu Family. It just that they have a lot of undered assets and some money that was hidden abroad. They are also trying to evade paying the proper taxes.


    "Alright I need another te." Lyca said and handed him another te. Without saying anything, Lyca started putting various food on the te. After a few minutes, Lyca and Shen Qui found a table located far from the stage.


    They knew that people would try to approach them, but this night is not their night but Old Man Tang''s. Plus, having all the attention was tiring for Lyca. Who would want to talk to people she doesn''t even know?


    "I am looking for you guys!" Cleo said the moment she walked towards them. Rue followed behind her. "That damn Chu Nan forced me toe here." Before Lyca could ask, Cleo already exined. "He said it would be good to pretend that I am his girlfriend to fend off women who wanted to marry him." She rolled her eyes. "As if Women who would want to marry him are either blind or stupid."


    "Then are you stupid?" Lyca suddenly asked.


    "Huh?"


    Rue burst out into a puddle, a puddle ofughter. She stood next to Cleo and poked her temple. "She is definitely stupid."


    Seeing Cleo''s confused look, Lyca shrugged and started peeling shrimps for Shen Qui.


    "Chu Munan said someone from the Xu wille," Rue said. "Probably that Xu Jihan. Aside from that, some businessmen from abroad decided toe to give their gifts too. They came without invitations." Rue stared at Lyca. "Obviously, they are here to build connections."


    "Then they should be disappointed. We are here to eat, not talk about business." Shen Qui answered. Lyca was too busy eating and peeling shrimps. She didn''t have the time to talk right now.


    Their attention soon turned towards another presentation on the stage. It was another group of women wearing red sexy clothing as they danced for the crowd. "Isn''t that your cousin?" Rue asked. "Mei? Tang Mei?"


    "Tang Fangmei," Lyca said as she nodded in approval. Who would have thought that her cousin could dance so well? She stared at her cousin, who was only looking at her left as if


    Lyca followed her cousin''s gaze, and just as she expected, Xu Jihan was there drinking some wine with a few men. Lyca quickly lowered her head. It seems that she was right after all. Xu Ke was indeed here. He was standing next to Xu Jihan while staring at her, like an eagle gazing at its prey.


    But then again... one would wonder. Who is the eagle? And who is the prey?


    #########


    2/5

 Chapter 425: Proper Human Beings

    Chapter 425: Proper Human Beings


    Lyca continued eating before she sighed.


    Looking at her empty te, she realized one crucial thing. Why does cooking take a few hours, five or even eight hours but eating only takes about three seconds?


    This


    Isn''t this unfair? She lifted her head, and before she could say anything, Shen Qui already smiled at her. "Let me get you another te." He leaned and kissed her greasy red lips before leaving.


    Lyca responded with a smile so big, it surprised Cleo and Rue. "The best people are the ones who knew when you get hungry and what you want to eat," Lyca stated as she nodded. Her choice to marry Shen Qui was something that she would never regret. It was really fate! "You should find people like that."


    The two just eyed each other and rolled their eyes almost at the same time.


    What kind of dog food is this? Clearly, they are single and aren''t looking for partners. They can clearly feed themselves and don''t need anyone else to do that for them.


    "When ites to husband, you should definitely pick someone good-looking. Don''t mind the food." Almost immediately, Lyca''s opinion changed.


    "Hey stop staring at your husband''s ass!" Rue reprimanded. What an embarrassment.


    "Oh? It was that obvious?" Lyca asked and peeled her gaze away from Shen Qui''s body.


    "You were drooling. Jesus "Cleo added. "Have some wine" she handed Lyca a wine ss. "We should act like proper human beings here. Your grandfather is apparently a well-known General. You didn''t even tell me that you have this kind of background. It is intimidating."


    "What was so intimidating about that?" Rue chimed in.


    "Well? It was the fact that she came from a military family."


    Rue snickered. Lyca came from a military family, but her primary source of ie was supplying weapons to the military''s enemies. Isn''t that ironic? "I hated people with authority," Rue added. Her childhood was pretty bad. Some of it was caused by people who had the authority to imprison her and her brother.


    "Someone''sing our way," Rue said as she lowered her gaze.


    "Ladies." Xu Ke had a slight smile on his face. He was holding two sses of champagne and put one of them in front of Lyca. "Let me introduce myself. I am Ken Dr. Ken Xu from the Xu Family."


    "Oh. Cleo go and escort Dr. Xu I think he didn''t know that it was actually my grandfather''s birthday and not mine. He is lost. Bring him to grandfather for some formalities."


    "Miss Lyca is really too harsh," Xu Ke chuckled. He ignored Cleo and Rue''s gaze and just focused on Lyca. "I am not lost. I came here to offer a toast. I already talk to Mr. Shen, and he promised something to me. I figured I needed to meet the woman behind such an outstanding man. After all, behind every strong king is an even stronger queen."


    Lyca faked a smile.


    "Mr. Xu"


    Luckily Shen Qui arrived on time. He ced the food in front of Lyca.


    "Mr. Shen Good Evening." Xu Ke said.


    "Mr. Xu this is Mr. Tang''s birthday. I hope we refrain from talking about business and focus on the celebrant instead." Without any hesitation, Shen Qui immediately informed him that talking about business would never happen tonight.


    "Oh please Ipletely understand that. No need to worry, I am just here to give Old Man Tang a gift." All this time, the smile on Xu Ke''s face didn''t disappear. He shamelessly stood next to Lyca as Lyca just ignored him and started eating. Shen Qui and the others on the table began ignoring him too.


    It was an awkward moment before Xu Jihan finally arrived to join them. Lyca was confident that Shen Qui would always be there tonight to chase this Xu Ke away. But this confidence vanished when her cousin Tang Jinyi suddenly arrived, wanting to pull Shen Qui towards the house to y chess.


    Lyca red at Tang Jinyi. Her hand held Shen Qui''s arms tightly. "Cousin as you can see, we are busy. Why don''t you go and entertain some of your friends instead? Tonight is grandfather''s birthday. You should have fun with your visitors." Lyca said. She didn''t miss the surprise on Tang Jinyi''s face.


    "You "Actually, this was the first time that Lyca spoke like this to him. No, this was the first time that she spoke more than two sentences to him! "Well then how about we all go inside. I will ask the maids to bring us food then we can y chess? I mean" Tang Jinyi leaned closer. "This ce is crawling with older people. It''s pretty boring."


    With the temptation of a morefortable area to eat, Lyca immediately agreed. All this time, she acted like a clingy wife, always holding her husband''s hands or arms something that irritated Xu Ke.


    Speaking of Xu Ke, he had been trying to act friendly to everyone, but it seemed that everyone in this group was deaf. They just continued ignoring him and Xu Jihan like they couldn''t see them. Almost immediately, his mood changed, and he decided to leave them for the time being. Unlike him, Xu Jihan chose to stick with Lyca and the group.


    This arrangement wasn''t nned ahead, and Xu Jihan was sincerely curious about the people around Lyca. After all, you can always judge a person by thepanies they keep. Plus, it was apparent that Lyca loved food, just like him. Sticking to the foodie is still better than sticking to a schemer.


    "Ah, a few of my friends are already here. Everyone I want you to meet Miss Shen Jiao. Everyone can call her Jiaojiao. She is a good friend of mine. This is well I think you already know Mr. Chu Nan and Mr. Chu Munan, and this is Mr. Xu Xu Jihan. Oh... My cousin Tang Fangmei will also join us."


    "Cousin Jinyi you wanted to y chess, but there are a lot of us. Why don''t we y a card game instead?" Tang Fangmei side-eyed Xu Jihan. Seeing that he briefly looked at her, she instantly blushed and lowered her head.


    3/5

 Chapter 426: Hiding

    Chapter 426: Hiding


    "How about we y a game?" Shen Jiao smiled. She stood near the bookshelves and looked at everyone sitting at the enormous L-shaped couch in the entertainment area. Across the sofa was a billiard table. Next to it was a table tennis table.


    "What game?" Chu Munan asked. Sinceing to the party, this was the first time that he saw Lyca up close. He was already smiling, like a boy who just saw his crush walked by.


    "Darts?" Shen Jiao said. "We are all good at shooting."


    "I''m in!" Tang Fangmei instantly agreed. Isn''t this the right time to show off her heavenly skills?


    "Shen Qui is ying for me!" Lyca said without hesitation. What game? She was still hungry! While the others started talking about the rules, Lyca asked Shen Qui what he liked to eat. She would personally get some food ande back here so they could eat.


    Lyca could quickly ask a maid to get her food, but she wasn''t that stupid. The ce is crawling with enemies the sad thing was she actually didn''t know all of her enemies. It is always better to be careful and avoid any idents.


    Saying nothing, Lyca left and walked straight to the kitchen where the rest of the food should be.


    "How disrespectful!" Tang Fangmei didn''t miss the chance to criticize Lyca''s actions in front of everyone. She heard from her mother that Lyca is now some big shot because of her inventions. Even Major An said that she was very talented and had a big future. She also said that more than half of the visitors tonight mighte here because of Lyca.


    In Tang Fangmei''s mind, this should be the reason why Lyca agreed toe here and join them, despite not wanting to y any games. She wanted to hide away from the businessmen and people who wanted to meet her. Well, at least she was still smart enough to know that this party is for their grandfather.


    Tang Fangmei let out a curse inwardly. After that small reunion, she knew that Lyca must have told her grandfather.


    "What''s so disrespectful about being hungry?" Shen Qui asked, brows furrowed.


    "You "


    "Fangmei we are here to have fun." Tang Jinyi''s voice had a tinge of warning before he started smiling again. "Alright we should all y darts. The rules are simple. The highest score would, of course, win. We will use ten darts each. Since all of us can shoot, there will be no excuses. You have to hit the center, bull''s eye in every shot. Missing one-shot meant you have to drink one ss of cocktail and do some truth or consequence. So again, one missed shot means one ss as well as truth or dare. Do you have any objections?"


    "None!"


    "No objections here!"


    "Alright! We should all start!"


    "Since I was the one who suggested a new game then I will start." Tang Fangmei stood and smiled at everyone. Her gaze stopped at Xu Jihan for a couple of minutes. She couldn''t help but wonder why he had been too silent. Was he angry? Did he did he recognized her? She cleared her throat and lifted her long sky blue dress as she walked towards the darts. "Alright ten darts?"


    "One mistake, one ss!" Tang Jinyi was quick to remind her of the rules.


    "Alright" Tang Fangmei smiled. Then she let go of her first dart. "Oops! I missed!" Frustrationsced her tone as she pouted. Her beautiful make-up made her more beautiful. "Do I have to drink it now?"


    "Of course," Shen Jiao handed her a ss of alcoholic cocktail. "The aim is to get you drunk."


    For a few seconds, regret shed in Tang Fangmei''s eyes. She looked at the ss and hesitated for a few minutes before she epted it. In fact, she deliberately missed the first shot hoping that Xu Jihan would say that he would drink for her.


    That would have been the sign that he recognized her that night.


    It seems that she was wrong?


    Xu Jihan he actually didn''t recognize the woman that he slept with?


    She bit her lips and finished the cocktail in one go. "Alright! I made a mistake on that one! This time I would not miss!"


    Just as Tang Fangmei said she didn''t miss on the second, third until the tenth dart. She gave a smug smile and flicked her long curly hair before returning back to her seat.


    "Fangmei I never expected you to be this good," Tang Ruyi''s mockery as she walked inside the entertainment room only worsen Tang Fangmei''s mood. She eyed Tang Ruyi, who walked next to Lyca. Both girls were bringing tes of various food and put them on the dining table a few feet away from the couch. This ce wasplete with all amenities like a living room and dining table as most of the Tang family''s grandchildren would love to stay in this ce during reunions and gatherings. Old Man Tang made sure to put a fridge here full of drinks, a bar, and even video games. There was also a theater paired with huge and beautiful sound systems.


    "Hmph! Tang Ruyi, stop mocking me and join us. Show me how good you are! If you can''t hit all ten darts, then you don''t have the right to mock me."


    Lycanguidly rested her elbows on the circr dining table and started throwing food into her mouth. She ignored the bickering and Miss Shen, who was already shooting darts, as she gestured Shen Qui to sit and join her. The two started eating as if they were the only people inside the entertainment room.


    Actually, Tang Fangmei''s assumption was correct all along. Lyca wanted to hide, and this was the perfect spot for her to hide while eating and having afortable velvet chair to sit on.


    "Shen Jiao! You actually hit all ten! You must be cheating ah!" Tang Jinyi instantlyined.


    "It''s not my fault that I am better than you," Shen Jiao smiled, but she was looking towards Lyca and, most importantly, Shen Qui. For some reason, a part of her thought that he looked really familiar.


    However, she couldn''t remember when she saw him before.


    ...........


    4/5

 Chapter 427: The Controlling Lyca

    Chapter 427: The Controlling Lyca


    While everyone enjoyed the birthday celebration, Long Yi was also busy getting rid of his wife''s body.


    "Make sure to change all CCTV''s. Xiaoxuan was never here tonight!" He instructed his secretary.


    "What if What if Mr. Huang would"


    "Once he realized that his daughter was missing, he would naturally investigate. But calling him first is not an option." Long Yi had always been indifferent to Huang Xiaoxuan, and he nned to keep it that way. If he called Huang Li Duo and informed him that his daughter vanished, he would surely suspect Long Yi.


    "What about the child?"


    "Just bring it home." Long Yi said. "Hire someone to take care of it. Do this after the doctor would call us about her disappearance." He gritted his teeth. His future is already uncertain because of his failing business. He had been very upiedtely because of thepany that he had somehow forgotten that he now had a child. Something that he could call his own. "The child can leave without its mother. Just make sure it''s well-fed and happy. Every child would survive that way!"


    "Yes, sir."


    "Alright you should leave."


    "Yes, sir."


    Long Yi immediately opened a bottle of Vodka after his secretary left and started drinking it straight from the bottle. The spice of the alcohol seemed to make him more aware of what he had done. "It was her fault," he chanted inwardly. Huang Xiaoxuan was the reason why Lyca never liked him. Looking at the stack of paper on his table, Long Yi decided to bury himself with work instead of thinking about that despicable woman.


    Huang Xiaoxuan is already dead. Of course, dying was still her own fault. Who told her toe at such a wrong time? Who told her to talk about their child while he was feeling angry? Huang Xiaoxuan''s death was her own fault!


    "Master! Master! I have some news!"


    Long Yi''s thoughts were interrupted when one of his secretaries suddenly arrived inside the room without even knowing.


    "What?"


    "Master tonight is Old Man Tang''s birthday, and I received some news about Mr. Ken Xu, Mr. Xu Jihan attending the banquet."


    "That is already expected.


    "Master there is another thing. Apparently"


    "Apparently, what?"


    "Someone from the Shen Family also sent a representative. Fewpanies from abroad just arrived without even invitations. Most of them just used the pretense of celebrating Old Man Tang''s birthday. But we all know that they really wanted to talk to Miss Lyca."


    Long Yi turned silent as he lowered his head. "Alright prepare a gift! I will go to Tang Mansion!"


    Unbeknownst to him, someone already informed Lyca about what happened.


    When Lyca received Yi''an''s text, her face instantly changed. She finished her cake before she replied, asking her about the details of what happened.


    ording to Long Yi''s secretary, who was also Yi''an''s spy, Long Yi instructed his people to throw his wife''s body in the ocean, feed it to the sharks and fishes. He said they would surely benefit from her.


    What a psycho, Lyca thought inwardly. That man was truly terrible. Just as Shen Qui said, Long Yi was really someone that could easily ruin himself. After a few minutes of deliberation, Lyca texted back and told Yi''an to hire people to retrieve the body and leave it near the beach.


    Tomorrow there will be a piece of explosive news about Huang Xiaoxuan''s body.


    Just thinking about Huang Xiaoxuan''s fate made Lyca a little down but not sad. She felt a little upset that Huang Xiaoxuan wasted her life for someone like Long Yi. The woman loved him too much, and yet he killed her. Long Yi never liked his wife nor valued her presence.


    He was abusive and maniptive. And Lyca hated that Long Yi won against Huang Xiaoxuan this time. He killed her before she realized that the toxicity of their rtionship could kill millions of people. It was poisoned to both of them.


    Now her child would surely suffer.


    The fact that the child was not Long Yi''s could potentially endanger the child''s life too. Once Long Yi knew that the child is not his, there is no doubt that he would try and kill the baby. Such a tragic fate.


    Lyca bit her lips and texted Yi''an, telling her to send someone to protect the child. A nanny would be perfect. At this point, Lyca realized that she wasn''t really that cold-hearted and evil. The child was innocent in all this.


    Speaking of children Lyca''s gaze soon turned towards Shen Qui. It was already Shen Qui''s turn to hit the board, and he was already on his eight darts. So far, he didn''t have any miss. Lyca eyed Shen Qui''s body. He was tall and lean, not overly muscr. He was also good-looking and intelligent. It would be perfect to have their child inherit all these traits.


    "Oh! You missed!"


    Tang Fangmei''s loud voice woke Lyca up from her stupor. She looked at the target board, and just as her cousin said, Shen Qui missed! It was already thest dart, and he actually missed.


    "Ha! Now, you have to drink!" Tang Fangmei was immediately in a happy mood. After all, Shen Qui was the only man who missed the bull''s eye. She looked at Lyca, mockery apparent in her gaze. "Oh please don''t tell me you can''t drink!?" Embarrassing Shen Qui was like embarrassing Lyca. It immediately lightened Tang Fangmei''s mood.


    "That''s right he can''t drink." Lyca suddenly chimed in. Since thispetition started, this was the first time that she spoke about it.


    "He is a grown man, Lyca. Why are you controlling him?" Tang Fangmei had the word smug written all over her face. "Stop being too toxic and just let him drink."


    Lyca rolled her eyes as she stood. "If he will drink. Who will drive me home while I sleep? Stupid. You think I would drive myself back to my house?" Lyca approached them and suddenly grabbed the ss. "Let me drink for him."


    Like a hero saving the beauty, she downed the ss without saying anything else.


    ""


    .....


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 Chapter 428: Eye- Catching Couple

    Chapter 428: Eye- Catching Couple


    "You "


    Tang Fangmei swallowed the words she wanted to say when she noticed Xu Jihan staring at Lyca. A slight smile lingered on his face for a few seconds. Fangmei frowned.


    "Alright he''s done." Lyca went back to her seat and, once again ignoring everyone else. After a few minutes, everyone finished ying, and some decided to y pool while Tang Jinyi wanted to y table tennis against Shen Qui.


    Who ys table tennis while wearing suits?


    Lyca rolled her eyes as she gestured to Shen Qui, silently telling him that they should leave now. They had been here for a few hours, and she was already done eating. She needed sleep.


    "You are leaving?" Xu Jihan asked. "Why?"


    Lyca just blinked and didn''t answer him. Does she need a reason to leave? Seeing the disinterest in Lyca''s eyes, Xu Jihan gave a wry smile before shrugging. "You remember the cookie from Du Empire?"


    Lyca squinted. "Are you trying to bribe me?" Right now, Shen Qui was looking for Lyca''s grandfather so he could inform him that they are leaving. Lyca didn''t want to personally say goodbye as she felt it was awkward. She didn''t want to steal the spotlight from her grandfather. She knew the old man doesn''t mind this, but she still felt it was unfair that these people just showed up because of her and Shen Qui.


    Tonight was still her grandfather''s birthday.


    "Why are you being so direct?" Xu Jihan fired back. He sat opposite to Lyca and eyed the empty tes. "You know my cousin had a crush on you. I told her you were already married."


    "What does this have to do with the cookies?"


    "She went to Du Empire just to buy you some."


    "Xu Je''er went to buy some food for me?" Lyca snickered.


    "How did you know it was Je''er?"


    Lyca didn''t answer him. She was toozy to converse with this type of person. Isn''t it obvious that she only met one female from the Xu Family? He keeps on saying ''she,'' making it more obvious. Wasn''t it too easy to guess?


    "Alright I''m sorry. I know you are only interested in the cookies. I already asked my secretary to get it from my car. I''m sure you will love it." Xu Jihan smiled. "You know when ites to things like food, I am considered an expert." He smirked. "I know every great chef in the country. Even choctier and restaurateurs. I know them all. So if you wanted to eat the best food, then you should call me."


    "Oh," Lyca nodded. "That''s good."


    "Aren''t you curious about the best food in Long City?"


    "No." Lyca was born in this ce. She thought she already ate everything that looked good in Long City. She even included Shen Qui, who also looked as good as food ah.


    Xu Jihan''s lips thinned. He was already aware that Lyca was really difficult to talk to. "Then let me "


    "Mr. Xu how did it feel?" Lyca interrupted him.


    "Hm?"


    "Watching me."


    He lifted an eyebrow. "Watching you?"


    "Watching me getting ambushed." Lyca was awkward when ites to proper conversation. However, being direct and getting to the point was something she was very good at.


    "What I don''t understand. What are you talking about?"


    "Mr. Xu" Shen Jiaojiao suddenly walked towards them. Lyca was actually waiting for Shen Qui on the balcony of the entertainment area. She was sitting on the rattan table with the cakes that she didn''t finish earlier. "I am wondering about that as well."


    "Miss Shen"


    Almost immediately, Xu Jihan''s face turned ugly. "Eavesdropping is not very good for someone like you."


    "I identally heard it while walking by. It wasn''t my fault that my hearing is pretty good."


    "You really wanna do this?" Xu Jihan sneered.


    Lyca watched with interest as the two started bantering and insulting each other.


    "You wanted her to work with your Xu Family, and yet you wanted to kill her. Isn''t that confusing?" Shen Jiaojiao continued. "Of course, our Shen Family is very different from your Xu Family. We would never hurt the people that we worked with."


    Xu Jihan snorted. "You don''t hurt them because it would ruin your reputation. But don''t you hurt your family members who didn''t follow your rules and regtions?"


    "Rumors." Shen Jiaojiao said. "I never thought that a man like you would entertain rumors like that."


    Lyca listened. The edge of her lips was lifted upwards into a cunning smile. It seems that the rumor about the Shen and Xu Family were actually true.


    "Just as I said our Shen Family is willing to pay four billion for the blueprint and the form. We would also give in to all demands as long as it won''t damage our Shen Family." Shen Jiaojiao had always been direct when ites to the things that she wanted. She fixed her gaze at Lyca''s smiling face. "What do you think Miss Huang?"


    "Hm? I think you two would look good as a couple." Lyca nodded in approval. "You are in your thirties, tall and good-looking. I can say that both of you are smart and charming. I say you are a ten out of ten couple!" Of course, they are still not on Shen Qui and her level but still they would really look good together.


    "That Miss Huang is jesting. I never thought that you actually have this side on you."


    Lyca smiled at Shen Jiaojiao. Now that she was staring at the woman''s face, Lyca noticed a few simrities that she had with Shen Qui. Of course, they would have simrities as they are actually cousins.


    "I don''t joke around," Lyca smiled inwardly. Seeing the two''s ufortable expression, she knew that there should be something deeper in between the two. If she wasn''t toozy to investigate other people''s love life, she would have asked them about their reaction.


    But this is none of her business.


    "Hmm no need to tter yourselves, though. You are a gorgeous couple, but you aren''t as eye-catching as my husband and I." Lyca said with a straight face, making the two speechless. They couldn''t understand if she was joking or serious.


    But if she was serious


    Saying those things and even praising herself was a bit different, no?


    .....


    Please don''t forget to vote with your PS.

 Chapter 429: Acting Upset

    Chapter 429: Acting Upset


    "What''s going on here?" Lyca asked when she noticed themotion just as she walked out of the house.


    "It''s Long Yi," Shen Qui answered. He stood next to Lyca, like a tall concrete wall.


    "He''s here?" Lyca frowned. Right after he killed his wife, he actually came here to party? This man was a sociopath!


    "He was arguing with the guards when they didn''t let him in. He got upset and asked his people to subdue the guards. He then walked inside. Tang Jinyi noticed themotion and approached him."


    "Jinyi?"


    "Yes. He wanted to drag Long Yi out. Long Yi was already drunk and tried to fight him."


    Crazy. Long Yi had gone insane. Lyca just stood there and listened as Long Yi, and Tang Jinyi argued. After a few seconds, more security arrived to escort Long Yi out of the property. It was a good thing that thismotion happened at the back gate.


    Long Yi actually wanted to use the back gate to avoid attracting a lot of attention from everyone. It was just unlucky that one needed to use this pathway from the entertainment room to the garden where the party was currently happening.


    "Let me go! Don''t you know who I am? I am from the Long Family! Don''t you F*ck! I said, let me go!"


    "You are drunk. We don''t allow drunk people inside." Tang Jinyi''s tone was stern. "Take him out." He added.


    "Mr. Tang can''t you just "Long Yi''s words were interrupted when he noticed the two people standing not far away from them. He squinted and instantly spotted Lyca''s hair. "Lyca? Is that you?"


    In response, Lyca narrowed her eyes at the man. "He killed his wife," she said in a voice only Shen Qui could hear.


    "When did this happen?"


    "A few hours ago. He threw her body in the sea and decided toe here, drunk. He was probably going to use this as an alibi." Finished speaking, Lyca let go of Shen Qui''s hand and walked towards Long Yi. An action that made Long Yi smile.


    "Lyca " He straightened his back and tried to remove the hands of the two guards that held him. "Can''t you see? She wanted to talk to me."


    "Let him go," Lyca ordered, and the two instantly took a step back, letting Long Yi''s arms go.


    "He is drunk." Tang Jinyi warned her when he saw that Lyca was intending to approached Long Yi. "Be careful."


    Lyca didn''t say anything. She continued walking. Her eyes never left Long Yi''s smiling face. "Howe you are here?" she asked.


    "To attend grandpa Tang''s birthday. It''s just that my invitation  I don''t know where I put it. I was busy and probably misced it in my office."


    "Young Miss, Mr. Long is not included in the list. We also asked Patriarch Tang, and he said Mr. Long wasn''t invited."


    "Is that so?" Lyca stood two feet away from Long Yi. Seeing her up close, Long Yi couldn''t help but smile. That was until he noticed that coat that was wrapped around her shoulders. He eyed Shen Qui and instantly knew that this was his coat. A dangerous glint shed in Long Yi''s eyes.


    "You look beautiful tonight."


    "I know," Lyca nodded. "Since you already know that you are not invited, then why are you still here?"


    Long Yi didn''t expect her sharp words. For some reason, he hoped that she would wee him instead of kicking him out.


    "I "


    "Did you forget what you did to my Huang Family?" Lyca''s question was direct. To her, there is no need for pretense around this type of man. "Let me remind you. You poisoned my grandfather, framed me, take over mypany, imprisoned my mother and father, and tried to scheme against me over and over again."


    "I " Long Yi never thought that Lyca would just blurt out everything in front of other people.


    "I I What?" Lyca''s voice turned colder. "You want to deny doing all this?"


    "Lyca look"


    "If you try to touch me. I will remove your nails one by one without anesthetics." Lyca took a step back. For some reason, Yi''an''s message about Long Yi killing Huang Xiaoxuan. It made her upset.


    Long Yi''s hands froze. He stared at Lyca. "You You are threatening me?"


    "Leave," Lyca said. "Or you will suffer."


    Long Yi stared at Lyca for a few minutes before he chuckled. "Alright I understand. It''s because of that man right? You married him because you wanted to avoid our engagement, right? You used him to make me suffer! You wanted me to be miserable, right?" Heughed. "Lyca you already won! I am now the most miserable man in this City!" Laughing, he took a step towards Lyca. "You must be thrilled right now thinking that I am suffering."


    "I am," Lyca said with a straight face.


    Shen Qui, who was a few feet away from them, didn''t move. He knew Lyca too well. Since Lyca walked towards Long Yi, it was evident that she wanted to handle this herself. There is no need to intervene. After all, he was very confident in his wife''s skills.


    Shen Qui didn''t miss the small gesture Lyca made using her hands before putting both of her hands behind her back. Then she took another step back, increasing the space between her and Long Yi.


    If Shen Qui''s guess was right, Lyca was only acting upset. She was nning to make Long Yi approached her so she could do something to him. Shen Qui knew that if Lyca was truly upset, she wouldn''t say a word. She would kill no more exnations needed.


    Shen Qui watched as Long Yi tried to touch Lyca again. But she was quick to avoid his hand. She sidestepped and warned him again. This time, Shen Qui knew that Lyca was doing this for the CCTV camera behind her. Earlier, the camera wasn''t able to capture her movement. Now, she was making sure to show the camera that she didn''t do anything else.


    This meant that someone else must be watching them right now.


    And that this meant that this Long Yi would probably end up paralyze tomorrow.

 Chapter 430: Backlash

    Chapter 430: Bacsh


    Shen Qui slowly walked behind Lyca, towering next to her as he observed. He knew his wife had a special way of knowing if someone is looking at them secretly and he was getting curious how she does this. He stared at Long Yi''s crazed eyes before he thought of cultivating internal energy. Lyca taught him how to do it.


    She also said that this world doesn''t have any mana around it, meaning magic wouldn''t exist. But how did she do it? Slowly Shen Qui thought of Lyca''s instructions. Feel the earth, feel the wind, the air surrounding you. Close your mind, until you feel you are alone, safe in a ce that only you know.


    He continued standing next to Lyca until he felt rxed and lighter. Slowly, he felt Lyca standing next to her. He knew that even if he closed his eyes, he would know that she was there. Then he felt Tang Jinyi and Long Yi. He could feel their breathing, their hearts beating. It was like he was watching them when, in fact, he was only staring at Lyca.


    It felt weird.


    He felt his heart started to beat slower, calmer. It was as if he was sleeping.


    But he was awake, and he could see everything that was happening to him. Shen Qui lowered his head and closed his eyes. For some reason, his head already started to ache. Was it an effect of sensing other people? He gnashed his teeth, determined to also sense the other two bodyguards who took a few stepped back earlier.


    Sadly, his head ached as if it was about to break. He frowned, the deep lines between his brows deepened.


    "Look at him? He won''t even defend you from a rival! He is just someone who is hiding behind his woman''s skirt! Is that really the person that you would spend your life with? A coward?"


    Lyca''s face darkened. It wasn''t because of Long Yi''s insults, but because she could feel somethinging from Shen Qui. It was some sort of hot energy. She could clearly feel his ufortable state. A curse word left his lips. Of course, Long Yi thought that she cursed because of his words.


    He smirked. "I know you understand what I was trying to say. He is nothing but a coward, some trash that you pick up on the streets. Isn''t it time that you threw him away now?"


    "Escort him out," Lyca said under her breath, and Tang Jinyi who was standing near her instantly signaled his people to grab Long Yi.


    "Lyca, I am not done talking!"


    "Yes, you are." Tang Jinyi said. "Drag him out!"


    "I said I am not yet done talking. Lyca! Can you hear me?"


    Lyca, on the other hand, was already standing in front of Shen Qui. Just as she expected, he didn''t even notice her standing close to him. She gritted her teeth and slowly lifted her hand to touch his forehead. "Jinyi please help me bring my husband to the guest room."


    "He is sick?"


    Lyca nodded. She could lift Shen Qui, but she wouldn''t risk showing her strength in front of everyone else. "Fever."


    "Howe he got sick? Aw! Too hot! Shall we bring him to the hospital? This temperature is "


    "No. Let''s take him to the room first."


    "Then do you want me to call the doctors?"


    "No. I can take care of it." Lyca looked at Shen Qui''s pale face and sighed. He was standing, but his consciousness already left him.


    With Tang Jinyi''s assistance, they arrived in one of the guest rooms on the second floor of the house. "Please leave us alone. I will take care of him." Lyca said when Tang Jinyi voiced out his concern for Shen Qui. "Please don''t tell grandfather," Lyca said.


    "Alright. If you need any assistance"


    "Of course. I will call you." Lyca forced a smile out of her face before she closed the door, locking it. She then walked towards Shen Qui and examined his state. This man actually forced himself to sense his surroundings. It backfired since his body wasn''t ready for it.


    She removed his shoes and made sure that he wasfortable before he started massaging his body. Using her knowledge of acupuncture, Lyca prepared Shen Qui''s body. In her previous world, this phenomenon is pretty popr, but it is only for people who can use magic. Usually, they would lose consciousness and have a really high fever until their mana would heal them.


    This world didn''t have mana. So Lyca needed to use her own internal energy to heal him. Just like when she healed him the first time. Closing her eyes, Lyca held both of Shen Qui''s hands and channeled her energy without any hesitation. Lyca couldn''t help but wonder why Shen Qui experienced such bacsh. In the first ce, he didn''t have any mana in his body.


    Using Internal Energy alone shouldn''t use a bacsh that could cause a fever. Lyca recalled the first time that she used her energy to sense her surroundings. She was sixteen. Almost immediately, she suffered from a headache, but that was it.


    At that time, she wasn''t able to sense anything around her. It was a failure. Instead of trying again, Lyca slept and try again another day.


    After about five tries, she was finally able to use her internal energy to sense some ants that were around her at that time. Then it took her another ten or more tries before she sensed some humans that were sitting two meters away from him. At that time, her head ached too much, she had to stop and recover.


    Still, she didn''t have a fever or lost her consciousness. Again, losing consciousness usually happens if they were using mana, not internal energy.


    So what happened to Shen Qui?


    Maybe it was because he was already older?


    Questions upon questions started to pile up in Lyca''s head. The more she asked, the more she realized that she knew almost nothing about using Internal Energy. She didn''t inquire Shen Qui about his uncle because she was toozy to ask questions.


    Lyca sighed.


    At the end of the day, her problems stem from herziness, ah.


    After a few more minutes, she opened her eyes and realized that he was still hot. Though, his face looked more normal than before she started helping him.


    Lyca stared at Shen Qui. Now that she thought about it Shen Qui actually learned how to use internal energy to help his injury at such a young age. How did he learn it? He is someone from Earth, and this cultivation is not something that a normal mortal child could learn.


    Did she miss something?


    ....


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 Chapter 431: Symptoms

    Chapter 431: Symptoms


    Lyca sat next to Shen Qui''s bed, exhausted and drained.


    She felt dizzy, she felt like sleeping. But she chose not to. She couldn''t just sleep without making sure that he would be fine. Lyca held Shen Qui''s hands and sighed. Soon, she leaned her head on the headboard, closing her eyes.


    She forced the sleepiness out of her head, but she couldn''t help it. She really had no energy to stay awake.


    .


    Shen Qui''s kiss stirred her awake. She jolted up and rxed when she realized she was lying next to him. "Howe you didn''t wake me up?"


    "It''s nighttime why would I wake you up?"


    "Oh" She turned towards him and realized that she was already wearing her underwear. He must have removed her dress before tucking her to bed. "You who made these breakfast?" she asked him.


    "Of course it is me," Shen Qui said. "You didn''t think I would know how to cook bacon and eggs?"


    Lyca chuckled. Actually, she didn''t think he would know how to cook bacon. But she chose not to say it. She grabbed the spoon and fork before she realized that this situation seemed wrong. "Hey you should eat. Why are you treating me as if I was the one sick?"


    "I''m not sick."


    She squinted. "You had a high fever." She ted her palm on his forehead.


    "Not anymore." Shen Qui smiled and stood before he started doing jumping jacks. "See? I''m good." Seeing Lyca frowned, Shen Quiughed. "What? You didn''t want to see me doing good?"


    "That''s not it," Lyca pulled him back into the bed and held her forehead again. His temperature was indeed normal. What was happening here? "What did you dost night?"


    "Hm?"


    "You tried to sense your surroundings, right? Tell me what happened next." Lyca asked. A small suspicion grew inside her. And it made her ufortable.


    "Well I was wondering how did you know someone is watching us. So I stood behind you and tried to use my internal energy to sense the surroundings."


    "And?"


    "I sensed it."


    "On the first try?"


    "Ye  Yes that It''s not normal?"


    "Continue," Lyca became even more curious. The fact that she was able to use her internal energy to sense people took a lot of practice and sleeping. But Shen Qui actually did it on the first try? Was this the difference between a genius and someone considered normal like her?


    "I heard your heartbeat and your blood."


    "Huh?" Lyca lifted an eyebrow.


    "I know I didn''t actually see you but heard your heart. It sounded impossible." But at this point, the word impossible no longer existed between them. He awkwardly stared at Lyca, trying to gauge her reaction. "And I heard Tang Jinyi''s heartbeat too, as well as Long Yi."


    Lyca''s eyes widened. "On the first try?" Why does she feel that this Shen Qui was really talented?


    "Yes that was my first try."


    "How about the other two guards?"


    "I didn''t sense them. I tried to expand my senses it didn''t work. I can''t feel them."


    Lyca stood and sat on the couch not far away from the bed. She then stared at Shen Qui. It seems that he was more talented than her. "I''m wondering How sharp is your memory?" Lyca knew he could memorize all the disimers and other documents in a few minutes. He could remember details so easily too. He could easily memorize rules and thew. Was it possible that


    "I can remember everything that I see." Shen Qui pursed his lips. "But it''s been like that since I was a child."


    "Really?" Lyca asked.


    "Yes. I mean after I woke up from my injuries when I was a child. I noticed that I could remember everything clearly."


    "Everything?"


    "Yes. Everything."


    Photographic memory. Mysterious background. Tragic past. Above-average talent.


    Lyca widened her eyes. This man should be the standard Male Lead in every novel that she read before. Except he wasn''t as jealous and pushy.


    "Is something wrong?"


    Lyca shook her head. "I just I just thought what happened to you was a bit weird." She decided to be honest. Withholding so much information is such a hassle. Lyca already learned her lesson after exining her past to Shen Qui.


    At that time, they talked for a few hours. It was really tiring.


    Isn''t it better to spend a few minutes telling him small things every day than spending almost the entire night telling him these things when the right timees?


    Lyca nodded in approval. Her idea would definitely save her time.


    "Weird? Why?"


    Lyca pursed her lips. "It doesn''t work like that for me."


    "You mean you can''t hear heartbeats?"


    "No. Mine works like a thermal scanner. I can see heat for warm-blooded creatures. But I don''t hear their blood or heartbeat."


    Shen Qui turned quiet. He stared at Lyca for a few minutes before he thought about what happenedst night. He tried his best to extend his senses, but it didn''t work. Then he felt darkness overtook his senses. He lost consciousness just as Lyca stood in front of him.


    "Hey can you tell me something about your uncle?" Lyca asked.


    "His injuries tell me about it."


    "I was a child." Shen Qui asked. "I never asked, but I never saw anything in his body. I meant not a scar, but I haven''t seen him naked or anything. So I can''t be sure"


    "But you don''t know anything about his injuries?" Lyca just wanted to make sure that she is getting this right. Moreover, she was sure that Shen Qui would never lie to her.


    "No. But he is always weak. He can''t walk properly and would always have high fevers at night."


    "At night?" Lyca asked.


    "Yes. During the morning, he would be so weak but no fever."


    Lyca lifted an eyebrow before she crossed her arms across her chest. Was it possible that Shen Qui is not from this world, too?


    From Lyca''s research, Shen Qui was the son of a Xu and a Shen. However, both families tried their best to destroy all evidence, so she was having a hard time knowing about Shen Qui''s past.


    The only thing that bugged her was Shen Qui''s uncle. His symptoms ... the one that Shen Qui spoke of sounded like an injury once a mage exhaust his mana. It was something worse than bacsh.


    .....


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 Chapter 432: A Lifesaver

    Chapter 432: A Lifesaver


    "Long Yi was arrested just this morning."


    This was the news that Lyca walked into when she left the guest room with Shen Qui. Tang Ruyi was giving her a meaningful look as she continued. "He was admitted to the hospital early in the morning because he couldn''t move his legs anymore. They said his legs were just numbed."


    "Hmmm probably because of his age," Lyca calmly said before stuffing some bacon in her mouth. Earlier, Shen Qui made some slices of bacon and eggs for her. When she asked him if he already had breakfast, he shook his head. Because of this, Lyca dragged him out of the room. "By the way your clothes look too big on me. Did you gain weight again?" She asked Tang Ruyi.


    "Is that really something you should ask your single unmarried cousin?" Tang Ruyi''s face reddened. "And I did gain some muscles. Not fat!" If only she could be like Lyca, who eats like a beast and still has her slim arms, then she would be thrilled! Tang Ruyi works in the military. It is natural for her to have a muscr physique, her biceps were naturally bigger than those of normal women.


    She guessed that her powerful-looking arms were the reason all of her blind dates get scared of her.


    "So. Long Yi" Tang Ruyi dragged his name. "I heard he tried to approach youst night?"


    "Hm," Lyca smiled at Shen Qui when he added more eggs to her te. "He is crazy."


    "Did he kill his wife?"


    "Oh? They already found the body?" Lyca asked.


    "So you knew" Tang Ruyi furrowed her brows. "If you told me that Long Yi was actually this despicable, I would have pped himst night too! Jinyi was able tond a punch. It''s not fair." Seeing Lyca maintained her silence, Tang Ruyi started asking questions about Huang Xiaoxuan. "So she just gave birth? How could she liked someone like Long Yi?"


    "Some people like someone they couldn''t have," Shen Qui answered. "Sometimes it''s human instinct to feel challenged, to love the thrill of chasing and getting what they wanted. It''s crazy."


    "Long Yi''s father, was unfortunate to have someone like him as a son," Old Man Tang spoke while reading the newspaper. He stared at Lyca. "I was wondering how the body turned up at the beach. It''s not like they just left the body after throwing it. They must have used some rocks. Now, Ipletely understand how it happened."


    Lyca just smiled but didn''t say anything.


    "I cannot imagine Huang Li Duo''s ire." Old Man Tang continued. "But considering what he did to his own father I can say that this is Karma."


    "Strange right?" Shen Qui asked. "How the world would give you back what you have given. This time ten times or hundred times worse than what you did."


    "Anyway, the gift"


    "We can talk about it after breakfast, grandfather." Shen Qui smiled at the old man.


    "What gift? Oh, my god! I forgot to ask about that gift! There was a strange topicst night. They said that you gifted something to grandfather with a special security system! It could actually detect smell?" Tang Ruyi became so excited. "Heh, cousin you know that I am your best friend and the only person who knows everything that you made sense you were a child."


    "It''s because I was testing it on you," Lyca said.


    "That''s not my point!" Tang Ruyi frowned. "Point is if you created something like this, you should make me test it first! I thought I am your most loyal product tester?"


    "I knew this would happen," Lyca said under her breath. She didn''t want her grandfather to open the giftst night, not because of the surrounding people. It was because of Tang Ruyi. This woman would never leave her alone now.


    Lyca met her grandfather''s amused eyes and silently hoped that he woulde to her rescue. And he did.


    "Alright Ruyi, stop bothering your cousin. If she wanted to give you one, she will. Act like a woman and stop bbering like a bird."


    "But grandfather!"


    "I will wait for the two of you in my office."


    Shen Qui smiled and nodded at the old man. To be honest, he liked the Tang Family better than the Huang''s. He felt that the old man is sincere and direct. Strict, but definitely caring. Even Lyca''s uncles and aunts were better people, too. Of course, there was also Tang Ruyi and Tang Jinyi who were quite close to Lyca.


    For some reason, he felt closer to the Tang Family.


    Of course, when the two arrived in Grandpa Tang''s office, Tang Ruyi tagged along. She insisted that she needed to see the gift too. In the end, Grandfather Tang showed Tang Ruyi the gift along with Lyca and Shen Qui.


    "This What is this metal?" Tang Ruyi asked.


    "Don''t touch it. This was programmed for grandfather so no one else can touch it."


    "What happens if I touch it?


    "It will produce electricity enough to make you faint."


    Tang Ruyi turned even more excited. She looked like Lyca and blinked her beautifulrge eyes towards her cousin. Lyca rolled her eyes and didn''t look at her cousin anymore. Actually, she was nning to give her something too. However, she wasn''t some superwoman. Making those items was difficult, and it would take some time.


    It''s not something that Lyca could just finish overnight.


    Shen Qui immediately showed the old man how to attach the armor to his chest. "It can withstand a 50 caliber bullet. It is soft and light, meaning it is easier to wear than a bulletproof vest. Aside from this it had this feature too." Shen Qui pressed something, and almost immediately the metal slowly moved and became even thinner. "If you remove your clothes and put this directly to your chest and back, it ispletely undetectable."


    "This  " Old Man Tang and Tang Ruyi said almost at the same time. "This is a lifesaver!"


    .....


    3/5

 Chapter 433: Cooking up Schemes

    Chapter 433: Cooking up Schemes


    "I told you, Mr. Long didn''t kill his wife! He was at the partyst night. You can ask Mr. Tang Jinyi, He was there! They had some altercations, and my client left and never met his wife when he was at his house!" Long Yi''swyer reasoned. "You have no evidence and have no right to detain us."


    "Mr. Long  "


    "Well you can''t detain us without any warrants. My client needed medical attention because of his current situation." Finished speaking, Long Yi''swyer pushed his wheelchair out of the interrogation room and towards his car.


    "Did the test resultse back?" Long Yi asked. His concern was not Huang Xiaoxuan, but his legs! He didn''t know what happened, but afterst night, he couldn''t move it. It was just numbed.


    "Yes, we need to go see the Long Family''s doctor now."


    After a few minutes of driving, Long Yi arrived in his mansion to talk to the doctor only to receive a piece of devastating news. "A what?"


    "There were problems in your spinal cord. We need to undergo more tests to know what was the reason for this problem. For now I am scheduling a test that will be done abroad as "


    "Mr. Long is not allowed to leave the country." Long Yi''swyer interrupted the doctor. "Can''t we do this test in the country? Surely there should be "


    "No. We won''t be leaving the country for this test but for the people that will administer the test. We needed to open your spine. That is not something that any doctors could just do. We needed specialist, award-winning doctors to do that."


    "What happens if I don''t have this test?" Long Yi asked.


    "I can''t be sure," his doctor responded. "As I said, this is the first time that I saw this type of results and X- rays. However, if we won''t give you immediate treatment, then there is a possibility that you won''t be able to walk again."


    "So  " Long Yi''s face turned darker. "You don''t know what caused this. You don''t know what medicine to give me. But you know that I wouldn''t be able to walk again if we dy treatment?" He snorted. "What kind of doctor says something like that? Are you insane?" He then looked at hiswyer. "Fire him! I want to talk to another doctor, and I want it as soon as possible!"


    "Yes, Mr. Long."


    Hearing this, the doctor sighed. "Mr. Long if we "


    "Someone escort him outside!" Long Yi said. "I don''t want to see your face again!" Left with no choice, the doctor could only sigh and left Long Yi in his office. When he left, Long Yi gnashed his teeth in anger. "Tell me about the case," he said. Right now, only him, his secretary, andwyer are inside his room.


    "Mr. Huang Li Duo is doing his best to tie the murder under your name. Of course, they cannot find evidence that she was here as all of our cameras had been altered. I already bribed the nurses and doctor. I wanted them to testify and tell the judge that Miss Huang is showing signs of depression. We can easily make it look like suicide."


    "Suicide?" Long Yi asked before looking at his secretary. "Last night, you told me you threw her in the sea? What happened? Howe she turned up at the beach? Are you f*cking stupid?"


    "Mr. Long, there were five of us, and we made sure to attach some rocks to her body. I  I don''t know how this happened."


    "Did they found the rocks?'' Long Yi asked.


    "Yes. Of course, we can make it look like she attached it on her own feet just so she would sink after jumping off a cliff somewhere."


    Long Yi clenched his jaw.


    "For now, please make it look like you are grieving. Avoid any heated confrontation with Huang Li Duo, and please see your child. They can easily use this against you. Right now, the media already knew about everything, and they are turning this into some high-profile case. Oh, they are about the release your baby so what you can do is to show the reporters that you are grieving. Show up in a wheelchair, make yourself look stressed. For now, we need to create the look of a grieving single father."


    Long Yi nodded. Everything about the suggestion would make him look like a good man. He loved looking like a good man. "Find all the specialists that could check me. If they want to open my spine, then do it. Make sure to let the reporters know that."


    Just like that, Long Yi cooked up another scheme to make Huang Xiaoxuan look like the crazy mother who killed herself because of depression. He even asked hiswyer to schedule a press conference just to exin his side of the story. This time, he was nning to make it look like, she was forced to marry her because of his father.


    However, he wanted to let everyone know he loved his child. He paid for everything and sent Huang Xiaoxuan abroad where the technology is better. However, she came home and spend her time in the Huang Family for the holidays. Because of the stress from traveling, she gave birth ahead of time.


    Lyca closed her eyes when she heard Yi''an report over the phone. Right now, she was no longer surprised to know this. She already anticipated Long Yi to cook up some scheme that would turn the situation around. "You were able to secure the video of Huang Xiaoxuaning in the house as well as the CCTV that showed Long Yi''s people putting her body in the car, right?"


    "Yes."


    "Good. Let''s make Long Yi celebrate his sess. Then release the video to the public. As usual, we will make the public hate him."


    "Yes, Miss," Yi''an said. "That man is really despicable. I will definitely arrange everything and make sure that he would live the rest of his life in prison in his wheelchair!"


    *****


    4/5

 Chapter 434: Corn Dogs

    Chapter 434: Corn Dogs


    After Shen Qui and Lyca left Tang Family''s estate, the two decided to visit some food stands first before going back to the mansion.


    "So... There is no technology in that world?" Shen Qui asked when Lyca told him that there was no corned beef in her previous world. Or any preserved goods.


    "We do preserve food but we don''t use technology to do that. I meant drying and pickled food are considered preserved food too." Lyca smiled. For some reason, talking about this with her husband is making her feel lighter. Maybe it was because she had kept this secret for a long time. All this time, she had no one else to talk to and would just keep everything inside her. It was terrible.


    Now, however, Lyca already has him to talk to!


    "So what about thews? I mean, if one person is too powerful then he could basically rule the world? Be its king and enve people?"


    "Yes, that is possible. Some Kingdoms were led by cruel people that enve people. While some empires are led by strong people chosen ones."


    "Chosen ones?"


    "In that world, people have this core. I don''t know how to exin it. It''s like some sort of power source? So some people have divine cores, and these people were considered powerful and could defeat armies. Their memories are sharp and were always lucky."


    "Lucky?"


    Lyca finished her corn dog and nodded. "Luck is ability too. It''s when you are about to die, you are wounded and your mana is just drained and you still survive because of some miraculous stuff? Those people were often known as chosen ones."


    "So they are like chosen warriors? To fight against what people?"


    "To fight against people from the other realm. Like other dimensions."


    "You  your people can invade dimensions?"Lyca''s world is like something out of a movie! For some reason, Shen Qui found it very interesting.


    "Other dimensions they try to invade us all the time. Demons wanted to eat mortals, and the Divine race wanted to rule us. It''s just like that. Chosen one''s fight these invaders. They are powerful and smart and usually good looking too."


    "How about you? Were you considered a chosen one?"


    Lyca shook her head in response. "No. I am not powerful. I can be considered crafty, but I''m not one of those really powerful ones that could move mountains and cause storms."


    "Hmmm." Shen Qui was about to take a bite at his corn dog when he realized that it was gone. He slowly looked at Lyca.


    "Payment," Lyca shrugged. "Talking is tiring. Need payment."


    He leaned forward and kissed her lips. The kiss was light and quick. When she was about to return the kiss, Shen Qui''s lips were already gone. Seeing her reaction, Shen Qui chuckled and said, "Payment."


    "For what?"


    "For eating"


    "The corn dog?" She asked.


    "My corn dog."


    Lyca blinked before she realized what he meant. Slowly, her cheeks turned hot. She knew she was blushing.


    Seeing this, Shen Quiughed and stood. He then walked towards the stall that was selling corn dogs. After a few minutes, he sat next to her, smiling as he handed her another corn dog. "Not as good as mine but it will do."


    "Hey!" Lyca yfully pped her husband''s arms. "Why are you so weird?"


    "What''s so weird about what I said?"


    "That everything about what you said was weird!"


    "Hm?" He tilted his head and stared at her. "Can you borate?"


    Lyca opened her want, wanting to argue. Then she realized that Shen Qui''s words weren''t actually dirty. It was just her mind was super clouded with weird and Ummm slightly dirty ideas. She widened her eyes, her hand slowly pinching his arm. Since she can''t beat him with words, she decided to just pinch him instead.


    To her surprise, Shen Qui justughed at her. Of course, this made her more furious. She was about to use her other hand to pinch his arm when he suddenly pulled her towards hisp. The quick action made her squeal.


    Her face reddened. "Let me go." Right now, she was already sitting in Shen Qui''sp, his arms around her waist, her butt firmly nted against his erection.


    "Nope."


    "Let go."


    "Nope."


    "I will bite you."


    "Why don''t you bite the corn dog?"


    Lyca red at him. For some reason, every time he mentioned corn dog, her brain would give her some weird weird thoughts. Her scarlet red face was surely enough to tell him about her thoughts.


    Clearly, Shen Qui was enjoying this.


    "I am not eating anymore."


    He chuckled and leaned towards her ears. "Oh? Then what would you want to eat? My "


    "Shut up!" Lyca interrupted him. "If you won''t shut up, I will "


    "Will what?" His voice had be deeper, and she kinda hated that they are currently in a public ce with people walking all around them. Should she suggest the toilet?


    Lyca cleared her throat. First and foremost, she was not a pervert! Alright maybe she was, but she wasn''t nning to make it that obvious.


    "Well?" Shen Qui continued.


    "Well "Lyca moved her head away. "I guess it''s time for us to go home?"


    Shen Quiughed and immediately put her down. Then he stood, and the two decided to just go back home to eat more.


    After the two were gone, Ken suddenly walked out from one of the stalls. His eyes narrowed at the bench where Shen Qui and Lyca sat earlier.


    "Sir, do you still want to buy all the corn dogs?" the vendor that was selling corn dogs asked.


    Xu Ke didn''t answer as he walked towards his car.


    "Sir!?"


    Right now, Xu Ke couldn''t understand the reason why he was so angry. Was it because he and Lyca never did this kind of rxing date before? Or was it the fact that Lyca never once blushed when she was still in the previous world?


    ****


    5/5 Yey! Please don''t forget to vote with your powerstones.

 Chapter 435: Long Yis Downfall Part 1

    Chapter 435: Long Yi''s Downfall Part 1


    "She was a loving wife," Long Yi sat in his wheelchair, tears streamed down his face. "She loved me since we attended Long Founding School of Elites. I knew it. And I took advantage of her emotions. I made her  I  " He used a tissue to wipe his cheeks. "I turned her into someone her parents didn''t recognize anymore. I made her depressed and I am to me for her death."


    Long Yi gulped before he continued, "I am responsible for what happened to my wife. I drove her into depression because I didn''t love her enough. Moving forward, I promise to be the best father to my  to our child. I promise to give our child the affection that I wasn''t able to provide for my wife. Depression is not something that we can take for granted. Our Long Company already talked to some charity that focused on mental health and we are going to work with them to save as many people as we can from this disease."


    shes from the camera followed his deration. He lowered his head and stared at his numbed legs that were resting quietly in his wheelchair.


    "Alright, you can ask questions now." Hiswyer who stood next to him said.


    "Mr. Long, there were rumors that you never treated Miss Huang well. Is that true?"


    Long Yi''s lips thinned into a straight line as he nodded. "That is true."


    Gasps echoed inside the room. Who would have thought that Mr. Long from the prestigious Long Family would ept his wrongdoings? Almost immediately, the reporters started doubting the rumor that it was Long Yi who killed his wife. They decided to ask more.


    "Mr. Long, there were rumors that Miss Huang is seeing another man behind your back even when she was pregnant."


    Long Yi''s lips morphed into a sad smile. He and hiswyer wanted to paint Huang Xiaoxuan as unstable and depressed. This was a part of the n. "Sadly, I am aware of that."


    "And did you discuss this matter? Did you try to divorce her? Was that the reason why she killed herself?"


    "No." Long Yi shook his head. "I figured that talking about this matter while she was pregnant would harm my child. I thought we could always talk about this right after she gave birth. But then my father also had  I meant My family encountered some problemstely, and I wasn''t able to discuss this matter with her."


    "Mr. Long, the hospital said that you never once visited your baby, is this true?"


    Again Long Yi nodded. "Xiaoxuan she stopped me from visiting my child. She said She said I had no right since I never loved her. She wanted to use the child as leverage against me."


    "So you were already arguing about your child?"


    "There wasn''t really an argument. It was just a discussion that would end up in her leaving. She was heavily pregnant at that time, and I was busy with the current predicament in mypany. I asked my people to follow her just to keep her safe. Of course, I understood I am to me because of what happened. I was too careless and didn''t try to understand why she was upset." His words coupled with the sad look in his eyes could easily convince anyone that he was telling the truth.


    "Mr. Long, Miss Huang''s father, imed that you abused his daughter. Is that true?"


    "No. An abuse never happened. I neverid my hands on her, I never hurt her physically, I never said something insulting towards her. Despite the fact that my emotions werecking, I treated her well. I gave her everything that she wanted. Money, a car, a house, and even made her work next to me. I don''t understand where these rumors came from. I am sure that Mr. Huang knew how I treated his daughter."


    The reporters nodded and started discussing the results of the investigations that the police publicized just a few hours ago. "Mr. Long the police said they found rocks on Miss Huang''s legs. What can you say about that?"


    "My client won''tment anything about the result of the investigations." Long Yi''swyer was quick to intervene. "This press conference was purely about the rtionship of the couple."


    "Mr. Long yourwyer said that he told you not to say anything to the media." Someone from the back suddenly said. "Why are you doing this press conference? Are you trying to make people pity you?" The woman asked with a straight face.


    Long Yi stared at the woman wearing a uniform he recognized as one of the top TV stations in the City. He then shook his head. "No. I don''t want anyone to pity me. I don''t deserve something like that. However I am doing this for my child. I don''t want my kid to grow up and think that I hurt Xiaoxuan. I wanted to give my child closure. Everyone deserves it."


    "Mr. Long some nurses and doctors said that Miss Huang seemed distressed and was always crying while she was in the baby hospital. She would sometimes scream to the nurses and would cry out of nowhere. What can you say about this?"


    Long Yi sighed. "That ispletely my fault. I already know that my wife is weak both in mind and in the body. When she told me not to go to the hospital, I never asked her why. I just thought she was angry that I wasn''t able to be there for her when she gave birth. I thought  Just like any other time, this misunderstanding would disappear on its own."


    "So, you were saying that misunderstandings like this already happened before?"


    Long Yi looked straight at the camera. "Yes. Our marriage wasn''t perfect. In fact, it was full of this kind of misunderstandings. I never considered the fact that she just gave birth and that she was suffering from any other mental issues. I was confident that she woulde around. Sadly this didn''t happen." Long Yi''s lips shook as he tried to stand up from his wheelchair.


    "Mr. Long please don''t stand." Hiswyer assisted him. "The doctors said "


    "Help me up," Long Yi clenched his jaw, determination apparent in his face. "I wanted to give everyone a bow. My wife deserved this. I wanted to take responsibility for what happened to her. I didn''t pull the trigger, but I I give her the guns and the bullets! I was the one who caused her depression, and I was the one who caused her suicide!"


    Amotion ensued when Long Yi suddenly fell from his wheelchair. Instead of epting the help of hiswyer so he could get up, he looked straight into the camera. "Mr. Huang I know I promised to take care of your daughter. I failed. I am a bad husband, a terrible father, and a bad person. I know I don''t deserve forgiveness! I deserve to follow her to the other world, I deserve the most painful death. I apologize for causing Xiaoxuan''s death. I hope you will find it in your heart to give me another chance to prove that I am willing to do everything. I will take care of our child and give everything that I can topensate for Xiaoxuan."

 Chapter 436: Long Yis Downfall Part 2

    Chapter 436: Long Yi''s Downfall Part 2


    "CRASH!"


    Huang Li Duo clutched his chest just after he threw the ss of whiskey towards the wall. His breathing shallow and fast as he red at Long Yi on the TV.


    Right now, Long Yi was actually on the floor pleading for him to forgive him! "I will kill him!"


    "Father, calm down! It''s not worth it!" His son immediately held his arm. "This man he will receive his own punishment soon."


    "I am going to kill that man! I am going to kill him! He took your sister away from us! He killed her!"


    "Father! Rx! Just please calm down. We can''t act rashly. This is what Long Yi wanted. He wanted to make us angry. He wanted us to lose control so we would hurt him, I am certain he was already nning to make us the bad guy. This man He is vicious and scheming. We should be very careful."


    "Shut up! Your sister is already dead, and you are still acting like this? Long Yi killed Huang Xiaoxuan! He needed to die!" Huang Li Duo stood from the sofa, wanting to leave the room, but his son immediately stopped him.


    "If you do this now, Xiaoxuan would never get the justice she deserved!"


    The word justice made Huang Li Duo paused. Justice. Justice.


    It echoed inside his head, making him stop moving. That''s right, this was thew''s justice. Everything that was happening to him now was something that was caused by his previous actions. This was Karma. He hurt his father and brother because of greed. As a punishment, he was forced to watch her daughter suffer because of Long Yi until she finally died. And he wasn''t able to stop it.


    He wasn''t able to save his daughter.


    He knew Long Yi didn''t love her. He knew that Long Yi never liked her. But he agreed to her request. At first, he thought it was because he was spoiling his daughter, it was because he loved her too much, he couldn''t say no to anything that she wanted.


    That was wrong.


    If he truly loved Xiaoxuan, then he never would have agreed in this marriage. If he truly loved his daughter, he would have immediately suggested that she leave him the first time that she went home with huge dark bags under her eyes. If he truly loved his daughter, he wouldn''t have thought about the benefits that would stop once Long Yi and Xiaoxuan divorced.


    No. What Huang Li Duo loved was his own selfish self.


    Huang Li Duo started shaking. He clenched his hands into two tight fists as he closed his eyes. Tears slowly made their way down his cheeks and onto his chin.


    When Huang Li Duo heard that they found Xiaoxuan''s body, he didn''t cry. He was angry, furious; he felt like killing people. But he didn''t cry.


    Right now, however, Huang Li Duo felt like everything came crashing down like arge boulder inside his chest. The realization was real, and it felt heavy, suffocating even.


    "Father?"


    Huang Li Duo held his son''s arm. His shoulder started shaking as he lowered his head. Right now, he was no longer associated with Huang Security, he was about to lose his mansion and his money was running out because of his past debts. His father and brother were not by his side, his sister was in a mental facility, his wife was drunk in the other room and his daughter was dead.


    This was his karma.


    "Mr. Long what can you say about the videos that appeared just now? Isn''t this the CCTV in your house? You said Miss Huang never went to your house, but it was clear that she arrived when you were there. Was this video fake?"


    "Mr. Long another video was showing us that our people put a huge carpet in the back of a car a few minutes after Miss Huang arrived. How could you act like this in front of the media? Clearly, you knew Miss Huang was there!"


    "Mr. Long! Mr. Long! Please answer our question."


    "Mr. Long Please answer our question!"


    The chaos on the live broadcast brought the father and son''s attention back to the TV. They stared at it, wideeyed.


    "Check your phone," Huang Li Duo said, and his sonplied.


    "This "


    "What is it?" Huang LI Duo asked, his gaze never once left Long Yi who was now escorted by his people out of the room. Reporters still followed them, hoping that he would answer one of their questions.


    "Mr. Long are you really innocent?"


    "Mr. Long, did you kill your wife?"


    "Mr. Long!"


    "Mr. Long! Please "


    "Mr. Long!"


    "Father, look!" Huang Zi Yan showed his phone to his father. "Someone released a CCTV of Long Yi''s house!"


    When Huang Li Duo saw the video, he couldn''t help but cry. More tears stream down his face. He didn''t know if he was crying because they finally have a piece of evidence that could prove his daughter didn''t kill herself. Or he was crying because he saw thest moments of his daughter''s life.


    He held his son''s phone, his hands shaking as he put it in his chest.


    Karma.


    This was his Karma.


    Seeing his daughter walked inside the house and never leaving was like being stabbed by an invisible knife.


    "I''m sorry" he managed to say in between the tears as his sonforted him. He didn''t even know if he was saying sorry to himself, to his father, brother, or his daughter. All he knew was the fact that everything happened because he was too greedy.


    He wanted more.


    He was never contented.


    "Leave me." Huang Li Duo said as she slowly gave the phone back to Huang Zi Yan. When he saw his son''s hesitation to leave, he repeated his words. "Leave me alone!"


    "But..." For some reason, Huang Zi Yan thought that his father was about to do something dangerous. "Father... please don''t take matters into your own hands. We already have the evidence we can- "


    "Leave me alone!"


    Left with no choice, Huang Zi Yan clenched his jaw before he nodded and left. He looked at his father''s defeated face before he closed the door behind him.


    After taking a few steps, he stopped and stared at the door, his gaze darkened. Then he calmly turned around and walked towards his room. However, before he could open his door, he heard a loud gunshoting from his father''s office.


    Huang Zi Yan stilled, his heart hammered against his chest as he ran back to the room. He opened the door... then he paled and yelled for help.

 Chapter 437: Long Yis Downfall Part 3

    Chapter 437: Long Yi''s Downfall Part 3


    Long Yi roamed his eyes around the interrogation room. Despite the air condition inside the room, beads of sweat can be seen trickling down Long Yi''s forehead. After the video was spread online, the police invited him again. This time, hiswyer informed him that the case is already strong against them. Clearly, the CCTV was enough proof that Huang Xiaoxuan went to see him on the night that shemitted ''suicide''. Right now, there is already a possibility that the police won''t allow him any bail because of the controversies that surrounded the case.


    He eyed his watch. It was already ten in the evening and he had been here for two hours now. Yet, not one policeman showed up to talk to him. He could feel their gazes from the mirror across him, but for some reason, not one of them came in.


    However, the fact that hiswyer also didn''t arrive is making Long Yi nervous. Hiswyer promised that he would take him out of this prison tonight. What was happening outside? Why was he still in prison?


    The slow sound of the door being opened brought him back from his stupor. He looked at the balding man who walked inside.


    "Why am I here?" Long Yi asked.


    "You should know why you''re here Mr. Long."


    "Would I ask you if I know?" Long Yi argued. "Whatever it is I am innocent."


    The police personnel didn''t answer him. He sat opposite Long Yi and put a folder in front of him. "Tonight, an article was released against you. Someone leaked the autopsy report. I think it is only right that you know what was leaked." Without waiting for Long Yi to say anything, the man opened the folder and showed images of Huang Xiaoxuan''s body.


    "She died of asphyxiation. The bruises on her neck clearly came from a handa huge hand. Judging from the angle of the bruises, the man was taller than her. Almost six foot."


    Long Yi just kept staring at the photos, no emotion can be seen on his face. For some reason, the photos are reminding him of his anger. The need to me someone else because of what was happening in his life. Of course, he still thought that Huang Xiaoxuan was to be med for her death.


    "What does this have to do with me? You can''t keep me here just because of some bruises! This isn''t enough evidence."


    "We are locking you up to protect you."


    "What?"


    "When this analysis went online, the exploded. Women from some women''s rights groups started demanding justice. A few tens of them are already outside, wanting to strangle you. Just like what you did to your own wife."


    Long Yi gnashed his teeth. This is the best time to maintain his silence.


    "Mr. Long we were able to back up the CCTV and saw Miss Huang driving to the vige where your house was located. Though her car was never found in your house, we also didn''t see the car leaving the vige We already have a strong case against you. I suggest "


    "I have the right to remain silent." Long Yi said. "I know my rights. I will wait for mywyer to arrive." He insisted.


    "Alright then "


    "I can''t stay in the cells. I am already paralyzed. I would like to stay here to make sure that I would stay safe." He demanded.


    "Mr. Long that''s not how it works."


    "Well you can''t detain me here. All the evidence is circumstantial at best. It''s either I go outside and cause a riot or you let me stay here."


    The cop clenched his jaw. Rich people and their f*cking rights! He gathered all the photos and stood.


    "Where are you going?"


    "Leaving." The cop said and turned towards the door without saying anything.


    However, before Long Yi could let out a sigh of relief, the door was opened revealing a familiar face. "Zi Zi Yan?"


    Huang Zi Yan nced at him, his face a little pale and exhausted. His chilly gaze caught Long Yi off guard. "How How did you get inside?"


    "Long Yi you aren''t the only one with connections." Huang Zi Yan stood opposite Long Yi. "I am not here to kill you," he dered. "I just wanted to know why." Before Long Yi could answer, Huang Zi Yan signaled towards the mirror.


    After a few seconds, Long Yi watched as the lights inside the interrogation room were dimmed. Long Yi eyed the mirror. He could see the other side clearly. It seemed that Huang Zi Yan was able to tell the people watching him turn off the camera and leave the monitoring room?


    "Why did you kill my sister?"


    Long Yi snorted and turn his head away, saying nothing.


    "All she did was loved you. It wasn''t a very healthy emotion, but my sister never hurt you. She was jealous and petty, but she wasn''t a criminal. She never did anything that could hurt you! All she did was fall in love with the wrong guy!"


    Once again, Long Yi didn''t answer. Inside, he was sneering at Huang Zi Yan. Huang Xiaoxuan was the reason why Lyca avoided him. At that time, he was about to sleep with Lyca, but Huang Xiaoxuan suddenly arrived. Instead of stopping Long Yi, she actually went along with it and sleep with him.


    Then the next morning, Long Yi saw her in Lyca''s room. Clearly, she told Lyca everything that happened that night! Because of Huang Xiaoxuan Lyca avoided him.


    That woman was just a selfish b*tch who wanted his money, his fame! A woman like that didn''t deserve to live anymore!


    "My father fell into aa." Huang Zi Yan added. "He tried to kill himself. The bullet was lodged somewhere in his cheeks and he survived. He would have the ability to wake up again, but the doctors don''t have any idea when. And if he will wake up he won''t be able to move his body again. He wouldn''t be able to use his arms and legs. He would be paralyzed from the neck down."


    This caught Long Yi''s attention. "What does this have to do with me?"

 Chapter 438: Long Yis Downfall Part 4

    Chapter 438: Long Yi''s Downfall Part 4


    Huang Zi Yan stared at Long Yi''s expression. Now he understood what Lyca told him just before he walked inside. Long Yi was simply irredeemable. A sociopath.


    "I''m just letting you know that  "


    Long Yi''s eyes widened when he saw Huang Zi Yan pull out a gun from behind him. "You  You said you would "


    "My mother was still in a daze because of what happened. Since we brought father to the hospital, mother never spoke a word. My father is going to be a vegetable until he dies, while my sister is already dead. Do you think I would still care if I go to prison or not?"


    "You "


    He chambered the gun and stared at it for a few seconds. "A part of me wanted to kill you. I wanted to watch you bleed, I wanted to make you suffer." He gulped all the anger away. What remained was nothing but calmness. "But another part of me said you don''t deserve death. Yes death would be too easy for you."


    "What are you nning to do?" Long Yi''s eyes widened. Huang Zi Yan would not


    "I am going to make you just like my father." Huang Zi Yan pointed the gun at Long Yi and pulled the trigger.


    .....


    When Huang Zi Yan walked out of the police station, he immediately approached the ck Mercedes waiting for him. Getting inside the car, he eyed the woman sitting next to him. "I shot him"


    "I can smell the blood," Lyca said before she yawned. "You didn''t kill him?"


    "You were right. He didn''t deserve to die. He needed to stay in prison for the rest of his life, not being able to move his arms and legs again."


    "You do know that there are ways to make artificial limbs, right?" Lyca asked, her gaze was glued at the backdoor of the police station where her cousin came from.


    "I already gave you everything about Long Yi. Those are the things that Huang Xiaoxuan gathered when they were still together. Those offshore ounts are hisst money. If you take that away from him he won''t be able to afford a high-tech limb." Huang Zi Yan said before he sighed. Slowly the car started moving away from the police station. "Thank you"


    "You should be thanking me. You disturbed my sleep just so you can hurt him." Lyca crossed her arms across her chest. Earlier, she was enjoying her time alone with her husband when this man arrived and begged to see her. That was when she knew that Huang Li Duo tried to kill him.


    At first, she didn''t know why Huang Zi Yan would suddenly see her instead of staying at his father''s side. Then Huang Zi Yan suddenly told her about the bank ounts that Huang Xioaxuan found out. These were all Long Yi''s and his father''s ounts that were for emergencies.


    This was the reason why Long Yi was still confident despite what happened to hispany. It was because the money was huge, it would still save him from debt. Long Yi must have been nning to slowly recover before retaliating. Sadly for him, Huang Xiaoxuan knew those ounts and was able to copy them in a drive.


    She put the drive inside her secret drawer in her room in Huang Li Duo''s mansion. Huang Zi Yan always knew about this drawer, as this was also where she would hide anything important to her, like her diary. Growing up, he saw her ess the drawer once or twice.


    That''s why when Huang Xiaoxuan died, he immediately checked the drawer, hoping to see some evidence of abuse in her diary. That was when he found the drive.


    When Huang Li Duo tried to kill himself, Huang Zi Yan felt lost. He knew he could never fight against the Long Family alone. After a few moments of deliberation, he finally decided to see Lyca and asked for her help. "My father?"


    "He will be transferred to a facility abroad under a new name. It is the same as you and your mother. Runaway." Lyca said. "And don''t look back."


    Huang Zi Yan stared at Lyca''s side profile. "Why did you decided to help me?"


    "Money," Lyca said. "Without the bank ounts, I would never have helped you." She was toozy to involve herself without anypensation.


    "So So you, "he gulped. "You decided to help us even if you hated us because of the money?"


    Lyca finally turned towards him. "Of course." Is there any reason why she would help them? Was he hoping to hear her say that she had a change of heart and already forgave them? "I am not a forgiving person. You are lucky, I was toozy to deal with you."


    She had much more problems aside from these people. There was the Xu Family and the Shen and, of course, Shen Qui''s mysterious past. It''s just too troublesome.


    Hearing her words, Huang Zi Yan lowered his head. Beads of sweat trickled down his forehead. He balled his hands into tight fists. "How did you do it? You let me get inside a prison and shoot him? How?"


    Lyca lifted an eyebrow. "I didn''t do it. Shen Qui did." Her husband is amazing. Period.


    "Oh" Huang Zi Yan nodded. That''s right. There was also Shen Qui. "So I will leave this country."


    Lyca nodded as the car started to slow down. "Long Yi is already poor. The only thing left under his name in the house and some properties." She said as the car came to a full stop.


    "That quick?"


    "I am efficient." Or at least Ronan was efficient.


    Huang Zi Yan nodded. "Just so you know"


    "Nope." Lyca shook her head. "We are not doing some sentimental I-regretted-not-protecting-you-and-not-helping-you-before stuff." That would be too cringey. "You should go I hope not to see you again."


    Huang Zi Yan wanted to say more, but Lyca already leaned against the seat and closed her eyes. Seeing this, a wry smile appeared on his face. "Goodbye, cousin. Thank you for helping my family. I owe you."

 Chapter 439: The Darker the Better

    Chapter 439: The Darker the Better


    "I am so sorry, Mr. Long but I don''t think you would be able to walk again."


    This wasn''t the most devastating news that Long Yi heard when he woke up. Actually, at this point, he doesn''t care about walking anymore. Both of his arms were amputated, cut off from his body. Though he could always buy some pieces of equipment abroad, a mechanical arm that he could use, this is still not enough.


    It won''t be the same anymore.


    Long Yi clenched his jaw, his eyes were red from fury. "Did you find him?" he asked hiswyer and secretary the moment the doctor left.


    "Unfortunately, we weren''t able to find any signs of Mr. Huang anywhere. Not in the flights or ships. Even Mr. Huang Li Duo and his wife disappeared overnight," hiswyer said. "Aside from this "


    "What else?" Long Yi asked without looking at hiswyer.


    "The child "


    "What happened?"


    "The child disappearedst night. After we took you to the hospital, we checked on the mansion, and we discovered that the child is no longer in the nursery. Also"


    "Also what?"


    "Mr. Long the police didn''t have records of Mr. Huanging in. All the footage was wiped out, and no one said that they saw him."


    "Impossible! If he wasn''t there, then who shot me?"


    Thewyer pursed his lips into a thin line before he met Long Yi''s eyes. "They  the police said that you tried to kill yourself. You brought a knife with you. Someone fought with you and the rest was an ident."


    Long Yi''s face paled. "Lyca! She must be in on it! This should be something she would do!"


    Long Yi''swyer and his secretary met each other''s eyes before both of them shrugged.


    "What does that mean?" Long Yi''s eyes were wide, crazed. "Why are you looking at me like that?" He tried to make his voice louder, making himself looked more imposing despite the bandages around his arms. "What''s  Where are you going?"


    "Mr. Long my apologies. My resignation is on the paper on the table next to your bed. I hope you feel better soon."


    "" What? Long Yi eyed the back of hiswyer in disbelief. What was happening? "What did he say?"


    "Mr. Long He said He said that  " His secretary lowered his gaze. "He said that he would resign and that the "


    "He can''t do that!"


    His secretary paled as he tried to hold Long Yi when he attempted to sit down on the bed. "Mr. Long please calm down! I will go get the doctors!" Without even looking at him. His secretary ran out of his private room.


    "Hey! Where are you going! Hey! What the  I am going to fire you if you don''te back! Hey! Come Lyca?" Long Yi stilled. He looked at the woman who walked inside the room. "You  Why are you here?" Anger surge inside him. "How dare you show yourself here after what you did?"


    Instead of answering him, Lyca tilted her head and eyed the tubes from his IV.


    "You  what are you nning to do!?" fear shed in Long Yi''s eyes. He no longer had his arms, so the IV was administered on his leg. "What are you doing? Don''t get too close!" Long Yi''s instinct was telling him to move. But what can he do?


    He no longer had arms and his legs were practically useless! He was crippled.


    "There are a lot of ways to kill people." Lyca suddenly said. "And I meant a lot." She smiled a beautiful smile. Despite its beauty, the smile contained a hint of insanity. Something that made Long Yi tremble in fear. "But I am not killing you. I just thought you did a lot of bad stuff. You don''t deserve a quick death. Know what I mean?" Again, her eyes drifted towards the IV.


    "Huang Zi Yan did you help him?"


    "Not telling." Lyca continued smiling. "But I am happy he didn''t kill you."


    "You "


    "Don''t worry about your child. She''s in good hands."


    "You took her?"


    "Nope." Does she look like a kidnapper? "I can make my own kid. No need to kidnap one."


    "" That was not Long Yi''s point!


    "I just came here because I am going to leave. I''m about to go back to Kong City."


    Long Yi said nothing. He knew that there is another reason why Lyca would visit him.


    "Oh I am here to confirm something. The poison was given by Huang Qingyun do you know if that same poisoned was used against his wife?"


    Long Yi frowned. "Why do you keep on asking weird questions?"


    "Curious," She shrugged. "So Huang Qingyun is not Huang Qingyun, right?"


    Long Yi frowned. "What the hell are you talking about?"


    "So you didn''t know." Lyca''s lips turned downwards. It seems like seeing Long Yi was just a waste of her time. Oh, well If Long Yi really knew anything about that man, then he would end up like Huang Ying. But Long Yi was still alive and well.


    Everyone who hurt her family already suffered. Everyone except that man. Huang Qingyun is actually like a snake. He didn''t do anything to provoke Lyca after the poisoning. Unlike Long Yi and everyone else, Huang Qingyun just stayed in the shadows and watched the show.


    It was like he was trying to avoid targeting Lyca.


    How weird.


    Actually, Lyca already thought that Huang Qingyun might not be Huang Qingyun at all. She thought about Mr. Park, who showed up on the ranch with Xi Jihan. That man was clearly using a mask to hide his true face. Lyca concluded that Mr. Park was also Xu Ke. There''s no way that Xu Ke would try to probe her skills if he didn''t notice something different in that meeting.


    "Where are you going?" Long Yi asked when Lyca walked towards the door. "Hey!"


    "Hm? Do you need something?" Lyca stared at him, confused. Normal people would be happy that she just left without killing them! This Long Yi is really annoying!


    Long Yi narrowed his eyes. "This is not the end."


    "Oh?" Lyca facepalmed. Actually, she had forgotten her bad-ass script! Beforeing in her, she thought it would be good to say something badass and scare Long Yi. In the end, she memorized a few sentences and thought they were really excellent lines. "I forgot."


    "" What was she saying now?


    "Mr. Long" Lyca smirked and walked towards him, her beautiful eyes narrowed. "Did you really think I would just let you go like this?" She lifted an eyebrow. "Wrong."


    ""


    "You  Just like everyone else who crossed me would suffer. Without any chance or recovery."


    "You "


    "Before you can say that, I should just kill you. Before you say something like If I survive, I would surely get my revenge. And before you can try to coax me to end your miserable life I would just want you to know something." Lyca smiled before she continued, "Your offshore ounts I emptied it." She beamed and lifted her chin when she saw Long Yi paled from her words. As expected, her words were enough to scare him.


    She decided to add more. "The Xu Family would soon beg to cooperate with me. Without your father, they would no longer help you. You cannot run anymore. And I mean literally."


    "You  You actually "


    Lyca''s eyes sparkled as she enjoyed Long Yi''s ugly face. This man Long Yi never expected that one day, something like this would happen to him. Finished speaking, Lyca snorted and smirked at him. Then she strutted out of the room, like a badass queen.


    Of course, all the effort disappeared when she got out of the room. She calmly left the hospital using the exit stairs and walked towards Shen Qui, who was waiting for her in the car. "I''m so tired. I need a massage."


    "Where?" He asked as stepped on the gas.


    "My hips." Who would have thought that walking like a beauty queen in high heeled boots was so tiring?


    He lifted an eyebrow, a yful smile appeared on his face. "That''s too bad then."


    "Hm?"


    "I meant I would be driving so I can''t give you a message."


    She rolled her eyes and adjusted her seat so she could sleepfortably while Shen Qui drove the car back to Kong City.


    "Of course, I can stop in a dark corner somewhere."


    Almost immediately, Lyca''s face lit up as she looked at his side profile down to his neck and biceps. Then she gulped. "Then please stop somewhere dark. The darker the better."


    ....


    "Mr. Xu... look at this new batch of rocks." A man wearing a long white coat said. "This one is from a zone in our called Zone of the Dead. It''s a ce that exists in the south of ria. It''s a ce that is about fifty miles and for some reason, most meteorites who hit thend around this area. As if... there was a ma that is pulling them. This ce is like a dead zone with no types of signal, radios, and phones didn''t work in the area. Is this like the ce that you mentioned before?"


    Xu Ke eyed the shiny pieces of ck rocks. They sparkled under the light of theb. They were exactly just like the rocks in that ce from his previous world. The ce that existed in the legends. A ce where you could summon other entities.


    Soon, a smile appeared on his face as he used his gloved hand to pick one of the stones. "Soon... "He smiled. "Soon."

 Chapter 440: Relations

    Chapter 440: Rtions


    "So far, Old Man Huang already moved his fingers a few times, but he is still unconscious." Lai Su exined as he stood next to the Old Man. "I checked his body, and It''s normal. His kidneys were damaged though, but that was expected. However, his heart was normal. It surprised me. Before we started the dosage for the syrup that you made, his heartbeat was really slow." He lifted his gaze and stared at Lyca, hoping to know what she was thinking.


    Lyca and Shen Qui just arrived and the two instantly asked him to tell them everything about the progress.


    "I guess he would wake up in a week or two." Lai Su added.


    "I didn''t expect that he would wake up," Lyca said. Old Man Huang was already eighty-four! Usually, older people would easily sumb to poisonpared to people in Lyca''s age. She actually never expected that his internal energy would be able to save him from death.


    "It''s a miracle," Lai Su added. He was a scientist with multiple doctorate degrees. And despite this, he never guessed that the old man would still recover from this. He actually thought that Lyca would just let her grandfather die.


    It was the most logical thing to do.


    "How''s Chu Munan?" Lyca asked.


    "The treatment was a sess. The cancer cells were gone. Of course, he is still under observation. We don''t know if it wille back." Lai Su frowned. "Old Man Chu is already nning to announce the result soon. He is not going to name me, but I think people would still have ways to find out."


    "Oh. You wanted me to "


    "No. I want you to hide me."


    Lyca didn''t say anything. She signaled Lai Su and Shen Qui to go outside of the room. "Hide you? I thought you wanted to make that pharmaceuticalpany who stole your result suffer? Did you forget that mockery that you received when they used you of giarism?"


    "No. Actually the fact that I was able to cure Chu Munan was enough. At least At least I know that I am a talented man. I am not the dumb person that those people ridiculed. Who cares about fame? I don''t want any trouble." But most importantly, he didn''t want to stop working for Lyca. He liked learning new things. To him, the world is still a mystery, and he felt that only Lyca would be able to help him achieve his dreams.


    "Then I need you to do something for me."


    "Of course."


    Lyca smiled. Then she looked at Shen Qui. "Lai Su will be in charge of the uing exhibit. I want the best security."


    "You mean"


    "Someone might try to steal our prototypes." Lyca shrugged. "I am not taking any chances." As they say, prevention is better than cure. "I want you to make something some very dangerous security prototypes that we would show off to the people. And secret cameras, too. And my secret, I meant secret. Something that even the guards didn''t know."


    "We only have a few days." Lai Su''s lips thinned. He had some ideas about incorporating his radioactive in security, but this would need time and a lot of experimentations. He wasn''t some god! He needed time for this.


    Lyca bit her lower lip as she fell into silence. Actually, she just wanted Lai Su to do her job. "Alright I will help you." She said when she realized that time is really the best issue this time.


    "Ronan is going to help out too. He is pretty good inputations and of course programming."


    Lyca nodded. "I have some stuff and design. We should get going." She said as if forgetting the fact that it was already eleven in the evening and she just arrived from a long trip. "We don''t have much time left."


    To Shen Qui''s surprise, Lai Su didn''tin. Instead, he beamed and followed her towards theb. This left a wry smile on Shen Qui''s lips.


    Seeing the two went to theb, Shen Qui went to see Ronan and inform him to bring hisputer to theb. "What''s wrong with you?" Shen Qui asked when he arrived in Ronan''sputer room. "You came back ahead of us." Ronan and the others arrived ahead of them because unlike Shen Qui and Lyca, they didn''t stop their car in dark corners.


    "Nothing,"


    "Nothing that concerns me?" Shen Qui leaned against the swivel chair next to Ronan''s chair. He eyed the monitors with various codes and footages.


    Ronan discovered with a sigh. He had been working with Shen Qui for years now, he felt that sometimes Shen Qui knew him better than Rue knew his own twin brother. "Shen Family how are you rted to them?"


    Shen Qui crossed his arms across his chest. "Nothing."


    "None?"


    "Was it so important to you?" She Qui couldn''t help but ask.


    "Yes," Ronan said.


    "Then... I have no rtions to the Shen Family."


    "Then why did I found this in the ck market?" Ronan pressed some keys and one monitor revealed a woman who looked a little like Shen Qui. "Sixty percent match to your face. And guess what? She was once the young miss of the Shen Family. Someone who ran away and worked as a singer in a bar where he met someone from the Xu Family?"


    "Interesting story," Shen Qui said. "How did you know that? I am sure the Xu Family wouldn''t want someone to associate them with the Shen."


    Ronan fixed his eyes at Shen Qui, coldness flicker in his pupils. "Because my father was once working for the man that this woman slept with. In short when the Xu Family got rid of the secret, they got rid of my father and mother too." Shen Qui stared at Ronan, surprised at the sudden revtion. "You know you can only keep a secret when the people who knew it are dead," Ronan added. "So let me asked you again. Are you someone from the Shen family?"


    Shen Qui looked at him. For a few seconds, he was silent. Then he shook his head. "No. I am not someone from the Shen family." Aside from their blood he had nothing inmon with those people.


    Ronan squinted. "You do know that the person who was trying to find out what happened to this woman was Lyca''s assistant, Yi''an. Right?"


    This statement made Shen Qui silent. He didn''t know that Lyca was still trying to know his background. Was it that important to her? "No. I am not aware of that."


    "Then she probably wanted to keep it as a secret and just tell you when she already found something."


    Shen Qui nodded. That is certainly Lyca''s style. She would be toozy to answer some questions from him. So he would want topile what she knew and let him read it.


    "This is why you hated authorities?" Shen Qui asked.


    "Partly." Ronan clenched his jaw. "Partly because they are just nasty people. They wouldn''t even blink when they betray ''criminals'' who are working for them. The authorities are hypocrites."


    Shen Qui frowned but said nothing more about the issue. Then he stood and told him about the things that Lyca asked. "You should go to theb to start working on it."


    "Now?" Ronan asked.


    "Yes."


    "I thought she waszy! Howe she is working overtime?"


    Shen Qui just shrugged in response. There are things he didn''t know about her actual intentions, and he was respecting her privacy. If she wanted to tell him something, then she would surely do it one way or the other.

 Chapter 441: Silly Games

    Chapter 441: Silly Games


    Lyca spent the whole night working with Lai Su and Ronan. Then spent the whole day sleeping, which meant she wasn''t able to have some time to talk to Shen Qui. She was extremely busy, which was actually new to everyone around her.


    Instead of sleeping, Lyca was actually working? Instead of looking for food, she was actually eating crackers in theb? Everyone around her except Shen Qui started to wonder what was going on. After all, this was not like the Lyca that they knew.


    Of course, they didn''t know anything about Xu Ke. Everyone thought that this was because Lyca realized the money that they could get from the exhibit. The weapons and prototypes that they will disy were actually top notch and it could attract governments andpanies.


    After a few days of being cooped up in herb, Lyca and everyone else finally finished their security system. Something that they wanted to install In the hall where the exhibit would happen. This security system is not only motion censored. It also had the ability to detect any changes in temperature inside the room, and any use of radio waves would trigger its rm.


    Once the rm is triggered, it would automatically release a poisonous gas that would kill people in a matter of seconds. Yes, Lyca''s goal was to kill the thieves. She wanted to use this opportunity to create a new standard for security in this country.


    "You look like sh*t." Tang Ruyi who visited Lyca in the ranch said. She came here with her grandfather and Tang Jinyi for the exhibit. "Did you and Shen Qui had a fight?"


    Lyca made a face. What made her think that she would fight with Shen Qui? "No. We never fight."


    "Then what''s with the eye bags? I don''t remember you having one of those before." Tang Ruyi said curiosity filled her eyes. Lyca liked to sleep  a lot. She couldn''t remember when was thest time she saw her having eye bags from not sleeping.


    "Working on a project," Lyca downed her umpteenth coffee for the day.


    "Project?" Tang Ruyi eyed her grandfather, who was looking at the various weapons that were used to decorate the living room. These were the weapons that Lyca used to have in the Huang Family mansion. Spears and some arrows, swords, and daggers were neatly arranged on the wall.


    "Are those real weapons?" Old Man Tang asked.


    "It is." Shen Qui made it not personally, of course. But he designed it. He could remember everything that he saw, so he remembered the weapons and draw them. Then he made someone handmade it base on the design. He didn''t even tell her about this. He just showed it to her one morning when she woke up.


    Because of this Lyca gave him a bl*wj*b. Kidding. She just gave him a light kiss.


    Just the thought of it made her smile.


    "Those are pretty good ones."


    "They look cool too." Tang Ruyi added. "So back to the eye bags. The exhibit will be tomorrow. Are you going to show up with those eye bags?"


    "No. I''m going to sleep." After she finished the programming part of the security system. Lyca wasn''t really good in robotics or any programming. But spending a lot of time with Ronan made her learn a skill or two. She realized that programming only lookedplicated at first nce. Actually, you just needed to know how to code and do advanced mathematics and the rest is as easy as eating.


    Of course, her skills couldn''t match Ronan''s but at least she already understood its basic. She was pretty proud of that.


    "Ah by the way we came here grandpa! Tell her! Tell her!"


    "What''s wrong with her?"Lyca asked her grandfather. She was actually used to Tang Ruyi''s attitude when she wasn''t in her uniform but she felt something was off with this woman.


    "She got promoted. Colonel." Grandfather Tang smiled. "And was assigned out of the field. I believe, she would work with the Tech and Weapons unit soon."


    "She doesn''t have the background for that," Lyca said.


    "True. But you will work with me so I guess I would be the liaison?"


    Lyca''s expression didn''t change, but inside, all the tiredness that she had already vanished. Liaison? When did she say that she would work with the military? Of course, she already knew that this was Xu Ke''s idea. He must be nning to use her cousin as a hostage to make her work for him.


    As expected of that cunning fox.


    She was actually working hard not just because of the security, but she wanted to build something dangerous that would scare someone like Xu Ke off. She wanted to prepare for that man''s assault. But then again, she was clearly underestimating him.


    Since she refused toe out of the ranch and talk to anyone, he actually dared to use her cousin, the only woman she considered her close friend. Of course, she knew that this was totally his style.


    Xu Ke was a psychopath. Someone that wouldn''t hesitate to use everyone around him just to get what he wanted. Who cares about the method? All he wanted was the result!


    Just like how using Tang Ruyi would force Lyca to work for him so she could protect her cousin. Lyca snorted inwardly.


    "Why are you looking at me like that?" Tang Ruyi asked, confused. "You don''t want to work with me?" She asked.


    Lyca just smiled. She could of course see Xu Ke and maybe try to fight against him, threatened him to not involve anyone else in his silly games. But that is nothing but a band-aid solution. Something that could temporarily stop him from doing this.


    Lyca would have no assurance that he wouldn''t try this again.


    Unless, of course, she kills him.


    Sadly, this is a little impossible right now. Xu Ke is more influential than her in this world. There is also the possibility that his research is a bit advanced than hers. Knowing him, he would surely try to research magic after arriving in this world.

 Chapter 442: Oversize T-shirt

    Chapter 442: Oversize T-shirt


    This is not the end.


    Lyca knew that the worse thing is stilling. Xu Ke was never the type of person that would directly confront her. He knew she was angry and using Tang Ruyi only made her more furious. Right now, Xu Ke would wait for her to approach him, maybe beg him to stop involving her family.


    That''s right, Xu Ke must be waiting for her to approach him first. Too bad for him Lyca would never do that.


    "I am not working with you," Lyca yawned. "We are trying to have a child. I can''t stress myself."


    Silence


    The silence that followed was deafening.


    "You want to "


    "I am already twenty-four. If I give birth at twenty-six, then I will be forty-six when my child turns twenty. That would be enough time to bond. I don''t want toe to my child''s graduation with a cane or something. I already took everything into consideration and realized that this is what I wanted to happen." Lyca lied without batting an eyelid.


    ""


    ""


    "I think my child would be very lucky to have me as the mother, right?" Lyca said. "I am beautiful and smart and "


    "You are trying to get pregnant?" Tang Ruyi interrupted her. "You I am even older than you and I am still single! While you are already "


    "Ruyi, Lyca is actually right. Women are different from men. Sometimes, it is better to have a child earlier in the marriage than risk it. Lyca I agree with this decision. Ruyi since you don''t have any background in weapons and tech, I suggest you just ask Tang Er to assign you to a different field. After all, I don''t want other people bullying my granddaughter."


    Lyca sigh in relief when she heard her grandfather''s words. However, his next words made her want to cry.


    "Ah, since you are trying to have a child, I will send you some vitamins and tea to take care of your body. Giving birth is not a walk in the park. It is hard, painful, and dangerous. I remember when your grandmother" Slowly, the topic changed as Old Man Tang started talking about the past.


    After a few more minutes, the two decided to leave to give her time to rest. Of course, Lyca decided to go back to see Lai Su. Then the two of them visited the site for the final instations of the security gadgets.


    "Alright this camera is a very unique one. It is not susceptible to any jamming devices. Meaning this would be in demand once we show it to the public." Ronan said as Lyca''s men installed all the cameras that they just made. "Hey you listening to me?"


    "Hm?" Lyca looked at Ronan. To be honest, she was feeling a little high. Probably it was because she hasn''t had a good night''s sleep for two days now. "Yes. I am listening." This camera also acts as a scanner that would scan the identity of the people attending the exhibit as well as the voice of the attendees. She knew that this was an extreme breach of privacy. However, she is doing this to have a record of everyone who is interested in her projects. This is an extrayer of security for the venue.


    "Where''s Shen Qui? I thought he was already here?" She roamed her eyes around the huge space with lots of pulpit-like structure that was where the armors and weapons were disyed. The armor and weapons looked like they were floating in the air inside the ss-like structure that is protecting them.


    "He should be here somewhere. Probably the security room?"


    Lyca nodded and left Ronan and Lai Su to finish the instation. Right now, she needed to talk to Shen Qui about Xu Ke''s matter. When Lyca was about to open the door of the security room, a voice suddenly drifted towards her ears.


    "Look I always knew you look a little familiar. As a Shen, you have the responsibility to help your family out."


    Lyca didn''t have to see the woman who spoke to know that it was Shen Jiaojiao. Lyca squinted and didn''t make her presence known. She stood by the door, eavesdropping.


    "Miss Shen I have no idea what you are talking about." Shen Qui''s voice was freezing.


    "Mr. Shen I have evidence that we are rted. I have your DNA. Don''t you think it''s time to drop the facade? I know you are that woman''s son. What do you think would happen if the Xu Family would know that you exist? I heard the Xu Family is against giving their opponents a quick death."


    Shen Qui snorted. "That sounds scary." Shen Qui chuckled. "Did you expect me to say that? Miss Shen did you expect me to beg you not to tell them the truth?"


    Silence followed his questions. "Why don''t you tell them about me? I''m sure your phone doesn''t work here so you can use mine. I have Xu Jihan''s personal number. You can personally call him."


    "You "


    "Yes. Miss Shen you don''t scare me. And the Shen Family just lost its only chance to work with mypany. You know what? I really should talk to your grandfather about this. Maybe even introduce myself? Who knows what he would do if he knew that you wanted to tell the Xu Family about my existence?" Shen Qui smirked when he saw Shen Jiaojiao paled at his words. "But that would be too troublesome right?"


    "You are threatening me? You think I would be scared of an illegitimate son like you?"


    "No." Shen Qui answered. "But this illegitimate son''spany is something that your family wanted. What do you think would happen if I tell all thepanies that I am banning your family? Do you think they would do the same thing? After all many of them wanted to impress me."


    "You dare?"


    "What makes you think that I wouldn''t? The Shen Family are strangers to me."


    "If you do that The world would know that you are a mistake. Your mother left her family for your father who betrayed her! For the family that killed her! Are you really as dumb as that?"


    "Miss Shen you are misunderstanding something." Amusementced Shen Qui''s voice. "I don''t care about the world''s opinion about me." As long as Lyca''s opinion towards him is good then, he is happy. Her opinion is the only thing that matters in this chaotic world. "So, you can bring your threats with you and shove it on your ass. Because the Shen Family would never be able to work with mypany. Ever."


    Lyca hid the smile on her face as she listened. However, the footsteps behind her made her frown. She looked at the three people approaching her. One was an older man whom she instantly recognized at first nce. The other two were his bodyguards.


    "Eavesdropping is not a verymendable trait," the old man''s voice was croaky, almost breathy. Hearing it reminded her of a frog''s voice, and it made her irritated.


    "Mr. Shen"


    "Please call me Director Shen." The old man didn''t spare her a nce as he walked inside the room, surprising the two people inside.


    "Grandfather!?" Why Why are you here?"


    "I knew you would screw this mission the moment you said you didn''t like him." The old man said. He then looked at the two men behind him. "Get rid of that woman outside." However the two men didn''t move. They froze, eyes glued at him as if they didn''t understand his instruction. "I said secure the area." The old man repeated his words.


    Sadly, the two just still didn''t move.


    "Mr. Shen I think it is very disrespectful for you to barge in here and instruct your people to get rid of me, no?" Finally, Lyca decided to show herself. She walked inside the room and reach out behind the two men''s back, pulling two, four inches needle. "They won''t be able to move for a while. Don''t worry they''re not deaf. They can hear you. But their body is not listening to their brain."


    "You " Shen Jiaojiao instantly walked in front of her grandfather. "What are you doing?"


    "Talking?" Lyca stood next to Shen Qui. She didn''t miss the relief in his eyes.


    "You dared to attack my men?" Old Man Shen said in a cold, stern tone. It was as if this was the first time that someone tried to attack his people. Why was he that surprised? Did he think that Lyca would never fight back and let his men took her?


    Stupidity at its finest.


    Lyca only smirked in response.


    "Why wouldn''t she? Did you expect my wife to just let your people get rid of her because you said so?"


    "Your wife?" Old Man Shen lifted an eyebrow as his gaze traveled towards Lyca''s pale face, dark eyebags, a huge oversize T-shirt that reached her knees, and tights paired with ck rubber shoes.


    To be fair, Lyca was wearing Shen Qui''s shirt. She liked the big shirt and she liked that it had a little of his smell. She didn''t see anything wrong with wearing your man''s shirt. However, the old man''s face was enough to tell her his opinions about her current clothing.

 Chapter 443: Senile Old Man

    Chapter 443: Senile Old Man


    Before Lyca could answer him, the old man looked at Shen Qui, unimpressed. "Your tastes in women are questionable."


    Lyca stood there, bbergasted but a little interested to listen to the old man''s direct words. "The fact that you grew up in the streets does not excuse you from your choices." Old Man Shen said, he tightened his hand around his cane.


    "Grandfather  " Shen Jiaojiao swallowed her saliva, her gaze became wary as she turned to Lyca. Luckily, Lyca wasn''t showing any expression on her face.


    From the information that she gathered, Lyca was actually the brains and structure of thispany. Without her, there would be no armor. Of course, this was nothing but rumors, as she couldn''t actually prove it. However, all pieces of information about Lyca had been kept a secret.


    ording to her research, she is an extremelyzy character who doesn''t like to socialize and would always prefer to stay inside her house, lying, sleeping, and eating. She lived quite a boring life until her grandfather suddenly wanted her to be the CEO. From there, they discovered she was actually a very smart woman. Aside from the basic info, she knew that Lyca doesn''t talk normally.


    Just from this limited information, Shen Jiaojiao knew that it was fake. Lyca was a woman. A wife of a rich man. How could she just stay at home all day? From this, she concluded two things. One, there is a secret inside the underground estate where she was staying. Two, they deliberately hid everything about her.


    Either way, Shen Jiaojiao knew that Lyca had a secret. Something that got her curious.


    "Leave us" Grandfather Shen hissed. "I may be old, but I am not useless. I can defend myself!"


    "Grandfather" Shen Jiaojiao''s tone had a hint of worry. Of course, she was well aware of the old man''s stubborn temperament. "Grandfather." She lowered her voice. "Please let me stay." She bravely met the old man''s eyes, hoping that he would get her meaning. "This people doesn''t follow the norms." If her guess was right, the old man was quite confident that they won''t hurt him because of his age.


    "She''s right." Lyca chimed in. "You should let her stay."


    "So you won''t even bat an eyelid before killing an old man like me?" Grandfather Shen uttered. "What an eye-opener."


    To his surprise, Shen Qui responded with a burst of mockingughter. "You are nothing to us old man. Why do you think we won''t hurt you?"


    "I am your grandfather!" Grandfather Shen''s voice boomed inside the room full of monitors and machines used to monitor the whole space for the exhibit. "You shall respect me whether you like it or not!"


    "This man is already old. Maybe he needed a doctor?" Lyca''s question was obviously for Shen Qui. But she didn''t bother to lower her voice down. "He''s senile."


    "You  " Shen Jiaojiao''s eyes widened. As the patriarch of the renowned Shen Family, Old Man Shen never received such disrespect before. She looked at her grandfather and was expecting to see him fumed in anger. However, the old man just smiled at Lyca.


    "I don''t like you."


    "Thank you," Lyca said. "The feeling is mutual." This is unbelievable. Even Lyca who already lived two lives found it hard to believe that someone like this man existed! He actually came in here, barging in and demand respect!? Did he think he was some god or something?


    "You don''t know me, young girl I suggest you stop making me angry. I am telling you I am "


    "I feel like viins always have the tendency to be talkative, no?" Lyca ignored the old man''s words as she lifted her head and turned towards her husband. "Should we just kill him?"


    Shen Jiaojiao and Old Man Shen still when they heard Lyca''s question. She would really dare hurt them? Did she know what kind of influence the Shen Family has in this country? Just thinking about killing the patriarch of the Shen Family is enough to warrant Lyca''s death! Now, she actually dared to speak about it?


    Because of this, Shen Jiaojiao was not surprised to hear her grandfather pped his hands. And just like that, ten people wearing ck surrounded Lyca and Shen Qui.


    "I told you making me angry is not a smart thing to do." Old Man Shen had a smug smile on his wrinkled face. He met Lyca''s eyes and sneered. "Did you think... you have the ability to stop me? If I wanted you dead! You will die! No questions asked."


    Lyca just stared at the old man. To be honest, she was quite disappointed that Shen Qui''s family is actually worse than her own Huang Family. Her poor husband


    "Seven people... fully armed with guns." Shen Qui said. His concern was actually how they were able to enter the hall without attracting anyone''s attention. Then he nodded.


    They were hacked.


    That is the only exnation why everything on the footage was still showing the same thing. It was actually in a loop. Right now, Ronan was busy with the instations so he wasn''t able to monitor the firewall of theirputers.


    "So, you are resorting to threats." Shen Qui nodded. "I understand why my mother left your Shen Family. If I was her... I would have done the same thing."


    Lyca sighed. This was really gettingplicated. It is making her head hurt. She eyed the people wearing a ck vest. Aside from their heads, their neck was exposed too. This gave her a genius idea! She would just kill everyone! "I''m already tired," Lyca said. "I came here so I could get some sleep, but it turns out.." She shook her head and look at Shen Qui.


    "You didn''t sleep for two days. Of course, your head would hurt! I will give you a massageter so you can sleep. Also- "He froze when he realized that they are still in the middle of a confrontation. "We needed to finish this," Shen Qui said....

 Chapter 444: A Bidding

    Chapter 444: A Bidding


    "No, Mr. Shen" Shen Qui interrupted the silence that followed the old man''s words. "Making my wife angry could easily get you killed."


    As if on cue, Lyca''s legs sprang into action. One kick and the man standing near her stumbled back. She reinforced the attack by moving her arm towards the man, fully incapacitating him with one of her needles.


    "Halt!" Old Man Shen raised his left hand. "Do not engage!"


    Lyca lifted an eyebrow. "Toote." She looked at the old man. By now, the men wearing ck were either kneeling or already lying on the floor. The first attack was nothing but a diversion, giving Lyca the chance to use her hidden weapons to secretly attack the other six men. "Did you know that some snakes release at least 420 mg of toxins? That is about two teaspoons of poison." She walked towards the man that she kicked earlier and collected her needle on his forehead.


    Doing this was really troublesome, but she was testing these needles as she was using a poison that was never been heard in this world. It was something more potent than a viper''s venom. Seeing the old man''s ugly face, Lyca smiled. "I used double the amount in those needles."


    "You "


    "I was trying to see if I could melt them. You know what I mean?" As expected, her words made Shen Jiaojiao and Old Man Shen paled. They looked at her as if she was a monster.


    "Lyca" Shen Jiaojiao recovered herposure after a few seconds. "Listen this is a misunderstanding."


    "To threaten me and calling me names is one thing. But to actuallye in here and instruct your people to hurt my wife is just unforgivable. Isn''t that right? Old man?" Shen Qui said as he dragged a chair next to him. Then he gestured for Lyca to sit down. She looked tired. He wouldn''t want her to identally kill this old man because she wanted to sleep.


    Seeing her husband''s thoughtfulness, Lyca smiled a sweet and beautiful smile. It was as if she didn''t just kill seven people to test something she created. She then stared at Shen Jiaojiao, squinting. "Who gave you the guts toe here?"


    "Lyca, listen my grandfather was wrong. Alright? He didn''t mean to hurt you. He just wanted to scare you. That''s all. I swear "


    "Jiaojiao enough! They aren''t fools." Old Man Shen was staring at Lyca like an Eagle staring at its prey. "I have never seen such a ruthless woman. Maybe I am really getting old." There wasn''t a hint of anger in the old man''s eyes. "Those people deserved to die."


    "Next time youe here and test us be sure that I am not in a foul mood," Lyca said. "I could have killed you. Melt your body and flush you in the sink." That wasn''t a threat. Lyca was looking for alternative ways to dispose of the body.


    Melting them was something she came up with in Kong City. Now, she was nning to use small batches of those acids to melt people. Obviously, she knew it wasn''t enough. However, testing this type of acid requires a real person''s body. It was something that she didn''t have at the moment.


    However, she could always acquire it by fighting.


    Lyca sighed. She was certain her husband would call her a lunatic once he discovered that she was nning to take the old man''s body to see if her acid would work on older people''s bodies.


    "It was a mistake." Old Man Shen said. "I didn''t realize that you were this brutal. After all you are a woman. And I didn''t realize that you  " he looked at Shen Qui. "Would marry a woman that could kill you while you were sleeping."


    Shen Qui snorted.


    "So this." Shen Jiaojiao gulped. It seems that she was actually the only one who was scared of being killed? It seems that her grandfather instructed her to leave because he was nning to test Lyca and Shen Qui? However, she knew her grandfather. She knew that if the test goes wrong, he would easily instruct his men to kill the couple. After all, Old Man Shen was someone who valued strength too much.


    He thought that weaker people do not have a ce in this world.


    It was a ruthless principle. This was also the reason why the Shen Family survived against the Xu Family''s onught.


    "Get me a chair," Old man Shen used his cane to instruct his granddaughter. In response, Shen Jiaojiaoplied.


    After making himselffortable, Old Man Shen looked at Lyca and to Shen Qui, who was now sitting next to her. "I am here to negotiate. I am not here to talk about personal matters between us. I always believed that business should be separated from familial ties."


    "Grandfather you" Shen Jiaojiao felt her face sting. Her grandfathering in here was a sign that he didn''t trust her to take on this mission. She wondered if the old man discovered something amiss about Shen Qui and Lyca.


    Shen Jiaojiao was someone who always does what she was instructed to do. Her loyalty lies with the Shen Family. When Shen Jiaojiao first heard of thispany and the armor, she immediately thought that she could take this deal away from the Xu Family. However this conclusion had been wrong. Talking to Lyca didn''t get her anywhere and threatening Shen Qui was like threatening a bloke.


    Of course, she wasn''t nning to give up just like that.


    "I want you to make that weapon for my Shen Family. I will double the amount that the Xu Family offered."


    A different glint shed in Lyca''s eyes. "Actually we are nning to have a bidding." Lyca lied. It seems that the temptation of her armor was actually stronger than what she originally anticipated. A bidding is something that would save her from having any enemies.


    The wealthiestpany would win, and she will go home with her money. Everyone is happy!


    "A bidding?"


    "Yes." Lyca nodded. "After the exhibit tomorrow, a surprise bidding will be held during the night." She said. This was an impromptu decision. However, her words didn''t surprise Shen Qui anymore. At this point, almost nothing surprises him anymore.

 Chapter 446: Shoge

    Chapter 446: Shoge


    So far, the exhibit had been going well.


    The exhibit started at six in the evening, and it would end at ten. Or so everyone thought.


    At ten, they will announce that there would be an auction for the blueprint of the armor. In this way, everyone would have the chance to bid. The winners would be given twenty-four hours to give the money or they will do another round of bidding the next day.


    Lyca was actually very excited about this. However, instead of spending time in the exhibit, she chose to stay inside the security room where she could see all the footage inside and outside of the hall. To her, staying here with food is definitely better than forcing herself to socialize.


    Unlike the ordinary security room where they met Old Man Shen, this room was located on the rooftop of the building. There were ten monitors in front of her, each showing different angles of the hall. To her left were another ten monitors showing another angle.


    Right now, Lyca was alone in the room. Ronan was currently assisting Shen Qui while Rue, Cleo, and the Chu Twins were attending the party. Once again, the twins asked Cleo and Rue to act as their escorts to help them chase away women.


    "I wonder why Xu Je''er is not even looking at Chu Munan," Cleo spoke. Everyone was equipped with a smallmunicator that would make them talk to each other. "She is so beautiful, but Chu Munan seemed to hate her. I think he''s gay."


    "I can hear you, moron." Chu Munan''s voice echoed, making Lyca chuckled.


    "Chu Munan, Xu Je''er is pretty and rich. Why don''t you like her? Look at her jade-like skin and pinkish lips. Her eyes sparkled like stars, her smile so blinding and beautiful. Isn''t that something men likes?" Cleo said.


    Chu Munan only snorted in response. He didn''t say another word again.


    "Also that Mr. Ken Xu is also handsome, no?" Cleo suddenly said. "But he''s got this unique aura surrounding him. Like he was the King or something. Do you think he would be the next president?"


    Lyca snorted. Who knows? Maybe Xu Ke is already the president. After all, he had the technology to create face masks. Lyca wasn''t even sure if he had something he could use to imitate the president.


    "I think he is suspicious," Rue chimed in. "He''s got this scary look."


    "He is handsome. Howe you think he was scary?"


    "His eyes it''s like dead."


    "Oh! I know what you mean." Cleo said. "Lyca Mr. Ken Xu is talking to your father."


    "I can see that," Lyca said. Before the exhibit started, she already warned her parents to avoid anyone from the Shen and Xu family, so she wasn''t so worried about it. Lyca started fondling theputer and after a few seconds, she did another scan to check who was bringing weapons with them.


    While bringing guns were already prohibited, Lyca was certain that some people still brought other weapons with them. And just as she expected, a lot of people had a gun hidden somewhere. Some have daggers and knives. But most of them were security detail of some prominent figures.


    She arched an eyebrow at Xu Ke when she noticed him carrying daggers that looked like hers. Weird. It seems that he also asked his people to make a dagger just like Lyca''s? She tried to check for needles but wasn''t able to find one. She was already expecting not to find needles on him. After all, his primary weapon was a double-aged dagger that had a smaller curved de near the hilt. Xu Ke used to call it Shoge. The de was attached to a chain that he can use to pull his enemies towards him.


    Xu Ke liked to use the weapon as he could use it in long-distance and short-distance fighting. It was efficient, and once he started using Lyca''s poison on its de, the weapon became almost invincible. Lyca nodded when she didn''t see the weapon around Xu Ke.


    Soon, she zeroed into the other guests, making sure that no one is actually bringing a bomb.


    "Lyca Old Man Shen is looking for you. Why is that old man here? After what he did yesterday? He really dared to still show himself. What a freak." Cleomented.


    "He is old, his skin is thick," Lyca said, nodding to herself. "And he is shameless." After their conversation the other day, the old man just left, leaving the body of his people behind. Who does that?


    He actually abandoned the bodies of the people who had been working under him. Even Shen Jiaojiao didn''t show any surprise reaction because of what the old man did. It was like she was already used to it. Growing up with that old man must have been very tragic.


    Lyca already knew that what happenedst time wasn''t really a test. It was real. He wanted to kill her. But when he saw that his people died, the story, the facial expression, and even the killing intent changed. The Old Man immediately started acting like a weak senior who only wanted to test his juniors.


    Crazy and calcting.


    Lyca looked at the monitor where he could see the old man approached Shen Qui, Xu Ke, and Huang Sheng Hong. Then she looked at Shen Jiaojiao, who was standing next to her grandfather, smiling at everyone. From time to time, her gaze would stop at Shen Qui before turning her eyes away from him.


    "Hey, I get that you don''t like talking to people bute on man are you really letting anyone just ogle your husband like that?" Cleo''s said. "I can see three other women staring at him, waiting for an opportunity to pounce. You should totallye here and show your beauty to everyone."


    "That''s his problem," Lyca said. She trusted Shen Qui, and no one could take that away from her. "Those people wanted him, he should deal with it ordingly. I am sure that he wouldn''t want me to intervene. After all, my methods when I am angry are different and bloody." Lyca''s voice was calm. It was the exact opposite of the meaning of her words.


    Of course, Lyca knew that Shen Qui was actually listening to them from his ownmunicator.

 Chapter 447: The Woman That He Once Knew

    Chapter 447: The Woman That He Once Knew


    Just as expected, not many people were surprised to hear about the bidding.


    Lyca thought that it was because many of them have spies around each other. For instance, the Xu should have a spy on the Shen Family and some families should have spied on other families. To the people in upper society, this is considered normal. To Lyca, these people are just too nosy.


    She rested her feet on the table as she looked at the bidding. Right now, they are bidding on the blueprint of the lower-quality armor. After a few minutes, she stood and stretched before walking out of the small room. It was already past ten and she had been sitting in herfortable chair for hours now. Her butt is starting to feel a little numb.


    "I''ve been looking for you everywhere. Turns out you were here watching us."


    Lyca eyed the man who spoke the moment she opened the door.


    "I wanted to just barge in but I know you did something to protect yourself out there."


    Lyca didn''t say anything. She turned her gaze away from the man wearing an all-white suit. "Why are you here?" she asked.


    "To talk to you" He took a step towards her, decreasing the five feet distance between them.


    "One more step and you die."


    This made him stopped walking. He stood, gentle eyes staring at her. Was he waiting for her to hug him? Crazy.


    "I don''t remember we still have something to talk about Mr. Xu."


    "Listen" Xu Ke gulped. "I won''t go into detail about what happened but I came here to talk to you about our world."


    Lyca only arched her eyebrow without saying anything.


    "Don''t you want to go back?"


    Still, she didn''t answer him. Why would she want to go back to a world like that? In her previous world, you can''t even sleep without being aware of your surroundings. You have to always watch your back. If other humans won''t kill you, monsters and demons will.


    It was dangerous.


    And tiring.


    Who would want a world like that?


    "Listen I think it''s time that we forgive what happened in the past and help each other out. After all, we are like aliens in this world. We need to find a way toe back."


    "Mr. Xu "


    "Lyca please stop acting. I know you are not from this world. I know it from the moment I saw you at that cave."


    That f*cking cave! Lyca gnashed her teeth in silence. She never once thought that Xu Ke would also arrive in this world. She never even considered that she would once again see him, alive and well. She hated it.


    "I know you miss that world. Listen I miss it too. We don''t belong in this world. We should find a way to go back."


    "Mr. Xu I have a question." Lyca frowned. "Are you crazy?" So what if he knows she was once his lover? She would deny it no matter what! It''s not like they already talk about this before right? Heh, he could insist all he wanted. All she needed to do was deny it.


    "Lyca "


    "I mean are you on drugs? Cocaine? Did you use some injectable?" She continued.


    "Does this mean you don''t want toe back with me?"


    Why would shee back with him? No. The real question should be Why did he assume that Lyca would just act like a friend to him? Considering, he murdered her and her whole family in that world. Did he forget those things?


    "About the past " Xu Ke took another step but before he could approach her further, a sharp de was already on his neck.


    "Stay away." Shen Qui''s face was just a few inches away from Xu Ke. He squinted at Xu Ke, his hand tight around the dagger. "Stay away."


    Xu Ke''s face turned rigid. He didn''t feel Shen Qui approached them, nor he felt his presence. In this world, only Lyca and Xu Ke should know ways how to hide themselves in the dark. Did Lyca taught him something? A sour taste started to spread in Xu Ke''s mouth. But even with those methods, Xu Ke was confident that he should have been able to detect Shen Qui.


    Xu Ke took a step back, his eyes never left Shen Qui''s cold ones. "What are you?" he asked. He tried to look at Lyca who was standing behind Shen Qui, but she wasn''t nning to move. And with Shen Qui''s height, Xu Ke found it difficult to get a glimpse of Lyca''s head.


    "Dr. Xu  I never thought that you would try to assault a weak woman who was just trying to rx." Shen Qui withdraw the knife and smiled at Xu Ke.


    Weak Woman


    The words echoed in Xu Ke''s ears. He chuckled. "Weak?"


    "Weak and defenseless." Shen Qui added. A confident smile appeared on his face. "Weak, defenseless, and married."


    For some reason, the word married made Xu Ke irritated. "Mr. Shen it was a misunderstanding. I was just talking to her. I thought she was lost."


    "She''s waiting for me." Shen Qui said.


    What irritated Xu Ke the most was the fact that Shen Qui didn''t move and it seemed like Lyca wasn''t nning on walking away too. Was she nning to just stand there behind him?


    That was not the woman that he knew!


    "We were nning to enjoy the night together." The meaning behind Shen Qui''s words was simple. Xu Ke was disturbing their date.


    "Well? I think I should just leave then" Xu Ke faked aughter. "I guess I should just see you back in the hall?" Right now, he was not confident that he would be able to fight against Lyca and Shen Qui together. Lyca  if she was still the woman that he knew was already difficult to deal with. She would surely defeat him during the night. It was her expertise. And then there was Shen Qui.


    He needed to know more about him!

 Chapter 448: Brothers

    Chapter 448: Brothers


    "Nothing?" Xu Ke raked his long, slender fingers on his hair. His eyes zed with anger, forehead creased. "You told me he was nothing!"


    "He was nothing. Of course, now it''s different." Xu Jihan said, confused. "He is the CEO of LS Group, but you already know this, right?" He sized his cousin up as he wondered why Xu Ke was so angry, even if they won the bidding. They would get all the blueprints. Isn''t this something worthy of praise? Why was he so angry? A line appeared in between his brows. "I don''t understand. Why are you asking about him again?" There is no way that he would get angry without any valid reason.


    He tried to recall if Shen Qui and Ken had any tense interaction tonight. He couldn''t remember anything. "Did something happen?"


    "That man he could escape my senses!" Xu Ke''s lips were set in a hard line. He couldn''t understand why he didn''t feel Shen Qui''s presence. Something is definitely wrong here! He clenched his jaw as he squinted. "No one can escape my senses." Even Lyca would find it difficult to do it. Just like Lyca, he had the ability to sense other people''s presence using his internal energy.


    However, he didn''t detect Shen Qui approached them. "Something is wrong."


    "Cousin I think you are thinking too much of yourself. I mean I know no one in the Xu Family could defeat you in hand-to-handbat, but that doesn''t mean no one would be able to defeat you. Ever. Someone out there is definitely stronger than you."


    Xu Ke''s face darkened as he red at his cousin. If Xu Jihan wasn''t so useful, he would have already wrung his neck. "I want to know everything about Shen Qui!"


    "We already have "


    "Do it again! Lyca must have done something to hide this information from me!"


    Xu Jihan stared at him for a few minutes before he opened his phone and started calling his people. Since they were children, Ken had been really weird. He was smart  too smart. Calcting and dangerous. However, he would sometimes get mad at the smallest things. He couldn''t help but wonder if his cousin had some defects in his brains. Probably bipr?


    "Really? Howe you didn''t tell me about this before?" Xu Jihan''s lips draw back into a snarl. "Ipetent! He hissed. "How did you miss something so important? What busy? I am busy, but  I never told you to stop investigating! You know what? F*ck you!" He gnashed his teeth before ending the call.


    "Did you get something?"


    "Shen Qui someone posted his photos on the ck market. Associating her to someone from the Shen Family and Xu Family."


    "Associating?"


    "It was said that he is actually the son of the previous heir of the Shen Family. The one who ran away to be with your father."


    "She died." Xu Ke uttered. "You are saying he is my younger brother?" his face contorted.


    "I am going to review the reports. I will get back to you tomorrow." Xu Jihan said as he called another person that could trace back the information.


    "If he is indeed a Xu, then he shoulde in the family. We should introduce him as a Xu." Xu Ke said. Of course, if Shen Qui is a Xu then it means he should support them. "Make sure that the Shen Family doesn''t know about this information. Seal it. That person who posted on the ck market should be someone who hated Shen Qui and knew about the truth. Of course, that is pretty normal considering they have a lot of enemies."


    Xu Jihan nodded and resumed calling his people.


    .


    Meanwhile, Lyca and Shen Qui were still on the rooftop. Having a pic under the sparkling stars.


    Lyca smiled as she looked at the stars that looked like diamonds. "Thest time we watched the stars we had sex at the back of the car."


    He chuckled, his face lit up before it reddened. "I was young and stupid." When Lyca looked at him, he continued, "We should have done it against the trees."


    "Hey!" She gave him a yful p. "Stop being a pervert!"


    "I thought you were the pervert?"


    "Stop it."


    Heughed. "You started it." And yet she had the guts to blush at his joke. Lyca was still so cute.


    "By now, Xu Ke must have known about you and Shen Family." Lyca changed the topic as she reached out the sky and closed her hands. "Meaning they know that you are a Shen and a Xu."


    "Frightening," he whispered as he folded his arm that Lyca used as a pillow, pulling her towards him. "You think Xu and Shen would fight it out?"


    "They should," Lyca said. The Shen Family is very capable of defeating the Xu Family.


    "You think Coup d''etat ising?"


    "It should happen." Isn''t this why she released Shen Qui''s picture and some random information about his simrities to Shen and Xu''s? The Shen Family has its own personal army. Causing a civil war was actually pretty easy once you have the money and an army. The Xu Family winning the bidding was already expected. Meaning, the Shen Family would surely attack before the Xu Family could manufacture the armor.


    The Shen''s wouldn''t want the Xu''spleting the manufacture of those armors and the agent that would react to gun powder. After all, having those armor and agent would only increase the power of the Xu Family. "We are already rich. We shouldn''t worry about it." Lyca added. Tonight they earned billions. Billions meant they could buy a private ne and safely leave the country.


    Bye Xu Ke.


    Bye Old Man Shen.


    You two could just screw each other!


    Lycaughed. Dealing with the two at the same time would be too tiring. So she chose a simple n. Make the two giants fight each other while she enjoys her king-size bed. Lyca realized that the Shen family and Xu family hated each other too much. They would surely take advantage of a small weakness.


    "Hey when you arrived in front of me earlier. I felt really beautiful."


    "Normal people would feel thankful and safe."


    "Oh! Don''t get me wrong. I was thankful too. I was thankful that I am really beautiful." Lyca giggled.


    ""

 Chapter 449: A Good Talk

    Chapter 449: A Good Talk


    The news of the Xu Family winning the bidding became the number one trending topic in the international news. Since many people were already eyeing the blueprint, many people were interested to know what would happen now that the government has something that could make them almost invincible.


    However, just as Lyca predicted, a piece of news about a huge forest fire suddenly surprised everyone. A forest fire is normal, but this one was huge and devastating. Not only the forest were affected, even the people leaving at least a hundred kilometers away from the forest were forced to evacuate. Meaning, they have to move to the centers that the government made for them.


    On that same day, a few mines in the south exploded, burying hundreds of miners alive. The devastating news made everyone forgot about the blueprints. Of course, Xu Ke tried to take advantage of this to have his people manufacture the armors while the people would focus on the explosions. To him, this was a gift.


    Sadly for him, two days after the explosion, a riot between the farmers and the police ensued after police identally killed a farmer while they were in a peaceful protest asking the government for some help with theirnds.


    How does someone identally shoot a person who was sitting peacefully with cards in their hands? No one could exin what happened. Everything happened too quickly after the media got ahold of the news. Exaggeration, fake news, and lies littered the Inte.


    "It was only three days after the bidding and the country experienced a lot of problems. Don''t you think it''s strange?" Tang Ruyi said. She ate some of the grapes that she was peeling for Lyca. "I came here because I was summoned to the capital. They changed my assignment into the capital. Probably in the pce? I am not sure yet. Even grandfather said he couldn''t do anything about this."


    Of course, Lyca thought inwardly. Since Xu Ke''s n of cornering her didn''t work, he was actually trying to hold her cousin hostage. "Why don''t you just leave your job?"


    "Grandfather would kill me."


    Lyca snorted. Their grandfather was a very proud military man. Seeing his grandchildren follow in his footsteps was making him so proud, he always brags about it to his friends. Lyca nodded.


    "Also our beautiful cousin would work in the capital too. Her application was epted, despite grandfather telling her mother not to agree to the arrangement."


    "She''s stupid," Lyca rolled her eyes. "And hopeless. Yes, she was hopeless." Sometimes, she would pity people who are too blind with love.


    "Oh! By the way, I brought the tea that would help you get pregnant. Grandfather said that "


    "Pregnant?"


    Lyca almost jolted up when she heard Shen Qui''s voice. Her eyes widened as she stared at his smug face.


    "I thought you guys wanted a child?" Tang Ruyi asked.


    "We were," Shen Qui walked inside the room and epted the tea that was in a delicate box. "Thank you." He smiled and Tang Ruyi. "Send my regards to grandfather." Then he looked at Lyca," I have a meeting in the office. I will see you at dinner?"


    "Hm?"


    "I said I will pick you up for dinner."


    "Oh. No need," Lyca wanted to p her own face. "I  I will drive there." She wanted him to pick her up. That would save her the hassle. But she was too nervous about the pregnancy thing. She gulped as she met his eyes. Half of her felt relieved that Shen Qui epted the teas. But the other half is actually scared of his reaction.


    Shen Qui smiled before he leaned and kissed her lips. "Oh, when does she need to drink one of these?"


    "Grandfather said one every morning. This should help her feel better and have good energy. The one in the blue box should be taken every night. It is best if you put it in a soup too. He said grandmother used this too."


    "Oh?" Shen Qui''s eyebrow lifted. He didn''t take his gaze away from his wife. "Thank you. I will surely remind her to take this every day."


    Lyca swallowed all the words she wanted to say as she nodded at him. Remind her? For some reason, she could sense a tinge of something serious in his tone. However, she was already nning to say no to this n. She was merely using this to get away from her cousin!


    "I''ll see youter?" Shen Qui kissed her again before giving her a mischievous wink. Then he nodded at Tang Ruyi and left the room.


    "My goodness. I know what you need!" Tang Ruyi said, almost squealing.


    "What?"


    "New lingerie!" Tang Ruyi said before she suddenly stood up and dragged Lyca out of her office. "You and I will have lingerie shopping!"


    "What? Why do you think I need lingerie to seduce my husband?" Despite asking this question, Lyca followed her cousin.


    "Everyone needed a few lingerie for their husband."


    Lyca rolled her eyes. "I don''t need something like it. He would just rip it off. Waste of money."


    Tang Ruyi suddenly halted her steps. "Then we need more! You can wear one every night."


    "I don''t think that''s necessary."


    "It is needed! To spice up your you know marriage life."


    Lyca doesn''t need lingerie to spice up her sex life, but she didn''t say anything. She just let her cousin drag her to the nearest mall.


    Meanwhile, Shen Qui just arrived in his office when his door was pushed open. A man who looked a little like Old Man Shen walked inside. He didn''t even bother introducing himself as he sat opposite Shen Qui. "Cancel your meeting. You and I will have a good talk."


    Contrary to the man''s expectation, Shen Qui calmly put his pen down and pressed the inte, "Ronan... call security. Someone is here in my office. Someone... I don''t know."


    ....


    Tomorrow, I will try to release more chapters. I discover that without a nanny, my writing time decreased significantly. :(

 Chapter 450: See Through

    Chapter 450: See Through


    "When my daughter told me you didn''t show any signs of respect to my father. I almost couldn''t believe it." The man said, smiling at him. The corners of his eyes crinkled. "Let me introduce myself. I am Shen Qiaosong, Shen Jiaojiao''s father."


    "You are expecting me to say something nice to a trespasser?" Shen Qui asked.


    "A trespasser?"


    "It''s a person entering someone''s property without permission. I own the building, I own the office, and you came here without my permission. Aren''t you just another trespasser?" Shen Qui understood that he is not the most powerful man in this country. Thus, it is expected for stuff like this to happen.


    Threats and coercion are just two things that they already expected to happen.


    "I know what It means."


    "Funny" Shen Qui snickered as he leaned against his seat, his hand rested on the table. "I thought you were asking me what it was."


    "Sir, is this the person that you wanted to be removed from the office?" A man walked inside, he was wearing a ck suit, his eyes coldly looked at Shen Qioasong.


    "Yes," Shen Qui smirked at Qiaosong in response. "He does not have an appointment. Ronan You and I needed to have a serious talk about these security breaches," his gaze turned towards Ronan who just arrived in the room.


    In response, Ronan nodded, however, his eyes were focused towards Qiaosong.


    "I came here without any intention of fighting."


    "So you decided to just walk inside my office. Should I call you stupid or intellectually ipetent?"


    Contrary to everyone''s expectations, Qiaosong was still calm despite all the insults that Shen Qui was throwing at him. "I want a deal."


    "You are in no position to deal."


    "Make your people leave."


    "Why should I?" Shen Qui fired back. Funny how this man and that Old Man Shen were so simr, he couldn''t help but wonder if they are the same person. Even the way they talked nonsense was the same.


    "I want cooperation. You will help me fight the Xu Family. In return I will give you something important against them."


    "Who told you that I am fighting them?" Just like Lyca, his aim was never about fighting it was surviving.


    "Make your people leave us."


    Shen Qui squinted, and for a few seconds, he turned quiet. Then he nodded and gestured them to leave.


    "The Xu Family that man Ken Xu is creating poisons. He was the one who poisoned your wife''s grandfather."


    Shen Qui''s eyebrow arched. This is something they already knew. "You consider this information important?"


    "I will tell you something more important than this if you agree to help me."


    "You think I would need your help to know the Xu Family secrets?" If Lyca wanted it, she would have it. It''s that simple. However, Lyca didn''t show any interest in the affairs of the Xu Family.


    "It was about her Huang Family."


    "Interesting" Shen Qui uttered. His lips turned thin as he handed him a card that contained his personal phone number. "Dinner. At six. Call me for the exact location."


    The corners of Shen Qiaosong''s mouth turned up into a smile that looked more like ugly crying. Perhaps the fact that It was Shen Qui who was ordering the future patriarch of the Shen Family didn''t make him happy. However, he still epted the card, memorized the number before giving it back to Shen Qui.


    "I will call you in an hour."


    And just like that, he left the room without saying anything else.


    This time, Shen Qui only smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkled before he dialed Lyca''s number. "Hey"


    "Hey." She finally said something after a few seconds of silence.


    "Are you alright?" He could sense Lyca''s difort just from that one word alone.


    "What?"


    "Did something happen?" The smile on his face vanished as his brows furrowed. "Where are you?" Lyca''s silence only made him more nervous.


    "I am inside a mall."


    "A mall?"


    "A boutique."


    "A boutique " But why does she sound so stressed? "Did Tang Ruyi did something?"


    "She did"


    "Lyca where are you? I aming to " Before he could grab his key''s, Lyca voice already interrupted him.


    "Nope. No don''te."


    He was about to inquire about her ufortable voice when he heard another voice in the background.


    "Oh? I didn''t know that see-through lingerie would look so good on you! I''m sure Shen Qui would "


    "Shut up!" Lyca''s voice followed. "Don''t listen." She said. "I''ll call youter."


    Before Shen Qui could say anything the call already ended. He stared at his phone for a few minutes before he chuckled. He was actually too nervous. It turns out she was just trying out lingeries? Was that why she was so ufortable?


    He shook his head and was about to put his phone down when it vibrated. He immediately opened the text and almost dropped his phone when he saw that it was a photo. of her in red lingerie.


    A see-through lingerie.


    He blinked and blinked again. Before he realized what was happening.


    [I don''t like it]


    A text followed the photo.


    [But Ruyi said your opinion would matter. Not mine.]


    Shen Qui felt a bead of sweat on his forehead. He opened the two buttons of his shirt and eyed the centralized air conditioner. Did they turn it off? Then he gulped and responded.


    *Sending pictures like this are dangerous. These are the things that hackers would love to see.*


    Realizing his response was a little off, Shen Qui pressed canceled. Of course, it was already toote.


    She will kill him.


    He was certain she would strangle him!


    He started typing again.


    *I would like you better without it.*


    And pressed send.


    Then he waited.


    And waited.


    [I thought so too. Buying something like this would be a waste. It''s expensive and the fabrics are thin. You could rip it in seconds.]


    Shen Qui responded almost immediately.


    *Then Buy it*


    *Buy a dozen* He added. *Two dozen shouldst us a long time.*


    [""]

 Chapter 451: Outfit and Make up

    Chapter 451: Outfit and Make up


    The current atmosphere was a little tense. It reminded Lyca of the day just after a strong storm has passed. It was quiet and still too still. She stared at the older man in front of her before she focused her attention on the cake. It was chocte cake. Not her favorite but she liked it.


    Without saying anything, Lyca started eating. She wondered if Mr. Shen Qiaosong was waiting for her to finish her food before saying anything. After all, he had been sitting there, not saying a thing since he arrived. Did the fact that she was here surprised him?


    Lyca was certain her beauty wasn''t that unheard of.


    Maybe the fact that she was wearing a cute little dress that entuated her curves surprised him too much. To be fair, this outfit was something Tang Ruyi insisted that she wear.


    That woman actually yed dress-up and treated her like a goddamn Barbie doll. Her hair was now curled, her face with a thin but nice make-up on. Tang Ruyi called it natural makeup. Of course, Lyca didn''t understand why it was called natural when she knew that they put two different foundations in her face.


    It was probably because it looked natural. It made her skin looked more wless and beautiful.


    What Lyca hated the most about the makeup was actually the fact that her eyshes were pretty heavy. She already had long natural eyshes but Tang Ruyi insisted on adding more and making it more curly. It looked pretty on her but d*mn it was heavy.


    She found it weird to blink.


    Lyca knew how to put on her own makeup but she didn''t realize howcking her knowledge in that field until she met those people who fixed her up. She looked at her ck dress short dress. Despite Tang Ruyi''s insistence on choosing a different color, Lyca put her foot down and decided to wear this ck V Neck dress. It short and ruffled. Of course, Tang Ruyi didn''t forget theces.


    Oh, theces.


    Lyca hated every part of the dress except for the fact that it wasn''t a body con. Meaning, she could hide something in her thighs. A weapon, a gun, and a knife.


    "I wasn''t expecting that you would bring Miss Huang with you."


    After a few minutes of silence, Qiaosong finally said something. He looked at Shen Qui, unimpressed. Then he stared at Lyca. "To think that you would get involve in business looking like this was beyond me."


    "" Did the old man expected, she was trying to seduce him? Her forehead creased. "Mr. Shen you are not even handsome." Her point was well she wanted to say that she didn''t make herself look this good just for an old man. "And you''re old."


    Qiaosong''s face contorted. He forced himself to say, "Don''t interrupt me while I''m speaking!"


    Lyca snorted. "Or what?" Was this man trying tomit suicide? For some reason, Lyca thought that the Shen Family are really proud people. They think too highly of themselves. Did they think they were kings and queens of this country?


    In response, Shen Qiaosong squinted at her. "You "


    "Mr. Shen let''s cut to the chase. You said you wanted to tell me something about the Huang Family?" Shen Qui asked.


    "Then please send her out of the private room." Shen Qiaosong said.


    To his surprise, Shen Qui snorted. "Mr. Shen my time is running out. You can leave if you want."


    Shen Qiaosong''s face darkened before he opened his phone and called someone, ordering them toe inside. "It''s just one person. She knew everything about Ken Xu."


    Lyca ignored the man''s gaze as she concentrated on another sweets. The restaurant that they were in really has lovely and delicate sweets. She wanted to take her time savoring every minute of it. Lyca closed her eyes as she tasted the cinnamon on the flower-looking cake. It was delicious!


    Just as she opened her eyes she saw a woman walk inside. Tall and slim, and familiar.


    It was none other than Miss Park.


    She recalled seeing this woman in a meeting with Shen Qui weeks ago. Why is she here?


    She walked towards the circr table, her red lips curled up into a beautiful smile.


    Now that Lyca thought about it, this Miss Park would easily pass the preliminary round of the Miss Universe! She stared at the woman''s beautiful face then ate her sweets. As expected, eating while staring at someone beautiful is different.


    "Mr. Shen" Miss Park held her hand towards Shen Qui.


    "Take a seat, Miss Park," Shen Qui said without even looking at Miss Park''s hand. Then he looked at Shen Qiaosong. "Why is she here? I will give you three minutes to exin before I leave."


    "You "


    "Mr. Shen Qiaosong please don''t forget that your family needed my help. It''s not the other way around." Shen Qui was quick to remind him. These people were acting like they own the world and that everyone owed them something.


    Funny how their imaginations have gone so wild to the point of insanity.


    Despite his anger, Qiaosong gnashed his teeth in silence as he started. "Miss Park is suspecting that her father is already dead and the one using her father''s identity is Ken Xu. I also have suspicions that Ken Xu is posing as the president. That was the reason why he never appeared together with the president and together with Mr. Park. However, Mr. Park would appear with Mr. Xu Jihan as well as the president."


    Shen Qui and Lyca eyed each other.


    "Miss Park tell him what you know," Qiaosong said. In response, Miss Park nodded and stared at Shen Qui.


    "My father would never miss my birthday. I am already twenty-five and for thest twenty-three years, he would alwaysand I mean always give my gift at midnight during my birthday. Since my father started working with Xu Jihan he stopped doing this. He would celebrate my birthday, but it was like he haspletely forgotten about this ritual that only the two of us know." Miss Park gulped, tears started streaming from her eyes.

 Chapter 452: Indifference

    Chapter 452: Indifference


    Miss Park extended her hand towards Shen Qui''s arms, slowly holding him as tears continued to spill from her beautiful eyes. Her lips trembled, face paled. "Aw!" Miss Park withdrew her hand when she felt a little tingling sensation that soon turned painful. She looked at the back of her palm and realized that she doesn''t have any wounds.


    "Are you alright? Did something happen?" Shen Qiaosong asked, worried. "What happened?"


    "I  I was just  Maybe it was just me," she continued before crying again. "As I was saying I am almost a hundred percent sure that that he is not my father," she dragged her gaze back to Shen Qui. This time, she didn''t try to hold him and just started sobbing again.


    "So, he is not Mr. Park. What about the President?" Shen Qui asked. He didn''t even bother to look at Miss Park and just turned his attention to Shen Qiaosong.


    "I am almost a hundred percent that this President is taller than the previous one."


    "You mean"


    "I think this started two years ago. I know we are of the same height. That man and I were rivals. I know all his weaknesses and strength. I am his enemy, but I can say that I know him better than anyone else in this world. And it''s vice versa."


    "So the current president is taller?"


    "Yes." Shen Qiaosong said. "You can change the appearance and maybe even the voice and sometimes, you can make yourself look taller. But he is not that kind of man. There is no reason that he would wear something that would enhance his height. He''s got no time for that."


    "No other proof?" Lyca asked. "Maybe he is in love. Some alpha males wanted to look taller when they met a woman that looked like a giant. No offense, but just like Miss Park. Most men in this country are not even five foot ten tall. Meaning, in their eyes, she is a giant."


    ""


    ""


    "" Did she just call Miss Park a giant? Shen Qiaosong wanted to reprimand Lyca for the disrespect, but he knew that wasn''t possible. The woman was capable and dangerous. This was the only reason why he didn''t forcibly dragged her out from the private room. Even his father warned him about her capabilities. "I am certain that he is not in love."


    "Why?" Lyca asked.


    "Because Because"


    "He''s gay?" All the gossip cells in Lyca jumped in excitement.


    "Miss Huang that is not the point." Miss Park said, frowning.


    "Please call me Mrs. Shen." Lyca smiled at her.


    "Miss Park, please ignore her, she didn''t mean that." Shen Qiaosong was quick to apologize. It took him a lot of time to convince Miss Park to work with him. How could he allow Lyca to just ruin this opportunity?


    "Mr. Shen I think you misunderstood something." Shen Qui said after a few seconds of silence. "I am not interested in doing anything to the Xu Family. This affair does not concern me."


    "You are a Shen. If he destroys my Shen Family, he would surely destroy you too!"


    Shen Qui nodded. "Then that would be the time that I would defend myself. I am not going to do anything to "


    "Do you really want to do this?" Shen Qiaosong asked, his eyebrows snapped together as he red at Shen Qui.


    "Of course. I am clear about my actions. Your destruction does not have to do with me."


    "Mr. Shen we are here asking you to help us. Please take us seriously." Tears filled Miss Park''s eyes. "My father I think he already killed him. And I don''t  I just don''t think that we could do this without you."


    "Unfortunate." Shen Qui snorted. "If you think you can''t win, then just leave the country." Why would Shen Qiaosong and Miss Park wanted him toe here alone? At first, he thought they just didn''t want his wife to know about the information. Now, he was certain Miss Park wanted to use whatever it was that she could use to attain her goal.


    Too bad. Even if she undresses herself in front of him, Shen Qui would never bat an eyelid before saying no. What Shen Qui has now is just too precious. Lyca is more important than any revenge that would only beget more revenge.


    It would be a never-ending cycle and he would spend all his time running around killing people instead of having fun with his wife!


    That is just a nightmare.


    In fact, Shen Qui had been working really hard because he wanted to give her the life that she wanted. Then he wanted to retire at a young age and spend the rest of his life with Lyca. His dream was really simple. It''s just unfortunate that many people wanted to dy his dream.


    "Mr. Shen are you really that coldhearted? I am begging "


    "Miss Park I don''t understand something." Shen Qui asked. "Why do you think I would help you out?" His gaze turned towards Shen Qiaosong. "Why do you feel that I owe you something? You two are really entitled, I almost couldn''t believe that people like you exist in this world."


    "You "


    "Mr. Shen calm down. I think you''ve misunderstood our intention." Miss Park calmly wiped her cheek before turning her already red and swollen eyes towards Shen Qui. "We wanted your help to save this country. We wanted to change it."


    Indifference.


    That was the only thing that shed in Shen Qui''s eyes. Lyca and him were no heroes. Saving people is not something they are very good at. "Still no," he answered. Shaking his head, he shifted his gaze between the two.


    Still, Miss Park didn''t lose any hope."Mr. Shen please give us at least ten minutes to finish everything that we know. Then you can decide if you wanted to help us or not."


    Shen Qui looked at Lyca and waited for her to nod. Lyca looked bored and if she would say that she wanted to leave, then Shen Qui wouldn''t hesitate to leave these people here.

 Chapter 453: A Hole in Between her Brows

    Chapter 453: A Hole in Between her Brows


    "Mr. Xu is trying to make some experiments." Shen Qiaosong continued Miss Park''s words. Then he opened his phone and showed it to Shen Qui and Lyca. "Humans. He is doing experiments on humans. All of my spies never made it back alive. In fact, I never saw any of their bodies. However, I was able to get some images of them throwing away piles and piles of what looked like bodies in this area. Of course, no one can just approach the ce. It''s restricted."


    This was something Lyca already expected. Xu Ke was someone without any conscience or empathy. Experimenting with humans was something he could easily do without batting an eyelid. She looked at Shen Qiaosong.


    Seeing that he finally got Lyca''s attention, Shen Qiaosong continued. "We think he is trying to do something that could destroy the world."


    Destroy the world? For some reason, Lyca immediately thought of zombies.


    "We think he is trying to create a medicine that could cure all illness but is failing at it. He is experimenting with people and is using some poisonous substances that are full of toxins. If you don''t believe me, here is the address you can check for yourself. You can have your own investigation. Knowing the tech that you have, it should be easy for you."


    Shen Qui looked at the images on the phone and just as Shen Qiaosong said, it showed images of people wearing white suits throwing what looked like bodies of people that were wrapped in body bags. He could see the tall electric gates that covered the whole dumping site.


    "I also think that Ken Xu is going to kill you soon."


    "Me?" Shen Qui lifted an eyebrow.


    "He is asking his people to investigate you."


    That was expected, Shen Qui thought about what happened on the rooftop when he appeared out of nowhere to defend Lyca. While he felt that his actions were normal, both Lyca and Xu Ke showed surprise. It was like they didn''t know he was there.


    Well isn''t that because he tried to hide his presence? He recalled every word that Lyca told him about her past life, and he knew about the breathing technique that could almost make her invisible in the dark. It wasn''t just the breathing technique, but the wind and timing.


    He learned it from Lyca''s stories and used it that night.


    "If you help us, we will naturally "


    "Still no." This time, Lyca answered. "We''re not helping you." She smiled and finished her tea before she stood and looked at Shen Qui. "Sleepy."


    "Miss Huang please don''t make any conclusions yet. Mr. Shen promised that he would say something about the Huang Family." In her desperate attempt to convince them, Miss Park chose toy herst cards. "Mr. Shen please allow me to tell them what I know."


    "You have two minutes." Lyca took her seat back and stared at Miss Park.


    "Well I think your uncle is just like Ken Xu. I think Huang Qingyun is just like him."


    "" He is an alien too? Lyca pursed her lips. Huang Qingyun never showed any interest in the Huang Family before. Lyca thought of him as just someone indifferent to everything. Of course, this changed when she knew that it was Huang Qingyun who poisoned her grandfather.


    Since then, Huang Qingyun became a very mysterious man to Lyca. He is not like Huang Li Duo, who was stupid and kept on trying to approach Lyca. He was just waiting for them, watching them from afar.


    To Lyca, a smart like this is more dangerous than a hundred Huang Li Duo and Huang Ying.


    "Please allow me to exin." Miss Park gulped. "Mr. Huang is someone that "


    Lyca frowned as she turned towards their left. In her eyes, it looked like the world stopped spinning as her heart skipped a beat. Then she looked at the talking Miss Park and into Shen Qui, who sat next to her. "Down!" Lyca said. Her first instinct made her hugged Shen Qui and pulled him to the ground.


    Then the first sound of a bullet hitting someone interrupted the tense atmosphere. It was followed by the sound of the ss scattering into smaller pieces, then Shen Qiaosong''s scream. "MISSS PARK!"


    Lyca and Shen Qui instantly found a ce to hide themselves from the sniper. They met each other''s eyes before looking at Miss Park who was now lying on the floor. Blood pooled around her. It was clearly from the hole in between her brows. Her opened eyes still showed the surprise that she felt when she heard Lyca''s words. It was a clean hit.


    Lyca clenched his jaw as Shen Qiaosong followed their lead and found a ce to hide himself.


    "He is  on the building," Lyca said.


    Shen Qui nodded and opened his phone to call Ronan, informing him to check the CCTV. Then he called the police, making them know about what happened.


    ..


    "I didn''t notice the bullet." Shen Qiaosong''s face was serious. "I didn''t notice the sniper." He thought of Lyca''s reaction before the shooting and found it weird. His people said that the shooter was on the twenty-first floor of the building across them. There is no way that Lyca would know about it unless she was the one who paid the man to kill Miss Park.


    But why?


    Why would she try to kill Miss Park? Was it because she was trying to talk about someone from the Huang Family?


    Shen Qiaosong felt frustrated. He tightened his hand around his ss of whiskey. Right after they were taken to the police, Lyca and Shen Qui left the station after a few minutes while he had to stay to answer some more questions because he was the one who invited Miss Park for the meeting.


    Because of this, he didn''t have the chance to talk to Lyca and asked her about it.


    "I will go and see them." Shen Qiaosong said. "I needed to talk to her."


    "It''s close to midnight!" Old Man Shen said. "Can''t you "


    "No. I have to do it now! I won''t be able to sleep without knowing the truth!"

 Chapter 454: Just Sex

    Chapter 454: Just Sex


    Lyca and Shen Qui''s house, Kong City


    "Did you find something?" Lyca asked Shen Qui as he continued to type on hisputer.


    "This area I can''t see it. Ronan already hacked into the satellite and it''s still not visible. It was like, they don''t exist in the map." Shen Qui said.


    Lyca stared at theputer and went back to her seat. "I have suspicions that it was a trap. So I am not going to check the ce."


    "You think so too?"


    She nodded in response. She stared at Shen Qui''s worried look and gave him a smile of assurance. "No need to worry. He won''t try to harm you."


    "I''m not worried about myself. I am worried about you." Now that the enemy would kill just to hide a secret, it was obvious that their enemy is getting stronger. He was worried that she might not be able to handle it and run away. His selfish self was worried that she would disappear. He was scared.


    Of course, he wasn''t nning to tell Lyca about these emotions.


    "I think I may have a way to confirm something."


    "What are you nning to do?" Shen Qui asked.


    "We need to go to Long City. Visit Huang Ying. This time I will cure her." Lyca squinted. "However, our enemies cannot know that."


    "You wanted a decoy?" Shen Qui''s eyes glinted. People are watching their every move so it was only logical for her to "I think I have the perfect way for us to leave unnoticed."


    Just as the two continued talking, Ronan informed them that Shen Qiaosong wanted an audience. He was trying to force himself inside the ranch. He and his people are getting aggressive too.


    "Let him in," Lyca said. "I will talk to him."


    "You will."


    "It''s time that we put them in their ce." Lyca stood. She thinks that these people are pretty troublesome. "You won''t care right?"


    "Of course not."


    "Good." Lyca stood, then she reminded him about his n about leaving before she left his office.


    .


    Shen Qiaosong was expecting to see a nice mansion in the middle of the ranch. Maybe a vi that would fit Shen Qui and Lyca''s worth. What he saw greatly disappointed him.


    He knew that the two are living underground, but this this wooden house on top of the underground was pretty old. It looked like an old cabin made of wood, with boring whitewashed walls and rainbow-style cheap-looking rugs. The decorations are pretty nd too and the house... smelled like pancakes. He couldn''t help but wonder if someone is living here.


    No. To say that he was disappointed was an understatement.


    "Father are you sure about this?" Shen Jiaojiao nervously asked her father.


    "If you don''t want to talk to them, why''d youe here?" he retorted. He knew that Shen Jiaojiao''s presence was because of Qiaosong''s father''s orders.


    "Father this is their "


    "I know what I''m doing!" If he is scared, then he was not Shen Qiaosong! Moreover, he actually brought ten of his elites with him. Right now, they are standing outside of the house, preventing Lyca''s people from approaching them.


    "You are not wee here."


    Shen Qiaosong turned towards Lyca, who just walked out from what looked like the kitchen of the two-story house. Dressed in tight ck leather jeans and a white tank top, Lyca smiled at them.


    "But you already know that," Lyca added he eyed the two people in the living room. While Shen Qiaosong was calmly sitting on the sofa, Shen Jiaojiao was pacing in the living room, the floor creaking from each of her heavy steps.


    "How did you know there was a sniper?" Shen Qiaosong asked. He went directly to the point.


    "Why should I tell you?" Lyca asked.


    "Then let me rephrase my question. Did you kill Miss Park?"


    "If I say no. You wouldn''t believe me." Lyca could see it in the older man''s eyes. Shen Qiaosong already made up his mind. And she wasn''t nning to do anything to change his mind.


    "Did you or did you not kill Miss Park???" Shen Qiaosong''s voice turned grave as he looked at Lyca. "Answer me!" he let out a low warning growl.


    "No. I have no motive whatsoever." Lyca sat opposite him. "Take a seat, Miss Shen. It''s not good to walk around like that in front of the owner of the house." Her voice was cold, it had a tinge of danger in it  something that the father and daughter immediately recognized. She was warning them.


    "Then do you know who killed her?" Shen Jiaojiao asked.


    "No."


    "But the sniper"


    "Am I the only one who can sense people that wanted to kill me?" Lyca asked, as if this was the most normal thing in the world. "I can sense it. Just like how I know that you have two pistols in your back." She eyed Shen Qiaosong. "And how... Miss Shen is carrying a hunting knife that could easily slit my throat."


    "You have a scanner in this property. Great!" Sarcasmced Mr. Shen''s voice. "But that isn''t enough to convince me that you can sense a bullet from a mile away.


    "Mr. Shen just because your lover was dead didn''t mean that I have something to do with it."


    "What did you say?" Shen Jiaojiao paled. She looked at her father, waiting for him to burst with anger, to rage and tell Lyca it wasn''t the truth. But Shen Qiaosong only lowered his gaze, jaws clenched. "Father? What  What is she talking about?" How could her father and the woman she considered her best friend was? "She''s lying, right?"


    "Jiaojiao "


    "Your father and Miss Park have some sexual rtionship," Lyca confirmed. "No need to feel hurt about it. It was just sex. I am certain they have no feelings for each other. I can see it in their eyes. She "


    "SHUT UP!" Shen Qiaosong yelled. "Shut your trap! You already killed her! Stop saying stuff like that!"


    "But I was telling the truth?" Lyca continued. She looked at theplicated expression on Shen Jiaojiao''s face. "I swear she never really liked him. Maybe the sex was just good."


    "SHUT THE HELL UP!"Enraged, Shen Qiaosong''s feet suddenly sprang forward as he tried to attack Lyca, strangle her slender neck and kill her to silence her. But before he could reach her, Lyca''s legs were already moving. Her shin swiftly struck his head.


    Shen Qiaosong staggered as a loud ringing echoed inside his ears. He felt like he hit something hard as he fell to the floor.


    "Father!" Despite the feeling of betrayal, Shen Jiaojiao still chose to help her father. "How dare you hurt my father?"


    "Wrong question," Lyca said. She was already standing, her feet in a fighting stance. She was prepared to kill these two if they still continue to resist. "You should say, ''How dare you move when my father tried to attack you!" she perfectly mimicked Shen Jiaojiao''s voice, making thetter realized the absurdity of her words.


    "You "


    "Yes, Miss Shen I would move and retaliate if someone wanted to attack me. He is lucky, I wasn''t in the mood to kill him after what he did."


    "Lyca! How could you "


    "If I wanted to kill Miss Park, I would never pay for other people to do it. You know what I am capable of. Did you think I would hesitate to kill her using my own hands?" Lyca narrowed her eyes at them. "Someone was using you against me and you are letting them seed. I always thought the Shen Family was such a scary existence. It turns out they are nothing but clowns who talk too much!"


    "Lyca! hmm hmmm!" Shen Jiaojiao held her throat when she realized that someone was stuck in it. "What is that?"


    "You and your father are poisoned," Lyca said before she threw a vial containing four green tablets. "You have four days to make me happy. One tablet each day and you will live. If you want to die so badly, then don''t take the tablet and you will experience the most excruciating thing in your life. In four days, both of you wille here with Old Man Shen. I will personally talk to him about the matters with my husband."


    "What did you say?" Shen Qiaosong asked.


    "Not saying it again." Lyca darted her tongue out.


    ""


    ""


    "One more thing. If you try to hurt the people I love I will use gas to kill everyone in the Shen Family. You want to know how serious I am? Then talk to the people in Kong City. Rumors about me are going around here."


    "Lyca what poison did you "


    "Not telling," Lyca said. "You have the best doctors. You still have four days to find it out. Good luck, and I hope you stay alive by then. You already know the way I''m not seeing you out." Lyca turned her back and walked towards the kitchen before she waved her hand. "Bye. I will see you four days from now," she added.

 Chapter 455: Beep

    Chapter 455: Beep


    "You poisoned them?" Everyone in the room stilled when they heard Lyca''s calm words. Even Chu Munan and Chu Nan turned quiet and stared at Lyca. Seeing this, Cleo continued, "Are you telling me that you poisoned someone from the Shen n?"


    "That''s expected. He tried to attack her." Ronan calmly said. "The Shen''s are shameless and think that just because they have the money, no one could hurt them." There was a dangerous glint in his eyes. "By the way, everything is set. Cleo will wear the wig and go north to the Chu Family''s house. I already arranged everything. The private ne is ready too."


    Lyca nodded and eyed Shen Qui, then the two left to prepare. This time, they are going to hit first strike while Xu Ke haven''tpleted the armors.


    The first part of the n is to go and see Huang Ying. Lyca wanted to confirm that Huang Qingyun was the one who did it to her. Once that is already confirmed, then Lyca was nning to keep her family safe. She knew that Xu Ke would soon approach her. This time, he might use her family again.


    So, Lyca wanted to prepare.


    The first thing that they did was to create a diversion. They needed them to think that Lyca was in the north while she ran around and create a trap for Xu Ke.


    "How do I look?" she asked after putting on a cap that would hide almost half of her face. Not that it matters, Lyca added a lot of prosthetics to change her appearance. Even her hair was no longer white. It was ck.


    She looked at Shen Qui before turning around. "Perfect, right?" she asked.


    "Beyond perfection."


    "Stop lying!" she yfully pped him and grabbed her gears.


    "What did you want me to say? If I call you ugly, you will kill me, right?"


    "Does that mean, I am ugly?"


    "What? Of course not!"


    The two bantered as the other people inside the office weren''t there. Everyone was staring at them, bbergasted.


    "Alright we are ready! Let''s go!" Lyca said almost excitedly. Right now, they will leave the ce at the same time and just use a ten-second blind spot in the airport cameras to leave the ce.


    .


    Meanwhile, the Shen Family is not as excited as Lyca. Everyone in the room was quiet. Everyone in the room was staring at the man wearing white who was supposed to say something about the poison.


    "Say something!" Old Man Shen barked, impatienceced his tone. "What is it? Can we create something, an antidote? I am willing to pay!"


    "Patriarch I apologize, but I have never seen this type of poison before."


    "What?"


    "This this isn''t really considered poison. I don''t think we can call it that. I didn''t find anything weird in their bodies aside from the rapid production of white blood cells that would stop every time they drink the medicine."


    "What does that mean?"


    "While having an elevated or abnormally high white blood cell count does not necessarily indicate leukemia, the source of the condition will need to be identified if it is found to exceed the levels and duration of a normal immune response to an infection. I already tested their blood and they don''t have leukemia or any other infection in their systems. I just couldn''t understand why their body is producing too many white blood cells as if they are fighting an infection."


    "You mean you can''t find what''s wrong? How is that possible? Are you still a doctor? How could you not diagnose what''s wrong with them?"


    "Father maybe she was just bluffing?"


    "Bluffing? You wanted to strangle her! You think she would bluff you? If you wanted to strangle me, I would have killed you immediately. But she is keeping you and Jiaojiao alive. Do you know why?" Silence followed the old man''s words. "Because she needed us to do something! She is going to use you!"


    "Father I "


    "I told you not to go there! I told you! But you didn''t listen to me! You think too highly of yourself! You never listened to my opinions anymore!"


    "Grandfather please... Let''s not me, father. She was just angry. We always knew he is like this."


    "You are all stupid!" Old Man Shen raised his palms before mming them to the wooden table. "I want you to do all types of examinations to know what is wrong with them!"


    "Yes, sir!"


    "You  tell me where is Lyca now?"


    "Patriarch just a few minutes ago, she left Kong City with Shen Qui and her friends. The ranch is already under lockdown with the highest security. Anyone who approached the ce will be killed."


    "What?" The line in between old man Shen''s brows deepened. "She just dered war against us then she immediately ran away to the Chu Family? Did she think they could save her? Someone call Old Man Chu!"


    "Father if we really hurt Lyca, what if the antidote"


    The loud vibration interrupted the meeting. Everyone turned towards Old Man Shen''s phone on top of the table.


    [Hello?]


    [Old Man Shen its Lyca.]


    "You "


    [This is a prerecorded message. Meaning, I won''t hear your curses.] She snorted before she continued. [Put it on speaker. I know you''re not alone.]


    Old Man Shen''s hands tremble with rage as heplied.


    [The poison in your son and granddaughter''s body is deadly. Not even the top doctors would be able to detect it. I suggest they check the brains. The hormones will be abnormal as well as the cells. I don''t know the exact effect of the poison since I haven''t tested it on any humans before. ]


    It was as if the temperature inside the room turned colder. What does she mean by that? Did she just treat them asb rats?


    [No. I am not thinking that they areb rats. They don''t look like one. ]


    ""


    ""


    ""


    ""


    ""


    [Anyway, I called you because I want to inform you that this isn''t my fault. If you want to me someone, me your son. He is stupid and hopelessly in love with a woman half her age. Of course, in real love, age doesn''t matter.]


    "This woman"


    "Shhh Shut up!" Old Man Shen hissed.


    [I am going to visit you and your family. You can, of course, set up a trap. Once I am captured, I will not hesitate to blow up my body. You won''t get any information from me and your precious son and granddaughter would die a miserable death. Watching them suffer when you have all the money in the world would be heartbreaking. But that''s not the point of this call.]


    [I called because I wanted you to know that Shen Qui is mine. He is my family. Not yours. I am not nning to share him. Stop with this we have the same blood running in our veins bullshit. If he will tell me to kill everyone in the Shen Family, I would dly do it without batting an eyelid. And I know he would do the same too.]


    [My husband does not owe you anything. As proof that I am not just threatening you I put a poisonous gas bomb in one of yourpanies. You have two minutes to find it.]


    [Also... you can try to go after my family, and I will make all yourpanies explode. I have my eyes on you. See you soon.]


    Beep.

 Chapter 456: Striking First

    Chapter 456: Striking First


    Long City


    Lyca looked at Huang Ying''s sleeping face before she looked at the blood in the vial that she was holding. Slowly, Lyca shifted her gaze towards the vial before shaking it. The dark red blood inside soon turned purple before finally turning into green.


    Seeing this, Lyca squinted and tucked the vial in the storage in her belt. Then she signaled Shen Qui to leave now. She already got the confirmation that she wanted. It is time for them to proceed with their next n.


    Silently, the two left the building where Huang Ying was kept.


    "What is it?" Shen Qui asked, the moment, they arrived in the small hostel that they were renting.


    "Her memory was wiped out," Lyca said. "Huang Qingyun is working with Xu Ke. Only Xu Ke can create something like this."


    "Do you know what it was?"


    "It is something that could wipe out all of your memories. Including your childhood memories. Reading, writing, and even speaking. Everything will be erased."


    "How is that possible?"


    "Everything is possible. As long as you know what to do." Lyca sighed. "The person who made this was very knowledgeable with the human body. Particrly, the brain. " To be honest, Xu Ke was the only one capable of doing this. "But it needs a lot of trial and error, a lot of experimentations, a lot ofb rats." The thing is this is not even considered the worst medicine that Xu Ke knew how to do. If Lyca was right and if Xu Ke indeed found a way to summon materials from their previous world then, she needed to stop him.


    This was not because of her moral values. This was because of her own selfish reasons. Creating those potions and poisons could practically make Xu Ke untouchable.


    She couldn''t allow that to happen.


    "So the thing that Shen Qiaosong said"


    "It should be true. Xu Ke does not have any regard for human life." Lyca sat at the edge of the bed and stared at the vial, slowly holding it against the LED light bulb. "It''s better if we assume that while I was looking for ways to recreate poisons, he was looking for ways to make something like this."


    "You said that he came from a family of healers in your world?"


    "Yes," Lyca nodded. "That''s why  they wanted us to marry. My family was assassinated. We could protect them. Of course, they still betrayed us in the end. At the end of the day, profits matter most. Not that I me them. They must have thought that we would betray them too." In that world, betrayal is considered a part of life. It''s as natural as breathing.


    "It is also safe to assume that he knows ways on how to alter someone''s memory." She put the vial back to her storage. "And he might use it against us."


    Shen Qui stared at him. "Do you have ways to fight this?"


    "No. I am an expert in killing people. I have more than a hundred ways to kill someone. I can''t save a thing." In the past life, she wasn''t able to save her family too. She was good at killing but just never good at saving. "Unless I would have ess to these things in advance."


    "You " Shen Qui blinked, he stared at her. "You are thinking of"


    "I don''t think there would be any other way."


    "You can''t work with him!"


    "I know. But he came here before me. If the experiment was true, then he must be doing something dangerous. He is knowledgeable, smart, and definitely not someone that would act rashly. If I won''t work undercover, we won''t know what is he up to." Lyca thought that Xu Ke won''t bring what he was good at in this world. Again, she was wrong.


    The creation of this potion was enough proof that Xu Ke is experimenting and hurting humans. Of course, this does not concern Lyca at all. What concerns her is the fact that Xu Ke might hurt her family again. What if he used these potions on her family members? What if he used it against Shen Qui?


    Lyca wouldn''t allow something like that to happen. She would be a fool if she would allow him near her family again!


    So, she will strike first.


    And this time, she will win.


    "The Shen Family is the key to all this," Lyca said. "By now, old man Shen must be nning to do something against me. He would want to kill me. I will meet him days from now and you you will have to save me."


    Pursing his lips, Shen Qui sat next to her.


    "Do you trust me?" she asked.


    "With my life," he answered without batting an eyelid.


    Lyca nodded. "You will give your life to me?"


    "You already own my life."


    "Eww.." Lyca chuckled before sheughed then she reached out and held his hand. "This is not going tost," Lyca said. "I wille back. Do you understand me?"


    He didn''t say anything as he stared at her resolute eyes. "The fact that you wanted to work hard is enough assurance that you wille back." He knows her. Lyca wouldn''t waste too much energy on something she wasn''t sure of, on something that would only waste her time.


    Herziness was enough assurance for him.


    Lyca stared at his beautiful face before she leaned forward and give him a light kiss. "I trust you." She gave him a gentle smile.


    ..


    "Is everything ready?" Huang Sheng Hong looked at Tang Nini. The smell of detergent and cleaning solutions was thick around them. He slowly removed his gloves and gave his wife a look of inquiry. Was she nervous?


    "Yes. Were ready." Tang Nini sighed, brows furrowed. "Are you sure about this n? What if something happened to Lyca?"


    "If we don''t do this, something might happen to her." Huang Sheng Hong had a resolute expression on his face. "Don''t you trust our daughter? I''m sure that everything will work out in the end. And... i don''t want to be a burden."


    Tang Nini clenched her jaw as she shook her head and stared at the stuff that Lyca wanted them to prepare. "It''s all ready."


    Huang Sheng Hong''s eyes narrowed. Right now, he couldn''t understand why Lyca would say that she would strike first. But, he could feel the certainty in Lyca''s voice. He could hear the determination in her voice when she said that she wanted to protect them.


    And while he was pretty capable of defending himself. He chose not to intervene this time.


    .....


    Hi, thank you so much for sticking. I am so happy and grateful for everyone''s support. This novel is ending. It would take for a few more days for it to end. After this, I will continued writing: The Viin''s Redemption and Entangled.


    Thank you and always stay safe out there!

 Chapter 457: Thrilled of Shen Quis Death

    Chapter 457: Thrilled of Shen Qui''s Death


    "Is everyone prepared?" Lyca asked using themunicator that was on her clothes. She checked her gears and smiled when she heard Cleo and Ronan''s confirmation. Then she started driving the car to the Shen Residence in the capital.


    ..


    "Is she here?" Old Man Shen was definitely not as calm and rxed as Lyca. He was pacing, his old self slowly walking inside his study, unable to calm down. "Did you check? Is she back from the North? That damn Old Man Chu would surely suffer after all this! Let''s see! I will surely make him"


    "Father, take your seat. Calm down. Don''t let your emotion get the best of you."


    "Calm? You want me to be calm? My heir, my son, is about to die together with my granddaughter! Do you think I should just calm down? Do you want to know what''s worse? It''s the fact that I don''t even know what is wrong with you! I don''t know! I don''t understand why even the best doctors cannot see anything inside your head and your body! Those ipetent fools! I am paying them for nothing!"


    "Grandfather, let''s take it easy. You already said that Lyca did this because she is still going to use us. She won''t kill us. I''m sure she will show up today."


    "She should! If any of you dies or suffer any permanent damage, I will kill everyone rted to that woman!" Old Man Shen said. His eyes burned with rage before he started stroking her chest. Unable to calm his heart, Old Man Shen let out a loud sigh. "That woman is truly evil!" He added. Old Man Shen was already seventy-plus this year.


    All these years, he had lived a life so well, he had forgotten how it felt to feel this helpless. He was so used to winning, he already forgot how it felt to be the loser. The feeling of helplessness knowing Lyca could choose not to show up today is giving him all sorts of emotions that he had never felt for thest fifty years of his life.


    He gnashed his teeth and took his seat. Then he turned his attention to the man in front of theputers. "How is it?" he asked.


    "I think you are right. Lyca chose to drive here alone. Shen Qui is still in Kong City with his people. He is treating this as a regr day. He just got inside his office. Our people said, he would have three meetings today before going back to the ranch."


    Old Man Shen squinted, a sinister glint shed in his eyes. "Do it after Lyca took a step inside our mansion."


    "Yes, sir."


    "That woman needed to learn a dangerous lesson! A fatal lesson! We are not someone that she could mess with!"


    ..


    Capital


    Xu Estate


    Xu Ke''sughter echoed inside the room. "Ah, Lyca." He chuckled, his eyes turned towards Xu Jihan. "It seems that she underestimated the Shen Family."


    "I agreed. If she wanted to use the Shen Family against us, then poisoning them is just a very bad decision." Xu Jihan snorted. There is a reason why the Shen''s and the Xu''s had been enemies for years without any chance of defeating one other. It was because they are equal. The Xu Family holds the government while the influence of the Shen Family is in the military and police. Moreover, a lot of people from the Shen Family are rich not only in the country but also abroad.


    The most intimidating fact about the Shen family is the fact that they have their own personal army. And the government can''t do anything to stop it. How could Lyca be so stupid as to try and attack them?


    If she wanted to work with them, they would surely agree. There''s no need to threaten someone.


    "It''s because poisoning him is better than negotiation." Xu Ke said. Knowing herzy self, it would be easier to poison the man and threatened the Shen Family than make demands and negotiate.


    Or so Lyca thought.


    Obviously, this method won''t work because the Shen Family would definitely fight back. They would never let Lyca trample them like they were nobodies! Xu Ke let out anotherugh. This time, Shen Qui would surely die. If his guess was right, they wouldn''t just simply kidnapped him but kill him. It should be right after Lyca gave them the antidote.


    They would attack just after they already made a deal. Just after they already agreed to help Lyca. Xu Ke knew this because the Shen Family was known because of their cruelty. They would never hesitate to kill one of their own if the person wouldn''t benefit them in any way.


    In short, the Shen Family is going to betray Lyca just as she thought she already win.


    "Ah, it is too bad. I want to see Shen Qui''s reaction once he realized that he would die." Xu Ke smiled. "Ah, what should I do " he whispered, excitement apparent in his eyes. Once Shen Qui dies, he would immediately try to console Lyca.


    He nodded to himself. That''s right. He should be her support and use her vulnerability to get close to her again.


    "Hmmm. Alright. Tell everyone to clean theb. No more humans from now on. I want you to focus on animals. Also hide everything about the summoning. I don''t want to "


    "What are you nning to do?" Xu Jihan interrupted him. Xu Jiham couldn''t understand why Xu Ke seemed thrilled about Shen Qui''s death? It''s not like Shen Qui already died? He was still alive! Why was he counting the chickens before the eggs hatched? Such a weird man.


    "Obviously, I am going to convince Lyca to work for us."


    "That''s impossible."


    "It would be," Xu Ke smiled. "Which is why I want you to order our people in Shen Qui''s office. I want him dead. If he survived the attack of the Shen Family he would die from ours. Of course, we will pin it to the Shen''s. Do you understand me?"


    ....


    If you haven''t already, please add my novel: Entangled: Crisscross and The Viin''s Redemption. I will immediately start writing it once this novel ispleted. Thank you.

 Chapter 458: Suicidal Plan

    Chapter 458: Suicidal n


    When Lyca walked inside the Shen Mansion, she didn''t miss the sinister and dark aura that she felt. It was as if, a lot of people already lost their lives in this ce. She nced at the gray minimalistic style of the mansion. It was clean, detached from any personal emotions that an old mansion should have. She eyed the huge portrait of the Shen Family hanging by the wall that would lead her to the stairs. They were wearing formal ck and white clothes. A tight-lipped smile was apparent on their faces.


    Yet, the smile never reached their eyes.


    "This way, please."


    The man leading her inside said. He introduced himself as the head of the security. Tall and bulk, the man said his name was Lynch  just Lynch. With nost names.


    Lyca nodded and looked at the man who walked next to her. Anthony never walked a step in front of Lyca. The man led her towards the second floor of the mansion and into a huge room that she assumed was the meeting room of the Shen Family.


    "Toe here alone after what you did to my son and granddaughter was a very bold move." Old Man Shen''s voice weed her. She smiled and looked around. The room was filled with people she didn''t recognize. She assumed they were his security detail since they were standing against the paneled walls.


    Without saying anything, Lyca sat on one of the empty chairs on the circr wooden table. "I''m surprised you actually followed my words and didn''t touch any of my family members."


    Old Man Shen snorted. After the poisonous gas that was released in one of his nts, he had no other choice but to follow her. He hated it. The thought of it gave him some eating and sleeping problems. "Give us the antidote."


    Lyca snorted, lips lifting into a smug smirk. "I''m thirsty. I need water."


    "Give her water!" Old Man Shen said. "Enough with the bullshit. I know you need something from my Shen Family! Tell me! What is it?"


    "Codes," Lyca said. "Launch codes."


    "You "


    "Nuclearunch codes. I know the Shen and Xu have nuclear nts. I know all about nuclear bombs. I want the codes." This was something that she learned from Lai Su.


    "What are you nning to do with the codes?"


    "y with it." Sarcasmced her voice. Obviously, she is going to use it. The right question should inquire about the Who, not about the What. She snorted and eyed Shen Jiaojiao. In a few days, the woman already lost a lot of weight, her cheekbones were sharp, corbones can be seen protroding out from her red blouse.


    "Stop the nonsense! I am not giving you the code."


    "Then you can watch them die." Lyca smiled. The code is a set of fifty numbers and letters that only the patriarch of the family knows. The thing is, the codes are considered permanent. Even the patriarch can''t change it.


    "Father  Just give her the code." Shen Qiaosong tried to signal his father using his eyes. Old Man Shen could always give her the wrong codes. The only way to confirm if the codes were right is to enter them. And to enter the codes, one needed a target coordinate.


    "You won''t be able to use the codes without my blood. The blood of the Shen." After old man Shen mentioned this, his face froze.


    "I know. Isn''t that why I have your grandson?"


    "You "


    Lyca sneered. "I want it and you have two minutes to give it to me. The codes in exchange for your son and granddaughter''s life. I think it''s a fair choice!? Don''t you think so?"


    *BANG!*


    The old man''s hand mming against the table made it tremble. "How dare you! Do you really think we are someone that you could just bully?''


    "It''s better to bully and to be bullied," Lyca answered almost immediately. Hearing her words made the old man''s face contort with anger and pure rage. He wanted to kill her.


    "Father"


    His thoughts were interrupted when Shen Qiaosong started coughing. "I  Father "


    "What''s happening?" Old Man Shen''s voice trembled when he saw the blood in Shen Qiaosong''s hand. "What did you do?"


    "Oh! Man I forgot to say something." Lyca shook her head. "This is not my fault, alright? I was too busy. I forgot about it."


    "What  What are you  cough  cough  " Even Shen Jiaojiao started coughing up blood.


    "Lyca! What is going on!?"


    "It''s the guns!" Lyca said. "I gave them something that would change theposition of the blood. Blood has iron and well it''s hard to exin. But it should be because they are around people with steel, metals, and iron around them. Like a gun or knife you know. Dangerous stuff." Despite her light tone, there wasn''t a hint of amusement in Lyca''s eyes.


    She stared at the surprised face of old man Shen. "You should remove everyone with guns or throw away anything metal, iron, and steel in this room. "In fact, this is something that Lyca triggered. She used a chemical in her perfume that could stimte the blood of the people who took her poison.


    "Belts and anything with iron should be removed. Or they will die." Lyca said. "I''m not wearing anything metal to avoid that. But" She looked around at the people surrounding them. "Your people are. Too much heavy iron inside the room must have triggered it."


    "You  remove your weapons! Throw it outside! Hurry!" Old Man Shen said, face paling. He gritted his teeth as he fell into another abyss of helplessness. He was rich and famous. But he never thought that one day, he would have an enemy as crafty as this woman.


    Of course, he knew that her goal was to break into their defenses.


    And she just seeded.


    While Old Man Shen wasn''t sure about Lyca''s words, he didn''t actually want to risk it. What would happen if his son and grandchild would die? What would happen to the Shen family without the heir? He met Lyca''s eyes. The smile on her face only made him more infuriated.


    For some reason, he felt that this woman was intentionally provoking them. However, he couldn''t understand why she would do something akin to suicide? Was she that stupid? Or she had another n?

 Chapter 459: Smell of Death

    Chapter 459: Smell of Death


    Just as Lyca said, the moment the guards removed their guns, the coughing stop. It was something that surprised Old Man. He stared at Lyca in disbelief. "You "


    "I know" Lyca smiled. She didn''t miss the despair and anger in his eyes. There was once a time that she enjoyed watching this. There was once a time that she would watch was hopelessness would sh in the eyes of the people that she killed.


    But this wasn''t the time for that.


    "In the end what are you nning to do with those codes?" Shen Jiaojiao asked as she tried to calm herself. "Those were nuclear weapons. Not any people could just have them."


    Lyca wanted to say that she wasn''t just any people. But she stopped herself as she smiled. "It''s either that or they die."


    "And if they die did you think you can still leave this ce?" Old Man Shen asked. "If you think that your guns would be able to stop my people in killing you, then you are too naive. You have underestimated my Shen Family!"


    Lyca pursed her lips. "Would you really allow me to go inside this ce in an armor or with a high-powered weapon in my hand?" she snorted. "Old Man you are too predictable. Which is why " she opened her phone and showed Old Man Shen a video. "Taken outside of the house. This is a live broadcast of a machine gun, bullets were altered. It would be enough to blow up your bulletproofed window." Lyca then lifted her left hand and showed that she was pressing a button. "Dead man''s switch. Once my thumb lets go of the switch the guns will destroy this ce."


    "You came prepared," Old Man Shen squinted. "I apud your courage."


    "You think too highly of me."


    "That wasn''t apliment!"


    "I know," Lycaughed. "Oh, I know."


    Old Man Shen eyed the switch in Lyca''s hand. Even if the transaction seeded there is noing back from what he was about to do. He squinted, his vile eyes scrutinized Lyca as if he was trying to read her mind. Then he swore inwardly.


    He hated how, no matter how he looked at it, he was losing the game that he started. "Deadlock we aren''t going anywhere! Again, I cannot give you the codes!"


    "Ahw" Lyca smiled at Shen Qiaosong. "Must be tough having a father who would never save you. Sucks to be you."


    "You "


    Suddenly Lyca took the guns behind her and put them on the table. "Let''s take it on another level then." She said. "How about I shoot them in front of you? I won''t hit an organ."


    "You are insane!"


    "Father! Can you just give her the codes?" Shen Qiaosong said. "Do you really want me to die? Without me and Shen Jiaojiao, the future of the Shen Family would be bleak!"


    This made the old man turned silent. He sighed, squinting his eyes at Lyca before he relented. His son was actually right. Without him and Shen Jiaojiao, the Shen Family would be nothing. What was the use of those nuclear weapons?


    However, if the two survive this ordeal, they could always create another nuclear missile. Now that he thought about it, he really shouldn''t make this woman his enemy. He watched the eyes of his son and granddaughter who looked at him, silently pleading that this would be over. The thought of losing his family tore his cold heart apart.


    Soon, a realization hit the old man. He lowered his head to send a text to his people.


    Revenge is best serve cold.


    This is not the time for that.


    His anger overtook him. He became so furious that he forgot to use his logic. After receiving a confirmation that his people won''t attack, Old Man Shen instructed everyone else to leave him and Lyca alone. It took two more than ten minutes to talk about the specifics of what Lyca wanted.


    When she left the office, Lyca was already smiling with Old Man Shen. As for the things that they talked about? No one really knows about it.


    All they knew was the fact that after Lyca left, Shen Qiaosong and Shen Jiaojiao felt better. Not the best but still better than what they were feeling before Lyca arrived.


    After Lyca left the Shen Family''s estate, he immediately went back to Kong City to meet Shen Qui. Sadly for her, a terrible scene awaited her the moment she stopped the car in front of the office. Lyca was already beaming as she just called Shen Qui.


    He was about to leave the office and meet her.


    Lyca let the gush of cold wind enveloped her body as she leaned against her car. She shoved her hand into her jacket as she eyed the entrance of the parking lot. The n was, Shen Qui and her would visit a new restaurant by the port with the view of the sea.


    Since they are both bringing their own cars, Lyca would of course ride his car. She doesn''t really like to drive.


    Then it happened.


    The loud explosion shook the whole building.


    Almost immediately, Lyca''s face lost all its color. She stopped her arm from shaking as she ran towards the building. The protocol was to always exit the building. However, she couldn''t wait for him to leave. She needed to find Shen Qui.


    It took Lyca a minute to arrive In the parking lot.


    "Lyca."


    Ronan''s voice seemed to echo inside her head. "Where''s he?"


    "I "


    "Don''t go there! There might be a second explosion! What are you doing? Hey! Stop fighting! Are you insane?"


    Lyca kicked and punched him as she tried to get away from him. Her eyes were focused on the furious fire that consumed Shen Qui''s car. The sound of fire as it burns the car made her lose her mind. Then she smelled it.


    The smell of burning flesh.


    The smell of death.


    Soon, Lyca''s world nked out. The pain in her chest was the only thing that reminded her she was still alive. She didn''t know how Ronan was able to pull her from the burning car. She didn''t know how he was able to help her burned arms after she held the burning corpse inside the car.


    She knew nothing.


    She couldn''t remember it.


    The feeling of sadness wrecked inside her chest. It shut down her brain, enabling her from thinking anything aside from the death of Shen Qui.


    Lyca felt as if her chest had been stabbed by small daggers. The pain was there but it wasn''t enough to kill her oh how she wished it was enough to kill her.


    "Hey it''s been days. Please eat something."


    Lyca thought she heard her mother''s words. But she still said nothing. She just kept staring at the nk space in front of her, as if it would alleviate the pain that she felt inside.


    "Lycae on "


    She heard her mother sobbed. Then she heard her father''s words. She heard Cleo talked to her and Rue, of course, Tang Ruyi was there too. However, she said nothing.


    Lyca thought of losing Shen Qui before.


    Losing someone she loved was nothing new to her. She had been here in her previous world. Except, she died minutes after her family died. She thought it was painful.


    What she didn''t know was the fact that living right after losing the person you love is more painful than what she felt before. Now, she felt that living was actually more painful than death.


    Lyca had known her weakness was the people that she loved and yet, in this world, she still fell in this horrible hole of love. She was stupid.


    Yes, that is the only exnation she coulde up with. She was stupid andzy. She wanted an easy life.


    Lyca let out a deep sigh. She didn''t know why bad things always happened every time she experienced something good. She wondered if it was because she was cursed or something?


    She remembered in her past life, the only time she was truly happy was during that wedding. And yet, it was taken away from her. Right after the wedding, she was killed by the man that she loved.


    Then she arrived in this world. When she went to the university abroad, she felt happy and started doing experiments. Then someone assaulted her.


    In herziness to deal with a stalker, she killed him. Her parents got involved and they took care of everything for her. Then there was the fact that her grandfather appointed her as the new CEO, the heir of the Huang Family.


    It was supposed to be a happy asion. After all, she realized that by being a CEO, she could employ chefs and have as many secretaries as she wanted. Isn''t that just like heaven for herzy ass?


    Then she married Shen Qui.


    She wasn''t really happy happy. But being with him, made her feel secure. At the night she realized that she wanted to be better, she fell asleep for three years!

 Chapter 460: F*ck Fate

    Chapter 460: F*ck Fate


    Sometimes, herzy imagination would think that she was punished. Was it because she killed a lot of people in her previous life? Lyca could only sigh. She was an anomaly in this world. Is that why the world just seemed to reject her and her dubious existence?


    Lyca walked inside their master''s bedroom. It has been two weeks since Shen Qui''s funeral and this was the first time she walked inside their room. Walking inside, it immediately stuck her how lonely the room was. The bed that she loved the most was huge. Now she felt it was too huge for her small frame. She recalled loving such a huge bed like this.


    Her King Size bed.


    She used to think about it while she was out, working. It made her happy, excited. Now, however, it made her feel lonely. Sometimes death is indeed easier than living.


    Lyca couldn''t remember how many times she consoled her own self. "Did you find out anything?" she asked Ronan who stood behind her. She noticed his presence for a while now.


    "Nothing. Whoever did it, used imported materials to make the bomb. All untraceable. It was premeditated. Whoever did it, used all the tech that they had to hack into our system and disabled all cameras. They got in, nted the bomb then got out."


    Lyca clenched her jaw. "The n was supposed to be to leave the country," she uttered. "Obviously, that isn''t happening now."


    "What are you nning to do?"


    Lyca snorted. "Nothing."


    "Nothing? Shen Qui just" Ronan''s face reddened. "Sorry."


    Lyca didn''t answer him. "Do you trust me?" she turned towards him.


    "I "


    "You don''t." She nodded.


    "You can''t me me. I think you are careless. You hate nning. You are not organized and extremely antisocial."


    "To say those words to a widow" she snorted. "You are bold."


    "I am honest."


    "I like honest." Lyca scrutinized him. Her eyes squinted. "Shen Qui''s death won''t be in vain."


    "Oh, I came here to inform you that the Xu and Chu Family sent some flowers. I think someone from the Xu Family is here. Mr. Ken Xu. He''s waiting upstairs."


    Lyca pursed her lips as she turned towards the bed and gestured him to leave her alone. After making sure that he already left. Lyca changed into a dark dress and applied a bit of makeup to make her eyebags looked darker. After making herself look ''presentable'' she walked towards the house.


    "What brings you here Mr. Xu?" she didn''t hide the irritation in her voice.


    "I wasn''t able to attend the funeral"


    "There was no funeral." She interrupted him. Lyca just stared at him ndly. She realized that all the hate that she had against Xu Ke vanished. She felt nothing but indifference towards him.


    "You are angry I understand."


    Lyca stood outside of the house. She was a few feet away from Xu Ke, yet she could easily see that he was taking pleasure in seeing her like this. "Why are you here, Mr. Xu?" she asked.


    "I just I thought you would needpany."


    "No, I don''t. Thank you."


    "Lyca listened" Xu Ke walked towards her. This time, she didn''t avoid his touch. She fought the urge to vomit when his hand touched her arm. "I know you are angry. I know you''re sad. But let''s be honest here his death was expected."


    "Expected?" she shook his hand off her. Then she stepped back and balled her hands into a tight fist. "Would you dare say that again?"


    Xu Ke''s expression turned serious. "You provoked a lot of people! You had a lot of enemies! Did you think that you could live peacefully in this world?"


    Her gaze turned sharp, almost murderous.


    "Did you think the world would cater to how you want to live? This world and our previous world were very much alike. The strong wins, they always win. This is a dog-eat-dog world. Everyone would do everything to survive. It was a never-ending cycle."


    "Leave me alone," Lyca said.


    "Come on I know you are stubborn. But you are smart. He was just a man that you knew for what? Four? Five years? Mourning is fine but it''s been weeks. You have the right to move on."


    "I said, leave me alone!" he snarled.


    "Or what?" Seeing her face turned red from anger, Xu Ke couldn''t stop himself. He knew her too well. He knew how to push her buttons. Controlling her was as easy as one, two, three.


    He knew how Lyca''s emotion was always her weakness.


    "You know yourself too well for that, Lyca." Xu Ke cajoled, it was almost soothing. The fact that he thought he could easily fool her made her blood boil. Did he think he was the same woman who missed all the red gs and foolishly got killed on her own wedding day?


    "Come on Lyca both of us knew that you are someone born for greatness. You are destined for something. Why do you think we woke up here after our death? Why do you think we met again? It''s fate."


    "Fuck fate."


    "I thought so too. But can we really ignore it?"


    "What do you want Xu Ke?" she asked.


    "There you go" heughed, smugness apparent In his face. He took a step towards her just as she took a step back. "Don''t you think this world is too boring?"


    "I like boring. At least, it won''t kill me."


    "Hah there she goes." His eyes turned crescents. "The woman that she was." The fiery, deadly Lyca. The woman that he liked.


    "If you think you can fool me again"


    "Oh. No!" Xu Ke shook his head. "I am not here to try and fool you. I''m just here as a person you once knew. I know you are mourning. So I came."


    "I don''t need your presence," she said.


    He looked at her, amused. He was enjoying this. "You are acting like that because of a man like him? I meane on. I need more than that. Are you upset that you don''t know who did it?" he chuckled and reached out to touch a strand of her long white hair that was on her face. Then he tucked it behind her ears. "It''s the Shen Family. I already told you this world is just like our previous world. People wouldn''t hesitate to kill their sons, grandsons, and the other way around. It''s all about the profits, the money."


    "Is that why you are here? You wanted to use me against your enemies?" she sneered. "Try again. It''s not working."


    "You don''t believe me?"


    "Is there any reason for me to believe you?"


    "There is." Xu Ke made a deliberate pause. "I think I can find a way to resurrect Shen Qui."


    Resurrect my ass, Lyca almostughed out loud. "You are insane. This world doesn''t have magic." Just as Xu Ke expected, her face turned gentler. The small pang in his chest made him frown.


    "There is no magic but there is technology."


    "What what are you talking about?" she asked, clueless.


    "I told you. I can use technology to put his soul inside another man''s body."


    "That''s impossible!"


    "Nothing is impossible when ites to me, Lyca. You should know that."


    "You "


    "I found a way to summoned creatures from that world."


    Her eyes widened.


    "You could summon from our previous world? How is that possible? There is no magic in this world. It wouldn''t make sense!"


    "I found a dead zone on this. I found a way to summon using it. If you are interested you can apany me. I can show it to you. I was able to summon a creature but sadly, it can''t survive in this world. It feeds on magic. So it eats itself and would soon heal itself. It was a never-ending process. In the end, the creature would explode from the bacsh." Seeing the interest in Lyca''s eyes, Xu Ke instantly turned excited.


    How could Lyca refuse a piece of information like that? Her curiosity wouldn''t give her peace of mind. "What kind of creature?" she couldn''t help but ask.


    "Cichar, the snake-like creature that lives in the Yin Yang Nirvana Lake. Do you remember? It''s the small creature that looked like a snake "


    "I remember." Lyca''s face turned serious as she walked around him and started walking away from the house. Xu Ke followed behind her. Lyca thought of Cichar, the snake with a face of a crocodile. It was poisonous in fact it was one of the most poisonous creatures in their previous world. "The poison"


    "I made it using it."


    Lyca stopped walking. "Why make it?"


    "I was curious if anyone else in this world could recognize it. I summoned the creature years ago but didn''t have much luck in making it live. At first I found it hard to summon it again and again. But the dead zone on this helped me a lot."


    "So" she turned towards him. "You made all those poisons as a calling card? You wanted someone from that world to find you?" Is that it? Sometimes, this man''s conceit is really making her speechless.

 Chapter 461: Destined

    Chapter 461: Destined


    Xu Keughed. "Precisely. And I finally found you. Isn''t that good? Fate reunited us." He walked around her, hands behind his back. "And I thinking in this world wasn''t a coincidence, no?"


    ...


    The cold gust of air made Lyca''s skin prickle. But she shivered not from the cold but from the creature who started devouring itself. The Cichar was in a tank filled with green liquid. She didn''t know what the liquid was, but she guessed this must be one of Xu Ke''s attempts to make the creature survive in this world.


    "You are the only one that knows poisonous creatures so well. I am sure you can create something a habitat for them." Xu Ke said before he left her alone to watch the creature. Lyca gulped. Xu Ke said summoning the Cichar needed gold a lot of them. However, she felt that gold shouldn''t be enough to summon this poisonous creature. The creature feeds off blood and ordinary mortals. There''s no way that Xu Ke didn''t use the blood of people to summon it.


    Lyca stood in front of the creature as she wondered how was he able to summon such a thing. She had asked him. But he refused to say anything. He onlyughed and told her that some secrets must be kept a secret, even from the people that he loved.


    Just the mention of the word love made her want to puke her guts out. Her loathing about the past disappeared but seeing him act as if she was still in love with him was akin to an insult. She felt insulted. Did he think she would still choose to be with him after everything that happened?


    True, she was foolish in the past but did he really thought she would still act that way after everything that happened? After she died in his arms?


    "In a few minutes, it will explode." Xu Ke''s voice echoed behind her. She turned and stared at him, her face devoid of any expression. The man before him was wearing a whiteb coat, a gentle expression was on his eyes as he stared at the creature.


    "How did you die?" Lyca asked. After meeting him at his house, Xu Ke invited her to visit the ce. Then he left. Because of that, she didn''t get the chance to ask him about the previous world.


    "Why are you asking such questions now?" he asked, offended. "Aren''t you going to ask me about the creature? About thisb?" Of all the interesting questions that Lyca could ask, she chose to ask him about the past.


    "I want to know." She had suspicions and right now, Lyca knew that most of her suspicions were correct.


    "Why don''t you asked me about the Cichar? My ns?"


    "I know everything about the creature." She had her own encounter with the creature in the previous world as most people like her would use it to make poisons. "How did you die?"


    "I can''t tell you."


    She snorted. Does this mean her suspicions were confirmed? Xu Ke didn''t die but used a different method toe here. She squinted. "When did you arrived here?" In her previous world, there were books about reincarnation and transmigrations. There were stories about people from a different world with robots and flying vehicles that woulde into their world and excel at everything.


    The books said those people were brilliant and powerful and soon, be gods. Lyca also recalled books about summoning. But she couldn''t recall anything about choosing to travel into a different world. Was it possible that magic could actually do it?


    "When this body was ten. More than twenty years ago."


    She nodded. When she came back years ago, Xu Ke was still there. Meaning, there was something wrong with the time. Unless of course, he could travel back and forth which was impossible. The three years of sleeping while she knew she was only in that world for weeks should be enough proof of the time difference.


    "I don''t want this," Lyca said. "These creatures are vicious. If you want them to live, you would need blood."


    "Blood?" he asked.


    She nodded. Of course, she won''t tell him that the blood of someone who already cultivated their internal energy is needed.


    "Are you certain?"


    "I''m not," Lyca said. "However, creatures from Yin Yang Nirvanake would always find it hard to survive outside of their natural habitat because of the temperature. They thrive on both theva and the ice. It would be hard for them to adjust outside that ce. That''s why we feed them blood to make themst at least a few days out of theke. That would be enough time for us to create our poisons."


    "Human blood?"


    Again, she nodded. She studied his expression and didn''t miss the sinister glint that shed in his eyes.


    "Summoning people would be dangerous." Lyca suddenly said.


    "What are you "


    "You talked about ruling this world," Lyca said. "You can only do that if you summoned the people from the previous world. There is no way that "


    "I can do it."


    The absence of hesitation in his words made her frowned. "Xu Ke you are going to destroy this world."


    "We don''t belong in this world. Why bother?"


    "You Do you understand what you are talking about?"


    "I do. I told you we can rule this world. You and I, we can summon an army and make this world, ours."


    "You are insane!" Lyca was about to leave when he suddenly held her arm. "Let me go."


    "You are staying here."


    "Says who?" she asked.


    "Me. I can''t trust you to ruin my ns once you leave. So you will have to stay here."


    ring at him, Lyca balled her hand into a fist. "Only if you can stop me." With that, she suddenly held his arm as she attempted to throw him on the ground. However, Xu Ke wasn''t just someone useless. He could see Lyca''s intention from afar.


    He pushed her hips, a maneuver that could easily stop someone from using one of those judo throws. Then he sidestepped and pushed her away from him. "I am not going to fight against you." He said. "I didn''t agree to bring you here to fight. I wanted your help."


    She snorted."So you want to imprison me."


    "I don''t take any risks." Seeing the disbelief in Lyca''s eyes made him smile. "I know your curiosity was the reason why you''re here. I promised to bring you to this ce. But I didn''t promise to take you back."


    "You "


    "You and I will rule this world, Lyca. You and I will be its king and queen."


    "In your dreams!" Once again, sheunched forward, trying to attack him. However, this time, her movement was easily stopped when a syringe-like bullet hit her legs. She turned towards her left and saw Xu Jihan waving at her, a gun was in his hand.


    "We made this for you. To restrain you." Xu Ke said. "Sleep Lyca."


    Lyca felt the world spin before she fell in Xu Ke''s arms. "F*ck you Xu Ke." Of course, she didn''t forget to curse at him before she closed her eyes.


    "The room is ready. You can just take her there." Xu Jihan said. "Are you sure about this? I mean this woman is pretty dangerous."


    "Did you do your job well?" Xu Ke said.


    "Of course, I did! The windows and doors were reinforced. She won''t be able to escape unless of course, she brought some tanks which is impossible."


    Xu Ke snorted. "Leaving on her own ord without telling other people that I invited her was foolish. Now, everyone would think, she left because seeing the house would remind her of her husband." Xu Ke chuckled. The goal of the invitation was just to make Lyca leave on her own. He tried to make it sound as mysterious as possible so she would not tell anyone else about it.


    And he seeded. Everyone thought that Lyca was still mourning. They could try and call her but Xu Ke would make sure she is unreachable and untraceable.


    "I don''t think she would agree to work for us," Xu Jihan said.


    "She already told me the secret about that creature. I am sure she will agree. Especially if I threatened to hurt her family."


    "You are evil."


    Xu Ke snorted. Even if he says something to Xu Jihan about his feelings for Lyca, he won''t understand anything. Xu Ke himself was the only one who understood how much he wanted to own her. In the past and even now, their lives were intertwined by some invisible thread that is bringing them together.


    In Xu Ke''s mind, this only meant one thing.


    Lyca and he were destined. They were destined to be together, forever.


    Just the thought of it is making him smile.

 Chapter 462: Ego Bigger than his Brains

    Chapter 462: Ego Bigger than his Brains


    As annoyed as Lyca was, she could onlyugh at herself when she woke up in a room alone. Hey, at least that man didn''t do anything stupid while she was sleeping?


    Lyca sat on the bed, her eyes roaming the room she was in. The simple yet beautiful muted colors around her weren''t enough to hide the fact that the room had no windows. Aside from the door opposite her bed, there was no other exit or any way to get the sunlight.


    "If you want to imprison me, at least give me food," she said. The sound of her stomach grumbling made her want to curse at Xu Ke. Just as she let out another sigh, a mechanical sound echoed inside the room. Xu Ke walked in, smiling.


    "I wouldn''t call this imprisonment. At least not permanently. I will release you once I sessfully resurrected Shen Qui."


    She gave him a look, disbelief shing in his eyes. Even until now, Xu Ke still thought he could use everyone that she loves to control her. However, this isn''t her priority, right now. "I''m hungry."


    "Bring her food."


    "You know, the moment I would get out of here I will kill you."


    "I am looking forward to you changing your mind."


    "That''s won''t happen."


    "Even if you see Shen Qui alive?"


    "He''s dead! I saw his body! Burned! You can''t bring back the dead, Xu Ke. This world is different."


    "What if I can!?" he insisted. "There is nothing impossible as long as you put your mind into it."


    She snorted. "You only wanted my help. I know you too well for that."


    "I already told you. I wanted your help. There''s no need to deny that."


    "I am helping you."


    "Even if I will resurrect Shen Qui?"


    "Yes."


    Xu Ke pursed his lips just as two men walked inside. One was bringing a convertible table while the other was holding what looked like a lunch box. They immediately arranged the food in front of Lyca and excused themselves.


    "You don''t believe me?"


    "Cichars cannot resurrect the dead," Lyca said. "It''s a poisonous creature. It knows nothing about saving."


    "Who told you that I will use Cichar?"


    Lyca lifted an eyebrow.


    "I already told you, revealing too much is not very good. Especially revealing too much to someone like you."


    Xu Ke doesn''t trust her. But that is already expected. Isn''t that why she was here? Isn''t that why she chose this method? She sneered inwardly and started eating the food. "I don''t like spicy." She said.


    "You used to like spicy food."


    "Not anymore." She said and started eating the sweet and sour pork.


    "You''ve changed."


    "Did you expect me to stay the same after what you did?"


    The smile on Xu Ke''s face vanished. "About that "


    "No need to talk about the past. I don''t care about it anymore."


    "You no longer hate me?"


    "Hate requires emotion." Something she doesn''t have, or at least not to him.


    "You baffled me."


    "Thanks for thepliment," Lyca said. "I tend to be baffled by myself too."


    "Seeing you like this is really refreshing."


    Lyca snorted. Just because she was showing the previous her, doesn''t mean she was still the same woman that he once knew. "If this world has magic, I would have used my own magic to kill you. Even if that meant, I would die too."


    "That''s harsh."


    This world is harsh, Lyca thought inwardly. Life is harsh. Only death could give you peace. Or not. Lyca already died once. But what happened? She woke up in another world. Fate intervened and decided that she was too evil to rest in peace.


    She continued eating while Xu Ke stared at her. "I think you are the only one who can help me." Xu Ke said.


    "What about Huang Qingyun? I thought he is helping you?"


    "Huang Qingyun?" Xu Ke frowned. "What does this aha! You knew about Huang Ying, don''t you?"


    She just stared at him, not responding. Seeing this, he continued, "Huang Qingyun, wanted me to help resurrect his wife. So, I decided to help him."


    "In return, he would test your poison to live subjects?"


    "Smart. Huang Qingyun is handling some of my business abroad. He is a very busy man."


    Lyca nodded."Stop lying. I know you are only using him."


    "Oh?"


    Before he could say anything else, she decided to press him for more information. She needed to talk to this man to finally piece all the pieces together. "The real one is dead?"


    "Why would you think he is me?"


    "Did Huang Ying saw your face change? Is that why you did that?" Lyca''s suspicions started because of that incident with Mr. Park. She recalled that Xu Ke was seldom seen in public. Some people thought that the President is only protective of him.


    But what if there is another side of the story?


    Xu Ke needed identities. He needed to be everywhere to have his experiments. However, his character was too dubious. He would always doubt everyone around him, he was too suspecting. Thus, he used other people''s identity to be able to do whatever it is that he wanted.


    That is the only exnation she coulde up with.


    Xu Ke was too paranoid to trust other people. Thus, he would try to do it himself.


    "You are bing smarter and smarter. I hate it." Xu Ke only smiled at her. "Knowledge could get you in trouble."


    "Lies," Lyca said. "Ignorance could get you in trouble. Not knowledge." Knowledge could get her anywhere but trouble. In fact, she could only rely on her knowledge to save herself and everyone else around her.


    "You have a point. You know I am trying to wrap my head into the reason why you agreed toe here." He said. "You wanted more information about me?"


    Lyca heaved a sigh of relief. Those words only made her thankful that Xu Ke''s ego is actually bigger than his brain. "What if I do?" she asked.

 Chapter 463: I Did it For You!

    Chapter 463: I Did it For You!


    Lyca angled her head to one side as she peered at him. She wondered how she missed his conceit before. She used to worship Xu Ke, give him everything that he wanted, everything that he needed. She treated him like a god.


    She never noticed how he loved himself more than anyone else.


    "But I don''t trust you," Xu Ke said before he turned towards the door. "Enjoy your food. I can assure your survival as long as you help me."


    "Aren''t you scared that I will kill myself?" she asked.


    "Kill yourself?" he stopped walking and look at her. "You are too sad to kill yourself. You haven''t ruined the people who killed your husband yet. I know you Lyca you would never rest until you avenge him. Of course, there is also another reason why you won''t kill yourself. You are waiting for me to bring him back to you."


    "You keep on talking about bringing him back. But can you really do that?" She stood and walked towards him.


    "One more step and I will have my people kill the Tang Family''s members."


    "You " This is what Lyca had been thinking about. Xu Ke''s ruthlessness.


    "You are wise Lyca. You actually instructed your mother and father to hide from me. But you miscalcted. I still have the Tang Family. I can kill them, burn them and make them disappear if I want to."


    "You dare?" she hissed. "Would you dare do something like that?"


    "Why wouldn''t I dare? By now, you already know I am the President. There is no use in being the President of the country without enjoying his power, no?"


    "You "


    "That''s right. I own you now just like how I owned you in the past." He gave a low victorious chuckle, something like he always did in the previous world after killing people.


    "You will regret this!"


    "I never regret my actions my little wife. Just like how I never regretted killing you in the previous world."


    It was as if a huge rock was stuck on Lyca''s throat. "You "


    "If given the chance to sacrifice you and gain what I have now. I would do it again." Then he left the room, the door closing behind him.


    Lyca just stared at the mechanical door, saying nothing. She didn''t know how long she had been standing there, she remembered going back to her bed after her legs started to feel numb.


    Then, shey on her bed and thought about his words.


    Sacrifice? What sacrifice was he talking about?


    Xu Ke''s stories are inconsistent and unreliable. She knew he was still hiding something and he wanted to find out what it was. She hated that she didn''t know anything about it. Lyca stared at the all-white ceiling. The room didn''t have a clock so she had no idea about the time. But she is starting to feel sleepy again.


    She chose to close her eyes and stop thinking about Xu Ke for a few minutes. Soon, Shen Qui''s face filled her mind. Her lips slowly lifted upward into a gentle smile as she thought about him. Then, she thought about his father and mother.


    Cleo and Rue are safe with the Chu Brothers so she didn''t need to worry about them.


    The Tang Family however is a different case. They are a big well-known family. They couldn''t just hide and disappear overnight. Protecting them from Xu Ke''s clutches would be very difficult.


    Another sigh escaped her lips before she let darkness took her consciousness away.


    The next time that Lyca woke up, it was because of the sound of the mechanical door followed by footsteps.


    "Your luggage is here. I also bought a lot of new clothes for you. I don''t like it when you always wear ck. Colors I want to see you wearing pink and red and blue. You would look beautiful on it, especially with your white hair. Ah I also included pieces of jewelry. I bought a diamond before with a very unique design. This was years ago. I bought it because I thought of you."


    "I hate jewelry," Lyca said without bothering to look at him. She just stared at the ceiling while lying on the bed.


    "You used to love them."


    "I never liked them."


    "But my gifts you were so happy every time I give you something."


    "I was pretending."


    Xu Ke stared at her. "But "


    "You liked me wearing them. So I wore them all the time. I wasn''t wearing them for myself. I was wearing them for you because you liked it." Right now, all she could do wasugh at her miserable past. This was something natural to Lyca. She hated Yellow, but her mother liked it. So she would wear yellow every time she was with her.


    "You "


    Lyca turned her head towards him. "I''m hungry."


    "I also brought food. You like mushrooms and "


    "No, I don''t."


    Xu Ke stood there, bbergasted. He wondered if she was only pretending not to like them now because she hated him. "Then the clothes "


    "Give them to the other people in need."


    "How about the jewelry?"


    "Sell them and earn money to buy food." Finally, she stood and approached the pile of paper bags from branded names. "You could have bought some food with this money." She opened one paper bag and examined its contents. "I never liked scarves. I thought they were too bothersome. They would cover my vision, and it''s hot. But during winter I would wear it to please you. You said they look cute around me. I would wrap myself like a cocoon even though I don''t need it because of my body heat. I would do it to please you."


    She slowly put the scarf back on the bag and threw it on the floor. "What time is it?"


    "Nine in the morning."


    She snorted. "Then where is my breakfast. Xu Ke I think you are really muddled. It''s early in the morning, and instead of food, you bought pieces of jewelry. Do you think I can eat gold?"

 Chapter 464: Meal Time

    Chapter 464: Meal Time


    Xu Ke sighed. "I understand that you are angry. I made a mistake. I know threatening you wasn''t such a very good idea. However you must consider. I am hopeless without your help."


    "I am not angry." She looked at him. "I am hungry."


    Xu Ke sighed. "It seems thating into this world thoroughly changed your priorities."


    However, Lyca''s attention was no longer with him. It was on the batches of food that two people were carrying towards the table by her bed.


    "Eat it. It''s not poisoned."


    "I would eat it even if it was," she fired back, rendering him speechless.


    "I am here because I want to ask you something about this" he held a stone in his hand. "Right now, I can only summon stones as small as this and creatures."


    "ck stars ore?" Lyca uttered. Then the realization hit her. She had seen the same stones on the Chu Family and on the people that she killed in Kong City. She had studied it and confirmed it was in that the ck stars ore from her previous world. "It''s useless."


    "I know. It''s useless in our world. But I think it could change this world."


    Lyca snorted. "How? Magic?"


    "Exactly!"


    She lifted an eyebrow. "You think people who wear them could use it? Impossible. The stone doesn''t do anything. It doesn''t attract anything."


    "But electricity."


    "Electricity. Yey!" Sarcasm was rich in her tone.


    "I want to know if there is any other way to use it."


    "Why are you asking me this question? Did you forget that I am inside a room with nothing but a bed and table?"


    "This is why I am letting you leave the room. But you have to promise me. Do not try something or else your family will suffer. After all, Tang Ruyi is here working with Jihan for a secret project."


    Lyca immediately frowned. She lifted her gaze off the food and stared at him. "You dragged here her?"


    "To be fair, she volunteered. She wanted an experience. I met herst night over dinner. I think she is a very lovely woman. Kinda like you. But I believe she doesn''t have any interest in men."


    "You "


    "Hey don''t look at me like that. I already told you. She volunteered toe here. Kinda like how you came here on your own ord."


    "I will help you."


    "I knew you would say that."


    "Promise me you won''t hurt her." She knew his promise was useless. She Xu Ke. At the end of the day, he would only say that he promised her but his men didn''t. His men could kill Tang Ruyi anytime and this shameless Xu Ke would never say that it was him who killed her.


    Ruthless.


    Cunning.


    But stupid.


    Lyca sneered inwardly.


    "Of course I won''t hurt her. She is my cousin too by the marriage of course."


    "Who would want to marry you?"


    "You After all, you are already a widow. Isn''t it right that you move on and find another man to marry?"


    Lyca stared at his smug face. She almost couldn''t believe her ears. Howe Xu Ke is doing everything that she thought he would do? From the imprisonment to threatening the Tang Family to Tang Ruyi and now marriage?


    Lyca was certain that she wasn''t the Lyca that he used to know. But why was he acting like he was still the previous Xu Ke? He was using the same old tricks over and over, it wasical.


    "No need to worry. I am not going to force you into anything. You will marry me because you want to."


    She shook her head inwardly and focused on her food instead.


    "Anyway, I will provide you with ab. You will study the stone and you will be monitored twenty-four seven. I already removed all the weapons in your, the bracelet, the ne, and that god-awful engagement ring. Why would Shen Qui gave you something so cheap?"


    "Give me the ring."


    "Of course but only if you provide me with something important first."


    "What information do you want?"


    "Internal energy. How many are you able to cultivate?"


    "All of it."


    "All of it?" he asked, he wanted to confirm if he read the whole thing. "How is that possible? You are only a soul. This is not your original body."


    Lyca was speechless. What could it mean? She and Shen Qui was able to cultivate their meridians and were able toplete all energy points.


    "I don''t know. I just cultivated it." She wasn''t nning to tell Shen Qui that she had been cultivating naked, or at least most of the time.


    "Then how did youe back? Ye Bai you possessed her, right? This face is Ye Bai''s too. How did youe back?"


    "I don''t know what you are talking about!"


    "You knew what I was talking about! You came back using this body to haunt me! To kill my family! You made me feel what you felt when I killed yours!" Xu Ke''s face turned ugly, his sharp gaze bored into her. "How!"


    "I don''t know! You can investigate it! I just fell asleep and becameatose for three years!" Of course, she isn''t going to tell him about the ne. Nope not even if she died.


    "I don''t believe you."


    "Xu Ke you can think about it. When I came here I don''t have any other intention but to live a good life and for a moment, I seeded. But those people your people bothered me. So I ran away. After that, I just fell asleep. I don''t know what happened and I have no idea how it happened. One day, I was in my bed, the next time, I was in the previous world."


    "Then how''d youe back here?"


    "I don''t know"


    "You "


    "I honestly don''t! I just decided to "


    "To what?"


    "To let go of you."


    His face turned sour. "I don''t believe you."


    Lyca just stared at him in response, hoping that he would just leave her alone so she could enjoy her mealtime.

 Chapter 465: Living Dead

    Chapter 465: Living Dead


    "Are you sure she can be trusted?" Xu Jihan felt shiver ran all over his body as he stared at Lyca dissect the creature in front of her as if the poison around the body of the creature doesn''t affect her at all. "Howe she knew how to handle that creature? Or people couldn''t even get close to it without the water."


    "I told you she is an expert." Pride can be seen swirling in Xu Ke''s eyes. "She is the best of the best." Trained to poison people since she was young, Lyca was considered a queen of poisons in the previous world. She should know how to handle all poisonous creatures.


    "But the questions still stands. Can she be trusted?"


    "She can''t. That''s why I am keeping her at arm''s length."


    "An arm''s length is still too close. I mean why did she agree to work for you? She never showed that she cared about the Tang Family. But now, she immediately agreed because you use them to threaten her. Why is that? Why did she "


    "She values familial rtionship too much." Xu Ke said. In the previous and the current world, family and emotion is just her weakness. Lyca was unlucky that Xu Ke knew her too well.


    "But I still think "


    "It''s not suspicious. I know her. She had been like this for a long time now. Now, let us stop talking about her and tell me about the explosion."


    "Shen Qui indeed died in that explosion. The DNA found on the burnt body was his. There is no faking that. I mean how could she easily fake death? We were watching her all the time."


    "Good." This news was indeed very good. Right now, Xu Ke''s suspicions about Lyca totally vanished as if it wasn''t there in the first ce. "And her father and mother?"


    "Still no signs. Beforeing in here, she already hid them away."


    "Clever. But still not enough." Xu Ke said. "Alright, you can leave now. Don''t show yourself in front of her. She will kill you."


    Xu Jihan snorted before he left Xu Ke alone in the room to watch Lyca.


    Lyca on the other hand was busy experimenting with the Cichar. "I told you not to disturb me when I am doing something," Lyca said when she noticed Xu Ke walk inside theb. "And stop watching me. Are you a pervert or something?"


    "I''m just surprised that you actually open the Cichar easily. My people can''t even touch them."


    She pursed her lips.


    "I always knew that you are the right one for the job."


    Lyca rolled her eyes inwardly. The real reason why she could touch the creature was that It was already dead, and she was using mercury to kill its poison. "Cichar''s are considered an immortal creature." She said. "The fact that they die in this world is just part of naturalw. It means, they cannot live in this world. Changing thews of nature can be pretty dangerous."


    "Who cares about the naturalw? Once we rule this world, the naturalw wouldn''t apply to us."


    Lyca snorted. It''s crazy how Xu Ke had been thinking about ruling the world as if it was as easy as one, two, three.


    "If you want to study about Cichar''s immortality, then I think you are crazier than I originally thought," Lyca said as she lifted her gaze and stared at him.


    "You "


    "I can guess," she smiled. "You wanted to take this opportunity to make me study the reason why it doesn''t die in Yin Yang Nirvana Lake? Did you even think that it was because of theke? Humans couldn''t fathom something created by the nature."


    "But what if I can?"


    She lowered her gaze. Xu Ke is already delusional. "You don''t need any immortality pill or something that could summon creatures." She smiled as she found the small beating heart of the creature. Even though the Cichar is already cut into smaller pieces, its heart was still beating, alive. "What you need is a psychiatric evaluation."


    "What is that?" Xu Ke asked, his eyes were already on the beating heart. "A heart?"


    "And the brain," Lyca said. "They only have one heart and it''s attached to their brain and sexual organs."


    "Sexual"


    "They have sex, Mr. Xu. That''s how they multiply."


    "That "


    "This little one can be nted on a dead animal. It would act as a parasite, before upying the animal. Creating a zombie."


    "nting it to a dead animal?"


    Lyca looked at the pea-sized heart. "Yes. You can also try to nt it to a dead person and create an army of zombies."


    "Is that  " Almost immediately, Xu Ke''s reaction changed. He stared at the heart, his eyes turning bright. "Is that really possible?"


    "I''m joking." Lyca burst his bubble andughed inwardly when she saw him frowned. If that craziness is possible then, the people in the previous world would have used that to make living deads. After all, most people in that world have the tendency to do stuff like that. "Look at your face" Lyca clicked her tongue. "Did you really want to be immortal? An undying human?"


    "Who wouldn''t want to be immortal?"


    "I don''t." Lyca already felt tired of living her normal life. Why the hell would she live forever? Isn''t that too boring? "Alright you can leave now. I will finish this and submit a report."


    "But that heart"


    "You can have it. The heart will explode once separated from the body for about ten more minutes. Go ahead. I need to study if the poison inside would hurt humans. It would be good if you hold it near your face as it explodes."


    "You "


    "That way, I will see if the poison is potent enough for your face." Lyca faked a smile and turned her attention to the creature, ignoring Xu Ke''s dark face.


    ....


    I am already releasing chapters for THE VILLAIN''S REDEMPTION AND ENTANGLED. Please check it out if you have the time.

 Chapter 466: Big and Nasty

    Chapter 466: Big and Nasty


    Lyca knew that it been weeks since Xu Ke captured her. However, until now, the man was still not budging. Or maybe her efforts were just not enough. All she knew was that he was nning something big and nasty. All the talks would always end up with Lyca telling him her assumptions while he would end up pretending to get it.


    But at the end of the day, Xu Ke actually didn''t give her anything. It was just her, assuming.


    She nced at the creature swimming in front of her. Until now, Xu Ke refused to tell her how he summoned them. While this angered Lyca, she still felt that Xu Ke was hiding something more sinister than what he was showing her. Sadly for her, all of her actions were monitored, they didn''t attach any chains to her nor have someone followed her all the time. However, they were always watching. Or at least, Xu Ke always does.


    Such a creep. Good thing, her n was actuallying through. Just a few more days


    While Lyca is having a hard time figuring out what Xu Ke is hiding, the man found another problem outside of hisb.


    "An envoy?" he arched an eyebrow.


    "Yes. The Ye family''s envoy ising to offer cooperation. This must be because of those armors?"


    "Ye Family? Just the Ye Family and not their country?"


    "Yes. Just the Ye Family."


    "Who is this person?"


    "His name is Ye Wan, thirty-three. He isn''t a special member of the family. But he is a very good businessman."


    Xu Ke''s mood turned sour. Not seeing someone from the Ye Family could easily get misinterpreted by that family and would be taken as an insult, maybe even a gesture to start a war. "Why do they have toe here just as I am really busy?"


    Xu Jihan shrugged. "Also people are looking for the president." He stared at Xu Ke intently. "You have been holed up here for weeks now. The absence of the President is causing problems especially now that chaos is everywhere in the country."


    "That damn Shen Family is really causing all this?" Right now, all of his attention was focused on Lyca. How could he still take care of this country? "I told you to fix that, why are they still  "


    "They wanted to see you. They are starting to think that the President is sick. The farmers in conends wanted you, there had been chaos everywhere. Some were doing peaceful vigils for the cruelty that they suffered from the police. It was just chaos."


    Xu Ke clicked his tongue. All of the chaos are instigated by the Shen Family. He hated how he couldn''t just end the Shen Family in one go. "Schedule a press conference, I will talk to the farmers."


    "Do you have any solutions?"


    "What solutions?" he asked. "A few words would surely pacify them."


    "That''s not possible. The farmers are getting hungry. They are producing our food yet, they cannot buy their own necessities, the prices are changing every day. It''s just. We need something concrete. We need to change something." Xu Jihan made a deliberate pause. "And no. You cannot let me take care of this. I work with National Defense, this has nothing to do with me. I have been copying your signature for weeks. I cannot act like you this time."


    XU Ke turned silent. Right now, he had been so busy with Lyca that he actually failed to do his other job properly. But who would me him? They have been studying the creature for months without any good findings. However, just days after Lyca arrived, they were able to cut the creature and finally studied what was inside it.


    What was making it immortal?


    What was the cause of its death? How could an immortal creature die in this world?


    Everything had been showing positive results so far. Because of this, his focus had been on the experiments and Lyca.


    "For once can you stop thinking about that woman?" Xu Jihan asked, irritated. "You have been thinking about her all the time. What about the country? What about our business? The experiments are showing some good results and here you are, acting like a lovestruck fool. We don''t even know if she is deliberately trying to do this to gain your trust."


    "I already told you! She is doing this for Shen Qui! She wanted to revive him."


    "And? Would you really allow her to revive him?" Xu Jihan''s face turned grim. "I can see it in your eyes, you like her! Are you going to allow her to be with her husband?"


    "I already have my ns. Can you just just do something about the current problem and stop focusing on Lyca? She had nothing to do with this!"


    "Tsk. You are insane. Don''t forget about what you promised me. "


    "Of course. As long as you help me. I will give you supernatural abilities. As long as we sessfully summoned my people, we would be able to give you everything you want."


    Xu Jihan squinted at him. "As long as you know." With that, he left Xu Ke alone. After all, now that Xu Ke had been spending all his time with Lyca, he is the only one who is actually working his ass off for the country.


    Before Lyca arrived in this ce, Ken had been really focused on everything. The country, the experiments, the ck market. Everything was under his control. However, everything changed when Lyca came. Since she is in theb, Xu Ke never left this ce too. He had been watching her even in her sleep.


    Until now, he couldn''t understand this obsession that Ken had for Lyca. The man actually told him he was her husband. But he refused to believe that. Lyca hated Ken. It was pretty obvious how she sometimes would watch Xu Ke as if she was watching her prey.


    Sadly, Xu Ke refused to see this.

 Chapter 467: Impossible to Achieve

    Chapter 467: Impossible to Achieve


    "Mr. Xu I don''t remember you showing interest in my experiments before. Howe you are here now?" Lyca asked as she removed herb coat. She looked at Xu Jihan who walk inside theb while she was busy.


    "Am I not allowed toe here?"


    She shrugged in response.


    "Any good news?" Xu Jihan continued.


    "What kinds of good news do you want?" she asked.


    "Something about that experiment?"


    "Oh. There''s none." She rested her hand on the metal table. "Why are you really here?"


    He pursed his lips in response. "The country fell into chaos right now."


    "" So?


    "For some reason, I feel like it had something to do with you."


    ""


    "Stop staring at me like that! Not everyone in this ce is stupid."


    "" So?


    Seeing theck of reaction in Lyca''s face, Xu Jihan felt even more irritated. "If you think you can fool everyone else then you are wrong. I will find out the truth! I don''t trust you and I will not rest until you leave this ce."


    "Mr. Xu did you forget something? You guys kidnapped me." Lyca said. "Did I n the kidnapping? Did I n to stay here? If given the chance, I would immediately run away," she smiled. "Since you are already here Since you are already suspecting me. Why don''t you just help me out?"


    "Stop with these mind tricks. I know you are hiding something. You are seeding in fooling him but you cannot fool me, Miss Huang." He squinted and walked towards her. "Once I discover that you have something to do with this, once I have the proof. You should just run and pray that I couldn''t find you."


    "Mr. Xu you are scaring me." Despite her words, there were no signs of fear on her face. In fact, she was actually beaming at him. "Those words are just making me shiver, my palms are sweating." Then she suddenlyughed and took a step forward, her face just a few inches away from his. "But let me remind you something all the people that threatened me would always end up dead or miserable. I hope you will remember that."


    Xu Jihan knitted his brows but he said nothing and left theboratory room instead. Seeing this, Lyca snorted. It seems that Xu Jihan was a little smarter than she thought?


    .


    "Tell me everything." Xu Jihan said to the man following behind him after exiting Lyca''s room.


    "The chaos in the Aiba region and Saka region is intensifying. We needed the president. Moreover, other countries are condemning the act of killing that farmer. Human rights groups are pretending to care. They wanted us to step up or chaos would ensue. Also"


    "Also what?"


    "I found a lot of social media ounts spreading fake news. Some news is outright bullshit and people believed them. The power of social media is very important in these games that the Shen Family wanted to pull off."


    "Are you sure it''s the Shen?"


    "Yes. Everything started right after we obtained that armor. They are attacking us left and right with false usations and trying to use public opinion against us."


    "Is it working?"


    "Please take a look at this." The man handed a tablet to Xu Jihan. "It''s a petition calling for the resignation of the president who can''t even show himself in times of crisis."


    "There are more than one million signatures?"


    "We''re not sure if it''s fake or not but yes. The numbers are right. This campaign started two days ago and the signatures are still increasing."


    Xu Jihan''s face turned darker. "Do you know who started this?"


    "I cannot trace it. But it should be from the Shen Family. As you know they have a very good hacker on their side."


    "Are you sure it''s them?"To be honest, Xu Jihan is already suspecting that Lyca is working with the Shen Family. However, he cannot prove it. Moreover, that is just beyond logic. Lyca already poisoned the Shen Father and daughter. She is a very dangerous person to work with. Surely the Shen Family would not be too desperate to work with her, right?


    Additionally, when they killed Shen Qui, they made it look like it was the Shen Family who did it. ording to Xu Ke, Lyca thinks it was the Shen Family. At that time, Xu Jihan believed Xu Ke. However, seeing the current trouble they were in, Xu Jihan is starting to believe that Lyca actually knew it was them who killed Shen Qui.


    Then why was she here? Was she here to kill them? Was she here to have her revenge?


    If she was then that would be impossible to achieve. This ce was heavily guarded. She had no weapons and Xu Ke confirmed that he took everything important to her. Right now, all she had was that ring her engagement ring.


    They already scanned that ring and confirmed that it didn''t have any weapons or poison. Also, this facility is located in the middle of nowhere. No one really knows about it aside from the people working here.


    "Sir, I just received a call. It seems that the Ye Family is also behind the sudden chaos. Someone spotted one of them in the Ibya region. He was using a different identity. The police are currently looking for him."


    "Ye Family?" This has gotten more and more chaotic! "Why would they involve themselves in our matter? They are rich and they don''t usually have conflicts with other countries! Send a message to their embassy. I want to talk to their representative."


    "Yes, sir."


    Xu Jihan got inside the helicopter that would transport him out of this facility. Without the helicopter, one cannot just get inside easily as the security was pretty tight.


    Xu Jihan eyed the building just as the helicopter left. Right now, what he needed was something that would prove Lyca is somehow involved in all these things. His instinct about everything was just never wrong. He could feel Lyca in everything that had been happeningtely.


    And he hated that he couldn''t figure out why is this happening.

 Chapter 468: Eggs

    Chapter 468: Eggs


    "Sir, the people outside wanted the president. They are starting to throw empty bottles to the stage when they heard that you will talk to them and not the President. I believe it''s best that you don''t go out there." The head of Xu Jihan''s security team whispered. "I already arranged the car, we need to leave this ce now."


    "When I arrived earlier, everything was good. The protesters were sitting and didn''t show any aggressive behavior. What happened?"


    "The leaders of the United Farmers Association arrived. I already asked him to have a conversation with you in private, but he refused to talk to anyone else other than the president."


    Xu Jihan clicked his tongue, disgust apparent in his gaze. "These peasants really dared to demand such a thing? Did they think they are worthy enough to see the President?" he hissed, his voice turned vicious. "Since they want to talk to the president, then let them wait here for nothing!" He stood. "We are leaving!"


    Xu Jihan was really in a terrible mood. These people wanted a piece ofnd in their names, they wanted lower taxes, and they wanted some mary help from the country. The entitlement was irritating Xu Jihan. These people didn''t dare pay their taxes and yet they want the government to spend all the taxes on them? They can just die for all he cared!


    "Sir, these farmers were all in debt from buying theirnds and machine used in farming. Then the technology that created AI''s that could rece manualbor caused a lot of unemployment and automated oppressions. The use of AI robots that could be used for growing and picking lots deprived a lot of poor farmers. Some were forced to borrow money for those pieces of equipment to have a higher gain with lesser efforts. However, this caused overproduction, and some were forced to throw away their products." The head of the Agriculture department said.


    Xu Jihan nodded as they walked towards the car waiting for him. "What can we do about the AI''s?" In fact, he actually couldn''t do anything about this problem. These people were suffering, but they were suffering because of their own choices.


    To Xu Jihan, if one was born poor, that wasn''t his fault. But growing up and getting old while still poor is their fault! Disgust was rich in Xu Jihan''s eyes as he lowered his head and continued walking. Just as he was about to board the car, someone suddenly threw an egg at him.


    "Give us the President!"


    "Let the president show himself!"


    "Let us talk to the President!"


    "We don''t need you here! Give us the President!"


    "We don''t need you here! Give us the President!"


    "We don''t need you here! Give us the President!"


    "Let us talk to the President!"


    "Let us talk to the President!"


    Xu Jihan immediately tried to wipe the eggs on his hair. "Arrest everyone!" he ordered.


    "Yes, sir! Men! Tell everyone to arrest the protesters!"


    And chaos ensued.


    Xu Jihan had a dark look on his face as he watched the people being dragged by the police officers. Some of them still dared to throw some eggs at his car, some were daring enough to throw some stones, and some were throwing various liquids. "Arrest the media! Do not let them spread what happened here! Let''s leave this ce!" Xu Jihan said.


    "Sir, what are we going to do about the farmers who were arrested? These are just people wanting to "


    "People who wanted to take advantage of the state!" Xu Jihan interrupted the head of the agriculture department''s words. "Let them rot in prison! Call for an emergency meeting! I will talk to the other heads."


    "But sir, what about the President? All they wanted was an audience. They wanted to see him."


    This made Xu Jihan want to kill everyone inside the car. Xu Ke had been busy! He was busy watching Lyca do her experiments! And no matter how much he tried to tell the man that he was bing obsessed with that woman, he won''t listen! "Take me back to the capital! I will talk to him!"


    "Yes, sir."


    It took him another six hours to arrive in Xu Ke''sb. At this time, the news about the farmers being arrested was already trending on the Inte. And no matter how much Xu Jihan tried to suppress the news, many people were able to record what happened and already spread it to their friends.


    The live videos taken by other protesters spread like a wildfire, causing more and more people toin and denounce Xu Jihan. Many even dared to dig everything rted to him and publicly published it in blogs for everyone to see.


    But this isn''t enough to make Xu Jihan want to explode his anger. What made him so angry was the fact that Xu Ke wasn''t showing any concern about the current problem outside of this building. "Did you hear what I said? People wanted to see you! Someone threw an egg at me and now everyone is trying to denounce what I did! They said I was cruel for trying to arrest those poor farmers!"


    "I heard," Xu Ke said, his eyes, however, were on the small creature in a vial in his hands. "Look at him. Lyca was able to make it birth. Did you know it could give birth without the presence of the opposite sex in its life? Fascinating isn''t it?"


    "You "


    "Jihan it''s fine. Let them talk about you. Let them get angry. Soon, they will forget about it. People are like that. Most of them didn''t even know what happened. They just wanted to join the public. They don''t really care about those farmers. What they care about are the likes from their posts." Xu Ke smiled and look at him. "Hmm. I have a suggestion. Why don''t you stay in this ce for a few days? I will help you delete that news. Once people forget, you can leave and tackle the issue again."


    "You  You aren''t nning to show yourself after everything that happened?" Disbelief was apparent in Xu Jihan''s voice.


    "The lives of these farmers doesn''t concern me at all. What is more important is the creature that might make us immortal. Ah see?" Xu Ke showed the vial to Xu Jihan. "I think the creature is looking at me like a child would look at his father, no?"

 Chapter 469: The Cat

    Chapter 469: The Cat


    "You are crazy! Can you at least "


    "Jihan tsk" Xu Ke clicked his tongue before he slowly put the delicate vial on top of his table. "You are too noisy. He can''t sleep because of your loud voice." Smiling, he stood and walked out of his chair then looked at the ss window from his office. "Look at Lyca she is clueless. She doesn''t understand what I wanted. She keeps on guessing, asking, trying to trap me into answering her. I mean she was pretty convincing. Any love-fooled man could have given her everything." But in his world, love doesn''t exist. "But this made her more enticing, no? She is smart and sassy. She could kill you if she wanted to. I say she is the only woman who deserved to stand by my side."


    Xu Jihan frowned. He stood next to Xu Ke without saying anything. While he was exhausting himself outside, dealing with the problems of the country, Xu Ke is here, dreaming about his perfect bride.


    "Let''s go," Xu Ke suddenly said. "This sess needed a celebration. Let''s go and met Mr. Ye. I will talk to him as the President."


    Xu Jihan looked at Xu Ke''s side profile. He couldn''t understand why he wanted to talk to the Ye Family but he nodded and said nothing. At this point, he was tired of listening to Xu Ke''s mumblings of immortality. He wanted to have the power that he spoke of, the immortality that he mentioned. However, he thought that seeing Lyca had somehow triggered the insanity inside him.


    Right now, all Xu Jihan wanted was to stop all the madness. And to do that, he needed to get rid of Lyca.


    ..


    The location of the meeting was inside the pce of Xu Country. The pce was located in the capital, in the bustling City of Xu.


    Ye Wan fixed his suit just as he walked inside the room where the meeting would take ce. He roamed his eyes inside before making himselffortable in a long velvet chair with golden frames that were exquisitely carved to show the lion and phoenix symbol of Xu Country.


    The huge firece to his left was extravagant and old fashion, he wondered if they still use it during the winter. Then he eyed the image of the President above the firece. It was a charcoal realistic portrait of the president while he was still new to his term.


    "Mr. Ye."


    Ye Wan stood and looked at the man who weed him. He shook the man''s hand, who introduced himself as Xu Jihan. "Please take your seat, the President will being soon." Xu Jihan sat on the sofa opposite Ye Wan. He maintained a cordial smile as he gestured for his secretary to bring them refreshments. "How was your stay so far? I believe this is your first time in our country?" Xu Jihan asked.


    "It could be better," Ye Wan answered without batting an eyebrow. "Obviously, the protests can be a little troubling. Especially knowing that I am from a Royal Family. Sometimes, I would wonder about my safety. I couldn''t sleep at night as I keep on wondering if one of those farmers had heard about me."


    The smile on Xu Jihan''s face instantly vanished. The words of the envoy were pretty clear. He does not trust the ten people whom Xu Jihan assigned to guard him. Before he could react, however, Ye Wan suddenly smiled a smile that didn''t reach his eyes. "Please don''t take offense, I tend to talk like this. But I meant no ill will. I am just concerned that these protests would affect the economy of Xu Country. As a business executive, I tend to look at the business side of things."


    What could Xu Jihan say? He gave the man a fake smile. For some reason, this Ye Wan reminded him of someone. He felt like he already met him in the past. Xu Jihan would never doubt his instincts. "Mr. Ye, I am a bit curious. It feels like, I have seen you before. In fact, I do feel like I have talked to you before. Please forgive me but I have been really busy with everything so, I tend to forget some things. Would you be so kind to remind me if we already met before?"


    "Mr. Xu is jesting." Ye Wan snorted. "You are not someone that a mere mortal like me could easily forget. I am certain that we have never met before."


    Xu Jihan nodded as he epted his tea from his secretary. Then his secretary leaned towards him and whispered, "Mr. Ye never left his room since he arrived in the country. He had been sending his people out to request an audience. But he never once left his room."


    Xu Jiha nodded. He had suspicions that the one instigating the protest. The person who is also from the Ye Family is this man. However, if he never left his room, then there is no way that he would be able to instigate that chaos. Especially not in Aiba, Saka, and Ibya Region. It would be very difficult for him to travel in those locations while he was still in the capital. "Hm perhaps, I have seen you in Ye Country before. My cousin and I loved Ye Country because of its delicate deserts." Just the thought of the deserts made Xu Jihan cursed inwardly.


    Lyca loved those desserts. If he had known that she would cause this much trouble, he would have poisoned those desserts when he gave her one.


    "Mr. Xu, are you ill? You look a little red?" Concern shed in Ye Wan''s eyes.


    "Ah? I was just reminded by a nasty cat who stole one dessert that I bought from Ye Country." Xu Jihan chuckled. "I always knew, I should have killed that cat since the first time I saw it. But I didn''t and now the cat stole my dessert."


    ....


    Thank you for your support everyone. Thank you for the prayers. My father is already at home.

 Chapter 470: Blinded

    Chapter 470: Blinded


    "Mr. Xu Isn''t it just a cat? It''s just a hungry cat. Why not feed it?" Ye Wan smiled.


    Xu Jihan rolled his eyes inwardly. He has long heard about the Ye Family''s hypocrite members. However, this is the first time he finally witnessed such a thing.


    "Mr. Ye!"


    The President''s warm tone interrupted their conversation. "I am so d to finally meet you. Please take a seat." Xu Ke said after shaking Ye Wan''s hand. He gestured for him to take a seat before he sat on the velvet single-seater sofa next to Ye Wan''s.


    "President Xu thank you so much for meeting me." Ye Wan gave a cordial smile. "I know you are busy. Especially with the current issues in the country."


    Xu Jihan''s face darkened. Obviously, Ye Wan was trying to insult Xu Ke by mentioning the protests. He must have known that the President never showed his face in public since the protest began.


    "Ah, that is true. I have been busytely." Still, the President didn''t show any signs of being offended. He smiled and gestured Ye Wan to try the tea with him. "I remember meeting King Ye of Du Empire a long time ago. At that time, he was really active and loved ying golf. May I know how he had beentely?"


    "The King is healthy as a horse. He still loved ying golf and visit different states and countries. I hope he woulde and visit Xu Country soon."


    "Hmm." Xu Ke nodded. Ye Wan''s words were very vague. He didn''t mention that the King had any ns to visit or any specifics. This could only mean one thing. "I presume Mr. Ye is not here on behalf of the King or prime minister?" If he was here on behalf of the King, he would have immediately mentioned it earlier.


    "No. I am here on behalf of the United Countries."


    The smile on Xu Ke''s face froze. "United Countries?"


    "I''m sure you understand thews of United Countries, no?" The cordial smile on Ye Wan''s face didn''t disappear. It was as if there was a perpetual smile stered on his face. Despite this, there were no emotions in his eyes. Even Xu Ke found it hard to read him.


    "Of course. Just like most countries, we are a member of the United Countries. May I know why they would send you here?" Xu Ke asked. He wasn''t aware that Ye Wan actually works for the United Countries. He wondered what usations did those people came up with.


    "Please take a look at this." Ye Wan handed them a folder. "Inside, you will find my identity. I work for the United Security Council. I am here to summon you for a hearing. An international case had been filed against you by the human rights association. It''s for the experimentations that you are doing  the ones that involved humans."


    Xu Jihan''s forehead creased as he stood and looked at the contents of the folder. A case? They have no time for this! Not when all Xu Ke was doing is look at Lyca all the time. "Mr. Ye, I think there is a mistake somewhere." Xu Jihan said. "How could the President be involved in these cases?"


    "I am not the court, Mr. Xu. There is no need to talk to me about these matters. I am just here to deliver a piece of news."


    "But "


    "These proofs are fake," Xu Ke said. "How could someone believe this?" He lifted his head and met Ye Wan''s indifferent eyes. "Someone is trying to frame me."


    Ye Wan only shrugged. "The experimentations that you are doing are against thews. The images are taken from the Du Empire''s Satellite." He gave them a smug smile. The Du Empire is obviously wealthier than the Xu Country. Obviously, they have bigger budgets for the military and types of equipment. "I am also here to summon Miss Lyca Huang."


    "For what?" Almost immediately, Xu Ke''s face contorted into an ugly scowl.


    "I assume you are familiar with Miss Huang?" Ye Wan lifted an eyebrow. For the first time since stepping inside the pce, interest shed in his eyes. "If you are, the you must be aware of her invention? The United Countries wanted to control those inventions. It is not illegal, but it could potentially have devastating effects against the humans."


    "Let me get this straight you wanted to summon her because she invented something new? Something that is already mine?"


    "President Xu please don''t misunderstand us. It''s just that those substances can be very dangerous, especially if it would fall into the hands of a terrorist. The United "


    "Bullshit!"


    "Pardon me?" Ye Wan asked. "Did you just say "


    "I said bullshit! Let''s be honest here! You only wanted her to work for you! Greedy bastards!"


    "President let''s calm down." Xu Jihan said. "Please have some tea." He red at Xu Ke, hoping this stupid man would understand that he was overreacting."


    "President, I think you misunderstand  We are not trying to imprison Miss Huang or confiscate the substance. We just wanted to create proper records of who has it and who can make it. This is to "


    "You don''t have to exin. I know that the Ye Family would not let her go. But Lyca Huang is someone from the Xu Country. She is my people. You cannot just summon her without my permission."


    Ye Wan blinked. "President Xu, are you forgetting something? You as the President of this country signed an agreement with the United Countries. You will help us maintain the peace and security of the world. Clearly, this is just us doing our duty. However, if you decline to  "


    "Leave!"


    "President Xu?"


    "I said leave! The Du Empire''s people are not wee in the country! You have until tonight to leave my country!"


    "President Xu, what are you saying?" Even Xu Jihan was surprised to see Xu Ke act like this. Until today, Xu Jihan never believed that a man like Xu Ke would be blinded by love one day. He saw him as a god. Omnipotent, smart, and cunning, someone that would always win.


    Clearly, Xu Ke was already losing this game. And it was all because of Lyca.


    Xu Jihan squinted his eyes as he lowered his gaze. That woman will die today!

 Chapter 471: Drug

    Chapter 471: Drug


    Half-awake, Lyca tried to get rid of the vivid visions from her dream. She stared at the ceiling for a few minutes before letting out a loud sigh. The worse thing about being here is actually the fact that she had no news about the things happening outside of these walls.


    Until now, Xu Ke was still keeping her inside this room, alone, without any means ofmunication or entertainment, not even a radio. In fact, she wouldn''t me him.


    In this world, aside from Shen Qui, only Xu Ke knew her well  too well. He never made people get close to Lyca and only stayed a few feet away from her. He was scared that she would attack him.


    The slow ringing of the rm clock made her still. Then she slowly sat up and stared at the door. For a few seconds, she wondered if the person standing behind the door would open it. Was he nning to stare at her all day?


    After a few minutes, Lyca stood. "It''s almost nine in the morning, meaning she was about to start working. Without saying anything, she took off her clothes, leaving her underwear alone, and walked towards the bathroom that was enclosed with frosted ss. The people outside could see that she was taking a bath and could see her silhouette but they won''t be able to see her naked body.


    After taking a quick back, she chose some clothes that Xu Ke bought. As usual, it was ck and ''boring'' or at least that''s what Xu Ke said.


    Speaking of that man, it had been days since she hadn''t seen him. She wondered if he was busy with the chaos outside? She smiled and started humming as shenguidlybed her hair. She thought about her n with that old man Shen and smiled at herself.


    Lyca knew that Xu Ke was smarter than her, but that man would never guess that he was just like a ball rolling into Lyca''s palm.


    "You are irritating."


    The moment Lyca walked out of her room, Xu Jihan''s voice weed her.


    "He said I''m adorable." she sized him up. The rms in her head instantly sounded. Xu Jihan should be here to hurt her. Then she smiled. "I always think I''m cute, though."


    "Shut up and walked towards theb."


    She snorted and followed his instructions. Her room is just located next to theb. Both her room and thisb were considered a forbidden area. No one is allowed to walk even outside of theb or her room. "Why''re you here?" she asked.


    "To check your progress."


    "Oh," she nodded. Progress. Yes, even Lyca wasn''t sure that she would be able to make that creature multiply using poisons. In fact, she was only using her own poison to do it, and she was doing it out of curiosity. "Imagine people doing that. Procreating without sex. Sounds boring to me."


    Xu Jihan ignored her words. He snorted behind her.


    "But that is not the purpose of this research," she continued, trying her best to make the man speak.


    "Why did you stop walking?"


    "We''re here. If you want to go inside, grab that coat. It will protect you." She used her fingerprint to open the door and walked inside, ignoring him. She then started checking her notes and went to the spot where a lot of beakers with different sizes of creatures freely swim.


    "What are those?"


    "Things that could kill you." Lyca stopped checking the beakers and eyed Xu Jihan. "You are here to kill me, right?"


    She didn''t miss the surprise in his eyes. Though he attempted to hide it, Lyca already knew that her assumptions were right.


    "Was it his order?" she calmly asked. Xu Jihan was huge, about six feet or five-eleven. Perhaps even six one. He is leaned but muscr, and with their proximity, it would be hard for her to fight him, fairly. Obviously, she wasn''t nning to fight fairly. That is simply not in her blood.


    "Does it matter?" he frowned. "Your existence is disturbing my ns."


    "ns?" she held a palm towards him. "Are you saying that you are nning to marry him?" Alright, her brains were definitely thinking about something dirty. She immediately med her thoughts on the boy''s love drama that she watched just before Shen Qui died.


    "What is your purpose here?" Xu Jihan ignored her silly question. "Mind tricks won''t work on me, Lyca. I am not like him."


    She squinted but didn''t say anything. "He said he will resurrect Shen Qui," she answered. Obviously, she was really curious about Xu Ke''s methods. Even in their previous world, resurrecting that dead is considered a forbidden thing. How could he resurrect someone in a world without magic?


    "And you wanted me to believe that?"


    She shook her head. "Nope. Not in the least." But she badly wanted him to attack her now. Talking was too tiring. Wouldn''t it be good to just go to fighting and end it?


    She thought of the movies that she saw and immediately noted that this was the part where the viin would reveal everything that they nned to the protagonist, unaware that the viin would die instead. "I am here to know what you wanted to do with this research," she said. Again, she decided to be honest.


    "I don''t believe you."


    This man is too suspicious. She wondered if he had some sort of confidence issues or childhood trauma. But then again, his suspicions were on point. Too bad Xu Ke was already too deep. Talking to him about her matter would be difficult.


    Lyca knew that Xu Ke doesn''t love him. She also knew that he wanted something else. And she was slowly giving it to him. For someone like Xu Ke, who grew up cultivating and studying the art of medicine in the previous world, research would be one of the staples for him.


    To Xu Ke, Lyca''s results were already like a drug.


    .....


    Mass Release in a few hours. Thanks

 Chapter 472: Single

    Chapter 472: Single


    "Mr. Xu, I don''t understand why you seemed to hate me. I don''t remember offending you in any way."


    "Stop acting like a fool! I know about the current trouble that the country is undergoing. I know it had something to do with you. I know you caused this."


    "What do you mean?" she snorted. "I was here. I don''t have any means ofmunication or even a way to watch TV. I have no idea what is going on in the outside world or "


    "I told you! That won''t work on me. I know you can y with him, but not me. I am not a fool. I can see everything. I don''t have any idea how you managed to pull it off while you are inside here. But I am certain it had something to do with you." He squinted and pulled a dagger from his coat. He knew that she is working with the Shen Family and as much as he would like to give anything that could prove this assumption, he didn''t have the time for it.


    Xu Ke''s attitude changed since Lyca arrived in his life. He needed to kill her before it''s toote.


    Lyca took a step back, senses on high alert, when she saw one of her knives in Xu Jihan''s hand. "You know that I am good with knives," she said.


    "You have no weapons with you."


    "He would kill you if "


    "Did you really think I was that dumb? I already turn the camera off. No one would know I killed you." And if he knew, Xu Jihan was nning to exin why he did it. He was nning to tell him about Lyca and the Shen Family.


    "He would."


    "Not if" Xu Jihan paused, his crazed eyes turned more sinister. "I hurt myself first."


    "Eh?" Lyca gave him a doubtful gaze. What did he just say? Did he want to hurt himself first? Wasn''t that too much? Of course, she didn''t voice out her thoughts and just looked at him, waiting for him to act. And just as he said, he slowly used the knife to cut his arm.


    He winced and let out a curse.


    Did he think Xu Ke would believe such an act?


    Because of this, Lyca realized that this man doesn''t know Xu Ke and her history. If he does, then he would know that Xu Ke knew everything about Lyca''s fighting style. Including her favorite targets which are always the vital points. She was fast and small. So she wouldn''t fight face to face but would choose sneak attacks, hitting the vitals, killing people in one strike.


    Seeing the blood gush out of Xu Jihan''s wound, Lyca didn''t know if she wouldugh or cry from this man''s stupidity. True, his instincts might be sharp but he was still a bit dense, no? "Jihan do you really need to do something as crazy as hurting yourself?"


    Lyca blinked at him, unable to understand the purpose of this action. So, he was nning to hurt himself, then fight her? What was he going to do? Did he know that she is not very good at fighting fairly? In fact, she was already nning on using the surrounding chemicals to her advantage.


    Wait, why would this man fight her in a ce like this? Xu Jihan knew that this ce was full of chemicals and yet he actually dared toe here and provoke her into using the chemicals.


    Aha!


    Lyca''s eyes brightened, but she quickly hid it.


    This man he is truly sinister. Xu Jihan was indeed determined to kill her. And to do that, he would not mind hurting his own body just to make sure she is dead. She inhaled. And just as she expected, her sharp senses found something odd in the air.


    She doesn''t have anything special that could determine theponents of the air, so she wasn''t too sure what it was. However, she guessed, it is mmable.


    "I only came here to resurrect Shen Qui." She took another step back.


    "Resurrect him? Is he even dead in the first ce?"


    Lyca''s eyes twitched. This man is sharp  too sharp! Sadly, this kind of thinking is the reason why he needed to die. "I''m not going to fight with you," she dered. "You can hurt yourself all you want. I''m not fighting."


    "What made you think you have the choice?" he smiled a sinister smile beforeunching himself towards him. Sadly for him, he truly underestimated Lyca''s skills and size.


    A normal woman''s response would be to try and throw the things around her towards the person trying to attack her. Anything that she would get her hands to. Or as a fighter, she could easily fight against him, tackle him, and use her small size and speed to attack him.


    Well, Lyca didn''t do any of that. Why would she? She knew that theb would explode if she spilled any chemicals. Unlike Xu Jihan, who was probably wearing something beneath his clothes, she was only wearing her underwear.


    Now, that is just unfair.


    So, she chose the most logical way.


    She ran.


    She avoided him and just ran away, trying her best to lock him inside theb, alone.


    "You bitch! I didn''t know you are a coward!" Xu Jihan hissed as he tried to catch up to her. Sadly, therge metal table in between them was preventing him. The table was full of just some random machines that Xu Jihan didn''t recognize. These machines were preventing him from actually attacking her. If Xu Jihan would run towards Lyca, she would just run to the other side of the table. "Come and fight me!"


    "Crazy." Lyca stuck her tongue out. Obviously, Xu Jihan was also scared to spill the chemicals near him as it would mean he would receive the full brunt of the explosion. "If you want to fight then, fight yourself. Stop disturbing me! You are such a crybaby. No wonder you are still single despite your age!"


    1/5

 Chapter 473: For a Woman

    Chapter 473: For a Woman


    "Jihan, what are you doing?"


    The two immediately stopped moving after Xu Ke''s arrival. "Why are you "


    "She tried to stab me." Xu Jihan immediately said.


    "Using her own dagger?"


    He nodded.


    Lyca, on the other hand, just maintained her silence. She stared at Xu Ke, wondering why his aura seemed to change. Was he angry? Was it because of Xu Jihan? No, he was already angry when he came inside. Then perhaps it was because of what was happening outside?


    "Come with me," Xu Ke gestured Xu Jihan to go out. Then he gave Lyca a meaningful nce before turning away, the door once again closing behind him.


    "You were careless," Xu Ke said just as they arrived in his office. "You wanted to make it seem like she was the one who hurt you, but you actually used a gas that could weaken her. Are you that desperate to make me hate her?"


    Xu Jihan said nothing. Instead, he instructed one of Xu Ke''s men, who followed them to fix his wound. "I already told you. She is working with the Shen family."


    "And that conversation didn''t prove anything, Jihan." Xu Ke sighed. "I am disappointed in you. You cut yourself for nothing."


    "Why''d you stop me? I could have made her confess! I could have "


    "You are wasting your time."


    "You "


    "You said that Shen Qui might be alive. You said that she is working with the Shen Family. And yet you cannot prove any of your ims. You already tried to kill her, hoping that she would say something and reveal something that would prove this was all her n. Obviously, you failed."


    "But you interrupted me! How could you "


    "I was trying to save you!"


    "You "


    "If she wanted to kill you. She could have done that. Even if you used gas to make her limbs go numb."


    "You think she could "


    "I know she could kill you. Even with her eyes closed."


    *BANG!*


    The loud sound of Xu Jihan mming his palm against the wooden coffee table in front of the couch he was sitting on, echoed. "You don''t believe me! I "


    "Jihan, why are you trying to ruin my rtionship with her?" Xu Ke said as he poured himself a ss of whiskey. Then he used another ss and pour his cousin a ss of the same alcohol. "Drink. Try to rx. I want to hear your thoughts, your honest opinions about this matter. Just like before." Xu Jihan was always smart. And that was the reason why Xu Ke chose him.


    "I am not ruining something that does not exist. Can''t you see it? I mean are you really going to act like a fool forever? She is using you!"


    "For what?" Xu Ke hissed. "I have her under control! She loves her family and is scared that I would hurt them if she does something crazy!"


    "But "


    Xu Ke''s gaze stopped him. He epted the ss of whiskey and finished it in one go. "I want you to observe her actions."


    "I am observing her. She is being recorded even when she sleeps. She can''t talk to anyone. Even her food was sent via a drone that I created myself. She doesn''t have anymunication outside of her walls. Moreover, the chaos happened even before she came here. It happened because we bought the armors."


    "You seem to trust her a lot."


    "I don''t trust her." Xu Ke said. "And that is the reason why I am still alive," he chuckled. "One wrong move and she would kill me without any hesitation."


    "Then"


    "I am telling you. She is useful for our ns. She is a genius in poisons. Everything that we were able to summon from that ne or dimension was poisonous creatures. We need her to work for us."


    Xu Jihan pursed his lips. "You don''t believe me." Of course, he really wanted to talk some sense into Xu Ke. How was he so blind to everything involving that woman? Lyca was someone who killed without remorse. How could Xu Ke restrain her and even control her?


    No, Xu Jihan was sure that Lyca was hiding something, and that she was only staying here because she wanted to know what they wanted to do. Once she figures this out, she would immediately leave.


    "If you are still thinking about her leaving, then I can assure you. She won''t be able to leave this facility alive." Xu Ke said as he downed his drink. "Also you said something about proving to me that Shen Qui is alive and working with the Shen Family. But you never told me about the gas. That gas is mmable. If she used a chemical to defend herself, she would immediately die from the explosion."


    "How did you know that?" Xu Jihan''s face darkened.


    "I can smell it, and Lyca did too. Her senses might be equal or even stronger than mine."


    "You mean "


    "You expected her to y dirty and throw something at you. However, she could smell the chemicals in the air. So, she ran instead."


    "She can smell it? How?"


    "She''s like me," Xu Ke confirmed. "Her senses should be as good as mine. Don''t look at me like that. I just found out today when I walk in and notice that she was holding her breath."


    "You  " Xu Jihan didn''t continue his words when he realized something. "You knew that she was like you from the start." Realization hit him. "And yet you never told me."


    "You didn''t ask."


    Xu Jihan squinted. "Then why are you telling me this now?" It didn''t take a minute for him to realize that something was wrong. He stood, but just as he was about to approach Xu Ke that was standing a few feet away from him, he staggered, his gaze turning hazy. "What did you do?"


    "You shouldn''t have tried to hurt her, Jihan. I told you she is important to me."


    "You  Ken! What are you  " Xu Jihan tried to say something more, but his mouth stopped moving. In fact, his whole body stopped listening to what he wanted to do. He can''t move, his limbs turning numb. He stared at Xu Ke''s smiling face as hatred grew inside him.


    But it was toote.


    He didn''t realize that Xu Ke would one day kill him just for a woman.


    2/5

 Chapter 474: Stupid Legend

    Chapter 474: Stupid Legend


    When Xu Ke went back to see Lyca, he was already smiling as if he didn''t just kill his cousin. He sat on the only chair in the room as Lyca leaned against the metal table, staring at him, scrutinizing his weird gaze. "What''s wrong with you?" she folded her arms across her chest.


    "I just thought you are really good."


    "You smelled the gas and live."


    She snorted. "Only kids would think of ways like that to hurt me."


    "I already punished him. You won''t be seeing him in the near future."


    "You killed him." That wasn''t a question. It was something that she knew he would do to Xu Jihan.


    "Are you ming me?"


    She shook her head. "I wasn''t surprised."


    "Really? Am I really that evil?"


    "Yes," she nodded. "Why are you here? I am busy."


    "The creature that you gave me died."


    She gave a dramatic sigh. "I expected as much. It would be difficult to have it live in this world as this world have no magic."


    "There is no such thing as impossible. Look our existence should be considered impossible but here we are."


    "We are not like those creatures who survive through magic."


    He squinted at her. "I want you to create a way to sustain its life."


    "Do you think I''m a god?" She watched him stood and approached her.


    "Close."


    "Why do you want it to survive? Xu Jihan said that there''s a lot of problems outside. Are you waiting for it to live instead of solving those problems?" she lifted her gaze and stared at Xu Ke who was now standing a few feet away from her.


    "Those things have nothing to do with me."


    "You are the President, aren''t you? If you didn''t want to rule. Then why bother pretending that you are your uncle?" she asked calmly. She could see that Xu Ke''s gaze towards her had be a lot softer. Was it because of her dramatic performance earlier?


    "As long as you find ways to make that creature live then we could rule this world. These myriads of problems that Xu Country has been experiencing are nothing to my eyes. Once we rule this ce all of these problems will naturally disappear." He lifted his hand and touched her cheek. She shivered, goosebumps skittered all over her body.


    Guilt flooded through her.


    "You are scared of me?" he was standing too close towards her. She hated it. She gulped and stared at him. She wasn''t scared, but she honestly felt guilty. Just letting another man touch her face felt like she was cheating.


    She fought the urge to p him and immediately ran into her room to take a bath.


    She wanted to scrub her cheek and cleanse it.


    "Ah, I understand. It was about the past?"


    Again, she wasn''t scared. In fact, she doesn''t feel anything towards this man anymore. Not even an iota of hatred or disgust. It was just indifference.


    "I did it because of an ancient story."


    "What story?"


    He let out another sighed. "This is your reward for what happened earlier, for showing loyalty."


    Loyalty her ass, she cursed inwardly.


    "In our world, there were already records of people who transmigrated and reincarnated, right? I''m sure you have read something about it. After all, it was in my family''s library."


    Lyca nodded. She used to visit him a lot and every time he was busy, she would spend her time in the family''s library or practice her daggers.


    "Well there was once a legend about a man from another world who woke up in the body of a six-year-old child who cannot cultivate. Because of that man''s sharp mind, he was able to analyze the boy''s body and changed that boy''s destiny. That man was one of my Xu Family''s ancestors. And he wrote a few interesting stories about this world."


    "This world?"


    He nodded and smiled, the back of his hand caressed her cheek. She cursed inwardly but managed to maintain a straight face. "You mean to say that he came in this world?"


    "Yes. He is a Xu and he didn''te into our world by ident. He did it by using a moonstone."


    Lyca gulped.


    "Just like your stone," he added. "I have no idea where you put the stone but it should be the reason why you came back and had your revenge against my family, right?"


    "I don''t know what you are talking about."


    He chuckled. "I understand." Then he took a step back. "That stone rather the owner of that stone needed to die for the magic to activate. Just like how you died in our previous world with that stone in your hand. However, this wasn''t the only legend. Another one apanied it."


    Lyca gulped. The ne should be given by someone from the Ye Family, right?


    "It is about killing  the family of the people who stole the ne from my family. ughter them and stole the ne back. You needed to bath the ne with blood, the blood of the people who are considered as sinners. Obviously, the choice was pretty easy. Killing a family of assassins is just the right thing to do."


    "Ummm." Lyca deadpanned. What kind of legend is this? "Let me stop you, right now."


    "Hm?"


    "So, you are saying that you killed me and my family because of a stupid legend?"


    "It wasn''t some stupid legend. It was real. Look at me, now?" He smiled and went back to his chair. "Obviously, something is wrong with that legend as you are here too. And you managed toe back to that world. While I I cannot." He sighed, mncholy rich in his voice. "I came into this world unprepared because I didn''t know when it would happen. And just when I thought that I could travel of my own will I got stuck. Here. In this stupid, powerless world full of greedy and weak people."


    Lyca is speechless. Just as she expected, Xu Ke really had problems in his head.


    3/5

 Chapter 475: Madness!

    Chapter 475: Madness!


    "So you killed me because of the legend?" she asked, bbergasted. Is this man trying to trick her? Is he trying to say that he actually killed his wife and her family because of some random stuff that he saw in some diary?


    She thought of how her family died in the previous life. They were killed like pigs, some were poisoned, some died from an arrow in between their brows. It was tragic, and it is waking up some emotions inside her.


    "I heard that the stone is still with the Huang Family. Even Huang Qingyun confirmed this. However, when the old man was poisoned, he didn''t have anything on him. The rule was that only the next n head would receive that pendant. I thought it was with you. However, I have never seen you wear it."


    "I haven''t seen it."


    "But it was with you when you came back, no?"


    "The Princess had it. I wasn''t able to bring it with me when I came back." She answered with a straight face.


    "Interesting" Xu Ke was staring at her like he was trying to see if she was lying. "Anyway, I told you this not because I wanted to have your forgiveness. What I want is for you to understand that this world and our previous world are somehow connected."


    "If we create a portal huge enough for our people in that world to pass through, we could create soldiers in this world. We could use it to rule them."


    Crazy.


    That was the only world that Lyca could use to describe him. Howe she didn''t notice Xu Ke''s obsession with ruling another world before? "So you helped the Long Family and Huang Qingyun in poisoning grandfather because you thought he had the ne?"


    "Bingo!" Xu Ke clicked his tongue. "Why would I help someone without any benefits? That Huang Qingyun promised to give the pendant to me. Obviously, that didn''t happen."


    "So you killed him?"


    "I didn''t kill him."


    Lyca doesn''t believe him, but she decided not to say anything anymore. All she could do wasughed inwardly at this stupid fate.


    It turns out that Xu Ke and her fate had been intertwined in the previous world and in this world. She somehow found it entertaining and stupid at the same time. She already died in the previous world and hoped to live a peaceful life in this world.


    It turns out, all the trouble that she encountered was all because of Xu Ke! This man he was her nemesis!


    "Why are you looking at me like that?"


    "I wanted to live a peaceful life."


    "Oh?"


    "And yet you keep on disturbing me."


    "Come on! Can you really me me?" he leaned against the chair andnguidly crossed his leg over the other. "You know me I always get what I want. This time I want this world and I will get it. Obviously, I am telling you all this because I want you to join me."


    She maintained a nk look on her face. It seems that her performance earlier had been very convincing? "Are you going to resurrect Shen Qui?"


    "Of course! I am sure you are familiar with my family''s old magic. As long as you help me open a portal in this world then"


    "Do you have these notes with you? The one from your family? I can''t help you unless I read it." Once she gets her hands on those diaries, she was already nning on destroying them.


    "Sadly, no."


    That is indeed sad. Lyca didn''t remove her gaze away from Xu Ke''s face." And how are you going to n this portal? I mean you wanted me to find some ways for that creature to live because you are scared that people from our world won''t be able to survive in this world with their original body, right?"


    "Sharp."


    So he wanted a damn portal. All this trouble was just because Xu Ke wanted to open a damn portal, because he wanted to rule the world. If he badly wanted to do it, why not just design a game that would make him the sole honor of his own world inside the game?


    Lyca knew that this was only her wishful thinking.


    Xu Ke''s beliefs were always extreme. And once he wanted something, he would do everything to get it.


    "This portal" Lyca started. "Does it need another sacrifice?"


    Just as she expected, Xu Ke turned silent. He only responded with a tight-lipped smile. That was the confirmation that she needed.


    "You aren''t sure if it would work and yet you "


    "Come on! It worked with me! There''s no reason for it not to work here!"


    Actually, there is one reason. This world doesn''t have magic. The people that Xu Ke killed in their previous world, her whole family, including her, were all magicians. They could manipte the elements and use them to fight. They have manas and cores.


    The people here don''t have that.


    Isn''t that reason enough?


    "That won''t work here," Lyca said.


    "Well we won''t know until we give it a try."


    "Xu Ke, is this why you are letting your people revolt? Is this why you killed the president and reced him? You wanted to ughter all the people in this country?"


    "Hey! Why are you so agitated?" he chuckled. The action only made her more irritated. This man was indeed a sociopath. She fought the urge to attack him right now. This isn''t the right time for that. "The Du Empire will destroy this country. Not me. I won''t even lift a finger. A war would happen soon. All I needed to do was watch and wait. Isn''t that brilliant?"


    "Brilliant?" Lyca asked. "That''s stupid. Are you really going to kill people without the assurance that it would work?"


    "Isn''t that why you are helping me? You can assure that it would work! As long as that creature survives in here then it would work with the humans in our world."


    Madness.


    This man is the definition of madness!


    ....


    ADD NEW NOVEL: THE HUSTLER''s BRIDE

 Chapter 476: Wedding

    Chapter 476: Wedding


    "Listen" In a swift motion, Xu Ke approached her and held both of her hands. Then he gave her an eerie smile. "You and I could rule this world. It was fate. In the previous world, you have the ne and in this world you also had it. Or at least your family has it. This only meant that we are destined to be together in both worlds."


    "Did you forget how you killed me?" she deadpanned. Destiny her ass. If this is indeed destiny then this is only because they are destined to fight in both worlds. They were destined to be enemies!


    "That might be a part of fate too. If you think about it, if I didn''t sacrifice you then, we won''t be seeing again in this world, now!" He was beaming at her like he just said something she should be grateful for. Did he expect her to thank him for killing her?


    "Thank you," she said. She was thanking him not because of this crazy destiny. She was thanking him because of Shen Qui. If he didn''t killed her in the past, she would have stayed madly in love with him and not met Shen Qui.


    She wouldn''t have experienced this peaceful andnguid life since she came here. Just the thought of her peaceful life being ruined by this man, made her irritated. Xu Ke was responsible for everything!


    It was crazy and she hated every bit of it!


    "See? I knew you would understand me well!" He pulled her for a hug. Disdain flooded her veins but she didn''t push him away. Instead, he awkwardly patted his back. She knew that he misinterpreted her words and she wasn''t nning to exin everything to him.


    "About that ne"


    "I don''t have it." Lyca lied without batting an eyelid. "I saw grandfather wore it on some asions but we were not really close. You can ask around, I only saw him at least once a year on his birthday. I am toozy to visit him too." Right now, she was actually thankful that she waszy and hated socializing. It is a very great alibi, ah!


    "That made sense. I I have heard about that from your uncle." Xu Ke finally ended the hug, to her relief. He stared at her as if scrutinizing her face. Was he trying to see if she was lying? Lyca snorted inwardly. Lying is a skill that she perfected.


    She was confident in her skills, alright!


    "Then your father"


    "If he has it then, he would give it to me. My father is treating me as the new n head. He would not hide something like that from me."


    "Then your guess is"


    "The Ye Family."


    "Ye Family?" Xu Ke''s face darkened. Ye Wan''s face instantly appeared on his mind. He thought of how that man wanted to take Lyca away and his moon only turned worst. For some reason, that Ye Wan deeply irritated him. He knew he had never met that man before but he couldn''t stop himself from feeling that he was a bit familiar.


    "That ne should be something that they gave my grandmother, Ye Bai. When my grandfather was poisoned the n head became my uncle. Obviously, that man didn''t have white hair. The Ye Family said that they wouldn''t intervene in the affairs of the Huang if the n head is white-haired. However I never became the head. I was framed for my grandfather''s poisoning." Lyca''s face showed concern. Right now, her acting was so good, she wanted to apud her own performance.


    If she knew she could act this well she would have chosen acting as a career.


    Kidding.


    There is no way that she would work that hard.


    Speaking of her grandfather, Lyca couldn''t help but wonder if the old man finally woke up. If he did, she could only hope that he won''t reveal himself to the public. If she could heal that poison, it meant that she could also prolong the life of the creature that Xu Ke summoned.


    "Do you think the Ye Family took it?" Xu Ke was staring nkly at the table. He recalled just after Old Man Huang was poisoned, someone from the Du Empire, visited this country. They said it was for a vacation. At that time, the president did everything to amodate them. It turns out they actually want to steal something from him?


    Xu Ke snorted. Surely, the fact that they wanted Lyca was no coincidence, right? They must have wanted to drag her to Du Empire and force her to work for them! They are nning to steal Lyca away from him.


    "Is there something wrong?" Lyca asked, confused at Xu Ke''s reaction. Naturally, the Ye Family''s visit years ago was a pure coincidence. She didn''t even know anything about it. She was only saying some nonsense to create a wedge between Xu Ke and the Ye Family.


    It was nothing personal. All she wanted was for him to trust her enough to bring her outside of this hell hole.


    "No need to worry about it. I just I needed to leave for a while. Let''s talk when I get back." Xu Ke immediately left the room. Seeing this, Lyca could only sigh.


    The moment, Xu Ke left the room, his face turned sinister. He immediately opened his phone and dialed someone''s number. "Ye Wan where is he? Did he left the country?"


    "Yes, President." The man on the other line answered respectfully.


    "Find any traces of the Ye Family in the current chaos outside. Then report everything to me."


    "Understood."


    "And one more thing." Xu Ke entered the password to lock Lyca inside of the station where herb and room were located. "My birthday ising. I want you to send an invitation to the Ye Family. Tell them my previous actions were unforgivable. I want to invite them to my birthday aspensation. Next, I want you to prepare a white gown hmmm that would suit Lyca Huang."


    "Shall I bring the people to take her measurements?"


    Xu Ke squinted. "Yes. I want everything to be perfect. The President''s birthday is also my wedding day. Prepare everything. I want everything white and ck. Do you understand?"


    "Yes, sir!"

 Chapter 477: Plan

    Chapter 477: n


    "Miss Please, stop moving around. I need to measure the size of your breast."


    Lyca fought the urge to kick the woman. "No need to measure!" She doesn''t have that much asset anyway." Not used to it."


    "But miss!"


    "Tell him not to let me wear something heavy!" she sat on her bed and ignored the seamstress. "I don''t want something heavy and long."


    As expected, the woman ignored her words. She just continued writing in her little notebook, murmuring her measurements and how ungrateful she had been acting. Seeing this, Lyca also ignored the woman andy on the bed with her eyes closed.


    Since that day, Lyca hasn''t actually seen Xu Ke. Because of this, she had been spending all her time in theb. Because of this, she discovered that the creature would react to her every time she used her internal energy. Aside from this, the creature would just die.


    Until now, she had been very critical about this creature. She had been looking for ways to end its life and she had been seeding. At the same time, she is supplying Xu Ke with false pieces of information using reports.


    After a few more days, Lyca was surprised to see a white gown waiting for her inside her room. Next to it was the smiling Xu Ke. "What''s this?"


    "Do you like it?" he asked.


    "Nope."


    Xu Ke ignored her words as he touched the tulle on the gown. "I personally chose the style."


    "Oh." She nodded, a little irritated. "I''m sure you would look good in it."


    "What are you talking about?" he asked. "You are going to wear it."


    "Do you want me to wear white on the President''s birthday? Are you trying to curse yourself?" she walked past the gown and sat on her bed.


    "Can you stop acting like a fool?"


    She pursed her lips without saying anything. Then she stared at the ceiling. "What are you doing, Xu Ke?"


    "Isn''t it obvious?"


    "It''s not." She finally turned towards him. "What are you doing?"


    "I want to marry you."


    "Good for you," Lyca said. "Did you ask me if I wanted to marry you?"


    The smile on his face vanished. "You always wanted to marry me."


    "Not anymore." Her face turned serious. "Stop acting like a jerk and don''t force someone into marrying you."


    Once again, her words fell into deaf ears. He smiled at her. "Then I can just make you want to marry me again. After all, I invited the whole Tang Family to join us that day."


    He was threatening him.


    Good. Very Good!


    This man is forcing her to kill him.


    And that will happen.


    She silently gritted her teeth. "Are you sure you want to do this?"


    "You are the only woman capable of standing next to me."


    "Kidnapping and forcing someone to marry." This bastard is really too much. "If you promise not to hurt my family. I will do everything that you say." Her tone softened, but she didn''t hide the anger in her eyes.


    "Good girl." Obviously, he ignored her reaction and focused on his own world. How could Lyca refuse him? They were lovers! They used to love each other.


    He recalled how Lyca would not even hesitate to sacrifice her life to save her in their previous world. She loved him with all of her heart. However, staying in this world tarnished her emotions. It was a bit disappointing but Xu Ke thought it was totally normal for her.


    After everything that happened in her previous life, it is only understandable that she craved something more peaceful. Sadly for her, fate decided to intervene.


    He stared at Lyca for a few seconds before his eyes traveled towards her body. "This body is quite skinny" he said. "I will tell the chef to feed you more."


    Lyca rolled her eyes but didn''t say anything else. Right now, she was clueless about the current events outside of these walls. However, she trusts that her ally, her confidant, and her husband would know when to act. Shen Qui had always been smart.


    She was confident that he would understand that this birthday party is the perfect time to act.


    Lyca stared at Xu Ke as she thought of her scheme to fool everyone. To make her n foolproof, she arranged everything and was even the one who made sure that Xu Ke knew about her meeting with Old Man Shen.


    She wanted him to act. She wanted him to take advantage of the opportunity and attempt to kill Shen Qui. Obviously, this method was risky as they don''t really know when and where he would strike.


    This is why Shen Qui had been telling her how risky her n was.


    But without a little risk, life would be boring.


    A boring life is not a very good life no? Or maybe it was a good life. Actually, that is the life that she wanted to have after this!


    Now that she thought about it, this has been her most daring n. Something that she created, knowing that it would be tiresome and it would test her acting skills. But to her, this was all worth it. Simply because she was dealing with the man who ended her life in the previous world.


    Lyca would never let that happen again.


    She thought of the wedding and shifted her gaze into the gown. If her guess was right then, Xu Ke is nning to do the same thing all over again at this wedding. He might be nning to kill everyone at this wedding. Lyca continued staring at the gown until she figured out the thing that Xu Ke might do.


    First is he would use this opportunity to seed. Meaning, he would try to invite some important people from the Ye Family. After all, this was supposed to be a happy asion.


    The President himself would send the invitation. Meaning, declining would be an insult to both the Ye Family and the Xu Family. Then, Xu Ke would choose to invite the people that matter''s to Lyca.


    He would invite her mother and father, and the two would obviously decline this invitation because of Lyca''s ns to hide them with her grandfather. This would keep them safe, while Lyca would deal with Xu Ke.


    After all analysis, Lyca came up with one conclusion. Xu Ke would use this opportunity to cause a war and kill people.

 Chapter 478: Pandemonium

    Chapter 478: Pandemonium


    It would be pandemonium.


    And this is what Xu Ke wanted.


    To him, the lives of other people don''t matter. It was all about the goal, the end would always justify the means.


    She looked at his beaming face, wondering what the hell happened to him. "You weren''t like this before," she stated. "You were "


    "Ah, let''s stop talking about the past, shall we?" he was staring at her as if he was already expecting her to talk about this. Part of him should be right, as she was indeed interested to know what happened to him.


    But it wasn''t because she still cared for him.


    It was because she wanted to figure out what made him do this.


    What made him stop caring about the lives of other people.


    "Alright, I will leave. You have to be prepared."


    Those were Xu Ke''sst words before he left her alone in the room. Lycay on her bed, eyes closed as she thought of marrying Xu Ke. Just the thought of it made her a bit nauseous. However, thinking about something bad would just be a waste of her precious time.


    So, she decided to sleep and save her energy instead.


    ***


    What Lyca hated the most was interacting with people. Even in her past life, she hated talking to most people and would hide herself and her presence from the crowd. However, this time, it''s different. Xu Ke wanted her to interact with people, he wanted her to show herself as the happy soon to be married bride.


    At least, at this engagement party, not one member of the Tang Family appeared.


    She had long since warned her grandfather that something like this might happen. And it did happen.


    At least the old man was smart enough to follow her warnings.


    Alright, she was lying. In fact, not all members of the Tang Family missed this engagement party that Xu Ke asked her to attend.


    The first one who showed up was actually her beloved cousin, Tang Fangmei. Of course, she was here to find Xu Jihan and hoped for a double wedding.


    Sadly for her, Xu Jihan is already rotting somewhere.


    The other one who attended the party was her cousin, Tang Ruyi. She was smiling at Lyca but her eyes were full of questions. Just like the old man and the rest of the Tang Family, they couldn''t understand the meaning behind Lyca''s actions.


    However, unlike most people that listened to the Tang Patriarch, Tang Ruyi refused to stay away and chose to confront Lyca instead. "Even uncle and aunt didn''te. Are you really going through with this wedding?" Tang Ruyi didn''t hide the concern in her voice. "Lyca"


    In response, Lyca smiled. "Not here. Most people are watching us."


    "You disappeared for months."


    "Hmmm. Why don''t you have some juice?" Lyca handed her a juice.


    "And when I met you again, you are already engaged? To a man like that?" Tang Ruyi held her arm. "Did he force you? Did he threaten to kill the Tang Family?"


    "Ruyi" Lyca felt like crying andughing at the same time. The fact that Tang Ruyi was here is actually enough to make her cry. It reminded her of her mother and father. The fact that Tang Ruyi knew about the threats made her want tough.


    It seems that her cousin knew her too well.


    "If you want me to kill him "


    She only smiled, interrupting Tang Ruyi''s words. "I will do it." Her eyes sparkled as she gestured her to ept the juice.


    Tang Ruyi narrowed her eyes at her cousin before she epted the juice. "I trust you." It was as if a sh of understanding glinted in Tang Ruyi''s eyes. She then kissed Lyca''s cheek then left her alone. This is actually why Lyca liked Tang Ruyi in the past.


    She was fearless and would always confirm the situation before she would do something crazy. Since they were kids, Tang Ruyi had offered to take care of the people that are irritating Lyca. Of course, she would listen to Lyca''s exnation and not attract trouble.


    "Cousin where is Jihan?" Tang Fangmei suddenly appeared behind her. She lifted an eyebrow and looked at her beautiful cousin wearing a sparkling body con red dress that highlighted all the right curves in her body. Tonight, this woman actually looked more stunning than Lyca.


    But what would she do once she learns that her beloved is already dead?


    Should Lyca just stir the pot?


    "Ah, here you are!" Xu Ke''s voice instantly annoyed Lyca. However, she stered a gentle smile on her face and turned towards Xu Ke.


    "Here I am."


    "Mr. Xu Congrattions on this engagement. I am so happy that my cousin finally chose someone worthy of our Tang Family." Tang Fangmei smiled.


    "Thank you!" Obviously, her words made Xu Ke more enthusiastic. "I wasn''t expecting to actually meet someone like her in this world." He looked at Lyca, then he held her long white hair that had been perfectly curled. "Someone as kind and beautiful as Lyca only deserves the best."


    Lyca wanted to throw up.


    Beautiful yes.


    But kind?


    "I always knew my cousin was destined for someone that would give her the world." Of course, Tang Fangmei didn''t hesitate to lick Xu Ku''s butt. After all, she was still nning to be his cousin''s bride.


    Building rtions with Xu Jihan''s family is the top priority.


    "Lyca and I grew up together. Since we were kids, I always admired her for being really kind and smart. However, this all changed when she met that man. Ah, let''s not talk about the past anymore. At least now, she is already in the right hands."


    Did these two thought she was a statue? Lyca rolled her eyes inwardly. However, she managed to maintain the smile on her face.


    "Mr. Xu congrattions"


    Their conversation was interrupted when a man, as tall or even taller than Xu Ke, approached them.


    "Mr. Ye! I wasn''t expecting to see you here tonight!" Xu Ke said as he held Lyca''s waist and pulled her towards him. "Thank you so much foring. Please met my beloved. Lyca Lyca Huang."

 Chapter 479: Sacrificing More People

    Chapter 479: Sacrificing More People


    DO NOT BUY PRIV ANYMORE! I WILL MARK THIS AS COMPLETED. This will automatically release the PRV chapters. IT WOULD BE A WASTE OF YOUR COINS!


    ...


    Ye Wan met Lyca''s eyes before he smiled. ''Congrattions, Miss Huang. It''s an honor to finally meet you."


    "Meet me?" Lyca slowly lifted an eyebrow as she smiled at him. Then she shook his hand. "It seems that the Ye Family had been wanting to meet for quite some time, now?"


    Ye Wan only gave her a knowing smile before turning his head towards Xu Ke. "May I know where the President is? I have pressing matters to "


    "He had an emergency." Xu Ke answered.


    "Ah is it the civil war outside?"


    "Civil War?" Lyca looked at Xu Ke, the smile on her face disappeared. "What war?"


    "It seems that Miss Huang is not updated with the current events in the country." Ye Wan chuckled. "As of this moment, some militants groups are marching outside of the pce in the capital. There had been news of injured ones. So far, I didn''t hear anyone dying. Which is very good?"


    "Mr. Ye, the matters in my country, do not concern you. Or did you forget that this is not your Du Empire?"


    "It''s fine. I was just curious." Lyca smiled. "But a civil war Isn''t that an exaggeration? Isn''t this just a small protest?"


    "A protest? The protests were the problems that had been happening all around the country for the past few months. This the one happening in the pce right now, is not a protest. There had been some stones and smoke bombs being thrown around. It was just tragic."


    Lyca squinted her eyes at Xu Ke. "This happened?"


    Xu Ke only red at Ye Wan in response. "That has nothing to do with my wedding. The President is handling it right now!"


    Ye Wan responded with a smile before he held the blue tooth headset on his left ear. "Eh? It seems that the President actually dered martialw? Mr. Xu, your uncle is really something. Is he really going to dere martialw days before your wedding?"


    "You "


    "Ah, the President would be very busy. Do you think he would be there on your wedding day?"


    Of course, he won''t be there! After all, Xu Ke is the President! Right now, Lyca still doesn''t have ways tomunicate or watch TV. Her weapons had been taken by Xu Ke, including her essories, where her needles were hidden.


    She couldn''t really fight him and risk breaking all the trust or whatever it was that she had established so far.


    "I have confidence that President Xu could handle all this." Tang Fangmei was smiling as if she didn''t hear them talk about martialw, stones, and tear gas. "I am certain that the military could handle it. They are always here to protect the country from ignorant individuals."


    Seeing that everyone, including Lyca, turned silent from her words, she gave a burst of awkwardughter. "Ah, let''s not talk about depressing matters. Why don''t we talk about the wedding instead? How was the preparation?" She tried to divert the topic, but Ye Wan wasn''t nning on making Xu Ke smile tonight.


    "Ah, this reminds me. Miss Huang, aside from being a Ye, I am also the representative of the United Countries. I would like to invite you to our  "


    "Mr. Ye this topis is a little inappropriate of this asion." Xu Ke gritted his teeth silently. "My bride and I are celebrating our engagement. We can leave all those talks about United Countries forter."


    However, Lyca was quick to answer Ye Wan, leaving Xu Ke with no time to react. "Actually Mr. Ye, if you want to invite me. I can apany you. But you have to do something for me first."


    "Lyca,e on. Can we stop talking about working for the night?" Xu Ke chuckled as he leaned closer towards her ears. "Tang Ruyi is still here, somewhere. You might not care about Tang Fangmei, but I heard you and Ruyi had a pretty good rtionship. Be a good girl and smile."


    "What is it, Miss Huang? What do you want me to do?"


    Lyca onlyughed in response as she got another ss of champagne and gave it to Ye Wan. "A toast to a prosperous marriage full of love and happiness." What she really meant to do was curse this marriage. However, she could only say those insincere words for now.


    "Of course." A sh of unfathomable expression shed in Ye Wan''s eyes. "Here''s to the couple. May you live happily ever after."


    Tang Fangmei and Xu Ke joined the toast with huge smiles on their faces.


    Not long after, the surrounding people started greeting and congratting the new ''couple'' to her surprise even Old Man Chu personally sent a gift for her engagement. She looked at the bottle of wine that the old man sent. One whiff, and she already knew that something was mixed with the alcohol. She pretended not to care about it, so she won''t attract Xu Ke''s attention, and decided to socialize so she could gather more information about the current events of the country.


    Now that she thought about it, Xu Ke already dered martialw. This meant that he was escting. He wanted the people to revolt and hate the president. He wanted chaos and death.


    The next part of his n should be to cause more chaos and kill as many people as possible under the guise of the militants. This would give him reason to issue some shoot-to-kill orders against the farmers that would harm innocent during their protests.


    This would surely infuriate more and more people. She turned towards Xu Ke who was talking to some random doctors that were treating him as if he was some god. Funny how, these people thought, he was some sort of miracle healer, when all he wanted was to sacrifice more people for his stupid dream.


    Then her gaze turned towards Ye Wan. He was staring at Xu Ke, his face unfathomable. As if sensing her eyes, he turned to look at her. For a few seconds, she saw relief in his eyes. But he quickly looked away as he finished his wine.


    She could only hope that the night would actually end peacefully, without anyone dying. After all, she still needed to finish something in thatb.


    Something that could stop anyone crazy enough to open some portal by sacrificing more people.

 Chapter 480: Guards Down

    Chapter 480: Guards Down


    After the President dered martialw, a lot of militant groups encountered problems in their protests. It was because they now encouraged police and the military alike to use force to suppress the masses. Because of this, the groups also turned hostile. It didn''t take too long before the military decided to send tanks to the various regions around the country.


    Chaos ensued.


    Obviously, Lyca had no idea about this. She had guessed that this would happen, but she doesn''t have any means to know the current events. Moreover, she was actually busy with her experiments and uing wedding.


    Slowly, the days passed.


    On the night before her wedding day, Lyca stared at the small capsule in her hand. Then she eyed the alcohol that old man Chu gave her. She smiled and took the capsule, swallowing it without the help of any liquid.


    "What are you doing?"


    Lyca wasn''t even surprised that the man would suddenly arrive now. "I''m waiting for it to eat itself." Since she started studying the creature, Lyca couldn''t count how many of these otherworldly creatures died in her hands.


    "Still no luck?"


    Lyca almost flinched when he held her waist. She shook her head and thought of attacking Xu Ke now. Again, she consoled her own self inwardly. Patience.


    She had been waiting for too long. If she let her anger take over, she would lose everything. "By the way how did you get these creatures? Until now, you haven''t told me how you get them and why you can only get them. Maybe. If I could "


    "No." Xu Ke''s words contain the finality that it always have. For some reason, he refused to tell her anything rted to this experiment or summoning. This only fueled her belief that the process involved killing people. Maybe even a sacrifice.


    "Don''t take it the wrong way," Xu Ke said. "I am sparing your feelings. You only need to help me make it survive. No need to think about things like this anymore."


    She nodded in response. There was no point in arguing with this psycho. "That gift "Lyca looked at the wine. "It was from Old Man Chu. I have asked the old man before to give that wine to me. But he refused and said it was something that his family values a lot. I wanted to drink it."


    "This one?" Xu Ke held the bottle. "It already passed the test. There is no poison or any toxic in it." He smiled. "Why don''t you drink it with me?"


    "Why do you want to drink with me?" Lyca hugged the alcohol. "This is a really precious wine."


    He lifted an eyebrow, amusement shed in his eyes. "When ites to food and wine you are still the same. This made me want to drink that wine even more. I am wondering if it tastes as good as you said." With one swift motion, he grabbed the wine and found a cup that belongs to Lyca. "Let me pour you some," he said.


    After pouring Lyca a cup, he used another one for himself.


    Lyca frowned as she held the cup closer. "You are pouring a lot. Save something for me."


    "This wine smelled too good."


    Lyca rolled her eyes inwardly. "Hey! I said save something for me!"


    "Greedy" Xu Ke chuckled. "As always."


    Lyca stuck her tongue out before she focused her attention on the wine. Without waiting for him to say anything, she started drinking the wine, drinking it in one go.


    Seeing this, Xu Ke smiled, then followed her. Obviously, he took the bottle and poured Lyca and him the drink to avoid any poison. He also let her drink the wine first before drinking his. He was confident that the cups in Lyca''sb were safe, as it was being monitored and tested every day before he would arrive.


    He knew how cunning Lyca was.


    Of course, Xu Ke wouldn''t lower his guard down.


    Xu Ke knew that Lyca used to be an assassin. And she can be very patient in watching her prey. She could hide in the shadow for days while waiting for the right time to kill her prey. She is deadly and smart. And thisbination is only good if she was actually his allies.


    Of course, Xu Ke is not that fool to actually trust her with his secrets. She wasn''t that dumb. He knew that Lyca''s emotion were already tainted by her feelings towards Shen Qui. Her heart is no longer pure. Who knows if the woman was still looking for ways to resurrect that lover of hers?


    She saw Lyca''s cheeks reddened as she put the cup on the table. "You should leave. I am already sleepy."


    "You want me to leave?" he lifted an eyebrow as he took a step towards her. To his surprise, Lyca didn''t take a step back. She lifted her head and gave him anguid look.


    "Yes. Is there something wrong?"


    "You are drunk."


    "And?" she asked, confused.


    Xu Ke took another step towards her. "Don''t you want to spend the night with me?"


    "No." No, thank you!


    "So direct."


    "Did you want me to lie?"


    This made him chuckle. He narrowed the space between them. "Tomorrow is our wedding day."


    "Did you want me to act excited? Isn''t this just the same as the previous life? This time you wanted to kill more people."


    "At least, I won''t kill you this time." He used his thumb and pointer to hold her chin, lifting her face closer to his face. "We are destined. That is something I couldn''t deny. Even if I wanted to. If I had known this in the previous life I would have chosen another evil family to ughter. "


    She snorted. "You are saying it as if you did the world a favor by killing us."


    "Please stop ming me. We all know how you and your family kill people like they were pigs. However, in this world, your family doesn''t deserve that death. As long as you listen to me. They will survive."

 Chapter 481: Belong to Him

    Chapter 481: Belong to Him


    What Lyca hated more than having to marry this lunatic again is the fact that she had to undergo all this procedure of fixing herself, making herself look beautiful, wearing such huge clothes, and walking in front of other people. She thought it was too tiring and she was honestly toozy for all that.


    Good thing, she already has an escape n tonight. She smiled at him. "Do you me me?" she asked, her voice turned a little shrill. "You I trusted you I loved you and gave you everything! But you " she let out a long sigh and watched as Xu Ke stared at her, disbelief shed in his eyes. Her current outbursts must have surprised him.


    "Lyca "


    "You have my family killed in front of me then killed me. Then" she pushed him away as she staggered towards the vials that contain the small creatures. "Then you suddenly showed up and ruin my life in this world too!" She let tears fall into her cheeks. "You killed my husband and now threatening to kill my family! Did you expect me to ept you with open arms?"


    "Lyca "


    "Get away from me! Don''t you dare approach me you are making me nauseous!"


    "Lyca you are drunk!" he took a quick look at the wine and frowned at its high alcohol content. "Come let me take you to your room."


    "No get away from me."


    "Lyca "


    Lyca''s sharp gaze made him alert. But instead of attacking him, Lyca started to break the vials, releasing the creature on the tiled floor. This action instantly killed the creature.


    "What are you doing?" Xu Ke frowned.


    "Tomorrow is our wedding day!" Lyca decided to increase her dramatics. "Tomorrow you will have me." Then she smirked. "Did you think you can have everything in this world?" With that, she started throwing the vials at him.


    He used his hand to try and catch the vials but there were just too many of them.


    "Lyca!" A hint of warning apanied his voice. The next thing he knew, Lyca was already on the floor, crying, clutching her bloodied hand. "Lycatsk! You knew that you couldn''t handle alcohol but you still tsk. Did you think this would stop me from doing what I want tomorrow?"


    Lyca pursed her lips. She didn''t answer him and just continued crying.


    "Let me take you to your room." He suddenly carried her in his arms as she strode towards her room. He stared at the cut in her left hand and shook his head. "Sleep the cut won''t kill you."


    Still, Lyca maintained her silence. She turned her head away. "Leave me alone"


    "My people woulde six In the morning to start the preparations. Tomorrow, you will be the most beautiful bride that this world will ever see."


    She thought she heard amusement in her voice. After a few seconds, she felt him leave her room. The moment he left, the sadness on Lyca''s face disappeared. She straightened her body and stared at the ceiling, both of her hands clenched into fists.


    She thought of ways to escape this ce for a long time. Yet, the fact that Xu Ke would surely hurt Tang Ruyi and the other members of the Tang Family is stopping her from even trying. Some people would think it was foolish for her to actually care this much.


    But that was only because those people haven''t seen their family being killed in front of them. As someone who had been through that hurtful thing in the past, Lyca was adamant not to experience it again. True, she was a killer, a coldblooded one.


    But to her, family is the only thing making her human.


    Her emotions towards them were the only thing from turning her into this emotionless monster that would kill anyone without batting an eye.


    Soon, she closed her eyes and opened both of her palms. Lyca was aware that Xu Ke had been monitoring her every move all the time. She knew he was watching her.


    Therefore, it was hard for her to take a creature away from theb.


    However, the incident tonight enable her from doing just that.


    She smiled as she felt the dead creature sat on her right palm. It was perfectly still, almost dead. Slowly, she put both of her hands together, letting the creature have a sip of her blood.


    Soon it will be soon.


    ..


    Meanwhile, Xu Ke''s face was dark the moment she left Lyca''s room. He didn''t know that the woman''s resentment towards him actually ran so deep. It would be hard to control her in the future if she keeps on acting like this.


    "How is it?"


    "Hundred percent effective" The man who answered Xu Ke was the head researcher of thisb. "One injection and she would forget everything. Her memories would be wiped out. Just say the word boss and we will administer the memory liquid to her right now."


    "What will happen when she wakes up tomorrow?" Xu Ke asked.


    "She will forget everything." The man smiled, showing his golden teeth at him. "Everything about her."


    Xu Ke squinted. "Do it at midnight when she is asleep." Lyca was drunk and she might turn aggressive once he tries to do something now that he was still conscious. He then walked towards the man who was steadily typing on the keyboard, there are more than twenty screens in front of the man.


    "Anything?" Xu Ke asked.


    "Nothing. No movements outside."


    Xu Ke clenched his jaw. As someone who knew Lyca too well, he knew that there should be an uing attack the night before his wedding. He knew that Lyca must be nning something. The outbursts earlier were enough proof of this.


    Lyca must have wanted him to lower his guard down while thinking she is drunk and wasted.


    "Keep on checking everything."


    "Yes, sir."


    Xu Ke went back to his own office as he thought of the reason why he originally thought there would be an attack tonight.


    At his engagement party, he thought that Lyca was acting weird. At that party, Lyca disappeared with Tang Ruyi for a couple of minutes. Because of this, Xu Ke started to turn suspicious. Lyca must have asked Tang Ruyi to save her, right?


    In fact, Xu Ke had been asking his people to be on high alert since his engagement party. However, until now, there weren''t any attacks yet. However, he isn''t going to lower his guard down.


    Just when Lyca thought she would win, Xu Ke was nning to break her bubble and prove to her that in this world, she can only belong to him.

 Chapter 482: Respirator

    Chapter 482: Respirator


    Xu Ke opened hisptop and read the current reports that his people sent him. Right now, he could already see the traces of the Ye Family''s involvement in the matters of Xu Country. It seems that they wanted the country to have a civil war and directly benefit from it.


    Too bad Xu Ke would never stop them from having a civil war. In fact, he would encourage them to do so. He stared at the reports for a few seconds before turning his gaze towards the screen, where he could see the cameras that were monitoring the movements of the people outside of this facility.


    Right now, he couldn''t actually focus on anything, mainly because of his great anticipation of the attack tonight. "Any movements?" he asked. To make sure that he would see everything, he asked the one in charge of the cameras to work inside his office.


    "None, sir."


    "Are you sure?"


    "Yes, sir."


    "But  Can you check her room for me?"


    "Yes, sir." The man started tapping into his keyboard, and the video switched to Lyca''s room. When he saw her continue lying in the bed, unmoving. He let out a sigh of relief. Clearly, she was intoxicated earlier. However, he just wanted to make sure that she was really asleep.


    "Alright, switch it back to  all videos must be pointed outside. She developed an armor that might be able to have some invisibility function. We need to be thorough."


    Unbeknownst to him, the only reason why he couldn''t see any attack from the outside is that Lyca was nning the attack from the inside of the facility.


    The loud boom interrupted his stupor, he stood up. "What is going on?"


    "Sir, there seems to be some kind of explosion from thebs"


    "Labs?" With that, he grabbed his coat and ran towards theb. His frown deepened when someone  one of his employees  wearing a whiteb coat stopped him from going inside theb where they were trying to develop the amnesiac drug. "What is it?"


    "The explosion came from the venttion system." The man responded. "Sir, I suggest we evacuate the whole west side of the facility."


    "Exin yourself!" Xu Ke hissed as he pushed the man away and walk past him.


    "Sir, everyone is dead!" the man once again blocked his way.


    "Dead?"


    "A green gas caused the explosion! I saw it with my own eyes. I was just about to go inside and was taking a shower so I could change into my uniform when I saw the gas seeped through the venttion from the shower. Then it went inside theb. And that was when the explosion happened!"


    It was as if the world narrowed in Xu Ke''s eyes. He looked at the square ss on the door that would lead him to the part of theb where people would shower to change into theirb coats. Across the door was another door made of thick, reinforced, frosted ss.


    However, despite the frost in the ss, he could still see that the room had turned green.


    *BOOM!* another explosion echoed, causing debris to fall from the walls. The entire facility seemed to tremble as another explosion followed.


    "What the hell was that?"


    Xu Ke let out a few curses before he went back to his office. "Reports!?"


    "Sir, there are still no signs of people outside."


    "But  there should be  there should be people outside!" Xu Ke''s eyes were wide. Rage started to boil inside his veins. Without saying anything, he left the room and marched towards Lyca''sboratory. The acrid smell of chemicals made him frown.


    "Sir, I believe it is best to leave the building now. We don''t really know what kind of chemicals are  "


    "Go and tell your men to follow me." Xu Ke ordered one of the head military personnel without even trying to listen to the officer''s warnings. Despite all the chaos, Xu Ke managed to get a respirator to protect him from the gasses. The ring rm inside the building made everyone panic. Footsteps of people trying to get their own respirator masks can be heard everywhere.


    "Sir, I suggest we "


    "Shut up! Take me to the Lyca''s quarters"


    "But sir, the second and third explosion happened in that area. I''m afraid that "


    The man wasn''t able to finish his sentence when a knife impaled him in the heart, he stared at Xu Ke, wide-eyed. "Sir"


    "I hate people that talk a lot." Xu Ke pulled the hunting knife and used the man''s uniform to wipe the blood on its de. "Now all of you are going to shut up and take me to Lyca safely."


    The six other people looked at each other before they nodded and started walking towards Lyca''s quarters.


    "You! Take off your respirator!" Xu Ke ordered.


    "Yes, sir!" Without any choice, the young soldier took off his respirator and almost immediately, his face contorted. He grabbed his throat, eyes wide as she started coughing up blood. Seeing this, Xu Ke ordered someone to help the man put his respirator back on.


    He squinted his eyes towards the thick fog-like white and greenish gas that is starting to block their vision. Even his eyes beneath the full-face respirator are starting to tingle. "We need to hurry before the gas would fill this whole ce up!" This time, Xu Ke''s calm heart started beating, his hand started sweating.


    He couldn''t help but wonder if this was Lyca''s way of killing herself or it was something else. Was it the vials that she spilled on theb?


    However, before they could even walk ten meters, the man who removed his respirator earlier started trembling as he fell on the floor with a loud thud.


    "Hel  " the man wasn''t able to finish his words before his eyes turned white, his face turned green.


    "Sir "


    "Leave him!" Xu Ke said indifferently. "He died because he is weak! Let''s continue! The of you! Walk in front of me! The others protect the back!"

 Chapter 483: Completely Fine

    Chapter 483: Completely Fine


    The smell of something acrid burnt in their throats just as they neared Lyca''s quarters.


    "Sir, it seems that the explosion came from thisb."


    Xu Ke heard someone say. "Tell me something, I don''t already know!" Xu Ke hissed. "You take off your mask!" he pointed at the man who spoke.


    "But sir."


    "Do you want to die!?"


    The soldier stared at him. He doesn''t want to die, and that is exactly why he didn''t want to remove his mask. "Sir, I don''t think "


    "You "Just as Xu Ke was about to attack the man with his knife, the man turned around and tried to run away from him. Sadly for him, Xu Ke didn''t just bring a knife. XU Ke didn''t hesitate to shoot the man at the back of his head.


    "Now! Anyone else wanted to die?" He asked, a smug smirk was hidden beneath his mask. "Now! Take off your mask!"


    Without hesitation, the soldier took off his mask and, just as expected, he started to cough. This time, the man died in a few seconds without having the time to put his mask back on. This mad, Xu Ke frowned. It seems that the surrounding poison is getting stronger.


    He wanted to take off his mask and see if it would affect him despite his internal energy but decided against it when he thought that this must be Lyca''s way of killing herself and dragging him down to hell.


    That woman


    He needed to find her body as soon as possible.


    "Continue walking inside!" Xu Ke said.


    "Sir, the door is still intact. The green gas inside is dense. There is a possibility that once we open it, it would immediately kill us."


    Xu Ke didn''t say anything. He stared at the ss that is separating them from the thick gas inside as he wondered why the ss didn''t break.


    If the explosion happened inside, the ss should have.


    It is not inside theb!


    Xu Ke lifted his head and stared at the ceiling. The explosion happened in the venttion system. But how?


    How the hell did Lyca manage to cause such an explosion?


    "Sir what are we going to do now?"


    "Open the door. Brace yourselves, the poison is thicker and more potent inside." Xu Ke finally made the decision to go inside. As long as they didn''t take off their mask, they should be safe, right? "Password is  54215796352415963574830533674000ssfw255." If Lyca would hear him say the password, she would have cursed inwardly.


    Who has the time to memorize such a long password?


    The sound of the automatic door being opened made everyone alert. They then watched as the thick ss inside rush out, slowly filling the way. When Xu Ke notice that the gas is not affecting him, he smirked and started walking inside.


    That was when he heard his people started coughing.


    He turned his head and saw his men on the floor, trying their best to breathe. Seconds passed and almost all of them were already passed out on the floor. Hell, he wasn''t even sure if they are really dead or just fainted because of their mask.


    Sadly, he had no time to investigate. The fact that he wasn''t affected only meant that Lyca is not affected too. But that only applies if she found a mask to protect herself.


    Xu Ke didn''t put any masks inside theb. It would be impossible for her to get one inside. He slowly walked inside and eyed the two doors. One is Lyca''sb, while the other is Lyca''s room.


    Without having second thoughts, Xu Ke walked inside Lyca''s room. Just like the other part of this side of the facility, Lyca''s room was already full of thick greenish gas. His eyes zeroed in on her empty bed. The sight of it immediately made him infuriated.


    Seeing Lyca dead would have immediately made her feel better!


    He was about to walk inside theb when he felt a sudden tingling sensation in his eyes. After letting out a few curses, Xu Ke decided not to go inside theb, as he knew that this time the gas would affect him.


    "Looking for me?"


    It was as if Xu Ke saw a ghost when he saw Lyca walked out of theb without a mask.


    "You  " The fact that the gasses don''t affect her was incredible enough! Almost immediately, his eyes shone as he stared at Lyca, as if he was staring at the best specimen in this world. "Lyca I am so d that you are safe!" He immediately changed his tone as he tried to approach her.


    But the moment he took a single step towards her, Lyca went inside theb.


    "What are you doing?" Xu Ke asked. "This ce is dangerous. We need to leave here."


    Lyca only snorted. "Why would I leave? I am perfectly safe here."It turns out that those creatures are the key if making her immune to the gas that she created herself.


    During her scuffle with Xu Ke earlier, Lyca purposely hurt herself, making sure that stters of her blood would get into the creatures on the floor. And just as she expected, the creatures reacted to her blood and started reproducing then eating their infants until they exploded and die.


    The reason for the explosion is actually because they can''t survive without Lyca''s blood.


    The creature tried to get out of the ce in an attempt to find blood but the ce was sealed except for the venttion. And that was how they got into it.


    The explosion that followed was pretty self-exnatory. Even Xu Ke had seen it before. The difference is that the creature exploded outside of the tube.


    "Lyca what are you doing?" Xu Ke asked. Until now, he was still confused about how this woman managed to survive in a highly poisonous environment like this. But he was nning to find out soon once he gets her and erased her memories! "Come let me take you out of this ce." He tried to extend his hand inside theb only to feel his skin turned hot. The air inside had a tinge of acid. And it was hurting his skin.


    But it seemed that Lyca waspletely fine?

 Chapter 484: Kidnapped and Liking it!

    Chapter 484: Kidnapped and Liking it!


    "Lycae let''s leave this ce."


    "Please Xu Ke" Lyca snorted. "Can you please stop acting? It is irritating me."


    "Lyca what are you talking about?"


    She snorted and took another step back, letting the gas hide her from Xu Ke''s gaze. "Lyca listen. This ce is going to copse soon. I asked my people to have the emergency system blow this ce up. We need to leave."


    "You wanted me to believe that you would blow this ce up because of some gasses? Xu Ke please tell me you didn''t think I would believe that?"


    "Lyca, what are you saying? This "


    "Are you still as clueless? Or, you finally realized that tonight, everything is going on end?"


    "Lyca "


    "The explosion was deliberate. I wanted to kill your people and you. My only mistake is not being able to kill you."


    "You You think you can kill me with a mere gas?" Finally, his facade fell. He chuckled. "You know you can''t beat me in hand-to-handbat. I am stronger than you, bigger and faster."


    "Who told you that I am trying to fight you?" Lyca smiled. "Why would I hurt myself in fighting you when I can just destroy what you like the most and run away?"


    "You won''t be able to run away. This ce is strong, the security is " Xu Ke''s face darkened when she realized something. This ce is indeed very secured. Not even a missile would be able to destroy this ce. This was mostly because most part of the ce is actually underground. Xu Ke actually killed the President because he wanted to use the funds of the country for this project.


    This facility was not only designed to fight off missiles. It was also imprable from the inside. All of its walls were bulletproof, even the ss is bulletproof. It has defenses from both inside and outside attacks.


    But it didn''t have any defense against gaseous attacks. Especially if it''s done from the inside. "You You knew about the defense system of this facility?" he hissed.


    "Nope. I am not that smart." Lyca continued smiling. This irritated Xu Ke even more.


    "But did you think this was enough to ruin the facility?"


    "Nope. But it was enough to ruin your specimen and everything with blood in it. I am happy with that."


    Xu Ke squinted. "Did you think I wouldn''t be able to kill you again?" he asked, his expression slowly morphing into an ugly scowl. A sinister glint shed in his eyes. "Did you think "


    "Nope. You are very capable of killing me and that''s fine. You can kill me anytime you want. But you have to make sure that you will survive the gas. I mean can you feel that tingling now? Was it in your eyes? Or throat? Can you feel the acidic aftertaste as if you were eating something?"


    "You "


    "Xu Ke you are underestimating me." Lyca was already beaming at him as if Xu Ke had no signs of winning. And that was when reality hit him.


    "Xu Jihan you were purposely trying to make him suspicious to you?"


    She scoffed. "How could I make people suspicious of me? Did you think I had some magic power to do that? It was his nature to be suspicious. And it was your nature to kill the people that would doubt you and your ideas. At the end of the day, both of your actions were fueled by human nature." She didn''t hide the mockery thatced her tone.


    One was super suspicious and the other loves to kill.


    Xu Ke and Xu Jihan are not exactly the best people in the world. But ying them, making them fight is such a fun thing to do.


    "And you agreed with the marriage, pretending that you asked for Tang Ruyi''s help so I would watch out for any attacks from the outside should be a part of your n too."


    Lyca only smiled in response. Was it her fault that Xu Ke wanted to show her he was the one in charge? Xu Ke had been acting like a fool. But how could she miss the signs? Xu Ke knew her just as much as she knows him. Both of them were like two toddlers, ying pretend with each other.


    "You wanted me to trust you enough to bring you out then make me suspicious by purposely talking to Tang Ruyi for a bit. Still I am missing something here. What if Tang Ruyi acted just like your grandfather and didn''t join the party? Who are you going to talk to?" Xu Ke fell into deep thought. He knew that he was missing a big chunk of information.


    "You nned this from the start?" Xu Ke asked her. "You n to fool me from the start?"


    "It seems that you are still as smart as you were in the previous world," Lyca noted. "And that was apliment."


    "Then this means Shen Qui." Could be alive too! This devil!


    All this time, he thought that he already had Lyca in his clutches. That he could make her dance in his palms like a puppet! All this time, he thought that Lyca was too depressed because of Shen Qui''s death! He thought that controlling her should be easier.


    He knew that she was always emotional and losing her husband must have made her vulnerable.


    Then she stayed inside without any signs of leaving. She lived a life of routine, sleeping, eating, working. Letting him believe that she had lost her hope and just wanted to resurrect her husband.


    All this time, he was thinking that he was ten steps ahead of her when she was actually the puppeteer and he was just her damn puppet! "How how did you create that explosion."


    "Not telling," Lyca said. "Ah, I will miss this life. I love sleeping and eating food. I love that it didn''t have the usual drama in the outside world. I love that I get to just experiment all day." Sheughed. Her deal with Shen Qui was two months. At least two months.


    She will stay here for two months just as he was talking to the members of the Ye Family for a coboration.


    "I will always remember everything. When I am old, I would probably tell my grandchildren about being kidnapped and liking it."

 Chapter 485: My Turn

    Chapter 485: My Turn


    "You "


    The disgustced with mockery in Lyca''s voice was too thick, Xu Ke wasn''t able to stop himself from trying to approach her. However, Lyca was inside the green smoke. Two steps towards her and Xu Ke was already coughing. He held his throat and took a few steps back. "This won''t end well."


    "Of course, it won''t!" Lyca hissed. "Did you think I woulde here and hope that it would end well? The worst-case scenario is that both of us would die inside this facility soon."


    Xu Ke was ring at her. She knew how he must have wanted to kill her right then and there.


    But the gas is enough to kill him.


    Lyca snorted. "It''s the end, Xu Ke."


    "End? Did you think I would let you survive this? Since you want to die then we can just die together!"


    This statement made Lyca frowned. The Xu Ke does she knew would never see death as an option. This only meant that he is still hiding something. But what could it be?


    The thing about Lyca''s n is the risk.


    One mistake and she would really die inside of this facility. At first, she had doubted herself. To be honest, she didn''t want to die. But what could she do? Xu Ke is simply not someone that would just allow her to live peacefully.


    Lyca suddenly smiled at him. "You know that creature that you asked me to study? Would you believe me if I tell you that it was the reason for the explosion?" Lyca said as she slowly walked towards him. One mistake and Xu Ke would surely attack her.


    Well, it was just as she expected. The moment, Lyca took a step outside of the gas, Xu Ke suddenly pounced at her. Like a cat, the man seemed to leap towards her, making her fall towards the floor with him straddling her. Still, the smile on Lyca''s face didn''t vanish.


    "I see " Xu Ke nodded. "So you wanted to die after all." He could see Lyca''s crazed eyes stared back at him as if she was waiting for him to kill her, end her miserable life. "I see " After all this time, Xu Ke is still trying to figure out what this woman''s goal was. What was she trying to do?


    Was she trying to kill herself with him?


    "What do you see?" she asked.


    Or trying to leave this ce?


    "And empty shell!" With that, Xu Ke raised his hand and tried to punch her. Lyca moved her head to the left, letting him miss her face by a few inches.


    But that was only Xu Ke''s first attack. How could he still let this crazy woman go? To him, Lyca was the best creature that he could study to attain his goal.


    Immortality and the ability to be immune to almost everything including poisons.


    Now that Xu Ke thought about it, Lyca must have known about this all along. And that''s why she schemed to get in her because she wanted the same too. Right now, Xu Ke couldn''t really think straight.


    He was angry, furious, and was about to explode. At the same time, Lyca''s actions confuse him. It was risky, too risky.


    If she nned all this, she should have known the risk. Moreover, if Shen Qui knew about the n, then it should be logical for him to stop her from doing something that would get her killed, right? Unless Shen Qui''s death wasn''t nned at all?


    Perhaps, Lyca just started nning after Shen Qui''s death?


    "Ahhh!" Xu Ke let out a frustrated scream. Just as he thought he already connected all the dots, another mystery would prevent him from doing this. He used the knife and tried to attack Lyca who was able to squeeze her way out of him. But again, he failed.


    It was because of his mask.


    It was preventing him to see and therefore is causing some problems with his martial arts.


    Lyca''s advantage was the gas, the environment.


    This infuriated Xu Ke even more. He knew that Lyca didn''t have any weapon to defend herself. Contrary to Lyca, he had the weapons. Daggers and guns, but he was too scared to use the guns, scared that it would react the gas now that it had be thicker around him.


    Plus Lyca''s movements are too quick for the knives.


    "I''ll give you a chance to attack me," Lyca''s eyes were wide as she beamed at him. "I won''t defend myself at all."


    When Xu Ke heard this, he didn''t hesitate as he once again neared her. This time, he used his leg, sending her a kick that could easily make any normal person faint. To his surprise, Lyca easily held his leg, stopping him.


    "You How?" he hissed as he tried to pull his leg back.


    "You are growing weaker," Lyca said. "Must be the gas."


    "You "


    "It''s the wine." Lyca''s words send shivers down his spine. She continued, "Some chemicals are useless when they are alone. For instance, alcohol. But it had a really good reaction to other elements in the world. That''s just the wonderful thing about some elements. The more youbine them the more reaction you would get." The smile on her face turned sinister. "Guess what would happen if someone drunk, would smell the gas?"


    Just as she said, Xu Ke felt his limbs started to go numb.


    "Obviously, I am not going to kill you," Lyca said. "I mean After all, I still needed to know all the secrets that your body holds."


    Xu Ke''s gaze turned frigid when he felt himself losing control of his leg. "You "


    "Now, this is how it felt to be helpless." Lyca interrupted his words. "I know you will get used to the feeling once I started dissecting every part of your body while you are conscious."


    "You are crazy."


    "Not as crazy as you!" Lyca hissed before he easily lifted him up and throw him towards the ss wall, breaking it into small pieces. Seeing Xu Ke on the floor, bloodied and weak made her chuckle."What goes aroundes around. It''s my turn, Xu Ke. It''s my fucking turn!"

 Chapter 486: Slow Motion

    Chapter 486: Slow Motion


    Seeing Xu Ke on the floor gave Lyca some weird emotion that she hadn''t felt before. It was the satisfaction of killing someone.


    Even in her previous life, Lyca killed people without remorse or any emotions.


    She kills.


    End of story.


    However now, seeing Xu Ke weak gave her something. Some sort of satisfaction that she didn''t know she needed. She neared him, eyes beaming, like a predator watching its prey. The need to just kill him right now slowly burned inside her. She wanted to choke him and see the light disappear from his eyes.


    But no.


    Why would she give him something that he wanted now?


    Lyca lifted his shirt up and examined his chest. Just as she expected, his veins had be visible, green and blue veins appeared before her eyes, looking like intertwining rivers.


    "What cough what are you doing?" Xu Ke struggled to speak. "What "


    "This body" Lyca started. "This body is not from this world." She stated. "You are obsessed with that creature because you  you are like it?" The veins that Xu Ke had were just like the ones that the creature would have every time it is about to eat its own self. She eyed Xu Ke''s wounds and immediately felt relief when she saw that they were not healing. At least, unlike the creature, Xu Ke wouldn''t eat himself, right?


    Wait.


    Xu Ke couldn''t eat himself because he can''t heal. But he could eat someone else! "You  the reason why you wanted me to find a way for that creature to live is that you wanted to live too?"


    Xu Ke was about to say something when he coughed up another mouthful of blood. "Who  Who doesn''t want to live?"


    Lyca gazed at his cloudy eyes before she sighed. "You were able to cross dimensions purely by ident, right?" Questions upon questions piled up in Lyca''s head. If he crossed using his original body, then how did he be Xu Ke? And when the hell did he travel? Was it by pure ident?


    Was he telling the truth about the ritual?


    Was he really eating humans to survive in this world?


    Was it possible that he ate the president and all the people that he killed before?


    Lyca stared at Xu Ke''s ne. It had the same moon pendant, the same one as the one that she gave Shen Qui. However, this one is ck. Her''s looked like the moon, it was white with a few holes. "What''s this?" Without any hesitation, Lyca snatched the ne.


    Xu Ke tried to hold the ne, but he was too weak. His strength had dwindled. Seeing the veins started to show on his face, Lyca stood and took a step back. Then she walked towards the remaining light and examined the ne against it.


    The ne looked like a shiny ck rock that was shaped like a crescent moon. It resembled hers, but upon closer inspection, it wasn''t really the same. She looked at him again and to her surprise, Xu Ke managed to sit down.


    "You really think it would kill me?" Xu Ke smirked just as he lifted his shaking hand that was holding a small Glock. "Did you know how much I studied this world just so I could have an exnation of my weird dreams about my previous life?"


    Lyca lifted an eyebrow. Previous life? Meaning


    "Did you know how depressed I was when I thought I had gone crazy? The memories in my head didn''t make any sense!"


    So the transmigration actually happened, but the memories were notplete?


    "When I saw those people flying, using elements and magic. Did you know what I felt?"


    "Xu Ke "


    "Stop calling me Xu Ke! My name is Ken!"


    Lyca squinted at him. "So you just dreamed of the past," she stated. Was that the reason why he became obsessed with everything? Was that the reason why he didn''t reveal anything to her? Because he just saw Xu Ke''s life in his dream?


    "I want that world! I want to learn everything in that world! I want to go back to that world!" Xu Ke continued.


    Lyca just continued staring at him. If her guess was right, Ken must have dreamed of Xu Ke''s memories. Perhaps, they are connected in some ways. The teenager then grew to like Xu Ke''s personality and soon started imitating him. Until he realized that he was Xu Ke''s reincarnation.


    All this was possible in her previous world. But not in this world.


    He must have studied his dreams and realized that other things connected with this world into that world. When he didn''t find a way to use magic using those stones that he gave to other people, he grew frustrated and became obsessed until he started thinking that he was indeed Xu Ke. That Xu Ke''s soul was inside him when all he had ess to was Xu Ke''s memories.


    This could exin why Xu Ke''s exnation about the previous life doesn''t make any sense to Lyca at all.


    This should be the reason why he didn''t do anything to touch her. Which wasn''t really Xu Ke''s way. If it was the real Xu Ke, he would have touched her body and imed her the first night that she stayed here. Even without her consent, that man would have touched her over and over.


    But this Xu Ke never did.


    "You ate those people thinking that you would attain some sort of power when you do that?" Lyca said. "Did you did you eat the creature as well? Is that why  the veins  "Crazy. This man is already crazy. Not even therapy could save him!


    This is messed up.


    Even Lyca couldn''t exin this phenomenon.


    But at least, she is already aware that there should be some problems, perhaps a hole that connects the two dimensions together.


    "Did you think I would die without taking you with me? You are Xu Ke''s woman! You are my woman! And you will stay that way, even in death!"


    Lyca calmly looked at him, then she smiled. "You already killed me  "


    *BANG!"


    Lyca let out a curse as she held her arm that was hit by the bullet.


    "I was right. You are fooling me! The gun worked even with the gas!" Xu Ke chuckled. He pointed the gun towards Lyca just as one of the broken ss appeared in Lyca''s hand. "You  will die with me!"


    Then Xu Ke pulled the trigger just as Lyca throw the ss towards him...


    "NO!"


    It was as if Lyca''s world stopped when she heard Shen Qui''s voice. She turned towards the door, eyes wide as the bullet move towards her. She saw him approach in a slow-motion that reminded her of those superhero movies.


    A smile appeared on her face.


    Then she felt herself falling.

 Chapter 487: Blue Lights

    Chapter 487: Blue Lights


    "What did I tell you about me being always on top?" Lyca said as she tried to push him off her. The sharp broken sses were everywhere, and she didn''t him to hurt herself.


    "Are you alright?" Shen Qui  who now looked like Ye Wan  asked. "Are you "


    Before he could continue his words, she suddenly pulled him into a tight hug. She missed him. She wanted to prolong the hug and maybe even kiss, but that was when she notice that he too had been wearing the armor that she made for him. Unlike Lyca, who took the antidote that she created using the toxins of the creature, Shen Qui and even Xu Ke didn''t have one.


    "Is he dead?" Shen Qui said as he eyed Xu Ke, who had a deep cut in his throat. Xu Ke''s eyes were still open, unwilling and anger still apparent in his orbs. However, before Lyca could answer, Shen Qui already walked towards Xu Ke, and this time used a knife to cut his throat.


    Yep.


    If he didn''t die because of the piece of ss that Lya threw at him, the knife that basically cut his neck should have done it.


    "Just to make sure" Shen Qui smiled at her just as when she smiled at him the first time that she saved him. "He then eyed the green gas that is still around them. "We need to leave. Our people are putting explosives in this ce."


    "I need to find out about something," Lyca said as she held Shen Qui''s hands and pulled him out of theb. She looked behind them and stared at Xu Ke''s corpse onest time before she left this part of the facility. "Do you have the map?"


    "Here it is Ronan was able to hack it after the gas was triggered."


    Lyca stared at the tablet before she peered at him. His features had been changed, but the warmth in his eyes was the same. "This is  "she sighed. It seems that this facility is actually bigger than she thought. "Take me to Xu Ke''s office."


    "Alright." Shen Qui smiled and, hand in hand, the two left the area.


    Unbeknownst to them, just as they left, Xu Ke''s fingers started twitching.


    Of course, they have no knowledge about this. Lyca had suspicions that Xu Ke did something to his body. That is the reason why he was so confident about dying. So, she wanted to go to his office and make sure.


    After about five minutes of walking through the corpses of Xu Ke''s men that littered the floor, they finally arrived at Xu Ke''s office.


    "The security is already in our hands." Shen Qui said as he ordered Ronan to open it now.


    Lyca and Shen Qui immediately got inside and started rummaging into Xu Ke''s office. To their surprise, the office was clean and organized, to the point of looking a bit boring. Seeing this, Lyca immediately tried to find ways to ess some hiddenpartments  something that Xu Ke always wanted to do, even in that world.


    If Ken was trying to act like Xu Ke, then it would make sense for him to use this method.


    "Uhhh. "


    Lyca lifted her head when she saw Shen Qui make a sound while staring at the monitors.


    "He''s alive"


    "Who?"


    "Xu Ke he just"


    Lyca immediately approached him and focused her attention on the screen before them. Xu Ke asked the IT team to set up theirputers here to monitor Lyca, and theseputers were not damaged by the gas. Because of this, Lyca could still see everything inside theb and her room.


    "What  what is that thing?" Shen Qui asked when he saw Xu Ke started twitching and crawling on all fours. His eyes were red, bloodied, and wide as his head slowly turned towards the monitor. "He knows that we are watching him?"


    "Asked Ronan and everyone else to leave this facility," Lyca ordered.


    Without asking questions, Shen Qui immediately told Ronan what she wanted to do. The two then watched as Xu Ke''s body seemed to be leaner. It was as if something inside him was sucking his flesh.


    "I was right" Lyca snorted. "He ate that creature. To sustain himself he was eating humans." That creature would always want to eat flesh and enjoyed swimming in blood. It was barbarous and blood-thirsty.


    Shen Qui held the armor and said. "They are out."


    "Now lock every door on that side of the facility. That should dy that creature." Lyca said. This time, she ignored the screen and started rummaging towards Xu Ke''s things.


    Xu Ke and his people didn''t seed in controlling the creature. Unlike Lyca, their knowledge when ites to the poison of the creature was close to nonexistent. Moreover, Xu Ke was a fake. All of his actions were based on his dreams. There was no way for him to know everything about the previous world.


    In the previous world, there was a reason why people don''t just eat herbs and any creatures immediately, even if they are already dead. And that is because the magic inside them still exists. There is a possibility that this magic would overpower the body of the person who ate them. In the end, the person would be its food instead.


    As long as he feeds the creatures with blood and flesh, then it wouldn''t consume him, at least notpletely.


    But this time Xu Ke died.


    Meaning, the creature would have no way of eating.


    Upon sensing that Xu Ke''s body is dead, the creature immediately used it in an attempt to find another body to upy.


    "It''s dangerous." Shen Qui said. He was still looking at the screen and by now, Xu Ke was already crawling towards them. Just as Lyca said, the ss doors were making it hard for him to approach this part of the facility. "We need to leave and blow up this building."


    "No," Lyca said. Xu Ke had no problems dying because he knew that the creature would try to use his body and kill Lyca. Or perhaps he is still hiding other secrets.


    She recalled how Xu Ke looked so proud when he saw the creature birth its own. He even called himself its father. Which was totally gross at that time. But now Lyca understood everything.


    "Found it!" Lyca said as she pressed a button on one of the books on his bookshelf.


    Almost immediately, the light flickered. The bookshelf moved, giving them ess to a room with only blue lights.


    "What is this room?" Shen Qui asked.

 Chapter 488: Nightmare

    Chapter 488: Nightmare


    Lyca almost couldn''t believe her eyes when she saw the people''s skin being hanged inside the room or freezer.


    There were about five, no ten? Perhaps twenty skins hanging inside the room. "What the hell?" Shen Qui let out a surprised gasp. Then the two walk inside the room. Walking past the skin hanging on the ceiling, they saw another room. This time, no password was required to enter.


    When Lyca saw the contents of the room, she couldn''t help but frown. She was right and wrong at the same time. Xu Ke isn''t eating flesh but drinking blood. The wooden table inside the room immediately attracted her attention. This wasn''t because it was ced at the corner most part of the room but because all the tables inside were made of alloys, except this one.


    "Ronan said, he will reach us in about three minutes. We need to leave so we can blow this ce up."


    Lyca only looked back at him in response. She can''t leave. This time, she needed to see Xu Ke die. "Do you trust me?"


    "No, you can''t stay here alone without me."


    "You "


    "No matter what you say, I am not going to leave you behind."


    "Qui''er "


    He shook his head. "Won''t work. If you badly want to die, then let''s do it together."


    She pursed her lips. Seeing Shen Qui''s resolute expression, she let out a sigh. She knew that convincing him to leave her would be hard. This man is stubborn, but she absolutely understands him. She examined the blue liquid next to her. "Fire should work against him."


    "Ronan said, he looked like a monster now. He was crawling towards us."


    "He was crawling towards the blood." Lyca''s only regret is losing all of her toys and poison. Xu Ke actually took them when she got in. "Do you have a bomb?"


    "Yes."


    "Put it outside."


    "Confirm to Ronan that he could see everything in this room."


    "Yes, he already said that earlier."


    "Good." Lyca nodded. "Put the bomb and wait for me. We''re leaving."


    "I thought "


    She snorted. "You are too handsome to die."


    Shen Qui stared at her before heughed. Is this really the time for jokes? With that, Shen Qui started cing the bomb outside and inside of the room and set it to sixty seconds.


    "Done." He said. "We have fifty-seven six seconds to leave this ce."


    Lyca nodded. She made sure to destroy everything about the creature and brought the small notebook that she found hidden in the drawer of the wooden table. "Let''s leave this ce."


    Following Ronan''s instructions, the two quickly left the room and closed that secret room inside Xu Ke''s office.


    The loud howling sound surprised Lyca, but she and Shen Qui didn''t stop running towards the exit. Her heart started racing, sweat trickled on her forehead as Shen Qui grabbed her hand and led her out of the ce.


    The scene actually reminded Lyca of an action movie where the Male Lead would lead the female lead out of a burning building. The thing is she wanted to be carried by him.


    Wait, why was she thinking about things like this in the middle of such a crisis?


    It seems that seeing Shen Qui again, awoken the pervert side of her again.


    The mechanical sound of the door pulled her back from her stupor. She squinted at the sudden onught of the sunlight, her vision blurred before she felt herself being lifted by Shen Qui.


    She used her hand to cover her eyes and let him carry her out.


    It''s been so long since she saw the sunlight, seeing it again somehow made her a bit lighter. She started to hear some explosions behind her and was tempted to look. But in the end, she didn''t.


    She let out a sigh of relief, hoping that everything is done now.


    It should be right?


    "You can open your eyes now."


    Lyca didn''t hesitate to follow Shen Qui''s words. Then she realized that they were already inside the car. She watched as he took his helmet off and gave her a gentle smile. "I miss you" he uttered.


    "I  " Her words were interrupted when she suddenly saw a piece of debris towards their car. Her eyes widened as the debris made its way into Shen Qui''s head.


    She saw his eyeball jumped out of its sockets before she let out a scream.


    "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"


    Lyca sat up in a jolt.


    Realizing that it was a dream, she immediately let out a sigh as she patted her chest, her heart was racing so fast, she thought it was real. It was almost a year since the facility was destroyed along with Xu Ke and yet sometimes, her dreams about the events that happened would still cause her a lot of nightmares.


    She looked at the empty side of the bed before she held her temple. She recalled what happened and couldn''t help but put a smile on her face.


    After getting out of the facility, Lyca actually fainted. No suspense, no zombie apocalypse, or some monster versus the overpowered Lyca, she just fainted into his arms. In Lyca''s mind, fighting a monster was actually unnecessary. Why would she hurt herself when the explosion could kill him?


    All she needed to do was mixed the blue liquid and some other liquids inside that room to cause the temperature from the explosion to triple.


    Her wise and a bitzy decision was indeed effective, but in the end, she fainted from exhaustion. This made Shen Qui carry her like a princess with the background of the fire behind them.


    Isn''t it a bit romantic?


    When she woke up again, she was already inside afortable tent. They were still near the facility, and that was when Ronan and Shen Qui confirmed that Xu Ke was indeed destroyed from that explosion. Of course, seeing Xu Ke explode from the video made her believe that the man was indeed dead.


    Ronan was quick to hack the satellite, hiding the explosion from other people''s eyes. Then, he created news of some power nt ident in the area. The news obviously scared a lot of people, making them avoid the facility.


    After a few weeks, Lyca''s people and Ronan confirmed that both the inside and outside of the facility were unsalvageable. The best course of action is to dump some ground and concrete to cover the huge hole from the underground facility.


    Soon, the passing of the president was announced, prompting the vice president to take over.


    "Good morning beautiful"


    Lyca turned towards Shen Qui who suddenly arrived with a huge smile on his face.

 Chapter 489: Contraceptive Pills

    Chapter 489: Contraceptive Pills


    "What time is it?" Lyca asked before she leaned over and kissed his lips.


    "Late"


    "Howte?" She stretched and smiled. "Howte iste?"


    "Eleven in the morning. You should sleep more."


    "I can''t," Lyca said. Considering her bulging stomach sleeping is a bit hard.


    "You need to rest."


    "I just woke up. And my lower back is killing me." She looked at her stomach. 38 weeks and counting. "It''s heavy." Why did she marry someone big? Considering Shen Qui''s height and her gene''s the child inside her tummy is really considered big.


    "How about you sleep and then we can walkter?" He rested her calf on his leg and started massaging her ankle. "I made some breakfast."


    "What kind of breakfast? Please don''t tell me it''s usual."


    "You need to eat more vegetables. A sd would be perfect for you."


    "Those are legumes not vegetables." Her face darkened. She had been eating peanuts and beans and peas, along with her dark and leafy greens. And to be honest, eating the same thing almost everything is kinda tiring. It made her want to puke. "I want to eat noodles," she said. "And rice... white rice." For some reason, she doesn''t like the taste of brown rice and quinoa in her mouth. She also hated oats and barley. She knew it was healthy, but damn, her mouth was craving for something ... unhealthy.


    Maybe junk food? Then there are the spicy noodles and some burgers and fries. She wanted some fried chicken too!


    Just thinking about those things made Lyca gulped. But then she saw Shen Qui''s eyes. She immediately knew that he would never say yes to her eating something unhealthy and greasy with a lot of unhealthy fats.


    "I made something special for you." He ignored her puppy eyes and continued massaging her legs.


    "By special, you mean? " She silently prayed that he won''t say something like a healthy version of burger because she knew it wouldn''t taste as good.


    "Salmon."


    Salmon Lyca''s eyes immediately widened. She sat on the bed in a jolt and beamed. "Then what are we waiting for?"


    "I thought your back hurts?"


    "Is there really something I can''t handle?" Lycaughed. Since they sessfully destroyed theb that killed Ken Xu, Shen Qui and her had been through a lot of stuff. Dealing with the aftermath and was just as tiring as being held captive.


    While they sessfully avoided the media, dealing with everything else made her so stressed she had forgotten to take her contraceptive pills.


    And well the rest is history.


    "Here are the newly developed armor and weapons. The second batch will be given to Du Empire soon. The rest will be donated to the military in Xu Country. "


    "Why do I need to deal with these things?" Lyca said as she started eating her salmon. "Why can''t you just sign it? I am about to give birth. Just signed it."


    "I can do that but the Du Empire" Shen Qui smiled wryly. During that time that Lyca was held captive, he asked the Ye Family for help as he presented the ne and told them about Lyca and her n to create more armors for Du Empire instead of Xu Country. Shen Qui offered a coboration.


    Lyca would produce the weapons and armor and in return, the Ye Family will deal with the things that Xu Ke had been doing, including the future leadership of the Xu Country. They agreed.


    However, they wanted Lyca to personally deal with the armors and weapons. They wanted to interact with Lyca and not Shen Qui. Their reasoning was simple. Lyca is someone from the Ye Family. She had their genes and talents. She needed to know about her Ye Family.


    "I know. But they should understand. I am about to give birth. I can''t sign documents while looking like a whale."


    "A beautiful whale and that had nothing to do with using your thumbprint to sign them."


    Lyca mumbled something.


    "They said they will visit in a few days. Father and mother already arranged for their stay."


    Lyca rolled her eyes. The thing about the Ye Family is that they are very particr with their hair color.


    While her father was also a descendant of this family, they are clearly treating Lyca better because her hair is white! Lyca really couldn''t understand their history with white-haired people. Yeah, it is unique but so what? What''s with this white hair and knowing her family roots? Just thinking about this is giving Lyca a headache.


    "Alright, that poisonous liquid from Xu Ke''s office"


    "The green one?"


    "Yes. You were right. We could create some gaseous weapons using that liquid. But I won''t allow you to do some experiments since it might affect our son."


    Lyca nodded. Of course, she wouldn''t risk her son''s health for some experiments.


    "Ah Chu Nan and Cleo also decided to change their wedding date. They said they won''t have a wedding without you. So, they will do it three months after you give birth."


    Lyca nodded. "And Chu Munan?"


    "Well Rue refused to talk to him and even acknowledge his presence."


    "Well he is a bit dumb. Let him suffer." Lyca started munching the vegetables. For some reason, that Chu Munan never gave up on liking Lyca when he had been using Rue as his fake girlfriend. What a stupid man.


    When he realized that he actually liked Rue, the woman already decided to stay away from him. Hey, at least Chu Nan is already close with Cleo''s son. "They don''t have to wait for me you know. I mean, if they would wait for me to give birth, Cleo might give birth soon."


    "Yeah, I think they wanted her to give birth first before the wedding."


    "Oh." Lyca nodded and epted the milk that Shen Qui handed her. "By the way, I haven''t seen mother and fathertely? Are they still in Du Empire?"


    "Yes.." Since Lyca''s grandfather woke up, Huang Sheng Hong, Tang Nini, and their grandfather had been traveling around the world. Of course, when they went to Du Empire, the Ye Family was very d to wee her wheelchair-bound grandfather. After all, he too had white hair when he was born.

 Chapter 490: Arche

    Chapter 490: Arche


    "Nope." Lyca shook his head. "I don''t understand why you would want to name him Kale. Reminds me of the vegetable."


    "It''s the name of the moon. One of thes. I think it suits him."


    "That is a disfigured moon," Lyca argued, she stared at him, unimpressed. "I don''t want to name my child Kale."


    "Then are you going to name him Ares? Like the God of War? Isn''t he like an evil god or something?"


    "Number one. Ares had problems with his morals. He has some good qualities, too. Like his abs. Second. He is the spirit of battle." Lyca said.


    Shen Qui frowned. "If you want Spirit of battle, then let us use Mars. Mars is also the God of war and also considered a guardian. The agricultural guardian."


    "Mars Shen? Doesn''t sound too good, no? I''ll stick with Ares."


    "Ares Shen doesn''t sound too good too."


    "But it''s better than Mars." She shrugged and ate some dried mangoes that Shen Qui was holding in a bowl. "Ares Shen. Ares sounds sexy, and it is short."


    "Are you toozy to call your son''s full name?" he asked.


    "Kind of. If my son is named Felemon, I would call him Fel. Ares is short. I can''t call him Ar or Es. So I would always call him Ares."


    "But Mars is short too."


    "I''m not naming my son after a!"


    Shen Qui shook his head. "Let''s talk about thister."


    "I''m about to give birth. We needed to decide his name now or I will use Ares."


    "You can''t use Ares!"


    "But I''m not using Mars!"


    "Why are you naming your son after gods of wars?" he asked, confused.


    "Then give me a name that''s not God of War?"


    Shen Qui shook his head and let out a sigh. "How about Arche?"


    "Where did you hear that name?" In her previous world, Arche is a term used to call an origin or the beginning. But in this world, it is the name of a moon of some ringed.


    He shrugged. "I thought it was cool. I thought I heard it from somewhere."


    "Hmmm. Then let us name him Arche."


    "Really?"


    "Really?" Lyca smiled. In her previous world, people believe in many gods. It was kinda like the Greek and Roman gods. But there were more gods in her previous world. There were gods of poisons, gods of archers and knights, and many others. However, there was this one legend. About a God known as Arche.


    They say he was the first God, but he wasn''t the most powerful one. They say that Arche''s greatest ability is his brain. He was brilliant and could travel in different worlds.


    Obviously, not many people believed this story. In fact, she never heard of anyone worshiping this god.


    Lyca smiled as Shen Qui held her hand. "I think that would be a perfect name for our Son." Arche the Origin and it could also be called a moon. It''s perfect. Lyca traveled into this world because of a moon ne and now she was naming her son Arche. "Aw!" her face changed as she held her stomach.


    "What''s wrong? Is it time? Are you going to  Oh my god! I should get the car!"


    "Stupid!" Lyca elbowed him. "He kicked." She pointed at her stomach.


    "He kicked you?"


    "Stop ring at my stomach. He was could hear you." Sheughed. "He must be excited about his name." She smiled when Arche moved. This time, she could feel him move his body. It was as if he was turning his body. It felt weirdly satisfying and frightening at the same time.


    "Why is he moving so much?"


    "I don''t know?"


    "You''re about thirty-nine weeks, right? You can give birth anytime, right?"


    "Can you stop panicking?" Lyca reprimanded. "You took sses and even started acting like a doctor. How could you show signs of panic? So embarrassing."


    "I  " He was still ring at her stomach. How childish. "I was just scared."


    "Scared of what?"


    "Why was he moving so much already?" he asked.


    "He likes to move. Just like me."


    "" Shen Qui deadpanned.


    "Aw! There you go he is moving so much." Lyca slowly stroked her stomach. "He must be excited or he could feel you ring at my stomach like you are about to remove him from my belly." She rolled her eyes inwardly. "He is scared of you."


    "How could he be scared of me? I am so good-looking and kind." He snorted. "He should be thankful he has a father like me."


    That made herugh. Soon, her low chuckle turned into a giggle. "He will be prettier than you."


    "That That is something that I cannot argue with."


    Lyca let out another burst ofughter. This man is really funny. "By the way, why are you here? You are supposed to entertain our guests. The Ye Family with my parents should have arrived, right?" Until now, Lyca still addresses them as someone from the Ye Family. It wasn''t because she wasn''t very weing or that she doesn''t like them.


    In fact, Lyca actually thought that the Ye Family are very reasonable people. However, she still has this feeling that the Ye Family is looking at her as if she was some sort of goddess. To be honest, Lyca expected the Ye Family to demand that her child have the Ye Family name. She was prepared to cut contact if they said something like that.


    However, not one of them said that they wanted her son to be a Ye. All they did was celebrated with her parents and sent her expensive gifts for her child. They were very supportive and actually made her feel like a part of the family.


    "Hey, pregnantdy!"


    The peaceful atmosphere inside the entertainment room was interrupted when Tang Ruyi walked in with a huge smile and a bag of popcorn in her hand. Without wasting any time, Tang Ruyi looked at Shen Qui. "She can eat popcorn, right?"


    "Ummm Excuse me? I am the pregnantdy here. Not Shen Qui. Why are you asking him like he was the pregnant one?" Lyca immediatelyined.


    ....


    I have been away for so long. Real life is not very good for me right now. I got sick then my sister in the police got Covid. T.T It''s pretty sad. Sigh.

 Chapter 491: Working Mom

    Chapter 491: Working Mom


    "I think being pregnant made you look more beautiful," Tang Ruyi beamed at her. "I think gaining a bit of weight looks good on you. Are you sure that you will have a son? I mean I heard women who have a son will be ugly or something like that?"


    "Where did you hear that from?" Lyca snorted. "I am sure, I''m still beautiful as always." She grabbed the popcorn and started eating it. "He agreed because these are considered healthy snacks."


    Seeing Lyca''s reaction, Tang Ruyi rolled her eyes. "You are lucky you have a man that is looking after you. Hell, you are lucky you have a man in your life! Stop being ungrateful." Tang Ruyi snatched the popcorns back. "And I am not here to talk about your diet. I just want to know what is the deal with the Ye Family? They are weird people."


    Lyca shrugged. "Who cares about them?"


    "They care about you. Aren''t you concern they would steal your kid or something?"


    "Nope. They won''t be able to do that."


    "You know" Tang Ruyi sighed. "They are treating you like their goddess for some unknown reason."


    "It''s just because I''m beautiful." That''s all. Lyca rested her legs on the table. Not many people knew about the Ye Family''s obsession with her white hair and she was thankful for that. Or else Tang Ruyi and the others would surely start asking questions. "And smart."


    "Narcissist."


    Lycaughed. "By the way, why are you here?"


    "Aside from the fact that I want to see your bulging tummy? I am also here to tell you that Shen Security is going to join the security assembly. They will represent the country."


    "Oh? Is this the international security assembly?"


    "Yep. This time, we are going against the Du Empire and other countries. Ah, this is going to be held in the Du Empire."


    "When?"


    "In Eight months."


    "Oh so I still have time to push the baby out of my stomach."


    "Crazy."


    "I know."


    "But isn''t that what you want? A break? Like after giving birth, I''m sure you would take a break for like five years, right?"


    "To be honest, no. I am not taking a break."


    Hearing her deration, Tang Ruyi immediately put her hand on Lyca''s forehead. "What did you say?"


    "I am not taking a break," Lyca said.


    "Are you ill? Wait is this because of the pregnancy? Was it the hormones thing? Maybe I am hallucinating? Maybe I heard it" Tang Ruyi widened her eyes before she pped her own face.


    *PAK*


    "AWWW!"


    "Are you insane?" Lyca frowned and gave her cousin a look.


    "Ummm I think I should ask you that question? Are you insane? You are nning to work after giving birth? What happened to thezy woman that I know? Why would you leave your child alone? Have you be this ruthless? Were you upset that you got pregnant? How could you "


    *BAM*


    This time, Lyca kicked her cousin. Tang Ruyi was so busy talking that she wasn''t able to move her body away. In the end, her buttnded on the floor. She stared at Lyca in disbelief. "Why did you kick me?"


    "You deserve that," Lyca said. She was eyeing the popcorn in her cousin''s hands. Despite being on the floor, Tang Ruyi never let the popcorn go. This was definitely Lyca''s type of people. "Give it."


    "Only if you promise not to kick me again." Tang Ruyi stood and stroked her behind before she sat down next to Lyca again. "You are lucky, you''re pregnant. I would have asked you to go to the ring with me if you''re not."


    "I am working with my child," Lyca said.


    "No way."


    "Yes, way!"


    "What happened to thezy Lyca that I knew?"


    "She ran away," Lyca said. "And this is not only advantageous to me but to my son too."


    "How is that helpful to an infant?" Tang Ruyi asked.


    "Well it would teach him hard work."


    ""


    "I know. Not many people could ept women working just after giving birth. But this is actually the trend right now." Lyca threw popcorn in her mouth before she smiled. "Ah, you won''t understand my point. You are single, after all."


    "You  " Tang Ruyi couldn''t see any connection at all! She red at Lyca. "Anyway about working. Are you serious? Did you ask Shen Qui about this? Did he agree?"


    "Of course I did. I am such a good wife, after all."


    ""


    "He agreed toe with me and our son no matter where we went."


    "" So he would be the nanny. Tang Ruyi forced a smile out of her face. "That sounds great! And I believe he also agreed to do everything else?"


    "That''s his duty. I carried our son for nine months, the least he could do is carry our son in his first nine months in this world too! This is only fair!"


    "" Why does Lyca making it sound like this waspletely normal? Tang Ruyi could only sigh. "So, are you going to be leading the team to Du Empire?"


    "Of course I would."


    "And you are going to create some new stuff, right?"


    "Of course I would!."


    Tang Ruyi let out another sigh. At least Lyca sounded serious about winning this time. "Alright. I will. Um Hey Are you alright?" Tang Ruyi and Lyca turned silent as they watched water started streaming down Lyca''s legs. "You  You are  I think  "


    Lyca smiled. "Rx It''s just my water. Go and calmly call Shen Qui. He should know what to Ruyi why the hell are you acting like you saw a ghost? Go ahead and call Shen Qui!"


    "Ah? Right! Right!" Tang Ruyi sat in a jolt before she stood up and run out of the room. "Wait! I can''t leave you alone here! Give me your cell phone! Ah he should be downstairs, right? Should I just You know what? I should just call him!"


    Lyca chuckled when she heard Tang Ruyi mumbled while running out of the door. Then Lyca froze. Thest time that she joked about giving birth, Shen Qui actually panicked too!


    With this in mind, Lyca sighed and stood from the sofa. Then she calmly walked out of her room with water dripping down her legs. Of course, Lyca only overestimated herself. The moment she reached the door, she felt a bit of a numb pain in her lower back. Was this what they callbor pains? She frowned as she slowly opened the door.


    Then she screamed.


    "Hey, Quir! I think I''m giving birth. Stay calm and stop panicking or I will not let you see our son!"


    .....


    I am not going to stop uploading. However, I might not be able to upload everyday because of some new stuff. If you don''t know yet, I am working with Tapas for their studio tapas originals. You can check out Tapas on appstore and ystore. They are more into weics or manhua. Also, I am working for my first manhwa! Actually, I am nning to release 3 manhuas this year. Hopefully, I can do that.


    Agan, I am not going hiatus. I will still upload chapters. Thanks

 Chapter 492: Welcome!

    Chapter 492: Wee!


    "Alright, what was the normal time for women to push out a child again?" Shen Qui asked Tang Ruyi who was standing by the door of Shen Qui and Lyca''s room.


    "I don''t know. How am I supposed to know this stuff?"


    "But it''s been six hours! Why isn''t  "


    "Shen Qui calm down." Huang Sheng Hong said. "Lyca is a healthy woman I am sure she can do it."


    "But  Six hours is too much, right?" Shen Qui continued pacing. "And why can''t I go inside? She said it was okay before! Why did she say I can''t go inside now?"


    "I think you need to calm down. You are making everyone panic." Tang Ruyi said. "Look at your face. She would surely punch you if she knew you were acting like this."


    Shen Qui let out a loud sighed. What the hell is going on? Lyca had always been fit. Even in pregnancy, she never really stopped moving around. Her body is normal, she didn''t have any difficulties at all. Why is it taking so long? "Her water broke without her feeling anything. Is that normal?" he couldn''t help but look at Tang Nini.


    "It is normal. Shen Qui you should just trust her. She is going to be fine."


    Another sigh left his lips. He clenched his sweaty palm and gnashed his teeth. He couldn''t help it. His heart had been racing like he had been running a marathon. His adrenaline was off the charts. He couldn''t concentrate. All he could think of was Lyca''s pale face once she started feeling the pain.


    "You really should calm down."


    Shen Qui heard someone say, but he was too tense to respond anymore. Everyone had been telling him to rx, that everything is good. But how could they say something like that so casually? What if something bad happens? What if she lost consciousness and and fall asleep again? What if something like the past would happen?


    Shen Qui''s chest raised and fell as he stared at the door. Lyca chose to give birth at home and this room had been prepared since she turned thirty-eight weeks. He thought of the things that he already prepared for her and silently wondered if he forgot anything in the nursery. He had been catering to what Lyca wanted  everything that she wanted to give the baby as muchfort as possible  however, Shen Qui felt that it was stillcking. He couldn''t just calm down.


    "AHHHHHHHHHHHH!"


    Shen Qui jolted when he heard Lyca''s voice. It was filled with pain and difort. He felt his face lost its color. "I''m going in." He tried to open the door but Huang Sheng Hong appeared in front of him.


    "She didn''t want you to go in." This time Huang Sheng Hong held his son-inw''s shoulder and patted it. "She knew you would react like this."


    "She was screaming!"


    "She''s in paine on sit with me." Huang Sheng Hong calmly said. "She didn''t want you to see her in pain. Son "


    Huang Sheng Hong''s words seemed to wake Shen Qui up. He turned towards Lyca''s father. Seeing this, Huang Sheng Hong continued. "She didn''t want you to worry. She cares about you too much to see you like this. Come on sit with me."


    "ahhhhhhh!"


    Shen Qui blinked as he heard Lyca''s scream. He clenched his hand. He was about to go with Huang Sheng Hong when the door opened and one attendant nurse walked out.


    "The baby is out. We need a few more minutes."


    "Then can I "


    "Mr. Shen I am not supposed to go out, but Mrs. Shen was adamant about letting you know not toe in. She said"


    "She said what?"


    "She said she looked ugly."


    "" Shen Qui didn''t know what to say. He strode past the woman and went inside. He didn''t even look at his own child, that was now crying as he walked towards Lyca.


    The thick smell of blood and some disinfectant assaulted his senses.


    "Heh" Lyca smiled when she saw him. Her face was pale  too pale. He spotted beads of sweat on her forehead and her face and neck.


    "Mr. Shen"


    "It''s fine," Lyca said in a low voice. Despite the weakness in her voice, she was smiling at him and let him used a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from her forehead. "He''s got ck hair." Relief can be heard in Lyca''s voice.


    ck hair.


    Meaning, the Ye Family would not involve her child in this obsession.


    "Just like you," Lyca added.


    "Hey you did well." These were the only words that he could say. Earlier, Shen Qui had many questions. He thought of saying a lot of things to her. Thanking her for everything. He wanted to know how grateful he was to have met her. However now he could only say those words.


    "I know," Lyca said. "And I''m not doing this again."


    He chuckled at that. "I know."


    He used his other hand to stroke her silver-white hair. "You look beautiful."


    "Oh. Please Aw! Can you please be careful down there!" Lyca said when she felt a little pain. The doctors informed her earlier that her child was too big, so she needed some stitches. Lyca had experienced some stitching in the past, but for some reason, this stitching was just a bit too much! Why does it feel like the stitching is more painful than experiencing all thatbor for hours?


    "You really should be careful not to hurt my wife."


    She heard Shen Qui said.


    "Here you go, Mr. And Mrs. Shen" The older woman who was holding the baby earlier said as she slowly ced the small little bun next to Lyca. "A healthy twenty inches, eight-point-five-pound baby boy. Congrattions!"


    "He''s beautiful," Lyca said. She gently stared at her son''s pinkish face.


    "He looks just like you..." Shen Qui smiled. "What are we going to name him?"


    "Aden," Lyca said.


    Despite arguing over and over about his name, Lyca finally decided to give him one. "It means handsome."


    Shen Qui nodded, "Hello Aden Shen... I am your dad. Wee, bud. You really made your mom suffer."


    ......


    More chapters wille.

 Chapter 493: Aden and Bobo

    Chapter 493: Aden and Bobo


    Five years Later


    "Archy Aden Shen!" Shen Qui raised his voice when she saw the mess inside his office. "What is this?"


    "Dad! I am d that you are here "Aden, the young boy who resembled Shen Qui, run towards his father. "I am here to surprise you."


    Seeing the mess inside his office, Shen Qui couldn''t help but wonder what surprise was he talking about.


    "Today is dad''s birthday. I have a gift!" Aden was smiling sweetly. He ignored all the pieces of paper that were scattered on the floor as he ran towards his father.


    "A gift?" Shen Qui shoved his hands into his pockets. This child resembled him, but his attitude was just like her mother''s. He wondered what ''amazing idea'' did the child came up with this time.


    "Bobo! Come here" Aden stood in front of his father as a mechanical sound echoed inside the office.


    "Bobo? A pet?"


    "You can treat him like a pet father." Excitement shone in Aden''s eyes as he looked at the circr robot that was rolling towards them.


    "What is this?" Shen Qui sat on the couch and stared at the circr robot. "The design looked like some vacuum. Is this "


    "No father. I just thought a circr design is perfect for Bobo. It looked like a vacuum because I thought it would make it look more low key. People would think it was a normal vacuum until you ask it to do something."


    "Ask it to do something?"


    "Yes. Just like this. Bobo y Bach - Partita No. 2, Chaconne!"


    [ying Bach - Partita No. 2, Chaconne.]


    [Volume optimized for background]


    Shen Qui widened his eyes. Right now, Ai technology that could perform this is very popr in the market. Phones have this capability too.


    "Bobo can do everything. Like y music, turn the lights on and off, opened the garage door, lower and increase the temperature. It can also do things like locating a file"


    "Aden?"


    "Yes, father?"


    "Did he ask it to locate a file? Is that why my office is a mess?"


    "Ah?" The child blinked at him before he shamelessly beamed. "As expected of father. You are indeed the smartest." He turned his head towards the small robot and beamed. "Bobo who is the most handsome man in this world?"


    [Naturally, the most handsome man can only be Master''s father, Mr. Shen Qui.]


    "Bobo is really adorable. How about the sweetest man in this world?"


    [Naturally, the sweetest man can only be Master''s father, Mr. Shen Qui.]


    "Smart Bobo!"


    "Aden?"


    "Hm? Yes, father?"


    "Are you trying to divert my attention from the mess inside the room?"


    Aden frowned. "I don''t understand what father means."


    "Aden what are you looking for?"


    Aden met his father''s eyes. "I''m looking for my enrollment form. Mother said you have it. But it''s not inside this room. Perhaps it''s in the master''s bedroom?"


    Shen Qui was speechless. This young man was exactly like Lyca! "Why do you need it?"


    "Naturally, I want to destroy it. I don''t want to go to school!"


    "" Shen Qui heard stories about Lyca from her father. He said that Lyca didn''t want to go to school too. But she started acting this way after she had an ident when she was a child. Obviously, they were able to force Lyca to go to school, and they thought that was the end of it.


    Oh, well Lyca did something else.


    She showed off how brilliant she was, prompting her teachers to rmend her for higher grades. In the end, she graduated from college at a really young age. She made forms for perfumes to earn some money, and spent the rest of her teenage years doing random stuff.


    Even Lyca''s father said that Lyca didn''t like to go out and would spend days eating and sleeping and reading.


    "Did you ask your mother about going to school?" he asked.


    "Yes."


    "And?" Shen Qui knew that Aden was a really honest young boy. In fact, he was too honest. Sometimes it was really annoying for other people. After all, not many people in this world can actually deal with the truth.


    "She asked me to create a gift that would empress father."


    Shen Qui wanted to p his own face. Lyca didn''t even exin why going to school is very important. She just asked her child to create something for him. "And so you decided to create Bobo?"


    "Yes, father. Bobo is the smartest just like father."


    Shen Qui sighed. "Why don''t you want to go to school?"


    "I don''t like kids."


    "Aden, you are a kid too."


    "Yes. But I don''t like other kids."


    "Why don''t you like other kids? How could you like someone without even knowing them?"


    "Kids are troublesome."


    "" Before Shen Qui could say anything, Aden decided to exin himself.


    "Let me borate. Uncle Tang Jinyi''s daughter, Tang Hui is an example of these troublesome kids. Tang Hui is only a few months younger than me, but she still cries every time her father and mother leave for work. Her mother and father both worked in the military. It is natural for them to work all the time. However, Tang Hui doesn''t understand this."


    "Aden"


    "Let me continue, father. When I was three, I remember mother and father leaving for your vacation. Auntie Ruyi said you are leaving to make another baby. You left for almost a month. All those times, I never shed a tear. Why can''t Tang Hui do that? This only means that she is too troublesome."


    "Secondly, Tang Hui always cries every time she wanted something. She cries if she wants a new toy, she wants if she wants a new dress. She keeps on crying. Too troublesome."


    ""


    "When I want something, I just tell mother what I want and she would give me something to memorize. Like the chemical table of elements. After memorizing that, mother bought me thetest robot from X Company. Father... as you can see... most kids are not like that. They don''t understand the concept of working hard to get what you want."


    "..." Concept of working hard? Shen Qui didn''t know what to say. Clearly, Lyca was just beingzy to reason with her own son.


    So she gave him some impossible task that is not something a five-year-old boy can do.

 Chapter 494: Aya Shen - His Savage Love

    Chapter 494: Aya Shen - His Savage Love


    "School is needed. How could it be an issue? He needs to go to school and have some friends." Shen Qui calmly handed some cookies to his lovely wife. "How could you tell him it''s alright not to attend school? Now, he is thinking that all kids are troublesome."


    "I don''t think Aya is annoying."


    "Aden "


    "Sorry, Dad." Aden lowered his head, his shoulders slumped. Of all the surrounding kids, Aya Shen, her sister is the least annoying and everyone in the Shen household knows this.


    "Aden you need to have friends. Talk to other people. You can''t just talk to robots all the time."


    "Honey, talking to robots is sometimes better than talking to other people." Lyca smiled. "Aden, go to your room. We will talkter." Lyca sent his son a yful wink before turning her attention towards Shen Qui. She waited for his son to leave her office.


    "You  really  I am helpless." Shen Qui immediatelyined. The domineering CEO of Shen Group that was famous for being ruthless, turned into a whining puppy in front of his wife. "Aden is just like you and this is giving me a headache."


    "Hmmm. I never thought that he would be like me since he looked like you. It''s weird." Lyca finished one of the cookies. "Anyway, I have a simple solution about this matter."


    Shen Qui looked at his wife before he suddenly lifted her up from the swivel chair where she was sitting and carrying her towards the couch.


    "What''s this? It''s in the middle of the day." Lyca uttered. Of course, she isn''t showing any resistance at all.


    "Alright talk."


    Lyca frowned. She tilted her head and met her husband''s eyes. Right now, she was sitting in hisp. She was honestly expecting something else to happen. She was clearly disappointed, ah. "Let''s just tell him to finish school as soon as possible!" She beamed. "If he dislikes kids so much then he should just finish school in a few years to avoid them."


    "Skip grades?" Shen Qui frowned.


    In response, a smug smile appeared on Lyca''s face. "Just like me!"


    "If you keep on"


    "Geniuses act like that because they are way advance beyond their age. Imagine being a college student attending 1st grade. What would you feel about your ymates whining about everything?" Lyca said. "Aish don''t me him. He got both of our genes. It''s not his fault."


    "Then you already nned to make him skip grades?"


    "Of course. I already thought about this before I gave birth."


    ""


    "If you want your life to run smoothly, you need to think about things that will make you happy." Lyca chuckled. "Now kiss me and make me happy."


    Shen Qui could only shake his head. He lowered his head and imed his wife''s lips.


    "Mommy? Daddy?"


    When they heard Aya''s voice, they immediately stopped kissing and looked at the three-year-old, walking towards them. If Aden was just like Lyca, Aya was exactly like Shen Qui. Luckily, she didn''t have Lyca''s white hair, which made Lyca really happy.


    "What''s wrong?" Lyca removed herself from her husband''sp so the littledy could take her ce.


    "Big brother said he would create a shield for me."


    "A what?" Shen Qui could feel another wave of a headacheing.


    "A shield, like Captain America. I want something like that."


    "Oh then let him do it."


    "He said he won''t be able to do it anymore." Despite the absence of tears in Aya''s eyes, her small little pink lips that resembled Lyca''s were morphed into a frown.


    "Why?" Lyca asked. For some reason, a part of her knew what Aden said to her younger sister.


    "He said he won''t be here anymore because you will ask him to go to school. He said he needed to leave soon. Is that true?"


    The smile on Lyca''s face vanished. That little brat is so like her, it is embarrassing. She could even read that brat''s mind!


    "Is that true?" Aya looked at her father, then her mother.


    "It''s alright, sweetie. No need to worry. How about I make you something like that shield? I will even make a knife that will go with the shield? How about that?" Lyca said. Did Aden think he would win against her? Sheughed inwardly.


    "Really? But brother said mother is so busy. Can you really do that?"


    What kind of mother would give her three-year-old a knife? Still, Shen Qui managed a sweet smile on his face. "Aya, you should trust your mother. She is an expert in things like this." Shen Qui was smiling but deep inside, he could already feel the problem that Aden would create just to avoid going to school. His gaze met his wife''s eyes. Aden had be really smart and cunning, he couldn''t wait for Aden to butt heads with his mother.


    Ah, just the thought of it made him smile.


    Seeing the frown on Lyca''s face, Shen Qui couldn''t help but hug Aya and kissed her head. Lyca and Aden were too alike, it would be inevitable for them to have some challenges in the future. Seeing the face of his wife darken, he darted his tongue out before beaming at her.


    In response, Lyca''s eyes squinted at him. "Your brother will go to Du Empire to study soon," Lyca said. "You don''t have to worry about your brother. I already decided to reward him for creating Bobo. I will have him take some examinations to skip his grade and avoid other kids. Aftering back, I am sure he will create a stronger shield for you." There was a hint of assurance in Lyca''s voice.


    "Really?"


    "Of course! After all, your brother is just the smartest!"


    ..


    END OF VOLUME 1!


    Next is 22 years after this conversation.


    ...


    His Savage Love


    Killing her son in front of her wasn''t enough to satisfy their savagery. So they cut off her limbs andughed as she bled to death.


    In the end, the life of the prodigy Gabrielle Sutton ended with her eyes full of unwillingness and thirst for vengeance.


    Who would have thought that the end she had expected never arrived?


    Instead of falling into the abyss of death, she woke up ten years before her demise.


    Would she be able to save herself this time?

 Chapter 495: Monster - VOLUME 2

    Chapter 495: Monster - VOLUME 2


    "We needed a scapegoat."


    The words rang in her head like a tolling bell. She trembled in response. Despite the words that made her heart sank, her gaze never left the body of the small little boy next to her. Looking at the small bruised body was akin to having her heart cut into small little pieces.


    The agony was slow and painful.


    Yet there were no tears in her eyes. The days of torture made her gaze nk, vacant.


    The smell of blood, urine, and feces around her was thick.


    "Gabi"


    Gabrielle slowly dragged her gaze to the man sittingnguidly in front of her. It was none other than her cousin, the future Prime Minister of Du Empire, Alfons Sutton.


    A man who grew up pitiful.


    A man that Gabrielle''s father adopted when he was ten.


    "Gabi I really didn''t have a choice. I have to sacrifice you for the greater good."


    The greater good. Those were the words that Gabi''s father used to tell her. Everything was for the greater good.


    Her lips trembled as the memories of herte father invaded her memories. The father that she loved the most passed away days after she turned twenty. That was ten years ago.


    Yet the memories of those painful days never left her.


    She carried it for thest ten years of her life as she supported Alfons, the only rtive she had left.


    Who would have thought that Alfons would betray her like this?


    "Please don''t me me. If you want to hate someone hate that father of yours. Or should I start calling him father as well?" There was a mocking smirk on her cousin''s face.


    ''Father? Why would he call him father?'' Despite the pain in her parched throat, she wanted to ask him what he was talking about. However, Alfons already instructed his men to cut off her tongue.


    "Ah, right you didn''t know." Alfons was smiling. "I was his bastard. I am your older brother Gabi not your cousin."


    The revtion was sudden, but it wasn''t enough to surprise her anymore.


    "That man didn''t want to acknowledge me. So I ended his life." Alfons added. This time, Gabi''s pupils shook. "Ah after so long. I was finally able to confess my sins." There was a hint of relief in the man''s voice.


    "When we''re younger he always promised me he would acknowledge me once I do something for the benefit of the Sutton Family. But how could do that? Ick the education or the knowledge. It was always you, Gabi. The brilliant one. The prodigy." Alfons suddenly stood up and approached her, then she crouched, decreasing the distance between their faces.


    "I hate you," he added. "I was the firstborn. He married my mother first, but your mother seduced him. The support of your maternal family blinded him and he abandoned me."


    "Why? Was it because my mother was just a small-time factory worker that he once yed with?"


    "Tsk this is pointless. You can''t talk back." He let out a loud sighed that echoed inside the small room made of concrete. Then Alfons sat next to her. "When you were learning piano, I was picking up some garbage to feed my dying mother." He lifted his head and stared at the bulb that illuminated the room. "When you were learning to paint, I was learning how to build a small box to protect me and my mother from the rain."


    "When you were learning about politics, I just started learning how to read."


    "And yet that old man dared to say that you are smarter than me."


    He snorted.


    "But that was all in the past, isn''t it Gabi?"


    He turned his head back to her.


    "Right now, you are just a puppet that I made. Someone that would do everything for the sake of the family name, for the sake of me."


    His mncholic gaze vanished. "And now you are going to be the sacrificialmb for the family." He reached out and started stroking her bald head.


    "This is all for the family that you love the most, Gabi. So you should be happy." His gaze drifted towards the three-year-old corpse next to Gabrielle. "And that bastard child of yours who doesn''t even have a father Ah I don''t know what to say. Why did you even keep that child, anyway? Did you know how it affected my reputation when you got pregnant from a random one-night stand? Tsk. Disgusting child."


    Anger surge inside Gabrielle''s eyes. She had been tortured for days. They already cut off her tongue and fingers, her toes were missing either. And yet, all those things couldn''tpare to the heartache that she felt as she watched him hurt her son.


    "What? Are you angry? Don''t you get it? Killing you and the child is the key to the revolution. Once my people see what the ''Ye Family'' did to you, they would raise hell. After all, you are my beloved little cousin. My sweet little cousin who couldn''t even open a bottle of wine." He snickered. "Now now why don''t you just close your eyes and die?"


    Slowly, Alfons'' face turned dark until he became a monster.


    The monster in her dreams.


    .


    Gabi sat up in a jolt! Sweat covered her body as tears continued to stream down her face.


    She gnashed her teeth, her hands clenched tightly into a fist. This wasn''t the first time that she had dreamed of the things that she experienced in her past life.


    And she was certain this wasn''t the end of those dreams either.


    She slowly stroked her chest and wiped her tears away.


    Her eyes roamed inside her room. The muted colors that she liked the most when she was still twenty years old, reminded her that she was still in the Sutton Mansion. All those terrible things that she experienced in the past timeline have yet to happen.


    She recalled waking up with all those memories just a few days ago. It was after she fainted on the day of her father''s funeral.


    That''s right, she went back ten years before her demise.


    And this time she is going to survive.

 Chapter 496: Pink

    Chapter 496: Pink


    Gabi hated the summer.


    She doesn''t like to sweat; she hated the heat.


    Growing up, she had avoided going out and staying under the sun for over thirty minutes.


    But this time is different.


    Gabi inhaled the warm air. The cooling sensation from the ice-cold tea in front of her wasn''t enough to mask the heat of the garden just a few meters away from the tree where she was currently having her tea time.


    She especially asked the servants to put some tables and chairs under the gigantic ash tree just so she could look at the view from this side of the mansion. The tree was older than her father. It has been standing tall at the back of the mansion ever since she could remember.


    "Gabi howe you are here?"


    The familiar voice that drifted towards her made her gut twist. She raised her head and stared at the man walking towards the tree. "Alfons" she murmured.


    "You are recovering. Your health is bad. How could you have some tea outside at one in the afternoon?" His brows were furrowed, concern apparent in his tone. "How could you be this hard-headed? What would I tell uncle in heaven if you faint again?"


    Gabrielle fought the urge tough at him. This face, this voice, this acting.


    No wonder he was able to fool everyone, including her.


    "I have been holed up in the house, grieving for the past week. I needed some sunlight." Gabrielle might have been born talented and beautiful, but her body was weak. However, this was only because she refused to make her body healthy. She doesn''t exercise, doesn''t go out and expose herself to the sun, doesn''t eat enough protein, and doesn''t have enough sleep.


    She grew up spending all of her time reading.


    She was too addicted to reading, she would finish one book in a day.


    This also exined the thick eyesses that she was currently wearing.


    A loud sigh escaped her cousin''s lips. "You  really" He shook his head and reached out to hold her hand, that was ced on top of the circr iron table. "You are right. You need to take care of your health. You should do this more. I suggest you start exercising, too. If you want, I can hire a trainer to help you out. The mansion has an unused gym so you can use that anytime without exposing yourself to the sun."


    "Thank you... Brother." Gabi felt like choking on her own words, so she grabbed the tea and finished it in one go.


    "See? I told you it''s too hot in here we should go inside and"


    "I used the y under this tree with father," she interrupted his words. She lowered her gaze as she thought of her son running around this tree. Her son the three-year-old, Luca Sutton, especially loved the snow around the tree during winter.


    But at that time, her body was really weak she couldn''t apany him. She could only watch the child being surrounded by maids as he created those snowmen with crooked heads. Unknowingly, tears fell from her eyes.


    "Gabi"


    "I miss him" her lips trembled, her hands cold as memories of Luca''sst moments shed in her eyes. "I miss him so much." She quickly wiped her tears away and faked a smile. "Why did he have to die?"


    Almost immediately Alfons stood from his seat, but before he could approach her, she already stood up and walked towards the garden. "I''m sorry just now I lost my self-control. Let''s go back," she said.


    "By the way, brother." Though he was her ''cousin'', her father insisted that she call him ''Elder brother''. At that time, she thought it was only because her father pitied this man. After all, he grew up in the streets. She was wrong. "Howe you are here? How was school? Did you have any problem?" She asked just as she walked towards the back entrance of the mansion.


    "Ah? No No. Of course not. I just came here to see how you are doing. Uncle Lu told me you always stay inside your room. You even eat inside your room and refused to see anyone. I was concerned."


    Liar, she thought.


    She took a couple of days holed up in her room to think about the events that were about to happen. She knew why he was here and it had nothing to do with her. If she was right, this man was here to ask her to create his thesis. Of course, it wasn''t really that he asked her. He just showed how stressed he was and when she asked him what was wrong, he immediately said that he was trying to create a thesis about real estate and he was having trouble because of thisck of connection in the business world.


    Of course, the foolish Gabrielle immediately helped him by introducing him to her maternal grandfather, who also happened to own Ren Aesthetics and Co.  a well-known real estatepany.


    This opened up a new path for the ambitious Alfons.


    Gabrielle turned her head towards Alfons and stared at his light brown eyes that resembled hers. She already saw the simrities between them, but she ignored everything. After all, he was her ''cousin''. "Thank you brother, you have always been kind to me. I don''t know if I would be able to repay you in the future."


    "What repayment are you talking about? How could you talk about repayment? We are family. I am your only living family member. We should rely on each other."


    "Brother what are you talking about?" She feigned surprise. "What do you mean by my only living family member? My maternal family, the Ren Family, is still" Almost immediately, tears pooled in her eyes. "Brother, are you trying to curse my maternal grandfather?"


    "Eh? That  Gabi what are you talking about? How could I curse your grandfather? I was just  I was talking about the Sutton Family. Right? We are the only Sutton''s alive. So we should stick to each other."


    "Oh "She used her handkerchief and wiped her non-existent tears. "Thank you, brother. I apologize for misinterpreting you. I just I have been alone in the past few days inside this mansion with thirty rooms. So, my head is a bit sluggish."


    "Of course Of course well ehem since you are not feeling well, I should let you rest. I need to drive back to the university."


    Hearing him stutter eased her mood. "You are not going to stay for the night?" she asked.


    "Oh no. I still have some thesis that I need to finish. I just came here because I was really concern about you."


    "Oh" This time, a sweet smile appeared on her face. Her eyes turned into two beautiful crescents as she added. "But my brother is really smart. I am confident that you can finish your thesis in a few days."


    "That "


    "Well then, I am going to sleep first. I won''t dy you anymore. I wish you luck with your thesis, brother." She turned her back and immediately went inside the mansion, leaving Alfons in a daze.


    The moment she closed the door, her sweet gaze vanished. She snorted.


    Just like what Alfons said before he killed her. She was the smart one. She graduated college at neen and is currently working on her master''s in International Rtions right now.


    Compared to her, the twenty-two-year-old Alfons was still trying to graduate with his bachelor''s degree. The man might be charismatic to many people, but he isn''t that smart. He would struggle in calculus and even in politics.


    Now that she thought about it, Alfons was never really good in school, but he managed to be an excellent politician. Obviously, someone is helping him behind the scenes.


    And that someone was the foolish Gabrielle Sutton.


    As the woman behind the future Prime Minister of Du Empire, Gabriel was not only adept in politics, she was very good in calctions, internal affairs, and management. Though her body had been weak, her brain was different.


    She sat in front of her dresser, staring at her long blond hair that was very simr to Alfons and her father''s hair. Alfons said he loved her hair and told her not to cut it.


    She opened her phone and called her personal stylist. "Yes, I want you toe as soon as you can. I want to but my hair. Hmmm... And bring some hair color. I want to make it purple no pink. I want to change my hair color into pink."

 Chapter 497: Languages

    Chapter 497: Languages


    "How was it?" Gabi asked Tina, her hairstylist. She stood in front of the full-length mirror, looking at her bob pink hair.


    "I think it looks different." Tina frowned. "Young Miss, if you don''t mind I have been your hairstylist for eight years now and this is the first time that you asked me to cut more than two inches of your long, blond hair. Did something happen?"


    Looking at Tina''s reaction, Gabi only smiled. "I am fine. I am just looking for ways to rx my mind." In the past, she never did anything to her hair. It was straight, shiny, long and boring. And everyone thought it looked nice, innocent.


    Tina pursed her lips. "The style looked good on you. But your wardrobe all of them have pink clothes. If you keep on wearing pink with your pink hair"


    "Ah I decided to throw everything away."


    "Youngdy?"


    "I was nning to donate it." Pink and pastel blue were her go-to colors. Be it her skirt, shirt, blouses, and even her suits and dresses were all in different shades of pink and blues.


    "I already asked the head maid to take care of it," Gabi added. "It would be a waste to just throw it so I decided to sell it online and donate the money to some charities."


    "Eh?"


    "Tina you have been working for me for eight years, no?"


    "Ah yes young miss. Almost nine, actually. I came here when you were eleven. I was just neen at that time but you really liked my styling so you asked me toe back and maintain your long blond hair." A smile appeared on Tina''s face. "Because of the young miss, I have gained a steady ie and some clients from rich families. I opened my salon three years ago. This is all thanks to the young miss."


    Gabi removed her eyes from her reflection and turned towards Tina. "I want to invest in yourpany."


    "Eh? Young"


    "You are very talented, Tina. I want to help you open a few more salons all throughout Du Empire."


    "Really?" Tina''s eyes sparkled. She pped her hands together. "Really?"


    "Yes. I want you to give me a business proposal. I will take care of the rest."


    "Young Miss I  I can''t thank you enough!"


    "Don''t thank me. This is going to be a partnership, Tina. I provide the money and you provide profits." Gabi smiled before she walked out of her walk-in closet. Tina immediately followed her.


    She didn''t do it out of her kind heart. A few years from now, she knew Tina would stop working for her because she found some investors and was going to open a few more salons in the other cities of the Empire. Soon after that, she would be a big name in the hair and makeup industries.


    However, Gabi wasn''t doing this for the profits. She doesn''t need more money.


    What she needed right now is information.


    Gabi believed that the best way to gain information is by using gossips.


    And the best ce to talk about gossips is naturally a salon!


    Rich wives, celebrities, politician''s wives, and fiance. All of them would visit a salon one way or the other. And she was nning to take this opportunity to gain some information about their husbands.


    "Tomorrow afternoon,e back here with your business proposal. Let''s talk about the details of this partnership."


    "Thank you, Young Miss. I will never disappoint you."


    Gabi nodded before she asked Tina to leave for now. All that hairstyling made her head hurt. She needed to sleep.


    The next day, Gabi woke up early and did some simple stretching before having her breakfast. She was nning to make this body stronger and to do that, she needed food and some activities.


    "Young miss, young master Alfons said that you should eat some porridge every morning to keep your stomach warm. He also"


    "Mr. Jonathan." Gabi halted her steps. She was walking towards the garden where she was nning to have her breakfast. It was still six in the morning, so the heat is still manageable. "Thank you for your words, but I already instructed the head maid to cook something for me."


    "Yes Miss, I saw the Head Maid instruct the chef to cook some protein-rich food. But I believe Young Master Alfons'' words are "


    "Mr. Jonathan "Gabi interrupted him again. She fought the urge to tell the butler to shut up. "Stop nagging." She said. "I eat what I want to eat. As the master of this house I think I have the right to choose my food. Is that right, Mr. Jonathan?"


    She didn''t miss the surprise in the butler''s eyes. Right. Since her father was dead, she was already the master of the house. How could a mere butler reprimand the master of the house?


    "This old man made a mistake. Please forgive me "Seeing the calmness in Gabi''s eyes, Mr. Jonathan bowed and hid the confused expression in his eyes.


    Gabi snorted in response. "Bring me all the newspapers in everynguage."


    "In  In everynguage?"


    "Yes." She nodded and continued walking. Everyone in this house knew how she loved reading. Every morning, she would read newspapers while analyzing the movement of the market. However, this would be the first time that she asked to read other newspapers in differentnguages.


    Gabi knew how absurd it sounded. However, she wasn''t nning to hide her ability just to make ''some'' people around her feel better about themselves anymore. As she arrived in the garden, she thought about some memories where her father told her not to tell anyone else that she could speak and read othernguages.


    His reasoning?


    He didn''t want to hurt Alfons'' confidence.


    "What the fuck!" Gabi uttered before she kicked a pebble towards the flowers.


    Not long after, she took a seat at the iron chair and tables and received the first batch of newspapers for the day. The breakfast that she asked the head maid to make also arrived, along with her tea.


    Then she started reading


    At first, nothing in particr caught her attention.


    The same chaotic world, the same greedy people.


    "Hm?" Her eyes squinted when she opened the newspaper from ria. As one of the biggest continents, ria has a lot of nations and states. However, it only has onenguage that newspapers use.


    But this isn''t something that concerns her.


    What concerned her, however, was the headline of the business page.


    ''Shen Group and the Evolution of AI Technology''


    She stared at the white-haired woman in the image below the headline. She had a confident smirk on her face. Her long white hair was in a ponytail. It was simple, yet it wasn''t enough to hide the elegance of the woman. Various microphones were ced in front of the woman. It was as if she was answering some questions. Perhaps a press conference?


    She looked like she''s in herte thirties or early forties; she was beautiful! Even Gabi, who is a beauty herself, couldn''t deny that this woman was more beautiful than her.


    However, this wasn''t the thing that surprised her the most. What surprised her was the fact that this woman looked exactly like her son Luca.


    White hair, straight nose, small heart-shaped face. She looked like the older version of Gabi''s son!


    Her gaze drifted towards the woman''s name.


    Lyca.


    It''s Lyca Shen.

 Chapter 498: Jewelry Store

    Chapter 498: Jewelry Store


    Gabi felt defeated.


    After days of searching the about Lyca Shen and her family, she couldn''t find anything. She knew that Lyca was married and had two children, but she couldn''t find any information about her kids. Not even their gender.


    Keeping it a secret doesn''t make sense to Gabi. Just who are these people? Why can''t she find anything about them?


    Shey on her bed, staring at the ceiling.


    She spent the entire week for nothing.


    All she knew was the fact that Lyca and her husband is the owner of Shen Group who is now branching out to ria. Shen Group is a well-respected conglomerate that owns a lot of pharmacies, hospitals, training centers, and research facilities all over the world. Recently, they introduced some new AI tech that made the world in awe.


    Lyca Why does she look like Luca?


    Was it possible that the man that she slept that night was a Shen?


    Right now, she could only think of that one possibility.


    That night was particrly hazy in her memories. As someone with a weak body, she drank a few sses of wine and felt herself fainting and falling into someone''s eyes. After that, she couldn''t remember anything.


    She had been really reckless at that time. Now that she thought about it, she felt that it was all a scheme. How could someone faint from drinking a few sses of some red wine which had four percent of alcoholic contents? Isn''t that a bit too low?


    As someone who had bad health and low alcoholic tolerance, she was super-mindful about the alcoholic percentage of her wine. How could she suddenly faint after drinking a few sips? At that time, she didn''t think too much of it as her mind was upied with the fact that she had slept with someone.


    She recalled waking up naked and alone in that room.


    At that time, she cried buckets of tears as she thought of the embarrassment that her random one-night stand could bring to Alfons name. As the cousin of the Governor, how could she just sleep around with anyone?


    And true enough, Alfons scolded her when he knew about the one-night stand.


    When she got pregnant, Alfons suggested that she abort the fetus, but she couldn''t do it. Alfons said the risk of her dying while giving birth was too big. She was already weak, how could she raise another human?


    Still, she declined.


    How could she kill an innocent soul who knows nothing about her sins? She had money, she was rich and influential. She had enough to raise a baby. She had a weak body, but she could employ hundreds of maids to take care of her son. So what if she was a single parent?


    She remembered Alfonsughing at her and calling her delusional. That was the first time that Alfons called her some nasty names and, because of that, she chose to stay away from him. She moved out of Du Empire and gave birth in Kaplon  a continent in the north where it snowed almost all year.


    Luca was born away from everyone else. When she decided toe back, Luca was already two years old. At that time, she came back because Alfons apologized and told her he wanted to meet Luca. Of course, the naive Gabi was foolish enough to believe her cousin.


    After some thought, she now believed that Alfons asked her toe back so he could kill her and cause a war  no, she wasn''t just talking about civil war, but a war between Xu Country and Du Empire.


    "Young Miss? Are you awake?"


    "What is it? Nonim?" she answered when she heard the Head Maid''s voice.


    "Young Miss" the head maid Nonim walked inside her room, she gave her a bow before saying, "Young Master Alfons called. He asked about your health."


    "Ah." She knew that Alfons had been trying to make the servants in this house his subordinate, but the Head Maid, who was once herte mother''s maid, had always been loyal to Gabi. She was an honest woman who isn''t scared of pointing out her faults.


    After her rebirth, she immediately asked Nonim to report everything that Alfons does.


    "What did you say?" Gabi asked.


    "I told him that you are not feeling well you barely go out of your room anymore."


    "Very good." Gabi nodded. "What did he say?"


    "Well, he was talking about his uing graduation."


    "Oh? Graduation already?" As expected of Alfons. He must have found a way toplete his thesis. "Well next time he calls you, please tell him I am feeling a bit better. I am now walking in and out of the mansion and doing some light exercises. I am also eating well and reading a lot of books."


    How could she miss his graduation? Gabi smiled inwardly.


    During his graduation party, Gabi will fall into another one of Alfons'' schemes that would start the destruction of the Ren Family  her maternal family.


    From Alfons'' exnation before Gabi''s death, it is reasonable that he would cause the destruction of the Ren Family because they are the indirect reason why his father left his mother. The rich and influential Ren Family.


    "Ah Nonim please asked the driver to prepare the car. I need to go somewhere."


    "Miss, may I ask where are you going? You are still weak you"


    "It''s fine. I am just buying some pieces of jewelry."


    "Jewelry? How about I call the private jewelry designer too "


    "No need. I want to breathe some fresh air."


    "Alright then I will tell the driver to prepare the car." This time, she is going to prepare thoroughly to fight back against Alfons'' scheme. To start with, she needed information.


    And since her salon is not yet ready, she is nning to buy it from a group of people that specializes in information gathering.


    The Bobo Jewelry Store.


    An international jewelrypany that operates in almost all continents in this world.

 Chapter 499: Archy

    Chapter 499: Archy


    Aden Shen leaned against his chair while massaging his temple. A loud sigh escaped his lips.


    "Boss"


    He could hear his assistant''s voice just outside of his office. "What?" he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. ''Rx,'' he thought.


    "Well Miss Aya has been calling since this morning."


    "And?" The mention of his sister''s name made him frown.


    "He called again now."


    "And?"


    "She said she wants to talk to you."


    "Yeah put her through." He opened his phone and received the call that his assistant forwarded.


    "What the hell?"


    "Is that how you greet your elder brother?" Aden adjusted his convertible chair. Working with a chair that he could turn into a bed anytime is divine.


    "Come home." Aya''s voice sounded like steel.


    "No."


    "Come home!"


    "I''m busy."


    "Hah let me guess. You arezily slouching right now!"


    "You are right. You are very smart indeed."


    "Stop it. It won''t work this time."


    "Heh"


    "Elder brother wherever you aree home and do your job!"


    "No can do."


    "Elder brother!"


    "I''m busy."


    "Busy slouching!?"


    "I''m not slouching. I''m peacefully lying down with some wine next to me." He faked a loud sigh. "But your voice is just stressing me out."


    "You  How could you say that? Thepany"


    "Is going to work without me. After all, you are there. Ah I should talk to mother about this. Why did she have to make me the COO when you are very capable?"


    "Brother"


    "I''m not going home."


    "But "


    "No buts! I am not going home."


    For a few seconds, there was only silence on the other line. Until he heard someone sobbed.


    Almost immediately, Aden''s face changed. He sat up. "Did something happen?" His lips twisted into an angry frown. "Who made you cry?"


    "Aya?"


    "I need to go back. I will call youter."


    Aya didn''t wait for her brother to say something as she ended the call.


    "Aya?" Aden''s face turned darker. "What the hell?" Aden shook his head before calling his assistant. "Sari!"


    "Boss?"


    "Prepare the ne. We are going home."


    "Ah? Then what about Young Master Ye?"


    "Ah tell him to screw himself. Aya is crying I have my priorities."


    "But sir Young Master Ye needed your help to"


    "Meh... What brat is really useless. He is older than me and the future king of this country and yet he is asking for my help with such trivial things. Tell him to get married and let his wife help him."


    "Uh Sir how could I say that to a prince?"


    "Ah, right?" Aden grabbed his dark gray coat and put it on. However, just as he was about to go out of his office, another one of his men, arrive.


    "Sir, we have an emergency."


    "Tureis! How could youe in without even knocking?" Sari''s deep voice echoed inside his office.


    "Sorry Brother Sari, but this is really an emergency."


    "What is it?"


    "A woman is asking to see the in charge."


    "A woman?"


    "Yes, sir."


    Sari immediately walked towards his twin brother, who was wearing an all-white suit, the exact opposite of Sari''s all-ck clothes. "Tureis, aren''t you the one in charge of this store? What''s this for? Do you think anyone can just talk to the boss?"


    "Ah!? Right! I am in charge, but this woman is different. She knows that I am not in charge."


    "Did she tell you who she was?" Aden calmly asked. He poured another wine into his ss and started twirling it in his hands.


    "Ah, yes. She said her name is Gabi."


    "Gabi?"


    "Yes, sir."


    "Gabi who?"


    "She just said her name is Gabi."


    Aden sighed. "Tureis you are acting like this again. Is this Gabi pretty?"


    "Ah? What? No no. Not at all, boss. She had pink hair."


    "Gabi with pink hair."


    "Yes, boss."


    "And she said she needs to see me?"


    "Yes, she knows that you are Archy."


    "Ah. Did she say why she wanted to see me?" Aden asked. He walked towards the nervous Tureis who always acts like a hormonal teenager around pretty women. "Tureis? What did she say?"


    "She uh she smiled at me."


    *PAK*


    Unable to restrain himself, Sari smacked his twin brother''s head. "Boss let me take care of this man."


    Seeing the twins about to start fighting again, Aden shook his head.


    "Ah, boss she also said that this is about the Sealey Family and that you would understand it once you see her."


    Sealey family? Almost immediately, Aden''s face changed. The very reason why he had been stuck in this hellhole is because of that damn crown prince who was asking for his help. And that thing had something to do with the Sealey Family.


    Just who the hell is this woman?


    "Alright, I will see her. You two go at the back. We will go back to Xu Country after this."


    Aden walked towards the elevator that would take him towards the Bobo Jewelry store just above this underground facility. He then walked inside the VVIP room and just as he expected, a woman wearing a white asymmetrical white shirt paired with some high waist denim shorts.


    ''A kid?''


    "The woman looked really beautiful with her pink bob and pale skin. But she looked like a skinny teenager.


    "You are Gabi the Pink Haired woman?" He opened his suit and sat opposite the woman.


    "And you are Archy?" she lifted one of her beautifully crafted brows.


    "You want to talk to me?" Questions that have been answered with questions. Leaning back, Archy smirked inwardly. "What would a little girl like you want with a man like me?" he asked.


    "I am no longer a kid."


    Aden''s eyes brightened. "You look like one."


    "Stop wasting my time. Please tell your boss that I want to meet him."


    "Huh?"


    "I know you are not Archy."


    "Huh???"


    "Archy is an old guy."


    This woman...


    Aden frowned. "Who told you that I am not Archy?"


    "How could someone in his twenties run an international information guild like Bobo Jewelry Store?" she asked.


    But instead of getting mad, Aden smiled at her. "How could a teenager like you know about the real nature of my business?"

 Chapter 500: A Divorced Woman

    Chapter 500: A Divorced Woman


    Gabi opened her mouth but close it again, saying nothing. The action reminded her of a goldfish that is trying to struggle for some air. Truth be told, she wasn''t expecting to meet Archy today.


    All she wanted was to meet someone with the highest authority.


    In the past lifetime, Archy and the Bobo Jewelries is one of the reasons why Alfons found it hard to acquire information in the ck market. For some reason, Archy seemed to hate Alfons so much, he warned his people not to work with Alfons.


    Because Alfons hated the Bobo Jewelries and their boss, he would often talk about them with her. Alfons wanted them gone from Du Empire, but Gabi couldn''t really find anything about them. She couldn''t help him at all.


    However, she was certain that their Boss''s name was Archy.


    The thing was, she couldn''t be certain who Archy looked like. She was assuming it was a more mature guy as this jewelry store had existed for over ten years now. However, the guy in front of her looked really young. Possibly in his early orte twenties. He was taller than the guy who first entertained her the moment she arrived.


    There was something about the man''s gaze, though. It was as if she had met him before, but she couldn''t remember where it was. "Please tell Archy that I know something about the Sealey Family," she said.


    "What do you know about Sealey Family?" At least the guy seemed interested in the Sealey Family. She wondered if Archy ordered the man to ask her about it.


    "Everyone knows that the Sealey Family is one of the most fast-growing constructionpanies in the Empire," she started. This was actually the first time that she had negotiated with someone in this timeline! And while she was confident about the information that she holds, the man''s gaze towards her was making her ufortable.


    There was just something about his eyes that made her scared.


    It was as if he could see through her like he could prate her soul and tell if she was lying or not.


    Was he someone important in the Bobo Jewelry store?


    Earlier, the man who entertained her was treated by a boss by everyone. However, when she mentioned the name Archy, he immediately caved in and showed that he wasn''t the real boss. However, this guy was different.


    Despite mentioning his boss'' name over and over, he wasn''t showing any nervousness. Perhaps he was someone close to the real Archy?


    "Yes, they are currently one of the most sessful entrepreneurs in this year."


    "Many people wanted to take them down."


    The man lifted an eyebrow. "Little girl do your parents know that you are here talking about taking apany down?"


    "I am turning twenty-one soon," she blurted out. Her hand tightened around the strap of her handbag. Today, she was wearing some shorts, something that she had never worn in her past life. She did it because she wanted to experience walking around like a normal citizen, enjoying some ice creams around the corner, and walking inside a shopping mall.


    Those were things that she never experienced in her previous life.


    "Oh? And what would a small twenty-one-year-old young miss known about the Sealeys?"


    She took a deep breath. "I know a few things from my father."


    "Father"


    "I am here because I believe that the Bobo Jewelry Store is trustworthy."


    "Ah, so you came here with some information because you wanted something?"


    "Don''t we all want something?" she retorted, surprising the man.


    "Then tell me what you want."


    "I want information and the right to ask your men to help me out when I am in critical situations."


    The man pursed his pinkish lips. "And in exchange?"


    "I will give you some information that I learned from my father."


    Again, he squinted his eyes at her. "I am in a hurry. I will give you five minutes to convince me that you are useful."


    Gabi gulped. She straightened her back before she said. "I know the current Sealey Family''s weakness. To the outside, he is an outstanding man, a family man with two smart and handsome sons. His wife is also beautiful and kind. To everyone else, the Sealey Family from ria is the perfect family."


    The man nodded. These were all true, everything that she was saying can be found on the inte.


    She continued, "However, Mr. Sealey isn''t as perfect as everyone thought. He is hiding a dark secret."


    "And that is?"


    "He isn''t a real Sealey."


    As expected, the man lifted his eyebrows. "What are you talking about?"


    "He is impersonating the real Mr. Sealey. The real Mr. Sealey has been imprisoned by his wife in the basement of the mansion."


    "You "


    "The first son is the real son of Mr. Sealey and his wife however the second son is the impersonator''s son." In the previous lifetime, she fell into another one of Alfons'' schemes during Alfons'' graduation celebration. She got drunk and Harry Sealey, the second son of the Sealey Family, helped her to her room.


    It was the cliche scheme where everyone saw Harry leave her room. Nothing happened between them, but some rumor started about her and Harry being in a secret rtionship. The rumor states that they had to keep it a secret because Sealey Construction is a directpetitor of Ren Aesthetics, which was Gabi''s maternal family.


    At first, the rumors didn''t affect Gabi. However, it was Alfons who told her that the rumors could impact him negatively. In the end, she agreed to marry Harry. This gave Harry and Alfons more ess to the Ren Aesthetics.


    After two years, the marriage fell apart because she discovered that Harry is still together with his college girlfriend. Divorce immediately followed.


    At twenty-three, Gabi was already a divorced woman. Wasn''t she pathetic?


    Just the thought of it, made her blood boil.


    How stupid.


    "Do you realize that telling me some random information would get you killed?" The man''s cold voice took her back from her stupor.


    .....


    More chapters areing. I made a mistake and forgot to put discount for thest tier. Because of this, I will give 50% discount next month.


    I apologize for the inconvenient.

 Chapter 501: Grandfather

    Chapter 501: Grandfather


    However, his coldness wasn''t enough to dampen her mood. She smiled. "I do. Isn''t that why I''m here? I trust that you will tell your boss about this information."


    The man had a steely gaze again. This man was really good-looking, but he kept on staring at her like he was about to strangle her or something. Was it just because she was wearing something that made her look younger?


    It wasn''t her fault that her body was on the underdeveloped side! It was because she was really weak.


    "And how do I contact you?" he asked.


    "I am sure you will find a way." There was a smile on her face, or at least she tried to maintain a gentle smile on her face. She ced a ck calling card with only her name on it. Then she smiled. "Please tell Mr. Archy that I am looking forward to our next meeting." With a grin on her face, Gabi left the VVIP room and made her way to the second floor of the jewelry store where most high-end pieces of jewelry were located. Unlike when she was on the first floor, she didn''t ask for some assistance because she just wanted to see some of thetest designs that they have.


    Though Bobo Jewelries sounds cute, they are really known for their elegant designs. Until now, no one knows the identity of their designer. However, she very much wanted to meet the person behind this beautiful jewelry. After a few minutes, she decided to buy some new dangling earrings.


    Since she wasn''t someone who loves to party and go out in her previous life, she had missed a lot of things the people her age and status do. For instance, she never really bought any jewelry for herself. Most of her jewelry was inherited from her mother or given by her father and Alfons. Even after she got married in the past timeline, her jewelry was still gifted by her husband and Alfons.


    After she left the jewelry store, she asked her driver to visit the cemetery where her mother was buried. Her mother, Rosa Ren, died when she was five years old. Since then, the only reason why she would go outside aside from buying some new books is to visit her mother in the Ren Family Resting Mansion  or at least that''s what her grandfather called it.


    The resting mansion is not a part of the Ren Family estate. It was located in another piece ofnd that the Ren Family owned long before her grandfather was born. The Resting Mansion was actually a huge house where the ashes of the people from the Ren Family were ced. And just like any other mansion, it had a total of ten rooms where people from the Ren Family could use every time they visit and spend some time with the dead.


    Gabi knew this was some weird tradition and until now, she didn''t understand why the Ren Family does that. However, she had learned to ept it.


    After about an hour, Gabi''s car finally arrived inside the Mansion that was surrounded by tall concrete gates and pine trees. It was a massive estate in the middle of two-acrend. Trees and flowers surrounded the house.


    Her grandfather said the house was actually built more than three hundred years ago.


    The Ren Family is one of the Founding Families of the Du Empire. Their history ran deep. It was said that the Ren Family was once close to the Ye Family. That was until one of them betrayed the other. Or at least that''s what the rumor said. But in this life, she knew that rumors were known as rumors for a reason.


    In the past life, she tried to ask her father and even Alfons about this matter before, but none of them could give her an exact answer about this matter. She eyed the tall pine trees that were perfectly lined on the concrete road that would lead her to the mansion. Anyone who would look at this ce would find it hard to believe that this estate is just a ce that was built to house the ashes of the dead Ren Family member.


    This entire estate looked really luxurious and just different.


    She then looked at the tall tower next to the mansion. It reminded her of the tower where Rapunzel lived, tall and without windows except for the two windows near the top. Her grandfather said that this tower was used by their ancestors before to check the surroundings during civil wars in Du Empire.


    "Miss your grandfather''s butler is walking our way."


    "Hm?" She immediately turned towards the man with white long hair that was neatly tucked in a ponytail. Seeing Mr. Esdras here only meant one thing.


    Her grandfather is inside the mansion.


    Without waiting for the butler to approach them, she got out of the car and smiled. "Mr. Esdras"


    "Young Miss," he gave her a bow. "Master is inside having his tea. Shall I prepare something specifically for you?"


    "Ah? Yes, please give me something to eat."


    "E  eat?"


    She nodded in response. That''s right. She doesn''t usually eat around her grandfather and has never spent some tea time with him. This was simply because Alfons said her grandfather was scary. And like a good little cousin, she thought it would be better to stop seeing her grandfather to avoid reminding Alfons the existence of this scary man.


    Eh. Once again, she was really stupid.


    But then again, she couldn''t really me her previous self for acting that way. After all, Alfons was her only friend, her confidant. He was someone who treated her like a real sibling, someone whom she considered as a lifeline.


    In the previous timeline, she had sacrificed a lot for Alfons, for him to make her suffer..


    Ah, she was really unlucky.


    "Then Does miss still liked cupcakes?"


    She smiled at that. When she was a child, she really loved those cupcakes with colorful sprinkles. Her mother used to bake a lot of these cupcakes at home. "Yes, please. Also please take me to see grandfather. It''s been so long since I had a conversation with him."

 Chapter 502: Fixer

    Chapter 502: Fixer


    "Grandfather"


    "Hmmm" The old man with a head full of white hair nodded at her. "Take a seat."


    Sheplied she was expecting the old man to have his tea at the balcony at the back of the mansion. However, he was actually in the small library on the second floor. He was staring at the Canvas that hang on the wall behind her.


    "It''s been a few months," he spoke. "You look thinner."


    "My father just died."


    "Ah. I heard about it."


    Of course he did. After all, her father was still a prime minister when he died. Yet, her grandfather never showed up at her father''s funeral. She used to ask why the old man seemed to hate her father so much.


    It must be because of Alfons.


    "I trust that you have been well, grandpa?" she asked. As a man in histe sixties, Mr. Ren Zhou is still as strong as a horse. Despite his age, he was still the current chairman of Ren Aesthetics and Co.


    "Hmm. And you?"


    He was always a man of few words, his face always looked stern and serious. But right now, the old man was actually strangely looking at her.


    Was it because she was looking straight into his eyes?


    "I am doing my best to recover my health." Gabi smiled. She never hated the old man. However, she wasn''t very close to him either. The small rift in their rtionship only increased because she was stupid enough to think that she was actually helping Alfons.


    "You came here to visit your mother?"


    She nodded in response. Seeing her grandfather was really unexpected.


    "Are you still nning to finish your studies?" He asked after a long silence.


    "No."


    "You decide to stop your masters?"


    "Yes." What was the use of education? Before her rebirth, she had masters and have a lot of awards and certificates. Those were not enough to make her smarter outside of her mansion. "Grandfather I want to work for thepany."


    She saw her grandfather''s hands shook. He immediately put his teacup down. "Company?"


    "Ren Aesthetics."


    "You "


    "I know I didn''t study management. I took International Rtions to make my father happy. But that doesn''t mean, I love it." This was a lie. Gabi actually liked it. She liked politics. She grew up watching her father serve the country as a politician. However, she needed to get close to her grandfather to prevent the tragedy that would soon befall the only family she had left.


    "You  You want to work for Ren Aesthetics?"


    "I know I don''t qualify for any position. I have no background in business either. So I wanted to work behind the scenes and help thepany." Before the old man could ask any more questions, she added. "Please don''t get me wrong. I just thought that I am I am alone. The only family I have left is you. Of course."


    "Behind the scenes?"


    "Grandfather just to make myself clearer. I want to work as thepany''s lobbyist, a fixer."


    Ren Zhou squinted his eyes at her. "Lobbyist?"


    She knew he was unconvinced. Everyone knew that Gabrielle Sutton had a weak body. All her life, she took sses inside her mansion. She was home-schooled and learned a lot of theories with no proper application. To put it simply, everyone thought she was the type of woman that know all ways to create a fire in the wilderness but couldn''t really identify the type of material she could use to ignite the mes.


    Shecked the experience and social skills to survive in the outside world.


    "Yes," she confidently smiled. "A lobbyist."


    "Gabi"


    For the first time since she arrived, the old man finally mentioned her name. "Being a lobbyist isn''t child''s y."


    "Let me prove myself to you."


    "You  " The old man didn''t continue the words that he wanted to speak. Instead, he sighed before shaking his head. "Just now you look just like your mother."


    "Grandpa"


    "That child. She always looked so determined and smart. Her eyes were bright and sharp." Another sigh escaped her grandfather''s lips. "Too bad. Love blinded her."


    "Grandpa, this isn''t about the past." Until now, Gabi didn''t know the entire story of her parent''s marriage. But she wasn''t in a hurry. She believes that she had the time to think about this once she gains her grandfather''s trust. She gulped. "I just want to learn how to defend myself."


    If the old man wouldn''t allow her to work for thepany, then she could only do other ways to force his hand. And it wouldn''t be pretty.


    "How do you n to prove your skills?"


    ''Skills'' that''s right. No matter what, Ren Zhou isn''t the type of person that would allow anyone to take over the Ren Aesthetics just because they are blood-rted. He always values skills and strength above anything else. It was a smart strategy that avoided any dramas and fighting inside the family. However, this would also be his ultimate downfall.


    Gabi smiled at the old man. "I heard that you are going to bid on the uing project for the Empire''s Annual Event."


    "How did you "


    She smirked. She was talking about an Arena that the Ye Family wanted to build. This Arena was only called an Arena, but it was actually designed to look like a whole vige. It would be big enough to house a hundred delegates from other countries. There would be a pool, mall, salons, spas, banks, restaurant, entertainment center, and a big arena that would be the venue of many international events in the future. The thing is, no one knows this. At least not yet..


    Everyone thought this was only an arena when, in fact, this is a project of a lifetime!


    And this is the project that the Sealey family won because of Gabi''s help.


    "This time,panies from all over the world would try to bid for the project. Though Ren Aesthetics is considered big, we wouldn''t be able to win the bidding this time."


    "And if we win?" she asked.

 Chapter 503: Mission Accomplished!

    Chapter 503: Mission Aplished!


    "Then I will give you thepany."


    "I don''t need that." She immediately declined. "I don''t know how to manage apany and I have no interest in doing so." When ites to inheritance, the only person that was destined to inherit the whole Ren Family should be her, Gabrielle. This was because her mother was the only child of Ren Zhou. However, since Rosa Ren refused to manage the business after she married Gabrielle''s father, Ren Zhou was forced to train her brother''s sons and daughter in thepany.


    This decision had been proven right when Gabi also refused to work for the Ren Aesthetics.


    Right now, all the higher-ups of the Ren Aesthetics were from the side branch of the Ren Family.


    Gabi believed that this was the reason why Alfons wanted to get close to her grandfather. He wanted to be the heir of the Ren Family. However, in the past and present life, her grandfather wasn''t some fool man. He never trusted Alfons, and he immediately made it clear that he isn''t going to trust him in the future.


    For this reason, Alfons helped the Sealey Family ruined the Ren Family. The n started when Gabi married the second young master of the Sealey Family.


    "Then why do this?"


    Gabi smiled at the old man. "I know that brother Earl is doing good as the current VP. He had been smart and cunning. He deserves to have thepany."


    "Earl?"


    She nodded. Her grandfather didn''t just put Earl Ren as the VP of thepany because he is a Ren. It was because of Earl''s talents and potential. Earl Ren wasn''t someone she was very close to. However, during the fall of the Ren family, the only one who didn''t leave thepany was none other than Earl. He was also the very same person who stayed with her grandfather on his deathbed. Earl should be about six or seven years older than her.


    "I believe that he is loyal to the family and is smart enough to run thepany."


    "What about you?" As always, the old man was blunt about everything. He continued, "If you have no ambition to take over thepany, then why are you doing this?"


    "For the money."


    The old man stared at her, bbergasted. She responded with a sly smile. Bluntness can only be countered by bluntness.


    "Money?"


    "Yes, grandfather. I only want to receive money. Chairman and Chief Executives are really busy. I don''t want that. What I want is to receive the money while doing half the work as the CEO."


    "You  Haha  "The old man startedughing, his shoulders shook, the smiling lines on his face be even more prominent. Yet, for some reason, it was as if the old man looked a little younger. "Ah. I never expected you to be so blunt."


    "Please forgive me, grandfather, my social skills are a bitcking."


    "Lacking? You call thiscking?"


    She pursed her lips, eyes glittering with mischief.


    "Alright. I will agree with your terms. The bidding They haven''t announced any specifics about it yet. These were mere spections from the ministers. However, I am going to let Earl give you the full authority to do what you want for us to win this bidding."


    Mission aplished. "Thank you, grandfather. I will never waste your trust."


    "Ah, you misunderstood. This isn''t because I trust you."


    Her lips thinned. Really? Then


    "This is because I trust myself. If my judgment is wrong, then I shall resign as the Chairman and give everything to my brother and Earl."


    "That" Isn''t that too much of a consequence? However, her grandfather said that he was doing this because he trusted his judgment. Meaning, if she fails, her grandfather would start doubting his own judgment too. And to a business executive, being unsure of your own decision is a death sentence.


    "Alright I need some time with your grandfather. Go ahead and visit your mother. You should visit this resting house more often."


    "Thank you, grandfather. I will definitely visit this ce more."


    "Good!"


    Gabi could still hear her grandfather''s chuckle until she decided to close the door of the study. A smile was already on her face. Gaining her grandfather''s confidence felt really good. She started humming as she walked towards the first floor where the ashes of her mother were peacefully resting.


    After a few minutes, she decided to go back home as she was honestly getting tired already.


    "Young Miss? Do you need anything?"


    "Mr. Esdras thank you. Did grandfather tell you to walk me back to the car?"


    "No. I came to walk you back"


    "Is there something wrong?"


    "No. But I have never heard the masterugh like that for a long time. So I am honestly d that you came."


    She nodded. Her grandfather wasn''t that scary, but he just looked really serious all the time. He seldom smiled and would even frown every time Alfons was around. As a child, it became obvious to her that her grandfather didn''t like Alfons very much. At that time, she thought it was only because her grandfather was looking down on her cousin because he can be a bit dumb  especially at school.


    "Young Miss?"


    "Hm?"


    "If you have the time you should visit this ce more."


    "Why is  Don''t tell me grandfather is already living here?" she couldn''t help but ask. Why would the old man live here? This ce is basically a cemetery. Isn''t that a bit scary?


    "No. He doesn''t sleep here. But he stays here all the time. He said he had been having dreamstely."


    "Dreams?"


    "He wouldn''t tell me what it was, but it started around the time of your father''s death."


    "That "


    "Since that time, the master would stay in this ce all day and talk to thete Madam and thete Miss Rosa."


    She furrowed her brows. Clearly, her rebirth had caused a few changes. "How about his health?" If the old man has been having bad dreams, then it only means he isn''t sleeping properly, no? And once an older man like him would tire himself out, it would be easier for him to get sick.


    No. Her grandfather needed to stay healthy. "Then I will visit more. And Mr. Esdras? Please prepare a chessboard and some other games next time that I visit. I will call you ahead of time."


    With that, she looked back at the mansion before she smiled and got inside the car.

 Chapter 504: Angry

    Chapter 504: Angry


    "Where have you been?"


    Gabi raised an eyebrow at Alfons, who weed her with an umbre in his hand. She smiled. "Brother are you here to give me the invitation to your graduation already?"


    "Gabi your body is still weak. How could you go out without guards and maids? You should "


    "I went to see mother." She continued smiling. "Is there something wrong? You look furious." Of course, he would be furious. Every time Gabi went to the mansion, Alfons would apany her. Even if Alfons wasn''t really allowed to go inside because he was not a Ren, he would wait for her outside of the mansion.


    At first, she thought this was because her brother cared for her so much that he is willing to stand outside of the mansion, umbre and handkerchief in hand, just to take care of her. It convinced her that Alfons and only Alfons cared about her. Now that she thought about it, those actions seemed to iste her from her rtives and even from her own grandfather.


    It was because she knew that he was outside waiting for her, that''s why she wouldn''t spend some time with her rtives and immediately leave any type of gathering. She used to feel so much guilt about it that she would just leave everyone and spend some time with Alfons instead.


    "Why didn''t you inform me?"


    "Brother? What are you talking about?" she asked. "You are so busy with your graduation. How could I disturb you? I heard that you are having problems with your thesis. I just didn''t want to trouble you. That''s all."


    "Oh I you are right. I am indeed having trouble." He escorted her towards the main door and used the umbre to protect her from the sun. "Speaking of my thesis"


    "Ah, brother! I bought something for you." She interrupted him. She then signaled the driver that was carrying her things to approach them. "This one"


    "A jewelry? You bought jewelry?"


    "Ah, yes. It was supposed to be a graduation gift, but what''s wrong? Are you feeling well?" Alfons was frowning. Obviously, the fact that she went out alone was making him angry. She couldn''t help but wonder why he would act like she was spending his money.


    "What?"


    "You look Are you alright brother? You look angry. Did I do something wrong? Perhaps you didn''t like my gift?"


    "Of course, I like it." His frown vanished and was reced by a sweet smile. "I just I wasn''t so used to this so."


    "Then you are very much wee. No need to worry, brother. From now on, I will buy you more gifts."


    "Gabi there is no need to do that. Really. You know me. I am someone who loves simple things. I am not materialistic. These things"


    Gabi lowered her head. "I should have known that you wouldn''t like my gift."


    "Gabi"


    When she lifted her head again, there were already tears in her eyes. "I knew that brother isn''t the type to love material things. You only wore an old watch that father gave you. So I thought it would be good to give you a new wristwatch to congratte you. I didn''t think that brother would criticize me and call me materialistic."


    "What?"


    Heh, Gabi smiled inwardly.


    "Gabi, I didn''t say that you are "


    "It''s alright." She pursed her lips and avoided his gaze.


    "Gabi this"


    Heh. Alfons should be here because of his thesis. Isn''t it the best time to show him her acting skills?


    "I should go inside." She didn''t wait for him to say anything as she grabbed the paper bag with all the pieces of jewelry that she bought and strode inside the mansion. She heard him call out her name, but she chose to ignore him.


    That man was here because he wanted her help, and she wasn''t willing to do anything for him at all. She already knew that Alfons won''t stop trying to make her introduce him to her grandfather and to do that, she bought the jewelry gift for him. Why, you asked?


    Because he was a hypocrite.


    He would never ept such an expensive gift in front of other people.


    Once he would start talking about being a simple person, she was already nning to act offended. Then use this opportunity to avoid seeing him. After all, it wasn''t unusual for her to cry because of small things that made her emotional.


    "Hm?" She looked at her phone, who was still vibrating. "Who is this?" she answered.


    "Miss Sutton"


    "This voice Are you Mr. Jeweler?"


    "It''s Aden."


    "Oh," she nodded as she walked inside her room. She made sure to lock the door before she said. "Did you talk to Mr. Archy? What did he say?"


    "He agreed to help you out."


    "Really?" Suspicion grew inside her. She was expecting Archy to at least test her and asked her for more information.


    "You don''t believe me?"


    She let out a sigh. The other party seems to be enjoying this. "Were you able to confirm the information that I gave you?"


    "We are going to do a DNA test. However, it has been confirmed that there were few changes. Small ones. The previous Mr. Sealey and Mr. Sealey now are almost the same."


    Gabi sat on her bed, unmoving. She wasn''t expecting that Archy and his people were this fast. She knew that they were considered kings in the ck market, but she thought it would take them at least a few days to figure it out.


    "Miss Sutton"


    "Call me Gabi."


    "Then call me Aden." She could hear the other party chuckle. Was he mocking her? Irritation shed in her eyes.


    "I was nning to call you Aden, anyway!"


    "Ah, you sound angry."


    "I''m not."


    "You are."


    "I''m not!"


    "I can see you turn red from where I''m at."


    "What?" she immediately looked at the window and discovered that all of her curtains were closed. There was no way that this man could see her. "Are you "


    "Kidding." His sweetughter echoed on the other side. She tightened her grip on the phone.


    "I am not here to joke around, Aden!" she hissed. This man she would definitely pay him back for making fun of her!


    "So, you are angry."


    Why was heughing? Is there something funny? Gabi gulped as she tried to hide the anger in her voice.

 Chapter 505: People

    Chapter 505: People


    "Miss Sutton to everyone you are the weak daughter of thete Prime Minister. Who would have thought that beneath the "


    "Mr. Aden, may I know what you want?" she asked, irritated.


    "I am going away for a few weeks. I will see you once I get back. Let''s talk about our cooperation then."


    "Alright."


    "However, if you need anything, go ahead and call the number that you saved "


    "I didn''t save any number."


    "You just did."


    "" Did he hacked her phone? She shivered inwardly. This was clearly a show of power. It only means that this man could be someone important. Perhaps he was Archy''s trusted hacker? "You know hacking other people''s phone is not very good. What if I had nudes on my phone?"


    "Don''t worry. I didn''t check your images."


    She gritted her teeth inwardly. Good thing this phone doesn''t have anything important aside from the numbers of her hairstylist and seamstress. Even her doctor''s number isn''t on this phone, as well as some other things that could expose her. "I will forgive you this time. However, you have to do something for me."


    "Oh?"


    "I need people"


    "How many?"


    "You are not going to ask me why I need them?" she raised an eyebrow.


    "No need. This is a partnership, after all. You are not someone below me."


    She pursed her lips. At least this man''s awareness is on point. "I need people that could do questionable things."


    "Ah. I got it."


    "That''s it?"


    "Do you need anything else?" he asked.


    "No. But you didn''t even ask Archy''s permission." What if Archy would say no to her request?


    "Oh. No need. That is an expected request."


    "Was it because you already know who I am?"


    "Something like that."


    She nodded. She assumed that their informationwork is great. It only took them a couple of hours to know that she didn''t have anyone that she could rely on other than herself.


    "Alright. I will call that number if I need something."


    "Hmmm. Do you need anything else?"


    She gulped. She had a lot of ns. However, she didn''t want to reveal anything to this unknown man. "No. Nothing. Please tell Archy that I appreciate his help."


    "You are very much wee, Miss Sutton. I will see you again."


    Before she could reply, the person on the other line already cut off the call. A sigh escaped her lips.


    It seems that going to Bobo jewelry was really the right choice. However, she can''t lower her guard down. Alfons isn''t the only one that she needed to get rid of. She stood and went to her study.


    This ce was not really an office, but more like a library. After all, she only stayed in this room to read a lot of books. "I want to remove all fiction books in this room and transfer it to the library downstairs." She ordered while pointing at the whole shelf of romance and erotic books that she used to read. Because of herck of experience in the outside world, she clung to reading romance and other fiction novels. While she enjoyed them until now, she thought that having all these books is only taking up too much space.


    "The whole shelf?" Mr. Jonathan, the butler, asked.


    "Yes, all of it."


    "Then"


    "I want to buy newer books." Right now, she couldn''t fully trust Jonathan yet. Because of this, she thought it would be good to tell him that she wanted to buy more romance books than tell him that she was nning to convert this room into an office  a real one.


    "Ah, take all this horror and thrillers too." She pointed at another shelf. "As well as those arts. I don''t need them anymore. Find time to sort out the books In the library. I am donating those to public libraries. It would be good to donate those books instead of letting them rot here."


    "Yes, miss."


    "Nonim?"


    "I need to hire someone as my secretary. He or she will being here in the next few days. Please prepare a room."


    "Miss, if you are hiring someone, then I believe it is good that you inform the Young Master about it in advance he "


    "Why do I need to inform him?" she asked, without looking at the butler.


    "Miss, I know this is a bit presumptuous, but I heard that you are upset and "


    "You are right. It is presumptuous of you to get involved in my personal matters."


    "Miss!"


    "Yes, Spencer Jonathan, what else do you want to say?" Finally, she removed her gaze from the shelves and looked at the butler. Spencer Jonathan was Mr. Jonathan''s name. However, aside from her father, no one else called him Spencer or even mention his first name at all. "I am listening," she added.


    The butler''s face turned ugly. "Miss, I believe what you did earlier was wrong. I have watched you grow up with the young master and this was the first time that I saw him that hurt. He looked disappointed as he left the mansion."


    "And?"


    "Well I"


    "What does it have to do with me hiring a secretary to help me out?" she gave him a chilling smile. "I don''t understand your point, Mr. Jonathan. As the new head of the house, I would be busy taking care of everything in this estate and my father''s investments. I need a secretary while you are here talking about a sad adult? I am sure this is nothing but a misunderstanding, yes?"


    "Miss"


    "Did I say something wrong?" she asked.


    After a few seconds, Spencer shook his head. "No. The young miss is right. Please forgive me. I will not talk about this matter in the future."


    "Good. Now where was I? Nonim?" Once again, a beautiful smile on her face appeared.


    "The room"


    "Yes. I want a room for my secretary. Also someone from the Ren Family would probably visit anytime soon. So please inform everyone about it. And of course, please prepare a room as well for the guests. I also printed each and every identity of the Ren Family members as well as foods that they are not allowed to eat. Please make sure that everyone in the kitchen is familiar with it to avoid any idents." Since she is going to get closer and closer to the members of the Ren family, she should prepare in advance.

 Chapter 506: Soft Martial Arts

    Chapter 506: Soft Martial Arts


    Just as she expected, Alfons didn''t have the guts to see her again.


    Obviously, this wasn''t because he was scared or anything. In fact, the only reason he didn''t approach her first was the fact that he expected her to apologize for what she did.


    After all, this wasn''t the first time that they had a petty argument like this.


    As a sheltered, sickly woman, everyone knew that Gabi was a very emotional woman. One wrong word and she would end up crying, then fainting.


    That kind of pathetic life was something she didn''t want to repeat this time.


    Because of this, she had started working on herself. Exercising inside her room had be the norm. Right now, she is waiting for some things to happen before making her move. So, she needed to strengthen her body. Aside from this, she ate more meat to gain muscles.


    It had been a week since she went to the jewelry shop and saw Alfons. While Alfons wasn''t making any moves now, she knew that he would grow impatient in the next few days.


    However, she had no time to think of that right now.


    "Young Miss are you sure this is okay?" The man who stood before her asked. This man was none other than the head of the security of the Sutton Mansion. Mr. Glen Szar. "The sound of guns can be  "


    "Thank you, Glen but I really wanted to learn how to shoot." In her previous life, she didn''t have any means to defend herself. Aside from her scheming skills, she had no other redeeming qualities that could save her life. She understood that right now, her body is not yet strong enough to practice martial arts. Because of this, she asked the head guard to teach her how to use a gun.


    "This Missst time that you heard the sound of the gun, you fainted."


    "I know."


    "So this time"


    "I still want to learn."


    "I see"


    She heard Glen sigh. As someone who had worked in the mansion even before she was born, Glen saw her grew up and had started to treat her as his own daughter. This was the reason why she was calling him by his name instead of using any honorifics.


    Moreover, Glen was close to herte mother and father. He used to closely work with the prime Ministers security detail.


    "If that''s what you really want, then I would dly teach you everything that I know. However, if you wanted to learn how to defend yourself, you should also consider learning martial arts. Though your body is weak, there are still ways for you to learn martial arts."


    "What are you talking about?" When she thought of martial arts, the first thing that would appear in her mind were those powerful movements that the guards working for her family would do in the training grounds at the back of the gardens. The movement looks heavy and strong.


    How could her small limbs do that?


    "Soft martial arts."


    "Soft martial arts?"


    "This is a set of movements that isn''t very popr here in Du Empire. It originated in Xu Country. No one knows who started it but the movements were quitezy but precise."


    "Lazy and precise?"


    "Yes. There is a group in Xu Country. A group of expert assassins used this technique. The only reason why I knew it was because I saw one of my friends do it while he was drunk before and saw him in action using the same moves a few weekster."


    "Your friend"


    "He is not from Du Empire. He is from Xu Country. He and I met while I was serving your father. He was serving a member of the royal family in Du Empire."


    "Hold on if this man is serving a royal family then he should be in Du Empire, no?" This only means she could also entice him and maybe even hire him to teach her, right?


    "No. He isn''t. That Royal Family member was not someone from the Du Empire. That''s all I know. I don''t know that person''s identity, however, my friend''s surname is Ma."


    "Ma?"


    "Yes, I call him that name."


    "Oh. Thatst name is not verymon in Du Empire." She nodded. "Well, if you only saw him once, how are you going to teach me his moves?"


    Glen smiled and pointed at his temple. "I have excellent memories. I know some basics of the movements. It''s just targeting some fatal parts of the body. We could mix it with other forms of martial arts. This has been going on in my mind for a long time now and I even started to draw a few of its movements secretly as I am nning to study it. However as you know my son, Geoffrey would never agree to practice such feminine martial arts."


    "Glen, if you and this Ma person would fight to death, who would win?" she asked.


    "Naturally it''s Ma."


    "Eh?" This man Glen was very confident with his fighting skills. But he actually said that someone else is better than him? "Why do you say that?"


    "Miss, you don''t understand this. I might be superior when ites to martial arts, but Ma is different when ites to killing."


    "I understand." She looked at the garden that she could see from the balcony of her office. "So this person is good at killing."


    "Yes. The moves were created to kill. I have seen Ma fight before and that man is not someone that would fight for fun. The goal is basically to kill. No matter the way, he would eliminate the enemy. Kill them, asked questionster. That''s what he used to say," he chuckled. "That man is just a different kind of crazy."


    "Hmthen the drawing that you said you made can you lend it to me? I will see if I can do it. For now I need to start practicing how to shoot a gun, secretly."


    "Secretly?"


    "Yes. I hope to practice in secret."


    Glen smiled at her. "Good. Then let me take you to your father''s secret shooting ground."

 Chapter 507: The Right Choice

    Chapter 507: The Right Choice


    "Howe I didn''t know this ce exists?" Gabi couldn''t help but asked when she saw the room in front of her.


    "Thete prime minister didn''t use this ce for a long time now. He must have forgotten about it. However, this ce originally belonged to thete mistress."


    "My mother?"


    "Yes. This mansion was owned by the mistress and the mistress also made this underground shooting ground."


    "She liked guns?"


    "Yes. Most people from the Ren Family knew how to shoot. The Ren Family has a shooting ground at the back of their mansion. Most children of who grew up in that mansion learned to shoot."


    "That  " She had never heard of this before. "That sounds awesome." The ce in front of her wasn''t really clean. She could see dirt everywhere, coupled with some broken chairs. Her father must have asked other people to store some broken chairs here, as no one was using them.


    "Then I will ask my people to clean it. Most servants don''t know that this ce exists. The butler and Miss Nonim know about it though."


    "Alright. Just buy whatever you need to make everything tidy. We can even add more soundproofing."


    "Thank you, young miss. Now we should go to that room." He was pointing at the only room in the basement. It had steel doors with a square-like machine where one could enter the password. " The password is the Misstress'' birthday. You can easily change it by pressing zero three times after you enter the mistress'' birthdate."


    "Father didn''t change it?"


    "No. Only your father and I know the password of the armory."


    "Ar  armory?" she stiffened. She knew that her father knows how to shoot, but she wasn''t aware of any armories in the basement of the mansion.


    "Ah, yes. The shorter firearm was kept in your father''s vault in the master''s bedroom. Only he knows the password of that vault. In here" Glen entered her mother''s birth date. Followed by a mechanical sound, the door opened. Inside was just like any armory that she saw in some apocalypse movie. It was made of steel and a lot of guns  usually long firearms were tucked around the room.


    It wasn''t really a vast space. Probably about seven to ten square meters. She could hear the sound of a generator around. It should be the one powering up the LED lights on the ceiling. She eyed the metal table in the middle and could see a few boxes of bullets. To her left, there were also other boxes of bullets. To her right was a machine that she didn''t recognize.


    "That one is used to recycle or reuse ammunition. We only use the bullets for practicing, so instead of buying new ones every time, we just recycle some casings. We use that machine to do it."


    "This ce looked really clean."


    "Thest time I was here was about two months back. The Prime minister asked me to clean the firearms."


    "Ah.." This was an expected development. But she couldn''t really say that she hated it. "Well how long would it take you to restore the ce outside?" The long firearms don''t really interest her. First, her arms were too thin. It would be unrealistic for her to even carry those weapons around. And second, her body was too light. The recoil would probably st her off too.


    "What is inside those boxes?" she pointed at the small metal boxes below the long firearm.


    "Those were light and small ones. The Prime Minister doesn''t really like those. They are small and light. They would be perfect as a concealed weapon."


    "Then can I see them?"


    Excitement shone in her eyes as Glen showed her everything in the boxes. To her surprise, the guns didn''t disappoint her at all. Some of them were really small and light. She especially liked that small gun that weighed less than a kilogram and can easily fit in a small purse. To her, that would be the perfect weapon, especially for someone like her who doesn''t have a good body.


    "However, you need to start with the basics. In two days, we can start everything." Glen reminded her. "Let''s start with safety methods of using guns. Then I will show you how to assemble and disassemble both a gun and a bullet. You must know the basics before doing anything else."


    "Alright. I am not in a hurry."


    Soon after, the two left the basement. After Glen left to get the notes, Gabi immediately called for the butler. It is the right time to settle this man''s loyalty now.


    "Miss? You called for me?"


    "Yes. Mr. Jonathan. Please take a seat." She was in her study. The shelves that she had were now gone and were reced by a ck leather L-shaped sofa. Across the sofa was a rectangr table where herptop was located. She watched as Jonathan sat across her. "I need to ask you something."


    The older man pursed his lips.


    She continued. "I can see that you like Alfons a lot."


    "Miss?"


    "Did father tell you that he would be the next head of the Sutton n?" she asked bluntly. "No need to lie. I would understand. After all, I grew up sickly. It was already a surprise that I survive until now." Her body was indeed sickly, but that was only because she was treated as a ss doll since she was young.


    She doesn''t exercise and wasn''t exposed to a lot of things. She was also very picky with her food and just overallcked a lot of nutrition. Of course, she couldn''t really me anyone for taking care of her. Everyone knew that she was born a premature child and my developments were especiallyte. Despite recovering and growing up well, everyone still took care of her like a delicate flower.


    "Yes. Everyone in the mansion knew that he will be the next owner of this house."


    She nodded. This was already expected. "Well did you know that the house wasn''t in father''s name but my name?"


    "Ah?"


    "After my mother''s death. All of her properties and wealth were transferred to my name. My father had no ess to everything. Meaning, my father had no right to give this house to anyone."


    "This"


    "Since father wanted Alfons to be the head of the Sutton Family. Then I have no objections. However he and the rest of the Suttons couldn''t use this house as this is my house." She gave him a sweet smile. "Do you understand what I am trying to say, Mr. Jonathan?" Her point was simple. This house was hers. Their sry also came from her money.


    She was giving him a choice. Either he put his loyalty to the true owner of this house or follow Alfons instead. Will he make the right choice?


    .....


    Next Month, I will give a huge discount because I forgot to put this discount this month. Sorry about that.

 Chapter 508: Head of the House

    Chapter 508: Head of the House


    "I understand." Mr. Jonathan nodded before he stood and gave her a low bow. "I hope the young miss could forgive me. I have served this family for over twenty years. I vowed to continue serving the family until my life ends. I would never doubt the head again."


    She nodded in satisfaction. She knew that Spencer Jonathan was a smart man, and that was the reason why his father allowed him to stay. In fact, the reason Mr. Jonathan gave his loyalty to Alfons was that he was smart. He must have thought Gabi would die at a young age. If he favors Gabi too much, then what would happen to him and his family who also worked as servants in this mansion if Alfons would be the owner of this ce?


    It was a smart choice.


    But right now, everything has changed. Gabi wasn''t nning on dying anytime soon.


    "Thank you." She reached out and grabbed the small envelopes located on the coffee table in front of her. "These are formal invitations to gs and uing events. Please sort them out. Also, there is a check. It has all the money that my father gave me in his will. Please donate that."


    "Pardon?"


    ''Are you really going to let me repeat everything that I said, just now?"


    "No, I mean the check?"


    "Father gave me ten million. It''s nothing much. Donate it." Her father wasn''t born rich, and he was a politician who didn''t show any ambition on the outside. As someone who didn''t have any excellent businesses, it was natural that he wouldn''t have a lot of money on his will.


    On the will, her father gave her ten million while he gave Alfons thirty million. He then used a letter exining that since Gabi was the sole heir to her mother''s assets, she didn''t need his money anymore. Instead of dividing his money, he thought of giving most of it to the person that needed it the most.


    The poor Alfons.


    Even the properties that her father bought were all under Alfons name to give him a new ''start'' in life.


    Not that it matters. Those pennies are not even worth in Gabi''s eyes as her mother''s investments and real estate properties were worth more than what she and Alfons got from their father. She wasn''t really rich  richpared to her grandfather, but she is considered well off.


    And even if she chose not to work until her life ends, she won''t have any problems at all. She could just live off the money that she received from her mother''s investments.


    However, she wasn''t nning on doing that.


    "Alright. I will do that."


    "Also please make sure that everyone knows that it was from my inheritance. I don''t want other people iming that it came from them." She gave him a knowing look. Then she smiled. "If you know what I mean."


    This wasn''t the first time that she donated money to charities, but everyone thought it was from Alfons. She didn''t bother to correct it and Alfons just said that he would tell everyone it wasn''t him, but never really did it, anyway. Because of this, everyone knew Alfons as the kind man who used to live in the streets and because he didn''t want other people to live like him in the past, he is spending all of his money and inheritance by donating them to various charities.


    "I understand." There was a hint of guilt in the old man''s eyes. However, she chose to ignore it. Since Spencer already said that he will give his loyalty to her, then she would give her an opportunity to prove himself.


    ...


    It was already an hour past noon when Alfons arrived in Sutton''s mansion. Today, he was especially in a bad mood. He had promised his mentor that he would have the chance to interview the top real estate entrepreneur in the country, Mr. Ren. However, he didn''t have the chance to tell Gabi about it yet.


    Because of this, his mentor is bing more and more impatient.


    It has been a few days since hest saw Gabi and today he was nning to do his best to convince her to help him out.


    Alfons cursed inwardly as he got out of his car and started walking towards the entrance of the house. From the news that he got from Spencer, Gabi just stayed inside her room and would spend her time in her office, reading. He heard that she had been eating well and no longer follow the diet that Alfons gave her. Moreover, she also spent a few minutes under the sun, enjoying the scenery and watching the security personnel training.


    This was already unusual, as Gabi never liked the sun in the past. He thought it had something to do with their father''s death, but this is just his assumption.


    "Young Master" Spencer Jonathan greeted him the moment he stepped inside the house.


    "Spencer" he nodded. "Where is she?"


    "Young Master are you talking about the head?"


    Alfons stiffened he turned towards the old man who had a few filed in his hand. He thought he misheard it. "I mean my sister." Everyone in this house was aware that they call each other brother and sister and treat each other like real siblings.


    "Ah, so it was the head of the house. She should be in her office."


    "Ah?" Before Alfons could say anything, Spencer already bowed.


    "Young master, please excuse me. I still have errands to do." With that, Spencer left without even waiting for his response.


    ''What the hell was that?" Alfons could only curse inwardly. ''Did that damn butler just ignored him?'' He red at the old man''s back and tried to control his anger.


    No. He had lived for too long under the guised of a good mannered man. He couldn''t show his anger now. He let out a sigh before determination shed in his eyes. Then he started walking towards Gabi''s office.


    Today, he would sort out Gabi''s attitude!

 Chapter 509: Falling

    Chapter 509: Falling


    "Gabi I didn''t know that you changed this ce." These were Alfons words the moment he took a step inside her study. She raised her head and looked at him, saying nothing. Is this it? Is he going to act like a benevolent brother again? She couldn''t help but wonder about his approach this time.


    He must be bing desperate to have her introduce him to her grandfather.


    "Oh" she waited for him to say something.


    "Gabi listen about the thing that happenedst week."


    "Hm?"


    "I apologize. I didn''t know that you would misunderstand my words. I was only trying to say that I originally didn''t like expensive things. However, since it is from you, I would ept it." Alfons stood in front of her, his face looked like a sad puppy. For some reason, she wanted to kick it.


    Puppies are supposed to be cute. What''s wrong with this guy? He looked disgusting!


    She raised an eyebrow at his apology. If one would listen carefully, he was actually trying to me her for misunderstanding his point.


    He was gaslighting her, making her think that it was her fault all along. Her lips slowly lifted into a beautiful smile. "Is that so?" she turned her head away. "I already gave the watch to an auction house, all the proceeds will be given to a charity."


    She didn''t have to turn her head towards him. She knew that Alfons already had a dark look on his face. In the past, before donating anything, she would ask Alfons about it. In the end, Alfons would offer to personally send the donations. This was the reason why those misunderstandings were created.


    "I am sure brother doesn''t care about that, right? After all, you always wanted to help those in need."


    "Gabi if you wanted to donate it then you could have told me about it."


    "Why do I need to tell you? You were busy with school. I no longer wanted to burden you."


    "Burden? How could you say that?"


    "Well I''ve heard rumors."


    "Rumors? Rumors about what?"


    "That the reason why you were behind in some of your sses is that you were taking care of me." She shifted his head towards him. "That''s not true." Those were the rumors before her rebirth. People usually say that the reason why Alfons didn''t get married despite being already in his thirties is that he had to take care of her and Luca.


    Some even went as much as saying that Gabi forced him to be the father figure of Luca. Those were not true at all. However, at that time, she could only cry and me herself for being useless. Her guilt was killing her. The only reason why she persevered is because of Luca.


    Now that she thought about it, those rumors might be words that came out of Alfons'' mouth. Knowing how cunning he was, he could easily use her health as a reason to gain pity from everyone.


    "From everyone else. I heard that you are having trouble because of me. Because of this, I am going to start managing the mansion."


    "What?"


    "I know it has been hard on you, brother. You have been acting as my guardian since we were young. I believe it is time for me to let you go, to free you." Why does this sound like a breakup speech? She let a tear flow from her eyes. "I believe that brother would surely flourish like a flower when you are not standing by my side."


    "Gabi who the hell told you these things?" Managing the house? Letting him go? Who the hell told her that? Despite the confusion inside him, he could only grit his teeth in silence. He was here to act pitiful. But before he could even start his speech, this woman was already crying. Did a donkey hit her head?


    "It doesn''t matter anymore. I already made up my mind. From now on there is no need for you to visit just to see if the mansion is running properly. I already talked to the familywyer and told him that I am ready to manage my mother''s investments."


    "You  Gabi what is happening? Whatever you hear  whatever it is. I am sure it''s not true. How could you consider yourself as a burden?" He was already next to her. He held her hand. "You are my dear little sister. How could I treat you as a burden? Did you forget what father told us? In this world, we can only rely on each other."


    "I have been relying on you too much, brother. This time" She gave him a gentle smile. "It is time for you to rely on me." She had to stop herself from puking. Those words do not fit her at all. However, she was willing to endure and let him believe that this is nothing but an impulsive decision because of some rumor that she heard.


    After all, she was nning to make Alfons suffer for a long time. She gave him a gentle and innocent smile. Right now, all the money that Alfons is using should be from her mother''s ounts. He was keeping his inheritance and invested it in real estate.


    She knew this because, in her past life, she identally discovered the files that contain his investments. At that time, the property is already worth hundreds of millions. Because of that, she realized that the money that Alfons used when he was younger, the money that he used to make him the mayor, to buy his first house were all her mother''s funds.


    The reason why his reputation is so clean, and he was able to avoid corruption, is because he was using her mother''s money all along!


    However, she never said anything because she thought she owed him that much. She thought that Alfons deserve it anyway, because he had been helping her since she was young.


    Now that he no longer have ess to her mother''s funds, Alfons would surely make mistakes. And when that timees, she would be in the front seat watching him fall from his grace.

 Chapter 510: Dying

    Chapter 510: Dying


    "Gabi this method will not work. It would only make you sicker. How could I let my younger sister endure so much work? Moreover it would be difficult to manage such work."


    "No need to worry about me, brother. While my body is indeed weak, my mind is far from that." Silence followed her words. She watched his face turned darker and darker as time passed by.


    "Then you have already talked to the familywyers?"


    "Ah, yes. I also discovered that those Lawyers were not really the Sutton familywyers. They are still working for the Ren Family. Are you aware of this?"


    "That  " Of course he was aware of this! He was originally nning to use those people to meet with the old man. He was trying to use all kinds of reasons to be able to meet that man. However, no matter what he did, the old man would say he was busy or use another method to avoid him.


    Until now, he couldn''t understand why the old man hated him so much. He figured that it was because the old man knew that he was actually Gabi''s half-brother. However, if he really knows this, then why didn''t he tell Gabi about this matter? Moreover, the background that his father set up for him was perfect.


    After his mother gave birth, his father sent her to one of his distant gay cousins. That man married Alfons mother and acted as his father. They live a simple life in a vige far away from the city. During the ten years, he wasn''t aware that his father was actually the prime minister of the country.


    When he was nine, his mother started to feel sick, and he started noticing his ''father''sscivious gazes. Because of this, he chose to run away with his mother and live in the streets as a beggar for a few months. Sadly, he wasn''t able to find enough money to cure his mother.


    Before his mother''s death, she finally told him to contact someone and told them that he was her daughter. And that was when his father found him.


    At first, he never understood why this uncle was really good to him. It was only when he turned fifteen that his father told him about his real identity. The Young Master of the Sutton Family. The Heir.


    After that, his father silenced that distant cousin of his who married Alfons'' mother. Because of this, Alfons had been confident that no one else knows about his real father.


    So, why was that Old Man Ren acting like he was some nuisance?


    "I  I am not aware of this. Did thewyers told you that they are not working for the Sutton Family?"


    "Yes. And it surprised me. All this time, I thought that they were working for us. It turned out that they are only managing my mother''s investments and wealth."


    Alfons flinched. Was she trying to rub it in him that thewyers were managing her wealth? "That is indeed weird. However are you sure that you wanted to manage them from now on? I know that you are weak. What if "


    "Brother" Gabi smiled at him. "It''s fine. Though I didn''t study anything about business, I can assure you that I am more than capable to manage a few million from my mother''s investments."


    There it was again. Gabi mentioned her mother again. It was as if she was trying to tell him something. And what few millions was she talking about? Those were hundreds of millions! HUNDREDS!


    It could even amount to more than a billion, including all of her mother''s assets outside of the country.


    Many people didn''t know this, but Gabi''s mother was lucky enough to buy a few real estatends and rented them to prominentpanies. Thosends were worth hundreds of millions now. Gabi''s mother had the foresight to invest in a few start-ups that have be big in the past few years.


    Some of thesepanies are already members of five hundred fortunepanies in the world.


    "Well since you insist, then I can only advise you to always take care of your health. I don''t want to hear you copsing somewhere or being rushed to the hospital." He gave her a gentle smile. "My little sister is all grown up now," he added while patting Gabi''s head.


    On the inside, he was already shouting, yelling from rage. But how could he show Gabi his real side? He could only smile and slowly alter his ns for now. "Ah, speaking of which Gabi, I really hope you don''t mind but my thesis this time"


    "Is there something wrong?"


    "I needed to interview someone from the constructionpanies."


    "Ah? You  Don''t tell me you wanted me to introduce you to grandfather?"


    Seeing Gabi paled, a bad premonition skittered inside him. What''s wrong? Did Gabi offend the old man? He didn''t know that Gabi actually met with that old man and even the Butler didn''t say anything to him.


    "We had a fight."


    "A fight? Why was I not aware of this?"


    "It happened over the phone. He wanted me to visit thepany."


    "You  Why would he" Realization hit him. Gabi''s mother was the only daughter of Old Man Ren. Meaning, she was supposed to inherit thepany. However, Gabi''s mother chose a different path and silently supported her husband''s career.


    Just like her mother, Gabi didn''t show any interest in the Ren Aesthetics either. "He wanted you to work for him?"


    Gabi lowered her head as she nodded. "But how could I work in apany like that? I don''t know anything about them. I don''t qualify for any position inside thepany. I refused and we had an argument. He said He said He didn''t want to see me unless I agreed to visit hispany."


    "That  That old man is really cruel! How could he say something like that? How could he force you to work for thepany?"


    "It must be because he was having some health problems."


    Alfons'' eyes turned bright when he heard Gabi''s words. Health problems? Does that mean the old man is dying?

 Chapter 511: Gullible

    Chapter 511: Gullible


    Gabi''s voice sounded broken and sad. However, her face was telling the opposite thing. She was actually smirking. Since she had her head lowered, Alfons didn''t see her reaction.


    "Heath problems?" Alfons asked her. She immediately nodded.


    "I heard that grandfather is having health problems this year." A loud sigh escaped her lips. "As much as I want to get closer to grandfather, I can''t really work for him. After all, Icked the confidence and background to do so."


    "Little sister"


    It was starting. She smiled inwardly as she met Alfons eyes. Truth be told, Alfons really looked gentle. His smile looked warm andforting. He could easily win some acting awards if he tries to act. "I believe your grandfather just wanted to spend time with you," Alfons added.


    "Ah? What do you mean?"


    "Now that he is sick, I believe he wanted to spend more time with you. After all, you are his only granddaughter."


    "That Do you really think so?"


    "Of course! Why don''t we do this? I will apany you so you could apologize to your grandfather. Then you tell him that you are willing to work for hispany."


    "But  " She showed him a troubled face. Just as she expected, this greedy man would never decline an opportunity to use her. "But how could I work under him when"


    "Sister, why don''t youck confidence in your skills? You are a smart woman. You graduated top of your ss. You were raised to be the heiress of the Ren Family."


    Her mouth twitched when she heard his words. Earlier, she intentionally gave him some big news that could fluster him and make him unable to think thoroughly. Right now, all this man wanted was to get close to her grandfather.


    "But I "


    "You should have more confidence. Hmmm. Since it''s like this. I have decided I should apany you to see your grandfather for some moral support. After all, I am always here for you."


    Gabi fought the urge tough out loud. The fish has taken her bait! Now, she had reasons to work under her grandfather without any suspicions. Moreover, Alfons would never stop her from managing thewyers now as she could easily use ''building her confidence as an excuse. And most importantly, a new sinister n should have sprouted in Alfons'' mind now that he knew that the old man was sick.


    Gabi couldn''t help but wonder when would Alfons approach the people from the Sealey family and helped them schemed against the Ren Family. Now that he had false information about her grandfather''s sickness, Alfons would want to take advantage of this opportunity to take the Ren Family from her.


    Ah, this man his greed knows no bounds.


    Ultimately, his greed would be his downfall.


    "But brother, I am scared of grandfather. What if what  "


    "Let me handle this for you. I will ask the old man not to let you work a taxing job, after all, you still have a weak body. If you want since I am about to graduate, I can also help you work under your grandfather."


    "That  I know that brother was just thinking about me, but I don''t think that would be possible."


    "Why?"


    She lowered her head and bit her lips.


    "Why? Did your grandfather say something?"


    "Well I really don''t want to talk about it. Brother."


    "Gabi?"


    "Sorry, but I don''t think it''s appropriate for me to talk about it." Gabi stood and walked towards the door. "I am getting tired I will sleep first."


    Without waiting for him to say anything, Gabi walked out of the room with a smirk on her face. She purposely baited him and make him curious. Right now, Alfons must be wondering if her grandfather knew about his real background.


    "Gabi"


    "Brother?" she nced at the man who followed her out. She was already walking towards her room.


    "You are still weak. You should not work too hard. You need to call me once you are about to see your grandfather so I can act as your support."


    "But brother is really busy. How could I let you apany me in doing things like this?" she gave him a sad smile. "As much as I would want brother to be with me, I am not that shameless to act as a weak damsel again. I am not a burden."


    "Gabi, just who told you this nonsense?"


    Again, she didn''t answer him. "Don''t worry, brother. I will definitely make you proud."


    "Eh? What are you "


    "Now that I thought about it, I realized that the reason why you wanted me to work for thepany is that you wanted me to be closer to my grandfather." She stopped in front of her door and lifted her head to met his confused eyes. "You even said that you would apany me and support me. This only shows that you really cared for me. Because of that, I have be more determined to make myself stronger. I will gain confidence. I will be someone that you will be proud of."


    With that, she gave him a quick hug before she said, "I will rest now, brother. Thank you so much for your care. I will definitely pay you back soon."


    Then she went inside her room and closed the door behind her.


    Meanwhile, Alfons stood in front of the door in a daze. What was that? What just happened?


    He stared at the now-closed door in a daze. Earlier, he was so confident of his sess. What the hell happened just now?


    He raised his hand; he wanted to knock on the door but paused midway when he realized something. Why does it feel like Gabi changed? No. How could it be? Isn''t she the same gullible woman that he knew?


    He could easily manipte her into doing his bidding.


    But this was not the first time that she did something like this. It was as if, she was purposely creating drama to avoid him!


    He gritted his teeth and turned around.


    Impossible. No. Gabi would never change overnight. This should be because of their father''s death!

 Chapter 512: Louise Knight

    Chapter 512: Louise Knight


    "Miss, these are the things that you need. We have a total of eight people who showed up for the interview including the two people that the young master rmended this time. Also, this is the third time this week that the young master sent you some delicacies from the capital. I''m not sure how to handle them?"


    "Let the applicants eat it," she answered. Despite all of her dramatics, Alfons didn''t stop bothering her. Now, he is resorting to sending her delicacies and other gifts that are supposed to make her healthier.


    "Alright." Mr. Jonathan nodded. "Then shall I call the first applicant?"


    "Call the ones that my brother rmended first. I want to talk to them."


    "Miss?"


    "You heard me. I want to know why he rmended me these people."


    "Understood then I shall lead them to the  "


    "Patio. I want to have my tea while talking to them and please give me some strawberry cookies."


    "Understood."


    After the butler left, she immediately went to the patio to wait for the first applicant. Right now, she was actually curious why Alfons would rmend a few people that she knew from the past.


    "Miss Sutton good morning."


    The first one who arrived was a gentleman wearing a dark brown suit. He bowed at her before giving her a bow. "My name is Louise Knight. Twenty-five this year." He smiled at her, his blue eyes met hers.


    "You are friends with my brother?" She eyed the man''s tall stature. That''s right, Louise has always been good-looking. Broad shoulders, six-foot, and hit body. He could easily be a model if he wanted to.


    "I am his senior. We were friends since he used to y basketball at the university too. I graduated two years ago. Despite this, I asionally y with Alfons when I have free time."


    "And you wanted to be my assistant?" Louise Knight. How could she forget this name? In her previous life, he worked as her driver. Back then, he didn''t have any qualifications such as these. All he know was that he was her bodyguard, assigned by her very own brother who loved and cared for her.


    Over time, Louise became one of her trusted subordinates. She used to call him Ese and think that she was so lucky to have a handsome driver that would die to protect her and Luca. And yes, she had trusted the man with her life. But in the end he ultimately betrayed her. Humans and their greedy hearts.


    It was human nature. She was just unlucky to have met someone like that.


    In this timeline, she thought that she would not get close to this man again. After all, she was nning to decline Alfons'' offer of a bodyguard in the near future.


    So, why is he here now?


    Does this mean that her previous assumption about Alfons having his own secret group even before he graduated was true too? If that is the case, then she needed to make some changes to her original ns.


    She actually thought that Alfons would only develop hiswork after graduating college. It turns out, she was wrong. But how? It must be because of her father.


    Right.


    There is no way that the dumb Alfons would be able to n all this.


    Or perhaps, she had underestimated him again?


    She gritted her teeth as she thought of hertest actions. The acting was actually such a good choice this time.


    "Yes, I was able toe to the university because of schrships. After I graduated, I thought of working for a goodpany but it turns out that the world is cruel and brute. Most people would value someone''s family before they even check their resume."


    That is true. Why would those rich families employ someone from an unknown origin when they could train their own people, someone that would die for them?


    "How manynguages do you know?" she asked.


    "Two."


    "Sorry but my qualification this time is fivenguages. I need someone who could read and write at least five differentnguages."


    She looked at the man''s dumbstruck expression. Did he expect that his handsome feature would make her agree? Seeing the smile on his face stiffened, she added, "Plus you are not that good with math. I wanted someone smarter than me. At least, I don''t have to exin everything and spoon-fed them with information. I''m sorry Mr. Knight but I don''t think you have the qualifications to be my secretary."


    There you go. The crack that she was waiting for.


    She watched as the man''s face changed. "But Miss"


    "Yes?" She smiled at him. Looking at that face now, she actually thought that he wasn''t as good-looking as she thought before. He definitely has good features but his face is not symmetrical and his left eye was a bit smaller than the right. Eh? What was she thinking? "Ah yes you are someone rmended by my brother. Hmmm what should I do. I don''t want to make my brother worry. I am sure he did this because he wanted you to report everything to him, right?"


    "Ah?"


    "Oh!" She covered her mouth with her handkerchief. "Pardon my bold words. I was just speaking my mind. What I was trying to say is that I would not hire you as my secretary. But how about one of my staff?"


    "Staff?"


    "Yes. Didn''t my brother tell you? I am going to work in Ren Aesthetics."


    "So you are going to ept me as one of your staff?"


    "Of course! I trust my brother. Since he rmended you, then you must be someone with outstanding abilities."


    His face turned brighter. Amused, she smiled in return.


    "Thank you, miss! I am so d! Thank you so much for epting me."


    "No need. In fact I am the one that should thank you for giving me this opportunity to pay my brother back."


    "Pay him back?"


    "I mean I didn''t want to be a burden anymore. So I decided to start paying my brother back for all the things that he did to me in the past. Of course, treating his friends well is just one of these payments."

 Chapter 513: Lyle Quigly

    Chapter 513: Lyle Quigly


    "Are you really going to hire that man?" Butler Jonathan had a worried look on his face. "Miss no offense, but he looked like a gigolo."


    "Are you worried that I might fall for him?" she asked, after letting out a soft giggle.


    "That "


    "No need to worry, Spencer. I already love someone else." Her heart already belonged to her son. Even if she wanted to give it to someone else in this lifetime, she no longer have the heart to give to anyone else. She nced at the garden view. The air from the patio was warm. It perfectly contrasted with the iced tea that she was drinking.


    Memories of her son running around the garden filled her mind. Sadly, she wouldn''t be able to see Luca in this lifetime again. In the past, she didn''t find out who Luca''s father was. What would happen if she met Luca''s father in this lifetime? Should she sleep with him again to have Luca?


    Is that even possible?


    The thought of Luca once again reminded her of Lyca Shen. Luca and Lyca''s hair was white. Even their faces looked a bit the same. If the two would stand next to each other, people would immediately mistake them as mother and son. Sadly, she couldn''t find anything about Lyca.


    And honestly, she thought she was too weak to even attempt to find out anything about her.


    Shen Group is one of the richestpanies in the world. If her guess was right, they were at least one of the top tenpanies in the whole world. They are so influential, yet no one really knows anything about them. All they know was the fact that Lyca Shen was the matriarch and her husband, Mr. Shen, was the one running thepany.


    She wasn''t even sure if they were still living in Xu Country.


    "Ah, Miss, shall I send the second one now?"


    "Yes, please." Gabi smiled. It seems that she had forgotten about the interview today.


    Not long after, a woman who looked like she was Gabi''s age walked towards her. Just one look at the woman and anyone could immediately tell that she came from a rich family. From the expensive dress that she was wearing to the luxury bag that hanged on her shoulder and the heels that clicked cked against the tiled floor, everything about her screamed money. While Gabi was wearing a white dress, the woman who walked in was wearing a bright red one that looked like fiery mes.


    Seeing the woman sat across her without even greeting her, Gabi couldn''t help but smile. "Why would my brother''s admirer apply as my secretary?" she asked, her voice was sweet and soft.


    Without saying anything, the woman reached out and grabbed one of her cookies. Sadly for her, Gabi was fast enough to pull the te of cookies towards her. "Miss Lyle Quigly. It seems that you didn''t hear my question."


    "Hmph! Why are you even acting like a boss now? Let me tell you this act and cold gaze don''t suit you at all."


    Oh? Gabi has met Miss Quigly in the past timeline. However, this should be the first time that they talked like this. Usually, they would just greet each other as Lyle would love to follow Alfons around. Lyle would never talk to her or even spare her any nce. Alfons said nothing about that treatment, either.


    Seeing that Lyle was about to grab her te, Gabi unceremoniously put the te in herp. This is her cookies and one of her favorites at that. It was indeed childish, but it''s food! She knew people in the past that would kill for a lesser reason!


    "What? You can''t even give me some cookies? I didn''t know that the Sutton household is actually like this. They can''t even treat their guest well."


    Gabi snorted. "Miss Quigly, we always treat our guests well. Sadly, you are not a guest. You are here for an interview."


    "What interview!? I am here to get close to brother Alfons!"


    "Ah." So she is just another easily manipted foolish girl. "Since Alfons is not here, then you may leave."


    "What?"


    "You might not know this, Miss Quigly, but this is my house, not my brother''s. You can''t find him here." While saying this, Gabi didn''t remove the smile on her face. Like an elegant noblewoman, she showed a kind expression.


    "I want to be your secretary. I want to closely work with Alfons."


    "Miss Quigly, if I may be honest with you." She paused for a few seconds to drink her tea. Then she stered that polite smile on her face again before she spoke. "You are not qualified to be my secretary."


    "Of course I am not qualified. Why would someone like me, who is from the rich Quigly family, work for someone like you? I am not doing this for you. I am doing this for brother Alfons! So quit the act. I know that you only did this to make it look like you are not a burden anymore. But what do you even know?"


    "Miss Quigly must have forgotten something."


    "Forgotten what?"


    "We are born the same year."


    "And?"


    "We have the same age."


    "What does it have to do with anything?" she asked.


    "Graduated when I was neen and my grades were definitely higher than yours. I can''t have someone slow work under me. You won''t be able to catch up."


    "You  Are you insulting me?"


    "No. I am just concern, Miss Quigly. I don''t want you to over-exhaust your brain."


    The woman narrowed her eyes before she mmed her hand against the iron table. As expected, her face morphed into an ugly scowl from the pain. "How dare you!?" She marched towards Gabi''s way.


    "If you hurt me now" Gabi said without looking at Lyle. "My brother will not forgive you."


    "You  You  Do you really think you are that special? Without your father, you are nothing! A weakling! Everyone knows that! And you actually dared to insult me? Wait until my grandfather hears this!"


    "Pfft"


    "Why are youughing?"


    "No wonder my brother never liked you."


    "You "


    "You can leave now, Miss Quigly. Please tell your grandfather to schedule a meeting if he wanted to meet me."

 Chapter 514: Harry Sealey

    Chapter 514: Harry Sealey


    Gabizily sat on the chair until her back ached. It had been a tiresome day. The interviews didn''t go as well as she expected, but at least she actually found someone who knows four differentnguages. That would do.


    It seems that she actually set her requirements a little higher than what was normally required in somepanies. The thing, she needed someone really capable to help her out.


    After her dinner, Gabi started finalizing some tasks for her secretary before she slept.


    On the next day, her new secretary, Kasper Lotterman started working inside the mansion.


    "Work starts at nine in the morning, but I want you to be here before that. Bring me my coffee and cupcakes I want it on the go. In case, I get hungry while on the road. You will be staying in one of the two-bedroom guest houses surrounding the mansion. Spencer will take you there soon. You will have your own entrance and just as you signed in the contract, you will have transportation, clothing, and vacation allowances. You will have to be on call and should be ready to work anytime." This was another reason why she had been very picky for this position. Someone with a family wouldn''t be able to work under her, as she was nning to have her secretary to call.


    "On top of this, you will be given hospitalization and death insurance. You should already know this since everything is included in the contract. However, I want to emphasize something." Gabi leaned against her chair. She observed thenky man who was staring at her intently.


    To her surprise, the man didn''t avoid her gaze.


    "I don''t tolerate betrayal," Gabi uttered. "I really cannot handle betrayal well." Her face turned cold. "I don''t know if I could spare anyone who would betray me."


    As expected, surprised shed in the man''s face. She continued, "I am telling you this because you still haven''t moved to the guest house. You still have a chance to say no and back out now."


    "I understand." Kasper nodded at her words. "I will move at the end of the day."


    "Good." At least this man isn''t a coward.


    "But before anything else, I want to know something."


    "What is that?" she asked.


    "I don''t like women. Does that offend you?"


    "Do you like men?" she asked. At least he was frank and honest about his sexuality. This is something that she liked.


    "Yes. Is that going to be a problem shortly?"


    Gabi shook her head. "Your sex life had nothing to do with me." Shepletely understood why Kasper would ask such a thing. Most people here only ept men and women. Nothing in between.


    "Thank you. I wouldn''t want my employer to kick me out again because of my  preference."


    So someone kicked him out before. Gabi chose to ignore that sentence and handed him another folder and phone. "Work phone and my schedule for the entire month. From now on, you will take care of that."


    "This is "


    "Ah yes. My diet. I included what I wanted to eat in case I need you to book something or order something. I am watching my diet as I wanted to get healthier, so I don''t want to eat too much junk and have more veggies and fruits." The file that Kasper was holding also includes all of her preferences. From the color of her clothing to brands of her bags and even jewelry and shoes. She did this because she didn''t want to tell him her preferences every time he would ask him to buy something.


    This time, Gabi was very thorough about everything.


    "Understood."


    "Alright first thing is the uing dinner appointment with the Ren Family."


    "Alright, I will schedule Val Tailors for the dress."


    "You are a fast learner." And a fast reader too.


    "Thank you very much for thepliment."


    "Alright please let me prepare for our appointment today. Prepare the car. We are going to Ren Aesthetics."


    "Understood."


    Gabi smiled while watching her new assistant leave. Today, she was scheduled to meet with Earl Ren, the current heir apparent of Ren Aesthetics. This man was a distant rtive and had been working under her grandfather since he graduated. From the information that she has from her past life, Earl was a brilliant child. However, he can be a bit soft-hearted.


    Though Earl stayed in thepany despite knowing that it was about to go down, Gabi knew that Earl could be one of the reasons why thepany became unstable. It was because the man was too trusting.


    Smart but naive as they say.


    When Alfons started getting close to the Ren Family, his first target was Earl, and the naive Earl immediately became Alfons'' close friend. When their grandfather told Alfons that he would never like him, Earl tried to protect Alfons and got into an argument with her grandfather. Of course, Earl wasn''t able to convince the old man to trust Alfons.


    Still, Earl continued to see Alfons and even attended a few events with Alfons and Gabi''s ex-husband in the past life.


    This time, Gabi will help Earl be a bit stronger. She needed him to manage Ren Aesthetics and keep it safe from Alfons. But first, she needed to meet him.


    Ah, when was thest time that she met that man?


    She couldn''t remember!


    After choosing a refreshing blue sundress, Gabi left her office with a delicate smile on her face. However, the smile on her face immediately vanished when she saw Alfons walking towards her.


    This time, he wasn''t alone.


    He was with Mr. Sealey, her ex-husband, in the previous timeline. Together with him was Mr. Knight, the man who applied to be his secretary but was hired to be a staff instead.


    "Brother what are you doing here?"


    This man is he going to stop bothering her?


    "Sister, am I disturbing you?"


    Yes, he was. But instead of telling the truth, she gave Alfons a gentle smile. "Of course not."


    "I am here to invite you for a dinner with my close friends. I''m sure you already met Louise Knight, he is a senior. He told me you hired him, so I thought we should celebrate. Ah, also this is another friend. The second son of the Sealey family. Harry, Harry Sealey."

 Chapter 515: Diamond Card

    Chapter 515: Diamond Card


    "Miss, Mr. Aden told us that you would visit today!"


    The man who weed her had the same features as the previous manager who weed her before. However, this one looked a bit taller and leaner. "What''s your name?" Gabi asked as she wondered if this was the same person who entertained her before.


    She recalled how nervous that man looked around her. This time, this man looked confident.


    "Ah, forgive me for not introducing myself. I am called Sari."


    "Sari? Just Sari?"


    "Yes, Just Sari."


    "You are not that manager, right?"


    "Ah, that is my twin brother, Tureis."


    "Your names"


    "We are not originally from Du Empire."


    "I understand," Gabi smiled. She chose not to ask any more questions and just let the man guide her towards a private viewing room.


    "You can choose all high-end pieces of jewelry here. We also offer the best teas inside and outside of Du Empire. The room is soundproof. We can assure the top quality security. In case someone happens, each room has its own fire exit that would lead you to an exit far away from this ce. An expert jeweler will talk to you soon."


    "Good." Gabi nodded. Indeed, the room in front of her looked luxurious and somehow rxing. Its lighting isn''t hurtful to the eyes, as well as the simple yet elegant muted, paneled walls.


    "What tea would you prefer? May I suggest that you have our famous tea from Xu Country?" Sari smiled at her.


    "Absolutely. Thank you very much."


    She watched as the man named Sari signaled some maids to bring a service trolley with aplete tea set. The fragrant tea immediately wafted into the room. The service is indeed good. "Mr. Sari, a woman, will arrive in a few minutes. Please take her here."


    "Understood. Is there anything else I can assist you with?"


    "Nothing. Thank you."


    "Well then, please ept this diamond card for our VVIP clients. This means that you will be invited to private parties that ourpany held every now and then."


    "Thank you." Gabi smiled as she eyed the card. She heard about these parties before as Alfons wanted her to attend one of these in her past life. However, she didn''t have this card. Meaning, she never received an invitation. Alfons told her that these parties were not only held in secret, but no one but the people who were invited knows its location.


    These events were not just simple parties. Sometimes, it is actually an auction event where expensive paintings and other items are sold.


    "However, I don''t think I qualify for this card," Gabi said. She was smart enough to know that they were testing her. After all, her motives until now are still unclear. Archy must be trying to see if she just wanted to infiltrate hispany to get close to him. Gabi understood that people like Archy would never trust anyone easily. "I don''t remember buying any expensive jewelry or anything from the store. This treatment is enough for me. In the future, when I spend enough to qualify for the card, then I will dly ept it."


    "My" Sari''s eyes widened as he covered his mouth. "Are you aware that you are the first person who declined such an opportunity?"


    Gabi snickered. For some reason, she could feel Sari''s suspicions just from his reaction. The man was expecting her to ept the card. Then what''s next? She originally approached thispany for longer benefits. "The card is of no value to me, Mr. Sari. I know that you are aware how the daughter of the prime minister never attended events before." Her reasoning was valid. Everyone knew that she had a sickly body.


    What would they think if she suddenly showed up at a party just after her father''s death? Surely, they would suspect her real goal.


    "That  " Sari''s gray eyes met hers. "Unexpected but reasonable." He withdrew his hand and smiled at her. "I am looking forward to the day when Miss Sutton is ready to ept the card."


    She only responded with a smile. She was not in a hurry to prove her worth to Archy. Gabi originally approached them for a partnership. Of course, she needed to let that man see that she wasn''t just some pretty face who found some random secrets in her father''s diary.


    "Thank you," she epted the tea that Sari poured for her. Judging from this man''s treatment, Gabi was able to conclude two things. First, they must have already confirmed that there was indeed a fake in the Sealey family and second, they are wondering how her father knew this. In the public''s eyes, the Sealey family isn''t really that relevant.


    So why would the prime minister know their secret?


    It''s either someone else told Gabi about it or her father knew some secrets that might also involve the royal family.


    Right now, Gabi doesn''t know what that secret was. However, she recalled Alfons looking into the Sealey Family and the Royal Family at the same time in the past life. He must have found out something about this family and that might be one of the reasons why he coborated with them in destroying her Ren Family.


    After a few minutes, Sari finally left her and her secretary alone.


    "Mr. Lotterman, what do you think of this ce?"


    "Elegant and private."


    "Hmmm." Gabi nodded. "Did Nonim send confirmation about that woman leaving the mansion?"


    "Yes, she should be here in a few minutes."


    "Good," Gabi said as she took another sip of her tea. "This tea is delicious. Please asked Mr. Sari about the name of the tea. I want to buy it."


    "Understood," Kasper said before he bowed and left her alone inside the room.


    Now that Sera was alone, she opened her bag and immediately turn on the interference device that should cut off any recording device or camera inside this room. Right now, she wasn''t really sure if there is anything inside the room. But it is always better to be cautious.


    As they say, prevention is better than cure.

 Chapter 516: Sari and Tureis Chu

    Chapter 516: Sari and Tureis Chu


    Location: Bobo Jewelry Store, Underground Monitoring room


    "That woman is indeed cunning. She doesn''t trust us." Sari frowned when the video that they installed inside the room was interrupted. The staff informed him that Gabi should be carrying some sort of device that could interfere with video and audio recording. "She actually chose this ce, letting us know that she trusts us to keep her business private. However, she wouldn''t let us know what is this meeting about." He looked at Aden, who was yawning.


    "Did you really just call me to tell me this? I was sleeping! I already expected that. I even told you not to do it. Tsk Sari, you are too stubborn."


    "But Boss, that woman is really suspicious. After all, everything that she said was true. Now, why would Prime Minister Sutton write something like that in his library? We have been looking into the Sealey Family for so long and many of our people were watching them all the time. Yet, we never notice anyone from the Prime Ministers people. So, how could that old man knew something like this?"


    "Indeed. But let''s not touch her for now." Aden let out another yawn. "My parents aren''t letting me leave now. I will take care of it once I get back."


    At the mention of Aden''s parents, Sari immediately smiled. "Eh? Madam Lyca is stopping you from leaving? Why?"


    "Why do you care?" Aden smirked. "Do you really like me toe back immediately? Say, did you miss me that much? Sari, you are a bit handsome but I''m sorry I don''t like men."


    "You  " Sari immediately felt irritated. "Why did you leave me here and took Tureis instead?"


    "Miss Sutton will surely visit again. You already saw your brother''s attitude, he won''t be able to survive if Miss Sutton will smile at her again."


    "And what about me? That woman''s eyes were cold and calcting! I feel like she could see through me! You know how I hate people like that."


    "Is that why you hate my little sister?"


    "Who told you that I hate Aya?"


    "Then you like Aya?"


    "I don''t!"


    "Then you hate her!" Aden chuckled.


    "You  " There is no winning when ites to Aden. "Come back here, the Prince is calling me every day,ining that he cannot reach you. He is nning to go to Xu Country to check if you are still alive. Boss, you tell me the truth are you and the prince "


    "Shut up, you brute."


    "Heh."


    "Tell him I died."


    "But"


    "Tell him not toe here or mother will kill him for making me work for him."


    "Your mother is scary. How could she kill a prince?"


    "That''s because the prince is ugly. If he was handsome, my mother would not dare say something like that."


    "You really are how could you say something like that to the Madam?"


    "It''s true. If I am not handsome, maybe my mother poisoned me a long time ago."


    Sari rolled his eyes. Aden and his mother were like twins and even the way they praised themselves were pretty simr too. "I will end the call. I will update you if Miss Sutton will kill someone."


    "I promised to help her. Do your best to provide everything that she needs."


    "Hmmm. Copy that. Send my regards to Aunt and Uncle."


    "Sure Sure but just to let you know your father is here."


    "Father?" Sari furrowed his brows. "Don''t tell me the Chu Family is trying to convince Tureis toe back again? They should know we aren''t nning to go back to that family. It''s boring." The Chu Family, the second richest family in Xu Country, had been bothering both Sari and Tureis toe back home to learn about their business.


    But who would want topute money all the time? Just the thought of it is making him dizzy.


    "No. It''s another business venture with Shen Group."


    "Ah business."


    "Yes. Business. All that tiring stuff." Aden said. "I will go back to sleep. Don''t call me unless you are dying or something. I am tired."


    "You have been sleeping since you arrive."


    "Not my fault that Aya tricked me to make mee home. I''m not nning to do anything else but sleep. Bye."


    And just like that, the call ended.


    Sari could only shake his head. No matter how he looked at it, Aden was actually prettyzy. He loved food and sleeping. If his guess was right, Aden already knew that Aya was lying. However, he immediately dered that he was leaving and seemed happy to call the prince, informing him that there is an emergency at home.


    In short, Aden used Aya again to escape the prince.


    Now that he thought about it, Sari could onlyugh. In the eyes of the Prince, Aya was pretty maniptive who would scheme to make her brothere back home. What he didn''t know was that Aden was actually the one who was fooling him, using Aya as a way to escape his work.


    ''Scheming bastard'', Sariughed. When ites to scheming, Aden was indeed the best. And expecting his next scheme had be Sari''s habit. It was fun. Being with Aden is definitely more funpared to being with his Chu Family.


    "Sir? A woman was looking for Miss Sutton, we already escorted her towards the private room just as you instructed." Sari''s thoughts were interrupted by the woman''s report.


    "Got it."


    "Sir, what about the audio and video?"


    "Leave it. Don''t say anything about it. Ah, Aden told me to give Miss Sutton two bodyguards from the shadows. He said he would call Miss Sutton and inform her about it." Sari said. He didn''t know why Aden would do something like that. Why not just let the guards follow Miss Sutton silently? Is there really a need to inform her about it? Just what was so special about that woman?


    "Weird man," he muttered.

 Chapter 517: Stupid

    Chapter 517: Stupid


    "Young Miss?"


    The woman in front of Gabi had a confused look on her face as she entered the room.


    "Miss Nonim said that you needed these files?" the woman said.


    "Ah, Miss Aren, please take a seat." Gabi smiled in response.


    "Miss?"


    "Take a seat. You wouldn''t want me to repeat myself." Gabi responded before taking a sip at her tea.


    "I  Miss  " Aren paled as she sat opposite her. Seeing this, Gabi nodded and gestured for her to have some tea. "You are an orphan?"


    "Yes, miss."


    "But you have a brother working in the mansion?"


    "I "


    "Yes or no?"


    "Yes, Miss."


    "Hmmm. And that is why you have been epting money from Alfons to spy on me?"


    "Miss?"


    Gabi didn''t know if this woman was a spy. Right now, she was merely guessing base on the things that Nonim sent her.


    Seeing the woman tremble in front of her, Gabi continued. "I know everything. It is up to you if you "


    "Miss! I am so sorry! I didn''t mean to report to Sir Alfons! I am so sorry!" Aren suddenly blurted before she started kowtowing in front of Gabi. "I needed the money! I am saving for my brother''s education! I didn''t want him to end up like me! Miss, I am sorry. I apologize for epting the money. I didn''t mean to offend you."


    Gabi smiled at the pitiful woman''s appearance. Aren wasn''t particrly pretty. However, she had smooth and white skin and shiny ck hair. Her doe-like eyes were especially charming, too. Seeing her kneel in front of someone with tears made her look like a pitiful maid being bullied by the viiness.


    "Stand up," Gabi said coldly. "Take your seat."


    "MMiss "


    "Don''t let me say it again."


    "Yes, Miss!" Aren got up and went back to her seat.


    "Good. So you are saying that you are saving for your brother''s education?"


    "Yes, Miss."


    "Your brother is currently in high school?"


    Most of the servants in the mansion were considered part-time workers. Some of them were rtives of old maids and other workers who wanted to work while going to school. Most of their jobs were just cleaning the garden or the pool and didn''t require them to go inside the mansion.


    In exchange, they would get their residence at the back of the mansion. The residence was a simple house with at least five rooms. Each room can be upied by four people.


    This was something that Gabi''s mother had started before.


    "Yes Miss, he is also staying at the mansion."


    "Ah high school is free, so you wanted him to go to the capital to study for college?"


    "Yes, Miss. Unfortunately, my sry isn''t enough for both of us. So I  I was tempted and epted Sir Alfons'' money."


    "Hmmm. Wonderful story." Gabi smiled. "Except, I am paying your brother, too. You have a free house and food. Water and electricity were also covered. So this is making me wonder something."


    "Miss?"


    "Ah, don''t mind me. I am simply saying what''s on my mind." Gabi added. It was very easy to believe Aren''s story. However, ording to the information that Nonim sent Gabi. Aren has many expensive clothes and bags hidden in her closet. "Anyway, I called you here because I wanted to help you."


    "Miss?"


    "Ah, did you expect me to punish you?" Gabi smiled. "I am here to help you save more money for your brother."


    "But "


    "I know it''s unbelievable. But I am not a harsh person. I like to help people in need." Again, she gestured to the woman to take the tea. "This tea is not avable in Du Empire. Taste it. It''s pretty good."


    "Ah, yes Miss."


    Gabi could see the sweat on Aren''s face. She chose to ignore it as she let Aren pour her another cup of tea. "I am sure you already saw Alfons with his friends today?"


    "Ah, yes miss."


    "How could you like to marry one of his friends?"


    "Ah?"


    "Marry one of them."


    "I don''t understand."


    "Let me make myself clear." Gabi leaned forward. "Tonight I want you to cooperate with me and I will help you marry one of Alfons'' friends. Both men were handsome and rich. I am sure this opportunity would help you save more money."


    "But Miss I am just a mere maid."


    "I know. That''s why I told you to cooperate with me."


    "M  Miss "


    "Ah, I think it''s not clear yet. Let me paraphrase." It seems that this woman was a bit too shallow and stupid. Gabi sigh inwardly. "Cooperate with me. I will improve your life. If you won''t agree I will ruin your life. Do you understand now?"


    ..


    After a few hours, Gabi arrived at the mansion with her secretary. Just as she expected, Alfons and his friends were still there, waiting for her.


    "Sister! What took you so long?"


    "Thewyer didn''t understand my words. So I had to exin it in detail."


    "If he doesn''t understand, then you can change him. I can rmend a few "


    "No need." Gabi smiled at Alfons. "How''s everything?"


    "Miss Sutton we just spent our time talking and ying pool." Harry smiled at her. He was wearing a pale blue shirt and left two buttons open. He and Louise Knight looked rxed as they sat on the seats that were located around the billiard table. Right now, they are inside her father''s Man Cave.


    It was a room on the third floor of the mansion, equipped with things that her father liked. A billiard table, a bar, a huge TV, and some gaming stuff that Alfons used to enjoy when they were young. Gabi recalled her father called this room his man cave and bought a lot of stuff. However, it was Alfons who spent most of his time here.


    Now that Gabi thought about it, her father made this ce for his long-lost son. This made her smile more brilliant. Her eyes sparkled as she said. "Please no need to act so polite. You are my brother''s friends. Meaning, I am also your friend. You can call me Gabi."


    ....


    Wah! I didn''t know there''s a new update! I don''t know how it was marked as bonus chapter. Please tell me what you see when you open the chapter. Thank you.

 Chapter 518: Candle

    Chapter 518: Candle


    Gabi''s day already started badly because of these people. Now that she wasn''t able to see Earl because he wasn''t able to amodate the sudden change of schedule, Gabi''s mood worsens. The only good thing that happened today is the fact that she was able to create a way to avoid whatever it was that Alfons was nning today.


    At first, she wasn''t sure why Alfons brought these people here. Was it just to create an opportunity for her to get close to them? But when Alfons stopped her from leaving after dinner and offered her a ss of wine, Gabi immediately knew that he was indeed nning something sinister tonight. She understood that Alfons would never give up the opportunity to use her.


    And now that she informed him about working for her grandfather, Alfons immediately tried to look for ways to tie her down. Ah, he underestimated him. It seems that he was worse than what she originally thought of him  far worse.


    "Brother what are you talking about? I don''t drink alcohol."


    "I know you would say this. This is why I asked Aren to prepare some juice for you."


    Aren. That''s right. She had predicted Alfons would use Aren tonight.


    "Is that so?" She eyed the maid who walked towards them. A knowing smile appeared on her lips.


    "Hmmm. You can have the juice. Why don''t we go to the patio and enjoy the night?"


    "Gabi it seems that Alfons treasured you just like what everyone says. He knew that you had been staying inside the house since your father''s death so he had to invite us here hoping to divert your attention. If my brother is as kind as Alfons we would have been so close by now."


    "Harry, stop saying embarrassing things like that. My sister always knew that I cared for her. In the past few days, I didn''t have the time to apany her because of graduation. That''s why I wanted to spend some days in the mansion."


    Gabi''s lips twitched. Of course. There is no way that Alfons would let her out of his sight now that she is supposed to work in Ren Aesthetics. If her guess was right, Alfons would surely insist oning with her. He would use the excuse that he only wanted to guard her and make sure that she is safe.


    Oh well


    "Gabi?" Alfons called out when she didn''t answer them.


    "Ah? Did you say something?" She acted as if she didn''t hear what they just said. She was originally staring at the garden and the tree while listening to them. Now, she was using this excuse to avoid answering them.


    "Seems like you are preupied with something, Miss Gabi?" Louise Knight chimed in. Despite Gabi telling the man to call her Gabi in private, he still insisted on calling her Miss Gabi. He said it was only right since she was now his boss. Gabi eyed Louise, who sat to her right.


    "No. I just thought of something not important." Gabi smiled. "What were you talking about?"


    "Ah? Just business I heard that you are going to start working in the next few weeks?" Harry asked.


    "Yes, I will."


    "I heard that you grew up with a weak body. Is it alright for you to work?"


    "I am alright Harry. Thank you for your concern." Now that Gabi thought about it, Harry had been acting friendly towards her since she arrived earlier. However, this man should already have a girlfriend. What a despicable human being.


    "I can''t help but be concerned. I mean you look pale. Would you like me to rmend some doctors for you?"


    "No, thank you. I can handle that." Alfons said. "My sister has always been weak since we were kids. We have a few doctors attending her every now and then"


    The two men nodded while Gabi calmly drunk her juice. They already started drinking their wines. Soon after, they started talking about random things about the school and the uing graduation.


    "This reminds me about the graduation party held two days from now. Alfons, did you already invite Gabi?"


    "Of course," Alfons answered whileughing. "Right? Gab?"


    "Ah yes I will be there." Of course, she will be there. Isn''t this another opportunity to ruin Alfons'' reputation?


    Gabi answered some of their questions before the conversation continued. This time, Gabi acted like she felt sleepy. She started massaging her temple and the spot in between her brows.


    "Gabi? Is there something wrong?"


    "No. It''s fine." Gabi wasn''t sure if Alfons put something in her drink. However, she already asked Aren to make sure that her drink doesn''t contain any drugs. Now the question is can she trust Aren?


    Gabi''s answer is simply no. She couldn''t trust a shallow and materialistic woman who only seeks benefits. However, she trusts her ability to scare Aren. Earlier in their meeting, Gabi emphasized the fact that she owned the mansion and the whole Sutton wealth. Alfons doesn''t have anything at all.


    Gabi made sure to tell that woman that she could easily bring her down. It was like an elephant stepping on a cockroach. When Aren realized the circumstances she was in, she agreed to work for Gabi instead. She didn''t have much of a choice and the rewards that Gabi offered were more enticing than the money that Alfons offered.


    So yes, Gabi didn''t trust that woman. What she trusted was that woman''s greed.


    "I should go back to my room." Gabi smiled.


    "Let me take you to your room." Alfons immediately offered.


    Gabi nodded. She was expecting that Harry would take her to her room tonight. But it seems that she was wrong. However, the foreboding feeling inside her is still there. Her instinct was still screaming for her to be careful. Surprisingly, nothing happened, even after Alfons took her to her room.


    Gabi narrowed her eyes at Alfons back as he left her room.


    What was going on? Was she wrong, after all?


    Of course, her confusion immediately disappeared when Aren walked inside her room without even knocking. "What''s wrong?" she asked. She was getting sleepy, and she was preparing to fall asleep.


    "Miss didn''t you smell that?"


    "What?"


    "Sir Alfons asked me to light a candle. I don''t know what that candle was but it smelled weird."


    .....


    WEBTOON: Her Highness the Mafia Queen


    Instagram: @blips01

 Chapter 519: Blood

    Chapter 519: Blood


    A few hourster.


    Gabi yawned as she closed the book she was reading. It turns out that reading about history could actually make her forget about the time. She looked at the clock and realized it has been two hours since she walked inside her office. She couldn''t help but wonder what happened to Aren now.


    She smiled as she walked out of her office.


    "Eh? Gabi?"


    Gabi turn around and smiled at Alfons. "Brother what are you doing here? Are you done drinking?"


    "Howe you are here?" Alfons asked. Seeing Alfons looked like he had eaten poop, Gabi couldn''t help but chuckle. She had to stop herself fromughing out loud.


    "What kind of question is that, brother? I am doing something in my office. I didn''t realize that it was already toote. So"


    "I thought you already slept?"


    "I was about to. But I realized that I needed to do something and send it to my secretary. It had something to do with grandfather. I thought I would finish it in thirty minutes. It turns out, myck of knowledge in business management would be a problem. In the end, it took me more than two hours just to finish it."


    "Really?" Alfons'' face contorted into an ugly scowl. This time, it looked like he had eaten a bigger poop. Gabi pinched her leg just to stop herself fromughing. Who would have thought that she would see this man now?


    "It seems that you are drunk, brother. You should quickly go to your room. No need to worry about your friends. Spencer already prepared rooms for them for the night." With that, she started walking towards her room. "I will ask the maid to prepare a sumptuous breakfast for everyone."


    "Wait "


    "Hm? Do you need something?" Gabi asked when Alfons suddenly grabbed her wrist. "Brother it''s alreadyte. If you need something, just tell me tomorrow. You are drunk and I am really sleepy. So"


    "No!"


    "Huh? Brother?" Gabi tilted her head, her brows furrowed. "Did something happen?"


    "No. I just I need to talk to you right now."


    "About what? You looked pale Is there an emergency?"


    "No, I just I want you to introduce me to your grandfather."


    "Eh? But my grandfather already knows you." Gabi smiled. "It seems that you are already drunk, brother. If you want, I can help you towards your room."


    "I said No!"


    "B  Brother?"


    "I''m sorry. I didn''t mean to shout at you. What I meant is that Please help me out. I need to interview your grandfather."


    "Brother why don''t we talk about this tomorrow? I am exhausted." Gabi slowly removed Alfons'' hands around her wrist. "It''s prettyte. I should sleep now."


    "But "


    Before Alfons couldplete his words, a loud shout suddenly echoed inside the whole mansion.


    "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"


    Gabi looked at Alfons. "Did you  It''sing from my room!" She didn''t wait for Alfons to react as she dashed towards her room.


    "Ah please no more!"


    Gabi opened the door and turn on the lights inside her room. It was as if a bucket of water drenched her body as she quivered at the view in front of her. Eyes wide, her jaws dropped. In front of her was a mess.


    Harry''s and Aren''s clothes were all over the floor. Her bedsidemp was broken, its pieces scattered on the floor and on the bed. And there was blood blood everywhere.


    Gabi felt her heart left her as memories of her death surge inside her head, wreaking havoc, reminding her of the things that happened before her death. Her chest raised and fell. She could feel her body shake as memories of her son, dying in front of her, reyed over and over inside her head.


    She could feel her heart turned cold, her body numbed.


    "We heard someone scream!"


    "What  What is happening?"


    "Young Miss?"


    "Young Miss are you alright?"


    She thought she heard Spencer and Nonim''s voice. She could feel relief shing inside her already cold body. The blood in front of her automatically reminded her of the moments before she died. The torture doesn''t matter anymore. What mattered was Luca.


    Her son.


    The little man who lost his life in front of her.


    The little man who owns her heart.


    "Young miss!?"


    "Take her somewhere away!"


    "Young miss!?"


    Gabi wanted to say something. She wanted to tell them she was alright she was fine. How could some blood scare her? But for some reason, her throat hurt. It felt dry, like a desert. She could hear Luca''sughter around her. It seemed so close, yet too far.


    Gabi''s lips trembled as hot tears fell from her eyes.


    She thought she had mourned enough. She thought she could forget the pain of losing someone she dearly loved. She was wrong. Gabi clutched the clothes that covered her chest as if she was holding onto something that could save her life. She hugged herself. She could feel her consciousness leave, her gaze turned hazy.


    She doesn''t care.


    She held her chest like it was her lifeline.


    "Nonim! What are you waiting for? Take the young miss away from here!"


    "Ah, yes!"


    Gabi felt someone grabbed her, but she was too upied to even think about the current scene that she carefully nned. She was too busy trying to suppress the pain from an invisible wound made by an equally invisible blunt sword.


    Since she came back, Gabi had never cried like this. She thought she was strong enough to suppress her emotions. Act like a cold, two-faceddy. But one look at that scarlet liquid and all the memories came rushing in like a powerful storm, destroying the gigantic walls that she tried to build around her heart.


    Her emotions flowed likeva. It was hot- too hot.


    And that was thest thing she remembered before she finally lost her consciousness.


    ''The young miss fainted!''


    ''Someone call a doctor!''


    ''Young miss?''


    ''Young miss, are you alright?''


    ''Young miss, hang in there!''


    ...

 Chapter 520: Take it Slow

    Chapter 520: Take it Slow


    Gabi squinted at Kasper who was serving her tea. "So you are saying that Mr. Sealey just left after what happened?"


    "Yes."


    "And they didn''t even take Aren to the hospital and just asked her to rest for today?" Gabi was beyond furious. She gritted her teeth, her eyes full of anger. Just because Aren was a maid, it was alright to rap* her? Just where did these demonse from?


    "Mr. Alfons said not to let you do anything. He asked me to inform him once you are awake."


    "Did you?"


    "No. However, other people inside the mansion might have informed him."


    "I see," Gabi uttered. Last night, she knew that Harry would try and do something nasty. But she never thought that it would involve such tragic scene. Aren must have tried to act like she didn''t like it. Of course, this was because Gabi instructed her to do this. The blood must have been an ident as one of the two kicked themp on her bedside table.


    Yet, the fact that Aren was injured after Harry rap*d her was already inhumane. But what was more inhumane was the fact that they didn''t even offer to take her to the hospital. This is of course Alfons was scared that the doctors would take a rape kit test and drug test. These two pieces of evidence would be enough to ruin the young master of the Sealey family.


    "And the doctor?" she asked.


    "After Mr. Alfons left, the doctor arrived and did the test. Miss Aren is already in the guest room resting right now with her brother."


    Gabi snorted. Even if Alfons didn''t contact the doctor, Gabi already told her secretary to do it in advance. In fact, the doctor was already waiting in Kasper''s house during the incident.


    "Miss, would you like to have some porridge for breakfast? Miss Nonim is a bit worried and she had beening here since six in the morning checking if you were already awake."


    Gabi shook her head. It has been about thirty minutes since she woke up. However, she decided to stay in her bed. She only called Kasper using her phone to tell her about the rest of the things that happened while she was unconsciousst night.


    Ah,st night.


    She never expected herself to react badly when she saw the blood. She had been reborn for a few weeks now and her memories about her death were still fresh inside her head. It was as if, those terrible things happened only yesterday.


    This was just the beginning and she already fainted just from the sight of blood.


    She was indeed weak.


    It has been hard for her to let go of all those things especially since it also involves thest memories that she had with her son. Without those memories then Luca would also vanish.


    She gritted her teeth.


    "Schedule a meeting to Mr. And Mrs. Sealey. I will talk to them about Aren''s marriage to Mr. Harry Sealey."


    "Ah?"


    Gabi looked at Kasper. "Do you need me to repeat my words?"


    "No-No. I was just a bit surprised just now. That''s all."


    "Good. Schedule a meeting. I want you to call a paparazzi and arrange someone to follow Mr. Harry Sealey around. Then another paparazzi is going to take an image of me meeting Mr. And Mrs. Sealey."


    "Understood."


    "And oh I don''t want to see Alfons. Tell him I am busy. Call Mr. Szar here."


    "Ah, Mr. Glen Szar had been waiting for you. He said something about training."


    "Got it." With that, Gabi straightened her back and stretched her body. When she fainted, she didn''t sustain any injuries. So there is really no reason for her to stay inside her room. "While I am training, I want you to find out about some things for me." She quickly gave out some instructions before she took a quick shower and changed into somefortable gym clothing.


    "Miss!"


    Glen stood under the tree as he waved at her. He was wearing a ck V neck that fit his body and equally ck tactical pants. Gabi''s attention however was focused on the gun on the man''s legs.


    "Glen "She smiled. Soon, the two went to the basement and Glen started introducing the parts of a gun to her. The lesson was straightforward and pretty easy for a beginner like her. After lunch, Glen showed her how to assemble a gun.


    Glen specifically taught her the importance of knowing your guns and using this knowledge to her advantage.


    For instance, Gabi''s arms were weak and thin. Naturally, she needed to consider the weight and overall size of a gun to avoid any injuries during recoil. This is why Glen suggested that she also do some exercises to strengthen her body.


    Two kilometers jogging every morning. Ten push-ups, ten pull-ups, and many other basic exercises were given to her. Glen said it would be useless to learn any type of martial arts with her current strength. While feeling a bit aggrieved, Gabi really couldn''t deny that she was indeed weak.


    Gabi slowly patted her chest as she gasp for more air. After she learned the parts of the gun, Glen insisted that she walk and jog for at least one kilometer before they end their lesson for the day.


    Who would have thought one kilometer could almost make her faint from exhaustion? This What kind of weak body is this?


    "Young Miss, you shouldn''t me yourself too much," Glen said. "You were born with a weak body. You were only like this when you were born. Uh seven months. Yes, that should be about thirty weeks?"


    "" She looked at the older man who stood proudly next to her. Earlier, he insisted on apanying her on his run. Looking at his face right now, Gabi felt more depressed. Glen Szar didn''t even have a single sweat on his face!


    "Aiyo we are only at six hundred meters. When my son was seven years old, he could already run this much without gasping ah. It''s alright. Let''s take it slow. Just slow."


    "Huh?" Gabi raised an eyebrow. Only six hundred meters? She thought it was already two kilometers!

 Chapter 521: Marriage or Prison

    Chapter 521: Marriage or Prison


    Gabi over-estimated her own body.


    This was something that she realized the next day after running for almost one kilometer. The thing is, she never expected to feel this much pain because she had been doing yoga every morning. Apparently, doing some stretching is different from extreme exercises.


    "Miss, Mr. Glen is already here to escort you for your morning training."


    Gabi immediately covered her face with her pillow when she heard Kasper''s voice. That''s right, Glen promised to help her and act as her guard as she ran around the mansion. This is to make sure that she finish everything for the day.


    Glen said that the exercises will soon increase so she needed all the guidance that she could have to avoid any injuries.


    After five minutes ofining inwardly, Gabi immediately changed her clothes and prepared herself for today''s exercises.


    "Miss, Alfons is waiting for you in the drawing-room."


    "Tell him to wait. I am busy." She was about to start running. She had no time to talk to that cruel man.


    "Miss she is looking for Miss Aren. Just as instructed, we told him that you sent her away."


    Of course, Alfons would never believe that. "Were you able to schedule a meeting with the Sealey''s?"


    "Yes, it will be tomorrow afternoon for tea. Madam Sealey confirmed the meetingst night."


    "Just her?"


    "There was no mention of Mr. Sealey."


    Gabi nodded. Right now, her focus is to make sure that Alfons won''t have any good rtionship with the people that would be his ally in the future. The Sealey''s is on top of her list.


    "Miss, we should start now."


    Gabi smiled when she heard Glen''s voice. After some warm-ups, the two started running around the mansion. However, this didn''t escape Alfons'' eyes.


    He narrowed his eyes at Gabi''s skinny back.


    "When did she start doing this?" he asked Spencer who stood next to him.


    "Just today, sir."


    "Did you know why she is doing this?"


    "No sir. The head of the house "


    "Mr. Jonathan, may I know why you keep on calling her the head of the house?" he asked without looking at the old butler.


    "That is because she is the head "


    "What about me?" Alfons asked, irritated. "As the next male of the Sutton Family, I should be the next head of this house." When Spencer didn''t answer, Alfons turned his head towards him. "Did I say something wrong?"


    "Sir, with all due respect, this house was owned by Madam Ren."


    Alfons face contorted. "What does that mean?"


    "It means that you qualify to be the head of the Sutton Family but not in this house."


    "You "


    "Please forgive me sir but I am only stating facts. The deed of this house is under Miss Gabi''s Sutton''s name. If Miss Sutton will marry someone, then the name of this mansion will not be Sutton Mansion anymore."


    "That " Alfons lowered his head. He never thought of that fact. No, it''s not that he never thought about it. He just thought that everything that belongs to Gabi will be his too. After all, they were siblings blood-rted siblings. Gabi might be someone that he could just boss around, but this doesn''t change thews in between them.


    Alfons clenched his hands into two tight fists. That''s right. He needed to find someone that would marry Gabi as soon as possible. That Harry idiot already ruined his previous ns. So, he needed another person.


    He needed to do it before Gabi meets someone that she liked.


    But now that he carefully thought about it, meeting someone that she liked would be impossible. After all, Gabi didn''t like socializing before. Not many socialites knew what she looked like anymore. Then, all he needs to do now is to keep it that way.


    Keep isting Gabi.


    But Gabi would soon start working for Ren Aesthetics. Meaning, she would start joining events with her grandfather. This would surely benefit Alfons too.


    Because of this, Alfons fell into a dilemma. Should he tell Gabi not to work for her grandfather? But that would give him less opportunity to interact with the Ren Family.


    Ren Family, ah, Ren Family.


    If only Gabi was born from a different family.


    Why did she have to be born from someone from that rich family?


    Slowly, the jealousy in his heart started blooming again. Gabi grew up privileged and he hated it. Why does he have to suffer all the ridicule while Gabi just stayed inside this little bubble?


    "Please call me once she is done running. I will be in my room." He said before leaving Spencer alone. However, before he could even walk inside his room, he receive a call from Harry. "What is it?" he asked.


    "Did you know? My mother and Gabi is going to have tea tomorrow!"


    "What did you say?" Alfons stopped walking, his face darkened. "Who will meet who?"


    "My mother and Gabi!"


    "When?"


    "Tomorrow! My mother proudly told us this morning about the meeting. She thought that Gabi wanted to be friends with her. Hey! Alfons! Are you there? Did you found that maid? You told me you will take care of it? I am willing to pay you millions just to get rid of that b*tch! Where is she now? Is she dead?"


    "I "


    "Did you "


    "I will call you back."


    With that, Alfons turned around and went out of the mansion. His destination was naturally where Gabi was doing her morning exercises. "You are going to meet Madam Sealey?" Alfons grabbed Gabi''s arm to stop her from jogging. "Why didn''t you tell me about this?"


    Gabi looked at Alfons. "I am going to meet Madam Sealey to make his son marry my maid. It''s either that or Harry Sealey will rot in prison." She answered without any hesitation. Then she smiled. "I am sure that Madam Sealey will choose wisely for her son." Gabi epted the towel that Glen handed her. She used it to wipe the sweat on her face. "Of course... you can beg for your friend now. I wouldn''t meet his mother or send him to prison. But... I will post everything that I have against him in social media and let theizens judge him. What do you think... my brother?"

 Chapter 522: Troublesome Thing

    Chapter 522: Troublesome Thing


    "Gabi, why are you doing this?" Alfons asked. This was the first time that he saw such anger in Gabi''s eyes. "Why would you force the Sealey family like that?"


    "Aren is a maid of the Sutton Family. I am not going to let that man go without having him face the consequences of his own actions."


    "Gabi, this has nothing to do with you."


    "Really?" Gabi red at him. "I was doing my job inside my office. But what if I didn''t ask Aren to put some new freshener inside the room? What if I was the one who walk inside and put the freshener myself? What do you think would have happened, then?"


    "I "


    "That man would have touched me."


    "But "


    "And if something happened to me, brother, are you just going to let that man go?"


    "Of course not!"


    "I thought so."


    Alfons furrowed his brows. "But isn''t this doing too much for a mere maid?"


    "Maid or not she has rights too."


    "You  " Disbelief shed in Alfons eyes. Who would have thought that Gabi would react like this? "I don''t think that is a good idea," he said.


    "Why not?"


    "Don''t you know that the Sealey Family is the rising superstar in the construction industry? The family is doing so well. I am certain that they won''t just allow a mere maid to marry into their family." To his surprise, Gabi just smiled at him and said nothing. What is going on here? What is she doing?


    "Gabi?" he asked. "Did you hear me?"


    "Brother you don''t really know that."


    "You "


    "How did you know that they won''t let a maid marry into their family?" Especially someone that the young master of the Sealey family rap*d?


    "Are you not scared that they would attack you instead?"


    "Attack me? Why would they do that? Did I do something wrong?"


    "Gabi, how did you be like this? The Gabi that I knew "


    "Wouldn''t let anyone powerful bully a mere maid." She interrupted his words. "I would never let anyone bully someone working inside this mansion, brother. That is my way to protect the Sutton family."


    "You "


    "No need to worry. I am sure that the Sealey''s would make the arrangements as soon as possible."


    "What if they hurt the maid instead?" Alfons asked. Of course, he wanted to know if Gabi have something special that he could use against the Sealey Family. If Gabi had something, he would surely take it away from her and prevent her from doing anything stupid.


    However, if she didn''t have anything that could protect that maid, then there is no reason for Aren to live anymore.


    "Then the Sealey Family will regret it."


    "You are going to fight against the Sealey''s just because of a maid?"


    "Why not?" Gabi smiled. "You just said it. They are one of the rising stars. They are not there yet. A simple scandal would ruin them."


    Gabi was using his own words against him! Alfons hid the anger in his eyes. "I think we should talk inside. We need to talk about your n. This isn''t something that you can do without proper nning!"


    "No need. I already prepared everything." Gabi smiled. Why would she reveal her card to a snake? "Moreover, you are friends with Mr. Sealey."


    "Are you saying that I would betray you to protect Harry?"


    "I didn''t say that."


    "Then why don''t we"


    "As I said, there is no need for us to talk. Of course, if you want to involve yourself, then you cane with me. Let''s go to their home right now and propose marriage. What do you think?"


    "That  "That would never happen!


    "What''s wrong, brother? I thought you would always support me." Gabi sighed. "But it''s alright. I understand that you value Mr. Harry more than me. I should just  "


    "Gabi please don''t say something like that."


    "Then why won''t you help me?" Gabi looked aggrieved as she stared at Alfons. She couldn''t help but wonder what would this man do now that she was putting him in a tough position. Proposing a marriage would surely affect his rtionship with Harry.


    However, not apanying Gabi would mean that he chose Harry over her.


    For someone like Alfons, who always values benefits above anything, this is going to be a troublesome thing to decide.


    "What is it, brother?"


    "I  I don''t think I would involve myself in this matter anymore."


    "Just as I thought. You would choose a rap*st over me. I should have known."


    "Gabi! What are you talking about? I just said that "


    "Not supporting me simply means that you are not willing to confront your abusive friend. That''s it. There is no in-between. It''s either you are with me and help me uphold justice or you stand behind a criminal."


    "I would never do that."


    Gabiughed. "I recalled a saying. The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people." She leaned forward. "You are that tragedy right now. How disappointing, brother. I guess I am really alone in this world."


    With that, Gabi walk towards Mr. Glen. "Let''s continue. I needed to finish everything before nine. I have an appointmentter." She didn''t spare Alfons any nce anymore.


    "Alright " Glen enthusiastically said and the two of them started running again.


    Seeing Gabi like this made Alfons speechless. Something must have happened. He could no longer ignore the changes that is happening around Gabi.


    No, he couldn''t let this continue!


    Right now, Gabi is slowly distancing herself from him. However, he was really in a dilemma right now. He needed to choose between Gabi and Harry. Both people have enormous potential. However, Harry had been in his family''s business now. He is slowly building his influence. Moreover, he was also considered a genius in the business industry.


    Compared to Gabi who still has nothing but her family name, Harry is considerably a better ally. With that, Alfons immediately called Harry.


    "She is going to tell your mother about that incident,"Alfons said the moment Harry picked up the call. "Tell your mother not to go to this meeting tomorrow."

 Chapter 523: Blackmail

    Chapter 523: ckmail


    Sadly for him, Gabi already anticipated this so, on that same day, Gabi showed up in the house of the Sealey Family.


    "Miss Sutton, I thought that my wife is scheduled to meet you tomorrow? Samantha was pretty excited about it."


    "Monte, stop embarrassing me." Samantha Sealey bashfully smiled at her husband, who was sitting next to her.


    "Miss Sealey, I saw the dress that you were wearing at the g a few weeks back. I really liked that see-through red one. It suits you." Gabi smiled. "That choker ne was a perfect match, too. I actually thought you were an actress." Gabi''s reason for trying to meet Mrs. Sealey is actually because she wanted to know the one who made the woman''s dress and jewelry.


    As an inexperienced young woman, it would sound totally normal for her to consult someone who knows a lot about fashion and jewelry. Or at least... that''s what everyone thought.


    "My  My  " Mr. Sealeyughed. "I already knew that many people would ask about that ne. I was right. Anyway, I will leave you, two beautifuldies. I still have things to attend to."


    Gabi nodded at the older man, who kissed his wife on her cheek before leaving them. On the outside, Mr. And Mrs. Sealey''s rtionship was perfect. Both were good-looking and fit. They love to travel, exercise, and do some fun stuff together. In fact, when thepany became one of the top fivepanies in the city, people immediately began to love this couple.


    Gabi recalled how she used to like these two a lot, too. In the past life, she married Harry and became really close to Mrs. Sealey. As someone who never had a mother figure, Gabi immediately got attached to this warm and funny woman. Ah, Samantha Sealey.


    No one would know what kind of secrets were you hiding in your basement  literally.


    Gabi used to think that Samantha would never change after her divorce after the Ren Family fell. She recalled how Mrs. Sealey never liked the woman that Harry reced Gabi. Samantha Sealey used to call her at night,ining about that woman. Of course, Gabi thought that Samantha was sincere.


    Until that day


    Right now, Gabi smiled at Samantha. The woman who caused her a lot of heartache in the past life. In that life, Gabi didn''t do anything to this woman because the Sealey''s were one of Alfons'' backers. They were supporting Alfons and helping him.


    "Ah, yes that dress I ordered that from SS shop. It''s a part of their VIP catalog. Viewing that catalog is a bit difficult since it''s a member-only catalog. They only released five different designs yearly. I just got lucky, I was able to get myself one of those beautiful dresses. That ne, however I believe that is the only ne in the world."


    "Really? You mean it''s custom made?" Gabi faked a smile.


    "Yes. I had to ask Bobo jewelry to make it for me."


    "Bobo Jewelry?" Gabi raised an eyebrow. Just as she expected, Archy is indeed trying to get inside the Sealey Family. "I am a bit familiar with thatpany. They really have good jeweler."


    "Yes, I heard that Bobo Jewelry actually started in Xu Country. Of course, I am no longer surprised to know about these. After all, Xu Country is already one of the richest if not the richest country in the world nowadays."


    "It seems that Mrs. Sealey reads a lot of news."


    "If you be the wife of a businessman, you would one day force yourself to know these things so you could talk to your husband." Mrs. Sealeyughed. "Anyway, I am really surprised that you decided to visit me today. However, this makes me worried. May I know why Miss Sutton would suddenly visit my simple family?"


    That''s right, this visit was indeed sudden and surprising for someone like the Sealey family right now. If the timeline is right, the Sealey Family would start stealing clients from Ren Aesthetics early next year after Alfons got close to Earl Ren, after Gabi was supposed to marry Harry. Because of this, they managed to win a lot of biddings and finally became the top constructionpany in the country.


    How pathetic.


    Just the thought of this scheming woman made her want to puke her guts out.


    "It is indeed surprising. I know it''s sudden, however I don''t want to wait until tomorrow to tackle the issue."


    "An issue?" Samantha''s face turned serious. "Miss Sutton, I don''t understand what you are trying to say. I believe this is the first time that we met, so what issue are you talking about?"


    "It''s not about you, Mrs. Sealey. It''s about your son, Harry." I pushed the tablet towards her before ying the y button on the video. The hallway of Sutton mansion immediately filled the screen.


    "This is "


    "The Sutton Family mansion. As you can see Harry drunkenly entered my room the other night."


    Samantha''s face turned pale as she let out a surprised gasp. Then she looked at Gabi. "Are you saying that he"


    "No. Not me. It''s not me. Mrs. Sealey. It''s my maid. Your son rap*d my maidst night and left her injured and bleeding."


    A thick, suffocating silence enveloped the two of them. Gabi watched as the woman shook her head. Her hand covered her little mouth.


    "Miss Sutton this"


    "I could have approached your husband, Mrs. Sealey." Gabi continued. "However, I didn''t. I chose to approach you first because just like me. You are a woman. You could put yourself in the shoes of my personal maid, who was only there to change the air freshener in the room before I sleep. I thought that by approaching you, we could solve this matter peacefully without approaching the police and causing some scandal."


    "You  You are here to  ckmail my family?"


    "Mrs. Sealey, that is a bit insulting." There was a smile on Gabi''s face. "I would never ckmail someone. I am only here to propose a marriage arrangement for my personal maid."


    "What did you say?"


    "I said, I want a marriage arrangement. I can repeat it one more time if you didn''t hear it properly." Gabi said. Seeing Mrs. Sealey''s shocked expression, Gabi added. "In short, I want Harry to marry my maid."

 Chapter 524: Grounded

    Chapter 524: Grounded


    "What?" Mrs. Sealey widened her eyes at Gabi. "What are you talking about?"


    "It''s either that or awsuit ising your way. I am certain that Mrs. Sealey would not want to risk it, right? After all, a rap* case would be devastating for a young man like him."


    "You already know that it would be devastating, but you are still doing this?"


    Gabi didn''t answer and just smiled at the woman. The Sealey Family has two sons. However, everyone can see that Mrs. Sealey and her husband favored the second one. Despite this, they couldn''t really touch the eldest Sealey because he was smarter and definitely morepetent than Harry. However, the eldestcked the support and backing of his own parents. Because of this, his influence is not that greatpared to his brother. Yet, this didn''t stop him from winning the recognition of other countries.


    But instead of bing proud, this only made his parents more infuriated. Right now, the Sealey family is doing their best to cultivate Harry and increase his influence in society.


    This would help him once he took over thepany.


    However, a r*pe case would surely shatter whatever it was that Harry has. "Please don''t think that I am targeting your family, Mrs. Sealey," Gabi said. "This is the only punishment that I could think of for having such his indecent thoughts towards me."


    "That "


    "Did I say the wrong thing? Harry Sealey, clearly wanted to do something to me. But I got lucky and stayed in my office to work. Do you really think that I am just someone that you and your family could scheme against?"


    "What? We didn''t"


    "Of course you would deny it. I already expected that."


    "Miss Sutton, stop insulting my family. We never schemed against you! Whatever Harry did had nothing to do with us. We didn''t tell him to do it. He was simply drunk!"


    "Is that so?"


    "Yes. That is the only exnation that I have for his actions. However, I think that this does not warrant some extreme punishments. I will not allow Harry to go out for three months. No electronics either. I am sure that this is enough punishment for what he did."


    Gabi covered her mouth as she sneered. "Mrs. Sealey you are funny. I didn''t know that you have a knack for making peopleugh." With that, Gabi gathered her things and got up. "I will give you until tonight to decide. If I will not receive your decision before midnight, then please prepare yourself for the media tomorrow." Her lips lifted into a smirk. "I will make sure that Harry would no longer have any reason to show his face to the public anymore."


    "Miss Sutton, you  " Mrs. Sealey''s words were interrupted with a series of footstepsing their way. The two women look at the man who strode towards them.


    "Gabi! Howe you are here?" It was none other than Harry Sealey. Sweat can be seen on his forehead as he gave Gabi a wary look. "Is this about the other night?"


    "Harry the things that she spoke of. Was it true?"


    "It was an ident, mom. I would never do something like that."


    "Is that so?" Gabi said.


    "Of course! You can ask anyone else, I am not that kind of person."


    "Ah I am sure that Mr. Sealey was raised the right way. After all, you have loving parents behind you." The two flinched when they heard the sarcasm in Gabi''s words. "So since you are not the kind of person that would do that then are you going to marry my maid?"


    "What?"


    "Didn''t you hear me?"


    "You wanted me to marry a mere maid?"


    "That mere maid was the woman who got hurt instead of me, Mr. Sealey. Please be mindful of your words from now on."


    "You "


    "What? Did I say something wrong? She got hurt instead of me. She was in that bed, naked and hurt because of me."


    "Miss Sutton"


    Seeing the two speechless, Gabi smiled a smile that could only be akin to that of the devils. "Now let me repeat my question. The one that I asked your mother. Are you going to marry my maid? Or bebeled as the rap*st who attempted to rap*d me but rap*d the maid instead? That''s three rap* words in a sentence, Mr. Harry. I purposely did that to emphasize your crime."


    "You wanted me to marry that woman? Gabi, can''t we talk about this? How aboutpensating her instead? She is but a nobody. I am certain that she would ept money. Plus she wasn''t a virgin, and she was the one who seduced me first."


    Gabi cocked an eyebrow. How shameless!


    "That woman saw me and tried to kiss me. So I pushed her away. But I was already drunk so Gabi you should understand. I am just a man. When I saw her naked "


    "She wasn''t naked. You were the one who ripped her clothes. I have pictures." Did they think they could use this method? Howughable!


    "You "


    "She had bruises on her legs, arms, wrist, waist, and hips. There were purple bite marks all over her body and a wound on her back. Again, I have images."


    "That "


    "Harry what is she saying? Is this true?"


    "Ma, I would never do that! I swear that woman seduced me."


    "She seduced you in my room? Is that it?"


    "Of course "


    "Then why are you inside my room Mr. Sealey?"


    "I "


    "Unlike you, I asked Miss Aren to do something inside my room. How about you?"


    "Harry? Answer her. What were you doing in her room?"


    "I  Alfons told me that was the guest room."


    BINGO.


    Gabi smiled inwardly. "And do you think that reason would protect you in the court?"


    "Gabi, I already said "


    "Two things" Gabi held two of her fingers in front of them. "It is either you marry her? Or you rot in prison. You have until midnight to decide, Mr. Sealey. After that, the files inside myputer will be sent to all media outlets in the country."

 Chapter 525: The Victim and the Criminal

    Chapter 525: The Victim and the Criminal


    "Gabi why would say something like that to the Sealey Family?"


    "Something like what, brother?" Gabi asked. She just got out of the car and Alfons was already shouting at her.


    "You wanted him to marry a maid? That is impossible!"


    "Say''s who?"


    "You You know that the Sealey Family is a rising star in the country. This isn''t going to be an easy blow to them!"


    "I know." She started walking inside.


    "And yet you still did it."


    "Yep."


    "Why? I already warned you! Why didn''t you listen to me?"


    "And why would I?" She stopped walking and looked at Alfons. "You were clearly taking your friend''s side. Why would I listen to you?"


    "Gabi there are no sides!"


    "Yes, there is!" Gabi hissed. "It''s the side of the victim and the criminal!"


    "There is no crime! That maid seduced him! It wasn''t rap*!"


    "Yeah, tell that to the court!"


    "Are you really going to ruin a family because of this?"


    She snorted. "Why are you making it seem like it was my fault brother?"


    "What?"


    "Now that I thought about it, Harry said it was you who told him that my room was the guest room."


    "What?"


    "He was intoxicated and clearly drugged and you led him to my room. Why would you do that brother?"


    "I didn''t do that."


    "Really?"


    "Gabi I didn''t tell him that it was the guest room. He was lying!"


    "Yeah you should tell that to yourwyers. I have no interest in talking to a coward anymore."


    "Gabi! Wait! Listen to me!"


    "Remove your hands!" Gabi hissed when Alfons held her wrist. "Let go!"


    "Gabi I am your older brother! I would never do something that would hurt you. I love you! We are the only Suttons left! Why would I do something that would put you in any danger? Don''t you trust me?"


    Gabi only snorted in response.


    Alfons continued, "He was looking for the bathroomst night. I told him there is a private one on the second floor near your room. I didn''t know how he managed to enter your room. I was surprised you. Now that this already happened, I just wanted to control the damage done. Harry said he was willing to pay that woman. However, a marriage cannot happen."


    "I already anticipated that."


    "What?"


    "That he would pay her."


    "And? Why are you creating this much ruckus? It is simply not worth it!"


    "Really?" Gabi sneered. "But if I was the one who was inside the room are you still going to ask him to pay for the ''damages''?"


    "That "


    "Alfons be honest with me. Did you want me to marry that man?"


    "What?"


    "You are scheming against me, Alfons." Gabi squinted her eyes. "Did you want him to hurt me like how he hurt Aren?"


    "I would never "


    "THEN STOP PROTECTING THAT CRIMINAL!" Gabi''s chest raised and fell as she red at Alfons. In this life, this is the first time that she raised her voice towards anyone. And she never expected that it would actually feel this good. "If he doesn''t want to marry Aren then I will reveal what he did to the public. He could cry what he want and beg but he will only have two choices! And that was the price for trying to harm me!"


    With that, Gabi removed his hand on her wrist and strode towards her office. But how could Alfons give up just like that? Alfons run towards her and started yapping about his friend again.


    Irritated, Gabi looked at the man following behind her. "If you won''t stop nagging, I will give my proof to the media now!"


    "You "


    "Let the public judge!"


    "Gabi this isn''t good. You can''t make the Sealey family your enemy!"


    "Why is that?"


    "That "


    "Did you think they are greater than me and my family?"


    "I didn''t say that."


    "Alfons in this country the only one that could stop me are the royals." She smirked. "You should also know that, right?" The Ren Family is one of the oldest families in this country, even the Royal Family or the Ye Family respects them. This is how powerful the Ren Family is.


    And as the only granddaughter of the current chairman, Gabi had a lot of influence in this country too.


    The only reason why most people don''t know what she looked like is that she didn''t attend any special events in the past few years. But this would easily change if she joined one g that was held by the royals.


    If that timees then Gabi''s influence would soar. Isn''t this why Alfons wanted her to marry someone close to him? Tying her down while she isn''t that influential is his best option if he wanted to control him.


    But this


    This is theplete opposite of what he expected to happen!


    "Are you really going to expose them to the media before filing a case?"


    "I am no longer talking to you," Gabi said. "I am exhausted. Please leave me alone."


    "Gabi"


    "And Alfons? Don''t you dare touch Aren. If something happens to her I will me you and ruin the Sealey Family until they beg me for their deaths!"


    "Gabi... This is not you. What dug


    happen to you?"


    She only red at him in response. "I got patience." She said. Patience


    That is the only reason why this motherf*cker is alive! She wanted to make him suffer and watch him sumb to his own idiocy.


    "I wille backter. Calm down. I will ask Spencer to bring you some tea."


    "I am calm," Gabi uttered. "This is me being calm after avoiding a tragedy." She gave him a knowing look. "Now get the hell away from me before I start to lose my temper. Brother."


    Alfons gave her aplicated look before leaving her alone inside her office. Once he was gone, Gabi immediately let out a sigh of relief.


    Talking to Alfons was really exhausting because she had to stop herself from trying to strangle him. She clenched her fist.

 Chapter 526: Like A Prisoner

    Chapter 526: Like A Prisoner


    Sealey Family


    "Marry a mere maid?" Mr. Sealey couldn''t help but yelled when he heard the craziest idea he ever heard. "Is she crazy?"


    "Honey, I don''t understand why she would insist that Harry marry someone like this maid when we could easily pay her."


    "Call her and tell her we are going to pay for the damages! Tsk." Mr. Sealey thought Gabi visited his wife because she wanted to get close to her. After all, his wife was known because of the dresses that she wore during events. Actresses would do everything to get close to his wife because they wanted her to introduce them to some designers abroad! Who would have thought that Gabrielle Sutton was actually a malicious woman who wanted to ruin his family? "And Harry are you sure that someone else schemed this?"


    "Yes, father. I am not that drunk, however, I felt dizzy, and a bit numbed. So I asked Alfons if he could take me to the guest room, as I needed to rest. However, he told me that he needed to do something first and told me that Gabi''s room was the guest room. I didn''t think that he would do this to me."


    "Hmph! Then do you think Alfons Sutton actually schemed against you?"


    "I think Alfons didn''t want to scheme against Harry intentionally. I believe he wanted to scheme against Gabrielle. However, some idents happen and now we are in this mess."


    "Tsk. Did you already call her?"


    "I cannot reach her number.'' His wife answered. "I sent her a text and told her we wanted to negotiate."


    "That woman actually dared to do this to my family?"


    "Father, what are we going to do now? If she releases the article to the media, then my name is ruined!"


    "Honey, Harry is right. If the article gets released, no one would care if it''s the truth or not. They would immediately bully our son. What are we going to do now?"


    "Let me think." Against Gabi, Mr.Sealey and the whole Sealey family weren''t that defenseless. However, Gabi had the backing of the Ren Family. And bing an enemy of the Ren Family is practically like trying to attack one country! "That woman is not known in the upper echelons. She shouldn''t have enough influence. However, because of her grandfather, people still respect her and send her invites to Gs and private tea parties.


    But Gabrielle Sutton never actually joined these parties.


    Still, people respected her because of herte father and the Ren Family. "She doesn''t have any social media presence. Not even a single photo online! This woman "


    "She replied."


    "Huh? What did she say?"


    "This "


    "What?" he walked towards his wife and snatched her phone. Then she started reading the text message. Soon, he realized that it wasn''t actually a text message but an image of an article. Then a text followed.


    [I took a Screenshot of the article that will be sent to the mediater. Do you think the title is attractive enough?]


    "Damn! Damn this woman!"


    "What is it?" Harry looked at the phone and almost immediately, his face turned ugly. "This "


    "Look at those bruises! And someone really dared to take a picture of you while you were in bed with that maid?"


    "What?"


    "This is embarrassing Harry! You  How dare you to embarrass the Sealey Family like this?"


    "Father I "


    "Marry the maid! Since she treasures this maid too much, they marry her!"


    "What? Father, I have a girlfriend. What about Riri? You know that I love her!"


    "Keep her for now. We can always negotiate with that maid after your marriage and pay her enough to agree to a divorce. We just needed to satisfy Gabrielle Sutton''s conditions. She didn''t say we cannot divorce that woman."


    "But "


    "If your woman loves you, then she would understand that you only wanted to protect your family name." Mrs. Sealey said. "I agree with your decision. You secretly marry the maid. There is no need for any extravagant wedding. A secret marriage will do. She is but a maid. She doesn''t deserve to have a luxurious wedding. And she can stay at the other house. At the back of the mansion."


    "This is a good idea. Yes, she can indeed stay in that house. No need to spend some nights with her and to avoid anyplications you should make her drink some anti-pregnancy herbs just in case, she would try to scheme against our son."


    And just like that, the Sealey family decided that Harry is going to marry Aren. At ten in the evening, Gabi received a confirmation that Harry would marry Aren.


    "Miss? Is there something wrong?" Aren asked Gabi. Right now, Gabi took the time to see Aren and check for the condition of her body.


    "He agreed to marry you. I will talk to them tomorrow. However, do not expect a Cindere love story. This isn''t a fairytale." Gabi said. "I am sure that they would do everything to separate you and ostracize you from the family. Meaning, there will be no grand wedding and they are going to let you stay somewhere else. Maybe in a vige somewhere. They would give you everything but treat you like a prisoner. They would keep this marriage a secret too."


    Aren nodded.


    "It seems that you are already expecting this?" Gabi asked. "However, don''t worry. I will agree to give them a copy of the evidence that I have against them but I will not delete my own copy."


    "But what if they asked you to delete it?"


    Gabiughed. "Then I will tell them I deleted it." Isn''t that simple? Just tell them what they wanted to hear. "They won''t know it. Once they try to hurt you I will release it in the press."


    "Miss" Tears pooled in Aren''s eyes.


    "Don''t cry now. You will have a long long way to go." Gabi said. "Now, I want you to be very careful. The Sealey Family may look kind on the outside but they are different inside that mansion." In short, they would probably try to kill Aren. "Do you understand what I am trying to say?"

 Chapter 527: Conditions

    Chapter 527: Conditions


    "Miss Sutton it must be nice to use your maternal family name all the time." These were Mrs. Sealey''s first words when Gabi walked inside the private tea room that the Sealey Family booked in advance.


    "I should ask myself about that after I sent the article to the press." Gabi opened her phone. However, before she could do anything, she heard Mr. Sealey''s voice.


    "Miss Sutton, my wife is only joking. Please don''t take it seriously."


    "I don''t know about that, Mr. Sealey. I am a bit irritated. After all, I almost got rap*d by some random man."


    "You "


    "Apologize." Mr. Sealey said in a low voice. "Now."


    "But  " Mrs. Sealey''s face reddened. "I''m sorry Gabi. I didn''t mean to say that."


    Gabi snorted in response. If she was the same as Gabi in the past, she would have fallen for this act. It was the ssic bad cop, good cop. And it was as fake as the gold-ted chair that they were sitting on.


    These two were just acting. They wanted to show her how hesitant they were to have Harry marry Aren. That this isn''t what they wanted. Then, they would take this opportunity to make her lower her guard down and let her think that she already won.


    Oh, dear.


    She was just starting.


    Gabi didn''t say anything. She took her seat and looked at Harry, who had his head lowered. They were inside a room with a circr table for at least six people, so there was enough space for more people. Maybe they expected Aren toe as well?


    "The wedding is going to happen on this date. The dowry and venue, I will take care of that. These are the guests that I wanted you to invite and "


    "Miss Gabi, we are not nning to do a proper wedding." Mr. Sealey interrupted her.


    "Why? I always thought that the Sealey Family favors Harry. Am I wrong?"


    "Miss Gabi" Mr. Sealey started. He leaned forward, his hands rested on the table. "We don''t want to embarrass our son further."


    "Oh? Do you think marrying a maid is an embarrassment? What about being a rapist?"


    "Miss Gabi, you cannot use this excuse all the time."


    "Mr. Sealey "Gabi smirked. "This isn''t an excuse. I am stating facts. He is a rapist. Is he not?"


    "Please let us talk like adults and avoid saying such childish things in the future."


    "Then let''s talk about the wedding."


    "I already said there will be no formal wedding."


    "And what makes you think you can demand such things?"


    "Miss Gabi please let''s be civil and rational."


    Again, Gabi snorted. "Being civil and rational means giving the evidence to the police. Is that really what you want, Mr. Sealey?"


    A thick, suffocating silence filled the room. Seeing this, Gabi continued, "I thought so too. Now I want a wedding. It''s not big. This is why I only invited ten people. You can invite another ten to your party. There will be ten people on my side and ten on your side. Twenty witnesses, no press, no coverage, no announcements." She watched as relief shed across both of their faces.


    She already expected this.


    All she could do wasugh inwardly.


    Gabi already asked someone to follow Harry around and by now, they have already obtained a few photos of him and his college sweetheart, who also happens to be an actress. If Gabi predicted it right, Harry would still continue his rtionship with the actress while leaving his wife at home.


    Then the Sealey family would wait for a few months to negotiate with Aren for the divorce. But what would happen if Harry and his sweetheart''s rtionship would be revealed to the public while he was still married to Aren?


    Isn''t that fun to see?


    "Alright, we will agree to these terms. How about the original files of the proof that you have?"


    "Naturally, I will give it to you once the marriage is registered. You can do what you want with it." Gabi wasn''t nning to include any uses for divorce. She knew that the Sealey Family would do everything they can to get rid of Aren. And if Gabi would tell them that divorce isn''t allowed then the best way to get rid of Aren would be to kill her.


    Obviously, Gabi didn''t want Aren to die.


    To Gabi, Aren is a pawn  a useful one.


    There is no need to get rid of a useful pawn.


    "And you will no longer file anywsuit for my son?"


    "No. It has nothing to do with me anymore." Gabi said. "Aren grew up in the Sutton Family estate. She started working for her brother to have a decent life. I consider her one of my people. So if you are nning to hurt her "


    "We would never do that." Mrs. Sealey answered. "We are kind people Miss Sutton."


    "Of course. That is so obvious, Mrs. Sealey." Gabi responded without hiding the sarcasm in her voice. "The registration of the marriage will happen tomorrow," Gabi added, surprising everyone, including Harry.


    "Why?" Harry asked. "Why does it have to be tomorrow?"


    "I said, you can decide the date of the wedding ceremony but the registration has to be tomorrow."


    "Why?"


    "Well Mr. Sealey, you already did something indecent to her. She could get pregnant anytime. I don''t want to avoidplications. After all, the child is innocent."


    Just as expected, everyone''s face turned serious. They looked at each other, probably trying to read each other''s eyes before Mr. Sealey said. "I understand. I agree with your terms."


    "Good. Let''s remember the mistake of the parents is not the mistake of the child." A gentle smile appeared on her face. "Isn''t that right, Mrs. Sealey?"


    "Uh? Yes that''s right. A grandchild wouldn''t be that bad."


    Gabi nodded in satisfaction. "Now I want Aren to report to me weekly. I wanted to make sure that she isn''t maltreated in any way. After all, I already considered her family."


    "Miss Sutton, it seems that you don''t really trust us." Mr. Sealey said.


    "You are right, Mr. Sealey. I don''t trust you." Gabi responded almost immediately. "Now shall we talk about the living arrangements of the newlyweds?"


    "Miss Sutton, I don''t think you should involve yourself in this matter anymore. We will assure you that we will treat Miss Aren fairly. My wife already said this but I want to repeat it. We are kind people. We don''t have any malicious intentions."

 Chapter 528: Felice Brent

    Chapter 528: Felice Brent


    And just like that, the marriage of the second young master of the Sealey Family has been decided.


    Gabi looked at the images in front of her. All of them were in the greatest resolution, something that she really love. "Who took these photos?" she asked Kasper.


    "It was a lone paparazzo who epted the task. He is known as Rabbit."


    "Rabbit. I like that name. Give him some bonus. Thank him for his work. Twenty percent of the rate."


    "Understood."


    Now that Gabi already has photos of Harry and that actress, all she had to do now is wait and focus on increasing her troops. Right now, the Sealey family should have known that the person who tried to scheme against them was actually Alfons. She was able to sessfully ruined the rtionship between the two.


    "Miss, the Sealey family has been asking when are you going to send Miss Aren to them."


    "Not until I confirmed if she is pregnant." She answered. "Tell them I don''t want to send her without knowing that she is perfectly fine. Psychologically, of course." While it was extremely cruel for her to involve a child in this matter, Gabi just wanted to make sure that the child was safe. If worsees to worst, she was even prepared to prepare a new identity for this child.


    After all, a child is innocent and he or she shouldn''t pay for the sins of the parents.


    It has been a few days now since that meeting ended and until now, Gabi still couldn''t forget the Sealey Family''s shameless words. They had been trying to emphasize that they were good people. Kindhearted and generous.


    Just the thought of it made herugh.


    "Miss, the dress that you are going to wearter for Mr. Alfons graduation is already here. As well as Miss Tina for your hair and make-up."


    "Ah, Tina." Gabi smiled. It had been a few months since their cooperation started and so far, everything was doing well. Right now, she already has three more branches of the salon in northern cities and two in southern cities. "Can you tell me that time of the graduation celebration again?" Gabi didn''t attend the ceremony but decided to join the celebratory banquet instead. This was the same banquet where she got drunk in the past and was linked to Harry Sealey.


    The only reason she wanted to join this celebration is because of the few people that she would meet tonight.


    "It would start at six."


    "Hmmm. Alright."


    After a few hours, Gabi left the mansion wearing a white knee-length dress.


    "Sister, I am d that you were able to join us tonight." Alfons was wearing a ck suit. He smiled at her as if he didn''t just scheme against her a few days back. Gabi smiled in response before she roamed her gaze around the crowd of new graduates.


    Alfons was at the top university in the country. It is not only expensive, but the standard of education is top-notch too. Because of this, the school had strict requirements for their graduating student. Usually, only the best of the best we''re able to graduate from this school.


    Bing a graduate of this school would ensure someone a good job in the government and more business opportunities for a lot of people. After a round of introductions, Gabi was finally alone.


    It was actually the same in the previous life.


    Many people inside this school knew her name as Alfons'' sister, the clingy sister. The only people who knew that she was from the Ren Family are the ones from other prominent families. Of course, Gabi never cared about any of this. Right now, she only has one goal. Meet some people that would help her in the future.


    With a non-alcoholic beverage in hand, Gabi walked towards the terrace of the second-floor hall where the party was held. This party was held inside the school and the security is really tight because of people who joined were sons and daughters of ministers and ambassadors.


    For a few seconds, she enjoyed the view of the circr fountain that was in the building''s front. It has a Lion and a serpent on it, the logo of the school. Gabi couldn''t help but wonder if that person that she was waiting for is already there. She looked left and right and sigh when she didn''t see anyone else. Everyone seemed to be too busy socializing inside ah.


    Earlier, Gabi already met a couple of people that she needed to meet for her goals. She just needed to meet thest one in this ce. Or it should be in this ce, right? After all, this terrace is empty. This was a perfect venue for suc*de.


    As if on cue, she heard someone''s sobs.


    She hid the smile on her face as she walked to the other side of the terrace and found a woman in red, crying. She was sitting on the floor as she hugged her knees. Because this part doesn''t have the proper lighting, she couldn''t really see the woman''s face, but it was pretty obvious that she was crying.


    "Are you alright?"


    "Please leave me alone." The woman responded almost immediately as she turned her head away from Gabi.


    "Here" Instead of walking away, Gabi handed her a handkerchief. "Take it."


    "Please leave me alone "


    "Sorry," Gabi said. "I can''t do that." Saying nothing else, she put the handkerchief on the woman''s knees and increased the distance between them. Seeing that she didn''t leave, the woman started sobbing once again.


    "Are you not going to take some photos of me like this? If you want to take it, no need to hide your phone. Just put it directly on my face. That would make it more obvious that it was me."


    "Why would I take photos of you?"


    Gabi''s question was only met with silent sobs. "My name is Gabrielle Sutton, how about you?"


    For a few seconds, the woman just sobbed without saying anything. Gabi added, "Do you want me to help you out of here?" Just as she expected, the woman turned towards her.


    "You can do that?"


    "Yes."


    "I  I am called Felice Brent."


    "Nice to meet you, Felicee let me take you out of this ce."

 Chapter 529: Barking Dog

    Chapter 529: Barking Dog


    "How did you know there were some stairs there?" Felice asked her while tying her long, ck, curly hair into afortable blond.


    Gabi shrugged in response. "I studied it. In case I needed to escape some certain situations." Of course, she already researched every part of this building. She came prepared.


    "You are peculiar. Aren''t you the daughter of thete prime minister?"


    "Yeah."


    "I''m so sorry about what happened."


    "It can''t be helped. People die all the time." Gabi smiled. "You are one of the graduates?" Right now, they are already walking in the garden, surrounded by the smell of roses and wet soil.


    "Yeah."


    Gabi nodded. In the previous life, Felice k*lled herself on the graduation celebration. No one really knows the reason why she did it. They just found her body on the terrace after the party. At that time, she was still alive but was soon dered brain dead three months after that incident. She stayed in a vegetative state for one year before she finally sumbed to her death. Gabi didn''t take the time to investigate this incident before simply because it didn''t concern her.


    However, at the end of this year, Brent Enterprise, which was owned by Felice''s family would win some international awards and be top in the corporate world. Few people know this, but the current chairman of Brent Enterprise is actually friends with her own grandfather. So, when the Ren Aesthetics started to fall, the Brent Family didn''t hesitate to help them.


    In the end, they also suffered and soon ended up just like the Ren Family.


    That''s right. Gabi saved this woman as payment for what happened in the past. "I heard my grandfather talked about you before," Felice said. "He said you graduated at neen and was a young genius."


    "Really?"


    "Yes. He also said you are a genius that would be the future prime minister of this country."


    Interesting. Gabi smiled and lifted her head to look at the sky. Prime Minister, huh?


    That was never one of her ambitions. Politics is just tooplicated.


    "You will not ask me why I was crying?"


    "No," Gabi said. Silence followed her words.


    "Would you believe me if I tell you now that you just saved my life?"


    Gabi turned towards the woman. Now that she could see the woman''s face, she thought Felice looked really beautiful. Not the seductive type of beauty, more like the innocent and quiet one. She had a really gentle and sad gaze which immediately reminded Gabi of herself in her previous life.


    "Yes," she nodded. In response, Felice smiled at her.


    "Can I invite you sometimes? For some tea? My grandfather would love to meet you."


    "No problem." Gabi handed her a calling card.


    "Ah? Alright thanks. I uh you look and don''t act like the Gabi from the rumors."


    "Rumors?"


    "They said that you always follow Alfons around. You are timid and didn''t like talking to other people. There are a few harsh rumors out there too."


    "Ah."


    "I don''t think you are like that. You look confident."


    Gabi nodded. In her previous life, there were rumors she was actually in love with Alfons and that was the reason why Harry divorced her. There were also rumors that the reason Alfons was single was that she was trying to sabotage her rtionship. "Thank you."


    "Then uh are you still going back to the party?"


    "No. How about you?"


    "No. I look like a mess. People will onlyugh at me."


    "People?"


    "My ssmates."


    "Why would theyugh at you?"


    "You don''t really know why?" Felice asked. "Ah, sorry. I forgot you don''t attend gatherings and gs. Anyway, it is just because I got here because of a schrship. My family could pay for the expensive tuition, but our influence is not enough to get me in. As you know, this university only epts a maximum of thirty students per ss. It''s not just luck and grades, influence too. And the Brent Family never has that kind of influence."


    So, those people treated her badly because of this? Wait, was this the reason for the Brent Family''s sudden rise? Felice''s suic*de must have triggered the family! "So, they bullied you?"


    "Bullied? I don''t know about that."


    "" What does she mean by that?


    "I am our ss'' servant."


    "And you didn''t retaliate?"


    "Can I really retaliate against a minister''s daughter? Against a billionaire''s son?"


    Gabi said nothing. As someone who grew up homeschooled all her life, she didn''t have the chance to witness this kind of stuff. Without her past life, Gabi would have been someone ignorant about all this.


    "Sorry, I am bbering. Please don''t mind me."


    "It''s alright," Gabi said. "The world isn''t an easy ce to live in. Especially for people like us."


    A sigh escaped Felice''s lips. "Hey, I''m hungry. Do you want to eat somewhere?"


    "Sure."


    "Uh that man following us"


    "My secretary."


    "You have your own secretary?"


    "Yes." Kasper had been following behind them since they left the building.


    "And he is kinda like a bodyguard too?"


    "Something like that."


    "Then should we go to a restaurant somewhere?"


    Gabi looked at Kasper, who was about five meters away from them. The man immediately approached them. "Miss?"


    "Please rmend a ce to eat. Something hot."


    "There is some noddle shop a few blocks away. Shall I prepare the car?"


    "Yes, we can''t really walk with these heels."


    Kasper nodded, and the three of them walked towards the parking lot. However, just as they waited for Kasper to get the car for them, a few people from the party also approached the parking lot.


    "Isn''t this Miss Brent?"


    "And oh Miss Sutton?"


    The condescending voice made Gabi smiled inwardly. "Miss Quigly so it''s you," she responded. "I thought I heard someone''s dog. It was actually human. How surprising."


    The group of four people stopped walking and looked at her, surprised apparent in her eyes. Since this was actually the first time that Gabi acted like this, it was reasonable for them to be shocked.


    "You  Are you calling me a dog?"


    Gabi chuckled, then turned her attention to the car that was now in front of them.


    "Hey, I am talking to you!"


    Of course, Gabi ignored the woman. She started walking towards the car with Felice.


    "Hey! Gabrielle! Are you deaf?"


    "What the did she just ignore me?" Lyle Quigly could only grit her teeth as she watched, Gabi got into the car with Felice.

 Chapter 530: Transactional Relationship

    Chapter 530: Transactional Rtionship


    "Did you see her face? Did you see Lyle''s face?"


    Until now, Felice couldn''t stop talking about what happened earlier. They already arrive at the noodle shop and even finished ordering but Felice is still talking about Lyle.


    "She is your junior, no? How did you know her?" Gabi asked.


    "She always followed Alfons around and even join all the organizations that he was a member of."


    Gabi smiled. That''s right, Lyca is already borderline-stalking Alfons. What would happen if she do something to make Alfons marry that woman? Gabi was already smiling because of the potential chaos that it would cause Alfon''s life. However, there is also the possibility that Alfons would start controlling her and her family.


    If that happens then, it meant Alfons would have strong backing.


    But then again, someone like that is a double-edged sword.


    In fact, the reason Alfons didn''t marry anyone in his previous life is that he didn''t want any family to tie him down. He was ambitious and always thought that this country is just a stepping stone for his dreams. Then should she just let those two marry each other?


    "Why are you smiling like that?" Felice rested her chin on her palm. She was sitting across from Gabi. The same gentle smile was on her face. This time, however, there was a hint of mischievousness inside that smile.


    "My brother doesn''t like her."


    "Really?"


    "Isn''t it obvious?"


    "Well if he doesn''t like her, then he should stop leading her on, no?"


    "Leading her on?"


    "Yes. Many people assumed that they were together and Lyle would blush around him and act like a cute puppy. I don''t know how to exin this, but Lyle and Alfons are not really together. However, Alfons is using Lyle for some things in the school."


    "Interesting."


    "Ah" Felice''s face turned scarlet when she heard her words. "Please don''t think that I am stalking them or something. I just heard a few rumors about it. I always stay in quiet ces alone and sometimes, I witness things, you know?"


    "I understand what you mean. So can you tell me the things that you heard about those two?"


    "Hmmm. You really want to know?"


    "Yes. I hope you don''t mind."


    "Then do you know that Alfons is the president of the student council, right?"


    "Yes."


    "Lyle is his personal assistant."


    "I didn''t know about this."


    "Well, it''s not written, but Lyle does everything for him. There is really no formal announcement that she is his assistant, but she is acting like one. She is acting like a servant and even prepared his clothes every morning."


    "Really?" This university has a dorm and to make their studentsfortable, the dorm is only enough for one person. The dorm is just like a studio with its own toilet and bath, a ce to cook, eat and entertain visitors. It wasn''t that big, but definitelyfortable enough. "So she sleeps in his dorm?"


    "What? That is not allowed."


    Their order arrived and the two of them started eating before Felice continued. "She just prepared it during the night before she goes back to her own dorm. She also prepares all documents for him, like uh reports. Lyle is pretty good with those kinds of things."


    "But Alfons never told this to anyone?"


    "Of course not. It would damage his pristine image."


    "And how did you know it?"


    "I heard Lyle said it."


    "Hm?"


    "Lyleined to Alfons and told him you embarrassed her. I don''t have specifics about this but she was pretty angry and said that if only you knew she was the one making all those reports, then you would probably hire her as your secretary almost immediately."


    "That''s crazy." That should be around the time that Lyle applied to be her secretary, right? Was that the reason why Lyle was really confident that time? She knew Alfons would not do anything to her because of the things that she did for Alfons.


    Then


    Howe she didn''t know anything about this in her previous life? If Alfons already has a talented person like this woman by his side then howe Gabi didn''t know or her existence?


    She lowered her gaze as she tried to recall anything about the Quigly family. Just like the Ren Family, they are pretty influential too. However, they aren''t as low key as the Ren Family. Lyle and her family loved extravagant parties and gifts. They don''t really do anything to hide the fact that they are wealthy.


    In her previous life, Lyle never stopped pursuing Alfons. She would do everything to impress him.


    But what if it was all an act?


    What if Alfons purposely hid the fact that he and Lyle were working closely together?


    "I know, right? But judging from your reaction, the interaction with Lyle and that secretary thing happened. Am I right?"


    "Yes, you are." Gabi nodded. "She applied as my secretary a couple of days ago but Ramik was more capable than her." Now that she thought about it, why would Lyle want to work for her? Why did she even apply in the first ce?


    It seems that she needed to look into this Quigly Family.


    Without any hesitation, she opened her phone and sent a single text message to Aden''s number, asking him some information about the Quigly Family. By now, Archy must have known about the second young master of the Sealey Family, right?


    "Ah, that''s right. I also heard that Lyle declined a few marriage prospects this year. She really wanted to marry Alfons but the Quigly''s wanted someone with an excellent influence in the society."


    "That is understandable." The two started talking about Felice''s ns now that she just graduated before they finished their food. After dropping Felice off at the Brent estate, Gabi also went home with Kasper.


    "Miss, Mr. Alfons had been calling you since you left the party. He sent a total of ten texts messages. I answered one of his calls and informed him that you are leaving because you are not feeling well." Kasper said. She already told him to tell Alfons some random reason when she left the party earlier.


    "Thank you. You are doing a great job. Please go home now. Have a good night." She sat on the chair near her bed staring at the two phones in front of her. One of them was the one that she entrusted Kasper, the other was used to contact Aden and hopefully Archy soon.


    She stared at the phones for a few minutes before letting out a sigh. She was actually expecting to receive some sort of response from that man, but it seems that he wasn''t interested in this time. Oh, well


    They have is a transactional rtionship so maybe... they wanted her to provide some sort of payment first?


    ''Tsk.'' She really wanted to use this opportunity to talk to the big boss Archy and maybe even meet him. But it seems that he wasn''t interested at all? Does this mean that the ruckus that she created inside the Sealey Family wasn''t enough?


    She opened her phone once again and texted.


    [Send me the price and ount number.]


    She was about to stand when her phone vibrated.


    "Hello?"


    "You were waiting for my call, right?" Aden''s voice drifted towards her and it immediately made her frown. "Are you blushing right now?"


    She clenched her fist. What is wrong with this man?

 Chapter 531: The Plan

    Chapter 531: The n


    "Right?"


    "What did Mr. Archy say?" she ignored his question.


    "You were totally waiting for my call."


    ""


    "Come on no need to be shy."


    "I was waiting for Mr. Archy''s call." To her surprise, the manughed. Aden was giggling on the other line. She furrowed her brows. What the hell was wrong with this man?


    "Mr. Archy is in a good mood right now. He never thought that you would create such a ruckus inside the Sealey Family."


    As expected, Archy already knew about what happened.


    "However, this is making Mr. Archy wonder what your goal is?" Aden continued. "Ah, don''t get too nervous. But still isn''t it important to know if you are going to be an enemy or an ally?"


    Gabi pursed her lips. She told them that she found all those information in her father''s stuff. They must be wondering why the Prime Minister would collect such information about people. "If you wanted to know if I will join theplicated world of politics, then I can assure you, I have no interest in such things."


    "First the Sealeys and now the Quigly''s," Aden said. "However, since you refuse to tell us your goal, then it''s fine. I honestly don''t want to be enemies with a teenager."


    "I already told you! I am not a teenager!"


    "You look like one. If I fight with you, people would think I am bullying kids."


    ""


    "Alright, I will give you the information about the Quigly''s."


    "How much is it?"


    "We don''t ept money, it''s either you give us equally important information or bitcoin."


    "I understand. I wille up with something tomorrow."


    "Oh?"


    "Call me tomorrow night."


    "Got it."


    Without waiting for her next words, Aden ended the call. She let out a sigh of relief. Since they don''t ept money then she could only use her knowledge in the future. She started thinking about some useful ideas that she could tell them.


    Since she worked so hard for Alfons in the past, she knew a lot of secrets that involve Alfons'' enemies and allies. Should she just use one of that information?


    After some time, she decided to take a quick shower before sleeping.


    On the next day, Gabi canceled all of her appointments in the morning to think about the information that she would give to Archy. This time, she needed to give something that should give them profits.


    After a few hours of mulling over some documents that she had collected after she reincarnated, she finally decided on the information that she needed to give.


    "Miss, Alfons is calling should I "


    "Tell him, I am not avable."


    "Got it."


    "And schedule a meeting with my grandfather and Earl. If possible, today." It''s Saturday and while Earl Ren worked on weekends, he should have some time to spare for dinner. "Tell them it is important."


    "Understood."


    Gabi massaged her temples. This time, she isn''t just going to give Archy some profitable information. She would also help her grandfather and Earl. "Oh, call Lawyer Oh, I want to see him today. Tell him toe at lunch."


    "Understood."


    Gabi smiled. Knowing the future is really helpful. Though she couldn''t deny the fact that there were already a few changes because of what she did, there were still things that stayed the same. For instance, somepanies would soon fall while some would rise.


    She could easily use this to gather more information that she could use in the future.


    ,,,,


    BAR, DOWNTOWN.


    Alfons clicked his tongue after putting his phone down.


    How dare that woman to ignore all his calls?


    "You really think that using me as an excuse to your parents would help us?" he asked Harry, who was already reeking the smell of alcohol. It was still noon, and this man was already drunk. "Harry, what were you thinking when you told your parent that it was me who told you to go to the guest room?"


    "What did you want me to do? I was thinking that your cousin would be lenient if I use your name. Who would have thought that she would ruin my life like this?"


    "Tsk."


    "Why are you upset? It''s not like you married a maid, right? Alfons, you told me that once I cooperate, you will help me ruin my brother. But look at me now?"


    "I didn''t mean that to happen. The drug that I used was too strong. Aren was supposed to just leave, but she actually sumbed to the drug. I could easily fix this if I knew where that woman is."


    "Wait don''t tell me until now, you don''t know where Aren is staying?"


    "You are right. I don''t know where she is. The people that I nted next to Gabi are not doing their jobtely." Alfons'' face turned darker. "If this continues"


    "What? What are you doing to do?"


    "Tsk." The thing is, Alfons can''t just kill Gabi just because he wanted to. Right now, Alfons is still considered a small insectpared to the Ren Family, who is secretly backing Gabi. Alfons felt irritated and somewhat helpless.


    Gabi''s changes surprised him that he didn''t know how to react. He actually thought that he had a very tight leash on Gabi''s neck, that she would do everything that he asked her to do. He had been very confident to the point that he turned arrogant and look down on that woman.


    "What are you nning to do to help me out of this mess?" Harry asked.


    "What can I do? You are already married and you even make your parents hate me. What did you want me to do after this? Right now, the Sealey Family would never cooperate with me."


    "Alfons my father and mother might be angry right now, but I am still their son. Plus once I became the head of the family, I would still work with you. So hurry up ande up with a n to get rid of my wife."

 Chapter 532: Zaccaria Sealey

    Chapter 532: Zaria Sealey


    "Get rid of Aren? You crazy?"


    "What? You can''t do that? I thought that woman was working for you?"


    "If I get rid of her, Gabi would expose what you did. Don''t underestimate her. This was the first time I saw her this mad." No, Gabi''s reaction is actually reasonable this time. She must have figured out that the original target was here. So, she wanted to do everything to ruin Harry''s life.


    "Your cousin makes little sense. Why was she so hell-bent on making me marry a maid? You know how mad my girlfriend is when I told her to limit our contact in the next few months because of some emergency at home?"


    "It was a miscalction on my part. I should have made sure that she was sleeping inside. I didn''t want to make myself suspicious."


    "Hmph! What''s done is done. Now, just help me get out of this mess. Try convincing that woman to let Aren stay with us. After all, she is already my wife."


    Alfons had an ominous feeling about this. For some reason, his gut is telling him that Gabi is nning something more. And that is the reason she didn''t want Aren to move to the Sealey estate immediately.


    But what could it be?


    "Just be patient, I will do something about it." In fact, he could easily convince that maid to divorce Harry. However, he doesn''t even know where she was!


    "Hmph, you should. You promised me Alfons. Because of you, I agreed to do that. You already know that if she does something to expose what happened to the public, I wouldn''t hesitate to drag you along with me!"


    Alfons squinted his eyes at the man in front of him before he got up. "We are done talking. Don''t call me anytime you want." He shoved his hands in his pockets before leaving the bar.


    Seeing Alfons back disappear, Harry grunted. "That''s right, you fool. Get angry and do something." After what happened, the only one who suffered the most was clearly him. He married a maid and still couldn''t sleep at night as he is scared that Gabi would suddenly expose what happened to the media.


    Thus, he resorted to alcohol.


    Look at him now? He is drunk, miserable.


    So Alfons didn''t have the right to rx either.


    In fact, he should suffer along with him! After all, this was his idea!


    ..


    While Harry was miserable, another person was silently celebrating while watching everything.


    The man was smiling as he listened to the reports of his subordinate. "So, he married her?" Zaria Sealey smirked while looking at the steaming from his coffee. He looked out of the window and stared at the beautiful color of the sunset.


    It has been a few months since he decided to leave the Sealey Family to protect his own life. He had long decided to stop this nonsensepetition with his younger brother and leave. Who would have thought that something like this would happen now? Does this mean that the heavens wanted him toe back and take over the family?


    "Yes, young master. He had no choice. Between marrying a maid and bingbeled as a rap*st, the choice was pretty simple. After all, he could easily divorce that woman when the timees."


    "And Miss Sutton allowed divorce?"


    "Well this wasn''t included in the report. I assumed that Miss Sutton was too confident that young master Harry won''t divorce the maid as she still holds some evidence against him."


    "Confidence?" the man lifted his perfectly shaped eyebrow. "I don''t think so." Judging from the current events, it is clear that Miss Sutton is a smart woman who would take no losses.


    Meaning, there is a possibility that she nned all this from the start. In fact, a divorce could be a trap. Once Harry tries to do something like that, then Miss Sutton would give the final blow and obliterate the Sealey Family.


    "The master and madam didn''t inform you about the marriage. If we didn''t nt someone near the master, we won''t know anything about it. It''s pretty obvious that they wanted to keep it a secret from everyone else."


    "That''s understandable. After all, everything will change once the world would know about this marriage." Harry grew up spoiled and pampered by their mother. Because of this, he got everything that he wanted and never really experienced any setbacks. Harry already has everything, except intelligence.


    That''s right, he was born mediocre. Maybe the word mediocre isn''t even enough to describe him. To put it simply, he was a slow learner and was toozy to study.


    Growing up, everything has been handed to him, and that includes projects and everything about academics. Their mother would not hesitate to spend a fortune to pay someone to tutor him or tell him the answer to the uing exam.


    However, everything crumbled when Harry started college.


    Their mother couldn''t really bribe anyone there, as the students were equally rich and the teachers never cared about the money. They only cared about academics. Because of this, Harry''s grades dropped.


    The real world pped Harry in the face.


    He wasn''t as smart as everyone, nor as rich and influential as everyone.


    So what did Harry do next?


    Of course, he befriended Alfons Sutton.


    The President of Student Council. A hardworking man who is loved by everyone. Harry must have thought that Alfons is the perfect person that could help him. Zaria didn''t know what Alfons did to make Harry graduate, but he was almost a hundred percent sure that Harry graduated college, not because of his own hard work.


    It was because of Alfons Sutton.


    Because of his connection to Alfons Sutton, Zaria actually thought of giving up. After all, the Sutton Family is not only wealthy. They are also influential because they were backed by the Ren Family.


    Zaria even left Du Empire because of this reason. He was scared that Harry would soon kill him.


    Oh, well it seems that he was only scared for nothing. An unknown variable actually appeared to help him out.


    "You know what? Can you look into Miss Sutton? Her schedules and stuff. The first thing that I would do once Ie back is to greet her and thank her for what she did."


    "Yes, young master."

 Chapter 533: The Higher You Climb, the Harder You Fall

    Chapter 533: The Higher You Climb, the Harder You Fall


    "You want to what?"


    "Cut ties with Lee and Li Corps." Gabi calmly took a sip at her tea.


    "Why?" Her cousin Earl Ren asked. He used the napkin to wipe the edge of his mouth after identally spilling out the tea that he drank when he heard her words. "We invested hundreds of millions in thispany."


    "Why do you want us to sell the shares?" Grandfather Ren calmly asked. "There should be a reason, right?"


    "Lee and Li''s materials for the project are substandard. It would cause an ident, eventually. And we already know what is going to happen, right?"


    "You  "For the second time, Earl almost spit the tea from his mouth. "What are you talking about? I made my research about them. They win the bidding because they are capable. I was also the one who suggested grandfather that we invested in this project."


    "The research was on the past, Brother Earl. I am talking about the state of their projects now. You can check it out. However, you might not have a long time to do it. Somepanies have noticed this problem."


    Her grandfather and cousin look at each other. "But we didn''t hear any news about this."


    "They are trying to hide it," Gabi said. "And paid off the people who tried toin. Obviously, someone is supporting them behind the scenes too."


    "A politician."


    "Yes." Gabi smiled. Afterst night, Gabi managed toe up with a few big issues that affected the business world. One of which is an uing earthquake that killed hundreds of people. Onepany affected by this earthquake is the Lee and Li Corp.


    This was because a building that was manufactured by thepany copsed, killing hundreds of people and injuring a few hundred more. Variouspanies used the building, and the Earthquake happened during working hours. Because the materials used were not the standard ones, a lot of life ended that day. The ident only turned more chaotic when they realized the materials used to build the building are all substandard.


    Lawsuits started.


    And thepany ended up filing for bankruptcy.


    "Please take a look." Gabi pushed the tablet towards her cousin. "I did some research about the matter. Some people tried to cover up the news but in this day and age, it is already very difficult to do that. Some people even created groups just for this."


    "This  " Even her grandfather looked astounded.


    "Cousin, you might not know this but grandfather is close to the chairman of Lee and Li."


    "Hmmm." Gabi didn''t know this. If that is the case then, it seems that this is moreplicated than she originally thought. Since her grandfather is acquainted with the chairman, then withdrawing their support without ruining this friendship is impossible. "There is a possibility that the chairman doesn''t know about this matter."


    "So you are saying that someone  "


    "Yep, corruption." Gabi smiled. At least her cousin is listening. Right now, Lee and Li are some of the biggest corporations in the world.


    "We will investigate this matter." Her grandfather''s words sent relief inside her.


    "Thank you for listening to me. I will send you a copy of that document. However, you might not have a lot of time to do it as the government would also start their investigations soon."


    "How did you know this?"


    She only smiled at her cousin''s question. Naturally, this was because she would tell Aden about this information tonight. And Archy would surely do something about this.


    "Earl, go and call Mr. Kwang. Tell him that we need some information about this issue. If he could finish it in two days, then that would be good."


    "Yes, grandfather. Cousin, please excuse me." Earl said before exiting the private room that they were in.


    "You think he believed me?" Gabi couldn''t help but asked her grandfather.


    "Yes."


    Gabi nodded. "How about you, grandfather?"


    The old man pursed his lips. "This information could easily change the status of thispany. As a grandfather, I believe the words of my granddaughter. However, as a businessman, I need more than this to believe your words."


    Gabi smiled. As expected of her grandfather. He was a smart man. "I understand."


    "Still, I am happy that you invited me to dinner along with your cousin. Earl had been looking forward to this meeting."


    "When you told me that you wanted to work behind the scenes, I didn''t expect you to do something like this." Her grandfather smiled. "I am proud of you."


    "" Gabi stared at the old man. "Grandfather, I haven''t done anything yet. Please don''t say anything like that." It is honestly making her awkward. Gabi isn''t so good when ites to emotional stuff like this.


    Seeing her reaction, the old man chuckled. "Ah, since you are working for me now then let me asked you this. There is uing bidding for another one of the government projects that would start next year. It is for an Arena. What are your thoughts about this?"


    "Arena?"


    "Yes, a smaller one."


    Gabi turned silent as she tried to recall the things in the past life. "Is this the one in Southern Region?"


    "You know about it?"


    "I''ve heard rumors."


    "Then? What do you think?"


    "Don''t bid."


    "Hm?"


    "Don''t join the bidding."


    "Why? This project is excellent to start the year."


    "It is but the politics in the south is not good. The project might stop at any time. That means, no cash flow despite paying all your workers." Of course, there was another reason why she didn''t want Ren Aesthetics to join this bidding. It was because she wanted the Sealey Family to win this time. After all, the higher you climb, the harder you fall.


    "Moreover, this area is not an excellent investment. I am sure that Cousin Earl already did his research and is aware of the area surrounding the Arena. The government is trying to hide it from the international investors but this ce is full of thugs and we are all aware of that. As I said, because the politics isn''t good, this area isn''t properly managed."

 Chapter 534: The Goal is Survival

    Chapter 534: The Goal is Survival


    "Wow, cousin, I didn''t know you are this thorough!" Earl Ren couldn''t help butpliment Gabi when he heard her words. "You are right, I did my research but I might have missed a few things about them." Though Earl Ren was confident of his job. He knew that he wasn''t perfect. As a human being, he could easily miss a few things.


    "I already check the politics in Southern Area, but it seems that everything seems good. They wouldn''t dare do something about this development. Younger cousin, can you please tell me the things that I missed?" Earl asked. Though he seldom met with Gabrielle, he to have heard that she was really smart. It was unfortunate that she had a sickly body. If she was healthy, Earl would be very proud to work under her.


    "Hmmm. I read your research." Gabi responded with a smile. "It was very thorough. I am impressed. However, you forgot something."


    "What is it?"


    "It''s people''s capability to scheme."


    "Gabi, what are you talking about? Did I miss something?" Grandfather Ren asked. "I also reviewed his research about this matter, and I agree with what you said. It was very thorough. Not many people coulde up with us a clean report."


    "The Mayor of Upus City, where the project is located, is not opposed to this. In fact, all the council members were not opposed to anything about this project. They wanted the project to start as soon as possible and I believe that they have already tried talking to you. Isn''t that right, grandfather?"


    "You are right."


    "However the mayor is a very ambitious and greedy person. Many people are aware of this, but not many can prove it. What do you think would happen if a scandal about it suddenly erupts?"


    "Gabi, I think you are thinking too much about it. As business entrepreneurs, it is natural for us to risk it." Grandfather Ren said. "The bigger the risk, the bigger the gain. So, there is no need to worry about things like this."


    "Grandfather, I want to listen to Cousin Gabi''s reasoning behind this," Earl said. "Gabrielle is a very logical person. I am sure that she already took everything into consideration before even meeting us here. Isn''t that right, cousin?"


    Gabi responded with a confident smile. "The vice mayor is going to release evidence about the scandal soon."


    "What did you say?" Earl and Grandfather Ren asked at the same time.


    "To be more precise, they will release the news after the construction of the Arena starts. To have the biggest impact, some coteral damage is needed. And the coteral damage is going to be thepany who is going to take on the project."


    Earl turned silent. Now that he thought about it, this was indeed a possibility. The Vice Mayor and Mayor had been insulting each other for some time now. It is known that the reason why the mayor couldn''t pass most policies is that more than half of the council members are from the faction of the Vice-mayor! However, the construction of the Arena and a couple more projects passed without any problems.


    "So, they wanted to bring down and the mayor and bring down somepanies as well."


    Gabi smiled as if she already knew that he would say this.


    "Grandfather this" Earl looked at the old man who was already stroking his chin, a habit that he does when he is contemting something.


    "I won''t ask how you know this." Grandfather Ren said after a few minutes of silence. "However, I want you to keep this information for now. Let''s keep it low-key for now."


    "What about the bidding?"


    "We needed to join." Grandfather Ren said. "If we back outst minute, the otherpany would suspect us."


    "I trust that grandfather already had a n?"


    "Of course. I will take care of this. Thank you so much for this information, Gabi. I didn''t expect you to work so fast. Earl, I hope you will support your cousin. This will help us in the long run. For now, I needed to leave the two of you. I have to go see someone."


    The old man immediately left with his secretary, leaving Earl and Gabi alone. Of course, Earl knew that the old man purposely did this to give them some time to talk in private.


    "Do you hate me?"


    Gabi''s sudden question made him speechless. "Ah?"


    "It''s a simple question, cousin. Do you hate me?"


    "Of course, not. Why would I hate you?"


    "Are you not scared that I will take over thepany?"


    "Ah? Cough! Cough! What are you talking about?" Her direct words is making him speechless! "Thepany has always been yours, to begin with." Earl started working for thepany even when he was still in college. At that time, he was already aware of Gabi''s existence. Even his parents and everyone else in the family knew that Gabi is going to own thepany soon. So why would he feel scared?


    "You are the mostpetent candidate to be the next CEO and you are telling me that you are not scared?" Gabi raised an eyebrow. Despite the smile on her face, the words that she just said were cold, freezing even.


    Earl shook his head. "Cousin, the Ren Family is one of the oldest families in the country. Do you know why that is?"


    "Because everyone in the Ren Family is kind."


    "What?" Why does it seem like this woman is different from the woman earlier? "Cousin, why are you making it sound like it was such a bad thing? We, the Ren Family, never had fought for who is going to be the next family head. The Ren Family almost always has one heir. I believe you knew this already. The people inside the Ren Family are a bit how do you say this"


    "Boring."


    "What?" This again. Why was she too direct? "Yes, you could say that. We don''t really have that much ambition, so we are boring, I guess." However, hearing Gabi''s blunt words seemed to make him smile. Because it was the truth. "Anyway, we have been like this for years now. The Ren Family''s goal is not to be too powerful. It is survival. As long as we live and survive, then it is fine."


    Gabi lowered her gaze. "You are right. The greatest goal should be survival."


    Her words were right, but for some reason, Earl could sense an ominous tone behind it. Gabi sounded angry.

 Chapter 535: Concept of Family

    Chapter 535: Concept of Family


    On that night, Gabi told Aden about the Lee and Li Corps.


    She knew that investigating this would take a few days, so she was a little confident that her grandfather still have the time to get out.


    "Little girl this information is very specific, isn''t it?"


    Just hearing this man calling her little girl is already enough to make her irritated. "I am not little!"


    "Oh. Is that so?"


    He wasughing on the other line. Was that so funny? She gritted her teeth. "If you don''t want to talk to me, then please give the phone to Mr. Archy."


    "Hey, you really are so serious. Why are you acting like that? Hm? And why do you want to talk to Archy, do you love him?"


    "" What the hell? Is this man serious? "That is none of your business."


    "Oh? You do? Huh. Well, all I can say is that Mr. Archy doesn''t like kids."


    "Can you stop that?"


    "Stop what?"


    "Stop calling me a kid!"


    "Hey, don''t get too defensive. I am just stating facts here. That''s right. Mr. Archy doesn''t like kids."


    Again, the man wasughing at her. "Next time I see you I am going to smack you in the face."


    "Oh? Then can you reach me?"


    "" What the hell? "I can. You think I am short!"


    "You are short."


    "" Is this man going to kill her from anger?


    "Ah, I should start calling you shorty. Hahaha"


    "If you won''t stop, I am ending the call."


    "Hey, chill It is going to make you look older. I was just trying to make youugh."


    "You have a weird way of making peopleugh."


    "Anyway, are you sure about this information?"


    Finally, the man had gotten serious. "Yes. I am positive. Please check their suppliers or the buildings. I am sure that something is going on. The chairman might not be aware of this. So "


    "Ah, so there is a corruption involve? Hmmm Are you trying to get rid of corrupt people, Miss Sutton?"


    "No."


    "Then you are doing this for profit?"


    "That is none of your business."


    "Heh. You really are cold."


    She heard him chuckle. "Well I am about to go back there. So I will take care of everything. Don''t do anything stupid."


    "I won''t do anything."


    "And don''t try to do anything else to the Sealey Family."


    That made her quiet. What does he mean by that? "What about the Sealey Family?"


    "They are not from Du Empire. That''s the only thing that you have to know. Though they tried to scheme against you, they lost in the end. So no need to do anything anymore."


    Gabi pursed her lips. Of course, no one would understand why she wanted to destroy the Sealey Family. People may think she is evil for doing something like this to such a warm and kind family. But she doesn''t care. Everyone who made her suffer in the previous life is going to hell in this timeline.


    Of course, Gabi knew that she isn''t some God, that she doesn''t have the right to punish people because of the sins that they haven''tmitted in this lifetime. But she doesn''t care. To her, they deserve to suffer.


    They deserve to feel her pain.


    "I will think about that," Gabi responded after a long silence. She heard Aden let out another sigh on the other line.


    "Alright then. It seems that I cannot stop you. This is troublesome. I would rather sleep. Ugh. I don''t want to do anything."


    "" What was this? This man is really weird. What sleep? Why was he acting like a boss? Isn''t he someone working for Archy?


    "Alright, I will talk to youter. My people are around you, so no need to worry about your security."


    "Thank you."


    "Right."


    The other already ended the call. Without saying goodbye. That man is really irritating. It''s weird how Aden looked handsome and kind on the outside but is actually a manner-less scum. She straightened her back and went to the sofa inside her office.


    It has been a stressful day. However, her conversation earlier with Earl was really nice. The man is indeed smart and kind. It was the same in her previous life, too. This was the reason why Alfons easily took advantage of him.


    However, the only thing that had been bugging Gabi is the fact that Earl didn''t want to be the next CEO. Gabi didn''t want to be a CEO either, as it was best for her to work behind the scenes. But Earl Ren started talking about family and how important it is for him. The Family needed to survive no matter what. And to do that, they needed to follow a certain hierarchy.


    Compared to other families, the Ren family didn''t encounter any mishaps because of this concept. Survival. No matter what, it is important to survive.


    But in the previous timeline, they didn''t survive, and that was because of her. Because she was too soft and let Alfons manipte her. The destruction of the Ren Family was because of her stupidity.


    Gabi snorted and got herself a ss of wine.


    Now everything was clear to her.


    In the previous timeline, the reason why Earl was so nice to Alfons wasn''t that he was naive. No, Earl was smart. However, he was trained to think that the heir was Gabi and that he should support Gabi all the time. At that time, Gabi''s world revolved around her brother.


    Thus, Earl supported this decision. He became close to Alfons as a way to support the next heir of the Family. At the end of the day, it was still Gabi''s fault.


    Everything happened because she didn''t understand the concept of family and valued the wrong people. Growing up, she knew that the Ren Family had always been close. This was the reason why they have their own resting house.


    And yet, she was foolish enough to get close to a stranger.


    Ugh, just the thought of it made her angry.


    Anyway, it is all the past now. She needed to have a firm grip on her goals and focus on what she could do in this lifetime.

 Chapter 536: Future Career

    Chapter 536: Future Career


    "I don''t know how she knew this, but what she said that day was true, grandfather." Earl Ren said. It has been a week since they saw Gabi and today, they concluded the investigation about the substandard materials. "Grandfather, what are we going to do about this?"


    "I will talk to Chairman Yu."


    "Grandfather, are you nning to cut ties with the Lee and Li''s?"


    Old Man Ren furrowed his brows. He couldn''t help but feel conflicted about this matter. First and foremost, Chairman Yu was his old-time friend. The Yu Family also supported him in the past. Cutting their support could attract the attention of otherpanies. "Sigh it seems that this old man is going to work harder from now on," he noted. The fact that Gabi was capable of knowing something like this only shows that he made the right choice.


    However, this would only mean there would be more work for his old bones.


    "Grandfather, you should take care of your body. Please take it easy, I will be here to support you."


    Old Man Ren smiled. "Let''s go and see Chairman Yu."


    "Ah, before I forget, we notice something else when our people were looking into the information."


    "Something else?"


    "There are other parties looking into this information."


    Old Man Ren nodded. While he didn''t know where Gabi got this information, he was sure that she didn''t personally investigate this herself. Meaning, there could be a leak somewhere. "Call Gabi and inform her about this matter."


    "I understand."


    "Well then let''s go see Chairman Yu."


    ..


    Everything is in order.


    The Sealey Family is not joining any social gatherings in the past few days. And Alfons actually stopped bothering her. She knew that this peace is only temporary, so it is best that she take advantage of this and close all paths that Alfons wanted to take in the future.


    "Miss, I think you should see this." Kasper handed her a tablet. "This was just uploaded a couple of minutes ago. Look, it has been shared two hundred times already."


    "Alfons is joining a protest against a SEOpany?" Gabi smiled. So it was starting. Alfons is making his move. He is starting to make himself well known. "How amusing." She watched the article with an image of Alfons sitting in the street with other people who just lost their job.


    He was trying to make himself look good.


    "Miss, please look at the TV." Kasper turned on the TV and Gabi immediately saw Alfons'' face. He was being interviewed.


    ''Mr. Sutton, why are you here? Do you know these people?''


    ''I saw them protesting here while I was on my way to see my friends the other day. I made my research and discovered that these people just lost their job after the SEOpany filed for bankruptcy. However, after looking into thepany, I discovered they are hiring new employees and making them work eight to twelve hours per day while they are slowly getting rid of all older employees and even cutting their working hours to four to six hours.''


    He continued, ''Some of these employees had been working for at least ten years! They are already in theirte thirties or forties, getting a new job at this time is going to be difficult for them. These people have families! They have children! How could SEO Company do something like this? SEO Company! I grew up in the streets before the prime minister found me! I know what it felt like to be homeless! To have no money for food and medicine! I watched my own mother die because I am just a helpless child!''


    ''So while I don''t know this person or anyone here, I don''t want their children to experience what I have been through in the past. No child should feel that helpless and worthless! So, SEO Company, I might be powerless but I will do my best to help them! Please give us an exnation of yourtest actions or we will continue doing this until one of us dies!''


    Gabi couldn''t help but p her hands after Alfons finished speaking. "He is good!" she said. Alfons looked angry and sad. There were tears pooling in his bloodshot eyes, her lips trembled as he tried to contain his anger. "Wow." Alfons'' skills are indeed top-notch!


    In the previous life, this incident happened too. However, at that time, Gabi joined Alfons in that protest.


    Yep, she was foolish enough to do that.


    When she saw Alfons in the news, she immediately went to see him and tried to convince him to stop this nonsense. When Alfons refused to do it, Gabi sat next to him and joined the protest until she fainted.


    Obviously, her fainting made her grandfather so mad, he contacted the SEO Company and demanded an exnation himself. Thepany was forced toply when Grandfather Ren threatened them.


    When Gabi woke up the next day, thepany already offered an apology and goodpensation for everyone who suffered.


    But what would happen in this lifetime? Gabi is not going to join him. Meaning, she won''t faint and her grandfather would not demand an exnation from SEO Company. Right now, Alfons is known only to the people his age. His ssmates from the prominent university know him and admire him but their parents don''t.


    Even if they do, they would never involve themselves in something like this just for the sake of someone like Alfons. These families were all wealthy and most of them owned a business or two. Meaning, they understood how a corporation worked. Gabi was confident that they knew why SEO Company did it.


    Moreover, some of them also knew that SEO Company is backed by a congressman. It would be very hard to attack apany like that.


    Hmmm Now that she thought about it, there is a possibility that Alfons also knew this. However, he still dared to do it in front of the media. Obviously, he wanted to make this as a stepping stone for his future career.


    She squinted as a smile appeared on her face.

 Chapter 537: Friends

    Chapter 537: ''Friends''


    "I was surprised to hear that you didn''t help Alfons when he was out in the sun protesting for other people''s rights," Felice said. "I actually thought that you would sit next to him and use your grandfather''s name to help him."


    Gabi''s eye twitched when she heard her words. "Do I really look like that to you?"


    "No offense, but the rumors said you would never want your cousin to suffer."


    Gabi chuckled. "Did the rumors said that I love my cousin, too?" Seeing Felice turned silent, Gabi couldn''t help butugh this time. Of course, she already heard those rumors in her previous life. "And do you believe them?" She slowly finished the macaron while observing Felice''s reaction.


    Gabi didn''t think that she would meet this woman after saving her. However, it seems that Felice really wanted to get close to her. The woman called her and told her she had something important to tell her. Gabi initially declined the meeting as she was really busy. However, Felice said that this is the payment for saving her back then.


    "Of course not. Hey, I was joking."


    "You seemed cheeky today." Felice looked depressedst time. However, now, she looked thrilled. "Did something happen?"


    "I was about to share the news with you."


    "What news?"


    "I am now working in my father''spany."


    "Oh?"


    "Sorry if I disturbed you. I know you are busy. I just  " Felice lowered her head. "I don''t have any friends except you."


    ''Friends'',


    The word made her speechless. Gabi never had one before. Moreover, she only met this woman once. Why would Felice think they were friends? "I "


    "It''s alright if you don''t think we are friends."


    "That''s not it. I''m just a little surprised."


    "It''s really alright. I knew your not the friendly type."


    "I just didn''t think that you would consider someone like me as a friend. After all, you only met me once."


    "Friends save each other, and they treat each other food."


    ""


    "My mother said that."


    ""


    "She''s dead now."


    ""


    Felice smiled at her. "Sorry for mumbling like that."


    "It''s alright." Honestly, Gabi was speechless. She didn''t know what was she supposed to say. In the end, she maintained her silence.


    "My father was the first one in the family who finished college."


    "Ah"


    "My grandfather single-handedly started our business with no sort of educational background. It was just because of talent that he managed to make thepany big." Felice continued. "He always said that building connections are good. So, he sent my father to a prestigious school. Then the two of them made sure to send me to a more prestigious school. I too think it was the right move. In that school, we met all the future CEOs, heirs, and heiresses, even royals were there."


    Gabi stayed silent.


    "I think I got it wrong, though," Felice said.


    "What do you mean?"


    "I thought he sent me there just to connect with other people. I think he sent me there as a wake-up call." Seeing Gabi just stare at her, Felice continued. "Before I went to that school, I was the top of my ss. I aced all exams. I was pampered by everyone around me. However, this changed when I started college. I realized that there are smarter people, wealthier, more influential, braver, more ruthless. There was always someone ahead of everyone. The world is such a big scary ce."


    "So, that night, I told my grandfather about what happened to me. I also told him that I wanted to kill myself because I felt unworthy, but you saved me." Felice said.


    "Why are you crying?" Gabi asked.


    "It was because he told me something."


    "Hm?"


    "Do you want to know why my grandfather made it in the business world?" Felice said. "It was because of your grandfather."


    Gabi stared at the woman, bbergasted. What was she talking about?


    "So I  " Felice suddenly stood and give her a low bow. "I am here to thank you for everything. I promise I will do my best to seed in this field and support you in the future. This is going to be my family''s payment for saving us."


    "" Was this the reason why the Brent Family helped them? Gabi didn''t know this kind of story existed! "Miss Brent, please don''t bow like that. It''s ummm embarrassing. "She looked to her left and right and, as expected, people are already looking at them. "Please stop that. It looked like I was bullying you." The woman was sobbing while giving her a bow. While she was calmly eating without an iota of emotion in her face.


    "Sorry" Felice used her handkerchief to wipe the tears from her face.


    "It''s alright. Please stop that. You are making me ufortable."


    To her surprise, Felice smiled in response. "Yeah yeah I understand. Sorry about that."


    ""


    "Anyway, I didn''t disturb you for nothing."


    "Hm?" Honestly, Gabi didn''t know what to expect anymore. Right now, she felt really clueless. Despiteing back from the dead, Gabi felt that she actually missed a lot of important things. What had she been doing in the past? How could she even say that she was smart? She doesn''t even know anything about her Ren Family!


    "I came here to give you this." Felice gave her a sh drive.


    "It''s dirt."


    "Hm? Dirt?" Gabi looked at the silver sh drive.


    "On everyone who bullied me."


    "What?"


    "I am not asking you to have revenge or anything. Please don''t misunderstand. I know that revenge won''t give me anything. However, I know that you are smart and your future is limitless. We don''t really know if one of these people would try to hurt you in the future. So, use this against them."


    Gabi stared at the sh drive for a few seconds. "How did you get this?"


    "As someone who was treated as a maid, I have the opportunity to know a couple of their secrets. They were confident that I wouldn''t do anything about it. After all, I am just the daughter of a small businessman from the south. Some are recordings of bribery and abuse of power. It is not enough to take them to prison, but it should help you, in case something happens."

 Chapter 538: The Quiglys

    Chapter 538: The Quiglys


    "Miss, everything inside the USB has been confirmed. These people are indeed epting bribes, bullying students, and abusing their power. Shall I send this to the media?"


    "No need," Gabi epted the sh drive that Felice gave her earlier. "I will keep it." She then put it on the vault that is located inside one of her drawers. "However, I want you to investigate more. The names are included inside the drive. Please give me a thorough investigation about them. I am not in a hurry, so take your time." This is just a small matter. If she really wanted to use this as a weapon, then she needed a more thorough version of everything.


    Gabi got up and looked at the view outside of her office. Fall has arrived. Winter wille next. It will be cold and there will be snow. That would also mean that she had reincarnated for six months now. So far, she had aplished a few things that would have significant effects on her future.


    However, what would happen after she get rid of Alfons?


    Honestly, she didn''t think of these things until Felice showed her the sh drive. In her world, there is no such thing as livingnguidly, enjoying life somewhere. She was smart enough to know that a peaceful life is nothing but a dream. There is no going back from what she is about to do.


    Meaning, she needed to prepare herself not just for Alfons but for other people.


    She crossed her arms across her chest and let out a sigh. The information that she received is another stepping stone. She is going to use it for her future.


    "You look so serious."


    Gabi turned towards the door and was surprised to see her cousin, Earl. "What are you doing here?" Earl had a bright smile on his face.


    "Ah, grandfather told me to give you something."


    "Hmmm take a seat. Do you want coffee? Or tea?"


    "I prefer coffee. Latte is you have."


    "Kasper, please give him somette and tea for me." Gabi gestured earl towards the couch and the two of them sat across each other. "I didn''t expect that you still have the time to run around and personally send me something. I know that you are busy."


    "Ah, yes. I am a bit busy. However, I am giving you something important for the family. So "Earl didn''t continue his words as he roamed his gaze inside her office. "I was honestly surprised to see this ce."


    "Why?"


    "Well I was expecting to see some high-tech stuff and a sleek, super-polished office surrounded by ss. Your office is the exact opposite. Though it looks really cozy, I could sleep here."


    "You looked enthusiastic," Gabi noted. "I am not letting you sleep here."


    "Hey, that was a joke. A joke." Seeing that she was still staring at him without a smile on her face, Earl cleared his throat. "If you keep on frowning, you will soon have wrinkles."


    "Sorry, I was just a bit preupied with something."


    "Oh? Am I disturbing you?"


    "No. It''s fine."


    After a few seconds, Kasper arrived with Earl''stte and Gabi''s tea. "Anyway, you said grandfather wanted you to give me something?"


    "Yes. Before anything else, I wanted to inform you that the matter with the Lee and Li is already taken cared of."


    "Ah. That''s good."


    "And the bidding. Is also good. Grandfather is going to make sure that we would not win."


    Gabi nodded in response.


    "Anyway, I am here to give you this."


    "What''s this?" She opened the tablet that Earl handed her.


    "There is a copy of the information inside this sh drive. As you can see it is really important that I personally give it to you."


    "Councilman Yong?" Gabi''s eyes squinted at the information of the man in front of her. It was one of the famous councilmen in their city that is known for being kindhearted. This man was well known to gave homeless people food. He personally visits the market and makes sure that no one is overpricing the fish and vegetables, he also make sure that everything is fresh. This man is just all over the city, helping people left and right.


    However, the information in front of her eyes was different.


    "Grandfather said that this is going to be your official task."


    "You wanted me to convince Councilman Yong to agree to thend remation project?"


    "No, on the contrary, grandfather wanted you to stop it."


    Gabi blinked at Earl before she started reading the information again. Stopping and remation project? Why? However, just as she could analyze what was going on, Kasper walked towards her and whispered something before showing her another news on the tablet.


    "Who is that? Is that Alfons again?"Earl asked. "That man has been making headlines because of his proteststely. Do you think he would seed?"


    "No," Gabi uttered. "He wasn''t able to convince the SEO Company to give them an exnation. However, he was able to use another person." Gabi smiled and handed the tablet to Earl.


    "Eh? Lyle Quigly? Why would she"


    "She joined the protest and fainted. It''s fall, it is getting colder. I am surprised she evensted two days before fainting."As always, Alfons was able to manipte someone to finish the job for him. Then, he would take all the credit.


    "Why would the Quigly family allow this to happen?"


    "No idea. The Quiglys are a bunch of arrogant folks. I didn''t think they allowed Lyle to join the protest. However, I wonder if this would change anything." Gabi couldn''t help but smile. Lyle Quigly and Alfons Sutton.


    Should she just help these two marry each other and live a happy life together?


    "You are right. I have met the chairman before. He isn''t the nicest. Too arrogant."


    Gabi nodded. The thought of the Quigly Family made her wonder about the information that she asked Aden. It has been a few days, and she still didn''t receive anything from that man. Does this mean it was difficult to investigate the Quiglys? "Anyway, let us stop talking about them. I want to know why grandfather wanted to stop thend remation project."

 Chapter 539: Reading Him Like a Book

    Chapter 539: Reading Him Like a Book


    Kong City, Xu Country.


    "It was a sess!"


    Aden yawned when he heard the voice of his assistant. "Yeah yeah inform mother about it." He removed his coat and immediately went towards his office. Now that he sessfully created the first robot that could directly repair human genes, he couldze around for a few months.


    He immediately converted his chair into a bed and closed his eyes. He needed sleep; he craved one.


    "So, you sleep ten hours in the night and still sleep during the day. Brother, are you a pig or something?"


    "A Ko."


    "Huh?"


    "Pigs don''t sleep a lot. My lifetime goal is to sleep like a ko."


    Aya frowned and opened her phone to search for Kos. "You want to sleep eighteen to twenty-two hours every day!?"


    "You are so clueless. Who doesn''t want to rx like that?"


    "You "


    "I justpleted a series of experiments. I am so tired, I could barely move."


    "Brother you just started the experiment two hours ago."


    "So?"


    "It only took you two hours to work and you are already this tired. Should I tell mother that something is wrong with your body? Maybe it has something to do with your endurance."


    Just as expected, Aden''s expression changed. "Why are you here?" Finally, Aden opened his eyes and red at his sister. "Oh? You brought food? Why didn''t you tell me earlier?" Almost immediately, Aden''s face lit up like a child who just saw his favorite candy. He sat up and gestured his sister towards the L-shaped couch inside his office. "Heh, is that my favorite?"


    "Yeah, I made it."


    "Oh. Then what do you want this time?"


    "Are you leaving after this project?"


    "Yep."


    "Why?"


    "A mountain can''t have four tigers."


    Aya pursed her lips. By four tigers, Aden meant their father, mother, him, and Aya. This was something that Aden always say. Their family is too great, they can''t stay next to each other. Of course, this was only Aden''s excuse. The actual reason this man didn''t want to stay here is that he feared their mother''s capability to read him like a book.


    "Everyone knew you are smarter than me. If you be the next "


    Aya didn''t continue her words when Aden gave her a knowing look. In fact, she knew her brother was doing this for her. Right now, Aya worked in the Shen Group. She had been training for a management position. However, everyone knew that Aden, along with their mother, was actually the core of thepany.


    Shen Group started their pharmaceutical chains when Aden decided to make some medicine that couldbat their mother''s poison. Since then, thepany has produced some astonishing feats in the world of medicine. And everything is thanks to her brother''s brain.


    Because of this, most shareholders wanted Aden to take over thepany. However, just like their brilliant mother, Aden didn''t want to work behind a desk. He wanted to roam around, sleep, and eat.


    "I don''t do well with management." Aden started eating the spicy friend chicken that Aya made. This recipe was made with various types of pepper. From marinating it to cooking. The spicier, the better. "If I became the CEO many people would die."


    Aya nodded while picking up one of the chicken legs. "I heard you seeded?"


    "Yep. I am smart, after all."


    "Too arrogant."


    "Just all about facts here."


    Aya rolled her eyes.


    "Man, you looked stressed." Aden chuckled. "If you are having a hard time handling those people. Just tell me. I could kill them, make it look like an ident, or just make them disappear. We could let the world know they run away or something."


    "What are you talking about?"


    "Killing is better than talking. Definitely easier too."


    "You  Psycho."


    "Add handsome," Aden said. "A handsome psycho."


    Aya just stared at her brother, speechless. While everyone knew Aden is smart, there is a minor problem. He grew up surrounded by robots and was raised by their mother. While their mother was loving, insanely brilliant, and caring, she didn''t really think too much about anything outside of her family. In short, their mother was only warm to them but extremely ruthless to other people. And Aden inherited this trait.


    Aden Archy Shen doesn''t really think too much about anyone outside of their family.


    Memories of their childhood appeared in her head. When she was three, she realized her brother was extremely smart. However, having a genius with a brother is good but sometimes, she worries too much about this man.


    "Just tell them if they don''t want to submit to you. I will make mypany that will rival Shen Group."


    "Yeah because you are willing to sacrifice yourself for that."


    "Hey, I am still making you the CEO."


    "Haha whatever."


    "Look, if they resist and still question father''s decision to make you the next head, then just put some pressure on them. Aiyo why don''t you let me take care of this matter? I can "


    "Nope. No, thank you. I will take care of everything."


    "But look at your face. You look older than me."


    ""


    "Your skin is a bit dry. That''s because of stress."


    ""


    "Anyway, even father and mother agreed that managing thepany isn''t suited for me. Damn, I would never work with those people."


    "It''s fine. I can handle it. Those old folks canin all they want. They already knew that I am skilled enough for the position, but their misogynistic thoughts were stopping them from acting like a rational human being."


    "See? That''s the problem. Ugh people are weird."


    "Really. No need to worry. Plus, mother is with me."


    "And that is the exact reason why you should let me act first," Aden uttered. "What do you think would happen if mother does something? Aish you should be thankful she is toozy to do anything for now. But if she knew they were giving you a hard time she would surely make those people suffer. Meaning, the stocks are going to be affected! Meaning, my profits are going to take a hit! So before she does something crazy, let me take care of those people, alright?"


    "You are all talk!" Aya said. Of course, their father would never let them do anything about this matter. "If you are so brave then... why not asked father about it?"

 Chapter 540: Councilman Yong

    Chapter 540: Councilman Yong


    "Using robotics to repair damaged tissues." Gabi smiled when she read the newspaper. The Shen Group is really going all out. Even in her previous life, the Shen Group has always been sessful in using robotics in the field of medicine. The Shen Group excels not only in the military but also in medicine.


    Years from now, Shen Group is going to be a superpower, capable of changing the economy of one''s nation. This was thepany that was owned by the Shen Family. However, the thing that stands out the most about thispany is the fact that they are going to discover a way not just to create new body tissues, but also to regenerate lost limbs.


    "Alright, tell Lawyer Oh, to slowly buy more shares of Shen Group." After telling Kasper about this matter, she also sent some documents to her grandfather, suggesting that he should invest in Shen Group too.


    "Miss, here is the news about young master Alfons. Just as you said, he is getting closer to Miss Quigly."


    "Good. It''s all good. You can leave now." Gabi was still in her workout clothing because she just finished running and doing all of her exercises. It has been a few weeks since she started running and she could proudly say that she could now run two kilometers without fainting! Just yesterday, she started pushing her limits and increased the distance to three kilometers!


    It was a slow process, but she could also feel the changes in her body. Right now, running on the stairs isn''t tiring anymore. And she could now enjoy the cold temperature without wearing a thickyer of clothing. Aside from this, she is gaining weight!


    Glen, her trainer, said they were muscles from the protein that she consumed every day and the exercise.


    Because her body was getting stronger, the recoil from her gun didn''t affect her as much as it used it. She felt rxed, energetic, and definitely happier.


    "Miss, finally Councilman Yong agreed to see you. However"


    "However?"


    "He wanted to see you in an hour."


    "Oh?" Isn''t that interesting?


    "Shall I tell him that you are busy?"


    "No. Tell him to meet me in the Bobo jewelry store in an hour. Miss can we really demand the  "


    "If he won''t agree tell him this is about the remation project." If the rumors about this old man were true, then she was confident that he would agree to meet her. Councilman Kong would think that Gabi is going to bribe him for the remation. The old man would never miss an opportunity like this.


    "Miss, if you don''t mind, shall I start preparing for the money?"


    "No." Gabi smiled. "Let''s leave now or we are going to bete."


    "But miss what about your breakfast?"


    "It''s fine. I am not that hungry." The old man actually thought that she would decline this meeting because it was still seven in the morning. Moreover, the appointment was too sudden. If Gabi would decline, then there is a possibility that she would never be able to meet the old man again.


    Dressed in a white pantsuit, Gabi and Kasper arrived in the Bobo jewelry store at exactly eight in the morning.


    "You know we open at nine." The man who weed her was Sari. However, this time, he was actually ring at her. "You are treating this ce like a restaurant."


    "And yet your boss agreed." Gabi smiled in response. This man looked too serious and scheming. She recalled thest time she was here, this man actually dared to nt some recorders around her! "I would assume that the thing that happenedst time isn''t going to happen again?" Gabi stared at the man''s eyes. Despite their height difference, Gabi didn''t feel intimidated at all.


    "Hmph. Just follow me."


    Sari turned and ignored her as he led her to another private room this time. "I will ask someone to bring you food. Do you have any allergies? Or preference?"


    "Coffee and a bottle of water, thank you."


    Sari nodded. This man was really different from the man that he met thest time. Was it possible that this was not Sari but someone else? What if they were triplets? That is possible, right?


    After a few more minutes, Councilman Yong arrived. The gentle smile on his face looked exactly like the smile that he used to give Gabi in her previous life. "Miss Sutton I am sorry for meeting you like this. However, I am really busy. As you know I distribute food to the slums every morning and evening, so I am really busy. "Councilman Yong was wearing a simple shirt and pants. Anyone who doesn''t know him would say that he just looked like an ordinary sryman walking down the streets with some groceries in his hand.


    Everyone knew that Councilman Yong was simple. He loves serving people; he is kind to everyone and spends most of his sry giving back to the less fortunate families in the slums. And this was one reason why this man was going to be one of Alfons'' powerful allies in the world of politics.


    "Take this" Gabi slowly pushed a velvet box towards the old man. She didn''t offer him coffee or tea or food. She just gave him the box.


    "Miss Sutton what is Jewelry?"


    "It''s a ne. Many women would love that."


    "Miss Sutton are you trying to bribe me right now?"


    "Hm?"


    "You just gave me an expensive gift even though this is the first time that we met. Are you trying to bribe me into doing something for you?"


    Gabi only smiled in response. "No, Councilman Yong this is a gift."


    "A gift? I have no wife. I only have a son. Why would you give me something that I cannot use? Unless, of course, you wanted me to sell it."


    "No. It''s not for you or your son. It''s for your daughter."


    Almost immediately, Councilman Yong''s face contorted into an ugly scowl. He red at her. "What did you just say?"

 Chapter 541: Not Easy, but Possible

    Chapter 541: Not Easy, but Possible


    Just like all allies of Alfons, Gabi actually knew every little detail of Councilman Yong''s dirty little secret. Obviously, Alfons wanted to use this information in case the man betray him.


    "What was her name again? Amanda? She is a beautiful baby, you know."


    "You  " Councilman Yong''s face reddened. "How did you "


    "It''s useless to ask such a question, Councilman Yong. All I know is that you purposely hid this information because of what you did to her mother. Her mother was half your age, right? About the age of your son?"


    Gabi smiled when she saw the councilman started trembling before her. "You know forcing yourself to a woman is just shameful. Don''t you think so, councilman?"


    The councilman''s face turned purple. Gabi couldn''t help but wonder why the man was holding his breath. "What do you want? If you want me to approve the remation, then "


    "No."


    "Excuse me?"


    "I want you to convince everyone not to approve of this project."


    "What? Do you understand what you are saying? This is going to be an economic zone! Everyone would "


    "I have my reasons, Councilman Yong. Just do as I say and we will live happily ever after."


    Councilman Yong red at her. "There is no end to this, right? After I do this, there will be more in the future! Since you have my weakness now, then you are going to treat me like a dog."


    "Hmmm that is partly right." Gabi beamed. "Don''t worry, as long as you don''t hurt your child, then I won''t treat you badly."


    Councilman Yong pursed his lips. "And if I do this what are you going to do next? Obviously, the other party is going to argue. The only thing that we could do is dy the remation for a few years. However, once the new mayor would  " Councilman didn''t continue his words as he stared at her. Realization hit him. "You  Don''t tell me that you want me to be the next mayor?"


    "Yep. It seems that you really have the ability to think in advance. Impressive!" Gabi was actually following the events that would happen in the previous lifetime. Even without her intervention, Councilman Yong is going to be elected as the mayor, while Alfons is going to be elected as a councilman.


    In the previous timeline, Alfons and Councilman Yong became close around this time.


    "You are going to support me?"


    "Of course."


    "Why? Is this just because of the remation project?"


    "Yep." Gabi inhaled the rich smell of her coffee before taking a small sip. Smiling, she continued, "I am expecting Councilman Yong to win. I know that Councilman is ambitious, someone who only thinks about the welfare of the people. So the position suits you perfectly."


    For a few seconds, Councilman Yong stayed silent. He lowered his head and stared at his fingers. "Alright, I will do my best to stop the remation."


    "Thank you. Since Councilman Yong is a very busy individual, then please go ahead and leave."


    The councilman stared at the ne before he slowly pushed it towards her. Of course, the man understood that the ne is another trap. His child is only a few years old. Why would Gabi give her a nice, elegant ne? Since Councilman Yong didn''t want to have any more unforeseen problems in the future, he decided to give the ne back. "Thank you for your kind words. I will inform you once everything is settled."


    Gabi nodded and waved her hand at the old man, who seemed to have gotten ten years older after seeing her.


    "Miss, do you think the councilman could actually do it?" Kasper asked.


    "Yep." The old man was able to hide his dirty deeds for years. Even Alfons paid a lot of money just to know this old man''s weakness.


    "But isn''t it impossible? That ce is is a future economic zone. The people won''t allow that to happen."


    "It won''t be easy, but it is possible," she said as she recalled Earl''s words about this project. The reason why her grandfather wanted to stop or dy it is because of flooding. This project could affect the lower regions of the neighboring cities and also affect one of their subsidiarypany. It was indeed a selfish move on the part of her grandfather.


    This is why Gabi told Earl that she would dy the project for at least two years. By that time, their grandfather should havee up with a new measure to cope up with the flooding. There are other options that they could explore to avoid any losses, so Gabi was confident that this won''t have any huge effects on thepany.


    The only thing that made her ecstatic about this task was the fact that this would allow her to put a leash on that old man.


    "Miss, what if he betrays you?"


    "He won''t do it without researching more information from me." And since he doesn''t have the means to do that, Councilman Yong won''t have a choice but to get close to Alfons. This would give them two opportunities to scheme against her. And once the scheme fails, Councilman Yong is going to abandon Alfons.


    After all, Gabi still held a piece of concrete evidence about what he did.


    "Let''s go back to the house," Gabi said. She is not really in a hurry to inform her grandfather that she already finished her first task.


    "Miss, it seems that you are right. I just received a text message from one of our people in the Sealey Family. They are indeed preparing the back vi for her. And it seems that they are nning to send young master Harry abroad for a few months."


    "Oh Too bad." Gabi sighed. The only good thing about this matter is the fact that Aren didn''t get pregnant. Meaning, no child will be involved in this war. "Well what can I say? Send Aren to the Sealey Family. And make sure to tell them that hurting her is like hurting their son too."

 Chapter 542: Chocolate Caramel

    Chapter 542: Chocte Caramel


    After telling her grandfather about the matter with the councilman, Gabi enjoyed a few rxing days, where she solely focused on her exercise and training. She used to be so weak that she couldn''t even run for five hundred meters without panting. However, now, she could run for a total of five kilometers without stopping! To some people, this is a very small aplishment, but to her, this is already very special.


    She is really proud, ah!


    "Fifty-five kilograms." Gabi beamed. After waking up, she was only about forty-eight kilograms. However, she gained some muscles this time. She already felt healthier and more energetic!


    After a quick shower, Gabi changed intofortable clothing and checked the market. So far, all of her investments were doing pretty good. She targeted blue chips, so the increase isn''t instantaneous.


    In the past few days, her routine has been like this. Gabi thought strengthening herself was on top of her priority. After all, she couldn''t really do anything if she faints after a few steps.


    "Miss, here is the information about the prosecutors and thew graduates this year. We are still looking into the information about the current attorney general."


    "Thank you." Today, Gabi decided not to do anything. She would not check her emails or read some reports. She is going to spend the day all by herself.


    It was because today was her son''s birthday.


    September thirty.


    A smile was on Gabi''s face when she went to her room and chose a dress that her son would surely love. It was a white dress, just like the snow. It was just like Luca''s white hair.


    Gabi decided to buy some flowers and maybe some of the candy bars that Luca used to love. It was just some local candies that are manufactured by somepany in Isonburg City, the City where the Capital House or the House of the Minister and House of the Royals was located.


    "Please give me a pack of the chocte caramel ones, thank you." Gab hugged herself a little tighter. The breeze is getting colder and colder everyday. [Mommy, do you want some candies?] Her son''s voice seemed to echo inside her head when she epted the pack of candies from the vendor.


    "I didn''t know you like candies."


    "Hm?" Gabi turned towards the source of the voice. "Aden?" Surprise shed in her face. "What are you doing here?"


    "Isn''t it obvious? I''m buying candies. Did you think I''m here to buy guns?" Aden said before turning to the old man selling candies. "Just like the usual."


    "You know this man?"


    "I''ve been buying candies since I was a teenager. Keeps me awake."


    "Oh. You like Choco caramel too?" she asked when she saw the man gave him three packs of chocte caramel candies.


    "Yeah, the sweeter the better."


    "Oh." Gabi lowered her gaze as she stared at the candy in her hands. Luca used to say that, too. Her love loved candies, the sweeter the better. He especially liked this brand.


    "Did you juste here to buy these candies?" Aden looked at her. "You looked too polished for this neighborhood."


    "Ah?"


    "Your dress it''s out of ce."


    "Oh. Sorry about that."


    "You are you sick?"


    "Huh?"


    "You are in a daze."


    "Oh. I''m just thinking about the weather."


    "Weird woman."


    Gabi frowned but said nothing. She just held the candy on her chest, as if hugging it as she started walking away from him.


    "Hey, where are you going?"


    "Just walking around."


    "In this dress?"


    "Yes, is there something wrong?"


    "Hey, why do you sound so decile?"


    Gabi stopped walking. She turned towards him. "I am not in the mood to argue."


    "Oh. Then do you want me to apany you? I happen to be free today."


    Gabi looked at him. He was wearing a casual blue shirt and white shorts. "You just arrived?"


    "Yeah, an hour ago. I rushed here to get candies."


    "Oh."


    "If you keep on walking like that people are going to target you soon. You look like a helpless little girl."


    Again, she didn''t say anything. In the previous life, she only came here once to buy candies but she didn''t really get out of the car and just told the maid what to buy. This was her first time walking around in this area.


    "I wille with you."


    "Do what you want," she said. Obviously, she isn''t going to ruin her day by arguing with this annoying man.


    "Ah, are you familiar with this ce? If you want I can tour you around."


    "You are acting nice. It''s making me suspicious."


    "Hehe I''m just bored."


    "Then go home and sleep."


    "I just woke up," Aden said as he opened one candy. "You want one?"


    "No. I don''t eat candies."


    "Really? Then"


    "It''s for someone."


    "Oh."


    For a few seconds, silence descended between them. "Let''s go. I will take you somewhere," Aden said.


    "Where?"


    "A nice ce. Don''t worry, I won''t take advantage of you. I still have standards, alright."


    "" This man If today is not a special day, she would have kicked this man''s shin already! "Alright then."


    "Hmmm. Do you have a car?"


    "No."


    "Then let''s take my car."


    "Alright."


    Soon, the two of them arrived in a parking lot. He led her towards an ash-colored Maybach. Gabi maintained her silence until they finally left the area. "This is towards the mountains?" she asked.


    "Yeah. It''s fall. You should see the trees."


    "Oh."


    "You were born here, but you haven''t actually visited the trees, right?"


    "Right." She just stayed at home and studied. Even in her past life, Gabi didn''t visit any of the tourist spots of this country.


    "What a boring life," he scoffed. "Howe you looked really down. Did something happentely?"


    "Na, I''m fine."


    This time, Aden didn''t say anything anymore. He just drove until they finally reached an area that she didn''t know existed before.


    .....


    Please don''t forget to vote for the novel. Thanks.

 Chapter 543: Gabis Boyfriend?

    Chapter 543: Gabi''s Boyfriend?


    All she could see was the gold and scarlet autumn colors, a bewitching art of nature. Surrounding them were leaves and the cold breeze of the uing winter.


    "This ce is beautiful."


    "I know. I used to sleep here."


    "But this isn''t developed?" This ce is just like a forest. There were no houses nearby. Since they were currently standing on top of a small hill, she could see the view of the city.


    "Ah, this is private property."


    Gabi nodded. She didn''t ask him about the owner of this property, as she felt that Aden wouldn''t tell her, anyway. For a few minutes, she just stared at the ocean of leaves and the view of the city. This ce looked really great and since it was located in the north, there should be a lot of snow during winter. Luca would have loved to stay in this ce. "I want to live here."


    Aden said nothing.


    It took her a few seconds to realize that he was no longer standing by her side.


    "Aden?" Turning her head around, she saw the manfortably lying on a mat under the tree. He looked like he was sleeping. "Huh?" Walking towards him, she realized he was indeed sleeping. This man how could he sleep in a ce like this?


    Then she recalled how Aden said that he just came back. "A pillow?" Aden had a pillow? She slowly sat next to him and immediately realized that the mat is soft. This one felt like a bed? How is this possible? Does this mean that he had a bead and a pillow in his car? Does he love camping so much?


    Looking at the man''sfortable posture, Gabi sighed and stared at the vast sky. Isn''t it nice to have this ability to sleep anytime, anywhere, and not think about anything else? This kind of life was too good to be true. Gabi waited for about an hour before she decided to wake the man up. It was already four in the afternoon and the Sutton mansion is about an hour away from this ce.


    Gabi didn''t want to miss the special dinner that she asked the head maid to make.


    "Dinner? I was trying to eat some lobster in the capital. Why do you need to go home?" Aden grumbled. With traffic, driving towards Sutton Mansion would take him more than an hour. Meaning, it would take him about three hours in total to travel back to the capital.


    Three hours of just driving is just too much for his weak body!


    "Why don''t you just have your dinner in the mansion?"


    "Are you inviting me to have dinner with you?"


    Gabi frowned. This man she couldn''t understand him. "Never mind, I will take a cab."


    "Hey, I was joking. Joking. Let me take you home. I am quite hungry, so tell them to prepare a lot of food."


    Gabi nodded. Nonim already prepared a lot of food. She even asked her to make the chocte cake that her son loved so much.


    After more than an hour, the two arrived at the mansion. Seeing Gabi with a man made everyone speechless.


    This was the first time that she had a man apanying her around!


    Was it a date?


    Is this going to be Gabi''s boyfriend?


    "I didn''t know that you are having a date with someone."


    Gabi froze when she heard Alfons'' voice. She looked at the man who was approaching them. Alfons'' face was already flushed. She could smell a hint of alcohol around the area. "Why are you here?" Gabi asked.


    "Is that how you treat your brother after not answering my calls for days?"


    "I am busy."


    "With this man?"


    "I don''t think that is your business. Brother!"


    "Hah. And you still call me, brother? Are you really treating me like a brother?"


    Gabi scoffed and continued walking. "Sorry, you have to see that."


    "Ah? No problem. Nonim, please take Aden to the patio at the back and prepare dinner."


    "Yes, young miss. Sir, please follow me."


    "Gabi are you ignoring me?" Alfons asked. "Why are you acting like this? You even invited someone like that into our house?"


    "My."


    "Excuse me?"


    "My house."


    His jaw dropped, speechless. "Gabi, how could you say that? I get that you are mad because of what happened, but are you really going to forget the fact that I am your brother because of some other people? We grew up together. How could you just forget that because of what Harry did?"


    "You are drunk. Please leave the house."


    "Gabi"


    "I have the right to invite anyone in my house."


    "Are you really going to act like this because of that damn maid?"


    Gabi said nothing. She just squinted her eyes at the man as she wondered why he was drinking. Was it possible that the Quiglys didn''t help him? Or was he trying to appeal to her pity?


    Gabi snorted. In the past, she would get extremely concerned if her brother would end up drunk. When Alfons is drunk, he would always throw some tantrums, cry and just be a different person. At that time, she didn''t even think that he was just pretending. At the end of the day, she would immediately know that someone was troubling him. Obviously, she would always help him.


    "Who is that man? You didn''t even tell me that you are seeing someone."


    Gabi rolled her eyes. "Why are you here?" she asked.


    "I just want to see you."


    "Now that you already saw me then you can leave. I don''t want to see you."


    "Is this because of Harry?"


    "You are ming someone else because of your scheme? The only reason why I am still calling you brother is that I have small respect left for you. After all, you were my only friend when I grew up alone in this house." Gabi narrowed her eyes. "But that is the only thing that''s left between us. You tried to scheme against me, brother. Did you really think I would be that dumb to believe your words now?"


    "Gabi, I didn''t know anything. I swear that Harry is just using my name! The Sealey Family wanted to ruin our rtionship simply because he was jealous of me."


    "..." What?


    "You don''t believe me? How could you doubt your own brother?"


    Should she just p him in the face?

 Chapter 544: Moon And Superheroes

    Chapter 544: Moon And Superheroes


    When Alfons finally left, Gabi went to the patio and silently ate her food with Aden.


    "I''m sorry you have to see that."


    Aden just nodded. They just finished their dinner and are now enjoying some wine on the patio with the view of the full moon. Earlier, the two ate without saying anything to each other.


    "Ah, it''s fine," Aden said. He, too, had his own family issues. In his case, it wasn''t because someone in his family was scheming. It was because everyone is just too smart. One wrong word and the entire family would know your secrets. His mother looked casual, but she understood everything about him. Meaning, scheming around her is just not the best option. "This wine is from ria?"


    "Yes, my father bought it."


    "It''s an expensive one. I believe they only made a hundred bottles with this version. And you actually opened it tonight?" He wasnguidly sitting next to her.


    "Wines are meant to be open."


    "True."


    Gabi nodded. Her gaze was on the tree that looked beautiful under the moon. A sigh escaped her lips. Who would have thought that one day, she would choose to spend time like this with a stranger? "If you still have things to do, you can leave. Thank you for joining me."


    "You are weird."


    "So are you," Gabi said. In fact, this whole thing was weird. She couldn''t believe that she actually invited this man for dinner.


    "After inviting me for dinner, you are just going to kick me out. Now I am thinking, you have some weird fetish."


    "Huh?"


    "Do you like watching handsome guys eat?"


    "" What? She turned towards him. She felt likeughing but getting angry at the same time. "Let''s finish the wine. Since you cannot drive, I will let my driver  "


    "No need, one of my men will get me."


    "Ah." Gabi nodded. Just as she suspected, Aden is someone trusted and valued by Archy. Perhaps he was really Archy''s right-hand man.


    "Hey, did you know that the footprints in the moon will stay there for the next hundred million years?" Aden said. Just like her, he was staring at the huge moon. "There was no air or anything that could affect it. So everything in that moon will be there for a long, long time."


    "Oh. I didn''t know that."


    "Every year, the moon is drifting away from our."


    "Really?"


    "Yeah about 3.8 cm." Aden lifted his hand and held it towards the moon. "After billions of years, the moon would go out of the Earth''s gravitational field."


    "You seem to know a lot of things about the moon."


    "I read a lot."


    "Really? You don''t look like one."


    "Heh. You are one judgmental woman. Just because I am good-looking doesn''t mean that I am dumb."


    "" She doesn''t know what to say. "Do you know a lot of the space too?"


    "Let''s see my knowledge is more in the field of science. I read a lot about space but I am more into medicinal science."


    "Really? That sounds boring."


    Aden turned toward her and chuckled. "Yeah it was boring, alright."


    "If you love medicinal science then why are you working for Archy? Shouldn''t you study medicine and be a doctor or maybe a researcher instead?"


    "I studied med."


    "Yeah?"


    "Though I never practice. I know how to dissect muscles and organs. Pretty useful."


    "" Was he using this knowledge to torture people? How scary. "And you''re not nning to be a doctor?"


    "Hmmm" Aden twirled the winess and smiled. "Nope. Helping people is not my forte."


    "Oh, I know someone who loves to be a doctor." For the first time tonight, Gabi had a gentle smile on her face. "He wanted to be a doctor to heal his sickly mother."


    "Sounds like the dream of a child."


    "Yeah." It was her son''s dream. A doctor. Someone that would save his mother.


    "How about you? What are you studying right now? I heard you are pretty smart."


    "I don''t think I am smart enough."


    "Whoa you are being humble. You finished college at a young age, right?"


    "It was because I can memorize a book. It has nothing to do with being smart."


    "Really?"


    "Yeah, acing the exam was easy. But applying that knowledge outside of the university is extremely hard."


    "Ah, you need experience."


    This time, Gabiughed. As someone who already lived a whole life, she had a lot of experience in life. "You are right. I need to experience certain things to survive. Anyway enough about me. Why don''t you tell me more about medical science? Do you know whichpany is showing excellent results in their research?"


    "Why are you asking?"


    "Of course, I have to invest."


    "Ah then just invest in Shen Group. Your money will be safe if you invest in thatpany."


    "You sound confident."


    "Of course, I am confident. I know their head researcher."


    "Really?" Gabi smiled. "I heard they are trying to study nanotechnology right now? Is that true?"


    "Yep."


    "And do you think they will seed?"


    "Yep."


    Gabi couldn''t help but chuckle this time. "Are you saying that because their head researcher is your friend?"


    "No. Shen Group is made up of extremely smart people. With technology, I am confident that they are going to contribute a lot of things for the betterment of humans."


    "" Why does this man sound like someone working for the Shen Group? "Nanotechnology. Do you think we could use it to create superhumans?"


    "Hmmm Not sure."


    "But it''s possible, right?" Gabi asked before she turned silent. In the past life, Shen Group would have a big breakthrough about using nanotech to heal cellr level injuries and heal cancer. It was just one reason why they became a superpower in this world, capable of ruining smaller countries.


    "Probably?"


    "Hey, do you think people with superpowers would exist one day?"


    "Yes," Aden answered without batting an eyelid.


    "That sounds good."


    "Why are you asking questions like that?"


    "I just know someone who likes superheroes."


    "Ah" Aden stared at her side profile. "I think superheroes already exist in this world. We just don''t know about them yet."

 Chapter 545: Charities

    Chapter 545: Charities


    "That man who is he?" Alfons was leaning against the door, ring at Gabi as she walked inside the mansion. She just finished her morning exercises and was about to take a shower to start her day. "Gabi, you know that you are not just any woman. You are a Sutton and the heiress of the Ren Family. You can''t just get close to anyone that you like."


    However, Gabi didn''t respond. Instead, she walked past him.


    "Hey, are you listening to me?"


    "Why are you still here?"


    "I decided to move back here."


    "Oh?" Gabi didn''t stop walking, so Alfons followed her.


    "That man he doesn''t look like someone from the prestigious family in our country. Who is he?"


    "None of your business."


    "Gabi, can you stop your tantrum and talk to me like an adult woman?"


    "Tantrum?" Gabi smiled as she stopped walking. "You think I am still throwing a tantrum?"


    "Yes. I know this is just a phase. I know you are angry but "


    "You are no longer wee in this house."


    "Gabi  How could you say that?"


    "You are too nosy, brother." She didn''t hide the sarcasm in her voice.


    "Can you at least listen to me? I promised father that I will take care of you! How could you act like this just a few months after father died? Do you think he would be happy to know that you are not listening to me anymore?"


    Gabi''s lips started twitching. How shameless. "What do you want to talk about?"


    "I don''t know Gabi. I am exhausted. All this fighting and arguments with you are making me exhausted. Can we just stop all this?"


    Gabi didn''t show an iota of emotion on her face. She just nkly stared at him. Seeing this, he continued, "I didn''t know that you would act like this. I am still your brother and we are families. I think we should just forget about the past and start over."


    Again, Gabi just stared at him, saying nothing.


    "You are not going to say anything?" Alfons asked.


    "I am giving you the chance to say everything that you want."


    "Well, this fight is affecting the people around us. Even the servants are having a hard time coping with the tense atmosphere."


    "Then they should just leave," Gabi said. "I am paying them to work, not to think about the atmosphere."


    "Gabi! How could you say that? These people have worked here for years!"


    She snorted. "And?"


    "They are family."


    "What a good logic. Why don''t you start paying them their sries? After all, they are your family?"


    Alfons'' eyes widened. She couldn''t imagine the amount of anger that he was feeling right now. However, Gabi was silently apuding this man. After all, he wasn''t showing any anger on his face. In fact, Alfons looked pitiful in front of her right now. Just this amount of acting talent left her in awe.


    "Aren''t you exhausted?"


    "Nope."


    "If you really hate me that much, them can you at least think about the other parties affected by this issue?"


    "Other parties?"


    "Since we started fighting, you also stopped donating to charities that I am working with. I know you are punishing me but what about those people? They did nothing against you. Why would you involve them?"


    Gabi couldn''t help but chuckle. Everything about this man''s actions would involve something that would benefit him. How did he miss this kind of stuff before?


    "Charities? I don''t remember donating to the charities under my name, brother. Perhaps you forgot whose name was used to donate using my money?"


    "You " This time, Alfons'' face turned ugly. In fact, she gives monthly donations to charities through Alfons. Obviously, the donations became under his name too. He was known as the benefactor of over ten charities. And none of these people knew that the money came from Gabi.


    In the past, she never minded these things. To her, the important was the thought. She wanted to help, so she gave money. She didn''t care if it was Alfons name. Moreover, he was her brother, so it was alright. It does not affect her at all.


    However, since they started fighting, Gabi stopped sending money through Alfons. He asked Lawyer Oh to manage the donations and put it under her name instead.


    "You look angry, brother. Did I say something wrong?"


    "How did you be this petty?" Alfons asked. "You did this just because of the name? You actually stopped helping people because they thought it was my own money? Gabi, how could you lower yourself like that?"


    "Actually, I never stopped helping them."


    Realization shed in his eyes. "So, you donated under your name," he nodded. "And you did it to spite me."


    "You are thinking too much, brother. I donated because I wanted to give. I didn''t have any other hidden agenda."


    Alfons stared at him, speechless. He clenched his teeth before saying, "I am leaving. I will be moving back tonight."


    Gabi didn''t say anything as he took a step towards the door.


    ''It seems that Gabi finally grew some spine,'' he thought inwardly. Once he went out of the mansion, he opened his phone and dial a number.


    "Hey, change of ns. I can''t change her mind. She doesn''t trust me anymore. Let''s use another approach." In the past, showing Gabi his vulnerable side always works. He would cry or get drunk and immediately get her attention. However, this time, it didn''t happen. Aside from that, Gabi didn''t get involved in that incident where he was kneeling outside of thepany for days. Usually, seeing him like that was Gabi''s weakness. Again, it didn''t work this time. So, he concluded that he needed someone else to help him.


    ''You mean that approach?'' the person on the other line asked.


    "Yes. I will move back into the mansion tonight. Please prepare everything. I hope we can execute the n, next week."


    ''Got it. You should be careful. You were too rash this time. Now, the trust that you built is slowly crumbling.''


    "I know. I was too rash. Anyway, call me once everything is ready."


    ''Got it.''

 Chapter 546: Six Feet Below the Ground

    Chapter 546: Six Feet Below the Ground


    "You agreed? Really?" Earl squinted at her. It had been a few days since Alfons move back in the mansion and Earl saw him just now when he arrived. "I didn''t think you would actually allow him to move back."


    "It''s fine. I don''t mind." Isn''t that nice? She already installed CCTV everywhere inside this house. If Alfons move back, she could easily monitor him. "Anyway, I didn''t expect to see you so soon. Why are you here? Did something happen?"


    "Well I want to take you to a g."


    "Oh?"


    "Isn''t it time that you go back to the human society?"


    Gabi couldn''t help butugh. "What are you talking about?"


    "Grandfather believes it is time that you join gatherings and show yourself to the upper echelons."


    "A g, huh." Gabi wasn''t nning to do it now. However, she knew that this time woulde. Her grandfather would do his best to let everyone know she was the heir of the Ren Family. If this happens, it would be more troublesome to kick the opportunist Alfons in her life without implicating the Ren Family.


    Knowing Alfons, he woulde up with a way to integrate himself with the Ren Family and if she openly do something about it, Alfons would certainly use his connection and y the pity card. That snake would surely act like the Ren Family doesn''t like him because he grew up poor.


    This would only attract the attention of the people that hated the Rens. "I will think about it," she added.


    "Alright. Here is the invitation. As for the dress "


    "I want it white. I have pink hair. It would suit me."


    "Good, them is ck and white, so a white dress would be good. I will send you a catalog once you decide something."


    "Thank you, Earl."


    "Heh? Why are you being so formal all of a sudden? You are making me nervous."


    Gabi smiled in response. After a few minutes, Earl told her that he still had a few meetings today. To her surprise however, Earl suddenly invited her to join the meeting with him.


    "I don''t think "


    "Come on I am the VP of Ren Aesthetics. I can introduce you as my secretary. This would be a good experience too. Since you haven''t met with those cocky businessmen before."


    Gabi smiled. In this lifetime, she hasn''t met with anyone from the bigpany yet. However, in the previous timeline, she met those people every day. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner were upied with people who wanted to show their support to Alfons or gain his favor. "Alright. I will join you."


    "Good." Earl seemed excited. Gabi didn''t understand why this man looked so happy. Wasn''t he scared that she would grab the CEO position away from him? Or does Earl really value the Ren Family so much that he no longer has any ambition to be the head?


    How could it be possible?


    Soon, the two arrived at Ren Aesthetics. Gabi walked next to Earl as they immediately went to the boardroom where Earl was going to have a meeting with the other executives. Just as expected, after the meeting, Earl immediately started asking her questions about it.


    Gabi couldn''t help butugh inwardly. This man Why does it look like he was a teacher trying to test her? Did he really think she would be interested in working behind a desk and deal with these troublesome executives?


    "I think that proposal is pretty good. Thepany is on the right track," Gabi answered. "However, I would suggest that you buy the area surrounding the southern cities. Therger the better."


    "Why?"


    "Well I have some good intuition about it." She couldn''t really announce that soon. The government is going to decide to build a new airport in that area. "After the election, there will be new changes. And if I am in the position, I would go on some enormous projects."


    "Big as in?"


    "As in big like a huge airport for tourists or another port and since the southern area had a lot of crimes and corruption, they don''t have a lot of ports and don''t even have its own airport."


    "Whoa actually, grandfather already mentioned this before. I believe he already started buying properties in that area."


    "Hmmm. Elections could do a lot of things. Right now, the Sealey Family is doing the same thing so I suggest that you try to buy everything that they want to buy."


    "Eh? Cousin this"


    "Don''t think too much about it. It''s just that I am a very petty person." Gabi smiled. She was casually sitting on the couch, reading a fashion magazine. "Also, Mr. Aldo, the head of the Finance Department. You should ask someone to secretly investigate him. He looked suspicious."


    "Is this another one of your instincts?"


    "Yep. I can read people''s faces."


    Earl frowned at her joke. "Mr. Aldo had been in thispany for years are you sure that "


    "If you investigate him and you came up with nothing, then it''s not a problem. It only means he can be trusted. However, if something came up, then it''s your win. Either way, this is a win-win for you."


    Earl shook his head. "You are starting to sound like grandfather. For some reason, the way you say things reminded me of my own mother''s words. Isn''t that weird? Anyway, alright, I will do that. "Earl said. After a while, he gave some instructions to his secretary before leaving with Gabi to meet someone. However, on her way out of thepany, she received a call from Spencer, the butler.


    "What did you say?"


    "Miss, someone just said that she is thete master''s aunt, that she is your grandmother."


    "Uhhh grandmother?" Gabi didn''t know that there is someone else alive on the Sutton side. She started frowning. In the previous life, it was just her and Alfons. Everyone in the Sutton Family is already dead. Even their distant rtives were either not in Du Empire or are already six feet below the ground.


    She would know this because she investigated this matter before. So why would someone just arrive and introduce herself as Gabi''s grandmother?


    "Shall I let her in?"


    "Yes, bring her to the garden. Ah, is she alone?"


    "No. There is a woman. Her granddaughter."


    "Hmmm alright take them to the garden. Do not let them inside the mansion."


    "Understood."

 Chapter 547: Heating System

    Chapter 547: Heating System


    "Grandma, why do we have to stay here while waiting? Can''t we go inside that mansion?" risse Sena grumbled. "These people are not that nice." She crossed her arms across her chest. "If she is not here for another hour then I will post a live video andin to my fans. I am sure they would curse her for treating me like this."


    ''risse, you are still acting like a child, despite already being a graduating student in college." The old woman who was wearing a red dress said. She gave her granddaughter a displeased gaze. "You should be careful with your words and actions. Don''t be so haughty in front of Gabrielle. I heard that she is very clever. I don''t want her to know that something is up."


    "Still, how could she act like this? We are her rtives. The least that she could do is allow us inside that mansion. Instead, she asked her servants to bring us to the back of that house. Isn''t this an insult? Just because we aren''t as wealthy as her doesn''t mean that we deserve this treatment."


    "Calm down. Just calm down or your cousin Alfons would get angry with you."


    "Hmph. If I had known that cousin Alfons was actually this rich, I would have immediately followed him here when he discovered us years ago. I just thought he was just some simple person who lived in the capital."


    Her grandmother didn''t say anything. Instead, the old woman started drinking her tea and just continue listening to her granddaughterin.


    Unbeknownst to them, Gabi was looking at them from the second floor of the mansion.


    "Young Miss, I didn''t know that your father had an aunt. She is not using thest name, Sutton. She imed that she was kicked out of the Sutton Family years before your father was born. From the information that she told me, her name is Mary Lan. She is seventy-two years old. She lives near the port of Oburn City. If you don''t know where Oburn City is, it is located in the southernmost part of this country. Her granddaughter is called risse Sena. Her parents are still alive. They have a small business near the port. And"


    "And what?"


    "Well she is currently working. Her job is called an ''influencer''. I honestly, never heard of this job before."


    "" Oh? Influencer. Interesting.


    "She is using the tform, SocialTak, and has three million followers from all over the world. Apparently, this is not really considered big but she earned a decent amount from sponsorships and views of her videos."


    "Ah." SocialTak is one of thepanies that will be big in the future. In fact, she already invested in thepany is already one of its big shareholders. People in SocialTak dance and sings and do random things because of this, many teenagers love this app.


    "I already asked our people to investigate the matter," Kasper said. He along with Spencer was standing behind Gabi, looking at the granddaughter and grandmother pair.


    Gabi nodded in response. She couldn''t help but think that Alfons already knew about this two even before they came here. But why hide it? "Let them wait for a few more minutes. And investigate everything about them. Including their bank ounts. Try to find any connection between Alfons and them."


    "Understood," Kasper said.


    "Spencer, give them more food and tell them I will arrive in a few minutes."


    "Understood."


    Gabi continued looking at the two. From where she was, it was clear that risse was already in a bad mood. She was frowning while talking to her grandmother. Meanwhile, the grandmother was calmly talking to her, as if she was trying to calm her down.


    After a few minutes, Spencer arrived with two maids and he served them a few more snacks and beverages. Just as Gabi expected, risse immediately changed her expression. The girl batted her eyelid and respectfully bowed Spencer when he left. With her tall and thin frame, risse looked graceful and gentle.


    It''s a pity. The expression on the woman''s face immediately switched to anger the moment Spencer left. Just from this small interaction, Gabi already knew that there is something wrong with these two people.


    Right now, she couldn''t help but overthink things. Why would a new rtive appear just when she and Alfons were fighting? The timing is already off!


    This could be one of Alfons'' schemes.


    But howe these people didn''t appear in her past life? Was it because Alfons could control her back then? Was it possible that Alfons asked this woman to get close to her, in this lifetime in an attempt to control her again? Ah, she was overthinking things again.


    But she honestly, couldn''t help it.


    "Miss, the old woman seemed calm but Miss risse is clearly irritated. Though, she tried to control it. It was still pretty obvious."


    "I understand," Gabi answered. "Anyway, let me change my clothes. I wille down in a few minutes." She went to her room and chose a long white dress that it made by thin fabrics. Then she left her room and walked towards the garden.


    When the two women saw her, they immediately smiled. She smiled in response.


    "I am Gabi Sutton. I would like to apologize for beingte. I have some important business that was already scheduled for today."


    "It''s not a problem. It is our fault for not calling ahead of time." The old woman struggled to stand.


    "Grandmother, please don''t force yourself. I am sure that Miss Gabi wouldn''t mind it." risse had a kind smile on her face. "My name is risse Sena and this is my grandmother Mary Lan. Nice to meet you, Miss Sutton."


    "Nice to meet you too. Let''s stop acting too formal. Please take your seat. Do you need anything? Perhaps more snacks and beverages?"


    "Ah? No it''s alright. The snacks are really delicious. However it is already falling. It''s really cold and I don''t know why Mr. Butler didn''t invite grandmother inside when she is already this old. She can''t stay outside for too long."


    risse said as she held her grandmother''s hand.


    "Oh, I would like to apologize for my servants'' actions. They didn''t know that the heating system inside this small outdoor seating facility is not enough to warm Miss Lan." Gabi smiled. "It is the most expensive heating system in this country and yet it wasn''t doing its job properly. Ah what a waste of money. I should buy something more expensive than this. Tsk... Mrs. C!?" Gabi called out one of the maids that stood a few meters away from them. "Please... increase the heat."


    risse hid the irritation in her eyes. Her words were clear! She wanted Gabi to invite them inside! Why was she talking about the heating system? She clenched her teeth while inwardlyining about Gabi''s actions.


    Since it was fall, risse and her grandmother were already wearing thick clothes. In fact, there was nothing wrong with the heating system. She just wanted Gabi to scold that butler and invite them. Who would have thought that she would increase the heat instead?


    She stared at Gabi''s thin dress and almost exploded from anger! Gabi must have anticipated that she wouldin about the heating system! So, she wore a thin dress instead!

 Chapter 548: Existence

    Chapter 548: Existence


    "I hope the heat is enough," Gabi uttered while looking at therge beads of sweat on their foreheads.


    "Yes, it''s enough. Enough." Mary uttered. "Can someone please bring us some hot tea? It''s perfect for this weather."


    "Ah, Miss Sutton, there is no need for that. Grandmother is fine now."


    "Good," Gabi said. "Anyway, I am wondering how you found out that we are rtives? Don''t get me wrong, I just thought that I have no rtives left on my paternal side. After all, my father mentioned no one before."


    "Ah this "Mary handed her an old crumpled photo. "I know it is really sudden. I always knew that your father was my nephew, however, I didn''t dare to introduce myself to him. I was a coward back then, and I honestly thought he was better off not know that he had an aunt like me." The woman''s hands started shaking. "I came here months ago when I knew that he died, but again, I didn''t introduce myself because I thought it was toote."


    Gabi nodded. She looked at the photo and spotted her paternal grandfather, whom she never met. Next to her grandfather was a woman that looked like Carisse but shorter. "It is indeed sudden. I didn''t expect that I still have some paternal rtives left."


    "Yes, I never knew that we were rted to the Sutton Family until grandmother told me to apany her in this ce," Carisse added. "Miss Sutton, I know you might be shocked to learn of our existence. But the only reason why we came here is that grandmother is grandmother is dying."


    Gabi widened her eyes. "Dying?"


    "Cancer. Our doctor said she had about two to three years to live. So she wanted to spend see you and the other people who didn''t know of her existence in the past."


    "That is  " Gabi was speechless. Their acting actually looked real. Both women looked sad, angry, and even hopeless. However, this wasn''t enough to make her lower her guard. "I could rmend you the best doctor in this country. I am sure that we can still do something about this matter."


    "Cough cough" Mary held her hand to Gabi. Then she dramatically shook her head. "Miss Gabrielle, I am already seventy- two this year. I have already lived a long life. Since God wanted me to have this disease then it means that my time is almost done. There is no changing god''s will. Since this is what he wanted, there is no use in avoiding it. All I wanted is to see my family unite and leave this world with a smile on my face."


    "I understand your concern. That is only understandable." However, she is still going to ask a professional to check this woman. She was almost a hundred percent sure that Alfons had a fake doctor that would help him examine Mary and gave a fake diagnosis. "However, please tell me the information of your family doctor so I could ask my secretary to cooperate with him. I could get a copy of your x-rays and other documents then give it to an international doctor. It would be good to have a second opinion from someone else."


    "Miss Gabrielle, I think you are looking down on our family doctor."


    "Eh?"


    "I''m sorry to say this. I know this may offend you, but we fully trust our doctor. We don''t need a second opinion from another expert."


    "Miss risse why does it sound like you didn''t want me to help your grandmother. Did you really want her to die just like that?" Gabi retorted.


    "Ah? That''s not it. I was just "


    Seeing Carisse flustered, Gabi added. "I am busy. It is alreadyte, and you waited for me for more than an hour, so why not just take some rest instead? Spencer will guide you to our guest house. You can stay there in the meantime. We can have dinner tonight, along with Alfons. He is my cousin."


    "A guest house?"Carisse asked. "I thought I misheard you. Do you mean a guest room?"


    "No, a guest house. Miss Mary is already old. Walking inside an enormous mansion will not benefit her health. It would be exhausting and dangerous. We have a bungalow reserve for our guests. I am confident that it had all the amenities for older people."


    "Amenities?" Even Carisse was confused. What kind of amenities is she talking about?


    "It is Elder friendly. My mother wanted it like that. No stairs or furniture could harm the elderly. There are grab bars in the toilet and shower. Everything inside the house ensured the safety of the elderly guest."


    Mary and Carisse stared at each other. By now, the two of them already knew that they were not wee in this ce. Despite that, they decided to stay.


    "Spencer please help them."


    "Miss Gabrielle why are you acting like this? We just started talking, and you already asked your servant to get us away from you. Was it because we are not as wealthy as you?"


    "risse, what are you saying? Gabrielle I hope you don''t mind my granddaughter''s temper. She is still naive. She is someone who always reacts based on her emotions. risse, apologize! Now!"


    "But grandmother! We came here and traveled for hours. We even waited in the cold and now you are just letting her kick us to the back of her house? You are her grandmother too! Why is she acting like this?"


    "Apologize!" Mary hissed. "You never learned! You are still as childish as ever! Miss Gabrielle, I would like to apologize for her behavior. Please don''t mind her. She is still young. risse apologize! Do you really want me to die from anger?"


    "Alright alright I''m sorry. I didn''t mean to say those things. I am just a little irritated because I expected that you would be happy to see us. I''m just a little disappointed."


    "It''s fine. You have a point. I am indeed a bit harsh." Gabi said. "However, please don''t expect me to treat you as someone special just because of some images. This is the first time that I have heard of your existence. Did you expect me to wee you with open arms? I don''t even know why you came here today. This is just me trying to protect myself. Please excuse me. I will see youter during dinner." Seeing the surprise on their face, Gabi smiled before leaving.

 Chapter 549: Threatened

    Chapter 549: Threatened


    "That brat! I have never met anyone this arrogant!" risse couldn''t help but let out a series of curses when Spencer finally left them inside the house." Did you see the way she smiled at us? She was clearly looking down on us! How could someone act like that?"


    "risse, what you did earlier was really careless. Did you forget what your father told you? You need to get close to her. Act like her sister. She grew up without any mother''s love or any other woman''s affection. Understandably, she is on guard. How could you lose your cool when you already know this?"


    "Grandma I"


    "You have gotten arrogant just because of your measly followers. If everything is sessful, the benefits that we can get are limitless! You have to look at it as a businessman. This All this is just an investment for our profitable future."


    "But that woman is "


    "Enough. I know you are a smart child. You should already know what do you during dinner."


    risse bit her lower lip. "Alright, grandmother. I will do my best."


    "Good. That''s my granddaughter." Mary smiled before patting her granddaughter''s head.


    ..


    "Miss, these are the files that I gathered so far. It seems that your paternal grandfather had a little sister. She was registered as Sutton, but got married and changed her name. Our people are already on their way to the south. They are going to check what kind of life that woman lived. In two days, we will surely get some more information about them."


    "Kasper what do you think about this timing?"


    "It''s perfect," Kasper answered without batting an eyelid. "Your father just died, and they showed up with some sickness and yet they are not willing to get treatment. The fact that Miss risse is an influencer might be a problem, too. She could easily use this to tarnish your name and make you look like an evil person if you don''t recognize them as your rtive."


    "Hmmm." Gabi nodded. Until now, she couldn''t understand why Alfons didn''t reveal this card in the past. Was it possible that he was protecting them?


    "Hey, I rushed here when I heard about the rtives."


    ''Speaking of the devil,'' Gabi thought inwardly as Alfons walked inside her office without even knocking.


    "Is it true? We really have a grandmother?"


    "We can''t be sure. Tomorrow, we will take a DNA test with them."


    "Really? Did they tell you how they know that we were rted? What do you think of them?"


    "It was thest name. They already know about father but didn''t approach him because of some reason. The only reason why she is here now is that she is dying. She wanted to meet us. And no. I don''t like them."


    "That  " Alfons stared at her, speechless. "You don''t like them?"


    "Why would I like a stranger?"


    "But what if she is really our grandmother?"


    "I will give her money."


    "You think they came here because of money?"


    "Yes," Gabi said coldly.


    "Gabi, how could you say that to an old person?"


    "What''s wrong with saying that to an old person?"


    "If she is really our grandmother, then you should treat her better. How could you be like this? Father didn''t raise you to act like that."


    Gabi smiled. "Father didn''t raise me at all."


    "Are we going to fight again?"


    "Up to you. Nothing will change my decision though."


    Alfons let out a loud sigh. "I didn''t know you can be this heartless."


    "Yeah, I didn''t know it too."


    "Are you really going to send them away? Even if they are our rtives? Are you not going to give yourself a chance to get close to them?"


    "Yes."


    "Why?"


    "What''s the point of getting close to a dying person?" she retorted. "What am I going to do after her death? I have lost a lot of people in my life. I don''t think I would expose myself to that kind of pain again."


    "Gabi" Speechless, Alfons stared at Gabi''s stony expression. How could it be like this? Where did the kindhearted Gabi go? He actually thought that Gabi would treat them better once she knew they were her blood-rted rtives. This was because Gabi didn''t really have any women friends while growing up. Moreover, she didn''t have any mother figure all her life.


    She craved attention and affection. This was the Gabi that he knew.


    So, what''s happening now? Who is this woman in front of him?


    "I think we should let them live in this mansion once it is proven that they are our rtive. Give that old woman a chance to bond with us. This is the least that we could do for them." Alfons suggested.


    "And why would I do that?"


    "Because  " Because what? Alfons couldn''t answer this question. Gabi owes them nothing. He actually thought that the idea of having a rtive would excite Gabi. "Because you have been alone your whole life. Isn''t it good to interact with other people? I heard she had a granddaughter your age? Why not give yourself a chance to get close to you?"


    "No. I don''t them that."


    "Gabi"


    "We are going to have dinner with them. And I will tell them that a DNA test will change nothing. They could stay in the guest house for a few days before I could give them the money that they want."


    "So, you think they are just here because of your money? Is that all there is? Money? What if she is sincere? What if she really wanted to get close to you before her death?"


    "Then we can have dinner and talk about boys before I give her money."


    "You "


    Gabi waved her hand. "Don''t think too much about it. I already made up my mind."


    "If you don''t want to offer them to stay, then I will."


    "Excuse me?"


    "I will let them stay in the mansion."


    Gabi stared at the man, wondering if he was serious. "Pfft" Then she burst outughing. "You wanted them to stay in my house without my permission?"


    "Then are you going to kick them out if I let them in? Are you really that heartless to kick out an old woman?"


    Gabi got up. "Why don''t we do it like this" Gabi gestured Kasper to approach her. "Kick them out now. I don''t want to see them around here again. And If they argue tell them everything here belongs to my mother."


    "Gabi you"


    "Don''t you dare threaten me again, brother. You don''t really know what I am capable of."

 Chapter 550: Bastard

    Chapter 550: Bastard


    "So, tomorrow you two will have a DNA test with me. Gabi doesn''t like blood, so she won''t be joining us." Alfons had a kind smile on his face. "You can stay at the guest house until the result is out. Once we already know that we are indeed rtives, then we can have a small celebration with everyone in the mansion."


    "Then does that mean we won''t be able to visit the gardens until the result is out?" risse asked.


    "Unfortunately, no. Since we don''t really know yet if you are indeed a rtive. You can''t just run around either as there will be security personnel everywhere."


    "So you mean to say that if we try to go to the gardens, they will arrest us? Isn''t that illegal?"


    "Trespassing is illegal." Gabi chimed in. She used a napkin and elegantly dabbed it on her lips. "They have orders to shoot anyone that they think is suspicious. And they can do it as long as they are inside the gates of this mansion. So you should be careful."


    "Oh. We understand." Mary Lan smiled. "However, my granddaughter also has a job. Is it alright for her to leave the mansion every now and then?"


    "Yes, every guest house has its own gates that would lead you out of the property," Alfons said. Right now, he was forced to five into Gabi''s demands and not invite his grandmother and cousin to the mansion. After all, the Gabi now isn''t someone that he could just threaten.


    It was good that Gabi didn''t actually ask Kasper to kick them out earlier or it would be harder to make risse and Gabi closer to each other. All he needed now is to wait for the DNA result, which will surely be positive since they were actually blood-rted to Mary and risse.


    "That''s great then," Mary said. "Anyway, the house is indeed elderly-friendly, so I am very happy to be able to stay there. It was even more luxurious than the hotel that we stayed at when we first arrive here."


    "Oh, we have a few guesthouses around the mansion. The goal is to give our guests both privacy and the top luxury. We wanted them to feel special and at home at the same time."


    ''Speaking like the true owner,'' Gabi thought as she continued eating her food


    "Wow Mr. Alfons, you are really nice. I didn''t expect you to be this kind."


    "Please, risse, call me Alfons. I am just a nobody in this house. There is no need to be formal."


    "Huh? Why are you saying that?"


    Alfons just gave risse a smile. "Anyway, Mr. Jonathan said that you didn''t bring any clothes with you? Since you will be staying in this ce for a few days, why not buy some more clothes in the mall?"


    "Really? That would be nice! Grandmother would need a few of her medicines too."


    "Speaking of medicines, would it be alright if I let some of the doctors that I know to examine, Miss Lan?" Alfons uttered. "They were specialists in cancer so I am very confident in their skills."


    "Of course. There is no problem, right, grandmother?"


    "Ah?"


    Gabi smiled inwardly. Earlier, this woman said that they don''t need any second opinion and yet, they easily agreed to have Alfons rmend a doctor for them. Why are they being so obvious? Did they really think she was dumb? She noticed that Alfons keep on side eying her reaction.


    Did he think that she would intervene and offer her own group of doctors? That would be a waste of money.


    "Ah, Gabi, don''t you have a few clothes that you can give risse?" Alfons said.


    "No."


    "Ah?"


    "We are not of the same size."


    ''Oh Yes. You don''t have the same size. Indeed. You are right, then why don''t you apany her shopping? It would be a pleasant experience for you too. It would be good to have someone your age shop with you so you could familiarize yourself with thetest trends."


    "Can''t."


    "Why?" Alfons asked.


    "I am busy."


    "Miss Gabrielle, please don''t misunderstand. This is just my first time in this city and I am a bit unfamiliar with everything. Plus, we are the same age. If you are busy studying then, I can just help you with that. I might not look like it but I am top of my ss and even studied economics. I am also good with math."


    ''Economics?'' Was it just a coincidence that she studied economics? "No. I''m good. If you are lost, you can easily take a cab home."


    "But "


    "Gabi, since you are busy during the weekdays, then why not do it on the weekend? I can see that you have been wearing white all this time. It looked really pure, but I think the newer styles would look good on you too."


    Gabi raised her eyebrow at Alfons. Then she smiled. Why was he making it too obvious that he wanted her to bond with risse? Is he really dumb? "No. I am busy earning money. I have no time to think about fashion."


    "Gabi, you are just a twenty-year-old girl. How could you not care about fashion?"Alfons chuckled. "Aiyo how about this? I will personally apany you and risse while you shop. Is that fine with you?"


    "No." Gabi got up. "I think earning money is important. I already look pretty. There is no need to ovepensate." She looked at the grandmother and granddaughter pair. "I will leave first. Spencer led them out of the mansion once they were done eating. I don''t want strangers walking around my mother''s house."


    "Understood, young miss."


    Since Gabi was already walking away from them, she didn''t see the anger in Alfons eyes. He clenched his fist, his knuckles turning white. Every time he tried to get close to Gabi, she would rub it in his face that this house is hers, that the money is hers, that she was earning money. It was as if, she was purposely making him look like the poor little bastard that he once was!

 Chapter 551: Everything is Yours

    Chapter 551: Everything is Yours


    "So, it''s done?" Gabi was sitting on the terrace of her room, drinking her coffee while reading some documents that needed her signature.


    "Yes. The DNA test is done. Results will be out tomorrow."


    "That''s good." To be able to expedite the result is another convenience that money can give you. "Did something happen?"


    "But an hour ago, our security caught Miss risse walking around the gardens. They did nothing to her, but warn her not to do it again. However, she made a fuss about it online."


    "What did she do?"


    "She was ranting about how rich people always look down on people like her and treating her like a thief when she only wanted a new background to shoot her videos."


    "Did she name, names?"


    "No."


    "Then leave her be. Let her rant all she wants." She couldn''t understand why they think something like this would affect her. Gabi wasn''t nning to run for any office or be a well-known figure. Why should some random video affect her like this?


    This, however, is going to affect Alfons.


    Just as she expected, when Alfons heard about the videos, he secretly went to see the grandmother and granddaughter pair. "What was that for?" he hissed. "Did you know that once people would figure out our connections, they would think you are trying to tell them I didn''t treat you well? How could you air our familyundry to millions of people?"


    "Brother, why are you so worried? This is "


    "risse! Are you  Are you really this dumb?"


    "I don''t want you to do anything. Stop posting videos about discrimination! Did you think people care about that?"


    "But the guards humiliated me!"


    "I already warned you about it! Gabi isn''t someone that you could threaten with some measly video! Do you think this would somehow shake her core?"


    risse pouted. "But I didn''t name, names. And people don''t know that I am a Sutton too!"


    "So, you aren''t nning to tell them that you are someone from the Sutton Family?"


    "That "


    "We are rted! I will introduce you to the public to help you! I will introduce you as my long-lost cousin and you already know this! But what would happen if they found out about your video? Huh?"


    "Brother, I didn''t mean to do that. Don''t worry, I will immediately delete the video now."


    "Alfons you are going overboard this time." Grandmother Mary sighed. "I know that you are upset, but you don''t have to shout like that. Your cousin made a mistake and she won''t do it again."


    "Leave us risse. I will talk to grandmother."


    "Alright. I will go ahead and delete the video."


    Seeing that risse is gone, Alfons immediately said. "I''m sorry. I didn''t mean to yell and act like that."


    "What''s wrong? You were always calm and collected, but this time "


    "Our ns aren''t going well."


    "What do you mean?"


    "I don''t have ess to the funds. I can no longer give you and uncle some money."


    "But "


    "Gabi took it away after father died."


    Just as he expected, his grandmother''s face turned ugly. "Why would she do that? You have been managing the funds since you turned eighteen. So why now?"


    "I don''t understand. She said it was because she wanted to get stronger to support me and stop the rumors that she is taking advantage of me. But now that I think about it, those words didn''t make sense at that time."


    "Why didn''t you stop her? Reason with her?"


    "I tried to." Alfons slowly put the teacup on the table before letting out another sigh. "However, she would use her sickness and tears to stop me. She would cry and act all pitiful or angry, then leave me alone."


    "Are you saying that a little girl is trying to y you?"


    "Yes," Alfons said. "I didn''t tell uncle and aunt about this matter. I didn''t want them to worry."


    "So what are you going to do about this now? Your uncle''s debt how could we pay it without your money?"


    "I am using my own money to support Uncle," Alfons said. His uncle got those debts because of his mother, so it is only reasonable that he used his money to pay them.


    "But you are going to run for council in the next election. How are you "


    "It''s fine grandmother. I will think of ways to deal with it."


    "Stop sending your uncle money."


    "Hm?" Just as he expected, the old woman caved in. He smiled inwardly. "What are you talking about?"


    "Right now, the family isn''t doing very well, but we can still survive. Plus, risse is earning from her job. We need to act low key. If your words were right, then Gabi must have noticed something and that''s why she changed."


    "I don''t know."


    "Do you think she knew about your father''s death?"


    "I don''t think so. If she knew, she would have exploded. She loves that old man."


    "Then stop giving us money. We will wait for the result."


    "Really?"


    "Yes. We will do it like this, for now. Once the result is out, we will do our best to get close to her and earn her trust. You already heard about your uncle''s n, yes?"


    "Will risse really do that?"


    "Yes. As long as it is for the family. She is willing to catch a bullet for her."


    "But uncle already assured that they won''t hit anything fatal, right?"


    "Yes. After risse saves Gabi, then I am sure that they will grow closer. However, Alfons, she won''t be able to do it if we won''t have the chance to go near that mansion."


    "Don''t worry about that. I will find ways. However, Gabi is already nning to give you money and kick you out of the mansion. So you have to find some ways to avoid that."


    "I understand. I already prepared some medications in advance. Stop worrying about it. That girl won''t be able to kick us out of this ce." An evil smile appeared on the older woman''s face. "Alfons, remember this everything is yours. The Sutton Family is yours and everything that Gabi owns is yours. You deserve it. Do you understand?"

 Chapter 552: Money!

    Chapter 552: Money!


    "So, you are going to stay in this ce for two weeks?" Old Man Ren couldn''t help but feel d that his granddaughter finally decided to visit him in the Ren Mansion. However, a part of him felt worried too. He knew that Gabi wouldn''t juste here because she felt like it. From the old man''s point of view, his granddaughter isn''t that idle.


    "Yes, I really hope you don''t mind, grandfather," Gabi said. "The result of the DNA test is today. However, I already asked mywyers to handle it. I have not time to deal with those people." She knew that Alfons would never give up. Since he made thosee people, there is a possibility that he had a backup n. In case, she won''t do what he wants.


    She knew Alfons to the bone. She knew how ruthless he was. So, he chose to make those people leave beforeing back to the mansion. She also used this time to bond with her grandfather. "Plus, I wanted to apany you, grandfather. It has been years since west enjoyed some free time together."


    "Ah this child. I get that you are not worried about money, however, is it really alright for you to take a two-week break ande here?"


    "Yes. Plus, I only check the stocks. Aside from that, I don''t do anything else." Plus, she purposely came to this city because she wanted to meet someone that would be important in Alfons'' team in the future. Right now, since Alfons is still starting, his influence isn''t that big. She is nning to recruit everyone that would be Alfons'' ally in the future. And if she couldn''t recruit them she is going to ruin them. It was that simple.


    "How are you going to deal with your newfound rtive?"


    "Just give them money then I won''t meet them again." She answered almost immediately.


    "You don''t want to meet them anymore? Not even get close to them? I heard that there was a woman your age?"


    "No."


    "Are you sure they are going to stop bothering you, though?"


    "Yes, they will."


    "You sound confident." The old man nodded. "However, if you can''t deal with it anymore, just tell me. I will help you."


    "Thank you, grandfather. However, I am confident that they wouldn''te back and bother me anymore."


    Meanwhile, Alfons was still confident that his n woulde to fruition. He had prepared a lot of things for today and he knew that he would never fail. "By the way, where is she? It was normal for Gabi not to join us for breakfast but lunch too?" He asked Spencer. Today, they are having their lunch in the gardens. It was a beautiful day to have lunch outside.


    "Ah, Miss Gabi left early for her trip."


    "Excuse me?" Alfons met his grandmother''s eyes before looking at Spencer. "What did you say?"


    "Miss Gabi left early for her vacation. She is going toe back two weeks from now."


    "Huh? Why would she leave now?"


    "This trip has been scheduled for weeks, sir."


    "But today, the result of the DNA test will arrive. She could have waited"


    "Ah, Mr. Kasper is going to handle it, sir. We already prepared the money"


    "I''m sorry, but what money are you talking about?" risse couldn''t help but ask in confusion.


    "The money that we will give you before you leave the mansion."


    "Excuse me?"


    "Miss Gabi said that after the DNA result, we need to guide you out of the mansion."


    "This "


    "Why would Gabi say that?"


    "Sir, the young miss didn''t want strangers inside the house. She even said that if they refuse to leave, we needed to call the police."


    "What?" Alfons red at Spencer. What is happening here? How could Gabi leave just like that? He immediately felt his head aching. He had a lot of things to take care of and Gabi isn''t helping him anymore! That woman has be a huge problem that he needed to prioritize before he could even run for office this uing election!


    The three of them couldn''t help but feel unease at the current situation. After all, they never thought that Gabi would easily dodge their ns. "I don''t want them to leave. They are Sutton''s too! They have the right to be here."


    "Yes, sir. Miss Gabi already said that you would say that. However, she wanted to remind you that she never received any inheritance from thete prime minister. The house and money were given to you. So, if you wanted them to stay in the city then you should let them stay in your own house."


    *BANG*


    Alfons'' hand mmed against the table. "Spencer, how dare you say that to me?"


    "Sir, I am only trying to tell you what Miss Gabi said this morning."


    "You wanted me to believe that she actually said those things?"


    "Yes, sir. Miss Gabi already expected that you won''t listen to a mere butler like me so she left a voice recording. Let me y it now."


    ""


    ""


    ""


    [Brother, I''ve been so tired in the past few weeks, so I decided to take a break to recover. No need to call me. My phone''s off. I did that to avoid any more stress. My doctor said that being too stressed is the reason why I am sick. Meaning, I needed to avoid you.]


    ""


    [Anyway, I left this recording because I didn''t want to wake you up. I know you were very tired too. I want the grandmother and granddaughter pair to leave. They are bad news.] Gabi''s voice turned serious. [I already made a background check and know that Miss Mary isn''t really sick. And his son, our uncle, owes an enormous amount of money from an international criminal group. This is because of his gambling.] Alfons'' face turned dark. He expected that Gabi would pay people to check out their backgrounds, but she didn''t expect it to be so thorough!


    [I know you wanted to be a public official. So, getting close to them wouldn''t do you any good. Just listen to me. I am only concerned about you. And before you say that, Miss risse is innocent. I have proof that she liked to bully people in her school. If this goes out I am sure people would think that you haven''t given her any advice despite being her rtive. So, let''s settle this with money, alright?]

 Chapter 553: A Threat to His Plans

    Chapter 553: A Threat to His ns


    Before Alfons could say anything, Gabi continued, [Ah, I forgot. Since you receive all the money from father, the original Sutton, I think it is best to give them a portion of it. Since it''s like this, I don''t want to disrespect my mother by giving her hard earn money to strangers. Thank you. I will bring souvenirs. One more thing These people are going to say that I am trying to frame them. They are shameless, after all. However, no need to worry. I have solid evidence that will support my ims. We can release it on the media if you want to. Bye]


    *BEEP*


    "That''s not true! I never  "risse''s face turned red.


    "Alfons, what is going on? Why would she frame us like this?" Mary asked, confused. Before they could do anything to her, Gabi was already aggressively attacking them. If this continues, it would be hard for them to retaliate anymore.


    "That''s right. I bullied no one! How could she frame me? Grandmother this woman is too vicious! She is really looking down on us."


    "risse, stop talking." Mary immediately warned. They couldn''t just say whatever they want in front of the butler who was clearly on Gabi''s side. "Alfons"


    "Ah, Sir. I believe the person who delivered the result is already here. Shall I bring them in?" Spencer uttered with a harmless smile on his face.


    "I will call Gabi, first."


    "Ah, Sir, I believe unreachable."


    "" Alfons frowned as he dialed Gabi''s number. Just as Spencer said, the number is indeed unreachable. He clenched his teeth. "Do you know where is she?"


    "No, sir."


    "Then  " What is he going to do now? "First, let me take you to the house. It is about a thirty-minute drive away from here." The only thing that he was sure of was the fact that Gabi wasn''t joking. Gabi was bold enough to attack the Sealey Family. How could she cower in front of a nobody like Mary and risse?


    "But "


    "Are we really going to leave here?"


    "How could you just let her do what she wants?"


    "risse, calm down."


    "How could I still calm down after being treated like this?" risse said. "She is so disrespectful. She thought that we came here because of money? No! It was because grandmother is dying! She could have just said it if she didn''t want us in her life! What''s the point of framing us and treating us like criminals?"


    "risse, calm down. I will talk to her. Don''t worry about it. Once it''s proven that you are indeed our rtives, I am certain that she woulde around. This situation must have surprised her." Alfons said. He tried his best to send some warning re to risse, but it seems that the other didn''t get it.


    "Why is she acting all touched and mighty? She doesn''t even have a single talent in her bones. Intelligent? She was homeschooled and didn''t have any friends. She couldn''t even adapt to a situation like this! Pah! If her IQ is really high then I am sure her EQ is the exact opposite! What''s the use of being intelligent when you have no one in your life!?"


    "risse, enough."


    "But grandmother that woman is really too much! How could she treat us like this? Just because she grew up without a mother doesn''t mean that she has the right to be this rude!"


    "Miss risse, I am sure you are not aware of this, but the house is under thete Madam''s name. When thete prime minister died, he didn''t give the young miss any of his properties because he knew about the Miss'' inheritance from her mother. So, everything inside this property is owned by thete madam. I believe Miss Gabi didn''t want other people touching her mother''s possessions. The young miss has always been like this. She was never the type of person that would allow other people to just waltz inside her life and touch what''s hers. I do apologize in advance, but I can''t let you insult the miss like this. Please leave immediately or I will call the police for trespassing." Spencer said the same smile was on his face.


    "Spencer? How could you treat a guest like that?" Alfons frowned. It seems that Spencer already sided with Gabi. Is that the reason why thetter is acting arrogant?


    "Sir, I am just protecting the miss from someone who is insulting her. I will let the miss know about this and asked her to punish me for kicking her guests away." Spencer had that confidence in her voice. It was something that Alfons never heard before.


    Seeing that Spencer isn''t nning to support him anymore, Alfons'' face just got darker and darker. He was losing all of his cards! Gabi''s actions are truly unpredictable and cruel. Right now, Alfons isn''t confident that he would be able to control her in the near future."Let''s see the DNA result first. Then I will drive them towards the house." Alfons made this decision because he didn''t want to cause any more ruckus.


    He didn''t want this to affect his candidacy.


    After a few minutes, Spencer came back with a man. Alfons immediately told the man to open the envelope and .


    "Huh? How could it be negative?" risse was the first one who reacted after hearing the result. "How could it be like that?"


    ''That bitch!'' Alfons could only feel his blood boiling from too much anger. Clearly, Gabi tampered with the result. Gabi was actually sinister enough to make him look like a fool! First, she created such a ruckus, making everyone think that Mary and risse were here for the money. Because of this, a few servants heard risse act like that. Second is the result. Gabi must have known that Alfons wouldn''t refute the result in front of the servants.


    And since the result is negative, there is no reason for Alfons to be this nice to Mary and risse without raising suspicion that he already knew them! He actually fell into that woman''s trap!


    For the first time in years, Alfons felt like Gabi was a threat to his ns!

 Chapter 554: Neutral

    Chapter 554: Neutral


    Since the DNA said it was negative, the three people who were trying to enjoy their lunch earlier stayed frozen for a few seconds. The three of them realized that one wrong word from them might mean that they already know that they were rtives from the start. That could change everything.


    "Ah? Negative?" Spencer said. To everyone, the smile on his face was no longer nice. It was annoying, provoking.


    "Are you sure it says negative?" risse grabbed the paper and read it. "How could it be?"


    "risse Stop it." Mary immediately sent a warning re towards her granddaughter. "Since it''s already like this, we should just leave." She sent a signal towards Alfons.


    "That''s right, since it''s already like this then it is unfortunate, but you have to leave this mansion," Alfons said. "Spencer, prepare the car." He wanted to make Spencer leave as soon as possible and try tofort his cousin.


    "Understood," Spencer said. He also signaled the other people who were looking at the group to leave.


    "What was that? Did she change it?" risse said.


    "Yes, she did."


    "But how did she know?"risse asked. "Isn''t it weird?"


    "Actually, there is a possibility that she didn''t know that we are indeed rtives. She just asked them to make the result negative. With her money, she could easily do that."


    "But  Why?"


    Silence followed risse''s words. Even the old woman couldn''t understand why she would fake the result. "Earlier, she said that she would give us money as if she already expected the result to be positive, then she actually changed it to negative," risse mumbled before she realized something. "That scheming bitch! Did she deliberately do it to make herself look innocent and harmless?


    "That is possible. Another possibility is she wanted to document everything. She wanted to have proof. In case you would use your social media to make her look like an evil witch." Alfons was about to lose his calm from the anger inside him.


    He fell into her trap!


    And he didn''t know how to get out of it. If he tries to do a second test then Gabi would surely start investigating the reason why he did it. Then, it wouldn''t take too long for her to find out that he knew about them for the past six years now. "For now, the thing that you can do is leave. However, I cannot let you stay in one of my properties anymore. It would be suspicious if I do that."


    "Then are you going to send us back to that ce?" risse, who already experienced the good stuff in the city, didn''t want to go back to the south. She wanted to live here and enjoy the life of an influencer. "I don''t want to."


    "No, I will call someone. I will send you money for the rent."


    "You can''t buy us a house?"


    "No. I can''t. My finances are tight right now."


    "But what about your inheritance?"


    "I will use that in the uing election." Alfons gritted his teeth. "Don''t worry, I will take care of everything. For now, just stay calm and don''t act like we are close or something. Go back to the house and I will take you to the train station. Then wait for my text for the address of the house."


    "What about our n?" risse said. "If I stay away from this house, then how am I supposed to save her? How could she trust me?"


    "risse listen to Alfons for now. There will always be a chance to do our ns. Let''s go and pack. We are leaving."


    risse started sulking. However, no matter how much she felt aggrieve, she couldn''t do anything about it. The feeling of helplessness soon started to seep inside her. So, she followed her grandmother back to the house and pack.


    Unbeknownst to them, someone else is listening to that conversation.


    "It seems that they are nning to harm me," Gabi uttered as she stared at herptop. Everything that they said just now was recorded and was automatically transmitted into herptop. Because of that, she heard everything that they said.


    And because of this recording, she finally realized that Alfons isn''t alone in his scheme. Someone else is helping him from the shadows. Or, he won''t be able to hide the fact that he had rtives. Who could it be?


    In the past life, she didn''t meet these people. So, she wasn''t too sure who was supporting them.


    She bit her lower lip as she thought of the cards that she had now. That recording earlier could be used to ruin Alfon''s reputation. However, she needed something more solid than this. She closed herptop and decided to walk around the Ren Mansion.


    "Cousin!"


    "Hm?" Gabi froze when she heard Earl''s voice. She turned towards the parking lot. "You are here?"


    "Ah, yes. I decided to join you for some snacks." Earl gave his coat to his secretary.


    "I  " She wanted to be alone to think.


    "Let''s go around the back?"


    She faked a smile and followed him towards the back of the mansion. Unlike the mansion of the Sutton Family, this ce has a lot of trees and the back of the mansion has a bamboo forest where her grandfather usually enjoyed his tea. "Did something happen?" Gabi asked. She wasn''t that stupid, she already sensed that her cousin didn''t juste here because of some tea.


    "Cousin, do you know anyone from the Quigly Family?"


    "The Quigly''s?" Gabi raised an eyebrow. "I''ve heard of them. Why?"


    "Well I think they are purposely giving grandfather a hard time. Maybe it was just my hallucination, but it seems that the current head of the Quigly Family didn''t like a grandfather. However, I am wondering why they would suddenly act like we are enemies."


    "What are you talking about? The Quigly''s and the Ren''s were not enemies, but they were not our friends either." But most importantly, why was Earl telling her this information? The Quigly''s is another rich family. However, they are not neutral and had a lot of political connections. Because of this, the Quigly''s and the Ren''s never became close. Not in the past. And not in the future.

 Chapter 555: Kicking his Crotch

    Chapter 555: Kicking his Crotch


    "They are openly opposing grandfather?" she asked, frowning.


    "Yes. With their connections in politics, I think grandfather would have a hard time with everything."


    "I understand."


    "Really?"


    "Yes."


    "You didn''t think I am crazy?"


    "Nope. Let me look into it. I will call you once I get something." Gabi uttered. She then continued listening to her cousin talk about thepany and the Quigly. Soon, the two had tea and talk about an uing party.


    "You wanted me to apany you?"


    "Isn''t it time that you show yourself to everyone?"


    "I When is this?"


    "It''s a charity g. That would be next week. You shoulde with me and meet some people." He was staring at her nervously. Seeing this, Gabi couldn''t help butugh. Being tense around her doesn''t really suit her handsome and tall cousin.


    "Alright, just stop looking at me like that."


    "Like what?" he asked.


    "Like a puppy. It doesn''t suit your face. If a woman would see you like this, they would surely not see you as a future husband but treat you just like a good brother instead." This face is very popr for second male lead characters in the novel that she read in the past.


    Good, kind, and caring. Sweet and gentle. Someone that would treat the female lead better than how the toxic male lead treats her. Of course, the female lead would always choose the toxic male lead since they have a colder look on their face, a much freezing gaze, and twelve-packs abs.


    Just the thought of it, made herugh.


    "Really? Puppies didn''t sound so bad."


    "" she was speechless.


    "Alright I will not bother you anymore. I will leave now. I will see you tomorrow. Let''s have dinner together."


    "Alright." She waved her hand and watched him leave the bamboo forest. She then closed her eyes and inhaled the sweet scent of bamboos around her. It was refreshing, rxing. No wonder why her grandfather love to stay in this ce.


    Gabi lifted her head and stared at the blue cloudless sky just as a cold breeze of wind made its presence around her. This ce was too peaceful, she love it.


    She stared at the small hut nearby. It wasn''t really a hut but just a small outdoor seating made of bamboos. It had a roof, a table, and bamboo chairs. Behind one of the chairs was a cozy hammock.


    Smiling, she made her way into the hammock, immediately making herselffortable.


    When was thest time that she spent some time like this? Closing her eyes, she extended her senses and smelled the surroundings while listening to the chirping sound of the birds. If she knew that a ce like this was inside the Ren Estate, she would havee here sooner.


    "Hey"


    "Huh?" she opened her eyes and froze when she saw a huge face in front of her. "Wha "


    "Booo!"


    "Aden?" Gabi gasp, her hand covered her lips when Aden withdrew his face. "Why are you " Was she dreaming? She rubbed her eyes before slowly pinching her leg.


    This... Wasn''t a dream. "Howe you are here?" Almost immediately, she looked at the CCTV''s surrounding this ce.


    "Ah, no need to worry about anyone seeing us. The CCTV''s won''t work in this area for the next ten minutes."


    "You Why are you here?" Freezing the CCTV''s and secretlying inside the guarded estate made it look like he was here to do some bad things. Was he here to assassinate her? Her gaze turned guarded, her senses on high alert.


    She didn''t have anything to defend herself right now, aside from her nails that could surely scratch his handsome face. That is only if he would give her the opportunity to attack him. Then what about his crotch? Her gazended on his crotch. He was tall and


    "Wait are you nning to attack me, right now?" he asked.


    "Huh?"


    "Why are you staring at me like that?" His tone turned usatory...


    "Like what?"She didn''t cower in front of his cold eyes.


    "Are you nning to kick my male sexual organ, right now?"


    "Huh?" Her mouth dropped, she dragged her eyes towards his as her face turned hot. "What What are you talking about? And how could you say something like that in front of a maiden?"


    "Heh."


    Turning her head away, Gabi immediately cleared her throat. She had overreacted. If he was nning to attack her then he wouldn''t personallye here inside the mansion where there were a lot of security personnel around. Moreover, he wouldn''t really greet her before killing her, right? "Anyway"


    "Gosh, you are so obvious." He walked towards one of the bamboo chairs and sat like he owned the ce. "Come sit and stop thinking that I am here to kill you. If I wanted to kill someone, I would just kill them in their sleep, less effort, quick and easy."


    "" She gulped. This man is weird. "Why did you personallye here? I mean you can''t just barge in my grandfather''s property like that!"


    "Why not?"


    "People would think you are here to assassinate someone."


    "But I''m not."


    She knew she wouldn''t win this argument. She took a deep, soothing breath to calm herself. "Why did youe?"


    "I wanted to tell you something and since I was around the area, I decided to visit you."


    ""


    "You don''t believe me?"


    "No."


    "Alright," he nodded.


    ""


    "Anyway, I came here to let you know that Lyle Quigly had been begging her parents to let her marry your cousin."


    "Alfons?"


    "Yes. And it seems that she is nning to hurt you."


    "Huh?" Why would she do that?


    "You are young. Assuming that you didn''t have a will, everything that belongs to you would go to Alfons if you die. That would give him both the money and influence to stand next to that woman."


    "" Unbelievable. Lyle wouldn''t be that stupid, right?


    "I came here to look around and discovered that the security isckingpared to your mansion. The CCTV? I can hack it in ten seconds."


    "" So fast? Was he boasting?


    "The electronic gates, I can unlock it in seconds too. Even the window in your room isn''t bulletproof. Toocking it''s just toocking."

 Chapter 556: Cyrus

    Chapter 556: Cyrus


    "Anyway, I came to show you how easy it is for someone like me to kill everyone here and walk away before the police came." Once again, Aden had that smug look on his face. He waved his hands as if he was telling her this was nothing. "Don''t look too sad."


    "I am not sad."


    "Oh? Then are you scared?"


    "No, I am wondering why would they try to hurt me, knowing that my grandfather favors me."


    "See? This is what happens if you just rely on your family name." Aden shrugged. "I say, you show them that you aren''t someone to be trifled with."


    "Do you really think that I rely on the Ren Family too much?"


    "Hmmm. I can''t answer that."


    She pursed her lips In response. "Alright, I will keep that in mind. However, I am still wondering why you would personally visit me like this." Aden sounded like he was an important personnel under Archy. Did she get it wrong again? "Sorry, I just didn''t think I am worth the visit."


    "Eh?" he tilted his head as if he was trying to analyze her. "I personally came here and you are saying that you are not worth it. Say, Miss Sutton do you like me?"


    "Huh?" How did it be like this?


    "I didn''te here just because of the Quigly family."


    "Then"


    "Naturally, I am here for official business." He beamed at her. "Archy was asking if you have information about the bidding."


    "What bidding?"


    "The one that your grandfather just lost."


    She blinked. "You mean"


    "There was a bidding yesterday and Ren Aesthetics should have the biggest chances of winning. However, your grandfather changed some documentsst time and in the end, they didn''t get it. Your grandfather isn''t known to be like that. Once he made up his mind, there will be no changing it. So I am curious what made him change his mind?"


    "I don''t understand. Why do you think this involves me?"


    "Because we found his people looking into the Lee and Li''s Corp too."


    She bit her lower lip. Just as expected, they also notice her grandfather''s people.


    "You see?" He leaned forward and squinted his eyes on her. "I don''t think it is a coincidence that the Sealey Family won the bidding."


    He connected the dots! "Just to be clear, I didn''t make the Sealey Family win. They did it on their own."


    "But you give them the chance. Did you asked your grandfather to withdraw?"


    "Why would I do that? Did you really think my grandfather would choose some random emotions over the business? I don''t think the Ren Family wouldst that long if my grandfather is that dumb."


    "You sounded logical. However this didn''t answer my question. Why?"


    "Why are you asking that? Did I Did I do something to upset your boss?"


    He chuckled. "No, you didn''t. Archy is quite happy with you."


    "Then why are you asking that question? May I know if the result would affect your business?"


    "No, nothing like that. This is just a personal inquiry. Archy was just curious."


    "Then am I obligated to answer that question?"


    He raised his eyebrow and smiled. "No. It is still up to you."


    "Then all I can say is that I did it to save my grandfather''spany. That''s all."


    "Did you have information in the south?"


    "Everyone knew that the south isn''t as peaceful as it looked. That''s all I know."


    "Ha, you are a very good liar."


    "" Is that supposed to be apliment? "Then is that the only reason why you are here?"


    "Hmmm No. I am here to tell you to be more careful of your maids. One of them was a spy from the Quigly family."


    "A spy? Why would they put a spy Is it Lyle Quigly? Is she doing this to help Alfons?"


    "Who knows? Women areplicated." Again, she shrugged.


    She turned silent again. When this man told her about the security, she wanted to go back to the mansion immediately but now, he was telling him about a damn spy! Not one ce is safe! She silently gritted her teeth as she lowered her head.


    "But no need to worry, I already assigned people to follow you around. And my men are allpetent."


    "Thank you."


    "Ah, it''s not free."


    "But you told me I could use your people anytime I want?" she asked. Isn''t that the first deal? She wanted to feel safe so she offered this deal in case someone would kidnap her or something. After all, it happened in herst life. She couldn''t let it happen this time again.


    "I assigned two of my personal bodyguard to follow you around. This time one of them is going to stay with you all the time. The other is going to follow you without showing himself."


    "Huh?"


    "Come"


    Almost immediately a man wearing a suit walked towards Gabi.


    "This is Cyrus. He will protect you from now on."


    "" Gabi stared at the man, speechless. Cyrus looked young! Too young! He wasn''t tall too! He had a pale smiling face, short-cropped hair that made her looked harmless, and have pinkish thin lips. He looked just like a high schooler who just graduated! Gabi learned not to judge people base on their looks but this is still a child!


    "Don''t judge him. He is pretty cool."


    "" She couldn''t help it. "How old are you?"


    "Twenty-four." Cyrus still had a smile on his face. A dimple, apparent on both of his cheeks. The guy looked really harmless and even friendly.


    "I said don''t judge him."


    "I am not judging him," she hissed. "I am merely observing him."


    Aden shook his head. "I can totally see it in your face. Sigh this is a part of a strategy, you see? People are going to underestimate you if you have a good-looking young boy next to you."


    ""


    "And when they lower their guard, my boy Cyrus here could easily slit their throats. They won''t even know what killed them."


    ""


    "Are you really going to assign him to me?"


    "Yep. He is the best for you. Both of you look like high schoolers so you can just say you are ssmates!"


    "" What kind of logic is this? However, the mischievous sparkle in his eyes was enough to tell her that he was enjoying this, he liked teasing her. So why would she give him something that he liked? Instead of frowning, she smiled.


    Then, she dragged her eyes from Cyrus'' face to his toe, then back to his face. "Alright I''m taking him."


    "Why are you smiling like that?"


    Just as she expected, Aden frowned. "What''s wrong with my smile?"


    "You look like you are undressing him."


    "Ah, I don''t like kids. However I like good-looking people, I prefer the cute ones."


    "" It was Aden''s turn to frown. It''s not supposed to be like this. "You can''t touch him as you please."


    "Why not?"


    "So you were really nning to touch him?" his eyes widened. He never thought that this woman would actually be this shameless!


    "Why not? Good-looking people deserve some love too."


    "" Disbelief shed in Aden''s eyes. "Wow " He couldn''t say anything! For the first time, he felt that he lost.


    "Eh? You can''t take him back, alright? You already assigned him to me. So he is already mine." Gabi beamed at him.


    "Ah" Aden raked his fingers on his hair. "Alright I lost." Gabi smirked in response. "Keep him this is no fun. I am leaving."


    "Then I won''t see you out." Gabi smiled while waving her hand. "Thank you so much for the information and the guards. I will definitely repay Archy soon."


    "Heh why are you repaying him instead of me?" Aden mumbled before leaving her alone with Cyrus. Seeing his departing back, Gabi couldn''t help butugh. How childish.


    However, it was amusing, fun.


    That man is someone that could easily turn a serious situation into a joke. However, despite hiding it, Gabi could smell the thick scent of blood around Aden this time. Did hee here to kill someone? Then was he an assassin? She looked at the bamboo forest.


    It seems that no one could really judge a book by its cover. "Cyrus?" she asked without looking at the person who silently stood a few inches away from her.


    "Yes?"


    "Can you tell me one thing?"


    "What is it?" Even this person''s voice sounded yful and young.


    "Why would a girl like you dress like a man?"


    "Ah? You notice?"


    "Yes."


    "Oh Sir Aden said you wouldn''t know."


    She smirked. That man is underestimating her.


    "Anyway, men''s clothing was morefortable and easier to wear."


    "Then why did you cut your hair like a man''s?"


    "It was because longer hair was heavier."


    "Ah. Are you really twenty-four?"


    "Yes, I am."


    "Good." With that, she close her eyes and leaned against the bamboo chair. Surprisingly, the fact that someone is standing behind her didn''t make her ufortable this time.


    .....


    I hope I canmit to releasing chapters everyday, this time. I really hope I can... T.T

 Chapter 557: The Eliads

    Chapter 557: The Eliads


    "Who is he?"


    "She," Gabi said when Earl asked. "And stop staring at her. Is this the first time you saw a bodyguard?"


    "That  That is a bodyguard?"


    "She. And her name is Cyrus."


    "That is a kid."


    "Yeah"


    "You know child''sbor is "


    "Please stop it." Talking about being a child just reminded her of Aden''s teasing. Does she really look like a child? She was gaining weight and some muscles, alright!


    "Alright Alright sorry. It''s just surprising that you would choose someone with a small stature to guard you."


    "Hey, you are judging someone base on how they look. How about you spar with her?"


    "Huh?"


    "You. Spar. With. Her." Gabi turned her head towards Cyrus, " Why don''t you show this man that being small doesn''t mean we are weak?"


    "Sorry, young miss, but I am not allowed to fight someone that isn''t an enemy."


    Gabi frowned. "Why is that?"


    "I fight to kill," Cyrus said almost immediately. "There is no in-between."


    "Heh such an arrogant little kid." Earl couldn''t help but be amused. "I hope you''re not all talk, kid."


    "Can you stop calling her little kid?"


    "Why would I? She looked like one."


    "Just stop, alright?" Gabi is slowly getting irritated. "Or I won''t talk to you anymore."


    "Hehe alright. I was just joking around. I have a stressful day today so I need to eat a lot of stuff. Ah, speaking of which, are you ready? I am so hungry. We should leave now so we could make it to our reservation."


    "Hmmm alright."


    Earl asked her to have some dinner in some high-end restaurant inside one of the famous hotels in this city. Since she came to the Ren residence, this cousin of hers had been asking to see her almost every day.


    And for some reason, this made Gabi smiled. In fact, she felt a little closer to this man.


    "This steak Wagyu beef and the taste is phenomenal." Earl said as they started to look at the menu.


    "Alright. I''ll take that." It took them a few minutes to arrive at the restaurant. She looked at the time. It was already seven in the evening yet she was already hungry. Was this the effect of increasing her exercise routine?


    That''s right, Mr. Glen suggested it was time for her to increase her exercise. Right now, she is already running ten kilometers every morning. Even the other exercises had been tripled.


    "What are your next ns?" Gabi asked her cousin after the waiter left to process their orders. "You seemed too idle these days. For a vice president, I can see that your workload is very light."


    "Ah, stop it. I am working hard, alright. Even grandfather praised me every day."


    "But howe you still have the time to dine with me?"


    "Well " Before Earl could answer, a gasp interrupted his words.


    "Mr. Ren?"


    Both of them looked at the man and woman walking towards them. Both had blond hair and tall stature. They looked like models.


    "Ah, Miss Eliad, Mister Eliad. Fancy seeing you here."


    Eliad? Gabi hid the surprise in her face. These two should be rted to the Eliad Family from the Xu Country? The Eliads aren''t really a big name in politics but they are well known in the business industry because of Eliad Shipping.


    Recently, the Eliad establish a new base in Xu Country. This became a piece of big news recently. So why are they here?


    "And may I know who the name of thisdy is?" Ms. Eliad smiled at Gabi.


    "This is Gabrielle Sutton my cousin."


    "Oh, a cousin." Miss Eliad smirked. "I thought she was the reason why you refuse to be my fiance."


    "Cough. Cough." Gabi couldn''t help but let out a series of coughs. Really? Did Earl refuse to be this woman''s fiance? She wanted tough out loud. For some reason, she found this information really funny. Her cousin is already in histe twenties and yet, he still refused to get married. Gabi couldn''t help but wonder why he is still single.


    Even in the previous lifetime, Earl didn''t get involved in any women and just focused on the family business.


    "Stop saying things like that, Miss Eliad."


    "Ah, you are calling me Miss Eliad now? You used to call me Cathy. Why not call me by my first name?"


    "That  That is inappropriate."


    Seeing Earl flustered, the smile on Miss Eliad''s red lips turned wider. "My my how cute. Should I tell my father to ask for an engagement again? This time he should ask your grandfather, right?"


    "Miss Eliad!"


    "Kidding I am kidding. How could I force someone to love me? I am not that kind of woman." Despite her words, her eyes were obviously saying a different thing. She was staring at Earl''s neck before dragging her gaze towards his chest. "Ah what a waste."


    "Miss Eliad"


    "Hehe. Anyway I don''t want to tease you anymore. Kevin let''s go oh? Why are you looking at her?"


    "Elder sister"


    "Ah Miss Sutton, right?"


    "Yes," Gabi nodded. "It''s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Eliad."


    "The pleasure is all mine." Miss Eliad walked towards her side. "Now my younger brother is blushing while staring at you. I believe he likes you. Can you please give him your number?"


    "" This woman was too direct!


    "Sorry for my attitude. It''s just that I am starving. I am in a hurry."


    "Is that so?" Gabi''s lips twitched. She didn''t miss the fact that these two were already walking towards the exit. What a lousy excuse. She immediately gestured towards Cyrus who stood a couple of feet towards them. "Give them my card."


    "A business card?" Miss Eliad looked surprised. "I think Miss Sutton misunderstood I meant your personal phone number."


    "Sorry I don''t have a personal phone anymore." Well she was partly telling the truth. She turned it off because of Alfons.


    "Really?"


    "Really."


    "That''s too bad. Well we are taking your card." Miss Eliad handed the card to her brother. "Alright we are leaving. I''m sorry to disturb your evening."


    With that, she left them a beautiful smile before leaving.


    "That woman"


    "Don''t mind her. She always acts like that in front of a man."


    "Oh?"


    "She is the next head of the Eliad Family. She acts domineering and just orders everyone around her as she owned them. She was used to it."


    "Interesting."


    "Hm there were rumors that she is acting like that because she had her heartbroken by the heir of the Shen family."


    "Really?"


    "Yes, this was the reason why they created a base in Xu Country."


    "That  Isn''t that going too far for a man?"


    "I don''t know." Earl shrugged. "Aiyo you are too innocent. This world is dangerous. There are a lot of people like that everywhere. You just have to be more careful in the future. Also did Cyrus really give them your number?"


    "No. That is Kasper''s number."


    ""


    "What? Why are you looking at me like that? I really don''t have a personal phone."


    "Well I don''t know about Mr. Eliad, but if he is just like his sister, then you have to be careful if he would take a liking to you."


    "Why is that?"


    "He might suddenly meet grandfather a propose for an engagement."


    "Really?"


    "Really."


    Gabi nodded. Those people are weird. She could only sigh. "Hm?"Isn''t that Alfons and Lyle Quigly? Her gaze was glued at the man and woman who just walked inside the restaurant. It was indeed Alfons. And he was actually holding Lyle''s hand.


    "Oh. Sorry the restaurant doesn''t allow walk-in." Gabi heard the waiter who weed the two.


    "Then call your manager." Lyle said before Alfons could stop her.


    "Lyle... it''s alright. We should just leave and find another restaurant."


    "But..."


    "Let''s go. My apologies. I''m sorry about that, my partner isn''t feeling well today." Alfons said. He looked at the waiter and patted his shoulder. "You are doing a good job. Please keep up the good work."


    "But... my father knew the manager here." Lyca tried to argue, but Alfons just kindly shook his head.


    "No need to hurt some other people. Why don''t we choose a simple restaurant instead? We already ate such delicious food at home. Let''s try something new this time."


    "Really? Do you have something in mind?"


    "Hmmm... how about some hotpot?"


    "A hotpot? But I- I never tried them before."


    "Then... Miss Quigly, are you willing to try it with me?"


    Lyle''s face flushed. She bashfully smiled at Alfons and nodded. "Alright. Let''s go. You take the lead."


    Just hearing the two talk, made Gabi grumbled, "What the fuck."


    "They... they looked like they were made for each other," Earl, who also witnessed what happened, noted. That Alfons had top-notch acting skills. He truly looked like a genuine, kind soul just now. Even I was almost convinced that he truly cared."


    Of course he did. If Alfons wasn''t that good, then he wouldn''t be able to convince Gabi in the past life. However, this isn''t the most important thing right now.


    It seems that Alfons and Lyle... are really going to get married anytime soon. Then, Aden''s words about Gabi''s death rung in her ears. Right now, the Quigly family would never approve of someone like Alfons.


    But this would indeed change if Gabi dies.

 Chapter 558: The Sly Kid and the Old Fox

    Chapter 558: The Sly Kid and the Old Fox


    "Miss, I really don''t rmend doing something like this," Cyrus said. "This is too reckless."


    "Despite saying that, you have a beautiful smile on your face," Gabi responded. "Tell me the fact that I am using myself as bait actually excites you, right?"


    "Of course not," Cyrus said, the same smile appeared on her face. "Why would I feel excited about fighting people?"


    "Did someone tell that you are terrible at lying?"


    "Hehehe" Cyrus didn''t say anything. Instead, she picked a dress for Gabi. "This would look good on you."


    "Your taste isn''t bad," Gabi said. They are currently inside one boutique on the outskirts of the city.


    "But isn''t this too obvious? I mean your clothes don''t have brands as they are personally tailored for you. Then suddenly, you woulde into an unknown boutique to try out clothes."


    "If they are dumb, they would know that it''s a trap." Gabi shrugged. "This is just a small warning. I am letting them know that I am watching them."


    "And if they are dumb?"


    "Well you should already know the answer, right?" Gabi said. "They die."


    "You are too confident, I can''t take it."


    "And you are too casual," Gabi uttered. "People think that you are male. What would they say if a rumor about me being close to my cute bodyguard goes out? My bodyguard even chose a dress for me, ah. Isn''t that too romantic? I am sure a lot ofdies would love this."


    "" Cyrus cleared her throat. "That "


    "Rx, I am kidding," Gabi said. "Aden knew that you are like this, so he chose you to follow me around. I hope it''s not too much trouble for you."


    "Ah? No not at all."


    "It would be too awkward for me to have a tall man following me around all the time, someone who only speaks a few words. I don''t like that." After a few minutes, she decided to try on a few cocktail dresses before she bought them.


    "Shall we leave now?"


    Cyrus nodded at her. A signal that means their people outside already spotted some enemies around this area. "Let''s go."


    Gabi nodded. "Don''t kill everyone. It would be a waste to let go of such beautiful ckmail material."


    "" Cyrus couldn''t help butugh. "Alright. Go to the car."


    Gabi nodded. The reason why she was very confident this time is because Aden gave her twenty other guards just for this operation. It was in ordance with their previous deal. This fact alone made her appreciate that man''s organization.


    It seems that the information that she gave them really attracted their attention or Archy wouldn''t have allowed her to use his people in the middle of the day.


    Gabi felt the car running slowly. There was no traffic right now, but the driver deliberately did it to identify the two cars that were following behind them.


    "It seems that they are going to make it look like you got caught in the crossfire," Cyrus said while holding the earpiece. "Our other people spotted some cars that showed some logo of Lion Gang. Earlier, we were able to confirm that the people following us were from the Nuance Gang. These two gangs were having turf wars every now and then. They have connections to the police, so convecting them is really hard."


    "Well we just need a strongerwyer to prosecute them, right?"


    Cyrus shrugged. "This ce especially the outskirts, had been ruled by gangs for the longest time. I don''t think a smart prosecutor would handle that."


    Gabi didn''t answer this time. If one is smart, one would avoid facing dangerous people like this. However, she isn''t looking for someone smart. She is looking for someone so courageous that they would go crazy when they see people like the gang who exploit and abuse other people.


    And this is why she visited this ce. "I will take care of that. However, I would need you to give me the information of these gangs."


    "Eh?"


    "You can''t do that?"


    "It''s just that I don''t know if we could ask Sir Aden for something like that."


    "Ah so you are scared of him. Don''t worry, I will call him." Gabi smiled. Right now, she was almost a hundred percent sure that Archy already knew about the Gangs even before she got into the car. And if they didn''t want her to handle it, then they could easily hide the information about the Gangs from her.


    But Cyrus easily revealed everything. It was as if they wanted her to ask more about the Gangs.


    Was this another test? She wondered.


    When ites to a secret society like them, using logic in everything is challenging. Sometimes, you have to use your instinct too.


    "Hey, why did you call me?" She heard Aden answered after a few rings.


    "I thought you already know why I called you?" she responded with a sly smile on her face.


    "I am innocent."


    "Whatever. If you want me to deal with them then you have to give me information about them. Of course, this isn''t for free."


    "Ah? So we owe you one?"


    "Of course," Gabi answered.


    "How sure are you that we needed your help?"


    "Because if you involve yourself too much people are going to worry. And worried people aren''t too good for your business."


    "Sly kid."


    "Old Fox," she retorted.


    "Hey! I am not old!"


    "You keep on calling me, kid. I know you don''t mind if I called you old."


    "Is that so?"


    "Yes, that is so."


    "Ah I guess I should still call you kid."


    "" This man "Anyway, I am currently in the middle of an assassination attempt. A car is already blocking our car. So I have to go. Please don''t forget to send me that information." This time, she was the one who pressed the end button. She didn''t wait for him to say anything.


    Ah, that felt good, she thought. Just doing that made her smile. That was, until she turned towards Cyrus. "Why do you look pale?" she asked. "Did something happen?"

 Chapter 559: Soren Quigly

    Chapter 559: Soren Quigly


    "What? Why are you looking at me like that?"


    "I am . Did you just ended the call first?"


    Gabi blinked. "Yes, the conversation ended."


    "But you ended the call first?"


    "Yes." Gabi ignored the woman''s reaction as she turned towards the people blocking their car. By now, they already got out of their car. "Are you going out too?"


    "No. Our people can take care of that."


    Gabi nodded and looked at the two groups of people who were now starting to fight. Just as expected, both of them were wearing their own uniforms. The other side was wearing blue shirts while the other was wearing an all-ck outfit. Seeing a fight broke out, the people who were originally walking on the streets, immediately ran away. Funny how not one of them even tried to take out their phones to take a video of the fight an action that is already considered normal in society nowadays. "Why is it that no one is taking videos?"


    "That? I guess they are scared of the gangs." Cyrus paused. She let out a long sigh before she continued, "These people are scary. They can alter thews simply because their backers are all high-ranking people. You won''t believe the things that these people do just to earn money for the politicians that backed them."


    Gabi turned silent. It was funny how she felt that those words hit her core. After all, she was someone who did everything for Alfons in the past. "Then shall we leave now?" Now that the streets were empty, it is time for their people to get involved.


    "Yes."Once again, Cyrus held her earpiece and started instructing their people to act now. And just like that, a group of men wearing suits suddenly arrive in big ck vans. Surprised at their arrival, the group who were fighting, froze.


    The arrival of a third party must have surprised them as this ce is their base. Who would dare offend them in their own turf?


    Seeing this, Cyrus instructed the driver to drive towards the exit. There is no need to let Gabi watch all that blood and violence. By the time that Gabi arrived in the Ren Mansion, someone already informed them that they were able to capture a few of the gang members and were able to confirm that their mission is to harm her.


    "Not to kill me?" Gabi asked.


    "Yes. It seems that they only wanted to scare you so you would leave the country." Cyrus said.


    "Or" They wanted her to approach Alfons, the only person that usually helped her in the past every time she is in trouble. But she thought it was Lyly who ordered this assassination? Were Lyle and Alfons already working together?


    No, that''s no Alfons'' style. He wouldn''t reveal his true self to Lyle especially now that her parents didn''t approve of their rtionship. This could mean that Lyle was doing this alone. But why would she want her to leave the country? Why not kill her now?


    "What should we do?"


    "Ah?" Gabi looked at Cyrus before she smiled. "Take two heads and send it to the Quigly family."


    For a few seconds, surprise shed in Cyrus'' face. "Are you sure?"


    "Yes."


    "But the people would sympathize with her."


    "Or think that the Quigly family is rted to the gangs." And once people would start thinking this way, it would be hard for them to make another move as they would fear that it would affect their reputation. "Also please gather some evidence that connects the Quigly Family and the gangs Kasper." She turned towards her assistant who just arrived after sorting out the issue with that grandmother and risse. "I need it as soon as possible." Since they know who ordered those people, it should be very easy to connect the two, right?


    Gabi smiled. It is time that she showed Alfons her ws.


    .


    Midnight


    Ace Club and Entertainment also known as ACE


    Mr. Soren Quigly kissed the white neck of the woman in his arm. Slowly, his hand started massaging the woman''s breast, earning a soft moan from thetter.


    "Mr. Quigly stop it. We can''t do it here."


    Hearing the woman''s voice, Soren couldn''t help but chuckle. "It''s just the two of us, now." He already asked his bodyguards to leave them alone. "Or do you still want a bed?" He held the woman''s hand and let her hold his hard manhood. "It can''t wait."


    "Mr. Quigly! You naughty boy!"


    Soren let out anotherugh. However, the atmosphere immediately changed when they heard a soft knock on the wooden door.


    "What is it? Didn''t I tell you not to disturb me?"


    "Sir, Miss Quigly is here."


    "Lyle?" Soren immediately pushed the woman out of his arms. "Leave And you bring Lyle here."


    "Yes, sir."


    After a few minutes, a pale Lyle walked inside the private room. "Who told you that I am here?"


    "I don''t know."


    Soren immediately squinted his eyes at his only daughter. "Is it your mother?"


    "No"


    "Then why did youe?"


    "Father" Lyle sat opposite her father. She then signaled the man who followed her inside. "Put it here." She was talking about the box that the man held.


    "What is that?"


    "Someone sent the box a few hours ago. Inside the box was the ce where I could find you."


    "What?" Soren immediately reached out and opened the box. A surprised gasp escaped his lips, his eyes widened. "This Who the hell sent this?"


    "I don''t know. I have been trying to call you but your phone is off. I didn''t want to show it to mother. But I am scared."


    "Scared? Is this the first time that you saw something like this? Why are you acting like a coward now?"


    Lyle bit her lower lips. "It''s because the servant said that grandfather received the same box too."


    "What did you just say?"


    ....


    Please don''t forget to vote for the novel. Thank you. :)

 Chapter 560: Human Head

    Chapter 560: Human Head


    "Be honest with me! Why would they send us heads of people from the Gang?" Old Man Quigly roared, his loud voice echoed inside his office. He red at his son and grandchildren. "What? Are you deaf? Didn''t you hear my question?"


    "Father this we don''t really know why someone would spread rumors about us. I don''t understand why this happened." Soren uttered, his voice low. "I don''t "


    "Soren Quigly, did you really think I am a fool?"


    "Ah? Father I would never"


    "Then tell me the truth! Why did they send us two heads! TWO HEADS! Why would someone do that?"


    "I really don''t know, father. We don''t have any connections to the gang. I don''t know why they would suddenly do this!"


    "Then did you find out who did it?"


    "A group of unknown people who could delete all the CCTV''s in that area." Soren Quigly''s eldest son from his first wife, ude Quigly, said. "There was a fight yesterday around two. However, all the CCTVs in that area were disabled. This includes the CCTV''s of restaurants around that ce."


    "In this age and day, someone must have taken some videos of the fight."


    "Grandfather, people are scared to take videos because they didn''t want the gangs toe after them."


    Old Man Quigly turned silent. His hand tightened around his cane. Who would dare offend his family like this? "Are you sure that you didn''t offend someone powerful? You  why do you look so pale?"


    "Ah?" Lyle trembled when she met her grandfather''s eyes. "I  I don''t know what you are talking about, grandfather."


    "So you offended someone."


    "I didn''t."


    "Don''t lie to me, little girl. I can smell lies from your voice! Soren is honest I want an honest answer from you. What did your daughter do?"


    "Father it''s just some fights amongst children. There is no need to worry about this."


    "Fights among children? You call your daughter a little child? Ha" The old man felt a headache brewed inside his head. "Your daughter is already in her twenties and yet you still treat her like a child. No wonder she became like this."


    "Father please don''t me Lyle this time."


    "Don''t me her? Soren it seems that you still don''t understand why I am so upset?"


    "Please enlighten me, father. Isn''t this just some unknown people? Why do you need to waste your anger on some dead people?"


    "Stupid! If I have another son, I would have personally strangled you for that stupid answer!"


    "Father "


    "Shut up! I can smell the thick smell of alcohol and women from you! You are disgusting!"


    "Father "


    "Let me exin so that your stupid brain could understand." The old man slowly went back to his seat, trying to calm down his nerves. If this would continue, he would surely die from too much anger. And the old man knew that he didn''t have the luxury to die now. No. Not when he couldn''t find any decent sessor of his Quigly Family!


    "Did you know what kind of people that gang is? They are dirty, lowly creatures who plunder, rape women, and abuse children. They are dirty, vile and they deserve to die. However! Until now, they are still alive! They are alive and well."


    "Not only this! They are also enjoying the luxury of the money that they robbed from their victims. So why do you think this is happening?"


    After a long pause, Soren answered. "Because someone important is supporting them."


    "And this someone important is not us!" Old Man Quigly uttered. "And I don''t want people to think that it is us!"


    "Father you "


    "Because of the rumor, people are thinking that we are supporting such lowly creatures!"


    "Then we can just make it clear to everyone that we aren''t!" Soren said. He felt that he really had a brilliant idea this time. This is really simple. Isn''t it easy to just rify that they don''t support gangs like these?


    "Stupid! Ah stupid! Aside from women, your brain is empty!"


    "Father don''t be like this, ah."


    "Soren you already heard your son. The CCTV''s were wiped out, leaving no traces of the fight, no traces of the people who were involved."


    "Yes. So"


    "Don''t you see it? Whoever it is that you offended, has some skilled people behind them! If they could do that, then they could also release some fake videos that would pin us down! Do you understand what I mean?"


    "Grandfather!" Before her father could answer, Lyle got up and suddenly kneeled in front of her grandfather. "It was my fault. It''s my fault. I just wanted to scare Miss Sutton. I wanted her to be traumatized and leave the country. So I paid those gangs to fight and identally hurt her in the process!"


    "Sutton Are you talking about thete Prime minister''s daughter?"


    "Yes, grandfather. You don''t know this but she and I have a few problems. And she embarrassed me in front of so many people so I thought that I would teach her a lesson."


    "You  You wanted to beat up someone to teach them a lesson?"


    "That  that is the only way that I could think of grandfather. I didn''t want to make it look like it was nned in advance. If the gangs stopped their car at night, it would have been too obvious that this is premeditated. So I told them to make it look like they didn''t n it in advance. I just wanted to make it look like an ident."


    "So you created a sloppy n."


    "Yes "


    "I can''t hear you!"


    "Yes, grandfather! I''m sorry!"


    "Why are you sorry?"


    "Because we got into trouble because of me."


    "Hah it seems that you are just the same as your father! You  everyone in this family is really stupid!"


    "Then grandfather"


    "Tell me about your n."


    Slowly, Lyle told her grandfather everything. From the fact that she saw Gabi the other night, and that she felt really embarrassed about how the waiter refused in an entry in front of those people. To what happened at the party and when she applied to be her secretary. Of course, she didn''t include the fact that she was doing this because of Alfons. After all, she didn''t want her father and grandfather to me Alfons.


    To her, Alfons is just an innocent, kind soul who needed her support. There is no need to drag him into this matter. She also told her grandfather that Gabi doesn''t go out a lot so when she heard that Gabi went out and visited some boutique, she immediately called the leader of the gang and told them about it.


    "And you didn''t even wonder if it was a trap?" her grandfather asked.


    "I didn''t after all there is no way that she would know about it."


    "What a foolish girl." Old Man Quigly clicked his tongue. "So someone who had her clothes tailored for her would just suddenly go out in a boutique that is located in an area ruled by gangs just to buy dresses. Does that really make sense to you!?''


    "I I didn''t know. At that time I didn''t understand it too. However, she is a useless woman who just reads a book all day. I thought she might have been bored and explored the city."


    *BANG*


    Lyle flinched when her grandfather mmed his hand on the table. "You stupid mongrel! How dare you act like this? Soren? Why didn''t you teach your daughter about the basics? Huh? You  how could you not use your brains? Isn''t it obvious!? She knew from the start that you wanted to harm her, so she went out with her bodyguards to create a trap for you!"


    "That woman " Lyle could only grit her teeth in anger. That woman is really cunning and evil. She was the reason why her Alfons is suffering! "I needed to get rid of her!"


    "Hah look at your angry self. You are so angry, you didn''t even think of her retaliation!"


    "Ah? What does father mean by that? Do you really think that a little girl like that Sutton woman would have the guts to harm our Lyle?"


    "Stupid Soren. She dared to send me a head, a human head! Did you think she didn''t have the guts to expose this to the media?"


    "But if she does that, then"


    "She isn''t going to use some simple means." The old man sighed. This is giving him a headache. He was already a man in his seventies. What he needed the most is a vacation. A ce to rx and enjoy the rest of his life. However, he couldn''t leave this family because they were just stupid!


    All of them were stupid!


    If he leaves, what would happen to the Quigly family? He red at his son and granddaughter. It was already morning, eight hours after they received the head. He waited and waited for the two to approach him first and tell him about this. s, he was the one who had to call them and break a few of his sses to make them confess.


    Tsk.


    *Knock*


    *Knock*


    *Knock*


    "Chairman, I am so sorry for interrupting the family meeting." Their butler walked inside the study. "But you really needed to see this."


    The butler turn the TV on and almost immediately the atmosphere inside the room turned heavier.

 Chapter 561: Entertainment

    Chapter 561: Entertainment


    "What is this?" Old Man Quigly exploded. "What the hell is this?"


    "Sir. They just exposed Miss Lyle''s connection to the gang."


    "But that''s not true. I am not a member what are these photos?" Lyle immediately panicked. "That Gabrielle did she do this?" she couldn''t help but mumble. Right now, she couldn''t understand what was happening. How could it be possible that the bumpkin Gabrielle, who is in love with her brother wait that must be it!"


    "Grandfather I know why she did this." Lyle immediately said. "That woman is jealous."


    "What?"


    "She wanted to ruin my reputation because I asked my parents to marry her cousin." Because of Alfons''s status, Lyle''s father didn''t dare to mention him in front of the old man. However, Lyle doesn''t care about status. All she wanted to do is prove her love to Alfons. That''s right she can still marry Alfons as long as she asked her grandfather to take care of that woman!


    "You are saying that Miss Sutton did this just because she was jealous of you?"


    "Sister, didn''t you want to teach her a lesson first?"


    Lyle scowled at her brother. Everyone in the family knew that her grandfather favored her so much. This has caused her brother to get jealous, too. Right now, they wanted to kick her while she was down. "Brother unlike you I am the type of person that would always pay someone back for humiliating me. Always believe that humiliating me is like humiliating grandfather and the whole Quigly family! I just did it because I didn''t want to embarrass the family!"


    "Ha? Then what''s happening now? Howe we are all over the news?"


    "Enough!" Old Man Quigly scolded. "You  every one of you! Shut up! I will call some prosecutors we can still do something about it."


    "Yes, grandfather."


    "And tell me everything that you know about this Gabrielle Sutton."


    "Yes, grandfather."


    ....


    "Are you not scared?" Cyrus asked Gabi. It was still early In the morning and Gabrielle was already busy reading some documents. Well for a businesswoman, reading some documents isn''t really surprising. What was surprising is the fact that Gabi woke up at four in the morning to exercise, take a bath, read a book, eat her breakfast, have her coffee, read a lot of newspapers, then read another book before reading the documents.


    Isn''t that a lot?


    It wasn''t even nine yet and Cyrus already felt exhausted just by watching this woman aplish all that reading.


    Moreover, since this morning, Gabi didn''t say anything to her.


    She was too engrossed in what she was doing.


    "She''s weird," Cyrus mumbled. Aden already told her that this woman was so normal it was weird, that she was different from everyone else. But she didn''t expect her to be like this. Boring to the point of being abnormal.


    In fact, Aden also assigned Cyrus here to observe Gabi. They wanted to know where she got all of her information, but so far, this woman was not doing anything. She didn''t have friends and just chose to stay at home all the time.


    She doesn''t even go out and socialize! Given her status, Gabi could easily find someone to talk to in the upper echelons. Instead, she chose to read and read and read. To be honest, Cyrus couldn''t understand it.


    Perhaps Gabi was nning something. Unfortunately, she couldn''t read Gabi''s mind.


    "Scared of what?" For the first time today, Gabi looked at Cyrus.


    "You were too silent. I am wondering if you were traumatized or something?" Yesterday, Gabi instructed their people to behead a few of the people that they caught and send their heads to the Quigly family.


    And Cyrus knew that few people would be able to say something like that without even blinking.


    "Ah I was just thinking."


    "Thinking?"


    "Yes."


    Cyrus wanted to ask what she was thinking about but chose not to. "The news about Miss Quigly''s involvement in Gang was already out. What are you nning to do next?"


    "Nothing," Gabi said while reading the documents.


    "What does that mean?"


    ''It means I am not doing anything."


    This woman "I know what it means. I am just curious about the why."


    "Oh that old man couldn''t really touch me so he would direct his anger to the man that he could touch."AKA Alfons. She had attracted enough attention to make the old man want to know more about her, the woman who provoked the whole Quigly Family.


    This means that he would surely know that Alfons and Gabi are rted and that my rtionship with him is currently bad. Meaning, he would try to hurt Alfons instead. And he would do this to try and warn Gabi not to touch his family again. It was like a threat.


    Sadly, this threat wouldn''t work for someone like Gabi.


    Just as Gabi expected, the involvement of Lyle was immediately hidden from the other outlets of the media. Moreover, they never mentioned the Quigly Family anymore.


    It was a shameless move.


    Really


    Sadly for them, she wasn''t done.


    Just after the trending died down, another trending appeared. This time, it was about Lyle''s father, Soren Quigly, and his open marriage and habit of sleeping around.


    This news isn''t really surprising to most people, since Soren was a well-known womanizer since he was younger. However, this country had a lot of conservative people who would hate the idea of an ''open marriage.''


    This time, though, the news didn''t really shake the country. After all, a lot of people didn''t know Soren.


    While this news didn''t have any major effects, it made more and more people curious about the Quigly Family.


    [Why is it that in two days, two members of the Quigly family be like this?]


    [55555 The Quigly''s are bullies!]


    [I know Lyle when we were younger. She loved to his her grandfather''s connection to bully people.]


    [muhahahaha someone finally called this shameless family out]


    [Truth about the Quigly Family click the link ]


    [Wow, I just look into Miss Lyle''s social media. She is really beautiful though.]


    [Lyle? Isn''t she Volunteer Sutton''s girlfriend? I thought she was a kind woman!]


    [Whoa the woman of Volunteer Sutton? Maybe Volunteer Sutton is unlucky when ites to rtionships!]


    Reading at thements, Gabi smiled. It looked like she was able to achieve her goal this time. The goal was pretty simple. Drag the Quigly reputation. And she knew it would be impossible in one night. However, the power of social media would take care of the rest.


    All she wanted was for Alfons to cut ties with Lyle Quigly. Given Alfons'' fake persona, he would surely condemn Lyle for being a bully. Then he would stop all contacts and show that they were not close in any way.


    After all, Alfons would never let that woman tarnish his kind and generous reputation.


    In the end, she won.


    People are now tagging Alfons, asking him about his opinions. If Gabi was not wrong, Alfons would probably unfollow Lyle on all social media before this day ends. This means a tantrum from Lyle. This is so entertaining. She was starting to giggle just from thinking about it.


    ''Huh?'' Seeing Gabi smiled and chuckle, Cyrus became even more confused. Did she miss something this time? "I uh are you alright?" she could only ask. If this woman had problems in the head, then it would be good to tell Aden about this so he could rmend some facility for her, right?


    Gabi ignored Cyrus'' question as she was reading thements from the article. She was really enjoying all these people judging everyone without even knowing the real situation. It was entertaining.


    "Miss?"


    "Ah, Kasper did something happen?"


    "Miss Aren wanted to see you."


    "Really?"


    "Yes, it looked like she couldn''t stand it anymore."


    "Good. Then release the news to some paparazzi."


    "Yes, Miss."


    "Oh what about the Sealey Family?"


    "Well" Kasper looked at Cyrus who stood a few feet away from where Gabi was reading her book.


    "It''s fine. You can say it here."


    "Well the younger Sealey hasn''t seen his wife yet. Since he married her."


    "Really?"


    "Yes. He is staying in his girlfriend''s vi and doesn''t even go home. His parents are not doing anything about it."


    "Unfortunate, isn''t it?" But then again, this is Miss Aren''s choice. She wanted to stop living like a maid. So she became a rich man''s wife who doesn''t even think of her as a woman. Obviously, Gabi knew that Aren was also looking forward to the divorce settlement.


    If Gabi''s guess was right, Aren was looking for an opportunity to tell her own husband about her n. After all, she knew that she was helpless and alone in that ce. The wise option would be for her to divorce her husband.


    Well since she wanted this then why not use her to ruin the Sealey Family?


    .....


    I am going to write for the other novels starting today. However, I will still release 1 chapter for this novel everyday. Thank you and please don''t forget to vote.

 Chapter 562: A New Life

    Chapter 562: A New Life


    [Actress Regina and handsome boyfriend caught kissing]


    [Everything you need to know about Harry Sealey]


    [Who is Regina''s boyfriend, Harry Sealey?]


    [Timeline of Harry and Regina''s rtionship]


    "This "Aren let out a surprised gasp as she stared at the possible titles of the articles that will be released tomorrow. "That man''s girlfriend is actually an artist?"


    "Yes, so your divorce is going to happen anytime soon." Gabi smiled. She just showed the woman the possible titles that the media outlets are going to use for tomorrow''s articles. It would be chaotic and many people would love it.


    After all, many people would love some juicy rumor.


    "Because of this, he would beg you for a divorce. And might probablyply to whatever you want." Gabi handed her a piece of paper. "Tell him this is what you want."


    "This "Aren started reading the piece of paper. Her eyes turned wide. "Shares and ten million?"


    "The ten million is yours and I am going to give you a house in the province of ria, away from this ce. There will be a prepared schrship for your brother and a new name and identity for both of you."


    "That  may I know why you wanted the shares? Is that really important to you? I mean why not just ask for more money?"


    Gabi only smiled. Money? She didn''tck those. However, she needed the shares because she is going to use them to make the Sealey Construction hers. All she wanted was to be its major shareholder.


    "But they would probably try to kill me if I asked for shares." Right now, their assumption is that Aren did it because she is just another gold-digging b*tch. They are expecting her to demand some money but not shares.


    After all, a mere maid wouldn''t know anything about stocks and shares, right? So the moment Aren decides to ask for these things, they would immediately know that it was a part of Gabi''s scheme. And their next action is to kill Aren.


    "Then you stay here" Gabi smiled. "No more staying in the Sealeys mansion. I don''t really think they would notice your disappearance tonight." With that, Gabi handed her another piece of paper.


    Aren immediately noticed that the document was dated tomorrow. "A divorce paper?"


    "I prepared six copies for the next six days. In case they destroy it, I can just send them another one. Then another three copies for the next three months. You just need to sign it. And you can leave the country tonight." Gabi smiled. "By tomorrow, you and your brother are going to have new identities, new life."


    "Is that all?"


    "Of course, I need to record a video of you crying for the camera. I need it for drama purposes." Gabi wanted to send the video to the Sealey Family, and this was going to be the nail to the coffin. It''s either they give in and give the shares or release the fact that Gabrielle Sutton forced their son to marry a maid because he rap*d her.


    It was just a convenient way of handling things.


    "Then my brother?"


    "He is here with your luggage."


    "What if I refuse?"


    "Then you die by Harry''s hand," Gabi answered with no hesitation. Aren is just another pawn. And to stop a pawn from dreaming to be a queen, she needed to dispose of it in the earlier parts of the game.


    Gabi knew that Aren was an ambitious woman. If she''s not, she wouldn''t have put herself in danger just to marry a rich man. And to Gabi, these types of people can be very dangerous. She can''t keep her by her side anymore.


    "Alright I will sign."


    "Good girl!" Gabi smiled. "This is going to be the start of a new life. The schrship that I provided is for you and your brother. Go ahead and start a new life abroad. Go to school, find a job, find a good husband and live a peaceful life. Do you understand me?"


    For a few seconds, Aren stared at Gabi before she smiled and nodded. "Thank you. I will not disappoint you."


    ..


    The sound of his phone interrupted his sleep. For the umpteenth time, Harry canceled the call without even checking the identity of the caller. Somehow, he knew that it would be his mom nagging him toe home and visit his wife.


    His mother wanted him to put that silly maid in her ce. She wanted him to tell her that she was nothing in that house.


    However, Harry didn''t think that the reason was enough to see that woman. He wanted to punish that made for a lifetime by not even seeing her! He already decided about this matter. There is no going back!


    This time, a familiar ring made him smile.


    Isn''t this the personalized ringtone for his beloved? "Good morning "


    "Harry? Are you up yet? Did you check the news?"


    "Huh?" Harry jolted up, a foreboding feeling rushed inside him. "What news?"


    "Check it out. Someone knew that you are my boyfriend. My management wants me to make a statement about our rtionship."


    "Huh?" Harry jumped out of the bed and immediately opened the tablet nearby. Just as he expected, it was already on top 1 trending. After all, his woman is the new rising member of a popr girl group who just starred in a rom TV series a couple of weeks ago.


    Because of that series, her poprity had gone up and many people are now doing their best to know her secrets.


    "I didn''t tell them that you are already married. What should I do now? What if"


    "Honey calm down." Harry consoled her. "Let me take care of this."


    "If you can use your connections, then that would be better. My manager already tried to have it deleted but it seems that many people already shared the news around. I My fans are demanding a public statement."


    "Alright let do call you back. Love you."


    Harry immediately ended the call and called his father. "Dad did you see the news?" he went directly to the point.


    "What news? I am in the middle of the meeting Just tell me about it."


    "Well the paparazzi posted and images of me in the condo"


    "What did you say?"


    "They wanted her to make a public statement about her private rtionship. But if these people would know that I am married then her reputation would surely go down. Is it possible to take down all the news about this matter?"


    The old man let out a sigh. "My secretary will call you in a while. For now, you have to go home and tell your mother about it."


    Hearing his father''s assurance, he smiled. "Alright I will see you tonight."


    However, the Sealey family soon learned that they couldn''t remove the top trending. Many people already shared the news and removing everything is just impossible.


    Because of this, Regina''s management asked her to make a statement to rify the rtionship. The thing is, it was already pretty obvious that they were lovers because the images that were included includes them kissing and snuggling in her private lounge area in thepany.


    "Harry what should I do? What if your wife sees the news? You said that she is nothing but a gold digger, right? What if she used this against you? Against me? She is still your wife, so people might sympathize with her. What about my career? What about my "


    "Please stop talking for a while. Let me think of something."


    "Divorce."


    "Hm?" Harry looked at his woman. "Divorce?"


    "Let her sign a divorce. Then we can say that you were already separated for a long time. Even if she threatened to expose the rtionship, then she can''t do anything about it."


    This was actually a good idea, except that many people knew that Harry and Regina were college lovers. Their rtionship started when they were just first years in college!


    So this would surely backfire.


    "Let''s go home. I will talk to mother and father about this." This was the only solution that he could think of  asked for his parent''s help.


    When the two arrived in the Sealey''s estate, what weed them was the gloomy atmosphere inside the house. To his surprise, even his elder brother who went out of the country is waiting for him along with his parents.


    "What is going on here?" Isn''t this just a simple scandal in the entertainment industry? Is there really a need for this dramatic scene? He raised his eyebrow towards his mother and father, waiting for them to say something. "Did something happen?" In his mind, this isn''t really that concerning.


    If worsees to worst, he could just deny the rtionship or even make his woman quit showbiz and make her his wife instead. These were things that he never told Regina because he didn''t want to reveal anything about the rape to her.


    Moreover, there was no guarantee that Aren would do anything about it. After all, Aren is living inside the estate. Surely, she would first think about her safety before exposing the fact that she was his wife, right?


    Right?


    ....


    Please don''t forget to vote for the novel. Thank you.

 Chapter 563: Sharing the Bed Together

    Chapter 563: Sharing the Bed Together


    "She wanted shares for the divorce? How dare that woman"


    "That lowly maid doesn''t even understand what shares meant. This is all that Gabi''s fault." Mrs. Sealey said while gritting her teeth. They actually fell into a trap set by that woman! Clearly, Gabi was the one who wanted the shares and not Aren. Money should have been enough to pacify that lowly maid.


    "She even had the guts to ask for five percent of the shares? How bold." Even Mr. Sealey couldn''t help but hate Gabi even more.


    "I already knew that she was scheming something. Or else she wouldn''t have made me marry her maid. Clearly, she just wanted to use this opportunity to own some shares from our family." Harry said. "I wouldn''t sign the divorce." Good thing that he already asked their driver to back Regina back, or he wouldn''t be able to express his anger in front of her. "I would never sign it. If she wanted the money, I will give her the money but I would never agree to give her shares."


    "And you wanted her to expose the fact that you married her maid because you assaulted her?"


    "Brother, how could you say that? You are supposed to be on my side here!"


    "Harry, think about it. Once that woman would provide some evidence of your actions, then everyone around you would be affected. They would criticize your woman for keeping you. They would criticize your parents for raising a criminal. As a Sealey, you should know that your actions could affect the whole family."


    "Alright that''s enough" their father said. "Your elder brother is right. However, we also cannot just give her what she wanted. I already asked my people to find her. As long as she is still in this country, there is no way that she would be able to escape us."


    "You are going to "


    "She is a nobody. If she died, then everything would be solved. Moreover, I am certain that a Gabi would no longer do anything if the maid vanished."


    "But dad I am really curious. Why would Gabi want to be our enemy?"


    Hearing her Elder brother''s question, Harry chimed in. "Isn''t it because she was a petty b*tch!? Father why don''t we just kill that woman?"


    "You think you can make the Ren Family your enemy right now?"


    "But elder brother"


    "We were lucky that we won the bidding against themst week. However, because of this incident, I believe that the Ren Family would closely watch our actions."


    "Again, your elder brother is right. We cannot act rashly. We can''t just target them and not expect a full-scale war against the Rens. For now, we needed to avoid offending one of the founding families. We are here to establish our Sealey Family. That should be our priority."


    "Then what are we going to do now? Are we just going to give them the shares?"


    "Let''s wait and see. I believe she isn''t done yet. If worsees to worst, I will just contact the main family and let them take care of her."


    "Alright"


    ...


    Ren Mansion


    "Tomorrow, I want you to prepare some snippets for some gossip. Spread it online." Gabi uttered. "The topic is simple Harry Sealey''s rumored marriage. Make the people think she married Regina."


    "Ah?"


    "You have questions?"


    "Well "Kasper hesitated for a few seconds. "Why do we need to make them think that the bride is Regina?"


    "Obviously, we need to put more pressure on her. If this rumor will go out, then herpany would pressure her to give some statement about this matter. She cannot just say that they weren''t in a rtionship, so she would probably say that they weren''t married yet. However, they were already thinking about it."


    Gabi continued. "This would only make it more entertaining. Once we reveal that Harry is married to another woman that he assaulted, the effects would be shocking to Miss Regina''s career."


    "Understood. Let me work on it tonight."


    Gabi smiled as she looked at her reflection from the floor-to-ceiling ss windows of her room. The ss was so clear, she could see her whole features from her reflection alone.


    Seeing the smile on her face, Gabi murmured, "Regina and Harry." These two people made her life hell in the past. In the end, Harry left Gabi and lived happily with Regina. At that time, Gabi was certain that she never loved Harry. Since she married the man, she tried her best to be the best and kindest wife. She attended parties with him, raised funds for thepany, and helped the Sealey Family along with Alfons.


    Because of her, the Sealey Family became a powerhouse after they swallowed the Ren Family. And when she became useless, Harry just dumped her like a used fabric. The thing is, she couldn''t do anything about it because of Alfons.


    She couldn''t retaliate and could only watch from the sidelines as they f*cking said their vows on their wedding day. She would never forget that humiliation of attending her own ex-husband''s wedding just two months after they divorced!


    Gabi gritted her teeth. Just the thought of that made her irritated.


    "Why do you look like you wanted to kill someone?"


    "You  " Aden? Why was he inside her room again? "What are you doing here?"


    "I already told you your security is weak. Why didn''t you fix it?"


    "What?" It took her a couple of seconds to understand his meaning. "You used the window?"


    "Naturally." He calmly sat on her bed. "I am good at climbing windows."


    "" She immediately got up and distance herself from this sociopath. "Why are you here? You know you have no respect for my privacy."


    "You sound ungrateful."


    She closed her robe and crossed her arms across her chest. "So since you provided security for me, I should just allow you to walk inside my bedroom anytime? Is that even logical?" She clenched her teeth. "How dare you!? I am still an unmarried woman!"


    "Ah alright. Next time, I will use the door and expose myself to your grandfather. Then I could just tell him, I am your sugar daddy."


    "You  " What the hell is wrong with this person? Did he have problems in his head? She tried topose herself. She couldn''t let this man win. She knew that he liked to tease her and this time, she will not let him win. "Why are you here!?" she asked while leaning against the wall.


    "Hmmm I told you not to touch the Sealey Family anymore."


    "What does it have to do with you?"


    "They aren''t as simple as you think."


    "This is my personal matter."


    "Really?"


    "What the hell does that mean?"


    "I don''t believe you. ording to my research, you and the Sealey Family never met before your cousin introduced you to Harry. And you are saying that this is personal? Hey kid do you happen to have unrequited love for Harry?"


    "Hey what''s that posture? Why are you lying down on my bed?" she rushed towards him and tried to pull him up. "Get up this is my bed."


    "But it''s a nice bed."


    "Get up." Again, she tried to pull him up. But how could someone with her small stature have the strength to pull a six-foot man up? She grunted as she drew her brows together. "I am not sharing my bed."


    "Why are you so childish? If you don''t want my scent, just change your sheets after I leave. Is that even a problem? Tsk."


    This man is really testing her patience and control. "Mr. Aden you know I don''t think we should see each other again."


    "Why does it sound like you are breaking up with me?" He shamelessly used both of his palms as his pillow as he smirked at her.


    "Seeing you is going to make me die from too much anger. I am too young to die."


    "Exactly You are indeed too young."


    "What''s that supposed to mean?" This man why was he acting like this?


    "Nothing"


    "" She put her hands on her waist. She was standing by her bed as she looked down at him. "Tell me why don''t you want me to get involve with the Sealeys?" She wanted to get this done as fast as possible so this person would leave her room.


    "They are not a native of this country."


    "I know. So? Should I be scared of foreigners?"


    "I don''t know Miss Sutton. You were the one who gave us the information about the real Mr. Sealey. Aren''t you scared that they would imprison you and use a fake to fool your family?"


    It was as if a cold bucket of water was poured inside her soul. That''s right. She had forgotten about the real Mr. Sealey. "And why does this have to do with being a foreigner?" she asked. In the past, she identally discovered this secret. She just overheard Mr. and Mrs. Sealey talking about it. She actually didn''t have enough information about this matter.


    .....


    Don''t forget to vote for the novel. Thank you.

 Chapter 564: Eyes of a Predator

    Chapter 564: Eyes of a Predator


    "Aren''t you scared they would do the same thing to you?" Aden added.


    "Can you tell me more about them?" she asked. In the past, because of the fact that she considered them as allies, she didn''t do a thorough research about them as she didn''t want to offend her husband and Alfons. This was something that she regretted a lot.


    "Hmmm Can''t."


    "Why?"


    "Because you are stubborn. If I tell you anything about them, you would just scheme your way into their family outside of Du Empire."


    Gabi pursed her lips. It was indeed true. She was a stubborn schemer. However, this doesn''t mean that she would give up on looking for more information about them. She still has a method to get information, but that would expose her identity.


    "Look at you you are thinking about other ways to look for information, right?" Aden had a look of disbelief on his face. "You are just a kid and yet you Aish how about this let me tell you that the Sealey Family wanted to kick the Ye Family out of this country. As you can see, this is bigger than you could ever imagine. If you involve yourself, you won''t have the chance to get away without dying."


    Wait


    Gabi turned silent. They wanted to kick out the Ye Family? The Royals out of their own country? Her eyes widened. Was that the reason why the Sealey Family destroyed all the old families in the country in her previous lifetime?


    This this is mind-boggling.


    And this just changed everything that she used to believe. For instance, she thought Alfons is in charge of everything. But what if that wasn''t really the case? What if the Sealey Family was only using Alfons?


    "This involves a lot of secrets and controversies. This is not something that a kid like you could handle. So you better stop this now."


    "I can''t."


    "Why?"


    She debated for a few seconds if she would answer that question. "If they wanted to kick the Royals and maybe even change the entire country, the first thing that they would do is get rid of the neutral party. Meaning the founding families, my Ren Family. I couldn''t let them do that."


    "Ah? It seems that the rumors about you being smart are actually true."


    "" Did he just realized this now?


    "But yes, you are right. The first target is indeed the neutral party and considering that your family is not just a part of the founding families in this country but also one of the richest, then its destruction is imminent. They needed to destroy your family to ruin the economy of this country."


    Gabi couldn''t help but shiver inwardly. Everything is now a bit clearer in her head. The reason why Alfons became so sessful wasn''t just because of her, it was because someone else was letting him do what he wanted to do. Someone who wanted to ruin the country.


    Obviously, a prime minister under their control is going to be an enormous help for their ns.


    "Why do you look like you saw a ghost?"


    "Ah?"


    "Are you scared now?"


    "Scared?" Was she scared? She already died in the past. She already lost the most important person in her life. Why would she be scared of dying again? If worsees to worst, she could just have someone kill Alfons. This would assure that he would also die if she dies.


    However Alfons is nothing but a tool. And once the tool is broken, recing it would be as easy as one, two, three.


    If they reced Alfons, it would be very hard to defeat them, as she knew nothing about her new enemies.


    "No, I''m not," she answered after a few seconds. "I''m sorry but I will protect my family."


    "Huh? Why are you thinking about that now? Don''t you understand? I am telling you to stop this because we will take care of this matter. Archy will take care of this."


    "Lies," she blurted out. If Archy could take care of this, then why did the Ren Aesthetics fell in her previous life? Realizing her mistake, she immediately apologized. "Sorry I didn''t mean to say that. I just"


    "You are upset."


    "Yes, I am."


    "And you feel useless."


    She clenched her teeth while ring at him. It was a fact. She felt useless. Especially in front of a bigger enemy. She actually thought that Alfons was the ultimate boss, the one that she needed to defeat. Oh how silly.


    How did she be this stupid?


    But is she really going to stop now? Cower in fear and remove herself from this situation?


    "So?" Aden asked with the same signature smirk on his handsome face.


    "I can''t do that. I''m sorry." Even she lost Archy''s support, she is still willing to go on. In this lifetime, she didn''t have Lucas, but she still had people she wanted to protect. She couldn''t back down now.


    "And if they try to kill you?"


    "I will fight back."


    "Fight back? The mere sight of blood made you faint. How are you going to fight back? Little girl?"


    That That won''t happen again, she wanted to say. "Thank you for telling me about this. Please leave me now."


    Aden stared at her, unimpressed. "You are too weak. Do you even know how to shoot a gun?"


    It seems that Archy didn''t know about her underground training? This is interesting. This means that their spy didn''t have ess to the basement, right? "I''ve been practicing."


    "Really?"


    "Really."


    "Have you killed anyone before?" he asked.


    "Not directly." But she had caused the death of countless people in her previous life. To be honest, she was well aware that she was weak. Her body is weak and there was no changing that. She wasn''t some superhuman that would somehow awaken their ability and be powerful after a few months.


    However, she was confident that she could still win this game. Her most powerful tool is going to be her mind.


    "Then how about I teach you how to kill people?"


    She squinted at him. She could smell a new schemeing from this person. "Hey are you trying to get close to me?"


    "Oh? Why would you say that?"


    "You barge into my house telling me about the Quigly, then you even give me a bodyguard. Now, you barge into my room and telling me things like this. Young Master Aden why are you doing this?" She knew that by now, Aden already investigated her. Maybe he already knew everything about her, from her routine to her favorite color and favorite perfume.


    By now, this man must be wondering why she knew some secrets from other people when she didn''t have friends, allies, or any way to obtain this information.


    "Hah I guess you are not only smart, but you are also really quick." Aden finally sat on the bed and stood in front of her. His sudden movement made her took a few steps back to increase the space between them.


    To her surprise, the man started approaching her.


    Instincts kick in, she could feel dangering from him. Did something happen? Why was he emitting something dangerous? Was this killing intent?


    Gabi blinked. Her gut was telling her to run, but she couldn''t really do anything but took a step back. "You What are you doing?"


    He didn''t respond. Instead, he continued approaching her. The same confident smirk was on his face.


    "Aden?" she could feel her heart raced. Still, she did her best to stayposed, focused. Then she gulped. "Aden what are you"


    "Shhh I''m catching a mouse."


    Gabi frowned. She was about to say something else when he suddenly dashed forward, towards the long floor-length curtain that covered one of her ss windows.


    Too fast.


    His sudden movement and her surprised nerves made her lost her bnce. Her butt hit the carpeted floor with a small thud.


    "Eh? Look at this?"


    When Gabi turned her head towards Aden, he was already holding a man. No Aden was already clutching a man''s throat. "Should I just kill you now?"


    Gabi''s eyes widened. "Where did that Where did hee from?" The man was wearing an all-ck attire. He was struggling in the air as Aden lifted him up as if he was lifting a small toy.


    "Hey Gabi?"


    "Huh?" She turned her attention towards Aden.


    "Look at me."


    She met his eyes and realized that he was still smiling at her. Despite that beautiful smile on his face, his eyes were holding something dark, something that only people who had killed before had. It was the eye of a seasoned predator.


    *CRACK*


    "Good girl," Aden said before he removed his hand from the man''s neck.


    "You"


    "Five foot nine, brown eyes, ck hair, a tattoo on his ear. Flower hmmm" Aden ignored her as he examined the man''s corpse. "Ah can you please call Cyrus?"


    For a few seconds, Gabi just blinked at him. "Alright I will call her now." It took her a couple of seconds to calm herself. She then stood and called Cyrus. Seeing her calm demeanor, Aden smirked before he continued checking the body of the assassin.


    .....


    Mass release Monday. Please don''t forget to vote for the novel.

 Chapter 565: Not Worth it

    Chapter 565: Not Worth it


    "Are you alright?" Cyrus asked Gabi as she gave her a ss of water. "Calm down, no one will know that someone died inside your room tonight."


    "" That wasn''t what she was worried about. Because of what happened, she wouldn''t probably stay in this house anymore. However, she still nodded and smiled. "Thank you. And I am perfectly fine."


    "Hmmm I thought you would faint again."


    Instead of answering her, Gabi looked at Aden, who was talking to someone on his phone. He ced his hand on his hip as he look outside of the window, a serious expression can be seen on his face.


    The man who tried to kill her earlier was no longer inside her room. The two took care of it, and wouldn''t tell her where they put it.


    "So those people belonged to an assassin group. They are called Flower of Death." Cyrus said. She too was looking at Aden. "Sir Aden might be talking to people connected to that group."


    "Isn''t that"


    "Their boss was a woman.''


    "Oh" Gabi nodded. Flower of death sounded a little ridiculous for an assassin group. She tried to recall the assassin groups that she knew in her previous life. "Are they in Du Empire?" she asked Cyrus.


    "Yes, they are. However, they are not based here. I believe they are an international group specialized in poison needles."


    "Poison needles?" Meaning that man could have killed her in seconds. She shivered. "So are they physically weak?"


    "Nope. They are specialized in closebat too."


    "Then"


    "Ah Sir Aden is an expert."


    But isn''t he too fast? Is that really something that an expert could do? Moreover, Aden lifted that man as if he was nothing. Is that something that he achieved through practice? Was it possible that Aden was also an assassin?


    "Ah so someone actually put a bounty in your head," Aden said. He walked to Gabi and sat on the bed.


    "A what?" Gabi gasped.


    "A bounty. It was Miss Quigly. Tsk. She was too rash this time. I believe her grandfather warned her not to do this but what you did with that head thing must have angered her too much."


    "You mean Lyle Quigly?" Did Lyle really want her to die so much that she even put a bounty on her head? "And how did you know this?"


    "The assassin was too careless. It waspletely unnned. I tried to check it out and found out that he was not working with the flowers anymore. He was an independent killer trying to make a living. Obviously, a million is enough for him to try and kill you. Especially that he didn''t know about your background."


    "What is that supposed to mean?"


    "Well big organizations wouldn''t want to kill you. First one million is too small. It''s just not worth offending the whole Ren Family. Second, big organizations wouldn''t just kill someone with no n or the right preparations. The bounty was just issued this afternoon. And third, they wouldn''t be that stupid to meddle in childish fights like this."


    Gabi frowned. She didn''t miss a lot of things, in Aden''s words. This man repeatedly emphasized the Ren Family''s connection. Does this mean that her grandfather is influential in the ck market too?


    Gabi bit her lower lip as she started thinking.


    Aden was right. Lyle was indeed careless this time. "Do you have evidence that it was Lyle who wanted me dead?"


    "Of course she is stupid enough to use the Quigly family''s IP. My people easily hacked herputer. I have screenshots of her conversation with her friend who rmended her into the web to hire some people to kill you."


    "Then let''s go."


    "Huh?"


    "To the Quigly mansion."


    Aden stared at her for a few seconds. "Really? You want to intimidate the old man?"


    Gabi nodded. However, this wasn''t just her only goal. Of course, she isn''t going to miss this opportunity to drag Alfons with her.


    ...


    Quigly Family Mansion.


    Nine in the Evening.


    Lyle took a sip of her calming tea. She had been shaking since she issued the killing order earlier.


    "Lyle, you look pale, are you alright?"


    "Ah?" she lifted her head and look at her grandfather. "Of course, grandfather."


    "Is this still about your lover?"


    "Grandfather, what are you talking about?"


    "You foolish child. How could you do that much for a man? You are the phoenix daughter of the Quigly Family, no need to do underhanded things just to get a man. I am sure that many men out there would love to be your husband."


    Lyle pouted. "I don''t understand what you are talking about, grandfather."


    "Hmph your father told me everything. Alfons Sutton and your obsession. It seems that despite his warnings, you still wanted to marry a nobody?"


    "Grandfather! Brother Alfons isn''t a nobody. True, he didn''t have a backing but he is really smart and charismatic. I am sure that he would be big one day."


    "Lyle, stop being stubborn. I just asked my friends to remove your name from that gang incident. I don''t want you to get in trouble again because of a man." A sigh left her grandfather''s lips. "You should leave Du Empire for a while."


    "No. I won''t do that." Of course, Lyle was already expecting this. "Why are you ming my feelings for brother Alfons? Why not me his sister instead? That woman was just jealous. She couldn''t let go of her own cousin. She was in love with him."


    "I am not ming your feelings. However, you are still young. You needed to explore the world. No need to confine yourself in this small space. For now, you should leave for a while. After a few years, if you still like that man, then I won''t stop you anymore. You can marry him."


    "Really?" Seeing his granddaughter''s naive smile, Old Man Quigly nodded. Obviously, he still wouldn''t let her marry someone below her status. However, he was willing to give Alfons a chance. If after a few years, Alfons would prove himself worthy of his granddaughter then, he wouldn''t object anymore.

 Chapter 566: Destroying Future Alliances

    Chapter 566: Destroying Future Alliances


    "Chairman, Miss Sutton Is here to see you," their conversation was halted when a servant suddenly informed them about Gabi''s arrival.


    "Gabi is here?" Lyle got up, his face turned even paler. "Why would shee here?"


    "Are you telling me that Gabriel Sutton is here?"


    "Yes, Chairman."


    Old Man Quigly immediately frowned. "Take her to the drawing-room."


    "Yes, sir."


    After the servant left, Lyle sat back down and asked. "Grandfather she is here for me."


    "I know." Old Man Quigly said. The method that he used to suppress the news was very obvious. Anyone would immediately notice it. Especially the one who purposely spread it. But really what can she do about it? "Stay here and wait for me. I will go see that woman."


    "I want toe with you."


    "No. I am going to see her alone."


    "But "


    "No, but''s youngdy. Stay here and wait for me."


    "I Alright."


    With that, the old man slowly made his way into the drawing-room where Gabi was waiting.


    "To think that a young woman like you would show her face in front of me after what you did to my granddaughter." Old Man Quigly said the moment he walked inside the drawing-room. "I don''t understand if this is your being brave and bold or just you being stupid." He examined the woman who was wearing an all-ck dress. She was calmly drinking her tea while looking at him. "Which is it, youngdy?"


    "Mr. Quigly." Gabi ignored the old man''s question. This old man knew that it was his granddaughter who wanted to hurt Gabi, but he actually made it look like Gabi was the one targeting Lyle. How shameless. "I''m d that you are still alive."


    The old man''s face immediately darkened.


    "If you fall I am sure that the Quigly Family would fall too," she added.


    "Hah so it was stupidity." The old man sat across her, he didn''t hide the anger in his eyes as he red at Gabi. "I thought Old Man Ren''s heir would be a little smarter than him. I am truly disappointed."


    "Well If Lyle is as smart as you, then she wouldn''t have made these silly mistakes. Though I can''t really say that I am disappointed. After all, I already know that the Quigly family aren''t really that smart to begin with."


    "You- Did youe here to insult my Quigly Family?"


    "No sir, I came here to threaten your family."


    This woman did she came here to make her die from anger? Right now, the old man was trying to stop himself from pping this woman''s face. How dare shee inside the Quigly Family and insult them? "You wanted to threaten my family?" Of course, this woman''s bluntness really surprised him.


    "Mr. Quigly if you were to pay someone to kill me. How much would you pay them? How much do you think my head is worth?"


    Old Man Quigly''s face darkened. "What are you talking about?


    "About an hour ago. Someone tried to kill me."


    "And you think my Quigly Family did it?"


    "I know that your Quigly family did it."


    "Hah if I would pay someone to kill, you wouldn''t be here by now, Miss Sutton. Please get your facts straight and don''t frame my family."


    "Well it seems that your granddaughter isn''t as smart as you, old man."


    She didn''t miss the surprise in the old man''s wizened face. "What are you talking about?"


    "It turns out your granddaughter put a bounty on my head. A million."


    "You Stop ndering Lyle."


    "Old man Did you really think I woulde here without any evidence?"


    The Old man said nothing. This Gabi was young  really young. Yet she already dared to talk to him like this. She was even bold enough to nder his family. What was her actual goal? The old man was experienced enough to know that this woman wasn''t just here because of this attempted assassination.


    "I want to put your granddaughter in prison," Gabi said.


    "What? What did you say?"


    "I said, Lyle, is going to prison or I will ruin Quigly Enterprise."


    *BAM!*


    The old man mmed his hand on the wooden table in between them. He leaned forward and asked, "Are you out of your mind?"


    "Sir, if I don''t leave this ce in ten minutes, the news about Mr. Soren''s involvement in drug trafficking is going to reach the media and police at the same time. The board will also be informed that you are buying shares under a fake name." It is that simple.


    "It''s either this or you take Lyle to the police station now. Let her surrender on her own. She would get maybe a year. After all, you are a very influential man. A year isn''t long enough. After that you can send her abroad to start a new life. Isn''t that a good deal?" Prison. It is the ultimate punishment, not just for Lyle but also for Alfons. After all, Alfons would never marry someone that could tarnish his reputation. Meaning, if Lyle would go to prison, there is no way that Alfons would marry her in the future.


    This would automatically cut off the possible connection that he could have with the Quigly family. It is a win-win for Gabi.


    Now, all she needed to take care of is the bounty.


    "You "


    "I already told you. I am here to threaten you," she added. She was not here to joke around. Right now, her goal is to cut off all possible connections that Alfons could build with the surrounding people. This would eventually make him weaker.


    Then all she could do now is slowly sabotage him from behind the scenes. She wouldn''t destroy him yet. No, she is going to make him the puppet of the Sealeys first.


    "If you don''t believe me. You can oh" Her words were interrupted when Lyle suddenly barged inside the room, her face pale, beads of sweat can be seen on her forehead. "It seems that Lyle is already here. Maybe she received the email that contained my proof?" Gabi smiled at the old man.

 Chapter 567: A Mastermind

    Chapter 567: A Mastermind


    "Grandfather  "Lyle''s eyes widened when she saw her grandfather''s reaction.


    "Was it true?"


    "I "


    "Did you really put a bounty on this woman''s head?"


    "I  didn''t "


    "Don''t you dare lie to me, youngdy! Did you or did you not put a bounty on this woman''s head!?"


    "Grandfather" Lyle approached her grandfather as she tried to suppress her shaking hands. "I didn''t mean to do that."


    "So you did."


    "I just  I was too angry, and I thought "


    "Stupid woman! Get out of here."


    "But "


    "I said get out!"


    Lyle bit her lower lip. She then red at Gabie. "Alright. I will wait for you in your study." Seeing Gabi''s email made her barge inside her without even thinking about the consequences of her actions. All she wanted was to stop Gabi from telling her grandfather about the assassination. However, it seems that she was toote. But what was Gabi''s n? Did shee here to extort money from her grandfather?


    No. That''s impossible. Gabi doesn''tck any money.


    So why did shee here? Was it just to tattle to Lyle''s grandfather? No that isn''t Gabi''s style. She came here because of something else.


    But what could it be?


    Lyle immediately opened her phone and dialed Alfons''number. In her mind, Gabi is in the love with Alfons. That woman would probably do everything that Alfons would tell her to do.


    Right now, she is just upset because of the assassination. Surely this anger would disappear if Alfons coaxed her, right?


    Meanwhile, Old Man Quigly let out a loud sigh when his granddaughter left. "I cannot send my granddaughter to jail. That would ruin her future forever."


    Gabi snorted. "I already knew you would say that. But really do you think I care about that matter?" Lyle was the one who offended her first. It is only right that they pay for it.


    "I can give you anything that you want except ruining my own family. Name your price."


    "Mr. Quigly. Let me tell you something." Gabi uttered. "I am a very vengeful person. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. That is just a very simple concept that I follow. And if I do the things that your granddaughter did to me, I am certain she wouldn''t survive. I am confident that I people I would hire are going to eliminate her without any traces. But I didn''t do that."


    Old Man Quigly red at her. She was indeed telling the truth. She could hire the best assassins and kill Lyle. But she didn''t. "You didn''t kill her but you wanted her to suffer a fate worse than death."


    "And you thought it was not fair?"


    The old man couldn''t say anything. Was it fair? No. In fact, nothing is fair in this world, but this fact alone is what''s making the world fair to everyone.


    Gabi added, "You know if you don''t sort out your granddaughter''s behavior as early as now, she would meet someone more powerful one day. Someone that wouldn''t hesitate to kill her. In the end, she would die from her arrogance. You see? I am simply sorting her out to prepare her for the future."


    Now that the old man heard her words again, he couldn''t help but be more cautious. He would never believe that Gabi just wanted to send his daughter to prison. No, it would be impossible. She already said that she is a very vengeful person. Would someone like that really help the person who wanted to kill her?


    No! There must be some other hidden scheme here!


    As if on cue, Gabi handed him a document from her bag. "And this this is the second condition."


    "What is "


    "Shares. "Gabi said as she held three of her fingers. Then she smiled and said, "At least three percent. I am not taking anything less than that."


    "You! How dare you!" The old man''s hand trembled while reading the document. This woman already knew what she wanted even before this assassination attempt happened. It is either that or someone else is nning all this behind her back.


    After all, she was around twenty or twenty-one this year. How could someone this young, who had stayed inside her mansion all her life, have this kind of evil mind?


    "Read the third condition."


    "You"


    Protect me." Gabi uttered. "If I die someone would automatically send all the secrets to the media. Don''t even think that you can block it. I have methods to ruin a person''s life. So protect me."


    So she didn''t just want to ruin Lyle''s life, she also wanted the whole Quigly Family to be her protector? Isn''t this too bold? Was she stupid? Why would the old man protect his enemy?


    "It seems that you are still confused, old man." Gabi smiled. "I have many enemies. And some of them would try to kill me. And if they are sessful, everyone''s secrets would be revealed to the world. Even if you were not the one who killed me, your secrets would be exposed. So you should protect me."


    "" This How could someone so young be this shameless? Old man Quigly couldn''t understand it. No, he didn''t even know how to process everything. First, he couldn''t kill her. Second, he needed to protect her. Third, are the shares and fourth is naturally putting his own granddaughter in prison.


    These are not small demands at all!


    Who gave this woman courage to offend him like this?


    "Young Lady I am quite curious." Old Man Quigly said. "Do you have any at least a small idea... about my identity?"


    "Yes, sir. I am very much aware of you. I know that you paralyzed your own brother to be the head of the Quigly Family. I know that your first marriage wasn''t a sess because you intentionally poisoned your wife, preventing her from getting pregnant and forcing her to ept your mistress. I also know that you were the one who poisoned your son''s first wife because she came from an influential family. Again, this forced her to ept your son''s mistress. Do you really want me to go on and on and on?"


    The only advantage that Gabi has right now is the fact that she had done all her homework about these families in the previous lifetime. All kinds of secrets from the families that might betray Alfons anytime, was in her hands.


    She stared at the old man''s pale face. The old man''s hand started trembling. To hide this, he immediately clenched his hands into two tight fists. "How did you know this?" the old man asked.


    Gabi''s words only made the old man more suspicious that someone is backing her. From Gabi''s words alone, the old man was able to conclude two things. First, whoever was backing Gabi, hate the Quigly family. This was not a surprise since the Quigly Family offended many people in the past. And second, this person was the one who convinced Lyle to do those stupid things. Everything else was already nned! From the gang attack to the assassinations.


    This person has a significant influence over Lyle.


    Someone manipted his granddaughter! A mastermind behind everything!


    "Miss Sutton I think you should analyze everything first. Let me ask you two things. First, are you really willing to offend the whole Quigly Family just because of Lyle''s childish actions?"


    Before Gabi could answer, he already added. "And second, I want to know why you let someone control your actions. Are you aware that someone is controlling you like its puppet?


    Gabi was speechless. What is this old man talking about? What puppet? Was there a misunderstanding somewhere?


    Seeing her turned silent, the old man chuckled. "By now you must have realized that someone else is behind all this, right? Meaning you already know that someone is just using you? So I want you to tell me who is the one behind this whole scheme. I want to know the name of my real enemy. And once you give me the name, I will give you everything that you want."


    The old man is also pretty clever. He knew that his granddaughter really made a mistake this time. After all, she carelessly tried to kill Gabi. So, instead of pressuring Gabi to tell him the truth, he made it look like it was an exchange.


    He was nning to send his granddaughter outside of the country, right after Gabi leave his house tonight! Then, he would take care of the person behind Gabi. He was confident that he could track this person using a phone call or something. Once he sessfully kills this person, they would thene after Gabi.


    Without her backing, taking back the shares is going to be easy.


    Again, Gabi blinked at the old man''s words. Why was he smiling at her? Did something happen? "Old man did you finally snapped? Do you want me to send you to an asylum or something?" Gabi asked.


    ....


    Don''t forget to vote.


    I will have a mass release tomorrow. Thank you.

 Chapter 568: Aden vs. Archy

    Chapter 568: Aden vs. Archy


    "That old man isme," Aden adjusted the front seat of the car, reclining it. He straightened his long legs and turned towards Gabi. "By the way how did you know about his dark secrets?"


    "That''s a secret," Gabi uttered. Even if she decided to tell this man one day, she was certain that he would never believe her. She turned her attention out of the car. The old man said he would call Gabi after an hour. He needed some time to decide.


    However, Gabi knew that the old man''s goal might be different. It would be impossible for someone like him to immediately let Gabi win this game. If Gabi was right, the old man would use someone to try and convince Gabi.


    Probably Gabi''s grandfather? Or Alfons.


    Earlier, the old man seemed convinced that someone was scheming behind his back. Of course, Gabi found this hrious. Clearly, the old man was looking down on her.


    She opened her phone and called Kasper. "Hey Kasper?"


    "Miss?"


    "I want you to start releasing the news." Gabi immediately ended the call when Kasper acknowledged her order.


    "Release what? You are not really nning on releasing all that information right?"


    "No. Not that," she answered Aden. "By the way where should I drop you off?"


    "Hm?"


    "I mean no offense but you have been with me sincest night. Aren''t you busy with work? What if Archy got angry with you?"


    "Cough! Cough!" Cyrus who was driving the car let out a series of coughs.


    "What''s wrong? Did I say something wrong? "Gabi was honestly confused. What if Archy would me her as well? That man is the only one that she considered as her ally. She couldn''t afford to lose the man''s support.


    "No, I just I haven''t seen Mr. Archy get mad at Mr. Aden." Cyrus said. Since Gabi was sitting at the back of the car, she didn''t see Aden smirking after he heard those words.


    "Really?"


    "Yes. Ummm I think Sir Aden is really close with Sir Archy."


    "Is that so still isn''t it weird that you are apanying me everywhere? You already assigned Cyrus to follow me around." Honestly, Gabi thought Aden did a lot of things already. He even saved her from an assassin.


    "Hey Gabi."


    "Hm?"


    "If you really want to repay me why don''t youe with me."


    "Huh?" she furrowed her brows.


    "In a safe house. Stay there."


    "Why? I thought they already removed the bounty?"


    "We value our informants and we thought that the information you gave us was pretty good. So I could give you a one time offer. Stay in the safe house at least until you sort out the things with the Sealey and Quigly Family. This is what Archy wanted."


    But why? Gabi blinked at him, wondering if he was serious. Why would he offer her something like this? Was it just because of the information that she gave him? Or was it because of something else?


    "I don''t understand what you mean." Isn''t this a give-and-take partnership? She gave them something and they gave her something in return. Gabi knew very well that Aden and Archy as well as the whole group are dangerous people. To be honest, she didn''t want to get involved with them on a personal level. She didn''t want to owe them too much.


    She was scared that this would backfire in the future.


    Moreover, she didn''t want Aden to get in trouble too. Truth be told, Aden was her savior. He already owed him a lot. Aden is also closely working with Archy. There is even a possibility that he was Archy''s right-hand man. Following Gabi around isn''t really his job.


    Meaning, if he continues acting like this, he would soon get in trouble. What if Archy hurt him or something?


    "Since the assassination is already solved, I am nning to go back to the Sutton mansion. And as payment for saving me I will"


    "Let''s talk about the paymentter." Aden interrupted her. "Are you sure you didn''t want to go to the safe house?"


    She shook her head. She was a hundred percent sure that she wouldn''t go to a ce where she could be monitored twenty-four seven. Now that she thought about it, Archy must be really curious about the source of her information. And that is why he wanted to keep her close.


    But that is not going to happen.


    For a few seconds, the atmosphere inside the car turned cold. Gabi pretended not to notice. She started scrolling on her phone and just as expected, there were already signs of the news about thepanies under the Quigly Corporation or QC.


    "Drop me right there." She heard Aden say.


    And just like that Aden left the car. "Hey I have a question." Gabi immediately said. "Do you guys really treat your informants that way?"


    "Huh?"


    "You heard what he said, right?"


    "Yes," Cyrus said. "Butuh yes we treat everyone like that."


    ''How weird," Gabi thought. Anyway, it seems that understanding Archy''s train of thought is really difficult. Since she already refused the offer then, there shouldn''t be any problems, right? "Hey do you think refusing Archy''s offer would offend him?"


    "Uh?"


    Now that Gabi thought about it, Cyrus would seem to tremble every time she mentioned Archy''s name. Was it because Cyrus was so scared of Archy? "Hey you should just answer my question. It''s not like you are betraying him or something," she added. "Plus, it''s not like I would tell him. I am just really curious."


    "Then it would offend him."


    "Really?"


    "Yes."


    Gabi pursed her lips. In the first ce that offer was illogical. But Aden didn''t really argue with her when she refused. So maybe it''s different this time? Without thinking, she opened her phone and dialed Aden''s number.


    "What?" Aden answered after a few rings.


    "Hey please tell Mr. Archy that I apologize for my refusal. I didn''t want to burden him and you. I don''t want to drag you into my personal problems. I hope that Mr. Archy will understand that."


    "So you refused because you thought I would get in trouble with Archy?"


    "Isn''t that the case? You have your own job. I''m sure Mr. Archy has a lot of enemies too. You need to focus on your job properly."


    In her previous life, she heard that this Archy person was cruel. Someone who didn''t really care about killing his subordinates to fail their mission. Evan Alfons kept on saying how dangerous this man was.


    One mistake, and Aden could die. She wouldn''t want to see this man die.


    Gabi knew that Aden probably saved her just because he had no other choice. After all, the assassin heard their conversation. However, she was still grateful.


    "Really? Is that really the case?" She heard him ask again.


    "Yes," she answered.


    "Hah..."


    "Why are youughing? Did I say something funny?"


    "You are scared that Archy would kill me if I make a mistake because I was following you around and reporting some news to you instead of doing my job?"


    "You finally get it. Huh," she said. "Hey are you there?" she asked. "Hello?" Did that man... just ended the call again?


    ...


    1/4

 Chapter 569: The Winner and the Loser

    Chapter 569: The Winner and the Loser


    Shrugging, Gabi just ignored her phone. That man is too moody, she couldn''t understand him.


    After Gabi arrived at Old Man Ren''s house, she quickly bid her goodbye and went back to the Sutton mansion.


    She wasn''t surprised to see Alfons inside the mansion, waiting for her. If she was right, this man anticipated that she is going back today because of the assassinationst night.


    However, this time, the man didn''t actually greet her or even smiled at her, he just continued sitting on the couch in therge living room. Seeing this, Gabi also ignored the man.


    Her outbursts were indeed effective. Right now, Alfons is having a hard time understanding her behavior. Lyle must have called him, but right now, Alfons knew that he couldn''t do anything to change Gabi''s mind. It was just too obvious.


    Once he tries to do something, Gabi would use him of siding towards the person who wanted to kill her. She wanted to stay near him, in the living room, just to see if he would burst from too much anger.


    Sadly, she couldn''t do that. At least not right now.


    Ah, she wanted to see him snapped; she wanted to feel all that satisfaction. Ah. If only she could do that.


    "Miss, may I know why you chose toe back here instead of going to a safe house where you would be safe?"


    She heard Cyrus ask. However, Gabi didn''t answer until she arrived in her office. "Because I love trees." Aside from wanting to be close to Alfons to see him get pissed, there was only one other reason why she wanted to stay in this ce. It was the tree.


    The tree that her son loved so much.


    "Tree?"


    "Yes. I love the trees."


    Cyrus nodded, still confused about her answer.


    After a few hours of sorting through the emails and things that she needed to sign for the day. Gabi enjoyed her afternoon tea outside, under the tree.


    "I wasn''t expecting you to leave for two weeks."


    Gabi turned her head towards Alfons, who approached her.


    "How are you?" he asked.


    "Fine. As always." She turned her attention back to her tea.


    "Hmmm." Alfons stood a few feet away from her. He shoved both of his hands into the pockets of his ck trousers as he observed her. "You look healthier."


    "I know." It was an indifferent response. Something that Alfons already expected.


    "If you are curious. I am fine too."


    Why does he sound so aggrieved? This man sounded like a concubine who lost her favor. Gabi ignored him. Instead, she decided to enjoy the icy breeze that filled the shaded area under the tree. "I heard you decided to work as a volunteer?" she asked. "For the less fortunate ones?"


    "Yes, orphans. I am working under an international organization."


    "Ah."


    They sounded like strangers, two people who had their first meeting. It was an awkward situation.


    "How about you? I heard that you are going to start working on the Ren Aesthetics next week?"


    "It seems that the walls indeed have ears."


    "I heard about what you did to Harry."


    "Excuse me?" Gabi raised an eyebrow. "Are you talking about the divorce?"


    "Harry called mest night. He was so angry about it."


    "Ah isn''t that his fault, though?"


    "What do you mean?"


    "He already had a wife. Why the mistress?"


    "Mistress?"


    "That actress isn''t she a mistress?"


    She smirked when she saw Alfons surprised face. By now, this man already knew she nned that everything from the start. Just as he thought that he was already ahead of her, Gabi would reveal her cards and p him in the face. It was cruel and heartless, but in their world, this was merely the aftermath of a small-scale war.


    Naturally, people will be sacrificed. The winner will take it all while the losers will fall. It was that simple. Of course, Alfons isn''t going to give up just yet.


    Right now, two of his ns were thwarted by Gabi. From using the Sealey Family to get close to the Ren Family to using Lyle to make Gabi realize that she needed Alfons in her life. This woman single-handedly ruined them and even made those families hate him.


    At the end of the day, it was very clear.


    The target was him.


    Gabi wanted him to lose connections. She was trying to stop him from achieving his dreams.


    "Did you n this?" Alfons asked. There was no turning back now. From the Sealey Family to the Quigly Family. Everything was too precise, anyone would see that someone schemed against them. "Why?" he added. "It was just one mistake and youyou waltzed into their lives and ruined it. Do you think it was worth it? To be enemies of those families?"


    Again, Gabi didn''t answer. She continued smiling towards him.


    "What are you intending to do?" Alfons asked, his tone was calmtoo calm. He couldn''t really show Gabi the fury inside him right now. He was scared that this fury would make him lose his senses and might cause him to kill this B*tch in front of him.


    "I could tell you what I want," Gabi uttered in a low voice. "But where''s the fun in that?"


    "Gabi what the hell happened to you?" Alfons asked. "You changed."


    "Hmmm, I did." Gabi nodded. She was no longer that easy to fool.


    Alfons could only clench his teeth as he red at her smiling face. Without Gabi, his options were actually limited. He couldn''t just do whatever he wanted because hecked the support of this woman. This is something that he realized after Gabi distanced herself from him.


    Even his friends stopped inviting him when they heard that he and Gabi were no longer on friendly terms. While his ego hates to admit it, a part of him knew that Gabi''s action had affected him and his future.


    Right now, he felt alone. And he could only me Gabi for everything.


    ....


    2/4


    Will continue releasing after reset. I got superte because of something important today.

 Chapter 570: Struggling

    Chapter 570: Struggling


    ''That''s right,'' Gabi smiled inwardly. ''Look at me with that hatred-filled eyes of yours.'' She could feel Alfons'' eyes on her, ring, fuming, full of rage. And she liked it.


    She didn''t expect him to actuallye here and entertain her like this. She saw the man''s face turned deep red. Was he nning to kill her this time?


    No, he wouldn''t do that now. If she dies, he would be the primary suspect. The Ren Family would make sure that this man rots in prison. Meaning, Alfons wouldn''t dare touch her unless the Ren Family is gone. This must be another reason why he targeted the Ren Family in the past.


    Without her backer, she was practically defenseless. With no friends or anyone close to her, no one would surely question her death.


    "Excuse me I will go finish something first."


    Gabi nodded. She didn''t spare any attention to Alfons anymore. Right now, Alfons was desperate, he was struggling. In this state, making logical decisions can be hard. And a desperate person would hold on to anything that would help them.


    Isn''t this the right time to help him out a bit?


    Just a little bit.


    She immediately dialed her personal stylist, Tina''s, number. Tina''s business had been doing very well andtely, they just established the newest VIP system, which was a direct hit.


    This VIP system was something that Gabi suggested to attract more actresses and wives of business executives and politicians. Gabi knew these women loved to get attention, they love to feel special; they love to feel that they were important. Because of this, the VIP system focused on giving them a lot of extra services and even gifts depending on the money that they spent in the salon.


    "Tina?"


    "Yes, Miss?"


    "I want you to organize a charity event. An auction of paintings. I will give fifty percent of the profits to various charities. I will send you the list of the charities that would benefit from this event. You should invite the representative of each charity."


    "Understood. How about the date?"


    "Hmmm Do you think a month is enough to prepare for this event?"


    "It should be more than enough."


    "I won''t be helping you from the outside. No to be clear, I don''t want you to reveal my involvement in this g." Gabi uttered.


    "Understood."


    "Wonderful. Ah I will also send you the rules for the invites."


    "Do you mean to say that"


    "Yes, not everyone will be given an invitation. The more money they spend inside the salon, the higher their chances for an invitation. Give me a few hours, I will send you the concept and the marketing n." Gabi smiled. After a few more seconds, the call ended.


    Next Gabi called her cousin, Earl Ren. That man had been trying to convince her to join some tea parties and stuff like that. However, she wasn''t in the mood to do the in the past.


    "What? A G? With me?"


    Why does he sound so shocked?


    "Calm down, cousin. It''s just a small charity g. Nothing special. My hairstylist is organizing it so she told me about it in advance. I thought it would be perfect." Gabi calmly said.


    "Really? You really agreed to join an event with me as your escort?"


    "Why are you acting like this?"


    "Ah? It''s just that I wasn''t expecting that you would choose me to escort you."


    "I don''t have friends," Gabi said. "I don''t have any other choice."


    "Heh still so harsh."


    "Are you going to escort me?"


    "Of course. Is that even a question? Tell me the theme, I will prepare a matching outfit for us."


    "Ew." Gabi smiled. "What matching outfit? I will send you the suit once the invitation is ready. Since I invited you, I should take care of everything. All you need to do is show up."


    "Really?"


    "Yes. Just be handsome and show up."


    "Of course."


    And with that, her escort has been decided. Now, everything that she needed to do wasy the bait, then catch the fish.


    This time, the fish isn''t actually Alfons. It was another woman. Someone that could rival Lyle, someone who is as cunning as Alfons. Gabi was nning to bait this fish and use her to bait Alfons.


    She immediately finished her tea. Just as she started drafting all the ideas for the uing G, she received a call from thewyer that she tasked to process Harry and Aren''s divorce.


    "They would agree?" Gabi asked. Of course, she was already expecting them to agree, but isn''t this a bit too easy? She squinted.


    She was expecting them to agree, but not like this. She thought they would show a bit of resistance. But they aren''t doing such a thing. What are they nning to do?


    Wait were they expecting that she would put the name of the shares under her name? Then, once she became a member of the board, someone could easily release this news to the media. Now why would the heir of Ren Aesthetics own a sizeable portion of stocks of the Sealey Construction?


    These things sounded small, but they might be different in the eyes of an investor. So they wanted toy a trap for her?


    Gabi smiled inwardly.


    How petty.


    But she liked it.


    Still, she felt that there should be something more to this. She could feel a foreboding feeling inside her. She knew that something else was going on behind the scenes, but she didn''t have any idea what it was.


    She let out a sigh. Why does it seem like this kind of war is just as dangerous as those that used guns?


    "Alright process everything. The name of the shares put it under the eldest." Zaria Sealey. That would be the person that would own the shares. She was originally nning to use her name, but Aden''s words change her ns.


    Isn''t it better to watch from the sidelines while watching them fight?


    "Yes, miss."


    The eldest of the Sealey Family it is time to see that person.

 Chapter 571: 6 Months Deal

    Chapter 571: 6 Months Deal


    In three days, Harry''s divorce waspleted. They also gave everything that Gabi wanted. To Gabi, this is the best that she could get. She wasn''t really nning to shop here. However, she decided to use other methods to attack the Sealey Family.


    On the same day, old man Quigly said that he would agree to Gabi''s demands. He agreed to put his own granddaughter in prison to save hispany. Again, it was another win.


    Because of this, both the Sealey and the Quigly family cut off Alfons. But to Gabi, this was just the start of everything. From now on, the game is going to be extremelyplicated.


    That morning, Gabi had her exercise. She also had her gun shooting training with Glen. This time, the man started teaching her the parts of long firearms. Lately, Gabi had showed interest in rifles that snipers use.


    She wasn''t that confident that she would be able to use one, but knowing how to use it would be very helpful. After this, she started training the soft martial arts that Glen copied from his friend Ma.


    "So the next stage of the soft martial art is applying it in action?" Gabi asked. The soft martial arts actually looked like she was dancing. It looked like Taichi, except it was softer, flowy. Unlike most martial arts, this one didn''t have any deadly appeal.


    In fact, it looked peaceful and rxing.


    If someone would see Gabi practicing the arts, they would simply think she was learning some dance.


    "Yes, you need to use it," Glen said. "Let''s have a practice match."


    "Huh?" Gabi shivered inwardly. "Like a fight?" She knew this was inevitable. But a fight against Glen is just too much.


    "Yes, however, I will not fight against you. All you need to do is hit me."


    "Once?" Gabi asked.


    "Yes. Right now, you are still too weak to fight against me. Once yound a hit, I would consider you worthy."


    Gabi sighed. "You will not fight back?"


    "You fear pain?"


    Gabi nodded. "I would not pretend or lie. I am scared of pain." In fact, she was more scared of pain than death. Does that make sense?


    If possible, she would want a quick, painless death.


    She concluded that this was because of what she had to endure in her previous life. Perhaps the experience left her traumatized.


    "But pain is better than death," Glen uttered.


    She wanted to respond, but decided not to say anything. In the end, people like Glen would always prefer to survive. But for someone like her who already died once the story is just different.


    "If you are scared of pain, then you should quickly be an expert. So you would just avoid getting hit!" Glen beamed. "It''s that simple!"


    Gabi begged to differ. Why not just avoid getting into fights instead? Isn''t that the best way to avoid feeling all those pains?


    But then again, she also knew that avoiding it would be impossible. Not when she started to collect enemies here and there.


    "Alright." Gabi nodded.


    "Really?"


    "Yes. As long as I hit you, right?"


    "Yep."


    Gabi smiled. Soon, she and Glen faced each other with gloves in hand.


    The deal was simple. Gabi needed to hit this man''s face or his stomach at least once. Glen would not fight back, but he would dodge or avoid her attack. Once she seeds, Glen would agree to let her fight his son, who is also adept in various martial arts.


    After bowing before each other, Gabi was quick to strike him with a jab followed by a cross, something that Glen easily dodged.


    "Miss why are you using such simple strikes? Are you scared that your hand will break once it hits my face?"


    Gabi snorted. Provocation is obviously a thing while fighting. "Does that mean that your face is so thick?" she responded something that surprised Glen. Seeing him smirked, she let out a couple more strikes.


    This was actually the first time that she fought against someone and, to be honest, she was a bit nervous.


    She could feel her nerves shaking, trembling. Her heartbeat was racing in anticipation.


    This time, Gabi suddenly tried to strike Glen with the heel of her palm. When Glen blocked it with his arm, she quickly bent her fingers, forming them into ws.


    "Hoho. Tiger ws!" Glen chuckled, but quickly pushed her away. But Gabi already anticipated this. A smile formed on her face as she tried to hit the other side of his body. Sadly, Glen easily predicted her movement. One small push and Gabi''s butt hit the floor.


    She lost.


    Her movements were really sloppy, to say the least. It was untrained and doesn''t really have any tactics or strategy. And just as expected, she failed.


    "Damn" Gabi could only curse. She felt really weak in front of this man.


    "You know why I told you that Ma would defeat me in a fight?" Glen stared at her. "It was because this fighting style wasn''t targeted to fight the enemy head-on."


    Gabi frowned. "You mean"


    "Tricks. Ma and his team of people were known because of their treacherous fighting style. They always think it was a fight to the death and if they couldn''t defeat the enemy they run."


    "Huh?"


    "You don''t understand it?"


    Gabi didn''t say anything. Trickery? It means that those people would do everything just to win. They are not fighting for honor or fame. They are fighting to survive.


    Meaning, even if they are practicing, those people were treating every fight as a life or death situation.


    "You are still too weak. Despite all the exercises, your body is too small. I''m afraid, if you continue like this, you won''t be able to fight back when you faced a real assassin."


    Assassin.


    Gabi said nothing.


    That''s right. If Aden wasn''t with her that night she would have died.


    She was too careless!


    With this in mind, Gabi told Glen that she needed to practice more. Despite being scared of pain, she needed to learn how to defend herself. She won''t let the things that happened in her past life repeat itself.


    "Give me another six months," Gabi said.


    "Huh?"


    "I will defeat you in six months?"


    "Gabi that is impossible. With your current state"


    "There is nothing that I cannot do. Once I put my mind into it." Gabi said, determination sparked in her eyes. "Six months and I will defeat you."


    ....


    I owe everyone 2 more chapters. T.T

 Chapter 572: Impressing the Heavens

    Chapter 572: Impressing the Heavens


    "Bossssss why did you agree? Are you still thezy boss that I knew?" Tureis immediately startedining when he heard that Aden agreed to teach Gabi. "And how dare that woman to treat you like a trainer? Howe she is so dense? Isn''t it obvious that you are the boss? Asking the boss to train her in martial arts? Is she crazy?"


    "No, wait!" Tureis uttered. "The crazy one is actually you. How could you teach that woman? Why did you agree? If you wanted to know how she found all that information, then why not let us check her room? You were the one who didn''t want us to check her room. Now you actually wanted her to stay in the safe house to train? This this is not normal. Did you hit your head somewhere?"


    Tureis followed Aden inside his room as he continued to question him about his decision. "Moreover, that woman was sickly. Her body wait "Tureis eyes widened. "What are you nning to do?" He knew it! Aden isn''t some saint. He didn''t agree just because of the source of her information, right?


    No. Aden had another n! This man doesn''t like women! In fact, this man doesn''t like people at all! He would prefer sleep and food over anything else. So, how could he train some newbie and waste his time?


    "Are you nning to cure her?" Tureis asked. If there is one thing that would make this man interested, it''s the impossible. If you tell him that it would be impossible, he would do it instead and prove you wrong!


    He had been like this since they were kids!


    "Why are you so noisy?" Aden had a frown on his face. "Get out."


    "Ah you are going to make her strong? Why her? Are you going to"


    "Get out!"


    "Hmph!"


    "And don''t tell anyone about this," Aden said. "You should know the consequences of betraying me."


    "I don''t have the guts to do that." Tureis fired back. Tell anyone? Who exactly? This man''s family is different from normal families. They might praise Aden if they knew that he was finally getting close to a woman! "Alright I am leaving."


    .


    Meanwhile, Gabi still couldn''t believe the deal that she had with Aden. He agreed to help her with her martial arts and teach that quick movement that he used to kill that Assassin. In return, she is going to let him try to treat her weak heart using something called nanotechnology.


    "Why? Why the hell did I agree to his terms?" she started to ask herself. She sshed the water inside the tub into her face. While he assured her that it would definitely help her out, she was the first human being that would receive this kind of treatment.


    How could he just trust his words? Was she stupid or something?


    "Ugh!" She facepalmed. What''s happening to her? She could just train herself without asking for his help. However, the thing that he did when he caught the assassin was too tempting. She had never seen someone move that fast before.


    She thought that because her body was small, it would be easier for her to train like that. Earlier, she tried to tell him that she is going to pay him, money, property, stocks, whatever he wants. But he just asked her if he could check her body and attempt to cure her instead.


    "What''s happening? When did I be so stupid? What if I die? What if" The what ifs would never stop. What if her face became disfigured, or what if she became a robot!


    What if!


    "It''s not yet toote, right? What if I just say no? What if I tell him that I found another person that would train me?" But again, her options are limited. She wanted to keep it a secret. But she wouldn''t be able to do it if she pays someone else to train her.


    There would always be the risks of betrayals.


    In this case, she could only do one thing to make sure that she would survive. She would give them more useful information! And maybe just maybe Archy would intervened and stopped Aden in this crazy deal.


    .


    A few dayster, the news of Lyle Quigly''s surrender reached Gabi''s ears the next day. It seems that old man Quigly was smart enough to follow what he promised Gabi.


    Today, however, Gabi had no time to celebrate just yet. She had other business to attend to.


    She stared at the painting in front of her, smiling. The painting was that of a naked woman with angel wings. Despite the smile on the woman''s face, her surroundings were a little different.


    The woman looked like she was using corpses to make herself fly. Countless dead bodies can be seen everywhere, especially near her feet. In fact, the woman was piling them up and was using them like a stair. There was also a house on fire in the background.


    Despite all the chaotic background, the woman was still smiling as she stared at the sky where angels with trumpets can be seen.


    "What do you think of this painting?"


    "Hm?" Gabi turned towards the woman who stood next to her. The woman had pale porcin-like skin, ck hair, and a small heart-shaped face. One would wonder if she was an actress or a model.


    "Sorry I just noticed that you have been standing in front of this painting for a few minutes now." The woman continued. Her gaze was on the painting.


    "How about you?" Gabi answered the woman''s question with another question.


    "Well when I painted this I was thinking of rebirth."


    "Oh?" The woman''s words were loud and clear. She was the one who made the painting.


    "Despite the woman''s bloody past, she wanted to change. She dreamed of changing or having a new life. That''s why I added pure white wings. And that''s why she was looking at the clear cloudless sky."


    "That "


    "You don''t think so?" Finally, the woman turned towards her.


    "No."


    "Oh?"


    "I don''t think this is rebirth."


    "Hm? Can you tell me what you think about it, then?"


    "Well this woman was just a hypocrite," Gabi said. She smiled at the woman. "She wanted to leave the cruel world while stepping on other people. She killed them so she could use them to go to heaven because she couldn''t fly. On the outside, she looked divine, but it was all fake. She just wanted to impress the heaves for them toe down and save her from her brute self."


    .....


    This is going to be a slow burn romance. No one night stands or sudden marriage.


    Thank you :)

 Chapter 573: Lifeless

    Chapter 573: Lifeless


    "II never thought that someone would interpret the painting like that. In fact, a lot of people think that the painting is very dark. "The woman smiled. "However, this is why I paint. I wanted to create masterpieces that would give people various emotions. My name is G. I am the owner of the director of this gallery. How about you?"


    "My name is Gabrielle Sutton. It''s a pleasure to meet you."


    "Sutton? Sounds familiar. Ah! Are you thete prime minister''s daughter? I remember seeing you in the prime minister''s wake." The prime minister''s wake was covered by the media. There were instances that the camera would focus on Gabi''s face. However, Gabi wore dark, huge shades that cover most of her face. Her lips were pale and her hair was ck back then.


    That woman was too different back then. "Yes, I am indeed thete prime minister''s daughter."


    "Ah sorry. I blurted it out. I didn''t mean to say that. I was just too surprised that you would visit a simple gallery, like mine."


    Gabi''s lips twitched. Of course, she came here because she was scheming something. G Merced is the illegitimate daughter of a judge. However, her adopted father is one minister.


    When G''s mother married the senator, G was already two years old. And because the minister already had 2 sons who were 4 and 6 years old, G automatically gained two older brothers that spoiled the cute little girl.


    Despite this, G was very low key about her background. She studied hard and worked hard to be the director of this gallery. She is very hardworking and smart.


    "It''s fine." Gabi smiled at the beautiful woman. Isn''t she pretty? Alfons and her are a perfect match!


    "This is really surprising"


    "Miss G is really humble. The paintings here are great. They looked heavenly. It was really a coincidence that I stumbled into your gallery."


    "Stumbled?"


    "Do you have some time for tea?" Gabi went straight to the point. There was no need for empty tteries as she knew that this woman was really confident and capable.


    "Of course. Please follow me to my office."


    .


    "Kasper please confirm the schedule with Miss Merced''s secretary." It took Gabi a few minutes to convince Miss Merced to join the charity event. She knew that the woman wanted to build her own legacy, her own name in the industry. So, there is no way that Miss G wouldn''t agree to her proposal.


    "Understood," Kasper said.


    G Merced was not only a woman full of pride, she was also someone who wouldn''t do anything that would not benefit her career. To put it simply, she is a strong, independent woman who would never allow herself to stand behind a man.


    So why did Gabi choose her to be Alfon''s wife?


    It was because of something that would happen in the future. The thing about G is the fact that she is just another girl boss that would do everything for profit to prove that she is superior to most men in the industry.


    She wanted to be the best at everything. The highest sales, the biggest and brightest clients, the best husband, the best children. It was something that she needed to do to prove that being adopted doesn''t separate her from her politician brothers.


    And this would backfire once people discover how mean she was behind the scenes. G would mistreat her servants, pped them, and used them of thievery. Her workers are overworked, her staff didn''t even have overtime pay.


    However, this isn''t enough to ruin the woman on top of the food chain. The mistreatment would be akin to a small sparked that would soon cause an explosion once someone would reveal that G had multiple abortions when she was still in college.


    In this conservative country, abortion is legal, but it''s frowned upon. There were movements against it. There were people to stage protests just to try and convince the ministers to change thews.


    So what would happen if the wife of a politician, who is a known pro-life, would be revealed as someone who actually advocates abortion?


    Of course, the scandal wouldn''t stop there. Gabi only smiled as she thought of the uing G. Making the two meet would surely benefit her in the long run. Right now, she isying traps ahead of time because she would be gone for the next six months.


    "Ah take me to grandfather''s office."


    "Yes, Miss."


    Since she was scheduled to start her treatment after the g, she needed to take care of things that concerns her grandfather in advance. She wouldn''t want them to suffer from other people''s schemes while she was gone.


    "Train your body? What kind of training? Who would train you? Where? When are you going to leave? Who will take care of you if "


    "Earl calm down."


    "But grandfather? Sister Gabi was born with a weak body constitution. She couldn''t really run that far or she would faint. What would happen if something dangerous would happen to her?"


    "Listen to yourself, young man. Do you think my granddaughter is a weakling?"


    "ThatShe is just "


    "Sit down and drink your tea."


    "Yes, grandfather."


    Seeing that Earl already went back to his seat, the old man looked at Gabi. "Have you decided?"


    Gabi nodded. Actually, her grandfather isn''t aware of the assassination attempt. She didn''t want him to worry too much. So, she wanted to keep it a secret.


    "Gabi I am not going to stop you. I know your stubborn nature. However, I want you to assure me that you would be safe." The old man gave her an intense gaze before he added, "Promise me that the next time I see you, you won''t be inside a box, lifeless. In fact, I won''t stop you from doing anything that you want as long as you promise me that you would stay alive." The old man turned his gaze away. "I don''t want to send off another one from the younger generation." Despite his cold tone, Gabi didn''t miss the tears pooling in her grandfather''s eyes.

 Chapter 574: Marriage Proposal

    Chapter 574: Marriage Proposal


    "Miss, Zaria Sealey is here to see you."


    "Already?" It has been a week since the divorce waspleted and they already found out that she transferred her shares to Zaria? "Too quick." But isn''t this a good thing? It means that she could take care of the eldest of the Sealey Family before her training.


    "Miss, I hope you don''t mind me asking, but do you think Mr. Zaria would really betray his family?" Kasper couldn''t help but ask. He didn''t know Gabi''s n but he could easily guess it. The shares that Gabi gained from the divorce were transferred to Zaria''s name. Obviously, everyone in the Sealey would start to doubt him. After all, they had been neglecting him for years now.


    "Wrong question," Gabi uttered. "You should have asked the opposite. Is there any reason left for him to hold on to the people who wanted him dead?" She knew that Harry was always jealous of his brother. From his brother''s looks to his height to his intelligence, Harry felt that he was inferior.


    He was only good at making friends, socializing. Unlike his brother, Harry was not that smart or hardworking enough to take over thepany. So, he relied on his parent''s favor. Actually? The whole concept was really stupid. Even if he became the CEO of thepany, he couldn''t do anything because hecked the skill to do so.


    The best course of action would have been to use his own brother. But Harry didn''t have the skills to manipte his own brother.


    Kasper said nothing else as he followed Gabi into the garden.


    "I wasn''t expecting that you would actuallye here."


    The man who had been talking to his secretary before she came turned towards Gabi, then he smiled. Gabi nodded in response.


    The man before her was not handsome. To put it clearly, he looked beautiful. He had a small face that looked wless, his lips were thin, and pink, his nose was tall and straight. With his phoenix eyes, Gabi would dare say that this man looked more beautiful than most actresses in the industry. This man looked the opposite of his own brother''s manly charm.


    "Miss Sutton it''s nice to finally meet you." Zaria said.


    "Hmmm you are here for the stocks?" she went directly to the point.


    "Yes. I am wondering why you would purposely give me the stocks?"


    Gabi didn''t answer him. Instead, she sat opposite him, an enchanting smile was on her face. "You already know the answer to your question. So I will allow you to ask another one."


    Surprise shed in his mesmerizing face. "Then let me change the question. Do you intend to help me fight for what was mine?"


    "And if I say yes? What would you give me in return?"


    "A marriage."


    "" Gabi pursed her lips. "No, thanks." She answered almost immediately.


    "Really? I thought it wasn''t such a terrible deal? A marriage is a marriage. You could make me stronger and in return, Sealey Construction is going to be the subsidiary of Ren Aesthetics. Moreover, I am not someone that would fall for someone else. We could keep the marriage until we found someone that we love." Zaria felt a little confused. He actually thought that Gabi would immediately agree to his terms.


    "One I have a library of novels with contract marriages." Gabi started. "They don''t really end too well. So that is just a big no."


    "" Novels?


    "Two, I can''t marry someone more beautiful than me."


    "" Now, what kind of reason was that?


    "Third" She won''t marry anyone that wouldn''t give her a child with white hair. "Third is I don''t n to marry someone that I don''t love," she lied.


    "Hah it seems that I was wrong, after all. Well, then forget my presumptuous request. I was too direct and disrespectful."


    "Apology epted." Of course, she didn''t mind. The proposal was a bit sudden, but this wasn''t the first time that someone proposed to her out of nowhere.


    In her past life, she received countless proposals from a lot of families after her divorce from Harry. Most of them just wanted to use her so they could swallow Ren Aesthetics. Of course, some of them just proposed because she was pretty.


    Heh. Too shameless.


    But well she was too young to marry anyone. She won''t repeat the same mistakes so she won''t probably marry anyone unless she found the man that she slept with in the past life. Luca''s father.


    Obviously, she knew that this was really impossible. How could she find someone who was like a ghost? She didn''t even know what he looked like. All she knew was that he must be the descendant of someone with white hair. Or maybe even the descendant of Lyca Shen.


    But just the thought of marrying someone from the Shens sounded too impossible. She didn''t want to waste her time seducing people instead of having her revenge.


    "You actually came here despite knowing that your parents would use you of working with me." She didn''t know if he was just extremely confident in his skills or just in stupid.


    "This wouldn''t be the first time that they use me of something I didn''t do." Zaria smiled. "It won''t be too bad to do the things that they are suspecting me of doing."


    "It would be dangerous," Gabi uttered.


    "And yet you still dragged me with me."


    "Right." Gabi nodded. Right now, Zaria didn''t have any other choice. It was either he worked with Gabi or those people would take away the shares or worse, would kill him. He knew that no matter what he does, those people wouldn''t believe him, anyway. It would be best to just fight back and strike first.


    Zaria hid the cruel expression in his eyes. "Right now, I have more shares than Harry. Thanks to you. But I don''t think I would be able to convince the other board to sell their shares to me."


    "No need to convince them. They won''t sell the shares. These people were business entrepreneurs, they would see the prospects of thepany and wouldn''t let go. However you can convince them to kick your father out." Seeing Zaria''s eyes widened, Gabi smiled. She could already hear Aden''s nagging voice the next time she sees him.

 Chapter 575: Luna The Assistant Researcher

    Chapter 575: Luna The Assistant Researcher


    "However" Gabi paused. She stared at Zaria''s cunning smile. It looked like this man didn''t need a lot of help. He was just another wolf in sheep''s clothing. This was something that she knew in the past life. Isn''t this the reason why the Sealey Family got rid of this man a few years after she divorced Harry? "You have to stay safe. I am sure that they would want you dead now that you want to challenge your father''s authority."


    "Is this you showing concern to me, Miss Sutton?"


    Gabi smirked. "It would be a waste to see that angelic face of yours inside a coffin." This fox looked beautiful and harmless but she knew that the reason why he was still alive until now is that he was really capable. He was able to avoid all the assassination attempts.


    "My thank you for thepliment. But since Miss Sutton didn''t want me to get hurt, I shall do my best to survive."


    "Also I will be doing something important in the next six months."


    "I understand. I will use the next six months to strengthen myself." Zaria uttered. "Next time we see each other, I should have the power to challenge the whole Sealey Family."


    "Too ambitious." She noted. But she quite liked it. Working with ambitious people is better than working with someone so passive.


    Not long after, Zaria bid her goodbye. She knew that this man publicly showed his face in front of her because of the people following him. Now that he already achieved his goal, there is no need to stay in this ce anymore. Moreover, Gabi already declined his proposal. He didn''t want to make himself look like a joke by sticking to her side.


    But who would have thought that Gabi would actually refuse a marriage with him? The smile on his face vanished the moment he got into the car. He held his chin and squinted. A woman really refused him? But why?


    From his analysis, Gabi wasn''t a woman who would believe in love. She was scheming and smart and she would probably think about benefits first before anything else. So why?


    He thought about her three reasons, none of which are really convincing. Clearly, she made it up on the spot.


    A sharp sigh escaped his lips. He decided to stop thinking about it. There is no reason for him to mull over things that already happened. All he needed to do now is gather all the people that believed in him so he could im what was his.


    All this time the Sealey Family treated him as if he wasn''t a family. It was his time to show them that he was capable to lead the family.


    ...


    "I thought the treatment would start after the G?" This was Gabi''s question when Cyrus told her that Aden wanted her to visit the jewelry shop.


    "Well Sir Aden said he needed to check your body in detail to see if it would really work."


    She sighed. Was that man really capable of healing her? Since she talked to Aden about this deal, she started researching nanotechnology and medicine. However, she couldn''t really find anything specific. It was said that the Shen Group is currently the biggestpany that is researching nanotechnology. However, they haven''t published any reports yet.


    She read a few reports and research but none of them were that specific either. Because of this, she started doubting. While she had no problem dying, she didn''t want to turn into a vegetable because of this treatment.


    When Gabi arrived at the jewelry store, Cyrus led her to the basement where they could ess another elevator. To her surprise, the elevator took a couple of seconds before they reached their destination. She was tempted to ask Cyrus about the number of floors below the building but a part of her knew that she wouldn''t receive any answer.


    "Ah you are here."


    Gabi froze when she saw Aden.


    He was wearing a white coat, like a doctor. A sly smile was painted on his face. "I thought you would back down."


    "Why would I?"


    "Well aren''t you scared to die?"


    "Are you saying that I would die from the treatment?"


    "No. Even if you die I would revive you, again."


    "Huh?" Again?


    "Let''s go." He led her towards a white pathway. It looked like a pathway out of those sci-fi movies. It looked advanced, but she couldn''t help but think about the reason why this ce existed. Was this some drugboratory? Her eyes widened. Wait these people are making high-end drugs?


    "Rx, I could hear your breathing from here."


    "Huh?" He was at least five steps away from her. How could he hear her "Stop lying."


    Aden just chuckled without saying anything.


    "This ce"


    "Is a secret and you are not supposed to be here."


    Just as she expected. Was it possible that Archy didn''t know about this treatment? Was Aden just acting on his own because he was looking for a sickly body?


    "What if I use this information against you?" she asked.


    "Then you will have to die."


    She stared at his back. He couldn''t see his facial expression but he sounded cold, freezing. He was serious. "I won''t do that," she added.


    "I know." Aden stopped walking and use his fingerprint to open one of the doors. A mechanical sound followed. This time, however, Cyrus didn''t go inside. She stayed outside and waved at Gabi. "Except me and the assistant researcher, no one is allowed here," Aden said.


    As if on cue, a beautiful walked towards them. "Miss Sutton pleased to meet you. I am Luna, the assistant researcher. It''s a pleasure to finally meet you."


    The woman smiled a smile that didn''t reach her eyes. Gabi ignored the turbulence in the woman''s eyes as she epted her hand, shaking it. "Hello... I am Gabi please take care of me."


    "Of course."


    After the short interaction, Gabi''s curiosity about Luna''s presence was answered. Aden asked Gabi to remove all her clothes. This time, the one that would check her body would be Luna.


    ....


    Still owe you guys 2 more chapters.

 Chapter 576: Prepubescent Girl

    Chapter 576: Prepubescent Girl


    "You have muscles but you are still too thin. You are a bit underweight. You look like a prepubescent girl."


    Gabi clenched her teeth as she smiled at Luna, who keeps on telling her what shecked. At this point, she could only smile as she cursed inwardly. She had sensed that this woman didn''t like her the moment they met. By now, it had be very obvious.


    However, Gabi couldn''t understand the source of this menacing re. She was sure that she haven''t met this woman before. "Anyway, I understand this was because of the problem in your heart. Thinking about it, being born like this is already a miracle." Luna continued while looking at the result of the examination. "You should be grateful."


    "I am grateful."


    Luna lifted her gaze away from theputer. "Then refuse the treatment."


    "Excuse me?"


    "Don''t you know? There is a possibility that you would die." Seeing her daze expression, Luna continued, "The reason why Chief Aden chose you is that of your age and body. But if you refuse his request, I am sure he would understand. We can easily find someone like you." Luna was smiling gently at her.


    "Is that so?" Gabi smiled in response.


    "Yes. There is no reason for you to agree. We don''t really know the effects of the treatment, since this would be the first time that we would use it on a human being. You should be aware that Chief Aden was only nice to you because of your heart. He was interested when he read your file."


    "Ah" Gabi nodded. "You think that was the reason why he approached me first?"


    "Of course."


    Gabi nodded again. She was the one who approached Aden first. Because of this small mistake, Gabi knew that Luna was only trying to get rid of her. "But sir Aden is quite forceful."


    "Forceful?" Luna lifted an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"


    "Hedidn''t you know?"


    "Know what?"


    "He "Gabi lowered her gaze while biting her lower lip. On the outside, she looked like a pitiful child that was bullied. "Forget what I just said. I promised not to tell anyone about it."


    "Hmph! Are you trying to tell me he actually bullied you intoing here? How could you say something like that to Chief Aden?"


    "Ah? What are you talking about?"


    "I can smell your lies. I know that Chief Aden would never do that. He would only ept volunteers."


    Volunteers, huh. Gabi nodded.


    "However, since the treatment didn''t start yet, you can still leave. I am sure that Chief Aden wouldn''t mind."


    Gabi didn''t say anything this time.


    Why would Luna want her to leave? If she was really Aden''s assistant, then she would want to see the result of the experiment, right?


    She squinted and continued to listen as the woman tried to convince her to leave. Of course, she would asionally nod and asked some random questions about this experiment. Gabi knew that the woman would try to exaggerate her answers to scare her so she believed nothing that she said.


    "Are you done?"


    The conversation was halted when Aden walked inside the room again.


    "Yes, Chief. Here is the result." Luna gave Aden a tablet. She stood next to the man, but once she became too close, Aden took a step back, increasing the distance between them. The action was small, but Gabi noticed it.


    "Hmmm, I already expected this." Aden looked at Gabi. "Let''s go to theb. Miss Luna, your job is done here. Please return to your office."


    "But sir she is a woman."


    "Hm?"


    "I mean I volunteered to help her and assist you since I heard that she is a woman. She reminded me too much of myte little sister, so if it''s alright, I would like to help you this time."


    "How are you going to help me?"


    "Ah?"


    "You don''t even know. Leave us." With that, Aden didn''t spare Luna any nce as he walked towards Gabi. "Let''s go."


    "I thought this is yourb?" Gabi waved at Luna before she followed Aden out of the room. She didn''t miss the fierce re that Luna gave her in response.


    "Not the main one. How are you feeling?"


    "Alive?" She indeed had some problems in her heart, but it''s not something to be worried about. She could walk and run with no problems. However, she couldn''t overexert herself or she would faint. Earlier, all she did was take off her clothes and step inside the tube-like machine.


    "So sarcastic. Keep it up."


    "Hm?"


    "I will give you the first dose of Nanoparticles today."


    "Huh? I thought"


    "Don''t worry, it''s harmless. I wouldn''t give you something that would kill you."


    Gabi lowered her head. "Is it painful?"


    "Nothing like that." Aden stopped walking. "Would you trust me?"


    "Isn''t it weird that you would ask me that question now?"


    He chuckled. "Right. Let''s go." Aden used a series of codes and his fingerprint to open another room.


    [Unknown individual detected.]


    [Unknown individual detected.]


    [Starting Security Protocol one.]


    [Threat: None existent]


    "" Gabi was speechless.


    "Don''t mind it. It would only analyze your skillspared to mine."


    "" Wasn''t that too harsh?


    "Sit."


    He gestured towards the chair. "You can change it into a bed if you are notfortable." He added. "Take this."


    "What is that?" Gabi eyed the vial.


    "Something that would make you sleep."


    "I thought it wouldn''t hurt? Why would you want me to sleep?"


    "You are scared of blood, no? I assumed you would be scared of needles. So sleep."


    Gabi epted the vial but didn''t drink it. She stared at its colorless liquid as questions formed in her mind. What if this man wanted to kill her? Well isn''t it toote for questions now?


    She stared at him for a few seconds. "If you kill me I wille back and hunt you."


    Surprise shed in Aden''s face before he startedughing. Did he find her words amusing? "I believe you," he said. "So I won''t kill you. Sleep."


    Seeing him turn towards the metal door, Gabi bit her lower lip. She hesitated for a few seconds before she finally decided to drink the liquid. Trusting this man was a gamble.


    From the moment she was born, Gabi knew that she wasn''t so lucky. She was born with a heart problem. Her body is as weak as her resolve in the past. However, the idea of curing her body is really tempting. She wanted to defend herself, she wanted to be strong.


    She wanted to live a longer life and she wanted to give birth to Luca again.


    It was a foolish thought. But once she is better, she could do more things.


    So, she was gambling this time.


    Of course, she had analyzed the situation before she came here. In the first ce, Bobo Jewelry is really big. Their information wouldn''t becking. Meaning, they could easily find someone in the same condition as her. If they really wanted to experiment on someone, why would they choose someone like her who is a member of the Ren Family?


    Second, if they wanted to kill her, why not do it earlier when she was in that weird machine, naked and defenseless?


    Third, this is her chance to get close to Archy.


    While thinking about all this, Gabi slowly closed her eyes. Her breathing slowly fell into a calm rhythm. Then her consciousness left her.


    Seeing this, Aden walked out of the door made of metal and stood next to her. His gaze wasplicated before he started frowning.


    How could she be too trusting? "Stupid woman," she muttered before he carried her in his arms. He then walked towards the metal door again.


    ..


    Gabi woke up with a smile on her face.


    She felt like she had slept for ten hours. Her body felt light and refreshed. She even had dreams. When was thest time that she slept


    All of her thoughts faded when she noticed that she wasn''t sleeping in her bed. It took her a couple of seconds to realize that she was still inside Aden''sb. She wasfortably sitting on the chair earlier. Was it done?


    Her gazended on her arm. No needles marks? She didn''t feel any pain either. She turned her head to her left and right. All she could see were various types of equipment, half of them she didn''t recognize.


    She slowly got up and immediately noticed the changes in her body. Was it lighter? Or... was she just hallucinating?


    "Awake?"


    She immediately turned her head towards the door where they came in earlier.


    "Hey... how was it?" she asked.


    "It''s done."


    "Without needle marks?" or pain? She started to doubt his words.


    "Do you feel the changes in your body?"


    "Hm?"


    "I just give you something that would make you healthier. So you would be able to adapt once we put the particles inside you."


    "And the process? You said there would be needles?"


    "Ah... It should be behind your head, at the stem of your brain."

 Chapter 577: Concern

    Chapter 577: Concern


    "It felt the same," Gabi said when she finished 20ps that Aden asked her to run. She grabbed the towel from his hand and wiped the huge beads of sweat on her face.


    "Are you sure?"


    "Yes. My body feels light. I can go on for another twenty."


    Aden nodded as he busily wrote something on his tablet. "Then. Can you run until you feel out of breath or if there is something different in your body?"


    Gabi smiled. She gave the towel back and started running. Earlier, Aden asked her if she was willing to test it out and she agreed. So he took her to another floor where a training base was located. This space is equipped with arge running space to a shooting ground; Gabi couldn''t help but be surprised.


    However, before she could even ask why they have something like this, Aden said that this is where they trained their people. He said it was normal for all their bases. He said it in a really calm and nonchnt tone, like this information is nothing to him. As if on cue, Aden looked at her and told her it wouldn''t matter if she was a spy. If someone would attack this base, he could just kill them.


    The confidence in his tone and ruthlessness in his eyes made Gabi realized he wasn''t joking. He was really confident that this base would be able to fight back against enemies. Of course, she wasn''t really nning to tell anyone about this. She was nning to take this secret to her grave.


    After that, he gave her a new set of clothing so she could start running. He said that the clothing is going to monitor her body and send him a signal if something was wrong with her heart. Aden told her that onep is one kilometer. After that, Gabi started running.


    At first, she thought she wouldst at least until the fifteenthp, seventeen if she really pushed herself. After that, she wouldn''t be able to survive anymore. She was confident that she would faint. But this didn''t happen. Instead, she could run twentyps as if it was nothing. Now she is running for another fiveps before checking if something is weird in her body.


    However, to someone like Gabi who just started training her body, a few months back, twenty-five kilometers is already an achievement. In fact, this would be something that she would be very proud of.


    "Twenty-five. Do you feel anything?" Aden asked again after the twenty-fifthp. "Nothing yet?" he asked when she shook her head.


    "Nothing."


    "Lightheadedness?"


    She shook her head.


    "Nausea?"


    She shook her head.


    He nodded in response. "Since this is your first time, you should take a cold shower first, then rx your muscles. I know you could run moreps, but your body won''t be able to handle the pressure. We don''t want that."


    Gabi excitedly nodded. This is just miraculous! She immediately went to one of the private rooms. It was a small room with a single bed, a shower, a closet, and a table. Aden said it was for the people training or visiting the base.


    After a few minutes, she went out with a new set of clothes that Aden gave her.


    "How do you feel?" Aden was leaning at the door opposite the private room that she chose earlier.


    "Did you wait for me?"


    He nodded in response. "I wanted to make sure that you would only take a quick shower and that you were safe after running like that."


    "I have been running, so it''s nothing new to me," she said. She could run up to fifteen kilometers thanks to Glen''s training. Gabi was confident that this was one of the reasons why she didn''t really feel that tired today. Even her body didn''t ache as much.


    Aden looked at her from head to toe before he nodded. "You look well."


    "I am taking that as apliment."


    He nodded. "White looks good on you."


    "Hm?" Did he justpliment her? Right now, she was wearing a white dress. Aden said that theboratory had various dresses for everyoneame excuse. She knew that he prepared it for her, but she couldn''t understand why he didn''t want her to know that he would go that far just for this experiment. Isn''t that because he didn''t want her toin and back out?


    "I said," he took a step towards her. His icy fingers took her chin, lifting it up as he leaned closer. She could smell lemon and wood around him. Surprisingly, she liked it. "You look beautiful."


    Gabi''s eyes immediately widened. She nked out.


    "Without make-up." He added before he casually took a step back and turned his back on her. "Follow me."


    She didn''t move. Without make-up? That''s right. She only brought lipstick, so after taking a bath, she wasn''t able to put anything on her face aside from her lipstick. She touched her face when she felt it turned hot.


    "Why are you still there? Let''s go."


    "" This man was he mocking her? He just told her that she was beautiful without make-up! Who would believe that? She pouted and followed him towards the elevator. This time, he took her back to his ownb and gave her some cake. It was a chocte cake.


    "My favorite. Try it."


    Seeing the food in front of her, Gabi swallowed her saliva. She didn''t even realize that she was too hungry until she saw the food. This time, she didn''t hesitate. She immediately started eating.


    "Do you want to eat my favorite candy as well?"


    She paused and tilted her head at him. Why does he sound like Luca? Even his expression was just like how Luca when the child would ask her if she wanted to have his candy. At that time, Gabi knew that her son loved those candies too much, so she pretended she wasn''t hungry. This time, however, "Yes please if you don''t mind." She smiled.


    "Didn''t know that a candy would make you this happy."


    "Huh?"


    "Nothing," Aden said as he sat opposite her and started eating his own cake. "I have a sweet tooth. How about you?"


    "II don''t think I do."


    "Oh. Then what''s your favorite food?"


    "Huh?" she awkwardly stared at him. "Oh nothing in particr. But I love strawberries."


    "Then I will ask the chef to make you something with strawberry next time."


    "Thank you," Gabi lowered her gaze. This is really awkward.


    She didn''t know what happened, but for some reason, she could feel his gaze towards her. It was sharp, scrutinizing. And she didn''t like it. However, she thought that it was only because he was observing her after the treatment. So, she ignored him and focused on the cake instead.


    "Next week youe here again," Aden said. "I will give you something else."


    She nodded. For some reason, being with him like this is making her conscious. Until now, she couldn''t forget his words about her being beautiful without make-up. And damn it is making her conscious. She didn''t want the light to hit her face and emphasize her pores.


    Now that she thought about it, she couldn''t remember thest time she had facials. She should really get one. And maybe some wax?


    Jesus what was she thinking?


    All of a sudden, her brain is bing active it''s weird. Her imagination has never been like this before.


    "Are you ufortable somewhere?"


    "No,'''' she answered almost immediately.


    "From now on I will call you every day to check on you. If you feel anything that is making you ufortable, you should tell me."


    "I wasn''t expecting that you would treat your patient like this." Gabiughed. "Don''t worry, I won''t die."


    "I know," he said. "Just standard protocol. Of course, if you don''t like it then"


    "No. No it''s not a problem. I would answer your call." Seeing that he wasn''t smiling, she added, "If you want, I would evene here every day just to check."


    "Alright."


    "Huh?"


    "You said you would see me every day. I said, alright."


    But she only said that to make him feel that she wasn''t ungrateful!


    "You don''t want to?" he asked.


    Why does it feel like she just fell into a trap? "Of course, I want to," she beamed. "I would love to."


    "Good. Then it''s settled. I will visit you every night to check on you."


    "Wait "Every night? She didn''t say that!


    "You have objections? You just said you love to see me every day."


    Uhhh what is going on? "Every night? You will visit me? Isn''t that too much? What about your work? What about Archy?"


    "So you don''t want to see me every day?"


    "It''s not like that. I was just concern. If you travel every day, then what about your other work?" This man is weird with his words.


    "Ah. So you didn''t want me to waste my time traveling to your house?"


    She nodded.


    "Then how about I stay in your house instead?"


    "." Gabi was speechless. How did it be like this?

 Chapter 578: Analise

    Chapter 578: Analise


    Gabi realized that even in small and simple conversations, Aden cannot be underestimated. He was too sly, too cunning. He could easily turn the conversation to his favor. Gabi didn''t even know how it happened. All she recalled was nodding to his words.


    It has been decided that he is going to visit her every night.


    This was thepromise that she came up with when Aden told her that he would live in the mansion. However, after the conversation, she felt that this was what Aden wanted all along. She felt like this man just yed her with words. It was a trap!


    How did it be like this?


    She honestly thought she was smart, but this man is way beyond her league!


    "Alright, just follow the series of exercises in this list. Then take a cold shower in five minutes. After that, text me if you feel something weird."


    These were Aden''s words before she left the jewelry store.


    "What about Luna?" Tureis asked him when Gabi left.


    "What about her?"


    "She tried to convince Miss Gabi to back out. Are you just going to forgive that?"


    Aden looked at the man standing next to him. "Ah she''s dead."


    ""


    "She identally ingested a poison."


    ""


    Aden continued, "Let everyone know about her death. Tell them to be more careful next time." Aden shoved his hand on his pocket. "Careless people easily die." With that, he beamed. "Time to sleep."


    "" Tureis felt a shiver ran down his spine. Who would believe that this was the same monster that was eating with Gabi earlier? If Gabi would see this side, what would she think? Tureis shivered. Just thinking about the other side of Aden, the silent and deadly one, made him tremble in fear.


    Meanwhile, Gabi was smiling until she arrived at the mansion. She was honestly feeling good. Her body felt really light, she quite liked it.


    "Hmmm?" Now that she thought about it, why does it seem like her body changed a lot? Aden told her that he was just going to strengthen her body to prepare it for the nanoparticles. But the changes were quite a lot. Was she imagining things? Or maybe she was just d that she was still alive?


    How weird.


    Did he do something more?


    But most importantly, it seems that she underestimated him.


    "Miss, Sir Earl invited you for dinner. He said his parents would join the two of you."


    "Parents?" Gabi thought about the hierarchy inside the Ren Family. She tried to recall anything about Earl''s parents but failed to do so. She had no memories of them. Even in her previous life, she couldn''t recall talking to them. She remembered meeting them when she was younger, but right now, she had no memories of who they look like.


    Currently, the patriarch of the Ren Family is her grandfather. Ren Zhou. He had no son and only had one daughter which was Gabi''s mother. Because of this, the rightful heir should be Gabi. And everyone in the family supports this. Or at least that''s what Earl told her, even her grandfather told her the same thing.


    But was that really possible?


    Now that she was slowly going out there and exposing herself to the world, she would soon find out if this was really true.


    "Where?"


    "In the Ren Mansion, the old master will be there too."


    "I see. Alright. I will change my clothes and join them." Since it was still a bit early, Gabi decided to rx in the tub before changing her clothes and leaving for the Ren Mansion.


    "Hmmm? Did something happen?" Gabi asked the butler that was walking in front of her. When she arrived at the Ren Mansion, Mr. Esdras personally came out to greet her.


    "Today, Young Master Earl''s fiance is here to meet the old master."


    "Huh? Fiance?"


    "It''s only natural that the young miss is not aware of this matter. Even the old master is not aware that Young master earl already has a fiance."


    "Really? How did that happen?"


    "Well Young Master Earl''s parents are going to exin what happened tonight. That''s why they also invited you to join the dinner."


    Gabi lowered her gaze. Even in her previous life, she couldn''t remember Earl being engaged to someone. Was this caused by the changes that she made when she came back in time? That is the only probability that she could think of.


    Mr. Esdras led her to the back of the mansion where they were going to have their dinner. This space is just a few meters away from the bamboo forest, so the first thing that she noticed when she arrived was the sweet smell of bamboo. A smile appeared on her lips.


    "It looks like Gabi is here. I should call grandfather so we could start dinner." Earl approached Gabi. He was smiling and Gabi couldn''t sense anything from his expression. It seems that Earl was satisfied with his fiance?


    In response, Gabi nodded. Her gazended towards the woman wearing an all-red cheongsam dress that reached her ankles. The slit on the side, however was a little long for Gabi''s taste.


    Nevertheless, the woman looked warm. She wasn''t the typical attractive woman that would make someone droll. But she looked really confident and kind. She had an aura of a mother, a gentle and warm mother.


    "Ah mother, father, I''m sure you remember Gabi."


    "Aunt, uncle, how have you been." Gabi greeted them with a warm smile. In response, the two older people also smiled at her kindly.


    "And this is Analise, my fiance. Analise, this is my cousin, Gabrielle."


    "It''s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Gabrielle. Please call me Ana."


    "Hi, Ana Please call me Gabi." Now that Gabi saw the woman up close, she noticed that this woman looked really familiar.


    "Is there something wrong?" Analise asked. She stood there, staring at Gabi.


    "Ah I just thought that you and Earl would look really good together." Gabi smiled as she shook the woman''s hand. "But you look really familiar. Have we met before?"

 Chapter 579: Future Daughter in law

    Chapter 579: Future Daughter inw


    "So a model," Earl''s mother, Mrs. Linda Ren, smiled at her future daughter-inw. "I heard from your mother that you worked so hard even when you were younger, but I didn''t expect you to actually turn into modeling."


    "Aunt it was just a gig, a small one. When I was in college, I was working part time in a convenience store when an agent found me. He asked if I wanted to model for some boutique and earn extra cash. My friend and I agreed and my small career started from there." Analise said that the reason why she looked familiar is actually that she worked as a model in the past. She was a model of a few clothing brands before she got an ident two years ago.


    "Good! Good! At least you didn''t let poverty affect your dreams." Mr. Peter Ren, Earl''s father, nodded. "You were always like your mother. When we were younger, your mother, your Aunt Linda, and I used to do some random job to earn some extra cash. We used to work in stores too."


    Gabi listened as the table slowly turned noisier. Everyone started talking about Analise and Earl. So far, Gabi learned that Analise is the daughter of Mr. And Mrs. Ren''s long-lost friend. When they were kids, they befriended the daughter of a maid in the neighborhood. At that time, Linda and Peter were already informed that they are each other''s fiance. So they grew up really close.


    The two didn''t think that they would also be closer to Analise''s mother. However, both Linda and Peter went abroad to study. Because of this, they lost contact with their friend. Yearster, they tried to find where she was to invite her to their wedding, but it turns out that she married someone from another country and migrated with her family. After twenty years, they decided toe back to Du Empire.


    Apparently, the reason why Earl and even their grandfather weren''t aware of this engagement is that it started with a promise when they were still younger. The three of them promised to let their kids marry. Anyway, Analise said that this was her mother''s dying wish. So she is here to make that promisee true.


    When Linda and Peter heard about the dying wish of their friend, the two didn''t hesitate to introduce Analise to Earl who actually had no problems with it.


    Still, the question is, howe Gabi didn''t hear about this in her past life?


    Looking at them, Gabi thought that Earl and Analise looked great together. Both are tall and good-looking. Of course, she knew that she couldn''t just trust Analise immediately. However, she didn''t have many reasons to doubt the woman, at least not now. Later, she was already nning to investigate Analise''s mother.


    "Anyway, we aren''t really nning on getting married immediately. We are going to take it slow." Analise said. "Earl and I already agreed to at least wait for another year to establish our rtionship before we talk about a wedding."


    Gabi nodded in approval. She thought that they would do rash things, but it seems that Analise and Earl were both sensible people.


    "That''s an excellent decision." Grandfather Ren said. "You two have my blessings. I don''t want to get involved in the matters of the younger ones. Especially your marriage. I don''t think I have the right to choose the person that you are going to spend the rest of your life with. As long as you are happy and content, then I am happy as well. I will support you two. However, it would be better to announce this engagement soon."


    "Grandfather about that we decided to dy the announcement for six months," Earl said. "That should be enough time right sister?" he was beaming at Gabi. And for the first time, Gabi noticed the peculiarities in his gaze.


    "What are you talking about?" Analise smiled.


    "Well Gabi decided to take a six-month vacation. I wanted to announce our engagement once she is back. I''m sure that is not a problem, right?" Earl asked his fiance.


    "Of course not. I think that would be perfect too."


    Hearing this, Gabi raised an eyebrow. This cunning bastard. It seems that Earl also wanted Gabi to investigate Analise. His question earlier wasn''t directed to Gabi''s vacation but the investigation. "Then it seems that it is already settled. Six months should be enough for me to prepare gifts for the newly engaged couple."


    "Gifts?" Analise looked surprised. Of course, Gabi had to make up something just to avoid suspicion.


    "Well we made a promise in the past. The first one who will get married is going to gift the other something special that is found all over the world."


    "Earl isn''t that too extravagant?" Linda immediately said. "You are older than your cousin. It is obvious that you will get married first. How could you let your cousin do something like that for your engagement?"


    Even Earl''s father started to scold him. Gabi onlyughed inwardly. Serves him right for not telling her about this in advance!


    The dinner actually went out smoothly. Analise said nothing or did anything suspicious. She looked genuine, too. After dinner, everyone started to have some wine. They started talking about random things. From this, Gabi learned new things. Analise is currently working in one of the advertisingpanies in the city. Aside from this, she is taking part-time courses and is nning to be awyer. She isn''t sarcastic or noisy. She is also smart enough to be able to converse about stocks and the current market.


    Right now, nothing is suspicious about the woman.


    "How about you Gabi? Earl told me a lot of things about you. He said you graduated college at a really young age. Do you n to pursue your education too?"


    "No. I decided to stop for now." Gabi politely answered. "I don''t think it is for me."


    "Well Gabi is a smart woman. She is still young. She had a lot of time to think about the things that she wants." Linda smiled at her future daughter-inw.

 Chapter 580: Indirect Kiss

    Chapter 580: Indirect Kiss


    "Nothing? Really? She''s clean?" How could that be? Gabi kept her silence when Kasper told her he wasn''t able to find anything about Analise. She is clean. Everything that she said about her mother and their family was true. Even when she was a model, she was known as a kind and gentle woman but a little unlucky as she was hit by a truck at the peak of her career.


    The thing is, this only made Gabi more suspicious.


    It has been two days since she saw that woman and the information that they were able to gather was already like this. It was as if, she put everything in the open for them to find it. Was it really like this?


    A sigh escaped her lips.


    As expected, a life of a schemer is too tiring. She couldn''t lower her guard down. She could only suspect everyone around her. It is exhausting.


    "Anyway, just continue checking. I want you to check everyone around her, ssmates, friends, her father, her grandfather. Just everyone." At the end of the day, it is still better to be safe than sorry. She couldn''t let anyone betray her family again. No, she didn''t want to feel what she felt when she lost Luca in the past. "You can leave now."


    "Yes, miss."


    Gabi looked at the time on her phone. It was still eight in the evening. Usually, Aden would arrive around nine or ten. For some reason, the guy still refused to use her front door and would climb to her room. It sounds too juvenile. However, her words were useless against that guy.


    Gabi already tried locking her doors and windows, but for some reason, Aden could easily hack her security system. Then he would use the excuse of testing her security. It was slowly irritating her.


    Just in thest two days, she already spent a lot of money just trying to fix her security.


    Because of this, Gabi didn''t lock her doors this time. If he wanted toe, then let hime! She sat on her bed and opened Netflix on herptop. She couldn''t remember when was thest time she started watching some movies and she thought it would be perfect to do it now while waiting for him.


    She positioned theptop on her bed and made herselffortable before she chose some random movie. Then she lit some led candles, turn off her lights and started watching.


    .


    "Hm?" She''s sleeping? Aden looked at the time and realized that it was still nine in the evening. Did something happen? He reached by her side in a few seconds and check her temperature. A sigh escaped his lips when he realized that she was just sleeping. There were no abnormalities in her body, either. He shook his head. He had been too nervous. It was pathetic. Looking around, he realized that the room felt extremely cozy. She must have fallen asleep while watching theptop.


    But who would me her? The lights were out, it''s cold andfortable. She must have been tired, too. This woman had been running around, scheming against people. It was normal for her to get tired.


    Still, he hated that she was too defenseless. She didn''t even lock the windows or doors. "Tsk."


    "You''re here?" Gabi sat up in a jolt. "I fell asleep." She looked at theptop. The episode one of the series that she chose to watch was still ying. "Sorry about that " She immediately notice that he was sitting on the edge of her bed. "How long have you been here?" she asked as she avoided his gaze.


    She couldn''t help but wonder if she was drooling earlier. How embarrassing.


    "You didn''t lock your windows."


    "" She looked at him, disbelief apparent in her gaze. "Really?" she couldn''t help but ask. She thought he wanted him to leave it open so he could just go inside to check on her.


    Seeing her brows furrowed, he leaned closer, surprising her. Eyes wide, she leaned back in response. "What would happen if someone decides to go inside?"


    He was too close, she could smell his aftershave. She gulped in response. The irritation inside her melted away. He had a point. "So I am supposed to just let you break it and spend money the next day to fix it?"


    "You are too dumb." He handed her a bottle of water. "Drink it."


    She said nothing as she grabbed it and hastily started drinking the water. For some reason, talking to this man is either going to make her hungry or thirsty.


    "I already spent a lot on the security of the mansion. I am looking for someone to fix it. Can you rmend someone?" He should know, right? He is Archy''s right-hand man after all.


    "Ah that''s easy try Shen Security. They have a branch here. I will call them tomorrow for you."


    "Shen From Shen Group?"


    He nodded in response. To her surprise, he suddenly used his thumb to wipe the water on her lower lip. Stunned, she let him. What is this man doing? Why was he acting like this? However, she had no courage to remove his fingers on her lower lip. "So thirsty" he uttered softly before letting go of her face. He then leaned back and casually grabbed the bottle from her hand.


    Without saying anything, he drank the rest of the water.


    "Uhhh." Gabi grew up inside this mansion all her life. Therefore, she has not seen anyone treat her like this. In her previous life, she had never experienced being so nervous around someone. She never kissed anyone aside from her husband, Harry, and that man from the one-night stand. However, she read a lot of novels about romance. And ording to those novels this is what they call an indirect kiss. Right?


    "Let me check your temperature."


    "Wait" She was hot. She felt hot. She knew she was blushing. "I am uh let me turn off the movie." Was she panicking? She turned her head towards the candles, hoping they would distract her. Wait it''s supposed to be dark, right? Then she''s not supposed to see his face, at least not clearly, right?


    Did her eyesight suddenly improve?

 Chapter 581: Frankenstein

    Chapter 581: Frankenstein


    "So your eyes have improved. Impressive."


    "Was this supposed to happen?"


    "Yes."


    "How is that possible, though?" Isn''t this a bit too advanced for this time? If something like that exists, then "What kind of stuff did you give me, anyway?" she asked, curiosity lingered in her gaze.


    "Even if I tell you, you won''t understand."


    ""


    "It''s enough that you know it''s going to make your body a bit better. As I said, I was trying to prepare you for the nanoparticles. The treatment won''t work if your body couldn''t handle it."


    Her gaze was direct as she said, "Thank you."


    "You already owe me a lot. You should give me something in return."


    "Oh? Information? Sure I will give it tomorrow." She answered almost immediately. This man was clearly doing this because he wanted more information to help Mr. Archy. Aden was about to answer when her phone suddenly vibrated. "Let me get that."


    "Kasper did something happen?" she asked. It was alreadyte. Why was he calling her?


    "Miss I just received some news. Lyle Quigly died."


    "Huh?"


    "Apparently, it''s a heart attack. But I already checked, she is healthy. She didn''t have any problems in her heart, either. She was even an athlete when she was younger."


    Lyle died? She furrowed her brows. She was confident that it was not an ident. But who would kill her? Damn! Gabi cursed inwardly. That old man might think that Gabi had something to do with it! "Alright. Thanks for letting me know. Have a good night."


    "You don''t look too well?" Aden asked when she ended the call.


    "Miss Quigly died."


    "Ah, and you don''t look that happy? She tried to kill you."


    His words deepened the creases in between her brows. For some reason, she couldn''t help but suspect him. But why would he kill Lyle? That woman did nothing to him or Archy. "I wasn''t nning on killing her."


    "Hm? Why?"


    "What do you mean by why?"


    "She wanted to kill you."


    "You "


    "You are still young," he snorted. "In this world, it is better to deal with your enemies swiftly to avoid furtherplications. The easier to get rid of them, the better."


    Now she was seventy percent sure that he was the one who killed her. "You talk as if killing is as easy as cutting pies."


    "It is as easy as cutting pies."


    She blinked. His words were said without a hint of hesitation. She knew he had killed a lot of people in the past, but to be able to say something like this is just "I am not like you."


    "Why?"


    "What does that mean?" she asked, confused.


    "Why aren''t you like me? People who wanted my life ended up dead. How about you. Are you nning to let them go and let them try again? What if they seed the second time? Hm?"


    Her jaws dropped, unable to say anything.


    "You see? People will only hurt you if you let them. So it''s better to stop them the first time they show signs of hurting you."


    That Is this the mentality of a ruthless killer?


    "Scared?"


    "Of  of what?"


    He didn''t answer. Instead, he got up and stared at her, the corner of his lips lifting into an insidious smirk. "Of monsters."


    Monsters.


    Gabi stilled. "What is a monster?" she asked herself. Monsters should be ruthless creatures who do not care about life or other people around them. In her previous life, she hasn''t directly killed people. Yet she had caused a lot of deaths because of her schemes. So, wasn''t she considered a monster too?


    "Are you familiar with Frankenstein?" he asked.


    "Yes."


    "And you know who made it?"


    "Yes."


    "Then let me asked you this. Who do you think is the actual monster between the two?"


    "The doctor," she answered.


    "Then if given a chance, who are you going to kill? Frankenstein? Or the one who made him?"


    "The doctor."


    "Those assassins were Frankenstein. Lyle is the doctor. She could create another Frankenstein. Do you understand me?"


    Gabi nodded. Thatparison is a bit extreme, but she totally got his point.


    "She''s malicious because she was miserable. She didn''t get her way, and she was punished. But did you really think she would stop there? What made you think that she isn''t going to pay someone to kill you again? You are silly enough to warn her, then you let her go just like that. Do you know? People like her are just going to get better in the future. Meaning, she won''t use the ck market to kill you next time. She would be careful and would be more cautious of the surrounding people. Meaning, you will have a hard time defending yourself, next time."


    Gabi nodded. However, she was more concerned about the fact that he was teaching her how to be ruthless. What''s his deal, anyway? Why was he acting so strange around her?


    "People like her won''t stop until they kill their target. They scheme and scheme and scheme until they die. Dealing with them would be very tiring, no?"


    "Yes."


    "So to save time you better deal with them while they are still weak. That way, you will have more time to rx."


    "So you are saying that you killed Lyle Quigly?"


    "I won''t say anything that would incriminate myself," he winked at her. "Anyway, you better learn your lesson."


    "I have a question."


    "Ask."


    "What about second chances?"


    "What is that?"


    "" Gabi gulped. It seems that Aden was raised in a very ruthless environment. How pitiful. "Personalities aren''t set in stones. People change and everyone deserved a second chance. But from your words alone, I could see that you are not someone who gives second chances."


    "Ah yes. I am toozy to deal with that."


    "" Really? Disbelief shed in her eyes. What kind of person would say something like that? She sighed inwardly. It seems that her previous assumption was right. This man must have been a trained killer since he was young. He must have had a very sad childhood.

 Chapter 582: Archys Son

    Chapter 582: Archy''s Son


    Gabi didn''t have a good night''s sleep.


    Therge panda eyes that she was sporting were enough proof of that. She let out a sharp sighed. Honestly, she didn''t want to kill Lyle. But now that she thought about Aden''s words, he was partly right. If she wouldn''t end her enemies, they would surelye back and haunt her.


    Still, Lyle''s death surprised her. Last night, Aden didn''t say that he was the one who killed Lyle, but judging from his words and expression, it was obvious that he did it.


    But the question is why?


    Was it just because Lyle tried to kill her?


    So why would he care that much?


    "Miss here are the newspapers for today. Differentnguages."


    "Kasper I want to build a club."


    "Huh?"


    "Find a building three stories," Gabi added. Right now, she needed to increase her influence in the city. However, she isn''t nning to expose herself immediately. "Six months should be enough for the contractions of this club."


    "Miss isn''t this too rash? I believe we need to make market research about this new business venture."


    "No need. I know the perfect spot for businesses like this. I will give you a list of the ces that I want you to check for me. Do it discreetly. Just make sure that the building has three floors."


    "Understood."


    "Good now let''s go for that fitting. Ah. And the Shen Security. They wille today to check the security. Make sure to inform Spencer about it." Speaking of Shen Security. It actually looked like Aden knew someone in thatpany. She couldn''t believe that Aden was able to order them around and even told them some specifics about the type of security that he wanted Gabi to have.


    Honestly, this made her confused about Aden''s identity. It actually looked like he was a very well-connected person. Was it possible that it was all because of Archy? No, it didn''t look like that when he was talking to someone over the phone.


    Aden sounded too confident. There was no hint of hesitation in his voice. He was also quick to decide about stuff. Was it because he was really close to Archy? Wait Archy Aden A? Was it possible that they were father and son?


    Hmmm now that she thought about it. This does make a lot of sense. Aden has the authority because he was Archy''s son!


    Gabi decided to stop thinking about that man and just focus on her lunch with Earl. Today, they were scheduled to have lunch together then check the clothes that Gabi wanted to wear for the G. Of course, Earl would be there since he would be trying out the suit that Gabi ordered for him.


    After taking a long rxing bath, Gabi immediately went to one of the upscale restaurants in the next city.


    "I didn''t expect that you would be so early." Gabi sat opposite her cousin.


    "I just arrived." He frowned. "What''s with that look?"


    "Well you look like you needed to take a nap. Are you alright?" Gabi asked while taking a look at the menu. "You look tired.


    "That''s because I am tired," Earl uttered. "It''s tiring."


    "What is?"


    "Rtionships."


    "Oh" Was it tiring? Gabi felt lucky that she wasn''t able to experience an actual rtionship in the past.


    "You won''t be able to rte, you are single."


    "Aren''t you single for years too?" Gabi snorted. "I would rather stay single than have the stress that you are experiencing now."


    "Hmph."


    "Still this is making me curious. How was she?"


    "She moved in with us."


    "In the Ren Mansion?"


    "What? No! She moved with mom and dad. Mom insisted that she live in that house and since I live in the mansion, I have no problems with her moving with my parents. I stayed upte, helping her set up her room."


    "Oh"


    "Is that the only thing that you are going to say?"


    "What am I supposed to say?" she asked, confused. Her cousin was smiling at her  something that made her smile as well. At least, he wasn''t too affected by the sudden change in his status.


    "Well maybe say that I am so nice? That I am the ideal husband?"


    "Hmmm now that I thought about it. I don''t think you are the ideal type"


    "" For a few seconds, he stared at her, surprised. Clearly, he never expected her to say something like that.


    "Why?" he asked.


    "Let''s see I think you are too nice for me."


    "Huh?"


    Gabiughed at his confused expression.


    "Being nice is not always good."


    He blinked and blinked again. Seeing this, she continued. "It''s tiring."


    "You mean being nice?" This time, Earlughed and shook his head. "Looks like"


    "Hm? Miss Gabi?"


    The two of them stopped talking and looked at the woman who approached them. A smile appeared on Gabi''s face. "Miss risse." The woman stood next to their table and gave her a sweet smile.


    "I wasn''t expecting to see you here," Gabi added when risse started side-eyeing her cousin. "I thought you went back home."


    "Oh I live in this city now."


    "Really?"


    "Yes, my friends and I decided to rent a house for all of us."


    "Friends?" Gabi looked at the man and woman standing behind risse. Both of them were tall and beautiful.


    "Let me introduce them This is Sasha and Ranty. Both of them were influencers, too. We decided to stay together to create some content."


    "Oh that sounds fun."


    "By the way Miss Gabi, is this your boyfriend? As expected, you two looked good together."


    Before Earl could say anything, Gabi already nodded. "I agree. Both of us look good. Thank you."


    A sh of surprise appeared in risse''s eyes. It was quick, but definitely enough for Gabi to know that risse already knew that Earl wasn''t her boyfriend. "I thought your boyfriend is a bit familiar perhaps is he, Mr. Earl Ren?" Sasha asked. "The one from the Ren Family?"


    "Oh, my Ren Family?" risse widened her eyes. "But Miss Gabi is also from the Ren Family, no?"


    "Yes, both of us are from the Ren Family." Earl chimed in. "Is there something wrong?"


    "Ah? No. It''s just that" risse looked at Earl than to Gabi, hoping to get a small reaction from them. To their surprise, Gabi and Earl just stared at them as if they seriously didn''t know what was going on.


    "Hm? Miss risse, you look ufortable." Gabi smiled. "Are you ill?" Gabi just realized that she was awkward with all other types of conversation. However, this awkwardness would change if she was in front of someone that she didn''t like. How amusing!


    "No Anyway we are going to our table. It''s nice seeing you, Miss Gabi." With that, risse left with her friends.


    "What was that?" Earl asked, chuckling. "That woman howe she is still here?"


    "No idea." Alfons was a smart man. He must have warned them beforehand that staying here might cause some problems. However, judging from risse''s attitude thest time that Gabi saw her, it was pretty obvious what kind of woman she was. The allure of the city life must have gotten into her.


    "She knew that you were my cousin, and yet she still dared to make a statement like that. How shameless." Earl added. "This is why I don''t like most women like that. Ah this reminds me did you find out something?"


    Slowly, their conversation shifted towards Earl''s fiance. Gabi informed her cousin that she wasn''t able to find any dirt from that woman yet. However, she promised that she would do her best to find out the truth soon.


    "But what is she is telling the truth?" Earl asked.


    "Then it''s all good. As long as you are happy, I would definitely support you." She knew that her cousin isn''t dumb. If he notice something, he would never agree to marry a woman just because his parents want him to. "But I am curious what do you think of her?"


    "Hmmm About that I can''t say. I just met her about three times."


    "So you were staying in your office the whole time that she was here?" Gabi heard his fiance had been here for a few weeks.


    "Yes. I was busy."


    "" This man is hopeless. "Are you nning to do something special for her soon?"


    "Hm? Like dinner?"


    "No, dummy like propose to her. With a ring or something?"


    "Propose? But we are already engaged, right?"


    Gabi face-palmed. Their conversation was halted when the waiter took their order.


    "As a man, you should still do something about this engagement." Gabi continued as Earl started slicing her steak.


    "I honestly don''t think we need it," Earl said. Suddenly, his gaze turned sharp. "She insisted on marrying someone she never met just to honor a promise. She should know what she was getting into."


    It was the kind of gaze that made Gabi shiver. However, Earl quickly adjusted his expression. He smiled at her. "But since you suggested, I should do it. Do you want to help me pick some rings?"

 Chapter 583: Dress

    Chapter 583: Dress


    "Is there something wrong?"Gabi asked Earl after a few minutes of eating with him.


    "That obvious huh" Earl uttered. "Let''s have coffeeter after the fitting."


    "Alright." Gabi nodded. It seems that this man was really hiding something from her. After they finished their meal, they immediately went to the boutique and took a look at their clothes.


    "Red huh" Earl said while looking at Gabi''s gown. "So the theme is red and ck? You will wear red and I am going to wear ck?"


    "Yep."


    "Alright"


    Gabi examined the surrounding gowns before staring at her reflection. At first, Gabi wanted a mermaid gown, but now that she looked at the gown, it didn''t look special at all. It was too nd, too normal. Something that anyone would think of wearing. So, she asked the seamstress to make something that would stand out. And she did.


    She made a knee-length off shoulder red dress just for Gabi. It perfectly hugged her body, showing off her newfound curves from the exercises. It wasn''t just the bright red, but a darker shade that looked like blood. And to be honest? It looked perfect for her pale skin. The dress wasn''t too extravagant or sexy. But it looked really elegant. Compared to the other gowns around her, this one was totally a standout.


    "What are you nning to do with your hair?" Earl asked. He was calmly sitting on the couch inside the private dressing room. He just finished checking his own suit and decided to check her dress. This room has its own couch, a floor-length mirror, and another room for dressing. It was big enough for a client to have her or his own mini fashion show. And the lights oh, the lights.


    Gabi loved that it was really bright. It is making her skin look spotless.


    "I am wearing a gown."


    "Hm?"


    "ck ponytail. A long one." She had Tina, so Gabi had no problems with her hairstyle or make-up. "How do I look?"


    "Hmmm Do you look older? But definitely a standout."


    "Damn you.."


    "Hey I was honest."


    "Are you saying that red doesn''t suit me?" Gabi smiled. Of course, she knew that she really looked good in red. However, it looked like her cousin was really hopeless when ites to rtionships. Instead of praising her, Earl didn''t sugarcoat his words.


    Earlughed in response. "It suits you. Even if you color your skin red, you would look good on it."


    "" Now, what kind of praise is that? She shook her head and gave herself onest look before she changed her clothing. After that, the two of them told the seamstress that the suit and dress perfectly fit so there was no need for any changes. Gabi wanted them to deliver the dress to the mansion.


    "But I wanted this dress I would look good on me."


    Hm? Gabi turned towards the first floor of the boutique when she heard a familiar voice. Did it sound like risse?


    "What do you mean by custom made? If you didn''t want to make something like this, then why show it to people?"


    Gabi was right. It was indeed risse. "What is happening?" Gabi asked.


    "Ah that is an influencer. She is going to wear one of our clothes for an event. The manager wanted her to choose which one she liked. However the dress that she wanted isn''t something that she could have for the event."


    "Really?" Gabi raised an eyebrow.


    "Yes. She found the design by ident." The seamstress shrugged. "Anyway the manager could handle it."


    Gabi nodded. This seamstress had been working with her family since her mother married her father. She was the same person who designed her mother''s wedding gown. However, the woman didn''t have any ambition and chose to work in a boutique-like this. Gabi didn''t know the exact circumstances of this person as she never really asked her to make a gown because she didn''t attend events.


    Gabi would only ask her to make dresses and pants. In fact, this was the first time that Gabi requested her to make a beautiful dress.


    Now that she thought about it, there should be a reason why this woman didn''t make her own boutique and chose to work for someone else. After thanking the woman, Gabi and Earl were about to walk down when the manager suddenly came running towards them.


    "Mrs. Chester. I am d that you are still here. Do you think we could still make another one of that red dress that Oh Miss Sutton is here. Sorry I didn''t notice you."


    Gabi''s gaze turned towards the seamstress, Mrs. Chester. Just as she expected, the woman just smiled at the manager  it was the same usual smile that she used every time she talked to Gabi. "My apologies Sir, but that dress is an exclusive one."


    "What are you talking about? What exclusive? This is for the promotion of the boutique. Come on Mrs. Chester. Can''t you just make another red one?"


    "I could make a simr attire, but it''s not going to be red." Mrs. Chester firmly said. Despite the smile on her face, her eyes didn''t budge. It was clear and sharp. This made Gabi more curious.


    Just what exactly is Mrs. Chester''s role in this boutique? If she was a normal employee, she would have immediately agreed to the manager''s words. But not only did she refuse to follow his words, she even dared to make conditions.


    "Ah Miss Sutton "Seeing that Mrs. Chester wasn''t showing signs of budging, the man turned towards her. "Miss Sutton I know that your rtionship with Mrs. Chester isn''t shallow at all. And I know that you personally requested that dress but one of our influencers wanted to wear that dress to an event. I wanted to use this opportunity to promote our boutique, so I sponsored their dresses. I know this is a presumptuous request but would it be alright if Mrs. Chester would make another one of your dresses?"


    "It is indeed presumptuous," Gabi said.


    "I "


    "No."


    "Hm?"


    "The answer to your question is no."


    "But Miss Sutton, how about this you can choose whatever dress you like. It''s free. You can take whatever you like but just give the dress to Miss risse."


    "No," Gabi answered almost immediately. Gabi didn''t know why this person had the guts to actually ask her to part with her dress. Was it because she looked really young? Usually, younger people were easier to entice into something.


    "Two dresses you can take two dresses No, how about three dresses and an unlimited supply of dresses for a year?"


    Is this man stupid? Gabi looked at him in disbelief. Was that risse really worth that much? Still, Gabi shook her head. "Nope."


    "But"


    "Sir Miss risse said that since you are taking too long, she and Miss Sasha is just going to leave." Interrupting the conversation, one of the attendant said.


    "No, wait! I can''t Ugh Just tell her to give me five minutes."


    "Alright."


    "Miss Sutton I really can''t afford to offend Miss risse because the order came from the top. If I don''t do this, I would lose my job."


    "From the top?"


    "I  I can''t say the exact reason, but the head office ordered us to do this."


    "Earl who owns this boutique?"


    "Hmmm I believe it''s the Yu''s."


    "Joseph Yu?"


    "Yes. His son should be the one managing all the boutique''s branches."


    Gabi looked at the manager. His pale face was enough to exin the situation.


    "Miss Sutton please"


    "Earl Do you know Mr. Joseph Yu?"


    "Yes. We talked a couple of times. I even have his personal number."


    "Call him."


    "Wait Miss Sutton, what are you doing?"


    Gabi didn''t say anything. She looked at Earl, waiting for him to call the person. Seeing that Earl started dialing his phone, the manager panicked. "Miss Sutton Mr. Ren please don''t do that. I would really lose my job if you do that"


    "Tell him that his son''s girlfriend wanted my dress. I''m not giving it." Gabi said before she turned towards the stairs. "Ah Mrs. Chester my driver will pick up the dress now. We can''t afford to lose it on its way home." Gabi nced at the manager before she continued walking down the stairs.


    Earl followed closely behind her as he talked to someone on his phone. "Miss Sutton... please... Mr. Jun Yu is going to throw another tantrum if we don''t give Miss risse the dress. Miss Sutton, please. Isn''t this just a dress? We can give you plenty of dresses and gowns. I am sure that..."


    "You are too noisy."


    The manager really sounded desperate. Maybe if the woman wasn''t risse, Gabi would have immediately relented. After all, it was just a dress. She didn''t want to trouble anyone over something that small. However, knowing that the person who wanted the dress was rted to Alfons changed that decision.


    Call her petty and nonsense, she doesn''t care. All she cared about was not giving that woman what she wanted.


    "Mr. Kim.... what is taking you so..." risse stopped talking when she notice Gabi walking towards her.

 Chapter 584: What Can You Do About It?

    Chapter 584: What Can You Do About It?


    "Miss Gabi" risse widened her eyes, surprised at Gabi''s appearance. "Why are you here?"


    "Is there a reason for me not to visit this ce?"


    "I " risse looked at the manager before looking at Gabi. "The dress"


    "If you are talking about the red dress then no." Gabi side-eyed Earl and saw him smiling while talking to the person on the other line.


    "I-"


    "risse since they didn''t want to give the dress then just leave. We can always find some sponsors. I am sure that many people would want to pay us to wear their dresses. We don''t need this ce."


    "Sasha don''t be like that"


    Gabi snorted inwardly. Right now, risse''s voice sounded gentle, it was the exact opposite of the voice that she used earlier when she was shouting about the dress. The changes were mind-boggling, even the manager was speechless.


    "Miss Gabi I really like that dress so"


    "No."


    "Miss Gabi if you want I will pay for the dress."


    "Nope," Gabi answered. She was honestly enjoying this.


    "Miss Gabi, isn''t this just a dress?" Sasha uttered. "I don''t think it''s that big of a deal. This store has a lot of dresses. While that dress is something that risse will use to help promote the store. I think the difference in value was too obvious."


    Gabi shrugged. This time, Earl was already done talking to his phone he nudged her and gave her a thumbs up.


    "Hah I never thought that one day, I would argue with someone over a dress. Come on risse let''s leave this ce. Hmph! I am sure that many brands would beg us to wear their dress once they knew that this transaction is a failure."


    "Miss Sasha please wait. Let me just"


    "Enough! You can''t convince her! Can''t you see? She ispletely looking down on us. Rich people always act like this! Let''s go, risse Let''s just tell Mr. Yuter about this. And you" Sasha pointed at the manager. "You should pack your things in advance. You know how Mr. Yu is risse''s partner and yet you dare treat us like this!"


    Gabi''s lips twitched. They purposely mentioned Mr. Yu to let her know who was backing them. "Mr. Yu like the son of the owner of this boutique?"


    "That''s right!" Sasha smirked when she saw Gabi''s expression. Sasha and risse didn''te from a well-off family. They just gain their money and fame because of social media. However, now that they are already famous, many people still looked down on them. Rich peopleughed at them and treat them as clowns and prostitutes who would do everything for fame and money.


    Sasha and risse decided toe here and stay in the City because they wanted to work and prove to those people that they have real careers too! They don''t sell their bodies and they don''t just dance in front of the camera wearing their underwear!


    "So It was Mr. Yu''s son"


    "Well he might be the youngest but Mr. Yu favored him a lot," Sasha said. In fact, Sasha was already aware of Gabi''s identity because risse told her that she met Gabi once. And just like what risse said, Gabi was indeed someone who looked down on them.


    It was pathetic!


    Sasha knew that this woman grew up rich. Her mother and father were both rich and she inherited everything. Gabi didn''t even have a real job and just spent her money shopping and traveling! At twenty, she does not go to school anymore, does not have any job, and just received her money from the stocks that she inherited from her mother.


    Is that something to be proud of?


    Unlike Gabi, Sasha and risse worked their ass off to have more followers and earn their first sponsorship! Compared to them, Gabi just had everything the moment she was born!


    How hateful!


    Someone like this didn''t have the right to treat them like trash!


    She didn''t have the right to look down on them!


    "Miss Gabi this we can''t let the old man involve in something like this. Miss Gabi, isn''t this just a dress?" Once again the manager tried to convince her but all she could hear were   . It was tiring.


    The manager already told her everything. What was the use of saying it again? Did he think that the name of the owner of the boutique could scare her? "True " Gabi nodded. "It was just a dress."


    Sasha snorted when she heard Gabi''s words. Obviously, the name intimidated her. Mr. Yu is indeed influential. In fact, the whole Yu Family is very influential. It''s not because they are the richest family but it was because they owned a lot of malls and grocery stores in the country!


    "But I don''t want to give it to other people." Gabi''s words halted Sasha''s thoughts.


    "But what about Mr. Yu?" Sasha asked.


    "What about him?" Gabi asked. "Did you think the old man would offend me?" Gabi sneered.


    "You "


    "Even his son can''t do anything about it." Gabi walked towards risse and tucked a loose strand of her long hair behind her ears. "Do you want to know why?"


    risse paled. The close proximity seemed suffocating. Gabi was younger than them by a couple of years, however, right now, she looked like she was someone above them.


    "I "


    Gabi leaned forward and whispered, "He won''t offend a shareholder like me just for his son''s girlfriend."


    "You "


    Sasha who was standing close to risse stilled when she heard Gabi''s words. "Shareholder?" Was this the reason why this woman was so smug? She was actually a shareholder? No wait she wasn''t exactly the shareholder.


    "Miss Gabi you looked really proud that you own some stocks in thispany. But let me ask you this. The shares that you owned isn''t that something that your parents give you?"


    "And so?" Gabi smiled. Is there something wrong with inheriting the things that her mother owned?


    "And so? You are asking us about that?" Sasha''s eyes turned sharp, malevolence glinted in her irises. "We achieve everything that we have now because of hard work! While you have what you have now because of your parents. You haven''t worked a single job since you were born and yet you dare to ask us that?"


    "Sasha enough"


    "No risse both of us hate people like this. People who think they are above us just because of their family. What was she proud about? You why are youughing?"


    "It''s because you are amusing," Gabi answered. "I was wondering how you became an influencer. Then I realized it must be because you are good at joking. People would love to have a goodugh after a long tiring day, no?"


    "You "


    "Sasha... Enough let''s just leave." risse gritted her teeth. She knew how malicious Gabi is. All she wanted was to leave before everyone in the boutique would hear them. They were lucky that they were still in the VIP section of the boutique. Aside from the staff who were enjoying the show, no one else was here.


    When ites to the staff, dealing with them would be easy. She could just let her man fire them. However Sasha is a bit different. She isn''t the smartest and she is very impulsive. She won''t be able to deal with Gabi at all!


    "How dare you call me aedian?" Of course, Sasha was already seeing red. Gabi was really looking down on her! She even tried to insult her! How dare she! Sasha wanted to p this woman but she was scared that Gabi would sue her! She knew that Gabi hold a lot of influence simply because she knew a lot of people in the government because of her father!


    "Ohhh you said that yourself. I just said you were funny."


    "You "


    "Miss Gabi please don''t provoke my friend anymore."


    "Provoke her? I was praising her." When ites to words, Gabi was very confident in her skills of course, this is except that old fox Aden.


    Wait why was she thinking of that old man?


    "Anyway the shares are under my name so you can''t do anything about it," Gabi uttered. "As a shareholder of the mall itself, I have perks too."


    "Hah I have never seen someone so despicable my whole life."


    "Despicable?" Gabi snorted. "Yeah so what? What can you do about it?"


    Sasha almost exploded from anger. Not only was this woman so despicable, but she was also the most shameless human that Sasha met! Sasha wanted to explode! Rage coursed through her veins. Just as the was about the erupt, risse suddenly received a call.


    "It''s Oppa"


    "Then answer him! He must be curious if you have already chosen a dress! Tell him about this woman!" Sasha immediately urged her friend to answer the call.


    "Hello?" risse said in a sweet voice. Her expression was that of someone who was talking to someone they really love it was foolish. However, this expression didn''tst too long. Soon, tears started to stream down risse''s cheeks. Clearly, her boyfriend wasn''t just asking her about the dress.

 Chapter 585: Lyles Death

    Chapter 585: Lyle''s Death


    "What did you do?" risse immediately asked when the call ended. This was the first time that her boyfriend scolded her! "You " This woman really loved to ruin her ns! "How could you "


    "risse? What happened?" Sasha already had an ugly look on her face. What could have made risse act like this? Thest time that risse cried was actually when she got back with her grandmother after that short trip to the capital. Sasha didn''t know what happened back then as risse didn''t tell her the reason why she was crying. And she didn''t want to ask her friend either.


    However, as someone who knew risse for more than a year now, she knew that risse doesn''t really cry. She was a strong woman!


    "He yelled at me."


    "Huh? Why would he do that?"


    "He said I was trying to steal Miss Gabi''s dress. That is not true. I tried to exin but he wasn''t listening."


    "What?" Sasha''s eyes widened. She squinted at Gabi, irritationced her tone. "This is the reason why I hate rich people. They always think that we are here to steal their things! However, since it''s already like this, we should just leave this store. I know a lot of people rmended this store and that is one of the reasons why you agreed to wear their dress, however, those people are clearly blind! How could they rmend a store like this? Did a donkey hit their heads? They said that they support us and love us and yet they actually dared to scheme against us!"


    "Sasha calm down. Let''s not create any more trouble." risse uttered. With Gabi around, her ns wouldn''t work, no matter what it was. She could easily let go of this boutique, in fact, she could forget about that dress. The most important thing right now is Mr. Yu. Earlier, the man didn''t actually call her a thief or anything like that. He just told her not to offend Gabi. And when she tried to reason out, he scolded her and called her stubborn.


    Since this was the first time that he actually scolded her, risse felt a little emotional. She felt it was unfair that he was scolding her when all she wanted was a dress. It was just a dress! Her boyfriend actually scolded her over a dress. This infuriated her to the point that she wanted to cry.


    "Wait let me record a video right now." risse smiled inwardly when she heard Sasha''s voice. Right, a live stream is always nice. It would gain sympathy and make people hate this damn store.


    "Miss Sasha video streaming inside the store is not allowed. So"


    "Who told you that I will do the streaming inside? I will do it outside of your store! Hmph!" Sasha uttered.


    "I wouldn''t do that if I were you." Gabi slowly held her hand towards Earl. In response, Earl gave her his phone. "My cousin identally pressed the video button earlier. So " Gabi yed the video and forwarded it. She specifically chose the time when Sasha was ranting about their fans. "I am sure that your fans wouldn''t like this video."


    "You "


    "Don''t take it personally Miss Sasha I am just trying to protect my assets. After all, the dividends that I receive every year are enough tost me a month of luxury." Gabi smirked. People usually think that she was lucky because she was born into a rich family. This wasn''t the first time that someone treated her like this. In fact, in her previous life, people usually sneer at her behind her back. They call her Miss Lucky.


    She was lucky to have a rich maternal family.


    She was lucky to have a smart father who became the prime minister.


    She was lucky to have inherited billions from her mother.


    She was lucky to have a brother like Alfons.


    She was lucky to marry Harry.


    She was just lucky.


    No one actually knew the effort that she put in just to learn thosenguages, graduate early and support her brother. No one saw her copse from her sickness. No one knew how walking to the second floor of the house would make her faint because her heart couldn''t handle the stairs. No one knew how she would worry about dying early and leaving her son alone.


    True, she was lucky. She was born privileged. However, all this money wasn''t enough to heal her, keep her safe and bring back her mother. If someone would ask her, give her an option to choose between having all this money or having her mother and son, she would choose thetter without batting an eyelid. She would always choose them over this money!


    "You "


    "One video from you could easily drop the sales of this boutique which would risk their position inside the mall. But if you release a video, anything that would damage the name of this mall, we would release this video in retaliation." Gabi added. "Obviously, many sponsors would see your true color. And if that happens" She didn''t continue her words.


    Companies would never associate themselves with people who don''t represent their brands. It would be an easy decision for them to drop Sasha and risse just because of this small incident. And if Gabi would put a little pressure on them, they might even cklist them. "Your choice," Gabi smirked.


    "How evil." Sasha clenched her jaw. Right now, she understood why risse told her that Gabi is the most vile woman that she encounter. She might be rich but she would do everything to win. "risse let''s find that man of yours and let him exin why he did this to us. He was the one who wanted you to be his escort in that g and now he didn''t want you to get that dress. What kind of man is that."


    risse shook her head, downcasted. She immediately held her friend''s hand and pulled her out of the boutique.


    "These days, most influencer''s feel like they can do whatever they want because they have a few fans backing them." Earl sighed behind her. "They are scary people.


    Gabi nodded. A few years from now, influencers would grow big and bigger until they would have enough influence to actually make people boycott apany. Just as she thought about this, she recalled Aden''s words about ending her enemies as early as possible. Or, she would have a hard time dealing with themter.


    In risse''s case, Aden was right. There is a possibility that risse would be big in the industry. If that happens, it would be a little inconvenient to deal with her. She lowered her gaze, hiding the little malevolent squint in her eyes. Aden was right. She needed to deal with risse as soon as possible.


    "Excuse me are you Miss Sutton?"


    The two of them stopped walking when a man wearing a ck suit approached them.


    "What''s wrong?" Earl asked the man.


    "Mr. Quigly the Patriarch is inviting Miss Sutton for a tea on the third floor. I hope that Miss Sutton would spare a few minutes of her time for the old man."


    Gabi''s lips thinned. This is what she was talking about. She knew that this was because of Lyle''s death!


    Right now, the old man must be suspected of her involvement in his granddaughter''s death.


    "You are close with Mr. Quigly?" Earl couldn''t help but ask.


    She shrugged, "Not really."


    "Then I would apany you."


    "Mr. Quigly said that he wanted to have a private conversation with Miss Sutton. However, you could always stay in the next tea room if you are notfortable. We could even prepare a table and chair for you outside of the private room just to make you confident that he won''t hurt Miss Sutton. Moreover, Mr. Quigly said that he would never hurt Miss Sutton."


    "A private conversation? Why would he want to talk to someone he is not close to"


    "Earl it''s fine. I will be quick. You should take the offer and enjoy a tea as well. I will see you once we were done talking." Since it''s already like this, Gabi just decided to talk to the old man. If he would ask her about Lyle''s death, she could just tell him the truth.


    She wasn''t the one who killed her or ordered her death.


    Gabi told Earl to wait for Cyrus first as Cyrus is going to get her dress before he follow her to the tea house. While hesitant, Earl agreed.


    Meanwhile, Gabi followed the man towards the third floor of the building and into a private teahouse.


    "Mr. Quigly" Gabi gave the old man a tight-lipped smile. She took the seat opposite him.


    "Miss Sutton" The old man stared at her. His face was still a little pale, the wrinkles in his face had be more apparent. Obviously, this was because of his granddaughter''s death. Gabi already expected the old man to question her, and use her of Lyle''s murder. To her surprise, the old man sighed and said, "I am here because I wanted to apologize."

 Chapter 586: Businessman

    Chapter 586: Businessman


    14 Hours Ago


    "You how did you get here?" Old Man Quigly almost fainted when he saw a shadow sitting on his bed. His old bones trembled. He couldn''t feel any killing intent from this person, so he quickly gathered his thoughts and walked towards the one-seater next to his bed. "Who are you?" He wanted to see the man''s face, yet there was only darkness around him.


    Aside from the lighting from the outside of the mansion, the entire house''s power was off. In fact, he woke up because of this matter.


    "Sit" the man calmly said.


    "Who are you? And how did you get here?" The problem with the power system shouldn''t have happened simply because everything in this house had a backup power system generator. But for some reason, it didn''t work too. Despite this, Old Man Quigly was still confident that no one would be able to get inside his room because of the security both outside and inside this ce.


    For instance, there were four people on standby outside his room. Another two were standing outside his door.


    "You can ask for help" the man said, coldness apanying his tone. "But your people wouldn''t be able to catch me. So don''t waste your breath. I don''t want to identally kill you in the process."


    "You" In fact, he thought of asking for the security personnel''s attention. After all, this is just one man. Old Man Quigly has six! "Who sent you!?" he hissed. Over the years, he has offended some powerful people. However, none of them were as tant as this.


    The man snorted. "You don''t have the right the ask the questions here. One more question and your grandson who is sleeping in their rooms would die."


    "You "


    "I wonder what would happen to your stocks if your heir dies" the man interrupted him again.


    Old Man Quigly bit his lips. Lyle''s funeral wasn''tpleted yet. And this man arrived, threatening to kill his grandsons! How could he take this all in? However, the old man survived until now because he wasn''t stupid. Since this person has the guts toe here and even send other people to his grandson, it should be because someone powerful is backing him.


    This time, Old Man Quigly bit his lower lip as he stared at the silhouette of the man on his damn bed. First of all, why was he sitting on his bed? What kind of assassin would do this? Even in those cliche movies, the assassins would sit in the chair and even turn on the lights once their target appears.


    "Your granddaughter died because she was stupid." The man started.


    Hearing this, the old man''s temper red. Lyle might be a spoiled girl, but she was his favorite among his grandchildren. Her death affected him. Until now, he couldn''t ept that Lyle was already dead! But wait does this mean that this man has something to do with his granddaughter''s death? The old man clenched his jaw and waited for the man to speak.


    "And you are about to make the same mistake now"


    "Huh?" The old man''s eyes widened. "You mean Gabrielle?" This was unexpected. Earlier, the old man asked his people to check Gabi''s whereabouts and check all the assassins'' guild in the ck market. He wanted to see if she paid any of them to kill Lyle. Right now, only Gabi is the suspect, the most suspicious person that could have killed his granddaughter.


    "You wouldn''t want to see another death in your family, right?"


    "I  " Just who is this person? Judging from this man''s tone, it was clear that he wasn''t just an assassin. Does this mean someone is protecting Gabi behind the scenes? But who? Was this old man Ren''s doing?


    No, that old man is a cunning fox, he wouldn''t do something that would make his granddaughter suspicious. However, if it''s not the old man, then who could it be?


    "I know that you already told your people to track Gabi''s whereabouts. So I will punish you lightly."


    The old man trembled. "What are you "


    "Your son is in an open marriage, no?"


    "Don''t you dare "


    "Rx I won''t kill your son. He is still valuable."


    "" What''s that supposed to mean?


    "Let''s review. Your son has a wife, and this very same wife is aware of her husband''s mistresses. In fact, she too had her own group of young men that she slept with. Is that right?"


    "That  That is right." Indeed, the dynamic inside his family is a bitplicated. The old man had practiced and opened marriage with his wife as well. The only deal is that they couldn''t have someone pregnant. So before they start a rtionship with other people, they involvewyers and lots and lots of papers that would protect both their assets and their marriage in case something goes wrong.


    Moreover, not many people know about this type of practice. It was a kept secret that only the family member knows about.


    "Then as punishment, one of your son''s mistresses is going to die."


    "What?" The old man couldn''t help but raise his voice. One of his son''s mistresses is the daughter of the mayor. She was young and had a very promising career. "No please don''t do that." The old man said.


    "Ah you must be thinking that it would be impossible to have them killed, right? After all, one of them is the daughter of the mayor how old was she again? Twenty-eight? Nine?"


    This only proves that this man''s connection is good. His information system is very broad. It would be very difficult to deal with a person like this. The old man could only clench his hand so tight, he could feel his nails scraping his palm. Now that he thought about it, this man was very bold. Not only did he dare toe here, but he also told him about his ns.


    What could this mean?


    It means that he was very confident in these actions. He must be a total monster in this country! But howe he didn''t recognize him? Just who is this man?


    "Now now in about now you will receive a call from  " before the man could finish his words, the old man''s phone already vibrated. "Answer it. Remember, one wrong move and your grandson dies."


    "He Hello?"


    "Father have you heard? Catalina died."


    "What did you say?"


    "Overdose."


    "When did this happen?"


    "About twenty minutes ago. The mayor just called me. They tried to rush her to the hospital, but she was already dead."


    It was as if a cold bucket of water was poured inside the old man''s soul. He turned towards the silhouette. For some reason, he could feel him smiling as he continued to stare at him. Goosebumps skittered through the old man''s body as sweat drenched his back. It felt as if some evil entity was staring at him, a predator. That''s right, it was as if a fearsome animal was staring down at him.


    "Then you should go and see the mayor." The old man''s hand trembled. "And take care of yourself."


    "Yes, father. I just called you to inform you in advance. Sigh my daughter just died and now Catalina died too."


    "Don''t think too much. Life and death is a natural thing. It is part of nature."


    "Hmmm. Alright you should sleep first. Please forgive me for disturbing you."


    "Hm. Goodnight." With that, the old man immediately ended the call and tossed his phone on the bed. "What do you want." Clearly, the man wasn''t really here to kill him. "If you want me to stay away from Gabrielle, then I will do it. No need to harm my family over something like this."


    "Hah you businessmen always talk like this." The man snorted. "Too bad I am not a businessman."


    "" What''s that supposed to mean?


    "I want you to apologize."


    "What?" Why would he apologize?


    "Your granddaughter wanted to kill Gabrielle. If she seeded, Gabrielle would have died and I would have massacred your whole family. So apologize."


    "But she didn''t die. Moreover, Gabrielle and I had a deal. She wasn''t supposed to touch Lyle."


    "Heh are you stupid?" the man sneered. "Your granddaughter was really good at one thing, and that is lying. Did you think she stopped pursuing Gabi''s death?"


    "What  What''s that supposed to mean? I don''t understand what you are talking about."


    "The night before she died, one jail guard died. You should check the identity of that jail guard."


    "I "


    "Your good granddaughter wanted to hurt Gabi again. Despite her being in jail, she used your name to control people inside."


    "I  " Just what did Lyle do?


    "In the end, she died. In fact, you are lucky, you didn''t know about it. If you did hehe"


    So the reason why he was still alive is that he didn''t know about Lyle''s action? Still, this only proves how well connected this man was. "I will apologize to Gabi tomorrow."


    "As expected, you are indeed a businessman."


    ""

 Chapter 587: Obliterate

    Chapter 587: Obliterate


    Current Time


    "Why why are you apologizing?" Gabi couldn''t help but ask, frowning. What is going on here? She blinked her beautiful eyes at the old man, who was bowing in front of her. "Old man what are you doing?" she wanted to curse. This is a very awkward situation! "Stop bowing sit down sit down." In that deal with the old man, Gabi gained a lot of stuff. However, the old man lost his granddaughter. If one of them needed to apologize, it should be Gabi.


    Sensing her thoughts, she sighed inwardly. Even her mental state isn''t that strong. How could she apologize to the old man? Lyle wanted to kill her! She died because of that. It was a life for a life. The only difference is that Aden seeded in killing her while Lyle failed to kill Gabi.


    It was a very simple and logical solution. She shouldn''t be overthinking about this.


    Gabi realized that all her hatred was focused on Alfons.


    When ites to other people, her mental state of mind is still weak. She needed training.


    "I just discovered that Lyle once again tried to kill you, even when she was in prison. This time I was in the wrong."


    "" What''s going on here? Before she could say anything, the old man continued, "I didn''t think that she would still try to harm you despite my endless warnings."


    ""


    "I am here to give youpensation for what happened."


    "I don''t think that is necessary." This old man''s words were very suspicious. Was he using this to make her lower her guard?


    "I hope you don''t take it this the wrong way." The old man stared at her, observing her reaction. Seeing that she wasn''t frowning, he sighed and took a quick sip of his tea. At least, she didn''t look angry or anything, the old man thought.


    Last night, the man warned him over and over not to even think about hurting this woman. Or he would obliterate his family. That''s right, the term that the man used was ''OBLITERATE''. Who would use such barbaric words?


    While the old man didn''t believe that the man could actually obliterate his Quigly Family, the old man didn''t want any trouble at all. If he could kill Lyle inside a highly guarded facility without an iota of evidence, then it would be possible for him to actually hurt the Quigly family. Obviously, the old man didn''t want this to happen.


    What is an apology?


    Compared to the life of his family, an apology is nothing. "Moving forward, our family would never do anything that could hurt you." The old man added before he got up. "It was nice seeing you Miss Sutton. I hope to see you next time in different circumstances."


    "" Gabi was speechless. She could only watch as the old man put on his hat, grabbed his cane, and walked out of the room.


    This is a very very strange situation.


    However, instead of feeling relief, this only made Gabi more suspicious. Her senses were already on high alert. She wouldn''t want that old man to fool her just after that apology. After all, it was clear that she was one of the suspects in Lyle''s death.


    "Hey Mr. Quigly left?" Earl walked into the private room. "Did something happen? Did he talk about grandpa?"


    "No"


    "Then"


    "It''s nothing we talked about Lyle. We should go now."


    "Alright" Since Gabi wasn''t showing any intention of talking about the old man, Earl just shrugged and follow her out of the teahouse. Next, they decided to have their coffee. As promised, Earl started talking about his marriage.


    "I always thought you love tea," Earlmented.


    "I do. Tea is best for gossips," she smiled. "But we are not here to talk about gossips, no?"


    Hearing this, Earl''s expression turned stiff. He shook his head. "I don''t want this marriage."


    So direct? Gabi stared at him in disbelief. It took her a couple of seconds to realize the reason why he agreed, even if he didn''t want it. "You don''t want to disappoint your parents?"


    "I live for the Ren Family."


    "Bullshit." What is this? A cult? What is this living for the family? Even their grandfather didn''t want to set up their marriage because he didn''t want them to live an unhappy life. "Why would you agree to marry someone you just met?"


    "I didn''t think I have a choice."


    "" This man


    "My mother would cry." He let out another sigh. "And I don''t want that to happen."


    "So you are treating your fiance badly." That was not a question. Gabi was smart enough to know that Earl was purposely making that woman hate him to make her back out of the wedding on her own. "However she chose to move into your family home instead." This means that if Earl wouldn''t show up for a date, his parents would notice.


    Slowly, Earl nodded. "My mother wanted me to propose. She even bought the ring with her."


    Now that is messed up. "And?"


    "Well I don''t want to. I''ve been avoiding the topic."


    So that was the reason why his face looked ugly earlier, Gabi immediately concluded. "What are your future ns?"


    "Divorce."


    "" He answered without a hint of irritation.


    "After my parent''s death, I will divorce her."


    "" Earl looked convinced that this was the right thing to do. "You know that the best thing that you could do is actually talk to your parents about this, right?"


    "But my mother would"


    "Asked your parents if they wanted to marry her instead."


    ""


    Gabi continued, "Since they wanted her so much, then let them marry her. Wouldn''t that be easier than making your life miserable?" Gabi leaned forward. She smiled. "But the thing is your parents didn''t really know that you are miserable, is that right?" This conclusion was from the fact that Earl was an absolute pushover. This man would do everything for the Ren Family. "If I tell grandfather about this he would surely"


    "Don''t."


    "I know." Gabi nodded. "You told me these things because you are confident that I wouldn''t tattle. You didn''t ask for my help because you already made up your mind. You already know what to do." She was just here to listen to his story. She let out another sigh before she drank hertte. "What about kids?"


    "I''m not nning to have one." He was quick to answer.


    "Are you sure?" A messy divorce could leave kids traumatized. "Separation would make them confused and hurt. You don''t want that, do you?"


    He met her eyes. "I didn''t know you like kids."


    "I just don''t want to see kids hurt. They are innocent of the mistakes of their parents. Don''t you agree?" Why do they have to suffer from the mistakes that their parents made?


    "I agree. This is why I am going to see a doctor. I am undergoing an operation. I won''t be able to have kids. Ever again."


    He said it in such a cold, chilly tone that made Gabi frown. "You already thought about everything," she noted. Earl seemed prepared. He didn''t falter. His voice was firm. His eyes were cold. "But what about her?"


    "What about her?"


    "What if she wanted children?"


    "Then she shouldn''t marry me."


    ""


    For a few seconds, silence descended between them. Then Gabi asked. "Are you nning to inform her about this matter?"


    "I already did."


    "And?"


    "It''s included in our prenuptial agreement. I told her I was infertile. She didn''t hesitate. She said it was to honor her dead parent''s wish."


    Gabi nodded. Now that she thought about it, both of these people were doing something for the sake of their families. Why are they willing to live a miserable life just for their families? Then Gabi snorted.


    Wasn''t she like that in the past life?


    She stared at her cousin, who already had a resolute expression on his face. She wondered if she would try to convince him about this operation. In the end, she decided to keep her silence. Earl didn''t ask for her opinion, anyway.


    "Gabi? Earl?"


    The two of them turned towards the woman who just called them. It was none other than Earl''s mother, Linda Ren. Of course, she was with Earl''s fiance. The two were carrying bags from different department stores.


    "Aunt Linda Ana" Gabi smiled. Since the table that they were upying was enough for four people, she immediately invited the two to join them.


    "We wanted to invite Earl for lunch earlier. He said he already has an appointment." Analise smiled. "It would have been better if he told me that he was going to see you so I could invite you for lunch as well." Analise had the same kind of look on her face.


    "Oh? Analise invited you for lunch? Howe I didn''t know about this?" Linda immediately asked her son.


    Seeing this, Gabi answered. "Aunt, we were talking about a very important business venture that thepany would take. So... Earl didn''t want to bother you."

 Chapter 588: A Memory from the Past

    Chapter 588: A Memory from the Past


    "Oh a business venture." Linda cleared her throat before smiling at her future daughter-inw. "Well, my dear it is normal for Earl to have meetings with Gabi. After all, Gabi is a consultant of thepany."


    "And she is the heiress the future CEO," Earl added. "It''s normal that we talk about thepany."


    "The future CEO?" Analise looked at Gabi. "I didn''t know that Miss Gabi is going to lead thepany."


    "If not her, then who?" Earl said.


    A long stretch of silence followed his words. Analise awkwardly smiled at Earl. "Please don''t take it the wrong way. I was just curious. I didn''t know about these things before."


    "Hmmm I understand. In the future, you should slowly study business too. This is what I did when I married your uncle. Back then, my knowledge of business was just limited. However, after our marriage, I decided to devote myself to studying business so I could support him. This is what a woman should do."


    "Thank you for your guidance, Aunt. I will make sure to support Earl in the future too." Analise smiled. Her eyes turned into crescents.


    Seeing this, Gabi excused herself and went to the bathroom. Honestly, she felt a little awkward about this situation. Since she already know what Earl thought about this marriage, her opinions about the two had changed.


    After a few seconds, Gabi came back. By now, Analise and her Aunt Linda already made their order. This time, Gabi didn''t hesitate to bid them goodbye. Of course, Earl used this opportunity to tell them that he too had to leave, as he needed to attend a meeting. It was an obvious lie. Even his mother frowned when she heard his words.


    But what can she do about it?


    In the end, Earl and Gabi left the two in the coffee shop.


    Gabi also decided to go home. She needed to finish another exercise routine before she would see Aden for the next dose a few days away. And just like that, Gabi immersed herself in getting her body stronger. Every night, Aden would check her body and would show a face full of surprise. This made Gabi doubt if something bad was happening inside her body.


    However, Aden assured her that her body is fine. She was getting stronger, and she was adapting to the medicine.


    A few dayster, Gabi had her second dose of another medicine. This time, not only did her senses be sharper, her body felt a little sore. It was as if she just finished running forty kilometers, her muscles felt on fire.


    Of course, Aden was quick to assure her that this was normal. On the next day, the pain would disappear. To assure her, Aden even stayed inside her room that night. He insisted on observing her.


    In the end, she got tired of arguing with him and agreed. Aden stayed on the couch a few feet away from her bed. Gabi expected him to stay awake and watch her, observe her, see if she somehow stopped breathing. Contrary to her expectations, the man spent the entire night sleeping. He even woke upte the next day!


    Even Cyrus had a hard time speaking when she saw him sleeping on Gabi''s couch. With his tall frame, the couch was naturally smaller than him. Seeing him on the couch was a little pitiful.


    "I  Should you ask him to move to the bed?" Cyrus stuttered.


    "Hm? Let him be." Gabi said. Aden looked really peaceful. Disturbing him would be bad. Today, Gabi decided to have Cyrus deliver everything inside her room. After her breakfast, to the things that she needed to work on, Gabi did it inside her office. This was because she didn''t want anyone to identally walk into Aden.


    She wasn''t scared that her people would misunderstand her rtionship with Aden. However, she was scared that Aden would identally think that they were assassins and just kill them. Gabi didn''t want him to hurt her people.


    Staring at Aden''s frame, Gabi started to wonder why the man was still asleep. It was almost ten in the morning. He already slept for more than twelve hours! Is he a ko or something? How could an adult sleep like that?


    It is either that or this person hasn''t slept for a few days already.


    She recalled Aden''s facest night. There was not a hint of any bags under his eyes. He didn''t look tired either.


    Then maybe he had special training that involves training?


    The possibilities are just endless when ites to this man.


    Gabi shook her head as she decided to focus on her work.


    Just as Aden told her, the soreness that she felt yesterday was long gone. Right now, she could feel her body turn lighter. In fact, she had run for another five-kilometer earlier today without having breathing problems. Because of this, Gabi felt really motivated to work. She started reading a lot of files on the market research of the club that she wanted. She wanted in ready by six months. However, since she would be in training, she would need another person to manage the construction.


    Because of this, she already told Kasper to prepare himself, as he would need to do it while she was gone.


    Slowly, Gabi forgot the time as she immersed herself in the nning. Blueprints, interior, lighting. She wanted to take care of these things before she leave. She wanted to be involved in the construction even if she won''t be physically there.


    "Hm? Is he hibernating or something?" Gabi looked at the time. It was already eleven and Aden was still asleep. Frowning, Gabi got up and walked towards the couch. This time, she is going to wake him up. It was almost noon, and he needed to eat something. Without any hesitation, she tapped his arm. She thought he was a light sleeper, but it turns out "Ah!" Gabi let out a surprised gasp when she felt herself falling to the floor. She close her eyes on instinct but realized that she didn''t feel any pain from


    Her eyes snapped open. She met his light brown eyes. And felt the world shirt. A warning went off in her brain. ''Stand up'', It said. But the warning dimmed to nothing. Instead of listening to her instinct that told her this was a mistake, she let her eyes wander towards his sharp, perfectly formed brows. Almond eyes that reminded her of fall. Tall nose and pink lips.


    *CRASH*


    The loud crashing from the person standing by the door interrupted the atmosphere.


    "I  Sorry  Sorry  I didn''t mean to walk  " Cyrus paled as she stuttered and tried to give some reason why she didn''t knock. Earlier, Gabi told her not to knock. She didn''t want her knocking to disturb Aden. So, Gabi locked her door and gave Cyrus a key. She told Cyrus that she coulde whenever she want. The reason why Cyrus came inside this time was that it was time to refill Gabi''s tea. She did it every hour.


    But this


    On the other hand, Gabi''s face flushed. Her eyes widened as realization hit her. She immediately got it. She realized that she wasn''t on the floor, but on the couch. As for the reason why she fell on top of him, she didn''t know! She couldn''t remember what happened!


    She immediately got up, ignored Aden, who was looking at her with a deep unfathomable look in his eyes and walked back towards her table. She gathered her thoughts before saying, "Since you are up you should eat lunch." She cleared her throat and hoped that Aden didn''t notice the deep blush on her face. "Cyrus clean it up and bring food."


    "Ah?"


    "Yes Yes. I will leave first." Cyrus answered and immediately started picking up the ss teapot that was on Gabi''s carpet.


    "Damn it was already thiste."


    She heard Aden mutter. He got up, quickly folded his nket, and walked towards her. Almost immediately, she felt her face turn hotter. Beads of sweat-drenched her back. She could hear her heartbeat drummed against her chest, threatening to jump out of her ribcage. What''s this? Why was she so nervous? She took a deep breath and was about to speak when she noticed that he was nowhere to be found.


    "Hm?"


    She looked at her window and realized that it was already open. Aden left just like that.


    He ran away!


    Gabi didn''t know how to react. Why did that man run away? Was he shy? That couldn''t be. He was obviously older than her. He must have a few girlfriends already, right? After all, he was a really good-looking and smart guy. Moreover, his dad was Archy, so his background must be good too!


    Shrugging, she decided to look at the blueprint of the club again. But it didn''t take too long for her to realize that she couldn''t stop thinking about Aden''s eyes. For some reason, she felt that she had seen those eyes before.


    In her past life.

 Chapter 589: School of Assassins

    Chapter 589: School of Assassins


    Since that night, Aden stopped visiting Gabi.


    Of course, she thought it was just because Aden was busy. She already expected him to stop checking on her anyway. By now, it should be fairly obvious that her body is doing well. In fact, it''s doing really well, she felt like she had been reborn. Even Glen who would spar with her during her morning exercises said that she had be lighter, faster, and stronger. It felt like she had been reborn.


    And this was all thanks to Aden''s help.


    The next time that Gabi saw Aden was during the third dose. This time, she felt even better. To her surprise, Aden was a little quiet. He didn''t argue with her or ask any more questions. This made her wonder if she did something wrong. Was it because of that thing?


    "Miss Gabi"


    "Hello, Mister Tureis." Gabi greeted the man. By now, Tureis was already a little friendly towards her. And by a little friendly, she meant not frowning when talking to her. This was actually an improvement from the previous way that he treated her.


    "Cyrus will give you the things that you need for the training. Here is the ne ticket. You will be leaving the day after your event. Everything is already set. However, you cannot use your identity. Here are your new passport and bank ount numbers. Everything is already prepared so you don''t need to worry about anything else. "


    A change of identity?


    Seeing Gabi''s confused look, Tureis continued. "We don''t usually train someone like you."


    "What does that mean?"


    "It would not be good if anyone in the camp would know your real identity. We just want to avoid trouble." Tureis handed her a folder. "New Identity and background. Study that. Memorize it. From the day that you step foot inside the camp, you would use that identity. And for the sake of Aden, never use your real identity when you are in that ce."


    Gabi nodded. She thought Aden would train her. It turns out, he is going to send her somewhere? She started wondering about this camp. Is this the ce where Aden grew up? Was it possible that he learned his skills in that ce?


    "Also everyone who is inside that ce already knew martial arts. You have to prepare yourself. You can''t show weakness or you will die."


    "" Was he trying to scare her? Still, Gabi nodded. She wasn''t sure what camp is this but judging from Aden''s skills, this camp should give her something good. Smiling, Gabi bid Tureis goodbye. She ignored the confused look on his face.


    Maybe the fact that she was smiling confused him. After all, he just tried to scare her about death.


    Isn''t this just training? Gabi was confident that she would be able to withstand it. She was doing this for her future!


    Again, she felt like she already owe Aden a lot. Then maybe she should give him another piece of information? However, everything that she had right now could easily make her a suspicious individual. For instance, she knew a few market crashes and future things that would happen to some families.


    This is not good.


    All that she had now are things that concern Alfons.


    This was normal as her world revolved around that man in the past.


    "Hmmm Kasper?"


    "Miss?"


    "I will give you a week to investigate the Helion Conglomerate."


    "The  the one who owns oil, hospitals, mining, and pharmacies?"


    "Yes. Just the basics. No need to delve deeper into their issues." For now, she is going to start with the things that she could control.


    After a few more days, Gabi received news about the Helion Conglomerate. Just as she expected, nothing important can be seen on the surface. The events that would affect the market aren''t showing any signs yet.


    Gabi could only sigh in disappointment. She badly wanted to repay Aden and Archy. But she doesn''t have anything important that does not involve Alfons.


    Meanwhile, while Gabi was wracking her head on how to repay Aden. Aden was arguing with Tureis about his decision to send Gabi to the camp.


    "You are crazy. She would probably die in that ce. She won''t survive." This wasn''t the first time that a simple conversation about the topic ended up with an argument. To Tureis''s defense, he was genuinely concerned about that woman''s welfare.


    What would happen if Gabi would die in that ce? It would be lucky if they would have aplete body to return to her grandfather!


    Obviously, that old man would raise hell about this matter.


    "Look I know you are not scared of old man Ren but he is still your father''s friend! This would"


    "She won''t die."


    "Did you look at her body?"


    "Don''t underestimate her."


    "Her heart had holes. Let me repeat that holes! The thing that you are giving her doesn''t guarantee sess. And Nanotech could be very painful."


    "Yeah I know please pass me the grapes. Thanks."


    Tureis rolled his eyes and gave him the peeled grapes. "I don''t know what you are thinking."


    "You don''t need to know."


    "Tsk. You are well aware of what kind of training the people in that camp experience. Even my father didn''t agree to put me and my brother in there. And you actually wanted to put a woman inside that deadly camp."


    Aden snorted. The thing is he was originally nning on training her. But the look on her eyes that night made him decide otherwise. If she wanted to stay in his world then she needed to be like him. She needed to blend in the night, bathe in blood, and be reborn.


    He won''t introduce her into his world unless he was sure that she could defend herself.


    Of course, no one else but him knew the real reason why he was doing this. He let out a sigh and started eating his grapes. Things like this require too much mental energy. It is better to stop thinking, rx his mind and eat food.


    "Also I receive a call from Aunt Lyca. I don''t know why she called me to ask about Gabi."


    "Ah"


    "I told her the truth. That woman won''t survive in that ce."


    "What did she say?"


    "Sheughed at me."


    "Ah" She was his mother after all. It would be weird if she believed Turies''s words instead of her very own son''s instinct. "Stop thinking about Gabi or I would take it as you like her."


    "Ridiculous!" Turies said. "I''m leaving."


    Aden gestured him to leave without saying anything.


    After a few more days, Gabi had her fourth andst dosage. This time, Aden didn''t act weird around her. He was the usual man that insulted her small frame and told her she got fatter. It was irritating, but this was the Aden that she knew.


    So, she decided to let it pass.


    Seeing that she wasn''t so interested in his teasing, Aden also started to get serious. This time, he finally told her about the training camp.


    "Xu Country?" Gabi asked. "I''ve never heard of this type of training before."


    "It''s a secret training camp."


    "For the military?"


    "No. It''s for another special unit. They train assassins. But no need to worry, the training is only four months. After that, you would be given two months to hunt down a target."


    "Hunt down a target? Like, kill someone?"


    For a moment, Aden studied her reaction. Seeing that she was still calm, Aden nodded. "Yes. Ex con''s, corrupt officials, drug lords, gang leaders, rap*sts, murderers are mostly the target. They won''t let you kill some innocent bystanders. Once you seed then you are considered a graduate."


    "So it is like a school for assassins?"


    "Yes."


    Gabi lowered her gaze. Four months is really short to train assassins. However, Tureis already told her that people inside already knew the basics of martial arts. Maybe he actually meant that these people have killed someone before. And that was the reason why he wanted to scare her.


    "I''m going." She lifted her head and met his gaze. She showed him a resolute expression.


    "Have you killed someone before?"


    "No." But she had been killed before.


    "And you still decided to go?"


    "Yes."


    "They won''t give you any special treatment. If anything, they would give you a harsher training because you are clearlycking."


    "Not a problem."


    "I thought you were scared of pain?"


    "Not when it''s going to make me better," Gabi said.


    "Good thinking."


    She nodded. She still has questions, lots of them. However, she knew that this wasn''t the right time to ask those questions. "You won''t have any phones inside," Aden said. "No way ofmunication. So... you should take care of everything before your flight."


    Again, she nodded.


    "Three days from now, I will give you the nanoparticles. It would be painful." He sat opposite her. "There is the ny percent chance that I would be able to fix your heart. The other ten percent is a failure. But it won''t kill you."


    He started talking about some specifics that Gabi didn''t really understand. Someputations, numbers, even the size of her heart were included. In the end, she nodded and acknowledged everything before signing another contract with him.


    Right now, Gabi couldn''t really describe her feelings. She was nervous but excited at the same time.


    She felt like this is going to change her whole life.


    "Thank you," Gabi said.


    "No problem."


    "Then... would you like to have dinner with me?" Gabi blurted out as she smiled at him. "I mean... as a thank you for everything." When she saw his face turned serious, she immediately added, "Don''t worry... no one will see you. The dinner will be in my room."

 Chapter 590: Tartarus

    Chapter 590: Tartarus


    Shen Residence


    1 Week Before Gabi''s Arrival


    "What do you mean?" Lyca yawned and straightened her back. It turns out, standing for a few hours could make her sleepy.


    "I said, Aden, rmended a candidate for the Shen Group Elites Training Camp that will start a few weeks from now." Shen Qui said as he examined the suit that his wife was trying to fix. It was one of thetest models of the defensive suit that Lyca was designing for the Shen Elites.


    "And?"


    "This was the first time that he did this."


    "So?" Lyca asked. "What''s the big deal?"


    "It''s a woman."


    "" So? Lyca remove the protective gear that covered her eyes. She then stared at her husband. "You think my son is gay?"


    "That''s not the point."


    "There is nothing bad about being gay," Lyca uttered.


    "Again, that''s not the point."


    "Well, since he liked someone, it''s good."


    "I just said he is rmending a girl."


    "Heh" Once again, Lyca started working on the suit. "Let him be. He is old enough to marry someone. At that age, you already married me. Hehe." She chuckled. "Though I always thought he was gay or something."


    ""


    "But all good. I am a chill mother after all."


    "" Wasn''t she justzy to deal with a person like her? Shen Qui shook his head before he lean down and kissed the top of her head.


    "I smell."


    "Yeah you''ve been holed up in this ce for three days."


    "Really?"


    "Yeah you haven''t had any bath for thest three days."


    Lyca frowned. "Do I smell?" She raised an eyebrow as if challenging her.


    "You said that." Shen Qui''s eyes turned gentle. "For me, you always smell good."


    She squinted. "Leave me alone, old man. I need to finish this so I can sleep."


    "Who told you to create something like that? Just because Aden told you he could create a perfect warrior-type suit didn''t mean that you should, too. You are toopetitive. Your son wasn''t challenging you."


    "Whatpetitive? What challenge? There is nopetition. I am his mother. I always win."


    ""


    ...


    5 Days before Gabi''s Arrival


    "A woman?" Aya squinted. "A real one?"


    Her secretary didn''t know if she wouldugh or cry. Did Miss Aya expect her brother to bring a robot or something?


    "I was honestly expecting him to marry a robot. " Aya mumbled. "But since this is the first woman"


    "Miss Young Master told us not to give any preferential treatment. He said to make the training as hard as possible."


    "Why? I thought she''s his woman?"


    "That "


    "How old is she?" Aya looked at Gabi''s file that was projected using the AI device. A lot of information can be seen in front of her. She swiped the information and slowly frowned. "So young?" She''s even younger than her? She was expecting to call her older sister! Does this mean Miss Gabi would call Aya''s older sister instead?


    "Hmmm. I don''t like that sound." Aya uttered. "Are you sure this is the right one? Maybe this is the little sister instead?"


    "It''s the right one, miss. Young Master Aden just wanted us to hide her information from the trainer and everyone else. He already took care of her background and"


    "This woman looked familiar." Aya was extremely smart. She always had the ability to remember anything or anyone that she saw before. "I already saw her when I was younger," she added. Without waiting for her secretary to answer, Aya flicked her finger. It was the signal to turn the AI on.


    "Racher" Aya said.


    [Voice Identification Confirmed. What can I do for you, Miss Aya?] The cold voice drifted inside the room. Racher was an AI that Aden designed to help Aya.


    "Scan this woman''s face for me. I want to know if she and I meet in the past." Aya signaled her secretary to leave her alone.


    [Scanning Completed. Would you like to hear the information now?]


    Seeing that her secretary had already closed the door, Aya nodded. [Summarize it for me.]


    [Miss Gabrielle Sutton and Miss Aya Shen meet years ago in Du Empire. Miss Sutton was only five by then. She was the reason why we found Mr. Aden Shen.]


    "Ah I remember. Five years old. That''s why she looked familiar. Do you think brother knows?"


    [ording to my calctions, there is a ny-nine point nine percent possibility that Mr. Aden Shen is aware of it]


    "I see Thanks, Racher."


    Racher, who had the appearance of Jarvis from Iron Man, showed her everything about Gabi''s past.


    "She''s sick?" Aya frowned. "Then why the hell would Aden send her to the training camp?" With that, Aya dialed his brother''s number. Her curiosity wouldn''t let her sleep if she won''t know the reason Aden was sending a sick person to a ce like that.


    Of course, the phone call ended up with nothing, as Aden didn''t answer the call. She nced at the time, then shook her head. It was his break time. That man must be sleeping now.


    ..


    3 Days before Gabi''s arrival


    "A woman?" Mr. Ma, one of the training staff at Tartarus, frowned. "But this year''s batch  "


    "It was Madam''s order."


    "Madam Shen?" This made Ma Ping more confused. Lyca seldom involved herself in the matters concerning Tartarus. She had never intervened in fights and never rmended someone before.


    "Yes. I already checked the woman''s background. She''s an orphan, from ria. We couldn''t find anything special about her. She''s turning twenty-one a few weeks from now. Here''s the file."


    Ma Ping nodded and immediately checked Gabi''s profile. "Leona or Leo Jiang. Twenty-One. Hmmm Too small probably someone who grew up in the streets?" The image of the woman actually looked like she was malnourished or something.


    "Then Madam must have picked her up from the streets in one of her travels." Lately, Lyca had been visiting ria because of some new projects that were announced this year. This was the only exnation why someone with an unknown background, with no history of learning martial arts, would suddenly enter Tartarus. "Alright. This isn''t really a problem. We should still have a room for one recruit." Since Lyca personally vouched for this person, she must be an outstanding recruit.


    "Mr. Ma, Madam Shen said not to give any special treatment."


    "Understood."


    Ma Ping would blindly follow Lyca''s words. If she says jump, he would jump. He would do it without batting an eyelid. This time is no different. Smiling, Ma Ping uttered. "Then let''s prepare another set of training suits. Shall we?"


    ....


    Info: In Greek mythology, Tartarus is the deep abyss that is used as a dungeon of torment and suffering for the wicked and as the prison for the Titans.

 Chapter 591: Trauma

    Chapter 591: Trauma


    Obviously, Gabi was unaware of the ruckus that her uing arrival caused in Xu Country. Right now, she was lying on the surgical bed, waiting for Aden to start the process. Aden told her that the process can be very painful but she had to stay awake. Since this is the first time that a nanotube will be used to patch up a heart, they weren''t sure what would happen if she fell asleep.


    As long as she persevered, then the nanoparticles could sessfullytch into her heart. After that, she will be sedated for the next twenty-four hours, where they will observe the beating of her heart. Aside from the nanocarbon that will be used, Aden wasn''t nning on using anything else.


    Which was currently almost impossible, ording to Gabi''s research.


    Still, Aden assured her that he had been studying this topic since he was a child.


    Gabi recalled that conversation with him. At that time, Aden told her a story.


    "When I was a child I was saved by someone." Aden said, his gaze mncholic. "She died," he added. "She had a problem in her heart. She couldn''t run long distances or run that fast. She looked really pale, like a small little fragile doll."


    "I''m so sorry to hear that," Gabi said.


    He shrugged. "Life is like that. Anyway, because of that incident, I started studying stuff that could heal someone''s heart. It is a reallyplicated process, but I did it."


    She wanted to ask how that little girl saved him, but thought that maybe Aden didn''t want to be reminded of the things from the past. So, she chose to keep her silence.


    "The possibility is high that once we seeded, your memories will be sharper, your body would naturally undergo some changes too." Aden stopped talking about his past and soon started talking about specifics.


    At that time, Gabi thought she wouldn''t be nervous at all. He sounded too intelligent, too confident. And at some point, his confidence seemed to affect her. But lying on the surgical table is a different thing.


    She couldn''t stop her heart from racing. Good thing she already told Aden about the letter in her bag. In case she won''t wake up, she asked him to read the letter. It contained everything about Alfons. Of course, herst will and testament have been prepared. It was her priority.


    After all, she wouldn''t want her wealth to fall into Alfons'' hands. While thinking about this, Gabi didn''t notice the gas that was released near her head. The moment she inhaled it, her breathing turned steady, calm. It didn''t take too long before her gaze turned hazy.


    This was the state that Aden was waiting for. Gabi wasn''t really asleep orpletely awake. While she was in this state, her senses weren''t dulled. Meaning, she could still feel and hear everything around her.


    It didn''t take too long for Gabi to feel a little tingle in her left arm.


    Then the pain started.


    Just as Aden said, the pain was almost unbearable. It reminded her of when Alfons slowly removed her nails. She gritted her teeth and sweat started to drench her back. She thought she heard Aden''s voice telling her to persevere.


    She grunted and cursed inwardly as memories of the past swirled in her head. It gave her another set of motivation to survive.


    She would never die.


    She survived under Alfons'' torture. She survived when Alfons remove her nails. She survived when he asked his people to use a handsaw to cut her toes. She survived.


    Why would she die now?


    No


    She would fight.


    She would never allow this pain to win.


    Yet, there were no signs of the pain going away. In fact, it multiplied, it intensified. It felt like every bone in her body is breaking. From her toes to her head, everything inside her felt like it had been lit on fire. She could feel hear muscles tear and get healed. The pain exploded in her head.


    Gabi wanted to shout, yell. But she couldn''t. Even her throat felt like a knife was lodged inside her mouth, preventing her from saying anything. Memories of the past once again filled her brain. Memories of the pain. Memories of her genuine happiness. Memories of Luca.


    His smiling face, his voice, his giggles.


    The way he called her mommy.


    The way he used to watch the stars from the small telescope that she bought for him.


    He was her Luca.


    Soon, she felt her body vibrate. But it wasn''t from the pain of the particles inside her body. It was from the memory of Luca''s death.


    Who would want to watch their own blood killed in front of them?


    Not her.


    Definitely not her.


    "No," she mumbled. The memories of her son keep oning inside her head. It was as if she was watching him die over and over and over again. She tried to reach out, move her arms and touch Luca, but her body wasn''t listening to her. A searing pain shot through her spine. Beads of tears and sweat were apparent on her face. "No!" she yelled. "Not him!" She could save Luca. The memories were so clear, it looked like it was happening all over again. It was as if she had gone back in time.


    [She is undergoing shock. Proceed to Emergency Protocol]


    [Her heart is getting weaker. Emergency Protocol level three starting in three two one]


    [Vitals are erratic.]


    [Permission to stop the treatment?]


    "No." Aden frowned. "She was fighting a battle." It wasn''t the Nanoparticles. It was a battle inside her head. "Continue the treatment." Years ago, when Gabi saved him. She fainted, her heart stopped. She was lucky, Aden knew CPR and knew some basic first aides. Because of this, he was able to save little Gabrielle. However, when she woke up, she already lost that memory of him. Her gaze was nk, she felt like a nk canvas. The doctor said this must be because of her traumatic experience before she found him.


    Until now, Aden didn''t know what happened that day. He didn''t know why would someone her age would suddenly walk into a forest. And until now, he didn''t know what happened before they found each other in that ce. There is a possibility that the memory that suddenly resurfaced while she was in pain was the same memory that traumatized her years ago. "Only she can fight this battle. Complete the treatment!" he added.

 Chapter 592: Protocol

    Chapter 592: Protocol


    The first thing that Gabi noticed when she woke up was the fresh smell of roses, which had the tinge of lemon. Before she could even open her eyes, she already knew that it was a yellow rose that wasn''tpletely blooming. She opened her eyes in an unfamiliar room. She immediately held her head.


    The pain was long gone. Letting out a groan, Gabi sat on the bed and examined the room. It was a simple beige room with a double bed, a small table, and a chair. There were two doors. One of which would lead her to the bathroom.


    Gabi stared at the door to her left. It seems that she could hear someone walking towards the door. Judging from the footsteps, it should be a woman. Just as she expected, a woman wearing a white uniform walked into the room.


    The woman immediately froze when she noticed that Gabi was already awake. "Miss Sutton let me get you some water." The woman handed her a bottle of water. "Please wait here, I will inform Mr. Aden that you are already awake."


    She gave her a curt nod.


    Right now, her attention was still on the changes in her body.


    It seems that all of her senses improved, especially her hearing and smell. She wondered if these were the changes that Aden told her about. She was about to get up when she heard Aden''s voice.


    "I suggest you don''t do  "It was already toote. Gabi already got up. Almost instantly, she felt her legs grow weak. She fell back onto the bed.


    "I can''t walk?"


    "You can give it a few hours. Your body isn''t used to the changes yet."


    Gabi held her hand in front of her before she stared at Aden. He looked fresh, as always. He was wearing a sky blue shirt and ck pants. He brushed his hair up, a smile appeared on his face. Just like her, he was also staring at her, scrutinizing. "How are you?"


    "Different," Gabi said. "Before I opened my eyes, I knew that the roses near me were yellow. I knew that they are yet to bloom. I heard her footsteps before she could walk inside the room and I knew she was a woman." And also him. She could clearly smell him, even if he was a few feet away from her.


    "Is it a good kind of different? Or bad different?"


    She couldn''t answer that. She turned her gaze away and focused her attention on her body. She didn''t feel any abnormalities at all. If anything, she felt really good, well-rested, and nice. It was as if she woke up from a really nice dream. "I think it''s good." She answered after a few minutes.


    Her gaze sprang back to him when she realized he chose to sit next to her. No, he wasn''t just sitting; he was lying on the bed, again. He used his palm as a pillow. "That''s expected. I created that treatment. The sess is already assured."


    "" Was he just too confident? "I still have to attend an event. I need to leave now."


    "Then do you want me to carry you?"


    "" The g is an important part of her n. She needed to introduce Alfons to that woman tonight.


    "Do you really need to join the g tonight?" he asked.


    She sighed inwardly. "No. It''s fine." Since she won''t be joining, she could still ask Tina to introduce Alfons to the painter. Gabi was still confident that Alfons would never miss the opportunity to get close to someone that could help his career.


    With this in mind, she immediately reached out for her phone, that was conveniently ced on her bedside table. Then she sent a text to Tina, telling her to introduce Alfons to all the artists. Alfons is connected to the charity that they are going to help, so he needs to know the people who joined the g.


    "Ah the food is here" Aden said. To Gabi''s surprise, Aden said this before she could even sense someone near the door. She turned towards him, wondering if he too did something to his body. Just as Aden said, two people carrying a lot of food arrive. They immediately set the table before leaving.


    "We should eat. I''m starving." Aden said.


    Eat? She can''t walk yet and he wanted her to eat on the table? He must have sensed her thought as he awkwardly chuckled and suddenly carried her.


    Like a princess.


    Gabi stilled. It was as if her heart jumped. The movement was too quick and sudden; she had no time toin! The next thing she knew, she was already sitting on the chair with Aden across from him. "There''s strawberry cake. You should eat the porridge first." He was already eating some fruits. "Why are you looking at me like that? Do you want me to feed you?" he asked.


    "I was wondering why you would give a steak to a patient," Gabi said.


    "Ah that''s for me. The porridge right there is for you. Everything else is for me."


    "" And here she thought she had be a little nicer. She rolled her eyes and started eating the porridge. And just like that, an explosion of vor filled her taste buds. How did it taste so good? Isn''t this just a simple porridge? Gabi couldn''t take her eyes off the porridge.


    There is nothing special about it. In fact, it looked nd, boring. But it tastes like chicken that was boiled for hours until all of its meat fell off from the bones. She could taste some salt and ginger and green onions. And there is something else something "


    "It''s Cntro," Aden said.


    "Huh?"


    "The other taste."


    "You "


    "I can''t read mind," Aden said. "But I can read your face like a damn book. Eat before it gets cold."


    "" She red at him. This man is so hateful.


    "Tomorrow, let''s jog together," Aden said. "And stop pouting. You haven''t even thanked me yet and you are already pouting."


    "I''m not pouting."


    "There''s a small protrusion in your lower lips. You are pouting."


    "" What''s wrong with this man? His personality isn''t consistent at all. One time he is nice, the next he is like this. There were also times where he would treat her like a child and sometimes he would ignore her. This man is really weird and it is irritating.


    She started eating the porridge again; she gobbled it up and finished it in seconds. "Is it going to be alright? Jogging the day after an operation like that?" she asked.


    "Do you trust me?" he asked.


    "" This question is a little toote to ask, no? She nodded in response. "If I die, you read that letter."


    "I already throw it away."


    "Hey! How could you!"


    "You won''t die." His gaze turned serious. "I won''t let you."


    "What are you? God?"


    He snorted in response before he continued talking. "Tonight, I will be here, observing you."


    "There is no couch here," she immediately said.


    "It''s alright, the bed is big enough."


    "You  How could you stay in my bed?"


    "It''s just protocol. A doctor staying with the patient isn''t malicious at all."


    "Protocol my ass."


    Aden snorted. "It''s not like I would do something to you. My standards are definitely higher than that."


    She wanted to punch him. She really really wanted to punch his handsome face. Gabi nodded. "Alright since this isn''t malicious at all then you can sleep in my bed."


    He squinted at her. "With you in the bed?"


    "Of course." Why would she feel ufortable near him? "There is no reason for me to feel ufortable near you. After all, you are not my type too."


    "Oh? Then what is your type?"


    "Definitely younger than you."


    "Are you saying that I look old?"


    She gritted her teeth. This is endless. Arguing with this man is pointless and endless. It would take years away from her lifespan. "I''m saying that I like people my age. You know in their early twenties."


    "What''s so good about younger people? Theyck experience."


    "" She raised an eyebrow. "That is none of your business."


    "They won''t be able to give your needs."


    "..."


    "And I bet I am smarter than any man out there."


    "..." What the hell? Gabi lost interest in this conversation. She decided to stop talking and just wait for him to finish his food so she could ask him to carry her back to the bed.


    After a few minutes of mumbling to himself, Aden finally finished eating. He carried her back to the bed, and he immediately asked his people to clean the ce.


    "Uhh... where are you going?" Gabi asked.


    "Taking a bath."


    "In my room?"


    "In the bathroom." Aden pointed at the other door. "It had a tub. Veryfortable."


    And Gabi was rendered speechless again. "You also nned to take a bath in the bathroom? Then sleep in my bed?"


    "Yes. Stop stressing yourself. It''s just protocol."


    ....


    Thank you so much for the support! I still owe you guys chapter. However, I am really busy. Tomorrow, I will travel with my family.

 Chapter 593: The Rats

    Chapter 593: The Rats


    The next day, Gabi jogged with Aden with a dark look on her face. Who would have thought thatst night, she would end up sleeping on the floor? Yes, on the floor! Just as Aden said, the fact that she was next to him didn''t bother him at all.


    He slept like a log and wasn''t even aware that she transferred to the floor.


    Truth be told, it wasn''t really his fault. It''s just that she was ufortable lying next to anyone else. She never had a proper lover in the past life and her social skills were close to none. It would be weird if the presence of someone else in her bed wouldn''t bother her.


    "You see you should get used to it."


    "To you sleeping in my bed?" she hissed.


    "No. I mean if someone gives you a knife, and you used that same knife to stab a person, are you just going to me the person who gave you the knife?"


    "How is that the same? If you were a gentleman"


    "I''m not. And you should keep that in mind." He returned her fiery gaze as he stopped running. "Don''t think that the world would stop just because you are ufortable." He stood in front of her, his gaze straight on hers. "You are smart. You are good at nning. You speak manynguages, you can memorize a book. But in the real world, a bullet could still pierce your head. What''s the use of being smart when someone could just kill you like squashing a bug?" He narrowed his eyes. "I didn''t ask you to sleep on the floor. You did it on your own. And the way that you med me would not help you when you are out there. Stop being childish. When you are out there people are going to make you ufortable. And no one is going to listen to yourints."


    "You are being mean," Gabi said.


    "I am just telling you to survive even if you are ufortable."


    Gabi snorted. "That wasn''t you telling me to survive. That''s you just making me irritated without any reason whatsoever."


    He stared at him in disbelief. "You seriously don''t remember?"


    "Remember what?" Did she do something?


    "I heard you are smart." Realization registered on his face. Then he started mumbling. "Yet you couldn''t remember things even with the treatment. Then why were you screaming back then?"


    "Screaming?" Gabi frowned. "What are you talking about?"


    "Never mind." Aden suddenly turned around and walked the other way. "I will jog this way."


    "Hey where are you going?"Confused, Gabi followed him. This was honestly confusing. "Hey." Seeing that he already started running, Gabi hastened her steps until she also started jogging. "What the hell was that about?" Did he do all that because he thought she remembered something? Was he waiting for her to tell him what she recalled? But what the hell was he talking about?


    Did she forget something?


    Did she do something wrong?


    "Hey" Seeing that he sprinted, Gabi stopped running and stared at his back in confusion. That man is acting strange since she woke up. Did he assume she remembered something? Shrugging, Gabi started jogging again. This time, she didn''t try to catch up to him.


    After she finished thirtyps, she immediately went to her room, expecting him to be there, waiting for her. However, the one that was waiting inside her room was Tureis.


    "You really don''t recall anything?" Tureis asked.


    "No. I don''t know what you are talking about."


    "Ah" Tureis shrugged. "Too bad."


    "What''s that supposed to mean?" Gabi asked. This time, everything was really confusing her. She couldn''t understand what he was trying to say.


    "The nanoparticles could have different effects on humans. Let me tell you, it affects the rat. This experiment was something that Aden did himself. There were two rats. One of them was exposed to a bad environment while a piece of music was being yed. So every time the rat was exposed to that awful environment, that music would be yed around it. Soon the music became traumatic to the rat. The other rat or rat number two didn''t experience that. The second rat grew up in a happy environment with food and toys. It was the exact opposite of rat number one."


    Tureis continued. "Anyway the two rats were allowed to procreate. They have lots and lots of descendants. Until one of their descendants was treated with nanoparticles. "


    "Rat number one''s descendants weren''t showing any abnormalities. They didn''t show any problems with their bodies. This was the same with the descendants of rat number two. However " Tureis got up from the chair and looked out from the window. "Aden decided to y the music that was originally used on Rat number one. That same music made all of rat number one''s descendant panic."


    "They knew about the trauma?" Gabi couldn''t help but ask. Rat number one had some trauma that was connected to the music. However, why would its descendant feel the panic when they didn''t experience what he experienced back then?


    "Yes. They felt it. Aden tested them and he realized that their reaction is exactly the same as the reaction of rat number one every time the music is yed."


    "They can recall the trauma?"


    "Using genes." Tureis nodded. "And nanoparticles."


    "That."


    "Unheard of? Nothing is impossible. Especially when Aden decides to put his head into it."


    "So you are saying that I should have remembered something?" She recalled something, yes. But that was Luca. "I don''t understand."


    "I don''t understand why he was so upset, too. At least I didn''t understand it at first."


    "Then"


    Tureis shook his head. "I don''t have the right to tell you. You should leave now. Prepare yourself for Tartarus."


    Seeing the hesitation in her eyes, Tureis added, "Don''t worry. Aden isn''t someone that would hold any information. He is azy person. He hatesplications. He would tell you what you needed to know soon."


    "But when is soon?"


    "When you are strong enough."


    "I hate riddles and mysteries," Gabi said after a long stretch of silence. "I don''t read those kinds of books."


    Tureis only gave her a shrug. "The car is ready. And oh Aden said something."


    "What is it?"


    "He said return alive. He will be waiting." With that, Tureis left her room.


    Gabi sat on the edge of the bed, contemting. Aden assumed that she would remember something. From the story that Tureis told her just now, it''s obvious that the nano could trigger some form of reaction that would make someone remember a traumatic experience. However, Aden didn''t calcte that Gabi was someone who had much more traumatic experience from her past life.


    She nodded.


    The reason why she didn''t recall whatever it was that he wanted her to remember was that she experienced something more traumatic than that. It was her and Luca''s death.


    What could be more traumatic than watching her own son die?


    Even she wouldn''t be able to answer this.


    A sigh left her lips. Soon she is going to leave the country. Soon she is going to start a hellish training. All for the sake of changing herself. After this, the election is going to happen and Alfons is going to be a councilman. By then the true game shall begin.


    With this in mind, she took a quick bath, grabbed her things, and went out of the Bobo jewelry store.


    Staring at the signage, Gabi paused and thought about the things that happened when while was inside. Who would have thought that this humble store would actually have a huge underground facility that was equipped with everything? From a training facility to an armory to aboratory.


    This ce


    Howe she didn''t know that a ce like this existed in her past life?


    Just as the car started elerating, Gabi thought she saw Aden at the corner of the jewelry store, eating some candies. However, when she looked back, he was gone.


    Was she hallucinating?


    Of course she was.


    There was no way that he would stand there and watch her leave.


    ..


    Aden wasn''t angry.


    However, he couldn''t stop the disappointment in his heart.


    He had done everything for this research.


    He wanted to find her. Heal her and help her with what she experienced when she was a child.


    In the end he couldn''t make her remember anything. He couldn''t help her.


    In the end, he wasn''t able to do anything. In the end, he was really useless.


    He stared at the crowd of people before he sighed.


    Since when did he start acting like a moody child?


    This wasn''t something that his mother taught him.


    If anything, his mother always told him to be direct. Wasting his time like this isn''t going to help him in the long run. If he wanted to do something, do it. Regret itter. Wasting too much time overthinking things is just counterproductive.


    Right.


    Why would he waste his time like this?


    ording to his mother, the best way to waste his time is either by eating or sleeping. Thinking and regretting stuff isn''t one of them!


    .....

 Chapter 594: A Nobody

    Chapter 594: A Nobody


    Ralia City was now one of the most progressive cities, not just in Shun Regions, but also in the entire country. Unlike the Ralia from the past that was full of forest and mountains, the Ralia now had sky scrappers, an airport, and some other infrastructures that slowly made it the economic center of Shun Regions.


    Despite this, she could smell something from this ce.


    Gun powder.


    Now this building was in the middle of the city. Other buildings and people surrounded it. So where did that gun powdere from? Clearly it is from underground.


    Since her senses had improved, it had be natural for her to smell things that ordinary people couldn''t smell.


    Gabi or now known as Leo, stood in front of one of the tallest buildings in Ralia. She was wearing a simple ck tactical pants and nk tank tops. A bag was hanging in her shoulder. She stared at the entrance of the building. This ce was tall  probably one of the tallest that she had seen in Ralia City.


    "Excuse me? Do you need something?"


    "Oh Tartarus" Gabi uttered the code at the balding man who approached her. "Number 76700083921888." This was her code. To be able to get inside Tartarus, Gabi needed three things. She needed to be registered in advance. Her face, height, weight was already recorded in advance. The second is the code that she gave just now. And third is the ability to pass a series of examinations that would be given.


    Once they passed it, they can go ahead and go to their assigned dorm. Tureis already told her that the training would officially start a week after her arrival. At this time, the people that were already registered were just arriving.


    "Follow me." The balding man leads her to the lobby and asked the receptionist to give her the VVIP ID. Then he led her to the elevator. After entering a series of codes, the elevator started moving down.


    Underground.


    She already expected that Tartarus would be under the ground, but she never thought that it would take them at least three minutes to arrive. She couldn''t help but wonder how many feet below the ground she was. "The test will begin in two minutes. First, IQ. Three hundred items in two hours. Second, shooting. All moving targets. Third martial art. No need to defeat him. Just do not faint for the next three minutes. The test will begin even if you are not ready." The man left without looking at her again.


    So what would happen if one would fail the test?


    Everyone here was already skilled. The exam was just a part of their process. However, failing at it means you are going to undergo a different ss and have a different type of training. Gabi wondered why they would do this. Surely, killing someone did not require them to answer a mathematical question, right?


    She never had the chance to ask Tureis about this matter. However, her question was answered soon.


    The moment sheid her eyes on the examination, she immediately realized why they needed to take the test.


    It was because the questions were not merely testing one''s IQ. It was full of military tactics. Gabi guessed that these people would give other pieces of training to the people who are good at nning and analyzing situations and the people who are just good at killing. However, this begs the question of why.


    Why do this?


    Isn''t this a school of assassins?


    It seems that this school is not just that. She needed to be more careful in this ce.


    After an hour, Gabi finished her exam. And since she still have another hour before the second test would start, she chose to sit down and rx. The room where she was taking her exam wasn''t huge. Aside from the table and chair that she was sitting on, the room was surrounded by mirrors. It looked like an advanced interrogation room for sci-fi movies, except this one looked more sci-fi-ish. If that makes sense.


    The surrounding lights were bright  too bright. She didn''t like it. The room was about four meters squared. Just enough for one person. If her guess was right, then each participant have their own room. Perhaps it was done to avoid cheating.


    After another hour, the mirrors suddenly move without any warning. In fact, not just the mirrors, but the table slowly descended on the floor. Then, the roompletely changed. From the small examination room, it turned into a shooting range. There were no other instructions given, no voice telling her when to start.


    Aside from the timer that says thirty minutes, there were no simple instructions about the things that she needed to do. She looked at the moving targets. Each of them was about thirty feet away from her. If this was the normal Gabi, the Gabi who didn''t receive any help from Aden, she wouldn''t be able to hit them even if they weren''t moving. However, she was different now. Her eyes were undeniably clearer. She could see everything well. Even the fact that some of the moving targets didn''t look like terrorist were really clear.


    She looked at the short firearm in front of her. They were Glocks and various calibers. However, not one of them has a telescope. Now thirty meters weren''t that far. However, one needed to think about the target, too.


    There were two types of moving targets. One ground was wearing ck with a clear terrorist printed on their shirts while the others were wearing civilian clothing. And none of them have a gun in them. However, Gabi was quick to notice that the ones wearing civilian clothing looked alert and wary. None of them looked innocent at all. They were not smiling and their eyes were pretty sharp.


    Meanwhile, some of the people wearing ck clothing had anxious looks on their faces. Some of them have tears in their eyes and some apparent bruising on their faces. Squinting, Gabi''s eyesnded on the timer. It had started a couple of minutes ago. Right now, she still has twenty-six minutes before the timer would end.


    After the conclusion, Gabi picked one of the guns, attached a silencer to it, and started shooting the civilians.


    *DING*


    Three minutester. She finished shooting everyone that looked suspicious. Both people wearing civilian articles of clothing and the people wearing ck ones who had a suspicious look on their faces were taken down.


    At first nce, one would say that Gabi was wrong for shooting the civilians. However, Gabi wasn''t dumb. Gabi recalled how Tureis and Aden told her that everyone in this ce already knew martial arts. Some of them might have even killed people before. Meaning, shooting people wasn''t the problem.


    The problem lies in the target.


    An impulsive killer wouldn''t think much about these and just shoot all the terrorists. But Gabi was different. She wasn''t a killer; she was a thinker. If given a chance, she would do everything to avoid killing innocents. Therefore, when she realized that the problem lies in the target, she immediately analyzed what was going on ande to a conclusion.


    The terrorists switch their clothes with the hostages.


    With this in mind, Gabi smiled in satisfaction. Her shooting wasn''t perfect, and it took her a couple of times to shoot some targets. However, she felt confident that she did the right thing.


    Slowly the clock ticked and the thirty minutes was done. Again, the room slowly changed. This time, it revealed a boxing ring. Gabi observed the room. The absence of a timer seemed a little off to her. The balding man earlier said that she needed to survive for three minutes. However, there was no timer around.


    What was around her was the table where the Glocks were located. Even the guns were still there.


    Gabi lifted an eyebrow. Then she nced at the man wearing a ck suit who stood inside the ring. Slowly, a smile appeared on her face.


    ..


    "How is it?" Ma Ping asked the people monitoring the examinations. "Any promising ones?" he sat on his table and stared at the tens of monitors that showed each participant. "The ones that the people from Du Empire sent I assumed they got the highest score in the exams?" he asked, smiling.


    "Well Mr. Lane was an excellent fellow. He got ny-five percent on the exam. He was also able to analyze that there was something wrong with the target. It took him about twenty minutes to finish the targets. As expected, his shooting skills were excellent. No misses."


    "But?" Ma Ping looks at his right-hand man.


    "He wasn''t the top of this batch."


    "Oh? Then was it one of the others from Du Empire?"


    "No Sir."


    "Was it the ones sent from other countries? Mr. Lane already has a very good result. Ny fiver percent in the exams alone is a very hard thing to achieve. The fact that he was able to figure out that something was wrong with the target in that time frame wasn''t bad at all."


    "No sir."


    "Really? Then... who could it be?"


    "It- It was just a nobody."


    ....


    Already edited previous chapter. Sorry about that...st night the rain here is terrible. My signal was really bad.

 Chapter 595: The Top One

    Chapter 595: The Top One


    Since Tartarus has been established many businessmen and even politicians wanted to send someone to train in the camp and be a professional bodyguard.


    That''s right, Tartarus wasn''t established to train assassins but bodyguards. They have been training elite bodyguards from all over the world. These people were invited by politicians and other influential people to train then be their bodyguards. Of course, they are paying Lyca Shen and herpany millions just to get an invite for the camp. In return, each of them would be trained as assassins and would be provided gears to guard those executives.


    Since Tartarus has started, the people who always top the examinations were usually the people who already served the military. Most of them were from the special forces while some were being trained as bodyguards to guard royal family. These people were already experienced when ites to martial arts and gun handling. They were really good marksman and usually pretty good in military tactics too.


    However, this time is different.


    The one who topped the exam was actually an orphan who didn''t have any special background.


    Looking at the video, Ma Ping couldn''t helped but frown. The woman named Leona or Leo wasn''t a good shot. In fact, she was considered a terrible shot, since the target was moving. However, the fact that she grasp the situation without being given any special instructions was not something that people from special forces would do.


    This was because, this people were so used to being instructed. If a superior tell them to jump left, the would surely jumped left without asking question. So, when the examiner told them the instructions earlier, most of these people would directly start killing the terrorists thinking that it was about the time. Not many people would realized that it wasn''t about the timer at all.


    Ma Ping squinted when he started looking at the third video. The third exam was all about surviving martial arts. However, they didn''t remove the guns with some fake bullets. This test was done to measure the will of the person to survive. Ma Ping then got up from his seat and walked towards the next room where Gabi was sitting quietly.


    "At ease " Ma Ping said when Gabi got up. "Take a sit. I just wanted to asked you questions." The woman in front of him looked delicate. She looked thin and frail, her hair was pink, her skin looked pale. It was as if she spent all her time inside the house. What was special about her was the fact that she had two alert and sparkling eyes.


    "The third test." Ma Ping started. "It was supposed to test your martial arts skills. Why did you shoot the martial artist?"


    In response, Gabi pursed her lips. Why? Isn''t that obvious? "The task wasn''t to fight. The task was to survive for a few minutes. They didn''t say that we can''t shoot the enemy. All he said was to survive. And I did."


    Ma Ping didn''t know if he wouldugh when he heard her answer. Actually, she was right. The test was to survive. They instructions were quite vague and it was done on purpose. Usually, special forces members and other members would always take this opportunity to fight against the martial artist. They would show case their strength and try to defeat the enemy.


    Many of them wouldn''t even look at the guns and would directly attack the enemy. Some of them would stare and the guns and think it was a mistake before attacking their enemies.


    But Gabi was actually the only one who shoot the martial artist in the leg. Seeing that she ran towards the guns, the martial artists also moved, making her missed the shot! Instead ofnding a clean hit, she only hit the skin of the enemy. Still, the pain caused the man to fell on the floor. Her action was really surprising. However, isn''t this the type of people that Madam want?


    Lyca Shen, his great idol would never fight an enemy head on.


    "So you shoot him."


    "Yes sir. I thought the point of using a gun is for you to hit your enemy from afar."


    "Good point."


    "Did I break a rule?" Gabi asked.


    "No. I''m just curious." Ma Ping asked. "You are the top one of the examinations. You excelled in military tactics and scored ny seven percent. This would be announced once you start the training. Since everything is going to be point system, you will receive ten points more. Because of this many people would probably challenge you. Once they defeat you, they could earn a few of your points."


    Surpriseced Gabi''s gaze. A point system? Meaning, being top one is a disadvantage to her. Many people would be eying her the moment the training started. She let out a cursed inwardly.


    "As the current top you will be given a good amodation. No need to join a dorm, you will have your own room with it''s own bathroom. This is another reason why most of them would want to target the first spot."


    Gabi nodded.


    "I am telling you this because it''s something that the top one had earned. Information."


    Again, she nodded.


    "By the end of the week the points will be tallied again and depending on the result, the top trainee would once again be given the chance to pick a room and bathroom. Rules Only the top one is allowed tomunicate outside. He or she will be given an hour to write a letter that will be sent outside. Now do you have any questions?" Ma Ping handed her a piece of paper. "I am giving you the schedule of training in advance. Training will start at four in the morning until seven. Then everyone will have breakfast. Then another set of training until lunch time. Followed by another set of training. You will be trained how to handle poisons, basic hacking, deadly martial arts, the art of needles and using other inconvenient weapons against your enemies."


    Ma Ping then smiled at her. "Now do you have any questions?"


    Gabi shook her head. Seeing this, Ma Ping added, "Well I wish you all the luck in the world. Here is your new ess card. Keep it with you all the time. You won''t be able to enter your room without it. Also fighting inside is allowed." With that, he dismissed Gabi.


    "Sir "


    The deputy of the training facility approached him. "What?"


    "I was curious. You don''t normally talk to the top participant like this so"


    "I just want to see her in person."


    The deputy nodded.


    Ma Ping clicked his tongue before he also left the room. At first, he actually thought that Gabi was someone that the madam picked up somewhere. However, now that he finally saw her, he knew he was wrong. No, Gabi''s skin was too clean and white for her to grow up in the streets.


    There is no way that she was someone from the streets!


    So, he tried to test her.


    However, her attitude seemed confusing. It was clear that she wasn''t a killer. Yet the vibe that she gave him was totally different. She felt like a knife a dull one. But, a dull knife could still kill someone after you sharpened it. And Ma Ping was already excited to transform this dull, inexperienced knife!


    He couldn''t wait to see how the Madam would react once she saw the child that she rmended!


    Meanwhile, not everyone was happy that Gabi topped the entrance exam.


    The second cer, Alfredo Lane had a dark look on his face as he listened to the words from the woman who stood next to him.


    "Fred I thought that they would call the first cer after the exam. However it has been a few hours."


    "I know," he hissed. By now, he wasn''t aware that he wasn''t the top of the ss. He was actually expecting to be weed by the head trainer after he took the exam. But none of these happened!


    It immediately ruined the excitement inside him.


    The three people who were talking to each other were interrupted when a man wearing a ck uniform with the logo of tartarus approached them. Seeing this, Alfredo''s expression brightened. Was he here for him?


    However, the man''s next words shatter the excitement that he felt.


    "Please follow me to your dorms."


    ''Dorms?" The other woman asked. "What do you mean?"


    The man gave the woman a nk look. "If you don''t want to follow me then you can stay here."


    "You "


    The man ignored her as he marched towards the door of the room.


    "Hey!"


    "Mara stop it. We should just follow him." The second woman said as she quickly followed the man. However, before they could reach the door, the woman already asked. "Sir, excuse me. I have a question."


    "Speak!" the man ordered.


    "Well we were informed that the top student could chose a room and even bring people inside his or her room. So we why you are going to lead us to the dormitories? Did you perhaps got the wrong person? Sir, you see this man is Mr. Lane Alfredo Lane."


    However, the man didn''t react. He just gave her a nk look as he asked. "And so?"


    ....


    Again, I am having problems with my signal. But I am really happy! I was able to release 30 days straight! Yey! Thank you so much guys. I will update this tomorrow.

 Chapter 596: Complicated Status

    Chapter 596: Complicated Status


    "Well this year''s top examine should be Mr. Lane no?"


    This time, the man frowned and turned his head towards Fred Lane. To their surprise, the man suddenly snorted. "So arrogant. Follow me to the dormitory. Each of you will receive punishment. Thirty push-ups and tenps before five in the afternoon. Wait for me in the training room. Or you will stay outside your rooms without dinner."


    "..."


    Stunned, the group of three people couldn''t believe what they just heard. They stare at the man, wondering if they heard the right thing.


    "If you are not going to follow me, then you can leave now." The man said ndly.


    Just who was that grumpy man? Mara, one of the women wondered. However, she had no time to think about the man''s identity as she held her bags and follow him together with Fred and the other woman. Until now, she couldn''t understand the man''s reaction. They were pretty confident that Fred would get the top spot. After all, he was raised to be the head security of their presidential security team. Each of them was trained since they were younger.


    Mara, Alfredo, and Delia grew up as orphans who wereter adopted by powerful individuals. Mara was adopted by a Senator''s family, Fred was adopted by a congressman and Delia was adopted by a rich businessman. However, since they were teenagers, they were already trained to be security personnel, tasked to guard the president of their country.


    Because of theirplicated status in their families, the three of them strive to gain their family''s approval. So, they did their best to be the top of their ss. They wanted to enter Tartarus and be a triple-A security license holder. Once that happens, they are not only qualified to guard the president but other high-profile personalities in other countries. CEOs, presidents, Royalties, and well-known actors and actresses.


    This is how useful the license that they will obtain once they graduated from Tartarus.


    However, there are two things that not many people know.


    First is that the top student who would graduate from Tartarus would have a chance to obtain something from the owner and leader of Tartarus. And no, she wasn''t talking about the CEO Shen Qui but his wife, the founder of Tartarus, Lyca Shen.


    This was a privilege that only the top graduate would have.


    The second is that there is a possibility that Lyca Shen would give you a suit that she personally made if you catch her attention! And to do that, they have to be the best. Of course, everything is going to start by snatching the first ce of the entrance examinations.


    While the examination changes every year, everyone knew that they always measure the capability of the examinees to follow orders. The test was weird sometimes, in fact, there were times that they couldn''t understand the reason behind a test. Some of the tests didn''t soundplicated but after scoring, everyone would have a really low score. While the harder test where everyone was expecting to fail would turn out to be the easiest one.


    The only thing that they were sure about is the fact that the test changes every year and that the rewards for the top of the ss are always the same.


    Because of this, the teenagers that were trained to be security officers were also trained not just to pass the test but to be the top one student! This time, the top three trainees from Senator Ji''s Private bodyguard school were sent to join Tartarus. And because the three of them were always at the top, they always assumed that they are going to enjoy the luxuries that Tartarus would offer.


    The three of them already expected that one of them would be the top one. Afterparing their answers and performance, they agreed that the top one this time is Fred Lane.


    So what is going on here?


    Why did that man stare at them with such disgust in his eyes?


    Then this begs another question. If Fred didn''t bag the top one spot, then who did?


    From the information that they receive, theirpetitors this time are notparable to any of them. That''s right before the training started, their families were able to obtain some lists of the other training facilities and families who were able to buy a spot this time. And most of them were not as strong as them. Did a dark horse appear this time?


    While this is happening, Gabi was already inside her own room.


    Smiling, she sat on the bed and patted it. The bed this time was huge, a king-size one. This room wasn''t bad either. It looked like a studio unit with its mini kitchen, a fridge, a ce to wash clothes, a table and two chairs, some books, and a couch. She even spotted some board games on the top shelf of the bookshelves earlier.


    Honestly, she never expected this type of amodation.


    She thought of having bunk beds inside a small room. Maybe a table and a chair with amp. But that was it.


    After checking the shelves and fridge, her eyes sparkled. It was actually full of food!


    Even basic necessities for women like sanitary pads and tampons were also there! This ce is pretty good.


    After sitting for a few minutes, she turned towards the small space inside the studio unit that was full of dumbbells and a punching bag. She nodded in approval before she changed into an item offortable clothing and started exercising.


    She hasn''t forgotten the fact that everyone would soon start to challenge her once the training officially started. She needed time to adjust to her new body. Her strength had clearly changed as well as her agility. This time, Gabi decided to spend all her time training both her body and mind for the uing challenges. That''s right, she is doing this for the room.


    She liked this room so much, she didn''t want to let it go. And Gabi was ready to fight for this room!

 Chapter 597: Cripple the Top One

    Chapter 597: Cripple the Top One


    "What did you say?" Fred furrowed his sharp brows. "A nobody?"


    Delia nodded. "I heard my dorm mates talk about it. They heard the guard''s conversation. They said that the top one this time didn''te from any prestigious training school and just an orphan that got lucky."


    "Lucky? I don''t think you cane here just because you are lucky." Mara snorted.


    "No No I meant on the test."


    "Really?"


    "Yes. They said that she used tricks to pass the third test. She actually used the gun and shoot that martial artist. Luckily, she wasn''t a great shot. So she missed."


    The three of them had a weird look on their faces. The noise inside the canteen seemed to be blurred by the thoughts inside their head. Right now, everyone was having lunch in the canteen. The training will officially start in four days and on the second day of the training, the name of the top one will be posted. That is the sign for the challenges to start. They can challenge the top and whoever gets the highest point by the end of the week will upy that room.


    "Are you sure you heard it right?" Fred asked.


    "Yes! They said that it was the only reason why she became the top examine in our batch."


    "Wait she? A woman?" Mara asked. She looked around her and notice that most of the people inside therge canteen were males. In fact, about eighty percent of the trainees were male. "Are you sure it''s a woman?"


    "Yes."


    A long stretch of silence soon followed. The three of them decided to just finish their food before they continued their conversation. "If she really used tricks to win then it means that we missed something in that exam. On the third exam, we were clearly instructed to survive. However, we were not instructed to take them down. Right?" Fred said.


    "But we weren''t instructed to take them down. I fought against the martial artist and his strength was really good. I was only able tond a hit once." Delia said.


    "You are lucky. While he didn''tnd a hit on me. I also didn''tnd a hit on him. It was too troublesome the martial art that he used against me wasn''t well known." Mara said, dejected. Among, the three, she actually got the lowest score! As a proud woman, she thought this was uneptable.


    "Hmmm they are indeed troublesome." While Frednded a few direct hits to the enemy, he wasn''t able to take him down. Still, he was able to survive for a few minutes. "So she used tricks to take him down." Fred narrowed his phoenix eyes. "That''s smart and stupid at the same time."


    "Why?" Delia asked.


    "She didn''t show her strength and now, everyone in the camp is thinking she is weak. She already attracted the attention of everyone. At the start of the camp, many people will challenge her in one day. The rules say that the top one can only ept one challenge every twelve hours. Meaning, she would receive nonstop challenges from everyone. Do you think she would survive this camp?"


    "You mean someone will kill her?"


    "Of course!" Fred nodded at Mara''s question. "Think about it. Fighting every day nonstop would surely exhaust her. The smarter people wouldn''t fight her on the first and second day, they would fight her on the fifth and sixth day. By that time, she would be so weak. They could just kill her in seconds. Of course, this scenario is only applicable if she wouldn''t lose to anyone." If she lost, then she would lose points. While this is happening, other people could also challenge other examinees to earn points. Defeating one opponent could give them two points while defeating the top one could give them ten points.


    The thing is they could actually challenge the first cer until she lost all of her points! By now, the first cer has forty points while everyone else has thirty. Defeating the top cer once means that she would lose ten points. Meaning, once she loses four times then, her points would be zero. Now, recovering from that is almost close to impossible.


    "Hmmm that is true. Even if she uses tricks, there is no way that she would be able to cheat her body. She will soon grow weak and die from injuries. Speaking of which are you nning to fight her on thest day?" Mara asked.


    "No. I need to establish dominance." Fred said with confidence. He was already nning to cripple her on the first day! For the rest of the week, he was nning to challenge everyone who will win against the first yer and take back all the points! Since the points wouldn''t reset, this would definitely give him a head start. He looked at the two women in front of him. While they aren''t as strong as him, both of them were smart and cunning.


    It didn''t take too long for them to figure out his n.


    "I want to help you be the first ce but you have to invite us to your dorm." Delia immediately said. "In this ce, both men and women stay in the same room. I don''t like that. As much as possible, I want privacy. Since you are the strongest, you have the chance to be the next week''s first cer."


    "You are giving up?" Mara asked.


    Delia immediately snorted. "We are women. How could we survive a weak of fighting? Even if we are really good fighters, fighting without rest, and fighting even if you are injured is inhumane." She leaned closer. "This ce is called Tartarus for a reason. Only the strong of the strong survive here. In every ss, at least five percent would end up dead and at least thirty percent would be crippled. Do you really want to be a cripple and be useless? My goal this time is to graduate. I don''t care if I am top or not."

 Chapter 598: Superpower?

    Chapter 598: Superpower?


    Gabi let out a sharp sigh as she thought of the rules again. She had realized why this ce feels like hell. It was indeed called Tartarus for a reason.


    ording to the myths, Tartarus is a ce where the titans were locked. It''s dark and very dangerous too.


    Endless fighting and survival are indeed very hard to do. They cannot assassinate their opponents, but they could challenge someone every twelve hours and as long as you are still conscious, you cannot refuse the challenge! And the only way for you to leave this camp is to actually be crippled or someone who is unable to fight anymore.


    What kind of camp is this?


    What are these people? Gabiined inwardly. What kind of training is this? Letting them fight every twelve hours is torture! Even if you are an expert in martial arts, avoiding injuries is still hard. Injuries are unavoidable. While thinking about these, Gabi was washing her dishes. She had the option to go to the canteen for everyone, but she chose to just cook everything inside her fridge. She wasn''t an excellent cook in any way, but she could still make something edible.


    ording to the rules, fresh supplies will arrive every three days. However, since she won''t be able to cook when the training starts, Gabi thought it would be good to take advantage of these supplies now.


    *Crash*


    Gabi gasped when the ss identally slip from her hand. Shaking her head, she immediately started picking up the shattered pieces. It seems that the rules really bothered her this time. No matter what she does, she couldn''t stop thinking about those rules. She felt a little nervous and agitated at the same time. Her anxiety isn''t helping her at all!


    She finally escaped the clutches of Alfons and now there is a possibility that she might die here!


    However, she wasn''t nning to give up either.


    "Aw!" Gabi hissed when one of the broken pieces pierced her palm. She unknowingly clenched her hand because of her newfound determination, but forgot that she was still holding the sses. "Ugh" She threw the broken ss and immediately wash her hand. The tingling sensation woke her up from her stupor earlier. What was she thinking? Why was she thinking of dying again?


    It seems that dying in her past life really traumatized her. She started wondering if she should see someone for therapy. Sadly, she couldn''t really say these things to anyone or they would think she had gone crazy.


    "Hmmm?" Gabi withdrew her hand from the water and squinted her eyes at the small cut.


    It wasn''t there anymore!


    Was she hallucinating just now?


    No, that''s impossible. She felt the pain and that itchy wait why would she feel itchiness? It was supposed to hurt! Itchiness only happens if the wound is healing!


    She held her hand near her face and stared at her palm. Not even a scar can be seen in her hands. But the sensation earlier


    She immediately went to the garbage and rummage the ss. Her eyes soon widened. Just as she expected, there was blood on one of the broken pieces! She wasn''t hallucinating!


    Then


    Again, she looked at her palm, then shifted her gaze towards the blood. It was still fresh, as it happened just a few minutes back.


    But where is the wound?


    She turned her hand around and even started looking at her elbows and arms. No wounds. She also checked her other arm and again, no wound.


    She bit her lower lip as she sat on the bed. Did her wound just heal?


    Obviously, the first thing that came into her mind was the nanoparticles that Aden gave her. Aden told her there would be side effects, but he never said anything about being healing. Isn''t this like a superpower?


    To confirm, Gabi got a knife from the kitchen and gave her index finger a minor cut. It wasn''t big, but it was definitely bigger than what she had earlier. Just as she expected, the cuts almost immediately disappeared. However, since this cut is bigger than the previous one, it didn''t disappear immediately. It took a couple of minutes before the wound finally closed. However, the pain took a few more minutes before it disappeared.


    Still, this is enough to make her excited. Aden''s face shed in her head. Was it deliberate? Aden knew that she was still weak, yet he actually sent her here. Moreover, he knew what kind of ce is this? So why would he send her here if he wasn''t confident that she would survive?


    But why did he hide this fact from her?


    Was it because he was scared that she would expose it? But staying in this camp will definitely expose her secrets! If she would fight people every day and heal the next day, then people would surely wonder what was wrong! What if they would experiment on her? What if they would catch Aden and make him tell them his secrets?


    If that happens it would be very unfortunate!


    No. She couldn''t let that happen. She needed to keep his secret safe. And to do that, she needed to avoid any injuries! She can''t expose this ability and risk exposing Aden''s identity!


    For some reason, she couldn''t calm down. Gabi started pacing inside the room. Should she warn him? As the top one, she could send letters, right? And since the training didn''t start yet, she try asking Mr. Ma about calling Aden. With this in mind, she grabbed her card and went out of her room.


    It was still noon time so she could see a few people walking in the hall where the dormitories were located. To find a guard, Gabi needed to go to the floor below hers where the dormitories and canteen were located.


    "Hey you "


    "Excuse me we are calling you."


    Gabi stooped walking and turned towards the three people who called her.


    "You are a trainee, right?" the woman with a short bob asked. Gabi nodded in response. The three people in front of her were tall and muscr. Their skin was honeyed, probably from the sun. The three of them reminded her of warriors from those movies that she saw.


    "Howe we haven''t seen you around?" the woman continued asking. She examined Gabi''s small frame and squinted. "Are you the one who ranked first this time?"

 Chapter 599: The Letter

    Chapter 599: The Letter


    Gabi raised an eyebrow.


    "Ah sorry Let me introduce myself. I am called Kincaid. I graduatedst year. This pretty woman is Alison and this one is Donna. What''s your name?"


    "Leo," Gabi said. "Nice to meet you."


    "Nice to meet you, too. We are in charge of the weapons department. We already saw everyone during lunchtime and you were the only one who didn''t join them so" Alison, the woman with bob hair, smiled at her. "We assumed you were cooking the food from the room."


    "Oh" Gabi couldn''t help but wonder why these people approached her. She couldn''t sense anything dangerous from them. Even their tone was a little friendly. Still, she decided not to lower her guard.


    From where she was standing, Gabi could sense a few more peopleing their way. They should be about fifty meters away from her. Because of this, she wanted to end this conversation soon. She honestly didn''t want to meet with someone. At least not before the training started.


    "I''m sorry are you going to see the chief?" The woman named Donna asked. "If you are, then let''s just go together," Donna smiled at her.


    "Alright" Gabi nodded. The only reason why she would be on this floor is because of the canteen and to see the chief. Gabi slowly extended her senses. She could smell some delicious food to her right. That should be the ce where the canteen is located.


    Before going inside the chief''s office, Gabi couldn''t help but turn her head back. She could hear the people who were walking towards them earlier. They were a bit far from her, but their words were pretty clear to her ears. They were talking about challenging the first ranker. They are talking about crippling her as punishment for cheating.


    But how did she cheat?


    Gabi was confused.


    It seems that her decision not to join the others for lunch was the right thing to do. Still, she couldn''t help but wonder who started the news that she cheated on the exams. Whoever it was, Gabi couldn''t help but call that person stupid. Did they really think that this ce is a ce that epts cheating?


    If Gabi wasn''t wrong, the examinations checked someone''s adaptability, not just intelligence!


    "Chief Ma"


    "Chief Ma"


    "Chief Ma"


    Ma Ping nodded at the three newest staff before his gazended at Gabi. "Leo why are you here?"


    "Mr. Ma I want to talk to you in private."


    Seeing the resolute expression in Gabi''s eyes, Ma Ping smiled. Was she here to quit? By now, everyone should be familiar with the rules. Everyone should know the brutal way inside this training camp. It was normal for someone like Gabi who grew up in the streets to feel scared.


    "The three of you wait for me to call you outside."


    "Yes. Chief."


    Kincaid gave Gabi a friendly wave before he left the room with the other women.


    "Speak" Ma Ping said.


    "Sir I want to call someone." Before Ma Ping could speak, she added, "I am willing to pay with my points."


    "Oh?" A different glint appeared in Ma Ping''s eyes. From the files, this girl had no friends or family. Moreover, they don''t really allow anyone to call any outsiders because they didn''t want them to track the exact location of the camp. After all, this underground facility isn''t really under that building that they used when they entered the ce.


    This camp is really secretive. "ording to the protocol you cannot call anyone from the outside. These are the rules."


    ''Just as expected," Gabi said inwardly. "Then can I write a letter to someone?"


    "You can." This isn''t the first time that some people would try to talk to him about these matters. First, they would ask if they could call someone, then if he refuse, they would immediately ask to write a letter. Usually, these letters were goodbye letters to friends and lovers. This always happens once they realized the brutality inside this camp. "Two points." Ma Ping held two of his fingers.


    "I understand."


    "Good." Ma Ping immediately opened his drawer and gave her a paper and pen as well as an envelope for the letter. Then he waited for her to write her letter. To his surprise, Gabi finished writing the letter in about a minute.


    He couldn''t help but frown. Wasn''t this a goodbye letter to a lover? Usually, these things would take them an hour and a few pages of paper! But her letter only took her a minute to write?


    He started to wonder who the letter is for.


    Soon, Gabi handed him the envelope with the address on top.


    Seeing the name of the familiar jewelry store, Ma Ping stared at Gabi. "Bobo Jewelry Store?" What caught his attention was the name along with it. Aden.


    What the hell?


    Why was she sending a letter to the boss''s son?


    "Ah yes "Gabi nodded. She was confident that Aden was smart enough to know the meaning behind the letter.


    "Bobo Jewelry Store?" Ma Ping repeated his question. As the person who helped the young master establish his base in Du Empire, he was pretty familiar with this store. "Alright I will send your letter to this address."


    "Thank you." Relief shed through her. Then she smiled and bid him her goodbye.


    Actually, Gabi''s letter only has a few words on it. It wasn''t really a proper letter, but a string of greetings that she wrote for Aden. She was confident that if someone would examine the letter, they wouldn''t see anything wrong with it!


    However, her letter only made Aden confused. He squinted at the clear handwriting before he frown.


    [Hello Aden,] It says.


    [How have you been?]


    [I am fine. Thank you.]


    [I miss you]


    [I wish to see you soon.]


    [Love,]


    [Your Maverick]


    Uhhh. What kind of letter is this?


    He stared at the letter and read its contents repeatedly. Then his eyes widened as he jolted up. She can heal herself?


    .....


    Some people cannot see the updates starting from chapter 581. Can you guys see it?

 Chapter 600: Maverick

    Chapter 600: Maverick


    Maverick


    Maverick was a mutant that could heal himself. He was enhanced and designed to do it so he could deal with Wolverine!


    This was the code that Gabi wanted to tell him. Just like Maverick, Gabi''s body has been enhanced too. This was the only reason she would use the word Maverick on the letter!


    She was his maverick!


    "Clever. Very clever." Aden smiled. Gabi could use other well-known characters that could heal themselves. However, the name Maverick also had another meaning. It means an independent-minded person. Or a person who refuses to follow the rules of a group that he or she is a member of.


    A normal person who would read the letter and search about the word maverick would simply think that it was something that Aden used to call her because she was unorthodox. It was like a pet name.


    Since they didn''t know that her body had been enhanced by Aden, they wouldn''t think aboutparing Maverick to the one on X men! He immediately got out of bed and run towards hisb. He needed to check it again!


    As the first person who receive this treatment, Aden wasn''t too sure about the changes that the nano would bring into her body.


    "Hey where are you going?" Tureis followed him into hisb. "You are not sleeping. Are you going to kill someone?"


    "What do you need?" Right now, his priority is to study the effects on her body. He was even prepared to go back home just to check her body.


    "The Sealey''s."


    "What about them?"


    "You told me to watch them."


    "And?"


    "They are making movements against Miss Sutton''s Ren Family."


    "Oh?" Aden arrived in hisb. He immediately changed into hisb coat. "Tell me more."


    "Well I am guessing that they have a spy inside the Ren Family. They were able to win a few biddings against the Rens. I believe they are specifically targeting the Ren Family because of what Miss Sutton did."


    Gabi would surely deal with them if she was here. But she wasn''t.


    "So they are targeting the Ren Family. But they were already eyeing them even before Gabi dealt with them, right?"


    "Yes. But that was only a guess. However, this time, they are making it so obvious."


    "Hmmm Look into it. The only reason why they are doing this is that they found a backer. The main n must have sent someone. Also schedule a meeting with that stupid Prince. Tell him, I want to see him."


    "Yes, sir." Finished talking, Tureis left Aden alone.


    Meanwhile, Gabi didn''t stop experimenting to check her newfound healing ability. Despite the pain, she endured and cut herself over and over again just to check her body. She tried cutting her leg, arms, and thighs and she realized that bigger wounds would take a longer time to heal. Which was already expected. What she didn''t expect was actually the pain.


    And all throughout the healing process, she would feel a mixture of pain and itchiness on the wound. And even if the wound already healed, the pain inside her body would stay for a couple more hours. For instance, a pinky size cut on her leg would take at least an hour to heal. And a palm-size cut would take at least three hours. Moreover, even if the wound started healing, the blood flowing from it wouldn''t stop unless she used a cloth or anything that would slow it down. This really made her happy and bothered at the same time. After all, once people discover this, they might take her and cut her body just to see what was causing these magical abilities.


    Because of this, Gabi also checked her body and discovered that this didn''t affect her old scars. So the small scars that she had when she was a child didn''t disappear. On the contrary, the wounds that she had after the treatment would vanish as if they weren''t there in the first ce.


    Gabi slowly regretted not being good at anything aside from scheming. If she was good at science, she would have taken an interest in the words that Aden told her because he started the treatment.


    Right now, her only problem is to keep this a secret. However, how could she keep it a secret? This camp involves a lot of fighting! Fighting means wounds!


    Slowly, days passed, and the training camp officially started.


    On the first day, Gabi went to the eighth floor, where the training grounds were located. Wearing a sleek ck uniform that hugged her body, Gabi looked at the training ground that looked bigger than a football ground. She couldn''t help but wonder how they build this ce.


    Gabi withdrew her gaze and switched it towards the other trainees that were standing just a few feet away from her. Right now, thirty-one people were gathered in the middle of the training grounds. All of them were wearing a ck and sleek material that looked like leather but was stretchable and hard. The material hugged each of their bodies, emphasizing their muscles and curves.


    This suit totally reminded Gabi of the leather clothes from those movies that she saw when she was younger. However, she knew that the material used to make the suit wasn''t leather. To her surprise, though, the suit isn''t heavy at all. If anything, it was light and veryfortable.


    "Hey Littledy what''s your name."


    Gabi turned towards the group of people who approached a woman that was smaller than Gabi. The woman was sporting a clean military cut. Despite this, she had a great figure that was emphasized by the suit. She was about five foot two, with full breasts, a slim waist, and straight legs. Despite her short hair, she looked really attractive and hot.


    To everyone''s surprise, the woman ignored the six-foot-tall man who approached her. He only gave him a nd gaze before turning her head away in the other direction.


    "Huh? Did she just ignore me?"


    "Boss Ting it seems that she didn''t recognize you." Someone from the back said before whistling. "Fiery. I hope this one won''t be easy."


    Gabi frowned and turned the other way. It seems that this Ting was a leader of a small group of men. She wondered if they came from one ce. And why are they acting like thugs? Isn''t this a prestigious ce just for the elite?


    "Hey are you ignoring me?" Gabi heard the man named Ting, said. She wasn''t too far away from the petite woman and her senses were very sharp. So, even if she wasn''t looking at them, she could hear the man''s foot''s steps and the woman''s calm breathing from where she was.


    The man approached the girl. "Hey! Are you f*ckin deaf?"


    "She''s always alone even while eating" someone from the back murmured. "Maybe that''s why they thought she was an easy target." The person who said that was a man who looked skinny and was about five foot eight tall. He was just talking to himself and he was about twenty feet away from Gabi, but she could clearly hear his words.


    The man stood next to the girl, his gaze sharp. "So you are ignoring me."


    In response, the girl stared at him. "Do you need anything?"


    "Stay in my dorm tonight and I won''t challenge you to a duel."


    The woman just stared at Ting, her face frosty. "Do you want to die?"


    "Hah do you understand what you are trying to" Before the man could finish his words, the woman already made her move. She sent the base of her palm towards the tall man. However, the man quickly avoided this. He took a side step and attempted to dodge the woman''s attack. To his surprise, the woman stopped midway and kick his shin.


    The action was too fast, yet the man was still able to avoid it by stepping back.


    "Feisty." The man snorted. "You think you can beat me in a fight?"


    "Lu Tingting" the woman blurted. "Just because you look like a hippo doesn''t mean that you are strong. You think I am scared of your thick skin?"


    "You  What did you just say?"


    Gabi raised an eyebrow at the woman''s words. It seems that the woman actually knows the man?


    "I said you look like a hippo. Did you think your friends can protect you here? Think again." The woman had disgust written all over her face.


    "You little b*tch"


    "You elephant. Don''t think that I would spare you just because we came from the same country. I would use this opportunity to beat you. Don''t worry I would definitely spare you. However, I am not sure if I could spare that other part of your body." While saying this, she stared at Lu Tingting''s crotch and snorted. "You know the small one."


    "You  I will kill you  " Hearing her words, Lu Tingting immediately sent a flying kick, but the woman easily avoided it.


    "Weak"


    "You  " Before Lu Tingting could do anything else, they heard someone''s whistle. Everyone turned their heads towards Ma Ping, who walked in wearing the same ck uniform. He smiled at them.


    "Seems like everyone is excited to hit each other." Ma Ping beamed. "Don''t worry I am excited to hit you too."

 Chapter 601: Expect the Unexpected

    Chapter 601: Expect the Unexpected


    "Ladies and Gents, you are not here to kill each other so rx. We won''t allow you to die. At least not now. In a while, you will have your first task. You can die then."


    "" Uhhh Gabi looked at Mr. Ma. He had a serious expression on his face yet, his eyes were sparkling with mischief. For some reason, Gabi felt something foreboding as she watched this man.


    "Alright. First task." Ma Ping pped his hands and almost immediately, the world started shaking. "It''s not an earthquake. Rx. As I said, I will only let you die by fightingter. Not because of an earthquake."


    So, that is supposed to make them feel better?


    "In this task, you can use whatever weapon that you have with you. Daggers, needles, swords, guns. Whatever." Ma Ping held his hand towards the tform in front of them. Each of the tforms looked like concrete walls. However, its width and height were different. Some were only about as tall and as thin as Gabi while the others had at least six feet in width and seven feet in height. Some were really thin with only a foot in width but ten feet in height. They looked like towers were some looked like walls.


    She immediately wondered if this was a maze. Was it a maze full of traps?


    "Test is you have to reach the other side of the ne." Ma Ping gestured towards the concrete walls. "Without dying, of course."


    There he goes again, mumbling about death. Was it really that hard to run around a maze?


    Of course, Gabi''s thoughts soon changed when someone approached the concrete walls.


    *ZIP*


    *ZAP*


    Laser?


    Are thosesers?


    Her eyes widened at the sudden appearance of the reddishser that hit the bald person who ran towards the concrete walls. It didn''t pierce his skin but that man''s skin was burnt ck.


    It must have been too painful as the man was on the floor crying in pain.


    "Ah, I forgot about thoseser beams. It won''t kill you immediately." Ma Ping said. He was clearly enjoying their horrified expressions. "One or two hits won''t kill you. It would only burn your skin. However, it hit your head, I can''t assure you that you will not end up blind or worse dead. Hahahaha!"


    Ma Ping startedughing. What was so amusing?


    However, now Gabi realized that this man wasn''t kidding about death and injuries. Fighting amongst themselves was useless. They needed to save their strengths for the real battle and that is the test.


    This was only the first test and the intensity was already like this.


    "The first three people that could reach the other end will be rewarded with points. Of course, I am not telling you how much. You will only know when you reach the other side." With that, Ma Ping waved and turned around. "I will see you on the other end. Goodluck. Keep your injuries minimal or you will have a hard time on the second day."


    Damn.


    That''s the only thing that she could say.


    This ce was indeed called Tartarus because it was hell! Not just their point system also the way that they handle challenges.


    Gabi looked at theser beams. Because of her enhanced vision, she could clearly see that thosesers are following a rhythmic pattern.


    Eighteen.


    Gabi was counting silently and realized that there were eighteen of theser. Now, she needed to determine if othersers can only be activated by some sort of other mechanisms.


    "Let''s go! The point this time should be good!" Gabi heard Lu Tingting. She then watched as the giant of a man ran towards the first concrete wall. Just as Gabi expected, aser beam immediately fired towards his way.


    However, the man was clearly here because of his skills. Despite his size, he easily avoided theser and used the concrete to cover himself from the nextser.


    Seeing that Lu Tingting sessfully reach the first concrete, the others looked at each other before they followed the man. About ten people followed, each of them was able to avoid theser beam using different techniques. Someone was tumbling like a gymnast while someone easily dodged it by using some fancy moves like a one-hand stand and a split.


    Damn.


    Another curse escaped her lips. These people looked really agile and experienced inbat. After those ten people reached the first concrete, another group of people followed. And just like the others, they also used some fancy moves to avoid the beams.


    A bead of sweat appeared on Gabi''s forehead. She let out a loud sigh as her heart started to beat faster. She was nervous, she could feel her palms start to sweat. She eyed theser beams and tried to gauge how painful it would be to be hit by those beams.


    However, she had no choice.


    She needed to run.


    However, before Gabi could take a step forward, someone from the batch that followed Lu Tingting let out a scream.


    Anotherser beam!


    This time it wasn''t red.


    It was blue!


    "Ah I forgot to say." Ma Ping''s loud voice echoed inside the space. Clearly, he was watching them from somewhere. "The red ones would burn your skin. The blue ones would do something worse. I heard it could cut off a finger and cut your flesh. It''s going to be painful. But it won''t kill you. Unless of course it would hit your head."


    Hah! This man


    Gabi furrowed.


    Ma Ping didn''t tell them everything earlier. He waited for one of them to be hit by anotherser beam before he said something. It was like, he was teaching them a lesson as they go.


    Expect the unexpected.


    Just because you already know the terrain and the enemy, doesn''t mean that you should becent. You should be careful and still act with vignce. And most importantly, always prepare for the worse.


    Gabi inhaled sharply. A new determination appeared in her eyes.


    Then she took her first step towards the first concrete.

 Chapter 602: The Lunatic Mother and Son

    Chapter 602: The Lunatic Mother and Son


    Just as Gabi expected, thesers were following a pattern. In fact, she could see it follow a set of rhythms. It was as if it was following to a tune! A piece of music! Gabi looked at the few people who were still hiding not far away from her. She was already halfway through the concrete when anotherser beam appeared. This time, it was green.


    Luckily, no one was hit. However, the concrete that was hit by theser beams suffered a huge crack in the middle. The ones that fit the floor created an enormous hole. As if a lightning bolt just hit it.


    This time, Ma Ping exined that thisser beam can cut someone''s head with one hit.


    Who would dare move after such an announcement?


    These people were really trying to kill them!


    Unlike Gabi, some of the people here worked hard to be epted in this school. Now, this only made Gabi confused.


    Why?


    Why go to a ce like this?


    Perhaps they are desperate to get stronger, too?


    Gabi bit her lower lips as she closed her eyes and started analyzing the movements of the beams earlier. She couldn''t figure out something, one key, something that would enable her to solve this problem.


    Problem!


    That''s right!


    This looked like an equation!


    Was it possible that she could predict the next movement just by solving this as a mathematical equation?


    Gabi grew up inside that mansion for years. And her hobby? Naturally, it was reading and studying! She graduated ahead of her age because of her intellect! Because of her weak body, she thought she could help support Alfons just by being smart. And of course, she seeded.


    Her body used to be weak, but her mind was not. And most importantly. After whatever it was that Aden did, she felt that her brains had be sharper. She had be smarter!


    Almost immediately, her mind started theputation. Her eyes soon widened. ''In .0097 seconds, the blueser will hit to her west, three meters away from her.


    *BOOM*


    She was right?


    This time, Gabi didn''t feel her heart race. On the contrary, it was calm  too calm, it felt weird. The feeling was foreign to her. Again, she started counting and this time she tested the redser together with the blueser.


    ording to her observation, there were about twenty-nine differentsers. Eighteen red, seven blue, and the rest were green.


    Because of the intensity of the greenser, their numbers were obviously lesser than the other.


    A smile suddenly rose on her face when she realized that she was right! Herputation had been correct. This was a big mathematical equation.


    Now, she couldn''t help but wonder who would do something like this. What kind of lunatic would use this type of problem to firesers? A bored one? Hmmm... definitely a crazy one!


    .


    "Achoo! Someone must be thinking about me." Aden crossed his legs. "Anyway, you are here now because of some important things." He handed the file to the man across from him.


    "Sigh you actually dared to summon a prince in this ce."


    "I am leaving. I have no time to visit you in the pce and it''s bothersome. I don''t want to see your father."


    "Father dotes on you so much. He treats you better than he treats me. Why are youining like that?" the man who spoke had white long hair that was neatly tied in a ponytail behind him. His face wasn''t particrly handsome. However, the glint in his eyes showed a different type of cunningness that not many people possess. He always had a kind on his lips that didn''t reach his eyes.


    Aden used to call this man the tricksters. Though he is only calling him this because of his appearance. Aden used to say that it looked like the Prince was a hooligan.


    "Isn''t this because I am smarter than you?" Aden said. "If I wasn''t smart, do you think your father would treat me like this?"


    "Anyway why are you leaving?"


    "Because I don''t want to see you?"


    "Hey stop joking around. I thought you don''t like to see Aunt Lyca?"


    "Idiot, she is my mother. Who told you that I don''t want to see her?"


    "Ah am I wrong?" The man lifted his eyebrow before he chuckled andughed. "Aunt Lyca has always been a scary woman. I just thought you were scared of her."


    "Why do you always tell me that I am scared? When, in fact you are the one who felt intimidated by my mother?" Aden argued. Weak people easily get intimidated by his mother. Obviously, he wasn''t one of those weak people. "I am doing something important."


    "Oh?? Was it Sister Aya?"


    "No. Aya''s good."


    "Then is Aunt Lyca sick?"


    "She won''t get sick even if she wanted to."


    "How could you say something like that to your own mother?"


    "It''s true!"


    "Alright, you should stop changing the topic this time. Why are you leaving the country?"


    "Experiments."


    The man''s expression immediately turned serious. However, this time, he didn''t ask any more questions. He open the files and started reading. "The Sealey''s huh"


    "I want them destroyed."


    "The evidence is sufficient. However, the Sealey''s are attacking the Ren Family. If we intervened"


    Aden squinted. "I can do it on my own. But it would be very very messy. And your mother wouldn''t like that."


    The man immediately pursed his lips. He looked irritated. But what can he do? If Aden takes care of things, blood would surely flow the streets of this country. This man waszy in dealing with his enemies, he wanted to end them as quickly as possible.


    Right.


    Just like his mother.


    Aden Shen was definitely a lunatic.


    "Alright I will take care of it. Their main branch had been doing some things behind the back of the crown. We needed to teach them a little lesson."


    "Good. Now as reward here take it."


    "What''s this, a magic potion?" he looked at the vial with green liquid and held it against the chandelier.


    "Anti poison."


    "You "


    "One drop and you are safe from any venom or poison for a month. It''s gonnast you one year."


    Understanding shed in the man''s eyes. "Thank you. This is a precious gift. I will definitely take care of the Sealey Family!"

 Chapter 603: Misunderstanding the Purpose

    Chapter 603: Misunderstanding the Purpose


    "Number one she wasn''t the fastest." Ma Ping uttered when he saw the report of the first task. "She was third to thest and considering that thest two were injured, her result was not really something to be proud about."


    "But she wasn''t injured." His subordinate imed. "In fact, she was the only one who wasn''t injured."


    "That''s because she yed it safe!" Ma Ping reasoned. "In this life, there is no ying it safe."


    "But sir what''s the use of finishing a mission and bing first if you also lost your arm in the process?"


    This made Ma Ping silent. He stared at his subordinate before his gaze drifted towards the result of the first test. All the trainees this time were injured. Some suffered minor burns, but all of them suffered! Everyone except Gabi. (Author''s note: At this point, everyone is going to call Gabi, Leo. This is her fake name.)


    Not even a minor scratch.


    No, the woman avoided allser beams. True. She was slow, but all of her movements were calcted. She would stop, look at theser, then run to the next concrete. Her fast movements didn''t really attract Ma Ping''s attention. What he wanted to know is how was she able to pass the test without wounds?


    This test was designed to injure everyone and make them weaker. However, Gabi didn''t receive any injuries. Moreover, this person also topped the test. She already has an enormous advantage when ites to points. Now, she was the only one who didn''t receive any injuries.


    "But how?" Was it just cowardice that saved her?


    No. That''s impossible. The madam rmended this woman herself! There''s no way that she was a coward! If Ma Ping was right, Lyca already tested Gabi''s courage. The only reason why Gabi is here is that she passed that test!


    So howe she wasn''t injured?


    "y the video again." Ma Ping instructed. His subordinate immediatelyplied. Then, for the third time, they watched Gabi from all angles of the camera. "She was mumbling about something." What could it be? Was she trying to predict theser beams?


    "Sir, I think she is predicting theser beams."


    "How is that possible?" Ma Ping said. Even he doesn''t know how to predict the movements of the beam.


    "But isn''t that the only exnation how she was able to avoid allser? Look! Every time a beam targeted a ce far away from her, she moves! Look there it is again!"


    The three people inside Ma Ping''s office watched as Gabi made her way across the concrete walls. They zoomed in and out and in and out and in and out. Soon they realized that she was indeed mumbling something.


    "Call her here."


    "Sir?"


    "I wanted to know how she was able to predict theser beams. Even I don''t know that there''s a way to predict them!" How could a mere homeless predict theser beams? Did Madam Lyca stumble upon a rare genius?


    Tomorrow, they will announce the result of the entrance exam. On that day, the trainees will also start challenging other people, including the top cer. However, this time, the top one didn''t receive any injuries. So, other people might not challenge her. But what if she challenges other people?


    Thoseser burns were not big, but they were really designed to cause a second-degree burn. Meaning, it would be quite painful. In fact, a lot of people might not have the ability to sleep tonight without any pain relievers.


    While Ma Ping was silently thinking about his next actions, Gabi arrived and saluted.


    "Take a seat."


    "Yes, sir."


    "This time, I want to congratte you for passing the test." Ma Ping said.


    "Thank you, sir."


    "Do you understand why I am congratting you even if you didn''t receive any points?"


    "Yes, sir."


    "Good." Ma Ping nodded. He stared at Lyca''s calm expression as he wondered if she already know why he wanted to talk to her. "Let me be honest with you, Leo." Ma Ping leaned back. "The test was designed to hurt everyone."


    She didn''t miss the surprise on the woman''s small face.


    "Every test was designed to hurt everyone." Ma Ping continued. "The reason behind this matter is that we wanted to see everyone''s performance despite injuries. Can they still fight while in pain? Can they still survive behind enemy lines? Each and everyone here was already considered the elite of the elites. However being an elite doesn''t mean that they are going to live when they encounter someone unpredictable outside."


    The woman looked confused. Ma Ping smiled inwardly. It seems that until now, this woman didn''t know the purpose of this training facility. However, Gabi was able to suppress her curiosity. She waited for Ma Ping to finish his words. "Everyone is going to encounter someone better than them one day. There will always be a better fighter, a better thinker. When facing an enemy that is stronger and better than you, the key is always adaptability, flexibility. Can you still survive even if you are injured and your enemy is stronger than you? This training facility is a ce that would train you how to survive despite all odds."


    "Now, you can only imagine my surprise when someone actually finished the mission unscathed." He smiled. "I am not upset that you didn''t get injured. However I am really curious how you were able to survive more than thirtyser beams without sustaining at least one burn?"


    "I "


    "I want an honest answer."


    "Well I thought the test is going to test ourputing skills."


    Huh? This time, it was Ma Ping''s turn to look clueless. Whatputing skills? Was there a misunderstanding somewhere? He looked at his subordinate behind Gabi, and the two of them shrugged as well. "Exin further."


    Gabi gulped and met Ma Ping''s eyes. "I thought that you were testing if we could predict the next target of the beams, so I  I used a simple form to predict its next movement. "Seeing that everyone in the room turned silent, Gabi continued. "See I thought that all technology was based on a program. For example, a robot. A robot''s movements were based on a program that was instilled inside them. If you program a robot to cut trees, then there would be a program for it to raise its arms, a program for it to swing it and cut the trees. I thought thesers were the same. So I umm analyzed its movement."

 Chapter 604: Exercise with Burnt Skin

    Chapter 604: Exercise with Burnt Skin


    Everyone in the office turned speechless. They stared at Gabi as if she was an alien. The three people inside were all fighters  soldiers that Lyca personally trained. The only thing in their minds was how to survive and fight.


    Who cares about programming?


    They cared about tricking their opponents and defeating them!


    "So you are saying that you were able to predict the movements of theser beam by reverse programming?" Ma Ping asked after Gabi finished her exnations.


    "Yes, sir."


    "By using math?"


    "Yes sir. And the probability."


    "So you used a simple solution to check the probability of the movements of theser beams and realized that they were all connected?"


    "No sir. They were not connected. The reason why I wasst is that they have different programs. Each of them."


    "So you did it to all thirty-oneser beams?"


    "There was only twenty-nine, sir. The other three were for bluffing purposes only."


    Ma Ping blinked.


    His subordinates blinked.


    "Show me." Ma Ping immediately got up. How is this possible? Everyone here thought that the firing was random! If it was random, then how could she use math to predict it? In Ma Ping''s mind, the programmed design by Madam Lyca and sir Aden isn''t something that mere humans like them could understand. Even the people from other countries thought that this technology was highly advanced and dangerous!


    This technology was something that was created because Sir Aden loved robots so much. It was said that Sir Aden would one day create robots that could ruin buildings and fly. This weapon is only one of the weapons that the robot possesses.


    "This way," one of Ma Ping''s subordinates led them towards the control room of the first test.


    "Leo, may I know if you know how to hack too?"


    "No sir. But it''s mostly math. I could learn it."


    "Did you go to school while you were in ria?"


    "No sir. I was homeless."


    "I understand." Was it really possible that a homeless person would have good skin and a very brilliant mind? Ma Ping was curious about this woman''s real background. "Alright we are here. Show us."


    "Can you please give me a piece of paper?"


    Seeing that no one is moving, Gabi added, "I could do it mentally, but I would rather show you aputation so you would see it."


    "Ah go give her a piece of paper." Ma Ping immediately said. "Tell me when you''re ready.


    "Alright. We can start."


    In the next few seconds, Ma Ping watched as Gabi predicted each and everyser''s movement. From the reds to greens and blues. Though it would make her one to three minutes to predict the movement every time, Ma Ping was still fascinated by the fact that someone could actually predict the movement of a robot.


    This is something that he needed to report to the Madam as soon as possible. It would be better to make the movement of theser unpredictable too!


    "Do you think we can make it unpredictable?"


    "No sir."


    "Why?"


    "These are machines, sir."


    "And?"


    "Machines needed a program to work. Unless, of course, you will assign a person to shoot theser randomly."


    "I see."


    "Tomorrow, the formal training would start. The call time is at three in the morning. You have to sleep by eight tonight."


    Gabi nodded. Now she understood what he meant by being ready and surviving behind enemy lines.


    "You can leave now."


    Gabi immediately left. She needed to sleep and prepare for the training tomorrow. Moreover, they would also announce her name tomorrow. People would start challenging her. Or will they?


    Gabi smiled when she thought of being the only one uninjured.


    Isn''t this an opportunity for her to challenge everyone while she was not injured?


    .


    And just like that, the second day arrived.


    At three in the morning, everyone was already in the assembly room. This room was different, as this one had chairs. At three am sharp, Ma Ping arrived with the two subordinates that he was with yesterday.


    "You look horrible." Ma Ping smiled. "Just a slight burn and look at your faces. Are you really the elites? Or did you just get here because of your family''s money?"


    Gabi couldn''t help but look at everyone else. Just as Ma Ping mentioned. Everyone had bags under their eyes. It was probably because of the burns. Moving around with burnt skin is really painful. As someone who didn''t like pain, Gabi silently thank her brain for being smart enough to avoid thosesers.


    "Oh? You look like you wanted to say something?" Ma Ping asked the one with a shaved head.


    "No sir."


    "Nah say it." Ma Ping said.


    "I "


    "Say it!"


    "Sir. We didn''t have much sleep because of our burns!" The man yelled. "We were given something to relieve the pain, but it wasn''t enough and we were not allowed to have a second dose of the medicine."


    "Ah then next time I would tell them not to give you pain relievers anymore."


    "." Even Gabi felt a little worried because of that statement. No pain reliever? Isn''t that too extreme? However, Ma Ping''s words yesterday echoed in her head. He was right. This training facility was designed to teach them survival.


    If you were alone in the wilderness, who would give you pain relievers? Who would tend to your wounds? Who would help you?


    The answer is simple; No one!


    This was the reality that Ma Ping wanted to teach them.


    "Alright today we needed to run ten miles. It''s not a lot, but this would increase every day." Ma Ping had that smile on his face again. Because of this, Gabi concluded that this training wasn''t as simple as running ten miles.


    Did they prepare another set of traps for this exercise?


    "Ah also I want you to mind the altitude. We will have a realistic environment and this time, you will be running in a desert. Without water whatsoever."


    Damn.


    Gabi curse inwardly as she eyed the other people in the room.


    Running in the middle of the desert without water and with a burnt skin would be very very painful.

 Chapter 605: Gabi the Special Child

    Chapter 605: Gabi the Special Child


    Just as Gabi expected, most people were not able to sustain the exercise. Theck of sleep, theck of water, the humidity, the altitude, and their sweats that only worsen the condition of their wounds almost made everyone give up halfway.


    Most girls copsed and the rest just stopped running andid on the desert.


    It was torture for everyone except Gabi who didn''t have any injuries on the first test. Dressed in ck tank tops and equally ck pants, Gabi was the first one who finished running this time. However, unlike the first test, this one didn''t have any rewards. It was simply because this is considered an exercise and not a test.


    "Eight am sharp!" Ma Ping shouted. "Everyone is here good. Good!" He smiled. But to everyone else, his smile looked really infuriating, as it looked like he was mocking their state. "After the run you will crawl."


    Seeing everyone start to pale, Ma Ping added. "But first we need breakfast. Assemble here by ten in the morning for the next set of exercises. And you can also check the leaderboards right there for the current ranking of points. The challenges are going to start tonight. So the people who didn''t have sleep. Just hoped that no one would challenge you."


    With that, Ma Ping gestured them to leave and have breakfast at the canteen. Obviously, everyone turned towards the opposite direction to look at the leader boards instead. It is their chance to challenge the top spot and everyone was actually pretty excited to know who topped the entrance exam.


    Leona?


    "Leona? Who is Leona?" someone called out. Sadly for them, Gabi or Leona just arrived at the canteen. She already knew that she was the top one, so she wasn''t so interested in the leader board. What she wanted to have right now was food.


    She was starving!


    She woke up really early and ran in a steep desert. She needed more energy if she wanted to survive in this ce.


    "Hey are you Leona?"


    It was the woman with full breasts and cropped military haircut! Gabi examined the woman''s appearance and realized that she had a bandage on her left and right arm. Just like Gabi, she was wearing a tank top, too. "Yes." She knew that this woman didn''t check the leaderboards as she just followed Gabi towards the canteen. But how did she know her name if she didn''t check the leaderboards?


    "May I sit here?"


    "You may," Gabi said.


    "I''m called Miles. Can I call you Leo?"


    "Alright." Gabi started eating. This time, she chose a lot of meat and she was determined to eat a lot. The woman sat opposite her and started eating her own food. Gabi expected her to ask more questions, but surprisingly, the woman stayed quiet. Just like Gabi, the woman would asionally look at her, then lower her gaze to concentrate on the food.


    "If you were wondering how I knew your name, it was because I heard the other teachers talk about you."


    "Oh?"


    "Last night. I couldn''t sleep so I took a bath and heard a teacher mention your name."


    Gabi nodded. It must be the teachers that she met, right?


    "Is it true that you didn''t receive any injuries?"


    "True."


    "Oh" Sensing Gabi''s awkwardness. The woman stopped asking any more questions. After a few seconds, the other trainees also started arriving. This time, most of them already noticed that Gabi and Miles weren''t there earlier. Obviously, they immediately knew that one of them was Leona. And since someone already knew Miles from her dorm, the answer to their questions was pretty obvious.


    It was a good thing that they were not allowed to fight in public areas like the canteen or the bathroom, or the hallway.


    "Hey " Suddenly, a woman with short hair sat next to Miles. "You are Leona, right? My name is Mara."


    "Hey." Gabi nodded. Soon, another woman sat next to Gabi. This time, she introduced herself as Delia.


    "I didn''t think that a woman would top this year''s entrance exam. And to think that you didn''t sustain any injuries. It was indeed very surprising." Just like Miles, Mara and Delia had bandages too. "You already have an advantage because you didn''t have an injury."


    "Are you going to challenge anyone soon?"


    "Are you going to challenge someone with injuries?" Delia asked. "Isn''t that too you know it''s like kicking someone while they were down."


    Gabi nodded. Indeed. It was just like kicking someone when they were down.


    "So you won''t challenge anyone?" Mara asked again.


    "Hmmm if I got injured." Gabi said. She then look at the two of them and smiled. "Are you not going to challenge me because you are scared to kick someone while they were down?"


    "That "


    "Cough cough we were just curious."


    "She''s right. Just curious. Hehe"


    "We are girls. We should stick together, right?"


    "Stick together" Gabi looked at the two people. She didn''t know why they were suddenly acting so friendly, but she didn''t like it. "So if someone would challenge me are you going to fight with me?"


    The two stared at her, speechless. It looked like they couldn''t understand what she was talking about. The rules clearly say that they needed to fight each other to survive.


    When Delia understood her sarcasm, she let out a gasp. So, Gabi was telling them to read the manual. After all, sticking together would be impossible in this type of ce. Again, the atmosphere turned awkward.


    The two didn''t know what to say. So they chose to finish their food as fast as possible and immediately used the excuse to brush their teeth so they could leave.


    "Are you sure? You want me to apany you? Like you know sticking together." Gabi gave the two a friendly smile  it was too friendly, it had to be fake.


    ""


    ""


    When Mara and Delia were already out of the canteen, they immediately went to Fred''s dorm. "How was it? Do you think she is special?" Fred asked.


    "Special?" Mara snorted. "More like a special child."

 Chapter 606: It wasnt Cheating! It was Racing!

    Chapter 606: It wasn''t Cheating! It was Racing!


    Gabi wasn''t surprised to know that no one immediately challenged her after the list was revealed. However, this didn''t mean that she wasn''t going to challenge everyone. This time, she had her eyes on the second cer. It was a man named Rodrigo Imperial. She recalled the man''s appearance from the first tasked and knew that he got an injury in the leg. He is also one of the few people who fainted during their running exercise on the second day.


    "So you challenged someone who could barely walk?" Someone asked her when she issued the challenge.


    "This man is about six foot one," Gabi said.


    "But he could barely walk."


    "He got a total of thirty-three points." The first cer of the first test got three points. The second cer had two points, and the third had one point. The thing is, all three of them sustain a lot of injuries because they just ran and ran without analyzing the location of the beam.


    Of course, she wasn''t too excited to challenge an almost cripple man. But this is survival of the fittest. If she won''t challenge them, someone else would challenge her. Next, she issued another challenge, and this one, she challenged the second cer, then the third. After that, Gabi started putting in the names of the people that she wanted to challenge for the rest of the week.


    "Hey! Why are you inputting the names now?" Someone asked. Since everyone else was hesitating to challenge her, she challenged them instead. Of course, her actions caused panic in a lot of people.


    How could she choose the ones with thergest injuries? Men and women who got a lot of burns were challenged. They could barely sleep because of their burns and now this demon who didn''t have any injuries issued a challenge every twelve hours!


    "She is indeed a special child." Alfredo or Fred said as she squinted his eyes at the challenges. "She also challenged the both of you." He looked at the list of twelve people that received the challenges. "This woman is either too crazy or too stupid. Even if she didn''t sustain any injuries, it would be impossible for her to fight against big guys every twelve hours." The thing is, the first six people on her list were all men, all-around six feet with a body full of muscles.


    "I know, right? Isn''t she a bit too much? I notice that she didn''t have some muscles. She looked like a model, actually. Her skin was too pale and her arms were too thin. Can she really fight a six-footer with those arms of her?" Mara snorted. So what if Leona was the first in the entrance exam? She won that exam without fighting.


    She got the top spot because of her trickeries.


    Moreover, her body looked really weak. "She got lucky, she didn''t have any injuries that day," Delia noted. "Now, we just need to rest and wait for her to exhaust herself, then we can show her what it felt like to be injured. Hmph!" In Delia''s mind, Leona was only arrogant because everyone else was injured.


    They didn''t know that Gabi already calcted everything in her small little brain.


    "She actually challenged the people with the worse injuries?" Ma Ping''s eyes widened when he saw the list. This woman was not only scary smart! She is also ruthless! But isn''t this good?


    So, on that night, Gabi had her first fight.


    The fight this time was on a different floor. There were a total of twenty caged spaces. Each space was about eight to ten meters squared. It looked like the caged space where martial artists fight on TV. However, this one is circr.


    Gabi looked at the man in front of her. Earlier, the man was limping towards the stage. However, the man didn''t show any weakness in front of her.


    "You actually dared to fight me while I was injured. Don''t think that I won''t challenge you again once I am healed." Rodrigo spat, fuming. "However, did you really think that this injury could stop me?"


    Gabi just snorted. She didn''t say anything, instead, she looked around and realized that all trainees were here watching the show. They must be here to know her fighting style!


    Too bad for them, she wasn''t nning on showing them anything.


    "You  You actually dared to look around!? Are you underestimating me?''


    Of course not! Gabi thought inwardly. Just her waist alone looked like the man''s legs! Who would want to fight against a man like that? Seeing her nonchnt shrugged, Rodrigo let out a curse before he suddenly jumped towards her. The action caused him to winch, but it was nothing he couldn''t handle.


    Rodrigo had been stabbed before, and he grew up in the streets fighting. How could a slight pain hinder his movements? However, he failed to realize something.


    Gabi wasn''t here to fight him.


    The rules didn''t say anything about the style of the fighting. As long as there is no weapon involved, then they can do whatever they want. And this includes running around.


    Gabi was smaller and undeniably quicker because she didn''t have injuries. Obviously, it would be difficult to outrun her. Especially if the giant that followed her was injured in his leg.


    "Ahhh! If you are so brave, fight me!"


    "Stupid! Am I not fighting you?" Gabi rolled her eyes. "Racing is fighting too."


    Racing


    Racing


    Racing


    Her words echoed inside the whole space. The silence that followed was suffocating, yet many people who were watching didn''t know if they shouldugh or cry at her words. How could the top one at the entrance exam be this shameless?


    Everyone speechlessly stared as Gabi used her agility and small frame to avoid the man. It was actually a hrious sight, as the injured man looked like he was trying to p a mosquito or catch a fly instead of fighting Gabi.


    "You  You  This is cheating!"


    Again, Gabi snorted. "Cheating? Did you even read the rules? You cannot decline or refuse any challenge." But did it say you have to fight fair?


    The answer is simple.


    It''s a f*cking NO!

 Chapter 607: A Good Night Sleep

    Chapter 607: A Good Night Sleep


    "One hour and twenty-five minutes!" The fightsted for one hour and twenty-five minutes. However, it didn''t look like a fight at all. It looked like Gabi and Rodrigo were ying games. In the end, Rodrigo lost all the will to run. He surrendered.


    To him, it was better to lose than to act like a child! In the end, the glory was still his. After all, his opponent was a damn coward. Even the other trainees started thinking that Gabi was indeed a coward who only got the first spot because of tricks.


    However, that fight lingered in everyone''s head that night. Many wondered what would Gabi do in the next fight. Would she run around again? Wouldn''t that be too much? Some of them also started expecting that the teachers are going to change the rules because of what Gabi did.


    Sadly, they won''t be able to see the fight, as they would already start another round of training by then.


    "You  How could you embarrass Rodrigo like that? That man was a war veteran!" Mara was first to say what was on her mind. In fact, the fight earlier made everyone upset. That Rodrigo was already twenty-seven years old, and he already served two years in the military before quitting. A family decided to fund him and that was the reason why he was here. "How could you insult him like that?"


    "What are you talking about?" Gabi said after she drank her water.


    "You actually looked like you were ying tag with an injured person! How could you be so shameless!"


    Gabi just shrugged in response. Was that really shameless? Of course, it was! However, she couldn''t remove Ma Ping''s words from her head.


    They are here to survive.


    These people came here to fight and show their dominance. However, they were wrong about one thing. You cannot always use fighting to show your dominance. Sometimes, you have to use your brains too!


    The rules this time didn''t say that she couldn''t y tag with her enemy. She just needed to defeat them. Moreover, she only used her advantage to defeat the enemy. Was that really too despicable?


    Umm maybe?


    However, she wasn''t nning on stopping. She was aware that her martial arts might not be the best, but she still had other weapons, the ultimate weapon. Her brain!


    These people wouldn''t understand it.


    "You  Are you going to do that too once you fight us?" Mara asked. It felt like Gabi was looking for fun. Gabi wasn''t actually taking them seriously! Did she really think that everyone here is as weak as her? Mara met Delia''s eyes and the two silently thought about the things that they were going to do to Gabi to show her that they were not someone that she could underestimate!


    Just like the trainees, Ma Ping and the other teachers were also speechless when they saw the fight.


    "I think we should change the rules," Kincaid, the man that Gabi met a few days ago, said. "This time we should emphasize it. Right? Fighting with fist and legs. Not just racing." For some reason, Kincaid felt second-hand embarrassment because of what Gabi did.


    It only showed that the rules have holes! This is going to be a problem in the future!


    Alison, another teacher, chimed in. "She''s using her brains. Do you think you can just fight with your body? The madam would surely like this style."


    "I agree!" Donna nodded. "I think it wasmendable. She didn''t want to exhaust her strength fighting an injured giant. Look at her, she''s so thin. If she really fought... Hold on!"


    "Right. She chose to fight with big injured guys on her first six challenges because she was nning to just run around until their injuries would bleed again." Kincaid said, as he facepalmed. This is so embarrassing!


    Not one of them realized what she was nning! When she chose all injured trainees, they already thought she was shameless. But using this method to win against them is just


    "Let''s be honest here" Ma Ping smiled at everyone. The people working for Ma Ping were not personally trained by Madam Lyca. Unlike Ma Ping, who experienced Lyca''s shameless behavior, these people were like second and third generations. They only heard stories about what happened, but didn''t actually see it. "Leo is different from all of you." How could Ma Ping hate someone that reminded him too much of the madam?


    At least Gabi wasn''t aszy as the madam? But hey! Shamelessness is a talent too!


    "So we are not going to change the rules?"


    "We cannot change the rules now. Next year, however" Ma Ping chuckled. He already had a shameless n in his head. "This is good, too. This is the first time that we encountered someone like her. We should use this opportunity to see if we could improve the rules next year!"


    "I agree. We should just let her do her thing. The thing about men is they easily underestimate us women. Right now, everyone must be underestimating Leo too. After all, she looked thin and weak. And now, she is also showing that she is afraid of fighting. I guess this is her strategy."


    "I honestly think so too! I think she is using this opportunity to make everyone underestimate her and once everyone already thinks that she was weak, she is going to strike!"


    However, when Gabi received this question from Mara, her answer was actually pretty simple. This wasn''t just about the scheme. It was simply because she is scared of pain. If she could avoid being hit, then why not?


    Those men had really big fists


    One hit and she might lose her consciousness. One kick and her insides would get damaged!


    When facing an enemy like this, the best way is not to fight head-on!


    So, she decided to take advantage of their injuries instead!


    "Anyway" Gabi waved her hand. "I''m off." Tonight, she is going to have another goodnight''s sleep in her private bedroom.

 Chapter 608: Fake Lioness

    Chapter 608: Fake Lioness


    Just as everyone expected, Gabi won the next five fights by running around and exhausting her already wounded opponent. It was something that made most of the trainees upset. After all, they wanted to see her skills the skills of the person who topped the exam but ended up seeing nothing but her shameless behavior.


    Because of this, many trainees started calling her the Fake Lion. Those people thought that the Lion was the king of the jungle because of its strength and courage. However, since Gabi didn''t show any of this, she didn''t deserve the top position and thus, she was named the Fake Lion. Of course, this was also about her name which was Leona.


    "Fool." Gabi snorted when she heard someone whisper about her nickname. These people were wrong about Lions. Lions were considered the king of the jungle not because they were the biggest for instance, an elephant is clearly bigger than a Lion. It wasn''t considered the king because it was the fastest obviously, a cheetah is faster than a lion. It wasn''t also the animal that could fly the highest or swim the fastest. A Lion is considered a king of the jungle because of its fearlessness.


    Lions are fearless! They would always face their enemies head-on even if they were smaller or weaker than them. In a sense, Gabi considered herself half a lion. After all, she was very vicious in her previous life too. Moreover, she had never been afraid of anything before. However, having Luca changed her.


    In her previous life, she depended on other people and hadn''t learned anything to protect herself. She trusted people easily and suffered because of it. So yeah, she was only half a Lion.


    The thought of Luca made her mncholic. If she would have another Luca in this life, she would surely do everything to protect him from everyone.


    That''s why she needed to learn more and can protect herself. After all, she wouldn''t be able to protect her own son if she cannot even save herself from other people''s schemes.


    "Tomorrow you will be fighting against Mara. I saw her spar with Delia. She''s strong." Miles said as she sat opposite her. Since that day, Miles started sitting opposite Gabi every day and just ate her food. Sometimes, she would congratte her for winning, sometimes she wouldn''t say a single word and just leave after eating.


    Actually, Gabi started to wonder what was this woman''s motives. If she wanted to get close to Gabi then why not say a word?


    "Yes." Gabi nodded.


    "You ready?"


    Gabi nodded. "I am." Then she stared at Miles as the atmosphere between them turned awkward. Is this the ssic case of two introverts talking to each other? As if sensing her thoughts, Miles lowered her head.


    Of course, Gabi lowered her head too and maintained her silence.


    And just like that, the two finished their food and immediately went to join the training. This time, they were asked to crawl underneath electric barbed wire.


    Yep.


    There was electricity on the barbed wire. If you hit it, a burst of pain would surely hit your body and might even make you faint. Of course, you can''t just crawl slowly as there was a timer and the first few people that would reach the other end would get rewards.


    However, Gabi wasn''t here to get rewards. She was here to remember who got the rewards and challenge them next!


    In Gabi''s analysis, it would be impossible to pass this kind of activity without feeling that pain from the electricity. So, those people who got the first, second and third ce would have suffered lots of injuries too.


    Right now, Gabi was more concerned about who to challenge next! Since she was aware that she wasn''t that strong, she was going to take advantage of this chance to learn more and challenge weaker opponents first. Then she woulde back and haunt the stronger onester.


    "Alright since you are all here" Ma Ping''s voice suddenly echoed inside the training hall. He wasn''t there so Gabi assumed that he was watching them from that control room, again. "You have three hours to upy the fighting Arena. You will be given a chance to practice your martial arts. Weapons will be provided. However, you are not allowed to fight each other. At least not now. There have been some changes in the rules. I will inform everyone about it next week."


    Changes?


    It''s not because of her, right?


    Gabi chuckled inwardly.


    "Hey Leoness why don''t you show us what you''re capable of?"


    Gabi stopped walking for a few seconds before she shrugged and decided to ignore it.


    "Ohhh she''s scared. She is just good at running away."


    "Well that''s only because she''s a coward. There is no way that she would be epted in this ce if she didn''t have the ability to fight, right?"


    Gabi didn''t say anything. She continued walking until they reached the fighting Arena. Just as Ma Ping said, there were weapons everywhere. However. Where are the guns? What''s with these weapons?


    Spears?


    Swords?


    Daggers?


    Axe?


    Huh?


    A Question mark appeared on Gabi''s head. Who would use such a weapon in this day and age? She looked at some of the weapons that she didn''t even recognize and spotted some bows and arrows.


    Why let them use weapons like this?


    Gabi narrowed her eyes. No, there must be a reason why they were given a lot of time to practice using these weapons. But what could it be?


    Are they going to let them fight against each other using ancient des? However, Ma Ping said that they weren''t allowed to fight unless it was a challenge right?


    Hold on!


    Ma Ping also said that there would be some changes in the rules. And after that, he said he would announce it next week. Was he deliberately trying to drop some breadcrumbs and lead them into thinking that they are going to fight?


    Hmmm

 Chapter 609: Bow and Arrow

    Chapter 609: Bow and Arrow


    "Look at her, she didn''t even dare to use any weapons. What was she swinging the halberd for? Does she even understand what that is?"


    "Look at that posture! She didn''t know how to use it!"


    "How embarrassing!"


    "Damn! I have never seen anyone looking so ignorant as her!"


    Meanwhile, Gabi was only checking the weight of each weapon. She quickly realized one thing. The spear-looking one isn''t suitable for her as it was too heavy. She doesn''t like that sword with a curved de either.


    Moreover, she isn''t an expert on daggers or needles that are five inches long.


    She only has one option!


    "That''s a Ulfberht Sword." Miles suddenly appeared next to her. "That one isn''t a spear. That''s a halberd."


    "Oh."


    "Do you need help?"


    "Tell me the names?" Gabi asked. She honestly didn''t know their names!


    "Well that''s a sickle."


    "I know what a sickle is. Isn''t that something grim reapers have?" Gabi asked. She ignored theical look on Miles''s face as she picked the one that looked like an axe. "This?"


    "Battle axe."


    "So it is an axe."


    "It''s a battle axe. It''s for battle."


    "Oh. And this?" she pointed at the weapon that looked like a spear but both of its edges have sharp des. It was smaller than a spear too.


    "That''s a swallow."


    "Who do you think made these weapons?" she asked. As a reader, she thought she could only see these names from the books that she read in the past. Well, she mostly read romance too so her idea about fantasy weapons was quite limited. "What about this?" she pointed at a short sword with really big des.


    "That''s Ummm It''s called a bastard sword."


    "How do you know so many weapons?"


    "I like weapons."


    Gabi nodded. Miles was nice enough to introduce some weapons, should she give her little tips too? "They are nning to let us fight in groups. You should prepare yourself." She said in a low voice. By now, the other trainees already had their chosen weapon. They were using it and performing some sort of sword dancing or spear dancing.


    All of them looked mighty and intimidating.


    "How did you know?"


    She shrugged in response.


    "Are you going to use a bow and arrow?"


    "It''s the only thing that I can use." Her thin arms wouldn''t allow her to use any of the bigger weapons and she didn''t even know how to use the smaller weapons. However, she practiced using guns and at least her aim had been decent after the nanoparticles.


    In fact, right now, she was confident that she wouldn''t miss a shot. After that treatment, her eyes had been very sharp. Moreover, her reaction speed improved too.


    It was akin to a superpower, except for one thing. Her strength didn''t really increase. But she could only me this on the fact that she was too skinny. How could she wield a lot of strength if she didn''t have a lot of muscles?


    Therefore, she needed to improve her body first. Maybe she should eat more protein and gain more muscles? Or


    "Hey, Leoness"


    The use of e instead of i is deliberate. They wanted to irritate her.


    "How about a spar?"


    "It''s not allowed." Miles was quick to answer.


    "They say it''s not allowed to fight. But sparring should be alright, right?" the person who asked was the same man who had beenughing at her since earlier. He wasn''t really that tall. Probably about five foot nine or ten. However, he had very broad shoulders, his biceps made him look like a wrestler that could easily throw her towards the wall.


    "Sparring and fighting. What''s the difference?" Miles asked. "Are you really so courageous that you are willing to be kicked out just because someone beat you?"


    "Ah! I fought with you before, right?" Gabi''s question worsened the atmosphere. She had been really upied, she actually forgot that this was the same man that she fought a day ago. However, this was only because the man''s bandage on his eyes had been removed. "Your injuries are all healed?"


    "Are you mocking me?"


    "No. I was simply asking a question."


    "Yes. I am healed. So I wanted to challenge you to a fight!"


    "Ah then wait in the line. Feel free to do that next week." Gabi calmly said.


    "You-- "


    "Anyway, I am about to practice" Gabi suddenly raised her bow and arrow then pointed them to the man. "Will you move?"


    "And if I won''t?"


    Gabi wasn''t surprised at the man''s daring behavior. He must have thought that she wouldn''t shoot him. After all, this is forbidden. Oh well" Then just stay there" Withoutpleting her sentence, she suddenly let go of the arrow.


    *SWOOSH*


    A gasp echoed inside the room. It was followed by a long stretch of silence.


    "You- You actually dared to shoot me?" The man held his cheek that was hit by the arrow. Luckily, she wasn''t a great shot! What if the arrow actually hit his head? Everyone thought that she wouldn''t dare shoot the arrow! This woman was crazy! The man silently thought. She isn''t scared to break the rules!


    Does she know the consequences of hurting someone outside of the challenges?


    In fact, the man was just trying to provoke her earlier. Who would have thought that she would-


    "I was shooting at the target." Gabi suddenly said. "It''s about twenty steps behind you."


    "You-" The man turned his head. Anger gripped his insides. Indeed! There was a target board behind him! And she actually hit it.


    Clearly, she didn''t even aim properly! It looked like she was just ying around!


    How did she hit it?


    "I told you. I will practice." Gabi said as she picked another arrow and positioned it on the bow. Then she lifted the bow and aimed it at the man. "Now are you going to move? Or do you want me to use your head to make it more challenging?"


    Gabi smiled at the man. Silently, she was actually shouting with joy. She just realized that the nanoparticles were so useful! Ah! Aden! She wanted to kiss him!

 Chapter 610: Fecal Incontinence

    Chapter 610: Fecal Incontinence


    WARNING: DON''T READ WHILE EATING


    ...


    "You can shoot?" Miles chimed in behind her. Gabi nodded and didn''t say anything else. She was still celebrating inwardly.


    Still, she had to pretend that she could do these things for a long time now. She was enjoying the look of surprise on everyone''s face.


    "Alright why are you still looking at her? Go and practice!" Miles said. "That''s a good shot."


    Gabi shrugged coolly. Honestly, she didn''t want to show off either. However, she didn''t want to make these people make fun of her all the time. Moreover, she also had another n this time.


    First, she wanted to surprise them.


    Second, she wanted to let them think that she was only good at shooting arrows and weak in closebat.


    And most importantly, she wanted everyone to think that her skills lie in long-rangebat. The reason behind this is that she wanted her future teammates to avoid giving her closebat tasks.


    This would only lower her chance of having an injury!


    This would also avoid any sort of painful injuries thate with fighting someone in closebat.


    Just as she expected, many people believed that she intentionally showed off her talents in bow and arrow to make them believe that she wasn''t useless.


    "So what was so good about having talents in bow and arrow? In this day and age, everyone knows how to shoot a gun! Is that really something to be proud of?" Mare snorted while watching Gabi from afar.


    They were scheduled to fight in six hours already and to be honest, she couldn''t wait to put that woman in her ce.


    "des aren''t really allowed inside the arena," Fred said. "However, you no longer have to worry about the fight."


    "What do you mean?"


    "I already took care of it."


    "What?" Delia asked. "What are you talking about?"


    "Well, she made a lot of people irritated. Some of those people wanted to put her in her ce. So they used their influence and bribed the cook."


    "You-" Mara''s eyes widened when she heard his words. "That''s illegal. They will kick us out!"


    "Only if they knew that something was wrong." Fred snorted. "That woman loves routine. If you haven''t noticed yet, she loves eating and would always run towards the canteen. She was always the first one to arrive. Every time."


    "I noticed it too. She ate a lot. Did you see it too? I honestly felt awkward while watching her devour the food like she had a bottomless stomach. She could eat twice as much as me." Delia agreed. Mara and Delia''s meals were already considered a lot by normal standards as they are following the diets that would give them the best strength possible. They ate a lot of chicken and potatoes and proteins in general.


    However, that woman who looked skinny and smaller than them could eat twice as their food! At first, they thought she was bluffing when they saw her go back to get more food and return with a tray full of proteins.


    To their surprise, the woman finished everything and even came for a third round. Now, this didn''t surprise Mara and Delia but everyone who witnessed her ate.


    That woman looked so skinny!


    How could she eat so much food?


    The thing is, Gabi would do this every meal and would even eat some snacks twice a day! Everyone knew that she also had a fridge full of food inside her room so they weren''t really sure if she only ate snacks twice. Who knows if she wakes up at night and eats more?


    But Why isn''t she gaining any weight?


    Well, the answer to that is simple.


    It was because she barely had any sleep as she fought people twice in twenty-four hours and also joined them in exercises.


    "So you guys are going to poison her food?"


    "What if you poisoned the wrong person?"


    Fred snorted at the women''s questions. "Who cares? The thing is, no one would know about it."


    "You were able to bribe the chief?"


    "Not me. Someone else did. If they found it out, I won''t get implicated as well."


    "So poison? Is it going to be deadly? Because if it was"


    "What a coward." Fred snorted. "The poison isn''t going to kill her. Just give her a little stomach ache." It might not be considered that ''little''. "The thing is, people would think that it was only because she overeats or something. After all, even the teachers knew that she ate a lot of food.


    "Are you sure this is going to work?"


    "Of course! Why wouldn''t it work? It''s all clean. The payment was done through a third party. All cash. And I wasn''t involved in any way." Fred smiled as he watched Gabi. In fact, Alfredo hated dirty means like this. However, Gabi shouldn''t me Fred alone. After all, this was Gabi''s own fault.


    Who told her to cheat her way to the top?


    Everyone knew that she was weak but cunning. In the outside world, she wouldn''t survive longer than them. She was just good at cheating everyone!


    Because of this, many students felt that it wasn''t really fair. How could a cheater get the top spot? So, they devised a n to embarrass her!


    Someone actually paid someone to give her a drug that would cause an inability to control her bowel movements. This would cause stool to unexpectedly leak from her rectum. And the timing was perfect too.


    The drug was expected to have its effect while she was fighting with Mara! That woman was called the Fake Leoness now. After this event, everyone would surely start calling her the sh*t Leoness.


    Just the thought of it made himugh.


    "Ah don''t forget to bring some handkerchiefs to cover your nosester. Because it would surely smell like sh*t!" Fred startedughing.


    While ufortable, both Delia and Mara startedughing too!


    Indeed, there will be a good and funny show,ter!

 Chapter 611: A Weakling should Leave!

    Chapter 611: A Weakling should Leave!


    "So you are telling me that you would let them poison the girl?" Kincaid couldn''t help butin when he heard Ma Ping''s words. "Sir, with all due respect, you have been against scheming since this school started." This man was their great instructor! Someone who was righteous and someone that would never allow a student to suffer just because they aren''t privileged enough. What was happening? Why is he acting like this?


    "Kincaid sit down." Ma Ping gestured him to sit on the chair opposite him. After Kincaidplied, he continued, "I just thought it would be good for these people to receive some face pping. In the outside world, schemes like these were prettymon. Leona didn''t have any background, she should get used to the schemes while inside this school!"


    What kind of reasoning was that?


    "Sir, I think this is wrong. Leona is young. We can''t let her deal with this. Moreover, the poison would surely weaken her."


    "In the outside world, no one would stop people from scheming against her." Ma Ping smiled and rested his chin on his palms. "Let''s not intervene this time. We should watch a show and enjoy it. Moreover, this is actually a great chance for us to teach people."


    "Teach people?"


    "People are starting to forget. They always think this is some sort ofpetition. They are now using their influence to get inside. They no longer fear us. Aiyo I already got the madam''s permission on this. She agreed to let Leona teach these people a lesson!"


    "A lesson? What lesson?"


    Ma Ping shrugged. "How should I know?"


    Kincaid couldn''t say anything.


    "This is her fight. Let her decide how to retaliate!"


    "But "


    "Tsk Kincaid. When was thest time that someone who isn''t an elite enrolled in this school?"


    "That never happened, sir."


    "Exactly. Leona was the first one after our batch that had no background. So, we should teach her how dangerous society is. This would also benefit her in the long run."


    "Sir how would she teach them a lesson? I don''t think she is a poison expert. I know she reminded you too much of the madam, but the madam is unique. She is one of a kind. And her knowledge knows no bounds. We can''t reallypare the two. Moreover, madam is an expert in both medicine and poison. Whereas Leona grew up in the streets. She already has a weak body. If they would sessfully poison her, then she might get sick and stop attending sses."


    "If that is the case, then we let her go." That only means that she didn''t deserve to be here.


    "Sir!"


    "Kincaid, it''s true that the Madam rmended her. However, she was sent here to learn, and failing is part of learning too." Ma Ping leaned back and acted like a benevolent senior.


    Ma Ping continued. "You people won''t understand what we went through before. You are lucky, we are now in the underground with a realistic environment. Back then, we ran towards the mountain early in the morning, every day. Inside that mountain, snakes and other dangerous creatures lurked. We also need to worry about the rain, mud, and other emergencies that might happen while we were out there! We experienced all of it and failed over and over. However, none of usined. That''s because we all grew up in the streets. We weren''t privileged. Hmph! And now, just because of a poison that was only aimed at embarrassing someone, you wanted to protect a student? Kincaid I am disappointed in you."


    "Sir"


    "Do you think embarrassment could kill her? If it could kill her, it only meant she shouldn''t be here! Weak people should not stay in this ce!"


    Kincaid stared at his boss in disbelief. How did it be about him? This was about Gabi and those people''s scheme! "What are we going to do about those people?"


    "Of course, this act wouldn''t go unpunished. The chef and the people who contributed to this problem will be fired without any pay. We will also sue them for breach of contract and make them pay. Naturally, something will be given to them. This would alter their memories of the things that happened here."


    "And those students?"


    "What do you mean?" Ma Ping asked. "If you are asking if I would kick them out, the answer is a big No."


    "What? Then"


    "We will punish them."


    "How?"


    "Ah, I forgot, you weren''t here yet when someone did the same thing, bribing someone because of jealousy." Ma Ping clicked his tongue and started reading his files. "Hah I added fifty pounds on the limbs of their suit."


    "Fifty?"


    "Each limb. Fifty in each arm and each leg. And you know that they have to wear their suits for seven days, right?"


    ''Then Then"


    "Ah, one of them fainted. We punished him by letting him runps wearing the same suit."


    "" It was Kincaid''s turn to be speechless. Two hundred pounds is not a small thing. It could easily kill someone! Seeing the smile on Ma Ping''s face, Kincaid already guessed that those people really have a bad ending.


    "Alright you may leave now."


    Meanwhile, Gabi didn''t have any idea about the poisoning or any ns that Ma Ping was making. Today, she realized that her appetite had even be better. She could actually eat four portions more of her usual food. She is starting to wonder if this had something to do with nanoparticles! She always felt hungry and she never actually felt full.


    "Hey are you sure you can finish all that?" Miles said, she had a look of worry in her eyes as she looked at the mountain of greasy food in front of Gabi. There were burgers, fried chickens, potatoes, eggs, hams, and many other unhealthy foods. Luckily, their canteen was always an unlimited buffet that provided them with enough nutritious food for their training. Or, this school would have gone bankrupt because of Gabi''s expense alone!


    "Hmmm." Gabi nodded. In fact, she actually thought that this was her body''s response to the nanoparticles.


    "Hey,,, Leoness are you still going to runter?"


    Gabi ignored someone''s taunting. These people are really weird. How could they act like obsessed people? Why not mind their own business?


    "Let''s see If you can still runter."


    "Hahaha"


    "Hahaha."


    Gabi thought their waves ofughter were pretty weird. However, she chose to ignore it and focus on finishing her food. It would be a pity if she wasted any of the food that she got today.


    "Hey, Leoness why are you eating like a pig? Aren''t you scared that your stomach would have problems soon?"


    Gabi looked behind her. The one who asked was none other than Lu Tingting. He looked like he was watching a y. She knew that he was waiting for her to lose her temper. However, that will not happen today. "Lu Tingting "Gabi smiled. "No need to worry about my stomach. If I sh*t, I would make sure to sit on your face. After all, you and the toilet bowl almost look the same. I am wondering if you are twins or something."


    "You "


    "Hahaha Lu Tingting! You actually look like a bowl! Probably because of your big mouth!" Miles chimed in. "I should have realized this earlier! Hahahaha. "


    "You  Why are you butting in? Do you want a fight?"


    "Big man that looked like a bowl. Stop shouting. Why are you so angry?" Miles said. "They say the truth hurts, so it often makes us angry. Does this mean that you agree with me?"


    "You  I will kill you! Fight me! Why don''t you challenge me, huh?"


    Miles onlyughed at that. She shook her head and started eating her food, too. Seeing that the two women ignored him, Lu Tingting immediately got up. However, before he could take a step towards them, someone stopped him.


    "Let them be. We will teach them a lesson soon."


    "Humph! B*tch!"


    "Loser!" Miles muttered lowly.


    "Just you see, you loser!" Lu Tingting uttered.


    "They are acting weird." Miles leaned towards Gabi who was still enjoying her food as if she didn''t just talk about something gross a couple of seconds earlier."


    "Yeah notice it." Gabi nodded. In fact, she had long noticed everyone''s gaze. However, she thought this was just because of their irritation because of what she did in the past few days. She shrugged and continued eating. She needed to eat fast and give her stomach time to digest everything before she chose her desserts!" Ah, she would really love some strawberry cake right now. However, this canteen didn''t have it.


    "You should be carefulter. I think they would do something in the fight. Huh? What''s wrong? Why do you look like that?"


    Gabi''s face contorted as she held her stomach.


    "What''s wrong."


    "Crap," Gabi uttered. It looked like she really was about to sit on Lu Tingting''s face! However, just as she was about to run towards the toilet, the pain in her stomach stopped.


    "What happened? What''s the matter?" Miles said.


    "I Nevermind. It doesn''t hurt anymore."


    "Tsk Leo, I think it''s because you ate a lot of food. Why not just take it easy? Are you really that hungry?"Actually, Miles already noticed that Gabi was different. She really loved to eat a lot of food, as if this was her first time eating those types of food.


    Because of this, Miles felt that maybe Gabi wasn''t like them? Perhaps she didn''t grow up with these types of food around? "After we get out of here I will give you something that would give you unlimited food when you visit a certain restaurant." Miles said.


    "Really? Anywhere in the world?" Gabi thought that Miles has a good background too. Now that she mentioned giving her a card, it was obvious that Gabi was right in her guess. Miles came from a rich family!


    "Yes. As long as you will eat in that restaurant."


    "Great! I hope you don''t regret itter." Gabi smiled before she took a huge bite of her fried chicken.

 Chapter 612: Good-looking People

    Chapter 612: Good-looking People


    "I have to run to the toilet," Gabi said after she finished her dinner. This time, it was real. Her stomach hurt. It felt like it was twisting. Was it because she ate too much?


    "Alright." Miles nodded and watched as Gabi hurried to the toilet to relieve herself. Since she still have two hours left before the fight, she also visited her room and meditated. This time, Gabi thought that meditation was really good for her body.


    It is making her feel lighter.


    "Hm?" Gabi opened her eyes when she noticed that something was wrong with her stomach. While it doesn''t hurt anymore, it also felt like it was making weird sounds. It was as if there was a machine inside her tummy and that it was trying to grind something.


    Gabi slowly rubbed her stomach before she decided toy down on her bed and rx.


    ...


    "Why isn''t she here yet?" Mara asked, frowning. "Five minutes already "


    "She ate too much earlier. I think she was still in the bathroom?"


    "If she discovered that something is wrong, then why isn''t she in the infirmary either?"


    "I don''t know"


    "Someone should check the toilet."


    "Maybe she''s in her room? Her room has its own toilet, right?"


    "Then someone should check her room!" Mara said. For this asion, she wore her favorite red sports bra and equally red shorts that highlighted her beautiful curves and muscles. She was standing by the ring, her arms folded across her chest.


    "I will do it!" someone immediately volunteered.


    "Does anyone remember the rules about beingte?" Mara asked. "Fifteen minutes and she is considered the loser, right?"


    Since beingte to a fight isn''t a normal urrence, many of them haven''t checked the rules about it.


    "It''s actually thirty minutes."


    "Why so long?" Mara asked. However, what could that woman possibly do against the drug? "Was she doing this because she looked down on me?" Obviously, Mara isn''t going to let that woman go without nting some seeds of hatred to other trainees who didn''t know about the drugs.


    Only this she will consider this a sess.


    "Mara, how could you say that? You. A jujitsu champion is being looked down on? If she is looking down on you, then what about us?" Of course, Delia decided to add fuel to the fire. "Sigh I don''t understand where she came from. She didn''t look like someone with a background. How did she get here in the first ce?"


    Delia looked at everyone''s faces and smiled inwardly. Her words were straightforward. However, there was a meaning behind it. She was actually trying to insinuate that Gabi was able to get in because she was using inappropriate methods.


    Sexual favors and other methods aren''t something rare in this world. That Gabi''s skin looked white and tender. She looked young and beautiful. And since she could not really fight, it was pretty obvious that she used some other method toe here.


    Of course, when Miles heard this, she immediately snorted. "Who among you haven''t used money or influence toe here?" she asked. "Hypocrites. Didn''t your families send you here to prove yourselves? What are you so proud of?"


    "You "


    "Am I not telling the truth?"


    "Miles, you should shut your mouth."


    "Oh? Isn''t this the smart Lu Tingting? I heard your younger brother just obtained a new mine from your father before the training started. I wonder why your father gave it to him, but not to his eldest son?"


    "You "


    "Hmph! You can''t even defeat your younger brother. Stop speaking nonsense and just act like a toilet bowl."


    "You are courting death."


    Miles stuck her tongue out before looking at the door of the arena. Even she was a bit worried since Gabi mentioned earlier that she was having a stomachache. "That woman ate a lot of stuff," she murmured before shaking her head. Would Gabi lose all the points that she umted so far just because of her stomach ache?


    While watching Miles, Mara couldn''t help but curse inwardly. In fact, most of them here were adopted or people who wanted to achieve something and wanted to prove themselves to their families. Miles was telling the truth.


    Obviously, the truth hurts and they don''t want to be reminded of it.


    "Calm down after this week. We are going to challenge weaker people. You should take that opportunity to shut that woman''s mouth." Delia immediatelyforted her friend.


    "Hmph! How many minutes now?"


    "Eighteen. Just be patient. Even if she arrives, she won''t have the strength to fight anymore."


    "I know." Mara looked around. When she noticed that the man who volunteered earlier was already back, she immediately asked. "Did you find her?"


    "Not in the bathroom or infirmary. I tried to ess her room, but it''s on a different floor. So, I wasn''t allowed to go in."


    "Oh? The rules changed?"


    "I don''t know. The guards said that from now on, we aren''t allowed to visit that floor."


    "That lucky b*tch!"


    "How could she be that lucky?" Delia muttered. They have heard before that they could freely walk to the floor where the room of the top one was located. How did it suddenly change now?


    What they don''t know is the fact that a certain someone named Aden, actually caused the changes.


    "Howe you are here?" Gabi red at the man who was sitting on her bed. She wondered if he was going to start lying on her bed, too. This man loved beds so much, it would be impossible if he would sit down while talking to her.


    And just as she expected, Aden indeed lied down. He used his palms as pillows, his long legs crossed as he smirked at her. "Of course, I''m here because I missed you. Didn''t you miss me too?"


    "How did you get inside?" Gabi asked, frowning. By now, she knew that many people wanted toe to this ce, as this was a really prestigious training center. Not just anyone coulde in and out.


    "Isn''t that because I am good-looking?" Aden answered. "These days, good-looking people can do whatever they want."


    "" This guy

 Chapter 613: Miss M

    Chapter 613: Miss M


    "I heard you will have a fight today? Why not take this opportunity to get injured and show me if you heal?"


    As expected, he was here because of the nanoparticles. But why did she feel a little disappointed when she heard his words? Did she actually miss this shameless guy?


    Impossible.


    "Who wants pain? I don''t want to die."


    "Kidding. I was just kidding." Aden said. "You should leave now. I will be waiting here. I was too busy, I need sleep."


    "So you especially came into my room like a thief to sleep?"


    "Obviously." He closed his eyes and added, "After all, the foam used in this bed is top ss." Then he waved his hand, gesturing for her to leave. "Alright, you are already twenty-four minuteste. It would take you about two minutes to go there. Hurry, the rules state that you cannot bete for thirty minutes."


    "Alright."


    "And oh"


    "What is it?"


    "Someone tried to use some drugs on you. Teach them a lesson."


    Gabi looked at the man before sighing. It seems that her palms would suffer tonight. "Alright then." She had known that something was weird with the food. However, she didn''t have a way to confirm this. She wasn''t an expert in poison or medicine. All she knew was that her stomach  or the nanoparticles might have gotten rid of it.


    Wait does this mean she would be immune to all types of poison in the future?


    The thought made her smile. She immediately ran back towards the arena.


    .....


    "Twenty-seven minutes. I think it''s time that we dere who is the winner."


    "Hmph! That coward is really something. Now that she was clearly at a disadvantage, she didn''t show her face here." Mara said. "Ugh. I love to ruin that face of hers." Who told that woman to have such a delicate face? Now that Mara thought about it, that woman''s face was not the face of a killer. Was her previous assumption about her, right? Did she really use that face to have ess to this ce?


    "Hey! Announce the winner!" Delia''s voice echoed. However, before the instructor could say anything, Gabi suddenly appeared at the door.


    "Too excited to announce the winner? What? Are you scared that I would beat your friend?"


    "You  How dare you arrive sote? Are you looking down on me?"


    "What? I just fell asleep." Gabi walked towards the ring. Since that man arrived in her room, she wasn''t able to change into a sports bra and was still wearing herfortable leggings and shirt that she wore when sleeping.


    "Howe she''s here?" Delia murmured towards the equally surprised Fred. "I thought you said she would get sick? That drug was it that weak?"


    "No. It''s impossible for her to fight. The only way that she''s here is if she was pretending."


    "For what? To ridicule herself?" If this woman was really sick, then whye here? Clearly,ing here with that weak body would only mean that she would automatically lose this fight. "Doesn''t make sense," she added while watching Gabi on the ring. "Maybe she didn''t eat it?"


    "Our sources spotted her pick the one with the drug. She finished it in seconds. That greedy b*tch."


    "But "


    "I don''t know! Alright?" Fred clenched his teeth. "Or there''s a possibility that the drug" But they clearly said it would take effect after two hours  which was thirty minutes ago! Did they actually make some stupid mistake? He turned towards the other people who knew about the drug and, just like him, they also showed some puzzled look.


    It seems that they were confused as well.


    Judging from their reaction, there is a high possibility that they also made a mistake.


    Fred was too engrossed in his own mind that he failed to hear the signal that states that the fight is starting. The next thing he knew, a loud pping sound already echoed inside the fighting arena.


    His gaze snapped back to the ring and almost immediately, his eyes widened.


    "You  You actually pped my face!?" Mara screamed. "You dare to "


    Before Mara could say anything, Gabi''s hands wrapped around the woman''s throat. Then


    *PAK*


    Another resounding p echoed. This time, Gabi pped the other side of the woman''s face.


    "You "


    *PAK*


    "AHHHHHH"


    *PAK*


    *PAK*


    *PAK*


    "You  " Mara''s eyes turned blood red. Her face started to feel numb. She tried to use her leg to kick Gabi, who was standing in front of her. But just as she was about to kick Gabi, the other suddenly let go, throwing her towards the wires that surrounded the ring. "You  cough  cough  " What just happened? How dare this woman p her? "You dare sneak attack on me? You cheater!" Of course, the p wasn''t enough to defeat her. She immediately sent a kick to Gabi, followed by her fist. Then another and another and another


    "Miss M it seems that the p made you a bit dizzy howe you are kicking in the air?" Gabi''s voice came from Mara''s left.


    "You  "Miss M? Who was she calling Miss M? With that, Mara swung her arm to the left. She then followed it with a roundhouse kick. However, none of them hit Gabi. Who would have thought that Gabi''s movement would be so agile tonight?


    What about the drug?


    What happened?


    "Miss M it seems that your boobs are as useless as your brain."


    "You  how dare you! Ahhhhhh." This time, Mara let out anotherbo of kicks and punches. She even used her other skills to pin down Gabi on the floor. But none of them hit Gabi she couldn''t even hit a single strand of this woman''s hair.


    What''s happening? Mara could only scream as she attacked Gabi again and again. She thought and hoped that the drug would at least show it''s effects. But it was futile. It seems that the drug didn''t work after all.


    "Heh it seems that the p indeed worked." She heard Gabi utter. "I guess it''s more effective than the drug that you guys gave me.."

 Chapter 614: Slap Someone to Death

    Chapter 614: p Someone to Death


    "What did she just say?"


    While Gabi''s words weren''t that loud, each and every one of them have good hearing. All of them heard her mention the drug.


    "She said drug" Miles''s voice was loud. She looked at Delia and Fred. "You know drugs "


    "Why are you looking at us?"


    "What do you mean?" Miles asked. "I was looking at the wall behind you. You are just in the way."


    "You "


    "Delia calm down. Let''s look at the fight."


    *PAK*


    *PAK*


    "Why is she not doing anything aside from pping Mara?"


    "Who knows?"


    Everyone was dumbfounded when Gabi pped Mara again. In fact, Gabi did nothing else aside from evading Mara''s kicks and punches and pping her. She was agile, her movements were really fast, it looked like her floor wasn''t touching the floor.


    Who would have thought that the woman that they ridiculed was actually an expert in acrobatics? That''s right. Everyone could see how Gabi was tumbling and running around the ring to avoid Mara''s attacks. Then, she would suddenly stop,unch a sneak attack, strangle Mara, then p her repeatedly.


    "This"


    "Look at Mara''s face it''s swollen."


    "Isn''t this too brutal? She is just ying around with that woman''s face."


    *PAK*


    *PAK*


    "Ugh I can''t watch " pping someone''s face over and over and over again might not sound too brutal. In fact, it didn''t sound deadly at all. But if one would really think about it, the key to this attack is the fact that it''s not deadly!


    Its aim wasn''t to maim or kill its opponent. The aim was to purely embarrass the opponent. She was making fun of Mara''s skills!


    "The instructor isn''t going to stop the fight? Mara''s face is already about to burst." It''s swollen, bloodied, her lips were cut, eyebrows were bleeding from being pped over and over again. Even if Mara is a fighter, this is enough to give her an enormous blow. How could the instructor allow this to happen? But soon, everyone realized that Tartarus isn''t really the right ce for the pretty and people people who wanted to live.


    "What are you guys talking about? The instructors would allow people to put the drug in food but wouldn''t allow anyone to p their opponents?" Miles snorted. "Did you really think this institution is like that?" This institution is unfair to everyone and thus, it is fair! "Isn''t that just pping? I didn''t think that Miss M couldn''t actually take some ps." Heh Miles was surprised to hear Gabi mention the drugs.


    She never thought that those people would actually go so low. She lifted her head and look at the viewing room above them. Instructor Ma and the other should be staying in that ce. She wondered if those people would just let the drugging go?


    *PAK*


    *PAK*


    "Ahhhhh Stop it"


    *PAK*


    *PAK*


    "I  Ugh  I  Hmmmmummm  " Clearly, Mara was about to say that she gave up. However, Gabi was fast enough to clutch the woman''s neck, squeezing it.


    "Hey! Are you nning to kill her!?"


    "Rx Miss D" Gabi''s voice was full of ridicule as she smiled at Delia. "I''m just nning to p her."


    *PAK*


    *PAK*


    *PAK*


    "Hey! She already lost consciousness! I guess the fight is over, right?" Someone said. However, Gabi didn''t stop pping Mara''s face. That Aden actually told her to get some injuries. Well, why not just injure her hand by pping someone''s face?


    "Tsk!" Gabi threw Mara''s body down. The woman''s face was already unrecognizable. She then nced at her own hand and just as she expected, it was also swollen and bleeding. "Instructor I don''t n to kill her today. So just announce the winner."


    "Alright. Leo Won!" The instructor immediatelyplied and instructed some people to bring Mara towards the infirmary. "You go to the infirmary  where is she?"


    "She ran away." Someone said.


    In fact, Gabi didn''t hesitate to leave the moment the instructor announced the winner. She wanted to hurry and go to her room, she didn''t want anyone to see that her hands were swollen as there is a possibility that it wouldpletely heal the next day.


    After arriving in her room, she wasn''t surprised to see Aden sleeping in her bed, as if it belonged to him in the first ce.


    This man


    She shook the thoughts out of her head and immediately washed her hands. For a few seconds, she debated if she should just wait for this man to wake up and check her wound, but in the end, she decided to wake him up. This was because her hand already started to tingle.


    "Oh? You were only gone for like fifteen minutes? You won, right?" Aden said in a drowsy state. Seeing that there were no wounds on her face, he rxed before his brows furrowed. "I smell blood." He said. "Wounded?" He immediately got up and checked the rest of her body.


    "My hand"


    "Hm? How did it be like this?"


    "I pped someone."


    ""


    "You told me to get injured."


    Aden didn''t know what to say, so he poked her forehead. "Stupid," he muttered. Clearly, he was just joking around. He immediately held her hand. "This how many times did you p someone?"


    "I didn''t count."


    "" He turned her hand around and added, "Are you telling me that you just p your opponent until she fainted?"


    Gabi lifted an eyebrow at that. How did Aden know that her opponent was a woman? She wanted to ask him, but decided against it in the end. Aden''s identity is starting to make her confused.


    Just who is this person?


    Did he know someone influential in Tartarus?


    "It''s starting to heal!" Aden said. Fortunately, he was just staring at Gabi''s hand and he didn''t notice the reaction on her face. "How does it feel?"


    "Itchy."


    Like a child who found a new toy, Aden''s eyes sparkled, he let her sit on the chair as he opened an attach case and put some of his tools on the bed. Without saying anything, he used some blue light and pointed it towards her hand.


    "It''s the nanoparticles" she heard him mutter. "Do you feel anything else? Are you hurt? Hungry? Sleepy?"


    Gabi''s pupils shook. Yes, that''s right. He came here because of the nanoparticles. It''s just the nanoparticles. Just what the hell was she expecting?

 Chapter 615: I Want A Child

    Chapter 615: I Want A Child


    "Hungry," Gabi uttered. Yes, she shouldn''t expect anything else. She leaned against the chair and sighed inwardly. She grew up with that fake Alfons and deplorable father. For the first time, she actually thought that someone else cared for her?


    How pathetic.


    After all the things that she went through, it seems that her heart was still weak  she was still weak.


    "Then I will instruct the kitchen to  " As if realizing his words, Aden paused. He lifted his head and looked at Gabi''s nd gaze. "I "


    "It''s fine. I am not going to ask anything." There wasn''t a hint of a smile on her face. She was here to get stronger, not show any weaknesses. She was here to learn and yes she should consider these emotions as part of the learning process.


    Maybe the fact that he helped her heal her body made her think that she was somehow important to him. Anyway, she should stop thinking like this. He only did it because of the experiment. It was a win-win situation for both of them. She shouldn''t be muddled.


    The fact that this man helped him countless times actually affected her.


    She was so pathetic.


    Just as he said, food arrived in her room after a few minutes. Servants that she hasn''t seen before arranged a table for the two of them. "What''s wrong with you?" Aden asked.


    "Nothing just hungry and tired." Gabi started eating.


    "Ah this is your first time fighting someone, right?"


    "I''m not gonna ask you how you knew that," she retorted. This man was hiding a lot of secrets from her. Of course, she was well aware that she didn''t have any right to know them. After six months here, she should stop seeing this man.


    "I will be staying here from now on."


    "You can''t stay in my room."


    "Says who? I am your doctor."


    "" How shameless. "Then sleep on the floor." This ce is not going to be big enough for another bed. So he could only sleep on the floor.


    "No can do. Let''s just sleep on the bed. Don''t worry you are definitely not my type."


    Gabi squinted at him. "Fine, I will sleep on the floor. Asked your people to bring me a new mattress."


    "Why are you being so hardheaded?"


    Gabi pursed her lips and didn''t say anything else. What''s wrong with sleeping on the floor? Since this man is shameless enough to stay in her room, then she wanted to see if he would be shameless enough to see her sleep on the floor!


    "Why not just sleep on the bed with me?"


    Again Gabi didn''t answer.


    "Alright Alright you win... I will sleep in the next room."


    Gabi snorted. Just as she expected, there was another room. But this man just didn''t want to let go of the nanoparticles in her body. Should she make it clear to him that after these six months, she wouldpletely stop this coboration?


    Hmmm Perhaps after she repaid him.


    Speaking of repayment


    The moment that they finished their food, Gabi went to her closet and gave Aden a piece of paper. "My payment."


    "What''s this?"


    "Something that would protect Du Empire." After rummaging through her memories, she hade up with a few important details about some terrorist that is hiding inside the Southern part of the Empire. It should be enough payment for Archy and Aden''s help.


    Moreover, these terrorists would be vital in Alfons'' career in the future as he would be the one that was supposed to defeat them, kill their boss and make a huge contribution to the empire. Because of this, many people would support him.


    "Payment?" she didn''t miss the sharp glint in his eyes. Almost immediately, the temperature inside the room dropped. What was this atmosphere?


    "For the nanoparticles. The healing everything."


    He frowned at her. "Payment?" he repeated, his face slowly turned grim.


    "Yes. For the deal"


    "I see " his jaws clenched. "Payment."


    "Yes, payment." She blinked at him. What''s this now? Why does it look like he was about to strangle her? "If it''s not enough, then I could"


    "Enough."


    "Huh?"


    "Yes, it''s not enough."


    So he wanted more information? But she couldn''t give more without revealing the fact that she came from the future. "Don''t worry I will give you more once I get out of here. I am not that ungrateful of a person." Yes, this man was her benefactor. This was only the first year of their coboration. She could easily stay away from him once she got out of here.


    She wasn''t some dumb woman that would let her feelings win over her brain. She was certain that she would soon forget about this disappointment that she felt inside. If she won''t forget it, then she would just get rid of it!


    This is for her future. This is for her dear Luca.


    However, the man''s face only got darker when he heard her words. Seeing this, Gabi turned silent. Was it possible that he wanted to use her body for his future experimentation? That  "What are you thinking? Do you want my body?" Alright, maybe that came out wrong.


    "Huh?"


    At least, there was a look of surprise on his face? "For experimentation. Look let''s settle this now. While you helped me heal my body, I won''t allow you to perform some experiments on me in the future. That''s not going to happen." What if he ruined her prospects of having another Luca?


    "What are you talking about?"


    "I meant your nanoparticles project. Now that you seeded. You can use it to heal someone, then you can surely use it on another person as well. Using me as an experiment isn''t going to benefit you at all. First and foremost, I have the Ren Family behind me. If I disappear, they would surely look into me. Second, I am not good at fighting or anything like that. It is best to find someone who is already a professional killer, heal that person, and use that person for your studies. And third, I can''t let you ruin my body. I want to have a child."


    ""

 Chapter 616: Slapping More Faces

    Chapter 616: pping More Faces


    "You think I wanted to use your body for my studies?"


    "Isn''t that why you''re here?" she asked. Was this a misunderstanding?


    "You are misunderstanding something missy."


    Really? Then what was that look just now? Clearly, he looked really excited. It was as if he found a treasure box. Moreover, didn''t he just say that the payment wasn''t enough? Then what else does he want?


    Seeing her reaction, Aden shook his head. His handsome features rxed as he took a step back and elegantly sat on the couch. Crossing his legs, he gestured her to sit down on the bed, across him. "You are so naive," he said while watching her sit on the bed. "Did you really think I would need your permission if I wanted to study your body? I could easily kill you and make you disappear."


    "" Right. He was bragging again. This man really loved to brag about his capabilities. Of course, it only made sense. After all, he was indeed very smart- genius smart.


    "Moreover, if I really wanted to use someone, I wouldn''t use your body. You are far too weak for my experiments trust me you will break."


    "" And he was back to insulting her again. How nice.


    "I came here because I " He squinted at her. "Naturally, I want to witness my brilliant creation!"


    "" This man.


    "Seeing you heal is just magical. Did you think I would slice you apart and check the status of your body?"


    "Isn''t that something you would do?"


    "Indeed however Miss Sutton is clearly looking down on me. I am a gentleman. I would never hurt a woman."


    "Then I will trust you on that."


    Aden waves his hand. "No worries. I will promise you. I would never hurt you or use your body for my future studies." Then he let out a yawn. "Alright I am still tired from my travels. I should sleep."


    Just like that, he left her alone.


    A sigh of relief escaped her lips when he closed the door. This floor was already closed to the outsiders, so she isn''t worried that someone would see Aden. She heard that the management told everyone that this floor was already off-limits.


    However, this begs another question. Just who is that man? How could he influence the management of this ce?


    Gabi shook her head and decided to stop thinking about Aden. She needed her rest!


    ..


    Morning.


    Gabi woke up at three to attend her sses.


    This time, she noticed the changes in everyone''s gaze. Even Ma Ping was staring at her with a different light in his eyes.


    "Have you heard?" Miles asked her. "Mara''s face was so swollen when she saw her face, she was so angry, she attacked the nurse."


    "Oh? She woke up early?"


    "She woke up two hours after she was sent to the infirmary."


    "Since she can walk" She would still be forced to join the exercises. That was part of the rule. Unless your limbs were cut, or you were dead, then you are still going to join the exercises. After looking around, she finally found the woman, whose face wrapped with bandages. Seeing the sharp look in Mara''s eyes, Gabi burst outughing.


    "Alright alright that''s enough." Ma Ping silenced the whispers that followed. "Today, we will have a new instructor. But he iste so I will introduce himter."


    Was it Aden? He is going to teach here? Gabi couldn''t help but wonder what that man is up to now.


    "Anyway the people that I call fall in line and receive some weights for the exercises. Fred! Delia! Mara" The nine people that Ma Ping called out immediately fall into a line.


    "What''s happening?" Gabi asked. Why were they given extra weights?


    "No idea."


    "These people dared to drug another student. As punishment, all exercises will be doubled and they will be given some extra weights." Ma Ping had a sadistic smile on his face as he looked down at everyone under the tform that he was standing from. "You actually dare to bribe someone? How bold"


    "Sir!" Just as Gabi expected, Fred immediately raised his hand. "We didn''t drug anyone. Is there proof"


    "Young man "Ma Ping sneered. "Did you really think that we were fools?" His threatening tone was enough to silence everyone. "This news has reached the Madam. She approved of the punishment herself. If you haveints ask your family to do it after I kick you out of this ce oh wait you should pray first that you don''t end up dead. After all dead people" Ma Ping squinted. "Can''t talk."


    This


    So they knew about the drugging? This only means that they can stop it. But they didn''t! They actually let these people fall into a trap by drugging Gabi! The realization sent shivers down Gabi''s spine.


    It seems that Tartarus doesn''t care if the trainees die or survive. They also didn''t care that their families wouldin or retaliate.


    Just how powerful is the owner of this ce?


    "These people were dumb," Miles murmured. "This ce has top security. Did they really think they could bribe anyone here? And to think they call themselves elite."


    After Ma Ping left, everyone started running uphill until five in the morning.


    "Howe your hand is fine?" Someone asked when they were waiting for Ma Ping to give them new instructions. "Mara''s face was swollen your hand"


    Gabi shrugged. "Oh I am used to pping concrete walls when I''m angry." Since she needed to avoid detection, she needed to pretend that she wasn''t wounded at all.


    When everyone heard Gabi''s words, they couldn''t help but feel speechless. It seems that Gabi wasn''t as simple as she looked.


    "Miss D Our fight is at nine in the morning. You should prepare your face." Of course, Gabi took this opportunity to make people angry. "I hope it''s as thick as Miss M''s."


    "You are going overboard! Did you really think that I wouldn''t kill you after what you did to Marast night?"


    "Ohhh scary. How scary. I just hope your face could handle it." Since these people dared to poison her, then she would p their faces until they faint! Slowly, her gazended at the people who had weights. Yes... she is going to p each of their faces soon!


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